Chapter 19: End of An Era

The village was in full swing that evening.

While Pickaxe and his friends were dancing around this huge fire the miners had set up, there was also lots of food (cake…). The miners had also set up glowstone, torches, and fireworks. It was amazing. Every miner was at the scene, dancing, talking, whatever (except griefing)! Sarah was simply sitting on one of the wooden seats the miners had set up. While she enjoyed the festival, she wasn't one for participation. Potions and enchantments were more her thing. She wasn't a recluse; she just wasn't entirely into these types of activities.

Eventually, the time came for a village assembly, and Sabrina was at the post.

"Friends and family," she began, "Today we celebrate the return of my daughter!" She motioned Jewel forward, and the miners went crazy cheering. Jewel looked a bit embarrassed, but Pickaxe and Endre gave her a comforting thumbs up. "Of course, she wouldn't be here…" Sabrina continued, "If it wasn't for the combined efforts of these miners!" The miners urged Pickaxe's group forward next to the post, cheering them on all the while. "Now, with that said, let us count our blessings, and party 'til the break of dawn!" Sabrina finished.

The village unanimously agreed with that notion.

As the rest of the village partied, Reed came out of his house, embracing Jewel as she was dancing. "DAD!" she yelled, but nonetheless accepted the hug. Pickaxe and company were naturally there to see the whole thing. "Can you blame me," Reed confessed, "When I haven't seen you for so long?" "No…" Jewel admitted. "So," Pickaxe interjected, "Can someone please explain the establishment of this village?" "Of course!" Reed eagerly agreed. "Dear…" Sabrina weakly protested. "Well then…" Reed began…

It all started several years ago.

I used to live in a city called Mojang. I was one of the high officials, a profound fighter and adventurer. I had survived several expeditions to the Nether, and even got to join an party exploring the End once. I had also won plenty of fights in my day. But there was always this yearning for something bigger… something more. I later realized I wanted to be given a greater purpose than my current position. So, with permission from the leader of Mojang, I, as well as a group of friends, left the city in search of a wonder the likes no one had ever seen. After a few mishaps in the Nether, we eventually ended up here, on a mushroom island with a village. No one knew those even existed! With our wonder found, we eventually established a home here. We started families. Miners who were lucky enough to find the place usually integrated into the society. And now, after so long, here we are, thriving just as much as when we started out…

"Hmmm… that's pretty impressive…" commented Pickaxe.

"Isn't it?" asked Reed, obviously trying to keep himself on the low-low. "Don't get him started," begged Jewel. "Come on, dear," Sabrina asked, "There's cake." "Cake!?" Reed exclaimed, immediately leaving to eat said cake. "Oh, boy, dad…" sighed Stan, who had some cookie crumbs on his chin. Madison woke up after passing out during Reed's story. "Huh? What'd I miss?" she asked quickly. "Calm down," said Endre, literally popping out of nowhere. He was playing with an enderpearl not on his necklace. "Most convenient form of travel," he bragged.

This small group of miners ended up conversing for a rather long amount of time.

"So, how exactly did you guys meet Jewel?" Stan asked. "I mean, I know Pickaxe met Jewel sometime after escaping the Nether…and nearly cutting his head off…" Jewel punched Pickaxe's arm at this, "But what about the rest of you?" And thus, the other miners began telling their stories. About how Madison had saved Pickaxe and Jewel from a creeper, and almost raided their house. About how Texik buried the house in sand, and was saved from death by creeper. About how Sarah had almost led the group to death, and stole their loot. "W-wow," Endre commented. "Friendships really do start from a place of conflict." It was at that moment the group heard a scream:

"THE ENDERMAN"S BACK! THE ENDERMAN'S BACK!"

Pickaxe put on his pumpkin and some armor. "I'm gonna get mom!" said Stan, running to the house. The other miners were fleeing to the scene. An enderman? Here? "Endre, what's going on?" asked Jewel. Endre managed to stutter the details, "W-well, after you d-d-disappeared, s-somebody left the portal in the base open, a-and the enderman got through. When it's d-daylight, it l-l-likes hiding in the mines, and-" "Save the story for later," interrupted Madison, brandishing her iron axe, "We've heard all we need to know…"

When the group got to the location, Sabrina in tow, they saw something they'd never hope to see.

The enderman was hostile, there was no questioning that. It had a block of mycelium in its hands, and was currently using it to whack… Reed? "Dad!?" Jewel gasped in shock. "Stay back!" Reed managed to say, trying to get a hit on the enderman with an iron sword. But the thing kept dodging, and eventually, it got one hit in. Reed stepped back, his body still absorbing the pain. "DEAR!" Sabrina cried, trying to go aid him, but Stan held her back. The creature teleported behind Reed, hitting him again. He stumbled and collapsed, barely alive. "We have to help your father!" Sabrina begged. "It won't do us much good if we make it even more mad!" Stan argued. The creature loomed its dark presence above Reed, preparing for the final blow. The miners looked in horror at the apparent fate of their leader. "NO!" Jewel cried out.

The enderman brought down it's mycelium block full force… but was met with a enchanted diamond pickaxe.

The village was in shock. Pickaxe swatted away the enderman, as Stan finally let go of Sabrina, who ran to help Reed. It was Pickaxe's turn to face the dark foe. It came at him with surprising speed without teleporting, managing to get a few hits in. Pickaxe wasn't having it. He managed to land a strike. Then a second. A third! He had the enderman on the run. Then it started teleporting like crazy. He couldn't get a clear swing. Then he remembered something he heard Madison say somewhere in the blur of the journey here:

Enderman can't teleport behind you if you're back's to the wall.

Pickaxe followed this piece of advice, pressing his back up against the wall of a house near the shore. The enderman tried teleporting, but ended up right in front of him! Seeing his opportunity, he slashed his pickaxe against the monster, send ing him into the sea. The enderman howled in pain, trying to keep afloat. Endermen hate water, Pickaxe recalled. It was now or never. He took his pickaxe, ready to strike. He saw the enderman try teleporting several times at sea. Then it disappeared. But Pickaxe knew it wasn't dead yet. With all his strength, he swung his Pickaxe behind him…

…and sent the enderman to his grave.

Everything was silent. The enderman dropped his five experience orbs, as well as an ender pearl. Pickaxe picked it up with intrigue. He definitely knew this would come in handy later. "Stronger and sturdier than diamond…" Sarah recalled. While most of the village was gathered around Sabrina and the chief, Pickaxe's friends gathered around him. "A-are you okay!?" asked a shook Endre. "How in Notch's name are you alive!?" "I...don't...know…" Pickaxe managed to disclose, the aftermath of his adrenaline rush leaving him gasping for air. "Dude… you crushed that enderman," Madison commented, "That's something very few people can brag about. Especially me." "Not bad, miner. Not bad." added Stan. "I think… I need… some rest…" Pickaxe gasped. He nearly stumbled over, but Jewel managed to catch him. "Whoa. Easy, Pickaxe. Easy…" she assured. Sabrina and Reed rushed over to the group, the other miners heading back to the village.

"Oh my," Sabrina stated upon seeing Pickaxe. "We should head back to the house…"