A frigid wind blew through the dim and drafty corridors of Castle Bleck. Bowser, Peach...and even sweet Lianna Bunny were gone. Mario and Luigi were the only heroes left. It was up to the Mario Bros. to stop the dark prophecy. Every world hung in balance. What thrilling conclusion awaited our heroes? Mario and Luigi ran to the count's inner sanctum, his mustache fluttering in the breeze...She

Chapter 8-4: Tippi and Count Bleck

Mario and Luigi headed deeper into the castle. They climbed up a long staircase together. Tippi followed them. "I'm so sorry Mario... Luigi..." She said sadly. "It is not your fault, Tippi. These people here are nasty and we are going to defeat them and save the universe." Mario replied, they entered inside the door. "If you say so..." Tippi replied, knowing what needed to be done.

They entered inside of the area where the minions usually had their meetings. "Bleh heh heh heh heh..." A voice laughed. Count Bleck and his assistant Nastasia were standing on a platform. "I see you've come at last! So you really are the heroes of the Light Prognosticus." Count Bleck laughed. Mario and Luigi approached Count Bleck.

"Count...Bleck..." Tippi said. "But you are far too late to stop the Dark Prognosticus and me... Count Bleck! All worlds will soon end. Come to grips with that now, for you cannot stop it. I suggest you make yourself comfortable and enjoy this one, final spectacle!" Count Bleck called out. "But...why? Do you really want to destroy everything? Why would you do this?! How...COULD you do this?!" Tippi demanded.

"Count Bleck does not care about any world! They are all meaningless. Better that I destroy them! Better yet, I shall make it as if they never existed at all!" Count Bleck called out. "If the worlds have no meaning, was our meeting meaningless as well? Answer me, Blumiere!" Tippi demanded, shaking a little. He holds his hat over his face. "You know the answer, dear Timpani... Count Bleck does not have to tell you... But the hour has grown too late. You should know that by now." He said.

"Blumiere.................... My love, Blumiere... Or rather, Count Bleck... The only way we can stop this is to defeat you... And that is exactly why the Mario brothers and I have come here... To stop this." Tippi said. "BLEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK! Very well! But I will also do what I must! Count Bleck is the deleter of worlds! My fate is written in the Dark Prognosticus! Do not think for a moment that I will hesitate to strike you down. ALL NOW ENDS!" He shouted. "Blumiere... My Blumiere..." Tippi mourned.

"Leave me, Nastasia. I will deal with these three ALONE." Count Bleck ordered. "B-but..." Nastasia started. "Count Bleck demands it! I will not say it again..." He ordered. "...Yeah, right away, Count." Nastasia said sadly, leaving the area. "Are you prepared, hero? Our duel will be worthy of the last clash the world will ever see!" He shouted. The battle began. "Cmon bro, let's show him the power of the super Mario bros!" Luigi shouted.

Mario nodded and started to attack Count Bleck, but it was pointless. He was invincible. "How laughable! Is that all the heroism you can muster? Let me show you true power!" He shouted. "Our attacks... aren't doing anything! He's being shielded by the Chaos Heart." Tippi said. They attempted to attack him more, but it was no use. "You can't so much as tug on the cape of Count Bleck! You have failed!" He shouted.

"Mario, Luigi, your attacks aren't working at all..." Tippi said sadly. "Bleck! I expected more potency from the hero of prophecy!" He shouted, spawning in some magic. "I will watch your game end, and then your precious worlds will end soon after!" He shouted, using the magic. "Is this... the end?" Tippi asked.

Then suddenly, when all hope was lost... A miracle happened....

"Oh, COME ON! You're giving up already?" A voice growled out loud. Mario looked over and saw Bowser. "Bowser! You're alive!" Mario said happily. "Come on! Man up a little. You never give up this easily when you attack MY castle!" Bowser scolded at them.

Count Bleck stops using magic. "Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... So you ARE alive, then!" He said. Peach and Lianna shown up. "Luigi!" Lianna called out happily, running up a hugging him. Peach ran up and hugged Mario. "We would never let you destroy everything, you awful count!" Peach said out loud. "Yeah! You tell him, girl!" Lianna replied happily.

"Lianna... You're alive!" Luigi said happily, he hugged her, crying with joy. Lianna smiled happily and cried tears of joy. "Apparently we were all in this strange area instead of being sent to the Underwhere or Overthere..." Lianna explained. "I fell through the floor before I got flattened by the ceiling." Bowser explained.

"And I fell right on top of Bowser! He was surprisingly soft!" Peach replied. "And Peach apparently found me passed out next to them. I don't know why, but we're all here!" Lianna said happily. "Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... "When the five heroes are united..." It is all as foretold." Bleck chuckled. Then the screen flashed. "What? What is this?" Count Bleck asked, the five heroes started to glow. "What is now happening to... Count Bleck?!" Peach asked.

The Pure Hearts revealed themselves. "The Pure Hearts..." Tippi said. They rose to Count Bleck, and shattered his barrier. "Bleh heh heh heh...huh?! My barrier... is gone?!" Count Bleck asked in shock. Lianna smiled in awe. "Five heroes unite, their hope burns forth light to shatter the walls of blight. Just as Merlee said..." Tippi said.

"So be it...says Count Bleck! But don't celebrate just yet. Your precious worlds aren't safe until my last breath!" He shouted, he spread his arms. "Let us finally end this! Now the true battle begins...with Count Bleck!" He shouted. The battle really began, with Lianna, Peach and Mario helping ambush Count Bleck with Bowser and Luigi. They dodged his spells, and fought him until he was finished.

Count Bleck risen up with the Chaos Heart showing. "BLEHHHH!" He called out, he teleported into the floor, the chaos heart standing in the middle. Lianna and the others approached him. "Ex... Excellent..." He said weakly. "Umm... Count?" Nastasia asked curiously. "You have won... Now finish Count Bleck... Dispatch me and the Chaos Heart will disappear. The prophecy will be undone..." He said weakly. Tippi floated to Count Bleck. "Why does it have to end like this..." Tippi said sadly.

"Timpani... When you vanished, I searched long for you. I never gave up looking... I searched and searched..." He said weakly, shaking his head. "But I never found you. Without you, the world held no meaning or joy... So I used the forbidden prophecy of the Tribe of Ancients to end all worlds. I wanted to destroy everything that had taken you away from me..." He said weakly. Lianna gasped, she realized Count Bleck wasn't honestly a bad guy after all... "But I am here now... No one can keep us apart anymore... Don't you see?" Tippi asked.

"It is too late. Count Bleck has done so much evil... It must end. Just knowing that you are still alive... And knowing that the world you still live in will continue... It gives me peace. I do not have long to live. You must end my game before The Void destroys all..." Count Bleck replied. Lianna looked into the background and squinted her eyes for a second, she was thinking she saw someone... familiar... "N-no... it can't be..." Lianna mumbled to herself.

It was at this moment, Lianna knew, they were going to be in a world of hurt.

A magic attack was fired at the count. Nastasia was the first one to officially notice the blast. "Count, look out!" Nastasia cried out. She got hit and took the attack. "Na-Nastasia!" Count Bleck cried out. "No! No! No! I thought he died in the explosion that almost killed me!" Lianna shouted out loud. "Silly assistant! Absorbing my attack to protect him? What an adorably hopeless gesture." A familiar voice chimed, a voice of a person that Lianna hoped to never see again. Dimentio came into the room, floating above the Chaos Heart. "Hello my lovely bunny." He said to Lianna.

Lianna growled at him. "I am not your bunny!" Lianna snapped at him. "How did you survive the explosion?!" Lianna asked him in anger. "You honestly think I was going to end my own game with the heroes on their way to finish the count? You silly girl." Dimentio answered. "You wanted us to finish Count Bleck? You wanted us to defeat him for your purposes?!" Lianna asked in spite. Dimentio nodded. "Even if the count dies, the Chaos Heart won't disappear if I continue to control it! But I needed the Pure Hearts to beat him... That's where you all come in. I think I owe you one." He said. "What do you mean?" Lianna asked a bit worried, she held onto Luigi tightly.

"I mean that you're all of no use to me. But, before your precious games end, I'm going to enjoy making you all feel complete agony. They're all yours Ms.L!" Dimentio called out, and snapped his fingers.

Lianna let go of Luigi and slowly walked towards the middle of the room. "G-guys... W-what's h-happening to me?! H-help me p-please! D-don't stand there, d-do something!" Lianna cried out loud.

Mario and Peach gasped at the sight of their friend flailing her arms around. Bowser chuckled. "Your arms." He laughed. Dimentio snapped his fingers, and a Floro Sprout grew from her head.

"Ms.L reporting for duty, Master Dimentio! I wanted to say that I forgive you for sending me to the Underwhere earlier, but I guess now is the time now! W-what is your bidding?" The now brainwashed Ms. L asked. Peach smacked Bowser in the face.

"Oh my sweet Ms.L, how I have missed you. I was hoping to bring you back like you were before, but this will have to do. Now, run along and get ready for your big entrance." Dimentio commanded.

Ms.L did what she was told. "Unhand her right now you fiend! You are messing up her mind!" Mario demanded. "Lianna, wait!" Luigi called out, trying to warn Ms.L.

"I'm afraid I can't do that my mustachioed comrade. Now, get ready for the greatest magic show of this world's soon to be finished history!" Dimentio called out, and threw the Chaos Heart upward.

Ms.L then proceeded to fuse with the Chaos Heart and created a sort of giant puppet of sorts which looked somewhat like Lianna and Dimentio. "LIME!!!" It screeched out loud. "LIANNA?!" Luigi cried out.

"The Dark Prognosticus says she's the ideal host for the power of the Chaos Heart. And now I'm going to add my own power, so that we may become one, together, forever! Ah ha ha ha ha!" Dimentio laughed psychotically.

"No... Stop!" Count Bleck cried out weakly. "Oh, Count Bleck! You look so tattered and pathetic, I nearly forgot about you. I was going to simply squeeze the life out of you, but now that I know the true identity of this little pixl, I think I'll have some fun making you watch as she is ripped away from you again!" Dimentio explained.

Tippi backed up to Count Bleck. "N-no... You can't..." Tippi pleaded. Peach and Mario gasped in shock. "D-don't hurt her..." Count Bleck said weakly.

Dimentio warped them away. "That comes later. Just get comfy as you spend the last moments of your lives in my dimension. Now, finally, I can be with her again!" Dimentio flew up to the puppet's mouth and climbed into its mouth, then puppet started to glow.

"Now she and the Chaos Heart are all mine! I will use them to destroy all worlds... and create perfect new ones! And we will rule together as their king and queen!" Dimentio called out.

"This guy's nuts!" Bowser shouted out loud. Mario and Peach started getting right to work in an attempt to stop the monster, known as Super Bunny Dimentio and to rescue their friend who was in grave danger.

Bowser helped them. Luigi hesitated at first, but then he too joined in the fight, looking more determined than ever. Mario used Cudge to attempt to hammer the creature and Peach got Boomer out to help. Bowser used Carrie to dodge faster and Luigi used Slim to dodge its attacks. It felt like no use though, they were invincible.

"Ah ha ha ha ha! I am invincible! There is nothing you can do! And now, the destruction shall begin, with YOU!" Dimentio laughed.

Meanwhile back at Flopside...

Merlon and Nolrem are waiting for the heroes outside the door. "The worlds tremble... Has the end finally come?" Merlon asked. " ...How unfortunate." Nolrem replied. The worlds have started to end. Flopside, Yold Town and the Land of Cragnons have just perished.

Meanwhile in Dimension D, Blumiere and Timpani were waiting there weakly.

"We have to do something! We must help Mario and the others!" Timpani said. "We cannot. Without the Pure Hearts, there is no way to counter the Chaos Heart. All we can do is give up..." Blumiere replied hopelessly. "What are you SAYING?! You promised we would find happiness together! Was that a lie?!" Timpani demanded.

"It was no lie... But without the Pure Hearts, all worlds are doomed. What can we do?" He asked. "What are you SAYING?! You promised we would find happiness together! Was that a lie?!" Timpani demanded. "It was no lie... But without the Pure Hearts, all worlds are doomed. What can we do?" He asked. Timpani hit him. "Snap out of it! Can't you see we are together again? Because we stayed alive for each other! And now Dimentio plans to take me away again! You promised we'd find happiness! YOU PROMISED!" She shouted at him.

"That's right, Count!" A voice called, O'Chunks and Mimi, the only two minions left that are not traitors approached Blumiere. "My minions... How did you find us here?" He asked them. "Gosh, I could follow your big smile anywhere, Count!" Mimi said happily. "Ah, she lies like a wee rug this lass. Nastasia told us you'd be 'ere! Ot at least, she felt ye'd be 'ere." O'Chunks explained. Nastasia was still with them, laying passed out on the floor.

"Nastasia..." Blumiere replied. O'Chunks walked to Nastasia. "Look at that. She even sacrificed 'erself to save yeh. Highly 'espectable." He said.

"Yeah! I mean, there's no WAY Dimentio's getting away with this! He pulled a really dirty trick on you, but we'll always stick by your side!" Mimi said happily. "My... My loyal minions..." Blumiere replied softly. The Pure Hearts then reappeared, back in full power. "Hmm... What's this? Pure...Hearts?! But why?" He asked. "Don't you see Blumiere? As long as we feel love, they live on." Timpani said and flew up to them. "I will take these to Mario." She said.

Meanwhile with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser and Super Bunny Dimentio...

Mario and the others are trying to survive Super Bunny Dimentio's wrath. "Hmm, I grow tired of playing with you. Time to end this. Ciao!" Dimentio was about to deal the final blow. Suddenly, the Pure Hearts started to circle around him. "What?! The Pure Hearts?! I thought you wasted them on Bleck!" Dimentio panicked.

The Pure Hearts shut down Super Bunny Dimentio's defenses and removed the invincibility. Mario and the others were healed to full health. "I'm... not invincible?" He asked. "Yes! Now's our chance!" Mario called out in happiness and Timpani reunited with them for a final time.

"The Pure Hearts have given us power! Let's get him!" Timpani called out. Mario and the other heroes then proceeded to ambush the giant puppet and soon after a while had defeated it.

"Urgh-GAH?!" Super Bunny Dimentio exploded, leaving only its head on the floor. "But how... I had the power of the Chaos Heart and Lianna... The prophecy... Was it undone?!" It asked in shock.

"Don't you know that villains never win?" Mario asked him. "I think your prophecy was wrong all along." Peach replied. "You believed in that stupid prophecy. We believed in wiping the floor with you!" Bowser said. "Not all of them come true. We make our own fates!" Luigi added.

"Now hand over our friend now. Give up. You lose." Mario said in anger. Peach was very angry as well. Bowser was mad. Luigi was furious.

"Ah ha... You think this is the end? I have one last trick up my sleeve. Ah ha ha ha ha! Ciao!" Dimentio called out and exploded, ending his game..... or did he? Lianna got flung out, spared from the destruction of the decapitated monster. Luigi ran to her. "Lianna! Are you ok?" He asked her in worry.

Lianna coughed and looked up weakly at Luigi. "L-luigi... You're okay! You saved my life! You saved me from that psychotic jester.. " Lianna said weakly, hugging onto him.

Luigi held her close. "It's ok. I've got you." He said to her. Lianna panicked as the place started to rumble. "Oh gosh! We're all going to die!" Lianna cried out in horror. "B-but we stopped him, didn't we?" Luigi asked, confused.

Blumiere and his minions show up. "So it seems the end of all worlds is really upon us..." Blumiere said. "So defeating Dimentio wasn't enough to stop it?" Peach asked. "I thought the Chaos Heart would disappear if the person controlling it fell... Dimentio...must have left behind a shadow of his power to continue controlling it. It won't last long...but it may be enough to ensure the end of every world..." He replied. Lianna gasped and clung onto Luigi with all her might. "Oh GREAT, so what do we do now?" Bowser asked.

"There is only one thing left that we can do." Blumiere said. He spread his arms out and spawned in a huge door. "This way!" He ordered. Everyone entered into the door and arrived at the wedding hall where Peach and Bowser almost got married. Lianna looked around. "Hey... I remember this place..." Lianna said weakly. "This is the wedding place..." Luigi added.

"Timpani... Do you still.. Do you still love me?" He asked Timpani. "Yes... Blumiere. Of course I do." She replied. "Then you must come with me." He ordered. "'Ey Count! What are ye doin'?!" O'Chunks called out.

"We will use the Pure Hearts again, this time to banish the Chaos Heart. All we need is true love... And that is something I am lucky enough to possess... But... With the Chaos Heart gone, the Pure Hearts and those linked to them... They may cease to exist.." He said. " You mean you might go away? B-But I don't want you to go!" Mimi cried out.

"All of this is my fault. The price is mine to pay... I do not have long to live anyway. But you, Timpani... It pains me to know this may cut your game short... Still... There is no other way to end this." Blumiere told Timpani. "I know Blumiere... I know..." Timpani replied.

"Timpani..." Blumiere replied. "Don't say another word... As long as I'm with you, I'm happy." Timpani said and smiled at Blumiere. Lianna looked at Timpani in tears. "Y-y-you're leaving us?" Lianna asked her. "I must. If our worlds are to be saved, this is what I have to do. I'll miss you all. Mario, Peach, Lianna, Luigi, even you Bowser." She said.

Lianna smiled and sniffled. She tried to reach out for her. "I-I-I'll miss you Tippi..." She said to her.
Timpani floated to Lianna and nuzzled her. "I'll miss you too..." She said. She smiled and blushed, tears pricking her eyes. "G-goodbye now Tippi... goodbye and good luck..." She said.

The place began to rumble. "Waaaah! It's... happening!" Luigi cried out. Lianna held onto Luigi tightly. "We must go, Timpani..." He ordered. "Yes... of course Blumiere." She said. They went to the alter.

"There were so many things I wanted to say to you...but I could not find the words." He said to her. "Oh Blumiere... Only one thing matters to me now. I never returned your question. Do you still love me?" She asked him. "Of course... I have thought about you every moment since you disappeared... But I have caused you so much suffering..." He said to her.

"Perhaps... my life would have been more carefree without you, that is true." She said to him. "But I had to be with you, Timpani. I will never apologize for that..." He said to her. "I know, Blumiere. And I love you..." She said.

"And I love you, Timpani... Hundreds of thousands of years from now, that fact will not have changed..." He said to her.

Lianna panicked as the ground shook more. "Luigi! If we do die! I just wanted to tell you that I love you very, very much!" Lianna cried out loud, she then kissed Luigi. Luigi blushed and kissed her back.

Lianna then heard a noise. "Huh?" Lianna asked. Bells chimed out loud. "I hear...bells!" Mimi said happily. "How lovely! The bells are giving their blessing to Tippi and Bleck..." Peach said happily. Mario nodded. "Urrrrrrgh..." O'Chunks sighed.

Throughout the universe, the void vanished and the universe was being saved, restored to peace.

"Timpani...do you remember the promise we made to each other that day?"

"Yes, I remember..."

"If there was a place where we could be happy together, we would find it."

"Will you come with me to that place now?"

"Blumiere... Of course... I will always be with you..."

".......ro......... Big bro!" Luigi cried out. Mario woke up and saw almost everyone gathered up. Lianna was still in Luigi's arms. "You awake bro?" Luigi asked. Mario nodded.

Nastasia finally woke up after defending Blumiere from Dimentio. O'Chunks gasped. "Great leapin' bog monkeys! Nastasia, she draws breath once again lads! Nastasia! 'EY! NASTASIA! Miracle o' miracles!" He called out.

"...Mmm? Um... I... I'm alive?" Nastasia asked. "Mario... Check it out!" Peach called out. The void vanished out of the sky. "The Void is closing..." Peach said. "Yay! We saved the world! I am so, so sorry that I almost had the world destroyed..." Lianna said.

"There is no need for apologies young one." A voice called out, Merlon came to them. "You saved all worlds. Together, combined with your hope for them to succeed. But... where is Tippi?" He asked.

"Tippi, I mean Timpani sacrificed herself with Count Bleck, I mean, Blumiere to save the universe." Lianna replied. "I see... So she has gone... Ah... This, too, must have been under the guidance of the Pure Hearts..." Merlon said.

"Both Tippi and Count Bleck... gone. What could have happened to them?" Peach asked curiously. "I shudder to think about it, but surely when the prophecy was nullified..." Merlon replied.

"Um, no... They're alive." Nastasia spoke up. "Yeah, they're finally united. They overcame time and fulfilled their old vows... Somewhere, the count... is living together with Tippi... in...um...happiness... And I... Yeah, I..." She then started to bawl her eyes out.

"WAAAAH! C-C-C-Count! NOOOOOOOO! I... I'm all alone! What am I to do now?!" She sobbed out loud. "'Ey now, me wee Nastasia... I'm believin' the count is still alive too. An' if he is alive, lass, we wouldn't want to be shamin' 'im with blubberin'! So pull it together, 'ey?" O'Chunks said. "He's right, Nassy! We still have each other! We can still build the count's world! So, c'mon! Big smile!" Mimi said happily. "Oh... O'Chunks... Mimi..." Nastasia stopped crying, she fixed her glasses.

"Y-You're right. Yeah, I can't just sob like this forever. The count would never have approved. We have to create the ideal world that, um, the count wished for in his heart... A world of love, not war. Yeah, let's all pencil that in. An appointment... of hope." She said.

"Farewells are bittersweet... but as long as you live, you can never escape them. To feel sadness is to live... but as long as you are alive, the future is a blank page." Merlon said, then looked up. "And with that, I am hungry. I've asked Saffron to prepare some celebratory snacks." He said. "Oh yeah! Now that sounds like a plan!" Bowser said excitedly.

"Yay! Sweets! I love sweets!" Lianna said happily. Everyone headed out to the place, except Peach noticed Merlon not leaving with the others. "Merlon, what is it?" Peach asked Merlon.

"Oh, I was just thinking about Tippi... I mean, Lady Timpani... I hope she is truly happy..." Merlon replied. "Of course she is." Peach said happily. "Yes. You're right." Merlon said, then Peach and him caught up with the rest of the group.

The Dark Prognosticus again faded into history... Count Blumiere and his love, Lady Timpani, both vanished. Where did the pair go? None know. And so the story of the lost book of prophecies comes to an end... May we meet again in another time and place.

The End.