Empty Heart

Chapter 10: Leaders Decision, Fathers Love

Hearts are plagued by uncertainty even doubt.

All hearts may seem weak at times giving into anger, and frustration.

But those who break through are truly strong.

The trek back to Fox and vixens earth was uneventful for the most part. No Heartless bothered them. Plucky's plan with the weasels had failed but at least they got to show up some blue foxes. Plucky and Dash were rather impressed by the keyblade. A couple of time they had asked Sora to show them again. The keyblade master was more than happy to oblige.

On one of these showings, Plucky had asked to hold it. To his and everyone else's surprise (except Donald and Goofy's) the keyblade would instantly vanish form Plucky's grasp and into Soras. Friendly on the other hand was not entirely sure about these three newcomers. Suspicion couldn't deny itself from him. The way they had defeated those blue foxes and those Heartless creatures was just unnatural. He found that his nephew was being a bit too trusting. But maybe that was his own jealousy.

He had confronted his father before about Plucky being appointed leader. The answer given was always the same. He didn't understand. During the war with the blue foxes, he was always loyal to his family. Even to the point of telling of Charmer and Rangers meetings. It had to be Bolds death it just had to be. His father in a way had driven Bold away only to find him dying in front of his eyes. Whatever thoughts or reasoning was in his head was gone the moment he saw Charmer and his nieces.

Ember and Lovely were by Vixen. She seemed to be comforting her two granddaughters. Charmer eyes shone with tears while Fox had a disturbed look upon his face.

"Grandfather what's wrong?" Plucky asked.

Fox looked to his daughter then to his grandson. "Rusty's gone."

"What!" Plucky said with alarm and curiosity.

Charmer sniffed blinking back another set of tears. "This blue vixen appeared out of nowhere and she kidnapped Rusty." Charmer choked. "She had these silver monsters with her."

"Silver monsters?" Sora thought. Silver definently did not apply to the Heartless. Therefore, it could only mean Nobodies "Was this vixen wearing a black coat?"

Charmer looked toward the hare her eyes still glossy. "Well she had something black on her."

Donald swooped close to Sora. "That means Organization XIII!"

Sora and Goofy nodded. They had a feeling the Organization would be involved somehow. A fox they did not expect.

"So where's Ranger?" Friendly asked. Although it didn't show from the tone of his question, he was concerned about his nephew.

"Ranger went after her." Answered Charmer.

Fox gave a sigh. "Ranger you're either the bravest fox I know or the most foolish. Though I can't blame him."

Plucky had his mouth open the entire time. He couldn't' find the words to say. Almost he stammered something but Vixen beat him.

"Where would Ranger go?" She asked.

Fox thought for a moment. "I would have to guess Scarfaces old territory."

"Then I say we should go. Fight back! We won't get anything done sitting around here." Said Friendly.

"Hold on we shouldn't make any brash decisions." Fox began. "They could have kidnapped Rusty just to draw us out. We need to plan this out."

Charmer held Friendly's sentiments. "Plan? Father my son and mate are out there we can't just sit around!" She said urgently.

The old fox looked his daughter in the eye. "Chamer, Ranger is a smart fox I'm sure he can handle himself." Fox said hoping to put some comfort into his daughter. "I don't think they will harm Rusty. Like I said they probably are using him as bait."

His words had worked somewhat but fox knew they couldn't just leave Ranger alone. In a fight, he trusted his son in law but this wasn't a normal situation they had faced.

"Grandpa, Plucky is the leader so he should come up with a decision." Ember spoke.

Plucky felt nervous as everyone was looking at him. He wished his younger cousin had kept her mouth shut but Ember was not that kind of a creature. Looking down momentarily he racked his brain for anything. It wasn't working needless to say.

"I-I have to go think excuse me." Plucky quickly got out of there.

"Plucky wait!" Dash called bounding after her friend. Behind Friendly almost gave a scoff but seeing his nephew's expression he decided against it.

---

Russet remained alone for the time being. She kept close to her aunt's earth out of worry. Lady Blue had not emerged since she had given the orders to that group. She wanted to venture inside but every time she stepped inside a dread feeling came over her. It was almost pitch black in there save for what she could have sworn were yellow eyes.

Honestly now she preferred living on the outskirts of this park. Sure, she was excited when her tribe moved back inside safe from the harmful elements and dangers. But not like this. Torn as she was for she knew if she rebelled, her fate would be obvious. She wasn't sure if she was considered a coward or just cautious. Frankly, she didn't support this war in its entirety.

A flash of darkness alerted her. She was getting sick of darkness. It opened into a portal and Xires stepped out. What surprised her was the small cub the blue vixen was carrying.

"Let me go! My dad's going to get here and tear you apart!" Rusty squirmed and shouted.

Xires didn't say anything in response. The Nobody vixen did find the child rather annoying. She would have just shut him up but she was certain he would soon when he saw where they were going.

"Xires who?" Russet started. She stopped as the vixen gave her a death stare. So she backed off. Something she did notice about the cub. Save fore the red fur, the cub was a dead ringer for Ranger. Even the voice held the same accent. Cautiousness may have called her but she kept close to the cave entrance anyway.

---

Xires was right for the moment she stepped into the dark cave the cub had shut up. Rusty held his ears down. He didn't like to show fear but that was becoming increasingly hard. Silently he always held a small fear of the dark. He wouldn't dare tell anyone especially his sisters. If they found out, he would not here the end of it. There were some lights not the comforting kind though. Bright and yellow they were.

He felt the feeling of the floor as Xires dropped him. Then she pinned him with her paws. Not that he had the courage to leave himself. A shape began to move amidst the shadows sensing the presence of the two.

"Milady I brought you a little gift." Xires bowed.

Lady Blue turned around. Her features were mostly obscured due to the shadows. Only her eyes stood out and they widened as they noticed the visibly frightened cub in front of her.

"What's wrong I thought you would be happy to visit your Grandmother?" Xires slightly mocked at the little cubs fear.

Rusty looked up to her putting on his best brave face. "I already h-have a grandmother!" He piped.

Lady Blue knew immediately whose cub this way. Her referral as grandmother and the likeness of her son told her otherwise.

"Now don't be mad I only brought this wretch to draw Ranger out." Explained Xires.

The old vixen replied with no words. She walked over to the shaking cub. Mixed thought were in her head. Part of her felt disgusted at the idea of blue blood mixing with red. Still this child reminded her bake to simpler times. Back to a winter where she birthed and awing on how gorgeous her cubs were. She raised her paw. Rusty held his head down in fear. However, he felt a caress across his face. Gentle and surprising to all, Xires especially.

Lady Blue herself felt some confusion. Why was she doing this? Her own standing and beliefs told her she should hate this child for merely existing. Still she couldn't deny the fact this cub was family, even if she said otherwise in the open. Ranger would most likely follow after. Strange but did a part of her miss Ranger? Those thoughts vanished as she felt the brushing of the Heartless against her. She stepped back as the memories of her past played out. Scarface's death flashed in her head. Anger and hate started to return.

She turned her back to the two foxes. "If Ranger comes then I will have to greet him won't I?"

Xires smiled a nasty grin. An aura of darkness, even ties of family could not put it out.

---

The group of blue foxes had stopped for the moment. They had failed in what their leader had asked. Going back wouldn't be a wise choice they found otherwise their fate would be less than favorable.

"So what do we do now?" One of them asked.

"How should I know?" Another responded.

While they began to argue amongst their selves, a frustrated growl came from the group leader.

"You alright?" One teammate asked.

No response came from the leader. His thoughts recalled back to that fight, more especially of the spiky haired hare with the giant weapon. Everyone felt a twinge of embarrassment by being beaten by prey. But not more than he however.

"The next time I see that little runt he's dead!" He announced. The anger began to increase in his heart.

Breaking twigs snapped alerting the group to some new arrivals. It was a group of Razor Fangs. The canine Heartless stopped to look at the four foxes. With growls, they pounced. The Heartless bit and clawed at the frightened creatures.

"No what are you doing?!" One fox fearfully asked. His cries and everyone else's fell silent as the light of their hearts escaped from their bodies. The Heartless gave a howl of victory as several new Shadows came into existence. Heartless were intone with Darkness. The darkness in Lady Blue's heart nourished them as they slowly ate away. The keyholes of the worlds may have been locked from their grasp, but in the end, darkness was supreme.

---

Dash stared at Plucky. The fox had sat there for long time not talking to anyone or anything. Dash had tried to remedy but wasn't sure how. Never had she seen him so depressed.

"Dash?" She turned around to find Sora, Donald, and Goofy.

"Sora!" She beamed ignoring Donald and Goofy yet again. "I'm so glad you're here."

She knelt in close to him as she had done so many times in the course of the day. Sora could not help but be nervous by such a flirtatious display.

"Is Plucky okay?" Asked Sora.

Dash frowned. "No all he does is sigh at me." An idea then struck the young hare. "Maybe you could talk to him Sora?" She asked.

Sora was not sure but seeing Donald and Goofys urging looks decided to give it a shot. He hopped over to the fox. "Hey Plucky you okay?"

Plucky looked back then turned around. Sora sighed his own. "Look Plucky were all your friends and unless you talk to us we can't help."

"Please Plucky." Dash pleaded.

Plucky turned around again. Seeing the looks in his best friends and his new friends eyes made him open up. "I don't know what to do." He said. "I've never been in a situation like this. Everyone seems to be depending on me." Plucky admitted.

"But aren't you the leader? You have to make choices." Said Donald.

Plucky's gaze averted to the ground again. "I don't want to make any mistakes."

Sora couldn't help but feel sympathetic. Having leadership thrust upon one so young, then having to face a dilemma such as this.

"I know how your feeling. In the past, there were times I doubted myself. Almost gave up even. But there were friends I wanted to protect, so I pressed on no matter what happened."

Plucky was listening but his mood didn't seem to change. So Sora continued.

"Think about your Grandfather and all those other animals. The journey from Farthing Wood was tough but they kept going no matter how hard it was." Sora didn't believe he would use the journey as a an example. He was only basing what he said on what Plucky had told him.

"Plucky remembered the tale well. The journey had cost the lives of several but the remaining ones still pressed on. If they had given up he, Dash, and even the weasel twins wouldn't exist. Slowly his dim expression began to brighten.

"Rusty's you're family right? If ya don't do something then he could be in trouble." Said Goofy.

A look of clear determination appeared the red fox's face. Rusty was in danger and any delay in decision could cost his younger cousins life.

"You're right I'm the leader now and it's about time I acted like one." Plucky declared.

"I'm with you all the way. Wherever you go I go!" Dash proclaimed. She mouthed a thank you to Sora and batting her eyes a bit at him making him blush.

Plucky smiled at her then looked to the trio. "I could use your help."

Sora raised up a paw. "Hey were with you all the way!"

"Yeah all for one, one for all!" Said Donald.

A decision made they knew where they had to go. They started to leave but stopped when they noticed a familiar fox.

"So where are you off to?" Friendly coyly asked.

Plucky again felt nervous. "We're going to go rescue Rusty." He said.

"You don't know where the blue fox territory is." Friendly stated.

Everyone dropped their heads down low. They had forgotten that one particular fact. "Typical. You really take after your father. He didn't think things through as well."

"Aw what do you know ya big palooka!" Donald quacked.

"Yeah Plucky's doing the best he can and we don't need you putting him down!" Dash shouted.

Friendly shook his head. "You misunderstand I just came by to offer my aid. I know where the blue fox territory is.

A round of surprise came about. The moment Friendly made his presence around them, he was filled with snide remarks. This was odd but for Plucky he was grateful.

"Thank you uncle." Plucky thanked. "Um could you show us the way?"

Friendly shook his head again. It wasn't one of condensation though. "What would you do without me? He asked. No one answered they had a cub to save.

---

Ranger remembered the way back by heart. Every rock, every tree was familiar. Even though he had not come back since his Fathers death, it still was etched into his brain. He stopped when he heard an unfamiliar sound. It was like a twitch and a squeak. From the ground the Shadows rose, their yellow eyes burning. They leapt stretching their claws forward.

"Out of my way!" Ranger shouted. He slashed, bit, did whatever he could to get past these monsters. Outnumbered as he was, his heart was determined. He couldn't give up. In explosions of darkness, they vanished.

Danger passed, he stopped to catch his breath. Lungs filled he kept on. Even darkness would not overlap a father's love.