(Reader's P.O.V.)

    Infinite seems to hesitate for a moment. After a while, he finally speaks. "He's here." He points at himself. More specifically, his chest. There's a gem sticking out. "Are you talking about the gem in your chest?" He nods. "You may not be able to hear him, but he does in fact speak. He is called the Phantom Ruby.  Now that I've answered that, I'm going to return you to your cell. If you want more answers, keep surviving." He takes my arm and drags me back to my cell. After that test, I feel exhausted. As Infinite leaves, another red cube enters my cell.

(Infinite's P.O.V.)

    "She did well. Don't you agree?" "I'll admit I underestimated her. She's a lot stronger than the rest of the rabble." "I told you she was different. She is unique." I sigh, "Were you at least able to see beyond that invisible mask? I'm curious." It laughs, "I have learned much from the small glimpse you gave me. Using our power to see into her mind helped me learn a great deal. The fears she has kept hidden. The anxieties, doubts, it was all very enlightening. I was even able to speak with her. But, only for a moment. It seems that when she was shaken with fear, she began searching for someone to help her. Someone to light her way. Someone to guide her. And in that moment of searching, my voice was heard. I was quite elated." It continues on, eventually ignoring me.

(Reader's P.O.V.)

    When I open my eyes again, I'm laying under a tree. Hearing me wake, the fox in the hat approaches me. "Welcome back. Would you like some tea?" "I would but..." I look to my right and see Sonic, or Usagio, looking right at me and tapping his pocket watch. "I think I'm late for something." I get up and chase after Usagio, who seems to be leading me somewhere. When we arrive, he stops suddenly causing me to run into him. "Whoops, sorry miss. Well, we're here at least. The King of Hearts has been waiting for this trial forever." "Umm... Please tell me I'm not the one on trial." "What? Oh no, no. I was looking for someone to be on the jury. The King demanded there be at least one person on the jury however he said it can't be someone mad. So, since you're the only not mad person I could find, I decided to come get you and bring you here." He guides me into the courtroom and has me take a seat in the jury section. He then blows a trumpet and says, "All rise for the honorable and rightful ruler, the King of Hearts!" I stand up and my eyes widen when I see who the king is. Of all the people in this weird place, it had to be Eggman. I keep my mouth shut. If he's the king of this place, the last thing I want is to get on his bad side. I'm already on the bad side of one Eggman, I don't think I need to be on the bad side of another. "The trial of Joker vs. the King of Hearts will now commence! Will the defendant please take the stand!" Taking the stand is another familiar face, well, familiar mask. The one taking the stand was none other than Infinite. "How does the defendant plea?" "Not guilty! The crimes you're accusing me of aren't even mine! You're just blaming me because my name is Joker!" Eggman looks red with rage. "HE IS ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT GUILTY! I DEMAND A DEATH SENTENCE! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" At that moment I couldn't keep my mouth shut, enemy or not, there is no way I'm letting someone kill someone else for no reason. "HOLD ON A MINUTE! What is this trial even about?" Eggman looks in my direction, red with rage. "INSUBORDINATION! HOW DARE YOU GO AGAINST YOUR KING! OFF WITH HER HEAD!" This time Usagio speaks up. "Actually my king, I think it's for the best if the jury knew what the trial is about." Eggman looks at him, making him cower. "Grr... Fine. This trial is about the theft and destruction of the crystal heart. Unless he can provide a new one, his sentence is death." "And how exactly do you make a new one?" Eggman looks at me before he gets a sudden gleam in his eye. "Why my dear I think there is a way for the both of you to avoid your ill fates. You two will work together and make a new crystal heart. You have at least three days. Failure will result in a shortening by the head." I get grabbed by guards that look like playing cards and get dragged out of the room. I get thrown out into the forest. Soon after, Infinite, or Joker, gets thrown out as well. "Are you insane?" "I think the words you're looking for is thank you. I didn't have to stick my neck out you know." "Fine, fine. Thank you. But now I'm stuck with you! The kingdom's least favorite person stuck with some outsider!" "Okay... I get you're angry but, shouldn't we work on this crystal heart thing." He sighs in frustration and pulls at his red leather jacket. "You don't even know what a crystal heart is." "It might help if you tell me." "You have to fall in love in order to make one. That one I was trying to steal belonged to a close friend. The king stole it from her and her lover, causing both to become coldhearted and cruel. Losing your crystal heart means losing your ability to love." He crosses his arms and turns away from me. This world's Infinite is different from the one I met. This one actually seems to care. "So, what exactly should we do?" "Nothing we can do. For now, all we can do is play along. Maybe I can steal it back." "Why did you say you were being framed if you were actually stealing the crystal heart in the first place?" "I wasn't the one who broke it. It broke on its own." "How?" "When the people who make it become cold and distant to one another, it's hard for the heart to stay together. Eventually, it breaks." So that's why this world's Eggman is forcing us to make a new one. If they break, he can't keep it. "You know, it might be better if we know each other's names. I'll start, my name is (Y/N). What's your name?" "Joker, but you likely already heard my name during the trial. Just so you know the name Joker is looked down on. Anyone bearing that name or associated with someone bearing that name are likely to be looked down on. So if you hear rude remarks or get treated unfairly, it's probably my fault." He looks so sad. Even if his mask covers it, he still looks sad. I wish there was some way I could help him...