[Aria's POV, 5 minutes ago]

Cold.

That's all I feel.

There's nothing around me but void and frigid air.

So this is what death feels like?

Not what I imagined.

Not what I remember.

My eyes are open, I think?

I blink.

Yup. Eyes are open.

I lift my hand.

It's not blocky.

Huh, not what I expected, but then again, I didn't expect to die in Minecraft.

I wiggle my fingers, then lower my hand.

Am I stuck in this purgatory forever?

Are the others going to be okay?

I shake my head. I know better. There's no way they can escape unless Herobrine manages to outsmart Notch and steal the command block completely.

I want to stay optimistic.

I want to believe they will be okay.

Hero, I'm sorry.

I should have fought harder, tried harder, done something different!

I should have told him.

I'll never get to tell him now.

I close my eyes again.

A shiver runs up my spine.

It's cold.

I'm tired of the cold.

I hope I'm not stuck here forever.

I hope the others don't end up here.

Another shiver.

It's cold.

Wait, how can I feel the cold?

My eyes snap open again and I find myself gazing at my hands again.

They're blocky!

I touch my face. I feel the hood. I rub my scar.

Am I dead? Or alive?

I know I died. I felt it. It was real. I was gone!

What's happening?

A bright light shines from below, blinding me. I close my eyes and try to shield my face. The light is warm against my skin. Confusion fills my mind. I don't know what's happening!

My back bumps against something soft and bouncy. My head hits a cushiony object. I snap my eyes open and find myself staring at a roof with a pattern I haven't seen in years. It's a mix of purpur slabs and blackstone bricks. Shroomlights are in each corner and one in the very middle, illuminating the room. An enchanting table is in one corner, a window to the outside world on the same wall. On the other side is a dresser, but it's only for looks. There isn't much inside it except leather armor. Armor stands are on either side of it, holding glistening nether-rite armor with two different trims.

My eyes deceive me. I shake my head, slap my face, and rub my eyes. I turn towards the window at the sound of a horse neighing. I launch off the bed I'm in and nearly slam my face through the glass. Sure enough, a black stallion in diamond armor is munching away on the grass. When he looks up and spots me, he lets out another whiny and shakes his mane.

Tears fill my eyes.

I'm home.

But how?

"Aria!"

My head snaps to the doorway. Peter the pillager is standing there with wide eyes. Behind him is another player. This one resembles a dwarf with a long brown beard. Both look as confused as I feel.

"What's happening? We saw the message, but no one else is here!" I shake my head and rush over. I grab both player's arms. "I don't have time. Close your eyes!" They both nod and do so. I close my eyes, praying once again this isn't a dream. I need to be able to do this. If this is a trick from Notch, it's cruel. I seek out my enderhalf, feeling sweet relief as it greets me like an old friend. I feel my body shifting as I allow myself to go full enderman.

Perfect.

Still holding both players, I teleport us to the portal. It was still closed, but something tells me it wasn't as permanent as Notch made it seem. I step forward, crouching down to inspect it. A single eye of ender is missing. Of course he wouldn't go through the pain of making some new code to shut it down. I reach my hand down and touch where the eye is missing. My own reacts, and I snap my hand back in mild pain and shock.

"Woah!"

I look up in time to see the small specks of a portal vanish.

I can open it.

I reach down again and leave my hand, allowing the frames to draw power from my enderhalf. It's not as draining as I imagine, and before I know it, the portal screams to life. I feel a familiar wind escape the portal. I can feel their presence. All of them. Everyone is still alive!

He's still alive.

I turn to the other two with me and gesture to the portal. Peter nods and the other, Duke, nods as well. I hate dragging Duke into this, but he's a heavy hitter. He's only been on our server for a few months, but we know he has adapted to the proper fighting style here. Hopefully, that hasn't changed. We'll need all the help we can.

I dive head first into the portal, my heart jumping for joy and anticipation at the fact I have another chance.

One day I'll run out.

Today is not that day.

"Hold on, Hero."

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

[Aria's POV, Present]

This is what he must have felt as I died in his arms. His command block floats in my grasp as the pixels from his body begin to fade into the night sky. Tears burn against my cheeks, but I feel the power of the command block easily merge with my own rage. I had hoped I would make it back in time to save them all, to save him.

I just wasn't fast enough.

The command block hums in response, and I feel comfort coming from it. It's not the same, but I try to hold back my cries of grief. I can't afford to be caught off guard anymore.

I have a mission now.

I stand up and turn to face the fight. It was as I expected. Everyone is scattered with bruises and cuts. Steve is standing by Notch like the battlehound he was. Notch is glaring at me, then at my hands. I could see him finally piecing everything together now. His eyes widen as the realization hits him.

"You! How? How are you here?! It's not possible!"

I suck in a breath and push the command block against my chest. I feel it easily absorb into my code and spread its power throughout my being. My eyes burn as I open them to return the glare at Notch. My gaze drops to a few blocks in front of me, where my shattered sword lies. I step forward and reach down. The hilt is cold in my grasp, but only for a moment before it buzzes with power. I watch as the shattered pieces around the landscape begin to glow and lift into the air. As I stand tall, I hold the sword out from my side. As I move forward, step by step, I feel myself shift back to my avatar form and watch each piece of my blade meld back together. My pace is even and calm. My gaze is set, and my sword radiates pure energy.

There was only one last thing to do. This battlefield needs to be evened out a bit. I summon the command blocks abilities, and the whole End shakes as the island we are on suddenly shifts. Massive obsidian pillars erupt from the endstone. Crystals spark into view at the top of each. I now stand in the center of them all, and Notch's wide-eyed gaze meets my own.

"How dare you! Traitor!"

I don't know who he's speaking to, but I feel her presence as she slowly materializes behind me. I gesture towards Steve as I speak.

"You brought a friend into battle. It's only fair I do the same."

As I finish, the Ender dragon roars above my head. Steve throws a look behind himself toward Notch, obviously wary of his sworn enemy. I can only smile as Notch growls. He most likely didn't expect me to have this much control of the command block. Honestly, I didn't either, but something was different. This time, it almost feels like the command block was alive. It wasn't Herobrine, that much I could tell, but I can't dwell on it right now.

I need to end this.

I need to end this now.

No more waiting, no more toying around.

No more deaths.

I look toward my friends and call up the command block again. Something stirs within me, and I know I can't get them out of here myself. I see Alexa and Joseph together. Alexa is lying against Joseph, eyes shut. Joseph has his back against a hill of endstone. His eyes are on me, and he gives me a faint nod. I move my gaze to Mobius and Reginald. They are next to Andrew and Justin. Duke and Peter are kneeling on either side of the group. All but Mobius have their eyes shut.

Mobius locks his gaze with my own. I can see him scan me. His gaze barely widens, the fatigue making expressions difficult. However, he manages to lift a hand and give me a thumbs up.

I smile. I lift my open hand towards them, feeling the energy flow into my fingertips. Five enderman suddenly appear around the group. There is only one place I need them to go, and I pray they will be safe.

'Take them home.'

I see no movement from the enderman, but I don't expect any acknowledgment. They aren't alive like we are, there's a chance they don't feel emotions either. But they still do as I ask. Each grabs two people, one in each hand, and then they all vanish. The End is now empty except for Notch and his lackey, and myself with the Ender Dragon.

"Let's end this."