Chapter 2 – Sky City


Disclaimer: If you have not read Fred: Admin in Exile yet. I suggest you read that story first before reading this one.

(Minecraft: Story Mode and its characters belong to Telltale Games, not me.)


(FRED'S POV)

After jumping into the portal, Fred landed, to find Jesse struggling to pull Ivor up, who was about to fall off the edge.

"Don't worry! I've got you!" Jesse reassured Ivor. Fred, seeing that they were struggling, offered a hand. They managed to pull Ivor back onto the floating island.

"…You are surprisingly heavy!" Jesse managed to get out, panting.

"I am… the proportionate weight for my height… thank you very much." Ivor retorted, also panting.

Lukas put his arm around Ivor.

"There you go. Easy now." Lukas told Ivor.

"Yes, thank you, thank you." Ivor retorted again.

It seems there was only the five of them on the island they were standing on. No-one else. Not even Aiden. Fred looked down at the edge, only to find nothing but clouds and strong wind.

"Okay, there is nothing but sky down there! It's all just... empty... sky." Jesse commented, also looking over the edge.

"I bet Soren would probably have fainted on the spot right now if he were here." Fred stated.

"I've traveled all over our world, to nearly every corner, and there has always been land or water beneath me..." Ivor added.

"Do you think Aiden knew about all this? The portal? The Eversource?" Jesse asked.

"He definitely seems to know now..." Ivor responded.

Fred walked to the other side of the island, looking around. What he saw almost made his eyes widen in surprise. There was a floating city in the distance. Some of the structures were made out of gold blocks.

"Guys, you might want to see this." Fred called out, gesturing toward him.

The others approached Fred and saw what he was looking at.

"So very strange." Ivor observed.

"Wow. It looks like some kind of city. That's incredible." Jesse commented.

Ivor was jumping in excitement now.

"That's it! That's where it must be! The Eversource." Ivor shouted.

"A city in the clouds… it almost sounds impossible." Petra added.

"I just don't know how we're going to reach it." Lukas stated.

"Yeah, that's definitely going to be a problem…" Petra agreed.

"I can't believe this. We fall through a portal into another world, and then we can't even go anywhere!" Lukas angrily stated.

"I don't suppose anyone packed one of those flying machines?" Jesse asked.

"Eh, that's more Olivia's bag." Petra responded.

"Yeah, I've got nothing." Lukas added.

"Well. It seems we're in another world now. Which means I can freely fly and teleport around without consequence." Fred added. "But for now, I'd prefer to settle with a bridge. I don't want to scare the citizens of that city by having them see us floating in the air."

"I don't know, seems like a long way. Do we have enough blocks?" Lukas asked. "I mean, it's really, really far!"

"Yes. Very astute, Lukas!" Ivor responded.

"Ivor the grump strikes again, I see." Petra retorted.

Using his powers to take a quick scan of the island, Fred noticed that the underside was way bigger than he expected. Jesse seemed to notice this as well.

"Elementary, my dear Lukas. The underside of this island is much, much bigger than it appears." Jesse stated.

"Really?"

"He's right. If we strip the whole island down to nothing, we'll have enough blocks to get to the other side." Fred agreed. "Besides, if we run short, I can just use my powers to fill in the rest of the way."

And the group of five set to work stripping the island down, eventually forcing them all together on a two by two block platform. Fred was floating slightly, so that he wouldn't accidentally push anyone off.

"STOP PUSHING!" Ivor yelled.

"I'm not pushing. Lukas is pushing." Petra responded.

"I'm just trying to keep away from the edge!" Lukas defended.

"It's all edge!" Petra corrected.

"Okay, gang, I think that should do it. Let's make ourselves a bridge." Jesse instructed.

And that was exactly what they did. It turns out they had precisely the correct number of blocks to cover the distance.

"Okay, this is our stop. Evvverybody off." Jesse said as the five stepped onto the island.

"Ivor, seriously?" Petra asked, eyeing a dirt skull structure with lava pouring out of its eyes. Fred just rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, can't help myself." Ivor responded.

"You're building." A voice behind them, said, grabbing their attention.

It belonged to a dark haired, light skinned person who was trembling in fear.

"I… You… I don't…" He stammered.

"Hey, yeah, we're building? Is something wrong with that?" Jesse asked.

"I, uh… You don't know?" The nervous guy continued. "Y-Yo-You, You were, you were building. Unauthorized building is against the law!"

"Wait, there's a law saying people can't build?" Petra asked, disbelievingly.

"Yes! It's forbidden!" The nervous guy answered.

"This… this makes no sense. No sense at all." Ivor commented.

"I… well…. That's the law?"

"Okay, I'll bite. Why's building against the law?" Jesse asked.

"Oh, this is making me terribly nervous. First those other outsiders, now you…"

"'Other outsiders?' Where are they?" Lukas questioned.

"Uh, they went to the in. I'm sorry, but that's all I know." The nervous guy said before running off.

"Wait wait wait, come back!" Jesse said.

"I'm super busy sorry!"

"And he's gone." Petra commented.

"Darn." Lukas exclaimed in frustration.

The group followed the direction guy the nervous guy went in, to find themselves in some kind of courtyard.

"I wonder if everyone here is that…."

Ivor faltered at the builds made out of Iron and Gold blocks.

"…nervous." He finished.

Fred took notice that there were guards patrolling the place, watching over various stuff. Whoever the leader was around here, they were extremely strict.

"Wow." Lukas commented. Jesse nodded his head in agreement.

"It's unbelievable, who made it?" Jesse asked.

"Whoever it was must had had the Eversource. It's the only explanation for the copious amount of rare materials they used to build it." Ivor stated. "And when I get my hands on it…"

"Hey, how about you take a massive chill pill and we find it first!" Petra snapped.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm just getting excited." Ivor sheepishly responded.

"As crazy as Aiden's been lately, if he gets that thing, it would be bad." Lukas agreed.

"Well, if we beat him to it, he won't be able to get his slimy little hands on the thing!"

"Knowing Aiden, I have a bad feeling that he's probably going to try and manipulate the leader of this place to turn against us." Fred admitted.

"Well, that nervous guy mentioned an inn, so why don't we start there?" Jesse suggested.

"Agreed." Ivor agreed. The group wandered off in their own directions.

"HELLO! IT IS NICE TO MEET YOU!" Ivor exclaimed, approaching a citizen. Wow, way to remain inconspicuous…. not.

Fred saw Jesse looking at a crafting table.

"Boy, these are some popular crafting tables." Jesse commented.

"Indeed. Probably has something to do with the whole 'No Unauthorized Building' thing that this place has going on." Fred agreed. "Ridiculous if you ask me."

"Don't worry, everyone, your turn will come in time." The guard assured. "Please have your materials ready when you approach the crafting table."

"Augh, I knew I shouldn't have waited so long to eat!" A citizen groaned.

Jesse approached him and offered a cake to him.

"Hey, if you're hungry, you should try this." Jesse offered.

The citizen accepted it.

"If you say so-" He took a bite. "Holy handouts. That's incredible!"

He finished the rest of the cake.

"Do you, do you have any more of that?" He asked.

"Sorry, all out." Jesse admitted.

"That's, that's okay. I may just never be happy again until I find more of that, 'cake.'" The citizen responded.

"Wow, this is a long line just to use a crafting table." Jesse commented.

"Eh, it's always like this. You uh, you sure you don't have any more of that cake?"

"'Fraid not." Jesse responded.

"It's fine. I'm… sure I'll find some other way to fill that void. What, um, what can I do for you?"

Fred stepped in.

"We're looking for the inn, do you have any idea where that could be?" Fred asked.

"Oh, uh, Milo's place? Ha, that guy's hilarious. He's over that-a-way." The citizen pointed out to a building across the other side of the courtyard.

"'Milo,' huh? Thanks." Jesse responded.

"No problem."

Jesse and Fred followed his directions until they came across a building with the sign 'INN' on it. Underneath the sign, a blonde-haired guy with a goatee looked like he was doing a shady deal with a dark-skinned person. Fred assumed the blonde guy was Milo.

"…and where should I put them?" The dark-skinned guy asked, holding out some sticks.

"Yes, just give them here. I'll deal with them." Milo whispered, grabbing them. "Get out of here. Go! Go!"

He pretended to finally notice Jesse and Fred.

"Why, hello there. What can I do for you two?" Milo asked. "I'm not sure what the custom is where you come from, but here, it is considered impolite to stare."

"Uh, hi. Sorry to bother you. Are you 'Milo?' Jesse questioned.

"Yes, yes that's me. A pleasure to meet you." Milo confirmed. "Don't see many new arrivals here in sky city. Now, what can I do for you, friend?"

"Okay, not going to dance around here. Have you seen a bunch of pompous idiots wearing matching jackets?" Fred asked. "Call themselves 'Blaze Rods?'"

"Hmm. 'Blaze Rods'?" Milo responded. "I don't know any Blaze Rods, you must have been misled."

Milo moved to walk back inside.

"I'm sorry, but it's like I told those other outsiders, I can't help you. Now please-"

Lukas, Ivor and Petra rejoined Fred and Jesse.

"Hey, this our guy?" Petra asked.

"He tell you where to find the Blaze Rods?" Ivor questioned.

"How many of you are there? I told you, I don't know anything." Milo panicked.

"He hasn't told you anything yet?" Ivor asked with disbelief.

"Is he hiding them somewhere?" Petra added.

"I am uncomfortable with this line of questioning." Milo stated.

"All right, look. Let me explain." Fred began. "The Blaze Rods are a group lead by someone named 'Aiden.' And if I am not mistaken, they are here to steal something extremely valuable."

"Fine! If it will make you leave me alone, that 'Aiden' fellow DID come talk to me earlier." Milo admitted. "Wanted to know where the Eversource was."

"Called it!" Ivor exclaimed.

"I just told him what everyone else already knows, the Eversource is in the palace with the Founder. That's all I know, I swear." Milo continued.

"What a bunch of creeps!" Petra grumbled.

"Yes, I wasn't terribly fond of them." Milo agreed.

"One more question, where is the Founder? Because we need speak to them before Aiden does." Fred said. "Do you know where he or she is?"

"The Founder resides in the palace." Milo answered. "However, that's also the place where Aiden went after speaking to me."

"Attention! Attention, everyone!" A guard's voice called. "Just a moment of your time, please! Emergency meeting! Attendance is mandatory!"

"Oh, slime blocks." Milo exclaimed, walking toward the courtyard. Fred, Jesse and the others followed.

"Curious, I wonder what that's all about." Ivor wondered.

Guards were all grouped together at the front entrance of a palace. Fred saw a stern looking woman in a yellow dress with green eye shadow step out.

"Oh, it's the founder!" A female citizen said, confirming her as the leader. But there was even more trouble, Aiden was standing next to her.

"I wonder what this is all about." Petra said, not noticing Aiden.

"Yes, I'm nervous being surrounded by so many people." Ivor agreed.

"This might not be as easy as I thought. Look who's standing next to the Founder." Fred commented. It seems Aiden had already turned her against Jesse.

"What are you-? Oh crap." Petra said, noticing Aiden. Aiden was looking directly at Jesse with a smirk on his face.

"People of Sky City!" The Founder began. "I'm sorry to pull you from your duties, but something urgent has come to my attention. A crime has been committed."

The crowd gasped and began murmuring at that.

"Please, please remain calm. Earlier, today, outsiders built a bridge into our fair city from a distant island!" The Founder continued. The gates opened, to reveal the bridge that Fred helped build, with the dirt skull and lava.

"Ivor, you need to learn to control yourself!" Fred growled through gritted teeth, glaring with his Admin form's eyes. If looks could kill, Ivor would have already dropped dead and poofed into white smoke.

"Now, whether these outsiders know it or not, this is a violation of Sky City's most sacred law; No unauthorized building!" The Founder finished.

Milo turned to the group.

"Wait, was that you? Are you the bridge builders?" Milo asked.

"Yes!" Fred snapped. "And I have to say, that law has zero logic in it."

Aiden whispered something in the Founder's ear.

"Jesse! Wherever you are, step forward now!" The Founder instructed. "I have already been informed of your identity. I appreciate that you may be ignorant of our laws, but I will warn you; Sky City is small, and I promise that if you try to hide, I will find you."

Guards began to step forward.

"We need to get to that Eversource at whatever cost!" Ivor reminded. "This is clearly our fastest way into the castle!"

"BY GETTING ARRESTED!?" Petra asked, scandalized.

"Wait! Don't be fooled by the Founder's lies. I can help you come up with a way into the castle!" Milo offered.

"HERE I AM! I BUILT THE BRIDGE!" Ivor bellowed. Jumping up and grabbing the attention of the palace guards. The crowd gasped.

"Are you crazy? Does she look like she's gonna help us?" Petra responded.

"Sorry Ivor, I'm going with Milo." Jesse agreed.

"Me too!" Petra added.

"Quick then. Follow me!" Milo ordered.

"Wait, wait. I'm coming peacefully." Ivor complained.

"Hey, hey! That's them! They're getting away!" Aiden shouted, pointing towards Jesse.

"After them!"

"Jesse, run! Run!" Lukas shouted, before getting tackled by a bunch of guards.

Fred saw Jesse follow Milo and Petra down the alleyway. He took no pleasure in using his powers against other people, but he had to help Jesse get away.

Fred teleported at the entrance to the alleyway, blocking the guards from following Jesse. He was glaring at them full on with his Admin eyes.

"Oh no, you don't!" Fred taunted, jumping up and then bringing his feet crashing down on the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked every guard flying everywhere across the courtyard. He moved to rejoin Jesse.

As Jesse slid underneath two guards, Fred approached them.

"You're coming with us, criminal!" A guard growled, grabbing Fred.

"I beg to differ!" Fred retorted, before disappearing in purple ender particles, leaving two dumbfounded guards scratching their heads, trying to figure out what just happened.

Fred reappeared next to Jesse inside the alcove that he, Petra and Milo were hiding in, completely startling Milo.

"H-How did you-" Milo began.

"Later." Fred interrupted. "Now's not the time."

The guards ran past the alcove, having failed to notice that they were hiding in there. Once Milo saw that the coast was clear, he gestured for Jesse, Petra and Fred to follow. He led them straight back to the Inn that they were just at and led them inside.


Author's Notes: Originally, I was going to have Fred come peacefully, explaining himself and getting the Founder on their side, but I scrapped that for this idea. I wanted to have a little peek at Fred in action, using his powers to help escape the guards.

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