Below the Bedrock/Plot

Plot

"Below the Bedrock" is the fourth episode of Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two.

Plot[]

Chapter 1[]

"Augh! Look-- at-- this! My bed...gone."

—Xara after discovering her bed from her house is gone. ^src

After escaping the Sunshine Institute, Jesse's group descends down the diamond tower under Xara's guidance. Along the way, Xara points out significant landmarks in the Underneath, including the spot where Fred was killed by Romeo during their battle for control of the world. A giant enderman suddenly begins destroying the tower, forcing the group to flee towards The Oasis, Xara's town. Amid the chaos, Jesse notices a distant figure clad in ninja attire. Before he/she can investigate, Petra urges Jesse to hurry.

The group eventually reaches The Oasis, only to find it in ruins, devastated by Romeo. Xara, visibly dejected, rushes to what remains of her home and collapses at the spot where her bed once lay. She tearfully recalls her promise to Fred—to rest and reflect on a way to defeat Romeo once she returned home. With her bed destroyed, Xara feels as though she has failed, leaving her briefly despondent. She leads Jesse to a broken portal, which Romeo claimed credit for creating, before regaining her composure.

Xara explains that the portal transports users to the origin of an object placed in its item frame. With Jesse's encouragement, Xara devises a plan—she will repair the portal while Jesse and the group retrieve two critical items: an object from their home to activate the portal and Fred's legendary weapon, which is located in his town, Fred's Keep. A horde of mobs, including the giant enderman, attacks the group, forcing them (except Xara, who stays behind) to escape via minecart.

Chapter 2[]

"You two're in a bit of a pinch, ain't ya? Smell like a couple of Admin lackeys to me. AKA trouble."

—PorkChop, leader of the scavengers as they look over at the dangling Jesse and Jack. ^src

Before the group can cross a bridge, the giant enderman reappears, destroying the track and forcing everyone to jump in separate directions. Jesse and Jack cling precariously to the edge of a cliff. A group of scavengers notices them and offers a deal: in exchange for their swords, they will pull Jesse and Jack to safety, leaving the former with a choice:

Refuse the deal: Jesse refuses the deal. Jack loses his grip and falls into the abyss below, while Jesse manages to climb up but is devastated by Jack's fall.
Trade their weapons: Jesse and Jack hand over their weapons, and the scavengers rescue them, but now the pair is left weaponless.

Afterward, Jesse regroups with the others, who fend off a horde of creepers. Jesse briefs them on the events at the cliff. If Jack fell, Jesse announces his death, crushing the group. Nurm/Lluna's reactions depend on who is present (whoever Jesse brought with him/her at the institute); Nurm is heartbroken; Lluna spits at Jesse in anger. However, if they traded their swords and Jack lived, Petra is annoyed; Jack also expresses his frustration at being weaponless.

Despite the tensions, the group presses on and eventually reaches Fred's Keep. There, they meet a resident named Cam, who immediately flees upon seeing them, as she knows everyone in the Underneath except for Jesse's group. They meet the town's leader, Binta, who is in the middle of announcing the Faithful Friend of Trivia contest. The contest, as she explains, is a sacred tradition honoring Fred's memory.

When Cam points out Jesse's group, they seize the opportunity to ask Binta for access to Fred's house to retrieve the weapon. Binta refuses, explaining that the house is sacred, and only the winner of the trivia contest is allowed inside. Determined to enter, Jesse begins exploring Fred's Keep in search of clues about Fred's life to help him/her win the contest and gain access to the house.

Petra scouts a way into Fred's house unnoticed. She asks Jesse if she's been acting differently, mentioning that the others are staring at her strangely, making her feel self-conscious. Meanwhile, Radar, determined to prove his strength, practices his combat skills; Lluna helps him by jumping on his back as he does push-ups. If Jack is present, he charms Fred's citizens with stories of his adventures. If Nurm is present, he researches Fred's history, keen to learn as much as possible. Jesse has several opportunities to interact with the locals and gain information:

Hilda: a gardener who reveals that Fred's favorite tool was a diamond hoe.
Wanda: a painter, who is found painting with her feet due to her injured hands. If Jesse crafts a canvas for her, she shares that Fred's favorite shade of blue was lapis blue.
Willy: the caretaker of Fred's pet chicken, who refuses to share its name. Jesse instructs a puppy named Blocco to run into the chicken's pen, causing Willy to accidentally blurt the chicken's name: Waffles.
Kent: the contest's champion, who brags about his undefeated streak.
Cam: a citizen, who is frightened at the sight of Jesse and avoids the group, clearly wary of them.

Once ready, Jesse enters the contest against Kent. In the first round, Jesse and Kent build representations of Fred using clay and wool. Regardless of the build, both impress Binta, resulting in a draw. In the second round, Binta poses questions about Fred's life, culminating in a final question: Fred's favorite type of wood. Jesse recalls this answer from Xara at The Oasis. If Jesse answers correctly (birch), he/she is offered Fred's sleeping garments as a reward. If he/she loses, Petra suggests sneaking into Fred's house to find the weapon anyway.

Inside Fred's house, Jesse finds a hidden button in the closet that reveals a secret lower level. There, he/she finds a map of the Underneath, revealing a third town called Romeoburg, which he/she deduces to be Romeo's town. He/she also finds Fred's journal, which reads reflections on his friendship with Xara and Romeo. Fred expresses his longing for their bond to be restored and writes about a cabin he calls "home," distinct from his house in the Keep. Jesse realizes the weapon is hidden in the cabin, not in the Keep.

If Jesse won the contest, Jesse leaves the house without trouble. If he/she lost, he/she is caught by Binta, who hears him/her out. Outside, Binta confides in Jesse about the citizens' suspicions—they believe Jesse's group hails from the Overworld. The mention of Romeo captures everyone's attention, and Jesse reveals what is happening in Beacontown.

Binta proposes a deal: she will reveal the location of Fred's cabin if Jesse agrees to take her and the citizens to the Overworld, fulfilling Fred's dream of keeping them safe. Jesse accepts, and Binta reveals the cabin's location in Romeoburg, giving Jesse a compass pointing to the town and fireworks to signal her arrival at The Oasis. If Jack and Nurm are present, they remain behind to protect Fred's citizens while Jesse, Petra, Radar, and, if she is present, Lluna, head toward Romeoburg.

Chapter 3[]

"Man, the track is a complete wreck..."

"Yeah, what's up with whaaa--"

"Hey whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa--"

—Petra and Radar being interrupted as a Splash Potion of Slowness hits them. ^src

The group heads to Romeoburg via minecart. If Jack wasn't saved, Radar grumbles about Fred's citizens idolizing Fred. Petra defends Fred's memory, but Radar inadvertently mocks Petra about Jack before quickly regretting his words. Petra changes the subject and asks Jesse if they're still heading in the right direction. However, the track is broken, sending the minecarts tumbling off. After dusting themselves off, everyone except Jesse is suddenly struck by a splash potion of slowness. Confused, Jesse turns to see the same ninja he/she spotted near the diamond tower, now armed with a diamond sword.

Depending on Jesse's earlier choice with the scavengers, the encounter with the ninja unfolds differently:

If Jesse gave up his/her sword to the scavengers, he/she dodges the ninja's attacks but is unable to fight back. The ninja eventually pins Jesse down, holding the sword at his/her throat. The ninja begins interrogating Jesse, suspicious he/she might be a decoy. Jesse struggles to convince him, but his/her tone and expression eventually convince the ninja that it is actually him/her.
If Jesse refused the scavengers' deal, Jesse battles the ninja, with both narrowly dodging each other's strikes. Jesse eventually manages to disarm the ninja and forces him to the ground. Recognizing Jesse's skill, the ninja surrenders and acknowledges his/her identity.

The ninja removes their mask, revealing he is Ivor. As the potion's effects wear off Jesse's friends, Ivor explains himself: he had returned from his adventures with Harper, only to witness Romeo (disguised as Jesse) and the chaos in Beacontown. According to rumors, "Jesse" defeated Romeo in his prismarine colossus form and claimed his powers, turning into a ruthless dictator who silences dissent. Most Beacontown citizens believe the rumor and now despise "Jesse." Ivor was then ordered by Romeo to track and eliminate the real Jesse using the original Order of the Stone's amulet, which Romeo reprogrammed to track Jesse and the group. However, Ivor's ninja training helped him notice inconsistencies in "Jesse's" behavior, causing him to question Romeo's story.

Jesse notes that the amulet was originally made by Soren and thus deduces that it might help them return home. Ivor gives the amulet to Jesse. To buy time, Jesse (or Radar, if Jesse stays silent) devises a decoy story for Ivor to report back to Romeo, suggesting the real Jesse and their group are still stranded in the Underneath.

Ivor promises to keep their cover intact before vanishing in a puff of smoke. The group resumes their journey toward Romeoburg, determined to find Fred's weapon and reclaim Beacontown from Romeo's grasp.

Chapter 4[]

"Welcome challengers: Xara, Fred, and...me! Romeo!"

—Romeo's voice from multiple jukeboxes, announcing his own challenge. ^src

Finally reaching Romeoburg, Jesse, Petra, and Radar find a massive wall blocking their path. Behind it, they hear the sound of yelling and chaos. Guarding the wall are Soup and Val, who claim that their mighty "army" will drive away any unwelcome visitors. Jesse, skeptical, exposes that the "army" is actually a hidden jukebox playing pre-recorded screams. Embarrassed but honest, Soup and Val admit to the ruse but insist they still can't allow entry. They explain that Romeo's Challenge, housed in the town's largest building, was designed specifically to test—and humiliate—anyone brave enough to attempt it.

To gain their trust and passage, Jesse proposes building a terrifying sculpture to act as a "warning sign" for other travelers. Impressed and slightly intimidated by the sculpture, Soup and Val agree to the deal, providing armor and weapons in return. If Lluna is with the group, she stays behind, intrigued by another llama in the town, and decides to hang out near the guards.

Inside the building, Jesse, Petra, and Radar activate the Romeo's Challenge mechanism. The first challenge is straightforward: the group is pitted against magma cubes and magma golems, which they defeat with relative ease. However, the next challenge announcement reveals there are six hundred challenges in total. Realizing the impossible odds, Jesse sends Radar to sabotage the challenge system. Radar then successfully rewires the machine to skip directly to the final challenge.

The six hundredth challenge summons an enormous, giant magma golem. Drawing on their surroundings, Jesse uses the building's waterfalls to douse the golem before mining its stone-turned arms with a pickaxe. However, the pickaxe breaks, prompting the group to craft TNT using sand gathered within the building and gunpowder brought from Fred's Keep. They ignite the TNT using the golem's flaming legs and detonate it, obliterating the creature in a massive explosion.

Having successfully completed Romeo's Challenge, the trio exits the building, battered but triumphant.

Chapter 5[]

"But I don't want to...lose you. You mean a lot to me, Jesse. I-- More than anyone else, you've been there."

—Petra confessing about how important Jesse is to her.

The group finally reaches Fred's cabin, a modest and serene space nestled amidst the ruins of Romeoburg. Once inside, they split to search for Fred's weapon. Jesse pairs with Petra, and together they uncover a hidden compartment behind a block next to Xara's bed, revealing a second journal containing Fred's plan to defeat Romeo. The journal details the Admins' tumultuous history, their struggles, and a vital piece of information: the "Word of Passage" to access the primary terminal, cryptically encoded as "#potato451." Jesse decides to keep Xara's bed for later.

Petra confides in Jesse about feeling like the group is falling apart like the Admins have, and admits she still wants to be close to them. She expresses her longing to venture out into the world and find her true passion, rather than staying confined to Beacontown, and further laments that everyone seems too preoccupied with their own lives to join her. Before leaving the cabin, Jesse can choose how to respond: by promising to stay by her, assuring her that he/she will always think of her even if he/she is far, or hurting her feelings by staying silent.

Back at The Oasis, the group finds that Xara has fixed the portal. Jesse lights the firework Binta gave them, signaling Fred's people. Xara arrives shortly after and is visibly upset, chastising Jesse for drawing attention. She insists that Romeo cannot be redeemed, leaving Jesse to decide whether to give Xara her bed:

If Jesse gives Xara her bed, Xara softens, expressing her gratitude and admitting that maybe there is still hope in the world. She stays behind to fight off mobs, thanking Jesse and the others for giving her renewed faith.
If Jesse keeps the bed, Xara is upset and brushes off Jesse's actions. She rushes through the portal the moment it's ready, coldly saying goodbye, vowing revenge against Romeo.
- If Jesse went back for Xara in the previous episode, she states that she cannot return the favor.
- If Jesse abandoned Xara, she states that they are now "even".

Before leaving, Xara learns about Fred's weapon from the journal and warns them to be prepared for what lies ahead.

As the portal becomes operational, a massive wave of mobs overwhelms The Oasis, including the giant enderman. The giant enderman targets Jesse and knocks him/her from a dangerous height. Just before they hit the ground, he/she is caught by Jack, who either survived his earlier fall or returned from Fred's Keep with Fred's citizens and Nurm (if he is present). They join the fight against the horde.

Despite their efforts, the group finds themselves cornered. The giant enderman relentlessly pursues Radar, while Fred's citizens are trapped and in need of rescue. Jesse and Petra work to repair the building housing the portal. Jesse faces an important decision:

Save Fred's people: Radar bravely distracts the giant enderman, buying time for Jesse and the others to lead the citizens through the portal. Radar survives, albeit questioning Jesse's priorities, but is left behind in the Underneath.
Return with Radar: Jesse prioritizes Radar's safety, leading the group through the portal and breaking his promise with Binta. The citizens are left to fend for themselves, creating tension with Jack and Petra, who question Jesse's leadership.

Regardless of the choice, the group escapes The Underneath.

Chapter 6[]

"Oof. Pain. Everywhere."

"That's it: no more mystery portals. Ever."

—Jesse and Petra upon returning to their world. ^src

Jesse, his/her friends, and whoever came with them through the portal land in a familiar clearing. As they look around, they realize they have been transported to the Old Order of the Stone's temple. If Radar was brought to the surface, he is awestruck and gasps at the sight of the temple. He whispers about the stories he's heard of the original Order, calling it a sacred place. His wide-eyed wonder amuses everyone, and they chuckle at his innocence. Radar then laments the loss of Fred's people and holds out hope that they survived. If Fred's citizens were brought to the surface, Binta immediately takes charge, checking on everyone to ensure they are unharmed. Petra comments that Radar would have been amazed to see the temple. Binta and Kent thank Jesse for his/her leadership and express gratitude for Radar's bravery. Regardless, the peaceful moment is interrupted by the sight of fireworks exploding across the sky. Jesse realizes the fireworks are coming from Beacontown.

Jesse leads the group inside the temple. From inside, they view Beacontown; to everyone's shock, the once-vibrant community now looks militarized and foreboding, with ominous banners and eerie lights marking the streets. The group shares uneasy glances, realizing that Romeo has taken full control of Beacontown during their absence.

Post-credits Scene[]

"Jesse! Man, is it good to see you. Where are the others?"

—Lukas as he enters the Order Hall. ^src

Lukas enters the Order Hall and lights up with excitement as he sees "Jesse," who is Romeo in disguise. "Jesse" turns slowly to face Lukas, his expression blank at first. Then, his eyes begin to glow with a mix of red and yellow light.

Impacts[]

There are certain choices in this episode that can be affected by previous choices.

Jack will either be happy that Nurm is with him or will treat Lluna slightly harshly, depending on who Jesse left behind in Cellblock X.
If Jack falls off the cliff, Lluna and Nurm will react differently at the situation.

Choices[]

Did you accept the scavenger's deal to trade weapons?
Did you win the Faithful Friend of Fred trivia contest?
What did you say to Petra in Fred's cabin?
Did you give Xara her bed?
Who did you bring up to the surface?

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