Version: 2

It was not your typical duel.

The word "duel" implied a battle between similar opponents. Probably wielding the same, if not at least similar, weapons. This was not the case. This duel was between two very different combatants.

A mighty iron fist crashed into the cobblestone wall with enough force to send pebbles flying across the room. Steve, with his strong body and quick reaction time honed from years of fighting, rolled across the floor to the opposite wall. He was breathing heavy, bleeding from multiple places and forming bruises just about everywhere else. He jumped back to his feet and positioned his diamond sword between him and the iron golem. The artificial guardian of the temple was also badly damaged. Enormous gashes had been carved out of its chest, arms, and legs. Even the glow in its eyes was starting to fade.

This fight was almost over, but Steve had lost his iron chest-piece mere moments ago. Already injured and with the most important component of his defense gone he didn't feel confident about victory. The man seriously considered cutting his losses and making a run for it.

The golem stomped forward with a menacing unnatural growl. Steve waited for his moment. It came. The golem raised its right fist for another powerful punch which Steve deftly avoided then countered. Another deep cut was driven across the guardian's chest. It staggered back a step and Steve instinctively went for another attack. Steve thrust his blade into the beast's gut almost to the hilt. The iron golem's roar was ferocious for a moment before petering out. The glow in its eyes vanished and the huge man of metal began to teeter backwards. Steve quickly withdrew his sword before it could be yanked from his hand by the dying brute.

Steve took a moment to catch his breath in the tight corridor. That... that had been more difficult than he expected. He knew iron golems were tough, but it had taken every pixel of his skill just to survive. He'd have to be more prepared in the future.

The Jungle Temple's loot was worth it though. Two magical tomes, a bit of gold, and two diamonds. Not to mention all the XP he got from defeating the guardian. It was time to head home.

Steve felt like he had spent hours down in the darkness when really he'd probably been in the temple for about one. Either way, the man sighed with relief as the sunlight graced his head. Then he sighed with frustration at the destruction around the temple.

Steve's partner was an enormous white horse named Gem. She was a force of nature at the worst of times and a goofy friend at the best. Today she had obviously been in a mischievous mood. When Steve had entered the temple, a sprawling jungle had choked the landscape. Even finding the lost structure had been pure luck. Now however, the temple was surrounded by a vast clearing lined with pulverized wood. Gem had been busy while he was looting the place. There wasn't a standing tree for at least 8 chunks.

Steve grumbled, upset by the pointless massacre of innocent trees. Gem knew he didn't like to be wasteful. The brat also didn't like to be left alone.

"Gem!" Steve called his very over-sized mount. Immediately he heard and felt her steps. Her hooves were their own kind of weapon. Against the ground. She refused to learn how to step more gently so he was always filling in the holes.

The huge mare was as tall as the largest jungle trees and her appearance was hard to miss as she circled around from somewhere behind the temple. Her face did not have a playful grin though. Gem seemed... afraid? Steve briefly felt confused. One moment he was ready to berate her for her games, now he was beginning to feel concerned. Had something happened while he was underground?

The mare moved in front of the temple steps and lowered her muzzle down to him. He instinctively reached up to pat her. She neighed in delight.

"What's wrong big girl?" Steve asked.

Her nose retreated a bit and her huge eyes took in his condition. Then Gem's eyes began to water. "You're hurt."

Steve looked down at his abused body. Yeah, he'd taken a beating. "It's alright. Just had a bit more trouble with the golem than I was ready for."

Gem swallowed but didn't say anything at first. Her legs twitched. The hairs on her back rose. "You could have died."

Steve rubbed his neck uncomfortably. He tended to avoid serious talks with Gem. She was too innocent and silly for this kind of thing. "Yeah, but I'm tough. So I won. Let's go home."

Gem wasn't satisfied. "I could have just dug up the temple," she asserted with a pained whiny. "You could have led the golem outside and let me step on him. Why did you go inside and put yourself in danger like that?!" she demanded.

Gem was really upset. Steve swiped the air in front of him as a calming gesture. "If you'd dug up the temple you might have crushed and destroyed the valuable items we came to get. And the golem would never leave the temple it was built to guard."

The massive mare whined like a whipped dog. "What was so important in that hole you would risk leaving me... all alone in this world?"

Steve felt like a piece of zombie flesh. Like utter useless trash. "I'm sorry Gem. I didn't mean to worry you so much. I promise that I'm not going anywhere, okay?" He made a "come here" flick with his hand which Gem obeyed.

Her nose was bigger than he was. The man wrapped his hands around the end of the horse's muzzle like he was hugging a tree. He gently pet her and whispered apology after apology. Promising that he'd never abandon his giant partner and he'd be more careful in the future.

Steve and Gem were a team. Man and horse. Friends. They cared deeply about each other. Woe to the fool that ever hurt either of them and earned the wrath of the other.

Author's Note

Maybe a little too cutesy. Also really got into making Minecraft references. I'm a dork.