Dimentio had helped Luigi up, then tightly hugged the man in green, not wanting to let go, but knowing he had to soon. Poor Luigi winced at the feeling of contact due to the number of bruises and cuts covering him, but he found it within himself to hug Dimentio back tightly because this very well could be his last chance to be with him. Time was running so low.

Was this really how the world was?

After a short moment, Dimentio pulled away, knowing that if he didn't then Luigi would never leave. Someone had to be strong here. So, the jester took one last look at the man in green, then turned away, putting the flower in one of his pockets and reaching down to pick up his pickaxe, continuing to mine into the ground.

And Luigi just waited a moment as Dimentio turned away from him, not sure if he had the power to give up. Not sure if he could do it.

But he had to, right? There was nothing else to be done.

~ Music Start ~

Hags: Why the struggle, why the strain?
Why make trouble? Why make scenes?
Why go against the grain?
Why swim upstream?
It ain't
It ain't
It ain't no use
You're bound
You're bound
You're bound to lose
What's done
What's done
What's done is done
That's the way the river runs
So why get wet? Why break a sweat?
Why waste your precious breath?
Why beat your handsome brow?
Nothing changes
Nothing changes
Nothing changes anyhow...

~ Music Stop 1:11 ~

Luigi just waited there silently as the Hags left him, feeling empty. Dimentio went back to mining, trying his best not to look back at Luigi.

Praying and hoping that Luigi would just leave and make this easier.

It would simply be so much easier if no one cared, just as all the shaydes did.

But Luigi wasn't like that, so giving up was hard.

https://youtu.be/3ptcEt-_Ym4

(AN: Another one of my favorite songs!!)

~ New Music Start ~

Luigi just waited, stepping back as Dimentio seemed to blend into the rest of the working shaydes around him. It was odd. Someone so unique and special simply blending into a crowd. It wasn't right.

But there was nothing to be done.

He had lost.

If everything he had heard was true... then the only thing left there was to do was go home before he got more hurt than necessary. If he stayed here, he'd be torn to pieces, all for nothing.

It was horrible, but it was the only thing left to do. It was too late. He wasn't fast enough. If only came when Dimentio called him.

Luigi: If it's true what they say...

His lip began to quiver as he looked down in disappointment.

Luigi: If there's nothing to be done...

He did his best to hold in a sob as he stepped further back, watching Dimentio seem to fade into the crowd.

Luigi: If it's true, then it's too late,
And the one I love is gone...

Luigi stepped back more, looking up at the entire wall as Dimentio ignored him.

Luigi: If it's true what they say,

He shook his head and help his arms out, stepping further and further back.

Luigi: Is this how the world is?

He paused, slowly lowering his hands and feeling the stinging sensation the cuts and bruises gave him.

Luigi: To be beaten and betrayed and then be told that nothing changes?
It'll always be like this?

He then took one last look at Dimentio, who still had his back turned.

Luigi: If it's true what they say...
I'll be on my way,

Luigi then sighed and started walking back the way he came, past the line of worker shaydes.

Death: And the boy turned to go,

A shayde with her hair secured behind her slowly looked up.

Death slowly smiled.

Death: 'Cause he thought no one could hear

She slowly lowered her pickaxe, frowning slightly as Luigi walked past her.

Death: But everybody knows that walls have ears,
And the workers heard him!

She then snapped her fingers in front of the shayde next to her.

Timpani: If it's true what they say...

The shayde next to her slowly looked up and over at Luigi, frowning as well.

Death: With their hammers swinging

Timpani and Blumiere: What's the purpose of a man?

Both of them dropped their pickaxes, which grabbed the rest of the shaydes attention.

Death: And they quit their workin'

Timpani: Just to turn his eyes away?

Death: When they heard him singing

Timpani and Blumiere: Just to throw up both his hands?

The rest of the shaydes all turned to watch Luigi as well.

Death: No hammer swinging

Shaydes: What's the use of his backbone,

Death: No pickaxe ringin'

Shaydes: If he never stands upright?

Death: And they stood and listened

Shaydes: If he turns his back on everyone?

Death: To the poor boy singing

Shaydes: That he could've stood beside!

Luigi stopped once he heard them echoing behind him, turning to see them following him.

Luigi: If it's true what they say,
I'll be on my way...

He paused, his heartbroken expression slowly turning into a more thoughtful one.

Luigi: But who are they to say what the truth is anyway?

He slowly walked into the crowd of shaydes, thinking aloud. And they listened.

Luigi: 'Cause the ones who tell the lies...

Shaydes: Ahhh...

Luigi: Are the solemnest to swear,
And the ones who load the dice

Shaydes: Ooooh...

Luigi: Always say the toss is fair!
And the ones who deal the cards

Shaydes: Deal the cards

Luigi: Are the ones who take the tricks!
With their hands over their hearts,
While we play the game they fix!
And the ones who speak the words

Timpani: Speak the words

Blumiere: Speak the words

Luigi: Always say it is the last!
And no answer will be heard,
To the question no one asks!

He shook his head, clenching his fists and looking around at all the shaydes, sounding more intense than before!

Luigi: So I'm askin' if it's true!!!

He paused, then pointed around the group.

Luigi: I'm askin' me,
And you,
And you,
And you!
I believe our answer matters more than anything they say!

Blumiere: We stand and listen

Shaydes: Listen...

Luigi nodded, then looked over back at Dimentio, who was still mining, but Luigi could tell he was listening.

Luigi: I believe if there is still a will
Then there is still a way...

Timpani and Blumiere: We're standing with him

Luigi then rushed back to Dimentio and grabbed his arm.

Luigi: I believe there is a way!
I believe in us together!
More than anyone alone!

Timpani and Shaydes: We're standing near him

Blumiere and Shaydes: Near him.

Luigi took Dimentio forward and gestured to all the other shaydes who were in the same situation as him.

Luigi: I believe that with each other,
We are stronger than we know

Shaydes: We hear him...

Luigi: I believe we're stronger than they know!
I believe that we are many,
I believe that they are few!

Blumiere: We're standing

Timpani: Standing

Shaydes: STANDING!

Luigi grabbed both of Dimentio's hands, determination in his eyes.

Luigi: And it isn't for the few
To tell the many what is true!

Shaydes: We understand him!!

Luigi: So I ask you,
If it's true what they say

Shaydes: We're standing,

Luigi: I'll be on my way

Shaydes: We're standing

Luigi: TELL ME what to do!

Shaydes: We're standing

Luigi: Is it true?
Is it true what they say.....

~ Music Stop 4:13 ~

The shaydes all waited for Dimentio to answer as he remained still, not opening his mouth to speak. Just standing there, looking up at Luigi. Looking at all the cuts and bruises covering his face. Looking at the gentle stream of warm blood dripping from them.

"I already said-" Dimentio started, when Luigi suddenly interrupted him.

"I already know that you signed. That's not what I'm asking," Luigi clarified. "I'm asking if we really are powerless against them. Against her."

He cleared his throat, then let go and turned to all the shaydes. "I'm asking if you're all really free."

He then walked up to the girl shayde with her hair tied up behind her head. "Do you even remember your name...?"

He recognized her voice. He knew who she was. But did she?

She paused as if she was trying to remember, then sadly shook her head no. So, Luigi grabbed her arm and pointed to the shayde next to her. Another one he had recognized. "Do you remember his name?"

She paused another moment, squinting as if she almost remembered, but eventually shook her head no, looking disappointed in herself.

"I... I want to remember," She breathed, looking down at the ground. "But I... can't."

"Says who?" Luigi asked, softly smiling and bringing her towards the other shayde, forcing her to look closer at him. "Who told you that you couldn't?"

She paused, blinking a few times as she looked at the other shayde, who blinked in return.

"... Your name," The other shayde started, a soft smile forming on his face as he looked at the girl. "Your name is Timpani."

She paused, her eyes widening slightly as she cocked her head to the side. "H-huh?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"Your name is Timpani," The other shayde repeated, stepping closer. "Don't ask me how I know. I... don't even know my own name. But yours is Timpani. I... I do know that."

Luigi smiled big as the girl stood there, shocked.

Had she known him? Had he known her? Who was he? Who was she? So many questions. So few answers.

"You two were once lovers," Luigi explained, trying to answer the questions she was thinking in her head, simply happy that her head was no longer empty, even if the emptiness was just replaced with confusion. It was better than nothing. "His name... is Blumiere. And yours is indeed Timpani."

She blinked a few times, then slowly nodded, looking down at her hands. "Blumiere..." She muttered as if she was trying the name out to see if it rang any bells. It did, but she couldn't recall when they had met.

Were all the other shaydes like this? Why couldn't she remember? Where had those memories gone?! Could she get them back?! She wanted them back! She didn't want to spend the rest of her days working on a wall. That wasn't freedom! That was the opposite! She was trapped!

"How... how do we escape?" She asked Luigi, grabbing the other shayde's hand and looking to the man in green. Looking for a leader in him.

To this, Luigi smiled, looking at all the shaydes around him.

"We make ourselves be heard. If we all speak, they're bound to listen."

He then looked back at Dimentio, walking back over and grabbing his hands.

"I'm not giving up on us," Luigi promised. "Not yet."