A/N

So close...to finishing...this damn series...just need to write...the epilogue...and the entire final book. Why did I plan to this shit to be so long...

Chapter 23: Changing Tides

There were no squid survivors. Those that tried to flee from the fight didn't make it far, dying for their wounds or from degeneration. The farthest one had made it outside, fallen just outside the base's elevator. He looked like he'd been crawling, struggling to continue but failed. It was almost sad.

Dawn and all those within our ranks that died were buried at the base of the tree. Each was given an elaborate headstone, marked with beautiful calligraphy detailing their names, dates of birth and death along with a caption about them. Dawn's included an engraving of the sun rising above the water. I wasn't sure if that was Sky's idea or someone else's. Nonetheless, it looked beautiful.

I found myself standing there, right in front of her grave, just staring. I couldn't focus my thoughts on any one thing. I kept thinking about the past, everything that led up to this. I thought about the friends I've made and the other graves standing before me. I thought about Jerome and Mitch, Quentin, Ty and eventually ending on Seto. I couldn't help but think that he knew all this was coming and that something even bigger was on the horizon. Something he never told us and something that would change things. Maybe that's why he left.

"How's the wrist?"

I hardly noticed Sky come up next to me. His suit was stitched up, new glasses and missing his necklace. He seemed to be smiling but I don't think it was real. I think it was a sympathy smile, one to make the other person feel better, something to use to make everyone think everything's going to be okay in the end. If I could see his eyes, I expected them to be red and tired. It'd been a while since I saw Sky's eyes unhindered.

"Better," I offered, raising my bandaged wrist.

"Nothing against Cliff and Fia," he shrugged, rolling his shoulder a few more times, "but their potions don't pack the same punch as Seto's."

"Yeah…"

"How you holding up?"

"I should be asking you…"

He paused, nodding. He looked up at the trees intertwining, merging with the base. He let out a deep sigh.

"Just…trying to stay focused," he whispered. "Everything has been so fast paced recently, it's been hard to keep up."

"No kidding," I chuckled.

"I don't think it's over yet, though."

His tone turned serious, the kind that I was growing used to. I remembered the first time I heard it, the change in tone from his once happy-go-lucky persona to the leader. He sighed again, lowering his head back to the graves.

"I think this was only the beginning. Phase one…" he continued. "Well, more like a phase two or three at this point, considering Peterson and Hammerston and…the Nether."

"Herobrine…" the name left my lips, leaving a nasty taste in my mouth. He didn't seem real like that had happened ages ago.

"He's up to something. Something big," Sky nodded. He chuckled softly. "He sees as a threat though."

"What?"

He looked at me, glasses slightly tilted down. They were red. He winked.

"You don't send an army to deal with someone you aren't afraid of," he hummed. "He didn't just send an army, he sent clones anda dead girlfriend! He really wanted to throw up for a loop. There's a reason for that. There has to be."

I nodded. He seemed to be beaming, hands on his hips and chin upward.

"Herobrine attacked the Sky Army and not Yogscast!" He cheered. "Take that, Brindle!"

He fist-bumped the air before wincing in pain and placing a hand to his chest. Sore. It was likely still a recently wound, likely to reopen if he wasn't careful. The potion he'd taken helped close it faster and prevented him for further damage but it was still considered recent. He rubbed his chest a little, sighing for a third time.

"So," he mumbled. "Things move on…" He placed a hand on my shoulder. "We move forward."

"Right," I smiled. Sympathy smile. He nodded.

"You've got plenty of people to talk to around here," he chimed, walking away. "Don't hold anything in. Trust me!"

He offered a wave as he left, reentering the tree. My smile faded once he'd left, and my eyes rested upon the graves again. Something bigger was coming. Herobrine was coming. Sky was right that he was afraid of something, something with the Sky Army. I wasn't sure if he was afraid of the army itself or someone within, like Sky or the other officers. I closed my eyes, thinking of the confinements Herobrine put me in when we were in the Nether. Hammerston was told to release me. Dawn told me he wanted me. I opened my eyes, looking up. Herobrine wasn't attacking the army. He was attacking me…