Sora found himself somewhere between asleep and awake. His body felt like he'd just had a couple of hyenas wrestling each other inside his stomach. Everything was sore, but at least the nausea seemed to pass. Now... now Sora just wanted to rest.
"What would I give to live where you are"
Sora began to stir at the sound of that singing.
"What would I pay... to stay here beside you."
Whoever was singing was off key, but the voice was somehow still warm, familiar, and inviting.
"What would I do to see you smiling at me."
It was... Riku. That was Riku's singing voice. But... why was Riku singing?
"Where would we walk? Where would we run? If we could stay all day in the sun?..."
But... wait. Sora knew that song. He'd heard those lyrics... But where?
"Just you and me, and I could be part of your world."
Ariel. That was Ariel's song. Suddenly it all came flashing back to Sora. Ariel's stolen voice, Ursula using it to deceive Prince Eric, the conch shell, the song, everything. Ursula had stolen that song. Ursula. The same sea witch Sora made that deal with to help Riku. Sora bolted upright with a gasp.
"Whoa, whoa, take it easy," Riku said, trying to force Sora to lay back down.
"The... song," Sora said, situating himself upright despite Riku's attempts otherwise. "What... happened?"
"The Halloween Candy was poisoned," Riku explained. "Vance was able to make an antidote in time to save you. He, Donald, Goofy, and Kairi are going around warning people right now and distributing the antidote to whomever needs it."
"H- How did-," Sora managed to stutter out, suddenly very aware of how raw his throat felt from throwing up last night.
"We're still trying to figure out how the candy got poisoned," Riku said. "Donald said that Scrooge has a lot of enemies back in Duckberg who could have tampered with it."
"No," Sora said shaking his head. "How did... you know that song?"
"Huh? Oh, I, uh, I heard Vance singing it," Riku said. "I'm sorry if that was weird."
Sora could feel his pulse racing in his sand paper scratchy throat. Sora had suspected it before, but that song was all the proof Sora needed to confirm that Vance was Ursula. And Riku had... Sora shuddered at the thought. A worse realization washed over him: if Vance was Ursula, then Vance had only ever existed because Sora made that stupid deal meddling in Riku's emotions. This was just as much his fault as it was Ursula's.
"Riku... there- there's no easy way to say this," Sora coughed out. "But I don't think Vance is who he says he is."
"What do you mean?" Riku asked.
"I mean... I think he's actually... Ursula," Sora said, suddenly aware of how totally off the wall that sounded out loud.
"What? No, I've known him for months," Riku replied. "Why would you even say that?"
"Riku... listen," Sora struggled to speak. "I was worried about having... broken your heart... so I kind of... went to Ursula to make a deal for you. I... I thought I was saving you. But I just put you in worse harm's way. I'm so SO sorry."
Riku's silence was deafening. Having laid everything bare, Sora felt the weight of his actions on his shoulders. Sora wanted Riku to tell him that it was okay and that he'd only done what he thought was right, but he knew that wasn't in the cards right now.
"Whatever deal you made," Riku said at last. "It doesn't change the fact that what I have with Vance is real."
Of all the possible reactions, Sora hadn't expected that. It was one thing for Riku to be mad at him. It was another thing entirely for Riku to suddenly not believe him.
"But Riku," Sora said. "Vance knew Ariel's song."
"A song I'm sure is known on a lot of worlds," Riku said. "Vance saved your life tonight. Why would he do that if he was Ursula? Look, you can't just drop a bomb on me like that and then start messing with my heart once I try to move on. Deal or no deal, it doesn't change the fact that I love Vance and he loves me. And I'm sorry you can't believe that that could happen on its own."
"Riku..."
Riku got up and walked to the door before turning back to face his friend. "Sora... don't ever mess with my life again."
Doom and Loki sat upon twin thrones as they watched the battle in front of them. On one side stood a local man mutated by Red Lyrium into a creature that seemed to be covered in the devilish red rocks from head to toe, and on the other was a Cauldron Born. The Red Lyrium Horror was certainly less durable than the Cauldron Born, but the raw strength and power that the lyrium infused beast unleashed upon his opponent was greatly impressive.
"I put five coppers on the Cauldron Born," Loki said to Doom as he took a sip from his goblet.
"Are you blind to the power the lyrium beast possesses?" Doom asked.
"Not at all, I've merely seen this exact scenario a hundred times over," Loki answered. "The forces I unleash upon Thor are always his superior in raw power, yet his infuriating tendency not to die allows him to win the day every time."
"Bah!" Doom scoffed. "You're allowing your past failures to sting your objectivity. There is little evidence that this battle will last long enough to become one of attrition."
"Oh, isn't there?" Loki asked, gesturing coyly to the arena, where the Red Lyrium Horror was beginning to slow and grow more erratic in its movements while the lone Cauldron Born just kept getting knocked down and standing back up again.
Doom growled and stood from his seat with frustration evident in his body language. It was clear that the subject wielding the Red Lyrium was too fallible for the task. Rather than give Loki the satisfaction of being right, Doom fired a blast of energy from his gauntlet. The lyrium beast exploded into a pile of brilliant red pebbles.
Loki smugly wrapped his arms around Doom from behind. "Face reality, my dear Victor, this pursuit of Red Lyrium is an insignificant detour."
"Doom will not admit defeat," Doom replied, shaking Loki off. "The power was right there, plain as day. Had it been in more capable hands, it would- ... Of course. How did I not see it sooner? Simple farm hands are not capable of wielding such a gift."
"If you're about to suggest testing that power on yourself, I will personally return you to the Vale against your will and purge all memories of Red Lyrium from your mind," Loki warned.
"Do you think me a fool?" Doom asked. "Doom will not attempt to use that power until he is able to fully observe the ramifications of it. But we have an expendable revenant in our midst who is already a weak link in our Overtakers."
"Jafar won't be at all fond of your plan," Loki remarked. "He seems quite smitten with that mortal."
Doom scoffed at that. "The approval of the genie means nothing to Doom. When they return, we shall conduct our experiment."
Jafar and Hook, meanwhile, had made their way to Hook's home world, the Enchanted Forest. Hook had been utterly shocked by Jafar's willingness to take him there to retrieve his ship. Such an act of kindness was so unlike him. Yet Hook wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. The two stalked through a port city of the Southern Isles, where the locator spell had led them.
"Is that ship yours?" Jafar asked, gesturing to the Jolly Roger, anchored at the docks.
"Aye, that she is," Hook said, marveling at the sight of his ship as if it were a lost lover. "We plundered many a treasury together."
"A feeling I know quite well," Jafar said. "Iago and I travelled the Seven Deserts in search of the lamp and, in process, uncovered great wealth and riches. Perhaps later you and I can share stories of our myriad of quests."
Hook had never taken Jafar for the adventuring type. He seemed like any other evil sorcerer: just in it for power and conquest. Yet here he was, suggesting that he'd gone adventuring for treasures just like Hook had. The whole concept caused Hook to see Jafar in a new light.
"Me thinks there's some pirate in you, mate," Hook said with a grin.
"I bathe too frequently for that," Jafar answered with a smirk.
As per their plan, the two men went in separate directions from here. Hook strolled in confidently on the gang plank to the deck of his ship. The ship's flag might have changed, but it was still his baby, just as majestic as ever. He'd been a fool to trade her away to help Emma, but now it was time to write this wrong.
"Well, well, look at who's back," a snooty voice said.
"Pleasure to see you too, Blackbeard," Hook said as he faced the ship's current captain.
Blackbeard and Hook had long had a rivalry to settle who was the most ruthless and brilliant pirate to sail the seven seas. Blackbeard even commandeered the Jolly Roger from Hook at one point, but when Hook needed a magic bean to return to the Land Without Magic, they'd buried the hatchet for the sake of an even trade. Hook hoped that Blackbeard would be amenable to a second bargain.
What complicated this matter was the man standing to Blackbeard's left: a young man with auburn hair and long sideburns. Hook would have been a poor pirate not to immediately recognize the man as royalty, and royals always made pirate business more complicated. Why Blackbeard had this prince or king or whatever he was walking the deck freely, Hook couldn't begin to fathom.
"Can we speak alone?" Hook asked, gesturing to the young man, "Without the blueblood?"
"First of all, I am Prince Hans Westergard of the Southern Isles," he introduced himself. "And I will be referred to by my honorifics by you at all times. Secondly, I'm the financier of this ship and all its voyages. Anything you have to say to the captain, you can say in front of me."
Hook kept his eyes on Blackbeard. "I gave you my ship, and you went and got it conscripted by some snot nosed prince? Here I thought your reputation was worth something, Blackbeard."
"It's a rather financially lucrative venture," Blackbeard said. "We've pillaged the coasts of Arendelle and sent the citizenry screaming. Besides, you traded the Jolly Roger to me. She's my ship, and I'll do as I please with her."
"That's actually why I'm here," Hook said. "I want my ship back."
Blackbeard threw his head back and laughed. "She's not for sale."
"Oh I think it will be once you hear my offer," Hook said. "I'll take the ship in exchange for your lives."
At that, the entire crew burst in raucous laughter.
"Is he always this foolish?" Hans asked.
"I think he's drunk again," Blackbeard replied. "Hook, you're one man against me entire crew. You've nothing to trade and nothing to threaten us with. Now get off MY ship before I stain its deck with your blood."
"So you refuse to take my bargain? Have it your way!" Hook said before putting his fingers to his lips and letting out a high pitched whistle.
At the shrill sound, the entire ship and dock began to rumble. The crew's laughter was replaced with a fearful silence. The waters next to the ship bubbled, and from the depths sprouted a brilliant scarlet skinned man the size of a small ship himself: Jafar in his genie form. Jafar's hysterical cackle echoed throughout the entire port. Hook had never laid eyes upon a genie's true form before, let alone Jafar's. It was truly a magnificent sight, and Hook had to stop himself from tracing the outline of Jafar's muscles with his eyes.
"A demon!" the crew shouted in horror, running to get off the ship.
"Not so fast!" Jafar bellowed, firing a blast of lightning from his eyes that destroyed the gangplank, trapping them aboard.
Blackbeard drew his sword and attempted to face the genie bravely. "I've fought worse demons than this in my time. I will end your little- AGH!"
But Blackbeard found himself scooped up in Jafar's hand before he could finish that sentence. With a powerful thrust, Jafar hurled Blackbeard off into the horizon. Hook smiled devilishly at the sight and turned back to the crew.
"Anyone else?" Hook asked coyly.
None of the crew, not even Prince Hans, resisted.
"To Captain Hook!" one of the pirates shouted, prompting the entire crew to chant his name.
"Good form, mates," Hook chuckled. "I promise you all full pockets the likes of which Blackbeard could never hope to give you. Mates, we're not just going to pilfer this land, but, rather, all the lands."
The crew cheered at that and immediately returned to their duties, getting the ship ready to sail for the vast riches.
Hook proceeded towards the helm, but stopped when he passed Hans. "You, Prince, what number in line for the throne of the Southern Isles are you?"
"Thirteenth," Hans admitted sheepishly.
"Well you're bloody useless for ransoming, aren't you?" Hook said. "Congratulations, you're my new Mr. Smee. Keep me crew in ship shape."
Hook stood by the helm as Jafar returned to his usual shape and size, much to the crew's terror and intimidation.
"I thought genies couldn't kill," Hook said, referring back to Blackbeard's fate.
"You'd be surprised what you can live through," Jafar replied with a smirk.
Hook clamped his hand on Jafar's shoulder in appreciation. "Thank you, mate. I owe you greatly for this."
"You'll have to find a way to make it up to me," Jafar said playfully.
"Oh that I will," Hook said. "But first things first: this ship won't fit through a Corridor of Darkness. How will we get it back to Thedas?"
"The dark passages are not the only ways to travel between worlds," Jafar said. "Sora and his infernal friends travel using a ship that can fly through the Etherium. With a touch of my magic, so can yours."
Jafar stepped out into the center of the deck, prompting all of the crew to disperse away from his current location. Jafar extended his arms and staff outwards.
"Aram kaza butabus, ARAM KAZA BUTABUS!" Jafar chanted as a red glow began to radiate around the Jolly Roger.
The crew seemed terrified by this development, and none were prepared when the ship began to lurch and hover right out of the water. As the Jolly Roger rose into the air and the anchor hoisted itself, Hook found himself in awe of Jafar's strength. Not even Cora had been powerful enough to manage such a feat on her own. Jafar was truly a maelstrom of mighty magic.
"Get ready to set sail, mates!" Hook yelled. "There's bumpy seas ahead!"
"On thing more an all is done," Winnie chanted over her cauldron. "Add a bit of thine own tongue."
The Sanderson Sisters bit down and spat the severed piece of flesh into their brew. Grimhilde looked on in disgust. She'd never been one for magic that required self-mutilation. It always seemed to be counter-productive to her. Yet if she understood the spell correctly, the three witches were brewing a potion that would allow them to drain the youth from the little girl that they had tied to a chair across the room. Yet before Winnie could serve her finished brew to the captive, Russell Edgington sped into the room.
"Sandy Sisters, Fish wants y'all at the church to be extra hands on deck," Russell said.
"We art in the middle of something," Winnie growled, gesturing to her cauldron.
"No time," Russell said. "Fish is in a foul enough mood as it is due to events that were of no fault of my own. All hands on deck. Let's GO!"
Winnie grunted angrily but she and her sisters ultimately relented, grabbing their broomsticks on the way out.
"You too, your majesty," Russell said, turning to Grimhilde.
"Maleficent has me scrying for the ink," Grimhilde claimed (it was only half a lie). "Or would you like to explain to her why I have been pulled away from my task."
Russell rolled his eyes but didn't argue further. He then left her alone in the room with the cauldron and the little girl. Grimhilde turned to the still boiling cauldron and filled the large wooden ladle with the putrid liquid. Surely Winnie wouldn't want the brew to go to waste, would she? Grimhilde hobbled over to the captive child and pressed the ladle to her lips. The girl drank the potion as if in a deep trance that compelled her to do so. As the child drank, she began to glow with a misty aura that Grimhilde recognized as her life-force. The old hag greedily inhaled the misty aura, which funneled into her mouth as if it were a liquid.
The more life force that Grimhilde drank, the stronger she became. The hunch on her back straightened out, her hands no longer were gnarled, her nose shrank back to its natural size, and her hair felt luscious and silky again rather than old and stringy. The child slumped over dead, her entire life force spent. Grimhilde couldn't care less. The witch quickly darted over to the magic mirror and looked upon her reflection. There, staring back at her, was the fair face she'd sacrificed long ago. Grimhilde was young and beautiful once again.
With so many children poisoned by the Halloween candy, the Overtakers turned their church into a makeshift hospital. It was the perfect way to both make themselves look like the heroes as well as have the opportunity to inject the tired and scared minds with the "Gospel of Maleficent." Fish ushered the crowd into the church. Everyone was hysterical and chaotic, and she had to keep order for this to work. Fortunately, she'd always been good at making herself heard.
"Attention everyone," Fish said, projecting her voice over the sobbing. "If you yourself are ill, please proceed into the Fellowship Hall to be treated by our potion specialists. If you are a parent with a sick child, please escort them into the Fellowship Hall as well. You can only stay with the child if you are their legal guardian. Everyone else needs to clear the area. Reverend Newlin is praying for the victims in the Sanctuary. You're welcome to stay and wait for friends and relatives in there."
Fish repeated herself and the crowd did as instructed. What had once been chaos was now getting to be somewhat orderly. Russell, Cruella, the Sanderson Sisters, and several of Ratigan's "employees" treated the patients with the antidote that "Vance" secured for them. Blackheart had originally been conscripted to help as well, but his bedside manner was ultimately deemed too frightening and not ideal for the situation. Most cases were treatable, though a few patients had reacted to the potion worse than others.
Meanwhile, in Sanctuary, Steve tended to his flock. At least fifty concerned friends, neighbors, and relatives gathered in the pews.
"Friends. Neighbors," Steve began. "I know how we're all feelin'. Scared. Angry. Worried. Those are all natural things to feel in this situation. But I want you to look around this room. All of us here are feelin' those same feelings. You are not alone. We are going through this together. Now I know some of you are feelin' guilty too for passin' out the candy. And I just want to tell you: it's not your fault. The only person to blame is the careless greedy business tycoon who cared more about his money than our children's safety."
The congregation was all nodding and whispering words of agreement to their comrades. Perfect. They were putty in Steve's hand.
"Now for this next part, I know you all have been told different," Steve said. "I'm so sorry you've been lied to, but Maleficent loves and supports you all too."
The crowd started murmuring and looking confused. He was losing them at that.
"Maleficent only wants what's best for the people of Radiant Garden," Steve said. "She knows you all see her as a villain, but that's not who she is. In fact, our church couldn't have supplied the aid to y'all tonight if it wasn't for her. You see, she cares about our children too, which is more than Scrooge and the Restoration Committee can say. Listen, you all feel the love in this room? The support from your friends and neighbors in this trying time? That love is her message."
Steve wasn't sure if the crowd actually believed that lie or if they just wanted to, but it was clear on all of their faces. He had them. They were on board. They bought it. They needed a savior, and Steve gave it to them. He smiled at that. Ursula had been right all along.
"Let us pray."
Mr. Shadow inched closer to the forest world under Persephone's protection. Hades watched in sick anticipation, ready to witness his ex-wife's little pet project go up in smoke. He'd been twice bitten on love, and now was his chance to finally bite back. For back on his home world, he and Persephone had quite a rocky history. It all began when-
"Umm, excuse me, baby," Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, said, pushing the scene of Hades out of the way to reveal a Grecian Urn with the fives Muses depicted on the surface, "the stories of Greek gods and their crazy shenanigans are our job."
"You gotta add oomph to it!" Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, added.
"We'll take it from here, darling," Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry, said.
To the tune of "The Gospel Truth" then?
"Now you're speaking our language!" Clio, the Muse of History, said as the music began to play.
"Back when the gods were young,
Lord Hades felt a hole in his heart.
And when he first saw Persephone, romance seemed to start.
At first, she felt the same.
She flirted back and called him by name.
But then she learned about his evil schemes and felt such shame.
Ooh sing it girlfriend!
So then he kidnapped her!
He threw her into Hell!
She screamed!
Locked that poor girl in a cell!
He schemed!
And on his own built a mansion on the Styx.
And that's the Gospel Truth!
The guy was much too rooted in his triiiiiiiicks!
But then Zeus rescued her.
Yeah, baby!
He foiled Hades, still in his youth
Though, honey, it may seem impossible
That's the Gospel Truth!
Hades's temper burns and flames, and proves that he's uncouth
Though, honey, it may seem impossible
That's the Gospel Truth!"
"Yeah, yeah, thank you for the song and dance number, very nice, don't come again," Hades said, turning the view back to him. "Oy, nosey goddesses, what are ya gonna do? Anyway, back to-"
"And that's the Gospel Truth!" Zorg sang to himself.
"ZORG!" Hades shouted, flaring up to a bright shade of orange.
"Sorry, Hades, sorry," Zorg said. "Terrible song. Not catchy at all. By the by, is that world supposed to be doin' that?"
"Doing WHAT?" Hades said, turning back to face his target.
Hades was greeted by the sight of brilliant pink, yellow, and green lights circling around the world, creating what looked like an immense cosmic net around the planet. Hades recognized it as Persephone's magic. Hades angrily pulled out his ceramic model of Mr. Shadow and gave it a squeeze.
"FULL STEAM AHEAD!" Hades ordered.
Mr. Shadow did as he was bade... and proceeded to bounce harmlessly off the barrier. Hades squeezed the figure tighter, and Mr. Shadow proceeded to charge the barrier again. Once again, he bounced away harmlessly.
"NO NO NOOOOOO!" Hades screamed, his temper exploding.
"Uh, maybe, you should, y'know, find a new world to hit?" Zorg suggested.
Hades, without turning around, unleashed a pillar of fire on Zorg that blasted the man back to the Underworld. Off in the distance, Hades could see a bright pink and gold chariot flying towards him, pulled along by twin stags.
"Hades!" Persephone shouted from her chariot. "We need to talk!"