Wow! This one sure came out quicker than the last one! That's got to be good news, right? Anyways, thought I'd mention that "The Vex Bride" is in production and will come out soon! But for now, here's your chapter!

Chapter 6: Wither We Like it or Not

Petra’s POV:

            That was the funniest thing Petra had ever seen, Jesse flopping on his stomach and smashing the glass pane with his head like that. She was afraid she had distracted him by waving back, but at least he wasn’t hurt. She made it up to him by helping him up. Jesse looked red in the face as he got up and quickly dashed away. Was he angry? Or embarrassed? Petra wished she could tell.

            The group ran inside the hall, but they didn’t see Ivor, only a few early arrivals. “Where’d he go?” Petra wondered aloud.

            “There! Through that door!” Jesse alerted the others, pointing to an oak door, which was a crack open.

            “What do we do once we catch him?” Lukas wanted to know as everyone was at the door.

            “Whatever we have to,” Jesse stated blatantly.

            “You’re way more intense than I gave you credit for, Jesse,” Lukas complimented, echoing Petra’s own thoughts.

            Everyone streamed in, Jesse and Petra leading them. Nikki collided with the door frame twice before entering. That black eye sure was affecting her. As they walked down the steps, Petra tapped Jesse’s shoulder, wanting to voice some of her thoughts. “Jesse?”

            “Hmm?”

            “Thanks for doing this. You’re a great friend,”

            “Oh. Well, I…I’d do anything for you. I mean, that’s not because I like you or anything—I mean I DO like you, but I don’t love you—Wait, no, that’s not what I--”

            “Are you TRYING to make him hear us?” Nikki fiercely hissed lowly back at her brother. “Shut up!”

            “Sorry…” Jesse whispered back shyly. For a brief moment, he and Petra locked eyes, but she looked away, feeling awkward for catching his gaze. Why did she always act so wary around him? That wasn’t like her at all. What was it about Jesse that she found so…intriguing?

 

Nikki’s POV:

            Nikki peered around the stone brick wall at the end of the staircase. Her friends peeped right behind her. Zephyr flapped around the odd lab they saw behind it, then squeaked at Nikki from a bookshelf.

            “Well, thank you, Captain Obvious!” she replied sarcastically. “He must’ve gone out another way.”

            “Can you even understand what he says?” Jesse inquired.

            “Visualize him as the Reuben to my Jesse. It makes it easier to answer that question yourself,” she said, reminding him of how he seemed to understand every oink that came out of the piglet.

            “I’ll bet you anything I’ll find my wither skull here,” Petra said.

            “And if we find anything else, it’s finders-keepers, right?” Axel asked hopefully.

            “Axel, that’s not what we’re here to do,”

            “Jesse DID say do whatever we have to…” Nikki added, revenge a tempting thought.

            “And if this guy’s not here, what we have to do is steal, right?” Axel clearly wanted to take something.

            “I don’t want to stoop to his level,” Petra said.

            “Let’s just find the skull,” Jesse agreed.

            “No one ever lets me have any fun,” Axel complained, walking off.

            “The faster we find the skull, the faster we can get the heck out of here,” Jesse put in. He obviously didn’t like this basement any more than Nikki did. Zephyr landed back on her shoulder, shivering at the enderman’s head mounted on an armor stand nearby.

            “Don’t worry,” Nikki comforted. “I don’t think he even knows ender bats exist.” She deeply craved the confidence her words held.

 

Jesse’s POV:

            The gang spread out to search different areas of the basement to find the skull. Jesse walked down a short aisle of books, and found Petra at the end, digging around in a large chest.

            “Oh, hello,” she grinned, pulling out a golden sword. She gave it a test swing, which Jesse stood clear of. “Too heavy. And too soft.”

            “But super-flashy!” said Nikki from the next row in a singsong voice.

            “Yeah, I don’t think this guy does much fighting,” Petra agreed. “But I DID say we shouldn’t steal anything…”

            “Say something nice to her!” Nikki whispered through the row to Jesse.

            “Like what?” he whispered back.

            “Something flattering, like ‘gold looks good on you,’”

            “Okay…” turning to Petra, Jesse spoke up. “Gold looks good on me.” He was proud of himself for speaking so clearly.

            “Um…yeah, I guess it’s your color…” Petra answered, puzzled.

            “No, you buffoon!” Nikki hissed. “On HER. Gold looks good on HER.”

            “Oh! I meant you. Gold looks good on YOU. I mean, gold is a nice color for me, but you look better with it. Not that yourself alone isn’t nice-looking, but—what I’m trying to say is, you should keep it.” Jesse stuttered.

            “You know what? You’re right,” Petra sheathed the sword. “It might come in handy. And it IS super-flashy.”

            “Called it!” Nikki piped up.

 

Axel’s POV:

            Axel stared longingly at the potion bottles above him. He wanted more than anything to snatch one and pocket it for himself. Then he saw a fancy potion standing on a pedestal.

            “Find anything?” Nikki asked him as she walked up.

            “You’re not going to believe this, but I swear I had a dream about this,” he told her, looking at the potion.

            “You’re right. I don’t believe you,” Nikki said, but he ignored the stinging statement, and reached for the potion.

            “Okay, I know this is a big step, but I’d be honored if you came home with me,” he said to the potion.

            “I feel like that’s something you should say to Olivia…” Nikki murmured, causing Axel to blush, which was something he rarely did. “Come on, man. Go make yourself useful and go find that skull,” Nikki ordered.

            “I am…” he said, hardly listening anymore as he took the potion.

            “Uh, no, you’re doing the exact opposite of what I asked you. There’s no way he won’t notice his fancy potion is missing!”

            “A good thief always covers his tracks,” Axel said, trying to be all teacher-like towards Nikki. He took a random bottle which liquid was the same color as the fancy one, and placed it on the pedestal. “Fixed it!” he declared in satisfaction.

 

Olivia’s POV:

            Olivia gazed up at the tall bookcase wall. She had a feeling it stood out somehow. Then, without warning, it slid down. She later discovered that Nikki had flicked down a lever to activate the hidden wall. Behind it was the oddest thing she’d ever seen. It was a t-shape of some weird blocks.

            “What the hell is all of this stuff?” Jesse questioned as he came forward with the others.

            “Soul sand. It was everywhere in the Nether,” Petra answered.

            “What about that block in the middle?” Nikki pointed to the odd thing in the center of the build. Olivia had never seen anything like it before. Maybe if she just got a closer look…

            “Don’t touch that, Olivia!” Jesse suddenly said.

            “I was just curious,” she said apologetically.

            “Don’t forget what we’re here for, find that skull,”

            Nodding once, Olivia stepped back, a safe distance from the weird block. Jesse then stepped forwards and opened a large chest. She saw his pupils dilate as he saw what was inside.

    “So, good news, weird news. I found the skull, but…” Inching up behind him, she became shocked too once she saw the contents. There were three skulls in there!

 

Lukas’ POV:

            “What the hell?” Lukas heard Petra mutter. “Why’d I risk my neck for that skull if he’s got two of them already?”

            “There’s got to be something more going on here,” Nikki said darkly. “Something we just don’t see.”

            “Oh, Notch…” Lukas gasped as he realized what this was. Soul sand? Three wither skulls? Ivor was planning something more malicious than cheating on a deal. “I know what he’s up to. Soul sand, plus three wither skulls—that’s the recipe for a Wither!”

            “A Wither?” Olivia sounded scared. “But that’s--”

            “One of the worst monsters there is,” Lukas finished for her.

            “We came here to find the skull, well, we found it,” Jesse said.

            “Maybe we should just grab it, and get out of here, while we still can,” Petra advised.

            Just then, they heard the creak of an oak door. Lukas whipped his head around towards the noise, heart beating faster. “Uh, guys?” he whimpered.

            “Scatter!” Petra mouthed, and everyone ran off in different directions. Zephyr pulled the lever to reclose the bookcase before hanging upside down on a black wool block and shutting his eyes. Lukas jumped inside a chest and saw no more as he closed the lid.

 

Jesse’s POV:

            Jesse jumped in between a chest and a bookshelf as Ivor entered his basement. He seemed to be practicing something. “’Don’t you recognize me?!’—Or wait…’Surprised to see me?!—No, that’s not good…’Thought you were rid of me, didn’t you?!’—That’s better…”

            “Egomaniac…” he thought to himself. Ivor passed Axel, who was squeezed in between a wall and some bookshelves, and Reuben, who was up on the potion shelves. Ivor turned his head on the shelves, but Reuben was no longer there, to Jesse’s relief, but hidden behind the pedestal. Suddenly, he heard the clinking of a bottle hitting the floor. Terrified, he sank back down, thinking that HE had knocked something over, but Ivor’s head didn’t turn in his direction. It turned in Olivia’s.

            “What was that? Who’s there?” Ivor called out. He snuck around, trying to seek the person. He ran over to Olivia’s hiding place, which was now empty. She was hidden behind a bookshelf. But Ivor was creeping closer, and she wouldn’t be hidden long.

            Just as Ivor was about to round the corner, Jesse heard someone call out. “Up here, jerk!” Nikki snapped. When Ivor tipped up his neck, Nikki let go of the glowstone lamp she’d been hanging on and flattened Ivor, trapping him.

            “*Oof!* What are you doing here? What did you see?” Ivor grunted.

            “Leave her alone!” Petra ran out of her hiding place.

            “Yeah, back off, pal,” Axel said, also revealing himself. Seeing this as a signal, Jesse pounced out too.

            “You three?!” Ivor growled, recognizing Jesse, Petra, and Nikki. “Did you follow me here?!”

            “You thought you could just screw us over and get away with it, didn’t you?” Petra shot back.

            “What do you mean? I have what I want and you got exactly what you deserved,”

            “What he wanted…” Jesse was reminded of what they discovered down here.

            “We know what you’re up to,” he confronted. “Soul sand, and three wither skulls? You’re building a Wither!”

            “Hmph! Smarter than you look,” Ivor scoffed.

            “Hey! No one gets to talk to my brother that way,” Nikki warned. “Now shut up, or else.”

            “Or else what? What could a child like you do to a man like me?”

            “For real? Why does everyone--”

            Nikki never finished her sentence before Ivor bucked her off, smashing her into a wall. “Enough! You’ve wasted too much of my time already!” He made a run for it, and, once he had helped his sister up, Jesse raced after Ivor along with his friends too. Once they caught up, Ivor was standing over an iron t-block with a pumpkin in his hands.

            “If you won’t leave of your own volition, I’ll happily remove you myself!” he said, placing the pumpkin at the top of the t-shape and spawning an iron golem. “Show our friends the door, will you?” he ordered the golem, which lumbered towards our heroes and swung a heavy arm. Before Jesse could duck, the golem planted a good clout on his head, sending shockwaves through his brain. His pupils wobbled in circles before he could see straight again.

            Just as the golem raised its arm to attack again, something small and black struck its head with a glancing blow. Zephyr! The ender bat was battering the huge mob with all he had, determined to distract it. The golem forgot about the group and swung high at Zephyr. The golem successfully distracted, Jesse and the others made a break for the exit.

            Back on the surface, the keynote had started, and Gabriel was talking to the ecstatic crowd. Had things gone normally, Jesse would have been excited to see him. But now wasn’t the time for that. “Everyone okay?” he asked. Everyone nodded agreement.

            “Uh…guys?” Olivia gulped. “Where’s Lukas?”

            “I thought he was right behind me,” Jesse swore.

            “Wait a sec—Zephyr’s not here either!” Axel realized.

            “They must still be down there!” Nikki’s head whipped around to face the basement door.

            “Ivor’s got all the ingredients to build a Wither down there,” Petra reminded everyone. “If he were to unleash it on this crowd of people—we have to act fast.”

            “It just so happens that the greatest warrior of all time is in the building,” Olivia pointed out. “We’ve got to warn him about this!”

            “But Lukas and Zephyr need help!” Nikki protested. Jesse could understand her worry, but they needed to get Gabriel so he could save him. His heart froze as she continued. “Listen, I’ll get them. You guys warn Gabriel and help us the best you can.”

            “You can’t go down there!” Axel gasped. “That golem will tear you to pieces!”

            “Well, that golem will tear Lukas and Zephyr to pieces if one of us doesn’t save them!”

            “Lukas is tough. Probably tough enough to hold out a bit longer,” even Petra was trying to change Nikki’s mind. “And Zephyr seems like he knows a thing or two.” Jesse wanted Nikki safe, but she was right. Zephyr and Lukas needed help ASAP, and they needed to get Gabriel together at the same time. This was the only way.

            “Are you sure you can do this?” Jesse asked her. Nikki’s face brightened as if she took that as a yes.

            “You bet I can. That golem’s got nothing on me,” she boasted.

            “…O…Okay…go. But be safe down there,”

            “I will be,”

            Nodding her head at her brother once, she turned and dived back inside the basement, Jesse’s concern for her rising more than ever.

            “Notch, protect her…” he prayed silently.

 

Nikki’s POV:

            Nikki tiptoed quietly down the stairs. She ran wool-footed inside the lab and ducked behind a bookshelf. “Lukas?” she whispered. “Can you hear me? Even though I’m whispering?”

            “Nikki?” she heard a reply. It was Lukas, still hiding in his chest. “Is that you whispering super-loudly?” Just as soon as he popped out, he ducked his head back in. After hearing a metallic groan, Nikki soon figured out why. The golem was right behind her!

            The living daylights scared out of her, Nikki dodged a blow, rather expertly, but was trapped against a wall. The golem rose his fist, and Nikki saw, clenched in the other one, Zephyr was held prisoner!

            “Hey!” Lukas called out briefly. The golem turned towards his voice, and Nikki ducked behind a bookshelf out of sight. Seeing nothing more, the golem continued its lumbering.

            “Thanks,” Nikki gasped gratefully. “You alright?”

            “Eh, I’ve been comfier,”

            “Well, hang on a moment. I’m going to distract it,”

            Quickly but quietly, Nikki swept the nearest potion off the bookshelf she was hiding behind. She chucked it at the golem, and it knocked it off its feet, freeing Zephyr, who flew out of reach. While it tried to get up, Nikki ordered Lukas to run. He sprang from the chest like a freed bird and went for the exit. Nikki was about to follow when the golem, up on its feet, started to approach her again. Just when Nikki thought it was all over, Zephyr let out a loud screech, hurting the golem’s ears and causing it to crumple. She made a beeline after Lukas soon after.

            “Thanks, Zephyr!” she said as they continued their escape.

            “Okay, Nikki, let’s go!” he said as they ran up the stairs. “Thanks for coming back for me. I don’t know if anyone would.”

            “Fun fact about me: I don’t leave people behind,” she replied modestly.

 

Lukas’ POV:

            Lukas, Nikki, and Zephyr broke the surface, where they found Axel trying to explain the Wither to Gabriel.

            “What’d we miss?” Nikki asked Jesse as she scuttled next to him.

            “Only Axel screwing things up the more he talked,” he hissed bitterly. “But I don’t really care, so long as you’re okay.”

            “I have a question for you, Gabriel,” huffed a man from the crowd.

            “Excuse me, sir, you’ll have to wait your turn,” Gabriel said. He had a deep, strong voice.

            “Just answer me this—do you really believe anyone can be great?”

            “With enough hard work, yes…”

            “Was that where I went wrong?! I simply didn’t WORK hard enough?!”

            He wasn’t even out of the crowd yet, and Lukas had a sinking feeling he already knew who it was.

            Ivor stepped out of the swarm of people, taking Gabriel by surprise. “Ivor?” he gaped. “Is it really you?”

            “You know him?” Jesse said.

            “I don’t know if I ever really knew him,” Gabriel didn’t take his eyes off Ivor. “But what I did know, I didn’t like.”

            “The feeling is entirely mutual,” Ivor susurrated back at him. “Why don’t tell them the real story, Gabriel?!”

            “Real story?” Lukas wondered. What real story? Whatever it was, Gabriel wouldn’t be coughing it up.

            “I see time has made you bigger,” Gabriel grunted, further spreading Lukas’ curiosity.

            “And it’s made you an even bigger fool,” Ivor shot back. “Now these people were promised greatness, and I’m ready to deliver!” Ivor then walked back to a laver on the stage.

            “Gabriel, you gotta stop him!” Nikki cried out, but there was nothing they could do.

            “Nothing built can last forever, Gabriel,” Ivor said as the half-built Wither rose, the final skull in hand. Lukas’ senses froze. This was it.

            “Ivor, no!” Gabriel shouted, but it was too late. The Wither spawned, blowing both men off the stage as it did, the odd block in its ribcage. Lukas was terrified. The destruction of the world had begun!

 

Jesse’s POV:

            “Creature, attack!” Ivor commanded, waking the Wither. It shot wither skulls everywhere, destroying the hall. People screamed and scattered as the Wither began its rampage. But shooting skulls wasn’t all it did, as Jesse soon saw. It sucked up the damaged parts, and joined with it, making itself bigger.

            “Fear not, everyone,” Gabriel said boldly, drawing his diamond sword. “This foul creature is no match for me!” Ivor was in his element. He pointed to Gabriel and told it to attack, which it gladly did. Gabriel jumped and whacked it right on the command block, but it didn’t so much as crack.

            “What have you done?” Gabriel panted, as Ivor basked in his glory. Jesse ran forward, shouting Gabriel’s name. “No, stay away!” the aged warrior ordered. “It’s after me, not you!” The Wither charged at them, and they both ducked.

            “Look at him!” Ivor jeered. “The mighty Gabriel! He may not be able to stop this creature, but I can!” Facing the monster, he said, “Creature, retreat!” Nothing happened. The monster, now with a mutated head, kept up its block consumption. “Ahem! Creature, retreat!” Still nothing.

            “That’s not working!” Nikki yelled, and indeed, it wasn’t. Ivor had lost control of it!

            “Uh, no need to be alarmed, my friends,” Ivor assured nervously. “I have an elixir that will destroy this creature.” He pulled out a bottle, and for a moment, Jesse was relieved. But then, he remembered overhearing Axel and Nikki talking about some fancy potion.

            “Wait, that potion, is that--” it dawned to him that the potion Ivor held was Axel’s “decoy.”

            “Uh-oh,” gulped Axel.

            Ivor threw the potion directly at the command block at full force. It didn’t do anything to destroy it. “Impossible…it should have worked…I took such care!”

            “The potion…Axel, you gotta throw the real one!” Olivia said.

            “But—finders, keepers!” Axel insisted.

            “You thieves! You’re ruining everything!”

            “Axel, come on!” Olivia urged. Axel hesitated, then slowly pulled out the potion, staring at it longingly.

            “Gimme that!” Nikki snapped, taking the potion from her giant friend and chucking it at the Wither’s odd block. Some blocks grew over it, shielding the block.

            “It’s protecting itself! Without the command block exposed, the potion is useless! It wasn’t supposed to happen like this!” Ivor wailed. He turned tail and fled.

            “Ivor! You coward, come back here!” Gabriel growled, more angry than frightened now. Just then, a purple tractor beam fell over him, starting to lift him up. Olivia lunged for his leg and grabbed it, but struggled to pull him down.

            “Jesse, help me!” she called out. Jesse ran over and grabbed Gabriel’s other leg. His muscles burned as he fought against the beam’s pull. With one last resort tug, Gabriel finally came free.

            “Thank you,” he gasped. ‘Ivor was right about one thing: I can’t stop that thing. Not on my own.” Jesse was stunned. Where was this going? “Will you help me?” Gabriel asked.

            “Of course!” Jesse agreed.

            “You know it!” Nikki piped up.

            Gabriel nodded once, then told everyone to follow him. As they escaped the hall, the building’s roof caved in. The Wither emerged, but it wasn’t even a Wither anymore. It was a Wither Storm!

            People screamed and ran. There were some who were lucky enough to get away, but others were either knocked out by the Storm’s new tentacles or sucked up by the tractor beams. As the gang was running, a flock of chickens flapped in Jesse’s way. He couldn’t get past them! And the Wither Storm was right on top of him! Eager to get away, Jesse shoved the chickens away and continued fleeing. But the tractor beams broke the walkway to EnderCon’s main grounds! They took him with it, and Jesse was left to desperately grab a piece of walk that was still floating near the ground.

            “Wait! Hey, I’m up here! Somebody help me! GUYS!” Jesse shouted out. Nikki must’ve heard her brother’s call, because she turned and left the group, leapt on a slime block, ran across a stall, then hit the edge of the walkway, out of the tractor beam.

            “Here! Get over here, and I’ll pull you out!” she said, sticking her arm out to him. Using all his strength, Jesse inched himself forward and grabbed her hand. She then yanked backwards hard, freeing him from the beam, and tossing them roughly back onto the ground. Zephyr squeaked and grabbed the back of Jesse’s shirt, and flapped higher to help him up. He was surprisingly strong for a bat.

            On the main grounds of EnderCon, it was even worse. People were streaming away everywhere, and some were pulled into the sky to their doom. Jesse couldn’t believe this was happening!

 

Petra’s POV:

            Petra, Axel, and Olivia hid underneath an awning. It wasn’t the best cover, but all they had at the moment.

            “This is all my fault!” Petra thought fiercely to herself. If she hadn’t handed over that skull, or perhaps listened to Nikki about her suspicions, they could have avoided this whole Armageddon. Then, she spotted Jesse, Nikki, and Lukas a little way off.

            “Guys!” she called to them, signaling them to join the others under the awning. They all came and knelt beside her, but before anyone could say a word, the awning broke! The tractor beam was right above it! The others ran for it in a panic, but Petra felt herself being lifted up by the beam. Jesse was the only one who hadn’t scattered. He was her only hope!

            “Jesse, help me!” she cried, getting more and more fearful as she got farther from the ground. Just then, she felt fingers close around hers and pull her down. THE fingers. Jesse had grabbed her hand with his and used the other to stabilize himself on the ground by gripping a fence post. But the tractor beam remained in that same spot, and Jesse was starting to rise as well.

            “I can’t hold on!” he yelped. Once she realized what trouble they were in, Petra let out a little scream. Then, the post broke. “Noooooooooooo!” Now this was it. It was all over. Though she didn’t know why, Petra felt like it was time to tell Jesse how she had felt all these years.

            “Jesse!”

            “What?!”

            “If…If this is the end…I need to tell you something,”

            “What is--”

            Mid-sentence, Nikki approached out of nowhere, and grabbed her brother’s leg, pulling them downwards. “You’re not getting away that easily!” she said. But Nikki was too light, and she went upwards too! “Okay, maybe you are,” she gulped. Then Gabriel came and grabbed Nikki’s leg. The power of all three was enough, and they escaped the beam.

            As they fell, Jesse flipped Petra underneath him, much to her surprise. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him and pushed her head into his chest. Though they hadn’t gotten that high off the ground, it felt like the return to the earth was going even slower than it should. Petra didn’t get it—what was this feeling? Being locked in the arms of…your true love?!

            Petra was shocked more than she ever had been in her life. THAT’S why she felt so odd around Jesse—she loved him! The word felt odd rolling around in her brain, but she knew it was true: she loved Jesse.

            As Petra was going over this, she awkwardly realized that she was flattened on top of Jesse. Blushing hard, she pushed herself up and off of him, and ran, still chewing on what she had discovered.

 

Nikki’s POV:

            Nikki felt like she could fangirl hard enough to drill right to the middle of Minecraftia if she tried. Jesse and Petra had shared a cute, yet fearsome, little moment. She regrettably had to ruin what could’ve been the confession she’d been hoping for, but any higher and they would’ve been dead. There had been no choice.

            So now, they were running for their lives as the huge Storm pursued them. Their creeper fireworks machine was destroyed by the beam, but that was the least of Nikki’s worries by now.

            “Thanks for that just now,” Nikki caught some of Petra’s words to her brother.

            “Yeah, well, now we’re eve--” he started, before a flaming wither skull careened in their direction.

            “Incoming!” Petra alerted, pushing Jesse out of its path and throwing herself clear. The skull left a crater right next to them, but they were fine. Wishing she had enough breath to breathe a sigh of relief, Nikki resumed her fleeing. She hardly paid attention to where she went. It was all just a mad dash somewhere in the woods, where the trees were alit, a grove of birches and oaks, which divided the group into two smaller groups, and a clearing right before Gabriel’s fortress. Dodging the tentacles, wither skulls, and tractor beams, Nikki had to take a flying leap inside to stay alive.

            “The inner chamber is built entirely of obsidian,” Gabriel explained. “We should be untouchable in there.”

            “Should be?” Nikki couldn’t help worrying. The aged warrior flicked a lever that opened a piston door to the inner chamber. There was an unlit Nether portal in the middle.

            “Hurry! If you can get through the portal, you’ll be safe!” the aged warrior said as he tried to keep a lone tentacle at bay. Axel ran through the portal, but was still seen by his friends,

            “Uh, something’s not right here…” he mentioned.

            “It’s not lit!” Olivia cried.

            Jesse whipped out the flint and steel he took from the treehouse earlier and lit the portal. It glowed a deep purple, and Olivia ran inside first, flanked by Axel and Reuben, and then Zephyr. Before anyone else could enter the portal, they heard a scream of pain. Nikki whipped her head around, and froze in terror. Gabriel had been grabbed by the Wither Storm!

            “Gabriel!” Jesse shouted, racing back for the warrior. He tried to reach him, but another tentacle crashed through the roof, whacking her brother away. He hit the wall hard, and was showered by obsidian blocks. That struck Nikki’s attention. She raged, and drew her iron sword.

            “NO ONE HURTS MY BROTHER LIKE THAT!” she screamed, slashing with all her might. She actually managed to break the skin, not by much, but surely. The tentacle released Gabriel and slithered back to attack someone else.

            “Thank you,” gasped the warrior as Nikki helped him up. He gazed back at the citizens, his eyes, for once, looking hopeless. “There are so many of them…I…I can’t save them all.” He turned back to Nikki. “I can’t stop this by myself. We need to find the others.”

            Nikki was confused. “Others?” she asked.

            “Soren’s been missing for years…but the others…you must seek them out,”

            Gabriel pulled out a glowing amulet, about the size of an ender pearl. “Please, take this amulet, and guard it with your life!”

            Nikki was bewildered beyond comprehension. The greatest hero of all time was practically asking her to sub for him as a hero herself. “You want me? But I’m just a kid!”

            “My child…” Gabriel said, his intense stare locked on her. “You may not look like much, but I saw a fighting spirit shine in you, one that fueled you enough to do what not even my diamond sword could do. You must lead your friends to the Order’s temple, and save the world!”

            Hesitantly, Nikki took the amulet from Gabriel. She stared down at it for all of a few seconds, still locked on amazement. “Take it through the portal,” Gabriel instructed. “And then-” *CRASH!* Another tentacle busted through the roof, dividing Gabriel and Nikki. That’s when she understood what she needed to do.

            “Gabriel’s counting on me,” she told herself. “The whole world might be.”

 

Jesse’s POV:

            Jesse uncovered himself from the obsidian block pile. Thank Notch the blocks were loose, or he might’ve been stuck there forever. He drew his stone sword, focused on the swinging tentacle above them. Lukas yelled in fear as it neared him, but Petra whacked it away before it got too close. She turned to him, Nikki, and Lukas as he ran up.

            “You three, go through the portal, and meet up with the others. I’ll stay here and do whatever I can.” Jesse couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Petra couldn’t sacrifice herself! He needed her, even more than she knew of.

            “I’m not leaving without you!” he insisted, but Petra shook her head.

            “The gang NEEDS you, Jesse. Go through the portal!”

            “Well, I need you! I’m not going anywhere without my best friend!” Jesse countered, sweating when he realized what he could’ve said if he hadn’t caught himself.

            “If anything happens, I’ll meet you guys at the temple,” Petra promised. As the pair was talking, they heard the whoosh of the tractor beam. Gabriel was caught in one, and was being lifted up! Petra ran back to rescue him, but another beam caught her as well! Jesse was in a panic. He dodged a swaying tentacle, and turned back to Lukas, who ducked to avoid it.

            “Lukas!” he called out. He had to help him or they would both be killed! But Lukas didn’t so much as make a move. All he did was back away in fear.

            “Jesse!” Nikki shouted over to her brother as she ran forward towards Petra and Gabriel. “Get Petra! I’ll save Gab--” she was cut off as a tentacle whapped his sister away. She hit the side of the Nether portal, and slunk to the ground, unconscious. Looks like it was up to Jesse.  But who to save?

            In a moment of quick thinking, Jesse knew who it had to be. He ran to the right and pulled Petra down. They both clattered to the ground, safe. “Thanks, Jesse!” she said. “Gabriel’s still up there!” And it was true; he was. But he was still in reach!

            “Jesse! Go!” Gabriel cried!

            “NO!”

            Jesse ran left, trying to reach Gabriel before it was too late, but the tentacle blocked his way. He ducked it once, but it smacked him forcefully into the portal. Jesse knocked Lukas in as he went. The last thing Jesse managed to do before he completely vanished into the portal was grab the back of his sister’s gray hoodie, dragging her in along with them.

Oh, look! Disaster! Isn't that just PEACHY?! *sarcasm intensifies* But yeah, that's Chapter 6! Wish our heroes good luck!