OF: Chapter 16

Mr. L shuddered violently as another breeze ruffled his dark hair. It sent chills creeping up his spine as he trudged through the mountain valleys.

"Stupid little nuisance…" He muttered under his breath, the familiar chills dragging his mind back to Dimentio. "Why can't he just go away?"

Even after so long lost in the Underwhere, Mr. L never thought his "life" could get much worse. The one tiny speck of optimism he could ever find was that at least he had gotten away from that backstabbing little creep.

And here he was again.

Mr. L growled under his breath, suddenly feeling warmer as rage boiled in his chest. So much for that fantasy. It seemed there wasn't any getting rid of Dimentio after all.

Crunch. Crunch.

Mr. L whirled around in a panic to the source of the noise. Oddly, there was nothing but the endless, dark stone that composed the surrounding mountains, and the blackened dirt path he had just traveled. No living thing in sight.

The Green Thunder shrugged it off, deciding there was always some creep up to no good in the Underwhere, and continued in his search for the troublesome fangirl. Mr. L caught himself wondering if she was always this much trouble, or if it was perhaps some side-effect of dwelling in the Aftergame.

"LIVI!!" He called out to the darkness, cupping a gloved hand around his mouth. "YOU OUT HERE?!"

There was no response but the icy wind.

"Great…" he muttered.

Looking around, Mr. L found a series of rocky ledges running up the side of a nearby cliff. He smirked, knelt to power his high-jump, and quickly ascended them to the top of the cliff. From his new perch, Mr. L looked around the surrounding area, as far as he could see.

One would think a group with such an obnoxious color scheme would be easier to locate in a sea of solid black. However, the other four fandoms seem to have disappeared as easily as their fangirl.

"Perfect…" Mr. L sighed to himself. "Guess I'm on my own… again…"

With that, he jumped back down into the valley, taking a running start off into the never-ending night. Hopefully, he'd a least bump into his alter-ego along the way.

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"EEK!!" –Crash!—

Untangling his limbs from the dark branches of the bush he suddenly found himself in, Luigi looked around wildly for the ghostly figure he had seen only moments before. Nothing, however, appeared to be in the surrounding landscape.

A sigh of relief escaped the hero's lips. It was probably just another Shayde, aimlessly wandering the Underwhere.

Luigi irritably blew the hair out of his face and pushed himself up. He hated being so afraid of everything, but he just couldn't help it. And here, it seemed so much worse.

Down here in the Underwhere, a place already filled with horrible nightmarish memories, equally horrible things dwelled and happened. It was one perpetual nightmare. It had been bad enough to endure it all the first time, but now? Now, Luigi was alone. He was already bitterly regretting not at least clueing Mario in to where he was going. Mario had always been there to protect Luigi, and in some cases, vise versa.

Luigi shuddered heavily as he continued on his way through the valley. He really missed Mario, and even Peace and Daisy.

"Why can't we just go home?" Luigi murmured pitifully.

He looked around fearfully at his surroundings. This was the first time Livi had lead him to an area he wasn't familiar with. Needless to say, it didn't sit too well in his stomach. It was nerve-wracking to not know where Livi had gotten to, but it was agonizing not to have a clue where he was.

Luigi looked up at the dark sky. He recalled the first time he had seen it, when he awoke in the aftergame. The last thing he had seen was Nastasia, her cold eyes, and the blinding flash of light. Then numbness and blackness as hypnosis washed over him. The next thing he knew, he woke up. Dead.

Later, he had discovered the true source of his demise.

For the first time, Luigi found himself pitying Mr. L. Sure, Luigi was the one who had been left alone in the depths of the Underwhere, but wasn't Mr. L the one that had been murdered? Didn't he have to endure a death by one of Dimentio's torturous boxes?

Livi glared at him, poking her lips out like she was scheming. Then, suddenly, she turned around to the jester and said, "Dimentio!" She jerked her head towards Luigi. "Do me a favor and show Weegee we mean business, will ya?"

Dimentio was stunned for a moment, then grinned evilly and snapped his fingers. Now, Luigi could have been imagining things, but he could have sworn he saw Dimentio wince in pain just before the explosions began to… well… explode.

When it finally stopped, Luigi found himself lying on the floor of the box. He managed to pull himself into a sitting position as his aching limbs screamed in protest. He looked up at Livi, who was smirking, looking very pleased with herself. "Strike one. Care to try that again?" She asked sweetly.

Luigi cringed at the bitter memory. His wounds had quickly healed after a mushroom or two. For Mr. L, however, there wasn't going to be any coming back to life.

Luigi gulped nervously. He dreaded the thought of explaining Mr. L's life—or, lack thereof—to Livi again.

What did she expect though? Mr. L was, in theory, dead. How was he supposed to come back to the mortal realm with them?

Luigi sighed, now dragging his feet in the black dirt. One problem at a time… he reminded himself. First, Livi would have to be found. Then, Luigi could worry about the villains.

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The mountains were very beautiful, in a dark, poetic sort of way. The chilling winds brought silver mists to hang over the gloomy landscape. It looked very much like the setting of a horror movie. Not the stupid ones with serial killers, the good ones with the post-apocalyptic, nightmarish, anti-worlds.

Livi smiled darkly, hugging her knees to her chest. She was always bright, happy, and ridiculously optimistic on the outside, but on the inside, she was a fangirl.

Just like all fangirls, Livi loved wump and angst on those she loved above all else, and her deviously twisted mind could think of a million and one ways to inflict such pain. Livi had never felt such pleasure as being with her darling fandoms. It was all too easy to get them into trouble.

Why had she run from Mr. L? Livi's smile widened at the memory. To stir up trouble, of course. The same reason she had brought them all together. The same reason she had uprooted each from their home. The same reason she had put them all on the same team—with the very ones they despised.

Her only regret? She only wished she could have witnesses the first time in so long that Dimentio and Mr. L had laid eyes on each other.

This was all a game to her. A sick, twisted, devious game, but one that she enjoyed so much. Much more than she should, she sometimes thought.

Fangirls were scary creatures, to be sure. Perhaps the greatest threat to their fandoms. Livi had seen even the strongest and mightiest of characters fall under the fangirls' most powerful weapon—fanfiction.

"This is…" Livi mused. "…perhaps my greatest work yet…"

Her top five fandoms were now at her mercy. What good were any of them without her? She had successfully scattered them from each other, and more importantly, herself.

She had even managed to set herself into the story without realizing it. She was the key to Dimentio's curse. How she was going to break it, she hadn't a clue, but that left Dimentio completely at her mercy.

Another devious smile. Livi liked the thought of that.

She was the key to their misfortune, of course, but that was only to be expected of a fangirl. Deep in her heart, though, she wanted the best for them. She wanted their happy ending, their triumphant return, and most of all, their final peace of mind once all was said and done.

But, not during the climax. That was the best part.

Livi perked up at the sound of wind behind her. It was odd, she decided, because there was no breeze to be felt. She slowly turned around to see what was behind her.

Instantly, she was elated.

"Dimentio!" The fangirl shrieked.

Livi was correct. The jester floated a ways off, at the edge of the cliff Livi sat on, eyeing her carefully. He made no movement towards her, simply floating there. He seemed… stunned.

Livi stood up, turning completely around on the cliff to face him, her back to the mountains, the edge dropping steep below her. "Dimentio!" She said again, not entirely sure he had heard her.

Dimentio blinked his eyes a few times (though Livi could only see one, as it glowed bright yellow in the dark) then slowly floated towards her. His expression was… twisted… he seemed… uncertain? No, that wasn't quite it…

Something caused Livi to suddenly lurch forward, a tremble running through her body as she steadied herself. A slight sense of panic crashing over her, Livi tore her gaze from the jester to her feet.

The cliff had begun to crack beneath her.

Livi's wide, scared eyes slowly returned to the jester, now much, much closer to where she stood.

"…Dimentio?" The fangirl fearfully choked out.

Something in the back of Livi's mind told her to run.

Something else reminded her she was trapped…

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Fawful stepped nimbly through the tangled undergrowth, his only hindrance being the tattered edges of his cloak—tearing even further as they repeatedly snagged on fallen branches.

A heavy sigh of frustration echoed in the valley. Fawful was lost. Fawful did not like being lost.

What made it worse was that he was lost in the aftergame. Great, so he was dead. Just perfect. What if he couldn't get out?

…what if he couldn't get out?

Fawful slowed his pace to a stop as random thoughts flashed through his mind. It wouldn't be so bad, would it? Wasn't the great Cackletta still here? Oh good Grambi… if he could just find her again…

Fawful harshly shook his head until he was dizzy, clearing out the bothersome thoughts. He couldn't be thinking like that, he decided as he ran off through the valleys. He couldn't give up so easily.

Fawful had to live. He had promised her.

Fawful stopped short as a trail of dust and rubble fell into his path. Looking upwards, he saw the source—a crumbling cliff. He could just barely make out a figure standing on it, shrouded by the shadows that obscured his vision.

Fawful shrugged off the moron's stupidity and continued on his way. If they wanted to go fall off a cliff, they could have at it for all he cared.

After continuing down the trail for a while—or, up the trail, as it began to wind up a steep slope—Fawful suddenly stopped dead in his tracks as a high-pitched scream pierced the night air. A very familiar scream. He whipped around, searching quickly for the source of the sound.

To his surprise, his attention was drawn once again to the figure on the cliff. It was far behind him now, but from the higher level Fawful found himself at and the shadowy mists being now far below, the child found himself able to make out the figure.

And as realization dawned on him, Fawful felt a familiar grin creeping across his face. "The Fangirl of Obsessions! It is being her!!"

Fawful ran back down the path as quick as he could, intending to catch her attention as he reached the cliff's base. He had found her. He had beaten this silly game of hers.

The smile began to fall from Fawful's face, the child slowing his pace to an eventual stand-still. He looked confused. There was another figure on the cliff. One that stood opposite her, and was slowly advancing. One that was floating.

"…The Jester… of Dementedness?" Fawful mused, very confused. There was no mistaking it—Dimentio floated on the cliff with Livi.

There was another crumbling of rocks.

Fawful's eyes went wide with shock. "…no." He whispered.

Dimentio suddenly flew forward with alarming speed. The two collided, another shriek pierced the air, then as the cliff crumbled, the fangirl tumbled backwards off the cliff.

"NO!!" Fawful yelled, running towards her.

Everything stopped.

Fawful paused, frozen in place.

He had heard it—the loud, sickening thud.

Livi had hit the ground.

"No…" Fawful choked out. He scanned the area quickly, running scenarios and mathematics in his head. No, no, no… the cliff was too high… the ground was too hard… she couldn't catch herself… she was falling too fast…

"No…" Fawful choked again, tears welling up in his eyes. "Sh-she cannot have the goneness… she cannot possess… cannot be being…"

He screwed his eyes shut, tears running down his face as he realized the inevitable conclusion—Livi's game was over. Should he even be able to find the spot she had hit, help was already too late.

She couldn't be gone… he couldn't even make himself admit it. After all he'd personally put her through, and what she'd gotten herself into… hours ago she escaped the clutches of Bonechill… could she really be… dead?

Looking up and around through tear-filled eyes, Fawful noticed… Dimentio.

The jester was still on the cliff, lying on what was left of it. He slowly pushed himself up, staring down into the valley below. Fawful knew he saw her—he saw the fangirl that had just been snatched from the living world.

The jester raised a gloved hand, snapped once, and was gone.

Fawful's eyes went wide. He glanced repeatedly between the cliff Dimentio had vanished from and the valley below—the fangirl's coffin. His eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched, his tiny body shaking in rage.

"Murderer…" Fawful growled.

The beanish child threw himself off the ground, racing off as fast as he could to find the others. It wasn't too late. He saw everything. He'd stop this somehow.

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Kamek spun around at the sound of the screams, raising his wand higher to further illuminate the area. He muttered the light spell under his breath again, increasing the wand's light a bit more.

He could see nothing in the darkness, but he could still hear the echoing screams in the distance. They sounded close. Was someone calling him? It might have been one of the others…

Kamek gently closed his eyes and listened intently. The Green Thunder… the voice called out.

The Magikoopa shrugged it off, continuing on his way. It was probably some Shayde, looking for Mr. L.

Kamek suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. "…wait." He screwed his eyes shut and listened again.

The Thunder of Green…

That was more like it, Kamek thought with a smile. He'd know that broken English anywhere. Turning back towards the source of the noise, he called out, "Fawful!! Over here!!"

There was lots of sounds of stumbling, followed by surrounding bushes beginning to shake. Finally, Fawful stumbled out, looking tired and frantic. He looked absolutely terrified.

"The one who is Kamek! It is being you!" Fawful ran clumsily over to Kamek, throwing his arms around the Magikoopa's waist. "I am possessing such gladness!"

Kamek, obviously, was rather stunned by the gesture. Was Fawful… hugging him? "…Fawful? Are you alright?"

"I say to you NO!!" The child yelled, his cries muffled by Kamek's heavy robes. "Nothing is possessing the alrightness!! An event of much the terribleness has had happening!"

"What?" Kamek gently pried Fawful's arms from his waist and knelt down before him, holding onto the child's shoulders to steady him. "Fawful, listen to me… what happened?"

Kamek noticed the tears streaming down Fawful's heartbroken face, and the terror in his eyes. He looked down at his feet, suddenly going limp in Kamek's hands.

"…It is being Livi." Fawful mumbled.

"Livi? You found her?" Kamek asked, elated.

Fawful miserably shook his head, still staring at the ground. "She was being… on a… cliff… too high for me to have the calling… and she was…" Fawful trembled, screwing his eyes shut. "She had the…"

Kamek found his eyes had also closed in grief. "Good Grambi… please tell me she didn't fall…"

"No." Fawful said flatly.

Kamek didn't miss the sudden change of tone. He looked curiously over the child. "…no?"

Fawful looked up darkly. Even behind his thick glasses, Kamek could tell the terror in Fawful's eyes had quickly been replaced with rage.

"She was being pushed…" he growled.

"Pushed?" Kamek gasped out. "Who would do such a thing?"

"The jester!" Fawful suddenly shrieked at the top of his lungs. "The jester of dementedness!!"

Kamek raised an eyebrow, looking very confused. "…Dimentio? But… why would—"

"I am not knowing…" Fawful interrupted furiously. "But, he did! He had the pushing of her! I had that which is seeing!!" Fawful suddenly stumbled forward and grabbed Kamek's shoulders, forcing the Magikoopa to look at him. "I did have the seeing… he had the pushing of Livi…"

Kamek's confused expression suddenly turned to a stone-cold one. He stood up, gently removing Fawful's hands as he looked out into the surrounding valleys. "Where is she?"

Fawful gestured with his hand in the general direction he came from. "I am not knowing the exactness… the cliff was being in the over of theres…"

Kamek nodded. "Alright… I'll go back down the trail and see if I can find her…"

"What abouting me?!" Fawful demanded, scurrying after Kamek as he started off. "I wish to have the helping!"

"No." Kamek stopped abruptly and shoved Fawful in the opposite direction. "You're quicker than me. Go find Luigi and Mr. L and let them know what happened… Bring them to the base of that cliff you saw."

"And the jester of dementedness?!" Fawful asked, a harsh tone in his voice.

"We'll worry about him later, alright? Right now, we have to deal with this… just go find them. I'll see if there's anything to be done for Livi."

Fawful nodded grimly. "Okaying." With that, he ran off.

Kamek sighed, conjured his broomstick, and flew off to find the fangirl.

With any luck… he wouldn't be too late…