Heck yes people

I am back.

After an amazingly long unplanned hiatus.

And I have a chapter for you, I've been rather busy. High school and all.

Also, my birthday is today, so you are all amazingly lucky to have me actually post my chapter now, hehe

Enjoy~

Also, conversation heavy. And about 5 pages long in word .

The girl up front seemed to notice the positive gloominess that shrouded me and Skye, and talked briefly to another of her own group. She traded place within the line, she dropped to the back. To us.

"You guys alright?" she asked, tilting her head. "I mean, I know this is big. One of the biggest cities in the area just got demolished. The epitome of Minecraftian terrorism, really. But you guys are sadder than the rest. Is something happening? Something Lune can help with?"

She sure was talkative, I'll give her that.

Skye glanced at me, and cleared his throat. "When the city… blew up, there was a wedding going on. Getting married was her sister and my adoptive brother. We… we couldn't find them when we woke up."

She tilted her head again. Must be a habit. "What were their names? It's highly likely they woke up before you and went for help."

"Akian_775 and Claw_Yu." I said quickly, keen not to reveal too much.

Her eyes widened. "Wait. So you're CrystalCyae, sister of Akian, and you're Skye_Lord, adoptive brother of Claw? Damn, I'm sure my elders will be pleased that I recovered the heirs of Sparkler Fountain." She smiled slightly.

"What."

Her smile faded. "Well, you guys are the heirs should anything happen. You are the sister of Akian and therefore the heir to her legacy, and Skye was adopted from Claw's free will, leading to the idea that he would be Claw's choice of next in line. Wow."

I blinked. "That wasn't quite what I meant, but fine. That's my second question answered. First and third questions: how do you know so much, and who are you?"

"Oh, right, I forget my manners. I am Midnight_Star, assistant to Dawn_Star, leader of the Lune fighting units. Including spying and espionage, that sort. Since I'm generally a sniper, I do more snooping than actually fighting. So, I learn stuff. Since we have- had a defending treaty with Sparkler Fountain, the spy units in our fighting force take it upon themselves to remain informed on everything, so we can sense trouble at the slightest mishap and come help. We actually managed to… Salvage some items from the wreckage. Flowers, paintings, a couple of doors… That sort of thing." She rambled.

I bit my lip. "Did… did you find a diamond sword, per chance? Engraved with a hammer insignia?" That was all I hoped for. The possibility that the diamond sword that symbolized the bare remains of my father's legacy had survived the explosion that had destroyed the only home I knew. That was the only thing on my mind other than Akian and Claw.

Midnight grinned, and withdrew a scabbard from her bag. "Not quite. It found us. The sword you described actually fell from the sky and hit one of our group on the head. Not any injuries, mind you, but still. Since we couldn't turn back, I kept it. It's yours, I take it? Only Forge would have this sort of weapon. And his descendants."

I swallowed hard, and nodded. Midnight handed the scabbard over, and I drew the sword. Exactly as I had left it in my chest that very morning, gleaming like new. The hammer insignia had been the symbol of my father, and he'd had it on everything he crafted with his own two hands. I put it back in the scabbard.

"How did you know this would belong to my father or his descendants?"

Midnight tapped the side of her nose knowingly. "Secrets of my trade, Crystal, secrets of my trade."

Skye coughed, to get our attention. "So… about Akian and Claw. Any, you know, sightings of them in the area? After the explosion?"

She shook her head. "So sorry, but there's been no news about them. Sorry Skye. Sorry Crystal."

Skye looked so weary and sad, like he was at his limits. And to think he'd been laughing and joking only hours ago, keeping me from running away from the wedding and its responsibilities. Now I couldn't comfort him in return.

"We'll find them." Midnight and I said at the same time, startling us both. Midnight laughed, and patted Skye on the shoulder. Midnight seemed a little goofy, but heck, we needed cheering up. We all did, I suppose. We did just lose our homes, after all.

Midnight looked ahead and smiled. "Aaand here is the town of Lune!" she called, for everyone to hear.

Ahead of us was a quaint village, made entirely of wood with only scatterings of stone for support. Some houses had curls of smoke rising above their roofs, and the glow of the glowstone lamps cast a nice warm light over the land. We all walked right in, with the guy now up front leading the rest to a healer for checkup and food. Before we could follow, Midnight touched our shoulders.

"If you guys wouldn't mind, I'd like to take you to our village elders. I mean, you guys would have the least need of checkup, what with that diamond armor and all. And you are the heirs. I'm sure the elders would love to hear your side of things." She said.

I glanced at Skye, and our eyes met. Without a word, Skye nodded.

We followed Midnight through the pleasant lanes, and she waved to people who looked through windows. But other than that, the streets were silent. Nobody walked down them but us.

We arrived at a large log cabin, a cabin far more ornate than any of the other houses. Midnight motioned for us to wait a moment, and walked up to the door.

"Tantianum Liuyarn Mosige Talae!" she called. I jolted, brought about by the last word she said. Had she said 'Talae'? That's what Juliet had called me by mistake. Why would Midnight say it too?

Before I could ask, the door opened, and three men came out. They looked battle weary and worn down, but with a dignified presence like that of kings. And their eyes held fierce determination to protect the world we love so much. That was probably why their mere presence demanded respect.

Midnight curtsied, and I copied. Skye bowed low.

"Elders." Midnight began. "I present you CrystalCyae and Skye_Lord, survivors from the remains of Sparkler Fountain."

One elder, with dark hair and light eyes, stepped forward, and bowed to us. "Welcome." He said softly. "I am Ghanus, of the Elder Three."

The second one, with blonde hair and amber eyes, stepped forward and did likewise. "I am Phorus." He said stiffly.

The last one stepped forward. His hair was black as night, with eyes to match. "I am Talus." He said quietly, in a reserved tone.

Phorus decided to cut right to the chase. "What happened before the city was exploded?"

Skye looked at me. I could tell he expected me to talk this one through.

"There was a wedding going on, of epic proportions. A… A man in black leapt forward and claimed we would be punished for our crimes. Then TNT went off, and we were all either knocked unconscious or killed in the explosions." I said, holding back tears. I hated just thinking about it.

Ghanus nodded. "Could you perhaps describe this black-clad man better? Like his hair color, or any clues towards his identity?"

"Uhh… He had brown hair… and he wore diamond armor that… was kind of purple. That's really all." I said, thinking over.

Talus frowned. "It can't be… Could it?" he looked at the other two, who bore expressions of extreme surprise.

"What is it?" I asked. "Who the hell is the guy who destroyed our homes?"

Talus sighed. "From that description… It might be Herobrine."

Everything froze. At least, for me. Thoughts whirred as fast as lightning through my head, offering the emotions. The Holy Disaster, the killer of all. The man who lived his life in hell, the undead servant of the higher evil. The brother of the Holy Creator, the one who made our world in its beginning. That man had destroyed our home. MY life.

I said absolutely nothing, anger boiling. How DARE the nightmare decide to destroy my home! How dare he! He would pay!

Skye seemed merely sad and curious. "But why?"

Ghanus shrugged. "There have been… happenings… that point towards Herobrine resurfacing in the world of the living. For example… the death of Forge."

"WHAT. Are you telling me that...that NIGHTMARE destroyed my father and ruined my life?" I screeched, completely unable to believe it. My father had been killed by Herobrine. Herobrine had destroyed my life then, and he destroyed my life now by the disappearance of Akian and the destruction of my city.

Phorus raised his hand in an attempt to calm me down. "Well, not quite. You see… well…"

"Answer us this. What is your father's insignia on every item he crafts? The symbol no-one else can replicate?" Talus interjected.

Surprised, I unsheathed my sword and showed them the hammer insignia at the base of the blade. "A-A hammer. A fiery hammer."

Ghanus frowned, and walked quickly back into the house. He then returned with two small daggers.

The first was made of a dark-purple material. A material that looked surprisingly like obsidian. The second was made of a bright faded yellow, like the block of myths. End Stone. But, you couldn't make weapons of these materials. Could you?

Skye shrugged. "Two odd daggers. What of it?"

Phorus looked at Midnight, who had remained completely silent the whole time. "Midnight_Star, take Skye_Lord away to be checked. We must speak with CrystalCyae alone for a moment."

Skye looked ready to outright refuse, but Midnight tugged gently on his arm. He followed begrudgingly, but smiled in my direction. I guess he realized how creepy this all was.

Phorus gestured to me. "I believe you have questions for us. We will answer these first before your friend's question."

"What does Talae mean? I've heard people say it, and someone called me it on multiple occasions."

Talus shrugged. "That's something best left in darkness where no-one can find it. It is related to darkness and destruction, and that is all I will say. All I can say."

I frowned. "Fine. Why would Herobrine destroy Sparkler Fountain?"

"Well, we are led to believe that Herobrine has… recruited… some of the rule-breakers tossed through the nether portal in your city. If he has forged an alliance with them, then perhaps he had agreed to take revenge with them." Ghanus said slowly. "Anything else?"

I crossed my arms. "What does the death of my father… what does it have to do with all this?"

Ghanus beckoned me closer. "Here, child, examine these daggers."

Begrudgingly, I stepped forward and took the daggers. The purple one was definitely made of obsidian, the dark-purple gleaming. The other was extremely light and was a little like the golden sword I temporarily used, except much lighter. It had to be End Stone. But how?

"How-"

"That is not all, CrystalCyae. I ask you to examine the base of the sword." Talus said. With a shrug, I did so.

They looked perfectly normal, the same as any other dagger. Until I noticed a faint indentation…

I dropped the daggers in shock, nearly screaming. I wanted to run, bury my head in the sand, even hug a creeper. Anything to smother the fear and confusion that now rose inside me.

The daggers bore an odd, unique insignia. A flaming hammer.

And we now enter the exciting parts. Next chapter is going to be more conversation-heavy. Also, you get to see my interpretation of Minecraftian history. Also, will we FINALLY find out what Talae means? Maaybee.

Also, I don't own minecraft or anything. Every character is this is my own, 100%.