"Calm down Steph, I'm sure he's fine. You know how he always loses track of time while in the mines, it's either that or he found a huge ore deposit. He's probably on his way as we speak." Alex, says with waning confidence as she lies back against the couch while brushing her fingers through her side ponytail, watching the younger Stonewall sibling becoming increasingly worried by the second.

Stephanie briefly looked at the ginger-haired woman in a green shirt and brown leggings then paced back and forth in front of her doorway, her head shaking at her friend's attempt to console her. "There's no way he'd miss out on a gathering like this Alex, all of us are far more important to him than how much he pulls from a wall of stone. Steve isn't like that and you know it." She flashes a brief smile and folds her arms, her fingertips gently tugging at the navy blue fabric of her elbow sleeves. "Thanks for trying to comfort me, but I can't relax. Everyone has already come in, eaten, and left already, Steve was supposed to be here over two hours ago to join us for this wonderful occasion. The food is now all cold." She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm, struggling to keep her anxiousness from showing.

Though it seemed like a normal meet-up with friends and food, it was quite possibly the last she'd ever get to spend time with them like this; this dinner meant so much to her and she poured so much of her energy and love into it. All of their friends except Alex had left already, and the sun was starting to descend in the cloudy sky, what was supposed to be a very special time together now felt ruined. All of her friends stood around for an hour and socialized as they waited for Steve, but after a while, they ate as a couple of them had work and things to do so she couldn't have everyone wait all day for her brother to show up. She chose not to eat though and her stomach groaned from her hunger, she'd rather enjoy the meal with the most important person in her life than have it while it was still warm.

Nothing felt worse than worrying about Steve and where he was and if he was okay, Stephanie felt so inclined to gear up and head to the mines herself to find him. She would have done it had Alex not talked her out of it, she had already visited her brother's house but he never answered the door.

"It's been at least three hours, where is he?" She asked herself quietly while trying to keep her composure, now raking her fingers across her scalp in her growing distress. Her mind kept going back to him getting attacked and possibly killed by mobs or killed in a potential cave accident, like a cave-in or accidentally mining into an underground lake and flooding the mines and getting trapped or drowned in them. He was nearly killed in both of the latter instances, years ago; she never ceases to worry nowadays.

"He'll come, I know he will."

The brunette stops in place and sighs before moving over to the couch and taking a seat next to her friend, cupping her hands over her face. "I can't help it, but I fear for him all the time down there. It's so far down, that it's almost a twenty-minute walk in the darkness just to even find the mineshaft he normally mines at. Mining has always been his favorite kind of job but it's so dangerous, every trip carries high risk. If he doesn't come soon then I'll go looking for him, I won't wait til nightfall. I'll fight mobs if I have to."

Alex nods and gently grabs Stephanie and pulls her into a slight hug, rubbing smooth circles into the back of her dark blue collared dress shirt. "Look, if he doesn't come within the next twenty minutes we'll go down into the mines to get him together. I'm not the best with a sword, but you can count on my bow as long as you hold the torch. Don't stress yourself out too much, Steve is the best miner and fighter in the whole town and has two courageous mining buddies that always have his back."

Stephanie appreciated Alex's support and leaned into her a bit, doing her best to fight back her sorrows and fears. Even if the dinner didn't go as she had planned, she just wanted her brother to be okay and embrace him as this may be the last time to do so if she doesn't see him before nightfall tomorrow. They sat there for a moment until a knocking came on her door; disrupting the long silence. Steph immediately lifted her head to the sounds and quickly got up, moved to the door, and swiftly pulled it open. Her jaw dropped and she stared at the mess of the man before her, before sighing in relief for a second and then giving him a look of both concern and exasperation."

"Sis."

"Steve... what happened to you?" He had gauze wrapped around his head, his right hand, and a few strips around his arms. He had bandages in various places as well as large nasty dark-colored bruises all over, especially a large imprint on the side of his jaw that looked to be a bit swollen too.

"Steve, where have you been? How did you get hurt?" The younger sibling asked, carefully touching his face while checking out his bruise, she noticed tiny nicks and scrapes in his flesh.

"Steve, what did you do this time?" Alex cut in, standing up and joining them by the door, looking just as worried as Stephanie but with a more scolding tone.

The miner sighed and cupped his injured hand when Alex tried to examine it. He did not want them to see the full extent of the damages he received from Herobrine. "Got swarmed by mobs, ... dropped my sword in the process, and had to fight my way out. I know it all looks bad, it feels that way, but I am fine. I'm just a bit sore in a few places, it took a lot of time to get cleaned up and get all these cuts and bruises taken care of as well. Thankfully I still had some healing potions from Nigel to use, it looks bad but I can assure you; I'll be okay. Some rest and good food ought to do the trick." He finished with a forced grin, one that quickly fell when his sister carefully wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug.

"Steph." He winced, feeling a bit of pressure on his bruised stomach.

The woman held onto him for a long minute before pulling away, her expression still one of concern and shock. "Swarmed by mobs?" She blinked. "You were alone? What about your mining partners? Richard and Thomas? Were they not with you down there?"

Steve shifted uncomfortably in place, almost glad that he had been mining alone; Herobrine would have undoubtedly killed his fellow workers had they been there. "Richard was sick today and Thomas? I-" He shook his head and lightly shrugged. "I haven't heard from him in the past few days since he left town, I'm starting to wonder where he went. As for me? I went alone and did well, for a little while anyway; but uh..." Steve paused and used his good hand to rub the back of his neck while looking away, trying to fully construct his lie.

"One of the mineshafts was unlit and it leads right into a cave, where the monsters probably came from. Got too busy and didn't pay attention, and of course I was alone."

"You? Getting swarmed by mobs?" Alex questioned with a raised brow, not seeming to fully believe his response.

The miner looked back at her and gestured. "I lost my sword in the attack, what more can I say?"

The red-head folded her arms. "That's unlike you, but I'm glad you're safe. You've been worrying your little sister for hours, you should make it up to her for that."

Steve nodded.

"You don't have-"

"I will," He looked back down at Stephanie, put his good hand on her shoulder, and smiled a bit. "I'll find some way."

"Steve..."

Alex stretched her arms back and softly yawned. "Well with Steve finally here, I'm going to head home and get a few chores done before bed."

"Thank you, for staying here with her." The miner smiled at the gingerette. "I'll make it up to you as well."

Alex beamed back and rested her hands on her hips. "Oh? Well, I have a planned trip to the Eastern mountains coming up in a couple of months, I could use some helping hands and eyes to watch my back." She winked at him flirtatiously. "Would be nice to have a friend with a lot of outdoor experience and strength to tag along for the journey."

He shrugged with a grin. "Would love to, I don't get out of town or the mines often enough anymore; I could use some fresh air and some new scenery now and then."

Alex beamed. "Sounds great, we'll discuss these plans another time. Goodbye, and goodbye to you as well Stephanie." She finished, nodding to the younger sibling.

"Bye, and thanks for coming." Stephaine waved as the other woman walked out the door and closed it behind her.

Steve watched through the front window as Alex walked away for a long minute before turning back around to his sister. "Now, if there's anything left to eat, I'd like to dig right in."

Though glad her brother was alive at the very least, Stephanie still felt at odds with his current condition; he looked horrible. She knows he has a habit of downplaying his problems so that he doesn't worry her, but she sees through them; it's been this way since their adoptive parents left them for dead. Steve is a good brother but occasionally hides things, especially when they pertain to him and his well-being. He had to be the strong, protective, and worry-free type, oftentimes she believed he did it specifically for her sake.

"There's plenty left, I made sure there was enough for everyone." Stephanie motioned her hand toward the dining room, the table had the food still on it, but all the pots, pans, and plates of food were covered with cloth. All the dirty dishes from her other friends lay on the kitchen island as well as the countertop by the sink, all emptied of food except for bones and crumbs and left in a slightly disorderly stack. "Take a seat and enjoy yourself, I'll join."

"You haven't eaten yet?" He asked, raising a brow.

"Without you?" She shook her head with a faint smile. "Of course not. I'd rather wait."

The man sighed and ambled to the table, pulling a chair out and sitting down. "Then come on, let's eat. I'm starving." He paused for a second as he thought to himself. "I- ... Sorry if it took so long to get here, but cleaning up and tending to my injuries took longer than expected." Steve pulled his chair closer to the table and began uncovering the food carefully with his aching hand, his dreary mood shifted as his sister frowned. "You made a lot. How much of this did Carson eat?" He said more excitedly.

"Not too much," The younger Stonewall pushed aside her current troubles and moved into the dining room, soon taking a seat directly across from her brother, moving the utensils from off the plate and to the side and then helping to uncover the remaining dishes. "He was looking pretty tired today."

"It amazes me how someone so thin can eat so much, but considering it's your food; it makes sense to me." Steph smiles at the compliment, this temporarily lightens the atmosphere of the room. Steve filled his plate with food, poured glow berry sauce over his steak, and stuck his fork into it before using a knife to cut off a piece. He then ate it while wincing from the fresh tenderness in his hand that he unintentionally stretched, regardless he seemed pleased with the taste. "It's a shame it's cold, much better hot." He spoke as he chewed.

Stephanie was soon finished fixing her plate and began to eat as well, her bites were slow and small; she'd fidget with her fork between bites. Though silent, her mind was in a frenzy; swirling with emotions and painful thoughts of the dreadful future quickly approaching. Her eyes would occasionally lift to look at her brother, but every time she saw him bruised and battered; she wondered what it would have been like if he had not shown up at all. If he had died back in those mines, she wasn't sure what she would do. Her heart feels a stinging pang at the idea of loss, then remembers that this is probably the last time she'll ever get to spend personal time like this with him again. The very notion tore her heart into two, imagining Herobrine slaying her brother before her eyes.

Outwardly she kept up her mask, but inwardly she was breaking apart and soon the mask started to slip as her breaths grew slow yet deep. She tried her best to hold back the floodgates, but all of her negative thoughts of her brother not being there, but on the ground covered in blood and unmoving; it was too much to bear.

Steve finished another bite of his potatoes and glanced over to his sister, his eyes widened as he noticed tears falling down her face, one falling off the bottom of her cheek and spattering onto her baked chicken breast. He sets his fork down and finishes chewing his food before speaking up. "Steph, are you okay?" He asked softly, his expression light and filled with concern.

With a heavy breath and using the side of her hand to brush away the tears, she nodded and gave herself a moment to breathe before speaking up. "Yeah. I'm just-... thinking on negative thoughts, ignore me." She waved.

Steve huffed, now setting his knife aside and leaning upright in his chair. "Is there something bothering you sis? You can tell me, I'm you're brother, and I'll always be here for you; when I can. You know that, right?"

"I know." She sighed and tried her best to stop the tear flow, but her brother's injuries took her back to the thought of losing him. She didn't even care about the thought of her own fate at that moment, all she could think about was losing the person she loved most in the whole world. It hurt her so much to know that this was the last bit of bonding time she had left with him unless by some miracle things changed, but that she doubted. The outlook of their nearing fate broke her heart, just knowing that he could have died today was enough to add to the weight of the pain in her chest. Her soft sobs quickly broke out into a full-on cry, she dropped her fork, hid her face in her hands, and wept.

Steve quickly left his chair and moved over to his sister, he grabbed her chair and turned it towards him then knelt on one knee next to her seat, looking up with pleading eyes. "Steph, it's okay, I'm here. Everything will be alright, I won't go into the mines without a buddy next time alright? Please, don't cry."

Stephaine felt her brother gently pull her hands from his face and hold them in his no matter how much it hurt his injured palm. "Steph."

The younger Stonewall let a few more tears slip before taking deeper slower breaths to calm herself, this was supposed to be a time to enjoy each other's presence and enjoy her labor of love over the stovetop; Steve didn't know what was to come, he should be happy in their last moments together.

"Sis, please. Tell me, what is wrong?"

"It's... the thought of losing you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be dwelling on such things but I..." She took another breath and wiped at her face once more. "I-" She shook her head, holding the truth of the impending fate to herself. Yet she had a shred of hope, still clinging to the idea that she could do the impossible and ease the heart of a powerful murderous madman. "I love you a lot brother. I fear the thought of losing you, and when I saw you hurt like this, in so many bandages and bruises... the idea of actually losing you became much more real and a possibility that I dread. I don't want you to die."

He understood Stephanie's response and dropped his look of concern, pinching his lips together and furrowing his brow. They've been so close since their parents died and being abandoned by their adoptive parents, they were nearly inseparable; even to the point where they would see each other five days out of the week. Being four years older than her, Steve had always been her protector and support; both mentally and psychically. Making sure she was safe and happy was a job he was fully committed to, ever since they were young kids who lost everything but each other.

"It's alright, I'm not going to die; I've been through worse." He said quietly. "These bruises are nothing, next time I'll be more cautious. I promise." Steve spoke with assurance but his frown deepened as his words didn't seem to comfort her like they normally do. "Steph." The miner stood back up and pulled her into a light hug, thankfully she hugged back and steadied her breaths. Thinking that maybe Stephanie was afraid of ending up alone, Steve changed the topic.

"I'm not the strongest, or the most careful, and maybe one day I won't be around." He pulled out of the embrace and smiled. "But you won't have to be alone if something ever happens to me. You have our friends, Alex, Nigel, Luna, Carson, and Stanley."

"You're my brother," She softly stated. "Steve."

He gently rubbed her back and nodded. "Yeah, but if something happens to me, they'll always support you. They have ever since we moved here, Alex being the most watchful and always a good shoulder to lean on." Hearing Stephaine now breathing a little more calmly put the man at ease. "But the more the merrier right?" He pulled back a bit to gauge her expression. "Now all we need to do is get you a good husband, that way you'll always have someone with you; someone who'll love and protect you and maybe even better than I can." The woman's sudden sharp miffed reaction to the topic had Steve softly chuckling. "We just have to find the right guy is all."

There was no plan for a husband anytime soon, not even a boyfriend. There were more greater and pressing matters to concern herself with like the remaining time they had, but she knew he was trying to make her feel better, so she played along to escape from her dreadful thoughts.

"I doubt that's going to happen." She sighed, briefly closing her eyes and recalling back to her past relationships, each of them empty and disappointing with neither of the guys being who they truly were or always wanting from her but never giving back. This topic wasn't the most pleasant distraction, but it was a distraction nonetheless. "You know my luck with men around here Steve," She gave him a soft playful glare. "I'm a magnet for troublemakers and jerks in disguises, four experiences with those individuals are enough to keep me uninterested in having a relationship right now." Her heart throbbed at the brief thought of Herobrine being a particular candidate. But that thought was quickly shot down, as it was not possible. He's a forbidden deadly fruit if there ever were one.

"Carson's single."

Stephanie blinked and then rolled her eyes. "You said I need someone who can protect me, Carson may be a guard but he isn't much of a fighter, more of a lookout and courier. Besides, he seems pretty fond of Naihla down the street; as in, he talks to her a lot from what I can tell."

"Stanley?" Steve shrugged.

"You know Stanley is a loner, he's even worse of a fighter than Carson. It doesn't bother me that he's eleven years older than me, but he's so pessimistic and has no attraction to anyone. He doesn't show emotion much either. He's a great guy at heart and a good friend who looks after us, but he's so openly apathetic and nitpicky about stuff. It can be a little tiring to put up with it all the time, that and his love of sarcastic remarks. I also don't like the fact that he smokes, I had to remind him not to light a cigarette in my household while everyone talked in the living room earlier."

Steve nodded. "Yeah, he's not much of an average kind of guy. Still, we'll eventually find you somebody, someone who can provide you with everything you could ever want and need."

Stephanie softly huffed. "Yeah, maybe." She said more quietly with much doubt, yet a pair of white eyes infiltrated her thoughts and made her mind wander and she stared at the table for a long minute.

"Steph, do me a favor. Stay close to home tonight, and maybe for the rest of the week. Okay?"

She blinked and returned her gaze to her brother, giving him a slightly puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"It means stay home or at least be close to your house before dark, lock your doors, and keep a weapon nearby. Sleep in the cellar if you must, or come to my house and sleep in the guest bed." The miner suggested with a look of unease. "Y'know, in case a zombie breaks down the front door, or a spider crawls down your chimney. There's just something in my gut telling me that tonight isn't going to be a good night, maybe it's intuition or paranoia."

Steve moves away from his sister while staring out the kitchen window with a serious expression, hoping that Herobrine had either returned to the Nether or had left the outskirts of their village by now. It was too soon to tell, but the encounter that had left him in intense pain made him feel concerned for everyone else in the town; Herobrine had a knack for sticking close by to places that he attacked since he's a man who enjoys the fruits of his work; his destruction and the chaos that came with it.

Tonight, the miner was on edge for that particular reason after the attack, but his sister didn't need to be scared to death or be filled with dread. Herobrine didn't seem to know that he had a sister yet, living a little ways away probably works in his favor should Herobrine come after him tonight.

"Is something wrong brother?"

Steve turned back around with a soft smile, his voice was back to its upbeat tone as he spoke again. "Not at all, I guess I'm just a little shocked still from the mob assault back there, it's been a while since coming face to face with a serious threat. I'm just worrying." He nervously chuckled. "I guess now I know how you must feel about me all of the time huh?"

Stephanie smiled weakly. "If only you knew how much."

...

After her brother left her house, Stephanie took the wooden container of food that she had saved for the white-eyed man and proceeded to exit her home and head out into the woods. She could understand her brother's concerns; especially after what happened to him in the mines today, but she felt oddly safe trekking out into the oak woodlands. She was confident that there would be no mobs to greet her, not only because it wasn't quite nightfall yet, but because her stalker probably wasn't far. She smiled at the thought. They weren't exactly friends, yet she felt somewhat safe with him around; so long as he tamed his temper that is. She was still nervous about meeting him later since time was running out to change his mind, but she had hoped that the meal she had made would be a nice gesture that could open up positive possibilities.

Stephanie began to softly hum while ambling through the woods, she hadn't sensed his presence or seen a hint of him yet, so she figured she'd sing a little tune to maybe coax him out if he heard her. With a long gentle hum, words began to leave her lips as she glanced around. "Herobrine, king of the night~ I got something for you, so please draw nigh~ Where are you, oh glorious blight?~ Surely it is something that would catch your eye~"

The woman waited out in a clear opening with a kind smile, but after a few minutes of silence, it began to fade. The woods were quiet save the sounds of a few birds chirping and flying away. Stephanie was certain that he would show up if she had called his name; even more so if she sang it, but the god didn't show himself or appear to be out there with her. Not this time.

"Herobrine?" She called out, frowning. "Are you out there?" She was met with silence and the gentle sounds of the wind blowing through the leaves of the trees and long grasses. She looked up at the sky, dark rain clouds looked to be moving in for the evening. She could practically smell it in the air, the weather tonight was looking to be dreary, further dampening her mood. First Steve nearly got killed and was late to the big dinner they planned, and now Herobrine ignores her at a time she needs him to be there, to try and improve what they had going on since he left while being so angry with her earlier that morning.

Was he still mad at her for touching his command device? She thought, looking at her surroundings; mentally hoping the immortal would appear.

"Herobrine!"

Her shout went without notice.

With a heavy sigh, the woman concluded that he must still be mad at her; he did leave in a testy mood. The sky seemed to reflect that notion with its gloominess. "Tonight it is then." She said to herself with a look of disappointment and discontent, this day was turning out to be an awful one; even into the night. Steph held the food container close to her and proceeded to return home without haste.

...

Herobrine let out a long soft groan, his eyes beaming through the darkness of the chamber before sealing shut as he felt his body tense and shudder for a long moment of reprieve and sensual gratification. His eyes slowly opened up to the beautiful bare body beneath him and in between his arms and legs, a small shapely woman with long golden locks of hair and large feathery white wings neatly tucked behind her back and partially sticking out at her sides. The woman's eyes slightly glowed a stark white and she remained motionless while he was above her on hands and knees. She didn't respond or react to the man's finishing act, only softly breathing and staring directly at the ceiling thoughtlessly. Ivory feathers lay scattered across the mattress and were interwoven in the bedsheets, a light sheen of sweat covered Herobrine's tight muscles and gently reflected the pale light from his glowing eyes.

The man softly panted before lowering himself down onto the winged woman and laying on top of her to rest, he buried his face into the crook of her neck, pressed his lips into her soft flesh, and softly nipped at it; enjoying the smooth texture. Though this woman was a Valkyrie, a mob, essentially a discardable creature in his eyes; he still enjoyed what she could provide him. It was one-sided, but that was his way. The feminine winged mobs were excellent distractions while in his hot tempers and impatience, great at helping him kill some time and deal with frustrations of a certain nature.

He soon lifted his head from her neck and stared at the Valkyrie's wavy hair, he ran his fingers through it absentmindedly, seeming bored of the silence and fast-fading euphoria. Though relieved he still felt unsatisfied, as he always did. He could see the appeal for humans to engage in such an act, they do so to increase their numbers and bond, but to him, it was some gratification of the body and nothing more. Mobs were weaker creatures with little to no significance to command, some served more use than others. He wondered how humans seemed to get much more out of such a bond, he couldn't understand why they cling to each other for hours after mating. What a waste of time.

Yet, he somewhat envied them and the enjoyment and comfort that they found with one another. All he ever finishes is with a silent motionless body, never being touched by them without enforcing the mob to bend to his will to do so. Nothing was ever gained from their manipulated touches, so he rarely had them do it. Still, he often wondered what it was like to be willingly touched in such a way, what it was like to be desired, and loved. How it felt.

A sudden knock at the door echoes throughout the chamber, Herobrine lets out a sigh of annoyance and runs a hand over his face; brushing his short bangs back and wiping the sweat away. He's going to get caught again and he doesn't feel like he is up for an argument tonight, he'd rather leave and go hunting at this late hour.

After another knock, he reached a hand over the Valkyries' eyes and moved it down, closing them for the stationary mob under his control. He then pulls himself away from her, puts his feet on the floor, hurriedly covers her up with the blanket, and attempts to get dressed as quickly as possible before the door opens. Hero managed to get his undergarments and pants on while trying to fasten his belt before the door swung open with an angry-looking bald man standing in the doorway.

There was a long quiet pause, soon followed by an exasperated and heated voice. "I should have known. Again Herobrine? Really? In my own bed of my own palace, of all places?"

Hero huffed as he fastened his belt, refusing to look in the other man's direction. "What did you expect brother? You left me waiting for hours while you dilly-dally over code for the humans, again. I got bored."

The black-bearded man shook his head in disbelief at his brother's actions. "I told you to stop using the Valkyries, they serve as protectors of this realm, not purposed to serve your flesh."

"Why not? Their numbers are capped at 17,500 in total, how could taking one away for an hour or two do any harm to the realm? It was consensual anyway."

Notch entered the room, seeming disturbed by his brother's response; he scowled. "I seriously doubt that, not when you can take over and control even mid-advanced tier mobs."

Herobrine snorted, folding his arms as he turned and faced his brother. "I asked for a favor and she freely agreed to assist. I always ask." He gestured lightly with his fingers and a slight nod of his head. "Besides, it's not like she'll conceive, she's a mob, and they don't reproduce. As a mod myself, I can't reproduce; so there are no repercussions to worry about brother. She's not going to remember any of it anyway, therefore there's no harm in using her for a little bit of fun." He replied nonchalantly.

"No harm?" Notch moved in closer and stood face to face with the other man, he wore a tense expression as his fingers coiled into fists, he glared at the younger, disgusted by the attitude. "It's wrong Herobrine, it's disgustingly immoral. Mob or not. You know this." He said with a heated tone. "I bet you didn't even tell the Valkyries what they'd be doing to 'help' you out, otherwise I'm sure they'd backed out."

"Honestly, does it even matter?" Hero countered with his eyes narrowing from Notch's more hostile demeanor. "They're mobs. When one dies they soon get replaced by another, if you need more then raise the spawn count. Simple fix."

"It's not about that!" Notch barked, looking away for a second to collect his thoughts as his anger spiked. "You may call this Valkyrie number 5,896." He pointed to the woman. "But her name is Nirmiei, and she's a courier from the far northern-western islands of the Magnetic Hills. Sweet girl, always working hard. Her best friend is Valkyrie 2,441, Uniia. Her favorite color is orange, she's almost 94,882 days old; nearly 260 years of age. She's not a nobody mindless mob like a fresh spawn of the Overworld, she's not simply replaceable."

"So you scanned her, big deal. You probably have never spoken to her personally."

Notch ran a hand over his head in frustration. "I told you to stop using those ladies like that, it's disrespectful and disgusting to abuse them, even with them not knowing what's being done to them; that doesn't make any of your actions any better. Stop trying to cover your ass with excuses of them being 'just mobs', take accountability for once."

"Accountability for what? What harm have I done?" He said defensively and held his arms out at his sides with a slight shrug. "I don't kill your precious little winged warriors, the only reason why I started using them is because you started to ignore me; placing much of your free time upon the humans and their needs. You ignore me all the time nowadays, even in your mind; you continue to ignore my inner voice and have muted it. The only way I can ever talk to you now is when you are not busy digging through code or attending to human affairs, meanwhile, I'm stuck here waiting for you to get done for hours; sometimes days at a time. We used to dedicate entire days of build, battle, and drink a couple days out of every week, now I'm lucky if I even get a moment of your time for a few hours within the month." He stated aggressively, his voice tones raising.

"I wait and wait and you never show, there's not much to do while waiting here in the Aether. I've already read all of your books and tested every weapon you own. The reason why I started using the winged women in the first place was because of the humans, blame them for teaching me about copulation. There would have never been this problem with that had you made time for me and not left me to my own devices for hours on end. We used to spend so much time together, but now we barely even talk. I make time to come here and wait, but you never make the time to meet with me."

The elder brother took a step back, expression seeming less tense. "Herobrine I already told you, things have changed. There are bigger responsibilities for me to undertake now with the humans in the Overworld, but I'm so close to having it all figured out. And I know that I still have a few projects I'm trying to finish for a very special reason, yes it involves the humans, but that doesn't mean I've traded you for them. I'm just ...busy." Notch said, his voice softening a little as Hero spoke of neglect.

"I'm getting close to having their code perfectly meshed into the world's database along with balancing properties for them, it's taking a lot of time; I know. But I'm trying to finish it. What's becoming a big issue, however; is your attitude. You used to have respect for mobs, it wasn't much back then, but it was something at least. You used to respect 'my' wishes and 'my' rules." He said, placing a hand over his chest. "But ever since I gave you that little cube, you've become this apathetic asshole who only cares about himself." He finished more sternly while pointing at the white-eyed man.

"Not true," Herobrine spoke more loudly, moving his arms down to his sides with his hands balled into fists. "You mean everything to me, brother, more than all my power and all of my very being. Even more than the command block and my godhood. Titles, achievements, abilities? Forget them! I value you, more than my own breath."

"You've stopped showing the proof of that value a long time ago, by becoming what you are now."

"Stop spouting such lies just because I don't care for these pathetic creatures you seem to love so much. You can have as many of them as you like at any time of the day, if one dies then it's easily replaceable. You can spawn them in at any given time, and upgrade them to be stronger if you want. Names? Personalities? Traits? You can have it all, any variety. I don't see why you're getting so upset over this, I take one mob out of place and you go mad."

"Just because I can create what I want doesn't mean that I should." Notch shook his head in disbelief. "It's always about getting what you want just because you have the power to get it, isn't it? Well, power isn't everything, you can't create obedience, memories, or love... with just a command. I know you've never favored the mobs, but you used to respect them a lot more than you do now. You used to be grateful, but now you're not thankful for anything I give you because you think there's nothing better that I can give than my time and attention. You used to care, now it's like you could care less because nothing much matters anymore. You always get what you want when you want, instant gratification, and instant dopamine. And you wonder why you grow bored and are never satisfied these days.

Obtaining whatever you want at will; it'll always never be enough for you now because you don't see the point of effort anymore. Building relationships, and friendships, or taking the long route to achieve your desire. You miss the point of working, of the journey made, the building process. This world is built upon the very notion of building! If you'd just stop and take things slow, take the time to try and understand what's going on around you, and not take what you want when you desire it; then maybe you'd have a little more appreciation of the world around you and get more out of it. If you'd make friends with some mobs or humans, you'd see why I care about them. And remember all of the builds we did together? Those took so long to create, and that was very satisfying after each one we completed, have you forgotten what it was like from the beginning?

Giving you that block was like giving you the best cheat code, now there's no point in playing the game because there's nothing left to strive for. Making you into a god was a mistake, you don't care about anything anymore but power and feeding your desires. So entitled and conceited. Never any satisfaction." He finished with an exasperated sigh from his brother's lack of response.

"Entitled?" Herobrine huffed. "Well, of course, gods should be."

"Yet you no longer value the little things since being far removed from your original state."

"Well, the ones that don't matter. They're irrelevant." Hero added.

Notch exhaled loudly, turning his back on Herobrine and gazing down at the mostly-covered Valkyrie in his bed, he gently reached down and tugged the dark gray sheet over to fully cover the naked winged woman. "Just this morning I found out that you killed my Sun Spirit, your name was on the code of it's death-tag. What's your excuse on that one?" He asked quietly.

Hero frowned deeply. "I already told you, I was bored. You wouldn't hear me out and I was tired of waiting, so I had to make some noise." He placed his hands on his hips and smirked softly. "I'm surprised it took this long, almost nine hours. But hey, I finally got your attention."

Notch's hand coils tightly on the edge of the blanket and he grits his teeth before letting go of it and taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. "That was a pet to me, one hundred and twelve years I had that fire golem. You knew I favored it..."

Herobrine frowned with a hint of confusion on his face. "You can always spawn a dozen or so if you wish, why get upset over something with little to no value and is easily replaceable?"

Notch snapped, and in the blink of an eye, he spun around with an enraged expression and sent a powerful punch across Herobrine's jaw that sent the man off his feet and flying into the wall several meters away in the large chamber at an incredible speed. Hero smashed into a couple of bookcases, breaking them in half with books and papers scattering from the impact and then into bricks with a loud crash. A soundless cry escaped his gaping mouth, cracks spread out around him on the bricks in a circular pattern from the collision, and pieces of the bricks broke and fell to the floor as he toppled to the ground on his hands and knees; dazed with cuts and knicks covering his exposed back.

"Little to no value? Memories, affection, companionship?! It can't be replaced! Not everything is replaceable! What will it take to drill that idea into your head?!" The creator barked aloud, the atmosphere grew heavy with his seething rage, and the entire palace lightly trembled under his furious aura. "And you did this to get my attention?!" He gnashed his teeth and trudged toward Herobrine as the man brought himself up off his hands and knees and lifted himself off the floor to stand with a partially slumped figure.

"Why else?" Hero grunted and brushed the trail of blood from the side of his busted lip with the back of his hand, his voice tones sounded off and slightly muffled as his jaw appeared to be out of place. "Because otherwise, you wouldn't be in here having this argument, you would have gone and ignored me for the damn hundredth time." He then grabbed the sides of his face and forcefully realigned his crooked jaw with a noticeable popping sound, his voices sounded normal again as he spoke, "What else must it take to get you to come and say hello to your own dear brother?"

Notch lunged forward, caught the white-eyed man by his throat, and rammed him into the wall a second time before slinging his elbow into the man's gut and landing a fist against the side of Hero's face again. He tried to land another but Hero swung himself to the side to avoid the punch; he moved back and away from Notch as the sturdy wall crumbled from the sheer force that struck it. Heavy bricks rained down from the large opening and hit the floor with loud thuds; exposing the hallway. Herobrine then felt a grin form on his lips as his brother glared viciously at him; looking ready to attack again.

"If I knew that killing one of your pets would get your attention, then I would have done it much sooner." He taunted.

Enraged Notch flew right into his brother and drove the both of them through the nearest wall and into a large corridor, he then struck Hero in the chest before grabbing him by the arm and slinging him further down the hall. Herobrine flew outward from the inhumanly powerful swing and hit the ground roughly, bouncing a few times before rolling down the long passageway and ripping up the golden-colored carpet until he came to a stop by smacking into a nearby support beam of pure quartz. The whole pillar cracked at the base and slightly moved out of place, its heavy weight kept it from toppling over and crushing the man.

Herobrine grunted as he forced himself to stand back up, yet he still wore a devious smile on his face as he watched Notch coming toward him, charging at him with an expression of fiery vengeance. "Is that all you got, brother? Or have you forgotten what our battles used to be like?" He jeered. "Spending all that time locked away and lost in countless lines of numbers, never going outside and getting some fresh air or flexing your muscles. Pitiful."

"Silence!"

Hero ducked a strike and then slammed his fist into Notch's gut in retaliation, the taller man coughed then swiftly blasted Hero away with a shockwave of power and air, sending the man flying and stumbling back several feet. He didn't even get to adjust his footing before his brother flew back in a second time; sending them both careening through another wall and into the dining hall. By this time a few Valkyrie guards were alerted to the loud commotion and began flying into the large chamber to aid their master, whipping out swords, maces, and lances with determined looks on their faces.

Herobrine was sent crashing into a large antique skyroot table as Notch threw him, the wood splintered out in two from the abrupt impact. The royal blue fancy tablecloth was ripped in half as dishes of leftover food from dinner earlier that evening went flying out in all directions. Fruits, cooked meats, bread, and vegetables now littered the floor along with reflective silverware of plates, platters, eating utensils, and goblets. Dark red wine splattered across the ground and now stained the decorative fine linen carpets.

The white-eyed man quietly laughed as he pulled himself out from between the broken halves of the collapsed table and moved to stand on his bare feet, he saw one Valkyrie with a golden longsword about to slash at him and he swiftly evaded it by teleporting out of her line of sight and then reappearing behind the woman in a flash with a hand held out at her. A bolt of lightning surged through her body and limbs, it entered from her spine and erupted out of her chest and upward to the metal chandelier, she fell to the floor with a thud; dead in an instant with the smell of burnt flesh and feathers while small sparks danced along her silver armor plating.

Another winged warrior flew at him with an expression of grimace after witnessing the death of her comrade, she held her lance outward and cried aloud as she flew at the smirking bastard. But Hero didn't move, he let the spear rip through his chest and price him all the way through so that his prey would get close to him. He grins through the agonizing ordeal, biting back the pain as he swiftly throws his arm out and wraps his hand around the woman's neck as she tries to pull away. "Oh no you don't." He darkly grinned.

"Let... go." The Valkyrie growled and tried to pry away at the crushing grip around her throat, wincing and crying out as the man's grasp tightened.

"This isn't your fight, you should have minded your own business. But if you want to join in on the battle so badly, in on the fun; be my guest. It's more fun for me." He said darkly, he tightened his hold as she began flapping her wings backward while kicking her legs to try and pull out of his hold.

"Let her go!"

Hero looked over to see Notch several feet away, the man then raised his arm outward at his side as another Valkyrie tried to fly in; they ceased in place along with a few others that looked poised and ready to charge in.

"Why don't you come over here and make me brother?"

The bald man scowled with gritted teeth. "Don't you dare do it."

"Shouldn't have let them interfere from the start, this was our fight; this is what they get for meddling in a battle of gods." He then tightens his hold even more and the woman kicks at him with all her might, squirming and making muffled huffing sounds of struggle and desperation. The sound of crunching bone soon has the Valkyrie moaning with a gurgling soft noise as blood rushes up from her throat and spews out of her mouth; spattering to the floor she dangled over. She goes limp in seconds with her head rolling to the side, and her wings tremble a bit and flap a few times before going still.

Notch and the remaining Valkyries look on in rage and horror.

"I call it self-defense, she did spear me through after all, challenging her greater," Herobrine says as he carelessly drops the body to the floor at his feet and breaks the end of the spear behind his back so that he can rip the other half out of his chest from the front. He tossed both halves of the broken lance to his side and laughed with his arms held out at his sides in an entertaining fashion.

"It's been a while since I've felt some decent pain around here, but this can't match what you can do. ... Nor what I can do." Hero then pats at the gaping hole in the upper corner of his chest with his hand, smearing the blood a bit and having the crimson coating his palm as he boasts. "Why don't you come and show these ladies how it's really done?" He finished with a tilt of his head and a manic expression on his face.