"Keep doing what I have taught you, and, don't kill anymore... Promise me?.."

     "I.. I promise..."

     Did I ever tell you how bad I was at keeping promises?

.

     The earth was drenched in blood. Desperately, the heavens tried to cover up the massacre that had just ended. Sheets of rain fell on me, punishing me with the cold.

     Gray and darker gray were my accomplices. All the fire which had once roared, now only fizzled out and died under the unrelenting downpour.

     Flashes of lightning struck above, hollow threats aimed my way. I wasn't scared of death anymore. For I knew it was impossible for me.

     My clothes were soaking wet, which were now just black pants and a long sleeve black shirt. Easier to hide bloodstains, that way..

     Alone, my soggy shoes splashed in the puddling streets, blood joining the water as it rushed downstream. This time the bloodbath was different than the times before, for it wasn't only human blood that was spilt. Much of it, in fact, was that of rebellious monsters seeking mindless vengeance. Idly, I wondered if such a change would cause suspicion among the humans. Perhaps they would realize my power over them had fallen..

     It was strange. What usually filled me with so much triumph, a grandiose feeling of success, now, only a hollowness wandered. A strange sense of dissatisfaction in what I had just done...

     In the distance, I heard quiet whimpering from somewhere to my left. I looked further down the street to see a small figure covered in rain and ash. It was not a small animal, which was my first assumption. It was a small human child. The young female's hair was a dark shade of gray, nearly black if you scrubbed out all the ash that clumped together on it. Looking at her confused and sorrow filled eyes, I saw that they were a pale blue color, which stuck out like a firework in the dark sky amongst all the shades of gray around her. Though she was far younger, no older than five years of age, she reminded me an awfully lot of that human female I had made my mentor all those years ago. This had to be a coincidence, however, because I knew for sure that Rey had died. I even buried her on a small, secluded hill, under a large birch tree. This child was possibly related, however. Perhaps some of her family did survive my previous attack.

     "...Um.. Sir..?" The Small child spoke with a scratchy voice as she walked up to me. I was surprised to spot no fear in her as she hobbled over to me on her still developing legs. Her voice was soft, almost silent, so I had to tune in my ears to listen further. "...I.. I am lost.. Can you help me find Mommy and Daddy?" She asked. I just looked down at the child, quietly wondering why such a frail offspring of man would come to ask assistance from someone such as myself. Though I could have easily killed this child, I found her behavior somewhat... amusing.

     Slowly, I crouched down, as I had learned from a more recent old friend, and looked the young child directly in the eyes. I could see it now. I could see the emotions in her eyes. She mostly just looked dazed as she had a hard time comprehending what happened, but there was also a sorrow within her.

     "Young child." I spoke gently, as to not startle or scare such a fragile figure. "I do not know where your parents are. Most likely, they are dead." I told her. Tears sprung up in her eyes, but she wiped them away before they could fall. For such a young female child, she had a strong spirit. "But.. perhaps I can help you find a new home." I offered. The young girl looked a little too dazed to really think about the loss of her parents, but she nodded, wiping away a few more tears. I slowly stood back up and began walking away, expecting her to follow. After a few steps, however, I realized that she was not. "Do you not know how to follow?" I asked her bluntly, keeping away any signs of sternness, since Sam had taught me how important my tone was when talking to a naturally created creature. The little girl nodded, but had a hard time moving her feet forward. "Well, come on then. I will help you find a new home." I coaxed her forward. I honestly had no idea why I was acting out this way, but there was no turning back after having spoken to her.

     "..C... can you hold my hand?.." The young female child asked quietly.

     "May I ask why..?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.

     "M.. my Mommy and Daddy always held my hand.. Wh.. when I was scared." She answered, sounding like worry was slowly rising in her. I didn't know how to respond to that.

     "..Will it help you follow?" I asked. She just nodded quickly. I sighed. What was the point of this 'holding hand?' I saw no convenience to such a thing. But, I opened up my hand as the girl stepped closer. Her hand slipped into mine so easily, it made me think that it was a little leaf. So, I held it as such, hoping I would not crush her tiny hand. "What is your name, young child?" I asked after we had started walking. I had had to slow down tremendously just so that she would not drag behind.

     "Mm.. Maple..." She answered quietly.

     "The name fits." I said emotionlessly, now thinking that her small hand was a good comparison to a maple leaf. "So.. Where do you want your new home to be?.." I asked. Little Maple looked down at the floor, trying to think.

     "I.. I don't know..." She answered after some time. "Maybe, we can look around a little bit.. if you don't mind."

     "...I have a lot of time on my hands." That was me agreeing. Slowly, the two of us walked through the ash-thicken streets, traveling quietly along the body and rubble littered street, off to find Maple Leaf a new home.

     We arrived at a small stone cottage, wooden roof and wood trimming giving it a more "homey" feel. I had no idea how to build houses, so it already looked like a sad little structure, especially under the evening rain. I decided it would be best to have Maple dry off before finding a new home. Where? I still had no idea..

     When we entered, the floor boards creaked. Above, water dropped from the roof into little buckets I had placed everywhere.

     "I...have no idea how to build houses." I admitted, assuming the little girl was judging my craftsmanship already. If so, she was doing so without a word. She just looked around silently. It wasn't a terrible structure, either. One could probably house ten cramped horses inside. Though, the space was dark and empty. The stone walls carried nothing but holes in them for decoration. On the dark wood floors, only one old couch was sat in the center of the lonely living space. Further off, in the corner, my food and water supply sat lazily in a pile. Above the mess was a loft, which had no way of access unless I were to fly up; something I didn't feel comfortable doing in front of the little girl for some reason.. On the loft was a singular mattress.

     I stoked the fire in the crumbling fireplace I had made. Thankfully I had made sure to design the fireplace so no water could fall in. But, that was where my ingenuity peeked. The dull flow of the flame slowly gave life to the otherwise dull and gloomy house. I added a few more logs, and pretty soon, the fire was alive again.

     Sam, finally waking up from beside the pile of food, got up happily to greet me, and then appeared even happier to see the little girl as well, licking her small face. Maple giggled, hugging the large, fluffy dog.

     "Alright, you warm up. We'll have to wait until the rain stops to find you a new home.." Turning around to face her again, "Do you know where kids like you go when they have no home?" Slowly, the little girl shook her head, happily sitting by the fire with the big dog's head fully taking up her lap. I sighed. Perhaps this would be harder than I thought..

     The door to my house was swung open, welcoming in the storm from outside. Maple screamed. I spun around. It was just Entity 303, barging in with wide eyes.

     "No no no! It's okay, look.." Immediately noticing and wanting to comfort the child, 303 ran closer, crouching down when he was only a couple blocks away and pulling down his hood. The blackness around his face withered away, revealing his more monster-like form. That did not comfort Maple. She only screamed again, ducking her face into Sam's thick fur and hugging the dog tightly. Annoyed that he couldn't do anything to help, 303 stood quickly, slapping his lap with both hand. He just left there entirely and walked over to me. "You'll never believe what I just found out! Null is-"

     "-is alive..? ...Yeah.. I tried to fight him... This is the only one I could save.." I spoke between small bites of bread. 303 turned again to watch the little girl, this time saddened to see such an innocent little creature slowly stroking the dog's fur.

     "...What are you going to do with her?"

     "I don't know... But I couldn't just leave her out in the rain.." I said, walking towards the child as I took another bite of bread. When I knelt down to her level, I caught the small human child eyeing my fresh loaf, hunger biting at her mind. I had completely forgotten to consider this one's appetite needs. So, pretending this had been my plan from the start, I broke the loaf in half, handing the untouched half to the small human child. She happily tore away at it with her teeth, a strange kind of glare set upon 303 only. The young man waved awkwardly at her from the corner of the structure.

     "Well, we obviously can't keep her.. She needs a mother to look after her!-"

     "Who said anything about keeping her?" I said, chomping hard this time on a big chunk of bread.

     "Well- well- I-"

     "Don't worry. Worst comes to worst, we can just drop her off at some town with some food and hope someone takes her."

     "Herobrine, you know full well-"

     "-Herobrine?" The little girl had turned to me. Somehow, even in her young years, she knew what that name meant. As her little blue iris stared into my glowing ones, hers began to tear up slowly.

     "Not that Herobrine!" I waved my free hand at her, having to stop and chew first before I could say anything else.

     "Hey- heyy,.." 303 stepped in, sliding closer to the scared little girl than he had before. She was of course off put by his strange appearance and not to mention countless scars all over his crimson skin, but just looking into his kind, caring eyes, she began to see past all of that. "I'm 303.. What's your name..?" The teen cooed, prompting me to roll my eyes. (Had I visible pupils.) "Look, see..?" He stretched his hand out slowly and carefully, allowing the little girl to be the one to reach out the rest of the way and touch his hand. She felt the scars on his hand, the claws that weren't used against her, and the minor difference in texture to his skin, being a little rougher. "I'm a monster..--but not a bad one. I help people.. And- and Hero back there," he turned, pointing back at me, "Hero isn't like the evil Herobrine... He doesn't kill people. He tries to help them!" I smiled awkwardly as the little girl continued to stare at me weirdly. "You see, there's two of them. A good one, and a bad one." 303 emphasized a lot with his words, which surprisingly seemed to help.

     "Can I-" 303 froze for a moment, seeing the little girl reaching up for one of the little stubs on his head. Stiffly, he sat for a moment, contemplating. But then, a small, real smile on his face, he leaned his head forward so little Maple could touch. The small, curious human girl placed her small hand on the young man's -- could have been horn -- delicately petting it.

     Chuckling softly, 303 pulled away from her delicate grip slowly, with a smile having his turn at playfully running his hand through her hair and messing it up a little. She giggled. Then, smile still pressed on his lips, the teen stood up, walking past me to grab some food from one of the food baskets behind.

     "She's mine." He claimed as his shoulder brushed against mine. Eyes widening, I turned myself to follow his movements.

     "Wh- what do you mean she's yours?!" 303 picked up two berry branches and two bits of cooked chicken, only answering as he passed me again.

     "I mean.. I'm adopting her."

     "You're only nineteen! And where do you expect her to live?!" I retorted.

     "Here, duh!" He said, plopping down with his legs crossed into the floor beside the girl and the fire, sharing his- my food with her. "I may not have a house, but you conveniently do. And who said you have to be a certain age to raise a child?! Huff! I'm sure it won't be too hard. Looks like she's old enough to have gone through the toilet training stage at least!" I huffed.

     "Oh yeah, then who will take care of her while you're away, huh?!" My arms flailed a bit.

     "Easy. You will!... What? It'd be good for you to finally have something to do around here! Don't think I haven't noticed your terrible eating habits. Just because you're Herobrine doesn't mean you are immune to the consequences if your own actions~" He caught me shoving another big piece of bread in my mouth. My brows furrowed. How dare he notice!

     "Fine.." I grumbled. I knew that even if I disagreed, 303 would still get his way somehow. Just like last summer when he demanded a pool out back. He started digging it all by himself with nothing but his claws until I rolled my eyes at him, pulled up my sleeves, and struck the ground a few times to create a large enough pit to count as a pool. But he did the rest! "You're moving in here, though, so you can't just vanish in the middle of the night when she needs your help with useless stuff like nightmares.."

     "Yess!" The teen smiled, hugging Sam just because. The big dog just laid in the center of it all, in heaven now that he had a little human all for himself. Without me realizing, a small smirk did rise on my face as I watched the three. There was just something so funny about seeing the odd trio on the floor, all smiling, completely blissful of the realism of the circumstance they had just gotten themselves into.

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Wooo! Two chapters in a row! (Same evening)
Also, yes, enjoy the fluff...while you still have it. Muahahaha..