We don't own Minecraft. That'd be Notch, his partners, Mojang, and affiliate companies.

So here you go: Chapter 12. We hope you enjoy yourself.


Before the four went into the room housing the injured Benjamin, Steve took the time to become fully acquainted with this medic.

"Hello," Steve began as he held out his hand, "I am Steve and this is Sam and Solomon." He waved to his squad who waved back.

The medic took Steve's hand and shook it. "I am Dr. Acula, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Steve. I heard a lot about your skill on the field."

He turned to Sam. "I've heard of you as well, young scout. Although let's hope you get a promotion, both of you. Then you can command your very own centurion."

Steve relished the thought of him surrounded by soldiers willing to give their life for him at the drop of a hat.

The medic talked with Solomon. "You're new, though. Who are you, exactly? Solomon, was it?"

The mage nodded. "I'm a mage. I use this magic tome to harness my power and release it through spells."

"Do you have any healing spells, out of curiosity?" The medic asked. Solomon flipped through the pages.

"Several. Some are more dangerous than others though, but those are usually the most powerful."

"Well, I'm glad to hear we have another potential medic on our side. Although I do prefer traditional methods when we have the time to do so."

"Of course." Solomon replied.

"Alright then. Let's go tend to our patient."


He opened the door slowly and a young man only about the age of sixteen was seen on a medical cot. He was visibly hurt but didn't show many signs of his pain save for some occasional cringes. He had an arrow embedded in his thigh. There was some space around the arrow so some flesh was exposed as though someone frantically tried to pull it out. Seeing the splinters in his open muscle nearly made Sam gag.

"Well," began Mavis who looked unphased by the gore of Ben's wound, "You are indeed a lucky case. I have never seen one like this."

"What do you mean?" Asked Ben. How am I lucky? Can't you see I am badly injured you-

"The arrow just missed your femoral artery. If that would have been punctured you would have bled out and died within a couple of minutes." Mavis said gladly. "Thank Notch you made it out alive."

Ben gulped.

"Well done, Mavis." The doctor said,"Nice diagnosis. Benjamin, I have some bad news for you." Dr. Acula looked at his eyes. Mavis knew what had happened and knew what will follow wasn't going to be pretty. "Your body has healed partially and trapped the arrow fragments within. We will have to reopen the wound to get them out. I will give you the best sedation we have, but resources are low and you will still feel intense pain."

Ben's eyes grew slightly. He nodded.

"Alright," the doctor went over to his table and started to mix many herbs and mushrooms into some bottles. He placed them over a fire and after they melted he poured them in another concoction. The formula was complete and he sucked it out with a needle. He tested the syringe and went back to the group.

"This should ease the pain a bit." the doctor said as he tied a small rope around Ben's upper thigh, washed off the area where the needle will be injected in, and gently sent it into Ben's leg near the afflicted area.

"Now please lay back so I can strap you in so you won't thrash around and ruin the surgery. If this procedure isn't completed correctly the first time we will have to do it again." Dr. Acula said grimly.

Ben reluctantly lay down and the doctor bounded him to the medical cot he lay on.

"Ok, I am going to talk you through this so you know what is happening. I will begin with cutting off the arrow's tip so I can remove the rest of it." A snap was heard as he perfectly cut off the flint. "Now I will remove the remains of the arrow."

Ben didn't feel much pain.

"Now, using a scalpel I will cut holes in the scabs just big enough for me to fit tweezers into them so that I may remove the fragmentations. This will hurt."

As he began, Ben winced. He began to scream. The group thought they have seen enough. Mavis intervened.

"Relax, just look at me." Steve remembered the words. He doubt it would do much good to someone going through surgery. But then again, a lot of insane things happened that day.

Ben opened his tightly shut eyes and looked up. He wasn't able to see her very well when she entered the room, but under the surgery lamp all of her features were defined. Her slightly puffed, rosey cheeks. Her huge blue eyes and lashes. Her darkly painted lips and glistening hair. He thought he was looking at a fallen angel, if Notch issued all black uniforms.

Why is she dressed from head to toe in black? Wait a second, those shoes are red, and so are those stripes on her leggings. She is the greatest beauty my eyes have ever beheld, yet she only reveals her face and hands. Wait a minute, that doctor called her captain outside. Is this who I keep hearing about? How is-

"And now I will carefully pluck out the remaining splinters and fragments from your leg." Dr. Acula concluded. Not a word came out of Ben's mouth during nearly the entire operation.

"What?" asked Ben, who forgot all about the medical procedure. The group laughed.

The doctor washed off the wound with water, stitched him up, and placed a bandage over the wound.

"Stay safe, I hope I won't have to see you again unless you're just dropping by." Dr. Acula finished. He waved them off and they exited. Ben stayed so he could heal.

"He seems pretty cool." Solomon said.

"He's an old surgeon, but he is still very good at what he does." Mavis said.

"I'm not that old!" The medic cried, half in indignity and half in humor.

"Sure, doctor. Sure. I've known you all my life." Mavis cried back.

"You're still rather young," Solomon quipped.

The group exited the medbay, and were heading to the drawbridge before Kenny caught up with them. He seemed happy as his eyes flowed over them, until he reached Solomon. The general scowled then put up a happy facade.

"You guys have had a long journey, and the sun will set soon. Stay the night. That's an order."

"So, what did the medic need?" He asked. That medic should have tranquilized this dangerous mage. Internally he shook his head; his troops, smart as they were, would not be tricked so easily.

If they trust him, I suppose he's alright. He genuinely smiled at Solomon. The mage, however, did not take it as real.

Before the mage could interject with a sharp remark, Mavis replied. "He just wanted us to see Ben. You know, Ivan's son. Steve just recently told me what happened."

Kenny's smile took a more tragic tone. To the three non-magical warriors, it seemed warm and understanding regarding Ben. To Solomon, it seemed as fake as the amnesty between him and this general.

"Ivan was truly one of my bravest men. He was a huge loss to this army, to his family, and to his friends."

Solomon scowled. "As if he was anything more than a soldier, a pawn, to you."

Kenny's face twisted into anger. "How dare-!"

But the mage continued, unaffected by Kenny's attempted response. "I don't think even we matter to you. After all, they're just three of your soldiers and I'm a mercenary. So really, how can you care about us when hundreds of other soldiers require your advice, guidance, and orders?"

Kenny was livid. He jumped on Solomon, and they rolled on the ground. Kenny was on top, and punched Solomon in the mouth.

Solomon tasted something metallic. He growled and threw the general off. His eyes glowed with furious magic, and his book fluttered open. Symbols glowed, and a red bolt shot for the general, who was realizing his unprofessional outburst.

An explosion rang through everyone's ears, but Kenny looked at himself. Other than dust and a couple of bruises, he was untouched.

Steve stood in front of the general, pain evident in his expression. He fell to his knees, gasping from the air being driven out of his lungs and the pain Solomon's magic gave him.

Solomon's eyes stopped glowing, and he paled. He quickly levitated his book and symbols glowed.

Steve felt bliss for half a second, and it was truly wonderful after the pain of a magic bolt. Then he felt normal. He rose with shaky knees, but stood.

Sam was holding Solomon back, in case he fired off again. Mavis was keeping Kenny from reigniting the fight.

"I'm so sorry, Steve. You know it wasn't meant for you." Solomon seemed remorseful, but not a tinge of regret dotted his face from fighting back against the general.

"I'm sorry, as well. To both of you." Kenny stood, once Mavis let him. He reached a hand out for Solomon to shake it.

The mage glared at Kenny, and smacked the hand away. Steve felt normal again, and as leader he made a decision.

"With your permission, I'll be taking my squad out of the castle. We can't risk losing time. Or another skirmish."

Kenny nodded. "I understand, and allow this."

The four walked out from the castle without another word. Solomon threw back one last glare.


As soon as the group went across the bridge, went around to the back side of the fort, was far away enough and well on track towards the Archmage, Steve exploded.

"What the Nether, Solomon? Why'd you go and say that to Kenny?"

Solomon defended himself. "In case you didn't notice, I'm the one who bled."

"Yeah, and I'm the one who got hit with a magic blast!"

"I said I was sorry."

Steve looked ready to bite Solomon's head off. Mavis stepped in, her figure outlined and emphasized by the moon. "Everyone get some sleep, and we can sort this out tomorrow with clearer and calmer heads."

"Fine." Steve barked. Sam looked around for mobs, then slept. Mavis pondered for a bit about all that happened so quickly, then rested against a tree.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" Asked Steve.

"I didn't do much today. I think I'll keep watch while you guys sleep." She said as she leaned against the tree.

I've seen her in action, and how she came to my aid in the fight against their insane leader. There won't be need of a shield tonight. I'd hate to be an approaching mob when she's around. Thought Solomon while he laid his head against a sloped rock.

The group let sleep overtake them and Mavis kept a watchful eye on them. She looked around for any intruders. There weren't any for a few hours.

She unsheathed her hidden blade from her sleeve and examined the sharpness. It was looking a little dull from over usage. She picked up a rock and started to grind off the blunt edges of the weapon. She did this for an hour or so. She liked repetitive actions because they gave her some time to think.

When she was finished she plucked out a blade of grass from the ground and dropped it on the blade. It split into two. She slipped the blade back in her nylon sleeve and began to sharpen the other one.

The night went by longer than usual. It was as if the moon was holding off its brighter counterpart to slow down the travelers' progress.

Mavis was still against the tree when she heard growling. She turned to see red eyes in the brush near the group, eyeing the strength of its potential supper.

Mavis dashed in between the enemy and her squad. The animal came out of the bushes slowly. Mavis recognized it as an adult wolf. It growled.

Stay out of my way so I can eat these vulnerable morsels... It seemed to say as it licked every one of his razor sharp teeth. It snarled. I am not friendly...

Mavis hissed back, revealing her fangs as to say, Neither am I.

The dog stopped and its hairs stood on end. Then it calmed down a bit. Mavis reached for a raw steak Sam accidentally packed while Ben was going through surgery. Sam didn't want to see Ben suffer anymore and got supplies before they left.

She felt the steak in the dark and returned her direct attention to the wolf. She trustingly held out her hand with the raw steak. You won't bite the hand that feeds you...

She was correct. The wolf came closer cautiously and sniffed the food. It gratefully accepted the offering and ate it in nearly one bite.

"You were hungry, weren't you?" She said. The dog wagged its tail and panted.

They sat in the moonlight next to the sleeping team. The wolf got used to his new friends as Mavis gently petted its fur coat.

The sun prevailed and rose, starting a fire in the sky that lit the way for the band of heroes. The group slowly began to wake up and Steve was startled to see a wolf in their presence.

"I thought you could be his primary owner." Mavis said with a smile. "I'll have to warn you though, he looked at you like you were a meal just a couple of hours ago."

"Pleasant." Steve replied. "Everything is trying to kill us. Average day in the life of our group."

"Where did my steak go...?" Asked Sam. The wolf barked and Sam looked at it with a dim stare. The group laughed.

"Well, come along, erm... wolf..." Steve said, "What should we name him?" They pondered for a bit.

"Porky."

"Wolfie."

"Shadow."

"Cannon fodder."

The group turned to Solomon angrily.

"What?" Solomon's group members shook their heads and smiled at the mage's interesting sense of humor. They ate a quick breakfast, and stood up.

"Well, we have to name him some time." Said Steve.

"Maybe later. We should continue our journey." Suggested Mavis. "By the sound of it, this mage isn't easy to reach. Where to, Solomon?"

He closed his eyes. "I can sense his power straight ahead... about eight miles away."

"So, it's that mountain over there?" Asked Sam.

"Yup."

"Well that's fantastic. Let's go." Sam said sadly. The mountain was colossal and steep. The band started their trek to the mountain. They found themselves out of the forest and inside of a swampy area in an hour or so.

They spotted a hut positioned over a boggy pool of green water.

"Stop." Said Solomon. "I'll handle this."


Really, credit for this chapter goes to Zing. He wrote most of this chapter, if not all. I've been a bad partner lately, and feeling lazy and carefree as the summer draws near.

So I'll be a good boy, and try to write more. Really though. He deserves a lot more credit.

He created Mavis. He and I bounce ideas back and forth, so he's useful for that. So much more credit should go to him. All he ever wants are reviews.

Hope you tune in for the next chapter.