He's a Oogie Boogie Man

Sora and the others went as fast as they could through the pumpkin patch and the graveyard until they came across a large treehouse in the middle of nowhere. Well less of a house and more of a mishmash of wood and metal. Apparently it was supposed to be considered Oogie Boogie's personally manor.

"I knew Oogie had something to do with the heart's theft." Jack stated as he looked at the tree house. "Still the question really does remain, what does he want with this heart so badly in the first place?'

"Does he want to make the Heartless sing and dance?" Goofy asked.

Sora shook his head. "I have a feeling from what Jack described it probably can't be anything to nice."

"Agreed-"Jack nodded. "Oogie likes to consider himself a master of terror and fear, perhaps he want to use the Heartless to spread said fear in all the wrong ways?"

"Fear has wrong ways now?" Sora said.

"Of course, you can be consumed by it, then it clouds your judgment and makes you make horrible or sometimes just downright bad decisions that aren't good for you. Fear can be used effectively yes but in the wrong hands, it can be used to terrible effect."

"Hmm…." Sora scratched his chin with his fanged gloves. "I guess I never thought of it that way before. But it makes sense, sometimes I get so scared I don't know what to do. Or really even how to do anything, like everything shut down."

"Good thing I'm a master of terror." Jack said with pride. "I can make people spoke but just enough so that it gives them a jolt, not completely shuts people down."

"That's good right?" Sora asked, "I mean all we have to do is challenge him right, you can just scare him.?"

Jack nodded "Yes, but we will have to beat him at his own game and knowing Oogie, he'll cheat to make sure he wins."

"Guess we'll have to cheat more so we win!" Sora exclaimed as he, Donald, and Goofy ran off towards the tree house. Climbing up the tree

Climbing up was like going up to a maze of metal and sharp objects. Sora and the others had to make sure not to cut themselves to deep as they moved, one wrong step and it was down into the pit with them they go.

"How high is the place?" Sora asked as he got on the wooden bridge.

Donald looked out and grimace at the sight. "Really high."

They continued to make there way higher and higher to the treedom, surprisingly encounting little to no resistance whatsoever. Sora kept waiting for the Heartless to emerge, dealing with another round of those reached creatures, yet none came. Something about it felt like set up, perhaps it was a trap.

"There." Jack pointed to a tiny room at the very top of the tree.

Quickly Sora opened it up and saw the three brats through in the heart. Tossing too each other one after the next. Each time Sora or Jack tried to catch it but were stopped by one of the three as they jumped in to the air to grab it taking it towards them like a ball in a game.

Sora was starting to get tired the longer they went on. These kids were faster than he was, and smaller meaning they were able to get under his legs and slide down. Donald and Goofy each tried to clean them in but every time they got close they sheer miniature size caused both to knock into each other's head.

It would seem that this chase would go on indefinitely until…..

"To late!"

Lock, Shock and Barrel turned around and cackled as the mechanical heart tumbled down through the ventilation shaft.

Sora wasted no time running trying to get his Keyblade to be as intimidating as possible. "Where did it go?"

"Allow me Sora." Jack said gently pushing him aside, completely calm. "Now kids, please tell me where the Heart is.

Lock spoke huffing angirly. "We won't tell."

"Yeah, never." Barrel parrated.

Jack let out a sigh and turned around giving Sora a fine wink before looking back at them outstretching his face distorting it into something terrifying and monstrous it was so unspeakable that it could not be describe so easily in words. Sora turned away getting a bit jumpy while Donald and Goofy covered there eyes not wishing to look upon it as well.

But whatever Jack was doing it must have worked for Lock, Shock and Barrel quickly gave in screaming and begging for it to stop.

"Ok, ok-we give-we give." Lock said causing Jack to stop. "Oogie wanted the Heart to control the Heartless?"

"Control the Heartless?" Jack asked.

Shock nodded. "Yeah, said he was going to give to someone called Riku later."

"Riku." Sora muttered in shock. "Why would-Oh…."

"Well, where did that shaft to you."

"Oogies torture room."

Jack sighed. "Well boys looks like we are gonna have to go confront Oogie."

-000-

"So-Riku wants the heart too." Sora said aloud. "I mean i guess it could help Kairi."

Goofy shrugged. "We don't know that for sure, who knows what he knows. Maleficent probably lies alot to him."

"I guess-still, do you think that Heart could wake up Kairi." Sora asked.

Donald shook his head. "That heart seems screwy it's made of weird science."

"I agree with Donald-" Goofy added. "Hearts can't be made, they are-well they are part of the natural border."

"ORDER!" Donald corrected.

"Right-Order, and you can't just give someone a heart."

Sora sighed. "Yeah I guess you're right."

They kept climbing down safely until Donald lost his footing and almost fell, Goofy having to grab him by one of his bandages and began dangling on the edge. Sora continued to ponder the idea of making a heart. Where did Hearts come from, most he thought were born with them. It would seem odd that someone would be born without a heart, let alone need to get one mechanically.

"I got you Donald." Goofy called.

Donald screeched. "Pull me up, pull me up."

"Careful gents, just a little way down."

Sora could feel a bit adrenaline overtake him, as he got closer near the bottom. He started to go down the tree with a extra bit of fervor. Something about heading into battle made him less afraid and more brave. A sense of thrill started to wash over him, perhaps it was all the fighting, but Sora now had become to grow more and more interested in the battle instead

With that the group heading down to wherever the entrance to Oogie's lair was. It would've been a fruitless search if it wasn't for the obvious Oogie shaped door at the base of the tree.

"Subtle." Goofy commented as Jack pushed open the door.

"Alright men, let's get ready"

Slowly they began to enter the room, it was dark at first and difficult to see. Suddenly light turned on one by one, as the sounds of several machines and loud jazz music began to play. Sora and the others were shocked; when Jack said Oogie was a gambling man, they did not expect the entire room to be made like a casino,"Oogie, return that heart!" Jack exclaimed as he saw the lowlife just toss the heart around like it was a rubber ball

"Well, well, well what have we hear." Oogie snickered. "A washed out bag of bones, and a keybrat."

Sora keyblade emerged. "Hand back that Heart Oogie."

"You want it? Then come and get it!" Oogie responded as he swallowed the heart and chuckled "HAHAHAHA! Now let's see if i can get their attention. Oh heartless!" Unfortunately after a few moments of silence only two gargoyle heartless showed up, which only lead the master of scares into a blind rage, "That's it? Nobody disrespects me! No one!"

Oogie Boogie

Your joking

Your joking

I can't beleive my eyes

Your jooking me you gotta be

This can't be the right guy

He's youngish

He's skinny

I don't know which is worse

I might just split a scene now

If i don't die laughing first

Sora couldn't help but laugh only two, that was honestly quite week. But that laughter went away as Oogie activated his machines of torture and fright. Large wheels began to spin, knives throne, a entire casino of pain was activated and the worst part was they were right in the thick of it. Everyone scattered to avoid the attack, though this caused them all to separate from one another, Oogie watching up above cackling madly as he saw them all try to escape his devices of terror and torture.

When Mr. Oogie Boogie says

There's trouble close at hand

You'd better pay attention now

'Cause I'm the Boogie Man

And if you aren't shakin'

Then there's something very wrong

'Cause this may be the last time now

That you hear the boogie song, ohhh

WOO

HOO

WOO

HOO

WOOOOOO
I'm the Oogie Boogie Man

"I'll get this Heartless thing later, right now I think I'm gonna make a bet- Twenty munny on the boy dying first." Oogie laughed as he rolled his dice, summoning a few Heartless from them. "Oh new trick, I like."

Sora slashed through them as best he could having trouble dodging the bullets being fired at him from a pair of gangster shaped slot machines. Gunshots rang all around him sending chills up Sora's spine as the bullets nearly scratched him. Yet the rush was enough to keep his mind from fully comprehending that he was in actual danger of dying. Though he had been becoming more and more used to this notion as his adventure went on. Jumping up he managed to get on a pair of the slot machines and knock them out with his key.

Donald used to his magic every time a pair of explosion dice came towards them, knocking them off towards Oogie who dodged, almost enjoying being attacked. Goofy tossed his shield knocking two of the Heartless onto the side. Oogie continued just to laugh and dance and the cobbled ground, his bugs giggling inside him as he enjoyed the torturous display in front of him.

"Nice shot, let's see if I can double the odds." Oogie fired another round of dice.

Jack leaped back into the air as they exploded but was knocked back as the wheel of torture began to go full speed.

"Oogie you won't win this!" Jack called.

Oogie cackled. "When I get this heart fully working I'll be the ruler of Halloween, actual fear and terror. Unlike you who just wants to spoke kids and then give them candy."

"Terror isn't about actually hurting people Oogie." Jack called out trying to stand. "But that's something you'll never understand."

Oogie laughed again and pushed another level, this time causing a large sharp crane to hop down, grabbing Donald, Goofy and Jack now it was just Sora who had to face Oogie by himself.

Well if I'm feelin' antsy

And there's nothin' much to do

I might just cook a special batch

Of snake and spider stew

And don't ya know the one thing

That would make it work so nice?

A teeny skinny Keyblade boy to add a little spice

WOO

OOH

WOO

OOH

WOOOOOO
I'm the Oogie Boogie Man

"We have to get up to Oogie." Sora shouted looking at the bag up bugs dodging another round of knives being shot at him through the wall. "Gotta climb."

With a leap Sora managed to hang on to one of the pillars inside the room and climb on top of it. Oogie was too distracted to notice as Sora hoped on another one this time managing to get closer, the others providing good cover One more leap and Sora and Oogie were now on equal grounds with one another. The bag of bugs could only smirk as he notice the boy approach him.

"Well, well, well-what have we hear now, a Keybrat and his Key. Not afraid of me yet?" Oogie laughed a few of his Heartless gathering around him. "Trust me you'll be living in pure fear once I control the Heartless in full. I'll use them to spread true terror, use them to their full potential. Not just whatever maxo weirdo plan Maleficent putting her cards on."

Sora gasped. "Maleficent-You working for her too."

"Wonder how many people are?" Goofy asked.

"Pfft- more like alliance of convenience. Heartless need the darkness that can be derived from fear, I am able to get those hearts and add to the massive horde that will soon be under her control when we unlock the final door." Oogie cackled. "But what about you-I'm sure you are afraid boy, yes, yes you are-fear that Key won't always work for you. Fear you never see you friends and home again ...Fear of never making up with Riku, never seeing Kairi awake again"

"How do you know that-" Sora paused before mustering up the courage again. "I mean I'm not afraid."

Oogie again burst out cackling. "My boy, I'm the the shadow of the moon at night, filling one's dream to the brim with fright. And oh boy, do I sense a nightmare in you-oh a really big one too….a really big one."

Now it's time for you to see

To truly understand fear

For I'm a gambling Boogie Man

And Boy

I don't play fair

It's much more fun

I must admit with lives on the line

Not mine of coruse

But yours old boy

Now that will be just fine

Sora again looked shocked, he only remember having one really bad nightmare as a boy, though vivid memories of it. Normally it involved a large cloud of darkness, only to be protected by some tiny ray of light. Either than that most of the memories of those time had been completely erased from his mind, suppressed perhaps. He took a few steps back now as the Heartless ganged up on him.

"That's right Sora-be afraid, be very afraid...I sense all those little emotions crawling over you like roaches in a bag-they'll end yuh kid.." Oogie snickered as he pushed his minions aside, wanting the final blow to himself.

"No! I'm not going to let you get to me" Sora looked at the bag of bugs with disgust, he wasn't going to be afraid, he wasn't going to show fear. In fact no, he was going to be afraid, and he was going to use that fear though and turn it into energy, energy need to slice his Keyblade right through him ripping open a part of the bag.

WOO

OOOOOH

WOOO
OOOOOH
WOOOOO

OOOOOOH

Sora

I'm the Kid who has the key!

SLASH!

Oogie gasped and stepped back, as suddenly several bugs began to spill right out of him like blood. "My precious bugs!"

Suddenly Sora saw the heart pop out from him, Oogie still trying to cover himself up. Quickly Sora grabbed it and jumped back down to the others, noticing that it stopped beating the moment he returned to group. "I guess the heart was a failure after all."

"Well, let's get it back to the doctor." Jack said.

Quickly they exited the room, Oogie still screaming as he tried to pull himself together. The Heartless around them however seemed confused, almost as if they were unsure who's command to obey. Nobody though really cared, all Sora and the others wanted to do was leave and leave quickly. Though Goofy took a look back as the Heartless started to gather around Oogie.

"Should we be worried about that?" Goofy asked giving a nervous expression. "Seems kinda bad."

Donald shook his head. "No, we just gotta keep running!"

Sora and the others got as far away from the mansion as they could, wanting to get back to the safety of the Doctor's laboratory.

"Jack! You haven't heard the last me, I'm the Oogie Boogie Man!"

With that he vanished, but not before Sora saw a piece of paper floating around near him. Quickly he took it before running off. He didn't know why he took it, but something told him, it might be importnat in the near future.

-000-

They ran, faster and faster.

Making it back to town, Oogie to busy trying to sew himself back together to make the chase back, although Sora had to deal with a few rogue Heartless running around. Thankfully the trip back was a easy one overall, Sally and the Doctor were waiting for them. Sora kept thinking back on how Oogie had sensed his fear, fear of never going back to the Island, fear of never reconciling with Riku, fear of never waking up Kairi. The fact that he had a fear of never making up with Riku gave him pause. Did he really forgive him for all he was doing so easily.

"He's been your friend for years, are you really going to through it all away." His voice in his head said.

Sora shook his head as he went back inside as he began to get the heart to work, he watched as Doctor Finkelstein tried to operate on it for the last few hours.

"Come on...Come on."

"Boy seems more interested in getting it to work than you." Professor Finkinstein commented as he watched Sora.

Jack shook his head. "Even if we can't get it to work for the Heartless, I would like to help him."

"Why?" The Doctor asked.

"Sora said a friend of his lost his heart to the Heartless, and that she can't wake up because of it. But maybe if we put this heart inside her she will."

Professor Finkelstein scratched his brain. "That will take a lot of surgery."

"I don't think it will work like that." Sally said as she watched. "Hearts like the one his friend lost I fear are a bit more trickery than a bunch of put together spare parts."

Finkenstein rolled his eyes. "Nonsense."

Sora really wanted him to work, perhaps if he had it he could wake Kairi up, if she really did lose her heart and was unable to wake up. Yet as Goofy said a Heart was part of the natural order, one couldn't replicate it or create it. Not even the fact Oogie Boogie couldn't control the Heartless with it. Perhaps trying to recreate a heart was not a good idea. His theory was correct with the good Doctor eventually gave up sighing as he wield to the others with a look of defeat.

"I just don't understand, we put in all the necessary ingredients, what else do you need to make a heart? What even is a heart anyway?"

Sora sighed. "Who knows, maybe we aren't really meant to know. Sometimes it's good to have a bit mystery."

"Sally… Why didnt i listen to you?" Jack sighed. "I should have these three join the party."

"Don't feel bad Jack, we'll come up with another plan for Halloween."Sally replied, "And next time we'll do it together."

"Sorry fellows, We'll have to cancel the Heartless Halloween festival for now." Jack sighed rubbing his forehead in shame.

"It's probably for the best." Sally added.

"Yeah those things are capable of anything." Sora snickered. "I just don't think dancing is one of them."

"Regardless i want you to have this." Jack said as he handed Sora a little Jack-o-lantern key chain, "Come visit anytime you want, but be prepared for next year's Halloween, because it will be the scariest yet!"

"We will-but uh, Jack." Sora looked up at him one more time smiling. "All that stuff you said about fear earlier, it really does seem important to you."

Jack nodded. "Of course, fear and doubt are signs of a strong heart. They push your heart to strike out in new directions. Without them your zest for life would fade...as would your taste for fear. And that would really ruin my fun."

"Push out your heart." Sora muttered pondering those words carefully. "I think i get it, fear lets me keep focus but also allows me to try new things, otherwise I'm just going to remain stagnant."

"What Oogie wanted was to turn fear and cloud there hearts-but fear used correctly like any emotion can make your heart quite strong." Sally smiled.

Sora smiled. "Thanks Sally-I'll keep that in mind, something tells me that I have a lot more scary things to get through in my adventure before the end." He looked out into the sky and wondered what was going on with Riku and Kairi, and then thought about it. Perhaps Riku did what he did not out of spite but out of fear, fear controlled him. As for Kairi, awake or not, she must have been the most sacred of them all.

"I won't let fear get to me, I'll let it have my heart strike out-and find my friends, I promise."

"Excuse me boy..." Doctor Finklinstein said rolling up to Sora, "What is in your hand?"

Sora held up the paper "Oh this...I found it when Oogie vanished ...I can't really make it out"

"May I?"

Sora shrugged.

Doctor Finkelstein took it and read it closer, he put it on his workbench and began to dust it a little. He read it for a few seconds and gasped. Everyone watching him intently now wondering what had just happened.

"Everything alright Doctor?" Jack asked.

Finkelstein turned around, "This report...It's remarkable, it comes from someone named...Ansem"

"Ansem!" Sora remembered that name, "The leader of Leon's world? W-What does it say"

"Look" Finkelstein handed Sora the paper allowing him to read it

There is no doubt that the Heartless are deeply connected to the people's hearts. Further study may unravel both their motivations and the mysteries shrouding the heart.

As a start, I have built a device that artificially creates Heartless. By recreating the conditions that spawn the Heartless naturally, I should be able to produce them artificially. This device is the culmination of all my research thus far. The machine's test run successfully created a Heartless.

This may be a step toward creating a heart from nothing. The artificially and naturally created Heartless showed nearly identical traits. But the two types remain distinct for the purpose of the experiment. So, I will mark the ones that are created artificially.

Sora looked amazing, "And Oogie had this?"

This changed everything ...If there was this machine that created heartless and Maleficent had it...Then his war against the darkness was still only in its infancy.

If now was an opportune time to have fear, it was now.