Chapter 18: Ambuscade

Red sat there for what felt like hours in nothing but complete silence. The only sounds that could be heard was her own breathing and the lone agonizing sound of the dripping drops of water from outside her cell. She felt so insane in the cell by herself, she was literally laying on the bed and counting each time the water dripped. Right now it was three hundred and twenty seven…No, make that three hundred and twenty eight…

Sighing and staring at her arms, she could see that her veins were beginning to fade from the black color they had taken on and back to normal. She felt calmer ever since it did begin to go away, she also became aware of how deranged she was acting before. She was painfully embarrassed that she acted like some senseless killing machine that was ruthless and uncaring of another's pain and suffering, especially in front of Herobrine. "Why did I get that way back there?" She rhetorically asked herself out loud. The sound of her voice bounced off the wall and echoed, she frowned and was seriously wondering if she was going completely bonkers. Talking to herself seemed to be the only welcoming sound she would hear in awhile. Herobrine had brought her some things when she was in her state of hysteria, which was kind of him.

Picking up a random Minecraftian magazine, she flipped through the pages though she was hardly interested in anything it had to say. She just wanted to get out of this cell pronto and get back to Herobrine's side. She was a Queen for goodness sake! She should be in luxury with the finest of things but look at her now! Hero had stuffed her into this cramped tiny stuffy cell that she swore was slowly closing in on her. Throwing the magazine roughly at the wall, she growled to herself and jumped off the bed to stretch her muscles. "HEROBRINE! I'M MENTALLY STABLE NOW! Get me out of this freaking prison cell before I do actually lose my mind!" Red feeling nothing but irritated, she roughly kicked the door with her foot but quickly regretted it when she only ended up hurting her foot. "OW!" She cried out and then finally just began screaming like a pitiful little child throwing a tantrum.

"HEEEEROOOBRRRINNE! HEEELLLOOO! I know you can hear me or something! STOP IGNORING ME! I'm going to bust this door open myself, if you don't get your sorry ass down here this instant!" Red yelled out and stomped her foot to the groin as she glared at the iron door keeping her from her freedom. Hitting the door with her fist, she growled and was surprised when it suddenly opened. "What?… It opened?" Red uttered in shock, thinking that she had done that herself.

"Yes, I'm quite tired of hearing you scream your head off. I'm rather surprised you haven't lost your voice yet from screaming as much as you have been." Herobrine said tiredly as he stepped out of the shadows to be seen more clearly.

"… Great well, I'm sane now. So what the fuck happened to me!? Why did I turn into psycho bitch all of a sudden?"

Herobrine shook his head at her blunt sarcastic and colorful choice of words, before replying to her sternly, "…. Your power had been too overbearing for you to handle all at once. Your mind was becoming infected by the darkness and in which made you act the way you had."

"I thought you said you have my power under control?" Red inquired skeptically, while she quickly without hesitation, rushed out of the little cell room she had been left in for hours on end. Now standing in front of Hero in the lone dark corridor, she stared at him now awaiting an answer.

"I do… for the most part. Mostly, I can keep it anchored from subduing you… as I am doing right now. When I let go of control of it at will, it unleashes your energy to flow through your body. I had truthfully let off of my hold slightly on it to help you - … be more open to doing what I asked. Of course, I hadn't realized that just the short amount of time I let it release. It was just enough to become too much for your body to handle. Being as your body is very assessable to it's mind-altering corruption because you are very new to it's habituation inside your body. You were not prepared for it all at once."

"Why'd you do that!? You seriously did that just to basically loosen me up so I could freaking kill people with you!? Are you fucking insane!?"

Herobrine was quick to glare her for her insult and shook his head at her, "If I hadn't let so much of it free within your body, there would have never been an issue in the first place."

"Oh well, goodness me! That makes it TOTALLY okay to basically attempt to control me with my stupid powers that I never asked for to begin with! That was pretty damn low of you, you know!"

"Watch your mouth, Scarlett Chandler. You don't want to make me angry do you? I did it for your own good!"

"UH, no you didn't! But I'm right aren't I?! You were just trying to take control of me! Like I'm so some kind of little puppet slave partner in crime for you to pull the strings around as you like!" Red barked back angrily but then suddenly felt afraid the moment she saw his eyes flash and became brighter in the already eerie darkness. Her attention wasn't completely on his furious eyes, but more so on the cut that was on the side of his face that was visible to her. It looked like he had cleaned it and it wasn't bleeding anymore but it was still was very noticeable to the eye.

"I was JUST trying to have a little fun with you, like you constantly ask for from me! I was NOT trying to control you as one of my pawns! I was only trying to help you to see things as I do! You're the one that is blowing this out proportion! Those powers I bestowed to you, you should be very well be grateful more than anything else to have at your finger tips! Do you know how many of the people here in this world would kill to have that power that you possess? I gave it to you because you are worthy as my Queen! Because I care about you! Yet you continue to scorn me! When I've given you so much that I would NEVER in my life give to another! NEVER!" Herobrine yelled irately and took a step to tower over her to intimidate. Red looked up at him as he looked close to strangling her to death on the spot.

She frowned and begun to feel sick to her stomach for making him so upset and even ended up being the one to get him injured. She stared at him in silence for a moment before speaking in a soft tone of voice. "I know you care about me…" She said barely above a whisper while she extended her hand to very gently graze her fingers over his injury on his face. His harsh glare was still intense but it very slightly abated at her delicate touch that was so gentle, it was like she was afraid she would break him just by mere touch alone.

"Scarlett…" He tried growling lowly to her in a warning but she wasn't going to back away just yet. She knew he wasn't as angry at her as he was trying to appear.

"I'm sorry, Hero… I wasn't all there, so I'm sorry how I acted towards you. I know everything you do for me is in my best interest… I'm just frightened of this power, I don't like it. I don't like that it has the ability to take over me so easily if not controlled by you. It scares me." Red confided to him before going up on her tippy toes and kissing him lightly on the scratch that was caused by the grazing arrow. Herobrine's blazing white eyes dulled and went back to their calmer state of just glowing brightly in the darkness. He was tense as she had kissed him so softly on his face. He despised how she so simply could sway him to feel in ways he couldn't even possibly explain, even when he was furious, all she had to do was bring up honeyed sweet words and then he was putty in her hands. He truly wasn't the one controlling her, but he felt it was quite the other way around. He hated it more than anything but he knew deep down he would never do anything to revolt against it, he was a willing slave to it.

"Please forgive me…" She pleaded desperately as she looked up into his eyes with her big sparkling brown ones that he loved so much. Feeling almost sick for giving in, he could do nothing but suddenly grab onto her and tightly hold her against him like he would never touch her ever again after this moment. Red's eyes widen briefly at his abrupt embrace but soon let her eyes flutter closed as she remained protected in his strong embrace.

"…. Don't be afraid…. I won't let anything happen to you, Scarlett. I do love you…" He muttered lowly, while feeling almost like he wasn't even the one speaking anymore, but rather like he was an outsider watching his body say and react in whatever way it wanted. He knew though that even though he tried thinking he didn't want to act the way he was, he knew deep down that is what he truly wanted.

Red smiled into his chest and looked up at his face, "I love you too." She replied with a genuine smile that was too painfully sweet for him to even indulge in. He instantly leaned down and kissed her lips before teleporting away with her in his arms.

"You need rest… It's been a long day for you." He whispered gently to her as the two of them appeared back inside his bedroom chambers.

A day went by and everything went pretty normal. Red had spend much of her time with Herobrine but also made sure to take some time to hang around Bernard the French Zombie Chef, who she liked to tease in her free-time. He wasn't very fond of her, but he had no choice but to put up with her, considering she was his Queen. She had also made friends with some other creatures that Herobrine controlled over, that she was able to speak with telepathically. Herobrine had told her that he was the one that had allowed her to have the capability to speak with them telepathically, since she didn't know the language that only he and the mobs knew how to speak.

She was having a much better day than the day before and she couldn't see anything ruining it. Heck, she was even learning the castle's layout much better now that she has been here with Hero for awhile. It wasn't until later that day when she was alone and standing on a balcony and watching the Ghasts float about in the air quietly sobbing to themselves in chilling shrills. "I wonder why they're sad all the time. They seriously need some antidepressants or something…" Red murmured thoughtfully to herself in dumb amusement as the giant ghostlike creatures wafted through the Nether's open 'skies'. Leaning up against the nether brick railings, she began to think about something that had not been on her mind for a long while now. Or at least it was not just a passing thought but something she was fully concentrating on right now. Her big sister…

Sighing heavily, she looked out into the distance and began looking wistful from her intrusive thinking, "Big Blue… I'm so sorry. I hope you are doing okay without me. I know we said we wouldn't ever be apart- but… I'm really happy here. I wish I could see you at least one last time though. I really do miss you…" Red spoke aloud to the Nether's sky, wishing that her big sister was there to hear her words. Red suddenly felt depressed when she now couldn't get Sapphire out of her mind. She felt guilty for being so neglectful of even thinking of her, not even at the fact that she had no desire to escape now. She never would have thought she would actually fall in love with Herobrine, but that seemingly impossible concept had ineptly had become her fate.

Running her hand across the railing while lost in her thoughts, she wasn't at all aware of the looming presence behind her. She sighed and began talking aloud again, "I really miss you, Blue… I really, really do…" Her voice crackled and soon Red lowered her head as her hair's red bangs swept in front of her face. She soon had blinding hot tears running down her heated cheeks. She began silently sobbing to herself as she thought of all the things her big sister and her used to do back in her world, especially the small things. It all hurt immensely the more she thought about it.

"Your sister, huh?" A familiar voice spoke from behind her. Red rose her head up and looked back over her shoulder to see Herobrine leaning on the door frame's way to the balcony Red was on.

"Hero? I thought you were busy."

"Not anymore… And you're crying…" He said while pointing out the obvious. Red looked ashamed as she glanced from his white penetrating eyes and grimaced.

"Yeah, I am… I'm annoying right? I've been quite an emotional wreck lately. I'm not usually that way." Red replied and shook her head at herself from feeling stupid just speaking to him about her emotional issues that she sure no guy like Herobrine would care to hear about.

Hero lowered and shook his head at her words to him "You're not annoying me, Red. I suppose, it would only be natural for you to miss a family member who was once important to you in your life. Yet, unfortunately you must learn to live without her, you have me after all. That's more than enough."

"I know I have you but its not just that easy to get over! Sapphire and I were extremely close, like twins that could read each other's minds. My sister was my everything before this and now she's gone and I didn't even get to properly say goodbye… I just really miss her." Red confessed as she gripped onto the railing and looked down at the crackling lava below, trying to fight another flood of tears that wanted to fall from her sorrowful swollen brown eyes.

Herobrine sighed and went over to stand next to Red on the balcony. Red continued to stare down, lost in her gloom. Herobrine stared off into the distance in thought, he honestly wasn't sure what to say to her. He had a feeling when he brought her here, she would be somewhat depressed in leaving her sister and he really didn't want Red moping around about it all the time. He wished he could just swipe Sapphire completely out of her memory and take away her pain. He didn't know how quite to deal with her predicament, because as far as he was concerned, he was all she would ever need. Was he not enough for her?

He had to mean more to Red than her brat older sister! If not, then this could be a serious problem. A problem that he would have to deal with very quickly. He couldn't have Red remaining homesick and missing her old life. She could turn back to being defiant and wanting to find an escape back to her old world. He would kill every last person in Minecraftia before anyone would take Red away from him. She wasn't going anywhere…

The two remained quiet together both lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't until a zombie came rushingly stumbling towards the balcony and began speaking in that foreign language, in a seemingly urgent way to Herobrine. Hero turned to look at the zombie and listened, his eyes immediately flashed vividly and began flaming wickedly bright. Something the zombie said had severely pissed him off. "WELL, what are you still doing here then!? GO! Get rid of them all! NOW! Herobrine shouted viciously and furiously glared the zombie that began panicking and shuffling away from Hero after he was done speaking.

Red turned to look at Hero with questioning eyes, "What's going on?"

"We have something serious happening. I want you to go to my room and lock the door, STAY there! Don't you dare leave! This is serious, Scarlett. Listen to me this time." Herobrine warned and then suddenly teleported away. Red stood there flabbergasted at the suddenness of his leave. She began wiping away her tears with her hands before doing as Hero asked and rushed her way as quickly as possible to his room.

'What in hell is going on now?! Can't I just have a normal freaking day!?' Red thought to herself irritably as she picked up the front of her dress and hightailed it to his room. Opening the door, she went inside and began looking nervous. What was so urgent that he had to leave like that? He looked highly disturbed… Sitting down on the bedside, she began trailing her fingers across the red blanket's seams. Her thoughts were crowded with questions as she wondered what possibly could be happening. Was there more rebels on the loose? Red frowned and stared down at the floor, her thoughts remaining concerned for Herobrine. Even though concern was probably unneeded, she still worried about him.

"Stay safe, Hero…"

"Okay, you got the plan Sapphire?" Steve asked Blue in a serious voice as they stood in front of their troops, hidden in a secret Nether cave network that the Rebellion had in the past made to get closer to Herobrine's Fortress. It was their closest cave junction that hadn't been found out yet and even then the cave they were in still wasn't as close as they would prefer it to be.

Blue glanced beside her at Steve and nodded with solid assurance, "I got it. Let's do this. That bastard is going to pay for kidnapping my sister." She replied with a strong-willed courageous smile appearing brightly on her face. Steve smiled back at her with much determination and gave her a firm nod of the head.

"Good, I had a feeling you would. Now time to talk to our guys…" Steve said before looking back at his troops behind him to give them their orders.

"Okay everyone! Listen up! Here's the plan! We're going to use you all to start a sudden surprise attack to keep up a distraction for Herobrine and his minions. Keep Herobrine's mobs complete and full attention while Blue and I sneak into the castle's gates. All of the mobs should be focused on all of you as you ambush them at the front, Blue and I will find a way in. Once Blue and I breach inside the Nether fortress, we will locate Blue's sister, Scarlett. Then if I can find him, which I'm sure he'll be near and probably very angry. I will personally do away with the false-king Herobrine for good! All this will be for the rightful citizens, for King Notch, and most of all for OUR land, for Minecraftia and our near approaching future! SO WHOSE WITH ME!?" Steve brought up his diamond sword that was almost identical to Herobrine's sword. The Rebels cheered very loudly and brought up all their weapons into the air with blaring confident battle cries that resonated off the caves walls. "THEN LET US FIGHT! FOR THE GLORY OF MINECRAFTIA! WE WILL PURGE OUR LAND OF THE WHITE EYED DEVIL HEROBRINE FOREVER! FOR MINECRAFTIA!" Steve shouted again at the top of his lungs to his armed forces. The Rebels roared back, 'FOR MINECRAFTIA!' before charging forwards all together in a giant organized assembly they had all strategically shaped together for the assault on the fortress. The sound of pounding feet could be clearly heard on the Netherrack as the archers quickly took their positions and began shooting at the Ghasts nearby with poisoned arrows.

Steve watched the rest of his legion rush forward past the archers and started heading towards the heavily guarded front gate. They had to cross through some of the Nether's open landscape until they came upon the wide Nether brick bridge, that was the only entrance into the fortress. The rest of the area surrounding Hero's kingdom was covered with a vast moat of scorching hot lava that crackled and blew off ashes occasionally. The archer skeletons that were situated from their places on top of the castle's tall defense towers, began raining down flaming arrows on the unexpected Rebels who came prepared for the archers. Most all of the Rebels brought up their shields above them and let the flaming arrows pelt their shields, making them bounce off and fall off to the side.

Once the Rebel archers from behind finished off the last of the nearby Ghasts, they went forward to help out the soldiers that were dealing with the skeletons that were shooting at them from above. The archers lined up and went ahead with a booming loud, 'FIRE!' as they shot back at the skeletons with highly skilled precision. They took out some of the Skeletons but defiantly not all of them, more actually began accumulating at the tower's defense and tried fighting back. Blue watched nervously as she suddenly heard a sounding horn that blared from behind the Fortress's gates. The moment the sound of the horn stopped, the gates began to lower down to reveal an opposing and surprisingly gigantic horde of Herobrine's creatures that consisted of many Wither Skeletons, Zombies, Spider Jockeys, and even pesky Blazes that flew forwards at the Rebels for the attack.

"TAKE THEM ALL OUT! SHOW NO MERCY!" The head captain of the foot soldiers powerfully commanded his comrades in arms from the front of the combatants. They all roared back in a confident battle cry to the captain and then bolted ahead until both opposing legions began to mix into each other.

"They've collided. Now we have to get past without them noticing us. There should be enough of our guys to keep them busy as we pass through. The gates are open which will make this easier. Just be very, very careful, Sapphire. Oh, and you're gonna need this." Steve brought up and began to pull out another sword from his sheath. The sharp two-edged sword was diamond and was decorated with a crafty blue colored hilt that appeared to be made from pure lapis lazuli. Blue had never seen such a beautiful sword in her entire life.

"Please, take this… Just in case. I made this sword specially for you… I don't want you to be caught unarmed. I will keep you safe though, Sapphire. I'll do my absolute best, I promise more than anything!" Steve told her with a genuine smile then flipped the blade around so Blue could take ahold of it's handle. Blue looked at him in surprise, her blue eyes widening ever so slightly.

"You made this… For me?"

Rubbing the back of his head, he grinned sheepishly with a small heated reddening tint rising to his cheeks. "I did… I thought it could be a gift of sorts. A thank you for being brave enough to do this for us… It's really not just a gift from me but from Notch and everyone…" He confided and gestured her to take it from him. Blue stared at him and then smiled at him sweetly. She was flattered by his strong desire to care so much for her wellbeing. Reaching out, she took the sword's handle and brought it towards her to carefully inspect.

"Thank you, Steve… I'll do my absolute best, even though I'm not exactly familiar with sword fighting at all…"

"Well, hopefully you won't even need to use it. Don't worry though, just try your best. I have a feeling you will do just fine. So… Let's get going. Herobrine is not going to take himself out and I'm sure your little sister is anxious to reunite with you."

"I have a feeling she is. I miss her so much. I've never been away from her this long. I just hope more than anything she's safe…" Blue trailed off as she stared at her reflection that came from the diamond and lapis lazuli sword she was gifted with. Steve nodded and gave a reassuring wink and thumbs up directed to her.

"She'll be just fine! Now let's get going. We're burning daylight staying here. Come on and stay close to me. Once we get to the gates we have to be very sneaky, don't want any more of my brother's lackeys on us then we have to deal with."

Blue nodded in agreement and watched as Steve began to speedily travel towards the bridge, he glanced back over his shoulder at Sapphire and waved her to follow him when he noticed her not following right away.

"For Minecraftia!" He exclaimed with a battle-ready grin.

Blue paused and smiled back softly before she steadily rose her sword to the air, "For Minecraftia!" she parroted back with more confidence.

Steve kept grinning and continued to charge to the Nether Fortress's gates with Blue trailing right behind him at a swift pace. She couldn't even begin to explain the fear that she had inside but her love for her sister was much stronger. When Blue promised to keep her little sister safe, many years ago. She said it with not the slightest of dishonesty. Red had always kept her safe from bullies and wicked people in the past when they were much younger. Even though the situation was much more dire now, she promised herself she would die trying to save her sister, rather than sit back and let her sister be taken hostage by the monster of a man she now despised the most. Herobrine's tyranny over Minecraftia and her sister would fall and Notch and the Rebellion WILL come out victorious in the end.

No matter what...