[Aria's POV, 1 year ago]

After much toiling and work, the cave has finally began to feel like home. I place the last block down and finish the house before us. Stepping back, I huff and wipe the sweat from my brow. Sure, it was much larger than necessary, and we have been living out of the first floor comfortably for over four months now, but I had to keep myself distracted. I have to hold on to hope, make room for them if they arrive.

'When they arrive. When they arrive. Stay positive, Aria!'

I shake my head. Who was I kidding? It's been over half a year now. Maybe more? I've all but lost count. If they were going to make it through to us, then they would be here by now. We only needed to stall for two weeks, and it's been much longer than that.

Much longer.

I wipe the tear away that escapes my eye and stifle my cry. I've done enough of that for the rest of my life. Right now, I need to stay strong and survive. Whether they ever make it or not, I will not die here. Not now, not ever, and especially not at the hands of Notch.

My spine shivers.

We've only had a handful of close calls with him so far. Our code is concealed when we teleport, so we've been able to safely escape, but we already know we are no match for him. Neither of us know if we ever will be. Our only hope lied with our plan from before, but that was now out of the question. So now we were stuck living in a world where one wrong slip up and we will both be long gone with no hope of returning.

Good thing we don't age while we're here then because I don't plan on letting him find us.

A shiver down my spine again.

My eyes snap open wide.

Herobrine's in trouble.

I close my eyes, forcing myself through our bond so I can picture his location. He was supposed to be out finding more food supplies and capturing a few more animals for the farm. There was a village a few hundred chunks from here we've been 'borrowing' from, but we had to be careful and do it during the night when the iron golems can't see as well. Otherwise, they will attack us. We can thank our loving host for that one, as he has us labeled as mobs to all neutral mobs in the game. Wolves see us as skeletons, iron golems and villagers as zombies, and cats as creepers. 

'I-I'm fine! Don't you dare teleport to me!'

I feel his pain flowing through our bond instantly, and the moment I can see his location I see the iron golem slam it's massive metal arm into his side and send him flying through the trees. I grunt, feeling the phantom pain in my own side. I slowly grab my sword from my back and growl. 

'That golem says otherwise.'

'I... I got it handled.'

'Shut up and hide.'

I see him struggle to stand as the golem clanks angrily through the woods. It shouldn't be chasing him that far from the village, so something else is wrong and Herobrine can't see that while running for his life.

I take a deep breath, feeling the hilt of the blade in my grasp. I need to time this right. The golem spots him and charges. Herobrine is stumbling because of a wound on his leg. I need to be close.

The golem swings.

Teleport.

I remove my sword, swinging it upward and to my side. I feel the blade meet its mark just as I arrive. The golem's arm crashes to the ground, and I hear it stumble backward with clanking noises. I'm facing Herobrine and glare. "What happened to 'not being seen'?" He returns the glare, but pain flashes through him and he grunts. "Just get us out of here." I shake my head and extend my hand. 

Fear.

I turn and raise my sword instinctively. Sure enough, another blade meets my own and dark eyes bore into my own.

"Found you."

I slip out a curse before trying to push back. However, Notch suddenly vanishes, and I am swift to turn around. I try to block his next strike, but he kicks my hand. I lose my grip and my sword flies from my hand. A fist crashes against my cheek, and another hits my gut. I see the glint of his blade, and I swiftly teleport behind him. My leg is raised and I try to kick is head, but he ducks and turns. His legs hit the leg I'm standing on. My back cracks against the ground and I his foot slam against my gut. It stays put, and I see his sword raise.

And bright eyes suddenly appear before me.

Herobrine throws himself against Notch, sending both of them flying off me. I hear the grunts as they tumble against the ground, but that's not what catches my attention. The iron golem was regaining it's footing. His eyes look at Herobrine, but then they settle on me. A curse slips from my lips as it charges forward, swinging it's one arm madly. I have to get to Herobrine and get us out of here. I throw my hand out and call my sword back.

Pain spikes my heart and the sword doesn't move at first. I drop to one knee in shock. I could feel my code shifting, and I finally realize what this pain is. I turn my gaze away from the golem and see Herobrine pinned beneath Notch. I recognize the glow between them before I see the half-materialized command block floating by Notch's hand.

'No!'

I hold my hand out once more. I feel the power thrumb faintly in my hand. Herobrine's eyes meet my own and he lifts a hand towards me. He better not be telling me to stop, I-

The power suddenly floods my arm, and the leather of the hilt of my blade crashes against my hand. The golem is just about on top of me, but I swiftly relieve it of its head. My gaze is set, and I will not let him win. I ready my blade and teleport,

Right into Notch's open hand.

His grip tightens as I struggle. My sword clatters to the ground. I couldn't breathe. I try to pull his hands off my throat, but it's no use. Herobrine was weak, which I could feel taxing my own body. I see his glowing eyes starting to dull, and Notch barely turns his head to acknowledge my existence.

"You can wait your turn."

I lift my hand high, struggling to stay awake. My movement gains Notch's attention, and he turns to look at me quizzically.

"I'm...  impatient."

My sword suddenly launches up from the ground and to my hand. The grip on my throat suddenly releases as the blade slices clean through Notch's arm. His eyes widen. A shout of pain and surprise leaves him. Herobrine is quick to kick out against Notch's legs, pushing the would-be god off him. Notch stumbles, clutching his shoulder. I don't stay to watch the blood pool. My hand grabs Hero's the minute we are safe and I focus on our base.

Our home.

Teleport.

We crash down on soft beds. I suck in a breath, feeling the pain from Herobrine hit full force as our bond recovers. My own injuries are now making themselves known as the adrenaline leaves. I could feel bruises forming. I turn to Herobrine, who was sitting up with his back against the wall. His eyes are closed and his hands are holding his left leg. Other than a few bruises, that seems to be the worst injury.

My mind wanders. After all our time, I have never been able to land a hit on Notch until today. He can feel pain. I saw it in his eyes when I relieved him of his left arm. I turn and stare at the ceiling. A familiar saying floats in my mind.

'If it bleeds, you can kill it.'

'What?'

I shake my head, not realizing I thought it out loud... in my mind? It's still confusing, but I turn to look at Herobrine again and sit up more. "Remember that show I like with the two brothers hunting monsters?" He nods, and I see his eyes widen. I move my legs off the edge of the bed, ignoring the throbbing pain in my ribs. Hope is bubbling in my chest once more.

"If he bleeds, we can kill him."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[Alexa's POV, Present Day]

"You did what to Notch?!" I shake my head in disbelief. She had actually, successfully, landed a blow to Notch himself. Aria only nods as her retelling ends, crossing her arm when she looks over the table again. A plan is forming, the details falling into place like perfect sized puzzle pieces. "Our only issue is that we believe he isn't hardcore."

I feel my eyes widen. "I didn't think that was possible." Herobrine only shrugs, his arms crossed as well. The way the two of them mirror each other all the time is uncanny, but I have to continuously remind myself they have been keeping each other alive for two years on their own.

Grief and guilt knaw at my chest, but I push it aside. There was no way we could have known, but part of me doesn't believe that.

Looking over the sketches again, we have a doable plan forming. Herobrine and Aria might be the best to take down Notch, but they are the only ones who could get the tear in space open. With the portal still active in our home server, there is a chance they could reopen this side with their combined strength. However, that would leave them painfully vulnerable, and we have yet to learn if these weapons we have will work against Notch. 

'So many variables...'

"Wait, I have an idea." I pull the books closer, moving them together and sketching out a few more items. If he can be harmed and feel pain, we need to use every advantage we have, and minimize the risks. I can see Herobrine moving and standing just to my right. Aria is quick to move to my left.

"Yeah, that could work!"

"He definitely won't see it coming."

I nod my head, lifting my gaze to the others in the room. This plan will work, it absolutely has to, or no one will leave this world anytime soon.

"Alright, here's the plan."