In 1.9, Mojang added a gameplay mechanic of which no one thought they'd ever see in Minecraft; flight.

Well, not exactly flight, "gliding" would be more accurate. Now we have "elytra", which is plural for "elytron". If you google "elytron" you will discover that they are the hard coverings found on certain insects(such as beetles) which serve as protections for the wings.

Anyone who's gone outside to catch insects as a kid will know that insect wings are very delicate and can be damaged with a simple touch. From this experience many of us will understand why insects need protection for their wings.

What does this have anything to do with our beloved game? First let's lay out some facts about the world of Minecraft:

The Overworld is supposed to be the main dimension, in the middle of the End and the Nether.

The Nether is a dimension under the Overworld, a place deep underground.

The End is a "sky" dimension way high above the Overworld, so high that you can't see the Sun below you and everything is pitch black. A dimension in "outer space" so to speak.

None of these dimensions can be reached by physical effort such as digging or towering up, but rather through trans-dimensional teleportation(abilities that only Endermen have) or portals.

Based on these facts, the introduction of Nether-spawned Endermen, and the addition of Elytra and the End Cities, I will lay out my theory of why they exist in the End dimension:

Long ago, an ancient, flight-capable, technologically-advanced insectoid race arrived to the End Islands on their ships.

These insectoids were able to fly by the combined use of wings and elytra. Their wings would provide lift-off, maintain itself in the air, and propel itself through the air. The elytra served as protection and acted as an aerial rudder, allowing them to steer in desired direction. The wings and elytra could be taken off or worn again.

They colonised them, building End Cities. They encountered the creatures we call "Endermen", however.

The Endermen were a simple race, eating chorus fruit and teleporting around as a result of eating so much over the generations.

The insectoids tried to acquire the ability to teleport by eating chorus fruit as well, but to no avail due to different biological structures. They also viewed Endermen as no more than primitive beings.

These insectoids reproduce by laying its eggs in a living host, similar to how some wasps lay eggs in tarantulas. They used Endermen as hosts, and the eggs were Ender Pearls.

The Endermen, though primitive, understood enough to realise that the insectoids were parasites. They did not know how to extract the eggs or the larva, but when they did see one, they'd gang up on it and kill it(Endermen killing Endermites).

But the insectoids were far superior, and subjugated the Endermen with relative ease.

The Endermen gathered their numbers, and discussed the possible strategies on ridding themselves of the insectoid invaders. One of them suggested summoning the Great Mother, one who returns to help the Endermen fight off threats to their race.

The Endermen use their teleportation abilities to acquire the means to summon the Great Mother. They went to the Overworld for the sand, and the Nether for the Ghast tears and Blaze rods(hence the reason why they can pick up sand and teleport to the Nether).

They built the End Crystals, placed them in the correct fashion, and summoned the Great Mother(Ender Dragon) to fight off the insectoids.

Since the Great Mother had the ability to destroy blocks, she tore down the insectoids End Cities, smashed their ships, and sent them off scurrying to whatever world they came from.

The insectoids abandoned their colonies and nurseries long ago, and never bothered to return in fear of the Ender Dragon. But their presence remains to this day, notably being;

-Their eggs, retrievable from the corpse of a slain Enderman.

-The larvae, which sometimes hatches when an Ender Pearl is thrown hard enough(Endermite).

-The pupae, which can be found scattered around the End Cities(Shulker).

-The elytra, found on the End Ships. The wings have long since rotted away, since they are the softer of the two(which is why we have the elytra and no wings T_T ).

-Their End Ships and End Cities.

So we have been seeing Endermen appearing in the Nether. Here is my theory as to why;

Ever since Alex and Steve slew the first Ender Dragon, Endermen have been worrying about the death of their one and only protector.

Knowing that the insectoids would return without the Great Mother to protect them, the Endermen scurry in haste to find the means to construct another device to spawn another Ender Dragon.

This is why we see them in the Nether as of late. But the Ender Dragon has been spawned generations ago, and the exact steps to construct another device to spawn another Dragon has been lost to the ages.

Not knowing how to smelt Sand into Glass, kill Ghasts, and craft Blaze Powder from Blaze Rods, the efforts of the Endermen are in vain, and their fate is sealed; the insectoids WILL return in the Great Mother's absence, and the End dimension will be subject to recolonisation.

This might be what Mojang is planning for 1.11, considering how Endermen seem to be a big theme. It is a definite "what if", but we must prepare regardless.

Enchant your swords with Bane of Arthropods, my fellow players. They are coming.

THE END IS NEAR.

Edited for clarity of whether each dimension is a separate location. This was for you, /u/WildBluntHickok 😉