MINECRAFT: Enders

Chapter Ten - The Stronghold

The walk seemed long and boring without Judo by their side, but they managed to reach the base of Ender Peak. The Entrance to the Stronghold was a deep, dark tunnel, lit by lavender colored torches and lanterns and built with Stone Bricks, Quartz, and a weird purple Pillar Block Alex had never seen before. If it wasn't so scary, Alex would've called the place enchanting, beautiful even.

"Well, this is where we leave our horses," Steve said as he jumped down from Alto's back and walked up to a Birch fence post just outside and wrapped Alto's lead around it. He then looked up at Alex who hadn't moved from Sooty in the slightest. "Do you want to walk Maribel?"

Alex finally looked over at the Mule and nodded. She climbed down from Sooty and tied his lead up with Alto's, then she took Maribel's lead from Steve's hand as he offered it to her. Steve then turned around and looked at Poet.

"You should stay here with the horses, I don't know how dangerous it'll be for a Skeleton in there," Steve explained.

Alex sat down on the ground in front of the Entrance and set her chin in her hands. This adventure seemed so dull without Judo, which was odd to her. She thought that once she reached the Stronghold, she'd be overcome with excitement that she was one step closer to being a Hero of the World... but without Judo? It seemed like nothing could be done without him by her side.

Then, she felt a nose sniff her face, and then a wet tongue licking her cheek.

"Judo!" Alex exclaimed upon turning and seeing Judo right next to her. His tail wagged and he jumped into Alex's lap for a hug. "How did you get here so fast?"

Judo tilted his head. Silly question for Alex to ask, Judo wouldn't be able to answer it.

"Judo, you're okay!" Steve said.

Alex gave Judo a big hug. Poet walked up behind Steve and smiled in his own Skeleton way.

"Alright, now let's go get that Dragon!" Alex said as she set Judo down and stood up.

"Are you crazy?" Steve remarked, stopping her in her tracks. "We just found out that he's alive, and you want to put him in danger again?"

"Steve, we're going after the Ender Dragon--we need all the power we can get!" Alex said. "Judo is small, much smaller than us and the Dragon, he'll be able to hide better. He also went after that Enderman just fine, he's not even hurt."

"I'm surprised because he literally jumped into that Enderman's mouth!" retorted Steve. "But I still don't think it's a good idea, I don't even want Poet going with us because it's going to be really dangerous."

"Steve, you said once that it probably isn't a good idea to let me go with you to slay the Dragon," Alex explained. "But even after saying that, I convinced you that I was worth the chance--I even helped you escape the Pillagers. Judo helped us find a path down from the cliff in the Jungle, and Poet gave us things that were once valuable to him. They are just as much Heroes as you and I are."

Steve thought about this, stunned by Alex's determination.

"I came to save my Dad, and made friends along the way. They would have never joined us if they didn't accept the risks we're taking to free the whole World of the Dragon's Rule," Alex continued on. "We go in as a team, we are and always will be stronger that way."

Steve had to admit to himself that her words were noble, much like he wanted to be, so he nodded and Alex smiled. They then turned back to the Entrance, spotting an Anvil, Crafting Table, Furnace, and even a Brewing Stand not too far inside.

"Do we have anything we can use with the Anvil?" Steve asked, but Alex was already a step ahead of him, grabbing the Enchantment Book she snagged from the Pillagers. She set it on top of the Anvil, and then proceeded to grab the Leather Bundle containing the Diamonds she got from Poet. She crafted Steve a divine Diamond Sword, then proceeded to enchant it with the Book, granting it with Fire Aspect II. She gave it to Steve, along with a pair of Feather Falling Boots while putting on a pair of her own, then she turned back to the Crafting Table.