Acrylic Fields (Bk 2)

X. Lunar Battle

[POV: Xenelis; 1st person]

^-^

I rush through Boatem to Grian's house. I burst through his door without knocking, knowing that I'll find him in there. He jumps from the chests he's looking through, staring at me like he's seen a ghost. Well, he has. It's just that ghosts don't usually come back exactly how you remember them when they died.

The smaller Watcher rushes forward, enveloping me in the second hug of the night. I return it, slightly more sure of myself, before pulling away.

"Grian, there's a problem," I begin. "Herobrine is locked within this server. Matt has figured out a way to release him, which will destroy Minecraft as we know it. I need your help."

"I'm in," he replies. "What do you need?"

"I'm going to X's to get a few things. Get your weapons and armor together and meet me at the Boatem Hole in ten minutes."

"Wait, isn't X-"

"I'll see you in ten." With that, I launch myself into the air, exiting through the painting on his wall. I accelerate, the wind whipping through the hair that escaped my helmet. I touch down at Xisuma's base as quietly as I can, rushing to his front door. I collect myself, sneaking into his house as silently as I can. My name is pretty much the word 'silence' backward. I should be good at this.

The keyword is 'should'.

I crossed the front room to the opposite wall where I saw my swords hanging the first time I was there. I pull out the sheaths from the nearby enderchest, sliding each blade into its home and then clipping the weapons on. I turn to leave but footsteps sound behind me. I turn to see my brother staring at me from behind the pink mask.

The player looks confused, to say the least. He moves as if to say something, but I shush him and run out of the house. I leap into the air and fly away as fast as I can toward Boatem, noting that I will arrive approximately on time. My communicator buzzes as I touch down outside of the Nether portal.

<Xisuma> Does anyone know why a stormtrooper was in my base?

<Grian> Many questions on this server will never be answered

<Xisuma> Fair enough

Grian lands beside me a minute after the string of messages. I look him over, nodding with approval at the gear he managed to equip himself with.

"Do you have a breathing enchantment on your helmet?" I questioned.

"Yeah, always," Grian replies. "Where are we going?"

Instead of replying, I re-open the portal I used earlier, and the two of us stepped through. We emerged on the opposite side, our feet stirring up the dust on the moon's surface. Grian looked around, his breathing enchantment taking effect and forming an air pocket in front of his face. I breathe deeply through the vents on my helmet, searching for our adversary.

Matt stands across from us, still dressed as Evil Xisuma, my alter ego, but complete with a Watcher cloak. The red lights in his eyes flicker menacingly as he draws an obsidian sword. The edge of the blade glistens as if it is hungry for blood. The air around us glows in a surreal light, a result of the sun's rays reflecting across it.

The three of us face-off, weapons drawn. Silent messages pass through the air, carried by the smallest movement or breath. He shall not succeed nor shall he go without a fight. The enchantments ripple on our blades as we wait for the first move.

Matt bounds forward, cloak billowing behind him in the limited molecules gathered about the moon. I meet him, rediscovering my sword patterns for dual-wielding. He counters each of them, but Grian pressures him back. My flame appears, following the sword strokes of my left hand as we weave together in a deadly dance.