(Heya guys, just a quick little A/N that after Part 3; Chapter 16, I will be going on a month's hiatus so I can work on Part 4. After Chapter 16, which has a little surprise at the end, I will be returning on March 16th with Part 4; Chapter 1. I've named the story arc, but the name will be revealed next Wednesday. Ok A/N over E)

=Time Steve's POV=

I watched from the top of the volcano as my brother continued to work almost aimlessly on his project. He kept rearranging the stupid redstone and talking aloud to himself. I glanced to the side, watching Sabre and Rainbow walk down the ice path together.

They entered the volcano through the tunnel cautiously, then went down the staircase. "Elemental!" Sabre called, reaching a hand out. "Stop this madness, please! I know Time's talked to you about your creator, so you have no good reason to do whatever evil experiment this is!"

Elemental turned. "Heh. Well then. If it isn't Sabre and Rainbow Steve." He muttered, almost annoyed. There was something off. He was acting.. strange. Even for him.

"What's this thing gonna do, Elemental? And why do you have it?" Sabre asked. "Heh, well, What this does? It destroys this whole world, and allows me to recreate it how I'd like! Where everything makes sense!" He exclaimed.

"Wh-why!?" Rainbow was shocked as he grabbed Sabre's hand. I furrowed my eyebrows, pacing around the top of the volcano to get a better view of Elemental.

"Well, why else!? Nothing makes any sense, and I hate it!!" He yelled. "I'm activating the machine!" He ran to the center, ready to activate the thing. I quickly raised my hand, activating my powers to summon the machine Sabre had helped me design to stop this thing.

Upon summoning, however, Elemental began to laugh maniacally. "wha-" I got out, just before the volcano began to shake. I fell from the ledge, but caught myself just as I was about to hit the ground. I quickly flew and landed next to Rainbow.

"ELEMENTAL, STOP!!" I screamed. He looked shocked as he took a step back. "Time-" "ARE YOU STUPID, ELEMENTAL!? I gave you a chance! I chance to change but you didn't take it, did you!? You're so idiotic!!"

Elemental's face fell, his chaotic smile turning into a frown. His eyes watered. "Deactivate this machine right no-!" "Time." Sabre interrupted my sentence. I looked at him in confusion, him staring back at me with a solemn look.

I watched as he turned back to Elemental, slowly approaching him as he put his hand and arm out. "Look, Elemental.. please stop this, we can work this out together. And then, you won't have to face the consequences, you won't have to do anything we say... You can be free and do what you want to." He urged calmly.

Elemental growled, stepping into the machine's center. "This is exactly why I want this world gone," his voice quivered as he glared at me, "because of you. You've done nothing but HURT ME!!" And with that, the volcano trembled yet again, more violently. Lava and fire arose from one corner, the ice and water jutting up from the opposite. Chunks of earth flew into the air as wind whipped around the empty cylinder.

Rainbow and I crouched to avoid being knocked off balance as Sabre stood his ground. "Elemental!!" Sabre screamed. All my brother did was glare. Was the machine not already activated!? It definitely was now! I put an arm over Rainbow to shield him as chunks of dirt and rock whipped around in the harsh, tornado like winds.

"THIS IS IT!!" Elemental yelled out. Sabre ran forward and grabbed at his shoulder, shaking him a bit. "ELEMENTAL, STOP!! DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!?" He tried, only for Elemental to grab him with his lava arm and burn his wrist.

"Sabre!" Rainbow called as Sabre cried out. I took in a shaky breath and flung my hand forward, sending out a burst of energy that would show the two a memory from the past.

.

---

-years and years ago-

Time gingerly stepped down from his newly made portal to his little brother. "Elemental! Look, my first Time Portal!" He giggled. The uninterested adolescent nodded unenthusiastically. "Yeah.. woo hoo.. good for you." He cheered falsely.

"Eleeee, have some spirit, huh? The only reason I'm progressing faster than you is because I'm older. I bet you'll exceed me in power one day!" Time encouraged, hugging the red head. Elemental huffed, raising his hand, which was at the time normal skin, muscle, and bone, to poke at his brother's cheek, tracing around the dark patches of Time's vitiligo boredly.

"I dunno, Timey. You're just better at everything than I am, and at my age you were already able to fly and manipulate the timeline.." He pouted. Time rolled his eyes. "So what? You could be a late bloomer, for all we know. You're gonna be great one day, Ele, I even saw it in the future once."

Even though Time had just lied, as he didn't know how to see into the future yet, Elemental's expression lit up. "Wait, you saw into the future? When did this happen?" He piped up. "A few weeks ago," Time lied again, "you grow to be big, tall, and strong, and you're the true master of elements." Time raised a finger and tapped Elemental's nose, earning a giggle from his little brother.

"Just have courage, okay? You're gonna be amazing." Elemental smiled widely and finally hugged his brother back. "Thanks, Time." He said. Time smiled. "Of course, Ele."

---

.

-present time-

I watched as Elemental stood there, a mix of sadness and regret on his face. He stumbled back and covered his face, his hands touching and creating little obsidian rocks that fell to the quartz ground like tears. "What have I done.. what have I done.." He muttered, his voice barely audible through the howling wind.

"See, Elemental? You were once so exited to grow up, and be something great. There are people out there who are like you! You can stop this!" Sabre called. Elemental lowered his hands to show his tear stained face, desperation contorting his saddened expression. "I can't stop it, Sabre! Once it's set in motion it's unstoppable!!" He cried.

Everyone fell silent, even Sabre didn't have anything to say for a moment. "Are you sure?!" He finally asked, "There has to be some way, right?"

Another moment of wordlessness passed as Elemental stared on in desperation. "...There is one way." He said solemnly. "Well what is it!?" Rainbow finally spoke up. Elemental gave a defeated sigh, then smiled, tears dripping from his golden eyes. "Get out of here, and keep Time safe." Elemental grabbed at the redstone, beginning to conduct his energy.

"ELEMENTAL, NO!!" I screamed. I tried to get up and grab him, but Sabre quickly grabbed me instead, hauling me back. I struggled against his grip as he pulled me back towards the stairs. "Time, we have to go, now!!" Sabre exclaimed, putting his elbow out for Rainbow to hold. I choked out a sob and hit Sabre's arm, trying to get him to let go, but the non-Steve was simply too strong.

"ELEMENTAL!!!" I continued to scream and struggle as Sabre hauled me up the stairs and through the entrance tunnel, trying to reach back for him. My last glimpse of him was his sad smile and bittersweet expression, his lips mouthing some words through the growing noise. I realized almost immediately what he had said, letting out more sobs as I gave up on struggling.

Sabre moved to let me down, taking my hand as we dashed across the ice path. The volcano behind us shook violently, almost as if it were about to erupt. "We can't run anymore, DUCK!!" Sabre screamed, putting his hand on my back, using his arm to shove us down.

I put my head in my hands as the explosion went off, Rainbow huddling close to me as Sabre stood again, the loud noise left a horrible ringing in my ears as I shook, hugging Rainbow to have any sense of comfort. We just stayed there for what seemed like an eternity. Elemental was dead. He was gone. My brother.

"...Guys..?" Sabre said. "..the explosion's over.." I slowly raised my head and sat up, turning to look at the destruction. There was nothing left. I put my head in my hands again and just cried for my brother. He shouldn't have gone down that path. He didn't deserve to die..

I punched the ice. "ELEMENTAL!!" I just screamed, "ELEMENTAL, COME BACK YOU STUPID, DENSE, BEDROCK BRAIN!! YOU DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE!!!"

The last words he had said to me were "I love you", and I never got to say them back.