Usually, I would've waited a bit longer to make the next chapter.
Your guy's comments convinced me otherwise.
So we're back! Chapter Twelve! Back to Mumbo's POV! Woo!
This would've been done faster if I wasn't expected to sOcIalizE-
'Game' is like 'year'. It's like 'season'. Hard to explain, just go with it :)
Pretend that Mumbo spent some time at the starter island getting things together before going off to where his mega-base will be. This AU will be omega-messed up when it comes to season starts, you're just gonna have to bear with me.
WC: ~1000
Enjoy!
<Grian was slain by falsesymetery>
Mumbo practically leaped out of his skin at the message. Another early-game death? No, not just a death. A kill. Kills almost never happened due to the burn of death. Late-game, sometimes. Still rare, only existent due to the resources available that can provide a speedy recovery. But when players struggled to even get a good food supply? Never.
Mumbo was tempted to send a message asking what had happened but figured that there was no reason to be a bother.
What really made his heart sink was the fact that no one else sent a message.
When Stress had died, the communicators were flooded with worried messages, which Xisuma responded to reassuringly.
But Grian?
Silence.
A sour taste came to Mumbo's mouth, but he still didn't say anything on the communicator. Instead, Mumbo began searching the large island for where Grian respawned.
Mumbo had stayed on the spawn island, just until he got a decent set of equipment. Rocking an iron pickaxe, helmet, and boots, Mumbo walked around the area, until...
"Grian!" Mumbo called out, spotting the Watcher lying on the grass twenty or so blocks away. The Watcher sat up at his name, and Mumbo could see his face twisted in pain. As Mumbo came over, Grian snapped his fingers, bringing a purple globe to them. Mumbo stopped dead in his tracks, startled.
Grian flicked his wrist, and the magic surrounded him, swirling around like purple flames. Grian didn't seem bothered though, and it died down after a second. Grian stood up, noticed Mumbo, and quickly explained boosts before he could ask.
"I also gave Stress one," Grian finished. "Turns out they're great when you die."
"Wow, that's..." Mumbo didn't have words. A way to make early deaths less fatal. Maybe having him around won't be so bad after all.
Mumbo wanted to smack himself after that thought.
Did he really just class Grian as a tool?
Something's wrong with me...
Instead of saying anything to that, Mumbo reached into a hidden pocket in his suit and pulled out an object.
Grian's mask.
"You left this behind," Mumbo said, handing the mask to the Watcher. Grian took it, then did something surprising. He dropped it on the floor, stepped on half of it, reached down and snapped it in half, right down the middle, then picked up the two halves. He spun them in his hands for a moment, then promptly flung them one after another, like throwing stars.
Shhhhhhhhhhhick.
Shhhhhhhhhhhick.
The two halves cut into a nearby tree, slicing the bark with the pointed end, leaving the two stabbed in the tree.
"I'm not going back," there was a dark bitterness in Grian's voice. "I refuse to be among them. Even if I can't stay here, I'm not going back. Mumbo, Stress told me what happened with the Watchers last time." Mumbo flinched. "I can't. I... I don't want them to make me do that. And they will. I didn't know how horrible the Watchers could be. I'm done with them. I'm so done." Grian shook his head, his violet eyes containing enough fury to light a forest on fire.
"How do you plan to prove yourself?" Mumbo asked. "If you want the rest of them to accept you, you need a plan." Grian looked shocked by Mumbo's words. Mumbo was even a bit shocked by them. But... it was true.
"I... I don't know," Grian mumbled. "Why are you asking? Wouldn't you prefer I went to another server?"
"Not all servers are Watcher-proof," Mumbo pointed out. I'd rather have you here as an ally than you leave the server and then get turned against us. "In fact, I bet the minute you leave this server, assuming you figure out how, you'll be teleported back to the Watchers." Realization dawned on Grian's face.
"I can't leave," Grian murmured. "This is the ultimate kill or get killed, isn't it? And I'm picking get killed." Mumbo winced.
"I'm sure you won't get killed again," Mumbo said reassuringly, trying to assure both Grian and himself.
"Who even killed me?" Grian asked.
"False," Mumbo replied with a sigh. "What did you do to tick her off?"
"Literally nothing," Grian grumbled. "I was just talking to Xisuma, Iskall, and Stress, and then I get shot from behind." Mumbo shook his head.
"She wouldn't kill you for no reason," he said. "What did you say to her? You must have done something." Grian furrowed his brow, thinking.
"I said nothing to her," the Watcher said. "I didn't even know she was there. All I was doing was- oh." Grian's eyes widened in realization. "I used my magic. She must have thought I was attacking." The Watcher sighed, then snapped. A lilac flame came to his hands, making Mumbo step back.
"I think it's beautiful," Grian murmured, watching as the flame danced around his palm. "In its own weird way. Something that looks dangerous, but really just wants to play." Mumbo stared at the flame, taking Grian's words into consideration.
"Everyone is afraid of it," Grian continued. "Everyone judges it for what it looks like: fire. Fire is dangerous. Fire kills. But this purple flame... it hasn't done any of that. But it's judged for what it is. Fear... it's not nice to feel feared. Maybe it is for some. Not for the purple flame. Distrust... it's like fuel for some. This purple flame... it just wants to feel like it belongs. But will it ever belong? Among fire... it's purple. Different. Weird. Among others... it's fire. Dangerous. Untrustworthy."
"Mumbo, this flame is judged for being something, even though it doesn't feel like it is what it is."
"You... that flame represents you," Mumbo breathed. Grian nodded, then closed his fist, extinguishing the flame.
"I'm sorry," Mumbo whispered. "I... I think I get it now. You are just like the flame. And... I think I'm ready to really accept this. Both you and the flame." Grian smiled up at Mumbo, a real smile.
"That's all I ask."
:)
Not too much else to say.
Just.
:)
-Storm
YOU ARE READING
Redemption (A Hermitcraft AU)
Fanfiction||Story Name Was Previously "Watched"|| Grian was never trusted. Not by the Watchers. They hated him for his thoughts. Though he tried to prove them wrong, and to show them that he was trustworthy, they refuse to believe him. He WAS the only Watcher...
