The Edge of MINECRAFT (Being the Second Volume of the Minecraft Trilogy)

The Wither: Part I

Armstridge raised his hands in sincere surrender. Steve's smile broadened. He had done it. All around this wasteland, justice was really being served. And now, this evil ruler was at his mercy.

"You aren't going to kill us, are you?" Vance stammered.

"Of course not," Armstridge laughed nervously. Steve recognized it as a hidden plea for grace. "Steve will see clearly. He'll be fair."

"Like you were," Steve laughed harshly. Armstridge looked back up at him.

"I did what I had to!" he insisted. "I protected this land from disorder. We prospered! I did exactly what Lord Herobrine asked of me."

"Herobrine is evil," Steve pointed out.

"Evil is a point of view!" Armstridge scoffed. "Herobrine brought prosperity to Minecraft. His kingdom was the way. The meddling of his idiot brother destroyed the perfect order."

"You knew that idiot brother, didn't you?" Steve asked. Armstridge blanched. Steve continued, "You served him, didn't you? You were once a player, weren't you? You're bitter that you picked the wrong brother to go with, and now you're trying to make up for it. That's how you recount the origin of the blazes so well- you were there!"

Armstridge sighed. "Perhaps I was. Whatever the case, I didn't work hard enough. You've destroyed centuries of progress. Good work."

Steve whistled. Several pigmen ran into the room. They had followed him in and been told to wait for his signal. Now, they liberated the weapons from the guards.

"Call off your men," Steve ordered.

"Happy to oblige," Armstridge muttered sarcastically. He waved his hands. They came to rest on a stone hemisphere set on the arm of his throne. Suddenly, he applied pressure, and the stone sunk into the arm. A loud groan echoed through the palace.

"What was that?" Steve demanded.

All Armstridge said in reply was, "Whoops." Steve flinched as a crash followed.

"Stay here," he told the guards. They nodded, and he ran down the halls, desperately searching for what trap Armstridge had set. Steve had to slam on the brakes turning a corner. Several wither guards were locked in a fight with some pigmen. 

Steve could see their grappling hooks handing from a window. The battle still fiercely raged outside, though now many pigmen were scaling the walls. He could hear more fights breaking out around the fort. Their plan was working.

Peeking around the edge, Steve saw that the skeletons were winning. He had to do something. Steve ran around the corner, just in time to see Selena come around another corner!

The young blaze girl was dressed in light golden armor, with her dark hair pulled back in braids. Her fiery light burned blindingly bright, and she brandished a gold short sword. The skeletons looked back and forth, not sure what to do. Steve and Selena took advantage of this and both attacked. They drove their blades into the skeletons and quickly took them out.

Steve nodded to the pigmen, who grabbed their weapons and continued on. He then looked to Selena.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, letting his bewilderment show.

She pushed a braid away from her face and answered, "I'm doing the right thing. My people haven't been fair. It's time we change that."

Steve was silent for a while. "Wow," he breathed. "Good for you."

"Steve, I'm sorry," Selena sighed. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have done what I did."

"It's okay," Steve began to say before Selena pulled him into a kiss. Unfortunately, they were interrupted by a large clanking noise.