While Dimentio's servant lost the Light Prognosticus, he himself had just lost Luvbi. The white Pure Heart teleported Luvbi to her father's temple in The Overthere, which surprised her AND the Shadow Sirens taking her captive (Dimentio, however, not as much). Upon her return, Luvbi discovered that her parents were waiting for her, and exclamation marked when they found her again. Queen Jaydes said,
"Luvbi, THERE you are! Your father and I have been worried sick about you – again!" Luvbi answered, this time scared by more than her parents,
"I am sorry mother, but-"
"Sorry? You vanish with the Pure Heart and by SOME MIRACLE return to unlife, only to run off again? You had barely reappeared for ten minutes before running off, and all you have to say is 'sorry'!"
"Well, I am trying to tell thee-"
"Do you have any idea how worried me and your father were? We sent out Whibbi, the three sages, the three hags, a small army of D-Men and the Underchomp to find you!" Dorguy the Third interrupted,
"Yeah, my Underchomp's not supposed to be used to track down runaway teenagers!" Jaydes shot back,
"Silence, Dorguy!"
"Sorry…"
"Now I have to call them ALL back and tell them that you're safe! Those D-Men are getting paid overtime for this!" Luvbi stammered,
"But…they art dead, so-"
"I don't want any comebacks from you, missy! You're in for a grounding so deep you'll wish you could die and go to another world!"
"You're not letting me ta-"
"Enough!" Before Queen Jaydes could continue her lecture, Grambi stepped in and said,
"Honey, let her talk. We should at least hear what she has to say." The queen paused for a moment, and eventually agreed,
"…Fine. But you better have a good reason!" Luvbi sighed, cleared her throat, and explained,
"It is true that I hath left voluntarily, yet only for a small time! I intended to take a short walk across the gloomy landscapes of below and nothing more. However, upon my travels in the melancholy-stricken underworld, I encountered Dimentio."
"…Dimentio?" Queen Jaydes suddenly realized her error as Luvbi continued,
"Upon my encounter, Dimentio captured me while an ugly, shadowy, hideous subordinate of his named Beldam froze me in an ice casing. They teleported us to yonder lair, when the jester…" Jaydes pressed,
"What?"
"…When that jester told me how much thou hath missed me…"
"Well he was right."
"But how couldst he tell?"
"How did he know that we missed you? As long as he knew that we are your parents and you ran away from home, it should've been obvious." Luvbi continued,
"So Dimentio, Beldam, and another shadowy pig named Marilyn brought me to their lair; a secluded cave not far below the surface. This second shadow also obtained magical feats of strength, only instead of icy powers; she wielded the power of lightning. She also wielded a much larger gut than the others, especially so compared to mine. Anyways, the gut-wielding shadow charged lightning to striketh me, when suddenly, a flash filled the room." Grambi asked,
"A flash? Like the flashes that filled the worlds when the Chaos Heart was defeated?" Jaydes asked,
"Or did you take my cell phone without asking again?" Luvbi answered,
"No…t'was the Pure Heart. The Pure Heart beated from mine chest, growing rapidly in pace. Suddenly, it hath emanated a light that blinded mine foes and teleported me hither." Jaydes gasped, and then looked at her worried husband. Luvbi could see a sense of concern in their eyes. After exchanging glances, the queen told her daughter in a surprisingly passive tone,
"So you were captured? …This is exactly why I don't want you running off to places without us knowing…" Dorguy the Third added,
"Well, at least she's home safe and sound, right?" Queen Jaydes regained her anger and snapped at the door,
"If it wasn't for the Pure Heart, she would be zapped full of lightning right now! And that wicked Dimentio is still out there - I can't believe I forgot to judge him! He is a VERY dangerous influence, and must be kept away from all the other Shaydes!" She patted the key to the Labyrinth of Eternity she had with her at all times and concluded,
"Dimentio must be sent to the Labyrinth immediately. Dorguy, take me to the Underwhere!" Dorguy the Third opened up, and Jaydes briskly walked to her temple. The door closed again, leaving Luvbi and King Grambi in the room. The door muttered sarcastically to Luvbi,
"Thanks for putting in a good word for me…"
Meanwhile, the Queen's once-forgotten target for imprisonment was tidying up the cave as Beldam commanded. Cleaning was not his forte, but since the nagging sisters weren't there, it gave him some time to think alone. He knew that the only way to escape death was through the King and Queen of the Underworld, yet the Floro Sprouts he possessed couldn't possess them. The rulers were omnificent in power, experienced in practice and serious in dedication. The only major flaw that Dimentio could find in them was their love for their daughter. Maybe he was thinking of this all wrong…maybe a brainwashed Luvbi could play a major part of his plan.
A Floro Sprout could be planted inside of Luvbi, but her parents would instantly destroy it. It takes three hours for the Floro Sprout to grow, and even if one was activated in full swing, Grambi and Jaydes' magic would be capable of destroying it in a heartbeat. He could kidnap Luvbi again and let it grow while she is in captivity, but the Pure Heart would return her home like last time. Despite any difficulty, the jester was dedicated in his task. No matter how hard his task seemed, Dimentio was an expert on twisting the power of love to his favor.
While lost in his thoughts, the two Shadow Sirens returned from the Fountain of Health. All of the injuries they had obtained from the Pure Heart were healed, while Dimentio still had a few scratches on him. Beldam inspected their lair and said,
"Fine work, I suppose. Now that that incident is behind us, what should we do? What is there to do in The Underwhere?" Before she could continue (or before she could insult Dimentio, which was bound to happen soon enough), they heard footsteps above their cave. High heels, by the sound of it. Marilyn was about to go see who it was, but Dimentio stopped her. Marilyn was confused until the person above them sounded,
"It doesn't seem like Dimentio is here…where could he have gone off to? Ugh, searching by myself is useless. D-MEN!"
The Shadow Sirens knew who it was, and they all hid in case she discovered the entrance to their hideout (Sirens using Veil and Dimentio using his invisibility). After hiding, they heard more footsteps marching above them. There must have been about 20 D-Men marching above them. One of the marching D-Men asked in a gruff voice,
"What is it, your Highness?" Jaydes responded,
"It's somewhat embarrassing, but I forgot give Dimentio his final sentence." The D-Men countered,
"But it's Dimentio! Isn't it obvious whether he's good or not?"
"I already know how evil he is, and what he is capable of. That's why his sentence is the Labyrinth of Eternity."
"Alright, then why are we here if you know his sentencing? This was my one day of paid vacation…" Jaydes answered,
"I have called you here because Dimentio is missing. While I was away to visit Luvbi, Dimentio has escaped his sentencing – and had kidnapped my daughter."
"Is Luvbi alright?"
"Yes, she's perfectly safe now with Grambi. But I need help finding Dimentio, and there is probably a backup of newly fallen souls waiting to be judged. One of you, contact Yebbi. He has the power to judge souls in my absence, and I need to put Dimentio in the Labyrinth." The same D-Men asked,
"Yebbi has your powers?" Jaydes responded,
"He has all powers I have, of judging souls and where they are sentenced, except for returning souls to the world of the living. Grambi can do that, however. Half of you, go rally up the souls that haven't been judged yet. The rest of you, help me find that wicked jester." One newly hired D-Man, with an obvious sense of newness in his voice, asked,
"Where are the new Shaydes?" Jaydes answered,
"They should all be around the entrance, where...spirits enter from the living. You should be able to tell if they have not been judged yet – confusion, desperation, some hysterical. However, I do know that two newly fallen souls are with Dimentio; Beldam and Marilyn, I believe their names are." A more experienced D-Men asked,
"Do you know their fates as well, my Queen?"
"They belong in The Underwhere, but definitely not Labyrinth material. I'll just give them a scolding for helping the kidnap of my daughter. Threaten to drown them in the River Twygz, or something along those lines. …Actually, I want to check up on Luvbi one more time. So: the half of you D-Men searching for Dimentio with me, come with me to my temple. Wait there while I check on Luvbi. The rest of you, contact Yebbi and find those newly fallen souls. Alright, let's go!"
Half of the D-Men marched off one way while Jaydes and the others marched off another. The three Shadow Sirens came out from hiding, and Beldam shouted,
"'I'll just give them a scolding'?" Marilyn hushed her sister, who yelled back,
"Can you believe that, Marilyn? Dimentio goes to the Labyrinth while we just get a scolding? Or at best, a threatening to be drowned? …What is this 'Labyrinth of Eternity' anyway?" Dimentio answered,
"The Labyrinth of Eternity is a prison where all magical powers are void. Queen Jaydes sends many of the most threatening villains there. Including my brothers…" Beldam yelled,
"So you're gonna be sent to this magical prison of hell while me and Marilyn just get a scolding? But we're amazing villains, more than you'll ever be!" Dimentio was lost in thought again (or – pardon the pun – giving Beldam the cold shoulder), so Beldam slapped him and continued,
"Listen to me while I'm talking, Dimentio! Argh, you're even more frustrating than Vivian and Doopliss combined! …Hello? Are you seriously still not responding?" Dimentio looked at Beldam, grinned even wider than he always does, and said slyly,
"I think I know how we can escape."
While Jaydes was searching for Dimentio, her husband and daughter remained in Grambi's Temple. Dorguy the Third went dormant after grumbling to himself about Luvbi breaking the promise they made. Grambi asked,
"Art thou sure that thou art alright?" Luvbi answered,
"Yea, father. But…what doseth the Pure Heart mean? Why is it still a part of me? I am glad that it saved mine life, but still!" Her father took a deep breath, sighed, and explained,
"Thine mother and I were worried that this would hath happened. The Pure Heart is the embodiment of love's divine power. It protecteth all good things from evil, all light from darkness. The Ancients hath created it long ago to quell the powers of evil, as they hath done recently to Dimentio. And although it hath been used on Dimentio, it is still a part of thee. The power of love can never fully be 'used up'."
"So, the power of love hath protecteth me from Dimentio and his pug-ugly crones?"
"Exactly."
"But I hath been in danger before, and the Pure Heart never flashed me to safety."
"The Pure Heart was dormant before Mario came along. Now that thine Pure Heart hath been in use against Dimentio, it hath been activated." Although her questions were being answered, Luvbi was even more confused than when they started. She asked,
"So why is this bad? If it protecteth me from harm, why dost thou seem worried?"
"Because thou shalt never live a regular life."
"Father, I already live an irregular life! Mine parents are rulers of the Underworld – not to mention I don't even have a car, and I am thousands of years old!"
"I know; thou keeps reminding me. Anyway, thou were overprotected because thou art the Pure Heart – and because thou art my daughter, of course." He flashed a smile and continued, "Once thou hath returneth from the Heroes, I – we – thought that thou could have some more freedoms."
"Why won't thou letst me?"
"We are fine with it, but the Pure Heart may interfere with that. If you get in any sort of danger, the Pure Heart shalt react. The more it reacts in situations of danger, the less dormant it becomes."
"…What doseth thou mean?"
"Thine Pure Heart grows stronger with each use. When it grows stronger, it will react in situations with less danger than the time before. And it might not know a limit."
"So it could potentially reach a point wherein it reacts for someone yanking mine luscious hair or a ball hitting mine gorgeous face?"
"That is what thine mother and I are worried about. If thou art not protected from the Underwhere, then thine Pure Heart could become so active that thou cannot leave the house without teleporting back home within five minutes."
"But what danger is up here, in the Overthere?"
"Nothing severe enough to activate the Pure Heart – yet. Incidents in The Underwhere, however, could work your heart to a point of appearing after mild dangers found up here. Because of this, thou must never go into The Underwhere ever again. Not with me or thine mother or anyone." Luvbi's posture collapsed as she said,
"…I can't believe it. You and mine mother protected me to protect the Pure Heart, and now that the Pure Heart's purpose has been served, MORE liberties of mine are taken away?"
"I am sorry, Luvbi, but that is how it has to be! If thou were to go into The Underwhere again, thine Pure Heart could potentially overload."
"But…but…" On that note of desperation and depression, Queen Jaydes returned to the temple. She saw the miserable look in Luvbi's eyes, and then the solemn look in Grambi's eyes. She asked her husband quietly,
"You told her about the Pure Heart, didn't you."
"Yea, I did." Jaydes knelt beside her daughter and sad,
"I'm sorry; but your father and I think the same thing. We both believe that the Pure Heart could very well make your life miserable. You do know we set these rules for your wellbeing, right?"
"Right…" The Queen patted Luvbi's head, went towards Dorguy the Third, and said,
"Well, I hope you'll feel better soon. I have to go find Dimentio – there's no telling what evil he may do. See you later, Grams." Queen Jaydes left the temple through Dorguy the Third, again leaving Luvbi in Grambi's care. Grambi went to comfort her daughter, but she ran off to her room instead. Grambi woke Dorguy the Third up and instructed,
"Dorguy, make sure that my daughter stays in the Overthere. I mean it now more than ever."
"But what if I'm sleeping?"
"Stay awake, then. …You do want your promotion, right?"
"Oh, yes sir! Alright, I'll make sure she never goes to The Underwhere!"
Meanwhile, in the Luvbi-forbidden realm of the Underwhere, Dimentio had just figured out a possible plan. Neither Queen Jaydes nor any D-Men were nearby to overhear the three Shadow Sirens talk. Beldam was curious of Dimentio's idea and still angry at Jaydes, so he asked,
"Does it involve killing that wretched queen?" The grinning jester answered,
"You of all people should be used to wretched queens, Beldam. But no, we aren't killing her – we will be using her. She and her husband are the only two ways to escape death, and I know how we can use the Floro Sprouts to control them." Beldam said (with confusion, and thusly anger),
"I thought you said that they could magically kill the Floro Sprouts!"
"Let me finish. First, we plant a Floro Sprout inside of Luvbi. We hold her captive, and allow for the Floro Sprout to grow to full size. Once it is ready to activate, we teleport to the Labyrinth of Eternity."
"The prison that Queen Jaydes SHOULD put me and Marilyn in?"
"Yes, that one. As I said, all magical powers are stripped while within. We teleport outside of the vast Labyrinth, concealing Luvbi in the shadows, and somehow summon the two Rulers of Death. They open the Labyrinth in preparation to sentence me inside, when I interrupt by turning on the Floro Sprout inside of Luvbi." Beldam repeated,
"I thought you said they would destroy it in an instant!" Dimentio answered,
"They'd be too distracted by that pesky emotion they call love. So, the Floro Sprout activates, and Luvbi runs into the Labyrinth. Even their great magic won't be able to kill the Floro Sprout once she is within. Their paternal instincts will kick in, unfortunately for them, and they will run into the Labyrinth after her. I will run in, plant Floro Sprouts inside both of the rulers' craniums, and run out. We lock them within, and simply wait again for the Floro Sprouts to grow to full size."
"If no magic works inside of the Labyrinth, then how will the Floro Sprouts grow?"
"Ah, the power of the Floro Sprouts is not magical – it becomes a physical part of your brain. Magic is only used to activate it, and is never used at any other time. After the Floro Sprouts are given time to grow, we open the door and let the three of them out. Once they have exited the Labyrinth, we can possess them, and then we shall get the Continues we so rightfully deserve." Beldam cackled and said,
"That sounds like it will actually work, Dimentio!" Dimentio added,
"I haven't even mentioned the best part. Since the commanders of life are at our disposal, once we go to the Worlds of the Living, we can kill all of those who oppose us."
"Wait…we'll have control of ALL life?"
"Yes we will! Mario, the X-Nauts – forever dead in a heartbeat. We can even stick Mario in the Labyrinth if we choose to." Beldam praised,
"I can't believe I'm saying this to a third member, but thank you!"
"Happy to be of service. But first, in preparations for our plan, I need the key to the Labyrinth of Eternity. I need for you and Marilyn to go locate it. I believe that Jaydes carries one with her." Beldam thought for a while, then responded,
"I'm not fond of taking orders from minions, but if you say it's necessary." With that, Beldam and Marilyn veiled off to find Queen Jaydes and the Labyrinth Key. Dimentio laughed in delight of his idea and thought,
"Escaping death AND ruling all worlds…this idea will accomplish both of my goals simultaneously! Once I figure out a way to get around Luvbi's Pure Heart, my plan can be set into action. Hmn…having Jaydes and Grambi at my side means I won't have a need the Prognosticus tomes. Doopliss left his so-called acting "career" and is on the perilous journey I sent him on for nothing. Oh well. I'd still like them for my collection. I'll let him continue his feeble quest, just so long as he doesn't copy Shadoo. If Shadoo becomes a nuisance, then I may have him go into hiding. I could let him return to the stage…no, Shadoo could easily track him, then.
"Having the universe at my disposal will be excellent; no heroes to try and stop me, no crones trying to command me…just me, Doopliss, and my two brothers. Well, I did promise eternal paradise to the Floro Sapiens in exchange for the Floro Sprouts…I suppose I can revive them as well. It doesn't matter who I keep alive; just as long as my brothers are free while Mario's group, the Pixl Queen and the shadow sirens are in the Labyrinth. That witch deserves as severe a punishment as can be possibly bestowed to someone. Forever imprisoning those that defy you and preserving only those that you choose to keep the garbage they call life…that's all someone can ask, isn't it?"