This song, the whole fight so far = potentially my first animation

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[Aria's POV]

For a moment, no one moves. I can't tell if Notch is planning something, or if he's realizing his worst mistake. I am still unsure how I was able to respawn, but in doing so, my ender abilities have recovered and my strength has returned. I haven't felt so refreshed in so long. My gaze wanders to Steve. Part of me wants to believe he may be redeemable, or that there is a personality there, but I can't risk that. Not this time. I need Notch's command block to finish this once and for all.

Notch shifts slightly, readying himself. Steve steps forward, sword raised. I smirk and lift my hand slightly. The Ender dragon roars and makes the first move. She launches over me and flies straight at both men. I can see the particles from Notch's teleport, but Steve's grunt hits my ears first. The dragon flies upward, and I spot Steve on her snout. He won't go down easy, but I knew that already.

I swiftly turn on my heel and drop while swinging out my leg. Notch's blade barely misses my head, but my foot connects with his legs. He teleports as he starts to fall, but I am quick to lift my sword and block his attack. Our blades lock, and he presses forward. His anger and rage nearly match my own.

"You're supposed to be dead!"

I push back with a shout, making Notch skid a few blocks away. I twirl my sword, then ready myself.

"Try harder next time. That was just a warm-up."

He growls and then yells as he rushes forward. I must have struck a nerve, as his attacks are now faster. I keep up with him fairly easily until I hear her roar change pitch. I drop down and land a kick to Notch's stomach, giving myself a few seconds to find where the dragon is. I spot her above a tower, struggling to get Steve off her back. I can't see any health bars, but the purple coating her scales tells me enough. I quickly teleport just ahead of her. I spin in mid-air and release a small wave of cyan energy. She drops down just enough for the wave to crash into the man, successfully throwing him off her back.

'Duck!'

I hear her warning almost a moment too late as Notch appears behind me. I feel the tip of his blade slip through my defense and nick my shoulder. I feel the burning sensation of fire aspect already starting to take effect. I swat his sword away and kick out. A hand grabs my leg, and before I can react, I am plummeting toward the island. My back cracks against the stone. I swiftly teleport out of the crater as Notch impales the spot I was just lying in.

Quickly, I rush forward and lash out, creating a wave of energy again. Notch easily dodges by backflipping over it, but I am before him with a fist to the face. He stumbles back, and I land another blow to his gut, then my knee lifts to his face as he doubles over. He nearly falls flat on his back, but he's able to regain his footing and slice towards me. A red wave nearly slams against my side as I dive to the right. He releases a few more waves of power, and I am quick to dodge each as I push in.

I will end this fight.

He lifts his blade, and I push all my power into my own. It pulses with life as I grip the hilt with both hands and slice down with all my strength. A smirk cracks across my face as his sword is completely obliterated by my own blade. His wide eyes betray his fear as I turn my blade and rake it across his chest. He is sent flying backward from the hit. He slams against one of the obsidian pillars, causing it to crumble. I watch as the crystal drops, feeling deja vu from my very first fight with Herobrine.

A tear slips out.

I hear the dragon roar again as Steve suddenly appears, rolling across the ground after falling from a different pillar. He must have focused on destroying the crystals instead of a head-on battle. The dragon lands behind me, making the island quake. Steve struggles to help Notch stand from the rubble. As he stands, I see him warily eye the crystal near them both. Normally, I wouldn't hesitate to shatter the crystal and let the explosion kill them both, but I can't let my rage blind me.

I need his command block.

The dragon lowers her head by my side. Her eyes look toward me, and I only rest my hand on her neck. I spent a little more than I meant to in order to break his sword. Was it a petty move? Possibly, but I would do it again if the chance arose.

"You can't bring him back, not how he was!"

My eyes narrow, but I can tell he is speaking the truth. I still have to hold out hope that maybe, just maybe, there is something he doesn't know that will bring Herobrine back to us.

To me.

"That's not the only reason I'm fighting." My voice is low, laced with venom. The Ender dragon slowly begins to pixelate, but not in a 'dying' sense. Her particles flow around myself before absorbing into my body. She is returning the power I used to summon her so I can finish this. Slowly, I begin moving forward. Notch's eyes widen, and he pushes his hand out. Steve rushes forward, his face stern. I waste no time on him. A single slice to the left, and I watch his head vanish into pixels. His body dissipates soon after and I continue walking towards Notch. His eyes are wild, and I see him trying to figure out a safe place to teleport to.

I am before him before he can finalize his teleport. My fist is around his throat, and I lift him from the ground. I sheath my sword on my back. My eyes are starting to fill with tears as I glare at the man who stole more than a year of my life from me. The person who stole from me the man I love.

The one who took away my world.

His hands grapple with the one around his neck, but I keep my grip firm. I reach out with my open hand and touch his chest. I can feel the command block I hold react as I begin ripping his from his code. I can feel him struggling, but I don't stop.

"No, please! Don't do this!"

My hand hesitates, but only for a moment. I turn to look into his eyes. His fear radiates like waves and just behind it is regret. I only glare in return, feeling the water from my eyes sting against half my face.

"You said it yourself, if there was another way... but there's not."

His face shows his shock, but I quickly rip the rest of the command block from his being. He lets out a scream of agony. I drop him to the ground, stepping back as he crumbles in pain. His hands clutch his chest. I step back again, slightly turning away from him.

In my hands floats the one thing I believed I would never hold. It floats and spins slowly in my grasp.

Notch's command block.

"You... how could you... I found this world!"

I can hear something faintly speaking, but I can't understand it. My eyes move from the command block to Notch, who is still on his hands and knees. I move the command block to one hand and remove my sword from its sheath. The sound it makes causes Notch to snap his head towards me.

"No, please! You have what you wanted! You won! What more do you want from me? What would my death mean after-"

My slice is quick, and his head drops before he can finish speaking. His body begins disappearing as my tears fall freely.

"Satisfaction."

I lift my eyes, staring into the dark End sky. My heart sighs in relief. This battle, this war, is finally over. I look back at the command block in my hand. I can hear whispers coming from it. Is it speaking to me? I press it against my chest, feeling it easily merge with the other piece I hold within my code.

The sensation is odd. I expected the power surge to be a bit painful, but instead, it feels more like a warm hug wrapping around my body. My wounds heal and even my clothing is repaired. I feel my face shift, and when I touch it, I feel the scar is gone! This power was something completely different compared to anything I have ever experienced. It almost feels like another person entirely.

"You would be correct, my child."

I whip around, sheer confusion filling me. There is no one here, the End is silent, but that voice was right next to me.

"Not exactly. I am inside your mind, just as Herobrine once was."

My eyes widen as I finally realize who Notch was speaking with each time. He had mentioned this world gave him this command block, and that he found this place.

"You're the world, aren't you?"

I can hear a soft laugh. "If that is easier for you to understand, yes. I granted Notch the ability to control this world because I saw his creative mind." I can hear a sigh fill my brain, and my heart aches. I know it will never be his voice I hear again.

"I never wished for his demise."

Her words snap me back to the present moment. "Can you bring him back?" I choke out the words, barely holding back my emotions. Oh, I pray for her to say yes, but I can feel the unease as she forms the right words.

"Not the one you remember, no. I'm afraid his data is lost."

My heart shatters. The pain I feel is worse than death. I had him in my grasp, and I let him go.

"But we can bring him back."

I suck in a breath and wipe away my tears. Maybe I'm selfish for this, but I can't imagine living without him. If I can bring him back and start over, then at least there is a chance to find the man I love again.

But I know it will never be the same.

"Show me what to do."

"You already know."

I stifle a cry and lift my hand. I reach out and remember the memory I shared with Herobrine all those years ago. I see the outline begin to form from the tips of my fingers. Slowly the lines move up and down, creating the outline of a player. Once the lines connect, color starts filling from his feet. It doesn't take long to reach his head, but when his face begins to form, the eyes are blue.

I feel my heart sink, thinking I just created Steve, but this world cautiously reminds me, "His eyes did not always glow, remember?" I bite my lip, refusing to let any more tears fall. I lower my hand, and the man before me does as well.

"Tell him his purpose."

I suck in a breath, struggling to keep my voice level.

"Your name is Herobrine. Your-Your purpose is to..." I pause, thinking of the right words. "Your purpose is to govern and care for this world as a benevolent leader and share it with the players."

The man before me blinks, and his voice echoes from his lips.

"My name is Herobrine. My purpose is to govern and care for this world as a benevolent leader and share it with the players."