Chapter Text
It’s been days since the meteor had fully transformed the affected hermits. For the most part, the hermits were doing alright considering the situation they found themselves in. It wasn’t too unusual to see a few hermits, both affected and not, hanging around each other at their bases or the shopping district. However, what was strange was the ever-present robot following a few feet behind any given hermit.
Mumbo would never be far behind a hermit, standing at attention with his arms folded neatly behind his back awaiting instruction. To many of the hermits, it was unnerving to see the Redstone so quiet and placid.
Joe begins his day, as he had for these last few, rising with the sun to check up on the hermits. He had already checked in on a few hermits when he was passing through the shopping district, but then he runs into something nearly knocking himself over only to have quickly been grabbed by a metal arm.
“My apologies Mr. Joseph Hills,” Mumbo says, pulling Joe to an upright position, “It appears that I was in your way.”
“Thank you Mumbo,” Joe replies, glancing at his communicator then back to the robot, “Why are you all alone?”
“It would seem that no one is in need of my services so I moved to a location where I would not be in the way of any of the hermits,” Mumbo explains, “Clearly I was obscuring your way, Mr. Hills.”
“Oh no, you weren’t in my way Mumbo, I just wasn’t lookin’ where I was going. There’s no reason to apologize,” Joe brushes off.
“Well, I shall let you continue you on with your duties,” Mumbo says, returning to his still standing position. Joe starts to walk away when he stops in his pace.
Joe turns towards the robot, “Mumbo would you like to come with me while I make my rounds on the server?” The robot moves from his position in the shop district and begins to trail after Joe. Joe continues his normal walking speed, checking his notebook for reminders he needed to check on before glancing behind him. Mumbo remained five feet behind Joe. He stops walking waiting for the robot to catch up with him, but Mumbo stops five feet away for Joe.
“Do you require assistance with something Mr. Hills,” Mambo asks. Joe cringes at the formality, he was used to the younger hermit’s casual greetings that the Mr.'s and Miss.'s he addressed everyone by was unnerving as best.
“You can walk with me Mumbo. You don’t need to keep your distance,” Joe assures.
Mumbo comes forward to Joe’s position. Now joined by Mumbo at his side he continued on his obligations. They check up on all affected hermits throughout the day and even manage to make it to the End to check up on Xisuma and Exy. Throughout the day Mumbo offers to carry almost anything that Joe encounters or rattles any information that Joe might have needed with unfounded ease.
Exhausted by the day’s work Joe returns to the winery drained of all energy with Mumbo in tow. Joe felt wrong leaving the robot hermit alone in the shopping district after he had finished his rounds so he took Mumbo with him home. The pair enter into the mansion, Joe dropping his supplies into a random chest and Mumbo simply standing in the doorway.
“I’m going to get some food and a nap, if you would care to join Mumbo,” Joe offers, gesturing towards a guest room.
“I do not require sustenance or sleep,” Mumbo states blankly.
Joe raises an eyebrow at this, “Recharge?”
“Question not understood, please elaborate?”
“Don’t you need to regain your energy, like refilling your batteries?” Joe questions.
“I have no need, I am powered by Redstone there is no need to ‘recharge’ as you say. If I am not in service, I power down till I am needed,” the robot explains.
Gears turn in Joe’s head wanting to do something that would keep the robot active, even if it was for Joe’s stake not to see the once kind awkward man so unnaturally stiff and awaiting command.
“What would you like to do, while I get some rest?” Joe asks.
“What tasks would you assign me?” the robot asks back.
Joe groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘I’m going to end up talking in circles at this point.’
“Mumbo Jumbo,” Joe starts, “I would like you to find something to do that you enjoy while I take a nap. And you have to tell me what it was when I wake up. You are not to power off at this time.” Joe cringed at having to use the command, it felt wrong to order a friend around but he needed Mumbo to fight against the programming somehow.
“Understood, Mr. Hills, enjoy your nap while I complete the task at hand,” Mumbo says, taking a small bow in recognition of the command.
Shaking his head slightly Joe walks back to his room and face plants into his bed. Exhaustion leaves his sleep mercifully peacefully, with no confusing dreams or waking thoughts. When he does wake up the sun is just skimming the horizon in it’s decent.
Joe rouses from his slumber with a groggy sigh and pushed up from the bed to go check on Mumbo. He begins his search in the mansion finding no sign of the robot till he reaches his storage room. Every block had been moved, shuffled, and organized. Everything had a place and everything was in its place. Joe chuckles a bit, Mumbo had always been one to form organization even if his own storage room was messy. His train of thought is pulled away from the meticulous storage system to outside by a machinal sound.
Joe follows the sound outside to see his robotic friend working away at some sort of Redstone machine. The tall robot double-checking carefully made lines of red dust and perfectly placed pistons for any flaws. He paces around his contraption is calculated thought, working through the design.
Joe slowly walks up to the robot, simply enjoying the graceful machinal placement of the Redstone components. A smile spreads on his face, Mumbo looks like Mumbo with red-stained hands and small flyaway hairs sticking up from his normally pristine hair. His eyes are burgundy in deep thought. Joe chuckles literally almost seeing the gears turn in Mumbo's head and startles the usually unflappable robot.
“Oh, Joe,” Mumbo turns away from his machine to face the older man, “I did not realize you had completed your nap.”
“Just woke up a few minutes ago.” Joe stretches and yawns away any remaining pulls of sleep. “What are ya’ workin’ on there?”
Mumbo turns back towards his machine, “It’s a Redstone door. I do hope that you are not angry with me, I had to procear the piece of the door and I went through your resources.” He quickly spins around to Joe, “I can deconstruct the door if you are upset with me using your resources,” Mumbo stammers out. Joe could see the faint hints of blue and light pink swirl in Mumbo’s eyes.
Joe laughs, “You’re fine Mumbo. Feel free to take what you need, I don’t use much Redstone anyways.”
Mumbo tilts his head, processing the man’s words. “Oh, thank you, Joseph.”
The robot caustically returns to his work, glazing back to Joe then to his machine multiple times before settling into a comfortable workspace again. Joe slips back into the mansion to retrieve his notebook and a small snack before returning the robot. They sit together for a while in relative silence, Joe’s pen sliding across the paper of his notebook and small muttered words form Mumbo being the only sounds around as the sun sets beyond the coastline.
Mumbo pulls back from his Redstone machine, gazing upon his work. The robot lets out a small triumphant noise pulling Joe out of his concentration. He quickly wraps up his writing and closes the journal.
“Are you done?” Joe asks.
Mumbo’s head bounces a little in a nod, “Yes, it should be completed.” Joe can’t help but feel at ease with Mumbo’s usual excitement rather than the sterility of the robotic transformation. “Do you want to see the door work?” Mumbo asks a barely-there yellow ring surrounding his pupils.
“Go right ahead.”
Mumbo pushes the button to activate the door and steps back a few paces. They wait a few seconds, nothing happens. Mumbo tilts his head in confusion.
A few more seconds pass, and nothing happens.
“It should work.”
More times, and yet nothing happens. A small grumble escapes the robot as he moves forward to the machine to inspect it when a horrible clatter of metal and stone clash together and a puff of Redstone powder explodes out towards the pair. Joe being farther back quickly covers his eye and saves himself from the powder storm. Mumbo is not as lucky, being blasted by the large plume of dust.
Joe bats away the loose powder and rushes up the Mumbo. “Are you alright?”
The robot in question is covered from torso to the tip of his head is a layer of red dust. He stands there in stunned silence, Joe growing concerned the silence continues till laughter bubbles up.
Hardy, breathy laughs escape the robot. His once cold voice begins to warm by the laughter as they grow into larger roars. Joe finds himself joining in with Mumbo, smiling at how Mumbo begins to act like himself once again.
The laughing continues till Mumbo pulls himself up to a more upright position.
“Well, that certainly was exciting wasn’t it ?” Mumbo asks no one in particular.
Mumbo returns back to work, fixing whatever bug that caused the mishap leaving Joe to gather his thoughts. Joe beams as he watches his friend begin to rework and replace the broken piece with the same grace as before. But he smirks when he sees Mumbo mess up a bit and restart a line or two. Same clumsy grace he has seen in the young hermit since the day they met.
…………..
In all the chaos that had happened in the days prior Keralis didn’t really encounter any problems. Well, sure the other hermits had to get him food and help him brush pollen off his fuzz a couple of times and help him get on to things. Besides that things are going pretty well for the bee.
The initial terror of the transformation wore off after a few days so Keralis set out to figure out how to fly. He crawls up towards XB and buzzes his wings to get his attention.
It works and he looks down, “Keralis? Do you need anything?”
Keralis pulls a face and flutters his wings and hops a little.
“You want to fly?” XB guesses, “and you want my help?”
Nodding his head he wiggles his front legs.
Carefully and a bit awkwardly XB allows Keralis to walk up into his hand and lets him walk around on his arms for a bit, “Now what?”
Clicking his mandibles together Keralis opens his wings and flaps them rapidly. Unfortunately, he is unable to move them fast enough and ends up flipping himself over.
“You alright there?” XB asks as carefully flips him over so he’s right side up.
He answers by tipping his head from side to side in a ‘sort of’ kind of gesture.
“Alright, uh, do you need anything?”
Keralis bobs his head and points in the vague direction of the quarts shop.
“Oh, flowers?”
He buzzes in confirmation as Xb starts to walk towards the nearby garden. When they arrive Keralis wiggles over to a Sunflower and carefully sits in the center and rolls around a little as he drinks some of the nectar. When he finishes he lays down and curls up surrounded by the bright yellow leaves.
Xb smiles and leans against one of the walls. It’s been a long couple of days and it’s been really stressful and chaotic. So it’s no surprise that he falls asleep in the warm sunlight.
It’s nearly midnight when someone finds them, still asleep in the flowers. TFC grins and gently drapes a blanket over XB.
…………..
It’s been nearly a week since everything started. Jevin is most definitely one of the worst affected hermits. He’s bouncing around in different people’s bases. Currently, he’s making his way over to Hypno’s base. False and Cleo are walking with him to make sure he doesn’t get hurt or stuck.
He excitedly hops up and down as the Boardwalk comes into view. It’s been a while since the last time he saw Hypno.
Cleo grins at the slimes’ excitement. False laughs a little.
As Hypno walks out of the small home he has constructed along the boardwalk, “Hey guys. How are you doing?”
“Pretty good thanks,” False shrugs.
“Meh, it’s been fine,” Cleo mutters, picking at her nails.
Jevin looks up at his friend and bounces excitedly.
“Hey Jev, how are you doing?”
He jumps up and bounces towards him leading him over to a few of the base areas.
The pair spend a few hours gathering wood and messing around before it starts to grow dark. As it fades into night a few slimes from the nearby swamp end up in the boardwalk area.
As the sun rises Hypno starts to deal with the slimes, making quick work of the large ones he starts dealing with the medium ones. As he completes that he leaves the smaller ones alone while he gets some water.
This proves to be a mistake as Jevin wakes up and bounces outside unsuspecting. He freezes as he sees the small slimes. Cautiously he moves over to Hypno. The tiny slimes spot him and bounce towards the unfamiliar blue slime.
When they make contact some of the small slimes get pulled into his slime. Hypno watches in mild horror. His hands reaches up to cover his mouth, as Jevin starts to panic. Jumping into action he pulls his sword out and makes quick work of the remainder of the slimes.
For Jevin everything starts getting hazy. Thinking is suddenly much more difficult. Moving just isn’t an option. His slime turns an unhealthy shade of bluish green as he slowly melts.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Hypno mutters as he plops a boat down. As he pushes Jevin into the boat the slime bounces slightly, confused.
He’s gone from about the size of a medium slime into almost the size of a large one. It’s no wonder that he looks so uncomfortable.
Seeing his friend start to panic Hypno leans against the side of the boat and talks to the still melting slime. He starts talking to him, helping his mind stay at the front and not be overtaken by the hive mind.
The slime slowly returns to his proper mind and starts to calm down. After about thirty minutes he’s able to reform enough for Hypno to let him out of the boat. He sluggishly bounces into the house.
“So? Do you know how to fix this?” Hypno asks as he thinks of a way to separate the other slimes from Jevin.
Managing to press one of the buttons on Hypno’s communicator he answers.
“N. So no, I don’t want to kill you… but it might be the only way,” They sit in silence for a while and try to think of a different way to fix him.
As the hours tick by a small glowing figure appears on the table in between the pair, “Well, that wasn’t fun,” A high pitched voice chirps as it shoots into the air, “Well don’t look so down, I’m just here to help.”
“Ok, but who are you?” Hypno asks as Jevin shrinks down into himself.
“Oh, my how rude of me, I’m a Vex…” A slightly panicked expression overtakes Hypno’s face, “Now don’t give me that look. We’re not big on names, not since the fall at least. Anyways I was sent to help you. We’re almost ready to start fixing this entire mess, but we saw what happened to you and I was allowed to come here and help you,” The glowing blue sprite giggles as it flutters into the air, “You landed yourself in quite the pickle, i can fix your excess slime problem.”
Jevin looks up at the Vex hopefully. The Vex shoots slightly higher in the air as it realizes something, it drifts down and gently bops his head.
The slime melts completely in a matter of seconds, Hypno stands up to help but is stopped by the Vex, “Give him a moment.”
The green slime separates from the blue and Jevin reforms. Fully. He’s back in a vaguely humanoid shape and sure he’s a bit less solid than normal but he’s overjoyed at the prospect at being able to speak normally once again, “Thank you,” He gasps as he shakily stands up gripping a nearby chair.
…………
With each passing day Iskall was getting more and more ready to fight the meteor, of course it would be easier to fight if they weren’t an overgrown puddle of slime. They couldn’t do anything without the help of some other hermit and with Jevin regaining a somewhat solidish form it only added to their frustration. They couldn’t even play with Echo or Eve, only watch them and attempt to bounce with them. The meteor couldn’t be merciful enough to grant them the ability to play with the small slimes.
Iskall grumbles as Etho and Biffa help move them to the shopping district. Etho needs to restock his ice shop so Biffa offers to join and Iskall joins them with nothing else to do. They slowly bounce towards the igloo, the others lugging some skulkers toward the shop, Etho and Biffa assisting Iskall when they are needed.
The sun is high in the sky when they finally reach the shop, heat pounding down on the three hermits. Iskall was being pulled even thinner than they already were with the heat warming them up a bit too much. Etho opens the door and the slime quickly sides in the ice shop and sinks on the floor melting slightly in comfort. The cool air coming off the ice feels heavily after being in the scorching sun.
Etho and BIffa chuckle as they start to refill the chests with ice. Slowly the cool air thickens the slime till they could hold a more solid form. They pull their mass to a more stable shape but still can’t fully reform.
“Dangit,” Etho huffs, “I still need more ice to fully restock.” He rummaged through shulkers. “I have to head back to the ice farm. You guys wanna make another run?”
“Not unless you drag me out of this heaven,” Iskall sighs. Etho rolls his eyes in amusement but gathers the final shulker and heads out the door. He’s just about to take off when he spots Jevin refilling his mob store.
“Jev!” Etho shouts to get the attention of the blue slime.
Jevin looks over to Etho and waves, “Hey Etho, what’s up?”
“Oh nothing much. I need to get more stock for the ice shop oh and by the way Iskall is at the shop right now. They are trying to reform a bit. We figured out the cool air helps a bit.
Jevin nods as he struggles to keep a form where he can talk normally; Iskall has a few spells cast by Scar allowing him to speak, “That should help, just don’t get too cold. The slime will get brittle and might snap If they go with you.”
“Well Iskall is still in the shop, you should go let them know.” Etho waves as he takes off into the sky. Jevin waves back and turns towards the ice shop just as Biffa exits the shop nearly crashing into the mostly robotic man.
“Oh, sorry there mate,” Biffa excuses himself.
“You’re fine, is Iskall alright?”
Biffa looks over his shoulder towards the green slime, “Better then they were doing. I got to go meet up with Mumbo. He got stuck in some sort of feedback loop, you got Iskall?”
“Yeah, I can help them. Go have fun with fixing Mumbo.”
Biffa waves as he walks toward the towering building out on the ocean.
Jevin slides into the ice shop, slowing down a bit as the cool air hits him. The green slime is sitting in a content blob in the center of the shop.
“Hey Iskall,” Jevin says rolling up next to the bright green slime, “How are you feeling?”
“Great,” they sigh, “Now that I’m not dripping as much.”
“Yeah, the heat can do that to ya,” Jevin says sitting down close to the green slime, “How has being a slime been treating you?”
“Oh, just wonderful.”
“Really?”
“No, Jevin. It’s been horrible,” they vent. “I can’t do anything. I can’t build. I can’t work on redstone. I can’t even play with Echo or Eve, and honestly that's the worst part.”
Silence fills the space between the two slimes before Jevin breaks it, “Yeah, that’s rough.”
“And what’s frustrating is that you managed to regain your form somewhat but I can’t do anything still!” Iskall huffes.
Jevin recoils at the harsh words. “Well I’ve been a slime longer than you have,” Jevin bites back.
Iskall flinches and again the space between them is filled with uncomfortable silence.
“... sorry,” they mumble.
Jevin sighs deeply, “No, you’re fine. The meteor has everyone on edge.”
“I’m just so frustrated. I shouldn’t take it out on my friends though.”
“You’re fine Iskall.”
“How did you regain your form anyways?”
“I had help from the Vex.”
Iskall bolts up startled, “You what?”
“Yeah, a Vex helped me. I don’t know why though. It was super weird too. It said something about fixing the bigger issue but helped me regain my mind from the slime hive mind I got stuck in.”
“Wow,” they gasp, “That is weird.” Iskall groans at the sudden realization, “Well unless a Vex magically appears, I’m screwed then. Great. Just great.”
“Someone say my name?” a high pitch giggle asks, startly both of the slime. They whip around the shop looking for the source of the voice. Another giggle rings through the room, “Over here you sillys.”
They look towards the direction of the laughter and find a small blue spirit floating in the air.
“That’s a-” both of them gasps
“A Vex, yes I am well aware of what I am thank you,” it chuckles, “I heard you were talking about us, and both of you should know that is oh so rude to gossip. Such fine young hermits like yourselves should really know better.”
“They just wanted to be normal,” Jevin defends.
“And that’s fair but it's mean to talk behind a person’s back.”
“We didn’t even know you were there!” Iskall argues.
The Vex gives a coy shrug, “Oh well then, I guess you don’t want my help then?” They begin to fade slightly.
“Wait! Wait, wait, I want your help. Please,” Iskall peals.
The Vex pops back in exietnace, “Very well then, that’s wonderful to hear.” Iskall breathes a sigh of relief. “You want to be normal, you said.” the Vex points to Iskall.
“Yes. Please, I just want to go back to Echo and Eve,” Iskall begs.
“Oh how sweet,” the Vex coos. “A parent wanting nothing more than to return their family. It would make such a cute story like the ones one of our little con Vex enjoys so much.” The Vex floats just above Iskall, small sparks and particles trailing after the spirit.
The Vex moves their hands, forming symbols and signs of a spell as light and dust move around their fingers. A shower of magic falls from the Vex and lands on the green slime like snow.
The slime starts to move on it’s own, shaping and sculpting features like well worn arms and legs built through years of building and battling. Callous hands gain detail in every finger. A face is carved from the formless slime, laugh lines from years of good memories and a bright warm eye accompanied by its diamond counterpart take their place. It’s not perfect, pieces still lack greater details and stability but it is a start.
Iskall looks at their hands, then touches their face, feeling every detail they could before breaking out into a thankful laughter. Jevin simply puts an arm around their shoulder and brings them into a comforting side hug. The Vex quietly laughs as they vanish from view, either hermit noticing the spirit take it’s leave.
‘Once this is all sorted out, they all need their rest’ the Vex thinks journeying back to join it’s brethren.
………….
A solitary Vex flutters up out of the ground, and cautiously approaches the mushroom Island. It knows full well it’s encroaching on another’s territory. As such it brings a few pieces of Vex magic. One if it’s brethren had managed to safely land on the Island. Without much problem, but no one really wants to risk the wrath of another Vex troup and this one is made of a very powerful Vex mage and a mage turned Vex. It’s always best to be careful when entering another‘s domain.
As the Vex flutters into town hall it alights onto the floor in front of the diamond throne.
Scar down up and lands on the floor In front of the slightly taller Vex, “Um, hi. How can I help you?”
“They question is how can ’I’ help you,” The Vex grins, “Gather all your hermits here, we're going to take the meteor’s power and return you to your previous state.”
“Oh, thank you,” Scar says surprised as the Vex flits away. He pulls his communicator out and sends a message out to the others. Telling them that the other Vexes want them over in the shopping district. As the hermits gather in the shopping district the three Vex head over to the meteor’s island. The blue spirit caustinly approaches the meteor, inching closer and closer.
Back at the gathering group of hermits, a Vex ushers them to come near the spirit.
“My brethren want to help you regain your previous forms,” a sigh of relief swipes through the crowd, “But this may take time, we fear.”
“How much time?” Impulse questions.
“Hopeful no more than a day,” the Vex replied.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Iskall askes.
“None of you have the capability of assisting us,” the Vex states, “All expect for you.” The blue spirit points to Scar resting in Cub mane.
“Me?” he questions.
“Yes, my little Con Vex. You are one of us now. You have the power to drain the meteor of it’s magic. You are not unaccustomed to the magic of the Vex. Help us save your friends, the Vex cooes reaching a hand out to the small spirit.
“No!” Cub roars suddenly very protective of his best friend, “Scar don’t listen to them.”
“Little lion, we mean this with no malice. We swear this on our magic,” The Vex explains, it’s voice as smooth as ever.
Scar nods and dips through the ground to get out of Cub’s protective grasp, “I’ll do it, if I can help stop this I’ll do it.” A rumble runs through the hermits, nerves and anxiety rises. Scar rises to the level of the other Vex. It reaches out their hand. Scar takes it. The Vex begins to dash towards the other Vex, when they’re halted by a shout.
“Please be safe!” Cub says. Scar can see the fear in the lion's eyes.
“I will… I promise.”
The Vex turns back towards it’s brethren and pulls Scar along. They remain silent till they get to where the other Vex are waiting.
“I see that we’ve gained one more,” one the Vex says.
“Let’s get started,” Scar nervously requests.
“Our little Con Vex is so determined,” one Vex jokes as it flies up in his face.
“Hush, he is here to help. Do not drive him away. Now is not the time for humor,” the Vex that had brought Scar to them chides.
”My apologies,” The second Vex giggles as they land softly on the spawn Island. The meteor even though it’s secured deep underground gives off a threatening aura. Scar shrinks back slightly towards the ocean, when another Vex places a hand on his shoulder. Scar turns to the Vex and is taken aback by the amount of sympathy in the spirit’s eyes.
“You have the powers to help us and we have the ability to keep you safe. We swore to your friends that we would keep you safe, and Vex never breaks those promises,” the Vex comforts. “We will help guide you in the spell, you have nothing to fear.”
Some of the anxiety leaves Scar’s body, but he still remains frozen in place. The rest of the Vex circle the meteor while one stays with Scar. They slowly grab his hands and guide him underground towards the meteor.
As they slowly draw closer an odd energy fills the earth around the four Vex. It’s as if they're being drawn in towards the meteor. The Vex that seems to be in charge nods to Scar and the world shifts.
“I see you’ve made it to my mind space,” A smooth and deep baritone voice sounds from the shadows. The room they’re now in looks to be some sort of grand hall. There are tapestries lining the walls and torches in sconces.
One of the Vex flutters upwards towards the shadows where the meteor is standing.
A hand reaches out from the shadows, fingers spread out sparks shooting from his fingertips, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You have entered my personal domain and as such you will follow my ruling while here.”
Scar speaks up, “Can you return my friends to normal?”
A soft hum comes from the shadows as he considers the prospect, “Normal I will not do, but I will return them to their previous states.”
The Vex huddle together and Converse for a minute. Scar bows his head slightly, “Thank you.”
From within his dark corner the meteor smiles coldy, “You would thank me after all I’ve done to you?”
“Well, yeah. You cursed us, but you easily agreed to stop what you’re doing.”
“Foolish child, I didn’t stop because you asked me to. When I cast this spell it was all a test to see how fast your Vex friends would respond. I also wanted to see if I could get one of your watchers to intervene, but alas that has yet to happen.”
Scar glowers at the shaded figure, as he falls in line with the Vex, they speak in unison, “Your power becomes ours,” they say as the stone walks glow blue and the manifestation of the meteor disappears into the mist.
Scar drops to the ground not used to using that much magic at once. The others scope him up and gently fly back to the shopping district.
As they arrive they gently set Scar down in front of Cub and before he can ask what happened they explain, “He’ll be fine, you just need to give him some Vex magic and he’ll be back to normal.”
Cub nods and lays down tucking his paws underneath himself.
Doc hisses, “Did you fix us?”
Nodding one of the other Vex speaks up, “Av- The Meteor has agreed to turn you back to what you were like before he started doing this. I must warn you I suggest you move away from each other.”
The third Vex waits for the hermits to move away from each other before releasing the magic in a shower of sparks and light.
The effect is nearly instantaneous as the hermits start turning back to ’normal’. Well as normal as it’ll get with the base transformations.
Ren seems to be fine as he turns back to his mostly human form. Mostly because he’s used to transforming to and from his wolf form. As he turns back he stretches and remains laying on the ground not trusting himself to get up. His ears are pinned flat against his head.
As Cub turns back to his mostly human form with a lot less practiced ease then Ren does. Bones and muscles shifting uncomfortably underneath his skin, although they don’t move with the intense pain that was present with his first shifting. He doesn’t stand yet, groggy and dizziness keeping down on his hands and knees.
Metal shifts as Mumbo is showered in sparks. With every spark landing peeling away at the metal on his face till it is uncovered once again. A strict clearity is lifted from his mind as the programming subsides to a more human way of thinking. His posture sinks a little, no longer standing straight as a board. His eyes flick from dull red to a soft purple.
Slime solidifies like clay within Jevin. It builds on itself more and more till a human body is formed. Muscle like groups begin to interact with each other once again. Slowly he raises his hand to touch his face. He can feel that all the detail has been regained and a wave shocked relief overtakes him.
Smoke slowly rises from Bdubs but it isn’t painful. It lazily drifts of his body as new mass is formed. Legs regrow from nothing. Wings fade into ash. Bones subside and shift back into place. Teeth return to somewhat human portions. Aches run through his body but otherwise a clam sense floods his bones.
The magic pulls out Beef’s shoulders and head, gently stretching up out and up away from his body. The fur falls away as skin shifts, muscles redefine themselves to more human shapes. Seconds feel like minutes till his torso is more human than bovine. Beef lays down a relaxed heap, content to have his hands again.
Still grasped within Cub’s protective curl, Scar begins to change. The point of his ears fade back to the small tip that was originally present. The blue tinge leaves his skin, returning the tanned skin of the human. Scar groans slightly, still in his exhausted slumber but remains asleep. His wings flutter softly as he curls against Cubs shirt.
Feather loosen and fall away as Grian grows larger. His body fills out and changes under the magic. The beak fades back into his face, letting him regain his mouth and nose. An uncomfortable but not unpleasant feeling fills his bones as they slip apart, arms becoming separate from his wings once again. His wings fluff out and a comforting feeling replaces the tightness that once rested in his chest.
In the End, studden magic cascades down Xiusma’s back, warmth spreads out from where the sparks fall. His body starts to shrink in on itself, quills and extra fur falling off as it does. His mouth reverts to a more human shape with shape fangs dulling to more manageable size. The thick plating covering his body merging back with his skin till nothing more than patches of scales remain. Exy quickly rushes to his brother's side and slips his mask over his face as Xisuma is returned to his half beast form and the pair prepare to teleport to the shopping district.
Clarity floors Doc’s mind, as his human mind takes back control from the creeper half. Human thoughts regain prominence slowly pushing against animalistic instincts. His claws dull slightly along with fangs that had replaced his teeth.
Once again Tango is encased in fire but instead of pain, a warmth spreads over his feathers. The fire laps at him like a lazy wave as he is reborn again. He crumbles to ash but a human body with wings reforms instead of a bird. He remains kneeling still recovering from the slight pain of being burnt and brought back again.
Wels shrinks down to his normal size as scales begin to peel off his body. Muscles and bones reshape to a human being. A refreshed feeling overcomes the half dragon as his mind is cleared of any overpowering greed. He lets his wings stretch out over his back, letting the afternoon sun warm them.
Keralis buzzes in glee as he grows. The striping fading back into his skin within seconds. The extra arm merage painlessly back into his side. Mandible shift to a human’s mouth pastled with a tired grins as the transformation reverts back to his bee like form.
A bleat escapes the ram as magic worms it’s way up his body and around his chest and arms. The magic pulls on muscle and bones pulling them to the previous shape. The wool falls on in small clumps. His hooves break apart to fingers again. A tired but content sigh leaves the now satyr’s mouth.
Iskall grins as their slime starts to re-solidify. The green fades back into a normal skin tone. Detail returns to their skin. Hair turns brown. Their eye regains its cybernetic inset and flicks on glowing bright green.
Python has spent a week in his snake form and he’s been fine, he had eaten before the transformation so he didn’t need to eat while in the full snake form. He lazily blinks as sparks drift around his head. Jerking back in surprise he shakes his head as he slowly leaves his coil and realizes he’s back in his naga form.
As all the transformations end everyone is exhausted and many of the hermits are almost falling asleep on the ground. The more awake hermits start ushering the rest of them into the chest monster shop that was almost out of stalk and had most of the floor covered in thick blankets. There’s a few beds shoved up against walls and some piles of blankets and pillows scattered around. Various hermits snuggle close together, basking in each other's warmth and presence. Many are glad to hold their friends close again. Others sit along the walls, talking in hushed whispers and small giggles every once in a while. The feeling of normalcy seeps back into the group, a strangle normalcy but a normalcy nonetheless.