The Disastrous Deer (Part 2)
An hour later, after getting her bones healed and taking a very relaxing shower, Sam was ready.
Sam knocked on Jax's door—they'd agreed to meet there.
The door was opened by Jax. "You're late," he said.
"Well you didn't have a broken rib, did you, Zack?" Sam retorted.
"Glad to see you're back to your old self," Jax chuckled. "And my name's Jax."
Everyone was gathered in the middle of Jax's room, where there were two couches that could have fit six people respectively.
"Is that pizza?" Sam said as she sat cross-legged and reached for a slice. "Don't mind if I do."
"Are you eating Hawaiian pizza?" Bandit demanded. "You know that pineapple on pizza is a crime, right?"
"It tastes good," Sam said defensively.
"You are a menace to society," Bandit said.
"I've never had pizza before," Toni said as she chewed. "It's not bad."
"Correction," Bandit said. "You're both a menace to society."
"In all due respect, we're not here to talk about pineapple on pizza." Jax said. "We're here to catch a reindeer."
"Okay, so what's the plan?" Toni asked. "This reindeer's not going to catch itself."
"I mean, how hard can catching a reindeer be?" Rook said.
"Hard," Sam warned. "That deer is a devious little monster. It's smart. Extraordinarily smart. Every time I set a trap or even got close to it, it knew. I'm also pretty sure it has great hearing."
"I can confirm that," Cacao said. "The deer's also got strength—it can smash through brick walls without even stopping."
"What about obsidian?" Jax said.
"I know what you're thinking," Sam said. "But the deer's pretty fast. What if you accidentally impale it while trying to put it in an obsidian cage? We're not trying to kill it, are we? Are we?" Sam directed that last question at Lago.
Lago shook her head. "It was never specified, but even if it was said otherwise, I think I'd rather keep it alive."
"Okay," Jax said. "So now that's cleared up, how are we going to capture the thing without killing it?"
"Make it so it can't go anywhere," Sam said. "That's what I tried." She told them about her attempted redstone trap.
Cacao grunted. "If you wanted some redstone done you could have just asked me."
"Yeah, well I hadn't exactly been the most sane person in that period of time." Sam said.
"I think the idea's good," Jax said. "Trapping the reindeer underground sounds like a solid plan."
"But how are we going to get it underground?" Bandit asked through a mouthful of pizza.
"Well, it likes carrots," Sam said.
"So do we just leave a trail of carrots leading underground." Bandit said.
"We already established that the reindeer isn't stupid," Rook said. "We need to treat this reindeer like a real human. And for goodness sake, Bandit, can you finish eating before talking? It's disgusting."
Bandit swallowed and said, "So why don't we just retry Sam's trap? It seemed like an okay plan. It just needs a few kinks worked out."
"Hmm," Sam said. "The reindeer didn't seem like it was aware of the trap. Though I'm not sure how it didn't step on a pressure plate."
"Then how do we make the trap foolproof?" Toni said.
Cacao rubbed his palms together with a grin. "Leave the redstone to me."
The trap was put together and planned a lot faster than when Sam had made it by herself. Cacao acknowledged that it was still impressive for Sam to have set up the trap on such short notice, albeit it's flaws.
The first thing they fixed was the pressure plates. Instead of pressure plates, they decided to go for the much simpler route of using a lever which had been placed far enough away from the newly formed 'carrot farm' so that it wouldn't be conspicuous, and that way the 'carrot farm' could close and open at the flip of a switch.
The second thing they changed was that when the reindeer fell into the pit, there would be a bit of water at the bottom so the reindeer wouldn't get too hurt falling.
And the last change was made so that instead of dispensers continually spraying out gas, the dispensers would be operated by levers, and they would shoot potions of slowness instead of tranquilizer gas. Also a minor change made was that the walls were replaced with wool so the reindeer wouldn't hurt itself. There would also be glass in the side of the pit so that we could see the reindeer.
The trickiest part was getting rid of the leftover gas that still remained in the pit Sam had blown up, but they'd found that after a bit of trial and error that water neutralized the gas.
After a few hours of construction which were made much easier with seven more people working, the trap was finished and now all they had to do was wait.
After nearly two hours of waiting, half of which Sam spent playing cards with Bandit, Lago, and Cacao, it had started to get dark, and Sam was beginning to lose hope.
"Did the moron that made the bet say to capture the reindeer by Christmas, or the end of Christmas?" Sam asked.
"He didn't specify," Lago said. "I just hope—"
"A seven," Bandit crowed as he put down a card. "I win."
"You scoundrel," Lago said. "How are you able to know your cards? You're blindfolded."
"I have my ways," Bandit said coyly.
Suddenly there was a snort, and we went quiet.
"Did you hear that?" Cacao whispered.
"Clear as day," Bandit whispered back. He picked up the walkie talkie and spoke into it. "Reindeer's here. Get ready to turn on the dispensers."
"Got it," Rook's voice came from the radio.
Sure enough, the reindeer appeared, sniffing. It cantered towards the 'carrot farm', and Sam snorted. The deer gave off the aura of a celebrity strutting haughtily down a red carpet.
The deer looked around, and fixed it's eyes on Sam's hiding spot. Sam's blood froze. Had the plan failed before it had even started?
The reindeer looked away and lowered it's head to pluck a carrot out of the farm.
"Now!" Sam hissed, and the reindeer immediately perked up. It's legs stiffened, ready to bolt, when—
Cacao flicked the lever. "Bing, bang, boom."
The thumping of pistons retracting filled the air, and the ground beneath the reindeer suddenly slid open. The reindeer plummeted into the pit, and we heard a splash.
"Close it! Close it!" Sam yelled, and Cacao flicked the lever. The ground slid back shut, and now there was no evidence that the carrot farm had ever been anything more than a carrot farm.
They ran over to a smaller hole in the ground at the base of the tree that led into the room Cacao had dubbed 'the control room'. They climbed down the ladders placed in the hole, and found Jax and Rook running around flicking various levers while the others watched. Slowness potions flew out of the dispensers in the pit and smashed on the reindeer, which was flying around the pit. The effect was immediate, and the reindeer's movement instantly slowed to that of a crawl.
It flew around in the pit in circles, bellowing it's displeasure.
"We got it!" Jax shouted. "Now all we need to do is capture it!"
"How?" Toni said. "We didn't plan that far ahead."
Jax deflated. "Ah. That's true. Well, we can always go back to the 'obsidian trap' idea."
Toni grinned. "Good idea."
Jax screwed up his face and clenched his fists. Suddenly obsidian pillars burst out of the walls in the pit, and the reindeer brayed in alarm.
Even more obsidian pillars erupted from the walls, making it so the unicorn couldn't go anywhere. Soon the reindeer was trapped in an obsidian cage.
"Now for the finishing touch." Sam said as she readied her bow. "Remove the glass."
Toni smashed the glass with her sword, and Sam pulled out a net arrow.
"You know," Lago said, "for a deer that's been running around for three years, this was a lot easier than I—"
HALT!
Sam paused while nocking the arrow. Everyone else appeared to have heard it, as they all looked around, confused.
"Who said that?" Jax said, drawing his sword.
It's me, you fools! Let me go! The voice said in a British accent.
Toni was the first one to figure it out. "Is…is that coming from the reindeer?"
No, it's coming from the sword. The reindeer snapped. YES, the voice is coming from the reindeer, you sod! I'M the one talking!
"The…the reindeer can talk." Cacao said in disbelief. "And it's British. Why is it British?"
Of course I can talk. I'm magic. The reindeer said haughtily. And I was born in Britain, thank you very much.
"A British reindeer," Sam said. "Now I've seen it all."
A magic British reindeer, the reindeer corrected her. Get it right.
"If you could talk this whole time, why didn't you do so earlier?" Toni asked.
Most mortals are not worthy of hearing my true voice, the reindeer sniffed. This is the first time in a while that I have been cornered like this.
"Mortals?" Lago repeated. "Are you implying you're not a mortal?"
Of course I'm not a mortal, the reindeer said. I'm Blitzen, Santa's favorite reindeer. Well, technically it's Rudolph, but I'm second after him.
"You're Blitzen?" Bandit said in shock.
"Santa's real?" Cacao said at the same time.
Yes, I'm Blitzen. Blitzen sounded pleased now. And yes, Santa is real.
"An immortal magic British reindeer," Sam said. "I'm going to be honest, this was not what I bargained for when I was told I'd be hunting a reindeer."
Blitzed squinted at Sam. Ah! You're the one that hunted me all last night. I thank you. It was very amusing.
"Let me shoot him," Sam said as she nocked an arrow in her bow.
"Sam!" Lago snapped.
"Just once," Sam insisted.
"Why have you been messing with the Aether?" Jax asked the reindeer.
Because, you fool, I have been trapped in this accursed realm for three years, Blitzen snapped. And Santa needs me to pull his sleigh.
"Hasn't he got, like, six other reindeer?" Bandit said. "I'm sure he can manage."
I am a very important reindeer! Blitzen said, sounding insulted. Santa has been searching for me for ages, but this place is too well hidden! I've been trying to escape for ages!
"Why didn't you just ask for help?" Rook said.
Because mortals like you do not deserve to hear my divine voice, Blitzen said, his tone haughty again.
"So in other words, because of your pride." Sam said. "Are you aware of the portal hall in the center of the Aether?"
The what? Blitzen said, sounding confused.
"You know. The big blackstone hall with all the portals that lead out of the Aether." Sam said. "You weren't aware of that?"
Blitzen was speechless.
"Not only is he a narcissist, he's also kind of dumb." Bandit whispered.
I heard that, Blitzen snapped. How was I to know? I don't spend my days in town.
"You've been here for three years." Sam said. "It's kind of an important place."
I see, Blitzen said, sounding flustered.
"If Jax gets rid of the obsidian cage, do you promise not to kick the crap out of us?" Sam asked.
"But wait," Cacao said. "What about Lago's…deal?"
"Right," Sam said. "My friend here's made a deal that if she didn't capture you, she'd have to kiss someone."
Sounds romantic, Blitzen said.
"The guy's a massive prick," Cacao said.
Ah. Well, I'm afraid that's none of my business. Blitzen said.
"You're also a prick." Cacao snapped.
Insulting me will get you nowhere, Blitzen said. Now let me out.
"Hold on," Sam said. "Cacao, what's the guy's name?"
"Zeke." Cacao said.
"Bandit, get Zeke over here," Sam said. "We need to show him solid proof."
"Okay," Bandit said and ran over to the ladder. He climbed up and was gone.
There's no time for this, Blitzen said. It's nearly Christmas. Santa needs me.
"You can afford to wait a few minutes," Sam said.
No! Blitzen shouted. I finally have the knowledge to escape this realm! I cannot afford to wit any longer! Blitzen lowered his head and smashed the obsidian cage as hard as he could.
"Stop!" Sam yelled. "You're just going to hurt yourself!"
Suddenly Blitzen's antlers began to glow, and Blitzen smashed the obsidian cage once more. There was a crack.
Toni stepped back. "Blitzen can't…break obsidian, can he?"
"Jax," Sam warned.
"I got it," Jax said as he pointed his palm at Blitzen.
Crack. Two of the obsidian bars shattered.
"Jax," Sam said more urgently.
"I got it, I got it!"
Crack. More smashed.
"JAX!"
"I GOT IT, I—" a wisp of shadow leaked from Jax's palm, and he dropped to his knees with a gasp. "I DON'T GOT IT!"
Blitzed finally smashed out of the cage, flying towards the roof of the pit.
"Stop him!" Sam shouted as she drew her net arrow and fired it.
Without stopping, Blitzen smashed through the dirt ceiling and was gone. The net arrow burst too late, sending out a net that went nowhere.
Sam ran over to the ladder and climbed up it as fast as she could, but the reindeer was gone by the time she got to the surface.
"No!" Lago cried as she climbed out of the hole.
"It's gone," Toni said in disbelief.
And at the worst time possible, Bandit and Zeke came back.
"So? Where's the reindeer?" Zeke said. Zeke was a boy with black hair and a black shirt.
"I told you, it's—" Bandit stopped upon seeing the now demolished carrot farm. "What the—?"
"Interesting," Zeke said. "I don't see any reindeer."
"It got away," Sam said.
'How convenient." Zeke said sarcastically. "Now, Lago…"
Lago took a step back. Her expression was mutinous. "It's not Christmas."
"We can start a bit early," Zeke said with a smirk. Before he could move, Cacao stepped in front of him.
"You're not laying your disgusting hands on her," Cacao snarled.
"Who are you?" Zeke said incredulously. "Her boyfriend?"
"I'm her bestie," Cacao growled as he drew his sword. "And I'm the only one that gets to harass her."
But before Zeke could say anything, there was a loud bellow. Blitzen suddenly appeared out of nowhere, circling Zeke once, twice, before kicking him in the head. Zeke's head snapped backwards, and Zeke collapsed on the ground.
Merry Christmas! Blitzen crowed before swooping away.
Lago laughed and waved. "Bye!"
Bandit also waved. "Even if you're a bit of a narcissist, you're okay in my book!"
And with that, Blitzen had swooped off towards the portal hall.
They all stood there for a second before Toni said, "Well, that was easily resolved."
They were silent for another moment before Cacao poked Zeke with his foot. "So what should we do with this guy?"
Okay, so this chapter definitely should have been better, but I was short on time. Sorry.
Anyways, even if you didn't enjoy that chapter, have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year! Or Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate on Christmas.
Krios