Chapter XXXIV: Down in the Hollow

A bit dazed by the suddenness of what occurred to her, Ushio walked the dark country road she found herself on. She had no clue where she was. However that figure was, they'd thrown her into a strange new world.

All around her, the bare trees blew with the wind. Only the moonlight above lit the way. Ushio didn't know why, but something just felt off to her.

•[Sleepy Hollow]•

Feeling the cool air on her skin, Ushio spotted by nearby house that seemed occupied. Running up to it, she peered in the windows. It was filled with people as a man in a white shirt, tan vest, and reddish pants seemed to be taking control of the conversation. Careful not to get caught, she listened in.

"Gather round and I'll elucidate on what goes on outside when it gets late. 'Long about midnight, the ghosts and banshees get together for their nightly jamborees." he said in a singsong manner. "There's things with horns and saucer eyes. Some with fangs about this size."

"Some are fat." a woman said.

"Some are thin." another woman said.

"And some don't even wear their skin." said a tall, bony man.

"I'm tellin' you brother, it's a frightful sight to see what goes on Halloween night." the first guy added.

A strong gust of wind blew the window open. Ushio ducked down as she continued to listen to their story. She could hear as a tall, skinny man let out a girlish scream. The man who started the song-like conversation began again.

"When the spooks have a midnight jamboree, they break it up with fiendish glee. Ghosts are bad, but the ones who's cursed is the Headless Horseman, he's the worst."

"That's right, he's a fright on Halloween night."

"When he goes a-joggin' 'cross the land, holdin' a noggin in his hand, demons take one look and groan and hit the roads for parts unknown."

"Beware, take care, he rides alone."

"And there's no spook like a spook that's spurned."

"They don't like him and he's really burned."

"He swears to the longest day he's dead, he'll show him that he can get a head. They say he's tired of his flamin' top. He's got a yearn to make a swap. So he rides one night each year to find a head in the Hollow here."

"He likes 'em little, he like like 'em big."

"Part in the middle or a wig."

"Black or white or even red."

"The Headless Horseman needs a head. With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop, he's out looking for a top to chop. So don't try to figure out a plan. You can't reason with a headless man."

Peaking over the the windowsill, Ushio saw as the tall man seemed to be freaked out.

"Now if you doubt this tale as so, I met that spook just a year ago. Now I didn't stop for a second look, but made for the bridge that spanned the brook. For once you cross that bridge my friend…"

"The ghost is through. His power ends."

"So when you're ridin' home tonight, make for the bridge with all your might. He'll be down in the Hollow there. He needs your head, look out, beware!"

"With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop, he's out looking for a head to swap. So don't try to figure out a plan. You can't reason with a headless man."

With the tale done, Ushio began her way towards the entrance when a voice rang out.

"Quite an interesting story."

She turned towards the nearby woods as a hooded figure stood, a harsh wind blowing their cloak.

"So, who are you?"

"Why don't you find out." they slipped into the dark forest.

With herself in a new world and one of the Neo Seekers seemingly in front of her, Ushio gave chase. Running through the fallen leaves and bare branches, Ushio weaved her way closer to the figure. A large cloud blotted out the moonlight, leaving Ushio in the dark for a minute. As the light came back, she found herself on a dirt road with no one else around.

"They're gone." she complained. Looking around, nothing seemed to stick out of the scenery.

Walking the long path, Ushio was at a loss. She'd chased after one Neo Seeker and found her way into this world. Then she chased another and now she was lost with the only people she'd encountered a while off, if they were still there.

Suddenly, a distinct noise sounded out. The loud gallops of hooves found themself getting closer to the Keyblade wielder. Ushio swiveled to face the approaching sounds.

"At last, someone else around here." she sighed.

However, she went a bit wide-eyed as the horseman came into view. Clad in black with a long, purple cloak, the thing that stuck out the most of his head. Or lack of said detail. Instead, he carried a jack o lantern and a sword as he charged the girl on his pitch black horse.