Sorry, forgot to update this. Apparently school has already broken me...


Chapter 3

Dimentio

Dimentio wasn't surprised when the door slammed in his face. Taking a deep breath, he teleported into her room.

"What." Star turned to glare at him.

He tsked, "Again with the manners, such a shame. The Count requires us for a meeting."

Her shoulders drooped, "Right now?"

"Yes." He grabbed her by the wrists and warped to the meeting room,.

Dimentio cursed under his breath. He had forgotten she didn't react well to dimension traveling. He pulled her close so she wouldn't fall off the platform.

They stood there in an awkward embrace until Star pulled away from him. She looked like she was going to go to her platform, but instead opted to sit at the edge of his.

The room was unnaturally quiet. They were the only ones in there (Dimentio had given himself extra time to fight with Star). But because he had managed to avoid quarreling with the girl, it was unlikely anyone else would show for another twenty minutes.

Dimentio debated talking to her. He knew he shouldn't but…

The irrational side of him won. As he sat down, Star moved to the far edge of the pedestal.

He wondered if he was going too far with the teasing. He wanted to keep his distance, but the last week had been agony. Besides, it would be nice to go to sleep without checking the door and window locks fifty times.

"Sorry." Dimentio murmured, almost hoping she didn't hear.

Stars head whipped up, "What?"

"I'm sorry." He said firmly.

She rolled her eyes. "Congrats, you've taken an obscene amount of time to decide to feel bad. Also, no your not."

"Hey it's only been a week. And I am mostly sorry." He smiled a little. A real smile. And pushed her off the platform.


"BLEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK! The Void has been ripped in the dimensional fabric! Yes count bleck is pleased. All has gone as foretold in the dark prognosticus. Now its just a matter of time before all worlds meet their demise. BLECK!" All but Mimi stood in attention, taking in the Count's plan.

"Wow, that's just super, Count! Yeah, first you'll erase all these naughty worlds… And then your gonna build a perfect world without war and all that other icky stuff!" O'chunks said smiling.

"So that's his game." Dimentio thought to himself. Aloud he said. "Yes, yes, no one likes the icky stuff… Yesss... A perfect world... Sounds magical…Ah ha ha. I can hardly stand the wait."

Dimentio wanted to laugh as Star shook her head and muttered that there was no such thing as a perfect world.

"I agree." Dimentio smiled as she struggled for a response.

O'chunks came charging into the room and hopped up onto his platform. "SORRY I'M LATE!" He started at his clone. "What in blazin' bog rats...? How'd I beat meself 'ere?! What's goin' on?!"

"Mimimimimimimimimimimimi! Oh, O'Chunks, you big silly! Didja oversleep or something?" With a puff of purple smoke, Mimi changed into Count Bleck. "I guess it's kinda hard to be on time, though, when you've got muscles instead of brains!"

"'EY! Yeh can't fool me wit' that crazy shape-shiftin' hooliganry! It's Mimi, innit?! Show a

little respect fer the count! Yeh can't go a'borrowin' 'is face, lass!"

The count seemed amused by it all, "Bleh heh heh heh heh... How delightful, Mimi. Almost as dapper… As Count Bleck!"

She turned into Princess Peach, "Aw, golly, thanks, Count! With you around, it's nothing but big smiles all the time! Hanging out with the count. That's MY idea of a perfect world!"

Dimentio leered at her, "And here I thought Mimi's ideal world was a gem-filled pool with hunky lifeguards…"

She growled and turned into Bowser, "Hey! Dimentio! Have you been reading my diary? I mean... Umm... Never mind."

Star shot him an appalled glance as Mimi mentioned her diary. He only shrugged, "She leaves it out in the open. How could I not?"

"Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... Well, different strokes for different minions…" The count chucked, "After these rotten worlds are ended, Count Bleck will make all your dreams come true! But for that to happen… We must follow the instructions of the Dark Prognosticus."

"Yeah, about that, just an FYI? I've got an urgent memo for your inbox…" Nastasia spoke up for the first time. "Apparently there's been some unapproved interdimensional activity lately. Yeah... I'm thinking it's the hero of prophecy. We're gonna need an action plan for this guy…"

"A dimensional interloper! And possibly the hero?! You are sure of it, Nastasia?" She nodded. " Interesting, mused Count Bleck. We must put an end to this nuisance…"

"Count Bleck!" O'Chunks called out. "Lemme get this right in me brain. The 'ero Nastasia's goin' on 'bout... He yer enemy? Then yeh gotta cut me loose on 'im! Yeh gotta! I'll give 'im a nice taste o' O'Chunks!"

The Count thought for a moment. "Very well, O'Chunks. I'll leave the hero-chunking to you. Do not fail Count Bleck.

"Yeh can count on me, Count! I'll rain down like a fat thunderstorm! I swear it! Mimi! Dimentio! Yeh should tag along! Yeh could witness a proper chunkin'!" He left the room just as haphazardly as he had entered

"Mmm... I do enjoy a good chunking... Well, then... I believe I'll head out as well." Dimentio quickly seized Star and departed.


Star

Star groaned as she collapsed unwillingly into Dimentio's arms again. "You'd think I would get used to that"

He shook his head as if he knew better, "Ah ha ha, we'll see."

She moved away from him and gasped as she fell head first into a sand dune.

She spat out grit, "A desert?"

"The Yold Desert." Dimentio was floating above the blue platform she'd fallen off of.

"Where are O'chunks and Mimi?" She made an attempt to stand up, but the sand shifted under her, sending Star back down.

"They are nearby. We'll meet with them soon, I need to find something first. Come." He made no attempt to help her up and began to float the other way.

Star kicked off her shoes, and finally managed to get her balance. Catching up to him, she grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked.

"Ow, OW! What?" He threw a miniature Starburst at her shoulder and she let go.

Star rubbed her arm. "Thanks for helping me up. And I've fallen twice in the last thirty minutes because of you."

"I caught you the first time did I not?"

"You're also the one that pushed me."

"Yes well…"

Star walked up the stairs and under the mouth shaped overhang, grateful for solid ground. "So what exactly are we looking for?" She hated that he was able to drag her around like this, but at the moment she had to stick with whatever he had planned.

Dimentio dropped down next to her. "There is a monster at the end of these ruins that guards the pure heart."

"A monster?"

"A dragon to be precise." Dimentio examined the wall ahead of them for any indication of a door, but there seemed to be no way to get into the ruins themselves. He frowned and turned back towards the desert.

Star was still puzzled. "So why don't we just leave it to attack the heroes?"

Dimentio was floating over the blue platform again. "Because it is on our hero's side. For now... Hm."

He waved his hand and a light purple aura shimmered around it. Dimentio pressed his palm to the stone. Star heard rumbling behind her as the wall split apart, revealing the ancient remains.

Dimentio cheered triumphantly and warped back to Star. "Shall we?"

"I guess so." It wasn't like she had much of a choice.

They were quiet as the traversed the ruins. Dimentio had been pretty passive since this morning and she was getting worried. Was he planning something? What if he left her here? As long as there were some type of life she wouldn't die. But spending the rest of her life in a desert was not very inviting.

Or maybe she was worrying about nothing. The last couple of time he'd screwed her over he had that mischievous smile plastered across his face. But now...

Star watched her ally as he floated alongside her. She wished she could see his eyes. She had become pretty good at reading people, but the mask made it difficult.

"Is that the only reason you want to see them?" She shook her head, trying to keep her mind from going there. The sudden movement drew Dimentio's eyes towards her and he finally noticed her gaze. "Yes?"

"I…" Star snapped her head forward again. Why was she letting him get to her? She needed to clear her head and focus on the task at hand.

The pair walked in silence once again until they came to a giant staircase.

"This should be the end." Dimentio said, snapping his fingers. The stairs unwound until there was no evidence they had ever been present.

Star couldn't help but wander into the area, just to see if it was really gone. "So all the puzzles and traps we activated are just to slow them down?"

"Precisely." Dimentio warped them to the top and sat down. "Now we just need to wait. Unless you'd like to watch O'chunks fight?"

"No thanks, I don't need to watch our enemies succeed." She joined him on the floor.

"What makes you think he'll lose? I mean you have seen him. What he lacks in brain he has in brawn."

"He's too cocky."

"I'm sure you would say the same about me."

"Yes but you have the right to be. Just as you said, he's not very smart. You get into your opponent's head"

"Do I now?"

"Well that's how you got me. As soon as you knew I had your pattern down you threw something new at me. You knew how far to push before I gave up. He just charges in, relying solely on his strength. By the second time I watched him fight, I already knew all his moves. There was nothing to surprise me."

He only shrugged, but she could tell he was glowing a little from the praise. "That could also be because of the way you fight."

"And how do I fight?"

"Poorly."

Her hair illuminated the stone as she turned to glare at him.

"Why do your eyes turn red?" He asked suddenly.

"Why do you wear a mask?" She retorted quickly, hoping to gloss over his last question.

"That didn't answer my question."

"And that didn't answer mine."

"I asked first."

"What happened to ladies first?"

"Do I really come off as the type of person to follow such nonsense?"

"Well I was trying to give you the benefit of-" She went quiet as voices echoed from the other side of the room.

"Quicker than I thought." Dimentio muttered. As the stairs began to form again he teleported them outside.

Star squeaked when she realized they were at least fifty feet off the ground. Dimentio, who was holding the squirming girl bridal style, had to turn her head into his chest to muffle her complaints and swears.

"Unless you want to get caught, I suggest you shut up and stop moving." Dimentio hissed into her ear.

"Please put me down." She whined a bit softer.

Dimentio thought for a moment. Then quietly as possible he snapped his fingers and a small near translucent platform appeared below.

He placed her down gently. "Thank you." Star said taking a deep breath.

"Of course. And isn't it amazing what an effect threatening your life has on your manners?"

She crossed her arms. "My manners are fine, you just manage to bring out the worst in me."

"Thanks, it's a talent."

The sand below cascaded away as a large green pipe rose from the ground.

Dimentio snapped again and mouthed to Star "Invisible."

She nodded and watched as a stout man and a rainbow butterfly exited the pipe. "Is that a pixl?" Star wondered aloud.

"Indeed" Dimentio whispered back.

"WARNING!" Star jumped at the robotic voice. A huge dragon burst out of the sand only an arms length away.

It roared at the hero, "INTRUSION DETECTED. LEAVE IMMEDIATELY OR BE PURGED."

"WAIT. SCAN INITIALIZED. RED CAP DETECTED. BLUE OVERALLS DETECTED. LEVEL 5 MUSTACHE DETECTED. INCREDIBLE. POSSIBLE SUBJECT IDENTIFICATION. BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. HOLD YOUR POSITION. SEARCHING DATA BANKS…" The dragon's eyes shifted as it searched for information.

"SEARCH COMPLETE: ONE POSITIVE MATCH. SYSTEM OVERLOAD! LEGENDARY HERO IDENTIFIED!"

Star shot a confused look at Dimentio. What was he doing?

"FORGIVE ME, HERO. I AM CALLED FRACKTAIL. MY ONLY PURPOSE IS TO DEFEND THE PURE HEART FROM LAWLESS INTRUDERS. YOU ARE LATE. I HAVE WAITED THOUSANDS OF YEARS FOR YOUR ARRIVAL. YOU MAY PASS. THE PURE HEART IS JUST AHEAD."

Dimentio stood up, "Ah ha ha. It won't be that easy, oh no…"

"Finally." Star muttered.

Fracktail growled "WHO SPEAKS?"

Dimentio snapped his fingers showing themselves to the group. "So very nice to meet you...and your mustache! I am Count Bleck's master of dimensions, the pleaser of crowds... I am...Dimentio! And…" he gestured at her, "Our dear Star. Remember the names well…"

The pixel spoke, her voice shaking slightly, "I know you. You're that…"

Dimentio cut her off. "It would be so very DULL if your journey ended so easily... Instead, it ends with...magic!" He shot a Starburst at Fracktails antenna, sending an electric through it.

"Yes, much better... Now you and this robotic guardian can spend some quality time... Yes, quality snack time! When he snacks...on you! For you...ARE the snack! Ciao!" He turned them invisible once more.

The butterfly groaned, "What did he just…"

Then Fracktail really began to spaz out and Star couldn't help but laugh.

"BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. I AM ERROR. PRESS ANY KEY TO RESTART."

"...SYSTEM NOT FOUND. INSERT INSTALL DISC. DISC NOT FOUND. PLEASE CONFIRM DISC COVER IS CLOSED. READ ERROR. INSERT BOOT DISC AND PRESS ENTER. NO RESPONSE. SYSTEM MAY BE BUSY OR MELTING INTO SLAG. APPLICATION ERROR. SAVE YOUR WORK AND QUIT. YOU LOST EVERYTHING. WAY TO GO, GENIUS. WAITING FOR PROCESSORS. "404 computer hamsters not found." THREAT LEVEL UPGRADED TO JELLY ROLL 1. DETONATION IMMINENT."

"BEEEBLEBLIP!"

"C:/ run query identification

C:/ run insult generator

C:/ results: go away yeti-lip!"

"CTRL ALT DEL!"

As the mustached man and the pixel prepared to fight, Dimentio picked up Star and warped higher.

Star glared at him "Is it really necessary to-!" She cut off her own complaint as Fracktail charged right through where they'd been.

Dimentio created a larger platform out of harm's way and sat down to watch the chaos he'd induced.

Star sat close to him, "I didn't realize you had an actual sense of humor."

He smirked, "Sometimes."


"SYSTEM CRASH!" After a long battle Fracktail began to shake, "AGH-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G. I HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. WHAT HAVE I DONE... HERO... HERO... THE ERROR IS MINE. I AM SORRY... SHAME CIRCUIT... SMOLDERING. PLEASE... YOU MUST... SAVE... OUR... WORLD…"

They watched as the once powerful Dragon guardian was reduced to mere bones.

"We're just going to leave them to get the pure heart?" Star questioned Dimentio as the red capped man walked into another set of ruins.

"We've done enough for today, don't you think?" He took her hand and teleported back to Stars room.

Star groaned and fell back onto the bed. "You know, I think I am getting used to it. The pain lasts a thousandths of a second less each time."

"Well, it's an improvement." Dimentio gave her a small bow, "Caio."

"Goodbye Dimentio." Star murmured after he left.


Dimentio

"There you are. A true damsel in distress. A brave one I will admit, but still in dire need of rescue."

The pink princess was playing with her life now. Her only choices were to succumb to Nastasia's demands, fight, or jump. And from What Dimentio could see, she wasn't going down willingly.

The jester sighed and shook his head. "This simply will not do." He snapped his fingers creating a box around the girl and she vanished.

"Much better."