The Broken Flame

“...What,” Brine asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

“The mobs… when they broke in,” Celina started, trying not to sob. “They… they ran towards Steve. I tried to fend off the ones I could, but when the creepers came in, I couldn’t stop all of them. One of them tried to blow me up and when I ducked for cover…” She whimpered and closed her eyes, trying to wipe away her tears. “Brine… they surrounded Steve. I saw them circle around him, and then an Enderman grabbed him. He screamed and thrashed around, and I ran towards them. But, before I could get to them, the Enderman teleported away. It had Steve in its arms.” She sobbed softly. “He looked so scared, Brine. He was so scared, I saw him staring to cry. He called for me so desperately.”

Brine could feel the queen shaking as she sobbed, burying her face in his shirt. He held her close as she cried, and he spoke to her in a soothing voice. “It’s okay, Celina. It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not, Brine,” she sobbed out, putting her chin against his chest so she could look up at him. “I let them take Steve! I wasn’t strong enough! He got taken because I wasn’t strong enough to fight off all the monsters that were breaking in! And now?! My people are hurt and scared and Steve is Jeb knows where!”

Brine gently pushed Celina away to put his hands on her shoulders, looking over her. She was shaking and crying and he couldn’t help but let out a sad sigh. “Celina,” he started in a firm voice. “I need you to listen to me, okay?”

The queen sniffled and nodded.

“It’s not your fault that Steve was taken. There was a great number of mobs out there. I was just fighting them when I heard you cry, so I know there were a lot of them. But this isn’t your fault in any way. I don’t know why these mobs attacked or where they got all that armor from, but it’s not your fault. And I promise you, I will help you and your people fix whatever they broke. And I can promise you, we’ll find Steve. No one messes with my friends and gets away with it. Do you understand?”

Celina looked up into bg white eyes, the soft glow seeming to soothe her fears. She nodded and leaned over, hugging her Demi-God of a friend once more. The queen and the Nether Prince stayed in their embrace for a while, before Brine stood, helping Celina to her feet. The two walked to the outside of the castle and looked around, seeing several of the kingdom’s citizens already trying to work on the broken parts of their houses. The creepers did some damage, but it looks like everyone only had minor wounds if any. Seems like the knights and Irona had put up a good fight when the mobs made their way inside. 

Brine sighed softly. There was a lot more damage than he would have liked, and he silently swore for not being here sooner or being here before the attack. 

Celina noticed his sigh and laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her as she gave him a serious gaze. He knew that it meant that he shouldn’t blame himself. Brine nodded to her before looking back to the kingdom. They had a lot of work to do.

*****

It took only a few days with Brine’s help for the kingdom’s damages to be repaired. Brine was able to summon blocks and items needed at will with his powers, and his ability to float certainly came in handy for higher buildings. Not to mention Celina’s eye for detail and climbing skills helped a lot. 

It was after these few days that the last block from the explosions was placed and the kingdom was back to normal. However, as far as Celina and Brine were concerned, everything would be far from normal until they could figure out where Steve was.

Celina sat across from Brine in the castle as the two ate, having decided to have lunch after all the work they had been doing to finish repairing the kingdom. It was a quick meal, as the queen knew what they had to talk about.

Brine had his hands clasped on the table and was looking down at them when Celina finally spoke.

“Brine… I don’t even know where to start.”

Celina had her head in her hands, her palms pressed to her temples as she looked at Brine from across the table. “I just… I’ve never seen an Enderman take a person, and not just a person because they were holding onto the block the Ender grabbed. I don’t even know how we might be able to track Steve down.”

Brine sighed softly and nodded. “I know, Celina. I know. But, to be truthful? Even though I’ve been around mobs for at least half my life, I have no idea where to start either. The only time I’ve seen mobs do this sort of thing was on my orders.” He looked down at one of his palms. “I can’t imagine that any mobs would do this on their own unless they’re rebelling against me. But all the mobs know rebellion against my rule results in punishment. Even if I decided I no longer rule the mobs, I never officially told them.”

Celina looked up at her friend. “You didn’t tell any of them that you gave up your rule over them?”

“No, because I was afraid they would come after you if I told them I’d become friends with humans.” The Demi-God frowned. “I didn’t want to put you all in danger.”

Celina looked at her hands as she pulled them away from her head. “Do you think they could have found out somehow? I know mobs usually don’t get into the castle walls because of the guards and the lights, but… do you think an Ender could have come in and seen you here, with us?”

Brine shrugged. “It sounds possible, but I know how organized and unruly they are without me. None of them could organize such an attack… unless they… they didn’t organize this attack themselves.”

Celina seemed to be able to see a redstone torch go off in Brine’s head. “Brine, did you just realize something?”

Brine’s face seemed to fall as he thought. “Celina… I have someone who rules over the mobs when I’m away on my hunts. They’re the only other person I know who had control over the mobs on the same level as my control over them…”

Brine stayed quiet for a moment and Celina tilted her head to one side. “Brine, what do you mean?”

Brine furrowed his brows. “Do you remember Gilstenia?”

Celina’s mind flashed to Brine’s memories, and she remembered the tall Enderwoman that was not only the first Ender ever made but also--

“She was the ruler of the mobs,” Celina murmured. “Before you took over. She ruled over the monsters before you.”

Brine nodded. “She’s still alive. She would send the mobs out on orders if I was out hunting people.”

“Brine, when was the last time you saw her?”

“I saw her… a few days before I attacked Steve.”

Celina’s heart leapt into her throat. “Do you… you don’t think she sent this attack, do you?”

Brine’s eyes went wide and he froze. “...Celina?”

“Yes?”

“What did that Ender look like? The one that took Steve?”

Celina thought hard about it, and she looked at her friend. “It looked like almost every other Ender. But… it was wearing armor.”

Brine’s breathing began to quicken. “Didn’t one of your guards tell you that they saw some mobs wearing armor with a crest not that long ago?”

“Yeah, but, they said they couldn’t get a good look at the crest because of the lack of light outside the kingdom walls. They said it just looked like a purple and black shape.”

Brine suddenly stood from his seat. “We have to go to the guard house, now.”

*****

A knock at the door of the guard house had Irona turning towards the entrance. She answered to the knock with, “Come in!”

Queen Celina and Brine stepped inside, closing the door behind them. Irona could see great distress on both of their faces. “Your Highness, Lord Brine, is something wrong?”

Celina spoke, “Sorry to come in so suddenly, Irona, but we need to talk to Lucy.”

The iron golem turned as a chair moved, seeing Lucy stand from her seat. The guard had dyed silver hair, gray eyes, and fair skin, standing at average height for a woman. She was dressed in a white dress with gray shoes.

Lucy walked past Irona and walked to the queen and the prince, blinking slowly. “What can I do for you, Your Highness?”

Brine stepped forward. “Lucy, I need you to do something for us. I need you to think back to your memories of the night that you saw those mobs that were wearing the armor, before the attack.”

Lucy frowned. “You mean, on the day you reminded Miner Steve of his Aetherian memories?”

“Yes, I need you to remember as much as you can.” Brine carefully placed his hands on the side of her head. “Please, do your best for me.”

Lucy nodded, flinching a bit from his warm touch, but closing her eyes.

Brine found himself looking through Lucy’s eyes in the memory. The sky was dark and he could see Lucy turn to speak to a couple of the guards. They all seemed guarded, but happy.

The guard to Lucy’s right suddenly caught her attention. Brine could see the guard point to the plains outside the castle walls. Lucy then turned her head to see and Brine could see the crest, clear as day.

It was a purple and black rose with a white stem, embedded into the iron chestplate of one of the zombies.

Brine slowly pulled back from Lucy and when his hands left her head, he looked back at Celina with horror.

The queen looked at her friend. “Brine, what did you see?”

“It… it was her crest, Celina. The crest Gilstenia used to use when she would send monsters out on her orders.” The Demi-God shook his head, before turning to fully face his friend. “That confirms my suspicions. 

Irona raised a brow. “What suspicions, Lord Brine?”

Brine shook his head. “Glistenia sent mobs to watch the kingdom. I think she knows that I’m not going back to ruling the mobs.” He frowned deeply, narrowing his eyes. “I think she sent the attack on the kingdom… and I think she sent mobs to kidnap Steve.”