The sun filtered through the trees above me. I'd spent the night planning where I was going to go when I left SkyArmy today. My stomach twisted at the thought of facing SquidBrine once more and I was still trying not to think of yesterday's events. I felt hollow inside, like a machine. Derp had been everything to me, and it felt like I had lost my soul when he died. But today I was going to avenge him. I walked back to SkyBase and saw the rest of SkyArmy assembled outside. Sky stood beside CaptainSparklez. Mitch and Jerome stood together, Husky and Kermit beside one another and Deadlox and Seto turned when they heard me behind them. I was thankful for my sunglasses that they couldn't see behind them what a wreck I was. Seto smiled briefly when he saw me, Deadlox dipping his head to me. I turned and looked at Sparklez. His blue eyes seemed sad. I guessed Sky had told him that we'd lost Derp yesterday. I stood beside Seto as Sparklez continued his speech. "You are all brave men, and I am honoured to be able to have fought side by side with you all these years. So if you will follow me into battle one last time, so we can finally vanquish the evil that has presided over us all these years." He stepped down and Sky stepped forward, jaw set in determination. "SkyArmy." We all stood up a bit straighter. He smiled crookedly round at us. "Let's go kick SquidBrine's ass."

{Remember this? ;) You might notice a few changes...}

The square sun rose above the blocky jungle biome. The only thing separating us from our imminent doom. Beyond...I don't know what lay beyond. Our last day in Minecraftia found us jogging across a wide open plain, complete with sheep and grass; waving gently in the breeze. The grass...not the sheep. I was at the back of the procession, behind Sky. The atmosphere was tense. We all knew we were on the brink of an epic battle against the squids. Only one side could live. The other...well, we didn't want to be the other. Suddenly, we stopped. Sparklez was at the front, he must of seen something. Whispers travelled through the group. I didn't catch what it was, but Sky did. It must of been bad because he fiddled with his amulet nervously, something he only does when he needs reassurance. I pushed my sunglasses further up my nose, hoping they wouldn't fall off at the wrong time. That was the last thing I needed right now. Then I heard the clatter of a rope ladder unfurling and the group moved forward. My heart pounded in my chest. My stomach was sick and knotted with nerves. I gulped. A lump had formed in my throat, I was hyperventilating. This was it. Either we lived or died. Everything in my life had led up to this. If I messed up...there was no coming back from it this time. I crouched down, taking a moment. Then Sky disappeared over the rope ladder and I dared to look ahead. I froze. Beyond the jungle there was a huge army of blue and red. Squids. And something worse. I squinted as far ahead as I could and thought I had glimpsed him through the steam of the jungle. I clutched my iron sword. Mind you, I'd be lucky to even get through the first few minutes alive...

I shook my head out of its daze, careful not to dislodge the sunglasses that meant so much to me, then swung my legs over the ladder and began to climb down, rung by rung. Suddenly, a diamond sword embedded itself a few chunks away from me. Then another. I realised the army had got me in their scopes and were already trying to kill me. Then another sword swung by and snagged the ladder. I watched in horror as one by one the rings dislodged until they fell out from below me. I plummeted to the ground. In desperation I swung my sword into the dirt face. It buried itself in the moist soil and my arms jarred as I came to a halt. "Way to go." I muttered. Then I leapt to the ground only a few chunks away and pulled out my sword.

I made my way through the jungle, trying to catch up with the others. "Hey guys? Where are you?" I steeled myself and ran ahead till I caught up with the rest of SkyArmy. They were listening to another quick speech by Captain Sparklez. "It is an honour to lead you brave men into battle, and it is my responsibility to see you through into a better future. So, are we going to let the squids take that away from us?! Are we going to let them kill our future wives and children?! I say no! I say we strike now for the good of all! Now, who's with me?!" We all yelled back in defiance and my nerves lessened. Then we heard the army roar back and the sound was like a thousand cannons going off simultaneously with the explosion of nine-hundred creepers. We fell silent. Then, we charged. My legs felt like lead, but my heart captured the exhilaration of going to battle forevermore. I stabbed a squid and kicked another in the face, before finishing him off with a savage twist of his windpipe. Then I took another's tentacles off and punched him in the face. Sky was beating down one in diamond armour and I saw Mitch snipe one off with his bow. Slowly but surely we were driving them back! Captain was right at the front, his sword an arc of pure destruction, disintegrating ten squids with one sweep. My stomach leapt as a squid wolf took me down, but I ran my sword through it and staggered to my feet; monster dust settling on my suit. Then it happened. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. I saw the crowds part and a giant squid stomped forward. He was clad in budder armour and held an enchanted diamond sword. My eyes widened as Captain turned and snarled at him. They rushed at each other as they other members of SkyArmy were driven to the ground, crying out to Captain to stop...it was up to me. I was the only one who wasn't on the ground. I took off my sunglasses, praying that my plan would work... "Derp, I need you now...please." I whispered. Suddenly, a breeze seemed to pick up and I felt something jerk inside of me. My mind exploded into colour and I cried out in pain as my vision blurred. It cleared and I felt strength rush through me, warming my insides.

I heard his voice in my head. "I'm here." My eyes widened, and though I was overjoyed, I knew this would probably be the last time we ever fought together. "Then let's do this." I ran forward, eyes narrowing as I hit the squid at the same time as Sparklez. The impact dazed me, but Derp took control and my crooked eyes glared at the squid, muscles tensing. Sparklez nodded at me and we both stabbed down. The squid screeched and my vision reddened. I turned to Sparklez. "I got this." His eyes widened when he heard my voice change and I jumped off of the dead squid. Seto fired upwards with his purple flames and the squid keeping him down received a face full of magic. I ran towards him and he gasped when he saw my eyes. I looked at him. "I don't have much time Seto, but I just want you to know, once this battle is over, I won't be staying." Seto nodded sadly. "I didn't think you would be, but it has been a privilege to fight beside you all this time." I smiled back at him. "The feeling's mutual." We both turned and Seto lifted his hands, purple laser beams shooting forth from his splayed palms. I ran forward as his magic vaporised all the squids pinning down SkyArmy. I screamed a wild, demented battle cry that frightened me as much as my enemies. My sword became an arc of pure destruction. The squids fell in their numbers. I often glimpsed the occasional other SkyArmy member. Deadlox; fighting two squids at once. Mitch; firing volleys after volleys of poisoned arrows into the squids' ranks. Seto; his magic seeping through the army's defences and killing them off one by one. Sky; charging into battle side by side with Kermit and Sparklez.

Husky and Jerome catapulting TNT into the hoards of squids. Suddenly, the smoke cleared and every inch of my body radiated with hate. Diamond stood before me. On one side was the squid general...and the other... "SquidBrine." I spat. Diamond blinked and tried to lock a gaze on me. I narrowed my eyes and snarled, glaring at SquidBrine. It was time to avenge Derp. SquidBrine stepped forward. "Diamond, get Sky. Snapjaw, you get Deadlox." Snapjaw went to run past me but I swung my sword round and it chopped his head off. It hit the ground and Diamond whipped round, a strangled scream escaping her. I met her gaze. "I was simply returning the favour." I turned back to SquidBrine. He seemed nonchalant to the fact that I had just beheaded his general before his eyes. "You know why we're both here." I growled. "Yes." SquidBrine inclined his head slightly to me. He wasn't wearing his fake Herobrine skin now. "Very well then." He moved forward like a blur. My vision shifted into red and Derp took over. He swung with the force of an iron golem and the sword embedded itself in SquidBrine's shoulder. He screamed and wrenched his shoulder away. Blood spurted and he looked at me in disbelief. "What-" Derp grinned deviously. "That's right. Takes more than you to kill me calamari face." I smiled. This is why I loved Derp. SquidBrine roared in anger and charged forward, his blind anger dulling his senses. I parried his first move, sidestepping his next strike before delivering another taxing blow to his leg. He fell to one knee and Derp quickly took the opportunity to lash out. SquidBrine fell backwards and I leapt onto him. All around us the battle continuously raged. The colours blurred and the noises melted into one roar, like the ocean in my ears. The lines of the prophecy echoed in my head. All that time ago when Derp was still part of me. Anger fuelled my vengeance and I swung my sword down. It lodged in SquidBrine's face. That's gonna hurt later on...if he's still alive.

Two must become one...

Another hit to the face.

To defeat the evil...

His scream resonated in my ears.

That rules the land...

His hands gripped mine and I tried to pull away.

And a determined spirit will defeat the crisis at hand...

I yelled and wrenched my diamond sword from his grasping hands.

A sword of diamond...

Derp's battle cry raged in my head.

And a heart of truth...

Now was the time to strike. SquidBrine lay beneath me, face clogged up with blood. At this stage I'd be putting him out of his misery. I raised my sword. Then, I heard Sky yell. I twisted round and saw Diamond holding him by the throat, her sword held to his heaving chest. Her face was twisted in misery and intense hatred as she spat out the words. "IS THIS HOW YOU FELT WHEN SQUIDBRINE KILLED DERP SSUNDEE?! DID YOU FEEL LOST AND AS THOUGH YOU WERE BEING TORN APART?!" I stared at her as she brought her sword closer to Sky. "Because if so...now I pity you. You may have returned the favour, but I'm making us quits." I couldn't move in time. The sword came down. Then, a blur of green and ginger. "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!" "Lancey?!" My vision shifted. My head ached. I cried out and held my hand against it, trying to steady myself. SSundee...I don't have enough time. It's now or never. Lancey will take care of Diamond. I turned back to SquidBrine. He was choking on his own blood. I raised my sword again. This was it. Everything I'd done came down to this. I remembered meeting SkyArmy for the first time in that cave. Waking up and befriending Seto. My first battle alongside SkyArmy. Revealing Derp to Seto and getting temporarily stuck that way. Diamond betraying me. Accepting mine and Derp's love as something real. Fighting dragons. Seeing Derp's face torn open and put back together again. I closed my eyes. I remembered the pain of losing Derp for real; still as fresh as an open wound in my heart. It was about to happen again, for good. SSundee...I'll always be with you. I opened my eyes again. And brought the sword down. Time moved in slow motion. Whatever happens Derp...I'll always love you. I'll find a way to return to you Ian...I promise. The sword thudded into flesh and SquidBrine stopped flailing weakly. It was finally over.

~~~

SSundee stood up, his suit smeared with dust and monster blood. His eyes didn't straighten though. He frowned. "What..." His voice sounded like Derp's still. But Derp was gone. He sighed. Derp's last legacy. He'd have to get another pair of sunglasses. The battle still raged around him, but with their leader gone, it was clear the squids would eventually lose to SkyArmy. His gaze met Diamond's. Lancey had her on the floor. An understanding passed between them. They'd both lost their lovers in the end. They'd both suffered. Now it was her turn to embrace her fate. He turned away as she met Lancey's gaze. He didn't care anymore.

The battle eventually ended when a squid noticed his dead leader and decapitated general. They retreated for good. Alone on the ravaged battlefield, SkyArmy checked themselves for wounds and began the celebrations. They'd finally won the war. Sky came over to Ian as he stood alone. "SSundee." He turned. "Your shades." He handed them to SSundee, who took them gratefully and put them on. "Thanks Sky." Sky looked at him balefully. "You're not staying?" Seto walked up to the two. "No. He's not. And neither am I." Sky nodded. "I expected as much." He met Ian's gaze and held out his hand. "We couldn't of done it without you." SSundee shook Sky's hand. Seto turned to SSundee and embraced him. "I hope we meet again someday in less dire circumstances." Sky nodded. "As do I..."

SSundee left SkyArmy that day. As did SetoSorcerer. Later, they rejoined their friends as TeamCrafted. TeamCrafted disbanded a year later. After that Ian travelled across endless biomes, ever edging further away from SkyArmy. From his past. He'd just about forgotten it...until one day, in a cold snow biome, he met a man as lost and conflicted as he once was. The day he met Herobrine.

The story continues in The Herobrine Within Me...