Disclaimer: I do not own the game 'Minecraft'. I only own this AU series.
☆

Sky emerged from the base, Rive
following close behind with his tail in the air. He found Ty, a nervous Tyler, Bash, Brice and Herobrine waiting outside the stables. Herobrine grinned when he saw the commander and said, "Alright, your military princess is here. Everyone ready?"

Ty, Brice and Sky nodded. The commander ignored his mentor's teasing comment. Bash and Tyler exchanged uncertain glances before nodding slightly. Herobrine raised an eyebrow at the two before walking off, gesturing them to follow him. Brice happily ran to Herobrine's side and started a conversation, making Tyler and Bash even more nervous than before. Ty kept quiet the entire time, giving off a creepy vibe to the others.

Sky asked, "Where are we even going?"

Herobrine turned and said, "I know a pasture nearby where many herds gather for a graze. If I'm not wrong,  my own horse lives and travels with that herd."

Rive tilted his head at the mention of animals. Ty narrowed his eyes at him and the wolf whined. They were both hungry, and they both wanted to hunt. However, they could not kill the horses, that was the extreme opposite of tame. Besides, Herobrine would have their heads if they behaved like that. Bash and Tyler kept their eyes on the ground as they walked. Herobrine could not help but smirk at their timidity.

○

The group were on a hill, looking down at a pasture that stretched for miles. Groups of horses were planted everywhere, grazing on the grass. Herobrine whistled. Everyone saw one horse raise its black head from its herd nearby. The stallion neighed and galloped over to Herobrine's side. Ty studied the stallion, "So this horse is yours?"

The horse was impressive. Rather huge, with a black coat. The coat shone and gave off a glossy look under the sun. His mane and tail were well taken care off too, trimmed and brush clean. Herobrine nodded, stroking the horse's mane, "Yup. I guess you could say he chose me. We go way back. Found him as a little lost colt, and helped him get better "

Bash timidly asked, which was odd for the normally spontaneous guy, "Why doesn't he have a saddle?"

Herobrine mounted the stallion easily and replied, "I prefer bare back. Feels more free for Kaizer here. He says saddles itches. Plus, he knows what to do."

He patted the horse's cheek, who whinnied in amusement. The horse turned and stared at Sky with his beady eyes. Sky narrowed his eyes and stared back, as if it was a challenge.

"You smell like master."

Sky yelped and fell over, Ty moving aside to let him fall.  Herobrine chuckled, "Since you can hear Rive talk, you can hear other animals talk, Sky. And 'you smell like master' is a bad first impression, Kaizer."

The horse shook his head and pushed his nose against Sky's shoulder apologetically. Herobrine bent and stroked the horse's cheek, "Come on, Kaizer."

Kaizer snorted and nipped at Sky's hair. Sky leaped back. Herobrine smiled as Kaizer galloped down the hill, the others following. Herobrine dismounted Kaizer and stared at the group. He snapped his fingers and five bags appeared on the grass. Herobrine asked, "Who wants a saddle?"

Everyone raised their hands except Ty. Four saddles appeared on the grass. Kaizer snorted in disgust and turned. his head away. He began mouthing Herobrine's shirt, and the Swede ignored him. Herobrine began, "Okay, cadets. Each one of you take a bag. Inside the bag, are apples. 124 apples, just in case."

Everyone picked up a bag while Kaizer and Rive started a conversation. Slowly, they started to chase each other around the field. Herobrine turned to the pasture, "There are many herds. Mares, stallions, fillies and colts. But please, don't take the fillies, colts or expectant mares. I expect better of you."

Kaizer neighed in agreement. He then proceeded to chase Rive once more.

"Go up to a horse slowly and offer an apple in your hand. Don't make sudden movements or noises that can scare them. Make them know that they can trust you."

A similar bag appeared in Herobrine's hand. He took an apple out and fed it to Kaizer.

"After a few apples, stretch out your hand and if the horse trots away, offer more apples. If the horse stays, slowly stroke their muzzles or their manes. They like it when you scratch your neck too."

He stroked Kaizer's mane. "After that, stroke the horse's back and slowly, very slowly mount the horse. If the horse seems scared, give affectionate pats to its cheek."

He turned, "Got it?"

Five long pieces of rope appeared on the grass. "Once the horse relaxes to you mounting it, get off and put these rope around their necks and lead them over here. Now go."

Everyone picked up a lead and walked to different herds. Kaizer turned and whinnied, "I doubt they'll make any progress."

Herobrine laughed.

○

Ty approached a gray mare with a black dappled coat. He took an apple out and slowly crept towards the mare. The mare's sharp brown eyes studied Ty. She looked at the apple and her ears pricked forward with interest. She trotted a tiny bit closer and lowered her head. She slowly took the apple in Ty's palm and chomped it up. Ty gave a warm smile. It was going quite well already. The mare trotted closer and nudged the bag in Ty's other hand. Ty smiled, "You want more, girl? Hold on a bit..."

He took an apple out and the mare quickly devoured it, relaxing more and more around Ty after each offered apple. After a few apples, Ty stretched out his hand slowly. The mare's neck straightened but she did not move from her position. She sniffed the hand for a few minutes. She then stood still and stared at Ty. Ty relaxed and stroked the mare's fore head. The mare whinnied in delight. Ty smiled as he scratched the mare's neck and then her back.

The mare stared at him with an expectant gaze. Ty gave a deep breath and pushed down on the mare's back and mounted her. The mare had no reaction but stood still and supported Ty. Ty stroked her gray mane, "You like me, huh?"

The mare whinnied in response. Ty dismounted the mare and offered an apple. He gently slapped her back and said, "You have a name, girl?"

The mare turned and with a sweet tone, she answered, "Not at the moment. You can have the honors though. Anything."

Ty smiled, "What about Shade? Your coat sure is of a relaxing color."

The mare whinnied, "That suits me perfectly. Thank you, master."

Ty chuckled and put the lead around her neck. With a gentle tug, he led the mare to Herobrine, who gave him a proud smile. He slowly explained, "Animal bonds are something you should be proud of. The bond between Kaizer and I are so strong to the point where I am able to share my power with him. He has a longer life expectancy, and he's more faster and stronger than others. He is also able to reach me from anywhere at anytime within an hour. If you continue this friendship with your horse, you'll reach my level."

○

Sky's attempt was... Unsettling to say at least. And it was giving Herobrine a good laugh. Sky tried to tame a brown stallion with a dark mane, who was slightly bigger than Kaizer. The stallion, however, was known for being aggressive. Kaizer and Shade had informed their masters. Sky got bitten twice, once on his arm and once on his shoulder. He was downright furious and he wanted to teach the horse a lesson. However, due to the other horses' worried looks, he remained calm.

He kept offering apples but every time he raised his hand, the stallion would snap at it.

Don't let him scent your fear.

Herobrine had already given him so much advice via telepathy but none worked. He was about to give up until Herobrine showed up. Herobrine took the bag and offered more apples to the stallion. The stallion accepted the food but kept its guard. Other horses were watching in amusement. Herobrine raised his hand.

The stallion neighed angrily and snapped at his arm. Surprised, Herobrine tried to withdraw but the stallion caught hold of his arm, teeth piercing onto his skin. Sky gasped and horses whinnied either in approval or fear. Herobrine winced, horse teeth were blunt but amazingly strong. The stallion was strong enough for some teeth to break skin. A bit of blood was slowly dripping from the grip and onto the grass. Kaizer neighed angrily in the distance and reared up.

Herobrine growled and raised his other hand, where the stallion released his other and tried to snap again. Herobrine withdrew in time and gave the stallion an intimidating glare. The stallion's brown eyes glowed with anger. Blood was dripping down his bruised arm and sunk into the mud. Horses stared at the two. Sky yelled, "What are you doing?!"

Herobrine gave no reply and straightened his back. He whispered a few words to himself. The horse snorted and neighed angrily in reply. Sky gasped, there was no way the horse could be broken. He had a bad temper and a ridiculous attitude. He also was persistent. The stallion reared and his nose flared. He charged at Herobrine, neighing angrily. Herobrine jumped and landed on the stallion's back.

He turned and pulled the stallion's mane, getting frustrated whinnies. Herobrine grunted, tugging the horse's mane while trying to keep on. The horse bucked and reared, galloping around in full speed. The horse threw himself to the ground, injuring both him and his rider. After thirty long minutes, the horse galloped to a stop.

It stood there, head drooped and breathing heavily. Herobrine heaved a sigh of relief and dismounted the stallion. Horses neighed and reared in mock applause. Herobrine stroked the stallion's neck and the stallion looked at him with tired eyes. Herobrine pointed at Sky. Sky gulped and clenched his fist.

The stallion stared at Sky and back to Herobrine. Herobrine raised an eyebrow expectantly. The stallion trotted to Sky's side. Herobrine flicked his arm, blood splattering onto the grass, "He's all yours now, Adam. He's submissive."

Sky asked, "What did you do?"

Herobrine snarled, "I broke him. He's still a little wild on the inside, but he kind of suits you. Now, he is under your command. Give him a name."

Sky stroked the tired stallion and said, "Why not Blade? He fought as swift as a sword swung around in battle."

Herobrine shrugged, "Wow, poetic. Sure."

Herobrine stroked the chestnut brown back of Blade, "You're a fierce fighter, but never forget that will always be someone above you."

Herobrine smiled and Blade looked at the bite on Herobrine's arm. Much to Sky's surprise, Blade hung his head and neighed, "I'm sorry."

The white-eyed man sighed and said, "Don't worry about it. It doesn't hurt that much. A few bandages and I'll be fine. You gave me a good, and most importantly, fair opponent in years, Blade."

Everyone saw how Herobrine emphasized his 'fair'. He looked pretty pissed too.

○

Tyler had tamed a white mare and had no problem with her. He named her Potato for some personal reason. Bash had a little problem since he was nervous to approach a horse. He tamed a young dark brown stallion with white stockings. He happily named him Chestnut.

Herobrine had to help Brice since he was bitten too. Herobrine had to break another stallion. Herobrine got bitten again, on the shoulder.

But in the end, he won and the gray stallion was under Herobrine and Brice's command. Brice offered the name Speckle due to the white speckles on his thigh.

○

Herobrine yelped as Ty tightened the bandage around his shoulder. His face was flushed red as the others were looking at his scars in awe. He hated them, he hated where they come from. All the bullet wounds and the scars had a different story, and they all were not good. He wanted privacy, and he damn well was not getting it. Sky cocked his head, "You're pretty small for a fighter."

Herobrine raised his head and gave him an unamused look. Sky smirked and leaned closer to Herobrine and teased, "Just grow your hair, wear a dress and you can pass off as a woman-"

Herobrine growled and lost his shit. He punched Sky in the face, sending him down the hill. Ty shrunk back, terrified. Herobrine put on his shirt hastily and stared at the wheezing Sky.

"Watch who you're talking to, cadet. One more of those feminine comments, I'll get your female soldiers to force you into a dress in front of your soldiers. Got it?"

Sky mumbled a weak 'yes, sir' while writhing in pain. The rest looked at him with pity. Herobrine huffed, "Okay then. Everyone get on their horses and have a test bare back ride along the hill. I'll tend to Sky."

Everyone nodded and mounted their horses and galloped away. Herobrine slid down the slope and picked up Sky by his collar. Herobrine growled, "I know we may be good friends, but there are things I do not take lightly. Understood?"

Sky nodded frantically, "Of course, sir!"

Herobrine smiled. He placed a hand on Sky's bruised cheek, "Damn, I punched you hard. Nice."

Herobrine used his powers and healed the bruise. Sky mumbled a 'thank you' before walking up the hill to mount Blade and gallop off. Rive sniffed Herobrine's arm, "Your wounds are still open. You should stitch them. Blood smells bad."

Herobrine shook his head. He then smiled and changed the subject, "Hey, want to race?"

Rive's ears pricked up and his tail began to wag, "Yeah!"

Herobrine chuckled and mounted Kaizer.

"First one to tackle Sky to the ground winds."

"You're on."