we be making content boysenberries (I have two more chapters written they just need edited for this site)
Heather stepped out of the hidden exit of their base onto the beach and stretched her arms above her head, wincing when the movement disturbed her chest.
"Careful." Herobrine's hands settled on either side of her waist, and she looked over her shoulder at him.
"I'm okay." She assured him. He didn't let go.
It had been a long three days, spent mostly underground in a dirt shelter just off the beach. Alex and Notch were out right now - looking for supplies, they claimed, though it felt more to Heather like Notch was avoiding Hero and Alex wouldn't let him go alone. Theo had spent all his time working on the code, able to stay with their group as long as they weren't moving, and Herobrine had stayed by Heather's side.
Despite healing items working very inconsistently on her, she had healed quickly over the past few days, to the point where she could stand and move around without hurting herself further. She had also managed to give herself a bath, with Herobrine's help, and was now dressed in a fresh set of clothes that Theo spawned in for her. Heather felt ready to travel, but Herobrine was making her wait an extra day before they left. She appreciated his care, of course, and the chance to rest, but she was starting to get a bit cabin-fevered.
"It's nice out." She commented uselessly, breaking the silence. Herobrine hummed softly.
"So it is." He rested his chin atop her head, and Heather let out a soft breath.
"I hope the guardian's okay," She murmured.
"So do I. I doubt Null will be able to find her again, so she should be."
"Yeah, probably…" Heather shifted a bit, tucking her arms against her chest as a cool breeze passed her by. "Hope big mama was able to find her babies."
"Big mama?" Herobrine echoed, amused. "Is that what we're calling her?"
"Now we are."
"Afternoon." A voice had them looking up, and Heather turned to see Alex and Notch emerging from the woods on the other side of the beach.
"Hey." She offered them a little wave, and Notch nodded to her. Against all odds, Notch seemed to have genuinely changed after his fight with Herobrine. He no longer forced his will on the other members of his party, or picked fights with Herobrine at every opportunity. Heather wondered what he and Alex talked about when they were out there alone. "Find anything interesting?"
"Not really." Alex headed back towards the dirt shelter. "We planning on leaving tomorrow?"
Herobrine nodded. "We are. Theo will be heading back to his base tomorrow as well, after providing us with new horses."
"And we're planning to follow the same routine that we did before all this?" Notch asked. Herobrine nodded again. "Alright."
"We'll join you in a minute." Heather told them as Alex disappeared into the shelter. Notch nodded as he turned away, and Heather waited until he was out of sight before speaking again, quietly.
"Traveling with him should be… better this time, I hope."
"Mm." Herobrine grunted quietly. "I hope so too."
"If not, maybe we can try that 'tie and gag him' thing."
"I'm down."
Herobrine held her for a couple minutes longer, both of them watching as the square sun slipped below the horizon. As the last dredges of sunlight faded from the sky, they hurried back to their shelter, climbing down the ladder and covering the exit with a block of dirt.
"Hey." Theo called over from the far side of the room. Their hidden base was fairly spacious, a necessity since Heather had spent the better part of 48 hours there. Beyond Theo was a fireplace, where Alex and Notch were sitting and talking, and to the left was another chamber with a few beds inside.
Leaving her side, Herobrine headed into the bedroom, leaving Heather free to go sit next to Theo.
"Hey." She glanced down at his glowing, summoned keyboard. "Any luck?"
"Sort of. I'm making progress, anyway." Theo stretched, then lowers his hands to the keyboard again. Instead of typing, however, he stopped, hesitating a moment longer before turning to her. "Is it weird that I feel… I don't know. I can relate to him?" Heather's brows went up.
"Not in the murderous way, I hope."
"No, no." Theo backtracked hurriedly. "Like…" He shrugged, running a hand over his hair. Unlike in real life, where he sported a head of wild curls, Theo's in-game avatar had hair cropped short to his head. "…well, he's kinda like me. Or, how I was when you met me. Hurt, and angry, and seeking power to make myself feel better." He tilted his head back, meeting her eyes. "Makes me wonder if he's… not beyond saving." Heather pursed her lips.
"Well, you never tried to kill me."
"Very true, I did not." Theo confirmed. "I did try to trap you here to be my eternal, yet unwilling, companion, but I didn't try to kill you."
Heather scoffed quietly. "And that didn't last very long, did it?"
"Not long at all." Theo's gaze returned to his console. "I'm not… gonna work any less hard, of course."
"No." Heather shook her head. "No, I didn't think you would. And… if there's some way to save him without dooming the world, I'll try to find it."
"I know you will." Theo squeezed her hand. "How's the lungs?"
"Working properly."
"Good. Can't complain about that."
"You have food to last you a week at least, and I'm sure you can get more." Theo ticked off one of his fingers. "Weapons and armor for all of you, some health potions, saddles and horse armor…"
"And horses." Alex patted her mount's neck. "We should be good."
"Okay." Theo nodded, looking between them. "Well… stay safe. Try not to get murdered this time."
"Thanks Theo, I'll do my best." Heather gave him a mock glare from where she sat before Herobrine, and he gave her a cheeky grin.
"Say hello to Manfred for us." Herobrine told him. Theo nodded, then typed a command and disappeared.
The party stood for a moment in the quiet before Herobrine wheeled his horse around.
"Let's head west." He said. No one argued.
From the beach, the party traveled through a light, oak forest, silent other than the few words exchanged when necessary. The tension between Notch and Herobrine was clearly felt, as was the loss of Steve, and that of Theo. They didn't have a way to get in contact with him immediately, which made Heather uneasy, but what else could they do? He needed to do his thing if they were going to get rid of Null.
The longer they rode, though, the more Heather started to relax. The trip was peaceful, not a mob in sight, and the tension between her party members didn't feel so heavy.
"How is your chest?" Herobrine asked her quietly, breaking the silence.
"Fine." She answered automatically. "Twinges now and then, but mostly fine."
"Good." Herobrine rested a hand on her thigh, over her leg armor. "Do you think you can fight if need be?"
"Probably."
"Good. I hope it won't come to that, but I'm sure it's too much to ask for Null to give us time to recover."
"Mm." Her gaze strayed to Alex and Notch, riding just behind her. She missed Steve.
The day went by without incident, and by the time the sun was setting, they had come to a steep mountain. Trying to climb it seemed like an unnecessary struggle, so they agreed amongst themselves to spend the night in one of the caves along the base, then go around the mountain in the morning. Alex selected a cavern, then lit it thoroughly to avoid mobs spawning as the rest brought their horses inside, covered up the exit with stone, and made ready for bed.
Come morning, the party was refreshed, and in slightly better spirits than the previous day. The tension between Notch and Herobrine seemed to have faded, a mutual, if strained, understanding between them. About mid morning, they struck out again, traveling with the mountain on one side of them and the trees on the other.
It was almost noon, and Herobrine was chatting with Alex about automatic replanting systems when a sound from the woods caught Heather's attention.
She turned to take a closer look, scrutinizing the trees for a moment. She saw nothing, and turned back to the party, only to catch Notch looking up from the trees as well. Had he heard it too? Heather didn't hear the sounds of a passive mob, so…
An arrow whizzed past her face.
Heather gasped sharply, and Herobrine jerked on the reins, drawing his horse up short. A moment later he dug his heels into the sides of his mount and urged it into a run. Alex and Notch needed no prompting to follow suit, and Heather heard crashing from the trees as they left their attackers behind.
Herobrine was forced to slow as the terrain became rocky, and he instead steered his horse towards a gentle slope that allowed him to climb the mountain. As they ascended, Heather craned her neck in an attempt to see the forest, and her heartbeat jumped at the sight of piglins emerging from the trees.
"Piglins!" She exclaimed. "But what- in the overworld? Shouldn't they-"
"Null." Herobrine cut her off grimly. "Has to be."
"Right." Heather groaned. "Wardens that don't acknowledge him, Steve disappearing, and now…"
"Piglins in the overworld." Herobrine finished. "And I'm willing to bet they won't be distracted by gold."
"We're on horseback, so we should be able to outrun them." Notch called over. "So long as we're not hindered by the terrain."
"No more than they are." Herobrine guided his horse up onto a higher platform, where the mountain plateaued for a stretch. Heather held on tight to the pommel, turning around to check for their pursuers, but the piglins were nowhere to be seen.
"Ten o'clock!" Alex shouted suddenly, and Heather spun back around to see a huge Nether portal that had appeared in the air to their left. Herobrine's horse raced past it as more piglins emerged, squealing and firing after them. An arrow grazed his horse's side, and it screeched with pain.
"There girl." Herobrine muttered, not slowing. Heather mentally thanked Notch that these horses would never tire.
A shriek made her spin around again, and Heather ducked reflexively as a ghast's fireball slammed into the mountain behind them.
"Oh come on!"
"We need to get back into cover of the trees!" Herobrine shouted, but the mountain was all but a sheer drop to their right. They would need to reach a more gradual slope first.
More piglins appeared, scaling the edge of the cliff, and Herobrine angled to the left to get away from them. Higher up the mountain was a spruce forest, and this was where Herobrine set his course, having little other choice with the Nether mobs hemming him in. Alex and Notch were right behind them, and Heather's hands ached from gripping the pommel as Herobrine's horse leapt up to a narrow ledge.
The ghast's shrieks stopped as the group disappeared into the trees, the tall trunks and angular leaves shielding them from the creature's sight. Herobrine slowed, patting his horse's heaving side.
"This isn't good." He said lowly, glancing over his shoulder. "This mountain is inhibiting our flight. We need to-"
"Leaving so soon?" The warped voice had Heather whirling to find the source, but it wasn't Null that she found standing high in a spruce tree, a grin on his face as he watched with one hand on his hip.
It was Steve.
"Steve!" Alex exclaimed as Heather gaped in shock. "What's the matter with you?" In response, Steve jumped out of the tree, dropping at least ten blocks and landing without taking fall damage. Heather's heartbeat spiked when she saw his eyes, completely black.
"Nothing's wrong. I feel great, actually." He hefted a golden axe. The choice of weapon confused her until Heather caught movement in the corner of her eye, and she turned to find piglin brutes emerging from the trees all around them.
"Null's done something to him." Notch bit out, his tone dark. Alex gripped her reins tighter.
"Null sends his regards." Steve took a sweeping bow. "And an invitation to join him. Accept, and no one will have to get hurt."
"Tell the coward to come himself." Alex snapped.
Steve tsked. "I was hoping you'd say that."
He raised his axe, and the brutes converged on them.
Herobrine snapped his reins and his horse took off again, but he and Heather were all but ignored as the piglins focused down Notch. Surrounded before he could blink, Notch tried to urge his horse forward, but it only reared back with a panicked whinny. Herobrine wheeled his horse around as Alex leapt off her mount's back and charged recklessly at the first brute with her axe readied at her side.
"Don't interfere!" Steve lunged at her, and she faltered, just long enough for him to strike her hard in the head with the flat side of his axe. She staggered, and he ripped her axe from her hand, shoving her against a tree trunk with his forearm pressed against her throat. "You know you can never win this." He hissed. "Your gods are crippled, powerless. We have a new master now." Alex responded by driving her knee into his gut.
Herobrine jumped out of his saddle, issuing a command to stay put before running to assist. Heather took a quick look around the clearing, confirming there were no more enemies lurking, then drew her bow. She wasn't keen on getting stabbed again, but she did want to help.
The brutes weren't attacking Notch, just confining him, and several were distracted by Herobrine's charge. Heather nocked an arrow, aiming at a piglin in the back.
"Should've just given us Elytra…" She muttered, then let it go. It found its mark, and the piglin spun to face her with a shriek of rage. Herobrine fell on the brutes, ducking under a swing at his neck and driving his pick into one of the creature's knees.
Alex kicked Steve away from her, then brought her elbow down on his head, sending him to the ground. She collected her fallen axe, raising it above her head, and Heather winced as she brought it down on his fallen form. But, as the axe made contact, Steve's body flashed with bright colors and Alex released her weapon with a shout. Steve pushed himself up with a grin.
"This world is falling apart, Alex." His voice was cajoling. "Join us before you become a casualty." Alex kicked him in the jaw. That worked.
Herobrine took down another brute, then was forced to flee when two more went after him. The distraction allowed Notch to escape, spurring his horse into a run and heading for Alex and Steve. He reached out a hand, and Alex grabbed onto it, swinging herself onto his horse behind him as he passed. She spun herself around and gripped the horse's sides with her knees, drawing her bow and taking aim at one of the piglins chasing Herobrine. The opening allowed Herobrine to run back towards Heather, and his wife shot down one of the brutes chasing him as he climbed into the saddle behind her and snapped the reins.
Herobrine soon pulled ahead of Notch and Alex, guiding them farther up the mountain. No sooner had they left Steve and the piglins behind, though, that the corrupted miner reappeared, now riding Alex's horse. Heather winced, casting a nervous glance at the peak of the mountain. Where were they supposed to go once they reached it?
An arrow flew past her head, and Heather turned to see Steve reloading his crossbow.
"What is our plan here?" She hissed.
"Outmaneuver him." Was her husband's response. She opened her mouth to ask further questions, but she was interrupted by the impact of an arrow slamming into Herobrine's back.
"Agh!"
"Hero!" She pushed herself up, trying to see the damage. Herobrine didn't slow as she did so, and Heather could see the shaft of an arrow sticking out from a chink in his armor.
"It's not bad." He gritted out. "But we need to find shelter."
"Herobrine!" Notch's voice had them both turning, finding the creator pointing to a path around the peak. Herobrine frowned, but followed his direction, and as they neared the other side Heather could hear the roar of rushing water.
They came out from beneath the trees to find a river flowing off the edge of the mountain. Below was a great lake, bordered by more of the taiga. As Notch's horse neared the edge, Alex wasted no time in sliding out of the saddle and leaping off the cliff.
Heather balked, but Notch was already following. Pulling his horse up short, Herobrine swung out of the saddle, grabbing Heather's hand and pulling her with him as he hurried towards the edge.
"Wait!" She squeaked. "Wait, wait-"
"There's water below, it's safe." Herobrine assured her, not letting up.
"But I don't always interact with the game correctly! What if it- it doesn't work for me?!" She protested. "What about the horses? What about-"
"There's no time, Heather, please trust me." Herobrine turned to grip both her hands, and Heather winced as the arrow in his back came into view again. "Please trust me."
She hesitated for an instant, and in that instant Steve appeared, drawing his horse up short as he came out of the trees. "There you are."
Heather squeezed her husband's hand, then turned, and the two of them jumped off the cliff.
cliff hanger real lol