ICB 19: Amadan Dubh

"O'Chunks, please take a seat"

"-Springin' forth from 'is lair as his foes all despair, for Bleck be the name o' their doom-"

"SILENCE! O'Chunks, what is the name of this foolishness?"
"Wah, Eh, my apologies, Count. Only after those heroes decked me in the Craglands, Nastasia made me pen a motivational tune and sing it a thousand times-"

"That's enough! That really won't be necessary right now."

"Aye, Count. Eh, how come Nastasia is not here?"

"There have been some changes around here. Nastasia is...indisposed. I will be giving the orders from now on. Certain events have transpired which mean that as of now I can only count on yourself and Mimi to thwart the heroes and bring me the Pure hearts."

"Aye, sir. So what's been happening? Is it to do with that meddlin' clown? And what's become of young master L?"

Count Bleck sat upright, surprised at O'Chunks' observation.

"You're close to the truth O'Chunks. Dimentio conspired with Mimi and Mr L under the guise of capturing the Pure Heart of Sammer's World for me. However, he lured Mr L to his doom. Mimi barely escaped alive."

O'Chunks' ruddy complexion went pale as he sat in silence. Count Bleck held his gaze steady. 

"Dimentio has turned traitor. He intends to combine the power of the Chaos Heart with that of the Pure Hearts and make everyone and everything his slaves. It is imperative that we stop him otherwise all our work is doomed."

"Aye, right you are my Count. Truth is, I never trusted that fool. I'll serve you until my last breath Count. Yeh can count on me for that! Do yeh want me to go and rally the troops? I'll sing some motivational songs-"

"That won't be necessary. Consider yourself dismissed until further orders."

-----------------------

O'Chunks walked down the dark corridors ill at ease. That would explain why he hadn't seen much of Nastasia over the past few days. Normally they'd see each other in the kitchen or the gym, but there had been no sign of her. The power cuts had not gone unnoticed by him either. No wonder the lass had fallen ill, she had so much to do! It also explained why he hadn't seen much of Mimi either. He'd usually see her in the Rec room after dinner, watching TV or gaming, and wasn't averse to joining her, despite his woeful skill at video games. He headed towards Nastasia's room.

"Nassy? Nastasia?"

"Come in O'Chunks."

O'Chunks entered. Nastasia was sat at her desk. She did not seem unwell as it where, since she was fully dressed and alert.

"How are you Nassy? Oh wait I'm supposed to be singing still! I've only done it 512 times so far-"

"O'Chunks, I'll let you off for now while you're here. I'm fine, I'm fine...really I am..."

Her voice cracked and she hiccuped into sobs.

"Oh O'Chunks! It's all my fault! I .... I was careless and let Dimentio trick Mr L and Mimi! I.....I don't know! I've lost his love!"

"Oh Nassy! there there! "

O'Chunks found himself off balance. Nastasia had quickly come back to her usual calm composure after the bad business between Luigi/Mr L. He leaned over and let her sob into his arm, not sure what else to do.

"Nassy, Nassy, it's...OK. He tricked me too! Remember? See that great 'ole in mah heid that ye dressed?"

He bent down to show her the dressing on the top of his crown.

"Whatever the Count said, I'm sure the Count'll count on you! You're the only one who can make sense of that book of his. Eh, and read his handwriting! You're the cleverest one out of us I swear!"

"Oh O'Chunks! I'm glad that you got away from that hideous clown!"

"What do we do now Nassy?"

"I'm really not sure O'Chunks."

There was a rapping at the door.

"Mimi? You can come in." Nastasia said, much to O'Chunks' puzzlement.

Mimi entered, looking unusually childlike in pyjamas and a dressing gown. She looked pale and drawn.

"Hi Nassy. Uh hi O'Chunks! What are you doing here?"

"We are discussing the Count's new orders. We are to stop Dimentio's treachery! You with us!"

"Sure! That creepy clown's a big meanie! I don't want him to win! We're Team Bleck!"

"Team Bleck! I like that."

"Hey! Is that the time? I'm starving! Lets go to the kitchen!"

The three minions went down to the Refectory and made a simple meal. While they were eating Mimi spoke up:

"Um, can we have like a sleepover tonight? In the Rec room. We can play games and....um. I...I don't really want to be on my own tonight guys."

"That actually sounds like a good idea." Nastasia said, to her own surprise.

"Yeh, I'll tell yeh some of my stories from back home! And I'll remember my pee-jays."

"'k? Sounds like a plan! We will get blankets and supplies and meet back here in 15 minutes!"

They returned to the Rec room with a variety of supplies and night attire. Nastasia was in her grey pyjamas and a white dressing gown. O'Chunks was wearing an enormous shaggy gown in brown and red stripes, under which he wore tracksuit bottoms, since he was something of a stranger to night wear. O'Chunks was the first to speak up:

"We've all been burnt by the jester and I'll tell yeh why."

"Go on, We're listening." 

"In my country we have many tales about what most call fairies or the fae folk. Most folk think they're just little people who paint flowers or live at the ends of rainbows."

Mimi sniggered. It seemed incongruous that O'Chunks was talking about fairies of all things. O'Chunks gave her a sharp look.

"Yeh might think it funny lass, but the fae folk have great power. They are little people most don't see but all know they're there. They live in the woods; in the springs; the waysides; hidden places. Their world's and our world are mixed abut different like. Only there are days when they mix, like Beltane and Lughnassa, and of course Samhain. You look after them, they look after you. Give them the first ears of harvest, the first cup of mead like?"

The two women looked puzzled but were still listening.

"If the fae are happy, your harvest is good, the mead is sweet and you won't get caught by willo'th'wisps in the swamps when travelling.

"Uh eh, what'm saying is there are tricksters with the fae, and there are people too who can see them more than others, like they're fae themselves. They're the wise women, the tooth-drawers, bone-setters, them that have the wits you need. But there are those who just want the fae for themselves? They might be good at it too. But they end up going 'touched' if they're not careful. Or they dinnae give a damn! The worst one of all is the Amadan Dubh - The Fatal Fool!

Mimi and Nastasia looked at O'Chunks in shock.

"Do you mean Dimentio? " Mimi volunteered. Nastasia nodded silently. O'Chunks continued:

"I'll be level with yeh, lasses, I saw that when I first met him. But I trusted the Count, 'cause I thought he knew what he was doing."

Nastasia gave him a curious look.

"But whatever the Count does we'll fight Dimentio. Even if he got it wrong I'm still on team Bleck!" 

Nastasia and Mimi smiled. Nastasia spoke up:

"Well, it's getting late. Let's make ourselves comfortable, but before we turn in we need to do do this 'k?"

Nastasia produced a small, dusty bottle from her dressing gown and poured a small measure of clear liquid into each of their mugs.

"I think we need a nightcap. To Team Bleck!"

"Team Bleck!" They chorused.

"O'Chunks?"

"Yeah?"

"How does that song of yours about Bleck goes?"

"Raise your chunks in the air as the most debonair of man 'o men strides into the room...
-Springin' forth from 'is lair as his foes all despair, for Bleck be the name o' their doom-
Wooooahh wo wo wo That's our Bleck, Bleckity Bleckity wooo....and I can remember the rest.."

The three of them laughed until they wept.

Once they got their breath back,Nastasia dimmed the lights and they made themselves comfortable on the floor and sofa. As the night wore on Mimi and Nastasia found themselves in O'Chunks' arms, one on each side. Count Bleck saw that as he got himself some food and found his face move in an unfamiliar way. It was a shock to realise how long it had been since he had smiled.