//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Second Meeting // Story: The Lost Crafter // by Jeffrey1000 //------------------------------// Steve gazed in awe as him and the dragon flew high above the lands. He looked at the sunset behind him. Truly a perfect image. He smiled as they flew near the clouds. Steve held his arms out like a bird, just enjoying the view. Unfortunately, reality set in and he remembered that he was still going somewhere with a complete stranger. He looked up at her. “Hey, uh, miss. Thanks for saving my I guess, but, uh, where the Nether are we going?” “My cave.” She said. “Oh.” Steve said. “Why do you intend on bringing me there?” “So I can heal you. You have sustained several injuries, but I can treat them.” She explained. “Okay.” Steve said. “We’re almost there.” She informed him. The two began descending on a cliff side. There appeared to be a hole in the bottom that Steve assumed was her home. He was right, and before she landed she gently put him down. Then, she landed, too. “Thanks.” Steve said. “No problem. It’s the least I could do.” She told him. “Wait.” Steve said, holding a hand up. “What do you mean it’s the ‘least you could do?’” “Uh,” she said, “I, uh saw you in trouble so I thought the least I could do was-.” Steve cut her off. “Listen, I don’t know you, but I’d be an idiot to not know you are lying. So cut the crap.” He told her. “I suppose I should tell you.” She sighed. “Steve I-.” “You know, you look pretty familiar. Do I know you?” He asked. “Well you see that’s the thing. You do-.” “Wait, are you the Ender Dragon?” Steve guessed. She raised a claw to her face. “Yes I am the-.” He cut her off for a third time. “Wow.” Steve said. “That’s cool and all, but at the same time that’s kinda freaky. I’ve got a whole lot of questions.” “I suppose you do. It’s getting late, you should probably-.” “I’ve got time.” He said. “Honestly I prefer the dark.” She looked at him as if she was about to argue, but then just sighed. “Fine. What do you want to know.” “Three things. One: how did you get here? Two: why aren’t you attacking me? Three: do you have another name I can call you other than the Ender Dragon?” “Well, I got here because Notch sent me. He wanted me to-.” “Wait. Notch as in the God of Minecraftia Notch?” “Yes. He wanted me to warn you about a growing threat.” “And this threat is?” “Herobrine has made it into this world, somehow.” “Herobrine? I thought he was a myth.” “He wasn’t. In fact he was the one who cursed me to attack you back home. When you ‘killed’ me, I was freed from the curse. Then, for some reason, you brought me back to life. Can I ask, and I want you to be completely honest, why did you do that?” Steve sighed. “I wanted better enchantments. Since you dropped a lot of experience, I figured if I killed you again I could get more. If I had known you were being held there against your will, I wouldn’t have done it.” “It’s okay. That action is one of the reasons I’m here. If you hadn’t have wanted more experience, you might not have brought me back to life. That’s what I meant when I said it’s the least I could do.” “Oh. Well, sorry, thank you, and you’re welcome.” “What?” She asked confused. “Sorry for treating you like another monster and not a living, breathing organism being held like a prisoner, thank you for accepting my apology, and you’re welcome for bringing you back to life, uh, what’s your name?” She sighed. “Jean.” She said quietly, out of embarrassment. “John?” He asked, a grin growing on his face. “Jean.” She repeated a little bit louder. “Bean?” He asked again, barely being able to contain his laughter. “Jean!” She yelled at him. She was too busy looking away, that she didn’t notice his huge smile. He broke down into laughter and fell onto his back. “You heard me the first time, didn’t you?” “Yeah.” He said wheezing at that point. “I was just fucking with you.” “You know, I probably should have just left you.” She said laughing as well. “But Jean, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. My name is Steve and I slayed a dragon and saved the world. You are a huge, scary dragon. Take pride in your name. Make it so when people think of Jean they think of you, and not that old lady down the road. I take pride in my name. What did people know Steve as? ‘That one guy from that one Queen song.’ It was a good song and all, but still, Steve isn’t exactly a scary name.” “I guess you’re right, but two questions. What song was your name in? And who is Queen?” “You don’t know who Queen is?” Jean shook her head. “Remember I was cursed a long time ago.” “Yeah, but Queen is pretty old. Their lead singer died before I was even born, and I’m 27 years old.” He said. “How long ago were you cursed?” “I don’t know. I couldn’t keep track of time because it was all just a big blank void with an island inhabited by endermen.” “Well, you don’t need to remind me what the End looks like.” He told her. “What’s something you remember from the overworld?” “Well,” she started. The dragon paused for a second to think. She brought a claw up to her chin, “I remember the bright green grass and leaves. Are they still like that?” “Oh, so you were cursed somewhere between the beginning of time and now. That narrows it down a lot.” Steve joked. She glared at him. “Anything else?” He asked. “Damn it.” She whispered under her breath. “Oh! Zombies used to drop feathers! Surely that’s changed, right?” Steve’s jaw dropped. “What? Was it something I said?” “Jean! You were cursed over a thousand years ago!” “A thousand years!” Jean said. “Wait, how long ago is a thousand years?” “A thousand years.” Steve stated. She glared at him again causing him to laugh. “But in all seriousness, that’s pretty long ago. Especially considering Minecraftia has only existed for a little bit over that. You were cursed pretty damn close to the beginning of time.” “Wow.” Was all she could say. “How much has the world changed?” “Too much for me to talk about.” Steve told her. “Right.” She said getting back on topic. “Who is Queen?” “Queen was a band consisting a four people one lead singer, an electric guitarist, a bass guitarist, and a drummer. They made many amazing songs and were well known throughout the lands.” “To be honest, most of that went over my head, because I have no idea what a guitar or a drum is.” “Oh. I think I can make a guitar. Unfortunately, I never wrote it down in my crafting book, but I might remember how to make it. My friend Mitch taught me. Do you have any string? I just need two pieces. I also need two pieces of leather.” “I might. Notch told me to bring some supplies to help you, so I might have some strings and leather.” “Thanks.” Steve said. “Here!” She exclaimed. “Also, I forgot to help heal you. Here, have a healing potion.” “Oh, thanks.” Steve said. He chugged the whole thing down, and started regenerating the damage he took. “Also, here’s the string and leather.” She handed it to Steve and he got to work on a guitar. First, he needed a crafting table, which he could make using the wood he had on him. Next he needed to remember the materials he needed. Two string, and five planks. Now he just needed to remember how to arrange it. He shifted it a couple times before a guitar finally came up. Next thing he needed to do was make a strap, which is what he needed the leather for. He arranged the leather with the guitar in the crafting table. “Got it!” He exclaimed. He put the strap on and held the guitar at a small angle. “If I recall, this is how to play ‘Another One Bites the Dust,’ which was the song that had my name in it.” He played a note and then repeated it twice before taking a short pause. He repeated the notes three more times before jumping to a higher note, coming back down, then jumping up even higher. He repeated the sequence four times before he began to sing. “Ooh. Let’s go! Steve walks wearily down the street with the brim pulled way down low.” “Trust me, it would sound a lot better if I had a bass.” Steve told her. “Yeah, but it still sounded amazing.” She responded. “Anyways, I should probably head home now.” Steve said. “I can help you get home.” She told him. “Don’t you think it’s a little early for that? I mean, we just met.” He joked. She looked at him confused for a second, before realizing what he was saying. “That’s not what I meant.” She said, a blush appeared on her face. “And besides this is technically our second meeting.” “Yeah, I guess you’re right, but if you want to, you can come.” “Alright.” She said. The duo began to walk, to walk out into the night. A few minutes in, they heard what sounded like a twig snap, followed by hoofsteps that sounded as if they were getting closer. Steve looked at Jean and put his finger over his mouth to signify they needed to stay quiet. She nodded in understanding. They both looked around, trying to find the source. They were able to overhear what sounded like ponies. “Sir, with all due respect, this is pointless. I can hardly see anything out here. There’s no way we’ll find the creature.” Corporal Eagle said. “You’re probably right. We should probably meet up with the thestral squad and decide what to do next. They should be in this area about now.” Captain Armor said. Steve looked in horror at the guards. Around twenty of them were there along with the Captain, Sargent, and Corporal. Princess Moonbutt was nowhere to be found. “It’s 2200, so, if they stuck to the plan they should be around that way,” the Sargent said pointing in a direction, “and they said they’d be moving down that way, so if we keep this pace we can rendezvous by heading that way. We will meet them most likely on the side of a mountain. ” Steve’s mouth hung agape. The Sargent had pointed right in the direction of his shelter. That meant his the mountain was probably the one he was living in. The guards went by the two, without noticing them. When Steve was sure they couldn’t hear him, he looked right at Jean and said two words. “Oh, shit.”