Everybody has their own story of what they were doing when the minecarts and the strange people rode into their villages, cities, and caves.
It was a new experience for all, an epic moment in the history of the Minecraft World.
Nobody would have expected what occurred later.
Back then, we were still innocent and couldn’t have possibly guessed that the announcement of a great event would turn out to be the cause of great tension and strife.
However, The Minecraft World would never be the same again. My life never would, that’s for sure.
For better or for worse, I think it is about time I shared my account of the Great Minecraft Tournament.
Steve Applewood
Day 1
The blow knocked the air out of me and I lifted a hand to my mouth. Gareth chuckled into his hand. He added a fake cough to hide his real reaction to my failure.
“Stop that. Point and roar if you have to, but don’t fake it.”
Gareth looked away, embarrassed.
“Little bro, I wanted a sparring partner, not a hospital patient. We can stop if you want. I think I’m starting to hurt you.” His comments were half worry, half tease. I knew that he wanted me to keep going, but I didn’t want to keep humiliating myself.
I charged forward without warning and Gareth’s smile disappeared. My attacks were savage but controlled, and he had to block quite a few. He began to grin again as we fought for real now. I knew there were people watching so I had to put up a show at least. More gathered as we slashed, sliced, and stabbed at each other with our wooden swords, the two brothers fighting for bragging rights. After a particularly intense round of my attacks, he began to push back and force me into blocks of my own. I had to move faster than I had ever had against him — which meant he was putting a real effort into it — as well as avoid rocks and trees that could trip me over.
His signature move was what got me.
I blocked a particularly violent strike that was aimed for my skull and stepped forward before he twisted and slammed the handle of his sword into my cheek. I fell to the ground heavily and heard gasps from the crowd. A woman even cried out.
“Steve!” Gareth shouted. “I’m sorry, are you oka—”
Gotcha. I leaped to my feet in one swift movement and smashed my sword across his face. The crowd went wild as Gareth fell to the ground. He had never been beaten before, was this finally going to be his first? Though his attack had hurt me, I had baited him into thinking I had been knocked out. I lifted my hands triumphantly. I had finally defeated him!
“Gareth, sorry about the cheap shot, but I just had to. Gareth?” He wasn’t moving. Uh oh. Was it a similar trick to my own? I prodded him with a foot. Nope, he’s out cold. “Somebody, help!”