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Every night, I'd always be in a random area. Caves, forests, or sometimes in unlit areas during day.
There's always this guy walking around, and my instinct was to just aim at him. Whenever I'd kill him, I'd always see him again, either after a few minutes, a few hours or the very next day. And whenever i am the one who died, I'd be in the same place I woke up to or another area completely. Lush caves, the woods, somewhere dark. Often times I'd explore until it's day time. I feel bad for the zombies who die the moment a ray of sun touches them.
But recently, my other fellows—skeletons I knew and even that one enderman that seems to love stealing sand blocks—were murmuring to themselves about appear in another dimension one day, a completely different place with different kinds of creatures.
"Apparently, that's where my brother stays. He likes it there." spoke the sand-loving enderman. "Right, I forgot you had siblings.." I mumbled, "The one who likes dirt blocks more?" I asked, to which he nodded. "Yeah, most especially the ones with grass on it."
There were some of us that gathered around the tall looming figure, who shared stories about this other space that I've never been through. According to the enderman, that place was called the "nether world", where different creatures roam. There were skeletons there, which does explain why the rest have been there, through I feel out of place when it seems as if I'm the only one that hasn't been there.
"Do you go there sometimes?" I asked the enderman as I sat across him. He nods, holding a block of sand in his arms. "I mean, if I want to. I'm quite comfortable here though." he spoke, looking at the sand. I just can't tell his expressions through his dark face, only his bright violet eyes staring down at it.
My cousin walks up to me, placing down her bow down as she sat beside me. "Hey." she smiled at me, waving her boney hands. I smiled back, watching her count her arrows. "Have you been to the nether yet?" I curiously asked her. It took her a few seconds to answer with a nod. I groaned, hands on my lap. "Seriously? Am I the only one who hasn't been there yet?" I asked with a huff. "Now I wish I've been there."
She raised a brow, turning her head to look at me weirdly (from what I can tell with the bones on her face). "What?!" I asked, stunned by her simply staring at me like I've said something bad. She placed her arrows down and sighed, looking at the rest. "Why, what does it look like?" I raised my head, looking at the others who also turned their eyes at me. It was a bit unsettling I admit.
Soft 'hmm's echoes in the cave as everyone got to think. The enderman spoke first, followed by others.
"It's weird."
"Scary.."
"Creepy."
"Kinda cool won't lie."
"Everyone's your enemy there.."
"There's lava everywhere it's like an inferno."
These comments further fueled my curiosity, though some comments made me think twice if I really want to end up there.
"Oh yeah, there's also skeletons there, different from you guys." The enderman states, still holding his precious sand block. The other skeletons nod in comfirmation. "Their bones are black, so it's sometimes hard to notice them in the dark. And they hold swords." My cousin told me, making me gasp in awe. There was actually another kind like us, just somewhat different. "Have you met them yet? Tried talking to them?" I hummed as I asked my fellow skeletons.
One groaned, almost slumping over. "Tried a few times, but they'd ignore me." they mumbled, looking defeated. "One of them tried to kill me." said another. My cousin managed to finish counting her arrows, keeping them with her. "They're not that friendly," she mentions as she stood up, "So I advice you to try not to provoke them when you end up in the nether."
Slowly, I nod at her advice, watching her leave while waving others goodbye, me included. My attention turned to the rest who decided to share some of their stories for me to hear.
Within the next few days, I encountered the weird guy again. This time he's wearing what looks like diamond armor and gear, exploring the cave and lighting them up with candles. I died a few times because of him, and end up in another random area.
I loaded my arrow with a deep exhale, gaining the enderman's attention. "Exhausted?" he asked, which I shook my head. "More of annoyed. It's like my arrows have no effect!" I exclaimed with a huff.
Currently, both of us were walking around at night with some other skeletons and zombies. However they just walk around mindlessly considering they don't have any brains. The enderman quickly led us to three structures placed above sand, wooden doors shut close. The one on the middle was tall with glass windows, made completely out of plain wood. The other two structures were made out of wood with roofs decorated with azalea leaves, some which I know as leaves.
Around these houses were some flowers, mainly the tall wooden building, some in front of the stone building to the right. Just behind said house were two beautiful azalea trees, as well as tall bamboos. I have to admit, the flowers and glowberries were stunning.
I watched as the enderman quickly goes over to grab a sand block without hesitation. As the zombies wandered, the door of the tall wooden building opened and closed. It was the same annoying guy who manages to kill me now, now running to us. I tried shooting it, but ended up dying quickly after.
I groaned loudly as I appeared in came back to life again, annoyed how I suddenly lost my skills in aiming. Or that guy somehow improved. Dangit.
Once I finally taken notice of my surroundings, I realized this place wasn't like the one I'd always popped into. It was different. Instead of the darkness of a cave, or the glowberries of the lush caves or even the dark forest, I ended up in a place of blocks with different shades of red. What quickly came into mind was the nether. I'm finally here. It did live up to the descriptions of what my fellow skeletons said.
I walked around, wanting to see what the place looked like. There were different kinds of mobs too, some flying around and a few endermans here and there.
That's when I noticed it, another skeleton with black bones holding a sword. I paused, fingers tightening on my bow. I remember my cousins words, as well as the other stories about skeletons with black bones. I was about to leave when it suddenly turned around, then walked up to me. I immediately froze, unable to move a bone.
For a moment, we stared at each other before they asked,
"You got white bones."
I blinked at what he said. "This is my first time meeting one.." they mumbled, looking at the bow I'm holding. "They're right, you're holding a bow."
Least to say I am a loss of words. I had never expected this black skeleton to come up to me and speak. This heavily contradicts to the stories the others told me. Then my mouth spoke before I could even think.
"Me too.. This is the first," I mumbled, looking down at the sword. "Cool sword by the way." I smiled.
Slowly, they smiled back. "I like your bow." they chuckled, making me laugh too. "I'm a skeleton." I said, extending my hand to them. "I'm a withered skeleton." they replied, taking my hand and shaking hands.
I grin, feeling giddy. "Hey, mind showing me around? I just got here." Quickly, they beamed, dragging me as they show me around the nether.
I never expected this, befriending a mob that others told were hostile. Were they being biased or was this one different? Either way, I didn't mind it. I love how I made a new friend in the nether.
I get to know more about the world, often finding myself staring at the ghasts flying around, some having adorable kids. The endermans quite remind me of the one I knew, holding blocks in their hands. The withered skeleton told me what they were holding were nyliums, something they'd usually hold. I giggled. Seems like all endermans are the same, just with different preferences in blocks.
Time seemed to have slowed, and I lost track of how long I was stuck in the nether. As days past, the more I spend time with the withered skeleton, who showed me around and even taught me how to use a sword. In return, I told him more about the overworld and how to use a bow. The giddy feeling in my heart just grew as I hang out with them more. First thought it was what I felt because we were best friends, but something told me it was different.
I did notice we start getting closer and closer, almost inseparable. Everywhere I go, they're there too, and vice verse. I honestly loved it.
Then, that same annoying douchebag with heavy armor suddenly appeared. I swear every time I see this guy, he ruins my mood. After seeing this guy after days, he ran up to me, attacking me. I tried hitting him with an arrow, but it did nothing at all. That's when he suddenly died, and I saw the withered skeleton, holding their sword.
"Are you alright?" they ask in worry, walking over to me. "I'm fine, just a few bones loose." I chuckled, but I can see the worry in his face. That's when he embraced me with a sigh. "At least you're still here with me.." they whispered. I embraced back, before letting go.
The next day, he leads me to a small structure, a small bed inside with nice decorations. As I admire the interior, they close the door gently. "Hey.."
I turn around to see him holding a bouquet of overworld flowers, roses, cornflowers, allium and peonies all wrapped beautifully. "I asked some skeletons to gather some flowers. Thought you might like it." they smiled, handing it to me. I gasped in awe, putting down my bow and taking it gently. "Oh my.. Thank you.." were the words i managed to mumble out of shock. My eyes watched as they went sat on the bed, smiling at me.
I just feel like melting.
I gently place down the flowers, walking over and sitting down on the bed beside them. "I don't think I want to leave the nether soon." I laughed, causing the withered skeleton to giggle, hugging me so suddenly the weight pulled us down unto the bed as we laughed like idiots.
Life sure is full of mysteries.