Nullified

Once again, a short chapter, but a BIG thank you to scarofherobrine for making this chapter possible!!! my singular brain cell is unfortunately incapable of writing domestic stuff rn

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You throw a lever, and a row of fireworks shoot into the sky.

You let out a whoop, scrambling back and away from the glowing redstone as the fireworks explode, one by one. A hand rests on your shoulder, and you don't need to look to know it's Herobrine standing behind you. On the other side of the ramshackle contraption you've put together, Steve and Alex sit by the campfire, Manfred monitoring the fire you've built as the sun disappears over the horizon. Notch, of course, isn't here, because he doesn't like you and wants nothing to do with you or your celebration.

Herobrine didn't really see the point of having a party now when you're going to have a bigger one soon enough anyway, but he'd obliged after you had pleaded for long enough. It wasn't really a 'party' anyway - the only ones here are your loved ones, so there was none of the stress of having to meet new people, or whatever. Regardless, it was a celebration, and you selfishly enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention.

And, you kinda wanted to get out of the mansion, something just felt off in there.

It was minecraft, so your party was nothing too fancy. You had some golden apples and carrots, which tasted surprisingly good considering the ingredients they were made up of, a cake, and a few of Steve's apple ciders. They had always tasted different, something about them was incomparable to anything you've tasted on earth. Just something a little special.

The night is quiet other than the fireworks you set off, and you chat with your friends and family until the moon is high in the sky. Even Herobrine, who hadn't wanted to host this in the first place, soon begins an easy conversation with Steve. They've gotten far more tolerant of each others' presence over the years, which warms your heart. Maybe they even thought of each other as friends?

Around midnight, you find yourself sitting with Alex opposite the boys on the other side of the fire. Although you've visited plenty of times over the years, Alex is undoubtedly your weakest friend in this group. You never really clicked, you suppose. Kind of unfortunate, given that she was the only other girl in the world, but... you were in no position to complain.

"Hey." A nudge from the redhead interrupts your thoughts, and you glance up to meet green eyes. "I'm happy for you." Her voice is low, but warm, and you return the hint of a smile on her face.

"Thanks."

"I never imagined it- this would last." She gives a subtle nod towards your fiancé. "But, from what I've heard from Steve, you stuck it out. Turned it in your favor."

"I think we both won." You smile down at the campfire. "I'm pretty sure we- all of us won this round."

You're so close to the fire, why do you feel such a chill?

Movement from across the firepit catches your eye, and you glance up to see Steve and Herobrine getting to their feet. Your fiancé has a smirk on his face, and Steve's eyes sparkle with mischief.

"What's going on?" You call over, raising one eyebrow as both draw an iron sword.

"A friendly duel." Steve calls back as he backs away from the fire, already holding his sword to catch an attack should Herobrine follow. "We decided it's been too long since we last fought."

"Since you last lost." Herobrine corrects. "It had to be... more than seven or eight years, at least for us."

"Try seven hundred." Steve remarks dryly. "Ready?" In response, Herobrine teleports a step closer and slams his sword against his opponent's blade.

You watch as the pair spars, assured that Manfred will keep them from hurting one another as he observes the battle from beside the fire. While Steve is fighting with all he's got, there's a certain gentleness to Herobrine's movements as he keeps the miner at bay. He truly is being careful to keep him safe.

You shiver again, hugging your arms to your chest as you smile around at your family. You're surrounded by loved ones, assured of their safety, with one of the most exciting events of your life coming up in less than a month. You're happy.

So why are you so scared at the same time?

Year 2389

Null places a final block, then looks up at his shelter.

"?si siht fo tniop eht tahw ksa I yaM" legiN asks, watching from a couple of blocks away.

"You will find out." Pressing a switch, Null watches as a pair of pistons push two blocks aside, revealing the hidden room he has placed in the mansion's front hall. A place for him to live while he waits for his enemy to return.

"?tneiciffeni siht t'nsI" The Enderman protests. "?meht llik ot ytinutroppo na evah uoy litnu lavirra ruoy fo noitacidni on evig ot elbanosaer erom eb ton ti dluoW ?tuo meht gnikat erofeb ecneserp ruoy fo meht mrofnI ?spart yal oT ?tiaw dna tis oT"

"You misunderstand." Null steps into the room, waving his companion inside as he places a redstone torch on the wall. "My aim is not to kill them. Not immediately, anyway."

"?tnetni ruoy si tahw nehT"

"They left me in the darkness for hundreds of years." He places a second torch, then closes the hidden door, closing himself and legiN in the small, cramped space. "To kill them right away would be an act of mercy. No, that is not my goal.

I want them to suffer."