They shouldn't have managed to escape. Out of everyone who could, or had a reason to...those two shouldn't have managed to slip from his grasp.
He had the entire damn realm under his control. It didn't matter if it was by use of magic or fear- point was the entire world was his.

Except for those two.

He didn't even think they had the skills to open their own portal and escape, but they pulled it off...which made the one in blue sweater all the more desirable.
That one knew old magic. Magic that had been lost to time, knew of old ways and of runes that seldom few could read.

Why wouldn't he want someone who knew ancient magick under his control? It was the perfect storm really- a way to become more powerful, start leeching magic from other worlds. To really put his plan into effect.

He was doing it for his people after all. What kind of ruler doesn't think of their subjects first? They wanted more magic and so he'd give them more magic.

He just wanted the two faeries that escaped under his control first.
What better way to get them back than to pay them a little visit?

~~~~~~~~~~

Grian stared down at the growing number of faerie rings on the floor, watching as the magic leeched the life out of the surrounding jungle.
The bushes were turning brown and dropping their leaves onto the dying grass, the colour fading from a vibrant green to the selfsame brown. Only the chrysanthemums seemed to stay alive, their pointed petals deceptively bright among the dying greenery.

He already warned Mumbo to stay away from the rings and the redstoner took one look at them before agreeing wholeheartedly.
Even Professor Beak was getting agitated at the jungle's slow death, though Grian was hesitant to do much about it.
Using magic meant that he could be found again.

It also meant that he had to face his past that was quickly catching up with him.

He let out a sigh before standing up and heading back inside to where Mumbo was sprawled out on a bench, reading a book that he had brought with him.

"Hey Mumbo."

"Hmm?"

"How would you feel about learning magic?" Grian asked, studying the redstoner as his question caused Mumbo to set down the book, a long leaf acting as a bookmark. "Old magic. Powerful stuff."

"Sure, but I mean. It seems rather odd that you're offering." Mumbo frowned, his confusion clear on his face.

Grian sighed and plonked his head on the table. "The faerie ring, the chrysanthemums...I think something big is coming. I just want us to be prepared is all, I guess." He really hoped that Mumbo couldn't hear the concern in his voice. He figured that teaching magic should be fine. They'd be safe until one of them actually practised it.

Which was how, a few days later, Mumbo found himself learning how to read old fae runes, his head buzzing with spells and body becoming accustomed to magic constantly thrumming through his veins.
Distantly, he knew that something was always there, but it lay dormant as if it were hibernating. Now, learning and training with Grian, it awoke.

And after a few weeks and Mumbo finally managed to make a vine move, Grian clapped happily, his wings fluttering and lifting him off the ground a few inches. Professor Beak chirped from his shoulder and the prankster gave the bird a head pat before landing gracefully.

The sun shone overhead, the light filtering through the dying branches of the jungle trees before casting twisting shadows on their floor and yet, the duo still managed to make it work. Still managed to find happiness in the absolutely dismal situation. So what if the jungle was dying, they were alive. They had each other (and a bird). They were okay.
Mumbo grinned happily at the vine, patting it as if to prove to himself that he had managed to move it.

"Mumbo you got it!" Grian cheered happily, forgetting for a moment that they were vulnerable. That they could be found.

"So I did!" He laughed in reply. "I did it!"

And their laughter filled up the room so that they couldn't hear the ground break open beneath their doorstep.