ALRIGHTY! Second prompt: Love! And who else would I write about except the tragic villain himself: Count Bleck! I tried to get ahold of his inner arguments a slight bit, as I'm sure that he has attempted to convince himself that Timpani didn't actually have the full influence for his hatred. Yeah, he's aware of Timpani's involvement, but I don't think he knew just how much. Enjoy!

Love

Many people believe that love is a powerful emotion, that it could change lives forever, that it could change the way one looks at the world. Count Bleck's beliefs were no different. Although he would flawlessly deny it every time Nastasia would bring it up, his heart would scream that it was the reason why he hated all worlds, all lives. After all, life without love was meaningless.

As he walked onto the highest balcony of the castle, the count stared into the Void. All was going to plan so far, and the so-called 'heroes' of the Light Prognosticus had yet to emerge. What angered him about them was that they had the powers of love and light, and they were using it for meaningless purposes. They had all the power in the world, and yet, they continued to swing it around as if it were a toy sword. Granted, perhaps he felt this way because it was similar to how the Tribe of Ancients and the Tribe of the Darkness fought. Yes, he hated these two tribes because of how many lives were lost to their pointless fighting. And after only one little book (ok, not one 'little' book...)! Oh, but...it couldn't be the only factor, no! The worlds were evil to him...yes, the Dark Prognosticus told him itself. This couldn't be all because...because...she...was gone forever...no, there was a greater reason! After all, this was nothing like Romeo and Juliet.

In a way.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene," a gleeful voice echoed into the balcony.

Count Bleck muttered a curse under his breath. Dimentio, reciting the Romeo and Juliet prologue, hovered to his side, his hands reenacting the words.

"Dimentio, I did not know you had the prologue memorized, said Count Bleck," he narrated himself as soon as his minion said the last line.

"Ah ha ha...yes~" Dimentio replied in his pleasant singsong voice. "As a jester I was required to memorize a few monologues from famous dramas. Mostly from Romeo and Juliet...~" he shuddered slightly at the thought of the play.

"Count Bleck assumes you think ill of it?" he asked.

Dimentio massaged his own neck as he spoke. "Very much so~" he sighed with annoyance. "It is impossible to forget once you've learned it...~" he looked out at the Void, and after a few seconds, he leapt onto the thin balcony rail. "This has been a nice conversation, but I must take my leave. Ciao my count~" he waved mockingly to Count Bleck and hovered to the roof of the castle, muttering Juliet's lines from the 'Balcony Scene' with clear irritation.

The count deeply sighed when Dimentio was (supposedly) out of earshot. No, there was no point in proving himself wrong. He pulled the brim of his top hat over his eyes, fighting back tears. This really was about love. This really was about his torment, his guilt. This was about Timpani.

"Count?" a quiet voice came. "Um...Count...are you-"

"What is it Nastasia?" his reply was with his back still turned to his second-in-command.

"Should...I call the others...to start a meeting...it's in the schedule...yeah..."

"Yes. I'll meet you there." With the clicking of Nastasia's hesitating high-heels fading away, the count quickly regained his composure, and after a few breaths, he stormed into the castle.

If he couldn't have love, no one shall either.

The whole tribes thing does sound like Romeo and Juliet does it? ;) That's what I thought...

Also, I need help thinking of ideas for the next two prompts: 'Light' and 'Dark'. If you have a suggestion, review or PM me. And/or you can...ya know...review anyway. ;) Hope you enjoyed!