Minecraft: Adventures beyond

Chapter 4: Eradicating An Infestation

“Devon wake up.”

“Hmph, ten more minutes.”

“Devon get up now.”

“It’s a Saturday Mom leave me alone” I mumbled turning away from the intruding voice.

“GET UP THIS INSTANT” boomed a voice causing me to jump in surprise falling straight on the hard wood floor, right on my face hitting my nose in the process.

“Hey what’s the big idea” I said slowly getting to my feet and holding my now sore nose only to be met with the glare of the princess.

“Now Devon that’s no way to speak to a princess please practice your manners in front of royalty, now to business” the princess said while leading me into the kitchen, I couldn’t help but flip the rude bitch off, who wakes a person up by yelling in their damn ear. “Devon are you even listening to me” said Celestia turning around to meet my eyes once again with a glare.

“Oh, uhh yea just thinking” I said holding my arm attempting to act as innocent as possible. Realizing that I should feel little bumps on my skin aren’t there supposed to be little chunks of rock imbedded in my skin, I surveyed my arms but only found small white scars where the rocks had been. Hmm I guess they removed them while I was sleeping somehow.

“Well this way please” she said once more walking into the kitchen, me following closely behind. I noticed all of the ponies before sitting at a table in the middle of the room, including Lyra, the Princesses guards and what seemed to be another one of those horned and winged horses, it seemed to have a similar appearance to the large white one, except it’s coat had a dark blue hue and it’s hair blue black and for some reason had small white specs resembling stars almost. Hell its hair even flowed in a nonexistent wind same with the princesses.

“Devon please take a seat” said the princess as she motioned to a chair at the far end of the table. I glanced around and walked over pulling out the extremely small chair finding it awkward sitting in it, hmm must be made for ponies only. “Now Devon I would like to introduce you to my sister, Luna” Celestia said once more motioning to the dark looking horse thing who only held a blank stare as though processing what I am.

“Like me she is a princess of Equestria only she governs the night as I govern the day” I nod to Celestia and extend my arm across the table to the dark princess, the other only stare in disbelief as I attempt to shake the princesses hoof, she only looks at my hand and back to me in disgust.

“How dare thou creature extend thy appendage to me, know thy place creature before thou regret it” the princess spat out keeping a steady glare as she did so. I slowly retreated back to my chair trying to ignore the stares I was receiving.

“Umm Princess Celestia is there a reason why I’m here right now” I muttered out attempting to break the silence that had befallen the room. The princess finally snapping out of her stupor turned to address me.

“Indeed there is Devon, it is plain to see that there is an infestation of those, what did you say those things were… aww yes creepers, they have overrun the town and sent the inhabitants inside their homes to seek shelter. While you were asleep I had contacted my sister to let her know of the situation, in the time it took her to get here a few of my own personal guards have flown reconnaissance over the town, they had counted at least thirty of those creepers and around 6 very large spiders. I have also alerted the captain of the royal guard to mobilize his forces to help drive away these creatures. That’s where you come in Devon; remember how I told you that I would only allow you to roam freely if you show that you are not a danger.”

I silently nodded to the princess allowing her to proceed with her rant.

“Well you are to assist the captain and his stallions (men) in driving them out of town, not to mention you are to share any information about these creatures to my sister and I now, or to the captain and his stallions when they arrive. When the task is complete you will be free to leave, but as I said before you are to be escorted by a small group of guards to this portal of yours, do we have a deal”

I contemplated what she had said, I’m not skilled with a blade by any means and my aiming with a bow is pretty hit and miss but it seems I live little choice. “Alright Princess, I’ll do what I can to help, but I am no means a warrior, those weapons I had were gifted to me, speaking of which I will need them back for this, all of it including my knapsack.”

“Done, Captain Shining Armor and his royal guards will be here soon, does anypony here have any questions?” stated the princess as she looked across the table expecting questions. A cyan hoof shot up.

“Princess, why are we letting this thing help, for all we know it might just attack us” Rainbow pointed a hoof accusingly at me, Applejack nodded in aggreenece.

“Ah agree princess, I don’t think he’s trust worthy enough, but ah will not argue with your logic, ahm just sayin at least keep an eye on him.”

“Hmm I see your concern, but I don’t believe we have much choice in the matter, he knows more about any of these creatures than any of us, I don’t like the plan much myself, but it’s the only option we have so far”

“Well, umm, maybe he won’t hurt anypony, I mean we can at least give him a chance” Fluttershy piped in, Everypony in the room seemed to start conversing on how the plan could go wrong, or how I could go on a rampage and injure someone to say the least it was boring and insulting.

I began to look around the room, again surprisingly large for being in a hollowed out tree. I continued to scan the room blocking out the voices of those around me until my eyes met Luna. She still held her scowl; all she did was stare back, her and I were the only ones not joining in on the conversation and before long I had could take it no longer.

“Umm do you mind if I stretch my legs” I asked out loud, no one in the room seemed to notice. Taking a hint I collected myself and removed myself from the table, walking out into the living room to look around, I checked over my back to see if I was being trailed. No one had seemed to follow me; well the princess said her guards would be here soon, I should probably look for my equipment if I’m going to help get rid of their creeper infestation.

After a short while of looking through every nook and cranny of the living room I had decided that it’s not there, which only leaves the upstairs, some other part filled with books probably a library, and the kitchen. Upstairs seems the best so I begin to ascend the stairs slowly, trying my best to not make the old wooden floorboards creak. Unfortunately the whole way was nothing but creaking, a creak with every step I took until I reached the final stair.

At this point the talking below me had turned into just low mumbles of inaudible nonsense. Hoping I wasn’t heard I pressed on into a small hallway with several doors to my left and right, possibly guest rooms or storage. I moved to the end of the hallway into a much larger room, this room had a small bed to one side and an even smaller bed adjacent to that one and on that bed was the little lizard boy, I froze when I saw him wondering how he had not woken with the sound from the stairs, hopefully he’s a heavy sleeper I thought as I walked further in surveying the rest of the room.

It looked as any normal bedroom should, nothing was misplaced and I was about to give up my search until I saw a small piece of leather protruding from underneath the bed. Getting on all fours I looked to see what it was and to my enjoyment it was my knapsack, along with it was a very large bag which presumably held my weapons and armor.

Carefully sliding out the knapsack I opened the bag to see its contents, everything was where I had left it, hopefully those ponies hadn’t gone through my bag, god knows what would happen if they drank one of those potions. Next came the armor and weapons, theses were a bit harder to pull out without disturbing the little lizard boy. A tough task that eventually I overcame, I placed the bag on the bed and undid it’s bindings, the lizard still snoozed on his small bed, oblivious to the fact that I was just mere feet away.

Alright everything is there including my bow and quiver of arrows. I began to take each piece of the armor out in the process locking each piece to my body, remembering the feeling of the smooth diamond expecting once again for all of it to weigh me down, but just as last time it nearly felt weightless not to mention not restraining in the slightest. Grabbing the sword I tied the sheath to my side with the little leather straps that hang to the side and grab both the bow and quiver of arrows slinging each on opposite shoulders, the last thing that remained was the helm.

Reaching for it I impulsively brushed a small bit of sediment off from the top, in doing so I had loosened my grip enough for it to slip. My attempts to catch the helmet were in vain, it slammed against the floor resounding in a loud thud. The lizard began to stir in his bed, slowly rising. Quickly scooping up the helmet from the ground I bolted to the door, not caring how much noise I made.

“TWILIGHT” yelled the lizard, his voice shrill as it graded on my ears, he sounded scared out of his little mind but that mattered little, I ran down the hallway making it to the top of the stairs in little time. Looking back over my shoulder I could see the little guy cowering by the door only peaking his head around to look at me. I mouthed sorry to him as I descended the stairs,

Unfortunately as soon as I turned around I was met with the face of Celestia, and one very mad Twilight. I attempted to explain but was cut short as I was lifted into the air by Twilight, her purple aurora soaking over me not allowing me to move a muscle.

“WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY LITTLE SPIKE” she shrieked in anger, I could feel pressure being exerted on my whole body, compacting me, the only thing alleviating most of the pain was the diamond armor which held my form together. I tried with all my might to open my mouth to speak and as though luck were on my side my mouth opened with it a flood of words spewed out.

“I didn’t hurt him, I swear I only went up there to get my stuff, I promise that’s all I did, I’m sorry” I said quickly the pain growing even more causing me to shut my mouth, and as I looked down to her I could feel the grip let go and in turn dropping me. It was a bitch being on the stairs as I landed wrong causing me to fall all the way down. I swear without this armor I would be dead right now, I had received little to no injuries when I hit the bottom, the armor was still pristine, no dents or imperfections so far.

“Twilight was that really called for” said the princess as she used her magic to pull me up to my feet.

“I… Uhh… I’m sorry, I… was just worried about Spike, he sounded so scared” the poor unicorn said as she crumpled in on herself, obviously feeling bad about what she had done.

“It’s ok Twilight, you acted to protect Spike, and I can forgive that” I said putting a hand on the unicorns back helping her up. Her face lit up in a smile, she said nothing but I could tell all was right.

“Now princess when did you say that you…” I was cut off as a tired looking Pegasus burst through the door, he had two creepers hot on his tail, as soon as he entered the door was slammed shut by Twilight blocking the Creepers path. The Pegasus in question was adorned in golden armor as were the other two guards of the princess.

“Princess” gasped the Pegasus who had yet to notice me “we have set up camp just outside of town, there are too many of those things, we were unable to land in town. I was sent to tell you that we are ready to push the creatures out of town” the Pegasus got out in between breaths, guess the creepers were faster than he thought.

“Good, you are now to bring Devon to your camp, he will be able to fill you in on what these things are and their weaknesses.”

“Umm princess, who’s Dev…?” He trailed off as he finally turned his gaze to me, I easily towered over him his head only reaching my upper chest at the most

“Devon at your service” I said giving him a mocking bow, my clanked together as I bent over. The pony looked in confusion, more curious then anything.

“Umm what is that thing” he asked once more as he tried to back up a small bit a little intimidated by the arsenal of weapons I had on me.

“We really don’t know what he is actually.” piped up Twilight as she walked out of the small group, “Devon what exactly are you.”

“This really is not the best time, the more time we waste here the more time the surge from my world can spread here, now are we going or not” I said walking to the door motioning for the guard to follow.

“Fine, but you better tell us when you get back” The guard slowly approached keeping at a safe distance all the while.

“Going out there is suicide, you know that right those exploding creature are everywhere out there.” Said the guard as he walked up to the window adjacent to the door, I peeked outside and he was correct the street had at least 6 creepers and 4 spiders patrolling, who knows how many migrated to the town now.

“I know, but it seems everything I’ve been doing these days is going to get me killed, nothing ventured nothing gained I” I chuckled glancing back and smirking at the guard. He just looked slightly shocked and weak kneed. “Alight on my count were going to make a run for it, when I get to three were going to bolt for this so called camp, I need you to fly overhead and show me where to go, alright” He only nodded, he’s scared shitless, hell at least he can fly.

“Alright, 1…” The grip I had on the hilt of my sword tightened, “2…” I glanced back to the group behind me their faces a mixture of hopeful and fearful, and the moon princess still had her soul shattering scowl. Readying myself as I said “3…” We burst out the door, the guard took flight and I was left to face the monstrosities on the street. My sword drawn and my stance stable, today is going to be a long day.