"What's that?" Steve pointed at the horizon, where a village sat merrily ontop of rolling hills.
They had gotten over the mountains the day before with no other falling-to-death situations. Only stopping for five hours to sleep. That had left everyone feeling groggy and tired, even Wither felt that way to some degree, though He had the large advantage of being a God who almost never feels pain of any kind. This is the reason that as soon as Steve pointed out the small settlement, they headed towards it eagerly, hoping to get some rest and not have to sleep on a pile of rocks again, the only thing between them and the cold hard ground being ten blankets each. Seriously, if Max ever found out who sneaked about fifty blankets into their bags, she would strangle them.
I like that idea.
"Shut up." Max muttered, pulling herself up over a rock. Why did they have to choose the steepest path to the village? Yes, it had looked like a short cut, but with all the uneven ground, it was taking longer than if they just climbed the longest path instead.
Nah. Let's plot on how we'll make that person suffer. Hmm, maybe I could find a way to make their nose run for all eternity.
"I don't think boogers draining out of someone's nose is that evil. Are you getting soft on me?"
Who said anything about boogers? Well, other than you. I'm thinking we could rip their nose off, and have it run all around the world. That way the person has a giant hole in their face, and they have to smell the most dreadful scents.
"Are you okay, All?" Max asked, instantly worried. Its voice had changed a bit at the end of that last sentence, almost echoing through Max's ears. She had gotten over her anger with It forcing Ender to be evil, even if she were still annoyed, because she had more important things to worry about, such as her supposed father dying back at Notch's castle. Besides, she still cared about All's wellbeing, though she hated to show it. It was a very strange feeling to be angry with something and care greatly for it at the same time, Max discovered.
ThOuGh She iS deAd, iT's StIll Off witH My HeAd.
"All?" Max shook her own head to clear the ringing words from her mind, but they kept repeating themselves in the background of her thoughts. Wither, always vigilant when it came to Max, noticed her worry and worked His way towards her to see if He could help with anything. Young as He was, He didn't yet know that there were things that even Gods could not fix.
You've seen them, haven't you? All said, almost breathlessly. Which led Max to wonder if the universe had to breathe. The Mods?
"Mods?" She was so engrossed in this odd conversation, that she didn't see when Wither came up behind her, so punched at Him when He touched her shoulder. "Sorry, Wither. Reflexes," was all the explanation she gave the God, knowing He would understand. He picked her up bridal-style so she could focus on her conversation, and they could still reach the small village by nightfall.
Monsters of Dimensions. All explained, and Max now knew exactly where Wither got His monster acronym skills from. Not that it was ever much of a question. Beings created by neither Me, nor my children. The Mods are spawned from the Rift.
"Rift? And, woah, You're talking to me with two versions and You're not fighting? What?"
Knowledge of the Rift is locked inside your father's head, which is why it is so important for you to save him.
Now isn't the time to fight if you are to survive.
"You? Wait, me? Stop being vague and tell me what the Nether is going on, right now!"
"Hi, Max!" Steve said cheerfully as Wither passed him. "Bye, Max!"
After a quick glare from Max that said "don't you dare leave him behind," Wither groaned and turned around. He set His friend down and morphed into a larger version of a strange looking cow they had seen jumping around in the mountains. "Euh oon," He said, His odd, almost beak-like mouth morphing His words into something completely unintelligible. Somehow Max understood that jumble of nonsense enough to climb onto His back and pull Steve up with her. As soon as she grabbed the horn-things coming out of His head, He was off, gracefully leaping from block to block. They were now traveling easily more than double the speed they had been going before. With luck, they would reach the village in under half an hour.
Your father has traveled forwards in time to replace Ender.
"Okay, what?" Max ignored the look Steve made when he heard her use "that monstrosity of a language". Apparently he hadn't been created with any manners, much to Max's chargin. Yes, Max wasn't the nicest person in the world either, but she knew not to continuesly insult someone she didn't dislike.
I don't understand it much either. Ender was erased from existence, leaving behind a gap, an absense that only she could fill.
"Still not making sense."
Imagine a rock, you can smash that rock over and over until it turns to sand, and then you can break the sand down into even smaller bits, but it is never gone. The rock is still there, but in a different form. Nothing can be comepletely destroyed naturally, it can only get smaller.
Your idiot of father was of the closest mass to Ender and held the most of Her mark just after your mother became pregnent with you. So I brought him forward.
"Okay, rock, smashing, I understand that. But what the tree-in-a-hole do You mean he had the most of Ender's 'mark'? And, wait- You brought him forward?"
Calm down, it's not that bad, you wimp. I believe your boyfriend told you about the mark. He explained it as though it were colours.
The mark of a being is not only gained through creation, but of distance. Your family were the Caretakers of Ender, so of course they were marked with Her essence. Gods are powerful beings, but They cannot always keep that power contained, so it leaks out into the world around Them. Thus, you are marked with the colours of your creators, the Two, and Wither, the one you spend most time with.
Charlie was a Caretaker by birth, your mother married into being a Caretaker. So, though your mother was perhaps the almost exact size of Ender, your father had spent more time with the Goddess, therefore giving him more of Her mark. As for bringing him here, that was not purposeful, mearly a reaction of self-preservation.
Max felt anger bubbling inside her, then she shook her head to clear it away. It was All's fault she had grown up without parents, but everything was All's fault, and it would do no good to worry herself with something that, as much as she wished, could never be changed. "Ender died four years ago," Max said to inturrupt her thoughts before she went insane. "Why did Charlie only appear recently?"
You try pulling someone from the past into the present. Much harder than it sounds. Because of the Rift, we're lucky I even managed to place him in this centrery, nevermind placing him right next to your hiding spot. Too bad your boyfriend hit him with a spade. It had just been getting interesting.
"For the last time, He is not my boyfriend!" Max yelled to the air, startling Wither. He had been midleap when the outburst came from her mouth, she had been speaking quitely for the mostpart, so this sudden shout had surprised Him, almost making Him miss the rock. Steve almost fell off, but they didn't tumble down the path back down to the ground below.
"Are you okay, Max?" Wither tried to ask, but instead what came out was: "euh ook ax?" So, as expected, He didn't get a response.
He leaped onto another rock jutting upwards, so He had to balance Himself pecariously to keep from falling. They were almost to the village, just a few more blocks. That half-hour had passed surpriseingly quickly. But He was sure Steve was getting bored because He kept feeling the new Minecrafter poke at the fine hairs covering Wither's current form, and sometimes even yanking them from His skin.
He really didn't like Steve. Why? He had no idea. Maybe it was something about how he insulted Max. Or how he was so restless, even when asleep. Maybe it was how the man looked so much like Herobrine. Wither didn't like Herobrine either. Actually, He didn't like anyone. Except for Max, of course.
Another thing He didn't know: why had He stuck around with Max for so long? Even when she had begun to throw sharp things He had stayed. She obviously wanted to be alone. Perhaps it was because He too, was alone. As He disliked everyone, everyone, in turn, disliked Him. Most disliked Him because He was Ender's supposed "replacement" to keep the universe from dying. They thought He would turn evil, take over, torture and kill just for fun. He honestly wasn't sure of that Himself. He didn't feel evil, not one bit, but the thoughts of ridding one from their life didn't bother Him as much as it would other people. Some didn't like Him just because He exsited, owning power that they think would be better off in other's hands.
He finally reached the top of the hill. He sat down awkwardly so His passengers could slide from His back to the ground. Which they gladly did. Oddly, this form had a very strong, very unpleasant scent. But perhaps that was because Wither had spent the last half hour jumping on dusty rocks after climbing over a mountain the day before. Add onto the fact that He hadn't had anything close to a bath since the lake. That had seemed like a million years ago, but in reality it was only six...days...ago...
With a start, Wither realized it was His best friend's birthday.
And with dread, Wither realized He hadn't finished her present yet.
At least He had created the main essence. Now He just needed an object to place it in. He needed to find an excuse to leave their small group for ten minutes. He needed only ten minutes to create an object worthy not only to hold the life changing gift He held hidden in His reservoir of power, but to give to His only friend. Though, if worst came to to worst, He could always find an especially beautiful rock and gift it to Max.
Yes! I am now very happy that I don't have to tone back the effort. Especially since we're now getting into the Lead up plot. Lead up to what? Let's just say the End. Of this series, and this fic. On that note, there will possibly be two - five more chapters, but fear not! I have two more instalments planned out for the series.
What do you people think Max's present is?
Guest:
Glad you like it! And I am. There is now no need to worry about me stopping.
NotReallyAName:
Thank you for that, really. I honestly almost cried. That's the first time anyone has said anything like that about my writing, and so I don't know how to respond other than saying "Thank you." But, yes. You got the compass thing right! I've given you a shoutout on the last chapter by using the magic of editing!