"TA-DA!" Hades said dramatically with outstretched arms as Maleficent stepped out of the Corridor of Darkness onto the ledge of the Dark Depths.
Maleficent was not easily impressed, but the reconstructed Villain's Vale was certainly a marvel to behold. No longer simply a ruined conglomerate of towers, now the Villain's Vale was a small yet elegant castle in the same architectural style of the original. It was no Hollow Bastion, but it was a far more respectable lair than the previous version had ever been. To think that Hades and the others had spent their time rebuilding it gave Maleficent a certain pride in her allies.
"A fortress worthy of the Overtakers," Maleficent said.
She and Hades teleported into the main tower. The circular chamber was large enough to host not only their current numbers but multitudes more in the event that their rosters continued to expand. At the far side of the room was an elevated stage for Maleficent to preside over her Overtakers. The Conference Room in the mansion would still be better for more intimate meetings, but this chamber was ideal for addressing the expanded ranks.
"So I think this qualifies as a grand gesture," Hades said. "Eh? Eh?"
Maleficent raised her eyebrow. So that was what this was all about. It was an appreciated gesture, no doubt about it, but it wasn't at all what Maleficent had in mind when she'd challenged Hades to win her heart. Truthfully, she'd never expected him to even try. The fact that he undertook her challenge at all meant something at least, but was it really good enough?
"Rebuilding a second rate lair hardly compares," Maleficent said.
"Not just that! I took down a giant demonic owl and got back everything Mozie took from your vault too," Hades said. "C'mon, babe, throw me a bone here!"
"It is not a gesture grand enough," Maleficent said. "I have made myself plain."
Hades had flared up to red by this point. "WOULD IT BE GRAND ENOUGH IF I BURNED IT BACK DOWN?"
"Enough!" Maleficent said as thunder cracked behind her. "Your entitlement does you no credit!"
"Ohohoho, my entitlement?" Hades said. "That's rich coming from you of all people, Ms. Your-Grand-Gesture-Must-Be-This-Tall-to-Qualify."
"Mind your tone!" Maleficent warned.
"No, y'know what I think?" Hades asked. "I think this is all just a smoke screen because you're too much of a coward to just honestly admit that you're terrified of opening up to another person."
Maleficent clenched her teeth and her staff began to glow a threatening green. "You DARE?"
"Yes, I do dare," Hades said. "Because I see you exactly for who you are now: a scared little girl play acting on a power trip."
"Be gone!" Maleficent said as she turned to walk away. "I will indulge your tantrum no further."
Hades gave a sarcastic salute and disappeared into a cloud of smoke. Maleficent huffed. How dare he imply that she feared anything. Having standards and expecting only the best was not fear; it was merely what she deserved. Romance was frivolous and unnecessary at any rate, and the fact that several of her allies had given into it and therefore put such thoughts into Hades's head was appalling. Love was weakness, after all.
Maleficent learned that lesson well, long ago.
"You're wasting your time, Victor," Morgan said with a scoff.
Doom augmented his sensors to analyze the Red Lyrium shard and did not bother dignifying Morgan with a response. She was just another fool seeking attention, and Doom had little reason to indulge her. Her role in this drama was up, and what mattered now was seeing what use the Red Lyrium could have in the search for the Book of Prophecies... or, rather, the Author, as they now knew their objective to be.
"You and I could have ruled this universe together," Morgan said. "And now you're choosing to share it thirteen ways where you won't even receive the largest piece. So much for the great Victor von Doom. How does it feel to be wrapped around the finger of a trickster god?"
Doom smirked behind his mask as he thought about just how pleasurable Loki's finger was, but he kept that innuendo to himself. Truly Russell Edgington was a bad influence on him if such thoughts were crossing his mind. Doom proceeded over to the monitor that showed the results of his scan and began mentally rifling through the elements both mundane and mystical that shared similar compositions.
"Was our little bargain with Imshael worth it?" Loki asked as he strolled into the lab.
"That is what I am striving to understand," Doom answered. "Its composition is foreign to me, but its similarities to more familiar elements coupled with Imshael's claims lead me to believe that it can alter the physiology of those who consume it. Further testing will be required."
"Is that why you've kept her around then?" Loki asked, gesturing to Morgan.
"If the lyrium truly bestows such power, giving it to her even in an experimental capacity would be tantamount to suicide," Doom replied. "I will need to acquire other... laboratory rats. But you did not come down here for a status report."
"Indeed not," Loki said as he hopped onto Doom's work bench and crossed his legs. "Ursula wished for me to inform you that there shall be a bonfire this evening to celebrate the acquisition of the pen and to induct our new Overtakers into the ranks."
Doom merely groaned. "What purpose does premature celebration serve? My time is better spent conducting research than engaging in pleasantries with the strays Maleficent continues to bring home."
"Be that as it may, I find these events quite diverting," Loki said. "Besides, I look forward to showing you off on my arm in the eyes of all who see us."
"How adorable," Morgan remarked. "Will you also be wearing cute matching bracelets woven to signify your union?"
Loki laughed a little too hard at that. "Is that a subtle plea for a bracelet of your own? Because I'm happy to oblige."
Morgan looked down in horror to find a viper wrapped around her wrist, ready to strike.
"Tis a shade of viper I was most intimately made acquainted with," Loki said. "I do so hope you like it. It's not fatal for an immortal such as yourself, but the venom is rather excruciating all the same."
Loki proceeded to kiss the cool metal of Doom's mask and walked towards the door with a certain spring in his step.
"This evening, Victor," Loki said. "Do not forget. I'll expect you dressed in a nicer tunic as well."
The fires of Storybrooke had been put out by the time morning came, but the citizens and the sheriff's department were still taking stock of the dead and the survivors. None of the buildings in the commercial area of the town survived, and though the residential areas were mostly untouched, many who lived in apartments and houses close to town lost their homes. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were working tirelessly to help wandering and injured citizens find their way to the disaster aid center, despite the strange looks they received from the town folk.
"Hey, Sora, Donald, Goofy," Emma said nervously walking up to the trio. "Can we... talk?"
"Uh, yeah," Sora said. "Do you need us to handle a bigger rescue?"
"Is somebody trapped?" Donald asked.
"No... no, nothing like that," Emma said. "It's just... well... this whole thing hit the town really hard. And with Maleficent and Ursula being from outside and all... It's just... People are kind of afraid of everyone who they don't know right now. And they don't know you guys."
"Well we don't mean no harm," Goofy said. "Maybe they just need to get to know us is all."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think that's best," Emma said. "Look, Maleficent took the pen, and Belle and Henry told us about that cloaked woman who took the hat with the Dark One darkness. Let me and my family handle search and rescue efforts here. You guys need to be out there making sure Maleficent doesn't do this to another town."
Sora, Donald, and Goofy all saw the wisdom in Emma's suggestion, and they logically knew that this would be the best course of action for everyone. Still, they hated to just abandon Storybrooke when so much was still left in ruins, and even though they knew it wasn't their fault, all three of them felt guilty for not stopping Maleficent before she unleashed her wrath upon the town.
"Are you sure it's better if we go?" Sora asked.
Emma nodded. "I'm sorry, but yes."
Sora sighed but relented. "Tell Henry, Regina, Mary Margaret, David, and Belle good-bye for us, okay?"
Emma forced a small smile onto her face. "I will. You guys stay safe, okay?"
"We'll sure miss ya!" Goofy said. "Maybe we can come back to visit ya sometime after everything is all fixed up?"
"I'd like that," Emma nodded.
And so, with heavy hearts, Sora, Donald, and Goofy made their way back to the Sorcerer's Mansion to leave Storybrooke behind.
As the sun set on Radiant Garden, a large yellow and green bonfire raged and lit the area. The Cauldron Born and goblins prepared refreshment tables and erected banners featuring the various houses that owed allegiance to Maleficent. Rarely did Maleficent allow her goblin henchmen to participate in Overtaker affairs, but this was a special occasion.
Blackheart was overseeing the Cauldron Born and the goons setting up a stage and band instruments. Several Cauldron Born were tuning their guitars and performing sound checks on microphones. Grimhilde, dressed in a more decorated and festive cloak with red apples adorning the fabric, hobbled over and admired the set up.
"Live music?" she asked.
"More like afterlife music," Blackheart corrected. "I had a couple ghoul friends who sold their souls to my father whose contracts I took for my own. Figured I'd have them entertain our party."
"Well played!" Grimhilde nodded as she produced a bottle of yellow liquid from her cloak. "Oh! I brewed some apple cider fresh for the occasion!"
Blackheart looked at the bottle suspiciously and laughed after a minute. "You are so bad. I like you!"
The other Overtakers one by one filed into the courtyard and began to mingle and snack. Hook, not sure where he should go or who he should talk to, poured himself a glass of rum and gravitated towards the edge of the courtyard. Jafar was standing a few feet away from him, looking like the very act of being at the party in attendance was the most miserable punishment in the world.
"Not much of a party man, I take it?" Hook asked, hoping to break the awkward silence.
"Such distractions are a waste of time," Jafar sneered. "We celebrate the acquisition of a pen, yet our Overtakers have yet to conquer anything beyond Avalon. I would sooner see those who indulge such merriment drown in their own punch."
Hook nodded to be polite, but was thinking to himself that he had found the least fun corner of the entire party. Hook quickly chugged his rum and gestured to his empty glass to give himself an excuse to walk away. As Hook tried to head back over to the refreshments table, Jafar stopped him.
"Wait!" Jafar called out. "That hook you wear in place of your hand... any connection to Captain Hook?"
"Ah, so you've heard of me!" Hook replied.
Jafar made a face like he smelled something rotten and shook his head. "No, not you, the other Captain Hook. The one who joined Maleficent's ranks during our first excursion."
Maleficent did mention that there were other versions of the stories he knew and that all of them existed throughout the worlds. It only made sense that there were other versions of Captain Hook out there, but Maleficent and Ursula had failed to mention that they knew his alternate self.
"I take it the man you knew was a devilishly handsome rapscallion," Hook said, flashing a grin.
"Hardly," Jafar said. "He was an old fop and an incompetent buffoon. He failed us utterly and that is why he is no longer among our ranks."
"Ah," Hook said, suddenly finding the ground very interesting. "Well, you can rest easy knowing that I can hold my own."
"See to it!" Jafar replied.
Hook nodded a bit and proceeded over to the refreshments table and breathed a sigh of relief for escaping small talk with Jafar. He poured himself a new glass of rum and decided to go track down Cruella instead. At least with her, they could compete to see who could hold their liquor the longest. Hook turned around and gasped when he found himself face to face with Jafar again.
"Bloody Hell!" Hook said as he steadied himself by grabbing the table behind him with his hook.
"I do hope I didn't startle you," Jafar said as if that fact wasn't plain. "We were having such a nice conversation, that I figured we could continue it over here."
Hook's mouth hung open, unsure of what he should say. "Uh, yes, of course. Umm... apple cider?"
Jafar rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation and sighed. "It is not safe to consume any apple products at an event in which the old hag is in attendance. By Allah, you're going to need me to watch you like a hawk so that you don't get yourself killed."
"Oh, no, that's alright mate," Hook said. "If there's one thing I'm good at, it's surviving."
"Nonsense," Jafar said as he wrapped his arm around Hook's shoulder. "We have much to discuss! You know... you remind of my former pet parrot."
Loki and Doom, both of whom were wearing more formal and ornate variations of their usual attire, sat together with Russell and Steve at one of the tables near the bonfire. The two vampires, in contrast to their fancier dressed companions, were wearing plain jeans and matching tacky sweaters with cartoon vampires knitted on the front.
"Ha HA! Look at US!" Russell said with a clap. "We're a regular double date of hunks, aren't we?"
"Quite so!" Loki replied with a laugh. "I must admit, Russell, with your withered face, I had not thought you capable of landing such a youthful and vibrant lover."
Russell gasped in mock offense. "Well aren't you a little extra bitchy tonight! Is it bad that I think it's kinda sexy?"
Steve and Doom weren't exactly sure how to respond to that, but Russell and Loki just laughed and brushed it off so they wrote it off as casual banter and relaxed a bit.
"Mr. Newlin, I do not believe we've been properly acquainted," Doom said. "Tell me about yourself."
"Oh! Well, I used to be a pastor and a total douchebag religious nut before I got turned," Steve answered. "But once I was blessed with the gift of immortality, I realized that I was better than that: I was a gay vampire American. And I took all my preachin' experience and became one heck of a media spin man for the vampire authority."
"I tell you what, the things this guy can do with his tongue are fabulous," Russell said before adding, "and the things he does in press conferences are pretty good too!"
The entire table got a chuckle at that, with Steve giving Russell a swat on his arm.
"I take it your procedures have been serving you well?" Doom asked. "No sun damage at all?"
"Stop talking about your research," Loki said with a groan.
"Actually it's been fuckin' fabulous!" Russell said as Steve nodded vigorously in agreement. "Now I hate humans with a passion, but Doom, after what you did for me, I would have all your babies and put you up on a pedestal above all the other vampires I know."
As much Doom winced at the reminder of his humanity, the praise that Russell lauded him with was absolutely glorious and made him feel powerful and special. As he should, of course.
Fish, Ursula, and Cruella started a bit of a girls' table over by the stage, with each of them dressed in glittery and dramatic clothes that made a statement. Fish eyed Cruella with suspicion at first given how friendly Cruella was being with Ursula (not that Fish cared, mind you), but all concerns were put to rest with how much more enthusiastic Ursula seemed when talking to Fish.
"Angelfish, you and I have got to go on the next mission together!" Ursula said to Fish. "I missed scheming with you so much while we were in Storybrooke."
"Likewise," Fish nodded. "I'd much rather have had you watching my back than Blackheart."
"Well he is kind of urban punk handsome," Cruella remarked as she sipped her gin. "Don't you think?"
"Not my type," Ursula and Fish both said in unison.
After realizing what they'd done, they both shared a look and laughed. Cruella could practically see the chemistry between the two ladies, and she felt incredibly like a third wheel.
"Perhaps I should go sample that apple cider," Cruella remarked.
However, just at that moment, one of Maleficent's goblins took a sip of the cider, passed out on the floor, and did not get back up.
"On second thought, I'll stick to gin," Cruella decided.
"Oh! Oh! I almost forgot to tell you!" Ursula said. "I have the most deliciously sinister scheme in the works right now! This one's gonna turn our little heroes upside down!"
"Oooh, do tell," Fish said, practically sitting on the edge of her seat.
"Well," Ursula started. "You see-"
But Ursula was cut off by Pain and Panic scampering over their table in terror, desperately trying to run away from Flotsam and Jetsam flying swiftly after them, hissing in delight. They too were followed by Diablo flying after them, cawing to try to restore the peace.
"BEASTS!" Cruella shouted after them in anger. "I'LL MAKE SHOES AND A HAT OUT OF YOU!"
Maleficent took to the stage and gazed out at the crowd. She saw all her Overtakers mingling about... all except Hades. The Underworld Lord's absence concerned her. Had he taken their earlier spat to heart? Her concerns were slightly alleviated when she noticed him moping about off to the side, obviously not in any festive mood. That was his concern, though, not Maleficent's. She put him out of mind.
"Well, well, what a festive party," Maleficent said, her voice magnified by the power of her staff. "I suppose it is quite fortuitous that I was permitted to be responsible for the invitations to this one."
The entire crowd had a laugh at that.
"The Overtakers' number continues to grow," Maleficent said. "We now possess the pen of the Author and strongholds of power on four worlds. We have much to celebrate, yet we have more to do on the horizon. But we shall achieve victory, for our power is beyond compare!"
The crowd let out cheers and hollers to celebrate Maleficent's words of encouragement.
"Now... LISTEN WELL!" Maleficent said as thunder clapped behind her.
"The time has come, the moment's here,
The black of night draws ever near.
Music, lights, a bit of fire.
To shake the night is our desire."
A wolf began to howl from somewhere that none of the other guests could clearly identify.
"The howl of a wolf on this moonlit night,
Calls to us with eerie delight!
For your fiercest hour, mix and mingle in,
With my great power, we now BEGIN!"
Maleficent vanished from the stage in a clap of thunder and the crowd applauded wildly as the band began to play a familiar tune. From backstage, Blackheart's three witch friends stalked out onto the stage where Maleficent had just been. The first wore all red and had twisted black and purple-streaked hair. The second favored purple clothing and had luscious blonde locks. The third who came down to center stage was dressed all in green and had curly red hair. Up on stage stood the once fearsome Sanderson Sisters: Mary, Sarah, and Winnie.
"Hello villains! My name's Winifred, what's yours?" Winnie said before she began to sing. "When the crypt doors creek and the tombstones quake."
"Spooks come out for a swingin' wake!" Mary and Sarah sang.
"Happy haunts materialize, and begin to vocalize," Winnie sang.
The three sisters then sang together in harmony. "Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!"
The crowd went wild in celebration, dancing and singing along as the witches performed. Even Jafar couldn't help tapping his foot. The night and festivities roared on for hours, and with such a fiendishly delightful celebration, they all reveled in a feeling of invincibility for their cause. Soon, they would be able to celebrate the ultimate victory.
The cloaked woman whom Belle, Henry, and Hook encountered in Storybrooke returned to the Castle That Never Was with the hat box in hand. Master Xehanort was slouching in his throne, but despite his age, his strength and sturdiness was readily apparent and all of the thirteen Xehanorts could feel that in their hearts.
"Master," she said, kneeling on the Nobody insignia painted on the floor. "I have returned to you with the powers of the Dark One."
Master Xehanort grinned and leaped down from his seat, slowly levitating down to where is subordinate was waiting. He placed a grateful hand on her shoulders.
"You contributions are greatly appreciated, my dear," Xehanort said. "Already you have surpassed many of your contemporaries. I was wise to make you one of us, Master Aqua."
The old man turned his attention to the hat box. Xehanort summoned his Keyblade to his hand and used its powers to call forth the Dark One darkness from inside. This was the original darkness spawned during the Keyblade war. If the events of the war were to be recreated, all of the pieces had to be in place. The darkness slithered into Xehanort's body, and instantly Aqua could feel in her own heart the change in power. All of the Xehanorts were stronger than before, but that brought with it a terrible burden of voices in her mind.
"It will sort itself out in time," Xehanort said, feeling his ally's reaction to the new powers. "For now, feel the honor of our Organization collectively being the new Dark One!"
A silver and black squiggled dagger appeared in Xehanort's hand. He admired the ornate lettering of his name on its blade. The thirteen had gathered and now everything was ready.