The Broken Flame

Herobrine watched the woman turn on her heels, and he couldn’t help but gape at her beauty. She was lovely, her features were soft and cute, her figure was perfect, and everything about her energy filled him with good vibes. She was… stunning.

Cebrina blinked, but focused on the eyes of the man before her. He was shorter than her, and though he was someone she hadn’t seen before, he was wearing the crest of her kingdom. He was shorter, but his features were really nice and his figure was… cute. She didn’t know why, but she felt a sudden strong energy from this man, and she felt something she had never felt before. Cebrina couldn’t describe it, but it left a warm feeling in her chest. Something soft and wonderful.

And Herobrine was feeling the same way.

The Demi-God looked away with a hand on his chest. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to stare.”

“No, no, it’s quite alright,” Cebrina responded. “I get that a lot.” She smiled kindly. “I don’t think we’ve met. Are you a new member of the court? You wear our crest, but I’ve had yet to meet you.”

Brine nodded. “I’ve recently been given a place among your nobility. I come from the Aether and lived in a small house over one of the far hillsides. However, I could hear your people and saw how they struggled in basic survival. I felt the strong need to help them and I did so. Tulip let me help her and brought me to meet your parents. They believe I was sent to them by Iraura to help your people. I don’t believe it was her to send me, but I think fate drew me to this place.”

The princess smiled. “Well, thank you very much for your help. I had heard of your good deeds, but it seems like lots of people were frightened by your eyes at first. However, I don’t think they’re something to be feared. If nothing else… they’re beautiful.” 

Herobrine felt a soft blush dust his cheeks. “Oh… thank you.”

The woman chuckled. “By the way, no one told me your name.”

He bowed as a gentleman was expected to before royalty. “Herobrinious Hunter Jacob Diamond Alstrom. Everyone calls me Herobrine.”

Cebrina curtseyed. “Princess Cebrina Connoray Oakdred. I’m the middle daughter of the Oakdred family. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Herobrine.”

“And to you as well, Princess Cebrina.”

Celina watched the two, seeing how, for a moment, they just looked into each other’s eyes and seemed to content. She knew that look. It was the look Cenlar had given her the moment she realized she and him were in love with each other, the first love they had ever known. And that was the same look Herobrine and Cebrina had. A spark has lit between them and she realized something.

Cebrina was Herobrine’s first love. She was the first love he had ever known.

“You… you fell in love with her,” Celina murmured. 

“I did,” Herobrine responded. “Cebrina was everything I wanted. I got to know her as time went on, and she was a wonderful person. She was everything I had ever needed and wanted in a lover, and I cherished her.”

*****

Celina had heard the wavering in Herobrine’s voice as the memory shifted. This one seemed to be sometime after their first meeting, as the village was a little bigger. She could hear some giggling and she turned to a large hill, adorned with a beautiful oak tree. At the top of the hill sat Herobrine and Cebrina, sitting on a pink and orange woolen blanket with a small chest next to them. Cebrina chuckled as Herobrine spoke to her. Celina could see how the two seemed so happy in the company of each other. They made each other smile, they made each other content and Celina could see how much the Demi-God cherished her. They seemed like such good friends and something more as memories flashed by her. 

The memories were all of moments that she could tell had such important meaning to Herobrine. The first was of the picnic they had, where she could see the two’s hands touching as they talked and looked with such love at each other.

The next, a memory of the two going fishing together, Herobrine seeming to tell Cebrina something and showing her the techniques for the pole. She could see them reeling in fish after fish, laughing when they got splashed or talking when there was nothing in the water.

Celina then saw the two during the night, fighting side by side. Herobrine didn’t have his crimson swords that she had seen when he came to her castle, but instead wielded an enchanted diamond blade. Cebrina used an enchanted iron blade and had battle skills that were almost matching Herobrine’s. Her iron armor didn’t seem to slow her down in the slightest bit. Celina could see how Herobrine smiled with triumph against the night monsters, and Cebrina did the same.

“Wow,” Celina murmured again. “You did… everything with her. And she stayed by your side, even when you were fighting. She didn’t even have to fight with you, and yet she did. She stayed with you through everything you did.”

As more memories moved past her eyes, she could hear Herobrine speak. 

“I know. And that was one of the many things I loved about her. She was loyal, she was kind, and she stuck by me through every bit of strife I went through. She was there to comfort me and reassure me. And I always did the same for her. We had understanding and communication in our relationship. And that’s the secret to a loving relationship. Though we didn’t really know what dating was, we eventually ended up together. I loved her with everything I had in my being. I loved her so much. She was my Princess.”

“How long were you guys friends and...dating, I guess,” the queen asked.

“Two years. I had almost lost track of time until Cebrina reminded me. And it was after those two years that… I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Celina could see the young Herobrine walking around the halls of the castle. He seemed to be looking for something as he made his way towards the throne room. “Robert,” he called out. “Are you here?”

“Oh, Herobrine!” The king emerged from a small area beside his throne, walking over to the Demi-God. “Good afternoon, dear Demi-God. How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you.” His face suddenly turned to a more nervous one. He didn’t know how he was going to ask this question, or if he even should. He was very scared. 

Robert took notice of his anxiety and he frowned. “Is something wrong, Herobrine?”

“Not… exactly. I just needed… to ask you something.”

“And that would be?”

He took several deep breaths and tried to keep himself calm. He was scared, if this went wrong, he might as well just leave the kingdom and act like he never found this place. He might as well just throw himself into the dungeon if this went wrong.

Herobrine shook his head. He could do this.

“Herobrine?”

“I…” Herobrine huffed. “I love Cebrina. I truly, deeply, madly love her. She’s everything I ever wanted and I would never hurt her. I truly do care for her. I just… I wish I could better describe how much I love her. But… I need to ask you about something.”

Robert remained silent, but gave him a nod to continue.

Herobrine let out a soft sigh. “I… I want to ask Cebrina to marry me. I love her so much. Being able to spend the rest of my life with her would be the most I could ever ask for. And… I ask for your blessing to marry her.”

Robert seemed surprised by this, staying silent. Herobrine was afraid he had said something wrong, but those fears were pushed aside when Robert placed a gentle hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. Herobrine blinked in surprise.

“Herobrine… Cebrina has told me about how much she cares about you. She’s told me how much she loves you. How much she cherishes you. And honestly? No one has made my daughter so happy before in her life. She truly feels a bond with you and it warms my heart to how happy she is with you. You have more than my blessings to marry her. You are more than welcome to ask her.”

Herobrine smiled, closing his eyes. “Thank you, Robert. That means so much for me to hear.”

*****

The memory changed to show Herobrine and Cebrina sitting on the same hill where they had their first picnic and Celina realized that this place had important significance to him. This was where their love had blossomed and grown and she felt like she had seen this place before, before his memories. 

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it,” Cebrina asked as she looked into the sunset. Her gray eyes seemed to sparkle in the colors of the sky and in the light of the setting sun.

Herobrine nodded. “It truly is. It’s not as lovely as you though.”

She chuckled and lightly nudged his shoulder. “You’re far too sweet, my dear.” She smiled again, leaning against her shorter lover. “You make me so happy, you know that?”

“Oh?”

“Yes, Brine. You make me so genuinely happy. You made me smile and I love you more than anything. I can’t imagine my life without you. I… I love you so much.”

“And I you.” He looked down at his hand, before looking at Cebrina. “My Princess?”

“Yes?”

“I… I need to ask you something.”

Her expression shifted and she sat up, looking to the Demi-God. “Is something wrong, my dear?”

“No… no, nothing is wrong. But… can we stand up?”

Cebrina nodded and watched as Herobrine carefully took her hands into his. “Cebrina,” he started. “My love, my dear, my Princess. I love you. I have found happiness unlike anything I’ve ever known with you. You make me feel important and loved. You make me feel like I’m safe, like… I’m home with you. I will always cherish you, always love you, and I never want to hurt you. You make me happier than I had ever been in the Aether. I would be honored… if I could have your hand in marriage. I would be honored if you could be mine for the rest of our lives.”

Cebrina gasped as Herobrine got onto one knee and pulled out a tiny chest that could fit into a pocket. He opened it to reveal a golden ring with a small heart shaped diamond on it. Cebrina began to tremble and covered her mouth, tears falling from her eyes.

“Cebrina,” he spoke to her. “Will you marry me?”

“Oh, Brine! Of course I’ll marry you!” Cebrina squealed in delight as Herobrine slipped the ringer over her glove and onto her finger. He stood up and she pulled him into a tight embrace, never wanting to let him go. She placed gentle kisses all over his face, turning him into a giggling mess. She spun him around in her arms, before leaning into his touch and kissing him tenderly. “Brine… I’m so happy. I love you so much,” she said as she pulled away.

“I love you too, Cebrina. And I always will, my Princess.”

*****

The queen watched the sunset shift a bit. This memory looked to be about a year later. She could see that it was spring, with flowers blooming and animals moving about. She could see into the town square of the village, and crowds of the subjects stood in rows upong rows in front of an altar. There were petals floating about in the wind, pink tulip petals. Everything looked picture perfect as everyone, dressed in their best clothes, stood and waited.

Celina saw a young Herobrine standing at the altar, talking with a priest who seemed very excited for him. “This… this is your wedding.”

Noteblocks began to play as the queen turned her attention to the end of the citizens. There came Cebrina, her hand locked with that of her father’s. She was dressed in a beautiful pink gown with a large skirt, decorated with tulips and roses. Her same diamond necklace hung from her neck, shining in the brilliant light of the sunset. She walked to the altar, Herobrine turning to face her and taking her hands as her father let her go. “Hi,” she whispered.

“Hey,” Herobrine murmured back.

Celina could see the love between the two, the spark in their eyes as the priest spoke. They listened with their gaze never leaving each other. When it came time for the rings to be brought forward, Tulip presented them. Cebrina and Herobrine slipped the rings onto each other’s fingers.

“Cebrina Connorary Oakdred, do you take Herobrine as your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“I do,” she answered in the sweetest voice. 

“Herobrinious Hunter Jacob Diamond Alstrom, do you take Cebrina as your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“I do,” he spoke with the same love.

“By the power gifted to me by the Minecraftian gods, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!”

Celina’s heart melted as Herobrine pulled his wife close, kissing her with such care. She couldn’t help but smile. “That’s so sweet… my heart just…” She could feel tears in her eyes. Herobrine had truly been happy and she couldn’t help but cry. It was so wonderful and she suddenly wondered about something:

If this moment had truly happened to Herobrine… then whatever happened to his wife?