Late, but better than nothing. :b I had really bad writers block most of the time when I was supposed to working on this, but I think most of it came out okay.
The picture up above was made by Note_Block5. All of the thanks to you, and happy birthday my dear friend (although it will probably be the next day when you read this)!
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Grayson's point of view-

Time felt frozen. The world felt distant and almost as if nothing was going on around me. Everything just seemed to stop in that moment when he grew completely still. The sounds going on around me became distant as I lost focus on my surroundings, my eyes remaining locked the corpse in my arms. The stench of death filled the battle field, but the same aroma had yet to rise from the lifeless body I held closely. His unbreathing body was still warm, but growing cold ever so slowly. I continued to have trouble wrapping my head around everything that was going on.

  "L-Luke?" I choked out, a piece of my mind trying to convince myself that he would open his eyes, but I knew all too well that he would never do so again.

My tears streamed down my cheeks, the liquid burning my cheeks more than they already burned, almost steaming against my pale skin. All I did was stare blankly at Luke's dead body, disbelief continuing to rattle through my being. For a moment, I was forgetting to breathe, adding to the pain in my chest and the water in my eyes. I clawed at his body as I sobbed, choking as my throat closed up and my shaking limbs began to ache and lock in place.
Another one of my tears fell onto his pale face, rolling down with the rest of them. His blood was seeping onto my lap as his body rested motionless on top of it. The blood was getting underneath my fingernails and coated my fingers and palms. Some of the red stained his hat but I retracted it to keep it from being stained in red any more than it already had been.

"C'mon, b-buddy... Wake up!" I tried shaking him, but to no avail. His condition did not change. I did not really expect it too.

I choked as I tried to get oxygen into my lungs, my sorrowful tears streaming down.
I should not be crying for this. I should not care about him. I should not care that he's dead. He got my family killed and turned me in as a criminal! He put me through so much agony that I could go as far as to call it torment. I have wanted him gone for so long, but... he died to save me. After he betrayed me, I never thought he'd ever do anything like that.
I'm not supposed to care, but I do! I do care that he's dead! And I'm not finding pleasure in it like I thought I would. All I feel is anguish and hatred and rage.
After everything we've been through all these years, he was finally gone. Sure, I loathed him with my entire being just days ago but now... I don't think he was that bad. Yeah, what he did in the past was awful and unjustifiable, but he changed for the better. He gave up his life for us... I guess I could not make myself hate him anymore. I had to stop trying to convince myself that I had no place for him in my friendships.

"It doesn't matter if I die. I deserved death long ago." I heard his voice in my head, the memories of him saying that to me actually managed to cause my eyes to tear up more as I sobbed harder.

For a moment I looked down at the ground where his severed hand laid. I tried not to gag, but my crying took it's toll. My gaze settled on the hat in my grasp, the snow drifting down and getting stuck on the soft, yarn material. I couldn't help but rub my thumb against it to try and feel more of its texture, but my fingers were becoming numb from the freezing cold.
My eyes once again rested on his body, dead but a smile on his stiff face. Ha... At least he died happy. At least he was able to have the closure that we had become friends again. A weak chuckle left from my throat. Friends? It's been along time since I could stand calling him that.
I do not forgive him. I can't forgive him but... I could at least try to ease some of this hatred in my heart that I wish I did not have; try to give myself some peace of mind with my family's death. I sniffed and choked, my tears continuing to fill my eyes and drift down my cheeks. No. I will not get my peace of mind until they tyrant is killed in the most painful way possible!
My fist clenched, my hatred and rage beginning to overcome me and drown out every other sense in my being. I screamed into the sky, my sorrow and fury mixing and overflowing until I could no longer contain myself. My trembling hand slowly reached out, grasping the handle to my sword that I had dropped mere minutes ago. My teeth gritted against each other, and the yearning for retribution burned furiously in my heart.
In my other hand, I held onto the little penguin hat until my fingernails hurt my palm even from behind the yarn and my glove. Out of the corner of my eye, I glared with a vicious growl rising in my throat as my eyes rested on Drake and that b***ard royal as they both drew each other's blood.
My body was weak and every part of me seemed to scream for rest, but I had grown used to those cries long ago. The noises around me began to grow louder, but I mainly focused on the sounds coming from Drake and the emperor. I watched with my tear filled eyes as my best friend was able to slash wounds onto the emperor's exposed skin, with a fury raging on in his own teary eyes. The conflict was not one sided; the emperor striking and injuring the hybrid even more than the hybrid was hurting the king. Drake's entire body was drenched in his own blood and every time they got some distance between each other, Drake's body never stood still.
I could see that he was brandishing his blade, too blinded with rage to care about where he struck or to care about where the emperor struck him. He did not even seem to acknowledge the pain. In fact, his gaze was not just filled with fury and hatred, but of something that sent a shiver down my spine. He had that familiar look of insanity in his face and seemed to find immense pleasure in inflicting pain on his opponent. I would find pleasure in hurting that mother f**ker too...
Once again my eyes rested on the hat in my hand. My blood ran cold and my chest ached from my thumping heart. I sniffed up mucus and closed my sore eyes as I slowly put the hat into my satchel. If Luke wanted me to keep it, then so be it. Despite that it will bring a mixture of overwhelming, distasteful memories...it will bring back some good ones too. Like the rings I am still in possession of from the day Clara and I were wed, Luke's hat will be another reminder of what I'm fighting for; of what I'm fighting to avenge.
When my eyes opened again, they rested on my friend's bleeding corpse, and the pool of blood around the body and myself. I gently set Luke's body onto the snow covered and frosted grass, slowly standing on my wobbly legs. My eyes could not rip away from him, my vision blurred by tears.
It was so hard to believe that after everything that we have been through together for literally as far back as I can remember, that the day had finally come where our long, complicated friend-enemy relationship came to an end. Well, it had already came to an end long ago but now it truly was over and had no chance of resurrection. I miss those good times we had together. I miss those times when he were almost like family. I'll try to forget the bad times and...focus on the good.
I will avenge him...I will avenge Clara... I will avenge R.J, and I will protect everyone who I have left on this earth! I am not afraid of death. The only thing I fear is not being there for my friends and not being there for Drake when he needs me. No matter what, as long as I live, I will not let anyone take my family from me again! My friends are my family, and I refuse to lose anyone else I care about! Today...this conflict ends!

...
Third person point of view-

Drake held his own, numbness once again beginning to spread throughout his body, rendering him unable to feel just how seriously he was putting himself at risk; unable to feel the many wounds that were being rapidly slashed onto his body. The voices in his head screamed, like a thousand people whispering and screaming as loud as they could in his ears. The only things he could occasionally make out was Luke's name and the words "too late".
One, two more slashes made their way across his hip and the other on his upper legs. His legs felt like twigs underneath his body, feeling as if they would give out underneath himself but the rage and adrenaline kept him standing. The hybrid's attacks were flailing wildly, only by a lucky chance was he actually able to strike his opponent on the legs or arms. Even with the king's shield, he found very slim advantages.
Another slash made it's way across the left side of his head, stretching from his eyebrow to the top of his scalp. The hybrid growled, his seething rage flaring in his mis-colored orbs. Another thrust his opponent made sent the opposing blade to cut into his side, then he ducked low and pushed himself backwards as the other blade swung at him. The blade came straight down, but missed their target as he once again swiftly stepped back and jumped to the side.
The hybrid made another swing when he was lower to the ground, the tip of his blade slicing a part of the emperor's flesh before it moved over the leather of his armor. The blood seeped from the wound and bled into his fine clothing. A fire was burning in the emperor's hazel eyes, and a growl of anger vibrated in the back of his throat. With a cry, the emperor once again thrusted one blade at his opponent while the other came to strike.
Drake winced and began backing up once more, one blade cutting deep into his shoulder while the other dug into the flesh of his left arm just above his elbow. The sound like a wild Enderman continued to screech from the back of his throat, his pupil constricted in hatred and disgust. He held up his weapon and deflected yet another blow, but was hit by the other.
Despite the adrenaline running through his veins, he could feel the fatigue beginning to come into affect, his illness and pushing his physical limits starting to come into play and becoming heavy on his limbs. He knew that he was slowing down, the world blurring and morphing before his eyes. He stumbled before another and another gash was inflicted upon his torso, letting red liquid seep from his body and drip and splatter onto his surroundings.

  "If you make it out of this alive..." The emperor's tongue clicked. "I'll cut off more than just an ear of yours! I'll make you regret ever leaving that cell!"

The Mage held up his blade and deflected another attempt to strike. He tried to parry his attack with his own blade. He tried to keep a safe distance between himself and his deadly opponent, knowing that the emperor could easily break down his defense in one swift move. Their blades clashed as his second iron sword slammed into Drake's diamond blade and set off sparks. The hybrid did not have much time to react before the tip of the blade in the emperor's right hand came at him, piercing into his side.
Drake screamed and pushed his feet against the ground as he jumped back. He held up his blade, almost instantly stopping an attack. The emperor's blade was close to his face, the sharp iron side nearly able to rip the flesh on his nose.
The hybrid didn't expect it when the emperor jumped back, almost as if he was retreating. But that was only false hope.
They both stood still, both wanting to lash out but they needed to catch their breath. While Drake tried to regain strength and energy, the emperor waited for Drake to make the first move. He hybrid held his gloved hand over the wound on his side, but quickly disregarded acknowledgment of the injured. Drake's eye was twitching, before the twitching moved down to arm and caused strange spasms in that one limb. It was not too noticeable, but just enough to make the emperor tilt his head in confusion.

  "What? Scared?" Drake hissed through his teeth that felt as if they were vibrating. His pale lips perked up, showing some of his sharp white yet bloody teeth. His neck twitched, bringing a small pain into his nerves.

The emperor chuckled, before continuing to breath heavily. "I should be asking you that. Besides, I have nothing to fear."

  "Well, don't be to sure about that. I'll make you beg for mercy. You will pay for the h**l you've put Grayson and I through! That you have put all of us through! Luke's death...I refuse to let it be in vain!"

Drake took his stance, holding his sword in front of himself. His shaking hands held the hold firmly, as he took in deep breaths and tried to focus. The voices in his head made it increasingly difficult, not to mention that his terrible eyesight was beginning to act up. His vision was becoming red around the edges, but perhaps those were just his tears mixing with blood. He did not know, nor did he care.
He saw a black mist make it's way behind the emperor, then the voices grew louder as he swayed on his weak legs.
A smile grew on his face, one that was wide and wicked. A smile that he never had before his mind was broken. Laughter escaped from his mouth, and pain rose in his chest, not caused by strain from the battle. The Ender particles that gracefully floated around him began to swirl more furiously. Drake gritted his teeth, his nose bleeding as he tried to hold back a sudden mana spike within him that tried to be released.

  It doesn't matter.

  Kill him with your magic. Who cares if you die?

  No one will miss you anyway.

Drake shook his head, recovering just in time for the emperor to charge, his patience meeting it's end. The hybrid held up his blade and the rampage continued. Block after block and even more strikes after strikes came barreling down onto the hybrid, and he struck the emperor in rage and desperation. He was moving back and being pushed, the voices and ringing in his ears drowning out his capability of hearing any other small sound. His eyes shot open wide, feeling the heel of one of his boots touch something hard.
His head turned, finding himself cornered on the mountain side, with a large boulder behind himself. Before his head could turn to face his opponent yet again, a sharp, incredible pain shot of it his being. He let out a loud scream of agony as one of the emperor's blades came into contact with his right shoulder, the iron ripping his skin and muscles, feeling as if the blood covered iron was touching the bone.
He looked out of the corner of his eyes, his wide pain filled and teary eyes staring at the emperor in fury and abomination. The emperor laughed while he let a wide smile creep across his cheeks, pulling out his bloody blade from the hybrid's limb. Drake spit out blood as he coughed, some of the red liquid splattering onto the emperor's already blood covered face.

  I want to kill him... I want to kill... I want to die... The thoughts sounded like his own, but with all of the voices rambling on, he could not really tell which thoughts were truly his anymore.

Pain suddenly filled his chest, his eyes steadily watching as the emperor sheathed one blade behind his back. He felt the magic course down his arm, slower that it usually did. He coughed and choked, agony filling his chest until he could no longer breathe. His head pounded, the aching pain growing and becoming stronger and more excruciatingly painful. Blood leaked from his nose and ran from his lip.

  Weak

  Nothing

Murderer

  Waste of space

  You could have saved them...

  You are such a failure.

Drake's mismatched eyes looked up, and gazed over the emperor's shoulder. Off in the distance, he could see the blurry image of Grayson sitting on the grass, and the blurred form of Luke's body on his lap. A gasp left Drake's throat, complete shock filled his entire being. This could not be happening!
He felt the assassin's life force slip. He felt as Luke died, and felt it vanish quickly.
The rage in Drake's eyes were replaced by shock and horror. No. No. No. No. No! No! No! No! No! Disbelief clouded his mind. It couldn't be possible. Luke could not be dead! He refused to believe it! This is just another nightmare!

"You let us down." Sylvia's light voice echoed past the deep voices.

Drake's eyes released tears of sorrow upon hearing her voice. He had taken her life. Stripped her away from her family and broke her husband's and daughter's hearts. He wanted to plunge his ears and shut it out, but in his current situation, he could not take that move. Besides, how could he block out a noise coming from his own head?

  "You could have done something!" Luke's disembodied voice was the next to call out.

Drake bit his lip, the tears of sorrow and pain rolling down his face and dripping into his mouth. His tongue was covered in the familiar salty taste of tears and the bitter taste of his own blood. He could have saved Luke. He could have went and helped Grayson before the lavender made that sacrifice. Something... there had to have been something he could have done! But it was too late...

  "You can't do anything right. I trusted you... You care more about yourself than me. I hate you!"

Armen's voice spoke softly, yet there was venom behind his words. Drake didn't even know if it was them, and he did not care at that moment. Dread overcame his emotions, the voices lowering in tone, but continued hissing their words of hate. He once again felt his hopes waver, his blade slipping from his fingers as dread paralyzed his body. The unstable magic swirling around his arm slowed then faded, almost as if he was actually in control of it.
The emperor's hand suddenly shot up to his neck, his gloved fingers wrapping around and squeezing tightly around Drake's throat with all of his might. Drake tried to scream, but all that came out was a strange noise. The Enderman noise stopped. His hands clawed at the emperor's flesh as he kicked and squirmed. Already he was becoming light headed. Drake wondered why the human had not just stabbed him, but then remembered that out of all of his comrades, the emperor wanted him alive the most.
Suddenly, before he lost consciousness, the emperor swung his arm that held the hybrid downward. Drake yelled as his head slammed against the stone behind himself, a large gash forming and his skin tearing, allowing it to bleed. His eyes were closed, and relaxed as his brain hit his skull and he passed out cold. The emperor released his neck, letting Drake's body fall limp to the ground. The hybrid gasped to regain his breath even in his unconscious state.

  "I'll deal with you later." The emperor hissed.

A sudden battle cry rang out from behind him, causing his ears to perk up. He let out a growl, recognizing the cry of rage to belong to that of his ex-commander. He held up his blade, then turned around just in time for Grayson's purple sword to collide into his own weapon. The man scowled, but he adored the pain in Grayson's bright emerald eyes that looked to have a blaze within them, filled with wrath.

  "You killed him! You killed Luke, you filthy b***ard!" Grayson screamed, before he began swinging his blade.

The emperor laughed, before swiftly moving to the side. Grayson moved forward as the mass keeping him a bay parted, causing the force of his attack to be used on the boulder that was now in front of him. The tip of his blade scraped against the stone, nearly cutting into Drake's limp body and ignited bright sparks. As much as Grayson wanted to stay by his friend's side, he had to leave Drake and fight the emperor. He had to push the man away from him and fight until one of them died.
He screamed as the emperor's blade slashed his back, but he was able to swiftly move before nearly getting cut in half. He jumped and lunged at the same time, only for his attack to be ultimately blocked by the emperor's shield. With all of the blonde's might, wil, and remaining strength, he fought more furiously than he ever had before. He pushed his body, and allowed rage to overtake him.
He knew that being enraged in battle would put him at a great disadvantage, but that no longer mattered to the ex-commander. The only thing that he was focused on was the thing that Drake and Mia had taken his mind off of when they helped him be at peace. The only thing that ravaged through his thoughts and heart were the one thing that tore his life apart. Vengeance.

...
Mia's point of view-

I held up my defense, not knowing how much more I could take. I did not have military training or magic like the others, making me feel like I was at a disadvantage. I retaliated every attack that was thrown at me, desperate to fight and stay alive. My teeth clenched as a thin slash was made across my chest, the injury more painful considering that it was inflicted on my breast, but luckily I came to the assumption that it was nothing too serious.
I swung my sword, but failed in inflicted a critical hit. As I was about to swing again, another mercenary charged at me and swung at me with brunt force. I backed up and blocked just in time, but the other mercenary recovered and attempted to strike me down.
He swung sideways, the blade zipping to the right. I let out a pain filled scream as the blade cut deep into my side. The pain shot throughout my body, my flesh stinging like poison in my veins. I hissed then jumped back as I swung. My blade traveled across on of the men's chest, then I pushed it forward and drove it into his flesh. The other man swung at me, and as I tried to dodge, my foot slipped as the muddy ground beneath me gave way.
I fell with a grunt, my grip on my sword loosening but remaining. My vision blurred and my mouth and throat were dry. I gasped for breath as I sat there, my trembling hand tightening around the handle of my sword before I held it up. I prepared to block and attack as I began to push myself up, but no attack was made.
A gasp escaped from my lips as the tip of a sharp iron blade pierced through his forehead. The mercenary's arms went limp and fell to his sides as his sword slipped from his fingers, dying instantly.
His body fell over, revealing Lalea's gasping and bloody form behind where he stood. She looked injured, as I was sure that we all were. Her hood cast an ominous shadow on her face, hiding some blood that was running down her chin from a cut on her lip. Her face was sweating, as was my own.

  "Thank you" I said, taking her hand as she held it out.

She pulled me up to my feet, leaving me stumbling before I regain balance. I dusted myself off, inspecting my injuries. Some were bad, especially the one on my side but we no longer had any health potions. I hissed again and held my hand over the wound.

She smiled, before bending down and began searching through the dead men's backpacks. "It's no problem. I lost the others, so we should probably find them. I just have an awful feeling that something bad happened."

She let out a sigh of disappointment, not finding anything of use. She stood back up, asking if I was okay. I smiled through my pain and assured her that I was fine, but added that everything did hurt. She smiled for a moment, before she started waking past me. I followed, keeping my sword ready for another hand to hand battle. We both stayed on our toes, staying cautious for any other mercenaries that were about.

To ease some of the tension while we were yet to engage in another battle, I decided to have a brief conversation. "You just want to find Drake, don't you?"

She blushed. "I care about the others just as much as Drake!"

I couldn't help but giggle and roll my eyes. "Just as much? Yeah right, you love him!"

Lalea rubbed her arm as she gave out a weak laugh. She looked away as her cheeks grew flushed. "Fine! I admit it...Why can't he see that, yet everyone else apparently can?"

I looked away, taking in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. "Well... If he does love you back, it is possible that with everything that has been happening to him, he's either too focused on that to think about romance, or he just doesn't know how to react."

I continued from there, swallowing a lump in my throat from what I was about to say. "Maybe he is scared that he will lose full control and...he doesn't want to break your heart if he ever does."

She looked back at me with bright, sorrowful blue eyes. A smile grew on her face, but quickly faded away. I knew that she did not like to think about Drake losing control. The look in her eyes was showing that she was considering the idea, but I could see her eyes tearing up.

  "... I don't want to lose him." She whispered, as if she lost her voice. "I want to tell him but... When? When will the time be right?"

Once again, I put a smile on my face. "There is always a right time to tell people how you feel, Lalea. Just do it before he...before he possibly loses himself."

It brought a pain in my chest to even mention the possibilities of my friend's fate.  My eyes were tearing up at the thought of Drake losing control of his own body permanently. Lalea opened her mouth, but quickly shut it closed. I noticed that she looked away, and seemed almost as if she knew something that I did not. I shrugged it off, and let my mind wander to focus on our task before hand.

Xavier's point of view-

It felt so much better fighting in combat with an actual sword instead of those knives I had previously been using. With scars and burns from the flames of exploding cannonballs, I continued to fight on. I never thought it possible for a few idiots like us to fight off the northern imperial army all on our own. That was something that no one thought possible, not until at least. Sure, most of the army was probably still scattered about and most were dead from last night's massacre, but that did not make this any less of a challenge. My strength and wellbeing were wavering, and occasionally I would get severely injured at moments when I nearly passed out.
For some sick reason, I felt strange sense of joy in shedding blood. Sure I usually had a sick humor, but did I always find this pleasure in killing? Maybe it was because of my knowledge that I was protecting the people I cared about, or of knowing that I was fighting for the right side. Yet another piece of myself felt as if it was just steam that I was blowing off from the hatred and anger that I had balled up inside of myself since my wife was murdered.
I spun with my blade held out, taking out two almost simultaneously. I couldn't help but laugh despite that it still brought pain into my throat. At least it was not all the way slit, over wise I would have died in a lot of pain earlier. I was able to take out one more mercenary before a sharp pain shot up in my body, mainly in my back. I spun around to block the mercenary's next attack after he managed to injure me.
My teeth gritted against each other as I held him at bay. Swiftly I pulled out a knife and thrusted it into his chest. He gasped with teary wide eyes as the blade went into his heart. He coughed up blood as his arms fell and he collapsed dead to the ground. I looked around as I examined the battle field, searching for my friends, until I spotted one of my comrades in peril.
It was Endy, holding her own against three mercenaries. I was surprised that I even remembered her name, considering that I was completely out of it when we met her due to my concussion. Admittedly, she was not half bad at hand to hand combat like I thought she would be.
Her hood fell from her head, letting her shining black hair flow behind her, with stands draping over her shoulders. Her eyes, one darker than the other from one having blindness, shined with pain, anger, will and determination to survive. She was injured here and there, but how could we make it out of this without getting hurt?
She killed one of the three in a swift uppercut made from her blade, leaving two to remain. She killed the next easily as well. I was going to leave her be, thinking that she did not need my assistance, so I turned and readied myself to sprint to locate a new lone opponent.
That was until I heard a cry sounding as if it came from a close by female. I spun around in my heels, holding my sword up, poised to strike.
My eyes widened and a small gasp rose up in my throat as I witnessed Endy losing her sword and the remaining mercenary's body slam into her's to make her lose her footing. She slipped and fell, crying out as her arm hit a large rock beneath her. The cry was accompanied with a loud, unsettling and rattling cracking noise. I cringed at the sound alone, growling in anger at the one who injured my comrade.

"Endy!" Was all I found myself able to do, or at least call out for a moment.

He stood over her, lifting up his foot and brought it down, stomping on her injured arm. She screamed in agony, then I snapped. I charged at full speed, letting out a battle cry. He turned around upon hearing me, but he was fortunately too late be able to hold up his defence. My iron blade sliced completely through the side of his chest, traveling horizontally through his body. The sound of bone snapping filled the air. I would have cut him in half if it was not for ribs and his spine blocking the way.
I kicked his abdomen, ripping my blade out of his flesh. His body fell over, his cut vital arteries leading him to bleed out at a fast rate and die in a matter of seconds.
My attention turned to Endy as she sat there, tears streaming down her face, gasping and sobbing in agony. Already I knew that her arm was not in a normal position. Her forearm did not bend in a natural way, sending a shiver down my spine as I imagined how much pain she was in. I kneeled down and gently touched it to be sure that it was broken, and her whimpers increase in volume was all the confirmation I needed.

"It's broken." I said, a slight panic setting in for both of us. "Don't worry, it will be okay."

I got up before she said a word, going around her and the body of my most recent kill. I flipped his corpse over so his back was to me, and I began cutting his bloody coat with my sword. Once I was done, I went back to Endy's side and got onto my knees to help her.

"W-what are y-you...? Gross!" She managed to speak, pain audible in her tone.

I rolled my eyes, moving her broken arm which caused her to yelp in pain. She hiccuped, a few of her tears landing on my arms. As I began tying a sling around her neck to support her arm, I spoke. Stress was setting in.

"Don't worry about it, las. It's either this or let your arm hang and get worse. Would you rather want that?"

I finished, pulling away. It surprised me when she let out a weak chuckle. "No! Have you always b-been that much of a s-smart a**?"

I laughed, sheathing my sword before helping her up. I took her hands and gently pulled her to her feet. "Kinda."

After she was up, I picked up her sword and handed it to her. Unfortunately it was her right arm that was broken, and I had doubts that she would be as good at combat without her dominant arm. She took it, looking as if she was uncomfortable and not used to holding it with her left hand.

"I'll stay by you, alright? I don't want you to get hurt anymore and damage your arm more. I'll protect you." I stated, once again drawing my blade.

She nodded, her pale cheeks gaining some color. "Th-Thank you...Xavier."

I took in a deep breath and released it before turning around. I stayed on my toes, looking around and searching for any oncoming attackers. What my eyes finally rested on was a familiar figure on the ground in the distance. It was where Luke had run off to earlier. It was next to a few boulders, a pool of dark red surrounding the figure.
My eyes grew as a gasp escaped from me, my heart thumping hastily to the point where it ached. It was Luke...in a pool of his own blood. He was not moving, his body soaked in crimson. No. He couldn't be... Was he..?

"Luke!" I screamed, running as fast as I to his limp side.

My entire focus was on my friend. One I made it next to him, I fell to my padded knees and put my hands on his chest to shake him, hopeful that he would wake up. His face was too pale for comfort, yet his lips were up in tiny smile. Tears were staining his cheeks, but no new tears left from underneath his eyelids. His skin was also cold, colder than it should have been, even with the freezing temperatures.

"L-Luke? Get up...! Lucas!"

When his eyes did not open, my eyes began to fill and release tears as dread consumed my being. My gaze moved down to find the wound, and there I saw a massive gash on the side of his abdomen, letting out a fatal amount of blood. I peered over it and poked at it, seeing that it went straight through his body. My throat close up, pain rising in my chest as sorrow began overwhelming my emotions.
My face started to get warmer and mucus leaked from my nose. I sniffed, wheezing for breath with a salty taste of tears in my mouth as they dripped down my lip. No. Please no! He can not be dead! I can not lose my best friend after losing my wife. I can't take that heartache! Endy sat down next to me, her hand patting my back, but I ignored her presence.
I placed my head onto his chest and sobbed. I couldn't believe it. Everyone that I cared about was dying! My wife, my friends... What next, my daughter too?! My mouth grew dry, my body trembling and eyes becoming sore. The gashes on my head began aching and my head pounding, but I paid no attention to it. He was my only friend... He was like a brother to me, and now he was gone!
My mind was clouded and the fights going on around us disappeared. My despair and emotional agony overtook me, a familiar aching that I had felt so many times before. If there is a God, then why does he hate me so much?! Why do I have to keep feeling this hurt? My tears rolled down his bloody iron chest plate, the tears of remorse mixing with the crimson hue of suffering and death.

...
Drake's point of view-

My eyes fluttered open, my eyes instantly tearing up from the splitting migraine that plagued the inside of my skull. It was possible that I sustained a concussion, but I did not give a d*mb. The condescending whispers returned to pester my ears, whispering, and whispering, and whispering, and whispering!! I wanted to claw at my head and scream, but I laid there completely still, my entire body in pain. My breathing was slow and warm, my lungs aching and body shivering violently. While I felt incredible pain, small parts of my body like my fingers felt frozen or numb.
My vision was a mess, blurry and white. Occasionally it would flash to purple or red, but I was still able to make out figures. My gaze rested on where Luke was, his body still motionless on the ground but now Grayson seemed to be gone. I did not see a blur of his blonde hair, but I did see white, black, purple and brown on two new figures by the assassin's side. Endy and Xavier.
I pushed myself up with the little strength I had, getting onto my knees as I began to crawl towards them. Even the slightest movement I made sent a wave of pain across my body, but I bit my lip and held in my whimpering. My tears fell from my eyes and dripped off of my cheeks, a trail of blood being left behind me as I made my way across the snow layered grass.
His life force...why can I still feel it now when I felt it slip away only a moment ago? Something did not feel right about it, but perhaps it was just Herobrine messing with me like he always f***ing does. I have not been able to rely on my own senses for a very long time now. Despite that I knew that something was up, I continued desperately crawling to Luke's body.

You can save him.

There is a chance.

Images flashed in front of my eyes, showing a room filled with fire and red stone like the kind that filled the Nether. My body was so weak, my arms giving out underneath me and causing me to fall onto my elbows. I looked up slowly, my eyes once again locking onto the corpse of the assassin.

Give him your life force. It is not your own life matters. You want to save him, don't you?

I closed my eyes tight, hissing as I bit my lip. It kept repeating over and over again, temptation eating at the remainder of my mind that clung to sanity. Perhaps I should. My friends are more important than me. It's not like I'm going to live much longer anyway. The others will forget about me in days, maybe even be glad that I'm gone. So what if Herobrine controls my corpse? It's inevitable. Nothing matters.
My hand slowly lifted up as I stood on my quivering legs. As I was doing so, I started coughing and vomiting blood but it did not stop me from getting to my feet. My eyes never broke away from my friend. I hardly noticed that I began giggling until more blood spilled from my mouth. I can save him! I'll bring him back!
My arm glowed in white light that occasionally had sparks of blue and purple. I felt blood leaving my nose, and rising in my throat to roll down from my lips. The pain in my head and chest kept rising until I felt like screaming, but I bit my lip and held it back. I prepared to send my life force to Luke to revive him, taking in a deep breath. So I guess this is it. About time I finally died...

  I'm sorry Grayson... Mia... Lalea... I need to save him. You'll be better off without me anyway.

Before I was able to shoot out what little life force I had, a blue of dark blue came in front of me, taking a hold of my arms and stopping me. The light around my hand faded as Lalea distracted me from my task. I looked into her eyes, seeing her tears escape and drip down her flush cheeks. She was covered in blood from injuries, but none tarnished her complexion. She must have sensed what I was about to do. Her grip on my arm was tight and her face distorted with panic.

  "Drake, don't!"

"Move it! I need to save him!" I screamed at her, which normally would have filled me with guilt and regret, but not now.

I tried to get her off of me, pushing my way past her. She grabbed my arm once again as she now stood behind me, and I could hear her lightly sob. "He's gone, Drake! He's gone... It's too late."

I growled, my eyes shutting tight as I pulled my arm out of her grasp once again. The voices in my head ceased to keep quiet for the smallest moments, rambling on and on. My head was getting worse by the second. My eyes opened, tears streaming down my aching and burning cheeks. My gaze rested on the ground, then shifted to Luke up ahead.
I need to save him. I have no reason to keep fighting on, or at least any reasons that are worth putting my friends in danger. Either way, we all lose. What's the point? I can not take it anymore! The torment, the pain, the sorrow and the guilt eating me away... I can not do it anymore. I can't!! I can't keep living like this with the constant suffering! I need it to end already, please! I just want this pain to stop! Just let me f***ing die already!
Why do they keep trying to help me when I am already too far gone?! Insane, broken... why do they care about me? Do they really care at all, or is it all a lie?! I don't want to hurt them anymore... I am tried of lashing out at them. I'm tired of them becoming worried and stressed over my wellbeing. I'm tired of being terrified every moment that the next time I close my eyes, they will open to see everyone I love dead.
Then it began happening; the flashing of images that depicted my friends getting hurt and dying. Grayson getting impaled with the spear, Mia getting stabbed when we were at the empire. My own possessed body hurting Nathan until he passed out, Lalea when she nearly drowned in the lake because of me. Then I was once again forced to witness myself kill Sylvia and watch Luke get stabbed before his death. And Armen... So many images of Armen both before and after his sacrifice. His broken down form when we met in the dream world. When I killed him...
Then I saw my nightmares where I killed both of my friends in many horrific, brutal ways. I wanted to shake my head and get rid of the memories and thoughts, but I was completely frozen in place, to focused on my memories. When I was suddenly snapped out of that focus, I noticed something. Luke's life force was gone again. He was gone... He was gone forever now. I could have saved him... I...

You never do anything right.

  Do you really think that they care about you dying?

Besides, don't you want to be with Armen again?

I can take away your pain. Just let me have control, and you will not ever have to feel like this ever again.

I began getting urges to just...kill myself. My hand went over to grab my sword, but I grabbed nothing but air. I forgot that I dropped my sword before losing consciousness. I clenched my fists, feeling my mana rising. I could just use my magic to end this pain. One small spell will finish the job that Herobrine started. Was this really what I wanted?
The next thing I felt was pain, then my body went completely numb and my vision filled with nothing but white, followed by complete darkness.

Nathan's point of view-

My blade traveled across another mercenary's body, going from his upper left side of his chest to his left forearm. It still felt weird hurting and killing people, but I had to in order to survive this chaos. The cannons firing around me did not make this scenario any easier to face. It only made my heart beat more furiously, and fearfully. I took in deep breaths, sweat and blood covering my skin. My injuries were sore and stung, but I couldn't stop and rest for longer than a few seconds, no matter how tired I was growing.
I screamed as I swung my blade once more, the mercenary I was facing blocking my attack. I growled and tried to swiftly step to the side to attempt and strike him yet again, but I was not successful. The others are so much better at combat than me... It was still strange for me to do this. After all of this time I wanted to end the bloodshed, and now here I was, the one shedding the blood.
I jumped back as he swung, narrowly missing a strike on my abdominal area. My free arm moved over my stomach as I hissed in pain, my older wounds still painful. My eyes looked down at the ground, looking at a body of one of the few mercenaries I had successfully killed. I gagged at the sight of the sight of blood, and the stench of decay, my I mainly kept my gaze on the sword laying next to the body.

"Pathetic little runt. How are you not dead yet? Oh well, you'll die soon enough, little b***ard." He swore, his tongue clicking.

I looked up at him as I gasped for breath, waiting for him to lunge at me in order attack. Finally, he made the move I was waiting for him to make. He charged towards me with his sword by his side, the crimson stained metal poised to strike me down.
I swiftly dodged, sliding underneath his blade as he swung. My boots dug into the ground as I slid across the dirt, my hand reaching out and grabbing the blade next to the corpse.
I got back up on solid ground as fast as I could, not waiting for my feet hold me stably upright. I thrusted myself forward on my feet, holding up one sword as he turned around and I blocked his attack. As sparks were set off from the iron, I drove my new sword into his abdomen, causing him to cough blood onto my face and chest.
I pulled the sword out of his body, sheathing one blade to wipe away the blood with my sleeve. His corpse fell over. I cringed in disgust and in slight pain as the wounds on my arms and face stung more from the contact. My eyes widened and I froze as the ground suddenly began to shake, the rattling sound like a violent earthquake making it's way across the land.
My stomach twisted in a knot and my blood ran cold. My chest was filled with a familiar pressure. The ground settled, the trembling of the earth coming to pass. Something was off about all of this. Something was horribly wrong. I looked up as the dark sky flashed with blinding lightning; too much and too suddenly for it to be anything natural.
Memories flashed through my mind of last night; when Drake was being controlled. This felt an awfully lot like that; the same dread overcoming my being. My eyes shifted to where bolts of flashing lightning crashed to the ground.
Drake... it's happened again, hasn't it? He's lost control..

...
Third person point of view-

The ground shook and patches of the ground broke away from the earth, rising into the air. Lightning crashed all around as the earth shook. The air seemed to somehow grow colder, the thunder and explosions caused by the lightning being the only sound until the hybrid let out unsettling laughter. Lalea backed up, as a terror filled her being. She felt Drake's aura fade, becoming replaced by the familiar darkness that would forever send shivers down her spine.

  "Dr-Drake?" She choked out, watching the hybrid twitch as he twisted his body around to face her. She knew that it was no longer the man she loved.

The hybrid looked at her, his white eye glowing bright, now accompanied by a very dim glow in his right eye that continued to lose color. His cape flapped about as the wind picked up, blowing mainly to the east. The girls hood fell down, letting her lapis blue hair flow in the strong breeze. Lalea looked at Drake's bloody lips, watching the light glow in the back of this throat, the light seeming to glow even bright as he chuckled. Her heart pounded as she watched his feet lift up from the ground, levitating about two feet off of the ground. His fists swarmed with white light, red blood mixed with a barely noticeable purple dripping onto the snowy grass below.

  "It's tOo lATe, LAleA. He'S lOSt hoPE... hIs wiLl to liVe..."

Lalea slowly shook her head as she took another step back. Her fists clutched, her fingernails digging into her skin as she growled. She refused to believe any of that! Her Drake was still in there, fighting. He would regain control, and come back to them. She wasn't going to lose him. Not now! But the pain that he was in, the torture he was going through. Would he really just let Herobrine take full control over his body? His mind?

She screamed at the top of her lungs with tears forming in her eyes, "No! Drake, please fight him!"

The demon laughed, the thunder booming and lightning flashing above the two. "YoU rEaLly ThInk thAt YoU coUlD hElP hIm? ThEre iS noThiNg You CaN do NoW! He hAs giVeN up On yoU aNd liFe."

The female Mage felt her tears slip down her cheeks, some finding their way into wounds and bringing pain, but she did not care. She only wanted to have Drake back. She only wanted him him to be okay, to be happy even with the struggles and tragedy. She had seen many sides of the hybrid, and she wanted to see his bright side once more. See loved him, and no matter what that would never change.

"Dr-Drake... I know that you're still in there! You need to fight back. I need you, Drake. I lo-"

She was cut off by Drake and Herobrine's mixed chaotic laughter. "You what? Love him? WhAt haVe yOu evEr doNe to dEseRve hiM to loVe You baCK? WhAt aRE yoU dOiNg To hElP hIm? You'Re jUst a PaThEtic b**cH."

He lifted up his arm, aiming a blast of white energy to the girl. His smile grew wider, not being able to wait to kill another person that Drake cared for. He wanted Drake to feel the pain of losing the one that he loved, to watch as his own hands lead to her demise. Lalea closed her eyes and looked away, the rest of her body feeling frozen in fear.
The hybrid's eyes grew as the light in his eyes and mouth dimmed but did not fade. He took in a gasp of breath, the light on his hand disappearing. He started clawing at his head as he fought with the demon in his head to take control and stay in control of his own body. He shut his eyes tight and his teeth gritted against each other as he tried to resist the voices coming back into his head and tried to keep the demonic entity at bay.

"D-don't c-call her th-that..! Stop! Leave her alone!"

Lalea gasped as she watched the hybrid struggle and fight against his own mind. Tears were beginning to stream down his face once more, each second he fought bringing agony that grew more intense with each exhausting moment. He fell to his knees as he screamed. The female Mage's heart seemed to stop when Drake looked up at her, pain filling his eyes. Tell him before it's too late...
He lifted up from the ground once more, his long legs dangling in the air. His fingers clawed at his scalp and face, continuing to scream as he tried to reclaim control over his body. How could he done that; practically letting Herobrine have control? He should have known that he would try to hurt Lalea while she was beside him.! Lalea tried to reach out, but pulled back as Drake yelled at her.

"Lalea, please run! I don't want to h-hurt you!"

"I am not leaving you, Drake! I... I love you!"

She rushed to him, reaching up and grabbing the collar of his shirt. For all she knew, this was her last chance. She had to take the risk. Lalea pulled him down, closing her eyes as she pressed her lips hard against his. Once she relaxed, she eased some of the pressure so she would not hurt him. The hybrid had wide eyes, shock filling him. His body remained tense until he grew used to it and felt as Herobrine went back into the depths of the darkness of his mind.
His feet touched down onto the solid ground, his eyes dimming until they no longer glowed. Once the pain and the voices faded, his body relaxed, letting himself enjoy the kiss he and Lalea were sharing. Her lips were soft, and he felt bad that his lips were a bit bloody but she did not seem to care. His sorrows seemed to fade in seconds, his focus shifting away from the heartache and guilt.
They pulled away from each other, taking in light gasps for breath. They looked into the others eyes, both of their pairs of orbs glimmering. Drake smiled at her, but only for a moment until his legs gave out underneath him. He fell but Lalea wrapped her arms around and kept him from falling. The hybrid hissed, the pain from his wound still remaining.

"You...actually...l-love me?"

Lalea smiled again, holding his closer to herself. "Yes, of course! I thought it was a bit obvious."

Drake gave out a weak chuckle. "A bit. I just couldn't understand why you would love someone like me. I've been violent, a mental wreck... What do you see in me?"

She put her chin on his shoulder, enjoying feeling his warmth, which was warmer than it should have been. "I can see the real you behind the mask that demon has put on you. You're nice, protective... I quite frankly, I think you're cute!"

He chuckled with a tiny smile before that smile faded. "I-I was just so sc-scared... scared that I would h-hurt you or that I would l-lose control and break you heart. I'm s-sorry."

  "You have nothing to apologize for. I will never leave you, and I will always love you. Never forget that, Drake."

Drake laughed, but it once again came out weak. His shaking body was growing weak, his head and eyelids heavy. He lifted up his hands, running his fingers through her soft hair, though he could barely feel it with his gloves and the bandages. A tear that remained in his eye finally began to roll down his cheek as he sniffed.

"Th-Thank you. I-I love...you...t-too..." He pulled back and kissed her lips again before his head fell down and he went limp in her comforting embrace.

...

The ex-commander blocked another attack made by his formal superior, but was able to get back before the second blade impaled him. He was getting sick of this repetitive cycle. Attack, block, dodge, attack, block, dodge. When was last time he actually faced an opponent with duel blades and a shield? Probably never, and it was infuriating.
Grayson growled, his sweat rolling down into his eyes, but he could see the emperor's strive beginning to weaken. How long has it been? How many people have died? Grayson's fist tightened around the handle of his sword, remembering Luke and the happy moments they shared. He remembered his beloved wife and son, then the night they were executed. He remembered rescuing Drake from the imperial palace, and the horrible things they had done to him. Those questions he asked himself did not matter. He had to make this man pay for the lives he taken and the ones that he had broken. Today he would have his revenge or die trying to get it.

  "...Grayson, I love you..!" Clara's voice and her last words rang through his mind.

"They... They did a lot to me, Grayson." Drake's voice and broken tone played next.

"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..."

The fire in Grayson's eyes burned hotter and brighter than it ever had before. He screamed in rage as he dashed at the emperor, his blade setting off sparks as the tip scraped against the iron shield. He got down and let his feet slid freely on the ground as he avoided the emperor's blood soaked blade. With his own sword, he cut into the emperor's right leg. Grayson swiftly got back up to his feet, waiting for his opponents next move.

The emperor snarled. "You're really p***ing me off, Grayson!"

The blonde laughed through his panting. "What? Did you expect it to be easy to kill me? I'm not going to just let you slaughter me, f**ker... Not when you have taken so much from me. Not when I have something to fight for."

He turned and charged. Grayson stepped to the side, blood gushing from the wound that he had received before Luke's death. The wound will be fatal if he did not tend to it soon, but now was not the time to tend to his injuries. That would be more than the wound itself. Grayson hissed as the iron slashed him just below his chest.
He had to ready to sword to block another attack, and in that split second before the emperor could make a move, Grayson felt a wave of uneasiness sweep over him. It was a feeling that he had experienced, the same sense of dread and fear, but he could not put his finger on it. He once again jumped back to avoid a swung. He felt dizzy and exhausted, his body so tired that he felt as if he would throw up.
As they gained a split moment of rest, Grayson looked into the dark sky, noticing the sudden lightning storm taking place. No. This was more intense than an average lightning storm. It was not natural, but something more unnerving. Before Grayson could think any more about it, the emperor made another move.
The cycle continued, and Grayson was more injured of the two. He knew that soon enough, the cycle would break and he would be the most likely to fall victim to the bloodshed spread across this newly tainted battlefield.
They twisted around, their positions shifting repeatedly. As Grayson held his blade against the emperor's sword, his hair and cape flowing wildly in the wind, he felt as if a stone had been dropped in his stomach. His looked up, only to be blinded by light. His hair stood up as lightning came crashing down.
For another time he jumped back, but now it was not because of his opponent. Lightning struck the ground between the two, blowing dirt away from the earth and setting patches of snowy grass on fire. Grayson fell over, coughing.
He opened his eyes and shook his head before waiting for his vision to settle. He slowly pushed himself up to his knees, hissing with his body now in even more pain than before. His eyes gazed up into the sky, these close lightning strikes and its rapid occurrence awful familiar.
He gasped in realization of what this was reminding him off. The day Drake fell into his second coma and last night. Both instances he lost control of his body. If this was the same scenario as those times then he needed to get to Drake, and fast.
He attention shifted when he heard coughing and watched the smoke clear slightly, but some blades of grass continued to burn in bright, blazing orange flames. The emperor was on the ground, his back against a large rock. One blade was a few feet away from his left hand while the other laid in the crater left behind from the blast.
Grayson scampered to his feet, jumping for the blade abandoned in the crater. He flinched and pulled his hand away as the handle burned him, but he quickly wrapped his hand around it again. It still burnt him, but somehow it was not as painful as the first time. He walked across the crater and the fire, marching up to his down enemy.
A wicked smile creeped onto his face until it turned into a snarled that showed his bright, sharp teeth. He readied both swords, waiting for the man to make a move.

  "Aren't you going to get up? Come on, you're supposed to be the strongest in the army! But those were the old days, weren't they?" Grayson taunted, watched the emperor struggle to move. His back and spine must have hit the stone so hard that he was temporarily paralyzed.

  "Those days are gone. You're pathetic. You no longer rule in honor and strength, but in tyranny and greed..."

With that, Grayson thrusted his newly acquired blade into the emperor's right shoulder. Pleasure and satisfaction ran through Grayson's being as he listened to man cry out in agony. He watched tears of pain slip from the royal tyrants hazel eyes, but he showed no begs for mercy. The blonde reached for the blade next to the emperor's hand. The man could no longer move his arm, the blade in his shoulder rendering it useless.

  "You're weak, old news, and a pity excuse for a king... You've put my friends...my family and I through so much pain. You've taken...so much from me. It's about time that got what you deserved!"

He held up the other iron sword high into the air and brought it down with force, driving it into the emperor's leg until it came out through the back and stabbed the ground. Another satisfying scream of anguish rose from his aching lungs. His breath was heavily, his hand slowly moving to grab hold of the sword in his leg. He let out another cry as Grayson stomped as hard as he could onto his fingers.
The emperor looked into Grayson's emerald eyes, his green orbs filled with boiling rage. His own hazel eyes were glossed over with fear. He flinched as Grayson held the sword he dubbed the Andruin, and placed the tip of the blade against his neck. Red rolled down his skin as it pricked his neck and slowly went deeper into his flesh. The purple with slight glimmers of gold shined in the faint light.

The emperor let out a dark chuckle. "Very well... but may I say, I think you will join me in death soon. That wound on your side there is going to be the end of you."

Grayson ignored his words, his mind continuing to focus on all that he had lost dear. Even more tears fell from Grayson's eyes at the memories of his wife and son. Even the memories of Luke made his orbs well up. The thoughts of Drake being tortured and the fear that the man had inscribed into Drake's head were also present, causing his hatred to burn as hot as molting lava. He snarled, his wife's scream continuing to haunt him.

  "I only wish that I could watch you burn...just like you made me watch her burn..."

The emperor's eyes widened, knowing that this was the end of the line. Even with death in his sight, his lips perked up. He had already left a legacy. He had no children, but his subjects grew to remember and fear his name. The pain and anger in Grayson's eyes...that sight made his death more bearable.
With his last words to the tyrant said, Grayson moved his blade to the side of the emperor's neck and pressed it in until it bled. He took in a deep breath, reading to bring vengeance upon the man that ruined his life. For so long now he had been waiting for this moment. Finally it was upon him.
With a swift slash of his blade, the metal tore through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed in the air, marking the end of the thief's long road of suffering and his journey to find peace and justice.
...

Decapitation. Something fitting for a man that had beheaded thousands over the years. Grayson breathed heavily, sheathing his sword. His eyes watched the head of his enemy fall to the ground, his body falling over onto his side along with it. He couldn't believe that it was over now, yet there was so much relief. So many burdens lifted from his shoulders. He looked up into the sky, only being able to hope that Clara and Luke were up there, staring down at him with smiles.
He turned around, the smoke lifting. The lightning that plagued the sky now no longer crashed to the earth nor lit up the clouds. He could not even spot any mercenaries running about. It was oddly calm. Too calm with the fact that he knew that Drake had become possessed. Herobrine must have lost control over him.
In the distance he made out a few silhouettes, two of them next to Luke's body, and two others not too far from them. He knew that they were his friends.
He began limping in their direction, his vision blurry and the world spinning. His hand shot over the wound in his side, his gloves and fingers becoming soaked in his own crimson fluid. He hissed in pain, tears filling his eyes once more and his head feeling light. He wheezed and coughed only making blood gush from his wound and quickening the bleeding out process. He fell to his shaking knees, not ripping his eyes away from his comrades for the slightest moment.
Finally, his vision blackened, falling over limply onto his side as he let out a deep breath. His eyes closed, embracing the darkness.