" 2 uploads on the same day? By Keichi? Who's still a mess after pondering about the transition to season 9? Keichi?" 

:) 

_____________________________

"And that's how I escaped from a galactic prison. Seriously man, that place stinks! Could've used a few poppies or lilacs for air fresheners, man." 

Hels quietly gasped, looking at the hippie with an astounded look on his face.  

" Woah…" 

A groan was heard from behind the front seats. 

Renbob turned his head away from the wheel, reaching out to pat the young knight's head until the kid hastily dodged the incoming hand. Hels felt bad, but the hippie didn't mind, shrugging it off as he continued to drive. "Ooh! I have a story! Man, let me tell you about my craazzzyy adventure in the outer gas station! So there was this creepy hooded guy who-" 

"You already told that story 5 days ago!" An irritated voice exclaimed from the back once again. 

" I did?.. I lost count, man." Renbob let out a sheepish chuckle. "I guess I be having wayy too much fun talking to you guys, man!" 

Ex groaned once again, slumping his back to the comforts of his bed. 

Young Hels decided to ignore him. "So you did those adventures all by yourself?" 

"Yeah man! I learned a few tricks from my dear friend, Ren-diggity-dawg, man!" Renbob placed his hand on his chest, sitting up with a proud expression on his face. "Which reminds me of another story…" 

Ex groaned more, melting into the floor.

"My buddy, Ren, was the one who made this dear flying van for me, man. Did you know that?" 

Hels shook his head. 

"Said that I could travel anywhere with this baby at the speed of light!" Renbob brushed his hand past the van door in quite an endearing manner. Even gave the van a quick little peck. 

"At the speed of light my ass." Ex muttered, finally picking himself up from the floor. "We've been on this van for 2 weeks now!!" 

"Hey now, man! There's no need to heat your already fried brain. I've already told you about my fuel problems. This is the closest thing we get to fuel." He points at a bucket load of some weird liquid fuel by his seat. "So be thankful, man~"

Ex's attempts to make an even more audible groan was a success. The hippie lets out a heartfelt laugh while the young knight stares amusingly at the evil counterpart, being one with the floor. 

"Besides, we've already arrived at our destinati-" 

Renbob was cut off by Hels's audible "OI" as Ex shoved the poor kid from his way and looked at the unfamiliar view with a huge sigh of relief. 

"FINALLY!!" 

_____________________________

Once the so-called 'Speed of light' ' Hippie van parked by the shore, Evil X stumbled out of the van with the urge to scream out his lungs so hard that he gave no shit if he alerted the hermits. He just wanted to get out that cramp piece of metal. But seeing as it took him absolutely forever to get to this part of the plan, he decided against it. Instead, just breathe out a sigh. 

"It's so... sandy.." Hels steps out from the van, with a face of disgust as he steps foot on the grainy ground. 

"That's called the beach, man." 

Young Hels winced as his metallic boots sunk through the sand. "My knight costume will be all... sandy, and itchy." 

"Too bad, kid. " Ex calls out from the shore, with a wooden boat appearing out of nowhere. "Because you're traveling on this sandy little boat with me, so you better get used to it!" 

This time, it was Hels's turn to groan. 

"Don't worry Dylan, man~" Renbob slams his hand on top of the young knight's head. Only this time, Hels didn't cower from the sudden touch. 

"Hels." 

"Hmm?" 

"Hels is my real name.. Only people that I trust can call me Hels.." 

The hippie stood there, quite taken back. He processed the info he just gathered before showing the biggest grin he could muster. "Well then, 'Hels'. Sometimes to experience the moment, you have to get your hands- or in this case, 'feet', dirty. You will never know what the wonderful world is like if you don't push through your comfort zone, mam.. It will be worth it! 

A sun beam shone dramatically on the two. Renbob pressed his chest with his knuckle dramatically, Hels gasped dramatically, Ex banged his head out of frustration dramatically. 

"Okay, man. Don't keep Mr. Grumpy waiting. You got a world to explore, man!" Renbob nudged him playfully to the shore and Hels laughed at the gesture. "Okay Mr. Renbob. I'll see you later!" He ran up to the shore, grimacing at the wet sand sticking to his boots, but was still determined. He hastily jumps through the shallow waters and launches himself to the oak boat, rocking it slightly. 

"Okay, we can go no-... Evil Xisuma?" 

Hels stares skeptically at the pissed off expression on Ex's face.. Well, he's always pissed off, but it was something more insulted and betrayed.

".. You told him your real name?" 

"What!? I trust Mr. Renbob!" 

Ex was about to exclaim back at the kid before pausing for a bit, and just sighs. "Fine. You do you, kid."

Hels stares at him in confusion once again until he finally settles down on the boat. Meanwhile, Ex slowly rowed the two oars from his side, reaching the end of the shallow waters until they were facing the Hippie by the shore. 

" Be careful out there, man!" 

"We will!" Hels leans forward to wave At Renbob, tilting the boat slightly. 

"Especially you, Ex! Don't cause too much trouble for my new friend, Hels, man! " 

Ex looked skeptically at the Hippie. What does he... 

"We hippies are all for peace and love, man!" The hippie's naturally optimistic face soon turned into something more forced, for him. "Will do anythinggg for peace man! And we'll make sure to keep the peace going, by all means!.." 

Yeah, no. Fuck that. Hels is in no mood to deal with so-called 'underestimated people' any longer. He's fucking paddling like a rocket boosted duckling and will never fucking come back-

_____________________________

About 10 minutes of paddling around the main island, Ex stayed further from the shore, making sure that no hermit could spot them. The kid, Hels, was way too talkative for his own good so he expected the curious questions of his plans and goals. 'Is that what all kids are? Talkative?' Ex asked himself. "Goodness gracious me" he unintentionally said out loud. 

For some reason, he felt someone intensely staring at his back.. "That's the first time you didn't say a bad word." 

".. Pardon-" 

"When we are at Mr. Renbob's flying van, you keep on saying bad words every time he almost hits a big space rock." Young Hels lets out a small chuckle. "It was funny." 

"Well, unlike you who's always talking nonstop , that allergen-scented idiot would not keep his flipping eyes on the road- or whatever is considered a road in space, and keeps putting our lives in danger. Of course I'll be fucking pissed off!" 

"Aww, you said a bad word again. It was fun while it lasted.." Hels sighed dramatically. All he received was a light shove from the evil counterpart. "OI!!" 

Ex snickered as he slowly paddled towards the closest island. "Anyways, we'll park by this island for a while. I assume that it's currently unoccupied, but if you see any hermit- or some adult that isn't me, hide." 

"But why are we hiding from them if they are good?" 

"Heh. Mainly because I'm not supposed to be here. But once I talk to my good counterpart, Xisuma, that's when I can start my plan." 

"What plan?" 

"To become rich." Ex replied bluntly. The young knight glared at the evil counterpart, dumbfounded. "Whaaaaat?" 

" Look, you chose to stay with a chaotic, evil version of some goodie-two shoes guy! What did you expect?"

"But that sounds too easy!-" 

"SHUSHHHHHHHH..." Ex shoved his whole face with his hand, hastily looking around to see if someone heard him. ".... Not too loud." 

"Sorry," Hels whispered. " But if they know that you'll do something evil and... silly,'" 

It was Ex's turn to glare at him. "Silly?" 

" Then how can this X guy trust you?" 

Ex paused for a second, slowing down the boat. "I'll be honest with you, these hermits are not one to hold proper grudges. They're quite peaceful actually.. Maybe I'm wrong, but here on this server, they don't really have much to lose, even if I damage their property. They'll always move on from it anyway. You could say that my relationship with them is hanging near the edge of neutral.. I guess the only thing you would lose from them is probably your trust. 

" Oh.. "

Silence finally fell upon the two when the boat returned to shallow waters. Ex paused for a second, observing the area before finally hopping off the boat. He shook off the salt water in his leather boots and approached the nearest tree, punching the trunk. 

Young Hels was puzzled by his actions. "What are you doing?" 

".. Punching a tree." 

"Why?" 

"To make a crafting table, obviously! I thought you already know thi-" Ex was hit by sudden realization as he stared at the kid, dumbfounded. "... Didn't your parents teach you this stuff when you were like 5 or something?" 

"Parents?" 

Yep. Ex isn't having this crap. " Never mind, I'll just show you." He takes the wooden blocks in his  inventory and swiftly demonstrates on how to make a crafting table. Hels stayed focused on the lesson with an amazed expression on his face. Ex decided to just flex on this 'common skill' and craft a wooden pickaxe in a matter of seconds. 

" Woahh~" The kid gazed at the new wooden tool. 

" Now it's your turn. Go punch a tree and make a crafting table?" 

" I'll punch a tree? With my fist? Won't that hurt?" 

"It will." 

Hels scoffs at his bluntness. He walks off further around the shore. Ex watched closely as the kid strayed farther and farther until he finally spotted his very own tree. Seeing as he was doing well on his own, Ex decides that it's safe enough to leave the kid be and gather more materials inside the mountain. 

________________________________

... 

... 

"Helllllloooo~" 

Young Hels flinched, looking around for the mysterious voice. "Hello?" he called out. 

... 

... 

.. 

The young knight reached out the golden sword in his inventory and carefully stepped back from where he stood.. He remembers Ex's words. If he sees someone that isn't him, hide. Finally recalling his words, he quickly ran up to another tree, climbed up its trunk and hid inside its leaves.. He stayed quiet.. 

"Helllloooooo Mr. Knighttttt~~WhY aReee yOuuu Innnn mY leeaavess?~~" 

Hels felt his whole soul leave his body.. He was spotted.

" OooooOhh~ I ammm a ghhooStt treee~" 

That's when Hels felt like he had enough. "T-There's no such thing as ghosts." he finally replied to the voice. 

"Theeenn whyyyy doEsss thisss ghhooStt TrEee hAveee armsss?" 

"... No it doesn't." 

"Are you sure?~" a small arm grabbed his sandy boots. 

Yeah, no. Screw Ex's words. Hels screamed as loud as a high pitched window choir, stumbling down the tree as he slashed the leaves with his golden sword. "LEAVE ME ALONE!!.. " 

... 

... 

...

A chuckle can be heard from where he used to hide. 

Hels spotted a young red-head kid on the leaves of the tree. She quickly sighs from exasperation. " Awwww. Scar and Ren always believe my ghost tree tricks..."

She carefully descends down the trunk and walks towards the young knight on the ground and extends her hand. " I'm sorry for making you fall. It was supposed to be funny. It wasn't supposed to hurt you. " 

"....." 

The young red-head frowns, bringing her hand back. " I'm sorry.." she apologized again. 

This time, Hels finally decided to properly respond to her. "... It's okay."

The young red-head sighed in relief. " I'm Gemini.  Nice to meet you. You look like my uncle Welsy." 

"Uncle?" 

" An uncle is like someone who takes care of you, also an auntie. I have many uncles and aunties who take care of me and my friends. Do you have an uncle or auntie." 

Now that Hels is thinking about it, the description of an uncle/auntie sounds a lot like Evil Xisuma .. Except uncle sounds too nice for a big meanie like him. Lol. 

" I think so? He's a bit.. grumpy, but he always watches me. "

The young Gemini smiled at the young knight. " That's okay. My uncles and auntie are sometimes grumpy too. Uncle Grian is always grumpy when Uncle Zed visits. I don't know why though.." 

"A lot of my uncles and aunties get angry every time Uncle Keralis does something silly, andddd... My Uncle Beef gets angry when my friend, Etho, keeps wearing his clothes upside down." 

The two kids immediately giggled at the last statement. "That's funny." 

" Yeah! My friends are great!." She exclaimed, putting her hands together around her hip as she stood there proudly. " Hey. Maybe we can be friends! What's your name?" 

The young knight felt excitement bubbling inside him. ".. Dylan!. I would love to be your friend!" To make it official, the young girl dragged Hels into a big biG hug! Despite it being unexpected, he gladly returned it back.

"Hels. What in the name of Notch is taking you so lon-..." The evil counterpart stated at the extra kid in disbelief.. 

" Ex! I made a new friend" 

" Hi Mr. Ex!" : D

"...." 

That's when realization hit Hels like a truck. He looked frantically at the young girl, stumbling through his words. "Oh wait- Gem! I-.. pretend that we're not friends!" 

" We're not.. Friends?" The young girl looked at him tearfully. 

" No! I mean!.. Let's be secret friends!" 

This time, Gemini finally lightened up. " Ooh! I like secret friends better. Let's play here again tomorrow!"

" Deal!" The two shook his hands, wiggling them all around. Meanwhile, Ex was still wondering what the fuck he just witnessed..

Ex finally snapped at whatever trance he was in once he heard a female voice, calling out " Gemini!" from the distance. " Oh fuc- Hels we have to go." He picked up the young knight and slung him on his shoulder. He ran back to the mountain with Hels hanging on his shoulder like a sack of rice. 

" Bye secret friend!" 

_____________________________

In the cave that Ex dug in, he busied himself with the active furnace in front of him, taking out the cooked porkchop from the stone contraption. He looked back at the slumped small figure by the opposite side of the furnace, avoiding his gaze. Ex could guess he's avoiding him not out of annoyance, but out of shame, in himself.

"You know? You're lucky that you bumped into a kid and not a hermit."

All the kid could do was groan.

Actually, now that he's thinking about it, he did not recognize the kid nor the woman that nearly spotted them. He suspected that the woman was probably a new hermit or something, but the kid?.. Since when did they decide to have a kid on the server? Were they just like Hels? Who knows. 

Ex paused for a bit, observing the kid curling himself closer to the wall. He carefully approached him, handing out the cooked porkchop in his hand. " Come on. I'm not upset. " he quickly reassured. 

Okay. Maybe he was a little upset. But honestly, he was too drained to even feel upset. All of his energy was used up by that allergen-scented hippie anyway. 

" Well.. I shouldn't have left you by yourself. You are a kid after all. So in some ways, it's my fault. 

Hels slowly looked up at the counterpart beside him. 

" Mostly your fault though. "

The young knight glares at him. All Ex could do was smirk." So from now on, I'm stuck with you until I can trust you enough to roam around all by yourself, starting with this book." He carefully hands him out the book from his inventory. 

Hels slowly flipped the pages, reading the title out loud; "Recipe Book". 

" That book can show you how to craft a lot of stuff. Seeing as you know nothing about our minecraft world, I might as well teach you." He sighs again as he takes another bite on his porkchop. 

Finally, after nearly an hour of watching the young knight sulk, he curled out of his ball of shame and curiously explored the contents of the book. 

Ex scoffs at him." You're welcome. "

_____________________________

Zedaph: (Tango, Impulse) 

Wels: (Cub, False) 

Keralis: (, TFC, Xisuma) 

Cleo: (Joe) 

Beef: (XB, Etho) 

Grian: (Ren, Scar) 

Hypno: (Jevin) 

Stress: (Iskall, Mumbo) 

Doc: (Bdubs) 

Pearl: (Gemini) 

Evil X: (Hels)