Part 2 of the double update! Enjoy!
When Char gasped back to life, Azure's heart soared. Char was so shocked and immediately pushed himself to a sitting position, and that seemed to confuse him even more.
"Char!" Azure cried. The young hybrid embraced the man. The enderman's potion worked. "You're alive!"
Azure heard Kendra crying from relief and Cinder blessing some god.
"Wait, how?" Char pondered. "I don't feel the corruption at all anymore."
"While you were unconscious, an Enderman teleported and handed me a potion," Azure explained, showing the man the now empty bottle as proof. "My gut told me that this potion wasn't an typical potion of healing, but I knew it would save you. And it did!"
Kendra grabbed the empty bottle and tried to shake a drop out. "What was that potion if it wasn't a potion of healing? Somehow, it cures corruption."
"And why would an Enderman have it?" Char added.
"Life's been weird lately," Azure shrugged. "But who cares?! You're alive and healed!"
Char stood up. He wobbled a bit but he felt refreshed. He sighed. "Well, whoever was responsible, they have my thanks." The man turned to look at the Void.
Azure could tell that the man still felt guilty for living, but he also sensed Char's will, which he took comfort in.
"So, you believe that the Nether bomb destroyed the Overworld?" Azure asked.
"Most likely. Hub Nether designed it and ordered Soren Labs to construct it." Char responded. "And I saw it once before with Victor and I knew it spread corruption. But when it actually exploded, I didn't assume that it was the Nether bomb. I was used to explosions from the war, so it could had been a typical bomb. Plus, it's hard to reason and come to conclusions when the world around you is dying."
"Hmm," Azure noted. "Also, you said you saw the Nether bomb in Soren Lab. But that was on a floating island. If the Nether bomb destroyed the Overworld, it should had been located at the bottom of the Overworld, among the bedrock. That's why it was called the Nether bomb. Could the Soren bomb really be the Nether bomb?"
"It has to. Only that bomb can destroy bedrock, and destroyed bedrock is the cause of the Overworld's demise. I saw it myself when I was in the Nether."
"But...how did the Nether bomb get to the bedrock?"
"I know magic and coding," Kendra replied. "No spell or code can transport a bomb from a floating island in the Overworld to the top of the Nether. Especially if the bomb is carrying the corrupted element."
"If you ask me, those scientists just built a new bomb at the bedrock," Char suggested. "Victor said that the bombs were only prototypes when we faced them."
"Scientists purposefully planted a bomb underground to blow up the bedrock?" Cinder questioned. "...that's evil. Whoever created that bomb has no heart."
"Preach," Azure muttered.
"Look, I hate interrupted," Kendra brought up. "But we're just dragging the same topic. We should get going. Char, didn't you say the documents will help us?"
"Oh!" Azure brought out the document and flipped through the papers.
"Start with the Endstone Moon project," Char advised. "I have a better idea than a revolution against Acid."
"Better?" Azure repeated as he read the "Endstone Moon" document. The hybrid could multitask, listening to Char and reading. Restore the moon? Use the End? Wow.
"I couldn't find any secrets to use against Acid. But it doesn't matter anymore," Char explained, looking at Azure with a hopeful smile. "The Endstone Moon project is the key. We can restore the moon instead. This will give the Overworld a chance to revive itself and for the players to rebuild it."
"Oh, the moon can make the weather stable and stop the raid of meteors!" Azure interjected. "But what about the bedrock and the corruption?"
"Thank Hub Nether. They repaired the bedrock border between the Overworld and the Nether."
"But the corruption?"
"...that I don't know."
Azure muttered under his breath. "Well, I guess the corruption won't be such a huge deal if the death rate decreases in the Overworld."
"Corruption is curable," Cinder blunted. "If the Player End scientists can cure corruption, then I'm sure they can get rid of the corruption in the Overworld once it's safe to return. I don't know. Just suggesting."
"Oh, that reminds me," Char added. "I'm sure that the Endstone Moon project will motivate a change, but not a revolution. If the Overworld is revived, most players in the End will return to the Overworld. Staying in Player End and following Acid's rules will be meaningless. And the End is free for the Endermen again. That's why this is better than a revolution."
Azure understood Char's point. Acid would lose his control over the players if the players know that they could return to the Overworld, a dimension more spacious, brighter, and filled with more resources than Player End. Freedom. No need to fight for it. Just need to create it.
Char yawned. "At this point, I should have died and left the project to your hands. The instructions you need is in the Endstone Moon project and Hysteria's book. But since I'm alive, I'll help in anyway possible. But I'm getting tired now."
"Go rest," Azure ordered. "You deserve it. We'll plan our next move...tomorrow. Or when it feels like tomorrow. There's no clock here."
"Thanks, Azure."
Meanwhile, Azure returned to the documents. Kendra advised him to review the directions on reprogramming the End, to mentally prepare himself. Azure did not mind, since he was curious about how the concept worked anyway. He could not believe it was as simple as plugging a code into a command block. Though, stealing the command block would be tricky. But that was tomorrow's problem.
Azure moved on to the rest of the documents, with Cinder, Flash, and Kendra reading over his shoulders. After completing the "Endstone Moon" project, Azure began reading the "Nether Bomb" project.
Azure flipped the the first page, which greeted him with the cold words "the Nether Bomb" and a subtitle. The subtitle read Vervain. What did that mean?
The next pages were sketches of the bomb and occasional logs. The bomb was gigantic. At least five blocks high, the book claimed. The sketches identified the seven command blocks inside of it. Wow, the Soren Lab created several bombs this size?
When Azure found the first paragraph of text, he read it.
The inner workings of the Nether Bomb imitate the Ender Dragon's bite. However, with my amplified piston pressures and the corrupted element, the force of the Nether Bomb will be amplified to destroy even bedrock.
Azure could not believe that this was propose during Player End and Hub Nether's compromise. How would this benefit either servers?
Wait a minute...
Azure shut the document closed.
"Hey! I was reading that!" Flash snapped.
"I just realized something." Azure returned to the document on the Endstone Moon project.
"What is it?" Kendra asked.
Azure quickly scanned the document and spotted the words: The Endstone Moon project is an Overworld recovery plan, if the foreseen consequences are true. "Recovery," Azure searched for in the document. Finally, he found a convincing paragraph.
This project was created in response to the Nether Bomb, which reports claim to be strong enough to break into bedrock. This may ruin the development of Hub Nether and damage the Overworld. The Endstone Moon project will solve this problem, if the reality becomes true.
"Guys," Azure proposed. "The Endstone Moon project was created in response against the Nether Bomb. But, if the Endstone Moon project was created in response to a pre-existing project, then how could these projects be proposed at the same time during the compromise?"
"What?" Kendra murmured.
"Both of these projects were disclosed at the same time. But for the Endstone Moon project to exist, the Nether Bomb or Soren Bomb should have been disclosed earlier. That way, Player End would know its existence. But, Player End could have only learned about the Nether Bomb during the compromise, and they already came up with the Endstone moon project before they learned about the Nether bomb."
Kendra and Flash exchanged confused looks. Cinder pondered.
"That is weird," Flash commented. "So what do you think this means, Azure?"
Azure looked at the back of the two documents. All books or prints had the date of their publication on the back cover.
The Endstone Moon Project - 3/29/98
The Nether Bomb Project - 5/15/83
"Fifteen years," Flash calculated. "The Nether Bomb project was published fifteen years before the Endstone Moon project was published!"
"Umm, when was the compromise?" Cinder asked. "I don't remember dates."
"Same year that the Endstone Moon project was published," Azure answered. "I think the document was published...nine days before the compromise."
Azure flipped through the Endstone Moon document. He spotted the word "compromise" every now and then. He did the same thing for the Nether Bomb document. However, there was no mention of "compromise."
"Char," Azure called.
Char lifted his head up from the half-slab Endstone he was resting on.
"Are you sure the Nether Bomb was proposed in the compromise? This document didn't mention anything about it?"
"Oh, I actually didn't read the document," the man explained. "I only read the title and the memories came back, and I assumed it was Hub Nether's project. If it's not part of the compromise, I'm sorry for misleading you."
"No, you're fine," Azure replied. "But this is strange. If the Nether Bomb wasn't proposed at the compromise, then why was it in Player Nether's building? What is this really?"
Azure skimmed through the document one more time. He noted that the document's formatting looked distinct from the formatting of the Endstone Moon project's document. He also spotted several "my," "I," and "me"'s throughout the document.
"This document isn't even formal," Azure added. "I think these are just private journal entries from the guy who designed it. Vervain, probably. Who is Vervain, anyway?"
"Someone in Hub Nether's staff?" Flash proposed.
"No, it can't be. There's a chance that this project isn't even involved in the compromise, so probably not involved with Hub Nether," Kendra corrected.
"I studied Hub Nether's history thoroughly," Cinder added. "I know the names of all Hub Nether staff members by heart. Vervain isn't one of them."
"You know, if this project isn't part of the Duo-Dimension compromise, then it's possible that this isn't even Hub Nether's idea," Kendra reasoned. "Hub Nether didn't propose the bomb. It was just a guy named Vervain."
Azure's eyes fell to the first paragraph again. My amplified piston pressures. Piston pressures. Vervain...
"Hmm, something feels familiar about this..." Azure pondered. He handed the documents to Flash. "Don't lose these."
"Wait, what are you planning?" the cat hybrid demanded.
"I'm going back to Player End. To the library. Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it. I just need to clarify something..."
"This is our plan, just in case the Nether Bomb is real and does explode," Admin Hysteria reiterated after her moderator explained the Endstone Moon project. "I believe allies should not keep secrets from each other. You plan involves your dimension, so Player End should be informed. We just ask for your permission to use the biggest island as a moon, if it comes to it."
Acid only blinked in response, but his green eyes showed clear interest. This compromise was going much more smoother than he thought. As long as it was safe, he was willing to permit the Endstone Moon project. Hopefully, Hysteria and Hub Nether would be just as flexible with his project, which Player End had yet to propose. Though, Acid had no worries. He just wanted to harvest the Nether's lava as an energy source. He did not see why Hysteria would deny his part of the deal.
The iron golem rang the bell.
"There will be a short recess."
As Hysteria headed for a drink of water, she was stopped by two players. She noted that they were Eric and Nova, two of her spies. Hysteria felt the awkwardness of having her spies present, when she just said that she did not want secrets and distrust among the two rivals anymore.
"We must talk," Eric urged. There seemed to be panic in the Enderman hybrid's eyes. "We found something this morning."
The admin sighed. "Let's go somewhere more private." She looked over her shoulder, where she saw Acid discussing something with Emmet. Eric and Nova's eyes followed. For some reason, Eric's eyes narrowed when they fell on Emmet.
When the three players retreated into an empty room, Nova presented a book to Hysteria.
"We finished our research on Moderator Emmet," Nova began. The admin's interest peaked. She ordered the two to collect information on Emmet's history. She knew about Acid's accomplishments and past, but nothing about Emmet, and she was curious about how this nobody became one of Player End's most reliable moderators. And now she could learn about Emmet's achievements...
Hysteria called Acid to privately meet her before the intermission ended. The two key admins returned to the meeting room, but the mood between them did not return.
"Why did you summon me?" Acid asked, oblivious about Hysteria's discovery.
"Is your server associated with the Celestial War?"
"No," Acid replied simply. However, Hysteria's bold edge convinced her that this was not his usual blunt nature, but a sign of dishonesty for once.
"Really? I know your old server was conquered by the Catcher Empire. I thought it would make you pick a side and have bias towards the Sky Union and Soren Lab."
"Yes, but a good admin doesn't let personal weakness interfere," the man refuted with a flinch.
"...but a good admin wouldn't endorse a bomb that would end the world," Hysteria finally said. She revealed the document that her spies had presented. "I've been told that the Player End staff created the Nether Bomb, the very same bomb that Hub Nether fears." Hysteria did not want to expose that she sent spies. She had to be vague and not mention Emmet specifically, and she knew Acid would be thrown off to ask questions.
"What?" Acid asked, taking the document and scanning it.
"I'm uncomfortable that Player End is creating a bomb for warfare," Hysteria continued her accusation. Acid did not take his green eyes off the document. "We just wanted your help. But if Player End is responsible for the bomb, I doubt this compromise to save the Overworld means much to you."
"I - "
"The two servers cannot have secrets from each other anymore. You should had mentioned this earlier. I feel like I can't trust you."
"I have nothing to do with this!" Acid asserted.
"But someone in your staff does," Hysteria growled.
Acid took another look at the first page of the document. He sighed it defeat, not bothering to defend his server. He was not denying Player End's connection to the Nether Bomb. How could they enter a compromise with the server that was fearing their bomb? What would they propose?
Well, no matter.
"Unfortunately, I believe the compromise is off."
"Fine," Acid submitted, closing the document and with disappointment. "But you won't get Player End's agreement with your Endstone Moon project. You can't expect the one you fear to be your savior."
Hysteria and Acid skillfully dismissed the meeting without exposing their previous bickering. There was confusion. But after Hysteria explained to her staff, and Acid to his own members, the rivalry between the two servers became even stronger.
Acid still believed that Char was alive, so he still prohibited the players from igniting the Nether portals. However, that did not stop the Golden Pork employees to return to their building. Although they had to wait for a few moments to resume business, they took advantage of the time to repair the building. Even if the Nether portals were reactivated and continued the flow of zombie pigment into the grinders, Golden Pork was not ready to resume production. It turned out Char had damaged some of the redstone circuits during his attack. Food was a huge demand and a daily challenge to satisfy, so the sooner Golden Pork recovered, the better. That was why the workers dedicated themselves to repairing and double-checking the building. Undivided attention so that Golden Pork could go back to business the moment Acid allows the portals to reactivate.
Emmet considered this a blessing. The players were so engrossed with the redstone circuiting and rallying up pigmen escapees, that they did not even notice him sneak into the building, reactivate one of the Nether portals, and slip into the fiery dimension. A few moments later, Emmet returned from the Nether back into the End. He sensed that he was still safe. He stuck a hand back into the portal to gesture the player from the Nether to come out. Tara silently emerged from the Nether portal. Instantly, Emmet deactivated the portal. He flicked a button on his wrist band and the two players teleported from Golden Pork to the central obsidian tower. Acid was not in his office, so the two players were only greeted by an untended command block.
Tara just sighed, unfazed by how she was suddenly transported from the Nether to Acid's office.
"This does not mean I forgive you," she murmured. Emmet did not expect her to change her mind, even though he had rescued her from Player Nether's prison. "Just, what do you want?"
"I'm not asking for forgiveness," Emmet began. "But Char is alive and well. I'm sorry about the trouble Acid has given you."
Tara's tail switched and she took a step back. "But is he still in the Nether?"
"No. He's back in the End. But he'll be in trouble if the staff find him. That's why I need you." The moderator gestured to the command block. "Char received corruption, but I healed him and no one knows that. So everyone assumes he'll eventually die for good from the corruption. You know how to hack into a command block. Please, announce that Char is dead so the staff can stop searching for him. I already removed his name from the tracking system, but a 'death announcement' would ease the most suspicious moderators."
Tara narrowed her eyes at him. Disbelief flickered in them for a moment. Though at the same time, if Emmet was lying, she could not see what harm he was intending. Just so she could have her freedom, Tara approached the command block and typed in a few words.
"Char has been slain by the corruption," the command block announced to the entire server. Emmet felt relief.
"Thank you."
"I don't know what you're gaining from this," Tara said without moving her eyes away from the command block. "I don't believe you're causing more trouble, but why do you care?"
"I never agreed with Acid's plan against Char," Emmet admitted. "I wished that you and the other scientists were able to stop him. So...this is how I'm making up for it. I saved Char. And whatever he does next, I hope he gives Player End what it really needs."
"Hmm." Tara turned to Emmet. Her ears twitched with annoyance. Even though Emmet disagreed with Acid, what happened in Portal Lab still felt like a betrayal. She brought her left hand to her right wrist.
"I'll convince the staff to free you and the other scientists from prison," Emmet added. "To them, Char is in the past now. So your crime will be forgotten. Plus, the scientists need you to help move Portal Lab."
"What do you mean?"
"Portal Lab is at a halt. The portal was destroyed."
Tara paused. "Wait, destroyed?! How?"
"Acid. The lab will be moved to an entirely different island. You can expand the lab there...after I kill the ruling dragon," Emmet looked away. For a moment, his heart, freed by the relief, was constricted by the dread of spilling blood. He felt like the walls of this tower were closing in. He almost did not hear Tara's response.
"Oh..." Tara whispered, looking down to the floor as well. Her ears flatten with pity. "I'm sorry. I know you don't like killing."
Emmet did not respond.
Tara was still upset, but she knew that she was the most understanding too Emmet, compared to the other staff members, so she could not leave his anxiety unattended. It was easy for the cat hybrid to sense his emotions somehow. She sympathized him as if he was one of her hybrid patients. That was why she had found it easy to trust him. And why his betrayal hurt her.
Tara sighed, "Anyways, what are you going to do now?"
"Just kill the dragon...I'll get over it eventually."
"You know, if you're truly sorry, you need to find a way to change things," Tara told him. "And I don't mean keep proposing ideas to Acid. You need to make an impact. Like saving people like Char. And stepping up."
Emmet sighed. The mention of Char caused him to look through the tower's window, wondering what the blaze hybrid was doing now. Tara detected that Emmet genuinely cared for Char. That was impressive. She had barely seen the two talk to each other. Emmet barely sympathizes with any player, but Char was an exception. Emmet cared for Char and appreciated his support, and those rare times when they did speak to each other were meaningful to Emmet one way or another. Escorting him. Explaining the central tower to him. His guilt for betraying Char was genuine.
Tara sighed. "Anyways, I'm going to the Portal Lab. Or what's left of it. Good luck with the dragon, Emmet."
"Take care."
Tara exited the tower and arrived at the Lab. Some scientists were surprised and crowded her with questions, but Tara had to bat them away. She wasted all of her energy by talking with Emmet, so she could not afford reuniting with her co-workers, sadly. She squeezed from the crowd and retreated to her office, where she finally collapsed. The cat hybrid rolled up her right sleeve, revealing the effects on her hand and wrist. The veins inside her wrist were turning dark. Being in the Nether's corrupted atmosphere, plus Char damaging Player Nether's system, proved to be too negative on Tara's sensitive body. She had been affected by the corruption. She had to work fast to prepare a treatment for herself, the same way she had healed Char from his corruption when he arrived.
Azure believe he finally knew what a full Enderman felt like - teleporting to a scene briefly, grabbing a block or two, and disappearing. Well, partially, at least. Azure could only teleport to the Player End Library with the moderator wrist band. Rather than an entire block, Azure quickly scanned the bookshelves and fished out a few certain books. It was easy for him, since he was well acquainted with this library. Though like a full Enderman, one only had to blink and Azure disappeared.
The hybrid arrived back to the outer islands by Kendra's side.
"Wow, that was fast," Kendra awed.
"Told you," Azure shrugged. "Anyways, here were some books that may help us. One about Soren Lab. One about bombs."
Flash took the book on Soren Labs and observed the cover. Dusty and old as any other book. "What if these books don't have the information we want?"
"Oh, we can just teleport back to the library and find another book about the subject, I guess," Azure assured.
"And...if we find nothing at all?" Kendra suggested.
"Well, we'll find a way when that does happen."
Azure heard the gurgle of an Enderman. He turned and saw the tall creature approach the players with curiosity. Flash and Kendra turned away, but Azure had no need for that.
"You're the one who keeps interviewing us." The mob recognized.
"Yeeaaaah," Azure replied. "But I'm not ready to interview anymore of you. But I'll get back to it after this."
The mob nodded and teleported away. Without the tall creature in the way, Azure could see that Char was sitting at the edge of the island, observing the shades of purple in the atmosphere. Cinder had joined Char, asking him questions about being a blaze hybrid and what the corrupted Nether was like. Well, at least socializing with someone would give Char a sense of normalcy, so Azure did not call Cinder. Plus, he knew Cinder was dying to learn more about the Nether.
Azure just reflected about the Endermen. He was supposed to expose the traitor to learn more about Player End's hidden history. But, with the discovery of the Endstone moon project, was the traitor even a valuable asset anymore?
"Umm, Azure." The boy turned to Flash, who was searching the index of her book. "Wouldn't it had been easier if you just found a book about Vervain? Like their biography?"
"There's no book on Vervain," Azure said. "If there was, I would know who they are and wouldn't have to go to the library"
"Oh, that's true." Flash closed the book. "But anyways, these books may not help. I just looked through this index twice. No mention about bombs, Player End, nor Hub Nether." The book about Soren Lab had no hints at all. However, Flash understood why. The bomb was probably still a secret when the book was published. Or, maybe the book was published even before Soren Lab started the bomb's construction.
Flash checked the book's publication date. "When was the Nether Bomb document printed?"
"'83."
"Then this book won't help at all. This one was published on '81."
"Darn it. Then let's go through this book, at least." Azure opened up the book about bomb. "Let's see...Nether bomb...Nether bomb...wait, I found it!"
"You found it?" Kendra repeated.
Azure flipped to the indicated page number. It was its own chapter. It was a short chapter, but it was there. The name in bold. A sketch at the corner. The Nether bomb existed. Azure turned to the back page. This book about bombs was published on '86. That was still before the compromise between Player End and Hub Nether.
"I knew it," Azure concluded. "The Nether bomb was an old creation."
"Yeah, we established that," Kendra added. "And yeah, that basically means it wasn't supposed to be part of the compromise. But what else? Why was it in Player Nether? How did it even get involved into this mess?"
"Yeah," Flash agreed. "Even if Hub Nether did create the Nether Bomb before, they have no reason to show it during the compromise. Proposing to create a bomb like that...would not go so well."
"So why? Why is the bomb involved with Hub Nether?" Azure pondered. "And also, why was it built in Soren Labs, and suddenly moved to the bedrock layer?"
The three were perplexed by all of these questions.
"Ok, ok," Flash asserted. "We should focus on the most important thing: the compromise. It's obvious that the Nether Bomb was the reason why the compromise failed. But what if...it wasn't meant to be presented in the compromise. What if it was revealed by accident?"
"Accident?" Azure baffled. "No secrets can be revealed that clumsil...wait, I think that's possible. Hub Nether had spies! My father was one! And maybe Player End had some too. Player End must had found information about the bomb and thought it was Hub Nether's project. That could be the reason why the compromise broke."
"...what makes you so sure that it's Player End who exposed the Nether bomb?" Kendra asked.
"Well, the Nether bomb's associated with Hub Nether, according to Char," Azure replied. "So only Player End spies can expose the information."
"But...there's a chance that it's not. Char never actually read the documents."
"...hmm." With that, Azure picked up the Endstone Moon project's document and scanned the pages one more time. When he spotted the words "proposed by Hub Nether," he paused. "Oh, I'm an idiot. Hub Nether already proposed something. They proposed the Endstone Moon project, not Player End. That would make sense. So if they already proposed something, then Hub Nether probably assumed the Nether bomb was Player End's idea."
"It's the other way around?!" Flash said.
"Apparently. Which means Hub Nether's spies blamed Player End." Azure shrugged. "So we'll never know what Player End's part of the compromise really was. Never the less, it doesn't change the fact that the Nether bomb wasn't suppose to be disclosed at that compromise."
"Ok, I believe that Hub Nether could have discovered the bomb on their own," Kendra said. "But, how can they jump to conclusions to that? Why did they pin the blame on Player End?"
Azure, lost for an answer, looked into the book, hoping for an answer.
"The Nether Bomb is one of the most deadliest bombs in Minecraft's history, surpassing the damage of Soren the Architect's Formidibomb. In theory, at least, as the bomb has not been crafted yet. Its current status is unknown.
"The Nether Bomb is designed by Dr. Emmet Vervain," Azure gasped. His heart leaped. He was almost too excited to continue reading. "Vervain has also developed piston pressurizers that transform coal into diamonds. However, he is a declared Netherist and many of his inventions are more sadistic than helpful. It is unknown how Dr. Vervain got separated by his blueprints. On 2183, he has been killed by his own experiment on Ender crystals. So it is possible that his blueprints were lost when he died."
The hybrid looked up. Kendra and Flash's eyes were wide in surprise and the two exchanged glances.
"Oh my Notch," Flash gasped.
"Ok ok," Azure blurted out. "If Hub Nether accused Player End for designing the Nether Bomb, I don't blame them. The inventor of the Nether Bomb is Emmet, or at least a player who shares him name. They must had ordered spies to learn more about Emmet, but they learned about Vervain instead and discovered the bomb."
"Well, it's definitely someone who shares his name. Because Vervain's dead. Emmet's not dead," Flash muttered. "But, it's stupid that Hub Nether accused Emmet of being the bomb's inventor. The staff has the power to analyze and track player's code. Vervain and Emmet's code should be different. They have no excuse."
"You're right. They should have known that our Emmet is not Vervain." Azure reread the one part. Dr. Vervain has been killed by his own experiment on Ender crystals. Enter crystal experiments...he swore he had read that before. In fact, he read it recently! In his father's logs. "Emmet's code should be different from Vervain's...unless." Azure's mind returned to the Ender crystal experiment.
Azure gasped and he dropped the book. He took a few steps back and tried to breath. "Oh my god...Oh my god."
"Azure!" Flash cried, grabbing Azure's arm and shoulder so that he would not fall or stumble. "Are you ok?"
"Guys, I think...I think - "
Azure's wrist buzzed. He peered down at the wrist band. There was an alert.
"Attention Moderators: Moderator Emmet will kill an Ender Dragon tomorrow. FYI. Do not worry about his disappearance from the main island."
"Kill?" Flash said when she read her wrist band.
"Guys," Cinder called. She approached them. She had read her wrist band. "Did you hear about this?"
"I can't believe that's actually happening," Kendra murmured. "I know Emmet barely kills."
"...Guys," Azure began. He looked up with a serious expression. "We have to stop Emmet from killing the dragon. I need to talk to him..."
They returned to the End two days after the meeting with Hub Nether. In its beta version, Player End only presented the Portal Lab and the central tower. The staff had yet to hallow out the other towers, chase out all of the Endermen, and to build Golden Pork.
Acid and Emmet entered the admin's office. Acid approached the desk and hit a fist down in anger.
"Damn it," Acid muttered. He and Emmet have confronted Dr. Vervain before. They did not expect that his history would interfere. But alas, it did and it turned out to be a huge risk. Acid was hoping for cooperation with a competent server. But he was alone...again.
Emmet walk to his side. "I'm sorry." His assistant lowered his head in shame. "I should have -"
"No, it's not your fault," Acid replied. "You had no choice. Taking Vervain's identity was your only option."
"But still, I made a burden for you."
"No. Hub Nether did. Why can't Hysteria trust me?" Acid sighed and looked through the window. "Why did she send spies after you?"
"Well, if an admin was seen working with a sadistic Netherist scientist, of course she would distrust you," Emmet sassed. But he realized that he should not call out Acid's nearsightedness. "Well...I'm frustrated that Vervain was brought back. I hate him."
"I hate him too."
"I hate him almost as much as her. What that ender crystal experiment did to him, he deserved it."
Acid sighed. "Anyway, go check in with Agate. I need a moment to myself."
"Yes, Acid."
When Emmet went downstairs, Acid returned to the desk. Acid took the file out of his inventory and set it down. He flipped to that one sketch of the Nether bomb. He had kept the document Hysteria showed him. She never asked for it back.
The bomb was a lot bigger than he originally imagined. Though, technology had advanced a lot ever since Vervain's passing, thanks for the ambitious Celestial War. Acid narrowed his eyes and he studied the design. He could not help but comment of the inefficient use of resources and space. He knew someone who could redesign this much better.
The staff did not mind how Emmet never killed Ender dragons. In fact, they preferred it that way. No deaths meant no portals and Ender dragons eggs to spawn, and everyone hated how it took hours to deconstruct the portals.
But this time, the staff did not respond with dread about the deconstruction, but concern. Emmet suddenly had to kill. He just preached about keeping Endermen alive. Why this sudden change? They knew that a new portal had to be spawned, but was Emmet OK with this?
"It's today, huh?" One female moderator said. "I can't believe it was only yesterday when Acid announced that Emmet will kill the dragon."
"I wonder if Emmet's OK with it," Ink commented with her mother. She handed her mother a slice of toast. Ink was still upset that Emmet prohibited the Cobblestones from helping the Endermen. But Ink just wanted to do something humane, just like how Emmet wanted to spare the dragon. Ink could not help but sympathize for the moderator.
"I have no idea," the moderator said to her daughter. "I haven't seen him all day. Well, he's usually gone all day when he has to fight a dragon." The moderators just assume that Emmet was travelling to the new island. Though, they did not know why he had to leave so early. They just assumed that a command block would teleport him to each new island. But no, apparently, he had to travel for hours to arrive.
The scientists were just as concerned as the moderators. Well, except one scientist.
"Ugh, damnit," Tara muttered as she got up to her feet again. She had only exited her office once, and that was when she had to scrap through the auction house for ingredients. Finally, she had brewed a potion that was able to heal her corruption. But, like when she treated Char, it was not an immediate impact. She had to rest. Tara fell to her desk chair, looked to the ceiling, and took a deep breath.
She resisted the urge to scratch her arms. The corruption had traveled to almost all of her body, but at least it would not affect anything further now that she had drank the potion. Her veins were still dark and she still felt weak.
She just had to rest and wait for the potion to erase all of the corruption. She knew that she would be fine. But she would only be ok once the healing process ends. She was still dying.
"Just rest, just rest," Tara muttered, placing her arms on the desk and tucking her face in them. "Just rest..."
Acid paced around his office, making occasional glances to the stuffed Ender dragon princess. Once Emmet notified him that he had arrived to the new End island, Acid would teleport there. Acid was the only staff member who sees Emmet fight the dragon. The admin was protected, but he did not have to join Emmet's fight. He was only there just in case something when out of control. Acid had always been Emmet's last minute protector. That was how they met, after all. And that was the basic of their cooperation to this very day.
Acid could not stop imagining the defeat of this dragon. It was not because he was fascinating about expanding Player End. But slaying the dragon would highlight Emmet's loyalty to the admin. Acid wanted to feel that security again, especially after these recent days.
He also knew that Emmet would prove his loyalty to him eventually. Acid was looking forward to it without any dread at all.
"Good news! I negotiated with an enderman!" Azure announced to his team. "It agreed that it'll find Emmet and the dragon. And once it does, we can teleport to that island to stop him."
Char overheard this. The man was still overseeing the Void at the edge of the outer island. He knew could kill dragons, but it was strange to know that Emmet could possibly be fighting one right now.
Would he actually do it? No, Char did not doubt Emmet's strength. But...would Emmet make the choice to kill it? Char would not put this much thought if Emmet had not let him free back at Golden Pork. Ugh, just remembering Nethergators and the trap made Char's muscles tense. The vengeful anger Char felt at Golden Pork was still fresh in his mind. He hated Emmet, but the man confused him. The man tricked him, yet he spared him. Why?
"Char?"
The man looked over his shoulder to see the enderman hybrid approach him.
"I want you to come with us to the fight," Azure requested. "Like, it's important that everyone comes."
"Well, I have nothing else to do. You're free to teleport me wherever you want." Char turned back to the Void. "So, you plan to stop Emmet from killing the dragon?"
"Yup," Azure said. "One of our goals was saving the dragons and the endermen, remember? For some reason, I want to make sure no blood spills at all until we achieve that goal. No dragon killed. I want all remaining dragons to have a sense of freedom. All of them."
"You know, I have a feeling he won't actually kill the dragon," Char finally admitted. "Azure, Emmet isn't bad. He spared me when he could have sent the mods after me. And like I said before, he has some good ideas and a good heart."
"...I'm giving Emmet the benefit of the doubt this time," Azure said. "Because I really need to speak to him."
"Speak to him about what?"
"You'll see." Azure joined Char's side to view the Void. Azure trusted Char's belief in Emmet, but the boy knew that Char had barely seen the truth of the moderator.
Azure's heart was racing. He would take a huge risk when he encountered Emmet. But he knew it was necessary. Player End's secrets had to end.
Azure sensed an enderman teleporting. He whirled around and the enderman seemed out of breath and yet alert.
"Speaker! We located Emmet. He is fighting one of the dragons. Half health."
Azure gasped. "Oh my Notch? Thank you so much!" He tossed three pieces of meat to the creature. But the creature did not pounce at them, too shocked at the sight of its dragon being hurt. Though the creature seemed unusually shocked. More traumatized than an average enderman spectator, as it was normal for endermen to watch boss fights.
"The admin is also with them." The creature added. "Teleport to him instead."
Azure raised an eyebrow. That was an odd addition. But if the Enderman felt it was necessary, then Azure took the advice.
The three girls joined Azure and Char. Azure looked at all four players.
"Char, I'll teleport you the moment I get there. But everyone else, teleport to Acid. Ready?"
Flash and Kendra nodded. Cinder firmed her grip on her axe in agreement.
"Alright guys," Azure began. "On three. One...two...three!"
Acid was just spectating the scene at the edge of the island. The Ender dragon had just collapsed to the Endstone ground. The impact of the dragon's fall was enough to send a gust of air to brush Acid's hair. There were Endermen spectating, and they were all crying in dismay.
Acid was pleased that Emmet had fought well. Though, his face remained unflinched, as he was waiting for his moderator to actually kill the beast.
But then the admin sensed four shadows surround him.
"Wait, what?" Acid whirled around at the four players that suddenly teleported behind him. How did players so young get access to teleportation? "How did - "
Azure quickly teleported Char to the island. And before anyone could even react, the blaze hybrid immediately punched Acid's face. Acid collapsed to the ground. He was about to stand up, but Char chucked a potion of unconsciousness at the admin. Acid fell, not even an arm twitching.
"That's for Madeline and Felix," Char hissed. The memory of the two innocent pigmen hybrids flashed in Char's mind.
"I didn't tell you to do this," Azure commented. "But that works. Where did you get that potion?"
"I gave him it," Cinder admitted. "I just wanted to see what he would do with it."
"Acid!" A voice cried. When Azure heard the voice, a familiar shudder raced through him. But he forced that feeling down and faced Emmet.
The moderator was right by the Ender dragon, which was limp on the floor. The dragon's purple eyes twitched to show signs of consciousness, but it was weak to move without any crystals regenerating its health. Emmet had the dragon's head and neck locked in his arm. His free hand pointed a sword to the dragon's neck. Emmet's wide blue eyes locked with Azure's, and it nearly made Azure panic.
Emmet recognized each player. They were the kids from that Cobblestone team. And he had seen that enderman hybrid before. Then Emmet noticed Char over Acid's limp body. When Char glared at Emmet, the moderator flinched. Emmet's body heated, but he shook that feeling away.
"How did you get here? I thought you were hiding?" Emmet demanded.
Azure's mind was numb. He did not know how to approach the moderator that he had always feared.
"Answer me!" The moderator hissed. "Answer me and maybe your punishment will be lighter. I'm sure harming an admin is a serious crime."
"Not if said admin has killed two players and almost me," Char muttered.
Azure felt awkward. He turned his eyes away from Emmet and to the dragon locked in his arms. Ah, Azure figured out what to say!
"You don't need to be like that," Azure started. "Acid's unconscious for a few minutes. Set the dragon free."
Emmet blinked. He looked down and slowly set the sword down, pondering on Azure's words. Even the weak dragon's eyes looked up at Emmet, purple eyes glowing with hope and plead.
"Come on. You know you want to," Azure urged.
"...I can't." Emmet suddenly tightened his grip on the dragon. The dragon grunted in pain. "Acid...Acid will have my head for that. I have to finish the job."
"Why do you listen to Acid?"
Emmet looked up again. His blue eyes were mixed of conflict and fear. The hand with the sword began to shake. "This is just how it works. I know that if I disobey this one task, it's over for me."
"What's over?"
"Everything. I've survived this long by helping Acid. Without him, I have no where else to go. Well..."
Emmet cursed under his breath. Why did a player suddenly appear and sway him like this? Why now? No, Emmet could not work on these conditions. He would just have to eliminate that hybrid first, when return to the dragon.
Emmet roughly set the dragon's head down, which awarded him from a cough from the boss mob.
"You need to get off the island!" The moderator declared. He started to approach and prepared to ban the hybrid.
Azure yelped and searched through his own moderator band. He did not want to ban Emmet, but what else could he do?
"No!" Flash hissed. The cat hybrid chucked a potion of unconsciousness at the moderator and the bottle shattered at Emmet's face. Emmet shut his eyes and took a few step backs with a hiss. The bubbles scattered, but the moderator did not collapse. Emmet simply rubbed his forehead before looking up.
"Seriously?" The moderator deadpanned, glaring at Flash.
Flash gasped and her tail flinched. "But...how?"
Cinder and Kendra took a step back in surprise, as if Emmet was some unnatural monster read to attack. Char rubbed his chin, intrigued by how the potion was ineffective. But for Azure, it was an opportunity to change the topic.
"I know why the potion didn't affect you. You're not really a player."
Emmet raised an eyebrow in response. His blue eyes were suddenly cleared with an aura of intrigue.
"Azure, what are you saying?" Flash asked in concerned. Azure sensed that Cinder and the other players were lost as well.
Behind Emmet, the weak Ender Dragon pushed itself onto its feet. Emmet immediately pointed his sword at the dragon, which scared it back down. Without lowering the sword, Emmet turned back to Azure.
"Continue," he encouraged.
"I'll just spill it out," Azure explained. "I know abut the Nether bomb and that it was created by Emmet Vervain. Hub Nether accused Player End of being associated with the bomb because Vervain was part of their staff. But it can't be because Vervain is dead. No one in Player End designed the Nether bomb because you're not the real Emmet. You only took his identity, and I assume his appearance too."
"Emmet" did not move. The shine in his eyes did not renew either. Azure knew that the moderator understood every word he was saying like common knowledge. And Azure hoped that the other players were following.
"Well, you have to take his appearance. Because you're not actually a human. Not even a hybrid. You've only disguised yourself as a player," Azure continued. "You're a dragon. An Ender dragon. And that means that you're the traitor that the Endermen keep talking about."
There was only silence.
Finally, Emmet shrugged. "Well finally, someone figured it out!" The moderator turned to the weakened dragon. He stared at it for a while. Finally, the moderator sighed and set his sword down.
"Go," Emmet commanded. The dragon blinked in surprise but wasted to time to stand up. It flapped its wings for a test, then limped to the edge of the island before flying off. All players' eyes followed the dragon slowly levitating up before fleeing out of sight. Awe at Emmet's mercy transformed into relief. The spectating Endermen cheered. Some teleported away, but some remained, curious about the players and the moderator.
The moderator turned to the five players. "Give another potion of unconscious to Acid."
Flash, brushing off her confusion, agreed. She chucked another potion at Acid. No response at all from the admin.
"That's the last potion, I believe," Flash warned.
"No worries, we'll make most of the time," Emmet said. "Now, Azure, how did you figure it out?"
"Yeah, how did you?" Flash repeated. "Or are you crazy and he's just playing along?"
Char added, "What do you mean by he's a dragon. He looks nothing like a dragon."
"I know that the real Vervain was killed by an ender crystal experiment," Azure began. "My father's log explained that experiment. Vervain wasn't just experimenting with crystals. He attempted to transform a crystal to harm, instead of heal, a dragon, and he used a certain dragon as the test subject. It wasn't successful, but I know that the aftermath was...the dragon and Vervain switched code."
"Switched code?" Kendra repeated. "Switching code hasn't been used ever since the earliest hybrid experiments."
"So...is that dragon Emmet?" Char assumed.
"Yes," Azure replied. "Somehow, switching code killed Vervain. The dragon survived, but it then took the form of Vervain. And that's you, Emmet."
"Hmm, it took forever until I finally reversed the effect and figured out how to switch to both forms," Emmet added. "But ever since, I had to take Vervain's name. Vervain's code is in me, so any server would only recognize me as him."
So, despite being two different entities, Vervain and Emmet shared the same code. That was why Hub Nether spies mistaken Emmet as the evil scientist.
"Really? You're actually a dragon?" Kendra asked. "...I still can't believe it. Because well, you're a human!"
"Not full human," Emmet corrected, approaching the five players. Azure flinched at a sudden revulsion, but resisted trying to jump back in fear. "Vervain didn't transform into a full dragon before he died. So, my form still has some dragon DNA. It has its perk. I don't feel the cold in this dimension, for instance. Oh, and Char." The moderator turned to the blaze hybrid. "I gave you that potion that healed the corruption."
Char blinked, perplexed.
"Only a dragon can handle an ender crystal. So I used that advantage to extract a potion from the Queen's crystal. When I could not find you, I asked an Enderman to deliver it for you."
"...you saved my life," Char breathed. "I...I...thank you."
"You can talk to Endermen too?" Azure asked.
"A dragon can speak to any mob."
"...woah," Cinder awed. "Oh my."
"Plus, Ender Crystals are the only way I can heal," Emmet added. "Unfortunately, potion effects don't apply to me because of my strange code. That's why throwing the potion of unconscious only gave me a few scratches."
"Ok, I'm kind of convinced," Kendra started. "But a while back, you said 'switch to both forms.' What does that mean?"
"I managed to reverse Vervain's experiment to an extent after trial and error. I retained my dragon form," Emmet said. "But as you can see, I'm sort of a shapeshifter. I can transform between my dragon self, and this human-dragon mix."
"Do you transform into your dragon form?" Flash asked. "Because I've never seen a dragon in Player End. So that must mean you don't transform."
"You just don't see me in that form," Emmet emphasized. "You've never seen my room, but it's a vast and empty chamber. It's big enough for a dragon to rest in. But I don't just transform in there. When I have to find another dragon's island, or head to the outer islands, I shift into my true self and fly there."
Kendra gasped. Cinder, eyes wide, exchanged looks with the girl. Their eyes both expressed the same idea. "When we were giving out cobblestone on the outer islands, you flew to the outer islands to find us!"
"So that dragon we heard and saw...was actually you?!"
"So that's how you arrive to the islands that the other moderators can't teleport too."
"So, are you all convinced now?" Emmet asked.
"...I can't deny it," Char awed. The man could not look away from Emmet.
"Yeah, that's basically it," Flash agreed. Cinder and Kendra nodded.
"Told you guys," Azure chuckled.
"How did you figure it out so fast?"
"I didn't believe it at first when I figured it out. But one feeling convinced me that it was true," Azure began. "I always hated Emmet because he felt different. Whenever I saw him, I just felt revolution and fear. I thought I just hated him. But no. Endermen hybrid have the ability to sense other entity's presence and emotions. But, Endermen naturally fear dragons. And my parents and I inherited that behavior, causing us to fear Emmet. Because Emmet is a dragon."
"Ugh..."
Azure turned to Acid, who pushed himself up with weak arms. The admin rubbed his head and breathed a final hiss of pain.
"Emmet," Acid said, looking behind all the players. "Did you let the dragon free? Why did you disobey my orders again?"
Azure turned back to the mob. Emmet's previously bold mood vanished. The moderator nearly stumbled back. Emmet broke eye contact and rubbed his arm.
"Emmet..." Acid demanded.
Emmet sighed, "It doesn't matter anymore. You have a more serious dilemma: they found out about me."
Acid gasped. He looked at all of the players.
"You know that he's a dragon?" Flash asked. "And that he's not really Emmet Vervain?"
"Of course I always knew that," Acid replied, crossing his arms. "Why else would I send only him to fight a dragon? I hate wasting weapons and armor to fight dragons. But a dragon fighting another dragon would be a quick task. Even the best warriors can't slay a dragon as fast as him."
"You fight all of the dragons in your dragon form?" Azure asked Emmet. The moderator modded. "...that's actually kinda cool. I'm curious."
"All dragons?" Cinder repeated. "You fought all dragons when Player End had to expand."
"All of them," Acid answered for her. "Whenever we had to get a new island, he would fight the dragon who owned it. That was the deal he agreed to the moment he killed the Queen."
"The Queen too..." Azure echoed. "And I know that there's a traitor of the Enders who helped Player End slay the Queen. So it all makes sense. Emmet, the one who's a dragon and the one who killed the Queen, is the traitor. And that's Player End's secret."
"He's the traitor?" Char queried. The man approached the moderator. "If it's true, why did you betray the Queen?
Emmet scoffed, "To be fair, I never liked the Queen. How can I betray someone that I hate? But anyways, I hate the Queen because she exiled me for no good reason. She was a paranoid dictator and exiled or executed several dragons. That was how Dr. Vervain captured me and experimented on me. She ruined my life."
Azure could not blame the moderator for seeking vengeance. That was impressive, considering that hours ago, Azure could not sympathize with Emmet at all and hated everything about him.
"Wow, what a history," Kendra breathed. "I can't believe it. An experimented and vengeful dragon...being the foundation of Player End."
"Em," Acid began. "This is a great discussion. But I've warned you before. You backed down on my request the second time!"
Emmet sighed. "I'm sorry Acid. I couldn't. Like the players said, I'm a dragon. I'm sick of killing my own kin. They don't deserve it."
"And the players don't deserve your selfishness."
"I care about the players too!" Emmet insisted, taking a step forward. "They're all fascinating and I'm impressed by their ability to adapt to the End. I know they can also adapt to live alongside dragons and Endermen. That's why I choose mercy."
"I didn't make you chose mercy!" Acid emphasized. The admin brushed through the other players to face Emmet. He pointed a finger at the dragon-in-disguise. "You wanted to make the End pay."
"That was before!"
Acid glared at the moderator. His other hand formed into a fist and Acid's disappointed frown was shifting into a growl. Azure grouped with Char and Flash. He knew that this would not end well.
"I...I can't believe you. You were my last ally...I never thought this day would ever come to be."
"If that's what you chose to believe, then I guess it is so," Emmet replied. "I guess I did betray you. What are you going to do now, without me at your side?"
Acid took a step back. His breathing increased slightly. Emmet was right. Acid had no chance of expanding Player End without him.
"No...no no no." Acid brought a hand to his temple. He shut his green eyes and paced. "I can't...I'm...I'm all alone now."
Acid flinched and gritted his teeth. He paused. He forced his eyes open to look at the specks of the Void. Was he deep in a thought? Well...even he did not know.
"...so be it." Without turning to his enemies, Acid pressed a few buttons on his wrist band.
"Moderator Emmet has been demoted," the server announced. Azure's wrist band buzzed with clarification. The enderman hybrid turned to Emmet. The ex-moderator raised his arm in inspection, seeing the wrist band vanish in thin air.
"Moderator Agate has been demoted." "Moderator Seven has been demoted." "Moderator Mys has been demoted."
Azure felt a tickle. He eyed his own arm and the wrist band also disappeared from existence. He turned and saw that Flash and Cinder's wrist bands also vanished.
"Aw, crap," Cinder whispered. The lost of the wrist bands was a major cripple to the team.
"And if you distracted me with your secret, might as well go one hundred percent on the act." Acid whirled around. There was suddenly a command block with a button in his hand. Aiming the command block at Emmet, Acid pressed the button. The command block shot a beam similar to the Ender crystal's beam.
Emmet cried when the beam penetrated into his chest. The "human" collapsed, curling his body in pain.
"Aaaah! Aaaah!"
"And you say you care about players," Acid brought up with no emotion. He placed the command block into his inventory. "Then you can only blame yourself for their fate." With a push of a function on his wrist band, Acid teleported away.
"Aaaah! Aaaah!"
Azure turned to Emmet and could not take off his eyes off the ex-moderator's skin darkening and the claws growing from his hands. And Azure wanted to turn away in pain. He heard the spectating Endermen screeching. The sudden wave of an Ender dragon's aura was strangling them, and Azure felt it exactly.
"The traitor! He's the traitor!" The Endermen all realized.
Azure never felt the full presence of the Ender dragon. Ugh, the urge to bow down in fear was driving him crazy. But his human awe muffled it, keeping him instead paralyzed. All he could do was stare at Emmet in pain. He could not even make a sound. Among the Endermen screeching and Emmet's cries, he could here Cinder's panic and Kendra's heavy breathing. Even the whirls of Char's blaze rods, a defensive sound.
Acid somehow imitated Vervain's Ender Crystal experiment in that command block. He forced Emmet to transform into a dragon.
*HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF* At long last. After eleven months, I finally reveal the plot twist I was most excited for.
Man, my Ender dragon OC has been living a lie for nearly a year now. Can you believe that? And I haven't even revealed his true form yet. That's for next chapter.
What do you guys think about this plot twist? Was it well done? Or pulled out of the blue and/or confusing? Please let me know, so I don't repeat the same mistakes on huge plot twists again. And what do you think about these chapters in general?
Once again, I'm really really sorry for the late update. I do not know when the next update will be. But the fanfic is so close to being finished! A few more chapters to go. There will still be more plot twists and excitement to look forward to!
Reviews are appreciated! Take care!