Mr. L, Dimentio, and Blumiere all looked down at the unconscious teen.

His skin was so dark. Mr. L swallowed, then kneeled down, gently touching the kid's hand. It felt almost liquid-like. 

But he still had a pulse.

He was still alive. 

"She broke her own rules," Mr. L muttered. "He isn't dead, and she- she... this isn't fair. She can't do that!"

Blumiere and Dimentio exchanged glances, then looked to Mr. L.

"... Take him with you," Blumiere said.

Mr. L looked up at him, confused.

"What?"

"He isn't dead," Blumiere exclaimed, taking his sword from Mr. L and re-sheathing it. "So, maybe if he's taken far away from the Underwhere and the queen's magic, he'll be himself again. You must take him with you on your journey to the living world. You must return him home."

Mr. L paused, then looked down at the unconscious teenager once again.

He owed it to him. The kid helped him get to the door and risked his own life. He had to return the favor. He couldn't just turn away and leave. 

"Okay," Mr. L said. "I'll do it."

He smiled. Blumiere smiled back.

Then, the man in green pulled out the small golden key Dimentio had given him, eyeing it curiously.

"Dimentio... where DID you get this?" The man in green asked, curiously.

The former jester looked away, nervously fidgeting with his hands.

"Ah, that. Well... does it matter where I got it?"

"Yes," Blumiere and Mr. L replied at the same time.

Dimentio let out a sigh and shook his head.

"Alright. Well, if you must know, the queen gave it to me. After I... gave you the mushroom. I think she was taunting me. She was trying to make me feel like I had power over the situation, even when I didn't."

"But you do now," Mr. L replied. "You could have kept the key and prevented me from leaving. You could have refused to show me how to get into the maze in the first place. I think you have more power than you realize."

Dimentio paused.

Did he?

He always felt like he had been trapped. He felt small and powerless. He felt like he was under the queen's complete control.

But technically speaking, most of the choices he had been making were his own. Not hers. Yes, she could take his memories and command him to do things, but at the end of the day, it was his choice whether he did them or not. She could make threats, but she didn't control him. Not completely.

"... You're not afraid," Mr. L smiled.

"Hm?" Dimentio asked.

"Your face. You don't look afraid anymore. Even though you're letting me escape, even though you're breaking her rules, you're no longer afraid. Either that or you've gotten better at hiding it."

Dimentio paused. It was true, he really didn't feel all that scared anymore.

"You're not a coward," Mr. L breathed, taking a step closer to Dimentio and taking his hands. "You never were. Not in my eyes, at least."

Dimentio stilled. 

Letting Mr. L leave would arguably be the scariest thing he had ever done, yet he didn't feel afraid in the slightest. Not anymore.

He only wished that he could have stopped being afraid sooner.

If he could, maybe he could have told Mr. L how he felt. Maybe he wouldn't have killed him. Maybe they both could have lived.

He opened his mouth, a millisecond from saying something when his heart stopped him.

He still couldn't say what he wanted to say. Only now, it wasn't because he was too afraid.

The only reason he couldn't say what he wanted was that he knew Mr. L was leaving, and he didn't want to stop him. He didn't want to give the man in green a reason to stay. He wanted him to go forth and live the life he had fought so hard to earn back. He didn't want to risk taking that opportunity from him.

Besides, he had a list of things he needed to do on his own now. While Mr. L would be out living his life, Dimentio would be trying to help the other dark souls find their will to live. Get their spirit back. There was a lot wrong with the Underwhere, and it was about time someone did something about it.

"Well... I suppose this is it," Dimentio breathed, taking the key from Mr. L and unlocking the dimensional door. An array of bright lights flooded into the maze. Both Dimentio and Blumiere had to shield their eyes, while Mr. L looked at the light in awe.

The man in green looked to the door, then grabbed Dimentio and pulled him into a tight hug.

"I'll never forget you."

The words felt soft and comforting, like a blanket.

The man in green pulled back, then wiped a tear from Dimentio's cheek. The dark soul hadn't even been aware that he was crying. How foolish he must have looked...

"Remember... she has no power over you. You're the master of dimensions. The pleaser of crowds. You're Dimentio. Remember your name well. Okay?" Mr. L asked.

Dimentio nodded.

He didn't plan on forgetting again any time soon. 

Mr. L smiled, then turned away, heading for the door. He kneeled down to lift the unconscious teenager up, then stepped away from the darkness, and slowly into the light.

Blumiere excitedly waved while Dimentio remained silent, watching while the two of them faded from view.

"Should you need us... we'll be here." Dimentio breathed.