Author's Notes- Thanks to Space Dimentio for editing.

Chapter 21

Count Bleck and Timpani hang by a rope over a giant grinder in what was once the room where they stored Mr. L's inventions. If their life was a romantic novel, this would be the climax.

Fawful has been explaining what he has done to Count Bleck's minions for the past ten minutes. He holds up his special, magic-sucking ray gun. "You have seeing of this? The mist of redness is being magic; the magic that has belonging to that jester of arrogance!"

"You took Dimentio's magic, too?" Count Bleck asks, even more angered.

Timpani yells, "You coward!" Count Bleck wonders if he should debate with Timpani that taking Dimentio's magic is actually a really bold move. Meh, he'd better not, at least not right now.

A familiar voice asks, "Arrogant, huh? And just how else would you describe this jester, Fawful?"

Fawful, too full of himself to consider who asked the question, responds by saying, "The jester is being foolish, despicable, and full of naughtiness! And he is having a voice just like yours. It gives Fawful fury!"

Dimentio watches Fawful from behind, watching as he tenses up and turns pale green. Dimentio snickers and says, "It would seem that voice also gives you fear. That's rather amusing."

Fawful turns around to face Dimentio. Nastasia and O'Chunks stand right behind Dimentio, both bearing determined expressions. Fawful clears his throat. "How did you do the escaping?"

"That is a story for another time. Now, if I were you, I'd hand over that ray gun before things get ugly," Dimentio warns. "And when I say 'ugly', I mean excruciatingly ugly."

Fawful smiles with confidence, for he prepared for this scenario. "You are thinking you can have the beating of Fawful?"

Timpani smiles and says, "We warned you, Fawful. They will defeat you, no doubt."

Nastasia puts her hand on her glasses and says, "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. I think you'd much rather have it the easy way. If you hand over the gun without trouble, we can do this the easy way, k?"

Fawful holds the gun under his arm and takes out the remote. "This will have much easiness, yes?"

"'Eh? What 'er yeh doin' with that remote?" O'Chunks asks.

Fawful shrugs. "Would you like a demonstration?"

"No thank you. Just the gun, please. Then, and only then, can we settle this little melee." Dimentio snaps once and holds out his hand.

"I have irritation," Fawful states, clearly irritated. "Fawful is not liking your persistence."

Nastasia smirks and asks, "What are you going to do about it? You haven't done anything yet."

Fawful smirks maliciously. He was saving this for later, but he might as well do it now. He presses and holds down the button. Count Bleck and Timpani fall towards the grinder. There are three screams.

Fawful releases the button, shocked at the third scream. Nastasia and O'Chunks had stepped forward. All four minions look at the captives. Mimi holds onto the rope, hanging above the grinder with Count Bleck and Timpani.

"Lassy, what 'er ye doin'? Are ye mad?!"

Mimi glares at Fawful. "If they die, so do I." Fawful stares up at Mimi at a loss for words. He didn't plan for this; what was he to do?! Mimi just counteracted his blackmail.

Conveniently, Dimentio has had time to survey the room. He notices Count Bleck's scepter leaning against the wall, unguarded. He just strolls over to it while Fawful is distracted and picks it up. Now, how do you use this thing?

Fawful's train-of-thought is interrupted when his ray gun is magically pulled out from under his arm. He watches as it spontaneously flies over to Dimentio. Dimentio catches the gun as it knocks the scepter out of his hands. Success! That was easier than he thought it would be. No wonder Count Bleck has such an easy time using magic.

As an attempt to get the gun back before Dimentio can figure out how to reverse it, Fawful takes out his Taser and runs towards Dimentio. Dimentio spots him and takes off running with a tight grip on the gun. Fawful chases Dimentio around the grinder twice before Nastasia glares at O'Chunks and yells, "Do something!"

Just as the two runners start their third lap, O'Chunks jumps in front of Fawful, causing Fawful to bump into him. Fawful's Taser goes flying out of Fawful's grip and straight into the grinder, conveniently. O'Chunks chalks that one up as a victory.

Dimentio stops running and quickly examines the ray gun. "Where's the reverse switch on this thing?" Fawful spots Count Bleck's scepter. He dodges a punch from O'Chunks with a roll, stopping right in front of the scepter. O'Chunks' fist gets stuck in the ground after missing his target.

There was no use running this time. Dimentio holds the gun as tight as he can, hoping it would be enough to counteract the pull of magic. It isn't, and Fawful uses the scepter to pry the gun from Dimentio. The pressure gets to Fawful's head. They can't have a chance at beating him. He can't be defeated again. "I have fury!" With that said, Fawful tosses the gun upwards. It hits Timpani's left knee and falls straight down.

The sounds of grinding metal and shattering glass fill the room. Once the sounds secede, the room is dead silent, besides the quiet sound of the grinder. The red mist floats away, fading from sight. Nobody staring at it is more devastated than Dimentio. He feels as if his heart just stopped. His magic, gone forever; destroyed. Gradually, Dimentio starts to hyperventilate.

Fawful looks at Mimi. Mimi stares at Dimentio, shocked to the core. Her hand slips, releasing the rope holding Timpani and Count Bleck. Nastasia would gasp if she had any space left in her lungs to inhale. The lid to the grinder closes just before Mimi hits the blades. She lands flat on her back on the closed grinder. Instinctively, Fawful dropped the scepter and pulled the lever on the side of the grinder, closing it. He steps back, contemplating why he just saved the enemy. Mimi.

O'Chunks took the opportunity to grab Fawful and hold the bean tight. Fawful unsuccessfully struggles, causing the remote to fall out of his cape and onto the floor. Summoning what little will to move on that he has, Dimentio walks to the remote and snatches it up. Fawful stops struggling, fearfully staring at the jester. Dimentio pushes the button labeled 'release'. Count Bleck and Timpani fall on top of Mimi with a thud.

Nastasia strolls to Dimentio's side. "What should we do now?"

Dimentio smirks. "I know the perfect judge. Queen Jaydes would be glad to decide his fate."

Nastasia puts her hand on top of Dimentio's as he prepares to snap. He looks at her, and she asks sympathetically, "Remember?"

Dimentio lowers his hand. He hopes he isn't showing a defeated expression.

Mimi pushes herself out from under her master and mistress. She asks, "What are you waiting for? Get him out of here already!"

Dimentio, Nastasia, and even O'Chunks all give Mimi an 'are you kidding me?' stare. Mimi takes the hint, looking away in shameful guilt.

Count Bleck helps Timpani off the closed grinder. Once safely on the ground on her feet, she looks at Count Bleck. "Blumiere, are you going to do anything?"

"Is there something you wish for me to do besides order a pizza for dinner?" His answer is a couple of irritated glares; one from his wife and one from Nastasia. O'Chunks about releases Fawful at the sound of food.

Count Bleck averts his eyes from his wife's evil glare and looks at Fawful. He knows better than anyone that after defeat, people can change dramatically. He gave his last traitorous minion a second chance, so it wouldn't be fair to kill off Fawful. "Get your stuff and leave, Fawful. You have harmed my wife and my minions, and I won't stand for that."

"But, but," Fawful mutters, "what about the will of Cackletta?"

"Her soul can hold a grudge on me if it pleases. I never fully trusted that witch, anyway. Get your things and leave immediately, Fawful."

Timpani adds, "You know what, carry him to his room, O'Chunks. I don't trust him."

O'Chunks does as told with Fawful struggling in his grip the whole way.