Chapter 11: Viva La Vida!
"So how're we getting out of here, exactly?" Red questioned as the couple darted sneakily behind a nether brick wall, next to each other, then scanning the next large area for any mobs running about and searching for them.
"Don't you know anything?" Ruth scoffed as she glanced over at Red with annoyance. The three of them commenced down the hall, Ruth taking lead since she knew the layout way better than Wolfgang, from being a Scouter of the Rebellion. Red glared at the muscular woman and set her hands onto her hips.
"Of course, I do! I just don't know how you plan on getting out of here when there are trillions of mobs skulking each and every corner. Not to mention we have no idea where Herobrine is at the moment. He could be watching us right now."
"I doubt that, but we have to exit through a Nether portal." Ruth responded, turning her eyes back and watching with Wolfgang for any activity before moving on.
"Obviously to get back to the Overworld but I'm saying how do you plan on getting out of Hero's giant ass fortress?"
"Well, let me think… part of that plan would be you shutting up the hell up for once. Do you ever stop talking? No wonder that white-eyed monster likes you. You're annoying as a sobbing Ghast." Ruth scoffed and took out her bow and began drawling back it's string to take out a skeleton guard that was up ahead. It was very unnerving to see an actual walking skeleton animatedly walking around with a weapon in it's bony hands. It was different when it was all pixelated in the game. They looked terrifying in person. She could only imagine what a Creeper was going to actually look like… dreadful she could only imagine.
The sharp arrow from Ruth's bow darted forwards in a blur through the air as she let go of her draw string. The arrow expertly pierced the skeleton right in the head and made it fall over in a heap of bones. Red guessed mobs don't despawn here like they do in the game. It would be strange if they did.
"Okay, it's down. Keep going." Ruth said and nodded at Wolfgang while he nodded back with a faint smile at his girlfriend. The two of them sped forward side by side, looking like they were in a scene of an action movie. Red not being as athletically inclined as these two rugged rebels, followed behind at a much slower pace and looking much less epic.
"Wait for me, guys! Ugh, Its certainly much more fun when I'm not actually doing the running around! I never did well in gym class, you know!" Red yelled dramatically at them and accidentally ran straight into Wolfgang's back as she was too busy blabbering aloud. Ruth gasped as Wolfgang stumbled forward from the impact and fell straight into the next hall, right in front of a wither skeleton. The black skeleton turned to look at Wolfgang and then glanced over at Ruth and Scarlett who both stood there staring with wide brown eyes.
"You idiot!" Ruth hissed angrily at Red and charged at the wither skeleton with her diamond sword, Electro Blitz. Slashing at the skeleton, it blocked with it's own much weaker stone sword. Lightning surged through her sword while it clashed and exploded in a blast of electricity. The surge slightly harmed the wither skeleton but it wasn't giving up. Just as she brought back her sword a whole horde of zombies heard the commotion and began shuffling into the hallway. Wolfgang pulled himself up, sending Red a glare as she tried to help him up with a hand, but was rejected. Red felt like these two would do awfully better without her and it was discouraging. So what if she didn't quite have the training that these two had? She only was a Minecraft video game player! Not some kind of badass warrior or scouter or whatever the hell these two were.
Slashing at the Wither skeleton, Wolfgang took care of the horde by using his own golden sword that was also enchanted with fire magic. Slamming his sword down to the ground, a surge of fire went in a wave right at the horde, putting them all on fire.
"Damn it, you little red bitch! You probably had us found out now! There are reinforcements showing up everywhere!" Ruth shouted and continued on fighting the wither skeleton that she finally had brought down into a pile of black bones. Red glanced from her dully sharpened dagger to the horde of zombies and didn't know what to do. She wasn't exactly trained in fighting, even with her pitiful butter knife of a weapon. Wolfgang and Ruth were so busy fighting off the gathering zombie horde with lightning and fire, both failed to pay Red any attention.
Red furrowed her brows and with a frown she randomly got a dumb idea and rose her dagger up in the air melodramatically. It's silvery metal glistening in the light that was reflecting from the fire that Wolfgang had summoned.
"I uh command you all to back off…! And chill, dudes! Seriously, you're all getting on my nerves!" Red yelled at the zombies which made Wolfgang and Ruth turn to look back at her like she was actually mentally challenged. Yet, shockingly when Red commanded the zombies, they all stopped, even the ones burning to death. The ones inflicted died off but the other ones suddenly kneeled down on one knee in Red's direction. Red still had her mighty dagger in the air and she was looking beyond bewildered at what had just occurred. The zombie had obeyed her…
"The hell?" Ruth murmured and lowered her weapon alongside Wolfgang. The two stared at the kneeling zombies and then back over at Red, who brought down her weapon and was staring in awe at what she had just done.
"They listened to her…" Wolfgang murmured disbelievingly as he veered his silvery blue eyes back and forth from Red to the zombies and back. Ruth shook her head faintly and both Wolfgang and her stared at Red with wide eyes.
Red glanced down at her dagger and then at the zombies and the two rebels, "Whoa… T-they did actually listen to me."
Ruth grimaced suddenly and shook her head furiously, "It's because they think you are their Queen!" She inquired with a scowl. Wolfgang shook his head and shrugged calmly as he turned to look at his girlfriend, who was disgusted with Red's dominion over their enemies.
"We can use her to make them all stand down until we get out of here!" Wolfgang said happily and tried to stay positive but Ruth growled under her breath and shook her head again, her eyes staying on Little Red.
"She's no better than that bastard Herobrine." Ruth hissed venomously and thrust her weapon back up, but this time drawn at Red's neck. Red's eyes widen as she stared at Ruth and the tip of her blade in shock.
"W-what are you doing!?"
"Minecraftia does not need a Queen. Especially one who can take command over the dark forces. You have dark power running through your very veins! They wouldn't just listen to you like that! Not unless that bastard gave them direct orders! She should just die. One less pest that could be a problem for Notch and the Rebellion."
"Ruth! We don't know if Notch would be okay with that!" Wolfgang interjected nervously. Ruth paid no mind as she began threateningly backing Red up to a wall with her sword still pointed directly at her throat. Scarlett whimpered and gulped as she felt herself get cornered into the solid nether brick's wall. Red could feel the haze of the electricity flowing off of her weapon in the air from the close proximity.
"Don't kill me, Ruth. Don't be stupid. I just want to go home back to my world, remember? Herobrine probably just somehow gave me this power over them since he wants me to be his Queen."
"He can't just order a countless legion full of monsters to obey your every whim… unless you have dark energies, just like that murdering psychopathic monster! Notch is the only ruler of Minecraftia and you will die under my hand before you ever consider yourself a Queen of OUR world!"
"Ruth… Just let her go… Don't act drastically now." Wolfgang tried to help Scarlett out by calming Ruth down, but she was listening to no one. Little Red could feel the tip of her sword dig into the middle of her neck, just enough to have a trail of fresh blood leaking down from a slight pin-sized wound. Red could feel the brimming of acidic tears prick the sides of her eyes as her life was being seriously being threatened at that moment.
"It's quite unfortunate, really, Scarlett. I'm not a cold-blooded murderer and don't kill for the thrill of it. But war's call for sacrifices and you are just what the Rebellion needs to weaken our greatest enemy. I pity you, goodbye Scarlett…" Ruth murmured in an eerily calm tone of voice. Wolfgang could only scream out for Ruth to stop, before she plunged forwards straight at Red's neck. Red's brown eyes widen and then closed tightly to see nothing but darkness consume her entire vision. There was pain… but it wasn't so bad.
At least now her sister didn't have to come find her...
Blue followed Steve for what felt like hours until they came across a lively grassland biome that was enlivened by the clear blue sky, billowing white clouds, and the plethora of yellow and red colored wildflowers. The clearing was quiet and nothing but the soft breeze of a cool wind and overgrowth of grass. There was not a tree to be seen for distances away. Blue turned her character to look fully at Steve, "It's really beautiful out here but what are we doing here?" She typed to him, peering around herself at the farm animals that wandered around and ate grass peacefully through the land's green pastures.
"Sapphire." Steve suddenly typed and turned to look back at Sapphire. She turned from looking around and stared directly at Steve. "I know one of the things Notch is going to require of you when we arrive in his kingdom. I just want to make sure before we go that you are prepared for what you are going to be asked of." Steve said and stared at Sapphire with a concerned overtone.
"What is it?"
"I'm very sorry to do this to you but we need you here in Minecraftia, Sapphire… Our world is in serious danger because of my older brother's tyranny. We need everyone we can get to help us stop him, but with your sister being from the alternate universe that you belong in and connected to Herobrine in the way that she is. There could be a chance that Notch and the Rebellion might not win this… We need you, another connection from the other world here, but on our side. Notch will explain the details but what I'm asking of you, Sapphire, is if you would mind if I come and bring you to Minecraftia through the same portal your sister had been taken through. We know where it is and it is possible to take you through, but you must be willing to help us… because if you don't, Sapphire. Herobrine might use your sister to do terrible things to not only our world but your own. His power is becoming stronger as we speak, a dark power that not even Notch can go against if it becomes powerful enough."
Blue looked down and deeply thought about what Steve had propositioned her and ultimately she knew she had no choice. As much as she didn't understand what was truly happening or how she would help, she knew she needed to get her little sister back no matter the cost. "I'll do anything to get my sister back. I don't know how I'll help you but I'll try my best. Do what you must, just please help me find my sister and get her back home safely."
"I promise with all my heart, I will do whatever I can to help you find your sister." Steve replied and smiled warmly at Blue, though she still could not see it. "In a moment, Notch will send a portal over to Scarlett's last residence. I want you to wait here while I go through. You'll see me very soon, I promise. Just stay put and we'll tell you all that you need to know." Steve replied to Blue in his most encouraging and kindest of ways, before turning and suddenly seeing a strange gold portal appear out of nowhere.
"I'll be back! Hang on, please!" Steve told her one last time before running into the portal and disappearing with it behind him. Blue's character was left there standing there in the flowery field, herself in real life confused by the whole situation, until minutes later...
In real life, Blue shifted on her bed, waiting for Steve to show back up on her screen. It wasn't until she heard something crash behind her, she let out a scream and threw herself up into a sitting position to look behind her. There in her room, in the flesh, was an almost exact replica of Herobrine, apart from the fact his eyes were a normal pretty blue and he looked way less intimidating than his other evil half.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, Sapphire! You didn't need that right?" The man known as Steve profusely began apologizing as he had knocked over and accidentally broke a pink ceramic piggy-bank that had random coins tossed inside, that were now sprawled haphazardly across the carpet with ceramic shards in the mix. Blue didn't care about the ceramic pig but instead was staring at Steve in alarm with wide eyes.
"You're… You're 'really' here!" She uttered in shock. He stopped apologizing over the broken piggy-bank and looked at Blue with a goofy sheepish smile appearing on his face.
"Yes, I am! I told you I was going to come and get you. Sorry, if it wasn't quite what you were expecting. Now uh… If we could get back to Minecraftia, I know Notch has much to say to you." Steve told her and began glancing at her laptop. Blue jumped off of her bed and nodded at Steve.
"Will I be able to come back here after I find my sister?"
"Of course! You just have to reenter the portal. We'll destroy it after this is all over, so none of this ever happens again. It's pretty seriously illegal to have black opal in possessions, anyways." Steve said and then extended his hand over to Blue to take.
Blue titled her head and looked from his hand to his face in question. He began to feel awkward under her gaze and laughed nervously, "I don't bite, I promise." He teased in attempt to uplift the awkwardness. She shook her head and smiled softly at him.
"It's not that. I'm just somewhat afraid. I don't know what to expect. My little sister has always been the fighter of the two of us, the one to take action… while I've always been more of the voice of reason. I just fear that I''m going to fail her."
Reaching out and taking her hand himself, he made a reassuring squeeze. She looked into his eyes as he spoke softly to her in sheer confidence, "There's nothing to be afraid of Sapphire. I promise when we get back to my world. I will protect you with my life. As for you sister… Show her that you aren't just a voice but you can also be a fighter when you need to be. You're a great sister you know that? Not many siblings would risk their life from one another."
Blue blushed at his words and glanced down at her intertwined hands for a second in silence. "Thank you, Steve… I'll do whatever it takes. I love my sister dearly and I promised to always be there for her. Even though this is a bit extreme, I don't take back what I said."
"Then come with me and let's get your sister back and save Minecraftia! Are you ready?"
Lifting his intertwined hands up with hers, they both looked at each others and then back at each other's faces. Blue made a tight determined smile and nodded, "I'm ready."
Steve smiled and then had her step over closer to the laptop. "Then let's save Minecraftia. For Notch, for the Minecraftians, and for two of us!
And just like before a blinding flash of flittering light filled Sapphire's bedroom, and with the twinkle of an eye, the two were warped away into the other dimension and world known as Minecraftia.
"Whoa, be careful there!"
Blue felt dizzy as she stumbled forwards from where she was now standing. Steve grabbed ahold of around her shoulder and tried to balance her, so she didn't topple over onto the ground. "W-where are we?" Blue murmured as her eyes began to readjust to her surroundings from the light that blinded her. Around her was a fairly medium sized brick interior with oak plank flooring, the most distinct feature though was the blocks that were shaped as a Nether portal and shimmered off a spectrum of varieties of beautiful colors. It looked just like black opal, like Steve was talking about before.
"We're in Scarlett's old portal room. This is where Herobrine and her had formed this portal that channels your world with our own. But it also has other dark qualities that unfortunately my brother had used against your sister." Steve explained while Blue finally steadied herself and he let go of her.
She looked around the room in awe, she couldn't believe everything looked so 'normal'. She was expecting to be in a world where everything looked blocky but that wasn't the case. Glancing back at the portal, she frowned and sighed, "My sister is so gullible."
"She didn't know, Blue. Herobrine is really crafty when he wants to be." Steve replied while Blue looked back at him from the portal.
"What's so bad about this portal, anyways? You said it is illegal to have even in possession let alone made."
Steven frowned and glanced down at the floor as he spoke, "Black opal here in our world is an extremely rare precious stone that has been known to have occult divinity. Notch has ruled this stone to be outlawed because certain people were using it to try and use it for less than innocent intent, the witches especially. Once the stone was outlawed, Notch had arrested any one found with the possession of this stone that can only be found under bedrock, which many people are not even aware of."
"You can mine under bedrock?" Blue was surprised to hear that, she thought that was as far as one could mine.
"Only powerful enough people can, who know what they are doing. The only ones I am aware of are my brother, Notch, and myself, who know about it. Not including now you and your sister." Steve answered as he looked up back at Blue's curious eyes.
"What kind of power other than channeling it to my world does it have, that is a threat to my sister?" Blue asked in concern as the two of them finally began walking out of the portal's room and outside to where the rest of Red's old brick home resided.
"Herobrine used this for not just the intent of kidnapping your sister, as he would had never had to use her to begin with to reach her world. He could have had made the portal himself. What he did though is the main complication. He must have manipulated her to ignite the portal herself. This is part of a corrupting ritual that binds the maker of the portal with the igniter. Potent dark energy is released the moment the black opal portal is ignited and with no place to go, it consumes the igniter with dark energy that preys on it's host. Eventually, it consumes the host and sometimes even alter's one mind and even gives them destructive power through the dark energies that others couldn't ever possess."
Blue paused in her walk by his side and looked at him in horror, "You mean to tell me he used that portal's magic to technically poison my sister's body?"
"In a sense, yes. The longer she has that dark energy running through her veins, the more corruption the energies induce to her body and mind. The energy's power can make someone's mind go insane. Though, I'm sure my brother is monitoring it to work in his benefit. Probably to sway her over to him in this way. My brother has tampered in plenty enough of occult black magic to already have dark energies flowing through him. It is said to be the only way to have control over the monster's of this land, which he controls with an iron fist."
"That's… That's terrible! I had no idea it was just that serious. I thought he just kidnapped her… I never thought he would also try and destroy my sister's mind with magic!"
"My brother has no shame. If it means to get what he wants. He'll do whatever it takes, even to taint your little sister's whole body and psych."
"That evil conniving piece of shit is going to pay for what he's doing to poor Scarlet!" Blue growled and kicked a random rock in front of her. The rock flew forward and hit a tree before rolling away. Steve frowned sadly and placed a hand on her shoulder as they continued to walk.
"I know how it feels to be done wrong by him, many do. That is why he must be stopped once and for all."
Blue nodded and looked beyond pissed, she didn't realize the gravity of the situation. She knew it was serious enough that her sister was kidnapped but now that Red's body was tainted by that asshole. She was going to personally find him and slowly rip him limp to limp.
"How far is Notch's kingdom?"
"Just a bit farther to the west. Keep following, we'll be there before it gets dark." Steve told her and quickened his step ahead to show her where she should be going. Blue frowned and stayed silent as the two of them continued their trek. Her thoughts where taken by the concern for her sister and the sudden blood-lust she had for Herobrine's death to be long and significantly painful for all that he has done.
Coming upon a dark oak wooden drawbridge over a moat of water and a vast kingdom that was hidden within the stone brick walls that had intricate designs decorating the surroundings walls. Blue stared in front of her at two heavily diamond cladded armored guards that were armed with bows and poisoned arrows with enchanted diamond swords. "Wow, they look like they're ready to attack the Ender Dragon or something." Blue joked and Steve chuckled as they walked up to the front iron barred gates.
"Not just them but they are too." Steve replied and pointed out some stealthy archers above, that were up on the towers and pointing their enchanted bows and flaming arrows at Blue, just in case she was a threat.
"They're not going to kill me right?" Blue muttered skeptically with wide eyes.
"Oh no! They're just ordered to always be prepared. Especially, seeing as you are not a familiar. You being with me, they won't hurt you. I promise." Steve reassured as the two of them came up to the two heavily armored guards at the front gates.
"Hey guys, I have a friend with me that needs to meet with Notch." Steve told the guards casually as he gestured over at Blue, who stared at their weapons nervously. The guards inspected Blue carefully and then looked over at Steve.
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Sapphire Chandler, she also goes by Big Blue. She is the older sister of the younger one we're having issues with." Steve told them and they nodded and frowned at the thought of her little sister's affiliations with Herobrine. Nodding to Blue, one of the guards went over and called out for the gates to be opened, which instantly began opening the second he gave an okay.
"I see. Welcome to Minecraftia then Outsider. I pray you get your sister back from the white eyed devil." He told her with a respectful bow of the head. Blue simply nodded in thanks and began to walk through the now opened gates with Steve at her side.
Steve and Blue wandered through the rows of village and made their ways to a huge castle in the distance. Blue took in her surroundings, enjoying seeing the children running around and playing with each other, also other people minding their own business and doing their tasks. It was pleasant to see they didn't all look identical and have big noses, like they did in the game.
"It's really peaceful here. Do you live here?" Blue asked as the two kept walking.
Steve nodded with a cute grin, "Notch's kingdom is the best place one could live in all of Minecraftia! It is also the safest… most people try to live here but we have been having trouble expanding for more people, because of the threat of my brother meddling and pillaging the kingdom if we give him even the slightest chance. Unfortunately, the town is becoming overpopulated because of the fear of Herobrine, we can't work construction and have weak points into the kingdom's walls."
"That's terrible."
"Yeah, but we're still managing. One day we will be able to construct a larger kingdom and welcome in more citizens. Once the threat of my brother is gone, but for now we have to settle for what we got." Steve explained while the two began walking up stone stairs that led to the castle. Blue noted the increase of the guards as they got closer to the castle's entrance. Finally entering inside the polished diorite castle, the two walked along a long red carpet that led up to the throne room where the one and only Notch was sitting on a fancy throne.
"Father! I think I have someone you've been wanting to meet!" Steve called out to Notch, who turned from talking to an advisor and over to Steve and Blue.
Notch's kind brown eyes smiled as did his lips, "Ah! So Sapphire Chandler finally makes her appearance! I couldn't be more elated! Please, come over and let us speak! We have much to talk about! You must be curious as to what is going on also. I'm sure Steve has let you in on some of the details!" Notch spoke with a polite tone that made him genuinely seem like a good man. Blue nodded and felt like she should curtsy since he was considered a king.
Steve and Notch chuckled at her actions, which made her blush in embarrassment. "W-what!?"
"There is no need to bow to me. I don't see bowing and all that necessary, it's all too formal for me." Notch said and then jumped off of his throne and walked over towards Blue. Gently slapping a hand onto her back playfully, he grinned brightly at her.
"Let us take a seat and have a bite to eat. You must be hungry from your stroll over here! We'll talk as we dine, shall we?" Notch offered and Blue nodded back at him with a smile working up on her lips.
"Gladly! Thank you very much, sir!"
"Oh! Please, just call me Notch. I'm not so much for formalities as I said! Come on then! Miss. Lassie, please if you would set us up a nice little luncheon for the three of us." Notch said and then looked over to a smiling orange-haired, pigtailed, servant who was dressed in a long puffy white dress and frilly red-polka dotted apron.
"Right away, your majesty!" She nodded and curtsied and went off on her way to set up at the dining table. The three of them went over to a dining table in a conjoined room and sat down. Notch at the head and Steve and Blue on the sides.
"I just can't get you all to stop with the formalities. You're killing me!" Notch joked as he eyed over at Lassie as she began preparing.
Steve chuckled and replied, "Everyone believes you deserve the respect."
"Aw, well thank you, Steve! I appreciate it. Now Sapphire or do you prefer Blue? I'll call you Blue, if you don't mind! Before we start getting all down to business. Let me just cordially welcome you to my kingdom and really just the whole of Minecraftia! You are not quite from our world, after all." Notch spoke and let out a hearty laugh as he watched Blue alongside his son Steve.
"Thank you, sir- I mean Notch. It is quite an honor being here. I just want to first off, myself, say I apologize for what my little sister is putting everyone through. She has always been quite a gullible soul. Unfortunately, she has just really royally screwed up this time."
Notch frowned slightly and stroked his black beard in thought, "Ah, yes… Your little sister has gotten herself in quite a tasking dilemma. Of course, I do not completely blame her for what is happening. Unfortunately, my other older son, Hero, has quite a silver-tongue. He also seems to have taken a rather hefty fancy to your sister, Scarlett. All of it has just led to a giant mixing pot of disarray." Notch said and sighed softly.
"Blue came here to save her sister from my brother and also help us stop Herobrine." Steve pointed out as he glanced at the creator and his father Notch.
"I had a feeling but it won't be easy… Not with what Hero has inserted himself into with the black magic and occult, especially Scarlett's hand in it." Notch replied a bit more discouragingly than before.
"Well, will there ever be anyway I can still save my sister from him and this black magic's corruption? I won't give up until I get her back home and safe and away from that bastard." Blue inquired and Notch nodded with Steve.
"It is possible as nothing is impossible… but because of what your sister has done by igniting the portal herself, she has channeled not only dark energies to Hero but mostly herself. Through her, Hero is most likely using her to his advantage and the black magic in time could possibly corrupt your sister's mind enough for her to believe him."
Blue fell in silence and looked worried, the pit of her stomach felt sick at the thought. What if this magic consumed her mind so much that she would never be the same Little Red? What if Herobrine actually is able to get her to believe that she is in love with that wicked man? Just how far did this magic go in corrupting one's mind and how fast does it work?
Blue tried to fight the tears that wanted to fall from her eyes. Steve and Notch watched her in concern as the food that Notch had requested was already beginning to be placed down by Lassie and some more of the servant's staff.
(Author's Note: Viva La Vida means Long Live Life or Live the Life in Spanish! The title was inspired from the song from Coldplay.)