I learned something today.

Even if you've finished a chapter on a certain day, that doesn't mean you should wait until the next day to start the next chapter.

That's my pathetic excuse for not getting a chapter out yesterday, by the way.

WC: ~700 (SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH)

Enjoy!

Xisuma paced around the End portal.

Around and around. 

Five blocks, turn.

Five blocks, turn.

Another doubt, turn.

A truckload of second thoughts, turn.

A mountain of guilt, turn.

A wish, turn.

A worry, turn.

A want, turn.

Wish, worry, want.

What a life.

"X?"

Xisuma jerked out of his thoughts at the voice, and watched as Iskall, Mumbo, and Grian came into the End portal room.

Soaking wet.

"Swimming is the worst," Grian grumbled, trying and failing to squeeze the water out of his sweater's sleeves. 

"Water is the worst," Iskall agreed. "Good luck building around it!" 

"Do we have to beat the dragon?" Mumbo asked, peering into the already-lit portal.

"No, Iskall and I did that before you got here," Xisuma explained. 

"Like professional Minecrafters," Iskall chimed in, earning a small, hidden smile from Xisuma.

"We just have to raid the End cities," he explained. "Grian will go through first and grab elytra for the rest of us. Then we'll split up and get as many more as possible. End busting." 

"Erm... I'm not sure if sending Grian in alone is a good idea," Iskall mumbled.

"Well... he'll have this," Xisuma pointed out, brandishing an object.

A communicator.

"Wh- are you- I-" Grian stuttered, cut off by Xisuma crossing over and fastening the metal bracelet to his wrist. 

"Use it if you get in an emergency," Xisuma told him. 

"Shouldn't someone still go with him?" Mumbo asked hesitantly.  

"I can take one more person," Grian offered, fingering the communicator.

"Take Iskall," Xisuma agreed. "He's the best at End-busting."

And that was that.

Iskall and Grian stepped forward. 

A deep breath from one of them.

First Iskall took a step forward.

Grian followed closely. 

Then they both stepped in the portal and vanished.

To the End they went.

Now... we wait.

POV Shift: Iskall

The frigid, empty sensation of the End portal overtook Iskall.

He should've been used to it by now.

He honestly wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to it.

It was like your soul had been taken away from you.

Like you stepped into Death's arms.

Like- and it was over.

Iskall sat up with a groan. The almost-icy air of the End bit as his skin, sending a soulless shiver up his spine. 

Grian, however, let out a breath of what seemed like relief. It was as if he had been holding his breath, and was finally allowed to breathe. 

He's used to this, Iskall reminded himself. The End is his home. 

Grian shook out his wings, scattering the remaining water droplets. The End portal had taken away most of the water from the previously soaked pair due to the weird magic that Iskall didn't understand.

"Let's go, then?" Grian offered, pointing at the End Gateway in the distance. Iskall nodded and they both started making the trek to the portal.

"Don't look at the Endermen," Iskall advised, then wanted to smack himself. 

"No, really?" Grian said sarcastically, fighting back a laugh. 

"Ugh, it's just a reflex to remind people at this point," Iskall grumbled. "Take an enderpearl and let's go." 

And with that, two thrown pearls later, and they were in.

"Wow," Grian breathed. "I only left here around a week ago, but it feels like I haven't been in the End in ages." Iskall laughed.

"Missed it?" he joked. "Let's get looking." 

Iskall had expected Grian to explain or offer some kind of plan.

He did not expect the Watcher to grab him and rocket into the air.

"Right, let's go!" Grian said cheerfully. Oddly enough, Iskall didn't mind being over a hundred blocks in the air without elytra.

"Head northeast, I think," Iskall suggested, pointing the direction.

Everything seemed to be going fine.

Eventually, the pair found an End City.

"Voidwalkers live in the Void, under the islands," Grian explained as he and Iskall landed on the boat. "Watchers live basically everywhere else. Though this city isn't too big and is far too close to the Gateways for us to be in danger." Iskall nodded and went below-deck to grab the elytra.

He was only down there for a second when he heard a scream from above. 

Shoving the elytra on and ignoring the shulker shells lying on the floor, Iskall bolted out of the boat to see Grian fighting an Enderman on the floor of the End Islands.

Iskall watched the Enderman brutally attack the Watcher, and watched as his body went limp. 

"GRIAN!"

:)

-Storm