Chapter 20: Life or Death

Author's Note: I just want to stop for a moment and with much gratitude, give credit and a giant shout out to BlackDragon41 for inspiring me with an idea for my special 20th chapter! Thank you so much! I do love incorporating others ideas into my stories! *nudging and winking at you other lovely readers* Pssst, you can give me ideas too! If I like it, I might add it! ;)

Now onwards to the story, my friends!

The blade of Herobrine's sword sped downwards at Sapphire until suddenly coming to a halt when another blade collided with it loudly. Herobrine's eyes flashed as he made a low animalistic growl from the back of his throat. "Brother…" Hero bellowed lowly and looked up at the fierce bright azure blue eyes of Steve.

"You won't lay a hand on her, Herobrine!" Steve shouted as he began pushing back Herobrine's sword away from Blue. Blue's eyes snapped open and widen once she felt no pain made to her body. Looking over at Steve and Herobrine with wide eyes, she gasped at Steve's fearless heroism. He saved her life…

"Oh? But I wasn't planning on laying a hand on her. I cannot say the same for my blade." Herobrine retorted mocking and pushed back with his blade at Steve's sword. The painfully loud sharp sound of the swords rubbing together as the shoved back at each other, began making a shrill nasty scraping sound, like nails on a chalkboard. Sapphire backed away from the two Minecraftian and practically identical brothers as they continued to fight for dominance.

Herobrine pulled back just enough to make a clean swipe of his blade right at Steve. In reaction, Steve parried the blow by jumping backwards and just by milliseconds alone, he was able to successfully dodge it. Herobrine glowered at his escape and rose his heavily enchanted sword up in a defensive stance. "What is this, my little brother? You're now the one playing our role as hero? What a turn of events, yet not at all surprising, rather boring actually…" Herobrine scoffed and then lashed out again another strike. Steve slammed his own sword against his and the two began repeatedly doing this until one of them got a hit on one or the other.

"You won't touch her! I promised to keep her safe and I swear that on my life! You're not getting her OR her sister! Its over for you, Hero!"

"Ha! We'll have to see about that!" Herobrine chuckled deeply and kept swinging with almost effortless blows against Steve's own sword that blocked his hits. Sparks could be seen flying off of the swords from the powerful collisions. Blue stood off to the side and watched with big worried eyes.

"Be careful, Steve!" Sapphire called out to Steve in concern. Red was also watching from behind Blue, she was still standing against the wall and looking disheveled and uneasy. Gulping she couldn't find words to speak for once in her life, she just watched shakily as the one she loved and apparently his little brother Steve fought with all their might against each other.

Hero's eyes were extremely bright and flaring in one of the most intense ways, even Scarlett never saw them raging to that degree. Herobrine was obviously pissed off beyond words and coping with it in a rather calm but sarcastic facade he put up front. The noise of the blades hitting each other was almost painful to listen to for the two sisters. Red had even put her hands to her ears to slight muffle the dreadful noise.

"How cute… Be careful is right, Steve. You might get hurt than you can't protect your little girlfriend over there." Herobrine leered and smirked as Steve began blushing slightly. Pulling back his sword and stepping backwards, he glared Hero.

"We aren't-I mean… We're not like that!" Steve stumbled on his words and couldn't stop blushing even considering the circumstance he was in. Blue's cheeks also flushed at the thought but she tried to remain serious looking even though her own heated cheeks were betraying her.

Herobrine rolled his eyes and glanced at Blue before looking back at Steve, "I'm far from stupid, Steve. I can see that you fancy her. Why else would you risk your life for her? It's all too sweet to me… Sickeningly so…"

"We're not! … Stop it!" Steve tensed up and with a loud battle cry, he bounded forwards and began mercilessly slashing over and over again. Herobrine shockingly blocked ever single one with perfect spot on agility. Red even swore she could almost see him yawning at Steve's attempts to best him.

"Getting flustered, brother?" Herobrine chuckled in amusement and watched as Steve stood in front of him panting heavily as he finally paused to take a minor break in constantly trying to hit Hero.

'Not even a single hit taken. Herobrine is amazing… I've never seen someone sword-fight like that.' Red thought to herself in disbelief and in awe at her lover's incredible extensive dexterity in combat. Steve now deeply glaring his older brother and still panting, he didn't think he would tire himself out so quickly but he had to back off from the ridiculous amount of time he tried to haphazardly strike him. He needed to remember this was Herobrine, his older brother, the one that had been strong enough to make it this long against Notch's entire rebellion. Of course, he wouldn't be so easily taken down by an embarrassing emotion-filled spray of attacks. He needed to hit home, maybe more distractions or using something personal against him. Red was the only thing he could think of but he'd rather not have to use her as bait. It also could possibly make Sapphire angry with him and he certainly didn't want that.

"No way! I'm just warming up! What are you dying out on me?" Steve taunted at Hero. He wasn't giving up even if he had to feign complete confidence that this would go over well. Steve was usually full of confidence but he wasn't so sure about this one.

"You wish... Is this all you will do to me? Strike repeatedly at me, take a breath of fresh air, and then repeat the process over again? Did I mention how boring this is? How about we mix things up a little." Herobrine smirked wickedly and began lowly chuckling again. Steve suddenly felt himself freeze on the spot, he couldn't move an inch!

"HEROBRINE! You damn cheat!"

"No,no, not cheating, little brother… I'm just merely using my resources I have at my disposal. I tire of this childish game. I have much more to concern myself with. You both should have had remained back home at that pathetic excuse of a king's cozy little fortified stronghold. This little game is a bit above your level, don't you think?" Strutting up towards his brother coolly with his free hand up, which was the cause of his hold. Herobrine ran the blade of his sword across Steve's chin, leaving a small line of blood in its wake. Steve was obviously struggling in his hold as you could see him slightly shake every few seconds. Blue's eyes widen and she brought up her sword.

"Get away from him, you bastard!" Blue roared and went charging forwards, only to be halted when Hero stopped at Steve's right side with his hand still up and his sword now pointed directly at Blue's face.

"Please, you're making a fool of yourself, little damsel in distress. I bet you do not even know how to use that weak little thing in your hands." Herobrine mocked and laughed in her face at her obviously disheartening demeanor. Red stood in the background and wanted to intervene but couldn't find it in her to go against Herobrine. She most defiantly with complete certainty didn't want him to kill Sapphire and Steve seemed to rather close to Blue. Maybe, there really was something there between the two? Red's main concern was for her sister though, she didn't think she could let Hero kill her big sister. She really just didn't know what to do all together, so she just stood there dumbly and watched as a voiceless bystander.

Blue glared daggers into him, mentally murdering him in her mind. She hated how simply he took full control of the situation. He certainly was a foe not to be taken lightly. With one single blow, Hero could take Steve's life since he couldn't move under Herobrine's power of paralysis. Steve's chin was already bleeding from just the mere brush of his sword against his face. Steve could only look on at Blue with worried filled eyes, "Sapphire, don't! Just stay back from him! I-I'll get out of this… S-somehow!" Steve struggled but it was rather pointless.

"Sapphire… Just back down already. This is all for nothing." Red spoke up as she stared at Blue's back. Blue glanced behind her shoulder at Red and shook her head quickly.

"No! I told you I know what I want and that's revenge!"

"You're only wasting your time! Herobrine is too powerful for you. Steve has already failed. Know your place and just give in." Red tried to plead with her sister to stop her fruitless attempts, but the stubbornness clearly ran in the family as she wasn't backing down.

"Never! I won't give in! If I die, it will be for you Scarlett! Also for the honor of Minecraftia and its people! FOR MINECRAFTIA!" Blue shouted and took her sword and to much of Herobrine's surprise she actually shockingly swung at him. He had been so overly confident that she wouldn't attack but rather cower away. He never thought she'd actually do it! Red's eyes widen in horror as a giant long bleeding gash was made across his chest. Herobrine's eyes flashed in white fury, he instantly tore his hand away from Steve and dropped the hold over him. Herobrine seethed out in pain and ominously growled like a rabid animal.

"HOW DARE YOU, BITCH!" He roared like an enraged tiger and charged at Blue within seconds. Blue gasped and out of mere instinct brought her sword up to defend herself. Herobrine's sword clashed with her own but Blue not being skilled with sword fighting, he easily broke through her hold and slashed Scarlett across her left shoulder. Blue screamed at the top of her lungs from the searing pain of her now open wound that was gushing fresh blood. Steve now being released, bolted at Herobrine but he didn't get far as Herobrine put his sword to her neck. "Come any closer and I'll slice her fragile little neck!"

Red shuttered at his almost demonic voice, he was seriously more pissed than she had ever seen him. His eyes were pooling a white colored wildfire that was trailing from his eyes furiously. He seemingly was trying to ignore the plainly seen painful laceration that went across his chest and was bleeding terribly bad. His shirt was becoming covered with his own blood, but he dared not look at all disquieted from it.

"H-Hero!" Red called out anxiously, Hero's eyes very briefly glanced at her with narrowed eyes. She felt chills go down her spine at his most intense flaring gaze that could make her want to give up just staring at him.

"Stay back, Red. I need to finish this." Herobrine said in a disturbing harshly low tone to her but his eyes were now completely focused back on Steve. Red was shaking in terror, she couldn't let this happen to her sister! This was her flesh and blood that she did truly love with all her heart! Before, Red could say anything, Herobrine took his free hand and threw Steve against the wall. She never knew he had telekinesis! Just what couldn't he do!?

"Pitiful… I am perturbed how you could be related to someone like me. So weak you are, Steve. But now its time to take the one thing that I know you do care for away. See how it feels to have what you want more than anything taken from you before your eyes! Just like you take my right to power!" Herobrine cackled wickedly and pressed the sword tighter to Blue's neck. Blue was whispering prayers in her head as she closed her eyes that were brimmed with tears that went down her face.

"STOP IT!" A voice suddenly screamed throughout the entire room, it echoing off the walls from how loud it was. Red came rushing forwards and ran in front of Herobrine that still had his sword to her sister's neck. Red was also painfully sobbing, she just couldn't sit back and watch anymore. She could't let her sister die in front of her face! She just couldn't!

Herobrine looked over at Red with wide eyes and furrowed brows, "What are you doing, Scarlett!? Stand back! Now!"

"No!" She shouted at him in resistance as she stood in front of him, feeling pathetic though as she did. Tears were falling from her shimmering eyes that were blurred from her constant overflowing of tears. "You can't kill my sister! I-I can't let you do that! Please don't!" Red begged Herobrine, who only was staring at her bitterly through narrowed eyes.

"Scarlett…" Herobrine voiced in a threatening manner that only made her resist more. She took a step forward and kept trying to plead for sister's life from the man she loved. Blue's eyes had reopened and she was looking back and forth from Hero and Red in uncertainty and fear.

"Please, Hero… Just let her go. They lost, good! But don't kill my sister for it! Couldn't you just let them off with a warning?" Red asked unsurely and only shrunk back as Herobrine sneered and glared her deeply.

"I don't do 'warnings'! As a King and ruler I must be true to my word and I certainly am!"

"Killing my sister is not going to change anything!" Red brought out her hands as she spoke and took a few steps forward. Blue was terribly freighted as she felt Herobrine's grip on her tighten to the point her neck was stinging from the indentation of the sharp blade slightly cutting into her.

"I will take away one of the things my useless brother cherishes most! So it is enough reason for me to end her life!"

"But I also cherish her life! She's my big sister, Hero! My family! My flesh and blood! You can't rid me of that!"

"She doesn't matter! She is irrelevant! You belong to me and you will cherish only me!" Herobrine shouted back with extreme possessiveness. It was obvious he was jealous that Sapphire was meaning anything to her, possibly more than himself. He wanted to just keep her all to himself, which just wasn't going to happen if Red didn't have something to do with it.

"I can't just stop loving my sister, Herobrine! I love you but I love her too! Why should I have to be given a single choice ultimatum! I can't choose between the two people I love most! That's not fair!"

"Unfortunately, fair or not it comes down to choosing. So my dear Little Red, Is it me? Or is it her? Who do you truly love most? This should be a painfully simple question." Hero challenged her and was obviously not listening to her in the least. Getting him to reconsider was not going to be an easy feat to accomplish like she had first thought. She had to tread carefully or he might snap and do the malicious deed without second thought.

"I love you both equally. I'm not choosing. It's not fair." Red replied stubbornly and glared back at Hero. Blue gulped as she could tell Hero was getting fidgety and possibly dangerously close to just losing it and doing her off.

"NO! I damn well won't settle for being considered at the low level scum of those who are lower than me! I am greater! I am a god! Don't you get it, Scarlett? Don't you see?!" Herobrine told her with a crazed look appearing in his eyes, he was desperately trying to persuade Red to sway over to his way of thinking… that much was obvious.

All Scarlett got or saw was how large of an inflamed ego her boyfriend actually had. To consider himself a god was a little up there on the narcissist scale. "My love shouldn't have to be placed at certain levels. I love you both in different ways. Sapphire is my family and I consider you a part of it now too, but in a different way. I love you, Hero… Can't that be enough? Please, let my big sister go."

Herobrine stared at her for a prolonged moment before speaking up again, "… I could just rid myself of the completion completely."

Red felt anger boil through her blood and she finally snapped at him in outrage, "Seriously!? This isn't some kind of fucking competition! Why can't YOU get it!? If you kill my sister Hero, I will hate you forever! Let her go! Do it because you love me! P-please!"

Hero glared her and was beginning to falter just in the slightest, his hold on Sapphire had lessened because of her words of possibly being hated by Red. Blue gulped again and was more than thankful that her little sister was trying to pull through and save her. She was wondering if Red was just going to let her die without even a word of protest. It was reassuring to see she still had a place in her heart somewhere, even if it was becoming slightly overshadowed by this monster of a man Herobrine.

"Now you're not being fair to me, Scarlett! You must learn that sacrifices must be made in war as my Queen! Your sister is at fault for her own actions. This is what her thoughtless decisions lead up too! If your sister would have just remained in your world, than I would have no need to kill her, but your sister had deliberately come here to ruin my empire and on top of that try to steal you away from me! The two things I actually care for most, she came to take like a thief, but she's not going to take ANYTHING from me! Not her, not Notch, not the Rebellion, and certainly not my brother! No one!"

Red took a shaky sigh and cautiously took another step towards Hero, she was now standing in front of her sister, so close she could just push her out of harm's way. Yet, Red knew that would be ill-advised to do at the moment, so she remained still and kept trying to console Herobrine.

"Don't do it for them. Do it for me… Let her go…"

"… No…" He grumbled under his breath but was seen getting unnaturally anxious. He didn't want to fight with Scarlett! He just wanted her to listen and let him do what he needed to do! She would get over her death, it would take time but it would happen! Herobrine waged a war in his mind on what to do. He felt like putty in her hands again as her little short innocent self was standing up against a wrathful godlike king that had a powerful dangerous weapon in his hand and magic to boot. He fought fiercely with the urge to listen to her, to just let go of her stupid older sister so she wouldn't despise him for harming her. Yet, the other part of him that's voice was beginning to simmer down, told him to just get it over with and that Red would still love him in the end even if he did the dirty deed.

Herobrine didn't even notice right away as he was trapped in his own thoughts. He had without thought drawn his sword away from Blue's neck and Red had come over and wrapped her arms around him. Herobrine tensed up like a statue and he felt fidgety. What was he doing!? He wanted to push Red away and go after Blue but instead he stupidly wrapped his arms around his Scarlett and relished in her warm close proximity.

"I love you…" She murmured into his chest, uncaring if she got blood on herself from his wound that was still there. Herobrine was doing an awfully good job at hiding the fact that the wound wasn't hurting like a bitch. He didn't even care though as he embraced his love in his arms tightly. Blue had slipped away the moment she had a chance, she was now holding her neck on the sidelines and silently crying to herself. She hated the fact she was under the blade of the man she despised most, but to see her sister hug the same monster that did it to her was almost just as painful.

Herobrine gently kissed the top of Red's head and wasn't in the slightest paying attention to anyone else in the room. Red wanted to smile but she found it hard when she knew Blue was watching her every move. She knew she must be heartbroken to see her in this position, but she just couldn't stop loving this 'monster' as everyone keeps calling him. Red backed away from the hug and held onto his large calloused hands that covered her own smaller soft ones. Herobrine stared down lovingly at their hands as Red stared at his eyes.

"I love you too…" Herobrine finally said in a calm softer voice that Red was trying to break down to this whole time. Blue watched in disgust and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. It wasn't until both Red and Blue saw his eyes suddenly widen fully in shock, when they knew something was wrong.

Red gasped and looked at his face carefully, "H-Hero!? What's wrong!?"

"… S-Scar-…lett" He shuttered and then suddenly coughed up blood that trailed down his mouth and to his chin. Red screamed as her wide brown eyes darted from his face and noticed that past him, there was Steve standing there from behind him with his diamond sword plunged straight into Herobrine from behind.

"NOOOOOOO!" She screamed again but much louder as she held onto Herobrine as he stumbled forward at her. Steve was breathing heavily from behind as he yanked his sword out of him and took a few steps backwards as he watched Herobrine fall. Blue's eyes had also widen and she couldn't believe Steve was able to get to him so sneakily when he was so vulnerable for only a few minor seconds. Sapphire didn't feel any empathy for him though… She hoped his wounds were insufferable for doing all the wicked things he has done to her, her sister, Steve, and Minecraftia.

He was much heavier than Red expected and when he fell on her, it was difficult to keep him leveled as he leaned up against Red, incredibly injured from the devastating blow that even the great Herobrine wasn't immune too.

"I-It'll be okay, Hero! It'll be fine! Just look at me! Keep your eyes open and on me!" Red cried in sobs as she tried her best to hold onto Hero's dead weight. She could hear him wheezing and his breath was defiantly more shallow and raspy sounding. Doing her best to maneuver him to the bed in the room, she sat him down next to her. Her arm was around his shoulder and her eyes were frantically looking him up and down in fear for his life.

"Herobrine, say something! Anything!"

He tried staying conscious let alone saying something. He tried with all his might to stay awake for Scarlett but the pain was overwhelming. So with one last bit of his strength he had tucked away. Herobrine deeply glared Steve and lifted him from the ground with his telekinesis. Steve gasped and struggled furiously in the air. It wasn't until Hero violently slammed him against the Nether brick wall again, until Hero's eyes finally closed. A new fresh trail of blood was running down his mouth and his wounds were still bleeding badly. He was defiantly bleeding out too much and was suffering from the lack of it. Red didn't know what to do as usually she would leave anything medical to Blue, since Blue was training in the medical field back in their old world.

"BLUE! You have to do something! He could be dying!" Red yelled to her older sister desperately. Blue only frowned and shook her head firmly.

"He has to die…" She replied quietly and watched with no compassion in her blue eyes as Red brought Herobrine's head onto her lap. She ran her hands through his short disheveled brunette hair and sobbed over him in a sick and painful way that made her stomach and heart pang inside. Steve on looked Red with more sympathy than that of her sister. He walked up in front of her and frowned sadly.

"I'm sorry, Scarlett. I had to do it. It had to be done. Please, forgive me…"

"NO! I-I-I'll never forgive you… Never! I HATE YOU!" Red spat hatefully at Steve and then sobbed and gently pressed her forehead against Hero's as she cried. He was thankfully still breathing but defiantly unconscious from all that had been inflicted on him.

"Its time to leave… Let's go Red…" Blue brought up and gestured her to get up. Red only shook her head and laid dozens of kisses on Herobrine's face as he laid there on her lap.

"NO! I need to save him!" Red stood up not for Sapphire but to go rush into the bathroom to go see if she could find some kind of medic-kit to mend his wounds with. She was heard rummaging in a frenzy through the bathroom and cursing constantly to herself. Blue watched emotionlessly before turning her eyes down back at Hero who Red had left lying on the bed.

"I think we're going to have to force her…" Steve inquired with a faint frown to Blue, who nodded solemnly in agreement.

"I think so…" Blue and Steve now both staring over at the bathroom door, where Red was still panicking. Blue took the initiative to walk into the bathroom and grab onto Red's hand. "Come on… It's been done."

"N-NO! He's not fucking dead yet! He's still alive! There's still a chance!" Red shoved her roughly away and began running back into the bedroom to continue her search for any kind of medical aid.

"Red, it's done. There is no possible way to save him here. I'm saying this as a person being trained in the medical profession. He is not going to survive with all that blood loss. Unless, you have some kind of serious tools to works with on him, he's done for." Blue stated calmly as she glanced from Herobrine and back to Red. Steve watched on in worry as Blue went back over and once again grabbed on to Red's hand.

"Its time to leave…"

"N-No… He can't die! He just can't! He's stronger than this! I know he is!"

"Scarlett… Please, listen to me." Blue said and tried embracing in her into a hug but Red wanted no part of it as she instantly shoved her big sister away.

"D-don't touch me! I can't stand you right now!" She sobbed in depression and ran back over to Hero as she ripped her hand away from Blue once more. Throwing herself on the bed, she sprawled across it as she set placed her face to Herobrine's right shoulder and began crying until she had no tears left to cry anymore. Blue sighed tiredly and was slightly agitated with Red.

"Come on, Scarlett. Its time to go back home." Steve was the one to bring up as he finally took charge and went over and grabbed onto Red's arm. Red screamed bloody murder as he forced her to stand up to her feet. She tried violently struggling away from him with all her might, but Steve was stronger and kept a firm grip on her. Blue looked over at Red than to Steve and nodded to him.

"Let's get going…" Blue said and Steve nodded back.

Steve and Blue began walking to the door and away from Herobrine who was still lying injured and unconscious on the bed. Red screamed and screamed for Herobrine until her lungs began to swell from overuse. Steve had to keep harshly tugging her down each and every hallway and through every one of the castle's rooms. Soon enough they would return back to King Notch and figure out where to go from there.

It seemed the great and all so mighty Herobrine had finally fallen…

(Author's Note: Thank you for reading, I apologize for another wicked depressing chapter but trust me. It's not over yet! I mean, who would end a Herobrine/OC story like this!? Certainly not me! lol)