[Chapter XXIII]

[Return to The Overworld]

Steve was concerned for the following morning. But once again, one of Herobrine's blue healing potions worked its magic; leaving the human feeling well rested and stronger than before. Though in the back of his mind he still wished to question more about the liquid, he always decided not to.

And like the demon promised, today was the day they sought out the entrance. Or at least leave the Nether and return back to the surface.

After making sure they had enough items restocked and the miner was well enough to move without any trouble and was more than capable of defending himself, Herobrine took them both to the same portal he brought them through.

Steve watched the swirling colors of the active portal, soon asking Herobrine without ever taking his gaze from the vortex; "Is this the only portal that exists?"

Blinking while moving to stand beside the young male, Herobrine stared at the portal for a second before answering; "That's active, yes. There are many portals that still stand today in the Overworld. You mean to tell me that while you've been out wandering about aimlessly, you've never come across any of them?" he in turn asked the human while tilting his head enough so his blank eyes could look upon the man. He was slightly surprised by this. Certainly considering with the amount of traveling the younger male has done he-hypothetically-should have encountered at least one of the portals.

Steve first wrinkled his nose slightly at some of the words the demon used, but answered him honestly nonetheless. "No. Never." he began before pausing to think for a second and adding; "Well…? Actually I have come across quite a few very old looking buildings that were out in the middle of nowhere. They looked like large sheds, certainly not homes. A few of them I had tried breaking into to use as shelter from the rain and Mobs. But I couldn't. And no one I had asked about them would tell me anything other than they didn't know what I was talking about."

Herobrine hummed softly, placing his thumb and index finger against his chin in a thinking manor; "I wonder… You may have actually come across the very same portals that I'm speaking of."

"R-really?" Steve at last took his eyes from the portal and turned to face the demon, feeling his features heating up a little due to the man's close proximity.

"Yes," he nodded while moving his hands to rest comfortably on his hips. "Chances are very high that Notch or even some of the Valkyries not only built those structures to ensure no one messes with the remains of the portals, but I'm sure they also enchanted them so they couldn't be broken into." He paused before chuckling to himself, "They really didn't want me back. And I'm certain that the people refused to tell you about them because the portals are tied to me and well, people don't like to talk about me these days in case you haven't noticed."

Steve frowned at the demon's remark, lowering his gaze to the maroon coloured floor before a thought came to him, causing him to blink and narrow his eyes; "Well… if that were the case…"

"Hmm?" Herobrine once again hummed while facing Steve, waiting for him to continue.

"If Notch really went through all that trouble to ensure you would never be able to return… then why didn't he do the same for the portal that this one is apparently attached to?"

Herobrine stared at the miner for a few long seconds. That was… actually a good question. "Actually…? I don't know. I know the fool didn't forget it. Only thing I can think of is, maybe he thought no one would be stupid enough to venture down that deeply beneath the surface? It's one of the deepest portals built. Most of them are either directly on or just a few meters beneath the surface."

"Yeah but he had to have known people would eventually begin mining beneath the surface?" the human pressed on.

"I don't know, Steve! Shit, I haven't seen the man in over six hundred years! I don't know what the hell he was thinking!" Herobrine snapped unintentionally. He was frustrated for actually not knowing the answer.

Steve decided to drop it after that, sighing with a muttered "Right…" while lowering his gaze once again.

Sensing yet again the change in the human's emotions, Herobrine growled to himself before wrapping his arm around Steve's waist, "Come on. Let's get out of here and back to the surface and start looking for The End!" he grinned.

Feeling renewed excitement tingling throughout his being, Steve nodded his head with a chuckle; "Right!" Together, they passed through the portal.

The first time Steve was in too much pain to have actually acknowledged the travel. This time was different. He was aware of everything. It only took but a few mere seconds, but for those short seconds Steve couldn't breathe or hear anything. His entire body felt like it was enclosed in a tight box and was literally constricting the life out of him.

The instant they came through to the other side, Herobrine immediately teleported them outside of the deep cavern so Steve could get the much needed fresh air he knew the human was going to be desperate for.

He was also unsure if that Hugo child had left behind any traces of his presence. He did not want Steve to know about that. 'Not yet, at least'. he grinned to himself slightly.

Steve took in a deep breath of the chilled early morning air as if he had just broke the surface of a lake he had been drowning in, feeling his knees grow weak and give out beneath his weight. He clung to Herobrine to keep himself from falling completely and held onto him until his body became accustomed to the surface once more.

Herobrine grunted as the other nearly crumbled against him, "Yeah… I probably should've warned you. Travel between the Nether and Overworld is pretty intense until your body gets used to it." He then coughed, "My bad…"

Gasping until his lungs no longer felt tight, Steve weakly glared up at the demon; "Is there anything you put my body through that's not intense until I get used to it!?" All Herobrine could do was snicker while grinning.

Feeling Steve no longer using him for much support, Herobrine carefully helped the man until he was standing upright fully on his own. "Say, before we start. Can you tell me where one of those structures are you came across?"

"Hunh? Oh! Y-yeah… let me just get my bearings real quick…" He slowly looked around them, trying to find the heavily wooded area familiar. Suddenly recognizing the spot where Hugo had left his sword that night, Steve knew instantly where they were.

"Okay. So, Sanderlorum is over that way." he pointed, even if the demon didn't care. "So then the one I can think of right at the top of my head is directly to the Northeast from us. Clear at the edge of the island. It's off the coast near Oxlend Port."

"Oxlend Port? That tiny fishing town is still around?" Herobrine blinked, genuinely surprised.

Steve lowered his arm and looked over his shoulder at the demon, "Well, I'm guessing so? It's the small town I washed on shore of… They were the ones that saved me…" he trailed off. "Also, I want to say it's grown since you've uh… last seen it. It's really not that small. And it's more than just a fishing town. They've got decent farms going."

"Really? When I last passed through, there were only four homes, one shop, and a marina big enough for only four boats."

Steve chuckled with a small shake of his head, "Wow! Then it has grown! There's still just the one shop, but it's expanded from what they've told me. And there are now at least ten homes. The marina sounds about the same as it still can only house four boats. But the boat and fishing rod rental shop there is pretty impressive."

"What?! There's a shop right there on the beach by the marina now?" That was it. Once this journey of theirs was over and everything was done; he has got to travel around and see just how much everything has changed!

Steve couldn't help but chuckle at Herobrine's outburst while beginning to pace around the small opening to get feeling back to his legs. He made sure to avoid the rotting Keep Out sign and crumpling steps nearby. "Yeah. I had washed up on the shore just behind the shop. The young woman that was closing it that night just happened to look out the back window and saw me. My clothes were completely dried when they found me they said, meaning I had to have been out on the beach all day. She found me the night after the storm…"

The Nether ruler gazed at the human, blank eyes trailing over his body and watching him move about the small area before speaking; "It's amazing none of the Mobs tried to kill you while you were unconscious." he mused. "Maybe they thought you were already dead? You had to have washed ashore shortly before dawn. And she obviously found you just at night fall. Otherwise, the zombies would clearly have gotten to you if you were left out there all night. Regardless if you were dead or alive."

Steve shuddered at that thought while kneeling down to adjust his left shoe as it suddenly began to feel uncomfortable to walk in. Herobrine had paused and scowled at the danger Steve had been put through before a smirk quickly replaced it; "I'll have to thank that woman for finding and saving you, won't I?"

"I don't think you need to worry about that. It's already been done. They're just happy I was alright. They were also kind of sad when I left them to try to find a way off this island. None of their boats were large or safe enough to cross the ocean. They had suggested I try every town and village. One is bound to have something I could use."

Herobrine stared at Steve with a deep frown. The way he said that last sentence-was he still planning on leaving? White eyes narrowed slightly; "But what about now? You still on the hunt for a boat that can take you away from here and return home?"

Steve tensed for a mere second at Herobrine's question before slowly standing upright again; keeping his back towards the Nether ruler as he thought that question over. Clearing his throat before turning around the face the older man, Steve smiled with a roll of his shoulder; "Well…? I have a home here now. And it's not like I have anything to return to. I've already told you… where I'm from is… gone." He paused for a moment with a forlorn frown pulling at his lips.

Forcing a chuckle from himself suddenly, Steve once again shrugged and smiled strongly, "Plus, I'm this land's Great Hero, aren't I? I can't just leave, right? And there's no way I could ever put Ozzy in that kind of danger and stress either. And besides," Steve then lowered his voice while approaching the demon.

Herobrine studied his every move, acting the instant Steve got too close—

"I don't think you'll let me leave, would you, Brine—? Ahh!?" Steve was speaking softly while reaching up to place his hand against Herobrine's check in a show of affection when the demon suddenly reached up and snatched his wrist while leaning away.

"B-Brine?" Hurt and confusion flashed back and forth in Steve's eyes.

"Not here." was all Herobrine said in a low almost warning tone, appearing completely indifferent to Steve's gasp of mild pain as he roughly released his tight grip on the man's wrist.

Glaring while taking a wide step back and favoring his now sore wrist, Steve scoffed while turning on his heel, "Anyways, I told you were it's at. Go see it for yourself. I'll wait for you here for my stomach to stop churning."

Cursing at himself for being the cause of Steve's sudden mood change, yet again, Herobrine took a deep breath before speaking again while at the same time wrapping his arms around Steve's waist and pulling him flush against himself; "Nah, I think I'll take you along with for the ride."

"The hell, Brine!?" Steve snapped before becoming enveloped in the deafening coolness as Herobrine teleported them to where he had explained where the structure was.

Opening his eyes only after feeling solid ground beneath his feet again, Steve gasped and took a step back and away from the demon upon seeing the large, dilapidated stone structure before them.

Ignoring the human for the moment, Herobrine approached the building, whistling while placing his hand against the cracking and moss covered stone, "This place has seen better days… seems like only yesterday I came through this very portal. Six hundred years hasn't been too kind to it."

Steve blinked, "Wait. You mean you've actually been here before?"

Herobrine stopped and turned to face the miner when he came closer, observing him taking in the site of the building. "Yeah. I've passed through all the portals at least once. This structure wasn't built to keep me trapped. All the portals had some sort of shelter like built around them to protect them from the elements of nature and the Mobs." he explained while walking around towards the front.

Herobrine paused with a snort upon taking in the heavy iron doors. "Those doors are in fact the same as my time. However I can clearly see the aura of protection put on them."

"Aura?" Steve inquired while walking behind Herobrine and following him carefully up the broken steps.

"Yeah. It's what prevented you from opening them. Though I don't think Notch put these up himself…"

"What makes you think that?"

The second Steve asked the demon that, Herobrine roughly kicked at one of the heavy double doors, easily dislodging it from its rusty hinges and with a loud crash, knocked it to the ground. "I wouldn't have been able to kick it down." he then simply stated.

Steve had to turn away to keep from the wave of dust that still managed to make him cough until it settled. Turning to face inside the structure again, he watched as Herobrine stepped over the downed door and entered the small enclosure.

"Whoa…" he breathed while carefully watching his step as he followed, looking around the destroyed remains of the stone.

Herobrine kept a close eye on Steve, a smile slowly growing as he watched the younger male exploring the room. He couldn't help but find the human's natural curiosity strangely attractive. There was certainly something about this young man that has seized Herobrine…

Dangerously.

Cobwebs and vines clung to the walls and ceiling while dirt and dust trickled in through the cracks and holes in the stone, catching the rays of the sunlight in just the right angles to shimmer.

In the middle of the small shelter and buried beneath years' worth of dust and overgrowth from the weeds and vines that managed to penetrate the walls, Steve was able to make out the remains of what was once a portal to the Nether.

Now, it was just a broken apart structure with missing pieces of obsidian.

"I know exactly where this one is back in the Nether." Herobrine mused out loud to himself, pulling Steve from his state of awe. "Shit, with a little TLC and new obsidian, I can reactive this portal!" the demon then grinned.

"You want to… reactive it?" That idea didn't seem to be settling with Steve for some reason. And the demon's following words did nothing to help that feeling but to grow;

"Not just this one! I want to reactive all of them!" His grin grew even wider.

"Let's just… focus on finding The End first." Steve tried to get the man to change his thoughts, quickly sighing with relief as it seemed to have worked rather effortlessly.

"You're right! Plenty of time to repair the portals after everything is taken care of. Come on; let's get out of here before this dust suffocates us." he laughed while grabbing the man's arm and pulling him back out and over the fallen door and outside.

Herobrine huffed to himself while crossing his arms over his chest, slowly becoming inpatient as he sat at the table waiting for Steve to arrive back to his house.

Once again, the demon had teleported himself ahead of the miner to avoid being seen by any of the villagers.

"What can be holding him up?" he growled under his breath. He just figured it was either the old man that ran this small town or the two Inn owners he had scared the piss out of. Or maybe even those two kids.

He certainly didn't want to dwell on the idea of him being caught up by the many young women suddenly so interested in him that lived here, feeling a hot and possessive jealousy bubbling up inside him at the idea.

Suddenly hearing a noise to his right, Herobrine blinked while turning his head towards the source. White eyes soon narrowed upon what he saw. "Oh, goody… I'm alone with you. What joy." he spoke with an obvious sarcastic joyous tone.

Ozzy sat in the doorway towards Steve's room; wide round eyes equally as narrowed and glaring back hard as he began growling lowly at the Nether ruler.

Herobrine raised a brow at the tiny kitten's behavior, finding it rather impressive that such a weak and small creature of Notch's creation was actually displaying its disliking of him. Without his knowing, it actually caused his expression to soften, "Huh… maybe you're not as pathetic as I originally thought." he remarked with a grin.

Just then, the kitten suddenly perked its ears up before turning and running back into Steve's room (after humorously running in place for a few seconds until his claws gained traction against the wood flooring).

The site had actually caused the demon to burst out into loud laughter as he clutched his side as it ached. He had never seen an animal do that! Sure he had been told stories about it back before he had become the Hero, but to actually witness it?!

The door opened with a slight creak and in walked a smiling yet rather exhausted looking Steve.

Herobrine's laughter died down upon seeing the miner's appearance and quickly pushed himself to his feet, "Steve? You look like shit. What happened?"

"The Elder wanted to talk to me. And then Melz and Glorenda wanted to chat… and then it was the entire village before I knew it." Steve chuckled weakly while pushing the door shut. "By the way, I heard you… laughing. What happened?"

Herobrine jerked slightly, feeling his face heat up in mild embarrassment before clearing his throat, laying the complete blame on the kitten, "You're stupid cat freaked the fuck out and tried running back into your room but not before literally running in place for a good few seconds!"

Steve frowned slightly at the initial insult towards Ozzy. Would Herobrine ever like the poor creature? "He's not stupid, Brine…"

"Whatever."

Steve had made something for the both of them to eat, still finding it a little strange to be cooking for two rather than just one despite how long they've been traveling together and all they have already been through.

Finished with their meals and sitting at the table, Steve smiled warmly while scratching underneath Ozzy's neck, the small yellow kitten curled happily in the miner's lap. Before too long, he finally broke the comfortable silence and asked; "So, where's a good place to start?"

Herobrine began pacing back and forth as he thought that over. Where would be a good place to start? Suddenly pausing and turning to face the human, the Nether ruler hummed to himself before rolling his shoulder; "Why not just outside the village?"

Steve blinked, "You mean, start in the desert?"

Picking up the human's apprehension, Herobrine clicked his tongue against his teeth, "Point take. Hmm… alright then, let's start in the plains just on the outskirts of the desert. It'll still be spacious enough to watch where the eye goes."

Steve could physically feel himself relaxing as Herobrine came up with another suggestion, offering the demon a small nod of his head as response. He really didn't want to be out traveling in the desert during the day as he could already feel his body becoming feverish just from the thought of the dry heat alone.

"Then it's settled. It's too late in the day to start now. So get some sleep and I'll wake you once the sun breaks the horizon." Herobrine turned to offer a smirk to the human before getting more comfortable in his chair.

Steve hesitated for only a moment more before taking the Nether ruler's advice and pushed himself to his feet, scooping Ozzy in his arms in the process. "Well then… good-night. I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Steve." Herobrine grinned. His lips were quick to curl into a smirk upon watching the human disappear into his bedroom and leaving his door cracked.

'Invitation much?'

To Be Continued…

A/N – Omf-to-the-g… I NEVER had intended for such a long pause between chapter updates. I cannot apologize enough for such a thing. And the fact that this came out so short. *hides in a corner*

Just let it be known-not trying to make excuses so please don't think that's what this is-I work in an ER department at a hospital… one that becomes uber crazy during what we call Season here in SWFL… With my shift, I literally come home, shower, eat, go to bed. Season this year has been very draining as I'm sure people have found me very inactive on all my sites.

And ever though I am approaching my first year with this company, I am still… adapting… to the many heartbreaking things one encounters in an ER department… I have not abandoned this story or anything of the sort. Just… maybe a small hiatus (or at least longer breaks between updates) for it will be in effect with the upload of this chapter at least until "Season" is over in May.

Plus, being in multiple tornado warnings within a weeks' span kinda slaughtered our DSL line so had to wait until that got repaired. But all in all I'll try to get the ball rolling again for this story! Especially since there's only about four chapters left til it's done!

Or WILL it be done...? *winkwinknudgenudgehinthint*

*Again a huge special thanks to slingading for the fantastic cover art for this story! Thank you so much and much love to you!*