Dimentio held Dio tightly, squeezing his own eyes shut as well while Timpani, Blumiere, Nastasia, Luigi, O'Chunks, and Mimi all came sprinting over. They all rushed up and wrapped the two in a hug. It was almost suffocating.

Dimentio's mind felt too crowded to even process what he just saw? That couldn't have happened, right

L looked up and spat the gag out.

Mr. L: "....Dim?"

Dimentio slowly turned, eyes glassy. He was bruised around where Shadoo held his neck, but he was okay.

Everyone's okay.

Mr. L: "Dim, I'm so sor-"

Dimentio teleported to him and quickly pulled his man in green into a tight hug.

Dimentio: "I love you, L."

He buried his face in Mr. L's shoulder and smiled.

Dimentio: "I love you."

Mr. L: "But.... your-"

Dimentio: "I just needed to tell you that. I wanted to tell you."

Mr. L waited a moment, not daring to look back to the woods.

Mr. L: "...I love you too."

Timpani slowly handed him the bag he dropped and smiled.

Timpani: "I believe this was yours?"

He smiled and took it, opening the bag and taking the hat out, carefully placing it on Dimentio's head.

Mr. L: "And... I believe this is yours."

Timpani giggled, then playfully leaned onto the jester's shoulder.

Timpani: "It's really, uh, sharp! Don't you think?"

______

Jacq stood against that tree, watching his brother and his family.

Look how beautiful it is...

And you... almost broke it.

He grasped onto the tree trunk, feeling his legs were about to give out. They were broken and in so much pain, but he didn't want to lie down just yet.

Because if he lied down, he'd never be able to get back up again.

He'd never be able to take another step. And he wasn't sure he was ready to give up walking yet. He shut his eyes and shook his head, wishing he could go back in time. Go back and walk. Go back and live. Really live. Live the life he always wanted.

But, his bones were broken, and could no longer support him. He couldn't support himself. He couldn't do it.

The blood trickled out of his side, his head becoming more and more lightheaded. He could request to be healed. He could request another chance,

But he didn't want it anymore.

He didn't deserve it.

It was over. It was over long ago. He just had refused to accept it.

Jacq: "Dimentio,"

His voice was soft. He had a look of a thousand sorrows on his face.

Dimentio immediately let go of L and looked over, eyes going wide.

Dimentio: "Jacq... O-oh no."

He sprinted over as Jacq began to stumble and fall forward, sliding to his knees to catch him.

Dimentio: "I got you, I-I got you..."

Everyone watched, wide eyes, unsure of what to think.

Jacq: "You....you caught me."

Dimentio nodded and stroked his hair.

Dimentio: "Yes, yes I caught you. I'll always catch you.... I'll always catch you."

He turned his head to face Blumiere.

Dimentio: "Blumiere, I need you to heal-"

Jacq: "No."

Dimentio looked down at Jacq, a confused expression on his face.

Dimentio: "W-What?! Jacq, you need to be healed. Or you'll-"

Jacq: "No... it's okay. It's....It's alright this time."

Dimentio: "No, it-it's not. Your legs. Your side. You need-"

Jacq: "To let go."

Jacq let out a soft laugh, as he looked around.

Dimentio: "No! No, Jacq! I'm not gonna let you go back down there all alone!"

Dimentio squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, tears threatening to spill, as Jacq looked up at his older brother.

This time it wasn't hard. Not for him, anyway.

Jacq: "Sometimes.... we have to let go of the people we love. Sometimes it's for the best."

Dimentio: "But-"

Jacq: "You belong here. I... I don't."

He softly smiled.

Jacq: "And if... if I'm the only one in this story who doesn't get a happy ending.... then I'd consider us all lucky."

Dimentio: "But Jacq, you still can be a part of this! You still can be-"

Jacq: "NO! Don't you see? I've ruined it all! I threw away my second chance! I've done too much!"

His smile faded, as he looked at Dio.

Jacq: "I lost myself...."

- Music Start -

He slowly closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, then looked down at his legs. They were all bent in the wrong directions.

So broken.

Jacq: "I never meant to make it such a mess...
I never thought that it would go this far...
So I just stand here sorry
Searching for something to say,
Something to say...."

He shook his head and softly smiled, his eyes filled with grief, as his lip began to quiver.

Jacq: "Words fail, words fail
There's nothing I can say...."

He slowly shifted his gaze over to Blumiere, Timpani, and Dio. Such a perfect, loving family.

Jacq: "I guess I thought I could have this...
I never had this kind of thing before,"

He looked down and held in a sob.

Jacq: "I never had that perfect girl,
Who somehow could see the good part of me..."

He turned his gaze up to Blumiere.

Jacq: "I never had the dad who stuck it out
No corny jokes or baseball gloves
No mom who just was there
'Cause mom was all that she had to be"

He looked down at Dio, smile fading.

Jacq: "That's not a worthy explanation
I know there is none
Nothing can make sense of all these things I've done."

He shifted his gaze back to Dimentio's mismatched eyes.

Jacq: "Words fail, words fail
There's nothing I can say
Except sometimes, you see everything you wanted
And sometimes, you see everything you wish you had
And it's right there, RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE!!!!!
In front of you...."

Dimentio quickly picked him up and brought him into a tight hug.

Dimentio: "Shh, shh...."

Tears flowed slowly down Jacq's face.

Jacq: "And you want to believe it's true...
So you... make it true.
And you think,

Maybe,

Everybody wants it

And needs it... a little bit... too."

He slowly relaxed, burying his head in his older brother's shoulder.

Dimentio: "Jacq?"

He could only softly sob in response.

Dio slowly stepped forward, and carefully grabbed Jacq's hand, causing him to open his eyes and look at the small child.

The small child, who he could have hurt.

Dio offered a soft, comforting smile.

Jacq furrowed his brows and tilted his head to the side ever so slightly. How could this kid still manage to smile at him, after all, he's done?

He shook his head and buried his face back in Dimentio's shoulder.

Jacq: "This was just a sad invention
It wasn't real, I know.
But we were happy
I guess I couldn't let that go...
I guess I couldn't give that up
I guess I wanted to believe
'Cause if I just believe
Then I don't have to see what's really there,

No, I'd rather pretend I'm something better than these broken parts
Pretend I'm something other than
This mess that I am
'Cause then I don't have to look at it
And no one gets to look at it
No, no one can really see!!!!!"

He wrapped his arms around Dimentio and cried, eyes squeezing shut.

Jacq: "'Cause I've learned to slam on the brake.....
Before I even turn the key
Before I make the mistake
Before I lead with the WORST of me
I NEVER LET THEM SEE THE WORST OF ME!!!!!!!!"

He fell silent and opened his eyes, looking at Dio again, then around at everyone else.

Jacq: "'Cause what if everyone saw?
What if everyone knew?
Would they like what they saw?
Or would they hate it too?"

He looked down at his feet again.

Jacq: "Will I just keep on running away from what's true?"

Dimentio felt Jacq's grip around him loosen as he became weaker, so he held him tighter, just so he wouldn't slip away.

Jacq: "All I ever do is run...
So how do I step in,

Step into the sun?"

He slowly let go and rested his head on Dimentio's shoulder.

Jacq: "Step into the sun....."

He peacefully slipped away being embraced by his family, surrounded by good people. He couldn't think of a better way to go. At home, no longer alone. 

It didn't matter what happened next because he wasn't alone now. He wouldn't run. He'd accept what was coming. No hiding, no running, no escaping.

It was okay. He wasn't afraid anymore.

______

Water. Just water.

He opened his eyes to be back where he was before. A skeletal hand quickly snaked around his ankle and started pulling him down.

Only, he didn't fight this time. He didn't need to fight this time.

It was okay.

In fact, it was something that should have happened long ago.

He was too afraid to accept this last time, but he wasn't afraid anymore. He use to fear death because he thought it was the end.

But it wasn't the end.

Shadoo must have gotten separated from him since he could no longer hear her. It felt kinda nice, not having her scream at him. Just peace and quiet, as he was dragged into the depths of the river.

The last time he was here he saw a death trap. Now, he only saw the path to the next part. The thought of becoming a shayde no longer scared him. It was okay.

Truly.

He didn't struggle as the air ran low. He just closed his eyes and let them drag him down until he met the bottom and fell through into a small pocket of air. The water was above his head now.

He landed on his hands and knees and coughed out some water. There, two D-Men were waiting for him.

D-Man#1: "Hey, aren't you're the guy who-"

D-Man#2: "Quick! Alert Queen J-"

Jaydes: "Stand down, men."

The two D-Men turned to see Queen Jaydes slowly approaching, holding up a hand.

Jaydes: "I was alerted of his arrival soon after we locked HER up. Since they were connected I assumed he wouldn't be far behind."

Jacq winced and looked down.

Jacq: "I-I would just like to... to apologize. But... there's nothing I can say to make this better."

Jaydes: "Perhaps not."

He looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed.

Jacq: "I... I think I'm ready to accept my fate."

She nodded, then turned away.

Jaydes: "Good. D-Men, escort him down to the waiting room. His trial will begin as soon as he's ready. Oh, and Jacques?"

She turned to him and smiled.

Jaydes: "There's someone waiting for you. They asked for your whereabouts as soon as they got here. I've allowed them to wait for you before getting on with their trial. See you in a moment."

She walked off as each D-Man grabbed onto one of Jacq's arms, leading him forward as he thought about what she had said.

He was just praying that the person waiting for him wasn't Shadoo. He did not fancy speaking with her again, after everything that had happened. Although he couldn't place all the blame on her. In fact, he placed very little blame on her, since she wasn't to blame. It was him. He did everything. It was him. Even if his intentions were different than hers, he still did it.

The D- Men opened a door and shoved him into a room, where he landed face-first on the floor, letting out a quiet 'oof' sound.

He heard the door close behind him, then sat up and looked out in front of him.

The room seemed to be empty. No signs of Shadoo. No signs of anyone.

He raised an eyebrow in confusion, and rubbed the back of his head, slowly standing up.

Rose: "Jacques?"

He quickly snapped around and stumbled backward, falling down onto the floor.

Jacq: "WHOA!"

Rose: "Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to... to frighten you."

She gave him a soft smile as he breathed heavily, looked at her with a mix of fear and awe.

This is the girl who left him. He had no idea how to react to her. His brain was telling him to be angry and to run away, but his heart was telling him to be overjoyed and run to her.

Jacq: "Y-you... You..."

She looked down and folded her hands in front of her.

Rose: "Jacques... I was hoping to see you down here. I just wanted to see you. I wanted to tell you that..."

Jacq: "I...."

Rose: "I'm sorry."

He gave her an almost confused look.

Jacq: "Huh?"

Rose: "I'm sorry. I was just... Just a stupid teenager who only cared about unimportant things. And because of it, I lost you..... Words can't describe how horrible that was. How horrible I was."

Jacq: "I know the feeling."

Rose: "You deserve better, I can see that now. But even so... I just wanted to see you again. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was. I wanted...."

He looked at her and slowly smiled.

Jacq: "A second chance?"

Rose: "Yeah... Yeah, a second chance."

Jacq: ".....Second chances sound good."

She held out her hand and helped him up.

Rose: "Well, let's start over. Hello. I'm Rosemary."

He took her hand and stood up.

Jacq: "I'm Jacques. It's a pleasure to meet you, Rosemary."

Rose: "Please, just call me Rose."

Jacq: "Only if you call me Jacq."

She giggled and took a look down at his feet.

Rose: "I see you can walk."

Jacq: "Oh. Yeah. It's quite wonderful. I can't believe I didn't try it sooner."

She giggled and grabbed his hand.

Rose: "Well, if you can walk, then you can dance too, right?"

She giggled and pulled him close.

Rose: "Let's dance."

Jacq: "W-what?"

She started happily spinning him around.

Rose: "Let's dance...."

He couldn't help but smile with her as they danced, feeling the way he had always wished to feel. This felt like everything he had ever wanted. To feel loved back. To feel free like this.

And he wasn't afraid of what was coming next. It didn't matter that he was about to become a shayde. All that mattered was that he was here, at this moment, dancing with the girl he had always loved.

He was okay with his story ending this way.

No.

He was happy with his story ending this way. 

~ A Few Weeks Later ~

Dimentio sat atop Flipside tower, looking out at the midnight sky when the elevator chimed behind him.

Timpani: "Room for one more?"

He shrugged, then nodded, so she walked over and sat down next to him.

Timpani: "Still sad?"

Dimentio: "...Well, I know he was dead before, and death isn't really the end, but it still hurts."

Timpani: "I know. I know."

She sighed and looked at the bag he had with him.

Timpani: "Do you really have to go?"

Dimentio: "Yes. Timpani, you know the people here don't accept me."

Timpani: "They could."

Dimentio: "Well, that's not the only reason. At one point, I thought I could belong here. But I don't."

She looked down and nodded.

Timpani: "I know..."

She let out a long sigh and leaned into him.

Timpani: "Any idea where you two are going?"

Dimentio chuckled.

Dimentio: "I've got a few ideas."

Timpani: "And you guys will visit?"

Dimentio: "Of course."

Timpani: "And you'll be safe?"

Dimentio: "Yes, Timpani."

Timpani: "And you'll-"

Dimentio: "Timpani, we'll be okay!"

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him.

Timpani: "I know... I know."

He hugged her back for a moment, then stood up.

Dimentio: "Well, I best be going. I'm going to get L, assuming he's done saying goodbye."

Timpani: "I don't know... when Luigi left two weeks ago he took like, an hour to say goodbye!"

Dimentio: "Don't worry. Last I checked he just had to say goodbye to the kid."

Timpani looked down.

Timpani: "Dio's really gonna miss you two."

Dimentio: "Well, he's got my mask."

Timpani: "It's not the same..."

Dimentio: "I know..."

He offered a small smile.

Dimentio: "But you'll all be okay."

Timpani: "I know..."

He nodded, then quickly hugged her again.

Dimentio: "Thank you... Timpani. I owe so much to you."

She quickly wiped a tear and hugged back.

Timpani: "Oh, please. All I ever did was... *sniff* was-"

Dimentio: "Change me for the better."

He pulled back and raised his hand into the air.

Dimentio: "Ciao for now."

He pressed the button to the elevator, and got in, holding his bag.

Off to the future.

The doors closed.