The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
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And as always, thank you very much. I first posted the story in the summer of 2012, I believe. It's been a year and a half! Notch better take notice of this.
I've had this page favourited on my phone just to check to see if there was an update. I annually check now, I know i have been an annoying fan but I really do like this story and want to be here for the end of it.
I've showed my friends and they love it too, they want more too, don't give up
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
7/24/2012
Posts:
69
Member Details
Okay! I finally got Word on my new computer. Let's do this.
Part 8:
Lance stared out at the darkening night sky. The moon was out, shining brightly, like a beacon in the darkness. The sky was clear, so clear in fact that it was rather easy to see the tiny stars lightyears away. It ran through his mind that the tiny amount of light coming from these stars took possibly years to reach him now. What he was seeing was light that originally emitted years ago, traveling this far to reach him.
He heard footsteps behind him, those belonging to Zenith. Standing behind him, Zenith too looked out the window and asked “Have you ever believed in the existence of other worlds?”
Lance nodded, saying “Uh-huh, absolutely.”
“I believe that there’s much more to the sky than we know it. Yes, it is true that every star is a world of itself, but could you imagine a realm in the sky that wasn’t visible to our eye? Or even a telescope? Anything is possible, and this is certainly one possibility that I believe in.”
“Zenith?” Lance asked. “You think he’s okay?”
“Certainly,” said Zenith. “Of course his recovery will take some time. When he feels up for it, he may tell us his story so that we know what went on with him.” Zenith put his arms inside his cloak and wrapped it more around himself. “Let us sleep. No need to be worrying more than what is necessary.”
My entire body was sore. When I tried to move just a tiny bit, the pain would return to me. I wouldn’t even try to move my legs; they’re probably just dead limbs from what I know. Maybe my entire body is merely a sack of flesh and nothing more.
I stared at the ceiling. Even closing my eyes would hurt some more, so I kept them open. I was completely motionless. If you were looking at me, with my eyes open and not moving, I’d look totally dead.
I could see that the sun was slowly rising. How long was I laying here in this bed? Hours? Days? I wouldn’t know. After a very long silence, a silence so quiet that it hurt my ears, I heard doors open, followed by quiet footsteps. The face of the medic entered my field of vision as he stared down at me. Finally he whispered “Are you all right?”
In a voice just above a whisper, I said “I don’t know.” I managed to move my eyes to meet his, which were filled with concern.
“We’re out of healing potions,” he said. “Herobrine is our best source of them. Where has he gone?”
After remembering what had happened, I replied “It’s a long story…” But when I thought some more, I also remembered that there were potion ingredients at home. I managed to croak out “I have ingredients at home.”
“You do?” asked the medic. “I will go get some right now.” He rushed to the door, but right before he left, he asked “Oh, and did you notice your company?”
As he walked out the door, I waited for a second. Then, I managed to turn my head to the left… to come face to face with Rhino. He was lying down on the bed next to me and I hadn’t even noticed. His dark brown eyes were staring at me with a mix of worry and happiness. Just making eye contact with me caused him to swing his tail up and down, hitting the bed repeatedly with a thud.
Despite being terribly sore, I was just able to move my arm and give Rhino a hug, and in return he licked my face with his giant tongue. Sometimes I keep forgetting just how big this wolf is. I lightly scratched behind Rhino’s ear, causing him to smile widely and breathe through his mouth. “Good boy,” I whispered.
My body became poised in the current position I was lying down in, and refused to move any other way. I stayed like this for a while, until I heard the doors open again. I forced my stiff body to turn the other way and face the medic. “You went fast,” I said.
“Standard procedure,” said the medic, holding an already-complete potion of regeneration in his hand. “Now drink this.” He handed me the bottle, which I slowly drank from. I didn’t feel the effects right away, but I could at least move my arms without feeling too sore.
“When you feel up for it, let me know when others may come in and visit you,” he said.
“Go ahead,” I told him. “It’s fine.”
“Okay then,” he said. “I will tell the others.” And he exited the house again.
I finished up the rest of the pink substance, then I just lightly held the empty bottle in my hands while barely managing to sit up a little. For a short while, I waited as my body became used to my new current position again.
The first people to come in and see me were Zane and Lance. Even though I no longer had any visible marks on me, Zane said “You all right, man? What happened back there?”
“Yeah, I want to know too,” Lance threw in.
I tried to think back to the last point at which they had any knowledge of what we were doing. They last saw us when we set out to enter the Nether in pursuit of the Wither skeletons. I started there. Then, I worked my way through explaining how the creatures of the Nether fought back against the invaders.
“And these skeletons had combined to form something unlike any I’ve ever seen. I don’t even know how to describe it, but for now I’ll just refer to it as the Wither, since it makes sense for an abomination that’s more than just a skeleton. I’m not sure what kind of powers it possessed, but it seemed otherworldly. It seemed to take control of Herobrine, turning him against us.”
“Yeah, and then?” Zane asked, eager to hear more.
“I had to use one of my lightning arrows, and it put an abrupt end to the battle. There was a massive explosion that whited out my vision, and when it was cleared I found myself in a giant wasteland. Herobrine and Amnesha were completely gone, and I have no idea where they went.” I also told them the story of Giant’s Village, the evil witch, and that darn skeletal horse; which up until now, I totally forgot existed.
“Sounds like you’ve been in a pickle,” Zane said. “Without that armor you would’ve been toast.” For half a second I remembered the toast that had fallen from the air after the giant creeper exploded. I don’t know what happened to it. It must have dropped at some point while I rode the horse home.
Now that I noticed, my armor was no longer on me; just my old worn-out shirt and pants. “Actually, where did my armor go?” I asked.
“Librarian’s taking care of it,” said Lance. “Your things are always safe with him.”
“Okay, good,” I replied. “I was hoping I didn’t lose it or something. Those last few hours before I made it back were really foggy. After I battled the witch, I was heavily exhausted. I was like half-asleep for a large portion of the time after that. When I finally made it here, I felt safe. Safe enough to just drop down and not care where I landed.” At this point, a few of the smaller details were starting to come back to me.
“Well I’m glad you’re okay man,” Zane said. “I can’t believe you survived all that. You should definitely rest up before doing anything else.”
“I understand this, Zane, but I can’t stay for long. With both of the rulers missing, someone will have to search for them. Plus, the Ender slimes could have infected the entire Nether by now.”
“We could search for you, you know. You don’t have to stick it out on your own all the time.”
“Oh no,” I told him, “You don’t have to do that. I don’t want you getting hurt. Better me than you.”
“Whatever you say,” said Zane. “Just don’t get yourself killed out there. I hope to see you later.” Then he made his way out the door, pushing it open with his little piggy hands.
Lance looked at me and said “So yeah, um, good luck.” Then he too exited the house. As he did, a villager came in. Based on the brown and white clothes he was wearing, I could tell he was a leatherworker. He was holding a decently-sized pile of fabric, but I couldn’t see what exactly it was.
“Hello, sir,” he said in a somewhat quiet voice. “I’ve never really spoken to you, but I remember seeing you from the first day you arrived here. Since then, I’ve noticed that you lack a change of clothes. In the beginning, you were lost, am I correct?”
“I suppose I was,” I said.
“That explains it,” the leatherworker stated. “Well, I’m not very good in fabrics, but I wanted to give you some articles I made recently. I hope they do you well.”
He handed the clothes to me. I unfolded the shirt, which was white and thin, and soft as well. The pants were brown and a little thicker, but they came with pockets just like my current pants. As well, there was a pair of white socks and, oddly enough, a pair of underwear too. But my favorite part of these clothes was the leather gloves, complete with a brown and black design and holes for my fingers to slide though. I put them on immediately. Swinging the Soul Bond at things while my hands are bare always somewhat bothered me. And my hands couldn’t feel more comfortable.
Rhino sniffed the clothes, and so did I. Let’s be honest; when you’ve worn practically the same clothes for who knows how long, a change is truly amazing. I embraced the scent too; it certainly smelled better than I did at least.
“Thank you so much,” I said to the leatherworker, putting my gloved hand to my face like an idiot to smell the glove’s palm. “I can’t tell you how much I needed this.”
“I’m glad you like it, sir,” said the villager. “My business is done here. Take good care of yourself.”
“You too,” I said as he left the house. Eager to try on my new clothes, and suddenly free of any sores, I flung the blanket off of me and jumped from the bed, landing on the wood floor. Rhino lifted his head as I did so, watching me walk across the room and into the nearby washroom. I closed the door behind me and changed into my new outfit.
Needless to say, I felt like a new man. The only thing that wasn’t replaced was my old shoes, which is fine since I normally wear diamond boots anyway.
Wow. Just thinking of the fact that I wear diamond boots makes me sound like a fashion guru.
I looked at my old pile of clothes on the ground. I thought, is this really what a ruler of a dimension has been wearing this whole time? These clothes were so much dirtier than I thought. My old shirt had long since lost that pretty blue exploration color; now it just looked plain ugly. There was a torn hole near the collar as well. My old jeans reeked of swamps and ancient caves, and they were still heavily stained by the marsh water from the previous night. My old socks were also blackened by the environment as well.
Now I looked so much better. And the gloves just complete the whole thing. A fresh new look is what every ruler needs, right? And better yet, I’m wearing clothes created by one of my own people. So that means I represent this village. I am their fighting force.
Suddenly I felt like I could take on the world. Highly motivated, I tossed my old rags into a bin and headed back into the main room, where the medic was staring at me. “Up and running already?” he asked, to which I responded “Absolutely.”
Rhino knew that I was heading out, so he jumped off the bed to follow me, causing the bed to shake as he did. I said thank you to the medic as I exited. As I stepped outside, a few villagers caught my eye and smiled at me, and I smiled back. Rhino and I strolled down the gravel path into the library, where we could see the librarian studying at his obsidian table. When we entered, he repositioned his glasses and stood up.
“Welcome back!” he greeted. “Nice to see you home safe, and alive and well.”
“I’m glad to be here too,” I said. “But unfortunately I can’t stay long. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Darting his eyes over me, the librarian said “Our leatherworker is a skilled one, isn’t he?”
“Indeed,” I replied. “I couldn’t be happier with these clothes.” Lance walked in and stood in the corner, observing us.
The librarian said “While you were in recovery, I thought that I would work on your armor. While your diamond armor withstood quite a lot, I felt that it still needed to be repaired and improved. Come have a look.”
I followed him to the back of the library, where my armor was positioned perfectly on an armor stand. And even from first glance, I could tell something was different. It no longer looked dull and worn, and the entire set was glowing. It had the same blue and purple glow as the Soul Bond.
“Whoa,” I said in surprise. “What did you do to it?”
“I enchanted it, amplifying its total protection. Just wearing your armor set will make you feel invincible. Go on. You may wear it.”
I heeded his words without question. I took my armor down from the stand and put each piece on. I let the power of the armor embrace me. He was right. I felt like a walking tank. I am getting so much of a makeover today it’s not even funny. “By the way,” I asked, “Is that skeleton-horse still around?”
“Why yes he is,” said the librarian. “We’re keeping him in the farmland out back.”
“Okay, good. I kind of owe him for saving me.” I found the Soul Bond in its sheath, sitting up against a wall, so I picked it up and slung it over my back. I looked around for the Homing Bow, but I couldn’t find it.
“Any idea where the Homing Bow went?” I asked.
“I am still holding on to it,” the librarian answered. “I noticed you had lost your quiver at some point along your journey, so I am currently trying to give this bow an enchantment for you. Would that be okay?”
“Of course,” I said. “I need all the help I can get.”
“Excellent. I trust that your sword is enough.” The librarian looked at me again and said “Your armor looks breathtaking. You truly are this village’s paladin and I am honored to serve you.”
From behind us, we heard Lance ask “What’s a paladin?”
“A holy knight that fights for the justice and peace of all,” the librarian replied.
“Sounds good enough.”
The librarian turned to me. He asked “Do you know your next mission?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I need to return to the Nether to check up on the place. If there’s still Wither skeletons, which there likely will be, I will take care of them. I must go back to the scene of the explosion and find Amnesha and Herobrine, as they went missing after it occurred. I will return safely, trust me.”
“All right,” said the librarian with a nod of confidence. “Good luck, sir.”
“Thanks,” I said. I turned to Rhino and told him “Take good care of this place, okay?” In response, Rhino barked.
I waved at everyone as I departed, then I marched down the gravel road. As I passed the church, I saw Zenith sitting on the front steps, staring at me in a knowing way. We both saluted as I passed by.
I walked off the gravel road and into the sand of the desert. I treaded across the dune, eventually making it to the Butte. I stared at it as I passed, a massive rock formation looming over me like a giant monolith. To this day I still find this giant landmark wondrous.
Not too long later I finally made it back to the small clearing of sand in front of my house. The sun was blazing, but my glowing diamond armor was keeping me cool. I knelt down by the pond that I had drank from so many times before, and scooped up a handful to drink. Now I felt more refreshed than ever.
I got up and strode across the clearing to the Nether portal that stood strong in front of me, a large frame of pure obsidian with the purple portal swirling inside. When I listened closely, I could almost hear the sounds of the Nether caves, a sound of underground wind that almost called out to me, daring me to enter.
With a grin on my face, I cracked my knuckles, which looked so much cooler when you’re wearing gloves. Okay, I thought. It’s time to save my friends.
Without another thought, I got a running start and dove in headfirst.
It's been a while since your last post, I had to reread the last post to remember the story line.
I'm glad I still have notifications of this thread because I do enjoy this story so much.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
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Incoming, smallest chapter in the whole story. But frequent small updates are better than once-a-year big updates.
Part 9:
I dove out the other end of the portal and landed just perfectly enough to do a secret-agent roll on the floor. After one full somersault, I placed my hand in front of me to stop myself, then I looked up ahead of me, ready for action.
The place was deserted.
Confused, I got up and looked around. There was literally not a single lifeform in sight. I could hear nothing but the sound of nearby flames and the ambient sound of a large empty cave. I took a step forward, hearing my footstep echo a far distance.
“Hello?” I called out. My voice echoed far, but nothing happened. There was nobody here. It almost worried me, as a vast number of Zombie Pigmen doesn’t just simply go missing like that. On the bright side though, there would be no Wither skeletons to block my path to Herobrine’s castle. Whatever was going on, I had to reach the castle right away.
I started to jog across the field of red rock, my shiny blue armor still warding off the heat. The caves of the Nether just kept rolling by for a long while.
Suddenly, as I neared the large river of magma that bordered the hill to the castle, something entered my field of vision. It was a Ghast, floating beside the red bridge that connected to the hill. However, this Ghast was tied to a giant metal chain that connected from the bridge to one of its huge tentacles. From what I could see, its tentacle was braced too tightly, and the look on its face was showing it. It retained the saddest, yet almost peaceful face with its eyes closed. But I could see the tears streaming from its face. Something wasn’t quite right.
I took a few more steps forward, approaching the Ghast with caution. Despite how quiet I was trying not to disturb it, its eyes shot open. The frightening bloody maroon in its eyes sent a chill down my spine. Even darker were the swollen veins clutching the eyeballs. I could tell that this Ghast was in sheer pain.
Without warning the Ghast screamed in anger, its shrills shaking my eardrums. Then it spat a flame burst with incredible velocity. I didn’t even have time to think; I took the full force of the blast, the knockback flinging me backwards. I landed on my back, and for a moment I didn’t feel anything. I was expecting the pain to come a second later, but it didn’t come. Whatever the Librarian put on this armor, I’m glad I have it. Without this armor I would be blown to pieces.
I stayed in my position on the ground, watching as the Ghast eyeballed me, realizing what it just did. More tears ran down its face and it began to sob heavily. It couldn’t control itself. After sobbing some more, its captured tentacle twitched violently and it shrieked, spitting another fireball in my direction. This one missed, but wasn’t too far off. The ground was catching fire from the flames the Ghast was spewing, so I had to mind my footing as I was getting up.
I didn’t know what to do. This Ghast was in so much pain. Anchored to the ground, forced to keep watch of the castle… what were the Wither skeletons thinking? But I had to fight it. With this unstable behavior, if I tried to make a dash across the bridge, the Ghast would blow it to smithereens. I didn’t have the Homing Bow, so how was I supposed to defeat it?
Heck. I shouldn’t be fighting this at all. Why is it attacking me?
The Ghast’s crying intensified. A sob turned into a wail, and an unbelievable amount of tears were spewing from its now-bleeding eyes. In desperation, it tried to yank away from its shackle, but that only seemed to hurt it even more.
Maybe I could set this Ghast free. As it cried out and shot a fireball, I sprinted over to where its chain was anchored. I drew the Soul Bond and swung at it with all my strength. I heard a loud clanking sound, but nothing else happened. Not even Soul Bond can cut this chain down. It was simply too solid.
The bad thing was that hitting the chain caused another shock of pain to the Ghast. It screamed loud enough to nearly burst my ears, I had to cover them with my hands. Its cries resulted in a rapid volley of fireballs, almost comparable to a Blaze. I ran as fast as I could to avoid them, but by now the Ghast had set so much of the ground on fire that I was nearly trapped.
The Ghast managed to hawk up another fireball despite its uncontrollable crying. With nowhere to run, I swat the projectile away using the Soul Bond. However, the projectile rebounded back to sender, hitting the Ghast with its mighty explosion. The Ghast stopped yelling for a moment, and I realized that its fireball had set itself free of the chain.
For a second, I was glad it was over. But then I realized that it really was over. The projectile had left an impact mark just beneath the Ghast’s face. It sniffled, then started to breathe abnormally. Then it coughed, and made a disturbing noise with its lungs, as if it was out of breath. It looked at me, tears still flooding from its face, but something about its gaze looked more peaceful. It drifted down slowly as it sang its final lament, disappearing beneath the surface of the lava.
I looked down into the scorching liquid below, hoping that the Ghast would return. It never did.
Gosh darn, I thought to myself. How many times am I going to kill those who are innocent?
I know it wasn’t this Ghast’s intention to hurt me. Could this be the work of the Wither skeletons? What if the Pigmen or Blazes turn hostile as well? Maybe this Ghast knew that I wasn’t trying to hurt it. Perhaps it was forced to listen to its new masters. Or maybe, it was in so much pain that it wanted to die. It kept spitting fireballs because it wanted me to deflect it back at it. Would that explain the sudden peaceful look on its face? Maybe it just wanted to be free. In a way, I’m kind of glad I ended its suffering and put it out of its misery.
No matter. It makes no sense crying down here since my tears would evaporate immediately. I will take care of that later. As I stepped ahead, my feet made a tiny splashing sound. I had stepped in a puddle of tears.
Trying not to think about it too much, I continued forward to Herobrine’s castle.
That is, if it still belonged to him.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
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Finally, a new chapter!
Part 10:
Completing the trek across the red and pink bridge, I gazed up at the wondrous sight of Herobrine’s castle. To my relief, it wasn’t in ruins despite housing the brightest explosion I’ve ever seen. Its bricks must be indestructible to withstand something of such great force.
However, atop the hill where the castle stood, a great number of Wither skeletons lined the entrance, standing very close guard. There appeared to be seven or ten of them. With such a large number at merely entrance, I feared the worst for the Zombie Pigmen. I quickly but silently moved behind a rock and took cover. Somehow, I needed to bypass the tight security.
I peeked over the top of the rock, observing the guards. Some of them were baring stone swords, while others were holding swords made of the pink stone that the Nether was plentiful of. Surely, a handful of rocky swords were no match for a diamond blade. None of these skeletons were wearing armor either. Would it be possible to just charge them and take them out?
It would seem like it. But knowing their strength, I wouldn’t want to underestimate them. There is always strength in numbers as well. For now, I’ll try to be stealthy. This would be a good opportunity to use the Homing Bow, but I don’t have it at the moment. I checked my surroundings; on either side of the castle was a mountain of red rock that towered up to the ceiling of the cave. I wouldn’t be able to climb nor mine through it. If the skeletons saw me, one of them would likely seek reinforcements.
Suddenly all the ways this could go wrong were bouncing in my head. I was starting to overthink things.
That’s when I heard a very light chime, and from behind me I could barely see the Soul Bond strengthen its glow. I crouched lower, trying to avoid letting the skeletons see the glow.
“Listen, my child,” whispered the chorus of a thousand souls. “Throw me. Have faith and I will take care of the rest.”
I wasn’t sure if I was just crazy, and I wasn’t really sure how to react. But in my hesitation, I felt the power of the Soul Bond flow through me. Without thinking whatsoever, I rose from behind my cover, watching as the skeletons turned their heads to glance at me. My arm swings backwards to grab the hilt, and in one swooping motion I flung the Soul Bond in a sideways fashion, seeing the Soul Bond fly through the air, rotating fast enough to sound like helicopter propellers as it did. It swiftly cut through their necks, decapitating all of them as it did. Finally, I watched myself raise my hand and catch the Soul Bond as it came back to me like a boomerang. The skeleton skulls and bodies fell to the ground in a cluttered pile of black bones.
Staring at the Soul Bond and the Wither skeletons in awe of what just happened, I asked “What?”
I did not do any of that. I did not consciously throw my blade so expertly that it came back like a boomerang. This must have been the work of the souls engulfing my body.
I looked side to side to see if anyone just saw that. There was nobody around. Pretending nothing just happened, I carefully tiptoed to the entrance of the castle.
No. This isn’t a castle anymore. This is a fortress.
I poked my head into the doorway, scanning the heated halls inside. There was no one here. I traveled across the hall and up some stairs. I remember that this was the place where I had collapsed from the heat so long ago. Now that I felt only a hot breeze with my diamond armor on, I continued forward at last, rounding the corner and entering a small room with a small lava well in the center. After that, the hallway simply came to a dead end, so I turned around and backtracked to the stairs.
I climbed to the third floor, where I could see the makeshift windows on the walls that were partially blocked by purple bars, but I could still see through them just fine. I stared out into the distance, and near the edge of the red fog at the end of my vision, was the broken chain that once held a Ghast. Trying to forget about it, I turned around and continue walking.
To come face to face with a Wither skeleton.
Before I could react, the skeleton rammed the tip of his sword into my chestplate. I staggered back, but luckily the armor didn’t even dent, and I kicked the skeleton out of my breathing space. He looked frightening up close, but I couldn’t let fear take me. As the skeleton prepared his sword again, I slashed through his ribs, breaking a few bones. Somehow he still managed to swing his arm to strike me, and quickly I raised the Soul Bond to block his attack. I swung through his legs, causing him to fall to the ground, and then I finished him off with a final strike.
The adrenaline in my body subsided, causing me to shake violently for a second. Once it wore off, I continued down the hall at a fast pace.
Near a bend in the hall was a room. Getting a feeling of familiarity, I entered it to look around. This was the box room where Herobrine had stored the belongings of those who trespass into his territory. Out of curiosity, I checked the three chests that still sat against the wall like last time. The first one still had the old leather from someone ancient, and the second one was next to empty since I had taken the diamond armor from it.
Lastly I looked into the one that once contained my things. Instead of finding the expected nothing, there was actually something in here; a stack of swords. Golden swords. These swords belong to the Pigmen. Is it possible that some of them are still alive out there? And if so, where are they hiding or being held captive?
My next target was the jail cells, and they were right around the corner. I closed the chest and exited into the hall. After a few paces, I made it to them; but again, there was no one here. Where has everybody gone?
Perhaps the best and last place to look for clues was the site of the white explosion itself. That would be behind the fortress, where the lava ocean is located. Immediately I began to weave my way through the purple hallway until I reached the stairs to the roof. If there aren’t any skeletons there, it would be a good idea to scope out what’s going on.
Upon reaching the roof, the air seemed slightly fresher than inside, but it was still just as hot. I scanned the roof to see one Wither skeleton leaning over the edge of the balcony, staring out into the distance. Carefully, I snuck up to him and suddenly struck him with the Soul Bond, taking him out rather quickly. As his bones fell apart, I took his place and observed the scene below.
And what a scene it was.
The lava ocean had seemingly collapsed or caved in, creating a giant indentation to the ground as if it were a massive mine. Lava was flowing down its walls as well. Nearby was an odd small structure that had been carved into a nearby mountain. As I looked more carefully, I could see the pink bodies of swordless Pigmen residing in and near it. However, beside them was a squad of Wither skeletons, keeping them under heavy watch.
When I looked back at the enormous hole in the ground, it looks like it actually was a mine, as I noticed Pigmen chipping away at walls using what appeared to be golden pickaxes. But that didn’t make any sense; Herobrine had stated that the Nether was out of special resources. So why were they mining, and how did they obtain golden pickaxes?
Oh, I think I know the solution to the latter question. I remembered when Herobrine had taken all my gold ingots. It seems like the Wither skeletons had refined my gold into pickaxes to put the frail Pigmen into slavery.
Oh, those fiends.
But that wasn’t the end of it. Floating high above what used to be the lava ocean, near the cave ceiling, was a huge white crystal; nearly in the same shape as the explosion. Its gleam was the most shining force I’ve ever seen. Wait. Someone was stuck in the center of that crystal. And to my surprise, it wasn’t Herobrine. It was Amnesha. She seemed to be frozen inside and her eyes were closed.
What was she doing in there? Wasn’t Herobrine the center of the blast?
What’s more, there was something large beside the gigantic crystal. Unmistakably, it was the hydra-like Wither boss, floating in front of the crystal and staring at it. It almost looked like it was absorbing energy from the crystal, almost like the time it controlled Herobrine.
But what was it doing this for? And where’s Herobrine still? So many questions needed to be answered, and I won’t get any farther by just sitting here pondering. Plus, I can’t let this chaos unfold before my eyes.
“Hang in there, my friends,” I said as I rushed for the stairs. “I’m coming for you.”
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
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And now, the shortest chapter of them all (990 words):
Part 11:
I don’t know what the Wither skeletons and the Pigmen are doing and why, but I have to investigate. I reached the bottom of the purple stairs and searched for the back exit of the fortress.
Around the empty corner, I could see an open area at the end of the hall which I knew was the exit. As I jogged, I passed a hallway that branched off into another room, and I looked at it for a split second as I did. As soon as I passed it, I stopped. I took a step back and stared down the branch into the room beyond; I could feel a slight aura radiating from it.
I quickly strode to the end of the room, and right off the bat something wasn’t right. After about one or two steps of a very tiny flight of stairs, this room was surrounded by pink stone and braced with dark purple bars. In the center of the room was a small black cage, with something small and yellow inside it. It was a very small Blaze.
As I knelt down to take a closer look, the tiny Blaze spoke to me. “Is that a familiar face I see? Are you he who assisted Lord Herobrine?”
“Yes,” I replied. “What’s going on?”
“I have been sealed inside of this prison. I cannot sear the bars with my flame,” said the Blaze in its ghostly metallic voice.
“But why are you so small?” I asked.
“With the sudden disappearance of Lord Herobrine, my power is limited. I have shrunk myself to prevent from disintegrating. I am one of the few spirits left; I know not where the others have been seized.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, nodding my head. “I’ll get you out.” I pulled the Soul Bond out and attempted to cut the bars to the cage. But to my surprise, it wouldn’t break through. “That’s odd,” I said half to myself. “How do I break this thing?”
“That, I am still trying to figure out. Take a chunk of netherrack and barbarically throw it at this cage. Worry not; it shan’t phase me,” the Blaze advised.
“Netherrack?” I asked.
“The bright crimson stone surrounding this chamber,” said the Blaze.
Looking at the walls just beyond the purple bars, I placed my hand on the netherrack and clutched it, removing a rock from the structure. I was surprised by how fragile the material was. I turned to the Blaze, who was spinning the yellow rods around him as he eyed the rock in my hand. I said “Brace yourself” and launched it at the cage with great strength. The rock smashed to bits as it landed, and the cage was practically untouched.
“Long shot, but worth a try,” I said with a sigh. I tried to pick up the cage, but it was tightly anchored to the ground. “Once I get you out, maybe you could help me free your friends and the Pigmen.”
“Expect little from me, human,” the Blaze replied. “In my current state I am practically useless.”
“Well, talk to me,” I said, hungry for information. “How did the skeletons take control of this place?”
“It appeared that we were no match from the start,” the Blaze began, his flickering embers illuminating the room as if he were a talking campfire. I sat down on the floor completely to listen. “The Pigmen were defenseless without proper armor, and they were susceptible to the black infection that morphed them into one of the enemy. Their skillful swordsmanship could only delay the inevitable. We spirits of the flame could do naught; our foes remain unscathed by flames.
“The magma cubes had emerged from the depths of the lava and tried to combat the invasion. The enemy had simply cut them into smaller divisions of themselves. Although they could easily regroup into one again, it would repeat that cycle before they could attack the enemy. The cubes simply sank back into the magma and retreated. As for the Ghasts, they were the most effective division of our force against the invasion. Although the fire from their projectiles would not harm the enemy, the explosions would blast them to pieces. Due to their ability to hover at high altitudes, the enemy could not reach them. That is, until the black hydra took flight. You may have encountered it before; it is a flying structure of black bone with three skulls. It spat dark projectiles at our Ghasts, shooting them down one by one. Very few remain now.”
I was in awe of the Nether’s brave attempt to stand up to the Withered army. “If you all were in such a weakened state, why didn’t the skeletons just finish you guys off?” I asked.
“Without our commander Lord Herobrine to lead us, we finally surrendered to the invading attack. We have no current course of action until we are either completely wiped out, or our leader returns. The Pigmen have been made into indentured servants who now scour the Nether for minerals.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. “I thought the Nether was barren and devoid of any minerals. Plus, what exactly happened to Herobrine, and why is Amnesha inside that giant crystal?” I felt bad for asking the poor Blaze so many questions, but the more I knew, the better.
The spectre was silent. His mind seemed to focus elsewhere and an unpleasant feeling loomed over the room. The hot sharp stench of burnt coal entered my nostrils suddenly.
The Blaze finally spoke one word; “Flee.”
And at that second, I felt a tight grip constrict my neck. I choked, and desperately felt around my throat to loosen whatever had me. I could only feel a hard, rocky hand. Then I feebly put my own shaking hands in front of me; they were darkened by black dust.
That’s the last thing I could see before my vision blacked out.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
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Posts:
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Member Details
I would, yes, but I use the double spacing to indicate a change in perspective. At this point I don't really take the story too seriously anymore.
As for spoilers... that's just not fun.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
7/24/2012
Posts:
69
Member Details
Never mind, this one is the shortest.
Part 12:
My vision came to me at a rate slower than watching grass grow, as if waking from a dream. But that was no dream, was it? I had felt my neck being constricted, I had smelled burnt coal. This was all too real.
When I could fully see, I found myself lying on the purple floor of a fortress hallway. Slowly I got up, feeling the bulk of my armor as I did. Strange, I thought. You would think that any guards who knocked me out would’ve removed my armor. On the contrary though, as I felt my back for Soul Bond’s hilt, I couldn’t find it. Armor or not, the loss of my sword leaves me completely defenseless. If I were to run into an enemy, the armor would only delay the inevitable.
I surveyed my surroundings. There wasn’t much to see. I so happened to be standing in a four-path crossway, with purple-floored hallways stretching to every side. The difference, however, was that the walls and ceiling were made of—what did the Blaze call it?—Netherrack? Netherrack. For a fortress made entirely out of purple bricks, this was unusual. It was as if an artificial tunnel system was dug here and they had simply furnished the floors. It was very warm down here too; I had been sweating while I was out, and underneath my chestplate, my shirt was feeling sticky.
As well, the tunnels seemed to go a certain distance before fading into blackness. I finally decided to take a few steps forward in a random direction. The hallway continued, with the darkness staying that set distance away from me, as if more of the hallway was being materialized as I went. This went on for some time, and I wondered if I had been placed in an endless maze.
More time passes until I find another four-path crossway. Only this one had a very noticeable difference; there was a very large pumpkin about half my size, sitting in the center. A spooky face had been carved into it, and it so happened to be facing me. I knelt down to inspect it, even putting my hand on its orange surface. This was a completely normal pumpkin. Entirely organic. But what was it doing here?
I sensed something behind me and turned around instinctively.
Another pumpkin.
What was going on? This was the way I had come and a second pumpkin had appeared behind me. Again, its carved face was staring at me. Half expecting to see more pumpkins as I turned back around, I realized the mistake I had made. There were more, far more, taking up all four sides of the crossway. I looked back towards the center where the first pumpkin was; sure enough, it was gone.
When I realized what was happening, panic was starting to sink in. Pumpkins were appearing by the dozens, stacking on top of each other, taking up all the space of the hallways. In no more than a few seconds, all four ways were entirely blocked up, leaving me with no way out. I was trapped.
Everywhere I looked, I was stared at by dozens of creepy faces. I finally tried to break my way out using my fists, but suddenly the pumpkins were much more sturdy than that. They wouldn’t even budge.
I continued bashing on the walls when suddenly, I saw my shadow. A bright light had beamed from behind. Finally gaining the courage to turn around another time, I was confronted by a very tall figure, about as tall as an Enderman. But it was nowhere near the looks of one. What was before me could only be described as a scarecrow, standing in the center of the room where the first pumpkin had sat. Its torso seemed to be made of large packets of hay and its arms were mere sticks, poking out from either side. It was anchored to the ground by a large wooden peg. Finally, its head was not just a pumpkin. It was a jack o’ lantern, lit brightly by a glowing flame from the inside.
And then, the jack o’ lantern quietly spoke three words to me.
“One of us.”
I stared at it, completely confused and horrified at the same time by what it said. Then, it repeated.
“One of us.”
I sat down and shifted backwards against a corner, immobilized with fear, when suddenly, all of the pumpkins came to life in a chorus of chants.
“One of us!”
“One of us!”
“One of us!”
“One of us!”
I forcefully closed my eyes, trying to block everything out. It wasn’t helping. The pumpkins’ chanting grew louder with each round, and I could barely handle it for much longer. Suddenly I open my eyes to see most of my vision blackened. What I could see, however, was in the shape of two eyes and a mouth, one similar to that of a pumpkin. As if I was wearing one on my head.
Or as if I had become one.
One of them.
My delusional episode ended abruptly when I felt a sharp, bony kick to my side. I felt pain, meaning I wasn’t wearing any armor. My eyes opened up, for real this time. I was laying on my back, with a Wither skeleton looming over me. Was that all just a dream?
The skeleton dropped a pickaxe on my chest and said in a broken voice, “Get up, maggot. You have work to do.”
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I've showed my friends and they love it too, they want more too, don't give up
I'm inactive, hoping to make a return one day.
Part 8:
Lance stared out at the darkening night sky. The moon was out, shining brightly, like a beacon in the darkness. The sky was clear, so clear in fact that it was rather easy to see the tiny stars lightyears away. It ran through his mind that the tiny amount of light coming from these stars took possibly years to reach him now. What he was seeing was light that originally emitted years ago, traveling this far to reach him.
He heard footsteps behind him, those belonging to Zenith. Standing behind him, Zenith too looked out the window and asked “Have you ever believed in the existence of other worlds?”
Lance nodded, saying “Uh-huh, absolutely.”
“I believe that there’s much more to the sky than we know it. Yes, it is true that every star is a world of itself, but could you imagine a realm in the sky that wasn’t visible to our eye? Or even a telescope? Anything is possible, and this is certainly one possibility that I believe in.”
“Zenith?” Lance asked. “You think he’s okay?”
“Certainly,” said Zenith. “Of course his recovery will take some time. When he feels up for it, he may tell us his story so that we know what went on with him.” Zenith put his arms inside his cloak and wrapped it more around himself. “Let us sleep. No need to be worrying more than what is necessary.”
My entire body was sore. When I tried to move just a tiny bit, the pain would return to me. I wouldn’t even try to move my legs; they’re probably just dead limbs from what I know. Maybe my entire body is merely a sack of flesh and nothing more.
I stared at the ceiling. Even closing my eyes would hurt some more, so I kept them open. I was completely motionless. If you were looking at me, with my eyes open and not moving, I’d look totally dead.
I could see that the sun was slowly rising. How long was I laying here in this bed? Hours? Days? I wouldn’t know. After a very long silence, a silence so quiet that it hurt my ears, I heard doors open, followed by quiet footsteps. The face of the medic entered my field of vision as he stared down at me. Finally he whispered “Are you all right?”
In a voice just above a whisper, I said “I don’t know.” I managed to move my eyes to meet his, which were filled with concern.
“We’re out of healing potions,” he said. “Herobrine is our best source of them. Where has he gone?”
After remembering what had happened, I replied “It’s a long story…” But when I thought some more, I also remembered that there were potion ingredients at home. I managed to croak out “I have ingredients at home.”
“You do?” asked the medic. “I will go get some right now.” He rushed to the door, but right before he left, he asked “Oh, and did you notice your company?”
As he walked out the door, I waited for a second. Then, I managed to turn my head to the left… to come face to face with Rhino. He was lying down on the bed next to me and I hadn’t even noticed. His dark brown eyes were staring at me with a mix of worry and happiness. Just making eye contact with me caused him to swing his tail up and down, hitting the bed repeatedly with a thud.
Despite being terribly sore, I was just able to move my arm and give Rhino a hug, and in return he licked my face with his giant tongue. Sometimes I keep forgetting just how big this wolf is. I lightly scratched behind Rhino’s ear, causing him to smile widely and breathe through his mouth. “Good boy,” I whispered.
My body became poised in the current position I was lying down in, and refused to move any other way. I stayed like this for a while, until I heard the doors open again. I forced my stiff body to turn the other way and face the medic. “You went fast,” I said.
“Standard procedure,” said the medic, holding an already-complete potion of regeneration in his hand. “Now drink this.” He handed me the bottle, which I slowly drank from. I didn’t feel the effects right away, but I could at least move my arms without feeling too sore.
“When you feel up for it, let me know when others may come in and visit you,” he said.
“Go ahead,” I told him. “It’s fine.”
“Okay then,” he said. “I will tell the others.” And he exited the house again.
I finished up the rest of the pink substance, then I just lightly held the empty bottle in my hands while barely managing to sit up a little. For a short while, I waited as my body became used to my new current position again.
The first people to come in and see me were Zane and Lance. Even though I no longer had any visible marks on me, Zane said “You all right, man? What happened back there?”
“Yeah, I want to know too,” Lance threw in.
I tried to think back to the last point at which they had any knowledge of what we were doing. They last saw us when we set out to enter the Nether in pursuit of the Wither skeletons. I started there. Then, I worked my way through explaining how the creatures of the Nether fought back against the invaders.
“And these skeletons had combined to form something unlike any I’ve ever seen. I don’t even know how to describe it, but for now I’ll just refer to it as the Wither, since it makes sense for an abomination that’s more than just a skeleton. I’m not sure what kind of powers it possessed, but it seemed otherworldly. It seemed to take control of Herobrine, turning him against us.”
“Yeah, and then?” Zane asked, eager to hear more.
“I had to use one of my lightning arrows, and it put an abrupt end to the battle. There was a massive explosion that whited out my vision, and when it was cleared I found myself in a giant wasteland. Herobrine and Amnesha were completely gone, and I have no idea where they went.” I also told them the story of Giant’s Village, the evil witch, and that darn skeletal horse; which up until now, I totally forgot existed.
“Sounds like you’ve been in a pickle,” Zane said. “Without that armor you would’ve been toast.” For half a second I remembered the toast that had fallen from the air after the giant creeper exploded. I don’t know what happened to it. It must have dropped at some point while I rode the horse home.
Now that I noticed, my armor was no longer on me; just my old worn-out shirt and pants. “Actually, where did my armor go?” I asked.
“Librarian’s taking care of it,” said Lance. “Your things are always safe with him.”
“Okay, good,” I replied. “I was hoping I didn’t lose it or something. Those last few hours before I made it back were really foggy. After I battled the witch, I was heavily exhausted. I was like half-asleep for a large portion of the time after that. When I finally made it here, I felt safe. Safe enough to just drop down and not care where I landed.” At this point, a few of the smaller details were starting to come back to me.
“Well I’m glad you’re okay man,” Zane said. “I can’t believe you survived all that. You should definitely rest up before doing anything else.”
“I understand this, Zane, but I can’t stay for long. With both of the rulers missing, someone will have to search for them. Plus, the Ender slimes could have infected the entire Nether by now.”
“We could search for you, you know. You don’t have to stick it out on your own all the time.”
“Oh no,” I told him, “You don’t have to do that. I don’t want you getting hurt. Better me than you.”
“Whatever you say,” said Zane. “Just don’t get yourself killed out there. I hope to see you later.” Then he made his way out the door, pushing it open with his little piggy hands.
Lance looked at me and said “So yeah, um, good luck.” Then he too exited the house. As he did, a villager came in. Based on the brown and white clothes he was wearing, I could tell he was a leatherworker. He was holding a decently-sized pile of fabric, but I couldn’t see what exactly it was.
“Hello, sir,” he said in a somewhat quiet voice. “I’ve never really spoken to you, but I remember seeing you from the first day you arrived here. Since then, I’ve noticed that you lack a change of clothes. In the beginning, you were lost, am I correct?”
“I suppose I was,” I said.
“That explains it,” the leatherworker stated. “Well, I’m not very good in fabrics, but I wanted to give you some articles I made recently. I hope they do you well.”
He handed the clothes to me. I unfolded the shirt, which was white and thin, and soft as well. The pants were brown and a little thicker, but they came with pockets just like my current pants. As well, there was a pair of white socks and, oddly enough, a pair of underwear too. But my favorite part of these clothes was the leather gloves, complete with a brown and black design and holes for my fingers to slide though. I put them on immediately. Swinging the Soul Bond at things while my hands are bare always somewhat bothered me. And my hands couldn’t feel more comfortable.
Rhino sniffed the clothes, and so did I. Let’s be honest; when you’ve worn practically the same clothes for who knows how long, a change is truly amazing. I embraced the scent too; it certainly smelled better than I did at least.
“Thank you so much,” I said to the leatherworker, putting my gloved hand to my face like an idiot to smell the glove’s palm. “I can’t tell you how much I needed this.”
“I’m glad you like it, sir,” said the villager. “My business is done here. Take good care of yourself.”
“You too,” I said as he left the house. Eager to try on my new clothes, and suddenly free of any sores, I flung the blanket off of me and jumped from the bed, landing on the wood floor. Rhino lifted his head as I did so, watching me walk across the room and into the nearby washroom. I closed the door behind me and changed into my new outfit.
Needless to say, I felt like a new man. The only thing that wasn’t replaced was my old shoes, which is fine since I normally wear diamond boots anyway.
Wow. Just thinking of the fact that I wear diamond boots makes me sound like a fashion guru.
I looked at my old pile of clothes on the ground. I thought, is this really what a ruler of a dimension has been wearing this whole time? These clothes were so much dirtier than I thought. My old shirt had long since lost that pretty blue exploration color; now it just looked plain ugly. There was a torn hole near the collar as well. My old jeans reeked of swamps and ancient caves, and they were still heavily stained by the marsh water from the previous night. My old socks were also blackened by the environment as well.
Now I looked so much better. And the gloves just complete the whole thing. A fresh new look is what every ruler needs, right? And better yet, I’m wearing clothes created by one of my own people. So that means I represent this village. I am their fighting force.
Suddenly I felt like I could take on the world. Highly motivated, I tossed my old rags into a bin and headed back into the main room, where the medic was staring at me. “Up and running already?” he asked, to which I responded “Absolutely.”
Rhino knew that I was heading out, so he jumped off the bed to follow me, causing the bed to shake as he did. I said thank you to the medic as I exited. As I stepped outside, a few villagers caught my eye and smiled at me, and I smiled back. Rhino and I strolled down the gravel path into the library, where we could see the librarian studying at his obsidian table. When we entered, he repositioned his glasses and stood up.
“Welcome back!” he greeted. “Nice to see you home safe, and alive and well.”
“I’m glad to be here too,” I said. “But unfortunately I can’t stay long. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Darting his eyes over me, the librarian said “Our leatherworker is a skilled one, isn’t he?”
“Indeed,” I replied. “I couldn’t be happier with these clothes.” Lance walked in and stood in the corner, observing us.
The librarian said “While you were in recovery, I thought that I would work on your armor. While your diamond armor withstood quite a lot, I felt that it still needed to be repaired and improved. Come have a look.”
I followed him to the back of the library, where my armor was positioned perfectly on an armor stand. And even from first glance, I could tell something was different. It no longer looked dull and worn, and the entire set was glowing. It had the same blue and purple glow as the Soul Bond.
“Whoa,” I said in surprise. “What did you do to it?”
“I enchanted it, amplifying its total protection. Just wearing your armor set will make you feel invincible. Go on. You may wear it.”
I heeded his words without question. I took my armor down from the stand and put each piece on. I let the power of the armor embrace me. He was right. I felt like a walking tank. I am getting so much of a makeover today it’s not even funny. “By the way,” I asked, “Is that skeleton-horse still around?”
“Why yes he is,” said the librarian. “We’re keeping him in the farmland out back.”
“Okay, good. I kind of owe him for saving me.” I found the Soul Bond in its sheath, sitting up against a wall, so I picked it up and slung it over my back. I looked around for the Homing Bow, but I couldn’t find it.
“Any idea where the Homing Bow went?” I asked.
“I am still holding on to it,” the librarian answered. “I noticed you had lost your quiver at some point along your journey, so I am currently trying to give this bow an enchantment for you. Would that be okay?”
“Of course,” I said. “I need all the help I can get.”
“Excellent. I trust that your sword is enough.” The librarian looked at me again and said “Your armor looks breathtaking. You truly are this village’s paladin and I am honored to serve you.”
From behind us, we heard Lance ask “What’s a paladin?”
“A holy knight that fights for the justice and peace of all,” the librarian replied.
“Sounds good enough.”
The librarian turned to me. He asked “Do you know your next mission?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I need to return to the Nether to check up on the place. If there’s still Wither skeletons, which there likely will be, I will take care of them. I must go back to the scene of the explosion and find Amnesha and Herobrine, as they went missing after it occurred. I will return safely, trust me.”
“All right,” said the librarian with a nod of confidence. “Good luck, sir.”
“Thanks,” I said. I turned to Rhino and told him “Take good care of this place, okay?” In response, Rhino barked.
I waved at everyone as I departed, then I marched down the gravel road. As I passed the church, I saw Zenith sitting on the front steps, staring at me in a knowing way. We both saluted as I passed by.
I walked off the gravel road and into the sand of the desert. I treaded across the dune, eventually making it to the Butte. I stared at it as I passed, a massive rock formation looming over me like a giant monolith. To this day I still find this giant landmark wondrous.
Not too long later I finally made it back to the small clearing of sand in front of my house. The sun was blazing, but my glowing diamond armor was keeping me cool. I knelt down by the pond that I had drank from so many times before, and scooped up a handful to drink. Now I felt more refreshed than ever.
I got up and strode across the clearing to the Nether portal that stood strong in front of me, a large frame of pure obsidian with the purple portal swirling inside. When I listened closely, I could almost hear the sounds of the Nether caves, a sound of underground wind that almost called out to me, daring me to enter.
With a grin on my face, I cracked my knuckles, which looked so much cooler when you’re wearing gloves. Okay, I thought. It’s time to save my friends.
Without another thought, I got a running start and dove in headfirst.
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I'm glad I still have notifications of this thread because I do enjoy this story so much.
Part 9:
I dove out the other end of the portal and landed just perfectly enough to do a secret-agent roll on the floor. After one full somersault, I placed my hand in front of me to stop myself, then I looked up ahead of me, ready for action.
The place was deserted.
Confused, I got up and looked around. There was literally not a single lifeform in sight. I could hear nothing but the sound of nearby flames and the ambient sound of a large empty cave. I took a step forward, hearing my footstep echo a far distance.
“Hello?” I called out. My voice echoed far, but nothing happened. There was nobody here. It almost worried me, as a vast number of Zombie Pigmen doesn’t just simply go missing like that. On the bright side though, there would be no Wither skeletons to block my path to Herobrine’s castle. Whatever was going on, I had to reach the castle right away.
I started to jog across the field of red rock, my shiny blue armor still warding off the heat. The caves of the Nether just kept rolling by for a long while.
Suddenly, as I neared the large river of magma that bordered the hill to the castle, something entered my field of vision. It was a Ghast, floating beside the red bridge that connected to the hill. However, this Ghast was tied to a giant metal chain that connected from the bridge to one of its huge tentacles. From what I could see, its tentacle was braced too tightly, and the look on its face was showing it. It retained the saddest, yet almost peaceful face with its eyes closed. But I could see the tears streaming from its face. Something wasn’t quite right.
I took a few more steps forward, approaching the Ghast with caution. Despite how quiet I was trying not to disturb it, its eyes shot open. The frightening bloody maroon in its eyes sent a chill down my spine. Even darker were the swollen veins clutching the eyeballs. I could tell that this Ghast was in sheer pain.
Without warning the Ghast screamed in anger, its shrills shaking my eardrums. Then it spat a flame burst with incredible velocity. I didn’t even have time to think; I took the full force of the blast, the knockback flinging me backwards. I landed on my back, and for a moment I didn’t feel anything. I was expecting the pain to come a second later, but it didn’t come. Whatever the Librarian put on this armor, I’m glad I have it. Without this armor I would be blown to pieces.
I stayed in my position on the ground, watching as the Ghast eyeballed me, realizing what it just did. More tears ran down its face and it began to sob heavily. It couldn’t control itself. After sobbing some more, its captured tentacle twitched violently and it shrieked, spitting another fireball in my direction. This one missed, but wasn’t too far off. The ground was catching fire from the flames the Ghast was spewing, so I had to mind my footing as I was getting up.
I didn’t know what to do. This Ghast was in so much pain. Anchored to the ground, forced to keep watch of the castle… what were the Wither skeletons thinking? But I had to fight it. With this unstable behavior, if I tried to make a dash across the bridge, the Ghast would blow it to smithereens. I didn’t have the Homing Bow, so how was I supposed to defeat it?
Heck. I shouldn’t be fighting this at all. Why is it attacking me?
The Ghast’s crying intensified. A sob turned into a wail, and an unbelievable amount of tears were spewing from its now-bleeding eyes. In desperation, it tried to yank away from its shackle, but that only seemed to hurt it even more.
Maybe I could set this Ghast free. As it cried out and shot a fireball, I sprinted over to where its chain was anchored. I drew the Soul Bond and swung at it with all my strength. I heard a loud clanking sound, but nothing else happened. Not even Soul Bond can cut this chain down. It was simply too solid.
The bad thing was that hitting the chain caused another shock of pain to the Ghast. It screamed loud enough to nearly burst my ears, I had to cover them with my hands. Its cries resulted in a rapid volley of fireballs, almost comparable to a Blaze. I ran as fast as I could to avoid them, but by now the Ghast had set so much of the ground on fire that I was nearly trapped.
The Ghast managed to hawk up another fireball despite its uncontrollable crying. With nowhere to run, I swat the projectile away using the Soul Bond. However, the projectile rebounded back to sender, hitting the Ghast with its mighty explosion. The Ghast stopped yelling for a moment, and I realized that its fireball had set itself free of the chain.
For a second, I was glad it was over. But then I realized that it really was over. The projectile had left an impact mark just beneath the Ghast’s face. It sniffled, then started to breathe abnormally. Then it coughed, and made a disturbing noise with its lungs, as if it was out of breath. It looked at me, tears still flooding from its face, but something about its gaze looked more peaceful. It drifted down slowly as it sang its final lament, disappearing beneath the surface of the lava.
I looked down into the scorching liquid below, hoping that the Ghast would return. It never did.
Gosh darn, I thought to myself. How many times am I going to kill those who are innocent?
I know it wasn’t this Ghast’s intention to hurt me. Could this be the work of the Wither skeletons? What if the Pigmen or Blazes turn hostile as well? Maybe this Ghast knew that I wasn’t trying to hurt it. Perhaps it was forced to listen to its new masters. Or maybe, it was in so much pain that it wanted to die. It kept spitting fireballs because it wanted me to deflect it back at it. Would that explain the sudden peaceful look on its face? Maybe it just wanted to be free. In a way, I’m kind of glad I ended its suffering and put it out of its misery.
No matter. It makes no sense crying down here since my tears would evaporate immediately. I will take care of that later. As I stepped ahead, my feet made a tiny splashing sound. I had stepped in a puddle of tears.
Trying not to think about it too much, I continued forward to Herobrine’s castle.
That is, if it still belonged to him.
I'm inactive, hoping to make a return one day.
Part 10:
Completing the trek across the red and pink bridge, I gazed up at the wondrous sight of Herobrine’s castle. To my relief, it wasn’t in ruins despite housing the brightest explosion I’ve ever seen. Its bricks must be indestructible to withstand something of such great force.
However, atop the hill where the castle stood, a great number of Wither skeletons lined the entrance, standing very close guard. There appeared to be seven or ten of them. With such a large number at merely entrance, I feared the worst for the Zombie Pigmen. I quickly but silently moved behind a rock and took cover. Somehow, I needed to bypass the tight security.
I peeked over the top of the rock, observing the guards. Some of them were baring stone swords, while others were holding swords made of the pink stone that the Nether was plentiful of. Surely, a handful of rocky swords were no match for a diamond blade. None of these skeletons were wearing armor either. Would it be possible to just charge them and take them out?
It would seem like it. But knowing their strength, I wouldn’t want to underestimate them. There is always strength in numbers as well. For now, I’ll try to be stealthy. This would be a good opportunity to use the Homing Bow, but I don’t have it at the moment. I checked my surroundings; on either side of the castle was a mountain of red rock that towered up to the ceiling of the cave. I wouldn’t be able to climb nor mine through it. If the skeletons saw me, one of them would likely seek reinforcements.
Suddenly all the ways this could go wrong were bouncing in my head. I was starting to overthink things.
That’s when I heard a very light chime, and from behind me I could barely see the Soul Bond strengthen its glow. I crouched lower, trying to avoid letting the skeletons see the glow.
“Listen, my child,” whispered the chorus of a thousand souls. “Throw me. Have faith and I will take care of the rest.”
I wasn’t sure if I was just crazy, and I wasn’t really sure how to react. But in my hesitation, I felt the power of the Soul Bond flow through me. Without thinking whatsoever, I rose from behind my cover, watching as the skeletons turned their heads to glance at me. My arm swings backwards to grab the hilt, and in one swooping motion I flung the Soul Bond in a sideways fashion, seeing the Soul Bond fly through the air, rotating fast enough to sound like helicopter propellers as it did. It swiftly cut through their necks, decapitating all of them as it did. Finally, I watched myself raise my hand and catch the Soul Bond as it came back to me like a boomerang. The skeleton skulls and bodies fell to the ground in a cluttered pile of black bones.
Staring at the Soul Bond and the Wither skeletons in awe of what just happened, I asked “What?”
I did not do any of that. I did not consciously throw my blade so expertly that it came back like a boomerang. This must have been the work of the souls engulfing my body.
I looked side to side to see if anyone just saw that. There was nobody around. Pretending nothing just happened, I carefully tiptoed to the entrance of the castle.
No. This isn’t a castle anymore. This is a fortress.
I poked my head into the doorway, scanning the heated halls inside. There was no one here. I traveled across the hall and up some stairs. I remember that this was the place where I had collapsed from the heat so long ago. Now that I felt only a hot breeze with my diamond armor on, I continued forward at last, rounding the corner and entering a small room with a small lava well in the center. After that, the hallway simply came to a dead end, so I turned around and backtracked to the stairs.
I climbed to the third floor, where I could see the makeshift windows on the walls that were partially blocked by purple bars, but I could still see through them just fine. I stared out into the distance, and near the edge of the red fog at the end of my vision, was the broken chain that once held a Ghast. Trying to forget about it, I turned around and continue walking.
To come face to face with a Wither skeleton.
Before I could react, the skeleton rammed the tip of his sword into my chestplate. I staggered back, but luckily the armor didn’t even dent, and I kicked the skeleton out of my breathing space. He looked frightening up close, but I couldn’t let fear take me. As the skeleton prepared his sword again, I slashed through his ribs, breaking a few bones. Somehow he still managed to swing his arm to strike me, and quickly I raised the Soul Bond to block his attack. I swung through his legs, causing him to fall to the ground, and then I finished him off with a final strike.
The adrenaline in my body subsided, causing me to shake violently for a second. Once it wore off, I continued down the hall at a fast pace.
Near a bend in the hall was a room. Getting a feeling of familiarity, I entered it to look around. This was the box room where Herobrine had stored the belongings of those who trespass into his territory. Out of curiosity, I checked the three chests that still sat against the wall like last time. The first one still had the old leather from someone ancient, and the second one was next to empty since I had taken the diamond armor from it.
Lastly I looked into the one that once contained my things. Instead of finding the expected nothing, there was actually something in here; a stack of swords. Golden swords. These swords belong to the Pigmen. Is it possible that some of them are still alive out there? And if so, where are they hiding or being held captive?
My next target was the jail cells, and they were right around the corner. I closed the chest and exited into the hall. After a few paces, I made it to them; but again, there was no one here. Where has everybody gone?
Perhaps the best and last place to look for clues was the site of the white explosion itself. That would be behind the fortress, where the lava ocean is located. Immediately I began to weave my way through the purple hallway until I reached the stairs to the roof. If there aren’t any skeletons there, it would be a good idea to scope out what’s going on.
Upon reaching the roof, the air seemed slightly fresher than inside, but it was still just as hot. I scanned the roof to see one Wither skeleton leaning over the edge of the balcony, staring out into the distance. Carefully, I snuck up to him and suddenly struck him with the Soul Bond, taking him out rather quickly. As his bones fell apart, I took his place and observed the scene below.
And what a scene it was.
The lava ocean had seemingly collapsed or caved in, creating a giant indentation to the ground as if it were a massive mine. Lava was flowing down its walls as well. Nearby was an odd small structure that had been carved into a nearby mountain. As I looked more carefully, I could see the pink bodies of swordless Pigmen residing in and near it. However, beside them was a squad of Wither skeletons, keeping them under heavy watch.
When I looked back at the enormous hole in the ground, it looks like it actually was a mine, as I noticed Pigmen chipping away at walls using what appeared to be golden pickaxes. But that didn’t make any sense; Herobrine had stated that the Nether was out of special resources. So why were they mining, and how did they obtain golden pickaxes?
Oh, I think I know the solution to the latter question. I remembered when Herobrine had taken all my gold ingots. It seems like the Wither skeletons had refined my gold into pickaxes to put the frail Pigmen into slavery.
Oh, those fiends.
But that wasn’t the end of it. Floating high above what used to be the lava ocean, near the cave ceiling, was a huge white crystal; nearly in the same shape as the explosion. Its gleam was the most shining force I’ve ever seen. Wait. Someone was stuck in the center of that crystal. And to my surprise, it wasn’t Herobrine. It was Amnesha. She seemed to be frozen inside and her eyes were closed.
What was she doing in there? Wasn’t Herobrine the center of the blast?
What’s more, there was something large beside the gigantic crystal. Unmistakably, it was the hydra-like Wither boss, floating in front of the crystal and staring at it. It almost looked like it was absorbing energy from the crystal, almost like the time it controlled Herobrine.
But what was it doing this for? And where’s Herobrine still? So many questions needed to be answered, and I won’t get any farther by just sitting here pondering. Plus, I can’t let this chaos unfold before my eyes.
“Hang in there, my friends,” I said as I rushed for the stairs. “I’m coming for you.”
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Part 11:
I don’t know what the Wither skeletons and the Pigmen are doing and why, but I have to investigate. I reached the bottom of the purple stairs and searched for the back exit of the fortress.
Around the empty corner, I could see an open area at the end of the hall which I knew was the exit. As I jogged, I passed a hallway that branched off into another room, and I looked at it for a split second as I did. As soon as I passed it, I stopped. I took a step back and stared down the branch into the room beyond; I could feel a slight aura radiating from it.
I quickly strode to the end of the room, and right off the bat something wasn’t right. After about one or two steps of a very tiny flight of stairs, this room was surrounded by pink stone and braced with dark purple bars. In the center of the room was a small black cage, with something small and yellow inside it. It was a very small Blaze.
As I knelt down to take a closer look, the tiny Blaze spoke to me. “Is that a familiar face I see? Are you he who assisted Lord Herobrine?”
“Yes,” I replied. “What’s going on?”
“I have been sealed inside of this prison. I cannot sear the bars with my flame,” said the Blaze in its ghostly metallic voice.
“But why are you so small?” I asked.
“With the sudden disappearance of Lord Herobrine, my power is limited. I have shrunk myself to prevent from disintegrating. I am one of the few spirits left; I know not where the others have been seized.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, nodding my head. “I’ll get you out.” I pulled the Soul Bond out and attempted to cut the bars to the cage. But to my surprise, it wouldn’t break through. “That’s odd,” I said half to myself. “How do I break this thing?”
“That, I am still trying to figure out. Take a chunk of netherrack and barbarically throw it at this cage. Worry not; it shan’t phase me,” the Blaze advised.
“Netherrack?” I asked.
“The bright crimson stone surrounding this chamber,” said the Blaze.
Looking at the walls just beyond the purple bars, I placed my hand on the netherrack and clutched it, removing a rock from the structure. I was surprised by how fragile the material was. I turned to the Blaze, who was spinning the yellow rods around him as he eyed the rock in my hand. I said “Brace yourself” and launched it at the cage with great strength. The rock smashed to bits as it landed, and the cage was practically untouched.
“Long shot, but worth a try,” I said with a sigh. I tried to pick up the cage, but it was tightly anchored to the ground. “Once I get you out, maybe you could help me free your friends and the Pigmen.”
“Expect little from me, human,” the Blaze replied. “In my current state I am practically useless.”
“Well, talk to me,” I said, hungry for information. “How did the skeletons take control of this place?”
“It appeared that we were no match from the start,” the Blaze began, his flickering embers illuminating the room as if he were a talking campfire. I sat down on the floor completely to listen. “The Pigmen were defenseless without proper armor, and they were susceptible to the black infection that morphed them into one of the enemy. Their skillful swordsmanship could only delay the inevitable. We spirits of the flame could do naught; our foes remain unscathed by flames.
“The magma cubes had emerged from the depths of the lava and tried to combat the invasion. The enemy had simply cut them into smaller divisions of themselves. Although they could easily regroup into one again, it would repeat that cycle before they could attack the enemy. The cubes simply sank back into the magma and retreated. As for the Ghasts, they were the most effective division of our force against the invasion. Although the fire from their projectiles would not harm the enemy, the explosions would blast them to pieces. Due to their ability to hover at high altitudes, the enemy could not reach them. That is, until the black hydra took flight. You may have encountered it before; it is a flying structure of black bone with three skulls. It spat dark projectiles at our Ghasts, shooting them down one by one. Very few remain now.”
I was in awe of the Nether’s brave attempt to stand up to the Withered army. “If you all were in such a weakened state, why didn’t the skeletons just finish you guys off?” I asked.
“Without our commander Lord Herobrine to lead us, we finally surrendered to the invading attack. We have no current course of action until we are either completely wiped out, or our leader returns. The Pigmen have been made into indentured servants who now scour the Nether for minerals.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. “I thought the Nether was barren and devoid of any minerals. Plus, what exactly happened to Herobrine, and why is Amnesha inside that giant crystal?” I felt bad for asking the poor Blaze so many questions, but the more I knew, the better.
The spectre was silent. His mind seemed to focus elsewhere and an unpleasant feeling loomed over the room. The hot sharp stench of burnt coal entered my nostrils suddenly.
The Blaze finally spoke one word; “Flee.”
And at that second, I felt a tight grip constrict my neck. I choked, and desperately felt around my throat to loosen whatever had me. I could only feel a hard, rocky hand. Then I feebly put my own shaking hands in front of me; they were darkened by black dust.
That’s the last thing I could see before my vision blacked out.
I'm inactive, hoping to make a return one day.
As for spoilers... that's just not fun.
I'm inactive, hoping to make a return one day.
Part 12:
My vision came to me at a rate slower than watching grass grow, as if waking from a dream. But that was no dream, was it? I had felt my neck being constricted, I had smelled burnt coal. This was all too real.
When I could fully see, I found myself lying on the purple floor of a fortress hallway. Slowly I got up, feeling the bulk of my armor as I did. Strange, I thought. You would think that any guards who knocked me out would’ve removed my armor. On the contrary though, as I felt my back for Soul Bond’s hilt, I couldn’t find it. Armor or not, the loss of my sword leaves me completely defenseless. If I were to run into an enemy, the armor would only delay the inevitable.
I surveyed my surroundings. There wasn’t much to see. I so happened to be standing in a four-path crossway, with purple-floored hallways stretching to every side. The difference, however, was that the walls and ceiling were made of—what did the Blaze call it?—Netherrack? Netherrack. For a fortress made entirely out of purple bricks, this was unusual. It was as if an artificial tunnel system was dug here and they had simply furnished the floors. It was very warm down here too; I had been sweating while I was out, and underneath my chestplate, my shirt was feeling sticky.
As well, the tunnels seemed to go a certain distance before fading into blackness. I finally decided to take a few steps forward in a random direction. The hallway continued, with the darkness staying that set distance away from me, as if more of the hallway was being materialized as I went. This went on for some time, and I wondered if I had been placed in an endless maze.
More time passes until I find another four-path crossway. Only this one had a very noticeable difference; there was a very large pumpkin about half my size, sitting in the center. A spooky face had been carved into it, and it so happened to be facing me. I knelt down to inspect it, even putting my hand on its orange surface. This was a completely normal pumpkin. Entirely organic. But what was it doing here?
I sensed something behind me and turned around instinctively.
Another pumpkin.
What was going on? This was the way I had come and a second pumpkin had appeared behind me. Again, its carved face was staring at me. Half expecting to see more pumpkins as I turned back around, I realized the mistake I had made. There were more, far more, taking up all four sides of the crossway. I looked back towards the center where the first pumpkin was; sure enough, it was gone.
When I realized what was happening, panic was starting to sink in. Pumpkins were appearing by the dozens, stacking on top of each other, taking up all the space of the hallways. In no more than a few seconds, all four ways were entirely blocked up, leaving me with no way out. I was trapped.
Everywhere I looked, I was stared at by dozens of creepy faces. I finally tried to break my way out using my fists, but suddenly the pumpkins were much more sturdy than that. They wouldn’t even budge.
I continued bashing on the walls when suddenly, I saw my shadow. A bright light had beamed from behind. Finally gaining the courage to turn around another time, I was confronted by a very tall figure, about as tall as an Enderman. But it was nowhere near the looks of one. What was before me could only be described as a scarecrow, standing in the center of the room where the first pumpkin had sat. Its torso seemed to be made of large packets of hay and its arms were mere sticks, poking out from either side. It was anchored to the ground by a large wooden peg. Finally, its head was not just a pumpkin. It was a jack o’ lantern, lit brightly by a glowing flame from the inside.
And then, the jack o’ lantern quietly spoke three words to me.
“One of us.”
I stared at it, completely confused and horrified at the same time by what it said. Then, it repeated.
“One of us.”
I sat down and shifted backwards against a corner, immobilized with fear, when suddenly, all of the pumpkins came to life in a chorus of chants.
“One of us!”
“One of us!”
“One of us!”
“One of us!”
I forcefully closed my eyes, trying to block everything out. It wasn’t helping. The pumpkins’ chanting grew louder with each round, and I could barely handle it for much longer. Suddenly I open my eyes to see most of my vision blackened. What I could see, however, was in the shape of two eyes and a mouth, one similar to that of a pumpkin. As if I was wearing one on my head.
Or as if I had become one.
One of them.
My delusional episode ended abruptly when I felt a sharp, bony kick to my side. I felt pain, meaning I wasn’t wearing any armor. My eyes opened up, for real this time. I was laying on my back, with a Wither skeleton looming over me. Was that all just a dream?
The skeleton dropped a pickaxe on my chest and said in a broken voice, “Get up, maggot. You have work to do.”
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