Mushroom Boy

Act I

GeorgeNotFound was scouring the desert for creepers when DreamXD showed up. George had just killed a creeper and was hastily collecting the gunpowder it had dropped when the deity flew in, his green cloak billowing in the desert breeze.

"DreamXD!"

"George!" DreamXD ran over to him. "Where's your armor?"

"My - Oh yeah! The netherite! It was wearing pretty thin and I didn't want to break it. I'll fix it when I get back home. I'll be fine in iron for now."

"What are you doing in the desert at night? It's dangerous out here with only iron armor," To emphasize his point, DreamXD turned around and punched the creeper sneaking up behind George. It died instantly, showering George with gunpowder.

He rubbed the grey dust out of his eyes. "I'm just collecting some gunpowder."

DreamXD put his hand on George's shoulder. "Do you need any help?"

George hesitated, then nodded yes. He had to be careful dealing with this psychotic god. DreamXD tended to get mad at George when he asked for too much. But DreamXD seemed to be in a good mood, and out of nowhere, he created more gunpowder than George might ever need, let alone be able to carry home. He threw some junk out of his inventory to make room. DreamXD picked up something that had fallen out of George's pocket.

"A mushroom?"

George blushed. "Yeah. I have a house made of mushrooms."

DreamXD brushed some gunpowder from George's hair. "Well, I'll see you later, mushroom boy."

And with that, he was gone.

George hadn't noticed anything at first, but a couple days after the encounter he found a small, white-capped mushroom hiding behind his left ear. He tried to remove it, but he couldn't pluck it out, and it seemed impervious to blades. It was tiny and inconspicuous, and if he covered it with his hair it disappeared, so he didn't worry too much. But soon there were more, on his shoulders, in his hair. White and red and beige, all different sizes. Then, as George was sitting on a forested cliff, staring at the prison, DreamXD showed up again.

"Mushroom boy!" DreamXD appeared out of nowhere.

George jumped."DreamXD?"

DreamXD looked him over. "I see you fixed your armor." He gestured to George's netherite helmet. George wore armor everywhere now to hide the mushrooms, and because people tended to leave a player in full netherite alone.

DreamXD crouched down next to George. "I'm sorry it's been a while. Have I missed anything?"

George sighed. "Not much. Just..." He stopped. Did he really want to tell DreamXD about this?

But DreamXD had heard. "What is it?" 

George pulled off his helmet. A dozen mushrooms sprang up, not even bruised by the weight of the heavy netherite armor. George shrank a bit as DreamXD leaned in to get a better look. "They're good armor," George explained, "but they get in the way  of everything else."

DreamXD bristled. The sky darkened dangerously. George rose to his feet and backed away slowly. "DreamXD?" George was used to DreamXD's mood swings, but couldn't imagine what had brought on this one.

"You don't... like the mushrooms?" DreamXD  growled. George turned to run, but a lightning strike lit the forest behind him on fire, blocking his exit. DreamXD's voice rose to a roar. "YOU DON'T LIKE MY MUSHROOMS?"

George panicked, almost falling off the cliff to escape the fire. "No!" he shouted, hoping to appease the raging deity. "No, I like them! They're fine!"

DreamXD calmed. The thunder turned to rain, putting out the fire. George attempted to run through the charred forest, but DreamXD caught him, trapping him in a hug. "I knew you'd like them," DreamXD sighed. George shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. It's fine, he thought, though he could already feel the invincible mushrooms spreading to his back.