A/N: Hey, Ender here. A lovely extra long chapter for you guys to make up for the short ones I've been posting lately. I know it was supposed to have two fights, but I seem to be incapable of writing a short combat scene. On with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Minecraft or Shadow of Israphel


Steve's POV

"I do feel a bit bad just running off like this." I admitted to Star, peering around the corner to see if any Valkyrie were coming by.

*He'll be alright.* she assured me *It's your brothers who are in trouble right now, remember?*

"Yeah, I know." I murmured, looking away. A flash of pain from Herobrine ran through me and I flinched back, instinctively trying to escape the pain. Things had to be going badly if Herobrine was in danger like Notch had been before he had fallen into unconsciousness. There were few things that could take on either of them, let alone both right after one another.

Where are they Star, any ideas? I sent, not wanting to alert the Valkyrie I could hear approaching to my presence.

*They are near by... but on another island. I don't know the area well enough to tell you more.*

Another island? That's not good, it's not like I can fly there. Unless... I opened myself to the area, reaching out towards the one place I could think of that they might be, a smaller island connected to the main Aether palace. There wasn't much over there, just the various realm portals, the Valkyrie barracks and some of the rooms for the Aetherian lords. Just as I began to feel the edges of Notch and Herobrine's magic auras, shot through with a strangely rigid magic, Star pulled me back, her presence curling around mine to force it away from where I could sense my brothers.

*Careful* she scolded *Destiny is stronger than any foe you have met before. It would not be wise to alert her that you are seeking her out.*

I guess you're right. I sighed, looking off in the general direction where I had been able to sense them. If nothing else, my brief search had told me that they were indeed in the palace's other half, making the task of getting to them ever so slightly easier. Mindful of the Valkyrie around me in the nearby corridors and not wanting them to catch sight of me for fear they would tell Shadow where I was, I made my way towards the other island.

Herobrine's POV

There were few moments besides this one that I had felt the genuine levels of panic that were running through me right now. Beside me, I could tell that Jeb was in a similar state, eyes wide in shock and pain as he glanced around wildly for any sign of our pursuer. When the blue clad woman had relieved her true power to me, showing just how out of my league I was in trying to take her on, I had run for it, managing to get my unconscious brother onto my back and pulling a dazed Jeb along being me. Now we were hiding beneath a table shoved against one of the walls of the corridor we had run to, the closest bit of cover I had seen when the patches of blue gel that coated my legs had started to burn, making their way through my cloths and burning into my skin. I had almost crashed into a wall when I first felt it, burning sensations being something that I rarely experienced due to my powers. Even now I could feel it, eating into me, the places where it had finished doing so strangely numb. No doubt the flesh there had been replaced by the same strange bluish coating that I had spotted on both Jeb and Notch.

Where is she? I wondered nervously, peering out from under the table and shifting Notch slightly to position him better on my back. There was no doubt that she knew where we were, so what could she hope to accomplish by playing this waiting game with us.

*She hopes to draw us out.* sent Jeb, peering into the dim hallway.*That's how she plays. She stays away long enough that her prey think they're safe, then she strikes. It's how she shows her power over things, that she can control what is to happen to you.*

Geez, that's dark. How do you know so much about her anyway. In answer, Jeb pulled down a wide gold bracelet on his right arm, revealing a symbol identical to the one I had seen on our pursuer's circlet.

*She claimed me as her chosen when Steve and Shadow needed healing after escaping the Overworld. I had no idea who she was at the time, and well, it wasn't exactly like I was given a choice even then. And apparently she's supposed to be the good one.*

How is this good? I asked, attempting to cover as much of Notch's wings in my cloak as possible to keep the light from spilling out. They were quite dim now since his body was still healing, trying to deal with the damage the strange blue goo had not filled in, but at some point they would resume their normal level of luminescence.

*She's not this bad usually.* Jeb admitted *I think it's because there's so much Chaos around. Her powers are attempting to make order more influential and she's just going along with it.*

Well, I wish she wouldn't I sent. My gaze was drawn to one end of the corridor by some small sound, searching for any sign of a potential attacker. At this point, an attack would be very dangerous. I wasn't even sure that I could stand up, much less run or fight if our follower were to show themselves.

*It could be worse.* sent Jeb *Apparently there is another lord, Light, who is like Destiny but much more negative.*

Yeah, I wouldn't bring that up. I sighed With my terrible luck, that's just asking for them to show up.

*Shush, she's coming.* whimpered Jeb, pressing himself against the wall behind us. A blue glow rounded the corner, drawing nearer as our pursuer lazily searched for us.

"I know you're here." she called, a dark undertone to her seemingly light tone. "Come out, come out where ever you are."

Don't move, don't make any sound, don't even breath. I thought, squeezing my eyes closed in hopes that when I opened them, this would all turn out to be some terrible dream.

Peeking out through barely open eyes, I watched her progress down the hallway, unconsciously flinching back as she reached our hiding place.

"Oh, there you are." she said with false elation, reaching down towards us and wrapping her hand around Jeb's wrist, her nails digging into his skin as she pulled him from beneath the table and to his feet. "Oh, and your friends too." She exclaimed, flashing a dangerous smile that reveled her teeth. "Come out from under there you two. Why are you under there anyway? It's all dusty." Scooting forward to extract myself from beneath the table, I glanced at Jeb, silently asking what was going on.

*Just go with it.* he sent quietly, risking a look at Destiny *She will only make things worse if you try to resist her order. That's how she does things.*

"What are you going to do to us?" I asked, not meeting her gaze as I struggled to get to my feet. I was quite unstable, and Notch's weight on my back did noting to improve things, throwing off my usual balance and making me lean against the wall for support.

"Oh, we are going to get you poor, naughty lords patched up from where I had to punish you for doing things you're not allowed to, then we're going to find others to make sure that they are following the way of order. Now doesn't that just seem delightful?"

"I guess?" I said, the words sounding more like a question than anything else.

"What's going on here?" a very familiar voice asked from behind Destiny. A very irritated looking Steve stood in the doorway, his arms crossed in front of him.

"Get out of here Steve!" I cried, too worried about his safety to do anything else. If Destiny had been able to do this to me, Jeb and Notch, well there was no telling what her power would be able to do to Steve, what with his magic being as weak as it was now.

"Yeah, that's not going to happen." he said "This time I get to be the one who saves you for a change."

"Is this a joke?" asked Destiny, looking over Steve. "You are nothing compared to me. I control every outcome, every possibility of your little lord life. There is no path that I have not seen, and well that means I know how to keep this from ending in your favor."

"Really?" said Steve, looking at Destiny skeptically. "Well, if you're so sure of yourself, then what have you got to loose?"

"What are you suggesting?" the blue clad lord asked, her grip on Jeb's wrist loosening as she turned to face the younger lord. Jeb took the opportunity to wrench his arm from her grasp, backing a ways down the corridor away from her.

"Oh, I think you know what I am suggesting." said Steve, his cool tone giving nothing away. The small part of me that wasn't in complete panic from one part or another of this situation was impressed that Steve was able to keep so calm under Destiny's watchful gaze, especially considering the fact that he clearly knew what she was capable of.

"Enlighten me." she sighed, crossing her arms "Or are we going to play this game of guess the tactic until I actually stumble upon it?"

"A little combat." said Steve, gaze finally raising to meet Destiny's "Whichever side wins gets to tell the looser to do one set of commands, which they must do without protest as long as it is within their actual capabilities. Make sense?"

"Yes, hmm, well it's just that it wouldn't be much of a fight now would it?" said Destiny, waving her hand dismissively. "After all, your powers are so much weaker than mine. It would just put you at such a disadvantage." I felt a flash of anger from Steve but it was quickly quelled, the cheery facade replaced by the momentary anger that had filled him. There were some things that it was not wise to bring up around Steve, and the subject of how much stronger someone's powers was compared to his was one of those things.

"Don't worry about me." he said "After all, we are opponents should you agree. I have plenty to offer to this battle, don't you worry."

"Well, if you are so sure of yourself, then I can't really say no, now can I." Destiny said "Very well, I agree to your little combat. Where is it to be held? It would be quite strange to hold such a thing as this in a hallway."

Steve shrugged "It doesn't matter to me, but there is an empty room three doors down from here."

*Your brother either has one great plan or has completely lost it.* send Jeb, his words distracting me from the last of Steve and Destiny's conversation as they strode towards the other room, the two of us reluctantly following. Something told me that it would not be a good idea to try to leave, even while Destiny appeared to be distracted.

Yeah, unfortunately I have no idea which it is. I sent to Jeb, allowing a trace of worry to enter my sending I just don't want anything to end up happening to him. Looking back to the scene before me where Destiny and Steve were preparing, I sensed a strange aura lingering around Steve, not super obvious but enough that if you had spent a significant amount of time around him, you would know it was present.

"Begin." said Destiny passively once they were ready. "I'll even let you have a free hit, since it's the only one you're going to get." Steve responded with a grunt of annoyance, his complete attention on his opponent and her movements. He drew his diamond sword and ran at Destiny, swinging his sword downwards and leaving a deep cut in one of her arms. Almost immediately though the injury began to heal itself, the damage disappearing quickly into nothing. "Crafter weapons do little against me little lord." Destiny said, giving Steve a false sympathetic smile "Now, if only you had known that before you went and wasted your attack on something like what you did."

Ignoring her words Steve turned and followed his first blow with a sidelong swipe across her legs. Destiny lept back, one arm sweeping downwards to throw a sphere of her magic gel at Steve. I braced myself at the sight of it, waiting to feel the flash of pain transferred to me as it hit. Strangely though, no such thing occurred. Looking back to the fight, I saw that the projectile had bounced off a shield of gold magic that had sprung up around Steve, redirecting it to splatter harmlessly against the ceiling. From this angle, I could just about see the protection rune on Steve's arm, now illuminated with the same gold light that surrounded him.

"Hope, you piece of filth! How dare you stand between me and my prey!" the way she referred to Steve as prey angered me, but for once I knew better than to interfere. Steve seemed to have a plan, and I would only make things worse by stepping in.

*It's Star now, or haven't you heard.* a voice said, their sending tinged with the same gold magic that circled Steve. *Course you never were one to care to learn the names of your victims before striking.* Star's words seemed to enrage Destiny, her ice blue aura flaring outwards and sending splatters of her magic gel scattering across the room. Those that drew too close to Jeb and I were scattered by yet another shield of golden light. *Naughty Destiny, this fight is between the sides we agreed upon. They are not your playthings, to do with what you wish.*

"I tire of your chatter. We are enemies, nothing more. Let us end this in the way that will occur inevitably, no matter how you try to deny it. With me as it's victor."

*Do you forget who I am?* asked Star *My actions defy that has been foretold. Surly you remember that from our past combat.*

"Yes, that is evident, for I had defeated you and saw that you would not return." she spat, an ice colored glow surrounding her hand. A crystal sword materialized in her hand, the bright sheen of enchantments circling its tapered blade.

Uh-oh I thought, looking at the weapon with trepidation. The blade was like nothing I I had seen in the realms before and that concerned me. Who knew what kinds of things it was capable of.

*Calm.* sent Notch to me weakly. I could feel him stir ever so slightly on my back, his body finally content that it was healed enough to release him from unconsciousness. *Don't want to send panic.*

You're right. I sent softly, carefully controlling the strength to avoid overloading him in his weakened state. We've just got to wait and see what he will do. He might have a plan for this.

Steve's POV

Shit, what the heck is that thing? I wondered, leaping aside as Destiny hurled another projectile of her magic towards me, this one a solid ball rather than the gel she had used previously. The blade she held was about the length of my arm and glowed with a bright blue brilliance, comparable to that of enchanted blades. But the magic that flowed through it was not the typical enchanting power that usually came from that type of weaponry. Rather it seemed to be imbued with Destiny's own power, a fact that did not seem to have escaped Star.

*Don't let that blade hit you.* she sent hurriedly, another golden wall erupting from the flow to block a stream of half condensed gel.

What is it even? I asked, once again cursing my uncooperative magic as I was forced to dodge on of Destiny's attacks with no way to retaliate. Star had assured me that with my help she would be able to rival Destiny's power, but at the rate things were going, I wasn't too sure. After all, I could hardly face her in magic and the weapons I carried with me did damage that healed in seconds.

*Cosmic crystal blade.* send Star *They are a kind of offensive wand that some can summon. You can channel power through them really efficiently, and well there is also the fact that they are swords so you can do physical as well as magic damage.*

Could they hurt Destiny? I asked, crouching to allow a spray of blue shards to pass over me and attempting another swipe at her legs, which was painfully blocked by a shield of crackling blue energy. The contact sent me staggering back, waves of pain and static shooting up my arms.

*Yes it would.* sent Star *I see where you are going with this, so let me take it a bit further.* I felt a surge of her power run through me and a light weight object suddenly was present in my left hand. Glancing down, I saw a blade identical to Destiny's, save for the fact that it was ringed with Star's gold magic and shot through with traces of my dark cyan power.

*Some people can do this.* said Star *Fortunately I happen to be one of them. It's got some of your magic in it too, so it should respond to you, letting you respond better to Destiny. Be careful though. It is powerful, but there is a reason that it isn't just used every day. It allows access to powers that you might not otherwise be able to use, and there is usually a reason for that. I almost killed myself the first time I used it, and as it was I still destroyed the area in a huge radius and took weeks to heal. Just keep that in mind before trying to do anything crazy.*

Will do. I assured her, sheathing my diamond sword and exchanging it for the crystal one. It was much lighter than what I was used to, and charging towards Destiny I slightly miscalculated my swing, cutting harmlessly across the sleeve of her dress rather that into her body.

"What is this?" she mocked, eyes laughing at the display "Even with the same tools as me, you are no match for my. You remind me of my classmates in first year magics, unskilled and totally clueless when it came to what we were doing."

That would be a whole lot more insulting if I had any idea what she was talking about. I thought wryly, adjusting things in my mind to account for the lower weight of the crystal blade. I had done things like this before, it was just a matter of adjusting as quick as possible under very costly circumstances. I had no idea what Destiny might want me to do should she win, but it was certain that it was not anything I would go along with happily.

Without warning, Destiny threw up both hands in front of herself and sent shards of blue crystallized magic flying towards me. I was forced to bend backwards away from the attack, being so close to Destiny that any other movement was impossible to block the attack. Simultaneously she reached out with a tendril of magic, wrapping it around my ankles and pulling my feet out from under me. I crashed to the floor, all the breath leaving my lungs in one gasp and head spinning from the impact. Dazed, I squinted up at Destiny, trying to recall what I had been doing.

*Steve, get back!* cried Star, snapping me back to reality, but it was too late. Destiny grabbed me by the shoulder and shoved me up against the wall, holding me up off the ground and pressing her blade against my throat. Across the room, I heard Herobrine gasp, but wisely that seemed to be his only reaction. Any sign of interference would only make Destiny take action faster.

"Do you submit?" called Destiny, smiling darkly "Or do you need some more persuasion?"

*I am sorry this happened.* said Star softly *I thought we would be able to face her.*

It's alright. I sighed, eyes fixed on the blade, or at least what I could see of it. Remembering Star's words from before, I closed my eyes.

Well, if it's this or nothing. I thought, reaching for the strands of magic that intertwined with the blade's unique structure. Let's see what we can do here. Feeding more power into the blade I felt something shift, almost as if a barrier had been lifted from the world. Was this what Star had mentioned when she spoke of new abilities? The links between me and the other lords in the room seemed different, not just for transferring information anymore. Hesitantly I wrapped my magic around one, instinctively drawing the force towards me. To my surprise I felt a string of magic meld with mine, wrapped securely in my own power. At the same time, I felt a flash of concern from Herobrine, a questioning sending and touch intent on recovering his magic.

Well, this changes everything. I smirked, opening myself to the magic and immersing myself in it, pulling it to me and relishing in the feeling of power that had always eluded me in the past.


A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If so, please consider leaving a review. Also, you can leave questions for the characters in a review or PM them to me. I hope you have a great day and I shall see you all next chapter. Bye! :D