Sky's POV

"SkySkySkySkySkySky!" "Whaaaaaaat?!" "I wanna show you some of ma sorcery!" "Fiiiiine." I trudged over, grabbing my budder sword on the way over. "Go on then." She grinned and shut her eyes, red magic swirling around her. My amulet glowed. "Huh?" I looked down as it gave off a purple flash, temporarily blinding me. "Ow!" Blaze opened her eyes. "Sky!" I felt her take the amulet off and I opened my eyes; ignoring the burning feeling in my iris'. "What is it?" "Your amulet is magical! It's got a really strong aura too, which means its capable of casting HUGE spells." "Really?" I looked at it, praying it wouldn't flash again. "I've had that's thing since I was born. No one ever told me it was magical before now." Then the amulet flashed again and we both stumbled backwards, clutching our heads in pain as our eyes ached from the light. "That's hurts." "Sky? What the hell is your amulet doing?" I rubbed my eyes and just managed to make out a shadowy figure. "Ssundee?" "I'm here dood, what the hell is going on?" Then I heard him cry out as it flashed again. "Is this thing trying to blind us?!" There was one more flash, then a portal spiralled out of the centre of the amulet, and I heard someone cry out. "Herobrine!" Then I felt a cold tendril of magic wrap around me and pull me in.

Notch's POV

I waited patiently for the portal to open. It would take time for it to travel the dimensions. Then I heard a shout and jumped back as a group of people tumbled through. "What the hell?" "Ugh, Ssundee, your foot is in my face." "Sorry." "Owwww." "Where's my amulet?!" "That thing is magical?" Two figures untangled themselves from the messy pile and stood up. They were easily recognisable. Both dressed the same. Both having inherited the same facial features. Identical except for the eyes. One blue. The other pair an icy silver. "Notch." "Herobrine." "Brother!" Steve ran forward into my embrace as Herobrine looked on, his eyes devoid of emotion. "Why are we here?" The others stumbled to their feet. "Notch?!" That came from a strange looking individual with purple hair and a mahogany cape. She stood over by Herobrine who put an arm round her. "This is my brother." "I remember you saying that down by the lake. You said you wished he wasn't." That came from a man wearing a brown leather jacket and trousers with red shoes and sunglasses; tentatively draping the amulet round his neck. "Ow, wtf was that?!" Another minecrafter stood up. He had on a white V-Neck shirt and grey trousers with black and purple shoes. He had a pair of green and black headphones hanging round his neck and one eye was obscured by a mess of brown hair. He also had a bloody diamond axe strapped to his side that Herobrine was eyeing warily. "Hey Sky, your amulet is fu-" The girl stopped. She looked about 13, maybe older. She had gleaming red eyes and magenta hair that swished around her shoulders. "Uh, NOTCH?!" "Blaze, it's been a while." She nodded before walking over to 'Sky' and snuggling into him. He grinned.

"Well, THAT was interesting." The last individual came forward. I smiled when I saw who it was. "Ssundee, long time, no see. Derp talks about you all the time." Ssundee froze; the word Derp having an electrifying impression on him. "Did you say DERP talks about me?!" I nodded. Ssundee staggered back in shock as Herobrine turned and caught him before he fell. "You ok? Who's Derp?" Ssundee stuttered, lost for words. "Come. You have all had quite a shock today. Follow me, and everything will become clear." I beckoned them into the castle behind us as the sun slowly set behind us; orange rays casting shadows across the land. I closed the door behind us as the group moved into the entrance hall. They all stopped, craning their necks round to take in the splendour of it. Except Steve. He was used to this from his years training in my army. Slowly they all peeled away from the main group, going their separate ways to explore. Everyone left except Ssundee, Herobrine and Steve. "My brothers, come, we have much to talk about." Ssundee looked a little lost. "What's up?" Steve asked. "I'm looking for someone." I chuckled. "Stay here, I'll call him." Ssundee nodded, shaking slightly in excitement. My brothers followed me as I went over to a jukebox looking contraption and pressed a button on it. I heard Steve muttering something about a redstone thing called wifi. There was some crackling on the other line, then Derp picked up. "Derp, there's someone here you might want to see." I heard silence on the other end, then it disconnected. I knew he'd heard me. I smiled as Ssundee whipped round as someone leapt down the stairs yelling his name. I walked away with my brothers in tow towards my study.

Herobrine sat down next to Steve; both of them opposite me. I crossed his arms on the table and studied them intently. "You're probably wondering why I have brought you all here. I know it has been a while since we were all together in one place." Steve nodded. Herobrine remained unresponsive. Except for his haunting white eyes. They followed me; studying my every move. "The answer is simple, yet complicated." Herobrine narrowed his eyes. "Just get to the point." He hissed. "Very well. There is a darkness taking over Minecraftia. It's power is beyond the likes of which we have never seen before." Steve's eyes widened. "You mean-" He inconspicuously gestured towards Herobrine, but despite his attempts to cover it up he noticed. His white eyes hardened; bright with pain. "You think I would do this?" Steve pursed his lips and stared at the table. I leaned forward. "I'm sorry Herobrine, but he had a right to be suspicious. In these dark times we could all be traitors." I could see Herobrine was containing himself; barely. "It's just I'm sick of people thinking I'm just a mindless beast! The only reason I did stuff before was because I had been driven mad by solitude! How would you feel if every one you'd known and loved had left you for a brighter future; something I couldn't have!" If it was possible, Steve looked even more ashamed. "I understand brother, I'm sorry for being too quick to judge." Herobrine took a deep breath. "It's ok, but...just THINK next time, ok?" Steve nodded. "Anyway. Herobrine." His head snapped back to face me. "Yes Notch?" "The reason I have called you here, is because I'm going to entrust you with an item so special, it's what keeps Minecraft alive itself." Steve's eyes widened again. "You're not going to do what I think you are?!" I nodded solemnly. Herobrine looked back and forth between us. "I don't get it! What's so important?!" I looked deep into my brother's glowing white eyes. "Herobrine, until this invasion is over...I am entrusting you with The Essence Of Minecraftia."

Herobrine's eyes widened. "Why would you entrust ME with it?! It has the power to decode the entire world!" "That's why the enemy need it. They won't suspect you of having it." Herobrine furrowed his eyebrows. "But what will they do once they find out that YOU don't have it?" I sighed heavily and looked away. "Don't worry about me. Just focus on protecting THIS." I picked up a revolving cube off of the floor. It hovered a few centimetres off my hand, glowing an electric blue. Steve and Herobrine watched, mesmerised as it changed from diamond to coal, to stone to a dirt block. "Keep it safe. Remember, if you die with it, the world dies with you." Herobine took it, staring at it in his hand. "No pressure then?" I watched as his white eyes reflected the blue light, shining with a new vengeance. "I will accept guardianship of The Essence." "Thankyou brother." I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders, and it quite literally had. "Thankyou." Steve sighed gently; almost wistfully. I smiled. "I have a special job for you too." He looked up at me. "Yes brother?" "I want you to assemble our troops in the North, ready for the inevitable invasion. Consider your rank General now." Steve's eyes shone. "When should I leave?" "As soon as possible." Herobrine sighed. Steve looked mournfully at his brother before wrapping him in a heartfelt embrace. "Stay safe Hero, I'll return soon." "You'd better." They broke away, smiling bravely. Then Steve walked out the room and disappeared. "How will he get home?" "Don't worry, I taught him how to create a portal." "Oh." There was an awkward silence. "Now what do we do?" "Wait till your friends get back, then we'll have dinner and tomorrow I will re-open the portal to your dimension." Herobrine nodded. "Very well...brother." I smiled. I never thought he'd refer to me as his sibling. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you in the past Herobrine." He nodded sadly, then I saw him smile. His white eyes glowed with warmth. "Please...call me Hero."