A/N Hello, hello. I'm back! Sorry for the wait. I'm so excited for this story. Please read! Things will get interesting very soon, I promise. Actually...This chapter will be very interesting. Hehe!

Chapter Four - The Retreat

When Lucie left later that week, I gave her a meek hug and walked away. She looked as though she wanted to say more, but I wouldn't let her. Her safety was already at risk. Besides, I was planning a vacation of some sort. Somewhere far away, where I could be alone. Ritike had suggested it, and I had no choice but to say yes. She obviously cared about me.

My life was a train wreck, as I was completely aware. There was no denying it. But everyone wanted me to heal, and so I would at least have to put on a show, and do what they wanted.

Normally, the highest Guard Guildmen would be tasked with transporting me. But I had asked to go alone. I wanted to recreate my first time landing here, oh so long ago. This time, I would have emergency diamond gear, but I would attempt to do this solo Every recipe, every tool would have to be used.

I waved goodbye to my village, my home, as I floated off into the distance. It was sunset, and I'd continue to fly until the break of dawn. The Map Guild had provided me with a prime location. I had requested a forest of some type, and as I neared my destination, the forest loomed before me. I had promised myself I wouldn't cry. Never.

I fell at the break of dawn, looking down at my landing spot. It was beautiful. The sun's rays reflected across the land, and I had a bit of homesickness at the sight. Not just for the village, but for the Aether.

I had only a day before the monsters came, and it was my goal to refrain from magic as much as possible. I punched trees, made tools, and even got a chestplate of leather. I wasn't lucky enough with the sheep though. Only one measly piece of wool. I hunkered down into a small wooden house I had made, ready to wait the night. I was unfortunate enough that a storm began.

Of all nights, this was the one night that this would happen to me. He knew. Herobrine had to know. There was no other way. He had been watching me, this whole time. Water soaked me, but I looked around, alert for the slightest movement.

I focused on my ragged breaths, trying to control myself. The endermen would not show up. They would not hurt anyone I loved. They would not win tonight. Instead of a purple aura in the sky, I saw an orange, bright one. The water turned to fire, burning me. My meager wooden house burned to the ground. The fire did not hurt me, but the trees around me fell, the fire choking the air. I hoped with all my might that this would not be happening to my home. Ritike, Lucie, Cami...They were fine. I would have received a panic signal if otherwise.

I stood on the ground, watching the wildlife around me die. There were no hostile mobs, at least. As long as I wasn't hurt, and nobody around me was hurt, I was fine. I would dig down, and try to get away from this smoky mess. The fire was beginning to pool into large ponds of lava. If I had been a regular visitor of the Overworld, I would have died by now. And if my suspicions were correct, this was no ordinary fire. It was magical, perhaps infused with Ender, life-sucking magic. I gasped, as I came to the realization. I could feel my strength wisping out, floating back up into the sky. I jumped into a pool of water, which was quickly evaporating, and dug downwards as quickly as I could.

Panting, I sat down in the little hole I had made. "Crap." I mumbled, to myself. How had Herobrine known? There was no way that fire had been natural. I hadn't thought of Herobrine in years - literally. For now, I enjoyed myself as the last bits of water dripped down, doomed to evaporate. It looked like survival would be much more difficult than what I had originally thought.

Tired and lonely, and laid my burnt hair onto the cool dirt. I may have been invincible to fire, but my hair sure wasn't. Luckily, I could rest without a bed, but the beds had some sort of complex magic involved, and it repelled monsters. I closed my eyes, and fell asleep, hoping for better tomorrow. I would not go home so quickly

In the morning

I woke up, and tried to stretch out. I failed miserably, and shrieked when my hands touched the dirt and stone around me. I then realized where I was. Sighing, I dug a bigger hole, and stretched my weary arms.

In order to survive, I had to get moving. I had enough food and tools to last me a bit, and though I didn't want to use them, I knew I had to if I wanted to get past today. I would start over after I explored my underground surroundings. Based on the Map Guild's observations, I would have landed near a ravine.

So I dug, and dug, and dug. I strategically went in different directions, coming back to my little hidey hole that I had made a bit of a base of. I had no luck yet in the ravine department, but I had amassed a chestplate of iron.

It took me two more nights until I finally heard a zombie moan. Excited, I mined quickly towards the source of the sound. After a few minutes, I broke out, and nearly fell into the ravine in my joy. There was plenty of visible iron, and I was sure to find surface diamonds this deep.

But then, something caught my eye. There was a furnace down there. This, I knew, was impossible. I had asked the Map Guild specifically for a different location than my original touchdown spot. Either way, it couldn't have been my furnace, because it was lit.

Now I was deathly silent. I could see torches down there, but they weren't placed in opportune spots. This already told me that whoever, or whatever was down there, it was probably a noob.

It also couldn't be a villager. No blacksmith was capable of mining down to a level like this one, so it had to be someone like me. Or like...her.

I shook my head to get rid of the thought. I would have to stay focused, just in case this was an elaborate plot twist by the horrible Herobrine. He had already messed up my life enough. But Herobrine was known for being destructive and upfront. From what I had witnessed on that fateful day, Dracise was the only planner in that duo.

Before long, I was at the bottom. From my vantage point, I could see someone hunched over the furnace. He was smelting iron. The boy had some leather boots, but nothing more. His brown hair glinted red in the light, and he was wearing a pair of ripped up jeans, and a green shirt stained with blood.

I crept up on him, but in my curiosity, slipped on a stray piece of gravel. The boy turned back in fear, and I took a good look at his face. It was young, but maturing. He did not have the cut jaw of a grown man, but I could tell that he was not a little boy. His cheek was scratched up and bleeding, and his pale green eyes surveyed the room.

I had seen much worse injuries than what he had, especially before the hospital had been built. Nevertheless, I felt sorry for the boy. He was sweating hard, and he was wielding a stone sword that looked on the verge of breaking.

I had three choices now. I could slink back and pretend like I'd never seen him, which to me, was out of the question. I could attack him, or, I could get to know him. Fear stabbed my heart as I thought about the third option, but I knew what was right. Taking a deep breath, I made my choice.

A/N I told you! I told you! I am so excited now! I love this new character. I'll have to leave you guys with that bit of a cliffy. Thank you so much to my faithful reviewer, .dawnstar. You make my day! I absolutely adore your reviews! For the rest of you lot, please, please, Rate, Review, and Follow (Or Favorite, if you dare)! This may be a bit late, but Happy Halloween.

See ya real soon!

Kiwi