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Author's Note:

I'm done with all my exams so now I can focus on finishing this story.

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story idea.

Chapter 38:
I'll Protect You

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"Urgh-GAH?!"

The monstrosity that was Super Dimentio exploded and its head crash down onto the ground.

"How did you do it…How could I have lost with the power of Luigi and the Chaos Heart…And the prophecy…Has it been undone?!"

"I think your prophecy was wrong all along." said Peach.

"You believed you prophecy, and we believed in mopping the floor with you!" said Bowser.

"Nothing is decided entirely by fate, you know…" said Tippi. "All things determine their destinies. Good-bye now, Dimentio. We'll add a footnote to the prophecy about your failure."

"Urrrrrrk….Unnngghhh…You think this is the end?" The evil jester grunted.

"Isn't it obvious? I think we both know who won this fight,"

Within the depths of Super Dimentio, Luigi stood before his former friend. Throughout the whole battle, he fought against the evil jester from the inside while Mario and the others fought him outside. Together their combine efforts were enough to put a stop to Dimentio and his plans.

The traitor minion turned and growled. There was a window in front of him where he could watch the heroes while control the Chaos monster from within. He turned away from it fully to stand against Luigi.

"Face it, Dimentio, you lose… It's over," The green man smirked. "Like a guest at a restaurant, you just got served."

"Don't you dare mock me!" Dimentio hissed. "I'll admit that I had underestimated the power of the Pure Hearts. They proved to be more powerful than I had originally thought. And that alone was what led me to my defeat. However…" A smirk appeared on his mask/face. "…I'm not only loser here."

Luigi narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Why, I'm talking about you, dearest Luigi." He said mysteriously. "As the host of a power as destructive as Chaos, you are connected it. So if it were to perish, it would only make sense that you were to perish along with it."

"W-What?!" Luigi stuttered, becoming fearful of the outcome. "Th-that can't be true."

"Ooh, but it is. As long as you live, the Chaos Heart will live as well." Dimentio laughed. "I guess you won't be able to keep your promise to your brother, hmm?"

"N-No," Luigi shook his head. "No, I won't let this happen."

"I'm afraid you have no choice, old friend."

Before Luigi could do anything, he once again found himself in a familiar, transparent box. He growled and tried to free himself from his prison. Unfortunately for him, he just couldn't break through. Dimentio laugh evilly.

"There's no point in fighting it." he said. "Face it, Luigi; your fate is as sealed as mine."

"Not yet it isn't."

Both the green man and the jester turned to that sudden voice. Dimentio scoffed while Luigi called out in joy.

"Count Bleck!"

True to his words, Count Bleck had appeared within Super Dimentio. His red eye and monocle were glaring furiously at the jester before him.

"Dimentio, what you did here is unforgiveable." said the Count.

"Do you really think I care if I am forgiven or not?" Dimentio sneered.

Bleck narrowed his eyes. "No, I don't."

He turned to Luigi, his expression softening. "Luigi, I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

"What did you expect would happen when you opened the Dark Prognosticus?" Dimentio commented.

"Anything really," He answered, his gaze turning to the ground. "When I opened the Dark Prognosticus, I wanted to get revenge on all worlds for taking the one I loved away from me, even if I had to die along with them." He closed his eyes. "But what I didn't count on, was to fall in love with another… a small baby boy."

He lifted his head up and glanced at Luigi with tears in his eyes. "Now, I'm at risk of losing another person I love, this time by my own hands. And for that, I'm sorry."

"Count Bleck…" Luigi said sadly. Beside everything he had done, Luigi couldn't bring himself to stay mad at the Count. Other people might think of him as nothing more than a villain, but Luigi knew him to be more than that. He was his friend and, more importantly, his father.

"Oh how sad; like kicking a defenseless puppy." said Dimentio. "But apologizes aren't going to cut it here."

"You're right. That's why I must undo the wrong that I have done."

"Oh? And just how are you doing to do that, dear Count? You should know that Luigi will die if the Chaos Heart is destroyed. And if the Chaos Heart isn't destroy, then all worlds will be lost."

Count Bleck turned to the jester and glared. "If what you say is true, then I'll just have to find a way to stop the Chaos Heart without destroying it."

"HA! A pointless idea, it will never work." Dimentio laughed. "Face it, Blumiere, our dear Luigi is going to the Underwhere and this time he isn't coming back."

"We'll just see about that" Count Bleck glared. "As for you, Dimentio, I think it's about time that you meet with the Underwhere Queen. I'm sure she'll come up with a more fitting punishment for you and your crimes."

"I'm not the only one here who has to answer for my crimes." Dimentio smirked. "But I guess it is time for me to announce my final performance."

Dimentio turned back to the window showing the heroes outside. Mario and friends were waiting anxiously for something to happen since the Chaos monster head had went silent in the last few minutes. Mario took a cautious step towards it, not quite sure what to expect.

"...Luigi?"

The face flickered momentarily and then grinned. "Guess again, man in red,"

"Dimentio," Mario glared. "You lost, just let go of my brother already."

Dimentio chuckled. "This isn't finished... You can't... stop this now... You can't escape..." He smiled mysteriously. "I've been saving one last surprise…Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…Ciao!"

Dimentio turned back to Luigi and the Count, a smile still present on his face. "As for you two," He said. He was starting to fade away, something the Count and Luigi had noticed. "We'll meet again soon, in the Underwhere."

With that said, Dimentio faded away completely. With the jester gone, his magic and the remainder of the Super Dimentio started to fade away as well. Luigi was freed from the magic box and quickly ran to the Count.

"Count Bleck!"

"Luigi!"

The green man ran into the Count's arms. They both held onto each other tightly both out of relief and fear. After a moment, Luigi look up to his father-figure.

"Count...I am...really going to die?" He asked with tears forming in his blue eyes.

The Count shook his head. "Don't worry, Luigi, I won't let that happen." He assures him. "I'll always be there to protect you, I promise."

That's all Luigi heard before a sudden light appeared in the darkness and his vision turned white.

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Mario and friends waited anxiously as they watch what's left of Super Dimentio explode into pieces. The Chaos Heart was release but Luigi has yet to be seen. As soon as the explosions were done, Mario started running towards the scene, hoping to find his brother.

"Luigi!"

Mimi and O'Chunks appeared on scene. Seconds later, Count Bleck appeared in front of them. Mario paused in front of the blue man.

"Count Bleck," He said with a bit of tension in his voice. Despite what just happened, he still wasn't sure if he should trust the blue man yet.

Count Bleck turned his gaze to the man in red. His expression was unreadable and half of his body was covered by his cape. Mario grew tense under his blank gaze, expecting him to attack. But he didn't. Instead he turned his eyes downward and uncovered himself from his cape.

"Luigi!"

Lying in the Count's arm was Luigi. The man in green still dress in his Mr. L disguise. He appeared to be unconscious but other than that, he was relatively unharmed.

Mario took a step to retrieve his brother from the Count when he almost lost his balance. Everyone tried to stay on their feet as the whole castle shook. Within a few minutes, it stopped but everyone was still on their guard.

"So it seems the end of all worlds is really upon us..." The Count said solemnly, his eyes still on Luigi.

"So defeating Dimentio wasn't enough to stop it?" Tippi asked.

"I thought the Chaos Heart would disappear if the person controlling it fell..." He trailed on. "Dimentio...must have left behind a shadow of his power to continue controlling it. It won't last long...but it may be enough to ensure the end of every world..."

"Oh, GREAT!" said Bowser. "So what do we do now?"

The count tilted his hat in thought. "There is only one thing left that we can do." He said.

Using his other hand, Count Bleck summoned a door for them to use. "This way!"

The Count entered and the rest followed. Within minutes, they made it outside. At first glance, two of the heroes quickly recognized the area.

"Hey, I remember this place!" said Bowser cheerfully. "Don't you, Honey? This is where we finally got married."

Peach groaned slightly. "I...rather not,"

Bleck turned to Tippi. "Timpani...Do you still...Do you still love me?"

"Yes...Blumiere. Of course I do." said Tippi

"Then you must come with me."

"'Ey, Count!" said O'Chucks. "What're yeh doin'?!"

"We will use the Pure Hearts again, this time to banish the Chaos Heart. All we need is true love... And that is something I am lucky enough to possess...But...With the Chaos Heart gone, the Pure Hearts and those linked to them...They may cease to exist to exist..."

Mimi jumped. "You mean you might go away? B-But I don't want you to go!"

"All of this is my fault. The price is mine to pay…I do not have long to live anyway. But you, Timpani…" He turned to her and tilted his hat over his eyes. "It pains me to know this may cut your game short…Still…There is no other way to end this."

"I know, Blumiere…I know…"

"Timpani…"

"Don't say another word…As long as I am with you, nothing else matters."

Count Bleck nodded. He then turned to the man in red. Mario stood up straight as the blue man approach him.

"Mario," The Count spoke, using the hero's real name for the very first time. "Please, take him,"

The red man didn't need to ask who he was referring to. His blue eyes immediately landed on the green man resting in the Count's arms.

"Unfortunately, I won't be around much longer to protect him so I'm hoping you'll look after him for now on. Can I entrust you with this task?"

Mario smiled. "He's my brother… Of course I'll take care of him."

"Then I thank you," He said. "Other than Timpani, Luigi is the only one I cared most. My game may be ending, but it pleases me to know that his will continue on…with or without me."

The red man nodded. He may not trust the Count, mainly because they were enemies not too long ago. But he cared about Luigi, and that alone was enough to respect him.

"I understand."

Count Bleck thanks him once more and hands Luigi over with slight hesitation. Mario gently took him into his arms. The green man shifted slightly but did not wake as he settled into his brother's hold. Count Bleck lingered a bit longer to brush the bangs off Luigi's eyes. The young man sighed in content, causing the Count to smile.

"Aggghhhh! It's...happening!" interrupted Bowser. The ground underneath them was shaking violently, a clear sign that the end was near. Count Bleck straightens up, his expression turning serious.

"We must go, Timpani…"

"Yes, Blumiere…"

The two flew over to the wedding capel. Peach turned to Mario who nodded. Once on the capel, Bleck and Tippi stood across each other with the Chaos Heart place in the center.

'The love Timpani and I shared combine with the Pure Hearts will not only stop the destruction of worlds but should be enough to neutralize the Chaos Heart to save Luigi's life.' thought the Count as he tilted his hat over his eyes. 'I pray that will work, otherwise I've failed as a father to him.'

"There were so many things I wanted to say to you," said the Count to Tippi. "...but I could not find the words."

"Oh Blumiere...Only one thing matters to me now." said Tippi. "I never had the chance to return your question...Blumiere... Do you still love me, as well?"

"Of course… I have thought about you every moment since you disappeared…But I have caused you so much suffering…"

"Perhaps…my life would have been more carefree without you, that is true."

The Count lifted his head. "But I had to be with you, Timpani. I will never apologize for that…"

"I know, Blumiere. And I love you…"

"And I love you, Timpani… Hundreds of thousands of years from now, that fact will not have changed…"

The Pure Hearts appeared and circle around the Chaos Heart. They stopped and started fusing themselves with the Chaos Heart. Down below the others watch in suspense as the whole world shook once more.

"Everything's shaaaaaaaaking!" said Bowser "Are we too late?!"

"Wait…Can you hear that?" said Mario.

"I hear…bells!" said Mimi.

"How lovely!" said Peach. "The bells are giving their blessing to Tippi and Bleck…"

"Urrrrrgh…" grunt O' Chunks

In all the other worlds that the heroes had visited, everything was returning back to normal. The large black hole eating up all the worlds disappeared, replace by the original blue and white sky. Even the white world known as Sammer Kingdom had return back to its colorful self.

Suddenly, and without warning, there was a huge flash of white. Everyone shield their eyes from its intensity. Mario tightened his hold on his unconscious brother. He whispered something as the light engulfed him and everyone else.

"Don't worry, Luigi... I promise I'll protect you."

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Ending Note:

We're almost done. I should have this story finish by next week.

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Countdown to the end - 2

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