A small D-man walked to to Jaydes, queen of the Underwhere, a slight edge in his tone. He was worried about this conversation, but it needed to be had. There was a growing problem, which needed to be solved before it got bigger.

D-Man: "Your Majesty, we have a small problem."

She sighed, and turned to face the small D-Man. She had a dark, powerful face that struck fear into those who crossed her, but her voice has a softer feel to it, putting people at ease. She wasn't evil, she wasn't wicked. She was merely the queen of the Underwhere. It was a job.

Jaydes: "What is it now?"

He let out a shaky breath. Though she wasn't quite evil, she still was his queen, and was rather terrifying.

D-Man: "Y-you know how thousands of years ago we had one soul escape?"

Jaydes: "Yes, I am aware. But we haven't been able to find her. I thought we got past this. We can't continue worrying about her. It's out of our hands, and it's been thousands of years. I don't think she's a threat anymore."

D-Man: "I know, I know. But, remember how a few years ago, our incoming soul count has been off by an extra one? And you said that it just had to be a glitch in our system?"

She nodded, not sure where he was going with this. Years ago, the count had been off by an extra one, almost as if someone had escaped the river. However, escaping the river is nearly impossible, since souls are often too disoriented after death. Usually, by the time they realize what's happening, they've already given up.

D-Man: "W-well, that number went up. Now we're off by an extra two. I... I don't think it's a glitch. We've checked everything, and everything is going smoothly. So.... many of us D-men believe that two extra souls managed to escape the river, and are hiding out somewhere."

Jaydes: "Impossible. When people first die, they're to disoriented to even think for themselves. No way they could just, escape the river on their own. You must be mistaken."

D-Man: "W-well, if this is so, we'll need to find the souls and put them where they belong. We can't just have them out there just... existing. It makes escape from this place to easy for them, which could throw off our balance between life and death even more."

She took a moment to think. Grambi would be pretty disappointed with her if that happened, and it would be pretty bad. It would be probably best to try to get this problem solved before a soul escapes or tries going upstairs or something.

Jaydes: "Well.... then I guess we'll have to sweep the land, just in case these souls are in fact out there. Okay? Can you get a squad to do that?"

He quickly nodded in response.

Jaydes: "Good, then I'll leave you in charge of that. Let me know if you ever find anything. Thank you."

______

Mr. L slowly made his way to flipside, the celebration dying down, but still going. He slowly made his way through the crowd, though had absolutely no idea what he was doing. 

Do the next right thing.

Do the next right thing.

AGH! SHUT UP! There is no 'next right thing!' Be a little more specific Dim!

He shook the thoughts away and pushed through to see a group of people gathered around something.

Or, someone.

Mr. L could barely see who it was through the large amount of people. He was beginning to feel claustrophobic, so he took a step back and listened to see if he could recognize voices.

Mario and Luigi stood in the center of the crowd, as everyone gathered around. The crowd all listened in as Luigi continued stammering and rambling. They all watched with confused expressions on their faces. It was as if he just snapped or something. 

Luigi: "And he, it, I-I-I-I-uh, it, it was awful! I-"

Mario crossed his arms. His brother had been stammering like this all day. It was honestly starting to get annoying to say the least. His brother was first acting all salty, and now he's suddenly all nervous again. He was acting like he just saw a dead body or something!

Mario: "Just spit it out Luigi! You've been acting weird for nearly a month! Come on! What's wrong?"

Luigi broke into more tears. It was like he couldn't control his emotions anymore.

Luigi: "He was- and I couldn't do anything. And then, I saw another me, and it was horrible. I couldn't help, I couldn't do anything! I-I think it was my fault. I-I couldn't help, s-s-so I just stayed there. I couldn't do anything, but stay there. I-I didn't wanna leave him alone, so I just sat there! I JUST SAT THERE, MARIO!! "

Mario quickly grabbed his brother's arm, and started pulling him away from the crowd, as Luigi kept mumbling to himself like some sort of crazy person.

Mario: "Okay, I think we need to get you to bed or something. You're clearly being delusional..."

He began to lead Luigi out of the crowd, as Luigi continued shaking, when they ran into who but Mr. L.

Mario: "Excuse me-"

He froze when he saw who he had casually ran into, and exchanged glances between Luigi and Mr. L. He had to rub his eyes to make sure he was really seeing this. Luigi pointed a shaking hand at Mr. L, and stepped behind Mario.

Luigi: "Look! S-s-see! Another me! I told you! He was there, and, and, and-"

Mario: "OH MY GRAMBI, MR. L'S BACK!"

Luigi gave a confused look as Mario quickly pulled him away and took off running. Mr. L rolled his eyes as the crowd around him began to panic. Funny how a simple change in clothes can change how everyone sees you. He stood there, as everyone around him continued running and screaming, impatiently tapping his foot.

Why am I not surprised.

Mr. L: "....wow. Are you finished yet?"

The crowd began to die down after a few minutes of running and screaming like headless chicken, as Blumiere made his way through.

Blumiere: "Mr. L?? You're alive??"

Mr. L shrugged, covering up the pain. He wouldn't cry. Not now. Not in front of everyone. He tried steading his voice, but as he spoke he just sounded completely emotionless.

Mr. L: "Yes. Obviously."

Blumiere's eyes lit up, and he pulled Mr. L aside. Timpani just a few minutes ago finished telling him about everything with Dimentio, but seeing Mr. L okay put a bright shining feeling of hope in his heart.

Blumiere: "If you survived that... then does that mean.... does that mean Dimentio's alive too??"

He began to smile, his eyes filling with hope, when Mr. L pushed his arm away, and slowly shook his head.

Mr. L: ".....no."

Blumiere's smile dropped immediately.

Blumiere: "Oh...."

Mr. L clenched his fists. It was getting harder and harder by the minute not to snap. He wasn't sure if he wanted to cry, or yell, or smack someone, or just lie down and wait for the sweet sweet release of death.

In this moment of time, his emotions seemed to choose anger. Bummer, really. Lying down and dying was starting to look really good.

Why should you care?? Weren't you just singing about how happy you were about Dimentio being dead? Or were you just sitting by, watching everyone sing about it. 

Mr. L: "But that's a good thing, right? Weren't you just celebrating his death?! Huh?! You and all these sick people! I saw the fireworks! I heard the singing!"

Blumiere: "Mr. L-"

Mr. L: "I WAS THERE! DON'T DENY IT! YOU'RE ALL HAPPY HE'S GONE! YOU'RE HAPPY!"

He felt the tears well up in his eyes. He did his best not to let them fall, but it wasn't working. He was angry, he was sad, he was scared, he was broken.

His emotions were betraying him. Anger melted to sadness more and more by the second, and there was no way to control it.

Mr. L: "It's unfair.... how can you be happy? How can anyone be happy?! He's gone."

He slowly started breaking down again.

Mr. L: "He's gone.... and there's nothing I can do about it. I wasn't even there."

He leaned into Blumiere and started sobbing. Blumiere, also starting to get a little teary, slowly pulled Mr. L into a hug, and lowered his voice to a whisper.

Blumiere: "I....I'm not happy."

Mr. L continued sobbing, but slightly lighter now.

Mr. L: "What?"

Blumiere cleared his throat and spoke more clearly.

Blumiere: "I'm not happy. I don't want him gone. I don't hate him, and... and I wish he was here too."

Mr. L pulled back and tried composing himself. That wasn't the response he expected. He expected Blumiere to tell him to stop acting so sad. He expected to hear something along the lines of, 'Dimentio was a traitor, who got what he deserved.' or 'Why are you crying? He nearly ended everything. What's wrong with you?!' But no... Blumiere instead responded with feelings of understanding.

Mr. L: "Y-you do?"

Blumiere nodded. Mr. L felt the small feeling of shock dissolve as he turned his head to the side and crossed his arms, letting out a long, sad sigh. 

Now that sad feeling was was replaced with the 'what am I going to do now' feeling.

Mr. L: "I.... I don't know what to do. I have nowhere to go."

Blumiere: "Well.... for now, why don't you stay here?"

Mr. L chuckled a little and wiped a tear away.

Mr. L: "Yeah, right. That's funny. You saw how they all reacted when they saw me."

Blumiere: "They learned to accept me. Come on, stay with us. We could use your help around here. We're all a team. We can all help each other get through this."

L looked down, before groaning. He did have nowhere else to go. He had no idea what to do.

Just do the next right thing.

Mr. L: "....Fine. I'll stay, but just until I figure out what to do."

Blumiere smiled and nodded, then led him towards Flipside tower. Towards the next page of their lives. This chapter was over, and it was time to start the next.

Mr. L pulled out Dimentio's hat, and hugged it to himself once Blumiere brought him inside and showed him where he could stay for the time being. He held the hat closely, before folding it up nicely and sliding it into a drawer, so it could be safe. He'd probably eventually move it to a nicer place if he could find one, but the drawer would have to suffice for now. Then, he lied down on the empty bed and looked around the empty room.

For once, it felt kinda nice just to have nothing.

Time to start the next level.

~ One Year Later ~

Timpani stood at the edge of Flipside tower, yet again. She carefully held Dimentio's mask in both her hands, as the wind blew through her long white hair. Then, she took a look at the time.

Nearly midnight. Perfect.

Every night at midnight, she'd come to the top of this tower, and look for him. She knew she'd never find him, but she still would look. It had become kinda like a tradition now.

Every time she came up here, his words would replay in her head, over and over again.

SO IF YOU CARE TO FIND ME, LOOK TO THE MIDNIGHT SKY!

So she'd look. Time after time.

But she'd never find him. She knew she'd never find him, but, she had a small glimmer of hope in her heart. A part of her truly believed that she'd find him someday. That he'd be there, and they'd laugh, and this will have all been one of his fancy magician tricks. 

- Music Start -

The crowd below celebrated. It seemed people were always celebrating something. Today they'd be celebrating a whole year of safety. She couldn't believe that it had only been one year since Dimentio died. It felt like a lifetime.

So much has happened in her life since then. A whole new journey was beginning for her. The next chapter.

But, she still missed him everyday.

Crowd: "Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear....
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
How do you measure? Measure a year?

In daylights,
In sunsets,
In midnights,
In cups of coffee,
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife....
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
How do you measure a year in a life?"

Blumiere walked up to Timpani, carrying something small.

Blumiere and Crowd: "How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love....

Seasons of love....
Seasons of love...."

Timpani smiled, and took the small bundle in her arms, smiling down at it.

Timpani: "Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan.
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
How do you measure a life of a woman or a man?"

Blumiere: "In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that he died...."

Crowd: "Its time now to sing out though,
The story never ends.
Let's celebrate remember a year in a life
Of friends!

Remember the love..."

Timpani: "Oh you gotta remember the love,"

Crowd: "Remember the love..."

Timpani: "You know, love is a gift from up above,"

Crowd: "Remember the love..."

Timpani: "Sing out, give out,"

Crowd: "Measure in love..."

Timpani: "Measure... measure your live in love...."

Crowd: "Seasons of love....
Seasons of love...."

Timpani smiled down at the small bundle as it peacefully slept, Blumiere wrapping an arm around her and looking to the sky.

Timpani: "Do you think we'll see him tonight?"

Blumiere smiled and held her close.

Blumiere: "Who knows."

Suddenly, they both heard the elevator door chime, and Mr. L, Mimi, O'Chunks, and Nastasia all came stumbling through, pushing and showing each other.

Mimi: "Where's the baby?! Can I hold it?? It's a girl, right?! Please say it's a girl."

O'Chunks: "Ay, lass. We all know it's gunna be a boy!"

Nastasia: "Guys, shhh. Quit fighting over it's gender!"

Mimi chuckled, and pulled out a small firework.

Mimi: "Celebratory fireworks?"

Nastasia: "Mimi, no."

Mimi: "Mimi, yes."

Mr. L: "Mimi, no."

He walked over and snatched the explosive out of her hand and held it up so she couldn't reach. There were perks to being tall.

Recently, O'Chunks and Mimi have been selling explosives to make money, since they needed jobs. It was a fun little small business, and it tended to do well since people in flipside literally celebrated everything. Mr. L mainly just sat around, however he did find a way to hook up all the city's power to one generator. He spent quite a lot of time down there just tinkering with things, figuring out to to improve stuff and cut the cost of electricity. Nastasia was still working for Blumiere, helping him and Timpani out when it came to their lives, and running the flipside tower.

Timpani turned to them all and smiled.

Timpani: "Shhh, he's asleep."

Mimi let out a small sigh of disappointment as Timpani walked over to the group. The baby slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the team.

Everyone gasped.

Mimi: "Awww, he's so cute."

She leaned down and whispered to the child,

Mimi: "But we had a deal. You were supposed to be a girl, traitor...."

Nastasia grabbed the green girl and pulled her back as O'Chunks did a small victory dance.

Mr. L carefully looked down at the child, when it opened it's eyes and looked up at him. He saw that the baby had a light blue, almost grey skin tone, one dark blue eye, and his right eye, it glowed orange. It already had dark navy blue hair.

Mr. L: "He looks.... kinda like Dim in a way."

Timpani smiled and nodded. He was beautiful to them all.

Mimi: "Nah. He's got the colors all wrong. He looks like a blueberry!"

O'Chunks: "Nah lass. 'e looks like a-"

Nastasia: "A child. He looks like a child, because that's what he is. End of discussion."

Timpani and Blumiere chuckled as Mimi impatiently tapped her foot.

Mimi: "So, are ya gonna tell us his name?! You named him Mimi, right?!"

Nastasia: "I seriously doubt they'd name him Mimi."

Mimi: "Why not?! It's a gender neutral name!"

Mr. L: "Not really...."

Mimi: "Is too-"

Nastasia: "Do you wanna hear his name or not?!?"

Mimi was about to protest, but shut her mouth and nodded. Blumiere smiled and gestured to the small child in Timpani's arms.

Blumiere: "Everyone, meet Dio."