Content warning: abuse, trauma, gaslighting, mental breakdown, language
No. Memory gasped and dropped the letter, shaking his head in denial. This can't be right. Illusion and I stopped him from coming back!
But what else could explain the letter? It had his father's penmanship. Only Galaxy, Elemental, and Memory knew how Void wrote. Galaxy would never fake a letter. Elemental was out of the question. Maybe – No, there was no other explanation. No one else could have created the letter!
Oh Colors, out of everything that happened on this awful day, this had to be the only thing that went right?! And he had to come back to this world? I wanted to set him free on a different server!
If Void was here, this world would be ravaged. Time, Alex, and everyone else were endangered.
And Illusion.
Memory swayed uneasily and his stomach dropped. Oh Colors, no...
Illusion would suffer the most from Void's return. To make matters worse, he still didn't have his memories. Memory remembered when he first saw Void talk to Elemental and convince the amnesic Steve to live under his wing.
He imagined Void speaking to Illusion instead of Elemental. He could be Void's next victim.
Memory felt sick and snatched up the letter. I refuse to let another good relative fall into evil!
He sprinted ahead, using more energy to teleport farther distances. Since Illusion was family, Void could track him down too. Memory had to find Illusion first.
After several hours of running and teleporting, the pull of Illusion's energy was stronger than ever. Memory knew he found where Illusion was, though he wished his cousin didn't choose a freezing place to hide in.
Memory arrived at the base of a snowy mountain and peered up. The towering peaks blocked the afternoon sun, but the snow blanketing the mountain's gray surface kept the blue sky blinding.
Half-blinded by the light reflected by the snow, Memory started to climb up. He was a Steve of stealth, so he hated how the snow crunched and caved in every step. He teleported to patches of snow-free, stone pathways whenever he could. He knew he could just teleport onto the snow too, but there was a good chance he'd lose his footing and faceplant, and he wasn't in the mood to look stupid or get a freezing face.
Eventually, the mountain's slope decreased and gave way to a flat-topped elevation, where he saw a paved road bordered by buildings. Finally, civilization. It was an empty village, with a thin layer of snow suffocating the neglected street, but the buildings were still intact.
Memory entered the village. Lined against the street was a mixture of different buildings: standard cottages, beautiful temples, and bizarrely tall buildings. The older temples were made out of birch, with the newer models made out of quartz. Lapis lazuli and blue wool accented both the older and newer temples. The tall buildings were purple and had chorus trees protruding out of their roofs like how a stag donned his antlers. These were the typical living quarters of Blue Steves and Purple Steves. Before the infection, this must have been a Blue Steve village that was awkwardly adapting to Purple Steves moving in.
Memory looked through each window and alleyway, but he found no one. After inspecting the carved quartz blocks of one temple, he concluded that Purple Steves had introduced the village to safer Nether exploration, hence the transition from using birch wood to Nether quartz to build temples. Eventually at the other side of the village, Memory saw a cave at the end of the street that confirmed his theory. The cave had a hallway of Nether portals, filled with chests and incomplete redstone circuits. He shuddered at the sight of the portals, recalling those years in the Spiritless World. He felt worse when he saw how thin the cave's ceiling was – only one layer of stone blocks dividing the cave from the sky and the rest of the mountain. He quickly turned around and returned to the village. I don't want to see those Nether portals ever again.
Just thinking of that immediately put him at ease.
He searched everywhere again, more quickly and anxiously. He teleported on top of a purple tower and did a quick scan. Illusion, where are you? With his teleportation power, he began searching inside some buildings. Surely, you can sense me too, right?
He teleported back outside and speedwalked through the village. He passed an alleyway between two buildings.
A dark figure passed by his peripheral vision.
Memory jumped back and looked into the alleyway.
There he saw Void Steve, a dark figure against the white snow.
Memory choked back a gasp. He rushed to Void and bowed. "It's – it's been so long," his voice cracked. "I missed you."
Void laughed sinisterly. "It's been a long time."
"May I ask you a question?"
"Make it quick."
Memory took out the letter. "How did you know about my mission? And how did you give me this letter?"
"I could see through Galaxy Steve's mind. I saw what you did to bring me back. As for the letter: since I have the power to remove items from people's inventory, I also have the power to add items into inventories. Now answer my question: why are you here? Were you looking for me?"
Memory didn't know if Void found Illusion or even knew he existed. He had to protect Illusion, but he couldn't lie to Void either. "I came here because I sensed my family's energy and followed it. I've been gone for generations, so I was unsure who I would meet. It could have been you or Galaxy Steve." Or Illusion.
"Galaxy Steve!" Void spat. "That fool is still alive, and look at what his incompetence did to this world!" He gestured to the empty village. "This world is far from saving now. We'll destroy it all and start from scratch, and we won't let anyone stop us this time."
Memory looked away with a grimace, thinking about the agony Illusion would experience if Void attacked Galaxy.
Void grabbed Memory's face and force him to look back. "Is there a problem?"
Memory panicked. "N-no, not at all! I was just thinking."
Void rolled his eyes and released him.
Memory recalled what he knew about Sabre's encounters with Illusion. When Illusion first arrived in the Overworld, he had disguised himself as Rainbow Steve to spy on Sabre, curious about why the player was immune to his illusion powers. He chose Rainbow Steve for his disguise because, according to Sabre's memories, he was the most significant person in Sabre's life.
Was this a similar case? What if, to get more information out of Memory, Illusion was disguising himself as the most important person in Memory's life?
No. Memory looked back at the letter. This had to be Void. What else could explain this letter and the accurate handwriting? Well, Sabre couldn't find an explanation for why his son returned from the dead either.
Who was this person in front of him?
"Stop looking so dazed," Void snapped him out of his thoughts. "We need to focus and improve ourselves, now that I know I have to become mentally stronger to defeat Galaxy Steve." He looked away with a groan. "Ugh, it pains me so much to admit I have a problem."
"Don't feel ashamed, Father. Unlike him, you can actually acknowledge there's a problem and take steps to solve it. Think about it that way instead."
Void laughed, giving his son a friendly punch. "I like that. Honestly, your ideas are brilliant. The fact that I'm here is proof of that!"
Memory stumbled back. A compliment?! Void rarely complimented. This can't be the real Void – No, this is just an odd time. Of course he would act strangely after being absent for generations.
"I'm pleased." Void emerged out of the alleyway. Memory followed him after putting away the letter. Void inspected the blue and purple decorations of the village before looking back at his son. "It seems like all the training I've given you wasn't a waste after all. You pulled yourself together and became the son I've always wanted. Thank you."
"..." Memory couldn't hold it back. He choked out a sob and hugged Void. It had been so long since he had seen Void, even longer since he felt the alien cold of his cloak. He would inevitably disappoint himself and his dad in due time, so who knew how long his father's approval would last. He wished the Time Tree was here, so he could freeze time and cherish this moment forever.
Void squirmed out of Memory's embrace. "Umm, thanks." Memory let out an awkward cough and looked away, embarrassed. But his father didn't lecture him about how hugs were for weaklings, so he considered that as a sign he didn't mess up yet.
But should he feel victorious? Did everything Memory sacrificed for Void pay off? Did everything that happened to Elemental, Time, and Illusion pay off?
...No. Nothing would ever make Memory forgive himself or his father for what happened to his cousins.
I need to stay on task, he reminded himself. He had to find Illusion, while making sure Void doesn't discover Illusion's existence or resume his plan to destroy this world.
Well, assuming the person he was talking to was Void.
Memory realized that before he could act, he must first confirm if the person in front of him was Void or Illusion in disguise. And he knew exactly how.
"I'm also proud of the process I've made, Father. I won't let you down anymore. May I help you again by telling you something? It can make your plan even better."
Void waved a hand dismissively. "It can wait. I want to find Galaxy Steve now. Oh, seeing me again will be enough to make him shake!"
"I'm afraid it cannot wait because I must warn you: Galaxy Steve is irrelevant to our plan now."
Void blinked in confusion and then glared. "Say that again. And since you're the master of memory powers, also remind me why I started this plan in the first place."
Memory gulped before speaking. "I understand why we started this plan. It's all because Galaxy Steve is an irresponsible bastard who left his problems for others to solve." That could hit both Void's or Illusion's emotions. "However, I've made an alarming discovery: there's a greater power out there, even more irresponsible than my uncle, leaving Steves like you and me to suffer as a source of entertainment, refusing to help us in our time of need."
Void narrowed his eyes. "Greater power? I know about the Colors. Origin Steve, Origin Alex, your grandfather, and the other three. I don't care about them, because I'm the most powerful being in this universe now. Isn't that right?"
"Of course," Memory quickly said. "Your destructive powers are unmatched. However, I wasn't talking about the Colors. I was referring to entities greater than them. I know it sounds absurd, but this world is just a server in a game. There are many other servers out there, all controlled by players like Sabre."
"Pfft." Void burst out laughing. "I forgot your strange sense of humor. What are you trying to do? Hype me up so I can feel like I can take on anyone, including these powerful people who don't exist?"
Memory summoned several gray flowers and presented them to Void. "I hope these convince you." He looked away as the flowers, one by one, played his memories of crossing between the Overworld and Sabre's world. He couldn't bring himself to see what he did to Sabre's audience, but he hoped Void was watching. Memory was also careful to skip over any memories that included Illusion.
Void asked, "Are you trying to show that you learned how to create fabricated memories?"
Memory huffed. "These are real memories. Memories of what I've done to bring you back here to speak to me. If you truly mean it when you say you appreciate me bringing you back, then please believe me."
He desummoned the flowers and looked back at Void, who had a stunned expression. Void looked at the ground and pondered, and Memory nervously waited for his reaction.
Finally, Void sighed. "I believe you. Wow, two unlikely discoveries on Day One of returning." He smiled sinisterly while he stroked his chin. "I remember my old plan to take over the Great Library. Perhaps figuring out how to reach the bigger universe will be a better plan."
Memory sighed in relief. "Thank you for believing in me, Father." And thank you for confirming who you really are, Illusion.
If the real Void knew the truth about this world, he would have been in denial. Memory sometimes had to protect Void from his insecurities. Void would have forced him to take back what he had said or to ensure him that he could easily destroy people like Sabre. The Steve in front of him did none of that; he easily accepted the discovery and saw it as a dangerous but enlightening opportunity. The Steve in front of him was Illusion.
Memory softly smiled behind his mask. He should be happy that he found Illusion. But by finding Illusion, he also confirmed that Void was still gone. His glee of finding Illusion and the sad realization of his father were in conflict, leaving Memory numb rather than celebratory.
First step, done. Now he had to convince his cousin to return to the Illusion Town. He also needed Illusion to drop the Void disguise. The heroes back at Town would panic if Illusion approached them while looking like an old enemy.
After finishing whatever thoughts he had, the fake Void looked back at Memory. "We'll absolutely discuss your discoveries later. For now, we must strike fear in the Steves." He snapped his fingers to summon a fireball (just another harmless illusion, like the attacks that "killed" Time).
He's not dropping the disguise, Memory thought in frustration. Why are you still acting? You surely read my mind to find out who Void is, so can't you read my mind again and see I know the truth?
Wait, maybe Illusion did know that Memory saw through the disguise, which in turn was making him wonder why Memory knew so much about him. Was he suspicious about this entire situation?
Memory then remembered that Illusion still lacked free will, and the thought chilled him. Illusion had instincts telling him to save this world from evil and chaos. One quick analysis of Memory's mind would tell anyone that Memory was evil and had powers that confused people. In Illusion's eyes, Memory was a threat.
You're trying to trick me into believing you're Void Steve, so you can get my guard down, defeat me, and protect this world from me. It pained Memory that his friend wanted to hurt him, especially because Illusion only thought like this because of his lack of free will. So no matter what he did to persuade Illusion to follow him back to Town, his cousin would always have plans to defeat Memory in his mind. What could he do to get him out of this mindset?
"Come on, minion." Void leapt into the air and began flying away. When Memory didn't follow, he glared at him and returned to the ground. "Is there a problem? Don't you want revenge on the ones who destroyed you?"
Memory hesitated. "Umm..."
"Let's go!" Void snapped. "I want revenge on your killers as much as you do! You know, I went to that swamp the moment I sensed your death. After seeing what was left of you and seeing Sabre and Rainbow there...I snapped. I missed your company so much." His red eyes became desperate. "You'd do the same for me, right?! When we were both defeated, the world moved on from us! Discarded us! You're all I have left!"
"Of-of course! I want to help you!" Memory quickly said, finally taking a step forward. He truly meant it. He wanted to so badly serve Void again. because his servitude was how he showed Void that he loved him. He didn't want to deny Void his only source of love, and he didn't want to deny the person who loved him back.
Focus! This isn't Void. It's Illusion! Memory reminded himself. With his mind-reading powers, Illusion definitely knew that Memory saw through the disguise. He must be pushing the Void act more to trick him again.
How are you acting like him so well? It's...frightening. When Illusion had disguised as Rainbow Steve around Sabre, he couldn't even act half as energetic as Rainbow Steve. Why was Illusion more accurate with acting like Void?
Wait, Void's memories. Illusion took Void's memories from me after we stopped him from returning. He still has them!
Illusion had the red flower crown representing Void's memories. He had constructed this Void disguise by analyzing those memories. He knows exactly how my father thinks.
Void relaxed. "Then follow me. Let's find a village actually full of Steves. I need to do a warm-up of my powers." He cracked his knuckles before flying again.
"Actually," Memory said. "I found a system of Nether portals in this village. It can be a valuable resource, allowing us to communicate with Dark Steve's pigmen army, assuming they have not disbanded yet. May I please stay here to investigate, while you find more villages on your own?"
"I don't want to split up after just reuniting! Only we can look after each other's backs."
Memory swallowed down his growing guilt. "Don't you trust me?" He challenged.
Void jumped back with an astonished look. "...Fine!" he huffed. "I'll search by myself. I'll be back by sunset, so finish investigating before then!" He flew away, grumbling and pouting.
Memory's guilt kept accumulating, and he hissed at himself for feeling like this. Stop feeling bad! That's not the real Void! Just Illusion using him to disrespect me and trick me.
Memory checked his inventory and took out the letter. The moment he touched it, the letter glitched, turned pink, and vanished. He threw his arms out in exasperation. The letter disappeared once I learned it wasn't Void who wrote it. Why can't Illusion's disguise disappear yet?!
He retreated to a nearby building. This building probably used to be a café, since it had tables and chairs everywhere. He collapsed into a seat and rested his head on the table. "Ugh, this is harder than I thought it would be, especially since he's using Void's face. It's distracting." He ran a hand through his covered head. "What should I do?"
He recalled the advice Alex had given him.
"To get through Illusion and make him trust you, you need to help him remember that he cares about you. You have to show him that you love him."
"Please listen to your emotions, and be aware that you will have flaws that'll hold you back from telling Illusion that you love him, or whatever you want to say."
Wasn't he already doing that? He was being himself. He cared about Illusion and showed that by listening to him and being willing to serve him. That was how their friendship grew in the first place.
Maybe it was hard because Illusion looked like Void. Whenever he saw Void, Memory kept worrying about how to remind his father that he was there for him or how he could prove his worth. Illusion was different; Memory only had to prove his loyalty a few times in the beginning. Once Illusion trusted him, he just...accepted Memory for who he was. That still perplexed Memory. So if Memory didn't have to constantly please Illusion, how was he supposed to show that he loved him?
Was he truly caring for Illusion when he wasn't being completely honest, trying to bring him back to the Illusion Town without telling him why? When talking to someone felt more calculated than ever, Memory started to wonder what "care" even meant. Everyone seemed different in how they showed care for someone...including Void.
Memory was starting to see how off Void's way of caring was. Void orchestrated everything in Memory's life, from who he was allowed to be friends with to the most painful moments. It wasn't...right. But Memory still believed his father loved him. Void made some horrible missteps, and some of them were Memory's fault. He couldn't blame Void for being like that when he was always stressed from responsibilities. Memory accepted whatever Void did to him if he also accepted how badly Void wanted to punish Galaxy.
Focus on Illusion, not him! Memory knew that Illusion and Void expressed care differently. What did that mean?
"Maybe I should stall Illusion until Time comes. He'd do a better job at reaching him." Memory chuckled at his comment. "Wait, am I avoiding the problem? Is that the flaw I have to overcome?" He slammed a fist on the table. "No. It can't be that simple. What is wrong with me?"
He mulled over the problem again, tapping his fingers on the table.
Then a thought struck him.
Was his flaw his inability to let Void go?
Memory stopped tapping his fingers. The idea sickened him, but he couldn't deny the possibility. Ever since escaping the Spiritless World, Memory had been working behind Illusion's back to resurrect Void. It held him back from helping Illusion and spending time with him. It made him abandon his cousin for his own evil plan. In a way, it also led to him accidentally erasing Illusion's memories.
He scratched the table anxiously, realizing the next difficult question: If that was his flaw, how was he going to overcome it? How was he going to let go of Void: the man who created him, took care of him, and loved him when no one else would? Void shaped him into who he was today, and he owed Void for that. Could he drop his father instantly for Illusion's sake?
And if he wanted to be friends with Illusion again, did that mean he'd have to overcome this flaw for the rest of his life? That would mean...
Memory dipped his head as the tears formed. It hurt. What he knew had to happen hurt. The idea of losing Void forever hurt. All he wanted was more chances to prove himself to Void; he wanted that for so many generations. His wish to help Illusion was stronger, but it didn't make this any less painful.
With a shaky hand, he summoned a flower and watched the memory it projected. "Memory, as my son and my henchman, you must also work extra hard to make sure evil balances with the good in the universe," the Void in the memory told his 6-year-old son.
Memory clenched the flower as the tears streamed. "This...this is an official goodbye. Farewell, Dad." The flower melted away in his fist. He looked outside, using his determination to conceal his mourning.
Memory reluctantly returned to the edge of the village, where the hall of Nether portals was. The enormous, shiny door still concealed the cave from view. To Memory's relief, a pile of chests was placed in front of the door. Because there's no way I'm going inside that cave.
He rummaged through the chest and quickly grabbed a map, an object he believed Void would like. Now I can pretend like I was productive.
Memory waited in the center of the village, mentally rehearsing what he was going to say for the hundredth time. The sun had set, and the sky's orange hue was a vibrant contrast against the blue and purple village. He wondered if Illusion realized how empty this world was by now. He briefly entertained himself with the hope that seeing a frustratingly empty world would provoke his memories.
Eventually, a silhouette flew across the orange gradient sky and landed on the shoulder of the mountain, which also happened to be the ceiling of the Nether portal cave. Memory hurried up the shoulder and bowed to Void. He didn't mind standing directly above the cave, trusting the hall's sturdy iron platform below.
"It took forever to find one village with actual people," Void hissed. "Ugh, it would have been easier if you helped me search! What did you find that was so important?"
Memory handed him the map he had just retrieved. "I found a map of all the Steve-made routes in the Nether." No clue if the map's accurate. I'm not going into the Nether to find out. "Perhaps we can use these routes to mine resources or get in contact with the Nether mobs."
Void smiled as he inspected the map. "Perfect! We'll look over this back in my battle room. We'll attack the village I found...tomorrow. Take us back to the Void Dimension."
Because you, Illusion, can't teleport there, Memory added silently. If he had asked why Illusion didn't want to teleport, he would have retorted with, "I can, but I'm choosing not to."
"Before we return home," Memory said. "I want to tell you something."
Void narrowed his eyes. "What?"
It was a challenge to gulp down the growing apprehension. It's finally time to overcome this flaw.
"Father, I've told you the truth about this world. It may make Galaxy Steve seem irrelevant, but that doesn't invalidate all your anger towards him. He's still an awful person who left people like us to clean his mess. I know you badly want to spite him, but I also know you badly want to make up for lost time. Time you felt you wasted because of what Galaxy Steve did to you."
Void crossed his arms, intrigue in his red eyes.
"I just want to say that I'm here for you," Memory continued. "You're my family, and I love you. You have no reason to hide your feelings, anger, or grief from me. And you won't face Galaxy Steve alone. I just wanted to tell you this, in case you needed to hear it."
"Well..." Void looked away and rubbed the back of his head. For the first time in his life, he seemed surprised, shy, and flattered all at once. "Thank you! I'll keep everything you just said in mind."
Memory perked up. "Would you like to say something in return?"
"Well, as I said, we should go back home to discuss my plan and – "
"I apologize, but I wasn't talking about the plan. I was talking about...Well, I'm asking if you would also like to say what you think about me."
Void blinked in confusion. "I already said that I appreciated you for bringing me back. You should know that praises must be earned. We have to work hard to get what we want."
Memory, for the first time in his life, took a step forward. His mask hid the assertive glare he bored into Void. "This is beyond work, Father. Despite the brutal trials you've put me through, I've loved you unconditionally because I wanted to be there for you. I also broke when I realized you were gone, which was why I tried so hard to bring you back. Do you love me unconditionally too? As your son and your only friend, I'm well overdue for your thoughts."
"It's not the same!" Void stomped his foot. "We're not the same in how we love each other! All you've done for me is catch up with my demands. All I've done for you is put up with your stupid mistakes!"
Memory stumbled back. He knew this was fake. That this wasn't the real Void. Yet his words were so in-character and so sharp. For a moment, Memory forgot that this was an impersonator, and that terrified him.
Memory fought down the tremor in his voice. "Fine, we're not the same, but that doesn't answer my question. If you love me, then tell me. Not just through demanding the best from me. Show me now, without expecting anything from me, that you love me unconditionally, whatever that means to you!"
"Of-of course I love you!" Void replied, his voice faltering. "I told you already: my mind snapped when I lost you. You being here is enough for me. I value you for just being here! That's proof enough that I love you. I'm so glad your back!"
Memory tensed. The tremor in his voice felt like a stubborn stone in his throat. "You swear on that?"
Void snarled, causing Memory to flinch. "Stop being so demanding!" Thunder crackled above them, synchronized to Void's snap. "Just believe in what I say!"
"Ah!" Memory dropped to the snow. His head threatened to implode, and all he could do was clench his covered head as tears of pain formed.
"Just stop questioning it!" Void's voice boomed, with an echo of Illusion's true voice accompanying it.
Memory struggled to get up. His head felt heavy, but he refused to fall into the illusion. "No, I won't stop questioning it." He freed one of his hands and formed a white arrow, even though it made his head a thousand times worse. "I'm ready. I'm ready for the truth!"
At last, a glimmer of a pink-rainbow wall appeared between him and Void. Memory pierced the arrow into the wall, shattering it like glass.
Void stumbled back with a baffled look. Memory flicked his hand back, and the arrow returned to his hand like a harpoon. He shook the shards off the arrow. The shards morphed into red flowers with a pink gleam.
Void's jaw dropped. "H-how did you – ?"
"Your illusions are altered copies of memories, so my powers affect your illusions too," Memory explained, glaring at the impersonator. "That's why you hired me when we first met." He stepped back and calm down. "Please...give me my father's memories so I can find the answers myself."
"Ummm..." Void shifted nervously and briefly turned away. He stroked his hood like it was a nonexistent ponytail, his red eyes deep in thought.
Heh, you're still awful at making decisions, Memory allowed himself a brief moment of amusement.
Void sighed in defeat, withdrawing a red flower crown from his inventory. The actual memories, with no illusion gleam over them.
Void held out the crown. Memory bowed gratefully and took it. He ran a hand around the crown until he spotted and plucked the memory he wanted.
"Let's find out together if what you just said is the truth." He put the rest of the crown in his inventory and commanded the flower to project a hologram, gesturing the impersonator to watch with him.
The flower projected an image of a dense green swamp, a sharp contrast against the snowy mountain the two Steves were viewing the memory on. In the memory, Void flew across the sky, scanning the murky rivers and trees below. He paused when a ring of obsidian and a poorly-made machine crawled into his vision.
Memory gasped and nearly dropped the flower. This was the swamp where Sabre and Rainbow Steve destroyed me. Void did come after I died.
In the memory, Void watched the two heroes dissemble the machine, revealing a crater burned into the ground and a singed spiral mask in the center.
Memory shuddered at the sight. He wanted to look away, but he wanted to see Void's next reaction. Where's the breakdown? Void was still watching silently, and neither heroes had noticed his presence. Are you going to snap?
After what seemed to be an eternity, Void raised a hand and destroyed the machine. Sabre and Rainbow screamed and took off. Void cackled as he chased after them.
Why are you laughing? Is this how you react to losing? Memory dreaded. What are you doing? Calm down. Maybe he's in denial and will break down when the shock ends. He cares about me. He cares about me.
Void continued tormenting the heroes across the Overworld. Eventually, he revealed himself to Sabre and Rainbow. "You managed to defeat Memory Steve," he scoffed. "Impressive."
"Impressive." That was all you had to say? Memory thought. When you're angry, you go into tirades to justify your rage.
Sabre whimpered, "Oh god, is Memory Steve your minion?" He coughed and puffed out his chest. "I mean, yeah! We defeated Memory Steve, but we don't want to fight! Leave us alone!"
"Yeah, don't mess with us!" Rainbow swung around a skinny stick like a sword. "We have Galaxy Steve on our side!"
Void forced out a half-baffled, half-enraged laugh and struck a hand. The heroes' platform collapsed. Sabre and Rainbow screamed and clambered out, running again as Void chased after them, making more ground sink behind the heroes.
Memory grew more anxious. Were you mad because they bragged about Galaxy Steve or killing me?
The memory continued until eventually, Rainbow Steve recklessly confronted Void to help Sabre, Galaxy, and a Purple Steve ally escape. The setting shifted from the green Overworld into a tall bedrock hallway in the Void Dimension. Rainbow emerged from the shadows, colorful against the dark setting. He paced across the hallway and inspected the bedrock blocks, begging for any hidden doors or tunnels to reveal themselves.
Thunder roared, causing Rainbow to hurry back to the center of the hallway. Void arrived, hovering in the air and watching his prisoner. "So, Rainbow Steve, the Savior of Steves? That's an adorable title. Then again, I think all heroic jobs are adorable. None of them compare to my job as protector of the universe."
Rainbow gawked. "Protector of the universe? I don't believe you! You're evil!"
"Your naivety is also amusing." Void began telling Rainbow the truth behind Galaxy, who was like a brother to him the way Light was a brother to Rainbow. "He's so careless and selfish. He pushed all his responsibilities to me and then shunned me for doing his work my way. That's why I want revenge and need to absorb him, taking all his power for my own."
Rainbow bristled. "Revenge is never justified! You'll kill Galaxy Steve if you absorb him, and killing people makes you one of the worst Steves in the world!"
"So I guess you and I have that in common."
Rainbow stumbled back and looked perplexed. "Wha-what are you talking about?"
Void snapped his fingers. An item materialized in the air and dropped into Rainbow's hands. Rainbow inspected the item and paled when he realized it was a burnt, but familiar, spiral mask.
Memory grasped the flower tighter and held his breath.
In the memory, Void hovered closer to the ground and snarled, "You killed Memory Steve with no remorse."
"No, wait, that's justified!" Rainbow panicked. "He hurt me by taking away my memories! He even took my memories about my past a long time ago!"
"But you just said revenge is never justified. And honestly, your justification is pathetic. You felt so insecure about your lack of abilities and your past, that you took it out on him because you blamed him for all your self-doubt. You didn't even bother finding proof if Memory actually took away your memories."
"But he did take my memories away!" Rainbow insisted. "I know it because...umm..."
"I know the real villain who took away your memories," Void said. "A misanthropic cyclops named Hypno Steve took your memories and put you in a coma against your will. During your slumber, he disguised himself as you and pretended to be the hero, making the lives of Steves worse.
"I hate this cycle in history of people pushing responsibilities onto others! It's unfair that Hypno Steve stole your role as savior and made you look bad, while Galaxy Steve, who willingly gave his responsibilities to someone like me, can enjoy life without his reputation getting ruined!"
Rainbow looked away, confused and afraid. "I...I..."
"I've been through hell because of all the stress Galaxy put on me, and now you made my life more miserable by killing my son!"
Rainbow dropped the mask and gasped. "Wait, he was your son?! So he was also related to Galaxy Steve?!"
"He was more than my son. He was my only friend. The only one who understood me." Void shook in rage. "I was so proud to have him as a son. He was loyal, skilled, and so much more. My world was bleak knowing that I only existed to clean up Galaxy's mess, but Memory made it worthwhile. I loved him and he brought light into my world. He was my world!"
Void circled around Rainbow and snarled into Rainbow's ear. "You took away my world. That makes you a destroyer of worlds, just like me."
Shock overwhelmed Memory and made him drop the flower. His peripheral vision glitched when the flower fell through the snow.
In the projection hovering inches above the ground, Rainbow panicked even more. "I-I didn't mean to! I was just following Sabre! He told me to do it!"
Memory snapped his view away from the projection. He felt fury. Fury that this hero was no better than Galaxy Steve, trying to get away with the responsibility of killing him. But then why did he feel icy apprehension?
Rainbow burst into tears. "I'm so sorry! I'm a murderer! I murdered your son!" He pulled at his colorful hair and cried more. "I murdered all the Steves I didn't save. I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON!" Every pathetic word boiled Memory's blood even more, despite the snowy biome feeling chillier.
In the projection, Void paused in front of the hero and gave a sympathetic expression. "Stop crying," he assured. "We've all made mistakes. The past? What happened to Memory Steve? If Galaxy Steve's allowed to move on from the past, then you and I should also be allowed to. I'm not losing sight of my future, and I certainly want revenge. Rainbow Steve, do you want redemption? Then help me take down Sabre and Galaxy Steve, so I can avenge the son I loved dearly."
Memory flinched as the icy apprehension struck him again. His peripheral vision glitched more.
"He said it!" A deep voice shouted, startling Memory. He remembered that the impersonator was still there, standing proudly as he watched the projection. "See, Void cares about you! Told you so!"
Memory picked up the flower, closing the projection completely. All this time, Void did feel proud of him. Memory never had to prove anything to him. He should have felt happy, but his heart felt heavier than before. Why did he say it too late? He wanted to scream. Why did I have to miss him saying those words? He began counting how many years had passed since his death. If he had only stayed alive for a few more days, he could have had the chance to personally hear Void say those words. He squeezed the flower, as if that could somehow take back all these generations he wasted in not knowing. Why did he have to say it after I was gone?
The more he mulled over that question, the sicker he started to feel.
"No..." Memory clenched the flower tighter. The glitches in his vision intensified. "This isn't right..."
The impersonator tilted his head. "How can this be wrong? You got the answer you wanted."
Memory quivered, dropping his gaze to the ground. "Why would Void finally see my worth after all those years? After all the hell I endured, all the dark chambers he said I deserved to be in, and all the friends I lost..." He felt more ill as he recounted every single punishment he had lived through. The glitches in his vision broke through the snow, exposing the gray rocky surface beneath. "Even Elemental had to pay the price! All because I failed to make him proud, no matter how hard I tried. So why is it that after I died from my failures, Void finally said I'm worthy, after telling me for generations I was imperfect and messed everything up?"
He heard the impersonator shift on his feet uncomfortably. Memory wanted to know the impersonator's full reaction, but he couldn't bring himself to look at his haunting face and those red eyes. "Why did you say all that after I was gone?" Memory whimpered, unsure if he was saying it to the impersonator or his actual father. "You always saw me as incompetent, and I worked so hard to make it up to you. But in the end, all I had to do was fucking die to be called a worthy son who made your world brighter?"
The impersonator interrupted, "Hey, don't jump to conclusions! Maybe he was secretly always proud of you, but didn't say it out loud! Some people are like that!"
"Don't speak for someone you don't understand!" Memory snapped at the impersonator. The glitches caused his voice to boom. "Don't you dare tell me these useless explanations I've been telling myself for generations! It doesn't matter what Void thought! What matters is that I'm hurt!"
The impersonator jumped back, worry and nervousness in his red eyes.
Memory dropped his gaze, his entire body shaking. "You lied to me," he whispered, hoping that his actual father, in whatever hell he was burning in, was hearing this. "You didn't break down when I died. Overcoming my flaws and sacrificing everything were never enough to make you proud of me. After all these years, you finally cared when I had a convenient death that made it easier to manipulate someone into giving you what you wanted!"
A harrowing silence lingered, and neither Steves dared to break it. The last of the sunset's orange rays vanished, letting an eerie purple take over the sky with frostier air.
Memory finally lifted his gaze. The line where the mountain and sky met warped as the glitches intensified. Despite the world becoming blurry, he was still clear. "That's all I was to you, wasn't I? Just a pawn you can use and break whenever you wanted, but never a child you planned to love..."
The world became chillier and the dark figure in front of Memory began to glitch rapidly.
He's not the real Void, a thought was forced into his mind.
Memory hissed and looked away. "I never knew the real Void..." He tuned out the night sky and white snow, as if they had faded to black in his consciousness. The snow, the growing cold, and the ground beneath him didn't matter anymore.
The world trembled and CRACK!
Memory flinched as the world around him burst with blue glitches. The mountain peaks rumbled and jumped from side to side as Memory's vision split into pieces. Snow trembled and dispersed, revealing a cracked stone platform beneath. Blue and pink glitches seeped through the cracks. Thunder hit and suddenly, Memory couldn't feel the ground.
The ground had broken beneath him.
"AAHH!" Memory screamed as he fell through the sudden abyss. He plunged into the mountain, the blue and pink glitches and his fearsome red eyes fleeting away.
Memory's back hit the stone floor. "AAH!" He was too pained to move his head. His gaze was still fixated on the ceiling he had fallen through, but he knew he was in the underground Nether portal hallway in the mountain.
The glitches spilled through the ceiling's hole. Like water, they dripped through the hole, some snaking across the ceiling. The hole began to glitch madly. It blinked out of existence, then returned, then disappeared again. Memory panicked. He didn't know what was going on. A part of him felt like he shouldn't be afraid, but if the glitches were going to lock him from the outside world, he already felt like he was suffocating, as if he was buried beneath bedrock with no space to move and not enough air to scream.
He clambered up but slipped on a thin layer of frost. "AH!" He fell chin first and smashed his tongue. That was the tipping point, and the tears he'd been holding back finally fell, with grief, anger, and bitterness all crashing down too. His sobs turned hysterical and afflicted his aching body even more. His tears soaked his mask, giving the cold a chance to bite his wet face.
But the pain and the fall were nothing compared to Void's words. Every word from that memory. Every word he had told him before. Every cave that he buried him in, and every look of disapproval he had given him.
It was all for a lie. For a lie.
Memory spotted a dim red glow. He froze and stared back in fear, but realized they were redstone torches mounted near the Nether portals. The purple hues of the portals glowed and made spirals.
Memory couldn't look away. He saw faces in the spirals.
A terrified and lost Elemental Steve. A betrayed and scared Time Steve. A vengeful Nightmare Steve and a vindictive Elder Blue Steve. The terrified and begging pleas of Sabre. Rainbow Steve.
Galaxy Steve.
The purple Steve. His ex-best friend.
Illusion Steve.
All the Steves he had hurt.
All the Steves he had hurt for Void.
Oh Colors, what have I done?
Memory got up again and moved forward, refusing to look at the portals longer. The gates. Get to the gates, he tried to focus. I need to get out of here.
The faint shine of the metal gate stood against the darkness, and it pushed Memory to ignore the pain and anger longer. Suddenly, the metallic outline glitched and began to dissolve, revealing the faint purple sky. Memory paused for a moment before bolting. He didn't care what was happening to the gate, but if the glitches were opening it, he needed to get out.
He limped faster, refusing to look away from glitching metallic outline and the growing, brighter exit. Thunder! A sudden dark figure appeared in front of him. Memory skidded to a halt and nearly slipped. No...
Void's red eyes flared, helping his pitch-black form stand out from the darkness. He hovered off the ground, his eyes boring into Memory.
No... Memory backed away, the dagger in his heart digging deeper. He remembered how he used to look at that furious red gaze with fear, but also with a deep longing that he could one day reconnect with his father and make things right for him.
But now, he could only feel fear.
Pink and blue glitches surrounded Void. Behind him, the metallic gate faded back into existence. Memory tried to run to the exit, but Void landed and shoved him back. "Please, no!" Memory panicked. He teleported around Void, but Void caught him and shoved him again.
Memory fell to the ground. When he recovered, he saw the gate return, concealing the cave again. He was trapped. Once again, he was left begging for Void's mercy.
Void hovered over him again. Memory trembled. "Stop, please, go away!" Memory nearly slipped, so all he could do was scoot away as Void inched closer.
The glitches intensified as thunder rolled outside. Void's red eyes glowed brighter.
Memory clenched his eyes shut and shielded his face. "NO, GO AWAY! I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU ANYMORE. JUST STAY DEAD."
Thunder.
Silent darkness engulfed Memory, and he didn't want to reach out.
So a voice reached out to him instead. "Hey, open your eyes. It's over."
Cautiously, Memory unshielded his face. He was still in the cave, but the pale glow of the night covered the area. He wasn't trapped. The gate was gone, and the cave's mouth was just a natural, wide entrance.
Right in front of him was Illusion. Just him.
Illusion inspected his body and clothes, equally as confused as Memory. "You forced me to reveal my true form. How did you do that?"
Memory slumped down, a wave of relief flooding him. "You only took my father's form because he was the most significant person in my life. Well, he's not anymore."
Illusion ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "That doesn't answer anything! I've never met a Steve who changed their mind about the most important person in their life!"
Memory sighed. "Well, now you have. I have someone else to care more about now... it's you. You're the most important person in my life now."
Illusion stepped back, looking at Memory in astonishment. "...Who are you?"
"I'm – "
"No, I know who you are because I read your mind," Illusion interrupted. "I also know that you know who I am. How do you have these memories of me?"
Memory dipped his head down in shame. "It's because I erased your memories. I'm so sorry."
Illusion scowled. "So my suspicions were correct. Why did you take my memories and bother me?"
"Why did you disguise as my father?"
Illusion hesitated before sighing. "I cast an illusion on this village to make you feel safe. I deceived you with an illusion of Void, showing you what you wanted to see and hear. But when you started questioning things, well, the illusion fell apart and I tried to repair it, but you got into so much trouble while I was trying to fix the illusion on this mountain."
Memory couldn't look up. "Why were you so desperate to put me under an illusion?"
"It was to pacify you and make you unable to fight. Your memories told me that you worked for the evilest Steve ever. Something – instincts, I suppose – told me that I should not let you free from my illusion, because you were a threat."
Memory turned away, feeling his heart crack.
"But..." Illusion began to relax. When Memory looked back up, he saw guilt in Illusion's eyes. "I was stubborn because I thought it was the only way to stop you. But seeing you change your mind about Void made me realize that you aren't as evil as I expected. I'm sorry that I realized that too late." He offered Memory a hand, giving a respectful nod. "So I'll give you a chance to explain yourself. I know that you're here to convince me to go somewhere with you."
Memory accepted the hand and got up. He wobbled a bit, still in pain from his fall, but he was alright.
Illusion awkwardly smiled. "I also learned that you're obsessed with purpose and pleasing your creator. I'm like that too."
Memory simply responded by showing he was able to walk without stumbling.
Illusion looked down and his smile faded, replaced with guilt.
After some hesitation, Memory spoke. "I came here because I want to return your memories. If you trust me, I'll take you to someone who will answer all your questions and restore your memories."
"Fine. I'll trust you, but..." Illusion warily looked at the night sky outside. "Do we have to go out right now?"
"No." Memory suddenly sneezed. He was too shaken up to travel anyways. "We can wait here for my friend. Let's go somewhere warm."
Memory brought Illusion back to the abandoned café. "I'll try to make us some drinks."
Illusion waved a dismissive hand. "Sure, but don't worry about it if you can't."
Memory first approached the fireplace and used his flint and steel to start a fire, and Illusion immediately huddled near it. Memory found the café's brewing stand and a chest of still fresh ingredients. He tried to brew some simple tea. Even though it was only a few steps, Memory purposefully took his time, deliberately letting the empty glass bottles click against each other. Illusion occasionally glared at him with annoyance. Memory felt bad, but he needed the noise. His thoughts about Void pounded in his skull. He wanted to drown them out with sound, but he could still vividly imagine Void's looks of disapproval.
Memory felt ashamed of how sensitive and unstable he had become. He hated that he couldn't stop thinking about Void, knowing that Void would never put this much thought about him. Did he even think of me after he manipulated Rainbow and got what he wanted?
Memory had always felt remorse for splitting apart his family. Knowing that Void used his death to make Rainbow betray his adopted father ignited a bitterness that Memory never knew he had, and renewed all the hatred he had for himself.
That was the cold truth. Void never loved him or wanted him to become a deserving son. He only cared for him when he could use him, and Memory had been so foolish to not realize that.
The tea finished brewing and Memory returned to the fireplace with two glasses of tea. Illusion quickly and gratefully accepted the tea. Memory sat next to him and closed his eyes, listening closely to the crackling fire and letting the tea warm his hands.
Memory flinched when Illusion unapologetically leaned on him. Illusion looked like he was denying it, but he huddled closer to Memory for warmth. Memory relaxed and softly smiled.
At least Illusion was safe. The thought of that was enough to put his conflicts and bitterness at rest.
The door opened. Memory and Illusion turned to see Time enter the café. Time looked tense, but when he saw Illusion, he sighed in relief and ran up to his younger brother. "Hey Illusion, do you know who I am?" He glanced at Memory. "He won't try anything drastic, right?"
Illusion sat up from Memory and shook his head. "I just want answers. Who are you?"
"Don't you sense it? I'm Time Steve, your brother."
Illusion scratched his chin, scanning Time up and down.
"What's wrong?"
"I just read your mind. I see that you want to help me, but I also saw a memory of me trying to kill you. Will that make things awkward between us?"
"...that's not important right now," Time said. "I refuse to let another brother of mine feel lost without his memories. If you come with me, I'll help you remember your life."
Illusion hesitated before nodding.
"I'll teleport you to my dimension where you can stay. But before that, can I speak to Memory in private?"
"Sure," Illusion said before sipping his tea.
Memory and Time walked to the other side of the café, though Memory winced every few steps. Time took off his mask, revealing his worried expression. "Are you alright?"
Memory didn't respond.
"...Thank you so much for getting through Illusion." Time gave a grateful smile. "I'm so proud of you."
Memory dipped his head. "It was nothing..."
"Was it though? Are you sure you're ok?"
Memory paused, having to focus to keep his composure. He remembered that he still had the flower crown. He withdrew it from his inventory, fixing his lowered gaze at it. "...I was wrong about Void," he finally said. "I was wrong about everything I've been fighting for..."
Time dipped his head. Pity was clear in his eyes, and he seemed to be carefully crafting his next words. "Hey, why don't you go back to the Memory Dimension? Take as much time as you need to rest and process it all. I'll take care of Illusion and come visit you when I can. How does that sound?"
"...Ok. Let's do that."
Time gave a soft smile and spread his arms out. Memory slowly leaned forward and fell into his cousin's embrace.
"It'll be ok," Time soothed, patting Memory's back. "I promise."
Void gave me promises too, Memory thought. Promises that he only made to keep me with him...
"Go home and get some rest. Goodnight."
"...Goodnight." Memory focused and teleported quickly, because home was all he wanted right now.
The chilly Overworld night faded away, replaced by the Void sky, lava, and swamp. Memory watched the line of swamp islands in front of him. The warm air and the familiar sights should have comforted him. A return to the Memory Dimension should mean "mission accomplished" or "welcome home."
But he couldn't even think of this place as his dimension anymore, but rather...a subset of the Void Dimension that was gifted to him as a joke.
He fell to his knees, letting the flower crown slip out of his hands and onto the swamp island. The island felt like it was sinking. Sinking. It was the only sensation he could feel. Although he had become more cautious about this, he unblocked his memory-erasing abilities, just so the power in him could be another feeling in this emptiness.
He lifted his head and saw the trees around him. They were trembling, as if cowering from a nonexistent storm. Their leaves rattled and shriveled up. Their green hues bleached into an unhealthy yellow. The trunks of the trees began to decay. Blue forget-me-nots bled out from the dying bark, spreading across the tree like a parasite.
Memory didn't know how to react.
...It took him this long to realize that he was still holding that red flower.
He opened his hand and the red flower replayed its projection: the memory of Void talking to Rainbow. "Stop crying," Void assured the distraught Rainbow. "We've all made mistakes. The past? What happened to Memory Steve? If Galaxy Steve's allowed to move on from the past, then you and I should also be allowed to."
...
"AAAH!" Memory threw the flower at the ground. He struck the flower with his hand, destroying the projection. He pelted it with more punches, which have been charged with his remaining energy. He barely made a dent in the grass blocks, which hurt him back, but he didn't care. All he cared about was seeing the flower break into petals, then shreds, then particles. He attacked and attacked, his blood boiling.
He lost count of how many times he struck the flower, and his fists had become numb. He sat back and panted. The flower's remains had scattered across the grass block, its memory now irretrievable.
This wasn't the first time he had eradicated a memory, nor would it be the last. But that would never erase all the atrocities he had done for Void.
The guilt and pain finally became too much. Memory curled up into a ball, bringing his knees close to his chest, and he sobbed.
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