Why do I keep screwing up the chapter numbers smh I have a chapter plan for a reason-

— — —

"I hate this stupid server, these stupid kids, stupid... EVERYTHING IS DUMB!"

Iren was, once again, ranting to no one in particular. He was not a happy bunny. All he wanted was to take over the server and make Cub suffer, how much is that to ask?!

Sighing, Iren looked around. Third time was the charm, right? Or was this technically the fourth time? Time was weird when you were a spirit. It just... didn't matter to you anymore.

Either way, a soft humming caught his attention. Whipping around, he saw the elderly hermit, TFC, walking past, presumably after a supply run. What could he have even needed? TFC spent most of his time on the server in his bunker when there wasn't a meeting or an event. He had all the farms he could ever need down there! What, did he need a few new pickaxes or something? Either way, Iren was going to follow an old man home.

...That sounded better in Iren's head.

Following TFC was easy, as he was literally a ghost. Every now and then the old hermit would stop and look around, annoyingly. Couldn't the old man move faster?

"Come on, oldie, how long does it take to get you baaaaase~" Iren sung in a sing-songy way, obviously bored out of his skull.

After what felt like hours, but was probably about 10 minutes - As Iren said earlier, time doesn't really apply to him anymore - they reached the entrance of the bunker. Oh boy, Iren couldn't wait to get into this guy's head! ...One again, that sounded better in Iren's mind. Either way, it would be quite fun to take over the server. Ooh, what would he do first? Make Cub suffer? Maybe drink some milk? It had been ages since he'd had a drink, or food, for that matter... What did eating even feel like? What if he just forgot to eat while he was in control of TFC and then starved? Would he die as well as the old timer? Oh well, we should find out-

Oh. The door slammed in his face.

Iren groaned. Opening doors was a nightmare in spirit form.

After a good few attempts of trying to open the door - due to spirit hands - he finally got it, grumbling to himself about how doors sucked, and when he took over the server, all doors would be destroyed.

Anyway, Iren just decided to jump down the hole, not paying any mind to the ladder. He hit the ground, and the impact knocked him down, but he didn't feel any pain. Iren never really felt anything. At first, it was weird, but now he was used to it, and it was less upsetting.

Either way, back to the task at hand; Locate an old man.

Where could he be anyway? There were so many doors and little rooms, and hallways! Then Iren heard gentle humming from a door next to him.

Found him.

~ ~ ~

"You have got to be kidding me."

TFC was sitting on the floor, yanking at the chains. The dark room was kind of unnerving, especially the screen that literally showed him himself staring at a wall.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Iren stepped out of the shadows. "An old man amongst a bunch of kids? Well, I say-"

"No."

"Excuse me?"

TFC rolled his eyes. "Listen, buddy, it's nice to meet you and all that jazz, but I'm not really in the mood to sit through your whole 'villain monologue' thing, so if you don't mind letting me go..."

Iren visibly sharpened. He didn't really think anyone would stop his monologue. It was kind of his thing, you know? Evil monologues? Very intriguing and very, very evil.

"W-well, u-uh... Okay, I didn't plan this far."

"Pff. Alright, buddy, jokes are over, now let me go."

Iren was about to yell, but he smirked inwardly as he worked out a way he could get into TFC's head. He seemed very close to that moustached boy...

"Alright, fine! Maybe I'll possess the kid again or something."

"What."

The sharp tone TFC used scared Iren a bit, but he knew he had finally gotten his attention.

"Yeah, if I can't have you, maybe I'll just try the Mumbo kid again. Either way, there's a heck ton of people on the server. Oh, there's the robot boy, the half creeper half robot guy... Oh, and the snake, the knight seems like he'd be a fun one! Oh, and don't get me started on the Swedish one, he seems fun as well! There are so many options, I just get giddy thinking about it!"

"Oh like HELL you'll possess them!" TFC snapped, yanking at the chains. They would hardly budge.

"Ah, ah... it doesn't have to be like that, though. Like I said, it's you or them."

"Why are you even after us, Iren?! They're just a buncha kids!"

"Why? WHY? Ha! Let someone ask YOU that after you've been a spirit for YEARS because a certain SOMEONE wouldn't help you by telling the TRUTH!"

TFC blinked. He honestly hadn't expected Iren to snap like that, but he had to get out of here, and fast.

"Listen, Iren, I don't really care about your 'Woe is me' tale. So let me go, or I swear down, there will be hell to pay."

"Alright, that's your choice. Toodle doo."

No, I can't let this happen. The others are strong, sure, but I don't want to watch myself fight them. It's going to hurt me, and them. I need to get out. I. Need. To. Break. Free.

TFC felt... powerful. Like he could break those chains, and get free. Is this how Mumbo had felt?

Either way, TFC continued to strain, and the chains eventually shattered as he shouted into the darkness.

"NOT UNTIL I DIE, IREN!"

~ ~ ~

Waking up after that whole experience was... strange.

The first thing TFC did was yell into nothing for Iren to get lost and stay away from these kids.

Then he pulled out his phone.

~ ~ ~

TinFoilChef: Just had a run in with Iren.

MumboJumbo: Are you okay...?

TinFoilChef: Yes, I'm okay, Mumbo. Just shaken up.

TinFoilChef: I refuse to let myself hurt you all.

Xisumavoid: That's the third time he's tried to do this in a month, should we be worried

Docm77: Probably not since we'll just keep beating his ass

Joehillssays: language

TinFoilChef: Language.

Zedaph: Do you two have the same braincell or something

Joehillssays: Possibly

Iskall85: Damn, hope you're okay TFC

TimFoilChef: Yeah, I'm fine, don't sweat, kid. I'm just gonna stay in my bunker for a little while, stay safe yknow?

TinFoilChef: If anyone wants to come by at any point, feeling unsafe or such, knock three times.

MumboJumbo: I just asked Grian and a Iskall if we could come over and they said they'd come with me

MumboJumbo: They havent left my side since the whole incident, especially Grian

Iskall: Understandable

MumboJumbo: ...Iskall you're in the same base as us why are you texting me

Iskall: :D

Grian: Stop talking smack And get back here okay where did you even go

iJevin: Smh I hate it here sometimes

WelsKnight: D:

iJevin: Not you

WelsKnight: :D

TinFoilChef: I'm just gonna go. Remember, knock three times.

*TinFoilChef went offline*

— — —

Word count; 1243

Another day, another chapter! Hell yeah!

Sorry this took so long School exists now smh

Thanks for reading now I gotta run and get ready for school before my mother heats my ass

Things get interesting next chapter, don't worry... ;3