(TW: Gets kinda self-harmy)

It was dark in his mind. Empty. Peaceful. It almost felt nice. He had forgotten how long it had been since he properly slept. The sand below him was warm. Comforting. It reminded him of when he'd fall asleep out here, the ocean breeze soothing him. Then, he'd go home and his father would scold him for getting sand all over the house, but now was not the time to think of that. Just peace and warmth. At this moment, he couldn't even think of L being gone. He couldn't think of the barges leaving without him. No thinking at all was required. It was just quiet. The sound of the waves gently crashing on the shore.

But still, no ship horns.

It felt strange without the ship's horns going off. It was almost like a part of this perfect little spot was missing. It was the missing piece to a beautiful jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle still looked glorious, but that missing piece was hard not to notice.

But still, he listened out for the ship's horns as he slept, keeping his ear online while the rest of his body fell out of consciousness.

He listened carefully, just hearing the sound of waves, seagulls, wind, and footsteps.

Footsteps?

Dimentio's eyebrows gently furrowed, as he could feel the vibrations of someone walking towards him, his body snapping online, but still, he remained unmoving. Had L returned? Did Blumiere and Timpani find him?

He just lay there on his side, eyes closed, but body alert, listening in as the footsteps approached.

Closer, closer, and closer.

Then, they stopped just inches from his back. There, they just waited.

And waited.

And waited.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Dimentio felt a warm hand on his shoulder.

Jacq: "Dimentio. It's time to wake up."

Dimentio opened his eyes, a confused expression on his face then turned and looked up to see his perfect brother, leaning down and holding out a hand to him. The sun was shining brightly behind him, making him look almost like an angel.

Jacq smiled a warm, welcoming, perfect smile that could put anyone at ease.

Jacq: "It's time to go home."

His voice was warm. Dimentio raised his hand... but stopped. He frowned and looked at his brother's outstretched hand, a million questions forming in his mind. Then, he raised his gaze to meet Jacq's perfect blueish-green eyes.

Only, they weren't perfect blueish green.

Jacq: "Come on. Take my hand. Let's go home."

His voice was still warm but had a colder undertone this time. His voice was also different, Dimentio had noticed. It sounded almost... glitchy. Unreal. Like it was a recording. He frowned more and slowly scooted backward.

The more Dimentio looked at him, the more flaws he could find. It's strange to find flaws in a being you've always believed to represent total and complete perfection. The more he looked at him, the more different he appeared. The sun behind him didn't appear as bright anymore as Dimentio's eyes adjusted, making his brother seem to be getting darker and darker.

Dimentio: "What happened to you..."

Jacq shrugged and took a step closer, an innocent smile on his face. The eyes which weren't his lit up.

Jacq: "Dimentio, I haven't the slightest clue as to what you're talking about. I haven't changed."

Jacq continued proceeding until Dimentio's back was to the cliff sides and he could no longer scoot back.

Dimentio: "Oh, I'd beg to differ."

His brother held up his right hand and placed his left hand over his heart.

Jacq: "Honest! I haven't changed in the slightest."

He grinned and leaned over Dimentio, looking tall and intimidating, which is not something Dimentio was used to seeing. Whenever he looked at his brother, he'd always see someone small and frail. But, then again, that's how he used to see himself as well. He guessed a change in attitude really could change everything.

Jacq: "Come on. Take my hand. Let's go on a boat. You like boats, right? Why don't we sail away on a barge?"

Dimentio gave him another confused glance, then looked past him, out to the ocean. His eyes softened at the empty ocean.

Dimentio: "The barges are all gone."

Jacq: "Well, then perhaps we can use a sailboat."

Dimentio stared back into those eyes, trying to put his finger down on what was going on. The words coming out of his brother's mouth didn't belong to him. But the voice sounded somewhat like his. And those eyes. They weren't his either.

Dimentio: "We?"

Jacq: "Yes. We. You can have your dream, AND you can still be with your family. Just take my hand."

Dimentio hesitated but shook his head. This was incredibly suspicious. And he couldn't leave Blumiere and Timpani. He couldn't leave L.

Dimentio: "I don't know what happened to you, but-"

Jacq: "Me? You're upset about me? I'm offering you everything you've ever dreamed of, and you're turning up your nose? What, did you change your mind? Just take his stupid hand!"

Dimentio raised an eyebrow.

Dimentio: "His hand?"

Jacq paused, eye twitching slightly.

Jacq: "... My hand. I said my hand."

Dimentio: "No, you said 'His hand.'"

Jacq: "It was just a slip of the tongue. Nothing to look into."

Dimentio: "Mhm. Of course, of course. Well, thank you for this very insightful information, but I believe I should be off. I need to help find L. I've wasted enough time lying around as it is. It was nice making your acquaintance."

Jacq: "Acquaintance?! You've known him- me your whole life!"

Dimentio: "Yes, yes. I've known Jacques my whole life. But you're not he, and he is not you. So farewell. I must find L. Then I'll figure out how to deal with whatever you are."

He raised his hand to snap his fingers and disappear when Jacques started laughing. Only, his voice was sounding less and less like his own.

Shadoo: "Oh, what a joke. And to think, I thought we could do this the easy way."

Dimentio: "Ah, is that what you really sound like?"

Shadoo: "Shut up. You want to find your precious Mr. L, don't you?"

______

Timpani, Blumiere, Nastasia, Mimi, Luigi, and O'Chunks all sprinted over towards the ocean where Dimentio was. They knew they weren't allowed to interfere, but maybe they could figure out a way to help. They couldn't just stand by and do nothing!

They ran up to the beach and saw where Jacq was towering over Dimentio, and gasped.

Luigi: "What do we do?! WHAT DO WE DO?! W-we have to interfere, right? But if we do Dio could get hurt, so what do we do?!"

Timpani: "Luigi, please try to calm yourself. We can't think straight when we're blinded by fear."

Luigi: "HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO-"

Mimi: "Wait! Look over here!"

She ran to the side, everyone following, to see Mr. L and Dio chained up, just waiting around.

Timpani: "DIO!"

She ran as fast as she could, arms open ready to hug him, when a black shadow wall appeared right before she could, preventing her from doing so.

Timpani: "W-what?!"

The wall disappeared whenever she wasn't touching it but reappeared when she held her hands out and leaned against it.

Blumiere: "She's locked us out... she's literally prevented any of us on the outside from interfering!"

Timpani shook her head, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, and called out for Dio, banging on the wall, but he didn't react. Neither did Mr. L. It was like neither of them could even see or hear her.

______

Dimentio: "Yes..."

Shadoo: "Well then, look no further."

She walked off, leaving Dimentio slightly confused. A part of him was about to just teleport away while her guard was down, but he wanted to see what she was doing.

She walked back to where L and Dio were, and grabbed the chains, pulling them away, but not before turning and winking at Timpani, a wicked smile on the face which didn't belong to her.

Timpani gasped, confused as to why she could see through the wall, but Dio and L couldn't. Then Blumiere scowled and frantically tried breaking the wall open with his staff. No such luck. They ran around, trying to find a weak spot or a way in, but that didn't work either. It was like Shadoo had made a small arena. A small battleground, where spectators could watch, but not interact with or interfere with the games.

They could only watch and pray that she didn't hurt Dio.

______

Shadoo returned, hiding Dio behind a tree and telling him to stay, then walking out and shoving L down in front of her to his knees. Dimentio gasped, seeing a gag in his mouth and shadow chains wrapped around him.

Dimentio: "W-what are you doing?"

Shadoo: "Oh, nothing important. Now let me think. You've killed him before, yes? Remind me how you did that again?"

Dimentio: "What?"

Shadoo giggled.

Shadoo: "Oh, right. I remember. Death by execution box."

She snapped her fingers, making a shadow duplicate of Dimentio's execution box appear around the man in green as L's eyes went wide, his screams for help muffled by the gag. 

Dimentio flinched and reached his arm out, eyes filling with fear.

Dimentio: "NO! WAIT! PLEASE STOP!"

Shadoo beamed and shook her head, holding out her hand.

Shadoo: "Then give me the heart."

Dimentio: "The heart?! Is that really what this is all about?! You take my brother's body, you threaten L, ALL TO GET A STUPID HEART?!"

He let out a nervous laugh and ran his hands through his hair.

Dimentio: "Oh, Grambi. It all makes sense now! Why Jacq stabbed me! It wasn't him, it was you! It was all you!"

Shadoo: "Me? Oh, no-no. I only took control just recently. In fact, I wasn't even allowed to take control until he agreed. He let me in!"

Dimentio: "No. He'd never. You must have manipulated-"

Shadoo: "I did nothing but encourage him. But by the time I got to him, he was already broken. I didn't even have to do anything. The slicing you open, yes it was my sword, but he was the one wielding it."

She raised her hand.

Shadoo: "Now, as you'd say, let's get on with the show."

Dimentio: "NO!"

He quickly stood up and snapped his fingers, trapping Shadoo in a matching yellow execution box.

Dimentio: "There won't be any show. The show's over. I don't act anymore. I'm done acting."

Mr. L's gaze slightly softened as Dimentio held out a steady hand, unafraid.

Dimentio: "Let L go. Or I'll do it."

Shadoo: "Oh, empty threats. Empty threats. They never did anyone any good."

Dimentio: "I'll do it! All I have to do is snap my fingers, and you'll be sent right back to where you belong!"

Shadoo: "Yes, yes. But will you be able to live with yourself... knowing you send him back as well?"

Dimentio froze.

Shadoo: "Would you be able to live with yourself, knowing you sent your own brother to the fiery pits of the Underwhere, where he'll suffer from eternal loneliness. The brother you cared for so much. The brother who gave your life purpose. The brother you wanted to protect, no matter what. The brother you were supposed to take care of. The one you promised to always catch when he fell?"

She smirked, then gave up control for a moment. Jacques took a step back, covering his eyes and whimpering in pain, before opening them up, eyes returning to their perfect blueish-green color. His face filled with fear as he looked at the box.

Jacq: "D-Dimentio?! What's happening to me?! W-what's going on! I'm scared! Please, please Dimentio! H-help me!"

Dimentio's eyes filled with horror.

Jacq: "Dimentio?! Dimentio, what's happening?!"

The jester just stood there, frozen in time, staring at his terrified brother. His hand was no longer steady.

Jacq: "Dimentio?"

The barges were gone.

Jacq: "I, she, I... Dimentio, w-what are you doing?! What's going on! I'm scared! L-let me out!"

Dimentio sadly shook his head.

Dimentio: "I can't do that."

Jacq: "W-what? What do you...."

His eyes went wide with realization.

Jacq: "Oh... you're going to send me back there, aren't you?"

Dimentio couldn't say anything. He was at a loss for words, as the two just stood there, separated by the walls of that box.

Jacq: "I'm scared."

Dimentio: "Jacq... I'm so sorry."

Dimentio looked at L, who was watching this all with wide eyes. Then, he turned his gaze back to Jacq. His hand stopped shaking.

Dimentio: "Jacq..."

Jacq: "I'm scared, Dimentio. I'm so scared. Please help me!"

Dimentio walked up and leaned his head on the box, and lowered his voice to a steady whisper.

Dimentio: "Shh... it won't be so bad. I promise."

Mr. L winced. 

Jacq: "....You're gonna help me?"

Dimentio nodded, a heartbroken expression in his eyes.

The blonde stepped back and closed his eyes, waiting for the flames and fire to send him back where he belonged. He clenched his fists to try to stop his hands from shaking. It didn't help.

Dimentio raised his left hand and touched his middle finger to his thumb, then froze.

And they waited like that, Dimentio's mind racing. He had to send that other person back where they belonged. L's life was at risk. He had to save everyone.

But at what price?

Dimentio: "I... can't."

He dropped his arm and made the box disappear. Jacq opened one eye, then shook his head.

Jacq: "Wait, WAIT DIMEN-"

He suddenly dropped down again, grabbing his head and screaming.

Jacq: "No! Please, don't! STOP!"

Dimentio quickly ran up and grabbed his arm.

Dimentio: "Jacq, listen! Just stay in control! We can figure this-"

Suddenly Jacq's arm thrust at Dimentio's throat and grabbed him tightly, picking him up.

Shadoo: "Told you they were empty threats."

Mr. L squirmed and screamed from where he was trapped, desperate to do something. Anything!

Dimentio: "Let...agh... let my brother and L go!"

Shadoo: "Give me the heart. I don't care about hurting any of you. Really. I just need the heart."

Dimentio: "Why exactly?! The heart never did anyone any good! What do you want out of this?!"

Shadoo: "Exactly what you wanted. I can destroy everything and reclaim my throne."

Dimentio: "I never... wanted....that! It was an... act."

He began coughing as she squeezed tighter.

Shadoo: "See, that was what your problem was. You should have wanted it. You could have gotten it. You could have had it all, and you gave it up just to keep a stupid promise to a friend."

Dimentio: "Jacq... please!"

Shadoo: "Calling for him is pointless. He's not strong enough to take control from me unless I let him."

Dimentio: "Please, just...."

His voice broke as Shadoo squeezed harder.

L frantically banged his hands against the box, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. 

She squeezed harder and harder, Dimentio's vision going black.

All he could see were those dark eyes.

And all he could hear was-

Dio: "Mr. Jacques?"

Those black eyes flickered green for a brief second.

Shadoo: "Child, I told you to stay back until-"

Dio: "I wrote you a letter."

Shadoo/Jacq: "What?"

Her grip around Dimentio loosened, eyes rapidly flickering from green to black.

Jacq managed to turn his head to look back at the kid, who was standing strong, holding the small piece of paper out in front of him.

Dio: "I wrote you a letter. I wrote it earlier. When you were sad about your friend."

Jacq let go of Dimentio, the jester falling to the ground in a coughing fit.

Then, the blonde slowly approached the kid. Once he got there, he kneeled down in front of him.

Jacq: "What... what does it say?"

Dio smiled and handed it to him.

Dio: "Why don't you see for yourself."

Jacq swallowed, and looked down at the note, silently reading through it.

Deer Mister Jaquest
Im sorry I m prety bad at speling. But I sa you wer sad after reeding the leters from your frend so i thinked i wood try to rite you one to make you hapy. I sa that you seamed lonly. You talked about your brother somtimes, but wen you talked wif me about my dad and all the fun times, you made it sem lik you didn't realy hav a famly. So, i thinked what if you could stay wif me! Once we finded my mommy. Im sure she'd like you! But even if you dont want to thats ok. You dont hav to. I just wan to let you no you dont hav to be alone.

Jacq looked up at the kid, eyes wide and glassy. Then, he let out a small, short laugh.

Jacq: "You... are far too trusting and kind."

Dio: "Is that a bad thing?"

Jacq: "I'm not sure... it's-"

Shadoo: "ENOUGH!"

She took control back and snatched Dio's arm, holding him up.

Shadoo: "JESTER, YOUR TIME IS UP! THE HEART, OR THE CHILD!"

Dimentio: "NO! LET HIM GO!"

Shadoo: "Give me the heart, I'm done talking."

Dimentio: "I can't give it to you."

Shadoo: "Yes you can. Just give it."

Dimentio: "I can't."

Shadoo: "GIVE IT!"

Dimentio: "I CAN'T, BECAUSE IT'S NOT HERE!"

She gave him an almost confused look.

Shadoo: "What are you talking about?! You were in control of it last. I sense it right here!"

Dimentio: "No... you may sense its presence, but the pure hearts destroyed it. It has been neutralized. It holds no power now. Everything you're doing...all this, is POINTLESS!"

Shadoo: "What? No, no, no. I can sense the power in you. It has to be the heart! It-"

Dimentio: "I haven't even been able to feel the heart. That's just my own power. Sure, I have the heart, but it's powerless."

Shadoo: "No...NO! THAT'S A LIE!"

She made a shadow sledgehammer and held it up above Dio.

Shadoo: "GIVE IT NOW!"

Dimentio: "NO! LET. MY NEPHEW. GO!" 

Her eyes faded to green again, but the hammer wasn't lowered.

Jacq: "N...Nephew?"

His eyes stayed green a moment, as they softened.

Jacq: "You mean..."

He turned and looked at Dio, eyes wide.

Jacq: "....Son?"

Dimentio: "WHAT?! NO! Jacq, that's literally impossible. Just, NO! He's... it's complicated."

Jacq gave him a genuinely confused look and raised an eyebrow, silently asking for an explanation.

Dimentio: "Well, he's Blumiere and Timpani's kid. And Blumiere is.... technically my half-brother."

Jacq: "WE HAVE ANOTHER BROTHER?!"

Dimentio: "No... I have another brother."

He looked down.

Dimentio: "I'm... I'm not human. I'm a half."

Jacq: "So he's...."

Dio: "Wait, I'm confused. Are you two related?!"

Dio interrupted. Jacq slowly nodded, looking wistfully at Dimentio.

Jacq: "Yes. He's my brother."

The kid's eyes went wide.

Dio: "UNCLE DIMMY'S THE BROTHER YOU TALKED ABOUT?!"

Dimentio: "Yes, it's complicated, to say the least, but no time to explain this all now. Jacq. Please. You can stop this. You can stop her."

Jacq: "HOW?! I messed up! I...."

Dimentio: "Please. I don't know how to do it for you without hurting you. She's in your body. You can find a way to stop her! It's up to you, Jacq."

Jacq looked up at the hammer, remembering she was in his body. She was using him.

Jacq: "...I can stop her."

He eyed the woods and immediately sprinted over before Shadoo could take control back, fighting her as hard as she could.

Jacq: "Kid, go to Dimentio and cover your eyes!"

Dimentio: "What?!"

Dio listened and teleported to Dimentio, hugging him tightly and squeezing his eyes shut.

Shadoo: "You idiot! What are you doing?! Why can't I move you?"

Jacq: "Shh, friend. I'm not going to be your puppet anymore!"

Shadoo: "You made an agreement. You said my name. You can't get out of this. We're stuck together!"

Jacq: "Exactly."

He went to the woods, raised the hammer into the air,

....

....

And brought it down on his leg.

Shadoo: "OW- WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

The wall around the beach and the execution box around L disappeared.

But she was still there. It wasn't enough yet.

Jacq: "Sending us back."

He raised the hammer, used her power to turn it into a knife, and plunged it into his side.