Chapter 13: Battle of Minds

"What is you want most of all, Dimentio?" Luigi asked. "Solitude? Power?"

"I'm not inclined to tell you." Dimentio responded.

"Oh come on." Luigi said. "I practically showed you my wants."

"I don't care." Dimentio stated. "Now, let's get started so that I may receive my new body."

The sky darkened and all other beings and objects disappeared. It was only Luigi and Dimentio. The ground and surroundings shattered, leaving them in a black void.

The two of them just stared at each other as they floated in the void.

"As soon as your guard drops, I'll take what's mine." Dimentio said.

I won't let that happen." Luigi stated. "I'll wait as long as I need to until you give up."

Flipside Inn

"Unh, what happened?" Mr. L asked as he rubbed his head and sat up on his bed.

"Get up!" Bowser demanded. "We want answers, now!"

"Just… just give me a second." Mr. L said, opening his eyes and finding Merlon, Tippi, Bowser, Mimi, O'chunks, Count Bleck, and even Nastasia standing around his bed. "Nastasia?"

"Yes it's me." She said. "Good morning Mr. L"

"How long was I out?" He asked.

"Well… about a week." Tippi answered.

"Really?" He asked in disbelief. "Can't believe Luigi had that kind of power. Hey, where are they anyway?"

"Dimentio and Luigi are still unconscious and are in the Flopside Inn." Tippi said. "Now that we answered your question, you answer ours: what happened?"

"Why don't you ask Nastasia?" Mr. L asked. "She was there too."

"True, I was." Nastasia said. "But I don't know why you all were unconscious."

"Tch, fine." Mr. L said. He told everyone everything that had happened during the trials, though he left out those times he had hurt Luigi.

"Luigi succeeded all of those trials?" Bowser asked. "Are we talking about the same Luigi here?"

Mr. L nodded. "His final trial was supposed to be a battle for dominance over his body. Looks like it's still going on."

"Do you know why I've been glowing different colors?" Tippi asked.

"Glowing colors?" Mr. L asked and shook his head.

"Well, it was worth a shot." Tippi said with a sigh.

"So, how long will they be unconscious?" Bowser asked, crossing his arms.

"Honestly, I have no idea." Mr. L responded. "Could be days, weeks, months, or maybe even years. You see, they're locked in a trance and their minds are battling. It'll only end when one of them loses concentration. Don't bother moving them away from each other, it won't work."

"So all we can do is wait?" Tippi asked.

Mr. L nodded. "So, am I free to go?"

"Hmph, you really didn't do too much damage." Tippi said.

Mr. L looked back at all the times he had hurt Luigi. "Yeah, not too much damage."

"Hey Bowser, what is your plan now?" Tippi asked.

Bowser began to think. "I'm going to head back to the Mushroom Kingdom and tell them the news that the Princess won't ever be coming back. And then I'm going to home, I miss my kids."

"What about you Nastasia?" Tippi asked.

"I'm going to stay in Flipside to study under Merlon." Nastasia responded. "If that's okay with you, Count."

"You need not take orders from me, Nastasia." Blumiere said. "Do as you please. Your life is your own. As for me, if it is all right…" Blumiere turned to Tippi. "Lady Timpani, I would love to stay by your side for the remainder of my life."

"Get out!" Mr. L yelled. "I was fine with you all talking about your future, but I will not have a proposal in here! Take it outside!"

There was a short pause until finally someone said, "Buzzkill."

Dark Void

"How long as this gone on?" Luigi asked.

"Estimation is at least one week." Dimentio responded.

"And how long are you planning to keep this up?" Luigi asked.

"Dimentio smiled. "As long as it takes."

"You've said that before." Luigi said. "Say, I have a question. If you needed a new body, why didn't you take Mr. L's body? I'm sure he would have obliged."

"Where's the fun in that?" Dimentio asked.

Luigi chuckled a bit. "I've said this many times before and I'll say it one more time. You are insane."