Mint's eyes were blurry when she woke up. It took a while before she realized she was being dragged across the floor. She felt powerless. She couldn't even move her eyes around properly. They just kept trying to close, and Mint had to fight the urge to fall back asleep. The hand dragging her by the shoulder was bony, meaning it must have been a skeleton. But, why would a mob want someone like her alive? There was something off about this skeleton, but Mint didn't know what. Slowly, Mint's nerves began coming back to her. She could feel her hands and feet again; but she didn't have the energy to try and run just yet. The friction between the cold stone floor and her skin began to agitate her skin, and her right hand still felt like hot glue was glazed over it in several areas. 'Where am I?' Was what she wanted to say, but all that came out was a weak grumble. She felt the hand drop her shoulder, and her head landed harshly on the stone floor. She also heard someone else being dropped beside her; likely someone else in the exact same condition she was in.

     "Oh great!" The skeleton said with a deep, gravely voice. "One of them's awake. Have any sleep potions on you?" Mint was shocked to hear a mob speak. The most she had heard from them in the past were groans and screeches.

     "No. I used my last one the boy I have been dragging around! Why do we have to carry these two again?" If a zombie could talk, thst is what it would sound like.

     "Quiet whining, Fred." (Ah, so I did use this name before writing "Happy Pappy." XD) Where's the nearest witch hut? I have a bit of gold left. Maybe one of the endermen would be willing to trade for a ride there and back." The skeleton said.

     "Why don't we just pay one to take us where we actually need to go, instead of waste perfectly good resources on potions?!" The zombie, interjected. These mobs weren't as dumb as Mint thought they would be either. She thought they would just talk about food and killing people, if they even could talk. The two mobs then picked the two kids back up and hurried their steps.

     "Why did we come to Duriel again? This place is soo boring." The skeleton complained with a zombie-like moan.

     "I don't know." The zombie shrugged. "I guess we were feeling rebellious or something and thought siding with one of the king's rivals would be exciting. Of course, we were never told leaving Lodorr would have anything to do with the rebellion; but on the bright side, we have some pretty neat upgrades! Me, with my double strength; and you, with your triple accuracy!"

     "Heh, I waas top of my class back at Lodorr, but, a few enchantments did manage to help a bit. I can admit that much." The skeleton boasted. A few silent moments passed and suddenly whatever had been keeping Mint lame faded away and as quickly as she could, Mint bolted off. She ran in the opposite direction of the two mobs, down the stone and dirt hall. She glanced back only for a moment to see a zombie and skeleton glaring at her, their eyes glowing a crimson red, the pupils slightly brighter.

     "I gotta get out of here." Mint told herself as she ran into the dark hall, a torch on the wall only every twenty or so blocks.

     "Perhaps I can help!" A voice came from beside Mint as she ran past one of the torches. She stopped her clouded sprint and turned around suddenly, wondering who had just spoken. "Down here!" The voice said again. Mint dropped her head down; in the torchlight, all alone, sat a single stone sword -- just waiting for someone to pick it up.

     "Where are you?" Mint asked around, looking past the dull weapon.

     "You literally JUST looked at me!" The voice came again in a angry huff. This time, Mint tracked the source of the voice to the item laying on the floor. It spoke again, "It might seem odd, but there was once a time when I I was actually useful."

     "What?!" Mint jumped back. "You're a sword! Swords ca-"

     "Can't talk?" The sword interrupted. "You won't believe how many times I have heard that before. And guess what; IT DOES GET OLD!" ..Mint then smiled and walked closer to the sword.

     "Do you have a name?" She asked politely.

     "Yeah, actually, I do.. The name's Stef! Stef the stone sword!" He waited patiently for a response, but none came. "Wait?" He said finally. "You're not saying anything.. no jokes? No witty puns? Nothing involving my name?!" Stef the stone sword asked, surprised. Mint didn't know how to respond to that.

     "...Why would I make fun of your name?" She finally asked.

     "You know.. you are the first person I've talked to who hasn't commented on my name. Refreshing, actually. You might even be my first not annoying partner." Stef said playfully.

     "Partner?" Mint asked.

     "You want out of here? Well, you're going to have to call me 'partner.' Got it?"

     "And what's in it for you?" The teen asked thoughtfully.

     "A new adventure!!" Stef replied, practically bursting with excitement. Hesitantly, Mint picked the talking stone sword up and began following his complicated instructions on how to get out. It didn't seem like much, but Mint's big adventure was just beginning.

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Pfff! I was such an amateur!.. I say that, yet it takes me several tries and auto correct to spell amateur correcfly. XD

That was also way back before I started using the :]  That face all the time and used the toung-out winkey face all the time; pretty much my "old 'signature move." :]

Well, thanks for reading, and seeya!