Writing Shorts

When Darkness Falls (1)

Sort of a headcanon-ish thing for MCSM that may draw from other non-Minecraft things.

"Everyone, go, go, go!!  We need to leave!"

The town was being evacuated, as monsters began to break through the defenses.

"This town is lost!" declared Gabriel, who helped lead the force of defenders.  "Evacuate the citizens!"

Soldiers rushed from door to door as quickly as they could, evacuating everyone who still remained hidden, all while on the alert for oncoming zombies, skeletons, creepers, Ghasts, or Blazes.

Steve peeked through the window of his own house, watching monsters begin to advance into town.  But the fact that monsters were all over town wreaking havoc was bothering him....

Monsters don't do that.

Steve knew something was wrong.  The way they were so... organized.

Coordinated.

"He's here..." he muttered softly.

"What?"

Steve's wife joined him.  Yes... Steve was a husband, and a father of two.  

"We're in grave danger," said Steve.  "More than Gabriel thinks we are.  I have to stop this."

"Honey, no!" cried his wife.  "Even if you are capable, you're going to die!"

"I have to do this," said Steve grimly.  "Just get the kids to safety."

They heard knocks at the door.  "Steve?  The town is evacuating!" said Gabriel from the other side.  "You have to leave now if you want to survive!"

The family greeted Gabriel the Warrior at the door.  Steve, his wife, and their two kids--a boy and a girl, both with vibrant green eyes.  In the boy's hands was a small baby pig, the family pet.

"Take my family," said Steve.  "I have to collect some things before I can join you."

"Sir, if you and your family want to get out of this alive, I suggest you leave with them now," said Gabriel firmly.

Steve met the navy-armored warrior's gaze.  "I'll catch up," he said simply.  "I still have to take care of something."

"All right," said Gabriel.  "But if you want to survive, I suggest you do not take your time."  With that, he directed Steve's wife and children, along with the piglet, to where the rest of the townspeople were regrouping: at a safe building on the outskirts of town.  With monsters scattered throughout the town, this would not be an easy run.

Steve himself headed back into his house to grab his "thing" that he needed: an enchanted diamond sword.

I think I can stop this... it's my destiny, he thought.

Only his wife was aware of a secret he guarded heavily with his sword and his life: he was an Elemental, a human gifted with an ancient elemental power, though this was a status commonly kept secret to nearly all.  

Of course, most Elementals (if there were any these days) mainly focused on one power... Steve was different.  

He mastered all.  Fire, ice, earth, electricity, wind, water, nature... even some powers that none had ever spoken or dreamed of.

But most of all, he held an arcane power.  An energy that embodied the universe.  An energy that only he, and the being he believed was behind this, wielded to the utmost perfection.

Humans called it Aether.

He believed this was the key to trying to stop this madness.

With his sword, he fought his way through the many hordes of zombies, skeletons, spiders, creepers, Ghasts, or Blazes... or any combination.

At one point, he bumped into another family... a mother and daughter, both with auburn-red hair.  The mother wore a green shirt and brown pants, while the little girl had on a blue bandanna and a blue shirt.

"Steve!?" exclaimed the mother.  "What are you doing here?"

"Move," growled Steve, pushing past both of them before they could react, and leaving them to continue their escape. 

All that mattered now was stopping the thing that was behind the monster invasion.

"Spread the darkness!  No man can stand against our might!!"

Steve heard that voice, and recognized it, and that voice confirmed his suspicions.  And he found the source of the voice, right in the town plaza... 

Strangely, this man looked just like him... 

"I am no man," Steve said boldly.  "Face me, demon!"

The man turned around to face Steve.  He did look exactly like Steve, though with one exception: where Steve's eyes were blue, his were blank and white.  And they seemed to glow in the dim light.

"It's you," said the demon.  "Steven, the Great Elemental, the one who believes he can bring in a new age of peace!"

Steve readied his diamond sword.  "I only wish to defeat you, Herobrine."

"With... with that?" asked Herobrine, gesturing to Steve's sword and on the verge of laughing.  "You know what I am capable of, right?"

"I think so," replied Steve indifferently.

Herobrine let out a chilling laugh.  "Hah, be like that," he growled, a diamond sword appearing in his own hand.  "I'll play your way... and defeat you your way to show you pure humiliation!"

...

"Come on, come on, we can make it!" Steve's wife urged her two kids.  She held the girl's hand tightly, while the boy clutched the squealing piglet in his arms, lagging behind.

They almost made it to the building where the townspeople would gather to hide when a creeper appeared out of nowhere.  With a hiss, it exploded, sending the family flying off their feet.  

The little girl wailed.  The boy was silent, but in pain.

The mother managed to pick herself up, and grabbed her daughter's arm, pulling her to her feet and rushing toward the safe building.  Her son was forgotten, as was the piglet, who surprisingly survived unscathed.

The little pig trudged up to the fallen boy.  He sniffed him briefly, before giving him a little nudge.  

Finally, to the piglet's relief, the boy began to stir.  As he regained consciousness, his eyes began to open.

"Oh... thanks, Reuben," muttered little Jesse as he slowly began to stand up.

To be continued...