Hero's Bane

by BlackDragon41

Steve discovers the land of his dreams, now he's plagued by a mirroring figure with the cursed name Herobrine, a white-eyed man with unimaginable power and a deep hatred for humanity. After coming face to face with this force of evil, he will uncover the dark history of Herobrine and strive to earn the madman's trust. All while also trying to survive and escape his wrath. CH92 up!

82. To Never Back Down

Hero's Bane

Chapter 82: To Never Back Down

A/N: I was hesitant to post this week; I've had a bit of a personal problem to deal with, I don't feel inclined to talk about it but withholding this update would be unfair to the readers and I really didn't want to push off updating another weekend for I try to post every weekend that I possibly can(I didn't last week).

I was really close to not posting though. I have mostly dealt with the issue at heart, but while I was writing this I felt as though I was dealing with the trouble myself within it, so if it sounds um 'different' than most chapters then that is why. This chapter is pretty important to me, in more ways than one; symbolic even. It's an apology… to a friend- in a way.

…

Herobrine's eyes opened slowly, his entire body felt heavy and weak; his head pounded painfully like zombies striking a wooden door with brute force. His right shoulder felt a little tender he noticed when coming to but not as near as sore as it was before surprisingly. He blinked a few times and tilted his head to the side once he saw light filtering from the skylight of the stone carved ceiling, his gaze first landed on the white quartz before moving to the miner sitting on the floor with his upper torso leaning against the well in a lifeless manner. He was dead?

The White-Eyed man blinked again and instantly tried to sit up, instead he only fell back to the floor from his weakened state with a low grunt. He still felt drained but the pressure that used to weigh him down was gone, the atmosphere didn't feel thick and it wasn't trying to force him back to sleep. He looked down at his chest when a bit of a light glow came from the corner of his eyes; it was then when he noticed that the glow was his skin returning and repairing the damage within the wound, even his shirt was repairing itself as if it a blade had never pierced it. He was finally healing, although it was a bit too soon considering the it had been struck during the fight and had opened much more than it first was. The injury even had him debilitated for a good while there and 'now' it was healing? Strange. But then again, there's no telling how long he had been out of it.

The white gaze moved back to the miner, he lifted his head up a little to see Steve's shirt drenched in deep red; right where he had landed a killing blow to the miner in his clouded rage, even the floor around him had crimson smeared all over it. His diamond sword of wrath laid a few feet away from the man but it was also covered in drying red liquid, the miner had removed it and possibly killed himself quicker by doing so and allowing his wounds to drain life-fluid profusely. Herobrine closed his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth together, he had got the miner killed; his only friend killed over something that wasn't worth it. He tried to get the foolish mortal to stop but the miner was dead-set on getting him into the water no matter what, and he had succeeded by taking a lethal blow to get the hero out of his white uncontrollable haze. Now the smell of blood filled the room and his nostrils; a smell that used to be pleasant but now made his stomach churn with distaste, Steve had fallen for nothing with absolutely nothing to gain. He trusted Notch and death is what he got in return.

The man growled and balled his hands into fists. So this was Notch's plan? To have him kill his only friend so that he would suffer with the guilt? Just like when he watched Lionel die, he didn't watch the miner die but the human looked dead from his position and it seemed like it was so considering the blood loss; his senses had been dulled down by his weariness so there was no telling from his perspective but it seemed to be true. He wouldn't be so thrilled to get up and find out, he almost didn't even want to waste his time to see the truth. He simply didn't want the truth. This is the punishment Notch had given him, the miner was a fool to follow such a deceitful divinity. He was dead now. Killed out of foolishnesses and rage, Lionel's one descendant that was so much like him, gone; gone just like the sentinel.

"Y-you must be getting softer… Brine." Steve's voice echoed on his head, he could still see that pained smile. "You didn't last- so long in that cr-crazed state, I thought you… you said that you were g-going to kill me-? Got-gotta try harder than… than that."

…

"I'm s-sorry I couldn't keep-" He could almost see Lionel in that same pained face. "Ke-keep-p it. ..."

…

"Forgive me for this Hero-brine." Steve's voice sounded, that hurt smile on the man's face was the last he saw of the miner before the plunge.

…

"I'm… sorry-. Forgive- …me-… Hero-brine." Those sapphire eyes of the sentinel's closed for the final time.

Herobrine seethed quietly to himself, he then gaped silently when he felt something warm slip down the side of his face. He reached a hand up and wiped the drop off of his cheek only to smear the small trace of fluid across his hand, there was no doubt that he was feeling guilt for what he did. His eyes narrowed and his expression changed to one of frustration. Herobrine tightly squeezed his hand into a ball; concealing the smeared tear in a tight shaking bind, he hated it and the smell of salt. Sorrow and guilt was perhaps the weakest of sentiments, they were overly pathetic but undeniable in this case; he had fallen far enough to show such pitiable emotions. The heavy pain of betrayal already stung his upper torso bad enough, now his pride was unraveling itself to show someone a little more meek on the inside. Someone a little more… human. It was a bitter and distasteful concept to accept, but he had to swallow it. He did afterall; bring this deep pain upon himself by cutting the miner's life short, someone whom by all rights deserved to live.

Stewing in physical pain was nowhere near as bad as the other 'weaker' kind of pain. This new loss was just as bad as losing Lionel; only this time he caused the death with his own two hands. Both men in their dying breaths sounded nearly the same and asked of forgiveness for two totally different reasons but held that same sad farewell expression in the midst of their nearing demise. Both of them had tried to remove a blade and got themselves killed by their wounds, so for both deaths it was practically his fault. He had unintentionally dragged the sentinel down with him in his appearance before unjust human law of the fortress, the fighter would never leave his side by his debt and fellowship; Herobrine knew that he should have pushed his friend away when convicted but just ultimately couldn't and nor could he free the man from the sword that had him pinned. Then the hero couldn't warn the sentinel to stop moving the impaled blade and Lionel died faster by worsening the wound by accident, he died because of him.

Steve wanted to help him but was misguided and blinded despite his better intentions, the man fought for what he thought would help the hero but Herobrine had cut through the miner himself in his blind rage. He tried to stop the guy and found no other way to do so, things might have ended better if he had just retained control of his fury and knocked him out and pushed him away from the fortress and northern lands by force. But no, his anger got the better of him. Both Steve and his predecessor were killed by blades and by him no less; just in different and unintentional ways. Steve however just had to die directly by his hands, that is what hurt the most.

He had been a coward just as Steve had said, Herobrine still lost in the battle but the miner paid dearly for his victory. It just wasn't worth anything to the miner and yet he persisted to go against him, blinded by wanting to do a noble deed for the creator and get everything he wanted in return out of obedience. Notch had truly won and he killed his friend; he was the biggest loser in all of this, being too much of a damned coward that he would force himself to kill the miner to avoid endless tides of punishment. It was a selfish and conceited thing to do to ensure his own survival and wellbeing when he knew he would have taken a more permanent life in the Nether or any other world for that matter over losing either of his brothers.

Brothers?

The old hero blinked and looked back at the motionless miner, surely he often compared that man to Lionel; his brother, but to consider Steve as a brother too? It didn't take too much thought to get an answer; Steve was like Lionel and in more ways than he wanted to count. Selfless, considerate, self-sacrificing? There was no doubt in his mind, Steve was no replacement of the sentinel; he was worthy of such a title. A brother… that he killed.

You took his life once… a very long time ago…

There was no explanation for the words he just thought up, it didn't even make much sense either. It was as if a calm and collected voice had spoken to him through the furthest recesses of his memories, for whatever reason; he did not know. What he did know was that it troubled him, like a self-reminding message that will repeat itself as the years go on and on and he reflects on the battle he just had; that is unless he should fall from his stable condition or continue to obey Ender and do what he was trying to do before Notch's presence entered this world.

… While you were more of his- shadow.

Herobrine squeezed his eyes shut and winced, he could feel a light pounding in his head like another strong migraine was coming on. -His shadow?- He couldn't understand where these words came from or how they seemed familiar; all he knew was that it didn't make any sense to him. Herobrine lightly groaned from the rising ache.

He was destined afterall to determine your fate, either to end it or spare it, he was given this right after you killed him.

Herobrine's eyes snapped open and instead of seeing a high stone ceiling he found himself standing upright in a small wood and cobble house that reeked of blood and dust. The first thing he caught sight of was the windows adjacent from him. The windowpanes were mostly broken out and let drafts of fresh cool air of the night mingle with the stale odor; one of the glass frames had small streaks of crimson drying on the large jagged ends as if someone was slammed into it until it broke and cut the person that struck it.

There was a fight here.

Only after looking around the dark spacious place did it seem to be so, the house was a wreck and littered with destroyed possessions. Furniture and various decorative items were scattered all across the room, chairs were broken, a large wooden table laid on it's side with a missing leg, ceramic plates were shattered to pieces, glass shards and bits were everywhere, several apples laid in the nearest corner next to a huge bowl, blank picture frames barely clung to the wall and hung at odd angels, books rested on the floor along with wooden bowls and silverware at his heels, and one iron sword was laying on the ground in the middle of the room; not one drop of red stained it's sharp edges. The weapon looked unused despite the droplets and small puddles of dried red nearby.

Herobrine looked around the area to see what had caused the damage and who the unfortunate victim was, his white gaze quickly landed on a large dried puddle of crimson next to the empty fireplace. The body was gone but the evidence of a murder was there, a gleaming diamond pickaxe laid in the center of the crimson mess, only it's sharpest end was soiled by the red.

Someone had been killed here.

Herobrine dismissed the notion and walked over to the bloodied pickaxe, it had a shine to it; not one of the enchanting kind but one of a pale glow. There was a window close by, moonlight filtered through the broken glass and highlighted the diamond's lustrous surface. Even the pool of red had a little bit of pale-bluish light despite most of it being dried out. The old hero reached down to pick it up, mostly out of curiosity; but as soon as his fingers touched just a little of the wooden handle he flinched back with a loud cry. Herobrine immediately stumbled back after several short images of a beaten body flashed in his mind. He snarled in anger and backed further away from the pick, what happened was something that he could not quite understand. What he saw though was bruised skin and blood, the skin looked beaten until it was dark in color; skin that appeared to line a male human's arms and neck. The blood though, he saw that same pick buried in a mortal's chest; right where the heart was supposed to be, buried in cyan fabric stained deep red.

The most troubling thing about what he saw is that it seemed familiar, it also made him oddly furious; just seeing the house in shambles and the blood had his rage growing and he didn't know why. He raised his hand up and held it out before him, small flames then crept from the floor between the wooden planks near the walls and grew quickly; the licking fire moved along any flammable surface and consumed everything it touched. It wasn't long before most of the house was burning and crackling from the flames, such decent craftsmanship was being eaten away by a rage he couldn't understand. Seeing everything burn however, did make him feel a little better about destroying what exasperated him but he was no where near content; that vision of the battered body annoyed him to no end and yet it didn't exist. Or perhaps it didn't anymore. He didn't even see a face but he hated that mortal, he hated the fact that though it was gone; he was in dissatisfaction and strangely- guilt.

Snorting in disgust the White-Eyed man walked back towards the diamond pick; casually walking around the long flickering flames, the fire had yet to reach it thankfully. Herobrine stopped before the wretched tool now gleaming with shades of reds, oranges, and yellows dancing in it's reflection, he was not so eager to take up the tool but he figured that in doing so then he'd get answers. He leaned over and grabbed the wooden handle, when he did everything went black.

White eyes shot open to a high ceiling of dark gray, he leaned his head up from the floor to notice that he was still in the fortress and not in that burning house. The old hero's head met the floor again and the man sighed heavily while rubbing his aching temples, again he had been plagued by a vision he couldn't comprehend; one familiar but somehow foreign like it never happened but did happen at the same time. There was no telling why he was having such strange imaginings.

That would probably be Notch's doing as well, he heatedly thought. His pointless rage diminished when he turned his head to the side to see the shrine; the miner's body was still there, so stationary and still as if it frozen in time.

It was Notch's fault for deceiving the miner into betraying him; giving the man false hope and words of trickery to bring his own destruction. That god was truly vile, going so low to toy with his own creations; now he had been toyed with as well as punished. And to not even account the other wrongs done to him, it was the creator's power that robbed him of his freedom and caused him a great loss once before. Now there was no telling what the powerful divinity did to him in that water.

Realizing that he was just at the creator's mercy had his mind in tumult, the White-Eyed being mustered enough of his strength to fully sit up. He could feel all of his limbs and move them freely, he still felt exhausted but could move so he wasn't paralyzed again. He waved his arm out and concentrated power to his hand to form a diamond sword; cyan particles came together from around him and took slowly took shape. His indestructible blade but also his bane was resting in his hand after a few long seconds. He still had his power, so what had been taken this time? Herobrine let the sword disperse into fine dust and vanish into the air. He noticed that there were some small patches of fire here and there; fire that he apparently summoned during his fight, he moved his hand up with his palm facing the floor and slowly lowered it downward. The few remaining flames shrunk down and died out as his hand neared the floor.

Now staring at the same palm he could see nor feel any kind of change in his body, his clothes were still a little wet so being in the water was highly evident, but there was nothing different that he could immediately tell. Something had to of changed, he was no longer in the depths of the black fluid so what happened? Did nothing happen? He thought silently. But that couldn't have been right, the last time he was punished he was forced to lose mobility and the ability to speak along with his brother. So what did he lose this time? Just his brother? He highly doubted that the creator would be so lenient after terrorizing his people for decades only to give up their essences to be extinguished permanently, so why just have him kill the miner and that be it? It just couldn't be, there had to be something done that he could not detect. It was irritating to not know what he had to deal with now, it was even more maddening than just taking a loss and have to be find a few nasty surprises at any given time. Now this… this kind of retribution would be much more devastating, to suffer the death of a friend and wallow in it until he got struck with a physical problem.

"Damn you Notch!" Herobrine roared in the soundless tower, still unable to shout out words but completely able to vocalize his anger and pain in a mighty bellow. "What did you do to me?!"

The White-Eyed one immediately went stiff, he held his breath and turned his head towards the well when he heard a low groan; his white eyes widened when he saw the miner subtly move his head back in forth while opening his deep blue orbs to a partially open unfocused gaze; his eyelids laid low in his weariness.

He was alive? Herobrine was at a loss for words as he sat there with his mouth a gape slightly, the miner wasn't dead…yet? He couldn't believe it, the wounds were too great and yet he has not died. Relief washed over him along with confusion and uncertainty, then came doubt. He did lose quite a lot of blood himself through his biggest wound so it was hard to tell if he was actually seeing the impossible or just creating it himself in his most vulnerable state. Surely his mind was only tricking him into what he was wanting to see, no human would survive so long with injuries that great.

Steve appeared very lethargic with his slow and careful movements, he was in a massive amount of pain but he was also very tired and sort of light-headed and sick from the powerful smell of blood. He heard words from the only one that could speak to him and then a loud cry, Herobrine was certainly alive and not punished as far as he could tell; of course he wasn't even looking at the guy so it was hard to affirm. Notch wanted him to trust him and freed the old hero as he pleaded, there was hardly any doubt that the being was suffering from some burden. "That's good." He whispered to himself with a weak smile before letting his eyes close again, his grin was quick to fade with the growing tenderness from becoming awake and aware with his horrid wounds.

"Mortal?" Herobrine called quietly to the man in uncertainty, he heard the miner speak but that may have been an illusion as well created by himself. Still, he had to be sure. "You're still alive?"

Steve heard the words echoing in his head but he was hesitant to respond, he just wanted to sleep to put his pain at ease than deal with a powerful enraged being, he was sure that the old hero was going to wring his neck out for not listening to him soon enough anyways. However; Herobrine did sound surprised and sort of worried so answering would probably be for the best. "Yes." He started with a pained groan. "Very much ali-alive." He finished as he winced, his neck and shoulders felt on fire; it also pulsated to his displeasure after becoming more awake.

Herobrine sat in a moment of silence after he got a response, this he knew was real; there was no trickery of the mind this time. This was no dream; as the master of the nightmare realm he would know if this was surely a dream, Notch's involvement would be the only thing to give him doubt. The creator did have more power over him but gauging the miner's very movement and reply he saw what was true, there was no force that he could detect that told him that he was being toyed with. Besides, he was healing pretty fast apparently so how could he be so delusional? The ex-hero swayed his head back in forth from his own needless doubts, he should have known better from the start.

It was tough but Herobrine rolled onto his knees and pushed himself upright; fighting the drained and nearly powerless feeling that continued to envelope him, he stumbled back a step but forced himself to stay balanced on slight wobbling knees while he walked towards the miner. He was eager, wanting so badly to go to the miner whilst the man was alive; there was absolutely no telling how much longer he had to live in that condition. He could possibly save him if he acted fast enough; if he waited too long then the regenerative blood he had wouldn't work quick enough to stop the life threatening injuries. The miner was fortunate enough to survive their encounter in the silver sentinel's old home; this time he may not be fortunate enough considering the large size of the current wound and the puncture in his lower side. This didn't even count for possible cuts he didn't remember in making while in the white haze. Then there was the hidden embedded arrowheads that were deep in the flesh.

Steve's head raised up a little from the sound of nearing but uneven footfalls; he looked up to see Herobrine walking towards him with a bit of a stagger while holding his wounded arm, the blood had magically vanished from his clothing and looked as though he didn't take a single cut. That immortal appeared well healed overall, he did however; look exhausted. Perhaps his body was still trying to heal him and kept his energy low in order to make the necessary repairs? The same couldn't be said for him though if that was the case. His healing wouldn't be as … efficient and quick, much less painless; if not more painful if he didn't die first.

The miner carefully lifted his right arm up with his open hand being seen by the immortal as a gesture to halt, he made a twisted expression of hurt and fear as he did. "Stop Herobrine, you need to rest; don't waste your s-strength."

"I have plenty." He countered with a huff without stopping.

That was not what Steve wanted to hear, he'd rather have the guy just stay put; there was already too much that he had to deal with; the growing agonizing pain was the biggest factor. Taking a few strikes of rage would make everything so much worse, it could even kill him if enough force was applied in his state. "I know you're mad at me, I- … I betrayed you." He said with a lower tone, still taking the heated sting of the damage he received. He moved his outstretched hand back and grabbed a hold of his shoulder, holding the wound shut to try and alleviate the intense burning.

Herobrine stopped within a few blocks of the miner; he was trying to see the deadly infliction he created but the miner hid it with his arm, it was obviously bad but he needed to see it. He did not forget the miner's response however. "You deliberately betrayed me. Threw me in when you knew that I was well against giving into HIS demands. There is no trust from me." He warned with his eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry Herobrine, but I was not only into helping you alone; but humanity as… as a whole. As I've said before, we n-need all the help we can get; Notch is the greatest form of help we could possibly receive."

"And must I remind you that he wouldn't need us to stop the beast. You know that if he created it then he could just as easily destroy it, he needs no help from mortals nor me; Ender probably isn't even within his active radar. He likely cares not of the beast and has forgotten it, the same could have been said for me if I wasn't freed. Your creator was bored and wanted a little more amusement in his game, you were just a tool to satisfy his wretched attention as was I. Now look at where we are, you sit there dying and I-… I am left with something."

"What did he do to you… this time." The miner hissed and rolled his head back with the feeling of fire and painful pulses running across his sheared veins and muscle strands.

"I have yet to figure that out, I am surprised he didn't take you. … Yet." The being started towards the miner with a more slower amble. "I first thought he did when I saw you laying there in a slumped position and completely motionless. How are you even still alive? For a mortal you have lost too much blood, you shouldn't even be conscious right now; let alone breathing." Herobrine stood before the miner and spotted two stone arrowheads lying on the floor to the side of the mortal, removing them along with the blade was not a very smart idea; but leaving them in would be just as bad. One accidental fall or wrong movement could have made the severity of the wounds grow, he was astonished that the man hadn't fell over already. Herobrine kneeled down slowly onto one knee, he was close enough to the miner to reach out and touch him. "I shouldn't even be concerned with the likes of a traitor, in fact; I should leave you to die or deliver my wrath for such an atrocity like I did for Brutus." He reached an hand forward.

Steve reeled back a bit and attempted to scoot away from the immortal's hand coming at him, he didn't move back far enough fast enough because the old hero caught him by the arm and pulled at it. The miner instantly felt his wounds stretch a bit and wailed by the twinge as his clasped arm was removed from his shoulder. "If you're going to kill me then I und-understand, but please; not this way."

Herobrine tightened the coiled fingers of his free hand on his knee and snorted, he closed his eyes for a short second and drew a good breath of cool air. He wanted nothing more than to express his rage from such betrayal but he knew he couldn't, he was fortunate enough that the miner was even alive; beating on him in his current condition would surely be the end of him. He was simply too frail from his wounds and blood loss, the miner was probably too weak to stand or even sit up on his own anymore. But despite making such an transgression to do what he thought was right, he went against him above their camaraderie. Herobrine had every right to make the miner pay and yet he didn't, he himself had betrayed the mortal twice, he was the one more deserving of punishment; it wasn't an easy thing to accept but it had to be done.

"Stop pulling away." The ex-hero grumbled as he carefully tried to pull the miner's wrist away from his shoulder with caution to prevent further harm, the miner wasn't trying very hard seeing as he was in enough physical distress. "I couldn't kill you right now if I tried, I already went through the pain of believing that you were dead; why would I want to go through the same feeling twice? It's a pathetic sentiment to endure."

"What?" The miner inquired with a bit of surprise and let Herobrine pull his limb from his collar and shoulder.

Herobrine gaped silently from what he saw, the miner's wound wasn't draining of blood no more but instead healing. A light faded white glow filled the insides of his deep gash and began the slow and painful repair; no wonder the miner was in such pain, but how he was healing was a bit of a mystery. "You're healing?"

Steve; in despite of the blazing tenderness in various places of his body, smile lightly. "Yeah." He replied softly but cringed from another pulse of Nether-hot blood going to work in a more sensitive area near the surface of the skin of the largest injury. "At first… I thought that I was going to die when I pulled you out of the w-well." Steve took a few deep breaths and held back the need to cry from the intense ache; it was much more stronger now that he was fully awake and without any adrenaline reserves left to block out such debilitating throbbing. "It hurt like the Nether to get you out and the… the water- it burned." He paused again and closed his eyes while leaning his head against the white quartz.

"The water?" Herobrine inquired with a raised brow.

Steve merely nodded and inhaled more softly. "I didn't realize it at first, I was set- on getting out when you were f-freed of the depths." The miner waited a long minute before opening his eyes and swallowing the pain down enough to continue speaking. "Your wound… your blood was in the water."

"Then it must have gotten into your own wounds then. That would explain why you are healing, but-." Herobrine looked away for a moment in thought before making a fixed stare back at the miner. "How long have you been sitting here, or how long has it been since I was thrown in and retrieved to the time I awoke?"

"Why would you need to know that?" He shuddered, still trying to withstand the physical misery.

"Just answer me!" He barked, Herobrine immediately let his enraged expression fall back to a more calm one when he noticed that he frightened the miner a little.

"It's been a couple hours at leas-t."

A sigh of relief escaped the being's lips, the human had been exposed to enough of his blood and in a nick of time; there was already enough damage to him to kill him over twice. If it had been too much longer before exposure then he would have died; the wounds were too great and the show of life-fluid around them was the proof. Thankfully his own liquid curse worked miracles in human bodies, replicating cells quickly and adapting to the blood type; working much faster with unnatural properties. It was but a temporary thing though, his body is what made the fluid strong; without it the power would fade within a short time and act as if it was a human's. But still, Notch had dulled down his power and made him weak forcibly, even his own blood would be then be hindered and unable to heal the miner quick enough. So how did it happen? How was it strong enough?

"Why do you need to know?" The miner grunted and removed his hand from the hero's grasp to his injured wielding arm, the fire sensation was now burning him there.

"It's nothing to worry about." He replied blankly. "You were fortunate with the timing, that is all."

"That's good to hear… Do you feel any different?"

Herobrine shrugged. "I don't feel different, but I know that your blasted creator did something; I just don't know what yet. Why have me thrown into the water … that black space otherwise?"

"Maybe the beaming light coming from the well had- something to do with it." He inhaled deeply, feeling the heat now biting at the wounds on his back.

"The what?!" Herobrine shot a look of surprise then slanted his brows inward with the need for answers in his blank eyes glaring into the miner's. "What light? What happened when I was in that well?"

"At first nothing." Steve answered quickly and grabbed a hold of his shoulder to hold the wound in place as the throbbing continued to grow. "But then a bright bluish-white light shot out of it and shot to the sky like a beacon light, it faded… shortly after." He grunted lightly. "Then it faded and you broke the surface of the well, I retrieved you and that is all I know."

"Are you sure?" The White-Eyed one asked with seriousness in his tone and in his eyes.

The pained mortal nodded.

Herobrine growled and stood up, feeling a bit more stronger than he was only minutes ago. "Damn it! What did he do to me?!"

Steve grabbed the sides of his head and cringed. "I don't- I don't know Brine, but please don't shout so loud. I'm in enough pain as it is, don't make it worse."

The immortal being glared at the well and walked closer to it without even a trace of fear, he peered into the water to see his reflection in the now dark tainted blue; he could not see anything but the black deep below in the infinite well. With a huff he looked away from the water and took a seat on the quartz barrier, he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. It looked as though he was going to have to figure out what the cruel creator did to him whenever and wherever it happened, there wouldn't be any warning if he was to suddenly freeze up by paralysis or become instantly weak at a moment's notice. He could have anything happen to him and he just wouldn't find out until it was too late to do anything about it, he hated this concept. Herobrine gnashed his teeth together and sneered darkly at the floor next to the miner.

Taking a bit of pain to turn his head; Steve moved his gaze to the side to see Herobrine glaring rather coldly at him, it made him feel troubled like he was the cause of the rage. He actually was kind of the reason for it. "You're mad at me aren't you?" He asked as calmly as he could, trying to avoid any negative responses from someone so upset and enraged. Blue eyes looked away. "I know I betrayed you, I just- I have never heard anything like that before; I mean it sounded human but was strong and reassuring. I knew it was Notch's voice, he wanted me to get you into the water and I obeyed him instead of you; I stretched our trust and tore into two."

Herobrine moved his gaze away from the man and sighed, he folded his arms in disapproval of the miner's previous actions. "I am infuriated with you …but not to a strong degree, you did betray my trust and gave me over to that bastard; but you did what you believed to be what was the right thing to do at that time. Notch can be deceiving, you know what he has done to me in the past through mortal demands, no human has the power to make me powerless. Only Notch can, you even saw how he brought me down a few times during our battle. I would have been more furious at you if I didn't nearly kill you at the end of the fight, regret fills me every time that I see that wound; I detest it. That very injury could have killed you, I would have-." Herobrine fell silent, he may have called the man his brother to himself but saying it aloud was just not going to happen; especially after falling away from trust.

"I deserved it, I drove a wedge between our trust. I just wanted to stop the End beast so badly, to end the suffering and prevent the innocent from being used to kill more innocent or feed the monster. I was willing to do anything to go that far, I knew that I could not face the beast on my own; let alone find it without help from someone powerful enough who can. When I encountered you and argued my reasons I thought that I wouldn't be able to get you to help me, but I was wrong."

"My business with Ender is none of your concern, and as part of my code I cannot end my debt on my terms; only he can end it when he says it is done. Being killed by you would have ended it but you don't have the strength to do so, I know this feeling myself; I used to have no trouble in toying with you before deciding your disposal. Now just coming so close to taking your life has filled me with dread and guilt; I doubt that I'll ever be able to do such a thing again."

That was a bit of relieving but distressing news to the miner. To know that Herobrine wouldn't try and kill him again; intentionally that is, was somewhat comforting considering his reputation for being the White-Eyed demon. But knowing that he cannot simply give up the debt and go against the beast was alarming and left him feeling alone in his one way mission. Notch had been his other only hope but he has not received any word since the last few ones spoken to him; he could try and ask again but he was told to trust the creator and throw the old hero into the water. Now he did not know what the god had planned or even if he had any intentions on helping him deal with the beast from the start, so far it seemed as though he was only dealing with Herobrine and Herobrine alone. He was too afraid to ask for the god again aloud or even in his mind where Herobrine could see his intentions, it could end up being a waste of time and breath anyway. With a deep sigh Steve leaned his head back against the quartz column and stared at the sky. He just had to hope that Notch was still at work, still planning on helping him out after asking for it before forcing his friend into the well.

"I didn't want you in this place for starters," He started again. "You have betrayed me twice, as I have to you. There is no need for vengeance for either of us anymore, we have both paid the heavy price it seems, or you have so far. I believe mine will come within time." He said more softly while lightly gazing at his hands, he still had traces of dried red within the nails of his left hand; where he had jabbed the miner and pierced through skin. Not all of it had washed away in the well, this was a sick reminder. "Still, despite our skirmish; I do believe that our trust can mend. What happened was not entirely your fault, it was mostly mine."

"Really?" Steve shot a puzzled glance at Herobrine who had turned to look into his eyes at the same time. "You'd take most of the blame and forgive me that easily? After that fight and all of the words we exchanged? That easily?"

"I suppose? I know that what I did would be harder to forgive but as I've said; I was particularly the biggest reason why you ran away and why you came back. I made the mistake of reveling a painful event in your life and trying to get you to kill me; that was truly unfair and you did not deserve what I put you through. All you did to me was come upon forbidden turf and get persuaded by Notch to punish me. So I have forgiven you, or mostly anyways; being practically thrown into Notch's clutches by the only one I could trust was a big test of our trust. It'd take some time to get over that. … …It of course would eventually be for naught, I don't plan on going against my liberator no matter what."

"You're not going to help me then." Steve said with a disappointed tone, there was no surprise to Herobrine's choice.

"I am afraid so, I'd take being a slave and living in madness than going against the one thing that removed my 'could have been endless' torment. I could still be in the Nether burning and have no ability to escape today if it weren't for the End lord. I may hate Ender now but my code is strict, once you leave here then I will forget and continue as if this 'disturbance' had never happened." I hope to never cross paths with you again, for shall I do; it'll be your end.

Steve felt his hands ball up, he attempted to sit up and stand from such harsh words but only wailed and fell back against the well with a hiss; it was too soon to move. "No." He closed his eyes briefly and fought the bitter thought of being alone while facing such a devastating beast, it appeared as though he had no choice but to now. Either with or without Notch helping him from afar.

"I cannot change my mind."

"So you're saying that I'll have to do everything on my own and confront the End Lord on my own, maybe even fight him alone?"

"That's suicide mor- Steve." He corrected with a bit of concern. "You know of his power so why do you want to go at him so badly, it'd be a lost cause to just step within his presence and die. A pointless death. Besides, he's untouchable as far as I know. In a world so far from here and beyond human reach, there wouldn't be any hope of finding him anyways. Notch has done nothing to help you, there is no need to rely on him anymore. It's best to call it quits and go home-"

"I won't! I'll never back down again!" Steve shouted and clenched his teeth from such cowardice, he then pushed himself away from the quartz and only toppled to the floor with an agonizing cry when he couldn't force himself to stand with his wounds still so tender.

"Why would you insist on doing so!" Herobrine leapt up from his sitting position and walked over to the man before staring down at the eager and foolish miner. "How many times must we discuss the likely fate of reaching him. He destroyed my own hands with an orb, he'll have no trouble tearing you asunder; or worse; devour you alive. He's been abandoned because Notch not only got bored of him but he feared him as well." The White-Eyed man refolded his arms. "That is what the beast had said to me before, I didn't believe him until I felt his power for myself. Now even I have a-" Herobrine looked away with a detestable expression. "Even I now have a bit of a fear of him." He said with reluctance and moved his gaze back to the miner with his expression now one of self irritancy.

"I no longer care more for myself Herobrine- …" Steve let a shockwave of pain flow through his body before speaking again. "I used to be so afraid of you, so afraid to die. But I found out something that I fear more than anything else in this world."

"And what is that?"

"Losing those closest to me."

Herobrine oddly felt himself take a step back with his arms falling to his sides, he gaped slightly with an look of shock on his features. Again it was coming back to him, losing the very few closest to him. Conner, and of course his best friend; Lionel.

"So what if I die, or if I don't even make it to the End? I've got only a few in my family left, Stephanie is twenty years old and a Nether of a good fighter; she'll take care of mom for me. My mother and sister are very dear to me as well as my friends, new and old. Even you." Steve endured the burning pain from his movements and pushed himself up onto his hands and knees while mostly holding back the evidence of physical aches; it was nothing compared to the pain of losing them to the beast like the other half of his household was. "I'd rather die trying than to give up and gamble our fates every single day, I'd gamble on finding a way to end the destruction of the innocent than wait my turn to die and or sit back to watch it all happen." His eyes were hidden as he hung his head low and growled deeply; fighting two different kind of pains. "I don't want you to have to continue a debt that you were forced into; agreed or not. Endless torment or endless and mindless slavery are the same in my book Brine, suffering is happening through both and I want it to end; whether I get your help or not."

Herobrine was at a loss for words, he never anticipated that the miner would continue such an impossible task; knowing all the risks and the very likely outcome of his fate. It was maddening and yet; inspiring, dangerously inspiring. He coiled his hands into fists. This was obviously madness on the mortal's part but he was embracing it, so filled with determination like he could pull a victory at no matter what odds were stacked against him. He watched as the miner cried out from stretching wounds while forcing himself to stand; it was unpleasant to the ears but the miner was not caving into the horrid pain.

The mortal miner kept his back to the old hero, he didn't want to see doubt at a time like this. It didn't seem like he was going to get much help from Notch yet, nor help from Herobrine; he'd truly be alone to find someway and do the unthinkable or go down like the family name does. He kept his head held high, realizing that there would be no turning back now, giving up here would mean more death and likely his own in a short time. He did not come back to this valley and nearly die in a fight to turn back and live out his life like a coward, to allow all that he cared for suffer from his fear. Lionel never gave up on Herobrine so why should he? There would be a way to free him of the debt but it'd be a challenge like no other. Exhaling softly he finally turned back around to face the man that would strike fear into the hearts of many; it no longer gave him fear though "You can revert when I go, I cannot stop you nor sway your decision anymore. I realize that you have your reasons and will not throw away the loyalty and trust you own, I don't blame you for that anymore. It was pointless to do so to begin with, I was clouded by my own judgment to see that. I know you don't even want to but you will out of cowardice and whatever kind of code that you made with my distant grandfather back then. It'll make no difference though; I must find a way to stop it, if I do then you will be free of your debt and no more forced to be a slave. If I can negotiate then I will, but if I must fight… then I will." Steve looked away. "Fight a good fight, right?"

"Give everything you've got." Herobrine continued the saying. "Till the very end." The mortal's resolve was definitely dangerous, so much that Herobrine himself wanted to fight when he knew he had absolutely no right to against his liberator. -Damn you.- Herobrine oddly felt a toothy grin creep across his face and his eye twitch, never more had he ever wanted to go against the beast; especially since it was a friend who was wanting to free him and die trying. That grin faded fast though, the miner had turned back to him and lightly smiled; it was that same farewell smile he saw on the miner when he first thought he killed the guy.

"That's what I plan, I won't let you stop me. I made this decision before I even got here. I won't back down or runaway anymore, even if I have to do it alone."

Herobrine blinked and his eyes widened when the miner started to shudder, that smile was gone quick and a hand traced back up to the large wound; those blue eyes though moved back down to the stone floor. Herobrine's white gaze moved from the man when he noticed a puddle of red forming beneath the miner's feet, he had been moving to much on bad wounds that were still fresh and healing; a foolish thing to do but encouraging as despite the fact. The immortal shot forward and caught the miner by his arm. "I won't stop you Steve, you're strong; in the way that I am weak." That was hard to admit, he scoffed at himself from saying those words so thoughtfully.

"Uh, thanks?" The miner gave him an odd look as he spoke. "It must have been hard to say that, calling yourself weak."

"Yes, but forget about that. … I wish I could be more like you, truly. Lionel… he'd certainly be-" Herobrine looked away for a short second. "He'd be proud. And for what you are about to do that is absolutely preposterous and possibly unfeasible- even if you have to do it alone… I should help in some way. Anything to give you an edge."

This came to as a surprise to Steve, he honestly didn't know what to say. Herobrine had been against fighting his liberator the whole time. It was hard to remain standing with his strength draining from him literally but he stood firm and maintained balanced to keep the immortal at ease.

"I will help you, not to fight him… but to prepare you to. Once you have healed enough to fight; I'll train you to the best of my abilities, even an insignificant fighting advantage is better than nothing… should negotiations fail."

"You'd do that?" Steve asked with a glint of hope in his eyes.

"Err- This is already prodding against my code, debts are debts; even endless ones. I owe my liberator as much as he desires, but he has not ordered me to withheld any preparation nor fight teachings to a mortal. This much I can at least give to you, for everything that you have done for me."

…

A/N: Hope you guys liked, it's mostly a dialogue chapter but it's setting up for a future battle. I don't know what I'm going to update next, I suppose either this or Give up the Fight. I have a poll on my page for those who want to vote.

Don't have much to say this time around other than review if you'd like.