Who Lies in the End?

Ch 35: 5 "But if you need to, I'll listen."

art by: Jan George

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The evening sunset cast a warm hue into the secure meeting room. Plumes of smoke in the distance were the only visual reminder of the day's activities, and they could be seen clearly through the tall windows. Sapnap was pacing the length of the room, too energized to be bothered with sitting. Sam sat in one of the chairs, with his elbows on the dark oak table and lips pressed into his woven fingers. He was listening, for the most part, eyes set on the distant smoke plumes. George sat at the head of the table with his face pulled in concentration. He kept twirling a pencil through his fingers -the only sign of his nervous energy. BadBoyHalo stood beside George and he was the one doing most of the talking. Dream sat on the window sill, ocasionnly watching the smoke disappear into the clouds and occasionally sparing George his full attention.

"They already know about the egg, so they're bound to try again," George commented.

"Indeed," Sam agreed, "They may be stubborn, but they are strong. There's no telling when the next raid will be, but the village, nor the egg are safe if this turns into all-out war."

"I won't matter anyways," Sapnap paused in his pacing, "They already didn't believe George when we have it, they won't suddenly stop if we don't have it," he picked up his pace while he glared at the red carpet.

Bad nodded, "If that's the case, then it might be good for us to figure out how they knew we have it. Maybe then we could trick it?"

George's brown eyes rose to meet Deam, "Would you have any clue as to how?"

Dream tilted his head in thought, closing his eyes as he sifted through old memories, "The illagers are obsessed with dangerous magics. The last time I had invaded one of their woodland mansions, they only had old books on the End. Most of them were hearsay or speculation, but there was enough fact for someone to try something. Perhaps they made a sort of compass?"

Sam clenched his hands, "That would definitely cause problems."

"But a compass is easy to convince!" Bad added with a hopeful smile, "If we did return the dragon egg, then they would see that it's no longer in here!"

"But it would lead the illagers to the End," George muttered. He let out a defeated sigh as he threw his head against the back of his chair.

"Oh, right," Bad sunk into an empty chair.

"Guys, come on," Sapnap's tone was certain, but there was a pain in his eyes, "We knew we couldn't protect the dragon once it got into the End. Once it was returned, it would be out of our hands."

"We know," George closed his eyes, "I just wish that it wasn't in immediate danger once it got home. If the illagers get to the End, then that's it."

"To be fair," Dream paused as he thought on his words, "the End wasn't going to stay safe forever. The illagers were already searching for it when I found them. Through their research I found the portal. It was only a matter of time before it became common knowledge," he crossed his arms and dug his nails into his biceps, "Soon everyone will be able to go to the End."

Sam nodded his head, "Dream's right," when he opened his eyes, he gave everyone a sturdy look, "The End was going to become common ground eventually. Just look at the Nether. It used to be an unknown hellscape, but now it's just another loaction for resources and history."

There was a damning pause that fell over the room, and only George seemed brave enough to break it, "Return the egg to the End was supposed to protect it and the village," he mumbled.

"It'll be safe for a little while, right? The actual Ender Dragon will keep it safe until it hatches," Sapnap tried to be rational, but he sounded upset.