Chapter 14
Whiskey in The Cabinet
He showed us much. He treats us as family and taught us everything that he had learned when he first arrived here. Yet, the Immortal, I sensed his loneliness, we all did.
Was he aware that compared to him, our lives were fleeting? Was he afraid to get too close to us?
The others and I pray, we pray every day, hoping. That Notch will find it in his heart to bring another to us. Someone for the Immortal.
No one should be alone after all...
"Sweet cheese and crackers I swear this hallway has its own weather!" Jesse stomped his feet and pulled his coat tighter. He had hoped escaping from the First World fall chill would happen upon entering the Hallway, but it was just as cold- if not colder- in the magical multi dimensional passage. He could see his breath for Pete's sake!
Steve laughed and zipped up his own coat, "Just as well, it's cold where we're going."
Jesse turned excitedly back to the male, "You gonna show me your secret?!" he smiled.
"Yep!"
Steve walked about five feet then stopped. "This is it."
Jesse looked at him, confused, and then looked at the door at which Steve stood near. He recognized it, it was the one he and Lukas had been debating over going into or not before Petra had picked the First World. The stone was still obsidian, and the magic was still black, but frost had accumulated on the black stone, making white pieces of art dancing across the grooves. Jesse eyed the dark door suspiciously, "This is it?"
"This is it."
"Steve," Jesse awkwardly laughed, "It's just another portal."
The older male smiled, "But inside, is something only a handful of people have seen."
"Such as?"
Steve wiggled his hands to follow and leapt through.
"Steve!" Not wanting to fall behind Jesse ran though, hoping, a small part of his was anyway, that this wasn't where he was violently murdered.
It struck him about halfway through running into the magical portal that the last time he raced through so fast was in Sky City. If he remembered correctly he almost fell to his death from the momentum and lack of solid ground on the other side...
Luckily there was ground on the other side, but he was going too fast to keep his balance or for that matter, stop, "Ahh!" Jesse tumbled through, kicking up dark purple dust as he fell forward.
"Shhh!"
He crashed into Steve, the adult caught and held him supportively in his strong arms, one hand quickly rushing to put a gently finger on Jesse's lips. "Don't yell."
"Why?" Jesse whispered after he pulled his lips away. He took a second to look around. It was hard to see, there was only one torch in the room, and from what Jesse could tell, it was the only room. He felt like he was in a cave. It was small, no windows, no natural light. The stone was a dark rich purple, nearly black, and from Jesse determined that was it. It was the room; the portal, him and Steve, and a set of stairs leading off and up into a dark void. "Where are we?"
Steve helped him straighten. "You'll startle them."
"Them?" he coughed on the black particles in the air, the atmosphere was almost stifling.
Steve gently grabbed his hand, bringing a finger up to make a silent shush, "Follow me and stay low."
Jesse resisted, because truthfully, he wasn't exactly feeling his bravest at the moment he was swept up in a sudden and unnatural wave of fear, "Steve, where are we?" he asked again.
Steve caught the desperation in his voice and turned back to him, "I know this isn't your world. But this is something I thought you might like to see. I really rather show you it," then he added, "And frankly, not have you stumble in here by accident."
Jesse didn't move.
Steve placed his free hand on his shoulder, "Jesse, you can trust me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
Jesse paused, feeling the sensation of trust kick back in and then nodded, he let Steve guide him up the stairs and out into the open. It was dark, nothing but nearly pitch black void all around. Yet the whole terrain seemed to glow, by some unnatural light. "What-"
Steve gently shushed him and led him around a corner of rock towards the dark black cliffs that led to nothing. 'Come see."
Jesse looked, and he felt his breath taken away," Steve..." he knew where he was, but he didn't understand how this could be possible, "Is this...the End?"
Steve nodded, smiling. "I thought you'd be amazed," he whispered, "I've wanted to show you this ever since Alex and I joined the search. Do you like it?"
Jesse stared nodding. Across the great vast expanse was another floating island. Atop resting on dozens of perches or on the ground, were hundreds if not thousands, of Ender Dragons, "What world is this?"
"Welcome to the Ender Dragon World."
Petra was packing her bags for the trip to the sunflower fields when it happened.
"Alex! Alex!"
Lukas looked up from his end of the room, he too was packing his bags and like Petra, he was equally confused.
Steve and Jesse had left for the Hallway shortly after breakfast - which had been very early- so that everyone could get a good start for their separate trips. It was only Alex, Petra and Lukas who remained at the reclusive farm house.
"That didn't sound like Jesse," Lukas said.
"It wasn't and I don' think its Steve either," Petra answered. She tilted her head, "It kinda sounds like the blacksmith from town. What was his name?"
"I think it was Bach," the blond said, he looked towards the bedroom exit, "It sounded urgent.
"Alex, in Notch's good name please be here!"
"That sounded urgent," Lukas said.
Petra was already dropping her bags and hurrying out the bedroom, she raced down the stairs just as the main front door burst open. It was indeed Bach, looking a little pale and a little stressed for a man who was naturally intimidating. In his arms he carried a very sweaty and tense Mariah.
He immediately set his sights on Petra, "Please tell me Alex is here!"
"She's in the barn, with the-" Petra started.
"I'm right here Bach," Alex said, entering the parlor from the kitchen bits of straw and hay in her hair. She must have entered the house through the kitchen exit. "What's wrong?"
"I think... the baby is coming," Mariah wheezed out.
"But she still has months to go!" Bach stressed, "Two at least!"
"Calm down," Alex said soothingly, "When did the cramps start?"
"This morning,"
"Has your water broke?"
"I-I don't know."
"Bach, take her to the medical room please," she waited till Bach exited the parlor before she turned to Lukas and Petra, "We need to postpone the trip kids..."
"This is more important anyway," Petra said, "We'll be okay, right Lukas?"
"Oh yeah," the male agreed, "Can we help with anything?"
Alex looked towards her patient's rooms, "Petra if you could get me some clean fresh towels that would be great. Lukas could you ah...keep Bach calm? He may bend iron to his will but he's as soft as cheese when it comes to his wife."
"No problem," Lukas trotted down the rest of the steps just as Bach exited the medical room, "Bach, would you come with me?"
"Mariah-"
"Alex is on it," Lukas gestured for him to follow, "Let's get you something to drink."
"Where are the towels?" Petra asked.
Alex was pulling off her work shirt, and shaking off the hay in her hair as she headed towards her doctor's office, "They are upstairs fourth floor, I just pulled some fresh ones out of the cleaning room." she smiled, "Thanks so much for this Petra," she said as she pulled her hair back.
"It's the least we could do!" Petra gave a thumbs up and dashed up the stairs.
The upper floor consisted of only two rooms according the houses owners. There was the cleaning room, which Alex said she did all her winter washing when it go too cold outside to do laundry. The other room was what they called the 'attic', because it was simply used as a catch all room for everything they owned.
Petra entered the cleaning room, spotted the basket of towels and had scooped them up and was out the door without hardly breaking stride-
A cool fall breeze wafted through the top floor and the attic door creaked open. Petra only stopped because she found it weird that the attic window was open. But then it struck her that Alex had been cleaning last night, she probably opened it to get some airflow.
The natural light illuminated the otherwise dark attic revealing the lost and hidden things buried there. Petra spotted multiple chest, some were cracked open, stuffed full of handmade quilts and other fabrics. There were a dozen or some racks or armor, varying from leather to iron. A rocking chair, a table covered in dusty old books, and a crib.
Petra paused, stepping into the musty room to inspect the piece of furniture. The crib seemed out of place in the house. She wasn't aware that Steve and Alex had children. There were a few quilts nicely folded in the crib, and some toys too. There were a few dolls, a craving of a pig, and one of a creeper and another of a ghast. There was even a small wooden sword, even though it was covered in dust, one could tell it was polished so sooth oil itself couldn't be slicker. The crib was gorgeous as well, hand carved, every piece assembled with the finest detail-
"Petra did you find them?!" Lukas hollered from four stories down.
Petra jumped and quickly backed out of the attic, "Yeah coming!" she ran down the stairs, jumping two at a time and hurried past Lukas.
"She's already with Mariah," he said.
"Got it,"
Petra stepped much more carefully into the medical room, cautious to make any noise and stress the mother to be further.
"...I was only cooking," Mariah groaned.
"You picked up that cauldron of yours didn't you?" Alex scolded, "I told you, you have to be careful Mariah."
"Oh that didn't start it," the brunette huffed.
"Last I check, that's how your mother went into labor with you," The ginger said, "You are pregnant; you need to take it easy."
"That didn't stop-"
Alex turned around; "Petra! Oh good , Lukas has already fetched me some warm water so now I can start." she scooped up a towel after Petra set the basket on the table, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Petra looked at Mariah, "Are you hanging in there?"
The blacksmith's wife mumbled something in her native tongue but she gave Petra a genuinely bright smile, "Lovely,"
"Do I need to bring the crib down too, just in case?" Petra said to Alex with the intention of her statement to be a mood lifting jest.
Alex seemed momentarily surprised almost stunned, which confused Petra "Crib?" then her eyes widened, "Oh the crib!" she laughed, "I'll keep you updated," she waved to Petra, "Just keep Bach calm for me okay?"
"Okay," Petra said letting Alex's previous expression slide, she waved to Mariah, "You got this!"
Mariah winced from her bed and waved back.
Lukas was already in the kitchen with Bach, the blacksmith drinking from a large mug.
"Lukas get you a drink," Petra asked as she slid into a open chair.
"Whiskey in the cabinet," Lukas said slowly. He pointed to a high cabinet in the upper left hand side of the kitchen, "Bach knew right where it was,"
"Steve can't stand the stuff," Bach said, biting his lip, "But he kept a bottle here after he found out Mariah was carrying. Blighter says were should just stay in the guest bedrooms by this point."
"Have you been here a lot?" Petra asked.
"Unfortunately," the burly male sighed, he looked longingly at the medical room, "We've been trying for years...and now..."
"I'm sorry if it's hard for you," Lukas said quietly.
"Ah," Bach took a swig, "Don't be. We knew from the beginning it wasn't going to be easy. But Alex is good at her job, if she can't do it, no one can. She's our healer after all, and almost second mother to all them kids in town," he laughed.
Petra looked at Alex's room and her thoughts wandered to the crib.
It was many hours later before Alex exited, with Mariah, who was still pregnant...
"False alarm," Mariah laughed, "He's has to be a boy luv, only a boy would do this to me."
"Only a girl could be so stubborn," Bach kissed his wife on the cheek.
"No more cauldron cooking," Alex said, washing her hands, "I recommend you stop lifting anything heavy in general. Stop going up stairs, I strongly suggest you move your bedroom to the bottom floor until this is over. Or," she turned to face the couple, "You could just stay here."
"We're not going to intrude," Bach said.
"You know the risks though,"
"Alex..."Mariah smiled, "We have faith."
Alex sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, "Of all the stubborn..." she mumbled, "Fine." she smiled. "Send a messenger next time, and I'll come to you."
"Thank you Healer," Mariah kissed Alex on the cheek, "We will."
Healer?
Petra tilted her head. Healer as in the second Immortal? She looked at Lukas and saw the blond's gears were turning as well.
"Thank you again," Bach agreed.
Alex gave a cheeky grin as they went to leave, "Oh and Bach?"
The couple stopped.
"Why don't you take my horse and carriage back to town, since you decided to run all the way here."
Bach blushed a little, "Ah, yes..."
"It's already set up in the barn. Take it; I'll have Steve fetch it tomorrow."
"Thank you," Then the couple was gone.
Alex sat down on a chair slumping back over it with a sigh and pulled out her hair tie, "Well, how about we start the trip tomorrow and leave a note for the boys?"
"Sounds fine," Lukas said, he glanced at Petra, "Um, Alex?"
"Hmmm?"
"They called you Healer."
"Yes?"
"Like the uh..." Lukas was stuck.
"The Immortal," Petra finished.
Alex sat back up, resting her elbows on the table, "I'm a doctor, it's just one of my names."
"Oh..." Lukas blushed, "We thought - sorry."
"I'm honored though," Alex said, "Thanks for your help today."
"You're welcome," they answered.
She let her hands drop onto her thighs with a clap, "Well, better unhitch the horses."
"I'll help," Petra said.
"I'll take the towels upstairs." Lukas piped up.
The adult woman nodded wearily, "Sounds like a plan."
Lukas left the kitchen to head up the stairs and the women headed for the barn. Alex started to unhitch Titan, while Petra worked on Gaea.
Alex was singing a soft tune while they worked; it reminded Petra of a lullaby.
"...For you know, once even I was a
Little child, and I was afraid
But a gentle someone always came
To dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears
And to give a kiss goodnight
Well now I am grown
And these years have shown
That rain's a part of how life goes
But it's dark and it's late
So I'll hold you and wait
Till your frightened eyes do close..."
Petra swallowed thickly, "Alex,"
"Yes-"
"Were you ever a mom?" Petra blurted out.
Alex stopped singing.
The ginger cautiously looked around the wide girth of the horse, to see Alex staring quietly at the leather straps in her hands. "Alex? I'm sorry if I-"
"No," Alex said, she looked to Petra smiling, "I'm not upset. To answer your question, No, I am not a mom." she returned to her work, "I tried to be once."
"What happened?" Petra said gently. Then she stammered out, "I mean you don't have to tell me-"
"Steve and I just can't," Alex answered softly, "Our lifestyle doesn't allow time for children. We wanted one once. But we decided, it...just wasn't safe. We didn't want to lose..." she trailed off, looking almost grief stricken.
"Oh...I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Alex said. "I assumed you asked because of the crib upstairs?"
"Yeah..." Petra mumbled.
Alex chuckled, "Understandable. I use that crib for when I deliver babies. Mariah is the first person in a long time to be with child, so it's been in the attic for awhile. I was going to bring it down when she was closer to being due but-" Alex shook her head, "With all these close calls I'm should just bring it down."
"I'll help," Petra offered.
"I'd appreciate that,"
Petra let the air returned to it content atmosphere, "You have a pretty singing voice for lullabies. I think you'd make a great mom."
Alex blushed a little, but Petra could see her eyes were sad, "I haven't sung in a long time actually.
"Well..." Petra scooted over and elbowed her, "I wouldn't mind hearing the rest of that song?"
"I wouldn't mind showing you," Alex smiled and returned to her melody:
"...And I hope that you'll know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning
Everything's fine in the morning
The rain'll be gone in the morning
But I'll still be here in the morning..."
"There is so many!" Jesse gaped.
"You see the big one right there," Steve pointed, "The one with the scar on his snout."
Jesse followed Steve's finger to the large Ender dragon perched on a tower of end stone. The beast was massive easily double the size of the rest of the dragons.
"Yeah?"
"That one right there is the Alpha male." Steve explained, "He's in charge of this herd."
"How many herds are there?"
"Oh, a few hundred I think," the older male answered, "There are at least fifty to a hundred dragons in each pack. But the big one right there, I call him Void, he's the biggest alpha I've seen so far."
"This is amazing!" Jesse was in awe, he crouched a little lower next to Steve, "Are you sure we're safe here."
"Absolutely not,"
"What?"
Steve laughed, "They already know we're here - calm down let me explain - Void has already sensed out presence. See? How nose is pointed on way, but his right eye is facing us?" Steve leaned back against the rock, "He knows we're here but he knows were not a threat."
"Are you sure?"
"I've been here a lot," Steve said, "He only attacked me once, and I figure he's got my sent memorized by this point. We can leave if you want; I just really wanted to show you this."
"No, no, I'm glad," Jess leaned back, having to kind nestle against the other male to keep from slipping off the edge, "This place is incredible."
"This was the second door the Old Builder's made." the adult said, "But apparently they made it from the outside so they had no idea what world they were entering. Imagine their surprise!"
Jesse chuckled but stopped, "The portal door is still there right?"
"Yeah, we won't have to traverse the dragon infested world I assure you." Steve replied, "The Old Builder's weren't very consistent in their door patterns. Some worlds have two, and entrance and an exit, some have only one, that goes both ways..."
"Our world led to Sky City," Jesse explained, "But we couldn't go back, and when we went through the new portal it led us to the Hallway." he frowned, "I hope we don't have to go through a world to get to our world..."
"I'm sure you'll be okay."
There was a moment of silence, only the roar of the dragons on occasion.
"Lukas said the Immortal learned to world travel from Ender dragons."
"Who told him that?"
"Alex,"
"Well, they're right," Steve looked across the expanse, "Somehow he managed to put the pieces together..."
"So, the Old Builder's learned from the First, and the First learned from the dragons," Jesse listed.
"So, we have the dragons to thank for this," Steve finished.
"Trippy,"
"Tell me about it."
"I can't wait to tell Olivia and Axel about this,"
"It's definitely a unique bragging right," Steve agreed, "How many people can say they saw the source world for all Ender Dragons?"
"I should probably bring Petra and Lukas here...you know...so it's fair," Jesse laughed.
"Just make sure they stay calm," Steve laughed as he stood, pulling Jesse up with him.
"Thanks for showing me this," Jesse said, as he followed Steve back down the stairs and into the portal. He paused for a brief seconds as the cool air of the hallway rushed to meet him, "It really puts the awe and wonder back into me,"
"You sound like a First Worlder," Steve laughed.
Jesse grinned, "Going native already I guess." he looked to another door in the hallway, the one with the claw marks and bloodstains. " Steve? Is that the next door they made."
"Yes,"
"What's in there? Do you know?"
Steve looked at the door and made a face, "Hell, I'm afraid. Well, it's a world entirely composed of Nether, but Hell is close enough."
"Oh..." Jesse looked around, "Any door for Heaven?"
"Gotta die to get to Notch,"
"Unless you're Immortal," Jesse said with a chuckle.
Steve looked at the ceiling, "Unless your that," he scooped up his pack, "Come on kiddo let's go."
"Kiddo?" Jesse stopped.
Steve looked over his shoulder at the youth, "Oh! Uh, sorry!" he went pink in the cheeks a little, "I know people for more than two weeks I start giving them pet names." he adjusted his pack, "I can stop."
"No," Jesse picked up his own bag, "No, I don't mind." as he followed Steve down the hall, trying his best not to seem too happy with the nickname. It made him...happy.
It's kinda nice...
Next Time On Minecraft Story Mode Immortal's Child:
"What are you doing?" Petra asked.
Alex pulled a funny piece of armor from her pack, "I'm going down the cliff, what are you doing?"
Petra pointed, "The path is over there,"
Alex looked towards the green meadows that slowly went around the steep cliffs, "I know, I just felt like jumping today."
"JUMPING?! With what?!"
Disclaimer:
Lullaby for a Stormy Night belongs to Vienna Teng
Author's Section
And here we go, another development chapter, with some hints along the way I might add. Haha, let's see how many of you go back and try to see them ;)
Author's Response
At TheAmberShadow : Are you sure though ?Hahah! Is Brine Herobrine? Oh my god, I just realized Brine fits in Herobrine. That was so not my plan, why did no one tell me this!
At AnonHowDoUDo : I love that user name. As for your question, um, no, I didn't know that was a thing. I have a few songs that make me think of Immortal's Child. But I won't probably share them till later, because some of them carry obvious spoilers, I think though...here I got one. I think the First World's theme would be 'A World of Danger and Beauty,' from the Disney movie Brother Bear.
The rest of the songs are going to have to wait, but thanks for the question!
At sailormikuchan : I won't be able to do the clothes for your character, seeing as how that is not the style designed for the First World natives. But I will gladly use her name and personality if you still would like. Thank you so much for offering your character!
Anyway, Thanks for all the support and reviews everyone! This is been so much fun! I can't wait to do the next chapter! As for the next chapter, sedatetoucan there is something in there as a tribute to you, we talked about it way when ago when I was first starting out and I have been dying to use the item you suggested ever since! I hope you like it! I'll post soon!
See you all soon everyone! Thanks again!