Sora and Riku were the only two remaining at the Traverse Town graveyard, long after the funeral had already wound down and the mourners dispersed to return home. The chilly autumn wind made Sora shiver and his teeth rattle. Riku wrapped his jacket around Sora and put his arm on Sora's shoulder.
"Come on, let's get you out of the cold," Riku suggested.
But Sora didn't budge. He just stood there, staring at Leon's tombstone. Riku sighed, knowing that Sora was still racked with guilt over Leon's death and Radiant Garden's destruction.
"You can't blame yourself," Riku said. "You did the best you could do in an impossible situation."
"Did I, though?" Sora asked. "I let Leon die knowing that I hadn't fought to save the world that he loved."
"We can still get Radiant Garden back," Riku argued. "We can still find a way to make sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain."
"But how many more friends are we gonna lose along the way?" Sora asked. "My friends have always been my power, but Ansem's always known how to tear us apart. He took you and Kairi away from me! That's NOT okay!"
"Hey, hey, come on," Riku said, rubbing Sora's shoulder in a vain attempt to comfort his boyfriend. "We all found our way back to each other eventually. You just have to keep your friends in your heart. You know that better than anyone."
"I do, but what if that's not enough?" Sora asked. "Don't we deserve to finally just get the chance to be together without some darkness-obsessed maniac trying to destroy the universe? It's like we're stuck constantly fighting for something we never get the chance to just enjoy. And I'm sick of it. It needs to stop."
"Stop how?" Riku asked with concern in his voice.
Sora extended his arm in front of him and held out his hand. In a flash of light, his Keyblade materialized there and glistened in the light of the sunset.
"I'm done letting bad things happen and only trying to stop them," Sora declared. "Ansem, Xigbar, Maleficent, and every other villain who thinks hurting people and tearing friends apart is okay... I'm taking the fight to you, and I'm ending it."
Audrey let out an ear-piercing yell as she unleashed a chaotic wave of magic, incinerating the Heartless surrounding her and also breaking a few stone gargoyles behind them. She huffed and panted as she regained her composure and brushed the stray hair from her eyes.
"You lack control," Cora remarked plainly. "That was wild and overly angry."
Audrey gritted her teeth. "YOU said that magic was emotion, so I let out my emotions."
"You have to keep your emotions under control," Cora reiterated.
"First you tell me that I have to get emotional and let loose," Audrey complained, "and now you're saying I have to be restrained? Will you make up your mind?"
"You're thinking of it all wrong," Cora said with a shake of her head. "It's not about restraint. You have to build your emotional power inside of you, but then direct it into a specific manifestation. Stomping your feet and throwing a temper tantrum will rarely accomplish anything, but acting upon your emotions in a specific and concentrated way will make all the difference."
Audrey groaned and pouted. "I just don't get it. How do you do that?"
"Well let's have a little talk," Cora suggested. "Tell me, what's the source of all of these powerful emotions? What's the memory you're pulling from to power your spells?"
"Ben leaving me for that little WHORE!" Audrey shrieked, causing the lanterns nearby to spark and go out.
"Abandonment is a powerful and painful emotion," Cora said with a sympathetic nod. "Right now, you're letting it all out raw. You're letting the emotion rule you instead of you ruling it."
Cora took Audrey by the shoulders and summoned up a new Heartless in front of them.
"You have to take that pain," Cora instructed, "the fear that Ben made the right decision, that if you cannot accomplish a specific task, then you deserved his abandonment. You take it, and prove. Him. WRONG!"
A concentrated bolt of lightning shot from Audrey's fingertips and struck the Heartless square in the chest. The Heartless exploded into dust right before their eyes, without a single scorch mark on the surrounding area.
"I did it!" Audrey said as a wide grin spread onto her face.
Cora smiled. "Now doesn't that feel better?"
"Much better," Audrey agreed.
"Sinking your claws into another young woman I see," Hook remarked as he strolled out into the training room with a smug grin on his face.
"Audrey, dear, won't you give us a moment?" Cora requested.
Audrey nodded and took her leave, eyeing Hook suspiciously on her way out.
"I do have to wonder what Regina would think of this," Hook remarked once Audrey was out of earshot.
Cora's face was stone cold. "I'm doing what's needed. Maleficent wants that girl's power, and Audrey's of no use to the Overtakers if she's lashing about like some minotaur in a glassware shop."
"Well I just hope the girl's prepared for you to deny her whatever it is that she loves," Hook remarked. "After all, that is what you do, isn't it? Destroy the things those who trust you love most."
"Love is weakness, captain," Cora replied. "But you knew that already, so what is this all about, hmm? Trying to deliver enough jabs to make yourself feel like you've gotten even with me for allegedly betraying you?"
"You allegedly betrayed me just as I allegedly may have drank more than I should have last night," Hook replied. "In other words, there's no ambiguity in the situation whatsoever."
"Then what do you want from me?" Cora asked. "An apology that you and I both know I'll never truly mean?"
"What I want," Hook began, "is for you to leave me and mine alone. Do whatever you bloody well please with the others, but if you even think about so much as looking at Jafar sideways, I'll make what Snow did to you look like mercy."
"So forceful," Cora remarked with a laugh. "But rest assured, I have very little interest in your sorcerer. I'm here to help Amora and any other Overtakers who realize my value, like young Audrey for instance. You and the sorcerer couldn't be further from my mind, I assure you."
Somehow Cora's words didn't comfort Hook in the slightest, but he knew he wasn't going to get any better from her. Hook sneered and took his leave.
Cruella entered the Overtaken Kingdom branch of Castaway Cabana with a cloud of cigarette smoke following her as she entered. Ursula was hard at work toiling around her cauldron, adding in various mystical ingredients.
"A barracuda's nose and a dozen turtle toes," Ursula called aloud, "and the venom of a sea anemone!"
"Mmm, sounds tasty," Cruella said with a laugh. "Hello darling!"
"Cruella! It's been FAR too long!" Ursula declared as she looked up from her brew. "You and I need to link up with Mal again sometime soon. We need a Queens of Darkness night on the town!"
"I'd settle for a cocktail in the back alley," Cruella replied. "Everything's been so hectic lately, it's been absolute murder on the bags under my eyes."
"Uh-huh, sure, and what exactly have you been working SO hard on lately?" Ursula asked with a knowing smirk.
"Oh, well, a little of this, a little of that," Cruella said without looking Ursula in the eye.
Both women knew that Cruella's idea of hard work had been sitting around the Eminence Palace doing very little.
"Speaking of," Cruella continued, "what's the concoction you're mixing over there?"
"A little pet project of mine," Ursula explained. "Had a poor unfortunate soul come to me looking for help travelling to other worlds. Through absolutely no fault of my own, the man didn't read the fine print closely enough and almost immediately was in breech of contract. The poor man put his soul up for collateral. Not my fault he doesn't know a precious commodity when he sees one."
Cruella laughed loudly and wickedly. "And let me guess: you were only too happy to turn the little fool into a polyp for your collection."
"Ya see, that was the initial plan," Ursula explained, "but then I got struck by a bolt of inspiration! The Overtakers have the largest gathering of dark sorcery in the entire cosmos. We practically corner the market. But when it comes down to the physical side of things, that's where we run into some sticky situations. I mean, really, we have Russell and Blackheart amongst our main team and Amora's pet Executioner and Solomon Grundy for the second-stringers, but it's a mages' world at the end of the day."
"Not really seeing the point, darling," Cruella said.
"My point is, we could use the extra muscle, and I've got the perfect warrior already in the making," Ursula declared.
Ursula dramatically snapped her fingers and twirled around on the spot, summoning up a large bubble that hovered in the center of the room. Floating in the middle of the bubble, sound asleep and blissfully unaware of his surroundings, there was a young bearded brunette man dressed in golden armor adorned with trident emblems. He was human, but his veins seemed to be coursing blue and purple and his skin had taken on a very light indigo shade as a result.
"Scruffy and handsome fellow," Cruella remarked.
"I know, it seemed such a shame to let it all go to waste," Ursula said. "The poor man was drowning his sorrows in liquor and simply wasting away as it was. I've made him stronger, faster, and more powerful than before. And the best part? He's totally loyal to me! HA!"
"Does your invincible warrior have a name?" Cruella asked. "Or will I just have to call him Mr. Handsome every time?"
"He went by Prince Phillip in another life," Ursula answered. "Though I'm open to more fitting titles for my warrior."
"Prince Phillip... why does that name sound familiar?" Cruella asked with a puzzled expression.
"Funny enough, this fellow lost his entire family when we burned Storybrooke to the ground," Ursula said. "A true tragedy indeed."
The two women pretended to mourn for a few seconds until they couldn't take it any more. They burst out cackling wickedly as they reminisced about the destruction of Storybrooke and the carnage they'd wrought.
Cruella dabbed the tears from her eyes and she struggled to wind down from laughing so hard. "Oh, but seriously, 'Prince Phillip' is awfully dull. If he's an invincible warrior of the sea, he needs a name to match!"
Ursula scratched her chin in contemplation before snapping excitedly. "I've got it!"
"Do tell!" Cruella requested.
"He's gonna fight with all the powers of the ocean," Ursula explained. "I gave him the strength of a mighty whirlpool, and he needs a name that reflects that. Prince Phillip is no more! Now, there's only Charybdis!"
Chernabog roared and waved his arms about as if he were a symphony conductor. Dark music from regions beyond began to echo throughout the mountain, and the demons and phantoms emerged from the darkness to begin their devilish dance.
"I think I can take him in a fight," Blackheart boasted as he squared up his feet.
"You'll do no such thing," Maleficent ordered sternly before turning to Grimhilde. "Can you get his attention?"
Grimhilde shook her head. "We'll need something big and noticeable."
"How about I punch him in the nose?" Blackheart asked.
"No!" Maleficent said sternly. "Do you think me amused by your conduct? Well I am not. When I require you to do battle, I will specifically tell you to do so."
Blackheart crossed his arms and pouted but did not argue further.
"I can use an illusion to draw his eyes," Loki offered.
"No need," Maleficent said. "I believe I know a better way. Stand back, all of you."
Maleficent began to step towards the center of the dancing demons, while Grimhilde, Loki, Doom, and Blackheart huddled off to the side to stay out of their leader's way. Green fire exploded out of Maleficent, blasting the crowd of dancing demons aside as Maleficent's form grew. Chernabog looked on with intrigue as a large dragon met his gaze and roared in his face.
Chernabog let out a chuckle that shook the mountain and wordlessly turned his attention towards the other four as they emerged from their hiding spots. The Overtakers were mice to him, and he regarded them as a cat mildly amused by his prey. Loki scowled. If Grimhilde's description was to be believed, Chernabog was simply another god, no greater than Loki himself. Despite the black god's size, the Liesmith had no intention of treating him with any reverence or fear.
"We are the Overtakers!" Loki boasted. "And you shall kneel before us, be-"
Chernabog's massive claw struck quickly, knocking Loki off the ledge and into the volcanic crater before he could complete his boast. Doom made a move to retaliate and go after Loki, but he quickly thought better of it when he noticed the falling illusion of Loki vanish into thin air. Doom chastised himself for not knowing better and turned his attention back to the matter at hand.
"Lord Chernabog, forgive my ally's impetuousness," Grimhilde interjected. "He is unused to not being the only god worthy of respect. Now then, I am-"
"Grimhilde, daughter of Borghilde," Chernabog interrupted, his booming voice echoing off the mountain. "Yes, I am well aware. My memory is not so short. What is your business here, witch?"
"We seek your incredible dark powers to aid us in our conflict with Cronus and Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness," Grimhilde answered.
"Is that so?" Chernabog asked as he eyed Maleficent suspiciously.
Maleficent met his glare, never blinking or revealing any weakness. Grimhilde assured Chernabog that their intentions were solely that which she had said, but neither Maleficent nor Chernabog listened. They just kept glaring at one another. The black god clearly suspected Maleficent's ulterior motives. Maleficent's dragon form faded into green fire, and she re-emerged amongst her allies in her humanoid form.
"A show of good faith," Maleficent explained. "I do not seek to challenge you, Chernabog."
Chernabog squinted suspiciously and gestured dramatically towards the dancing demons. "A test then. Show me your magic."
Maleficent glanced behind her at Grimhilde. "Is this to be a battle?"
Grimhilde shook her head. "I do not believe so. Do not forget: this world is the Symphony of Sorcery. Magic and music go hand in hand. I believe this test would be more aptly described as a dance."
"Does he expect us to be twinkly-toes?" Blackheart asked.
"I do not dance," Maleficent stated plainly.
"I suppose if no other intends to take the challenge, then I shall do so," Loki said as he reappeared amongst the Overtakers. "The beast's taste in music is a bit austere, but I'm more than willing to rise to the occasion."
"Do not forget: it is your magic being tested, not simply your foot work," Grimhilde explained. "Magic and music go hand in hand in this world."
"Understood," Loki nodded as he strolled over to the demonic dance floor.
"Let the challenge begin," Chernabog bellowed.
The symphony began to echo around the mountain, and the demons began to dance in their wild waltz. Loki immediately matched them move for move, prancing and leaping in time with the music. Then Loki began to work, transfiguring demons left and right into duplicates of himself to the beat of the music. Soon the entire dance was populated by Lokis. As the deep bass of the symphony began to echo loudly, the real Loki unleashed a spell that reduced the other Lokis to pure light. Then as the pace of the music increased once again, Loki began to juggle the beams of light, changing their colors on the beats as his foot work became more and more impressive.
Doom looked on at Loki, positively enthralled. He'd always known that his lover was talented in more ways than one, but Loki's talents often were shown during the heat of battle where Doom had no opportunity to enjoy them. Here, however, Doom found himself practically mesmerized by the way Loki moved. Loki's dance was beautiful, and it was even more beautiful with the knowledge that the dance could turn deadly at any moment the God of Mischief decided. As the final note of the symphony sounded, Loki extinguished all light around him, causing only the soft glow from the volcano to light him from beneath.
"I trust this pleases you?" Maleficent asked as she turned back towards Chernabog.
"You have my attention," Chernabog nodded. "And now you wish for me to join in your cause?"
"No," Maleficent answered.
Grimhilde, Blackheart, and Loki looked at Maleficent with confusion. After all, she'd led them all to believe that they'd come for Chernabog himself. Doom simply crossed his arms and observed. He, on the other hand, had deduced that Maleficent had an ulterior motive for their journey.
"Then make your request," Chernabog instructed.
"Grant us passage into Bald Mountain," Maleficent requested. "There is a boon within that I desire."
Chernabog scratched his chin in contemplation before nodding in agreement. A large cave entrance opened along the side of the volcano.
"You may proceed," Chernabog said.
Maleficent nodded and beckoned for her Overtakers to follow her through the entrance. Volcanic craters littered with remnants of lost worlds coursed through the mountain's interior. Maleficent scanned her surroundings, trying to determine the best route to obtain what she desired.
"What is the meaning of all this?" Grimhilde asked angrily once they were out of Chernabog's earshot.
"Why didn't you let me punch him?" Blackheart asked.
"Quiet!" Maleficent ordered.
"A bit on edge, aren't we?" Loki asked with a smug grin. "Tell me, how does rejecting Chernabog factor into recruiting him for his power?"
"She has an ulterior motive," Doom answered for her. "I should have thought that would be plain."
"Obviously," Loki answered with a roll of his eyes. "It was a rhetorical question meant to convey the idea that I already knew of her lies. Honestly, Victor, give me a modicum of credit."
"I did not lie," Maleficent insisted. "I told you our journey was to control a source of darkness powerful enough to rival Ansem. That goal has not changed."
"But Chernabog himself is not the goal," Grimhilde said. "How can that be? No source of darkness could possibly be greater!"
"Yet we already know of such a power, do we not?" Maleficent answered with a pointed look towards Loki and Doom.
"The girl with the magic hair, yes," Doom remarked.
"Girl? What girl? Am I supposed to know about a girl?" Blackheart asked.
"Rapunzel, a princess whose heart contains the mythical sundrop of light," Maleficent explained, "yet with that light comes the potential for great darkness. Within her lies the power of the sundrop's counterpart the moonstone, a source of unlimited darkness and destruction. I've been planning for some time to use her dark powers to extinguish all light, but she alone cannot accomplish the feat."
"Then our presence here is to obtain a means to spread her influence," Loki offered. "How... interesting."
"And what else have you not told us?" Grimhilde asked through gritted teeth.
"There!" Maleficent declared, not paying any mind to Grimhilde's question.
Sitting amongst the ruins was a page of sheet music hovering above the ground with magical images of musical notes revolving around it.
"Sheet music? That is what we have come for?" Doom huffed dismissively.
"Music is magic in this world, remember," Grimhilde explained. "That would be what is known as a Sound Idea."
"Puns. Goodie," Blackheart snorted.
Maleficent walked over to the Sound Idea and summoned it to her hand. She held it aloft and cackled triumphantly as she admired her newest acquisition.
"This will ensure our victory over the hearts of light," Maleficent declared. "Soon all worlds will tremble at the dulcet tones of the Armageddon Key."
The Corridor of Darkness opened in the middle of an empty chamber inside of the Eminence Palace. With Maleficent and Grimhilde gone from the castle, the Overtakers' strongest watchful eyes were currently unable to keep tabs on who entered and left the castle. Xigbar practically pranced out of the portal and spread his arms dramatically.
"Home again, home again, jiggedy-jig!" Xigbar shouted with a laugh.
"Do take this seriously," Ansem cautioned as he emerged from the portal.
"You can't blame the man for being excited," Mephisto said as he stepped out. "There's certainly Hell to pay for the fools occupying this world."
"Once this castle was mine," the Horned King hissed as he emerged. "And I will have it back!"
"Our objective is not acquisition of the castle," Ultron warned. "Do not stray from the assignment given by Lord Cronus."
"Retribution for the Master is all that concerns me," Koragg announced. "Cronus's instructions matter not. Do not presume to impede upon my honor."
"Xaldin, do you always have to be such a wet blanket?" Xigbar asked with a groan.
"Koragg is my name now," he corrected. "Xaldin was a name given to me by Xemnas, who does not truly exist any longer."
"That's a paradox and you know it," Xigbar quipped. "But you gotta admit, it has a better ring to it than Dilan."
"Enough of this chatter," Flurious ordered as he emerged from the portal. "I did not join this faction to endure fools who babble worse than the overgrown guinea pig of a yeti I once suffered the presence of."
"No, you joined because you were dead, and we brought you back," Mephisto reminded him. "So let's not forget the debts we've yet to pay, eh?"
"You didn't resurrect me out of generosity," Flurious declared. "Out of all of us, I am the only one who has managed to kill one of these Overtaker pests. You require my power more than I require yours."
"Gentlemen," Ansem said, drawing everyone's attention to him. "We've a task at hand. All of our desires will be met once Cronus has been reunited with his gems. Until then, let's focus on cooperation, shall we? And let's be thankful for the man who showed us the way into the castle."
Ansem gestured back at the Corridor of Darkness as a large figure hobbled out of it. His right leg was that of a crab's, and his left arm was a large claw. Yet the rest of him resembled another breed of sea-creature. For his beard was a mess of tentacles, and his head was that of an octopus.
"Allow me to be the first to thank you," Ansem said, "Davy Jones."