Lexaeus gave the two a stern glance. He was a Nobody that was usually not trifled with. When he did not get a response from the boys, he continued talking.

"I was walking past when I heard terrible shouting!" He looked around the room and he sensed something. "Wait…aren't you two being punished right now? I would THINK that you both were to stay in your rooms…isn't that correct?" He looked at both boys. Xaldin's lip quivered.

"I am in my room Lexaeus!" He shouted and then backed up holding his hands to his mouth. He knew he had to stop answering back elders like that, he really did not know what he was getting himself into. Lexaeus raised an eye brow.

"Excuse me Xaldin? Now, I am going to ask again, what the hell were you two doing just now?"

Xaldin who had creped over to his bed, and Xigbar who stood by Lexaeus's side stayed quiet. The large Nobody looked at each of them and started to get more angry.

"Not going to talk eh? Alright then. I guess I'll have to try another way." He reached over and grabbed Xaldin, and Xigbar. The brute nobody walked over to the bed with each boy under one arm. He sat down on the bed and put both boys over his knee. Xigbar's eyes widened, and Xaldin spoke up.

"Wait! Lexaeus please! Please don't, we'll talk!"

"You two were already given the chance, take what's coming to you." He pulled up both boy's cloaks. The punishment that Xemnas had given them earlier still showed signs, and the marks were there, but faint. Before he began, Xigbar butted in.

"Please! Lexaeus, I'll behave, you can take away my guns, you can make me stay in my room all night, I won't visit Xaldin, please! Please don't spank us, it still hurts from before!"

"There is no pleading with me Xig…now be quiet, or your punishments will only be prolonged."

Lexaeus raised his hand and alternated on each boy's backside. Xaldin and Xigbar both cried out with waves of tears coming fourth down their faces. They were making so much noise that the door opened to the room. Luxord who had been walking by popped his head in. He looked at what was going on, but still asked Number Five.

"Oy, Lexaeus, what's going on here mate?" Said the blond haired member as he stood in the door frame. Lexaeus did not look up, but continued to spank both boys. He then looked up with a perturbed glare.

"Number Ten…as you can see, I am teaching these two a lesson. I had just come from the lab where Vexen told me he had delivered Xaldin to his room, where he was to be confined. Xigbar thought it would be fun to have an adventure." His hand came down a couple more times. Both boys were sobbing hard now. Luxord winced as he watched Lexaeus administer the thrashing.

"Aye…well I guess they didn't learn the first time. And I hear Xemnas did not go easy on either of them." He laughed as he looked over at Number Five.

"I would say not Number Ten…Xemnas used the black paddle on them." He said as he continued. Luxord raised an eye brow, and then smiled again.

"Me myself, I would have given them a sound smacking to their bums as well. Aye, might have even used me own slipper." Said Luxord as he smiled. "Well I have to get going, Saix has a mission for me."

Lexaeus soon finished and put both boys down. He then stood up. Taking Xigbar by the ear he turned around to face Xaldin.

"You…get into bed, and I expect you to stay in it! As for this one, he will also be confined to his quarters." Lexaeus turned back to Luxord. "I am going to take him to his room, wait for me, I will come with you." The three left, leaving Xaldin wiping his eyes with his cloak sleeve. He hadn't expected to be in this much pain at all. He wished he had never listened to Xigbar. Climbing into bed and wincing as the mattress hissed under his sore backside, he laid his head on the pillow, and quickly fell asleep.

Lexaeus walked with Luxord while now holding the small Xigbar in his arms. The boy had become drowsy and started stalling while he walked. So Number Five had decided to carry him to his room. Arriving at Number Two's room, he set the child in his bed. Xigbar winced as he was laid in bed, but soon rolled over and continued sleeping. Luxord looked at him and smiled.

"Such a naughty chap eh? You never know how someone is going to act, or did act when they are children." He said as he looked at the giant Nobody.

"Lucky for you, your time magic will not affect you. And I have no idea what Braig was like when he was a child, I only really knew him when him and I worked in Radiant Garden as guards." He looked over at Xigbar and made sure he was sound asleep. "Come on, we better get to that mission before they wake up. I don't ever want to baby sit again." The two members left the room in a huge hurry. The arrived at the Grey Area and were briefed on the mission, and then went through the portal.

Xemnas had heard what the two boys did as he sat in his office. He was furious because what he says, every member should adhere to. He decided to pay them a little visit. Creating a portal, he first arrived in Xigbar's room. The boy was sprawled out on the big bed snoring loudly. He was lying on his stomach and had the blankets half covering his body. His face was pressed into his pillow like he had been crying into it. Xemnas smiled, and figured the boys had been punished enough. He then continued into Xaldin's room. Xaldin was also lying on his stomach. He was more in the fetal position also sleeping. He had cradled a pillow and his hair was in his face. Xemnas covered him and then left the room. Closing the door he ran into Vexen.

"Hello Number Four, where are you headed?" Said Xemnas as he stood staring at the member. Vexen gave him a hurried look and mumbled.

"Your lordship…I am sorry to be rude. I have to head back to the lab, I think Zexion and I have gotten some more information on this rejuvenation process…but I am not 100% positive. There is a lot of information to gather and see what is going on and…" Vexen was interrupted by Xemnas holding his hand up.

"It is quite alright Vexen, you do not need to let me know about every little thing, just as long as something is getting done about it." He looked over at the large clock in the hallway. "I must be going, I have a meeting with Marluxia at Castle Oblivion." He quickly turned around and created a portal and was gone. Vexen stared a moment and then left down the hall soon after.

With the day progressing, night turned into day. Xaldin rolled over in his bed and realized that he was back to his normal size. He let out a large sigh of relief, and then gasped in pain. He was still very sore for his foolishness the previous day. He got out of the bed and got dressed for the day. He made sure he looked his best. Exiting his room, he walked towards Xigbar's. The door was closed and the way a member could tell if member was still in their room was by their symbol emblem on the door. It had a tint of white light to it. Xaldin knocked on the door. Xigbar answered smiling.

"Hey pal…look at you! Look at us, no more silly children. Ah it feels good to be us again." Xigbar said as he slapped Xaldin on the back.

"Oh, easy for you to say…I am still sore, and you should be too you rotten jerk!" Xaldin went to take a swing at the sarcastic Nobody, but Xigbar held him back.

"Oh come off it Xaldin, aren't you supposed to have a high tolerance for pain?" Said Number Two as he smiled.

"Yes, yes I am…BUT not when I am seven years old. In case you haven't noticed, but getting your ass blistered is a scary thing as a child. So there. Anyway, I guess since all this nonsense is over, should we go down to the Grey room? I am sure the Beast will want to fight now that I am back to normal."

"Yeah, I should get to Agrabah and take the kid with me. He has been leeching onto Axel was too long. Come on let's go." The two Nobodies ran down to the meeting room. Once they arrived, Saix halted them at the entrance.

"Hey you two, nice to see you back to normal. Unfortunately missions are going to have to be cancelled once again because of a small problem…and I use the term loosely." Said Saix as he looked over to the center of the room to where a smaller version of Marluxia. He was standing very close to Larxene as he was usually most comfortable with her.

A smaller boy, looked younger than when Xaldin and Xigbar were boys, Marluxia looked to be around five years old. His little stature made him incredibly adorable, and his pink hair was shorter but still in his face. He clung on to Number Twelve's legs and looked out at the other members. He did not utter a word. Xaldin smiled and looked back at Saix.

"Hey, uh wasn't the superior supposed to meet Number Eleven at Castle Oblivion yesterday? What happened?" The dark member asked, but was interrupted by Xemnas himself.

"Obviously Number Three, plans changed. I arrived there, and he was complaining about not feeling so well. He excused himself towards the labs in the other castle. He took his time too, so when I went to go find him, he was in the condition he is now." Said the superior as he looked over at the boy. "Him being so shy, I could not get him away from the lab. He would not come with me, so I had to summon the only Nobody whom he would listen to, and that would be Larxene.

Larxene overheard her name, and took Marluxia by the hand. She looked down at him and smiled.

"Come on Mar, don't be shy, come over and say hello to Number One, and the others." She led him, but he dragged his feet, and stayed close to her. Walking over she stood next to Xigbar. She looked at both Xaldin and Xigbar and snickered.

"So…you two run away from me yesterday because you think I am going to punish you, and then…end up getting punished twice…ah, what a shame right?" She smiled sadistically. Xigbar smiled uneasily back at her, and looked at Xemnas who was also smiling at her comment.

"Eh, funny, you're very funny Larxene. Yeah, I enjoyed being a kid a little too much I would say." He then knelt down to Marluxia who by now being around more people made him dig his face into Larxene's cloak.

"Hey there Marluxia, how are you?" Xigbar concentrated on the little boy, trying to make him laugh or smile. He dug his hands into Larxene, and she now was not comfortable, so she pulled him by the arm.

"Mar Mar, don't be rude…say hello to your other members. Come on!" She turned him around and held him in front of her so he was looking head on with Xigbar, Xemnas, and Xaldin. Saix, and Luxord wee standing by the window talking, but overheard and watched. Marluxia held up his hand slightly and waved. Larxene pushed him to talk a little. He managed to utter a small word.

"Hi…" Was all that he managed to get out before turning back around and holding her legs again. She reached down and picked him up, holding him in her arms. He put his arms around her neck and buried his face into her shoulder. She looked over at the other members, and then looked him in the eyes, which was a little hard.

"Come on lovely, lets go for a little walk, until you are better suited to everyone here, we will go do something together okay? Let's go to your garden." Once she said the magic words, Marluxia giggled and his face lit up.

"Well, you certainly got his attention. Alright Larxene, I assume you will be with him today? I only say that because he has not taken to anyone else, so you are in charge of his well being okay?" Asked Xemnas.

"Yes superior." She looked at Marluxia, and smiled. "Say bye bye Mar Mar, come on say bye to Number One, otherwise he will get angry with you."

"Larxene! Don't scare the boy, I am not going to get angry with him because he is not talking. The sooner children talk, the sooner they talk back. Prime example is Axel…remember when he was turned?" As soon as the words left his lips, Axel walked in.

"Oh now master, why say such horrid things about me and…" Axel soon was quiet when he noticed the small pink haired little boy glaring at him. His face sported a large smile. "Oh my, is that Marluxia?" he walked over to the boy who was now getting slightly angry, but did not say anything. "Hey there little garden boy! Hope you don't do anything to upset me, or right over my knee is where you will find yourself! Huh…don't like the tables turned right?" Axel chuckled and walked away.

"Don't listen to him Marluxia, Axel is not going to do anything to you." Said Larxene. "Come along…we will be leaving now. Superior, is it okay?" She peered at him and he nodded.

"Yes, that is fine, again I don't really have to worry with you and him. Marluxia, no offense to everyone here, but he does not give me any trouble when he is an adult, and being that he is so shy now, I assume everything will be fine. Go ahead, take him to his garden. I only hope this confounded curse lifts, I will be down to the lab to pay a visit to my scientists. See you later." He created a portal and went down to the lab.

Larxene walked down to the garden hand in hand with Marluxia. He smiled as they approached his safe haven. Him being there made him happy, and he squealed with delight and ran towards the flowers. Number Twelve smiled and sat down on one of the large rocks and watched him. He watered some plants and talked to the vines that grew around the trestle.

"Very pretty Marluxia, your garden is getting so big, wow!" She said with much excitement. Marluxia walked over to a rose garden and picked one of the yellow flowers and walked over to Larxene. He handed it to her and smiled.

"Here Larxie. A pretty flower for you!" He said. He was much better at talking to her because no one else was around.

"Thank you sweet heart. You are a very good boy you know that?" She put her nose to the rose and breathed it in deep. She watched as Marluxia continued doing what he was doing. She felt like this was the easiest job out there. Relaxing more she felt like she could drift off into a deep sleep. Marluxia looked over at her and smiled. She was resting under the same spot as Roxas had when Axel was downsized. She was near the poppies and it made her drowsy.

Marluxia didn't mind being alone, all he wanted to do was finish tending to his garden. While Larxene drifted off to sleep, the little boy busied himself. Everything was going fine until he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Well, well, well. Little Mar Mar is left all by himself and with nobody to watch over him. Tsk, tsk Larxene, leaving such an adorable boy to fend for himself." Said Axel as he stood by the window watching the boy. Marluxia turned around and gave Axel a glare. Axel looked at this and replied. "Now, now Marluxia, you shouldn't give me any trouble, after all…its I who is the adult, not you, so you behave yourself got it?" The boy stared at him and then responded.

"I'm not doing anything wrong Axel…you just want to punish me for no reason!" Said a very well spoken little boy. Axel could not believe his ears. This coming from a child who had not spoken but one word when he was out in the Grey Area.

"Whoa! Such attitude coming from you!" He smirked at the pink haired child and rolled up his sleeves. "That warrants a spanking young man!" Axel went to walk over to the boy.

"Keep back Axel I am not afraid of you and what you can do!"

"Oh really little boy, well…I am bigger than you, Larxene is asleep, and honestly…I can't think of anything that is going to stop me!"

Axel was walking towards the boy rolling up his sleeves. Marluxia backing up frightened looked over at anything that could help him, and he noticed the vines. He spoke silently to them and all of a sudden they came alive and threw themselves over to Axel. He gasped as they entwined him and wrapped around him so tight that he could barley move. Then the vines picked him up and carried him high into the air so that he was at least 15 feet off the ground. He looked down at the little boy and yelled.

"You little brat! Just wait till I get my hands on you, I am going to make sure you are not comfortable for a long time."

"Uh uhhhh Axel, be quiet!" He waved his hands and the vines were moving. They covered his mouth so he couldn't scream. Marluxia looked up and smiled. Finally some quiet around here he thought. He continued to water his plants, and dug some dirt. It was getting a little late, and with Axel confined, he walked over to Larxene and tugged on her arm. She moaned and then lazily opened one eye. Looking in front of her she saw Marluxia standing by her. His sweet little smile made her grin.

"Well hello there young man. Ohhh, I fell asleep a little too long. Come, lets go to the Grey Area and see who is down there okay?" She held out her hand and he took it. High up in the air, Axel struggled to try and get down. It was no use, the vines were much too tight, and he could not even create flames because he it was too difficult. He would have to wait until someone saw him, but who would possibly see him?

Larxene and Marluxia walked down and arrived in the meeting room. There sat Demyx and Roxas talking. Vexen and Zexion were on another couch talking with Xemnas. Xaldin was on a mission again. Lexaeus was standing talking to Saix. Once the two walked in, everyone looked. Roxas smiled at the child and waved to him. Larxene again seeing this looked down at the boy.

"Marluxia…come now, you have to stop being so shy." She pushed him in front of her. He stood standing and waved back at Roxas. Marluxia knew what he was doing, so he decided to avoid any type of punishment, he would go over and play with Roxas. He looked up at Larxene.

"Can I…can I play with Roxas and Demyx?" Said Marluxia. Larxene looked back and nodded.

"Of course you can. Go ahead." She released him, and he ran over to the boys who were playing with a board game.

Some time past, and the gang was having a lot of fun. Xemnas had heard all that he needed from Vexen and Zexion. He got up and noticed something off. Looking around, he called out to anyone who was nearby.

"You know, I am going to kick myself for asking this, but where in the damned hell is Axel? I saw him earlier, and I really shouldn't care, but if he is not here, he is most likely causing trouble somewhere." Xemnas looked around and walked over to Saix.

"I haven't the slightest idea my lord. I only assume he is causing some kind of trouble, or maybe he is in his room?"

"No, I checked. Well, I am sure he will turn up. Sometimes his moods get the best of him, and he wants to be left alone."

"Well, I mean if you wanted me to check around, I can see if he is somewhere around the castle grounds?" He looked around and saw Larxene and Marluxia look up. Xemnas looked back at his right hand man.

"Nah, there is no need. Axel is a big boy…at least I hope he is right now. I am sure he will turn up. I have a few more things to take care of, so I will bid you goodbye."