As Dimentio's form disappeared, Mimi let out a heavy sigh.
Why was he so difficult to talk to?
It was like every time she tried to have a serious conversation with him; Dimentio would try to avoid it or would find an excuse to leave. It was starting to frustrate her, as their relationship was going nowhere. Mimi sat at the fountain's edge, staring into space.
Here she was, all alone. O'Chunks was gone to fight the hero, Dimentio left her, Nastasia and Count Bleck were working nonstop. There was no one to talk to, no one to be with. To be alone, just like she was as a child.
Mimi let out another sigh as she was lost in her own thoughts.
"So is this what the great Mimikins does all day?" one of Mimi's older sisters said with a bit of spite. "Just sit around all day acting like the princess of the world?"
Five year old Mimi looked up at her sister.
She was sitting in her room, watching cartoons. It was mid afternoon, and her sisters, including Audrey, were doing their daily practices of becoming shape shifters. Mimi, since she was born with the ability, didn't have to come to the practices.
"What do you expect me to do, Lillian?" Mimi asked trying to sound confident. "Daddy says I don't have to go if I don't want to."
Lillian growled her green eyes filled with rage. At that moment, a younger Audrey came by.
"Lillian, don't you have anything else better to do?" she asked with a bit of a sigh. "You're accomplishing nothing by acting jealous."
Lillian turned to Audrey.
"Well, what do you want me to do Miss I-Know-Everything? Unlike you and Mimi, some of us actually have to work and try to be successful! But, at least you aren't a bitch about it! At least you actually try to be a good sister. Unlike the Princess Mimikins, who just sits on her ass all day and is given everything on a silver tray without even trying! She is just a spoil brat, father's favorite and having life being so easy for her!"
"Calm down, Lillian!" Audrey exclaimed. "Don't use that kind of language in front of her!"
She closed the door, hoping to block the sound. But it didn't work, as Mimi could still hear every word.
And it tore her apart.
"You think I care?" Lillian exclaimed. "I'm just saying the truth. I don't get why you defend her, Audrey. Don't deny it, I've seen the jealous look in your eyes when father treats Mimi like she is his only daughter and acts like the rest of us don't exist. I'm just sick of it, and if father won't love me, then I won't love Mimi. I'm not the only one who thinks like this, and you know it."
Mimi put her hands over her ears, trying to get Lillian's voice out of her head.
You want me not to be perfect, but every time I'm with you, you treat me like dirt! How else am I suppose to act? What do you want me to do?
Tears formed in her eyes.
Why did her sisters have to hate her?
Later that night, Mimi heard a large crash coming from outside. She sat up, looking out her window to see if anything was there. It was pitch black outside, nearly impossible to see anything from the third floor. But, she heard that noise again. What was going on, was someone trying to break in? If someone was, then her family was in danger. A small smile appeared on her face.
Maybe if I save everyone from the bad guy, just like in the cartoons, then Lillian and the others will like me!
Though she was scared, Mimi quickly left her room and headed down stairs. To her partial relief, there wasn't anyone there, with no broken windows or the front door busted down.
However, getting a closer look, she noticed that the door was unlocked.
Curious, Mimi opened the door and stepped outside. A cold wind moved right passed her, making her shiver.
"Is anyone out here?" Mimi called out into the darkness. "If you can hear me, show yourself! I will not let you harm my family!"
There was eerie silence, the wind being the only source of movement. Fear started to pick up. The bad guy was out here, and he would appear at any moment. Mimi stepped back a bit. She then cursed herself.
Stop being a baby, Mimikins! This is why everyone hates you! You need to be strong, look out for yourself. Be like the heroes in the cartoons.
Gaining a tiny amount of courage, Mimi walked out of the house. Suddenly, Mimi could hear footsteps coming towards her. She turned around, to see the silhouette of a girl. The girl gave an evil smile.
"You shouldn't have come out here, little Mimi," she said in an inhuman voice. "Now you are going to die!"
There was a loud snap, as the girl's head started to spin in circles. Legs started to appear from her head as she gained a spider-like appearance. She became eight feet tall, making Mimi look like a small ant.
Mimi screamed at the top of her lungs. She ran away from the monster, as it chased her and gave off maniacal laughter. She tried to get away, but the monster was too fast. It then got a hold of the edge of her nightgown, making Mimi fall to the ground as it tore. Mimi screamed again, closing her eyes tightly. The monster put her face close to Mimi's.
"Now I have you..."
Saliva dripped out of her mouth, getting ready for the kill.
"Mimi!"
Mimi reopened her eyes to see her father and the rest of her sisters running towards her and the monster. The monster backed away as Mimi's father picked her up and held her close.
"Are you alright, Mimikins?" her father asked worriedly.
Mimi let out a tiny sob in reply, as she began to cry uncontrollably and hugged her father close. Her father's gaze turned to the spider monster.
"Lillian, you horrid child! Get out of that...thing's body before I kill you where you stand!"
Lillian!
Mimi turned around to get a better look of the monster. Now having light, she recognized Lillian's deformed face. Lillian slowly transformed back into her regular self, fear in her eyes.
But the anger was still in Mimi's father's eyes.
"What is the meaning of this, Lillian? Do you realize how much you've scared Mimi?"
Lillian narrowed her eyes.
"I was only practicing my shape shifting, that's all," she answered her voice icy cold. "It's her own damn fault for coming out here. She should have known better."
"That's no excuse!" Mimi's father yelled. "What you did was despicable!"
"But father, I perfected the ultimate form! I perfected our true form!"
"I don't care! You know that form is forbidden. That abomination...why do you think our species as tried so hard to evolve from that beast? And to have my own daughter transform into it..."
He turned away from Lillian, as if looking at her disgusted him.
"Audrey! Take care of Mimi while I deal with Lillian. I don't want any of you out of your bedrooms when I get back or you're all in big trouble. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone silent, too afraid to speak. Audrey, the only one with enough courage, stepped up.
"We understand, father," she said solemnly.
Mimi's father nodded as he handed Mimi to Audrey. Mimi ran into Audrey's arms, still shaking with fear and shock. Without saying another word, Mimi's father took Lillian's arm and dragged her away from the scene. Watching them go, the rest of the sisters went back inside.
"Lets go, Mimi," Audrey said softly as she led Mimi away.
Mimi followed her sister, her eyes never looking away from Lillian and her father.
Small tears formed in Mimi's eyes as the memories went by.
Though what Lillian did happened so long ago, it still haunted her. The monster had invaded every nightmare she had, always finding it's way back to her when there was nothing but darkness. It would never go away, no matter how hard she tried to forget.
"Mimi, are you alright?"
Mimi screamed. She turned around to see O'Chunks, who was gazing at her worriedly.
"Mimi...?"
Mimi tried to get herself to calm down. Once her breathing went back to normal, she looked up at O'Chunks and said, "Sorry. I was just lost in thought. Bad memories."
O'Chunks studied her.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, not really."
Her eyes widened, as she noticed all the bruises on O'Chunks's face and arms.
"...I'm guessing your fight with the hero didn't go too well?" Mimi asked.
O'Chunks sighed, avoiding eye contact.
"...The hero, was a lot stronger than I expected him to be. And having a strange name too."
Mimi raised an eyebrow.
"What was his name?"
"Maria, I think. That's what I think his fairy friend said. It was hard to understand her."
Mimi gave a blank stare.
"...Okay. You weren't hurt too badly, were you?"
"Maria didn't fight aggressively," O'Chunks explained. "He mostly avoided my attacks and had great aim at my weak points. All I can say is that when you fight him, don't underestimate his speed or his intelligence."
Mimi nodded, taking mental notes. Hopefully she would be more prepared to face him than O'Chunks was.
"I see...anything else I should know?"
"Well he had this strange power. Whenever I was about to corner him, he would wave his arms into the air and he-"
O'Chunks was interrupted as Dimentio appeared before them.
"Ciao, my friends," he said cheerfully. "How is everyone's afternoon?"
"Back from your little 'earn' I see?" Mimi commented, crossing her arms.
Dimentio smiled.
"Ah, Mimi, the person I wanted to see. If you don't mind, I would like to speak with you privately."
Mimi blinked, surprised at Dimentio's request.
"Uh...can it wait a bit? O'Chunks was talking to me about Maria."
Dimentio stared at her.
"'Maria?'"
"The Hero of Legend. That's what O'Chunks said his name was."
Dimentio paused for a moment.
"...I think you mean Mario," he said to O'Chunks. "I don't know how you got Maria. Probably for the best that I don't question it."
He turned back to Mimi.
"Anyway, I can tell you more about the hero later. But first, I need to ask something of you. It's at utter most importance, like when a king is about to pass a new law."
"Okay, I get it! Geez, you don't have to make everything dramatic."
She stood up.
"Besides, you still need to help me practice my teleporting use in combat."
"Of course."
O'Chunks narrowed his eyes.
"What do you need help with, Dimentio?" he asked a little suspicion in his voice. "I could help you if you need it."
Dimentio smiled.
"Oh, that won't be necessary, but I appreciate the offer. Ciao, O'Chunks."
Quickly taking Mimi's hand, they teleported to a small balcony connected to Mimi's bedroom, where no one would disturb them. Mimi gave Dimentio a strange look. Something wasn't right, she could feel it.
Did something happen when Dimentio faced Mario? I told him not to face him!
"Dimentio, are you okay?" Mimi asked concerned. "You seem a bit edgy."
Dimentio paced a bit as if collecting his thoughts. His pacing made Mimi feel even more nervous.
"Aha ha ha, there is nothing to fear. I am perfectly fine. In fact...I haven't felt this good in a long time."
Giving a small chuckle, he made eye contact.
"But, that isn't important to what I ask of you. Mimi...do you believe Count Bleck as told us everything about his plan? That there aren't any...'details' that he left out?"
Mimi gasped.
"Of course not! I trust the count. Why would he lie to us? We haven't done anything wrong."
"But think about it. The Dark Prognosticus knows the future, it's word never lies and it knew about us. Doesn't that sound a little suspicious to you? That there could be more in the book then what the count has told us?"
Mimi was about to reply when she stopped herself.
It did make sense, what Dimentio said. But, it couldn't true! Count Bleck had been so kind to her, he had helped her so much over the short time she known him. He was like a role model to her, she admired him.
I trust Count Bleck with my life. But what if...
Dimentio smiled.
"Do you see my point?"
Mimi turned from him, as if she was trying to hide her doubt.
"...What exactly are you asking me to do? Are you going to betray Count Bleck?"
"Oh no. I'm as loyal to him as you are. I just want to make sure I'm on the same level of knowledge as he. You see, O'Chunks mentioned to me before he left that the great count had something to do in the dungeon."
"There's a dungeon here?"
"Apparently. I've discovered its location, which happens to be a hidden room underneath the castle. I plan on exploring it tonight, but I want someone to watch my back as I do. If the count sees me, I don't want him to get the wrong idea."
He stepped closer to her.
"Mimi, you are the only one I can trust with this. Help me, and I'll reward you for your assistance."
Mimi narrowed her eyes.
"This is stupid! The count isn't going to have a hidden room underneath his home! Why would he keep a dungeon a secret from us? If he had prisoners, which is most likely if he had something to do in a dungeon, he would have told us. It doesn't make sense!"
Dimentio's smile faded.
"You don't trust me?"
"I wouldn't say I don't 'trust you.' I just don't agree with your judgment. I don't believe the count would be secretive like that."
Dimentio was silent for a long moment, deep in thought.
But it didn't take long for his smile to return.
"You don't have to fully agree with me. The count is a...trustworthy man. However..."
Dimentio suddenly pinned Mimi against the wall. Mimi let out a small gasped, surprised by Dimentio's so forward move. Dimentio put his fingers under Mimi's chin, forcing her to look into his eyes, which had a dark, seductive look in them.
He gave a small chuckle.
"If you do this for me, if you follow my request..."
Dimentio put his face so close that their lips barely touched.
"I will greatly reward you. I will give you a reward that you can't refuse."
He smiled.
"So what do you say, bellezza?"
"...I..."
Mimi stuttered.
She couldn't think with Dimentio so close to her. She was unprepared, shocked. Dimentio waited patiently for a response, and something told her that he wouldn't take no for an answer.
When she finally had some control, Mimi gave a small nod.
Dimentio smiled.
"I had a feeling you would say yes. Then I shall come to your room later tonight, promptly around midnight, to pick you up. Don't say a word of this to anyone else, or everything will be ruined. Do you understand?"
Again, Mimi nodded.
Dimentio let out a small, amused laugh.
"Then I'll see you tonight, bellezza."
Backing away, he winked at her and teleported away.
Mimi stood where she was, letting the moment sink in. All suspicion and doubt then faded away as she then slowly smiled and let out a dreamy sigh.
There was still a chance after all!