Goldy slipped past the walls of the Nether Fortress, lowering to the lava as her heart hammered. She wasn't allowed to leave the kingdom's fortress without her father's permission, even though her father's boundary line extended beyond that. There was just something about exciting about being rebellious. A sense of freedom, a thrilling façade performed behind her father's back.
Her golden blaze body helped her to blend in with the churning lava as she silently shot over it. The lava didn't do much, other than bubble, glow, and act like an heavier version of the aquatic ocean. The heat breezed around Goldy, but the searing temperature didn't bother the blaze at all. Blazes were adapted for the extreme heats of the Nether, similar to how Endermen felt more comfortable in the colder climate of the End.
After flying over the lava for five minutes or so, she approached the end of the lava sea. There were a large overhanging cave with a small tunnel leading out of the Kingdom's territory. Goldy settled onto the shore, looking over her shoulders to see if anybody were around. Nothing but a small magma cube napping by the lava.
Goldy transformed into her human form, her shoes pressing firm against the netherracks. She stretched her arms towards the ceiling, looking at the bloodstain on the back of her hand. Goldy sighed, using the same hand to touch the scratch on her cheek. "Stupid father..."
Goldy growled as she shook her head, looking towards the wall. She paused, seeing the wall shiver with magic. Only she and her father could see the magic because she was under his spell.
She held her breath as she approached the magic. When she was close enough, she hesitated before reaching an arm out. She was testing her father's magical boundary. The pearl on her forehead started to glow in warning. Suddenly, it flashed, making a cracking sound that the fires makes as it breaks apart the fuel.
Goldy's hand darted back to her body as she hissed and fell. She crouched, panting as she held her burning hand to her body. Yup, the boundary of her father's magic was still there and unchanging.
Her body shook as she pushed herself back up. Goldy squeezed her eyes shut until her tense muscles had relaxed and regained control. "Dammit, I'm getting weaker..." she sighed.
When her pain had fully subsided, Goldy turned and walked over to the middle of the shore. She stared at the wall for a while. Her hand darted as she summoned and threw three fireballs. The fire ball flew towards the wall, causing a section to collapse.
The magma cube jolted awake as an explosion sounded. The magma cube looked towards a the settling ashes which revealed a new small cave. It glared at the blaze and then huffed as it bounced away and up the tunnel. Goldy watched it leave. It won't go and tattle to anyone about Goldy's location. That's the best things about slimes since they're secretive monsters.
Goldy checked her surroundings again. With a nod, she hurried into the cave, picked up the broken netherracks into her inventory, and finally: repaired the wall.
Once the entrance was sealed, Goldy smoothened her dress. She turned to survey the concealed cave room. The cave was small but roomy. The lighting from the lava in the corner revealed ashes hovering and settling. Goldy sneezed. It's been forever since anyone had been in it. Or cleaned it. Sighing, Goldy summoned a rag and wiped the place down.
Finally, the cave was clean from the ashes, Goldy took a deep breath and looked at her dirty rag. The rag was completely covered in ashes and left several marks on her clothes and skin. Her father would had a fit if he saw her.
Goldy walked over by to the lava pool and started beating the rag against the wall, releasing the ashes to the lava. And then she did her best to shake the ashes from her hair and clothes. She removed enough to make it seem like the Nether's air needs to be filtered, since ashes were a constant problem for the monsters breathe in.
Suddenly, the netherrack entrance cracked, warning Goldy that someone was trying to get in. The tanned human leaned against the wall near the lava, her hand out. She was ready to cast defensive magic as the wall continued to break, and Goldy wasn't in any mood to be caught. However, Goldy relaxed once she saw Sliver's head peek through the wall.
"Hey Gold," he greeted, poking his hooded head through the small hole. He looked around the cave. "I told you I'd be around."
"Took you a while to follow me," the blaze teased with a huff, stepping away from the wall.
"That's because you're fast." Sliver continued digging the two lower blocks apart, working like someone was coming to murder him. After a few moments he was able to get in. He jumped inside the cave and then started piling the netherracks back. Goldy hurried by his side to help him seal off the entrance.
"Wow, this place is a lot smaller than I remembered it used to be," he commented, looking around as he placed the last rock into place. He stood up, touching the ceiling for extra emphasis.
Goldy rolled her eyes, walking backwards towards the lava. "That's because you're so taaaaall, you stupid skeleton."
Sliver shrugged, chuckling. "What can I say? It's genetics."
"That you're stupid?" Goldy raised an eyebrow.
"No. It's my genetics that's stupid."
Goldy sarcastically laughed as she sat down cross-legged next to the lava.
"So, why do you have dry blood on your face?" Sliver gathered his cloak to one side and sat down next to Goldy.
"Father's a lot worse." Goldy shrugged, closing her eyes.
"A lot worse?" Sliver looked at her face. "Fill me in, the travelers and spies never give me enough information."
Goldy sighed, glaring at the wall in front of her. "You know how father used to frighten me every time he walks into the room and started yelling at us? He's gotten worse when mother fell sick to an incurable sickness. I caught it too, but... mother died before my father could save her. I'm still here because Father uses his magic to hold back the sickness."
Goldy bit her lips. "And now I fear he uses magic to blackmail me. To keep me from becoming independent and leaving him."
Sliver sighed, looking away. "Does he physically hurts you?"
"Whenever he's angry and when I 'don't act perfect'," Goldy confirmed.
"That's..." Sliver shook his head, his jawbones stiff. "Messed up."
She scoffed, leaning towards the lava to put her hands in it. "I think you'd understand, considering your parents disclaimed you."
Sliver huffed. "That's different. I've always been an outcast to them. They didn't even bother to see me leave, remember?"
They fell silent, listening to the lava pop and swish as Goldy made circles in it.
The Wither-Stray cleared his voice. "So, do you still dream about seeing the flowers?"
Goldy pulled her hand out of the lava, a shy smile plastered on her face as she looked away. "Yeah, you don't think I'm silly, do you?"
"Not as silly as the games we'd used to play as little kids." Sliver crooked his head, seeming to grin at her within his hood.
Goldy gasped, "You still remember?"
Sliver leaned back with his hands behind his head. "How could I forget? We used to play Princesses and Dragons all the time."
Goldy smirked at her hands. "Or Knights and Dragons?"
Sliver clicked as he nodded. "Exactly."
"Ah, the golden times of our childhood." Goldy sighed longingly.
"Did you just make a pun on your own name?" Sliver snorted.
"Maaaaaaaaaaybe." Goldy grinned, turning to look at him. "Hey Sliv, do you still want to become a knight?"
Sliver removed his hands from his head to press them against the floor as he leaned towards the lava. He flinched as the lava popped. "It would be nice, Gold. But honestly, I don't think the Wither Skeletons would welcome me back if they were the same as before. I mean as if the new king's anything like the kings before him."
"Why not?!" Goldy demanded, "You're still totally perfect for the job; you're totally better than the generals we have! You used to dream about it all the time. You wanted to show every monster just because you have a bit of an issue with your appearance doesn't mean it affects your ability to fight! They're just being jerks!"
"Goldy, no matter how much you encourage it, we both know that one of our dreams won't come true," Sliver sighed, gripping the netherrack floor.
"Don't say that!" Goldy growled.
"No matter how much we try, nothing would change for me, Gold. But it will for you." Sliver stood up, his cape falling back behind his spine as he played with his gauntlets. "Can I use my cloak to clean the blood off you, please? It's really bothering me."
Goldy took a deep breath. She half-smiled, her shrug limp. "I guess."
Sliver got down on one knee, holding his cloak with his right hand. He hesitated as his right hand neared her face, but then he went ahead and wiped the dry blood off her.
This time, his face leaned close to look at her cheek. "Is that better?"
Goldy blinked. "Si. Thanks."
Sliver moved away. Goldy touched her cheek, surprised as she discovered that her scratch had vanished.
Sliver nodded, seeming pleased with himself as he stood back up. "Excellent." He turned to walk away. He took a few steps, but then he paused. "Gold?"
"Sliv?" Goldy stood up, trying to brush the ashes off her dress.
"What if I told you that I... That I could take you to your dream?" Sliver turned to look at Goldy.
Goldy startled, her eyes wide. "Are you delusional? I can't leave the Nether, Sliver."
"But now I have a way, Goldy! You won't be held back anymore if you run away with me." Sliver urged.
"I-I can't!" Goldy took a few steps towards Sliver. "I can't, Sliver, I can't! My life needs to stay within the aura of my father's magic or I'll die!"
"But you'll die anyways," Sliver pleaded, "You'll die whether it'll be in the Nether or in the Overworld. What would happen if your guardian gets slain? What then? But if you run away with me, we could at least achieve one of our dreams."
Goldy pursed her lips, her eyebrows scrunched together in conflict.
"I came here because I knew I was dying. I can't come back again, Goldy," Sliver sighed, playing with his cloak. "I'm dying even faster as the hours pass. You were the only thing that allowed me to push to stay alive this far."
"Sliver!" Goldy spat, her fists clenched. "Enough with this talk of death! No one's dying any time soon!"
Sliver shook his head. "I can feel it. I'm going to die soon. But I want to see you happy, Gold. You're obviously not happy here, Gold. You deserve to have your dream come true."
Goldy heaved, her head hanging as her shoulders trembled. "I can't leave."
Sliver took his cloak off with a sigh. "If you insist."
Goldy watched him fold his cloak with a puzzled expression on her face.
Sliver placed it down on the floor. "If something did happen..." he moved towards the exit. "I want your dream coming true, Gold. It's too late for me, so I'm rooting for you."
Sliver began breaking down the netherrack wall. Goldy watched him in silence, controlling her breathing.
Once he climbed out of the cave, he looked back at her. "I'd kiss your hand if I had lips like those zombies would do. I'll see you around, Goldy, but just in case... farewell. You're a wonderful friend."
And with that, he left.
Goldy swallowed, rubbing her neck as she looked at the neatly folded cape on the floor of their childhood memories. "If I had tear ducts... I'd be crying, Sliv..."
King Wird the Third continued to stare at the visitors.
"Uh, bonjour?" Z waved, meek as he stepped inside the throne room.
Endocrine rolled her eye, following the zombie. Really? That's all you mustered up?
"Hello," King Wird raised an eyebrow.
They continued to wait in silence as some of the king's servants continued to roll up their scrolls. Endocrine took this as a moment to regain her focus. Might as well meet the king if she came this far, right?
The Wither king's dark armour complimented the dark red surroundings, although his white hair and surpisingly pale skin stood out against the dark surroundings. His red eyes stared lazily back at him while his maroon cloak dragged around his shoulders. But unlike the Wither Boss statues outside...
"Don't tu have three heads?" Z frowned, squinting at the king as he and Endocrine continued to move through the throne room. The king had only one head, which was placed on the middle of his shoulders.
"Wait for it..." King Wird muttered, raising a hand.
Like on cue, a blue Wither Skeleton head flew into the room. "Are you slacking off again?!" it screamed. Endocrine and Z flinched as it flew over their heads.
The black version drifted in, following the blue head. "Whoa, chill, mate. It's been five minutes."
"They're my eyes and counselors." King Wird bitterly smiled as the blue head started shoving him into proper position.
"I do all of the hard work, you should at least put some effort into it, you lazy bones!" the blue head screeched, butting the king's back to straighten him.
"You're giving King Wird and every monster else a headache," the black head moaned as it floated next to King Wird's golden chair.
Yeah. Endocrine rubbed her temples, staring at the carpet as she and Z stopped walking.
"It's King Wird the Third!" the blue head scolded the black head.
"I hate my life," Wird grumbled, slouching into his seat.
"And kings don't slouch!" The blue head returned to butting the king.
Z snickered to himself as Endocrine's migraine progressed to get worse.
"Let us give him a break," the black head pleaded, "You're embarrassing him in front of Princess-"
"Princess?!" The blue head shrieked, whipping around to gawk at Endocrine and King Wird. "King Wird the Third! Your castle is not in a proper position for an End queen-to-be! There are floors to polish! Paintings to replace! Servants to bustle!"
Shut up, Endocrine groaned mentally as she grimaced. I don't want to be queen.
"Let's go," the black head forced the shrieking blue head out of the throne room.
"Dishes to burn! Banners to iron! Rooms to sweep! Relics to furnish! Chickens to pluck!" The blue head continued to wail as they flew away. The Wither skeletons knights quickly closed the doors after them.
"Sorry 'bout that," King Wird sighed, melting like butter in his chair.
"I like your advisors," Z sniggered.
"They're my grandfather's." King Wird pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alex killed him and my father, so now they're passed on to me." He sighed, standing up to stretch. "Normally, I have to send the princesses to a servant for a 'traditional' tour. But I've been sitting for hours, I need a break."
Z folded his arms, crooking his head. "Won't your heads freak out?"
King Wird huffed, shaking his head as he moved down the short stairs. "They'll handle themselves."
"Why are tu pale if you're a Wither Boss?" Z crooked his head to the other direction.
"Why are you a zombie?" Wird shot back, stretching his arms as he neared.
"Why aren't tu a Wither Boss if there's non statues of humans outside?" Z countered.
Wird gave him the stink eye.
"I'm speaking for Princess!" Z defended himself.
No you aren't. Endocrine rubbed her forehead, shooting daggers at him from the corner of her eye. I'm going to end you when my headache goes away if you keep making idiotic questions.
King Wird stopped walking a few blocks away, looking at Z's disheveled and bloody appearance, which resulted from G.P.'s death and Sliver's slowness arrows. But when he glanced Endocrine, her hair was dirty and fizzy with some of her magic dimming.
He touched a lock of her hair. Endocrine jerked away, feeling... threatened?
"Calm down. Even when the dragon's gone, the treaty still stands." Wird rubbed the dirt off his gloves. "You're lucky Screamer didn't notice your dirt and scoot-covered hair or he'd be doing flips. He's the blue one, by the way."
King Wird bowed his head. "Anyways, thank you for holding your side of the treaty."
Endocrine nodded once, self conscious as she ran a hand through her messy hair.
"Shall we begin the tour?" King Wird held his arm out.
Endocrine eyed the arm, but then stalked towards the doors. The Wither Skeletons scrambled to open the doors for her as she rapidly approached.
The king narrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he straightened to regained his posture.
"Princess does not like monsters touching her," Z spoke up smugly, leaning towards King Wird.
King Wird scowled, walking away from Z. "Shut up."
"So, I'm going to assume that you two are tired," Wird said as they finally finished the tour of his castle.
Endocrine played with her freshly brushed hair. All of the grime were removed when a pigman fussed over her hair, but now it was even more fizzer due to her natural curly state. Why did that pigmen had to use a brush? Just why?
"Oui-"
"Too bad, Nether Monsters never tire, so we don't carry around beds. Plus, they explode."
Liar, Endocrine rolled her eye as she attempted to smooth down her hair. You guys hibernate like some ancient dragons. I've read about it in a history book.
"The Nether Monsters explodes the beds, they don't suddenly catch on fire," Z grumbled, his mood dampening.
"Eh. Let's keep moving before Screamer and Dynamite finds us." Wird turned, walking down another hallway filled with windows.
"King Wird?" Z asked, following the King.
"Aye?" Wird sighed, placing his relaxed hands behind his back.
"I've been wondering why are there so many statues of King Wird le First?" Z questioned.
"Well," King Wird began as he peered through a window. "Each statue represents a soul of each Wither Bosses. And according to the reporting of the citizens, every time Alex summons one of us to her by building a mimicking statue, a stone statue would fall apart. However, Alex had only summoned twice and two statues fell, we are unsure whether or not it is coincidental or an actual magical property of the Void."
"Does that makes you a ghost?" Z interrupted.
King Wird hesitated, glancing at Endocrine over his shoulder. "Aye."
"And you're a transformer."
Endocrine flinched as King Wird clapped. "Bravo! The dumb zombie figured it out!"
"I'm not dumb!" Z hissed, folding his arms.
"Well then, stop making obvious statements." King Wird raised an eyebrow, stepping away from the window.
Endocrine's stomach growled, interrupting the brief argument. Endocrine grimaced as King Wird and Z looked at her. What?
"When did you last eat?" King Wird demanded, taking a small step away from her.
That doesn't matter. Endocrine shrugged, pursing her lips. My hunger bar fell rapidly as I took too many damage for the past few days. Might as well say I hadn't eaten for two weeks.
King Wird groaned, playing with his cloak. "I'm afraid we don't have anything because we had used up the chorus fruit for our experiments. I knew we should had kept some on hand, but Dynamite said we'll have another End trade happening soon. Except that was before we caught word that Queen Drelizabeth had died."
"Who's Dynamite again?" Z kept an eye on Endocrine like he was expecting her to fall over again.
"He's the black, calmer head," Wird explained with a sigh. "How long do you think you'll have, Princess Endocrine?"
Not long. Now can you two keep quiet for five measly mintues? Endocrine rubbed her forehead as she shrugged again, staring at the floor.
Wird hissed, his eyes darting around the hallways as he tugged his cloak.
"Uh, are tu alright, King Wird?" Z made circles on the floor with his feet, his eyes flickering between Endocrine and King Wird.
"No!" King Wird barked, letting go of his cape. Endocrine flinched from his explosion, her brain throbbing through the noise.
The king sighed. "Just... leave me alone for a second. Bother someone else with questions. Clean the blood off you. I need to talk with Princess Endocrine alone."
Z swallowed, keeping his eyes low. "Alright." He walked away briskly.
"Come, abide with me." King Wird beckoned with his hand, walking in the opposite direction of Z. Endocrine folded her arms before following him, the details around her blurring once again.
"So, it seems the End did not accept your proposal of being queen." King Wird slowed down a bit, looking over his shoulder.
Endocrine rolled her eye. I never wanted to become queen.
"It's a shame, really." King Wird turned his attention towards the path. "Your mother and my grandfather used to send each other letters. Queen Drelizabeth wrote that you were the best candidate for the throne because of your... history, to put it simply."
Huh. As Endocrine's migraine started to take over again, she was having a difficulty catching onto everything King Wird was telling her.
"I can't keep... here forever, you know. As... minute pass, you grow into a bigger threat." King Wird pulled a door open to the balcony. "But I'm aware... I might be as well sending... to your death bed if you leave."
King Wird stepped aside to let Endocrine through. The colours started to blur as Endocrine walked over to a railing to hold on. She could see her magic that constantly surrounds her blinked as she leaned onto the Netherbrick fence railing. She still was having a hard time listening to King Wird.
"I doubt... End Army would give... chorus fruit before killing..." King Wird stood next to Endocrine, looking down at his kingdom. "They'll behead... moment you leave... portal, if not shortly. But Queen Drelizabeth... you... powerful fighter, ... more... dying. But... End Army could change... mind... spare you, allowing... become... next End Queen. It's... gamble, ...honest."
Endocrine couldn't understand him anymore, it was like he was talking in another language now. Her ears started to ring as she struggled to focus onto a single building in the kingdom.
Endocrione knew that when she loses sense of reality, it reduces her chance of survival. Her chances will be odder if she fell asleep. She must regain her senses before it grew too late...
"It's a shame that you princesses have to kill each other until the final one becomes queen-" King Wird cut off as Endocrine lost her strength and slipped. King Wird cursed as he grabbed her arm before she could topple over the railing.
"Time's up already?" King Wird set her down onto the floor. Endocrine could barely holding her head up as she tried to sit up solo.
"Damn it. Don't you dare move or I will have your head." He ran back inside, calling for his servants.
Endocrine grabbed the fence and pulled herself towards it, trying to regain the strength to stand. She couldn't, so she pressed her forehead against the fence, shaking her head as if she could shake away the pain. Her feet ached while her legs were tingling, which sent lightning bolts running throughout her body. She could feel her strength in her arms slipping with each shock.
Everything was a hazy mess around her as her vision disappeared and sounds continued to scream and ring into her brain. Endocrine pressed her face harder against the fence, urging her vision to stay with her. Why was it also so loud?
A bitter bile rose in her throat as she writhed, a metallic taste following shortly. Her hunger bar was empty, and Endocrine couldn't do anything to stop her health bar from plummeting.
Despite dying, something became very clear to her. Endocrine could see her own magic, which was flickering like violet dying embers. Beyond her own magic were the neon red and golden auras, which Endocrine managed to register as the warm magic of the Nether.
Endocrine's head slammed onto the ground, all strength gone, falling into deep sleep as the pain became overwhelming to carry.
Author's Note: There was originally going to be a fight scene in this chapter, but I had to cut it out onto the next chapter. Even then, the next chapter's just as long as (or longer than) this!
And here ends the first notebook! (I have 3 in total. It helped me to find plot holes, make the first two edits/read-throughs, and connect the foreshadowing together. And the next part is getting it typed down onto the computer and editing it even more. Each typing session takes about two hours if I'm not too picky. The longest is editing even more and checking for confusions, which takes a long time since I have to take breaks or I get burned out.)
Endertainment!
What does Endermen and Wither Skeletons have in common?
They're tall, dark, and handsome.
~Rosie