OverWorld United [Ch. 13]

Plains Biome, OverWorld

Stanley's Farm

"Get up," NetherBrine said as he grabbed ahold of Stanley's left arm, pulling him back up onto his feet. From there, he turned to face Amelia and Melinda, pushing Stanley in their direction. EnderBrine remained in the air, floating next to Jack's head. His hands were glowing a bright purple, and were aimed at Jack's face.

If he so dared to move, EnderBrine would do something to him that could potentially cost him his life. So he remained put, desperately wanting to help Stanley, Amelia, and Melinda escape before the inevitable happened. And that was closer than thought.

Stanley stumbled into the arms of Amelia, her wrapping her arms around him to prevent him from falling back onto the ground. She held him up next to her, his back facing NetherBrine. Melinda took a cautious step closer to Amelia, grabbing Stanley's right hand and holding it tight.

After pushing Stanley, NetherBrine had waved his hand around in the air in a rectangular form. A fire ignited out of thin air, and continued to burn with no physical source. The fire spread four blocks wide, and five blocks down and then four across again. Obsidian blocks appeared where the fire once burned. Once the fire was gone, NetherBrine had summoned a portal of some type. The blocks that made up the frame of the portal was obsidian blocks. The portal sparked to life, with the inside of it glowing a bright violet-colored purple. It appeared to be sucking small particles from the air around it into it.

"We tried to be civil with your parents, Stanley," NetherBrine said, referring to what his father did for them. He gave them an extra day to find the money to pay their dues. But upon returning the next morning, Quintin [who is now going by the name: NetherBrine] realized that they'd failed to do just that. But before he or his guards could do anything more, a mythical being came down and swiped them, then disappearing. Leaving only an empty farm house, with two dogs going amok.

"As you may know, our Kingdom hasn't been the kindest when it comes to paying debts," NetherBrine said. EnderBrine remained quiet as he watched his son continue to talk to them. Seeing that he was no longer King, he had to live with the fact that he had no power over his son.

He always did tell Quintin that he'd be King one day, just not in the way he had visioned. After turning his back on his father, Quintin soon realized that they as a team could accomplish more together. Upon releasing his father from the dungeons, he was brought up to speed on what's happened thusfar; which wasn't much. Nothing good. Nothing worth being proud about. Is it a mistake to leave the Kingdom in his inexperienced son's hands? Or was he doing the right thing? What about the war?

"What did you do with my parents?" Stanley shouted as he pushed himself back from Amelia's arms, turning around to face NetherBrine. He reached behind his back to grab an arrow out of his quiver. When he did, however, he realized there were none left.

NetherBrine shook his head as he put his hands behind his back. The fire on his head continued to crackle and burn and pop occasionally, like a fire or molten lava would. EnderBrine had made the few arrows he did have disappear along with his bow. Now, he was left defenseless too. There was no way they could fight back. No magic, no arrows, no help from Jack.

"Wha–did you not hear me?" NetherBrine questioned, "they were taken by a mythical being."

Amelia took a slight step forward towards Stanley, whispering quietly into his ear. She knew who NetherBrine was referring to. It took her a minute to catch on, but she informed Stanley of what he was saying.

"The Gods and Goddesses of the OverWorld," Amelia mumbled, "they took your parents."

NetherBrine tilted his head. A sinister-looking smile appeared on his face. Although it was faint, it was still noticeable.

"They're real?" He questioned.

"It's time you catch up on your history," Melinda bluntly and rudely said.

"No need," NetherBrine said, "I'm writing history."

"You're dumb!" Melinda responded.

The sun was almost above the mountains on the horizon, meaning dawn was now upon the OverWorld once again. As NetherBrine paced back and forth, a hand suddenly emerged from the portal. It came just far enough out, that it managed to grab NetherBrine's left arm. He was pulled into the portal, teleporting to who knows where.

"Son!" EnderBrine shouted.

Then, out of nowhere, a male blockhead jumped out from it. He was followed by a female blockhead wearing a dark red short dress. Her hair was frizzled and poofy. The right sleeve of the dress was ripped, while the left arm-sleeve was torn off entirely.

"It's about time," the male blockhead said as he brushed dirt on his shirt and pants off. He then did the same with his shoulders. The right one first. The left one second.

"Uhh, who are–are you guys?" Stanley asked as he scratched his head. He nor anyone else has ever seen them around before. Are they an ally or enemy? Do they mean good? Or do they wish to spread evil throughout the lands like EnderBrine and NetherBrine?

"Ten years it's been," the female blockhead said, raising both hands slightly. Doing that, her wand blipped into her hand, the tip of it glowing bright red. Waving it around in a circle above her head, she had managed to fix her ripped and torn dress. Her left sleeve reappeared and the tear on her right arm sleeve was also fixed. As for the male blockhead, he clapped his hands together. Unlike her using a wand, his transformation was instant. His clothes became clean and brand new looking. His black leather shoes were squeaky clean and shiny.

"Oh my gosh," the male bokchead said as he held out his hand. He had a warm, welcoming smile on his face as he did so. "Where are our manners? I'm Notch. This is Lily."

The last garrison, the last defense for the Kingdom, is on the verge of collapse even before the attack commences. The Commander and the soldiers know the Resistance is due to arrive any minute now, but when? Cuuld it be that the letter sent to the King was a trick? Somewhat of a diversion to disorient the opponent? The Commander knew something was up, but he didn't dare question it. The King's raven, its name Ooba, was the one to deliver the message to him.

Tensions are running high, with all soldiers at their stations eagarly awaiting the arrival of the Resistance. Still, even as the sun continues to rise, they're nowhere to be seen. Birds started chirping. A familiar sound that hasn't been heard in ages; not since the beginning of the War. It was a soothing sound to hear, a reassuring one at best for the tense soldiers.

Bluebirds, Robins, and Finches all began flying out of their trees, racing around to find their first meal of the day. From bugs to worms, their long day was just only beginning. Over the past few months, the occurrence of battles rattling and shaking the OverWorld has significantly dropped for obvious reasons. In short, the Resistance was proving a powerful foe to King Miraz and his soldiers. But they had no idea that it was Miraz's son who is now King.

"Movement spotted, Commander!" A soldier announced in a loud, shouting tone of voice. The Commander was pacing back and forth behind his armed soldiers. His hands were shaking. Not because he was nervous, no. He was eagerly waiting for the Resistance to arrive.

If this letter were true, they'd be here by now, he wondered. Something's not right.

He was also very shaken up by the persistance of the Resistance. In all his eighteen years of being the King's highest ranking Commander, he was under immense pressure. If he were to fail and surrender to them, his loyalty to his King would forever be tarnished. He'd be considered useless upon the conclusion of the War. This is something he wanted desperetly to avoid. After all, he's only remained a Commander to protect his family. Two young boys, and a newborn daughter. From oldest to youngest their names were: Logan, George, and Rosa.

But then…

"Resistance forces spotted, Sir," another soldier warned. He continued to pace, ignoring them as he contemplated the consequences. This was something he'd never did in the past. So why now? Answer: under pressure. Simple as that. No need to mention it again.

It was only after another soldier announced the enemy inbound that he returned to reality. The contemplating thoughts made him lose focus and alertness to his changing surroundings. As he raised his head and looked over to his right, many pointed in the direction straight ahead. Indeed there was movement. It was the rustling of the leaves and faint rumbling sounds that gave that away.

"Light the arrows," he ordered as his men quickly acted. Dipping the tips of their arrows in cauldrons. One cauldron was a bright red, while another was a light green. The red liquid was being utilized to inflict heavy damage to the opponents, slowing their advancement down. But that wasn't the only thing they had. The green liquid was meant to poison those who'd be hit.

Not everyone dipped their arrows in those cauldrons. Some instead lit their arrow tips on fire with flint and steel. It was the spark the lit the tips on fire.

"Aim and wait for my command," he requested, but was really ordering his men to do so.

There was white horse wearing the most rarest armor there is: diamond. It's entire body was covered and protected. There was no way arrows would be able to penetrate it. With that being said, he and his men will have to find other ways to cause harm to the horse. But what could they do?

No horse, meant slowing down the advancement. But as he looked down, squinting his eyes, he recognized the blockhead riding the horse. A long dark blue dress and black hair.

Queen Mileena? he questioned, what's she doing here? What's she doing with them? He continued to think.

"Movement spotted inbound to our east," a soldier announced from a short distance away. It was this announcement that took his attention off of Mileena. Running quickly over to the east end of the wall, there his fears were confirmed. More resistance fighters. They weren't alone however.

Mileena and Merlin's horses came to a stop, Mileena and Merlin leaping off and onto the ground. They both held their leads in their hands, making their horses follow them. They also did so to prevent them from running off unexpectedly. They neighed and began trotting, their hooves making clicking noises as they walked behind Mileena and Merlin.

A spinning circular portal began swirling around. Water dripped onto the ground as the first of many blockheads began appearing from it. Their armor was a weathered teal color. These weren't no ordinary blockheads no… these are…

"MineLantians!" The Commander said under his breath.

More soldiers were joining the rest up on the wall. As the time passed, all four sides of the Garrison were now "protected" and ready to be defended.

"Commander Goodstein," Mileena shouted, "we come to bargain."

Bargain? The Commander thought, Bargain?! Was this their plan the entire time? Was the threat of being attacked a hoax? Or was that threat fake?

"Bargain?" He asked.

"That is what we said, yes," Mileena said.

Before he agreed to doing anything further, he asked Mileena one question and one question only.

"Tell me, my Queen," he began, "have you betrayed your own Kingdom by switching sides?"

A brief moment of almost silence lurked about. But that was a brief time.

"Goodstein," she said, "I never intended on staying." OUCH! That hurt the commander metaphorically speaking. How could she betray her own husband like that? After everything he's done for her, this is how she repays him?

"Traitor! Coward! Hypocrite!" the Commander yelled, "you're nothing short of a traitor."

"And that bothers me because?" She responded. "Surprise! Here's a turn of events: I never wanted to fight under your Kingdom's rule EVER!"

"Then there's no reason to bargain," Commander Goodstein.

"Fine!" Mileena responded, "the hard way it is then."

After she said that, she and Merlin turned around; looking over their shoulders. Emerging from the forest, three heavy-duty catapults were revealed. They're already loaded and were ready to launch their deathly payloads. Unlike them, the Woodlands Garrison had no catapults. Why, you ask? Don't know.

"Aim!" He yelled as every soldiers on the southern end of the wall raised their bows and their arrows. "Fire!"

"And so it begins," Merlin said as he leaped back up onto his horse, whipping the harness on the horse. As it began running, it began breathing more heavily. Everytime it exhaled, a transparent fog like smoke came out of its nostrils. It was charging forward, completely unphased by the fired arrows.

NEIGH! HUFF! PUFF! HUFF! PUFF!

"Atta boy Scooter," Merlin said, "let's go kick some blockhead butt!"