Hey guys! I'm back!

Dimentio: Well, finally, I was beginning to think you had forgotten about us…

(smacks him) Shuttup! And I'm talking to the viewers, duh!

Oi… anyways, yeah, I'm back! (for how long?) So, let's get back to the story!

(Ps. On a semi-unrelated note, it has only just occurred to me that Livi is still wearing pajamas. Kamek and Dimentio kidnapped her in the middle of the night, remember?)

Kamek searched the valleys as best he could from the air. He had to find Livi fast. There was no telling how long it had taken Fawful to come find him, so they had already lost a lot of time.

Suddenly, Kamek spied something—a flash of bright red against the black.

The Magikoopa's heart dropped to his stomach. He knew that color only too well—blood.

Quick as a flash, Kamek's broomstick was in the valley, vanishing beneath him as he scurried over to the spot, finding his worst fears to be true: the red was indeed blood, a bright pool of it, spilling over the rocks. In it lay Livi, completely motionless. She was lying on her side, her back to Kamek.

He ran over and knelt down beside her, placing a hand lightly on the girl's shoulder and turning her onto her back. Livi's eyes were tightly shut and there was blood flowing freely from a large gash across her chest, staining her black shirt crimson, and there was more blood on her forehead.

Nervously, Kamek put a hand to her throat, then to her wrist. Feeling nothing, he placed a hand lightly over her chest, instantly breathing a deep sigh of relief. Her pulse had faded to near nothingness, but her heart was still beating. It was much slower than normal, but she was alive, and that was all that mattered.

Kamek set right to work magically removing as much blood as he could and healing some of the wounds by similar means. The wound across her chest would have to wait, though. It would require a lot of magic that he was in no condition to conjure.

"Kamek!" The Magikooopa sat upright and looked around at the sound of his name. He felt a smile spread across his face. Never in his life did he think he would be so happy to see Luigi.

Luigi bounded down the rocky slope of the mountain and was at Kamek's side in an instant, gaping at Livi. "What… what happened?"

"Didn't Fawful tell you?"

Luigi shook his head, sitting down across from Kamek. "Not much. He said Livi was in trouble, something about Dimentio that I didn't catch, and told me to come here…"

Kamek went back to his magic. "Where is he?"

"He said something about finding Mr. L…"

"Good…"

There was silence for a few moments before Luigi spoke again.

"What happened?"

"I'll explain when Mr. L gets here. I'm not too fond of repeating myself…"

Luigi sighed heavily. "Alright, then… do you think you can help her?"

Kamek shook his head. "I'm not sure… Normally—maybe. But I've used up a lot of my magic on all these crazy messes we get into… it's going to take me a while to gather enough to heal something like this…"

"Well, crap… is there anything I can do?"

"Just keep an eye out for Mr. L and Fawful, would you?"

"YO, GUYS!" A familiar voice screamed from the distance.

"As if on cue…" Luigi nodded behind Kamek. And, who should come running out of the valley but Mr. L himself, with Fawful keeping a few paces ahead. They ran over and knelt down beside Livi, both looking gravely worried.

"Is… is she possessing… the alrightness?" Fawful asked, worried, still trying to catch his breath.

Kamek smiled warmly at Fawful—as much as the two beat on each other, it was nice to know he really cared about her. "Don't worry, Fawful… I'm sure she'll be fine…"

"What the hell happened?" Mr. L cut in. "Look at her! How did—what did—"

Kamek held up a hand for silence, pausing in his magic for a moment to glance around. "Fawful says he saw what happened."

"I did have the seeing!" Fawful said.

"Well?" Luigi prompted. "What happened?"

Fawful pointed upwards to the remaining fragments of the cliff which previously hung overhead. The group simultaneously noticed for the first time the various rocks and rubble surrounding the fangirl. "She had the standing on the cliff which was being here. I had the seeing of her, and tried to have that which is the calling, but she could not have the hearing of me—"

Mr. L motioned frantically with his hand. "Get to the point, short-stuff! How did she fall?"

"Not falling! Livi was being pushed!"

"WHAT?" Mr. L and Luigi shouted at the same time.

"Yessing! By the jester of dementedness!"

There was a long, tense silence in the air, everyone present too stunned to speak.

"…what?" Mr. L finally growled.

"The one who is being Dimentio…" Fawful growled through clenched teeth. "He had the pushing of Livi. It is being his fault that she will soon have that which is the death!"

"Fawful, calm down!" Kamek snapped. "No one is going to die! Livi's going to be fine!"

Mr. L stood up, looking wildly around the valley. "But, that stupid jester won't be! Not once I get my hands on him!"

Luigi stood up, grabbing his alter-ego's arm as he started to run off. "Mr. L, wait!"

Mr. L threw him off irritably, glaring daggers at him. "Don't even try to stop me, Weegee! I tried to tell you this would happen—that Dimentio was still a bloody traitor, and you didn't believe me! Now, I'm going to avenge Livi and kill that stupid jester once and for all!"

"Wait, wait, wait!" Luigi said, holding up a hand pleadingly. His concerned expression suddenly turned to a devious smirk. "Who said anything about stopping you? You're not the only one who's fed up with that jester's games… if anyone's going to get rid of him, I want a part of it."

Mr. L was stunned for a moment at Luigi's sudden change in tone. "Wha… really?"

"Luigi, don't do anything you're going to regret." Kamek said sternly.

"Regret?" Luigi turned to look questioningly at the Magikoopa. "The only thing I regret is not killing him in Castle Bleck when I had the chance…"

Kamek sighed, bowing his head. "You're right… I thought Dimentio could change, but I was obviously wrong…" here, he waved them off, looking away. "Do whatever you need to, Luigi…"

Luigi and Mr. L exchanged a glance, nodded in agreement, and then ran off into the valleys in search of their unfortunate common enemy.

Fawful walked over to sit down beside Kamek, looking down at Livi, his expression unreadable. "What are we to be doing?"

Kamek went back to healing as much as he could. "We'll do what we can for her, but I won't be able to do much…" He turned to look Fawful in the eyes. "But, I'll keep her alive, alright? I can promise you that."

Fawful smiled for the briefest of moments, then reached out and ran a hand down the side of Livi's face. "I have the hoping so…"

Kamek paused before answering, deep in thought. "Dimentio never could change… but… you have… haven't you?"

Fawful shook his head slightly. "Noing… I will never have that which is changing… I will be being a villain of much badness foring-ever… I had promising to the Great Cackletta…"

Kamek smiled. "But, you care about Livi… don't you?"

Fawful was silent for a long time, then turned and lifted his sad eyes to Kamek. "She is being the only one… who had the caring for me in a time of much longness…"

Kamek nodded in agreement. "You can say that again… She happens to love you very much… she loves all of us, really…"

"Even the traitor who is being Dimentio?" Fawful asked, something spiteful in his voice.

Kamek thought about that a while, then took one look at Livi's still, quiet face, and smiled. "Even Dimentio…"

Mr. L ran quickly through the darkness, Luigi close behind him, hardly paying attention to tripping or stumbling at all. He had never been this excited in his entire life (however short it may have been). Finally, finally, that stupid, sick, twisted, demonic little jester was really going to get what was coming to him.

"Wait!" Luigi called. Mr. L dug his heels into the black dirt, stumbling a bit to a stand-still. Luigi came up next to him, looking around in the surroundings.

"What? C'mon, let's go already!" Mr. L begged, eager to get on with it.

"Wait…" Luigi repeated. "Do we even know where we're going?"

Mr. L felt his heart drop to his stomach—Luigi was right; they had no idea where Dimentio had gone. And with those stupid teleporting powers of his, he could be anywhere by now.

"Well… oh!" Mr. L's eyes lit up with realization. "He doesn't know we're after him, right?"

Luigi thought about that a moment. "That's right… as far as he knows, we haven't even found Livi yet, so he shouldn't have a reason to be avoiding us…"

"Soooo…" Mr. L encouraged, gesturing excitedly with his hands. "If he wants to keep pretending he's all lovable and innocent—he'll have no choice but to come right to us!"

With that, the two started calling out into the mountains for the mysterious jester, starting to wander around in the valleys again. After quite a while of this, just before it was starting to seem hopeless, Luigi and Mr. L both jumped at the sound of crumbing rocks behind them.

Turning slowly around, the found the source—none other than Dimentio himself, peeking out from over a cliff, wearing that same ridiculous smile, yet somehow different.

"Ah, hello there…" Dimentio greeted, waving shyly. "I believe it was you two that were calling out for me?"

Mr. L took a step forward, but Luigi caught his arm and held him back, shaking his head slightly. The Green Thunder relaxed ever so slightly, but continued glaring up at the jester. Luigi stepped forward so he was beneath Dimentio, looking up at him.

"Yes, we were…" Luigi said calmly, trying to remain composed. "Mr. L and I think we may have a lead on where Livi is… you haven't seen her around here, have you?"

"Around here? Mm…" Dimentio placed a hand over his chin, pretending to ponder that statement very carefully. "No, I don't believe so, but I'll keep my eyes peeled like a ripe apple, alright?"

"Really? You haven't seen her?" Luigi pretended to be confused, smirking at Mr. L. "Fawful was sure he had seen her come this way…"

Dimentio's smile faltered for the briefest of moments. "F-fawful? He… saw her?"

"Yeah, why?" Mr. L challenged. "He wants to help her out, too… we all do, don't we?"

Dimentio smiled again, nodding nervously. "Oh, yes, of course… anything for the precious angel, am I correct? Ah ha ha ha…"

"Well, Dimentio…" Luigi said, politely as possible. "Why don't you come help Mr. L and I search for her?"

Dimentio stood up, holding his hands up apologetically. "No, no, that's quite alright… you know I tend to work much better alone…"

"Oh, come on, Dimentio…" Luigi pleaded. "We're all friends now, aren't we? We won't hurt you if you don't hurt us, alright?"

Dimentio thought about that a while, his glowing eyes narrowing suspiciously and his psychotic smile falling at last. Finally, against his better judgment, Dimentio floated down to join Luigi and Mr. L. The jester looked from one to the other, still keeping his distance, then smiled, in a rather creepy sort of way.

"You're lying… aren't you?" Dimentio said, almost playfully.

"Funny." Mr. L growled, his eyes narrowing. "So are you."

Without any warning, Mr. L threw himself at Dimentio, the two soon fighting yet again, rolling across the dirt floor and landing any hits they could manage.

"You couple of sneaks!" Dimentio said, still attempting to keep a playful tone in his voice. "You've tricked me, haven't you?"

"Us?" Mr. L yelled, enraged. "You've been tricking all of us! You're a liar and a traitor! You always have been and you always will be!"

Mr. L threw Dimentio into cliff side, allowing him to slide down to the ground at Luigi's feet. The jester looked up at his rival, a smirk playing at his lips. "Don't tell me you're in on this too, Luigi?"

Luigi powered up a high jump, but instead of jumping, he lashed out and kicked Dimentio up the wall, stomping him down as he fell back to earth. "You haven't changed a bit, Dimentio… you're still a monster, still a traitor, and still a murderer."

Dimentio looked up at the two, dazed and confused, while pitifully attempting to pick himself up. "What in all the dimensions are you talking about? I haven't killed anyone!"

"Liar!" Mr. L yelled, grabbing Dimentio by the collar of his cloak and yanking him up so they were face-to-face. "We know you killed Livi, you backstabbing demon!"

Dimentio's eyes widened in horror. "Wh… what? You think I killed her? Why would I do such a th—"

Before Dimentio could finish a thought, he was thrown, yet again, into another cliff wall, a few rocks from above crumbling on top of him. Dimentio tried desperately to free himself as Luigi bounded over to him, Mr. L close behind. "Please, you have to believe me! I would never—"

"Don't try to deny it, Dimentio!" Luigi shouted. "Your stupid lies don't work any more, don't you get it? We saw Livi! You pushed her off that cliff, and now she's lying there in the valley, broken, bleeding, and dying!"

Dimentio fell limp, looking up at Luigi with a horrified expression. "You don't believe me… the one key to my freedom, the only one who can free me from my curse, and you think I would kill her?"

"You don't need a reason, Dimentio…" Mr. L sneered. "You're just warped… No one knows why you do these things, and I doubt you do either…"

"But, I'm innocent!" Dimentio pleaded, quickly realizing what a mess he was in. "You have to believe me! You both know me well enough—I would never harm anyone that was in some way useful to me, and Livi is vital to finally escaping this accursed realm!"

Mr. L jerked Dimentio off the ground by the collar of his cloak, throwing him off into the rocks. "You're lying! I know you are! I'm sick of your dirty little tricks, and I'm not about to let you get away with hurting anyone else!"

Dimentio backed up against the cliff wall as Mr. L advanced on him, he held up his hands pleadingly. "Please, I know what you must be thinking, but allow me a chance to explain!"

"No!" Mr. L shouted. "Why should I? You never do anything but lie, manipulate, and kill!"

"Wait!" Dimentio looked to Luigi, begging for help. "Luigi, please, you believe me, don't you? You said you trust me!"

Luigi felt his hands tighten into fists as he slowly made his way over to the two. "I did trust you… why I did, I'll never know… But, I can promise you, Dimentio, I'm not about to make that mistake again…"

Queen Jaydes looked thoughtfully over the glowing orb, showing quite clearly the fight currently going on between Luigi, Mr. L, and their nemesis, Dimentio. She wore an unpleasant frown as she surveyed the scene, watching each detail carefully. Something, somewhere, had gone wrong—horribly wrong.

"How could this have happened?" She wondered aloud. "Dimentio was doing so well, and he was so close… what is the matter with him?"

Jaydes watched Mr. L and Luigi quickly overwhelm Dimentio. How had that happened? Dimentio, even in this state, had always been much stronger than the two of them.

It seemed as though everything had suddenly turned topsy-turvey.

At that moment, Luvbi opened the chamber doors a crack and slipped inside. "M… mother?" she asked hesitantly.

"What is it, dear?" Jaydes asked, not removing her eyes from the orb.

"Um… well…" Luvbi nervously approached the Queen, trying to look into the orb as well. "There be-est a slight problem… some of yon Shaydes have reported—"

"A fight?" Jaydes finished.

"Um… yes." Luvbi seemed stunned that her mother already knew the answer. "Thou… knowest?"

"Indeed, I do… It would seem Dimentio has strayed off-course from his path to redemption…"

Luvbi's wings drooped as she watched the fight. "But… that cannot be, mother! Dimentio hast been most determined…"

"I know, Luvbi, but…" Jaydes turned away from the orb, walking away. "Some people never change… it simply isn't possible…"

Luvbi flew hastily after the Queen as she wandered out into the main corridors of the palace. "But, Mother… what shall we do? Yon bickerers are proving most troublesome to thy Shaydes! Thy simply cannot allow this!"

"And, I don't plan to… Dimentio will be harshly punished for this…"

Luvbi's eyes widened fearfully. "But… mother… surely, thou dost not—"

Jaydes stopped walking, turning to look lovingly at her daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Dear, I'm so sorry… You know I've always wanted to help my Shaydes, but I gave Dimentio many chances to return to life, and he will not allow me to help… his heart is far too dark now…"

"Nay!" Luvbi shrieked. "Thou art wrong! Dimentio can change! Thou sayest thyself… there doth be some good in all…"

Jaydes sighed, shaking her head. "But, that doesn't mean everyone wants that good… Dimentio is darkness, and there isn't anything else I can do for him…"

"But, mother!" Luvbi pleaded.

"No, Luvbi…" Jaydes was walking off now, Luvbi attempting to follow. "There's nothing more to be done. I'm sorry."

Luvbi stood there, stunned, watching as the Queen called over a D-Men. She gave him instructions to assemble a small group, head to the valleys, and break up the fight going on there.

"But, be careful…" Jaydes warned sternly. "I want the jester brought back to me, alive…"