Dang, I really went and made a book, worked on it the entire week and ignored all my other projects, and now this has more chapters than either of my actual stories. I don't know whether to laugh or feel stupid.

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[Sabre's POV]

It's been a few days since we helped Yellow, and I'm feeling a lot better now.

Orange is still being cautious about my injuries, but they don't hurt anymore and I can walk just fine. We've been able to change the bandages regularly so they stay clean, and Orange actually found some medicine in that abandoned hospital he talked about, so that sped up the cuts healing by a bunch. Speaking of him, Orange actually found a way to fix my hoodie and stuff! He even made it fluffier... somehow. Eh, I'm not gonna question it, I love my fluffy chicken hoodie.

Right now I'm reading a storybook Orange gave me next to the river, while he... I dunno what's he's doing. He's holding Gerald up by his front legs while they're both sitting on the floor, and just... moving him around but Gerald is like... standing up? I'm not really in a place to judge though, I'm weird too.

I then remember that the apple tree I planted a while ago started growing fruit recently, and I put down the book and walk over to where the tree is, next to the house and the crop garden. Sure enough, when I check, I see that the tree's branches are covered in bright red apples. Awesome!

I climb up to one of the spots of branches that are strong enough to sit on, and start grabbing apples. I had already eaten five when Orange walks up to the tree, having seen me.

"Sabre, what are you doing up there?" Orange asks. Whoop, I'm in trouble.

"Uhh... nothing." I say, trying to hide the evidence behind the tree leaves.

"I can see the apple cores Sabre, come on." Orange says. "Get back down here."

Aw, man. I climb back down from the tree and Orange picks me up as I wipe the apple juice off my face.

"I already gave you food like, two hours ago." Orange says. "What did I tell you about slowing down?"

"Yeah, but that was two hours ago. I got hungry again." I answer. "And nothing's gonna happen, I don't need to 'slow down'."

"Yes, you do." Orange giggles, and he pokes my stomach. "You're already squishy enough, you don't need to be extra squishy."

"Shut up." I grumble, and Orange just laughs more and starts walking towards the gazebo.

Orange Steve sets me down on the gazebo fencing, and we both talk together for a little while. Mostly about how Orange is planning to take me on his next supply run trip, since I couldn't go on the last one. He actually is already wearing the backpack, so maybe he's planning that for later today? I don't know, but I hope so.

Our talk is interrupted when we hear lightning, and we look to see where it's coming from. It's the yellow portal, just like last time.

"What the-" Orange begins, but I accidentally cut him off.

"It's Yellow Steve again!" I excitedly say, and I jump off the gazebo railing and run towards the portal.

Stopping a little bit away from it, Orange catches up to me pretty soon and picks me up. Once the portal activates, Orange runs through like always, and I close my eyes as we enter the sea of colorful swirls.

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Nope, nevermind. Still not used to that.

I feel us land, but I don't open my eyes yet, trying to settle myself so I don't lose my stomach right here and now. Orange adjusts his hold on me and notices my situation.

"Sabre, you alright?" Orange asks.

"Mayyybe you were right about not eating those apples..." I say. "Give me a minute."

Eventually, the nausea fades, and I open my eyes again. Orange smiles once he sees I'm alright.

"Better?" He asks.

"Yep!" I smile back.

I look around for our friend, but I don't see him.

"Where's Yellow?" I wonder aloud, and Orange seems just as confused.

"Hm, I dunno..." Orange mumbles, putting me down and also looking around. "He'd be here, right? Otherwise, why would the portal put us here?"

Suddenly we hear someone behind us.

"Oh, there you guys are!"

Orange and I quickly turn around, and standing there is Yellow Steve, now wearing a leather chestplate. Orange and I smile and walk to our speedy friend.

"Hey, Yellow!" I greet him. "Cool gear."

"Thanks, little guy." Yellow says. "Found out that humans can't identify other robots through their serial code like we can, and we all tend to look the same a little, so I got this so you two can tell me apart from the others."

"Wait, others?" Orange asks.

"Oh! Right, I didn't tell you where I was taking you!" Yellow says, and motions for us to follow him. "This way!"

Yellow takes us to a path in a hill, and a little ways away is where the path leads: A kingdom, covered in yellow banners. Two giant statues of a person holding a gold sword are on either side of the gates. A castle's towers peek over the walls surrounding the kingdom. For a few minutes, Orange and I just stare at the kingdom, which is seemingly glowing.

"You're taking us to the Yellow Kingdom?!" I say, and Yellow smiles.

"This is only the second-strongest one, even. Still pretty cool, huh?" Yellow says.

"Why are you taking us here?" Orange asks. "I know that the Yellow Steves haven't really been talking to others recently."

"Uh, that's just... the strongest kingdom." Yellow says. "This one is actually much smaller than that one, so we've been welcoming outsiders for things like trading still. Anyway, word got around pretty fast that there's a human here, in this world. And when I told my friends about how you saved me when I got back, well... it also got around quick that you're caring for Sabre, and I have contact with both of you. I got called by the King here this morning, and he asked me to bring you two to him. He wants to meet Sabre for himself."

"I'm gonna meet a king...?" I ask, in wonder. I've only ever dreamed of things like this, from stories! And now actual royalty wants to see me?! This is amazing!

"Yes, although..." Yellow continues, turning to face me. "He asked me to bring you in discreetly. Orange Steve is alright, we see people like him all the time during trades. But, well, you're a human. And humans are kind of a big deal around here. Sabre, you might not know this, but us Yellow Steves tend to get... excited about stuff like this. It'll cause mayhem if you're seen in the kingdom, so we need to hide you until we get you to the King."

"Oh." I say, a little confused. It can't be that bad, right?

"Either of you got ideas to sneak you in?" Yellow asks.

We think for a second, then Orange perks up and slides the backpack off his shoulder.

"Sabre can hide in here!" Orange says. "He's small and can probably fit, and the thing's empty anyway, which makes it even easier!"

"That could work..." Yellow says. "Sabre, can you climb in and see?"

"I'll try." I say.

Orange brings the backpack to my level, and I hop inside. As Orange lifts up the backpack, I sink inside the fabric bag and fall over inside, no longer having something solid to keep me standing. Orange lifts the backpack's flap all the way open, and it turns out I fit in here with height to spare. Orange giggles as he looks down at me inside the bag.

"Pft, you're so small in there." Orange says, and I hear Yellow giggle.

"Yeah yeah, it works, I get it. Just- stop teasing me please." I say. "It's not my fault I'm short!"

"Okay, okay." Orange says, and Yellow peeks into the bag.

"Just don't speak once you're fully hidden in there, okay? People will hear us if we try to talk to you, and then your cover would be blown." Yellow says.

"Okay." I say.

"Good, off we go then." Yellow says, and suddenly the flap closes.

I'm left in the dark, only the smallest bit of sunlight filtering through the fabric of the backpack.

"Hey!" I say, annoyed.

"Shh. We just talked about this." Orange says.

I just stay seated in the backpack, listening to Orange and Yellow's footsteps as they walk toward the kingdom. A short time later, I start to hear lots more people... we must be entering now. The sound of people running along cobblestone paths fill the air, and there's a lot of excited chattering among the Yellow Steves. I overhear a few different conversations as Orange and Yellow make their way through the streets.

"Did you hear about the human?"

"Of course I did, Isn't it amazing?! I wonder how he was just found recently..."

"You don't know? He's from a different world!"

"Really?!"

"Yeah! It's been going around that he's from a different post-apocalypse! One with really scary monsters!"

-

"Oh my goodness, did you hear about how small he is?! He's like, under half our size!"

"Yeah, it's adorable! How he was able to help with the Darkness if it's way bigger than him, though?"

"In the prophecy, it's said that the human arriving to help the Hero would use the power of mind rather than his strength. He probably outsmarted the Darkness somehow."

"You think he's come across a fully infected person yet?"

"Wait, is he really that small?!"

"Yeah, he's short. I thought he'd be a normal-size human too, heh."

-

"What did that scout say his name was?"

"Sabre, apparently. Isn't that also the name of a type of old sword the humans in our world used?"

"Yeah, but it's spelled a little differently than the sword name. It's still cool, though!"

-

"I'm honestly kind of jealous of the Orange Steve that gets to watch over him. The little human sounds super adorable!"

"Yeah, me too, kinda. Biological things are pretty fragile, right? So he needs to be protected! If he was with us, the human would never be in that much danger!"

"But Orange Steves are the most physically strong, so it makes a lot of sense that one would be protecting him. Have you seen one of those guys fight?! Once, Builder and I saw one fight off one of those bears that hang out in the snowy place with just a really long stick!"

"That was a bowstaff, Careful. Not just a stick."

"Oh."

"Guys, I don't think that the Orange Steve was assigned to take care of the human. The scout said that the Orange Steve said he and one of his friends just found him while he was injured. So, he just got to him first. Besides, we couldn't really get to protect the human ourselves, since there's the issue of... him."

"Oh... Yeah, with him working with the Darkness and all, I don't think he's going to like the news that the prophesied human might have appeared."

"Hopefully he doesn't get too mad about it..."

What are they talking about? Who's 'he'? Why are they so scared of him?

"They really seem worked up about Sabre, huh...?" Orange cautiously whispers to Yellow.

"It's all anyone's talked about since I got back." Yellow whispers back. "Don't be so nervous, we're almost there. Then we'll be in sight of the guards, so nobody's going to do anything. They know you're bringing Sabre in."

I hear them both stop somewhere. The clanking of armor and chains sounds in front of us.

"State your business!" Someone yells.

"None of your business, now drop the bridge!" Yellow Steve says. Dang, I didn't know he could be sassy.

"That's the scout, the Leader has asked to speak with him. Drop the bridge!" Someone else yells.

I hear more excited talking behind us after the person orders for Yellow and Orange to be let in. I hear more chains clanking, then a loud 'thud', and Orange and Yellow start walking again.

It's a little bit before I hear a door open, and I'm startled by a loud voice.

"Who dares enter my kingdom?" Someone says, projecting their voice across the room.

"Hello, sir. It's me, the scout you asked to retrieve the Orange Steve and the human." I hear Yellow say.

"Ah, hello again." The person says, who I can guess is the king. "I see the Orange Steve, were you able to get the human inside without any complications?"

"Yes, I have him." Orange says. "Hold on."

I feel Orange take the backpack off, and a second later the flap opens. Orange reaches inside, and I wrap my arms around his. He then lifts me out of the backpack, and sets me down on the ground, facing the king. The king has gold armor, and a crown adorns his head. He's sitting in a large throne. Two people are standing next to him, I'm guessing guards. This is intimidating...

"Hello, sir." I say, admittedly a bit nervous.

"Oh my goodness, he really is tiny..." The king mumbles.

What is it with everyone bringing up the fact that I'm short?! I get it already, I'm small compared to the rest of you! Ignoring that comment, I keep listening.

"Did he really deal with a group of Darkness?" The king asks.

"Yes, outsmarted them by running into the forest and using his size to his advantage, so he tricked them all into running into things." Yellow says. "Ran pretty fast, too."

"That's not the first time he's done it either." Orange adds. "He helped my village by doing the same thing. He got the Darkness to chase him to lead them away, trying to give everyone an opportunity to get out. Then your scout came along and helped, too."

"Hm... well, he's definitely proven himself capable of battle." The king says.

Wait, he's not gonna make me fight, is he? I'd get squished! I'm brought back to the conversation when the king turns to me.

"Your name is Sabre, correct?" He asks.

"Yes sir." I answer.

"Well, Sabre." The king says. "You are aware of the prophecy, right?"

I nod.

"Did you enter through a portal like the prophecy says, or did you arrive here on some other term?" The king asks.

I look at Orange, asking if I can say it, and Orange nods. I turn back to the Yellow King.

"Yes, I did." I answer. "I got here by going through a portal, while I was running from a being in my old world. Orange and his friend then found me and helped me out."

The king thinks for a moment.

"Do you realize how important the prophecy makes you? Because of your statement, you've come very close to confirming you're the human mentioned in the prophecy." The king says.

"No... no really." I say.

"Well..." The king says. "Just know for now that you're indeed important to this world. If you ever are in need of a place to hide from the Darkness, you're welcome here. None of us can risk it getting to you, and the shield here keeping it out will protect you."

"Oh, thank you very much, sir." I say, a small smile crossing my face.

"That is all I needed for you for now." The king says. "You may go."

Wow, that fast? At least it wasn't too boring. Orange scoops me up and places me on his shoulder, and he walks out of the castle with Yellow Steve.

"Mind the others, okay?" Yellow says. "We can't really hide Sabre anymore because of the guards' yelling about you. The rest of the kingdom is probably just going to keep staring at you, but nothing else. Just a heads up."

As we walk back into the kingdom street, people stare and excitedly talk about us as we pass, just like Yellow said. I even spotted a few guards that were around talking with each other while looking in our direction. Dang, Orange and I are kind of a little deal around here. Eventually, we get back out of the kingdom gates, and Yellow turns to us.

"You're good to teleport back home out here." Yellow says. "Man, I am so getting badgered with questions about you two once I go back inside."

"Heh, try not to go crazy." I say, and that gets a smile out out Yellow. "Seeya around!"

Orange and I wave as we're teleported, Yellow waving back. I hope we see each other again soon.

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It's way later that night, and Orange is chasing me around the house, trying to catch me so he can put me in bed.

"Sabre, you're going to bed! Get over here!" Orange says as I round a corner we've been going around for the past six minutes.

"Nope! Not tired!" I say, and I slide under the table. Orange has trouble reaching me over here.

Orange Steve stops in front of the table, crouching down to see me.

"Not tired, huh?" He says, his face a mix of amused and a tiny bit annoyed. Fair, I've been running from him for an hour now.

"Not at all." I say, crossing my arms.

Suddenly, I'm pushed towards Orange Steve from behind, and Orange doesn't waste the opportunity. Orange grabs me and picks me up, and I'm unable to squirm out of his arms.

"Hey! What was that?!" I say.

"Got you now." Orange smugly grins.

I look down at the table, and Gerald is poking his head out from under it.

"Gerald, you traitor!" I gasp. "You usually stay out of this!"

"I told him I'd get him a little upgrade to his speed if he helped me." Orange grins, taking me upstairs. "He races the other pigs sometimes, and wanted to zoom by them on the next one."

"Hmph. No fair." I grumble.

Orange gets to my room and sets me on the bed, then takes a little weird-shaped bottle out of his pocket.

"I read about this stuff helping humans to sleep, so I picked some up when I went to that abandoned hospital a little bit ago." Orange says, handing me a little purple tablet. "It's called melatonin."

"I don't wanna." I say, staring at the purple thing in my hand.

"Sabre, I caught you fair and square." Orange says. "You need sleep, take the dang thing."

I sigh, and pick up the bottle of water I have on the nightstand. I quickly take the tablet and then drink some of the water, not wanting to taste the thing. I put the bottle back and Orange sits down next to me.

"Should work soon." He says, ruffling my hair. "I'm gonna stay here for a bit and make sure it does."

I just watch the stars out in the balcony for a little bit, Orange doing the same and occasionally looking back at me. I even see a shooting star once, but I don't really have anything I want to wish for right now. I can't think of anything else I'd want.

...Man, this 'melatonin' stuff ain't sh- Oh dang nope it works-

......

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[Orange Steve's POV]

Oh, wow. That was fast. Maybe I should use that stuff on him more often if it makes it that easy for him to fall asleep... Actually, probably a bad idea. Maybe only use it on nights like this when he's absolutely refusing to sleep.

I get up from sitting next to Sabre on the bed, and turn the lights off as I head back downstairs. I see Gerald sitting on the couch, and give him a high five.

"Thanks bud, I'll get that upgrade for you tomorrow." I say

Gerald gives a happy oink, and I walk off into my room to grab a book I got recently. There's something in it that caught my eye... something about humans.

I'll find out what it is in a minute, as I read.