After a dreamless night, Zander was woken up by a small eight legged friend jumping up and down on him. He woke up and saw Faye looking excitedly at him with all eight of his glowing red eyes. Faye had pulled back the curtains already so the red glow of the Nether seeped in through the large windows. The poor little spider must have crawled all the way back into Zander's room all by himself.

      "What is it?" Zander grumbled at the spider, still a little tired. Faye just looked at him, jumping up and down on his lap. "Okay fine." Zander answered the spider, He couldn't hear what his little pet was saying but he didn't have to. He already could tell Faye wanted to go on a walk. Zander stood up and made his bed so it would look the same way he had entered it. It wasn't a normal bed either. It was a special bed that wouldn't blow up in the Nether if you slept in it, which was nice if you live in the Nether and want a nap. He then ran out the birch door, Faye close behind him. The two ran down the halls towards the Nether portal that lead to the other half of the castle, which was in the Over World.

      "Going to check out May city on your own, Zander?" A farmiliar voice called from behind the young boy, causing him to stop and turn around. It was Zander's adopted brother, Nathan. He was many years older than Zander so he seemed more like an uncle than a brother. Nathan had brown hair and wore a light grey hoodie and dark grey pants. He also wore a backwards baseball cap on his head.

      "I guess so.." Zander answered timidly. He hoped not to get into anymore trouble by going out to explore. He was often told to stay where it was safe.

      "Well. I'm off shift. I could tag along so you don't risk getting into any trouble." Nathan smiled causing Zander to smile back at him.

      "Sure. Why not?" Zander said happily. Faye jumped up and down, excited to get going again. All three of them began running to the portal. They winded down stairs and through hallways. The closer they got to the portal, the more people could be seen running through the halls as well. None of them over the age of eighteen, except for people like Nathan who helped make sure none of them fell into any lava. You cold tell who they were because they wore special red and black armor that could protect them from just about anything. Usually Zander would cower near the wall when he was near the other kids -- not all of them though -- but he felt a lot braver around Nathan. They both ran around in the halls until they came up to a large Nether portal. The Nether Portal was in a large circular room with glowstone coming down from the ceiling and tables and chairs circling around it on the floor. Many kids kept walking in and out, some looked like they were looking for a hiding spot in their game of hide and seek, or chasing their friends in a game of tag. A couple people with black and red armor kept their eyes on the chaos to make sure no one tripped or hit anyone.

      "Having fun, guys?" Nathan jokingly asked the others. He knew they were all intently making sure no one got hurt.

      "Why did he have to open an orphanage again?" One of the girls in red and black armor joked. All three of them chuckled and the two others got back to watching the kids. Nathan and Zander then walked through the Nether Portal and immediately, the place felt different. The room looked exactly the same and the chaos was still the same, and two others in black and red armor stood around just as intently. But there was something about the air that made it seem fresher. The light was not as red and dark and the place wasn't as warm.

      "Zander!" A kid from the other side of the room yelled while running in his direction. He had darker hair and skin, looked about a year younger than Zander.

      "Raffy!" Zander yelled back in excitement. They both ran to each other and hugged. Raffy and Zander could only see eachother in the Overworld because Raffy had Netherfobia, which was a term used by the kids in the orphanage, it basically means that Raffy is terrified of the Nether.

      "Hey, Rafferty." Nathan said, joining in. Raffy looked up at Nathan and smiled before quickly looking back at Zander.

      "Did you hear the good news?!" Before Zander could answer Raffy continued. "Nancy was adopted a couple days ago! I saw your dad sign the papers and everything!"

      "Why is that good news?!" Zander asked, his smile dropping. "Nancy has been with us as long as I can remember."

      "Not that! Her adopted family lives just down the street, so we can visit whenever we want! And.. they own a bakery!!" Raffy shouted, having trouble keeping in his excitement.

      "Really?! Well let's go and visit her!" Zander said, just as excited.

      "Yeah!!" Raffy yelled as he ran down the hall that lead to the exit. Followed by Nathan, both Zander and Raffy ran through the halls and out the front door. The scenery suddenly changed from netherack and obsidian walls to towering modern buildings that sprung up above the clouds. Most of the towers were made with quarts and concrete, all of them sticking to their own theme. The netherack and obsidian castle among them stuck out like a snowman in the desert, and Steve liked it that way. The castle was often the talk of the town, which just helped spread it's popularity.

      In the distance, Zander could see the May Tower, which marked the center of the city. At the almost top of the tower, under the open roof, was a pinkish red glow, which everyone knew was the, 'Gem Star.' The gem protecting all of Duriel. There was a quiet rumor that had spread across town saying that the Gem Star was an entity of it's own, and was able to even talk. Of course there was also a rumor going around that a chicken named Bob was plotting to rule the world, but that was just something a few of the orphans started spreading as a joke on all the younger kids. One of the kids named Reuben believed it so much, he became terrified of chickens.

      Zander and Nathan followed Raffy down the busy street until they came to a cute little bakery with a few chairs and tables outside it. It wasn't too busy and it wasn't too empty. The three of them walked in and looked around. The theme was white and pink. Everything looked cute in a girly way. On the countertops there were cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and all the other stuff that would make a little kid's mouth water.

      "Hello, what can I do for you today?" A kind voice asked as a woman walked into the room with fresh cookies on a tray.

      "Is Nancy here?!" Raffy asked excitedly. "We're her friends from the orphanage down the street!" The woman smiled even brighter and she said.

      "Yes she's decorating her room right now. I'll have her come down.. It's good knowing she wasn't all alone in that dreadful castle." She said the last sentence while motioning in the direction of the orphanage. Zander would have told her about how it really wasn't scary, but by now he was used to that kind of talk about his home. The woman walked up the stairs and not even a minute later a young girl with red hair and a bright green dress came running down the stairs.

      "Raffy! Zander!" The girl practically screamed as she ran over to hug them. The three of them hugged and began talking immediately. The boys asked Nancy about her new home and she told them that all was well and that her new family was really nice. She asked them about the orphanage and Ruffy filled her in on the orphanage news while Zander told her about last night when he almost ran away. After they had caught up, the three began continuing their previous conversations before Nancy had left. They talked about other kids and buildings. They talked about mobs and buildings. And they talked about food and buildings. They even talked a little about mining, though none of them had seen a cave in their lives.

      Nathan just listened to the three talking, remembering his own similar conversations with his friends, accept at their age Nathan had already fought just about every non-boss mob and explored almost every corner of his old home, Anja.

      While they were there, the woman handed all three of the kids and Nathan a cupcake. They all ate probably the tastiest treats they ever had, since in the orphanage, they could only have cake on their birthday because not even Steve could mine enough diamonds to pay for that many cookies.

      Time passed and the three kids realized it was almost bedtime. They all said goodbye and hugged, saying they would try to come back tomorrow. Then the two boys followed Nathan back home. The streets were quieter and the sun was slowly setting, casting a reddish pink light over the world. The Gem Star was easier to see at night as it's pinkish glow stretched across the whole city. The two boys followed Nathan into the castle still wanting to play a little. Nathan walked strait over to the boy's room where he would drop off Raffy. When they got to the room Zander saw the same large rectangle shaped room with rows of beds that he always saw. After saying good night, Raffy walked into the room to find his bed.

      "Oh great. It looks like a few beds are empty." Nathan grumbled as he looked in the far corner of the room. "Looks like we are going on double shift tonight." Nathan then lead Zander to his room. He didn't need to though. Zander knew his way around just as good as Nathan, maybe even better. But it was kind of cool for Zander to have his own personal bodyguard.

      They stepped through the Nether portal and Zander felt the welcoming warmpth of the Nether on his face. Some kids said the Nether was scarry, but for Zander, it was comforting. They walked through more halls and rooms until they were finally at the birch door. Nathan patted Zander on the head and started walking down the halls again, this time, in a guard on duty like way.

      Zander opened the door and was surprised to see both his mom and dad waiting in the room for him. They didn't look angry or worried. In fact, they both had smiles on their faces that grew when they saw Zander enter the room.

      "Happy early birthday, Zander!" They both cheered as he walked in. When Zander looked around he saw decorations lining the walls and he could see three small chests, probably with presents inside them.

      "Mom?.. Dad?" Zander asked, still wondering why everything was decorated. Both his parents laughed a little before saying.

      "Tomorrow is your birthday! You will be turning nine, years, old."

      "We thought we'd celebrate now because days are usually pretty busy and I wouldn't want you to think we forgot." Steve said with a understanding smile.

      "Come over here, Zander." His mom said while walking over to one of the chests. He could tell she was excited. And when Zander realized that tomorrow was indeed his birthday he began to jump up and down in excitement along with Faye, who had been following him the whole day. He ran over to the chests and his mom handed him his first present. He opened the chest excitedly and pulled out an enchanted iron sword. It lit up the room slightly as he held it in his hands and lifted it above him.

      "My own sword!!" He yelled in excitement. Steve and his mom giggled, and Steve handed him another box. The next present wasn't as cool though. "A compass?" He asked. The red line inside the compass was on the fritz since they were in the Nether.

      "Not just any compass." Zander's dad chuckled. "In the over world it will always point you in the direction of home so you can never get lost."

      "Thanks!" Zander said as he looked at the item in his hand. Zander's mom then handed him the last present and he opened it excitedly. He pulled out a black and purple cloth with a pixely dragon picture on it.

      "The Ender Dragon cape!!" Zander jumped up and down, holding the Cape in his hands. "Now I can slay my own dragon!!"

      "Woah there, warrior! There won't be any dragon slaying tonight. Maybe when you're older." Steve said, smiling.

      "Like tomorrow?!" Zander asked jumping in front of his mom and dad. "I'm going to be nine tomorrow! Will I be old enough then?!"

      "I'm afraid not, Zander." His mom chuckled. "You have to be sixteen before you are allowed to kill any Ender dragons."

      "Awwww... I want to be sixteen nooow." Zander said with a pouty face.

      "Someday you will be sixteen, Zander. And when that happens, I will take you to the End myself, and we can fight one together." Steve said picking up his son.

      "Really?!" Zander said with an excited smile.

      "Really." Was Steve's answer as he hugged Zander in his arms. Zander's mom joined in on the hug and for that moment, Zander forgot every trouble in the world.