by Terry Mayer
"Boys, boys, boys. You need to learn to play together." Turning to face Jethro, Natasha continues. "Jethro, stop being so sensitive, Nate was just trying to help, and Nate," turning now to face Nate, "you're killing him, just tell him what's on your mind."
"Uh right Natasha, sorry. Jethro, all I meant was I think your theory has a huge hole in it because we got the Ocelots before Jack died, but they were still with us after he died, that's all."
"Well Nathan, that's very easy to explain, it's because, hmm, because, well I'm sure there is a really good reason."
"Oh Jethro, just admit it, Nate is right."
"Oh, all right. I must have got my time line a little muddled, but really, under the circumstances, I'm not surprised. You have no idea how difficult..."
"JETHRO!" shouts Natasha, waiting for him to stop before continuing. "Is Nate right or not?"
"Well, yes, he is correct but..."
"YES!" shouts Nate, interrupting Jethro, jumping in the air and fist pumping. "I knew it."
"Way to go Nate, you're really learning how to play this game now."
"Not really Natasha. This world is so confusing with weird creatures and weird rules, I'd still be totally lost without you two, but some things are just common sense, like remembering when different events happen."
"Yes well, like I said Nathan, it has been a difficult time for me..."
"JETHRO, cool it man. I'm not having a go at you, I'm just explaining myself to Natasha., so STOP being so sensitive."
"He has a point Jethro, you really need to chill or we are all going to fall out."
Looking at his two companions Jethro looks suitable chastised. "Sorry Nathan, I guess I'm just a little frazzled, but that is no excuse. I will try to behave and stop being so sensitive."
"Cool J-Dog. Let's move out, I'd like to hook up with Hailey and Jay before dark," replies Nate over his shoulder as he plows on into the jungle.
"Oh to be young again, so carefree and un-entangled in life's numerous problems," sighs Jethro, plodding after Nate.
Laughing, and slapping Jethro on his back, Natasha replies, "come on old man, let's catch up with the little one before he gets himself into trouble."
Watching from back in the tree's, PowerGlide wonders what all the shouting and commotion was about, seems like there might be trouble in paradise, he thinks. I guess I'll just have to wait until they kill each other, he sniggers, as he follows silently through the jungle.
*****
"Now Jay, climb up."
"Are you sure Hailey?"
"Of course we are, aren't we Medousa," she replies, patting the neck on the Ender Dragon.
"Ok, here goes nothing," gulps Jay, climbing onto the back leg of Medousa, and pulling himself up to sit behind Hailey. "You think she will be able to carry us both?"
"You kiddin' me? Look at her Jay, I bet she could carry a whole house, let alone the two of us."
Looking down at the huge beast, Jay has to agree. "So what's the plan?"
"Right. First we are going smash our way out of this temple, then fly over the jungle and try and find the others."
"What if we can't find them?"
"Then we will return to the temple and wait for them."
"Ok, good plan. So you think she will be able to smash her way out of here?"
"Let's find out." Picking up the carrot on the end of a stick, Hailey grimaces a little then turns it towards the far wall. "Ok Medousa, let's see what you are made of."
Immediately the dragon lurches forward and swings a huge front leg into the wall, which explodes in a shower of stone and dust.
"Wow! I was not expecting that," gasps Hailey, staring at the jungle through a huge hole in the wall.
"Just do me a favor Hailey and make sure you know exactly what you are doing before you ask her to do anything else," gulps Jay.
"Ah, buckle up pilgrim, things are only just getting started."
"I know, and that's what I'm worried about," replies Jay, burrowing his head into Hailey's back as the huge Dragon pushes itself through the opening, spreads it's wings and jumps into the air.
*****
Stepping from the tunnel into sunlight, Warlord scans the area before running for the tree's at the far side of the clearing. He makes it half way across before he is knocked to the ground by a huge explosion of rubble, as the temple wall behind him explodes.
Picking himself up he makes a dash for the tree line. Diving under the cover of thick jungle vegetation he turns just in time to see a huge black Dragon push itself through a ragged opening in the temple wall, spread it's wings and fly into the air.
OMG. That was too close for comfort, but what the heck is the Ender Dragon doing here? Whatever it's here for can't be good, he thinks as he pushes himself very quietly backwards into the jungle.
*****
"Hold up Nate, I think we need to check our location or we could be wandering around in here for days."
"Cool Natasha, you want me to climb the tree this time?"
"Nah, I'll go again. Actually I quite like the feeling of poking my head through the canopy and being able to see for hundreds of blocks."
"No worries, if you want to go that's fine by me. It still freaks me out being up so high."
Grabbing hold of a low hanging branch, Natasha pulls herself into a huge tree and starts her climb to the top.
"Hey Jethro, might as well make ourselves comfy while she's gone," laughs Nate, lying down in a notch in the tree trunk.
"I don't know Nathan, it's way too dark here for my liking."
"Cool it Jethro, you know mobs don't come out in the daytime."
"Oh but they do Nathan. Here in the jungle it is eternal twilight, and mobs can spawn just as easily as at night."
"Seriously?" asks Nate, sitting up and looking nervously at the shadows. "I never knew that."
"Well now you do. You rest up and I'll take first watch."
"Sure, but keep your eyes open, ok?" he replies, lying back down in the gash in the tree, trying to keep one eye open as sleep descends on him.
Snapping awake Nate is momentarily confused as to where he is until an arrow lodges itself into the tree trunk next to his head. Throwing himself back into the opening he cautiously looks around and spots Jethro crouching behind a fallen log.
"Jethro, what's happening?"
"Sssh Nathan. There's a dozen Skeletons out there but only one of them has spotted you. Keep quite and hopefully it will come over here on it's own without alerting the others," he whispers, quietly removing his sword from his inventory.
"Skeletons! Are you serious?" squeals Nate.
Suddenly, a dozen arrows fly from the forest as all the Skeletons descend on their position.
"Oh dear. I rather think I am in a little trouble now," stammers Jethro, looking down at three arrows sticking out of his chest.
Looking over at his friend Nate screams, "Natasha, Natasha, help."
Rising unsteadily, Jethro stumbles over to Nate and drops into the notch in the tree as another dozen arrows whistle over his head.
"Jethro, are you ok?"
"I think so, my health is down and these arrows hurt like heck but I think I'm fine," he says with a trembling smile on his lips.
"So what now?"
"I really don't know. I wish Natasha was here, she would know what strategy is needed to fight of a whole army of ....." but he does not get to finish as three more arrows find their mark and Jethro is thrown against the tree trunk.
Jumping up, Nate grabs hold of Jethro, fearing the worst but is amazed as he smiles back at him.
"Still here Nate, but I'm down to my last heart. I think we had better make a run for it before they just pick us off."
Crawling to the edge of the opening, Nate tentatively raises his head over the lip as another stream of arrows flies towards him. "Duck Jethro," he screams and is relieved to see his friend duck just time to avoid certain death.
"Now J-Dog, before they reload, run."
Jumping to his feet Nate grabs hold of Jethro and heaves him up from the floor, pushing him towards the dense forest and safety.
Seeing their prey run for the safety, the Skeletons swarm towards the them, drawing their bows, looking to make an easy kill.
"Run Jethro, I'll try and hold them," screams Nate, drawing his sword and rushing towards the Skeletons, screaming a battle cry at the top of his lungs.
"Nathan, noooo," shouts Jethro. Realizing it's too late to stop him, and knowing that one more arrow will kill him he stumbles into the dense forest, hiding behind a huge tree, while searching in his inventory for some food. Oh lordy, he thinks, I gave the last of my food to Natasha when we were in the temple.
Running straight at the Skeletons with his sword raised over his head Nate feels a rush of pure adrenalin right before an arrow hits him in the shoulder and knocks him to the ground, narrowly saving him from the other arrows as they wiz past his head.
"Man that hurts," he moans as he pulls himself up, raising his sword and wincing with the pain. Swinging wildly at the nearest Skeleton he is amazed as his sword cuts clean through it's head and it disappears, leaving a pile of floating bones.
"Take that bone head," he screams as he turns on the next one, swinging at it's exposed neck. Just as the sword makes contact he spots the other skeletons raise their bows, preparing to fire. Pulling his sword free from the Skeletons neck he throws himself to the floor as the arrows fly overhead, one just nicking his cheek.
With no time to waste he jumps back into the battle and quickly decapitates the next skeleton, "Ha, die you bag of bones," he screams turning on the remaining Skeletons who are all raising their bows, preparing to fire. "Ah man, no fair," he mumbles, looking wildly about for cover.
Looking into the Skeletons dead eyes he knows he is finished and decides to go out fighting. Rushing at the mob with his sword raised he nearly stumbles and falls as an earth shattering battle cry reverberates through the forest and a dark shape drops from the trees right into the centre of the Skeleton hoard.
Raising her sword, Natasha cuts the first three Skeletons heads clean off with a single swing, and takes the next two with the back swing. Chaos descends on the Skeletons as their easy kill suddenly becomes a killing field of their own kind.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Nate throws himself into the battle, knocking the nearest Skeleton to the ground and chopping the next ones head in half. He then turns to finish the one on the ground. Pulling his sword free he looks for his next victim but finds the forest empty, apart from Natasha who is pulling her sword from a pile of floating bones. Looking up she smiles at him. "Way to go Nate. That was so brave, rushing those Skeletons single handed. I'll make a fighter out of you yet."
"Thanks Natasha," he replies, blushing at her praise.
"Talking of single handed, where is Jethro hiding?"
"Jethro, oh man, he was hit so many times, quick," he shouts, running for the dense part of the forest that Jethro had disappeared into. "Jethro, Jethro, you ok?"
Stepping from behind a huge tree Jethro gives Nate an unsteady smile."Yes Nathan. Thank you, I think I will be fine, but I need a little help with these arrows," he replies pointing at the arrows sticking from his chest.
"Hey pincushion, glad to see you made it," laughs Natasha as she jogs up behind Nate.
"Yes, I'm quite relieved about that fact too Natasha, and thank you for helping Nathan. I rather feared he was done for before you dropped out of the trees. Quite spectacular my dear, you really are ...."
Falling forward onto the floor Jethro does not get to finish his sentence, as an arrow hits him in the back of the head. With a small puff of inrushing air he disappears, leaving a pile of floating possessions.
In shock, Natasha and Nate stand, with mouths wide open, staring at the place that their friend had occupied just a moment before. A noise in the jungle snaps them from their horror and they look up just in time to see PowerGlide pull himself from the floor, rubbing the back of his head. Looking up he gives a small salute and disappears into the forest.
BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...
The seventh competitor has been eliminated. Jethro Skybuilder has not proven worthy. Five competitors remain. Continue the tournament.
Rushing into the jungle, Natasha scans the area for any signs of PowerGlide. "Nate, over here, he's gone this way."
"Wait Natasha, I want to say goodbye."
"Come on Nate, he's gone and we need to kill that murdering grifter."
"We will, just give me a moment," sobs Nate, leaning down and collecting Jethro's possessions.
Walking back over she gently places her hand on his back and says, "Nate honey, we have to go. With all the noise we have been making, every mob in the area will be here soon."
"I know Natasha, but he was ok, I saved him from the Skeletons and then PowerGlide kills him. It's not fair."
"I know Nate, and don't you worry, PowerGlide is going to get what's coming to him, you can rely on that, but we need to move, now."
Looking up at his friend, Nate nods and pulls himself to his feet. "So what now?"
"Now we stop playing around. I'm fed up with being the victim, it's time we take control of this game."
"What do you have in mind," replies Nate, looking down at the spot where Jethro had died.
"First it's payback. PowerGlide's days are over."
"But I thought you said we should not kill other players and that..."
"Forget what I said, I was wrong. PowerGlide needs to die for what he just did. So Nate, are you in or out?"
Taking one last glimpse at the spot that Jethro had died, he turns to Natasha and with steel in his voice replies, "let's finish him."
Grasping the back of his shirt, Natasha pulls Nate in for a big hug and whispers in his ear. "This is for Jethro, however messy it gets from here on in, just remember why we are doing it and we will be fine. Right, let's move out."
Turning, Natasha strides into the forest, with a determined step and vengeance playing on her features.
Gulping down his sobs, Nate whispers, "see ya later Jethro, I hope," and follows Natasha to their fate.
*****
Moving through the jungle, Warlord looks up as he hears a scream. Quickly taking cover he edges forward, very slowly, trying to locate the source of the trouble. After crawling 20 blocks he spots movement through the trees and crouches behind a large log, trying to see what is happening. Suddenly a player bursts from behind a tree and rushes towards him, with his sword raised above his head. Just as Warlord is about to turn and run a dozen grey shapes materialize from the trees in front of him and raise their bows in the direction of the player.
Man that was close. I almost walked straight into that Skeleton camp. Better buck up Warlord, he thinks. Peering back at the action, he gives a little chuckle as it appears that the player is outnumbered and almost certainly doomed, but he is shocked as another player drops from the trees and makes short work of the remaining Skeletons. OMG, that was amazing, he thinks, creeping forward, trying to see the names of the players floating above their heads. OMG, doubly amazing, it's a girl, he gasps, spotting Natasha's name tag.
Listening to the players discuss the battle he edges forward with them as they run across the lightly vegetated area looking for their friend. Stopping dead in his tracks as the plump avatar drops to the ground dead, an arrow imbedded in the back of his neck, he looks up just in time to see PowerGlide salute and disappear into the jungle.
Crafty beggar, you better run PowerGlide because if these guys don't get you then I certainly will, he smiles, withdrawing his bow from his inventory and preparing to give chase. Jumping as the canon shot splits the air he gives a little giggle, come on Warlord, getting a little jumpy, calm down.
Watching Nate and Natasha is frustrating him, what are they playing at, get a move on before he gets away, he chides quietly, while watching Nate sit at Jethro's death spot. After what seems
and eternity they both turn and stride into the forest, pursuing PowerGlide.
Nice to see they have some guts after all, I wondered if they would chase or hide. I'll have to watch out for these two, he mutters to himself as he gets to his feet and stealthily follows them into the jungle.
*****
7 - Fly Girl
"This is amazing," squeals Hailey as they soar hundreds of blocks above the jungle canopy. "I've flown in Minecraft hundreds of times before but this is so real."
"I know," moans Jay, looking down at the tree tops far below and holding on for dear life behind Hailey. "It's ok for you with that saddle, but I can hardly hold on back here."
"Ah, my big tough Jay is scarred."
"Yes I'm scarred. Who in their right mind wouldn't be!"
"Come on Jay, just enjoy it. I won't let anything happen to you," she smirks, moving the carrot hard to the right and sending Medousa into a fast downward spin.
"Hailey, quit it. I mean it, I'm falling."
"Ah Jay, I'm just having a little fun," she replies, moving the carrot hard over to the left, and sending Medousa in an opposite spin.
"Hailey, stop, you are scar...." Jay stammers as he is thrown from the back of Medousa and falls towards the jungle canopy far below.
"JAY!" Pulling the dragon into a fast dive she heads towards Jay, gaining on him as he falls towards the canopy. "Hang on Jay, I'm coming," she screams, getting closer. "Medousa, save him, save him," she shrieks.
Diving as fast as a Dragon can, they gain on Jay rapidly, holding out her arm, trying to grasp Jay's outstretched fingers, but just as he comes into reaching distance he hits the canopy roof.. The last thing she see's is the shocked look on Jays face as he disappears through the foliage. Pulling up suddenly, Hailey is thrown forward on to Medousa's neck, as she flaps her wings and hovers over the jungle canopy right below them. .
"Jay, Jay," she screams, trying to see a way through the dense foliage.
