Warnings: Mentions of blood and death

     ~Herobrine's P.O.V.~

Beads of sweat streak down my forehead as I stare at the brunt, bloodied, and dead figure of Entity303, sprawled out on the sand in a puddle of his own blood. A small ring of items is scattered around his broken form. I breathe raggedly, still coming down from my power-high. And then finally, I come to my senses.

     "I-I did it..." I whisper, loosely gripping Steve's pickaxe. "I really d-did it..."

     Although I'm no longer hurt, since I healed myself, I still find the overwhelming sense of dizziness overcome me, and I fall to my knees. I'm just barley aware of the cluster of shadowed figures stepping towards me, before exhaustion takes its toll, and the world is going black.

~~~

     "...must have been tough. If what we heard about Entity303 is true... Then..." The voice trails off, yet still making its point."
      "Well he doesn't look hurt psychically. He must have healed himself at some point." A second voice adds, "That's most likely why he passed out- from exhaustion."

     I can feel myself being shifted as my senses gradually return.

     "Ugh, he's... A lot heavier than he looks... Jerome could you-"
     "Are you calling me fat?" I ask, my eyes snapping open.

     The person carrying me, who I quickly determine to be Lachlan due to his accent, screams at the top of his lungs, stumbling and dropping me and following soon after. I hit the ground with a small oof, frowning. The other five look startled, and Lachlan's eyes are wide, a hand clutching the fabric above his heart.

     "Did I scare you?" I question, just managing to keep down the smirk threatening to show.
     "Uh yeah." Lachlan breathes, "Don't do that!"

      I snicker under my breath, Lachlan pushing himself to his feet, and then offering me a hand. I accept it, rising to my feet. Vikk, Mitch, Jerome, Rob, and Preston gather around me.

     "I guess that means he's awake now." Jerome comments.
     "No duh." Mitch chuckles, rolling his eyes.
     "Are you okay Herobrine?" Vikk interjects, "Like are you strong enough to walk? You've been out for a few days now."
     I nod, "Yes, I'm okay thank you. I just needed a small rest."
     "That's good. But dude, you absolutely wrecked Entity303!" Preston admires.
      When I cast him a confused glance, Rob explains. "We saw how bad you messed up Entity303 just before he despawned. I'm honestly impressed."
     I smile, "Thank you. But I'm sure you six would have done just as good. Speaking of which... Now that I've killed him... Does that mean...?"
"It does, and that's where we're headed now."

Looking up, I realize we're only blocks away from the castle entrance. The sun is just peeking over the horizon, which explains why no mobs nor people or out. It's too early for people to be awakening yet, yet too bright for mains to continue to spawn or survive. The castle, standing proud and tall, looms over us. Vikk steps forward, and heaves open the great oak doors, leading us into the courtyard.

We make our way across the courtyard, filled with plants and flowers of every kind, and to the halls. Then weaving our ways through the complex and-in my opinion-overly decorated halls, we eventually come to the two massive doors leading to Jeb's throne room. Mitch, now in the lead, moves forward and lightly raps on the door.

"Come in." And author active voice booms from the other side.
"Are you ready?" Mitch, about to open the door, questions me.
I nod ever so slightly, "As ready as I'll ever be."

So Mitch pushes open the heavy doors, the seven of us stepping into the brightly light room in a tight cluster.

I'm not really sure what to expect. Maybe Jeb smiling, readying his spell thing to revive Steve. Maybe Jeb, looking at me with judging eyes, as if to see whether or not I performed well enough for him to revive Steve. Who knows? But the last thing I'd expect to see is not only Jeb, or the pack, but a new figure standing beside the throne as the pack parts to let me see. I stop dead in my tracks, jaw hinged open, eyes wide, and mind blank as my eyes meet two brilliant cerulean ones. Two brilliant cerulean eyes... That I haven't seen in over a thousand years.

"...Hero?"

Jeb, Mitch, Jerome, Lachlan, Vikk, Preston, and Rob all stare at me, awaiting some sort of reaction. For the next few seconds, Steve and I simply stare at each other, holding one another's gaze. Then, tentatively, I manage to scrape together a couple words.

"S-steve...? Is... Is that really you?" I whisper, barely audible as tears weld up in my eyes.

Steve nods shakily, not really seeming sure himself that he's actually alive. But seeing him move, even just a simple nods, is all it takes for me to snap. Tears stream out, and true, genuine, laughter spills from my mouth, accompanied by the occasional sob. Steve chokes out a sob too, now crying. But despite that he's also smiling that amazing smile I haven't seen since we were young, and laughing slightly too. The pack steps away as Steve rushes forward, stumbling slightly over his own feet. Then he leaps into my arms, crushing me in a hug that I gladly return with equal force. He buries his face in my neck, sobbing and laughing and grilling tightly to the fabric of my shirt.

(Picture not mine, I just found it randomly and thought it kinda fit XD)

"Ste-eve... I missed y-you so mu-much." I sob joyously, hugging him like if I let go, I'd lose him again.
"H-Hero..." Steve chokes out, his voice muffles by my shirt. "J-Jeb told me everything... I-I'm so sorry I did th-this to you. I-I shouldn't have gotten I-into that fight... A-and..."

Steve can't finish, because he's too busy crying tears of joy. Over Steve's shoulder I can see the pack and Jeb, and how they are reacting. Jeb is smiling sweetly, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Vikk, Mitch, Preston, and Lachlan are grinning ear to ear. Rob's crying openly, and Jerome is trying, and failing, to conceal the tears rolling over his fur.

"A-and you six..." Steve continues, turning to face the pack with puffy red eyes, and tear stained cheeks. "Th-thank you so mu-much... For sparing my brother..."
"Well I mean Preston almost-"
"Shut up, Mitch." Rob hisses, elbowing Mitch in the ribs.

But Steve and I don't hear them. We're back in a tight embrace. And for the first time in forever, I feel true genuine happiness, and a feeling of new purpose in my life. And as I stand there, now changed and nowhere near who I used to be, somewhere inside me I find peace. I pull Steve as close as psychically possible, being mindful not to break him in the process. I smile, attempting to wipe away my tears.

"I don't want to let go."

~~~

Welp... Time to go cry in a corner XD

I really hope you all enjoyed! I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for all the support on this book, it was a pleasure to write for you! Keep an eye out for 'against all odds' which I should be publishing in the next day or two. And don't forget to leave a comment down below on your reactions :D!

So with that, I bid you and this book farewell.

-DarkDisco7

P.s. Once I stop being lazy and actually finish editing Mermories, I'll start editing this one ;)