//------------------------------// // 12. Awaken // Story: SweetieMash Minecraft Adventures : Return of the Nightmare. // by CristalGalaxy //------------------------------// So... dark... I feel really numb! I can't move my body... Where am I? Did Rumble and the others get to safety? Sweetie Belle groaned as she flicked her ears, trying to push the horrible buzzing sound away. Some muffled voices were saying things but she couldn't make out who was talking. She tried lifting a hoof, but decided that was probably a bad idea as she didn't even feel like opening her mouth. I'm gonna have to open my eyes though... Sweetie carefully lifted one eyelid, and when she realised nothing was going to jump out at her, opened the other eye. Several heads immediately popped up, taking all her vision although it was still quite blurry. A small rush of panic ran through her and she instinctively shut her eyes once more, wanting to push all the attention away. A hoof ran through her mane, gently stroking it and carefully appeasing her. The touch was familiar... "B... Buuu... Button?" murmured Sweetie, finally feeling safe. A voice was heard. But she still couldn't make out what it was saying. So with a content smile and a happy sigh, she fell back into a deep slumber, protected by nightmares. "She's asleep guys." Button came back up from the underground chamber they had dug out in a hurry to place Sweetie Belle someplace safe. A few relieved sighs were heard and the foals finally relaxed a little, glad that their friend was now out of danger. "Thank Celestia for that!" nervously laughed Applebloom, letting all her stress out. "That gal's always gettin' herself in trouble, even when we're in the... normal world!" "Don't forget you have injuries as well..." muttered Scootaloo, opening the chest and fiddling around to pop back out with some meat in hoof. "Eat this." Applebloom smiled and gladly took it from her, eagerly munching on it. Button let himself slump to the ground. Now that fear and determination were washing away, he could feel all his aching muscles from pushing himself to the limits and winced when some blood trickled down his back. Dam... Those skeletons really didn't miss me did they? The foal tried to take a deep breath, not wanting to make the others panic. He still had four hearts left. He was safe. His gaze left Scootaloo and Applebloom, wandering onto the two ponies who hadn't said a word ever since Sweetie had fallen unconscious. Rumble wasn't even looking at them, his back turned the other way. His shoulders were slightly shaking and from where he was ; Button could see some tears shining in the dim light that the torch gave out. Then he turned his attention to Diamond and saw she seemed calm at least. She was staring at something through the door cracks, her neutral face illuminated by the moonlight. For the first time, Button saw her as a pony with feelings and emotions instead of a bratty little filly who only cared about her mane and how much money her father would give her. Her badly cut mane was also adding quite a nice touch to the overall transformation. Button glanced at Scootaloo and Applebloom who were still happily chatting - about girl stuff probably. I'll go get some food later, better not to interrupt them. I bet tomorrow won't be as joyful... Rumble was still somepony he didn't want to talk to... for now... So he gritted his teeth as he decided to join Diamond. He barely made it there, toppling over a little when he sat next to her. His rump landed quite heavily with an embarrassing 'bwoof!' on the soft grass. "Hey..." he tried a smile and tried to ignore Diamond's puffed up cheeks. "H... Hey!" Her giggle died down as she saw the critical injury he had. "Your back! Is that an arrow planted in-mmuffnn!" She was interrupted by Button's hoof in her mouth. "I don't want to disturb their little moment of joy over there..." he flicked his tail towards the two friends. "Oh... How many hearts you got?" "Three point five... Thanks to you." Diamond cast him a surprised look. "Huh...? Me?!" "Yeah, well I don't know where you got all those skills with a bow, but you were doing pretty good! I had no idea you had that in you! How you stormed out the base like that was actually pretty cool..." Button softly laughed. "You know," he playfully hoofbumped her. "For you!" "What's that supposed to mean?!" Diamond stuck her tongue out. "I thought I was doing great with my sword!" "The way you were swinging that thing around blindly was probably more dangerous for us than the monsters!" They both chuckled at that, but immediately stopped when a huge gasp was heard from the other side of the room. "Button! Your back! Is that...?!" Scootaloo's voice made him jump. He only had the time to see her grab the torch and shine light on him before being assaulted by hooves who maintained him down. "Applebloom! Take eight blocks of cobblestone and place them in a square in the Crafting Table!" ordered the pegasus, imperial. "That'll make a furnace. Then just cook the pig meat, it'll restore more health..." "Eeyup!" obeyed the farm pony, quickly doing what her friend had asked. "Wow Scootaloo... Where'd you learn all that?!" Diamond came to them with a hint of worry in her voice. "I told you I was bored when Sweetie was being cared by, and while you all dug an underground room for her" simply said the filly, her attention focused on Applebloom's moving form as she tossed her a few cooked pork chops. Button almost gagged as he felt the pegasus's hooves stuff some meat down his throat. But the sensation became much better as he felt the pain in his back disappear as his wounds closed up. "Phew! You stupid foal... You mustn't forget we're all counting on you guys to live ya know!" murmured Applebloom. "Yeah... Sorry you guys..." smiled Button. A small silence went pass them and they all took the time to enjoy the time they could spend together. Even Rumble joined them with a little reticence and shyness. Until Scootaloo suddenly got up and trotted to the crafting table ; "Alright ponies!" she declared, searching her inventory. "Gather 'round!" They did so, a little surprised by her sudden good mood. She took a map out from her pockets and laid it down. It was quite small although seemed to hold some potential. "This," she pointed to a small blocky area that had brown pixels on it, " is where we are now... And here," she moved her hoof to a blank space, "is an unexplored area! When both of you first came here, you said that you were looking for a village right...?" She didn't wait for Button's nod and continued. "Then there's bound to be one here! We'd find some good ressources and possibly help!" A few murmurs of approval were heard. "That seems like a great idea!" "I'm in!" Applebloom chirped. "When did you have the time to craft that..?" asked Rumble, a little skeptical. "Like I said, I had free time!" Scootaloo flashed them a smile. "We can leave once Sweetie Belle gets better!" "You guys, we're really gonna do this!" Diamond lifted her hoof in the air. They didn't hesitate and immediately bumped it with a collective cheer. "Yeah!"