1 Chapter One

"You're a soooldier now, fighting in the battle!" XD I keep singing that now!

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"Daddy, Daddy!" Your six year old self squealed as you ran as quickly as you could to hug your father, who dropped both his suit cases to squeeze you tightly as you ran to hug him. Your thirteen year old brother, Derik, walked up behind you and hugged him as well.

"Ohhh, I missed you all so much!" Your dad smiled. Then your mom also walked up and he smiled up at her as well. Before you could finish your hug, which you never wanted to end, he stood, sliding you off of him carefully, and kissed your mom. Both you and Derik covered eachothers' eyes and anxiously waited for the kiss to end. When it finally did, your dad picked up his luggage again and you all walked from the sky-port, on your way back home. Along the way back home, using both city mine carts and the occasional horse, along with basic walking, your dad caught you guys up on the adventures he had. He told exciting stories of competitions between troops, a few games he and the men created, a couple small battles between his legion and the monsters, and even of the time he was able to meet Commander Steve. They were simple stories, but you loved hearing each and every one, especially since your dad was such a good storyteller.

"So, what have you been up to, Pumpkin?" Your dad smiled as he turned to look at you, right as everyone was just reaching the slim road back home.

"-(Y/n) has started playing soldier with sticks out in the yard. She says she wants to kill monsters too~." Derik teased.

"Thankyou, Derik, but I asked (Y/n)." Your dad said, handing his attention back to you.

"Um, I- I moved up a grade in gymnastics. I can even do a handstand!" You boasted, stopping a moment and placing your hands on the floor. You quickly rose your feet above your torso so that you were perfectly vertical, upside-down. Both your parents clapped and Derik just stood there, probably thinking of a snarky comment to say.

"Great job, (Y/n)! You are going to be such a great gymnast when you grow up!" Your dad smiled.

"And a soldier!" You announced once back on your own two feet.

"Now, let's just stick to one thing at a time." He smiled softly. All four of you continued the rest way home when the sun was just beginning to set. Unable to do much else, and it being close to your bedtime, you spent the rest of the exciting day getting ready for bed and heading off to sleep.

You tossed and turned in your bed, unable to go back to sleep after a basic nightmare themed around spiders. You listened as whispering from downstairs slowly grew sharper, giving you an intense feeling inside. You wondered what was wrong. As quietly as a mouse, you crawled out of bed and tiptoed past your brother's room. Just as quietly, you slid down the stairs on your bum until reaching a point in them that you could see the livingroom beyond through the spaces between the railing. You sat there and watched silently as both your parents spoke only a little louder than a whisper.

"Mavis, I will be fine. It is just an off schedule mission. I will come back as soon as the battle is over." You quietly gasped. Was your daddy leaving again?

"No, John, this isn't just a battle, you know that. It is a war. A war Herobrine is leading against us." Your mom warned.

"Shhh! You know no one is to say his name, especially at night. What if he comes here?"

"-What if he kills you?!" Your mom asked with a plead. "Please, we all know the danger you are in. Everyone is so focused on the Immortals who lead the wars, that they don't even notice or care about the soldiers fighting alongside them."

"That doesn't have anything to do with my safety-"

"But then what if something bad does happen to you? What if you are hurt- or worse?-"

"I said I will be fine!-So just stop worrying.... I'll be back in a week." Your dad said, opening the door with a sorry look on his face, about to leave. Quickly, you sprung up from your sitting position and ran down the stairs to grab his leg and hugged him as tightly as you could.

"Please, please, Daddy! Don't go! I don't want you to leave again!" You pleaded. Your father patted your head gently and chuckled as genuinely as he could force himself to.

"It will be alright, Pumpkin. Just keep being a good girl for me, okay? I will be back in just a few days." He told you. Slowly, you let go, almost crying. Your daddy left the house, and shut the front door behind him, leaving you to cry in your mother's arms as you both feared the worst.

The war was fought. In the end, Herobrine was banished to the Nether... But at what cost? I'll tell you. You, and your family, never saw your father again.

><><

In time, you grew up.

Out of your tiny, twig-like self, and into your plump self

That chub eventually turned into muscle and you became more serious in learning the art of fighting.

You grew out of your innocent emotional self, and into your tough self.

You eventually quit high-school altogether when you could no longer keep up; instead, you trained yourself in more practical areas, growing stronger.

Eventually.. you did it. You finally became a soldier. Where you really felt you belonged.

><><><><>16 years later<><><><><

Punch! All the greatest matches start with a brave punch. Your fists fly like bullets into your opponent's arms as he uses them to block. He is decently muscular, but far from strong enough to beat you. The game is simple. First to leave the ring wins. It is a slightly different rule set which, believe it or not, makes the fights that much more dangerous. You and your opponent must either be quick enough to run out, or strong enough to force the other unconscious so they can't keep you from exiting. The crowd of men and women, all dressed in the same atire, shout from outside the attempt at an outer ring -- it only being a line dug into the mud pit you all call camp. Your own uniform is more brown than green as you win match after match. It's become a new challenge for all the new recruits to try to beat you in a game of this sort. The young man you are fighting is only a couple years older, but putting up a good fight, better than the two or three before him. He decided to fight dirty, literally, and dives into the mud, grabbing both your feet. You fall on top of him purposefully and twist around in the mud. In a short second, your feet kick free and you flop back to tackle the man's head, which is already covered in mud. You snake your right arm around his neck as he stumbles up and grasp both your arms with the other in a perfect hold just before he realizes what you are doing. You flip the two of you over onto your backs so he doesn't choke on mud and after a solid eight seconds, he falls limp. You quickly let go and run for the boarder, winning yet another match. Everyone cheers, knowing the guy has just passed out and will be fine. Everyone celebrates your victory by high-fiving you. As you celebrate, taking that moment to drink some water as well, a couple other guys help your opponent wake back up. Once up, the man stands on his wobbily legs and smiles, shaking your hand with good sportsmanship.

"Good game." He chokes out, still recovering. You smile and nod back.

"Right back at'cha." You say.

"(Y/n)!" A deep, gruff voice snaps, sending all the soldiers into a state of shock as they all immediately stand straight as stiff as a pole. You do the same. Walking up to you is the general of your entire group. He stands tall with a bald head and no facial hair except for a bushy mustache which hides his upper lip. His uniform is a solid, dark navy blue, and sports many stars along his left sleeve, all in a diagonal line going all the way down to his elbow. He walks up directly to you, giving you little space to feel comfortable with an aura of strictness flowing head to toe around the man before you. "(Y/n), I assume?" He asks, even though he should already know what you look like. You don't question it, and just nod quickly, sweat dripping down your neck. "Ah, a bit shorter than I expected.. Come along!" He says. Then he swiftly turns and marches off; you follow several feet behind. You ask no questions, out loud at least, as he leads you into the center of camp, where the mud is instead just kicked up dirt, and the tents are much larger and a much cleaner light grey.

Your general leads you all the way into the very center tent, where you see there is actual furniture set up, with a couple nicely carved desks and bookshelves. Your general leads you past the usual desks you would expect to sit at in a serious matter -- you fear is bad -- and up to the very center desk which has a darker grey curtain behind it. You are told to stand before the largest desk in the very center of camp, wondering who framed you. Was it Jack, you knew he was a shifty one?!

After a moment or two of waiting, almost shaking where you stand, The Commander, steps out from behind the curtains. You hold your breath as Commander Steve himself stands before his desk, adressing you and gesturing for you to take a seat. You seat yourself stiffly, preparing some speach for when you are sentenced to death.

"..So, (Y/n), I am sure you are wondering why you are here." Steve sits as well and states casually. You can't take it out of your mind that you are sitting before the Steve. The one everyone says looks a lot like Herobrine, except for the greying hair on the sides of his head -- and not having glowing white eyes.. that too. You have never seen Herobrine before, but you wonder how anyone could possibly be anymore intimidating.

With no answer from you, Commander Steve continues, "I have just received word of your actions down near Gelstone Village. Everyone is saying you did an excellent job leading the troops after your commanding officer fell. Are their reports true?" He asks. You nod happily, now wondering if you are actually going to be rewarded, maybe even earn a gold star of your own to add to your uniform! "What you did was against protocol, however." Your smile drops. Steve looks at a couple papers, lifting one to read the one underneath. "Buut, it does say here that you had taken the extra courses in order to be allowed to take a charge when needed.. so you are in the clear." You smile again. "But this isn't about that." Your smile drops entirely into a straight line. "I have just received a letter, something I find quite interesting." Your head tilts slightly as an eyebrow raises a little. Steve pulls out another paper and looks closely at it, beginning to read it.

"Dear, (Y/n),

Thanks to your quick thinking and swift actions

on the battlefield, you have shown me what it is

to be a leader. You have inspired me. I thank you.

As a thanks, I am rewarding you with enough to

hopefully give you a well deserved vacation. Have

fun; visit your family. You deserve a good break.

-sincerely, Brian."

A, a break? You haven't been home in almost three years. Well, your old home.

"The funding has already reached your account. You have our approval to leave." Commander Steve informed.

"Who is Brian? Was he one of the other soldiers, or a citizen standing by?" You ask.

"It could possibly be both. Brian is a pretty common name in that region, and there are several soldiers with that name as well.. Whoever it was, though, sure must have been thankful." Commander Steve leaned back in his chair a little, in thought.

"..How much did they give me?" You ask. Steve leans forward a little.

"Three, diamond, BLOCKS." He says in amazement. You stare back at him in disbelief. Three whole diamonds would have been more than enough!

"Woah, that Brian must make a good living." You exhale.

"I know right?!" A childish grin appeared on Commander Steve's face, bringing a smile onto your own face.

"Well, wow.. Thanks, guys for telling me. I.. can't believe I will be able to take a break so early." You smile. "It really is an honor serving for you." You stand straight and tall before Commander Steve, who began standing just before you.

"Heh, well don't be gone for too long. You are a good soldier... Hm, maybe someday you will even be updated to Commanding Officer." Steve says thoughtfully. You hold back a large smile, and leave once gestured to do so. You can't wait to go back home and catch up with everyone!