Chapter 12: A Not-So-Nefarious Menace?

... Just what was that in front of us? I could just feel the blank expressions of everyone else.

We all just stared at the robot in silence, highly confused as to what exactly we were witnessing before us.

"Uh, guys?" Sora finally asked. "I'm not the only one here that sees this, right?"

"Trust me, Sora, it's literally clear as day to all of us that this is actually not something only you're seeing," I said in response.

What is this thing? And why was it playing a bad soap opera? I have so many questions.

"Oh, come on, why at a time like this?" a gravelly voice complained. A strange, pretty overwight human in reds, yellows and blacks and with a ridiclous, orange mustache marched up to the robot thing with annoyance. He didn't seem to notice us yet. Suddenly, the guy slapped the robot.

"-GMAAAAAN!" the robot screamed. All of us cringed. Ouch. My ears.

"Ah-! That was unpleasant," Bentley commented, shaking his head.

"What do you expect me to do?" the fat human questioned. "I built that dark-emission device to cloak the ship. Do you expect us to be immediately spotted by worlds we shouldn't bother with?"

"What do you think?!" the robot screamed at the human. "All worlds in the entire universe should know that my prescence is near! In fact, every last organic lifeform living on these planets should simply cower in fear the moment they laid their eyes on my ship! Why did you think I was insisting we keep that cloaking device off?!"

Okay, this was just getting more and more confusing as time went on. Just who exactly are these two anyway?

I said, "Does anybody have any ideas about what to do in this situation? We need more information."

"This is beyond bizarre," Riku admitted. "But it looks like we found the ones that brought that shadow."

"But what's this about a ship they're talking about?" Penelope wondered.

"Well, I'm going to assume that this ship of their's could possibly be that shadow we saw in space before we officially landed," Bentley theorized. "You know, when its cloaking device was still activated at the time."

I mean, considering how big that shadow we saw out there was, I'm not surprised that Bentley would make that assumption. Honestly, it made sense to me, anyway.

I said, "I'm wondering just how big of a threat these two are. But I think we will find out the answer to that question soon."

"I don't know, they barely seem like a threat," Murray murmured. I couldn't help but agree. These two were more like clowns than possible threats.

Then, the human spotted us.

"Heh? Who's there?"

"Us, of course!" Sora announced.

"What business do you have in this world?" the king questioned.

"Oh, would the mouse like to know." Ouch. If that were me, that'd be a stab to my pride.

"I gave you a question."

"What do you think we're here to do?" The robot asked, clearly with an annoyed tone in his voice. "We, especially yours truly, are here to teach squishies such as you who the real dominant species of the entire universe are!"

"Uh, I'm sorry, squishies?" I asked. That was definitely a weird term I've never heard before.

"As in organic lifeforms, like you people! That's exactly what I'm talking about! Though, I'm not surprised squishies like you wouldn't understand a single word I'm saying in those pea-sized brains of yours."

So it seems like the robot dislikes organic lifeforms, and that is bad news. Again, just how big of a threat is this robot?

"We're trying to conquer life forms, not destroy them!" The fatso reminded the mech. "Why are you so metal-headed?"

"Uh, if you're here for trouble, can we just fight now?" Roxas deadpanned. I had to agree. This was getting boring and harder to watch.

"Wait, you actually want to fight now?" The robot asked in a surprised tone. "But I had this whole speech on how easy it'll be to take over this planet prepared and everything! You squishes are actually not even going to let me have my special monolouge I worked so hard on?"

Now I'm starting to question if these two really are a threat. So far, other than wanting to conquer "squishes", they're failing to prove that to us.

"Can't you at least tell us who you two are?" Kairi asked, clearly getting annoyed by what's happening before our eyes. Can't say I blame her, really.

"Oh, right, I nearly forgot about that," The eccentric robot said. "You're talking to the one and only Dr. Nefarious! Leader of all machine lifeforms and conquerer of squishes like you little ants!"

I asked the human, "And who are you? Out of all the humans I've met recently, you stand out."

"Glad you asked. I am the famous Dr. Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik! Greatest scientist of robotics, inventor of the greatest technology the world's have ever seen and future ruler of the universe!"

A few of us, including myself, had to hold in our laughter.

"Eggman?" Wonder How he got that nickname.

"I think you two are contradicting each other," Bentley commented skeptically.

"Don't listen to this numbskull squishie," Nefarious spouted. "I'm more intelligent than he is."

"I have an IQ of over 300, thank you very much!"

"Please, like that even rivals with my more than superior IQ! It just goes to show how much more superior we machine life forms are in comparison to you!"

"I dare you to say those words to me again!"

Okay, are these two seriously the ones we were worried about the whole time? They're bickering with each other like they're some sort of angry couple or something.

I don't know what to think about these two. If they are really a threat, they they should show us why we should be worried.

So Carmelita shot a shock bullet. That got their attention.

"Should we be worried?" she asked, completely unimpressed.

Well, you should be!" Eggman exclaimed. "None of you imbecels can possibly know just how much of a threat you're in the prescence of!"

I don't know whether to chuckle in amusement or just stare at him in bewilderment. A threat? Yeah, after what we just witnessed from them, I highly doubt a "threat" in an appropriate term for these two. And it's pretty much safe to say everyone else was thinking the exact same thing as I was, based on the looks on their faces.

Oh, let's just get these meddlers out of our faces!" Eggman proclaimed.

"Best idea you've had all day! LAWREEEEENCE!" Ow, had to cover my ears again. "Disable cloakin device!"

In the next moment, there was a bright glow from the sky and a giant, menacing ship appeared. Okay, now that's more like it.

I asked everybody, "What's our next move? After seeing the ship, I somehow feel like these two may be right when they say they are a threat."

That's much better," Sora commented, more eager to fight.

"You ungrateful little squishies are going to regret not taking either of us seriously!" Nefarious exclaimed. "We're going to make sure you know your place by the time we're done with you!"

"We'd like to see you try that!" I said, getting ready to finally battle these jokers head-on.

"Please, it'll be easy enough to crush all of you like the little insignificant bugs you are!" Eggman said with an evil grin on his face.

I told Sora's group and the rest of the Cooper Gang, "Be careful. We don't know what these two are capable of when it comes to fighting."

"They don't look like much," Riku said. While the others brought out their Keyblades and weapons, I held up my cane. I didn't need another reaction like Le Paradox.

"The Keyblade wielders... Our most gracious friend filled us in about you," Eggman pointed out. Someone told them about the Keyblade too?

So, it wasn't just Le Paradox that was somehow informed about what the Keyblade is. Seriously, who's telling these guys about it?

"And who exactly is this 'most gracious friend' that told you about us?" Mickey asked with a clear tone of interrogation in his voice. Considering how they also knew about what the Keyblade is, it made sense for him to ask that question that I'm pretty sure was bubbling up in all of our minds.

I have no idea if we'll even get any more info. If we do, I have a feeling that they will be vague about who told them about the Keyblade. At the same time, maybe this conversation will actually lead to some important information?

Oh, just maybe one of the only squishies I can say I have an interest in helping," Nefarious answered. "A master of some of the darkest things even I knew existed. And thanks to them, I was able to assault my archnemeses on their very own ship. Heartless do come in handy."

"I guess that means you two are from a completely set of worlds from this system?" Bentley suspected.

"We can only say that we have a new army working for us thanks to our benefactor," the fat doctor replied. Suddenly, something fell from the ship above. It looked like a giant, beetle-like mech with a hatch near the head. What was weird was that... it looked similar in material to Le Paradox's mech.

It felt pretty omnious looking at the thing and getting reminded of the same mech Le Paradox used when we encountered him back in Paris. Honestly, I was getting so many flashbacks on that event and how easily that skunk was able to overpower me on that thing with the help of the Heartless.

"Don't act like we're not aware of those tense feelings you squishies are feeling right now!" Nefarious gloated. "I had a feeling that you would feel that way the moment you laid your eyes on this baby we have here!"

I said, "Let's try and stay calm this time. Bentley, since I'm getting flashbacks to Le Paradox's mech, do you think you can go and see how similar the two mechs are? Maybe we could take it down in a similar way."

"I was thinking the same thing, Sly."

"Sly?" Nefarious repeated, sounding a bit surprised. "There's no possible way. You're a human."

Did I hear that right?

"Wait. How do you know my name?"

"The skunk lost to a feeble mind like you?" They couldn't be...

"You know Le Paradox?"

"It IS you! How is that-"

"Must be that 'magic' talk our benefactor mentioned," the robot said. "Which means..."

"Looks like you will be coming with us, Cooper."

I subconsciously brought my free hand over the strange mark. I had a feeling they were refering to it.

"So you're aware of the mark on your hand. Not just anyone can have it."

"What do you know about the mark?" I demanded to know.

"Fine, I'll let you in on a little of it," Eggman decided. "That mark on your hand is the sign that you're one of the keys."

Keys. Of course it involved keys. But why was I one? And it's not just me with a mark?

"Just what exactly are you talking about?" I asked. "I'm a key to what exactly? And are you saying that there's more people out there that has a mark just like the one I have on my hand?"

"What else could we be saying? Of course you're not the only key out there! Why else would I have said that?"

"That only answers one of those two questions I asked you. What about the other one?"

I have so many questions, and they all seem to revolve around the mark. The situation is confusing, but at least I'm making progress towards getting answers. Now if only I could figure out what I'm a key to...

"You mean, 'other ones'." A hover seat came from the beetle mech and Eggman and Nefarious climbed on. "There's more than just two keys. So to ensure we can unlock the greatest world in the universe, you are coming with us!" The seat reconnected to the robot and it then buzzed to life.

"Get ready, guys!" Sora called out. We all got into our fighting stances.

So, you still want to resist coming along with us?" Nefarious asked. "I'm not surprised squishies such as you people would be so stubborn to talk some sense into!"

"In that case, we'll be more than happy to take you by force, even if we must crush you like the insignificant bugs you are!" Eggman exclaimed.

From the way this meeting started, I can honestly say that I didn't expect it to head in this direction. "Bentley, Penelope, you two go do your thing. The rest of us will keep you safe until the mech is down."

"Ten four." We quickly scattered, starting to surround the robot.

"Let's see you go against the Egg Beetle Mark I!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Egg Beetle?"

"Sly!" Murray called. I could read him like a book and ran towards him. He put his hands together and gave me a lift (aka, a toss) to one of the wings. I was able to lodge the hook of my cane into the socket connecting the wing to the bot and it caused the wing to malfunction. Just what I was aiming for.

"Nice move, Sly!" Penelope shouted. "If you can get the legs, this bug is down!"

"I'm on it, Penelope!" I shouted back in response.

"You don't know who you're messing with right now!" Nefarious shouted, clearly in anger over what I did to their mech. "Don't think for a second that we'll just let you cause any more damage to this thing!"

"Well, we'll just have to see about that, in that case!"

Note to self: if I see Nefarious again, and I probably will, don't make him too angry. I may not know him that well, but I can already tell that I don't like the guy.

A streak of lightning suddenly came crashing down on the bot, stunning it.

"Heh?!" Eggman grunted in surprise.

"Now's your chance!" I heard Donald. It mustve been him that cast that lightning spell. I noticed Sora and Riku ricocheting off of the walls and both of them dislodged arms completely. Wow, I gotta learn how to do that with my Keyblade.

"That should hold them off for a while!" Riku said.

"Now, Sly, don't hold anything back and land the finishing blow to these two!" Sora cheered.

"You got it, Sora! Here I go!"

It was time to finally end this mech that these two jokers were piloting. Without anything holding me back, I made my move to deal the final blow to the mech's legs.

At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder about the specifics of why Nefarious and Eggman wanted me to come with them. I heard something about "unlocking the greatest world in the universe." What could they mean by that?

Before I could even think more on it, I was piercing through two more legs.

"Huh...?"

"So it's true."

I came back down from the attack and I noticed I had summoned my own Keyblade. I wasn't even thinking of summoning it, though.

"Now that you have come in contact with the Keyblade wielder, you can wield one yourself," Eggman said. Not that they could say anymore before the robot crashed from lack of support.

It was obvious that we definitely managed to defeat those two. But instead of an urge to celebrate over this victory, I couldn't help but stare at my recently summoned Keyblade in surprise. Why was I suddenly holding it instead of my cane? How exactly did I summon it without even thinking about it? Thoughts similar to those ones continued to go through my head as I continued to look over my Keyblade.

I'll ask Sora for the specifics in a bit, but my best guess is that I might be gaining more control over summoning my Keyblade. Has anything like this happened to him or one of his friends?

"He has one too?" I heard Xion ask in surprise.

"We don't know why, but Sly can wield the Keyblade," Goofy answered.

"No, the egghead said it clearly," Riku objected. "Sora, you said that you met Sly in a dream, right?"

"Yes, that night of the meteor shower," Sora confirmed.

"That must be it. Your heart connected with Sly's."

"Which inadvertently passed the Keyblade to him," Kairi pieced together, with a tone of surprise.

"So my Keyblade... is from Sora?"

Sora responded with, "I think our strong connection is the key here. I feel like you are right about that, Sly."

"Well, if you think about it a little bit, it does actually make sense," Naminé said. And it was pretty obvious that everyone else was slowly, but surely, starting to reach the same conclusion.

As for me, I couldn't help but give a few blinks out of surprise. I mean, it did seem like the most logical explanation as to how I managed to get my Keyblade, but to think it was all because I ended up forming a connection with Sora's heart... Honestly, it felt unbelievable to me at first.

"Interesting. We'll have to look into the history of the Keyblade after this," Bentley commented. Suddenly, the rubble of the bot shook before Eggman and Nefarious popped out of the hover seat, covered in dust.

"This won't be *cough,cough* the last time you see us!" the fatso shouted.

"You squishies will pay for this!" Nefarious added. "And we will capture Sly Cooper!" A beam came down from their ship, which hit the two and they disappeared. Must've been a ray to teleport them to their ship.

The only thing I was positive about in this whole situation was that this had just gotten even more complicated than before.

End Chapter