Wither

Chapter 26-Tyrrany

*Sora's POV*

As I gazed at the black shafted arrow, caked with blood, and felt a surge of ice freeze my blood. I looked at my own arrows, which were oak wood with iron tips, standard arrows. Flint's betrayal hurt me like an actual knife was pressed against my throat, or a hand was strangling my heart. I cleaned off the arrow and put it in my quiver. "I'm going out," I said emotionlessly, stringing my bow. "I'll lead the first volley."

"Sora, no, you're being irrational," Ember placed a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off and began to stride towards the spire. "Sora, I said no!" Ember yelled and darted ahead, blocking my way. "I know he has hurt you, but you're going to get yourself killed if you go out there. Don't do it!"

I breathed in deeply and felt shameful. "You have a point," I sighed. "Let's let the army out."

***

Our approach was eerily silent as our flying troops advanced in four groups. I stood with my troop of blazes, Seto with his to my side. Behind us, Lauren and Ember commanded their ghast and blaze mixes. We faced the swarm of zombie pigmen, magma cubes, and wither skeletons. I knew that somewhere in the midst of warriors was Flint. They all looked surprised at the numbers we'd gathered; no match for them, but a formidable force nonetheless. Herobrine suddenly teleported in front of us and yelled, "Who is your leader?"

Romani stepped forward. The rather short man looked like midget in front of Herobrine. "I am," he said simply. His voice rang with authority.

"Listen...you-," Herobrine was cut off as Romani held up a hand.

"No need for such formality; you may call me Romani," our leader said. "General Romani."

Herobrine looked slightly flushed. "Listen, Romani," he sneered. "We hear that you have the one called Toboe. Give us to her and we will not bother you any longer." His eyes shone with pain and he unconsciously clenched his hand around his abdomen.

Romani gave a bittersweet smile. "I'm afraid we can't do that."

Herobrine's eyes flashed dangerously. "I'll give you one minute to reconsider."

Romani gave that sympathetic smile again. "The time is not needed, we are no-."

A figure in a black cloak raced by. It flipped back the hood and revealed Toboe. "I'll come with you."

Ember cried out and Jayden, who was amidst my battalion, howled in anger. "Toboe, no, we'll fight for you!" He yelled, fighting through the crowd. He tumbled out, gasping, and grabbed her. She squirmed, but he firmly held her.

Reluctantly, Herobrine said, "Minute up. What is your decision?"

Jayden pressed his hand against Toboe's mouth and she shouted incoherent words. "We will fight," Romani snarled, his cool, calm demeanor gone. He produced a glove and slapped Herobrine with it.

Herobrine's eyes glowed with anger. We backed up unconsciously as he roared, "Attack!" He pointed his sharp broadsword up and towards us. It burst into white flames. His massive army surged forward and ours met it. I cast an invisibility illusion on myself and weaved through the chaos, looking for Flint. I saw him frantically swimming through bodies, trying to get out. I moved towards him and pushed him through. He landed on the red netherrack with a thump. He got up and dusted himself up. I dissolved my illusion and, sensing someone, he turned around.

"Sora?" He gasped.

"Save it for someone who cares, traitor," I snarled and unslung my bow in one fluid movement.

He scuttled away and drew his own weapon. "Sora, no, you don't understa-!"

"Oh, I think I understand! It was too dangerous for you to continue on the losing side, so you had to go to the one with the most numbers!" I shot an arrow at him. He rolled out of the way and got up.

"No, my-my sister! Herobrine cap-!" He desperately fired at me.

"Now you're making up stories!" I snarled, gracefully dodging.

"No, no, why would you think that?" He yelped and jumped away.

"Because you left, you're part of Herobrine's army, and now you're stuttering!" I spat. He bristled and shot a volley of arrows at me. I ducked and they flew harmlessly above me. "And this is what I think of cowards, traitor," I said menacingly. He toppled over and I swiftly held him down with my foot. I drew the black shafted arrow and saw the guilty light shine in his eyes. I slowly drew the string, tears glittering in my eyes, and shot his leg, exactly where Mabel had been injured. He howled in pain and I stepped off of him. Blood pooled around him and his eyes rolled up into his head.

"Oh, crap," I realized what I had done. He was desperate, and I may have just killed him. I yanked the arrow out and he moaned. The wound gushed more of the foul red liquid. I choked on a sob and looked for anything to cover the injury. My eyes landed in a hastily crumpled paper in Flint's pocket. I unfolded it and scanned it.

Herobrine's Plan

1. Send out fleet
2. Instill fear-a lot of fear
3. Kill everyone with a rebel force of ghasts, blazes, and animals from the Overworld/End
4. Get Toboe and personally see to the death of the ghast/pillow

It was signed with a short note from Flint.

I found this in Herobrine's study when I was looking for my sister, who was captured by Herobrine. Please forgive me; I couldn't let her die. Please tell Sora...

The rest was blotted out except for a signature at the bottom. I noticed that it was blotted with blood, blood that had seeped into his jacket from the arrow wound. I tore the plan and note from the rest of the paper and covered the bloody part of it with the paper. I removed his jacket and made a bandage, replacing the paper. "Peterson!" I yelled.

Soon the ghast, who was attending medical duties, appeared. "Take him to the tent, and give this paper to Romani," I murmured. "I've got business to attend to."

With that happy note, I sped off into the bloodbath, drawing my rapiers and quickly delving into battle.