The moment the battle ended, the doorway that Count Bleck had been locked behind has been opened. He stepped out, causing Luigi and Bowser to instantly enter a battle position.
"Sora! It's Count Bleck!" Luigi shouted.
"I know," Sora said. "Is the entry open?" The two stared at him as Count Bleck nodded.
"Since when did you two start working together?" Bowser asked.
"When you left him to be killed by the Heartless while you went and traveled with Riku,"Count Bleck answered. The duo looked ashamed.
"It's alright, I've forgiven them, now we have to go after Riku," Sora said. "Were your other minions back there?"
"No. Dimentio must have them positioned in other areas of the castle, most likely holding the keys to the doorway. Now however, you are in much better condition with a real weapon," Count Bleck said, indicating the Keyblade Sora had not yet sent away. "And four is better than just one capable fighter."
"Where will they be?" Luigi asked with a glare towards Count Bleck.
"Anywhere, their rooms, in the pathway leading up to the door, even just above us." On instinct, the other three looked up to Count Bleck's statement, thankful immediately afterwards for the empty ceiling and chandelier. "I don't know where they could be hiding, but I'd assume it's somewhere in the area."
"So do we just wander around until we find them?" Bowser grumbled. Count Bleck nodded. "What a horrible plan."
Sora looked at Luigi and Bowser. "Do either of you two have a better plan?"
"Don't take his side!" Luigi shouted. "Who knows if he's even on our side?"
"Tippi would, and I trust her," Sora said. "Besides, everyone deserves a second chance."
"We'll work with him, but I don't like it…" Bowser said.
"Then it's settled," Sora said. "I say we check the pathway as far as we can go first, and if that doesn't work, then we check the library and back here."
Following Sora's direction, they entered the hall into the back area of the castle, Luigi and Bowser lingering behind while Sora walked with Count Bleck. It was awkward to say the least, and nobody said much.
"'Ey! Look who finally showed up!" Standing in front of the hallway back to the main hall was O'Chunks. "It's teh imposter and the 'eroes. I would 'ave thought Riku would beat yeh."
"O'Chunks," Count Bleck said sadly. "So you will be the first to challenge us…it doesn't have to be this way."
"O' course it does. Yer tryin' teh replace teh count and stop his plans." O'Chunks raised his arms into a fighting position. "If yer really the count, yeh'll 'ave to beat me to prove it."
"Bowser, I want your aid in this fight," Count Bleck said.
"What? What about Luigi and me?" Sora asked in surprise.
Count Bleck smiled. "If Mimi turns out to be just as stubborn as O'Chunks, you will be much better equipped for the fight than Bowser." Sora nodded and stepped back with Luigi.
"If yeh don' want they're 'elp it'll be yer own fault when yeh lose teh fight." O'Chunks charged at Count Bleck, who teleported out of the way the moment the strike went to hit. At that moment, Bowser released a mouthful of flames at O'Chunks, who was unable to stop his charge and got burned. Count Bleck reappeared moments later, firing a dark projectile at O'Chunks. The projectile passed right through him (causing O'Chunks damage) and landed on the ground, just barely missing Bowser.
"Hey! That almost hit me!" Bowser shouted in anger. Count Bleck spared an apologetic glance at the Koopa before firing a small dark hole at O'Chunks, sucking him up and nearly crushing him before releasing the dazed warrior right into the path of Bowser's claws. The sharp claws snapped O'Chunks out of his shocked state and he lifted up Bowser, throwing him at Count Bleck, who teleported out of the way once more before reappearing behind O'Chunks and hitting him on the head with his staff. O'Chunks turned around and grabbed the count, much to his surprise, and threw him into a recovering Bowser.
"Not so tough are yeh imposter?" O'Chunks taunted Count Bleck.
"I didn't wish to hurt you O'Chunks, but it appears Nastasia has not been able to reveal the truth to you," Count Bleck said and lowered the brim of his hat over his face before firing a much large dark projectile at O'Chunks. The attack hit him, knocking him out cold in an instant. "Come heroes, we must hurry." He reached into O'Chunks's pocket and grabbed a small silver key.
"You didn't kill him…did you?" Luigi asked.
Count Bleck shook his head. "He is unconscious. Nothing more."
"Then that means all that's left is the green girl who imitated Peach," Sora said. "Where would she be?"
"Hopefully in hiding…out of the two, Mimi would have been the easier to convince that there is no imposter," Count Bleck said.
They started on the way back to the main chamber quickly, stopping once they arrived in the center of the room. "So which way should we look?"
"If she wasn't by the entrance or the lift stop, the only place she could be would be the library," Count Bleck said.
"Mimimimimimimimimimimimi." A bat like creature swooped down, only a second later transforming into Mimi. "Silly count, how could you not have figured out I was here this whole time?"
"A foolish mistake," Count Bleck said. "I should assume you did not buy Dimentio's story?"
"Of course I didn't, a fake count? A doppelganger like me would notice the truth in an instant." Mimi giggled, but it was anything but sweet. "Of course, just because you're working with them doesn't mean I can let the heroes pass, I have to protect the thing so you can finish the mission. The fake alliance with the heroes was a smart idea."
"What, fake? Blumiere's been helping me out," Sora said.
"So those are the lies Dimentio has told you…" Count Bleck said.
"Really, I bet he's been using you the whole time so he can use your Keyblade to gain access to Kingdom Hearts. Dimentio said that a Keyblade has to be used to unlock the door…" Mimi said. "Not that I care, my mission's still to eliminate anybody against the count. Mimimimimimimimi."
And she smiled. It wasn't a normal reassuring smile, but a smile that seemed to scream killer and her head rotated once more, tilting to the left before resolving with a loud crack and rotating around until she was in her spider form once more. "We didn't get to fight last time because of how small that ship was, but this time it'll be fun." She fired a red gem at Sora, who ducked out of the way as the gem hit the ground. He summoned out his Keyblade and charged at Mimi, who very easily avoided the strike. She fired another red gem at him, this one hitting him and doing a surprise amount of damage. Luigi jumped into the fight, bouncing on top of Mimi's head and causing her to lose balance on her thin spider legs, but that lack of balance was more than enough of an opportunity for Sora to jump into the fight and hit her with his Keyblade, severing one of the legs from her body.
"Fire!" A large fireball flew towards Mimi, which she easily deflected with another of her red gems, the gem continued to fly towards Sora. Count Bleck raised his staff and a mini black hole opened up in front of Sora, blocking the attack from hitting him. Sora smiled in thanks before jumping in with his Keyblade again, once more managing to slice off another of Mimi's legs. Luigi fired a ball of green fire at her, which she dodged before finding herself under his feet as he once more jumped over her to hit her. In retaliation, she fired a red gem at him and knocked him back several feet before Sora came in and slashed at her once more.
Mimi transformed back to her normal form. "Stop it you meanies!"
"You're the one who attacked first," Sora said.
"He's right." A blue skinned woman appeared, her pink hair tied up into a bun. "And Mimi, you need to listen when I tell you to help the count."
"You mean the count's really working with the heroes?" Mimi asked in surprise. "How was I supposed to know?"
"Wait, who is she?" Sora asked.
"My last remaining minion and a dear friend, Nastasia," Count Bleck said.
"Right, count, you'll need this for the journey ahead." Nastasia reached into her pocket and pulled out a bronze key. "Mimi, you should give the count your key to."
"Wait, if you had a key shouldn't you have had all of them?" Sora asked.
"If I had any more, Dimentio would have suspected when they were all missing. Only Lord Blumiere and I know of this key. It was a backup plan so no matter what you would be unable to proceed."
"Do I really have to help the heroes?" Mimi asked.
"Mimi, we're not stopping the plan, we are changing it to stop Dimentio's takeover, the end result will still be the same," Count Bleck said, but the way he said it made the others think there was more to this plan than met the eye.
"Alright, I'll help." She pulled out a gold key and handed it to Count Bleck. "By the way count, Dimentio's in the keyhole room, not sure how much that helps."
"So he has done exactly as expected…" Count Bleck mumbled. "Mimi, Nastasia, O'Chunks is in the lift room. See he finds out the whole of what is going on. Heroes, it's time we head off to battle Dimentio."
"Then what, so you can turn on us?" Bowser asked.
"So this story may finally reach its end."
-x-
"Pure hearts of light, show me the Keyhole to Kingdom Hearts!" Dimentio raised his hands and six beams of light emerged from six glass chambers holding six different girls.
"So I see the path has emerged at last," Riku said, walking up to Dimentio. His voice sounded different somehow, almost overshadowed by another voice, a deeper voice.
"Yes, the Keyhole of power with its world destroying darkness, just as predicted in the Prognosticus." Dimentio indicated the dark book, lying to the side of a heart shaped portal. He laughed slightly, what Count Bleck had been looking for was what he had been trying to find all along. "And with it, access to Kingdom Hearts, ultimate power and the rebirth of worlds, I'll be a god."
"Unlock it and the Heartless will overrun this world," Riku said.
Dimentio shrugged. "One world and the five minions who live here are nothing compared to the power I will receive. I will use those Heartless just like I have used others like that boy."
"Such confidence." Riku summoned a dark Keyblade, this one black with a red hilt. Dimentio eyed it with curiosity.
"So you managed to get your hands on a Keyblade after all?" Dimentio asked. He looked up and was surprised when a small spark occurred in the center and the lights faded away. "Impossible, I gathered all the princesses the book listed like a cat stalking its many varieties of prey. They're all here, even the Pixl girl."
"Are they all truly here though?" Riku asked. A smirk rested on his face.
Realization hit Dimentio's face. "Of course, the girl!"
"Without her heart, she will never be able to release her power," Riku said.
"Then in that case, I believe it is time we finished off your old friend and the dear count, wouldn't you?" Dimentio asked. "Guard the princesses, for I will be back shortly. Ciao."
-x-
"Deep freeze!" Sora fired a powerful ice attack behind the Heartless's shield into its back, causing it to vanish and leave a pink heart behind.
"Sora, look out!" Bowser shouted, one of the round Heartless from earlier went to eat Sora, but Count Bleck stepped in and hit it at the same time as Sora, causing the Heartless to vanish. "Whose bright idea was this trap anyways?"
"It's a good idea when you want to keep your enemies from attacking." He fired a spell at another of the Heartless, causing it to vanish. "I'll admit it isn't a smart one when you're trying to get into your own castle." It was a miracle when they arrived at the end of the lift ride and onto the outside balcony of the castle.
"Let's take a different way back," Sora said as they were able to step off of the lift. "Which way Blumiere?"
Count Bleck put his hand to his chin for a moment before pointing towards the platform above them. Use that to enter the lift stop's uppermost entrance and it's a quick ride up the top."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Sora started jumping up several platforms before arriving at the top. Luigi followed the pattern with ease and even Bowser didn't have much of an issue. Count Bleck simply teleported up to the top of the platform next to Sora. The four boarded the lift in silence as they finally arrived at the top.
"Ah ha ha ha ha. So you have arrived at last." Dimentio stood at the top of the room in wait. He glided down to meet the heroes.
"Dimentio…" Sora looked at the jester with a look of pity.
"It's not too late Dimentio. You can change this path," Count Bleck said, but Dimentio laughed in his fate.
"Oh dear count, it's ironic, I was the one pulling the strings all along like a puppeteer manipulating you all from the start," he said. "This world will soon be gone and I shall finally have the ultimate power to rebuild the universe to my liking. The darkness will soon consume your pathetic hearts."
"No it won't!" Sora summoned his Keyblade. "After coming this far, there's no way that's gonna happen!"
"Then I suppose it is time we finally fight." Dimentio raised his arms and surrounding them was a large green room. "Do you like it? It is the only dimension I have been able to create, Dimension D."
"Then I suppose it will be twice as embarrassing when we cream you on your own world!" Bowser let loose a massive amount of flames toward Dimentio, who simply teleported out of the way of the attack. He reappeared moments later and fired a purple and yellow ball of magic at Bowser, hitting the Koopa King and harming him. Sora jumped in moments later and swung his Keyblade down, the Keyblade hitting Dimentio on the head before returning to Sora's side. The jester smirked before teleporting out of the way of an attack from Luigi and another one from Sora, nearly causing the duo to hit each other. When he reappeared, Count Bleck hit him with his staff.
"I see. Let's see how you handle this illusion." He vanished, reappearing moments later with two copies of himself, each summoning a ball of magic to use against the heroes. Bowser clawed at the nearest Dimentio, but his claws seemed to pass right through the jester, however, when the attack launched, it still hit him, Sora, and Luigi. Sora hit another with his Keyblade only for it to pass through the copy as well. He scarcely avoided another attack before hitting what he thought was another Dimentio, only for the attack to go through that one as well. Count Bleck fired a dark magic projectile only for it to go harmlessly through one Dimentio and into another, actually causing damage.
"That one's the real Dimentio." Count Bleck pointed. Luigi, who was nearest, leapt onto the Dimentio's head, actually landing on it before he could teleport away. The copies too vanished, and only one Dimentio appeared. He raised his arms high into the air, summoning boxes all around them. Sora was the only one caught inside, and while Bowser raked his claws through Dimentio, it was not enough to distract the jester from causing an explosion within the box. It exploded several times before the box disappeared and Sora stumbled out.
"Sora!" Luigi shouted and ran for Sora, but he just raised his Keyblade towards the air.
"Heal!" a bright green light a leaves emerged from the top, healing some of Sora's wounds before he charged at Dimentio, slicing through the spell and arriving above Dimentio, he slashed down directly, his Keyblade infused with a bright aura that seemed to deal more damage than anything else to Dimentio. The attack launched him to the dimension's ground, where he fell straight into Bowser's flames.
The green dimension that had previously surrounded them vanished in an instant as Dimentio let out a cry of "Mercy!"
"Do you need some help?" And through a strange dark portal, Riku appeared as though sensing that Dimentio has lost.
"Riku!" Sora shouted for his best friend. The silver haired boy case Riku a glance as though he were of no significance.
Luigi appeared to notice something in Riku's hand. "Is that-"
"Yes, a Keyblade," Riku said and lifted it up for Sora to see. "But unlike yours, this Keyblade holds the power to unlock people's hearts. Allow me to demonstrate…" with those words, he plunged the Keyblade into Dimentio's chest.
"What?" Dimentio asked in surprise.
Riku smirked. "Now, open your heart, surrender it to the darkness! Become darkness itself!"
"This is the true power I longed for, and now the final battle shall arrive." Dimentio became engulfed in large tendrils of darkness as they engulfed him. When he emerged, he was no longer quite the same. He was larger with large boots and his jester's poncho supersized. The head was the creepiest part with what appeared to be an eternal smile.
"Dimentio!" Count Bleck shouted, part in anger and part in shock.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha. It is time for your death, is it not?" Dimentio asked. He began to fire the same dark projectiles Count Bleck had fired out. The group started scrambling around in an attempt to avoid them running left and right before the assault finally stopped. Luigi sent a fireball at Dimentio's oversized face, but the attack did very little to the jester's new from. Sora slashed at his feet with his Keyblade, but it seemed to have about the same affect. His after hit came from the heroes, flames, claws, spells, everything, but it seemed to do nothing to Dimentio as he proceeded to simply stop them and fire his projectiles at them at every turn.
"This is getting us nowhere fast," Count Bleck said and fired a dark projectile at Dimentio before getting hit by one of Dimentio's now oversized fists.
"There's got to be something…" Sora rolled out of the way of one of Dimentio's boots as it went to hit him.
"The Final Smash unlocks the user's potential. So long as you promise to seal the Keyhole on my world, you are welcome to use it off of this world." Master Hand's words from before the Smash Arena so long ago filled Sora's mind. If only I knew how to use it…
Count Bleck looked towards Sora. "You have a plan, we'll distract Dimentio." He ran up to Dimentio and hit him with a magic spell, the attack only managing to draw Dimentio's attention to him as Count Bleck was started to have the projectiles aimed at him once more.
Sora closed his eyes, no longer watching the battle. He had to concentrate if he wanted the power of the Final Smash to activate without the Smash Orb. There was no way it was going to work though. He heard Bowser roar in pain as an attack probably hit him, and all his concentration was on his friends, who were getting hurt.
"I believe in you…Sora…" It was Kairi's voice. Suddenly a warm feeling filled his heart as he began glowing with the rainbow aura.
"Light!" Beams of light came down at Sora's command, striking Dimentio right in the head, unlike earlier attacks, these did substantial damage to him. Moments after the attack stopped, Bowser released a large amount of fire, dealing normal damage to Dimentio. With his defenses weakened, attacks began injuring the jester in large parts until his head hit the ground.
"H-how did you manage to defeat me?" Dimentio asked.
"It wasn't all that hard, all it took was a little extra strength," Sora said and smiled slightly.
"This isn't the last you'll hear from me," Dimentio said and started laughing. "Ciao." His head faded away into the darkness.
"Is he...dead?" Count Bleck asked.
"I think so," Sora said. They sighed in relief, all of them. "Does that mean we have to fight each other now?"
"No, my goal is in sight and can be achieved without further destruction. Our time as enemies is done," Count Bleck said.
"I suppose that's a good thing," Luigi said. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go finish your mission!"
As they went to leave, a voice rang out. "How ironic. He was just another puppet after all."
"What?" Bowser asked.
"The Heartless were using Dimentio from the beginning, just as they used Count Bleck," Riku said. "Unlike the count though, he failed to notice the darkness in his own heart eating away and refused even for a moment to contemplate otherwise. A fitting end for such a fool."
Count Bleck looked away as Riku entered another dark portal. It was clear that the event Riku had mentioned was not something he was proud of.
"What was Riku talking about?" Sora asked.
"While my quest may have been noble once in a search for someone important, it turned into nothing but destruction for a while, destroying the worlds was my revenge for taking her away…" Count Bleck said. "What's odd is that it took Riku to remind me of why I was fighting and yet he's as lost as I was then."
"Hey, you're back to your original goal now, and that's what matters," Sora said. "All that's left is to finish what we came here for."
Count Bleck nodded. "It's time to take you all to the final room, where everything will finally end."