My Craft Chapter 71: Not Fine, a minecraft fanfic

AN: This just in: A Chapter!

People were upset that I didn't post last week. Sorry, but I had things going on. Even if you plan to post a chapter a week, you can never plan for things. Things always sneak up on you and jump you when you least expect it. It's like 'Whaaa!? Things!?'

So, yeah, things.

Anyway, I'm wishing some of you would actually read these Author's Notes to get a sense of when the next chapter is coming out, buuut I'm already forcing you to read my lame-ass story, so asking you to read the little blurbs in-between that talk about my boring life is probably asking too much.

In other news, I'm going to be answering any questions in the reviews for this Chapter, because it's been a while since I've done that... I think? So, if you have any questions or concerns, leave a review and I'll try to answer it... without giving spoilers. Because, spoilers are bad. Also I may not have plotted the story that far out yet. But mostly for the first reason. Around 49% for the first reason.

IMPORTANT: I set up a new poll. It's on my profile near the top and it's a Character popularity contest. I figured to set it up just for the heck of it. Vote on your favorite My Craft characters. There's not a lot of memorable ones, but it's up to you, the viewer, to decide which one you like the best. Everyone gets one vote, so check out my profile to cast them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add sticky notes.

Beta: Myself (Sorry Void)

Chapter 71

Not Fine

[Cara]

Part of me wished I was dead.

And, yeah, that sounds pretty stupid considering everything I lived through, but it was how I felt. Didn't matter that I had avoided Hackers, Mobs, Griefers, Cultists, sewers, and tragedy. And Teal_Larkspur, who was worse than all those things put together.

Didn't matter that I escaped with an unconscious Soul by burying ourselves in an occupied grave. It should have mattered, since I pretty much saved his life. I fought to save his life, dragging him away through the turmoil and haze of pain.

I saved a life…

By dooming two more.

Void_Dweller. Killed by my own damn arrows. Flawwed_Floyd. Tossed into Guardian-infested waters. He wasn't even moving when she rolled him off that cliff. Probably had his spine snapped.

But their blood may as well have been on my hands. I chose to continue the mission… because I wanted to know more about the Endward Cult. We could have just gone home. And everyone would still be alive.

But instead, I sat in that grave, on the remains of some Crafter, waiting for the sounds of that woman to fade.

I shook Soul awake and he immediately noticed our missing member.

He demanded we search the cliffs, and I was too defeated to argue. I pretty much let him lead us, not having the energy to argue or make a decision.

It was pretty clear where my decisions had gotten us.

So, we scaled the cliffs the entire day, searching for any sign that Floyd survived. And as our search became increasingly fruitless, Soul became increasingly angry and irrational. By noon, he was convinced that if he jumped off the cliff, he would end up where Floyd was.

Only then did I make a decision to stop him. And only because I couldn't stand to lose someone else.

Soul had realized how foolish he was being… and he was ultimately forced to accept—as I had when I first saw it—that Floyd was dead.

The sharp rocks. The fall. The Guardians. The water. Any of them could have killed him. Especially with how motionless he was.

Teal wouldn't have tossed him off if she thought he could survive. When she wanted someone dead…

I just had to think of Attila's community or all those Griefers… or Void.

So Floyd was dead.

Floyd… was… dead.

And it was those words that kept playing back in my mind as we left Nitebane, defeated and broken.

Soul remained silent the entire trip, his axe slipping from his loose grip every so often. Any attempt at making plans on how to leave the Kingdom or avoid bands of Griefers… I just didn't care.

Anything—even a lowly Zombie—could have killed us.

But, by some small chance, we made it out alive. Those badlands were behind us, and we were traveling by boat up the river into Daymonte. Homeward bound.

It was at that time that I finally realized what that meant.

Cobb had asked I kept Floyd safe. Cobb was waiting in Ringwood for his friend.

'Don't worry. I'll make sure to fix things with him…with both of them…somehow. Leader's promise.'

I had covered my eyes as a fresh wave of guilt swallowed me up. Leader's promise, I thought bitterly as I bit the inside of my cheek.

Cobb had counted on me to keep Floyd safe. He had spoken his mind to me. Voiced his concerns over the Silver Intent and its influence on the blue-nette. He had… he had tried to be supportive to me. Tried to encourage me I could do it. That I could be a leader.

And… and just the thought of his face when he'd find out…

I-I couldn't…

I couldn't face that look.

I would have rather been choked by Teal than face that look—imagining that look was enough to wish I were dead. What would facing him actually feel like!?

It had to be worse. It could only be worse.

I wanted to die. I wished it were me. I desperately begged that I could go back and fix it all—give up my life so that Floyd and Void could live! It was my fault they were dead anyway!

Never had those thoughts been louder than when I was within Ringwood's walls. The Silver Intent Headquarters. Reporting stiffly to Brett, only for him to disregard Floyd's death.

And then he walked in.

"C-Cobb. You… you're back."

Any hope I had that he wouldn't ask for Floyd died an ugly death when I noticed his emerald eyes sweep across the room.

"Where's Floyd?"

My insides twisted and I had to look away. I was too weak to face him. And Soul, seeing my turmoil, stepped forward to answer.

"Floyd's dead."

Straight and to the point. Soul didn't beat around the bush.

Still, the bluntness he used to deliver the news caused Cobb to stagger back, as if he had been pushed. His eyes looked unfocused and he held out a hand to brace himself against the wall. His legs trembled, but didn't buckle.

"…What?" He croaked, barely moving his mouth. "He's… how did…?"

"He was murdered." Brett brushed past me to explain. "Shoved off a cliff by an Endward Cult Lieutenant. I'm sorry for your loss." He added, nodding solemnly.

"But… th-that's not…" Cobb steadied himself, taking deep breaths. "He said he… he was only replacing a banner. How—?"

"Things… happened." Soul attempted to explain, not really sure where to start.

"He… No!" Cobb pushed off the wall, stomping forward. "If he's really dead, show me his Head. That's the only way to prove it."

Soul shook his head somberly. "We searched those cliffs from top to bottom, Cobb. There wasn't anything left of him, and if there was, it was carried to the bottom of the—"

"Then he's not dead!" Cobb shouted in Soul's face, the axe-wielder not even bothering to step away. "He wouldn't die that easily! He's fought worse! I should know!" Cobb's voice got choked up near the end.

Every word he spoke was just another nail in my heart. I slowly turned my gaze up, willing myself to face him. I had no right to hide behind Soul after what I'd done.

"Cobb… I… I'm so sorry…"

He didn't seem to have heard me as he clenched his fists in frustration. "How… How could this…"

"Floyd he… I did everything I could, you have to believe me." I reached out a hand to touch his arm, only for him to slap it away.

His emerald eyes narrowed to thin slits as he took a step away from me. The look of betrayal on his face tore at me. "How could you have let this happen?"

My eyes widened and I shook my head, begging him to understand. "I-I—"

"You said you could handle this!" He gnashed his teeth together and pointed accusingly at me. "I TRUSTED YOU!"

Tears pooled in both our eyes, and I could only stare blankly at him. "I… I…"

"You're no leader!" Cobb spat. "Leaders are supposed to look after their people. Wynn told you that! But you…" He stepped forward, grabbing a fistful of my tank top and bringing his face close to mine. "You're NOTHING like Wynn! She would have gotten everyone back here… or would have died trying! SO WHERE'S MY FRIEND!?"

He jerked me by my tank top, forcing Soul and Brett to pull him off. It was at that time that my legs gave out and I slumped to the ground. Tears slid down my face and dripped onto the floor as Soul spun Cobb around.

"It's not her fault, Cobb!" He shouted over Cobb's attempts to escape his grip. "She didn't do anything wrong!"

"She did everything wrong!" Cobb yelled, shoving Soul off of him. "If she couldn't even keep her promises… than she should never have come back!"

I shut my eyes, accepting his caustic remarks. It was what I deserved. I was a failure as a leader and a friend. People were dead because of me. And those were irreparable mistakes.

"…If you say that again, I'll break your goddamn jaw." Soul threatened lowly, his eyes deadly serious. "Apologize, right now, or I swear I'll—"

"No, Soul…" I choked out between sobs. "He's… he's right. I deserve it. All of it… and then some." I looked up, locking gazes with Cobb. "He… he saved our lives. Floyd." Cobb's face twisted with some unknown emotion as he listened. "Teal had us. We would've died… but he saved us." I wiped my nose along my arm as more and more tears gushed forth. "He gave his life for us… and I let him down."

Every word was ladled with remorse, cracking slightly as I fought for the words. He needed to understand how sorry I was. He needed to.

"You… you should hate me even more." I sobbed. "I-I wish it were me that fell off that cliff."

"Stop!" Cobb's eyes scrunched up in disgust and he took a step back. "I… I can't hear this anymore!" He turned on his heel and ran towards the ladder, trying to get as far away from the news as possible.

"Hey!" Soul shouted, taking a step to follow, but then realizing he didn't know what to say to him. The end of Cobb's hoodie disappeared up the ladder, leaving Brett, Soul, and I alone once more.

I stared at the spot Cobb disappeared, my cheeks slicked with tears. His reaction to the news… it was worse than I feared. And that made it hurt even more.

It was a wonder Soul, who had known Floyd for much longer, could handle the grief as well as he did. Even with ten days to cope, he must have felt something for the blue-nette. Or was their friendship too far gone for that?

Soul's gaze drifted to me, trying to convey something, before he walked out of the room. However, at the doorsill, he stopped himself. "It's not your fault." He spoke without turning. Though it was fairly obvious whom he was talking to. "Teal did this. Her… and…" He trailed off in a whisper, making me unable to catch the rest of it, before he stalked away and up the ladder.

"Quite a loss, we've had." Brett spoke up after keeping quiet for so long. I had almost forgotten he was there, though his words only reminded me of my failure as a leader. He moved to the left side of the room and placed some signs down.

It was a small mercy that the silver-haired man didn't ask me to leave. There, I could cry all I wanted, just to get it off my chest, and he wouldn't think anything less of me.

But I wasn't going to cry anymore. There was something else I needed to do though. Something to get off my chest.

I dried my face with my tank top, took a shaky sniffle, and stood up straight. "Brett," I choked out, having difficulty controlling my voice. "Brett."

The silver-haired man silently turned to face me after scribbling something down in a book.

"I… I don't want to be a leader anymore." My eyes bore into the ground, expressionless and empty, not wanting to lock eyes with him. "I… I don't deserve to lead after a failure like this."

I didn't have what it took to be a leader. Certainly not one like Captain Wynn. Cobb had been right. She wouldn't have lost any of her men if she were leading the mission. She would have valued the lives of her people more than some information, no matter how valuable it was. A Crafter's life just wasn't something you could sacrifice.

"A failure?" Brett scoffed. "Cara, your mission was a resounding success!"

My eyes widened, though my gaze was kept locked onto the ground.

…What did he just say?

"True, we lost Floyd and Void," Brett continued while strolling over to the Minecraftia map posted on the wall. "But we were able to find out a Lieutenant's identity. This Teal_Larkspur may have slain those two, but I'd like to see how she fares when all of Minecraftia knows of her association with the cult."

…'Those two'?

I felt my fists tighten at the casual way he talked about their deaths.

"We also now know where the Eastern Division is operating from." He boasted triumphantly, taking a jab at the Oak Docks section of the map. "So much useful intel… and on top of that, you completed your mission! With flying colors, I daresay."

Flying colors… he'd call two deaths flying colors?

As I tilted my head up, I was sure my face would look like it was carved from stone. "What about Floyd?" I asked tonelessly.

"What about him?" Brett dismissed it with a casual wave. "Sacrifices aren't uncommon in war. I won't fault you for it, considering how much we got in return." Brett continued to talk as I circled around the desk. "Soul will only fight harder against the cult considering how many friends he's lost—"

*SLAP*

I slapped him across the face as hard as I could. It sent Brett staggering back, where he banged his leg against the corner of the desk and fell in a heap. The silver-haired man's eyes were wide with bewilderment as he glanced at my raised hand and the look of disgust adorning my face.

"Don't." I threatened lowly, taking a step towards him as if to slap him again. "Don't talk about them so callously."

He rubbed his face and eyed me warily before picking himself up. He wisely chose to remain silent, however.

"…I'm done being a leader." I said without an ounce of hesitance. "I failed this mission, no matter how much you got out of it." I spat out those words in revulsion before storming out of the room.

As I slammed the door behind me, I heard Brett utter a parting remark.

"Far too emotional."

[Wynn]

"You're certain?" Despite my forced composure, a bit of eagerness slipped free. "It's actually… it's coming?"

Captain Iron_Lung nodded. "YOU BET! THE TESTIFICATES SAID AS MUCH—OH! BUT KEEP QUIET ABOUT IT! I WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE FOR KING MILES!"

Then maybe you shouldn't be shouting it in the most echo-carrying part of the whole Palace. I wanted to say. But I was too excited over the news.

After so many years, it was finally happening.

A Bounty Day.

In Minecraftia, there was a multitude of Mobs, animals, items, enchantments, potions, etc.

But it wasn't always like that. According to the Testificates who had lived long before the First 100 spawned, there were times when iron golems didn't exist. Times when their villages were overrun with monsters. Times when horses couldn't be found anywhere in Minecraftia.

All the things Crafters enjoyed today, were absent to the Testificates during those times. And the only reason things had changed, was because of the Bounty Days.

They were days in which a mysterious tremor would shake the earth. Call it a shockwave or a pulse, but whatever it was, it brought with it a whole new bundle of things. Both good and bad.

One Bounty Day brought with it Witches, bats, and Testificates being infected by Zombies. It was terrifying for them to watch their own people turn into monsters and lose their sense of self. But that same Bounty Day introduced the Testificates to potatoes and carrots. New crops to join their wheat fields.

That being said, after the First 100 spawned, there hadn't been a Bounty Day for some time. They were often sporadic; the last one occurred, oddly enough, the day the First 100 spawned.

Testificates explained the phenomenon to Crafters—who were initially skeptical—about the Bounty Days, and they've been under debate for hundreds of years. Eventually, Crafters realized that the introduction of new Minecraftia items and entities had to be true, given the Testificate villages, mineshafts, and temples scattered throughout Minecraftia. Since the Testificates couldn't build things like Crafters, they couldn't have made the villages or temples.

Meaning that something else made them. And it had been theorized that the Bounty Days were responsible, and quite real.

Upon realizing the significance of such events, the Kingdoms unanimously agreed to reserve a day in which those pulses shook the earth and introduced new things to Minecraftia. Crafters could use the time to experience the new changes, learn from them, or defend themselves from them, if they turned out to be a threat.

Testificates would always be able to sense the tremors a week in advance—much like how they sense weather—and warn Crafters.

And after 500 years of waiting, a Bounty Day had finally come.

It was my first, and that was saying something considering how long I've been around. Part of me worried about what dangerous Mobs and items it would bring…

But another part was excited over the prospect. New items, maybe new weapons. New potions or enchantments. New foods. New blocks. New… new!

And it was an even newer experience for Crafters. This would be their first time experiencing a Bounty Day. Most of them wouldn't know how to react. I didn't even know how to react.

"I think," I spoke in an even tone, "I think we should announce it."

"WHAT!?" Iron_Lung whispered, blowing out my eardrums. "BUT I WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE!"

"It's already going to be a surprise, Iron_Lung." I shook my head with a laugh. "It's going to be a surprise for everybody. It's only fair we tell them. Oh, actually…" I started pacing the floor, flipping the hair out of my eyes. "There's so much to do. I didn't even realize. We have to make the announcement and reserve the day next week—that means canceling His Eminence's meetings and charity events. Come to think of it, it will be as if the entire Kingdom is on holiday." I paled, speaking faster as I continued to pace.

"Everyone will be given the day off to enjoy the Bounty Day. That means nobody will be working. Stores will be shut down, the Kingdoms imports and exports will be on hold. That could back things up—and Princess Deo!" I slapped a hand to my forehead. "She was going to the theater next week! And those tickets are non-refundable and-and-and—!"

"WYNN!" Iron_Lung whispered soothingly, startling me from my rant. "YOU'RE TURNING INTO ERIN WITH ALL YOUR WORRYING! RELAX! LET MY TENDER VOICE SOOTHE YOU!"

Oddly enough, I was a lot calmer hearing him shout. I made sure to take a few steadying breaths as I thought things out. One at a time.

"Thank you, Iron_Lung." I nodded respectfully. "Anyway… we should tell His Eminence. Even with a week to prepare, this Bounty Day is bound to be exhausting."

"TO BE FAIR, MINECRAFTIA HAS BEEN WAITING 500 YEARS FOR THIS!" Iron_Lung blared. "WE SHOULD BE MORE THAN PREPARED!"

"I don't think anyone considered one would actually happen." I folded my arms, thinking it over.

Why now of all times? The Testificates said sporadic, but 500 years is far too long. Something must have happened recently to trigger a Bounty Day.

But what could do such a thing?

Maybe whatever brought upon during the Bounty Day could shed some light on it.

"EITHER WAY," Iron_Lung turned with a spring in his step, "MY NETHER EXPEDITION IS GOING TO NEED A RAINCHECK. BECAUSE NEXT WEEK, I'M ENJOYING THE BOUNTY!"

I waved goodbye to the veteran Captain and left the Palace. There'd be a lot of work over the next few days, and I'd need my rest to be ready for it.

As I descended the steps of the plateau, I couldn't help the eager smile slipping onto my face. Passing guards eyed me warily, wondering why a regal Captain such as myself was smiling.

Wait until Erin and Cobb hear about this.

[Luis]

"Any sign of him yet?"

"Not since you asked five minutes ago, no." Luis sighed as he peered down at the row of mansions.

The Northern District housed some of the richest, most influential Crafters in Ringwood. Green-capped guards surrounded the entrances to the walled off district with orders to keep criminals and riff-raff out.

But when two companions of the person we were ordered to track walked past the guards and into the Northern District—as if it were nothing—we just had to follow.

It was obvious that Lenzington and ErinRunner were friends of King_Cobb. And Carys had asked us to find out everything about him, friends, allies, and habits included.

Why? I had no idea.

But ever since we lost sight of Cobb, those two had been our only lead. We had to scale the Northern District's wall just to slip past the guards. After watching Lenz and Erin (the latter being carried by the former) enter one of the mansions, Wing and I had taken a vantage point atop a different mansion several rows away.

And now, we waited—some of us more patiently than others—for either Cobb to show up or for Lenz or Erin to leave.

"Mind if I make idle chat?" Wing asked as he lay against the roof.

"You're going to do that anyway, so sure." There was no harm in passing the time. I just wished he would focus on the mansion. Carys was counting on us for this mission.

"Why are we out here spying on some random Crafters when, at this moment, Carys is probably launching Operation: Overshadow?"

I sighed wearily. He was still upset about that, and for good reason. Ever since he heard of Overshadow, he had been working twice as hard, intent on proving himself. And then to be relegated to such a trivial mission, it was understandable for him to feel cheated.

"Maybe they're not just some random Crafters." I tried to stress how important our mission was. "If they live in the Northern District, they could be important to Ringwood in some way."

"He didn't look too important." Wing dismissed, thinking of our encounter with King_Cobb. "Hell, he seemed like your average guy. Why on earth would Carys want us to spy on him?"

"Who knows." I said. The edge of my lips quirked up. "Are you intending on voicing your protests to Carys?"

"Uh, no. I happen to value my life." Wing shot back with folded arms. "It's just… she doesn't usually have us spy on people. What's so different about him?"

"That's what we're here to find out." I replied. "Perhaps he is someone of great potential and Carys wishes to recruit him. Perhaps he is a cultist, or—I daresay—a Lieutenant, and Carys wants to keep tabs on him."

Wing hummed at both ideas, clearly not convinced. "I don't see him on the same level as 4Blite."

"Perhaps his unassuming disposition is precisely what allows him to avoid detection." I suggested, trying to keep an open mind. "Nobody expects a doofus to be a cultist in disguise. The Executives could be employing a similar tactic, considering how long their identities have evaded us."

Wing opened his mouth to retort, only for a loud banging to be heard beneath us. We instantly rose to our feet and readied our weapons, pointing them directly below.

"I swear I hear something up there!" A cranky voice sounded from below, followed by more banging. Like the handle of a shovel was jabbing at the roof. "Either we have a bat infestation, or they're some fiddlers on the roof!"

Wing and I exchanged looks as the loud banging continued. When it stopped, and there was a moment of silence, Wing cupped his hands over his mouth, and…

…

"Squeak squeak!" He did his best bat imitation, raising his voice several octaves.

He let out several more squeaks before going silent. "Damn bats!" The cranky voice shouted from below. "I'm getting an exterminator first thing tomorrow."

As the voice grew softer and softer, Wing and I let out a sigh of relief. We decided to speak a little more quietly to avoid further problems.

It was getting dark when I finally spotted Cobb walking down the street. I tugged on Wing's jeans, letting him know our target had arrived.

"So he does live here." Wing whispered, watching as the brown-haired Cobb hobbled across the well-kept lawn into the mansion Lenz and Erin had entered. "He's swaying a lot—is he drunk?"

"Hard to tell." He was swaying a bit, but it didn't look like he was inebriated. It was more like he was exhausted and had trouble walking. "Maybe he had a long day?"

"With all the emeralds he racked up at that auction house, I'd have to agree." Oh, yes. We had witnessed how excited he and his companions had been when that grass block sold. That had been theirs.

More importantly, however, I had witnessed the jealous glances the hired muscle and auctioneers shot their way. Grass blocks sold fast. So much so that the Silk Touch Enchantment used to collect them was held in high esteem. A goldmine at one's fingertips. Emeralds flowing more freely than water.

Surely that auction house would do anything to possess a Silk Touch enchanted tool. And if Cobb and his companions had one…

It gave me an idea on how to test Cobb's combat ability.

"We know where he lives." I said, as I stood up. Wing got up to do the same, but I held an arm out to stop him. "Wait here. I'm going to… instigate… a little confrontation for Cobb. With any luck, it should happen tonight. Watch that mansion, and make sure you get a good view of the fight that follows."

Wing raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "I'll keep hidden. But won't you be here to watch too?"

"Not exactly." I patted the dust off of my clothes and walked to the edge of the roof. "I'll be at the Hall of Records to find out Cobb's number. Maybe something about Flawwed_Floyd while I'm at it."

"Crappy job for me again." Wing huffed with folded arms. "I just hope I get to see a good fight."

That depends on how well the auction house's hired muscle can fight. I thought to myself while adjusting my glasses.

"I'll meet you back at the Inn tomorrow morning. Be careful." I warned before hopping down off the roof.

Carys was counting on us.

I'd make sure the report was so thorough it would have things even King_Cobb didn't know about himself.

[Wynn]

When I returned to my home, I was eager to share the news of the Bounty Day. Cobb, Erin, and even Lenz, I guess, since he was there. Eh… Anyway, I was excited to let them know.

I was expecting Erin to be busy making dinner, Lenz to be reading on the couch, and Cobb to be doing… whatever wacky thing Cobb does.

Instead, I was greeted by the sight of a red-faced Erin, lying on the couch, with Lenz standing over her and fanning her with his book. Cobb remained out of sight.

"…Erin, I thought I could leave you in charge." I said sarcastically, finding it funny how Erin immediately snapped to attention as if she were never passed out on the couch.

"M-miss Whispers! I—Ah! Dinner! Oh no, I completely forgot, what with the chores and the moment with Cobb and—tee hee, Cobb—I mean, not tee hee! Never tee hee! Purely professional! No explicit relations at all! I didn't kill a furnace!"

I blinked at her nonsensical rant. "Good to see you too, Erin."

Erin quickly shuffled to the kitchen, face red and embarrassed, as she stiffly prepared dinner.

"Remarkable." Lenz commented. "I had been trying to wake her for quite some time. Yet you have managed it within seconds of entering your home. Quite impressive."

"Do you know why she was passed out?" I asked before my eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Was she exhausted because you and Cobb slacked off on your chores?"

Lenz looked affronted. "For your information, we performed our tasks admirably… except maybe for expanding the pond—but the rest was fine!"

I rolled my eyes before taking a glance around the room. "And Cobb? He's here, right?"

Lenz nodded. "He walked in a few minutes ago. Came in and then walked out into the backyard. Actually," he tapped his chin, "maybe he went to finish expanding the pond? Anyway, he was nice enough to give me the guest room tonight."

I hummed at the suggestion before taking a better look around the room. "Well, everything isn't on fire or screaming," she nodded appreciatively, "so I guess I can leave you two alone from now on."

"Why thank you—buh, hey!"

"D-dinner's ready!" Erin called out as she finished cooking potatoes and chicken. "Get it while it's hot."

"Here, let me help you set the table." Lenz offered, grabbing the potatoes and passing them around.

While they worked on that, I set my trusty rapier down at the door and walked into the backyard. True to their word, the pond had been expanded properly. And it looked like the other chores had been completed too.

But there was still no Cobb.

The backyard was lit up fairly well, so there weren't many places to hide. "Cobb?" I called out, wondering if the fisherman had snuck out or something.

I walked around, checking behind bushes and peering into the pond. Still no sign of Cobb or his white hoodie.

"Cobb, I swear if you jump out to scare me I will slap you."

I took another look around before my eyes focused on the outhouse. The door was open just a fraction and I could see a bit of white cloth poking out.

"There you are." I smiled, walking over to the outhouse. "You can use the inside bathroom, you know. This outhouse is just for show."

My tone wasn't too strict, yet there were no sounds coming from the outhouse.

I let out a sigh, thinking this was another one of Cobb's quirky habits. "Thanks for doing the chores." I started. "I was half worried you'd try mowing the lawn and somehow get Ringwood involved in a Hacker war." I attempted to joke.

The outhouse remained silent.

It was then that my smile began to weaken. "Alright, come on out Cobb. Dinner's ready. Erin made baked potatoes and chicken." I called out temptingly. "It's probably delicious."

Cobb loved food, so I was hoping that would get a response. But he just remained silent. And I knew he was actually in there because I heard faint movement against wood and saw the white hoodie shift slightly.

It was then that I began to get annoyed. It wasn't just the dinner I wanted Cobb to attend. The Bounty Day was news I wanted to share over the table, with everyone present. I wanted to see Erin's surprised stutters and Cobb's eyes wide with innocent wonderment. He always loved learning about new things in Minecraftia so I figured he'd love hearing about the Bounty Day.

But he just sat in that outhouse, quieter than I've ever seen him.

"Alright, Cobb. Stay in there if you want." I called out, as I pretended to leave. "I guess you don't want any of that delicious, mouth-watering food." I called out even louder, hoping he'd take the bait and come rushing out.

"I'm not hungry."

The words were very faint, as if whispered, but I heard them. And I couldn't believe I heard them. Cobb loved food, and was always praising Erin for her cooking. For him to say he wasn't hungry was like Captain Iron_Lung saying he didn't like to shout.

It tripped me up, both verbally and physically. "Oh… well… I-I wasn't serious." I explained, taking a step toward the wooden outhouse. "The food isn't going anywhere… and Erin could just reheat it if—"

*sniff*

My eyes widened as I caught that tiny noise. A small sniffle. And it was coming from the outhouse.

Concern welled up within as I knocked on the outhouse door. "Cobb?" I questioned in a gentle tone. "Is everything all right? Are you cry—?"

"I'm fine." Cobb called out faintly, just as I was about to open the outhouse door. "I'm… fine."

That doesn't sound fine. I thought, taking notice of how choked up he sounded. I reached out a hand and gripped the door before slowly opening it.

Inside was Cobb, curled up, with his face buried in his knees. He didn't even respond to the creaking of the opening door.

I instantly knew something was wrong. Cobb had never looked so small before. I quickly knelt down and patted him along the back. "What is it, Cobb? What's wrong?"

There was a faint sniffle as he shook his head, still burying it within his knees. "It's nothing. I'm fine." He mumbled into his jeans, sounding less convincing by the second.

"It's not nothing." I reasoned slowly, taking the time to sit besides Cobb. I stayed outside the outhouse, given how cramped it was. "You wouldn't be like this if it were nothing." I continued in a gentle tone, trying to coax him into explaining why he was crying. "So what's wrong?"

Cobb sniffled into his jeans before tilting his head to look at me. His emerald eyes were red and there was a spot on his jeans soaked with tears.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me." I said comfortingly, rubbing a spot along his back. His eyes darted for a second before he took a shaky breath of air.

"I-I… I went to see Floyd today." He began slowly. His eyes were locked onto the walls of the outhouse. "He… he was supposed to be back from his mission by now."

I watched him carefully, even though internally I worried if something might have happened to Floyd. That was Cobb's friend, the one who served as his lawyer—and irritated me—to get him out of jail time.

So… was Cobb sad because he found out that Floyd…

"…None of them have made it back yet." Cobb sniffled, keeping his eyes fixed on the walls. "Floyd, Soul, and Cara aren't back yet. Brett said it was normal… but… but I can't help but worry."

I inwardly let out a great sigh of relief. I was glad that the problem wasn't as bad as I thought. "Oh, Cobb." In a surprising display of compassion, I brought my arms around his curled up form and hugged him. "Being worried about your friends… it's completely normal. I'd be worried too if my guards were out there."

Cobb nodded against my arms, taking another deep sniffle.

"But, you also know how tough Floyd can be." I reasoned. "So nobody but you would know just how strong he is. Do you think he's weak?" He shook his head. "Then I'm sure he's fine. He's probably just run into a bit of trouble and is eager to get back here."

Cobb let loose a choked sob before nodding again.

"And I bet Soul and Cara are rushing to get back too. Cara said she'd be a responsible leader, right?"

Cobb's grip tightened along my back.

"I'm sure they'll all be back soon. Maybe even by tomorrow." I suggested, patting his head. "And you'll think back to this moment… and realize how silly you were worrying."

Cobb took another sniffle. "Y-yeah." He choked out. "They're… probably fine."

I separated us, and looked into Cobb's face. He wiped the tears from his eyes and gave me a wistful smile. He was still pretty upset. Floyd must have been a really important friend to him.

"Come on." I helped him up and out of the outhouse. "It's cold out here, and Erin has a delicious dinner waiting."

Cobb nodded, keeping his eyes locked on the ground, even as I led him back to the mansion.

"You'll be fine, right?" I asked, checking the fisherman one last time before opening the back door. Erin would overly fuss over him if she saw him crying.

He nodded sadly.

"Yeah. I'm… I'm fine."

Inventory (Cobb): 1 Wooden Shovel, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Stone Sword, 1 Golden Sword [Sharpness I, Unbreaking I]{Weak}, 1 Golden Shovel [Silk Touch I, Unbreaking III], 1 Wooden Pickaxe {Weak}, 1 Flint and Steel, 8 Cobblestone, 12 Flint, 22 Torches, 6 Coal, 10 Oak Wood Planks, 8 Oak Wood Stairs, 1 Oak Wood Door, 1 Clock, 45 Dirt, 9 Grass Blocks, 1 Water Bucket, 4 String, 1 Stick, 1 Bone, 5 Pumpkin Pies, 12 Cookies, 24 Steak, 40 Cooked Mutton, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Unbreaking I], Iron Leggings {Weak}, Iron Boots, 7 Rotten Flesh, 21 Emeralds, 4 Item Frames, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Temporary Entry Pass}

[EXP: 25]

Inventory (Lenz): 1 Bow {Weak}, 1 Shears, 3 Levers, 4 Wooden Buttons, 3 Stone Buttons, 5 Redstone Torches, 59 Redstone, 18 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 1 Hopper, 1 Dispenser, 3 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Pistons, 10 Cobblestone, 10 Torches, 5 Sticks, 3 Redstone Lamps, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 12 String, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Carrot, 32 Steak, 13 Cooked Mutton, 64 Arrows, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Pumpkin, 20 Emeralds, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}

[EXP: 5]

AN: Cobb be lying. He not fine... ing? Bad at rhyming. Good with timing!

This Chapter was actually shorter than I thought it'd be. Sucks for you guys, since there's less content, but it reminded me of how much shit I need to set up and get back to.

1.) I need to talk about the Silver Intent and how they're doing.

2.) I need to talk about how Carys and the Paragons are doing and remind everyone that Cobb is being spied upon.

3.) I need to talk about what Cobb is going through after hearing the news that his first friend is dead and write it in a natural way that's at the same time memorable so that people can actually remember and relate to it. GEEZ!

4.) Oh, and the Bounty Day. Minecraft going from 1.8 to 1.9.

I can imagine a lot of people are going to be happy to hear that. In hindsight, I should have planned the world out from the start in which Bounty Days were already pre-existing. Like the world was constanly updating over 500 years. Due to writing's sake, I had to explain it in a slightly different way. Something caused the Bounty Days to stop, according to the Testificates, and now they're starting again for some reason. A reason that I actually cleverly made for myself. Thanks Brain!

Brain: You're welcome.

Anyway, it's a good chapter to start the Arc on. It's back to first-person perspectives, which have their pros and cons. Probably a lot of errors since I'm a terrible Beta. No Omake this week. I'm pretty busy with several other projects. Don't ask.

Until next time. Bye!