//------------------------------// // 13. The Nether // Story: SweetieMashMinecraftAdventures YAY! // by CristalGalaxy //------------------------------// "Soooo... Ready?" carefully asked Sweetie Belle. Button took a determined face. "Yeah... Let's do this!" "Just... be careful okay?" "Same for you..." murmured Button, taking a step forward towards the glowing portal. A few purple particles were coming out of it and were floating around the two friends. An obsidian contour was wrapping it all in. Button gave Sweetie Belle a shaky smile. He was in fact terrified. They had come to the conclusion that going to the nether would be a must if they wanted to survive. And the underworld was the most dangerous place he had ever encountered. Lava, ghasts and blazes - not mentioning the wither skeletons - just about made something deadly and scary. Oh and the mods. Especially when you had a bold and cute filly by your side. "Go!" Sweetie was the first to jump, soon followed by Button that already had his bow in hoof just in case. He had also asked the white filly to have cobblestone out to cover their precious portal. A burning sensation similar to the one they had felt by being transported into minecraft crept over Button, making him grit his teeth in pain. His vision became blurry for a short amount of time and the world became purple. Button closed his eyes to open them again a few seconds later and discovering their new surroundings. Flames and lava everywhere. Red netherack also. Button's eyes widened in amazement at the dangerously stunning view he had on top of a cliff. But the peace didn't last long. An explosion surprised him and he jumped back. Sweetie Belle was already constructing a wall of cobblestone around their portal, not bothering about her surroundings. Button blushed at his incapacity and quickly looked up to see the scariest thing ever. Ghasts were actually huge when you were in the game. A wave of panic over came him as the monster fired another ball of fire at the colt. Button pushed back his fear. It's for Sweetie Belle... I've gotta get her out of here safe! He swapped his bow for his sword and waited for the right moment, not moving and watching the fireball approach him. He heard a cry behind him. "Button!" Then, when it was about to hit him, Button pushed it back with all his strength and it silently went back to it's master, blowing up in his face. Button fired two arrows with his enchanted bow - flame II - and killed the gigantic thing that popped out of existence, leaving only a few tears behind. Sweetie Belle stared in awe. He's so amazing! The way he faced that fireball! And he was so calm! I wish I was more like him... Her smiled then vanished. What am I saying...? What's happening to me...? Is this... Is this... She directed her gaze towards Button who was scanning the skies - or ceiling in this case. She saw his determination and kindness. She saw his bravery, everything she had never seen in him before. Before the glitch. Before all that. Who had always been there for her? Who had always stood up for her? Who had always accompanied her? Button. "I love him..." she murmured. It hit her hard like a revelation. She just wanted to run to him and take him in her arms, explaining her feelings. But she didn't. He probably didn't love her back and... it would be awkward to tell him she had fallen in love just because he protected her in a game. "Great job! You're really a good builder!" smiled Button, "Thanks..." his compliment made her blush even more than the usual. "Okay, let's get to safety!" declared Button, seeing a few other ghasts approaching. "Sure! Even made a door!" proudly chirped the white filly, hopping down from the cube she had created around the portal. Button smiled which made her heart beat increase. What am I doing... "Careful... Careful...!" murmured Button, crouching down and focusing on the blaze. "He should fire at me if I come out first, so I'll be the bait! Then you just hop out and attack him!" said Sweetie Belle, scared that Button would get hurt if he went first. But still... What am I, his mother? "But-!" tried to deny Button. "No arguing with a mare. And you're a better shooter than me! Now... onwards!" fake conviction ringed in her mouth as she quickly went pass the blaze. It immediately started to fire. Button didn't wait and threw arrows at the thing. A little blood came out of it before it exploded. "Ewwww!" cringed Sweetie Belle, coming back. "Now that is a disgusting and unnecessary mod!" "Agreed!" replied Button. "But I think we went through the whole dungeon. Don't you think it's time to go back? We got everything that wasn't findable in the normal minecraft world!" "Good idea! About time we got out of here too... These mods are really starting to add up!" "I still wonder who it was..." murmured Button as they exited the nether dungeon. "That will only be answered when we get back..." answered Sweetie Belle gloomily. She didn't say the next sentence that they were both thinking. If we come back... "Weird how we've only been in this game for a week and two days, and it feels like so much has happened!" smiled Sweetie Belle as she hopped towards their house. "I know right? So many problems... So many moments of happiness too!" added Button as he cleared his pockets into the chest. "Yeah! We certainly changed..." she sighted as she petted Helper's head before looking out their window. She looked pass their portal, pass the peaceful animals and blocky trees... It's so surreal... I can't believe- Sweetie's eyes widened. Her breath became unsteady. No... No... It... Am I dreaming?! She rubbed her eyes and focused. They have to be animals! They couldn't be... But she was wrong. Out there, pretty far away were the figures of moving ponies. And not just the ones in minecraft. Players!