And so, Notch, brother of Herobrine, admired throughout Minecraftia, discovered the Mushroom Kingdom.

He learned about Koopas and Goombas and Pirahna Plants and Buzzy Beetles and every other enemy in the Kingdom. He learned about the Mario Bros. and Sarasaland and the Beanbean Kingdom and the Overthere and the Underwhere and Queen Jaydes and Grambi and their daughter Luvbi and Warp Pipes and Toads and every other thing in the Kingdom.

It took three days to fully educate the fedora-wearing human. In turn, he told tales about Minecraftia, about zombies and skeletons and creepers and Endermen and the Nether and the Overworld and The End and the Enderdragon and chickens and cows and sheep and pigs and obsidian and diamond and redstone and gold and iron and cobblestone and coal and dirt and clay and squid and his brother and every other thing in Minecraftia.

Notch made friends, too. L Thunder, O'Chunks McSmith, Dimentio Scurra and Blumiere Evene were the males. Raven Featherclaw, Nastasia Axle, Mimi Denova and Timpani Evene were the females.

And so, for many weeks, Notch lived at Castle Bleck, laughing and having fun with the minions, and studying the Kingdom with the Evene couple. But not a day passed without Notch wondering about his brother, wondering if he had returned, and wondering if his brother still loved him.

THREE MONTHS LATER...

It was a full season after Notch's return that danger reared its ugly head again. It was September, the beginning of Spring. Flowers were bursting into bloom, the southern birds were heading for the Kingdom, and the last of the snow was melting. Farming would start up again soon, and Raven was eagerly awaiting the birth of many new animals in Misery Forest.

For Notch, it was a special month, for he would be finally meeting the hero known kingdom-wide... Mario Vyn. He didn't dress particularly carefully, nor did he frantically assume that horrors would take place. In fact, he paid little heed to the aspect of meeting the hero. Mario had heard of him, and so was coming to Castle Bleck, as opposed to the other way round.

The present date - and the date of Mario's arrival - was September the 17th. Notch was conversing with L, Raven and Dimentio about what Mario's most likely attitude towards him would be, and, in turn, what his attitude should be.

"Act cool," L said immediately. "Y'know, laid-back, calm, don't really listen much, that kinda thing."

Raven immediately pushed L aside. "No way! That's mean! No, whatcha gotta act like is yourself. THAT'S what always appeals."

"Decide for yourself," sighed Dimentio. "I really couldn't care less."

An hour or so later, the doorbell rang. Nastasia had installed a doorbell a few weeks before, annoyed of the sudden drop-ins of the mailkoopa. The actual chime was the default "bing-bong", though, nothing special or unique or fancy. O'Chunks, who happened to be passing by said door at the time, flung it open and came face-to-face with Mario Vyn.

"Maria!" grinned O'Chunks. He knew the red-clad plumber's name, but used the female version to annoy said plumber.

"Hey, Chunks," replied Mario, smiling. "So, where's this 'Notch' guy?"

" 'E's just down 'ere. Follow me."


"Wow," said Mario, as he and Notch walked down the corridor. "Pretty awesome-sounding place, Minecraftia."

"Yeah," replied Notch. "It's super-different from this world, though."

"I agree," grinned Mario, eying Notch's right hand, which had his diamond sword clutched in it. "Not many people in the Kingdom are paranoid enough to always carry a sword with them."

Notch had admitted to Mario about keeping his sword on his bedside table at night. However, he was surprisingly unfazed.

"You can never be too careful in Minecraftia," he said. "Unless you have an iron door, zombies can kick your door down."

"Uh... huh," said Mario. He was still new to the whole zombies-are-really-common-in-Minecraftia concept.

"NOTCH!" yelled a familiar voice that echoed down the corridor. "MARIO! MAJOR TROUBLE AT PEACH'S CASTLE!"

Notch and Mario whirled around to come face-to-face with a terrified-looking Raven and an airborne L.

"What was that about the trouble, and the Castle?" frowned Mario.

"THIS DEVIL GUY THINGY IS ATTACKING!" screamed Raven, flapping her arms and running around in circles. L grabbed the back of her sash and held her steady.

"Quit acting like some headless chicken!" scolded L. He then turned to Notch and Mario. "The dude has short brown hair, a blue shirt, and white eyes."

Notch froze.

"D-did you just say... white eyes?" yelped the fedora-wearer.

"Uh, yeah," said L, frowning. "Why? What's up?"

Notch turned to Mario. "Listen, there isn't time to explain. Just trust me when I say... DON'T HARM HIM!"

And with those words, Notch turned around and practically flew down the corridor, sword raised.

"We're coming too!" shouted Raven and L, and raced after Notch.

After a few seconds standing still, Mario suddenly regained himself and summoned his Firebrand ability. "Wait for me!"


The scene of devastation was horrible. Half of Peach's Castle was blown apart, revealing the screaming and panicking Toads inside. Toad houses were burning or burnt, and abandoned children ran around the houses, crying for their mothers. Blood and flesh was scattered everywhere, as well as dead Toad corpses. Fire enveloped and ate at everything flammable, but this was unlike fire anyone had seen. Instead of fading or shrinking, it simply stayed where it was shot.

The devil that had caused this was standing on the battlements of the Castle, which had been set on fire. His cyan shirt was torn, and a bloody slash ran down from his left eye to his right cheek. His eyes were white, but blazed with relish at the destruction.

Herobrine had risen. And he had come to take revenge.