Ch.17 Ananon's Heart

I wasn't quite sure where I was exactly. Pastel colored sheep bounced around on pastel colored grass. Big fluffy clouds floated around me with small and large floating islands. Odd birds grazed ahead of me. Overhead and in the distance amongst the clouds were small box shaped cloud-looking creatures that flew about.

"Where are we?"

"We're in the Aether. Heaven for Minecraft. Nether is Hell." Ananon turned back to the world and smiled. She sighed, glad to be back. "Come. I shall grab a Moa for us to journey on."

"A what?" I asked following after her down the hillside towards the birds.

Blue birds that had large beaks turned towards us, making their odd bird sound. Ananon petted the birds gently. She climbed up on one of the birds backs and turned it towards me. "Pet one. They're sweet creatures to souls like us."

I noticed that Ananon's looks had turned pastel. "Why is everything so…light looking?"

Ananon gazed at me softly. "It's heaven. Everything is to be light and soft looking. It's a paradise for the dead."

A Moa clicked and rubbed my back affectionately. I turned around to look into the face of the gentle giant. "Are Moa's dead too?"

Ananon nodded. "Yes. They became extinct before we were created."

I petted the bird's beak, working my way to the back of it. It lowered its head to pull up the soft looking grass and munch on it. I managed to climb onto its back making it ruffle its feathers and squawk.

"Sorry, Moa. It's my first time to ride something like you," I apologized petting the bird's neck.

The Moa clicked its beak calming down. Ananon turned her bird around and headed for the top of the hillside we had come from. "Come on, we have to go see someone."

"Who?" I asked as my Moa followed after Ananon's.

Lady Ananon smiled to herself humming a tune that seemed to make the huge gentle giants of the sky, the Aerwhales, sing above us. I watched them fly or float, I wasn't sure; they might've been swimming on the air. This world was so weird to me, hardly any of the creatures made any sense. Like the whales in the sky. The guys won't believe what I've been seeing here. They'll probably think I've gone insane from that death.

The Moa's clicked to one another randomly as they sprinted across yellow sand that stretched for miles ahead of them. I gripped my Moa tightly trying to hang on while Ananon held onto the bird's large shoulder bone that poked out under the feathers. I decided to try that out and found that the Moa's shoulder bone had a nice feature to grip. I watched the landscapes that rested on light fluffy clouds fly by. This was certainly a different way of travel that I had ever experienced.

It somewhat reminded me of being transported by Hel when he would carry me in his arms. I wondered if he was well, if the werewolves had harmed him any. If he were dead by now wouldn't I see him here too? Interesting thought and sad. I pushed the thought from my mind as the hills and giant cliffs began to thin and we were suddenly running through the sky with clouds floating around us.

The sun level with us casted warmth upon our sides. I smiled watching the suns rays filter through clouds, casting odd shapes of light through them.

"Hey, Ana? What's going to happen to my body?" I asked loud enough for her to hear.

"I'm not sure," she replied with her back to me. "Defiled, torn to bits, or taken some place in one piece."

I winced at the thoughts. "Geez. Talk about a nice burial. My body is in the claws of werewolves."

The Moa's spread their wings and suddenly took flight, soaring across the clouds. Every once in a while they would flap to gain altitude and float down slowly. I looked past the Moa's head to see a pathway leading someplace that disappeared behind large hills. The Moa's clicked landing on the pathway that was tiled. Every random space along the path there were tall or short remains of pillars.

"What's with the pillars?" I asked gazing at the crumbling objects as we passed them by.

"This is a very old land mark of the Valkyrie." Ananon replied turning to look back at me. "They are angel's that guard the buildings that have been built here. Within the buildings are treasured objects that they guard and hold dear."

"Huh," I replied looking around.

The Moa clicked and squawked coming to a stop. I wondered what was up when I noticed Ananon dismounting the bird. I slid off my own and watched the bird click and nuzzle my arm before turning and flying away with the other.

Ananon took up her dress in one hand and began striding away up the pathway. I followed after without a sound. As we walked, I wondered how long we had been there for. It felt like half an hour had gone by but was this time different than the living time? Ananon looked back at me raising a brow.

"You look like you have questions, my dear."

"Yeah, a good bit." I replied sheepishly. "Is this time different than the living?"

Ananon nodded. "Very. You've been here for about ten seconds in living time."

"What?" I exclaimed stopping in my tracks. "No way!"

Ananon chuckled at my reaction and beckoned for me to follow after her. "Come, we still have a ways to go."

"Ok," I said stepping next to her. "How long have you been here for?"

"Too long," she replied staring off into the sun's glorious rays that were ever changing by the clouds that drifted past. "You lose yourself in this place's beauty. Time doesn't matter here."

I watched an Aerwhale float over us lazily. This place was indeed a paradise for spirits but what if one of those spirits didn't have time to stay there and enjoy the scenic views and majestic beasts? What if the spirit had to find a way to get revived and save others before it was too late? I stared after Ananon as she strode away over the ancient blue glowing tile. This will take me some time to get out of here I think. Hang on a little longer everyone. Please?

Hel's mind was in a daze and a complete wreck after feeling something bash into him from above or was it behind? His whole head hurt. He grimaced pushing himself up onto his paws. He blinked a few times to get his vision to clear, and finally saw where he was. In the middle of the entirety of a large pack. All eyes glared down at him coldly.

A shiver went down his spine making his coat quiver slightly.

"Look at him, he's shaking out of fear."

The pack began laughing at this. Hel looked around at them all gathering himself, trying to remain calm.

"I'm glad you all like to laugh at my reactions."

"Of course it is," an auburn wolf replied stepping from the throng of wolves into the circle. "I'm sure you haven't met Alpha Maul, correct?"

Hel stared at him silently. The wolf's mouth twitched and pulled back into a grin. "Oh, this will be fun. Even when the girl is brought here by Shyas."

Hel growled at this information and hunched forward growling lowly. "What did you just say?"

"Ooh, Erake, look at him now. I think you touched a nerve." sniggered a female.

Hel didn't take his eyes off Erake. "Why are you bringing her here? I'm the one to be punished!"

Erake sneered taking a step towards him. "Yes, you broke the code by stepping into a territory that you were an outsider by, but she is connected to you by the collar. Therefor you get equal punishment."

Hel snapped at Erake, his fur rising along the ridge of his back. "That's bullshit! Who made this shit up?"

Erake circled around him still grinning. "Don't get your fur in such a tangle. You'll get to ask the wolf who created those rules soon enough."

Hel snapped at Erake snarling. "Good! Because that wolf is a stupid son of a bitch!"

The pack erupted into laughter. Erake could really touch anyone's nerves just right. A hush went through the pack like a wave as all heads turned towards the darkest part of the woods. Large eyes illuminated the darkness as a huge werewolf figure stalked into the pack, the pack moving aside for their alpha to come into the center. Hel stepped back looking up at the werewolf with a slightly opened mouth.

"If it isn't my youngest son who left me for Minecraftian's." the alpha growled.

"If it isn't my father who watched me go." Hel replied holding his fathers gaze.

"What brings you to the base? I thought you knew where you stood?"

"Of course I know where I stand. Things happened and I wound up here. Simple as that."

Maul growled lowly at Hel. "That bitch?"

Hel narrowed his eyes. "Don't call her that. She is under my protection. I respect her and her family for all they've done for me."

"You were taken from me!" Maul roared down upon Hel. "How can you thank that bastard for such a thing like that? Pup-napping?"

Hel took a step back, bracing himself at his fathers anger. "I didn't know. I was young, father."

Maul huffed and growled, his fur bristling. "Too young or stupid. It doesn't matter!"

"Let Sell off with a warning. I'm the one to punish, father." Hel bowed his head.

"Sell? Is that the dead girl's name?"

Hel's head shot up at this. "What? Dead?"

Maul grinned rising up on his hind legs, towering over the pack. "Yes! Dead! Isn't it marvelous? You're free to return home!"

"No!" Hel howled out rising up, still dwarfed by his father's sheer size. "It's not marvelous! I failed in protecting her!"

"You were no more than a mere dog!" Maul snarled jabbing his large head in Hel's face. "How can you not be happy to be free at last? Don't tell me you enjoyed watching that wretches every move?"

Hel shrank down on his haunches looking at the grass. "I did."

Gasps from the werewolves of the pack went around. Maul crouched down over his son. "What?"

"I liked protecting her. It was the most action I've ever had!" Hel replied looking up at his father. "It made me feel like I had a purpose to live than just wandering around Minecraft mindlessly!"

Maul's face contorted into a devilish snarl as his great arm smacked Hel, sending him flying through the trees. The trees were all demolished as wood flew everywhere from Hel's crashing. Finally the sound of breaking wood ceased and Hel sprawled out on heaps of trunks and saplings trying to catch his winded breath. The sound of splintering wood could be heard approaching Hel. Hel suddenly was picked up and pinned against a large pine with such force he felt a few of his ribs break.

"AHH!" he cried out grasping the great paw. He grimaced looking through his watering eyes at his father's cold eyes that shone hatred towards him. "Father…!"

"Don't you dare call me father another time, you piece of shit!" Maul snapped flinging him away back towards the pack.

Hel felt himself skip and tumble in a heap across the ground before hitting a tree and falling into the circle of the pack. Blood dripping from his body as sticks stuck from his coat. Maul stalked into the center, his chest heaving out of anger.

"You will not be punished. You will be killed!"

A wolf flung a young woman's body into the center where it landed with a thud onto the grass in a heap next to Hel. Hel moved his head slightly to look, his eyes went wide at the sight of Sell. "No! Sell?"

Sell's once beautiful cheery face was smeared and covered in blood where she had been dragged through some. Her chest drenched in her own blood where her stitches had been opened out of force. Hel got to his paws shakingly, nosing under her chin. "Sell? Sell, wake up!"

Maul back pawed Hel into the tree that had stopped him from tumbling past the pack. Maul pressed him against the trunk forcefully. "Why are you crying for that pathetic Skeletal heir? Hmm? You love her or something?"

Hel pressed and clawed against his father's great paw trying to get air. Maul pressed against him harder snapping his jaws. "Answer me!"

Hel gasped shakingly making scratches in his father's paw. "Yes…Yes I do…!"

Maul narrowed his eyes and grinned. A small chuckle came from him that turned into laughter. "You all hear that? He says he loves that bitch! Do werewolves love Minecraftian's? Do we?"

The pack laughed as Maul looked back at Hel. His face got serious once again. "It's time to open those eyes, pup! Werewolves hunt Minecraftian's. Werewolves kill Minecraftians. Werewolves kill Skeletal heirs. Werewolves don't fall in love or like Minecraftian's!"

Hel coughed blood onto his father's paw and smiled weakly. "I guess I'm the one to break that law then."

Hel was forced through the trunk of the tree with one shove from his father. He fell to the ground with a sickening crack, wood falling upon his body. He layed there, blood seeping from his nose.

I'm not the one that's in the wrong. There's no harm in this. Right, Notch? There's no rule on love. You haven't written it. It's free… Why do they hate it like so then, Notch?

Maul growled down at the crumpled body of his youngest son. "Kill him!"

The pack sprang growling and snarling. Hel's body was covered up by the mass of werewolves leaping upon him, blocking the light of the moon from above.

I found myself standing before a huge coliseum type building with huge pillars that went around the front and the back of the building. Ananon looked over to me and smiled. "Shall we?"

I watched as Valkyrie's emerged from the front and took flight towards us. I was slightly scared by them seeing they were holding stone swords. "Are they coming to attack us?"

Ananon laughed. "No. They are going to welcome us home. We're going to see my mother."

"Your mother?" I repeated raising a brow. "What is she doing here?"

Ananon didn't reply. I followed after her as the Valkyrie's touched down around us smiling and giving us warm welcomes. I was ushered inside quickly by a few Valkyrie's and placed in front of a glowing golden throne before a woman that sat above me. She smiled down to me softly. "Welcome, Sell of the Skeletal Race and heir of Lord Rien. My daughter has told me much about her adventures with your father and another man named Lones."

"Yes, Ma'am." I replied bowing my head. "I'm not quite sure why I'm here exactly."

Queen Lyrena stood stepping down from the throne, her gown that was gold and a brilliant white dragged behind her. "You are the savior for those that need help from the darkness that creeps across the land every night. I will tell you of the story of how that darkness began. Open your mind and close your ears. Your heart is the road that can take you there. The soul, a paradise for those that need salvation. Your hands, ever flexing protectively around the innocents that live. Let your mind calm and open for the knowledge that I may give you here today."

I found myself being flung through time as images and things flew by at a rapid rate. I was suddenly sucked into darkness and suspended there for Notch knows how long.

"Come child, walk the path along with me. My light shines before you."

I saw a brilliant white path glowing beneath me. My feet moved on their own, shuffling down the pathway towards the unknown light in the distance. As I walked the Queen's life story unfolded around me. Before I knew it the light enveloped me and I was staring into the face of Queen Lyrena once more. She grimaced stroking my cheek. "Was that too much?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine. I'm just processing my thoughts."

Ananon stepped next to me clasping her hands in front of her. "Sell, please know that all of this evil was because I failed to stop it. I'm so sorry. Please take my heart?"

I looked down at her clasped hands that opened to show me crimson glass shards that had a heartbeat. I gaped at them. She cupped them, the five inch long shards, raising them up to my chest. "Take my heart unto you, its powerful beat awakening you. Each breath drawn empowers you."

The shards melted together and formed as a beating muscular heart in her hands. She pressed it against my chest making it phase through into me. I suddenly felt myself lurch and thrown downwards at a lightning fast rate. I hit the ground so hard my air left me. My eyes flew open as I gasped for air.

My cloak that was about me changed. One half went white while the other side remained black. Somewhere over me I heard a deep growl that set off a chaos of growling and snarling. Shadows leapt over my body and blocked out all light from the moon. Werewolves!

My mind went back to the wolf that had taken me from my bed. He had tricked me. I got to my feet with a yell. Flames erupted around me jumping into the air and attacking the werewolves that were leaping around me. Yelps of surprise and cries echoed through the air. I wondered what they were all attacking and turned around to see Hel's mangled body there on the ground.

"Hel?"

My feet shuffled forward as my eyes focused on the body. It was Hel. My body flung forward without hesitation. My mind blocked everything out around me.

"Hel!"

I felt a blunt object strike into the side of me, sending me through the woods at a high speed. My body instinctively curled into a ball as I went crashing through the woods. The speed I was going at, I couldn't do a thing but to remain as I was. What the hell hit me? I struck into something that knocked all the breath from my body. Opening my eyes I saw a beasts jaws gaping wide and heading straight for me.

"Shit!" My hands clenched as my body began to slip from where it had been suspended against for the fraction of a moment at that time. My mind screamed at me to do something but my body was still stunned from the impact. Move! Quick, do something! Move!

My eyes widened further as the great salivating maw roared at me getting bigger, growing steadily closer. It was upon me!