//------------------------------// // 11. Hesitation, Determination // Story: SweetieMash Minecraft Adventures : Return of the Nightmare. // by CristalGalaxy //------------------------------// An awkward silence was taking place in the damp base. Diamond could hear some rain outside, above all the noise that the monsters were making. It was cold and she was hungry, thirsty and bored. "Hey... Wanna check through the chests and try things out on the crafting table?" suddenly asked Scootaloo, titling her head. "Sure" shrugged her friend. "What do you have in your inventory...?" "Uhhhh... A... bone is it...? I have no idea how I picked that up. But I also have some wooden planks and cobblestone. Oh and a wooden sword" declared Scootaloo after checking. "And I have some meat, a few seeds and... birch wood...?" frowned Diamond Tiara, placing everything on the floor. "There's some more meat plus an egg and bones in the chest" Scootaloo popped her head out of the double chest with a sigh. "Not much to go on..." A small cluck was heard from behind them and they turned to see that the chicken named Helper was innocently staring at them. "Awww! Ain't you cute!" cooed the orange pegasus. "I don't get what Button was arguing about when he talked about you!" But the chicken clucked again... Got closer... And suddenly jumped on her head, proceeding to try and grab the egg in her hoof. Scootaloo screamed and tried to get him off, but Helper was solidly anchored to her and was determined to get his egg back. "Chicken meets chicken..." muttered Diamond, simply turning her head the other way and pressing a hoof against her cheek, leaning on it as she stared out the opening in the door. The square moon was so bright... She could see stars up there and they seemed so real that it was hard to believe all that was a virtual world... Everything was shining so brightly. Was Luna's normal nights as pretty? She has never taken the time to properly admire the beauty of a world that seemed so far away now. "Fine, fine! Take your egg back!" scoffed Scootaloo, letting Helper go. "See if I care!" A giggle escaped Diamond's mouth as she saw the two face off. That chicken really was something. He really looked like he was smirking! They both turned her way upon hearing her chuckle and their identical confused and quite angry expressions just made Diamond burst into laughter. "You guys... The way you two are so similar! It's hilarious!" she held onto her stomach, rolling on the floor. Scootaloo shrugged with a small smile. But her smile froze as she saw something behind Diamond that seemed serious. "W- What?" the earth pony, still grinning turned to look through the cracks in the door, wiping tears. Although her smile faded away just like Scootaloo's when she saw three foals galloping towards them at full speed. They were terrorised. "Oh Celestia..." murmured Scootaloo as she examined them. Applebloom was being held by Button and could barely lift her hooves off the ground. She seemed exhausted. Button himself had nasty cuts and an arrow planted into his spine. He was heavily sweating and every muscle in his body was shaking. As for Rumble, he seemed desperate and was carrying a white package on his back. Something was leaking all over him... It was shining under the moonlight... "No..." Diamond brought her hoof to her mouth in horror. "... Blood?" Scootaloo's murmur answered her suspicions. Diamond shook her head violently, trying to rid herself of her paralysing fear and brutal descent back to the harsh reality. "We... We need to help them!" she uttered, slowly peeking out the door cracks. There wasn't anything near them... Perhaps if they went strait for them, there was a chance of... not dying...? Scootaloo gave a small nod and took a wary step forward. She seemed far away... So very far away... Diamond Tiara, grabbed her by the shoulders and stared right into her eyes, trying to focus and put in the same amount of intensity and determination that the pegasus had done for her, moments ago. "Stop. Forget about the danger. Concentrate on saving your friends!" her gaze tightened. "Our friends." "Yeah... Yeah sure..." Scootaloo nodded once more and suddenly jerked her head backwards, her eyes closing. She fell to the floor, unconscious. "No! You can't faint now! Come on stupid!" growled Diamond although there was some panic in her tone. This can't be happening! her breath became unsteady as she heard the sound of Button's distant screams. "Rumble! Do as I say Celestiadam it!" "N... No! I have to help you guys! I'll at least help Applebloom with her wounds!" Slap! "I said get back to the base! I'll take care of Applebloom myself! You just get Sweetie to safety! I don't have enough strength to protect her, but there's still hope for Apple!" "And who's gonna protect you?!" Diamond's head started to spin. She pressed her hooves on her ears and felt tears streaming down her face once again. Her heart was beating so fast... "Stop arguing... I don't want to do this anymore!" A loud explosion was heard from under her hooves. It was almost silent as all the noise was chocked out. "Button?! Button! Get up! No! Please! Get up Button!" The scream, even louder than the explosion made her freeze and her lower lip trembled. Something inside her, buried deep, snapped. They were all dying. And what the hell was she doing?! Being a filthy, filthy coward! She didn't deserve to be friends with anypony! It wasn't Diamond Tiara who slowly and steadily stood up. It wasn't her either who grabbed the sword in Scootaloo's hoof. It wasn't Diamond Tiara who opened the door and ran for her friends. She wasn't the one who sliced up the creeper that had just blown up a few inches away from the group, and heavily injured Button. No. Diamond Tiara was gone. A part of her had disappeared. She was just a simple diamond now. Just Diamond. As hard as a rock. Beautifully deadly. Never to be cracked again.