Steel Blood - A Hermitcraft fanfiction

Ch 28: I regret naming the chapters

Hehe I've gone off my plan and now I don't know what to write for this chapter. 

WHY DID ALL THE ANGST TAKE UP THAT MUCH SPACE LAST CHAPTER?! 

'Grian?' 

'What?' The builder turned around to see Mumbo, another few days after the Last Lifers had decided that they weren't going to just sit back and let their friends die. Skizz had apparently left enough information for Tango about his plans, Lizzie had practically fallen in love with NPG and his seeming innocence, while Joel instantly decided that he hated the creature and wanted it to die a painful death, though he was still on Grian's side for some reason. They weren't the only ones of the group who'd become obsessed with the house-building robot they were fighting for: Jimmy and Scott had taken up protecting NPG at all costs, or mainly the former, who was the only player ever to genuinely appreciate his building skills. BigB and Martyn had been trying to cheer up Grian, and anyone else, who'd been moping the entire time, locking himself inside the magical menagerie and refusing to leave. So far cookies, peering through the windows and going 'AHA!', rubbish jokes, making stupid faces in the glass, acting out moments in third life, references to Evo, numerous fluffy animals, parrots dancing, and Martyn literally yelling 'AT LEAST THE WATCHERS AREN'T HERE!' had done absolutely nothing, and they'd decided to give up and let Mumbo try. 

Which hadn't really started very well. 

(Hehe I've literally written 200 words of the last lifers being themselves) 

'F*** off, Mumbo. I don't want to talk to you. Or anyone. So tell Martyn and BigB to f*** off too.' 

'Grian, we're your friends. We're not going to let you be upset for the rest of your life.' Martyn walked into the room, deciding to give up on eavesdropping. BigB followed. 'Which will be a long time, unless someone frees that phantom or charged creeper.' 

'Yeah... We don't wanna see you sad, Grian.' Agreed BigB. 

'I don't want to let anyone else down.'

'You're not letting us down.' Mumbo stepped towards his friend as he began to walk away. 'Grian, please.'

'I caused all of this!' Snapped Grian, turning around. Mumbo backed down 'I didn't deal with NPG when I had the chance. I just trapped him in a box and now look what's happened. This is all my fault.'

'I think Scar's to blame.' Decided BigB helpfully. Martyn nodded in agreement,

'He's the one that decided to attack NPG, and then start a war against him when stuff started going a bit wrong.' 

'His best friend did die.' Grian replied. 'So...'

'Scar's the bad guy here, not you. You had no idea what was going to happen. He took everything too far.' Martyn argued. 

'I trapped him in a box because I was scared of talking to him!' 

'With the help and ideas of me and Cub.' Interrupted Mumbo. 'Grian, this isn't your fault.' 

'Besides, staying here isn't helping if you did do it... if you want to sort out this problem you, quote on quote caused, then you need to actually do something.' Martyn decided. 'So stop moping and come on. We're not going stand back and watch from afa-ha-r.' 

'Martyn was that another aha joke?' Grian looked unimpressed. 

'Yeah... it might've been. Don't get me sta-ha-rted.' 

'MARTYN!'

'What?!' 

'Alright, I'll help. Martyn, BigB, gather the others to fight. But don't try to kill anyone. Just distract them while me, Mumbo and NPG go and talk to Scar.' 

'You're going to talk to him? Bit risky...'

'If anything happens, we'll be armed. We just need to put an end to this through basic conversation. I mean- we'll be a-ha-rmed.' He dared a smile. Martyn grinned back. 

'Come on, let's tell the others what we're doing... knew you'd cheer up eventually.' Martyn headed off, and BigB followed. Right as Mumbo was about to do the same, Grian grabbed his hand. The moustached friend looked over.

'Mumbo, I can't do this.'

'What? But you just told Martyn...'

'I don't care what I told Martyn it was just to get them to go away. I can't do any of this. There are too many things that could go wrong and-' Grian stopped suddenly as Mumbo hugged him. Tentatively, he hugged back. 

'You needed a hug.' Mumbo explained. 'So I gave you one.' 

Before he could reply, Grian started to cry, his sobs silent.

'I can't deal with this.' 

'I know.' Was all Mumbo replied. 'I know.' 

'And now everyone's going to expect some big reunion between me and Scar when I'm... I'm SCARED of talking to him. I don't want him to shout. I don't want to see what he's become.' 

'But we need to do something.' 

'I don't want to do this.' 

'I'll be there. And NPG, I guess. And maybe we can find some of the hermits staying out of this and get them to help too... Xisuma wants peace, and False.'

'Scar just won't listen. Scar NEVER listens.' Grian finally broke away from the hug, pacing the room. 

'Scar might listen to you... you are the closest friend he has left.'

'What about Bdubs?'

'Grian, you're worrying too much. This is the only thing we can do. Besides, Martyn would've told everyone that you will. And there's no use in hiding from everyone.'

'True...'

'Grian? Martyn said we were going to find Scar and...'

'Oh F*** OFF, NPG.' Grian snarled as the robot entered. He stopped. Mumbo looked between them. 'I'm not doing this!'

'Grian...'

'I'm not going to do this!'

'We have to! For Hermitcraft. For NPG. To make something right.'

'What's going on?' NPG tried to speak again, letting a hint of frustration into his voice. 'Because if we're not doing this...'

'We are, aren't we Grian?' 

'Mumbo...'

'Grian, we're going to do this! And if you're not going to join us, then we're going without you.'

'Fine. Go without me.' 

Mumbo didn't move. 

'No.'

'You just said you would!'

'Grian, come on. You're acting like a child.' 

There was a moment of silence where no one spoke. Grian looked over at Boo the charged creeper before sighing. 

'Fine. I'll come.' 

'Then let's go.'

Hehe Griangst