“...And that is how the ruffians managed to best me,” Dimentio said, concluding his report. For once, every single minion had shown up to the meeting: Dark Oak, Lulu, Mimi, and O’Chunks were all present under the watchful gaze of Count Bleck and Nastasia. Dimentio thought they all looked far too bored for the story he’d just finished telling—where was their sense of drama?
“In short, the operation was a failure,” Dark Oak said. “They obtained the Pure Heart and are no doubt preparing to head to the next world.”
“Ah ha ha…” Dimentio chuckled. “They are strong, to be sure. Very strong.”
“They had help,” Dark Oak countered. “They gathered allies from within the world itself. It appears to be a pattern of theirs.”
“She did call herself something rather ridiculous when I was with her.” Lulu tilted her hat upwards. “The Princess of Friendship.”
“Geh!” O’Chunks spat. “ ‘Ow ridiculous! Yeh won’t catch me callin’ ‘er that. ‘Tis disrespectful!”
“Is it disrespectful because it’s girly?” Mimi asked, glaring at him.
“Er… Uh…”
Dark Oak ignored them. “Perhaps we should seek further allies of our own, to counter their increasing forces.”
“Their position is inherently more sympathetic,” Count Bleck said. “It is the first instinct of those living in a world to protect it. You are a rare exception, Dark Oak. Bleck does not know of many others who would share your sentiment.”
“We should still be on the lookout.”
Count Bleck nodded. “Nastasia?”
Nastasia adjusted her spectacles. “We have a sizable crystal pony army now, though they’re busy patrolling the castle. The resistance cells have gotten… smarter, and that warrior has been hindering our efforts.”
“I’ll go whack ‘im!” O’Chunks shouted, slamming his fist into the ground to punctuate his thought. “It’ll be easy as pie!”
“You are welcome to try.” Nastasia pressed her fingertips together. “But he is extremely dangerous. Unlike those ‘heroes’ we face, he is very willing to use lethal force.”
“A challenge!”
“I’m not organizing his funeral,” Mimi said.
O’Chunks gawked at her. “Oi! That hurts, lass, it does!”
“Hmph!”
“Even with allies that may or may not exist, this will be difficult,” Dimentio said. “The heroes might be strong enough to defy the prophecy.”
The Count looked downward, hand to his chin. “...Spare Count Bleck your theatrics. The Light Prognosticus is false. The Dark Prognosticus holds the answer to eliminating the heroes that rise to stop us.”
Dimentio leaned in, curious. Where was he getting that? “Oh? What part would that be? Do tell, I don’t believe I’m aware of it.”
“Bleh heheheheheheheheh… In due time, Dimentio, in due time.” Bleck pointed at Nastasia. “It is time for you to grab ‘him.’ “
Nastasia nodded. “Yeah, um, I can take care of that for you, Count.”
Count Bleck clapped his hands. “Lovely! Exclaimed Count Bleck. Return to your posts, my dear minions!”
“Hail Bleck!” all of them but Dark Oak said before going their separate ways, leaving Nastasia and the Count alone.
“Um…”
“Does something trouble you, Nastasia?” the Count asked.
“Yeah…” Nastasia looked around to make sure they were all out of earshot before looking to him without a hint of her usual ice. “Count… You know, there’s still time. You can still change your mind.”
Bleck looked up at nothing in particular, letting silence fill the room for several moments. “...that is enough, Nastasia. We’ve already come this far, so we shall forge on!” Looking to her, his gaze softened. “But you needn’t stay by Count Bleck’s side. ...You can depart with my blessing.”
Nastasia reeled in shock. “Um, no, my Count! I won’t be doing that.” Recomposing herself, she flattened her suit. “My life is already sworn to you. Yeah, it’s belonged to you since the day you saved me. I’ll be sticking it out with you until the end.”
Count Bleck turned away, silent.
“...’K?”
“If that pleases you,” Bleck said, emotionless. He vanished into a swirl of Void.
With a sigh, Nastasia adjusted her glasses and jumped off her platform.
My my my… Dimentio thought from his position in a parallel dimension, having been invisible to the two of them. How interesting! Nastasia and the Count have such deep conversations! He shifted back into a visible state, landing on Nastasia’s pillar. Just what is our dear Count playing at?
He floated into the air, looking at the ceiling where Bleck had been fixated just a moment before. ...Ah well, I’ll let him worry about that. I must attend to my own projects. With a snap of his fingers, he shifted to another plane of existence, leaving the room empty.