I squeeze my eyes shut as tight as I can, trying to clear my mind. But every time I try I end up thinking again. About the intruders.

'Take me back, take me back, take me back, take me back...' I repeat, sobbing, under my breath. The Watchers won't come. They won't come to get me. They don't explain what they're doing.

But they have to. They can't expect me to give up on months, maybe even years, of work, to a group of 𝙹ʖᓭᓵᒷリ⚍ᒲ...

 '̇/ᒷꖎᑑ⚍ᔑ?'

I hide my shock at the voice, curling up even tighter, wings closer, legs hugged closer to my chest.

A deep breath as they sit next to me. I shuffle away, not looking but still Seeing that it's Xisuma.

'I know you're scared.' I blink as they speak Galactic. 'I know you feel abandoned, and like you've lost everything. I'm sure you've lived here for ages and you're not used to other players.'

'I made this world.' I curl my hands into fists. 'And then you stole it from me and call it yours. And the Watchers aren't even coming back for me.'

'Watchers can be... hard to understand.'

'You think I don't know that?!' I snap, and then calm down. 'This is my home. I want you to leave.'

'I want you to join us.' 

I stop.

'We put it up to a vote, whether we kick you out, make you live elsewhere in the world, or invite you to join us. And in the end it was a majority for you joining. We realised it wasn't right to make you leave.'

'I'm not joining.'

'You're scared.'

'I'm not scared.' I lie 'The Watchers will protect me if anything happens. They're going to come back to get me.'

'And in the meantime, maybe you can build and get used to normal life as a player again. Maybe... maybe that's what the Watchers wanted. For you to have one last opportunity to enjoy life as a player.'

I try to read his mind, see what he's thinking. And pause, realising he genuinely wants me to join. I get flashes of memories. Jokes, laughter, pranks... huge pranks... games. Huge builds I thought only Watchers could make... 

Another thought comes to mind. If he knows about Watchers, he knows they can read minds. Xisuma's showing me this willingly. Letting me see...

'Fine.' I mumble. 'I'll join. But I won't join in with anything. I'll just... build something and stay out of any... pranks and games.'

I sense Xisuma brighten.

'Thank you. And... Welcome to Hermitcraft.'

2 years later...

'SCAR!' I burst into Larry the Snail, holding yet another Vote Scar for a Good Time campaign poster. He looks up, feigning innocence.

'Well, hello Grian.'

'We've literally already voted for who the mayor is... why are you still putting posters in my base?!'

'Oh I... wanted you to... keep it as decoration.' Scar replies, adjusting his monocle. 'Yeah.'

'Of course you did...'

'What?! That poster took time, and love, and...'

'It's a great poster, Scar.' I interrupt. 'I just don't want it in the mansion.'

'Looks better than the back...' Grumbles Scar

'What was that?'

'It looks better than the back of your base.' He repeats sulkily. 'And who knows, maybe the mayor will quit being mayor and we need to vote for a new one... then all the posters everywhere will make sense...'

'The back of my base is a work in progress!' is all I focus on. Scar gives a guilty laugh. I laugh back, realising with a jolt that even a year ago, this kind of thing would've caused a lot've distrust and would've been taken a lot worse. It took me too long to fit in with the Hermits. Put my mask and robes aside. Accept being called Grian again. Get out the habit of speaking galactic...

'Come on. We should get over to the shopping district... we're going to be late to seeing who the mayor actually is. And it wouldn't set a good impression if it's you and you don't even turn up to accept the position... and take back your poster!' I throw over the half-crumpled propaganda. Scar laughs again, but follows, vex wings appearing behind him as we fly off. I fight the urge to recoil at the different magic. Even with all the progress I've made, it's taken too long to trust Scar's magic, and equally long for him to trust mine. My instincts and teaching as a watcher tell me I shouldn't even befriend him. He's going to betray me, prank me, hurt me... but I have to tell myself Scar and Cub are exceptions to how vexlings act.

We land in the shopping district where a lot of Hermits are gathered already. Bdubs runs over to talk to Scar. I feel a slight twinge of guilt at the sight of Mumbo, chatting with Iskall, knowing I voted for Scar instead. A moment of waiting for anyone else passes, before I speak.

I read the votes, first for Dogcatcher (Joe won), then for mayor. Another hint of guilt, mixed with confusion, at zero votes for Mumbo. Clearly even he didn't think he'd be a good mayor himself. 

'And one for Stress, one for False and like... 5 more for Scar.' I finish. Everyone cheers and applauds. I smile at Scar as Bdubs lets out several over-excited noises next to him, attacking him with a hug. Every part of me trained to be a watcher screams how bad this is, that Scar's going to ruin the server with his vexling magic... I can't think like that. He's my friend. He's trustworthy...

'I don't know if I'm gonna be a good mayor!' Scar admits tearfully, finally escaping the hoards of over-excited hermits.

'Come on, Scar. I'm sure you'll...'

The ground shakes.

My wings shoot out to keep me balanced, watcher fire bursting to life at my hands. Familiar magic floods the air.

Watchers.

Before I can speak, there's a loud crack, and a giant obsidian and bedrock tower shoots from the ground. I instantly recognise the familiar style of the Watcher fortress, the pointed stained glass windows, pillars, the sharp spire.

'My shop!' Cries Cub, running over to where it now stands, right in the centre of his quartz shop. 'Why there?!'

'It's zero-zero, isn't it?' Tango realises. 'Centre of the world.'

'Watchers.' I breath. 'They're- they've...' I break into a run, pushing past the other hermits

'They've finally come back for me.'

:)