by Terry Mayer
Swinging to face him, Herobrine spits into his face. "You have seen nothing yet if you think that they can defeat me so easily. Iron Golems."
Jay and Nate look up, startled as the horns thunder around the arena.
"Ah man, Iron Golems, that doesn't sound too good."
"No it's not, they are pretty tough on their own and correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Herobrine say Golems."
"Nothing wrong with your hearing buddy. So how do you fight an Iron Golem."
Suddenly massive fists smash against the outside of the door, and then a moment later, more banging joins in.
"So I guess the Iron Golems are here. What now?"
"You got me Nate, if only we had some water or lava, we could stop them."
"Uh, I've got lava if that helps," replies Nate, withdrawing a Lava Bucket from his inventory.
"Nate, that's cool, where did you get that?"
"Jethro got it, and I picked it up when he died. So what do we do with it?"
"Pass it here, I'm going to pour it on the floor and fill this tunnel with lava to stop those Golems from getting in. Quick, build a one block high platform next to the wall or we will burn when this spreads."
Running to the corner of gate Jay pours the lava on the floor and it immediately spreads out. Waiting for the lava to settle he steps forward and scoops up another bucket full then tentatively edges forward to the other side of the gate and pours his bucket against the door. As the lava spreads he dashes back to the wall and jumps up on the platform just as the lava spreads out covering the whole tunnel floor.
"Way to go Jay, that's cool."
"Thanks Nate," replies Jay, dipping his bucket back in the lava. "You've given me another idea." Jumping upon top of the wall he shouts at the hoard of Zombies below. "Hey meat heads, BBQ time," and throws the lava over the Zombies below him.
Immediately the Zombie moans turn to screams as the first four burst into flames. Trying to get away from the bringer of death they push and shove their way through the hoard setting many other Zombies on fire in the process.
Dropping the bucket to Nate, jay shouts, "More lava please Nate, I'm cooking up a storm here. Yeehaa."
Grabbing the bucket of lava from Nate he once again throws his burning death into the Zombie hoard, igniting those unfortunate to be within its range. "Yes, burn baby, burn."
As the Zombies push and shove, they ignite each other and in just moments the whole hoard is aflame, screaming and dying a fiery death.
Pulling himself up onto the wall, Nate watches as the Zombies burn. "Way to go Jay, looks like we are in the clear."
Boom, the door explodes inwards, knocking them both off of the wall into the arena as the first of the Iron Golems push into the tunnel and burst into flames. With the door now removed the lava flows outwards, igniting the Iron Golems that are intent on pushing forward. Pandemonium breaks out as the Iron Golems closest to the front try to retreat only to find themselves blocked in by the Iron Golems pushing from the back.
As more and more Golems ignite the screaming from the burning Golems and the burning Zombies is almost unbearable, but the loudest scream of all comes from the balcony where Herobrine is gripping his head and screaming at the Players.
"Noooooo, my beautiful creations. Let this Tournament end. Skeletons!" screams Herobrine.
"Oh boy, this guys not giving up," exclaims Jay as the horns sound once again and the skeleton army advances on the arena.
"Can they cross the lava Jay?"
"I don't think so Nate, we should be ok for the moment."
"Endermen!" screams Herobrine, cackling wildly.
"Oh boy, that means trouble," sighs Jay as the horns sound again.
Immediately a dozen Endermen teleport into the arena, grab a block from the wall and disappear with it, only to return a moment later.
"I guess they are going to make a new door Jay, any more ideas?"
"To the back of the arena Nate, we need to build a defense before those Skeletons get inside."
Jumping to their feet they both dash to the back of the arena, directly under the balcony holding Herobrine and Notch and remove the last of their blocks from their inventories.
"Maybe we should dig our way out Jay, maybe we will stand a better chance than taking on a whole army."
"Not a bad idea Nate, you start building a wall, I'll start to dig, and I'll call you when it's time to run."
Pulling his pickaxe, Jay hits the ground smashing the first block. Raising his pickaxe again he hits the next block but it bounces harmless off. "Oh man, I just can't catch a break today." Smashing blocks all around him gets the same response, just one block below the surface his pickaxe bounces harmless off the block. Running over to Nate he removes his last stack of blocks and helps building a defensive wall.
"Giving up already?" asks Nate.
"Yep, one block below the surface and the whole place is Obsidian."
"What's that Jay."
"Just the hardest substance in Minecraft. There is no way we can dig through it unless you have an enchanted pickaxe in your inventory?"
"Hang on," replies Nate as Jays jaw drops in shock. "Nope, my mistake, all I've got is NOTHING!"
"Ha ha funny man. Build will you."
"Yeah yeah Jay, so what's the plan."
"The Alamo."
"Oh no, you're kidding right?"
"No why? The Alamo was cool. Just a few Americans made a last stand against a whole Mexican army, pretty much like this."
"Yeah! But they all died."
"What?"
"Come on Jay, the Americans lost at the Alamo. Yeah it was a cool fight, but they still died in the end."
"Oh, I didn't know that. Not such a good idea after all."
"Well, it's the only one we've got, here they come."
As the Endermen remove the last block from the wall to form an entrance, hundreds of Skeletons swarm through and take up positions in front of the barricade.
"Uh Jay, I think we may have bitten off more than we can chew this time. Thanks for trying to help me, but maybe you should leave now."
"What do you mean Nate?"
"It's me they are after Jay, you can't be hurt so maybe you should just leave before Herobrine changes his mind."
"I'm not leaving Nate, he's not going to win."
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I think twenty thousand Skeletons may beg to differ."
"Ah come on Nate, there's not twenty thousand Skeletons, there can't be more than, uh, five thousand," replies Jay, looking over the hoards of Skeletons still pouring into the arena.
"Oh, that's ok then, and I thought we were outnumbered there for a while. Lucky us."
"Sorry buddy."
"I know Jay, but you need to leave. When these guys attack it's over for you too if you are still here."
"I can't leave you Nate."
"You can't stay Jay. Now go."
As Jay starts to walk away from the wall, Herobrine makes his final announcement from the balcony above. "Finish him!"
In unison all the Skeletons raise their bows and aim at Nate. Instinctively he jumps behind the wall, which is what saves his life. As the Skeletons prepare to send a barrage of death over the wall they suddenly burst into flames. Hundreds of Skeletons simply cease to exist as liquid fire rains down on them from above.
"Yeeehaa Medousa, you go girl," screams Hailey at the top of her lungs, as they fly over the arena, dispensing fiery death onto the Skeletons below. Turning her head from side to side, Medousa makes short work of the Skeleton army and settles into the arena.
Jumping from Medousa's back, Hailey dashes to the makeshift barricade and climbs over.
"Hello boys, seems like I'm always bailing you two out of trouble."
"Hailey," shouts Jay as he dashes forward and embraces her.
"Steady on cowboy," laughs Hailey, as Jay swings her and hugs her tight.
"Nooooo," screams Herobrine from the balcony above. "My Skeleton army, what have you done
? "
"Medousa, you want to put an end to this?" asks Hailey.
Raising her enormous head, Medousa sprays a stream of liquid fire at Herobrine, hoping to incinerate him and put a finish to his tyranny.
"Stop," screams Jay. But it's already too late, the liquid fire hits the invisible wall and bounces back at the Players below. Throwing themselves over the wall, they manage to avoid the destruction with just a few small burns.
"You fools. You can not harm me. Your little lizard may have destroyed my Skeleton army but I can fight fire with fire. Ender Dragons!"
As the horns sound again the sky goes dark as dozens of black shapes fly across the sun.
"Oh boy, out of the firing pan and into the fire. Nate, you have to leave, we can't fight this. If I die you win and it's all over."
"I told you Nate, I'm not leaving you."
"You have to Jay, think of Hailey. If you stay we will all die."
"But, Nate.."
"No buts Jay, leave while you still can."
"Wait, please wait," screams Notch as he breaks free from the Iron Golems and throws himself over the balcony. Landing in a heap next to Nate, he moans as Nate places his sword against his throat.
"I should kill you right now."
"Nate wait, that's Notch," shouts Jay.
"Notch. THE NOTCH. The mad man who created this game. I'm definitely killing him."
"No wait, you don't understand," stammers Notch, not liking the whole sword against the throat thing. "It's Herobrine, he's mad, he created all this and plans to invade Earth."
"Invade Earth, how?"
"If Jay wins The Tournament, a portal will open to earth and the mob army will invade."
"OMG, how can we stop it?" asks Nate, horror stricken at the thought of the death that will ensue.
"The only way to stop the destruction of Earth is for you to win The Tournament Nate."
"But that means Jay has to die!"
"I'm sorry, there's no other way."
"Don't listen to him Nate, he's lying," shouts Hailey.
"Hailey, I'm so sorry that we left you here all this time. I know you don't trust me but you must believe me. This could mean the end of the world, your friends and family will all die."
"He's right Nate, that's why Herobrine tried to kill you and he protected me. It all makes sense now."
"You're not buying this rubbish are you Jay. This guy is the cause of all this, you can't believe him."
"I think he's telling the truth, he never would have wanted this."
"He's right Nate, I never wanted this. It was just supposed to be a game but it grew out of control. How was I to know that it would become the most popular game the world had ever seen and would morph into this abomination? No one could have known that this would happen."
"Uh guys, whatever we do we need to do it quick. I think the Dragons are coming."
Looking up, the sky is now almost black as hundreds of Ender Dragons circle above, preparing to dive on their prey.
"Your time is over Notch. How good of you to throw yourself into the game, right at the last moment. You always were weak willed. Victory is now mine, and mine alone. You will all perish together and I will lead the attack on Earth," laughs Herobrine from above.
"OMG, you're telling the truth," gasps Nate, removing his sword from Notch's throat and helping him to stand.
"Yes, I hate to do this but Jay must die before those Ender Dragons arrive or the world as we know it will end."
Fire erupts across the walls of the arena as the first of the Dragons makes a low level pass. Medousa raises her head and sprays the Dragon with flame, but it bounces off harmlessly. Looking skyward, a dozen more Dragons start their descent, bringers of fiery death, intent on their prey.
"Nooo," screams Hailey.
As they all turn to her, the last thing they see is Jay with his own sword at his throat. He smiles and says Goodbye.
BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...
The eleventh competitor has been eliminated. Jay Lightningbuilder has not proven worthy. The winner of The Masters of Minecraft Tournament is Nathan the Noob.
*****
13 - What Have I Done?
Waking with a start, Nate sits up on the living room floor and rubs his eyes. "Uh guys, what the heck just happened."
"Jay, Nate! OMG you're back." Running to his brother, Jack hugs him tight.
"Jack, you're alive," screams Jay with tears of joy streaming down his cheeks.
"Jay, Jay!" screams Nate and jumps into the huddle. "I can't believe you just did that, what were you thinking?"
"Did what?" asks Jack.
"Jay just killed himself so I could win The Tournament."
"You killed yourself? Are you mad. Hang on, you won The Tournament Nate?"
"Yeah, I guess I did."
"Dude, totally epic," replies Jack, giving him a high five.
"Well that brotherly love lasted about five seconds. Thanks Jack."
"Sorry Jay, you know I love you. So what happened after I, uh died."
"Yeah Jay, what were you thinking?"
"I had to Nate, there was no other way. You heard Herobrine, if you had died then the mob army would have invaded Earth and I could not take that chance."
"I know Jay, but how did you know you would be ok after killing yourself?"
"Uh, I didn't, but I had to take the chance."
"Wow, Herobrine, mob army, for real? You guys need to tell me everything."
"Sure Jack, hey, how long have you been back?"
"I don't know, maybe a few minutes or so, why, how much longer were you in Minecraft for after I died?"
"Days and days, but you only got home a few minutes before us."
"Yeah, Minecraft time sure is different."
*****
Waking on the floor of the server room Notch is aware that someone is shaking him roughly.
"Notch, Notch are you ok?"
"Uh, what. Steve, is that you?"
"You ok Notch? What the heck happened? One minute you're on your laptop then the next you're gone."
"Uh yeah, I think I'm ok. I don't know what happened, it's all a little blurry."
"Well we need to get you to the hospital. Who knows what that green goo has done to you."
"Noooo." With sudden horror, all the past days events come rushing back, almost overwhelming his senses. "Noooo, no, no." Dragging himself to his feet he grabs hold of the server covered in green goo and raises it above his head.
"Wait Notch, stop, what are you doing."
"I'm stopping myself from destroying the world," replies Notch bringing the server down on the floor and smashing it into pieces. Immediately it winds down and the lights go out. "I need to be stopped Steve. I can't control it anymore."
"Control what Notch," asks Steve worriedly, backing away from his old friend.
"Minecraft, I can't control Minecraft."
"Oh, is that all," replies Steve walking over to the main server board and reaching for the kill switch. "Don't worry Notch, if something has upset you that badly we can just turn it off and reboot it tomorrow."
"Nooo," screams Notch, throwing himself at Steve and wrestling him away from the server. "You can't turn it off, you can never turn it off, you understand?"
"Whatever you say Notch," stammers Steve, trying to free himself. "So if you don't want to turn it off, what do you want to do?"
"SELL IT, sell it all. I'm a danger to myself and everyone else."
"What? Sell it to who?"
"Microsoft - For the love of all that is holy, sell Minecraft to Microsoft!"
*****
Epilogue
"How are you feeling Nate?"
"Good Natasha. I still can't believe you tracked me down, this is awesome."
"Why dude, it's the internet age. All I had to do was look up your facebook profile, find your Skype address and voila, here we are."
"Yeah I guess, so any word from Hailey
or Jethro yet?"
"Nah, I've looked everywhere for Hailey but I just can't find her, and as for Jethro, where do you look for an old guy?"
"Wow girl, you're lucky he's not here to hear you say that," laughs Nate in reply.
"Yeah, guess I caught a break on that one. Oh, did you see the story on Jonny?"
"No, who's Jonny?"
"Ah Nate, you really need to keep up. Jonny, aka Warlord999, was all over the minecraft servers yesterday, claiming that he was sucked into minecraft and had to fight for his life in a tournament."
"No way!"
"Yes way. Well you can guess what the response was. He was laughed off every server that has ever mentioned minecraft and the last I heard he had been admitted into a mental hospital for tests."
"Ha, serves him right. How about any of the others?"
"Nah, all quiet. If they have any sense they will keep their mouths shut after what happened to Jonny."
"Hey Natasha, how's it going?" asks Jay, entering the room and leaning over Nate's shoulder.
"Jay, good to see to looking so healthy. Not planning on topping yourself again I hope."
"Ha ha Natasha. Any word on Hailey?"
"Sorry no. I was just telling Nate."
"Jay, Nate, get down here now," screams Jack from downstairs.
"Hold up Jack, I'm just on to Natasha."
"No guys, you really are going to want to see this."
Looking at each other the guys jump to their feet and dash from the room. Nate dashes back in and speaks to the screen. "Natasha, hold up, we will be back."
"I'll be back," giggles Natasha, watching Nate dash from the room again.
Arriving downstairs they find Jack with the door wide open, staring outside.
"Uh guys, did either of you call the feds?"
"What?"
Pilling in beside Jack they watch as the doors open in three black suburban's and a dozen dark suited men climb out. Surveying the area, they surround the center car and open the back door. A large man climbs out, adjusts his suit and strolls purposefully up to the door.
"Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance in the flesh," he smiles, holding out his hand.
