[Aria's POV]

I don't know how long it has been, but I was now leaning against the wall next to Mobius. It felt like it has been an hour, but it's possible that it's only been a few minutes. Every time I close my eyes, silence greets me, so I open them again only to see everyone has changed places.

I turn my head, trying to find someone that was looking towards me so I could ask how long it's been.

'What's the matter, Aria?'

I sigh when I feel something slip down next to me, and I slightly lean against his thin frame.

'Nothing, really. I just... how much time has passed?'

Reginald tilts his head, I can feel the movement. At least it hasn't been too long then, or he wouldn't have moved. He would have just stayed silent.

'A few hours, not a whole day if that's what you are concerned about.'

I can only nod my head. That was a bit more reassuring. However, I turn to Mobius, and my concern returns. He was still out, and I could almost feel his mind at work. It was as if having Herobrine in him made him half mob instantly, and now I could almost feel what he was doing.

Almost.

I start to turn away when suddenly his mind stops. I watch him carefully, keeping a close eye on his cybernetic eye.

A flash of red.

A bright flash of white.

An even brighter flash of blue.

I nudge Reginald, and he lays a hand on my shoulder.

'I saw it. Do you think...?'

I can only give a slight shrug as nothing else happens for a moment. However, I can almost feel a shift in the air. I sense nothing hostile, no evil entity, no malice. I can hear someone else in the room move towards us as if getting a similar feeling as well.

"Aria?"

I hold up a hand to Alexa, telling her to hush and stop. She does both, and I slightly shift until I am kneeling in front of Mobius. I watch him carefully, keeping my eyes locked on him in case something sudden happens. I didn't want to be caught off guard by anyth-

"BOO!"

I nearly jump out of my skin and have to hold myself back from implanting my fist into the avali's face. His face holds a wide smile, and he begins laughing hysterically. "Oh, you should have seen your face! It was priceless." I try to be angry, to tell him this is a serious matter...

But I can't help the smile that makes its way onto my face.

He snickers then shakes his head with a slight cough. "Well, someone would graciously like to leave my head and return to yours. I... don't think he expected so much to be up here." The avali points to his head, and I can only shake my own with a soft laugh.

"You didn't drive him mad, did you? I was just getting him to be slightly sane."

Mobius smiles, then extends a hand just as I lay my own on his shoulder. The moment both our hands touch, I feel Herobrine retreat back into my being, and his power floods me.

My feet stumble when I move back in shock, and Alexa is quick to catch me. I hear a sigh of relief in my mind, but I shove it aside to make sure Mobius is alright. He looks up at me and nods. "A... little tired, but I'm fine. I... I don't think either of them will want to ever enter my mind again." Mobius holds a smirk of victory, and I can literally feel Herobrine give a slight shiver before he only shakes his head.

For once, I will agree with him.

I can only shake my head and stand up. "What happened?"

A sudden yawn reveals many, many sharp teeth. Then, Mobius gestures for us to sit down.

"It's going to be a long story... Get comfy."

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

[A few hours later]

I can only shake my head while leaning against the side of the couch. "Wow... no wonder Hero's being so silent right now. You really messed both of them up..." Mobius smirks, but releases a mighty yawn once more, causing everyone in the room to follow suit. Alexa stands up from her spot next to Joseph, who looked ready to pass out.

"Alright, I say we have some time to rest. I don't think Entity will recover from... that anytime soon." She can barely keep herself from laughing on that last part, and I smile as well. Reginald, who was next to me again, stands and offers a hand. I take it and slowly rise. "I agree with Alexa. The fact he tried something so soon after being relieved of his head means he's getting desperate, and he just wasted a lot of energy. We should take this moment to regain ourselves as well."

Everyone in the room slowly rocks their heads up and down. Alexa offers a hand to Joseph, and Mobius waddles to the couch and faceplants onto it. "Wake me in ten thousand years..." I only shake my head before leaving, Reginald close behind.

We enter the room across the hall, and I hear Alexa leading Joseph towards the room next to mine. I fight the urge to faceplant into the cushions and instead carefully sit with my back against the wall. I let out a long sigh, and I hear someone else do the same. However, when I look at Reginald, he is already out like a light across the room on another longer bed.

Sorry... I didn't mean to make it so loud.

I slightly shake my head and close my eyes. Leaning my head back against the wall, I let my consciousness slip into my mindscape. When I can tell I am indeed inside my mind, I open my eyes again and flex my hands. It was still so weird to be 'normal' in my mind, and yet Herobrine was still blocky.

At the mention of said person, I look around, just realizing my mindscape was now the spawn point house again. I slightly smile and walk towards it. The door opens by itself again, and I take no time at all to make my way up the stairs.

I already know where he's at.

When I make it to the second floor, I can see him leaning against the railing once more, and I slightly snicker at how hunched over he was. It was obvious he was rubbing his temples, and I make my way next to him.

"So, didn't realize that avali was that creative, did you?" That statement alone earns me a grunt, and I bite back the urge to laugh. With a soft shake of my head, I lean back against the railing and stare up at the fake blue sky.

"Remind me to never offer my help with a mental battle ever again..."

At that, I can't help but let out a soft chuckle.

"Well, in your defense, I should have warned you. If all this 'mindscape' stuff is similar with everyone... his would definitely be the most overactive out of all of us."

Herobrine slightly looks at me, and I can already hear the question in his mind.

"I have learned to control my imagination to a point so it doesn't simply spew out whatever it thinks is interesting. Mobius... doesn't have that kind of self-control... mental control?" I pretend to think about it, and this earns a groan from Herobrine.

"Whatever it is, I thought I would lose the last of my sanity while I was in there." He then quickly turns to me and gives me a withering glare that could sink a battleship. "Do not, I beg you, do not ever listen to the 'Doom' soundtrack..." He closes his eyes and shakes his head, then turns to lean against the rails. I fall silent with wide eyes...

Then lose it all by busting out in laughter.

"No way! He didn't!"

Herobrine replies with a groan.

I shouldn't have said anything.

Oh, but it's too late for that now.

I can barely hold myself up, and my gut is starting to hurt from laughing so much. Of course, Mobius would do something like that, but the fact he was able to shake up Herobrine so much still has me in stitches. The bright-eyed Steve skin just continues to rub his temples.

"Go ahead, laugh at my expense." Despite him trying to sound angry or upset, I can see the smallest hint of a smirk on his face. With a shake of my head, I jump and sit on the railing. It was... nice for once to be having a conversation that didn't feel one-sided or blocked. He was being open with me for once...

So I felt ready to ask the one question that has been burning inside me for so long.

"Hero?"

He slightly looks up, his eyes meeting mine. He says nothing about the nickname, so I take that leap of faith.

"What if I didn't... delete your code?"

His eyes widen, and he slowly stands straighter. I watch him carefully, keeping an escape route hidden in my mind if he tries anything. However, he only watches me carefully as well, as if making sure I wasn't lulling him into a false sense of security.

"Look... I understand you want revenge against Notch, and that it's probably been a millennium for you since that happened, but..." I stop, unable to figure out how to say what I was thinking.

You don't have to say it, you know.

Oh. That's right.

However, I feel the need to speak it. Possibly just to make myself believe it as well.

"You've changed. You nearly sacrificed yourself to save Mobius and the others. I don't think I can ever forgive you for what you did to us, but..." I push myself off the railing and stand before the blocky man. He watches me carefully, and I extend a hand.

"I think I'm willing to at least give you a chance. You've earned that at least."

His gaze is wide, and he looks between my hand and my face. I keep a neutral look, but my stance doesn't falter. Finally, Herobrine moves forward and gently takes my hand. I mentally expect him to throw me or try to cause harm, but he only shakes it normally. His grip is firm and steady.

"This... is a welcome surprise." His voice is a dead giveaway at that. I give him a small smile as our hands let go. "Well, don't think we are on 'full trust' grounds yet. I'm just... giving you a bit more 'freedom' if you will." He nods his head in understanding, and I feel hope start to rise in my chest.

Then I realize, it wasn't my own hope.

It was Herobrine's.

His eyes turn back to me as if he just realized I felt that. The feeling is gone before I can question it, but I give a knowing smile. He looks at me with a frown, shaking his head.

"You most likely wouldn't permit me to leave the game, now would you?"

I actually pause for a moment to think. Herobrine's eyes widen, and I rub my chin. After learning what happened to him, I feel bad for Hero, but at the same time, I don't want to be partially responsible for someone's death. If I was able to trust him enough, however...

I shrug.

"We'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there, won't we?"

The hope returns, and I can even see it in those glowing white eyes.

Let's hope that I'm making the right decision...