Dimentio fell back and onto the ground after having seemingly just run into something that appeared out of nowhere.

He scrunched his face up and shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut because of the shock of the sudden impact.

What the heck was that? He thought silently to himself, blinking his eyes and looking forward to see who, but the man in green, sitting across from him and staring with wide eyes.

Of course. Just my luck.

Dimentio's eyes went wide in panic. He wanted to get up and sprint away but found that he physically couldn't move.

Don't worry. I'm not wearing my mask. Maybe he doesn't recognize me, Dimentio silently thought to himself in an attempt to keep himself calm.

"Dimentio?" Luigi asked.

Well, shoot. There goes that theory, Dimentio told himself, finding it harder and harder to keep himself from panicking. How much time had passed since the Ultimate Show? Was Luigi still traumatized? Was he going to run and call for help? What was going to happen??

"You're alive?" Luigi asked, raising an eyebrow, still just sitting there and staring.

Dimentio wasn't quite sure how to respond. Why didn't Luigi sound horrified?

He just sat there, silent and at a loss for words.

"Wh- How are you here? What are you doing here?" Luigi asked next, even though the last question was left unanswered. Not that it needed to be answered. It was fairly obvious that Dimentio was there, so he had to be alive. Luigi wasn't quite sure how, though. After all, he was quite literally there when Dimentio died. He practically saw it happen.

He wasn't too surprised though. Dimentio was always good at pulling tricks. He probably could have easily escaped the Ultimate Show with his life at the last minute. The MOST confusing thing about this current situation was what Dimentio was doing in this exact location. Why was he just walking around in the woods? If he had a plan to get revenge on Luigi, he would have just teleported over and done it about a long time ago. This seemed oddly random.

Dimentio just waited in silence for another moment, staring at Luigi. The man in green didn't seem terrified in the slightest. He also wasn't pointing out the fact that Dimentio wasn't wearing his mask, which Dimentio was grateful for. He was almost impressed with the fact that Luigi was able to recognize him, considering that the man in green had technically never seen his face before.

"Uhh, are you gonna talk or..." Luigi trailed off, lightly smiling to himself as if this was funny.

Dimentio didn't find it so humorous as he continued to stare at him. The former jester then did the only thing he could think of doing. He stood up, simply turned away, and started walking.

"Wh- hey! Where are you going?" Luigi asked, quickly getting up as well and rushing to catch up with him. Dimentio rolled his eyes and began to pick up his pace, however, Luigi's legs were longer so he was easily able to keep up.

"Where have you been this past year?! Do you have any idea how long people have been looking for you?! Nearly everyone thought you were dead!" Luigi exclaimed, holding his arms out as he walked. "What are you doing here in the Mushroom Kingdom? Do you have some sort of plan? Are you still trying to destroy the world and everything," Luigi asked all too quickly.

Dimentio simply stayed silent, trying his best to ignore the man in green's remarks. However, hearing all those questions did give him some of the information he was looking for. Turned out that in the living world the Ultimate Show happened a year ago. He couldn't tell if that was good news or bad news. Probably good news, since people have had time to hopefully somewhat get over it. It wasn't as relevant anymore. He also knew where he was now. The Mushroom Kingdom. That part was probably bad news, considering that it meant he would have to deal with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and maybe even Bowser. The four heroes who led him to his demise. Great.

"Uhh, can you talk? I need you to confirm that you're actually you," Luigi breathed. "Why aren't you floating? I thought you preferred floating to walking. Also, no offense, but where's your mask? Not that I don't like your face, but I thought you never took it off. I specifically remember one time when Mimi asked you to take it off and you got all mad. Why did you hide your face? It's not bad or anything!" Luigi quickly asked, pummeling Dimentio with questions so quickly that he could hardly process them. Dimentio almost felt like he was being interrogated.

He stayed silent still, not about to explain that he pawned all his magic away for this second chance at life. He also wasn't about to explain the reasons he had for wearing his mask in the past. That would be a waste of his precious time. However, the fact that Luigi remembered the time Mimi asked to see his face did give him another important piece of information. The fact that Luigi remembered that meant he remembered his time as Mr. L.

Dimentio, again, wasn't sure how to feel about this information. Perhaps he should have felt scared because that would mean Luigi remembered the time Dimentio killed him after his second Brobot defeat. However, seeing the way Luigi was acting, he didn't quite feel scared. It was clear now that there was nothing to be scared of with Luigi.

Dimentio felt more annoyed i anything.

He had hoped that when he came back, he wouldn't have to deal with anyone from his past. Of course, Jaydes would send him HERE of all places.

He wasn't sure where to go from there. He just kept trying to walk AWAY from Luigi, who seemed to be incapable of taking a hint.

"Dimentio?" Luigi asked with a softer tone. "You're awfully quiet. Are you alright?"

Dimentio almost laughed at this question. What a ridiculous thing to ask. He was the one who used the Chaos Heart AND Luigi to nearly end all worlds, and now here the man in green was, asking if he was alright as if they were old buddies. He honestly didn't know what he expected to happen if he ever crossed paths with Mr. L again, but it was certainly not this.

"Did you lose your voice? Seriously? You used to talk all the time! Why so silent?! It's kinda freaking me out!" Luigi exclaimed.

Dimentio again was amused that his silence was what was freaking Luigi out about this whole encounter. Not the very fact that he was there, but his silence.

Although, he supposed it made sense. When one was silent, it was hard to tell what their motivations were. No one could sense lies through silence. Silence was perhaps one of the best ways to hide. It was almost like a mask.

"....Just leave me alone," Dimentio finally said in a low, empty tone as he continued walking. It was hard for him to keep his pace that quick since he wasn't used to walking so much. However, he didn't want to slow down and show that he was growing tired.

"Oh good, it IS you," Luigi breathed, letting out what sounded like a sigh of relief at the confirmation, even though it wasn't technically a confirmation. "I was worried that you MIGHT have been someone else. Wouldn't that be awkward? Eheh...."

This already WAS awkward. Dimentio missed his abilities. If he could, he'd teleport somewhere far, far away right that very minute. But he couldn't, so he was stuck walking at an uncomfortably fast pace while Luigi easily kept up and continued talking as if they were old pals who didn't previously try to kill each other.

Although, this wasn't shocking behavior coming from Luigi. The only thing shocking about this whole encounter was the fact that Luigi wasn't scared. Of course, knowing Mr. L, Dimentio never saw him as a coward. However, Nastasia had explained when the man in green first arrived at Castle Bleck that he was cowardly in the past. Still, when Dimentio looked at Mr. L, he was never able to actually see the coward that apparently everyone else saw. Even when fused with him as Super Dimentio, he couldn't sense any terror. In what should have been perhaps the most terrifying moment in Luigi's insignificant life, Dimentio could feel NO fear from him.

A part of him didn't get it. He really didn't get it.

"Okay, back to the issue, what are you doing here? I mean, you obviously have a plan. You always have a plan. What is it? ...I don't know why I'm asking. You obviously wouldn't tell me," Luigi trailed off, now fidgeting with his hands and looking to his side as he walked to keep up.

That was true. If Dimentio DID have a plan, which he didn't, but if he did, he most certainly wouldn't share it. However, it was preferable that Luigi assumed that he did have a plan and was simply keeping quiet instead of the man in green finding out that he for once had no idea where he was going.

His current plan was to keep walking nowhere in particular until Luigi gave up and left him alone. It wasn't going well.

"Wait..." Luigi trailed off, running up so he was in front of Dimentio and walking backwards as if he was trying to get a good look at Dimentio's face. He squinted his eyes as if he was trying to read Dimentio's expression, then blinked twice, a the corners of his mouth twitching upwards ever so slightly. "You don't actually HAVE a plan... do you?"

Dimentio tensed up slightly but maintained his walking pace, avoiding eye contact. He decided to just try to pretend Luigi wasn't even there. He hoped that Luigi would trip and fall.

"You don't!" Luigi chimed, sounding almost happy with himself for being able to figure that out. "That must be why you're wandering around these woods. You for once don't have a specific plan in mind!"

Dimentio was fascinated that Luigi was somehow able to maintain a conversation, even though he himself hadn't said more than four words. It was almost impressive.

"Oh, come on. Quit giving me the silent treatment and acting like you don't know me," Luigi complained. "If you don't have a plan, then what are you going to do? Just wander around the woods like some sort of... what are those people who wander the woods called? Wander-ers? I dunno." He trailed off, lightly chuckling to himself.

Why was he so persistent? Dimentio knew that persistence was one of the many traits that the classic heroes had, but Luigi wasn't being persistent for some noble quest. He was literally JUST being annoying at this point. Was he trying to distract Dimentio until he could turn him in? Had he somehow secretly sent an emergency flare off as a warning, saying, Hey look! I found a mentally unstable jester who needs to be locked away ASAP!

"Leave me be," Dimentio muttered, almost feeling frightened by the thought. Being locked away for those short three months was NOT the way he hoped to spend them.

"Oh good, you're talking again," Luigi beamed. "So do you have a place to stay? The motel in toad town is closed right now because of a rat infestation, but maybe-"

"Staying?" Dimentio asked, suddenly stopping and looking at the man in green with an almost repulsed expression.

Why would Luigi even ask if he had a place to stay? This was ENEMY TERRITORY! He was NOT about to spend his three months in hiding at a place where he was likely highly wanted. No way.

"Do you not remember who I am? Do you not remember what I did? What in the worlds makes you think I would fancy staying in the very dimension you reside in?" Dimentio asked in an almost demanding manner.

Luigi paused, blinking at him as if he was finally taking the time to think it over. Dimentio took a second to take a breath, grateful for the momentary silence, but waiting for Luigi to break it.

"... I remember who you are," Luigi eventually said, looking right at Dimentio as he spoke, unafraid. "I remember what you did. But... I know that not all bad guys are JUST bad. Y'know? I know that you wanted a perfect world because you wanted a place where you could be happy. I guess I just supposed you were trying to change your ways and look for that."

"Why would you think such a thing?" Dimentio asked, crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows. Was Luigi really THAT naive?

"Well... because you have yet to yell at or attack me. And I'm sure that if you wanted to hurt me again, you would have done it months ago."

Dimentio wasn't about to explain how in his case he physically couldn't have attacked Luigi months ago because he was dead. Luigi's blind faith and stupidity were again, almost amusing.

Why did he always assume that bad people didn't have bad intentions? Did he learn nothing from his dangerous adventures?

"Do you know where you're walking to?" Luigi asked.

Dimentio didn't reply. He looked around himself briefly, being sure to avoid making eye contact. He wasn't going to tell Luigi that he had no idea.

"Thought so..." Luigi trailed off. "Well, we aren't far from the Mushroom Kingdom. Go east about a quarter mile more, and you'll find yourself in toad town. My brother and I live near the edge."

Dimentio frowned slightly. Why, exactly, was Luigi giving personal information away like this? Was he really that stupid, or did he somehow know that Dimentio wasn't allowed to hurt him?

"Okay...." Dimentio murmured, not quite sure what he was going to do with that information.

Probably nothing, to be brutally honest.

"If you ever need a friend, find me!" Luigi said next, patting Dimentio's back, then heading east while waving.

Dimentio remained frozen, just blankly staring as Luigi rushed out of sight.

What the heck was that?? Why was Luigi acting as if they were old pals? Was he concussed? Was there just something wrong with him??

Why did he call them friends? They were NEVER friends. Sure, they were teammates while Luigi was Mr. L, but actually calling them friends would be a stretch. Mr. L was more like a pawn in his plans if anything.

"Okay then..." Dimentio trailed off, shrugging the entire encounter off and sitting down on the soft grass, choosing to try to ignore everything Luigi had said and pray to Grambi that the man in green didn't turn around and alert the proper authorities of his arrival.