Chapter 7

The next morning absolutely no one was here. I was confused, but I took this opportunity to just travel around the islands so that I may familiarize myself with them. It took most of the morning and nothing of interest happened, so I went back to Sparky's house... I mean, our house. I went up to the Nether portal. I really want to go back for some reason.

'You sure you want to go there by yourself?', an unfamiliar voice asked.

'Who's this and how can you talk to me telepathically?'

'I am Mianite. You have not met me yet. I'm around, just not noticeable.'

'Why don't you make yourself noticed? I wanna see what you look like. I've only ever met Ianite.'

'Ah yes, my sister. I know you're on her team, and you chose without even meeting Dianite or I. Now I don't think that's very fair.'

'Oh yeah? Well where were your and Dianite's followers when I fell into the ocean huh? Ianite's follower was there immediately and saved me and gave me a home and some tools and armor and gave me space without question when I found out my whole village got turned to zombies. Then when I met Ianite herself, she's super nice. She listens to me, she asks me what's wrong or on my mind, she helps me feel better if I'm down. Of course I'm gonna wanna follow her after all the kind things her and her follower have done for me. This is literally the first time I'm even speaking to you.'

'You have a point. But Tom is Ianite's follower too. Dianite doesn't have anyone. Don't you remember Ianite telling you?'

'Oh, right... I dunno... Tom to me doesn't seem like an Ianite follower though. He's a little too... brash.'

'Well so were you when you first met everyone.'

'…. Yeah, I guess. You got me there.' Then Mianite appeared in front of me grinning.

"Hello Lucky Fire. Would you mind company going into the Nether?" I immediately felt something off about him. I'm not scared, but I'm nervous and cautious about him and no one else is here to help me... great... I also have nothing.

"I can take care of myself thanks. How do you think I've survived this long? Plus, I've got Ianite's sword, Netherite armor, and a Power 4 bow. I'm set."

"I can upgrade your stuff to be better. Join my team. You'll be even more powerful than Sparkly bum. ~I snickered at the name~ See? You find my name calling funny."

"Yeah, but that's balance. I can be nice, or I can find pranks and certain name calling funny. If the name calling is very rude, I won't find it funny. But 'Sparkly bum' is pretty funny. Plus, I'd never betray Ianite. I don't do that. I'm true to her. You can try all you want, however you want, I will never betray her."

"Hmm, very loyal I see. Well then, good luck in the Nether." He then poofed away. I stood there, a little nervous for the future. Frick, Mianite's supposed to be all about order. He doesn't seem to be that way right now. Something's off for sure.

'Ianite... if you can hear me, help me? Mianite appeared before me wanting me to go to his side. I'll never, but he might have something planned...'

'How would you like me to help you? I heard what you said to him. I'm very touched that you'd never betray me. Don't worry Lucky, if something happens to you, I'll know it's not your choice. If somehow Mianite gets to you, I'll team up with Sparklez and Tom and we'll figure out a way to get you back. But I feel like we won't have to. Lucky Fire, beware though. Mianite is infected with Darkness. He's not himself. He's not normally like this.'

'I thought something was off... thanks Ianite. Also, thanks for having faith in me. I won't let you down, I promise.' With that, I went to my floor and got all my gear to go to the Nether. I'm determined now. I will beat any trial Mianite gives me. I smirk, then I go down to the floor and go through the portal. I take a few steps forward, then I see many many monsters. Oh, this'll be fun. I bring out my sword and I cut through the first few monsters, then they all notice me. I fight very valiantly and strategically. I block blows with my sword and then cut them down when they're vulnerable. When I have space, I use my bow on the ghasts. Hmm... there seems to be an endless wave of monsters... this isn't right. Maybe it's Mianite messing with me. He did say 'good luck in the Nether'.

I think it is Mianite. Hmph, well, I'll show him I can't be broken. I continue fighting the monsters bravely. Oh, this goes on for a long time. I eventually run out of arrows... crap... The next time a ghast fires a fireball, I block it with my sword out of instinct. It still hurt me though. "Owww..." There's more monsters however. Jeez, how many can there be?! I fight, but I'm getting tired. The next time a ghast fires at me, I swing my sword at the fireball out of irritation. It hit the ghast and ended it. Whoa, I didn't know that could happen. I grin, I gained a bit more energy finding that out. I can hold on a little longer. I fight more and more monsters and again I am running out of energy. I start to back away toward the portal only to find that I get hit from behind. I whirl around and end the monster that hit me. I run toward the portal and a hoglin blocks my way.

It takes me a while and a few hits on me, but I end it and get through the portal. I'm feeling weak, but not as weak as I was when I fought the Naglfar's minions alongside Sparky. I make it to my bed and instantly fell asleep. That fight really took it out of me. Yeah, having a helmet on is gonna suck in the morning, as well as the rest of my armor, but what can ya do? I'll deal with the pain, and the sword? Um... we'll see how that goes...

~Ianite's POV~

I teleported myself to Lucky after she entered the portal so that I can step in if I need to. As I watch her fight, I realize she doesn't need my help. She's really good and she's very brave. She's not put off by the sheer amount of monsters. She's also a really good shot with her bow. Those ghasts never stood a chance. She has a really good balance of when to attack with her sword then her bow. She also has fairly good reflexes, but as she gets wearier and wearier, she gets hit a lot more. Oh no... maybe I should step in. Then she got hit with a ghast fireball. That really worried me, so I descended a bit but when she figured out she could return the fireball, she got stronger again. I retreated back higher but I still kept an eye on her. She may have a little more strength, but she's still weary.

As she was backing up, I saw the monster approaching. I wanted to warn her, but I knew I couldn't. I can't make my presence known here. Then the hoglin, but she took care of it as fast as she could without a shield, which made me worry less, and then she finally went through the portal. I breathed a big sigh of relief then followed her. She was already gone when I appeared. I went to her floor to find her laying on her bed, fully in her armor and with her sword in her hand... that's dangerous... I make myself visible and take care of her sword for her. I make a new chest and a sign saying 'Lucky's sword and helmet'. After I put her sword in the chest, I went back over to her and carefully and gently took her helmet off.

"You fought bravely and valiantly today my dear champion. Now rest easy. I'll be watching over you.", I said gently, then put her helmet in the chest as well. I went up to the very top where my throne is and I sat down in it. Not 2 seconds pass and Dianite makes his appearance.

"Well dear sister, it seems you have taken quite the liking to your newest champion."

"What if I have? She's proving her loyalty every day. Did you hear what she said to Mianite earlier?"

"Indeed I had. She's fierce, I'll give her that. I'll admit, I'm gonna keep an eye on her, I don't want to get on her bad side if she's so passionate about being loyal to only you. Plus, I've seen how she is when she first arrived. She's very feisty." I giggled.

"Yes, she is, but she's also very kind as well. She's also trying to find herself... she's been on her own for so long, never having anyone to talk to, or, well, not having any interest in talking to anyone until now. I helped her a little bit when I checked in on her the other day. She was so lost... I feel for her."

"If I picked up on Lucky's attitude right, she'd be all, 'don't have sympathy for me, I don't need it', or something like that." I smiled a small smile at that.

"Yeah, probably, but I can't help it." Dianite smiled gently.

"I know sister. Well, I'll leave you be with your thoughts, I can tell you have some things on your mind you need to sort through. Take care of your newest champion. I have a feeling she'll be the key to whatever happens next." I nodded and he disappeared.

"'The key to whatever happens next' huh? Whatever could he mean by that?" I stood and paced the top floor. Dianite's right though. I do have some things to sort out. How can I help Lucky best? How can I also help Sparklez best? I should also help Tom, he is claiming to be on my side after all. Sparklez and I don't believe it for a second though. We both know him all too well. Lucky even had her suspicions, until Mianite squashed them with his logic. I mean, sure, he had a point, but still... I eventually went down to Lucky's floor and sat on the chest I made for her to store her sword and helmet. As I kept watch over her, I recalled our talk and how abruptly it ended as well as her comment about how easy it is to talk with me.

I know she likes me. She's embarrassed by it I think. Maybe I should let her know I know she likes me and I appreciate her feelings, but I feel friendship toward her. I looked down at the floor. She also doesn't have to feel embarrassed. Sometimes people can't help what they feel. As I was mulling over my thoughts, Lucky made a sound. I looked up. She must be dreaming. Then I caught the look on her face. No, she's having a nightmare. I go over to her and sit on the edge of her bed. Her nightmare seems to be getting worse. I didn't know whether I should try to wake her, or what I should do. Then all of a sudden, she sat bolt upright, which made me become invisible and fly up into the air. She took a deep breath after she settled down. Then she looked over and saw the chest.

"'Lucky's sword and helmet'.", she read off aloud. She got up and looked around the room. "Who?" I held my breath, for reasons I may never know nor understand. She then went over to her ender chest and put all her items into it, then took off her armor and put that in. She then went over to the chest I made, took out her sword and helmet, and put that in her ender chest. She went back over to her bed and sat cross legged. She looks like she's thinking hard. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Ianite, I know you're there." I blinked in surprise. I became visible.

"How?"

"Who else would put my sword away safely in a chest so that I didn't get hurt in my sleep? Sparky wouldn't have been around this late."

"True. You have a point." I went down to the floor and leaned against the wall.

~Normal POV~

"You must have seen me have a nightmare... ~deep breath~ It was a two setting dream of what happened to my village and what happened in the Nether. The first was what may have happened if I didn't escape my village during the zombie apocalypse and the second was what would have happened if that hoglin got to me... not pretty, that's all I have to say."

"Hmm, I can imagine..."

"I'm not going to be scared of the Nether though. These nightmares are just that. Nightmares that my subconscious mind comes up with to scare me. Well, I won't let it. I'll keep going back to the Nether and beat any monsters that come my way. I'm brave." Ianite smiled knowingly.

"I know you are. I admire you for that. Lucky, let me see your bow. I'm gonna add a couple things to it for you." I'm very surprised, but I get up, go to my chest, get out my bow, then hand it to Ianite. She took it and we went down to the anvil. She combined it with a few books. After she handed it back to me, I looked at its new enchantments.

"Whoa, Power 5 and Infinity? That's so cool! Thanks so much Ianite." She smiled kindly and inclined her head. We went back up to my floor where I put my bow back. "I can't wait to try it out. Man, it's gonna be awesome. Now I don't have to worry about running out of arrows like I did earlier." I sat on my bed again and Ianite leaned against the wall again.

"You should get some food though Lucky. Your health is down still." Ianite gave me some apples.

"Oh, right. Thanks." I ate the apples until my health was full again.

"Now you should get some sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?" I looked at her a bit suspiciously.

"Do you know what's going to happen tomorrow?" She turned her back to me.

"I do not, but no one ever knows what each new day brings. Especially in this world. Anything can happen."

"I mean, I guess. Well, I'll try to get back to sleep. Good night then." I laid back down.

"Good night Lucky Fire..." She then left for upstairs.