Alex smiled. "Hey. Welcome back. Should we go wait at the lab for the others?"
He nodded. "Yes. We should. Since we have to lead them back here."
She nodded. "Alright. Let's go." She replied and headed back.
Dan followed her back to the hole that led to the lab. He hoped the others wouldn't spawn too far from the lab.
Alex saw Jemma looking around.
Jemma saw Dan and her and smiled. "Alex! Dan!" She called.
Alex smiled and ran over. "Hey!"
"You made it!" Dan happily exclaimed. "Have you seen the others yet?"
"No. Just me." she replied with a shake of her head. "But this is amazing!"
"I know, right?" He replied as he walked up to the two. "The lab looks even more amazing in person."
"It's huge." Jemma replied as she looked at it.
Alex smiled as she stepped inside. "Yeah." she agreed.
Alex was about to ask something when she heard a startled gasp from behind them.
She turned around and saw someone stumble slightly as they steady themselves. She saw the back of an orange-yellow hoodie with... Cat ears?
They turned around and saw them. "Oh! Uh, hello." he greeted with a small wave.
"Stampy? Is that you?" Dan asked, looking over at him.
He smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah. It's me. And may I just say, that whole experience is quite disorienting." he laughed slightly. "Sqaishey should be here in a moment as well."
Alex took note of his appearance.
An orange-yellow hoodie with cat ears, jeans, and a pair or orange tennis shoes. His curly deep brown hair stuck out slightly from under the hood just above his brown eyes.
He smiled at her. "You must be Alex! I've heard quite a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you."
She smiled back. "You too."
Dan heard something drop close by them and saw Thinknoodles, trying to steady himself.
Alex smiled. "Hi Justin!" she greeted.
Jemma saw another appear wearing a light-yellow hoodie with a pair of white shorts and yellow-orange rainboots.
She kind of stumbled but Stampy quickly went over to help.
"Careful Sqaishey." he told her softly.
She smiled at him and greeted everyone cheerfully. "Hello!" She looked up at the lab. "Oh wow! It's huge!" she gasped.
"It is." Justin agreed.
Another person appeared, wearing a cyan t-shirt with teal blue stripe, gray sides, gray pants and fingerless gloves that match.
Although, her gloves were not the only things that matched, Justin and her both had green eyes and similar outfits.
"Hey, Rachelle." Dan waved.
She waved back.
Alex smiled as they all talked.
Jemma came over to greet Rachelle.
Stampy and Sqaishey were talking about how amazing this was.
As Alex watched them, she realized something.
She was the leader of a group of adults.
She felt Lupis nudge her leg, trying to reassure her.
She smiled softly at him.
Dan was talking to Justin and soon turned his attention to Alex. "Looks like everyone's here. Think it's time to go to the temple?"
She looked up at him, seeing all the eyes land on her.
Her breath hitched for a second before she nodded. "Y-Yeah. That sounds good..." she replied and headed that way, Lupis trailing behind her.
Dan slightly glanced at the others before they all started to follow her.
She led them to the sand hole and then jumped down into it.
Lupis followed her.
Jemma glanced at Dan.
Stampy hesitated but helped Sqaishey down.
"Sorry about that guys. We could have made some stairs but we will do it next time." Dan said to them. "Also, you might want to stay close, the tunnels can be confusing at times."
Alex glanced back and nodded. She kept going.
Jemma stayed close to Dan.
Stampy and Sqaishey stayed close together as well.
Thinknoodles and his wife followed closely behind the incomplete team.
They soon reached a door at the end of the long tunnel.
Trayaurus followed behind them.
Alex walked into the still torch lit room. "Here we are..." She told them as she walked to her place.
Dan led Jemma towards the circle as the others came into the room.
Stampy looked around. "Woah! This place is amazing!"
Sqaishey nodded. "It's beautiful!"
Jemma followed Dan to the circle.
Trayaurus did as well and got to his spot.
Alex waited in the middle with Lupis.
Justin approached the colorful circle with Rachelle. "What is this?" He asked, curiously.
"We aren't really sure." Alex answered.
Dan stood over his spot while the other members went and found what they assumed to be their "spots".
Alex watched as each person found their spot.
She noticed a single spot was still empty.
"Okay..." she muttered softly.
She saw some of them glancing around.
Dan looked towards Alex and gave her a smile.
She smiled a little back. She wasn't really sure what to do when a deep voice echoed through the room.
"Welcome. I'm glad you all made it."
Alex glanced around at the voice.
Stampy and Sqaishey did as well.
Jemma stepped a little closer to Dan.
Dan looked around.
Justin and Rachelle did the same.
Although, they didn't dare say anything to the voice.
"You are all wondering why I've brought you all together. As I'm sure you've all heard about my brother, Herobrine. He is gathering an army which he is calling the Darkness. His goal is to take over the realm of Minecraft. I have chosen you all to help me defend the realms and find the Elements that will be the downfall of my brother."
Alex listened.
"I have chosen Alexa to be the leader of the group."
She tensed as she felt the eyes land on her.
She spoke up. "What about the empty spot?" She asked, trying to divert the attention off her.
"I'm afraid my brother got to her before I could... I do not think she will be joining you..."
Some of the members glanced at one and other.
"Who was she?" Dan asked, trying not sound rude but he was sure everyone was curious in who this missing member was.
"Her name was Melonie." Notch replied.
Alex's eyes widened.
Dan was taken back by the news, especially since he knew Alex befriended the girl.
He looked towards the center of the circle.
Alex was tense and staring down at her feet, silently wishing her hair wasn't bound by the braid so it would hide her face.
"And I know my brother has talked to you as well Alexa."
She felt the eyes land on her again and her breathing hitched again.
She pulled her braid loose, letting her red wavy hair fall around her face like a curtain.
"He offered you an alliance."
Her breathing became slightly shaky.
"Yet, you refused three times. You almost didn't the last time however..."
She squeezed her eyes shut.
"And for that he has made you enemy number one. He threatened you,"
She tightened her fists.
"The elements,"
She took a shaky breath.
"Everything you hold-"
"Stop."
Her voice shook.
Silence.
She felt their stares of surprise.
"I know what you've been through, Alexa..."
"I said stop." Her voice became firmer.
"I know what he's taken from you..."
"I. Said. Stop!" She snapped in frustration, anger, distraught, and fear.
She was shaking as hot tears streamed down her face hidden by her hair.
Lupis looked at her with concern.
She was shaking.
She wanted to run but she was surrounded.
She tightened her fists.
She couldn't do this.
What was she thinking?
Not if this is how it was going to go.
Doing this in front of those she was supposed to lead?!
She noticed the one empty spot for Melonie.
She suddenly took off through the gap and out of the temple room.
Lupis ran after her.
Dan glanced at the others, seeing all the concern and confused looks on their faces that they had no clue in what just happen.
He then turned and headed out of the room, assuming the meeting was adjourned.