Episode 2, Chapter 1: So It Goes

Luckily, they had time to prepare. Ivor and Jess rallied the townsfolk, guiding them into the mines while Petra and Radar worked to barricade the mine entrance - the roars growing louder as the dragon grew closer. The four nodded at each other, looking up as the dragon finally made its physical appearance. Its scales glittered in the sun, eyes burning into the group… as the town gate flew open, Lukas riding in with someone else sat behind him on the horse.

"Lukas! Olivia?!" Petra called out as Jess pulled their sword out, taking a step back. The two dismounted, the horse running off to find a safer position as the dragon huffed, soaring into the air. "What are you both doing here?!"

"Considering that big beefin' lizard came to Redstonia first, I think I have plenty reason to be here!" Olivia called back as Lukas whipped out a bow, firing arrows up towards the dragon. "Come on! We gotta help Lukas!"

"Right!" Ivor and Jess replied in unison, Petra climbing up onto the bridge over the street to swipe at the dragon as it shot past. Ivor and Jess pulled out bows, Ivor's arrows tipped with a brilliant green hue, sparkling in the light as it hit the dragon's snout.

It roared, eyes turning a sickly green as it stared Ivor down, diving and snapping as Jess dove out of the way. It caught Ivor by the back of his robe, flinging him high into the air. It would've eaten him had he not fired an arrow into its eye, causing it to buck and roar as Ivor landed on its back instead.

Jess and Olivia shared a look, Olivia nodding as she built her way along the side of one of the taller buildings, quickly fumbling together a small arrow launcher as she whistled, waving her arms as the dragon quickly flew towards her, getting one of its wings pelted with arrows.

Jess' mind was racing - No way just the four of them would be able to kill this thing, not this underprepared. This was a test - the test. A puzzle.

How do you kill something you know you can't kill, when nobody's around to help?

Jess knew the answer. Maybe they were right - maybe the block was too familiar for comfort. But maybe that was the point. They slammed the purple block down in the middle of the street, staring the dragon dead-on. The block glowed brighter, shining bright and illuminating the shaded area around it as a lever appeared on the top, glowing a faint cyan.

Go on then. Do what's right. Save your people.

But why use this? Why now? It's a last resort. Isn't it?

Do you not feel like your friends' lives are important? You have to use it now. The Dragon has seen it deployed. It knows what's coming - any delay now, and your friends will die no matter what you do. The Overworld is different from the End.

Jess shook their head, dispelling any thoughts that weren't their own… and pulled the lever. The dragon roared furiously, snapping and writhing as it rose into the air, flinging Ivor from its back as it glowed brilliantly, beams stretching in all directions in front of the sun… before exploding with a roar, sending light down all around them.

And there, in the center of the road, right in front of the fountain…

"The Egg." Ivor said, kneeling down and picking it up - Oddly, he'd only been slightly bruised. "Jess… what…?"

Olivia looked at the Egg, then at Jess… then at the block next to them. Her blood ran cold, the noise deafening in her ears as she lept down, feet skidding on the stone as she bolted ahead, locking eyes with Jess and pointing at the block.

"Jess. What is that?" She asked, quietly. Jess looked away, pretending they didn't hear.

"I… uh… Hm. No idea where…"

"Jess."

"It saved the town."

"It's a command block."

"Ellie tried to make one."

"And…? She never-"

"We have one, undamaged, that just got rid of the Ender Dragon for - what i'm guessing is - the second time now. I think we can use this for things that aren't going to screw things up?"

"I…" Olivia folded her arms. "Still. It gives me a bad feeling."

"Not much justification, huh?"

"Enough." Ivor's voice was quiet, deathly so. If there were ever a definition for a 'thousand-yard tone,' it was him… "Jess. Where did you get that block?"

"Th-the Sea Temple… Petra took me to some guy named Jack, and…" Jess fumbled, recounting the tale as best they could. Ivor paced back and forth, closing his eyes and mumbling.

"This… hm. And I suppose it has something to do with that… thing on your hand?"

Jess looked at their arm. Honestly, they'd forgotten it was there. "...Yeah. The Gauntlet. I found it while adventuring with Petra…"

"So really, we can all say this was Stella's fault, yeah?" Petra said flatly, hopping down in front of Jess. "If I hadn't had to go get Lluna out of our mines, you wouldn't have found that Gauntlet, so we wouldn't have gone to the Sea Temple, which means the fucking Dragon wouldn't have showed up…"

Jess sighed. "I'm just glad… it's handled." They looked at everyone else. Ivor was still pacing - Lukas and Petra were looking concerned, and Olivia… well, she was still nearly foaming with rage. "...We… I… I'm going to go to the Order Hall, and I'm going to take a very well-deserved nap." They mumbled, stumbling down the road towards the Order Hall.

I suppose a hero does deserve a rest…

Jess shook their head again, rolling their eyes and opening the door. Petra and Lukas tore down the barricade in front of the mines as Radar and the townsfolk made their way back outside. The city was… remarkably unscathed, though perhaps that wasn't so surprising once they saw the purple command block in the road.

They sighed, stumbling up the stairs and plummeting into their hot pink blankets, just as quickly passing out.

When they awoke next, they were in a black expanse, cyan streaks surrounding them in a seemingly infinite space. They took slow steps forward, trying to feel for a door or a wall… yet finding nothing but floor.

"Hello?" Jess called out, voice echoing into the nothingness. "Anyone… there?"

"Ah. You're awake." The familiar voice that'd been in their head since the bubbles echoed around them… or perhaps within them? Jess wasn't sure. "I'm very excited that you've passed the test."

"Test? The Dragon thing?"

"Of course the Dragon, Jess. It's a shame that your friends jumped to you parroting your predecessors… but such is the way it is, no?" The voice chuckled. "It's almost time, you know."

"Time? For what?" Jess tilted their head.

"Time. It's of the essence, you know."

Jess saw a flash of light behind them, and turned around - a brilliant glowing figure stood before them, holding out its hand.

"Best to show you directly."

Jess took a step back. The figure shook its head, waving its arm and sending Jess falling backwards, waking up to find Radar hovering over them, worry in his face.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt your nap… but there's someone outside looking for you."