Slowly, the Wither floated forward through the air, as if entranced, and into the purple mist. There was a flash of purple light as the Wither disappeared, having returned to the dimension that it knew as home. Stan then proceeded to raise both hands toward the portal, and at once, it vanished, disappearing into thin air as dozens of black particles rained to the ground two dozen blocks below him. Stan lowered his hands in front of him and closed his eyes.
“Go in peace,” he whispered, as the dark clouds evaporated from the sky, allowing the square block of the sun to shine down freely once more.
After a moment of silence, Stan opened his eyes and started to sink down yet again. Below him, the faces of all his friends lit up, as they assumed that he was finally going to address them. However, to their bewilderment, Stan didn’t float toward them. Rather, he sunk down lower and lower, and floated forward, toward the execution platform.
The platform was tightly packed. Every single remaining member of the Noctem Alliance had managed to fit onto the elevated wood-plank stage, which by no means was designed to fit a hundred players. As Stan approached them, still airborne, the ripple of fear that had been bubbling among them since Stan had first appeared now escalated into all-out panic. Although Stan’s face still looked grave, with no hint of aggression in it, the fighting forces of the Noctem Alliance let out shouts and cries of alarm as this all-powerful player came closer and closer to them. They were afraid to move, afraid to address Stan. Even now, though, in the face of complete and utter defeat and disgrace, they still stood united as a team, a giant mass of black ready to stand together to the end.
As Stan finally landed on the edge of the platform, there was a shuffling in the crowd. Somebody was pushing their way forward. After a moment, Spyro burst out of the front of the crowd. He had a diamond sword held in his hand and wasted no time in pointing it at Stan, although he had a hard time keeping it pointed that way, his hands were shaking so hard. His face showed a mixture of loathing, grief, and terror. For a few moments, the two highest-ranking members of the two warring factions stood still, staring at each other. Then . . .
“You came down here to force us to join your side, didn’t you?” Spyro said in a rasp, his voice as shaky as his hands.
Stan said nothing. He simply looked back at the Noctem general sadly.
“Well let me tell you right now, Stan . . . it will never happen!” Spyro bellowed at the top of his lungs, his sobs of grief and fear threatening to overpower his voice as he shouted at the operator standing before him. “Not one single member of the Noctem Alliance will ever join your despicable republic! We will never stop fighting for justice in the land of Elementia for as long as we’re alive! No matter how many times you beat us down, no matter how low you drag us, we will never stop coming back to fight you! You killed Lord Tenebris . . . the greatest being in all of Minecraft . . .” Spyro’s sobs nearly overcame him by this point, and he was echoed by the hundred members of the Alliance behind him, before his anguish morphed into rage a moment later.
“. . . and, Stan, for this, we will never forgive you! Long live the Noctem Alliance! VIVA LA NOCTEM!”
“VIVA LA NOCTEM!” the crowd of Noctem soldiers echoed from behind him, and from the tone of their voice, Stan knew that they believed in every single word that Spyro had said. That they truly would rather die before they cooperated with the republic.
Therefore, once again, Stan offered no response. Instead, he reached into his inventory and extracted an enchanted diamond sword, leveling it at Spyro.
Although several Noctem soldiers totally lost it at the sight of the weapon, breaking down into sobs or screams, Spyro stood firm, his body shaking as much as ever, but his eyes showed determination as he prepared to become the next in a never-ending line of martyrs for the radical upper-level players of Element City. Closer and closer, Stan walked toward Spyro, until he was standing within striking distance of the Noctem general. Not backing down, Spyro closed his eyes, preparing for the blow to fall. . . .
“Take it.”
Spyro opened his eyes and stared at the diamond sword that Stan was holding in his outstretched hand. He wasn’t holding it out in an attack stance; rather, he was holding it out in a gesture, as if he were offering it to Spyro.
“What . . . what are you talking about?” Spyro demanded.
“Take the sword,” Stan said softly to him, speaking so that only those on the platform could hear them. “This sword belongs to your leader. He used it in the last battle that he ever fought. I want you to have it. Do whatever you want with it. Build a memorial to him and incorporate the sword into it somehow, if you’d like. Just do whatever you have to and commemorate Lord Tenebris as you see fit.”
Spyro stared at Stan, uncomprehendingly. Slowly, he reached out, grabbed the handle of the sword, glowing with enchantments of Fire, Sharpness, and Knockback, and took it from Stan. For a moment, he looked at the diamond weapon in reverence, as if it were the most priceless treasure conceivable. Then, in a swift, sneaky motion, he pocketed the sword, and looked up to Stan contentiously.
“What are you playing at?” Spyro hissed.
Stan took a deep breath and looked directly at Spyro, causing him to recoil slightly in intimidation. This effect was accidental and, not wanting to send the wrong message, Stan smiled a tiny smile. When he spoke again, it was loud enough so that even those on the ground could hear him.
“General Spyro of the Noctem Alliance, I hereby declare that you, and every member of the organization that you now command, will be allowed to live, and will not be imprisoned for your crimes against Elementia.”
A collective gasp washed through the crowd before it exploded into pandemonium. The citizens of the republic erupted into shouts of outrage and accusations of conspiracy, while the hundred Noctem troopers standing on the execution platform looked dazed and confused. All of Stan’s friends looked at him as if he had lost his mind, as did Spyro. Out of the corner of his eye, Stan saw a white form burst out of the crowd, and he turned to see Cassandrix standing at the base of the platform, looking totally flabbergasted.
“Stan, what are you doing?” she demanded as Stan looked down at her. “Do you not remember what the people of this organization have done? Do you not remember the last three months of war and suffering? Do you not remember that these are the people who . . . who killed Kat?”
At the sound of the name, a wave of anguish rippled up Stan’s spine, affecting his heart, stomach, and finally his head as they all contracted in pain and he realized, once again, that one of his best friends was gone for all time. He turned around to look again at the stunned Spyro, who had done so much evil, who had caused so much pain. For a moment, as his stomach blazed with the fires of revenge, he considered retracting his statement and blasting Spyro to dust, along with every other member of the Noctem Alliance that stood behind him.
Then, once again, as suddenly as the fury had flared up, it vanished. Stan took a deep breath as he realized that he was an operator now. He was by far the most powerful player in Elementia, and he could kill anybody that he wanted to effortlessly. The citizens, who were still jeering at him from the crowd from his announcement, believed that, as their leader, Stan would help them to enforce their will on all who disagreed with them. But Stan knew that if he were to fulfill his promise to himself, and truly turn Elementia into the place that King Kev had intended for it in the server’s founding, he must not make the same mistakes that King Kev had made. History was one step away from repeating itself, and Stan knew that now was the time for branching off to create his own path.
“Quiet, please,” Stan spoke, willing all who stood in the plaza to hear him. While he had not shouted like Lord Tenebris had, the voice still projected itself into the heads of each and every player in the plaza. Instantly, the riots ceased, as Stan turned around and, catching Cassandrix’s eye, began to speak yet again.
“I stand by my judgment that General Spyro and the Noctem Alliance will not be punished
for their crimes. I would like to emphasize, quite clearly, that this does not mean I believe that their crimes are any less heinous. They still robbed, tortured, and murdered countless players, and committed acts of terrorism that turned our beloved Elementia into a cesspool of darkness and hatred. However . . . I believe that we have far more important things to focus on than dealing retribution.”
Stan paused for a moment as the citizens of Elementia murmured among themselves, while the Noctem soldiers continued to look at Stan, trying to figure out what he was trying to do.
Stan had a decision that he had to make. If he wanted to, now would be the most opportune time to reveal the identity of Lord Tenebris to the public. Now that he was dead, there was nothing to stop Stan from spreading the truth. However, as he thought about it, he decided against it. Not only would it weaken the argument that he was about to make, but it would also lead to more outrage and hatred toward the Noctem Alliance, who would surely deny his claims. Stan decided that he would continue to refer to Lord Tenebris and King Kev as separate entities. For now, at least.
“Nobody knew exactly what Lord Tenebris was,” Stan said simply. “Some believe that he was a glitch, others believe him to be the reincarnation of King Kev’s spirit. But regardless of what he was, he had powers nearly equivalent to those of an operator. He attempted to use those powers to enforce his own will, and his own beliefs, over the people of Elementia. What resulted was three months of the worst war that has ever plagued our server, which has resulted in scores of dead players and an atmosphere of hatred and animosity that has lingered over the countryside.
“Now . . . ,” Stan continued, carefully thinking, picking and choosing his words before speaking, “Lord Tenebris is dead. I am the sole remaining operator of Elementia. As such, it would be extremely easy for me to argue that, since the Noctem Alliance has lost this war, their ideals were wrong. Therefore, I could argue that because their ideals were wrong, my ideals are one hundred percent correct, and then I could go on to use my powers to enforce my own beliefs over the people of Elementia. However . . . I’m not going to do that.”
Stan allowed a moment of silence for this message to sink in. His friends were staring at him, no longer thinking that he was crazy, but instead wondering where he was going with this. Stan continued.
“It is true that I believe that all players, regardless of their level, should have a chance to live in Elementia, even if that means that the upper-level players occasionally must lose out on some of their hard-earned possessions for the sake of the lower-level players. However, if you do not agree with me, I won’t hold it against you. I might disagree with you, and at one point I might explain my point of view to you in the hopes that you might change your mind, but I will still be able to coexist with you, provided that you respect my opinions and beliefs as much as I respect yours.
“The reason that I went to war with the Noctem Alliance,” Stan said, turning back to face the black-clad soldiers, “is because they did not respect my opinions. Rather than attempting to peacefully coexist, they declared war on my ideals, which are shared by many other players on this server. I was forced to fight back, for the sake of protecting my people.
“But it doesn’t matter now,” Stan said quickly, as the Noctem troops leered at him aggressively, and boos and shouts toward the Noctem Alliance started to slowly rise from the crowd. “I’m not here to point the finger of blame. The war is in the past now. The time has come to look to the future. While we must never forget the past, we can’t let it define us either. Now is the time to let the past go and see the world around us for how it is, not how we want it to be. Because, if you take the time to look, you’ll find that that world contains plenty of fantastic opportunities for all players—young and old alike.”
Stan took a deep breath. He knew that, in a few moments, he would be announcing something that would shock every single player in Elementia. Regardless of how unpopular this announcement might be, Stan knew that he had no choice but to go through with it if he was going to create his own path.
“For the past three months,” Stan continued, “the players of this server have been divided and warring with each other over their beliefs. Due to our fighting, the server of Elementia lies in ruins.”
Stan raised his hand out over the skyline of Element City. The eyes of all players in the vicinity looked around, scanning the countless clouds of black smoke rising from the various districts of the city, the blazing fires, and the skyscrapers with massive chunks torn from them.
“Despite having different ideas of what was best for Elementia,” Stan went on, “both factions only wanted just that: the best for Elementia. And yet, through our ignorant stubbornness and refusal to coexist, and work to seek out a compromise, we have torn Elementia apart, ravaging it, and creating a giant mess that will only be repaired with the combined efforts of all of us. As we all stand here in this plaza today, the war finally over, we’re presented with a new opportunity.”
Stan’s heart was racing so fast that it felt like it were about to burst. Here it was: the proclamation that would change Elementia forever. Stan took a deep breath and let it out.
“As the operator of this server,” Stan said confidently, “I, Stan2012, hereby announce that both the Grand Republic of Elementia and the Nation of the Noctem Alliance are both disbanded. As of today, neither exist anymore.”
It was as if everybody in the crowd had been slapped in the face as they stared up at Stan, trying to comprehend that he had just announced that he was getting rid of both of their countries, which they had worked so long and hard to raise and defend.
“Both of these countries were founded out of warfare with each other, and if they stay intact, I doubt that the wounds will ever fully heal. Now especially, the wounds are still fresh. Therefore, I don’t believe that the people of the former republic, or of the former Nation of the Noctem Alliance, will be able to live together peacefully. From now on, there shall be two cities in Elementia,” Stan said, a small smile on his face as he revealed the plan that he had formulated for the future of his server. “In one of these cities, the law of the Noctem Alliance shall remain supreme. Only older players will be allowed in, and they will have full control over what they have earned, not being forced to share with anybody. In the other city, players of all levels will be allowed in. The older players will help the new players learn and thrive, and the newer players will pay it forward by helping the new players when they themselves become upper-level players.
“But before you get too anxious, my friends, don’t think for a moment that I would ever leave you to build a new city from the ground up!” Stan exclaimed. “With my operating powers, I will help both groups build their cities. I shall favor neither over the other, and before long, every player shall have a city of their own to call home.
“I honestly hope that, in the future, the people of Elementia will be able to live as one,” Stan said, a slight element of sadness returning to his voice. “I hope that, as time goes by, the people of Elementia will be able to put their differences aside and coexist. However, in the wake of this war, now is not the time. That work will be done in the future. For now, I invite members of Elementia to clap if they are in favor of the idea of the creation of the two cities.”
For a moment, the plaza remained silent. Stan wasn’t surprised. After all, he was suggesting a radical idea that would change Elementia forever and require work and cooperation on everyone’s part. Stan only hoped that they could see what he saw: two groups divided not only by ideals but by hatred, who needed time to heal before they could ever be united. And besides, Stan would be surprised if both sides didn’t find the idea of their own city, without the other side, appealing.
Before long, Stan heard a single pair of hands clapping. He looked down into the crowd and saw Leonidas in the front row, clapping slowly. No sooner had Stan noticed him than Charlie, sitting next to Leonidas on the back of Dr. Pigglesworth, began to clap as well. The clapping soon s
pread through all of Stan’s friends, and then over the rest of the crowd, evolving from cheers into hoots, whistles, and full-blown applause at Stan’s proposition. He smiled as he looked out over the crowd, before turning around to face the members of the Noctem Alliance on the platform behind him.
All the members were standing still as statues, not clapping, staring forward at their leader, alone at the front of the group. Spyro was looking at the ground as he mulled over Stan’s proposition. As he sensed Stan’s gaze on him, Spyro looked up and met his eye. The two leaders exchanged glances.
“I promise you, Spyro,” Stan whispered so that only he could hear, “I’m not trying to take advantage of you. I just want what’s best for all members of this server.”
Spyro continued to stare at Stan, who couldn’t read his face as he tried to determine whether or not to trust him. Then, slowly, he raised his hands in front of him and began to clap. As soon as their leader began to clap, the other members of the Noctem Alliance clapped without hesitation.
Stan was overjoyed that the citizens of Elementia were willing to follow his plans. Now that the entire plaza was cheering, thrilled at the idea of living in a brand-new city free of conflict, Stan knew that there was one more matter that had to be resolved before the rebuilding could begin.
“Thank you, everybody, for your support,” Stan said with a smile as the applause died down. “I’m sure that, with my help, you will be able to build the greatest cities in the history of Minecraft. However, there is one more matter that must be settled: If we are going to live as two people, in two cities, we still have to decide what will become of the city we already have.”
A tense murmuring erupted throughout the crowd as they realized what Stan was talking about. Both sides had given countless lives, and endured awful hardships throughout this war, for the prize of Element City. Now that the war was over and they were dividing . . . what would become of this place?
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