"But do you two really need to work together? Rythian, I don't like that she's just here asking for help all of a sudden."

"Zoey, I wouldn't even have let her live if I didn't need to. I probably would have tried to fight the Queen on my own anyways if it didn't endanger you and the rest of the people here."

"She isn't staying here."

"Of course not. She said she already had a base set up by the portal, so she'll stay there."

"What was all that she was saying about how I'll be helping fight too?" Zoey's concerned expression vanished and her eyes lit up. "Do you guys trust me enough to go help kill the Queen with you?"

Rythian smiled at her sudden excitement. "Well, sort of. Everyone is going to need to help with the fight in some way."

"Everyone? Good luck convincing them."

"If they don't help, the Queen will kill them. I suppose they don't have to help me, but it isn't much of a choice."

"So what am I going to be doing?"

"You, Teep, and maybe Lalna and a few others will be in a mountain nearby, shooting at any Endermen that come from around us."

"I'm a sniper?" Zoey asked. "Don't get me wrong, that's awesome and everything, but can't I be something cooler?"

Rythian sighed. "Zoey, this isn't about you being cool, it's about you being safe. If keeping you safe means keeping you in a sniper position, I'll take it. Besides," he added when he saw her disappointment, "Snipers are great! Think about it, they work in the shadows, being all sneaky, and before you know what's happened—bang! You've already been shot."

Zoey grinned. "I guess that is pretty neat. A sniper it is, then. I'll be the best sniper this Queen's ever seen! Except she won't see me, because, you know, I'll be hiding in the mountain and everything. I'll be the best sniper this Queen's never seen!"

Rythian laughed. "I'm sure you will. Now come on, Terra and I were talking about who needs to help with what, and we need to go talk to the rail brothers."

Rythian and Zoey talked the whole way there, Rythian laughing more than he had in a long time. When they finally arrived at Strippin and Benji's home, they were not surprised to see the pair out front arguing.

"And I'm saying that it needs to go— oh, hey Rythian, Zoey. What're you two doing out here?" Strippin asked.

"We need to talk to you guys. It might take a while," Zoey said.

"Of course. Benji, can you move this box, and we'll go inside?" Rythian's stomach sank at the simple question. Strippin should have been able to lift that crate without a problem. During the fight in Terra's trap, Terra stabbed him in the back with a dagger. Thankfully, it had missed his spine, and with some help healing from Rythian and Lalna, Strippin could still move almost normally. Of course, they could not completely reverse all the damage done, and Strippin could not lift as much or hit as hard as he used to be able to.

Once everyone was together, Rythian decided the best way to ask them would be to tell them exactly what was happening.

"We need your help. The Ender Dragon, my Queen, wants to kill me and everyone here. I have to fight it, and I can't do it on my own."

Strippin looked incredulous, and Benji just laughed. "You're funny, Rythian. A huge dragon is coming to kill us, oh no!" he said sarcastically. "So jokes aside, what did you really need to come talk to us about?"

"Benji, I-"

"This is a joke, right? There's no way you're actually telling the truth right now," Strippin said. Rythian just shook his head. Zoey stayed silent.

"You brought the Ender Dragon here? Well if she only wants to kill you, you could-"

"Benji, if you're about to suggest that Rythian lets himself be killed, I'd stop talking," Zoey said. Benji didn't say another word. "Besides, the Queen isn't just after Rythian, she's after everyone. The only choice we have is to fight together."

"So that's it, then?" Strippin asked. "You just came over here to say 'we're probably all about to die, so you need to help us fight'?"

"Essentially, yes. I'd also need your help with setting up a rail system in a mountain near where we'll be fighting."

"Rails? Now that I can do. But fighting the Ender Dragon? Rythian, don't you think we're in a little over our heads here?" Benji asked. Strippin just looked on, suspicious.

"Unfortunately, you and the others are the best I can manage on short notice."

"Short notice? When, exactly, are we going to be fighting?"

"Soon. Within the year, definitely, but I'm not sure exactly when for now."

There was a pause before Benji spoke. He was trying to sound happy, but it was very obviously forced. "Well, I guess we're in. It'll be easy, Strippin, just watch."

"Well, I wouldn't say it'll be easy, but-"

"So you guys are in?" Zoey cut in. "This is great! Rythian, you can go tell her, and then we can go talk to Lalna."

"Her? Who's 'her'? Strippin asked. "Is Lomadia helping you, too?"

Rythian groaned inwardly. Of course Zoey would accidentally let them know. "Well, I guess you'll be finding out some time. I'm not the only one the Queen wants dead, and Terra is going to-"

"No!" Strippin shouted. "No, Rythian, you can't be serious. If this is your idea of a joke, it's not funny. You saw firsthand what that bitch did to me! She tried to fucking murder us! I'm not doing this. Benji, you aren't either."

Benji hesitated. "Rythian, he's right. We're more likely to die working with her than we are fighting alone."

"Strippin, Benji, it you two would listen to me, I can explain-"

"Rythian, there's nothing to explain! I couldn't lift that box out there because Terra literally stabbed me in the back. If she's going anywhere near the dragon during the fight, I'm not going to help."

"Strippin, your other choice is death! It is quite literally either help Terra and I fight, or stay here and be roasted. If Terra and I don't kill the Queen, She's going to come here and kill all of you. We have a better chance at killing the Queen if we have help. You two are some of the best hand-to-hand fighters I know, and I was hoping you'd help protect us. You'd just be keeping Endermen away from Terra and I while we fight. I won't lie and say it will be easy, because it won't be. But, and I hate to say this, the center of the battle is the safest place for you."

Strippin was silent, arms folded and glaring at Rythian. Benji spoke up for him. "What was it you were saying about rails earlier?"

"There's a mountain near where we'll be fighting. I want to set up little caves higher up in the mountain with an opening outside, so some people can shoot at Endermen or the Queen. I was hoping you two would dig out the caves and run a rail between each one so the people up there can send arrows and supplies between them."

Strippin and Benji glanced at each other. Strippin stood and grabbed Benji's arm, dragging him outside and closing the door behind him. The wall did absolutely nothing to muffle their conversation, however, and Rythian and Zoey could hear everything they said.

"No."

"Strippin, I think-"

"No."

"But what if-"

"No. Benji, I want you to honestly think about what Terra's done. Not just to me, but to everyone here. If you really think helping her is a good idea, she must have slammed your head into the ceiling harder than I thought when she tried to kill you."

"Strippin, I'm not saying we fight, I just think that we should help them with the rails. We'd get out of fighting, and if they win, they can't say we didn't help them. Besides, you're the one that's always complaining about a lack of things to do."

There was a pause, then Strippin barged back in the door, followed by Benji. "I decided," Strippin said, "That Benji and I will help you with the rails in the mountain. But there's no way we're going to help you with the actual battle. We'll leave or something to get away from this queen. We'll stay safe on our own, without helping our attempted murderer fight."

Rythian sighed and stood up, moving for the door. "Alright, I suppose that's better than no help at all. Please, though, at least think about the actual fight."

"Won't need to," Strippin said, moving to let Rythian pass. Zoey followed, and the two began flying back to their own home. Zoey said the only thing spoken on the entire way back.

"So I guess that's a maybe from them then, huh?"