Lion (TheSilentKiller-)

I darted my eyes around. Wide, flat plains stretched blocks away. Out of its edge lay a river, flowing smoothly as it can. Behind the river rose trees, oak and birch. A mountain stood at its peak beyond the skies. A naturalist will look for a scenery like this. Peaceful, calm, and open. But for some reason, I'm not happy with the meadows to see.

"Lion..." a voice echoed near me. It sounded strange, yet familiar.

I widened my eyes, unsure of what to do. If I remember correctly, then that voice belongs to...

"It's me..." the voice echoed yet again. I clenched my fists. It couldn't be... It couldn't be...

"No," I muttered.

"Please, son..." the voice pleaded, "I just wanted to protect you."

"Protect me?!" I suddenly blurted out, not even looking at my father, "All you did was send me into a facility that felt like the Nether, Dad! You raised me, only to use me as your puppet! You only betrayed me for money!"

"But that was all I could do!" my dad argued, emotion in his tone. "I only did it for our family, son... Our future."

"Our future?! You made my future look bleak and shady! Look what you've done! Do you think that a father would let his son get despised by society? That he would just let his son get hunted down just because he has this special ability found in him?!"

"I didn't mean to, son! I looked everywhere for you! I tried to undo what I've done! Even I had to turn myself into a Project just to find you, son!"

"Son? Do you think I feel like a son to you?!"

"Please!" he pleaded, sobbing, "You have to understand..."

I groaned. One way to settle this...

I darted my eyes around, making sure that I don't make eye contact with my father, and a few blocks away laid a lava pond.

I inhaled, then dashed straight to the lava pond.

"Son! Stop!" my father cried, still sobbing tears (I could hear him), as I heard footsteps land on the grass.

A few blocks away from the lava, I jumped, rolled myself into a cannonball, and landed straight into the lava.

* * * * *

"GAH!"

I opened my eyes and rose out of the haystack in a quick and sudden manner. Breathing heavily, I instantly recognized that the moon still shone above the train.

"Oh Notch..." I muttered while taking inhales and exhales.

Ignoring the scent of manure, I heard someone's voice.

"Are you okay?"

I turned around and I saw Nev. She went close to me, less than a block as I recognized her beautiful face, her eyes looking straight at me.

"Yeah. Just a bad dream," I answered.

"More like a nightmare."

I chuckled. I love it when she does that.

"What did you dream about?" she asked as she laid down beside me.

"It was about my Notch-forsaken father."

"What made you say that? The Notch-forsaken thing?"

"My father betrayed me for money. They sold me to BukkiTech so that they could experiment on me. I used to love him more than anything else, but I guess he turned out to be a laughingstock when it comes to parenting."

"Hey, don't say that! Not everyone has a family that accepts them just the way they are," Nev told me.

"I could've killed him when I did. But, there's this tingling sensation that stops me from killing him."

Nev remained silent.

"It tells me that even though he betrayed me, he's still my father. I just wanted to prove to him that I'm not... naive."

"Lion... Look at me."

I did as what she told me.

Putting her hands around my face, she said, "You're not naive, Lion. No one wanted this kind of mess to happen. After all, your appearance kept reminding me that I should live on... For Minecraftia, and for you..."

I felt the urge to purr. This is what I like about her. It feels very different when I'm around her. I didn't feel this kind of warmth... the warmth of comfort and love, one I never experienced in my own family. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I felt so much warmth in me, and my heart pounded a thousand times faster.

"I-I-um... thank you..." was all I could say.

She smiled, "You're welcome."

I placed my hands on her cheeks as I moved closer to her, the distance between us measured nearly an eighth of a block.

"This is what I like about you..."

Nev's cheeks reddened, "Lion..."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

I kept my calm, but inside I felt those three words strike my heart like a thunderstorm. Those words that soothed my feels, as I regained comfort in her. I moved my head to the point where our foreheads actually touch.

"I love you too," I replied.

She smiled, and her cheeks reddened a little bit more. I could feel her hands touch mine.

"Just say you won't let go..." she said.

I smiled back at her, "I promise."

I leaned towards her, our tips of our noses touch.

"Good night," I greeted.

"Good night," she replied.

I watched her close her eyes. I couldn't help but watch her serene expression as she slept. I brushed the hair off her forehead, revealing her beautiful face in sleep.

A few moments later, I closed my eyes, sleeping with one of the persons that I loved the most. The haystack and the manure didn't made it as romantic, but I knew it'll do.

(Shh don't be dirty-minded you guys)

* * * * *

Persephone

I watched the treeline, with the full-sized moon behind it. As the treeline passes and goes, so does the days. It felt like it passed by so fast, I didn't even thought of what should I do next. I just let the night environment envelop over me, as I gazed on the mountains that soared above the skies behind the treeline.

"What are you doing here?" someone asked me from behind.

I took my gaze off the scenery as I turned behind me.

I sighed, "Ray, I couldn't sleep."

Ray walked near me, "Why? You should be asleep, my Arctic fox."

"The train's too shaky. The manure didn't help either."

"Understandable," he commented as we sat beside each other on the open train cabin door.

"What are you pondering about?" Ray asked me.

"Time really flies. It's just two days, but so much chaos I couldn't have imagined," I told him, "Nether mobs invaded our base, get dispatched to Perlough, teleporting to Heijokyo, and now we're going for Bergenheim, with one casualty in the process."

"Probably a thousand more," Ray added as I thought of Storm.

"I really just wish that this civil war is over, where we could live in peace, free from discrimination," I continued.

"If I had the power to do so, I would've stopped the war," he commented.

"I even wonder why would the President even do this..."

"You know, Persephone," Ray said, "I remember this one book about legends that my mother once told me. Minecraftia was once ruled by a tyrant being named Herobrine. He almost destroyed all of Minecraftia but luckily, this warrior named Jeb stopped him."

"Legends are legends, Ray," I remarked.

"I know," he replied, "But thinking about the President reminds me of Herobrine in a very weird way."

"I couldn't imagine," I commented.

"So do I."

Then, awkward silence enveloped us, save for the muffling of the engine and our breathing.

"Persephone."

"Yes?" I replied.

"Not being pessimistic or anything, but do you think we'll survive this war?"

"I hope we survive, but only time will tell."

"Well, Persephone," he said.

"Yes?"

"Before anything else happens to us, I just wanted you to know that I love you."

My heart pounded as I moved closer to Ray, leaning on his shoulder in front of the open cabin door.

"I love you too, Ray. Ever since Nev started shipping us."

"Guess Nev made the right choice to ship us then," he joked as we laughed. She made the right choice indeed...

When the laughing ceased, I turned towards Ray, who in turn also has his eyes on me. I felt a resurgence of warmth in me as my heart rapidly pounded.

Then, Ray leaned in, and did what I did not expect.

He closed his eyes and puckered his lips. He went closer until our lips touched. I felt much more warmth in me as our contact went on. I heard my heart pound faster. His hand brushed my hair. I felt his arms surround me as I heard his heart pound as well.

But honestly, I did not expect him to kiss me. Telling me that he loved me was kinda expected, but kissing me was a whole new level.

He then leaned out, ending the kiss.

"I love you, Persephone, more than anything else in this world."

"Oh, um..." I muttered in embarrassment as I felt so much awkwardness in me. Warmth developed in my cheeks as I fully knew that I blushed.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. The only response I could give was to wrap my arms around him.

Before I knew it, I kissed him back.

-=-<|>-=-

Hurray for Chapter 32. And it was romantic AF.

This wasn't longer than I expected but I think the next chapters will be longer.

also don't be dirty-minded you people.

What will happen next? What surprises await the team in Bergenheim? Will they finally confront the President? And if so, will they finally overthrow him? Find out next time on Minecraft: Arctic Fox!

Thanks for reading! And please don't forget to vote, comment, and follow! All of those will be greatly appreciated!