MOST.STRESSFUL.CHAPTER.YET! It actually gave me headaches, no joke. I over think things way too much...
And another late chapter. I just can't keep a schedule, can I? Despite that, I did have fun with this once I finally got the hang of it, and this chapter is very long, but I have my reasons. (You guys are going to hate me by the end of this one...)
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Third person point of view-

Every heart seemed to skip a beat as the loud booming sound of gunfire ran throughout the clearing. Their ears rung and the bright light caused them all to shield their eyes by looking away and shutting them tight. An awful feeling of dread filled the air, each of them anticipating that the worst had finally come upon the assassin.
Luke laid flat upon the ground, his body spread out and his different colored eyes closed. Red slowly went down his limbs, oozing from his wounds and staining the snow. The warmth of the blood slowly melted the flakes of ice underneath it until it touched the browning grass and moist mud. His body didn't move, stiff and motionless. The others looked back, gasping at the bloody sight before them.
Luke's eyes snapped open with his breath staggering with each gasp he took in, his mind trying to take in the moment and process the events that had happened so suddenly. His rapidly beating heart pumped blood through his veins, causing the red to gush from his wounds faster. The blood loss and rushing fear caused his head to feel light yet heavy at the same time. As he laid there on the tainted snow, his vision went in and out of focus.
Even with most of his face numb from shock and the cold, he could feel something other than the snow delicately drifting down onto his face. There was a different feeling like that of a warm, thick liquid. He knew the feeling of blood from anywhere. There was no mistaking it in this situation. The aroma of blood worsened but had always been present on his stained mask. It smelled like that ever since he first faced Drake's possessed body head on, when he was punched in the stomach and blood sprayed from his mouth.
Luke blinked a few times, tears running down his face and snow drifting into his dim blue and orange eyes. There was pain from wounds and aching throughout his body, the agony both internal and external.There was so much so that he couldn't even feel where the iron bullet at penetrated his body.
In a way, he was glad that he hadn't died instantly. Every ounce of pain he felt he deserved to suffer through. His eyes shifted to look at the blurred form of his comrades, smiling for a quick second as he coughed. At least he got to spend his last moments in the company of people he cared for, and died nobly. At least he had the opportunity to be friends with Grayson again before his demise. These past few days were truly some of the best, despite their hardships, that he had had in so long.
The assassin lifted up his head to examine his own body, wanting to see where he had been shot and watch the blood seep from his own body. His eyes scanned as much as he could, seeing lots of blood seeping from wounds caused by swords but so far his eyes rested on nothing that looked fatal or anything like that of a wound inflicted by a bullet. His chest plate looked undamaged other than the dent that had been put in it the previous day. His arms, legs, pelvic area, and upper chest not covered by his armor all had nothing that looked like a spot of entry for a gunshot wound.

  If I wasn't shot, then whose gun was fired and more importantly, what did the shot hit?

His gazed shifted, spotting a drop of red dripping to the snow a few feet away. He gasped with wide eyes looking up Henry standing before him, the end of the revolver still pointing directly at his body. The mercenary's form trembled, his dark hazel eyes staring straight ahead of himself, gazing into the forest with his eyes wide with horror and shock but looking at nothing in particular. Blood was dripping from his lips as he choked on his own vital fluids.
Luke's gaze moved down, staring at the open wound of the mercenary's chest. A bleeding hole was in his body, the crimson staining the white of his shirt and the tan of his coat. The gun slipped from his fingers before his arm fell limp to his side. He coughed up blood as his eyes suddenly rolled to the back of his head, his eyelids closing before his body collapsed.
His eyes opened again as he gasped for air and coughed up his own blood once more. His eyes slowly became dimmer and becoming deprived of life. Behind where the captain once stood was the auburn haired traitor to the empire. His pistol was drawn, with smoke almost visibly rising from the barrel of the weapon. Nathan's fist was trembling violently, with constricted pupils and sweat drenching his pale skin. His heart was racing so much that it hurt, the muscle feeling as if it would break free from his aching chest. It hurt so much so that he struggled to take in a proper amount of oxygen.
The realization of what he had just committed made him feel sick to his stomach; wrapped with his immense guilt. He never wanted it to go this far... It was never his intention to take a life, but what choice did he have? He wasn't going to stand there and watch Luke get killed. He wasn't going to be a silent, cowering witness any longer.
He let out a small gasp the firearm slipping from his fingers covered with leather from his gloves. It fell to the snow covered ground, joining the splatters of red against the white; Nathan's own blood continuing to drip from his wounds and fall onto the surface of the pistol. The leather of his gloves pressed against his lips as he began gagging with saliva filling his mouth. He could feel his stomach threatening to push up the contents within his stomach, feeling ill with guilt.
The ex-mercenary suddenly sprinted towards the broken airship, placing one hand on the wood to keep him standing and putting the other over his stomach as vomit rose up and spilled from his mouth. He gasped with his legs shaking underneath his light weight.

  "I-I didn't want t-to h-have to..." He gasped out before gagging yet again.

The boy jumped when a hand was placed on his shoulder. He looked up to gaze into Grayson's emerald orbs. The ex-commander had a different look on his face than when he normally glanced at him. His eyes weren't glaring or filled with mistrust, but now bright and blithesome.

  "Hey, it's alright! Just try to relax-" He tried to calm him down. It just seemed like everyone today was losing it, getting sick and losing their tempers.

Nathan swatted his hand away, growling in response. "It's not okay! I just killed another living being! I never wanted that..!"

He turned around, leaning his back against the wood and leaned his head back against it as well. His breathing was heavy, trying to regain his breath as he slid down into a sitting position. He curled up, hugging his legs up against his chest that was still crawling with an aching guilt. Tears were coming from his eyes, some caused by his emotional distress and other caused by his previous lack of breath.
Nathan opened his eyes, his gaze immediately resting on the Enderman hybrid. Drake pushed himself up to his feet, his body trembling and lips dripping with blood. The Mage's gaze was locked on Luke as the assassin rolled over and pushed himself up to sit on his knees. The lavender haired just sat there, staring at the mercenary's corpse as he still tried to recover from having fainted.
Drake's head turned, his white and purple eyes with rimmed with red. Nathan swallowed a lump in his throat, watching as Drake slowly approached him, his eyes blank yet seemingly in discomfort from what he assumed was from pain and his illness. He pulled up his grey hood, covering his black and brown hair covered in white snowflakes.

  "Hey...y-you should be h-happy! You saved Luke's l-life! I know that it's h-hard to do something like that...when you never w-wanted too. Sometimes you have...you have to make sacrifices f-for the people you care about."

Nathan sniffed and wiped his eyes, swallowing some of his saliva that was collecting in his mouth. He tried not to gag on the taste of vomit that still lingered on his tongue. Drake held out his hand, smiling as he waited for the boy to take it. With another sniff, Nathan took place his hand on Drake's and was pulled back to his feet.

  "I-I guess... Thanks." He wiped the tears from his eyes again, feeling embarrassed.

  "It's no problem. You know, you're a lot braver then you make yourself come out to be. You've done a lot that put yourself at risk. Don't doubt what you know is right, 'kay kid?"

Nathan laughed, his cheeks becoming a darker red. "Uh, thank you! That means a lot... I'll... I'll try not too." He laughed as he rubbed his arm from embarrassment, his guilt slowly diminishing.

The ex-mercenary turned his head to look towards Luke before he began to approach him. He listened to the snow crunching underneath his feet, hissing as he moved his bleeding limbs.
As he stood next to the assassin, he kneeled down and looked at the body of the man he was once acquainted with. Henry's lifeless eyes were open wide, glazed over with death. Blood poured from his wound and mouth, pooling around his body on the white surface. Snowflakes were covering his unmoving form, the white overlaying the tan and brown of his hair and clothing. His skin was as pale as Drake's, if not then even more so.

  "I actually fainted? That's embarrassing." Luke mumbled, his mask hiding the red rising on his cheeks. He chuckled, before taking a few steps closer to the body.

  "You know..." He spoke as he looked down at the corpse, talking to his despite the fact that he was dead. "We weren't too different...in the beginning at least. Greedy, prideful...too ignorant for our good. You'll see me down there with you someday...'buddy'."

He kicked some snow onto the body, before looking down at Nathan from the corner of his eyes. He let out a heavy breath that became mist in the cool air. Silence filled the air, causing Drake to twitch with is irritation returning. He held his arms and counted to ten silently to himself to keep himself relaxed. Relief came to him when Luke broke the silence as he spoke to Nathan.

  "Thanks kid. I owe you one." He chuckled as he hit him in the shoulder.

Nathan stepped back, rubbing his arm as he hissed from sore pain. "Ow!" He chuckled, feeling the leather of his glove touch a scar on his arm, causing him to hiss again. "Don't mention it..."

They both turned when Grayson spoke, readjusting his cape on his neck. "We should go. When Henry blew that horn, he alerted other mercenaries of our whereabouts. We have to go before anymore find us."

Luke nodded before he watched Xavier stumble up to the group. Endy was helping him walk, but he gently pushed her away. There were new bandages on his neck, soaking up blood and becoming over filled, letting his blood continue to run down his body and stain his white shirt with black underneath. His green eyes were filled with worry, concerned for his friend that nearly took a bullet.

  "Xavier! Are you alright?!"

Luke ran to him, eager to know if his injury was less severe than it appeared to be. He was just relieved that he was still alive. He came to a stop in front of him and the two female magi, looking over to spy just to ensure that he was okay. With his reckless behavior and the beating he took before defending Jane, Luke was expecting him to be in a critical condition.
His head was bruised and bleeding on the opposite side of the head injury he received the previous day. The blood was going down his face, begging to go over his left eye and causing him have to close it. He only smiled, but hissed and cringed in pain when he chuckled. Luke cringed, trying not to reach up and touch his new head injury.

Endy spoke, a look of sympathy on her face. "He can't talk for awhile. He could damage his vocal cords. It's better to be safe than to be sorry."

Xavier smiled at him weakly, trying to ease some of his worries. Luke did the same, his eyes tearing up. He felt like he could have done something to kept him from getting hurt. If only he was just a bit faster, just a bit stronger to have fought that guy off. He closed his eyes and shook his head, refusing to let those tears escape from his eyes.

  "At least you're alive...you and Jane." He pet the young girl's head as she clung to her father's leg. Her eyes were tearing up as well, understanding the situation but grateful that her father survived.

Mia looked over to Grayson, holding a gash on her arm. "Grayson, what about our injuries?"

The blonde looked around at all of his comrades, each of them injured and some more than the others. Xavier had his injuries tended to already, and Nathan was trying to tend to his own but visibility having some difficulty. Drake went up to Nathan and cleaned and mended as many of his wounds as he could. He did not really seem to bother to tend to his own wounds.
He wanted them all to be able to tend to their sustained injuries, but with the knowledge that even more mercenaries could be coming their way made him a bit too paranoid to stay there. They would probably have to deal with their wounds as they went out. Hopefully nobody else was hurt too severely. He just hoped that he was making the right choice.

  "We don't have too much time. If you have any severe ones, deal with those now. As I said earlier we have to get a move on, and fast."

He watched as everyone looked themselves over, taking out bandages and asking Endy for health positions. She ran out after giving the last ones to Lalea, Nathan, and Drake. That was it. They were all out. The ex-commander took out his map and looked down at it. The emperor's airship was close yet a ways away. He took in a deep breath, his nerves returning and hands beginning to shake just as they had earlier that morning.
He looked up and gazed into the south direction. They were so close to having this whole nightmare be over with. He was so close to bringing the empire to it's knees.

...
Grayson's point of view-

We continued to make our way through the forest, keeping our weapons drawn in case we ran into anymore trouble. We were all in a critical state as it was, and the last thing we needed was to be hurt anymore. The snow stopped falling, but the sky didn't look like it would clear up for quite awhile. I watched fog rise in front of me with each breath I let out, my skin was covered in goosebumps and the hair on my arms was standing upright from the cold.
Each time I looked down at my map, that queazy feeling in my stomach returned. We could run into anyone, including the emperor at any moment. Right now that is one of the last things I want to happen. I looked over my shoulder at the others, none of them speaking to each other. Every once in a while Lalea would talk to Drake, but their conversations didn't last too long. I enjoyed seeing the blushes on their faces. I think they like each other!
I smiled for a moment before turning back to the map. I was still feeling a bit exhausted and my stomach kept growling. We all had not really eaten much this morning, but at least we had something to give us energy. Although, Drake threw up before his body could take in the proper nutrition he needed, so that does worry me about how he will be able to hold up for the rest of the day.
I wanted to start a conversation, but I also wanted to stay quiet and remain focused on the task at hand. Besides, I didn't really know what to say. I smiled when Lalea and Drake began talking again, laughing once they finished what ever was being said. I laughed as an idea came to my head.
I spun around on my heels, walking backwards as I looked at the two. Everyone seemed uncomfortable with me walking like that but I was only going to do so for a bit. Hopefully they don't get p***ed.

  "What are you guys talking about, hmm?" I laughed and started to sing out before one of them could reply. "Drake and Lalea sittin' in a tree, k.i.s.s.i.n.g!"

Mia, Luke and Endy began to sing along on the next verse. "First comes love, them comes marriage then comes a baby in a baby carriage!"

The blushes on their faces became worse and they both tried to hide their faces with their hoods. While Nathan didn't sing along with us, he did laugh afterwards. Lalea yelled for us to shut up, but we continued on laughing, but my amusement came to an end when Drake just stopped in his tracks. He was staring at the ground with wide eyes as if he was getting another one of those visions he had told us about.

He started mumbling but I could only make a few words out. "...I won't...wont't let you!"

I stopped walking backwards, then walked up to him, putting my map away. I could hear as the snow stopped crunching as everybody came to a halt when they knew that Drake and I had stopped.

  "Buddy, you alright? I... I'm sorry." I tried apologizing, hoping that it would help him get out of his funk.

His hand rose up, pulling some of his own hair as he hissed. He looked like his headaches were returning. "N-no... it's not because of that."

I took a step back as blood started to run down from his nose. His hand moved down, gently touching his upper lip. He pulled his fingers back, looking down at the red staining his bandaged up fingertips. I grabbed my cape to wipe the substance away, but he beat me to it.

He chuckled when he started putting his arm down and putting them into his pockets, a blush on his face as his hoarse voice whispered. "Just don't do that again. That was embarrassing!"

I laughed along with him, the only problem being that I did not know if that laughter he made was real or forced. I prefer to believe that it was genuine. I took off my backpack and searched through it until I finally found a bottle a bit of water in it. I forgot to give it to him earlier but I suppose now is a good time.

"Here." I handed it to him, watching him drink it down.

Before he could finish and hand the bottle back to me, I turned around and continued on, but looked over my shoulders to make sure that he was following. He smiled and thanked me as he trailed behind, deciding to put the glass bottle into his own backpack. I examined his clothing for a moment before his cape fell over it. I didn't like seeing those many new and old blood stains, or the sewing done to fix the tears, or the many rips from being attacked. I looked away before I let my mind wander too much.

"Uh, guys!" Mia whispered loudly, like a quiet shout.

I quickly sprinted up to where she was in front of the group. I stopped next to her, and looked to where her finger was pointing into the trees. I shushed everyone and stood completely still until we were completely silent. The only sound left was the sound of footsteps and something heavy making it's way across the snow cover soil. I could see multiple figures moving in the dark of the forest before us. They were hidden from our sight, cloaked by the bushes and trees.
I let out a silent gasp, becoming startled as I began to hear muffled coughing, gasping, and gagging. I turned around to let my eyes immediately rest on Drake, seeing that his hand was over his mouth trying to hold back his coughing so he wouldn't give us away. His eyes were wide, choking as he tried not to let it out. From between his fingers I could see red soaking into the fabric of his gloves, then the coughing turned into vomiting.
The blood sprayed out from between his fingers, causing nearly everyone to panic and get back to avoid having his blood splatter on their bodies. Lalea and Jane were the ones to cry out the loudest, with Xavier pushing Jane behind himself so she wouldn't have to see anymore.
Drake fell to his knees, the blood flow going to his ears and causing streaks of red to roll down the sides of his head. Blood came out from his right nostril as well, the sight terrifying and horrific. He removed his hand from his mouth, letting the rest of the blood fall to the snow as he gasped to regain oxygen in his lungs.

"Drake!"

Lalea ran to him and took a hold of his arm, feeling him violently shaking in her grasp. She whimpered, her eyes filling with tears. He opened his eyes, giving a halfhearted smile as he took in and let out deep breaths with his face covered in blood. I was going to go up to him and wipe the blood away with my cape, but them another alarming sound came to my ears.

"Fire!" A demanding voice followed by the ear piecing sound of canon fire.

The next thing I knew, there was a blazing ball of fire hurtling towards us from the darkness of the trees. My breath caught in my throat and without a second of hesitation, I jumped back to narrowly avoid being hit by a speeding cannonball. It collided and exploded on the ground, breaking the earth and itself on impact, igniting a ball of flames in a small explosion.
I felt the heat of the flames against my body, then a shard of metal from the cannonball fly past me. It sliced the skin on the end of my jaw, below my ear. I hissed in pain as the shard not only cut my skin, but burned it as if the metal was still in flames. As I hit the ground I screamed before pushing myself up, my hand covering the burning injury on the side of my face.
I did not sit there for long. I scampered to my feet, drawing my sword before I ran over to Mia, Endy and Luke. They groaned in pain before picking themselves up and looking in the direction the blast came from. Before I looked over there, I looked past the crater in the ground to check on the others. Nathan and Drake were coughing and Xavier held Jane close to his body to protect her from the blast and extinguishing flames.

  "Are you guys alright?" I quickly asked, needing to make sure that they were okay.

Drake coughed out. "W-we're fine."

They drew their weapons, as well as Mia, Endy, and Luke. I turned my head to face the trees were the attack had come from. I charged in it's direction, knowing that I needed to take them out before they could fire another blast. I let out a cry as I ran, listening as the others followed in pursuit. I nearly tripped and ran into a few trees or nearly got stuck in a bush or two, but I continued on.
Finally the men came into view, seven mercenaries, two cannons. The fuse to the second one was lit, the flame eating the rope in sparks. I tried to stay out of it's range of fire and charged to closest man I could reach. He was quick to dodge my first attack, but he was not so lucky with avoiding my second. It cut into his side, igniting a blaze of fury within his eyes.
Another one of the men came up behind me, bringing the tip of his blade down on my back and side. I jumped to the side, biting my lip to hold back a cry of pain. I held up my sword to block an attack, not being able to help looking over my shoulder as the others caught up with me. Drake and Luke were the first two who tried to charge to help me, but then the second cannon went off in a blaze of sizzling sparks and flames.

  "Look out!'

They tried to jump out of the way, just the blast came at them too suddenly and too fast. I saw as they went flying back, both of them getting their bodies slammed against the trunks of towering spruce trees. I saw arrows from crossbows fire at the others. With the sudden distraction I felt myself sustain yet another painfully deep wound on my torso. I was hit in the side of the head by a sword hilt, and in a daze I fell to the ground.
As I laid there I opened my eyes and looked at where Drake was now sitting on the ground. My vision was blurry and my ears were ringing, but I could still hear a battle raging on outside of my peripheral vision. I saw Drake try to crawl over to me, before he started coughing up blood yet again, then collapsed as if he had passed out.
I turned over and narrowly avoided getting sliced in half. I kicked at my attacker's legs, before getting up and stabbing him in the chest. After pulling the blade out, I attacked the next man and successfully cut deep into his throat. His body fell over, blood spraying from the fatal wound.
I looked up and watched as purple magic hurtled into two of the other mercenaries. The blast collided with them in a spark of purple energy, and they fell to the ground as they slowly perished. While the others were fighting them off, I ran to Drake, trusting them to be okay.
I lifted up his head as I got onto my knees. His face was still covered in blood from earlier and his baggy dark ringed eyes were closed, definitely unconscious. I should expect that with his life force and the blood he's losing. Luke was just a few feet away, groaning in pain as he pushed himself back up. He only looked at me, as if wanting to know that Drake and I were okay.

  "Are you alright man?" I asked, the ringing in my ears finally going away.

He nodded, looking at the battle as he pulled out his blade. "Yeah. I'm good."

I looked back up at my comrades, resting Drake down again before I once again took my sword and charged into the fight. Luke followed behind me, fighting and taking out one of the guys on his own. I tried helping Mia, landing a few blows on the mercenary before she was able to kill him on her own. My head turned to look in the direction were Drake was laying and seething anger filled me when I saw one of the last remaining mercenaries beginning to approach his vulnerable body.
I growled before sprinting towards the man, screaming in anger. It's my job to protect Drake and I'm not letting anything happen to him when he's defenseless. I rammed into him, the tip of my blade piercing into the right side of his abdomen. I pushed him back until the tip of my sword was stuck in the bark of a tree. His blood ran down the purple material in my hands. He looked up at me, slowly lifting up his arm in an attempt to strike me. Before he was able to bring the blade down, a kuni struck him in the head and killed him instantly.
I looked over my shoulder as Xavier came up, and pulled the knife out of the guy's head. He looked at me and smiled as he put the blade away. I thanked him, but when he tried to reply, he held is throat in pain. While I'm not as close as close to him as Luke, I suppose it does suck that he can't talk.
I pulled my blade out of the corpse, letting his body drop down to the ground below. I turned around and looked at the other, each mercenary seeming to be dead. I looked back down to Drake, seeing that Lalea was already by his side getting the blood off of his face with her cloak.

  "Is he okay? He's still breathing and everything, right?" Well, I could see his breath fogging up in the air so that last question wasn't really smart.

She chuckled weakly, sitting down and putting his head in her lap. "Yeah he's...okay. He's still breathing, so...no need to worry. I guess." She seemed really worried and almost as if she knew something that I didn't. I shrugged it off as nothing.

I let out a sigh of relief. He always has me worried, but it's not his fault. He's sick and losing himself... and I need to help him. We need to heal him and get that devil out of him. I'm not letting that demon take another friend from me. I walked up to her and kneeled down, taking Drake and picking him up. At least I was getting used to carrying his weight after all the times I've had to hold him while he was unconscious.

  "I'll take him. Are you and the others okay?" I asked, looking over her.

She nodded and turned around. "Yeah. Luke got a bit burned and Mia got a minor cut. Other then that, I believe everyone is okay, from this battle at least."

I nodded as the others stared approaching us. There were new bloodstains on all of them, except for Jane but she did have a few scratches. Mia huffed telling me that a few of them escaped. I did not really care about that, just as long as everyone was okay for the time being. Although he will probably go back to the emperor and warn him about our whereabouts.

  "Sh*t..." I swore under my breath before shrugging it off. "Well, just ignore it. They shouldn't be any problem for now. Anything else?"

Everyone glanced at each other but said nothing in reply. I turned around and started walking back into the trees, not wanting to stand around and waste time for anything. Luckily I memorized where we had to go to get an airship.

  "Alright then. Come on! Let's hope we don't run into anymore of those b****ards."

...
Drake's point of view-

Darkness was all I was able to see before things began to flesh out. In the blackness I made out a pitch black floor reaching endlessly into a distant void. My head was pounding, pulsating on the right side of my forehead. The joints in my body continued to feel sore and ached from fighting despite how weak I was at the time. Dread and anxiety washed over me and already I felt as if I was drowning in it.
The memories... The good old days when things were simple. Well, as simple as it could get when facing a demonic ghost. Everything kept playing hastily through my mind, remembering the times when I was happy. The days when Armen was around and all of this stress wasn't piling on top of me, suffocating me in the pressure and anxiety.
I hate myself for not saving him. I hate how I let those wonderful moments slip all because I was too selfish to preform that spell again and save him.
The memories were quick to fade, taking me back to the black void, where a human figure stood in front of me. I growled at Herobrine as he stood there, twirling a familiar object between his fingers and a maniacal smug grin on his face.
The handle of the object was wooden with dark carvings embedded into it. It had a short but sharp and thin iron blade with a double sided ridged edge. I recognized that object to be a dagger. The same one that Armen found in Ruby shire.
Herobrine stopped twirling the dagger in his fingers, but even with his soulless, pupiless eyes I knew that he hadn't looked up from the weapon. I took a step back and whimpered slightly, not really knowing how to react to him anymore. I did not know what to do. There was not anything I could do to begin with.
He chuckled, the bright light in his throat shining past his sharp white fangs. His right index finger and thumb began to trace along the blade as he held it, the sharp edges not making a single cut on his ghostly pale skin.

Do you prefer it when you are in agonizing physical pain, or the feeling of complete numbness? I know that they both bother you, as I know your every thought, your every feeling!

A silence fell between us in the darkness. I did not bother to reply, knowing that he would not care for my answer. I was clueless on how to answer that question myself. He held up his arms and tilted his head as he finally looked at me, chuckling darkly as he tended to do.

  You do not really care anymore, do you? It all doesn't matter anymore, does it?

I only growled again in response. I felt my magic beginning to rile up inside of me, wanting to be released. It brought a massive amount of pain to my chest and a burning feeling my veins. I held it back as much as I could, trying not to let it go out of control. I may be unconscious, but I know that if I let my magic be released here, it hurt my companions in the real world. It will kill them and myself. I do not care if it kills me, but killing them is a completely different matter.
I knew that my illness was getting worse, my mana cells beginning to yearn to be released in the form of magical energy. It had been a long time since my magic went out of control, as far as I knew, and I did not intend to let it happen again any time soon. Not when it will surely kill me in the times my friends are near.

  You are in pain right now. I can feel it. Alas, do you know who has not felt pain in quite awhile?

I could not help but lower a brow, wondering what the heck he was getting at. He put his arms behind his back and turned around, as something began to appear from the darkness. He began to walk behind the strange forming light as it took form into the material plain. It was low to the ground and the more it became clear, the more detail I was able to make out.
It was a male human figure sitting on his knees with his hands behind his back. His head was hung down with his black hair covering his pale face. His white and brown clothing were bloody and torn, with cuts, bruises, and burns on the parts of his transparent skin that were visible. I gasped and let my eyes become wide. I shouldn't have been surprised when I saw his familiar form.

  "Ar..." I whispered out, but the white eyed demon cut me off.

  ... You're dear brother, of course!

He held up the dagger to his neck and grabbed a handful of his hair, pulling roughly so Armen was forced to look up at me. I saw sorrow in his faint cyan eyes, his once bright orbs filling with tears as he looked at me with a pained expression. He was trembling with pain and fear. No, he can't be! He is not Armen! This is just another f**king illusion! None of it is real!

  "D-Drake...I-I'm s-sorry..." He hiccuped with glistening tears beginning to roll down his transparent cheeks.

He screamed as Herobrine tugged at his hair, laughing at his pain. I knew this was not the Armen I had loved like family, but I couldn't help but feel enraged to see him in pain.

  "Stop it!"

The demon laughed at me, placing the blade of the dagger up to Armen's neck. My friend, or the possible illusion of my friend, whimpered as the blade was pressed against his skin, drawing blood despite that he was a spirit. Herobrine wanted him to bleed so I would feel more emotion pain. And it was working. He began slowly dragging the blade across his neck, causing dark red to flow down his skin.
I screamed and tried to run to him, but I felt held back. There was nothing physically holding me back but my body just wound not move. All I could do was stare and watch as my best friend friend screamed for me to help him. I shook my head once more. He is not real! You can't let yourself forget that Drake! Don't let yourself believe that it is him. He's just an illusion...a nightmare!

Don't believe it. Don't believe it! It's not Armen!

Why should I? After all, he isn't real, now is he?

He slashed Armen's cheek, causing him to scream and cry out. "Drake, help! Please"

Tears were leaving my eyes, my body quivering. No matter how much I wanted to convince myself that it was not him, I could not help but feel...awful. I watched in horror as Herobrine then slashed at his forehead and chin, then I screamed as he dug the blade into the flesh of his left cheek, sliced the skin and muscle completely.

Isn't he?! He is just a fake, right Drake? Right?!

With each shout his words went faster and he sounded more and more insane. His arm moved faster, cutting Armen all over his upper body, leaving him completely covered in red. He let out blood gurgling screams, begging for me to help him, but I did nothing. I was beginning to wonder if I was not being allowed to move or if I was not letting myself move.
I pulled at my hair, and looked away as he cried out in agony, but I couldn't help but look back and watch as he cried and bled. I felt so sick at the sight. I covered my ears to block out his screaming but they refused to go away. I hiccuped and choked as my tears streamed down my sore face, the whole sight blurring but still just as gruesome and horrifying.

"Please stop! Hurt me instead, please!" I begged and pleaded, falling to my hands and knees as I sobbed.

Herobrine laughed, bringing the blade over his left eye and cut across it. A large scar was left over it, his eyelid now to seemingly never open again. He stopped his onslaught on my best friend, leaving the only sound to echo out in the blackness behind Armen's and my own sobbing along with his whimpers of agony. I felt so guilty for letting that demon hurt him... No, it is not my friend! Armen is dead! He is in a better place, right?!

As you wish! Herobrine laughed out darkly, before thrusting the blade into Armen's right eye.

Armen let out one last scream before it slowly fell silent. Herobrine pulled the dagger out and let go of his hair, letting Armen's body fall forward. I stared at the body as blood pooled around, expecting it to fade it did no such thing. It remained there, motionless and bleeding as if he was alive to begin with. As if this was reality.
I have had more realistic dreams than this but this remains just as dreadful and fills me with just as much pain. It f**king hurts watching people you care for die, rather by your own hands or not. Although, watching from your own eyes as you take a loved ones life is more than just sickening or atrocious. Seeing that is enough to make you hate yourself to the point where you beg for death... I know that all too well.
Herobrine began to slowly approach me, with a wide glowing smile and tilting his head as he laughed. The iron blade of the dagger dripped with crimson and letting the thick liquid fall carelessly to the ground. Armen's blood covered his fingers, some splattered onto his blue clothes that were already stale with the color of faint brown from old stains of blood. As he stood before me, I did not dare look up. My eyes were locked onto Armen's corpse, gasping, hiccuping, and wheezing from crying. He was not real... Attempt after attempt I can never get myself to accept that. In the back of my mind, I admit that I do believe that it is him. I do not want to. I want to believe that Armen is somewhere better.
I only finally looked away when I closed my eyes in pain the moment he grabbed a handful of my hair and forcefully pulled. I was forced to look up, my tear filled eyes opening to glare into his soulless orbs.

  Caring for others makes you weak. Caring is what is bringing you this suffering. You're friends are what is bringing this pain to you. Get rid of them...and you'll be free!

I growled. "Forget it! I'm not letting myself hurt them! I'd rather be tortured until the end of time! So you lay off, b*****rd!"

A silence fell between us. I took in and let out deep breaths, feeling his bloody fingers untangle from my matted, bloody and greasy hair. He chuckled again, shrugging his shoulders. Suddenly his foot was pressed against my chest and he forced me onto my back. I grunted in pain as his foot pressed on my chest, making it even more difficult to breathe than it already was. My eyes opened as I tried to recover, but then I felt a sharp point against my chest, pricking my skin.

He pressed the tip of the blade against the right side of my chest, his lips in a smile but his bright eyes full of hate. I knew that would be a waste of breath with you, despite that I have no need to breathe...

My ears began to ring and my headache was getting worse. Even more tears left from beneath my eyelids, slowly making their way along the watery streaks of older tears. I reached up and tried to push him off of me, but my arms just fell limp as I was struck with a feeling of weakness in my body. He slowly dragged the tip of the dagger downwards, causing me to cringe as my skin was sliced.

  Very well. I will let you have your way, but remember this Drake... You can't escape your fate.

I let out an agonizing cry as he began slashing my chest, laughing his height pitched laugh as he did so. The metal was cutting my skin and muscle, clawing into my flesh. The pain stung, my wounds feeling as if they were burned into my flesh. Slash after slash came down on me, my vision blurring and the ringing in my ears becoming so intense that his laughter and my screaming became mute. He stopped cutting my body, looking and grinning at me before my vision faded to black.

...
Third person point of view-

Drake's eyes shot open, immediately feeling the ground beneath himself and an aching in his chest. It wasn't just aching on the inside but there was also an external pain. It stung and burned like a fresh scar inflicted onto his body and he could feel the familiar sensation of blood against his skin. His head was continuing to pound, tears streaming down the side of his face.
He sat straight up, immediately looking into Grayson's emerald eyes. His eyes had fear and worry within them, and tears were visibly beginning to form. He didn't like everyone staring down at him with fear and trepidation. Lalea was kneeling next to his right, holding his arm tightly, while Mia was to his left. The hybrid let out heavy breaths from discomfort and pain.

  "Drake, are you...o-okay?" Grayson asked with a trembling voice.

  "..." The hybrid did not answer, swallowing as his mouth filled with saliva. He couldn't say that he was okay when he was in pain.

His eyes looked down at his chest, seeing fresh blood only beginning to seep through the blue stained fabric covering his torso. There were no rips where the blood was forming, showing that it was not caused by an attacker. He noticed that the stains were beginning to form into familiar shapes, more like letters or symbols that were all too familiar to his eyes.
He lifted up a part of his shirt to look down at the bandages on his torso. There were many bleeding scars covering his body and turning his uncovered skin red, but his eyes rested on the newest wounds that caught his attention more than even his most painful or deepest injury.
Mia grabbed a strap of her backpack and took it off, opening the top before she frantically began searching through it. Drake hissed and backed away as she took out a bottle of water and poured a bit of the liquid onto his cuts. The water cleaned the wound and cleared some of the blood, but it moistened the bandages he wore. He hissed slightly, the stinging not as bad as he had expected. He didn't understand why they were tending to him instead of their own injuries.
The elf's lime green eyes became wider, her breath getting caught in her throat. She seemed shocked and alarmed, just as much as Lalea and Grayson seemed to be. As the rest of the adults and the teen in the group got a good look at his newly acquired scars, they couldn't help but let out gasps of shock.

  "It...can't be..." Grayson said under his breath, not being able to rip his gaze away from the bleeding cuts.

The multiple cuts were in a specific pattern, all letting crimson slowly ooze from his skin. Drake's eyes became as wide as the eyes of the others, most knowing that pattern from anywhere. In the back of his frightened mind, the hybrid knew why this word was carved onto his body. It had to have been Herobrine trying to get it into his head that his spirit and body belonged to him. Engraved onto his skin, were the capital letters "H.I.M."
The large scar left behind from the imperial scientists experiment acted as the large "I" while the other two smaller letters were the ones that were fresh and bleeding. So now Herobrine could inflict injury on him while he was out cold, and yet not having control over his body? That thought sent a chill down Drake's spine.

His lips began to tremble and his heart raced. "I-I..."

  You can't escape me, Drake. You'll never be free!

He shook his head and pulled his shirt back down, scampering up to his feet. His breathing once again became unsteady, hyperventilating with fear. He leaned back on a tree, gazing up into the sky as his vision blurred then cleared repeatedly. He finally closed his eyes and started counting up to ten then back to one. He tried to restrain the panic attack he felt coming on.
After that and a few more heavy breaths, he felt himself beginning to calm down but he was still slightly panicked. He should not have felt like that. He knew that same pain, knew that his body was already a canvas of scars. He already knew that his body was Herobrine's now. He shook his head yet again, growling at his own thoughts. That was not true! He still had a chance to stop Herobrine from taking him over completely. He still had a chance...or did he?

  "I'm fine... it's just a few scratches."

Grayson's voice boomed out. "That's not fine! He's hurting you, Drake! I will not let that devil get away with it!"

Drake turned sharply to him, looking into Grayson's eyes with his own giving of an almost dead look. "And what can you do about it right now?"

The blonde's eyes grew, not really knowing what to say in response at that moment. He looked down at the ground clutching his fists for a moment as he closed his eyes. He let out a deep breath, trying to collect his words carefully. He did not want say something that would set his friend off.

"I can be here for you. We're all willing to do whatever it takes to help you... I made a promise to you, and I'll say this as many times as I need to. I am going to save you. I'll do whatever it takes, not matter how much you beg me to give up on you. That's not what friends, or family do."

Drake looked at him from the corner of his eyes, before looking away and pulling his hood back up that had slipped off while he was out cold. His hands slipped into his pockets, feeling his anxiety shifting into a sudden bipolar depression. He tried thinking of happy moments to drown out the sudden sadness.
He remembered reuniting with Grayson and Mia. Remembered the elf giving him his flower crown and the two begging him to wear it. That memory alone brought a smile to his face. He recalled the fun little conversations they had on their journey and all they times they were there to help him relax when he was losing it. He remembered his only relaxing times at the empire when Lalea was by his side and took care of him. He recalled the small heartfelt moments with Jane and the good moments with Luke that changed his outlook on the assassin. It felt good to recall the good times, to break free from the bad even if it was only for a few seconds.

He gave out a weak chuckle. "I know. It will be okay... We'll make it through this. Just...help me keep my faith in myself. I need you to help me... stay hopeful that everything will turn out alright."

Lalea then spoke was almost a look of disappointment in her blue eyes. "Drake... as much as I hate talking back to you... You need to also rely on yourself to keep you hopeful and happy. You need to help yourself stay in a good place of mind, and...not constantly rely on others. You need to be willing to help yourself just as much as we are willing to."

Drake swallowed a lump in his throat, looking away from. She was right, and he had known that fact for a long time but never really listened to those potentially helpful thoughts. He needed to find hope in himself on his own, and only then would that hope and joy really stick.

  "I know." He smiled, a new tear drop slipping from his right eye. "I've just been...in the darkness for so long that I've forgotten about that... You're right. You're always right."

Suddenly, arrows began to fly out from the trees, one striking Endy in the back of the leg, and one hitting Mia in the back, the leather of her around her torso keeping the arrow from penetrating too deep into her body and keeping it from being fatal. They both cried out in pain, before another wave of arrows shot out from the white frosted trees.
One narrowly avoided hitting Drake on his head, but would have cut his Enderman ear if most of it wasn't already gone. Another one grazed Luke's neck, and another struck Grayson in the back of his arm a few inches below his shoulder. He screamed, putting his hand over where the arrow head had penetrated and felt his blood seep through the fabric of his shirt and jacket, the liquid getting onto his exposed fingertips.

"What is it always in the f**king arm?!" He cursed, noticing that every time an arrow struck him, it always seemed to end up in his arm or shoulder.

They began looking around as men charged out from the vegetation, heavily armed and ready to fill-full their kings orders. The group readied themselves, but with the the surprise ambush, they did not have much time to draw their blades. The only one that was able to move in time was Xavier, pulling Jane close.
Nathan was the first to have his arms pulled behind his back. One by one they were grabbed and forced onto the ground as they were painfully beaten to force them to follow suit. Xavier sliced through one mercenary's cheek, backing up as he pushed Jane behind himself. He looked around, seeing far more than he had expected to emerge from the trees. He gasped and only watched as his comrades were forced to ground.

Luke shouted out after he was struck in the head and his arms were being tied behind his back. "Xavier, run!"

The spy did not heed his instruction, and instead his instinct was to attack. With a kuni knife, he lunged and sliced open the neck of a mercenary that charged at him. He leaned to the side as another one tried to strike him, the iron blade of a sword narrowly missing him. As he sliced his neck as well, his eyes scanned the situation before him. There were too many, and to make it worse, the men were readying new arrows in their crossbows.

"Run!" Luke repeated, crying out as loud as he could get his voice.

Xavier looked at him for a moment, then began at the mercenaries as they aimed at him. Finally, he turned around and grabbed Jane in his arms, picking her up and pressing her against his chest. He sprinted as fast as he could as the triggers were pulled and arrows began to fly through the air. His feet were light as they pushed against the ground, scampering at a breakneck speed. He sharply turned, dashing into the brush and trees.

"I got him, sir!" A mercenary with a red and green plaid scarf said, running after the chestnut haired, a color similar to his own locks.

He was followed by a dirty blonde haired, both of them running on the grass before charging into the bushes and shadows cast by the trees. The group all worried for their ally and hoping that he would escape those pursuing him.
Ropes were tied around their wrists, burned them as it rubbed against their skin and began digging into their flesh. Grayson hissed, the healing wounds on his wrists left behind by the cultists becoming reopened. The two magi capable of using magic could no do so, their mana having run out. They frantically struggled, some beaten relentlessly as sacks were forced over their heads. Drake cried out as a boot collided into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. As he gasped for breath, he was struck in the head and fell out cold yet another time that day.
...

The sacks were pried away from on top of their heads, each of them squinting as their eyes adjusted to the light. Each had a headache, but none as intense and painful as the one the Enderman hybrid was feeling. Muffled sounds were beginning to ring in his ears, nausea filling his empty stomach. His eyes opened but he saw he saw nothing but blackness but one thing he definitely was that he for sure was not dreaming.
He gasped in surprise as the sack covering his head was removed. His eyes squinted at the sudden rays of light shining into his eyes but the clouds above blocked most of them out. Ropes were digging into his wrist but it did not bother him. He had been thought that before and had grown used to it but he did still despise it. The hybrid found himself to be sitting on his knees on wet grass and mud, the cold sweeping over his body.
Drake looked around, seeing his comrades in the same bound state to his right. They were in a half crescent formation with himself sitting at the edge. He couldn't tell if all of them had been knocked out or if it was just himself, Grayson, and Luke, as they had seemed to be just coming too.

"Well, well, well. Look at who we have here!" Their attention turned to the booming, sinister voice.

They growled as they gazed upon the emperor, his dark brunette hair swaying in the wind with some of it covering his face. The man had his arms behind his back, looking down at the group with a forced smile that gritted against each other and eyes that shot daggers. Drake's spine shivered, the king's gaze almost looking as insane and hateful as Herobrine's eyes.
Drake looked around at the open area behind the emperor, seeing hills and mountains covered with snow layered grass and steep rocks that emerged from some of the sides. Large boulders were here and there, scattered across the bases of the mountain terrains. There were mercenaries everywhere, some with captains training their men, some feeding their horses or just messing with their cannons and carriages full of supplies.
Grayson snarled at the tall man before him, clenching his fists behind his back. Seeing him and even just hearing his voice made his blood boil. He pulled against his restraints, but with mercenaries surrounding him and unable to release his wrists, he did not dare to stand and fight. His emerald eyes looked around at his comrades, taking in the look of anger and fear on each of their faces.

  "The pathetic group that killed a majority of my entire f**king army and manipulated my subjects!" His boomed, more enraged than it had been in years, even more so than when the dragon egg was stolen. Grayson could only hope that it was still in his backpack.

Drake found amusement in his rage and profound language. He thought the man would be a lot more sophisticated than that. He tried holding back a chuckle that threatened to rise in his throat, but the hybrid did notice that the man's loathing eyes were mainly directing to Grayson and himself when referring to his fallen soldiers.
The emperor's eyes shot down to glare daggers at Nathan. A chuckle left his mouth, one of false amusement and boiling rage that showed in an unsettling way. The ex-mercenary was looking up at him with fear plastered in his hazel orbs, and his body beginning to tremble with fear. The emperor then growled, leaning down slightly to look into his eyes and intimate the teen.

"And would you look at this! Little Nathan boy decided to join the team! So disappointing, really."

He stood up straight again, his head tilting as his smile faded. "Such a pity how someone who used to be so loyal to me has now decided to join their bullsh*t." His tongue clicked.

He then turned to glare at Grayson before he strode up to him. "I do not appreciate how many men you and your group have killed. Oh, how I would so love to kill you now, Grayson, but that will have to wait."

He looked around at the group, noticing Xavier's absence. "So where's Xavier and his little family? Dead?" Grayson looked away and softly growled, eyes tearing up at the memory of Sylvia and worried for Xavier and Jane.

The emperor's ears perked up when he began to hear laughter, a deep, dark one at that. The emperor's head turned, his eyes resting on Drake as the hybrid continued to snicker. The tyrant emperor turned and slowly walked up to him, before his hand shot out and grabbed Drake by the hair on his head. He pulled on his hair until the hybrid looked up at him, his chuckling stopping very briefly as he was filled with pain. His eyes shop up, his wide white and periwinkle orbs staring at the emperor with a constructed pupil in his left eye. His snickering continued, able to easily ignore the stinging pain.

"What are you laughing at, freak?" The emperor snarled.

"You... You think your so powerful, so threatening, but all you really are is an idiot. You're amusing!"

The emperor growled, his fists balling up. Endy yelled at Drake to keep quiet, knowing how brutal the man was. Without another word said, the emperor drove his fist into the hybrid's stomach, blood quickly spilling from his mouth. The hybrid leaned forward until his head pressed against the ground, gasping for breath. The wind was knocked out of him, but even when struggling to breathe, there was giggle trying to rise from his throat.

"You're going to regret your smart a** mouth. Just wait for when I kill them in front of you! Won't that be great?" Drake slowly sat up, glaring and growling as a drop of blood ran from his mouth and down his chin. He regained his breath, but now with stomach was in more pain than it had been in.

The emperor then looked up when he heard loud rustling in the vegetation, behind where Grayson and Luke sat next to each other. Out from the bushes emerged a mercenary, where the usual mercenary hat that seemed a bit big on him and tan trench coat. His hair and the shade that his hat cast was shadowing most of his face. The most distinguishing feature was the red and green plaid scarf on his neck. The mercenary that went after Xavier.
An iron sword was in his grasp, the blade dripping with red with some blood stains on his coat. Luke's eyes widened and his heart thumped with dread, recognizing him. That could not be Xavier's and Jane's blood. The mercenary looked around at the group, not moving or saying a word. The emperor seemed a bit annoyed at this.

  "You. Why are you arriving late?"

The mercenary seemed to swallow a lump in his throat, then flinch and show his sharp teeth as he cringed. His voice had an accent that Luke didn't recall him having, and his voice was a bit raspy. "I took care of the two that escaped. The spy and the girl."

Luke's eyes couldn't have gotten any wider. No. That's not true! They can not be dead! His eyes teared up, imagining their lifeless bodies abandoned out there like trash. He imagined them being slaughtered, no one there to help when they needed it. He shook his head and growled, a tear going down his cheek.

He snapped, struggling furiously against his restraints. "Liar!"

The mercenary marched towards Luke, looking up to the emperor as if waiting for his permission to teach him to talk back. The emperor nodded, allowing him to do whatever he wanted to Luke. He nodded back before kneeling between him and Grayson. Luke cringed and groaned in pain as the mercenary grabbed the back of his neck and squeezed it, not too gently but not to rough. His green eyes looked back and forth between the two, before he started whispering.

"Don't worry. It just me!" Grayson and Luke let out silent gasp, finally recognizing his facial complexion and English accent.

Now that they were focusing on it, those were definitely Xavier's bright, optimism filled eyes. The scarf on his neck covered his injured, bloody bandaged covered throat. It was a good thing the mercenary with a scarf was the one that chased him down, otherwise he probably would have been caught fairly fast. He must have killed that man and taken his hat, coat, and scarf to blend  in and deceive their enemies. But what happened to Jane?

"Xav- Ahh! Ow!" Luke whimpered as Xavier's fingers tightened around the pressure points of his neck.

"Shhh! I'm sorry Luke, but I have to make this believable until I can figure out a way to help you. I am a spy, and blending in is what we do best."

He let go of Luke, aggravating the lavender that he couldn't massage the aching on the back of his neck. He also growled with the knowledge that his friend was not allowed to be talking or even whispering. He's hurting himself and he hasn't even done anything yet!
Luke hummed when he heard a faint sound of rope snapping. He moved his wrists, able to shift them more freely. Xavier whispered to both Grayson and Luke as he cut the blonde's binding, warning them not to move their arms yet or they would be caught. The disguised spy stood up straight, glaring at the emperor as the man's gaze shifted back to him for a split moment. He tilted his head just enough so that the shade from his hat blocked a majority of his facial features. As the man looked away, his hand slyly slipped into his coat, grabbing one of his few remaining kuni knives.

  "How about I dispose of one of you right now, just for the fun of it? Let's see..."

He began pointing at everyone with the exemptions of Drake or Grayson. "You!" His finger rested on the elf.

Mia looked at him with wide eyes, beginning to tremble with fear. The emperor reached for one of the crossed blades on his back, watching the girl struggle. A smile spread on his face, not being able to wait shedding the blood of one of Grayson's comrades. He wanted to see him shed tears and to break on the inside. Him and the hybrid.
Before he could even wrap his fingers around the handle of his blade, he saw something shooting at him out of the corner of his eye. He swiftly held up his arm, the weapon colliding with the shield strapped to his arm, setting off sparks before the small black knife fell to the ground. He snarled and lowered his arm, only to hear a battle cry before Grayson charged at him, free from his restraints.
The emperor held up his arm again, the ex-commander swinging downward so his blade slammed into the small shield. Both of their eyes filled with rage, their beings swarming with hate. The emperor drew his sword with his free hand, and swung it down at the blonde. Grayson quickly ducked down, narrowly avoiding decapitation. He held up his sword against his next blow and retaliated his attack.
Luke stood, drawing his sword and running to fight the mercenaries as Xavier cut Nathan's bindings. Luke locked eyes on his victim, reading his body movements and deciphering the man's next move. As his opponent swung, the assassin stepped to the side and swung upwards. The tip of his blade draw a long line of crimson across his upper chest. He quickly spun around and drew his dagger, driving it into the back of the man's head. His withdrew his blade before swiftly turned to fight off his next attacker.

  My magic... I can feel it being to act up... it's growing stronger... The hybrid thought, feeling the burning in his veins and chest growing unbearably painfully.

He couldn't see the magic beginning to swarm around his hands and the Ender particles beginning to swarm around his body with haste. Anger was beginning to swell up inside of him, his neck twitching and blood beginning to slowly leave from him left nostril. His vision started to go purple, a slight glow to his Enderman eye. He let out a scream of pain as the wind whirled around him, and his body vanished.
Drake opened his eyes with a gasp as he coughed, a few specks of blood leaving his mouth. His body was shaking, but he didn't feel as fatigued as he had been earlier. He was not sitting, but now stood closer to where a mercenary stood. He had teleported.
As a battle cry run out beside him, he turned his head and watched as a mercenary charged at him. He turned and jumped, his back facing the mercenary as his blade swung down. He tried to make sure that his bound wrist were in just the right spot.
The tip of the iron sliced through the rope, as well as a part of Drake's arm and his right thumb. Without caring about the pain, the hybrid drew his blade as he turned and slid back to avoid another attack. Drake was quick to lunge, his diamond blade going through the mercenary's chest.
Now it truly felt like a battle ground. The friends were freed, now each fighting off imperial soldiers in each of their own brawls. Blood was being spilled left and right. It was so few against nearly an entire army. They had little magic, little healing potions, and were growing weaker with each opponent they took down. The group of outlaws were beginning to spread out in the vast, flat land between the forest and mountains. They were losing trace of each other, but when they stayed close together, they did whatever in their power to help their comrades. This was the battle they had tried to avoid. This was their war.
...

Grayson's point of view-

I held up my blade and blocked his every attack, but my strength and stamina were slowly beginning to waver. I brandished by sword, not an ounce of hesitation with each strike I brought down. That d**b shield of his kept blocking my attacks, and it was making me steam. On occasion, I saw him smiling behind his defense. I had to give it my all. One mistake and I would be done for.
I jumped back as he finally swung, the very tip slicing my chest just below the tear left behind from when that spear impaled me. I growled as I stood there, preparing my next attack. I did not know how to observe him to attempt and predict his next move, so I did not bother and continued my previous tactic of throwing my attacks wildly. I knew that it wasn't very efficient, but I was too enraged to care.
He suddenly swung and broke the cycle, his blade deflating my blade. I jumped back and distanced myself from him once more, gasping to catch my breath. My fists clutched my sword handle tightly, shaking from how much force I was applying to it on all sides. A growl rose from my dry throat, biting my chapped lips briefly, fury burning within me from the fact that I could not seem to land a single hit.
The vile man suddenly dashed at me, and before he could strike me, I ran too and ducked, sliding against the dirt before standing up and preparing my stance. I huffed and readying myself physically and mentally to lash out once more.

He turned around, tilted his head as if he found my skill to be be impressive. "You are fighting a lot more carelessly than I remember your tactics being." He used his words to try to lower my guard.

I gritted my teeth and did not bother to reply before dashing out as fast as I could, ignoring my legs begging to buckle underneath myself. As I closed in on him, I swung only for my attack to once again be deflected. Sparks ignited as the tip of my sword slashed across his iron shield. He continued to counter my attacks, only leading my frustration to rise and aggravation to grow.

  "Shut up, b***ard!"  I hollered out, not knowing if my voice possibly cracked or not.

We twisted and turned, acting on the defensive and attacking. He draw his second sword, and the instant he swung, pain shot up within my body. The blade cut across my stomach and part of my arm, a stinging pain shooting up in my nerves. I continued my own onslaught, occasionally striking him on the arms, abdomen, and upper legs.
We were backing up closer and closer to the mountain rang, blades continue to clash from all around us. I could hear cries of pain and battle cries ringing out, and the echoing of iron clashing from striking against another.
Yet again I jumped back, gaining some distance between us. I knelt low to the ground as I caught my breath once more, my opponent standing still as he also regained air into his lungs. Sweat rolled down our faces and both of our bodies could not stay completely still. Our breath rose up in front of our faces, my limbs aching and confident that his were as well. I dashed out at him yet again, screaming before our blades clashed into one another.
Over and over again in a repetitive state we attacked and blocked, but I felt that I was getting injured more than him. He had a shield and two blades, while I only had one sword and no defense other than dodging and blocking with my blade. He was at the greater advantage, but I did not want to accept that fact.

Luke's point of view-

My sword sliced through the flesh of another mercenary, stinging and burning scars spread across my body. I was being surrounded, as one went down, two more seemed to take his place. I was growing tired, and even I myself could see that my movements were beginning to slacken and my reaction time was getting slower with each cut that found it's way onto my body.
I winced and hissed, bitting my lip to keep in a cry of pain that nearly escaped from my lungs. A deep wound was inflicted into my side, blood gushing out. I swung my sword and after a few dodges and a struggle with my opponent, I was finally able to strike him down. No mercenary charged at me, allowing me to catch my breath and ease some of pain in my chest and aching muscles.
I turned my head and lifted up my sword as footsteps approached from behind me. My sharp gaze softened when I saw Xavier instead of another enemy. His hat was gone and he was removing his coat, quickly mumbling that it was too heavy and slowing him down. I felt my lips slightly perk up.

  "So where is Jane? Please tell me that she's okay." I said, despite knowing that I shouldn't let him talk, but I needed to know if the child was okay or not.

Xavier swiftly moved and took out a mercenary that tried to rush him. He chuckled and looked over his shoulder to me. "I hid her up in a tree. She should be safe."

I couldn't help but lower a brow. I turned to a mercenary and slit his throat before turning back to my friend. "You left your daughter...in a tree?"

He gave out a weak chuckle, smiling with flush cheeks was he scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah... It was all I could think of to do."

I would have rolled my eyes, but I understood his reasoning. To be honest, it's possible that I would have done the same. I chuckled, remembering the risk he took to try and save us.

  "Thank you for coming back and helping us. That was a risky move, but a greatly appreciated one." I said with a smile, causing him to return the smile with that wide grin I once found to look slightly creepy.

I turned my attention to something I spotted out of the corner of my eye. My eyes widened and a gasp left from behind my lips. There were three mercenaries by a cannon, and the rope was already eaten away by flames. One of them yelled, before a cannon ball blasted out of the front in a blaze of blinding fire.
I jumped as fast as I could, still in midair as the cannon ball collided with the ground and exploded on impact. I rolled on the ground, dirt and snow getting into my many open wounds. I hissed and pushed myself up to my knees. My arms were shaking uncontrollably and so much that my muscles ached. Throughout my entire career, I do not think I've ever been this injured.
My head turned to look over my shoulder, gazing at Xavier with slightly blurred vision. He picked himself up from the ground, standing on his trembling legs. He only stood for a few seconds before collapsing in pain, groaning and hissing as he held his shoulder. I hoped it was not sprained or anything. I know how that feels and it is not a pleasant feeling.
My head turned again, squinting as I tried to make out a fight going on between two men. Almost immediately I was able to tell that it was undoubtedly Grayson and the emperor fighting off each other in a battle to one of their potential deaths. I saw sparks as Grayson's sword hit one of the emperor's swords or his shield, and specks of red as Grayson was cut.
My eyes widened and I stop breathing; my breath becoming stuck in my throat. My heart skipped a beat and time seemed to stop and what I saw next. The emperor's blade in his right hand plunged through Grayson's abdominal area, and was quickly withdrawn. Grayson fell to his knees in withering agony, his gloved hand going over his injury and unable to stand up and defend himself any longer. The emperor held up his blade and reading to bring down one last fatal blow onto the dragon egg thief.

Third person point of view-

Grayson fought with unwavering willpower to bring down his sworn enemy. He fought hard; pushing his body until he began to feel sick, until he felt like he would collapse. The emperor of the northern empire finally found his advantage point when he caught on to his ex-commanders diminishing stamina. He took it to his personal advantage and struck a lucky blow. His smile grew wider than it had been in years, as he thrusted his blade and felt it rip through flesh and dig into human meat.
Grayson quickly pushed his feet against the ground, screaming as the tip of his enemy's blade pierced through the left side of his abdomen. A sharp pain consumed his body, the feeling of metal inside of his body frightening and almost sickening. As he jumped back, the blade was not allowed to travel all the way through his body, but it was deep enough to cause sever damage to his internal body. Did it hit any vital organs? Was it possible it could cause him to bleed out? Those thoughts ran through his mind so fast that he had barely noticed that had asked himself silently in his head.
He fell to his knees, holding his arm over the wound in reaction to the intense pain. His face became distort with withering agony. His tear filled emerald green eyes opened to gaze at the ground. The world was spinning and blurring, the noise from battles beginning to grow muffled and distant as his ears rung even louder. He was breathing heavily, watching as his blood dripped onto the ground.

I can't get up...I'm too exhausted... F**k!

The blonde looked up, everything seeming to sway and the noise barely audible in his ears. The emperor looked down at him, smiling as he let out a sharp laugh. He looked down at the ex-commander, no trace of sympathy in his hazel eyes. His venomous smile was bright with light shining off of his bright white teeth.

"I've waited so long for this, Grayson!" He guffawed, raising up one of his two swords in hand. "Allow me to reunite you with your family! I'm sure they miss you so much!"

He raised it high into the air, sunlight reflecting off of the blade despite the clouds blocking out the sun's rays of light. His blood was trailing down the metal, coating the silver iron in red. The thin blade shook in the air, his hands trembling in anticipation to finally bring the traitor to his demise.

  "So long, traitor!"

Grayson closed his eyes and turned his head as the first blade in his left hand came down to strike.  There was a sudden strange feeling that struck him, not anything like new agony or numbness like he had expected in death. He could still hear and still feel, therefore he concluded that he was still alive.
That final blow was taking too long to come down. Something must have stopped him from bring down the killing strike.
Grayson's eyes cracked open, before opening as wide as they could with shock and dread overcoming his bleeding being. His blood ran cold and the world seemed to slow down around him. Standing between Grayson and his death, was the familiar lavender haired man in a penguin hat. A scream rose up in the blonde's throat, but it never left his throat.
Luke held up his sword to block the emperor's attack and protect his dearest friend, but everything went wrong. Instead of the emperor's blade colliding with his own, it moved off to the side, momentarily grinding against his and setting off sparks. The blade came down in a unforeseen haste, and in an instant and little warning, and unbelievably intense pain ripped through his arm, just above the armor on his wrist.
Clothing and skin ripped, muscle tore, and bone snapped in half. Luke did not even have time to scream in suffering as the blade traveled completely through the upper part of his right arm, his hand severing from the rest of his body. Blood sprayed from his veins, the severed limb falling to the ground. His pupils constricted as pure pain filled his body.
Before he could do anything and recover, the emperor's other sword drove itself into his body, penetrating from an area on the lower left side of his torso that his armor had failed to protect. The blade emerged from the other side of his back, some specks of his blood flying onto Grayson sitting behind him. Luke remained paralyzed by shock and pain, not making a movement nor a sound. The only noise that left him were choked up breaths of air before red liquid slowly rose up in his throat.
As the emperor with drew his sword, his venomous smile and piercing eyes stared in delight as Luke fell over with death in his wake. His smile faded and ears perked up as a loud, threatening sound grew louder and louder within his ears. An p***ed off Enderman...

"F**ker!!" Drake shouted at the top of his lungs as he charged at the emperor with his blade poised to strike.

The emperor turned his head and gasped as the hybrid ran at a blurring speed towards him. He had just watched his friends get hurt. Watched one of them possibly getting murdered before his eyes. His eyes showed fury grater than the hybrid had even had within his mismatched eyes, his blood boiling inside of his veins. Tears began to leave Drake's eyes, screams of pure rage roared from the back of his throat.
He swung, his blade clashing against the emperor's blade with such force that sparks were ignited between the iron and diamond material. The emperor's heels dug into the soil as he was pushed back from the force. Drake brandished his sword in a fit of rage, forcing the abomination of a man to back away from Grayson and Luke as the two brawled.
Grayson removed his hand from his deep wound and scampered to Luke's trembling side as he laid in the ground in a pool of his own blood. His eyes rested on the stub remaining of his arm, his bone visible. The gaping wound on his torso released an alarming amount of crimson liquid from the assassin's body. His orange and blue eyes looked at him, his orbs dim and reflecting his agony.

"L-L-Luke..?" The blonde's voice rattled, tears beginning to stream from his eyes.

His trembling arm rose up, pulling his body onto his lap. The assassin coughed as gasped for air, tears of pain continuing to slip from underneath his eyelids. He was whimpering in immense pain, his body unable to stay still. Blood continued to leave his body.

"M-m-mask..." He stuttered before coughing.

Grayson swallowed a lump in his throat and bit his tongue as tears dripped from his eyes and rolled down his cheeks onto the assassin's dying body. He moved his hand up and pulled down Luke's dark mask, revealing his pale lips with blood beginning to roll down his chin as he coughed again. His skin was so pale, and somehow still continuing to grow paler as blood drained from his body.

"G-Grayson..." He smiled but pain still filled his eyes. "Thank you...f-for everything." Another tear slipped from his eye.

Grayson did not say anything. He did not really know how to react to this. His friend was dying right in front of him; right in his arms. And yes, a friend, or at least a frenemy at that. Grayson's fist clenched underneath Luke, his fingers digging into the assassin's skin, but Luke did not care. He continued on, wanting to tell Grayson what was on his mind before his soul slipped from the world.

"These past few days...have been the b-best I've had s-since that night... That was the worst choice I could ever make... I'm so s-sorry..." Another tear left his orange eye.

"... I understand if you never forgive m-me... I can't f-forgive m-myself...! I'll pay for it soon..."

Grayson gritted his teeth and growled. This couldn't be happening... This couldn't be happening! He would have thought that if anyone on his team were to die, he actually believed that Luke's death would be the most bearable. He never expected that he would be shedding tears. He never imagined that he would feel this intense sorrow. He shook his head, trying to deny in his head that Luke was drawing his final breaths, but he couldn't shake the truth.

"Don't say that!" Grayson shouted, before choking on a sob.

Luke chuckled, even more tears slipping from his eyes. He moved his right arm, but then recalled that his right hand was now gone. Then he moved his left arm, slowly raising his shaking limb up to his head. His gloved fingers took a hold of his yarn knitted penguin hat, slowly pulling it off of his head. His lavender hair fluffed out, soft and some strands sticking up from static. He held it up, waiting for Grayson to take it.
Grayson lifted up his and, letting his friend place that hat onto his palm. His hand gripped it so tight that his forearm trembling even more violently than it already had been. He looked at the hat with wide eyes, then looked back at Luke, sniffing mucus that leaked from his nose.

"Collin gave me that... R-Rem-member? At the ar-arctic?"

Grayson closed his eyes and nodded, sniffing again before looking back to Luke. "Y-yeah. How could I forget? I still can't believe you still k-kept it."

"Take care of it... I understand if you d-don't w-want to. Even after all of these years... I clung to that. It was the only thing that remained me of my past, of who I once was." He choked on a sob, hissing as the pain in his body continued to stir.

"I'm a horrible person... a horrible fr-friend...b-but you... I couldn't ask for a better friend. Take care of the others. I know you'll p-protect them...that you will save D-Drake. I know that you will. Thank you for letting me help you...e-even for a short while. I'm glad that we got to be friends...at least for awhile again."

Grayson still remained frozen, choking when he attempted to speak. A tear dropped onto Luke's pale cheek, rolling down his skin and was beginning to lose body temperature with the more blood that he lost. Luke closed his eyes, his smile remaining as tears streamed down his face.

"Th-thank you for being my friend. For letting me stay despite that night. Dying for you... I-I can't think of a better way to have it all e-end... If I can, I'll tell Clara...that you love her! Thank you..."

With that he drew one last, long cold breath. His body stopped shaking as the fog ceased to rise from his mouth. On last frozen tear left from his eye. Grayson held him closer, a small gasp leaving his mouth. He felt as Luke stopped breathing. He felt as he stopped shaking in his arms and heard the dreaded silence that left his body. Luke's body went limp completely in his arm, his heart seizing to beat...