The oink of a pigman drags me out of my blessed sleep, thoughts flickering wildly as I try to open my eyes. A sudden flood of energy engulfing me as the pigman oinks again.

"Told ya he would wake up." I ignore Petra and focus on the quite disgusting odor emitting from the pigman, part of me drowsy and couldn't care less while the other begs me to kill the creature.

Taking deep breaths with a heart beating strong, I manage to see the world around me again. I'm lying on the couch in the library, the oinks coming from behind it, with my two friends looking down at me. My dear old friend Petra, who I'm sure as her sword on her.

"Hey Petra," I smile as friendly as possible as I sit up, faint traces of pain coming all from my body which I ignore. "Mind if I borrow Miss Butter for a moment?"

She grunts, but Lukas sharply elbows her and she concedes. I grin at both of them, yet when I grab the handle, it falters. A wave of drowsiness and bodily fatigue disorientating me for a moment, deep cuts burning to support the sword.

I instantly shake it off when both the pigman oinks and Lukas's sharply breaths in about to say something. I turn and stalk towards the pigmen, about four of them tied up together. I swing the sword in my hand, partly to stretch the stiff muscles in my arm and partly to wake up my mind that's still dragging around in grogginess.

Before that grogginess can convince me to sit down, I twirl and decapitate the closest pigman. Before quickly jumping out of the way of all the other enraged pigmen, all of them pulling fiercely on their leads.

A waft of energy and strength bubbles up inside of me, but that's nothing against the heaviness groaning at me from my legs or the burn in my arm to use the sword. I sigh, but the urge to kill these pigmen keeps growing, screaming at me to do this despite me feeling like the world is a dream right now.

Trying to push down all the fatigue festering in my limbs, I snap the blade straight through an eye socket of a pigman. It gives a final squeal before bursting into green smoke, which makes me feel better as it flows into me.

So before nice feeling fades under the misery my body keeps giving me, Petra's sword cuts through all the pigmen like butter. The thought that gives my stomach a prompt to growl its emptiness at me.

But the green smoke swirls up through me, fueling the cold fire inside of me. I smile, fanning the small flame I've obtained to burn away the cloud of fog mudding up my brain. I'm sure I'll hear something from Lukas that I still need to take care of myself, but at least the world feels more real.

And suddenly, it becomes a lot easier to feel every single muscle fiber stiff and tight and in pain because moving is the very last thing they want to be doing right now. I groan, using Petra's sword as a cane as my oblivious groggy mind wakes up to all this wretched pain. As injuries from my back and ribs and arms and neck and so many places gripe at me.

"Hey! Miss Butter is not some pole you can-" I roll my eyes and toss the sword to her, staggering to lean on the back of the couch. Wishing the four pigmen would have given me enough flame so I could negate this muscle fatigue.

I shake it off, muscle fatigue and some injuries is not the worse that can happen to me. There are dozens of Redstonian citizens that were on the brink of death, and then they have to travel a heck of a long distance to get to here. I really can't complain compared to that.

Sighing, I glance down at the bandages that could almost pass as a shirt. On my arms and covering my stomach completely. Even the fire mark has been mostly covered up. Petra throws me a shirt, which I smile at her as I put it on. I can't see the bandages anymore, and that makes me feel slightly better.

"How long was out?" Thoughts alight with all the things that have to be done to prep the city for the refugees and memories, bursting and craving for attention.

Lukas sighs, his shoulders drooping. "Jesse, it's been a day since the fight at Redstonia. The doctor said you have to take it easy-"

"New plan!" I have a magical fire at my disposal, I think I can ignore what a doctor says. "I'm going to head to the Nether and kill a few things, you Petra will simply be intimating to calm down the citizens, and you Lukas will start preparation for the city to support all the new people."

Lukas sighs and shakes his head, and I quickly glance at Petra for support. She rolls her eyes and elbows Lukas, earning a yelp from him.

"Stop being a worrywart and let's go Lukas, Olivia needs us to be ready for her people."

I shoot a grin at Petra, that was the perfect thing to say to Lukas. His face splits in indecisiveness and he mumbles silently to himself as he thinks. And with a groan, he concedes.

"Fine, fine." I sigh in relief and use a wee bit of flame to get my body to move towards the door. "But perhaps-"

"No!" Petra, quite harshly, grabs hold of Lukas's jacket. "You are coming out with me, because Jesse is a big boy and doesn't need you mothering him all the time."

We go up the stairs, and in order for Petra's statement to be true, I burn more flame since without it my muscles and bones are way to tired for such simple tasks. Besides, since I'm getting more flame in a few moments, it's not that big of a deal. Especially when I think I have cuts all over my body.

Lukas grumbles some more, and shoots a look at me. "Okay, you can let go now. Although I have the right to say 'I told you so' when the connection comes alive again and Jesse is merely faking it now."

"Ah, Lukas, you wound me." I smile, quite hard with all the grouchy pain surrounding me.

I'm about to walk into the storage room, relieved that I'll be getting some more flame soon and then will be able to do my job as mayor for once and run the town.

"Oh wait!" I hold back a sigh and turn to Lukas, and end up smiling sheepishly as he holds his iron sword to me. "You might need something to actually kill monsters with."

"Thanks." With a nod of gratitude, I turn into the storage room.

And get a fright when a certain green blaze nuzzles me with its head. I chuckle, happy grunts coming from the fiery mob.

"It's good to know your doing alright Blake." With that statement, I notice how Blake's green is fading into more of a yellow. "Although it looks like I'll have to give you a bit of flame when I get back. Just hang tight in here, okay?"

He seems to chirp his agreement and I give him a smile before walking to the portal. The wisps and soft hisses from the portal enticing yet dreadful. I need to go to the Nether to survive, and yet, there's now like a hundred demons in there. And I can't even wear my armor since I'm barely standing without it.

If only I trusted, and understood Blake, enough to have him come with me.

Taking a deep breath, and then another one, I walk through purple portal. Bracing myself for the sudden shift of cool air to the satisfyingly sizzling air of the Nether. I blink open my eyes again, for a moment, at peace.

Then that moment comes to a screeching halt when I remember about the demons here. They could be anywhere, and I can't even take on one. So I better kill some stuff and leave before things get out of hand.

The slush of a magma cream ensnares my attention, and I quickly hobble over to it. The wimpy flame I had and have been burning on full power to keep me going flickering away, leaving my body back in its cramped and injured state.

I slash out, my arm seething in hot pain, and quickly stepping to the side before it can jump on me. Burbling grunts of frustration emit from the lava slime, and I pierce the sword into it before rushing back again. Panting slightly as it splits into three smaller ones, the flame's really dying out now.

All at once they pounce on me, and I roll back. My ribs and back yelling at me for doing that now that I'm not using any fire to numb the pain out. Ignoring it, with difficultly, I send a fury of attacks into one of them before quickly getting out of dodge.

Two medium seized ones and two tiny ones, I can definitely do this. Should be no problem for someone who's defeated an Admin. Although even I myself have a hard time believing that when I wince from simple muscle fatigue.

The two bigger ones leap at me again and I do a wide swing at both of them, knocking them back through the air. Hurriedly sidestepping out of the way of the two smaller ones, even they'll do serious damage with me being in this state and without armor.

Plunging the sword through the top of one of them, I'm finally rewarded with a small bit of that green smoke. The flame that has been wilted down fans back up, which I use to quickly kill the other smaller one. Gaining another glorious boost.

The medium sized ones finally get back to me, and it kinda sounds like they're burping their anger at me. Spinning out of their path, I slash at the closest one. When it divides into three tiny ones, I spend only a couple of seconds cutting through them.

Before barely dodging the last one as it pounces on me. Yet my fire grows larger again as I absorb the green smoke, finally with enough flames to dull out the pain inflicted throughout my body.

So yeah, this magma cream doesn't stand any chance whatsoever now.

It leaps up again at me and the white blade pierces easily through its flesh, and throwing it back. Three tiny ones burst out of it, and at this point, it's child's play. Barely taking any effort at all to kill them all.

I breathe in the wonderful green smoke, my fire stable again. It is still a pitiful amount, and I don't even want to try bringing it out of me yet, but at least I'm not groaning in pain anymore. Should make it even easier to hunt down other creatures and not have to take so long.

Making a mental mark of where I am, I jog over and hope to find a small group of pigmen. I have to hurry though, I'm not out here to have fun. I need to get my strength back and then get to Beacontown.

And I am not disappointed. A cluster of six or so pigmen just hanging out, snorting and bumping into each other. Not even their golden swords worry me in the slightest.

Screaming out a battle cry, I raise Lukas's iron sword, stained with ash now, as I run at them. They just give me a blank stare until I decapitate one of them, then they all screech in rage while I absorb more of that great green smoke.

Deflecting blades with one before quickly jumping back. I swing broadly out in front of me, hitting three of them before lunging at the closest. The monster screeching in its of death as I whip out the iron blade.

I roll to the side, no pain from my ribs this time, as the other furious pigmen try to pound me. I slash at the legs of one, and the monster collapses as its rotting flesh can no longer support it. Giving me some more wiggle room with the other three.

With another battle cry, I slash out in front of me. My fire strong enough to give my arm enough strength to push them all back, to which I use to my full advantage.

To start with, I plunge Lukas's sword through the head of one pigmen before quickly slashing the throat of the other. The last insanely furious pigman lunges at me, and I respond with a quick sidestep and then burying my sword through its back.

The green smoke swirls inside of me, and I grin happily. Then just for a cherry on top, I kill of the immobile pigman, swelling my fire to a content level.

I run back to where the portal is, that was all fun and good, but now my town needs me and so does Olivia and her people. Hopefully nothing happens to where I have to use my fire a bunch, I don't have much spare flame. Not with having to burn it constantly so I can actually move and be productive.

The faint screech of a ghast goes off, and I groan aloud to fight off the urge to go to slay it. Although when I hear the dreadful shriek of a demon though echoing it, I begin to run faster. Next time I'm definitely wearing armor to the Nether.

My lips twitch briefly into a smile of relief when I spot the black portal frame, the soft whispers of the portal barely able to be heard over my deep breaths. Yet when I jump through, they're the only things I can hear until I stagger out onto the other side.

Blake greets me excitedly, and I grin as I ignore my still pounding heart.

"Hey buddy, and as promised, here's some more fire to charge you up." Since I kinda forgot how I did it last time, I simply grab his rods really quickly and push my fire into them.

Blake practically glows a brilliant green. He floats around happily, and I take the second to catch my breath. Only a second though, I have to get out there though and help for Olivia's arrival.

I begin to run out of the storage room, when Blake follows me. I stop, since it's really not a good idea to have a green blaze following me around Beacontown, just a really bad idea.

"Sorry Blake, but you have to stay here and, uh, guard the Nether portal. If any demons come through then blast them right back into the Nether."

Blake gives a determined grunt and floats over to the portal, his black beady eyes intensely starring at the portal.

I sigh, happy and relieved I don't have to worry him at all, and run out of the storage room. Planning to go out into the streets and have the town ready for the Redstonians. Until I spot my clothes, probably not the best idea to go out there covered in ash.

Groaning at the inconvenience, I run even faster to my room. Hurriedly changing as I get more and more impatient. Since I have no clue when Olivia's going to get here, I need to utilize every second to make it as easy as possible for her and her citizens.

Once my clean clothes are on, and I checked to make sure I didn't put anything on backwards, I rush out of my room and to the Treasure Hall. Hopefully work has already gotten started and someone has even left to go notify Stella that we'll need a helping hand from her.

Mumbling curses at how slow the Order Door is to open sometimes, I hurry out once I can. Getting perhaps ten strides out before my heart drops in a mixture of dread and irritation.

There's a crowd, it doesn't seem mob like, but I know for a fact that Petra and Lukas are in the center of it. I sprint towards them, but the rush to get there can't kill off all my curiosity. Didn't Lukas say something about a doctor looking at me? Shouldn't people already know the general gist of what happened so they wouldn't need to clamor like this?

"Look! It's Jesse!" I freeze at the squeal, not expecting the completely relieved squeal of a little girl. What is going on with this crowd?

The question dies as a bunch of people surround me, their voices and questions mixing together incoherently. To me it just sounds like a din of panic and relief and fear, and it's definitely not calm enough for me to address it enough.

"Quiet!"

Not a whole lot of people quite down, if anything my shout encouraged them to be even louder. Although between the quivering and shrill squeals of panic and overall fear etched onto the faces I can see, I can't find it in me to be mad at them.

But they still need to shut up.

"QUIET! ALL OF YOU! NOW!" I even hold up arms up for silence, and the fearful questions die within my people's mouths.

Then there's that second of silence, where it really hits me I have no idea what to say. I wasn't exactly listening to them, I don't know specially what they're panicking about or how to respond, nor can I figure out a way to tell them that they kinda need to prepare for a bunch of demon razed Redstonians.

"Okay, you." I gesture at a random citizen in front of me, I might as well ask what's happening. "What are you afraid of right now?"

The man pales and gapes at me, I probably should have worded that a bit more... friendly? Just somehow not to seem like a cold-hearted military leader about to give some speech that fear isn't relevant. Ugh, this is what happens when I get to anxious and impatient.

"Ex-excuse me? Jesse?" I smile warmly, or as best I can, at the young girl who decides to speak for the man. "Why did Redstonia set off their emergency beacon? Does it have something to do with the acid scales?"

I draw in a slow breath, trying to show any emotion to the girl. Of course it's about the beacon, everyone would have saw it. Why didn't I think of that earlier?

I stand to full height, addressing the entire crowd. "Redstonia, the pioneering city in technology, has been attacked and the people forced to evacuate their homes. The only thing responsible were the acid scales."

The group gasps, people turning and whispering in hushed tones. I raise my hands up for silence again, I can't let this fear start consuming them. My job is kinda sorta the exact opposite.

"However, every single one of those acid monsters, and trust me when I say there needed to be a lot of them to take down Redstonia,  were locked up in the Nether. Yes, they are still a threat, but we've survived Romeo. Don't concern yourself with those acid scales anymore."

The crowd relaxes, slightly, but they can't get too comfortable yet. "Instead, be concerned for the men and women who lost their homes and every step they take to get here is excruciatingly painful. Be concerned for them."

I pause, to really let that sink in and to see the people's reactions. Some of them get angry, hopefully against the demons, and most people are stricken. A few of the women grasping at their chests with wide eyes.

"So we need to give them the best welcome we can possibly give. A portion of the unclaimed land from the new wall extension will be used for to build refugee camp. People who have enough space in their homes need to invite the Redstonian citizens into them. The hospital needs to be more than prepared and if you aren't sure what to do, go help out there.

"If you need to get your house prepared, go do that. If your baker, or anyone who can cook, start baking for the Redstonians. If you work at the hospital, go to the hospital. If the hospital is flooded with volunteers or you aren't doing much, come to Lukas or me for help on the camp."

The crowd kinda disperses, but everyone is still looking like they're in shock. I sigh, we need to get to work right now and not when people get their emotional levels down the long and slow way. Besides, work is sometimes stress relieving for some people.

"Let's get at it people! Now!"

Some people literally jump out of their shock, but everyone now starts moving at a better speed. I smile and begin to walk over Lukas and Petra, when someone grabs my shoulder.

"My apologizes," The slightly commanding tone from the man kinda ticks me off. "But you shouldn't be moving so much right now."

I turn around, trying not to let my annoyance show, and politely brush the concerned citizen off. "Thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine. Now please-"

"Strange, I've never treated someone with broken ribs, second degree burns-"

"Okay!" I quickly shake my head and wave my hands frantically to get him to stop. "Yes, I'm not peachy at the moment-"

"Which means you need to rest. I realize you had to organize the town, but instead of doing work yourself, you need to get back in bed." The doctor peers at me suspiciously. "I'm amazed you can even move so well right now, you looked like you were knocking on death's door when I last saw you."

I nervously chuckle, not really sure what to do. "I bounce back pretty quickly. Side effect of all the adventures I go on."

"This is not quickly, it is miraculous. Which means you are lying when you say you're fine."

Strings of curses run through my thoughts, along with a prayer that the citizens are too busy now to be eavesdropping. I absolutely refuse to sit on the sidelines, my childhood best friend is depending on me. Yeah, I'm not sitting around doing nothing.

"Tell you what," He raises an eyebrow at me, frustration really beginning to well up at this guy. "I'll go and rest and be a good patient right after I go talk Lukas and Petra. Then I go back inside and rest."

"Just talking?"

"Absolutely."

He grunts, nodding his head. "Fine, but nothing else after that. You might get an infection on your claw marks." 

"Thank you sir." He nods again and turns away, and a small smile of triumph twitches up. "Be sure to prepare yourself for the Redstonian patients soon."

Finally I turn around to talk to my friends, only to see Petra smirking at me a few feet away. I roll my eyes, but can't help to return the smile as I walk up to her.

"Well well well Jesse, for a hero you sure are tricky."

I exaggerate a scoff, waving my arm to discard that. "I don't know what you're talking about Petra, I was completely truthful."

"Sure." Petra huffs, rolling her eyes. "How much should I bet that you'll be 'talking' until the sun goes down?"

"Nothing." I begin to walk over to the swarm of people around Lukas, glancing at the sun that's only an hour or two away from setting. "Bet I'll be talking until it's past midnight."

"Yeah, this is why Lukas gets frustrated with you not taking care of yourself."

"I have adrenaline and stress, it postpones sleep."

Petra chuckles at that, and we pause at the edge of the crowd surrounding Lukas. Again, I can't make out many words that are being thrown at him, but I can hear his voice. Which sounds like he's actually replying to people, which also baffles me.

"Okay people! Quiet down for a second!" A twinge flickers in my throat, all this shouting without any water probably isn't doing my voice any favors.

Lukas now clears his throat, gathering attention back to him. "Okay we're going to need supplies. I don't care the type of block, but we need to building supplies. Not too mention beds and some form of light. Hopefully the hospital will cover medical supplies."

I lean in closer Petra, Lukas still dividing people. "Can you go out and chop down a number a of trees? Keep a lookout for the refugees and demons while you're out there."

She nods and turns to the Order Hall, which should hopefully only be a quick stop to grab an axe. And only a second after, the crowd in front of me disperses. People briskly walking in all directions to do whatever Lukas just said.

"Well done Lukas," I smile as I come up to him. "Sorry it took me awhile to get here, I got stopped."

He huffs, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I could tell. Tricking people so soon?"

I throw my hands up. "Hey! It's not my fault I couldn't tell the doc the real reason why I don't have to be on bed rest. I bet he would flip too if I told him what I did to get 'better'."

"Technically, you aren't better yet, you just can't feel it right now." Lukas sighs, eyes fluttering close for a moment. "But I get it, Olivia said she would leave either today or tomorrow. Considering their injuries and that they'll still be trying to move as fast as possible, that gives us what? Three days at max to prepare for an entire city's population that's all really hungry, thirsty, hurt, and exhausted."

He opens his eyes with a sigh, and I instantly blame myself for the fatigued fog clouding his eyes. Since everyone likes to be concerned for my well being and tell me to rest, perhaps I should reflect that.

"Does that count you too?"

Lukas tilts his head at me. "Huh?"

"Hungry, thirsty, hurt, and exhausted. Because you certainly look like all those things."

"I'm fine Jesse."

I smile at him, crossing my arms. "Of course you are, since you're going to take a quick break at the Order Hall and get something to eat and drink."

"Okay, you're starting to sound like me."

"It only took a week or two." I let the smile fall, my face stiffing concern. "But I mean it, you look awful. So this time, you get to take care of yourself. In fact, maybe you should also go to sleep."

Lukas shakes his head, lips tightening in a thin line. "A bite to eat, sure, that's fine. But sleeping? No way, not happening. There's too much to do."

"Now you're sounding like me." I sigh, but I can already feel myself concede. "So at least get eat something and I'll give some flame to help you out."

"Whoa, flame. That sounds mega cool Jesse dude."

My heart skips a beat at Nell's words, yet I still turn to her with an uneasy smile. "Excuse me Nell?"

"Flame right? Slang for some strength booster or something?" Her confusion has seeped in her voice, and the relieved chuckled that just slipped from me probably doesn't help.

"Yeah of course." I gesture to Lukas to get going, and as he rolls his eyes and walks off, I get an idea.

"Hey Nell, are you doing anything in particular right now?"

"Nah, thought about helping at the hospital but then decided it wasn't my thing."

I smile, nodding at my plan. "Okay great. Can you hop on over to Champion City and tell Stella that Redstonia has been destroyed? Warn her to start preparations for refugees too?"

"Yea of course dude!" Nell doesn't move or say anything else, and after a few seconds of just starring at each other, she awkwardly scratches the back of her neck. "So are you going to give me a paper like last time? Or do you think she's just going to take my word for it?"

"She'll take your word for it, if she seems doubtful, try to appeal to her assistant." I reach back through my memory to figure out his name, a lot of stuff has happened since I've met him. "His name is, umm, Radar. Yeah, it's Radar."

"Coolness! I'll be back soon!" She waves and walks off, and for a moment I just watch her walk off. Taking the second to breathe and slow down for just a moment.

"Okay, time for me to get to work."

****

Hmm... I have weird feelings about this chapter.

It's that one kinda sandwiched in between to more exciting sections and doesn't even count as fluff. It's necessary, but eh...

Hmm, maybe I could call it the 'Dark Chapter' because the Dark Ages that happened in Europe is only called dark because it's sandwiched between the really advanced ages of Rome and the Renaissance.

Weird things my history teacher told me aside, I hope you enjoyed! And I'll see you all next week with the next chapty!