Chapter LXVI: Ghosts of the Past

"It appears I wasn't able to successfully transport myself back far enough yet." Magica spoke to herself. "Looks like another attempt is in order."

"Stop right there!" Ushio called out to her.

"So the girl has followed me on my journey to the past." Magica said. "From the traces of magic on you, it would appear that witch Hazel piggybacked off my spell. It seems that you'll be able to follow whenever I go and bring me back. In that case…"

Magica pointed her staff at Ushio as a fierce wind blew. Ushio found herself losing her footing as she was ejected outside the house. The doors flew shut behind her.

"Who's making a racket out here!?" a voice cried out.

Magica found herself surrounded by four almost identical ghosts, varied only by height.

"Ah, so I'm in the company of you four." Magica said, seemingly knowing their identities. "Allow me usage of your abode while I build up the energy for my spell that'll allow me to leave. In return, I give you the girl outside to toy with to your pleasure."

"Hmm." the ghosts said in unison.

"It has been a while since we've had visitors." one said.

"A good scaring ought to bring us some fun." another said.

"But we could always do it to both." a third looked towards Magica.

"I don't know. She seems scary." the four attempted to dissuade the others.

"You know what. Deal!" they spoke in unison again.

"Then it's a deal then." Magica smiled.

—

Ushio found herself being pushed back by the winds Magica conjured up. Landing in the snow outside, she got to her feet as the doors slammed. Though that proved to be the least of her worries as Search Ghosts appeared around her. Taking up her Keyblade, she charged them.

She plowed into them, their slow nature working against them. Her Keyblade landed hard on the Heartless. With the flurry of swings, the three foes were dispatched and she rushed the house.

Ushio reached the front door, throwing it open. She stepped into the drafty abode, looking around. Behind her, the door slammed shut. The brunette quickly turned to check it as a moan echoed through the room.

"Just come out Magica." Ushio called out.

She walked the halls, looking for the room in which the sorceress was. As the floor creaked beneath her, a figure began to appear behind her. Feeling a tapping on her shoulder, Ushio turned around. The ghost floated up to her face, letting out a ghostly boo. Not expecting what happened, Ushio jumped back as she realized what was in front of her. The ghost let out a laugh as it took off.

"What…was that?" Ushio questioned.

The house rattled once more with the wind. She looked around, trying to see if anything more out of the ordinary was nearby. Not seeing anything, Ushio continued her sweep.

Reaching the door for the next room, she pulled on the doorknob, finding it stuck. As she turned to find another path, the door fell to the ground, revealing a solid wall. Ushio went to inspect it, only for the door to fly open. She went wide eyed as four similar, yet differently sized ghosts walked out of the floor like it was nothing.

"Just what is going on here?" Ushio muttered to herself.

Finding herself in the main foyer once again, before she could check the upstairs, the four ghosts appeared again. They floated around above her, musing to themselves.

"Now what?"

"She looked scared to me."

"I don't know. Maybe we need something more."

"Ah! She's here!"

Summoning her Keyblade, she turned it upwards at the quartet.

"This doesn't have to be hard. Just tell me which way Magica went."

"Hmm." one of the ghosts thought. "Magica…who was she?"

"Was she kinda tall, dark hair, green feathers?" another ghost added.

"Yes, that's her." Ushio responded.

"Never seen her!" the four answered in unison.

"Really…" she said, exasperated.

A wind built up in the house as it rattled more. Ushio could tell it wasn't the wind from before. With a new sense of urgency, she gripped her Keyblade handle tighter. She made for the stairs before they slid flat as a slide.

"Why don't you stay and have some more fun?" one of the four called out.

Faced with no other options, Ushio prepared for battle. They didn't seem outright malicious, so she came up with a plan. She charged them, leaping up to strike them. The four ghosts dodged, grouping together. She smiled, having them do exactly what she wanted.

"Waterga!"

A bubble of water surrounded Ushio before pushing out at the ghosts. The four were caught in it as it dealt them down the hall. With them out of the way, the stairs turned back and she proceeded up them.

Opening up the door where the wind was heading, Ushio spotted the last of Magica disappeared into a portal. A light shone over her as the portal seemingly responded to her.

"She's up here." she heard one of the ghosts called out.

With the ghosts coming and Magica gone, she knew what her options were. She stepped forward, finding herself teleported away.

—

Ushio opened her eyes, finding herself once more in an unfamiliar environment. Lightning crackled as a fierce storm seemed to be brewing. Looking forward, a large castle perched on a skull shaped outcropping loomed before her. Taking to the bridge that connected to it, she steeled herself for what was to come next.