End

Chapter 11

At their first step, Steph nearly died. Again.

They took a step, and Steph almost took another if it weren't for End, who grabbed her head as she nearly fell into a pool of lava.

"Agh, your pinching my head, if that's possible." Steph said.

"Would you rather have a headache, or die a fiery death in lava?" End said, putting her back on the stone, but not letting go.

"Lava," Steph muttered.

"Well okay then!" End said, swinging her over the lava again.

"AGH! Let go!" Steph kicked her feet, that were inches over the lava.

"All right!" End said as he snickered.

"NOT HERE!"

"Okay, okay, fine, but you need to make up your mind." End laughed as he set her on the stone.

"So, how do we get over this lava?"

"Oh, derp!" said End, smacking a hand against his forehead.

"What?"

End grabbed her hand, and teleported to the other side.

"Oh."

"Yeah, sometimes I'm not the brightest glowstone in the cluster."

"Sometimes? More like never," Steph joked.

"Like your one to talk Steph."

"Ouch," Steph chuckled, but stayed quiet afterwards.

They explored the mineshaft, and the Stronghold for awhile, stopping at the portal room.

"My ancestors came from here... my kind." End said, gazing at the portal, a faraway look in his emotionless eyes.

Steph felt bad for End. His brethren hated him, and End hated them back, but he still, deep down, wanted them to be peaceful, and did not want his race to die out. But they must do what is right.

"Alright, let's start mining. " Steph said, wanting to tear End away from any sad memories.

End nodded, and they got to work, once again. They cleared out their second mineshaft, and no water sphere. This discouraged Steph slightly, but they have to find it, for the race of Endermen and humans.

End teleported them to another mineshaft, so far away he passed out for a whole 10 minutes, so they decided to sleep then. When Steph woke the next morning, they began mining once again.

Steph was so sore and tired from mining all the time and all day long, she almost missed the large room she had revealed with her pick, and when she did, she cried out in joy.

End turned and bolted over to look inside. As she removed a third block, tears sprung in Steph's eyes as relief swept through her. The mining is over.... all over!

"Wow, it looks like it really is real," said End, gazing around.

Steph let out a laughing sob, wiping he eyes. The room was as large as End had said, 10x10x15, lava completely covering the floor, and a platform of obsidian with a sphere of foamy water on it.

"Why are you crying?" said End, looking at her.

"The relief of the mining, it's finally over. My hands are blistered, my arms are sore, my eyes are tired of looking at stone all day. "

"You are relieved of the pain of mining? Steph, you have to toughen up, we are going to be battling hundreds of Endermen, and you are sore from a few blisters and aching muscles?" End replied in a gruff voice.

Over all Steph's previous joy and excitement wore out,and a worm of fear started to rise in the pit of her stomach as she processed what End had just stated.