[Aria POV]

As the sun starts to set on the horizon, I can only sigh as the heat warms my skin. I lean against the balcony railing, soaking in the light. It was so nice to be able to enjoy it and not feel the need to hideaway. It feels like it's been years, but it was only a few minutes, maybe an hour or two. I just appeared back in my room only a few moments ago, but I needed the sunlight to make sure I was really back. I turn and look into my house, a smile on my face.

"Come on. It won't hurt you."

At first, nothing happens. Then, a tall brown-haired man in a cyan shirt sporting glowing white eyes walks out from a hallway and to the doorway. I beckon him further, and he hesitates. He looks down, still trying to get a feel for his new form.

"You're going to miss the sun if you stare at your feet all day."

His head snaps up at that, and he leans a bit to see the sun burning brightly on the horizon.

"The real sun?"

I try not to laugh, but his pout shows I failed.

"I would hope so, or someone really upgraded the mod pack for your server world."

His gaze returns to the sun and he slowly steps out onto the balcony. Cautiously, he moves forward, and he gasps as the light hits his skin. He looks down at his arms, then back to me.

"It's... warm."

I shake my head and return to leaning against the railing. My eyes are closed as a breeze blows past. Another sigh slips from my lips, and I finally feel Herobrine grab the railing. I could feel his surprise and utter joy at the landscape around him. Sure, it's not the most beautiful landscape in the world when your smack in the middle of southern dense woods, but it's the first thing he is seeing outside of Minecraft.

I'm just glad I'm not in the city anymore.

I open my eyes to watch him carefully.

But he's already gone. I blink rapidly as purple particles vanish from the air about as fast as I see them. Laughter erupts from just below, and I look down to spot Herobrine meeting my pups. The german shepherd seems to have already taken a liking to him, as he was playing and rolling around with this new man. The corgi, Casi, was just as excited, jumping up and down on her hind paws. Even my two calico cats were rubbing against his legs.

"So these are your version of the stray cats and wolves? There's so much variety!" He laughs again and the shepherd pounces and knocks him down. I can only shake my head, not completely surprised at this new side of Herobrine I am getting to see. His memories showed him being kind, caring, curious about everything around him, and loving to all his creations. To see him finally being able to be himself again is... inspiring. He has earned this second chance.

Unlike Notch.

Something still wasn't sitting right with me. If what Herobrine says is true, which it is as Entity confirmed it long ago, Notch is dangerous. He thinks of himself as a god in Minecraft, which is partially true, but he abuses his abilities and doesn't care for the consequences. I've never met him in real life, as Markus Perrson lives on the other side of the world.

However, something tells me he can never find out about Herobrine being free from Minecraft, even if it's just temporary.

I don't think that will end well for any of us, and I'm not ready for another adventure.

I close my eyes again just as Herobrine runs towards the woods, ready to explore. My german shepherd, Brutus, was following after him. The two cats, Pixie and Trixie, take their mantles on the two posts that lead out of the backyard. Whatever the future in Minecraft for us holds can wait a month when it's time to return. For now, I think I've been stabbed enough to earn some well-desereved rest.