"Well done Enderborn." The queen called down. "You fight bravely. I'm so sorry it had to come to this, but there is one more that you must fight." I closed my eyes, suddenly very tired. I could literally feel my life force draining. But I stood anyway. If I was going to fight the queen then I would give it all I had left. However, when I opened my eyes I was confronted not with an angry dragon but a far too happy Zoey. "Give her the sword." The queen hissed to her subjects. An enderman came down and gave Zoey a cloth wrapped object, staring at it in disgust. My heart sank as I realized what it was. The screaming blade, Enderbane. The weapon that hurt me just to hold it, and I could still remember the pain I had felt when I had cut myself with it, to sever me from this god forsaken place. Zoey unwrapped the sword, spinning it in her hand.
"Let's play Rythian!" She smirked, all of her fake cheerfulness gone. "How about I be the hero and you be the disgusting monster." Her voice was lowered now, a faint hint of a growl in it.
"Please, Zoey." I coughed, struggling to remain upright.
"No." She said and swung at me, I blocked. "You aren't worthy of my mercy." She swung again. "You lied to me, never told me what you were." A stab. "Never told me you were a monster." She hit my sword, my weakened grip failing as the blade spun away. I backed away as she walked towards me, her face full of hatred and eyes full of pain as tears streaked down her cheeks. I felt the wall against my back and knew it was over.
"Zoey." I started, she pressed her sword against my throat. The moment it touched my skin I screamed, pain beyond anything else streaking through me. "Zoey," I tried again, voice ragged and far too soft. "I forgive you. It's ok." I looked straight into her eyes and did my best to smile, it came out twisted and pained. I slowly sank to my knees and closed my eyes, waiting for the end. Hoping Zoey would understand I knew it wasn't her fault, that I forgave her, that I loved her. I raised my head, exposing my neck. I heard the sharp swish of a blade and I squeezed my eyes tighter, feeling genuine terror at the darkness that lay ahead. I waited one second, two, before cautiously opening my eyes. Zoey stood above me, eyes squeezed shut, sword arm trembling inches from my throat.
"Zoey?" I breathed, daring to hope. Her eyes opened as she lowered the sword and began to sob. She threw her arms around my neck and pressed her head against my shoulder, her wet tears stinging my skin.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, voice muffled in my shoulder. I stroked her hair, pulling her closer to me. The immediate danger of being decapitated was gone, but I was already all but dead from blood loss.
"I'm dying Zoey." I rasped. She jerked her head back.
"No! You're not allowed!" she tugged on my hand, I was too weak to resist. "You can't." She sobbed.
"Not exactly my first choice." I gave her a tired grin. I slid backwards against the wall, no longer able to support my own weight. She pulled me onto her lap and the blackness seemed to get closer, my eyes inching closed.
"No Rythian, You can't die!" Her voice began to fade. "I'll miss you Rythian, I need you! Rythian I…" He couldn't hear her anymore, he felt warm and safe. Surrounded by the darkness he saw a single pinprick of light, and it seemed to be coming closer.
"Love you." Zoey whispered over his still body, kissing his bloodied forehead. She wept, every tear leaving a red mark on Rythian's skin. The world seemed to stand still, the endermen were silent. Even the queen seemed speechless.
Zoey shifted slightly and felt something digging into her leg. She reached into her pocket and brought out a smooth stone, dull gray with a pink gem in the middle. Her heart sped up, maybe he had a chance. She put the lifestone into his limp hand and activated it, hoping that it would be strong enough. Several breathless seconds passed, then she saw it. A faint trickle of warm light rose from the stone and sank into his sides, his head, and all his other gashes and scrapes. She saw color returning to his pale cheeks and his eyes fluttered open.
"Ah!" he said, jolting upright. "What just happened?" he looked down at the small stone, comprehension dawning on his face.
"Rythian!" Zoey practically tackled him. "Don't you dare do that ever again!"
"Ok, no dying allowed. Fair enough." He smiled at her and they both stood, suddenly aware of the crowd of exceedingly hostile mobs.
"Well done both of you." The queen purred, shifting slightly on her podium. Rythian squeezed Zoey's hand.
"Just let us leave." Rythian said. The queen laughed.
"Leave? But you only just got here Enderborn. Do you think I would let my favorite and most dangerous pet just leave?" The queen's statement elicited a laugh from the crowd. Rythian opened his mouth, ready to threaten or beg or anything. But before he could even decide how to proceed a loud crack rang through the End. The sound of the portal.
"What the hell?" Rythian muttered, looking towards the stone pool full of stars. In front of it, looking highly disoriented, stood a large green dinosaur with his bow at the ready.
"Teep! Green man!" Zoey called, jumping and clapping. "Rythian look, it's our dinosaur!" The dino nocked an arrow, aiming for The Queen's heart. She froze, growling softly.
"Put that down." The Queen rumbled, inching away from the arrows path. Teep shook his head and stepped closer. "Get him!" She whimpered, shoving one of her guards forward with her tail. The Enderman horde suddenly seemed to realize that their queen was in danger and rushed for the dinosaur.