The news had finally come. The central chamber was full when it reached Count Bleck’s ears.
“What!? ...Spat Count Bleck in utter disbelief. Surely this news cannot be true!”
“I’m afraid so,” Dark Oak reported. “My source confirmed the last Pure Heart in their clutches.”
“Ah ha ha!” Dimentio chuckled. “They will be here before long, my Count.”
O’Chunks stamped his feet. “Whuh?! Izzat true? Then what’re we doin’ twiddlin’ our biscuits ‘ere!? Count Black! Lemme go throw ‘em a nice welcome party… I’ll bring the punch!”
“Yes, yes,” Count Bleck said, extending a hand. “To your positions, minions!”
“And do it quickly,” Nastasia added. “They will be able to break the Chaos Heart’s curse. Our Void travel will be limited, if functional at all.”
“Yeh can count on me!” O’Chunks jumped away into a Void portal.
“Yes…” Mimi chuckled malevolently. “We’ll throw a party. A party those party poopers will never forget! Mimimimimimimi!” She jumped into her Void.
Lulu left wordlessly, refusing to even look up at Count Bleck.
Dark Oak paid her no mind. “Count, I will hold them back until the very end. To my last breath.”
“Count Bleck believes you will,” Bleck said, nodding in respect. “You are devout, Dark Oak.”
The Metarex leader bowed respectfully before vanishing into a portal of his own, leaving only Dimentio. The jester smirked. “Naturally I do not need to be in a hurry… but I shall prepare nonetheless.” As if something had occurred to him, he snapped his fingers. “Oh! One moment… Dear Count, does the name Blumiere ring a bell?”
Count Bleck’s posture straightened slightly—not enough to go off of. It was Nastasia’s sudden gasp that gave it away, not that Count Bleck was going to give Dimentio the satisfaction.
“Where did you hear that name, Dimentio?” the Count asked.
“Oh, just something that butterfly Pixl was yammering on about. I suppose there’s no reason to pay any mind to it. Ciao for now, my Count!” He was gone with a burst of time and space, leaving only Count Bleck and Nastasia.
“Count Bleck! If… um…” Nastasia took in a deep breath, composing herself. “If that Pixl is who you think it is, there’s still time. You can stop the prophecy from destroying everything!”
The Count remained silent, frowning deeply.
“Yeah, because, if that’s really her… if she’s alive, you have to stop all this!”
“You know not what you are saying Nastasia. The prophecy can no longer be stopped. Not by me. Not by anyone.”
Nastasia sighed. “Yeah, I’m on board with what you’re saying… but there must be a way. There must…” She looked him in the eye, speaking the next words with almost a whisper. “Lord Blumiere…”
The crazed smile—the facade—returned in full force. “Bleh heheheheheh. The man known as Blumiere died long ago. Now there is only Bleck!” He held out a hand to the darkness, forming a Void in his hand. “The Dark Prognosticus’ choice to fulfill the prophecy! Nothing more!”
“But…”
He ignored her. “Come to Count Bleck, heroes! If you hope to save these worlds, then come! Bleh hehehehehehehehehe! BLECK!”