im not even gonna apologize for starting new fics anymore. this is just part of the firstfandomfangirl experience.

also, HI! If you're reading this, fanfiction is super screwed at the moment and i think email notifs are all but dead. I certainly don't get any. if you want to keep up with my fics, you can find all of my minecraft fics and some of my other ones on wattpad under the username p0tat0-g0ddess!

anyway, Heir to a Bloody Throne AU. have fun

Grace gazed up at the dark, imposing castle that towered over them, her grip tightening on the strap of the bag that rested across her chest.

"Can I stay behind for this one?" She tried, shooting her uncle a look out of the corner of her eye. Instead of the gentle ribbing she'd expected, Steven set his jaw and shook his head.

"The king is dead, Grace." He told her lowly. "We'd best pay our respects."

It had been less than a week since Steven and his niece had gotten the news - the King of the Nether, Herobrine Duskmourne, had perished, and had been succeeded by his son. The details surrounding his death were hazy, but Steven figured it wasn't his business to know. The story would not matter to him at all if he did not make his living by traveling to the Nether.

Steven was a Wayfinder, a profession which centered around finding and clearing locations for quick-access portal tunnels through the Nether. Portal travel was still a fairly new science, but the risk involved was well worth the speed at which one could travel thousands of kilometers in the overworld in a fraction of the time it would take up there. Alongside this, Steven also collected any rare and valuable materials he came across, selling them as a side business.

His niece, Grace, had been his apprentice for the last four months, which had been the point at which her parents had finally caved in to her begging. Grace had been fascinated by her uncle's work ever since she was a little girl and, now, at 17, she had finally landed a position as his apprentice. He had initially been concerned for her safety, but she had a good head on her shoulders, and other than a few bumps and scrapes she had gotten by so far relatively unharmed.

Steven's time in the nether meant that he had met the previous king on more than one occasion. He would hardly call them friends, but they were pleasant acquaintances. He had never met his son, Valor, but he'd heard that the boy was less than twenty years old. He was undoubtedly grieving, and Steven wanted to offer his condolences. So, he and Grace had taken a day to travel to the castle and visit.

"C'mon." Steven beckoned his niece with him, and she fell into step behind him as he walked towards the stately gates.

"There are no guards," Grace noted as they passed through them. Steven grunted.

"Guards are mostly inside the castle. Most intruders are warded off by the terrain."

"Huh." Grace was quiet for a moment. "Wonder if having more guards would've kept the last king alive."

"Hmm."

The first sign of guards was at the large doorway into the castle, a pair of piglins in dark armor. They quietly stepped aside as Steven neared- they knew him. Grace seemed a little shocked at the sight of them, but she merely stayed close to her uncle as they entered the castle.

Steven made his way down a hallway to a small reception area, where he lowered his heavy pack to the ground with a sigh. Grace did the same, looking around.

"Does the king… know we're here?"

"Not yet, I reckon." Steven rolled his shoulder. "We're waiting for-" An enderman appeared in the center of the room with a blip, and Grace yelped.

"Nether!"

"Language." Steven scolded her. "Hello, Earl." The enderman chirped and bowed in greeting. "We're here to see the new king." Steven went on. "T' pay our respects. That alright with you?" Earl nodded, then vanished in a shower of purple sparks. Grace turned to look at her uncle, gaping in shock.

"You're friends with an enderman?"

"I wouldn't say friends." Steven shrugged a bit. "But we know each other. He's the king's right-hand-man, he receives guests."

"Oh." Grace looked after him curiously. "I shouldn't, ah… look him in the eye, right?"

"Right." Steven shook his head. "He won't be angry… but 's impolite."

"Oh."

It was a few minutes before the Earl returned, appearing in the doorway opposite from where they had come in. He warbled and beckoned them with him, and Steven picked up his pack again, slinging it over his shoulder and following. Grace stayed close behind them as they navigated the narrow halls, until they reached a grand room with a throne at the far end. Earl motioned for them to wait, then popped away again.

"Stay close, don't wander." Steven murmured.

"I'm 17, I'm not a child." Grace replied indignantly.

"No," Steven allowed, glancing back at her. "But you do get distracted."

"And to whom do I owe the pleasure?" A new voice sounded from the other side of the room, and Steven hurriedly straightened up.

"Your majesty, I am-" His voice faltered, and he stopped short in surprise at the appearance of the new king.

Herobrine's successor was young, dark-haired and dressed in the same red and gold finery that his father used to wear. The thin, gold circlet that communicated his rank was perched on his brow. He had a pronounced scar running across his face, through one eye and across the bridge of his nose. The scarred eye was a milky white in contrast to his healthy, brown one.

None of this was what had shocked Steven into silence, though. It was the fact that Valor looked very little like his father, and all but the spitting image of Steven when he was younger.

"Yes?" The young king prompted as he neared, and Steven hurriedly cleared his throat.

"My name is Steven Albright." He touched his fist to his chest in a small salute. "This's my niece, Grace Bluvelle. We are Wayfinders." Valor nodded, looking to each of them in turn.

"Earl tells me you knew my father."

"I did." Steven nodded. "Not well, but I knew him well enough to know he was a good man. I'm so sorry for your loss." Valor's face was a carefully-crafted mask as he nodded.

"He was a good man, and an excellent king. His loss will be felt by all those who live and travel in the Nether- I only hope that I can begin to pick up where he left off."

"I have no doubt in your capabilities, your majesty." Steven said politely. He was very young, and likely half-blinded by grief, but if he was half the man his father was then he would be fine- especially with those such as Earl to guide him.

Grace, who had remained quiet until this moment, suddenly gave a sharp gasp. Steven looked back at her in concern, then followed her gaze to the back of the throne room to where a stranger was watching them silently.

This newcomer was jet-black, his features and clothing obscured by a cloud of dark smoke that floated around him. His eyes glowed white, harsh against his black skin, and he wore a gold necklace around his neck. He gave no reaction to them staring at him, and Steven felt a chill run through his chest.

"I apologize," Valor cut in. "That is Null, a friend of my father's. I understand that his appearance is rather frightening, but he has been acting as my advisor since my father passed."

"I see." Steven hurriedly averted his gaze, willing his niece to stop staring. "I'm… glad they y' have such men to assist you."

Valor nodded. "His help has been most appreciated."

"Good." Steven nodded, lowering his gaze. "We'll take our leave, then. It was a pleasure meetin' you, your majesty."

"As it was you." Valor returned the small salute, and Steven turned away, beckoning Grace with him as Earl led them from the room.

Grace was quiet as they were guided back to the reception room, where Earl bowed again and teleported away. Steven adjusted his back, glancing down at her,

"I know the way out from here." He said. "Let's-"

"You!" He was interrupted by a shout, and Steven and his niece both spun in shock as a blond-haired guardsman appeared in the doorway. "Ah, I didn't miss ya. I apologize." He hesitated, glancing at Grace, then back to Steven. "Y'just saw the king, didn't you?" Steven and his niece exchanged a glance.

"Yes." Steven said stiffly. "Can I help you."

"I just- sorry." The man glanced over his shoulder and sighed, leaning on his spear. "I'm… Lithian. Charles Lithian, guardsman. That man, that shadowy fellow- you felt it too, right? Some'in's off about that one."

"Yeah." Grace agreed. Steven cleared his throat.

"Not that it's any of our business," he shot his niece a meaningful look. "But yes… didn't like the look of him."

"Good, good. That's what I thought." The guard sighed, sweeping his wavy hair out of his face. "He… claims t' be a friend of the k- the late king, but… I don't think he's tellin' the truth. Showed up days after his majesty's death, actin' all buddy-buddy with Val, but he… none of us here've ever seen him before, and I've been workin' here since I was a lad."

Lithian glared down the hallway. "I've tried t' talk to the king but… he won't listen. I guess he's grievin'n all, but…" Lithian gave a halfhearted shrug. "Thanks." He finally finished. "Least I know I'm not crazy. I guess I'll haf'ta… I dunno. Thanks." With that, he turned away, hurrying back down the hallway he had come down. Grace and her uncle exchanged a glance, and Steven gestured towards the exit.

"C'mon. We ought t' get back to work."

Neither of them said much as they left the castle, traveling down the fairly-secure road back towards their own portal. Steven was focused on ensuring they were not ambushed by unsavory creatures, but he still could tell that something was weighing on his young niece.

Finally, Grace stopped in her tracks. "We should help." She blurted out. "Something is seriously wrong back there, that advisor guy is gonna hurt someone."

"It's none 'f our business, Gracie." Steven turned to face her. "We're just visitors here, Nether politics have nothin' to do with us."

"If that guy is influencing the king, it's going to affect the whole Nether." Grace insisted. "And maybe the Overworld too."

"So maybe someone should do something about it." Steven crossed his arms. "Why us?"

"Who else will?" Grace fired back. "We have the skills to get around the Nether safely. Sure, we could report this to some- officials in the overworld, but by then it could be too late, or their presence could spur this man into doing something drastic. There isn't anyone else but us." Steven set his jaw, and Grace went on. "You were friends with the last king. Don't you care about his son?"

"Friends is pushing it." Steven brushed her off. "Though I agree that th' boy needs help."

"So let's help him." Grace pleaded. Steven was quiet for a few, long moments.

"I'll think about it." He said at last. Grace breathed out in relief. "That doesn't mean yes."

"I know." She started walking again, and he continued at her side. "Thanks, though."

"Mm."