No… this couldn't be right, unless…
Dimentio stared at the scene, the memory containing the chaos that plagued Luigi's heart. Nastasia whispered a few words to Dimentio, urging him to utter the words necessary to transform Luigi into the man they needed him to be. She was struggling not to break down, her words being forced out in a whisper. In all his three-thousand-four-hundred and fifty-four years alive never had he felt so much conflicted pain waging a war on a man's soul. He had performed many mind-melds over the years, mostly to extract information from those he had slain in combat, and while feeling their agony was quite common, this emotional trauma, memories buried so deep even Luigi couldn't cope with the truth- Dimentio took a step forward shaking as he did so. For the first time in who knows how long was he starting to feel something but what he wasn't sure. Walking over to the couch Luigi was sitting on, Dimentio whispered the very words needed for all this to end. The emotional agony was forcing him to question everything he thought he knew about himself, and that line of questioning needed to cease.
As Dimentio turned away, he heard the sound of a bang followed by crackling sparks. Luigi's screams rising like men being beaten over an open flame. Even as they floated further and further from the man in green's mind, the screams never died down. As Dimentio and Nastasia finally returned to the waking world, they both collapsed. One sobbing and the other struggling not to shatter himself.
Mario rubbed his head as he searched Bowser's castle. All his minions were gone and with that any hope of stopping this mysterious Count Bleck as he called himself. Stopping by Bowser's throne room, Mario sighed, feeling the velvet on the seat's armrest. There were days he just considered coming out and joining Bowser at his side but… he didn't want to lose his friendship with Peach. It would be impossible to maintain if Toad Town knew the truth. Princess Peach may have been accepting, but the residents themselves were a long time coming hero or not. Mario sighed turning around just to see a butterfly flying right in front of him.
"Mario?"
The butterfly said, staring blankly at him.
At the mention of his name, Mario went into a fighting stance, unsure what chaos was to come next.
"You have nothing to fear from me, my name is Tippi."
Mario lowered his hands at that, realizing preparing battle against a butterfly was somewhat ridiculous.
"I'm what's known as a pixel. In the past, my purpose would have been to help the children of the ancients navigate the Ancient's playground, but that era passed long after my creation. Right now, I need your help."
Mario folded his arms.
"And I should trust you why?"
Tippi sighed,
"Because if I was working with Count Bleck, I wouldn't be talking to you, I'd be kidnapping you."
Mario pondered this, looking at Tippi as he did so.
"Haha, fair point. With that man's power, he wouldn't need to use a weak little butterfly to trick me."
Tippi's wings flapped widely.
"I am NOT weak nor am I little!"
Mario shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure sweetheart. I'm sure you're big strong antennas are great at beating the pollen right out of those flowers."
Tippi flared red, giving her wings a hard flap causing a portal to surround Mario.
He gasped as he was thrown backward, the wind blown out of him. It seemed like he was falling for hours before finally crashing on solid ground. A blue-robed man was looking up at him, giving a curious stare.
"Oh dear, I heard the rumors, but yes, it appears this man does indeed have a pot-belly."
Mario groaned rubbing his head as he got up.
"That little butterfly bitch."
A slap followed this comment and Mario squealed.
"Unacceptable!"
"Agreed Merlon it's wrong too-"
"Swear! Exactly Tippi! How dare you use language like that in the children's playground! I should clean your mouth with soap!"
Tippi slapped a wing against her head for a second, sighing internally.
"It's a relief to know he's not the hero mentioned in the Light Prognosticus. Imagine how many little ones he'd corrupt with that filthy mouth."
"Merlon, there haven't been any ancient children here for thousands of years."
"Ahh, but what if there were Tippi? Would you want someone like that to be their role model?
Mario blinked a few times,
"I'm...I'm not the hero?"
The blue-robed man called Merlon laughed at that.
"Arrogant are you? You really assumed you were the chosen one? Out of billions of people, you believed the Light Prognosticus would pick a filthy-mouthed human like you? Ohohohoho, even as an old man, such thoughts make me chuckle."
Tippi snickered, resting her body on Merlon's shoulder.
"Oh no, while you are a 'Man in red,' you are not 'The man in red,'. That title belongs to Red. He's guarded Yold Town for years, waiting for the day he'd be called away to stop the void from destroying us all. Like us ancients would ever place their hands in the fate of a stranger from a faraway land."
Mario lowered his eye-brows, glaring up at Merlon.
"Then why am I here? Sounds like you have it covered."
"Oh we do, I mean...we almost do."
Merlon frowned furrowing his brows.
"I...well, I do concede we brought you here for a reason. The ancient playground, while a playground is… how should I say this...dangerous for those who are not of ancient descent. You see ancient children were both very smart and very strong. Spiked pits, falling boulders, and even giant mammoths were as deadly to them as a human child drowning in a bouncy ball pit. Child abuse for children of your realm, an important place to help children develop in theirs. While I am of ancient descent, I am too old to make the journey myself. The walk is long and I can't go too far from the house and Tippi, well she can't open the door to Red's home, So with that said…"
Merlon pulled out a heart-shaped object from his pocket.
"Mario, will you take this heart, and put it in the pillar, so a door opens for you to bring the hero of light to us so he can save the world?
Mario glared at Merlon.
"How about...No?"
Merlon's and Tippi's jaw dropped as Mario stared back at the void in the sky.
"Now seriously, where's the bar? I need a drink."
Mario walked away following the signs down to the flipside bar.
"LET ME DIE!"
"DIMENTIO!"
"I WANT TO DIE, COUNT! END THIS...please?"
Exhausted Dimentio's last word came out in a whisper as he shook on the bed. Shackles glowed around his feet, and his bandaged wrists were trembling against the weight of Count Bleck's hands.
"Count Bleck says he can't let you make such a decision when you're not in your right mind says, Count Bleck."
"I… don't care! It doesn't end. Everything hurts, it's all my fault and I just…"
Dimentio broke down, wave after wave of sobs taking him as he tilted his head away trying to avoid the Count's gaze.
"I know, but these thoughts, the pain you feel… they're not yours…"
Count Bleck began, releasing one of the hands around Dimentio's wrist to reach under his mask.
"Remember that the feelings and desires you get after a mind meld aren't yours but the other persons. This isn't your pain, these are the remnants of the man in green's deepest emotions temporarily manifesting in you. I know it feels real, but this will pass…"
Dimentio still wept, but his cries were quieting though, the warmth from Count Bleck's hand calming him.
"Aha, part of me knows this sorrow...it's not rational to feel so much guilt for an act you weren't responsible for."
"Exactly!"
Count Bleck said, tilting Dimentio's head towards him with the hand resting below his mask.
"It still hurts Count, it hurts so much."
Dimentio smiled sadly, his tear-soaked mask meeting Count Bleck.
Mimi played with her vegetables as she sat by a muscular Irish man named O-chunks. O-chunks played with his hairy hands nervously as he searched the dining room for any sign of the Count. The two were aware the creation of the Chaos Heart was a success but still, they wanted to know if Nastasia and Dimentio would be ok. Count Bleck had informed them a few hours ago that the pair were now on active suicide watch. While the Count had told Mimi and O-chunks not to worry the cracks in his voice gave away his fear.
Hearing a warp, Mimi and O-Chunks turned around to see Count Bleck entering the dining room.
"Is Dimmie and Nassy going to be ok?"
Mimi cried running into the Count's arms for a hug.
Count Bleck gave a sad smile as he hugged Mimi back.
"Yea Count, we're worried bout the lads.
"Waz goin on?"
O-Chunks got out of his seat walking towards Mimi and the Count.
"Count Bleck has just put them to bed. Their prognosis is good but they both need rest. Count Bleck has also given them a calming potion to ease their trauma. They will likely be functional in a day or two but until then, they are confined to their rooms until their mental state is in check."
Mimi sighed looking up at the Count.
"Thanks, Countie! Tell prince Dimmy I'm sorry for reading his mail!"
Count Bleck laughed patting Mimi's head.
"I'm sure he'll appreciate the apology Mimi."
Mimi grinned.
"Ay- Count, Imma glad ta hear their do-in well. Do ya think we'll see em in da meeting?"
O-Chunks asked.
Count Bleck gave a nod in reply.
"They are strong-willed, hard workers O-Chunks. Both were insistent they planned to return to work the moment they could and while Count Bleck prefers they rest Count Bleck acknowledges working may keep their mind off things blehehe."
He laughed letting Mimi go from the hug.
"Ahh and speaking of work, Count Bleck has just remembered. We're getting a new minion."
Mimi's eyes lit up.
"New minion? Golly! When we gonna meet them Count?"
"Ya count, when's da new minion comin?"
Count Bleck laughed.
"Very soon!"
Count Bleck gave a grin, pointing a finger towards the hallway.
"And the best part is... "
Count Bleck paused for a second.
"You all get to name him!"
Mimi giggled.
"I… we're naming the minion?"
Count Bleck nodded.
"Count Bleck found him in a magical place. He had accidentally hit his head and now suffers from amnesia. Because of this, Count Bleck decided to adopt him into our family. He then told us we may name him as he can't remember his own. Right now, he is in his quarters sleeping, but I will bring you to him to ensure he is properly named."
O-Chunks pumped his fists in the air.
"Dis is amazing count, I can'ta believe we get-ta name a minion!"
Count Bleck nodded again, giving a wave of his cape.
"Count Bleck says to follow but walk quietly. We don't want to wake him!"
Mimi and O-Chunks giggled softly as they followed the Count into the hallway, both excited to learn that very soon, a new minion would be joining them.
Merlon and Tippi, looked at each other as they stood at the gateway to world one of the children's playground.
"What will we do Tippi? This 'Mario' was the only man skilled enough to have a chance of surviving the easiest world of the ancient's playground. Without him, I fear our world is doomed…"
Merlon frowned placing a hand to his chin.
"Does this mean, we have to rely on...?"
A tear fell from Tippi's eye landing on Merlon's robe.
"I'm afraid so Tippi. While Garson and his brother are what some would consider…'slow' they are of ancient descent. Perhaps if you have them move through the first world really really slowly…"
Merlon trailed off giving a loud sigh.
"Oh grambi, who am I kidding… we're all doomed."