Never Say Nether

This article contains major spoilers for *Never Say Nether*. Read at you own risk!

***Never Say Nether*** is the second book in *The Quest for the Obsidian Pickaxe* series.

## Plot

Steve, Alex, Collin, and Chuck arrive in Sprucewood after many a day of traveling, when Steve destroys Larry's home/library while fighting mobs. The adventures then hear a noise coming from Mrs. Wembley's house, and rush over there. At her house, several pigpeople emerge from a portal that Jacen built. The pigpeople say they want to live there, but the Villagers disagree.

Meanwhile, Steve has traveled to the Nether to slay a ghast that has driven the pigpeople from their homes. While searching for said ghast, he comes across numerous wither skeleton. However, instead of attacking Steve, the skeletons kill themselves on his sword, stating they'd rather die then meet the ghast. Eventually, Steve finds the ghast, and summons a Wither to fight it in order to also. Instead of attacking the ghast, the Wither turns on Steve, forcing him to flee the Nether.

Back in Sprucewood, the citizens hold a meeting at the committee house, deciding what to do with the pigpeople. Alex convinces the people that they should allow the pigpeople to live in the village, because they are nicer then the people from Riveredge. When the people ask where the pigmen should live, Mr. Root says that he may have a solution.

He states that he will take the pigpeople to his house, where they can live there. However, they must help rebuild Larry's library in return. After doing that, the pigpeople go to Mr. Roots home. However, Mr. Root betrays them, and builds a machine to turn them into sausages, yet Alex and the citizens of Sprucewood do not know that.

Just returned from the Nether, Steve sees Alex to ask for her help defeating the Wither and ghast. Overjoyed, she agrees and they go to the Nether. After a bit of travelling, they find the two monsters. Steve kills the Wither by jumping on it, causing the ghast to shoot at Steve and accidently blow up the Wither instead. Meanwhile, Alex realizes why the ghast is going "mental". A pigperson's sword is stuck in it, and the ghast is yelling "GET OUT!" because it wants the sword removed. Alex removes the sword, and the ghast happily floats away.

The two adventurers return to Sprucewood to tell the pigpeople the good news. However, they can find them. Then, they hear screaming from Mr. Roots barn. They rush over there and discover Mr. Root about to grind up the pigpeople with a machine. Steve fire an arrow which jams the machine. While Mr. Root is fixing it, a creeper sneaks up behind him. Mr. Root stumbles back into the mouth of his machine, and is grinded up.

After their release, the pigpeople thank Steve and Alex, and begin heading back to the Nether. However, Alex stops them, and asks where Pepperoni's sword is. Pepperoni gives her a sheepish grin and say's he doesn't know. Alex then holds up a golden pigman sword, and states that she found it in the ghast's buttock. The other pigmen are shocked, but Pepperoni assures them he won't stab ghasts anymore.

## Hunger

Throughout the story, major events take place at the Pillager Outpost, and the chapters that contain these are titled **Hunger**.

**Hunger I**

Raid Captain Grubby descends into the Crystal Cavern, and converses with Herobrine. He states that he would like to fed, and Grubby asks what he wants. Herobrine said his request. Captain Grubby was shocked, but stated he would do anything for his lord.

**Hunger II**

Raid Captain Grubby leads the other pillagers from the watchtower down into the Crystal Cavern. The pillagers meet Herobrine, who puts them in a trance. He then devours every single pillager besides Rancid and Sickly who break the trance and escape, and Raid Captain Grubby. The two dim-witted pillagers flee, and are not seen again until *Parrot Pandemonium*.

**Hunger III**

Raid Captain Grubby chases after Rancid and Sickly, but fail to catch the two. He then returns to Herobrine, who puts him too into a trance. Herobrine consumes Captain Grubby, which frees him. Now released, Herobrine climbs the steps to the surface, and sets off to find Steve.

-The End-