this chapter feels very recap-y for me, but I feel it was important to include this world as there happen some very significant parts.
Following the pathway that opened, Sora and his three friends arrive in a familiar world: Halloween Town. And this excites Sora, for he remembers what Michi made the last time they were here. "hey, now you can share that song to Jack!" Michi puts a hand behind the drawn-up hood of his with a small nervous laugh.
"Sounds better than using the Heartless for the Halowee…" Donald trails off when noticing something a bit strange with this world. "Wha…?" The three others follow his stare, spotting many orange lights on the walls leading to the town. That is quite weird, as it didn't look like Halloween decorations.
Jack's ghost dog, Zero appears, startling everyone but Sora, who asks the floating ghost dog happily. "How you been boy?" The dog flies through his hand as its version of a pet before heading into town. The group follows and if they thought the lights were weird, then a ramp, creepy toys and spooky trees that have shrunken heads as decoration amped that thought up. Not to mention Jack Skellington arrives by a sled drawn by three skeleton reindeer, which caused the newly arrived guest even more confusion about what is going on in this holiday world.
The moment Jack notices the group, he greets them excitedly; "Welcome back, and Merry Christmas!"
Merry Christmas? But it's not even close to winter and besides, this world is based on another holiday. "Don't you mean "Happy Halloween?"" Sora asks the leader of this town, but it turns out that Jack was indeed serious that he was planning on doing the whole Christmas tradition, and explains: "With everything ready for Christmas, I'm off to Christmas Town so I can get Sandy Claw's blessing." The name did perplex Sora for a moment, but Goofy sorted it out by suggesting Jack Skellington must be speaking about Santa Claus. Which took Sora by surprise but in a good way. "Does that mean Santa is real?" he asks, getting excited about this knowledge.
Michi, on the other hand; "Uh, who is this Santa Claus?" He asks, still confused about this and not understanding why both Jack and Sora take meeting this guy so seriously. Does feel like he stepped on Sora's sandcastle from how the teen is staring at him in utter disbelief. Before Sora could say anything though, Jack jumps onto the town square fountain, asking them joyous: "Aren't these decorations wonderful? This year Halloween Town's going to handle Christmas too!" Not having a clue about either the celebrations of Halloween or Christmas, Michi cannot see the wrongness by mixing the two festivals together.
Donald and Goofy sure can, for all of these 'decorations' are too scary for Christmas, while Sora… he's too excited that he might be able to meet the real Santa Claus. Much to his two comrades' disbelief as they can clearly see that Jack's idea of Christmas is a terrible idea.
The Heartless did make an appearance in reaction to the keyblade, and seeing them back, Jack suggested they should be the bodyguards of Sandy Claws. Sora didn't argue one bit, while Donald and Goofy are hesitant about the Pumpkin King taking over Christmas. Michi merely just tagged along, unsure what all the fuss is about.
Jack brought them to an area where several trees have icons of each holiday, and after the skeleton has stepped over to the tree having the icon of a Christmas tree. He begins on a small tirade: "The spooks of Halloween can get so tiresome year after year. I wanted something new, and I found this!" He gestured at the tree, encouraged to continue from how fascinated Sora is about his find. "Beyond this door is a world filled with wonders the likes of which you've never seen! At first, I couldn't believe my eyes! Everything was so fresh and exciting!"
Sora can no longer take the suspense and exclaims excited, "Come on, just open it!" Jack does and Sora, without a moment's thought, jumps through the open doorway.
Donald, Goofy and Michi hesitate but do follow and after a nerve-racking trip through some sort of pathway, the whole group is hurled out and lands onto the snow-filled ground. The three's appearance change to fit the new area, while Michi stays the same thanks to the black coat. Jack arrives not long after; his appearance stays the same as he belongs to this world. "Shall we?" He asks the others and when they get back up, starts guiding them towards Christmas Town.
In the area so different compared to Halloween Town, in fact; is a huge contrast. Sora has trouble keeping his excitement in check that he is walking in the very world that houses THE Santa Claus. He turns to his three friends, asking them in a manner as if he's five again. "Isn't this exciting? We're in the world of Santa!" Donald and Goofy nod, only barely capable of keeping their own excitement in check.
Michi on the other hand; "I don't get what's the big deal…" He says while staring at a decorated Christmas tree. Michi eyes the dumbfounded staring Sora and backtracks a bit. "I mean, I think I get the whole light thing; winter is quite dark and the lights live things up. But what's up with all of those boxes?" Pointing at said boxes.
"What's the— Michi, have you never celebrated Christmas before?" Sora asks and is in utter shock when Michi shakes his head. "You mean you have never gotten presents?"
"Presents?" Michi repeats confused about this word. He has heard it a few times but never fully understood its meaning.
"You don't know what presents are?!" Sora can't believe it, how can Michi not know about Christmas? That has to change right now. "Hey Jack," He turns to the Pumpkin King, who is watching a snowman in great fascination. "Where's Santa Claus?"
Jack turns away from this fascinating decoration and over to Sora, "In his workshop, this way". he beckons them to follow. Jack leads them to the building and inside, Sandy Claws is sitting on a large chair, scanning a long piece of paper.
Noticing the visitors, Santa Claus asks them joyfully, "Well, hello everyone. Did you come to see if you're on my "nice" list?" The four approaches. "Your name?" He asks the teen that is the most excited, something he usually only sees in younger children.
"Um, Sora, sir." Sora replies, barely able to contain his excitement that he is standing before THE Santa Claus.
Santa begins to skin the long list, "Let's see… Sora.. ah here you are." and remarks to the boy. "Well, according to my list, Sora. Seven years ago, you told everyone you did not believe in Santa Claus… oh, that is unfortunate." He remarks, brushing his long white beard.
Sora throws his hands up to his head in disbelief that Santa knew about that. Donald and Goofy stare at him for a moment before Donald asks Santa Claus if they are on the list. The red-dressed man looks through the list and much to their joy, he nods. Donald jumps up in the air knowing this, while Goofy turns to Michi. Hard to tell with the hood up, but he looks a bit confused. Turning to Santa, Goofy asks: "What about our friend Michi? Is he on the list?" adding, "This is his first Christmas."
Santa searches the list but not such names appear, another one does, though, and Santa understands right away. "Ah, I see 'Michi' is not really your name. But yes, even after all these years, you are still on the "nice" list, Myde."
Jerking in surprise that this guy knew his name, "Huh? H-How did you know my name?" Not noticing the confused looks Sora, Donald and Goofy gave him. This Santa Claus merely smiles in response. Jack then walks over, asking just as excited Sora was– until Santa said Sora didn't believe in him, not entirely sure what's the deal is about that. "Am I on your list too, by any chance? It's me, Jack."
"Jack Skellington?!" Santa asks in disbelief and right that moment, sounds of something shatter in his workshop, much to the man's annoyance. "What sort of trouble did you bring this time?"
Sora voices his confusion about Santa Claus statement and Jack replies quickly, "It's a long story." before following the man to check what is going on inside the workshop. Turns out that Halloween Town's pranksters, Lock, Shock and Barrel have followed them. And Santa wanted them brought back so they can get a solid lecture. Jack tried to talk about him handling Christmas but Santa Claus wouldn't hear of it before they brought those three back. "Jack, let's go and catch those pranksters." Sora calls and runs out to follow them with his three friends close behind. Jack Skellington follows soon and the group follows the three kids' tracks back to Halloween Town.
They find the three at the graveyard, somehow teamed up with a Heartless and able to command it. With Michi leaving the area, Sora, Donald, Goofy and Jack run towards the large threat. With the Heartless defeated, those three took the run for it, accidently letting it slip that Oogie is back. They pursue the three but they escape and in their search for them.
Sally, Jack's girlfriend comes over and tells them some terrible news about what she overheard Oogie Bookie was planning. "He is going to kidnap Santa Claus. Oh, I can't imagine what he will do to him..." only it will be terrible as Oogie Bookie is known for his vile way of games.
"We gotta rescue him!" Sora declares, his friends nod in agreement, and as fast as their legs can carry them, they hurry back to Christmas Town.
Arriving inside Santa Claus workshop, Oogie makes his appearance by tackling Sally, knocking her to the floor below.
She is fortunately unharmed.
The bag of bugs runs over to the present-making machines in which he jumps onto."You and I have a score to settle, Jack!" Oogie Bookie declares, adding gleefully, "Same goes for your little sidekicks!"
"What are you planning to do with Sandy Claws?!" Jack demands, but Oogie didn't know who that was for some reason, even though the man was lying restrained on the conveyer belt right behind him. When Oogie does get over to the trapped Sandy Claws, that living bag of bugs demands: "And why is this roly-poly red guy here?" Sign he indeed has no clue who he is, but that does not make Oogie less of a threat to Santa. Oogie pulls him up and shoves the man towards one of the machines. "Time to go, grandpa!"
Santa Claus would've gotten seriously hurt if not for Sally's quick thinking. She threw the leg that fell off during her fall before Oogie, distracting the bag of bugs long enough for Santa to get away and over to her.
Greatly annoyed by this, Oogie tries to get over and reclaim that red guy, but Jack and his sidekicks stop him. Oogie decides to start his little game early, as he much rather wanted to make a test run on them than the red guy. He gets onto a transport box and traps the heroes onto the conveyor belts.
Sora and his friends at first try to get off, but a barrier keeps them from jumping off, so it looks like they have to make Oogie let them off. Together with Jack, they defeat Oogie Boogie and like last time, they tear that bag apart, rendering Oogie to nothing but a bunch of scattered bugs on the floor. With him taking care of, now they have to make Jack understand that taking over Christmas… might not be such a good idea.
"You oughta stick to Halloween and spooky stuff." Goofy tells the Pumpkin King, but Jack didn't really listen, he's still too excited about this whole Christmas premise, and it didn't make it better that Sally has finished a Santa Claus costume Jack had requested.
So Santa Claus takes a knack at it, telling the skeleton, "don't even think about taking over for me again!"
That made Jack stop for a moment, but still not deterred. "I just thought you could use a little help this year, Mr. Claws." Jack suggests and points out that Sandy Claws must be exhausted with all the preparations. "And I wouldn't mind a second chance to get this Christmas thing right."
Santa does admit that all these preparations can be tiresome but, "Let me tell you something Jack: seeing the happy faces of the little children when they discover the presents I've brought them makes it all worthwhile year after year after year." And like he loves watching joy on the little ones faces, Jack Skellington loves watching people be frighten. The skeleton has fun scaring children, which leads to the question: "What if someone tried to take all of that away from you?" That it seems he got through the Pumpkin King's head, which hopefully won't make him try and hijack Christmas again. Santa reminds Jack that they both have to do their very best when it comes to both of their jobs.
Well, when Sandy Claws put it that way, yes, Jack can see how important he is for Halloween. "You're right! I am the master of terror!" Jack Skellington exclaims and realizes that if Halloween becomes too routine, then; "All I have to do is think of something new that'll really make them scream!"
Good to hear that Jack is back to his old self and speaking of finding something new: "Hey, if you want something for this year's Halloween," Sora jumps over to Michi and points at the guy, remembering what he made last time they were here. "Michi got this awesome song you could use!"
"Wonderful! You gotta let me hear it!" Jack exclaims excitedly.
Michi laughs nervously at the sudden attention he's getting, but it's hard to ignore the praise he's getting from this crowd. "Um, sure." And begins to follow Jack back to the spooky Halloween Town.
"Before you leave." Santa calls for the group, first turning his attention to Sora. "I believe there's a friend of yours who— if I recall correctly, was the one who told you there's no such thing as Santa Claus?"
Oh yeah, now that he mentions it, Riku did say that. Santa asks him to give Riku his very best wishes, Sora would but… "Do you know where I can find Riku?"
That Santa does not know, however, what he can say to young Sora. "But don't give up. Remember, if you believe in Riku, you will find him just as you found me." Sora nods and Santa Claus then turns to one who hasn't believed in him because; he wasn't a thing back when 'Michi' here was a child. "You'd never gotten the chance to believe in me, and that is all right. instead, I ask you to believe in your friends."
Michi drops his head and tells this man somberly, "I want but can't... every time I have to watch..." he stops himself, not wanting to voice this dreadful truth about his life. Instead, he focuses on why he was– and still is scared of showing his face to the others. "If they knew who I am… they will only see an enemy." He eyes this plumb red-dressed man, and doing his best to ignore the looks the trio his boss made him accompany. Three who have given him a sense of what true friendship is, and yet Michi knows it won't mean anything in the long run. "I can't even believe in myself, so how can I believe in others?"
"Trust in the melody of your heart, it will lead you on the right path." Santa Claus replies, and with those words, he heads back to his workshop.
Sora hesitantly walks over to Michi, not entirely sure how to address this guy, knowing that he wasn't even honest with his own name. But from what 'Michi' said, he does not believe in anyone, not even himself. His heart tells him what to do, and Sora has never been one to ignore its command. "Let's go back to Halloween Town, Jack would like to hear that song you made." Michi nods quietly and they head back. Sora decides to open this can of worms on the walk back to the spooky town. "So… your name isn't really Michi?"
Michi drops his head, figuring he can't get out from this one. "No… sorry…" but he can at least defend himself. "My Boss told me to use that name; he knew the danger is you knew me by name."
Sora does not fully get why Michi's boss told their friend to do that. He doesn't recognize him, not even by the name Santa called him. Before he can voice those thoughts out, Goofy speaks: "So what Santa Claus called you," Goofy eyes their hooded comrade. "That was your true name?"
"Yeah…"
"We don't know anyone by that name." Donald voices, Sora nods in agreement, adding to Michi: "so I don't get why your boss wanted you to hide it."
"He has his reasons, and I have long stopped question him." Michi admits, admittedly too scared to try and go against the boss' commands. "Don't worry, I am not going to betray you. I just... can't help you with your mission..." Less so now one of them knows who he is and Michi is deeply troubled by what Xigbar's words had revealed, but he can't figure out how the man knew about such things.
Well, in that case, it makes Michi good enough in his view. "Does that mean we'll have to call you Myde now, or do you prefer Michi?" Sora asks, and thinking out loud "Maybe it's best we keep using Michi, can't have others hear your true name." To his and the others' confusion, Michi stops. They do as well and watch the hooded just stand there. What he was thinking is impossible to know, thanks to the hood.
Michi is no longer sure what to do. He has never been around people like Sora, Donald and Goofy. They might have been distrustful of him initially, but in the end, they came to view him as a friend, giving him trust he has never experienced before. Not even Ethan, one he considered his best friend, never treated him as an equal. And Ludor might have been a long traveling companion, but Michi won't exactly say they are friends. It's more mutual respect about their quirks, but that's about it.
This… this is what he thinks is true friendship and Michi wants to repay it but… after everything he has been through… "I'm scared." He admits quietly to the trio, and for the first time in his life; he opens up and voices his feelings. "All my life, people have looked down on me, expecting me to follow and not ask questions. Any other talent was worthless other than how strong my arm was. No one ever considered my opinions, never hearing what I had to say, so why should I ever try and win their respect. It wasn't worth it, you know?" He chuckles weakly but does quickly dies down. His shoulder hunches and if he could, then tears would've fallen from his eyes. "But you three… you have accepted me like no one ever has done before. You accepted my flaws and encouraged the few talents I have. Even though I never joined you in a fight, you still appriciated the little help I did." He steps a bit away from the trio, kicking a small pile of snow away. "I… I want to return this kindness, your trust in me, but… if you ever see my face…" They will only see an enemy and turn their weapons against him. Michi knows it has to happen, but he just wants to keep this illusion a bit longer... "You won't see a friend..."
"Hey, it's all right." Sora stops Michi, sure he would like to know what's underneath that hood, but he does not want to make their mysterious and, right now, quite upset friend feel forced. "If you don't feel comfortable, then don't show us. We can deal, right?" He asks Donald and Goofy, both nod in agreement.
Sure it's annoying but from what Michi has just told them, "You don't owe us anything." Donald tells him.
Goofy nods in agreement, adding. "But can we agree to be honest with one another from now on?"
… again with this great acceptance. Michi is truly touched, "Of course." he smiles underneath the hood. "Thank you." Sora, Donald and Goofy nod. He follows them back to Halloween Town, where they find Jack, still in the Santa Claus costume.
"Ah, there you are." Jack smiles at them and beckons Michi. "Let's hear this song of yours. I am certain it will be perfect for this year of Halloween!"
Michi eyes him, and Sora gives him an encouraging nod. The hooded lets out a small sigh, then with; "My sign of trusting you." He summons a sort of large guitar, blue and has long sharp edges on top. Sora titles his head at this instrument but figures this is how Michi makes his music when he's alone. For some reason, Michi seems confused but quickly brushes it off and starts playing the song he made, even going so far as to make the water from the nearby fountain form into humanoid figures and dance as Jack tried with the Heartless the last time they were here.
When Michi finished, Jack is ecstatic, "This is exactly what I need!" he puts his long slender arm over the black-dressed fella. "You will be the star of this year's Halloween!"
"Whoa, too close for comfort, Jack!" Michi exclaims, he does not appreciate having this walking skeleton this close to his face, but it's not like Jack here understands and keeps going on how this year of Halloween will be the best yet.
Meanwhile, Sora notices that the water fountain is lighting up, his keyblade reacts and like the other worlds, Sora uses the light from that object to open a new pathway to the next world. With it unlocked, Sora gets the excited Jack away from Michi. "Sorry, but we will have to leave for now. We will be back, though."
Jack accepts that and they head back to the gummiship. Sitting on his spot on the floor. Michi keeps pondering at the lack of reaction about his weapon from the trio. Makes him wonder, "Uh, say, did you encounter one from the Organization in Olympus Coliseum?"
"Sure, why?" Sora asks, a bit confused to how Michi knew about that. "How did you know?"
"uh, I need to keep an eye on the Organization so to stay out of their way." To his relief, Sora accepts this explanation. "I saw you there, but I didn't approach because of the Organization." Again Sora nods, not at all annoyed by the lack of approach and much more at ease, but also worried. "So... I was wondering what you made of that guy." Michi makes a shrug in an attempt to act causally but in reality, he is nervous.
It comes as a surprise that Michi had been in Olympus Coliseum, but it is understandable why he hadn't contacted them. Sora knows their secretive friend wouldn't have stood a chance against the Organization member they met there. "Well, I am not sure why, but that guy really has something against me." Sora replies his thoughts that Nobody they met in the Underworld
Donald nods in agreement and shudders by the mere thought, "He got really scary when you summoned the second keyblade…"
Huh? Wait, that does not sound like… "Uh... I wasn't around long enough to see his face. How did that guy look like?"
"Well, he got this x-shaped scar on his forehead." Goofy explains, jerking in surprise by how Michi jumps, dropping that large guitar of his.
Hold up, they met Saix down there? What in the world? Then… does that mean they haven't met him yet? Is that why they didn't react to his sitar? It can't have been his meddling that changed this, can it? Michi is not sure, but… it seems he has to ask his partner what has been going on inside the Organization since his arrival. Noticing the others staring, he laughs akwardly. "oh, that guy... yeah, good thing I left." They nod in agreement, leaving Michi to his inward confusion about this strange change of event.
I will try and submit a new chapter soon, but I am not entirely sure when. it's hard to write in the heat.