~Moved to diff blog~

Grian and Etho stood about 2 feet apart. Their bodies were either facing toward or away from the group on the other end of the pillar, but their heads were facing each other. Each had a look of slight excitement, each seeming to be talking to the other without actually talking.

“Do you understand what’s going on?” Iskall whispered to X, who just shook his head no, looking just as confused. But the 3 bystanders didn’t interrupt the two in front of them. After all, it seemed they knew what they were doing.

Etho took a deep breath as Grian released one, and Etho started to hum an upbeat tune and started to gracefully spin and dance towards Grian.

As Etho did that Grian also did a little spin in sync but did a more funky little groove towards the other man, but somehow, they both seemed to be in sync with one another. Once they were chest to chest with the other, Grian set his hand on etho’s shoulder and held his hand with the other. Etho mirrors the position but puts his hand on Grians waist.

Looking into the other’s eyes, they both grinned and started to move as one. Doing a mash between a goofy dance and a waltz, it seemed like the two didn’t have a care about the world around them. And as they heard the first note of a piano they knew it was working. And once the music started up Etho stopped his humming.

And as the 3 who seemed to not even exist to the dancing men watched, they started to hear the very faint sound of music starting up. As the music got a bit louder, and the pair started to get more relaxed with their dancing, Mumbo started to put two and two together. Taking a small step forward, the music got a small bit louder. His eyes shined in fascination, and it seemed he was already sold on this fusion idea. He already wanted to learn so much more about it.

Iskall and Xisuma on the other hand were still a bit skeptical.

As the pair of skeptics heard the music which was a mix of Piano and drum beats, even they had to admit, they were quite intrigued. Panning back over to the dancing duo, Grian raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced upward, Etho got what the smaller man meant quickly. Even their dancing ideas seemed to be in sync.

As the music tempo started to rise, Etho spun grian out, only stopping him by the hand he still held onto. The two panted a small bit, Grian giving him an even bigger grin. And Etho spun Grian back towards himself and grabbed his waist. And with a bit of help from Grians wings, threw him up in the air.

The 3 in the background all stare in shock, moving forward a bit. But as Grian game back down, laughing just loud enough to where it was heard above the music, Etho caught him. And the instant the two touched, there was a bright white light that made the other 3 look away for a moment.

But when they looked back, their friends weren’t there, but instead, they were met with one man. And before Xisuma and Iskall could properly regain their thoughts, Mumbo was walking up to the man.

Taking a few deep breaths, eyes still closed, he took a second to gain his bearing. Opening his eyes, he grinned to himself knowing it worked. It worked! They were fused!

Laughing a bit, they did a groovy little victory dance. Once done with that, they began twisting themself around a bit, to have a look at themself, at their new body. They had Grians wings, though having a slightly different design, and etho’s height, that was nice, very lucky on his part! Feeling his face he also had etho’s mask.

“Holy smokes!” Being knocked out of their fusion haze, they looked in front of them to be met with the mustached man. The fusion laughed and did a small little bow.

“Well hello there my mustached comrade! It’s great to meet you!” Mumbo did a surprised little laugh.

“Well hello to you too! Isn’t this exciting! Gosh, I have so many questions!” Iskall and Xisuma start to walk up to the new guy and Mumbo.

“Before bumbo here talks your ear off,” Mumbo makes an offended noise at Iskalls statement. Iskall laughs and continues “What’s your name? Would it just be a mix of Grian and Etho? Gritho? Eian?” The fusion perks up to respond then pauses. Leaning back and tapping their chin they thought. Thought very hard on the topic, names were very important after all. Even more so to fusions!

As the fusion thought, the three looked over and took in this new person. He seemed to have the chill and relaxed exterior Etho usually had but had the energy and talkative nature of Grian. It seemed so foreign yet so familiar, having the two personalities mesh.

As the fusion thought, he went through things Etho and Grian had in common, it was a lot more than what is shown on the surface. What would his components think? ‘Well, I’d Say Go With The Fused Name’ ‘really etho? but that’s so boring!’ The fusion gave a slight snort and covered the area where his mouth would be. As the others gave him a weird look, he put up a finger as to say ‘1 minute please’.

‘Well Got Any Better Ideas BirdMan?’ ‘ninja bird!’ ‘No, Just No’ ‘hahaha, I know but I still wanted to say it! what about pesky? what do you think fusion?’ ‘Also Tell The Others We Said Hi!’ As the two voices faded back into his mind, Pesky nodded confidently and looked back at the others.

“My components, Grian and Etho, say hello! But, I would like to be called Pesky!” And Pesky couldn’t ignore the feeling of warmth and excitement that filled him at the name. Yeah, Pesky was right. Xisuma held his hand out and Pesky eagerly shook it.

“Well Pesky, Welcome to hermitcraft?” The fusion chuckled at the slight confusion at the end. “Are you willing to answer a few questions?” Pesky nodded and lifted his arms, resting his hands behind his head as he stood in a relaxed pose.

“Yeah! I’d be happy too. But I probably won’t say everything, I don’t wanna spoil the experience for the other two! Grian was really looking forward to it!” He looked over at Mumbo and Iskall, the latter of the two realizing he still needed to decide on that. It was obvious Mumbo’s answer was already yes, he was already holding a book and quill!

“That sounds good to me, We’d just like to know a few basic things then.”

After a quick QnA from Xisuma, mostly about health and physical things, Pesky stopped giving straight answers. After the questions of safety and precaution were out of the way it seemed he just stopped answering.

But Pesky still seemed to be in a good and almost playful mood. Soon enough tho, Pesky pipes up.

“Well!” clapping his hands, Pesky stood, ”I’m sure this isn’t the last you’ll see of me! Etho and Grian seem to really enjoy this! As do I! I had a great time. But! I’m just a trial run for more important business! Buh-Bye!” giving an enthusiastic wave, there was another blinding light.

The other three were taken more aback this time. Between the sudden departure without being able to say anything and sudden light, it took the three a bit longer than before to focus back in front of them.

And now, in front of them looked a slightly tired Etho and Grian who looked like he had so much energy he’d burst from the seams.

“Jeez G, did you steal all Etho’s energy coming out of the fusion?” Iskall jokes, making Grian and Etho laugh in response.

“I don’t think so? I’m just really excited about this plan. I forgot how nice it felt to fuse!” Etho nodded in agreement.

“It’s not something I’d wanna be in permanently but it is a very nice experience, I missed it more than I thought.” Grian gave a ‘true true’ while nodding along to etho’s statement. Grian then looked at Iskall and Mumbo, looking at them hopefully, and maybe a hint of puppy-dog eyes.

Mumbo looked over at Iskall, who had his eyebrows pinched and seemed to be debating.

“I…”Iskall started but seemed to be at a loss for words. Grian stepped forward.

“Hey, Iskall, if you don’t feel comfortable enough with this, it’s ok to say no. We can think of another plan or wait a bit longer. Fusion is a special thing, and I- WE don’t want you to be forced into anything.” Grian reassured his friend. Fusion was truly a special and delicate thing. It’s a moment of vulnerability. You were giving up yourself to be something that is and isn’t you. Giving life to something, or someone, new! It’s not an event to take lightly.

“How about this, while Iskall thinks, we all take a snack break? Pesky did say after a fusion you'll both need to hydrate and eat something. Best to do that now I'd say” Xisuma proposed. Etho seconded that vote. Grian smiled at Iskall, still looking into his eyes.

“Sounds like a great idea to me” Grian states.

After a good half-hour or so later, the 5 of them were relaxing in the pillar, munching away on some snacks and making small talk. Xisuma was doing a lot of talking and reassuring in the chat to the other hermits, that he and the 4 with him were just fine(the other 4 eventually all chiming in to help Xisuma out with the restless hermits). None of the 5 blamed the rest of the server for being nervous, it’s been a wild week. And god, has it been a CHAOTIC couple of days.

“So etho,” Iskall started, the masked man looking at him. “Grian has shown his faith in this...fusion thing. And I trust him, I just…” Iskall trailed off, obviously feeling guilty. Iskall loved Grian and trusted him. But sometimes the little guy tends to exaggerate or dismiss a lot of things it seems. Etho gave Iskall a little chuckle.

“You’re still a bit worried, I get it” Sitting up from his previously relaxed position, Etho continued. “Your stress is reasonable and ok, Iskall. Fusion is a very sensitive topic.

“To answer your question, the fusion felt nice. It's not painful or mind-breaking” Etho started, setting his head in his hand.”Especially when it’s someone you’re close to or care about. It would be like… Back when you guys were in Sahara or Dragon Bros! You all felt so close to one another it’s like you could be each other, you know one another like the back of your own hand. Imagine that but actually being each other.” Etho watched as Iskall rubbed their chin, letting Etho’s comparison sink in. Letting themself imagine it. Worrying their bottom lip, Iskall looked over at their two Architect buddies.

Mumbo gave Iskall a reassuring smile as they looked at him, Grian giving them hopeful, almost pleading eyes for the second time this evening. Iskall, feeling their heart soften at the looks from the two, gave a soft sigh and smiled.

“The things I do for love” Iskall joked and shook their head. Mumbo and Grian perked up excitedly. Iskal shifted to face them ”Alright, I’ll try this thing out.”

Mumbo and Grian cheered out in excitement and happiness and basically tackled Iskall to the floor in a hug. The three of them laugh together on the floor, and suddenly there is a blinding light, a chime from a keyboard in a short giddy tune accompanying the light.

Feeling giggles bubbling out of him, he slowly sat up holding his head. He felt nothing but fondness and love within him, it made him want to spread these feelings to others. Looking over to his left, he saw the slightly shocked expressions of Xisuma and Etho.

“What’s gotten you two shaken up? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost!” Blinking, he slightly held his throat.”Huh, that’s a lot deeper than I thought it was going to be, awesome!” Using his feet and hands, he hopped up into a standing position and had to put out his arms to keep himself balanced and not fall back down.

“Huh, Seems Grians wings must be a dominant trait when fusing” quickly turning his head at Ethos comment, the fusion could confirm, he had wings! The new man in the room then looks at Xisuma as he starts walking around him curiously.

“Did you shrink?” The fusion blurted out confused, from his components memories, the admin seems like he should have been a lot bigger. He looked over and smiled at Ethos as he heard him begin to laugh.

“No, no, you’re just reaallyyy tall” Etho drew out. Xisuma rolled his eyes fondly.

“What Etho said, It seems since there were 3 people your height must have increased.” Xisuma guessed, tilting his head a bit. Etho walked up to the tall man.

“So, after you have a look at yourself, why don’t you tell us your name big fella” The Fusion went to speak then paused then quickly started to examine himself past the obvious wings. Xisuma and Etho laugh at the reaction and take a step back to give the man some space.

Looking behind himself again, sure as ever, the wings were still there! Grians wings this season were parrot wings, and the Pesky fusion ‘hehehehe’ had snowy bird-like wings, they looked almost cold to the touch. But these wings were different as well. These wings looked mechanical? Bionical parrot wings. They had cyborg components that looked to be powered by Redstone, but also a parrot design, it was very cool.

Next, he felt his face, he had to see-Yes! Mustache! It felt like he actually had the stache AND stubble! Thank god they didn’t get Grians baby face ‘hey!’ ‘Haha-HaHa’ ‘oh shush you two!’. The fusion grinned at the banter and looked over the rest of them, they had slightly tanned skin, a good middle between the three of them. But also, not like them, it’s like himself, wait...

A name. He still needed a name. The fusion began to pace back and forth a bit and rubbed his chin as he thought. A mix of the names seemed like a bit of a stretch in this situation. He could use Architect? Maybe, Maybe.

‘What about BuildStone-’ ‘no!! NO’ ‘Omega LOL’ ‘Do not even joke about that dude’ ‘terrifying time, and I created it’ ‘Well couldn’t It be Something we All share?’ The fusion’s eyes lit up.

“Sahara” Xisuma and Etho looked over at the fusion from where they were talking to each other, the fusion smiled and shrugged, listening to the other’s voices fade away in his mind. “The thing happened a while ago and wasn’t that much of a success, but the three loved it and share a lot of good memories from it. I wanna be called Sahara for now.” Xisuma and Etho look at each other then back at the fusion. Xisuma put out his hand.

"Well Sahara, welcome to Hermitcraft” Xisuma sounded a bit more confident this time. Grinning, Sahara shook Xisuma’s hand, then Etho’s. After the handshakes, Sahara clapped his hands, turning to face the staircase.

“Now! Since my components all have the details of the plan, I say I go introduce myself to everyone!” Xisuma and Etho looked at each other nervously.

“Are you sure about that? Your components seemed rather nervous about that. Not to mention you JUST fused. You've probably barely got a grip on reality right now” Sahara looked back at Etho and waved him off slightly.

“Yeah yeah, they have their anxieties, and I mean, so do I. And maybe it's the sheer amount of love and admiration I came to with. Or that I had two people with a lot of energy and one with a past in fusion, but I feel great! And it seems I have this new dumb confidence with this height boost as well, at least that’s what I’m blaming it on!” Sahara nods and walks over to the stairs and turns around one more time. “Oh! Xisuma, can you tell all the hermits to meet us in front of the town hall, we can meet them there!” Xisuma looked between him and Etho, who just looked conflicted but shrugged and then gave a soft sigh, and then a light chuckle.

“Alright then, if you’re sure. But at the first sign of something going wrong I'm stepping in” As Ethos spoke, Xisuma pulled out his com, and gave Sahara one last look, to which he nodded excitedly. Shaking his head fondly, Xisuma sent out the message to the server.

Stepping out of world spawn's bubble column, Sahara waited for his two friends, rocking on his feet and looking around. He seemed to be a bit antsy, or excited, maybe both. Whether it was for a good reason or a bad reason, Xisuma and Etho couldn’t tell.

But once on solid ground in front of them, Sahara asked the two about their touch boundaries and if he could pick the two up to fly the three of them over. Xisuma and Etho are slightly taken aback by the question. Sure Sahara could fly a bit faster than the two of them but that question was out of the blue. Maybe physical touch calmed them?

In the end, Xisuma and Etho agreed, much to Sahara’s excitement. Picking up his new friends, Sahara slightly crouched and after spreading his wings to their full length and lifting them, he quickly flapped them back down to shoot them out of the spawn area and into the sky with ease. After gaining his bearings, this was his first time being in the sky, after all, Sahara set off towards the town hall, making sure to keep a good grip on his two friends. Both who held onto him with tight grips, this was a very new and odd experience for them.

The hermits who were left, out of the egg, waited in the plaza in front of the Mayoral office and the Barge, even hermits who left the main island came back. Everyone was very on edge right now, and rightfully so. But no one was expecting a new tall hermit landing in the middle of them all, setting down Xisuma and Etho.

And as Etho and Xisuma got their footing back on land, the server fell eerily silent. This new hermit pursed their lips, looking around awkwardly. Xisuma was the one to break the silence.

“Thank you everyone for meeting us here on such short notice. And we’ll cut to the chase, this man behind us is a fusion of Iskall, Mumbo, and Grian.” There were noises of surprise and disbelief. Etho continues.

“I know that’s hard to believe, to most fusion is a fairytale or a plot movies use, but I can confirm it’s a real thing. Sahara?” Etho turned to look at the Sahara as he perked up, hearing his name. “Why don’t you tell us a fact about each of your components that only the hermits would know” Sahara nodded excitedly, and went to speak but was interrupted.

“I'm sorry to be so rude, but are you so sure about this Etho?” Tango blurted out, arms crossed. A few hermits mumbled their agreements before Etho, Xisuma, or Sahara could reply, someone spoke up.

“As you said, Fusion is a fairytale. I think we’re all kinda concerned this new guy didn’t show up on the coms” Ren waved his communicator around a little, ears back, showing how unsettling this was.

“Well going back in time to Alpha, the coms didn’t ping a message that the hippies had even left” Sahara pointed out, everyone quickly shut up. How could he have known that? Impulse and Ren look at each other nervously.

“Just like it didn’t exactly tell us when Scar became CaptinAngryEyes, only people who even knew Scar transformed into CAE until later down the line, we're Scar's partners and rivals at the time” This comment was pointed at Doc this time, who looked to the side, but Ren and Impulse grimaced a bit as well. Sahara nodded.

“That was the proof for Grian. For Mumbo, when he made his 'Buy my Bits' shop, Tango bought his mustache, Grian bought his hair, and Iskall bought his suit, which he later transformed into a pink suit for stress during the mayoral campaign!" Sahara was now pacing around like mumbo would do, arms moving around as he talked like Iskall, and his wings moving to make himself look bigger as he got more heated, trying to prove his own existence was real.

"And Iskall! The winner of demise, who was one of the founders of Dragon Bros, he's the closest to Stressmonster101 and cares for her deeply, even enough to tamper with Mumbo and Grians Robot son. God that fight between the three afterward wasn't pretty" Sahara shook their head and grimaced. "Mr.85 made many very successful gambling games that continue to be successful. Keralis is his best customer by a long shot but Iskall is a fair man and doesn't like to cheat fellow hermits out of the goodies by unfair means-" Sahara paused when there was a hand on his arm. Looking at the hand and following the arm he saw StressMonster. He instantly softened.

"Luv, take a breath. I fink we understands you're point now. You're jus' gunna 'urt yourself." At Stress' gentle words, Sahara lets their wings and shoulders relax as they give a soft but irritated sigh.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so heated and upset. Just… When someone tries to tell you you shouldn't exist, it hurts. I'm sure some of you can understand" Sahara gave the hermits a glance over before squatting down and opening his arms a bit to the woman in front of them. Stress immediately returned the hug, and Sahara was thankful for this, burrowing their face gently in her shoulder.

As Sahara relaxed in the hug, he missed the guilty and still unsure glances from all the hermits. Xisuma spoke up.

"Looking back at the Egg in Aqua Town, I’d say our new member is the least surprising thing at the moment. Now Sahara?” Sahara nodded to show he was listening, Stress rubbing circles into his back. “Once you’re ready, I recommend we discuss you and your counterpart’s plan to help with this whole egg situation” Sahara nodded again but still didn’t pull away yet. Maybe it was the Iskall in them, or the touch-starved nature of Mumbo, or the need to release pent-up emotions from Grian, but even if it was any of those or a combination of them, Sahara didn’t want to pull away just yet.

As Sahara took this time to cool himself down the hermits started to chat amongst themselves. Some went up to Xisuma and Etho to ask some questions, some talked amounts themselves, and Ren walked up to Sahara and Stress.

“Hello there, Sahara, is it ok if I speak with you?” Sahara pulled his face away from Stress' shoulder, to look at Ren and nodded. Ren studied his face for a bit, seeing the features of his 3 friends, but none of them more prominent than the other, it was quite a weird feeling. Sahara's face is so similar yet so foreign.

“I wanted to apologize for being so harsh earlier. Just like a lot of the hermits, I am very on edge right now, and with it being announced the egg spoke to Grian, I'm a bit more grumpy and easily startled than usual.” Ren messed with the skin next to his nails as he spoke, fidgeting to try and keep himself calm. Sahara finally pulled away from stress, sitting back on his heels, still looking at Ren.

“I understand the hesitance, Ren, before today 2/3rd’s on my components didn't exactly think fusion was a real thing either. It’s a very new and sudden thing. Grian wishes he could have introduced fusion to everyone in a better, more friendly way. But like you said, times are very tense and uncertain right now.” Sahara smiled at Ren. Turning back to stress, Sahara gently grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.

“Thank you for helping me there Stress” Letting her hand go, he bounces into a standing position and strides away before she can respond, leaving her with a slightly less uncertain Ren.

When Sahara comes up to Xisuma and Etho, Xisuma announces to everyone to get back in a group so they can talk. And only about a minute later everyone was back in a group, waiting to hear what happens next. Sahara looks around at everyone, then at Xisuma and Etho, who both nodded at him. Taking a deep breath Sahara turned back to the crowd.

“Ok, So my plan, or Grians plan really, is to use me to get, at the very least, Scar back out of the egg. Grian has a history with magic, powerful magic. He doesn’t like to talk about it due to bad memories, but it’s why Scars magic has never really worked on him before, Scars magic is weaker than his own.

“But using some of Scars leftover crystals, I will be asking all of you for help with this. Just like what Scar did before being taken, I'm asking for everyone to help give me energy. Using that extra help for the strength and magic I have, I'm hoping I'll be able to reach in and pull out at least one of our fellow hermits.” Sahara looked at all the stunned and unsure faces.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to do that? Didn't you say you were only…formed? Recently?” Hypno asks nervously.

“I don't remember Grian, Mumbo, or Iskall having powers like that either. Is it something from Grians past or?” Cub adds on, tilting his head slightly. Sahara shakes his head.

“It's my own power. The longer I stay me, the more I learn about myself. So far I've learned quite a lot of my powers and abilities. I can demonstrate what I can do on a smaller scale if it would help you all.” And with a few minutes of discussion, everyone had agreed on a plan. And if Sahara successfully passed, everyone would fully trust him from now on.

“Got the bee ready?” Sahara called from the other side of the wall.

“Yep, ready when you are” Cub responded. Sahara took a deep breath as the hermits watched.

To test Sahara’s abilities, Xisuma has set up a wall of obsidian in the plaza everyone was at. As most of the hermits stood back so they could watch both sides of the wall, everyone was on edge. On one side stood Xisuma and Cub, who was currently holding a Bee that was supposed to go through the wall somehow. On the other side was Sahara and Etho. Sahara looked determined, but if you looked closely you could see the sweat dripping down his forehead. Sahara knew he had to pass this, he had to prove himself to the others. Not only for the sake of the Hermits in the Egg but for himself.

Concentrating on his hands, his eye and mechanical eye unfocused on the wall in front of him, Sahara focused on the growing buzzing feeling in his hands. It felt like tv static. Until that feeling was all he could feel in his fingers, he didn't move. When he felt ready Sahara focused this feeling to move and spread up his hands and then finally up to his midarm. Once it got halfway up his arm, Sahara moved.

Taking a step forward, Sahara pushed his hands slowly through the wall, the rest of the world around him basically gone as he watched his hands disappear through the obsidian. Good, partly there. Pushing his hands and arms the rest of the way through, he waited, and then he felt a weight in his hands. A shiver went through his spine as Sahara could now feel this new object, most likely the bee. As if the Bee was attached to him, he felt the static going through the Bee as if it was a new limb, the feeling wasn't the nicest in the world.

Sahara started to retreat through the wall, watching intensely as he took a small step back, low and behold, the Bee came with him. Once safely on the other side, his hands and the Bee fully through the wall, Sahara dropped his concentration, letting the tv-static feeling drain away. And as it did the Bee flew away as well, off to find a hive.

Sahara watched it fly off as the static finally melted away. Turning his head to look at the hermits, Sahara noted Xisuma and Cub were now on his side of the wall. As for the rest, everyone had looks of shock and amazement, Sahara gave them a little smirk before leaning against the wall.

“Holy cow” Ren broke the silence. “You actually just, just pulled a living creature through that wall, without vex magic!” Cub nodded a bit, muttering a ‘not an ounce of Vex magic on him’.

“Well as impressive as that was, it was just a bee, a small animal, not a whole person” Doc spoke, breaking everyone’s trance.

“Docs got a point. A player is much bigger in many ways than a bee or any passive Mob” Jevin points out. A few people start to discourage them but Sahara laughs, making everyone look at him.

“Well duh, we agreed on me doing a person next did we not? This test was just to show I could do it!” Standing up, off the wall, Sahara pulled out and ate a golden carrot. The action of pulling that bee through the wall wasn’t too tiring, but it did work up an appetite.

“Question is, who trusts me enough to volunteer?” That sure shut the hermits up, as Sahara expected. Starting to munch on a second golden carrot Sahara waited. As calm and collected as he was acting, the truth is he was VERY nervous. This being his first time out, he had so much to prove, he had such big shoes to fill. He knew his components weren’t just using him to help them and their friends, they did care for him, but Sahara was still an emotional mess on the inside. Enough of one in fact that he started feeling a static feeling in his core.

‘hey now sahara, you may be here to help us, but we care about you for more than just that’ Grian’s voice rang through his head first. Sahara leaned back against the obsidian as the Hermits around him started to talk. ‘We may not have had you long, but we care for you Sahara. This surely won’t be the last time you’ll be out. After all this chaos dies down, you’ll be back before you know it’ Mumbo’s voice rings out second, he felt the static feeling in his core starting to dissipate, as he smiled gently to himself.

‘We love you For you Sahara, not Just your powers. As hesitant as I was, I can see the truth Now, you’ll be out MUCH more than you think’ Hearing Iskalls words of support really hit Sahara, he was the most hesitant in the beginning, and hearing him say he wanted to do it again? It pumped Sahara up. Any static feeling he had before was gone now, and by the looks of it just in time. As Etho set a hand on his arm. Sahara turned and tilted his head to look at him.

“Looks like I'm going to be the volunteer, are you ready to do this?” Sahara grins and stands up again.

“Yeah, I'm ready, let's do this. I’ll prove to them I can help, and we’ll get those other hermits back” Sahara looked past everyone to Aqua town, the top of the Egg peeking into his view. Sahara would help them get their friends back, no matter what.

Currently, Sahara stood in a position that mirrored the one from before, with the Bee and Cub. But this time, Xisuma stood on his side, Doc was on Etho’s side. Sahara looks over at Xisuma, who gives him an encouraging nod and a thumbs up. Sahara gave a curt nod back and looked back at the obsidian wall.

Letting his eye go half-lidded let both eyes go unfocused, Sahara concentrated on getting that same feeling from before but letting it go farther. Letting the feeling of tv static go all the way up his arms before stepping forward. As it seemed just his arms weren’t enough this time, he pulled back slightly, and let the feeling spread through his whole body. As unpleasant as the feeling was getting, Sahara kept going.

Stepping back to be against the wall, he pushed himself a bit further, as if he was gonna walk through the wall, and held his breath. Once he felt Etho on the other side, he gently grabbed onto him. He felt etho shudder at the feeling of him slowly connecting to Sahara, but he held onto Sahara nonetheless. And as Etho’s arms were feeling just as staticy as his were, Sahra slowly started walking back, taking a deep breath once his face was outside the block.

‘Be prepared to hold your breath’ Sahara said, more to himself than anything. ‘I don't know how I heard that, but will do.’ He heard Etho’s voice through his head, just like he heard his counterparts. Huh, that was handy to know. But as Saharas magic made Etho fully connected to Sahara, Etho stopped, Sahara stopped.

To everyone else it looked as if they were catching their breaths, readjusting, but to Sahara, it was so much more. The new weight, the second heartbeat, the second set of breathing, he had to manage everything twice over. He could tell someone in his head was trying to speak to him. Whether it was Etho or one of his counterparts, he couldn't tell. All Sahara could feel was how aware he was of the 2nd body. He had to get this done with, Quick.

Holding his breath, Sahara noticed Etho’s body did as well. So while he still held his breath, he started to pull Etho’s body through. As he took a step back the body took a step forward. Once Sahara got Etho’s face through the other side he took a deep breath and wheezed out another.

Sahara could feel himself falling apart. He could feel himself crumbling, like the threads of his body slowly coming loose and falling from one another, he could feel his mind starting to slip. He almost stumbled as he kept walking back, trying to get the 2nd body out of the wall. Sahara could feel as he came apart, Etho's body wanted to as well. But due to it not being a fusion and being in a wall it couldn’t and god it fucking hurt, it hurt so much.

Sahara could hear the hermits start to panic as Sahara’s body started to basically melt as Etho’s looked a bit uncomfortable but overall fine. He couldn't hear Xisuma reassuring them, couldn’t hear Cub shout out about one of Scars crystals, couldn't hear the scrambling of people as the obsidian wouldn’t break and they searched for the crystals.

But he did notice when he felt more power surge through him. He felt a little ping, Xisuma? But also a fraction of scar? Then another, Ren and a fraction of Scar, then a third, Stress with a fraction of Scar. All their energy, it was surging through him, it gave him the strength he needed to continue.

Letting out a growl without realizing it, Sahara shifted his footing and physically pulled himself together and into a stable shape. Blinking his unfocused eye, he got a better grip on his, no, his AND Etho’s body and with a few final steps, he fully pulled etho out of the wall. Once Etho’s feet were safely on the ground, Sahara let go.

As he let go of Etho’s hands, Etho’s mind snapped back to his body with a gasp. And Sahara fell back, Etho wobbly falling forward on top of him, the Hermits rushing to their sides. Etho quickly reassured them and made everyone give him and Sahara some space while Sahara struggled to keep his eyes open. He knew if he fell asleep right there he’d be fine, he’d stay in one piece, but the others might panic. Sahara still felt the sizzle of the other’s energy’s on his tongue, he could still feel their power pulsing through him, helping keep him stable, and frankly, helping him stay awake.

Sahara only started focusing back on the world when he heard someone snapping next to his ear. Looking up, he saw Etho looking down at him, relief in his eyes as he saw Sahara was responding.

“Hey there big guy, can you speak?” Sahara blinked and licked his lips. Trying to give Etho a hum, it just came out as a huff. So Sahara shook his head no. Etho nodded and sat up, not caring he was basically in Sahara’s lap. Etho was still pretty shaky as well. But as he started to gently tug at Sahara's shoulders, the others around got the message.

The closest hermits helped Sahara sit up, and supported him on something so he wouldn’t fall back down, Etho sat down next to him in a similar position.

The two were given health and regen potions, Stress and Beef helping the two drink them. Etho was mostly back to normal very quickly, Sahara could now move and speak but he was sluggish. So, the hermits decided to set up a bunch of beds in the big area underneath the main mayoral office. A few hermits had to help Sahara stumble his way there, but he got there ok.

As he sat on a bed, Etho knelt in front of him.

“How are you holding up? I heard from the others that the scene was pretty intense. I could feel a few of your troubles, but I'm sure it was much more intense than what I felt.” Sahara nodded and ran a hand through his hair, letting out a heavy shaky breath.

“Yeah, Yeah really intense. It…was like your body was mine, and you joined into the mix with the other three. I had to control the extra set of lungs and extra limbs, it was a confusing time. But..” He looked up to see all the other hermits watching, all of them looked concerned. Sahara gave them a grin.

“But thanks to Xisuma’s, Ren’s, and Stress’s help, I had more than enough strength to pull myself together and fully pull Etho out. I would have done it in the end regardless but I probably would have split as a result.” Sahara yawned, covering his mouth with his hand. He jolted a bit when a golden carrot was held out to him. Looking up he saw Doc.

“Eat a little bit more, then we’ll leave you and Etho to get some rest, You both need it, Especially you Sahara.” Doc's low and deep voice honestly made Sahara more sleepy but he gently grabbed the food he was offered.

“Thank you Doc” Sahara took a bite of the carrot and let out a soft hum in satisfaction. Once he was done, Sahara got ready to lay down on his stomach, wings twitching a bit, he had weirdly bent them when falling earlier. But, thankfully, he didn’t hurt them too badly, it was like twisting an ankle really. But before he fully settled down, he looked back at the hermits who were getting ready to leave.

“I hope I’ve proved my worth to everyone. I really do want to help, making a scene wasn’t my intention today. The hermits matter to me just as much as they matter to you guys or Grian or Mumbo or Iskall” Turning back around Sahara got settled in a comfortable spot before passing the fuck out. The Hermits look amongst each other, even with some uncertain feelings still, everyone could say they now trusted Sahara, it may take a while for some to get used to him, but no one could doubt he was a hermit now.