# The Skeleton Enigma - Listener Stories

An episode of [Minecraft Short Stories](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1570004719), 2 May 2024, 14 min.

Audio: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO4714613452.mp3

A huge thanks to Chloe for submitting this story! Steve kills two skeletons -just a normal night- when he discovers that they left behind something he had never seen before: a child skeleton. Steve must make a decision: help this child or leave it to die? LINKS Please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon. Subscribe to the YouTube channel! To submit your stories, go to minecraftshortstories.com! -------- This podcast is not associated with or approved by Mojang.

## Transcript

[0:13] Welcome back everybody to the Minecraft Short Stories Podcast
[0:16] This episode. Today we have a listener story
[0:18] submitted by Chloe, and this story is 4 parts which I'll be
[0:22] reading all of them on the podcast today, which is why this
[0:25] episode is so long. This story was submitted through
[0:28] my website, minecraftshortstories.com.
[0:31] If you want to submit once, maybe be read on the show, you
[0:33] can submit one on the Submit a story page, and while you're
[0:36] there, I've recently been redesigning the website.
[0:39] The homepage is the first one to be redesigned, but I'm working
[0:42] on all the other pages too. Also, while you're on the
[0:44] website, you can find the Minecraft Short Stories Prologue
[0:47] podcast, which is a podcast where I just go over the stories
[0:50] that I've written in the latest episode.
[0:52] I've just gone over the 500,000 place special story within the
[0:56] village and this story was very interesting to do an episode
[0:59] about because this story was the precursor to The Loyalty and the
[1:02] Rapids. Anyways, you can find all those
[1:05] links inside the description. The Prologue podcast is
[1:07] available to supporters of any tier on Patreon Another thanks
[1:11] to Chloe and I hope you guys enjoy.
[1:19] The story is titled The Child and is by Chloe Part One.
[1:26] Steve caught his breath after his encounter with a rotting
[1:28] zombie, 2 Bony skeletons, a creepy spider, and a purple
[1:31] particle enderman. As you know, Steve is the legend
[1:34] at killing infected zombies, rattling skeletons, spiders, and
[1:38] any hostile mob, plus saving villagers from raids.
[1:42] Steve was a hero, he was on his nightly run.
[1:45] While he only goes every other night of killing mobs for their
[1:48] extraordinary loot, all of a sudden he spot 2 skeletons right
[1:51] next to each other as if they're protecting something.
[1:55] Steve, as you can guess, was curious.
[1:57] He wasn't really one for skeletons as they were annoying,
[2:00] but his curiosity got the best of him.
[2:02] He made quick work of one skeleton, making it die in a
[2:05] puff of grey smoke. The second one seemed to have
[2:07] tears in its undead eyes before Steve then mulched it with a
[2:10] slash of his ghoulish black Netherite sword, making it
[2:14] disappear in a puff of grey smoke.
[2:17] The sigh of satisfaction. He collected the three sharp
[2:19] dipped arrows, 2 bones, and surprisingly, a bow in great
[2:23] shape. Steve looked around to see what
[2:25] the skeletons have been guarding.
[2:27] Steve's eyebrow shot up on the ground.
[2:30] Before him was a small skeleton seeming to be sleeping.
[2:34] That's weird. Skeleton still asleep at night.
[2:36] I thought they only slept during the day and this one is small,
[2:40] Steve said in surprise. That's when the realization hit
[2:43] Steve like an arrow in the forehead.
[2:45] This was a baby skeleton. He had just murdered this young
[2:49] skeleton's parents. Steve turned as white as the
[2:52] skeleton himself. In fact, all the zombies,
[2:54] Enderman, creepers, spiders and other skeletons even recognize
[2:57] him to be a player. He looked just like a regular
[3:00] skeleton with Netherland armor. Steve knew he couldn't leave
[3:03] this poor baby skeleton. I mean, he had just killed this
[3:06] young skeleton's parents, so he had no right to leave it.
[3:09] He knew he couldn't kill it. That would be cruel.
[3:12] I mean, it was a baby after all. Or it looked like one.
[3:15] He knew if he left the young skeleton he wouldn't be able to
[3:17] leave the tree after the bride's sun rose and they were also in a
[3:21] forest, so he knew a hungry wolf would probably kill the poor
[3:23] thing. So he decided he would take it
[3:26] with him. He knew he would have to go
[3:28] quickly because he only had a few hours left until the sun
[3:30] rose and burned the baby to a crisp and his house was quite a
[3:34] ways away. He would understand if the young
[3:37] skeleton didn't want to stay with him.
[3:39] I mean, if that skeleton had killed, his parents probably
[3:41] wouldn't want to stay with the skeleton either.
[3:44] Steve picked up the cold young, seemingly a baby skeleton.
[3:48] Steve started the long journey home, all the while thinking to
[3:51] himself, if only I hadn't killed those two skeletons, I wouldn't
[3:54] be in this situation. Feeling the regret, anger and
[3:58] sadness, Steve carried the baby skeleton.
[4:01] He was sweating, his feet hurt, he was hot, even though it was a
[4:04] cold night and he needed rest. He was pale the whole way, but
[4:08] he wasn't attacked by a single mob.
[4:10] He was on the gravel path that he had walked on for years.
[4:13] Only then did his face start to gain its color again.
[4:16] Why does this poor, innocent little baby Skelton have to wake
[4:18] up now? We're so close.
[4:21] Steve almost groaned out loud, but thought better.
[4:23] The eyes of the baby Skelton fluttered open.
[4:26] Where are you? And where are my parents?
[4:28] And where am I? Oh, you're a player.
[4:30] Where are my parents? Or I'm in danger?
[4:33] The young Skelton's eyes seemed to tell Steve.
[4:36] A few seconds later, the baby Skelton's eyes rolled back into
[4:39] its cold white skull and his eyes shut.
[4:42] It started to breathe heavily. Steve thought that the young
[4:44] skeleton had fallen unconscious. Part 2 Steve was exhausted as he
[4:50] set the baby skeleton on the soft white bed of his guest
[4:53] room. The young skeleton was a lot
[4:55] heavier than he had thought. It felt as if he was carrying a
[4:58] block of Obsidian. Thank goodness Steve was as
[5:00] strong as a raging ravager, but his arm still felt like floppy
[5:03] noodles. His stomach rumbled and he
[5:06] himself needed to sleep. Steve knew he couldn't sleep,
[5:09] though. He didn't want the baby skeleton
[5:10] running away and dying in the hot sunlight.
[5:13] Do baby skeletons even burn in sunlight?
[5:15] Steve thought. I mean, he was under a tree, so
[5:18] they might, he thought, sitting down next to the pure white bed.
[5:22] Steve shook his head in confusion.
[5:23] This was also sudden, and everything was happening too
[5:26] fast. He couldn't handle it.
[5:28] The baby skeletons slept for five hours straight.
[5:31] Steve was nodding off when the skeletons started to move.
[5:34] Steve's heart skipped a beat. He needed answers, and he
[5:37] wondered, Wonder if baby skeletons can speak English.
[5:40] I mean, I speak Spanish too, but I'm not that good at it.
[5:43] The skeletons head started to move from side to side.
[5:46] It looked to Steve like the young skeleton was having a
[5:49] nightmare. He wondered if it was even
[5:51] possible for skeletons to have nightmares.
[5:53] I mean they were his nightmares. He wondered if he was their
[5:56] nightmares. Almost as if the baby skeleton
[5:59] had super speed. It shot up and started to cry
[6:02] and cried and cried. Steve was confused.
[6:05] He thought the baby skeleton would be grateful.
[6:07] Well maybe not grateful, but he didn't think it would cry.
[6:10] Steve felt quite awkward. His face flushed red.
[6:13] And try not to look at the young skeleton.
[6:16] I want my mommy, cried The baby skeleton in perfect English.
[6:20] Steve didn't know what to say. He didn't want to tell the baby
[6:22] skeleton that he had killed his parents and his mommy.
[6:26] The baby skeleton sniffled. Wait, you're a player?
[6:29] Oops, I can't speak English. Clatter, clatter, Whisper the
[6:32] skeleton in a word voice. It's OK, I won't hurt you,
[6:36] whispered Steve. Hey, where's Aunt Kidney and
[6:39] Uncle Skull? Oops.
[6:40] Clatter, clatter, I think that's how you say in Skellen stayed
[6:43] the small skeleton. Wait, did you say aunt and Uncle
[6:46] Steve inquired? Yes, I was staying with my aunt
[6:49] and uncle at their tree. Oh darn, stop talking to a
[6:52] player, Sunny. Great, now you've told the
[6:54] player your name. Just stop talking, yelled the
[6:56] skeleton Steve now knew as Sunny Steve was absolutely shocked.
[7:00] He never thought this young skeleton would be so critical of
[7:02] herself or himself. So your name is Sunny?
[7:06] Steve Muddard. Sunny looked shocked.
[7:09] She didn't expect a player like Steve, who killed innocent mobs
[7:11] like herself, would be so kind to her.
[7:15] Yes, my name is Sunny and his unusual name for a skeleton,
[7:17] just to let you know. And yours is what Jackson?
[7:21] Sunny snapped. OK, do you need any food or
[7:25] anything Standard Steve, I'm only 8.
[7:28] I can think for myself. I don't think taking food from a
[7:30] stranger, let alone a player, would be a very wise choice for
[7:34] me at least. Kissed Sunny part three.
[7:39] I won't hurt you, I promise, Steve shouted.
[7:42] He was quite annoyed because saying something multiple times
[7:44] to a person was quite annoying. Sonny was talking and talking.
[7:48] The girl, Skeleton was shocked and started to cry.
[7:51] I'm such an awful and weird skeleton.
[7:52] My name is weird, I can't speak Skeleton and I'm in a player's
[7:55] home. Sonny wailed.
[7:57] Sonny immediately stopped crying.
[7:59] Wait, why am I even here? She commanded.
[8:02] I am. Steve stuttered.
[8:06] He knew he had to tell her the truth.
[8:07] One time or another, Steve started out slow.
[8:10] Pretty soon the whole thing just sort of spilled out.
[8:13] I I I killed your uncle and aunt, and when I realized why I
[8:17] had done, I knew I couldn't leave you.
[8:19] So I took you home with me. Steve trembled.
[8:22] Sonny had her mouth open, just looked at him, staring seemingly
[8:26] into his soul to see if he was telling the truth.
[8:28] It's OK. I never really liked my aunt and
[8:30] uncle, she explained casually. Steve was crying now, something
[8:34] very rare. Steve immediately stopped
[8:36] crying. Wait, when did you say your
[8:39] parents were picking you up? They're picking me up.
[8:41] Not tonight, but the next, Sonny said.
[8:43] Don't you know what this means? I can take you to your parents
[8:46] and explain what I did. Steve rejoiced.
[8:50] Sonny and I looked very excited. What are we waiting for?
[8:53] Laughed Sonny. They started their long journey
[8:56] as the sun sets with Steve occasionally carrying Sonny on
[8:59] his back. Strangely, he wasn't attacked by
[9:01] any mobs again, although every mob looked at Sonny with disgust
[9:05] in their eyes, even the younger ones that Steve now notice.
[9:09] Steve inquired. Why do all the mobs look at you
[9:11] that way? Sonny said.
[9:13] Well, it's a long story. Part 4, Sonny started her
[9:18] seemingly long story with a sigh.
[9:21] Well, it all started with my parents.
[9:24] They're weird and always have been, Sonny said, looking down
[9:26] with tears in her eyes. What's so weird about your
[9:29] parents? Steve said my mom is a skeleton
[9:32] and my dad is a wither skeleton. So I'm a skeleton with black
[9:35] hands and feet. Plus, when I shoot an arrow you
[9:38] get the withering effect. But when I touch you, you don't.
[9:42] It's just when I shoot an arrow. Sunny seemed to be breaking down
[9:45] before him. My name is Sunny.
[9:47] Sunny is like the sun Austin mobs hate the sun.
[9:51] Wailed Sunny. Oh, here we are, exclaimed
[9:54] Sunny, drying up her face. I had tears all over it.
[9:57] So your parents will be here tomorrow?
[9:59] Steve questioned. Steve was trying to change the
[10:02] subject because you could see that Sunny was having a lot of
[10:04] stuff going on inside her eight-year old skeleton head.
[10:07] Or is it a skull? Never mind Steve and Sunny,
[10:10] We're somewhat close now, only about 15 blocks from the tree.
[10:13] Steve was debating if you should tell Sunny about his parents or
[10:16] keep quiet. I used to live in a village with
[10:20] my mom and dad. One day there was a raid.
[10:23] It was in the middle of the night.
[10:24] Pillagers, zombies, skeletons, creepers and endermen.
[10:27] It seemed like every single mob was attacking us that day.
[10:31] I lost my dad. My mom and I escaped.
[10:34] But pretty soon after, my mom got really sick and a few days
[10:37] later, she Steve, flinched. I was six years old when my
[10:42] parents died. Don't take your parents for
[10:43] granted, Steve said with compassion in his eyes.
[10:47] I Sunny mumbled. Right then, Sunny burst into
[10:51] tears. I'm sorry.
[10:53] I don't mean to take my parents for granted.
[10:55] It's so It's just so hard. You don't get it.
[10:58] You're a player. There's a lot less of you and
[11:00] there's a ton of mobs. You know what?
[11:02] They all look at me with disgust.
[11:04] Sonny curled up in a ball next to the tree and started to cry.
[11:08] She cried and cried. No matter how much Steve tried
[11:10] to comfort her, she just cried. By the time she stopped crying,
[11:14] the sun was at its midpoint. Sonny sniffled as she dried her
[11:17] tears and asked Steve, is it hard to be a player?
[11:22] No, not really. I mean it's hard when things are
[11:24] attacking you and it's hard when you're placed as a hero when
[11:27] you're the one who really needs saving, said Steve.
[11:31] They just sat there for about 6 hours.
[11:34] All of a sudden they heard a wrestle.
[11:35] He hadn't noticed it had become pitch black outside.
[11:38] That's when 2 skeletons 1 black is the night itself.
[11:41] The other is white as snow stepped out from behind a tree.
[11:45] Hey, who's your friend here? Belted the skeleton as black as
[11:47] night. Where's Aunt Kitney and Uncle
[11:50] Skull? Whispered the skeleton as white
[11:52] as snow with the voice of a songbird.
[11:54] Steve had a notice. Do you look just like a
[11:56] skeleton? You turn pale again.
[11:58] His cheeks flushed red. Made an awkward sort of laugh.
[12:01] Yeah, that's my fault, said Steve, looking at the ground.
[12:05] Oh, did you kill them? Great.
[12:08] My sister is crazy, said the skeleton.
[12:10] That was white. My name is Steve and I'm a
[12:14] player. Killed your sister, I guess.
[12:17] I took Sunny home with me because I knew I couldn't leave
[12:19] her. Stuttered Steve.
[12:22] Well, we never really liked them, Said the wither Skeleton.
[12:25] You ready to go home? He said to Sunny.
[12:28] Bye, Steve. Maybe see you later.
[12:30] Said Sunny. Yeah, Bye.
[12:32] Nice to meet you. Seeing the skeleton as white as
[12:34] snow. Steve said goodbye with tears in
[12:37] his eyes, but he knew she couldn't live with him.
[12:40] He did know she would have a new appreciation for her parents.
[12:44] The end. Thank you guys for listening.
[12:51] Thank you to Chloe, who submitted this great story.
[12:55] I enjoyed reading it. This is one of the longer
[12:58] stories that's been on the podcast.
[13:00] It's like over 2000 words. So thank you for taking the time
[13:04] to write that and submit it. And thank you, the listener, to
[13:09] getting to this point inside the episode.
[13:11] Assuming that you didn't skip to the outro for some reason,
[13:15] that'll be a little bit strange. If you did do that, go listen to
[13:18] the story, It was great. So I hope you guys enjoyed this
[13:21] episode. I hope you will check out the
[13:23] links inside the description, maybe submit your own story and
[13:27] I'll see you guys inside the next episode.

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