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Chapter Text

GASP!

Grian sits up and clutches his chest. He's sure he's seen his entire life flash before him. He feels a sudden jolt of energy leave his body, and a burning sensation in his right arm. He rotates it, examining the newly lost life symbol on his upper wrist. A second ago, all three hearts were lime green, indicating a full set of lives. Now he sits on his bum in the middle of an unoccupied forest, only the sound of leaves in the wind, with one less life then when he started. All in the first five minutes of being there. He sighs, aggravated at his bad luck, and stands up slowly. His is arm still aching.

It was all part of the game they said. The Watchers had decided to send him only moments earlier to what is supposed to be the next version of 3rd Life, a frustrating and glorious game of life and death. It was created for pure entertainment, to keep the Watchers busy. Grian is their newest member, after surviving the longest after the other players either died on accident, or killed each other trying to win. Grian came out on top, and won himself a spot with the Watchers.

The way their newest game works is similar. The 17 players are scattered around the bordered world with a randomly assigned number of lives between 2 and 6. They are indicated by the imprinted heart symbols on each of the players wrists, and dim their color as a life is lost. Once the player is left to their last life, their red one, they will slowly be consumed by their own desire for blood and violence. All friendship and alliances will be jeopardized, but it's how players will win.

There are two catches this time though, which only Grian will know. Players are able to transfer and receive lives with other players, and each day a player is chosen at random to be temporarily cursed until they are able to kill another player and lift it. The consequences for failing to do so will leave the player with only one life. Never a good position to be in, unless of course bloodlust is your goal.

"The game is starting! Let's watch together shall we?"

Chapter Text

Grian trudges his feet through the thick fallen leaves of the forest. His scarlet feathered wings lightly drag the ground behind him, though the Watchers made it explicitly clear he was not allowed to fly during the game or they would shoot him out of the sky.

Any minute now... He thinks. He was looking for someone. Not anyone in particular, but with his cursed luck receiving only two lives he had no choice but to believe the Watchers chose his count on purpose. He wasn't exactly sure who was playing alongside or against him, though he knew they would be gullible enough to gift him a life without question.

Grian slows a moment later, after hearing something walking behind him through the trees. He had begun to tear some wood off of a tree to start building some sort of shelter for the first night.

"Who's there?" A voice calls. Grian freezes. He couldn't believe it.

"S-no. Scar?"

"Erm, yes! That's me." The figure emerges from the woods, wearing what looks to be like a thin t-shirt only the print looked like a muscular diamond armored chest. "Hey, yes I am Scar the great! Don't ask about the shirt I'm not sure myself...I don't know your name though, how do you know mine?"

"What do you mean ? We... I knew you. You killed me, Scar..." He says sadly. Scar looks at him with a confused face.

Grian realizes what's happened. The Watchers have removed the events of 3rd Life from everyone's memories for a clean slate, everyone except Grian. "Nevermind, I'm just tired." He sniffles quietly and turns away.

"Well I don't know you, but I want to! What do I call you?" Scar asks.

"Grian. M'names Grian."

"Grain? Like...the crop?"

"Uh-no. Grian. G-R-I-A-N? I am not a plant, Scar." He laughs.

"Well you would have been a very nice plant." Scar extends his hand, Grian shakes it.

Grian was sad. He's had interactions just like this one in the beginning if 3rd Life with Scar, though none of that matters now. He'd hoped to see him again, just not in conditions like this. Grian gets an idea. A cruel and evil one, but a good one.

"Say Scar, buddy, you know you can trade lives with other people right?" He says, encouragingly.

"Oh that's what this is?" Scar asks. He gestures to his arm. Grian could count the number of hearts, but he could tell they were dark green, indicating more than three. It was a good enough for him.

"Yeah. You should try! I'll give it right back, promise." Grian holds out his right arm while subtly crossing his fingers with his left. He's always been a superstitious type of guy, but tricking Scar, his old best friend, after what he had done to Grian just seemed right.

"Why don't you go first." Scar says, suspicious. Grian had to think fast. 
"I'm only on two lives, if I give you mine first I'll be red and have to kill you."

"Alright. Hold still I gotta figure this out..." Scar touches one of his green heart symbols and it begins to glow brighter, the light covering his left hand. Quickly, he pushes it against Grian's wrist, swaying slightly after from the release of energy.

Grian felt his lives change right away. It felt like drinking three cups of coffee, throwing it up, and then drinking more...but in a good way. Grian sighs, his third heart restored again.

"So your wrist shows how many you've lost and gained, right? That's neat. I started with six so now ones-"

"You started with six? Oh I'm not giving this life back, Scar." Grian says, laughing. He turns to run away.

"Hey wait man! I don't know how I got here, but I do know that was a SCAM! Get back here Grain!" Scar runs after Grian.

They chase each other through the forest, Grian ever so slightly ahead of Scar. Suddenly, Scar grabs hold of Grian's red crewneck and he trips and falls down into a pile of leaves. Scar laughs and although he was much taller and caught up to him quickly, he helped his new friend to his feet.

"God you're fast mate." Grian says, exhausted. "Can I give you an IOU?" Grian is almost surprised with both the coincidence and himself how quickly his life is already owed to Scar, especially after being betrayed by him in 3rd Life.

The two walk through the brush, stopping every so often to gather materials. If Scar was as clumsy and careless as he was in 3rd Life, even without him memories, Grian would have to make safety a priority. Along the way, Grian finds a healthy but painfully slow horse and quickly makes a saddle for it to ride.

"Hey wait, come up this way." Scar calls Grian to him with his hands and the horse trots behind him slowly climbing the mountain. "It's a secret hideout. I found it after I woke up here." After getting off his horse to be able to climb easier, Grian failed to notice Scar sprinting down the mountain behind him.

"A life for a horse? A life for a horse?" He calls. "Of course, a horse! A life for a horse!" He jumps on the back of Grians horse. There would be no possible way for Grian to get him off that horse by the time he reached the bottom of the mountain. Unless he had a bow and arrow, which would break the promise Grian made to himself to keep Scar safe.

"Oh Scar-." Grian grunts, attempting to run after him. "Touché mate, touché." He gathers his things.

TIME HAS PASSED...

Now alone and hungry for food, Grian walks into a wooded clearing by the area where he was dropped by the Watchers. An enchantment table is placed on a marked platform.

Sweet! Grian thinks. He had needed to upgrade his sword and various other items he had created in the time since Scar rode away with his horse. He would have to find another one of those too.

A faint grinding sound, and then a drop of metal, perhaps stone, can be heard. Grian notices the sound is coming from below him. Someone has already mined underneath?

Grian.

"Huh- what?" He looks around.

Don't reveal us you fool! We sent you here because you were skilled, not because you were smart.

That's for sure..

Silence. The curse has begun. The Boogeyman is coming. Be warned.

Oooooo...

Don't speak Watcher, you may be next.

Grian was dumbfounded. Had he just heard the Watchers speak? If it was true, the cursed player has already been chosen, and it could be anyone. It's not me then. I'm safe for now.

Suddenly the ground beneath him starts to crack. He quickly jumps out of the way as a hand and pic push through to the surface. Two figures climb out. One, wearing a red bandana and a brush-covered cloak, and the other wearing what seems to be light combat gear, and a black mask covering his lower face.

"Earth to secret tunnel? Earth to secret tunnel? Come in!" Grian says, with his fingers pressed against his lips forming a robotic voice. 

"What do we have 'ere?" The bush-covered man asks.

"Uhm. Hello." Grian waves stiffly. He knows if either of the players were cursed, and not idiots, they would have killed the other while down in the mines so no one would find out. Either way,  he had to remain cautious.

"A new guy? Nice." The masked player says. "I'm Etho." He extends his hand. Grian shakes it slowly.

I know. I killed your king. "Grian."

"My name's BDoubleO100!" He grins widely. Grian stares, unsure of what to say. "BDubs is fine..."

Grian thinks for a moment. If he is going to be meeting more players, and he hopefully won't be on his red life for a while, then he might as well warn them about the curse. Right?

"Guys if we're going to be meeting people often, I want to disclose some information." He says.

"I'm listening..." Etho says, suspicious.

So are we, Grian.

"Well, there's a curse I've heard."

Grian...

"It makes you hostile. Gives you bloodlust. The only way to cure it is..."

GRIAN!

"...to kill another player. But if you don't, you get taken down to one life. Your red one."

The group is silent.

"Man..." BDubs says quietly.

"I'm just like...not going to question why you have this information, and just assume you aren't cursed. You aren't cursed...right?" Etho asks.

"No of course not! Trust me if I was you'd both be dead." Grian says sarcastically.

"We need a funny way of sayin' it. Not so dark and cruel, ya know?" BDubs suggests.

Grian smiles. If he can't beat 'em...

Now you've done it.

"I prefer the term Boogeyman."

...join 'em!

SOME TIME LATER...

The boys finish up their last enchantments at the platform, and begin to sort through there items. "Woah sick! I can make a jukebox." Etho says.

"You still got that creepy record?" BDubs asks. Etho nods. He sets it on the jukebox. An eerie music plays. Grian laughs nervously.

"This sounds like something that would play in a murder movie." Etho says. BDubs is silent. "When this song plays, you know someone is about to die."

Grian glances over at BDubs who had drifted to the edge of the water, staring into the distance.

"You good buddy?" He asks, walking over. He doesn't answer. Instead he places a steady hand on his sword at his hip, brandishes it quickly, and slices a long and clean line along Grian's chest with the tip of his weapon. Blood trickles through his shirt as he steps backward in shock, away from BDubs.

"Are-" He winces in pain. "Are you the Boogeyman?" He pulls a bloody hand from under his shirt. The sword just skimmed him, but deep enough to leave a thin slice along his skin. The recent enchantment left a slight tingle where the blade ran.

"You are correct." BDubs smiles, apologetically. The smile quickly turns to a cruel smirk. As he approaches Grian again, his eyes almost glow with anger. Etho steps back in fear.

"You don't need to do this BDubs." Grian pants, increasing his speed backwards. He looses his footing slightly.

"You're right I don't. But it sure will be fun, won't it?" His eyes glint red.

BDubs kicks the ground under Grians feet as he tries to run, sending him flying onto the river's edge. He tries to get up and run, but BDubs catches up to him fast, pushing him down with his shield. Grian feels the cold metal of the blade at his neck as he sits himself up again. He looks down. There's no way for him to win this, not now.

He tries to get up one last time, but feels a sharp pinch that stretches from his neck, then all the way down to his legs. He doesn't scream. He was too terrified, stunned with shock to realize what had happened.

With one slice, he feels his legs in the sand melt away. Than his arms, his chest. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cruel smile on BDub's face crumble. The last thing he feels is nothing but weight. Weight, and the cold water running through his fingers as he sinks away into darkness.

...

And then he felt everything at once. The grass, the dirt, the sand, his own breath. It hit him like a truck. His remaining heart symbols on his wrist stung. Hard. Even worse than the life he had lost before. He wasn't sure how much time had past. A minute? An hour? A day? Longer?

He exhales sharply, stretches his arms and legs, and sits up. He opens his eyes to Etho already rushing over at the sight of him stirring.

"Oh Grian.."

Grian feels his chest, then his neck. No sign of any injury, or death for that matter. He stands up.

"Did you know?" He asks, shaken.

"No. No Grian I swear I didn't. He would have killed me in the cave he had a sword, I'm not sure why...I'm sorry. I truly am. And I think...I know, he is too." Etho glances over to the enchanter. BDubs was sitting on a log facing away from them, his face in his hands.

Grian walks over slowly.

"BDu-"

"Grian. Let me speak." His face was still turned towards the woods. "I want to make it up to you. Somehow, I'm not sure. Look I feel so guilty. I couldn't stop myself. You were right about the hostile and bloodlust thing. It was like I was starving, but for death and not food. I felt like...like I wasn't a good friend."

"Oh jeez thanks man really needed that." Grian rolls his eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that. I should have told you, or Etho right away when I felt that first urge to...you know.  It didn't start until after we had left the mine."

"It's ok. Really. It wasn't your fault. You would have gone to red anyway if you hadn't killed me. Besides, now I know what death is like!" Grian laughs awkwardly. BDubs smiles. "You don't have to make anything up to me. Not right now anyway. Just focus on you." He pats BDubs on the back.

"So...yellow life huh? You started with three?" Etho asks.

"No actually, I had two but another player named Scar gave me a life. They had six."

"Six?? We both have four." Ethi begins to pack his things. "I'm gonna head out. I wish you luck Grian." He turns away.

"Just for the record, BDubs. I know you got cursed in the cave. Just admit it. You knew, you wouldn't have done it. That's the real reason. You know if you picked a fight with Etho, you wouldn't have won. You knew you couldn't do it, and that's why you killed me."

BDubs looks down, says nothing.

The three part ways. A guilty BDubs and a fragile Etho go one way, and Grian resorts to his own company. After waking through the forest for who knows how long, he finally comes across a decent spot to build a base. He gets to work right away, packing and placing cobblestone all the way up until a hearty lookout point of created. He organizes his things, and takes a step back. He had been building all day and needed a break. Some socialization would be nice. He had only met three other players so far and there were 13 others to find. And just when he needed it most...

"Oh hey Grain!"

"Sc- hm. Scar it's Grian, not Grain. Gree-an. Grian. Say it with me."

"I know, I know, I just love to joke around." He says, approaching Grian's cobblestone tower.

"What's this hunk-o-junk?" Scar asks, squinting his eyes at the pile of stone.

"It is the framework for a starter base. I declare this land, the Southlands!" He sticks a small paper flag in the ground. "I assume you've not been doing much have you?" Grian asks.

"How did you know?" Scar jokes. Grian smiles sadly. He knew because he always did. Scar was never a very motivated builder, but when he did it was always a marvel to look out. He was more of Grian's comedic relief pal than a building assistant in 3rd life. A best friend. One that he just so happened to owe his servitude to until he died. "Well I think it's beautiful." Scar says.

"Thank you Scar." Grian says, proudly.

"AHA!" A voice says from behind them.

"What was that?" Scar looks around.

"AHA!" Another.

"There! The tree line!" Grian points. Sure enough, a group of figures had climbed various sizes of trees over the horizon, and were now looking at the two through spyglasses. One he immediately recognizes as an old friend.

"Mumbo?..." Grian steps forward to get a closer look. Mumbo seems to notice, and waves kindly in his direction. "Wha...what is he doing here?"

"Oh shoot, I forgot to organize that chest monster of mine. Your building has inspired me. I shall build...a wizard hut!" Scar smiles wildly.

"You uhm...you do that." Grian leaves Scar and trails off in the direction of the tree line.

"Alrighty. I will report back!" He was off. Grian wasn't entirely alone.

"Mumbo who's this guy? You know him?" One of the others asks.

"I don't believe so no...he's vaguely familiar." Mumbo remarks.

Grian approaches the group. As he gets closer he can see the other members more clearly. They consist of Jimmy, Impulse, Martyn, and of course Mumbo. Although all four were decent people in the past, it was hard for a Grian to ignore the War he fought alongside and against them. Mumbo hadn't been apart of 3rd life, so he wasn't sure why the Watchers chose to include him this time.

Don't be silly, you know.

To add "spice" they said. That's why.

"Hello fellow player whom I do not know yet! I'm Solidarity but you can call me Jimmy. That's Impulse, Martyn. You somehow know Mumbo already so... that's us."

"How do you know me?" Mumbo crosses his arms.

I knew you in another life before I was abducted, forced to kill all my friends, thought I had truly won only to end up here, and haven't seen you in years.

"I saw you talking. Earlier today. I heard your name but I was busy and didn't come up to you."

"Ah. I see."

"So what's been happening with you guys? Any...death?" Grian asks.

"None so far. I feel bad for you though. Why'd he kill you?" Impulse says.

"How did you know?" Grian asks. 

"I heard it. I don't know if you did because you were like...dead, but they sounded a bell or something and everyone heard 'Grian was slain by The Boogeyman: BDoubleO100'" Jimmy says. "We don't know what the Boogeyman does though."

"It's a curse. Well, actually it's more than that. He went mad, all he wanted was death. He said it cured him by killing me." Grian explains.

"That's wild mate. I'm glad you had more than two then." Mumbo says.

"Believe me, I am too." Grian looks behind him and sees Scar in the distance building his wizard tower on the mountain. He sighs.

"So what should we do now? Form an alliance or something? There's enough of us to fight off some red lives if we need to." Jimmy says.

"Not yet we can't. We need a base. That little tower over there is mine." Grian points. "It's called the Southlands. We can start there."

"That's great man! We can all build our own pilAHArs!" Impulse laughs.

"Oh you are not going back to that!" Mumbo complains.

"Sorry Mumbo, I think Impulse is not the only one over the lAHAghs!" Jimmy chuckles. Mumbo rolls his eyes.

"You guys AHAre an...interesting crew." Grian says. "How's about this. I'll offer you..." He searches through his things. "One fish, for your unwavering loyalty." He plops down a raw salmon in front of Mumbo.

"It's a deal." Mumbo laughs and shakes Grian's hand. He opens his spyglass.

"AHA!" Grian shouts, pointing at Martyn.

"Oh Jesus..." Martyn walks towards the base.The rest follow and get started building.

"Just saying, BDubs is on my hit list for when I turn red life." Grian says.

"If you turn red." Jimmy says. "Think positively."

"Right. Sorry. If I turn red. He did kill me after all. It wasn't his fault but I figured I should have some tAHArgets." Grian says. Mumbo face-palms.

"Well if he's on your list, he's on our list. We stick together until we can't anymore." Martyn high fives Jimmy.

As the sun sets, the boys continue to clear out the forest to make room for their fortress.  By the end of the day, four new south towers were build, all unique. Many AHA! jokes had been made, and all five were hurting in their stomached from laughing. Grian was happy he had made some friends, even though he technically already had before Last Life. It felt just the same, but slightly different. He dreaded knowing the possibility of betrayal or death if something were to happen. He had always been cautious of alliances, and Scar was a weary exception. He was annoyed at himself for staying with him even after he had lost his owed life. Now, just as before, he had initiated an unofficial loyalty to him in the first day. History seemed to be repeating itself. Grian gets in bed.

Did we forget to mention to him that they physically cannot sleep?

Shhh! Just let it play out. We are only meant to watch after all.

Yeah, so was he...

Chapter Text

Grian is woken by the sun shining through the window of his tower. Well, actually he was already awake, and was like that for the entire night. The sunlight just gave him a reason to get up.

"Ayo! Southlands, you up?" Impulse calls from his window.

"Been up. Will always be up." Grian grumbles. He waves unenthusiastic from his tower.

"What's in store for today?" Jimmy asks. They didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that no one was able to sleep at all. Grian puts on his armor and jumps down from his tower, testing his boots to make sure they break his fall. He smiles proudly.

"Actually, I've been thinking. Seen as I quite literally could not sleep last night, I thought of a system." Grian says. "First order of business: Mumbo hand me that chest." He points. Mumbo hands him the chest. "Jimmy grab that tag out of the chest and empty the rest." Jimmy hands him the tag. In two minutes Grian had constructed a small wooden box with a sign in the front stating: JAHAR.

"Oh." Impulse laughs. "Martyn, get it? JAHAr?" He lightly punches him. Martyn grumbles.

"This, is a jar for AHAs. You say it, you place an item in the jar" Grian explains. "Martyn, you get one per day."

"Aha..like a swear jar?" Mumbo asks.

"YOU SAID IT!" Impulse points and laughs.

"I- no that's not...surely that doesn't count? Ugh fine." Mumbo groans and trudges over to the box. He places his spyglass inside.

"Nooo not the spyglass!" Jimmy whines.

"I'm an honest man. The spyglass stays." Mumbo crosses his arms.

"Well it's a good thing I have..." Impulse rummages through his things. "...extras!" He pulls out another spyglass and hands it to Mumbo.

"Ehem." Grian coughs. "Second order of business: I came up with an idea to preserve our trust. Once we start losing lives we will have more and more tension between us obviously. Now everyone gather round in a circle." The boys circle around the yard. "First, I will give one of my lives to-" He pauses and thinks. "Actually me and Jimmy can't because we only have two. Anyways one person will start around the circle, and pass their life to the next person, and then if someone runs off, we know they can't be trusted. So Mumbo do you want to start? Pass to Impulse."

"Alright hold on I got to uhm..I got to figure this out. Ah! There we go." Mumbo extends his right arm, revealing his four green hearts. He touches one and it begins to glow. Quickly, he passes the life to Impulse and right away the light dims back to a normal lime green instead of the dark emerald. He now only had three lives left. Just as Mumbo had done to him, Impulse passes the life to Martyn.

"God that felt good. It's like a drug, do it again." Martyn laughs. He jumps up and down, exited.

"Mate, that gave me a hangover, a heart attack, and an allergic reaction to my insides all at once. I'm not playing life merry-go-round all day. Pass it forward." Impulse jokes. He does. Grian receives the life next.

"Oh jeez, you're right Impulse my head is aching." Martyn rubs his eyes.

Grian smiles as he receives his. He remembered the feeling, almost exactly from the day before. He feels a pain of guilt giving it to Jimmy, remembering Scar.

"Oooohoo!" Jimmy giggles. Grian places a hand on the chest to steady himself. Impulse was right! It really did feel like a heart attack. A punch to the heart, really. But more dull like you could feel it everywhere, and it was getting worse. His head starts to swim.

"I uhm.." Grian struggles to speak. He clutches his chest.

"You alright mate?" Mumbo asks. The life has just been returned to the original owner.

"I need to..sit down?" Grian feels his weight shift and falls backward into something soft.

He opens his eyes. He was in some...room? With a very bright light coming from in front of him.

"Hello? Am I dead?" He asks.

"Not yet. You will be." The figure says, almost sarcastically. He recognizes the voice.

"You? I thought you said you would leave me be! You've been talking to me this entire time, it's annoying really." Grian complains.

"Us Watchers really do like to...well watch. You are the entertainment, I suppose." The Watcher laughs.

"What if I don't want to play? What if I want to watch?" Grian asks.

"I'm not sure you have much a choice, Grian. Would you rather be alongside your best friends while you can, or watch them die, slowly?" The light pulses, almost like it was looking straight at him. Grian thinks, longer than he should have. He shakes his head.

"Why did you bring me here, Watcher?"

"To teach you a lesson. Lives are like currency. You wouldn't give it to just anyone, would you? I hope you use them wisley, Grian. Don't assume your friends are as trusting and you may think yourself." The light moves closer, turning a bright purple color. It engulfs Grian in a flash.

He opens his eyes once again to catch himself falling into Jimmy's arms.

"Grain? Grian oh my gosh are you alright?" He props him up by the arm and feels his forehead. Grian shakes him off.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." He looks around. Everything was just as he had left it, like no time had passed. "How long was I out?"

"Out? Not at all. You just looked really sick and dizzy. Jimmy went to catch you. Maybe something from the life exchange?" Mumbo says.

"Maybe..." Grian mumbles. "I'm ok now. Just a bad headache." Grian steps away from Jimmy.

"Whatever you say." Impulse says. "What should we do now?"

"I could use some more armor, and we haven't gone to the nether yet." Mumbo says.

"I would like some diamonds as well." Martyn says.

"Day trip? We split up and come back tonight to share our goodies?" Impulse suggests.

"Alright sounds great! Meet you guys back here tonight." Grian waves goodbye and grabs his bag on the way out. I wonder who the Boogeyman is today? Grian thinks to himself. He starts to make his way into the mines. After a few hours of searching he wasn't particularly successful, though he did give Impulse a good scare by placing his hand on his back while leaning over a deep ravine. Impulse told him that Mumbo and a few others had already traveled to the nether, and Grian got jealous. "How come everyone is having a nether party, and I wasn't invited?" He says to himself, while filling in a ruined portal.

Grian steps through the portal and after a quick moment to recover from the disorientation he goes on his merry way. Quickly, he finds a nether fortress, and starts making his way inside.

"Oh hello!" A mutt-eared figure emerges from behind on of the ruined walls. Grian sighs. "I heard some block breaking over here."

"Shhhhh! I'm hunting withers." Grian hisses, not bothering to turn around. The wither was long gone. "Ren. Hey buddy." Grian waves alwardly. "I definitely did not steal lapis to enchant this sword!" He holds it out.

"I wondered where that went..." Rendog shakes his head. "How've you been? I saw your picture in the sky or whatever, after you died." Grian had forgotten the players won't already know who he is when seeing them for the first time.

"What is this the hunger games?" He mutters under his breath.

Tsk. Tsk.

I told you we should have done something more ethical!

What about this is ethical, Watcher?

"Hm well. I died by BDubs, who I would assume you knew as the Boogeyman. And then I teamed up with Jimmy Solidarity, Mumbo Jumbo, Impulse, and Martyn Littlewood. So now I've got two lives." Grian explains. Ren just watches.

"Sorry for you man. I mean, I guess now we know how-"

Mumbo Jumbo tried to swim in lava to escape Piglin Brute

"Oh my god." Ren gasps, looking up at the nether roof at Mumbo's death message. Grian drops his sword, it clanks on the cold ground. He slowly turns around to face Ren. His eyes were filled with pain, maybe even a little guilt. "Grian...I don't know what to say."

"I'm not sure I know either. He's shocked a bet, I was terrified. Oh no he's probably woken up at the base. I should probably go-" Grian starts.

"WATCH OUT!" Ren slides forward, extending his sword to the wither creeping up behind Grian. It turns to run away, but in the chaos a long and thin finger slices down Grians upper arm. He cries out in pain and Ren chases the wither around the corner, not realizing Grian had been caught on its talon-like hand.

"God dang it." Grian winces, clutching the gash which was quickly fading into a dark greyish color spreading up his shoulder and to his neck. Grian knew that wither poison was only escapable if treated fast. He searched through his things, hoping to find some sort of healing potion before he could return to the overworld to treat it.

"I killed it G-man don't worry. Again I'm sorry about-" Ren turns the corner and sees Grian visibly in pain, clutching his left arm in one hand, and dumping out his bag with the free one.

"Oh jeez dude hold on. I've got pots here." Ren opens his bag and throws Grian a small bottle. He uncorks it and downs the pink liquid inside. Wiping his lips, he stands up. "Woah woah. Hold on there dude we gotta get that bandaged up." Ren wraps his arm in a thick dressing, and ties a small knot to keep it from slipping down. Grian watches is amazement as the grey-black infection slowly fades away from his neck and upper arm, as the healing potion had already begun to take effect.

"Thanks mate..." Grian grunts. "I'll get it tended to or whatever when I get back home. I owe you one." He packs his things up again. "Mumbo has been farming, I bet he's got- oh my gosh Mumbo! I have to get back! He's probably shook right now. Thank you Ren, I've really got to go!" Grian shakes Ren's hand quickly and rushes back the way he came. This nether trip hasn't been very successful.

TIME HAS PASSED

Grian finally makes his way back to the Southlands fort, taking a breath before knocking on Mumbo's door.

"Hey, Mumbo. I'm really sorry you died." Yeah jeez thanks Grian. God why was I so awkward?

"Come in." He says, quietly. Grian walks inside. Mumbo was sitting on his bed next to a large window, examining his yellow-tinted irises. He had been so used to the green he didn't realize they weren't his natural brown. He wouldn't know that anyway, no one would. It takes Mumbo a minute to turn around to face him, who was awkwardly standing in the doorway clutching his bag in one hand.

"Did you get anything-" Mumbo's eyes widen as he spots Grian's bandaged arm. It was fairly obvious what had happened, his skin was still a fleshy grey color. "Oh Grian you need to get that cleaned. Here I've got potions just, wait a minute I'll grab a bottle." He rushes around the room, picking up various objects from his chests. Grian silently walks towards him and embraces him in a tight hug. He wraps his wings around Mumbo, feeling the warmth of his feathers. Mumbo starts to sniffle and quickly wipes his eyes with his free hand. He didn't know what to say.

"I- Grian." Mumbo steps away. "You need care. I'm fine. I was shooken up, definitely. I'm sure you went through the same thing when you died. I'm ok now, I promise." Grian shifts his weight away from his arm, but stays silent. "Let's get you cleaned up." Mumbo smiles. "If it makes you feel any better," Mumbo says as he works. "I don't remember much about what happened. I remember making a sharp turn on a ledge, losing my balance after getting pushed by something, and falling." He looks up. "I was sweating and hot when I woke up here."

Mumbo removes the bandages as Grian winces at the almost vine like veins of black infection. He cleans the original wound, and warns him of the pain before disinfecting it with an injection of regeneration potion and another bottle of healing. Grian smiles after Mumbo startes to clean up. He had always appreciated Mumbo's care, but knowing even now he didn't know him as well, Mumbo had still been looking out for him.

"Do you need anything else?" He asks.

"I'm alright. Thank you again, Mumbo."

"Any time G-man." He laughs.

"GUYS." Jimmy comes rushing in. "Oh hi Grian. SCAR TOOK THE ENCHANTER CAN WE GO STEAL IT?" Martyn and Impulse enter from behind him. Jimmy jumps up and down excitedly, awaiting Mumbo's approval.

"Since when am I the deciding authority?" Mumbo laughs.

"Not to sway your sudden influence Mumbo, but I'd prefer it if you chose yes." Grian says matter-of-factly. Mumbo rolls his eyes.

"Let's go join the pAHArty!" Martyn chuckles.

"In the jar. Now." Impulse points. The group laughs. They set out for Mystic Mountain, in hopes of retrieving the enchanter from Scar and Joel who lived there. What could possibly go wrong?

Why haven't the Boogeymen started killing? I'm bored.

You are terrible at your job.

Tell that to Grian...