*Rachael's POV*

I was in the Nether, amidst flames and heat. I cautiously teetered upon cobblestone scaffolding, whipping at glowstone on the ceiling in order to acquire its dust. With every 3 seconds that whipped by, I made a full 360 degree turn to brace myself for any silent fireballs that may have been sailing my way. None managed to do so, leaving me in a state of relief as I landed on the ground, taking seldom fall damage on my way back to the portal.

But that's when I was stricken. I ended up having a completely silent fireball plummet into my torso and have me sailing for the ground. I rubbed my helmet and got up.

Here's the thing. The ceiling was riddled with Netherrack. No white. No cries or meows. No Ghast. Not a Ghast to be seen.

And that's when I saw them. They glowed like headlights against the pinkish rock. Eyes. Eyes of pure pearl white, almost trying to blind me in a way that nothing else ever had attempted. I got up and dashed toward them.

They disappeared, and were replaced with a menacing laugh, laughed by a deep, ominous voice.

This definitely wasn't normal.

*Scrooge's POV*

Oh, little did I know. Little did I know that not literally would I have a chunk of my heart chipped away from the rest.

I was just standing there, mesmerized by the mere memory of Rachael. What had she done to me? She had poisoned my thoughts with her image… her pretty image, her angelic voice… everything about her. It's just… none of it would go away. On top of that, my heart constantly felt as if it was soaring in some sort of secret wind.

"Hey, Scrooge!" Mason said from behind me. "What're ya up to?"

"Just… pondering," I sighed.

*?'s POV*

My constant pattern had suddenly been blocked.

My routine consisted of laughing in the face of male world royalty pathetic and somewhat formidable, watching every single face cringe and become soaked with perpetual tears as they watched their worlds burn to a core not even they had figured fathomable. Some of them clung to their female friends and lovers, crying with them… even trying to save them…

None of them could compare.

This was when I knew that the routine had to come to an end. Such courage, this world's leader had. She was female… and alone. No prince to guard her from the fury of something as pathetic as a Creeper, and yet, she had an unconceivable type of force to battle me.

The eternally burning fires glimmered off of her golden shoes and in her eyes, which surged with ambition. Things I had never noticed before.

Such bravery was attractive. The girl was beautiful.

The plan had to be changed, for I could not control this hand that was pulling on my heartstrings… convincing me that I needed her…