Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my second story submission.
I am going to cancel my former submission, and instead use this one. I have already asked CAm, and he said we could submit multiple entries, but only have one considered for the contest.
Starring:
Zaex, OnlyMathias, and
PuffyCottonCandy, joined by guest
Erisyuka.
Special thanks to Mufasa, Chad’s Cat. You'll find out why.
Based off of Survival Games 1, the map by Team Vareide, and also The Hunger Games series.
This story is not based off of a memory from the past. As I write, everything that I say comes to life within my imagination. I create my own memories. It may not have been a real event in the past, but it’s real enough to me, within my own mind. Things that happen on the MCGamer servers are in a virtual world made of electricity. My mind, my imagination, the way I think – it’s made by electronic pulses, is it not? Therefore it’s similar to the way a physical server might work, in theory. That means that this could have actually happened on my own mental MCSG Server 
With that said, I believe I just qualified this story for the contest.
CAm can you confirm or deny?
In addition to the contest, this story does serve multiple other purposes – As a welcome-back present to Zaex for when he returns, as a lol-gift for Mathias, and an apology to Puff for ending our conversation so rudely. Also, a thank-you to Erisyuka for hosting the servers that bring me, Zane, Mathias, and everyone else (you know who) together regularly. Unfortunately, Mathias is forum-banned, so I will have to send him a copy of it some other way, and Zane isn’t actually back for another few days. The whole thing with Dave/Mathias was intended to be ironic.
I purposefully included several references to other things. You may find them as you read along, or you may not. Feel free to quote and tell me if you see one!
This story was NOT made to offend anyone. I had to portray the Administrators/Gamemasters as the bad guys in order to complete the story, but never forget the work that they do to maintain the MCG servers.
This entire post was 6+ pages long in Microsoft Word, and had over 2,500 words. It took over two hours to write, and I have not proofread it.
“The Games are starting in
5…
4...
3…
2…
1…
The Games have begun!
May the odds be never in your favor!”
A bell rang, and the 24 tributes ran. An all-out sprint. Some ran towards each other, some away from everyone else. It was a mad dash to the center, the cornucopia. High risk, high reward. Or so it was told, to those who weren’t confident in their abilities.
I sprinted towards the chest nearest me, opened it, and found just what I needed; a stone sword would grant me protection and kill potential. It would make it several times easier to slay my foes, and also stop anyone from advancing towards me without caution.
Quickly snatching the rest of the items I saw, I glanced to my left and saw the chest lying unopened. I remembered that the people on my left were planning on running away from the cornucopia instead of to it, so I opened the chest and grabbed the armor and food that lay within. Looking around, I saw people beginning to create one of the most exciting moments of the Survival Games – The bloodbath. At the beginning of the Games, in the first moments, odds were that a large portion of the tributes would die here and now.
Eager to join the fray, I clicked on my armor, rearranged my inventory, and jumped onto the crafting bench for height. Leaping onto the nearest player, I started swinging madly, hoping to get a critical hit for a swifter kill. Soon I heard the cannon, and the player’s items dropped. I scooped them up and dashed into an open area, checking all directions around me before equipping my newly acquired gear.
Thinking about my strategy meetings before the Games, I remembered that I had to go make sure my three allies were safe and out of harm’s way. Glancing back at the cornucopia, my vision zoomed in for a closer look at who was still there. Recognizing Mathias being cornered in a fight, I hurriedly sprinted back towards him. As I got there, another player leaped out of the trees and landed behind Mathias with a thud. The sound of tearing flesh rang through my ears, and the avatar of my dear friend faded.
“No! Mathias! You fools, do you see what you’ve just done?! You scum of the earth, prepare for your deathbeds! Better call for your mothers, or else you’ll never speak to them again!” I shouted, enraged at Mathias’ death. Mathias was our way out, a one-way ticket back to our homes. Without him, all of our deals were off – no way out of the arena.
I took in the two men standing before me, and their names. I will remember those names for a long time. Running towards the man standing on my right flank, I hit him with a critical hit and another uppercut to knock him backwards into a tree. Strafing to my left, I circled around him, dealing harsh blows to his upper body. In a mere few seconds, he had been obliterated, and I heard the loud cannons fire. Turning back to the other man who was charging at me, the one Mathias had been fighting originally; I interrupted his sprinting with my fishing rod and then used my own engage. Caught off-guard by my quick reaction, he was unable to land a hit on me, while I knocked him into a spider-web trap in the ground. Leaving him to fall into the lava below, I walked away and collected the loot from the other man that I had just killed. A few more steps, and the scream of a man in anguish resounded, followed by yet another cannon.
Grimly recollecting the sight of my friend’s existence fading, I silently prayed for his safe passage to @Dave’s Channel, hoping for Life to grant him a second chance. Not only was he our ticket out of the arena, but also one of my closest friends. Already exhausted from the events that had just occurred, I ate a golden carrot to replenish my depleted hunger bars and health.
Walking to the edge of the forest, I looked behind me at the place I had just left; however, just then I heard a shuffling in front of me, and jerked my head forwards, preparing for an attack. Crouching behind a tree and watching for any movements, I was surprised to hear the scuffling behind me, accompanied with a loud cry and cannon. Turning around yet again, I was surprised to see a form falling down from the sky, landing with a stumble. Brandishing my sword, another body jumped out of a tree, hopping off of the last layer of branches.
“Zane? Puff?” I said, confused. For it was, indeed, my two remaining allies, Zaex30 and PuffyCottonCandy.
“Yeaaah buddy! The one and only, the Might of Demacia!” Zane exclaimed, chuckling at his own reference. “Oh, and this Puff dude is here too. Why did you bring her again?”
Laughing at Zane’s joke, I said, “Good to see you so soon. Or rather, not so good. I have bad news.” Ignoring his second remark, I told them softly, “Our comrade-in-arms, and ever-faithful friend Mathias, has been slain.”
A silence settled between us, and a frown slipped onto our faces. Puff may not have known Mathias, but it was evident that he meant a lot to us. Zane was the first to speak up, “May he rest in peace.” And with that, we moved on with a silent agreement. No more talking about it – we have to focus on what to do, how to survive. If we get through this, we’ll be able to mourn for him later.
A few hours and several cannon shots later, there were five tributes left standing, including us. Two enemies, and then we would be faced with a decision. Walking to a nearby cabin, we hoped to find a safe place to rest for the night. Cautiously opening the door, Zane slipped inside. We waited outside for the all-clear signal, anxiously glancing around the dark sky for any signs of incoming foes. Suddenly, we heard a shout and the clash of steel-on-steel, and I rushed to open the door, drawing my sword to aid Zane. Sprinting inside, I told Puff to stand guard. Rushing to where I heard the scuffle coming from, I found Zane inside trying to stab an already-bloody figure. I took the handle of my sword, and swung the flat of my blade at the body’s head like a baseball bat, which then faded.
“You kill-stealer! Why would you do that? I wanted the darn points, you oaf!” He joked, making a humph sound.
“Well, gee, I’m so sorry for thinking you might have been in danger. Next time let me know, and I won’t come rushing to save your sorry rear end.” I teased back, knowing he wouldn’t take me seriously. I shouted to Puff that she could come inside, and that it was clear.
“Finally! Geez, it’s dark out there. What took you so long?” Puff said, looking rather indignant at being left out in the cold.
I lit a torch and replied, “Well, Zane over here had a person he wanted to kill,” looking at the man himself, who was going through the loot.
“Yeah, I figured that much. I heard the cannon and swords.” Puff retorted, sitting down on a bench.
Starting to settle for the night, I was preparing a mat, but was interrupted by the sound of thunder rumbling. “Wait, isn’t this a weather-controlled area? There shouldn’t be any lightning.” Zane said, yawning with his hand over his mouth.
“I’ll go check. You’re right; we should be within a dome.” I replied, getting up and walking outside. The sight that I was met with astounded me. “Zane, Puff! Get out here, now!” I shouted, wanting them to see this.
In a few seconds all three of us were standing outside, bathed in a white light. Spotlights from helicopters shone down a few dozen blocks in front of us, exposing a purple figure in a suit. Erisyuka.
Bullets were raining down on the lone figure, and lightning was being channeled from the border of the dome, aimed at a single spot. The Gamemasters at work. Why was Erisyuka here? And what was he doing getting shot full of holes and burnt by electric surges? It took me a few moments to realize, he wasn’t. He was actually still whole, and virtually untouched. A barrier was around him, burning up and blocking anything that came within blocks of him… including the dome. Next to him laid the last tribute that was not our ally, clearly not moving, and hopefully slain. Meanwhile, Erisyuka was steadily walking through the dome, burning a massive hole.
My thoughts were interrupted by Puff, who shouted, “Moo! Zane! That guy is creating a hole in the dome, we have to escape through it!” My mind reeled from the thought that we might actually still have a shot at escaping the arena without having to kill each other.
Together, we sprinted towards the action, and towards our freedom. Knowing Erisyuka, he would have probably coded the barrier to let us through. I told Zane that while we ran, so that we didn’t hesitate and waste any time. We sprinted over blocks and under tree branches, running to the edge of Erisyuka’s protective barrier. I thought to myself, It’s like a stone sword off of Corn. The ultimate defense, and offense. I got caught up in my thoughts, and found myself tripping on a tuft of grass right as we reached Erisyuka. I moved to stand up, but found myself being blocked by a line of bullets fired in front of my face, scorching a line in the ground. The message was clear: If you take a step forwards, we fire. I looked up at Zane, Puff, and Erisyuka, and shook my head.
“Go on. I’ll be seeing you soon.” I said quietly, hoping sound was able to bypass the barrier. I slowly stood up, sending the Gamemasters a clear message: Do not fire. Backing away slowly, I turned around and walked to a helicopter that was landing, stepping in. Closing my eyes and exhaling, I sat down in a chair, and was soon handcuffed in place. Hopefully, this would be the last time I ever saw this arena in person.
Three Days Later
“May I present to you, the last remaining tribute from the Survival Games, Mooclan!” An unseen announcer exclaimed. Arms by my sides, no emotions on my face, I stepped out of the shadows. Striding with fake confidence to my seat, I slowly eased my body down. Numb. I felt numb, if anything. I heard people cheering over the livestream – No one was allowed in the same room as me without being armed, for fear that I would take violent measures. And for good reason, I’m sure.
I heard someone asking me questions, and I made sure to keep my answers short and simple. Hearing myself, I sounded bitter. Resigned to my fate, almost. On the inside, however, I was filled to the brim with anticipation, knowing that with every second I came closer to the perfect opportunity.
Several guards came inside to escort me to the Hub, where I would finally be publicly unveiled. Like a new favorite toy, I thought to myself, thinking of the disgusting way the Gamemasters treated the Tributes. I slowly walked to the Hub, not causing any trouble but testing the patience of the guards around me with my slow pace. I heard one grumbling about it, and on the inside I allowed myself to smile with grim satisfaction.
A lady guided me to an underground pedestal, where I would wait until it was time for me to rise up in the center of the Hub, on the stage. Unsurprisingly, I was handcuffed with slim metal chains, which rattled when I shifted my arms.
A countdown ensued: Five, four, three, two one. And suddenly, the platform jerked upwards, and I was lifted into the main Hub, US1. Eventually the crowd quieted down, and I heard a loud, authority-filled voice. ChadTheDJ, the owner of the Survival Games, and the highest Administrator, spoke.
“Ladies and gentleman of Minecraft Gamer, I present to you, the winner and final tribute of the Minecraft Survival Games, Mooclan!” He said, adding a flourish to his words. Across his shoulders rested his feline companion, Mufasa, no doubt advising him even as he spoke.
Turning around to face him, raised my chin defiantly, and my expression turned into that of a challenger. I raised my arms, and the crowd gasped: The chains were broken. Raising my right arm, I curled three of my fingers, and stuck out my thumb and index finger. Closing one eye, I mimicked the action of firing a gun.
Scrambling to raise the protective shield around Chad’s viewing zone, the Gamemasters failed to look at the man himself. Mufasa stood up on Chad’s shoulders, bared his claws, and struck. Blood fell from Chad’s neck, and his avatar slowly faded, falling to the ground.
Chaos ensued, and guards fired upon me, but I was impervious. Mufasa, who had overthrown Chad, now had all console permissions, and had passed on Operator status to me, allowing me to enable God-mode. Activating Fly-mode, I slid above the crowd, and just for fun I over-rode the redstone behind the walls, and activated the fireworks, making for a rather flamboyant exit.
Speeding between the Hub gates, I logged out.
