Wither

Chapter 9-Nether Travels

The delight on Ember's face was overshadowed by shock. "You...what? I thought that...you said you were from the Aether?" She cocked her head, confused.

Then anger replaced the surprise. "You lied to me! You told me you were from the Aether and now you say you're my lost twin!"

The prior delight and thoughtfulness came back. "My...lost twin sister." She rushed forth and bear hugged me. I awkwardly hugged her back. "Do you have fire powers?"

"Not that I know of. But I have inherited the full flying ability of blazes and I have air magic from the witch in Dad. How-how are they doing?" My heart fluttered.

"Well. Dad just got back from the nether-well, six months ago he did. He probably went back by now. Speaking of which, break starts tomorrow. Do you want me to take you to them? We're going to see our adopted brother, Peterson and..." Ember hesitated. "And it'll be super fun!" I tried not to frown at her cover-up as I agreed to come. "You remember Poof and Sora, and River and Dusty? The latter might not come, but I do know that the girls are coming with us! Break starts tomorrow, early 'cuz of all of the snow. Come back here at- heck, stay here!" Ember blabbered.

I nodded, my eyes cast in a faraway direction. When Ember stopped and looked in the general direction I was gazing at, I snapped back into focus. "Sorry, ah, sure," I blushed, unsure of what I was agreeing to.

"Great! We'll have loads of fun!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically and led me inside.

*TimeLapse*

It turns out that I had agreed to a mass slumber party at Sorcery Academy. After enrolling, I had hung out with the girls and River, Dusty, and Jet. We stayed up quite late playing dumb games until we all fell asleep.

I woke up with Dusty's face hauntingly close to my own. He was still asleep. I blinked a few times, unable to tear my gaze away. His eyes fluttered and I closed mine quickly. When I reopened them he gave a small grin.

I blushed and didn't enlighten him with a smile of my own. I heard a colossal yawn and turned over, grateful for the distraction. Ember was stretching, kneeling on the ground with her scarlet hair frizzy and messed up. I got up wearily to say hello. She noticed my movement and whirled around. When she saw it was me, she grinned and waved. I waved back sleepily. I laid back down, creating a air cushion pillow and lying on my side to rest. I fell back asleep easily.

*Seto's POV*

I panted, a painful stitch in my side, as a mob of zombie pigmen chased me through the hellish depths of the Nether. I threw a violet fireball at the mob of swarming reanimated pigs. They squealed in pain and set each other on fire as they ran around, trying to put the flames out. I wheezed a sigh of relief and collapsed on the ground.

I looked at a little mirror Steve had included in the backpack. I had, surprisingly, taken good care of myself. Though my hair was ragged, ash-filled, and longer than usual, my chocolate eyes were bright. My cheeks were on the brink of gaunt, but I looked about as healthy as I could be in the Nether. My clothes were in tatters, and my face had scattered burns laid across it, but my cloak was looking brand new. I had been careful not to let any serious hard come to it, because it was the one memory of my mother I had left.

The hateful pigs that had survived my onslaught screamed with rage and advanced on me. I made my two fire rapiers and slashed at them. They blocked with their golden swords. My ears rung from the impact. I shook off the collision damage and thrust. They parried and tried the offensive on me. I barely was able to deflect. They may have been slow, but the force behind their jabs was enormous.

They surrounded me. I leg swept three of them before the remaining one smashed my head with the hilt of his sword. I stabbed another through the stomach as I crumpled to the ground, falling unconscious.

*Herobrine's POV*

I heard a resounding knock on the cherry door of my mansion. I got up from my swiveling office chair and walked to the entrance. I opened the door to see two of my minions carrying the boy, Seto. "Where are the rest of you?" I growled. They squealed. "Human language, idiot," I sighed for perhaps the twentieth time after hiring the pigmen.

"Oh, er, sorry, Master..." the commander pig said in a rather gravelly, nasal voice. I rolled my eyes with another sigh. "They, er, well...the boy had shot a fireball at the...ma-jor-it-y...of us, and had some swords and killed two of my guards. He, well, he ma...he ma...mass-a-cred...us, but I have him for you, Master," said the pigman leader. He stumbled over the longer words.

"That's fine," I rolled my eyes and took the boy. "You may go." They dipped their heads and trotted off. I dragged the boy downstairs. "Toboe!"

She looked up miserably, her eyes surrounded by dark rings. "Ye-yes?" she stammered. She swallowed. "Yes, Herobrine?" she said with more conviction.

"You have a visitor," I held up the limp body of Seto. She gasped.

"W-what did you do to him?" she whispered. His eyes fluttered and he went into consciousness.

"Wait, what the--Toboe? Where am I?" he writhed around. "And why am I levitating?" He swung around and gazed into my white eyes.

"Boo," I gave a wolfish grin. He at first cowered in fear, and then thought of a plan--I'm assuming. I felt my hand holding him get warmer and warmer and warmer until it was blazing hot. I hissed but didn't let go. With my free hand, I opened a cell door and threw him in. "Welcome to prison."