Author's Notes

I'm so very sorry this chapter was so late. And... there needs to be some changes.

I have been publishing chapters much later than I used to, in case you haven't noticed. And it will stay that way, sadly. I don't have as much time as I did before, I've suffered from lack of inspiration, and I've been having technical issues. So, here's the new upload schedule;

Chapters will be up every two days unless they're late. They will usually be 3-6k words long. Aaand... I think that's it.

Now, Reviews!

ThinMint, I'm sorry I horrified you. But I do have to say, I feel somewhat flattered.

GiggiEba, ... Yeah, poor Nightshade. I've always hated drowneds with their tridents and annoying water mob tactics.

ZackTheDemon, thank you so much! I'm glad you like the story. :) I promise to check out yours! And I'll be gentle when reviewing it.

Anywho, on with the story!

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Simon's POV

I set down the Auikyani for the last time this afternoon. We had been gathering and dumping off mountain dirt, which by the way is harder and heavier, all day long for the past two days. Thomas was piloting the MK II... I think. He wasn't that great a pilot.

Valory had not eaten or slept since Nightshade's death, but she looked pretty determined about it. Which was quite weird. Whenever anyone expressed concern, she waved them off with a smile.

'I'm fine', she would say, 'I have a plan. Don't worry, I'll be alright'. This troubled Lila more than anyone, but she didn't argue or try to convince her sister to do otherwise. She later explained to us what Valory wanted to do.

"I think she's trying to get herself another phantom. You know, to make up for Nightshade's loss. Except this time she has something else bobbing around in her head."

Thomas frowned. "But... she'll be fine, right? This is good? That she's getting over Nightshade?"

Lila sighed. "It'd be good if she was getting over it. But I don't think she is. She loved Nightshade much more than anything else, and she's connected the dot's which point to Darkness killing her. I think she's going to try to kill Darkness herself."

Eba gasped, and Blight appeared beside her. "Are you Sure? That she'll try that?"

The cave spider shook her head. "I think she will. But I hope she doesn't."

Blight grimaced. "We need to keep her from attempting such a thing."

Jack stepped forward. "Do we stop her from doing... whatever she does to get phantoms?"

Blight turned to face the stray. "No. But if she tries anything, like constructing a nether portal or leaving in the middle of the night, we need to find and stop her. Darkness would not hesitate to kill her on sight."

Adrian, who usually stayed quiet during our exchanges, tilted his head. "How do you know that?"

"From personal experience, as well as Kaitlin's dreams."

Kaitlin stepped closer to the demon. "Personal experience?"

Blight nodded. "All demons are spawned with their own vessels. We can abandon them for different ones if we like, or summon shadows. But other demons, and spirits, can remove us from our vessels. That's what happened to me. Darkness destroyed my vessel."

Eba hugged Bloght's shadow. The demon looked a bit flustered, as if he didn't know what to do, and patted her back. Lila crosses her arms.

"So what are we going to do? Nothing?"

Thomas gave her a wry smile. "For now. She looks pretty determined to get a new phantom. We probably wouldn't have been able to stop her if we tried."

The cave spider nodded, and everyone had walked away to do whatever they wanted. Now, I slid down the Auikyani's rope ladder and walked towards the house. Kaitlin, Adrian and Sarah climbed down after me. Thomas was just now setting down the MK II, messily getting it in place and dropping the anchor. I chuckled and changed course, wanting to speak with him.

Thomas climbed down and dusted himself off. I waved at him and he gave me a nervous smile. "Hey, Simon. Is... is it normal for the airship to creak when carrying the dirt?"

I smiled back. "That just means you were carrying too much stuff. Was it just creaking or did anything break?"

"I... don't think it did. It was just the creaking that worried me. And uhh..." he pointed to a cream-colored scrape on the side of it's grey hull. "I may or may not have scratched it against a mountain."

I gave him a reassuring smile. "That's fine. I can ask Z to make some more grey paint. You just need to find her some light-grey flowers."

He let go a sigh of relief. "Okay. I can do that."

I nodded and walked back towards the house. I would give the airship a routine check-up anyways, so it wouldn't matter if something broke. As long as the airship didn't explode. Which shouldn't happen, since it uses redstone instead of coal...

Izabell greeted me with a hug when I opened the door. I hugged her back and pulled away. "Z, do you think you could make some more paint?"

"Sure! Which color?"

"Light grey. Thomas scraped some off the MK II, so it needs replacing. He will give you the flowers."

"Okay. Tomorrow, though. It's getting dark already."

"Also, think you could help me with dinner?"

Her mouth turned into a bright smile. "Of course!"

I took off my hoodie and goggles, hanging both on a chair. We made the usual, meats, bread, and dandelion salad. We didn't have many kinds of food around here. One by one, our friends began to sit down at the table.

Eba arrived and summoned a piece of melon. She chomped on the slice with relish, stopping to speak with Blight in her head every so often. The demon didn't allow himself into the house, saying he would end up rotting the whole thing on accident. I could tell when they spoke because Eba's eyes flashed grey, the color of Blight's eyes. And the endergirl stared into nothingness.

Lila and Adrian sat down side-by-side as always. The wither skeleton was talking excitedly, something he only did with her. Thomas and Sarah sat down, the latter turning to speak with Eba. Kaitlin sat in her usual spot next to Adrian, carrying the green egg with her.

Soon, everybody was at the table. Z and I finished dinner and began placing the plates in front of everyone. Valory, as usual, didn't touch hers, but she did so excitedly. She was fidgeting in her seat as if about to explode from the sheer amount of energy coursing through her veins.

The spider waited until we were all finished and stood up. She cleared her throat and smiled. "Guys, I would like you all to watch as I perform the Moonlit Dance for the second time in my life."

We agreed nervously (or, they did. I just nodded). She walked over to the door and gestured for us to follow her. We trailed behind Valory in a single-file line, and she eventually led us to a little clearing in the woods. There was a withering tulip in the center of the clearing.

Valory had us sit down on the grass behind the edge of the tree line. "So you don't scare the phantoms," she explained. We waited expectantly as she drew her double-headed spear and got into position.

Milky light bathed the clearing, turning Valory's hair, clothes and weapon into a shining dark blue. She planted her spear next to the tulip with her hands on the handle. She took a few deep breaths and looked up at the moon with a smile.

She danced with an air of confidence, twirling and dancing all over the clearing. Many phantoms began circling in the sky, chirping and shrieking rhythmically. One by one they swooped down and landed skillfully on the branches, until all the trees at the edge of the clearing were filled with them.

Valory never missed a beat, gliding deftly across the grass, skillfully swinging her weapon. After a few minutes, the phantoms began rising into the air once more. All of them began flying towards the midnight sky. Valory finished her dance and stood in the center of the clearing.

The few phantoms left chirped and took off. Valory's shoulders drooped in disappointment. She began to turn away when the leaves of a tall birch tree rustled. She stared hopefully at the moonlit foliage.

A sharp cry rang out from the birch's canopy, and a large phantom emerged from under the leaves. I swooped down towards Valory. The spider kneeled on the ground and placed her hands on her thighs. The phantom circled her once before landing silently in front of her.

Valory smiled uncertainly and extended a hand out towards the phantom. It released it's cry again rubbed up against Valory's open palm. The spider's smile widened.

"You will be Falconheart. I can see fearlessness and courage in your clever eyes."

The Phantom cried out again extending his scaly wings to their max length. Valory caressed their leathery membranes gently and giggled. "You're quite the show-off, aren't you?" The phantom chirped almost happily and shook himself.

She stood up and walked over to us. Falconheart hopped along behind her. We walked in silence towards the house, but everyone seemed happy. Especially Valory. When we entered the forest her phantom flew up onto the branches and followed us by gliding from one to the next.

Once we were out of the forest and at the edge of the plains, both Valory and Falconheart dashed forward, running/flying happily. I took Iza's hand and pulled her along as I ran towards Valory. The slime girl could barely keep up with me, but she tried very hard anyway.

I slowly let go of her hand and ran as fast as I could towards the phantom and its... master? Owner? I'll have to ask about that later. Falconheart began rising into the air as he followed Valory, and then dived while performing all sorts of twists and loop-de-loops and the sort. When he was just about a meter of the ground he opened his wings to the max and began gliding besides Valory.

We slowed to a stop in front of the house and turned to look at everyone. They were walking towards us, chuckling and giggling to themselves. Izabell finally caught up and pretty much fell against me, panting from the effort.

"Why... are you... so fast... Simon..."

I chuckled and gave her a hug. "I don't know Z. I told you, I've always been weird." And I've always ran from my problems. The words tugged at my heart, aching to leave my mouth. I'm fast because I run from all my problems. Izabell got her breath back and sighed against me.

"You're not weird. You're special. Like, you are the smartest, bravest, and most interesting, mysterious person I know. I like that."

I smiled and tucked that sad voice back into my heart. "I'm glad. I love you, Z."

She giggled and planted a kiss on my cheek, so close to my lips that they brushed when she pulled away. "I love you too, Simon."

Jack opened the door beside us and gestured for everyone to enter. "Come on, guys. You can make out inside. It's getting much too cold out here."

Kaitlin was shivering, the large green egg clasped in her arms. "Y-yes, it's f-freezing. Let's g-get inside, p-please."

Izabell stood aside, an adorable blush tainting her cheeks. I tucked my hands into my hoodie's pockets and smiled at her. She returned my smile shyly and looked at her dirty boots. I nudged her and we followed the gang into the house. Valory remained outside, speaking to her new phantom.

Everyone was walking up the stairs, heading to their own rooms. Izabell took my hand and dragged me to hers. I leaned against the door and stared at nothing absently. Izabell was changing into her night clothes at the edge of my vision, and it took all my willpower to not look at her directly.

She finished changing and walked up to me. I smiled at her, and she returned the gesture. She enveloped me in a tight hug. "I'm glad we're back together. And that you didn't die in the attack."

I chuckled softly and hugged her back. "You and me both. I feel proud to have fought beside you."

She giggled. "You did all the fighting. You wouldn't even let me get close!"

I shrugged. "Well, I didn't want you getting hurt."

"I can fend for myself."

"I know that, but I didn't want to take any chances."

She made a mock angry/pouty face that melted my heart. I tucked some stray strands of hair behind her ears and cupped her cheek. "You are far too precious for me to risk losing." She smiled widely and searched my eyes with her light-green gaze. Her hands reached up and pulled my goggles off.

"It's easier without these."

"What's easier?"

Her smile became uncertain, and her blush returned. "M-making out."

I chuckled and pulled her closer to me. "Don't be shy, Z. I may not want to do anything sexual now, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the feel of you lips."

Her blush deepened, but she simply stared at me through wide and uncertain eyes. I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Why are you flustered all of a sudden? We do this all the time."

"B-but that was... that was just kissing. L-like, 'I love you' kissing. Th-This... i-it's more like 'I want you' kissing. A-and I know you're uncomfortable with that, and I d-don't want you to-to turn me away because I'm being t-too forward."

My smile widened. "I would never turn you away, Z. And why is this an 'I want you' sort of kiss?"

She swallowed and placed her head on my shoulder. She mumbled softly, so quietly that I could barely hear what she said. "Because we're alone in my room. Because everyone else is going to sleep. Because I have you pinned against the wall."

I chuckled and kissed her neck, causing her to shiver lightly. "Oh really? Pinned against the wall?" I quickly turned us around so her back was pressed against the sturdy wooden walls of her room and she was caged by my arms and legs. Her eyes fluttered open and stared at me in shock.

I smiled at her. "It looks to me like you're the one that's pinned."

Her blush covered half of her face, and she began to sweat. "S-Simon..."

I backed off a little. "Remember, nothing sexual. This is just a kiss."

She sighed in disappointment but nodded. I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers. She shuddered happily. "C-could I... convince you? Somehow?"

I smiled against her lips. "Nope. This is non-negotiable."

"Aw..."

I silenced her with my lips, and she responded instantly. After a few moments, she began rubbing my back and arms. I held her firmly in place, careful to avoid hurting her somehow. The kiss lasted mere seconds, but Iza was already sweating slime. I backed off before she could pull me closer.

"Wh-... why did you go?"

"Cuz I don't trust your self-control, Z. You're already sliming..."

"What? Oh... uh... d-don't bring that up."

"I won't. Come on, we need to sleep."

"A-Alright."

I straightened the covers on Iza's bed and brought out a blanket from her closet. She picked out some pillows beside me and placed them neatly in their respective places. I sat on the bed, took off my hoodie and boots, then lay down. Iza was hugging a pillow close as she crawled onto the bed.

Like every time I sleep in her room, Iza placed her head on my chest and sighed in contempt. I caressed her dark hair and closed my eyes.

"I don't understand why you find me comfortable, Z. It's probably better if you sleep on a pillow."

"Simon... we've been over this. You breathe, the pillow doesn't. It lulls me to sleep. And I like the way you smell."

"That's odd, seeing as I didn't shower tonight. Didn't have time."

"Stop finding holes in my excuses! I just like sleeping with my head resting on your chest."

"Alright. Good night, Z."

"Good night Simon."

She turned over so she was facing the opposite direction, away from me. I kept toying with her hair for a few minutes before my eyelids grew heavy. I placed one last kiss on Izabell's head and closed my eyes, letting sleep envelop me.

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Darkness's POV

I was finishing my last monster of the four, shaping it's tiny head. Well, it was tiny compared to the rest of it's body. This would be the most buff monster I've ever made.

I never thought I'd speak those few words.

The bridge connecting both sides of the split mountain was well underway, but progress was agonizingly slow. Even with the help of my previous monster. I smiled, remembering when I had introduced him to my army.

I had walked through the nether portal with a menacing smile. The endermen working on the bridge stopped to stare at me. I gestured at the portal. "Good afternoon. I would like to introduce my newest creation."

Nothing happened for a second. And then a large black hand, as big as myself, grasped the side of the nether portal. My generals gasped in surprise, taking a few steps back. Another hand emerged and clung to the opposite side of the portal's obsidian frame.

A large black head with paralyzing magenta eyes appeared in the center of the large portal, looking around slowly. The monster dragged itself through the portal with its hands, until it was all the way through and could stand properly. I grinned smugly at my generals.

"He will help with the construction of the bridge. His presence should more than double our efforts, don't you think?"

My generals nodded, their eyes still glued to the giant monstrosity standing tall above them. I turned to face it. "Assist the endermen."

The monster gave the slightest nod and teleported into the ravine that split the mountain. Two more arms emerged from it's sides. He lifted four large boulders with his hands and teleported back up to place them on the bridge. He repeated this action multiple times, and then the endermen went back to work.

Now, I called for Trudy. She came dashing into the throne room. "Y-yes, my liegé?"

"Have you received any more letters from the monsters that survived the assault?"

"None, lord darkness."

I smiled and placed the final grain of soul sand in place. The shape hardened, and then began to crack. Trudy watched nervously as the monster broke free from it's spawning prison. I smiled at it, but spoke to Trudy.

"Then perhaps they haven't killed my brother yet."

I leaned towards the monster, who growled softly. The other one, my first, stood leaning against the nether-brick walls of my roofless throne room. It had its arms crossed, still sour that I hadn't sent him instead of the creeper.

I ignored it and spoke to my newest creation. "Let's send them something they can't simply cut down, shall we?" The monster roared, accepting the challenge. It barreled through the portal, and ran towards my brother's valley.

I frowned in surprise. Trudy inched closer. "What's wrong, my lord?"

"It knew where to go without needing to be told."

"Well... maybe it was just dumb luck."

"Perhaps. Go check on my army, Trudy. Make sure that work hasn't stopped."

"Of course."

She walked through the portal and I turned to the monster in the corner. It growled at me, and I chuckled. "Wait your turn. If my brother somehow manages to kill this monster, you can have a go. I know you've been itching to do so."

It growled again and nodded. I shrugged. "Go practice outside or something. There's plenty of hell for you to destroy."

It's bones clacked together for a few seconds before it stood properly and jumped over the wall towards the flaming nether... caverns, I guess. I could hear the sounds of netherrack shattering and 'wild' zombie pigmen squealing. I sat back in my throne.

Taking over a realm gets boring after a few months. I have all the monsters I could want. All the food and servants I could need. There's nothing else for me to do.

I sighed and kicked my feet up on the armrest of my throne. It had been a long time since I had slept, since I didn't need rest. I closed my eyes, waiting for the stillness that slumber brought with it.

Something poked my side just as I began slipping away. I opened one eye and found my vessel frowning at me. I sat up and realized that I had entered the dream realm. I turned to my vessel.

"See, this is why I don't fucking sleep."

"You need to stop this! It'll be the end of the both of us!"

"Shut up. Everything will go according to plan."

"You can't be sure of that!"

I pushed my vessel against a wall that appeared behind him. Everything was white in the dream realm, but a little dark. As if it were a bleached cavern. I could not summon tools or weapons with my black flames, but I can alter the walls, air density, gravity, and spawn things from thin air.

"I can and I am. So shut the fuck up and leave me alone."

"You know we can't just leave the dream realm."

"But I can do this."

I made a wall rise between us, separating me from my vessel. I could hear him sigh on the other side.

"This is bullshit! You can't keep me trapped forever!"

"I have kept you quiet and still for over a century. You would have broken free long ago if you were strong enough."

"Fuck you! It's my body!"

I phased through the wall I had put up and glared at him. "No. You are my vessel. I took over, and therefore it's my body! You will burn in lava, freeze on mountains, asphyxiate underwater, and dehydrate on deserts, but you will always return to me."

I gripped his throat with my hand, pinning him against a wall. He scratched at my arm, attempting to make me release him.

"It doesn't matter how many wounds you receive. You will always heal, always come back. You will die over and over again, suffering each death as if it were the first. But you'll still. Come. Back. We are linked, Herobrine. You cannot escape me."

He closed his white eyes and swallowed with difficulty. "Th-Thomas... will... end... you."

I crushed his throat, enjoying the crunch. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? My brother doesn't even know what he is. His light is fading. He's running out of lives. Not even help from his friends will be enough."

His eyes bulged and he scrabbled frenetically against the wall, trying to free himself. Soon, the light faded, and his pityful struggle ceased. I dropped his body and stepped back, waiting for it to regenerate. "You are just as weak as him. You always have been."

I closed my eyes and leaned against a wall. I wait impatiently for our battle to begin, brother. I hope you're ready.

Otherwise, it would be a very one-sided fight.

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Theridas's POV

I watched Pepper from the doorway. She had splayed onto bed and was stretching luxuriously. Her chest rose and fell in a tempting manner, and I couldn't help but stare. She giggled after noticing.

"Like what you see?"

"You know I do Pepper."

"Well too bad. I'm tired, and I don't want you humping me in your sleep. Stay over there on the couch."

I chuckled and gave her an exaggerated bow. "Of course, whatever you say." I turned around and sat down on the soft, red furniture. Pepper had taken me to explore the city again, but we had stayed out longer than we realized. I lay down in the couch, using the armrest as a pillow and closed my eyes.

I heard some shuffling and opened them again. Pepper had poked her head out from the bedroom and stared at me in surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"Sleeping on the couch."

She 'tsk'd and walked up to me. "I didn't mean it!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bedroom. "Come on, I'm tired."

I smiled and stood up. She guided me to the bed and flopped onto it unceremoniously. I chuckled and got in behind her. She pulled up the covers and curled up against me.

"I was being serious about the humping though. If you get horny, go into the bathroom and deal with it."

"Same goes to you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You have woken me up multiple times rubbing up against my crotch and moaning in your sleep."

"No I haven't!"

"Yes you have." She was about to retort when I pulled her closer to me. "Just drop it. It's late, let's go to sleep."

"Hmph."

I snuggled up to her, placing my head in the crook of her neck. I know she likes it when I do that. I fell asleep very quickly, and dreamed.

I was nine, my father and I were walking on the bridge that connected the nether fortress to the rest of the nether. I leaned over the edge, staring at the lake of lava below. A few magma cubes were bobbing happily on the glowing substance.

My father placed his hand on my shoulder. "Theridas, do you ever wonder what the overworld is like?"

I dragged my eyes from the magma cubes and stared at him. "Mmm... no. Why?"

He shrugged, smiling. "No reason. Just wanted to know."

I looked back out towards the lava lake. A Ghast and it's offspring were flying lazily from here to there. "Do you wonder, dad?"

He chuckled. "Well, I think about it a lot."

Looked up at him once again. "Why? What's so special about the overworld?"

My father chuckled. "For one, it's beautiful. The colors, the shapes." His eyes grew misty with longing. "The people."

"But I like it here. It may be dull and red, but I like it."

He hugged me gently. "I'm glad you do, son."

We looked on as a ghast and its offspring flew lazily around the massive cavern. My father kneeled down and took my hands in his. "Theridas... I want you to know that I love you. I don't say it enough, so I'll do it now. I love you, son."

I had smiled, confused but happy. "I love you too dad."

He hugged me tightly, and we turned back to the lively nether caverns, enjoying the warmth from the lava lake and each other's company.

My dreams turned to nightmares after that.

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Author's Notes

Huzzah, I have finally finished the chapter! It took me way longer than I wanted it to.

So, in case you haven't read the top Author's Notes, next chapter will be up in two days. Just a heads up.

Thank you so much for your time, support, and patience. Have an awesome day!

~ LeMafiaKreb