"Ahaha, my dear Mimi… Can't you see that it's all just a game no one can win?"

Mimi bolted upright in her bed. She'd had that dream for the third time this week. She didn't know what it meant, or what it was talking about. She didn't even know who was speaking- all she knew was that laugh. Like it or not, that was Dimentio's laugh. She balled her fists in frustration.

I don't want to have dreams about him! she thought to herself angrily. He's mean and he doesn't like me, and he isn't even around anymore, and now he has to annoy me in my sleep? She knew all too well that annoyance wasn't why Mimi was frustrated. Although she might have once had feelings for Dimentio, they were long gone, now. She knew for a fact he was dead, and that she was living a good life, and if he were still here, that life would be absolutely ruined. Count Bleck and Lady Timpani would be once again separated, O'Chunks would live a life of crime once more, and Nastasia… Well, Nassy probably wouldn't mind all that much. Mimi didn't have much more time to think about that, when there was a knock on her door.

"Mimi, are you awake?" a small voice called out softly.

"Yes," she responded through the door. "What is it?"

"I have an important package to be taken directly to you."

Mimi smiled. Her perfume must have finally come in.

"Be right with you," she called out, pulling on her sundress. When she was decent, she opened the door, only to see Mario on the other side.

"Mario? For starters, what are you doing at Merlee's castle?"

"Like I said, delivering a package."

"Okay, change of questions: why are you delivering packages to Merlee's castle?"

He shrugged his shoulders. Suddenly, an arrow like thing appeared out of nowhere, and slid directly diagonally across Mario's body, leaving a square behind. Mario disappeared.

"I'll never understand how he does that…" She shrugged and shut the door. Mimi went back to her bed and opened- no, tore open the package- only to find another box. And another. And another. Finally, she got down to a box about four inches high, and two inches wide. She opened the final box, and slid out the perfume from inside.

Dimented by Dimentio.

Her stomach dropped out, and she felt as though she would be sick. Dimentio. The dreams. The perfume. It was connected, she was sure of it. She felt like she should go to someone about it, such as Lady Merlee, but she realized quickly Merlee would be opposed to any plans of investigation Mimi might have. Who could possibly benefit from Dimentio coming back? The answer hit her like a ton of bricks.

Nastasia was standing in her usual place in Flopside, near a heart pillar. When Mimi reached her, she immediately started talking about the Count.

"Have you heard anything from him? I'll bet he and Lady Timpani are having tons of fun wherever they are. Maybe they-" It went on and on. When she was finished, Mimi held up the bottle of perume.

Nastasia straightened her glasses, peering at the bottle. "Hmm… I suppose it smells nice, but you need to think about more important things, 'k?"

"Nassy," Mimi said impatiently. "Read the bottle."

"Dimented…." she read out loud. Then she gasped. "Dimentio? He's… He's back?"

Mimi shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "That I can't tell you, seeing as I have no idea. But I've been having these dreams where he told me- y'know, something- and then this came in the mail this morning via Mario. I need your help."

"With?" Mimi couldn't tell if Nastasia wasn't catching on, or if she didn't want to.

"Finding him, and bringing him back."

"He betrayed the Count!"

"And the the Count betrayed us!" Mimi was screaming now. "He left us to rot! He wasn't even going to create a good world for us! How is he different from Dimentio?"

Nastasia pulled back as though she had been stung. "How could you say that? After everything he's ever done for you…"

"Dimentio has done more for me than the Count. Heck, I'll bet O'Chunks has, too!"

Nastasia just shook her head. "I don't know why you're doing this."

"Can't you see? We both want something. You want Count Bleck back- wait for me to finish," she said as Nastasia opened her mouth. "And I want Dimentio back. What do you say? Two goombas with one jump?"

Nastasia stood dumbfounded for a moment. "I- well, ah… This had better work, 'k?"

Mimi smiled. Of course it would.