The Minecraft Story: The Beginning: Chapter 59
Franz watched as his arm flew off over the edge of the ravine. In a strange way, he didn't feel fearful. He didn't know what to feel. His arm had been cut off and he felt nothing. It was a strange feeling. And then he fell against the hard rocks. When he looked up, he saw Herobrine looming over him with the world's largest grin plastered on his face.
"Franz!" Notch yelled. Three knights rushed Herobrine. "No wait!"
The first knight was slashed in the stomach. He bent over in pain, dropping his sword and a torch, which rolled near Franz. The knight was then stabbed through the back of the head. Franz could see brains splatter all over the floor.
It was a grizzly sight, however, Franz also noticed the blood spilling out from his arm. The pain was finally starting to set in. He looked down at the gushing waterfall of blood where his right arm once was. Next to the gushing blood was the torch from the deceased knight. He quickly grabbed the torch and held it up to his new stump.
This is gonna suck. Franz thought as he placed the fire onto the stump. The burning was unbearable. He squirmed on the ground as he felt his flesh burn. That's when a head rolled by his feet. The second knight had been decapitated by Herobrine. Franz ripped away the torch and stared down at the cauterized wound. He knew it would likely be infected, but it was his only chance.
He looked up in time to see the third knight being kicked off the side of the ravine. The knight screamed all the way down until he landed in a lava puddle. Suddenly, Notch ran up and swung at Herobrine. The ravine echoed as their swords clashed into one another. Flame shot out from Notch's enchanted golden sword.
Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp.
Franz heard the footsteps and immediately knew what it was. He found his sword near the crack and rushed to pick it up. It was sprinting at him, he could hear it. He picked up the sword and turned to defend himself. The pigman swung downward and pushed Franz's sword to the ground. He had been right hand dominant and was now forced to fight with his left.
The pigman tried to stab at Franz, but he managed to dodge to the side. He attempted to counter attack, but it was blocked by the pigman. Their swords locked together. Each one pushed with all their might, however, Franz was beginning to flounder. His arm was still in horrendous pain and his body was still tired from sprinting through the spider tunnel.
However, Franz had an idea. He began to walk backward as the pigman continued to push against his blade. He turned and began walking with his back to the ravine. The pigman's eyes lit up as he saw the trouble Franz was in. When Franz reached the edge of the ravine, he dropped onto his back, causing the pigman to fall forward. With both feet on the pigman's stomach, he launched the pigman back into the ravine.
Two more knights had been caught up in Notch and Herobrine's fight and were sliced up in the tornado of spinning blades. The other knights stood in awe at the titans clashing, not sure what to do.
"Look over there!" a knight yelled while pointing to Franz. They were amazed when he launched the pigman over him and they rushed to help him.
"Franz, are you okay man!" said one knight.
"Yeah, I'm-" Franz began to say before he was interrupted.
"HOLY SHIT, YOUR ARM!" a knight screamed.
"We need to get you out of here!" yelled another.
"NO!" Franz yelled, "I'm not leaving, I came here to fight and that's what I'll do! Speaking of which."
More pigmen had jumped out from another tunnel and were running towards them. Everyone prepared themselves. They were surprised to see Herobrine backflip over them and land behind the charging pigmen.
"Your fighting has gotten better, brother!" Herobrine mocked, "Did you get a good night's sleep?" He laughed.
"GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD!" Notch screamed.
"No, I don't I will," Herobrine taunted, "You see, this still isn't the place I want to kill you. It's right over there." Herobrine pointed back to the tunnel the pigmen had run out of. "That's where the Nether Portal is. You can find me in the Nether fortress, I hope to see you soon." Just as suddenly as Herobrine had appeared, he was gone again.
"Son of a-" Notch yelled before pigmen rammed into the knights.
They held their shields up, but the edge of the ravine was tight. One knight at the edge couldn't keep his footing when the pigman hit and he was plunged into the ravine. Franz and Notch both ran around behind the shields. They stabbed at any pigman they saw.
Franz was stabbing a pigman in the eye, when suddenly, the pigmen concentrated their forces into one mass. They focused their efforts into the middle of the shield wall. The two knights in the center couldn't hold them back.
As the two knights fell, they were dogpiled by the pigmen. Both were stabbed numerous times by the pigmen. Notch rushed over and with one swing, killed five pigmen. Their bodies splattered against the walls. Fire sprang out from the bodies. Franz managed to kill another pigman and the knights jabbed at the large mass of pigmen bodies.
It didn't take long before all the pigmen in the center were dead. Their plan to break through the shields had backfired and put them in perfect position for a counter-attack. However, it was at the expense of the two center knights.
Notch took a moment to pull them out from the pile of pigmen. He sat them against the walls. Franz then walked over and grabbed some of the other deceased knights and placed them against the wall. The other knights followed suit and soon, their fallen comrades rested against the walls of the cave.
"We'll collect them once we're finished," said Franz.
Franz took another count and found there were nine other knights left, not including himself and Notch. They had come in with twenty-four and already, fifteen had fallen. Franz clenched his fist and began to walk towards the tunnel.
"Come on, it's time to finish this," said Franz.
They expected to be attacked once they entered the tunnel, but to their surprise, nothing happened. They stared down the tunnel and saw a purple glow at the end. The knights carefully navigated the small tunnel. They rounded a corner and saw it.
The Nether Portal stood at the back of a tunnel. However, there was no sign of Herobrine or any other pigmen. The purple glow illuminated the tunnel. Particles, similar to the enderman's, gently flew into the portal. It made a hypnotic sound, something Franz had never heard in his life. It was almost as if the portal was begging for him to enter.
"Be careful, he could pop out at any moment. I'll take the lead." said Notch.
They slowly approached the portal, ready for anything. However, the closer they got, the more they realized they were alone. There was no monsters, no pigmen, no Herobrine.
"So, he was telling the truth," said Notch, "He really is in a Nether fortress."
"It looks like we're going in," said Franz, but Notch put a hand on his shoulder.
"No, I'm going in. I want you to stay here and destroy the portal." said Notch.
"Destroy the portal? But, how will you get out?" asked Franz.
"I probably won't, at least, not for a long time." Notch answered.
"Wait, hold on, there's got to be another way," said Franz.
"This is the only way," Notch argued, "We can't give Herobrine the chance to get out. Even if I'm beaten, at least it'll take him another thousand years to get out."
"And if you win, it'll take you a thousand years to get out," Franz countered.
"A fitting punishment for my sins," Notch admitted, "I don't deserve to live in the overworld after I abandoned it for so long. Please, let me have this." Notch looked into Franz's eyes.
"A-are you sure you want to do this, I can at least go with you," said Franz.
"I'm sure," Notch smiled, "Make sure you completely destroy this portal." Notch stepped up to the portal. The purple particles began encircling him, inviting him inside. "Goodbye everyone."
Notch stepped inside. The portal grew a bright purple as Notch slowly disappeared. Particles danced around like a light show until suddenly, it was over. Notch was gone, the portal returned to its previous state.
Franz sighed, "Alright, you heard him. Pull out your pickaxes." Franz pulled out his diamond pickaxe and took the first swing. Immediately, once the pickaxe hit the portal, the portal middle disappeared. It startled Franz and he stepped back. They were plunged into the dark again. The only light source was two torches that still remained.
"Woah, I didn't expect it to go out immediately," said Franz, "Let's finish this up."
Suddenly, there was a whistling in the air and then a plunk and then a gargling of blood. Franz turned to see a knight fall to the ground with an arrow in the back of his neck.
"There's a horde!" a knight yelled. Franz turned around to see a large horde of monsters streaming through the tunnel. "They must've been attracted by the battle!"
"Prepare for battle!" Franz ordered, "We make our final stand here and now! We have to finish destroying this portal! Fight until the last man standing!"
Brother, I will see you soon.