by Terry Mayer
"You think it's a trap?" asks Nathan.
"No. The Creepers are clearly terrified of the Ocelots, but they are up to something, look."
Looking back to where they had just been they watch the Creepers move to the steps, and once again surround the temple.
"I think they know that someone is still inside and it looks like they would rather take on them than us."
"Well, lucky for us, we have ocelots and they don't."
"Yes indeed Nathan, but I must confess I feel a little bad just walking away and leaving them inside."
"Don't Jethro. Did you see their faces when they thought we had walked straight into the creeper army and were done for. Too bad for them that we survived, now it's their turn to figure it out."
"He's right Jethro. They would have killed us without even blinking. If the Creepers are now after them instead of us than that's all good."
"Yes, you may both be right, but lets just concentrate on getting out of here before we continue the moral argument."
Moving to the edge of the clearing, they stand and watch as most of the Creepers push forward towards the temple, once again filling the clearing with walking bombs. Silently slipping into the jungle, our band of valiant fighters push their way through the vegetation and disappear from view.
*****
"Dragon eggs? So why are you so excited about that? Last I checked they were pretty useless," replies Hailey, as Jay looks over at her.
"Yeah, but you have been stuck in Minecraft for forty years, that's like almost seven months in real time."
"So, what's changed?"
"A whole lot actually. Every week a new mod comes out and seeing as all mods seem to be in play I bet the dragon mounts mod is working."
"Uh Jay. Is that what it sounds like?"
"Exactly what it sounds like Hailey."
"But dragons are deadly, you know that, heck, there's even the unofficial end of the game when you fight the Ender Dragon."
"Yeah I know. Just imagine if we get ourselves a dragon to ride."
"Cool. Of course you could also imagine a dragon just eating us."
"We'll tame it."
"With what?"
"Fish. You hold out a raw fish, just like you did with the ocelot, and then the dragon is yours, and as it grows you can ride it."
"Ok, lets assume your right. How long does it take to grow?"
"Don't remember, but you know Minecraft, it can't take all that long, and I seem to remember if you feed it bone meal it speeds up the growing process."
"Ok. So lets get ourselves some dragons. What do we do?"
"Right, so it depends on what type of dragon you want."
"I thought there was only an Ender Dragon."
"Nope, in the mod I played there were five different dragons but I've heard of a different mod that had nine."
"Cool. So what type do we have?"
"Well, they're all Ender Dragons unless you change them during the hatching stage. If you surround the egg with water you get a Water Dragon, surround it with fire or lava you get a Fire Dragon, leave it underground, at least 60 blocks deep you get a ghost and 150 blocks in the air for an Aether dragon."
"Ok, so what are we going to try for."
"Lets just stick to an ender dragon."
"Ok, so how do we hatch it."
"Well, normally you right click on the egg and it hatch's within a day."
"Nice, and I guess you can right click."
"Uh no."
"Didn't think so. So what do you suggest?"
"Let's just place an egg out here and give it a tap and see what happens."
Lifting an egg from the concealed room, Jay places it on the floor of the chamber then taps it twice on top with his right hand. Immediately the egg starts to shake and rock backwards and forwards, then settles down and seems to vibrate ever so slightly.
"Well that seems to have done the trick. Why don't you grab one Hailey."
Jumping up and clapping her hands, Hailey runs into the concealed room, grabs an egg and joins Jay in the chamber. Tapping it twice on top, nothing happens. Looking up at Jay, she shrugs and tries again. When nothing happens again, Jay reaches over and taps twice on the egg which immediately starts to shake.
"Great, well I guess that answers my question. When you tap twice with your right hand it's like right clicking. Doesn't work for me though."
"No. I guess that you don't have the same inbuilt commands as me."
"Guess not. So how long do we have to wait now?"
"Probably tomorrow morning, but with the way things are a little screwy I would not be surprised if it hatched anytime."
"Cool, so lets get some rest and see what happens."
*****
"Oh no, you have got to be kiddin' me," shouts Warlord at the Zombie hoard shuffling about in front of the temple as they surge forward towards his hiding place. Looking over the edge of the wall he is shocked to see an Enderman looking back at him. Immediately averting his eyes, he watches as it steals a block from the temple wall and disappears with it.
"Hah, you'll never steal all the blocks and get to me," he shouts, just as the Enderman reappears and steals another block.
"Good luck with that, losers," he shouts at the Zombies, holding his hand to his forehead in the shape of an L and dancing about on the temple roof.
As another Enderman appears, he glances away chuckling, not wanting to aggravate him into a fight, but quickly glances back as he realizes exactly what the Enderman is up to.
"No,no,no,no,no. This can't be happening." Running back from the edge of the temple he quickly surveys the scene. The temple is in a clearing in the jungle, maybe 150 blocks wide. The temple itself covers about 50 blocks square and the rest of the space is packed with Zombies. Hundreds, maybe even thousands crowd into the forest clearing, the only thing between himself and certain death is the 20 block high temple wall that he is currently standing on. The same wall that the Endermen are stealing blocks from, creating a staircase in the side of the temple up to his current location. Looking about wildly he quickly realizes that there is no way out, not through the clearing, his only option is to get into the temple, even though he knows that trouble will be waiting for him inside. Taking one last look over his shoulder, he sees that the Endermen have created a staircase half way up the temple wall and he has just seconds before the Zombie hoard will be on him. Grabbing a pickaxe from his inventory he digs franticly in the centre of the temple roof, creating a staircase down into the temple itself. Aware, even now, that he can't just dig straight down, as a fall from 20 blocks would most certainly kill him. As he digs deeper he reaches into his inventory and removes a cobblestone block just as the first Zombie reaches the top of the temple. Placing it in the opening above him he seals the entrance to his staircase just as the first Zombie stumbles towards him. Taking a deep breath he continues to dig, then turns and places another block behind him, aware that the Endermen could be stealing them as quickly as he places them. Removing a torch from his inventory he places it on the wall, not wanting any mobs to spawn in the darkness while he is digging, but not wanting to stop, not while the Endermen and zombies are so close behind him. Suddenly moonlight floods the tunnel and Warlord looks over his shoulder to see an Enderman looking down on him from above. Gulping, he grabs his pickaxe and makes a decision. There is no way he can build a staircase and block it behind him quicker than a few Endermen can take it apart, allowing the zombies access to him. Tightening his grip on his pickaxe he raises it above his head and starts digging straight down three blocks, then placing a block above him just as rotting Zombie hands reach for him. Standing in total darkness, with no time to place torches, he lifts his pickaxe and strikes the block below him. Instantly light floods the tunnel from the hole in the floor directly below him and he plummets into the temple.
*****
"So how long do you think we need to wait here boss?" asks Munster.
"I'm guessing that the fireworks will kick off
shortly, followed by three celebratory cannon shots, then we simply wait until morning and take a little lookey see at the devastation that our good friends have made."
"Weird boss. Didn't think I'd ever hear anyone call a Creeper a 'good friend', but I get what you mean."
"You're not wrong there Munster. Now, why don't you and me take a scout around and see what the others missed in this temple."
"No thanks. This place creeps me out. I think I'll just wait here boss."
"Hah. And you call yourself a 'Master of Minecraft!' Well don't expect me to share the treasure with you."
"Whatever," replies Munster, sitting down in the same place that the others had just had their meal.
"Good, you guard the entrance and keep me informed if anything changes," replied PowerGlide, skulking off down the side tunnel that the others had searched earlier.
*****
"Huh, what you up to Hailey?" asks Jay, pulling himself off the floor where he had been sleeping.
"Couldn't sleep. I was thinking about what you said about growing the dragons quickly with bone meal. I've got some skeleton bones in my bag, pass me the crafting table will you Jay."
Handing over the crafting table, Hailey stumbles under the weight. "Drat! I forgot I can't craft in this stupid place. Jay, you'll have to do it."
"No worries Hailey, here, pass me the bones." Placing a bone on the crafting table, Jay removes 3 pieces of bone meal and hands them to Hailey. "So, what now?"
"Well, if bone meal speeds up the growth of dragons then in theory adding it to the eggs should speed up the hatching time," she replies, smiling at Jay.
"Cool Hailey. I never thought of that. Go for it."
Leaning forward, Hailey sprinkles the two eggs with bone meal and stands back as they both start to vibrate rapidly.
"Well, you seem to have started something. Fingers crossed."
As the vibration increases Hailey suddenly turns to Jay and asks, "Huh Jay, when these dragons hatch they are wild, yeah?"
"Yep, we have to tame them or they are just ordinary Ender Dragons."
"That's what I figured. Huh Jay, in just a few minutes we're gonna be stuck in a room with two Ender Dragons."
"Yeah, but they are only babies Hailey. How much danger can they pose?"
"As babies, not a huge amount, but I just gave them bone meal Jay. How long do you think it's going to take them to grow?"
"Oh no! In the game I played, only about 20 seconds. Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"I'm sorry I was stupid giving them bone meal Jay. Really, I'm sorry."
"Huh, no not you Hailey, me. I should have been ready for this." Reaching into his inventory he quickly pulls a fish out and throws it to Hailey. Reaching back inside he franticly searches for another as the first egg suddenly stops vibrating and starts to crack.
"Hurry Jay, there starting to hatch."
"I know, I can't find the other fish, I had loads left after we tamed the Ocelots."
"Well you better find it fast Jay because here comes the first Ender Dragon now."
The egg lying on the floor closest to Jay and Hailey cracks completely down the middle and a black, scaly creature, about the size of a large dog pokes it head through the opening and screams at them.
Covering their ears at the mind numbing noise Jay turns to Hailey and screams. "Wow! If they can make that much noise the second they are born imagine how loud they will be when they are adults."
Turning back, they watch in fascination as the baby Ender Dragon pulls itself free from the egg and stretches its wings, which are already 6 blocks wide and turns to face them with a hungry look.
"Huh Hailey, I think you had better tame it quickly, baby or not, that thing looks lethal."
"You think?" replies Hailey with a sarcastic smile.
Edging forward, with fish held out Hailey advances on the dragon while Jay stands and watches. Just as Hailey leans forward to present the fish the Ender Dragon vibrates and shakes itself in a blur of motion. As the blurred image resolves itself, it's clear that the dragon is no longer a baby. Standing 6 blocks tall and with a wingspan on over 20 blocks this is a true Ender Dragon of mythical proportions.
"Now Hailey, give it the fish before it eats us," screams Jay.
Suddenly realizing that she is stood in front of a huge, hungry Ender Dragon with nothing more than a raw fish she screams and turns to run, but the dragon is faster than her and reaches out with it's huge head and blocks her escape route. Smoke starts to pour from it's nostrils, and a thick, foul smelling saliva drips from its teeth as it opens it's mouth, ready to swallow Hailey in one huge gulp.
"The fish Hailey! Feed it the fish," screams Jay, almost in tears.
Standing in terror, Hailey hardly hears Jay screaming at her from across the room as the jaws of the huge beast open wide in front of her. As the jaws draw closer she throws her arms up to defend herself and the slimy fish flies out of her grip and straight into the Ender Dragon's mouth. Immediately the Ender Dragon straightens, chews on the fish and then settles down calmly on the floor in front of Hailey.
Cheering wildly, Jay dashes across the room and scoops Hailey into his arms. "You did it, you tamed the Ender Dragon. Way to go Hailey, I thought you were toast when you were pretending to be scarred so the Ender Dragon would open it's mouth."
Looking down at Jay, Hailey shakes her head and hugs him tight. "Yeah, pretending, that's right."
"What? You mean that wasn't an act?"
"No Jay, I was terrified and panicked. It was pure, dumb luck that the fish fell out of my grasp and landed in the Ender Dragons mouth or I'd be dragon chow right now."
"Oh Hailey, I'm sorry, but you did great anyway," replies Jay hugging her tight.
"Uh Jay, this is really nice and all that but I think we may have another problem."
"What's up?"
"Duh, the other Ender Dragon egg is hatching and we don't have another fish."
"Oh no!" shouts Jay, dropping Hailey and quickly looking through his inventory again.
"Nice Jay, you're turning out to be a real gentleman," she replies, picking herself up from the floor and dusting herself off.
"What? Oh sorry Hailey, but I have to find that fish, I know I have some more but they just aren't here."
"Well whatever you do you had better make it quick because here comes the other dragon."
Glancing at the other egg Jay see's it split down the middle and a large black head pokes through. Immediately it screams at them from across the room. Pulling itself free from the shell it shakes itself and stretches its wings.
"Come on Jay, it's going to grow any second and then we are in some serious trouble."
"I know, I know but I just don't have any fish."
"Have you checked in the chest?"
"What?"
"Your chest Jay. After we picked up all of Jack's possessions you put loads of stuff in your chest to save space."
"Duh! Why didn't I think of that?" Quickly pulling the chest from his inventory he opens it and finds 6 fish inside. "Cool, here Hailey, feed it quick," he shouts, throwing Hailey a fish.
"No Jay, you have to. I already tamed a dragon," she replies throwing the fish back at Jay, which he fumbles and it slides across the ground.
Reaching back into the chest Jay grabs another fish and turns when he hears Hailey scream. Starring down at Hailey is another huge, black Ender Dragon, with smoke dripping from it's nostrils and a wicked smile on its hideous toothed mouth. The Ender Dragon pulls itself up to it's full height while Jay just stands there, open mouthed with fear, and then the dragon lunges down at Hailey.
As the dragons hideous teeth descend on Hailey, all she can do is crouch in terror, and just when it seems there is no escape the dragon's head is viciously pulled aside at the last moment. It's razor sharp teeth snapping on fresh air.
Raising her head, shocked that she is still alive, Hailey is stunned to see her Ender Dragon, which has now grown into a beast of immense proportions, gripping the
second dragon by the neck and shaking fiercely. With a huge crack, the dragons neck breaks and it goes limp in her Ender Dragons mouth.
"Holy smoke! Did you see that?" screams Jay, racing across the room to Hailey, who is standing with mouth wide open, staring up at her Ender Dragon, which has now started to eat it's rival. "Hailey, Hailey, you ok?" asks Jay, giving her a little shake.
Slowly turning her head, she smiles at Jay and replies, "Heck yeah Jay! I've got myself and fully grown Ender Dragon."
*****
2 - Don't Touch Me You Creeper
Moving stealthily down the corridor, PowerGlide approaches a large wooden door which is standing ajar. Cautiously peering through the opening he sees an empty room with a large, fiery pit in the middle. Advancing through the doorway he can see signs of a fight all about him. Looks like they came up against a whole nest of spiders, he thinks, looking at all the eyes and string floating just above the floor. Advancing to the edge of the pit he peers at the lava, bubbling just below him. Removing a bucket from his inventory he scoops up some lava and stores it for future use. Looking around once more he spots a dark patch on the wall where two stone blocks don't seem to meet properly. Well, well, what do we have here, he thinks approaching the black mark. Looks like some sort of glitch. Grabbing a spider eye from the floor he throws it at the black mark and it disappears. Well, well, this is interesting, I wonder where it goes. Picking up another spider eye, he is just about to throw it at the black mark when a huge explosion rocks the temple. What the heck? Turning, he dashes for the doorway.
*****
Sitting on the floor of the anti-chamber Munster is getting bored. Maybe I should have gone with the boss after all. Rising, he starts to pace the room, then walks over to the blocked off doorway to the temple. I haven't heard any noise from outside, I wonder if the others are dead yet?
Stepping a few blocks away from the entrance he jumps up and places 3 blocks below him, in quick succession. Leaning into the wall he removes his pickaxe and knocks a block out of the outside wall, then another. Right, one more block and I should be able to see outside and find out what's going on. As gently as he can he knocks the final block out and peers through the opening. What he sees makes his insides roll over.
