"We weren't always like this. We didn't always have these powers. I remember what happened before all of this. I was just walking through a normal field. I was living a normal life. Then, everything went black. When I woke up, I felt… different. I felt more aware, if that makes any sense. I looked different, too. That's when I saw them… the others. At first, they welcomed me with open arms. They treated me like an equal because of my power. However, Zero was not so lucky. They thought she looked weak and that her powers would be useless. She was mistreated day after day. Eventually, I had enough. I stood up for her. That's when I found out the truth: they had no qualms about caging me because they thought I was weak, too. They only wanted me as cannon fodder." Astrid finished, tears brimming her eyes.
She stood in the grand hall of the Shade Village, telling her story to the rulers. They all just stared in disbelief until Yaebi broke the silence… with laughter. "You honestly expect us to believe that you were once a donkey? And that little porkchop over there was once a normal pig?" He continued to laugh.
Skelly smacked the back of his head, hard. "Sorry about that. He's an idiot." The zombie boy glared at her. She continued. "This is a very pressing matter. Someone or something has successfully created artificial rulers from animals."
"That's not all. Whoever made them has directed them to target the rulers. The attack on the human settlement was probably orchestrated to get our attention." Mire said.
King Steve snapped his fingers. "That makes sense. The attack happened on a day of peace. The rulers wouldn't care about the human settlement's affairs on any other day. This was an attack against all of us."
"But who has such a motive against us? Who would be willing to break the laws of nature just to attack us?" Rube asked.
"Astrid, Zero. Do you know who the Master is?" Tony asked.
Zero suddenly shuddered. "He… he never told us his name… he never spoke. But…" She shook in fear.
Astrid put a hand on her shoulder and looked at the group. "His… his eyes. They had no life to them. They glowed as bright as the sun."
"No way… Herobrine!?" Andr said, alarmed.
"Why would that monster want to attack us? Why would it even need minions to do it? Herobrine is one of the strongest beings in this world!" Yaebi said.
"Probably out of boredom." A monotone voice suddenly said. The group turned and saw that H had finally appeared. Zero and Astrid immediately cowered under the table.
H looked at them, unfeeling. "Oh. You have the failed experiments."
"H, what in Notch's name is going on? Where have you been? You've been gone for weeks!" Saber barked.
H ignored her as she floated toward Astrid and Zero. They froze as she came only inches away from them. "The Master wants to see you." She looked around, noticing the missing spider rulers. "I'm assuming the spiders are taking care of the rabbit."
Yaebi clenched his teeth. "H, you've got a lot of nerve showing up here! You have some explaining to do."
The divine being had no emotion as she raised her arm, sending the zombie flying back. He groaned as he landed. Blazette and Hamilton quickly went to his aid. He glared at H. "Why you-"
"Yaebi, that's enough." Skelly said. She turned to H. "Can you please explain what is going on? Why is Herobrine creating rulers?"
"Why don't you ask it yourself?" H raised an arm and, in the blink of an eye, the entire group disappeared.
No one had expected the sudden transport. It was instantaneous and nauseating, but effective. The group looked around, confused. Blazette felt her body heat rise along with her anger. "Where are we? What did you do?"
King Steve answered before H. "You've brought us to your master's domain. We're in the cave of Herobrine." Tony looked at the elder king, hearing a strange nervousness in his voice.
Rube frowned. "H, you still haven't answered any of our questions."
"Father will answer them. Follow me." She began floating down the long, dark corridor. The group looked at each other before pursuing her. Fortunately, the tour was not too long as the corridor opened up into a massive cave… with Herobrine floating in the center. Behind him, the animal rulers stood, but they seemed blissfully unaware of the situation. It was as if they were under some kind of trance. The rulers gasped as they saw the animals. King Steve stepped forward. "Herobrine! What is the meaning of this!?"
The monstrous being screeched as it held out its arm. H suddenly went limp before her eyes glowed bright. She turned back and, for the first time, grinned. "Hello, rulers. I'm sure you're curious about my little surprise."
"H? What are you talking about?"
"That's not H anymore. Herobrine has taken control of her body to communicate with us." Steve explained.
The being laughed again. "Indeed, old friend. My Heroinebrine's body was truly my greatest creation… well, until now." It looked at the entranced animal rulers with a sadistic grin. "They truly are magnificent, aren't they?"
"Herobrine, why are you creating rulers?"
"Why? Hm…" It put a hand to its chin. "No reason. Perhaps for experimental purposes?"
"Experimental purposes? How is this experimental? You'll destroy the world seed if you keep altering these creatures!" Atlas pointed out.
Herobrine cackled. "I'm no fool, librarian. My power can hold this world together as I see fit. The world seed will be fine."
Tony frowned. "That's still no excuse to do whatever you want! You've made these rulers and brainwashed them! Why?"
"My, my. You're time in this world has made you more bold, human. However, it seems to have made you rather dense as well. I can do whatever I please." It floated above Astrid and Zero, who cowered in fear. "I created these rulers by joining my divine power with the witch's Chemical X, which she gladly gave me in exchange for Tony last year." The group looked at Hex, who shrugged nervously. Herobrine continued. "I didn't brainwash them. This is just a… side effect. My power courses through their bodies, not dissimilar to my Heroinebrine's setup. This creates a mild problem."
King Steve sighed, knowingly. "You created other divine beings."
"Well, now. The old human still isn't senile." It raised its arm, a white glow suddenly surrounding Astrid and Zero. They panicked as they were lifted into the air.
"N-no! Astrid!" Zero held onto her friend, tears threatening to rush from her eyes.
"Hang on to me, Zero!" Astrid yelled.
Herobrine smirked. "Adorable. The glitches have bonded.
"What are you doing!? Put them down!" Hex barked.
"Oh, I plan to. I just need something from them. When I was creating the rulers, there were a few who didn't fully accept the power I gave them. I don't know why, but they had steel resolve. Now, because of that, I can counter this blasted link with the others." Herobrine clenched its fist, causing Astrid and Zero to suddenly scream out in pain.
"Stop! You're hurting them!" Tony called, drawing his sword.
Herobrine grinned. "It'll only last a moment or more!" It opened its fist as a white pulse of energy burst from the pig and donkey girls. It pushed everyone back, including the entranced rulers. However, once it reached them, they fell, unconscious. Herobrine grinned and dropped the now-unconscious Astrid and Zero before floating towards the other animal rulers. Rube frowned. "What happened to them?"
"They are no longer in my control. That burst of energy was just what I needed to sever my link to them. They have their own free will." Herobrine raised its hand, teleporting the unconscious animals away. It looked back at the rulers, blank faced. "They have been sent to their respective habitats. When they wake, they'll see the world for themselves. That's why I created them." Before anyone could ask anything else, Herobrine returned to its own body, screeching as it flew away. H regained consciousness and her emotionless expression. The group ran to her. "Are you okay? What did Herobrine mean?"
H remained unemotive as she answered. "When the animal rulers see the world outside they'll get mad. Cows are slaughtered. Wolves and ocelots are nothing more than house animals. When they see what the world has done to their 'subjects', the rulers won't be their targets anymore."
Tony gulped. "They'll wage war on the humans."
Author's Note: When I first uploaded the chapter, something went wrong. I fixed it, so it should be alright now. Sorry for the miscalculation!
