Alexus's Point of View

After my birthday, Papa spent more time with me as often as he could. Most of my knife lessons were with him, though Mr. Xigbar still had to step in when Papa couldn't. While I enjoyed being with Papa, I became tired of the same routine and was excited when anything changed. I talked with the others in the Organization frequently, greeting many of them as they came home.

One morning, no one was in the dining room for breakfast. "Hello?!" I called out. No one answered. I looked in the Hall of Empty Melodies, where I trained. Neither Papa nor Mr. Xigbar were there. I began running all around the castle to everywhere I knew to get to. "Papa!? Zexion?! Mr. Xigbar?! Axel?! Saix?! Anybody?!" I screamed for those who I had come to know over and over again, but I was alone. A Dusk that was swishing down the hall stopped to stare at me curiously. Though Papa always said the Dusks would help me if I needed it, I tried to interact with them as little as possible. Though I didn't want anything to do with them, it was an emergency. "Do you know where my Papa is?"

The Dusk turned and swiveled away. "Hey, wait!" I exclaimed, rushing after it. It was fast, and I couldn't keep up. I saw it turn the corner and rushed to do the same, but I bumped into something and fell backward. I looked up to see someone I hadn't met before. He had blond hair that stood straight up and green eyes. He wore a black coat like everyone else, but his shoulders were pointier than the others.

The man extended his hand to me. "Hey, there. That looked like one heck of a fall. You okay?"

I took the man's hand, and he helped me up. "Who are you?"

"Didn't get the memo, huh? I'm new. The name's Demyx," The man introduced.

"I can't find anyone. Do you know where they are?" I asked.

"I think everybody left for their missions after the meeting. Because I just got here, I get to take a day to get familiar with the area."

"What about my Papa? He doesn't go on missions. Do you know where he is?"

"Your Papa? Who's your-" Demyx started.

"Alexus, there you are," Papa said as he approached us.

"Papa!" I gasped, running to him and pulling him into a hug. "Where have you been? I couldn't find you or anyone."

"Wha?! You're the boss's daughter?!" Demyx exclaimed.

Papa ignored Demyx and began walking with me to the Hall of Empty Melodies. "We were in a meeting. I was introducing the Organization's newest member. Number IX. Demyx."

"Why wasn't I there?" I wondered.

"I don't want you to be involved in the Organization's affairs any more than you have to be. That includes our meetings. Come. Let's start your training." Papa took my hand, but I didn't move. "Alexus?"

Demyx coughed awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm just gonna go." Neither myself nor Papa paid any attention as Demyx left.

"Papa, I didn't know what to think. I didn't know if everyone got hurt, or if there was an evacuation, or if… or if you left me forever."

"Alexus, all of those are highly unlikely scenarios. The thought of the entire Organization being overpowered is quite ridiculous, and if there was an evacuation, you would be the first to know. And Alexus, I won't leave you."

"I don't know that!" My confession hung in the air as the truth came out.

"I thought we had been over why I wasn't around," Papa said at last.

"Yeah, but you still weren't there. I want to believe you won't leave me, but I don't know," I stated, tears threatening to spill out.

"Enough. Go to your room to calm down, and then report to the Hall of Empty Melodies for your training," Papa ordered. He sounded annoyed. I was angry that he just wanted to push aside the fact that I didn't know where anyone was, so I angrily rushed back to my room. I didn't come back out for several hours, but when I finally did, Mr. Xigbar was there instead of Papa.

After a long day of training, I was starving, but I didn't feel like joining everyone at dinner. I saw a Dusk float by me. "You!" I snapped. The Dusk stopped and stared at me. "Bring food to my room." The Dusk continued on his way, and I went back to my room to wait and see if it worked. Sure enough, less than an hour later, the Dusk had brought my dinner and set it on my side table. I felt bad for my harsh tone earlier. "Thank you. I'm sorry I sounded so mean before. I'm Alexus," I introduced. The Dusk swirled around me excitedly, and I giggled. "Do you have a name?"

The Dusk paused before it left. I was disappointed as I began to eat my food. The Dusk returned with a large blanket just as I finished my food. It used its sharp hand to rip the blanket.

When it backed away, I noticed the rips formed a word.

Mary Ann

"Mary Ann? Is that your name?" I asked.

Mary Ann nodded.

"Where did you come from?" I wondered.

The Dusk went back to writing.

Wonderland

"Wonderland? I've never heard of it. Then again, I haven't heard of a lot of worlds. There must be so many out there."

Mary Ann swirled around me once more.

"Let's be friends, Mary Ann," I offered.

Mary Ann nodded again.

Papa entered my room. "Alexus? What is going on in here?"

"I was just talking to my friend," I answered.

Papa's eyes moved to Mary Ann. "The Dusk? Alexus, Dusks are not your friends. They are your servants."

"But, Papa, Mary Ann is a person, too. Look, she wrote her name in that blanket," I tried.

"You will not refer to a Dusk by a name, Alexus! They are beneath you. If you need a playmate, there is the boy down the hall. Bear in mind that you are already in a poor position because you didn't come to dinner, which is why I'm here in the first place." Papa moved toward Mary Ann and summoned his light sword.

"Papa, no!" I shouted. I placed myself between him and Mary Ann and spread out my arms protectively.

Papa settled down, and his sword retracted back into his hand and looked at Mary Ann. "Leave." Mary Ann obeyed, leaving me alone with Papa.

I shrunk under Papa's glare. "Please don't hurt her, Papa," I begged.

"You listen, girl, you don't have Dusks for friends, and you come to meals when you are supposed to. Do you understand?"

I glanced in the direction where Mary Ann had left.

"Do you understand?" Papa repeated.

"Yes, Papa," I sighed.

"Good. Then I have no reason to destroy the Dusk. I will tell you in the future when I have meetings, so you don't panic. It took me some time, but I understand how that would have upset you. Why don't you see what Zexion is doing? Perhaps he can entertain you for the night," Papa suggested.

"No, thank you. I'd rather be alone," I mumbled.

Papa hesitated before hugging me. "Alright. Good night, Alexus."

I knew I should have responded, but I was too sad.

Aquatic Dragoness: I'm so glad you're enjoying. Thank you for favoriting and following and for your reviews. I was having a notification issue, which is hopefully fixed, now, so I just saw your reviews recently. It's so encouraging to hear your thoughts.