From around a corner, Darwin stepped out into view of the alley. At the end, he could see the red van parked all the way down. Darwin looked behind him to see if anyone was around to notice him by himself. There were strangers walking in various directions, but it looked like no one paid any attention to him. He slid into the alley and began walking down to the van. He passed various garbage containers and little bugs and rats scattered around the place. There were various colored puddles all around the ground. Darwin made sure not to step on anything, trying to avoid getting his shoes dirty in case Gumball or his parents might take notice. When he reached the back of the van, he knocked three times on the back side doors.

"Hello, mister? It's me, Darwin." The latch inside the doors made noise as though it were unlocking. Darwin took a step back, expecting them to open up. They did, but it happened so fast that, before Darwin could see it coming, he was suddenly sucked inside. Not grabbed or pulled, but just dragged in by some unknown vacuum-like force. It was so fast that when he gave a slight shriek, the noise of the suction mostly covered it from the outside world. As soon as he was gone into the dark interior of the van, the doors closed shut.

In the darkness, a pair of circular eyes appeared, looking in various directions. "Wh-what's going on?! Where am I?! What did you do?!" It was evidently Darwin, who was beginning to panic.

"It's okay." The same voice from earlier echoed through the darkness, but out of the nowhere, the darkness was pushed back. Various candles spontaneously combusted at the wicks, lighting up the entire area. Darwin was able to see himself. He also noticed that he was sitting on a green couch and in front of him was an ottoman. The area was still too dim to make out much, but judging from the size and the photos and art hanging on the wall as well as the wallpaper scheme of gothic flowers, it felt like a living room of some kind. "You'll have to forgive me for being so impertinent like that." The eyes of the owner suddenly appeared in front of Darwin from about 3 meters (9 feet) away, opening slowly as to not startle the boy. His voice was soothing and relaxed, like butter rolling down a slice of cooked toast. "It just would have looked bad, you stepping into my van and all. I hope you don't mind the candles, as I don't have much in the way of lighting around here. In a way, darkness has always been like… an old friend of mine." Darwin continued to look around, trying to get a sense of where he was. He spoke his thoughts at the set of eyes.

"This doesn't feel like your van."

"Well that's because it's not." Hearing this, it grabbed Darwin's attention. "We're actually in my closet."

"What? That doesn't make sense. This doesn't look anything like a closet. It's too big and we are not surrounded by clothes."

"No we are not, but we are in my van's closet. You didn't actually think I lived in my van did you?"

"Uhh… well, I…"

"Ugh, children these days. Technically, I do, but in reality I don't. My closet is dimensionally transcendental, meaning it's bigger on the inside than it is outside." This surprised Darwin to say the least.

"But, but how is that even possible?"

"Well it mostly has to with dimensions and portals, but you didn't come here to learn about that stuff, did you?" The eyes leaned slightly in and the voice became more serious. "You came here to discuss something personal." Darwin was feeling a little intimidated, but he kept his head level and his mind focused.

"Yeah, that's right. You know why I came to find you." The eyes leaned back in place, changing focus and size as the possessor went on.

'Of course I do. This all has to do with your parents. I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you if not. I suppose introductions are in order. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Xavier Zymbeckalamar, but most who know me personally call me X, or for I guess, Mr. Z."

"Well Mr. Z, my name is Darwin."

"Darwin, huh? So that's the name that rabbit gave you then?"

"Well no actually, it was Gumball who named me. He's his son."

"Interesting that he has a son. You had a last name too, yes?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well I just find it… curious that you have the family's last name. I guess that means I was right to have sold you to him." Darwin could feel the tension setting in. He felt awkward and a little depressed bringing this kind of stuff up, but he also expected this too. He knew talking about this kind of stuff would make him uncomfortable; he saw it as the price he had to pay to learn the truth. Trying to shake it off, he continued.

"Well, I do love my family. It's not a perfect life, but it sure isn't boring or broken either. For the most part, I like to believe the Wattersons love me too, even though I'm not a traditional son or sibling." He gave the man a smile to show he was telling the truth. Darwin couldn't tell anything from Xavier when all he had to go on was a set of eyes. What Darwin didn't know was that Xavier paid close attention, especially in deep thought upon hearing the word 'son'.

"For the most part you say? Does that mean not always?" There was that tension again, like the gravity was seizing up around Darwin. The smile was replaced by his signature stuck out lip.

"I mean, like I said, it's not perfect, but every family has some dysfunctionality to them. Otherwise, we'd look like those families you see on TV who were sweaters and sing all the time and make normal people feel awkward."

"Then if I may ask, for the sake of my, ehm… conscious: Do they treat you well?" With this, the tension was enough to pull Darwin's arms to his sides, holding down his lower fins in front of his body. He was silent for a second, mauling over the question in his head before answering.

"I… I guess. It-it's not like, like they mean to or anything. Every family has it's problems with each other. I know there are some kids at my school who don't get along with their parents or others. Believe me: Things are a lot better now than they used to be – not that I'm saying they hurt me! I don't mean-"

"Shhhhh. It's just a simple question. Don't feel like you have to hide anything from me. Remember: I was like your guardian a long time ago, and they're not here to listen. I'll repeat: Do they treat you: well?" Darwin listened and took some time before answering again, this time a little longer. He took a deep breath, and released it as a sigh.

"Yes and no, okay? It sometimes worries me to think that, behind their care and love, they just put up with me rather than respect me. I want to believe they love me like one of them, and I mostly do, but sometimes… I think about how I was once a fish, and how that was what Gumball's parents wanted. Then when I grew legs and all, everything changed. Now I live a good life, but… was it fair to them, and is that why I feel and possibly treated different?"

"And there it is." Xavier leaned a bit back in his spot, continuing to observe Darwin. "So that's why you came to me, hmm? To figure out what you are and what or who your parents were? To know if you should be where you are today, and perhaps where they are, but most of all… To know what happened between them, and your current family?" Darwin couldn't believe how clear he made it all. He managed to express some thoughts even Darwin did not fully form.

Very nervous and almost scared, Darwin sputtered out "y-ye-yeah, r-r-ri-right." Xavier pulled himself forward.

"Well I guess it is understandable, what with you being adopted and all. As long as they treat you well, then that's all that matters. That is what your parents wanted when you were placed under my care and protection, and it makes me feel better knowing that too." Darwin figured this was a sign to change the subject, Whether it was intentional or not, he took the bait.

"So my parents… you knew them after all?" Xavier didn't say anything. He looked down into the darkness below him. The corners of his eyes closed-in around his colorless pupils. His eyelids covering half the white to his eyes. Darwin, unable to see his body or head, could only assume it to be hanging. An air of gloom was making it's way around them. Then suddenly, Xavier broke the silence while still focusing away from the fish.

"Why am I doing this?" He was talking to himself. "Why did I agree to tell you?" Darwin was surprised by the question.

"What do you mean," he asked Xavier dumbfounded. As Xavier went on, he continued to get elevate on volume.

"Why?... Why am I going to tell you these things? What am I supposed to say?" Darwin could immediately tell that something was wrong. Just from the tone in his voice, he sounded depressed, but he didn't know why. "Maybe it's because I pity you… Or maybe because of guilt… Or maybe I'm just plain crazy?" He started chuckling to himself. It went on for a while, to the point where Darwin had to ask him the obvious.

"What's wrong?" Xavier continued to chuckle as though he was ignoring Darwin. Eventually, he stopped, looking up to face the fish. The mood had shifted.

"I… I'm sorry." Xavier began feeling ashamed, or at least that's what he sounded like beyond the darkness. "I'm sorry for… for what I did to you. It's all my fault – everything." He stopped for a couple seconds, but came back. "You… your parents… it-it's all my fault." Darwin could almost swear he was bellowing as puffs of breath were produced by Xavier. It was not the first time Darwin had seen or heard a grown man cry, but that was always Richard who did; this made Darwin cringe in awkwardness.

"You're fault? What does that mean?" Xavier did not respond right away, having to compose himself back once more.

"Darwin, was it?" He still sounded miserable, but at least he seemed normal again. Darwin on the other hand was a little concerned, both for himself and Xavier.

"Yeah?"

"Look… You deserve to know the truth about your parents, and I will tell you if you still want to. However… it is worth noting that: this story I am about to tell you, while true, is not a happy one." The eyes moved up and turned to the right. Xavier began walking towards one end of the room, and as he passed in front of the candles in the background, Darwin could see part of the figure's waist. Whoever the owner was, he was slender, opaque, and slightly transparent, as if he were a literal manifestation of black smoke. It creeped Darwin out, and he wanted to say something about it, but he let the man continue. "I'm not saying that this story has no good parts or happy thoughts…" Just like his sentence, he stopped at what looked like the wall of the room. Darwin could barely make out under the candle light that he was standing in front of a table with a bunch of glasses and a container of brown liquid inside. It was too dark to tell what it was. "And it will provide you with the closure you seek, but overall…" He paused to open the container and poured a glass for himself. "It's a story not for the faint of heart." He closed the bottle and grabbed the glass, walking back to Darwin. He finished when he sat back down in his place. "Everything I say will stay as true to the original as it possibly can. I'll also be sure to keep it amendable for your age without skipping the major details too. But what I want to know from you, Darwin Watterson, is this:…" He paused one last time to take a sip from his glass, with only the clinking noise of ice and the cup as evidence of his action. "Are you really sure that you want to know?" It almost sounded like Xavier was trying to scare Darwin out of knowing the truth. Of course, considering this warning was so dark, it made sense why Darwin remained so quiet and spooked. Surrounded by the darkness and candlelight did not help the situation either.

But nevertheless, the test of Darwin's nerves and determination passed along with him, and after careful contemplation, answered the cold and detached question with an equally affirmative "yes". Xavier was amazed a tad, yet Darwin wasn't finished. He looked straight at the eyes, brow lowered and stern as could be in his assurance. "I do appreciate the warning, but I can't run away from this. I've pushed myself to come this far, and I won't turn back because I was scared. Do your worst and tell me what you can – everything possible, please." Xavier was impressed, applauding internally to the young lad. He could tell that Darwin truly meant business, and for such a young age was admirable. Behind the black coloring of the atmosphere, Xavier secretly smiled at him.

"Well then," He started off just before taking another sip from his glass. "Let us begin, shall we?" He closed his eyes and leaned back some. It looked like he was gone, but Darwin didn't have time to worry when he heard his voice. This time was different however, because unlike previously when Xavier was speaking directly to Darwin, Xavier's voice echoed up into the sky, fainter but still audible. "I guess we should start with how I met those two, and we'll work our way from there-on." Without seeing it coming, a bubble started forming in the area above where Xavier had faded. It was small but grew bigger and bigger almost instantly to the size of a circular area rug. It had to be four times taller than Darwin, and slowly, colors began to change as a picture was forming. Darwin looked around him to see if the light was showing any of the surroundings. Sadly, it was as if the light was contained as it was still pitch around him aside from the candles. When he diverted his attention back on the circular mural, a picture was formed. It showed an aerial view slightly from off the ground of what appeared to be a small body of water in a random forest. The various types of trees surrounding the body were a lush dark green. The sky above was clear without a cloud in sight during the middle of daytime. A few birds were visible in the distance, sailing across to wherever they were heading. It was like something one saw in a museum. Darwin even took notice of how everything looked like it was painted, even seeing the smear marks of what had to be brush strokes. To the trained eye, it was some form of moving watercolor art, yet the shadowing, the light, the colors – it all looked so real and vibrant as everything moved. It was a style that did not exist in their world but seen in other artforms.

"Woooow," Darwin let out long and breathtakingly. All kinds of neurons in his child-like head were overflowing with serotonin and possibly other stimulant pleasure compounds. This literal moving watercolor art was better than anything he had ever seen on T.V. before. The watercolors changed in shade and depth, swaying left and right slightly. It was almost as if they colors breathed in and out, pulsed back and forth like they were alive. The yellow sun became darker for half a second, then bright again; the same for the trees, the water, the different shades of grass. The words alone could not capture the beauty found in the floating, moving image standing high.

"This, is where I met your parents the day I found you. In a blue freshwater lake, and the day I arrived was when everything changed for everyone." Out of the trees to the side, the Awesome Store red van appeared under the tree brush. "This is where we begin, and soon enough…" Xavier opened his eyes, showing he was tilted back at about a sixty-degree angle facing the painted screen. "It will also be where the story shall end."