The song on the playlist for this chapter is "The Fuse" by Bruce Springsteen

Spotify link in this comment line.

[•]

Petra's ears were ringing, her body aching as she sprawled on the grass. Her friends loomed over her, speaking words she couldn't hear while pieces of the Witherstorm fell from the sky. 

The ringing slowly subsided as she got to her feet, hearing Axel ask, "Is that it? Is it over?"

Olivia laughed in disbelief. "I can't believe it's...actually dead!"

Lukas stepped in front of Petra with an excited grin. "You did it, Petra. You actually did it!"

"Thanks for saving my life back there," she surveyed the group. "If you guys hadn't managed to pull me back the way you did...I probably would've died with that Witherstorm."

She watched Jesse's eyes widen but before he could say anything, Axel suddenly asked, "Has anyone seen Soren or Magnus?"

"And where'd Ellegaard go?" Olivia added.

Petra quickly scanned the surroundings, locating the tree the griefer had been thrown against. Only a few steps away lay Magnus, held on Soren's lap while Ellegaard hovered nearby. Petra cursed, running over with the gang in tow. "Oh no!"

Soren was supporting his friend's bloodied body. "You fought valiantly, my friend."

"We both know...my fight...is over, man..."

"Stuff and nonsense...stuff and nonsense!"

Magnus' gaze shifted over to Petra. "Petra."

"Magnus."

"My armor...looks...great on you, hot fuse. I want you to keep it...okay?"

"Of course," Petra reached over and took his hand. "Thank you for everything you've done."

Magnus chuckled. "Thanks for...having me along for the ride, hot fuse. And I guess you were right," his gaze flickered up to Ellegaard. "Ellie and I did bicker like a divorced couple."

Ellegaard knelt down next to him. "That's because we practically were divorced. Tell them the truth, Magnus."

Axel screeched "What?!" and Petra smiled a bit. "I had a hunch."

Magnus nodded, looking back up at Soren. "I guess I got the chance to be a real hero after all, huh?"

Soren shook his head and Magnus suddenly startled, looking past Petra. When she looked over her shoulder, she was just as shocked. Dozens of people walked from the carcass of the Witherstorm. "All the people. They're alive!"

Magnus squeezed her hand to get her attention. "Petra--you gotta help them. All of 'em. Make sure they get out and don't leave anybody behind."

"I'll find them all. That's what the good guys do, right?"

He nodded a bit before his eyes fluttered closed, ragged breathing coming to an abrupt stop. Ellegaard let out s sound that was something between a horrified gasp and a choked sob, sinking to her knees. Petra closed her eyes a moment before gently lowering Magnus' hand to the ground and getting to her feet.

While Soren and Ellegaard sat with their friend a moment, Petra turned to her group. "Help the survivors. I'm going to look for anyone who could be trapped."

They did just that. While the others guided the survivors, Petra went directly among the body of the beast. She lifted tentacles off people, helped others to their feet, and showed them the way out. She was checking the area towards the middle of the beast when she suddenly got the urge to look up.

Above her, surrounded by what appeared to be ribs, was--"The Command Block?! No no no no, this has to be a joke. Soren's bomb was supposed to destroy it! It looks completely fine!"

As if her yelling caught its attention, the Command Block sparked back to life, drawing colorful particles out of the air towards itself. She spun to call for help when she was suddenly yanked backwards. A collection of the particles clung to her midsection, dragging her back. "Help! HELP, SOMEONE!"

Her feet left the ground and just when she was sure she was done for, a pair of hands firmly grasped her arms. She looked into the purple eyes of her savior and did a double-take. "Gabriel?!"

The Command Block decided to release its hold on her, sending them to the ground. "I thought you died! I saw you--and Jesse said--"

Gabriel groaned, letting her help him to his feet. "What...what happened here?"

"I promise, I'll explain everything. Later, though!"

A violent tremor shook the earth and the Witherstorm shuddered back to life, slowly lifting off the ground. But what was worse was the two other chunks were being lifted up with the main part. Petra felt her heart leap into her throat. "Shit. We need to go!"

She took off running, stopping and dashing back when Gabriel wasn't following. "Gabriel, come on!"

He turned to her, clear confusion on his face. "Who's...'Gabriel'?" Hee jaw hung open as he continued. "Where am I? What's going on?"

"Look, this thing is going to kill us. Come on, I need to get you our of here!"

Gabriel took a step back. "Who are you?"

Before she could even formulate a reply, she heard Axel yelling her name. Disregarding Gabriel's confusion, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him in the direction of Axel's voice. "We're here, Axel!"

The green-clad man looked relieved. "No way--you found Gabriel?!"

Again, the warrior asked, "Who's Gabriel?"

A loud roar shook the air, two more heads appearing on each piece of the Witherstorm, creating three monsters. Petra cursed. "Okay, unless 'dying' is on your bucket list, we need to get out of here!"

Axel took off running. "This way!"

Fireballs began to streak through the sky, launched from the Witherstorms' mouths, shaking the ground with every impact. Axel led them behind a large hunk of land, where the rest of the group crouched. 

"Petra, you made it!" Olivia exclaimed.

"And you found Gabriel?!" Lukas added.

Jesse's head snapped up. "Back up the minecarts, did you say 'Gabriel'?!"

A tractor beam landed on their hiding spot, forcing the group to scatter. As Petra followed the group, Endermen suddenly appeared, walking towards the Witherstorm. It was clear they had no interest in her, so she kept running until she passed Soren hovering behind a tree. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Those Endermen are running the wrong way. They'll be killed!" The ginger replied. "If I stand by and watch, I'll be condemming them to death!"

"Soren, who the fuck cares?!"

"'Who cares'? I've devoted my entire life to those creatures!"

"Well then! I guess you're ready to die for them, huh?"

The man's face fell. "Well...no..."

A fireball hit the tree they stood under and they took off running again. Horses Soren originally had penned ran by, distracting Petra until she heard Lukas yell, "Petra! They're falling behind!"

She stopped in her tracks, turning to see Axel desperately helping Jesse along. "Axel, you have to hurry! Move faster!"

"He's too sick--this is the best we can do!"

"They're not going to be able to outrun it!" Lukas exclaimed. "Not on foot!"

Petra snapped her fingers. "The horses! Everybody grab a horse, quick!"

The group quickly surrounded the creatures, Petra mounting up the fastest. "Lukas! I've got Jesse, you take Gabriel!"

The blond nodded as Petra helped Jesse onto her horse. "I've got you. Hold on!"

She kicked the horse into a full gallop, Jesse letting out a scream and grabbing tightly onto her waist. They rode towards the mountains, hoping they just maybe could lose the Witherstorm among the stony peaks.

[•]

Petra watched Soren's hands curl into frustrated fists. "How? How could this have happened?! To lose not just a friend...but a member of the Order of the Stone!"

Petra had never been on for touching people or offering comfort. Sure, it had seemed easy with Jesse and not so hard with Lukas, but this felt more difficult. Regardless, she went up to Soren and put a hand on his shoulder. She saw conflicted emotions on his torch-lit face as she said, "Magnus would want us to keep fighting, no matter the cost."

"And for us to keep blowing the crap out of stuff." Axel added.

Ellegaard managed a chuckle. "You're right. He would."

Soren let out a yell of frustration, causing Petra to take a step back. "Being emotional is getting us nowhere! What I want to know is what happened out there today? Why is that thing still alive?!"

When no one answered, he marched up to Petra. "My instructions were simple! You were in the middle of everything, what went wrong?!"

"Your bomb failed, Soren!" She shot back, trying not to get angry as well. "Okay, so it ripped the Witherstoem apart. But the Command Block didn't even suffer a dent!"

"So the Command Block is still out there!!"

"Of course it is!"

"Oh great! To make matters worse, we've gone from one Witherstorm--to three! Our plan was a total failure," Soren began to pace. "I should've cast that foul block into the abyss!"

No one dared say a word and the man groaned, marching towards the cave mouth. "I need a moment to think."

Gabriel turned to Ellegaard with a inquisitive look. "Is he always like this?"

She sighed. "You have no idea."

Gabriel nodded slowly, eyes shifting over to Lukas. "That jacket--I recognize it!"

Lukas turned around, startled, while Petra joined Gabriel. "Lukas loves that jacket. He's always wearing it."

"No--there were other people wearing that very same jacket when I was thrown from the monster!" The man suddenly backed up. "Ugh...it hurts just to think about..."

Ellegaard took his arm. "Just put it out of your mind."

Lukas turned to Petra, hope flickering in his blue eyes. "Petra...if what Gabriel said is true..."

She couldn't help but grin a little. "Your friends could still be out there."

"Exactly! I-I've got to go after them! They might need me, Petra."

Petra watched him as he approached the makeshift horse pen. Before she could follow him, Jesse's voice made her freeze. "Oh crap, dizzy. Suddenly really dizzy..."

Axel helped lower him to the ground. "Easy, Jesse. I've got you."

She felt torn. Her first instinct was to check on Jesse, but a second look at Lukas made her approach him first. "What exactly are you doing?"

"I already told you, I'm going after my friends. I thought the other Ocelots were dead...but they're not. I need to go find them."

"Lukas, we need you here. You're part of the team!"

"And that just reminds me that I've left my team."

Petra sighed. "Lukas..."

"Look, you've really made me feel like a part of the team, Petra, and I really appreciate it. I'd even call us friends. So please understand I need to help my old friends."

"I understand, Lukas, I do. But as you friend, I am asking you to stay. It's so dangerous out there and I could never forgive myself if you died because I didn't try to keep you here."

His eyes widened. "You really mean that?"

"I do. We need you here, Lukas."

He was silent a moment. "Okay. Okay, I'll stay. I just hope they'll be okay."

"They will be."

"Yeah. Hey, you should really go check on Jesse."

She nodded. "Doing that next. Just wanted to make sure you'd stay with us."

Lukas gave a thankful--but worried--smile and she patted him on the shoulder before turning away. She found Jesse seated on the floor, leaning against the wall with Axel and Olivis hovering nervously. Petra knelt down to Jesse's eye level. "Hey, handsome."

This managed to make him smile. "Just laying on the compliments, hm? You want me so bad."

She chuckled and Olivia hurriedly asked, "Do we need to leave? I feel like I seriously missed something."

Petra waved a hand. "No, no...just joking around."

"Still doesn't explain what I missed."

"Now's not the time. How are you feeling, Jesse?"

"Well, between my lungs screaming when I breathe and my head spinning like a top," he shifted a bit, instantly wincing. "I'm just great."

She reached over and took his hand, giving in a light squeeze. His fingers felt like ice, but for the little smile on his face, she couldn't care less. His eyes appeared sunken in his head and he looked hollow, the usual roundness of his face starting to give way to sharp angles. This Wither Sickness was starting to sap everything he had.

Axel growled. "If it weren't for Ivor, Jesse wouldn't be like this right now."

"No kidding." Olivia agreed.

"That's...not exactly true," Petra looked up at them. "Ivor built the Wither, sure, but he couldn't have done it without that damn skull I gave him. I was so focused on that diamond..."

"Hey," Jesse drew her attention back to him. "I was just as involved in that deal as you were. You're not the only one at fault."

"But if I had just stopped to think--"

"He would've found another way to get the skull. Then we might've not been there to help Gabriel."

"Jesse, countless people have died--could die because I didn't stop and think."

"Playing the blame game just distracts and weighs people down," Jesse's eyes focused on her intensely. "You need to focus on what you can change."

She remembered saying something similar to Lukas. "Yeah. And I'm going to do everything I can to take that thing down."

"There's the Petra I know. I'll do whatever I can to help."

"You're not going to like this, Jesse," Olivia interjected. "But you should stay here."

"What are you saying?"

"You should stay in this cave," Axel suggested. "It's safe, defensible--" 

"What? No, we're a team!" Jesse suppressed a cough. "I'm not just going to sit here while you all risk your lives!"

"So you can risk yours, which is already on the line?" Olivia argued.

"I'm--cough--I'm fine!"

Before any further arguing could occur, Petra took Jesse's face in her hands. "Jesse, they're right."

He took in a shuddering breath. "But I want to go with you."

"Well, I want you to live. In the end, it's your decision, but..." She rubbed her thumb over his cheek. "As someone who loves you, I want to be able to come back to you. I fear if you keep going you won't have any energy to stay alive."

Axel's jaw was hanging open while Olivia agreed. "She's right, Jesse. Please just stay here."

He sighed. "I should be out there with you guys, although you do have a good point...look, you said it my decision, right? Let me think about it."

"Jesse..."

"I need time to think. So let me think."

Petra sighed and straightened. "Okay."

He smiled up at her. "Thank you."

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Petra, you owe me an explanation here."

"Later, I promise...hey, where's Reuben?"

Jesse's green eyes scanned the cave. "Crap, he must've ran outside. Petra, could you--"

"Yeah. I need to go check on Soren anyway. See if he got any bright ideas while standing out there. I'll be back."

She made her way out, patting Lukas on the shoulder as she passed him before emerging into the open air. A light snow was beginning to fall, the Witherstorms looming in the distance, moving so slowly they could be asleep. Petra found Reuben watching the monsters. "You shouldn't just disappear like that. You could hurt."

The pig looked up at her, concern etched into his features. "You're worried about Jesse, aren't you?" A nod. "Yeah, me too. That's why I want you to protect him while we go finish that thing off. He's trying to come, but...it'd be safer if you two stayed here."

Reuben nodded and Petra smiled a bit. "Alright. Protect him, Reuben, regardless of what happens. And hey, he was worrying about you. Probably should go back in."

The pig snorted and ran back into the cave. Petra went to follow until a voice made her freeze. "That's what I said, isn't it?"

The voice was familiar, and not in a pleasant way. The voice of Soren shot back, "Just like you 'helped' us before?"

"This isn't about the past! It's about the future!"

"There are three of those things now!"

"You say that like it's my fault."

"It is your fault!"

Petra followed the arguing voices to a ladder leading up to a cropping of land. She climbed quickly, seeing Ivor throw his hands in the air. "Soren, you need to listen to me!"

The ginger scoffed. "Oh, what good as ever come of that?"

Petra was too tired to even demand why Ivor was there. "Are you two done?"

"Oh, this isn't an argument..." Soren shot Ivor a glare. "It's me trying to make Ivor leave us alone!"

Ivor glared back. "I told you--I wouldn't have followed you here without good reason! You don't understand--you're in grave danger."

Before Petra could reply, Soren let out a series of stressed laughs. "Obviously!"

"No--I mean specifically this group! The Witherstorm isn't acting randomly. It's following Gabriel!"

Petra raised an eyebrow. "Gabriel?"

Ivor smiled nervously. "You see, I...may have programmed it to...follow his amulet."

"Well that would explain why we could never outrun that damn thing."

"I don't understand. Gabriel only just reappeared."

Petra pulled the amulet out of her pocket. "I have the amulet, Ivor! I have this whole time!"

"What?" A look like regret flashed across his face. "I-I didn't know."

Soren shook his head. "Ivor, you fool. You've created a monster that's following Petra! These...kids that got pulled into this mess! And that thing is only getting stronger!"

"You don't think I realize that? Nothing can stop those things! Nothing even hurts them!"

Petra snapped her fingers. "Except for Endermen!"

"Endermen?"

Soren's face lit up. "Petra's right! When the tractor beams went over them...the Endermen went wild!"

She nodded. "Earlier we saw Endermen pulling blocks off the Witherstorms."

"And...enough of them working together might be able to destroy a Witherstorm entirely!" Soren began to pace. "It's a promising theory..."

"Is there any way we can get them to attack all at once?"

"If I know my Endermen...all we'd need to do is get them into the storm's vicinity. In fact, there's probably more than enough of them still in my fortress...an unintended side-effect of you flooding the End!"

Ivor opened his mouth but Petra sent him a look so dark he closed it again. She turned back to Soren. "We can use the amulet to lead the storm to your fortress."

"Yes...yes! We'll lead them into a massive trap!"

Ivor sighed. "There's just one problem. You're forgetting about the Command Block."

Soren's face fell. "Oh. Yes. It's clear now that no weapon can destroy it, not even a Formidi-Bomb."

"Actually, I may have a solution for that. You see, when I first came into possession of the Command Block--"

"You mean 'stole' it."

Ivor smiled. "Yes, well, I created a failsafe. A backup plan for just in case."

"Well, I'd say 'just in case' is here!"

"You know how to destroy the Command Block?" Petra asked. "And you're just saying so now?!"

"Well, neither of you gave me the chance to mention it until now! Look, I have an enchanting book. One that contains the power of the Command Block itself," Ivor turned to look at the monster in the distance. "Use it to enchant a weapon...and you'll be able to smash the Command Block to bits. Forever."

"Yes...yes, that's it," Soren nodded. "This could very well solve all our problems."

"Let's get that book then," Petra crossed her arms. "We have no time to waste."

"Just one problem," Ivor turned back to them. "It's at my secret lab...which is...sort of far away."

She sighed. "How far, Ivor?"

"Let's just say it's the farthest one can travel before being utterly--"

 A loud rumble filled the air, causing all three of them to look up. Glances were exchanged before they hurried down the ladder. The rest of the group had emerged from the cave, watching the Witherstorm moving slowly in the distance. 

Jesse shook his head. "I can't believe it found us already."

"We're not safe anywhere, are we?" Lukas asked. "That's because it's following us," Petra replied. "Look, we're going to Ivor's lab to--"

"Ivor?" Ellegaard interrupted. "Well I'll be...it is you!"

Ivor nodded. "A pleasure as always, Ellegaard."

Gabriel joined them, offering his hand. "Hello. My name is Gabriel."

"...what?"

Petra shook her head. "Okay, look. The Witherstorm follows the amulet, so we'll use it to lure the storms to Soren's fortress. The Endermen will rip the monster apart while we'll destroy the Command Block with an enchanted super-weapon."

"You figured all of this out just now?" Olivia asked.

"Point is, we need to get moving. We aren't safe!" Ivor pointed to Petra. "Not as long as we have that amulet."

She pulled it out, watching all the colors except Magnus' glow in the dim light. A large hand suddenly grasped the other side. "I'll take it."

Olivia stepped forward. "Axel, you can't!"

"I can and I have to.*

"But you could be killed."

Petra let go, letting him take it. "I appreciate it, Axel. Thank you."

"I haven't even done anything with it yet."

"Regardless. I'm glad to count you as my friend."

Axel smiled a bit. "Same here, Petra. Look, you go make that super weapon. I'll meet you back at Soren's fortress."

Ellegaard suddenly stepped forward. "Well, Axel shouldn't have to do this alone. I'm going with him."

Jesse also stepped forward. "I'm going with him, too."

Olivia groaned and Petra stared at him. "Jesse, I said--"

"You said that in the end, it's my decision. And I've decided I'm going."

She went up to him and took his face in her hands. "Please don't do this to me.*

"It's what you would do," he brushed a strand of her hair out of her face. "I promise, I'll be there you reach the fortress. I'll be okay."

She heard the group talking about how to split up, but she ignored them, leaning forward and pressing her forehead against his. "Please...please come back to me."

"I will. Between Axel and Reuben, nothing will happen to me," he pulled back to offer her a smile. "I promise."

She pressed a kiss to his forehead and took a deep breath. "Okay."

"Petra?" Olivia's voice drifted over to them. "We really need to go."

Jesse gave Petra's hand a squeeze. "Good luck."

She squeezed back before letting go, trying to ignore the sinking pit in her stomach. "Alright, everyone. Even though we're splitting up, we're still a team. Together, we're going to take this thing down."

Axel grinned. "Hell yeah. We can't lose."

Petra scanned the group, taking in the details of each individual. Axel's grin, Olvia's worry, Lukas's jacket, Ellegaard's armor. She brushed her fingers over Magnus' armor, still protecting her and nodded. "We'll see each other alive and well at Soren's. Good luck everyone. Stay safe."

A/N: Extra long chapter and it was a bit of a rollercoaster to write. Between dead Magnus, amnesia Gabriel, and Jetra angst going on, I'm having a tough go.

I hope you guys enjoyed and will share your comments. I really enjoy reading them.