Good things sometimes pass to an end too quickly, but good memories remain. Steve is bound to find out that his big little brother is back to normal. Well, almost...

Steve woke up and stretched, yawning. A smile bloomed on his face even before his blue eyes opened, blinking at his cozy new place.

Yes, he was definitely starting to like it here! And today, he was going to try out something new, if Notch came back and remembered him asking.

Jumping up, Steve bounced to the house window and hopefully peered outside. His eyes lit up at the sight of the sparkling blue water gently sloshing around within a large, fenced in square lined with rough stone tiles. Within the square, water turned the inner stone tiles a deep, azure blue that matched the peaceful sky overhead.

Yes! Notch remembered! It looked just like in the pictures that Steve had seen from Notch and Hero's past. He made something that people in his world called a pool – a safe area for water fun, where Steve wouldn't have to worry about any water mobs dealing damage.

His blue eyes straying to the far corner, he saw an open chest with new toys. Something to show Hero to get him away from that 'computer' for a bit. Frankly, Steve was starting to feel a bit bored just sitting in the house for several hours a day while his little brother attended some sort of lessons that Notch insisted on. It did help him to pick up language concepts very quickly. And it was interesting, since Steve was learning so much about the world where Hero and Notch grew up. More and more, though, his eyes wistfully held on the picture of digital forests that little Hero was looking on, and he badly wanted to feel the wind on his face, standing out in some great open, and to feel free.

Exploring was in his blood! The mountains and the forests called his name. Little Hero couldn't leave, though. It was too dangerous for him in his current state, and not just because of his powers, which Notch subdued in part for Steve's sake. Hero had enemies, who would not fail to take advantage of this chance to cause him harm.

Taking in a deep breath, Steve smiled and then headed to his little brother's room to wake him up.

"Hero?" He asked, peeking in. The bed was already meticulously made and Steve's eyes held on that a moment. Then, he heard something drop in the kitchen. Ah! That's where Hero was. Looking for snacks already, even though he was supposed to wait for Steve to cook them breakfast.

Steve headed to the kitchen and caught the little boy in the act of poising on a kitchen chair, which he had dragged to the kitchen counter. Standing with his hand still stretched to one of the higher shelves, the boy glared at the broken candy jar with a frown on his face. Colorful jellybeans had rolled all across the kitchen floor. At Steve's appearance, his white eyes flicked to him and his body visibly tensed. Steve smiled to reassure.

"Don't worry about it, Hero. It's not a big deal. Notch's machines will clean it up." Steve looked around and sure enough, a small black machine appeared from the wall and rolled toward the mess. Light projected from a blue point in the front, scanning across the pieces, which turned transparent with only their edges left in bright lines, and then flashed and vanished. It's task done, the small machine rolled back and froze within the wall.

"What are you trying to get?" Steve got the child's attention. White eyes blinked and the boy silently turned and pointed at a black can just a little beyond his reach. Steve leaned closer and made a disgusted face.

"Coffee? Ugh. I don't get it why Notch even likes that stuff. No, no, he said you shouldn't have it. Let's get a nice, fresh cup of milk instead. Notch said its much healthier for you." Paying no attention behind him and so not seeing the startled look that appeared on the child's face, which turned to a flat expression, Steve headed over to the square shaped artifact that Notch called a 'fridge'.

Opening the upper door, he searched inside for the familiar, square shaped container.

These artifacts that Notch re-created from his memory of his own world were truly amazing! This 'fridge' not only kept things cold, so such tasty treats as ice-cream could be safely kept in it, but it also never ran out of food. Steve could take as much as he wanted and it remained full. Of course, what else could he expect from having a brother who could make things appear out of thin air?

Steve took out the milk container, then stepped next to Hero again, not noticing the slight wary move the child made to distance himself a bit. Checking across the row of rectangular carton boxes with colorful labels on the middle shelf, Steve humphed.

"Fruit loops or oat bran?" He asked. After a moment, the child silently turned and pointed to his favorite box. Steve grabbed it, since it was his favorite, too, and brought it to the kitchen table, where he then placed two bowls and filled them up with dry cereal. Watching him pour milk into the bowls, the child's lips twitched in a slight smile, his posture relaxing a bit. Then, casting the coffee can a regretful look, he climbed off the chair and joined Steve at the table.

Again, a frown settled on the child's face as he considered his bowl, which was nearly at his chin level.

"Hero? Are you all right?" Steve's friendly voice distracted him. White eyes flicked up and found a spoon handed to him. Hesitating again, the child nodded, accepting the spoon.

Steve began eating, a pleased and relaxed look on his face as his heart surged. Another good, fun day was coming. He treasured each one, maybe more so because he knew this was not going to last much longer.

Hero watched his little brother and hesitated a moment longer. He… didn't know how to go about this. He needed to tell Steve, but… And where was Notch again when he needed him?

Hero tried to extend his senses and found a wall blocking him. Right. He was in Notch's grounds and he still wore a delimiter to keep his shifting powers in check. The System didn't know what to make of him just now, recognizing him and rejecting him the next moment – a dimly familiar situation.

His white eyes held on his brother a moment longer, then dropped to his food. Slightly frowning at the cereal, the child awkwardly dipped his spoon into the white liquid and scooped a few floating flakes. Warily, he brought them to his mouth and savored the long-forgotten taste.

It was… surprisingly good and evoked very comforting memories. Maybe… just a little longer then?

…

Hero stood at the edge of the pool and studied the rippling, sparkling surface. A little further in was Steve, already wading in the water.

"Come on, Hero! Its easy. Watch!" Steve declared and dived under. Uncomfortably shifting, Hero's eyes worriedly traced his brother's form smoothly gliding under the water. At the deep end, Steve re-emerged, blowing out air and sucking in a deep breath as he smiled. Water streamed down his hair, having grown slightly longer than what Steve normally had.

"Come on. It's fun!"

Hero's eyes returned to the surface of the normally hostile to him element with misgiving. Only it would be fine right now, with his power suppressed right now. Right? Right. Fighting instincts, Hero carefully made a step into the cool water.

"Watch out!" Notch called out from behind. Hero only managed to turn around as a large form came barreling past him and launched itself into the pool. An enormous splash soaked his entire body from head to toe. Sucking in his breath, Hero glared at his big brother, who laughed as he emerged from below. Steve laughed as well.

Hero glared at the two. Who was supposed to be the child here? He or they? His brothers kept laughing, carefree and bright. A small smirk appeared on Hero's face, too.

A bit later, a child's small form cannon balled into the water, followed by an enormous splash that rocked both men, pushing them against the side of the pool and then flipping them over into the grass on the other side. A bit startled, they sat there, then Steve plopped back into the grass with an uneasy chuckle.

Hero was already peacefully floating in the much lower water level, slowly moving his limbs up and down as he looked up into the cloudless blue sky and enjoyed the feel of the sun warming his skin. A very tranquil emotion settled over his entire being and he accepted it.

Notch watched him with a small smile, while Steve shook his head a little and got up. Two chairs materialized next to them along with a small, wooden table with cold drinks. Steve paused for a moment, then just sat down. Notch did, too. Both watched the child, who seemed to be content to simply float in the pool, his eyes closed. Notch leaned back, too, and yawned a bit.

"Long night." He gave Steve a small smile. Steve nodded and also tried to relaxed. With Hero seemingly occupied, he was once again left to his own devices. Only, he couldn't rest. He just wasn't used to quiet days like this. He should be… mining or building something. Steve shifted uncomfortably and cast another wistful look to the woods that he could see beyond the carefully cut lawn. Only he already knew that they didn't lead anywhere. The mountains that towered behind those green trees looked so real, but they were not real. This entire place was just a small sliver of a world, inaccessible to all but Notch and Hero. He… couldn't even leave it without their help.

"Um… Notch?"

"Hmm?" The older immortal responded absent-mindedly. Steve hesitated in his next question, his blue eyes once again holding on the small, floating figure in the pool.

"Why cannot he talk?" He dared to prod a personal question. "I mean… he is human now, right? More than… he was before?"

"Hmm. In a way, I guess? Until I restore his other form, yes. Right now, he is very much like you. Or… rather, what you would be if I gave you full Admin access… If I gave you same powers that we have." Notch explained, noticing Steve's blank look. He smiled a little. "That offer still stands, you know. You would just have to complete a training session, just a year or two."

"You mean like what Hero is doing now?" Steve verified uneasily as memory of mysterious code lines appeared before his eyes. Just learning to read and write had been hard enough and took him months to learn. That? He didn't think he would ever understand it. His older brother, though, confidently nodded.

"No… I don't think I can do what you and Hero do, Notch. Its… too much." Steve made an uneasy chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I understand." Notch nodded a little and leaned back again. Steve remembered his original question.

"But so… If he is human now, like me, why cannot he talk?"

"He can. Its just easier for him to do it that way." Notch shrugged. "Its part of his design. That's what allows him to learn so quickly. But he can talk now in his other form, too. I helped him fix those errors as soon as I got here."

Which was… Five years ago? But, Steve had seen his brother since, and he didn't say a word to him.

"He can?..." Steve blinked in lost confusion. "But, then, why?... He never said anything to me. Even after you came."

He could again see his older brother, standing there in the distance, his form half-shrouded in fog, silent and threatening like some sort of evil ghost. Steve knew that Hero meant well, coming by to check on him and not wishing to disturb him, but he simply couldn't control his own reactions. His heart would beat fast and that feeling of dread would rise, bringing up the worst of feelings. He… simply couldn't help it.

His eyes drawing to the little boy in the pool, who just then flapped his arms to turn around and began floating in another direction, Steve's bad feelings let go, dispersing, and he smiled a little.

Notch propped himself up on one elbow. "Hmmm… It's probably just old habits. They can be quite hard to overcome… "

Steve frowned. He had heard many stories about his strange brother and most of them were scary. One even said that his ability to speak was taken away from him as punishment by creators of their world. Only Notch already said that most of those stories were not true at all and Steve wanted to believe that.

"What happened to him? What really happened?" He prodded.

The big immortal shifted and threw the child in the pool an uncomfortable look. He then smiled at Steve in apology. "It's a complicated story, Steve and it's not my story to tell. Even I don't know everything, yet. He… tends to hide things if he thinks that it's not necessary for someone to know." The immortal's eyes rested on the child in the pool, then turned to Steve with kindness in his features. "But he would tell you, I am sure. If you ask him."

The image of the white-eyed man standing there with a fury boiling in his gaze, a bloody sword gripped in a clenched fist as his chest heaved, instantly re-emerged in Steve's mind and he uneasily chuckled, running his hand against the back of his neck in defensive gesture. "I… I couldn't…"

"Steve…" Notch began.

"No, no, it's all right! I just… Mmmh." Steve leaned back against the bench and tried to relax. His big brother watched him a moment later, then made a quiet sigh and leaned back, too.

In the pool, facing away from them, Hero silently listened, frowning a little as he moved his hand back and through the water. He could feel the subtle pressure as it slipped past his small fingers.

A familiar sound of teleportation made him snap his head in that direction. Sure enough, one of his Enders stood at the edge of the pool. Hero scolded himself for his oversight. His mind had been quite muddled last night, but he still should have remembered to order everyone to stay away from here.

His white eyes worriedly flicked to Steve and found his brother still resting, unaware of the mob's arrival.

Hero turned back to the mob and glared at it. It did not pay attention to him or his displeasure, though. The message it carried briefly forgotten, its pink eyes held on the water directly before its feet. Purple particles fell and sizzled on contact, before winking out of existence. Making an intimidated soft sound, the lanky, tall creature cautiously took a step back.

Several more sounds came in close succession. Pushed from behind by the arrival of other mobs, all of whom pressed forward with their eyes intently locked on tensed Hero, the first mob found itself teetering on the very edge. Throwing its long arms and waving them to keep balance, the mob tried to pull back. Yet another teleportation noise and a shove sent the mob forward toward its unfortunate demise.

Its alarmed screech interrupted as its body suddenly hung suspended in midair. Cautiously drawing its long legs up, it looked at the water splashing below its feet.

Hero stood with his hand reached out, keeping it from falling. With annoyed frown, he moved his hand, guiding the floating mob to safety of the shore. The mob, seeing soft and safe grass, cautiously lowered its feet and stood again. It swayed a bit when Hero's power let go of it.

Turning to check on his little brother again, Hero found his blue eyes watching him with a rueful smile. Instant guilt flooded Hero's heart. Ignoring the voices of the mobs urgently calling to him for attention, he blinked at the young human. It must have showed on his face, because Steve made a small nod to encourage him.

"Its all right. If you need to leave, you should leave. I understand." The young human said softly and got up. Throwing a towel over his shoulder, he silently headed toward the house.

Hero threw a helpless look of reproach to Notch, who only sighed and slumped a little, his face also guilty.

"I told you it was not a good idea. Now he thinks we made a gest of him. He feels hurt."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'll talk to him." Notch lowered his eyes to the ground.

Hero turned and listened to the mobs. One by one, they gave their messages and vanished, leaving the two immortals alone. Hero frowned as he decoded the information.

"Trouble?" Notch frowned as well. At his gesture, the image of the pool began to dissolve, leaving young Hero to stand barefoot on the grass that appeared to take its place.

"I don't know, yet. I'm going to check." Hero sent. At Notch's acknowledging nod, his small form vanished. Only the empty, green field now remained. Notch's eyes held on the faintly swaying, fragrant flowers, before turning to the house. He got up too and went to the house, where the front door remained open.

He found Steve, stuffing the things into his bag. Unwillingly, Notch stifled another sigh.

"Steve?" He asked quietly. The young man refused to look at him. Instead, he searched around himself for something. Noticing a shirt thrown over the edge of the rolling chair next to the computer, he strode over there and picked it up.

"Steve…"

Blue eyes looked up and a small smile appeared on their youngest brother's face. "It's fine, Notch. I'm not angry." Steve reassured and stepped back to his bag, stuffing his shirt in it. "It's just… I'm no longer needed here, that's all. I want to go back home now."

The big immortal nodded, though his eyes remained a little sad.

"I had to restore his memory last night. He was going to tell you, but… He probably couldn't decide on the right time. Neither of us is too good at talking, Steve." Notch shifted a little awkwardly. Steve smiled again.

"Yes. I can understand that. Neither am I." Steve's eyes searched the room and noticed a brand-new bow that sat against the wall. Noticing the direction of his gaze, Notch looked there and smiled, warmth filling his gaze.

"Ah. That's for you. It was supposed to be a present. He made it for you months ago but was not sure how to give it to you. Please take it."

Steve's feet moved him to the enchanted object, the admiration helping him to banish the last of his brief resentment. He still glanced at the big immortal for reassurance and received an encouraging nod, before he dared to reach out and take the thing. He felt a gentle surge of power go through him, lightening his entire body and filling it with strength.

"Its just like his pickaxe or my hammer. Wish for it to become something else and it will." Steve's oldest brother smiled gently at the disbelieving, but hopeful look that settled on the young man's face.

Steve held the bow. It softly lit up in his hand, changing shape first to a sword, then a pickaxe, then shears, and finally a simple bucket, which then even covered with rust spots, hiding its enchanted glow. Satisfied, Steve looked at it with a big grin.

"I'll tell him thanks when I see him next." He promised, though the thought of seeing his older brother again immediately sent an uneasy feeling through his stomach. Dismissing the enchanted, powerful tool, Steve gave the older immortal a grateful look and went to pick up his bag. Throwing it across his shoulder, he cast the place around him a fond look, but then firmly stepped toward the door, where his big brother stood, patiently watching him.

"Are you sure you won't stay a little longer?" Notch offered hopefully. Steve smiled and shook his head with an apologetic look.

"I like to explore. You know that. You and Hero can always find me. I still have this." He lifted his wrist, where the jeweled band appeared and vanished again. Notch nodded, accepting.

"You are welcome to return here anytime you want. Just think of this place when you step through any gate. I already added your signature to our whitelist." Notch said and stepped outside. Ahead of them, outside in the empty grassy field, a square shape of the gateway appeared as they unhurriedly walked to it.

"Any particular place you want to go?" Notch verified. Steve looked ahead at the woods and the blue, cloudless sky, his gaze growing distant. He smiled a little, shrugging.

"Anywhere in Alnair will do. I haven't been there in a while."

At the immortal's glance, the gate flared to life, blue light filling the square and rippling out in soft, fading waves. Steve's eyes eagerly held on it.

"Steve…"

Blue eyes looked back, without anger or hurt that Notch feared to find. The immortal smiled with some relief.

"Good luck…"

With another friendly nod back to him, the young human stepped through the gate and vanished.