[Aria POV]

Andrew, the Wither King, lets out a soft growl, then turns and clacks rapidly. "Follow me. I will lead you to the portal." I simply nod my head and gesture for my friends to follow. Anthony looks confused, so I try to speak as humanly as possible while in this form. "Enderman.... raiding the fortress. He's taking us.... to portal." I earn a nod from Anthony, and he moves out after the king first. Alexa and Mobius follow him swiftly, but I hesitate and turn to Reginald. He locks eyes with me and shakes his head. "You have no reason to trust me anymore, but I did not bring them here." I withhold a growl, but my lips curl into a snarl. "That's not what I'm thinking..."

I see his eyes widen, and he solemnly nods, having finally seen my thoughts. I calm myself before teleporting behind my friends and keeping pace behind them. I knew staying in my Ender-form for too long was dangerous, but it was the safest option right now. For instance, just ahead the ceiling was shaking, and I could tell by his speed that Anthony would be directly under it in five seconds. I blink, and suddenly I am beside him. My arms snake around him and I twist our bodies to the left, teleporting once more just as the nether brick crashes down where he would have been standing. Releasing him, he breathes out a startled "Thanks," then keeps running. A warble escapes me, and I sigh. It was very difficult to speak English in this form.

Just ahead was the entrance to the throne room. The Wither King had just turned left away from his throne and disappeared from sight. Just as Anthony nears it, I can feel his presence even before the King is thrown across the opening before us. The crash as he slams against his thrown echoes down the hall. Anthony slides to a stop, and a blue-eyed Enderman appears before him. The mob pushes him back against the wall and then slams his own spine against the netherbrick. We all follow as we near, and I move closer to see what exactly was going on.

Andrew, the Wither King, slowly stands among the rubble of his throne. Pain was evident in each movement, and I could see the rage in his eye sockets. However, despite already knowing he was there, the deep, resounding cackle sends a cold chill through my body.

"You never cease to amaze me with your antics, your majesty." He says the last words mockingly, and I can tell he was merely taunting Andrew. It seemed to work, as the injured skeleton carefully rises and steps out from the ruins of his seat. I could feel the heat rising, and Mobius' breathing was starting to become ragged again. "He can't... he hasn't recovered yet!" I mutter, and I see Reginald's head whip towards me. "Neither can you! Don't even ponder the thought-"

"ENOUGH!"

We all grow quiet, and slowly turn to see a wither skeleton standing between Him and his King. I recognize him immediately, and his name was clear in my mind. His ribcage was still cracked, and his eye sockets were ablaze with a wave of stronger anger than that of the skeleton behind him. A sword was in his hand, and purple ooze was dripping from it. I grab Alexa's shoulder as she slightly gasps as well, finally noticing it was the same skeleton she fought before.

"Nathan..."

I see the skeleton turn towards me slightly, and I can read his face perfectly. He turns back and scowls. His arm lifts the sword, and he steps towards our shared enemy.

"We will never submit to you, you coward. Fight us as one, or leave this place at once!"

I smile slightly. He fits his role perfectly, but I knew this was all in vain. He was buying time, keeping him distracted as long as possible. I know where to go, but I was waiting until the opportune moment. Reginald shifts ahead of me as if sensing what I was thinking. His head slightly nods, acknowledging my assumption. He knew what to do, but we had to wait.

'I hate waiting...'

'As do I...'

I can't see his face, but I know Reginald was holding a grimace on it. Before anyone can speak or think again, a single loud laugh rattles the silence. "You call me a coward, yet you challenge me to fight an entire army on my own?" There's a moment of quietness, and Nathan, the wither skeleton, scowls. Suddenly, a flash blinds us for an instant. When I can see again, Nathan was barely holding his sword against Herobrine's as the glitch was floating before him. Their swords were locked, and Nathan's arms were shaking.

"You know you can never defeat me one-on-one... What are you planning, my old friend?"

The words nearly make me suck in a breath, but I hold it back. Instead, I grab Mobius and Alexa by the shoulders. Reginald turns his head slightly and reaches for Anthony. The human reluctantly lets him grab his shoulder, and we prepare to teleport. I lift my gaze when a pained clack rings in our ears.

I can't hold back my growl this time as I spot Andrew in the position Nathan was in. He was holding his sword higher, locked with him and Nathan pushed safely to the side. The rage coming from Andrew was enough to make my skin feel singed. I can see the skulls forming behind him, and he breaks eye sockets contact with Herobrine and locks onto mine. The message was clear.

'Now!'

I see the skulls move as his head had started to turn towards us, but we were already gone. I feel the tax from the teleporting start rising in my body, and I slightly stumble to my knees when we appear at the beginning of the staircase. Alexa cries out and is at my side in the blink of an eye. I struggle to breathe, and I force myself to shift back. I needed to be human again, if only for a short time. The floor slowly grows closer to my face, and I feel my legs slide against the brick floor until I am at my normal player size.... sort of.

I could tell I was still partially morphed, and not just because my right arm was still completely black. When Alexa helps me to my feet, I was now a good inch taller than her. I try not to think much of it, but when I turn to the rest, I realize Mobius was now a good inch shorter than Alexa. He shakes his head. "Run first, questions later." I can only reply with a nod, and we quickly begin our ascent. Without a guide to a portal, we could only hope our way back to ours was still available.

As we run, I slow to a stop when I realize Reginald was not following. His gaze was behind us, and his stance rigid. I turn to see my friends stopping as well and turning to us in worry. "Come on! We don't have time!" I nod and move towards Reginald. "Come on! We can't help them-"

"You cannot.... but I still can."

I feel a sting in my heart, and he turns to face me quickly. He kneels down and places a heavy hand on my shoulder. "I did not mean it like that, and you know that Aria... I mean I can respawn if killed.... you cannot." I stare him in the eye, but I find myself only able to nod. He gives me a single pat before standing. "You cannot help Andr- the Wither King right now, but your friends need you. Go. I will be right behind you."

I slowly turn and take a few steps. My feet stop, and my head turns slightly. The ender eye is my skull glints beneath my hair. All I see are his blue particles where he had stood before, but I still find myself speaking. "No... No, you won't...." Then I turn and rush up the stairs with the rest following behind. He was right about one thing, for sure.

As we near the top, I feel a twinge in my eye, and I carefully slow down. Something was ahead, and as I get to a walking speed, I reach for my sword. When I feel the hilt in my grip, a surge of energy runs through me. I keep my pace steady, and the end of the stairs comes into view. My eyes narrow as, step by step, the pillars come into view. The orange glow of the lava falls starts to show, and then...

"Andrew?!"

I release my sword and rush forward towards the severely wounded skeleton king and the Enderman barely keeping him standing. Reginald was injured as well, but it was obvious it was from saving his old friend. The Wither King, however, was brutally littered in lacerations and his thick dark blood was leaking from everywhere. Somehow, he was still awake, and I could see the orange glow in his eye sockets barely glint. "I've.... had worse." I withhold a snort of amusement and instead reach behind me. When my hand reappears, it is holding a regen potion. "You leave these around everywhere... the wrong hands might get ahold of one." A snort is actually heard from the skull in front of me, and I simply smile. Removing the cork, I carefully lift his skull, then realize he has no guts.... but...

I lift my hand and dump it on his head. At first, I fear I wasted it, but his wounds slowly begin to mend and the blood seeps back into each cut. A sharp inhale brings me back to reality, and I step back to give the King room. He slowly stands, still slightly wobbly. Reginald slightly sighs in relief, and I can see burns on his arms where the King's blood was touching him. They were already healing. "Thank you.... again. We must hurry. Nathan cannot keep him occupied for long." I can hear the pain still in his clacks, but if I were to say anything, it would be like talking to a wall. Instead, I nod and motion for the others to follow. They move as fast as they can, but Mobius stumbles. I turn and feel my heart skip as he falls to his knees. Sweat was pouring from his skin, and I could see more feathers had grown behind his head. Before any of us move toward our friend, Reginald is suddenly by his side. "I will get him there. Go!" A growl rises, but I continue my run anyways. Anthony is by me in a second. "You're really going to trust him with that Enderman?!" I say nothing and show no movement, except a slight curl of my lip. I was taking a risk....

But I knew I could trust him for now.

Suddenly, I hear vwoops and screeches echo from behind. My eye searing in pain only makes it more obvious. We needed to move faster and-

'Wait... the lever!'

As we enter the hallway with the lava falls, I turn my head and spot the lever peaking out from behind the boiling liquid. "I would get clear of that area before activating that switch, Aviator!" When I snap my head forward, I see the King looking back while running. With a grunt, I nod and wrap my hand around my sword. My eyes close, and I focus. This was a one-time shot. If I miss....

Or if I'm too slow...

A twinge behind me makes me duck down and roll across the ground just as an arrow flies over me. Springing up, I twist and remove my sword from its sheath. Snapping my arm forward, I release it, then turn without watching where it hits.

I already knew I had hit the mark.

The lever clicks and I feel heat suddenly wash against my back. A slight screech escapes me, and I instinctively teleport to the entrance where the others had stopped for a moment. My spine was slightly burning, a tingling sensation spreading through my body, but I was otherwise unharmed. Moving my gaze up, I see a wall of lava blocking our way back into the castle, and I can only pray Reginald was able to make it out with Mobius in time. At the shout of the King, I turn and spot a ghast surrounded by blazes slowly rise up from beneath the bridge ahead, beyond the stairs in front of us. The King clacks again, and it slowly moves closer. I can now see that it was wearing something atop its head, like a platform for a few skeletons...

Or people.

It nears the stairs, but in order for us to get on, we would need to jump. The King easily leaps onto the ghast and turns to gesture for us to follow. "Quickly. We don't have much time." Alexa huffs next to me, clearly wearing down from the heat. Anthony takes a deep breath, and he launches himself forward. His hands scrape the edge, but the King grabs him just before he falls. Hefting the human up onto the large platform, Andrew glances back at us with concern. I knew the ghast couldn't get any closer, but there was no way Alexa could make that jump.

"Just g-go...."

My head snaps towards her, and she huffs. She was doubled over, hands on her knees, and sweat was pouring down her arms and face. Feathers were ruffling on her whole body, attempting to get cool air in somehow. She turns to me solemnly. "You can't make that jump with us both.... I know that's w-what you're thinking..." She smiles when I growl, knowing she was right. However...

"Never tell me the odds..."

Before Alexa can protest or push away, I grab her by the waist and hold her tightly against my chest. She yelps in surprise, but I rush forward before she can struggle out of my grasp. My feet fly against the brick, then I push off my back leg and send us soaring through the air. I feel confident as we near, until gravity starts to take its toll. I knew what I had to do.... but it wasn't working. I gaze at my arm, and it was tan again. My enderhalf was completely changed back. I didn't have time to shift back in any way!

With a growl, I release Alexa for a moment until I can grab her arms. Then, with a twist, I throw her towards the ghast. She shouts in fear until Anthony's hand clasps her own. My hands brush against the ghast, but none of them could reach me now. Their arms were too short. I close my eyes, despite the tingling, praying this wouldn't hurt as much as I imagined it will.

My arm suddenly pops as my descent comes to an abrupt halt. I shout in slight pain and surprise. When my eyes open, I see my hand firmly gripped by a slim black one. My eyes lift further to see Reginald holding me up, his other hand just barely gripping the rail on the platform. I breathe out a sigh of relief, and he gives me a soft smile. Carefully, he eases me up, and Anthony rushes over to help. I grunt, my arm sore, but otherwise still attached. The King makes sure I am fully on before clacking to the ghast to quickly move to the portal. It does what he demands, and the blazes huff as they follow behind and around us. I spot Mobius heavily leaning against Alexa, but he seemed a bit better. I notice feathers moving behind his head, and upon closer inspection, I see his robotic arm was now a.... fan? I shake my head.

'His cybernetics may become useful....'

I turn my gaze to the land around us. We were now passing a destroyed bridge area that was located on the outskirts of the fortress. I feel someone's gaze boring into my back, but I don't have to turn to know who it was. "Guess we're lucky we escaped that, huh?" I slightly turn my head, seeing the Wither King give a single nod. "It was rather... unexpected. I had hoped you were not familiar with your abilities yet...." He grows quiet, and turns away. I can still hear his mumble though.

"Now I hope they are enough..."

My blood suddenly runs cold, and I feel a cold arm grab my hood and yank me back just as a fireball crashes against the area I was just standing at. I shout in shock and roll backward. I spring to my feet, stumbling as the ghast we were on screams in pain and starts to rapidly descend. I turn to see Herobrine standing on top of another ghast, but this one was mutated... 'The Ur-ghast?!' My brain races. Now I knew this world was modded, but maybe we could use that to our advantage as well. My eyes spot our portal quite close, but we were still going to land in the lava. We needed to jump now, or-

"Use these!"

I turn and barely catch two fire resistance splash potions. My gaze lifts to the King who was now wielding his sword. His gaze was behind us, and I already know what he was thinking. "Get to the overworld, then beat the game!" He leaves no room for objections by launching himself from our dying ghast and directly towards him. Reginald snarls when I still try to protest. "Do as he says! We will buy you time." Then he, too, leaps from our ghast.

I growl and turn towards our group. Shoving one potion behind me, I rush to get closer to my friends before hurling the other at the ground. It splashes all of us, and the particles slowly begin to rise from our heads. Mobius instantly perks up, his head shaking. "Woah! That's a thousand percent better." I point towards the portal and yell as humanly as possible. "We don't have much time! Jump!" Anthony is the first to move, launching himself over the lava pit below. He barely makes it onto 'dry' ground. His foot slips into the lava, but the potion keeps him whole. I hear clicks behind me, and when I turn to look, I spot Mobius testing something out on his leg. He grunts, and looks up. I narrow my gaze. "Can you take someone with you?" His cybernetics may give him a boost, and he nods to confirm my thoughts. "Only one, though!" Alexa yells, but I quiet her with a glare. "I'll be right behind you! Go!" The penguin argues, but another explosion rocks our platform. The ghast below us starts dropping faster as it lets out a final cry of agony.

Mobius gives me a grimace nod before scooping up Alexa and rushing off the platform. I hear the mechanics in his legs release pressure, and he launches into the air with ease. His feet safely land on the netherrack, and they all turn towards me.

'Alright, Aria.... Control it. Use it only if necessary...'

I push myself forward, feet slamming against the platform. Just as the ghast hits the lava, I leap into the air. I could feel my ender-half giving me a slight boost....

But I start dropping too soon.

In a panic, I reach behind me and grab a single ender pearl. It was one that I had picked up before we entered the nether. I didn't want to use it at all, afraid of what it might do to me.... but I didn't have much of a choice. I really didn't want to swim in the lava, and I could feel the effect of the fire resistance wearing off already. Before I can throw the pearl, I hear laughter behind me. I barely turn my head to see him holding the Wither King up with one hand. Reginald was nowhere in sight.

My mind races, but I know what to do. I hurl the pearl towards my friends, then twist in the air. I hold my hand out, and I feel a surge of power flow through it. A soft whistling noise hits my ears, and just as my back starts to touch the lava, I see him look towards me as if he had won. I can't help but smirk, and the look of confusion he gives me just as I submerge beneath the lava is one I'll never forget.

The pearl suddenly summons me, and I gasp for air. I hear my friends crowd around, but I quickly tell them to move. I stand up and put my hand back out just as he lets out a shout of surprise and pain. Suddenly, leather hits my hand and Alexa slightly yelps in shock. It must have grazed her. I carefully raise my head, slightly letting out a sigh of relief as I see Alexa wasn't injured at all. Just startled. My gaze rises to meet Herobrine's...

Which was only three feet away.

My sword is up instantly and my free hand shoves Alexa out of the way. I can see Anthony grab her just as Herobrine sword hits mine. The ground below us cracks, lava slightly spewing up. I growl and hold my ground as much as possible. With shaking legs, I look the monster before me dead in the eye. The rage I find there matches my own. "You are becoming quite the pest, and I am growing tired of these games." I snarl and push forward. "Then we are at an agreement for once." With a shout, I swing my sword outward, forcing Herobrine back a few feet in the air. A vwoop behind me makes my head turn slightly, but once I see Reginald there, I turn back to the enemy at hand. His glowing eyes were narrow. His lips don't move, but I can hear his voice in my mind. 'Let us see if you can beat me on both fields of war.'

Pain floods my mind, and I struggle to stay standing. I force my eyes to stay open. His sneer fueled me with enough rage to lash out with my sword, creating a weak wave. He slams his own sword against it, easily slicing it in two. However, it causes smoke to rise into his face. I grunt and turn to retreat. I couldn't fight him, but maybe I could escape. His cackle echoes in my ear, and I can feel him moving. He nears my back, and I struggle to move faster. I can see Anthony yelling and Mobius trying to push Alexa into the now activated portal, but I know I won't make it. I wasn't fast enough and teleporting was not possible right now.

"DROP, ARIA!"

My legs buckle on instinct, and I tumble across the ground. Metal on metal grinds behind me, and I come to a stop on one knee. When I turn my head, I see Andrew, the Wither King, standing behind me with his sword linked with Herobrine's. His skeletal frame was dripping with lava, and his bones were holding a fading glow. A growl leaves his skull, and he speaks quietly.

"Go."

I start to protest, but he pushes him away and turns to me.

"Go, now. I will hold him off."

I simply nod and struggle to stand. I start to move, but I turn and see Herobrine advance. Andrew turns then looks at me once more. I had stopped, and he looks down in sorrow.

Then a wither skull appears and crashes against the ground at my feet. I scream in shock as I am blasted backward through the portal. The last thing I see is Herobrine slicing downward, and Andrew locking his gaze with mine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUESS WHOS NOT DEAD!

no, I'm totally dead after writing that. There was no way to split it up and keep the continuity. So, therefore, after a long hiatus, have a 4k word chapter!

Anyways, please enjoy!

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