(my "speed-run" failed lol

at least no one is here to complain about it. *sadness*) 

          .....Scratch that thing about things not being able to get any worse...because they absolutely can, and did. 

It all started off with your sister-in-law getting pregnant. Your brother and her decided the city was no place to raise a baby... Who'd-a figured..? So, with heavy hearts, they left you and Steve for a house outside the country. You were too poor to follow... Your family wasn't the tightest, but you had at least hoped your brother would think of the consequences of this. 

Because you no longer had anyone to look after Steve for free, you had to drop him off at a day-care every day. This drained more money than you could make. By the end of only one month, you had only enough money to rent out someone's empty garage to live in... Fun... 

You sighed heavily, plopping down on your bed, which was right next to the cradle...meaning there was no escape from his cries at night... Steve sat up in his cradle, playing again with his blocks, making a wall with them by the looks of it. 

You could barely just lift your head enough to look at him. It took an insane amount of makeup to keep your coworkers from asking if you were alright. While they always meant it in a nice way...most of the time at least...you couldn't have anyone thinking you were incapable of working, and therefore fired. Laying your head on the pillow again, you nearly fainted right then and there, until you heard little Steve beginning to whine. 

"Shut the Nether up, I'm trying to sleep... You should be thanking me for breaking my back for you every day. It's too bad the orphanages here suck, or you'd probably be in one of 'em!" You griped. Though you knew Steve didn't know what you were talking about, you still felt pretty bad for talking to him like that. He wasn't doing anything to make things hard... You just wished you had an easy way out of this.. Steve only began to wail at the sound of your stern voice. 

Regretfully, you picked yourself out of bed and picked the 6 month old up, shhh-ing him calmly as you laid back down in your bed, placing him to your side. Little Steve sat up and began crawling around you contently. You just laid there, wondering if this would be your entire life now. 

As hopeless as your situation may have seemed, you were still a diligent worker, in both of your jobs.. and that half job you only did on Thursdays: taking out the trash at the nearest school yard. You still held hope that if you worked hard enough.. you would get a promotion, as well as better payment. 

"Hhhhh, don't worry, Steve... I would sell everything I had before.. you know. Making you go there." You affirmed to the young child, distaste on your tongue. You knew all too well how terrible some of the orphanages here were. You had experienced that first-hand... 

You used to have a whole family, though you barely remember it. Just you, your mom and dad, and your older brother. Everything changed (when the Fire Nation attacked -NO! 😂) when your dad died when an Immortal, Entity303 you think it was, "accidentally" blew up the building your father worked in. You were only 5 and your brother was only 7. Things became hard for your mom. You remember times similar to what is happening right now, except for you, your mom eventually gave you and your brother up to the nearest orphanage. You had vowed to try everything in your power before doing what she had. 

To say life in the orphanage was terrible, would be an understatement. You have mostly repressed those memories into oblivion by now, but from time to time you'll count yourself blessed to not have to sleep on the floor, always the one getting sick when new kids from the street were brought in... At least you're now immune to pretty much everything imaginable.. 

After 6 to 7 years, at the age of 12, your mom had earned enough to adopt you and your brother back into the family. Your brother had hardened a lot more than you over the years, and he never did forgive Mom.. but you were much more forgiving, though it took you a while. She raised the two of you up the best she could. Your brother got a job and worked full shifts as soon as he was old enough, almost knowing your mom would get severely ill. Because, good thing he had. When he was 16 your mom got the flu, and by the time he turned 18 she was dead, so your brother had taken care of you until you got a job too and moved out only a couple years later. And ever since then you and your brother have been the hardest workers you've known. You can't even imagine a life where you don't have to work! 

(lol backstory) 

(this isn't cannon but, eViL BrOTheR theory? Did brother kill mom? O.o 😂) (brother also didn't forgive because of all the pain he had to watch (Y/n) go through. Yeah, he was in the same place as she, but he felt responsibility for her.... Just some character developed for this unnamed character real quick. 😅) 

After a while of laying there thinking, you realized Steve had curled up beside you, snoring softly. He was still so small, but, maybe he was old enough now for you not to hurt him on accident in your sleep? Eh? You were so tired already, and you didn't want to have to wake up little Steve in his sleep, so, you decided to just fall asleep as well. It actually turned out fine. And when you woke up the next morning, you realized he hadn't woken you all night! Score! 

Good thing you had tested that when you did, because only a few days later you had to sell his crib just to pay off the rent. There was hardly anything left to sell after that!... Consider it the last straw... 

You had a short panic attack in your garage house before going to pick up Steve from the daycare. Things were getting worse than you had ever imagined. Now you might have things like becoming homeless not just a worry, but something needing to prepare for. While sitting alone, on the floor, you went through your options. 

...Maybe traversing a foreign dimension in search for help from an Immortal didn't sound that bad after all... 

It had taken you over a month to process this, but now you were about ready to do the unbelievable. 

It was time to do the impossible. 

...Where in the Nether does that Herobrine live..? 

-------when you combine short chapters months after writing them-------

Turns out... Where he lived was the Nether... Of course it was...

After maybe a week's worth of researching, preparing, and selling the last of your belongings just to feed the two of you, you used up the very last of your money on a map and one of those baby carrying things normal parents usually put their children in. Only you made sure to get ones with straps going over the shoulders.. in case you ended up-side-down or something.

On your back went your child, and on your belt went the last of the bottles both containing (store)milk for him and food for you. After strapping yourself up, tying your hair above your head so it wouldn't get pulled by Steve's curious hands, you left for the nearest portal.

In the very center of the he city was a large tower, and on the bottom floor of that tower was what was famously known as the portal room. A portal to all three other dimensions stood, heavily restricted depending on the portal and the dangers beyond. The Nether portal was by far the most restricted. The End had been turned into a tourist attraction, and the Aether was practically paradise! The Nether was the only realm no one could truly tame.

As you arrived, you folded the map of the dangerous realm up and shoved it into your pocket, having memorized your route by then, and cracked your knuckles as you strode in, mother on a mission.

"Um, excuse me, mam, but the Nether is far too dangerous for anyone under 18, and, um... That's a baby on your back." One of the guards stated the obvious.

"Listen, I know the dangers, but I need to get through that portal."

"Need' is such a strong word. Are you sure you can't just be alright with going to the Aether for a vacation?.. Or, um, at least waiting until your child has grown up?"

"With all to respect.." You inhaled, "This is a matter of life or death; I am not just going on vacation. I have no other choice! Besides, I know exactly where I am going." The guard just rolled his eyes.

"Alright alright, I've heard every excuse known to man, and you're just sounding like some weird cultist trying to sacrifice their baby to Herobrine or something.. Now don't get all upset at me, but it's my job to make sure no one enters the Nether unless they are above 18 and have proper identification. Now, if you keep pestering me about this I will just have to call authorities and have your child confiscated for further inspection. Is that what you want?" ...You were almost hoping it would be easier than this..

You lowered your head, obviously not wanting that. "No...of course not. But I'm not some cultists, dude!! Why would you even think that?!"

"I've had some weeeiiiird women walk up to me, wanting into that portal. For most of them it's because they're thirsty for hot immortals, and heard Herobrine lives in there. I've even had some show up, wanting to propose marriage to him or something...Makes me want to separate myself from the human race sometimes..." He answered very dryly. (Editor me: omg, I love this guy! XD)

You just frowned. Why on earth would anyone actually want to meet an Immortal? They are famously known for destroying things when when angered! Surely, people would realize this and just leave them alone!

"If you really need something, though, I would recommend going to Notch. The dude has finally returned from hiding, back to his old self, open to helping others again. I'm sure he could help you with whatever. Just... don't move there. That realm is already talking about kicking people out due to over population and rising crime. So, I'd suggest you just stay in the Over World.... which is here in case you didn't know."

After realizing there really wasn't anything you could do here, you shifted gears to further proclaim that that you are not some weird, desperate cultist. "Oh, well, thanks!" You waved, walking away. There was nowhere to walk to anymore, so you had to find some way to go through that portal. At the very least, you had a backup plan: talk to Notch and ask him for help. Though, not sure if he really would help you with that. Now that you think about it, he might just try to use Steve as leverage against his brother in case of a time they might get into another "tussle" again. ...Uugghhh.. That definitely wouldn't be the best of situations...

As you walked away, you spotted a group of teenagers, looking like the typical troublemakers. A couple were testing out smoking while the rest settled with juggling knives. Though slowly, their group appeared to be headed towards the portals at the base of the tower, a floor which was completely open beside several thick pillars that held up the tower above. That was a neat feature of architecture. The most bizarre of ideas sprung into your head as you walked up to these teens.

"Hey, I'm looking for some help. I want to enter one of the portals, but the guards won't let me. How about we make a deal? I pay you with the remaining money I have -- I only have maybe five iron coins left -- and you guys distract the guards long enough for me to slip through?" You asked, hoping they were hungry enough for a challenge to accept it.

"Well, I mean, you have a baby with you, so maybe the guard has a point." One of the teens: a girl further in the back tossing knives, commented. Drat.

"Yeah, well... I have family there, but the guards don't care. My...husband is on the other side.. waiting for me." It hurt to say, especially since it wasn't true.

"Well that's no good! Those stupid guards keeping families separated. Makes me sick!" One of the boys spat. "We'll help you, and we won't need that money either. Hey, Ronny, got any fireworks on you?"

"You know it!"

"Oh, please, let me pay you at least a little!" More out of guilt, you dearly wished to pay these teens for stepping up for you.

"Eh.. sure, I guess. Whoever does the least screaming doesn't get a coin!" That same boy shouted, rallying the rest. You handed them your last five coins. They all ran forward, one of them setting off some of those small fireworks that just spark as they dance around, making noise and drawing attentions, but dealing no actual damage to enything. You snuck around, trying to hide among the rest of the startled people as you crept nearer. Those kids did a good job at distracting, and they had fun with it too.

Only problem was that the loud noises started scaring Steve, who began to cry as you came to the frame of the portal. Luckily the three guards there were too busy chasing off the teens and calling authorities to notice, and you pressed through the transparent swirls, only then dreading what you might find on the other side.

-------------------------

(Whoo! The speed run has continued apparently. I have already written another 2 chapters just today, though I don't think I will be able to finish this one today.. idk)

The first thing you noticed about the place was dark red, EVERYWHERE. The colors of death itself all coming together to make some lovely landscapes, consisting of lava oceans, sheer cliffs, wonderfully sharpened dark red stones, and off in the distance, beautifully terrifying forests of crimson and fire red!... You're being sarcastic...

Digging your heels into the rock below, already too deep into this mess to pull yourself out of it, you strode in the direction you knew was right based on that map from earlier. Steve did not calm down after realizing the world around him had suddenly changed. He cried for a good 10 minutes before finally losing the breath to scream any longer. You just hoped no monster had heard him. You heard your fair share of ghasts, blazes, piglins, and the bunch. Ghasts had nearly been hunted out of existence, so they weren't as much of a threat. Blazes were also rare, only seen these days in highly secure farms, which many businesses have managed to create monopolies over their rare resources. And piglins...mostly ignored. They used to attack whoever didn't wear gold armor, but after a few wars, have backed down from that stance. Now they only attack in defense or when they catch someone escaping with their gold.

Still, even after all of these changes to the realm, it has still managed to be an unruly place, mostly thanks to the wild beasts.. and the Immortals who call it home, which is surprisingly a lot more than you originally thought! Herobrine obviously being the most powerful of these immortals, though he has avoided conflict for some time now... Hopefully a good sign..

It's mostly anarchy in this realm, however from your research you deducted that Herobrine's power almost automatically made him a respected immortal, serving as almost a leader...? You don't really know. No one really does besides the immortals themselves. Though, it's likely that a majority of the immortals just want to stay on Herobrine's good side, so they support him, hoping that in return they can use him against their own enemies almost as a threatening device...? Idk, anarchy is confusing.

The inclines were especially difficult; sheer cliffs that were especially hard to scale with a 6 month old on your back. The map said his fortress was only a few hours away, however it hadn't put into consideration that you would be crawling through at a slime's pace. Little Steve of course wasn't happy about the long trip either. Several times you had to stop for a short break, allowing yourself and Steve to drink some water. A baby Hoglin charged at you one time, but all you had to do was shout at it and it ran away. Besides that no real beast came out to attack you, which you were more than greatful for. Trying to imagine yourself out running a monster was unbearable as a thought! You stumbled your way through a soul sand valley for a while too. Not fun. A skeleton almost shot you. You had to throw your shoe at it. (Grabbing the shoe back, of course. No man left behind.)

What really began to boil your blood was when the two of you finally arrived at the fortress the immortal was calculated to be in... It looked more like a castle! Red and gold banners dangled below the bridges. The wither skeletons situated around it wore armor, you noticed from afar, looking for a way in. Perhaps just arriving at the front door peacefully would be your best shot.

Dark Nether brick was also accompanied with even darker black bricks, adding more VAriEtY to the structure. Blocks such as gold were also used to decorate these external walls, flexing on all them haters.

After getting a good scope of the land, you strode your way to the front door, ready to get yourself some help. There was nowhere else go go but up!

You knocked three times on the door... Followed by another three... Hhh, he was probably too far away to hear it, or not even there. This whole map could be a hoax for all you know! Oh wait, a button. You pressed the small button. The door didn't open, but you could hear a plethora of echoes as bells rang up and down the castle. You peered through a small hole in the door as a flash of white light suddenly brought a man into existence. He stood a lot taller than expected, dark tanned skin, dark brown hair, a short scruffy beard, and two shining white eyes. The door made of dark iron opened carefully, at first opened to show half of the man before you. He sure was built, and held an aura of power around him you could sense immediately, though you didn't know how.

You had had no time to mentally prepare for it. But here you were, standing before Herobrine...Steve's father.

(Ayyy! So I was able to write a third chapter today!)