Foreword

Ah well… it was inevitable, I suppose, but today marks the first day I wasn't able to post on Friday. :( Sorry guys, I got the chapter finished, and I tried so hard to get it posted, but before I could finish proofreading it, it was already past midnight. I could have stayed up until one 'o clock, but it would have been late anyway, so I decided to go ahead and finish in the morning so I'd be nice and awake. ^^ Fear not! I may have broken my streak, but I have by no means gotten lazy! I've learned a lot and I have every intention to keep making these deadlines, so I hope you'll bear with me as I continue on this journey. And thanks to everyone who has been keeping up this far! I couldn't do it without you. C:

One more thing, now because reformatting takes time, I'm only posting to FFN. The others will be up later. :)

18 chapters! Let's go! :D

Chapter XVIII

Five

««««« … »»»»»

A chill wind whistled and for a moment Jesse thought it might be a creeper. He thought he heard a zombie, but it turned out to just be Axel yawning in his sleep. What he thought was a spider was actually just the harmless squeaking of a rabbit. Everything was peaceful, and yet Jesse couldn't help but feel on edge. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the world was ending.

Jesse thought he heard a quiet voice issue out of nowhere. Jesse flinched and listened intently, but he couldn't make out what it said.

« … »

It was going to be a long night. A really… really long night.

Lukas shifted on the cold, damp wooden floor. They'd managed to cover up the roof before they went to sleep, and the rain had stopped since, but it made little difference for him. For the past couple of hours he'd lay awake, unable to calm himself into a sound sleep. It was no surprise that after everything that had happened yesterday he'd have nightmares. Axel would have called him a scaredy cat.

"I got scared," he'd said, "Just for a second," but ultimately that one second was all it took… and she was gone. Then again he now realized that that statement wasn't even true, as hard as he'd tried to convince himself otherwise. Laying on the cold wooden floor for hours left with nothing but his thoughts, he was finally forced to admit it.

He was still scared.

It was one moment of weakness, Lukas tried to tell himself, however, that one moment's weakness ultimately might have led to the death of one of his best friends. No, despite what he told himself, he knew the reality of it. It was his fault. It didn't take long for that to set in. Lukas had tried to assure himself that it was in the past—he had failed, but he needed to get over it. He couldn't put himself down like this—but there was nothing he could tell himself that could stop the guilt that was tearing him up.

He felt so horrible. So convicted. So… useless.

He hated feeling useless.

Lukas pushed himself up and looked around at the others. They were all sound asleep as though they hadn't a care in the world. Even the pig, Reuben, was sound asleep as though nothing had changed. Lukas was the only person there who wasn't fast asleep, and he needed to get some sleep. Except for some reason he just couldn't.

Restless, Lukas finally gave up. Quietly, he got to his feet. He crept over to the ladder and slowly found his way down.

Once on the ground he checked around for monsters, and when he saw none he ventured out. He made sure to walk in one direction so as not to get lost.

He wasn't sure exactly what he was thinking or hoped to find out here in the unknown, but for some reason even monsters didn't scare him right now. Maybe he was just too exhausted to be afraid. Too tired to fear and not tired enough to sleep. Heh, that was… frustrating.

Before too long, he found a small lake of sorts. His mind, still waking up despite having never really gone to sleep, had just started to process things again. Lukas knelt at the water's edge and lost himself in a downpour of recent memories.

It started this evening, he'd lost for the first time in a long time, and not just his pride or his status. His winning streak ended with the world in a single night. In the same hour he'd lost a victory he'd made a new friend, and then in one fell swoop he lost all of them.

He thought about Aiden. He was hardly perfect, but Lukas cared for him. Aiden was rough around the edges, understandably so, but he'd always been there for him. He'd always defended him, and Lukas was happy to call him a friend. Aiden was gone.

He thought about Petra. She was reliable, steady, and always available when he needed her. She could be a bit brash, she confessed to being a loner, but she was a good friend. She was always ready to lend a hand, and always stood up for him. Petra was gone.

He'd lost Maya and Gill. He'd lost everything. His home, his life, everything he'd ever built. Now he was stuck, out in the middle of nowhere, dropped onto a team that barely even liked him, let alone considered him a friend.

He knew Axel hated him. Olivia was fine. She was at least nice enough to try to be cordial. He even found himself wondering if the pig liked him at all. He guessed the little guy had gotten hurt after running off into the forest. He'd noticed before but had tried to convince himself that it wasn't his fault, so he shouldn't feel bad about it. Now though, he was starting to reconsider that. After last night, he was starting to reconsider everything. After everything that had happened just hours ago…

The only person he had left was—of all people—Jesse. He had always liked Jesse, even though he could tell Jesse never cared much for him.

His stomach growling reminded him that he was, indeed, still hungry as well. He sighed, caving to guilt once more. If he was hungry, Jesse must have been starving.

Why had he given him that cookie? Lukas thought about it, but it seemed Jesse had no reason to. The only conclusion he could come to was that he'd just done it out of the goodness of his heart. Although, he couldn't help but wonder if it was only out of practicality. Was he only tolerating him because he was resigned to his fate of having him as a teammate?

He tried not to think about it like that. Whatever the reason, that wasn't all he owed to Jesse either. He'd come back for him when he got stuck in the basement. He'd shown him compassion when no one else had. He cared for his safety, and claimed him as part of their team. He stood up for him even against one of his friends. Jesse willingly ran into danger, risked his life to save his friend, and he'd done the same for Lukas. What had Lukas done?

The worst part about all of this was that there was nothing he could do. If only there was something he could… Unless…

Maybe…

Maybe there was.

He had to do something.

Looking downward, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to clear the fog encasing his mind.

He had to do something.

He opened his eyes again and found himself gazing down into the eyes of his reflection on the still water's surface—his tired, bleary eyes. Then beyond his own reflection, he saw the trees above him.

Lukas had an idea.

This… this was the least he could do… but it was something.

« … »

Fearfully, Jesse half expected to wake up to an angry Witherstorm tearing their treehouse to shreds, but he was relieved when nothing of the sort scared him awake. It was almost surprising that nothing bad had happened. Not even—

"Where's Lukas?" wondered Olivia.

Jesse quickly sat up and looked around. Lukas was gone.

Axel scoffed. "The scaredy cat probably heard the lightning and ran off to hide in a chest somewhere."

Olivia frowned at Axel, then turned to Jesse. "Jesse… you don't think he…?"

Jesse bit his lip. Had he?

"Oh, who cares?" Axel grumbled.

Olivia glared at Axel, then sternly rebuked in a manner unusual for her, "You're being ridiculous. And if anything happens to him, I'm blaming you."

Axel looked somewhat stunned and Jesse just sighed. There was nothing they could do about it, but he still worried.

"He made his choice, Olivia," he said in low hopes of assuring her. Or maybe it was more to assure himself. "Wherever he is… I'm sure he'll be fine."

…I hope he'll be fine, he didn't clarify.

Olivia turned her eyes to the floor, looking thoughtful.

An odd feeling of deja vu prodded him as he picked up Reuben and started down the ladder of a treehouse, a task he'd done every day since he could remember and one which had never felt so unfamiliar. His friends followed him, adding to the bizarre familiar-yet-unfamiliar feeling.

As he gazed out there was no quiet or distant bustling from the waking of a populated town, but the sounds of hungry cows and sheep could still be heard amid the otherwise quiet morning.

It was… surreal. Now that they'd had a good night's sleep, it was strange to realize yet again that nothing was the way it was supposed to be. Even that of which—even more oddly—hadn't changed.

The sun still rose, the animals still grazed, time still passed. As much changed, a lot remained the same. They were all still together and still with a common goal. To beat the unbeatable. Meet the unmeetable. Do the impossible.

It had to be possible, and today, they were gonna figure out how.

The world hadn't ended yet.

"Hey, guys," Jesse heard.

Jesse turned to his left where, sure enough, he saw Lukas walk up. He looked like a mess—but then again, they all did.

"I um... I picked some apples," he said. Lukas reached behind him and from his pocket he pulled out one of the aforementioned fruits, sounding somewhat sheepish. "You're more than welcome to some if you want. Feel free. There's..." he chuckled slightly. "plenty for all of us."

Lukas eyed Axel with an ever so slight grin, then he turned to Jesse with a smile and held one out to him.

Jesse didn't know how long he just stood there blinking before Lukas nudged it toward him again. "Come on," he said, jokingly teasing, "Don't be shy."

Jesse took it, still at a loss for words. Finally he mustered one thing. "We… thought you left."

"Heh. No. I just like to get an early start." he said "And um… I couldn't really sleep."

"You got up early and did all this?" asked Olivia.

Lukas shrugged. "I figured we have to eat."

He offered one to Olivia and she took it with a smile, gratefully accepting it. Then he offered one to Axel.

Axel looked to Jesse—for what, Jesse had no idea. Assurance? Approval? Disapproval?—then he turned back to Lukas and took it with a contemplative frown.

Lukas even remembered Reuben who snatched his apple excitedly under his snout and immediately began munching away.

Axel stared at the fruit for a good ten seconds before he finally asked without looking away from it, "Are you trying to outdo me, or is this an apology?"

Axel was asking a genuine question, but Jesse expected Lukas to not understand that and get offended by the comment. Whether he understood or not, Lukas just grinned and said, "Um…neither. I—I just... I just seriously picked a ton of apples." Lukas sounded almost amused with himself, and still kinda nervous at the same time.

Jesse turned around to where Lukas had come from and saw a small forest stripped bare of leaves. He… wasn't kidding.

Jesse couldn't help but smile. "Thanks Lukas."

"No problem," said Lukas, "It's… It's the least I could do."

Jesse didn't realize just how hungry he was until he took a bite of that apple. He'd always liked apples, but never before had they tasted so good.

"I'm resourceful, y'know?" Lukas said after a long pause, his tone level, but sincere. "People always say that." Lukas picked his head up and looked Jesse straight in the eyes. "And I am a good friend." Then he looked to Axel. "Most of the time, I am a good friend."

Jesse listened closely as Lukas went on.

"I know I messed up yesterday, but Petra still needs us." he said, voice serious. "I let her down once. It won't happen again. Whatever the case—We're in this together now. I'm with you guys. To the end."

Jesse smiled. "You're cool with me, Lukas."

Lukas smiled back. "Thanks, Jesse."

"Me too," Olivia agreed with a smile of her own.

Lukas returned it. "Thanks."

Reuben was too absorbed in his apple to say anything, but Jesse got the feeling he was pretty happy with Lukas right now too.

Axel raised his brow with an expression that didn't look quite angry or confused. He looked almost grudgingly thoughtful. Finally he just sighed and looked away.

Jesse looked back to Lukas who looked dejectedly back at him.

Jesse shrugged sympathetically. "All right, then," he said. "Let's head out."

Axel shuffled away as soon as Jesse spoke the word and Olivia glanced back briefly before following behind him.

Jesse started to catch up with them, but purposely fell behind when he noticed Lukas lagging back. The whole time Reuben stayed in step beside him.

"You okay?" Jesse asked, despite all odds, concerned for him. He couldn't really blame Axel for still being conflicted about him, but now that he'd gotten a good night's sleep and Lukas had gone beyond owning up to his failing, Jesse's resolve was even stronger. He wanted to make sure Lukas felt every bit as welcome on the team as any of them.

"Honestly…" Lukas muttered, "I'm just... I'm more embarrassed than anything else." Lukas smiled and gave a bashful chuckle. "I'd probably hate me too."

"Listen. Don't worry," Jesse assured him. "Axel will get over it. He just needs to think. Give him time. He'll come around."
Lukas looked unconvinced and murmured, "Heh. Yeah. Time."

Somehow Jesse got the feeling he knew what Lukas was thinking. If they had time. Who knew how long it would be before that monster came back around? Jesse tried not to think about it.

"Oh—hey, um… Jesse…" Lukas started again. "I just wanted to say… thanks for having my back last night. And I—look, I'm—really sorry about what happened. I feel… just awful."

Jesse sighed. He felt bad all of a sudden. He couldn't let Lukas take the full weight of all that on his shoulders, not while he was being so apologetic and sincere. Not while the whole world ending.

"I… should apologize too," Jesse confessed. "It wasn't all your fault. Stuff happens. We were all scared and tired and… I'm just glad you're okay."

"Heh… thanks Jesse. I'm... not really used to… this."

"What? Losing? Humbling yourself and accepting defeat? Well, get used to it 'cause hanging around us, you're gonna see a lot more of it."

Jesse would never joke like that with Olivia or Axel for fear of crushing every hope and dream they had, but he wasn't too surprised when Lukas laughed.

"Well," he said, "When you put it like that, you definitely need all the help you can get."

Jesse—to his own surprise—laughed back. Just a few days ago, he would have rolled his eyes and tried not to glare at him for a comment like that, and yet here he was, joking in the same manner.

"Hey, Lukas?" Jesse asked.

Lukas met his eyes. "Yeah Jesse?"

Jesse smiled and said in the most earnest tone he could muster, "You got any more of those apples?"

"Heh," Lukas chuckled, pulling one out of his pocket and tossing it up like the slimeball. "You have no idea."

Lukas handed him a few and Jesse ran to catch up with Olivia and Axel. Jesse divvied them up.

He… didn't expect Lukas to dash ahead of everyone after one half-baked pep-talk, but… dash he did.

"Lukas?" Olivia called. "Where are you going?"

"Getting a better view!"

Olivia looked curiously to Jesse who shrugged. Sure enough, Lukas climbed up the tallest tree on a hill nearby and looked out over the forest roof.

"Hey!" he shouted. "There's something over that way!"

"What is it?" Olivia called.

Lukas replied, "Some kind of building, I think."

Lukas pointed past an incline in the ground a ways to their right where, sure enough, Jesse spotted what looked to be the tip of a tower or something.

"Well, some kind of building is exactly what we're looking for," Jesse said. "Come on. Let's get a closer look."

Once back together, the team—now including Lukas—made their way up the incline.

They climbed a natural wall of thick vines up to where one of the most incredible sights awaited them.

"Look at that thing," Axel marveled.

'That thing' was a really big temple that… defied description.

"Wow!" Lukas exclaimed, his face lighting up. He jumped down to get a closer look. "These pillars are spectacular! This stonework is so elegant!"

The pillars were spectacular and the stonework was elegant.

"This detailing and use of stained glass is absolutely magnificent!"

The detailing and stained glass was absolutely magnificent. Well, what was left of it, anyway. The whole place seemed to be in dire disrepair.

"This has to be the place." Jesse said. If it wasn't obvious from the fact that there were no other buildings this monumental around as far as the eye could see—which was pretty far now that they were higher up—it was made obvious by the stained glass Lukas had mentioned.
Jesse pulled Gabriel's amulet out from his pocket and looked down at it in his hands. It was only the second time he'd even looked at it, and the first time he'd taken a second to really look at it.

It was mind-bogglingly intricate, taking the shape of—well, a quincunx, with a dark stone in the middle and four brightly colorful gemstones on its points. Each one represented a member of the Order; one the truest diamond blue as Gabriel's, one bright emerald green for Magnus', a brilliant and powerful red one as Ellegaard's, and lastly, one a mysterious pure white—Soren's.

It was beautiful… but more importantly it perfectly matched the weathered glass artwork just above the temple entrance.

Light blue, green, red, and white. Their Warrior was lost in action, and their Builder's whereabouts were mysteriously unknown. As for the Rogue and the Engineer… how they were going to find them, Jesse still didn't know, but Gabriel obviously thought they could do it, so… there had to be a way. They just… had to figure it out. Simple.

"Well… here goes nothing." Jesse jumped down and walked forward and his friends followed. "Let's just all be careful. And if you spot anything, call it out. We don't have a lot of time."

His team nodded their agreement.

As they walked the dimly lit path inside, Jesse kept a careful eye out for anything, be it good or bad. The first thing he noticed besides it being completely overrun with plantlife were that the walls on either side of them were lined from top to bottom with dispensers.

Okay… that's… not comforting.

"Isn't it weird how dispensers are carved to look like spooky little faces?" Axel wondered aloud, then addressed the wall. "What do you dispense, little guy?"

Olivia sounded skeptical as she answered for the wall blocks. "Iiiiii get the feeling that we don't really wanna find out."

"Yeah," Jesse inserted as one of the dispensers he could swear made eye-contact with him, "and I get the feeling they're not there for their spooky faces or their elegant stonework either."

Jesse heard a resonant inhuman groan, and stopped.

"Get behind me," he said on instinct, holding his arm out to separate them from whatever roamed in the corridors ahead of them.

"Pressure plates," Olivia pointed forward at an archway. "Just ahead."

Jesse spotted the stone plates and gave an acknowledgment, making a mental note to watch his step for traps.

He heard the growling again, closer this time, and more clearly behind them. They all spun around.

Olivia 'eep!'ed.

Jesse gasped.

Lukas blathered, "What was that?!"

Axel blinked.

Near them, only about ten blocks away, a zombie slowly limped towards them.

Oh good, Jesse thought with a sigh. It's just a—

'ZOMBIE!' Reuben squealed at the top of his piggy lungs and dashed away through the tunnel ahead.

Jesse spun around. "Reuben! Reuben wait!" He dashed after him and the rest of them gave chase.

Reuben stepped on the plate and immediately Jesse heard the redstone behind the walls start working.

"Keep running!" Jesse shouted, quickly noticing a spot in the wall free of dispensers ahead.

Jesse caught up to Reuben and grabbed him up, leaping into the blindspot. After they had all managed to get through, not a second later the dispensers were pelting each other with arrows.

"Aw, come on, dispenser faces!" Axel moaned. "I thought we were friends!"

Jesse tried to catch his breath and looked ahead. He gasped when he saw that both the hallway ahead and the one behind them were effectively equivalent to an army of skeletons.

The zombie behind them didn't seem to notice and staggered right into the shower of arrows. It didn't last two seconds.

"Well—" said Lukas, "at least the trap got the zombie."

"Let's just wait it out," Olivia said, "The dispensers will run out of arrows sooner or later."

An awkward minute later, the dispensers finally ran out, only for all the dispensers in the walls to be shifted out by pistons for new ones. In three seconds flat, they were already going again.

"Orrrr not," drawled Olivia.

Axel marveled, "Man, Magnus wasn't messing around when he set these traps."

"What makes you think it was Magnus?" asked Olivia. "You really think a griefer like him could wire all this up? This has to be Ellegaard's handiwork."

Oh, I so don't need this right now.

Jesse was almost surprised that Lukas didn't join in to claim that it must have been Soren. Thank goodness. He really didn't need Axel and Olivia to become a trio of argumentative super fans.

"Guys," Jesse intervened, "can we stop arguing about which of your idols built this crazy deathtrap and try to get out of it alive please?"

Honestly, if the arrows don't kill us, they'll argue themselves to death and the rest of us will die of boredom.

"Yeah, that's fine," Axel conceded, "but it was totally Magnus." Nay, pretended to concede.

"Axel, focus," Jesse commanded. "All right, anyone have any ideas?"

"We activated the dispensers with that pressure plate," Lukas pointed to the plates. "If we can figure out a way to trigger it again, maybe that'll shut 'em off."

"Hey," said Olivia, sounding mildly annoyed. "That's my line."

Lukas scratched his head and apologized with a slight smile, "Sorry."

Jesse noticed that on the side of the alcove they were in, there did happen to be a crafting table. Maybe fortune was smiling down on them after all. "There's a crafting table. Maybe we can make something useful."

"Out of what?" questioned Olivia. "We don't have anything. All of our tools and materials are back home."

Jesse rummaged around in his pocket. "Well, let's see... I've got a flint and steel… a sword… Oh, and some string from a spider that I fought in the woods earlier." That was a start. With luck, his companions would have the means to a finish. "All right, everyone." he said. "Empty your pockets. Let's see what we've got to work with."

Olivia and Axel obeyed this command without a second thought, immediately sticking their hands in their pockets and fishing around. Lukas, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I just—" Jesse started, "I think better when everything's out in front of me."

"Oh," replied Lukas, sounding like he still didn't quite see the point. "Okay." Lukas paused, rubbing the back of his head. "You want… my whole inventory?"

Jesse raised an eyebrow back at him and uncertainly muttered, "Yeees?"

Jesse watched as Lukas put down… blocks. Nothing but blocks. About three stacks of gravel, then some andesite, some red sandstone, diorite… some dirt, some… coarse dirt. Sand… granite—Wait, who builds with granite?—netherrack, even more dirt—how much dirt did one guy need?—A block of… coal? Some—holy cow, was that prismarine?!

"Okay," Jesse finally stopped Lukas right as he started to pull out a bunch of apples. "Unless you've got a block of diamond in there somewhere, I think I've seen enough."

"Great," Olivia said dryly. "A bunch of useless blocks."

"We could… use them to block the dispensers," Jesse threw out.

"I'M not sticking my hand out there!" Lukas insisted. "But… I did have some sticks too, if that helps."

"And I've got some flint. And... a piece of string," said Olivia.

Olivia and Lukas both put their items in the pile. That only left Axel. Jesse noticed Axel had been strangely quiet.

"Axel? Do you have anything?"

« … »

Five. Axel had five cookies. He had lied.

When Axel reached into his pocket he immediately remembered when he felt it.

No, no, it was a good lie. He lied because… he had to. Well, it wasn't really a lie. He only had four because one of them was Petra's cookie. He'd gotten it just for her. He couldn't give away Petra's cookie. Especially not to—

Anyway, he could hardly go back on it now. What was he supposed to do? After Jesse had to go and be all noble and give up his cookie, he couldn't just say, 'Sorry, I was lying, I actually had five,' and give Jesse the cookie. That would have made him look horrible, and it wasn't like he didn't have his reasons.

When he tried to give it to her—she didn't exactly accept it… in fact she kinda rejected it… but only because she was in a hurry.

"Oh, uh, okay. But if you change your mind—" he'd said, but she was gone before he finished. "— I'll… hold onto it for you. Just… Just in case."

He told her he would keep it for her. Even if she wasn't there, he'd said he would. But, after that he… never had another chance. Before they could even have another one-on-one conversation, she was… gone. Just like that. It… wasn't fair.

It just wasn't fair! Why was Petra punished for being selfless while Lukas was rewarded for being a coward? It wasn't…

It… wasn't just Lukas. Yeah, he was lame and didn't do the stupidly obvious thing to do and it wasn't not his fault, but Axel could have saved her. He would have saved her, if he'd only been there. It… didn't really matter anymore. Petra could have made it through, and she didn't. Why didn't she? He didn't know. Maybe he never would, but he wanted to hope. He wanted to hope she was still alive to tell him… that he was being stupid, that he was being selfish, that he was a hypocrite. He knew all those things were true sometimes.

He knew it was a long shot, but he would keep holding fast to the hope that she was still alive. She had said 'later' after all. If they managed to get her back somehow, he just knew she'd want it. He could even surprise her with it, and surely she'd be happy to have it.

…And…

Maybe she would even forgive him for taking that potion.

"Axel?" Jesse broke his train of thought. "Do you have anything?"

Axel looked up and pulled out everything he had except the cookie.

"All I have is my creeper mask and some chicken feathers I picked up after that chicken machine exploded," Axel lied.

« … »

"String, sticks, flint and feathers," Olivia took inventory of the small collection of items now on the floor in front of them.

"Hmm…" Jesse had an idea. "Don't worry guys," he said, smiling as he gathered the materials. "I know exactly what to make. And it comes in two parts, each part more exciting than the last."

They looked curious.

Jesse didn't know that many recipes, but this one, he did know.

Jesse arranged the pieces on the table, flint on top, stick in the middle, and feather on the bottom. They merged together and with a poof, they became a bundle of arrows. 'Cause the millions all around them weren't exactly accessible.

"Okay, or you can do the arrow first," Lukas nitpicked.

Then with the rest of his sticks and some string, Jesse arranged the next pattern. He smiled as the items merged and left him with one of the coolest tools ever.

"Tada!" Jesse spun around, showing off his brand spanking new fishing rod.

"What?" Lukas said, sounding incredulous.

"What?" Jesse asked.

"Why?" Lukas questioned.

"Well, I didn't want to miss and then have no way of getting out. Plus, I thought maybe we could go fishing later."

Jesse thought it was rather smart.

"On behalf of Petra," Olivia started, "I have to say, 'Jesse, you're such a Farmer Boy'."

"So why'd you make the arrows?" Lukas continued to interrogate him, still stuck on the issue.

"Why wouldn't you make the arrows?" Jesse questioned back.

There was a moment of silence, and finally Olivia spoke up. "You don't know how to craft a bow, do you?"

"Nope, not at all," Jesse replied.

Jesse cast his line onto yonder pressure plate, and sure enough, the dispensers shut their faces. Jesse then led them onward through the now safe hall of fame and death.

"Looks like The Quincunx Stars' luck is changing." Axel said.

Reuben came running up to Jesse and nudged him. Jesse stopped and looked down at Reuben who stared up at him with a guilty look on his face. Jesse got down to his level.

"What's wrong, buddy?"

Reuben grunted and averted his eyes. 'I'm so sorry, I ran off and almost got killed' he was probably saying, 'but it's just that… I'm a pig.'

"Oh, Reuben," Jesse smiled and comforted. "It's okay. Haven't I told you not to be so hard on yourself?"

Reuben accepted his comfort and pranced on ahead.

Man, I wish Axel and Olivia were as easy to encourage as Reuben.

The corridor emptied out into small library of sorts. It looked… almost familiar… and for the life of him he couldn't imagine who in the Order would have built it. It was small, but homely. Dimly lit, but warm and cozy.

As the group spread out Jesse couldn't help getting lost in thought as the room provoked an almost nostalgic feeling, but not because he recognized it as something from his past. Rather, the whole place felt like it had created so many memories…

Although it could have just been the many posters on the walls accounting the Order's feats together. Jesse did have a weakness for—

Jesse stopped.

Poster…

Jesse couldn't believe it. It was… the poster. THE poster!

A poster of a deep blue speckled with white was placed on the wall before him. This… this WAS nostalgic. He hadn't seen this poster since before he first started building at the EnderCon Building Competitions with Axel and Olivia.

Under the bright illustration of five points, glistening white was the writing:

The battle was fierce, but the Order of the Stone emerged triumphant,

saving the land and ensuring that peace and prosperity would reign forever.

And so that we may remember the sacrifices that were made for us,

every time we look to the heavens,

A constellation was christened:

The Quincunx Stars

Jesse had to pry himself away from it. It wasn't like it was so surprising, but wow. Who would've expected?

As Jesse wandered away, he found himself drawn to what he thought was an enchanting table. It was strange though, that the book displayed on top of it didn't look… enchanty at all. It did look special. Jesse opened it and immediately recognized the words. He knew this story. He knew it well.

Lukas walked up to him, a book in his hands, one that looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Strange. He'd never thought of Lukas as a reader.

"Find anything useful?" Jesse asked.

"Not sure about 'useful'," Lukas said, "but... definitely interesting. There is a lot of history in this room." Lukas looked up from his book. "What d'you got there?"

Jesse turned his attention back to the book on the table. "It looks like an old copy of the Legend of the Order of the Stone."

A very old copy, he might add. Most of the pages it seemed had been torn out, and the pages that were there were barely readable. They looked tattered from age and plenty of use and most of the ink was smudged out, while the book itself was dirty and dinged up as though it had suffered much abuse. This book, unlike the other books in the collection which looked pristine, looked as though it been both loved to pieces, and hated to shreds.

The first paragraph of it was completely gone, ironic considering its contents. Still, although he'd memorized it, Jesse read of it what he could.

—between here and the Far Lands—unabridged, as self-evident fact.—it is only a troubled land that has need for heroes—was fortunate to have so long ago—

The entire next page was gone, but what Jesse saw on the next page… stunned him.

He blinked.

"Wh—Wh-What?"

"What?" Lukas wondered, glancing back up and over his shoulder.

Jesse was suddenly doubting his sanity as he read every word aloud, careful and deliberate, and every single one of them felt foreign on his tongue.

"These five members… Five friends, together, would give so much to gain their rightful place…"

As five heroes…

« … »

Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant."

"Very well," they answered, "do as you say."

— Genesis 18:5

Author's Notes

:] I think I'm gonna let this one speak for itself. I hope you enjoyed, and have a great weekend! ^^

- Five Cookies — Anyone playing 'Follow the Cookie' might remember that in Chapter X, Axel gets five cookies, not four despite what he said in the previous chapter. Props to you if you caught it, and props to me if you didn't. ;)

- The Temple Defies Description — This funny bit was inspired by Griselda Banks. C: (Inspired, mind you. If you didn't think it was funny, don't blame her. And go check her out! She's awesome! Link's on my profile! ;D)

Glossary

- Apples— Picking apples consists of breaking the leaf blocks on the trees, hence the stripped trees. :P