It was strangely silent when Nikita came out of the portal. It seemed almost... abandoned. It was cold here to, a lonely wind howling through the desolate hills of endstone. She raised her sword, ready for any Endermen that might attack as they moved forward.
"Stay close." Said Herobrine.
Nikita silently nodded her head and followed Herobrine.
They climbed up over a ridge and what she saw amazed and frightened her at the same time. Tall obsidian towers stretched high into the black, starless sky and on top of them were glowing crystals, some encased with iron bars.
Hundreds of Endermen roamed below the towers, and a portal made of bedrock lay in the middle of the island.
Then Nikita heard it. The flapping of giant wings. She looked up to see the Ender Dragon flying high above them, circling like a giant vulture.
"Keep the Endermen distracted." Said Herobrine to the Servants who had come with them.
They nodded and moved out ahead of them, gaining the attention of the Endermen and drawing them away from where Nikita and Herobrine stood.
Nikita watched as the Ender Dragon swooped down and bathed the ground below her in purple flames.
"Reach out your mind." Said Herobrine.
"Now is your moment."
Nikita nodded, took a deep breath, and reached out.
She went passed all of the Endermen's minds, briefly feeling their pain, and she felt the Servant's minds for only moments before she felt only emptiness.
Then it hit her, the full rage of the Ender Dragon. Her mind was set on one thing: kill the intruders of her home, who have come to kill her as many have tried to do before.
Nikita gasped as the Dragon's rage washed over her and her knees buckled. She faintly felt Herobrine catch her and steady her.
"Push through it." She heard him say.
Nikita nodded faintly and did, getting past the rage and into the Dragon's Memories where she spoke one phrase.
Listen to me.
The Dragon suddenly veered away from the Servants on the ground and up into the sky to circle yet again like a giant vulture in the sky.
And why should I listen to you? The Dragon said.
Her voice echoed in Nikita's mind, strong and clear, not at all what Nikita had been expecting.
I can promise you freedom from this place. Nikita said.
The same promise that they have told me over and over again, but they always want me for their one evil purpose. Said the Dragon.
Nikita saw her purple gaze shift to Herobrine.
But you are different. She said.
The great black dragon turned and landed in front of Nikita, buffeting her with warm wind from her wings. She turned her head so that Nikita's and her eyes were level.
You do not want me to destroy your world, to take it over, no matter what you may think. Your heart is not evil, it is good. I can see it. You want to protect those you love from the Ultimate Evil. She said.
Nikita suddenly felt... different. She realized that that was what she wanted, that whatever Herobrine had put into her head was not what she wanted. Whatever he had made her believe wasn't what she truly believed in. Instead what she wanted was to protect those she loved and the land she loved, to defeat Herobrine once and for all.
I can do that with you on my side? She asked the Ender Dragon.
Yes. I will help you in your battle against the darkness.
Then Nikita had the sudden urge to ask the Dragon something.
Do you know what happened to my parents? Truly? She asked.
I do. Said the Dragon.
Can you tell me? Asked Nikita.
Yes.
Suddenly Nikita's mind was filled with the sight of the Ender Dragon looking down on her parents with Herobrine standing in front of them.
Words were spoken, inaudible from this far away, and then the worst happened. Herobrine's eyes began to glow and a lightning bolt struck both of her parents.
She watched as their bodies fell to the ground, lifeless.
I wouldn't bond with either of them because their intentions were evil, so he killed them both, their usefulness having run out. He had no need for them anymore.
Nikita held back tears.
He lied to me. He told me that they died trying to get into Brimstone, that the guards found me in their belongings.
Part of that is true, I saw it in their memories. They left outside the gates of Brimstone because they knew that you needed to be safe if anything were to happen to them.
The guards must have found you and you must have been taken in by your current family. Said the Dragon.
Nikita looked away from the Dragon for a brief moment before looking back up at her.
So you will bond with me? Asked Nikita.
And help me defeat Herobrine?
Yes. Said the Dragon.
Nikita approached her and ran a hand down her neck and then climbed up onto the Dragon's back, settling into the space between two of the spikes on her back just behind the base of her skull.
"Yes." She heard Herobrine say.
"Now I have what I need."
"Open a portal to Shadowstone." Ordered Herobrine, calling the Servants fighting the Endermen to him.
Nikita did as she was told and opened a portal to Shadowstone, widening the swirling vortex of magic until it was big enough to fit the dragon through it.
Herobrine and his Servants went first, then Nikita and the dragon. Once they were in Shadowstone Nikita closed the portal.
You can land in the open space by The Fortress. Said Nikita.
There should be enough space.
And where will you be? Asked the Ender Dragon.
I'll be in The Fortress. Said Nikita.
The Ender Dragon then unfolded her wings and lifted off into the sky, flying towards the training grounds. It was a short flight but it was unlike anything that Nikita had experienced before. It felt like she was free and unbound, it felt wonderful. She had expected it to be scary the first time, but it felt natural.
The Dragon landed and Nikita dismounted. Herobrine met her when she slid to the ground, and the Ender Dragon turned her head so she was staring straight at him and growled low in her throat.
Herobrine barely moved, but Nikita was sure that she saw a momentary flicker of fear in Herobrine's eyes.
He then turned to face her.
"We leave with the army in the morning. Our first destination is Redstone Isle. All of the other villages have been taken."
"Prepare yourself for the battle to come." Said Herobrine.
"Practice fighting on dragonback tonight until you feel comfortable with it."
Nikita nodded, turning to the dragon and mounting her again, settling into the same spot. When Nikita looked at the ground below her she found that Herobrine had disappeared.
I hate it when he does that. She thought as the Dragon took off.
That afternoon and late into the evening Nikita spent practicing fighting another Servant from dragonback, and using her powers to wreak havoc on those below her. It only took her a couple of hours of hard work to feel comfortable fighting on dragonback.
That night, however, she had butterflies in her stomach.
How are we going to escape? Asked Nikita that night as she lay in bed.
You can create portals, yes? Asked the Dragon.
Yes. Answered Nikita.
Then when we are back in the Overworld you can create a portal to the Redstone Isle so that we can earn them that Herobrine is coming with his army. She said.
He will have us fly above the army, so if it is cloudy, we will have cover. She said.
Then that's what we'll do. Said Nikita, closing the matter.
Goodnight. She said to the Ender Dragon.
Goodnight. She said back.
Then Nikita fell asleep, confident that they had a working escape plan.