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{{cleanup|expand=coverage of Finkelstein's artificial Heartless}} | {{cleanup|expand=coverage of Finkelstein's artificial Heartless}} | ||
[[File:Heartless Emblem.png|200px|right|The Heartless Emblem]] | [[File:Heartless Emblem.png|200px|right|The Heartless Emblem]] | ||
The {{nihongo|'''Heartless'''|ハートレス|Hātoresu}} are beings of [[darkness]] that manifest in two forms, "Pureblood" and "Emblem". While most Heartless are, in fact, manifested [[hearts]], they behave entirely devoid of emotion, and thus were named "Heartless".<ref>'''Ansem Report | The {{nihongo|'''Heartless'''|ハートレス|Hātoresu}} are beings of [[darkness]] that manifest in two forms, "Pureblood" and "Emblem". While most Heartless are, in fact, manifested [[hearts]], they behave entirely devoid of emotion, and thus were named "Heartless".<ref>'''''[[Ansem's Report 3]]''''': "One thing I am sure of is that they are entirely devoid of emotion."</ref> | ||
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
According to legend, the people of the universe once lived in harmony on one world, with their hearts full of light. Unfortunately, they began to selfishly fight over the light, and darkness grew within their hearts, covering everything and destroying the world. The light survived in the hearts of children, who were able to rebuild the broken fragments of the one world into many, smaller [[world]]s. However, the true light was still hidden in the darkness, so the worlds remained separate.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts''''', '''Kairi’s Grandmother''': "Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people’s hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived...in the hearts of children. With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It’s the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That’s why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other. But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return. So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away. Do you understand, Kairi?"</ref> As manifestations of that Darkness, natural Heartless have existed within the Realm of Darkness ever since. However, due to the walls between the worlds, they could initially only enter the Realm of Light when summoned. | According to legend, the people of the universe once lived in harmony on one world, with their hearts full of light. Unfortunately, they began to selfishly fight over the light, and darkness grew within their hearts, covering everything and destroying the world. The light survived in the hearts of children, who were able to rebuild the broken fragments of the one world into many, smaller [[world]]s. However, the true light was still hidden in the darkness, so the worlds remained separate.<ref>'''''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''''', '''Kairi’s Grandmother''': "Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people’s hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived...in the hearts of children. With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It’s the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That’s why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other. But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return. So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away. Do you understand, Kairi?"</ref> As manifestations of that Darkness, natural Heartless have existed within the Realm of Darkness ever since. However, due to the walls between the worlds, they could initially only enter the Realm of Light when summoned. | ||
About a decade before the events of ''Kingdom Hearts'', [[Ansem the Wise]], king of [[Radiant Garden]], took it upon himself to study the darkness within human hearts, so he and his apprentices, [[Xehanort]], [[Braig]], [[Dilan]], [[Even]], [[Aeleus]], and [[Ienzo]], conducted experiments on the heart beneath his castle.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 1|Ansem Report 1}} While these tests began with simple psychological tests on willing subjects like Xehanort{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Secret Ansem Report 1|Secret Ansem Report 1}}, they quickly snowballed and eventually caused their subjects' hearts to collapse, producing a Heartless.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 2|Ansem Report 2}} Unable at first to determine what they were, Xehanort named them "Heartless" due to their apparent lack of emotion.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 3|Ansem Report 3}} After finding that the Heartless were naturally drawn to the worlds' [[Keyhole]]s{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 5|Ansem Report 5}}, he invented a machine within the [[Heartless Manufactory]] that recreated the conditions which naturally spawned Heartless in order to create artificial Heartless. In order to differentiate the natural and artificial Heartless, Xehanort set the machine to mark its creations with the castle's emblem, and named the two types "Pureblood" and "Emblem", respectively.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 8|Ansem Report 8}} | About a decade before the events of ''Kingdom Hearts'', [[Ansem the Wise]], king of [[Radiant Garden]], took it upon himself to study the darkness within human hearts, so he and his apprentices, [[Xehanort]], [[Braig]], [[Dilan]], [[Even]], [[Aeleus]], and [[Ienzo]], conducted experiments on the heart beneath his castle.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 1|Ansem Report 1}} While these tests began with simple psychological tests on willing subjects like Xehanort{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Secret Ansem Report 1|Secret Ansem Report 1}}, they quickly snowballed and eventually caused their subjects' hearts to collapse, producing a Heartless.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 2|Ansem Report 2}} Unable at first to determine what they were, Xehanort named them "Heartless" due to their apparent lack of emotion.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 3|Ansem Report 3}} After finding that the Heartless were naturally drawn to the worlds' [[Keyhole]]s{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 5|Ansem Report 5}}, he invented a machine within the [[Heartless Manufactory]] that recreated the conditions which naturally spawned Heartless in order to create artificial Heartless. In order to differentiate the natural and artificial Heartless, Xehanort set the machine to mark its creations with the castle's emblem, and named the two types "Pureblood" and "Emblem", respectively.{{storylink|Ansem Reports#Ansem Report 8|Ansem Report 8}} | ||
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To further their research into Heartless, as well as the [[Keyblade]] and the [[Princesses of Heart]], the apprentices cast off their bodies and surrendered their hearts to darkness, giving birth to their Heartless and Nobodies. Against expectations, [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]] retained his human form{{storylink|Ansem Report 12}}, as did the apprentices' [[Organization XIII|Nobodies]]. Eventually, the witch [[Maleficent]] learned of the Heartless and began using them in her quest for power, and gave the power to lead the Heartless to those who joined her in her quest. | To further their research into Heartless, as well as the [[Keyblade]] and the [[Princesses of Heart]], the apprentices cast off their bodies and surrendered their hearts to darkness, giving birth to their Heartless and Nobodies. Against expectations, [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]] retained his human form{{storylink|Ansem Report 12}}, as did the apprentices' [[Organization XIII|Nobodies]]. Eventually, the witch [[Maleficent]] learned of the Heartless and began using them in her quest for power, and gave the power to lead the Heartless to those who joined her in her quest. | ||
Nine years before the events of ''Kingdom Hearts'', she sent a swarm of Heartless to conquer the Radiant Garden, causing it to be lost to darkness so completely that only the castle that became known as Hollow Bastion remained, even in the survivor's memories.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts''''', '''Leon''': "[Maleficent's] the reason this town is full of Heartless. Don’t take her lightly." / '''Aerith''': "She’s been using the Heartless for years." / '''Leon''': "We lost our world, thanks to her." / '''Cid''': "One day, a swarm of Heartless took over our world!" / '''Leon''': "That was nine years ago."</ref><!--KH2 Radiant Garden reveal | Nine years before the events of ''Kingdom Hearts'', she sent a swarm of Heartless to conquer the Radiant Garden, causing it to be lost to darkness so completely that only the castle that became known as Hollow Bastion remained, even in the survivor's memories.<ref>'''''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''''', '''Leon''': "[Maleficent's] the reason this town is full of Heartless. Don’t take her lightly." / '''Aerith''': "She’s been using the Heartless for years." / '''Leon''': "We lost our world, thanks to her." / '''Cid''': "One day, a swarm of Heartless took over our world!" / '''Leon''': "That was nine years ago."</ref><!--KH2 Radiant Garden reveal | ||
During this time, whether from the machinations of Ansem's apprentices or Maleficent herself, the Heartless became able to invade the Realm of Light at their own choosing, and whole worlds began disappearing to the darkness. | During this time, whether from the machinations of Ansem's apprentices or Maleficent herself, the Heartless became able to invade the Realm of Light at their own choosing, and whole worlds began disappearing to the darkness. | ||
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Emblem Heartless, on the other hand, were originally created from a machine designed to reproduce the process of a heart being consumed by darkness. Once that machine was activated, most stolen hearts become Emblems, provided they contain darkness. They are more common on the worlds within the Realm of Light, and usually mimic the shape of creatures or objects within that world. | Emblem Heartless, on the other hand, were originally created from a machine designed to reproduce the process of a heart being consumed by darkness. Once that machine was activated, most stolen hearts become Emblems, provided they contain darkness. They are more common on the worlds within the Realm of Light, and usually mimic the shape of creatures or objects within that world. | ||
Heartless – Emblem or Pureblood – possess several key characteristics that define them as Heartless. Pureblood Heartless are generated naturally from the darkness within people's hearts. Heartless are born when a heart is consumed by the darkness within it, or when a Heartless steals the heart. They can also be drawn out by a dark being like [[Maleficent]] or a source of dark power like the [[Keyblade of heart]].<ref>'''''[[ | Heartless – Emblem or Pureblood – possess several key characteristics that define them as Heartless. Pureblood Heartless are generated naturally from the darkness within people's hearts. Heartless are born when a heart is consumed by the darkness within it, or when a Heartless steals the heart. They can also be drawn out by a dark being like [[Maleficent]] or a source of dark power like the [[Keyblade of heart]].<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania]]''''' "As Yen Sid says in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', the Heartless cannot be separated from the darkness in people's hearts, and have been around for a long time. Beings of darkness can draw out the darkness in the heart, so Master Xehanort could summon the Neoshadows with his own hands. In the same way, when Xehanort and Ansem the Wise's students begin to perform the first experiments on the darkness of the heart, artificial Heartless were created in large numbers."</ref> This process will occasionally also form [[Nobodies]], which are born from the body and soul left behind when the heart is lost. Being born from darkness, they are mindless and act on instinct; because of such, their only goal is stealing more hearts to turn into Heartless. But what they desire above all are the hearts of worlds, and thus they enter worlds in search of the way into the hearts of the worlds. When they consume these colossal hearts, the remains of the world form new worlds, such as [[Traverse Town]] and [[End of the World]]. | ||
[[File:Soldier KHII.png|100px|thumb|left|150px|A Soldier, an Emblem Heartless.]] | [[File:Soldier KHII.png|100px|thumb|left|150px|A Soldier, an Emblem Heartless.]] | ||
At the same time, Heartless seek out the users of the Keyblade, since the Keyblade holds the power to lock and unlock hearts.<ref> | At the same time, Heartless seek out the users of the Keyblade, since the Keyblade holds the power to lock and unlock hearts.<ref>'''''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''''', '''Leon:''' "The Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade. That's why they'll keep coming after you no matter what."</ref> If a Heartless is slain by a Keyblade, it will reunite with the body and soul it left behind, if it isn't currently a Nobody. In order to stop the users of the Keyblades, the Heartless use the Keyblade itself as a homing beacon, but ultimately desire to take the heart that commands it. Because of this, Keyblade wielders are under constant attack. | ||
The strength of a Heartless is proportional to the depth of the darkness from which it was born. The darker the heart forming a Heartless, Emblem or Pureblood, the more powerful and more monstrous the resulting being will be. An exception to this is Xehanort's Heartless, who retained his human appearance for unknown reasons. This is a contrast to Nobodies, which determine rank according to the strength of the heart, and whose appearances become more human as they increase in power. Furthermore, as beings of elemental darkness, some Heartless are able to take possession of other beings or even inanimate objects, granting them immense dark power and often reshaping their very forms to suit their purpose. | The strength of a Heartless is proportional to the depth of the darkness from which it was born. The darker the heart forming a Heartless, Emblem or Pureblood, the more powerful and more monstrous the resulting being will be. An exception to this is Xehanort's Heartless, who retained his human appearance for unknown reasons. This is a contrast to Nobodies, which determine rank according to the strength of the heart, and whose appearances become more human as they increase in power. Furthermore, as beings of elemental darkness, some Heartless are able to take possession of other beings or even inanimate objects, granting them immense dark power and often reshaping their very forms to suit their purpose. | ||
The Heartless, being mindless, usually have no master to direct their actions and instead act on the instinct to consume more hearts. However, there are some higher beings who can command them. Heartless will obey those with an affinity for darkness and a strong will. If many people attempt to control them, the Heartless will side with whomever is most powerful. However, those with hearts, such as Maleficent, endanger themselves, as the Heartless are attracted to their hearts and if they show weakness, the Heartless will not hesitate to consume their hearts.<ref>Maleficent: Don't steep yourself in darkness too long. The Heartless consume the careless</ref> | The Heartless, being mindless, usually have no master to direct their actions and instead act on the instinct to consume more hearts. However, there are some higher beings who can command them. Heartless will obey those with an affinity for darkness and a strong will. If many people attempt to control them, the Heartless will side with whomever is most powerful. However, those with hearts, such as Maleficent, endanger themselves, as the Heartless are attracted to their hearts and if they show weakness, the Heartless will not hesitate to consume their hearts.<ref>'''''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''''', '''Maleficent:''' "Don't steep yourself in darkness too long. The Heartless consume the careless."</ref> | ||
On the other hand, higher ranking Heartless, like Xehanort's Heartless, can fully command other Heartless without endangering themselves. Also, Organization XIII is able to command them as well with their strong wills, but are not endangered of being consumed by them for their lack of a heart. | On the other hand, higher ranking Heartless, like Xehanort's Heartless, can fully command other Heartless without endangering themselves. Also, Organization XIII is able to command them as well with their strong wills, but are not endangered of being consumed by them for their lack of a heart. | ||