[A/N]: Okay, since I missed last week, I'll give an extra chapter this week... only because I'm nice like that.

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

[Mobius POV]

Aria was resting against Reginald's side, and the enderman was asleep as well. However, after messing with a few settings within my cybernetics, I could instantly tell Aria was dreaming.

And it was not exactly a good dream.

Her heart rate had just spiked, and I could see her visibly stiffen before relaxing once more. I couldn't see into her dream, but the fact that her normally 'human' eye was hiding a soft glow meant there was one possibility...

The glow soon leaves, and Aria's eyes flutter open. The distress was evident on her face, and I could tell she was trying in vain to cover it. Her heart was racing, and it almost seemed like she was holding back tears. Instinctively, I start to stand and walk over to her. However, something grabs my arm and tugs me backward a bit. I have to stop myself from reeling back with a punch when I notice it was the wither king. Andrew looks towards Aria, then to me, seemingly ignoring the fact I may have almost shattered his skull with my arm. "I would recommend giving her a moment first."

I watch him carefully, my eye scanning him to see what his intention was. It seems like he meant well, so I start quizzing him. "What exactly is going on, Andrew? I popped in because I noticed Aria wasn't responding after she told Alexa she was going to try and rejoin. When I make it in, I find myself having to save Anthony from being decapitated by 303." The wither skeleton watches me carefully, then shakes his head solemnly. "I do not know specifics, but it would seem that Aria holds a piece of Herobrine within her, and as we know, Entity 303 and 404 are enemies of him. Why is something I do not understand, but it is clear that Aria is 303's target now."

I slowly nod my head. That was a logical statement, and I knew a bit of the lore behind 303 and 404- "Wait, why'd you mention 404? He's red-cloaked, and the one that attacked us is white with red eyes. It's obviously 303." Andrew only nods, then crosses his boney arms. "Simply put, I am anticipating the worst. If one made it through..." He leaves the end of his sentence for speculation, but I already knew how it would end. A nod is all I can reply with before slowly turning to face Aria again.

She was gone.

Purple particles are all that remain where she was sitting before.

Reginald begins to stir, noticing her disappearance. Scanning around the room, I find traces of her... end dust? My eye locks on one of the particles that was just beginning to disappear, and it registers it as 'end dust'. I shake my head quickly. 'Focus, Mobius! Now's not the time to go nerd. Find Aria first. Experiment later.' Locking onto the particle, I notice it holds its own code, like a DNA sample almost. It doesn't take long to match it as Aria's, then scan the entire room for matching particles.

Nothing.

I blink, then expand the perimeter to outside the throne room.

Still nothing.

Finally, I push the limit and stretch my range as far as possible.

*ping*

Finally!

I find Aria's particles floating around just on the edge of my range, barely within reach. Slowly, as to not cause suspicion, I make my way towards the exit. I feel Andrew's gaze on me, but I only make a gesture towards Reginald in hopes that he understands.

Once I am out of eyesight of everyone, I rush up the stairs, through the large hallway with lava and the hidden lever, and towards the large fortress. As I make it to the large opening outside of the entrance to the main castle, I could already spot her black hoodie in the distance. She was sitting on top of one of the hallways that abruptly ended. Her back was towards me, and she was quite a ways away.

I sigh and push my cybernetic leg back. I feel clicking within it, and my eye locks onto a roof nearby. 'Might as well experiment while getting there, I suppose.' With a smirk, I rush forward, then plant my foot down hard. I feel the bottom of my leg suddenly lengthen with enough force to send me flying forward. When I start falling, I swiftly tuck and roll, then pop back up and continue forward. I launch myself into the air once more, slightly landing on a hanging stalagmite and pushing myself off of it once more. I roll across another rooftop, now only one platform away from Aria. Slowing my breathing, I calm myself and remember why I'm out here.

Cautiously, I leap over to her platform and land with barely any noise. The building doesn't even move, and I try to read Aria's body movement. It seems like she wasn't even aware I was there, so I needed to be careful or... I slightly rub my neck, remembering the last time her sword was close enough for me to give it a detailed scan. However, her arm slowly moves, and she taps the brick next to her. Then, her hand goes back to her lap, and I can only shake my head.

"Can't even sneak up on you in-game..." I softly say with a hint of amusement. Silence meets me, and I sigh while sitting next to Aria. She doesn't really acknowledge I am there, but the fact she wasn't leaving told me that she didn't really want to be alone either. We stay silent for a bit, and I gaze out over the massive Nether. In the distance, I could see the bluegrass and the flames from the soul sand. Striders were waddling across the lava lake below, and a few blazes were... playing with them? I couldn't tell, but it didn't seem bad.

"How'd you find me?"

I smile at the question and lean back on my hands. "Been messin' with this tech. Turns out your little 'particles' are labeled as 'end dust' and hold a unique DNA-like code within them that only matches to one specific person." She nods her head, then grows quiet again. I could tell she wanted to talk, but didn't know how or where to start. So, I decide to start for her.

"I'm assuming your sleep wasn't as relaxing as it should have been?" She barely moves her head towards me, and I shrug. "Heart Rate spiked, and you visibly stiffened. Not normal when you're asleep... I think." I say the last part sheepishly, as I realized I sounded like a stalker. This does earn me a small smile, so I count that a victory. My victory is quickly shattered when she speaks, however.

"I can't leave the game, Mobi."

My eyes widen, but I could tell she wasn't lying. "Wh-What? What do you mean?" She turns to me, and I feel unease at the brightness of her now glowing eye. She points to it slowly, then drops her hand away. "This isn't just his power... it's part of him. He's... within me if that makes sense." I say nothing, trying to figure this out. So what if he is somehow within her. Why can't she...

"Oh no..."

I finally get it, and I feel dread sink in. Her head slowly nods, and she looks away. I can see the glow vanish, but the sorrow was heavy in the air. "Somehow, he still won! He's inside of me, sharing my mind, and if I leave, then he truly wins! Our deaths, all for nothing! And for what? So I could see everyone again?! Because I care?!" She was yelling now, fists clenched. I try not to flinch, but I don't move closer. I know that would be fruitless, so instead, I hold my ground. She softens her voice with a huff and leans heavily against her legs. "I just... I wanted to see him again, get to know him, and now I've dragged you, Anthony, Anastasia, and everyone else back into danger. And I... can't leave. I can't throw away all we worked for the first time..."

Finally, I see her calm down, and I step in. "Aria," I start, and I wait until I see her look towards me. Her head barely turns to me, but I see her ender eye flick towards me. So, I continue. "I can't say I know how this feels, and I can't tell you that everything will be alright, but I can tell you that we will find a way through this." She watches me carefully, and I see her brainwave activity calm a bit. She turns her head away, however, and I see her mind start racing once more. Quickly, I speak again. "Don't be like Anthony!" Is what I blurt, and I can tell immediately it was the right thing to do.

She snorts.

"Listen, we will not leave you, and nothing you say or do will ever make us leave you here. We will find a way to separate you two, defeat 303, crush a few mobs, and get home before Elevenses." This gets me another soft laugh, and I sigh. Gently, I lay a hand on her shoulder, earning me her full attention. Carefully, I speak, choosing what to say. 'She makes this stuff look easy, I swear.' "You aren't alone in this. So, don't hold back from us this time, okay?" Silence meets me at first, then Aria sits up a bit. "Yeah, you're right. I won't." She faces me, forcing a small, tired smile. "You know, you're getting better at this whole 'leading' thing." I shrug and give a nervous chuckle. "You don't give me much of a choice outside this game, you know."

Pushing myself onto my feet, I hold out my hand to her. She looks at it carefully, then sighs and takes it gingerly. Once she's on her feet, I see the weight on her shoulders slightly lift. A small smile plays onto my face, and we begin heading back towards the large castle...

Then an alert blares, and before I can react, the ground beneath us shakes. I turn to check on Aria, and her eyes are full of fear...

And she was shorter than me.

Suddenly, she shouts as the brick beneath her gives way. I dive to grab her, reaching out and I barely feel her fingers brush against mine. I was just out of reach, and the gasp she releases makes a chill run up my spine. In instinct, I turn with my arm already switching to a blaster.

But a sword was already crashing against my chest.

The blade cuts clean across my upper body then slices through my arm. I feel the metal scraping against metal, wires being cut, and my eye blares with many warnings and alerts...

Including the fact the force of the hit had thrown me off the top of the building, and I was now falling straight towards the lava below.

My arm was barely staying attached, blood was pulling from my wound, and I could tell my hearts were shaking. The moment I hit the lava, I know I will die. I needed to think! I have three seconds, and nothing to grapple or teleport wi-

Wait!

I close my eyes and focus, feeling the cybernetics react instantly. The heat was growing closer to my spine, but I knew I would make it. I had to make it.

I hope I make it.

When I open my eyes again, I spot Aria standing behind my white-cloaked assailant, rage in her eyes and her end dust particles floating around her. Well, I think. At least she's alive.

Let's hope I will be as well.