Virus (A Minecraft Story)

Chapter 24

Loca's POV

I shot through the air like an arrow, just skimming the top of field, heading for the castle. Tash was flying similar to me, head forward and arms by her side, but instead of air she was propelled by twin jets of fire.

Lyta was down on the ground, being carried on a wave of water, leaving swamp wherever she went. Ana was surfing on a wave of grass, the ground rippling and twisting to move her just a little faster than the rest of us.

I couldn't see any outward signs of disturbance - I used big words, Ana would be so proud - but that normally didn't mean much here in the Overworld. Everywhere you went you had to have your sword in hand, ready to skewer anything that moved.

I swooped down to make a graceful landing just in front of the castle, but Ana was suddenly in my parking spot. I veered to avoid her, doing a faceplantus extremeus at fifty miles an hour into the ground.

I lifted my head, spat out a hill's worth of dirt and turned my head to glare at Ana. She winked at me. "Whoops." She hauled me to my feet, and as she did all the dirt rolled off my shoulders.

"You're still not forgiven." I told her seriously. She slipped her hand into mine, a small smile on her face. "How about now?" I pretended to think about it, even as I turned red and my hand tingled. "Sure, why not?" She nodded, then quickly released my hand and walked towards Lyta, who'd skidded to a halt and accidentally splashed the castle with a massive wave of water.

It hurt me whenever she did this; giving me a hug, holding my hand, before  shutting me out and running away. I didn't know why she did it, but it left me sad and empty every single time.

Tash landed next to us, and only then did I realise Dax wasn't with us. "Where's Sparky?" I asked, and Tash punched me in the shoulder. "Shut up. It's weird when you say it." "And why would that be?" Dax said, doing a surprise landing between us.

I jumped. "Jeez! Don't do that!" He poked his tongue out at me. "Why shouldn't I?" "Because," I said slowly, "When something jumps me my first instinct is to punch it, and I have control over the air, so..." He cringed at the thought. "Good point."

"C'mon, guys!" Lyta called, as Amber finally appeared, grass in her hair and a disgruntled look on her face. We jogged over to the castle, and Ana drew out her staff. "Be prepared." She told us, and threw open the door.

Hercules looked up from his plate of food, smiling at us. "Welcome back, guys! How'd the fight go?" Tash frowned. "I kicked his butt. Obviously. Now, what's up with Andre?"

"Did someone say my name?" A voice said, and Andre himself descended the stairs. His purple eyes scanned our faces, noted our weapons all aimed at him. He just smiled. "Nice to meet you. I'm guessing you're not so pleased to see me."

"Well, there's that minor detail of you trying to kill me!" Amber snapped. He smiled. "Yes, that was my ender side, its killing instincts combined with my Realmer brain and fighting skills. But, for now, I am in control of my ender side, and I can use it to my advantage."

"Is that so?" Amber said warily. He tilted his head, and suddenly he was gone. I started, then spun around to see Andre standing behind me, my pickaxes swinging in his hands.

"Nice modifications." He said appreciatively, holding them out to me. Lyta stared at him, taken aback. "You didn't even click your fingers. No sparkles, either. How could you do that?"

He grinned as I took back my pickaxes. "I trained with my friend Hercules for quite a while, and then I was trained even more when I was... ah, merged. My powers developed rapidly, until a single thought could send spears of shadows into my enemies."

He studied Lyta closely. "I may be only a few years older than you, but I Morphed earlier, had more time to train, to find the true extent of my powers. You are inexperienced, using your abilities for fighting, treating it like a sword or a bow."

He disappeared again, and reappeared with a sword in his hands. Lyta checked her sword sheath. "Hey!" He winked, tossing it back to her. "Like that little trick. I imagine what I want, focus on it, and it is in my hands."

She scowled as she put her sword back. "Alright, point taken. I don't trust you, but I guess we need your help." Hercules stood up. "Mine too. I can't teach you fighting; I'm a healer, not a warrior. But I can provide advice and potions."

I shrugged. "Good enough for me. Now, are the girls going to leave now, and can we throw a party, or are we going to sit around staring at each other?" Tash poked me in the gut. "Why so determined to get rid of me, Loca?" I poked her back. "You're just so annoying..."

She tapped her helmet, and it melted into a pair of gloves, which she slipped on. "Well, I just want to get you out of my hair. So, where's the provisions?" Hercules gestured to the floor above us. "It's all upstairs. Roran's in one of the beds, sleeping. Andre pulled the darkness out of his system."

He bumped his friend with his shoulder, and Andre hit him back. It was obvious the two friends were happy to be together again, and not murdering each other while in the same room. The girls started trooping up the stairs with Pigman and Enderboy, but not before Ana glanced at me and gave me a small smile.

Dax sidled up to me, nudging me in the ribs. "Ana and Loca, sitting in a tree..." I shook my head sadly. "You sound like Amber. And that's not a compliment."

"I heard that!" Came a muffled voice from upstairs, and I yelled back, "Sorry not sorry!" Then I turned back to Dax. "Did you want to say something?" He fiddled nervously with a piece of string he'd found.

"I'm just wondering if we should go with the girls. I'm a little worried about them, to be honest." It was my turn to nudge him. "More like a certain woman in particular..." He glared at me. "Shut up."

I kept teasing him. "If you miss her, just hug your dinner. The porkchop won't mind." He gave me a serious look. "Aren't you scared for them? Don't you worry that Virus'll be waiting for them?"

I nodded. "Of course I am. I don't want my friends to go, but I know that I'd get my ass handed to me. I've learnt not to interfere." Dax scratched his head. "Isn't that difficult?"

I looked up at the ceiling, where I could hear Tash yelling and Ana laughing hysterically, and sighed.

"You have no idea."

Yay. Guy POVs. Sorry if you guys wanted one earlier, but I'm a girl, and don't really know how a guy thinks or acts. It'd be kinda weird if I did...
Tash