Chapter Text
Liz wasn’t sure how she got here. One minute she was on a dig site, dealing with some kid named Jesse who didn’t want to work even though he was interning. The next.
She was in what was called a “mob grinder”. Thankfully the man that built it noticed her and stopped it for a minute. Just long enough to get her out and frantically check her over and apologize repeatedly.
Then after making sure she was okay, he questioned her how she got there. She said she didn’t know.
He later gave her a tour of the base. At least the base “in the overworld”. He was shocked to find that she said she came from a world where zombies and creepers didn’t exist.
After that, he took her through the “end portal” and took her to his base. There, she learned about endermen and his research of them. The man’s name was Soren as she’d learned. She’d stayed with him for two weeks, before a group of people and a pig managed to follow him all the way to the base.
One of them. A kid named Jesse. Managed to anger the endermen. Which led to Soren having his base flooded to escape the endermen. Escaping to the overworld to create a Formidi-Bomb, which was basically a nuke. Not that anyone understood the joke she made when she heard about it though.
Jesse, used the F-Bomb in an attempt to kill the Witherstorm, but in the process, Soren lost an old friend. Ellegaard. When he found her, Liz rushed over, but she didn’t have anything in her med kit that would help. The internal bleeding was too severe.
Now. They were all in a cave, with not one. But 3 Witherstorms. Liz was sat in a corner, writing in her journal. Most of the younger group, swarmed around a friend that was trapped inside the storm till recently.
Petra. Though she didn’t seem to remember anything. Liz looked over at Gabriel and Magnus. Jesse was standing in front of them.
“Anything I can do?” He asked.
Magnus shook his head. “He just needs rest.. But- I could use some cake!” He laughed a little. “You don’t have any do you?”
Liz looked back at her journal and flipped through it. She had a few journals. One from her world, that hasn’t been updated since the day she came here. Her personal one, and- one that she just took notes on everything in. Which included crafting recipes.
She hummed, and shook her head. “No dice.” She said just loud enough for him to hear.
He shrugged. “That’s too bad.” Liz hadn’t talked with much of anyone other than Soren. Liz watched Jesse go to talk to Lukas, then flipped back through her journal, before closing it. She put it in her bag, and stood up. Petra looked over.
“You… I don’t recognize you at all… did I… know you?” She asked. Liz shook her head.
“No, sorry. I’m… a more recent addition to the… platoon.” She started walking.
“Oh…” Petra said.
“Hey!” Liz paused, and looked over. Axel. “What’s your deal anyway? Soren said you just showed up one day. How’d you find him? Why didn’t you tell anyone?” He got closer. Liz looked up. His unibrow fixed in a glare.
Liz didn’t move back. “I don’t know.” She said. Axel moved closer.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I mean.” Liz moved forward.
“I don’t. Know. One minute I’m on a dig site. The next, I’m falling into a mob grinder. You want more answers? I do too.” She walked away. Hearing Olivia talk to Axel.
“Axel. You didn’t have to crowd her. She’s probably just as shaken as us.” Liz sighed, now at the cave entrance. Seeing Lukas walking away with a horse. Liz looked over at Jesse, who was also standing in the entrance.
“Where’s he going?” She asked. Jesse looked at her.
“Petra said she saw the other Ocelots. Which means his friends are out there, he’s going to get them…” He said. Liz leaned against the wall, sighing.
“Sorry if I seemed… stingy earlier… I just… knew someone else named Jesse where I came from. He… was lazy, lacked motivation to do anything…. You’re… the exact opposite of that. So… sorry.” Liz said. Jesse looked at her again, and sighed.
“Phew. Thought it was about me flooding Soren’s base.”
“Oh I’m still upset about that.” Liz started. “But, water drains, it’s fine… I’ll deal.”
They stood there for a second. Jesse turned. “I’m- gonna go… check on Petra.” He said. Liz nodded.
“I’ll check on Soren…” They walked in opposite directions Liz left the cave, and walked towards Soren.
“You okay…?” Soren looked over his shoulder.
“Okay?” He scoffed. “No, the furthest thing.” He started walking down a recently made path. Liz followed, “The F-Bomb didn’t work, Ellegaard is gone. How could I possibly be fine!” He ran his hands up through his hair. “I just don’t know anymore…” They climbed up a ladder.
Soren shook his head. “I still can’t figure it out… why didn't it work…?”
A new figure emerged. “Of course it didn’t work.” He stepped forward, coming into the moonlight. “Only I know how to destroy it. I can help.”
Soren stepped forward. “Help? You want to help us! After you created- that thing?”
The bearded man crossed his arms. “Well that’s what I said, isn’t it?” Soren rolled his eyes, stepping towards him.
“Oh! Just as you once “helped” us before?” The other man’s jaw clenched.
“This isn't about the past. It’s about the future!” Soren moved toward him so abruptly it made the dark-haired man move back.
“There’s three of those things now!” The man glared.
“You say that like it’s my fault!”
Soren pinched the bridge of his nose. “It is your fault!”
The other man rolled his eyes, putting his hands on his hips. “Oh take responsibility for once Soren.” Liz looked between the two.
“Soren?” This made them pause. “What’s he talking about?”
“Nothing! He’s talking about nothing!” The other man sighed.
“Soren you need to listen to me!” Liz glanced at the ladder and moved over as Jesse climbed up.
“Oh? What good has ever come of that?” Liz stepped forward, going to speak, but Jesse was faster.
“What are you doing here, Ivor?” Liz looked at the bearded man. Ivor. “Come to lock me in another room?”
“Jesse.” Liz moved forward, and leaned on a tree between Jesse and Ivor.
“I came to offer my help.” Ivor moved forward. Soren scoffed.
“Huh, he’s been following us!”
“It’s not like that! You need to hear me out.” He sighed, and turned, walking towards the edge, looking out at the Wither Storm in the distance. “What you don’t understand is- you are all in very grave danger,”
Soren acted surprised for a minute then shouted. “Obviously!” Liz stepped between Jesse and Soren.
“Soren.” Liz said. Soren looked at her, then sighed, looking back at Ivor.
Ivor shook his head. “No, I mean specifically this group! The Wither Storm isn’t acting randomly. It’s following Gabriel!”
“Gabriel?” Jesse moved forward. Ivor sighed.
“You see I… may have programmed it to…” He scratched the side of his head. “Follow his amulet.” Silence fell over the squad.
“You mean- The Order’s amulet!?” Soren said.
Jesse moved forward. “Thay explains why the Wither Storm’s been following us.”
Ivor’s brows furrowed. “But- Gabriel wasn’t even with you until it attacked Boom Town.”
Jesse took out the amulet. “I have the amulet Ivor, I’ve had it all along!”
Ivor paused. “What? I… I didn’t know…”
Soren groaned. “Ivor you fool! You’ve created a monster that’s following Jesse! And it’s only getting stronger!” He walked to the edge.
“You don’t think I realize that? Nothing can stop those things! Nothing even hurts them!” Liz paused.
“Wait.” She moved forward. “Endermen! When we were running we saw endermen pulling pieces off the storms!” She looked at Jesse then Soren.
Ivor looked at her. “Endermen?” Soren turned to face the group.
“Liz is right! The Wither’s gaze passed over them, and they went wild!”
Jesse spoke up. “Trouble is, we’ve had run-ins with endermen and they’re bad news…”
Soren shook his head. “Mmh, not necessarily. Enough of them, working together. Might ignore us, and destroy the Wither Storm entirely!” He started to pace, stroking his chin.
“It’s a promising concept- at least in theory.”
Jesse spoke. “Could you coordinate the endermen somehow? Make them attack all at once?” Liz glanced around at the group. She felt kinda out of place here. She started walking towards the ladder.
Jesse grabbed her tattooed arm. “Stay here Liz, we need you in on this.” Liz paused, then nodded. She rejoined, noticing Ivor looking at her, then he looked back at Soren.
“If I know my endermen.” He stopped pacing, and looked over the group. “All we’d need to do is get them into the storm’s vicinity.” He started pacing again. “In fact, there’s probably more than enough of them still in my fortress.”
“Except…” Liz started. “How do we get there from here?”
Soren went to speak, but Ivor went ahead instead. “This is just like the old days, Soren. You and your crazy ideas-”
Soren moved forward. “Hush. Ivor, for once!” He sighed and moved back to talk to Jesse.
“The question is, how to bring the storms and the endermen together? Endermen aren’t ants, they don’t follow orders.” Liz piped up.
“Didn’t Ivor say they followed the amulet?” Soren blinked.
“Of course! Take the amulet to my fortress, and the storms will follow!” Ivor walked towards a few trees.
“Just one problem.” He turned toward them. “You’re forgetting about the command block!”
Siren sighed, now looking deflated. “Ah, yes. It’s clear no weapon can destroy it, not even a Formidi-Bomb.”
“Actually I…” Ivor stroked his beard. “May have a solution to that.” This got everyone’s attention. He started walking. “You see, when I first took possession of the command block-”
“You mean stole it.” Soren corrected.
Ivor rolled his eyes. “Yes, well. I created a failsafe. A backup plan, just in case.”
“Well, I’d say “just in case” is here!” Soren snapped.
“Are you saying you know how to destroy the command block?” Jesse asked. Ivor moved towards them.
“I’m saying there might, be a way.”
“What “way”?” Soren asked skeptically.
“An enchanting book. One that contains the power of the Command Block itself. Use it to enchant a weapon… and you’ll be able to smash the Command Block to bits. Forever.” He turned toward the valley
“Yes…” Soren started. “Yes that’s it! It could very well solve all our problems.” Soren looked to Jesse.
“Then what are we waiting for, let’s go get that book!”
“Just one problem…” Ivor turned. “It’s at my secret lab… which is… sort of far away.”
“How far could it possibly be?” Jesse asked.
“Let’s just say it’s the farthest place a person can travel before being utterly-”
Ivor was cut off when everyone heard something. “Oh dear. What was that?” Soren ran towards the sound, everyone followed. And Liz gasped. The storms… they were…
“How did it find us so quickly!?” Olivia said as she came out of the cave.
“It just keeps coming for us…” Axel said.
“Well we can’t stand around and wait for it.” Olivia said
“Guys there’s a reason it’s following us. Ivor says it’s because of the amulet Gab-”
“Ivor! It is you.” Magnus walked towards Ivor.
“Good to see you too, Magnus.” He placed his hands on his hips.
“Anyway, Ivor said the Wither Storms are drawn to the amulet. So we’re gonna lure them back to Soren’s fortress and destroy the command block with an enchanted super-weapon.” Jesse walked toward the edge to look at the steadily approaching storms.
“You figured all that out, just now?” Olivia asked.
Ivor approached. “The point is, we need to get moving. We aren’t safe. Not as long as we have that amulet.” He said.
Jesse pulled it out and looked at it.
“I’ll take it.” Axel said, putting his hand on it.
“You can’t!” Olivia said.
“I can. And I have too.” He said.
“Axel are you sure?” Jesse asked.
“Of course not.” He smiled a little.
“But you’ll have three Wither Storms chasing you where you go!” Olivia argued.
Axel shrugged. “If things get too intense I’ll duck into the nether or something.” He swallowed. “I’m tired of always being the selfish one.” He looked at Jesse as he handed him the amulet. “You just go make that super weapon. I’ll meet you back at Soren’s fortress.”
Petra spoke up. “Well, I wanna go with Jesse. That feels like where I belong.” She said. Jesse smiled at her, in a way that almost looked boyish. Olivia spoke next.
“Me too.” Liz shifted her weight.
“Well, haven’t really been in this world for long, but I kinda like not dying. So I’m coming either way.” She heard a snicker and looked over, Ivor was now looking at the sky. Magnus raised a brow at his old friend, but said nothing.
Olivia spoke again. “But… what do we do about Gabriel?” Magnus stepped forward.
“The rest of you go. I’ll stay here with Gabriel.”
“Are you certain?” Soren asked. Magnus smiled.
“Yeah! For old times sake. Besides.” He crossed his arms. “I’m not going anywhere with Ivor.”
“But Lukas is out there all by himself.” Olivia said. Liz put a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sure he’s fine. The storms aren’t after him. I think he’s smart enough to steer clear of them.” Liz said. Olivia pursed her lips and looked out.
“Mmh… maybe…”
“Even so, there’s nothing you can do for him now.” Soren said.
“Way to be reassuring Sor.” Liz said. This earned her a mildly offended look from Soren. “What?”
Jesse cut in. “Aside from that. Everyone take good care of yourselves.”
“You too.” Axel said. Then everyone started getting ready. There were only so many horses. So Liz decided to go and come back with her own. Ivor raised a brow, approaching her.
“I don’t believe we’ve met before today.” He said. Liz shook her head.
“Nope.” She held out a hand. “Elizabeth Yough, everyone calls me Liz.” Ivor hesitated before shaking her hand.
“Ivor.” He pulled his hand back and looked at her horse. No saddle. “How in the world are you going to control that thing without a saddle and reins?”
Liz held up a rope. Tied into makeshift reins. “There’s a lot that goes into it, but when I was in my early teens I worked around horses for a while.” She strokes the horse’s muzzle, and it knickers. He raised a brow.
“Early teens? How old are you?” He asked. Liz raised a brow.
“Guess.” Ivor looked her over.
“30” Liz put on an offended face.
“I’m only 27!” Ivor raised a brow, looking her over again, Eyes stopping on her right arm.
“What is that? Did you draw on yourself or something?” He asked. Liz paused.
“Huh? Oh!” She held up her tattooed arm. “No this is a tattoo.” Ivor’s brows raised slightly. Tattoos weren’t nonexistent here. But they were uncommon.
“You had ink put under your skin… why?” He raised one brow this time.
“Read the quote.” She said. Ivor read it, and shrugged.
“Inspirational.” He rolled his eyes.
Liz glared. “Well excuse me if I believe it.”
Ivor stared at the ink in her arm more, then to her face. “Good for you. But I don’t believe in stuff like that. Not anymore.”
Liz crossed her arms, leaning back on her horse. “Well that’s because you’re old and set in your ways.”
Ivor’s jaw clenched. “Watch yourself. Elizabeth.”
Her brows furrowed. “It’s Liz. Ivory.” He glared, and went to speak.
“Saddle up gang!” Jesse said, getting on his horse. Liz took hers to where a stone jutted out from the wall, and stepped on that, swinging her leg over on her horse. She looked around. Everyone had two a horse. But Ivor wasn’t on one.
“Anyone else wanna take Ivor? I’m riding bareback.” Liz said. Everyone’s heads turned at “riding bareback.” She pursed her lips. “Fine.” She looked at Ivor and opened her mouth. Petra spoke.
“I’ll swap places…”
“Aww man! I have to ride with him breathing down my neck?” Olivia voiced her ‘concern’ as Petra dismounted and approached Liz’s horse. Liz told Petra how to mount. While Ivor got on the back of Olivia’s horse.
Liz straightened her back, and instructed Petra to do the same. “Do you have good balance?” She asked.
“Uh… I think so?” Petra said. Liz looked forward.
“Good enough. Hold onto me, don’t squeeze the horse with your knees or heels it’ll take that as a sign to go faster. When the horse walks or trots, move your hips with how it moves it’s body.” Petra nods. When they set off, Liz notices the others looking back at her every now and then. Bareback riding just wasn’t a thing apparently…
The trip took days. With Jesse asking “Are we there yet?” Once a day. Through forests in the rain, a mesa plateau, what Ivor called “ice spikes”, a jungle.. after the first day, Petra got back with Olivia on her horse and Ivor got on Soren’s. So Liz didn’t have to worry about passengers.
Halfway through the jungle, Jesse again, asked if we were there yet.
“No. We’re not even close!”
“Careful Jess. If you rile him up to much he might pull something.” Liz jabbed.
Ivor glared. “Elizabeth… when we’re done with this mission I swear to-”
Soren looked back. “Would both of you stop it?” Liz sighed.
“Fine.” She rolled her shoulders and looked ahead. Seeing Ivor still glaring at her in her peripheral vision.
“Got a staring problem?” Ivor scoffed.
Days later, they reached a swamp. Petra sighed.
“My butt’s never been so sore in my life… not that I- remember…” Liz hummed.
“You have a saddle. I’ve been riding bare back this whole time.”
“I’m telling you we cannot go into the Far Lands!” Soren glared back at Ivor, then turned back forward. “They’re not just the edge of our world, but the limits of our comprehension!”
Ivor shook his head. “Oh, please… the Far Lands are a happy accident. Nature’s way of keeping life interesting.”
Soren shook his head. “No, no, no! They are perilous and unpredictable! Perlin noise, floating points…”
Jesse spoke. “Hold on, back up. What exactly are the Far Lands?”
Soren looked bewildered. “Are you being serious? The Far Lands lie at the very edge of all things, where logic gives way to chaos. They’re a dangerous place to visit. And a ridiculous place to construct a laboratory.”
Ivor chuckled. “Just wait until you see it.”
“Do those two never stop arguing.” Olivia said. Liz smiled sweetly.
“I can make them stop arguing.”
“By making Ivor argue with you instead? No thanks.” Jesse said. Petra sighed.
“I don’t care. All I can think about is food.”
Olivia sighed. “No kidding. I’m starving. Maybe we should turn back?”
Ivor shook his head. “This isn’t the time. Swamps are too dangerous. You never know what might be lurking around.”
Everyone heard a low growl. “What was that?” Petra asked.
“My stomach.” Soren said. Liz sighed. She was hungry too.
“I doubt there’s any food this far out.” Liz said
“Well we can’t turn back now. Not after coming so far.” Jesse said.
“Fine. But I’m taking a break.” Olivia dismounted.
“So am I.” Soren dismounted. Liz and Jesse followed suit. Liz groaned as she sat on the ground.
“Careful. Might mistake you for an old woman.” Ivor said. Liz glared.
“Keep dreamin.” Ivor paused and stared. Liz stared back blankly as she realized how that sounded vaguely like flirting. Jesse groaned.
“Guys. Please…”
Ivor sighed, shaking his head. “We mustn’t linger long. The Far Lands are just beyond this swamp.”
Soren looked over. “So this could be our last chance to find food?”
“Dammit…” Liz murmured, leaning back against the tree, waiting with the group. After a few minutes, Jesse came back with two potatoes, which he gave to Petra and Olivia. Liz looked around, and noticed Ivor was gone too. Probably followed Jesse.
Within minutes they came rushing back. Warning about a witch. Then a potion was thrown, and Liz hissed in pain as the liquid touched her skin. She rushed to wipe it away. It left a minor burn. Not like it affected much, she already had a healed burn scar on that arm anyway. The witch cackled.
“Oh no you don’t.” Olivia got up.
“Watch out for her potions!” Jesse said. Liz got up.
“Little late for that, but thanks.” She reached into her bag. Searching for a weapon of some kind. Shit. She sighed. She barely dodged another potion. Jesse managed to get the witch down. But the group was immediately attacked by a horde of skeletons. Scaring away their horses.
The group clustered together. “Witches and skeletons? That’s a deadly combination. Her potions, combined with their arrows?”
“The Far Lands are just past the swamp!” Jesse said.
“But they’ve seen us! They’ll just follow us!” Olivia said.
Ivor turned to the group. “The rest of you go! I’ll hold them off!”
“What!?” Soren stood up. “Ivor, no!”
“There’s no time to argue.” He glanced over at the horde. “Just head to the corner of the glitch wall!”
“The what wall?” Jesse asked.
Ivor jumped out. “Hey you witch! You’re not the only one that can throw a potion!” He threw a pink potion at the skeletons, and killed one of them. He threw another and ran.
“Come on!” Jesse said. Liz followed, then looked back. Ivor was doing okay. She looked forward and kept after the group.
When they stopped, Liz stared up at the Far Lands. “Welcome to the Far Lands my friends.” Liz took a breath, and followed them in.