Hero's Bane
Chapter 88: Regret He will Have
A/N: Not a chapter I'm too happy about but it's okay I guess. Even out camping I bring you another chapter. Thank you for reading my story and edits, I truly appreciate all of you who read and enjoy this story and I hope you'll continue to for more to come.
Humans, they were everywhere around him; all standing quietly and all facing the same direction while staring blankly across the horizon of the barren flat plains. Herobrine glances around at the mass in confusion that he stood amongst, none of the mortals are looking at him nor running from him; it was almost like he wasn't there or they were under some sort of paralysis spell. The ancient hero notices the sky, it's dark, not quite night as no stars were visible; but neither was it day as there were no sun to shine. Only thick clouds hang from above in a dark claret veil, the deep shade of burgundy reflecting on the clouds gave them an ominous look. It was unusual, the sky was not the right color, but neither were the humans normal as the sea of people were all gathered in one place just standing idle; almost as if waiting.
Herobrine found it odd, humans tend to socialize and are too impatient to stay standing in place for too long. Also for the fact that 'he' was in their presence, surely they'd all be filled with terror or unease; yet there was no response whatsoever. What was even more strange was how quiet they were; like living statues that didn't know how to do anything but stand and breathe. Annoyed, the old hero pressed through the people and towards the direction they faced; there was so many and none seemed bothered by him at all as he combed through the crowd unapologetically shoving past anyone in his way. He had to find out why he was around so many humans and why they were all just standing there, it made sense to head towards the direction they all faced; maybe then he could find his answer.
...
Steve slowly blinked with heavy eyelids and groaned quietly, his tired eyes begin to focus as he comes out of his dazed stupor; as if waking up. Noticing that he was standing and surrounded by people on all sides quickly brought him to awareness, he rubbed his head and blinked again before looking at the people around him in puzzlement; there were so many. "What's with the crowd?" He asked in bewilderment. Why were they just standing there doing nothing? He wondered. There were people of all ages and sizes, young and old, different races, all encircling him. He turned his head in the direction that they all faced and stood on his tiptoes to get a better look at what they were looking at, but he saw nothing but the backs of heads of thousands. "What's going on?" He asked subconsciously to no one in particular, wrapping his one good arm over the one bound as an uncomfortable feeling began to settle in. Something wasn't right, he was supposed to be underground mining for diamonds.
The miner shook his head and reached for the nearest shoulder closest to him, it was that of a tall man clad in iron armor; the dark-haired guard had a big build and quite the muscle mass. He was actually intimidating with a burly and stern look to him but definitely tall enough to see over most, maybe he could explain what was going on up ahead? Maybe a good shake would snap him out of his blank stare? Steve sighed before he shook the guy, hoping for a positive response and not to be smacked away for being a nuisance. "Um, hey. What's happening? Why are we here?" Steve asked, but the man stood still and ignored his questions. "Hello?!" Even the rough desperate sways of being shook elicited nothing. "Can you hear me?!" He asked more loudly and even proceeded to wave a hand in the man's face, again they guy did nothing but stare and occasionally blink.
Moving back into place Steve gawked in confusion and huffed as he ran his hand through his hair, wondering where he was and why no one would snap out of this sort of trance. He couldn't also help but wonder why was the sky a reddish color, it was harrowing.
It's almost like he was having some sort of dream.
"Wait, a dream?!" Steve shouted and quickly closed his eyes. If he realized he was dreaming then he could simply wake up right? To his surprise however; he doesn't wake up, his eyes pry open but he's still standing among the people and the sky is still a faded red. "Notch?" Steve asked as he scanned the atmosphere above, wondering if the Minecraftia creator was showing him some vision, but there was no response from him either. "Why am I here?! Am I trapped in a nightmare?!" He cried out, it went ignored. He groaned loudly in exasperation at the mad silence around him and the lack of answers.
Chills quickly crawled up his spine and all over the exposed parts of his bandaged torso and arms, something was amiss. Steve quickly looked about in fright, the hairs on his neck stood on end and he shuddered. Something bad was coming his way and he could sense it like how he was just trained to; it was a bad presence and it was heavy in the air, almost choking. Steve grimaced in apprehension and again searched the crowds with widened eyes and a panicked expression, everything felt wrong. The motionless people, the unnatural sky, the unnerving presence. Adrenaline flooded his system and his heart began racing in his chest, he soon began to believe that he wasn't dreaming as his body in panic mode felt very real.
...
Herobrine stopped in place and looked up in shock as a huge shadow with large wings and a long tail flew overhead and into the distance behind him, as it passed over the ground trembled from the gale of wind it brought along with it.
"Herobrine." A loud and deep voice bellowed across the skies, a monstrous roar then echoed.
"That voice." The white-eyed man said to himself with his eyes widening before narrowing in realization. "Ender." He hissed.
...
"Herobrine?" Steve quietly asked from the familiar voice that called, he realized that he might not be alone in this strange place; well alone as in being able to actually think and move. The miner looked around more feverously throughout the multitude of people to hopefully find the hero before the creature that called his name found him first.
...
"Fetch me their souls, every last one." The voice demanded with a deep resonating guttural growl following after.
White eyes search the clouds above and glance around for the flying beast. "No, not yet! If the miner stops you then never again will you command me to do so beast!" The ancient hero protested with a scowl and coiled fists as he kept his gaze on the skies above, he soon realized what he had said aloud then frowned deeply with clenched teeth; his eyes move back to the ground. For a brief moment he dared to hope, he really wanted to.
"Herobrine." The voice echoed loudly again. "Let us have our revenge. Slay them until your heart's content, don't forget my share. Notch must pay."
"Wait. ... That. I've heard you say that before, a very long time ago; right after our agreement." Herobrine said to himself quietly as he recollected the aforementioned words, but it's been so long. The old hero then blinked when he noticed something within his right hand; he looked down to find his blade of wrath in his hold though his hands were just empty seconds ago. Another loud roar echoes from above and the stationary humans suddenly snap out of their fixed positions and become lively, looking around in fear and screaming out as the huge shadow passed over once more. Herobrine had noticed that all of the people around him now quickly fled from him and his sword, all gravely terrified and running for dear life. Not from the black hazy form flying around; but from him, their affrighted eyes were currently focused on him, not the monster roaming the sky.
The mortals cried, screamed, begged for mercy, some were in tears, others in pain as they attempted to flee from him but struggled by their own masses blocking or slowing escape. Something about them acting like this around him did not bring him joy, his senses were dull and not heightened like they once were on the hunt. Ender demanded that he kill these people but he had no such desire despite his resentment for them, yet his wielding hand lightly trembled in his grasp. He pressed the flat end of the blade against his leg and held it there, he wasn't going to give in to the End lord's demands even if the itch wanted to be relieved. He was his own master, Steve told him this. He will have control.
Soon something caught his eye from his right, he turned his eyes towards an unnatural darkened figure with his bright white eyes; a black shadowed version of himself steadily approaching a woman as she angrily screamed for him to leave. Herobrine fully turned towards this form and stared at the two, the woman's face... The ancient hero blinked and shook his head, almost in disbelief. He's seen her before, he recognized her facial features, tan skin, and locks of long blonde hair, along with her black dress and black heels. It felt like it's been ages since he saw her, but he knows he's seen this woman's face before but just can't recall much more of her. He lightly gaped as the black shadowy form of himself began to steadily approach the lady with an arm raised, sparks danced around the limb and blazing white eyes narrowed, the woman tripped backwards as she took steps back and fell to the ground; that was when the shadow leapt forward and took her by the throat and hauled her up to meet his furious gaze and stared.
Herobrine may of hated humans, but he wasn't about to allow some entity to start to killing off all the mortals; until Steve was dead and gone he did not have to worry about collecting souls so these humans were safe from him for now at least. Steve would want him to protect them if he wasn't there so he'd do just that for the miner. "Halt!" He demanded as he approached the shadow from behind, he held his sword steadily at his side and glared. "Release the woman at once, I will not hesitate to cut you down if you refuse." He says now holding the blade up at the back of the shadow. "This is your only warning." He scowled as the black figure ignored him and proceeded to choke the lady as she struggled to tear it's fingers off her, Herobrine then lunged forward and swung his sword across the back of the entity with a mighty swing; but to his shock the sword passes through it with ease; almost as if he had slashed air itself.
He stumbled forwards a couple of steps from his empty swing, passing through the black figure like a ghost and then lurched back to avoid colliding with the woman. He jumped back a block and grimaced, the lady was beginning to cry but remained silent with resentful narrowed eyes and clenched teeth. "Stop!" He demanded the shadow, again he went ignored so he took a second attempt to cut through the void figure; his blade phased through the form to his annoyance. But to his surprise the woman removed one hand off the coiled fingers and moved her it down to her side, then in a second's notice she swung a small dagger up and stabbed the black form in the chest with the small blade in retaliation. She actually managed to hurt the shadow, enraged it threw her across the open plains of grass and she soon rolled to a stop; blonde locks fall over her eyes as she attempted to lift herself and coughed. Strangely, at the same instance she stabbed it, Herobrine felt a prick of pain in his upper torso; almost as if he had also been stabbed in the same spot.
A hand comes up to the pained area, the shadow repeated this action at the exact same time; mirroring Herobrine. However; it grabbed onto the dagger and ripped it out and heatedly threw it to the ground. The shadow held out it's arm as a blackened blade begins to form within it's grasp, it then began to trudge across the field towards the mortal; ignoring the other humans running about in fright.
Despite the sudden familiarity of being stabbed; Herobrine stepped forward, he then held an arm and open palm out towards the figure and roared. A bolt of lightning ripped through the sky with a loud crack and beamed down to the ground in a bright flash, the intense hot white consumed the white-eyed shadow. Flames burst forth from the impact and burned patches of grass near the location of the strike, but the shadow walked from the strike unscathed; still stalking the woman as if nothing had ever happened. Not even one of his more powerful abilities could harm the thing, though the human herself somehow could. Herobrine moved his hand back to the pained spot and glared, he couldn't do anything to the shadow. "What are you? Why are you trying to kill that human?" He inquired as he hissed, the wound healed on the black form and gave him the same painful healing sensation though there were no evidence of ever being stabbed in the first place.
His eyes went wide as the black figure reached his target, it mercilessly jerked the woman up by her hair and then plunged the sword through her chest without so much as a second thought. A loud pained cry sounded through the air, soon her limbs went limp and slumped forward on the impaled sword.
Then out of nowhere it clicked, Herobrine felt the diamond blade slip from his fingers and softly clang onto the grass below. In an instant he suddenly noticed why the woman's face was so familiar, why he had felt the dagger's sting, even her final cry was recognizable.
He killed her.
It had indeed been a long time but he brought her to an end in a hunt in her own castle, he blankly gaped at the downed human form.
Then a loud cry from behind had him turning to see a black copy of himself chasing an armored man across the open field with a large sword in hand, again the human's face was somewhat recognizable. The dark double teleported from behind to in front of the man, making the human skid to a stop and slowly back away with his sword held out in defense. Two blades soon clash, this old and war-torn looking man surprisingly held his own for quite some time; actually being able to parry the strikes and even land a few slashes against the Herobrine copy. The ancient man hissed and wrapped his arm over his mid torso as he felt a blade lightly grazing across his stomach, arms, and chest. They weren't very deep but the feeling of blades biting his flesh wasn't pleasant, though he was wincing; his dark form moved about in an excited-like manner despite taking damage. He even thought he saw a grin in the void colored copy.
This mortal was tough and fought fiercely to defend himself, turning from coward into a worthy opponent as he used his sword skills to the fullest, just like a truly trained sentinel would. Herobrine actually found himself admiring this human for fighting so well and deflecting so many strikes, most mortals would never even consider to try and take him on; but this one was courageous and put forth every bit of strength he had. He never realized until now how both humans he's watched faced him so far had taken such lengths to try and survive, even doing him damage in desperation; not all humans seemed so pathetic like he once thought. Some were quite admirable he acknowledged.
The armored man had lasted long, but knowing himself and the powers he held over him, the man was destined to die. Herobrine's frown deepened, it's not often that he'd get to see and note such a worthy challenger from an outward perspective. He was actually feeling disappointed as he watched, knowing that he was soon about to slaughter the man; the guy would not have enough strength and endurance to go on for much longer with the signs of exhaustion beginning to show in his now sluggish movements.
His copy leapt backwards after the mortal swung his heavy sword out with both hands in a last-ditch effort to cut through his attacker as his strength waned, he of course missed and panted with his shoulders slumped downward as his sword and arms hung low. Sweat lined the man's brow and dripped from the corners of his helmet, tired amber eyes held the look of defeat, the man fell onto a knee as he accepted his fate. The black figure swiftly bolted forward with the diamond blade held out before him, Herobrine felt his scowl deepen as the man cried out from the blade puncturing through the iron armor and skewering the man alive through the stomach. He fought so well, almost as hard as Lionel sometimes would push, even to his limits to where he almost couldn't stand.
Soft sobs pulled his attention next, he turned from the guard toppling lifelessly to the ground towards what looked to be a couple of kids several feet away, cowering, unarmed, frail, frightened, crying, shaking, and holding each other as tears streamed down their faces. It was two young blonde boys with wide emerald eyes, their clothing was more of a modern style so they must have been killed in the recent years. Herobrine hated humans, but since finding parts of his past self and befriending the miner; he saw them much more differently than used to, which is why it had become more difficult to slay them. He did not want to watch as the shadow of himself approached the kids, but even looking down at the dirt and sealing his eyes tightly shut he remembered what he had done to them; he grimaced as their bone-chilling shrieks filled his ears.
Without even looking he could recall first grabbing the younger and smaller child by the head and ripping them away from their sibling as they cried for them, that one had been forced to the ground and then crushed underneath his heel as his soul was harvested; young bones so frail snapped far too easily. The older one had it much worse, he recalled allowing them to weep over their sibling before kicking the crying boy around like a ragdoll, sending them smashing into the walls and furniture of their small home as they begged him to stop. It was a needless cruel action to something so small and defenseless, the two were merely young children left alone at home. Back then he didn't have the same sense of humanity that he now possessed, he had forgotten everything and became a merciless killer until the miner showed up; he had no room for mercy nor care for even children. Just an objective to complete that he relished.
Now reflecting back on it, those boys looked similar to Conner, but not even they could trigger past memories. Yet when Steve mentioned the Sovereign's boy being killed by his hands; especially accusing him of doing it willingly, he almost instantly remembered the kid he cared for and used to protect.
The ex-hero lightly growled. Why was Steve always the trigger for all of his old memories? He wondered.
Herobrine fully diverted his attention away from the boys so he didn't have to watch the scene unfold a second time, he tried to preoccupy himself in watching other mortals trying to run from him but having nowhere to go, it was more difficult to watch the kids die. Even if they were human, he once favored them over their elders for their innocent, curious, and playful natures. He had more fond memories with the children of the fortress than with the adults there excluding Lionel.
To his disgust however; many more black forms with white eyes began popping up all around him and started to mimic the merciless movements of his past and tear through mortals, killing them, taking their souls, some he tormented first, tortured slowly, and others were ruthlessly beaten. No one could truly escape, any human he focused on within his sights soon found themselves with their own shadows of Herobrine ready to deliver his wrath and collect their essences for the beast.
And Herobrine remembered each and every face he saw, even with hundreds now at a time dying by his hands; he saw them and heard them all at once as he brought forth their demise. White eyes widened and teeth gnashed together, fingers coil into fists and shook. -Why is this happening?-
Many cries, screams, pleas of mercy, cursing, last breaths, and wails of the death strokes, no matter what time of day or age; his wrathful hands did not cease. The voices of the victims echoed throughout his head as he stabbed, choked, burned, beaten, slashed, smashed, stamped, punched, kicked, electrocuted, rend apart, decapitated, pierced, crushed, buried, manipulated, blew up, maimed, chased to exhaustion, and broke by his own hands. With closed eyes he still recognized every voice, every word, every cry, he could see the people and their expressions of dread and pain with his mind's eye. He saw himself in every shadow's place, bringing forth his rage and wicked elation. Thousands of individuals every second were perishing on his account, he was recollecting all of his past hunts simultaneously and they were staggeringly numerous.
Something in his chest wrenched.
Herobrine threw his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes more tightly, he tried to move his thoughts elsewhere but the memories flooded in too rapidly, making him shudder in both disgust and in excitement as life was being stripped. All these people in the crowd he first found himself in were are all already dead, every single soul was just a reminder of what he had claimed over time in the name of revenge. Death surrounded him on all sides, no matter how old or young, there was so many dread filled voices echoing their last words and final breaths.
He shouldn't care, he should actually be proud of the enormous amounts of bodies he's stacked for centuries; all to rub it in the god of Minecraftia's face and show his powerful capabilities and contempt for him. Yet here he was now, feeling pangs in his chest that he couldn't quite understand why they were there; guilt wasn't reserved for any mortal but Steve. So then why was he feeling this dejection and regret for humans that didn't deserve it? He wasn't satisfied nor prideful of his great collection like he used to be, both of his brothers would be appalled with the actions against the people. Of course the miner already knew of the slain in the name of revenge, but did he know it was this many?
The painful feeling continued to intensify with the piling of corpses around the plains, Lionel would be furiously disgusted with him and that was what hurt the most. Steve is far too lenient and forgiving.
...
The shorter lanky man gave him a serious look, violet eyes narrow and a frown spreads across his face as he pointed to a royal guard who had just saved a woman from almost being trampled from a runaway horse and cart.
"That's what it means to be a sentinel, protecting those innocent lives out there Brine. To be a sentinel is to be a hero; it's truly one of the greatest honors one could ever hope for here. That's what I aiming to do, to protect and serve all these wonderful people I care about; even the ones who've laughed and mocked my efforts all these years." He lifts his boney arms and sighs at his weak limbs. "I'm thin, I have hardly any muscle, and practically no experience in fighting mobs, but I'm trying because I know what I want to do with my life. Protecting those who cannot protect themselves, like a hero would.
You've already saved my life and I'm forever grateful, it was because of your actions that we've become such great friends and it's why I'm still here. Why I'm alive and can still smile." His tense posture and expression lightened. "So please, join me and become a hero, it's even in your name. Help me, train me to be good enough to join the highest ranks and be like that man over there. In return you can better yourself to be one too, I'll help you understand everything that confuses you; like I have been since we've met. There's nothing more rewarding than the smiles of those we protect. I know it sounds strange to you, but you'll see what I mean one day."
...
The old hero's thoughts briefly flash to Steve smiling and laughing while the Endermen messed with his hair in the grand hallway, that was something he wanted to protect; the mortal's happiness and the strange infectious good feeling that it had spread to him just a while ago. Though the miner was steadily marching towards his grave, he was doing so for the right reasons; even if he wasn't truly strong enough to win. He was trying to free him and save all humans, sacrificing everything; including his happiness.
Herobrine didn't know what to think or feel anymore, the miner was rubbing off too much on him somehow; even to the point that he felt ashamed for what he did to all these undeserving slain mortals when he shouldn't.
"Herobrine?!"
The ancient being lifted his head and lightly gaped, that was the miner's voice. He turned his head to the side and saw Steve fighting through the crowd while also gaping in horror as people towards the open space were being murdered right in front of him by strange black entities with white eyes.
"Steve?"
"Herobrine! I'm coming!" Steve shouted as he now struggled to move through the frenzied crowd of people pushing against him, he was being shoved, elbowed, bumped into, and nearly tripped as he made his way towards the hero standing out in the open amongst the slaughter fest. Steve clenched his teeth and pressed, using his good arm to block himself as he forced himself in a charge forward; he broke free of the mass and quickly ran over to Herobrine who looked very distraught. He slowed his steps and his violet eyes dart to his side, they widen from the massacre taking place; it was no wonder why the people became so panicked and nearly packed off with him in attempts to escape. Bodies laid everywhere, black forms were claiming lives of the innocent.
White eyes widen in realization. "What are you doing here?"
Steve closed his eyes and quickly looked away as a man had been brutally beaten into the ground, his body going completely limp as the void entity kept stamping him into the dirt. The miner then turned his head back towards Herobrine and took a deep breath before carefully opening his eyes back to the guy. "I was beginning to wonder the same thing Herobrine." He started then frowned deeply as the old hero grabbed the sides of his head and winced with an almost remorseful expression. "One second I'm in a mineshaft digging for diamonds, the next I'm in an enormous crowd of people under a freaky red sky with some large flying creature calling your name; now to whatever is going on out here." He blinked when Herobrine's gaze moves to the grass at his feet. Steve took a step closer with an expression of concern and reached his hand out. "Hey, are you alright?"
The old hero shook his head and closed his eyes. "No, nothing is okay. All these people you see here in this place Steve, I killed them. Those shadows are of me." He admitted lowly, hearing the miner quietly gasp underneath his breath. "I- I remember every single one, thousands upon thousands of faces; for over hundreds and hundreds of years I've amassed so many. I thought they'd never be worth remembering, yet even as I speak to you at this moment I see a thousand faces more and hear their cries; recollecting every single life I've taken and how it happened to the very last detail. It won't stop, I even see 'him' Steve." Herobrine turned away in contrition.
"W-who?" He asked as his arm fell to his side, his voice low and shaky. Steve then paused and exhaled heavily with brows slanted outwards. "No. Don't say it Herobrine." The miner said solemnly as he glanced down, trying his best to ignore the screams and sounds of death all around. "I've already forgave you for what you did to my brother and my father." He lightly gestured. "I won't even look at the people dying; if you've killed them once before than everyone here is already gone, I don't need the details."
Herobrine exhaled lowly as he glanced at the miner. "So how did you get here?" He asked, changing the topic for both their sakes.
Steve slowly met the white gaze, he swore he saw pain in those eyes. "I didn't realize it at first, but it didn't take long to to find out where I was. I've been in a state like this before Brine, you put me in it; back in the ravine. It feels awfully real and can possibly affect me outside of here, so do be careful. We're in the Nightmare Realm.
You had me poisoned by cave spiders and then locked in a bedrock box in it once before, it felt so real that I thought I was going to die." He paused as the powerful being lifted his head and fully turned back around, giving him a look in realization. "Everything felt so real when I woke up here, no wonder I had been so confused. But the sky isn't right, the mass of people that were standing idle wasn't normal, and that huge thing in the sky has a similar voice as Ender's. I wasn't dreaming because I couldn't wake up. I think you somehow pulled me into this place when you fell asleep; as I remember mining beforehand which was probably what I was dreaming of. But it's okay now, you control this realm right?" He gestured. "If listening to all these people die again bothers you so much, then simply make it all stop on command; or better yet wake up."
Herobrine straightened his posture and let his arms fall to his sides as he lightly frowned, the miner was right; this was his playground, he was being so bogged down from the strange pain and memories to even notice.
Steve faintly smiled as the half-god raised his arm and made all of the black silhouettes of himself fade out as well as all the corpses, he allowed the people trying to escape to linger however; still letting his memories of them that remain to process. Hating it, Herobrine still let the memories recollect of his actions, patching any holes in his past memories as there were evidently a lot; a whole lot.
"That's much better." Steve said and looked around before moving his head to the sky above. "Now it would be nice if you could do something about this dark atmosphere; it's kind of dreary and uncomfortable."
Herobrine weakly nodded. But before he raised his arm up fully Steve's body began to glow and then fade out, the miner's smile disappeared and was replaced with shock as he examined his now intangible form.
"Uh, you're not getting rid of me by chance are you?" He asked nervously and made a face of fear as his hands and legs were the first to completely phase out.
"Of course not." Herobrine quickly moved over to Steve and tried to grab onto his arm, but his hand passed right through. Herobrine willed the miner to return to form but he wouldn't and only continued to fade, this made the ancient man gape and try harder but some force was taking him away.
"Um, Herobrine? Please help." He plead. Only a part of Steve's head remained and he then completely faded out as a hand reached for him and grabbed onto nothing.
"Steve?!" He shouted then glanced around, but the miner was gone. "Where did he go?" Herobrine asked himself as he looked around, he spun on his heels in search of the miner in a slight panic; hoping that he didn't somehow lose control of his power and sent him elsewhere or worse. No. He would have noticed if it had been him. Then who took him? How was it even possible?
The miner's presence was still in his realm though, he could sense it.
In failing to find the miner or rematerialize him in front of him; the old hero began to seethe in annoyance, the fleeing humans were blocking his sights from locating his brother. Enraged, he floated upwards high off of the ground to get a better view and began hovering through the air over the people with his eyes searching for the specific mortal, humans of all ages scattered about below like scurrying silverfish retreating to stone gaps. His senses led him over a large portion of the masses, the miner was close.
"Steve?!" He shouted once more in his mind, still he received no reply. -He's close by, I feel it. He's the only actual living human here.- Then his gaze catches something familiar in the mass below, as more of the humans run from him in terror; a single unmoving form stood several blocks away with their back to him; unmoved by the chaos around them. Herobrine blinked and stared with widened eyes after realizing this identical human, but it couldn't possibly be.
He slowly lowered himself to the ground and landed down onto the grass quietly, for some reason Herobrine felt unease as he stared at the back of the miner. Just a couple strides away was a man nearly his height with the same brunette colored hair, the same cyan colored T-shirt, and even the same blue trousers. From behind it looked exactly like Steve, but he wasn't supposed to be wearing a shirt as he was still covered in gauzes from his recovering injury. He also vanished just moments ago, there was no visible trace of him left behind and the ex-hero wasn't the one who sent him away.
So who was he looking at then if not Steve? Why did he give off the same presence as the miner?
"You." Herobrine started and slowly began walking towards the motionless mortal, something about this tantamount and yet odd figure had his heart racing, hands shaking, palms sweating, knees going weak. "Steve?" He called out as he approached, but as he came within a few feet of the human; they swiftly spun on their heels and gasped in fright, they recoiled away with arms out defensively.
Herobrine halted in place and gaped at the human, confused. Right before him stood a duplicate of the miner but his eyes were blacked out, hidden by a veil of black mist; the rest of his face was easily distinguishable and recognizable. This man looked just like Steve in every way, save for the excess amounts of cuts and scars, bruises were all around his neck and his eyes were currently hidden. He had a perfectly trimmed haircut, same average stature, and an eerily identical mustache and goatee that mirrored his as the Steve he knew was just beginning to grow facial hair. The eyes though, he needed to see those eyes to know for certain. This just can't be Steve, if it was then... no. The ancient man shook his head in doubt, Steve was alive and he could feel it as clear as day, this thing was a mimic of him or something enigmatic; yet it was alive.
Herobrine took a step forward and again came to a stop as the mortal panicked and tried to walk backwards; only to fall back onto the ground on his rump and throw his arms up to defend himself.
"Please, don't! I don't want to die!" Steve's voice cracked in horrified desperation, the identical tone of the human had Herobrine frozen in place as he stared at the man. That was the miner's voice, no mistake about that. He's never heard it like this before however; so shaken and afraid, even more so than he's ever heard from the guy yet.
"Steve?" He asked softly and stepped forwards as the man scooted backwards. "It's me." Herobrine began calmly and lowered a hand down at the man when he got close enough. "No reason to fear anymore, remember?" He moved closer and held his hand out to help the miner up, but to his surprise the man continues to scoot back while shaking his head; an expression still holding much apprehension and mistrust.
Why?
Losing focus, the black forms returned and memories continued to flood; yet they could not tear his attention from this Steve before him.
"I don't know what I did to you, but I'm sorry! Truly!" He stopped in his retreat and cried out, he threw his arms over his head while making himself as small as he possibly could. A cowering mess this mortal was. But Steve was no coward, or not as pathetic as this for sure. He'd fight if he had to, not shrink down like a dog being punished by it's master for disobedience.
This just can't be Steve. Herobrine narrowed his eyes out of impatience with this imposter and closed the gap between them as he trudged forward in confusion and eagerness. "I must see those eyes!" He demanded and took the mortal by the wrist, the human surprisingly did not attempt to break free of his grasp; he instead clenched his teeth and quietly sobbed. "Show me!" He demanded and roughly pulled at the arm to get a reaction, the mortal kept his face to the side and remained silent. As Herobrine commanded in the Nightmare Realm, the black mist around the miner's face faded and he looked at him, revealing what the ancient being had feared. White eyes widen as two deep bluish colored orbs met his gaze, a perfect replica of the miner stared back at him in sheer terror.
"Please, don't." The miner plead once more softly now with tears streaking down his face and heart thudding loudly in his chest cavity, he wasn't even trying to fight back or pull from Herobrine's grasp; like he was already cornered and had nowhere left to go nor strength to fight or stand.
The sound of footsteps had the old hero relinquishing the miner's wrist and turning on heels to find a black form with white eyes, it was steadily approaching with a blackened pickaxe being drug across the ground behind it; the man stalked towards the mortal in a slight hunch. For a brief second the form flashed color and details, it was of a man with identical clothing to the human and himself, white eyes shown brightly with a wicked grin across it's face. Then the figure darkened as continued it's slow and predatory stride, the miner whimpered in response.
-What?- Herobrine gaped, his mind drew a blank, he held his breath.
In an instant everything within the world came to a halt and froze solid in place, the humans fleeing in fright, the black forms killing the humans, the black form of himself before his eyes, and even the miner at his feet. As if frozen in time Herobrine stared in astonishment, quietly breathing as he tried to process what he was seeing.
He's never killed Steve, he came close multiple times now but he's never done the actual deed; yet something about the scene before him struck a cord; a similar connection from the furthest reaches of his memories.
It felt unreal and yet all too real.
Herobrine tried to remember this particular instance when he was with Steve and everything went black instantaneously.
...
Herobrine lifted up from the pillows and panted, his eyes dart around the room; he's no longer in the Nightmare Realm. Even now awake he had no rest, those haunting memories continued to pester him from the corner of his mind; but not even the multitude of faces could distract him from that fearful and defenseless miner he remembered begging at his heels. He couldn't get that man's horrified face out of his head.
The faint light of daybreak painted the walls and the door before him in light cool shades of faint blues and warm golds, Herobrine looked back out the window behind him and noticed that the sun would soon be on the horizon; he determined that he's had plenty of 'sleep'.
As the man got out of bed, his boots rematerialized back onto his feet and he flashed away from the bedside; he reappeared before the Shrine of Notch and ambled towards the pool of water. His tense muscles relaxed after feeling no force trying to bring him down, he had almost forgotten that the spell on the place was no longer in effect. Once he reached the quartz border he peered into a pool of blue, he expected the water to still have ribbons of red; but it was mysteriously back to being a pristine lapis shade with his reflection staring back at him.
"What did you do to me?" He said to himself though he was directing his words to Notch. His hands resting on the border slabs coil into fists and they begin to lightly quake. "These memories couldn't have come from out of nowhere, this must be 'your' doing." He hissed with narrowed eyes. "Now they are unrelenting and my head aches, my chest ... it aches." He clenched his teeth and snarled at his reflection as a hand rests on his torso and fingers dig painfully into his shirt and skin. "But nothing has bothered me more than finding the miner there, he does not belong to the collection; so why was he a part of it? ... Why was the encounter so familiar? I've never killed him."
As expected he got no answer, just silence. In a fit of sudden rage Herobrine scooped up some water with his hands and splashed it into his face, scowling as he did so for his disgraceful imploring. "If you're making all of these accursed memories arise then give me that one!" He demanded as he moved his mind's focus from the constant bloodshed to the face of the terrified Steve. He continued throwing water into his eyes, hoping that it would do something like it had just a day before last; he dared not to get into the actual pool again so scooping water was all he could do.
He soon stopped after minutes of soaking most of his head, torso, and pants; water dripped from his soaked body and pattered to the floor below and into a large puddle at his feet. Herobrine huffed quietly; he was out of patience and got nothing for his efforts. He felt his brow twitch and anger surge through him, his desire for answers pushed his rage further. That Steve, his petrified form, his panic-stricken eyes, quivering lips, his muttered words and pleas; all these things would not get out of his head. "Damn you Notch!" He screamed in his mind and held his arms and coiled fists at his sides, soon a loud roar erupted throughout the chamber and reverberated through the grand halls.
...
"Huh?" Steve's eyes snap open and he leans up from his mattress, unintentionally startling Stealth awake who was sitting on the floor and reclining his body against the side of the bed and resting on the frame. The surprised Endermen looked around, then stood up once no threat had been detected. Steve blinked and brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck, he then yawned and stretched his good arm above his head to relieve his stiffened muscles and joints. His eyes move to the windows to see sunlight just beginning to pour in, clear skies and the distant mountains surrounding the valley painted a pretty view.
The quiet burbles pulls the miner's attention to the tall black mob standing at his bedside and looking down at him with a tilt of his head. "Morning Stealth, I'm surprised that you're still here; but you don't have to stick around if you don't want. I'm glad to have you here but I don't need protecting alright, this place is safe. Besides, you're Luna's protector. Shouldn't you be watching over her instead? Herobrine will protect me."
The mob's eye narrowed but it remained quiet and still with it's head dipping a bit.
The miner lightly chuckled and scratched the back of his head nervously, he couldn't understand the mob's motive unless it was just being protective as it had for Luna. Herobrine wasn't the only one somewhat becoming human, he's never seen the Endermen act so different since becoming friends and allies with the white-eyed man. He wonders why the mob is suddenly so invested in him, not that it was a bad thing. Though, having friends during such a tough time makes it more easier to bear; he needed all the support he could get.
Steve's smile did not last though, he suddenly remembered back to being in Herobrine's dream or realm; whatever it may truly be. He found himself and the distraught guy in a world of turmoil, all his own doing from his past actions towards humans; Herobrine looked so distressed and perhaps even guilt-ridden. Steve hoped that after he was somehow removed from the place that things cleared up and got better for the powerful man, he's always been so strong and balanced on the outside but not so much underneath the surface. Maybe it was for the better to recall what he had done for so many years, if he has regrets then it brings him closer to being a human. Still, it couldn't possibly be easy nor feel comfortable at all, especially since there was that destructive part of him.
They have yet to even try and find something to mostly quail that nasty nature of his; but Steve was somewhat optimistic, he claimed that it would be easy to help and give the guy a little hope but it certainly will not be 'that' easy. Herobrine was such a complex being, but Steve was willing to put forth the effort when time allows and show continued support for his brother and friend.
With a soft sigh Steve moved his feet to the edge of the bed to slip his boots back on, wondering if he maybe should go and check and see if Herobrine was alright. His eyes then catch a shiny reflective object right next to his shirt on the nightstand, it was a golden apple with sunlight painting the top half of it's lustrous surface. He didn't recall seeing it before he went to bed, so he up and assumed that maybe Herobrine had left it there for him; like an early breakfast item to help him get a jumpstart on this supposedly arduous training in evasion today. He grabbed the fruit and bit into it as he stood up and headed towards the door.
"Hey Stealth, want to help me find Herobrine?" He asked, now looking at the mob from the corner of his eye. The Endermen lightly hissed at the name with it's single narrowed eye. Steve waived him off. "It'll be fine, we'll be training today; I kind of need it."
The Endermen burbled then walked towards him.
...
Herobrine yelled aloud again, now bringing his balled fists back onto the quartz surface; eyes tightly closed and face scrunched in distress and outrage. "Let me remember that man! I know I've seen him before long ago, this cannot possibly be a trick; that was Steve. It's the same presence as the other, same voice, appearance, features, ... eyes." He finished more quietly to himself. "Then how could it be that he's alive again? What happened? Why did I-?" Herobrine wasn't getting anywhere, his mind was a total mess, memories scattered, faces of the slain still pestering him and making it worse with the splitting headache; processing so much information at once that it'd surely overwhelm and kill him if he were human.
All he wanted was to see if he could remember what had happened to that specific Steve, he had a feeling it wasn't good as the man was among the crowd of the slain and his shadow was there to bring the guy his death; but at least then it would reveal all that he remembered of him. He couldn't do it though, something blocked the memory from playing out; thus drawing a blank that snapped him out of his realm from pure shock and confusion.
Steve was here and alive now in this stronghold, so how come he was alive but then killed so far back in the past? Now that Herobrine thought about it, his past goes further back than Antecedent Element and the sentinels, much much further. He hadn't used his own pickaxe in literal ages, not even Lionel knew about the tool; he practically forgot about it himself. The mining object that the shadow was going to use spurred more memories he hadn't ever recalled tapping into. But then why was there a gap of missing memories in the first place? Was more missing? If this time of killing Steve goes back further then the fortress with the mortals, then it could go back even further for all he knew and it must; this was before his time being with the humans and before making the deal with Ender.
So why did he kill that miner then? For what reason? How did Steve exist in both the past and present? Was it truly the same guy? How many more memories were missing? How much further did his past go? Why did he never recall that memory of hunting Steve before meeting Ender?
So many questions and absolutely no clues to any sort of answers for either of them.
Herobrine frowned and winced as his mind pulsed painfully, he's been around for so long that he can't even tell when some of his memories even happened or if they were real. But that one encountering the mirroring miner; he had to know, he had to find out. Did he actually slay- ...?
The being sighed and quieted his mind, he wasn't in the pool of water but he remembered that it was peaceful and dark in the void below it; soundless even. If he could just focus enough on the silent black then maybe something would stir. His eyes closed, but only for a brief moment.
"Herobrine? What are you doing in here?"
Steve's voice calls out, it's not very loud with him being so far away at the entrance of the Shrine of Notch; but Herobrine hears the miner approaching from far behind. The ancient being let out a soft exhale and fixed his slumped posture, he was in no mood for talk; which he presumes the man wants to do after what transpired last night.
"Now is not the time, training will be later today; but not at this moment." He says, his head tilting downwards.
Steve stops as he nears the man and raises a brow, most of his apple had already been eaten; he takes another bite and smiles. "Just wanted to say thanks for the apple, I already feel rejuvenated and ready for training. I also have something I wanted to ask and-"
"Leave. I wish to be left alone for now."
The miner furrows a brow at the sudden interruption and swallows, he frowns as he stands in place.
"I did not give you an apple, perhaps the Endermen gave it to you as there were leftovers from last night."
"Well if it's not from you then I had a feeling it would have been from Stealth, but then again you did bring all the food to the table right?" He grinned. "So I guess I could thank you bo-"
"But it does not matter." Herobrine interjected, still facing away. "Go and get some extra rest while you can or explore the castle walls. I would like some time to myself brother." He says, his voice tones agitated.
"It's about that dream last night isn't it?" Steve found himself asking, he took a step back with apprehension when the old hero glared at him from a side glance. "Whoa, calm down Brine." He gestured with his good hand and arm. "I do realize that you need some time to wind down from that chaotic mess, but if you want to talk about it sometime then we can. I'm here for you."
The miner sweated a bit when all he was given was silence and that infuriated look.
Steve lightly shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "You just look so bothered and I want to help, you were in so much distress the last I saw you. I don't know what happened after I faded out of the realm; but by the looks of it; nothing good I assume."
"I said that I wanted to be left alone!" Herobrine shouted into the man's head as he fully turned around with gritted teeth. The miner winced and frowned deeply as Herobrine glared at him then in an instant; flashed away.
"I- I'm sorry Brine." Steve said quietly though the hero was no longer there. "I didn't know that it bothered you that much."
...
"Please, don't."
...
A blinding white flash consumed Herobrine's mind in an instant and the old hero jerked back and stumbled away from his Nether throne while holding his head with both arms, he cried out in pain as brief flashes of this memory forces it's way through his head.
...
"Oh Steeeeeeve." Deep dual echoing voices resonated throughout a dark tunnel with multiple bits of glowing red blurring and meshing into the stone. A moving cyan figure far ahead melts into the warping abyss, fast footsteps indicating fear and flight over fight response. The heart of the humanoid thud painfully loud, a smile formed on the face of the hunter.
...
"Wh-who are you?!" The mortal shouts, backing away, eyes widened in terror. He comes to a stop when his back bumps into a wall of stone.
"?I ma ohW" Herobrine questioned with a tilt of his head and a wide Cheshire grin. "!enirboreH ma I
"What?" Steve asked.
"I am HEROBRINE!" He lunged at the mortal.
...
The frightened blurry human was slammed into stone and choked out in agony, a tight hand was wrapped around his throat and threatening to crush in his delicate windpipe. The man's legs kicked outward in defense but they do nothing to remove his captor, the constricting force tightens. ".siht rovas lliw I" A deep chuckle echoes through the stone shaft followed by a choked whining sound.
...
...
The injured human stumbles across an opening in the forest with aching lungs as he wheezes, appearing to struggle to maintain his breathing. His throat is deeply bruised with a thin nick across it. Red blends into the shoulder of his cyan short sleeve as well as the red streak across his torso staining the soft colored fabric. His right leg is bearing most of his weight as his left foot appears to be the cause for pain, an injury not visible with the cover of his boot.
...
Raindrops pattered onto the grass and the miner's head and slumped shoulders, thunder grumbles in the distance; the sky is covered by deep grey clouds drifting high above. Steve is sobbing as he staggers towards a white creature with a red collar lying on it's side in the small field next to his house, it was his pet. Crimson is mingled with the snow colored fur on it's side, it pants and whines as he approaches. Steve falls to his knees when he reaches the wounded wolf and lifts the canine's head into his lap, it whimpers quietly as he pets it gently across the face and muzzle; watering wide eyes thin in grief and despair as he stares at his loyal companion dying in his arms. There was no saving it, it was gravely wounded.
Tears meld with the rain.
...
The miner is crouched on the floor in the corner of the living room next to a fireplace, arms over his head. His house is a wreck. Furniture is over turned and damaged, there's holes in the floor and walls, the front door is missing off it's hinges, windows are shattered, broken glass is all over the ground, personal possessions are scattered about; some broken or crushed, and fire is beginning to burn in various places.
The human is cowering, tears still spill from his tired and dread-filled eyes, bruises line his exposed flesh as well as patches of dried blood; discoloring his natural complexion. He's curled in on himself, trying to make himself smaller. "Let me go. Please, don't. I don't want to die." Steve begged as the footsteps neared him. "Please!" His voice cracked. "I don't know what I did to you, but I'm sorry! Truly!" He plead more loudly.
"You don't know what you did." Herobrine said, his grin fell as the miner remained in place; drowning in fear and retaining silence. He then smacked the arms out of his way and pulled the human up by the neck, forcefully he put Steve back onto his feet. When the man tried to slide back down wall; Herobrine slammed him into the wooden surface to get the human to comply. The sound of the pained grunt made his grin return.
...
"I'm using you as an object of my revenge." Herobrine sneered, using the sharp curve of his pickaxe to tilt Steve's chin up and force him face him and look him in the eyes.
...
"W-what did I d-do?"
Herobrine frowned. "You existed."
...
"W-why?" The miner asked with a shaking tone of voice as he eyed the pickaxe, then moved his gaze to the cold and merciless white eyes before him.
...
The miner laid splayed out across the floor on his back, head turned to the side and eyes closed, mouth slightly agape. He remained motionless with a diamond pickaxe halfway embedded in his chest, red fluid had pooled around his body and flickering flames reflected on the lustrous surface of the tool. Yet even in such a position and after an agonizing end; his expression was almost peaceful.
Steve was dead.
...
Herobrine nestled his face in his hands as he kneeled over in his Nether throne, resting his elbows on his knees. His hands move up to the sides of his head and his breath hitches, even with only bits of the encounter he remembered, he was filled with regret and still didn't know exactly why; but it was clear what he had done and how much Steve had suffered.
Teeth clench tightly as the droplets of moisture running down his face evaporates before it hits the Nertherbrick floor.
...
...
The miner sighed as he continued his ambling along the stronghold's outer wall, he loved the sights and design of the encircling barrier around the castle; but not even this amazing structure could pull him out of the helplessness he was feeling. Deep violet eyes search the surrounding houses and shops outside of the wall, they were but poor distractions despite being impressive in holding up after so many years. Steve really wanted to know what happened after he left the Nightmare Realm, Herobrine was already in anguish when he left, clearly something more distressing than watching himself murder thousands had happened.
But then how? He controlled the place, the man could manipulate his own dreams and do practically whatever he wanted in them. Then again, the man was overburdened by past memories of killing people; the crowd they had been surrounded by was massive; as far as his eyes could see in all directions. Herobrine was remembering all of that and maybe he was finally feeling some regret after cutting down so many?
"That's way too much to for one guy to bare, surely nothing could be more disquieting than that." Steve said with a downcast tone. "I guess that's a topic to avoid from now on, unless he decides he wants to talk about it." He said to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling softly again as his eyes move up the skies above. "Still, I can't help but feel like there's something else that might have happened. I wish there was something I could do to help him, or at least make him feel better."
Steve's shoulders sank and he closed his eyes in his slow saunter, it's been a couple hours since he's seen or heard from Herobrine, spending his time wandering about the castle and trying to occupy himself while waiting for the half-god to return. He was almost wondering if the being was going to avoid him for the rest of the day and just push the evasion training to the next, that would be a poor waste of time but some things were of more importance than others.
He stopped in place when he felt chills crawl up his spine, there was no other feeling that made the man's presence more known. Steve quickly turned around, finding Herobrine several blocks away; frowning with a blank expression. "Herobrine?"
The old hero walked up to the miner and summoned his bane sword into his hand, this made the miner gape in confusion. "Catch." He says plainly in Steve's head as he tossed the sword out towards him.
Steve reaches his arm forward and catches the blade by the handle, he looks at the gleaming diamond weapon and then back to old hero. "What's this abo-"
"Follow me, we're going mining." Herobrine says and turns around, he begins walking away.
Steve blinked and faintly smiled, dumfounded. "Uh, you? Mining? You want to what now?" He asked, so puzzled and yet relieved that his friend is on speaking terms again.
Herobrine came to a stop. "Yes, we'll need to collect some resources for the training session today." He stopped then glanced back at the mortal. "That is unless you'd rather allow me to take the ores we need from someone else and use them? Besides, I thought you liked mining."
The miner's expression brightened. "Well of course I do! It's my favorite hobby. I'd rather mine, it's been like weeks since I've mined anything. But uh-." Steve's eyes move to the sword in hand and he lightly chuckled as he glanced back at the white-eyed man. "I don't see how a sword is going to be of any use."
Herobrine turned away. "Command it to be a pickaxe and come, there's much to be done today. And no need to worry, it will not break."
"What?" Steve questioned with furrowed brows. He scratched his chin as he looked back at the sword. "Time to mine?" He says with weak confidence and perplexity, shrugging. Then to his astonishment and awe the sword brightly glowed, it shrank down in size to a solid stick form before two sharp ends extend from the top and take the shape of a diamond pickaxe in his grasp. "It can do that?!" He asked, gawking at the weapon turned tool before cracking a large smile across his face. "This is amazing! This is the best sword ever!"
Herobrine retained his frown, yet a strange feeling of ease settled over him as the miner smiled at him and came running his way, the miner did love mining.