The Ghost and the Fountain

[Miranda Frost]

In his sleep, Marluxia walked upon the shattered remains of his heart and mind. While his mind slowly recovered around him, his heart did not. The pink haired man’s form phased and faded. His blue eyes observed his surrounding darkness, watching as his surroundings shift and contort, forming a memory before his eyes. His form shifted as well. He no longer wore the black coat that marked the Organization’s members, but something different. He wore a white shirt and cargo pants, and seemed thinner than he was now. He stood there in that area looking down. Marluxia’s other self did not move, did not speak, just stood there. The surroundings didn’t change much either. The floor itself resembled that of the nexus, a simple white canvas. Everything else was a contrasting blackness. Marluxia blinked,
and shifted his body to see the memory unfold.

Two men in black, both clad in a black coat, approached the pink haired male. Their movements were a curious one. No hostility was visible. The thinner one appeared to speak from behind his hood, though not a sound was heard nor made. The two men grabbed Marluxia afterwards, though neither roughly nor softly, as if they were leading him somewhere. Marluxia blinked and shifted his right hand to his hip, scowling at his incomplete memory. “Omni… What I desire most now… is my memory.” he looked down at his pocket, seeing the rainbow light radiate from it. He blinked and looked up, seeing the two men continue to stand there, as if nothing had happened. Their forms froze, ceasing all movement from them, and yet Marluxia could hear them speak.

“Ah there’s another one to add to our grocery bag. Let’s be sure to pick him up”

“Him? He seems weak”

“Hah! As if! Were you, like not a zombie when you lost your heart?”

“Hpmph. You’ve made your point. Let’s go get him”

“Hey Blossums! I have a wonderful job opening we have been looking to fill. You up to it sweet heart?”

His dream retreated into blackness once again, much like the void he traveled with Omni, or rather brought by Omni, to that white, plain place. He didn’t know how to feel about that scene, or rather why he saw it in the first place, until he realized that was his first actual memory, and those two men were the first he’d ever seen. Names didn't come with their cloaked form, but he guessed they both had an “X” somewhere in them. It seemed to be a trend with his comrades. This he could remember. Nothing more would come, but perhaps it will come with time.

The dream shattered, shaking him awake. Maybe it was just his surroundings. He no longer was beside the fountain, but inside a pool of water. Marluxia did not panic, but neither did he wait around at the bottom of the pool. He rose from it and stood, his coat and hair soaked in its water. Marluxia grunted and removed his hood, scattering a few lingering rose petals from his coat. The pink haired man glanced around the now misted area, spotting a group of white armored men and a few others walk away from the scene. Again the fountain changed, this time to a simpler one. Marluxia didn't let it hold his gaze for long. He turned his head towards the group and analyzed them. The armored men seemed to have left their weaponry in a pile, so he didn't deem them any threats. The others however seemed armed, but their demeanor told they really weren't in the mood for conflict at the moment.

Marluxia himself didn't feel in the mood for combat anyhow. He sifted through his limited options. He could leave alone or leave with them. Being in a group seemed a better option than being alone. Maybe they were even better than the organization he seemed to be no longer with. He stepped lightly around the strewn weapons across the white floor. The group seemed to move slowly, as if captive by the small group they were escorting. He assumed the group of four ahead of him more powerful than the rest. It was safe to say that Marluxia was interested, so the soaked, black cloaked Nobody re-covered his head with his hood and joined the group, though with some wary glances from the white armored men. It would seem they wanted no more trouble, so not a negative movement was made towards Marluxia. "I hope you four don't mind me following.", he stated, and nothing more afterwards. He would follow the group, even if the others declined. It was better than staying at that fountain, and certainly less boring.