Thanks for sticking with me, I know my updates a few and far-apart. *Hands out virtual cookies* :D


Chapter 5 - Revelation

Rain lashed against the golden glass of the familiar meeting room; each cascade of droplets brought with it a new song, told a new story like a travel-worn bard. However to go out in such weather in such an unpredictable realm would be foolish - if one had a heart; wind would scream around each bend, battering the flesh and filling each muscle with fatigue, while the rain tore at all sense of hope leaving nothing but a haze of despair.

To a Nobody however...

Marluxia listened quietly to the shouts of delirious laughter coming from outside; extreme weather was a way for a Nobody to escape, the thrill of dancing and running through a storm created a euphoria similar to the rush a human would get if they were to undertake an extreme sport.

Lightning struck.

And that's what made it safe; normally it would be dangerous for Larxene to get so carelessly wet, but in a storm there were no such boundaries. She could use her power freely, and not fear death; the static in he air would protect her, caress her, feed her the power to create entire shockwaves of electricity.

Lightning stuck again.

This time an exhilerated scream slid through the ever-changing beat of the rain.

It must have hit her... She loves it when that happens...

Marluxia thought as he shuffled through the printed-out pages detailing all known about the Pride Land. He ran a hand through his pink tresses; Larxene had insisted that she cut his hair back to its original length, he had let her do so after agreeing that it was somewhat impractical. Larxene had cut her hair to how short it was to begin with as well, slicking it back in her trademark style.

Now...

Marluxia's gaze lifted to the window.

It was probably wild and whipping about her face in the violent winds; the storm sang for her and she sang for the storm in her laughter.

The pages in Marluxia's ungloved hands fluttered as the window burst open; the wave of cold, wet air that followed made his hair ripple back like a river. The Assassin had specifically moved his chair to be across from the great window, so he could watch the towering storm and listen to his Nymph revel in her element.

Larxene stood before him now on the window ledge, with a wild grin and blazing eyes in the twilight; her cloak billowed around her, her hands clenched to fists as she fought to contain the closest thing she had to emotion.

"Marluxia..." Larxene breathed, her voice quiet yet sounding clearly in his ears "You should dance with me..."

Marluxia rose to his feet, walking around the table to stand by her, his gaze never leaving those intense, bright eyes. He took her hand and kissed it, then drew her inside the room, feeling her fingers uncurl in his hand and then loosely grip his.

"And I will, my Nymph, one day..." he replied softly as she stepped down beside him.

"What's gotten in you...?" Larxene wondered, giggling.

"Mm, I don't know. Passion? Or memories..." Marluxia replied, enigmatic, his lips brushing against her cheek.

A loud cough broke their spell.

"My deepest apologies for interrupting, Superiors." Vexen mocked.

The Assassin gritted his teeth, raising his head.

"Make it quick, Vexen." Larxene snapped, pushing back her soaking, dishevelled hair.

"I'm here to make a deal of sorts." Vexen began in a conversational tone.

"Get on with it." Marluxia muttered.

"Once I've played my part in what I've guessed is your suicidal game of revenge, Assassin, I want out. I'll keep my silence on the matter, no need to worry about that." The Academic declared, his expression giving nothing away of what he might be thinking.

Marluxia and Larxene exchanged a look.

What do you think?

"Seems fair enough to me, if he betrays us we can always kill him."

I want to kill him now.

"You're so hot when you're murderous."

"Very well, you have a deal." the Assassin accepted coolly.

He shook hands with Vexen, they both appeared to be trying to crush the other's hand; Vexen lost, snatching his hand away with a pained grimace as he turned to leave.

"Before you slither back into your cave, I have a mission for you." Marluxia drawled, moving back over to the table.

He gathered up the pages of the Pride Land and appeared to be flicking through them as if thinking about something. Finally he looked up, his mouth set in a hard line.

"You will scout the Pride Land." he said impassively "That way Larxene and I can determine your competence...or lack thereof." he added the last part under his breath, but loud enough for Vexen to hear.

"Competence...A word unfamiliar to you, Marluxia." Vexen retorted nastily "Very well, any excuse to get out of this godforsaken place. I'm taking the airship."

The Academic vanished into a Dark Portal.

"What will we do while Creepy's gone?" Larxene wondered out loud.

"Claim hearts from another world?" Marluxia suggested, hopping up onto the table and pacing back and forth.

His footsteps made no noise, perhaps because of his years as an assassin or perhaps no noise affected the dead, vacant cave in his chest and in turn nothing around him either. He stopped suddenly, gazing at the billowing drapes of the open window; the other night Larxene had had a dream of two baby girls, he knew what world she was from but he didn't know her story. There was a strong possibility the dream was linked to her past, not that the girls were hers but that perhaps...

Larxene, did you have a sister?

Larxene froze.

"Yes."

If Marluxia was surprised at the frank answer, he was careful not to show it.

You need to let go of whatever it is that's hurting you.

"I told you once that it's less painful without a heart, so I have let go."

No you have not. We will go to Port Royal; one: to help you let go of whatever you're hiding; and two: collect more hearts.

"Why do I prefer the second part of the mission a whole lot more?"

Marluxia leaped lightly off the table and took hold of Larxene's hand again; swirling, freezing black flames consumed them and spiralled them into the Dark Corridors.

The passageways convulsed violently, dripping and scuttling, screaming in agony but silent as the dead; shapes formed in periphial visions but melted in direct sight. The Assassin and the Nymph crossed the insanity with barely a shiver, as though this nightmarish place was their existence, the only thing they knew to be real.

The weather was much the same in Port Royal as it had been around Castle Oblivion, albeit warmer; stinging rain thrashed against the slippery stone of the rampart and thick, rough sheets of oilcloth had been thrown over the cannons to keep them working in case of a pirate attack. Waves slammed and smashed into the treacherous rocks below; no one was foolish enough to brave the storm.

Marluxia drew up his hood but Larxene didn't bother, striding down into the town with her head held high.

So, she has tricked herself into being furious with me...

The Assassin followed her at a short distance, glancing across at the turbulent seas as he crossed a short bridge; he'd never been here before, having been raised in a village outside the Beast's Castle before moving to Radiant Garden in his late teens.

The town was much more alive than the rampart had been; drunken laughs and howls from a neaby tavern occasionally drowned out the claps of thunder, chickens desperate to find shelter scuttled around clucking. A few men lay comatose around the street, empty bottles of rum steadily rolling away from their hands

Marluxia caught up with Larxene just as she veered towards the tavern.

"At least let me buy you a drink." he said loudly over the storm.

Larxene sighed, squeezing the rainwater out of her hair.

"If you must." she called back, stepping into the tavern.

No one payed them much attention as they headed towards the bar; Marluxia quickly swiped the money pouch of a man that bumped into him without being noticed. The bartender, a rough, burly man cleaning out a tankard with an already dirty cloth turned towards them; his small, watery eyes flickered over the bedraggled Larxene and squinted as he tried to see under Marluxia's hood.

"What c'n I getcha?" the man grunted, giving up with a shrug "Though the only drink w'have in's rum."

"Two rums, please." Marluxia replied with an air of disdain for the man.

The bartender poured out two mugs and slammed them on the bar, some of the foul drink sloshing over the edges.

"That'll be a shillin'." he growled, eying the Assassin with pure dislike.

"Take the lot, and never tell anyone we were here." Marluxia answered coolly, tossing the money pouch onto the bar.

The bartender's face brightened immediately and he bowed, muttering his promise and thanks and then snatching up the pouch.

Larxene found them an empty table and sat down; Marluxia set down the mugss beofre taking a seat himself, drawing his own drink towards him. Just as he opened his mouth to speak a man with a red bandana and beads dangling from his hair walked over and looked down at Larxene.

"You look familiar, have we met or consorted or otherwise mucked around in the past?" the man who was clearly a pirate asked all in one breath, confused.

Larxene gave him a blank look.

"I guess not, if we had you probably would have slapped me by now, but I can't help but get the feeling I know you or someone who looks a little bit like you..." the pirate trailed off, shrugged, and walked away.

"He must have met Elizabeth..." Larxene mused out loud, taking a gulp of rum.

"Elizabeth?" Marluxia queried, raising one elegant eyebrow as he swilled the greyish contents of his mug around with distaste.

"My sister."

"Ah."

Larxene chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip and then frowned, as if coming to a decision; Marluxia watched her intently, pushing down his hood to show she had his full attention.

"Alright Marly..." The Nymph sighed "Listen."

~*~*~Relena's Escape (Relena's P.O.V)~*~*~

(Larxene's narration will be in italics)

"I was the unidentical twin of *the* most selfish, nosey twit who ever lived - Elizabeth Swann; we were daughters of the Governer, Weatherby Swann who was as airheaded as Liz. Anyway, one day when I was sixteen, I'd just about had enough."

"Oh Miss Relena, you have such beautiful hair." a maid named Emily simpered, gently tugging a brush through Relena's long golden ringlets "How would you like it for the masquerade ball?"

"Cut it, I want it just off my shoulders and slicked back, much more practical." Relena answered shortly, knowing what reaction she'd get at this.

Sure enough, Emily's hands flew to her mouth in horror and she dropped the brush which clattered to the floor; Relena closed her eyes and prayed for patience.

"But...But, Miss! What would your father-" the maid began.

"Are you contradicting me?!" Relena snapped.

"N-no, Miss...I'll get right to it." Emily mumbled as she reluctantly picked up the scissors.

"It was harsh, but I got my point across. Emily was nice to talk to if you were down, but really the girl was *such* a pushover. Skipping ahead a few mundane details, it was now time for me to prepare for the ball. What? No, ballroom's not my thing, but I can dance."

Relena swore as the corset was tightened around her, knocking her breath out; the damn things were painful ("You'd pass out if you inhaled too sharply."), but holy crap did they make you look good! Over that and the petticoat went the dress; it was a beautiful periwinkle blue chiffon gown adorned with delicate gossamer sleeves of a lighter shade, it accentuated Relena's curves, even though she had often lamented that twelve-year-olds had better figures than her.

"I presume the dress is still there yes, why do you ask? ....You're lying, you so are planning something."

Emily had gotten over cutting Relena's hair and was chattering away happily about who she thought were decent men and who she thought were womanizers; easy for Relena to tune out provided she nodded in the right places.

"...but that James Norrington, he's so handsome wouldn't you say?" Emily prattled.

"Yes he is..." Relena replied distantly "But his heart is set on Elizabeth."

It was true, Relena had fancied Norrington to be her man since the day she met him, but he had eyes only for her sickeningly perfect sister. Oh, how Relena longed to be the one mens' eyes followed as she walked in the room, particularly James Norrington's eyes.

"Marluxia, are you okay? You look like someone just stole your parking space...Oh fine, keep your secrets. Anyway, as I was saying..."

"You look stunning, Miss." Emily said with admiration as Relena did a twirl in front of the mirror, hope swelling in her chest.

"Yes, indeed you do." came an unfortunately familiar voice "Interesting hairstyle."

"Hey Liz..." Relena greeted half-heartedly, her bubble of hope bursting feebly at the sight of her sister.

Elizabeth wore a flowing, ruby red silk gown decorated with an intricate black bow around the waist, deeply perfecting her already hourglass figure. Delicate gloves of the same colour as the dress enclosed her arms up to the elbow, and twirled her jewel-set gold mask in the fingers of one dainty hand.

Relena busied herself with putting on her high-heeled sandals, and then picked up her mask which was identical to her sister's, fiddling with it unecessarily.

"Well, are you ready?" Elizabeth enquired, face set in polite composure.

"So Liz and I went down to the ball, which was taking place in what was the dining hall; it was boring, all the other women standing around looking pretty while the men discussed politics and the Navy. I was repeatedly lectured on changing my hair without my father's permission, and in turn I refused to dance with anyone. Then, looking profoundly displeased, my father approaches."

"Relena...? What is the meaning of this?!" Weatherby Swann spluttered from behind his mask.

"What's the meaning of what, father?" Relena responded, feigning innocence as she lowered her mask.

A feeling of pride surged at her act of rebellion, she had shocked and annoyed so many people through the simple act of getting her hair cut. Of course, James Norrington hadn't even spared Relena a glance, but she tried not to think about that.

"Your hair! What did you do to your hair?!" Weatherby demanded, flinging his own mask aside in rage.

"I had Emily cut it." Relena answered simply.

"Why??"

"To make it more manageable."

Her father did not seem to accept this answer and grabbed her by the shoulder, dragging her to the grand front doors. People had begun to notice something was going on now, they whispered amongst themselves as the doors were flung open by a couple of servants; Relena was shoved out into the moist autumn air, she stumbled and nearly fell but found her footing and glared defiantly up at Weatherby who stood framed by other people in the door, his face a mixture of hurt and anger.

"Take the stagecoach to the town and buy a wig! Do not return without one!" he bellowed, throwing her a purse full of coins "You are a disgrace to your mother, me, and your sister!"

"No! I'd rather walk!" Relena screamed "And don't expect me to return, father!"

"I went down to the Port and used the money in the purse to buy a place on a trading ship to leave Port Royal, so there you have it. I left."

~*~*~End of Relena's Escape~*~*~

Marluxia was silent for a long while before he finally said: "Tell me more about Elizabeth, why did you hate her so?"

"Because she was Little Miss Perfect! And oblivious to everything outside her own little happy bubble; the blacksmith had it bad for her but she had no idea!" Larxene yelled, throwing up her hands "She would talk to me in the most patronizing way too, I'm her twin for Christ's sake!"

"You missed her though, didn't you? When you left, and you missed your father too." Marluxia said quietly.

Larxene drank more rum and grunted something inaudible, which meant Marluxia's educated guess was right; he reached across the table and interlocked his fingers with hers.

"Come on, I'll make up for this non-heart to non-heart with you by taking you Heart collecting. Plenty of people in here drunk enough not to notice us coming for them." he offered.

Larxene smiled "You sure know how to treat a sadistic woman." she joked.


I WILL get this story finished! I'm determined too.

Thanks for reading yet another hideously late chapter XD