Where: Grian's Hobbit Hole, Universe 0023

It all started with a bit of messing around. What type of messing around? One word: Elskall.

"Why did I agree to this?" Iskall walked out of the makeshift changing room Marra had made. They had a specially tailored Elsa-style dress on: one that Marra had made and enchanted just in case of any dares. What? She'd started hanging out with Zedaph and Tango more, what'd you expect?

Wait, let's backtrack a bit. Who's this Grain- I mean, Marra, character? Well, as far as she's told the Hermits: her name's CaptainMarra, she runs this section of the multiverse, is kinda all-powerful, and probably needs a therapist. You try seeing what other Authors do or let happen to their universes, it's kinda cruel sometimes (you should've seen her after watching a Hunger Games AU).

Alright, back on track.

Marra dramatically gave Iskall jazz-hands. "May I present to you: Elskall, the Ice Ruler of Doom!"

Iskall huffed, and Grian punned: "Oh, just let it go already!"

Mumbo and Grian cracked up, and Iskall eventually joined in on the laughter (after a few joking cries in chat of "save me!").

<iskall85> save me

<Grian> owo don't

<CaptainMarra> OwO

<MumboJumbo> hahaha I'm in danger-

<renthedog> o.o

The smallest of the four perked up.

"WAIT, CAN YOU DRESS MUMBO UP TOO?!"

"YES!!" Marra high-fived Grian and quickly messaged a few Author friends of hers. "Okay, I might be able to pull a few strings and get you one now, I'm not great at recreating costumes."

Mumbo laughed nervously. "My lord, what am I about to be dragged into?"

"Genius. You're about to witness pure genius."

"BEAUTIFUL!!"

"This is the best thing I've ever seen."

"Iskall, guess what his costume is!"

"Hint: Disney Villain."

As Grian and Marra praised Mumbo from behind the door, One-Eye (cough Iskall cough) had a guess of what the costume was. "Is Mumbo dressed up as Hans?"

The three other people were silent for a moment before bursting into more fits of laughter. After everyone calmed down again, Marra remarked, "I don't know if I'm that evil, but that would make sense."

The mustache spoon walked out and showed off what he was wearing: a Dr Facilier inspired costume. Iskall's jaw dropped a bit, they'll admit. As Iskall and Grian commented on how cool Mumbo looked with his staff and top hat, Marra remembered something.

"Hey, Mumby."

Mumbo turned away from Iskall and Grian, who started to debate what costume red-sweatered Hermit should have (Iskall argued Anna or Hans, and Grian listed several other Disney villains). "Yes?"

"How'd you like to be a bit more like the Shadow Man?"

"What do you mean?" He asked curiously.

CaptainMarra smiled mischievously with a wink. "What would you say to having some friends on the other side?"

'This escalated quickly.'

The redstoner took a moment to process, and after a few moments, asked, "You said all magic had consequences, right? Would I have to sell my soul or something?"

After realizing what he meant, Marra snorted. "Like I'd let you. This branch of Shadow Magic isn't as harsh as most. Besides, it'll help if any baddies get a little antsy. Yes, it might completely change how you see other people but-"

Marra stopped. "Gods, I'm terrible at explaining things."

'I'm sorry, what?!'

The Hermit had to remind himself that Marra was fairly over-dramatic, and was a theatre person. From the mysterious vibe she was giving, she was purposely trying to freak him out a bit. Probably.

"What do you mean by that?" Grian questioned curiously. He'd heard "Mumbo" and "magic", which caught his interest.

Shadow magic. Most people didn't want anything to do with it. For good reason. Most branches of Shadow magic aren't something to be taken lightly. But, there is one branch that has more pros than cons.

This branch of magic deals with shadow selves instead of those long past. What are shadow selves, you ask? Well, they're the parts of you that aren't as public, maybe because you think of them negatively or maybe because showing them makes you feel vulnerable. Shadow selves, or just shadows, are sentient, and they're a part of who we are. People who deal with this magic can directly communicate and summon people's shadows, including their own.

After informing the trio about the magic she was going to give Mumbo, Marra got permission from two sources: one was an Author friend who'd accidentally given her the idea, and from Mumbo Jumbo himself, of course.

Grian watched curiously as Marra repeatedly pulled books from seemingly nowhere, some written in languages he didn't know, some in Galactic (which he did know). Occasionally, a grey notebook would be among the things she would summon, and Marra would take out a pencil and scribble down who-knows-what.

After a few minutes of Mumbo, Iskall, and Grian watching CaptainMarra prepare the spell (and watch the one time she had to disappear to "stop a certain someone from blowing up the forking house again"), it was finally ready.

"Turn off all the lights. This is gonna sound shady as heck, but the shadows have to accept Mumbo."

Mumbo chuckled nervously again. Have you ever done some weird demon summoning on a dare? That feeling of panic, but also not sure if it's real or if it'll work? Times that by twenty, and you'd have an accurate description of how the redstoner was feeling.

The two Hermits that weren't about to have magic infused in them covered the windows and broke all the light sources. The pirate-witch told Mumbo to sit down, and to prepare himself for some real weird experiences (*distant yelling of "that didn't help my nerves!"*) and that Grian and Iskall should be a safe distance away (causing them to stumble blindly across the room).

After taking a deep breath, Marra spoke in Galactic. "ᔑꖎꖎ ᓭ⍑ᔑ↸𝙹∴ᓭ !¡∷ᒷᓭᒷリℸ ̣ , !¡ꖎᒷᔑᓭᒷ ∷ᒷ⍊ᒷᔑꖎ ||𝙹⚍∷ᓭᒷꖎ⎓ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᒲ⚍ᒲʖ𝙹 ⋮⚍ᒲʖ𝙹."

Despite it being pitch black, Mumbo Jumbo could somehow see three figures appear from nowhere and walk up to him.

"You called?" An echoy, but familiar sounding voice spoke from the bigger of the three, leaning against a nearby wall. The smallest one stood defensively with a sword, while the odd-one-out seemed bored, judging by their posture.

Marra chuckled. "Always so casual, MJ. Back to the spell... ᓭ!¡ᒷᔑꖌ ∴╎ℸ ̣ ⍑ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ᒲ𝙹∷ℸ ̣ ᔑꖎ, ᔑリ↸ ⊣╎⍊ᒷ ⍑╎ᒲ ||𝙹⚍∷ ⊣╎⎓ℸ ̣ ᓭ ╎⎓ ⍑ᒷ ╎ᓭ ↸⚍ʖʖᒷ↸ ∴𝙹∷ℸ ̣ ⍑||."

The defensive shadow scoffed quietly, his voice echoing as well. "Alright, we'll see if he's 'worthy' of being able to talk with us."

"Why are you so mean all the time, dude?" The more chill shadow asked.

"You know why, di-"

The pirate interrupted, snapping her fingers. "Focus! Seriously, G, take a chill pill, no need for insults. MJ, Quin, you two know what happens next. Mumbo, don't panic. Grian, Iskall, don't panic either."

And then Mumbo wasn't in darkness anymore.

Thanks, @NinjaKitty1928 for the idea! :)

-CaptainMarra(does shadow magic for fun)

PS: Here's some fanart @KitKatExists made: