TW: MORE violence and torture + (all new!!) kidnapping

----| Scar's POV! |----

Scar's magic led him right to the Watcher city.

"What are those?" Xisuma asked from behind him.

"The Watchers' towers," Scar answered.

There was so much magic here, Scar could sense it from farther than he could see the city. Normally, magic wasn't so obvious. But here, it was everywhere. 

Scar landed on the end stone in front of the giant towers of obsidian and bedrock. The towers aren't very pretty, Scar noted, hearing the others land behind him.

"Wow, what's this? The whole server delivering itself right to me? How perfect!" A massive figure with enormous violet wings swooped down from the tallest tower and hovered in the air above Scar and the other hermits.

"Where's Grian?" demanded Mumbo, pushing in front or everyone, including Scar.

"Who is this Gah-ree-in? I know no one of that name," it replied, butchering Grian's name.

"Yes you do!" Mumbo shouted. "Give him back right now!"

"Mumbo-" Scar started.

"Ohhhhh, is Gah-ree-in a birdie? Because I have a little birdie I keep locked up," it said carelessly.

Scar stepped forward before Mumbo could reply. He saw Xisuma rush up and grab Mumbo, restraining him, as Scar said, "Hello, Great Watcher. My name is Scar. I am a Wizard. I have magic and am not afraid to use it against you. We are here for our friend. I have discovered that you have him and I will not be leaving your island until I have him."

"Bold words. But this is my city. You have no power here, Wizard!" 

Scar shot a bolt of lightning at the Watcher. It dodged the bolt and shot purple fire at Scar. He deflected the blow and sent it back at it.

The Watcher easily stopped it, and then said, "I think I would be willing to give you your friend..."

"Would you?" Scar asked it calmly, stopping the fight.

"...for a price," it finished.

"Name your terms," Scar said.

----| POV switch to Mumbo |----

"I would be willing to trade the bird, as I have just about finished all of my tests and it's almost useless to me now anyway-"

Mumbo was filled with anger at the Watcher's words. Before, he'd been upset. But now, he felt a rage more intense than anything he'd ever felt in his life. This Watcher thing was talking about Grian, Mumbo's best friend, as if he was nothing more than a thing. A test subject to be used. Mumbo almost broke out of Xisuma's arms, but evidently noticing Mumbo's attempts, Stress came over and helped Xisuma restrain Mumbo.

"-for something I desire. And that thing would be one of you." finished the Watcher.

Mumbo would not be held back. In a burst of strength, he leapt out of Xisuma and Stress' hold and shouted, "Take me! Just give us back Grian!"

The Watcher seemed surprised. "Oh, a volunteer? I must admit, I was not expecting this. Very well,"

"MUMBO, NO!" he heard Scar shout.

"MUMBO!" Xisuma yelled.

Many other hermits called his name, but he didn't listen. He would do anything for Grian. Anything. 

Magic swirled around Mumbo, then purple turned to black as he faded into unconsciousness. 

----| And back to Scar |----

Scar was helpless as the Watcher took Mumbo. One second, Mumbo was in Xisuma and Stress' arms, the next he was in the air in the middle of the Watcher's purple magic, and then he was gone.

Not really gone, of course, just teleported away. If the Watcher had been going to kill Mumbo, it would have made a much bigger show of it. Watchers were arrogant know-it-alls who loved spectacles.

Scar outwardly composed himself, although inwardly he was still devastated. There was nothing to do for Mumbo right now, but there was still a chance of saving Grian.

"So, we've given you one of us. Can we have our other friend back?" Scar asked the Watcher.

"Come to think of it, I may still need the bird. I have no obligation to you, your friend told me to take him. He didn't make me do a trade. And now I have no need to trade with you since I have what I need. I think I owe you nothing. Plus, I like hearing the bird sing," it said.

Scar paled. No, no, no, no, no, everything was going wrong! Scar knew what it meant by sing; scream and cry from the pain of being tortured. And there was nothing Scar could do... or was there?

"I have a different offer for you, Watcher," Scar said.

"Oh?" The Watcher sounded curious. Good.

"I will give myself up in exchange for the other two. I, as a magic user, would be extremely useful to you. All I ask is that you give up the bird and the player. The bird is practically useless to you anyway, and the player would be as well if you had me," Scar said. It hurt to speak of his friends like objects, but he had to in order to convince the Watcher.

"Scar, no!" Xisuma yelled from behind him. "Don't! Please, no!"

Ignoring Xisuma, the Watcher replied, "That is a tempting offer..."

"I do request one small thing. I will not go with you until I see you release the bird and the player. I will hold to this. Even if I do not, I cannot leave. You could easily pull me back in. There is no risk to you, but I will comply if you do this," Scar told it.

"As I said, tempting. But I have no use for a magic user. Maybe once I have finished with them I can do this, but I have tests I want done. So, farewell Wizard. You are free to go, as are your friends. I have what I want, I won't stop you from leaving. Go now before I change my mind." With that, it flew up to the tallest tower, leaving the hermits in shock.