Welcome back, dear readers! This is Herobrine's Legacy; a tale of the Ender Dragon's Child, the fate of Herobrine's family, and the second generation of Wielders.

I hope you all enjoy it!!

Chapter 1 || Meet Kai

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- Kai's POV -

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"Oi, Dare!"

I looked up at Xavier's quiet hiss, soft enough so that it was only heard by us two.

"What?" I asked him, whispering back.

"D'ya reckon she'll give us a test tomorrow?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "You know, if you wait - " I glance up at the clock, " - 30 more seconds, you'll hear it straight from her."

He pulled his eyebrows together and said "Oh, right. Oops," before leaning back against his seat.

I cracked a grin and drew my attention back up to the teacher, who was droning on about some discovery decades ago that "changed the course of humanity!" Yes, because a newly found forest totally turns lives around. But I suppose those are history teachers for you.

A moment later the bell rang loud and clear, and at once everyone pushed themselves out of their seats and grabbed their book hurriedly.

"Remember the test on regional explorers this Friday!" The teacher yelled out after us.

Xavier cursed. "Damn it. Every single time I think I'm in the clear, she leaps on me with another thing to worry about."

I smiled. "At least Mrs. Carlisle is one of the few that doesn't care less about test scores."

"Yeah, but my 'rents do." he groaned.

I scoffed a laugh. "Well, that's just too bad."

We carried our books back to our neighbourly placed lockers, talking absent-mindedly about random topics as we made our way to the Oak Tree.

I guess you could call the Oak Tree our hang-out spot during breaks. It was this huge, thick-trunked old tree whose branches and foliage stretched out so far that four benches sat underneath its shade. We even had ladders hidden in a chest under one of the benches to lead up to a small treehouse we'd built up there, hidden by the leaves and wood. But we saved that place for when - in emergency situations, of course - we needed to skip out on a class or two.

The rest of our mates were already there; Xavier ran up to meet Flora, his girlfriend of now a year, who was seated on the grass. Zoe was laid across a bench, gazing up at the low-hanging tree branches. Eve and Scott were chatting away, Eve's hair not as bright as usual, hidden in the shade. Then, of course, was Ice.

Ice was the big-gun. The girl who got her name from the way she was; dangerous, sharp, beautiful, cool, and powerful. Of course, that's who she was to everyone, minus me. To me she was my best friend with a heart of gold, not ice.

Her head was always held high with pride and arrogance, because she knew just like the next person did that she was the queen of all things respected. She was smart and athletic, and although she rarely boasted out loud, you could see her smugness shining in her eyes. She was practically untouchable. People were scared to talk to her. Some daring people would work up the courage to ask her out or something along those lines, and they would usually end up with a broken nose. Her hair was cyan with a turquoise dip-dye the same colour as her eyes, and if you looked close enough you'd see golden rings around her pupil that glowed in the sun.

Oddly enough, I was the only one from school who knew her real name; Iris Clare McKinnon. She'd kept it a secret from everyone, her excuse being that it "sounded too soft". Even the teachers referred to her as "Ice". She was heartless and arrogant to everyone who knew her by her reputation; but to me she was as bright as a rainbow. If only she were like that to others. She often portrayed herself as, well . . . icy.

I waved when I approached the group, and over-enthusiastic Eve ran up to hug me, like she always did. We sat down with Scott on the a bench, who was eating his food rather aggressively.

"You hungry?" I teased, tilting my head to his half-torn piece of pork.

He groaned with a mouthful of food. "Uuugh, Hell yeah. I hate classes you can't eat in."

Eve raised an eyebrow. "You mean all of them."

He nodded solemnly. "I hate classes."

Eve smacked him lightly over the head, and he complained with an irritated grumble. I shook my head, smiling, before getting up off the bench to sit beside Iris.

"Hey, Rainbow," I greeted cheekily. She turned to me, her eyes always surprising me with their brightness.

She groaned at the use of the nickname. "Hey, idiot." she replied.

I pretended to act synical. "How awfully unoriginal of you," I said sarcasticlly.

She looked down at her food and matched my tone in a retort. "It's better than 'Rainbow'," she scoffed.

I dropped my food - an apple and some bread - next to me. "Well, at least there's a reason to call you Rainbow. You know, with your name meaning it and all -"

"- Shut up, Dare!" she hissed, and I grinned back gleefully. She glared daggers at me. "I have a reason to call you idiot, idiot."

"Yeah, yeah," I dismissed, waving a hand.

And so it goes. Iris "Ice" McKinnon, the girl who put on a badass tough attitude as a mask, and me, her best friend who had a knack of gaining the attention of strangers when they look at my amber eyes.

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School had ended on a good note; a test paper with a big A. Iris, intelligent as always, had gotten her average A+. Since we lived on the same street, we both walked home together, stopping along the way to pick up my little sister who went to the nearby elementary school.

"Better than you, as usual," she commented teasingly, holding up her paper as we strolled down a street that led to the forest.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Arrogant much."

She lifted her chin. "Yep."

Once we got to Cart Elementary, we were flooded with kids - they were everywhere, screaming, laughing, running around. Wow, they were annoying, and way too cheery. Their high-pitched voices were giving me a headache. How are screams even able to reach frequencies like that? I don't get it, not one bit. I guess they were kinda cute in a way too, though. Kinda.

"It's so overbearingly happy here," Iris said once we'd reached a spot away from the hoards of children. "I hate it."

I pouted at her. "Aw, you used to love it here. Remember in first grade, when you'd spend your lunchtimes 'singing for the trees' and-"

"Shut up, Dare, before I strangle you!"

". . . And telling people off for stepping on the grass because it 'hurt their feelings'?"

She narrowed her eyes at me for several seconds before ramming into me. I got knocked aside, but regained my balance and starting running away from her. She chased me around the small garden area, me laughing and her yelling playful insults.

"You're like an annoying little brother, Kai, I swear it." She kept on chasing me, and as much as I knew I was fast, I knew she was quicker. I dodged behind a tree trunk, but when I tried to make a break for the table opposite, she managed to grab me and drag me to the ground with her.

We were both laying on our backs in the grass, our chests rising and falling fast and big smiles on our faces.

"You're the biggest idiot I've ever known, Dare."

"I know."

"Honestly, you guys are more like three-year-olds than I am, and I'm five years younger."

We sat up like we'd been snapped into position, and there was my sister, arms crossed and leaning against the building's brick wall. Her dirty blonde hair was even messier than usual, and her ocean blue eyes glinted with amused disdain.

"Took your time," Iris commented, standing up and dusting herself off.

Tali raised her eyebrows. "Says the ones who were playing tag."

My sister was in fifth grade, but at a glance she looked much older than eleven. Unlike me, she actually had an appearence that suited my family. She had my Mum's eyes, my Dad's hair, and both their facial features. Needless to say, though, she got Dad's sarcasm.

"You know, you two definitely would've looked like a couple to other people."

I got up from the ground and brushed stray bits of grass from my clothes. "Ha-ha, very funny, Tali."

"No, really," she went on, turning much more cheery than she was a moment ago, clapping her heads together, "you're so cute together! OTP!"

Iris scoffed. "Another one of your lame elementary jokes? What does it stand for, Oh The Pain?"

Tali, who had made her way towards the sidewalk next to the small tree'd area we'd found ourselves in, glanced over her shoulder to reply to Iris. "Pretty much."

Iris rolled her eyes dramatically before walking over to where we'd chucked our bags down while we were running. She picked hers up and slung it over her shoulder, and I followed suit before we went after Tali out of the school gate and onto the street, heading towards home.

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- An Unknown POV -

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"General, are you sure this is the best idea?"

The General remained still and emotionless, staring off into space with eyes as cold as stone.

Then she replied to me with a voice flat and direct. "Yes. I see no other way to discover the whereabouts of the Dark Blade."

I watched the glowing purple box in her hand with caution. "But a lot can go wrong, General. Is the Ender Dragon's energy strong enough for this kind of task?"

She finally turned to me, saying nothing but two words coldly; "Of course."

Then, without another sound, she stepped forwards into a clear area, placing the purple box onto the ground.

Her movements were as perfected and graceful as someone who had lived a hundred years. Which, I suppose, is something she'll eventually achieve.

Moving away from the box - a container that was filled with a small, but powerful amount of Dark Energy - the General raised her chin and began stating her demands.

"I, the Ender Dragon's Child, the General of the Endermen, summon thee, Alex Machia-Ruepath."

At first, nothing happened; just the box on the ground, a silent and awaiting feel in the stale air around us. Then, the box began to change; the energy inside started whirling around, faster and faster, until it burst from its confinement. Rather than simply disintegrating into the air, it began to form itself into something solid; something human-like.

Once it had taken shape, the colour suddenly snapped, changing from the purple of the Dark Energy to colours of a normal human.

He was gasping for air, his head whisking around in different directions as though he thought he were dreaming. He was wearing simple dark clothing, his hair was coal black, and his eyes were the colour of Dark Energy; no pupil, just a mystical swirling purple, shifting from a shade of bright violet to one of deep purple within a moment in a way that was almost elegant.

"Alex," the General said, her voice ringing with superiority, "I've brought you here as a temporary aid in my mission. The Dark Energy has given you life, but in return, you are controlled by it, and therefore controlled by me."

The boy - Alex - squinted at the General like he couldn't work out what he was seeing. "Who are you?" He demanded, confused. He glanced at me. "Why is an Enderman here? Where the hell are we?"

The General promptly ignored his questions, continuing her own pre-planned explanation instead. "I realise you may be somewhat alarmed. But let me guarantee you this: once my business is done with you, you shall be returned to the world of the dead."

His eyes widened, but he gulped and spoke in a tone that attempted to hide his bewilderment. "I don't know who you are, or what your plan is, but all I can tell is that you're not good." He glanced around again, taking in the ghoulish surroundings of our realm.

"Bringing back the dead will never work to your favour, in the end. You have no idea about the risk involved. No idea."

The General simply smiled an emotionless smile. "It's obviously too late now, isn't it. And you'll only be here for a short time. I just need you to tell me where my brother took the Dark Blade."

He squinted. "What is this so-called 'Dark Blade' you speak of?"

Rolling her eyes, she gave a quick explanation. "It's a sword that holds a great deal of power. A sword that I need. I believe that Herobrine referred to it as the 'Wielder Blade'? It's funny how all the connections work, isn't it. That the pure energy of that sword, when harnessed by someone such as my brother, could bring forth powers in chosen people?

"Of course, that can't happen any longer, now that my brother is dead. The way he was able to use the Blade's power is no more, and now it is mine for the taking - to bring it back to where it belongs. I understand that you were Herobrine's guardian in your deceased life, so you out of everyone else would know where it is located."

Alex was shivering; from the cold of the End or something else, I don't know. His eyes wouldn't leave the General. Suddenly his lips parted with shock and a small gasp left them.

"Brother . . . ? Lillian, oh God, Lillian, it's you," he said quietly, his voice breaking. "Oh Lillian, what happened . . . what did we do . . ."

The General simply turned away from him and began walking away. "Build something around him so that he doesn't escape," she ordered me. "Make sure no light gets through, or he'll disappear for good once we reach the surface."

"Yes, General," I replied, bowing my head.

The sight of her silver hair reflecting the contrasting colours of the sky, ground and Dark Energy crystals upon the towers reminded me of the scared, dark-haired little child we brought to the Ender Dragon all those years ago. I still remember her words . . .

They left me, they left me - I hate them.

I hope they think I'm dead.

'Cos then I'll rise out of my grave and make them all pay.

Everyone who made me suffer . . .

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Yep, it's confusing, but that's the point. It'll all make sense when you read further . . .

Guys, I love Iris. Like, I've planned out her character in so much detail and I think I may have fallen in love with her sHE'S JUST GONNA BE SO AWESOME

Kai's gonna be my sarcastic best mate in my head, okay I JUST LOVE ALL THESE CHARACTERS AND SO MANY ARE GONNA DIE OH WELL

Anyways (I'm changing it to "Question of the Chapter" - makes a crap ton more sense)

QOTC: What do you guys want in a main character?

- Jazz