Disclaimer: I do NOT own the game 'Minecraft'. I only own this AU series.
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"Your highness, we have reached Southern Region. We will be traveling to the army and ask for any sightings of your desired... General."

"Good, good. Carry on."

-

The Southern military, or rather what was left of it, had reached the base. Jerome carried Mitch by himself and Brice carried Seto after he made a rather depressing scene back at the battlefield.

The medical team walked out of the trees, led by a soldier. Brice pushed through the crowd to greet his best friend but was only met with a stretcher carrying a limp body. Brice did not say anything as he slowly crept forward. Sky watched with pity in his golden eyes. It was quiet while Brice inspected the body. He checked a total of four times before he broke down, crying while clutching the sorcerer's cape. The army watched for a few minutes in grief before carrying on with their duties. Sky gave one last pitiful glance at the blond before turning and inhaling deeply.

Sky pulled the Shifter's body to the morgue. He waited in the large dining hall, trying to contact Herobrine through telepathy. It was still no use though. He did not even manage to pick up any trace of Herobrine's strong and pleasant scent. Spending time with the man had taught him that the man smelled amazing, no matter what. It was almost alluring, but of course, Sky never told him that. It was difficult not to ask about it though, because Hero's scent spread on everything and was so easily everywhere. Sky shook it off, thinking his power just failed him.

A soft pitiful meow caught his attention and Sky looked down to see Herobrine's tabby cat at his feet, looking up at him with big green eyes.

Sky raised an eyebrow. The cat hissed before biting down on Sky's trousers and pulling gently. Sky grimaced and attempted to shoo him away. The cat gave a loud hiss and batted at Sky. It just continued meowing.

Listen to animals.

Sky suddenly remembered Herobrine's last words to him and cleared his throat. awkwardly stroking the cat's neck to calm it down. It worked and the tabby padded off, Sky following close behind. They had reached the entrance of Sky's room. The door was left ajar and the cat crept in through the narrow space. Sky felt something in his throat, but he could not get it down after every gulp.

He grabbed the handle and slowly pulled. He poked his head inside. He looked around at the walls before inspecting the interior. The cat was seated on a bloody lap patiently. Its green eyes seemed to strike Sky more than the motionless figure leaning on the wall.

Sky had just seen dead soldiers litter a field, but none of that prepared him to find Herobrine with his neck fucking sliced open in his room.

There was blood smeared on the balcony, walls, bed and floor. Sky closed the door behind him and walked forward, golden eyes glowing with worry and fear. He gulped and reached out for his mentor's wrist. He pulled it and placed two fingers on the wrist.

It was horribly cold and the blood stains were already dry and sticky when Sky tried to hold it in place. He felt nothing on the wrists and pulled away, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

He croaked, "Briney?"

A reaction, maybe? He loathed the nickname.

Of course there was no answer.

Herobrine was dead. Just dead, nothing else to it.

Somehow that wasn't the thing that horrified him. What truly struck him like a hammer was that someone as powerful and merciless as Herobrine was dead. From bleeding out. Out of a sliced open neck. Just like that.

Just like... Just like every other human.

The cat leaped off the lap and onto the bed, watching the scene unfold. The cat made a mental note to retell what he witnessed to his master soon. Sky regained his composure as he put his arms under Herobrine's scarred neck and under his knees carefully. He pulled him into his arms and stood.

One arm fell out, fingers sprawled out and hanging in the air. Sky was certain he would never watch those nimble fingers get to work again. Certain movements for controlling certain elements. How it perfectly rolled to a fist for combat. He would never watch him actually use the skills he taught Sky in battle.

The Swede's head leaned on Sky's chest, eyes closed with strands of golden brown hair covering his forehead. Sky took note that he also would not be able to admire those white glowing eyes. How they would shine with mischief. He also realized how young he looked. What was it that he said before? His physical age was 22. He definitely looked straight out of his teens and in his prime.

He trudged into the dining hall, the cat following close behind in silence. Soldiers stopped and stared at the commandant. Jason hung his head in grief, the surviving hybrids doing the same. Jason felt like he was getting stabbed, over and over. A part of him was disgusted by how he reacted like this towards Herobrine's death but didn't bat an eye at any other soldier's death.

His head hung not only in grief, but shame. He couldn't help it.

Rive gave a mournful howl and the cat joined in with quieter yowls. Sky ignored them all and entered the morgue. Brice was sitting there, grieving Seto. He had pulled the tray with Seto's body out, sitting over it. He had a hand over Seto's. After a quick glance, Sky started to believe the rumors of Brice and Seto's nature of relationship a bit more.

Jerome was outside, not wanting to see Mitch in his state. Kei was also there, holding his sister's hand tightly. They were all eerily quiet. The cat stayed outside at Jerome's feet, rubbing his head against his calf. Jerome reached down to run a hand over the cat's head.

Brice did not even turn to greet Sky. He just silently cried next to the sorcerer's body. Sky knew how much Seto meant to him. He needed some time alone.

Sky gently put Herobrine down onto a tray and summoned a chair. He sat down and joined the others in grieving. He started to reminisce the times Herobrine appeared more human than murderer.

More... More friend than murderer.

-

Seto sighed and finished his story, "That's why Brice can't do anything without me."

Herobrine hummed, "I see... Adam and I may not be as close, but we both know for a fact that we are linked by more than powers."

He turned and focused on the papers. He shooed the sorcerer out of his new office. The last one he had to read was Seto's. It contained everything he needed to know about Seto Jonathan Foster.

He had already read the rest. All of them had the same fate. They were given another chance just like Sky. He pondered for a moment and decided that Seto would join them.

He still was concerned of the role his own fate had given him but everyone convinced him that he is the perfect person for the role.

"You've had a really messed up life, brother. It was filled with so many twists that even I, your sibling, wasn't able to notice anything whenever you were right beside me."

"You have given up so much and had taken so many risks for your brother. Without your decisions, I'm sure you wouldn't be standing here in that dashing uniform of yours. I am and always have been proud of you, dear."

Herobrine smiled to himself as he walked out of his cloud office and met up with the others on the viewing port. Seto ran to him and bowed.

He raised his head with a glint of hope in his starry eyes, "Your decision, your highness?"

God, he needs to stop that title before it gets out of hand. He feels like Markus.

Herobrine answered calmly, "You will go with the others. Like you said, Brice misses you a lot. I myself do not want to tamper with the thing you two have going on in there..."

He then narrowed his eyes, "Be reminded that you won't remember anything that happened here in the Aether. I'll cover up for you."

He paused for a moment before asking, "How did you know about who I was though?"

Seto shrugged, "The knowledge comes with death, I assume. I've never known and I've never even thought of such a thing. Aether representative? Alive Seto would be rolling his eyes at that."

Herobrine remembered something, "Ah, about that... Am I the only one?"

It was silent for a moment. Seto stared blankly ahead and Herobrine just muttered, "Maybe your knowledge about my role has a limit. It's okay, you don't have to-"

Seto answered robotically, "You are not alone. You are one out of a team. You will learn everything with time."

The brunet slapped a hand over his mouth and sputtered, "I- T-That wasn't me!"

Herobrine was about to say something when Killia walked forward and said, "Sir, if you go down there, tell my brother that I'm still here, watching him. I understand your choice for making me stay here."

Herobrine gave a curt nod with a small smile. He decided Killia should stay because... Well, Hero did not only read her report but her brother's. Her brother's report had hinted at something about him needing to learn how to handle himself alone, and that he will thrive alone. Something within Killia was also screaming at Herobrine that she wanted to stay. With her family.

Herobrine then realized that her story matched his own.

He continued his duty, there were people to revive. Everyone had already faded away to their own bodies, leaving Killia and Markus. Herobrine turned to his brother.

Markus gave a weak smile, "It's gonna be alright. We'll send you work down there. I promise it'll be okay."

Markus dove in for a hug, Killia actually smiling for once. After what seemed like an hour, Markus pulled away, tears in his amber eyes. Herobrine stepped away and the two others left. He let himself bask in the clouds. The magic and power within him was humming with excitement, it felt like he truly belonged here. However, something like a whisper against his ear was telling him that he needed to get Minecraftia back to its feet first.

He stared at the view. The Aether was beautiful. He realized it was a huge honor to be chosen as Lady Aetheria's representative and guardian.

He wondered, what does that make him?

He has lived not knowing what he truly is. Now, he at least knows he serves under a literal goddess, Lady Aetheria. However, it just raised more questions.

Does that make him a god?
What was Sky?
Who are the others?

So many questions. But as Seto (?) said, time answers all questions.

Herobrine decided to finally revive himself.