Sky Army Returns - Book Two - Chapter Seven

    “Adam, do you remember when I died?”

    “Yeah, what about it?”

    “I never really explained how I came back.”

    Sky and Jason exchanged glances. “You know what, I don’t think you ever did.” Jason said.

    Ty smiled a bit. “I always just said it was a long story.” He said. “I don’t really understand it myself, but I think this guy saved me telling me it wasn’t my destiny to die. I had to lead the Dead Army, and I couldn’t do that if I myself were… dead.”

    “Who’s this guy again?” Sky asked.

    “That’s the thing…” Ty replied. “I don’t remember his name. I’m like racking my brain for it, but it’s just been so long. I’m certain he told me, but I just… can’t remember.”

    Sky shrugged. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter anyways.” He said. “One way or another, he brought you back. That’s an ally in my books.”

    “He also told me I would have to do something I may not want to do.” Ty said. “I think he was warning me about Farazon taking over my body, but I was too stupid to see it coming.”

    Jason rolled his eyes. “I don’t think anybody saw that coming, warning or no.” He said.

    Behind them, Seto stopped dead in his tracks. “What the hell…” He muttered.

    Ty turned around to see the Sorcerer looking around in something of confusion and suspicion. “Something wrong?” Ant asked.

    Seto shook his head slowly. “I’m not sure…” He replied. “All of a sudden I just got this really weird aura…”

    Dawn stopped ahead of the group and looked back at them. “Good or bad?” She asked.

    “Neither.” Seto said. “See, feeling auras is like… Looking through a keyhole into a dark room.” He explained. “And as I look, I can feel something cold, but I only see black.”

    “Cold?” Sky asked. “Is that bad?”

    Seto shook his head. “It wasn’t when I met Ty.” He said. “Ty’s aura is cold. So is Jason’s. Adam, yours is warm.”

    Sky raised on eyebrow. “Is that… bad?”

    “Not necessarily.” Seto replied. He looked at the wall in the corridor of the Stronghold. “Ty, blow up this wall here for me, will you?”

    Ty nodded and rested quite a few more TNT by the wall where Seto had indicated then were necessary. Then he set down a redstone torch and booked it.

    “Ah, shit.” Ant muttered. Sky grabbed his arm and ran away from the lit explosive, diving down as he heard the explosion.

    Ty coughed and sat up to see Seto standing in front of the three of them, with Dawn and Jason several meters back. He swiped one arm sharply to the side as he left the other relax at his side. As he did, the purple force field disappeared.

    Ty raised an eyebrow as he stood up, brushing the dust off of him. “Last time you did that, you almost passed out.” He said.

    “I told you, I’ve been practicing.” Seto replied. “This sort of thing comes easily to me now.”

    As the two spoke, Sky stood up and stared into the massive hole in the wall Ty had made. “What is that?” He asked.

    “Hmm?” Seto looked into the hole himself and his expression grew confused as well. “I actually don’t know…” He said.

    “Let’s go find out.” Dawn walked in as the dust was still clearing and walked up the stairs. She looked down into the lava pit before her, with the ring of sand-like blocks surrounding it. Seto arrived beside her and knelt down beside two blocks, each having an eye of ender resting on top of it.

    “I wonder…” He said.

    “What?” Dawn asked.

    Seto didn’t respond. Instead, he reached into his trusted leather satchel and pulled out a handful of identical glowing green orbs. He circled around the ring of sandy blocks, resting one of the eyes in the center of each block. As he reached the last block back at the start, he held the last one out to Sky. “Would you like to do the honors, Commander?”

    Sky hesitated for a moment, then took the eye into his own hands. “Alright… I have no idea what you’re doing Seto, but here goes nothing…” He rested the eye on top of the portal.

    All at once, the lighting in the room made by the lava pit vanished. A ring of jet black liquid-like substance appeared between each of the blocks. Sky’s eyes widened and he took a step back in surprise. Seto beamed. “I knew that would do something.” He said.

    Jason knelt curiously beside the black pool as Ant went down and looked at the lava pit below. He was about to reach his hand in when there was a squeak and a small gray, insect-like creature went up behind him and ran up into him as hard as it could. Off balance and taken by surprise, Jason yelped and fell head first into the blackness.

    “Jason!” Ty and Adam shouted in unison.

    Ant’s eyes widened. “What the hell?!” He exclaimed. “Guys, he’s gone!”

    “What do you mean he’s gone?!” Ty shouted, close to hysterics.

    Seto rested a hand on his shoulder. “Take it easy, you just got off a concussion.” He said.

    “I mean that Jason disappeared.” Ant looked up at Seto. “This thing is a portal.”

    Sky groaned. “Great, now we have to go after him!”

    “So… So who goes first?” Ty asked.

    “I vote Adam.” Ant said.

    “Wha? Me?!” Sky asked.

    “Yeah, you’re the leader.” Seto said. “You should go first.”

    “Yeah, but Jason already went, so…”

    “Are you telling me you’re scared?” Ant asked as he climbed up the stairs.

    “We don’t know what’s in there. Shouldn’t we do maybe a little research first? Maybe there’s stuff hidden around here that could help us find out just how dangerous it is so we can be prepared.” Sky said.

    “Meanwhile, Jason could be in serious trouble.” Ty said.

    Dawn sighed frustratedly and shoved Ant into the portal. She stepped up to the side and looked back at the others agitatedly. “You all fight like women, you know that?” Without waiting for an answer she turned and leapt in after him.

    Sky took a deep breath and jumped in after her.

    Ty rolled his eyes. “Right, now he goes.” He looked behind him at Seto. “Who’s next?”

    “How about we go together?” Seto asked.

    Ty nodded and stepped up to the edge. Seto stepped up beside him. “On three.” Ty said. “One…”

    “Three!” Seto leapt into the portal grabbing Ty’s arm and bringing him with him.

    .         .         .

    “So how far away is this place again?” Cupquake asked, looking around at the night around her. They were in a plains biome and Jordan held a torch, so they’d see mobs coming easily. Therefore, Jordan said it would be best to travel through the night.

    “Day’s journey, maybe two.” Jordan replied. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, but I the king is an old friend of mine. I knew him before he was the king, which is always handy.”

    Ethan rolled his eyes.

    Tyler noticed and smirked. “You got something to say, Ethan?” He asked. Ethan just looked away without responding – just like he always did. Of course, Tyler hadn’t originally planned on going with them. But at the last second, he decided it would be fun to go on an adventure and followed after them.

    Husky smirked at the two. “Oh leave him alone, Tyler, you know he can’t defend himself.”

    “Actually he can.” Jordan replied matter-of-factly. “When you get him really mad, he’ll break your jaw.”

    Husky raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?” He looked at Ethan and smiled knowingly. “Nah, I’m not surprised. When I first met Ethan, I was actually scared of him.”

          “So, Quentin, what made you want to leave in the first place?” Cupquake asked.

          “Honestly?” Husky asked. “I know that getting help from the army of a kingdom will be a huge help, but these guys aren’t elite. They’re soldiers. And what happens if this king of yours doesn’t even help us?”

          “He will.” Jordan said. “But go on.”

          “I know people who can help us. Old friends.” Husky said. “Some of them have come back already, but others will need a little more persuasion.”

          Ethan looked at Husky as he realized what he was talking about. He smiled and looked away again.

          “Might take a while, but I’ll find them.” Husky said.

          “Uh…” Jordan and the others looked ahead as Tyler spoke. He stood on the rise of a hill looking at something over the side. “You guys might wanna look at this…”

    Jordan ran up the hill after the Brotato and came to a dead halt as he reached the top. Not far ahead was a Minecraftian village – which would have been nice if it hadn’t been under attack by squids. Many of the houses were already alight with fire, and several dead bodies littered the streets while squids ravaged houses.

    Cupquake’s eyes widened. “Jordan, please tell me that’s not your kingdom.”

    “That’s not my kingdom.” Jordan replied. He pulled out his green Jerry sword as his fairy poked his head out of his satchel. “But that doesn’t mean we’ll let it burn.” He ran off towards the village. Tyler wasn’t far behind and neither was Husky. Cupquake went next, medical bag in one hand and sword in the other. Ethan breathed a heavy sigh before following after his friends.