A/N: This story is mainly based off my experience in an ongoing Minecraft world in which I'm currently playing through a challenge with the same title as this (I use it with permission, of course); credit goes to Thistle (child-dragon on this site) for the challenge creation and all that it entails. If you're interested in the challenge itself, the thread can be found under the author Thistle on the Minecraft Forums.

Special thanks to Mellifluousness for much help and chapter title recommendations :D

~~~*{O}*~~~

A stately, immense hall with attenuated windows, closed from the world by delicate birch wood shutters. Abundant pennants hung, as motionless as the throng gathered below – all of them garbed in absolute finery, their sumptuous attire proclaiming noble echelons.

Each and every gaze was fixed upon one figure proceeding down the centre of the structure. She was clothed in a regal gown of silvery satin, the skirt's scalloped edges brushing the carpeted pathway; long floral sleeves draped over her hands, and a necklace of flawless gold and diamond adorned her neck. Her face was partly obscured by lustrous black curls that reached past her shoulders. Tears sparkled in eyes of a likewise inky hue as she approached a dais on which stood a resplendent diamond throne webbed by filigree and studded with glittering emeralds. Around her clustered innumerable lords and ladies from the kingdom – her kingdom. Avi Skye was fourteen and being crowned.

The past few months had been complete insanity for her: The prosperous, well-managed kingdom ruled by the queen – whose husband had long vanished to parts unknown – prior to her sudden death was on the cusp of being launched into turmoil by seekers of power while Avi, the rightful heir being the former queen's only child, was forced to take up a multitude of responsibilities and confront many perils lurking in wait.

Yet all of that were right then nothing but dark memories, and she thought she could finally end her fears of the kingdom dissolving into chaos.

She had no clue how very wrong she was.

The world had always been fraught with various species of monsters that appeared during the night, but for long decades mankind had not been threatened by them as the mighty walls of their cities kept all at bay except for the Endermen, a peculiar kind with a lanky, humanoid form coated in midnight-black scales and who towered above men, well-known for their unstoppable teleportation abilities. However, they were never hostile unless one looked into their violet eyes – until that disastrous night.

A month had passed since Avi's coronation when the Endermen commenced a violent assault on one of the queen's major cities with no apparent cause, and within a matter of hours nigh on the complete number of residents were brutally slaughtered. All that remained were crumbling walls, blood and corpses.

The news spread like lightning, carried by a few courageous soldiers who ensured that all were forewarned. Yet they were completely defenceless against the mysterious powers of the Endermen as well as their unbelievable strength.

As the days went by, accounts of countless deaths continued to pour in. No one questioned why their new monarch had taken no action – they knew that retaliation or even self-defence was hopeless and there was next to no chance to avoid the extinction of humans; every attempt to communicate with the Endermen had also failed. Yet, as the mass destruction drew ever closer to the heart of the kingdom, there came an extraordinary message and an unexpected discovery.

First was the report that the distant city of Azura seemed to have discovered a way to repel the Endermen. Secondly, when Queen Skye was skimming through the vast amount of knowledge in her great library, a week after the first attack, she found an impossibly ancient tome filled with what resembled magical spells. Intrigued, the queen summoned her Royal Mage, Riane. He believed one of the enchantments within to be the only probable method of survival after further news from Azura, for the citizens had long been devoted to the research of water and it was recently discovered that the substance could act as a barrier between Endermen and humans, but only when it was fresh and flowing.

After impromptu gatherings and experiments, the inspiration caused by the uncovered spell was definite. The magic which dictated the ability to ward off Endermen's teleportation could not be maintained for more than one structure due to the energy required; hence it was decided that a rallying location was found between the main city and Azura, and that a group was sent there in advance to build a refuge that will be able to house all survivors of the kingdom. The only hindrance was that it was an absolute necessity for the group to remain inconspicuous while travelling.

With the pressing need to take action at all possible speed, another decision was made: the group will consist of only Queen Skye and Riane. Considering that the Azura's residents would take some time to arrive, many were confident that the two of them would be able to construct a shelter before then.

That very night, the journey into the future of uncertainty began.

~~~*{O}*~~~

Updates as of February 15-18, 2013: Edited the entire chapter drastically.

Update as of January 12, 2014: Further edits to word choice and things. Also attempted to make the A/N more succinct.