Just to clear a couple of things up, Larxene does not feel remorse for what she was like in CoM. Also, her and Marluxia are not a couple in this, since they can't feel emotions, I know it seems like they are because of all the pet names they have for each other and the touchy-feely stuff.

But I just attribute that to their idiosyncratic personalities xD

And yeah I know that last chapter kind of sucked (I blame Atlantica), but I hope this one will make up for it!

Read & review as always!

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Chapter 4 - Ice

In the Realm of Twilight, there is no night or day; the sun and the moon are forever just out of sight on the horizon. Towards the Realm of Light one may find the atmosphere of Twilight to resemble that of early morning; the air crisp and clear. Along the edge where the land seems to meet the sky, a collection of greens, yellows and blues; but the sun never rises in Twilight. Towards the Realm of Darkness is the warm, mysterious air of late evening; stars faded dots in the washes of purple and dark blue, but the moon never takes the place as the monarch of the sky in Twilight.

In the very centre then a miasma of colours, morning and evening as one, shifting and swirling and never settling for one shape. Perfect atmosphere then, for a castle that seemingly changes on a whim, but yet rearranges itself on a person's memories.

Marluxia considered this as he brushed his hands across the crystal ball on the thriteenth floor; the ball itself was rendered useless at the fall of the Organization and hadn't worked since. On a rather detached note the Assassin thought he should figure out how to fix it; but now was not the time, now was the time to decide what to do next to secure their rule over the realms.

He snapped his fingers and a Dusk appeared obediently.

"You, go find me the files on each world." Marluxia ordered.

The Dusk bowed and disappeared again.

Marluxia paced back and forth as he waited; his eyes landed on the crystal ball again and he vaguely wondered whether he could fix it so that it's only use was to keep tabs on the Keybearer, if the ball was only given a single job, then it woul channel all of it's energy into that and the picture would be clearer.

The Assassin didn't have the faintest idea where to start though, he figured it was powered by some sort of magic, but what? Fire? Thunder? Blizzard? All three? Well, Marluxia could do none of those spells even if he tried - they weren't his element. Maybe it was run by darkness, it would make sense but there just wasn't enough darkness being collected these days since the fall of the Organization. Marluxia pressed his palms against the smooth surface, darkness blossomed over the glass and then sunk into it's core before seemigly dissipating.

He withdrew his hands and waited expectantly.

Nothing happened.

Good grief, it better not be run by light.

Perhaps both dark and light? It was plausible since this was the realm of Twilight, but obtaining light would be difficult without it getting out of control and killing them all. Marluxia frowned, he couldn't understand how when on a mission he was one of the best around but in more domestic situations a stupid crystal ball got the better of him.

"You're staring at that thing like it's done you a personal wrong. What gives?"

Larxene's voice drew him out of his reverie, he looked up to see her standing at the doors with her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.

"I'm a man with a D.I.Y project, what did you expect?" Marluxia said bitterly.

"You're also a man who is hard to track down despite the fact you smell like a wedding bouquet, I never thought you'd be over here until I came across the poor Dusk who you'd sent to the mires of Vexen's room. It told me where you were after I helped it break down the annoying security system on his damn door, seriously Professor Creepy had too much time on his hands." Larxene informed him as she walked over.

"I am an assassin." Marluxia pointed out. "The aroma of roses becomes the odour of death to all who cross me." he added, regaining his melodramatic denamour quickly regardless of the crystal ball sitting there, bold as brass.

"Will you stop glaring at that thing? You don't want to end up like Xemnas." the Nymph warned him.

"Enough." Marluxia ordered, holding up a hand "We must now decide what to do, did the Dusk get into the room?" he asked

"Yeah it did, what did you originally tell it to do?" she wondered.

"To get me files on each world, why?" he enquired.

"It went to Vexen's room because it knew he was the researcher, so chances are you're going to get a lot of filing cabinets."

"Seriously?"

"This is Vexen we're talking about."

Marluxia inclined his head thoughtfully, Larxene had a point there; he rubbed a hand against his chin absently, the corners of his mouth quirking up.

"Get a mining kit, a small bulldozer and a torch; we're going to have to go into Vexen's room ourselves." he said.

"Good to see your sense of humour is still intact." Larxene muttered drily.

They teleported to the basement levels in the deep belly of the castle; at the end of an unremarkable, dark hallway was a set of open double doors of ten-inch thick steel - Vexen's private laboratory. The code lock on one side was broken and sparking and acrid smoke was billowing out into the corridor from inside the lab.

Why were you down here anyway, little Nymph?

"Looking for you, I figured you'd try and break in here at some point for some background information on planets."

Oh? How did you guess?

"Woman's intuition."

I wouldn't understand.

They proceeded inside the lab and what they saw was alarming; experiements that had been left out simmering since Vexen's death had boiled over and burnt holes in the desk and floor, also setting fire to the many bookcases which were now charred heaps of wood and ash. The smoke had mostly escaped into the corridor but it was still hard to see and breathe; ravenous Heartless clawed at the bars of their cages, presumably one had even escaped and ransacked most of the unburnt furniture but now a blackened smudge on the floor by an upturned experiment signaled it's demise.

Further into the lab, Marluxia and Larxene found the Dusk sprawled out on the floor before the unharmed computer with one arm stretched out in front of it, unmoving. The Assassin nudged the Nobody lackey with his foot, it scraped across the floor stiffly - it was frozen solid.

Very Vexen-esque to have a computer that evidently freezes anyone whose touch is unfamiliar to it, wouldn't you think? I didn't even know he had a computer for his files.

"Touch it, I want to see if it does the same to you."

...Your concern for me is overwhelming. Very well, stand back.

Marluxia pressed the power button - the computer reacted violently; the air grew cold, the Assassin cocked his head to one side and a bolt of ice that would have hit him in the face seared past his ear. Unexpectedly, the computer buzzed into life and and Vexen's angry voice emanated from the speakers, sounding slightly computerized.

"Damn you, Graceful Assassin! Damn you to darkness!" the Chilly Academic roared.

"Vexen?" Marluxia wondered incredulously.

"Yes it's me! You pompous, metrosexual bastard!" Computer-Vexen growled.

"The freak managed to seal his own dark essence into his computer?!" Larxene exclaimed, bounding forward. "But I saw your Portal Stone back at the HQ, it was blank!"

"Yes, Savage Nymph, I did. It was quite a brilliant idea of mine, I sealed myself away so when I was killed by that idiot pyromaniac I would return here." Computer-Vexen explained smugly "It is both a blessing and a curse to be in here, I cannot escape from this computer, my darkness has melded with the microchips, which is why my portal stone cannot detect my presence."

"Show us the files for all the worlds." Marluxia ordered.

"No! You think I'd stoop so low as to obey you?" Computer-Vexen demanded "I survived therefore I am the Superior Nobody!"

Marluxia's entire body pulsed and burned with the same fury he had felt the day he was revived, he reached for the computer screen, intending to rip Vexen out with raw power. However, Larxene was there first; she shoved him roughly back and grabbed the computer monitor.

"No...No! What are you doing?! Stop at once!" Computer-Vexen cried out.

Energy burst from Larxene, she seemingly dragged darkness from the computer until it formed into the confused figure of Vexen; the air seemed to get colder as he regained shape.

"How did you-?" he stuttered.

His words were cut off as Larxene threw him to the floor and summoned her knives; just as she dove to strike Vexen's blue shield appeared across his chest and her weapons raked across the surface, leaving scratches but otherwise Vexen himself was unhurt. The Academic smirked malevolently as he battered her back and rose to his feet.

"You underestimate me once again." he said with mock sympathy. "Now it appears to be the end for you, Nymph, after you I will deal with-"

His menacing expression turned to shock as a roseate blade from behind settled on his shoulder warningly, cutting into the flesh. A thin stream of blood ran down his pale chest and dripped onto the floor.

"Hold your tongue, I am the Superior and so is Larxene. You will show us respect." Marluxia growled "And get some clothes on."

"Payback's a bitch, Vexy." Larxene taunted, giggling

Vexen threw her a filthy look before clicking his fingers; a Dusk appeared with a spare Organisation unifrom.

"Get that meat cleaver off of me!" he snapped, knocking the scythe away impatiently.

Marluxia lifted his weapon away with a callous smirk; both he and Larxene averted their eyes as Vexen got dressed - for what they considered their own sake.

"What mindless scheme are you running this time, Assassin?" the Academic demanded once he was dressed.

"All you need to know is that we're collecting hearts from each world." Marluxia replied, once more surveying the wreckage of the laboratory, he glanced at Vexen over his shoulder "We have yet to find a use for you. Clean this place up until you're summoned."

"You insolent-" Vexen started.

"I've already warned you once." Marluxia reminded him "Don't try me."

He and Larxene left Vexen cursing and muttering to himself.