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Chapter 7
"Count Bleck has some depressing news," Count Bleck states.
Timpani sighs and says, "Blumiere, you are not evil."
"Count Bleck got used to referring to himself as Count Bleck."
Mimi, Dimentio, O'Chunks, and Fawful stand on pedestals in front of the three authority figures of the castle. There is an extra pedestal behind the middle pedestal. O'Chunks is standing on the new pedestal so Fawful can see. Dimentio and Mimi are in their normal spots.
Nastasia rolls her eyes as Count Bleck and Timpani walk off. She walks onto Count Bleck's pedestal and says, "Count Bleck was going to say that you all have to get jobs to support the castle, k? I don't know why that's such a bad thing; I work all the time."
"But Nassy, work is so hard!" O'Chunks complains.
"Fawful doesn't mind work if it suits his needs," Fawful explains. "But he does understand O'Chunks's plea. Tiring is work."
Mimi becomes upset. "What?! Why do we have to work?! What did we do?!"
"You eat the food here. You have shelter because of this castle. It is about time you return the favor. Understand?" Nastasia's eyes narrow under her glasses. She has been repaying her debut to the count happily for years, and never once has she complained. Hearing the minions complain infuriates her.
Dimentio smirks. "You might want to say that again, just in case. You know O'Chunks; it goes in one ear and out the other."
Nastasia gestures for Dimentio to come to her. Dimentio simply snaps, appearing in front of Nastasia. He appears at a comfortable distance from Nastasia, but Nastasia takes a step forward.
Nastasia whispers, "Don't forget that you owe a pretty big debut, jester. Save the sarcasm, k?"
Dimentio, though a little intimidated by the secretary, smiles smugly.
"You have a nasty habit of retorting. I will see that habit broken. Am I clear?"
Without another word, Dimentio teleports back to his pedestal.
Mimi giggles.
"Is something amusing?" Dimentio tries to hide his irritation, but the tone in his voice makes it obvious.
"I can't help but notice that you are in trouble, oh great master of dimensions," Mimi mocks. "Don't cry 'uncle' like you did last time." She laughs.
It takes all of Dimentio's willpower not to send Mimi to The Underwhere. Who'd be laughing then?
Fawful asks, "Is Fawful missing something?"
"Eh, long story lad. If ye got the time, ask one of us. The count could tell ye all of it." O'Chunks answers.
"All of head to town to see if you can get a job, k?" With that, Nastasia leaves.
Mimi laughs. "This should be a piece of cake. I'll have a job before they know it." She hops off her pedestal and go to the door.
"Yes, every employer wants a moody little girl as an employee." That little comment got Dimentio a glare from said 'moody little girl'. It was quite amusing.
O'Chunks looks down at Dimentio. "Jester, yer going te get socked one of these days fer insultin' us."
"And that I do not fear, O'Chunks. They can come at me with their clumsy fists, but they will only hit the wall."
"And when it is me fists comin' at ye?"
There is silence for a moment or so, until Dimentio retorts with this; "Their clumsy fists are fast. Your fists may be accurate, but they are slower than snails taking depressants."
Fawful bursts into laughter.
O'Chunks leaves, staring at his supposedly slow fists. He personally thought they were pretty fast. He once smashed a fly with his fists. Nastasia screamed because some of the fly's guts got on her face. That was a long day.
Dimentio, proud of himself, jumps off his pedestal, does a backflip in the air, and lands on his feet. No magic needed. He fixes the collar of his shirt and walks towards the door.
"Witty is you." Fawful sits on the edge of his pedestal looking down at Dimentio.
Dimentio looks back at Fawful. "I do not have the strength of O'Chunks, the shape-shifting ability of Mimi, or the brainwashing power of Nastasia, but I have more cunning than the three combined."
Fawful shakes his head in amusement. He hops down from the pedestal and walks up to Dimentio. "Those with no cunning amuse Fawful. They are like tasteless pancakes lacking the syrup."
"They are like blank paper in a school child's binder."
"They are the creation of a scientist who is too stupid to invent anything useful!"
The devious duo laughs in their unique ways.
"Fawful likes you." Fawful states the obvious.
Dimentio nods in agreement. "I could not have guessed such a strange being could think so much like myself."
"I have chortles!" Fawful states with excitement. "Fawful has been searching for one like him. He searches for a minion to help him succeed."
"A minion? Ah ha ha! I serve nobody."
Fawful is confused. "But the count?"
Dimentio shakes his head. "I do not consider myself a true minion. My tale is too long to tell, but for short, let's just say I was never truly a servant of Count Bleck."
"Shame." Fawful states. "Maybe you will be changing your mind. Until then, Fawful will work solo. We remain friends though, yes?" Fawful holds out his hand. Dimentio shrugs and shakes Fawful's hand with his usual smile.
The two leave the room. Dimentio simply teleports to his room, while Fawful has to walk out the door and through the castle. Walking gives Fawful time to think. He really was sad that Dimentio would not join him, but he understands being proud and wanting to be your own master. He remembers how he felt when Cackletta was defeated- he was secretly thrilled. He had realized his full strength as an individual, and after Cackletta's defeat, he was free to explore it, and possibly rule the Beanbean Kingdom for himself. After realizing that the Mushroom Kingdom had more to offer, he set out to rule that kingdom, starting with taking out its biggest threat (and possibly his biggest threat), Bowser. He got the Mario Bros. out of the way at the same time, but of course, they found a way to beat him, and with Bowser's help! It was infuriating.
This time, power is… well, power. The magic Count Bleck possesses should be more than enough to take over the Mushroom Kingdom. Plus, if he succeeds, he gets this awesome castle, too. He thought about this plan thoroughly. There is no way it can fail. Before he came, he knew little about the four minions of Count Bleck, but they are just playing into his hands better than he expected.
It's only a matter of time before his plan is in full swing…