*sneezes* Oh, would you look at that? A chapter is up... oh well

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[Aria POV]

I feel my mind slowly easing itself into a calm state as I sit cross-legged in my mindscape, alone. I was trying to focus on my ender-half, coax it out once more and practice holding it. If I could do it while I was sleeping, my theory was that it will help how long I could maintain it while I'm awake. It's been a few actual days since we arrived, or maybe just one? I lost count since I have spent a majority of it bedridden and struggling to recover.

Only yesterday could I finally sit up without coughing up blood.

I shake my head slightly, regaining my focus. I could feel the ender-half coming closer, but each time it was near, I would lose it. My mind was borderline straining. It was closer than the last time I tried, but I could feel it slipping away again. I growl, trying to call it out, but I was losing the battle again...

Until it suddenly stops.

I feel a foreign power ever so slightly sink in, and the ender-half was reacting to it, drawing towards me a bit more easily. I try to hold back another growl. "Go away, I am trying to do this on my own." However, I feel his footsteps appear and grow close despite my asking him to be gone.

"You always were stubborn."

He stands just behind me, I can feel it. I keep my eyes closed, pushing his power out and refocusing on the ender-half. I could feel it already slipping away again, and I open my eyes to watch it slink back into the darkness just ahead of me. I reach out for it, hoping to grab even a sliver of it, but it is gone and I let out a defeated sigh.

"Dang it..."

I return to my sitting position with an aggravated huff, glaring at the shadow being cast over me. 'Don't like that...' I swiftly stand and turn to my left, ignoring him completely. Taking a few steps, I begin trying to remember how I controlled the ender-half before, but his voice echoes beside me.

"I had helped you there too, you know."

I try to ignore him again. Talk about the most annoying house guest ever. Uninvited, rude, and doesn't know when to go away because he's unwanted. I hold that all in, putting up a block in my own mind from him. It was something I had learned fairly easily, and it was obvious that it had shocked Herobrine at how quickly I figured it out.

I continue walking, trying to ignore his very existence in my mind.

His voice makes that very difficult.

"You know, I could be more helpful if you'd just let me-"

I whirl around on him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and dragging him extremely close to my face.

"Listen here, you bright-eyed, murderous maniac. You have no right to ask or even insinuate a level of trust like that. I know enough of what that could do, and I will not give you that kind of power. Not while my friends are around for you to torment again."

My voice was low, the venom dripping from each word. I could feel my ender-half basically crawling up my leg and into my being easily with the rage and anger flowing from me. Herobrine's gaze was unemotional, the initial shock from my sudden movements gone after my first few words. He was gazing into my own eyes with a cold expression that was teetering on the edge of determination.

Until a smile breaks across his face.

I growl, feeling my face shift. "What?"

He speaks, haughtiness evident in his voice.

"You were right. You don't need my power... but you do need my help."

I suddenly realize what was happening, and I roughly release him. He stumbles, but the smirk on his face stays the same. I only growl at him, then turn a stalk away. I hated to admit it...

But he was right.

"I'm always right."

I turn around, a trident forming in my hand, and hurl it at him out of sheer spite. I knew it couldn't kill him, especially since he dodged it anyway, but I was tired of his pride. Just because he was in my mind doesn't mean he gets free reign to do whatever he wants-

"Wait..."

I slowly stand straighter, facing him fully. He looks at me carefully, and I do the same.

"Why have you not taken control yet?"

My question seems to catch him off guard. He looks over my being carefully, noting that my ender-half was still attached. My rage was suppressed for now, but not totally gone. I wasn't going to leave myself open for anything right now, especially with such a loaded question. The bright-eyed Steve crosses his arms, then shrugs.

"For once, I'll be blunt. I don't think I can."

This makes me tilt my head in confusion, so he starts elaborating. "Simply put, my ability to meld with someone relies on them being... absent from their minds." My memories remind me of when he first tried to enter my mind, and the horrible feeling of being torn from my body slightly fills me for a moment. When he slightly nods his head, I follow suit...

Then it hits me.

"That's it..."

Herobrine turns to me, and I lock eyes with him. "I think the main reason you are here is that you did manage to partially get into my mind." His hand raises to his chin, and he rubs it in thought. I start to run through the scenario, but it still doesn't explain why he was here now. Not completely at least. I feel agitation start to rise again, but I bite it back. I was letting myself lose control too much again and needed to reign it in. I was here for a reason, and that was preparing myself for the next battle.

"I could help you with that..."

My head snaps towards him. His tone was... concerned? I see him shake his head, whether at me or to hide the shock I noticed the split second before. "Look, if you die, I will most likely die. I'm just giving myself a better chance at survival here as well." I watch him carefully, then smirk.

"What did you have in mind then, bright eyes?"

I could tell he didn't like the nickname, as a headache forms almost instantly. It doesn't leave, but begins to get worse... and worse... I feel my vision blurring, and my knees threaten to buckle. I knew it, I knew he'd try to take over! I have to fight it back, I can't let him-

"If I can get this far without a fight, you stand no chance against Entity."

Suddenly, I realize what he was doing. Alright... I'll play along. I feel my ender-half respond and power surges into my being. The headache is gone, and I feel strength return to my body. I glare at Herobrine, who smirks.

"Better. But, can you do it again?"

I feel static start to echo on the landscape, and it slowly fills my vision. I struggle against it, starting to feel myself fall-

Until my ender-half gets supercharged suddenly.

I feel the wave of energy get released, completely dispelling the static and any power Herobrine was using. Said man stumbles and falls flat on his back. He holds his head painfully, then gazes up at me. I slightly smirk and gaze at my hands. I guess Reginald felt me struggling...

I hear him stand, and when our eyes meet, his gaze is narrow. I watch him carefully, judging his movements. He was planning something, and I was going to be ready. He lifts a hand, a sudden lightning strikes it. A pickaxe appears in his grasp, and I smirk. I feel my sword materialize in mine, and I drop down to a ready stance.

"Mentally, you may have help, but if he gets inside, can you hold him off?"

I feel a smirk rise at the chance to beat the crap out of him once again.

"Let's find out."

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

[Mobius POV]

"Hold your sword up, both hands if you need to." Before me, Anastasia nods her head and grasps the hilt of her sword with two hands. She was pretty decent at hand-to-hand, so we switched over to weapons just a few moments ago. I could tell this would be a bigger learning curve, but I couldn't go easy on her. She needed to learn, fast.

"Alright, now if I was coming straight at you..." I rush forward, and Anastasia slightly shrieks and slices down. I duck and roll to the side, the sword skimming my back and shaving off a few feathers. 'A little sloppy... but a good hit.' Straightening up, I turn to her, and her face was slightly fearful and worried. "Oh gosh, Mobi, I'm sorry. I almost sliced your head off!" Her voice was wavering, and I huff to hide a laugh. "No, you didn't. I was expecting that slice. Besides, I'm here to train you and get you ready."

Her eyes suddenly grow dark, and she looks down at the sword in her hands. "You... You really think I'll have to fight?" Her voice was filled with terror, and it wasn't just for herself. I suck in a breath, trying to figure out how to word this. I try to think of what Aria would say, but even that was difficult.

"Anastasia, listen." She turns to me, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. I continue. "The possibility is high, and that is why we are doing what we are doing now. Once you start getting used to it, it will become easier to fight and allow the game to... well, do 'game things'." I tell her about the times when Aria would land 'super-hero' style, or when Alexa would dodge out of instinct, or how Anthony could easily parry an undead sword.

"None of us are that fast in the real world, but the game is helping us. Just, trust your instincts right now." I watch her carefully, and her eyes drop back to the sword. She slowly begins nodding her head, then lifts it to meet my gaze. New determination was in her eyes. "Yeah, alright. Let's do this, then." I smile, then dropdown. "Alright. I'm not going easy on you, so get ready. And remember," I throw myself forward, dropping again to dodge her blade. I roll left when I feel her counter my dodge, and her blade skims against my arm. As I slide to a stop, I stay kneeled with a smirk on my face.

"Trust your instincts."

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

[Anthony POV]

I feel the slightest twinge of guilt as I make my way down the stairs of the large castle and towards the nether portal that leads to the Overworld. Andrew and I had come up with a plan that needed testing, however, it was something we couldn't let the others know about...

Not yet at least.

I hated having to do this in secret, but if Aria found out somehow, then it would never work. She would never be okay with risking a life, but I knew the risks, and I had to take a chance at this. We didn't know how long she would be down for, and with the way, Entity was acting, he would do whatever it would take to destroy Herobrine.

Even if it meant killing Aria.

Then, everyone else would follow as his code destroys this world.

Anger rises in my chest as I cross the bridge and near the portal that would lead me back to the mine. I wouldn't, couldn't let that happen. Stubbornness was my best quality, and I was about to use it at its fullest potential.

I just really hope this works.