“NOOOOO!” Gameknight screamed, but it was too late. She was gone.
“NOOOOO!” came a scream from the keep.
Gameknight could see Hunter peering out one of the windows.
As the wave passed through the castle’s keep, the room instantly grew dark, Hunter’s grief-stricken face disappearing in the gloom. The wave continued through the castle, flowing over the tall structure and turning the cobblestone walls and doors to End Stone, but leaving anything made of obsidian or on top of the dark blocks untouched. Gameknight did not watch the progress of the wave. He just stared at the statue of his friend, Stitcher.
When the wave had finally passed, the User-that-is-not-a-user stepped down and moved to Stitcher’s frozen statue. Reaching up, he gently touched her stony curls, a look of terror frozen onto her young, petrified face.
Tears welled in his eyes, then streamed down his square cheeks. As if it were yesterday, Gameknight could remember that day in the Nether when he’d first met her after Malacoda had captured Hunter.
“You said, ‘My name is Stitcher and I will be going with you. I dare you to try and stop me,’” Gameknight said to the statue. “I knew I could never stop you from doing anything that would help people. And now you’ve given your life to save someone you barely knew.” He paused as tears streamed down his cheeks. “I wish it could have been me instead of you frozen here. I’m so sorry I failed you. . . . I’m so sorry.”
Gameknight wanted to scream, wanted to just give up. But slowly the grief turned to rage as he thought about Herobrine out there, gloating over what he’d done.
He moved to the doors of the keep.
What am I going to find when I look inside? Gameknight thought. What if it didn’t work? What if my plan didn’t protect everyone inside? Have I condemned all my friends to the same fate as Stitcher? Will this be my greatest failure?
He pulled out his pickaxe and swung it into the End Stone door. It instantly shattered. He then hit the other door, smashing it into tiny yellow shards. The interior of the room was completely black, all the torches on the walls turned to stone, as well as the walls and glass windows.
Nervously, Gameknight leaned into the room, his eyes closed. He was afraid of what he was about to find, but knew he had to look. Slowly, he opened his eyes and found Hunter staring at him, her eyes filled with rage as tears ran down her cheeks.
“I couldn’t stop her,” Gameknight said. “I failed. . . . I killed Stitcher.”
Hunter just stared at the frozen statue of her sister. She gritted her teeth, trying to stem the flow of tears, but the loss was too great. Finally, she broke down and sobbed, putting her arms around Gameknight’s armored shoulders.
“Stitcher. . . . Stitcherrrrr!” she wailed as she was raked with emotion.
But then, a roar sounded from outside the walls of the castle. Both Gameknight and Hunter turned toward the sound, their tears replaced with fury.
“This isn’t over yet,” Gameknight growled.
“Not even close!” Hunter replied as she drew her bow and notched an arrow.
An army of angry villagers poured from the keep, Gameknight and Hunter in the lead, the dark obsidian floor having kept them all safe. They all glared at the statue of Stitcher, rage burning in their eyes. Knowing the plan, the NPCs spread out along the wall, hiding under the overhead walkway that ringed the castle wall.
Stepping up to the now End Stone doors, Gameknight reached into his inventory for his pickaxe, but Digger was already there, Crafter at his side. Swinging his tool, the big NPC smashed the brittle doors with a single hit, showering both of them with pale yellow shards. Crafter looked at his friend, then glanced at Stitcher. A tiny square tear trickled out of his bright blue eye as he looked up at Gameknight999. Gameknight placed a hand on his shoulder then shook his head.
“Save it for later my friend,” Gameknight said.
Crafter nodded, then drew a dark chest from his inventory. Gameknight looked down at the item. It was dark purple, with streaks of green as well as the faintest presence of purple particles dancing about its surface.
“Are you sure about this?” Crafter asked, looking down at the chest.
“It’s the only way,” Gameknight replied. “It has to work, or Herobrine will win.”
“OK,” Crafter replied. “I’ll be ready.”
Gameknight nodded. Stepping through the doorway, Gameknight moved out in front of the castle, the other NPCs remaining hidden. The entire landscape had been changed into pale yellow End Stone: the trees, the flowing water . . . everything. Stepping out in the open, the User-that-is-not-a-user smiled when he saw a look of disbelief on Herobrine’s dark face.
“You were careless when you were an NPC, Herobrine!” Gameknight yelled. “I see your arrogant carelessness has transferred to that pathetic dragon’s body as well.”
Drawing his two swords, Gameknight took a few more steps forward, then stopped and scratched a line in the ground.
“You have poisoned the land and hurt innocent people,” the User-that-is-not-a-user yelled. “You’re like a rabid animal that must be put down. You have brought The End to the Overworld, but in your foolish stupidity, you have actually brought your own end. You are nothing but a virus . . . and I am the cure.”
Herobrine looked incredulous, his eyes wide with astonishment. Letting out an ear-splitting roar, he flapped his wings and leapt up into the air.
“Endermen, attack!” the dragon screamed, then swooped down toward Gameknight999.
With his two swords held firmly in his hands, Gameknight glanced over his shoulder at his friends within the castle, then gave the signal.
“FOR MINECRAFT!” the User-that-is-not-a user screamed, then turned and faced the dragon, who was diving straight toward him. “COME ON, HEROBRINE. LET’S DANCE!”
CHAPTER 31
CAPTURING A DRAGON
Endermen disappeared in the distance and reappeared across from Gameknight999, but he was not concerned. Hundreds of NPCs poured from the castle gates. Each warrior stared at the frozen statue of Stitcher as they shot through the opening, a look of deadly determination on their square faces.
In the distance, Gameknight could see the three monster kings watching from their hilltops, apparently unwilling to join the fighting.
With yellow particles dancing around the endermen, the dark creatures attacked. They lunged at villagers, then disappeared, only to materialize behind them and attack their unprotected flank. But Gameknight had anticipated this and trained the NPCs how to fight back-to-back. The endermen were surprised to find blades on both sides of the villagers.
Shadowy monsters clashed with the NPCs, each scoring deadly hits on the other. Screeches of pain from the endermen pierced the air, but were accompanied by shouts of agony from the NPCs. Gameknight had never seen such ferocious fighting before in Minecraft, but right now, endermen were not his concern. He had eyes for only the dragon diving toward him.
With pointed talons extended, the dragon reached out for Gameknight as he drew near. Rolling to his side, the User-that-is-not-a-user narrowly avoided being hit. As the dragon climbed into the sky, a flaming arrow shot up from the ground and hit the monster in the left wing.
“THAT WAS FOR STITCHER!” Hunter yelled.
A cheer erupted from the embattled NPCs.
The dragon roared, then flew across the landscape, looking for healing. Obsidian pillars had started to emerge up from the pale landscape, but they still needed to grow taller before any ender crystals would appear.
“Where you going, Herobrine?” Gameknight shouted. “ARE YOU AFRAID?”
The monster screamed its reptilian-like battle cry, then turned and dove for his enemy again. Running forward, Gameknight charged at the beast, both swords ready. When the monster drew near, it halted its dive. Turning, it swung its tail around, hoping to slam the pointed end into Gameknight999. But the User-that-is-not-a-user, having just fought a dragon when they’d saved Crafter, was ready.
; He leapt high into the air as the tail passed underneath, the dark appendage smashing into NPCs and endermen. Landing on the ground, Gameknight sprinted toward the dragon, then jumped high into the air. Extending both his swords, he swung at the animal, grazing one of his legs and making him flash red.
Herobrine screamed, then beat his wings as he climbed into the sky. Facing downward, the monster spit his purple poison onto the ground again, trying to create another transformation wave that would convert the NPCs to stone.
But the splash of venom did nothing.
Gameknight laughed. “This is already part of The End,” Gameknight shouted. “Your little trick won’t work twice.” He laughed at the dragon again. “Now, who is the fool?”
The dragon roared and dove toward Gameknight. Stepping backward, the User-that-is-not-a-user got ready to jump, but suddenly an enderman struck him in the side, knocking him down. Pain erupted through his body as the enderman moved closer.
“NO!” bellowed Herobrine. “HE IS MINE!”
The enderman bowed and turned to find another target.
The dragon charged forward as Gameknight was trying to stand, still dazed. More pain burst through his body as razor-sharp talons tore into his armor, the sharp points finding soft flesh. Before Gameknight could scream, Monkeypants charged at the dragon, his iron sword swinging down onto the dragon’s shoulder. The monster roared in pain as the monkey’s blade bit into his HP, making the beast flash red.
Flapping his mighty wings, the monster took to the air as Monkeypants helped his son to his feet. Looking up at Herobrine, Gameknight could see the monster’s eyes blaze with anger and hatred, the creature overwhelmed with a desire to destroy his enemy.
“He’s ready,” Gameknight said to his father.
Looking back to the castle, Gameknight held up his swords and crossed them over his head. The signal brought another group of NPCs to the field of battle. But instead of bearing swords or bows, they held blocks of dirt and saplings. They ran out into the crazed battlefield, placing down blocks of dirt that extended out in front of the castle wall.
Knowing the plan, the warriors pushed the endermen away from the area so that the trap could be prepared. When their blocks had been placed and saplings planted, the NPCs drew their bows and focused their fire on the endermen, driving the dark creatures back from the area.
Moving to the center of the dirt, Gameknight put away his swords and stood with his arms outstretched. The warriors around him fought with crazed intensity, keeping the endermen far away. Glancing back at the castle entrance, he could see Treebrin and Grassbrin kneeling next to the dirt, ready.
“I’m tired of playing with you, Herobrine!” Gameknight shouted. “It’s time we end this, face-to-face. That is . . . if you’re not afraid of me.”
The monster roared, then turned in a tight arc and headed for the ground. When he landed, he approached Gameknight999. As he neared, Gameknight moved backward. Reaching into his inventory, he pulled out an iron sword, but he fumbled with his grip on the hilt and it clattered to the pale yellow ground. Herobrine laughed as he glared at Gameknight, his eyes like intense lasers. Stepping backward, the User-that-is-not-a-user then stumbled and fell to the ground.
The dragon took advantage of the situation and moved forward with incredible speed . . . just as Gameknight knew he would. Turning his head toward Grassbrin for just an instant, the User-that-is-not-a-user mouthed the word Now. Grassbrin instantly sent his crafting powers through the dirt, using every ounce of his strength and ability. Instantly, long blades of grass sprang up out of the ground, entangling the dragon’s legs. As more grass wrapped around the monster, Treebrin plunged his hands into the ground, causing the saplings to burst out of the ground, forming a leafy canopy over the monster.
Herobrine’s eyes flickered with doubt as he tried frantically to lift back off the ground, but it was too late.
Gameknight stood and ran for the trees. Jumping on top of the smaller ones, he sprinted to the top of the tallest oak, then turned and jumped on the dragon’s back. At the same time, the NPCs dropped their swords and drew bows. Ignoring the endermen, they all fired on the dragon while Gameknight struck at the monster from above.
Hunter moved directly in front of the beast and stared into the monster’s glowing eyes.
“THIS IS FOR STITCHER!” she shouted as she drew back a flaming arrow and fired, over and over again.
“AND FOR BUILDER . . .” another NPCs shouted.
“AND FOR WEAVER . . .”
“FOR CARVER . . .”
The litany of the dead flowed from the NPCs as those who had lost their lives were avenged.
The dragon roared in pain and surprise as its HP slowly ebbed away. The endermen attacked the NPCs, but by now they were too few. Some of the warriors turned and picked up their swords to engage the creatures, but Herobrine’s fate was sealed. For a moment, Herobrine stopped his screams and concentrated intently, his body wrapped in a wreath of yellow particles, then his strength finally gave out.
“You may think you have defeated me, Gameknight999 . . . but I am not so easily deleted,” Herobrine screamed with his final breaths.
The dragon then gave off one last great sorrowful wail as he started to glow bright from the inside. Shafts of light shot out from his scaly body as he glowed brighter and brighter. Gameknight, knowing what was about to happen, jumped off the monster’s back and sprinted away. As he turned to face the monster, he saw Crafter run forward with a dark chest held before him, the lid thrown open.
Herobrine exploded in a blast of light and sound as his HP finally gave out, leaving behind a strange exit portal and balls of XP.
Instantly, the sparkling yellow particles that surrounded the endermen disappeared. The NPCs, following Gameknight’s plan, stopped attacking the dark creatures and stepped back from them. Everyone looked away from the terrible monsters and moved clear of Herobrine’s XP, which now littered the ground. Running forward, Crafter scooped up the glowing balls, using the dark chest to hold the poisonous spheres. In seconds, he had all the XP and closed the lid on the box.
Herobrine was gone.
CHAPTER 32
RETRANSFORMATION
Everyone cheered as the endermen teleported away. The shadowy creatures materialized back on the hill where the monster kings stood, disbelief on their hideous faces. NPCs ran to Gameknight, patting him on the back as they celebrated. But before Gameknight could say anything, he noticed a strange black mist start to emerge from the exit portal that stood where the Ender Dragon had perished. The curious fog moved slowly outward in all directions, a familiar sparkling look to it. Some of the NPCs saw it and moved away, but many either had their backs to the portal, or were in joyous celebration and didn’t notice. Some of the villagers yelled to warn the others, but it was too late. The mist flowed past them harmlessly. Behind the mist, Gameknight could see the End Stone slowly dissolving, turning everything back to its original state, in this case flowing water.
As it approached, the User-that-is-not-a-user could see that the shimmering field was filled with stars, tiny white points of light that seemed to be cleansing the landscape.
“I know what that is,” a voice said next to him.
Turning, Gameknight found his father standing at his side, his iron sword still in his hands.
“It’s the portal,” Monkeypants said as the wave passed under them. “You know, the field of stars that fills the exit portal. I remember it because I was staring into it right after Stitcher jumped in after defeating the dragon in The End.”
“Stitcher!” Gameknight shouted, then turned and ran back into the castle. “Hunter, HUNTER!” Gameknight glanced about as he ran. When he located his friend, he yelled, “Come quick!”
She sprinted to his side as they ran past the moving dark fog. Shooting through the shattered gates, Gameknight ran to the End Stone statue of Stitcher and waited. Slowly, the retransformation wave moved under the castle wall and approached them. When the s
trange mist touched Stitcher’s foot, a sparkling haze of stars enveloped her body. Ever so slowly, color began to flow back into the pallid statue, the pale yellow devoured by the shimmering field. Gameknight stared down at her as Stitcher’s curls slowly blushed to a healthy red, and then the stars disappeared.
“Quick, get to the obsidian,” Stitcher shouted. “The wave is coming!”
Gameknight smiled as he looked up at his friend.
“What are you two doing?” Stitcher exclaimed. “Quick, get on the blocks before the transformation wave—”
She stopped taking as she saw NPCs move into the village. They were all smiling as they looked at her, looks of joyous relief on their faces.
“What’s happening?” the young girl asked.
“It’s over,” Hunter said. “Herobrine is gone, the war is over, and the land is changing back to the way it was again.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You were touched by Herobrine’s wave and turned to End Stone,” Gameknight explained. “But when we finally destroyed Herobrine, another wave came out of the exit portal and started changing everything back, including you. Likely all those NPCs in the other villages that were turned to stone will become alive again as well.”
Hearing this, the villagers from other communities looked at each other, then ran for the crafting chamber and the minecart network that still ran throughout Minecraft, back toward the homes and the family members they thought they’d lost forever.
Crafter then pushed his way through the crowd, holding the dark chest carefully in his hands.
“So what is that chest?” Monkeypants asked.
“It’s called an ender chest,” Gameknight explained. “It’s made from obsidian and an Eye of Ender. I figure that is the best way to hold Herobrine’s evil XP until we can figure out a way to destroy it.”
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