Count Bleck slowly walked into the dining room, about to take his seat for dinner. He was late for dinner, as he was feeling a bit depressed. There was a lot on his mind, as so much has happened in such a small period of time. When he took his regular seat, Count Bleck noticed that Nastasia was writing on her clipboard, not even touching her plate and O'Chunks was a little sluggish and was not eating as much as he usually did. He also noticed that Dimentio and Mimi's seats were empty, and no signs of them coming in any time soon.

"Has there been any word of Mimi or Dimentio recently?" Count Bleck asked.

Nastasia looked up at the count, now realizing he was in the room.

"I told Mimi she had to do so many hours of training before she could have dinner with us, as punishment for disobeying your orders."

Count Bleck narrowed his eyes.

"Don't you think you are being a bit harsh on her? What she had experience and has to deal with...I think it is enough."

"As you wish, count," Nastasia replied emotionless. "I'll tell her punishment is over once she arrives tonight."

"Good."

There was a moment of silence as Count Bleck served himself to the now cold spaghetti.

"…And besides, she is taking the death of Mr. L hard," he added. "It really seemed to affect her."

"It's her own damn fault that it happened," Nastasia said with a bit of a snap. "If she didn't leave the castle, and I can assure you she somehow convinced Mr. L to come with her, then it would have never have happened. She just has to live with the consequences, and that's just life."

"But is it really her fault?" O'Chunks asked now entering the conversation. "There was no possible way she could have known that the dimension was going to be destroyed. Mimi would have been killed herself if Dimentio didn't save her when he did."

Nastasia glared at O'Chunks.

"Yes...he 'conveniently' finds Mimi at the exact moment the world is about to die. And Mr. L was 'conveniently' wasn't there either nor was Mario."

"Are you suggesting...?"

Nastasia's eyes darkened.

"It is possible. You know the look Dimentio has given Mr. L in the past. I hate to think one of us would do such a terrible thing but..."

Her gaze met with Count Bleck's, as if she was encouraging him to finish her sentence. O'Chunks gave a puzzled look, clearly clueless as to what was going on. Count Bleck let out a heavy sigh.

"I agree with you, Nastasia. But we can't let that blind us from the truth. And speaking of Dimentio, has anyone heard from him all day?"

"I haven't," Nastasia replied. "Ever since Mr. L died, he's been mostly locked up in his room. Doing some 'Mental Training,' as he called it. I have no idea what he is doing, but he wants to be left alone."

Count Bleck nodded in reply, finally starting to eat his dinner.

For the next few minutes, the three of them ate in silence. There was nothing more to talk about, plus there was more on the count's mind.

Unknown to his fellow minions, even Nastasia, he appeared in Sammer's Kingdom and confronted Mario and his friends face to face. He had a small conversation with them, though it didn't really matter. What did matter, was the pixl Tippi. The way she talked, she sounded...it reminded him so much of Timpani. That short conversation was enough to bring back so many memories. A part of him hoped that ever since that moment...that the pixl was Timpani. It was a foolish thought, but the resemblance...

Enough! Count Bleck criticized himself. Stop this ridiculous fantasy! The Timpani Blumiere knew is dead! Stop fooling yourself, Count Bleck. For the pain will be over soon enough. Just hang on a little longer...

Count Bleck was then pushed out of his thoughts as Mimi arrived. She looked exhausted as she seemed like she was about to collapse.

"Okay, I've done those ten straight hours of training, Nassy," Mimi said as she sat down. "I even recorded my progress on a chart as proof. I hope...that is enough to make up for what I have done."

Nastasia glanced up at Mimi for a split second and then went back to writing in her clipboard.

"...Very well, I want to see that chart of yours right after you've eaten. Unless Count Bleck wants to add anything, you've served your punishment well. What do you say, count?"

Nastasia glanced up at Count Bleck while Mimi avoided any sort of eye contact with him. Count Bleck gave her a sympathetic look.

"Count Bleck believes that you have learned your lesson. As long as you've learned from it, then there is no more need for any more punishment."

Again, Mimi refused to make eye contact. Her eyes were filled with guilt and grief, her usual sassy and arrogant self nowhere to be seen. After eating a few slices of bread, Mimi got out of her chair and said, "I think I'll go to bed early tonight. I'm so tired. I'll give you my chart tomorrow, Nassy. Goodnight everyone."

Without another word, Mimi teleported away. Not too long after, O'Chunks excused himself as well. When he was out of ear shot, Nastasia looked up at the count and said, "Are you alright, Bleck? You haven't seemed yourself since you..."

"Count Bleck just has a lot on his mind, that's all," Count Bleck said cutting her off. "There is nothing for you to worry about."

"I know...I just can't help it. You know, count, if there is anything you need, I'm here for you."

Count Bleck avoided eye contact.

"I know that, but there are just some things I have to deal with myself, Nastasia. Please, don't push me."

Nastasia gave a sadden look, making Count Bleck feel a bit guilty for pushing his closest friend away. But she retained her professional, cold attitude and stood up from the table.

"I should be going, my count. I have a lot of work to get done."

Somberly, she teleported away. Count Bleck let out a heavy sigh.

I am sorry that I've hurt you, Nastasia. But I promise you that your suffering will end soon.

"Good evening, Count Bleck."

Count Bleck jumped a bit as Dimentio appeared right beside him.

"Sorry if I had scared you, my count," Dimentio said apologetic. "I just came to get a small bite to eat real quick."

Count Bleck relaxed a bit.

"I have noticed that you are spending a lot of time locked up in your room," he mentioned darkly. "Is there anything I should know about?"

Dimentio chuckled as he sat down in his chair.

"I'm just doing some personal training. When facing Mario, you have to be mentally strong just as you have to be physically. Because from all the recent failures, I decided to try something new."

"Even it requires you to isolate yourself?"

"It is a small price for victory."

There was a long silence as Count Bleck watched Dimentio take a few bites of spaghetti.

"Also, I've never been able to thank you for saving Mimi when you did," Count Bleck said a little uncomfortable with the tensed silence. "It was foolish of her to go out like that."

Dimentio nodded.

"Yes, it was. When I noticed that she was gone, I knew immediately where she had ran off to. Unfortunately, when Mimi said Mr. L was still down there, I couldn't make it in time. It saddens me so."

He took a sip of his drink.

"Though, there was something that I did find interesting when I was there. Something...that I thought you should know."

Count Bleck raised an eyebrow.

"And what is that, Dimentio?"

Dimentio smiled.

"Before I got to Mimi, I saw Mario and his companions running away, probably trying to find the Pure Heart. I remember faintly hearing the rainbow butterfly pixl ramble, 'I must stop Blumiere,' over and over again."

Dimentio's smile grew as Count Bleck turned pale.

"...Tell me, Count Bleck, does the name 'Blumiere' mean anything to you? If not...how about the name of the fair lost countess, Lady Timpani?"

Count Bleck stood up, his hand clutching to the edge of the table. Dimentio chuckled softly, but said nothing. The two of them glared at each other for a long moment, till Count Bleck calmed himself and sat back down.

"...So you really are Timpani's magician."

Dimentio grinned in reply. Count Bleck felt his whole body turn cold by the look Dimentio gave him.

"How long have you known it was me?" he asked softly.

"For awhile. I admit, I didn't recognize you when I first arrived. But, it wasn't hard to put the pieces together. Though the biggest question is how you couldn't recognize me. True I have a mask, but my voice and name should have been enough."

"How could have I possibly known it was you?" Count Bleck questioned his voice shaking. "I saw you get consume by flames in that fire. Why would I suspect that someone who I knew perfectly well was dead, would walk through my castle's doors?"

"But I didn't die, Blumiere," Dimentio countered. "A neither did Lady Timpani, for who you believed was dead too."

"You knew she was alive too?"

"Of course. I would recognize my lady even in the grave. She was my everything. I had truly loved her, and yet she chose to be with you. A man who says he loves her deeply, yet he couldn't see her, like a blind man trying so desperately to find his cane."

Count Bleck narrowed his eyes, anger flaring up. There was a moment of silence.

"And even after all this time, you just now reveal yourself. Why now?"

"Because we never had a true conversation just between us. Lady Timpani was always with you when we saw each other, and when she wasn't there, it was only for a split second. And then the accident happened, years pasted, and when we did meet again, there was Nastasia and the others. And now the end of all worlds is about to take place. This was the perfect opportunity."

Count Bleck blinked, studying Dimentio while he spoke.

"...Even after all this time, you haven't changed one bit," Count Bleck said softly. "You are still obsessed that Timpani didn't choose you, angry with me."

"Oh, but I have Count Bleck," Dimentio replied. "I am not, as you should know by now, that weak little jester that I used to be. I've become more powerful than you could ever imagine. I am nearly invincible, for I will have all that I could ever want!"

There was a moment of silence.

"...Why do you lie to yourself?"

Dimentio blinked, looking as if he did not hear the count right.

"Why do you continue to fool yourself?" Count Bleck asked solemnly, perhaps having a tiny bit of sympathy. "I can see it in your eyes. Even once you have your perfect world, you will not be completely happy. And you know that it is something that you cannot control, no matter how hard you try or how much you want."

Dimentio narrowed his eyes, his mouth becoming suddenly dry.

"I'm not an idiot, Dimentio. I know you will betray me in the end. Though, I won't try to stop you. It is too late, the prophecy will happen no matter who has the control of the Chaos Heart. But, even if you take the Chaos Heart and make your perfect world, you will be destroying the one person who has loved you more than you can possibly comprehend. You, Dimentio, would be killing Mimi."

Dimentio stood up, his eyes blazing with rage.

"I know Mimi will hate me at first, but she will learn to forgive me. For I will create her own perfect world, her own kingdom to control! She will become a goddess, and I will be her god."

"You could give her the entire universe, but it will never make up for what you had done," Count Bleck reasoned. "Did you not see the grief on her face when she found out Mr. L was dead? Even after five days, she has not fully recovered. What do you think will happen once you destroy us all? Though she was willing to help create my perfect universe that I've lied to her and the others about, she believed that we will all be alright and that the evil and darkness of the universe would be the ones to be destroyed. But The Void will devour this world like all the others, and Mimi, O'Chunks, and perhaps even Nastasia, will hate me because I sent them to their deaths.

"But, if Mario prevents the Chaos Heart from merging with Luigi, then we will all be saved. The worlds will remain the same and Mimi will still love you without any more mental scarring."

Count Bleck then stood up, about to leave the room. But suddenly, the air in the entire room felt icy cold, like a ghost had just entered. Both Count Bleck and Dimentio's eyes widened, as they knew, and sensed, what had just accrued.

"...Mario..." Dimentio and Count Bleck said at the same time. "Mario is here."

In the distance, they could hear Nastasia crying out in the distance, ordering Mimi and O'Chunks to get ready. Count Bleck made eye contact with Dimentio.

"Remember what Count Bleck has told you, Dimentio. For this is your last chance to have a happy ending."

With that said, Count Bleck teleported away to prepare for the final battle with Mario.