Hello once again readers, ECG13 back at you with something new. I have an important announcement, but I'll save it for after the chapter, cuz I've been waiting for this part for a while now. Let's get it started!

Chapter 12: King Swine's Challenge

After weeks of spending their days in the Zombie Pigman Kingdom, the Hybrid Heroes finally got their wish. One day when Ace and Sam were playing a game of stone-paper-sword, Sgt. Midas came into the cell room.

"Heya Midas, what brings you here!" Quartz said with a mock salute.

"I need the boys we captured before. They are requested by the order of King Swine"

Quartz's smile dropped. "Oh umm, ok." She let Sam, Ace, and Chris out of their cages. Midas was about to lead them out when Chris said, "Wait, he's part of the group too," pointing to Snap's cell.

"I don't remember taking him in." Midas said with an eyebrow raised.

"He's part of the Nether division of our team, with Comet and Squish." Ace lied. Midas looked hard at al of them, but then gave in and nodded to Quartz to let him out. Quartz hated to lose her project, but let Snap out his cage anyway. Snap gave Ace a silent thanks and they were on their way. They met up with the girls in the main lobby. Crepa looked a little pale, which bothered Ace but he couldn't ask her right now. Right now he was wondering how why the king wanted to talk to them.

The group was put into another golden cage. They sped through the streets and were back in the Main District in a matter of minutes. Finally, they were at the front of a huge government building that the group assumed was City Hall. They were led out the cage and escorted into the grand building. The main lobby was packed with businessmen (or pigs) and lines of tourists. They were quickly brought through several halls and then arrived at a set of giant golden doors engraved with intricate markings and drawings. It looked like it needed a group of Iron Golems to open it, but Midas simply put his hand to it; they glowed for a few seconds and then slowly opened. The doors opened to a humongous room with a golden carpet leading to a large throne. Sitting on the throne was a bipedal pig with an eye patch with one eye. He had a beer gut and there were green marks all over his body. His feet were hooves and he had a pig snout. On the top of his head was a crown made of solid gold. Standing next him was Nethera, who tried to keep a straight face, but her Ghast hat's tears let it be known that she was awfully sullen.

"King Swine," Ace said under his breath. Midas bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have brought the inmates you have requested."

The Pigman King made a sound that sounded like a mix between an oink and a laugh. "Excellent, you are dismissed." Midas nodded and left the room. When the doors closed, Swine looked at the heroes and said, "Welcome to the Zombie Pigman Kingdom… umm, what should I address you as, if I may ask?"

The group looked at Ace. "Uhhh…. The Hybrid Heroes." The group nodded in agreement.

"Ahh the Hybrid Heroes. It's catchy, I like it."

"Ok, King; want do you need us for?" Ace asked the king.

"I actually wanted to thank you, Heroes."

"Thank us?"

"Yes; you see have prevented a catastrophic war from arising. By bringing me Nethera, Princess of the Ghasts, I have been given my part of the deal, and now have no reason to attack the Ghast Kingdom."

Ace felt Sam tense. Squish must've felt it and put her hand on Sam's arm, hoping to calm him down.

"Ummm, your welcome, I guess…"

"Yes, and for your help, I will let you return to the Overworld with your lives. There is a Nether Portal in the back of the building. I assume you know how to use it."

The place went dead silent. Ace felt all eyes on him. He sighed and then put on his best kissup face. "Oh course we do, your Majesty. Thank you for your gratefulness. C'mon you guys, let's roll."

Ace walked out the room, and the rest of the group following suit, except for Sam. He was looking down at the floor and breathing hard, his shoulders heaving up and down. Squish tried to lead him out the room, but he shrugged her off. "No," he growled.

The heroes stopped and looked at him wild-eyed. Swine stared at him like he had never heard that phrase before. "Excuse me?" he said.

Sam turned back to him. His eyes were filled with rage and determination. "You heard me. I could've died traveling through this hellhole. Nethera saved my life and helped me find my friends, and there is no way I'm just going to screw her over like that. She's just as important to the team as any of us, and most of all, more important to me. I can care less about your little bullcrap war. Nethera is coming with us, and that's not a request; that's a goddamn order."

Nethera smiled as she put her hand to her mouth. Ace's jaw dropped. Swine's eye twitched, but then he began to howl in laughter. "

"A dazzling performance, young human; but unfortunately your proposal in not seconded. Unless any of your friends agree with you…"

"They do." Squish said as she put her arm over Sam. Sam smiled, proud to have such a close friend.

Swine's smile dropped. "Ok, but what about…"

"I'm with him as well." Endra said as she stood by Sam.

"I second that motion," Snap said.

Ryan stood up, saying nothing.

"Ah what the hell, I'm with it," Chris bellowed.

"I don't like it, but I respect Sam too much not to stand by him." Comet said.

"So am I" Crepa said

"And if my team's with it, so am I." Ace said as stood next to Sam. The two fist bumped as Swine's eye started to twitch again.

"You fools should've left while you had the chance." He growled.

"Yeah, we get told that a lot." Ryan said.

"I should have you all hanged for even attempting to cross me. But you guys are lucky, for I have a special task for you all."

"And what would that be?" Endra asked.

"I will be entering all of you in, wait for it…. The Coliseum!"

Ace looked baffled. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, my young human. Each of you will be battling an opponent of my choice. If you win, you may live and leave. If you lose, you will be jailed here forever."

"And what if we all win?" Crepa demanded.

"Let's cross that bridge when we get there shall we? GAURDS!"

Suddenly, an entire brigade of guardsmen came in and surrounded the heroes.

"Take these heroes to the Warriors' Abode. They'll need the rest for tomorrow's fight. I wish you good luck, Hybrid Heroes!" Swine bellowed.

The heroes were transported to a small villa like house, complete with a set of beds, a furnace, and crafting table. The heroes sat in the living room.

"Well this is freakin' dandy. Now we have to battle to the death in front of a crowd of undead pigs for no good reason." Snap said dejectedly.

"Don't be like that, Snap. Nethy is a huge part of the team, and we're ready to fight to get her back." Chris said

"I'm really sorry guys; I just felt so upset because I thought we were really going to leave her. I should've just played along."

Ace patted him on the back. "It's fine bro; we would've done the same thing."

"Yeah, but now what? What if, Notch forbid, one of us is to lose? This is way too risky to go through with." Crepa added.

Ace sat in silence. He honestly didn't know.

Endra put her face in her hands. "This is insanity. I just want to head home in peace. Is that too much to ask?"

Silence reigned once more. After a few minutes, Ryan sighed and unsheathed his dagger. It was made of a shiny iron and had an engraving in Latin in it. "A few years back, my father gave me this dagger for my birthday. The engraving is in Latin, but I think it may respond to Endra's pleas."

He tossed it to Ace. He caught it and read it. "Si vis pacem, para bellum." He read aloud.

"That's right." Ryan said as he stood up. He took the dagger back and angled it towards the light. "If you want peace… then you had best prepare for war."

And with those epic last words, shit gets real. Now for the announcement; it's my pleasure to announce the Hybrid Heroes story had recently achieved over 5,000 views! I want to thank everyone who has read my story so far. What started as something for fun turned into a full-on commitment. Special thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorite, followed, or submitted an OC; you inspire me to keep writing. So once again, thanks and keep following for more of the Hybrid Heroes! :D