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Heather threw a lever, and a row of fireworks shot into the sky.

She let out a whoop, scrambling back and away from the glowing redstone as the fireworks exploded, one by one. A hand rested on her shoulder, and she didn't need to look to know it was Herobrine standing behind her. On the other side of the ramshackle contraption she had put together, Steve and Alex sat by the campfire, Manfred monitoring the fire that Herobrine had built as the sun disappeared over the horizon. Notch, of course, wasn't there, because he didn't like Heather and wanted nothing to do with her or her celebration.

Herobrine hadn't really seen the point of having a party now when they were going to have a bigger one soon enough anyway, but he'd obliged after she had pleaded for long enough. It wasn't really a 'party', anyway - the only ones here were Heather's loved ones, so there was none of the stress of having to meet new people, or whatever. Regardless, it was a celebration, and Heather selfishly enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

And, she kinda wanted to get out of the mansion. Something just felt off in there.

It was Minecraft, so their party was nothing too fancy. Heather had tried some golden apples and carrots (which tasted surprisingly good considering the ingredients they were made up of), a cake, and a couple

of Steve's apple ciders. They had always tasted different, something about them was incomparable to anything she'd tasted on earth. Just something a little special.

The night was quiet other than the fireworks set off, and Heather chatted with her friends and family until the moon was high in the sky. Even Herobrine, who hadn't wanted to host this party in the first place, soon began an easy conversation with Steve. They'd gotten far more tolerant of each other over the years, which warmed Heather's heart. Maybe they even thought of each other as friends?

Around midnight, the bride-to-be found herself sitting with Alex opposite the boys on the other side of the fire. Although she had visited plenty of times over the years, Alex was undoubtedly Heather's weakest friend in this group. They never really clicked, she supposed. Kind of unfortunate, given that she was the only other girl in the world, but… Heather was in no position to complain.

"Hey." A nudge from the redhead interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced up to meet green eyes. "I'm happy for you." Her voice was low, but warm, and Heather returned the hint of a smile on her face.

"Thanks."

"I never imagined it- this would last." She gave a subtle nod towards Heather's fiancé. "But, from what I've heard from Steve, you stuck it out. Turned it in your favor."

"I think we both won." The blonde smiled down at the campfire. "I'm pretty sure we- all of us won this round."

She was so close to the fire, why did she feel such a chill?

Movement from across the firepit caught her eye, and she glanced up to see Steve and Herobrine getting to their feet. Her fiancé had a smirk on his face, and Steve's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"What's going on?" Heather called over, raising one eyebrow as both drew an iron sword.

"A friendly duel." Steve called back as he backed away from the fire, already holding his sword to catch an attack should Herobrine follow. "We decided it's been too long since we last fought."

"Since you last lost." Herobrine corrected. "It's had to be… more than seven or eight years, at least for us."

"Try seven hundred." Steve remarked dryly. "Ready?" In response, Herobrine teleported a step closer and slammed his sword against his opponent's blade.

Heather watched as the pair sparred, assured that Manfred would keep them from hurting one another as he observed the battle from beside the fire. While Steve was fighting with all he had, there was a certain gentleness to Herobrine's movements as he kept the miner at bay. He truly was being careful to keep him safe.

She shivered again, hugging her arms to her chest as she smiled around at her family. She was surrounded by loved ones, assured of their safety, with one of the most exciting events of her life coming up in a couple weeks. She was happy.

So why was she so nervous at the same time?

Year 2389

Null placed a final block, then looked up at his shelter.

"?si siht fo tniop eht tahw ksa I yaM" legiN asked, watching from a couple of blocks away.

"You will find out." Pressing a switch, Null watched as a pair of pistons pushed two blocks aside, revealing the hidden room he had placed in the mansion's front hall. A place for him to live while he waited for his enemy to return.

"?tneiciffeni siht t'nsI" The Enderman protested. "?meht llik ot ytinutroppo na evah uoy litnu lavirra ruoy fo noitacidni on evig ot elbanosaer erom eb ton ti dluoW ?tuo meht gnikat erofeb ecneserp ruoy fo meht mrofnI ?spart yal oT ?tiaw dna tis oT"

"You misunderstand." Null stepped into the room, waving his companion inside as he placed a redstone torch on the wall. "My aim is not to kill them. Not immediately, anyway."

"?tnetni ruoy si tahw nehT"

"They left me in the darkness for hundreds of years." He placed a second torch, then closed the hidden door, closing himself and legiN in the small, cramped space. "To kill them right away would be an act of mercy. No, that is not my goal.

I want them to suffer."