Abbigail and Luna flew over the small town of Bhengorn. Lying on the edge of Feldon, on the border with Cydonia, it was surrounded by a sparse stretch of forests. They landed in the trees and proceeded on foot.
"I don't like this, Luna." Abbigail silently drew out her sword. "It could be some sort of trap."
Luna, meanwhile, was otherwise occupied. She had spotted a squirrel and was doing everything she could to resist the urge to chase after it. Slowly they approached the edge of the trees, and on the town's gate, there hanged two black helmets. They had no holes for eyes, but had purple slits where the person saw. They belonged to Enderknights, and there was only one way someone got hold of them.
"Raom!" A blue tipped arrow hit Luna on her neck and she collapsed on the ground, unconscious. Abbigail rushed to her side.
"Luna!" she cried "Don't leave me, girl!" Abbigail shook Luna's body, but could not move her an inch, being so much larger than she is. She whirled around, to see a Netheran casually drawing a bow. He had a quiver of arrows and a sword by his side. The arrow had a blue tip, steaming slightly under the morning sun.
"Where are the Enderknights?!" Abbigail demanded. "Where are Saxon and Trevor?"
The Netheran did not respond. He fired the arrow at Abbigail. Instinctively, she slashed her sword and blocked the arrow in midair. Next second, the Netheran was upon her, his sword preceded him in a fierce yet graceful stab.
Abbigail ducked. The sword sank into the tree trunk behind her. She pounced, aiming at the Netheran's wrists. Before her sword came within an arm's distance of him, however, the Netheran pulled his sword out and blocked her attack. Strangely, though he blocked with the sword's flat face, not with the sharp edge.
Abbigail pulled back her weapon for another strike. She swung her sword from the left up, aiming at the Netherans waist. Again, he blocked. She let their weapons slide to a lock between them and pressed on.
"If you won't talk, then take this!" She shouted. They broke the contact and the Netheran somersaulted backwards. He vanished among the trees, down a small, almost invisible path.
"Oh no, you don't!" Abbigail chased after him into a small clearing. Logs scattered about on the soft grass and the Netheran stood in the center, legs casually parted and sword held low by his side.
"Who are you and what did you do to my Knights!?" Abbigail almost roared as she pounced like an angry wolf. The Netheran smiled. He put one hand behind his back. As Abbigail neared him with her sword coming down in a violent swing, their weapons met head on and…
"Shing!" Abbigail stepped back, holding the stump of her sword. She looked back at the Netheran. He had placed his sword's point on a log and was welcoming a small ghast who jumped down from the branches.
"Raom!" Luna came smashing out of the sky and landed between the Netheran and Abbigail. She bared her teeth and hissed.
"Luna!" Abbigail hugged her dragon. "You are alright!"
"Looks like I finally got the dosage correct." The Netheran remarked. He sat down on a log and motioned Abbigail to do the same. "My name is Volcannus. Beyond that I must refrain from elaborating." He examined the dragon and girl before him.
"Why were you trying to kill us?" Abbigail demanded, patting Luna's neck.
"It was merely a challenge." Volcannus answered. "Sorry if I scared you, but I need to be assured of your fighting capabilities before proceeding."
"Well, if you did your research…" Abbigail began.
"I know that you fought the Unyielding Legion single handed for quite a long time." Volcannus waved his hand. "But I still needed to see it in person."
Luna snorted, huge puffs of fire flying out from her nostrils. It grazed Volcannus's feet, but he merely brushed it away.
"Now that we have introduced ourselves," He said, "Please, let us sit." He motioned to the log opposite him. "I have enough time to answer all your questions."
Abbigail remained standing with her arms crossed. Luna stood behind her, flames still ablaze. "Where are my Enderknights, Volcannus?" She pressed.
"They are being held in a Nether prison, out of my reach." He petted the baby ghast dozing on his shoulder. "Her name is Kiki. Her parents were killed by hunters."
"And the helmets?"
"Mere wooden replicas." Volcannus answered. "I suggested Pythus to make them for display in the town to intimidate the people, and to lure, I mean, persuade, you to come here."
"Why this place?" Abbigail was untouched by the adorable Kiki.
"Because," Volcannus looked her in the eye. For the first time, she saw that Netherans, like humans, have pupils. They are a shade of yellow just shy of orange. "I need your help, Queen Abbigail, as you need mine."
"And why should I ever help you?"
"Because I can help you restore the End dimension." Volcannus replied. "How much do you know about the conflict between our two dimensions?"
"I've been learning." Abbigail snapped. Luna rolled her eyes. "Right, you know a lot then?" Abbigail retorted.
Volcannus smiled. "That was a fine way of saying I know very little." He crossed his legs, looking very much at ease. "For centuries we have kept records of the End in the libraries of the Nether. Our worlds have always opposed each other like day and night." He paused, "Yet, despite centuries of fighting and war, there has always been a balance. As one grew stronger, so did the other. But now the Nether has destroyed the balance by allying with the Voltaris clan. As they create portals into this world, their power grows. The balance has shifted, and the Ender realm is dying."
Kiki drifted towards Luna, nuzzling her face against her snout. Luna turned her head away to avoid contact, but Kiki just switched positions and kept nagging the dragon.
"Here." Volcannus took out a piece of coal. "Please leave our friend the shy dragon alone." He threw the coal into the air and Kiki caught it in her mouth. Gulping it down, she let out a satisfied burp of black smoke.
"So you intend to uh, bring balance back to the two realms?" Abbigail asked, finally sitting down on the strip of log. "Okay. So what do you need me for?"
"I need access to an Enderchest." Volcannus replied, "Which only Enderknights can open. I imagine we could find them in the strongholds of the End, and hence will need guidance into your realm."
"So let me get this straight." Abbigail stood up again. "You want me to take you to the stronghold, give you access to one of our relics, and in return… what? Your charming smiles?"
Volcannus laughed. "You will receive that and more." He straightened his face. "In return, I will give you two things. The first is that I can give you access to the aforementioned records and scrolls of the Nether. There you will find answers to many of your questions about the End."
"And the second?"
"At the end of the First Great War, Pythus murdered King Kronus and usurped control. The Nether crown and sword never glowed for him, like how the Ender crown and sword never glowed for Allistar." He paused again. "If you help me, I will do everything in my power to kill Pythus and return our forces to the Nether, leaving the Overworld in peace." He went down on one knee and bowed. He placed his left fist to his temple and said solemnly, "Of this, Queen Abbigail, I swear."
A small fire pellet flew over her head. Abbigail turned around and saw Luna playing with Kiki. Being both fire breathing creatures, they hit the pellets back and forth between them. She turned back to Volcannus.
"I have no way of trusting you." She declared. "Other than you defeated me earlier and didn't kill me. That is hardly grounds for a lasting trust."
"Only a fool would trust me." Volcannus admitted. "And I'm glad to know you are no such fool." He took out a Nether Star ornament. "Please take this gift, Queen Abbigail."
Abbigail took the Star in her hand. It resembled a real Nether Star in every way, except that bit at the center. It looked… more fragile.
"Should you wish to see me again outside of our arranged meetings," Volcannus said, "crush it in your hand, for I will be alerted to its destruction. We will meet here in Bhengorn. But be careful," he warned, "For the rest of the Nether will be alerted as well. We will have to move quickly."
Abbigail mounted Luna. As she found her spot between Luna's wing joints, Volcannus made one final request.
"Please, do not speak of this meeting, even to your Knights. It took no small amount of effort to arrange it in secrecy, and I would hope to keep it that way, for both our sakes."
"Is it some sort of taboo for the Nether and End to work together?" Abbigail asked.
"I would say that it is like how you were the first female Enderknight." Volcannus replied.
Abbigail nodded. "You have given me much to consider, and the need for a new sword."
"Do you not use the Enderblade?" Volcannus asked, "I was surprised to see you with an iron sword."
"The Enderblade is heavy." Abbigail answered. "I don't really have the physique to wield such a…cumbersome weapon." She took off, heading for Ataraxia.
"Indeed." Volcannus mumbled. "All past Enderknights were men. Maybe I can help you with that too"