In the two years since I have last had the motivation for this forum, I have been traveling. The new lands when I started writing for a new fandom are vast and uncharted... Something something, Grayson and I respectfully parted, and I haven't seen him since. Two years ago... something about a completely white eye. Man, I used to have this thing memorized.

That's right. I'm back. Is it for good? I don't know, but I do know this. Somehow, just out of the blue, my muse came back. I cannot describe it, only that I was lurking on the Haunted discord server as I always do (for you guys that are on there, I am reading everything about the upcoming comic but feel way too awkward to actually say anything since it's been so long!). I think that I saw something about the upcoming release of the trailer, and I felt some excitement, but that wasn't what kickstarted my muse...

I guess it was what I came across on Facebook. Years ago, probably before I started my YouTube account to subscribe to peeps, I followed "RejectedShotgun." I think that it was a fan account, but, at the time, I was just a foolish kid who at the very least I could use it to tell me when there were new videos about The Haunted. Then I just forgot about it, and for two years it was forgotten. Then, all of a sudden, I am scrolling through my Merlin angst posts and Endgame memes in my Facebook feed and there is an image of a Minecraft book. I took a moment to read it, and, at first glance it looked like a plausible note Grayson left about the egg when he took it (not that he would when I come to think about it). Then it dawned on me that it was DRAKE's note.

I don't know what this was from. I tried checking for Minecraft video updates on their YouTube channels, and I didn't find anything. I don't know how legit this is, I don't know where it came from. But it's there, and it was enough to make me write this. I didn't write nearly as much as I used to do with these one-shots, and I'm sorry. However, I didn't want to draw out something that didn't need to be too long when I just wanted to write about one thing: the betrayal.

My writing has changed drastically since I first wrote "The Quest For the Egg." I don't remember all of my theories for the fandom, though I remember that there were a few drastic and cracky ones (I am looking at you dragon's egg that talks to Grayson like you are the precious to his gollum). I remember that I wasn't too far off with the Collin being Armen's brother thing, and maybe if I take the time to reread my crappy writing I'll remember my other theories.

For now, though, consider this to be a reboot. I'm posting this in the Misc. fandom since I know that The Haunted is no longer set in Minecraft, but I will be posting this on my AO3 account and possibly even my Wattpad, just wherever it takes for you guys to see this. Maybe I'll write more in the future, maybe I will not, but, for now, let me introduce The Haunted One-Shots: Rebooted!

Let's Go On An Adventure

The Meaning of Trust

He had trusted him. In the four years since they had come to this wasteland, and in the two since he had taken the egg, Grayson thought that he had learned not to trust anyone. The last time that he had trusted someone, he had been betrayed, and he swore to himself that he would never trust anyone ever again.

Trust no one, the words echoed back at him like a taunting cry in his head.

He should have listened. God, Grayson should have listened. He crumpled the note into his fist, his grip vice-like. He didn't stop squeezing the paper until his fingernails tore through the paper and pressed into his palm. At once the former soldier let the note go, and he watched as it sailed into the dying embers of the fire.

It was only then that he realized just how much trust he had put into Drake. He had trusted him with everything, his past, his secrets, everything. And this was what he had been left with. The blond shook with anger as he stared at the spot he had watched his friend lie down his sleeping bag. When he was relieved from watch, he had trusted Drake to stay awake through the night and protect them both if needed. Though he had kept his hand around his sword the entire night, he didn't think that he would have to use it.

It didn't matter. He was alone, a dragon egg thief without an egg because Drake had taken it. Somewhere in his hardened heart, he knew that Drake meant no malice behind it. Whatever his reasons were, he wouldn't use the dragon to serve his own purposes. He wasn't like Ferox or the rest of the Empire. That didn't stop the pang of betrayal that settled in Grayson's heart, warping and turning it into lead as he took in what had happened.

The egg had been his sole purpose for existence since he lost everything. The Empire took his home and his family away from him because Grayson had taken it, and now the egg was gone, too, along with any semblance of trust and friendship he had ever carried for Drake.

He tore his eyes away from that spot before looking through the windows. It was raining outside, and the soft patter of rain against the glass created a haunting melody. Grayson thought about the way how his former friend had always hated water, and he briefly wondered whether it was possible that he could find him since he had always been a great tracker. Drake would be holed up in a cave, no doubt, to stay out of the rain.

He is long gone, a nasty part of Grayson's mind supplied. He's not coming back, and you're not going to see him again.

Grayson stared through the rain, a blueish grey hue overtaking everything. He had been tried to recognize the futility of a situation when he saw it, and the former soldier didn't care.

"I'm coming for you, Drake," he murmured to himself as he packed his things into his backpack. No matter how long it took, or even if it meant his death, Grayson wouldn't stop looking for him. It wasn't trust that motivated him, nor was it anger. He didn't even know what he would do once he found his former friend, but Grayson knew that he would never forgive himself if he didn't try.

Was he angry that Drake had left with his egg, or was he just angry that he had left? Grayson wasn't sure about that, either, but as he sheathed Andruin at his side and prepared to step out into the pouring rain, he figured that that didn't matter.

"I'm coming for you. That's a promise." And then Grayson opened the door and stepped outside of the ruined building to begin his new quest.

And, that's that, everybody! If anyone is reading this, thank you so much for sticking by me even when I disappear into oblivion. Your support meant so much to me in the past, and it helped me through the dark times when I needed it most.

~Lya200~