Chapter 25 : A race against time
Hey guys, Agithos here for another chapter (a little shorter this time ^^). And since I don't have anything interesting to say. Hope you enjoy this chapter
Present time, Home, Mickael POV
"Notch...Am I actually dreaming ?" I asked in my mind
"Unfortunatly for you...no, you are very much awake !" He answered.
"GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE BRAT !"
"You'll have to catch me first !"
It was with those two sentences that I woke up this morning. Groaning and still half asleep by the rough waking up, I found myself staring at Vanessa being chased by Ari around the house. 'The reason ?' You may ask, well...I still don't know for sure but I think it was because the little cave spider stole some food just under her big sister's nose as she was about to eat it. Next to me, Ayumi was yawning and Yaebi was rubbing his eyes. The only one who was still in her room was Andr. She probably locked herself into her bedroom as soon as she heard Ari screaming to her little sister. As for Cupa, she decided to live with Hayden after Vanessa's birthday which took place a few days ago.
"Morning Mickael...Ayumi..." Yaebi finally began after a few seconds.
"Morning..." I simply replied.
"So...what's the problem this time...?" He then asked as he watched Vanessa running away with a piece of cooked meat in her mouth.
"I don't know..." Ayumi answered as she walked towards the two spiders sisters "But it's time to put a end to this mess !"
After knocking down three chairs, a chest and tripping on the carpet, the chase was cut to an end when Ari finally managed to catch her little sister by the waist. They both fell on the floor, Ari being on top.
"Give me back my food !" Ari said as she took a side of the piece of meat and began to pull on it.
"No, I found it. It's mine !" Her little sister replied.
"ENOUGH !"
Ari and Vanessa, startled by the sudden shout next to them, dropped their precious food and looked towards the source of the voice. They saw Ayumi, in front of them, both arms crossed and with an angry look in her eyes.
"Oh...um...Hey, Ayumi...How are you today ?" Ari asked with a sheepish smile on her face and a drop of sweat dripping down her forehead.
"What in the Nether are you two doing by this hour ?" Ayumi asked, clearly annoyed "Look outside, the sun isn't even up yet !" She finished as she pointed at the window, the moon was still high into the sky.
With one more pull, Ari managed to snatch the piece of meat from her little sister's mouth. Then, she quickly got back on her feet before facing her skeleton friend. She scratched the back of her head and laughed a little as she tried to lighten up the mood between her and Ayumi.
"Um, well, you see, Vanessa stole this piece of meat from one of my hiding place and I was trying to get it back !" The spider girl explained.
"I didn't STEAL it, I FOUND it and thus I earned the right to keep it !" Vanessa shot back.
"And what were you doing with a cooked piece of meat in your room ?" Ayumi asked, ignoring the cave spider's comment.
"Well...sometimes, during the night, I get a little hungry so...I go into kitchen and grab something to eat !"
"So, let me get this right : during the night, you sneak into the kitchen, grab something to eat and hide it in your personal food stock. Vanessa found this and grabbed the piece of meat you picked up for yourself. So, you runned after her !" Ayumi replied, her eyes closed.
"Yep, that's pretty much it !" Ari responded with a smile.
"So...you two...JUST WOKE UP THE ENTIRE HOUSE JUST BECAUSE YOUR STOMACHS COULDN'T WAIT AN HOUR OR TWO ?" Ayumi finally shouted, letting her exasparation speak. Even I was surprised by this, it was rare for Ayumi to shout like this.
This time, neither Ari or Vanessa had something to say to defend themselves. They both just looked each other before staring at the ground at their feet. Ayumi closed her eyes and sighed
"Go back to your beds, both of you. And I don't want to hear a single noise coming from your room until this the sun is up !"
Deciding it was best to not anger Ayumi more than they already had, Ari and her little sister quietly, but quickly, went back into their bedroom. Once we heard the door close, my skeleton girlfriend sighed once again and turned towards us.
"I...I am sorry for shouting. It's just that...those two can really act as childs sometimes !" She explained.
"Don't worry !" I replied "At least, their little argument is over. Come on, we should return to bed !"
As I was about to turn back to my room, I heard Yaebi clearing his throat, catching both Ayumi and I's attention. I wanted to ask him what was going on but I didn't have to. He pointed towards the kitchen and we saw the mess the two sisters made during their little chase. It was like a world war happened in our house. Some chairs were on the ground, the table was on the side and chests were opened, leaving piles of stuff scattered everywere on the ground.
"I think this is going to take a while to clean up !" Yaebi spoke up.
2 hours later, Home, Mickael POV
The sun was slowly going up from the horizon and we were had just finished cleaning everything up. Yaebi, Ayumi and I took a deep breath as we sat at the table.
"Four hundred years wandering in Minecraftia and I have never thought about doing some cleaning immediatly after waking up early in the morning !" Yaebi said after yawning.
"I join you on this one !" I replied "I could have used an hour more of sleep. On the top of that, I am getting quite hungry !"
A second later, a loud rumble coming from my stomach backed up my claim. Ayumi giggled as she got up and searched for something in a nerby chest. A few seconds, she pulled out some cookies and dropped them on the table, in front of our faces. A nice odor went into my nose as I stared at the cookie.
"I think we earned a little treat after all of this !" She said before taking a cookie into her mouth.
Yaebi and I did the same as we picked up one from the table and eating it. I moaned in my mouth as I swallow the first bit.
"Damn it, they are good !" I spoke up.
"Thanks !" Ayumi smiled "I baked them yesterday with Cupa's help !" The skeleton girl replied.
"Is someone talking about me ?" A girl voice asked from behind me.
I turned around and saw Cupa's face glued at the window, a dozen centimeters behind me.
"WOW !" I shouted just before loosing balance on my chair and falling on the floor. I could hear Yaebi laughing his ass off while Ayumi was giggling. I know it was surely funny but it hurt a little too. I would like to see you falling neck first on the floor.
"Are you ok ?" Ayumi asked as she helped me get on my feet.
"Yes, just...please don't do that again Cupa !" I said as I rubbed my neck.
"Sorry !" She responded with her usual happy voice behind the window. Seconds later, she passed the front door, followed by Hayden soon after.
"Hi everyone !" The black haired man spoke up before he turned to me with a grin on his face "I didn't know my girlfriend was creeping you out so much. You should have told me !"
"Shut up Hayden !" I simply replied to his taunting.
The black-haired man chuckled a little before he and Cupa took a seat at the table and began to eat with us.
"So, any reports about Herobrine and his army ?" He asked.
"No, but Jade told me she would come see us if there were any news about him !" I answered "It has been a week already, I just hope everything is according to plan concerning the alliance between the mobs kingdoms and the human empire !"
"I hope so too. Or else, everything you and your friends has done to Azlanta would have turned out to be useless !" Notch continued.
A second later, there was a teleporting sound next to us. We turned around and saw Andr who was now standing next to us, in her usual black coat. She began to wave shily at us.
"H-Hi, everybody. How are you doing ?" She spoke up with a small smile.
"We are doing good !" Cupa replied.
As for Yaebi, Ayumi and me. A yawn from the zombie boy was all the answer she needed. I swear, we must have looked like living corpses.
"I am sorry, but...can someone explain to me why Ari and Vanessa are hanging from the ceiling of the stairs ?"
"Huh ?" We all said at the same time.
We all looked at the stairs to see two familiar faces with red eyes and purple that were smiling sheepishly at us. From our point of view, only their upside down faces were visible. Ayumi frowned a little at them while Yaebi just rolled his eyes and sighed. Cupa and Hayden looked at each other, a little confused.
"Told you this was a bad idea !" Vanessa said as she turned to her sister.
"Hum...hey everyone !" Ari said with a wide smile on her face "Can we go down now ?"
"...Yes !" Ayumi sighed.
The rest of the breakfirst was pretty calm...well, exept when Ayumi scolded the two sisters a little more and made them promise to not do that again. When Hayden asked me what happened, I told him and he began to laugh. Looks like the noise woke him up too but he didn't pay any mind and simply went back to sleep.
A little while later, In front of the house, Hayden POV
Mickael and I were sparring in front of the house, under the eyes of our girlfriends and a certain spider girl. It was an unarmed match, no weapons were allowed and we had to use our fists. I was also not allowed to use my lighting power nor my Aemoh form either.
"Go Mickael, wreck his ass !" Ari cheered for him.
"Come on sweetie, you can do it !" Cupa cheered at me.
"You are going to eat the ground Mickael !" I grinned at him.
"Yeah, we will see about that !" He replied.
About a second later, we charged at each other. I blocked his fist with my hand and counter attacked with a kick in his waist. Mickael groaned is pain before smiling a little. He grabbed my leg with his free arm and pressed it against his body. Then, he managed to get his other other hand free from my grip and placed it against my chest.
"Crap !" Was the only think I could think of before he kicked my other leg.
I fell on the ground with Mickael on top of me, his right knee and left hand on my chest to keep me pinned on the ground. However, I was having none of that. I began to strugge as I punched him straight in the ribs, sending him rolling a meter away from me. We both quickly went on our feet.
"Come on guys, I want to see some epic fight !" Ari almost shouted at us.
"Stop it Ari !" Ayumi replied "You are disturbing them !"
"You're no fun Ayumi !" The spider girl responded.
While they were talking, Mickael and I had already resumed our little sparring match. I tried to sweep his legs off the ground but he jumped at the last second and kicked me into the chest. I stumbled backward a little but managed to stay on my feet. I saw him running towards me, his fist tightened and aiming for my jaw.
"It's over Hayden. You are going down !" Mickael said as he arrived in front of me.
"In your dream !" I replied as I thought of a plan;
At the last second, I let myself fall on the ground. As soon as I touched the dirt down below, I quickly raised my leg into the air. Mickael was taken by surprise and didn't have the time to avoid my foot hitting his chin with full force. He turned around and fell face first on the ground
"Aw shit, I think I put to much power into it !" I thought as I saw Mickael was still on the ground and he wasn't moving. Behind me, I could hear Cupa cheering for me, Ayumi was getting slightly worried and Ari was giving some gold nugget to her little sister who was smiling proudly.
After a few more seconds, I saw Mickael slowly getting on his feet, his back facing me.
"Mickael, are you ok ? Sorry about that, I didn't mean to hit you so hard !" I apologized
He slowly turned towards me and the next thing I felt was a fist hitting my stomach with so much force I was sent flying away meters away, until my back hit a tree behind me. As I crashed into the tree, a small crater was formed inside of the trunk.
"HAYDEN !" I heard Cupa scream as she runned to me.
Gasping for air, I looked at the direction of Mickael and I could have swear to have seen his mob eye flashing red for only a split of second before returning back to it's original yellow color. Even him looked surprised about what he has just done as he stared at his hands. Next to me, Cupa was checking me for any major injury, Ayumi and Cupa were speechless about what just happened. As for Ari she seemed more worried than surprised.
"Mickael, what has gotten into you ? You could have seriously injured him !" My girlfriend scolded him.
"I...I am sorry. I-I don't know what came over me !" He replied.
"I-It's nothing, I guess I deserved it a little !" I tried to reassure everybody "I took harder hit in my life !"
Cupa helped me get on my feet and led me towards the house. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ayumi talking wih Mickael, asking hm if everything was alright, both of her hands and his shoulder. As for Ari, she was watching the scene, a frown on her face.
1 hour later, Home, Mickael POV
I was downstairs with Ayumi, Vanessa, Ari and the others. My head was resting on my arms, crossed on the table. We were waiting for Cupa to inform us about Hayden's state.
"Notch, what happened to me ?" I asked the god inside of my head.
"I am sorry I didn't tell you about this but...since you transformed back in Anzlanta. It seems that it has become significantly harder for to control the magic infection within you. When you got hit, the infection took control for few seconds before I managed to contain it again !" He answered after sighing.
I sighed and looked at Ari who looked back with worry into her eyes. It was at this moment Cupa passed the front door of the house. She smiled weakly at us.
"He is alright, he doesn't have any major injury apart for a few bruised ribs and a cracked one. He will rest here for the day and he should be better in a few days !" Cupa spoke up before we all sighed in relief, especially me since I was the one who hurt him.
"Alright Mickael !" Yaebi spoke up "Ayumi told me what happened during your sparring match between you and Hayden. What happened to you ? It's not like you to display so much force and violence. Against a friend on the top of that !"
I slowly turned towards Ari and she frowned at me, telling me it was time for me to tell the truth about what happened inside of the city of Azlanta. I took a big breath and prepared myself to explain everything.
"I guess you all remember that, the day I came back to life, I told you about a magic infection running into my body. The same infection that caused my eye to transform into this yellow cat eye !" I began. I saw them nodding so I continued "It all happened when Ari and I were inside Azlanta. We had to fight the king as well as his personal guards...I snapped and the infection took control of my body. I became a...monster and went into a rampage, killing every guard in the room. The same thing happened during my fight with Hayden, the infection took control of me for only a second before I came to my sense. I just remember being kicked into the chin and, next thing I know, I was standing on my feet and Hayden was a few meters away from me, his back against a tree !"
"I see !" Cupa replied after a few seconds "But why didn't you tell any of us about that ?" She then asked.
"He didn't want you all to worry about that !" Ari answered at my place "And while I understand why he did that, I still think it was not the best choice !"
There was a moment of silence inside of the house. No one dared to say anything until a familiar grey haired skeleton girl spoke up.
"Mickael, what did we said to you ? We are a like a family and you are my boyfriend for Notch's sake. We said we would help you anyway we can. You don't have to hide anything away from us...from me!"
She got on her feet and approached me before pulling me in a tight hug, my head resting on her belly.
"We are going to get through this...all of us, together. We are going to find a solution to get that thing out of you !"
"You guys are beyond my simple human comprehension !" I smiled before sighing.
Suddenly, we heard some noise coming from outside of our home. We looked at the window and saw three men in leather armor in front of the house. Their weapons were still inside of their sheaths but I didn't want to take any risk. I went upstairs to take Nightfall before I returned downstairs and carefully opened the door.
"Mister...Mickael Tabor ?" The first guard said as he looked at the piece of paper he had in his hand.
"That's me !" I answered "And you are ?" I asked back.
"We are guards from the nearby village, we were sent by the chief's daughter. She has some news concerning the alliance between the mobs kingdoms and the human empire !" He explained.
"Alright, give me two minutes and then, we will be on our way !" I replied as I walked back inside of the house, under the eyes of my friends
"Are those guys Jade's messengers ?" Yaebi asked.
"Yes, I got a message from her, she has some news about the alliance we are trying to make !" I answered "I am going to be away for a while !"
"Let me come with you !" Ayumi said out loud, which surprised me and the other a little.
"But, Ayumi, your skin can't handle the sunlight, you would burn to death out there !" Ari argued.
After hearing those words, Ayumi quickly got on her feet and began to search something into a nearby chest. A few seconds later, she pulled out a sort of giant cloak from the chest.
"This clothe will protect me from the sunlight. It should covers every parts of my body !" My skeleton girlfriend responded a she put the cloak on her. As she said, the cloak covered her from head to toes, protecting her skin.
"Well, I guess it's not really a big travel after all !" I tried to reassure myself as I looked at Ayumi.
"Uh...fine !" I finally said, out of argument "Let's go, these guards are waiting for us !"
That being said, Ayumi, Ari and I exited the house and followed the guards through the forest until we arrived into the village. I noticed that all buildings were now repaired but I could also see a big graveyard behind one of the new house that were built after the attack. I don't know how many people died that day but from the street I was standing, I could see at least 50 tombstones. I also noticed another thing that wasn't here before :
"A nether portal ?" I asked to one of the guards in front of us "For how long has it been here ?"
"For two or three days I would say !" He answered "It was better for your friends if she didn't have to pass by your portal each time she wanted to talk to the chief's daughter. Anyway, we are here, they are waiting for you inside !" He finished as we arrived in front of the chief's house.
We entered inside of the building, only to be greeted with a familiar nickname.
"Hey there hot stuff, took you long enough !" Blazette slowly floated towards us "I was beginning to think those guards got lost in that forest !" She then laughed.
"Hey Blazette, long time no see !" I greeted back.
"Hi Blazette !" Ari replied as she waved at the blaze in front of us.
"Hello Ari and...oh it's you Ayumi !" Blazette finally said as the skeleton girl finally removed the cloak covering her body "I almost didn't recognized you there !"
"It's nice to see you two Blazette !" Ayumi smiled.
Blazette then sighed and a serious expression appeared on her face. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes for a second.
"Now that you are here, follow me, we have some serious business to take care of !"
The blaze girl made a sign with her hand, telling us to follow her. After a minute of walking, she opened the door and we arrived in a small room with a table in the middle. On the table was a map, with the differents mob kingdom as well as the human empire drawn on it. Around the table were Jade and another person, which I guess was the captain of the guards.
"Good morning you three !" Jade spoke up upon seeing us.
"Hello, Jade. Your messengers said you had some news. Is that true ?" I asked as Ayumi, Ari and I sat around the table.
"Yes. I have received a message from Miss Sandra this morning. Apparently, she has been given the title of Mayor of Azlanta until further notice. In her letter, she told me she has spoken about the threat we are about to face. It took a lot of time but she managed to convince the emperor to, at least, try and talk to the mobs kings !"
"Finally, some good news !" I smiled, releived everything was going as planned.
"And that's not all !" Jade continued "The king sent a lot messenger across the continent to warn the other kingdoms. Nearly all mob kings agreed to come at a meeting. However, the date and place of that meeting is still unknown to us. I exept Miss Sandra to keep me informed about the situation up there !" She finished.
"But...I thought humans and mobs were in a constant war. What caused them to agree so quickly to participate to a meeting, organized by the emperor of the human empire nonetheless ?" Ayumi asked, slightly surprised.
It was at this moment Blazette closed her eyes and spoke up.
"I'll have you know you humans are not the only one who were under attack for the past few weeks. Since you left for Azlanta, the number of attack had increased greatly. It all began with some random traveler and hawkers going missing on the roads. But now, some villages in the mobs kingdoms has reported being attacked by monsters : Some humans with green skin eating people, some real skeletons with bows, green creatures exploding and even giant spiders. Even the Nether is concerned, one of our village in the Blaze kingdom reported being attacked by giant floating heads shooting fireballs. When the human messengers came to warn them about Herobrine, most of our leaders made the connection with the recent attacks !"
"Ghasts...They were really a pain in the ass to fight in the game !" I thought before saying "I see...that is a really good news they managed to get pass those hundred years of war to face a common threat !"
I saw Blazette and Jade nodding before Ari put both of her hands on the table.
"So, what is the catch ? There should be one. Otherwise, you would have greeted us with a wider smile on your face !" She spoke up.
"And you are right Ari !" Blazette answered "There is a problem..."
The Blazette floated around the table and pointed to a location on the map, far beyond the human empire, between the creeper and the spider's kingdoms.
"The slime kingdom ?" Ayumi asked.
"Exactly !" Blazette responded "The problem is that the slime kingdom and the magma cube's are at war. They feel so much hatred towards each other that they even refused to listen to the human messenger. Instead, the two queens are accusing each other to be the perpetrators of those attacks !"
"Why are they at war ?" I asked Blazette, causing her to simply shrug.
"I don't know, no one does. To be fair, I don't think even them know what they are fighting for. This war has been going on for hundreds of years. We need to put a end to this, or else, they will destroy themselves and we will deprive ourselves of two potential powerful allies !"
"So, what are you suggesting ? We already spent a week simply to go to one of the most powerful human cities. By the time we arrive to the slime kingdom, it may already be too late !" I argued.
"That's why I will guide you all through the Nether. Like that, it will only take two overworld's days to go the Magma cube kingdom. I only hope we will manage to convince the queen, Honeystu, to order a temporary truce with the slime queen, Gelli, for, at least until we beat Herobrine and his army. I don't really care about what they would do afterwards !" Blazette answered.
"I guess that could work !" Ayumi responded "When would we leave ?"
"I will let you the rest of your overworld day to get ready for the departure. I will come and get you as soon as your sun appears in your sky !" Blazette replied.
"So, we have until tomorrow morning..." I thought.
"Your travel inside of the Nether will be tough Mickael. Very few humans and mobs have spent such an amount of time inside of this realm and came out unscathed !" Notch replied inside of my head.
"We have Blazette to guide us. I am sure everything will be alright !"
"I just want you to be careful. That's all I ask !"
"I will !" I finally responded.
"Anything more that we should know ?" Ari asked the blaze girl and the chief's daughter.
"No !" Jade answered "But be sure, I'll contact you as soon as I get new informations coming from Miss Sandra !"
We said our goodbye to Jade and Blazette and we went on our way towards our home. Ayumi was still covering herself with her cloak, earning a few strange looks from the villagers around us. However, as soon as we exited the village and entered the forest, Ayumi removed her piece of clothing and took a deep breath.
"I am glad we are finally in the shadows. It was becoming quite hot underneath here !" She said making Ari and I laugh a little.
"You should have asked Blazette to make you a potion !" I replied.
Upon arriving in front of our home, I saw Cupa helping Hayden walking around. He was limpering a little and also had a bandage all around his chest. The two of them slowly approached me.
"I am sorry !" I spoke up, looking at my feet, slightly ashamed of what I did, even if I wasn't in control.
"That's alright, Cupa told me everything !" he hazel-eyed man replied with a small smile on his face "Beside, I should consider myself lucky to have escaped a punch like that with only a few bruises and a cracked ribs. I should be alright in a few days !"
"I guess so !" I sighed "I don't know how strong this thing inside of me is. But I am pretty sure it could have ripped you to shred if Notch hadn't been able to regain control !"
Hayden lightly punch me in the shoulder.
"Oh, come on Mickael, you know me better than that. I don't fall easily !" He grinned before turning towards the house "Come on, let's get something to eat. It's almost noon !"
Ari quickly followed the human and the crepper girl. As for me, I felt Ayumi's soft hand slowly slipping into mine. I turned to her and saw her smile which warmed my heart in seconds.
"Let's go !" She said as she led me towards the house.
When we entered into the house, I nice odor penetrated inside of our nose. All of the others were around the table while Cupa was standing up proudly in front of the furnace.
"Smells good !" I said "What is it ?"
With a wide smile on her face, she picked up something in the furnace before placing in front of my face. It was a bowl with a mix of meat and fish. I could see some finely cut carrot inside. It smelled good so I assumed it would taste good too. I picked up a piece of meat and ate it. As I expected, and also hoped, it was good.
"I call that, the 'Cupa special'. It took me two hours to cook this meal !" She jumped happily.
"And you nearly burned the house two times !" A little cave spider girl added as she was rocking herself on her chair "I could even smell the burned wood from my bedroom !"
"I didn't !" Cupa argued
"You did !" Vanessa argued back
"No, I. Didn't !"
"Yes. You. Did !"
"Oh boy...here we go !" I thought as the others sighed and began to eat despite the argument happening right next to them.
TO BE CONTINUED And it's with this chapter that the Nether arc begins. Sorry it took so long to write but I didn't really know what I should write. I got kind a writer block here. So, as always PM or review to tell me what you think of the story : good or bad. And if you have any suggestion for the story, feel free to contact me. See you next time
