Zedaph went off with a bang fighting MR CREEPY CREEPER

...yeah, the hermits REALLY weren't good at following the 'try not to die' command. 

impulseSV: MY KILL!

REALLY not well...

Grian closed chat, sighed, and continued staring at his base, trying to find the best thing to build next... of course, he knew the basic order of stuff going on, but beyond that? Nothing (can't relate-)

As though expecting a different result than before, Grian opened chat again, only seeing a swarm of messages... Cub's message about lending Impulse the fireworks... Ren shouting something about another mortal falling to join his ranks... with a sigh, he returned to having no ideas... then over to Mumbo's base. His death replayed in Grian's head... if he and Scar had just covered it faster... if Scar hadn't been Scar and read a random lectern. If-

'HOTGUY!'

Grian screamed as an arrow hit him, setting him on fire for a moment of panic as he tried not to swear at Scar and also finding a water bucket... somehow he managed both, gasping for breath as his friend landed on the bridge next to him.

'SCAR HOW COULD YOU DO THAT!' He shrieked. 'IF I DIE I'M OUT OF THE GAME!' 

For a moment Scar didn't speak, lowering his bow, a look of pure regret in his wide eyes. 

'I- I'm sorry... I thought it would be funny...'

'To KILL ME?' 

'I'm sorry!' Scar stepped back. 'I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done it. It was stupid. I shouldn't have... I... I...'

'Scar SERIOUSLY! You need to gain some self control and stop being... Possessed into being stupid!'

Something in the words made Scar freeze, a flicker of magic at his fingers. Grian let out a deep breath, trying not to shout again as he calmed down. 

'I'm sorry... I forgive you. It's just... that was a really stupid this to do.'

'I'm sorry...'

For a moment neither spoke, Scar unable to look up at Grian. 

'I... just wanted to come by and talk to you.'

'Ok?'

'I know about the deal you and Cub made. To keep me alive.'

Grian didn't reply for a second. 

'Did he tell you or...'

'Yeah. He told me.'

'...And?' Grian frowned at Scar's curt reply.

'And I'm not going to win! Grian- I know you care about me...'

'Why are your upset about me and Cub trying to help you?!' Interrupted Grian.

'Because it seems to make you think you can give up on keeping yourself alive!'

'So... Your response is trying to stop me from staying alive?'

'I said I was sorry!' Burst out Scar, pulling out his Hotguy bow again. Without hesitating, he threw it at the ground, kicking it over to Grian. 'But there! Keep it! If you're so worried about me killing you just KEEP IT! Because I just can't do ANYTHING right!'

'Scar what's- are you ok?!'

'YES!' Scar yelled back, tears down his face, vex wings behind. 'I'm perfectly fine!'

'First you shoot me, then you start blaming me, and now you throw your bow at me!? What's going on?!'

'Oh, no. Don't worry about me I'm fine!' Scar's pitch grew higher, hysterical. 'I'm completely fine! Everything's going absolutely perfect!'

'What. Happened?' Grian repeated, stepping closer. Scar turned on him, literally hissing, eyes blue, wings out, tears down his cheeks. 'SCAR!'

'I ARGUED WITH CUB, OK?!' He shouted, before starting to calm down, taking deep breaths that more often than not turned into sobs. 'Because he wants to kill himself to get on Ren's side and force him to protect me! And he wants me to do it, so I get immunity!'

Silence for a moment, Scar's letting out shaky breaths as he tried to recover.

'...And then I wanted to cheer myself up and calm down speaking to you, but you just shouted at me and... And... I lost control. I'm sorry. It's just been a lot lately...'

Scar slumped down on the side of the bridge, looking out on Scarland. Grian followed, putting an arm around his shoulder.

'I forgive you.' was all he said as Scar started to sob. He hugged his friend closer, letting him get it all out.

For ages they just sat there, doing nothing, Grian comforting Scar, until he wriggled out of the hug.

'Thanks.' He smiled, wiping away the last tears. 'I should head off to my base... See if I can build something to calm down.'

'Take it easy, ok?'

'Yeah, I will... See you around.'

'Don't die!' Grian called as Scar slipped from the bridge, flying away towards his base.

Grian watched, making sure he was ok, before standing, turning and-

He screamed, backing away from the end crystal, just as an arrow hit it. Explosion, destruction... Only a couple hearts gone.

Grian glared up at Mumbo, standing on the wall of his base.

'Hey Grian!' He called. 'Long time no see!'

'End crystals? Really?!'

'Oh, you know. It just lagged there.'

'Oh really? How strange.' Crossing his arms, Grian shot back, unable to stop smirking. 'Was that the same lag spike that removed the diamonds from your vault?'

For moment, Mumbo's eyes widened, turning back, giving enough time for Grian to aim an arrow.

'Don't mess with Cuteguy.' He warned.

'You can't kill me!' Yelped Mumbo

'I can! Besides, you're already out of the game.'

Mumbo spluttered for an answer as Grian's grin grew.

'How are you doing, Mumbo?'

'I mean- I'm good? How are you?' Mumbo pulled out his own bow. Grian laughed.

'I'm going great. And you know you can't kill me.'

'I can kill you!'

'Do it then.'

'I will.'

And Grian realised.

Mumbo wasn't aiming for him.

He was aiming for something behind him.

Grian turned, backing away from the end crystal there. A flash of grey on his base.

Ren.

'MUMBO WHAT ARE YOU-'

Grian was blown up by end crystal

Angst and betrayal. My favourite.

:)