Chapter 1: The Beginning of Loneliness

"W-what... Where am I?" I mumbled as I suddenly opened my eyes.

"You are home." a voice stated in a matter-of-fact, rather monotonous voice.

I looked around searching for the source of the voice. I felt my eyes widen. Before me stood an amazing sight; a tanned woman with blonde hair, ocean-blue eyes at my side, a stark white high-collar short top covered the bottom of her face. Her arms were crossed under her barely covered bust and her beauty was framed in a large crescent moon in a starless sky.

"What? Home? What are you talking about?" I asked in a low voice, almost a whisper. I don't remember much, but I do remember that I know beauty when I see it. I was in too much awe to not stare.

"You were attacked by other Lordes. I saw something in you worth saving. I prevented any of them from eating any part of you, so your evolution is still within grasp." the beauty said. "As for home, you are in Hueco Mundo. The realm of our kind, hollow. They must have beaten you pretty hard for you to forget."

"They? Who are 'they'? And what is a 'Lorde'?"

"Them." she gestured behind her, for me to see six odd shaped beings barely alive. One had eight appendages and looked somewhat arachnid like. Another had two claws one massively larger than the other, a tail with a long curved stinger, and six appendages, also vaguely arachnid like. The next also had six appendages, but had an over sized ass with a long, thin stinger, vaguely insect-like. The rest also seemed to be insect like but were all too mauled to tell what they were supposed to be. "I figured you'd like to finish them off."

"Yes. Yes I would." the memory of them erupting from the sand, randomly attacking me searing it's way to the front of my mind, rage trailing shortly behind it. I slowly rose to my feet, barely managing to keep my balance as I staggered my way to them. I raised my hand pointing my middle and pointer fingers at them, and began to concentrate on erasing their existence from this world.

A black ball of energy began to form around the tips of my fingers, growing in size then suddenly compressing and darkening in color. When I felt satisfied with the power I've stored, I released the black energy, and for an instant all that could be seen in front of me was a wall of black energy, all that could be heard was the screams of my attackers being silenced.

I turned back to the woman, only to see a look of awe on her face, "Thank you for helping me. I'm sorry to say, but there is no way I can repay the favor." She suddenly over came her shock, and snapped her eyes to me.

"The only being I've ever seen do such an attack is Ulquiorra..."

"That name supposed to mean something to me" I asked, sounding more belligerent than I intended.

"Not yet." I looked at her, wary of her meaning. "How would you like to come with me? I've something, and people, I'd like to show you."

"I don't even know your name... I don't even remember mine." I spoke monotonously, mumbling the last part as I looked down. Suddenly feeling the void in my own heart, mind, and soul.

"You... Can't remember anything?"

"No. I remember nothing previous to waking up with you next to me..." I looked up, still speaking with no emotion.

"It will come to you. You may call me Tia. Tia Hallibel." she said.

"Very well." Recalling the emptiness I've felt since waking, I decided, "I shall be Soledosa... For now at least."

"Suit yourself... Soledosa. Come, follow me; I shall introduce you to my allies."

"Allies? You need allies? Someone as powerful as you shouldn't need allies."

She gently chuckled at this, "I appreciate the complement, but it's not by choice that I am with them..." Tia left it at that. We walked in silence until a large white castle came into view.

"What the... What is that?" I said in my usual monotone but shocked none the less.

"That is where I live. Los Noches, the great castle of the 'Hollow King'." Tia practically spat everything after the title of the castle.

"Doesn't sound like you like the 'King' very much. What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing. Other than the fact that he's a megalomanic tyrant."

"What?" I gasped.

"'Lord' Aizen, his dream is for us Espada to overthrow the Soul Reapers and the Spirit King. Along with him is a blind man, and some ever-smiling creep." she shivered at the mention of the last guy.

"It still seems so far away, yet it already dominates the horizon."

"Yes. Under the dome of Los Noches exists a great expanse of... 'property'."

Tia pointed to the castle, and the air rippled around the tip of her finger, suddenly a 'mouth' opened and inside there was a room. With three other women inside. Three beautiful women. "Please, step into my Garganta. I will show you to Lord Aizen, and you will receive judgment."

"Ju-judgment?"

"Don't worry, he'll either let you join his ranks, or..."

"Or, what? Kill me? Throw me back out here to possibly die?"

"Perhaps."

"You're right. He is a megalomanic tyrant... But I guess it beats getting eaten." I stepped through the hollow mouth-shaped portal in front of us, 'Seems like I'm already getting eaten...' I thought with a smirk. 'Speaking of eating, I'm getting REALLY hungry.'

As I stepped into the portal, I stepped into the room I saw inside it. The three women looked at me, a look of fear in their eyes. "What? Is there something in my teeth?" I joked.

"Since when can Vasto Lorde joke?!" the small one with a horn on her head shouted first.

"Fuck it joking, since when could they open Garganta?!" the dark skinned one shouted.

"Stop talking and kill it before it can do the same to us." the small one with long sleeves stated coolly.

"Apache, Mila-Rose, Sun-Sung calm down. I brought him here." Tia spoke up as she stepped through the Garganta.

"Why? What were you thinking bringing a Vasto Lorde here, of all places?!" the horned one said.

"Apache, I saved him from the Sexta Insecta. He was a match for them, holding them off, until my showing up distracted him and they knocked him out. Now, my Tres Beastias, calm down." Tia stated more sternly than the first time.

"Fine. So what are you gonna do with him; keep him as a pet?" Apache snorted.

"No, I'm going to show him to Lord Aizen. Perhaps make him my new Fraccion."

"Wh-what?!" the four of us stuttered in unison.

"You couldn't be serious! Lady Hallibel, this man, couldn't possib-" Apache and Mila-Rose were interrupted.

"Yes, I am dead serious. He, alone, matched the power of the Sexta Insecta. A feat you three couldn't accomplish, without Ayon. Even then, he was almost destroyed." Tia spoke with venomous authority, cutting off her Fraccion.

Sun-Sung was silently examining me the whole time. I caught the slight hint of a smile and a blush under her sleeve as she looked at me. "I can tell he would be anything but a detriment to us. I can't see why you two are so veminantly opposed to him joining; he's obviously powerful."

"I don't care, he's just going to try something. I can feel it." Mila-Rose said.

"Yeah. Men are all the same, they'll try to se-"

"No. This one is in my debt." Tia cut off Apache.

"This is correct. If not for Ms. Hallibel, I would currently be in pieces in the Sexta Insecta stomachs. I owe her my life." I said in my usual monotone.

"He sort of reminds me of Ulquiorra, but with... personality." Sun-Sung stated.

"You should see his Cero." Tia returned, chuckling inwardly at her Fraccion.

"If I do something that you don't like you may take my life, if Lady Hallibel allows. It's in her hands after all." I said trying to finalize and prevent any further confrontation.

"Only we can call her that, you monster!" Apache screamed.

"Enough! My word is final. Soledosa will become my Fraccion, and nothing you three will say can change this soon-to-be fact." Tia diffused the situation with that and left. Dragging me behind her. "I apologize for my Fraccion. They can be a little..."

"Passionate." I interject.

"Yes. To put it mildly. Your patience is surprising for a Vasto Lorde. Any other that I've brought has tried to eat them after Apache says anything like that."

"I can bear then no grudge. They are acting in your and their best interests. I would not blame you if you send me off. Being alone seems like a familiar thing for me."

"What do you mean?"

"I've been alone for most of my Hollow life."

"But didn't you lose-"

"My memory? Yes, but it's coming in bits and pieces. And other than the occasional slaughter of hollow, I've been alone. The others seemed to always shy away from me because I was always bigger than them. Since I was a Gillian, the other's tried to come at me in groups, to end my existence. I sound pitiful I know."

"No. You don't sound pitiful. You are just Sekizen, alone. When I was a Vasto Lorde I was similar. Aizen found me, much like I found you, and gave me... power."

"You make it sound like a curse."

"The way he gave the power to the current Espada is unnatural. He used this little black sphere to force us to be more than we are. It power we gain is immense, but at the cost of our healing abilities."

"Healing abilities? Regeneration? He took a hollow's greatest defense and traded it for offensive power? Monstrous."

"Yes. But it's in the past. There's nothing I can do to regain the power I lost. No amount of training will bring my regeneration back."

I could see the emotion on her face, even past the coat collar. She was sad. Regretful.

Soon we arrived at a room that was empty apart from a chair at the end, facing the balcony.

"Tia. You've brought a guest is see." the voice of the man was cool and smooth, like velvet, but held a malice that could chill the blood of the devil herself.

"Yes, Lord Aizen. This is Soledosa Sekizen, an unusually powerful Vasto Lorde. I thought he could be of service to you and your cause."

"I see. Thank you Tia. Leave us, I wish to speak to him alone."

"Yes, my Lord." Tia left the room, shooting me a fretful glance.

As she closed the door, and I could no longer feel her reiatsu, Aizen spoke, "You are unusually tame... For a Vasto Lorde."

"Point being?" I asked coldly, not sure if it was an insult or compliment.

"Point being that you have piqued my interest. It's not very often that a Vasto Lorde has come to me of its own accord. Or speak for that matter." Aizen swiveled his chair to face me. The man wore a white shihakusho with a black trim, short brown hair, with a strand falling to his face. His look was quite smug; like any, and everyone he looked at was below him. When he actually looked at me he seemed to be surprised. "And an albino hollow is very unusual indeed. Only one other has the honor of saying that they began as an albino. Ulquiorra Schiffer."

Almost on cue, a pale man wearing a similar shihakusho as Aizen, half a helmet, and green tear streaks down his cheeks walked out of the shadows, "Yes, Lord Aizen?" He spoke in an emotionless monotone.

"Ah, my Quarto Espada. Look at my new specimen, Soledosa Sekizen."

"Yes. The first albino since me, correct?"

"Indeed. Would you like to show him to the chamber?"

"Right away. This way, Sekizen." Ulquiorra motioned back into the shadows.

Regardless of where my trust in these two men stands, their power was not to be trifled with. So I walked toward the area Ulquiorra pointed toward, stepping into a hidden Garganta. It closed behind me after I stepped through. Above me was an open roof and a balcony. At the balcony stood Aizen and Ulquiorra.

"Release them." Aizen uttered the single command and a hoard of hollow appeared from the opposite wall.

Before I could say anything, they surrounded me. 'Fast.' I thought as they completed the makeshift arena around me. Some braver hollow rushed at me. I impaled one through the face with my tail. 'But stupid.' The next two were almost upon me, when I sonidoed behind one, and slashed its head off. It's black blood splattering the white sand and my body. I quickly grabbed the head from the air, and threw it at the other hollow, and rushed in. Flustered by the head of his comrade rushing at him he never saw me thrust my hand through his chest and only when I released a weak Cero that he realized what happened.

After removing my hand, he crumpled to the ground, fear and pain in its eyes. It faded from existence before its buddy's body hit the ground, fading shortly after him.

"Ruthless. I like that." Aizen's smug smile grew.

"Yes. He seems to be a fair analyst. He keeps a cool head even in insurmountable odds." Ulquiorra observed.

Then I surprised all in attendance by pointing my hands in opposite directions and began to charge two Cero, one on each hand, and releasing the black energy as I spun 180 degrees. Before they hit the ground, my hunger got the better of me and I began to feast on what was left of the quickly fading bodies. The remaining hollow remained at a distance, wary of the now more powerful foe. The dominant predator. Their death.

I looked at them releasing the iconic hollow scream, and charged at them. I caught one by the arm, and tore it off, taking a large bite off the bloody end. I then impaled the same hollow with his own arm. Blood gushing from the wound, and from the hollow's mouth, it screamed its way out of existence.

The next few hollow met similar fates. The last few met the full fury of my ever growing hunger, I took bites out of their masks as I took my time, enjoying the first meal I've had since waking a few hours ago. Once the mask is gone, I enjoy the rest of the body, piece by bloody piece, leaving the human face alone. Enjoying my foods screams of agony. After the gaping head is left, I toss it away and begin my next victim.

"Feed... Hunger..." I growl over and over between victims. By the time I was done, the whole sandy ground was stained black. My body dripping with the blood of my victims. As the last hollow faded from existence, I let loose a great hollow scream, and looked directly at Aizen.

"So, have I passed?"

"We shall see." Aizen smiled, "More." he demanded. A hoard of Gillian entered the room. I smiled and ran to them. Again taking my time picking them apart. I flew to the first one and took a large chunk out of the mask, making the beast emit a loud shriek. One of its comrades began to charge a Cero, which I answered with one of my own, taking the Gillian's head off, along with the dozen behind it. I continued munching on the massive mask before me. Once finished, I dove into the bloody abyss of its pseudo-face, proceeding to eat it from the inside out. Once I reached the hollow hole in its midsection, I fired another spinning Cero, to cut it, and any other's in the vicinity in half.

This process continued for the last couple dozen Gillian. Upon finishing the wave of Gillian, Aizen summoned a hoard of Adhuchas. They fared no better than the first wave of hollow. Each consecutive wave was more powerful than the last, cumulating in the final wave, six Vasto Lorde.

I smiled madly under my mask. 'Six... Just like earlier.' they came at me with intent to kill. 'But now, I've eaten. I'm invincible!' I thought as I took the first head clean off with one swipe of my tail. I then skewered the head with my tail, and began to munch on it like an apple. This unnerved the remaining five, but they charged none the less. They surrounded me in a star formation.

I looked around, seeing them planning something with the glances amongst themselves. My blood stained body began to feel unusually warm as my mask began to crack. Soon the Vasto Lordes began to charge me, taking advantage of my now open defense; much to their regret. I released a 360 degree Cero that destroyed them, vaporizing them and the ground around me.

"Five at once, hmm?" Ulquiorra said, "That's better than I did..." he whispered.

"Yes. Looks like you have competition Schiffer." Aizen said.

"Seems so. But, he's no Arrancar yet." 'Besides, he couldn't hold a candle to my Segunda Etapa' Ulquiorra assured himself.

"No, but soon, look his mask is cracked." Aizen said as the dust settled.

"Should you not apply he Hogyoku now? This is when you applied it to me."

"No, I will reserve that for until he asks for it. Remember how powerful Stark is, he's the last natural Arrancar left among you Espada."

"Yes. The Primera. How could I forget." Ulquiorra's usual monotone coated with a thin layer disgust at the mention of the lazy shirker that has a higher rank than he.

"Bring the Hogyoku, it's nearly done." Aizen said as my mask began to fall apart. Ulquiorra sonidoed to the resting place, and immediately returned with the black orb.

"Here you are, Lord Aizen." handing off the Hogyoku.

"My thanks Ulquiorra. Let us hope this one is at least as useful as you." Aizen said.

"Of course, my Lord."

Aizen flash stepped to my side and began to pump his reiryoku into the black ball in his hand. 'That looks like the thing Tia told me about' I absently thought. Then Aizen thrust the Hogyoku into the hole in the middle of my chest and power exploded from me, flattening the land around Aizen and I to perfection.

My reiatsu skyrocketed to unknown heights. I felt my face explode, and my mask shattered as my black blood splashed across Aizen's shihakusho. That's the last thing I saw before I blacked out.

Next I knew, I was in a full body cast and my whole body hurt, especially my head, in the facial region. As I stirred, I heard the cast break easily under the minuscule pressure I placed on it. Soon I was sitting on the edge of my bed, staring into a mirror in shock.

My mask was gone. Not a trace of it remained. I searched for something to remind me of my mask, all that remained of my past look was the perfectly round hole in my left hand and the black scerlia of my eyes. What really shook me though were the steely blue iris' that peered out of the sea of black that are my eyes. The more I looked at them the more...

"Soledosa? Are you well?" The voice came from behind me. I looked in the mirror to find Tia. And I couldn't help but smile, if only a little. "Sorry for barging in so soon after your evolution, but I needed to see if my Fraccion is well."

"And who said he'll be your Fraccion?" another voice sounded behind her. I turned to see a tall man with an eye patch, and a large spoon as a collar...hood... thing. "What are you staring at, you whelp!" the man screamed at me.

"Nnoitora, get out. We shouldn't be here so shortly after his change." Tia tried to shoo him out.

"Like hell I'm leaving. I still want to se-"

He was interrupted by my fist to his gut. Sending him flying out the door and into the wall opposite, forcing a crater into the - until then - unblemished surface.

"What the he-" again he was interrupted by my fist. This time it was in his mouth. With my fingers through the back of his head, effectively nailing him to the wall with my hand. As I withdrew my now black hand from his mouth, his eye rolled back, and his last breath escaped his lungs.

"Sorry, Lady Hallibel, but no one talks like that in front of you." I looked at a shocked Tia, and she had her hands in front of her, defensively. She was afraid of me.

"Tia? What's wrong?"

"He... He... was the fifth... Espada. And you killed him like any normal hollow... He was nothing... Wha... How..." I reached out for her but she cringed away from me. The only connection I had, and together we shattered it.

"I see. Very well then." I walked past her, all too aware of the terror in her eyes, to the table with cloths on it. I found that they fit perfectly. They consisted of a white with black trim shihakusho, white pants, black socks, and sandals. "Excuse me Tia." I said before leaving her there staring at the now fading body of Nnoitora Gilga. Former Fifth Espada.