I'd like to begin this by saying how extremely, extremely sorry I am that it's been so long. I don't have an excuse, but I feel I owe you an explanation. Within the past few weeks, my world has kind of exploded on me, what with the end of the semester portfolios and papers, and the charity dinner I begged to attend, and the everyday demands. I saw it coming and I felt my threshold was being reached, so I said, "Well, I'll just finish this up fast so nobody's left hanging." After twenty years of being autistic, I know my limits. And all was well in Allieland.

Then, of course, there was a little car accident. Nobody was hurt but since I had no head support in the back seat Mom wanted me to see a doctor. And we spent half a day trying to get someone to take me and the other half having them look at me to be sure this wasn't going to be another drawn-out problem. And after that, I was finished. It took four days of "Psychonauts" just to get my creative juices flowing again. And another two to re-focus them on Mario. I have a lot of crappy Psychonauts sketches to prove it.

So, to reiterate, I'm back, I'm sorry, and here's the finale of Episode six. And Episode Seven will be up very shortly, since I'm back on track.


EPISODE 6-4

"Blumiere, what were you talking about?" Tippi asked. "What just happened out here?"

Count Bleck cleared his throat. "I have no idea what you're talking about, lied Count Bleck."

Tippi snorted, trying to hold in a laugh. "So… what? You and Peach are… what?"

"Nothing!" he said quickly. "It was just… she was out here and I felt so… so very…" he covered his face. "This is very embarrassing," he said at last.

"You felt attracted to her?"

"Could you please use a less discomforting euphemism?"

Tippi giggled. "Okay. You were, um, intrigued by her… um…" and then she burst out laughing.

"This isn't funny," Count Bleck grumbled. "But I'm glad you're not mad."

"Oh, Blumiere, it's adorable. You have a crush on the Princess."

"What? Spat Count Bleck in utter disbelief! I do not have a crush on the Princess!"

"Uh huh." Tippi said knowingly. "Then why are you blushing?"

His cheeks flew to his face before he realized that he couldn't blush.

"I… you're still my true love," said Count Bleck lamely.

"I know I am. What matters most is that no matter how you feel about anyone else you still choose me. Besides, it's normal to feel attracted to other people even when you're in love."

"Like you and Mario."

Now it was Tippi's turn to blush. "I do not!" she said indignantly.

"Uh huh. Then, why haven't you been able to stop staring at him all evening?" He raised his voice in an imitation of Tippi's and said, "Oh, Mario, have you been able to replace me with another partner to dispense important facts to help you on your adventures? You haven't! Oh, my, I would be ever so sad if I heard you had replaced me!"

"That's only kinda what I said!"

But by now they both busted out laughing. It was absurd. They laughed so much, Count Bleck couldn't stand anymore and slowly slid down against the railing until he was sitting. Tippi kept loosing altitude until she was resting on his shoulder. They laughed and laughed until the Count thought his sides were going to split open.

After a while, they calmed down, and let the quiet moment settle over their heads. It was peaceful out in the castle halls, without a lot of people around making noise.

Finally, Tippi said, "Well, Mario saved me. I didn't know anybody could care for someone like me back then… but that was before I remembered who I was and who you were. I needed to know someone cared, and the fact that he did meant more to me than anything else in the world."

"I understand perfectly," said Count Bleck. "I think I needed the same thing- that someone I hurt so much could still care about me… it's a powerful feeling, one I've never had before. But one I hope to have again," he added with a half-smile.

"We're both lost," said Tippi. "I thought getting us back together was the hard part… but it looks like we still have some pretty rough times ahead."

"I don't understand what's wrong." Count Bleck shook his head. "I understand what I feel, but I have no idea why I feel it."

"That's just it, then. You haven't taken the time to figure out what you need." Tippi fluttered in front of his face. "I think you're only doing what you think you should. You didn't want to attend the tea party. You didn't want to go to the mountain. You—"

"I did!" protested Count Bleck.

"You wanted to make me happy," said Tippi. "You didn't want to wrangle your minions and make them rescue a penguin."

Count Bleck shrugged.

"So tell me," said Tippi. "What do you, yourself, Count Bleck, want to do most of all? Right now? Think about it."

Count Bleck looked down, blocking out all external sensations. Then he blotted out all internal thoughts and feelings that came from other people. He took a deep breath, shook his head slowly, and looked up.

"Let's go back to the party," he said. "I'm certain that's what I would like."


Inside, the formal sit-down portion of the tea party had ended, and some general mingling had begun. The guests formed several different groups and talked to people who were not sitting near enough to them during the party. Dimentio had taken up conversation with Bow, who was off to the side with Bootler.

"So, tell me," said Dimentio to Lady Bow, "what do you do as the Lady of the Boos?"

"I don't know why you're still talking to me," said Bow. "I'm pretty sure I made myself clear when I told you I didn't want to talk to you with my giant fan."

"Your fan may say 'Get Lost,' but your eyes sing a different story."

Lady Bow stared at him. "Did you just say 'sing a story'?"

"People sing stories," Dimentio said defensively. "Bards do it all the time."

Bow gave him a hard, nasty glare. "What are they singing now?"

"They're singing… you know what, I had better relocate this conversation closer to another, who will delight my magical presence. Ciao for now, Lady Bow."

He floated across the room to where Luigi was mingling with Mario and Bub-Ulber. They were deep in discussion about the current state of Flower Fields, somewhere Bub-Ulber hadn't been in a while.

"Strike out again, eh, Dimentio?" asked Luigi with a hint of teasing.

"I'm simply toying with her to amuse myself during this otherwise barren social event," Dimentio replied lightly. "Otherwise I feel I would simply die of boredom."

"What, what's wrong with my tea party?" Peach asked, as she was just now passing behind the group.

"I think it's just great, Princess," said Luigi.

Mario agreed.

Dimentio disappeared.

Just then, Count Bleck and Tippi came back into the room. Everybody noticed when they came in, and the conversations stopped as they waited to see what would happen. The Count had become something of a point of interest, especially since his miniature but notable outburst.

Count Bleck pretended not to notice- or maybe he really didn't. He glided across the room. "Timpani, why don't you talk with Mario? I believe you have some catching up to do. I would like to mingle for a bit longer."

"Hi, Count!" Mimi waved frantically. "Isn't this so great? This is like a total dream come true! Seriously!" She tapped Félicie on the head, and the little beanlet yapped happily. "I totally take back all that stuff I said when we were falling."

"Yes, well," said Count Bleck, "I'm glad I could make it up to you."

Mimi giggled. "Did you see that total cutie across the room?"

Count Bleck followed her gaze. "You mean Prince Mallow?"

"Isn't he just dreamy?"

"Whatever floats your boat," he said with a shrug.

Meanwhile, Tippi fluttered up to Mario and said shyly, "So, um, Mario… why don't you tell me about some more of your adventures?"

Mario shook his head, and asked her to tell him about what she had been doing instead.

"Oh, gosh!" she said. "I totally forgot- you haven't seen me either! Duh. Well, we've been on all kinds of adventures. Not as epic as yours and mine. We went to Rogueport. You've been?"

Mario nodded.

"I knew it. But then, you've been everywhere, haven't you?"

Count Bleck chuckled.

Just then, two toad guards entered the room with O'Chunks and Nastasia.

"This completes your tour of the castle," said one of the guards. "Since Her Highness's tea party is almost over, I'll leave you to wait with your master."

"Ah, an' a finer piece o' stonework it couldn't be," said O'Chunks, giving one of the guards such a hearty slap on the back that he stumbled forwards. "I ehn't seen a castle this nice in ages, 'cept fer me Blecky-boy's own… but then that's no contest."

"Yeah," said Nastasia. "Thanks for the tour. I'll have to give my compliments to the Princess."

She stepped up to Count Bleck. "So, um, Count, what's the game plan?"

"We'll be leaving as soon as I can pry Mimi away from the doilies and pretty shoes," he replied. "Or, we'll be leaving without her. I'm not sure which yet."

"Yeah, that's good. So, um, are we going back to the mountain then to tie up loose ends?"

"No," said Count Bleck. "I think I need to take the evening off. It's time to think about what I need, rather than what I think I want." He gave her a sideways look. "But then, you weren't here for that conversation so you probably don't know what I'm talking about."

Nastasia shrugged. "I find that happens to me a lot, actually."

THE END

You've read it, you can't un-read it! Tune in next time.