Dimentio POV
Luigi has to much faith in me. I usually am able to see every angle and come up with a strategy, but I had absolutely no idea what would happen in here. I am pretty good at thinking on the spot, but I do way better when I can plan everything out.
I was able to teleport us exactly where we needed to go, which was really convenient because it would have been quite a walk. It was quite literally in the middle of nowhere.
In front of us was a large door. It looked almost transparent. Luigi couldn't even see it. There was no room attached to it. It was literally just a door. A small feeling of fear grew inside of me, as I remembered something.
I would have to go in alone.
If I didn't make it back, then he'd just be sitting out here, waiting for me for who knows how long. No, I couldn't allow that. I couldn't let him down.
Not again.
"I know you'll make it out. I trust you." Luigi told me. Why was he so trusting. I don't deserve it. L trusted me, and look what I did.
Why do I keep thinking about it? Why do I care so much.
I smiled, and walked forward.
As I walked through the door, my surroundings changed. I could no longer see Luigi. The door shut behind me. I sighed, and pushed forward.
This room was way to bright for my liking. The walls were white, the ceiling was white, everything was white. In front of me were some stairs. I looked around. Seeing nothing else, I climbed them.
So many stairs. I tried snapping my fingers, but I couldn't teleport. I also couldn't float, but I still had the rest of my magic. I could summon projectiles and all that jazz. It was like these rooms only limited certain things.
I saw a sign on the wall. "Only a being whom displays the qualities a true magician must have will be able to pass." I rolled my eyes. "First, the ability to physically get somewhere, without relying on your magic."
Ugh. That must be what these stairs are. Why walk when you could just fly? This was so exhausting. I looked a
ead. The end was so far away.
My legs burned. I don't think I've walked this much EVER. I swear, when I get out of here I am never walking again. I looked back and groaned. "Ugh, I'm not even half way??"
Eventually I made my way to the top. I collapsed in exhaustion, my legs shaking. I took a few minutes to catch my breath. I was feeling so dehydrated. I snapped my fingers, hoping to make a shroom shake appear in my hand, but no such luck. "Looks like I can't bring anything from the outside in here. Guess I'll suffer. Ah ha ha...."
After about 30 minutes, I was able to pick myself back up. I felt bad about making Luigi wait outside that much longer, but he didn't just climb up a billion sets of stairs, so he can wait. I looked up and walked into the next room.
I could float again. Thank Grambi! It was a miracle! I looked ahead and read the next sign.
"Only a powerful Magician can master the art of being two places at once. To prevent just any magician from reaching the next room, one must master the art of cloning in order to proceed."
I smiled. "Oh, this is easy." I immediately made a clone of myself. There were two separate devices. It looked like they were some type of scanner. Probably to scan for fingerprints to make sure my clone was actually a clone of me and not some other person. We each walked to the opposite sides of the room, took off our left glove, and placed our hand on the scanner.
A small needle poked up and pricked my finger, catching me off guard. "OW! What the heck??" I lifted my hand. There was a little blood dripping from the spot I got pricked. I looked over at my clone. Similar situation, only he couldn't feel pain, since he was just a clone. I saw words appear on the scanner. "SAME DNA, PLEASE PROCEED." A door opened up. I smiled, then snapped my fingers, making my clone disappear before proceeding.
The next room. It was all white again. Absolutely nothing in it but a sign. On it, written, "A true Magician can use magic to speed things along, but must never lose the skill of patience." I rolled my eyes, then continued reading. "Wait here in silence for one hour, then the door will open, and you may proceed."
I sat down. I'm good at being patient. After all, I waited years, pretending to be a loyal minion to Count Bleck, putting up with all those meetings and whatnot.
I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
How long does an hour take?? It's just an hour! Maybe I shouldn't have spent so much time catching my breath after those stairs. I looked around. There were no clocks, no windows, no way to tell how long it has been.
It's okay though. So long as I don't talk, I should be good.
My mind went back to Luigi. He must be getting pretty bored waiting out there for me. I hope there aren't many rooms after this one. Most of these tests were pretty simple. Nothing dangerous yet.
Ugh. I hate just sitting here with my thoughts. Haven't I done enough waiting?? All I ever do is wait. And look where I am now. I'm not even doing this for me. This whole thing has nothing to do with me. I barely even benefit from this. It would be so easy just to leave.
But no. I can't betray him. I don't want to do that.
Suddenly the door opened. THANK GRAMBI! I quickly stood up and floated through.
Once I entered, I immediately sunk back to the ground. Looks like I can't levitate anymore. This room was large. There was a big gap in the room. I looked down. I couldn't see the bottom. Across was what looked like the final room. I was close.
This was strange, since the power being limited at the moment was my power of flight. I read the sign. "Here, one must summon all your strength and float across, fighting the limitations being placed on you. This is to ensure only the strongest can proceed."
Um, WHAT?? I have to float across this while this room limits my floating magic?? I tried teleporting. Couldn't do that either.
I couldn't do anything. This was madness. That gap is huge. No way I'll be able to do this.
But...I had to.
"Ah ha ha, I never thought I'd fall to my death." I stepped forward. Stupid Luigi, making me risk my life just to save his brother, who I hate.
I summoned all the strength I had, and made myself float. I tried getting across as quickly as possible, but I felt a million times heavier, and it was incredibly exhausting. I could fall at any moment. I couldn't let my mind wander. I had to focus.
"Almost there." I told myself. It looked like I was about ten meters away. So close. I could feel my magic wavering. I was getting to exhausted. I was moving slower and slower. It felt like a force was pushing against me.
"Almost....there."
Suddenly, I dropped. I inhaled sharply, and grabbed onto the edge with my right hand. I could feel my heart racing. I looked down behind me.
Huh, I never thought I'd be scared of heights. I pulled myself up over the ledge, and let out a breath I was holding in.
I looked forward. The last room was ahead. Thank Grambi.
This actually wasn't to difficult to reach. Sure, it was exhausting and time consuming, but I only really had to risk my life once. I stepped through the final door. There stood the key on a small podium in the center of the room. There seemed to be a magical transparent yellow box around it, similar to the execution boxes I would make. Next to it was a small sign.
"Lastly, in order to acquire the key, you must be scanned, in order to allow only the purest to pass." I looked around. There was a second sign. "Remove all facial accessories and items, then touch the glass. If your intentions are pure, you will be able to safely proceed."
Great. I'm screwed.
First of all, no way I'd be able to pass. I'm about the least pure person in the universe. Second of all, I'd have to take my mask and my jesters cap off. The last time my mask was off was when Mimi stole it and L got it back for me. I don't even take it off when I'm alone.
But...I have to try. Luigi's out there waiting for me to get this key for him. I have to try. I've come this far.
No one else was in here, so no one would see me face. I let out a sigh, and slowly took my mask and hat off.
My dark black hair fell down over my face. I brushed it out of my eyes, then stepped forward. I touched my hand to the box.
A small machine popped out, and scanned my face. I waited for a minute.
Even though no one was here, I felt so exposed.
To my surprise, the box around they key suddenly disappeared. "W-what??" I said in shock. "It opened!" I quickly grabbed they key, then put my mask amd hat back on. I let out a sigh of relief.
Why did it let me get the key though. It said my intentions had to be pure.... but, I don't know. This whole place is thousands of years old, the scanner was probably broken.
Yeah. It was most likely broken. No way I passed. I was only here for selfish reasons.
I took the key, and made my way back. My magic was no longer being limited, so the road back was easy.
Were my intentions pure?
No, this is me we're talking about. Definitely not.
I left, key in hand.