(WARNING: just so you know the chapter is seriously long.)
Chapter 12
Getting to Know You
Slowly Dimentio woke up yet felt not fully awake. He wanted to go to sleep but instead he stumbled out of his bed and teleported to the restroom, probably to wake himself up.
When he arrived he saw Helen in front of the mirror, looking at her stomach, feeling it, turning to the side. Dimentio could help but smirk at this since he knew what she was going through. Apparently she hasn't noticed him yet after she did this. She stepped onto the bathroom scale and whimpered. (I will not dare say what her weight was for private purposes.)
Dimentio's smirk grew and chuckled, "I know exactly how you feel."
She screamed her favorite surprise word, "MEEP!" and whirled around to face him. Her face turned rose-red and stared at him shocked and embarrassed.
He chuckled again but then suddenly she embraced him, "Thank God you're awake!"
His heart sped up. Quickly he formed a sentence, trying to sound calm, "I-indeed I am… I was only out for a day wasn't I?"
"A DAY? Ha! More like two months, Sleepy Beauty!"
"Wha-what…!"
"Welcome to October." She said quite calmly with a small smirk playing on her lips.
Seeing her smirk like that made his heart race faster, quietly he gazed down slightly and said slowly, "October…?" His eyes grew wide, "O-oh crap! I-I am behind on my work!"
Helen put a hand on his shoulder, "Dim, cool your jets, Elly took care of it."
"… 'Elly'?" He noticed the joke and started to giggle.
"I know," She answered grinning to herself, "I came up with it about a month ago…" The grin faded, "Dim, what happened to you back there?"
"… Oh… we-well… I… rather not talk about it now… when I'm half asleep..."
"Hm, right… you must be starving too."
Right as she said that a certain loud growl came from a certain place. The jester's eyes grew very wide and laughed a bit nervously then looked away.
She giggled, took him by the hand, and moved his face back to her, "It's alright, Dim, let's get you something then you can go back to sleep."
He couldn't help but noticed that she was about an inch away from his face. Burning blush crept onto his cheek. Her smirk grew wider as she then led him down the hall.
Once they arrived at the den Helen slowly let go of his hand and trotted over to the kitchen. Dimentio just stood there with a cute, goofy grin on his face. Smirking Mr. L stride over and poked his side, "Nice to see you finally woke up, Sleepy."
"Shut up you—!" His sentence was interrupted by another growl of his stomach.
"Ah-I'm hurrying!" Helen cried after a short giggle.
The burning on his cheeks grew hotter. He rested his back against the wall and moaned in pain of his empty gut. After a brief while Helen came over while a decent sized plate in her hand. Brought back to life by the delicious smell of meat Dimentio's eyes popped opened and he instantly looked at the meal in front of him. It was a type of sandwich Dimentio didn't really recognized but he didn't care.
"Bon appétit!"
Hesitantly he took the sandwich into his hands and… almost stuffed the whole thing into his mouth.
"CHEW!" Helen screamed at him.
He winced and slowly took a bite and chewed.
She sighed and patted his head, "Good jester."
Dimentio stopped chewing and felt the top of his head. His hat wasn't there. He gulped down his food and stared at Helen, "Wh-where's my hat?"
"Calm down, it's in your room. It looked hot on you so I took it off."
He continued to stare at her as his cheek burned red.
Realizing her mistake her cheeks began to burn as she stuttered out, "I-I didn't m-mean it th-that way! I-I meant was that, um, you looked…. warm! Yeah, warm! You were sweating a bit so I took it off… that's what I meant…"
There was a moment of awkward silence, "R-right…"
He hesitantly went on eating while Helen just stood beside him.
"… What is this anyway?"
"Roast Beef Sandwich. It's my favorite."
"… It's really… really good!"
"Heheh, I know! That's why I love it!"
After another short silence Dimentio brought up something unusual, "You know, Helen… if you're worried about your weight we can walk together if you so desire."
She stared at him shocked then nodded excitedly, "After you rest some more of course."
"Of course..." He responded with a yawn.
After Dimentio had finished his late lunch and had woke up from a refreshing cat nap, he felt ready to go… and ready to ask many questions.
As they walked through the shady forest Helen trotted along beside the jester with her headphones on. Feeling a bit nervous he gulped and tapped her shoulder. She took the earplugs out and looked at the jester.
"Mind if I asked you something?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Well…" He stopped walking for a minute or two then spoke, "… what all did I do… when I was in that coma…?"
"… Well, on the first night we all heard you screaming but since you were in a coma we couldn't find a way to wake you up. Mr. L suggested a pail of water but I strictly said no! I didn't want you suffering more than you can bare… when all of them left but me I…" She started to blush, "I-I kinda held you in my arms… It looked like it relaxed you…"
She looked at him for his reaction. He, too, was blushing. He hesitated, "A-anything else?"
"Well, I stayed with you most of the time… Apparently my presence around you calmed you… Which really makes me wonder…"
The jester huffed in reply and looked away. Quickly before she could ask a question he spoke, "What do you think of me? … b-before you met… the actual me…?"
She blinked and then thought for a moment, "… Well, I always thought you were a bit insane—."
Dimentio flinched but made no complaint.
Slowly she carefully continued, "A-and… C-charming…"
She went on for quite some time. He didn't stop her, he wanted to know…
Suddenly she then asked, "Dimentio… what makes you scream at night?"
His whole face turned white. "E-erm…"
"Dim, the only way to get your mind off this and probably stop your nightmares is to let it out, the Dream Catcher has to have a small opening, and sometimes that opening has to be pulled open by letting your nightmares be set free… by telling someone else about them… So please Dimentio, tell me about you're past…"
He looked into her pleading eyes. After a while he gave in and finally would tell the whole story.
"Truth be told, I am the author of the Dark Prognosticus. I wrote it when I was very young and naïve… I found the book near the house I once lived in… I thought it would be fun writing make believe stories of the future, prophecies… little did I know was that that book could make them become reality…"
The little boy was half-way through the book, writing feverishly when he was called downstairs by his mother. The boy ran down and his mother gave him a list and ordered him, sweetly to go fetch her a few things. So the boy did and left. An hour or so later he returned to see the house burning and saw the two adults on the ground, dead. The small boy dropped the bag and instantly scurried off. Then he heard a dark, dreadful voice.
"Dimentio… stop…"
Instantly the child stopped and stared at the book, a bit speechless.
"Y-you're the book I-I wrote…" The child said quietly as he continued to stare horrified at the book.
"Am I, child…"
"D-Do you know what happened to my family? Please, you must have known!"
Little did the child know that this was all the dark book's doing… The book responded, "Yes, boy, soldiers, soldiers destroyed your home and family."
Those words pierced the innocent child's heart. He cried in a pleading voice, "Wh-why? Why would they do such a thing!"
"Because, Dimentio… you're different."
"I-I am…?"
"Yes, Dimentio, but not in a good way, this tribe knows your path and now are trying to change it by making you miserable… no one likes you Dimentio, not even your family."
The words hurt the child dearly. He started to cry as he spoke out desperately, "Th-that's a lie! Everyone loves me!"
"Dimentio, you're been living a huge, beautiful lie. What I am telling you is the truth. Everyone has pretended to love you so you wouldn't suspect anything…"
"E-even Aaron…?"
"Yes, child, even your only friend…"
Tears willing were forced out his eyes.
"Now, child, don't cry… I know a way to get back at them."
"Get back…?"
"It's called vengeance, boy!"
The poor child flinched and stared at the book, "B-but I-I don't want vengeance!"
"You are so naïve… if you don't listen to me, Dimentio, you'll go through a terrible future… Now do you want that?"
"N-no…"
"Then do whatever I say…"
Unwillingly the boy nodded.
Later on the small child and the prophetic book stood on the edge of the hill.
"You have great magical power, child… they're inside you waiting to be set free…"
Suddenly as the book said this, two magical energy spheres appeared in his hands.
"… Let your anger engulf you… they killed your parents… and you're life…"
For a while the boy just stared down at the tribe. His whole body was shaking. The book began to get irritated, "Dimentio… Close your eyes… imagine the scene."
Silently the child obeyed and imagined the dreadful scene of death. He flinched and his chest panged with sadness and anger. His eyes turned blood red and suddenly… he shot one of the houses with the spheres and the house took major damage. The house tumbled onto the ground, crushing the people inside. The boy stared at this in awe then he grinned, overjoyed and started destroying the other houses. Insanely he laughed at their agonizing screams. Quickly he flew over to the castle of the Tribe which was home of Lady Timpani who was gone for a while, probably with Lord Blumiere.
Then he stopped in front of it, snapped his fingers and the castle was incased in a transparent box.
"D-Dimentio!"A voice shouted from below.
The child turned to see a boy his age looking up at him with tearstained eyes.
After a brief moment of silence the child looked at him curiously then flew down towards him. When he landed in front of him he said, "How could you do this, Aaron…? I thought we were friends!"
"What are you talking about? How could YOU do THIS?" He gestured to the broken down houses and dead persons, "What is wrong with you, Dimentio? What's gotten into you? How did you get these powers?"
"ENOUGH!" The insane boy screamed, "… stop trying to deceive me… I know what ALL of you were doing! He told me everything! I don't think I could even call you a friend!"
"Dimentio, I—!" He gasped as a transparent box appeared around him. He gazed at him and shook as he sobbed.
There was no pity in that now cold heart. He snapped his fingers and watched him bleed and die.
Slowly after this deed was done, he gazed around at everything. Tears instantly came into his eyes as he finally realized what he had done.
The book came over to him, "Excellent work, my boy…"
"L-LEAVE ME ALONE! I HATE YOU, YOU STUPID BOOK! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" With this he ran as fast as he could away from this Tribe of Ancients. Sadly this plan didn't work out so well… after a long while the poor child ran as fast as his little legs could carry him and the collapsed out of exhaustion. The child fell into a deep, deep sleep. While the boy was sleeping the book appeared before him and opened itself up and inhaled him into the pages.
One thousand five hundred years later. The boy had woken up to find himself as a teenager and with jester clothes. Wondering about this for a minute he decided to forget about it and try to find way at least somewhere for hospitality… Suddenly unknown memories flooded to him… was he a jester for a king? He had to not worry about this for now… but now he had to get moving…
But something stopped him before he could get up… a flutter of cloth. Slowly he turned to see a royal looking man passing by. The man looked some sort of Count or so.
Carefully he stood and bowed to the man.
The man looked at him astonished then narrowed his eyes, "Who are you? Asked Count Bleck..."
"I am a Charming Magician, Dimentio, I am the Master of Dimensions, the Pleaser of Crowds…" Where did that come from? He continued, "I am honored to be standing in your presences, oh, floating."
The Count eyed the jester suspiciously as he went on, "I have heard great things from you. I have also heard you are making, should I say, a team…"
Again… though surprisingly he had somehow heard this from somewhere… he couldn't put a finger on it.
The Count's eyes narrowed, "how do you know all this?"
"Ever since I have been in a deep slumber I have heard many things from passersby! Say, my ask you, if I could join? I could be of helpful use." Well, this answered his own question… But when he said this he couldn't help but grin in a disarming manner… he had no idea why… Then he noticed the book in his hands. His eyes grew wide slightly as fear struck him. But he didn't show it… so there's the reason of how he was getting all this information…
"I am sorry, Count Bleck apologized, but I do not trust jesters…"
"Hm, a very wise decision, my Count," He mused examining his gloves a tad suspiciously, when he soon realized he had them on, "but… have a gander in that prophecy book of yours…"
Slowly the Count opened the book hesitantly and read the new inscription that added to the last.
Somehow he knew the prophecy by heart. He mouthed the words to himself; Therefore after the cloaked man founded and took in the young wounded bat, he sets out forth again on his mission for his minions. In three different dimensions he will find a failed pixl, a torn up general and… a sudden jester that will appear before him, unconscious.
The jester's grin grew wider as the Count read the new continuation of the sentence.
He examined the jester carefully for a while that out of boredom the jester spun in place two times.
"… Very well…" Count Bleck finally said and closed the book, "follow me… Dimentio."
The Count turned and floated away and he soon flew after him but then stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a familiar voice in his head.
"Dimentio… good to see you again… well done…"
The jester looked at Helen for her reaction so far. She looked absolutely stunned.
"….. Whoa…"
"… Indeed… Please don't laugh at this next part though, it insults me slightly."
"Sure." She said a bit confused.
Once the two have arrived there in front of them were a magnificent dark castle and a void which engulfed it. The jester stared at the void as if in a trance. The Count looked at him a bit concernedly but went on, knowing the jester would follow.
Remembering where he was, the jester flew inside and after the man. When he entered the castle he gazed around in awe, feeling the dark, pleasant atmosphere. He couldn't help but grin. Suddenly he heard a shrill, but feminine voice; "Who are you?"
The jester turned to see a lime green haired and in ponytails and skinned girl. She wore a yellow dress with white polka dots and a red bow. The jester grinned inwardly as he recognized her from his young mind.
The jester stared at the girl for a few short moments then Count Bleck came up behind him saying to the girl, "Mimi, this is Dimentio; he's going to be living here for now on."
"'He'? But he looks like a girl!"
The jester blinked the smirked in amusement, "A girl, you say? My, like, I haven't heard that one before!"
The girl, Mimi, looked at him quizzically then said simply, "You're weird."
"Everyone's weird my dear just in different ways." The jester replied grinning, a bit too insanely.
The cloaked man putted a hand on the jester's shoulder, urging him to stop. The jester looked back at the Count with a dull expression then lightened slightly when he saw a woman beside him who fit excellently with his description and a doodle he did when he was a child.
Her hair was purple and tied in a bun. She had blue skin like the Count, and wore strange looking glasses which were shady enough to not see her golden eyes. She wore a white blouse with a blue gem on the front collar and black pants.
She whispered something to the Count who then nodded and turned back to the jester, "Dimentio, Nastasia will lead you to your room while I—…"
His sentence was cut off as he glanced at the jester again and hastily flew off. Apparently he didn't trust him well enough to share his agenda.
Nastasia eyed him oddly then said, "Follow me."
The jester obeyed, beginning to get bored of this game. Once they stopped the secretary opened the door which was most likely his room. The whole room was white with white furniture.
"Hm…" The jester snapped his fingers and the room changed into his image. The walls were green and decorated with different shades of green. The bed was purple and had the same design as the walls. The floor became magenta fake-fur. The desk and bookshelf turned green and purple.
Nastasia, who was now very confused about the odd style the jester liked, shrugged it off and scribbled down some notes on her clipboard.
Nastasia spoke again, "Kay, um, Dimentio was it? Yeah, the, uh, next meeting is going to be in, um, twenty minutes…"
She said no more and just left him in his room
After a long while the jester spoke, "… Twenty minutes, hm?"
What to do in that long amount?
He decided to explore this curious, cryptic castle. So the jester left the room and flew off. After a few minute the jester had made a complete tour within five minute even though the castle was huge. What he didn't tour was a certain green girl's room.
Grinning he teleported there and gazed around. He almost found himself gagging of overused color of red and pink. He shuddered and noticed a book, titled, "Mimi's Diary."
"Hmm… My, this has piqued my interesting vastly!"
The jester picked the diary up and opened it up to the first entry. Instantly he burst out laughing and continued reading.
Suddenly a long while after he took a gaze the clock and saw it was almost twenty minutes. Sadly he put down the book and teleported over to the Meeting Hall.
Once he arrived he noticed Mimi, shape shifting which made him smirk.
'Exactly as how I imagined her…' He gave a chuckle which startled the green girl. She looked at him and huffed as she turned into a broad brute who fit the prophecy perfectly. This made him grin even wider.
Then he happened to noticed Nastasia looked at him strangely. Ignoring her he gazed around the huge room.
Then the Count appeared on before them with the Dark Prognosticus and proclaimed, "BLEH HEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK! The Void has been ripped in the dimensional fabric!" The Count chuckled, "Yes, Count Bleck is pleased. All has gone as foretold in the Dark Prognosticus."
'Indeed it has, my dear Count…' Dimentio thought to himself as he stared at the dark book, thinking "… So this was my path? A Perfect World he says… how… magnificent!"
He gave another grin as the Count continued, "Now it's just a matter of Time until all worlds meet their demise! Bleck!"
"Wow, that's just super, Count!" Mimi exclaimed, giving her best O'Chunks impression, "Yeah, forst you'll erase all these naughty worlds… And then you're gonna build a perfect world without war and all that other icky stuff!"
The jester began to like this idea even more. Suddenly spoke in an eerie and slow way, "Yes, yes, no one likes the icky stuff… Yesss… A perfect world…" He let the words roll off of his tongue, "… sounds… magical…"
He gave all a broad, crazy grin, "Ah hahaha~! I can hardly stand the wait!"
"SORRY I'M LATE!" A sudden voice shouted from the ceiling. And there who then fell out of the sky was another O'Chunks. The jester studied him closely. His grin broadened and he laughed inwardly.
The real Scottish brute looked and turned surprised to see another one of him!
"What in blazin' bog rats…? How's I beat meself 'ere? What's goin' on?"
The jester gave a brief laugh at this.
"Mimimimimimimimimimimi! Oh, O'Chunks, you big silly! Didja oversleep or something?" She shapeshift and now standing there was a excellent copy of Count Bleck! "I guess it's kinda hard to be on time, though, when you're got muscles instead of brains!"
"'EY!" The brute scoffed, "Yeh can't fool me wit' that crazy shape-shiftin' hooliganry! It's Mimi innit? Show a little respect fer the count! Yeh can't go a'borrowin 'is face, lass!"
Count Bleck chuckled and the spoke to the girl, "How delightful, Mimi. Almost as dapper… as Count Bleck!"
She blushed and turned into a princess with a pink dress and blonde hair. "Aw, golly, thanks, Count! With you around, it's nothing but big smiles all the time! Hanging out with the count! That's MY idea of a perfect world!"
The jester giggled and said, to break her joyfull mood, "And here I thought Mimi's ideal of a perfect world was a gem filled pool with hunky lifeguards!"
The girl's eyes grew wide as she transformed into a strange mutant turtle. She turned and glared hard at the jester, "HEY! Dimentio! Have you been reading MY diary?" She gasped the shakily tried to think of an excuse, "I-I mean! U-umm… N-Nevermind…"
The Count snickered and said, smiling, "Well, different strokes for different minions…"
When all of them turned towards him, he continued, "After these rotten worlds are ended, Count Bleck will make all your dreams come true! But for that to happen…" He muttered turning serious, "We must follow the instructions of the Dark Prognosticus."
Then he was interrupted by a curtain secretary who just tore her gaze from the jester, "Yeah, about that, just an FYI? I've got an urgent memo for your inbox. Apparently there's been some unapproved interdimensional activity lately. Yeah… I'm thinking it's the hero of the prophecy. We're gonna need an action plan for this guy."
The jester's grew wide at this. 'Hero…? My… look where I have ended up…'
'You're welcome.'
The jester flinched and looked at the book, even though it didn't have a face, he knew it was smirking.
'If you didn't do what I have said, you wouldn't be in your own prophecy. You know the jester plays an important role here.'
Slowly the jester gave a short nod.
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a Scottish accent, "COUNT BLECK!"
The jester jumped a bit and looked at the brute, glaring slightly.
"Lemme get the right in me brain. The 'ero Nastasia's goin' on 'bout… he yer enemy?"
Finally this accrued to Dimentio, he was to wrapped up in that brief converse with the Dark Prognosticus he wasn't paying attention to what was going on. He thanked Grambi for O'Chunks to speak up so he'll have a novelette.
"Then yeh gotta cute me loose on 'im! Yeh gotta! I'll give 'im a nice taste o' O'Chunks!"
The Count grinned as he spoke, "Very well, O'Chunks. I'll leave the hero-chunking to you. Do not fail Count Bleck."
"Yeh can count on me, Count! I'll rain down like a fat thunderstorm! I swear it!" He turned towards the other two minions, "Mimi! Er, Dimentio! Yeh should tag along! Yeh could withness a prper chunkin'!"
With that he jumped off his pad and left the room.
The jester turned his body slightly away from everyone and murmured to himself, "Mmm… I do enjoy a good chunking…" He smiled and spoke more loudly, "Well, then… I believe I'll head out as well."
And he too disappeared with a dimensional ping
After a few hours the jester had appeared invisible in front of the dragon Fracktail. He listened to the entire conversation between them. He smiled cruelly and whispered to himself, "So… this is our hero? Just as how I imagined him… Mario was it? Indeed…" He noticed the pixl, "How curious…"
"YOU MAY PASS. THE PURE HEART IS JUST UP AHEAD."
That was his cue, "Ah haha! It won't be that easy, oh no…"
"WHO SPEAKS?"
Then he made his appearance, "So very nice to meet you… and your mustache! I am Count Bleck's master of dimensions, the pleaser of crowds… I am… Dimentio! Remember the name well…"
"I know you. You're that…"
The jester instantly recognized that voice. His eyes grew wide. He whispered into the air, "Lady Timpani?"
He shook his head and continued, hiding it all with a smile, "It would be so very DULL if your journey ended so easily… Instead it'll end with… MAGIC!"
He turned towards the large guardian and snapped his fingers. The electrical ball on it's head sparked with sudden waved of corrupted magic. A shock jolted through it.
The jester grinned with glee, "Yes, much better… Now you and this robotix guardian can spend some quality time together… Yes, quality snack time! When he snacks… on you! For you… ARE the snack! Ciao!"
Then he vanished into thin air to watch the battle. As the battle intensified the jester found more enjoyment in it, though sometimes it vanished when the hero barely dodge, though it did bring him some laughs by the expression that appeared on his hairy face.
Sadly after the battle finally ended and Fracktail was surprisingly defeated the hero made his way to the Pure Heart. The jester was just about to take the Heart away when he thought of something.
'That isn't according to my prophecy…' he stopped and watched the hero take leave. Then he decided to take his leave as well.
Unfortunately he didn't go where he wanted to go; instead he was transported to the hall next to his room when he wanted to tell the Count his plan. But he wasn't confused for long; the book appeared in front of him.
'Well, I am waiting for a "thank you"' The book remarked, making him forget his other plan.
"Hm, well, I suppose I should," He grinned a bit psychotically, reflecting on his past "It… did feel good after all… Well, in any case, thank you!"
'We have work to do.' The book said suddenly which made the jester cock his head slightly.
"Work, you say?"
'Yes, work.'
"… Well, work on what?"
'I have ideas for you to write…'
The jester was in interested, "Oh? Pray tell!"
'Come,' it floated over to his room, 'we'll need privacy.'
The jester simply nodded and followed the book in, shutting the door quietly behind them.
Later on, about a few days, the jester was jotting down notes for the Dark Prognosticus when he heard while name being called: "Dimentio! Come to me! Count Bleck!"
Obediently he got up and teleported there at once.
"And so I arrive like a sudden windstorm on a kindergarten picnic!"
The Count chuckled then said to him, "You'd like some playtime I imagine, Dimentio?"
The jester gave a vigorous nod.
He continued, "So you shall have it, but do not disappoint Count Bleck. Dispatch this hero."
"Your wish is my command" He responded with a bow, "Besides, this fool sounds like an amusing challenge. Now if there is nothing else, I'll just be on my way. Ciao, my count!"
With that he teleported but the Dark Prognosticus wanted him to see a certain scene about to take place…
The jester appeared invisibly over an unconscious green fellow. His eyes widen slightly as the prophecy he was just working on came back to him.
'The man in green…!'
He watched him get up and started to help the Goombas get out. The jester grinned, knowing well that wouldn't happen.
The jester followed him to a dead end and then saw Nastasia. His grin grew wider when she was about to brainwash him but then she stopped and looked in Dimentio direction.
"Dimentio, I know you're there." She said surprisingly calm.
The jester blinked and turned visible.
"Be a lamb and make him useful before you go on your mission, I'm sure you have time."
The jester nodded and then the woman left him with the brainwashed minions and the plumber.
"W-what are you going t-t-to d-d-do…?" The green clad man asked his voice filled with fear as he stared at the jester.
"Oh, I don't think you want to know since…" His grin came back more insane than before, "you won't remember… but I will!"
He gave a cruel laugh and ordered the minions to follow him.
In a short while the minions dumped the wimpy man in the jester's room.
The man in green shook with fear and consternation.
The book appeared by the jester's side, 'Well done, Dimentio, you have the "man in green" in your clutches'
"Indeed I do…" He let out a dark chuckle and asked the green man a simple question, "now, may I ask what your name is?"
"I-I don't give m-my n-name to sc-scoundrels!" He proclaimed quite bravely.
"Say you're name if you want to live," the jester suddenly threatened.
"L-L-Luigi!" He screamed in terror.
He breathed, "Ah, 'Luigi'… To bad you won't remember that pitiful name…"
"Wh-wha—?"
The book zapped him and he instantly fell unconscious.
"No, no, not 'Luigi'… but something similar but not enough for memory to jolt back…" He tapped his chin thoughtfully, "I got it! Rise Green Thunder! Or should I say… Mr. L… I command you to wake up!"
Instantly the man in green did instead of his eyes being baby blue they turned silver. He sat up and rubbed his head muttering, "What in the Underwhere…?"
"I'm glad to see you've awakened."
The Green Thunder looked at him, "… Master…?"
"Hm… I like the sound of that, indeed I am, but for now… Count Bleck is your new master… and act more like… Ah, yourself," he smiled
"… Whatever," he huffed, standing up. Then he examined his clothes, "Geez! Where'd I get this getup? It's revolting!"
"Ah, here." He snapped his fingers and new clothes appeared in his hands, "I knew you wouldn't like those, I'm ALWAYS prepared."
He handed them to him. After The Green Thunder examined them he smiled, "That's more like it!"
"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a mission waiting." With that he snapped his fingers and disappeared.
The jester waited patiently for the Red Hero to get here. He'd watch them suffer coming up the tree but it began to get boring so he just decided to wait.
After a dreadfully long time of waiting the hero finally opened the door. He smiled, "Ah haha! Finally you arrive!"
The hero looked around confused then finally up. The red plumber was surprised to see the jester again.
"You don't wear tardiness well…" He commented with a sort of a tone. He shook it off and just continued to smile, "At last, the hero… I know you from the festival of hair that dances upon your lip!"
The hero blinked and felt his mustache. He glanced at the pixl beside him that's when the jester noticed that the other pixl wasn't there now.
'Hm… how curious…'
He continued in any case, "I am a humble servant of Count Bleck…"
He did a flip in the air as he repeated his introduction, "Master of dimensions… Pleaser of crowds… I am… Dimentio!"
The Mario character went into a fighting stance.
"It is truly enchanting to finally meet my hapless victims. I have prepared a special morsel of a treat for you!"
With that he snapped his fingers and waved his hand and then the scenery changed into his dimension.
"How about some… MAGIC!"He exclaimed as he gestured and spun in the air with flair, "And… voila! You are now in Dimension D, a dimension of my own creation! In this mind-bending realm, my attacks are 256 times more potent!" He did another twirl, "I am now far more powerful! I could obliterate you with a raise of an eyebrow!" He extended a hand towards him, "Now we must duel, like two gleaming banjos on a moonlight stoop!"
The hero didn't exactly understand the strange metaphor. This was his chance, the jester flew at the plumber with great velocity. Quickly the hero jumped on his head which surprised the jester greatly. He grimaced and held his head. When the jester vanished he looked around frantically for him. After the pain ceased the jester appeared behind him and threw an energy sphere at him. With great reflects for someone that old he dodged and jumped on his head again. He did this even before he could concentrate his energy on the sphere. This made him angry after a while and repeating this move.
He calmed and said with a witty grin, "Can you pierce this… illusion?"
Now two jesters appeared before them. The red hero stood in awe and forgot that the spheres were coming towards him until they both hit him. Unfortunately after a while the red man managed to find out which one was which, which was the jester concentrating the energy first. Suddenly some other two person joined him. A princess and a big brute… The jester's eyes grew very wide.
"Mario, need some help?" The princess asked. 'Mario' nodded and the turtle laughed loudly.
"Alright let's do this! Let me at me!"
"Go ahead!" The Hero smiled and all looked at the jesters.
This again went on shortly for, from the help of others the jester took a beating. He was bruised and burned.
Then unexpectedly the hero hit him for the last time. The jester finally screamed in agony and collapsed onto the floor and wheezed out, "Y-your blows are like miniature jackhammers wielded by tiny angry road workers! H-how is this possible…? This dimension makes me 256 times more powerful…"
"Bwahaha! You're such an idiot! This place makes us stronger, too!" The big brute cried proudly.
Suddenly the jester managed to choke out a laugh. Slowly he stood and floated upwards, "Of course! This was a simply an amusement that played out exactly as I planned!"
Which was surprisingly true but the hero thought he was bluffing.
"Were you amused? That was just a hors d'oeuvre! The next time we meet, you will feast on a deadly eight-course meal!"
"You know I'd love some of that!" the mutant turtle exclaimed as drool came to his huge mouth
"Bowser! This is seriously!"the princess scowled him.
The jester ignored him, "And with that, my diminutive-limbed foe, I must say… Ciao!"
'Bowser' snorted, "'Dimentio'? Gimme a break! That's the lamest villain ever!"
'I'll show you…'
After he came out of his small threat to himself then began thinking, "Mmm… A little more, perhaps? They are strong but they must be stronger yet to defeat Bleck. I must make sure they can face him when the time comes around at last."
"… And that is how the ruffians managed to best me." He said as he finished explaining his fight, "Ah ha ha. They are strong, to be sure… Very strong. Dare I say… they might be strong enough to defy the prophecy!" He let the fake words roll off his tongue.
'Very nice, Dimentio.' The book commented.
The jester grinned inwardly.
The Count stroked his chin and mumbled, "Spare Count Bleck your theatrics. The Light Prognosticus is false. The Dark Prognosticus holds the answer to eliminating heroes that rise to stop us."
"Oh my. That's the first time that morsel of information has touched my ears! Do tell!"
The Count chuckled, "In due time, Dimentio. In due time… Oh, Nastasia?" He called, "It's time we set 'him' on these pests."
The secretary nodded, "Yeah, um, I can take care of that for you, Count."
"Lovely, exclaimed Count Bleck. Return to your posts, my dear minions."
"As you command, Count! HAIL BLECK!"
After all of the minions left, except the jester of course, the Count and Nastasia began to talk:
"Does something trouble you, Nastasia?" The Count asked without turning.
The secretary looked very downcast which made the jester wonder more about where this conversation was going, "Yeah, Count…. You know, there's still time… You can still change your mind."
The Count's eyes narrowed slightly, not liking where this was going, "That is enough, Nastasia. We've already come this far, so we shall forge on! But you needn't stay by Count Bleck's side. You can depart with my blessing."
The secretary looked horrified at this responds. She quickly said, "Um, no, my count! I won't be doing that. My life is already sworn to you… Yeah, it's belonged to you since the day you saved me…"
A small smirk crossed the jester's lips.
"I'll be sticking it out with you until my games ends, 'K?"
"… If it pleases you…"With that the Count teleported away leaving Nastasia alone to think. She sighed and hoped off the block. When she left the jester spoke aloud, "My my my! How interesting! Nastasia and the count have such DEEP conversations! Mm, just what is our dear Count playing at? Ah, well. I'll let him worry about that. I must attend to my own… projects."
He let out a shrill, overly crazed laughed and vanished.
Days passed and the Dark Prognosticus started to keep him up at night as well as day which really corrupted his sleeping hours. He barely got any rest which left him very cranky.
After Mr. L had done his duty the Count called all to a meeting. Once everyone arrived Nastasia began to speak, "Yeah, so, guys? Huddle up, 'K? We're just gonna have a quick new-minion orientation. His name is Mr. L, and he comes to us from one of our key competitors."
There stood on a new block, Mr. L in his new rags which was a black jumpsuit with large golden buttons, a green bandana, a green cap with a backwards 'L', a small black mask, dark gray gloves and shoes and last but not least a red belt.
His arms were crossed and he studied the other minions, including the jester, apparently forgetting his older master, "Mmm. Can't say I'm impressed by the minion quality…" He shook his head, "No, indeed. No wonder you've been trounced up to now. You're like JUNIOR minions!"
'My, what an ego!' the jester gave a silent chuckle as he saw the look on the other's faces.
"JUNIOR!" the Scottish brute spat, "C'mere an' I'll introduce yeh to Fist Jr. an' his wee pal, Slappie!"
The mimic girl glared daggers at the Green Thunder, "Gosh, Mr. L, but didn't YOU get pretty spanked too? So maybe YOU'RE the junior!" As she said the last sentence she pointed at him accusingly.
The Green Thunder laughed mockingly, "Spanked, you say? Ho ho! I was scouting him, dear. He will be mine next time."He spun on his heels a few times and stopped to strike his signature pose, "Yes, he shall know the fury of the one and only Mr. L, AKA The Green Thunder!" He dropped the posed and inched his nose as he turned back to now the Count. Putting his hands on his hips he said, a bit to indignantly, "But enough about me… I need to head to the repair bay for Brobot modifications. L-ater!"
With that he jumped off the block with style.
Suddenly the Count muttered words from the Prognosticus, "'Though the man in red shall wield formidable powers, one shall stand against him. The man in green shall use the Chaos Heart's power to bring darkness to all.'" The Count gave a chuckle, "So it is written in the Dark Prognosticus."
"So… what you're saying is…" The jester began, faking confusion, "the 'man in green' is our minion-in-training, Mr. L?"
The muscular man stomped his foot a few pounding times before speaking, "WHUT? That makes as much sense as a beef an' broccoli sandwich!"
"Calm yourself, O'Chunks," the Count cooed putting a hand up, "Make ready. Count Bleck is sending you on a new mission."
"Ah, now THAT makes sense!" This conversation made the jester yawn and long for a bed, "It'll be me honor, Count." He raised his fists in the air, "I, O'Chunks, swear to you… This hero's got a hot date with me feet! Chunks away!" With that he did just that.
The jester held back another yawn, "My, aren't we hot blooded? Well, well… I suppose that's to be admired. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to be on my way." And maybe to a bed, he thought to himself. Then he said as cheery as he could before vanishing, "Ciao!"
"So poor little Mimi doesn't get to be in on the fun? This stinks!" Mimi complained angrily and disappeared.
Sadly the jester didn't get to have his wish but the Dark Prognosticus wish him to listen on this.
"Yeah, I hate to seem like a whistle-blower here, but O'Chunks may not…" Nastasia faltered and tried again, "Actually, even Dimentio, Mimi, AND Mr. L may not be up to this…"
'Oh, will see about that, Lady..' the jester growled, 'I will have my Perfect World, you'll see!'
"That hero's gonna collect the Pure Hearts and come here. He'll come for you…" She said a bit scared.
The Count snickered, "All is according to plan, Count Bleck assures you."
Nastasia murmured a bit loudly for him to hear but the jester had to get closer to hear her, "It's strange… Nobody ever, um, cherished the universe the way you once did… And yet, you've been made to destroy it…"
"That's quite enough…" he said a bit harshly then calmed down, "Nastasia."
"If I could, um, I…"
"You'd what?"He asked, finally turning to him.
"If only I could have, y'know, been that girl… Things would have been different…"
'She must be talking about Timpani…'
Slowly the Count looked away and shook his head, "She cannot be replaced. You could never hope to do so, Nastasia."
"Yeah, um, I'm very sorry. That just slipped out." She said taking on a surprised expression.
He lowered his hat with his hand, "To be sure… She is gone… Gone from all worlds, never to return…"
With that he disappeared with the Dark Prognosticus in tow. When he left the secretary sighed sadly and gazed downward.
The jester stared surprised at this, 'My… what a show…'
'Indeed.'
Night fell and while the jester was having a peaceful slumber it was unexpectedly interrupted by something thick running down his cheeks. He opened his eyes and gasped as he saw blood on his bed but surprisingly, his phobia of blood didn't get to him.
"H-huh…?"
'Dimentio, come with me.' His voice seemed stronger and… more in control.
The jester groaned and got up then teleported where the book wanted him to be.
The bathroom. He stared into the mirror and at the blood gushing from his eyes. He felt frightened and tried to stop it
'Quit it, jester, you'll only make it worse.'
The jester growl impatiently, "What do you want, now! Next time could you quit interrupting my beauty sleep? And what's with the blood?"
'Calm down, child, it's only a stage in our plan.'
"A stage?" He asked quite confused.
'Yes, it'll pass shortly but for now I must tell you my plan.'
"Could you make it quick? I'm about to fall asleep, here…" He said before a loin-sized yawn.
'Don't fret it will… now I have come up with something very diabolical that it'll grant you, your wish.'
His eyes grew wide with anticipation and urged absentmindedly, "Tell me, Master."
'Let me control you for one day when the four heroes have arrived here.'
"… C-control me…? Wha-what…? Don't you mean you're going to possess me?" He asked glaring into the mirror where the voice was coming from.
'Somewhat but you'll be in control as well, so it's not exactly possession.'
The jester became suspicious then out of fatigue and longing he said yes.
'Excellent… you will have you're Perfect World soon enough. You may rest now.'
With that he finally did.
And so a bit later in the day the jester decided to visit the Chunker to see how the battle was doing. Fortunately he arrived right when the meat-head was getting much ticked off with the Bowser character trash-talking him.
"YEH MUST PAY!"
That was his cue, he laughed a bit demonically, "Ah, salutations, O'Chunks!"
He appeared above the brute.
"Hey, aren't you…?" The dragon thing began but was soon interrupted by the jester.
"AH! Once again we meet, like two angry, burly dinosaurs with terrible indigestion!"
"Wait what…?" The turtle was obviously confused at this metaphor.
But soon their attention was drawn back to the angry chunker, "What d'yeh want, Dimentio? I don't be needin' any help! Yeh'll just get in the way!"
"Aaah, a quadrillion pardons! Far be it from to be a hindrance. Far FAR be it! As it happens, I merely have an acquaintance in this land." He lied, "I was just saying hello!"
"Sayin' 'Hello' eh?"
He raised his hands in defense, "Yes, truly! And I saw you and I thought, 'Perhaps my magic can aid in this fight!'"
He did the same gesture he did days before and they all appeared in the Dimension D.
"Ah, rest assured, I'll hardly be underfoot! You fight to your heart's content! Ciao!"
With that he turned invisible and watched the battle for his own amusement. Sadly the battle only lasted for a short time since all the heroes were together, they ganged up on the poor fellow, "BLARGH IT ALL! Bad enough that yeh beat me once, but twice is too much the bear! How can I show me face teh the count now, eh? I CAN'T! Put me out o' me misery!"
"Alright!" The merciless turtle cheered.
"Get on with it! I'm serious! I've no regrets! Well… No… Perhaps I do regret not confessin' me love the that sweet lass…"
'Please, why would she love a fool like you? I mean, you're to weak to live! How can you put up with yourself' he stared at the weakling for a moment right up until the man shouted, "Do it! Now! NOW! Finish me! End me game!"
He sighed, 'the prophecy…'
He began with fake enthusiasm, "Well, salutations, O'Chunks! How are things, hmmm?"
The jester appeared beside him. The Scottish wimp looked at him with teary eyes, "Di-Dimentio! Look, honestly, this is kind o' important! How 'bout some privacy, eh?"
"Yes, yes, of course, I understand. Your honor must be satisfied…" He muttered a tad mockingly as he examined carefully at his glove as he spoke. He looked at him with a bored expression and pleased eyes, "but, O'Chunks… Before you let your game be over, humor poor little me for a bit. I have something I rather think you'll enjoy," He grinned smugly, "I DO wish you would try it out for me."
"YEH CRAZED LOON!" Though it was true, "It's not the time fer…"
"Oh…" he took on a hurt look, "it's not time, hmm? Not the time for something that will aid Count Bleck?"
He scratched his hairy chin and grumbled, "Ooh… Fer the count, eh? Well, that do change a thing or two… Hmmm…"After a very exaggerated pause he finally made up his mind, "… Fine, then!"
He turned to the three heroes, "You lot! Yeh took enough of a beatin' fer today, so I'll let yeh off easy-like! I tell yeh this, though: yeh better work on yer skills by the next time we meet!"
After Timpani the pixl comment about Bleck then wimp started to go on a terribly long monolog which really seemed to annoy the jester though he didn't show it but yawned instead.
"Chunks away!" He finally said with a salute.
"Ah, it is time to part… Ciao!"
Later on about a few hours into the night the jester waited for the heroes with as he called the mindless fake O'Chunks, O'Cabbage.
Once the hero finally came out of the pipe the jester yawned mightily and laughed, "Ah ha ha. So! At long last you've come to play, like late-sleeping toddlers!"
"Dimentio… and O'Chunks…" Timpani seemed to glare at the jester but for some odd reason he couldn't remember why. His past slipped away from him like air in a fist.
This didn't seem to faze him though, "Ahhhhhhh… Do you not tire of collecting those worn-out tiresome Pure Hearts? I am not violent by nature, you know." Somehow he knew that but somehow he didn't his past became fuzzy and unclear but he just smiled saying, "I'd prefer to settle this peacefully, in fact. Say, for instance, you wished to go back to your world. I could do that for you…" He urged, making the offer as tempting as he could.
"Oh, PLEASE! You know what you smell like, weirdo? FEAR. Stop crying and fight!"
"Fear…? Fear? FEAR?" He laughed with serious craze which instantly made the heroes tremble in their fear. Slowly he took a deep breath and calmed himself back down, "hmhm, Ah haha. So it must be…" He said in a frighteningly calmed manner he smiled cruelly at him, "Shall we begin?"
In a flash they were back in his dimension.
The pixl looked disgusted, "Ugh… Haven't you learned? No matter how often we fight, it will end the same…"
The jester's eyes narrowed like cat's which seemed to make the pixl flinched and mutter something under her breath.
"My, my. Aren't you plucky," he spat, "same fight," he held out one hand "same outcome…" he held out the other hand to his other side then clasped his hands together as he said dramatically, "you are precisely correct."
"Weirdo…" The muscular failer of a thief mutter to the man in red.
His look became more serious and devious as he slowly said in a creepy way and he positioned his finger to snap, "And… that… is… why…"
SNAP!
A floro sprout sprouted on the FakeChunks head and he instantly shouted at the top of his lungs, "BRO-CCOLI!"
His very scary solemn look faded into a mischivious smile and he rested his elbow on the faker's, which he and the book had made, shoulder saying in a singsong way, "Lovely green hat, wouldn't you say?"
All became confused but then Bowser immediately commented, "I don't wanna fight veggies!"
"Hm," He snorted then continued his sentence, "Dear O'Chunks! So strong, yet so very dim," he cooed polishing the top of his bald head until it shined, "A child could learn his attack patterns. As such, I requested a few sprouts from my acquaintance to liven him up a touch." He looked at them, "I call the boy 'O'Cabbage'! Don't be shy, O'Cabbage! Introduce yourself!"
With that being said 'O'Cabbage' pounded his chest screaming his name.
The jester laughed heartily, "Simply adorable. Now remember, kids" he said to no one in particular and wagged his finger, "eat your vegetables to grow big! Except in this case, a veggie will eat YOU! Have fun, now! Ciao!"
After that short battle, which seemed to be a bit more difficult, was over the O'Chunks was gone and so were the heroes. That's when the jester returned, "Mm… If they could beat that model of O'Chunks… then they are coming along quite nicely. Perhaps…" he grinned very broadly, "Perhaps they really are the ones I have waited for all this time." He gave a short devious laugh, "I should prepare myself as well! So much to do, so precious… little… time…"
The jester began to groan as his catnap was interrupted again but not by the book but by singing. They voice belonged to the REAL O'Chunks instead of the model. He had already sung that same song about three times now, that was a punishment enough for everyone!
Grumpy than before he appeared at the Meeting Room, invisible to hear if there were anymore conversation worth hearing. He heard Mimi speaking, "So where's the count, huh? I wanna see him! He hasn't called me to go do anything, and I'm getting SOOOOOOOOO BORED!"
'My tender, tender ears…'
"HEY COUNT!" An Italian voice shouted.
'Great a headache…'
The Green Thunder came out of nowhere and landed feet first on his platform, "My destructive little friend is all gassed up and itching to get back in action. Yes, Brobot is begging me to take him out. Say the word, and I'll roll out."
"Yeah, great enthusiasm, but let's shelve the robot action plan for now, 'K"
The Green Thunder looked speechless.
"The thing is, the count kinda left specific orders for us to stand by. Got that?" She commanded
"No way!" The mimic girl squealed in frustration, "We're just supposed to wait here for that big, mean hero to come get us?"
"So the count doesn't need my services?" The Thunder finally spoke after he calmed down, "Excellent. I'll just be off, then."
The secretary clutched her fists and yelled over them which only made the jester's headache worse, "YOU GO NOWHERE! We wait! It's the count's direct order! His word is absolute! Be a good little minion and DO NOT MOVE UNTIL TOLD!" She breathed a few breathes and sighed, "… 'K? Thanks."
With that she left them.
"BUT I'M BOOOOOOOOOORED!"
The Green Thunder shook with anxiety, "And Brobot craves his daily SMASH! I can't just loiter here. There's no action!"
These word made the jester smirk through his pain, "Ah ha ha. Hard to stay still when you pine for sweet vengeance, isn't it?"
The jester made his appearance. The two stared at him in surprise, "Dimentio!"
"The count's orders are all absolute… completely without exception, yes?" He said rather slowly and a bit creepily to give the girl a shiver.
"We shouldn't even daaaare to think about a secret sneak attack! Perish the thought!" He exclaimed practically giving them the idea.
He dwindled his fingers absentmindedly, "Defeating the hero would please the count greatly… but we MUST follow orders!"
The two minions instantly got the same idea.
There was complete silence between to two of them. Then the green girl spoke as if she forgottened something, "Oopsie! I just remembered something REAL important that I gotta do! Back in a jiffy! Bye!"
And in moments she vanished.
The Green Thunder quickly tried to come up with a stupid excuse, "Yeaaah… Yeah, I've, uh… got to go deflavorize the Borbot's, us… Flavorizer. Yeah, I'll return once everything's up to code! L-ater, Dimentio!"
Rapidly he jumped off his pad and ran out of the room.
The jester laughed profoundly and then caught his breath, "My, my, isn't that something? I do believe I should be moving on as well."
'Dimentio it's about time… dispose the man in green then the heroes… our plan will soon be complete and it will succeed.'
"… Yessss…. Succeed…"
The last battle with The Green Thunder was done. Brobot exploded and he fell flat on his face in front of the three.
He got up and shook with fury as he glared envious eyes at them. He could feel tears glistening in his silver eyes as he yelled, "Preposterous! Why… Why can't I win?"
"… Well…" the pixl started truthfully, "it might be because you're weak…"
"GRRRR!" He sniffled his bloody nose, "You laugh now, but the Green Thunder never forgets!"
With that he jumped over them and ran off, letting them take the sucked out Pure Heart for their own.
"I don't know what it is about those guys, but I just can't seem to beat them!" He cried out as he wiped some of his pathetic tears of complete misery.
The laugh rose up again a bit more psychotic than usual which made the man in green jump in shock, "Did they wound your fragile pride, Mr. L? Demolish your robot again?"
Then he calmed down after he found out it was only him when the jester appeared in front of him, "Oh it's just you, Dimentio. I'm stumped. You'd think a giant robot would be enough to crush these heroes…"
He turned away, hiding his wounded face, "I'm a disgrace… there's no way I can show my face to Count Bleck after THIS."
The jester chuckled darkly, "Perhaps that is for the best."
His magical sounds before his attack startled the Green Thunder he whirled and jumped back before a sudden explosion was about to force him into the air, "Whoa, now!"he exclaimed as the jester came down a yard in front of him, "Hey! What are you doing?"
"You said it yourself. You can't go back to the count now." His face darkened intensely, "so get lost."
"Not a funny joke, Dimentio…"The Green Thunder warned, stepping back, "If I wanted to laugh, you face is inspiration enough!"
The jester gave a curt laugh then stopped and glared at him with a smirk so gruesome, "Such temper! Your nostrils they flare out like the hood of a hissing cobra! I can't have you around the count. If I am rid of you here, I won't be found out! And the other will never find you," he giggled with craze, "Yess, this is my moment!... to grasp." He looked at him solemnly as he stepped forward about to snap his fingers, "It's time for you to take your final bow, Mr. L…"
A transparent box appeared around him. The eyes of the man in green grew very wide, "Hey, now! Whoa! What's this? You've lost your mind, Dimentio!"
"Indeed I have, more than you can believe…" he said more to himself he chuckled and hushed the Green Thunder, "Don't worry. It won't be so bad, I promise. I'll send those heroes your way soon, just so you'll have someone to play with."
And that's when the box exploded and there was nothing left of the man in green but sheds of his clothing.
"Ciao…. Mr. L…"Slowly he snickered which then turned into a giggle, then utterly overly than usual crazy poured out of his lips. He couldn't help it was going totally insane by that book.
"Yeah, so just got a quick ping from Dimentio? We've had a little insubordination…." The secretary began as she adjusted her glasses. "Yeah according to his report, our Mr. L took on a hero-fighting initiative… I accept full responsibility. It was my administrative breakdown that allowed this…"
"I see, remarked Count Bleck… well, what is done is done. This prophecy will not be fulfilled without sacrifice."
'How true…'
Her look saddened, "So, 'K… Um, and just another quick update on Mimi… yeah… she, um, also left the castle."
The Count eyed her as he asked, "Did she, now? Well, Count Bleck will leave you to dispense the minion discipline."
The secretary gazed up at her count with curiosity, "Count… Um, you seem… a bit different today. New monocle? Or did something happen?"
"Count Bleck feels fine… leave me…"
She adjusted her glasses again, "Oh, um, of course, yeah… Please excuse me."
She bowed and left to Count be.
Soon after the Count's eyes drifted downwards and his voice turned into a quiet whisper, "Could that Pixl have been… Timpani?" He shook his head out of it which made the jester confused of who that Timpani is…
"No, no. Completely impossible. I should that better than anyone. Besides, it's far too late to do anything now. The prophecy has been set in motion and no one, not even I, can stop it. No one can stop it now…"
And then the Count vanished with the Dark Prognosticus.
After he heard all this, an idea formed in his twisted mind to visit those fool and finally end their game to let the Pure Heart be fully charged with energy again. He gave a giggle and teleported to those buffoons.
The jester then appeared at the old Ancient's home right before the door opened by the three heroes. The Ancient greeted them, "Oh ho! The heroes return! Tell me, do you have the seventh Pure Heart?"
"Well… maybe you should take a look at it, Merlon…"
The Red Hero showed him the Heart.
"Mmm… Hmm? What… what happened to it?"
"The Void had consumed the world… and left the Pure Heart like this…"
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…" The old Ancient hummed as he studied the Heart for a long while. The hero started to feel his hands getting tired. Finally he spoke up, "I do not feel the typical energy from this Pure Heart."
'No kidding you old—' He didn't go further and just huffed, folding his arm already bored on sitting there invisible but he had to listen.
"Even if you set this in a Heart Pillar, it would do nothing. What to do…"
"… Oh… but then…" the Pixl murmured, "how do we save him… I mean… how do we save… everyone… from destruction?"
The Ancient stroked his long beard, "to stop this prophecy, we must defeat Count Bleck, who started all of this."
The jester couldn't help but grin, 'How wrong they all are!'
"But to do that, we will need all eight Pure Hearts, as the Light Prognosticus says. We are between a rock and a hard place…"
The jester couldn't help it anymore, he made his entrance as he laughed happily, "Oh! The forlorn group of heroes, how they cry! The tears flow like sweet sad chowder!"
Everyone jumped and looked up to see the jester floating there grinning every so anxiously.
The princess was the first to speak, "D-Dimentio? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, bad news for you!" he exclaimed as he put his hands on his chests as if he was doing a Scream impersonation. Then his mood sudden swept to serious fake sorrow enthusiasm which made the red hero gazed at him in slight concern of his sudden mood swings. He put the back of his hand on his forehead as he wailed dramatically, "There is no way in this world to restore the Pure Hearts…!"
The big mutant brute looked around to see if a violin was playing to this awkwardly 'sad scene'.
"Yes…" he put his hand on his chest and looked downwards, "sadly your hard, hard, hard hard work was…"he suddenly turned his head slowly as a sickening grin played on his lips as the words slowly spilled out, making the room feel absolutely cold and lifeless, "… all… in… vain."
He let out an insane giggle as the same turtle looked at the rest with a look saying, 'is he a lunatic or what?'
Then he hesitantly decided to speak, "Urrrgh… Are you serious? That… really stinks!"
He chuckled more at this and spoke out a tad calmly this time, "Yes, it truly does, and," his grin became even more sickening it gave everyone in the room chills, "That's why I decided to give all a consolation prize…"
The same transparent box appeared around the three except the Pixl. The jester snapped his fingers and then all vanished. The jester let out a horribly insane laugh as the stupid Ancient quietly questioned what just happened.
After he calmed down he noticed the Pixl was screaming their dead names. Slowly she fluttered over to where they disappeared and cried out again.
The jester smirked and he landed down beside her and replied quietly, "It's quite simple, really…" his grin returned. Flicking his wrist and lifting hand downwards, to the Underwhere as he explained proudly, "I fulfilled their wishes! I sent them to the next world! AH HAHAHAHA!"
Again he calm down and floated close to the Pixl hissing, "You do know who I am, right? I am your enemy, Dimentio! I serve Count Bleck!"
The Pixl whispered to him, "Dimentio, how could you? I thought we were friends! What have you done? What have we done to make you like this?"
The jester was entirely confused by the Pixl's words then the book's words snarled in his head.
'Don't listen to that Pixl, boy!'
The jester's eyes narrowed and ignored her pleading; he snarled at both of them, "Well.. As pleasant as this has been, I must leave. Ciao."
After a short couple of days after the death the heroes, at another meeting Dimentio told all what he saw while they were at the Underwhere.
"WHAT? … Spat Count Bleck in utter disbelief. Surely this new cannot be true! The hero still lives."
"Ah haha. Oh, I'm afraid so, my count. In fact, they will be here before long!" All the minions were a bit surprised that the jester seemed so cheerful.
"Whuh? Izzat true, then? What're we donin twiddlin' our biscuits 'ere? Count Bleck! Lemme go throw 'em a nice welcome party… I'll bring the punch!" The Scottish muscular brute proclaimed.
"Ooh, I wanna party with those party poopers, too! Wait up, O'Chunks! Mimimimimimi!" the green girl joined in, who was now dressed in a cheerleader outfit.
With that they both left without a moment's hesitation.
"Well… I'm not one to miss a party…" the jester muttered then he snapped his fingers as he remember something, "Oh, but wait one moment… Dear Count… Does the name Blumiere ring a bell?"
The secretary gasped as the Count's eyes widen as he soon questioned him quickly, "Where did you hear that name, Dimentio?"
"Oh, the mustache man's Pixl went on and on… She said," He did his best impression of her voice, "'I must stop, Blumiere!'."
Slowly the Count, out of pure shock, turned slightly and pulled his hat over his eyes.
"But I suppose there's no reason to pay any mind to the ramblings of a Pixl…"the jester gave a shrug. "Ciao for now, my count!"
Once the jester turned invisible again Nastasia shouted, "Count Bleck! If… um…. If that Pixl is who you think it is… There's still time! You can still stop the prophecy from destroying everything! Yeah, because, if that's really her… if she's alive, you have to stop all this!"
The count kept his head down, muttering a bit angrily to her, "You know not what your are saying, Nastasia. The prophecy can no longer be stopped by Count Bleck. No one can stop it."
The secretary flinched, "Yeah, I'm on board with what you're saying… but there must be a way. There must… LORD BLUMIERE!"
He slowly lifted his head up and laughed, "The man known as Blumiere died long ago. Now there is only Bleck! The Dark Prognosticus' choice to fulfil the prophecy! Nothing more!"
She was speechless, "But…"
The Count threw is arm out over his head, "Come to Count Bleck, heroes… If you hope to save these worlds, then come… BLEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK!"
After the jester saw the Pixl small breakdown in front of the now four heroes, the jester began to get more confused then the book told him not to waste his brilliant mind on silly things so he didn't think about it anymore. He followed them to the old Ancient's house.
"So… We gathered all the Pure Hearts and the four heroes it seems." Merlon commented thoughtfully.
The turtle chuckled loudly, "Now we just stomp this Count Bleck guy and call it a day!"
The princess sighed, "I fear for the poor people of this world who must continue to look at the sky and worry… We must act quickly and ease their hearts and minds!"
'What a thoughtful, pitiful girl…'
The Pixl was completely silent engrossed in thought.
The old man looked at her worriedly, "….What troubles you, Tippi?"
"… The prophecy… Do we really have to destroy Count Bleck to stop it from happening?"
The Ancient let out a sigh, "Much of the dark prophecy has already come to pass… but stop it we must. It was by Count Bleck's hand that the Chaos Heart was summoned, bringing this peril. Without him, the prophecy's power will wither and all worlds can avoid their ends"
"Yes… I suppose your right. I guess we always knew that didn't we… "
"Tippi? What's the matter, huh?" The Green Wonder asked, worriedly.
"My dear… Was there something between you and this Count Bleck?"
The Pixl looked eager, "No… nothing… it was nothing…" then she quickly cheered up to reinsure them, "Come on! Let's go!"
The Ancient wondered for a moment then spoke, "… Very well then… Once again, your first task is to set this Pure Heart in a Heart Pillar. Once you've done that, you must head back to the black tower in Flopside."
'Flopside? Tower? They must be ready… I must make haste and get ready!' But even though he was ordered not to think about what was said… he couldn't help it… it felt familiar to him.
He stood in his chamber, waiting for the heroes to come in and so he can challenge them to fight, especially Luigi. But his mind was clouded with thoughts. Suddenly the Dark Prognosticus appeared at his side, "Dimentio, I told you not to think of such things…"
"I-I can't help it! What if it's part of my past!"
"I can tell you this, it's not" The book made a white lie.
"… I-I think it is…" he murmured suddenly, "That Pixl… she's Lady Timpani! You-you…"
"Dimentio, that's enough!" The book growled, growing furious.
He didn't stop now he finally remembered! His eyes grew wide,"… You made me forget my past… you… you deceived me…! You deceived me so I could kill my own people! Why? Why?"
Now the jester was getting very ticked off that he and Timpani and the Pure Heart were almost the only Ancients left who survived.
"You wrote me, Dimentio… YOU wrote… You wrote sorts of fairy tales in me that now came into reality… I only wanted you to be apart of it."
"No… you never did! You wanted to use me! You want to possess me to get the world for your own! You made me insane!"
"You caught on…"
"I'm glad I did… So… I'm… not going to get what I've always desired… a world without war…? So… you only put in you to keep ME out of your way! So, so you can control Lord Blumiere!"
"Yes… Since you've found out… I have to take you in by force… if you struggle your only going to hurt yourself more…"
"N-no…! Pl-please! I'm begging you!" The jester pleaded as he went down on his knees.
"Don't worry you pitiful, jester, you'll still be in control…" Suddenly the prophetic book rushed into him and his eyes glowed bright red and blood spilled down his cheeks. The possessed jester gave out a crazed laugh and then he stopped as he heard a crashing sound… the fight with Mimi was done… the possessed jester grinned wildly as the door opened and the two Mario Bros entered with the Pixl.
"So… you've made it here at last."
Hesitantly the two walked over and the jumped back to see the jester like this. No one made a sound.
"Oh, but… what's this?" He asked, noticed that the other two members were gone, "You seem to be missing the ravishing princess and the arm flailer."
"Dimentio…" The Pixl said in a sorrowful tone, but she quickly changed it, "We don't have time to trade barbs with you… Move out of the way!"
"Ahhh, I see. You're in a hurry." He bowed apologetically, "Allow me to get out of your way, then…"
He then vanished and after a few seconds of the brothers frantically looking around he cried out, "Just as soon as you defeat me! AHA AHAHAHAHAHA! You've proven to be worthy foes in the past, soooo I'm not going to make it easy! You'll have to come get me first… it'll be like a game of tag… with MAGIC!"
He laughed again… and the game of tag was on.
After two long hours of the game the two became very tired but the book, or should I say, the possessed jester was just getting started. The real jester in the mind of the possessed was watching everything. He couldn't get back control of the things he said and did; it only hurt him like the book had said. He hated himself for trusting that devious thing!
Once the two plumbers came back to Castle Bleck the possessed laughed and joked, "Enjoying my game of tag?"
"Hey!" The Green Wonder cried out, summoning up courage, "stop messing around and fight us for real!"
The jester glared at them and grinned nastily, "Messing around? Oh, no. Magic is no laughing matter. I am always deadly serious… I have been watching you," he said suddenly, "You are the only ones who can stand up to Count Bleck. So… I have a favor to ask. Will you help… destroy the count?"
Even he was shocked by these words as much as they. The Green Hero gasped, "What are you talking about? You want to betray him?"
"Betray him?" He laughed manically, "Oh no. It is Count Bleck who has betrayed ME!"
The Pixl eyed him skeptically.
"He said, he would destroy all worlds and create a new, perfect world in their place. But he was lying!"
'He-he was…?'
'Yes you slow jester! He was fooling you all this time! Have you forgotten? He wanted to destroy all of them and let them all stay in ruin!'
He then recalled it and gasped, 'N-no…'
Apparently back then it didn't exactly matter! He was to caught up with the book to think about it!
Those same words came out of his mouth, "He plans to obliterate every world, and then keep them all in ruin!"
Both of the brothers jumped in surprise. The Pixl was even more surprised than them.
The jester continued slowly, "I have always known about his nefarious goal. But I could never hope to stop him on my own. I feigned loyalty to him as I searched for someone who could defeat him with me!"
They all stared at him suspiciously, uncertain if they could trust him.
"Well, you see… That is why… I rescued the princess from certain brainwashing."
Now that was the books doing which the jester didn't know about until now.
"It's also why I sent you to the Underwhere to fix the broken Pure Heart. And, why, I freed a man to be reunited with his brother… now do you see?" He asked looking back at them.
"You've… been helping us all this time?" The Pixl questioned, stunned.
"Ahhh, you've got me pegged. Now, how about you return the favor? I'll give you the power you need to crush Count Bleck… just fight by my side!"
They all glared. The jester took it as a 'no'.
"Still you refuse? But this offer, it drips with generosity! With the Chaos Heart in our hands, we can rule every world! Do you still refuse?"
"We don't want to rule ANY world!" Luigi shouted at him.
"So you spit upon me offer?" he glared daggers, "You have wasted my time… for that, your game ends…" He grinned at greenie, "I think I'll start with the green one. The shag upon his lip will make a fine trophy!"
The Green Wonder sprang into action as he spat in horror and complete Italian anger, "SHAG? This mustache is all LUIGI! Leave this one to me, Bro!" He suddenly commanded his brother which shocked him, "You run ahead! You've got worlds to save. You don't have time to fight this baddie! Don't let Bowser and Peach's sacrifices be for nothing! Or… mine, either!"
'That was so… so touching…' the jester's mind thought truthfully…
"… Besides, he made fun of my 'stache, Bro! You know I'm sensitive about that! Lemme at 'im!"
'… And the moment is gone…' he thought a tad disappointedly.
The older brother stared at his younger one with a small tear in his eye.
"Run for it, Bro!"
The brother stared at him for a few more moments, a sense a proud feeling in his eyes. He slowly nodded.
"Thanks, Bro…" They hugged, probably their last.
Then he and the Pixl took leave. Before the red hero exited, he made one more glance back at his brave brother and left.
'Oh, my… I think it's back… my, this is much better than a movie!'
'Oh, would you just shut up?'
The jester outside laughed merrily, "How tender. I just squeezed out a tear!"
'Actually I think I did.'
'….'
WHACK!
'OW! MY HEAD!'
"Yes…" he finally continued quite annoyed now, "Mario can run along… and if he somehow manages to defeat Count Bleck on his own… all the better! And so I strike, like an unseen dodgeball in an echoing gymnasium!"
Then the battle began which I do not want to drone on about so I will cut it short.
Once the man in green hit him with a mighty blow on the head the jester cried out, "NOOOOO!"
The jester inside couldn't help join. He was too in agony… every blow hurt him as well… and boy was he bruised!
The book and he screamed out in unison, "I… I cry uncle! Mercy! UNCLE, I SAY!"
"Had enough, Dimentio?" He yelled at him, "I didn't need my superstar bro to take you on!"
"I-I see that now… your power is formidable… Which is exactly why I can't let you fall into Count Bleck's velvet-lined gloves…"
The jester landed in front of him and one transparent box appeared around them.
"W-What're you doing…?"
He laughed madly now, "I have you now! Luigi! We will both taste the agony of game-overing… by MAGIC!"
The Green Wonder cried out in surprised and continued as the box exploded and there was nothing left.
Slowly the jester sat up and gazed around at darkness. Ever so slowly he realized he was on withered grass and everything looked overgrown and… dead… he saw a healing fountain up ahead. To make his thoughts clear a Shayde crawled up to him, "Hey! Is this your first time?" it didn't give him time to make a reaction nor speak, "I kid! That was a joke no one comes to the Underwhere twice!" Then he added to himself "Other than some people…"
"E-excuse me…? M-my game is over…?"
"Yup!" it replied cheerfully.
Finally he came with a conclusion… his soul was out of his body and now his own body was in the clutches of the Dark Prognosticus… the jester wished the hero luck with his final battle, knowing well he would live through the Count's battle…
After a few hours in this world the jester just sat there next the fountain, drawing pictures in the dead grass. Suddenly he heard voices nearby, "hey did ya hear?"
"Wha?"
"The heroes defeated that jester guy! And that devil book is… as they say; 'faded back into history'!"
His eyes grew very wide… he was free… Suddenly he felt his other half coming back and he laughed happily and overly insane. He felt so alive!
Then he heard a voice very close behind him, "Dimentio… I believe you'll be coming with me."
"You can't—!" his voice trailed off when he saw the person behind him… Queen Jaydes.
"Then I was placed in that cryptic orb, locked away with others less crazed than I… I was forced to see replays of me, of my painful past… then you came… now we're here…" slowly Dimentio looked at her. Tears were pouring out of her eyes.
Shocked he grabbed her by the shoulders and looked at her directly in the eyes, "H-Helen? Dear? Wh-what's the matter? Why are you crying?"
"I-I just feel so bad for you…! You-you suffered so much than I knew…!" She sobbed harder and embraced the jester tightly, weeping in his poncho, "I never knew… you were in such pain… I wish I could be in your place…"
Those words shock him greatly. "I-I'm sorry, I-I believe I misheard you… say that again, please?"
She sniffled and repeated, "... I-I wish I could be in your place…"
He stared, unable to speak. His eyes softened, "… Helen… Don't wish that…"
"But I hate hearing or seeing you in pain!"
… He felt… touched… these words touched his heart greatly. Slowly he smiled as the feeling soon increased even more inside him.
"… you're… so… wonderful…" he said suddenly as he grasped her hands.
"Wha-what?" She looked at him, her turn to be surprised and blush now burning on her cheeks.
"… You… actually cared so much about me… that you'd want to take my place in that horrible mess…" His studied her for a long time, "Helen, there's something I have longed to tell you…"
"What is it…?" she asked a bit confusedly.
"I-…. I… I wanted to say that I-I…" He took a breath, "I lo-!"
He didn't even get to say the three words when there was a loud voice, "HEY, DIM-DIM!"
He ran over and stood in front of them.
Helen instantly began to cough, "God, you're drenched in sweat!"
"Helen, go to the side and breathe, alright?"
She obeyed the jester and left them to talk.
He stood, ignoring the smell and snarled at him, "Mr. L! What in the Underwhere do you want? I-I was about to confess…"
"We need you at Castle Blecky, lover boy and Dim… you can't do that yet."
He was a bit confused, "Pray tell, why not?"
"Tell ya later when she's not around." He glance at her.
He looked at her for a while, "Whatever, let's make it quick, Helen dear!" She turned to look at him, "I apologize but I must take leave. Do you mind walking by yourself?"
"I-I guess, I don't mind…" she mumbled a bit disappointedly.
He slightly glared at the mechanic giving him telepathy, "Mr. L, I don't want to leave her along out here…"
"To bad, let's go." Mr. L grabbed his arm and they both vanished.
