It had been around two months since defeating the Enderdragon and Swoop's death. Days after that passed by rather uneventfully.

Something - other than Swoop's last words - had also been bugging me since the day of Swoop's death, but I couldn't quite figure out what it was.

I spent my days outside the Kingdom, accompanied by Hailbert and my animal friends, brooding on my own thoughts.

I hoped that I would be able to get some answers eventually, but that day seemed very far off.

Letting out a sigh, I leaned back on the chair I was sitting on. The more I thought about it, the more confused I got.

Ender barked, staring at me with concern.

"I'm okay, Ender. Don't worry," I said, giving him a pat on the head. "I'm just a little frustrated."

In response, the white furred dog leaped onto my lap and curled up into a ball shape, as if to sleep.

"Something tells me that Ender is unconvinced by your words," Hailbert said, walking up to me. "I don't understand them as well as you do, but it's very obvious for me to tell."

I frowned. "I don't want Ender to worry about me. It's best if I figure my problems on my own and not get others involved in them as well."

"All right, if that's what you want," Hailbert responded. "I'll be at that lake if you want to talk."

After he left me alone with Ender, I felt the weight on my lap disappear. I blinked, surprised that Ender left so fast.

I quickly looked around, spotting him grabbing Pancer by her scruff where she was about to fall into the water. That's almost... too fast for a dog to get that far in mere seconds, I realised.

Paddy and Stripes did not seem to notice anything odd, conversing with each other comfortably.

Pancer thanked Ender with a happy bark and proceeded to talk about other matters.

I must be seeing things.

"No, you are not."

I nearly jumped out of my chair at the sound of a voice. My gaze fell on Ender, who stood nearby and giving me a neutral stare. Did he read my mind? Wait... did he just talk too?

Ender blinked slowly. "I am not a mind reader. My apologies, for scaring you," he spoke calmly. "I am getting used to it."

I was startled by his answer. Usually he spoke - through barking - quickly, with a sense of excitement and uncontained enthusiasm. Strangely, he changed.

"Used to what?" I asked quietly.

"Powers. Side effects from the dragon's attack. It should have killed me, but it didn't," Ender explained carefully. "I became aware of them a few days ago, but I did not inform you because you seemed troubled."

"Oh..." I wasn't sure what to say. "Then you must have been lucky to survive."

"I suppose," the dog responded doubtfully, before returning to where he was talking to Pancer.

Another unanswered question to my current pool of questions, I thought with a resigned sigh.

"I can answer them all, if that is your wish."

I jumped off my seat, startled by the voice. Did Ender say that?

"I'm not that dog, you idio- Ahem. Looks like we need a better talk to have a nice talk, and I know just the place."

I heard the snapping of fingers and I was sent plunging into a dark abyss. I involuntarily let out a scream as I felt myself falling. That feeling stopped abruptly after a moment, leaving me with confusion.

I was in some kind of void that was bright enough for me to see my hands.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Glad you asked!" It was that voice again. "We are inside of your mind, where we can have a nice, private talk. No worries, you appear to be sleeping to your friends outside."

"Who... are you?" It suddenly occurred to me that I heard that voice before, but I couldn't quite remember when.

"Me?" the voice chuckled. "I have no name, but to many, I am known as the catalyst for destruction, the greatest villain of this world! Anything ringing a bell?"

"Catalyst..." I muttered to myself. "It sounds familiar..."

I heard a dramatic and exasperated sigh. "Remember your endless visions?"

My eyes widened as I recalled a vision I got during the fight against the Enderdragon. I remembered that one of the voices sounded like the Enderdragon, while the other figure mentioned a "catalyst".

"I'm glad that everything is coming back to you. That's right, I am the catalyst he speaks of."

I took a step back instinctively as my hand trembled. I did not know why, but something told me not to trust that voice, and to run away as fast as I could.

Instead of running, I froze, rooted to the spot. "What do you want from me?"

"Hphm. I'll get straight to the point. Let's work together towards our common goal."

"Common goal?" I questioned, perplexed. "Work together? How can I trust you?"

"Of course you can trust me!" the voice insisted. "I saved your life multiple times, including that Enderdragon fight! I was the one who gave the power you needed to defeat that beast!"

"So... it was you all along... but... what do you mean by our common goal?"

"Isn't it obvious? Our common goal is to defeat the dark lord, whose purpose is to conquer and destroy this world. If we work together, we can wipe the floor with him!" the voice proclaimed. "What do you say?"

"Why should I do that?" I asked suspiciously.

If the voice had a physical form, I could imagine it smirking. "Because... his first target is to destroy your birthplace... the City."