[Chapter XII]

[The Journey Begins]

Steve groaned softly in the back of his throat as the sunlight beamed in through his window and hit his face, the young man trying in vain to cover himself up with his blanket to hide from the delightful warming rays.

Exhaustion was already beginning to weigh heavily on him as he was lucky to have gotten close to three hours of sleep during the length of night.

It wasn't even due to the normal sounds of the Mobs right outside his home as strangely enough… throughout the entire night, not a single zombie approached his home. He could hear them close by and at the Inn, throwing themselves against the doors of of it and all the nearby houses.

He began wondering if the reason why the Mobs were leaving him alone suddenly was because of Herobrine's presence.

That was the main reasoning behind his lack of decent rest throughout the night. Between him and his mind never slowing down its millions of thoughts a second, he wasn't able to relax much. Besides, who could exactly relax with the legendary demon of the Nether Herobrine staying over for the night right outside your bedroom?

He had feared that his dreams would be invaded again, therefor his mind ended up causing him to toss and turn.

But strangely enough… like his home, he too was left in peace. Herobrine had stayed out of his dreams. This not only confused Steve, but it also put him on edge slightly. Herobrine was certainly unpredictable with his personality. He wasn't too sure how his temper was, and was more than aware of his ego by now.

The little knowledge he has already gathered was enough to defiantly mark the guy as a potential danger. Especially if you added everything else that has been said about the man to the pile.

Slowly sitting up in his bed, Steve stretched by pushing out his chest with his arms up in the arm and above his head with a groan, enjoying the almost euphoric pleasure of the feeling of fresh blood flow rushing throughout his body brought on by the action.

Allowing his arms to basically drop into his lap with a sigh as the good feeling already washed through his body, Steve frowned while staring at his hands. "I guess it's now or never." he whispered to himself while pulling the blanket off of him.

Placing his bare feet on the floor, Steve stretched his body once more while walking over and grabbing a clean pair of pants and shirt from the chest to his right before making his way into his washroom.

After cleaning himself up and getting dressed, he found himself standing before his bedroom door with his hand to the knob; hesitating.

He just knew Herobrine was still here and on the other side of the door. He could practically sense him. Taking in a deep breath, he opened the door.

Sure enough, sitting at the table smirking with his arms crossed over his chest; was Herobrine. "Well, good morning, Steve. Get a good night's rest?" he mocked, chuckling while tilting his head slightly to one side.

Narrowing his eyes in a glare, Steve scoffed while pushing himself into the room. "Hardly. No thanks to you…"

Herobrine chuckled lightly while watching the human prepare himself a small breakfast before bringing it over towards the table and having a seat opposite him. Just as Steve started to eat, Herobrine leaned over, "So, today the big day?"

Swallowing the food he had in his mouth, Steve lifted his gaze up for a moment before asking; "What do you mean?"

With a sigh while sitting back in his chair, Herobrine shook his head before jumping straight to the point. "Look. You have been noticing the lack of Endermen coming near this village. I hate to say it, but I think they've caught on that they're being specifically targeted when they get too closed to this place."

Steve set his silverware down as he listened to what the man was saying, actually finding an important interest in his words; "Go on."

"So I think it's safe to say, you've got to venture out of this small dirt-stain of a village and—" He paused upon receiving the harsh glare he did for his comment about Sanderlorum, clearing his throat before continuing on with his hands held up in mocking form of surrender. "—try other places nearby that you haven't been to yet. They're not stupid, so I think they've caught on that you're looking for them."

"Shit." Steve cursed more to himself rather than his unwanted company. He just knew those damn creatures would catch on.

Herobrine watched the human for a few seconds, clearing his throat while pushing himself to his feet. "Now, I don't know if they've caught on that you're hunting them… They may have just associated them getting too close to this village is what's putting them in danger. Let's hope that's the case. If not and they've caught on that they're the target, that will complicate matters and make this journey end up taking much longer than what is honestly necessary."

"So start off nearby, hunh?" Steve asked.

"Sure! I mean, I know you don't want to leave this village too far behind just yet."

Steve thought it over for a long few seconds until at last coming to a conclusion on what his first move should be. Pushing himself to his feet with his now empty plate in hand, he lifted his gaze to look Herobrine directly in his white and empty eyes, "Then I know just where to start off. It's not too far from here."

Herobrine grinned while pushing himself to his feet. "Great!" He then walked over towards the door while rubbing his hands together excitedly, "Now that we got that out of the way, I want to add something." He paused and turned to face Steve, the miner giving him a confused yet curious look. "I'm going to keep myself out of the sites of others. At least for now anyways, so don't go around talking about me just yet. I don't think many people would be too excited to know that I've returned. A lot of hatred towards me still runs deeply within many who live today, believe it or not. I don't think they'll bother to believe a word of my plea as you have, Steve."

"Or even bother to listen to you as I was forced to." Steve bluntly drawled while giving the demon an unamused look.

"I didn't force you to listen!" Herobrine cocked a brow up while crossing his arms over his chest.

Steve sighed with a roll of his eyes while taking his dirty dishes over to the cauldron and quickly cleaned them before drying and putting them away. Turning to face the door where Herobrine had been standing in front of, Steve cried out while jumping back upon finding the man standing directly behind him with a wide grin across his face. "Fuck, stop that!"

"But your reactions are always so amusing!" he laughed, further irritating Steve.

Just as Herobrine was about to walk past Steve to head for the door again, he paused before turning around to face the human once more. "Oh! Before I leave you to pack up and say your temporary good-byes to everyone here, I nearly forgot! I've got a gift for you." he grinned widely while reaching behind himself.

Putting his guard up and about ready to reach for a large knife that was sitting on the counter next to him, Steve's violet eyes opened wide as not a weapon was suddenly pulled out from behind Herobrine's back after the demon somehow made it materialize from thin air… but a beautifully and expertly crafted diamond pickax.

"I know you've been heartbroken ever since your first one finally broke. So I made you a new one! I made this one special… it'll last a lot longer since I fused obsidian into the diamond during the crafting stage." he boasted proudly while holding the tool up high and angled it just right within the sunlight so the blackness with a hint of purple of the obsidian sparkled magnificently contrasted against the pale blue of the diamond.

Steve-though was shocked at hearing Herobrine knew about his pickax that had in fact just recently broken-couldn't take his eyes off such an undoubtedly work of art, nor could he make his body take any form of action. Even after Herobrine held the tool out for the miner to take, he simply just stood and stared at it.

Finally licking his lips to speak, Steve gasped while tentatively reaching out and taking the offered gift. "B-but how? I've never heard of anybody being able to craft something out of obsidian before!?"

Herobrine scoffed while crossing his arms over his chest, a cocky grin spreading wide across his face, "Well, in case you've failed to notice… I'm not just anybody, Steve."

No verbal agreement came from Steve as he continued studying the tool now held carefully in his hands, instead simply nodding his head as a quick show of understanding. He had thought the tool would be rather heavy considering the obsidian mixed in. More shock filled him as he determined that this pickax had to be the lightest tool he's ever held before!

"H-how did you make it so light? It's literally lighter than a simple wooden pick!" he asked with a raised voice, not meaning to allow his excitement to show.

Pleased by the wide smile on the human's face, Herobrine cleared his throat before puffing his chest out slightly in even more gloating pride, "Simple. I enchanted it. Spending as long of a time stuck in the Nether like I have… I had some spare time to perfect certain skills."

Blinking with a slight tilt of his head, Steve raised a brow after finally tearing his eyes off the tool and up at the other. He had been told, and even read a few things here and there about it. But now that he actually had the real man standing before, maybe he could get a finalized answer; "Herobrine… I've been given a guesstimated length of time about it before but… just how long were you trapped in the Nether?"

Surprised by the rather random question, the demon had to actually think for a few seconds before finally shrugging his shoulder, "I don't really know the exact amount of years… but if I had to guess I'd say it was close to oh…. about six hundred?"

Steve choked on his spit upon the confirmation. "S-six hundred? Years…?" Clearing his own throat while looking down at the tool once more, Steve quickly recovered from his shock; "Hunh… well then I guess it's true about what I've heard… about you being immortal and all."

Herobrine watched Steve still admiring the tool he had just given to him, the same smile as before slowly returning across the human's face once more as he almost tenderly brushed his fingertips against the smooth diamond. He found Steve's reaction to his answer a little strange but also amusing. Did he not believe the people when they told him he was immortal?

Steve's violet eyes flickered up towards the other, caught off guard upon finding him staring at him. Clearing his throat once again only this time with a frown, he asked a new question to hopefully change the sudden awkward atmosphere. "So what possessed you to make this for me anyway? I have plenty of tools for mining. And once they all break, I can easily just make new ones."

"My original plan was to hold onto it until the time came for us to locate the portal. I do know for a fact that it's buried very deeply beneath the ground somewhere on this island. That tool will help you dig extremely fast and hopefully reach the stronghold housing the portal within just a few moments."

Steve now raised a suspicious brow at the Nether ruler, "Soooo… then why give it to me now?"

"I thought I'd use it to win you over since you weren't budging about allowing me to tag along with you." he grinned, loving the highly unamused expression he received as an answer to his response.

"Seriously? You're bribing me now?" Steve gawked at him. 'Not only is this bastard so full of himself I'm impressed he's as thin as he is… but NOW he's bribing me to allow him to come with me. And this guy is supposed to be this all powerful dangerous demon?'

Despite not wanting to give the impression that the demon's bribery worked, Steve just couldn't refuse the offered tool! He was too impressed with the craftsmanship and amount of fine detail put into it. In fact, he really didn't want to use it at all!

Watching as Steve accepted his gift though with some obvious reluctance, Herobrine grinned widely while placing a hand to the man's shoulder. "Great! Alright, you go and pack a few things since we won't be going far buy will most likely be gone for a few days and then go out there and say your good-byes and what-not to everyone. I'll wait for you outside the village!" he explained while taking a few steps back away from Steve.

The miner blinked, "But how will I find you?"

"Oh, no, Steve. You won't find me. I'll find you." he answered with a dark grin before instantly disappearing before Steve, leaving the human alone and with an eerie feeling filling him.

It didn't take him long to throw together his travel bag. In fact, it was the same one he always used. After making sure the strap that he came to find out it was Hugo who broke it was secure after he had repaired it, he put together some non-perishable foods, two wool blankets, some spare clothing, his collapsible fishing rod, some flint and steal and ten unused torches. He also carefully arranged a new iron ax and iron pickax.

He had decided he wasn't going to be needing it for a while and was planning on returning shortly anyways do he made sure to securely lock the special pickax hand made by Herobrine in the chest that was in the small washroom attached to Steve's bedroom.

Taking a deep breath and giving his home one final glance, he released his breath in a long sigh and took up his bag and newly crafted iron sword before heading out the door and shutting it behind himself.

He approached the Elder first about his start as well as telling him where he was going to be for a few days.

However, when he went to the Inn next and told Melz and Glorenda, it was at this point the entire village caught wind of Steve's decision.

"You sure you have to leave, Steve?" an elderly woman asked him, dread very apparent in her voice.

Steve simply chuckled with a nod of his head. "I'm afraid so. The legends say I have to gather the pearls from the Endermen. And sadly, I'm afraid they've caught on and have stopped coming within the village. So now I have to go to them." He smiled while returning the hug the old woman gave him upon his words.

After spending nearly an hour speaking with everyone and ensuring that he was alright and well enough to be able to travel and protect himself, Steve waved them off while making his way back in the direction of his home.

Though it wasn't his house he was aiming for. His destination was the next biome over that the back of his house overlooked.

Turning the corner of the Inn and now back in the front yard of his home, Steve stopped with slightly narrowed eyes, a sigh escaping through his nose upon who he saw standing before him.

Telzaah tried smiling to him first, her wide smile faulting greatly and falling into a small frown upon the look he gave her. Approaching him first since he hadn't moved from where he had stopped after seeing her, she held out a small rolled-up sheet. "I… heard you were leaving us for a little while. This is a few loaves of bread I had just baked this morning. I just… wanted to make sure you have plenty of food for your trip." she whispered, her face heating up when he took the offered food.

"Thank you, Telzaah. I appreciate it. I'll be back in just a few days. Keep an eye on things around here for me, okay?" he forced a smile while slipping the bread into his traveling bag.

She giggled with a nod of her head. "I will."

Even though she knew his feelings for her have changed, and knew it angered him, she stood up on her toes and leaned forwards, trying to steal a chaste kiss from him. Sadness filled her though no surprise when he quickly turned his head to the left, only allowing her to kiss his cheek instead.

Mildly annoyed at her attempt, Steve took a step back to put some space between them before looking at her. With a nod of his head, his whispered a quick good-bye to her before walking around her, leaving her standing by his front door.

Just outside of the village, Steve sighed while glancing upwards, the sun high above him and still really early in the day. Just as he was relaxing and getting used to the feeling of the weight from his bag over his shoulder and the strap across his chest once again, he cried out in surprise while nearly falling over.

"Man, talk about a bunch of chit-chatters! I thought I was going to have to just go in there and abduct you!"

With a hand over his chest just above his pounding heart, Steve threw a glare over his shoulder at the demon. "Will you fucking STOP with that teleporting shit!? I fucking hate it! Or at least pop up in front of me!" he yelled.

"Okay, okay! I get it!" Herobrine threw his arms up in defense as he laughed through his words. "But your reaction is just too perfect!"

"Keep it up and we'll see just how immortal you are when you find my sword through your chest." the human huffed his bluffed threat.

Herobrine's only response was a mere shrug of his shoulders. "Can't be any worse than before."

Steve, calming down greatly now, cocked a brow up; "What? You saying you've already had a sword shoved through your chest?"

His remaining anger burned away into annoyance as Herobrine's response this time was him shaking a finger at Steve while tutting him. "Secrets-!" the demon winked as he said that one word in an annoying sing-song tone.

"You're a freak." Steve sighed while making his way onwards towards the next biome over, being closely followed by Herobrine.

"You have no idea, Steve." the Nether ruler responded with a laugh.

A few hours passed, the sun now directly above the two and beaming down on them hard.

Steve began panting slightly from the heat, feeling his sweat trickling down his temples and his back. Sneering at the thought of his clothes becoming damp, he groaned; "I've been spoiled. It's been months since I was last traveling around like this. Stupid legend…"

Herobrine, clearly unbothered by the smoldering heat, was walking normally with his white eyes closed and hands folded together behind his head. "You were becoming a softie, Steve."

"Shit, it's hot…" the miner sighed while taking out a small container of water and drinking some, obviously ignoring the other.

Herobrine cracked his right eye open and looked over at Steve with a raised brow. "Might want to think about finding some shade soon. You're beginning to not look well, Steve. Not sure if anyone told you about that fever of yours you just recovered from, but… you're really susceptible to heat sickness and heat strokes now."

Steve groaned, "Yeah… I was warned about that. But don't worry. I'm fine, just hot." he grinned while continuing on.

"Just don't overdo yourself. Don't need you passing out in the middle of a desert. Like hell I'll carry your ass." Herobrine chuckled.

"Ha ha… You've got jokes."

Just as Steve came to the limits of the dessert biome they had just finished crossing, the miner let out a laugh that held relief within the tone as he looked over his shoulder towards his companion. "No need to worry about me being out in the sun anymore!"

Cocking a brow at his words, Herobrine came to be by his side, empty eyes narrowing into a hard glare as he came face to face with the neighboring biome.

A jungle…

Oh goodie.

"Uhh… I don't think we'll find any Endermen in there, Steve." he spoke in a flat tone, glancing over at the human.

"Maybe. But at least the trees will offer us protection and shade from the sun. You're the one that suggested I start out with places nearby. Plus, I've heard rumors amongst a few of the villagers that have claimed to have seen Endermen gathering around some sort of wreckage on the other side of the jungle. Going straight through it will be much quicker versus going around." he smiled while walking ahead of him.

"You sure I can't just teleport us there!?" Herobrine called out, growling as he received no response. "I hate jungle biomes…" he grumbled quietly while forcing himself to follow after the human before he went too deep into the biome and lost sight of him.

The temperature within the jungle was considerably cooler while under the thick canopy that the tall jungle trees created. Though the humidity that was quickly growing thicker and thicker the deeper they went was destroying the coolness the shade was offering.

Steve had managed to travel considerably further ahead of Herobrine, the miner grinning while carefully watching his step.

Despite the distance between them, Herobrine managed to catch a glimpse of the man's trademark blue shirt. He managed to catch up with him instantly by using his powers of teleportation, earning a small glare when he popped up right next to Steve—thus startling him. Putting his hands up in front of himself in self-defense, Herobrine chuckled with a shrug of his shoulders. "At least it wasn't behind you?"

Steve continued glaring at him until at last he turned away and kept going, "Jackass."

Steve couldn't help but tell himself that this was going to be a very long journey… and it's only just begun.

To Be Continued…

A/N: I do apologize for the delay for another chapter. And for it's shortness and fillerness. Between being just freshly promoted Full Time at my new job and FINALLY recovering from a week long bronchial infection, I think it's safe to say I was getting my ass handed to me. But, I've got the job down now and know what the hell I'm doing, and I've got the infection under control and have started recovering.

The joys of working in an ER. Ugh!

Hope everyone is still enjoying this story! Also, I've noticed many inquiries revolving around when the sexiness happens between Herobrine and Steve; My answer is sadly not for a little while. The original idea I had for this story was that they hook up much sooner than what's happening now, and that's only because-and I hope people don't mind-I write too many straight-to-the-sex stories and this one I want done special. i want them to actually develop the feelings. But rest assure! There will be M rated material in this story! MUCH... M rated material...

All good things to those who wait-!

P.S.- Any errors you guys find please point out and I'll edit it later. I'm too damn tired and have already beta read this chapter like five times now so I know I've still missed shit! XD

P.P.S.- Also, I have the next chapter done... But I'm tired so I'll upload it once I wake up! And it's longer than this one and ya'll are gonna hate me for it! My roommate still hates me... LOL

*Again a huge special thanks to slingading for the fantastic cover art for this story! Thank you so much and much love to you!*