Chapter 40: True Fun
Author's Note: I just want to credit Acestin and necron-lordwesly for giving me ideas! Because they have given me ideas I will write past chapter 40 but just so you know the story is still getting close to ending. I don't know when but I'll make sure to let you know. Thanks for reading this far! Cheers to 40 chapters into this story that I didn't even think would get passed 20 chapters! *grins and raises a glass*
"Impossible!" Notch shouted in disbelief as he watched as Herobrine's wounds were no where to be seen once the light had dimmed and went away. Herobrine steps back up to his full height from where he had been knelt down and then turns to look over at Notch with fierce glowing eyes. Notch shakes his head and clutches his white diamond sword tightly against his side, ready to defend himself if he must. "How? How is that child capable of such powers at such an age?" Notch kept shaking his head with wide eyes as he stared over at Antares, who was now soundly sleeping in his mother's arms.
"I do not know… but I do know one thing…" Herobrine trailed off and summoned his sword and pointed it right at Notch's face. Notch went crossed eyed as he looked at the point of the blade that was directly in his face. "I'm going to kill you for putting Antares in danger and daring to do me off. So what will you do, Father?"
"I will defend myself to the death. I will not back down. As a true king never backs down." Notch replied firmly as he kept staring at the sharp tip of Hero's blade. Hero's eyes narrowed angrily, "A true king should know when to back down. You are no true king."
Steve frowned and suddenly walked over to stand in front of Notch protectively. Herobrine's eyes widen and he glared Steve, "What are you doing?!"
"We are not going to kill our own Father, Hero. Do you honestly want to lower yourself down to his level? He's our family."
"Not mine. I don't consider him anything but dead!" Herobrine growled but Steve did not move out of the way. Blue and Red watched on with worry as the two brothers were now heavily debating on Notch's life. Notch was looking at Steve from behind in shock. He was defending his life? Even after trying to have him killed along with everyone else?
"No, Herobrine. I won't let you. I don't want to fight with you, we've done enough of that already. Let this be dealt in a justifiable way. I know he deserves punishment but this is not how to do it. You won't gain anything from killing him. Let the people of Minecraftia decide his fate." Steve said with seriousness in his tone. Herobrine scoffed and glare behind Steve at Notch who was still looking aghast by the whole situation.
"He's right, Herobrine." Red suddenly spoke up and walked over next to Hero's side while deeply glaring at Notch from behind Steve. "You promised not to handle things the way you used to. Killing him now is much too forgiving. I believe he deserves to rot inside a cell or be banished for the rest of his days. The people of Minecraftia should have a say in what happens. I don't think they will be happy to hear about their ex-king trying to kill an innocent baby that is also their prince. Let them have a say."
Herobrine glanced at Red and turned to glare back at Notch who was staring at him with unreadable eyes. Herobrine thought about it and scoffed loudly before lowering his sword back down to his side. "Fine… I did promise I would and I don't break promises. I will spare his life for now but only because Steve is right. I won't succumb to your pitiful level, Notch. I will be the better king of Minecraftia." Herobrine said with firmness. Notch scoffed and shook his head.
"The people still think you a monster. They will clearly see what is good for Minecraftia. They will see the good in what I did."
"There is nothing good about when you did. Nothing justifiable!" Red snapped back at Notch who looked over at her and glowered. Notch glared her and shook his head.
"We will just have to see about that." Notch replied calmly back while looking fully confident in himself. He truly believed the citizens of Minecraftia would see the reasoning and logic in his actions. He felt not regret, no remorse. He only wished the baby had not healed Herobrine.
Herobrine scoffed and turned away from Notch. He could barely stand the sight of him any longer, "Take him away. He can see how it feels to be locked up in a cage like an animal. He will stay there until the people have decided what to do with him." Steve turned to look at Notch with a disproving look in his blue eyes.
"So that's it then? You are just going to throw me away in the dungeons? Fine, I will go but I trust that the rightful citizens of Minecraftia will make the right decision."
"Me too." Herobrine replied and then watched as Steve and Blue began leading Notch towards the dungeons of the castle. Notch send a glare over his shoulder which Herobrine returned just as darkly.
Red went over and smiled at Herobrine. "You made the right choice, Hero."
Herobrine lowered his eyes to the ground and nodded his head," I sure hope so. But what if the people do take his side? They might still see me as a devil."
"I don't think so. You are their king now. They must look up to you with respect. Anyone with any bit of sense wouldn't take sides with someone who just threatened to killed his two own sons and an innocent baby. They will make the right choice. I know it." Red said as she tried to comfort Herobrine from his moment of self-doubt. Herobrine looked over to Scarlett and smiled faintly at her.
"Thank you…"
"You're welcome." She replied and smiled back at him. Herobrine stepped in front of her and looked down at his son, Antares.
"I suppose, I must thank him too. I don't know how he did it but how ever he did. I am grateful." Red nodded as both parents stared down at their sleeping child with loving eyes. Herobrine stepped forward and hugged Red and Antares in a small group hug. "I love you both very much." Herobrine murmured into the hug.
Red grinned and snuggled into the hug, "We love you too, Hero.."
A week after Herobrine and Red had their own little reception that they missed out on. They also had sent out a message to the people in the kingdom about Notch's situation. It was today that they were going to come up with their final verdict for Notch. Herobrine was uncharacteristically nervous about the upcoming ruling that was going to start up very soon. The three representatives of the Minecraftian people were standing in the crowded throne room's foyer that was pack loaded with people waiting to watch the fate of their ex-king. Herobrine fidgeted with the royal red cape that was draped over his shoulders. Red walked into their room to see Herobrine looking in the mirror with a troubled expression.
"Don't look so worried. It will go fine and Notch will get the punishment he deserves." Red said and walked over next to Herobrine. He veered his eyes to look at her and sighed.
"I'm not worried… I'm just… thinking."
Red rolled her brown eyes and chuckled, "Worriedly thinking." she replied with a small smirk. "Come on. The hearing is about to take place." Herobrine nodded to her and turned from the mirror to follow her out and go to the throne room. Notch was standing off to the side with two diamond armored guards standing at each side of him to keep watch in case he decided to do something. The representatives watched and the room went quiet except for the whispered gossiping amongst the crowd once Herobrine and Red stepped inside the room. Herobrine went to got sit down on the throne while Red stood beside it with her hands folded in front of her.
"King Herobrine…" A long black haired serious looking female representative said in a low but respectful tone of voice.
Herobrine nodded to them and spoke up, "Have the people decided?"
The three standing in front of the throne all nodded to him at once, "Indeed, we have." The 2nd representative that was an older man in his late 70s said. Herobrine nodded back to them and looked between the three of them with calm eyes.
"Then please tell what has been decided."
"First, we want to ask you a question. The people have been wanting to know why you are not making the decision yourself. As a king they excepted you to make the decrees, not them." The 3rd youngest orange-haired and freckled face female representative said in a questioning tone. Herobrine nodded and smirked faintly.
"I think the people should have a say in what consequence their old king will have to live with. I only do this to be fair. Now is that all?" Herobrine replied firmly. The representatives looked between each other before all shaking their head back at Herobrine.
"No, that is all." The 1st serious black-haired female said. Now talking amongst each other quietly for a moment. Herobrine waited for them to finish before hearing the older gentleman speak up again in his old but wise sounding voice.
"We've come to a verdict. The people have decided." He said while glancing over at Notch who was looking smug with confident that the citizens of Minecraftia would side with him on the matter.
"The people have decided to banish Notch from the kingdom for his crimes against the monarchy of Minecraftia." The young 3rd representative said while she frowned and looked over at Notch who was looking completely taken back.
"No! This is an outrage! What I did was for the good of everyone! How can you people not see this!?" Notch cried out as the guards next to him moved to grab onto his sides. Notch lurched forwards out of their grip and made the representatives gasp as he summoned his sword within his hand. "He deserves death! Have you forgotten of the past crimes he has committed against us!?"
"Your actions now are just as inexcusable. The people wonder why you made him king if you don't trust him. Why would you put Minecraftia in possible immediate danger if you knew he was not to be trusted as king?" The orange-haired girl continued to say as she glares Notch hatefully.
The crowd in the room went into an uproar at this as they all began yelling loudly at Notch with taunts and jeers. Herobrine was astounded that the citizens were taking his side. Things were beginning to be thrown at Notch as he stood there in front dumbfounded and silent. Cringing away from the objects being thrown at him, Herobrine watched for a moment before speaking up.
"Then it has been settled. Notch I hereby banish you from the kingdom of Minecraftia. You will not be seen here again after this day or I will have you executed."
"This can't be happening!" Notch hollered and was shocked when the guards came rushing towards him. He was going to attack but the guards grabbed onto him before he could. "You will pay for this Herobrine! How dare you banish your own father!" Notch shouted at Herobrine who was looking on him blankly. Red scoffed and glared at Notch.
"You should talk. How dare you attack innocence and your own blood. You deserve this." Red scoffed at Notch as he sent a chilling glare back over at her.
"You both will pay for this. Somehow some way you will!" Notch kept yelling as the guard began hauling him through the crowd who made an open aisle for them to walk though. Notch had to be literally almost drug through as he was becoming dead-weight for the guards to hold up as they carried him off. "Let go of me!" He kept shouting and cringing away as the mass of Minecraftians started tossing more things at him as he went by.
Herobrine and Red watched solemnly as Notch was taken away. It wasn't until the two large doors were opened by some other guards and Notch was taken out of them when he was finally out of view. Herobrine looked down and closed his eyes for a moment as he thought about what he had done. Red looked over at him and waited for him to open his eyes back open and look towards the people. The three representatives turned from looking back at where Notch was to look back at Herobrine. Hero's eyes went to them as they stared back.
"This hearing has been adjourned." He said to them and they all nodded their heads in agreement. The Minecraftian people were still carrying on even though Notch was out of the picture. Herobrine stood up from the throne and began walking away with Red trailing behind him. Herobrine had a dark look on his face as he stepped into a hallway and leaned against the wall. Red stared at him as he sighed and looked troubled again.
"What's wrong, Hero? Aren't you happy Notch has finally been dealt the punishment he deserves?" Red asked as she crossed her arms in front of her as she gazed at Herobrine in puzzlement.
Herobrine breathed out another sigh and turned his eyes to look at Red, "He was my father…"
Red frowned and looked down as she spoke, "I know… I'm sorry. It must be hard banishing your own father. I guess, I'm not really realizing how serious this is. I never had a father in my life so I wouldn't know what it is like to have one." Red said and then looked back up at him.
"Don't be sorry. He deserves it."
"But it still hurts you inside… So I am sorry." Red responded seriously and went over to hug on to him. Herobrine wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead softly.
"Its fine… I've dealt with worse."
Red looked into his eyes and could see that he was still pained for having to go on with such a thing, "At least you know you didn't kill your father. You wouldn't need to deal with the blame for being the one to end his life. He'll be out there and safe. Hopefully, he'll stay away and do as he's been told." Red said and continued to hug him tightly. They stayed in this embrace for a couple of minutes, neither one saying a word for the longest of time.
"Thank you, Red…" Herobrine murmured into her short red hair
"You're welcome, Hero."
*-Time Skip-*
Six years go by seemingly very fast. Red and Herobrine ruled together over Minecraftia and its citizens without too much trouble. Thankfully, throughout the years it seemed things came to simmer down once Notch was out of the picture. Nobody knew what happened to Notch after he had been banished. There were always gossiped rumors of ones that had seen him but most have already moved on from the old king. He was nothing but a passing memory in the people's minds. Herobrine was now recognized as the king throughout the lands and Red as his queen. Many people still had a difficult time coming to terms with the said 'Devil of the Overworld' being the king. Some people migrated away when they found out while others either just accepted it or came to learn too as time passed on. Herobrine was well respected by the remaining citizens, while some were still skeptical, but Herobrine had shown nothing but competence as a leader of the land. He still controlled the dark forces in the Nether but he kept that much on the down low as it still was not a popular topic with others.
Blue had honed herself in learning magic from books that were left around by Nicholas. She was determined to become the new chief sorcerer of the castle and after five years, Herobrine had allowed her that title. She was still learning but she was progressing much faster in her knowledge since Herobrine willfully helped her when she needed it. Steve and Herobrine still had some petty conflict with each other, but for the most part they were getting along better than they ever had in their times together. Steve was still respected as a prince of Minecraftia but he mostly kept that title for Antares who was now six years old. He was turning out to look so much like his father, Red was amazed with the resemblance as he got older. Antares was a pretty intelligent kid and had amazing gifts in magic. Antares was able to teach himself magic on his own and he picked up on it swiftly when taught. To this day he could still do things like teleport and use telekinesis like he showed when he was a baby. Except now, he has become more powerful in it and knows how to use it more adeptly. The only problem was Antares did had a habit of getting into trouble. He was as mischievous as Little Red was when she was younger, then again… Herobrine was pretty naughty too when he was a kid. Genetics clearly showed and he was double the trouble and was clever at getting away with the mischief he caused throughout the castle.
Antares leaned up against a cobblestone wall and was breathing heavily. He placed his hand to his mouth and was stifling a laugh as he eyed down the corner from where he had run off. He could still hear the maids screaming in their room from the slimy toads he had conjured up in their living quarters. The maids were screaming and running out of the room down the hall and hollering dramatically about the toads. They were none the the wiser about Antares being the one to summon them. Antares couldn't help but snicker to himself. Leaning against the wall he smiled to himself, "What's so scary about toads, anyways? They're all overreacting." Antares said to himself and shook his head while snickering some more.
Little Red was interrupted in the middle of talking with her older sister as a whole horde of maids were screaming their heads off as they fled away from their quarters. Red quirked an eyebrow and glanced at Blue strangely. Blue looked back at her and at the maids and shrugged, "Beats me." Blue said and Red sighed.
"Antares…" Red grumbled and leaned away from the pillar she was up against. "Let me go see what that child has done this time." Red said and then began walking away from Blue who was chuckling to herself and shaking her head in amusement.
"He's certainly your kid." Blue quipped and continued laughing to herself as she sat there with a spell book in front of her. Red was pacing fast through the halls to go see what the commotion was about. Heading into the maid's living quarters, she froze and gasped as she saw a entire swarm of toads hopping around the entire room, even on the beds! "What the…- ANTARES!" Red yelled and grit her teeth. Down the hallway, Antares' paled as he heard his mother yelling out his name furiously.
"Darn it… How does she always know its me?" Antares sighed and leaned off against the wall and peeked down the hall to see Red now standing outside the room and flinching away from a big fat toad that was hopping towards her.
"Ew! Get away!" Red tried kicking away the toad but she was too afraid of it to get close enough. Antares knew he was caught whether he waited to be yelled at now or later. Well, he might as well get it over with. Antares adjusted the red cape he always wore and began running down the hall to see his mother looking disgusted by the toad. Antares sheepishly smiles as Red looks over at him with a disapproving glare. "Antares! There you are! Did you do this?" Red gestured to the icky toad that was now sitting there in front of her and having a staring match with her.
Antares bit his lip trying not to laugh at his mother's predicament with the croaking toad. He shook his head and Red didn't buy it for a second. "No, mother. I have no idea how these toads got here. Did you let them in?" Antares played dumb as he kneeled down and picked up the big green pudgy toad into his hands. Red almost screamed as he shoved the slimy creature in front of her face. "He's not going to hurt you. He likes you!" Antares stated as the frog croaked again. Scarlet shuddered and shook her head repeatedly.
"No! Get it away from me right now! Its disgusting!"
Antares finally pulls back the toad and looks down at it as it looks up at him with its beady yellow eyes. "He's not disgusting. I think he's cute."
Red grit her teeth and shook her head as she shuddered. How could the boy like something so gross? "Then explain to me why there are a trillion toads in the maids' quarters?" Red chided which made Antares sigh in annoyance.
"I don't know…"
"Stop lying to me, Antares."
The short red-haired boy shrugs his shoulders and stares down at the toad in his hands. "Do you know, Mr. Toad?" Antares raises the toad to his ear as if it were speaking to him. "He doesn't know either." Antares muttered. Red rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a huff.
"Get rid of them. I don't know how you managed to get all of them in there but just get rid of them." Red said pointedly to the six year old. Antares huffed and muttered a 'fine' before storming into the toad filled maids' quarters. Red watched as he began muttering a spell under his breath poutingly before suddenly all the toads started poofing away in white puffs of smoke.
"There… they're gone." Antares said and as he watched the toad in his hands disappear also. Putting his hands back down to his sides he turned to look at his mother with a bored expression.
"Good… Now go to your room. You gave all those poor maids a real scare."
"That was the point…" Grumbling under his breath. He kicked the stone flooring and with a deep frown, he began stomping off towards his room. Red watched him leave with crossed arms and a scowl on her face. The second Antares was out of view and walking up stairs. He huffed and blew some hair from his face, "Mom, never lets me have any fun. Nobody does… Its always stop it Antares or quit it Antares… Nobody knows how to have any fun around here." Antares stormed into his room and slammed the door behind him. Going over and flinging himself on his bed, his face was sandwiched against the bedding. "One day when I'm king nobody is going to tell me what to do. I'll have plenty of fun then." Antares grumbled into his bed before pulling his head up and staring out a window that showed a grand view of the kingdom. "I wish mom and dad understood but they just don't get it." Antares stared outside in boredom for awhile before turning his head to look at Porkchop who had apparently been inside his room. Scooting over and lying down on his stomach in front of Porkchop the royal pet pig. He smiled faintly at the pig that snorted at him.
"You get it don't you, Porkchop? You know that I'm just kidding around. Those maids had it coming, anyways. They're always leaving their door open during the day. It was only a matter of time until something came wandering in. Its not like I hurt them… Toads are harmless." Antares said to Porkchop, who only snorted in reply. Antares sighed and placed his hand on top of Porkchop and pet him on the head. "I wish someone understood for once…"
Antares remained in his room for a couple minutes in silence as he pet Porkchop. He was thinking hard about his situation. Why was he being punished for having a little fun? Mom and dad just simply didn't get it. Sitting up on his bed, Antares frowned to himself and decided on what he was going to do. He didn't deserve to be punished for what he did. He was going to go out and have fun whether his parents allowed it or not. The tricky prince concentrated and pictured on where he wanted to go. Within seconds Antares teleported away outside the castle and close to the front gates. In the near distance, he could see the woodland forest out there ready for him to explore and adventure though. Grinning to himself, he took a glance at the kingdom behind him and smirked.
"I'll be back in a bit. They probably will be too busy to notice, anyway." Antares reasoned with himself and then turned to look back at the woods. "Mom and dad said to never go out into the forest by myself. I bet they are just keeping all the fun of it to themselves. Its not like a bunch of trees can hurt me or something." Antares snickered at the thought and then went running towards the woods in eager excitement.
Antares wandered into the woods and began looking around in awe at everything around him. He had never been in the woods by himself. Sometimes, he'd go with uncle Steve to practice sword-fighting and stuff but they never went too far. Antares kept grinning to himself as he twirled around trees with his hand and jumped from tree root to tree root. "What's so bad about this place? This is way more fun then the castle." Antares said while grabbing a stick and pretending it was sword. He slashed at trees and laughed as he pretended they were evil foes. He ran around playing around for a while, enjoying the great outdoors. Little did he know someone was watching him from up in a tree.
Antares was unaware of the presence until the person in the tree spoke up. "Hey, kid!" A playful feminine voice called out to him. Antares stopped swinging around trees and hitting things with his stick as he looked over at the girl who spoke to him. There above in a treetop was a pale blonde teenager with short blonde hair styled in a bob. She had big lively looking light green eyes that glimmered in the light that poured in through the trees overgrowth from above. "Hey, you! Kid! What are you doing here?" She called out from where she was sitting on the tree branch. The young prince gazed at the girl and looked startled.
"W-who are you?" He asked as he began backing away, unsure of this girl that was randomly in the forest with him.
The girl blinked a few times and snorted, "Answer my question first, kid. What are you doing here? I don't think those trees did anything to you for you to be hitting them with that little stick in your hand. You got anger issues?"
"W-what? N-no… I'm just playing out here… That's all."
"Playing, huh? You must be bored, kid. If you call hitting trees with sticks fun then you must be." The girl snorted again and then jumped down from the tree. She was bare foot as she walked over through the grass closer to Antares. The prince kept backing away in uncertainty. The teenage girl noticed this and rolled her eyes. "What are you scared or something? Do I look threatening to you?"
"Mom and dad said to never to talk to strangers or trust them…" Antares replied nervously.
"Then your parents must not have many friends. You gotta meet strangers to make friends, kid." Sighing dramatically, she put her hands onto her hips. "And if you must know my name is Willow. You know… Like a willow tree? Who are you, kid?"
Antares wasn't sure if he should keeping talking to this Willow girl. She seemed harmless but that's exactly what his mom and dad warned him of. Then again, what does his mom and dad know!? They know nothing about fun and the girl was right! How do you make friends if you never talk to strangers!? Antares furrows his brows and then looked at the girl confidently. "My name is Antares. I'm the prince of Minecraftia. If you didn't know." Antares tried bragging which made the girl laugh at him almost mockingly.
"Prince of Minecraftia, eh? No wonder you seem so house-broken."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Antares asserted in defense. He was not going to be humiliated by some weird blonde girl who apparently didn't wear shoes.
Willow smirked at him, "It means you probably don't know how to have real fun. I bet you're just a little naive kid that's never roamed outside there cozy little castle and has always had things given to you on a silver platter. You don't know what real living is, kid."
"Yes, I do! I-I mean… I've never been out of the castle before by myself... but I know how to have fun! I do!"
Willow rolled her eyes and snatched the stick from out of his hand, making him gasp and stare at her with wide eyes. "Really now? You call this fun?" She waved the stick in front of his face and scoffed before tossing it away to her side. "Your sense of fun is pretty boring, if you ask me. But don't get huffy with me, kid. I could help you out a little. Show you what real fun is."
"I know what fun is but…" Antares trailed off and looked sheepish, "what do you have in mind?"
Willow grinned and went over and slapped a hand onto Antares' shoulder, startling the poor boy again from the sudden touch. She grinned lazily down at the prince and chuckled. "I'll tell you, kid. On one condition and ya' better follow it or I won't show you what real fun is. Nor will I be your friend and that sucks. Sooo what'll be, kid?"
Antares looked to excited at the prospect of having a friend outside the castle to even think anymore about what Red and Herobrine had warned him of about strangers. But Willow wasn't a stranger anymore, now was she? He knew her name and everything! What bad could come from having a new friend that was going to show him how to have fun! At least, she would probably get what fun is, unlike his parents. "Tell me!" He chirped in excitement.
Willow nodded and let go of his shoulder as she began pacing back and forth with a smirk, "Alright, kid. Don't get too excited. Its simple really. All I want you to do is to keep our friendship a secret, okay? Your parents sound like they don't like strangers too much and if they find out about me they'll probably disapprove. Then we won't be friends, no more, and that's sad and depressing and stuff, right? Make sense?"
Antares nodded his head but frowned as he thought about his mom and dad, "My parents don't like strangers. They think they're all out to hurt me or something. Its stupid…"
"Parents are such worry-warts. They'll say anything to keep you wrapped up like a little babe forever in their arms for the rest of your days. But see kid? I'm gonna teach you how to break free from that. Parents don't know fun if it slapped them across the face. I don't have parents that keep me pinned down. I'm a free spirit and I'll teach you how to be one too. So look here, kid. Visit me here in the forest at this same time every week, got it? Then I can show you how to have fun. We'll have a real blast, I'm sure. Just remember… Don't let your mommy and daddy know or I'll think your just a little suck up baby face. You don't wanna be that right?" Willow scrunched up her face and shook her head. Antares shook his head too and certainly didn't want to be considered a suck up or a baby by his new friend. "Great so… I'll see ya next time. I gotta fly for a bit. I've done too much standin' around. Why don't you go back home, kid? Its getting dark and the monsters come out at night. Don't wanna be blown to smithereens by a Creeper do ya? I hear they do love kids." Willow snickered at the frighten look on Antares face at the prospect of a Creeper blowing him up like she had said.
"But I hardly got to play…"
"Uh, who cares? Remember? Stick equals lame?"
"Oh, yeah… Y-you're right." Antares nodded and then glanced in the direction of the castle. "I guess, I'll go home then."
"Good thinking, kid. See ya next time. I'm sure we will be the best of pals." Willow smiled crookedly at Antares and then waved her hand as she began running off into the distance. Antares watched her leave with a look of awe. She was so lucky to be so free… unlike himself. Sighing he dreaded going back, he'd rather hang out with Willow but she said it was safer to go home since it was getting dark. So he listened to his new friend and teleported away back to his room.
He couldn't wait for next time. He had a feeling Willow and him were going to be great friends, maybe even best friends. He was certainly going to keep Willow a secret. After all, what did his mom and dad know?
They didn't know true fun like Willow did.