Herobrine's Message

  The five-note doorbell, ringing out through the unseen note blocks, signaled that somebody was at the door. Lord Tenebris reached down to a button on the side of his throne and clicked it. Within seconds the redstone circuit executed its job, and the iron door swung open.

  Through the open door frame marched eight figures. The five players dressed as hostile mobs, who Lord Tenebris knew to be called ELM, dropped their jaws in awe. Lord Tenebris was familiar with this reaction. It was typical for players to respond this way upon first laying eyes on him. He hardly cared about them, however. Lord Tenebris was far more focused on his generals, Drake, Tess, and Spyro, as they proceeded past the council table and knelt before him.

  “Greetings, my generals,” Lord Tenebris said unemotionally as he looked down upon them.

  “Greetings, my lord,” all three generals responded in unison, still looking down at the ground.

  “First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on the work you have done,” Lord Tenebris continued. “At long last, after months of planning, of struggling, and of toiling, we have done it. The Noctem Alliance has conquered Elementia. The dreams of King Kev have now been realized, and we are on the threshold of creating a perfect server, where those who have earned their place reign supreme, and the weak are in their equally rightful place. I could not have accomplished this vision without your undying loyalty.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” all three generals replied again, their voices full of elation. To be directly praised and thanked by Lord Tenebris himself—it was more wonderful than they could have ever imagined.

  “However,” Lord Tenebris continued, his voice suddenly full of anger, causing all in the vicinity to look up in alarm, “the fact that we have accomplished so much is irrelevant next to the fact that Stan2012, his military leaders, and his council members are still at large! I will have you know that I blame each of you for this failure.”

  “My lord,” Drake replied submissively, terror in his voice, “I assure you, I have been doing all that I—”

  “Silence, Drake,” Lord Tenebris hissed, and instantly, Drake stared back at the ground in shame, shaking in horror. “I shall get to you in a moment.” First, he turned to face Tess. She had been looking up at him in respect, but now she looked to the side, finding it impossible to meet his empty, white eyes.

  “I admit, Tess, that out of the three of you,” Lord Tenebris spoke on, “it is you with whom I take the least umbrage. You have done a perfectly respectable job in your rearing of the new recruits, and during your time as a commander on the front lines, you were properly able to keep Element City under lockdown while I prepared the Withers for the final strike.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” Tess replied, trying to sound as humble as possible.

  “That does not excuse the fact,” Lord Tenebris continued, “that the highway through the Nether has yet to be completed. I’m sure I don’t need to reiterate how much easier it would be to find Stan if our soldiers could easily fast-travel all throughout the server.”

  “I apologize, my lord,” Tess replied, sinking into a deep bow, “but it’s been very difficult. The more troops that leave Nocturia to join the occupation of Element City, the longer work will be delayed. I’ve even forced the new recruits to mine for Nether quartz, rather than training them, so that I would have more soldiers available for construction of the highway.”

  “Do not expect any lenience from me, Tess. It’s been over a month now!” Lord Tenebris said, not raising his voice, but still commanding enough power to echo throughout the council room. “Either force your people to work faster or I will make an example of you to inspire their work ethic.”

  Tess gulped in fear, but still managed to get out, “I understand, my lord. Thank you for your mercy.”

  “You, Spyro,” Lord Tenebris continued, glaring down at Spyro, who shuddered as he forced himself to look up.

  “I am extremely disappointed in you. The fact that four prisoners escaped from Fungarus and you were not able to stop them is unforgivable. I would think that after I gave Drake what he deserved for allowing the escape, you would do all in your power to ensure that they were captured.”

  Drake’s face returned to a grotesque wince as he remembered the sheer agony that Lord Tenebris had put him through as punishment for his mistake.

  “My lord . . . I apologize most dearly. I did send many of my forces out into the ocean to search for them . . . I would have sent all that I could, if I weren’t preoccupied with the revolution on the Lesser Mushroom Island—”

  “That is no excuse!” Lord Tenebris replied, glaring down at Spyro. “Your army should have no difficulty in subduing the ruffians of that island, especially after the Great Purge.”

  “Well, there was no trouble at first!” Spyro replied, his eyes wide with fear. “We kept the republic citizens as hostages, as you requested, while we hunted through the remains of the city for those Lesser Tribesmen who had escaped the Purge. But now, the republic citizens and the surviving Tribesmen have begun to fight back! They’ve rallied around a leader who calls herself Goddess Olea, and even though we’ve done all we—”

  Spyro cut off in midsentence, and his hands flew to his throat. A small choking sound escaped his mouth, and Drake and Tess, who were watching him in horror, whipped around to face Lord Tenebris, who was leaning forward and glaring intently at Spyro. The white-eyed demon surveyed his prey with emotionless eyes as Spyro began to levitate into the air, his eyes bulging and his legs flailing.

  “Perhaps you don’t understand me,” Lord Tenebris said in a deadpan as Spyro continued to struggle. “The rebellion in the Mushroom Islands will be eradicated in a timely manner. Do you understand, General?”

  There was a moment of tense silence, broken only by the continued coughing and sputtering of Spyro. Then, a raspy “yes” managed to escape his throat, and Lord Tenebris relaxed his gaze, leaning back in his throne. The Noctem general crashed to the ground, lying still for a moment before finally raising himself onto shaking hands and knees, coughing and taking in deep breaths.

  “Thank you . . . my lord . . . ,” Spyro croaked, “for your . . . forgiveness . . .”

  “Enough of your groveling, Spyro,” Lord Tenebris replied lazily. Then, Lord Tenebris turned his head very slowly, until finally, his vacant white eyes landed on Drake, who cowered in dread.

  “General Drake,” Lord Tenebris said slowly. “I’m sure that you remember what I said, regarding what I would do to you if Stan2012 was not in my custody by the next time we met.”

  “My lord,” Drake stammered, “I can explain—”

  “Tread carefully, Drake,” Lord Tenebris said, in a voice that was nearly a whisper, which was somehow ten times more terrifying than if he were yelling. “You’re one wrong step away from feeling the full extent of my wrath.”

  “My lord, I beg you to hear me out,” Drake pleaded, looking up at Lord Tenebris, forcing himself to look into his eyes, only to glance away a moment later before continuing. “I’ve been leading your invasion force during the entire campaign against Element City. I’ve graciously accepted the task of being your eyes and ears on the battlefield, and as a result, the entirety of Elementia is now under your command.”

  “That does not change the fact that Stan2012 is still at large,” Lord Tenebris replied, a slight taunting sound in his voice.

  “Please, my lord,” Drake simpered on. “I’ve hired the most renowned assassin team in Elementia to hunt Stan2012 for me. If they’ve been unable to apprehend him . . . well, then I’m not sure what we’re to do.”

  Lord Tenebris gave a slow nod and looked down at the floor, as if he were debating something in his mind. The entire room, especially Drake, waited with bated breath for him to speak. Finally, Lord Tenebris raised his head.

  “You five, back there . . . come forward, please.”

  The three generals spun around to face the back of the room, and their eyes fell on the five mobhunters of ELM. The jaws of Arachnia, En
derchick, and Creeper Khan dropped to the floor. Lord Marrow’s eyebrows raised slightly, while Zomboy’s face lit up, like a teacher’s pet who had just been called on in school. However, none of them hesitated in walking forward, around the council table, and standing in a line behind the three Noctem generals.

  “You are the assassins that General Drake has hired to capture Stan2012?”

  “Yes, sir,” Arachnia replied, stepping forward and keeping remarkably well poised given how terrified she was to be speaking to this monster. “My name is Arachnia, leader of the Elite Legion of Mobhunters, the most renowned bounty hunters in Elementia.”

  “Indeed,” Lord Tenebris replied, nodding slowly. “And you have encountered Stan2012 multiple times since you have started hunting him, yes?”

  “This . . . is true, sir,” Arachnia replied, recovering from her horror that Lord Tenebris knew this. “We have encountered Stan2012 twice since we started hunting him. Both times, he was joined by accomplices, and he managed to evade our grasp. As I’m sure you are well aware, sir, Stan and his friends are the highest-caliber fighters in all of Minecraft . . . regardless, we are still hot on the trail of—”

  BOOOOM!

  The massive explosion knocked Arachnia to the side and into Enderchick, while Creeper Khan tumbled to the ground. Lord Tenebris’s hand was still pointed toward the spot where, just seconds before, Zomboy had stood next to Arachnia; there was nothing but a cloud of black smoke there now. Slowly, the smoke wafted away, allowing the seven players on the floor to stare in blank shock at the body of Zomboy lying dead on the stone brick floor, his items in a ring around him.

  There was a moment of silence as nobody moved a muscle. The four remaining were unable to process the fact that their teammate, who had been modded to be twenty times as hardy as a normal player, had just been taken out in one shot. Lord Tenebris lowered his hand.

  “Your services will no longer be required,” Lord Tenebris said coldly. “Leave my presence now if you know what’s good for you.”

  There was no hesitation. Within seconds the room was cleared of the four mobhunters, all of whom glanced down in disbelief at Zomboy’s body before exiting through the door. Not a second after Creeper Khan left and closed the door behind him, the body of Zomboy vanished, leaving only his various items on the ground. However, even when the mobhunters were completely gone, the three generals still couldn’t help but stare at the ring of items, jaws dropped and traumatized looks on their faces. In front of them, Lord Tenebris gave a satisfied smile.

  Perhaps now they will take their work a little bit more seriously, he thought to himself.

  “We are changing our tactics,” Lord Tenebris announced, causing Tess, Drake, and Spyro to turn back toward him. “It’s about time that we ended this war once and for all. Drake!”

  “Yes, Your Glory?” Drake replied, bowing to the floor and looking up at him.

  “I believe that it’s about time that we reunite the people of Element City. You know where Mecha11, the police chiefs, and the rest of the population of Element City are hiding, correct?”

  “Yes, indeed, my lord,” Drake replied hastily, as if Lord Tenebris would be more impressed the faster he delivered the information. “They’re located in a cave they dug below the city, and I know where the entrance is. It’s in the side of a hill right outside this castle, as a matter of fact. I’ve known ever since—”

  “Silence,” Lord Tenebris ordered, to which Drake looked to the ground in shame. “It’s time for action. Drake, prepare the troops in the city to lead an attack on the underground bunker. Spyro, return to the Mushroom Islands, and put down the resistance there within the next week. Tess, return to Nocturia, and order half your troops to march to Element City. Send the two villagers with them, and I’ll send the third one your way, with whom I will expect you to start to create a massive army of mobs. You will have the troops here by tomorrow.”

  “But . . . my lord!” cried out Tess in surprise, as Spyro stared at Lord Tenebris in confusion. “I won’t be able to transport all my troops to Nocturia in one day. Even if the highway through the Nether was completed, I couldn’t do that! And it will take General Spyro at least three days to make his way to the Mushroom Islands . . .”

  Lord Tenebris smiled. “Don’t fret, my generals . . . Lord Tenebris would never ask something impossible of his underlings.”

  And with that, Lord Tenebris stood up from his throne and stretched out his hands: one toward Tess and the other toward Spyro. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tightened his focus. Then, in one instant, his eyes flew open, and he released all the tension in his body. Tess and Spyro’s bodies flashed for a moment, and then, in the blink of an eye, they were gone.

  Drake glanced around wildly, trying to figure out what had happened. The thought that Lord Tenebris may have just killed his two comrades flashed across his mind, but just as he was about to let out a shout of horror, the sound of Lord Tenebris’s voice echoed throughout the room.

  “Do not concern yourself with them, Drake. I have merely used my abilities to transfer your two fellow generals to exactly where they needed to be. Tess is now in her office in Nocturia, while Spyro is in the Capitol Building of the Lesser Mushroom Island.”

  Drake’s mind took a moment to comprehend what Lord Tenebris had just said, but as soon as he did, he stared up at him, awed by this incredible display of power. Lord Tenebris allowed Drake a moment of marveling before glaring down at him. The second his piercing white eyes met Drake’s, the general cringed yet again.

  “Now, go, Drake, and prepare the armies of Elementia for the invasion of the bunker. The end of the war is near.”

  Drake gave a zealous nod of agreement, and with that, he stood up and was out the door of the council room within seconds, the iron door slamming shut behind him.

  The stone-block command room was silent as the players filed in. Stan took a seat at the head of the makeshift cobblestone table as Kat, the Mechanist, and Commander Crunch sat down around the other sides. Ben, Leonidas, Cassandrix, and Sirus stood against the stone wall behind them, while Bob sat beside his brother on Ivanhoe, Rex sitting obediently beside them. Only Charlie, who was getting his leg checked out by a medical team, was missing.

  “First off,” Stan said, as he looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each individual player, “I would like to say how happy I am to finally be back here with you guys. You’re all like family to me, and there’s nobody else that I’d rather be defending my home with than you. And even though . . . we’ve lost . . .”

  Stan took a deep breath, and fought to retain his composure. Although this was the first time that he had spoken to this entire group since he returned to the mines, the knowledge of which of their comrades had fallen since they last met had spread through the group rather quickly. The memories of DZ, Bill, and so many more whose fates were unsure still lingered in his memory as he continued his speech.

  “. . . and even though we’ve lost many brave players along the way, it is our duty to ensure that their deaths weren’t in vain. Though it’s true that during the course of this war, the Noctem Alliance has pushed us to the brink of extinction, one crucial fact remains true: we’re still here.

  “The republic—the true government of Elementia, which is willing to fight to the death to defend the principles of equality for all—is still alive and well. My friends, we are that government. And it’s our mission to take back our city and once again turn Elementia into the place that its founders intended it to be. We have been hiding, defending, and running from the Noctem Alliance for far too long. The time has come, my friends, to fight back.”

  There were nods and murmurs of assent around the table, as looks of grim determination took to the faces of all in the vicinity. Everybody knew that what Stan was suggesting wouldn’t be easy . . . or perhaps even possible. But they also knew that he was right. They couldn’t hide forever, and sooner or later, they would have to retaliate.

  “Ben, Bob,�
� Stan said inquisitively, looking at the two police chiefs. “Do you have a prediction on how long it will be before the Noctem Alliance discovers this cave?”

  “Well, I doubt that they’ll find us anytime soon,” Bob replied reasonably. “This bunker is pretty far underground, and it’s far away from Element City’s active mines. When we closed the bunker, the pistons shifted the dirt blocks to make the hill look totally natural, so they’d never recognize it as a mine entrance. You can thank the Mechanist’s redstone designs for that.”

  Several players gave a nod of congratulations to the Mechanist, who glanced down at the table, as if he were embarrassed. Stan found this odd; the Mechanist had never had any false modesty regarding his redstone creations before (although he had never been excessively braggy either). In any case, it didn’t matter. They had a game plan to assemble.

  “Okay, I trust your judgment,” Stan said to Bob, nodding in approval. “If that’s the case, then we’ve probably got a little bit of time to get a plan together. Now, here’s the question: What do we do?”

  “Well, where’s the best place in the city to strike?” Kat asked. “We have enough manpower down here to take at least part of the city back by force, and then at least we’ll be above ground and have access to resources again.”

  “I don’t think that will work,” Ben replied gravely. “We’ve been sending spies out into the city to monitor the Noctem occupation, and it seems like they’ve formed some sort of impenetrable web across the city. Their military operations run like clockwork; if we try to invade part of the city at dusk, we’ll have the entire force of the Noctem Army bearing down on us by morning.”

  “I have an idea,” a voice came from behind the players. They turned around and saw Charlie. He hobbled across the room into his chair.