The Broken Flame

Celina watched in horror as Herobrine jumped down from the Nether cloud, landing a hard kick to her face and making her stumble back and fall to the floor. She cried out and held her face as she sat there, until a hand pulled her back up, making her yelp.

Herobrine pulled the girl up by the collar of her shirt and held onto tightly. He snarled and pulled his hand back, punching her in the face. “You insignificant little whelp!” he shouted to her. The Lord of the Mobs then kicked her in the stomach and made her cry out again. “You really think you could best me in combat?!” 

A loud slap was heard as he smacked her, making blood run down from the corner of her mouth and causing the queen to tremble in pain. Celina found the bright eyes and deep scowl of the Demi-God almost making her regret her decision. She was in Herobrine’s grasp with no escape, no way to free herself and now, she was really going to get beat to death by the Demi-God.

The being growled again and looked at the human with great fury. “You really thought you could battle with me?! I could just snap your neck and throw you through the stone walls of your castle right now! Is that what you want me to do?!”

Celina shook her head and whimpered out, “N--no…”

Herobrine closed his eyes for only a moment as he responded with, “Than just give--” Then, he opened them. “...Up?”

The human girl he had been fighting moments ago was no longer in his grasp, but instead, a different woman. 

She had tanned skin, gray eyes, and long black hair, down to her feet. She was wearing a magenta shirt with purple sleeves and yellow ribbons across the chest, a violet skirt that revealed one leg, pink ballet flats, white gloves, and a diamond hanging from a necklace. She was bruised and battered, with a large stab wound in her chest.

Herobrine’s expression fell, his eyes softening with sadness. Wait, this isn't right. She wasn’t supposed to be here. “Wha…” he whispered, not even realizing the woman was reeling a hand back. “But… but you’re supposed to be--”

A fist landed on his face and he let the human go, pulling back and closing his eyes with hands on his face. He quickly reopened his eyes and looked to find the human queen in a defensive stance once more, glaring at him with those gray eyes. Herobrine blinked a few times, before baring his teeth and snarling. “You’re going to pay for that, girl!” he shouted. He pulled back and attempted to roundhouse kick her…

Only for the human to do the same thing, causing their legs to collide. Both of them pulled back, Celina’s face filled with determination, Herobrine’s with rage. She attempted again to punch him, only for the Demi-God to grab her wrist and spin around, just as he had done with Steve in the forest. Celina suddenly found herself flying backwards, past Steve and towards the nearest window.

The sound of glass shattering filled her ears when she impacted the glass, and the queen felt stinging pains all over her arms and legs as it happened, hearing cloth tear. She then hit the ground, landing flat on her back as raindrops plopped against her skin and soaked into her clothes. Celina managed to push herself up on wobbling arms and coughed loudly. 

“Da--Damn it,” she thought aloud. “He’s… he’s too freakin’ strong. Why does he have to be so strong? There’s no way I can do this. What did I get myself into?”

The girl managed to get onto her feet with shaking knees, doing everything in her power to keep from falling down and passing out in the grass. If she did that now, it would be the end of her. “I’ve… I’ve got to get away,” she whispered, hoping the man wouldn’t hear her. “Maybe I can get help. I can’t do this alone. I just… I can’t--”

“Going somewhere, Your Highness?”

Celina’s eyes went wide, she turned to look at the window frame and saw Herobrine had stepped through it and was now walking towards her with slow, deliberate steps. She tried to back away in an attempt to get away, even though she knew there was no escape now.

Herobrine chuckled darkly. How the tables had turned for this human, how foolish she was. “You really thought you could take a stand against me, whelp,” he asked, seeing the fear evident on her face. “You really made a fatal mistake. It may just be the worst mistake in your pitiful life.”

Celina gasped when he suddenly disappeared, only to reappear in front of her and slamming a fist into her face. She toppled to the ground, only to be grabbed by the neck, a hand wrapping around her jugular. She couldn’t move, all her energy was gone now. It had all been sapped away and now, she was at Herobrine’s mercy. The queen could only look at him with watery eyes filled with so much dread.

Herobrine chuckled again. The look on her face was priceless, she was down and now, he could take her soul and display a well earned trophy. “Look at you, girl,” he mused. “You really thought you would emerge the victor? You’re so foolish. You’re so naive. You were doomed from the start. Say goodbye to your kingdom, because your soul is mine now.”

Celina bowed her head in defeat. “No…” she thought. “I failed. I tried so hard to win, but look where that got me. I lost. I’m sorry, Irona. I’m sorry, everyone.” Tears began to roll down her face. “I’m sorry, Steve. Forgive me. I tried, I really did. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I promised, and now I’ve broken my promise. Forgive me, Steve.”

As she let herself go limp in Herobrine’s grasp, a memory took her mind, the memory of her first meeting with Steve.

*****

Four Years Ago…

*****

A young girl sat atop a stone block against an unfinished structure made of the same block. She had tanned skin and dark hair with gray eyes. She wore a magenta shirt, indigo shorts, pink mary-janes, a yellow belt, and a pink bow in her hair.

The girl had her hands over her mouth and her eyes sealed shut. Tears streamed down the sides of her face as her body shook with her sobs.

Celina couldn’t seem to control herself. She couldn’t stop her cries. She was overcome with the reality of her situation, and didn’t even hear the sounds of another’s footsteps as they approached her.

“Hey, are you alright?”

Celina’s eyes opened and she blinked away some of the droplets in them. She could see a young person in front of her, they didn’t look anymore than eighteen years old. They wore a cyan t-shirt, jeans, and big gray boots. They had short brown hair with bangs hanging down, violet eyes, and fair skin. Freckles dotted their cheeks. They carried an iron pickaxe in one hand.

Celina sniffled before shaking her head. She didn’t mean to cause any concern, she didn’t even see this person walk up to her. “So--sorry,” she spoke in a quiet voice. “I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I was just… thinking too hard.”

The person smiled softly. “No need to apologize,” they said. They got onto one knee to get to her level. “My name’s Steven Alfonce Mindrall. Everyone calls me Steve. I go by he and him. I live in a village about a mile to the South.”

The girl could see that this man was very genuine, and he seemed so sweet to just stop and check on her when he didn’t even know her. She smiled for this first time in a while. “I’m Celania Rose. I go by Celina. She and her.”

“Nice to meet you, Celina,” the man, now known to her as Steve, said with a hand held out. She took it and shook.

“Same to you,” she replied.

Steve beamed. This girl seemed so sweet, so young, she couldn’t have been any older than him. And she was out here all alone. Which brought him to another question. “Celina, why are you crying out here by yourself? You seemed really distressed. Is something wrong?”

Celina’s face fell and her eyes began to water again. She sniffled and held up a hand. “Well, my parents were killed just a few weeks ago. My siblings and I were asleep and I woke up and saw my mother and father get killed in a skeleton attack. I had to be the one to tell my brothers and sisters what happened. We… we decided to split and move out from our old home.”

Steve put a hand to his chest at seeing the pain and sadness on her features. “Oh, no… I’m sorry for your loss.”

She waved a hand. “No need to apologize, Steve.” Her voice began to stutter as she continued. “It’s--just… I’m only fourteen. I’ve ne--never been… on my own. I don’t… know--if--I can do this. I’m so scared. I feel so alone. I just…” Her breath caught in her throat as her whole body shook with grief. 

A gentle hand suddenly held one of hers and Celina looked up to see Steve with a loving grin on his face. She blinked in surprise as he started to talk.

“Celina, let me tell you something.” He tilted his head to one side. “I know things seem tough right now, but I want to give you some advice. Whenever I feel that way, I always remember an old motto my mother used to tell me. She used to tell me that when I felt like giving up, ‘Fight a good fight to the very end.’ No matter how bleak things seem, you’ve just gotta keep going.” He chuckled. “I’m sure your parents would want you to do the same, and I can promise you, if you keep fighting, you can get through anything.” He stood and helped the tiny girl to her feet.

Celina found a small smile crossing her face for the first time that day. Something about his words and tone were very reassuring and she found herself smiling with him. 

Steve used a hand to wipe the tears from her eyes and she giggled. “Thank you, Steve. That… that helps a lot. How can I repay you?”

Steve shook his head. “No need to, kid. Just remember…”

*****

“Fight a good fight…”

*****

Celina’s eyes snapped open, before she narrowed them and glared at the being holding her neck. “To the very end,” she whispered.

Herobrine grinned wickedly and began to speak. “Any last words, Your--”

“TO THE VERY END!” shouted the queen. She quickly reeled a hand back as adrenaline pumped into her veins and slammed it into Herobrine’s face, causing his head to fall back for a second. 

The Nether Prince looked at the girl with confusion on his face. He could hear her heart beginning to pick up its beat and her energy signature was getting stronger now. “What the hell,” he whispered. “How did you--”

That was when Celina managed to pick up a leg, pull it back and slam it into his chest, right in the middle of it with a shout.

“EEEERRRAAAHHHH!” A short shrill scream escaped Herobrine’s lips and he lost his grip on the human. He stumbled back with his arms around his chest. Deep agony was surging from his chest into his limbs and he couldn’t help but let out a hiss as he backed away. No human had ever managed to hit him there before and it hurt. It was a pain he was unfamiliar with and touching it made it worse.

Celina watched the man with furrowed brows and a deep frown, spitting blood from her mouth. She had done something to hurt him and this might just give her the chance she needed.

Herobrine felt something warm seep from under his shirt and he pulled his hands away to see splotches of purple blood on his palms. He felt something beginning to boil inside of him as he returned his gaze to the human. An eye twitched as he shook with rage. “You… little… no good…” He shook his head and suddenly screeched, “GLITCHED EXCUSE FOR A MINECRAFTIAN!” He then pulled an arm back.

Celina was ready this time, and she felt herself being pushed back when a hand suddenly slammed into her crossed arms. She barely managed to hold back the blow.

Herobrine’s frown deepened but he kept the surprise off his face. How the hell did she do that?! No human could block his punches, he was much faster than any mortal. How did she manage to do that? 

Celina suddenly reached out and grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him forward towards her. 

Herobrine’s eyes widened a bit and he exclaimed, “How did you--what are you doing?!”

Celina’s eyes were filled with anger, but not just that. They also held a determination in them and as she looked into the glowing blank ones of the powerful man, she didn’t let it fall. She then spoke to him. “If you ever threaten the people I love, trust me when I say these words: I will not be afraid of you anymore.”

“We’ll see about that!” The man then gave her an uppercut, causing her to grab her chin. Her teeth had practically slammed together when he did that, but it didn’t faze her for long. Celina quickly recovered with the adrenaline blocking out most of the pain. She threw a fist towards him again, and when he grabbed her wrist, she leaned down with a growl a bit into his arm.

The Demi-God snarled. She really had the audacity touch him with her hands and her mouth of all things? Pathetic! He quickly grabbed her by one of the ribbons on her short, picking her up and slinging her back towards the opening left by the broken window. Herobrine could hear the thud of her hitting the stone floor.

Herobrine chuckled darkly and closed his eyes as he strolled back to the window and climbed inside. This girl may have had that brief chance to fight him, but now she would pay dearly for what she had done. And there was no escape for her. He would take her soul, wake Steven up, and let him see the body of his friend, limp with a lack of life. She would be quite the trophy to have, wouldn’t she? The first mortal to try and take a stand against him in centuries.

“You might as well give up now, girl,” he spoke, still walking. “Your attempts to defeat me are nothing but a minor inconvenience to me. You will die in this battle, so just…” He then opened his eyes. And they went wide.

She was gone.

Herobrine could still hear her heartbeat loud in her chest, and sense her. “Where…”

Celina stared down at the back of the man, having scrambled to her feet and hid against the wall during his little monologue. Now was her chance.

Quick footfalls came from behind the Lord of the Mobs, but before he could turn, the queen held her arms out and slammed into the being with every ounce of strength she could. The two fell to the ground, Herobrine’s face hitting the stone hard. Celina quickly sat up on his back. “That’s it, Herobrine! Now, you’re going to pay for everything you’ve done!”

The Nether Prince turned his head and pushed himself up with his arms. “Get off of me, you little--” He was cut off when a fist slammed into his face, sending him back to the ground.

“Listen, you white-eyed dragon scum!” Celina shouted to him. “I know how much stronger you are than me! I know!” She then punched him again when he tried to turn his head, slamming her fist into his cheek.

“But you made the mistake of threatening someone who’s like a brother to me!” She punched him one more time, before standing on his back. “You threatened not just me, but Steve, too! And you hurt Irona and nearly beat my figurative brother to death!”

The human lifted a leg before slamming it back down, hitting him hard with her shoe. “You thought I would be begging you for mercy! You didn’t think I could put up a fight! You made a big mistake!”

The girl moved from his back and Herobrine turned to push himself up with his arms, now facing her. “Get away from me,” he snarled. “You--”

A leg landed on the open wound on his chest and he gasped, before screaming out, “EEERRRAAAHHHHH!”

“Zip it, you white-eyed monster!” Celina yelled. “You hurt people who are like family to me! So guess what?! I won’t be afraid of you anymore!” She kicked his chest again, hearing him wail again. It didn’t move her. She let her claws come out as she screeched out, “If you ever threaten my friends and family again, I’ll make you pay! DON’T YOU EVER THREATEN MY FAMILY! EVER!” She plunged her claws into his chest with one swift motion.

Herobrine wailed out as loud as he could. “AAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAHHHHHH!” As soon as she pulled her hand away, he fell onto his side, clutching into his chest as much as he could without touching the wound. Pain like a fire was pulsing in his ribcage and he tried to draw in cool breaths to soothe the ache. He hadn’t felt anything like this is millennia and he couldn’t help but curl up, teeth gritting hard.

Celina glared down at the white-eyed beast, before her eyes moved to her crown and sword a few yards away. After waiting a moment to make sure he wouldn’t get up, she walked over to her missing items, pulling her gloves back on as she did so.

Herobrine growled and rolled onto his back, pushing himself up with one arm. The other was still on his chest, still holding onto his wound. 

Just as he opened his eyes, a sword was pointed towards him, making his expression turn to surprise. He followed the enchanted blade’s length up to see it in the hand of the human girl.

Celina ignored the anger on his face and spoke, her own rage visible on her features. “Herobrine,” she spoke, her voice strong, like the kind of a monarch speaking to her army. “I have you down and on the ground. I cannot kill you, but I have wounded you and debilitated you. Therefore, you have lost.

Her next words rang throughout the room, signaling the shift in Minecraftia’s fate forever.

“And I have won.”