I pulled my black hoodie down and dashed to the other side. Lava bubbled to my right and masked any noise I made. I peeked over the edge of the peak and-

Safe!

The guards didn't see me.

I broke a block of quartz and threw it at the pigmen. They rose their swords and charged in my direction until I stood upon the little ledge I was hiding in.

"Princess! You gave us quite a fright!" Said guard one.

"Please don't ever do that again. We're in high tension and need to be-" the other guard said before I waved off his statement.

"Where's father?" I asked. I rarely get to see him now, he's always cooped up in his office, having meetings or doing research.

"Busy, princess. Do you need something?"

Busy, as usual. No matter what I try I still won't receive a response from him- unless its one of those rare moments he actually remembers he has a daughter that is almost 17 years old.

"Nothing. Just wants to know if he's free."

The pigman let out a sigh that sounded like a oink. "Where is your companion?"

I sighed, knowing that he talking about Wiker the wither Skelton.
Apparently he was supposed to be my friend and not make me feel lonely. But how can one be my friend if he still treats me like a royal and is several hundred or even thousands of years older than me?

The only thing I really respect him for is sword fighting, for he's one of the best- thanks to his experience.

"He's resting" I lied. 

"The you should come back to the palace, princess. With the war going on outside, the chance of an invasion is always-"

"I'll go back to the palace later." I said quickly before he could finish his sentence. If I go back, they wouldn't let me out at least for the rest of the day. 

"Princess-"

I was gone before he can continue. 

I wandered around, occasionally annoying ghasts by jumping on top of them, eventually drifting by a nether portal that caught my attention. 

I thought father shut all of them off...

I dismounted my ride and hid behind a pile of blocks.

To my surprise, two boys walked out of the portal, obviously scared as their eyes darted around until a boy pointed at something. 

I followed their gaze and laid my eyes on a pile of quartz. I couldn't let anyone just come in and out of the Nether as they wished.


The boys eagerly ran over with pickaxes and began to mine, not noticing when I pulled my hood down low so only my mouth is visible and snuck over to them.

My first strike knocked the first boy out- slamming the flat of my blade with a diamond sword to the head should do the trick. I turned to the other boy, who was running toward the portal.

ah, I forgot to close the portal-

I watched him leave, unable to do anything about it.

 When he left, I closed the portal, mining a block of obsidian out and dragged the boy back onto another ghast (ignoring the screeches of protest from the ghast, of course) and drifted toward the castle.

I dropped him off where the guards were at, and told him to bring him to the dungeons.
I felt bad for the boy as I never found out what happened to the intruders I caught, but it's my duty to protect the nether.

I headed toward my dad's office, and without knocking, went inside.

My father was hunched over, furiously writing something. He looked up at the sound opening and smiled when he saw me.

"Hello, Ami." He nodded. Ami was my nickname, reserved only for him.

"Hello, father." I gave him a sweet smile. "Care to practice with me?"

He shook his head, much to my disappointment. "Darling, I can't. I don't have enough time-" he faltered when I gave him a playful pout and he laughed. "You look so much like your mother. Always giving that exact face when I was busy."

I smirked and sat on his desk, picking up a piece of paper. Apparently, some mob camps in the overworld were being captured- and the numbers increase every day.

"I wonder what's their deal about conquering us."

My dad's hand rested on my head and messed around with my hair. "My brother hates me and my nature." He smiled sadly.

"Yeah, you said," I grumbled.

"Unfortunately, that's the way it is. he won't rest until he takes away everything I have worked hard to create." His hands trailed to my cheek, his expression soft "Including you."

I fell silent. 

I was about to horn sounded, echoing across the entire land. 

Another answered it until the noise was almost deafening.

My dad looked up immediately, 

"And there's the attack we've been anticipating." he started out the room "Amythest, go to your room, or stay in the infirmary." 

I didn't try to follow him. What can I do in battle? The next best thing for me to do now is to make myself as useful as I can. 

I headed for the infirmary.