Sorry for the late update; I got a bunch of tests after Wednsday, in which, I felt like I did PRETTY good on. Better than a C, at least. XD;

Next week will be INTERESTING. Seriously; because of Thanksgiving, I have to go to school Monday and Tuesday, and then I have the rest of the week off, which means WRITING!! But that makes me sad to think of it, too; I have a feeling this story will indeed be 40 chapters long. That's so sad...! I don't want to let it go, but still, I'll still be writing things about Timpani and Blumiere, and definitely about the Trio. :)

I will spill something, though. During the final battle, not in this chapter, but in the entire thing, there are character deaths. One supposed, one...real. And it's an important character. VERY. DX That's all I'm sayin. You might find out next chapter...? Probably not, though...depends on how long it is.

So this chapter seems a little rough on the edges. :o Just a little. I was feeling lazy and did more of a shorter chapter, but it's still quite important, so pay attention. ;)

Nevertheless, ENJOY!!

38

Blumiere shoved what seemed to be the millionth door open, and sighed with relief. This was not another long, annoying hallway; it was a shorter hallway with a very tall staircase. He smiled and looked down at Timpani, who returned it. She was regaining her strength ever so slowly, but she couldn't help but to feel still a little tired.

"Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that Dimentio's final battle will be at the top of that stair and behind a door. The bad news is, just the same." Blumiere explained, readjusting the way he was carrying Timpani. "What do you say, Timpani, should we rest a little before climbing that thing?"

She smiled thoughtfully. "Sounds good."

Blumiere set Timpani down on the floor near the stairs, and Blumiere sat beside her.

"There. It's about time we get a rest; we haven't done so in days…" Blumiere looked over at Timpani, who was growing concerned by the moment. Blumiere frowned at her worried facial expression and picked up her hand and stroked it lightly. "What's wrong?"

"…I have a lot to worry about, is all. I don't know if I'm strong enough to fight Dimentio, and I mean, what about you? What if you can't fight that well? What if either of us die? What if BOTH of us die?? What if Dimentio wins; then what? Are the worlds doomed? We only have five out of eight Chaotic Pure Hearts, so where are the other three? How can we stop Dimentio, I mean, did you see him back there? As soon as he got a hold of me, he controlled me so well, it was as if I was him in a different body! What if he does that—" Timpani was interrupted by a sudden and abrupt kiss meeting her lips, and she recognized it to be Blumiere. He pulled back and smiled.

"You worry way too much." Blumiere whispered.

"I know, but…"

"Just relax; we'll figure something out. But one thing's for sure, Dimentio's NOT going to win this. Never. I won't allow it." Blumiere smirked. Timpani relaxed a little. She knew that Blumiere knew what he was doing, so she put all her trust into him.

"What about me, though? I want to fight, but I don't think I can with how weak I am from that attack Dimentio preformed." Timpani frowned. Blumiere paused.

"What if the Pure Heart restores your energy?" Blumiere proposed. Timpani looked confused. "I mean, if you're healed by one of the Pure Hearts, and despite how tacky and cliché this sounds, we can restore it with love." Timpani nodded in agreement as she held out the first Pure Heart and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened one of her eyes.

"…Did something happen yet?" Timpani asked. Blumiere shook his head. Both waited for a little longer in silence, and still, nothing happened. Timpani sighed. "How is this supposed to work if we don't even know how to use this thing?"

Blumiere moved closer to Timpani. "I don't know, I thought it'd work. I guess you'll have to tough it out and—" Blumiere touched the Pure Heart and it glowed a brighter red than ever before. Their eyes' widened at the sight, but Timpani suddenly felt all her strength come back to her, as did Blumiere.

"W-whoa!!" Timpani stammered as the Pure Heart dimmed back to its normal red color. "What just…what just happened?"

Blumiere stood up, stretching. "We just got ready for a battle. Let's go, Timpani." Blumiere took Timpani's hand and jumped into the air and flew above the stairs. They landed before the door, and Timpani instantly felt uneasy.

"Maybe…we should…"

"What?"

"…Nothing, never mind. " Timpani shook her head. Blumiere held her shoulders and gave a warm smile.

"Don't worry about it; we'll be fine." Blumiere assured. Timpani smiled back as Blumiere opened the large black door. Both ran inside, ready for anything to come to them, but nothing occurred. Timpani looked around.

"Where is everyone?"

"Maybe they missed the memo…" Blumiere crossed his arms. The door suddenly slammed shut, and the two heard laughter from above them. Dimentio was sitting on a platform, along with Nastasia, smiling upon them in his evil, deceiving way.

"Ah ha ha ha!! Finally you've joined us!!" Dimentio greeted. "Nice to see you again, long time, no see, eh?"

"Well, I'll be! 'Tis teh ol' count and his lass!!" O'Chunks said. "I thought yeh'd never come!!"

"Oh, can it, O'Chunks, I said it first," Mimi argued.

"Yeah, whatever. WE thought they'd be around this time, anyhow. Cough it up, Mimi, you promised rubees!!" Mr. L demanded. Mr. M smiled and nodded as Mimi scowled at them. Nastasia adjusted her glasses.

"Um, so, yeah, sir, are you ready to fight these guys off?" Nastasia asked. Before the jester was able to answer, all the minions jumped off their platforms and landed on the ground in front of Timpani and Blumiere, who seemed a little intimidated by the amount of minions. However, Dimentio cleared his throat.

"Ahem," Dimentio said. "HOLD UP!!" Everyone froze in their tracks. "Thank you. But you have no need to be here, any of my minions; I'll take these two on by myself."

Nastasia, O'Chunks, Mimi, Mr. L, and Mr. M gasped. "No, you can't!!" They all said together.

"Yes, I can. Ciao!!" Dimentio put his hands in the air, and sent everyone to a separate dimension. "I'll get you all back later. Now, for the real, big, and best part of the show; the final battle!!" Dimentio jumped up and flew towards Timpani and Blumiere, who dove on the ground just in time.

"Come on, you two, don't put up so much defense for yourself!" Dimentio said. "Just try to hit me. I'll give you one free shot." He put his hands on his waist, and Blumiere took no hesitation to fly up towards him. He tried to hit the jester with his staff, but a shield came over Dimentio.

"What?! You said a free shot, tu tricheur!!" Blumiere scowled. Dimentio smirked.

"I did, so try again, and look hard, my silly wedded couple!" Dimentio replied. Blumiere attempted to hit him again, but the same shield appeared, and both Timpani and Blumiere could visibly see a large, black silhouette of a heart in the center. Timpani gasped.

"It's the Chaos Heart, Blumiere!!" Timpani exclaimed. Blumiere frowned as he heard the two mind-torturing words that brought back painful memories. "We can't break through it; not without the help of the Pure Hearts!!"

"Your silly Pure Hearts can't stop it; its power is separated into eight—"

"Yeah, we know!" Blumiere growled. He pulled out the first Chaotic Pure Heart and threw it down to Timpani. Dimentio started to push into Blumiere, who pushed back. "Timpani, catch it and hold it up to the first Pure Heart!"

Timpani caught it and held it up to the red Pure Heart. There was a bright flash of light, and both hearts were gone. Dimentio was suddenly pushed back without a hassle from Blumiere.

"One down, seven to go," Blumiere winced as he landed. "Que un se batte ceci aller être, what a fight this will be."