Kairi followed Riku up the stair maze. She was still bemused by the magical workings within the tower; how the stairways changed their course and how the same doors could lead them to the most unexpected of places. Even though the tower changed every time they came for a visit, the boy climbed the stairs and chose the doors with such ease, that Kairi secretly thought that the elderly Master or King Mickey had actually told Riku of the building's secret at a certain point.
When they finally reached the topmost floor, the duo stopped before Yen Sid's room. Hushed voices came from within. Riku looked at Kairi and she nodded knowingly. The two edged closer and tried peering inside, listening closely to the conversation from within. They couldn't see who the visitor was, but Yen Sid seemed unusually stern and serious, both hands placed atop his thick tome, his fingers folded. The aged sorcerer's eyes probably followed the movements of his guest, who was slowly pacing up and down.
"If what you are saying, we might be in a greater peril, than we were before. Though I am not sure what these masked figures want, their leader has been a troublesome fellow for quite some time." Yen Sid commented. "Are you sure, that the Keyblade he used, had belonged to Master Xehanort previously?"
"Do you doubt me?" the female voice, far too familiar to Kairi, asked. She looked at Riku, who seemed to have recognized the voice. His eyes were widened, his mouth hung open. Kairi was surprised by the boy's reaction and accidentally pushed the door slightly, which in turn creaked painfully. Damn it! "Were you expecting someone?" the woman with the surly voice asked.
"Not just yet. Still, Riku, Kairi! Come in!" came the order from the master, and the two youths looked at each other distraughtly. Riku nodded, and prepared to summon his Keyblade, while Kairi pushed the door open and stepped inside the room.
Yen Sid looked at her, wearing his regularly serious but not unfriendly expression. Kairi looked at his guest, who stood by the wall, looking grim and frightening, surrounded by a sheer dark aura.
"Maleficent!" Riku cried out, summoning Braveheart immediately.
"Riku, wait." Yen Sid said calmly, raising one hand.
Maleficent stared back at them, not moving an inch, not even raising how magical staff. "I am not here to fight… for now at least" she scoffed at the boy with a seeming distaste. "I have far bigger concerns, than you lot."
Kairi looked at Yen Sid for guidance "Master?"
"She is telling the truth." the sorcerer nodded. "Maleficent, I do not doubt you. Master Xehanort's Keyblade is said to be the most ancient of all Keyblades, though we do not know where it originated from. Only stories and fables remain of those ages, the Age of Fairytales."
"I've gathered that you wouldn't be much help to me" Maleficent retorted angrily. "Still, you might be of use to me in case you decide to do something with his lot." the witch added and turned to open a Dark Corridor for herself. Yen Sid stood up.
"What are you planning to do?"
"I will claim the box and all of its contents, one way or another!" she said and stepped through the portal, without looking back at any of them. The Dark Corridor closed behind her and silence fell on the room for a few moments. After a short pause, Riku released his Keyblade and Yen Sid sat back into his chair, looking at the duo.
"What was that all about?" Riku looked at the sorcerer. "Why was she here? And who was she talking about?"
"It seems like the death of Master Xehanort is not the end of our troubles" Kairi commented.
The master sighed and shook his head, beckoning the two to gather closer to his large desk. "I am afraid, not" he began. "Maleficent journeyed here to warn me of a certain group that had appeared in the Keyblade Graveyard not long after we took off. Their leader, now in possession of Master Xehanort's Keyblade, had summoned them.
"Who is their leader?" Riku asked.
"The one, you've known as Xigbar"
Riku and Kairi's eyes both widened as the news completely caught them off guard. Yen Sid nodded knowingly, as he too was probably still under the effect of the sudden and unexpected news.
"The four other he had summoned were dressed in ceremonial attires, very much similar to those worn by the Foretellers." Hearing the word Foreteller, Kairi's eyes lit up for a moment. She remembered her grandmother telling her tales about them.
"The Foretellers are said to have lived during the Age of Fairytales," Yen Sid explained. "They were the leader of their people, who all lived in a mystical town called Daybreak Town. The Foretellers turned on each other as one of them betrayed the rest and begun harnessing the power of Darkness. This ensuing conflict eventually led to the Keyblade War that tore the world asunder." Yen Sid paused for a while, so the two could contemplate on what they were told.
"But Master," Kairi spoke first. "There were five of them."
"Five?"
Kairi nodded. "Five Foretellers, one for each Union. My grandmother used to tell me this story. It was her favorite."
"Indeed. There were five of them. Unfortunately, Maleficent left hastily, and did not hear much of their conversation. She was looking for a particular black box, which was in the possession of Xigbar at the time."
"A black box" Riku repeated the Master's words, scratching his chin with his fingers. "Why is that box important to her? What's inside?"
Yen Sid shook his head. "I am afraid I do not know. Maleficent did not wish to indulge me with her own plans. But alas, we know that there are multiple parties involved with this box. For now, however, I do not wish for you two to interfere. In case I wish to make a move, I shall call for Master Aqua or King Mickey."
"But Master—" Riku began, but Yen Sid interrupted him: "You are here for a reason, I presume. Why did you come here for today?"
Riku and Kairi looked at each other. The red-haired girl looked at the master and spoke up: "Could you tell us what you know about Scala ad Caelum?"
Yen Sid did not seem surprised or bothered by the question. He remained silent, and leaned back on his chair, contemplating. He reached out, and snapped his fingers. The tome in front of him lifted from the desk and hovered over to Kairi and Riku, turning its pages, before settling before the duo. There was a picture on the left page, with a short description underneath: Scala ad Caelum, and a longer text on the other side.
The origin of Scala ad Caelum is unknown. It is the gathering place of Keyblade wielders; hopeful Keyblade apprentices are brought to the World after they manage to materialize their own Keyblade. Here they are taught many things, including the known history of the Universe, the abilities and responsibilities that come with a Keyblade, and how to use said Keyblade as well as other magical abilities.
"This isn't a lot" Kairi noted, not completely satisfied with the answer they got.
"What do you wish to know?"
"Where is this world? If there is a world full of Keyblade wielders and masters, why didn't they help us? Aqua and Terra told us, that something had happened there, but it's not like they're all gone, right?"
For the first time, Yen Sid's mysterious, unreadable mask cracked, showing a glimpse of deep sadness and pain underneath. The master closed his eyes and turned towards his windows, peering at the countless stars. "This is a hard tale to tell. Aqua and Terra know very little, for the truth can be hard to bare."
"What happened there?"
"Scala ad Caelum used to be the home of the Keyblade bearers. I have studied there myself, just as Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort. Even during my youth, the number of Keyblade masters and wielders had dwindled, but we were far from being extinct. During his youth, Master Xehanort and other like-minded Keyblade wielders started researching the Darkness, which eventually ended with a catastrophe. Back then, we had believed that it was a terrible tragedy; now, knowing what had become of Xehanort, I would think otherwise.
Many of the weaker-minded Keyblade wielders became Darklings, a special type of heartless born from Keyblade wielders who succumb to the darkness in their hearts, and assaulted their unsuspecting friends. Master Xehanort saved Eraqus but they had to escape because more and more Keyblade wielders began to turn into Darklings, as their hearts were swallowed by darkness after seeing the fate of their friends and beloved ones.
I was away from Scala ad Caelum at that time, thus I learned of the events later. Xehanort, Eraqus and I agreed to seal the World away and sever its ties to the other Worlds, as it became a very dangerous place due to the high concentration of Heartless and Darklings inhabiting it."
Kairi felt sick. She couldn't believe her ears. Even after his death, Xehanort's terrible influence and legacy was haunting them, mocking them from beyond the grave. Was there no end to his crimes? Riku looked pale, and Kairi gathered she looked just like him. She didn't even know what to say, or to say anything at all.
"So Scala ad Caelum is infested with Heartless and Darklings" Riku whispered after a long stretch of silence. "Do you think we could stand a chance against them?"
Yen Sid nodded. "I do. The two of you, especially you Riku, have faced many enemies and have experience far greater than any of the masters, or apprentices had that time. It was an era of peace back then and we had little work to do. But you had to risk your lives, fell into great perils and overcame them. I believe that both your hearts are strong enough to face whatever may lie there. It would be foolish of me to ask why you wish to make the journey, for I am certain that it is the Power of Waking that draws you to it."
"Can you help us get there?"
Yen Sid waved his fingers and a small cube appeared out of thin air, landing softly on the desk. "This is a Gummi piece that will help you find the World. If I am correct, you are planning to visit Radiant Garden soon."
The duo looked at the master with excitement and shock at the same time. "Master, how do you know?" Kairi asked sheepishly.
"A good sorcerer must have eyes and ears everywhere. I've seen you all coming from afar and heard glimpses of your discourses beneath the tower."
"We should be more careful" Riku realized, earning an agreeing nod from Yen Sid.
"Find Cid in Radiant Garden. He will help installing the Gummi device in your ship."
"Thank you, Master!" the duo said in unison, bowing before Yen Sid, who whispered his usual phrase, May your hearts be your guiding Key.
- O - O - O - O - O -
Maleficent wasn't too fascinated by the idea of traveling to the Socerer's tower and inform him of what she had found. Then again, Xigbar's involvement and the arrival of those four mystery figures alarmed even her. Not to mention, they recovered Xehanort's Keyblade and the box as well on top of everything. Whatever was their play, they were way ahead of everyone else. Drastic times called for drastic measures. And these were drastic times.
Pete awaited her on the other side of the portal, hands folded, inpatient and loud as always.
"How did it go? Did you meet those bozos?"
"The King and his usual fools weren't there, which is arguably, disappointing. The boy and his little sidekicks would've rushed to face them head-on, that I am sure of."
"The news will reach'em eventually. And then they'll try and stop those mugs, am I right?"
"Even so, we won't just sit around idle and wait for the events to unfold. Last time, we too were played by Xehanort. But this time, it will be different! This time, I will take reins and control the events."
"That means you haven somethin'?" Pete looked at her, hungry for some good news and action. Maleficent did not hide her distaste, when replying to him:
"I haven't the faintest clue about these people, I have already told you, fool! Still, we will need to get ahold of that box, if we want to succeed."
"But they ahead o' us! They knew that you went back into their time and trapped you. Ya think we could turn the tables on them, here?"
"Surely. That world was their playground. But this one is mine." Maleficent cackled darkly, her voice echoing in the halls of her brooding castle. Pete rubbed his hands, hoping to hear more, but Maleficent did not disclose any details, leaving the other dumbfounded. "I need you, to run a little errand for me in the meanwhile." she looked at him.
"What might ol' Pete do for you?"
"I want you to track the King and his lackeys. The Sorcerer will send them the news soon, and I want to know their every movement." Maleficent declared. "Do not engage them, just follow and watch. I want to know what they are doing."
"Aye," Pete nodded. "But… what if they meet them bozos?"
"Report back to me immediately."
"Understood" Pete nodded.
Maleficent waited until her partner in crime left the castle, and only began her own preparations afterwards. She descended into the lower catacombs beneath the dark fortress and searched out the hidden chamber there. It was locked but she unlocked it with a simple spell.
Beyond the door lay a black, circular room, with a cauldron in the middle. As she stepped into the room, the torches on the wall lit up and emanated an eerie green light. The fire lit up beneath the cauldron and the icky water began bubbling as a large wooden spoon descended and began to steer.
Everything was the same, not a bottle had been misplaced since she had last visited; just as she expected it to be. Maleficent crossed the room and pulled a book out of the sole bookcase, opening a dusty tome full of yellow pages. It had been quite long ago, since she had last used any of those spells. They were all hard to master and difficult to use, and nearly not as practical, as the powers of Darkness she had grown so fond of.
She went back to the cauldron, and used her fingers to summon all sorts of glasses, filled with the most various items: animal parts, herbs, magical ores and powders. She followed the recipe written in the ancient text, careful, not to stray from the given measurements.
The concoction turned thick and mossy green. There was a dark spot on the surface, resembling a door. She stared into that door and knew she was doing it correctly.
After the potion was completed, she summoned forth another book, and opened it somewhere in the middle. Maleficent raised her hands towards the sky, summoned all her magical prowess and began chanting: "Oygik akeb gariv radam, metezof rammi nezsek lla! Dsiyn ik dupak, jdegne be, a aynatakrozsob rav temegne" She repeated the same verse for five times, and suddenly the cauldron's contents exploded into a green geyser. The witch stared into the geyser and slowly, a door appeared inside the thick liquid, opening up and revealing a world beyond.
The other side of the door opened onto a great, dusty plain beneath a dark, stormy sky. Hills and mountains rose in the distance, filled with the corpse of ashen trees and dead soil, skeletons of critters and larger animals. Atop a small hill was a great rock formation, taking on the likelihood of a Raven's head. That was, where she was headed.
She traveled hastily. It would've been ill fortune to encounter the witch hunters of the world. The road took her through a small blackened weald of thorns and across a small bridge. Walpurgis Peak – as they had called it – was just as abandoned, as it was last time she had been there. The insides were filled with talismans, alchemical sets, cursed tomes and various means of torture. She looked at some of those items with a sudden fondness. It had been too long ago.
"Look who the cat dragged in" someone said from a distant, dark corner of the skull-shaped cave. "Dearest young Maleficent! I was expecting you."
The witch turned towards the source of the voice with blazing eyes, prepared to summon the powers of darkness if needs be. "Show yourself!"
"Now, is that a way to treat your old peer?" the other asked maliciously, taunting the witch.
"I will not repeat myself!" Maleficent warned. "Come out!"
She heard motion and someone stepped out of the shadows. It was a squabby woman with grayish skin, and unnaturally violet hair. "Did you really forget my voice?"
"Of course not you fool" she narrowed her eyes, carefully examining Madam Mim in her ragged blue-red clothes. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh I knew you would return eventually! So I waited!"
Maleficent considered her answer, and quite frankly the thought of Mim waiting here for over a century was quite funny; commendable but funny. It also spoke volumes of how foolish Mim was. "You can help me, then!"
"What are you planning?" Mim asked curiously.
"The times ahead seem grim, even for one such as me," she said carefully. "I deemed it wise to bring the old circle back to life."
"The Coven?" Mim's eyes widened.
"What else you mindless imbecile?!" she snapped at her. "The Coven of Walpurga, of course!"
"I was only double-checking if I were hearing you right. Last time you were here my dear, you made it quite clear that no matter what happens, you wouldn't want to do anything with the Coven ever again!"
"Circumstances have changed" Maleficent said with a mild disgust.
"Fair enough" Mim nodded, folding her hands. "But this place is mine now, dear! Which means, I make the rules now, if you don't mind that is!"
Maleficent's eyes widened frighteningly, and the end of her staff lit up in green flames. "You are testing my patience, Mim! If you do not wish to end up, like the rest, do as you are told!"
Mim opened her mouth, ready to retort, but soon faltered at the sight of the furious witch and her flaming arsenal. She withdrew and looked away shyly. "Well… maybe I could let you make the rules, just this once."
"Good" Maleficent said, somewhat more calmly. "Gather up the necessary materials for the invocation. We need to summon the others."
"Who do we want to summon mainly?"
"Whoever we can," Maleficent said. "Though I am aware that some of the witches are already out of commission."
"Yes…yes. I've been watching from here. Saw Mother Gothel kick the dust!" Mim cackled wildly, pulling her own hair with both hands. "And also Ursula! Poor soul tried so hard, though!"
"Enough of your babbling, Mim! Go and do as I told you! I haven't the time or the patience for your little games!
"Oh, but Mim likes her games!" she nagged and danced off to gather the necessary items for the spell.
Maleficent sighed wearily. She waved her staff and lit the many torches of the cave, revealing the many engravings on the wall. They told the story of the Coven. She looked at them, even though she had long memorized every picture, and the story.
Originally it was an Abbey for young nuns, founded by Walpurga, their matron mother. Maleficent and many other young girls studied there until they had come of age and Walpurga had finally revealed her true self to them. She was a wicked witch hell-bent on burning away all worlds. Maleficent and the rest of the witches created a secret Coven and planned to overthrow Walpurga before she could succeed, and barely though, they managed to seal her away.
Walpurga was sealed underneath Walpurgis Peak, bound by the power of the Coven. And that would not change… not as long as Maleficent was the voice of said coven. Of course there were power plays to overthrow her, so she brought distrust and enmity between the members and dissolved the coven before anyone could've played their hand. The witches went their separate ways and Salem's Lot – a world on the brink of destruction – became a forgotten corner of the Realm of Light, edging ever closer to the other side.
So what now? Maleficent heard the distant voice of Walpurga from beneath. She wasn't surprised one bit. The witch was frightfully powerful. Her thoughts reaching the cave of the coven above was not something out of the ordinary. Will you bring them back and rekindle the old flame? Fight together?
"I do what I must, old hag. But that is none of your concern. The witches have their use, nothing more, nothing less.
Oh I thought so as well. Let us hope your good fortune will not betray you, my beloved daughter…