I Get A Good Nap—No, Seriously.

The girl, whoever she was, did not hesitate.

Mark ran at her, screaming and lifting his sword into the air. The girl simply stepped to the side as Mark barreled past, and kicked his injured leg, making him scream and fall to the ground. Mark began to get up, but the girl whacked him in the head with her bow, knocking him out.

Mack stood and did a double take at the sight of Max lying in a heap on the ground. "What the hell?" Mack turned to see the girl, who was twirling an arrow uninterestedly. "You! Who the hell are you?"

"That's what they all ask me," the girl said as she nocked the arrow in her bow and aimed.

Mack charged with a scream, and the girl fired. The arrow slammed into Mack's shoulder, making him stumble a little bit.

"You're finished!" Mack shouted. "I'm going to kill you!"

Mack took a few steps forwards and then collapsed onto the floor with a thud, completely unconscious.

"What the…" I muttered.

"You." the girl said, pointing at me. "Edgy boy. What's going on here?"

Edgy boy?

"What do you think?" I said irritably. "They were trying to kill me. Speaking of which, are they dead?"

"Nah." the girl replied. "There's a tranquilizer on all of the arrows. They're just going to be sleeping for a while. Why were you over here, anyways? Don't you know this is the shadiest part of Janlyn?"

"Yeah, I figured that out in my own." I muttered. "Who are you? Why are you here, anyways? And why'd you save me?"

The girl looked at me, a small frown appearing on her face. "You don't know me?"

"No. I've never seen you in my life." I said.

"If you don't know me, why am I getting these stupid dreams?" the girl snapped. "You're telling me you're not the cause of those stupid cryptic dreams? Cause I'm telling you, it gets old real quick."

"Dreams?" I echoed. "What do you mean?"

The girl scowled. "What I mean by that is that either I'm dreaming of this annoying guy that's telling me I'm going to save the world, or I'm dreaming of this psycho that keeps threatening me and telling me some extremely depressing stuff. In fact, the only reason I'm here now is because the first voice told me to come here, and that I'd meet you."

"That's weird and all," I said impatiently, "but you didn't answer my question. Who are you!?"

The girl irritably flipped her long brown hair back. "Name's Samantha O' Quinn. But if you call me that I'll shoot your knees out. So call me Sam. In fact—" Sam smirked— "I'm more commonly known as Shaft."

…

My brain briefly shut down.

"Huh?" I said stupidly.

"I said I'm Shaft. A little slow on the uptake, aren't you?" Sam grinned.

"You're Shaft?" I repeated. "The famous archer?"

Sam snorted. "Yes, that's what I said. What, surprised because I'm fifteen and a girl?"

"No, it's not that." I waved my hands. "It's just that…"

"I'm fifteen and a girl." Sam said flatly. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all. In fact, now that I think of it, aren't most archers girls? You think someone has to be a guy to be skilled? Cause if so, that's dumb."

"No, that's not—" I sighed. "The thing is…I've actually just been looking for you."

Sam raised her eyebrow. "Oh?"

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I hadn't actually thought about what I would say to Sam once I found her. What could I tell her, that we needed her to save the world? If someone told me that before I had came to Valaither, I would have called the guards on them.

"Listen," I stuttered. "I…the reason I've been looking for you is because…and I know this seems sudden, but I really—"

"This isn't like a confession or anything, right?" Sam said blankly. "Because I've got enough on my hands without a secret stalker fan."

"What? No!" I said, flustered. "There isn't any easy way to say this, so I'll just say it."

"I need your help…to save the world."

Sam looked at me.

I looked at Sam.

Sam searched my eyes, probably trying to look for a sign that this was a joke, or a prank. When she found nothing, she said sarcastically, "I think you're missing the prophecy part of the story."

I sighed and agitatedly ran a hand through my hair, messing it up even more. I wasn't surprised at the reaction. I looked up and met her eyes.

"Look," I urged as I held up my sword. "This is real, hard, titanium."

Sam tapped the blade, which made a metallic 'tink'. She pulled out an arrow and dragged it across the blade, which made a screeching noise that made me cringe.

I couldn't tell what she was doing, but she out the arrow away, staring at me oddly. "Where'd you get this from?"

"It's a long and tragic story and whatever, but I don't have time to explain. Listen, I'm being serious. Those guys?" I pointed to the three unconscious men on the floor. "They're assassins sent by Klith to kill me. And I'm not traveling alone—there's this other girl, and her name is Toni. She's not here right now because she's having a stupid steak or whatever, so—"

"Hold it." Sam massaged her brow. "I'm getting a headache. Start from the top, okay?"

"Alright. My name's Jax. I'm…the reborn soul of Null." Sam raised her eyebrows at that, but didn't comment. "Me and Toni were sent here to find you. For some reason, Notch specifically asked for you, so…"

Sam rolled her eyes. "So I'm supposed to help two children save the world. Got it. Can I leave?"

"No!" I shouted. "This is kind of important, you know. You saw me fight back there, didn't you?"

"That's true, I guess." Sam said thoughtfully. "Why else would those guys be willing to kill you? In fact, I've never seen these goons before…and your sword does seem to be real titanium." She seemed to come to a decision. "Alright. Show me your powers then."

"What?" I said.

"You know. Your powers." Sam said impatiently. "If you didn't have any powers, that wouldn't make you any more different than regular people."

"Yeah, you're right." I said. "I'll show you."

I turned away and focused on a specific spot on the floor. I could feel the earth—I could feel every small stone and ore in the earth. I focused on a specific spot, and gritted my teeth. Small spurts of black flickered from my hand like the flames of a candle, and Sam's eyes narrowed.

Suddenly I felt a stab in my chest and bent over, groaning.

"Nice. You made a few shadows." Sam deadpanned.

"Ugh! Damn it…I must have used up too much juice teleporting." I growled.

Sam rolled her eyes. "How convenient."

"But you did see that, right?" I urged. "The shadows?"

"Yeah, yeah, I saw the little shadows." Sam snorted. "You realize how nuts this sounds? I don't know why I tried to hear you out. I'm busy as is—"

"Jax? Jax!"

Ah. Here comes Toni.

"Jax? Why are you over here? Who's that?" Toni shouted as she ran up to us. When Sam saw her, she snickered a little.

"T…Toni." I sighed. "You found me."

"Yeah, it took a while." Toni muttered. "Jax, I thought about it, and you're right. We don't have time to waste finding Shaft. I mean, who knows how long it will take to find Shaft. So…I'm sorry. But I don't regret getting steak. That was delicious."

"Wait, you got steak? Where did you get the—"

"Toni, I assume?" Sam said with a grin.

"Yes. How did you—?" Toni started, giving Sam a second glance.

"That's Shaft, Toni." I told her.

Toni blinked and then looked at Sam, who was tapping her foot against the ground impatiently. "Oh..Oh. Ohhh. So then there was time to have steak."

I facepalmed. "Toni, that's not the point."

"Listen," Sam said with a smirk covering her face. "This has all been very fun and all…but I really kind of need to go."

I could tell what she was feeling. She thought we were nutcases—children making up scenarios.

"What about your dreams, then?" I shouted. "The dream that told you to come here?"

Toni's head snapped towards me. "Dreams?"

Sam hesitated. "The dreams…you're right about that, at least…" She seemed to consider something, and then sighed. "Fine. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

Sam pulled out a crumpled napkin and a pen. She scribbled something down and then pushed it into my chest. I took the napkin—it was an address.

"That's where my tent is," Sam told me. "I still think this is the stupidest thing I've heard in a while. But I'll give you another chance. Meet me before the archery contest. Prove you're telling the truth, and then maybe I'll consider coming with you."

"Prove I'm…?" I echoed, and then nodded. "Alright."

Sam gave me a lopsided grin. "You better be there. I don't like when people are late."

Sam pulled out a pearl and tossed it onto the roof top of a building. Right before she teleported, she winked at me, and then she was gone.

Toni stared at me with the most lost expression. "What happened while I was gone?"

Toni

As we checked into a hotel that Jax confirmed was not likely to mug or kill us, Jax explained what had happened.

We'd tied up Klith's men and handed them over to the police with an anonymous sticky note just like last time except we couldn't find the man who had led Jax to the trap, which did not bode well.

Jax told me not to worry, and I wouldn't have worried if it weren't for the worried expression on Jax's face.

Once we got to our room, which looked unnervingly similar to the hotel we'd almost died in, I sighed and heavily sat down on one of the beds. "I don't think I've sat down all day."

"Don't exaggerate," Jax snapped. "You know we were only walking for a few hours."

"Screw it," I said as I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to sleep—" I stopped and then groaned, holding my head in my hands. "Uuuugh, but I just realized I can't because of these stupid dreams."

Jax's eyes shot wide open. "Dreams?"

"Oh right, Sam said something about dreams too, right?" I said curiously, lifting my head.

"Yeah. She said she's either dreaming about some man that's telling her she's going to save the world, or of this man that keeps threatening her and telling her some depressing things. And I'm paraphrasing."

"Well I recognize the second guy." I sighed. "Probably the same guy who keeps harassing me in my dreams."

"You're having dreams too? How come I'm not having these dreams?" Jax said in an affronted tone, as if having terrifying dreams was something to be jealous about. Jax gained a thoughtful look on his face. "Although I did use to have those kinds of dreams when I was twelve…except not of the threatening guy. They were of a woman. But she hasn't talked to me in a while."

"Wish that would happen to me," I muttered.

Jax sighed. "Sounds like Klith, honestly. I wouldn't be surprised if he was lurking in our minds, purposefully trying to lower our morale."

"Thanks for the idea," I groaned. "You know what? Screw that guy. I'm going to sleep, and he's not going to stop me."

"You're sleeping again? This late in the afternoon?" Jax said disbelievingly. "What are you, a bat?"

"It's only eleven," I said as I threw the covers over myself.

I could tell Jax was about to make a snarky comment, but restrained himself and stood. "Well, I'm going to go train then if you're going to sleep."

"If I'm a bat you're a dog." I muttered. "Always so full of energy."

"Hey, at least it's productive."

"Ugh. I'd rather listen to Klith than listen to your nagging."

"Toni, at least take off your shoes."

?-?-?

Ah. You're back.

Ha…you really believe that this fool's errand, this fruitless quest will—

Nope. Screw you.

Excuse me?

Get out of my head. Let me sleep, damn it.

How—how dare—

LA LA LA LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

Childish little—Hey! Don't run!

SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU BECAUSE I'M SLEEPING SO WELL!

GET BACK HERE! I'M NOT FINISHED!

Hey look, a hotdog! This is the best dream ever!

YOU WILL SUFFER, I WILL MAKE YOU PAY, I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU VALUE—

Ooh, ketchup! Don't mind if I do!

HEY! HEY! STOP IGNORING MEEEE!

(A/N: This continued for the duration of Toni's nap.)

?-?-?

"Toni! Wake up!"

I moaned and stretched, nearly smacking Jax in the face. "What is it," I yawned. "Can't it wait?"

"Toni, get up! We're almost late!"

"Please leave a message after the beep."

"Toni, please—"

"BEEP!"

"Toni, it's three thirty-nine!"

My eyes snapped open and I flailed as I rolled out of bed, landing on the floor with a thud. "Why didn't you lead with that?!"

I hastily pulled on my shoes and we both charged out of the hotel. Jax pulled out Sam's sticky note and looked at it. "If we rush we can get there in time."

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I complained. "We could have been there so much earlier!"

"It's not my fault you wouldn't wake up! You were talking in your sleep, slapping me away when I tried to wake you up! I think you talked about burritos at some point, but that can't have been right."

My cheeks went pink. "Don't listen to my sleep talk, you creep!"

"Creep?"

Me and Jax probably would have strangled each other had we not run into a wall. We both bounced off the brick wall and fell to the ground, dazed.

"Hey, geniuses! Over here!"

I glanced to the right, and saw an enormous tent with Sam standing in front of it, tapping her foot.

Jax stood and pulled me up, and we walked over to Sam.

"Hey," Jax said breathlessly. "Sorry we're late, someone—" Jax glared at me—"held us up."

"No worries," Sam said easily. "Come in, come in."

Sam crouched a bit and walked through the opening of the tent, and we followed.

The inside was surprisingly homey—there were a few armchairs to the side, right below an enormous rack holding an assortment of bows. All differently enchanted, all made of different materials, and all very impressive looking.

Jax looked awed as he reached for a bow with a metallic blue sheen to it. "Is…is this a copper infused longbow?"

Sam slapped Jax's hand, making him yelp and pull back, shaking his hand. "Hey. That costs more than your whole outfit."

Jax glanced down at his dirtied white shirt, torn jeans, and surprisingly pristine black leather jacket. "What? Is it that bad?"

"The bow would still cost more if your outfit was entirely new." Sam said, and then patted Jax on the back. "But you've got a good eye for bows. You're right, of course."

"Still, titanium is more expensive, no?" Jax said excitedly.

Sam grinned. "Technically yes, but if you're trying to flaunt your equipment you'll need to try harder."

"Ms. O' Quinn, are these friends?" a boy that looked the same age as Sam said as he scurried over.

Sam scowled, and I noticed a tinge of pink in her cheeks. "I told you not to call me that, Trevor. Call me Sam, for God's sake. We're the same age."

"Who…" Jax said, gesturing to Trevor.

"Oh, him?" Sam said carelessly. "He's Trevor McBean. It's pronounced Mc-Bane, he's rather touchy about that. He's my manager. I got him a few months ago when my old one quit. Good thing, too—my old manager was an old geezer."

"Don't be rude, Sam." Trevor said sternly. "You and Mr. Philips just had…different characteristics."

"Nice way of saying we hated each other," Sam said lightly. "Though I was beginning to warm up to him—until the coffee incident."

Trevor coughed. "Let's not discuss that."

"Anyways, you guys are late." Sam said, an eyebrow raised. "The archery competition is about to start. Sir Adcock is starting before me, and it'll be hard to top that."

I snorted. "Adcock?"

Sam looked like she was trying not to laugh. "Yeah, real unfortunate name."

"I don't get it," Jax said blankly.

Rightfully so, Trevor changed the subject. "So why are you guys here?"

"We're just here to talk with Sam," Jax said.

"But can we wait for the archery contest?" I asked Jax.

"I'm not sure," Jax said. "How long do you think the archery competition will take?"

Sam shrugged. "Few hours, maybe."

"Few hours!?" Jax yelled.

"Can't you just leave after your part?" I suggested.

Sam made a face. "And be insulted by everyone in the archery business? I'd rather not."

Jax sighed. "Won't they be happier once we've saved the world?"

Trevor looked at Sam curiously. "Saved the world?"

Sam scowled. "I'm still on the fence about that."

"Then there's nothing we can really do, right?" I said helplessly. "We'll just have to wait."

"Well, at least you won't be bored," Sam smirked as she pulled out two slips of paper from her front pocket.

?-?-?

"Can you believe she got us front row seats?" I asked Jax as we watched Sir Adcock shoot a dozen apples mid air.

We sat at the very front of a set of bleachers—in fact, we were completely surrounded by bleachers. The archers stood in a big field around the size of a basketball court, targets at the very end of the field. The field was covered in glass so that none of the audience members would get shot.

"Remember, we're not here for fun." Jax reminded me as he looked around. "We're here to recruit Shaft. And besides, we need to look out. Remember that guy we never found?"

"I dunno," I said skeptically. "From what you told me, he wasn't much of a threat."

"That's what you think," Jax said darkly.

"Look, Sam's out!" I said as Sam stepped into the field.

Sam exuded confidence—her expression was full of bravado. To the side was Trevor, who was standing next to a tough looking man.

Sam nodded at Trevor, who looked at her questioningly. She gave him a look like just do it, and Trevor relented, speaking to the man besides him.

Soon after a hole opened up on the other side of the field, and suddenly bunch of zombies wearing helmets burst from the hole, sailing into the air.

Thst's when Sam began to fire endlessly, firing faster than a skeleton. The arrows pierced the zombies midair, which dissolved into dust, leaving the helmets falling to the ground. Sam didn't only shoot the zombies—she even fired at the helmets, piercing them all as they fell. She only missed once, the arrow slamming into the glass wall.

Sam lifted up her bow with a triumphant expression, and I cheered and whooped with the rest of the crowd. Even Jax looked a little impressed.

"That's a lot better than even I could do," Jax said. "She really is a great archer."

The impressed look on Jax's face immediately faded, and I glanced at him. "What?"

"Crap," Jax said as he stood. "You see that guy? Next to the arrow in the glass?"

I looked around the arrow and spotted a shady looking man staring at the arrow embedded in the glass, which a man wearing a yellow helmet walked up to and pulled out. He moved, and I saw a bruise on the back of his neck.

"Oh yeah," I said. "He looks pretty shady."

"Toni, that's the guy we didn't get." Jax said, pale.

"What?"

"I need to go over there," Jax said, reaching into his inventory.

I grabbed his wrist. "Jax, no! We're in a crowd!"

"TONI!" Jax suddenly screamed, and my attention returned to the man.

He was holding a red block that was beginning to flash white. The people next to him turned, still not realizing—

Move! I internally screamed.

Too late.

BOOM.

The TNT blasted a hole into the wall, sending up a cloud of dust and glass.

The crowd was silent, unbelieving. Someone screamed, which set off a chain reaction.

The entire crowd screamed and Sam turned to the crater, her once confident gaze now replaced by shock.

I heard the glass shatter, and saw out of the corner of my eye Jax sprinting across the field, his titanium sword in hand.

He tackled Sam to the ground, and the two smashed to the ground as a flaming arrow slammed into the glass wall, right where Sam's head had just been.

I jumped into the field, my sword out. Trevor was gone. Had he bolted? No. He didn't seem like the type of guy that would abandon Sam. Then again, I'd known him for around thirty minutes.

Multiple guards surged into the field, all of them running towards the hole in the glass, which was surrounded by smoke and dust.

Beyond the smoke, a purple light flickered on.

A fireball burst from the smoke, and the guards exploded, their swords spinning into the air…

And the man charged from the dust, lifting up his sword and laughing maniacally. Behind him, pigmen and wither skeletons charged from the purple light, which I recognized as the light of a Nether Portal.

Above the field, enormous Nether portals opened, like some god-forsaken force was tearing holes in the sky.

Monsters dropped from the portals.

Everything was going up in flames.

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter for no particular reason.

Also this may seem random, but go read My Craft by OnTheCobb! It's a great fic and it really inspired my style of writing!

If you enjoyed this, then please leave a review! It motivates me a lot! Speaking of reviews, thank you SuperPogXYZ for the great support! I still read the reviews on my old fic, so thanks for reading that and this as well!

Anyways, have a great day and wash your hands! ;)

Krios