by Terry Mayer
Grabbing his Pickaxe from his Inventory, Nate jumps into the hole that Natasha is digging and rapidly helps her to expand it.
"Not straight down Nate, don't you know ANYTHING?" screams Natasha as Nate drops straight down by 2 blocks.
Stunned at Natasha's harsh words, Nate momentarily stops digging and looks at Natasha with tears forming in his eyes.
"No Natasha, I don't know ANYTHING, this is the first time I have played this damn game. Take a look at my name, Nathan the Noob!"
"Nate, I'm sorry ok, I'm just scarred, but please dig, dig for all your worth. Just follow my lead and maybe, just maybe we can survive this nightmare."
Picking up his pickaxe again he follows Natasha's lead and helps her build a descending staircase.
"Torch Nate, place a torch", shouts Natasha between hammering at the rock wall.
Quickly reaching into his inventory, Nate whips out a torch and sticks it on the wall, where it immediately ignites, lighting the ever expanding staircase.
"Good work Nate, now keep digging, we need to get ahead of the Wither before it arrives. Oh, too late," sighs Natasha as a shadow covers the entrance. "Dig Nate, dig for all your worth."
Smashing away at the rock wall the two players manage to drop another 7 blocks before their heads are nearly blasted from their shoulders as the Wither smashes it's way into their tunnel, screaming that dreadful cry.
"Ahhhh, keep going Nate, just one more level down then we dig forward", shouts Natasha, trying to dig while trying, unsuccessfully, to cover her ears.
"Then what Natasha, we can't out dig that thing, please tell me you have a plan?"
"Of course Nate, but for now just dig."
*****
"They are not here."
"No Jay, looks like we are the only ones, but don't loose hope. They are still alive."
"Yeah, but for how long Hailey? Nathan's just a Noob and it's my fault that's he's here"
"Jay, you know I can't answer that, and it's not your fault, it's Herobrine's."
"Small comfort Hailey, I'm sure Nate would feel much better knowing it's not my fault."
"Hey, back off Jay. It's definitely not my fault that you are all here. I'm just trying to help."
Looking into Hailey's hurt eyes Jay replies, "sorry Hailey, I didn't mean to shout at you. I know it's not your fault, you've been great. Without your help I would have been dead many times already."
"That's ok Jay, he'll be fine, he's with Natasha and she is as tough as they come."
"True, so what now?"
"Now we rest and eat then tomorrow we find Nate and Natasha."
"And after that?"
"If there is an after that, then we will just have to figure it out when it happens."
*****
Staring up at the snow filled sky, PowerGlide is momentarily disorientated. Sitting up he rubs is arms and looks around. As his head clears he starts to chuckle, pulling himself to his feet he lets out a huge belly laugh and doubles over, holding his sides. PowerGlide, you are the luckiest person that ever lived finding another Glitch just when you thought the game was over, it's just incredible.
Standing up straight he glances around his snowy surroundings, realizing he is in a snow biome with no supplies he kicks at the frozen ground. Just great, out of the frying pan right into the freezer.
Surveying his surroundings he spots a dark smudge in the snow at the top of a small slope. Pulling himself to the top of the rise he gasps and claps his hands. You lucky, lucky boy, he thinks as he looks down into the glitch that brought him here.
I wonder how long I should wait before I return to the Savanna. I don't want to pop out and find that Wither waiting for me. Deciding to wait for 5 minutes before returning he settles down, slapping his sides, trying to keep warm.
*****
"Uh Natasha, I don't want to bother you, I know you are busy and all that but WHAT'S THE PLAN?" screams Nate, franticly digging at Natasha's side as the Wither smashes blocks, chasing them along the tunnel.
"Keep digging Nate," gasps Natasha.
"Yeah yeah, but then what?"
"Then Nate, we fight."
Stopping and starring at Natasha, Nate gasps, "fight, are you mad?"
"Dig Nate, for crying out loud, it's our only chance."
"Uh sorry," replies Nate, smacking his pickaxe into the stone, "but how are we going to fight that thing?"
"With tactics Nate."
"Urggh," screams Nate. "You are killing me Natasha, tell me already."
Laughing despite the dire situation that they were both in, Natasha turns her head to Nate and explains how they are going to kill the Wither.
"Will that work?"
"I sure hope so Nate, it works on normal Withers in vanilla Minecraft but who knows what will happen here."
"Well I sure hope your right, when do we start?"
"Right now, you ready?"
"Nope, but go ahead," replies Nate, turning and digging the corridor at a ninety degree angle.
Smiling at him, Natasha quickly places her pickaxe into her Inventory, removes her Bow and notches an arrow. "Dig as fast as you can Nate, turn a corner after 10 blocks and I'll be right behind you."
Standing behind the bend in the corridor Natasha leans out and fires an arrow at the fast approaching Wither. Quickly notching a second arrow she is about to fire when she has to duck back and cover her ears as the Wither screams at her from just 10 blocks away and fires a Wither Skull down the corridor.
"OMG, that's disgusting," she stammers, looking down at the Wither Skull squirming on the floor beside her. "They never did that when I fought them before."
Taking a huge gulp of air she leans out again and quickly fires three more arrows into the Wither before dashing down the corridor after Nate.
Rounding the corner, she stows her bow and removes her pickaxe and helps Nate dig.
"So, how did it go?" asks Nate, calmly.
"Uh, not so good, that thing is tougher than I thought. The only way we can beat it is to both attack at once."
"Ok, sounds like a plan, but just one thing Natasha. If we are both shooting the Wither, then WHO'S DIGGING THE ESCAPE TUNNEL?"
"Jeeze Nate, chill out already. We both dig the tunnel, then when we turn a corner we both shoot as many arrows at the Wither as we can then we start digging again. That thing is huge Nate, it needs to smash loads of blocks just to chase us and that's it's weakness. As long as we time it right we can do this."
"Ok Natasha, I hope you're right."
"I am Nate, trust me, oh just one more thing."
"Oh oh, I don't like the sound of that."
"Sorry Nate, you're right. When the Wither starts flashing it means we have beaten him down, which is great, but the bad news is we will then have to change to sword attacks."
"WHAT! Are you mad. If we get within spitting distance of that thing it will rip us apart."
"Nah Nate, it's cool, just trust me, we can do this."
"Ok Natasha, I trust you but please don't make me have to say I told you so."
"No worries Nate, now dig for your life and on the count of three draw your bow and put as many arrows as you can into that thing then start digging again. You ready."
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Good, on my mark. Oh by the way, the Wither will fire skulls at you that are deadly poisonous, so don't let them touch you."
"What!"
"Three, two one, go, go, go."
Turning in unison they both grab their bows and step out around the corner in the tunnel. Letting their first arrows go, Nate is struck dumb at the sight of the huge Wither, no more than 10 blocks away.
"Fire Nate, come on, shoot that thing, we don't have much time."
Shaking himself Nate grabs another arrow and lets it fly at the Wither, which bellows a deafening cry in response and throws a Wither skull straight at Nate's head.
Ducking, Nate can't help himself and looks down at the skull that is rolling around on the floor, tryi
ng to bite him.
"Uh yuk, you never told me they would be so disgusting."
"Stop messing around with that skull and fire Nate."
Drawing another arrow while trying to avoid the wither skull on the floor Nate risks a quick peek at Natasha, who is firing shot after shot into the rapidly approaching Wither.
"Something on your mind Nate?" smirks Natasha.
Realizing that she is having some fun with him he replies. "Uh no, just killing disgustingly huge and gross monsters, all in a days work."
"Good lad Nate, now get one more shot in then get back to the digging, I'll be right behind you."
Drawing his bow one more time, he places an arrow into the centre head of the Wither and with a squeal of joy, pushes his bow into his inventory and grabs his pickaxe. Dashing around the corner he continues digging the tunnel, glancing over his shoulder, praying that Natasha will be ok. "Don't be too long Natasha, that thing is getting too close" he shouts.
Just then Natasha throws herself around the bend in the tunnel, landing hard on the floor as a wither skull smashes against the wall just above her head.
"Wow, that really was a little too close," she laughs, picking herself off the floor and joining Nate at the face of the tunnel.
"So how are we doing Natasha?"
"Great Nate, if we can hit it another couple of times I think its health will be low enough for us to attack."
"With swords? Oh great, my day just gets better."
"It surely does Nate, now you ready to do this?"
"Sure, nothing else going on around here."
"Good lad. Three, two, one, go, go,go."
Once again the intrepid duo leap around the corner and let fly their arrows, but this time they are facing a Wither that is prepared for them. Immediately it throws Wither skulls in their direction, just as the arrows hit into it's left head. Screaming, it explodes, sending rock flying down the tunnel.
Reaching into his inventory for another arrow, Nate does not notice the wither skulls flying at him until the last second. His eyes go wide and he is slammed into the wall and the skull explodes against his chest, leaving a greenish black goo.
"Uh, disgusting" he croaks as the force of the exploding Wither head knocks him off his feet.
"Nate, Nate, stay with me buddy. Get up, we need to fight."
Coming out of a daze, he see's Natasha kneeling in the corridor, firing her bow continuously at the Wither.
"Nate, welcome back to the land of the living, now get up and help me."
Struggling to his feat, he draws his bow and sends another arrow into the Wither. Reaching for another arrow, he is nearly knocked off his feat again as Natasha garbs him and throws him around the bend. "Come on Nate, didn't you hear me, I said run, it's time to dig again."
"Uh sorry Natasha, I'm spaced out and didn't hear you."
"Well get your act together or neither of us will get out of this alive." Glancing across at him she spots the goo all over his chest. "You were hit?"
Looking down at himself Nate replies, "Uh, I guess so, I don't know, I can't think straight."
"Damn Nate, you've been poisoned, that's why you're so spaced out. It will wear off soon, just try and help me dig, come on Nate, I know it's hard but try and concentrate."
As if in a dream, or rather a nightmare, Nate reaches into his inventory and removes his pickaxe. Lifting it in slow motion he starts to hit the wall, and with each strike the effects of the wither poison seem to wear off and his head starts to clear. Glancing back at Natasha he can see she is mouthing something at him but he struggles to make out what she is saying. It's like being underwater he thinks, everything's slow and out of time. A sudden jerk gets his attention and Natasha is shaking him.
"Nate, now, we need to attack now."
Watching Natasha dash around the corner he is momentarily stunned. What? But we haven't finished with the arrows yet, have we? Realizing that he has been in a sort of trance for the last couple of minutes he shakes his head, which amazingly actually helps to clear his thoughts, draws his sword and dashes after Natasha.
*****
What's taking so long? thinks PowerGlide. That Wither should have caught and finished off those two by now but there's been no canon. I'll give it another five minutes than I'm out of here before I freeze to death. Jumping up and down and slapping his sides he does not notice a pack of wolves approaching the bottom of the hill or the fast setting sun.
*****
Rounding the bend Nate is almost knocked from his feat as the tunnel walls on either side explode, sending rubble pouring down on him. As the dust clears he can't believe his eyes, Natasha is fighting hand to hand with the Wither. The creature is huge, standing 6 blocks tall, bellowing its haunting scream and smashing the rock walls, trying to get at Natasha who is dancing around it's feat, striking with her Diamond sword as quick as she can.
"Natasha, what do you want me to do?" screams Nate.
"Shoot it Nate, for crying out loud, shoot it" she replies glancing at him.
Just at that moment the Wither takes advantage and hits out, sending Natasha crashing against the tunnel wall and immediately it pushes it's advantage and shoots out wither skulls at her.
Rolling along the tunnel Natasha franticly tries to avoid the onslaught of wither skulls but there are just too many and as the first one explodes against her back she starts to slow, allowing a second to explode against her head, knocking her to the floor.
"Nooooo" screams Nate, drawing his bow and firing arrow after arrow into the Wither, who just ignores him and continues to fire wither skulls at Natasha.
Realizing that the Wither is intent on killing Natasha, Nate draws his sword and charges, slicing deeply into its left leg.
An explosion knocks Nate off his feat, but this time he picks himself straight up and charges back into the fray. Slashing at the Wither he screams at Natasha to get out of there, but she is dazed and moving so slowly. Striking once again at the Wither he hits a direct hit and the beast bellows and explodes, sending a last stream of wither skulls flying out into the tunnel before it vanishes.
Lifting himself into a sitting position from where he was thrown against the wall, Nate squints through the dust, trying to remember how he got here. Looking over himself he see's greenish black goo dripping from his right arm. Weird, I wonder what that is he thinks, pushing himself up the wall, trying to stand. Glancing around he spots Natasha lying facedown in the tunnel and suddenly his memories return. Moving to her side as fast as his poisoned body will allow he grabs her and turns her over.
"Natasha, wake up, we did it, we killed the Wither."
As Natasha's eyelids flicker and open, relief floods Nate's body and he bursts into tears and hugs her.
"Ah, suck it up Nate, I don't need no crybaby" she coughs while holding her side.
"Glad to see you're still your old cheerful self Natasha. I'm just glad you're alive"
"Yeah, join the club Nate. It got a bit hairy there for a while, didn't it."
"Sure did, so how badly hurt are you?"
Looking inside herself Natasha inhales suddenly and exclaims, "wow, that was a close one Nate, just half a heart left, that's cutting it too close."
"Tell me about it. I don't ever want to do that again, but you were awesome!"
"Yeah, I was pretty awesome wasn't I. Guess I saved your butt again kiddo. This is getting to be ...."
BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...
The ninth competitor has been eliminated. Natasha has not proven worthy. Three competitors remain to fight in The Final - Continue the tournament.
"Nooo," screams Nate as Natasha disappears with a slight pop and the canon explodes. "No,no,no, how, what happened?" he screams at the pile of Natasha's belongings.
Stumbling against the wall in grief he hardly notices as his health drops another half point.
"Natasha," he screams through his tears, hammering his hand against the tunnel wall.
"Why? It's not fair, we won, we won."
Almost overwhelmed with nausea he stumbles again. Something in the back of his mind is screaming at him, trying to get his attention, but he barely registers it in his grief. As another bout of nausea hits him he stumbles and falls to his knees, knocking his head against the tunnel wall.
Maybe it was the blow to the head that knocked some sense into him or maybe it was just his health getting near critical levels but Nate suddenly checks himself and is horrified to find that it is on his last heart. What? I wasn't that badly hurt, how can I be almost dead? he wonders, just as another half heart ticks away leaving his life hanging in the balance.
In a moment of clarity he realizes that it's the Wither Effect as Natasha had mentioned. Poisoned, both himself and Natasha's life continued to drain away even after defeating the Wither.
Franticly searching through his inventory for something to eat he spots a piece of bread floating where Natasha's body had just been. Lunging out he grabs the bread and shoves it into his mouth, hopping to build his health before it's too late and the poison finishes him off.
*****
BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...
The ninth competitor has been eliminated. Natasha has not proven worthy. Three competitors remain to fight in The Final - Continue the tournament.
Looking up as the canon sounds, Powerglide's face stretches into a huge grin.
So Natasha is dead, good riddance. I think I'll just wait here for a few more minutes before heading back, maybe I'll get lucky and that Nathan the Noob will be taken care of too.
A sound startles him out of his revelry and he turns to see a pack of hungry wolves approaching cautiously up the hill.
Oh, that was not part of my plan, he thinks as he starts to backpedal up the hill. Never mind, guess I'll be returning a little sooner than I imagined. Turning towards the glitch at the top of the hill he is shocked to find another dozen wolves stalking him from above. Ah heck, just when things were starting to get interesting, he thinks, drawing his sword as the first wolf pounces at him.