"I always liked stories where the hero has no idea that they're destined for greatness. The sort of heroes who are living their lives and assume that nothing exciting will ever happen to them.

Those are the kind of heroes in this story. They started as just a bunch of friends in a treehouse, looking up to their idols who had come before them...

But when disaster struck, and an evil monstrosity threatened to destroy the world, those friends discovered that heroes can come from the most humble of beginnings.

They traveled the world to battle that monster, facing obstacled and sacrifices every step of the way. It wasn't easy, but they had each other. And working together, they struck it down and saved everyone.

Soon, they were the most famous people in the whole world. And their legend, their fame, just continued to grow as they explored more worlds, venturing into the great unknown.

And that's how those five friends, plus the bravest pig in the world, took their place in history as some of the greatest heroes who ever lived." Lukas finished, closing his book. Olivia elbowed a sleeping Axel who jolted awake and gave a sheepish expression.

"What part are we at? Am i being awesome?" He mumbled, faintly disoriented, and Amy poked his head. "No. No you aren't."

"We thought it was great, Lukas. Although... Not always technically accurate" Olivia said softly. Lukas flushed, embarrassed, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, i mean, well, i definitely exaggerated here and there, but it was for the drama"

"I mean it made us sound cool, and that's a good thing" Axel shrugged noncommitedly.  Amy frowned. "You are NOT cool" she muttered, causing him to frown at her. She shrunk back slightly.

Giving Amy a hard glance, Jesse smiled at Lukas. "You're the writer, Lukas. I know you'll make the right call."

"Thank you Jesse" Lukas said with a softer tone, and Jesse blushed. Amy scowled. Lukas continued, oblivious to her sour expression "I'd been hoping to have it ready to read at Founding Day, but, uh... Next year"

"Founding day is boring" Amy sighed, falling backwards and holding back a wince as her head thumped the cold floor. "Jack crap happens. Fireworks, happy times, bla bla"

Olivia raised a brow. "Irregardless of what you think, it's coming up soon and we best all prepare" she said quietly, and Amy shrugged. "Sure, sure" she said in a patronisingly placating tone "Go waste your time~"

"Just because your parents were monsters doesn't mean you have to be bad too" Olivia growled, agitated. Amy flinched, eyes wide, before she turned away and pulled her hood up. "Shut the hell up"

Jesse frowned at them. "Stop fighting, you two"

Olivia gave Jesse a protesting look. "She was clearly prodding me, i didn't start this!"

Jesse glanced at Amy. "Amy-"

Amy turned away from him, shuffling slightly.

"So wait, do you think the book works?" Lukas butted in, trying to diffuse the situation. Jesse smiled thankfully "Ha. It's great Lukas, don't worry"

"Ah, thanks. You've done so much Jesse, you're a real hero"

"But we all did, right?" Axel grumbled, and Olivia gave Lukas a mix between a frown and a deadpan. "Yeah. We were all there."

"Like hell you were. You were barely there" Amy stated flatly, and Jesse glared at her. Amy looked away, growing more and more ired.

Jesse stood up. "We all did it together. We're the order of the stone, after all."

Lukas nodded appreciatingly. "This has all been super helpful guys. Once Ivor and Harper return from their honeymoon adventures i can add a chapter on them... And then it'll finally be done"

Amy allowed a shy smile to cross her face. "They're really cute" she mumbled, and Jesse gave a hesitating smile, ready to snap at her if she was rude.

The door to the front of the building opened to reveal a tall man, looking around 18 years.

"Jesse, your intern" Olivia mentioned, turning to face the brown haired boy, who shrugged.

"Hi Radar" Jesse waved, and Amy hid behind him. She didn't like Radar.

"Ohmygosh, i didn't know all of you would be in here. Olivia, ma'am, Axel, sir, Lukas, sir, Amy, ma-"

"Yeah, hi" Amy interrupted, looking anywhere but at him.

"He's just adorable!" Olivia murmered, and Amy blew a strand of hair from her face. She wouldn't quite consider him adorable. Dork? Sometimes. Cute? No. Only Jesse held that title.

"We're just hanging out, haha. What is it Radar?" Jesse asked, stepping down from the mini platform. Radar smiled shyly. "I have a message from Petra that she's on her way to the mines. For that adventure you scheduled?"

Amy perked up at the mention of Petra, but deflated at the last part of the sentence. "Scheduling missions is pathetic" she complained under her breath. Jesse gave her a warning glance as Radar continued speaking.

"If you hurry, you should still have time for that AND your founding day duties.."

"On it" Jesse agreed, walking forward.

"Sorry, but we won't be able to to come. We have our own Founding Day prepping.." Olivia revealed apologetically.

Jesse was clearly upset but forced an understanding tone. "Aw that's okay, i get it. You have lives"

"Thanks Jesse. When you see Petra, tell her i said next time for sure, ok?" Axel requested, and Jesse gave a short nod in response.

"I can't beleive I'm walking out of the Order hall WITH the Order! Ha!" Radar squealed. Amy glared, ready to kick him.

She'd been taught that the weak were barely worth enough to lick your shoes, and that aspect of her personality had stuck.

The group walked from the Order hall into the bright sunshine illuminating Beacontown.

"Soo, the other towns have founding day celebrations, huh?" Radar quizzed, buzzing with energy. Axel laughed. "Yeah, we honour Magnus each year with a freakin' aweskme memorial explosion rally. He would've loved it"

"Over in Redstonia we're lighter on the... Explosions. I helped Ellegaard engineer an excellent new music machine for the evening ball" Olivia chipped in.

"Well, i promise I'll try and stop by. It's been awesome to catch up with you guys" Lukas said solomnly.

"It.. Won't be the same without you guys" Jesse said sadly, and Lukas's forced smile fell. "Sorry. I have to go , though. I'll let you know as soon as I'm done with the revisions."

The three walked off.

"I tell ya, i am just the luckiest!" Radar squealed. Jesse gave him an awkward smile. "Yeah?"

"Oh yeah! Getting to work with you, hanging out with the order... And living in the coolest town in the whole world: Beacontown!"

"The snow village in my world was cooler" Amy mumbled, and Jesse snorted, having rather unpleasant memories of that place.

He really couldn't grasp her mood.

×××

Putting on an iron chestplate abd standing in front of the mine entrance, Jesse offered one to Amy who wrinked her nose.

"I'll pass. I wouldn't be seen dead in that crap" she mumbled. Jesse snorted. "Your loss..."

"I'll, uh.. Keep watch here while you're gone!" Radar promised, and Jesse shrugged. "I have all the faith in the world bud. You got this" Amy rolled her eyes slightly. "Thanks Jesse.. I won't let you down!" Radar exclaimed happily as Jesse led Amy down.

---

At the bottom, Jesse blinked and looked around. "Petra?" He called, looking about for the redhead. "Huh. I swear she was going to meet us here.."

Amy shrugged, clearly tense at the cold and quiet of the mines. The only noises were clinks of pickaxes from the miners.

Jesse yelped in surprise at growls of approaching zombies. Glaring, he pulled out his iron sword. "I miss this.." he hummed, not needing to glance to know that Amy had pulled out a diamond axe.

Slicing in bursts in succession, the monsters were quickly eliminated, poofing into pufts of smoke.

Behind him, Petra laughed. "Look at that- Punctual AND kicking some butt. Nice"

"Hey to you too, Petra" Jesse smiled, stepping over to her. Amy cast a weary expression, having never grown close to the redhead.

"Just glad to see you remember how to fight. Was worried you had got rusty" Petra shrugged, a grin on her face. Jesse flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I really miss this. Y'know... Us. Adventuring together, facing the great unknown! I wish i could do this more often, ha!"

Amy glared at the blush on his face, kicking him in the ankle. He sent her a frustrated expression.

"I'm gonna have a hard time being seen with someone with such awful armour. The heck is that-- iron?" Petra tapped his chestplate, elicting a dull patter.

Jesse pouted. "I didn't wanna dent the good stuff, so what?" he glanced at her sword. "And look whose talking with an iron sword. What happened to your fancy gold one with the enchants?"

Noticing the morose expression Petra had taken as a response to Jesse's question, Amy blinked. "Did it get stolen?"

"N-no!" Petra exclaimed a bit too quickly. Amy rolled her eyes, having decided she was correct.

Growls once again sounded out to reveal more monsters. Jesse groaned but Petra gained a grin.

As the three defeated them with ease, Jesse popped his knuckles with a sigh.

"I appreciate you making it on time. Means a lot. I worry you don't have time for m-your friends anymore" Petra admitted, sheepish.

Amy made a face. "I'm his friend and i LIVE IN HIS BASEMENT!" she made air guns at Petra. "He has time for me- boom!"

Petra rolled her eyes. "The rest of us, i mean. I already know he has time for you. I can't help but notice we're missing some people though.."

"Axel has Boomtown duries, Olivia's grading in Redstonia and Lukas-"

"Is writing" Petra interrupted. "I figured. Man, our friends are LAME..."

"Hey, even without them we're still having fun, right?" Jesse tried to be inspirational and Petra forced a receptive smile. "Yeah, true. At least the cool people are here"

"I'm cool? Thanks" Amy mumbled, and Petra started, having zoned out and forgotten she was there. Petra laughed.  "Yeah, yeah, you sure are kid. Anyhow, we gotta hurry"

"What exactly are we looking for?" Jesse questioned, suspicion entering his voice. Petra hesitated. "I'll... Tell ya when we find it. Just... Trust me, it's important"

A shadow down the mine moved with a deep gurgling noise. Petra's attention was drawn and she beamed. "C'mon, I'll race ya!" she said, darting off.

Caught between groaning or laughing, Jesse sprinted after, gripping Amy's wrist and tugging her along.