The Enderdragon's Baker (A Minecraft Story)

A Sleepy Homecoming

Endie's POV

"Anna!" I cheered. I ran over and scooped her up like she was a long lost doll. I expected to hear her laugh or playfully complain but she didn't make a sound. She just hummed a yes and hugged me tightly. Did something happen? Wait, why are there only three of them? "Hey, where's Creeps?"

"Notch is scolding her and Wither." Bones answered. "Iiiit's going to take a while." He chuckled, awkwardly.

"So the 'negotiation' didn't go well?" I asked. Not like any of us expected it would. It took all three of us to keep Creeps from storming up there alone and beating the hell out of Withe. Brine scoffed hard at that.

"Worse. They were seconds from a physical fight before Ann and Notch stopped them." He explained.

"Oh." I answered, softly. My grin on Anna tightened and I frowned.

"We should go back. You know Notch will be ticked if we leave him alone with them." Bones said. Brine nodded but came up to Anna and I. I was a little surprised when he patted both our heads and smiled. Especially since I've been pissed at him all week.

"Don't worry, you two. I'll take care of it this time."

He went back over to Bones and grabbed his shoulder, teleporting away. Silence came back to the house and I didn't plan on breaking it. I simply took a few steps back and fell back onto the couch, my arms still around Anna.

What am I supposed to say to this? I know she's feeling guilty already, and the fighting definitely didn't help that. She's smart enough to know that she most likely won't be able to see Withe again for a while, and from the little I heard and saw of them, she likes him already. The idea of her stepping between two hot-heads' fight is terrifying. Maybe I should have gone with them in the first place.

Sighing, I rested my head on their shoulder. What has she gotten herself into? What have I gotten her into? She was perfectly content with her little bakery on the edge of the city. Maybe I could have just set her down in a nicer city, I'm sure she would have just picked herself back up and started over. Now the End Boss has a thing for her, she's gotten kidnapped by the Nether one, and has had to stop fights between two people who could very easily kill her if things got out of hand.

I wanted her safe, but I'm starting to wonder if I just made things worse.

"Endie?" It immediately caught my attention and I looked down. Anna smiled at me weakly. "I missed you."

"... I swear I'm friends with a freaking puppy, there is no reason your as cute as you are." I complained and she giggled. "I missed you, too." Her frown came back and she plopped her head back on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry I helped this." Sighing deeply, I relaxed against the couch. Something tells me all of this is going to take a while.

"Don't apologize. If you left he would have taken you again anyway." I answered. "And their fight isn't your fault either. This has been a long time coming."

"I worried you all."
"You worry me constantly." I joked.
"You know what I mean."

"And you know what I mean. Your the only mortal of the group, we'll always be worried. Even if it's just being around Notch. As long as your okay in the end, we'll always get over it."

She went silent again after that. For a lot longer this time. I thought she was asleep and was about to take her to her room when she spoke up again. And I wasn't entirely wrong either, even her voice came off tired. I wonder how much she slept without me and Brine around to nag her.

"I won't be able to see Withe, will I?" I really wish she'd get safer friends.

"No, I don't think so. We'll all get over it but it might take a while before Creeps does. Maybe Brine too, seeing as it almost got him killed." She looked up at me with narrowed eyes and I snickered and looked away. "Don't give me that look, he didn't tell me you were gone for like, a week."

"Hmm... fine. Good point."

"Exactly." I huffed and saw her smile briefly. "You didn't sleep that much while you were there, did you?" She shook her head. "Nightmares?"

"'Visiting' my brothers just made them worse." She whined.

"You still need sleep, Anna."
"I know..."

I thought for a second before getting up and setting her down on the couch. Teleporting away real quick, I got a book and sat back down beside her. She scooted over to use my leg as a pillow and I smiled.

"I'll stay right here. Promise."
"Thank you."
"No problem. Goodnight, Anna."

~~~~~~

*Vvv!*

"Ugh..."

When did I fall asleep? The book over my eyes slipped away and I sat up, only to hear a slight groan and freeze. Oh yeah, Anna is back. I looked down to make sure she was still asleep and, sure enough, she was heavily asleep.

*Vvvv!*

Wait, where did my messenger go? I remember setting it on the couch when I texted Brine but it wasn't on the arm anymore. Eventually I found it on the floor and picked it up. It wasn't Brine texting me back or even Bones or Creeps, it was Wither. I glared at it. What does he want?

There were no prior messages on screen since I've never had to use his number, but there were two from him just now.

-I didn't tell them she was in on it.

-Let's keep that between us.

I just stared at it before smiling a little and thanking him. I still don't trust her with him, but maybe he isn't as bad as I remember.