((I'm making a flashback because I got this idea a little while ago as to why Marley is in two stories of mine. Tell me what you think! ^.^ If you like it I'll make another flashback in a bit to explain some things further.))
[fieldbox="Jay, Purple, dotted, 10"]He could remember the time when he was only but 14 and he fell out of the dreamworld. How? He couldn't recall. He had found something strange... he reached out, touched it, and it sucked him in. Maybe it was some sort of gate... a portal to the 'waking world'. He woke up, feeling cold and alone. No one was around and darkness surrounded him, followed by a couple of old and decaying trees. He called out to his father. Nobody came. He called out to his dear friend, Penelope, who he had recently grown very fond of. She didn't come either. Maybe the 8 year old girl wasn't sleeping... Or she was somewhere else. She didn't travel anywhere else though. She was still too weak and afraid to leave the distorted reality area that he himself lived in. Jay grew desperate. He called out for Haku, who he was sure would hear him... nobody came.
He wondered if he was in the nightmare realm. No... this place was different. It had a different aura. Something he had never experienced before. Getting up and dusting himself off, he began to wander, searching for some way to return home. He walked and walked... wondering if he would find anything. He continued on for quite some time, and he was growing tired. Jay was ready to give up... but then, he saw something in the distance. A shimmer of hope leaped into his heart and danced around in his soul. It appeared as a castle, and without further hesitation, he began to run towards it. He believed it was the castle of hearts, but as he drew closer, he began to realize that is wasn't. Yes, it was a castle, but none like he's ever seen before. Parts of it were torn down and broken. Destroyed and abandoned. Forgotten. That small hope he had began to fade as the realization sunk in that no one would possibly be in such a broken down castle. But... despite that logic, something told him to go inside anyways. No one was at the gate, so he easily got in.
He wandered around inside, calling out into the darkness to see if anyone was there. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned around quickly, only to catch sight of a long, black tail disappearing into the darkness.
"
H-Hello? Who's there? A-And what are you doing here?" The little nightmare called out, hoping to get some sort of answer.
"
... I should be asking you those questions." Came a boy's voice. The person sounded young like Jay. Soon enough, a young boy with jet black hair, cat ears and a tail, stepped out from behind a pillar and crossed his arms. He stared at Jay with sky blue eyes that pierced the darkness. They were so bright, they almost seemed to glow...
"
I... I'm Jay... W-where am I?"
"
Huh? You're in hell, dude. Man... I wonder what you did to end up here!"
"
H-Hell? What's that?"
The other boy seemed shocked by Jay's response. "
Eh??? What do you mean, 'what's that'?? You're. In. Hell." The boy took a few steps closer to Jay, inspecting him. "Ohhh I get it! You're a new born demon, aren't you? It would make sense!"
The boy drew really close before wrapping an arm tightly around Jay's shoulders, making him wince.
"
Here, I can help you get used to life in this place! Your job is to pretty much tempt humans, got it? You have to be intimidating. Bad to the bone!"
Jay put up a hand, stopping the boy. "
I have to stop you right there. Did you say 'humans'? Like... people in the waking world?"
"
The waking world? What's that?"
Now it was Jay's turn to look shocked. Then it dawned on him. Maybe he himself, was in the waking world.
"
Listen, uh... What's your name?" Jay asked the boy.
"
Marley. Marley Magnolia. Sorry, I got so excited I forgot to introduce myself!" Marley said, as he let go of Jay and bowed to him in a silly manner. Jay couldn't help but smile a bit at the other male's shenanigans.
"
Okay, Marley... I need your help. I need to get to the waki- uh... to the humans... I need to find one human in particular. I don't know their true name. I only know them as Penelope. But I HAVE to find them."
"
Oh? Wanting to terrorize some humans already? Well golly, aren't you an ambitious one! Alright then. I can lead you to the human world. But... if you don't know their true name, how will you find them?"
"
I... have my ways." Jay knew that at this point it would be pointless explaining how he could smell Alices. He didn't even think that Marley knew what an Alice was.
"
Okay! Then let's go!"[/fieldbox]
[fieldbox="Penelope and Backfire, White, 10"][bg=#404040]Backfire continued to poke Jay with her nose and saying his name over and over again, hoping to get his attention, but he was daydreaming way too much. Penelope giggled at the sight of Jay in such a trance that nothing seemed to snap him out of it. Not even Marley running his tail down Jay's spin did anything, besides making Jay shudder for a moment.
She couldn't help but wonder what on earth he was thinking about so intently.
She sighed and decided she would talk to the others while Backfire and Marley continued to try and get Jay to respond. She walked over to Fin and Zachary to see how they were doing.
"
Hey... how are you two holding up?"[/bg][/fieldbox]