Disclaimer: I OWN MINECRAFT NOW gasp

I'm just kidding. I only own this AU series.
☆

"I heard. It's been, what, a couple of years since someone threw you to the ground!"

Mitch pouted. Jerome had his head bandaged up since he was thrown into the ground head-first.

Jerome replied, "It was a good record while it lasted. That girl has this fiery look in her eyes."

Mitch looked at him, confused, "Like... How?"

Ty came into the ward and said, "It's already spread outside the facility. I heard about it from a couple of soldiers who were under me."

Sky folded his arms, "I spoke to her. She's a mystery, that one. Our last mystery was you and Jason."

Jerome frowned and muttered, "We still haven't figured the two of you out."

Ty smirked, "And you never will."

The rest laughed, until the door opened. Their resident sorcerer had walked in, and greeted the soldiers with a polite nod.

He walked towards Martin, "Martin, how's your arm? I thought you should have recovered by now."

Sky looked at Martin behind him. The Bulgarian chuckled and said, "Feeling better. A little sore but I think I can return to my duties. Can I?"

Seto replied, "Maybe. That's up to you, sir."

Sky felt everyone's gazes on him. He grinned and shrugged, "As long as he's alright, and starts being careful."

He said the last bit with a eyebrow raised at Martin. The Bulgarian smiled and jumped out of his bed, his arm a little slow behind him.

He asked eagerly, "What's today's agenda, sir?"

Ty chuckled and said, "You'll start tomorrow. Go and eat, I think Baki is in the dining hall. If you're lucky you could prank-"

Martin laughed his iconic laugh and left the room. There was a noticeable skip in his steps. Everyone knew that the Bulgarian was happy to be back on his feet (and pranking). Everyone smiled after the soldier.

Sky yawned and announced, "I'll be sleeping now. Same with all of you. Goodnight and good job today."

-

As Sky opened the door, he blindly walked in, only knocking into someone. Sky looked down and saw two white eyes looking up at him. He kept his snickers on the down low, he could not help it really. The man was so short.

He stepped back before asking, "What do you want now?"

The white-eyed man frowned and said, "Lessons begin as soon as possible. As in, now."

Sky closed the door behind him and slumped down on his desk. He asked, "Lessons? Now? We can't use the training hall, my soldiers will see us-uh, me."

Herobrine laughed and replied, "That's why I'm here. To bring you to a place I know."

Sky stepped back, narrowing his eyes, "How do I know you won't just bring me deep into the woods and kill me?"

Herobrine just frowned and gave him a 'really?' look. He shook his head and extended a hand, explaining, "Remember what I told you. I'm here to help. If my brother, your literal king, trusts me..."

He looks Sky in the eyes.

"Surely, you can?"

Sky looked at his hand and back to his face. There was something about those eyes. There was a certain pull to it, like Sky could just open up about everything and anything to- Sky found himself grabbing the man's hand. Immediately, he felt like his gut was twisting as his vision blurred.

-

Sky heard a voice and opened his eyes. He looked around, seeing Herobrine standing before him, smiling and relaxed. Sky has never expected to see a murderer so... At ease around him. It was unsettling and intriguing at the same time.

He sat up from the cold ground and immediately the world startled to swirl before him. He gagged and shut his eyes, cradling his aching head in his hands. He groaned and Herobrine chuckled, "Sorry. Teleportation wasn't easy for me the first time for me too."

Sky did a double take, blinking up at Herobrine, "Teleportation? You can teleport?"

When Sky looked around, he found them to be on a cliff. Herobrine was standing near the edge with his arms folded, letting the breeze cool him. He looked a little serene in a way.

"We can. It's what we're learning today, so get your gut ready."

Sky asked, "Why not use ender pearls-"

Herobrine laughed bitterly, "Do that and the enderdragon will bite your sorry ass for using her minions."

Sky looked at him strangely. He argued, "But enderpearls are readily available, they're just a little expensive."

Herobrine tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at him, "If I stuck my hand down your throat and tore out your tongue, would you like it?

Sky took it as a threat and his instincts told him to crawl back, away from Herobrine. Herobrine didn't do anything but watch him pathetically drag his body away from him with an unamused gaze.

He lowered his voice, "Well, would you?"

His eyes had that... That sort of brightness to them and Sky felt compelled to answer, "No."

Herobrine looked satisfied, his eyes softening and the odd effect on Sky was gone. Herobrine said, "Well, that's why we don't take enderpearls anymore. Endermen are nasty and vicious, sure, but the act is still cruel. It's their life source, only do it when you're under attack."

The man was oddly compassionate. Sky shooed that thought away. The man was still a murderer, the only reason why he was doing this was because he didn't want to end up a murderer as well. Maybe, just maybe, when Herobrine taught him everything, Sky could turn him in dead or alive for money and honor.

The price on Herobrine's body or even whereabouts was huge. Also, if Sky was the one who turned him in, he'd probably get the Royal Medal of Honor.

All of a sudden, Herobrine's gaze turned fierce and guarded as he snapped, "I'm going to pretend that you're not plotting to go against me."

Sky stilled. How?

Herobrine scowl deepened, "I can hear you. You're thinking as loud as a gun. If you really want to turn me in for fucking money or useless honor, at least plot quietly."

Sky found himself at a loss. He felt insecure and unsafe without his weapons. He left them in his room.

Herobrine walked away, "Be grateful I'm still helping you even when I'm risking my safety."

Sky stared after him.

"Follow me!"

The sharp bark got Sky's legs moving. He followed Herobrine at a distance, too scared to approach further.

-

"Wait, no! Hold on, I'm not read-"

Herobrine was teaching Sky how to fly without wings by holding Sky hanging from a cliff. Apparently, Herobrine could float and Sky could too.

"We'll learn like how birds do," was what Herobrine said.

Sky had just noticed how birds were truly taught how to fly but it was too late to refuse. Sky's hand slipped off the edge and he plummeted down to the foggy clouds down below the mountain. Herobrine smiled and jumped off, simply floating down elegantly.

He spotted Sky hanging on to a small ledge and grumbled, "Relax. Let your mind do the work. Imagine a soft surface under you and just let go."

"How the fuck am I supposed to do that when there's two hundred meters below me!? You're a fucking bastar-"

Herobrine cut him off by holding him under his arms and forcing Sky to let go of the ledge. He pulled and Sky shivered when he looked down into the mist. Sky suddenly smelled something sweet in the air. It was pleasant, and calming.

Herobrine's voice was... Gentle and soothing, "I'll let you go slowly, okay? Just relax... If you fall, I'll catch you. Remember, you can trust me."

Sky glared at him as Herobrine slowly lifted his hands away. Sky closed his eyes in terror of falling but never felt the rush of wind against his body.

"You're doing it!"

Sky opened his eyes slowly to see that he was in the same level of Herobrine, in mid air. He looked down, to see nothing. It was kind of euphoric. The air blew gently, cooling him down. He felt at peace in the sky.

"Hold my hand."

Sky's eyes snapped open and he stared at Herobrine, dumbfounded.

Herobrine rolled his eyes and explained, "To teleport us up there. We just started the teleportation lessons today and you're still not ready to do it without supervision."

Sky took a moment to process everything Herobrine had just said. He looked down at the extended hand. His eyes curiously raked up the white-eyed man's arm. There were numerous scars. Some were large gashes, others were small cuts. Sky spotted a gunshot scar peeking from Herobrine's sleeve. Herobrine cleared his throat, and Sky was startled out of his observing. He ducked his head shyly and grabbed Herobrine's hand.

His eyes widened at how soft the Swede's skin was. He expected it to be rough because of all of scars he spotted, but it was smooth and well taken care of.

Herobrine's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Please stop thinking about me."

Sky stammered, "W-What? I wasn't... Uh-"

"Remember to think quietly."

-

Sky absolutely hated the feeling of teleportation. It was a nasty pull against his skin, and it felt extremely uncomfortable. Herobrine patted his shoulder and told him he would get used to it. Sky just wiped off the dust on his clothes. He saw Herobrine looking at the land of Minecraftia's view. Sky strolled to the Swede's side and gazed at the dark green stretch of land, darkened by the moonlight.

Herobrine had a small smirk, but was speaking with calmness, "You know, I was born in a foreign land but I can never get myself to leave this country."

Sky wanted to smile but he found that he couldn't. Or didn't want to. Not at him. A thought come to mind, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

The white-eyed man shifted a little and fixed his white gaze on Sky, waiting.

Sky began, "Should I tell anyone? About me? These, uh... Powers?"

Herobrine sighed. He shook his head. Sky frowned and said, "Why? It's something like magic folk, right?"

Herobrine replied, "No, it isn't. They'll be curious. They'll dig deep. Then they'll find it."

"Find... What?"

"The link. Between you and me. The similarities. They'll believe you are closely connected with me somehow, and they'll destroy you," he spoke with hurt.

He turned to Sky, "You're a young man. You have a lot ahead of you. As much as it pains to keep it in, do yourself some good and endure. Maybe one day, you'll retire and you can come clean. Maybe I'll be long gone and you'll be too old to be investigated."

It was silent for a moment, Sky taking in everything.

"Don't destroy yourself like that. Don't do what I did."

Sky nodded slowly. Herobrine kept his eyes on the land before him. It was off-putting to hear this from the usually stern man.

Sky asked softly, wanting to change the subject, "So, uh, are the books and myths true? Do you... Control all creatures?"

Herobrine looked at him, squinting in disbelief. He sighed and replied, "No. They are on their own. I do not control anyone or anything. I have a mutual respect with them. They respect me and leave me to my thing, I respect them and leave them alone."

Herobrine continued, "They know better than to approach me. I'm somewhat... Well-known? Among them."

Sky went silent. He never knew what to do in these situations. He thought of something, smiled and started, "You must be really powerful then."

"I doubt that."

Sky widened his eyes and looked at Herobrine, "What? Why?"

Herobrine sneered and said, "There's so many creatures no one has ever heard of, Sky. I had the misfortune of meeting some of them. One of them is a leech of some sort, they're commonly known as Shifters. They're extremely powerful. They kill and absorb everything, every life force and soul from their victims. They are also able to shape shift into their victims, hence their name. If I lose a battle to them, they'll get my powers and cause much more damage than I ever could. One of them wants to hunt me down. It's why I'm mentoring you, before I get caught and fall victim to them."

Under his breath, he said, "I'm doing as much as I can before it finds me."