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Chapter 3
     “You are, needless to say Dr. Robotnick, a very complex individual.” Xemnas complimented lightly as he sat on his invisible throne, looking down at the still defeated red clothed man. His orange mustached hung low to the sides, trenched in sweat and blood. “Never before could I have imagined such power coming from such… unique individuals.”
     The good doctor chuckled a bit. No kidding unique. Anthropomorphic animals, each possessing some incredible ability beyond his means of imagination. Unique was an understatement.
     “Compliments are do where need be. And you, my equally complicated friend, are definitely worthy of more than a few compliments yourself.” The doctor simple replied as continued his gaze up at the Nobody. Yes, that was what he called himself. A Nobody. The name seemed ridiculous. Why would you want to be called a Nobody, and how could you even define that?
     The answer given made sense, but it also disturbed the thought. He had never considered a being without a heart before. Without the physical heart, sure, many happy dreams of Sonic were once paraded as such in his mind. But without this, pure heart, as Xemnas called it, you split.
     Even more questions later, the doctor finally figured out what was left behind. The empty shell of a being, much like Xemnas before him, and the remnants of that heart, the Heartless surrounding him. But that confused him even further.
     “I believe it is my turn for a question?” He asked it as one. The black gowned man nodded, white hair waving, in response. “Why call the Heartless, Heartless, if all they are, is a heart?” This was truly one of them most invigorating conversations he had ever been in, and he was having it with the man who would no doubt kill him when it was over.
     “An excellent question doctor. The reason is simple. They ACT heartless. A heart they may be. But all they can feel is the darkness surround them. Without a body, they can’t feel the joys of the light, nor the sense it brings. Without a mind, they cannot understand why the darkness is what it is, so they don’t know.” He waved his hand, motioning for one of them to come, and so it did.
     By all accounts of the doctor, the creature was very much, hideous. It had dark tendrils lurching out of almost ever open pore of it’s body. A mouth, nose, and earless head that only had an unnatural growing pair of eyes, staring off into a direction he could never tell. It twitched and scratched at itself madly, imaginary things crawling over it’s own skin.
     “You see, Gerald Robotnick, this small Heartless is unaware of anything that goes on around it. It simply does what the darkness asks, because the light asks for nothing but their good will. Unfortunately for them, they don’t have a will to act on. Not without a mind to judge was is right and wrong.” The thing continued to twitch in front of the doctor, unceasing in its seizure like movements.
     “I see, so sad for their case. But I do suppose they make the perfect army.” He sighed, he was running out of questions to ask, and he was in no mood to die yet. Who would be? “I believe that it is your turn now Xemnas.” The red suited man eyed him through his thick glasses.
     “Yes, it is.” He leaned back further in his throne, looking away from him.
     Perfect! He could start!
     As quietly as he could, Robotnick pulled out a small remote from his chest pocket. He quickly tapped the buttons in an obscenely complex order, not daring to take his gaze from the man, or Nobody, in front of him. Xemnas, was certainly no idiot, it would be all to obvious to tell what he was doing. ‘Be damned if I die here without a going away gift.’ The doctor thought to himself as he finished his little plan. Xemnas looked back to him just as the doctor finished.
     “You have spoken much of this… Sonic Hedgehog… but I must ask, where, pray tell, is he now?” It may have been the hope he had now the way to escape, or perhaps he had begun to truly pay attention to the Nobody’s questions. Regardless, Eggman now knew what the Nobody was doing. While he asked questions to satisfy his curiosity, Xemnas was making battle plans. Detecting who was a strength, who was a weakness, where they were, who they befriended, and the doctor had told all through his shocked state.
     ‘Did I just do that? Did I just ruin the planet’s hope?’ Shocked was an accurate way to describe the realization of Robotnick. What could he do now?
     Escape.
     “Xemnas, Sonic is…”
     He slammed his hand against his chest, pushing in the command he had given it. He smiled, confusing the thing before him.
     “…Gone!”
     Out of the sky, a large orb was flying through the sky. Ripping apart the clouds with is shear speed, breaking the sound barrier as it roared through the sky. It almost appeared to be a comet, ripping through the clouds of the skies of Mobious. The eyes that did see it claimed just that, a meteorite was going to crash. It was in every way shape and form.
     But only Eggman knew the real purpose of such a device. It was no comet, but an escape method he had long planned to use.
     “Goodbye Xemnas,” Eggman spoke to Nobody before him, “I hope we met again.” In a second, the comet like projectile was scrapping across the earth beneath. Ripping apart the Heartless that were unfortunate enough to be caught in its path. Finally, the ruling Nobody turned to see the sense of his troops destruction, before quickly facing Eggman again.
     “Fool, do you not see? Nothingness is eternal! You can not stop us!”
     The sphere was so close, the heat was radiating.
     “I’m a scientist. I always try.”
     The sphere absorbed Dr. Robotnick, flying high and away from Xemnas and his Heartless.
     “Run, run, as fast as you can fat man,” he gently spoke to himself as he watched the sphere fly far and away from him. “You’ll never be able to stop me!”
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     “Wow Tails, you really do try hard, don’t cha?” Amy questioned as she stood in awe at Tail’s lab. The last time she had been here, it was in the garage attached to his house. Now, it took up his entire basement.
     A basement the size of her own home.
     “Yeah,” the wunderkind scratched his head awkwardly as he gave a nervous smile, “Just, a lot of work tends to require a lot of materials, and finding out a way to jump dimensions isn’t exactly the same as giving an upgrade the Whirlwind.”
     “Tails has been sleeping down here even Mrs. Amy and Mr. Silver. He just wants to help Mr. Sonic find Mrs. Blaze.” Cream explained. This met with a worried face from Silver.
     “You sleep down here? Don’t you take a break now and then?” His concern was genuine, as always.
     “He he. This is my first break in almost a week.” He laughed nervously. His head continued to itch, so he continued to scratch.
     “Oh Tails…” Amy muttered as she shook her face with her hand. This kid really was something. Barely over the age of thirteen and able to put so much dedication into such a massive project. There was little no doubt in her own mind that she would have given up long ago. But then again, that’s why made him so special, the real reason why he out shined the rest of them. They all had their talents, and with the talents weaknesses. Just with the fox, it was simple plain stubbornness to quit. But like a weaknesses, there was a way to fix it.
     “That settles it.” The pink hedgehog said looking up at the fox. “You’re taking a mandatory day off from you lab. No questions asked!” She pointed at him, demanding as she always was. She always got her way, oh yes, always.
     “B-b-b-but Amy! What about Son…” He began to mutter, though he was quickly cut off.
     “Amy is right Tails,” Silver managed to speak up next to his beloved pink friend. “You have admirable dedication, but even the wisest must break to think even harder.”
     “Silver…” She muttered almost awing like. It was hard for her to believe that he put aside his naivety for this. Not that she was against it, just surprised that he had. Her smile grew as she watched him shine.
     Shine… Indoors…. In a basement…
     “Oh Tails, what is that light?” Cream spoke in her high concerning voice, her friendly blue chao circling her head, calling its own name in unison with the yellow rabbit. They both held their eyes from the light, it seemed too brightening.
     “Oh No!” The fox screamed as he rushed over the terminal projecting the light. He was worried, beyond worried. Scared was the right way to describe him now. He knew what that light meant. And as it began to subside and data roll across the screen, he only grew more fearful of what he was seeing. The rest of his friends, however, had absolutely no idea.
     “Tails, what’s wrong!” Silver shouted.
     “What’s happening!” Amy chimed back.
     “Is something bad happening!” Cream managed to squeak in.
     Tails didn’t respond to them.
     The image on the screen did.
     It was Camilia, their friend, someone that had all met. Well, all except for Silver, but even he knew who she was. The pink cat that loved to run, the one so full of life. Always had a smile on her face, never letting anyone hurt before she had. The who right now, as they were watching…
     Was having her own heart torn out of her by some black sightless creatures.
     There was no breathing.
     No screaming.
     Just deafening silence.
     Not even the beat of Cheese’s wings made a sound through the room.
     They watched, horrified as a beautiful pink heart, twirling with the mass of darkness it resided, left the body of the pink cat, and faded into the darkness.
     The body, so after, vanished all the same.
     More silence.
     More fear.
     More anger.
     More sorrow.
     “Wha… What were those…. Those… Monsters!” Silver screamed at the black screen. Minutes seemed to pass as no one gave answer. Who could? No one knew what just happened. Was there even a name for it? Oh ya, monsterripyourheartout disease. Quite common in the pits of hell. ‘I’m sure’ Tails thought.
     He slapped himself promptly.
     ‘What was I thinking! A joke? Now?’
     “No.” He muttered so quietly to himself, he doubted anyone could have heard. Unfortunately, the silence only aided the words in travel across the soundless room.
     “No what… Mr. Tails…” Cream spoke silently herself. Her eyes never left the darkness that was on the screen.
      He turned to her to say something, but stopped at the sight. She was full of fear. Nothing but fear. Her eyes were wide, almost larger than her entire body. Her usually cheery smile, now replaced with a upturned frown of disgust and fear. And her ears. Despite their size, they always hanged high, like her hopes and love for her friends. But now, the hung low, sitting on the floor in their own pool of fear. If her hands were any longer, the fox had no doubt her arms would join them.
     He looked to Amy, and Silver. They didn’t appear much different.
     Amy, with the same eyes of fear as Cream, was holding her one arm against her chest, almost protectively of the same heart she had just witness be torn out. The other grasping over her mouth, little doubt to silence a scream.
     Silver, he had the most shocking expression of all. Tears. He was crying, with his knees already buckled on the floor in shock. Shock and sorrow. Two of the worst feeling anyone could have, and he was having them both at once. Had he failed? Was that why he was crying? Did he think he failed her in some way? Maybe, he always did put his duty above all else. His duty now was to protect, something that obviously wasn’t done for Camilia Starr.
     “What. Were. Those… Those… THINGS!” He shouted louder than he himself could even believe. Amy and Cream both turned to him, neither giving up their own expressions of fear and grief. “What just did that to her?” He cried. The tears flew out of him now, drenching his fur as they glistened off his bare skin.
     “I believe I could be of assistance.” They all whirled around to see the last thing anyone of them expected. And they had just seen their friend be torn from her own heart.
     Gerald “Eggman” Robotnick, in the flesh.
     “YOU!” Tails shouted, he jumped from his chair, ready to strike the fat bastard. “YOU DID THAT TO CAMILIA!”
     “No, my short-tempered wunderkind. I did not.” He arms were folded behind his back, calmly, as if expecting the onslaught of the fox. Maybe he did. He was a genius.
     “Then what do you know.” Amy spoke to him. Her eyes were red and deadly set on him, ready to push him no only through the door, but into an extra large body bag at the same time.
     “I was just kidnapped by the leader of those Heartless.” He commented coolly once more.
     “I don’t believe you! You lie and cheat all the time! Why should I listen to you know Eggman!” Tails shouted even louder than before. This man was a deceiver. He would do anything possible to win. Anything. There was nothing he could do to make them trust him. Nothing at all!
     “I know what those things want and, possibly, how to save your beloved friend.”
     Except that.
     “You can save Mrs. Camilia!” Cream almost sounded happy. Trusting.
     “No Cream. We can’t trust him. He’s just playing off our grief to get what he wants.” Amy replied with the same hateful gaze. Her arms had, somehow, made their way around the still weeping silver hedgehog. The doctor blew his mustached, straightened himself up, and presented his arms from behind his back.
     His bloody, beaten, and almost broken arms.
     “I highly doubt even I would do such a thing as to cripple myself before coming to my enemies home defenseless, little creatures.” The doctor’s voice changed, it wasn’t cool, but demanding, showing he was serious. Even Tails had to admit. The few times the doctor had managed to trick them, excluding Knuckles, he was never beaten nor was he in pain. Never like he was now.
     “All of you know I only want to rule the world. I have no desire to torture anyone. If I did, do you really think any of you would have escaped my prisons so easily before?” The same demanding voice came form his deep belly. It was convincing, oh so convincing, just so hard to not believe.
     “Well. How… fine.” Tails spoke with a huff.
     “So we’re trusting him Tails?” Silver managed through his sobs. The watery eyes that were still filled with tears said as they gazed at the brilliant twin tailed fox. He only sighed.
     “Yeah, for now. But listen here!” He pointed a finger towards the doctor. “If we find anything that shows you had a hand in this, I will see to it you can never lift an ounce of metal again! Understood!” Tails clenched his fist. They eyed each other, two geniuses with two different desires. Each wanting something different out of the world. Both, who for now, needed to work together to obtain what each wanted. Rule and aid.
     “I accept your terms fox. Now let me tell you all.” He walked over to a nearby chair, kicking it over to the others, refusing to use his hands or arms at all.
     “Thank you.” Cream quickly kissed the fox on the lips.
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     “My head.” A mature feminine voice sounded through the forest as she began to awake. The sleep in her eyes was thick as she carefully scratched it off with one of her sharp claws. Every thing was a blur.
     Literally.
     ‘Did… Did I fall?’ she moved her hands over the rough earth beneath her, attempting to push off of it.
     Bad move.
     One of her legs quickly buckled as soon as her weight was pushed on it, causing her to fall right back down.
     ‘All right, so I fell, no big deal. It’s not like Knucklehead is around. He or that gorgeous em-’ She stopped herself. ‘What happened to it’ she looked around quickly through her still clearing vision. The poor mix colored shapes around her morphed only more and more as her eyes grew. She whipped them, blinked, and even scratched the outsides of them to clear them of whatever was blinding her.
      It took minutes, but finally, her vision was clear enough to see.
      “Great, now I lost the emerald.” She sighed lying on her back with her wings extended outwards on the ground. Her arms and legs were extended as far as each could reach, stretching to clear out all of the stale acids that had collected through her forced “nap.”
     “I still blame that stupid red echidna.” The bat grumbled as she brought back on her hands to scratch out the debris caught in one of her massive white ears.
     “I heard that… Batgirl.” The voice caused her jump, physically jump, a good foot of the ground. Unfortunately, this foot was enough space for her foot to reach the ground, causing more pain to shoot through her leg as he body came back down.
     “Ah!” She yelled briefly, cupping both of her hands against her leg in pain. “Stupid echidna, why did you scare me like that!” She rocked back and forth on her sore, and most likely broken, leg.
     “Me?!” Knuckles yelled in exasperation, “You were the one stealing FROM me! I saved you life!” He remembered every little detail before he hit the ground. From the batgirl’s robbery to him sacrificing the emerald to save her. Master knows why he did that, but still, he did it.
      “I doubt, Knucklehead, that my broken leg is any clue to you saving me from anything!” She argued back to him.
      “What’s the last thing you remember Rouge?”
      “What kind of a question is that right now?”
      Her anger at him was rising quickly, causing to do the same.
      “Just think you stupid worthless thief!”
     Shock was a good way to describe the bat’s face. Complete and utter shock. Fight as they did, over and over again, he had never said such a thing to her. She never did mind batgirl. She was a female bat, simple fact, not an insult, never was. But to be called worthless, that was never a good thing. And for her, for all the things she had gone through, it was horrifying to hear it again.
      “Why… am I… worthless to you?” She gently questioned the Echidna before her. Her calm demeanor shocking him, clearly, out of his mind. Had he gone to far with what he said? Most likely. But did he really mean what he said? Not a chance. But what could he say now.
      “Well-um-uh… you see… you kind of…. Mostly the fact how you… ya know.” The red, sorry, redder Knuckles twittled with his barbs. His face had turned even redder than before, mostly resembling a ripe tomato at this point.
      “No Knuckles! I don’t know!” Now she was angry. First he accused her of being worthless, now he wouldn’t tell her why. Was he embarrassed by it? Too bad! He had to tell her now! “Tell me why I’m so worthless to you!”
     “It’s… cause… *grumble*.” Even with her acute bat hearing, Rouge couldn’t even trace what he had muttered so quietly. It was only thanks to her ears that she heard him at all.
     “What did you say knucklehead?” Her voice was still demanding, but at the same time, asking gently. She was the only one who knew how to pull of such a task. He shook his head side to side, dreadlocks flopping against his head. “What are you, 3 years old?” In truth, she had considered him to have the patience, mind set, and determination of a kid before, now he was acting like it when confused. He might just be.
     “I… I…. s-s-sai… said!” He finished midsentence out of breath. What the hell was he hiding!
     “Spit it out!” She demanded. That did it.
     “Fine! I said you were never worthless to me!”
     The silence of the forest never sounded so loud before.
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     “Larxene, what exactly have you… found?” He didn’t know if she found it or created, or if he was just imagining it. The thing before him resembled a very brief image of a cat. At least it had the right kind of tail, ears, and furry cheeks. But there were many more things that argued how it wasn’t a cat. Its fur was black as the nothingness from which the Heartless and he were born. It almost looked as if he could slip his hand past her completely with no effort at all. The, what appeared to be, clothing that enveloped her body was more revealing that he choose to believe. The twisted mix of red, gold, and blue metal twisted around her body in an insane shape. It barely covered her lower areas, and even less of her upper extremities. The same colored and designed shape twisted down both her arms. It curled around them like a snake, leaving one curl open to more of her black fur, and the other being hidden behind its cold steel. Her legs were in no different case.
     But even beyond just the arms and legs, were the hands and feet. Her hands were completely covered, adding more than necessary amount of protection over them. It almost looked alien with how large the hands appeared to be compared with the rest of her body. However, humorous was not the word to accompany it. The metal here was completely red and black, sharpened to a point fine enough to tear through any to all obstacles unfortunate enough to cross its path. Even her feet were armed transformed into the appearance of armed boots. Equally sharp talons reaching out from not only three spikes in the front, but a menacing hook in the heel as well.
     Only two other things stuck out to the Leader of the Nobodies after this. One, the rightly placed symbol of the Heartless across her bare stomach, red curved to match perfectly. Two, her facial features.
     They were horrifying.
     No, they were straight out of god’s nightmares.
     Its teeth were as white as his own hair, but sharpened to a point so fine, her very gums bled as she clenched her jaw. The blood pooling in her mouth before dripping off with sickening splats on the ground. The black lips that surrounded the seeming void that was her body was curved into a wicked grin that even struck a cord on his own creepy scale. And her eyes.
     God, her eyes.
     They were so unlike all the other heartless. While the damned beings that surrounded him had nothing but full glowing eyes, her were shaped. He could see her iris, her pupil, her whites, or in this case, blacks. They were made into two moving spotlights that called out the worst fear in whoever be fell them. Simply terrifying.
     Her ears only seemed to twitch with anticipation as Xemnas looked her over. Black mass whipping off them with every quick impulse they gave.
     “Do you like her?” Larxene said with a snide. She put her hand on her, its, shoulder. It stood to chest height compared to her, but still far more menacing than the dominatrix blonde ever could be.  “I took you advice, and made on the heroes of this world my own. I have to say,” She knelt down next the creature, its eyes looking to her reaction as she did, “This is a big improvement over the pink pretty kitty that she used to be.” She laughed her own horrible cackling laugh.
     “This is truly an amazing and perplexing feat you have accomplished Larxene.” Xemnas replied, his eyes never leaving the thing before him. It continued to twitch in anticipation of something. He could only image tasting blood other than its own.
     “Isn’t it? I still have to think of a name for her thought, don’t I?” He nodded once, never looking at her. “Goody!” She clapped in mock enjoyment. “Let’s see, we can go with “The Dark Cat” or “Cat of Darkness” or “No-Longer-Pretty-Kitty” or maybe-”
     “Name it ‘Wicked Kindness.’” Xemnas quickly spoke through what was, in his opinion, an annoying rant by the twin-spiked blonde. “I can see that this creature once was an owner to a beautiful body, now all it has is a beautiful heart. I can only pretend my pity for it. Once so pure, now utterly corrupted by the power that is darkness.” He grinned.
     “‘Wicked Kindness?’ That sounds like a name you would come up with.” Larxene puffed as she looked back over to her new pet. “But yeah. The name does fit. I actually love it!”
     “You can’t love it.”
     “I can pretend at least!” His constant reminders. If she had a heart, it would have been breaking under the constant reminders of her lost soul.
     “I have a task for you Larxene.” He stood, finally looking to her with the glint of powers in his empty eyes. “Both Xigbar and Vexen are coming to aid u-”
     “How in the hell is Vexen coming! He’s dead! I saw that Sora kid kill him like he almost killed me.”
     “I clearly remember, and it was Axel who saved you. But you see, I saved Vexen for his genius.”
     “You could have told me.” She huffed with a turn of the head. Was it really worth to pretend to have emotions as she was? Xaldin seemed to do pretty well as a lifeless shell. His power was nearly outmatched by of the other members. She could remember as clear as day how quickly his ten spears had overcome her six spikes. It may be worth to play the part. But not now. Not while she was so close to having such fun with these lowly creatures.
     “I found no need to tell you. Now listen well.” He folded his arms as he began to speak.
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     “Oh man, this is bad.” The spiked red head was literally flipping out. His red spiked weapon whipping in his hand with the flames dancing around it. His mind was worried, he didn’t have a heart to feel it, but he knew it. Two more were coming. Larxene had transformed one of the heroes into one of those heartless monsters in under a couple of hours from getting here. How long would it take Xigbar and Vexen to take over this world? Vexen was not only a scientifical genius, but also a brilliant tactician. He would instruct and or demand which heroes be taken out first in order to weaken this planet before completely taking it over.
      Xigbar, while not as smart, was a far cry from an idiot. He could easily handle any of these over powered animals if it came to that, and the red head had no doubt that it would. But what could he do now? There was no chance he was going to reveal himself yet. None. If he did, the whole chance of surprising Xemnas would go out the window. That was the most important part of his, yet to be finished plan. The rest, he was still working on.
     “Dammit! Now what!?” He yelled into the sky. They couldn’t hear him, he was already aware. But what could he do? The only hope for this world was barely aware of what was happening. The only good chance they had was the doctor guy managing to help the heroes, but even that be enough? No probably not. That man was smart, no doubt, be he couldn’t pull off anything Xemnas hasn’t already seen.
     The fox was like the doctor, a genius, but with no real skill in dealing with these changing monsters. What little idea the fat man had gained from their conversation, Xemnas had gained more about them.
     The psycho pink hedgehog might be able to do some damage with that hammer of hers, but even Larxene could easily get rid of her like she just got rid of the cat.
     Somehow, that hedgehog was able to fight from a distance. Most helpful against almost every threat being presented. A good idea to keep him in battle, but if he ever tired out, even for a second, Vexen would freeze him in place. Xigbar would destroy him. Xemnas would see him become a soldier of mayhem for him then, using him to destroy the very world he so valiantly tried to protect.
     The rabbit wasn’t even a factor in this. Whatever small power she did have other than talking, it wouldn’t be anything compared to even ‘Wicked Kindness’ now.
     “Calm down man, gotta child hot head.” He repeated the words his friend of past had often said to him whenever he did get a little on edge. Grinning a bit, he remembered the good times he and Roxas had had. Just walking through The World That Never Was, watching the Heartless roam around (when they were still on their side of course), even teasing Larxene by throwing some fire at her and running from the wicked nobodies lightening. It was fun, and he had grown an affection for her all the while doing it.
     But then his eyes were opened, by the friend he though was on his side. Fleeing from the Organization, fighting Diz, even rejoining with Sora.
     Sora…
     He had fought with him, in the end, near his own death. Helping that kid reach the world he had sworn never to reveal. Now he was believed to be dead because of it. Fading away like he had so many other times before.
     “Developing a bit of a talent for that, aren’t I.” He chuckled to himself. “Seriously though. I can’t do this yet, and that guy needs more time before he gets here. Think!” He shouted throwing his twitching circle blade deep into a rock nearby. It hissed evilly as the rock began to melt to the ground. “Who on this planet could hold this off!”
     An idea.
     “Xemnas doesn’t know where he is! Neither do I, but… I got time to search. More than him anyway.” He paced around the boiling remains of the rock in thought. “The doctor didn’t tell him where he was, just who he was, but that doesn’t make him any less than a good fighter. He’d even know other people to help out in this. All of his speed, plus all of his first hand knowledge! He can turn this tide.” He grabbed both of his weapons, letting the fire in his veins circumvallating his weapons, causing them to vanish into the air.
     “Gonna need a head start,” he began to run as fast as he could, letting the clouds that surrounded him being moved by the fire that was left in his foot wake, accelerating him to speeds that few could match. “If I intend to catch Sonic the Hedghog!”

Description
Chapter 3
     “You are, needless to say Dr. Robotnick, a very complex individual.” Xemnas complimented lightly as he sat on his invisible throne, looking down at the still defeated red clothed man. His orange mustached hung low to the sides, trenched in sweat and blood. “Never before could I have imagined such power coming from such… unique individuals.”
     The good doctor chuckled a bit. No kidding unique. Anthropomorphic animals, each possessing some incredible ability beyond his means of imagination. Unique was an understatement.
     “Compliments are do where need be. And you, my equally complicated friend, are definitely worthy of more than a few compliments yourself.” The doctor simple replied as continued his gaze up at the Nobody. Yes, that was what he called himself. A Nobody. The name seemed ridiculous. Why would you want to be called a Nobody, and how could you even define that?
     The answer given made sense, but it also disturbed the thought. He had never considered a being without a heart before. Without the physical heart, sure, many happy dreams of Sonic were once paraded as such in his mind. But without this, pure heart, as Xemnas called it, you split.
     Even more questions later, the doctor finally figured out what was left behind. The empty shell of a being, much like Xemnas before him, and the remnants of that heart, the Heartless surrounding him. But that confused him even further.
     “I believe it is my turn for a question?” He asked it as one. The black gowned man nodded, white hair waving, in response. “Why call the Heartless, Heartless, if all they are, is a heart?” This was truly one of them most invigorating conversations he had ever been in, and he was having it with the man who would no doubt kill him when it was over.
     “An excellent question doctor. The reason is simple. They ACT heartless. A heart they may be. But all they can feel is the darkness surround them. Without a body, they can’t feel the joys of the light, nor the sense it brings. Without a mind, they cannot understand why the darkness is what it is, so they don’t know.” He waved his hand, motioning for one of them to come, and so it did.
     By all accounts of the doctor, the creature was very much, hideous. It had dark tendrils lurching out of almost ever open pore of it’s body. A mouth, nose, and earless head that only had an unnatural growing pair of eyes, staring off into a direction he could never tell. It twitched and scratched at itself madly, imaginary things crawling over it’s own skin.
     “You see, Gerald Robotnick, this small Heartless is unaware of anything that goes on around it. It simply does what the darkness asks, because the light asks for nothing but their good will. Unfortunately for them, they don’t have a will to act on. Not without a mind to judge was is right and wrong.” The thing continued to twitch in front of the doctor, unceasing in its seizure like movements.
     “I see, so sad for their case. But I do suppose they make the perfect army.” He sighed, he was running out of questions to ask, and he was in no mood to die yet. Who would be? “I believe that it is your turn now Xemnas.” The red suited man eyed him through his thick glasses.
     “Yes, it is.” He leaned back further in his throne, looking away from him.
     Perfect! He could start!
     As quietly as he could, Robotnick pulled out a small remote from his chest pocket. He quickly tapped the buttons in an obscenely complex order, not daring to take his gaze from the man, or Nobody, in front of him. Xemnas, was certainly no idiot, it would be all to obvious to tell what he was doing. ‘Be damned if I die here without a going away gift.’ The doctor thought to himself as he finished his little plan. Xemnas looked back to him just as the doctor finished.
     “You have spoken much of this… Sonic Hedgehog… but I must ask, where, pray tell, is he now?” It may have been the hope he had now the way to escape, or perhaps he had begun to truly pay attention to the Nobody’s questions. Regardless, Eggman now knew what the Nobody was doing. While he asked questions to satisfy his curiosity, Xemnas was making battle plans. Detecting who was a strength, who was a weakness, where they were, who they befriended, and the doctor had told all through his shocked state.
     ‘Did I just do that? Did I just ruin the planet’s hope?’ Shocked was an accurate way to describe the realization of Robotnick. What could he do now?
     Escape.
     “Xemnas, Sonic is…”
     He slammed his hand against his chest, pushing in the command he had given it. He smiled, confusing the thing before him.
     “…Gone!”
     Out of the sky, a large orb was flying through the sky. Ripping apart the clouds with is shear speed, breaking the sound barrier as it roared through the sky. It almost appeared to be a comet, ripping through the clouds of the skies of Mobious. The eyes that did see it claimed just that, a meteorite was going to crash. It was in every way shape and form.
     But only Eggman knew the real purpose of such a device. It was no comet, but an escape method he had long planned to use.
     “Goodbye Xemnas,” Eggman spoke to Nobody before him, “I hope we met again.” In a second, the comet like projectile was scrapping across the earth beneath. Ripping apart the Heartless that were unfortunate enough to be caught in its path. Finally, the ruling Nobody turned to see the sense of his troops destruction, before quickly facing Eggman again.
     “Fool, do you not see? Nothingness is eternal! You can not stop us!”
     The sphere was so close, the heat was radiating.
     “I’m a scientist. I always try.”
     The sphere absorbed Dr. Robotnick, flying high and away from Xemnas and his Heartless.
     “Run, run, as fast as you can fat man,” he gently spoke to himself as he watched the sphere fly far and away from him. “You’ll never be able to stop me!”
---------------
     “Wow Tails, you really do try hard, don’t cha?” Amy questioned as she stood in awe at Tail’s lab. The last time she had been here, it was in the garage attached to his house. Now, it took up his entire basement.
     A basement the size of her own home.
     “Yeah,” the wunderkind scratched his head awkwardly as he gave a nervous smile, “Just, a lot of work tends to require a lot of materials, and finding out a way to jump dimensions isn’t exactly the same as giving an upgrade the Whirlwind.”
     “Tails has been sleeping down here even Mrs. Amy and Mr. Silver. He just wants to help Mr. Sonic find Mrs. Blaze.” Cream explained. This met with a worried face from Silver.
     “You sleep down here? Don’t you take a break now and then?” His concern was genuine, as always.
     “He he. This is my first break in almost a week.” He laughed nervously. His head continued to itch, so he continued to scratch.
     “Oh Tails…” Amy muttered as she shook her face with her hand. This kid really was something. Barely over the age of thirteen and able to put so much dedication into such a massive project. There was little no doubt in her own mind that she would have given up long ago. But then again, that’s why made him so special, the real reason why he out shined the rest of them. They all had their talents, and with the talents weaknesses. Just with the fox, it was simple plain stubbornness to quit. But like a weaknesses, there was a way to fix it.
     “That settles it.” The pink hedgehog said looking up at the fox. “You’re taking a mandatory day off from you lab. No questions asked!” She pointed at him, demanding as she always was. She always got her way, oh yes, always.
     “B-b-b-but Amy! What about Son…” He began to mutter, though he was quickly cut off.
     “Amy is right Tails,” Silver managed to speak up next to his beloved pink friend. “You have admirable dedication, but even the wisest must break to think even harder.”
     “Silver…” She muttered almost awing like. It was hard for her to believe that he put aside his naivety for this. Not that she was against it, just surprised that he had. Her smile grew as she watched him shine.
     Shine… Indoors…. In a basement…
     “Oh Tails, what is that light?” Cream spoke in her high concerning voice, her friendly blue chao circling her head, calling its own name in unison with the yellow rabbit. They both held their eyes from the light, it seemed too brightening.
     “Oh No!” The fox screamed as he rushed over the terminal projecting the light. He was worried, beyond worried. Scared was the right way to describe him now. He knew what that light meant. And as it began to subside and data roll across the screen, he only grew more fearful of what he was seeing. The rest of his friends, however, had absolutely no idea.
     “Tails, what’s wrong!” Silver shouted.
     “What’s happening!” Amy chimed back.
     “Is something bad happening!” Cream managed to squeak in.
     Tails didn’t respond to them.
     The image on the screen did.
     It was Camilia, their friend, someone that had all met. Well, all except for Silver, but even he knew who she was. The pink cat that loved to run, the one so full of life. Always had a smile on her face, never letting anyone hurt before she had. The who right now, as they were watching…
     Was having her own heart torn out of her by some black sightless creatures.
     There was no breathing.
     No screaming.
     Just deafening silence.
     Not even the beat of Cheese’s wings made a sound through the room.
     They watched, horrified as a beautiful pink heart, twirling with the mass of darkness it resided, left the body of the pink cat, and faded into the darkness.
     The body, so after, vanished all the same.
     More silence.
     More fear.
     More anger.
     More sorrow.
     “Wha… What were those…. Those… Monsters!” Silver screamed at the black screen. Minutes seemed to pass as no one gave answer. Who could? No one knew what just happened. Was there even a name for it? Oh ya, monsterripyourheartout disease. Quite common in the pits of hell. ‘I’m sure’ Tails thought.
     He slapped himself promptly.
     ‘What was I thinking! A joke? Now?’
     “No.” He muttered so quietly to himself, he doubted anyone could have heard. Unfortunately, the silence only aided the words in travel across the soundless room.
     “No what… Mr. Tails…” Cream spoke silently herself. Her eyes never left the darkness that was on the screen.
      He turned to her to say something, but stopped at the sight. She was full of fear. Nothing but fear. Her eyes were wide, almost larger than her entire body. Her usually cheery smile, now replaced with a upturned frown of disgust and fear. And her ears. Despite their size, they always hanged high, like her hopes and love for her friends. But now, the hung low, sitting on the floor in their own pool of fear. If her hands were any longer, the fox had no doubt her arms would join them.
     He looked to Amy, and Silver. They didn’t appear much different.
     Amy, with the same eyes of fear as Cream, was holding her one arm against her chest, almost protectively of the same heart she had just witness be torn out. The other grasping over her mouth, little doubt to silence a scream.
     Silver, he had the most shocking expression of all. Tears. He was crying, with his knees already buckled on the floor in shock. Shock and sorrow. Two of the worst feeling anyone could have, and he was having them both at once. Had he failed? Was that why he was crying? Did he think he failed her in some way? Maybe, he always did put his duty above all else. His duty now was to protect, something that obviously wasn’t done for Camilia Starr.
     “What. Were. Those… Those… THINGS!” He shouted louder than he himself could even believe. Amy and Cream both turned to him, neither giving up their own expressions of fear and grief. “What just did that to her?” He cried. The tears flew out of him now, drenching his fur as they glistened off his bare skin.
     “I believe I could be of assistance.” They all whirled around to see the last thing anyone of them expected. And they had just seen their friend be torn from her own heart.
     Gerald “Eggman” Robotnick, in the flesh.
     “YOU!” Tails shouted, he jumped from his chair, ready to strike the fat bastard. “YOU DID THAT TO CAMILIA!”
     “No, my short-tempered wunderkind. I did not.” He arms were folded behind his back, calmly, as if expecting the onslaught of the fox. Maybe he did. He was a genius.
     “Then what do you know.” Amy spoke to him. Her eyes were red and deadly set on him, ready to push him no only through the door, but into an extra large body bag at the same time.
     “I was just kidnapped by the leader of those Heartless.” He commented coolly once more.
     “I don’t believe you! You lie and cheat all the time! Why should I listen to you know Eggman!” Tails shouted even louder than before. This man was a deceiver. He would do anything possible to win. Anything. There was nothing he could do to make them trust him. Nothing at all!
     “I know what those things want and, possibly, how to save your beloved friend.”
     Except that.
     “You can save Mrs. Camilia!” Cream almost sounded happy. Trusting.
     “No Cream. We can’t trust him. He’s just playing off our grief to get what he wants.” Amy replied with the same hateful gaze. Her arms had, somehow, made their way around the still weeping silver hedgehog. The doctor blew his mustached, straightened himself up, and presented his arms from behind his back.
     His bloody, beaten, and almost broken arms.
     “I highly doubt even I would do such a thing as to cripple myself before coming to my enemies home defenseless, little creatures.” The doctor’s voice changed, it wasn’t cool, but demanding, showing he was serious. Even Tails had to admit. The few times the doctor had managed to trick them, excluding Knuckles, he was never beaten nor was he in pain. Never like he was now.
     “All of you know I only want to rule the world. I have no desire to torture anyone. If I did, do you really think any of you would have escaped my prisons so easily before?” The same demanding voice came form his deep belly. It was convincing, oh so convincing, just so hard to not believe.
     “Well. How… fine.” Tails spoke with a huff.
     “So we’re trusting him Tails?” Silver managed through his sobs. The watery eyes that were still filled with tears said as they gazed at the brilliant twin tailed fox. He only sighed.
     “Yeah, for now. But listen here!” He pointed a finger towards the doctor. “If we find anything that shows you had a hand in this, I will see to it you can never lift an ounce of metal again! Understood!” Tails clenched his fist. They eyed each other, two geniuses with two different desires. Each wanting something different out of the world. Both, who for now, needed to work together to obtain what each wanted. Rule and aid.
     “I accept your terms fox. Now let me tell you all.” He walked over to a nearby chair, kicking it over to the others, refusing to use his hands or arms at all.
     “Thank you.” Cream quickly kissed the fox on the lips.
---------------
     “My head.” A mature feminine voice sounded through the forest as she began to awake. The sleep in her eyes was thick as she carefully scratched it off with one of her sharp claws. Every thing was a blur.
     Literally.
     ‘Did… Did I fall?’ she moved her hands over the rough earth beneath her, attempting to push off of it.
     Bad move.
     One of her legs quickly buckled as soon as her weight was pushed on it, causing her to fall right back down.
     ‘All right, so I fell, no big deal. It’s not like Knucklehead is around. He or that gorgeous em-’ She stopped herself. ‘What happened to it’ she looked around quickly through her still clearing vision. The poor mix colored shapes around her morphed only more and more as her eyes grew. She whipped them, blinked, and even scratched the outsides of them to clear them of whatever was blinding her.
      It took minutes, but finally, her vision was clear enough to see.
      “Great, now I lost the emerald.” She sighed lying on her back with her wings extended outwards on the ground. Her arms and legs were extended as far as each could reach, stretching to clear out all of the stale acids that had collected through her forced “nap.”
     “I still blame that stupid red echidna.” The bat grumbled as she brought back on her hands to scratch out the debris caught in one of her massive white ears.
     “I heard that… Batgirl.” The voice caused her jump, physically jump, a good foot of the ground. Unfortunately, this foot was enough space for her foot to reach the ground, causing more pain to shoot through her leg as he body came back down.
     “Ah!” She yelled briefly, cupping both of her hands against her leg in pain. “Stupid echidna, why did you scare me like that!” She rocked back and forth on her sore, and most likely broken, leg.
     “Me?!” Knuckles yelled in exasperation, “You were the one stealing FROM me! I saved you life!” He remembered every little detail before he hit the ground. From the batgirl’s robbery to him sacrificing the emerald to save her. Master knows why he did that, but still, he did it.
      “I doubt, Knucklehead, that my broken leg is any clue to you saving me from anything!” She argued back to him.
      “What’s the last thing you remember Rouge?”
      “What kind of a question is that right now?”
      Her anger at him was rising quickly, causing to do the same.
      “Just think you stupid worthless thief!”
     Shock was a good way to describe the bat’s face. Complete and utter shock. Fight as they did, over and over again, he had never said such a thing to her. She never did mind batgirl. She was a female bat, simple fact, not an insult, never was. But to be called worthless, that was never a good thing. And for her, for all the things she had gone through, it was horrifying to hear it again.
      “Why… am I… worthless to you?” She gently questioned the Echidna before her. Her calm demeanor shocking him, clearly, out of his mind. Had he gone to far with what he said? Most likely. But did he really mean what he said? Not a chance. But what could he say now.
      “Well-um-uh… you see… you kind of…. Mostly the fact how you… ya know.” The red, sorry, redder Knuckles twittled with his barbs. His face had turned even redder than before, mostly resembling a ripe tomato at this point.
      “No Knuckles! I don’t know!” Now she was angry. First he accused her of being worthless, now he wouldn’t tell her why. Was he embarrassed by it? Too bad! He had to tell her now! “Tell me why I’m so worthless to you!”
     “It’s… cause… *grumble*.” Even with her acute bat hearing, Rouge couldn’t even trace what he had muttered so quietly. It was only thanks to her ears that she heard him at all.
     “What did you say knucklehead?” Her voice was still demanding, but at the same time, asking gently. She was the only one who knew how to pull of such a task. He shook his head side to side, dreadlocks flopping against his head. “What are you, 3 years old?” In truth, she had considered him to have the patience, mind set, and determination of a kid before, now he was acting like it when confused. He might just be.
     “I… I…. s-s-sai… said!” He finished midsentence out of breath. What the hell was he hiding!
     “Spit it out!” She demanded. That did it.
     “Fine! I said you were never worthless to me!”
     The silence of the forest never sounded so loud before.
---------------
     “Larxene, what exactly have you… found?” He didn’t know if she found it or created, or if he was just imagining it. The thing before him resembled a very brief image of a cat. At least it had the right kind of tail, ears, and furry cheeks. But there were many more things that argued how it wasn’t a cat. Its fur was black as the nothingness from which the Heartless and he were born. It almost looked as if he could slip his hand past her completely with no effort at all. The, what appeared to be, clothing that enveloped her body was more revealing that he choose to believe. The twisted mix of red, gold, and blue metal twisted around her body in an insane shape. It barely covered her lower areas, and even less of her upper extremities. The same colored and designed shape twisted down both her arms. It curled around them like a snake, leaving one curl open to more of her black fur, and the other being hidden behind its cold steel. Her legs were in no different case.
     But even beyond just the arms and legs, were the hands and feet. Her hands were completely covered, adding more than necessary amount of protection over them. It almost looked alien with how large the hands appeared to be compared with the rest of her body. However, humorous was not the word to accompany it. The metal here was completely red and black, sharpened to a point fine enough to tear through any to all obstacles unfortunate enough to cross its path. Even her feet were armed transformed into the appearance of armed boots. Equally sharp talons reaching out from not only three spikes in the front, but a menacing hook in the heel as well.
     Only two other things stuck out to the Leader of the Nobodies after this. One, the rightly placed symbol of the Heartless across her bare stomach, red curved to match perfectly. Two, her facial features.
     They were horrifying.
     No, they were straight out of god’s nightmares.
     Its teeth were as white as his own hair, but sharpened to a point so fine, her very gums bled as she clenched her jaw. The blood pooling in her mouth before dripping off with sickening splats on the ground. The black lips that surrounded the seeming void that was her body was curved into a wicked grin that even struck a cord on his own creepy scale. And her eyes.
     God, her eyes.
     They were so unlike all the other heartless. While the damned beings that surrounded him had nothing but full glowing eyes, her were shaped. He could see her iris, her pupil, her whites, or in this case, blacks. They were made into two moving spotlights that called out the worst fear in whoever be fell them. Simply terrifying.
     Her ears only seemed to twitch with anticipation as Xemnas looked her over. Black mass whipping off them with every quick impulse they gave.
     “Do you like her?” Larxene said with a snide. She put her hand on her, its, shoulder. It stood to chest height compared to her, but still far more menacing than the dominatrix blonde ever could be.  “I took you advice, and made on the heroes of this world my own. I have to say,” She knelt down next the creature, its eyes looking to her reaction as she did, “This is a big improvement over the pink pretty kitty that she used to be.” She laughed her own horrible cackling laugh.
     “This is truly an amazing and perplexing feat you have accomplished Larxene.” Xemnas replied, his eyes never leaving the thing before him. It continued to twitch in anticipation of something. He could only image tasting blood other than its own.
     “Isn’t it? I still have to think of a name for her thought, don’t I?” He nodded once, never looking at her. “Goody!” She clapped in mock enjoyment. “Let’s see, we can go with “The Dark Cat” or “Cat of Darkness” or “No-Longer-Pretty-Kitty” or maybe-”
     “Name it ‘Wicked Kindness.’” Xemnas quickly spoke through what was, in his opinion, an annoying rant by the twin-spiked blonde. “I can see that this creature once was an owner to a beautiful body, now all it has is a beautiful heart. I can only pretend my pity for it. Once so pure, now utterly corrupted by the power that is darkness.” He grinned.
     “‘Wicked Kindness?’ That sounds like a name you would come up with.” Larxene puffed as she looked back over to her new pet. “But yeah. The name does fit. I actually love it!”
     “You can’t love it.”
     “I can pretend at least!” His constant reminders. If she had a heart, it would have been breaking under the constant reminders of her lost soul.
     “I have a task for you Larxene.” He stood, finally looking to her with the glint of powers in his empty eyes. “Both Xigbar and Vexen are coming to aid u-”
     “How in the hell is Vexen coming! He’s dead! I saw that Sora kid kill him like he almost killed me.”
     “I clearly remember, and it was Axel who saved you. But you see, I saved Vexen for his genius.”
     “You could have told me.” She huffed with a turn of the head. Was it really worth to pretend to have emotions as she was? Xaldin seemed to do pretty well as a lifeless shell. His power was nearly outmatched by of the other members. She could remember as clear as day how quickly his ten spears had overcome her six spikes. It may be worth to play the part. But not now. Not while she was so close to having such fun with these lowly creatures.
     “I found no need to tell you. Now listen well.” He folded his arms as he began to speak.
---------------
     “Oh man, this is bad.” The spiked red head was literally flipping out. His red spiked weapon whipping in his hand with the flames dancing around it. His mind was worried, he didn’t have a heart to feel it, but he knew it. Two more were coming. Larxene had transformed one of the heroes into one of those heartless monsters in under a couple of hours from getting here. How long would it take Xigbar and Vexen to take over this world? Vexen was not only a scientifical genius, but also a brilliant tactician. He would instruct and or demand which heroes be taken out first in order to weaken this planet before completely taking it over.
      Xigbar, while not as smart, was a far cry from an idiot. He could easily handle any of these over powered animals if it came to that, and the red head had no doubt that it would. But what could he do now? There was no chance he was going to reveal himself yet. None. If he did, the whole chance of surprising Xemnas would go out the window. That was the most important part of his, yet to be finished plan. The rest, he was still working on.
     “Dammit! Now what!?” He yelled into the sky. They couldn’t hear him, he was already aware. But what could he do? The only hope for this world was barely aware of what was happening. The only good chance they had was the doctor guy managing to help the heroes, but even that be enough? No probably not. That man was smart, no doubt, be he couldn’t pull off anything Xemnas hasn’t already seen.
     The fox was like the doctor, a genius, but with no real skill in dealing with these changing monsters. What little idea the fat man had gained from their conversation, Xemnas had gained more about them.
     The psycho pink hedgehog might be able to do some damage with that hammer of hers, but even Larxene could easily get rid of her like she just got rid of the cat.
     Somehow, that hedgehog was able to fight from a distance. Most helpful against almost every threat being presented. A good idea to keep him in battle, but if he ever tired out, even for a second, Vexen would freeze him in place. Xigbar would destroy him. Xemnas would see him become a soldier of mayhem for him then, using him to destroy the very world he so valiantly tried to protect.
     The rabbit wasn’t even a factor in this. Whatever small power she did have other than talking, it wouldn’t be anything compared to even ‘Wicked Kindness’ now.
     “Calm down man, gotta child hot head.” He repeated the words his friend of past had often said to him whenever he did get a little on edge. Grinning a bit, he remembered the good times he and Roxas had had. Just walking through The World That Never Was, watching the Heartless roam around (when they were still on their side of course), even teasing Larxene by throwing some fire at her and running from the wicked nobodies lightening. It was fun, and he had grown an affection for her all the while doing it.
     But then his eyes were opened, by the friend he though was on his side. Fleeing from the Organization, fighting Diz, even rejoining with Sora.
     Sora…
     He had fought with him, in the end, near his own death. Helping that kid reach the world he had sworn never to reveal. Now he was believed to be dead because of it. Fading away like he had so many other times before.
     “Developing a bit of a talent for that, aren’t I.” He chuckled to himself. “Seriously though. I can’t do this yet, and that guy needs more time before he gets here. Think!” He shouted throwing his twitching circle blade deep into a rock nearby. It hissed evilly as the rock began to melt to the ground. “Who on this planet could hold this off!”
     An idea.
     “Xemnas doesn’t know where he is! Neither do I, but… I got time to search. More than him anyway.” He paced around the boiling remains of the rock in thought. “The doctor didn’t tell him where he was, just who he was, but that doesn’t make him any less than a good fighter. He’d even know other people to help out in this. All of his speed, plus all of his first hand knowledge! He can turn this tide.” He grabbed both of his weapons, letting the fire in his veins circumvallating his weapons, causing them to vanish into the air.
     “Gonna need a head start,” he began to run as fast as he could, letting the clouds that surrounded him being moved by the fire that was left in his foot wake, accelerating him to speeds that few could match. “If I intend to catch Sonic the Hedghog!”