The Tale of Dead and Alive

Once upon a time, there were two brothers. Their names were Dead and Alive.
Alive always did what he was supposed to, what was good and righteous, but Dead only did the right thing when he felt like.

One day, a man came up to Dead and told him that Alive was trying to get all the attention and love from every people they know. He was trying to become the ruler of the whole entire nation in which they lived. Dead didn't like hearing that and told the man he would do absolutely anything to stop it.

The man said that Dead would have to kill everyone he ever knew and enslave his elder brother to become the ruler. Dead agreed with the man's plan and began to sharpen his sword, shine his armor, and everything else he needed to do in order to kill his friends and family.

He put on his armor and picked up his sword when he finished preparing. Then he began to seek out all of the people he knew. The first person he found was his closest friend's youngest son who had just began to reach the age where he was able to notice the world around him.

'Dead,' The small boy asked when he saw Dead, 'What you doing'? Why you wearing' you armor and carrying your sword?'

When the boy said this, the innocence in his soul shone through his eyes, and Dead was unable to kill him. He dropped his sword and began to cry. The boy did not know that Dead was gonna kill him just seconds before, and he comforted Dead. This made Dead cry even harder than before, because he knew that the little boy shouldn't be doing it.

The man who told Dead to kill everyone saw him not killing the boy, and became enraged. He took his sword from his own belt and slaughtered many of Dead's friends. Eventually, Alive killed the man, but he was murdered in the process.

Dead was very guilt ridden about his brother's death, for it was his actions that caused Alive and many of his friends to be slaughtered. Dead knew that he didn't deserve to live and was dead on the inside, but he knew his death would free him from his mental anguish. So, he stayed among the land of the living, so he could live everyday with all the internal pain he had from it all.

Everyday, Dead went to his brothers grave and the grave's of all the other people who died that night and apologized to them many times over. He was knew he did not earn their forgiveness. After all, who would be able to forgive him after all he had done.

Then one day, when Dead was sleeping he had a dream. In his dream Alive appeared in front of him and said, 'Idiotic little brother of mine, you really think I would not forgive you?' Dead was terrified. 'His brother was dead and should not be able to speak to him.

'I am your brother, Dead. It's my job to love you, even with all of the idiotic things you do.' He hugged his brother, who was still frightened. 'It was a mistake, little brother.' Dead continued, 'We all make mistakes. You can't change the past. So, why be scared of it when you can look on brightly towards the future?