Author's Notes

Thank you everyone for all the support! (Yes, even those that don't leave a review) :D

ThinMintE, I think we should be able to call whatever we want cute. (i.e, cats, dogs, bugs, creepers, etc.) :)

Anywho, on with the story!

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Lila's POV

It was weird to see Simon and Iza 'in love'. I mean, they were plenty close before, but this is ridiculous. Iza never seems to part from his side, unless Thomas gives her a task or somebody is injured (Valory, playing with Nightshade) and even then she tries to stick with him.

Simon is a little less... open about his affection towards Iza. The occasional snuggle when he thinks noone is looking, a few quick kisses and such. Other than that, he hasn't changed much. He also introduced us to a creeper, Ara. It was one hell of a day.

He and Iza came back from the forest walking side by side with the creeper. We all know of his ability, and were only a little cautious towards Ara. At one point, Jack drew his bow to clean it or something, and Ara almost lost it. She started flashing and hissing in panic.

After a few tense moments, Simon finally managed to calm the creeper down. She was... breathing heavily, I think. The sounds she makes are weird. Once Jack had apologized to Ara (Simon translated everything), things went a lot smoother. Simon told us about his plan to teach Ara english, and everyone agreed that it was a good idea.

But now things were going fine. The third floor is finally finished, as well as all the rooms, plus the med-bay. Iza kept insisting on sharing a room with Simon, saying it was 'wasteful for her to have her own room when she could share with someone else.' In the end, Thomas (and Simon) argued that it was silly to have them share a room when we had so much space.

Needless to say, Iza wasn't very happy with Simon.

But after a few hours she was back to hugging and kissing him to death. I don't know how Simon puts up with her. We were taking a break from all the work right now, everyone just lounging on the grass.

Thomas and sarah were chatting intently, Simon was fiddling with something and listening as Iza told him a story, Adrian was talking to Jack and Valory was playing with Nightshade. I was bored. Insanely so.

Eba was nibbling on some mutton jerky, drawing something on a crude notebook Thomas made for her. I got an idea and walked up to her.

"Hey Eba." She looked up, mildly startled.

"I, uh, h-hi. Hi Lila."

I smiled at her. "Hey, want to help me with something?" Her eyes lit up and she carefully closed her notebook.

"Sure! Help with what?"

I whispered my idea in her ear and she smiled widely. She teleported us both to the lake and I got to work. My plan was to make waterproof bags that I would fill with water, and then Eba would warp us back and we could throw them at everyone. The perfect game.

A water ballon fight.

We got to work, and within the hour we had at least 200 water balloons ready to burst. Our hands were sore, and they looked like prunes from all the water. We took a short break, and then Eba warped us home.

Nobody had noticed we were gone. That hurt a little, but now was not the time for this sort of feeling. I picked up a ballon, aimed, and threw it as hard as I could. It sailed through the air and landed a few inches short of my target.

Adrian recoiled from the splash, immediately standing and drawing his big sword. It was very amusing to see him struggle to stand in the wet grass. When he saw Eba and I, as well as the goofy grins on our faces, he put away the obsidian blade and smiled.

"Is it a war, you want? Then a war you shall have!"

We started chucking balloons, and Adrian plucked them out of the sky with ease, handing them to everyone else. Panicking, we started throwing balloons faster and in different directions.

Eventually, the sheer amount of proyectiles was too much for Adrian and one of them burst against his head. Thomas, Sarah, Jack, Valory and Iza were fighting back. Eba warped away and returned with a barricade made of planks, which we hid behind.

I realized after a while that Simon was nowhere to be seen. This was worrying, as everyone knew how good of a tactician he was.

"Eba! Where's Simon?" She turned to me, alarm rising in her big magenta eyes.

"I... oh no... I haven't seen him. This is bad, isn't it?"

We heard a chuckle behind us and turned to see Simon with a big cannon loaded with balloons.

"Yep. Very bad." He fired it and we were instantly soaked from head to toe. We shrieked and threw balloons in random directions. Thomas stopped us for a second so we could organize a good war.

We paired off in two teams, team A being me, Eba, Sarah, Valory and Iza. Team B was all the boys, Thomas, Jack, Simon, and Adrian. We had the advantage of numbers, but they had Simon.

For almost the entire battle we didn't see that mischievous creeper at all. Then, suddenly and to everyone's surprise, he appeared behind us with a tank. A tank. That crazy bastard spent two hours making a freaking tank!

He peppered us with balloons as he approached in his armored vehicle, and we had no choice but to surrender. We switched it up next round.

There were 4 teams, each with their own 'base' and flag. There was three pairs and one trio; Eba and I, Adrian and Jack, Valory, Sarah and Iza, then Thomas and Simon. We played a few rounds, and Thomas' team always won.

Simon just kept coming out of nowhere performing hit-and-runs. We were all tired out as well as soaking wet by the end of the day. Everyone but Simon. Apparently, no one had managed to hit him. We stopped once we ran out of balloons.

Simon was boasting about having dodged everything while Iza crept up on him. She had a single water balloon in her hand, and she threw it at him, getting Simon thoroughly soaked. She giggled like crazy, and everyone laughed along with her.

We all took turns changing clothes (Val and I spent our mornings making new ones for everyone) and chatted afterwards. Sarah helped me and Val with dinner, and we all had two mutton chops and bread (baked with our farm-grown wheat). Well, Eba had five of them, but still.

Valory jokingly asked the endergirl how she could keep such a figure while eating like that. Eba looked so cute as she blushed furiously and mumbled an answer.

"W-warping is tiring... the more stuff I warp the more tired I get... and hungry..." We tried to stifle our laughter, but it did nothing to help Eba's shame. If anything, we made it worse. Overall, it was a very fun day.

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Thomas's POV

The day after the balloon fight, I caught a cold. I mean, it was to be expected. We were all soaked through and through. I just didn't expect it to be me who got sick. I still helped around, much to Sarah's displeasure.

"Sit down, Tom! You can't be working so hard when you're feeling like this."

"*cough* I'm fine Sarah. I can do this."

"No, you can't. Let me help you."

I was currently bringing logs from the edge of the woods back home. Or at least trying to. Sarah wouldn't back off, and I eventually let her help me. By the time we brought every log home I was exhausted. Sarah insisted on taking me to the med-bay for rest.

Once there, everyone dropped what they were doing and came to visit. It was very awkward since they were already aware of my condition, but still, it was very nice of them all.

"Are you okay?"

"You'll get better, right?"

"Chin up, man."

"He'll be fine, guys."

"By tomorrow you'll feel good as new."

After a few minutes, Sarah 'kindly' asked them to leave. She drew her knife and told them to get out. Then we were left alone in the med-bay. Sarah kept trying to hug and comfort me, but I held her back so she wouldn't get sick.

It took a lot of effort, but I finally managed to get her to leave. I didn't want her to worry over me, and sitting there while I was sick wouldn't exactly help. I was so tired that I fell asleep mere minutes later. And I dreamed.

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Dazed POV

I was in a dark hallway, staring at a room filled with people. The walls, floor and roof where the same dull maroon color, and the outside was filled with flames. I looked at my hands. They were dainty, pale things with long nails.

This isn't me. Where am I?

I looked up, back at the room. There was an extra person there now, kneeling in the center of the throne room.

Throne room? How do I know that?

He's going to kill my daddy.

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Probably would have if I wasn't connected to it. The feminine voice sounded scared. No, absolutely terrified.

Whoa! Who's there?

I need to help him. I can't let him kill my father!

My body moved on it's own, walking and then running towards the throne room.

Wait, wait, stop!

I stopped myself mid-step, and I (we?) tumbled to the floor. A battle had started in the large open-air room, bodies already littering the ground.

We need to go!

No! Please! I need to save him!

I felt somebody grabbing my shoulders and lifting me to my feet. I turned around to see a familiar and comforting face that I had never seen before.

"Don't look that way darling. Daddy's going to be alright. Come with me."

"No, mama! Please! We need to help him!"

The voice that escaped my lips was not mine. It was the same voice that I heard in my head. A slew of emotions swam through me, most of which that I couldn't explain.

"Listen to me, dear. You are smart enough to know that his royal guard won't keep Darkness back. Your daddy loves you very much, and would hate for you to be hurt. As would I. You're going to have run, do you hear me? Run, hide, go anywhere, anywhere but here. Can you do that for me, nether-plum?"

I felt tears running down my cheeks, tears that were not mine. I could see the person before me was also crying, and I felt an unnatural sense of loss.

"Yes, mama." My voice cracked, unable to keep steady throug the tears. Then, my 'mother' pushed back her dark brown hair and revealed a necklace. She took it off and handed it to me.

"Here. It's a magma-pearl. It should help your firepower, should you ever need it. Promise me you'll stay safe. Promise me you'll find a way to the overworld."

I nodded, my vision swimming now.

"I promise, mama. I will. And I'll come back for you, when it's safe."

I heard stifled sobs, and my mother held me close.

"I love you, nether-plum."

"I love you too."

"Stay safe. Run, now, go. Leave the fortress, run as far away as possible. Go!"

I heard a roar, and turned around in time to see (my Father) the King breathe fire at someone (Darkness). My mother turned my head back around and pushed me deeper into the hallway.

"Run!"

Still sobbing, I turned tail and ran. I realized that it was me who was running, the other voice still unable to even speak.

I need to save us both.

I kept getting lost in the maze off hallways and stairs. Luckily, every single one was empty.

Hey! I need your help now! Where's the way out?

The other voice still couldn't stop sobbing, and I tried to soothe her.

It's alright, shh... calm down. If we can get out of this place, we'll be safe.

... but my parents...

They'll be fine. Come on, show me the way out.

... th-that way... and to the right...

I nodded to myself and ran down the hallway she pointed to. Soon, I took a Right turn and exited onto a large bridge that went from the fortress to the rest of the nether.

Now where?

...I don't know. My mother told me to run as far as I could. To reach the overworld.

I knew that, but didn't say a thing. I kept running, trying to find someplace to hide. We wandered through the flaming chasms and tunnels, searching for somewhere to rest. There mere mobs everywhere, but they didn't seem to care about us much.

...I'm so tired...

I know. We just need to keep going a little farther.

Who are you? Why are you in my head?

I searched for a name, but I couldn't find it. Who am I? Why am I here?

I don't know. I'm a friend.

O-okay.

We wandered aimlessly for a few hours until we found a small crater carved into the wall. We crawled in, completely exhausted.

... I'm hungry.

I know. Me too.

I wish we had found quartz in here.

I didn't know how to respond to that. We sat there for a few hours, and the girl began to cry. I realized that I hadn't even asked for her name. I searched my memories, and found none that I recognized. Faces, games, places here in the nether, nothing felt familiar. And it did at the same time.

Then, I stumbled upon the answer to my search.

Kaitlin.

sniffles*... yes?

Is that your name?

... it is. How do you know me?

I don't. I combed through your memories.

sniffle*... why did you do that?

To find out who you are.

She didn't speak another word, and a fresh wave of grief washed through us. We fell asleep after a few hours, and I felt my own memories rushing back, as well as a single thought.

I'm running out of time.

Kaitlin raised her head, confused.

What?

I'm running out of time. My name is Thomas, and I'm from the overworld. I can help you get there, but I'll need your help. We need to hurry. Is there a nether portal nearby?

I... yes. One was sighted by my father's men.

Good. I need you to go there, fast. I'll build and light one on my end, and it should teleport you to the overworld.

... thank you.

Don't thank me yet. I need to leave you now. Go to the nether portal, hurry!

I felt a tug on my arm, and turned around. There was a massive light behind me, growing ever closer and brighter, until I was completely blinded.

And I woke up.

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Author's Notes

So! I started this one as soon as I finished the last because I was overly exited. And here it is! Now I'm very tired. Writing does that to me...

Also, Darkness's POV didn't appear at the end of this one! What could this mean? Probably that the chapter was going to be way too long if I added it. Or maybe something else.

Also, also, how did I do with this one? So far, there hasn't been much real progress in the story, except for bond creation and Darkness's murders. So now things are going to be a little more oriented towards the actual plot. Not really, though. Too much stuff I want to cram in here...

Anywho, thank you for your time and support, have a great day!

~ LeMafiaKreb