"Was the Headquarter Sandwich successful, Master Dimentio?"
"I am sorry to say, but the heroes somehow managed to acquire the fourth Pure Heart."
"You must be joking with Count Bleck! How could they have gotten past the X Faction's security?"
"Well, they did have help from the Bluecaps."
"This is madness, complained Count Bleck. They already have half of the Pure Hearts, before we even activate the Chaos Heart!"
"In a way, I am actually glad that Radnamok X was defeated. That lunatic demanded far too much from me. But the heroes have the Pure Heart, and we can't do anything about that now."
"Sigh...well, all right. What is the nature of the dimension in which the next Pure Heart resides?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I have once again made sure the Pure Heart is safe from them. And this time, they won't have anyone to help them. Unless the inhabitants escape the palace, that is, which is
not likely."
"Excellent, agreed Count Bleck," agreed Count Bleck.
"And...you'll like this...I have an important announcement to make."
"What is it, Master Dimentio?"
"After I made sure things were OK in the next Pure Heart's dimension, I found someone willing to work for us!"
"Really? So you have found a minion?"
"Better than that. I have found TWO minions! And here they are now!"
On the lower platform not occupied by Bleck, a thin line emerged, indicating that the new minions were about to flip in. However, they did it with a bit more pizazz than Bleck. When the line was finished, the minions spun so fast while flipping that they were almost invsible, and blue-green energy beams crackled around the area they were entering. After a few seconds, the flipping stopped, and an energy-sound-wave echoed from the area they had appeared in. When all of this cleared, the two new minions were standing on the platform. The first one was shaped like a human, but the resemblances ended there. He was very robot-looking, with a squarish, tan head and two horns protuding from the top of it. In place of eyes, he had a very large pair of pointy black shades that were attached to his face. His head and his other body parts were connected by electric lasers to his body, and the left one of those hands sported a glowing red orb in the middle of its palm, as well as several things that looked like compartments for holding something down the arm. His right arm was equally un-humanlike; it had more compartments on its arm, and the end of the end formed a gun. His left leg looked like a beam of steel with a hinge, presumably containing a weapon. And finally, his right leg wasn't really a leg at all. It consisted of an upper section, looking like another compartment and colored bright red and orange, and a lower section, looking rather like an actual foot but having only two sharp metal toes. It was connected to the other section by a laser.
The second minion was equally as robotic. It was a small, white, trapezoid-cubish floating object, with a thin black streak across the middle that seemed to function as its eyes. Various machinery and colored buttons were placed around it, with a small jet engine at the bottom. Two sharp arms extended from its sides, seeming to have not much purpose.
"I am B-A Omega," the more humanlike one announced.
"And I'm Napoleon Johnson Wilson III divided by six to the eighth power," the small floating one claimed.
B-A Omega turned to face Napoleon Johnson Wilson III divided by six to the eighth power. "H-X Alpha, tell him your
real name. Well, I guess I just did."
"So these are the new minions?" asked the count.
"Yes. They've demonstrated their powers for me, and it's obvious that they can crush the heroes with their advanced technological weapons. How about a demonstration, B-A Omega?"
"Yes, Master Dimentio!" The robot lifted his beam-of-steel leg, and the lower section folded itself backward, allowing him to fire a wide, multicolored laser from it.
"Count Bleck is impressed! The heroes stand no chance with you two working for us."
"Yep. Not a chance, not a chance, NOT A STINKIN' CHANCE, what are you STUPID?" rambled H-X Alpha.
"You dare address the great Count Bleck in that manner?"
"Easy, Bleck," calmed Dimentio.
"Where in the worlds did you
find these two?"
"I was searching the dimensions for potential minions, and I found these two. It almost seemed like
they came to
me, and they were very willing to become my minions. From what they told me, they haven't always been robots. To be honest, I have no idea where they came from, as that's pretty much all they told me...but they seem like very willing minions, so I let them join."
"I must thank you again, Master Dimentio," thanked H-X Alpha. "You have truly been a very positive influence on us, and I will enjoy working with you in the future."
"What is with H-X Alpha?" asked Bleck. "First he's insulting me, then he's speaking like a formal letter."
"Well, something apparently happened in the past that scrambled his brain circuits. He can still function properly, but he experiences...sudden and unpredictable personality changes."
"HEY DAWG, ARE YOU INSULTIN' ME? 'CAUSE BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO DO THAT!"
"Since I have only recently enlisted them, I have not sent them on a mission yet. I wish to further test their abilities and decide on the right time to use them. But you don't need to worry. My plan to keep the fifth Pure Heart from the heroes is already set in motion, and if they somehow manage to get it, these two will take care of them properly."
"Absolutely," agreed B-A Omega. "We'll destroy those heroes for you, lickety-split."
"You have excellent motivation, B-A Omega," congratulated Dimentio. "That is all for now. Please return to your training areas. After I am finished with some business, I will help you."
"Yes, Master Dimentio!" all three minions agreed. Count Bleck flipped out while H-X Alpha and B-A Omega performed their more exciting variation. Dimentio vanished to take care of his business.
"Timpani...dear Timpani...will I ever see you again?"
"I must do whatever I can to find her..."
"Hm? What's this?"
"It's a bat stuck in a trap...here, I'll get you out of there."
"Thank you deeply...may I ask your name?"
"I am called Blumiere."
"Thank you, Blumiere..."
"You are welcome...I will be on my way now."
"Blumiere...wait...Blumiere..."
"Please, you must do this for me!"
"I am willing to, but I want you to know that he will not accept you. He is already searching for his love."
"I know...but if not that, I truly desire to at least visit him. Please...you must do it."
"Sigh...all right. I will do it."
"Blumiere..."
"Huh? Hm? Wha-"
"Blumiere...it's me."
"...You?"
"You're...the bat I set free?"
"Yes...Merlumina altered my shape so that I may...I may...um..."
"I already have a woman in my life...I am afraid-"
"No...not that. Blumiere, since you saved my life, I will pledge loyalty to you."
"I will do whatever you ask from this moment forward...because you were the one who saved me."
"Is somethin' wrong, Nastasia?"
"What? Um...well, you see, I've been thinking about my own past lately."
"Yeh 'ave?"
"Yes. I was remembering the day I met Count Bleck...I mean, Blumiere..."
"Really, then. Would yeh mind tellin' me what 'appened?"
"Well...back then, I was-"
"Was what?" asked Dimentio. "Go ahead, don't be scared. Tell us all about what happened back then!"
"Oh, it's YOU again!" complained Mimi. "Nastasia doesn't have to say it if she doesn't want to. I don't mind!"
"Oh, really? You all seem to be rather contemplative lately, and I know
all about your antics back in the time of the Ancients, so why don't the other two of you share your memories? O'Chunks already did. Who else wants to blurt out the crime that made them a perfect minion?"
Mimi and Nastasia looked at each other nervously, not knowing what the other was thinking.
"Apparently I have no takers. That is just fine, for your game's end draws near."
"You always say that, but it never happens," accused Nastasia.
"I have greatly improved my strength since the last time we met. I will wipe the lot of you out, and then a huge portion of my plan will be complete. Complete, that is, as an idiot who thinks they can defend themself against me!"
"You can't do that. We'll just beat you like we did last time and the time before!"
Dimentio eyed Nastasia. "You're certainly feisty today, lowly
secretary. Given that I know what you did after you swore loyalty to Bleck, I wouldn't be talking!"
"That...doesn't matter. We can take you anytime."
"Really. Well, since you're so energetic, can YOU take me anytime?"
"Wha...me!?"
"Yes, YOU. I hereby challenge you to a one-on-one fight! You, with your lowly
secretariness, and me, with
this!" He snapped his fingers, and a round, green, transluscent shield enclosed him.
"Nastasia, it's too dangerous!" pleaded Mimi. "I'll help!"
"Silence!" ordered Dimentio. "I asked for a duel, and a duel I'll get!"
BOSS
Dimentio
Taking his bubble shield with him, Dimentio hovered to the left of Nastasia and fired two energy balls that careened toward her. She dodged the attack, but this gave time for Dimentio to fly to the other side of the area faster than Nastasia thought possible and fire two more, one of which hit her.
He's picked up his speed, that's for sure. She ran for Dimentio, and the jester stayed put, as if inviting Nastasia to attack him. When she tried to, she bounced off the green shield and flew across the area, skidding to a stop a few yards past Merlon's house.
"Your attacks are useless against my shield. You might as well give up, because there's no way you'll be able to harm me!" He snapped his fingers again and tried to enclose Nastasia in a glowing box, but she dodged the attack. She climbed on top of the box and attempted to hit Dimentio again, but she once again bounced off his shield.
"Didn't I already tell you that you can't harm me? Besides feisty, you're also rather stubborn."
Nastasia thought about how Dimentio's shield could possibly be penetrated. Before she could think very long, Dimentio released two pink energy balls, then vanished. She walked out of the way, but the later one bounced off the ceiling to hit her unexpectedly. When two Dimentios appeared, both enclosed in shields, Nastasia lost all hope. There was no way she could possibly defeat Dimentio like this. But as she attempted to dodge the pink energy balls, a sudden thought hit her. She raised her glasses, and attempted to hypnotize Dimentio. The real Dimentio was surrounded by the red energy bolts. Nastasia knew Dimentio, especially with his own powers of hypnosis, wouldn't be easy to hypnotize, but she hoped the mental assault would at least cause him to deactivate the shield. After concentrating on Dimentio for a few seconds, the bolts disappeared and Dimentio's shield shattered. While Dimentio was dazed, Nastasia quickly dashed toward him and delivered a spinning kick.
"Since when are you trained in martial arts?" asked Dimentio.
"It doesn't matter, since I've figured out how to hurt you!"
"Oh, you think it will be that simple? Think again!" The jester reactivated his shield and vanished.
Nastasia looked around.
I'm ready for anything.After a few seconds,
three Dimentios appeared, all surrounded by the green shield. They formed a triangle, surrounding Nastasia, and blasted her with a total of six pink energy balls.
"I...can't...fight!" groaned Nastasia.
"Here, take this!" advised Mimi, tossing her a Shroom Shake. "I bought this in case we needed it."
"Stay out of this!" shouted Dimentio. "You can't interfere with our-" Suddenly, Dimentio was surrounded by bolts again. He hadn't noticed that Nastasia had already used the Shroom Shake, and by talking, he had given away the fact that the bottom-right Dimentio was real. When his green shield deactivated, Nastasia attacked him again, causing him to vanish. The two fake Dimentios, however, didn't disappear, and continued to attack Nastasia with pink energy balls. She couldn't do anything without the real Dimentio availible for attack. "Come out, you coward!"
Dimentio did come out, again protected by the shield, and his two clones vanished. He snapped his fingers, and once again attempted to enclose Nastasia in the glowing box. Having done this several times by now, Nastasia escaped the box's perimeter and attempted to use it as a stepping stone to reach Dimentio, but the jester had his back turned to Nastasia, and continued creating glowing boxes to prevent her from reaching him. Now Nastasia couldn't do anything, since she needed to look in Dimentio's eyes to hypnotize him. However, Dimentio's attacks couldn't penetrate the boxes, so they exploded and Dimentio fired two pink energy balls while still facing away from Nastasia. She crept under Dimentio until she could face him, and before he could turn away, gripped Dimentio again and nailed her enemy.
"I must admit, you're getting quite good at this," admitted the jester. He had almost completely run out of health, and Nastasia was quite weakened as well. "But can you survive
my powers of hypnosis?" He unleashed his full mental power on Nastasia. Startled, Nastasia used her power of hypnosis as well, and the two were locked in a fight to see whose mind would dominate the other's.
"Come on, Nastasia!" cheered O'Chunks. "Yeh can 'ave that jester beggin' fer mercy in seconds!"
The two enemies continued focusing on breaking the other's mental defenses, and the struggle continued for a few seconds. Finally, Nastasia gave one final blow, and Dimentio toppled to the ground, health and shield gone.
"Darn it! How could I lose
three times? And to this lowly
secretary at that!"
"Looks like you didn't have much more strength after all," said Nastasia.
The jester picked himself up. "Oh, I did, that's for sure. I just didn't get to use it, because you were so arrogant. Fear not, though-I will be back, and I will have the strength I had, plus even more. You will all be dead-so if you have anything you want taken care of, do it now!" He disappeared.
The heroes emerged from the yellow door and took the elevator down as usual. The situation seemed the same as always, and Merlon was outside again, so he asked them how they had done. "So you have found the next Pure Heart?"
"Yes," answered Tippi. "You should've seen what happened." Tippi described their adventures in the dimension of the yellow door, and how they had defeated Radnamok X and claimed the green Pure Heart.
"Oh ho, that's quite a tale. Yes, it would seem to me that, since you already have half of the Pure Hearts, Dimentio would be getting angry. He has probably already gone to the dimension of the next Pure Heart and did something to make sure you won't get it. But I'm certain that you will find the remaining half of the Pure Hearts, and I have just read something in the Light Prognosticus that has only increased my confidence."
"What does it say?"
"The book says this: 'When the eight sections of the Purity Heart have been collected for the second time, the one who plans to reactivate the Chaos Heart will reveal his deepest secret.' I am sure the book is referring to some sort of secret that Dimentio is hiding."
"You mean, how he plans to reactivate the Chaos Heart? Or what he remembered when his game ended? Or...something else?"
"That Dimentio is a mystery himself, all right. I say the best plan of action is just to continue searching for the Pure Hearts, and the prophecy will take care of itself."
"OK, Merlon." She turned to Bleck's minions. "Did Dimentio come again?"
"Yes," answered Nastasia. "In fact, he had a fight with me alone, but I managed to defeat him."
"Does he seem to be getting any stronger?"
"He said he had gained strength since the last time, but he only had a shield. He said he'd demonstrate his new strength next time."
"He might have been lying to make you
think that," suggested Tippi. "But, who knows. We just don't know very much about him."
O'Chunks had been thinking during this time. "Yeh know what?" he started. "Maybe we should join 'em. We'll be safe from Dimentio that way."
"But if we do that, then Dimentio will go after the heroes," reasoned Mimi.
"Mario an' the others can take 'im, right?"
"Well...I'm not sure."
"I know that me vote goes to joinin' 'em! Anyone else?"
"I'm not sure about this," said Nastasia. "We can't risk the heroes' safety by joining them. Dimentio will keep trying to end our games, and he'll probably try to end their games in the process."
It's hard to imagine that just a while ago, they were all trying to kill us, reflected Mario.
"Well, if he comes again, we can fight him off, right?" asked Mimi. "If O'Chunks really wants to go, he can, but if Nastasia and I are strong enough, we can probably stay here without putting the heroes in danger."
"But what if Dimentio has truly gained strength?" asked Merlon. "Without O'Chunks, he might be able to defeat you."
Nastasia thought this over. "Well, I think if I could defeat him by myself, than both Mimi and I could certainly defeat him."
"That's your opinion, hm? I guess if O'Chunks wants to join the heroes, he can."
"All right, I'm joinin' yeh," announced O'Chunks. "And I'm gonna help yeh all get those Pure Hearts!"
-O'Chunks has joined the party!-
"Very well," congratulated Merlon. "Continue your journey, and I'll be here as always." He walked back into his house.
"Let's get goin'!" encouraged O'Chunks.
Our heroes, which now included O'Chunks, walked to the Flipside Outskirts again and took a left. Mario ground-pounded the pillars in the correct sequence, and the Heart Pillar appeared. Placing the green Pure Heart in the pillar, the patterns appeared again, and the green door was drawn into existence at the top of Flipside Tower. The heroes returned to the base, used the elevator, and walked past the red, orange, and yellow doors, entering the green one to start their Pure Heart search once again.