Gifted: Hermitcraft

The Island of Grian. Welcome!

(Grian's POV)

"Ugh. Where are we?", Grian groaned as he rubbed his eyes.

Impulse was blinking rapidly.

Ren struggled to get up.

Tango's hidden horns and tail nervously popped out again.

Tango muttered something.

Around them was a lush green island. Behind them was an ocean. In front of them was a path that led into a forest.

Grian looked over at Ren and pulled him up.

"Thanks, man.", Ren groaned while twitching his ears.

Impulse gestured to the path. "Shall we go?", he asked.

Grian nodded, and they walked into the forest.

Grian and Tango looked up at the dark leafy canopy of leaves. 

Tango bit his lip. "We better get going before it gets darker.", he says, a tone of worry in his voice.

Grian mentally agreed, silently remembering his fear of the dark.

Ren looked at him with a touch of concern. "Are you okay, dude?"

"Never better!", Grian fibbed cheerfully. "In fact, I think I know where we are!", he added while gesturing to a strange tree that lay to the right of the path.

The tree had strange lumps of bark and bizarre swirls near the top of the trunk. It's leaves were fanned out beside it.

Impulse looked at Grian with an amazed expression. "Really?"

"Yeah. Welcome my lads, to the Island of Grian!", Grian responded.

At the word 'Grian', the forest seemed to quiet down.

"Who dares invoke the name of the Mighty One?", rumbled a mysterious voice.

Ren, Tango, and Impulse took out swords, but Grian motioned for them to put it away.

"It is I who dares, Oakian.", Grian said in a challenging voice.

  "Who is it who speaks against thy guardian of the home?"

Grian cleared his throat. "It is I, Grian. Allow me and my company passage."

"Nay."

Grian blinked up at the tree. "Why not?"

 "Prove you are what you say."

"Can I at least hide behind you?"

 "NAY."

Grian looked at the tree with a loathing look. "Fine."

Grian took off his shirt with quick motions and let his golden wings emerge from his back. He glared at the tree. "There. Now please spare me humiliation and let me pass.", he snapped.

"... Very well. But hie!"

The tree straightened up, revealing itself to be a wooden Grian with branches with leaves for wings. It bowed.

 "Enter quickly, Prince Grian of the Phoenixes. The Island is in need of assistance.",   Oakian said with a grimace.

(Ren's POV)

"What the hell was that all about?", Ren demanded to Grian as soon as they passed by the Grian Tree and Grian slipped his shirt back on.

"Er.. sorry if Oakian is old-fashioned. My mum kinda made him for me.", he replied.

"That's not what I meant! I mean like.. What's up with the wings and the title? Explain everything."

Grian grimaced.

"Once, I was a prince of the last race of Phoenixes. Phoenixes have the flaming bird form and human form. I am a hybrid of Phoenix and human. Unlike full Phoenixes, I don't have a full bird form and I only have wings. I also had a brother... named Xel. I... was the backup plan just in case Xel didn't accept his destiny of royalty. I wasn't just backup though. My mum cloned Xel, the noble, and selfish thing, and that resulted in me. However, I was different. Every time Xel pranked someone, it was me who egged him on." Grian paused. "No pun intended. I was the mischievous devil of the family, and was born with a dark heart." Grian showed an enchanted looking emerald. "This is what keeps me in control. One day though.. something attacked our empire, and Da told me and Xel to fly away to an island that had even given me an invitation to stay there if I wanted to. I didn't want to, but Xel convinced me that it was for the best. That island was Hermitcraft."

That last sentence brought gasps to the rest of the rescue team, including Ren.

"We crash landed in a tree near a flock of chickens. We stayed there for a while, and I grew restless. I parted ways with Xel, who wanted to stay with the chickens and guard them from harm as they had somehow done for us. During  my time with the chickens, though, I had a lot of Alter Egos. After realizing the possibility that they may be locked up after disuse, I made an island in my dreams for them."

Grian looked around the island. "This is that island. I was their king. After a while though, I needed to focus on my other things and take a break from royal duties. So, I forbade anyone from saying my name, because names hold power. I made sure Oakian kept that oath and kept anyone from breaking it."

A roar suddenly sounded from somewhere, and the loud noise made Ren's sensitive ears hurt.

"But come now," Grian said while walking faster. "Let's avoid that Redstone robot."