Mumbo remembered the cold, icy palms that covered his mouth, preventing him from screaming for help.

He remembered the strange scent of lavender that lingered on his attacker's fingers, which was so powerful that he could recall the exact aroma simply by thinking back on the memory.

But most importantly, he remembered losing something.

It was important, so deeply important that tears welled up in his eyes while his heart ached at the thought. But he couldn't quite remember why, nor could he recall what he had lost.

These fragments of past memories sat in the back of his mind, clear as day, as if they had only just happened. Mumbo couldn't piece together what had happened, as that was all he could remember. Everything else was a foggy mess that was unrecognizable, no matter how hard he tried to recall what had happened.

They told him not to worry. They said it was just memories of a past life, some place he would never return to. Mumbo tried to listen, he tried to block out the unfamiliar thoughts that he was unable to identify.

But each night, as he shut his eyes to rest, the memories reappeared in his dreams. It felt like he was reliving the past each night, with it always starting the same way.

It began with a firm grasp over his mouth, with fingernails that dug into his skin like claws from some kind of wild beast. They held a tight grip, refusing to loosen their hold on Mumbo as their nails scratched across his cheeks. He could have sworn that they had begun to draw blood. Mumbo let out a whimper in pain, though it was muffled by the hand that had clasped over his lips.

"It's going to be okay, just stay calm." A voice assured him, the figure that spoke standing a little farther away. It was like their body was made of shadows, with the Brit unable to clearly examine or study their features, as if they had been completely burned out of Mumbo's memory.

He could feel the blood rushing down his cheek being countered by tears, along with his heart rate beginning to climb from pure fear. Lavender lingered in the air, drifting with the wind, as if they were in a field of the flowers.
The scent was unpleasantly strong, especially on the fingers of his attacker.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had just behaved. Now look at us, stealing away your puny little boyfriend just to get back at you. Maybe we really are the monsters you described."

"He has nothing to do with this. Let him go and we can figure this out, I swear."

Mumbo's head turned hazy at this moment, it always had, with his eyelids softly fluttering as the idea of sleep beckoned for him. His mind was fading in and out of consciousness, struggling to process the conversation between the two figures.

He could hear one yell and bicker while the other spoke with a calmer tone, but the words of the two flowed in one ear and out the other. "H-hey, Mumbo, look at me." A voice commanded, the Brit forcing his eyes to stay open as he glanced to the shadowy figure that stood a bit further away.

"You're not going anywhere, okay? You're going to be okay, and I'll get you out of this mess. Just stay awake, we'll fight this together."

Mumbo gave a weak nod, though his eyelids didn't want to listen. They fluttered slowly a few more times, before slowly closing as the lavender scent became too much to fight.

There was laughter and then a scream, and that was the last thing he could remember. It was all clear, except for the two figures in his dream. No matter how hard Mumbo tried, he could never recognize their voices or their appearances.

He opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling while laying in bed. Mumbo blinked a few times, the memories from his dream receding to the back of his mind. The Brit sat up, stretching as there was a knock on his bedroom door.

"Good morning, MumboJumbo." They greeted with a warm smile as the door opened, "Are you ready for today's training?"

Nodding slightly, he pulled himself out of bed. Mumbo walked over to his dresser, pulling out a long cloak that was a deep shade of purple. "Shouldn't I be graduating my training soon?" He asked while putting on the long cape, which draped down to the floor.

"Yes, yes. In due time, child. Come, let's get started for today, shall we?" They offered a hand, Mumbo smiling as he accepted the gesture.

The two walked out of the bedroom and down a long hall, which never ceased to impress the Brit each day he studied the intricate design and high ceilings. Others walked through the corridors, taking no time to stop or waste time with conversation.

Mumbo glanced up towards the taller figure that guided him through the hallway. Their skin was a light pale with their hair cut in a short bob. The Brit wasn't too sure of their gender, due to their expression always being hidden by a mask and their body being covered by a long cloak similar to his.

"It's almost time, you know." They said while walking through the crowded halls, "I'm quite proud of how far you have come. Soon, all that hard work will be rewarded."

The two stopped at a wooden door, Mumbo pushing it open and stepping into the darkness. Waving his hand, the candles scattered around the room instantly forming a purple flame. "What do I need for today's lesson?" He asked while lifting up two different books in each hand, glancing between the two.

Chuckling, the taller figure placed their hand on one of the books. "Nono, our lesson won't require these. You've surpassed the knowledge of these books."

"Oh? Then what do I need?"

"I'll supply everything, but first we'll need to examine your progress." They explained, opening the palm of their hand to reveal a small feather.

Mumbo reluctantly took the plume, a perplexed look across his face. "What's this for?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before he could gain a response, the Brit could feel a tingle coming from his back. Ripping fabric could be heard from underneath his cloak, Mumbo ripping off his cape and discarding it to the side.

He stared in awe, flexing the tiny extension that had managed to tear through his back. The feathers matched a light shade of purple, with the wings only the size of a small, common bird. His grin was wide and filled with excitement while his eyes shimmered in wonder.

"I-I can't believe it!" He laughed, doing a bit of a twirl while flexing his new wings. "Does this mean I've completed my training? That I'm finally an official watcher now?"

The head watcher laughed calmly, their gigantic wings slightly fluttering as they examined the Brit's newfound feathery limbs. "Yes, you're close now. You've been an excellent student this past year, Mumbo. You've learned and perfected magic faster than most."

His smile beamed with pride due to the praise, with his wings fluttering uncontrollably. "So I'll be assigned to a server soon?"

"Almost," They said, holding up a finger to single patience. "there's just one little test you need to pass, something special made just for you."

Mumbo raised an eyebrow. "But I though I already passed all the tests, my magic—"

"Oh dear child," they laughed again. "this is not a test of magic. It is a test to see if you are truly loyal to our cause. Are you up for it?"

"Of course. I'd put my life on the line for the order of the watchers." He said, while a grin managed to spread across the watcher's face. They gestured towards a wooden chair by the desk, Mumbo taking a seat, adjusting slightly to try and feel comfortable with his new wings.

"I'm going to remove a barrier in your mind," They explained as the tip of their finger began to glow. "I set it in place when you were first selected for the watcher program. Your past life was hidden away, but now I'll let you remember it all. And if you're still loyal to our cause, you will be an official watcher."

Mumbo was a bit taken aback by the idea that he had been forced to forget who he used to be, but he nodded nonetheless. "O-okay. But...what if I'm not loyal? What if I want to return to my old home?"

The watcher chuckled. "Oh, we'll just try again. I'll erase this little interaction between us from your mind and you'll go about your day in blissful ignorance."

He shuddered. "So..I'll never go home ever again?"

"Well, not as your old self. If you're lucky and obedient, I will be happy to send you back to watch over your old server."

Swallowing the lump of nervousness in his throat, the Brit nodded reluctantly. "Okay. Do it quick."

They nodded, placing their index finger on the center of Mumbo's forehead. A shock rushed through his mind, and as if a dam had broken, a wave a memories flashed back.

—

"You survived your first season of hermitcraft, Grian!" Mumbo laughed while using his elbow to nudge the builder in the ribs, the two sitting on the roof of Sahara as they watched the sun set over the horizon.

"Well, it was worth it. I got an amazing boyfriend out of it all." He winked in response, while the redstoner's face filled with a bright red blush as he chuckled nervously, trying to stutter out a something that didn't sound like a jumbled mess of words.

"I-I wouldn't call myself amazing—"

"Stop it, of course you're amazing!" Grian said while wrapping his arms around the mustached hermit's neck, kissing him on the cheek. Mumbo's cheeks were practically glowing with red as he shoved his hands in his face to hide is blush.

"Gah... I'll never get used to this! We're dating! This feels so weird!"

"What? Have you never had a boyfriend before?" The builder asked, while the taller Brit laughed nervously with a shrug.

"Oh my—" Grian began, though he paused mid-sentence as a icy breeze brushed through his hair. Mumbo raised an eyebrow, watching the color drain from his boyfriend's face while his eyes filled with horror.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Do...Do you smell that? The lavender? O-or am I imagining things?" Grian asked, slightly desperate in his questioning. Now that he had mentioned it, it was clear that there was a faint hint of lavender that lingered on the gentle wind.

"Yeah, why? Is something wrong?"

"We need to go." Grian demanded while standing up, grabbing Mumbo by the wrist.

"What? Are you not going to say hello to an old friend?"

The voice caused for the two hermits to shutter in unison, a purple flame erupting on Sahara's rooftop. Grian began to hyperventilate, taking a few steps backwards while grasping at his hair. Mumbo tried to run over and comfort his distressed boyfriend, though his body froze as a purple aura surrounded him.

"So this is who you ran away to join?" A figure asked, stepping out of the flames. The redstoner was lifted off the ground, thrown through the air by the magic of the unknown person.

"Don't hurt him! He has nothing to do with what happened!"

"You ran away because your watcher training was 'too hard'. You had the potential to become a head watcher, to have all the power you could wish for, and yet you run away to this pathetic world?" They asked, cocking their head to the side.

"Lavender—"

"Do not call me that name." The figure spoke harshly, "Your little nicknames were always idiotic, anyway."

Grian glanced between the terrified expression on his paralyzed boyfriend's face, then back at the blank expression of the watcher. "I'll go back with you. Please, just let Mumbo go."

Lavender glanced towards the Redstoner beside them, who was frozen by their magic. "This player means that much to you?"

"Yes. I'll do anything for him. Just don't hurt him, I'll be obedient!"

"Well, why would we trust you? You ran away once, you can do it again. Why don't I just take someone else to train instead? Someone like—" they clasped their hand over Mumbo's mouth to prevent him from screaming, digging their fingernails into his skin. "—him."

The two hermits locked eyes, both horrified. "It's going to be okay, just stay calm." Grian spoke, though his voice didn't sound confident, which made Mumbo begin to cry from the fear of being taken away from his boyfriend.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had just behaved. Now look at us, stealing away your puny little boyfriend just to get back at you. Maybe we really are the monsters you described."

"He has nothing to do with this. Let him go and we can figure this out, I swear."

—

Mumbo blinked, his mind drawing back to reality after the memory flashed through his mind. He glanced up at the watcher who Grian had nicknamed 'Lavender', who tilted their head while waiting for a reaction.

He knew that if he tried to run or show any fear that these memories of hermitcraft, his past life, all of it would be locked away again. Who knows how many times Lavender had actually done this. The redstoner just smiled, standing up from his chair and bowing.

"No matter what, I am loyal to the watchers." He lied through clenched teeth, trying not to seem suspicious. The head watcher didn't seem doubtful of his faithfulness, her smile curling to the ends of her lips.

"Good. I'm glad you see how useless that old life of yours is. Now, you are an official watcher. Players will treat you like a god, you'll have everything you could ever wish for."

'Except Grian..' Mumbo thought, fighting the scowl that attempted to form across his face. 'He's probably been worried sick about me.'

"Could I take a walk around some servers?" He spoke up, "Y'know, to decide on which I'd like to watch over and protect."

The watcher took a moment to think, though they nodded. "Fine. But first-" they waved their hand, Mumbo's body turning transparent and invisible. "—if I find you trying to communicate with any players, I'll personally erase each and every one of your memories, one by one."

Mumbo tried to swallow the lump in his throat again, though he failed, his legs quivering as he nodded. "Understood." He mumbled quickly, his gaze dropping towards the floor.

"Good. Be back in an hour, and we'll hold your ceremony to officially welcome you to the watchers."

—

Mumbo didn't expect hermitcraft to be the same, but he also didn't expect two seasons to have flown by. Had he really been gone for so long? And had no one thought to look for him?

It didn't matter. He wasn't upset. All he wanted was to make sure Grian was okay. Nothing else mattered. His boyfriend meant so much to him, even though he just recently remembered he had a boyfriend.

The redstoner crept around the server silently, horrified that if he even made a sound, all his memories would be taken away again. It all seemed so new, around the start of the season, especially since there were no mega bases yet.

His wings ached, slowly growing larger with each step. What once brought him so much joy and excitement, thinking about the day he would gain his wings, now weighed him down like a curse. Mumbo didn't want this now that he realized who he really was, or at least, who he used to be.

Up ahead came a plains biome, where a small community of hermits had gathered. Houses, starter bases, and a gigantic wagon gathered around some kind of tower of boats. Mumbo was confused, a bit bewildered at the sight, but this was hermitcraft. Weirdness was natural.

That's when he saw him.

Grian.

Mumbo wanted to run out, screaming 'I'm here, I'm okay!', he wanted to tell his boyfriend that he was safe now, and they could be together again. But obviously, he couldn't do that. The redstoner felt like he was on a leash, unable to speak without the consequence and punishments that the watchers had in store.

But, they never said he could get a bit closer. Mumbo inched his way out of the forest, his cheeks burning bright as he studied Grian's stunning appearance. He wanted to cry from joy, the mustached hermit just wanted to kiss him again.

"Hey babe?" Someone called from the large wagon, Grian turning his attention towards the voice. Mumbo felt his throbbing heart shatter in two at that very moment.

Scar held two unfamiliar blocks in his hand, one a sparkly crystal and the other some kind of orange metal. "Which do you think would look better for a shop selling the newer materials from the update?" He asked Grian while gliding down off the wagon.

"Definitely the copper. Looks good either way!" He smiled, gently pulling in Scar before softly kissing him on the lips. What little pieces that remained of Mumbo's broken heart only seemed to crack further.

He could feel tears rolling down his face as the world turned to slow motion. Everything just seemed to fall apart, right before his eyes.

"Tsk, tsk, what a shame."

Mumbo turned around at the voice of Lavender, who appeared in a purple flame. They placed a hand on the redstoner's cheek, using their thumb to wipe the tears from his eyes.

"I'm here now," they said in a comforting tone. "would you like to head back home now?"

"I-I want these memories gone," he sobbed, falling to his knees while gasping for breath. "I WANT THEM ALL GONE!"

The head watcher grinned, Lavender pulling out a white mask with a purple symbol. "Don't worry, all that pain you feel will be washed away once you put this on. Everything from your past life will be gone, so, will you take the final step to become an official watcher?"

Mumbo took the mask from her, staring down at the symbol while dragging his thumb across it. The promise of all his pain being taken away was alluring, the redstoner glancing between the mask and Grian before he let out a sigh.

He took in a deep breath, and put it on.