Chapter 32: Loose Ends

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- Nya's POV -

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"Let's begin, then." Herobrine shut his eyes for a a few moments, as if bracing himself. Then he looked right at me and began speaking again.

"I knew you were a Wielder before I even met you. Wielders are special - unique beings with a history even I don't understand. They're born with the internal power, but only I can unlock it." he said in an even voice, watching me as he spoke.

"So they're predetermined?" I asked.

He nodded. "Destiny, I suppose. I'm not sure. Anyhow, when I found out that you were beginning to work for the IEM and shipped out to a jungle, I figured it would have been an excellent place to finally Turn you - bring out the Wielder side of you and use it to my advantage, as I've done with all past Wielders. There have been hundreds and hundreds of them scattered throughout history. Sometimes, I can't get to them all, so I leave them be. I usually choose the most powerful ones to Turn."

"And by Turning, you mean the creepy sword thing." I said, basing myself off the limited facts of my own 'Turning'.

"Well, yes. The sword is what really brings forth a Wielder's energy. That, and the Sangue Rosso. But you were the first to try that."

A question, one that I've always had at the back of my mind, became clear again. "Why me? I mean, if there really are hundreds of Wielders around, why'd you try the Sangue Rosso on me?"

Suddenly, Herobrine's face twisted with rage. Then it became emotionless, and as was his voice when he spoke: "Why? Why? Because, Nya, from almost the first time I met you, I loved you. There were two options: Turn you and use you once like I would a normal Wielder, or experiment with the potion and hopefully keep you immortal, or at least alive. I chose the second option. And now I wish I hadn't, because you ran away with that blonde fox!" The last sentence caused his voice to pick up volume, anger and betrayal showing through his seemingly statue-like disguise.

And as weird as it was, I felt guilty.

But then I remembered all the things he has done, the things he will do. All the people he's hurt - the other Wielders, their families, the hoards of innocents he's murdered for the only cause of trying to fill some empty hole in his soul. And not only that, but Emily, and Tali, and Notch knows who else.

"You don't seem like the kind of thing," I spat, "to be able to love."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "It doesn't matter now. You betrayed me, and now all I feel is a burning hatred. Now do you understand why I want you dead, Nya?"

I didn't reply.

He sighed in annoyance. "I'm regretting agreeing to this 'final wish' business."

"Too late now, Herobrine. You've already agreed."

"Very true." He relaxed his tense posture on the seat and started speaking again, although much calmer. "Unfortunately, the brewer I hired to create the Sangue Rosso died years ago. I only found out recently, after I sent Clare to fetch the new upgraded potion from him. The one I used on you, I realised, I was imperfect. You being able to break out of its hold thus proves that.

"Wielders whom I awaken with only the sword only last one attack. After that, their energy is used up and they fade. Die. So I came up with the idea of the Sangue Rosso as a solution to my problem - an everlasting, over-powered army that could completely obliterate society. The catch being that the army couldn't be 'everlasting' if the soldiers kept continuously dying out. Wielders are very rare, and can't be wasted."

"I got the first prototype of the potion not long ago, and it turns out that the brewer had left it in his will to me - although, the will stated 'and this last potion must be thrown into a nether portal with the note, "Incomplete, but near perfect"'. I used that version on you. When that didn't work, I upgraded it myself - and Clare happened to be the Wielder I'd tried that one on. It worked much better, but you see, I want my army to be completely free of their own will. Clare has her own thoughts and ideas, which is not what I was aiming for. That's why I had to befriend her beforehand.

"Then there's another problem - you destroyed my body. Since the Nether realm belongs to me, I can create the illusion of one - but really, I am simply a spirit, bound to the earth by sins and revenge. I need a new body."

He smiled. I went cold.

"That's where that blonde fox comes into the plan. I have my doubts about it, though - I'm pretty sure I will only be able to take over the body of a Wielder. But nevertheless, I may as well try. It will most certainly be painful."

I stood up, raging. "Don't you dare!" I screamed. "Don't you dare bring him into this, this crazy plan of yours!" I felt fire forming in my hands, its flames growing, fuelled by my anger. "If you want a body, then take mine - not his!"

Herobrine shook his head. His face was lit with amusement. "Sorry, Nya," he said, and his cold voice made me fume, "I have special plans for you that don't involve possession. Now, do you want me to continue, or not?"

I bit my tongue and clenched my fists, and the fire I'd created went out immediately. I gave him one stiff nod. All the pieces, Nya.

"Maybe we should go back to when I first met you. Your SE is Fire Manipulation - a very rare Wielder energy, very powerful. I can only see a Wielder's SE after I Turn them - sometimes it's something great like lightning, or other times something useless like being able to communicate with mobs. It differs between individuals. The first time I saw you, I knew you would turn out strong - amazingly strong. I'm not disappointed. Your level of power has exceeded my expectations.

"Clare's did as well. Mind Manipulation is very helpful, as your potions professor has proved. I'm extremely glad regarding my recent fortune - you, and then Clare. Two of my post powerful Wielders ever.

"Does this explanation answer your questions, Nya?" Herobrine looked at me expectantly.

My mind swam - so much information, so much to hold. I latched on to the first clear thought. "So you're planning to rule over the world? With a bunch of mindless Sangue Rosso drugged Wielders?"

He nodded, "Essentially, yes." Then he sat up with no effort, and strode to the front of my iron prison. "Anymore questions?"

"How the hell are you going to make a potion that will create mindless Wielders?"

"Yes, well, I have many things regarding my brewer to be thankful for. One of those being that he left me a partly incomplete recipe of exactly what I was looking for. A recipe that I have nearly finished myself."

"You'll never be able to do this. To control an army, you'll need a body, won't you? That's another complication, since you don't think that will work with Zach, and not with me because I'm stuck in your revenge-filled thoughts. And then there comes the 'nearly complete' potion. You and I both know that almost perfect isn't good enough. Besides, who are you kidding - no one, no one, will choose to live under your cruel and pathetic monarchy."

He just shook his head and smiled. "Ah, Nya. You're so naïve. I don't care if I get their permission or not - if I don't, I'll take over by force. I plan to use the my army anyways."

I raised my chin. "I won't let you do anything like that." I said, my voice clear and ringing, bouncing off the enclosed walls of the dark prison, fuelled by pain and temporary bravery. "I won't let you hurt people. Enough's enough, and someone needs to bring you and your sick values down. I will not let you hurt anybody else."

He laughed, and that sound put a crack in my courage. "Saying those things won't do you much good Nya, I'm afraid. I mean, you kinda are stuck in a prison cell awaiting your death."

And with that, he left, with me screaming proficies after him as he did so.

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- Zach's POV -

"Ow . . ."

My head was uncomfortably aching, and when I touched it, I realised it was a little swollen at the back. I tried remembering what had happened; I had left the cafeteria with Clare, and once there was no one else around, she suddenly turned on me with a (damn heavy) shovel in hand. I remember some students, eyes deadpan and unfocussed, stepping out of the shadows, and grabbing me and -

Ugh. Bad memories.

When I looked around, gathering my wits, I instantly realised that I wasn't at the university anymore. The floor below me was made of cold nether brick, and as were the tall walls. The place screamed familiarity. Had I been here befo-

Then it hit me. This was Herobrine's nether palace. The one I had rescued Nya from months ago.

I immediately scrambled up from the ground and stood, circling, watching for any movement. The palace was grand, but surprisingly cold - apart from the lava that was occasionally present. Nya once told be that nether bricks are one of the strangest blocks of Minecraftia, because although its appearance makes it look heated, the block is actually quite cool to touch.

I didn't have any weapons with me, which meant if it came down to defending myself I'd have to use my fists. I knew that Clare must have taken me here because of some order from Herobrine, so I watched every part of the giant room for movement.

I felt someone's presence behind me, and I spun around straight away. Clare was there, wearing black and denim, her arms crossed and face tense. I lunged at her, ready to fight, but I was stopped by some kind of wall.

"What the hell is this?" I screamed at her. Keeping perfectly still, she answered:

"Just something Herobrine created for the time being. He should be back soon."

My vision was laced with red. "Clare, tell me now - you know where Nya is, don't you? Tell me!"

Clare kept her face straight. "You're sounding very desperate at the moment, Zach. Desperation doesn't usually pay off."

I punched the invisible wall hard, so hard my fist began aching painfully. But I didn't stop - I had to break out of whatever the hell this was, because something bad was going to happen - I could feel it. Why else would Herobrine take me back to his palace?

I didn't want to be one of the finishing notes of Herobrine's Revenge.

Besides, Nya - wherever she is - needs me.

"Clare, just tell me where Nya is," I hissed, both hands pushing on the wall.

She shook her head, and I could feel my rage becoming blinding. "No can do, Zach."

"At least tell me if she's here."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, hardening it into a line. I must've given her a look, because after a few more tense moments, she said, slowly, carefully, "She's here. But you won't be able to get to her."

That's all I needed. I started to beat the walls again, but nothing I was doing was weakening them - it was just weakening me.

"You don't have to do this, Clare," I said to the girl on the other side of the wall, the girl with a choice. "You don't have to obey Herobrine like a mindless servant-"

"I'm not a mindless servant, Zach." She said, strengthening her words with the hardness of her loyalty, "I decided to side with Herobrine."

I looked at her right in the eye, and I could feel her becoming nervous. "You can change that decision, Clare."

Her eyes widened. "I-"

A loud crash unbalanced the previous eerie silence of the room. The huge front doors, about a hundred block sprint from where I was trapped, swung open, the stone scraping against the floor bricks. Only once they were wide open did the figure walk through the gateway and towards Clare and I.

He looked the same as I had remembered - cyan shirt, purple pants. But his eyes weren't a normal colour; not by a long shot. They were soulless and empty, a hollow glowing white. Cold and unforgiving.

Herobrine continued walking, with me glaring after every step, until he reached whatever glass prison I was encaged in. He looked undoubtably amused, his lips upturned in the corners. It was a smile full of murderous malice,

"And how have you been, Dare?" He asked me, and his sadistic grin grew.

"Damn you," I replied,

"I'll take that as 'poorly', then," He turned around to Clare, who had been completely silent since Herobrine had entered the room.

"Has he caused any trouble?" He inquired, and then looked to me and added "I don't really think he could be." He turned back to Clare.

I narrowed my eyes dangerously. Do not mess with Zach Dare.

"You're right, sir," said Clare, and I held back a spiteful remark, "He's been no trouble whatsoever."

"Where's Nya?" I hissed, but Herobrine ignored me. My anger was continuously growing.

"Is everything prepared?" Clare asked. She looked as hard and cold as he did, and for one small fraction of a second, I wondered if she was turning into someone heartless like him.

"Yes," he said in reply. "All ready, all according to plan."

"Let me out of here, Herobrine, and let me fight you," I yelled. "You're such a wimp, hiding behind a protective wall. Come here and fight me!"

Herobrine finally turned and faced me, but rather than looking mad like I had been aiming to get him, he seemed emotionless. He regarded me quickly - I could see hatred in his gaze - and then turned back to Clare.

"Let's begin. Do me a favour and go fetch Nya."

"Begin what?" I shouted, at no one in particular - I just wanted an answer. "What the heck do you plan to do with us?"

Herobrine turned to me again, but this time, his face seemed joyous. "Well, Dare," he said, and he sounded as if he were holding in laughter, "It's time for the last part of the revenge to start."

He raised one hand, and then as if on cue, the wall began dimming from a clear, invisible transparency to a murky white. Then to a gray, then dark gray. His eyes were the only thing I could see before everything around me turned black.

"You won't get away with this, you bastard!" I screamed into the nothingness, banging on walls I couldn't see. "I'll escape this place with Nya just like we did last time, and kick your butt at the same time!"

"It's a bit late for that now, Dare," he said, but I couldn't tell where his voice was coming from. Everything was just disorientating darkness.

I heard Clare's voice coming from somewhere.

"She's here, sir," she called.

"Welcome, Nya," Herobrine said, and his voice was almost showman-like, "To the finale of the revenge."

I heard Nya's confused gasp from my black prison.

"Where's Zach?" she inquired, and to my relief her voice was calm and strong,

"Where do you think?" Herobrine scoffed.

I heard loud, fast footsteps coming towards me, and then a bang.

"Zach!" Nya screamed from outside the wall. "Are you there? C'mon, Zach-"

"I'm here!" I yelled in reply, but I couldn't see her. I heard her sigh. "Thank Notch," she murmured.

"Where are you?" I called into the darkness.

"Follow my voice," she instructed, "I'm right here."

"I- I can't." I stuttered. I tried moving forward, towards her, but there was no forward - only a black maze. "Nya, I can't find-"

I heard her scream in shock.

"Nya?" My voice rose in alarm. "What's wrong? Tell me what's-"

Suddenly, everything became light again; the brightness was blinding. My hands went to cover my eyes. I slowly opened them, and even though everything was disorientated, I could still make out the basics.

In the shape of a semicircle, lined up evenly with faces as cool and emotionless as stone, were my best mates.

They were standing completely still; Gemma, Ethan, Vent, Emerald and Mackenzie. Jordan was there too. There was a gap amongst their perfectly spread line; Emily's spot, and a voice in my head told me that this was Herobrine's cruel taunt.

But those thoughts barely fought through the suffocating feeling of fear. Each of them had a sword in hand. One lay at my feet.

I looked down at it, and then back up. As though they were synchronised, all six of them stepped forward. Behind me, I could sense Nya's fear; for me, for her friends. When I glanced behind me, I saw that Clare was watching them all intently; she was using her powers to control them.

I turned back, and before I could even reach the sword on the ground, Gemma lunged at me, sword raised and face blank.

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HAHAHA PLOT TWIST

Comment anything I didn't explain (about the plot line) and I'll try to help out :)

Special mentions to the following: @NCriss02 (check out their epic story "Minecraft: Herobrine's History") and @FordKid (try read their story too - I guarantee some of those jokes will get you friends)

QOTD: How do you want the story to end?

- Jazz