Sometimes, Glitches Are Good

Not the first time

Grian groans, sitting up. There was grass beneath his hands. He wasn't in the desert. But grass... He wasn't in his house either. Or any of his friends'. He quickly opens his eyes, squinting at the light. There was a big, messy wall surrounding him. It was ugly, and had multiple holes in it. This wasn't Hermitcraft; Scar would have a FIT if he saw this. So would Grian himself... And Mumbo... And X... And False... And Keralis... And Doc...
He shakes his head.
Focus, Grian! Now is not the time! He gets up, ducking through a hole, seeing a very large cobblestone tower in the distance. He walks towards it. This was not the first time he'd found himself suddenly in an odd, foreign world.
"What do you mean he's gone?"
"I mean he's gone, Tubbo!"
"You were supposed to watch him!"
"I was! I wasn't aware how fast he could run, though, I didn't have any speed potions!"
He finally makes it past the tree line, seeing a short boy in a green shirt arguing with a man in a green hoodie and porcelain mask.
"He's probably with Technoblade, isn't he? Gosh, this won't end well..."
The name rings a very familiar bell in Grian's mind. Technoblade... He was Phil's kid! He decides to speak up.
"Hello!"
The two of them jump, whipping to look at him.
"Who the hell are you!?" And "Where the hell did you come from!?" Are exclaimed at the same time.
"The big ugly box around your spawn. You guys aren't much for pretty builds are you?"
"Well, we're certainly trying," the shorter huffs. He realises suddenly that the two of them are the exact same height. That was... Embarrassing to say the least.
"I'm Grian."
"Tubbo, this is Dream."
"It's nice to meet you. Where am I?"
"L'Manberg-" he's cut of as Grian snorts, starting slightly. L'manberg??? "Hey! What are you laughing at!?"
"I'm-I'm sorry L'Manberg? What kind of a name is THAT?"
"A great one thank you very much! Anyways, I don't suppose you've seen a blonde boy in a red and white sweater anywhere?"
"Can't say I have."
"Damn... Look, we need to find him, Dream, my compass isn't working for some reason and it's freaking me out-" someone lands infront of them with a thud, Tubbo shrieking in surprise. Grian was used to it, only starting slightly as he sees the man in the blue cloak doesn't have an elytra.
"Where is he!?" He demands of Dream, netherrite pickaxe glimmering with enchantments.
"I don't know!"
"Liar! Where the hell is he, what did you do to him!?"
"I- nothing, I swear, last I saw he was running in your direction!"
"Dream if you do not tell me where Tommy is right this instant this pickaxe is going through your teeth-" he pauses, turning to look at Grian, starting slightly in surprise.
"Techno? You've grown so much, kiddo! How are you?" Tubbo looks utterly shocked at how casually he greets him, grinning brightly.
"I thought the voices were trolling me, you're actually here?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty confused as well. Especially because last I saw you, you were so much shorter than me!"
"Wait wait wait, you two know each other?" Dream interrupts.
"Yeah, he's Phil's kid, Phil and I go way back! I remember when I came to visit that day and you hid behind him staring at me like I was going to burst into flames at any moment!" He giggles his signature gremlin laugh and Techno's face goes pink as he glares half heartedly. He suddenly notices the worry in his eyes, trailing off. "Something's wrong, what's up?"
"Tommy is missing." He pales slightly. Tommy was really young last he saw him, but the little kid had caught his heart in a way only little dudes tottering around grumbling angrily can.
"He's missing? Come on, let's go, where's the last place you saw him, I'll help you look!"
"Wait wait wait, you aren't going anywhere!" Dream interjects, grabbing his arm as he darts past. He'd already started subtly aura seeking. That's when he feels it. Tommy's aura on Dream. That only happened when...
"What the hell did you do to the kid." He growls, friendly demeanor dropping.
"What?"
"His aura is on you, that only happens with Blood. What the hell did you do to Tommy."
"Fine, so I got mad at him and hit him in the side with my axe-" he stumbles back in shock as Grian decks him, mask cracking under the impact. All those days building with concrete really builds up the muscles. He did not hit soft.
"You did what!?"
The noise had drawn a crowd, at least five people darting over.
Watching in shock as he started yelling at Dream.
"HE'S A KID! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HIT HIM WITH YOUR AXE? IF I DIDN'T HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO RIGHT NOW I SWEAR YOU WOULD BE SO, SO INCREDIBLY DEAD! YOU BETTER HELP US FIND HIM OR I SWEAR ON MY LIFE-"
He had his arms thrown out angrily, and he reached out to grab his sweater and probably punch him again when someone wrapped their arms around him, pinning his arms to his side, gently pulling him back while he struggled.
"Hey, hey, chill, it's fine, just calm down, okay?" A low voice mutters, and it almost faintly reminds him of Doc, with a different accent.
"He hurt-Phil's Kid-I do not-Let that slide-!" he struggles more, unable to escape his grasp.
"Just calm down please, we can work this out, Dream really isn't someone to mess with."
"Neither am I." But he stops struggling, crossing his arms angrily as the man lets go.
"Okay, what the hell is going on out here- Grian?"
"Phil! Dream hurt Tommy and now he's missing!" Grian runs over, gently grabbing his forearms, Phil returning the gesture. It was a common Watcher greeting. There was a certain desperation in the taller's eyes.
"No, no, I can't loose another, Tubbo where is your compass pointing?"
"Nowhere! Not towards the nearest nether portal, not to any direction at all, it's just spinning!"
"Hey guys what's- Uncle Grian!!!" He turns to see Wilbur- fly? To him, hugging him. He hugs him back, immediately understanding what Phil meant by "not another"
"Hey, Sprout! You've grown quite a bit, haven't you?" No matter the situation, he always took time for the middle child.
"I'm 6'5 now! Last I saw you, I was just above half your height! Isn't it awesome?"
"That's amazing! How did you grow so fast? How long has it been, six, seven years?"
"13 years! You're still short."
"Awh, Sprout, do you really gotta do me like that?"
"Wait 13 years? How old are you?"
"...I am 32."
"What the- you look 16!"
"I'm- Shut up!"
"Look, touching moment, Tommy is missing people!" Tubbo explodes. Grian flashes a concerned look at him but nods, turning back to Wilbur.
"I promise once we find him I will spend a whole day with you, and you'll be so sick of me you'll practically beg me to leave, alright Sprout?"
"Okay! We'll find Tommy, I promise!"
"It's like when we played find Tommy," Grian grins, "We'll split into groups. Wilbur, Techno, you two look on the ground for signs of him. Phil, you and I take to the skies."
"We don't have elytras," Tubbo interjects, "Wilbur and Techno are the only ones able to fly, and even then just barely."
"Phil and I don't need elytras." He grins, wings expanding from his back, Phil's doing the same. "Lead the way, Kiddo."