[A/N:] What? Two updates in a week? I'm spoiling you guys. I couldn't help myself leaving a cliffhanger like that, so I give you guys a gift. I'll be uploading at least once a week until either a) I run out of pre-typed chapters or b) I finish this book. Then, I will either work on the comic...

or the idea I have for a third book

idk yet. right now, I have finals... *sigh*

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[Anthony's POV]

I rub my rear end slightly while waiting for Anastasia to join. Despite everything seemingly working out just fine, I still was disoriented in the void. When it spat me out into the world, I had landed flat on my rear. It didn't cause me damage enough to lose hearts, but it still stung. I didn't know how long it would take her, but I start to wonder if I should have told her about the teleportation.

Before I can question it more, I see the sky open and her flame jacket avatar plummeting down. I smirk and extend my arms, catching her easily. Her scream stops suddenly, and I see her eyes slowly open. I gaze at her and give her a sheepish smile. "Hey, Anastasia." Is all I say. Her eyes snap open wide. Her head swivels around, and I carefully lower her legs to the ground. She looks around, then gazes at her hands. When she speaks, I smile at the Russian accent that confirms it is her. "Wait... So you weren't joking with me? Are we actually...?" She finally turns to face me, and I can only nod my head. She watches me carefully, and I gesture around us both. "Welcome to Minecraft! The real Minecraft." When I had seen Aria was going to return to this world, I figured 'Why not?'. With the knowledge of Herobrine being destroyed, I figured it would be relatively safe.

And, well, what better way to show Anastasia Minecraft than being in Minecraft?

Once it finally seems to sink in, I see her gaze change. She looks... upset? She begins making her way towards me, then slugs me in the shoulder. I let out a surprised shout and jump back. "Ow! What was that for?" I ask, and she gives me a huff. "What do you think? A warning would have been nice! That whole 'teleport' thing scared the crap out of me!" I sheepishly rub the back of my head and laugh. "Yeah, I thought about that after I made it here, and I can't really do anything about that unless I get to the End fast enough and jump through the portal to get back home." At her confused look, I begin to retell our story of what happened before, when I feel a sudden chill down my spine. I stop mid-sentence and gaze over the landscape.

At first, I find nothing. The only things around us were a lone pig, a few chickens, and in the distance was a pitch-black horse that was facing us.

No.

It was staring at us.

I could feel its gaze on us even from the distance it was at. I tilt my head, and I notice Anastasia watching me carefully. "Anthony? What is it?" I feel a small sense of dread creep in, and I protectively get in front of her. However, I sense the feeling growing the closer I get to her. Something wasn't right. I slightly turn my head to look at her, and she seems okay. But...

I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to get away from her.

Suddenly, I feel the ground give a slight shake, and I lift my eyes to see the sky open again...

And Anastasia's skin is falling from the void!

With wide eyes, I turn to jump away, and I see blood-red eyes meet my gaze. The glint of a sword rises on my left, and I knew I was too slow. This was not Anastasia, and I had been fooled. My life was about to end because of a simple mistake.

At least, that is what I thought was about to happen, until a loud whiny from a horse echoes in my ears and a large black mass crashes against my side. I slam to the ground out of harm's way, but my heart jumps at the pained scream from a horse. Turning on my back, I notice the black horse from earlier was now on the ground next to me, struggling to stand after receiving a massive gash on its side. Where fake Anastasia had been standing was a white-cloaked figure with a darkened face and blood-red eyes shining beneath the hood. The eyes hold malice in them, and when they fall on me, I feel fear start to return.

But this fear was different from when he was here.

I was unarmed, defenseless, and completely alone right now. I couldn't tell where Anastasia was, but even I knew she couldn't take on this being. I knew faintly who it was, which only made me even more fearful. This being was rivals with Herobrine, and Herobrine was gone...

Or so I thought.

I shake my head and refocus as this creature begins walking towards me. I shuffle back on the grass, trying to think of a way out of this situation. He was armed, and all I had was my fists. I could tell he was faster, so throwing myself at him wouldn't work. I can hear Anastaisa shouting somewhere on my left, but I was hidden by the horse.

Well, that's fine. She won't come over here and get hurt.

As the creature nears, and I feel myself bump against a grass block, I expect the worst. Instead, it only points the tip of its blade against my neck and glares down at me in indifference. "Where is he?" The creature asks, and I try to calm my nerves. "Who?" Apparently, that isn't the correct answer as the blade slightly pushes into my skin, drawing blood. I let out a hiss of pain, and the being speaks again. "Do not play coy with me, player. You know who I speak of. I feel his tainted soul in this world." The entity kneels closer to my face, and I feel the cold flow from it. "I will only ask once more. Where is Herobrine?"

I only let out a low growl, to which this evil being scowls. When I speak, I can tell he is unhappy instantly. "He's gone. We destroyed him before leaving this place the first time. You're wasting your energy." The being huffs, not in irritation, but mild annoyance. "If you truly understood what he is, you would know better than to believe he would be defeated so easily." The being stands and lowers his blade. I know better than to believe I am safe, and my assumption is proven true even as he turns away. His words make the fear rise in me once more as I scramble to find a way to survive this.

"If you truly do not know where he is, you are of no use to me."

Just as he turns and swings his blade, I feel a familiar sensation shake the ground beneath me, then a shot rings out, and a blue light blasts the blade from the entity's hand. The creature yells in pain and slightly stumbles back, clutching a singed hand. I lift my head to gaze over the wounded horse and smirk at the blue and white feathered avatar standing tall, one cybernetic arm raised and smoke flowing from the hand area. The soft blue glow dulls as he lowers his arm, and I see his eyes dart to me, then to the enemy near me.

"Why do you always attract the bad guys, Anthony?" He questions, and I only shrug while flipping over to the horse. "Beats me, Mobi. Can you keep him busy?" The avali only nods and lets loose a volley of shots that barely skim past my head. However, I trust him and make my way to the head of the horse. I lay a gentle hand on its neck, and one eye opens to watch me cautiously. "Hey. Thanks for the save, but we have to move now. Can you stand?" I see hurt in its eye, but it gives me a slight nod. As it starts to move its legs, I see red-orange hair appear next to me, and Anastasia's real voice speaks. "Anthony! What is going on?!" I shake my head and gesture for her to go around to the other side of the horse. "I'll explain later! Help me get this horse on its-" A hoof slams on my foot when I stand, and I shout. Our eyes meet, and I can instantly feel the indignation flowing from the creature. "Sorry, her hooves and get her to safety!" The horse snorts but then whines. Anastasia seems to grasp the severity of the situation and quickly makes her way to the horse's other side.

Together, we get the mob on her hooves, and she struggles to move. I could see the wound was slowly healing, but not like our health normally would. "Come on, girl. We just need to move out of harm's way." I say, and the horse looks at me carefully. I hear a feminine voice whisper in my mind, so I focus hard to hear it clearly. "I am trying, but your friend is struggling as well." My eyes widen at that, and I turn to see Mobius sparring with the entity. He was struggling but holding his ground. I couldn't help him much right now, but I had to do something. "Anastasia!" I shout, and I see the woman peer over the horse at me. "Stay with the horse! I need to help Mobius!" She nods her head, and I rush off.

"Be careful, Anthony!"

I only smile before rushing straight at Mobius. I could see him starting to grow weary after firing so many blasts, and the bad guy was closing in on him now. His hand was a mock image of the laser swords from Halo, but even if he only needed one solid hit, he was slowing. I swiftly body slam him to the side just as a sword comes down, barely grazing my back. With a hiss, I push the pain to the side and shove Mobius away as the blade stabs the ground where we had been only a moment before. I kick out my legs, feeling slight hope when I hit this being's legs. He stumbles slightly, but regains his balance and barely blocks a hit from Mobius' energy sword.

Pushing the avali back, the entity advances towards me, and I prepare myself for the fight of my life, again. I was starting to wish somehow, someway, Aria would know we are here and show up, but for now, we had to fight.

He swings his blade, and I backpedal to dodge it, then lean in and slam my fist into his face. He lets out a surprised grunt, holding his face. I only lift my hands up defensively. "Didn't expect a fight, didja?" I ask, but the mob says nothing. Instead, he looks me dead in the eye, and I feel my blood run cold. I knew exactly what he was about to do, but he was behind me before I could react. I could feel the cool metal reaching around under my chin as he spoke. "On the contrary, I expected more." I spot Anastasia turning back, and I prayed she wouldn't see what would happen next. I feel the blade move against my neck...

Then it stops with an audible *chink*!

I can't help but smirk when I open my eyes and see the familiar glowing sword barely an inch from my face, stopping his sword in its place. The hum from it was comforting, and the person wielding it made hope rise in my chest. Her voice reverberates across the land, and venom was seeping from her words.

"I think you have misplaced your sword there, friend."

With a swift motion, the blade is gone from my throat, and I hear a grunt behind me. I could tell Aria kicked him in the gut, and he was pushed back enough that I was safe for now...

But when I turned to Aria, I suck in a breath. She had her bangs back, out of her face. Her hood was off of her head, and she was slightly facing me, but also watching the person behind me. I could see her ender eye clearly in the black of the ender-half of her face, but her other eye is what caught my attention.

It was glowing white!

Just like his.

She turns to look at me fully and shakes her head. I knew immediately what she meant, and so I give her a slight nod. 'Not now... but I will tell you.' She turns back to the entity, and I turn as well. I feel Mobius walk up, still wielding the blade. I could tell he was tired, but his determination was keeping him going.

Suddenly, the being laughs.

"So it is true. They have defeated you."

Aria growls and steps forward. "The one you are looking for is no longer here. Leave this place, Entity 303!" I hear Mobius suck in a breath as if he was finally realizing who we were fighting. However, I do the same when the being laughs again. "That is where you are wrong. He is within you, I can sense his presence mingling with your own. Therefore,"

He is suddenly directly before Aria, blade held high.

"You are my target now."

Aria lifts her sword with ease and parries the strike, pushing forward and sending the mob back. She slides her foot back and lets out a low growl. Her gaze turns to my own, and I see her blink once. Her eye returns to the normal blue it usually was. "Get with the others and get back!" She turns away before I can protest and launches forward. Her eye had regained the new, and familiar, glow. I only growl softly before doing what she asks and turning away from the fight.

The first I find is Mobius, who was still next to me. He gestures further away, where I spot Anastasia and the horse standing next to an enderman. At first, anger rises in me, but blue particles catch my eye. I give Mobius a nod, and we both rush towards the group. I could only trust that Aria knew what she was doing.

Apparently, she didn't.

The minute we make it to the group, I hear her shout, and I turn in time to see her back slam against the ground. She uses the momentum and flips over on her feet, digging her sword in the ground to slow herself. The blade was dripping with dark, smokey blood. It nearly mimicked the Wither Blood, but this looked more... gooey. Aria herself held many small cuts, and blood was slowly trickling from each.

Lifting my gaze, I spot Entity 303 growing closer. His wounds were already healing, but the anger in his bright red eyes is still fresh. "You will not keep me from my goal." I see him prepare to strike once more, but then Aria stands. Her voice was low, and her breathing steady. "That... is where you are wrong."

Suddenly, I feel my body vibrating. It was a feeling I knew all too well. Just as Entity starts to notice, I already feel Reginald and Aria's power washing over us, and I close my eyes. I hear 303 yell, but it is quickly silenced.

Teleport.