The next morning, waking up in Mumbo's base once more, I realized how utterly cramped everything was. We were in the same room in a very small treehouse. It was time to make some space.

"Oh, that's right!" Mumbo was leaning against the tree trunk outside when I went to go talk about the whole treehouse thing. "I'm planning a much bigger base; that one's just to start me off. I also have a cave underground, but even that's a bit small."

"Well, I think that's nice, but..." I looked out over the water, the light breeze ruffling my hair. "I was wondering if I could make my own base?"

I could feel Mumbo's posture stiffen up, and a quick glance showed he had indeed tensed up. "Well-"

"I won't be far!" I held my hands out, hoping he wouldn't completely flip out. "Just over the water. I kinda just want my own space, no offense to you Mumbo."

"Oh, no, I completely get that." Mumbo smiled, the tension vanishing. "It's okay if you wanna go, just... be cautious around some of the other Hermits."

"Got it." I was so freaking excited to have my own space. "I just... need some help resource-grabbing."

~~

A day later, and I was ready to at least make a starter base under the area meant for my final, proper base. I loaded my small wood boat with the last shulker box I had been given by Mumbo, and hopped in myself.

"Grian?"

I looked back to the moustached man, frowning at his troubled expression.

"Just... let me know if there's anything I can help you with." He smiled a bit, hands shoved deep into his dress pants pockets. "I'm gonna miss you as my roommate, even if it wasn't by choice."

I smiled back at him, nodding. "Definitely. Don't think you're safe from me, though. I mean, we're still neighbors!"

Before he could ponder my words too much, I was pushing off and into the ocean. I headed towards the small shipwreck I had scouted a few days before, and began my work on setting up the glass dome I had planned.

Needless to say, it went horribly. I managed to get the platform set up, but completely forgot that drowned lived in this area... and I had no armor. A stone sword only did so much before I felt the horrific darkness of death.

It was only a moment before I was awake in Mumbo's treehouse once more, diving in the water to swim out and grab everything that had fallen from my pockets during death.

Another 15 deaths later, and I had a glass dome on top of the shipwreck, and could breathe the limited oxygen within.

I recalled Mumbo talking about the new things this world had to offer, one of them being an item that would allow you to breathe underwater.

I thought about one person that might be able to help me out. And though I regretted the decision to ask him - considering the last time we met up I nearly died - but it was the only route I could see working out.

~~

"So I heard you need a conduit."

I shoved my hands deeper into my hoodie pockets, avoiding looking directly into the purple visor before me.

"Yeah. I also need dark prismarine, I believe you call it. As much as you can get me."

Xisuma hummed thoughtfully, glancing at a blue shulker box. "I could help you with that I suppose. I raided a glitched Water Temple earlier, found a ton of resources. Take what you need."

I opened up the shulker box, mindlessly pulling out prismarine. Wait. "Glitched?"

"It was the weirdest thing," I heard X wander around behind my back, "There were two entrances, four sponge rooms, maybe more. I might set up a farm there at some point..."

"Is it... normal for things to glitch out?"

"Not usually, though there's been stranger things. Though I would've thought Tango would take care of any land glitches..."

Something moved in the distance. I glanced up, saw something in the shadow of a tree. Probably just a mob, though with everything going on I couldn't help but make sure my iron sword was at my side.

"Well, thank you for the supplies." I pulled up a light blue hologram, sliding the blocks into open slots in the inventory. Two stacks nearly should be enough for my plan.

"Anytime Grian." I stood, shook the other man's head. I made brief eye contact, and his smile was tired. I could faintly see bags beneath his eyes, and now that I'd seen that, I could see the sag in his shoulders, the way he subtly dragged his feet. He was exhausted.

I wanted to say something... but the words wouldn't form. From what I could remember, Xisuma was the head Admin of this... this Server, was it called? And everyone was supposedly trapped here, meaning he was probably working really hard to get the way out of this world opened up.

Initially, I was wary of a man with the power to get into my head. But right here, right now? I didn't know what to think about anyone.

'Trust no one'? Whoever put me here gave me that note, the one still tucked in my hoodie. I don't know whether to believe it or not. I feel like that decision could change everything.

~~

The cobblestone pillar came from the bottom of the ocean, close enough to my conduit that there was nearly no danger in drowning from this build. From the single cobblestone block I branched out in four directions, filling in the quadrants until the platform was as circular as I could make it.

Distant rocket pops grew louder, and a familiar moustached man landed behind me on the rocks.

"A giant platform?"

I sighed, placing more cobblestone in a circle and pointedly ignoring Mumbo. This wasn't the first time he had come by in the past couple of days, and I needed to focus.

"What're you planning?"

I shot him a small glare, his words making me lose count of the circle. Again.

"For your information, this is the basis for my project. A secret project." I gestured for him to swim off with my hand, finishing filling in the circle finally.

"Do you need help with-"

"No, I'm good." I know my words were cold, but I was really focused. From a chest, I grabbed a stack of dark grey concrete I had spent nearly three days grinding for. I heard rockets from behind, and turned to see Mumbo had left, leaving behind... an egg.

I walked up to the egg, breaking up the shell enough to see a small chick inside. It was a light yellow color, entirely new to the world. It chirped up at me, and I couldn't help but coo.

I want more.

I ran to a chest, digging out a total of 16 more eggs. I chucked them all around, collecting two more adorable baby chickens for the one Mumbo left behind.

The last egg I kept in my hand, ideas racing through my brain. Petty revenge was in order, I think.

~~

One visit to the shopping district and an inventory of collected eggs later, I was ready. I slid the chicken mask over my face before taking off into the sky, holding back the excitement that flying filled me with.

Mumbo was working on his base, creating half of a sphere that had a central platform far above the ground, only connected by four curved spires. It looked wicked, if I do say so myself, and I was eager to see the final product.

But for now, I chucked eggs everywhere I could see. Stacks upon stacks of eggs, emptied onto the empty land of Mumbo's island. I landed on the ground near his cow pen, waiting for the mustached man to notice.

He did, climbing up from an underground bunker quickly. "What the hell?"

His eyes landed on me. "Grian? What the-"

Before he could chase me, I had dropped three full buckets of cow milk on the ground. I took off into the air, gliding back towards my base with one final call.

"It wasn't Grian! It was the man in the chicken costume!"

~

"I know why you called me here."

"..."

"Look, I can't tell you anything about him either. I don't know why he's here."

"You're lying."

"Oh, just because I'm evil I'm lying?"

"No, you're lying to lie to me. I know you."

"You know nothing about me."

"Why is he here?"

"Even if I enjoy the chaos he brings... it wasn't me this time. Pinky promise."

"Who is he?"

"...oh, that information will cost more than you have. Call me when you can actually pay me."

"You son of a bitch-"

"Takes one to know one."

"..."

"Good talk chap, but I have things to do. Every villain needs an evil lair."

"I'm not done with you- and you're already gone.

"...

"There's still so much work to do."

---

Here's the newly rewritten chapter! I finally got around to finishing this one up, and hopefully the next few will come quickly. I wanna get to the good details soon, but for now enjoy the filler fluff!

~Parker