//------------------------------//
// 1: Swept Up [AJ's POV] 
// Story: Tirek's 5 Quests 
// by Short Stories 2 
//------------------------------//

	We honestly could be anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, we winded up here.

"I told you that you did the portal wrong!" Rainbow yelled at me. I scrunched up my nose in anger. "I reckon ya'll are the one who built this here portal while I was helpin' Apple Bloom with her homework!

Rainbow rolled her eyes and dodged a ghast's fireball. "Don't try to pin this on me, Applejack! It was your idea to do this!"

I flared mah nostrils, but tried not ta scream at her. "Let's just go back to the portal." I said. For some reason, Rainbow has been getting on mah nerves more than usual lately. Maybe it's cause I haven't got much sleep over the past week. 

Rainbow an' I were halfway to reachin' the sweet safety of our portal when the game froze. Rainbow sighed, an' I was close to buckin' her game out her window, when the game snapped back to attention. A huge, red, bull-like figure came down an' crushed our portal, sendin' the obsidian into the lava. The purple gateway ta safety broke under this creature's weight.

"What they hay is going on?" Rainbow asked. I had no words, for I was frozen with shock. The last time I played this game with her, this didn't happen. Then again, we never did ventured into the Nether. I was crossin my hooves, hopin' this was just a cool addition ta Minecraft.

Then, the bull creature started to speak. There was one problem, though. Rainbow had her game muted, but, we could hear the sound as if the volume had been turned up all the way! I shuddered. Rainbow was trying to act like it was no big deal, but, I could see the fear in her eyes.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN BANISH ME INTO THIS GAME?!" The creature boomed. It's voice sounded mighty familiar. I just couldn't put mah hoof on it.

Rainbow must've thought that as well. She came real close to the game, tryin' to get a good look at the beast. "You look familiar." Rainbow said. The beast roared in anger. 

"YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE ME?! I AM THE STRONGEST VILLAIN OUT THERE!" 

Rainbow an I froze and exchanged looks. I knew we were both thinkin' the same thing. Before either a' us could voice our concern, the beast started ta use some kind a' magic. A yellow cube showed between his horns.

"I AM TIREK!" He called. Magic swooped around Rainbow an' I. We were both quickly swept into the game.