And here's the next chapter. I do end up rushing a bit near the end, but it's mainly because I noticed we were pretty much at the end of the episode and wanted to finish it out, so there's that. Enjoy!

As it turns out, I severely underestimated how long it would take to get back to the fortress. And we had horses.

For a long while, Lukas and I rode in silence, though it was obvious one of us wanted to say something. The problem is that we were too deep in thought to really say anything to the other, which made the silence all the more awkward and frustrating.

I looked over at him. For once, I couldn't easily read his expression. Maybe it was because he was lost in thought, or because he just didn't want me to worry, but if it was the latter, it had the opposite effect. Of course, I had no way to tell. Until he finally said something.

"Midnight?" Finally, the air between us thinned a little, and I was all too eager to listen to whatever he had to say. Or so I thought.

"Yeah?" I noticed my voice was barely above a whisper, even though I intended it to be louder. Though, considering I could hardly even keep my head up, it didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on with me.

"Back in Soren's Wool World, when you…" he trailed off, but I already knew what he was talking about. I was torn between looking away and just accepting that we were talking about it now. I didn't really have much of a choice, though Lukas thankfully didn't specify what exactly he meant, he knew that I knew. "Did you mean anything with that? Or was it just to get me out of that mood I was in?"

I didn't respond for a bit. I wasn't sure how to.

You didn't expect him to bring it up?

We swore to not talk about it, so I kinda did.

"Honest answer? I don't really know what I was doing… I just acted without thinking about it, so I guess you could say it was both, in a way."

That's the explanation you're giving him? Seriously?

Well, what do you want from me?

Given that Lukas said nothing else, he was either satisfied with the answer or just didn't want to push it any further. Either way, I was relieved he didn't.

The sun was beginning to set in the distance, evidenced by the sky darkening from peach to blackberry (If you know, you know).

As it did, I felt my eyes slipping shut, an intense tiredness crept over me. I suddenly felt like dead weight, completely exhausted and unable to lift my head anymore. But before I fell asleep for what was likely the hundredth time, I noticed the start of yet another flashback(?).

I awoke from a nightmare.

Even though I'd only just opened my eyes, they were filled with tears already, a few slipping and falling down my face. I choked back several sobs, struggling to pull it together, failing to discern reality from the horror I'd just escaped. Eventually, I couldn't hold it back anymore, and cried into the darkness.

I didn't have any idea if anyone else was awake. The bunk bed I shared with someone I couldn't quite remember was empty apart from me, and it had been for a long time, a year or so.

The nightlight in the corner of our room had somehow dimmed as soon as I woke up. I had no idea how until much later, but now I was stuck trying to remember that and trying not to panic at the same time.

Soon enough, though it felt like hours passed, my uncle walked in, concern clear on his face. Wordlessly, he stepped over to the bed, as I reached out to him. As soon as we hugged, the darkness that spread throughout the room dissipated. The light glowed brightly again and I was able to calm down at least a little.

Without even thinking about it, I'd activated a power of mine, and I wouldn't remember it at all.

"Midnight!"

The fact that I still couldn't move properly proved the thought that the flashback wasn't what caused it. I could tell we were at Soren's fortress, but there was something else I could see.

The faces of those who were trapped inside the wither storm flashed in my mind, and I slowly began to regret looking at my hand.

Because it was close to that same shade of purple.

Once he saw that I couldn't get up from the horse, Lukas sighed. The wither storm was there, looking for the amulet.

"You stay here, I'll go get the endermen busy." Lukas pulled out the amulet that he must've taken from me at some point, because I had it before. I didn't have the strength to argue, so I just nodded. I'd watch from afar, just to make sure nothing went wrong.

3rd Person POV

Lukas had gotten a decent amount of endermen focused on the wither storms. They mostly went for the biggest one in the middle. But the majority of them were just standing around, being endermen, not focused at all.

Then the cavalry arrived.

"Lukas!" Jesse called once the blonde was in sight. However, once they got close enough, both Jesse and Lukas could tell something was different.

"Where's Midnight?" Olivia asked. Lukas just shook his head sadly.

"She was too sick to even get up by the time we got here."

With that, the conversation continued, until Lukas was able to get to the main issue: The endermen just weren't angry enough to attack. Jesse devised a plan, albeit a very risky one. He would purposely anger the endermen and trick them into being sucked into the tractor beams.

Once he did, everyone spotted an opening that was large enough to get inside. After a while of trying to figure out a way (Soren has already run off by this point because he's a coward and Ivor ran after Gabriel) up to it, they decided to build a flying machine to send Jesse inside. So while Lukas distracted the wither storm, Jesse, Axel, and Olivia built the flying machine. Just before Jesse set it off, his friends offered him words of encouragement.

"And Jesse… I know you can do this." Olivia said.

"So do I." Lukas added.

From somewhere, Jesse swore he heard Midnight agreeing.

"We all do." Axel finished.

And Jesse was about to send himself flying into the wither storm, but a certain someone tagged along unexpectedly.

"Rueben! This is no place for a-"

The TNT exploded, sending Jesse and Rueben soaring.

"-PIG!"

Midnight's POV

After a long amount of time, I couldn't be sure exactly how long, I suddenly felt a lot better. I lifted my head, free of the weakness that plagued me for far too long, just in time to see the wither storms fall apart.

I knew three things at that moment.

The first was that I had missed pretty much everything important in this episode.

The second thing was the wither storm arc was finally over, and I had a chance at going home for now.

And the third was that I was unable to save Rueben.

Once the reality of the third thing settled in, I raced over to meet up with the others.

Unfortunately, I arrived too late, as Jesse was staring at what remained of his best friend when I got there.I didn't say anything, no one except Lukas even knew I was there at first. Only when everyone was about to leave did they see me.

One week later…

Of course, the shrine to honor Rueben was built fairly quickly.

While Jesse and the others stood on stage, Lukas and I stayed with the other Ocelots. They only seemed a little upset that we didn't go to rescue them, until they heard the reason why, and admitted the decision was for the best. The two of us also silently agreed not to tell them about anything that happened between us.

Although we weren't onstage, as Jesse was giving his speech and thanking his friends, he still made sure to give Lukas and I an honorable mention.

"My friends…" Gabriel held up the amulet, about to hand it over to Jesse. "I am now pleased to introduce to you…" He turned around, giving Jesse the amulet, officially beginning… "The new Order of the Stone!" And the crowd went wild, although I did notice Aiden was clapping more sarcastically, the first hint of jealousy in his eyes.

And so it was that a new Order of the Stone was born.

One whose adventures were only just beginning.

For though the world had been saved, and the command block destroyed…

…there are many more worlds than just this one.

The world around me faded to black. A figure cloaked in shadow appeared in front of me.

"I know you miss home, but at the same time, you know there are still more adventures that await you here." I immediately recognized their voice. It was the voice that had followed me in my head throughout the entire journey.

"So I must ask you, do you truly wish to return home now?"

I thought of everything that happened so far.

I woke up here, with no idea how or why. I managed to get myself wrapped up in the story of the game, even though I had no idea if doing so would allow me to go home. That was my goal from the beginning, wasn't it? I made new friends, survived the wither and the sickness that came with it, helped to reunite the old Order, and now I've found myself a member of the new one. I saved Ellegaard from a fate I previously thought was inevitable. I discovered that I'm different from everyone else here, though I haven't found out exactly how. And I'm starting to recover pieces of a backstory that isn't mine, but the game made for me specifically.

Thinking of my friends, and what awaited us, I made my decision, one I never imagined making when I first woke up in this new world all those weeks ago.

"No, I want to stay here. With my friends."

The figure gave the closest thing they could to a smile, seemingly relieved about this.

"I was hoping you'd say that. I'm glad you changed your mind."

And with that, they disappeared, and I was back in the crowd surrounding the rest of the new Order.

Episode 4 Complete.

And with that, the first part of Season 1 is officially over!

Midnight: In, as I checked, the same amount of chapters it took you just to get through episode 1 in the original.

Well, one of those wasn't even a chapter, it was just answering reviews.

Midnight: Fair, but still. Also, now that we're in the fun part of the season... Mind getting that crossover idea going?

I'm thinking either part of the Portal Arc (Not necessarily episode 6, really, any episode in that arc would work) or in season 2.

Midnight: I'm not even sure how the original crossover in season 2 actually worked, there wasn't really a clear explanation that I can remember.

So... Portal Network?

Midnight: I'm okay with it. As long as you don't kill me in the middle of episode 6 again.

Uh...

Midnight: You're not going to do that again, are you?

Well anyways, see you next time!

Midnight: Hey-!

-LegendEmpress