Authors note: this is an AU. None of this is cannon. Not sure when exactly this is places, but it is before operation Dino day. Hope you enjoy!
Zoey was out. She knew it was not the safest thing to do, especially as it was getting dark. But the beautiful greenery of the swamp and the whimper of lost baby mushrooms had drawn her into the miry wonderland. Besides, Rythian was acting weird. He wouldn't talk to her and spent most of his time staring out her creeper faced window, fingers drumming Enderbane's scabbard. Occasionally he would pick something random up and start to head upstairs with said item before stopping, turning, and setting it back down again. She could finally stand his odd behavior no longer and told him she was going to check on the mushrooms. He just nodded distractedly, purple eyes reflected emptily in the clear glass. So she had left, feeling the cool crisp air that whispered fall was coming, and now she had a pack full of baby mushrooms ready to go into the mushroom orphanage. Although first she would have to build a mushroom orphanage. She started to design the place in her head, it had to be truly blingin'. Even before she had finished designing the door she realized it was getting very dark and she could hear the clanking bones of skeletons. She shivered slightly and began to walk back, she had used the last of her Klein star to fix some sandy mistakes. She could see the top of the castle in the distance, its warm light calling her home. But before she could take even one more step in that direction she heard a sound behind her. The quiet crackle of an enderman. She felt the bad feeling in her chest, the one she saw all too often in Rythian's eyes. The anger burned, she held the endermen responsible for Rythian's bad mood. She wasn't an idiot, she had seen how the increasing number of the spooky things had effected Rythian's mood. And it was no fun when Rythian was brooding. So she turned, eyes down, and drew her dark matter sword. She raised head and met the enderman's glowing eyes in a direct challenge, swinging her sword towards its dark heart, but pulled up short as an unexpected thing happened. The dark creature spoke.
"Greetings, Zoeya." It said, voice low and rasping. It spoke like gravel dragged across glass. She froze, blade drawn, and stared at it in wonder.
"You can talk?" She gasped, keeping her sword drawn and ready if this was a trick.
"Of course, we true endermen with pure blood are much different than our screaming brethren." It smiled, making its horrible face seem kind. "I come as a delegate from the queen. We are holding a banquet for the finest scientists in the realms."
"How did you know?" She gasped. "Nobody knows I'm a scientist, nobody." She was practically cowering, seeing in her mind Rythian's face, cold and angry.
The enderman just laughed. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with us. We wouldn't want the Enderborn to know." It patted her arm comfortingly, hand cold and rough. "Do you accept our invitation, queen of the mushrooms?" It asked, extending an arm like a gentleman asking for a dance.
Zoey thought about it. If she went she might meet some new scientists who could help her, and it would probably be fun! Besides, if Rythian was going to be so grumpy she would have to find another way to have fun. "Sure!" she said, taking his arm, trying not to think about what Rythian's expression would be if he found out. Suddenly the ground disappeared from under her feet and the world went black. Barely a second later the ground met her feet and a new sky rose above her, somehow bleak even with the multitude of stars that shone in it. She lowered her eyes and saw a great city, filled with endermen. Her enderman led the way through the great buildings of purple and black. The streets were made of obsidian in a strange pattern, well-traveled by many feet. As they turned a corner Zoey caught sight of a large pavilion and what appeared to be an arena, both bustling with movement. In the pavilion was a cluster of people, humans. Zoey smiled excitedly and began to walk hurriedly towards them, until she caught sight of shaggy mop of pale blond hair. Stopping short she fingered the hilt of her sword again, the bad feeling in her chest back. The head turned and confirmed what she had already known. Duncan.
"This was a bad idea." She told her enderman guide. "Can you please take me back home?" The enderman smiled again, but it didn't seem as welcoming this time.
"But you are home Zoeya Proasheck. And we can't have you just leaving." Zoey paled, finally recognizing the situation for what it was, a trap. She turned to run, although she wasn't sure where she would go, but the enderman grabbed her. He twisted her arm behind her back and lifted a syringe, aiming it at her neck. She screamed and struggled.
"Rythian! Help, please help! Somebody!" She screamed, tugging as hard as she could to try and get free. Then she felt it, the sharp prick followed by a dull ache. She stopped struggling, but not by choice, her body was literally frozen.
"That's better." The enderman said. "Now come with me and you can join in with the festivities." It began walking and her body followed, she was unable to move anything but her eyes. As they neared the pavilion Zoey scanned the area as best she could, unable to move her head. She felt herself turn sharply right and she looked in that direction only to see that her body was headed straight towards Duncan. She screamed in her head, trying to walk somewhere else, anywhere else. But instead her hand went up and did a happy wave, her cheeks pulling her lips into the proper smile position.
"Hi Duncan!" she called out, voice overly cheerful for someone talking to their enemy.
"Hi Zoey!" he called back, his lips twitching into a twisted approximation of a smile. But his eyes told a different story, wide and fearful, making it was clear he wasn't in control either. She made a point to look him directly in the eyes, making sure he knew she knew what was going on. He blinked once before turning away, not the most helpful response. Suddenly she turned too and walked towards the banquet table. The long table was covered in strange dishes of many kinds, and none of them were very vegetarian friendly. She sat down and piled her plate with meats and some vegetables. The tasted strange, slightly spicy but still overly sweet. But the smell was wonderful, an exotic spice that reminded her of something that she couldn't quite place. She did her best not to look at what she was eating, but she could still taste the smoky disgusting flavor of meat. After what felt like forever she finally put down her fork and stood, walking calmly and measuredly towards the arena. There were large stone steps that sat in a circle above a large pit. Zoey got the impression that it wasn't used for traveling actors. Come on Rythian, She thought. Hurry up and save me.