[Aria's POV]

Resting was an amazing idea, however what I didn't anticipate was just how much mothering I was going to receive once we returned to our room. The skeletons were very kind to us, holding a new respect for each one of us, and offering some medical supplies that I didn't even know existed in the game. I had started to say no until the burning sensation of someone glaring at me made me swallow hard.

Needless to say, I know better than to anger a penguin.

The moment I sat down, Alexa was on me with wraps and bandages like I was dying. I only tried to shoo her off once. The look she gaze me could kill the Enderdragon in one hit. I resorted to simply laying back and being still while she tended to my wounds. My health bar was showing four full hearts, but they are shaky and slightly greyed out from the wither effect. I sigh as Alexa finishes wrapping my side and leg. The pain was already subsiding and I feel at ease...

Until searing pain radiates from my right arm. I let out a mild Ender-like scream and teleport away. I find myself leaning against the wall, holding my chest and gasping for air. 'That really hurt!' I gaze up to see who the culprit was and spot Alexa with a damp wrap in her hand. She holds a starrtled expression and was slightly backed up away from the couch. "O-Oh my gosh, I-I am so sorry! I didn't think water would actually hurt you!" She throws the wrap to the side and wipes her hands off. I shake my head and take a deep breath. "I-It's fine... Just scared me mostly." I slowly make my way back to the couch, and lounge on it again with my wounded leg propped up.

"Wait... how did you manage to get a damp, wet wrag in the Nether?" Alexa shrugs and turns to sit on the other end of the couch. "Dunno. Ask his majesty when you get the chance." She sits back and lays her arms across the back of the seat. "He seems to be able to do a lot of things that normally wouldn't be possible in regular Java minecraft.." Mobius, who was sitting with Anthony at the table nearby, huffs. "Well, there's a high chance this could be modded in some way. We all started a download before getting sucked in here..." I hear him shift and I turn my head to see him sit back in his chair. "If the name means anything, then it most likely added a lot of items that we don't know about since none of us ever touched it before today... or yesterday... or however many days ago that was." He shakes his head and leans forward again, obviously exhausted. I feel it starting to coax me to slumber as well, but Anthony's voice snaps me out of it.

"How long have we been here?"

My eyes slightly open at that, and I can't help but shrug. "Honestly, I'd say about two normal days. We don't know how fast time travels outside the game, though...." It was bothering me as well, but I couldn't change that right now, so why worry about it?

However, I could tell Anthony wasn't going to let it go so easily. He lifts his head off the table and looks at me. I simply sigh and sit up slightly, moving my leg so I could turn and face him fully. "Look, whether we have been in here for one day, or one month, it doesn't matter-"

"It does matter! It-"

"It's not something we can control." I finish calmly. He stops for a moment, and I continue. "Right now, we can't change what's going on in the real world. We have to focus on one thing at a time, or else we will never make it out of here." He still isn't buying it, most likely worry over his family and friends outside of the game. I shake my head. "All we need to worry about is getting out of here without bringing him with us." Everyone nods, and Anthony starts to as well. I knew he would still fret about it, but at least he was starting to calm down.

"Besides, us making it back alive would make them happy either way. And that's what we are going to do." I look to Alexa, and she smiles when she finishes speaking. Anthony cracks a small grin. "Oh they will never believe this... what would we tell them?" I simply shake my head, returning to my original position and closing my eyes. "That's a conversation for another time..."

Soon, I was sound asleep.

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

"Well now, this is quite the turn of events, is it not?" I growl at the voice, sputtering and clenching my gut in pain. I was surrounded by a pool of purple and red blood.

The red blood not being my own.

No, my friends bodies were scattered around me. They were lifeless, and still. Alexa was behind me, as she was the last alive until a few moments ago. Anthony was to my left, sprawled and impaled to the ground by multiple tridents. Mobius was on the right, his robotics partially torn from his body and sparks flying from his mechanical eye. I was barely breathing, but rage was the only thing keeping me alive.

Rage and sorrow.

'I failed..... I failed them all...'

"Oh, indeed you did. However, I must thank you.... because you did not fail me."

I turn my gaze up to him just as he flies straight at me. I feel him merge with my body. Weak, I am easily shoved to the side and I feel my body become shredded. I try to scream, but no sound is made. The pain is unbearable. I had to move. I couldn't teleport, I couldn't breathe.

A voice calls to me, and I suddenly feel my mind shift. The pain starts to ebb, but it returns harsher than before. The voice speaks louder, saying my name. I can't reply. The pain was filling me. I had to act... or else...

"ARIA, STOP!"

The yell makes my heart lurch and I suck in a breath. My vision floods me, and I blink rapidly as light slams my retinas.

I was standing over Alexa, one fist at her throat and the other in the air. I was in complete Ender-form, and I could feel something sharp slightly jabbing me in the back. I feel my heart race in shock, fear, and confusion. It isn't until Alexa slightly sputters for air that I realize how tight my grip is. I quickly let her go and lift myself a bit. A slight turn shows Anthony behind me with his sword, and I see slight purple on the tip of it. I try not to seem scared, but he backs off with a guilty expression. I start to steady my breathing, and I back away from them. My body shifts and shrinks down to my avatar's normal size. I feel my body slightly ache, and I hold my chest painfully. That was not a fun feeling, not to mention my heart was still pounding.

"Alexa, I'm so sorry. I didn't-I couldn't-" I try to speak, but I couldn't form words. 'I almost killed her! What if they didn't stop me in time? What if I killed them all? Oh God, what's happening to me!?' I find myself leaning against the wall, struggling to breathe. I hold my head in my hands, scared to look up. However, someone grabs my hands and pulls them away from my face gently. "Aria, stop. Take a deep breath. Breathe." My eyes are closed, but I know that voice. When my eyes open, Alexa is before me with no fear in her eyes despite what almost happened. I suck in a shuddering breath, then let it out slow and steady.

"I'm sorry... I didn't-" A blocky finger is on my mouth and Alexa hushes me. "Stop it. I know you didn't mean it, and I'm okay now. It was just... startling, that's all. Might have scared a few years off my life, but I'm still in one piece!" I stifle a laugh at that, and she smiles. She starts to step away, then turns to me again. "What... what was that, if you don't mind me asking?" I slightly shake my head and hold my arms. "A nightmare.... and not one I want to speak of." Everyone slowly nods, understanding what I mean. They return to whatever it was they were doing before, and I sigh. I start to head back to the couch when I feel the right side of my body begin to tingle. My eye slightly burns, and I hush everyone. They turn to look at me, and I hold a finger over my mouth. My eye must have been smoking, because they stop talking instantly.

The pain grows, and I quickly realize what was about to happen. My gaze sweeps the room, and I find what appears to be a closet. I run to it and open it. A sigh of relief escapes me when I find it open and empty inside. 'Like an actual closet.' Turning around, I quickly usher everyone over. "Get in and stay quiet!" I say, and they don't hesitate to do so...

Until I start to close the door.

An arm stops it, and I see Anthony shoving his head out. "The heck are you doing?!" I hush him and push him inside. "I won't fit. Trust me on this! Stay low and stay quiet." He growls, but Alexa and Mobius quietly pull him in. I shut the door and turn around, trying to find a spot to hide... sort of.

A large bookcase on the side of the wall casts part of the wall in shadow, and I quickly run to it. Just as I get in the dark part of it, I feel it before the noise hits my ears. I press my back against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. I could feel my ender-half reacting to the presence of another Enderman, but it felt.... different.

I shake my head and lean to gaze out from my spot. The creature was standing in the middle of the room. It's back was to me, and it was facing the closet. My heart lurches, and I pull back. 'How the heck did it know they were there?!' It gurgles and vwoops. Footsteps sound out as it nears the closet. I close my eyes and will my body to shift once more.... then....

Teleport.

I appear right beside the Enderman just as it was reaching for the door. With a scream of rage, I slam into it and we crash against the ground. I try to pin it beneath me, but I am still getting used to my longer apendages. It growls and flips us, causing me to be the one pinned. I snarl and throw my hand out. The Enderman turns to look in confusion, and its eyes widen as my sword slams into my hand. I quickly bring it up to rest just below its chin. "I'll give you one chance, and then your head is gone." I say, and it turns back towards me. It says nothing at first, but releases me and steps back a bit. I slowly stand, keeping my eyes and sword pointed towards it at all times. .y eyes lock with its blue ones and-

'Wait... blue?'

Realization dawns on me, and I lower my sword. The Enderman relaxes as well. Carefully, I move my sword to my side, and I look over this Enderman carefully. "You brought us the potion in the mineshaft..." The Enderman nods, and I stand up straight. I carefully slip my sword into the sheath that was now at my side and gesture to the closet for them to come out. "Guys its.... safe. He's a.... friendly..."

Cautiously, Anthony emerges, then Alexa, and Mobius follows. They look at the Enderman.... and he doesn't react. I don't know why I know it's a he but.... he seems familiar....

And not just because of the Mineshaft.

He points towards the door, and I turn to it. "He... wants us to leave?" Anthony says carefully. The Enderman shakes his head, and I understand it as if he spoke with words. "We're about to have company..." It was as if I knew what he was speaking, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. We needed to leave now....

But I had to warn Andrew.

A hand grabs my arm, and I turn to see the blue eyed Enderman shake his head at me. He was saying we needed to leave now or risk being caught again. I shake my head and pull away. "I cannot turn my back on him. He has offered to aid us! We must return the favor when we know of danger." The Enderman visibly stiffens, then growls. I hold my glare at him until the door suddenly bursts open. Anthony pulls his sword out and spins on his heel. I don't have to move to know who it was.

But what he does say shocks me.

"Reginald?" The King says in shock and confusion. My eyes widen as the light bulb finally clicks. The Enderman glares at the king until his gaze meets mine again. His face suddenly shows guilt and he looks away. "You lied to me... You aren't part of me. You're using telepathy." He says nothing, and my mind tells me to hit him, to not trust him, to kill him. Confusion was flooding me. How could he know about me? How could he empower me? Or was that all my own doing earlier?

"I.... am sorry I deceived you. I had no choice." His voice was the same, and I sigh. I knew he meant no harm, and he had helped before during the fight. I simply shake my head. "We can sort this out later. Right now..." My eye burns, and I can see the smoke as I turn to face the king. "We have company...." The King nods his skull. "Enderman are raiding the fortress as we speak."