Tales of an 8-Bit Kitten

by Cube Kid

“By the way, what kind of powers do you have, anyway?” asked Meowz.

  “Well, I don’t know,” said Eeebs. “I mean, Clyde and his friend were about to tell me more about the change, but … I ran off before they could. I just wanted to find you guys.”

  “Awww.” Meowz’s eyes grew even more tearful. “Thanks.”

  “A good friend,” said Tufty. “Us too. We looked for you everywhere, you know? We haven’t really slept since you disappeared. Anyway … I’m just glad you’re back.”

  Eeebs sighed. “Me too, but … at some point, I’ll have to go … back there.”

  All three of them looked down at the ground. Then, a cry broke the silence.

  “Eeebs?”

  It was his mother.

  Eeebs’s mother carefully approached the three kittens. She looked like Eeebs (the old Eeebs, anyway), only bigger.

  Eeebs only swallowed, his eyes wide.

  “Oh boy,” whispered Tufty. “Things are gonna get crazy.”

  Meowz joined him in cowering.

  “This isn’t good,” she murmured. “She scolded Eeebs for days just for going too close to the fire lake, over in the plains. How do you think she’ll react to this?”

  His mother was now quite close, and as she noticed her son, she couldn’t hide her astonishment. “Eeebs Cottonpaw Thistlewhiskers, what on Earth happened to you?!”

  “Mom, I can explain,” said Eeebs, his ears lowered, tail between his legs. “You see, there’s this—”

  “Enough!” she hissed. “You’ll explain this to your father!”

  She picked him up by the scruff of his neck and hauled him off to their cat burrow.

  Tufty and Meowz exchanged

  worried glances.

  For half an hour, Eeebs stared at the floor as his mother scolded him. Of course, he tried telling her about what had happened. But she wasn’t hearing any of it.

  “I told you not to go near that door!” she said. “Cats have no business in there!”

  “I’m okay, Mom. Really. Maybe what happened to me is a good thing.”

  “Good?” She turned away. “How can it be good? You look so different now. Your fur, it’s … it’s … it’s blue!”

  Eeebs rubbed up against his mom.

  “Hey. I’m sorry for going in there, but … monsters really are going to attack our world.”

  “Well, what can we do about it?” she said. “Let the humans deal with it. And those … villagers.”

  “I don’t think it’s that simple,” Eeebs said. “I mean, the mob army is huge. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

  This made his mother even more worried. “And what exactly are you supposed to do?”

  Eeebs sighed. “I don’t know, Mom. But there must be a reason. That’s what Clyde said. He’s a ghast. Oh, and his friend, Eldra. She’s a witch. She said—”

  “Ghast?!” his mother yelled. “Witch?! Young man, you won’t go near those things again! Do you understand?”

  “But they’re my friends.”

  “Friends?! No, you won’t be making friends with monsters!”

  “Not all monsters are bad, Mom.… Clyde is really, really nice.”

  His mother was really upset now. “Just wait until your father hears about this! You’re lucky he’s out hunting right now!”

  “Mom, please just calm down.…”

  It went on like this for some time. Like most mothers, she was a bit overprotective.

  His father eventually came back, carrying some salmon. He was a good hunter.

  When his father noticed Eeebs, he dropped the salmon on to the grass floor of their house.

  “Son? What … happened?”

  And so, Eeebs explained all over again. Thankfully, his father wasn’t as upset. He almost seemed proud of Eeebs.

  “The Nether chose you?” he said. “I don’t like it, but … this must be important.”

  “What are you saying?” said his mother.

  His father flicked his tail, thinking for a moment. “I just think we should try to learn more about this.”

  “I can’t believe you’re saying this!” His mom circled back and forth.

  “Honey, we can’t do anything about it. What happened … happened.”

  His mother sighed. Then, there were several cries outside.

  “Monster! Run!!”

  Eeebs glanced at his mom and dad

  then dashed outside.

  A crowd of cats and kittens scattered in terror.

  A witch walked out from behind a massive oak tree.

  “Eeebs!” she shouted. “Eeebs! Are you there? Oh, there are so many kittens, but none of them are the one I’m looking for! At least, I don’t think any of you are Eeebs.… Blue fur? Purple eyes? No, no, no! Where is he?!”

  The few remaining kittens squealed and ran off to their parents. But one kitten remained.

  Eeebs slowly walked toward the witch.

  The other felines crouched in their hiding places, watching Eeebs approach what appeared to be a hideous monster. (Actually, to them, Eeebs appeared like a monster as well.)

  “Eldra!” Eeebs said. “How did you get here?!”

  “Same as you. I simply went through the portal,” Eldra said. “I’m from the Overworld too, you know!”

  Suddenly, Eeebs’s mother and father ran up to him. “Get away from that thing, Son! It’s dangerous!”

  “Dangerous?” The witch giggled. “Yes, I suppose I am dangerous! But only when I have potions, and I’m all out.”

  “Enough!” said Eeebs’s father. “Leave our son alone! He will not associate with the likes of you!”

  The witch cackled—an eerie, high-pitched sound. This caused some other kittens in the distance to begin crying. After the witch stopped laughing, Eeebs sighed.

  “Mom, Dad, meet Eldra. Eldra’s a witch. But she’s really, really nice. She helped me when I got sick. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for her. So you should thank her.”

  His parents peered at Eldra.

  “You don’t have to praise me,” said Eldra.

  A bat flew past her. She grabbed it. “Ooooo! How lucky! I need bat wings!” The witch stuffed the squeaking creature into her belt pouch.

  His parents backed away, making low growling sounds, pulling Eeebs along with them.

  Eldra continued. “Actually, your son is special. I’m certain he would have survived, even without my help!”

  “No way,” said Eeebs. “I was so sick. My stomach was roiling, and I passed out, and—”

  “Stop it, Eeebs! Just stop!” His mother was beginning to weep again. Then she wiped her face with a paw and turned to Eldra. “Is it true? You …helped our son?”

  Eldra nodded.

  “Who wouldn’t help a lost kitten? Besides, he’s got the mark!”

  “Mark? What do you mean?” asked Eeebs’s father.

  “I can tell you what I know,” said Eldra. “But first …let the rest of your kind know: I wish you no harm. In fact, if you want to survive …you’d best listen to me.”

  And so Eeebs’s parents finally calmed down.

  The rest of the felines eventually crept back—but cautiously, slowly, very slowly.

  At last Eldra began to tell everyone the history of Minecraftia.… How an innocent kitten came to befriend a nice ghast named Clyde … And how an evil enderman, exiled from the End, rose to power in the Nether . . .

  After perhaps an hour of talking, Eeebs said his goodbyes to everyone he knew. His mother and father were in tears.

  “In case we get attacked,” said his father, “we’ll dig a small cave nearby. That way we’ll have a place to run and hide.”

  Eeebs nodded.

  “Good idea. And don’t cry, huh? I’ll be back soon! I promise!”


  Then Eeebs turned to his two best friends. Strangely, Tufty and Meowz didn’t seem upset. In fact, they seemed a bit happy.

  Am I just imagining things? Eeebs thought. How can they not be sad? Even I want to cry right now!

  “I wish you didn’t have to go, Eeebs,” said Meowz. “I’ll miss you.”

  “Same here,” said Tufty. “I’m so sad. So sad. But hey, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.”

  Eldra the witch smiled at Eeebs’s mother and patted her head.

  “Don’t worry,” Eldra said. “Your son just needs some training. I’ll do my best. He’ll be back soon. I promise.”

  With that, Eldra and Eeebs took off, back to the portal.

  Five minutes later, Eeebs already missed his parents. And his friends. He hadn’t even been home for more than two hours.

  But then, his heart grew lighter at the thought of seeing Clyde again. Upon entering the Nether, Eldra led Eeebs back to her stone hut.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask,” said Eeebs. “As you said, you come from the Overworld. So why do you have a house in the Nether?”

  The witch sighed. “Well first, it’s called a hut.”

  The kitten looked up at her, waiting for her answer. The witch continued.

  “Brewing,” she said. “Nether wart. Blaze powder. The Nether has a lot of things I need. So, I decided to build a second hut here.”

  She opened the door. “Now, let’s begin.”

  Eeebs followed Eldra inside. She walked over to the cauldron. The purple liquid bubbling within it smelled strange yet delicious at the same time.

  “Mushroom-bat stew,” she said. “Care for some?” Eeebs’s stomach grumbled as the witch said this.

  How sad, Eeebs thought. I didn’t even eat anything while I was at home. I should have grabbed some salmon . . . or a pufferfish. I’m not picky!

  “Sure,” he said at last.

  The witch set a steaming bowl of stew on to the floor. The kitten lapped it up hungrily. Actually, it wasn’t that bad.

  “Now,” said Eldra. “Before we start, let me tell you: You’re not the only strange creature walking around Minecraftia.”

  The kitten’s ears perked up.

  “You mean there are others like me?”

  Eldra shrugged. “In a way.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, during a full moon, one out of a hundred spiders that spawn are granted special powers similar to yours. The Dark Blessing, it’s called. Some can heal their wounds quickly. Others are impossible to see or possess incredible strength. And then there are creepers, who become much stronger when struck by lightning. Pigs struck by lightning turn into zombie pigmen. And where do you think I came from? I used to be a villager, you know … until I went out in that thunderstorm.…”

  Eeebs scratched his chin. “Is all that related to the Nether, like me?”

  “Not exactly. Still, there are many unusual creatures wandering around. So don’t feel alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  Eldra smiled. “As for your powers . . .”

  “Yes,” said Eeebs. “You’ve mentioned that before. What are they?”

  “Well, first, you’re probably already aware that you can think more clearly.”

  Eeebs nodded. “I’ve been able to figure stuff out on my own way easier than before.”

  “And your senses are sharper, correct?”

  The kitten nodded again. “I can sense nether portals and even see in the dark better than before.”

  “Of course.” The witch gazed into his purple eyes. “From what I’ve read, the spider’s Dark Blessing also affects you, in limited form. If you stand still, you’ll be nearly invisible. I’m not sure what you have to do to heal faster, though. Beyond that, you’ll find that you have the powers of every mob native to the Nether.”

  “What does that mean?” asked Eeebs.

  “For one, you’re all but immune to fire. Including lava.”

  Lava, Eeebs thought. That’s that fiery orange stuff!

  “You mean I won’t be hurt by it?!”

  “Not at all,” said the witch. “You can swim around in it all day if you want, and it won’t even singe your whiskers.”

  At this point, the kitten’s curiosity was overflowing. He didn’t have to fear the Nether anymore! He could explore as much as he wanted!

  Wait, he thought, how can I think about exploring at a time like this?!

  “What else?” he asked.

  “Hmm. You can spit fireballs the same way a ghast can, and I’m guessing you have a Wither effect, like all wither skeletons. And a zombie pigman’s strength. Perhaps you can even fly like a blaze? But you’ll have to learn how to do all of that from the mobs themselves. Of course, I believe you have even more special powers, but I must research more. I haven’t had much time, since I had to go looking for you.”

  “This is so great!” said Eeebs.

  “Indeed. When you come to understand your strengths, you’ll basically be a boss monster, like the ender dragon or the wither. Cool, huh?”

  “What are those?” Eeebs asked.

  “Oh, never mind.”

  The kitten sighed. “Whatever. I can’t wait until Clyde teaches me how to shoot fireballs. Where is he, anyway?”

  The witch looked down at the floor. “Um . . .”

  “What?” The kitten crept forward. “What is it? Where is he?”

  “Well, it really hurts to say this, but . . .” The witch turned around. “Shortly after you left, Clyde …joined EnderStar’s army.”

  Eeebs stepped back, slowly. The words repeated in his head, over and over.

  Clyde. Joined EnderStar’s army.

  Clyde.

  A happy ghast.

  A nice guy. Helpful. Cries at the slightest hint of bad news.

  And he joined …those monsters?!

  “I …I don’t get it.… Why?”

  “I don’t know,” said Eldra. “He tried following you, but ghasts can’t fly very fast, you know. He couldn’t even find the portal. I’ve never seen a ghast shed so many tears. He kept asking me where the portal was, how to find you. I’m not a tour guide! Then he just floated away.”

  A single tear ran down the kitten’s cheek. “I …can’t . . . believe this.…”

  “Be strong,” said Eldra. “There must be a good reason why he did something like that. Believe in your friend.”

  Eeebs looked up at Eldra again. “I have to go find him!”

  “Of course you do. You should stay here first, though, and train with me …but you’re not going to do that, are you?”

  “Not a chance,” said Eeebs, shaking his head. “I owe him.”

  “Then you’ll want to head to the nether fortress. It’s that way.” She pointed out the window. “You can’t miss it.”

  Eeebs glanced out the window, then back at Eldra. The witch gave him a blank look.

  “What? Are you expecting me to ask you to stay here? I know you by now, Eeebs. You’ll go. You’ll do anything to save your friend. There’s simply nothing I can do.”

  “You’re right, just . . .”

  “What?”

  “Do you have any advice for me? It’s not like I’ve ever been to a nether fortress.”

  Eldra took out a book from her item chest.

  “The best piece of advice I can give you is to write in this every day. It’s called a diary. Within its pages, you can record your experiences and any important information.”

  “But I don’t even know how to write! Or spell. Or read. I’m a kitten.”

  “Wrong,” Eldra said. “That’s another one of your abilities. I forgot to mention that.”

  “But even if I know how to write, I can’t hold a quill!”

  Eldra handed the kitten a q
uill. “Haven’t you noticed your paws are a little different?”

  Eeebs glanced down at his paws, held each one in front of him, and then grabbed the quill.

  “Unbelievable.”

  “What’s so hard to believe?” asked Eldra. “This is Minecraftia.”

  “Right. So …book, quill, anything else?”

  “You’re smart. You’ll figure out the rest. And do bring Clyde back. He owes me more tears.”

  “Count on it.”

  Once again, Eeebs took off without much hesitation. He had an inventory, a diary, a quill, and a whole lot of courage.

  But how am I going to sneak into a nether fortress? he thought. What’s Clyde doing, anyway?

  Why did he join that crazy army? Was he angry because I took off? What happened?

  Eldra watched the kitten zoom off into the Nether.

  “He’s sure got spirit,” she said to herself. “I think he’ll be just fine.”

  She went back into her hut, glanced at the bubbling cauldron, at the brewing stand, and finally …her mat on the floor. It was just carpet, but it was the best she could do. Beds exploded in the Nether, for whatever reason.

  She suddenly felt exhausted. She yawned, headed over to her mat, and …heard a mewing sound coming from just outside her hut.

  What’s that noise? she thought. It almost sounds like a kitten! But . . . what’s Eeebs doing back so soon?

  The witch, thoroughly confused, went outside and glanced around. Lying nearby, on the reddish netherrack, was not just one kitten, but two.

  They looked sickly, barely conscious, as Eeebs had been after he’d first entered the Nether.

  However, they didn’t look like Eeebs at all. One had tan fur with orange stripes. The other, light gray and brown with bright blue eyes.

  Both kittens soon stopped moving, having lost consciousness.

  Eldra carefully approached them. She realized she wouldn’t be getting sleep anytime soon. She needed two buckets of milk to cure their illness, and she was fresh out.