Veil of Shadows

Chapter 39. The Tide Has Turned

For a long moment, Pro was stunned into silence. She knew many of Ranger's secrets - mostly because she wouldn't stop annoying the Ender Hybrid until Ranger told them. But this was new.

For a single selfish moment, Pro was hurt that Ranger hadn't told her. Hadn't trusted her with this secret. Then it cleared, and the horror of the revelation all came rushing back in a tidal wave.

Nobody moved. To their credit, nobody stepped away from Ranger. Wolf was the first to speak.

"Congratulations! Welcome to the oops-I-committed-genocide club!" She said cheerfully and clapped Ranger on the back.

Ranger had half a mind to turn and punch the Brine in the face, but knew that such an action at this point in time would probably end in her getting impaled, so she just rolled her eyes.

Predictably, the others in the group just stared at them, mouths agape in picturesque expressions of shock. Despite the situation, Pro had the insane urge to start laughing at the looks on their faces.

Blaze was no exception. She stared at Ranger for a while, then said quietly "Why did you never tell us about this? We could have helped you."

Ranger gave her a bitter smile and replied "Mass murderers trying to be heroes are generally frowned upon by the public. I think you can figure out the rest for yourself."

And really, there wasn't much Blaze could say to that, so she stayed quiet and let the silence consume the conversation. Toxic suddenly spoke up. "Hello. We have a visitor."

Ranger knew exactly who would be standing at the edge of the treeline as she turned around. Shadow stood there, his gaze fixed on the gates to Greenvale. He began to walk toward the group, and suddenly found himself staring down the blade of a rather sharp sword.

"And what exactly do you want?" Pro asked calmly, not dropping the sword point one inch.

"A few things, actually. First - I had heard stories about what happened to Greenvale, and wanted to know if it was true that Ranger destroyed it," he said. Shadow's eyes flicked to Ranger, and sadness was briefly visible in them. "Apparently, all the stories are true."

"Second - I wanted to try my luck at negotiation one last time. If I must overthrow Notch by force, I want as few casualties as possible. Should you join me, the people of Minecraftia will understand that my cause is worthy of a second thought." Shadow continued.

"Or they'll think you manipulated us." Wolf said mildly.

Genuine hurt crossed the rebel king's expression. "Do I seem like the manipulative type?"

"I don't think you want to hear my answer." Wolf muttered in reply.

Shadow ignored her. "Third - I wanted to relay my next military action." Though it killed a part of her to do it, Ranger gripped the hilt of a throwing knife, ready to send it straight through Shadow's throat if he made a wrong move.

"And what would that be?" Ranger asked, tensing just in case physical action was needed. But it didn't exactly work out the way she expected it to. When he answered, his words almost made her drop the knife in shock, and the entire group stared at him in stunned silence.

"I came to turn myself in." Shadow replied calmly.