Content warning: swearing (new swear word), mental breakdown

Memory laid low on the Illusion Town's wall. Peeking through the wall's protective stone battlements, he watched Sabre, Alex, and Guardian below. They were near the Town's entrance, discussing among themselves. Waiting by the Illusion Tree was Reality, who rubbed his hands and bounced with his toes while he watched the heroes.

Memory double-checked his inventory, making sure he had everything he needed for his plan: the red flower crown, redstone, equipment for a machine, and a bow and arrows (made out of wood instead of energy). He actually didn't have to wait. He could start his plan anytime. However, he had to see if Reality was doing ok and if the heroes accepted him, or if he accepted the heroes.

"I don't know, guys. Should I forgive him?" Sabre asked his two friends. "I promised him that I wouldn't show him any mercy when he returned. But seeing him so remorseful of his actions makes me rethink about it."

"I think his regret is…genuine?" Guardian said. At least he was keeping his side of the promise, vouching for Reality, though not that convincingly.

"Are you just saying that because you used to work for him back when you were evil?" Sabre jokingly challenged.

"Don't be rude. We're over that, Sabre," Alex said. "If you want my advice, I think you should at least hear him out. He's definitely changed his mind about whatever he was planning to do. And you said it yourself: he doesn't actually want to hurt anyone. He can be good." Reality flinched at those words. "Maybe you can convince him to finally accept that, and you can help him do good things."

Sabre eyed Reality suspiciously. "I don't know. I have a feeling that if we ally with him, he'll just stab us in the back."

"You don't need to worry about that. I don't know if you're aware, but when Reality switched with you for your account, you gained his powers."

"Wait, I did?!" Sabre jumped into the air and hovered. "OH MY GOD! I can't believe he did that!" He cackled as he soared higher and flew around the sky.

Memory dove into the shadows casted by the wall's battlements, terrified that the flying player would spot him and bury him.

Reality yelled, "Why did you tell him that?!"

I was thinking the same thing! Memory thought.

He looked back at the group below, seeing Alex shrugging at Reality. "Hey, I agreed to make sure Sabre gives you mercy. We didn't agree on keeping the switch of the powers and the account a secret."

"It would have been a matter of time before he found out anyways," Guardian added.

Sabre returned and showered his friends with jewels. "Hey, want some free diamonds?!" "This is hilarious! Honestly, Reality Steve, I never expected you to be this dumb!"

Reality groaned.

Guardian asked, "Oh, by the way, can you give us the ability to break blocks?"

"Sure! Hhhhh-aaaaaahhhhhh!" There was thunder. "Oooooowwwww. Did it work?"

Guardian confirmed it by digging out a grass block.

"So, will you hear him out?" Alex said while picking up diamonds. "Maybe Reality Steve can help us. And you know he can't do anything to threaten us."

"Alright, Alex." Sabre landed on the ground and approached Reality. "I'll listen, Reality Steve, but what can you do that'll help us? I feel like since you gave me your powers, you made yourself useless. Alex wants her powers back, and I have that power right now. We all want the Overworld to be healthy but not under the illusion, and I have the power to alter the illusion and free everyone. I want my account back; I can probably do what you did to get it and Galaxy Steve back! And I can get Time Steve too, since I know he's alive. So why do I need you?"

Reality stepped back, overwhelmed by everything Sabre had said. He took a deep breath before responding. "Yes, with that power, you can easily solve those problems, but you can't solve all of them. Can you really switch with me after giving so much of your power to Alex? Can you really give Alex her powers back without breaking the illusion? You need someone else as a vessel to hold that power and someone who already has experience with illusions and switching."

Sabre formed a smug smile. "Oh my god, you're actually not acting butthurt for once? You're actually negotiating, like a rational person? Wow!"

Reality fumed. "D-don't make it such a big deal!"

"I'm sorry. I just expected you to lose your mind more than you already had after coming back. By the way, can you tell me what happened after you disconnected? I'm curious."

Reality lowered his gaze. "I don't want to talk about it. Look, you were right, and I was wrong. Let's just focus on making this world as perfect as it can be, since this is the only world the Steves can enjoy."

"Ah, he did it again! Act rational! Up top, Alex." Sabre gave Alex a high five.

At least he isn't forcing Reality to talk about it, Memory thought. Forcing him to relive the trauma…

Sabre continue, "But back on topic: you made a good point. I still need your help even with these amazing powers. I'm guessing you want something in return if you agree to help. What is it?"

"I know that you want Galaxy Steve back. Honestly, I'm more than happy to give him back because I am so sick of hearing him in my mind!" Reality scowled and slapped his forehead. "But if he returns, my purpose is locked to him again. I'll help you if you promise that you'll find a way to free me from his influence. It'll benefit you anyways, because being free means I can stop trying to take over the world."

Sabre stroked his chin. "I'm not sure. What do you plan to do once you're no longer connected to Galaxy?"

"Look, I've changed my ways. I don't want your reality anymore, and I also want this world to be safe. I'm sure that once I'm free, you don't need to worry about me being a threat."

Sabre crossed his arms and glared skeptically. "Really? You think just being freed from Galaxy Steve will solve all of your problems? I hate to break it to ya, chief, but you're the source of your own problems. Yeah, the stress and the unfairness made you do bad things, but you're blaming others for your actions. Becoming free won't automatically make you a better person. Prove to me that you've changed."

"Umm…" Reality fidgeted his hands. "I know that what I did was bad and that my powers scare people? And I promise not to do that anymore?"

"You've always known that what you did was bad." Sabre deepened his voice to imitate Reality. "I know that from all of your 'oh, I'm so evil, but I'm doing it to make this world better, blah blah blah' monologues, which is something I've heard from every villain I've faced!"

"You didn't face every villain!" Reality spat. "'Facing villains' is too generous of a term. You held back all the knowledge and power you had, letting your allies suffer!"

Guardian and Alex nervously looked at Sabre, who let out a laugh. "Guys, he's getting butthurt now!"

Perhaps it's time to start the plan. This negotiation will go in circles. Memory started to concentrate his energy onto Sabre. Sabre didn't know it yet, but he had been fused with the Shadow Stone. That Shadow Stone would put this entire plan into motion…

Guardian spoke up. "I think what Sabre's trying to say is that the problem isn't your connection with Galaxy Steve. The problem is that you take out your stress on other people, and you haven't proven yet that you're no longer an unpleasant person."

"Yeah!" Sabre agreed. "Honestly, I still think you're unpleasant. I don't know why, but I feel like you still have tricks up your sleeves." He groaned and rubbed his head. "There are these blanks spots in my memories. I'm struggling to remember the details of everything that's been going on. Reality Steve, did you somehow put the illusion on me, making me lose my memories? I don't trust you. What's going on?!"

Memory gulped, losing his concentration. He's catching on. Fixating on the conversation like his life depended on it, he saw Alex and Guardian exchange worried glances and Reality fidget even more.

Guardian stepped between Reality and Sabre, giving the player an assuring, but nervous, look. "Maybe the stress of losing your account is making your memories faulty."

"Then why do I have the feeling that someone is responsible for my memory problem? And that someone is probably Reality Steve?"

Alex and Guardian continued insisting that it was the stress. Memory sighed in relief. At least they were honorable, defending his right to be forgotten.

Sabre gave up and finally dropped the topic. He looked back at Reality. "I'm sorry, but my gut is telling me that it's safer to not accept your help. Alex, maybe you and I can switch places so you can get your powers back?"

Dismayed, Reality clenched his fists and snarled. "Don't reject me just because of a gut feeling! At least promise that you'll fix me so I have freewill again!"

Sabre shook his head. "You don't need my help for that. We're just gonna make Galaxy free and happy and, BAM, you'll finish your job and have freewill! Not that you'll do much with it; we will lock you away so you can pay the consequences of your actions, since it's obvious that you're still an awful person."

Reality slapped Sabre. "QUIET!"

Sabre stumbled back. He hovered a hand over the red mark left on his face, gaping in disbelief. Alex and Guardian also looked shocked.

Memory hissed. This is turning into a fight. Time to intervene! He concentrated his energy onto Sabre again. The Shadow Stone had been infected by Memory's illusion powers. It was ineffective until he deactivated those powers.

Come on, come on. Deactivate so you can corrupt him from the inside, he pleaded his energy to reach Sabre faster.

Reality increased his distance from the heroes. He formed an evil sneer and brought his hand up. "You leave me no choice, Sabre." The gray rectangles of the account materialized above his hand. "You forgot one thing. I still don't understand most of this, but I've had much more time than you realize to learn about this menu. I discovered another ability your account gives you. One that I'm…especially pissed off that you didn't used during your battles with Nightmare Steve and Void Steve." His sneer twitched.

Reality pressed the rectangle that said "Options", which summoned new rectangles with different text. He hovered his hand over the rectangle labelled "Difficulty: Normal." He tapped on it and the text changed to "Difficulty: Hard."

"I learned that all this time, you had the ability to change the difficulty of surviving in this world, which directly affects all entities that pose a threat to you. Or in this case, me, the account-holder. Tell me, Sabre, what'll happen if I click this one more time, setting this world to Peaceful mode? I know the zombies, creepers, and spiders will disappear from existence once it's pressed. But since you have the capability to hurt me…will you disappear too? And is there a chance you'll return when I set the difficulty to normal again?"

Sabre became deathly white. He fell back. Guardian and Alex caught him. He hyperventilated, mouthing the word "no" over and over again, shaking his head madly.

"You value your life. You also know that the power in you can save this world. But with a click of the button, I can make you and the power disappear. If I were you, I'd be doing what the most powerful person in this Town says."

Wait, if that button can make Sabre and hostile entities disappear, then…

Fuck. Memory's heart raced and he forgot to breathe. He turned to Sabre and concentrated again, his hidden, panicked eyes staring straight into the partially reactivated Shadow Stone infused in the player. Come on, come on, corrupt him already! Before Reality clicks that button! Before Sabre disappears!

"Speechless, huh?" Reality laughed, regaining a confident posture. "Once again, I have the upper hand."

Suddenly, Alex stepped up. "Don't press that button, Reality Steve! You're not just putting Sabre's life at stake. If what you say is correct, then setting this world to Peaceful mode will make all dangerous entities disappear, including a certain Steve. Do I even have to name who that is?"

Reality gasped and drew his hand back, making the rectangles disappear. His multicolored eyes, frozen in pure horror, looked down at his hands. "No…no no no. What have I done? I-I was so close to – How could I do that?!How did I even bring myself that close to – ?!" He fell to his knees, his breath and his chest pulsing madly. "No. Nononononono."

Sabre stared at Reality, perplexed, concerned, and sympathetic all at once. He got up and approached the distressed Steve. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Reality flinched. He buried his face into his hands and started to cry.

Memory tore his gaze away, closing his own watering eyes. He couldn't look. If he looked at Reality for another moment longer, he would had lost all restraint and teleport straight into Town. Revealing himself just to embrace Reality would had unraveled every step of his plan before it even started. He couldn't afford that failure. But as Reality's cries burned into his head, he was disgusted that he had to choose the mission over going down there to comfort his little cousin…

"Hey, calm down! Deep breaths! I…God, you've been holding all of this back, huh?" Sabre kneeled down and brought Reality into a gentle hug. He rubbed Reality's back while whispering soothing words. "It'll be ok. Wow...even though you try to be intimidating, deep down, you're just a scared Steve who made a lot of mistakes and doesn't know how to fix them." Although he had his blindfold on, Sabre's pupil-less eyes must be glowing with compassion.

"I-I can't do it, Sabre," Reality hiccupped. "You're-you're right. Even though Dad is gone and I don't need to follow his orders anymore, I still abuse the powers I've stolen. I threatened you with a fate worse than death when I actually didn't want to. I threatened the lives of so many Steves, including someone dear to me. I took it too far. You're right, Sabre. I'm horrible. I haven't changed at all and…I…I scare myself."

Sabre tightened his embrace. "Hey, it's ok! I'll say it again: you have the power to change. It's not too late."

Reality looked up, his wet, puffy eyes glinting with newfound respect. "Go ahead. Finish your job. I won't stop you. I won't even look at that menu until you get your account back."

Sabre smiled. "Wow. I'm…I'm glad you realize that now. Thank you, Reality! And I'm sorry that I haven't given you a hug sooner. But I'm proud of you for stopping yourself."

Reality hugged him back. "I'm terrified, Sabre, because I just told you that you could easily delete me and other horrible people when you get your account back. I gave you the idea. I messed up so badly."

"Hey, I promise I won't do that to you. You will be safe, alright?"

Reality wiped his tears and smiled. "I had a feeling you would say that. You're a good person. I regret accusing you for all those things I've said. I hope to make up for everything I've done. But enough about me. Go ahead and do what you were about to do. Save the Steves. Save this world."

Memory looked away again, pressing a hand against his mask to dry his tears. Finally, Reality realized that he wanted to be a good person. Memory thanked Sabre for being down there to comfort his cousin. Maybe the player wasn't so horrible after all…

He shook the thought away, forcing the sentimental feelings to disappear. He eyed Sabre, feeling a dark presence starting to form in the player.

It's time for my plan to begin, Memory realized. But he couldn't find the will to smile.

Word count: 2737