Three Months

Beginnings

He found himself back where this all started, no longer feeling any of the pain he felt just a short moment ago. Dimentio opened his eyes, looking around himself at his surroundings. He didn't feel hot, he didn't feel cold, but unlike the last time he died, he felt something.

He felt peace.

"Ah, you're back," A familiar voice chimed. Dimentio quickly turned around to see the same D-Man who greeted him the last time he died. Only instead of panicking and yelling, Dimentio smiled at him.

"I'm back," Dimentio said.

"Welp, you know the drill," The D-Man smiled back, holding up his clipboard and going over his list of things to go over. "Each new soul gets one meeting with her majesty, Queen Jaydes. I'm here if you have any questions and need a hand-"

"I actually do have a question for you," Dimentio interrupted.

"Oh?" The D-man asked.

Dimentio nodded, folding his hands behind his back. "Are you alive?" He asked.

This caught the D-man slightly off guard. Most new souls asked about where they'd go or how long they'd have to wait for their friends and family to get down there.

"Yes. I am," The D-Man admitted.

"Are you happy?" Dimentio asked next.

"Yep! I mean, not all the time, but for the most part, yes." The D-man smiled.

Dimentio smiled in return. "Good." He said, turning away and heading for Jaydes' castle, waving as he left. "Thank you!" he called.

The D-Man lightly chuckled to himself, looking down at the clipboard and shaking his head. "Well he's different," He murmured with a smile.

Dimentio still didn't step foot in the river, but it was less terrifying now than it was before. Still scary, but far less horrifying now. Once he got off, he bowed his head and thanked the ferryman, asking him the same questions. "Are you alive," and "Are you happy?"

Charon didn't quite know how to answer the first question, but after a moment of consideration, he was able to say yes to the second.

It was comforting to see these people in the Underwhere admit to having happiness. Dimentio was sure that if Luigi was down there, he too would find a way to be happy.

And if all of them could do it, maybe Dimentio could too.

Once he got to Jaydes' Palace, he stepped inside, no longer terrified. She turned to him, raising her chin in a manner that showcased that she was proud and powerful. "Back already?" She asked. "Let me guess, you're here to ask for another three months."

"No," Dimentio corrected, softly smiling. "I... I'm here to thank you for the opportunity."

"Oh?" Jaydes asked, raising her eyebrows and checking his tone for sarcasm or trickery.

"I'm not lying or trying to steal another chance," Dimentio assured her. "I just wanted to thank you. I... I found exactly what I was looking for."

"Did you now? And what was that, may I ask?" Jaydes mused, not sure how to feel about this. After all, her goal of sending him back was to punish him. Had it not worked?

"My happiness," Dimentio replied with a smile. He then turned away, retreating without even bothering to beg or try to make a deal so he could go back. He didn't want or need to go back anymore. "I found it there. All that's left for me is to look for it here. I hope you've found it as well," He breathed. "Ciao, your majesty."

Jaydes stood, slightly appalled as he left, not quite sure what she should say or do.

As Dimentio walked out of the palace, he looked at the darkened sky. The Underwhere was in a permanent state of night, but the night wasn't a bad thing. It was actually rather beautiful. The air was still, just like the air in the land above him. There were also smiling faces down there, just like in the land above.

Even though the land of the dead and the land of the living were opposites... they actually weren't so different. Just like how the day and night weren't so different.

The biggest difference was the fact that Luigi wasn't there. He missed him more than he missed the sun and the moon. He found himself missing Mario too. He even missed all the smiling toads.

And he couldn't forget Polterpup-

As if on cue, he heard a short high pitched yip.

Dimentio turned around himself, his eyes widening at the sight. Right in front of him was his favorite ghost dog, sitting and wagging its tail while smiling up at him. It wore the same red collar and the same smile it almost always wore.

"Polterpup?" Dimentio asked, smiling, then lightly chuckling and kneeling down to pet the little guy. "I- it's you! How'd you get down here?!"

He supposed it made sense. Ghosts were able to travel between the living world and the dead world. That must have been nice. Polterpup had the power to see whoever it wanted to, living or dead.

He smiled at the little guy, so happy to have a friend.

"... Can you give your owner a message for me?" He asked.

The dog barked in response as if saying yes. Dimentio looked around himself, searching for something to write with. He scanned the area, when he saw a group of D-Men walking by, each eating their own sandwich. It looked as if they were on a lunch break. He smiled and quickly rushed over, asking if any of them had a pencil or paper. One of them handed him their pen (which had purple ink that flowed fairly smoothly and didn't smear, which was a plus,) and a sticky note. Dimentio took what he could get, then wrote a simple note, sticking it to the front of Polter's collar.

"You tell him to take his time and enjoy all the little things, okay?" Dimentio told the dog, patting its head.

The dog barked in response, then rubbed its head on Dimentio's leg, which made him lightly chuckle.

"And please, make sure he doesn't grieve me for too long. He can be sad, but don't let him let it take over his life."

The dog seemed to nod, then ran off. Dimentio watched as it left, then sat back, looking at the darkened sky of the Underwhere. He wondered if there were any books down there. Any trees or trails. Any marts or stores to shop at.

Looking up, he knew it would be hard for him to find what could make him happy. But he knew he would.

He couldn't wait for Luigi to come and join him, but at the same time, he hoped he wouldn't see Luigi for a long, long time.

The thought of seeing him once again someday filled him with warmth.

He was happy, knowing that their story wasn't over. Death wasn't the end of their tale. They were just a little far apart right now.

Someday, their paths would cross again. Until then, all they could both do was make the best of their own stories.

Luigi,
I miss you dearly. I know you didn't really answer when I told you, but I'd like to tell you again.
I love you. This time, I'm sure of it. I love you, and I hope you find everything you're looking for in life, just like I did.
I know you don't return my feelings, and even if you did, it would be cruel to make you wait until death to see me once again. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that you should make the most of your time, like you always do. When we finally meet again, I want to hear about all your adventures.
Until then, stay you. Continue to be that person who finds happiness wherever he goes.
With Love, Tristan.

P.S. Keep your window open, just in case a small breeze blows by.