While Leon and his female accomplice took the unconscious Wendy and Carla back to the hotel, the alleyway behind it also had an occurrence, though not in a ruckus. Crates and barrels were stocked separately, balconies connected to the hotel rooms stuck out with designs of different colors, and ropes hung above with several banners advertising various places to shop and eat. On the left side was a doorway leading to the house that the Dalmatians were living in. In walked Donald and Goofy, still having no luck in their search for Leon and the one bearing the key.

As the dim lights complemented the empty atmosphere, Goofy felt a little spooked out. He called out for anyone who might be there, "Is anybody home?" He could hear his echo ring out in the area.

Donald put his finger to Goofy's mouth and shushed, "Not so loud! You might wake up the whole neighborhood." He motioned with his hand to follow him. He and Goofy walked down, but the captain of the King's royal knights couldn't help but feel this place would give anybody goosebumps.

Goofy mentioned, "Gawrsh, there's nobody here. Sure is spooky!"

Donald scoffed, "Aw, phooey. You're just seeing things. There's nothing to be afraid of." He was interrupted when a hand tapped him on the shoulder. The duck all of a sudden leaped into the air with a terrified scream before clamping onto Goofy's back. He shivered, "QUICK, SAVE ME, GOOFY!"

"What were you sayin' about not being afraid?" Goofy gave his friend an odd look.

"Excuse me, you two are from the Disney Kingdom, right? Did the King send you?" The voice behind them belonged to a girl, and it was sincere and soothing. At the mention of the King, Donald stopped shaking, and the two of them turned to see a young woman with flowing brown hair tied in a bow. She wore coiled wire bracelets, a pink dress with magenta lining and buttons going down the front, all of which were buttoned up except for the last two, a loose lilac belt around her waist, and brown boots.

Donald got off Goofy's back and stared suspiciously, "How'd you know about that?"

The woman bowed in apology, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's important that I had to find you. Come with me. We have a lot of things to talk about."

Goofy asked curiously, "And why's that, miss?"

The woman introduced, "My name is Aerith Gainsborough. I'm a friend of Leon's."

The duo exclaimed in unison, "Leon?!"

Aerith nodded, "He sent me to look for you, thinking you'd be in town by now. Also, you should come into the hotel with me so I can tell you about what's going on around the districts. It's too dangerous to talk about it here." She motioned with her hand, "Follow me."

Donald sighed in relief, "Finally, we're getting somewhere."

Goofy smiled, "A-hyuck, finding a friend of Leon's way better than not finding him at all. I think..." As the two followed the young woman, they were unaware that Leon was in the middle of other matters.


Wendy was still unconscious, and all she could see was pitch black, her eyes still closed. The silence was broken when she thought she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Wendy! C'mon, wake up!"

"Ohhh... W-What...?" A small pain came into Wendy's head as she put a hand on it to ease the headache she received from the previous battle. She edged herself up, her vision still a bit blurry, to notice she was in an unfamiliar room. "Where am I? How did I get here?" She was sitting on a king-sized bed with a tan-colored bedspread. A cupboard stood on the wall the right side of the bed, and on the left side stood a table with a lamp. The room itself had a red and orange color scheme on the walls, as well as the carpet, the couch, and the curtains. There was a dresser on the other side of the room, and a few paintings were put on display. There were three doors in the room; one with a green color surrounding the exterior design, one leading to the balcony, and one with red and yellow shapes.

Wendy looked to her left and saw where the voice came from. It was Natsu Dragneel standing right next to her with hands on his hips and a proud smile, and Carla alongside him.

"Rise and shine, little dragon," Natsu greeted cheerfully.

"It's about time you woke up," Carla confirmed. "Are you alright?"

"Um..." Wendy couldn't find the right words to say. "I guess..."

"You're probably wondering why those black freaks have been active lately," Natsu stated. "It's because they're after the Keyblade. But the truth is, it's your heart they really want because you wield the Keyblade."

"Okay, that's explains everything," Wendy nodded. She made a smile at her fellow Dragon Slayer, knowing he was alright. "I'm so glad you're okay, Natsu." She turned to her Exceed partner, "You too, Carla."

"Wait a second!" Carla raised an eyebrow. "Did you just call her Natsu?"

"Of course I did!" Wendy argued. "He's standing right beside you! I'm positive it's Natsu!"

"Natsu?" the so-called 'Natsu' laughed. "Are you mistaking me for someone you know, little girl? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" His voice then changed and sounded grown up, and it belonged to a female, "I'm the great ninja, Yuffie Kisaragi!"

"Huh?" Wendy's eyes widened. Light filled her vision, and in Natsu's place stood the dark-haired girl from earlier, bending over her with a wide smile. And just like that, Wendy's face blushed in embarrassment, as she realized her mistake. She panicked, "OH, MY GOSH! OH, MY GOSH! I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY! I MUST'VE MISTAKEN YOU FOR SOMEONE ELSE!"

"Oh, it's no big deal," Yuffie chuckled. "That's what happens to someone who's oblivious."

"It appears that your vision isn't fully restored," Carla informed. "You need to take time before you can see properly."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to offend you by calling you Natsu," Wendy apologized again, and she bowed her head in rapid session. "Thank you so much for your concern."

"'Concern' doesn't even describe it," Carla crossed her arms. "Your way of safeguarding us is rather questionable, after what he did."

"So, how do you feel?" Yuffie asked, putting her hand on Wendy's forehead and around different parts of her face. "Did you catch a cold or something?"

"Um..." Wendy struggled for answers again, until it came to her when she was forced to clutch the side of her chest, the injuries she bore from the fight taking a small effect on her. She replied awkwardly, "I kind of hurt all over."

"Save your strength," Carla suggested. "Your body is still hurting."

"Wow, he really did a number on you," Yuffie remarked. She turned to the door, "I think you might've overdone it, Squall."

'Squall' just happened to be Leon, who walked into the room. He corrected with a stern expression, "That's Leon."

"You!" Wendy gasped, pointing an accusing finger. "You're the guy who attacked me!"

"Easy, easy!" Yuffie motioned her hands. "We can explain everything. He's trying to help you get those black creatures away from you and your magical talking cat."

"You attacked me to help me?" Wendy asked in confusion.

"Though I don't agree with his drastic methods, the swordsman you encountered in the First District didn't mean us any harm," Carla stated. "He was actually testing you and your skill with the Keyblade. Yuffie explained everything to me while you were unconscious."

"There's more to this than you can comprehend," Leon stated calmly. "There's a logical explanation for all this."

Wendy turned to see the Blue Mistral leaning beside the door Leon walked in from. "The Keyblade..."

"Yeah, we had to get it away from you to shake off those creatures," Yuffie explained. "It turns out that's how they were tracking you."

"It's the only way to conceal your heart from them," Leon crossed his arms. "But it won't work for very long."

Wendy put her legs over the bed, putting herself in a better sitting position. She said, "When you put it that way, maybe I should've given it to you in the first place, since you want it so badly."

"No, it's my fault for leading to that little showdown we had," Leon admitted. "You handled me pretty well. Be thankful I didn't give it my all." He muttered privately to himself, "And I'm thankful I didn't fight you at your full power." His focus was then directed to the Keyblade, which he picked up and swung in the air, "Still, I find it hard to believe that a little girl, of all people, can be the chosen one." Afterwards, the blade disappeared magically, and reappeared in Wendy's hands, causing her to gasp in surprise. Leon walked over to her and continued, "But there's no doubt that it chose you, Wendy."

"Wait, how did you know my name?" Wendy asked.

"Cid saw you skipping around the First District with Keyblade in hand," Leon replied. "He called me, told me about the situation, and I came as soon as you walked out of his shop."

"Impressive," Carla complimented. "I suppose there is more to Cid then meets the eye."

"Whatever you do, don't get on his bad side," Yuffie grinned.

"Well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers," Leon shrugged.

"Um, Mr. Leon, sir?" Wendy raised her hand.

"I'm listening," Leon responded. "This isn't preschool, you know."

"Do you mind if you start making sense and explain what's going on?" Wendy requested.

"Either way, we're interested in what those black creatures are and where they come from," Carla agreed. "Please, tell us everything."


In the adjacent room, Aerith had just arrived with Donald and Goofy. The room itself had a white and red design all over the walls, adorned by a few more paintings. A brown door led to the balcony outside, and next to it was a table with a gold jewelry box and a blue vase with flowers, while a red door served as the exit to the lobby. Large lamps stood on the corners of the ceiling, and a table with another vase sided with the bed. The bed itself had poles on it to hang bed curtains. Aerith sat on the end of the bed, while Donald and Goofy stood in front of her.

"Okay, where do I start?" Aerith asked herself, thinking of a good way to begin the conversation. "First of all, what are your names?"

"Donald Duck and Goofy, miss," Donald introduced. "Now that we all know each other, what do you want to tell us?"

"Well, Donald, it's like this," Aerith began. "You know there are many other worlds out there besides the Disney Kingdom and this town, right?"

"Yeah," Donald nodded.

"But they're supposed to be a secret," Goofy covered his mouth to emphasize his point.

"They've been secret because they've never been connected. Until now," Aerith told them. She then closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting to a horrible past. "When the Heartless came, everything changed."


Back in the other room, Leon and Yuffie were telling the same things to Wendy and Carla.

"The Heartless?" Wendy asked curiously.

"The ones that attacked you, remember?" Yuffie reminded, as she sat next to Wendy on the bed.

"How could I forget?" Wendy chuckled awkwardly.

"C'mon, don't get touchy about it," Yuffie rubbed the Sky Dragon's Slayer head, who giggled and brushed it away.

"Please, we need to focus," Carla insisted. "Leon, you may continue."

"As the name suggests, the Heartless are demons without hearts," Leon pointed out.

"They're attracted to the darkness in people's hearts," Yuffie explained. "Hearts are like an irresistible beacon to them, and they prey on hearts to satisfy their hunger. The Heartless are originally spirits of darkness, but eat a heart and they take on different kinds of deadly forms."

"And believe me when I tell you, there's darkness within every heart," Leon said grimly. "They're drawn to negativity. When a heart's full of anger, hate, and aggression, that's when the trouble comes in."

"Every heart?" Wendy felt a bit shaken. "Even yours and mine?"

"Sad but true," Leon nodded.

"That's horrible," Wendy didn't like the sound of that. "That explains why that man..."

"Now it all makes sense," Carla frowned. "Those black creatures instinctively congregate towards the hearts of people; they feed off and are empowered by the darkness in every heart."

"Do you think it might happen to us?" Wendy asked timidly.

"I'm not sure," Carla responded. "But we must be vigilant."

"Say, Wendy," Yuffie began. "Have you heard of someone named Ansem?"


The same question was asked to Donald and Goofy in the other room.

"Ansem?" Goofy pondered, his hand against his chin. "I don't seem to recall a fella by that name."

"He researched and studied the Heartless as well as their behavior," Aerith described. Donald crossed his arms and tapped on the wooden floor in thought, while Aerith continued her story, "He recorded all of his findings in a very detailed report."

"Gawrsh, uh, can we see it?" Goofy held out his hand.

"I wish I could, but I don't have it with me," Aerith shook her head. "Its pages are scattered everywhere."

"Scattered?" Donald uncrossed his arms and his foot stopped tapping. "Where?"

"To many worlds," Aerith responded.

"Oh, I get it!" Goofy balled up a fist and put it in his hand, as a thought came to his head. "I'll bet the King left to go lookin' for them pages." Donald nodded in agreement at his friend's theory.

"Yes, those were my thoughts exactly," Aerith agreed.

"Then what're we standin' around here for?" Goofy exclaimed. "We've gotta find him quick!"

"Hold your horses! Don't get too excited just yet!" Donald interrupted. He looked to notice that the focus wasn't on him, and pulled the screen down towards him. "First, we need that 'key!'"

"That's right. The Keyblade," Aerith said, indicating that she knew about the key-shaped weapon.


In the other room, Wendy held up her weapon with a new understanding of it. "So, this is the key?"

Yuffie nodded, "Exactly!"

Leon stated, "The Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade. It's the best weapon that can destroy them all easily. I'm sure you know that already." He walked over to the door, "That's why they'll keep coming after you no matter what."

Wendy replied, "Well, it's not like I asked for this. It just appeared in my hand."

Carla mused, "Sadly, we cannot change what destiny has in store for us. Things happen for a reason, and we can't do anything about it."

Yuffie pointed out, "Your cat friend's right. The Keyblade selects a master with a pure and noble heart. And out of all the people in this room, it selected you. Your heart must've been pure and noble at your young age."

Wendy wondered, "Really? I haven't thought about that."

Leon leaned against the door and crossed his arms, "So, tough luck, kid. Learn to love it and learn to live with it."

"I'm still confused," Wendy muttered. She folded her hands, trying to put all the pieces together: the storm, the disappearance of her fellow Fairy Tail wizards, and the Keyblade materializing in her hand. "I just don't remember how it all happened. Romeo, Carla, and I were escaping from Halloween's Circus Troupe, we got to Magnolia, and—" She then gasped in horror, remembering everything that transpired at her world. She stood up and looked around frantically, "Wait a minute! What happened to Magnolia?! Tenrou Island?! The guildhall?! Romeo! Master!" Her voice lowered sadly at the last name, "Natsu."

"You know what?" Leon replied nonchalantly, his eyes closed. "I really don't know."

In an instant, the darkness that snatched Magnolia and Tenrou Island into its grasp, the sudden emergence of the Heartless, and Makarov and Romeo drowning in the sea of black completely made sense. Wendy wanted to go outside and wring answers from anyone who knew the fate of her home world, but her legs couldn't be bothered. Instead, she crumpled back in the bed, her entire body shivering from the devastating tragedy as her eyes watered, her heart unable to bear the weight of reality.

Finally, the last of Wendy's emotional defenses gave way, and she began to sob uncontrollably. It wasn't the first time she lost her home and the people she cared about; there was Cait Shelter, the guild who raised her, revealed to be illusions. Then there was the beginning of the Edolas incident, when the Anima swallowed Magnolia and transformed it into a giant lacrima to fuel King Faust's hunger for everlasting magic. And now this? If there was one thing she longed more than anything, it was to have a home and a loving family. And it was taken from her again, for the third time. It couldn't be true, she didn't want to believe it...

A white paw touched her tear-stained cheeks. Looking down through blurry eyes, she could make out Carla's comforting face. The white Exceed seized Wendy's chest into a hug, trying to console her as much as possible. The Sky Maiden returned the hug and continued to weep. It broke Carla's own heart to see the girl in such grief. At the same time, it was for Earth-land and the Fairy Tail guild, mostly for Happy, who became close to a love interest she could potentially have. It if wasn't for the blue Exceed, her cold exterior would never have been broken, and she would never have opened up to the other guildmates. By the next minute, Carla began to ferment her grief into anger. If she could help it, she would inflict on the Heartless all the pain she was feeling, a thousand times over. She was going to wring those responsible dry for daring to cause Wendy misfortune.

"Get it together, girl," Leon urged bluntly, turning to the bed. "Crying won't help at a time like this. It's a matter of life and death."

"Give her a moment, for pity's sake!" Carla cried angrily, turning her head to Leon with a glare of disdain. "Wendy is emotionally sensitive! She has a suffered a lot! You don't know how much she had been through!"

"She has a point, you know," Yuffie agreed. "Besides, is it your style to be hard on little girls? Just give her a moment to calm down."

"Hmm... Yeah, you're right," Leon nodded thoughtfully. "A few minutes of letting it out won't hurt." He sighed to himself, "I used to feel the same way..." He paused for effect, "...when we lost our world."


"My magnificent circus troupe, members of the Lantern Viscera guild! Welcome to Traverse Town, a world full of dislodged memories and otherworldly stowaways! It truly lives up to the title."

In an undisclosed location in town, Halloween was speaking to an audience of at least two hundred clowns, each bearing the mark of an orange Jack O'Lantern in the bare parts of their bodies. His white makeup glinted with the lights illuminating the place as his eyes glinted with passion and ideology. All around him were rich red flags adorned with the same Jack O'Lantern, hanging from the podium, posted behind the stage, waving in the crowd. Every pause was greeted with a rapturous cheer.

"I would like to take this moment to thank the little girl who led us here!" Halloween declared. "Wendy Marvell, the Fairy Tail wizard and chosen wielder of the Keyblade, has taken refuge in the Second District. As long as she is still around, she'll stand as an affront to the Alliance of Evil!" He gestured his cane around for emphasis, "Unleash the Heartless in every part of town, and hunt down the little girl! If you have to turn the whole town upside down, then you may!" He concluded his speech with a chortle, "Kill as many as you want! Anything to get the girl! Have fun!"

The crowd of Lantern Viscera wizards cheered and raised their weapons in approval. They scattered away from the podium, and accompanying them were Soldier Heartless by the dozens, the exact form of the creature that devoured the poor man's heart in front of Wendy's eyes. Seconds later, the place was empty, and the villainous ringmaster was left to ponder his dark thoughts.

"Finally, I'll have my revenge on the brat who ruined my beautiful circus..."


A few minutes had passed, and Wendy's sobs lessened, yet the tears continued to stream down her face. Yuffie patted the girl's back for comfort, while Carla gently soothed her arm. Yuffie encouraged, "Just let it out, sweetie. That's right."

Wendy sniffled, "What I am going to do? My home is gone, my friends are gone, everything." Her hands gripped against the bedspread, "Am I alone again? Why does this keep happening to me? Is it wrong for me to have a home and a family? Does it always have to be this way?" Her hands trembled, and she was almost tearing up again, "This is all my fault. I should've been there. If I hadn't saved Romeo..."

Carla held a paw around Wendy's cheek and let out a comforting shush. "It wasn't your fault, Wendy. You were trying to help the others. Just because strange occurrences happened in our world doesn't mean our friends are lost forever. I'm sure they're spirited away somewhere in a different location. Things will turn out fine eventually."

Wendy confessed, "But I miss them. I don't know what to do without Natsu, Romeo, and the other guildmates. They were with me the whole time. We've been through a lot together, but with them gone, this is NOT what I asked for when I planned to go on an adventure." She wiped the last of her tears, "I'm scared. I don't know if I can do it alone."

Yuffie smiled warmly, "Aww, don't look at it that way. You'll just get glummer. Forget about your troubles and think of yourself as on an adventure. Can you do that for me and your cat?"

Carla said adamantly, "I was about to say the same thing. The Wendy I admire so much would never refuse a challenge. I've watched you grow into a strong and capable wizard since you were young, and I'm very proud of you. It's easier to get scared, but sooner or later, you'll have to conquer your fears."

Wendy complained, "But this is different. The Heartless, the Keyblade, all of it. It doesn't make any sense. How could this happen to us?" She added with uncertainty, "To me?"

Carla smiled warmly, "People who live to see such times wished none of this had happened, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. I believe the moment the Keyblade appeared in your hand, it had chosen you for a reason."

Wendy asked curiously, "A reason?"

Carla pointed out, "Perhaps the reason the Keyblade chose you was both for your purity of heart and your desire to make a difference. Making a difference is what you always wanted to do since you joined the guild, isn't it?"

Wendy felt touched, "Carla..."

Carla continued, "Do you remember what Master Makarov said, the night the Heartless attacked Magnolia? Even the smallest souls can shape the course of the future. It takes bravery, determination, and a strong heart. You mustn't let doubt and concern hold you back. The only way to move is forward. That way, at the end of the path, you'll find the answers you seek." She added with sincerity, "And I'll gladly see it through with you."

Wendy paused, her thoughts drifting to that fateful night. Those words were something she certainly needed to hear, the kind of words that makes someone happy even when times were tough, and she was in a tough spot right now. And just like that, her confidence was renewed. "You're right! Just because I'm far away from home doesn't mean I'm giving up. I don't have to be afraid; I'm a Fairy Tail wizard! Our friends are still out there, and I'll find them, no matter what."

Yuffie beamed, "There we go! That's the kind of attitude I expected to hear."

Wendy apologized, "I'm sorry for crying in front of you and Leon, Yuffie. I'm just a little nervous."

Leon assured, "Don't be. Not a lot of people can accept destiny, but you're different. I can see great things coming from you. And you should listen to your cat friend. The Keyblade chose you for a reason."

Carla reminded, "I have a name, thank you. And it's Carla."

Wendy blushed, "Oh, it's not a problem. I just do my best."

Yuffie changed the subject, "By the way, the Keyblade isn't just used for fighting. It can open all sorts of locks. Give it a try the next time you find a treasure chest or door lock."

Wendy smiled, "Really? I can get used to this." She looked over the Keyblade again, admiring it.

Leon informed, "But be warned. Sooner or later, the Heartless and anyone controlling them will come find you. You'd best prepare yourself."

Wendy stood up from the bed and asked, "Prepare myself?"

Leon advised, "To fight for your life. Are you ready?"

Wendy didn't have to think twice about it. For the sake of her friends, she wasn't going to let the Heartless take her heart and leave her for dead. She declared, "I'm ready!"

Carla approved, "Good answer."

Leon got off the door and uncrossed his arms, "Yuffie, let's go join Aerith. She should be there now with the other visitors."

The mention of other visitors caught Wendy's attention. Before she could say anything, Yuffie got to her feet and pointed.

"Leon!"

A Soldier Heartless appeared from a dark portal, clattering awkwardly.

"Yuffie, go!" Leon took charge of the situation, and the ninja quickly ran for the door.

On the other side, Donald heard all the commotion and went up to the door. "Hey! What's all that racket?" The only answer he got was the door squashing him behind the wall, causing him to squawk.

Yuffie ran past with Aerith, looking on in concern. "Yuffie?"

Wendy gripped the handle of her Keyblade, "You weren't kidding about them finding me."

"Wendy, let's go!" Leon drew his Gunblade and gave a hard swing at the Soldier, slamming it through the window of the room and sending it flying over the balcony and down to the alleyway below. Leon ran after it, with Wendy and Carla following.

Meanwhile, Goofy looked on at the door that smashed against his companion. It opened to reveal Donald flattened like a piece of paper flapping in the wind. Speaking of which, Goofy flipped Donald like a rug, and he snapped back to his full form before getting back on his feet.

Donald quacked in annoyance, "Alright, where's the wise guy?"

Goofy pointed at the door Yuffie and Aerith went out of, "They went that a-way!"


Down in the alleyway, more Soldiers appeared and surrounded Wendy, Leon, and Carla.

Carla assumed, "I don't suppose you know why they're here?"

Leon suggested, "Don't bother with the small fry. Find the leader! That should stop them for a good amount of time. I'll be in the First District making sure it's clear. You can check the others. Let's move!" With that, he put his sword over his shoulder and ran for the main district.

Wendy still had the pack of Soldiers to deal with. She stanced with the Blue Mistral in hand, daring them to come near her, "You want the Keyblade, you freaks? Come and get it!"

Carla rooted, "Good luck, Wendy!"

The Soldiers all ran up to Wendy, who clashed with each one of their claws with the Keyblade as they aimed to scratch. One tried scratching at her, to which she jerked her stomach away from, but another dashed at her and smacked her down. Instead of hitting the ground, Wendy somersaulted backwards and rolled up to her feet. She rubbed her chest from the blow, and charged at the Heartless. She swung at one who jumped away and executed a cartwheel kick attack, and she managed to avoid it. She then lunged herself into the vulnerable Soldier and slashed it with a 3-hit attack, the last blow destroying it and sending a glowing heart flying in the air.

"Wow... When I took care of that Heartless, a heart flies out of it!" Wendy breathed. "So that's what Leon meant about this Keyblade being the only weapon that can destroy them easily... I can use it to release the hearts they've captured!"

"But be remindful that the Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade," Carla stated. "As long as you wield the Keyblade, the Heartless will come after you. You must be well prepared."

Two Soldiers jumped and performed a spinning kick attack over Wendy's head, but she instantly sensed their presence and swung backward to strike both of them down the middle. "Is it me, or are they getting faster and stronger?" She blocked a spinning attack from a upcoming Soldier before beheading it. "It's like I said before. I'm going to show them what happens when they mess with my friends!"

"Right!" Carla nodded, as she flapped her wings to elude the next Soldier.

Utilizing her Sky Dragon Slayer Magic and focusing it on her arms and legs, Wendy swept past the wave of Heartless with ease, cutting every Soldier and Shadow, while dodging every fierce attack. She occasionally used a few Sky Dragon Slayer spells to defeat incoming enemies. A minute later, the alleyway was clear of Heartless infestation.

Wendy confirmed, "That's the last of them."

Carla pointed out, "Remember, they're only lesser enemies. We have to find the leader. Let's check the Second and Third Districts!"

Wendy nodded, "Okay!"


Second District

As they arrived, they noticed that the entire district was swarmed with Soldiers.

Wendy taunted, "Sorry, we can't bother with you right now. But we'll fight you if we can."

Carla muttered, "I doubt it could get worse."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! A myriad of deafening blasts quickly increased the tension. All around the Second District were Lantern Viscera wizards emerging from the doors and windows, jumping down from the rooftops, and popping out from the fountain. The streets were flooded by men in bizarre makeup, and four small airships on propellers floated over them, aiming their cannons at the baffled Sky Dragon Slayer and her Exceed. Each of the ships' masts bore the same Jack O'Lantern. But the most disturbing fact was the Heartless pairing together with the clowns as a united army.

Carla demanded, "What the devil?!"

Wendy recognized them, "It's Halloween's Circus Troupe!"

One of the clowns pointed a finger, "There she is! That fairy girl!"

Another clown jeered, "It's the brat who wrecked our tent! We won't let 'er get away like she did in Shirotsume!"

A third clown boasted, "Yeah! We've got Heartless! We're gonna kill her and feed her to the lions!" That proclamation whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

Wendy exclaimed, "The Heartless and Halloween are working together?! This can't be real!"

Carla assumed, "Whoever controls these creatures must've sent them to fight on Halloween's behalf." She gritted her teeth, "Curses! This is going to be harder than I thought!"

"GET 'EM!"

The combined force of Heartless and clowns surged forth. This was going to be remembered as a proud day for Lantern Viscera, a victory for the Alliance of Evil, and their benefactors would cheer and recall the bravery of those who felled the Keyblade master, who braced herself for impact...

"Heads up!"

Another voice filled the air, and ecstasy quickly melted into dismay. Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the ground, and a small portion of clowns and Soldiers were blasted out of the sky. Wendy and Carla ducked from the symphony of fire blowing away anyone nearby. When the blasts rescinded, the remaining clowns and Soldiers rotated their heads to search for whoever did this.

Yuffie Kisaragi emerged from the dust with a miniature bomb in hand, sporting her usual happy-go-lucky demeanor. Wendy regained her ground and smiled upon seeing the untimely arrival of the great ninja. "Yuffie!"

Yuffie glanced back, "You look like you could use a hand."

Carla added, "We thought you went with Leon to check the First District!"

Yuffie chuckled, "Don't worry about him. He's got it under control. When those clowns popped all over the Second District, I couldn't help but notice that a little girl's gotta have backup."

Carla asked, "So you'll help us defeat Halloween's men, then?"

Yuffie confirmed, "Halloween, huh? He's the ringleader behind this act?" Putting away her bomb and replacing it with a four-point shuriken, she turned to the enemies, "A bunch of freaks eating hearts teaming up with freaks dressed as clowns..." The shuriken then split into multiple pieces, "Is that supposed to make you tough?"

A clown snarled, "Who the hell is this chick?"

Another clown yelled, "Who cares?! Let's just kill 'em all!"

Wendy and Yuffie saw the enemy horde on the move again. Flashing a smirk, Yuffie said, "Watch this!" She leapt up and threw a barrage of shuriken stars, piercing through several bodies within range, the Lantern Viscera wizards collapsing and the Heartless evaporating. Landing on the ground, she threw a few more to knock down a surrounding squad. Yuffie then proceeded to use one of her shuriken as a knife, and as quick as a flash, the sharp steel penetrated a fair amount of clowns and Heartless, often flipping and dodging a few attacks. Soon, Yuffie was standing next to a pile of defeated Lantern Viscera guildmates.

Wendy cheered, "Whoa! You're fast! You really are a great ninja!"

Yuffie crossed her hips, "It's all in the— HEY!" She was cut short when a minor explosion occurred next to her, and she glanced at the four Lantern Viscera airships firing a rain of explosive bullets that bombarded the street. "You laughing buffoons! Catch this!" Raising up a shuriken in her hand, she built up a fair amount of magic until the weapon grew large in size and glowed with astral energy. With a throw, the large glowing star flew into the air and sliced each of the Lantern Viscera airships in half, causing the crewmates to flee. Yuffie turned to Wendy and Carla, "As I was saying, it's all in the title. So are we gonna fight them off, or are you just gonna watch from the sidelines?"

"I'm with you!" Wendy volunteered. "We can take them on together!"

The rest of the Lantern Viscera wizards and Heartless approached, and Wendy and Yuffie prepared themselves for battle. A rain of steel, paired with gusts of wind, hailed down on the enemies obscuring the Second District. Metal and wind danced beneath their feet and above their heads, dozens of Soldiers slain in their tracks, and dozens of clowns beaten to submission.

Soon, the Heartless were nowhere in sight, and the bodies of countless Lantern Viscera wizards were sprawled into the streets. Wendy and Yuffie observed their surroundings with satisfaction.

"Woo-hoo!" Yuffie pumped a fist in the air. "We won!"

"We beat Halloween's Circus Troupe!" Wendy said happily.

"Um, not completely all of it..." Carla interrupted, as she pointed a paw upward. The three looked up to see more airships bearing the same Jack O'Lantern rushing in from the sky.

"They're resourceful as ever," Yuffie stanced with a shuriken in hand. "Wendy, get to the Third District. Find their leader and take him out. That's sure to send the clowns packing."

"But what about you?" Wendy asked.

"I'll be fine on my own," Yuffie assured. "If you think those bozos will lay a finger on me, they've got another thing coming. You have to believe me."

"I believe you," Wendy replied. "I know you'll make it out alive, since you're a great ninja and all."

"Very well, we'll leave the rest of Halloween's men to you," Carla agreed. "We'll go to the Third District."

"The Third District's over there," Yuffie pointed to a pathway on the right leading to a small alleyway. "Now go!"

"We'll see each other again! I promise you!" Wendy vowed. She and Carla left for that direction, leaving Yuffie to handle the Lantern Viscera guild alone.


Third District

The Third District had various blends of colors and neon lights, and was probably the smallest of all three of the main districts. On the plaza, there were several lampposts with red banners hanging on them. A pipe with a broken circuit stood behind barriers and had a neon sign in the shape of a lightning bolt with a star above it. Two large wooden doors stood in the middle, which led to the First District. The doors had a small keyhole on the wall that would most likely unlock it. The most notable feature in this district was the golden fountain in the corner of the lower area, which depicted the image of a lady and a tramp in love.

While Wendy and Carla took the stairs down to the square, Donald and Goofy were on a high balcony above. Goofy looked down below in curiosity, "Gawrsh, you can see the whole district from up here."

"My point exactly," Donald mentioned. "We can find the key much faster this way. Now keep looking!"

Just then, as if beckoned by a force calling out to him, Goofy turned around to see two Soldiers appearing around him and Donald. They both drew out weapons to defend themselves; Donald had a staff with a black handle, a gold pommel, and a white ring near the tip and base, its lower half bent and blue with white edges folded over it, and its upper half sporting a brown wizard's hat, while Goofy had a sky blue shield with thin gold edges and a large black silhouette of a mouse's head emblazoned on its face.

"Yikes!" Goofy yelped. "Are these the the Heartless guys?"

"Let's go get 'em, Goofy!" Donald shouted in determination. "We can take 'em!"

"Really? Are you sure?" The two jumped at the voice, and they turned to see Halloween with cane in hand. "Smashing Pumpkin!" Slamming the pommel into the ground, a golden pumpkin emerged from where Donald and Goofy stood, letting out a diabolical laugh before it popped into an explosion that blasted them off the balcony. Wendy and Carla heard the commotion, and turned to see two figures screaming and falling from the sky. Panicking, they tried to run away, but it was no use. Donald and Goofy fell right on top of the Sky Maiden, and they hit the ground hard on their stomachs. Stars were spinning around their heads, their pupils spinning around in their eyes in different directions, until they blinked a few times to get their focus back, and their eyes widened at a discovery.

"The key!" the duo cried in unison at the key-shaped sword in Wendy's hand, stuck out of the pile.

"Ouch..." Wendy winced. "Is it raining cats and dogs...?"

"Can't breathe..." Carla wheezed. "Need air..."

"Garwsh, sorry we had to drop in like that, miss," Goofy apologized.

"What kind of person is reckless enough..." Carla popped from Wendy's chest, allowing herself to breathe. "...to pull a stunt like that?"

"Well, there's this guy in a blue coat and freaky makeup with a magic stick," Donald explained. "When he put it in the ground, it glowed bright, and we're blown sky high!"

"Blue coat? Makeup?" Wendy wondered. "You don't mean..."

The whole district suddenly began to rumble, causing the four to move their heads up to get a better view.

"Earthquake?" Wendy questioned. As soon as she said that, rectangular pillars rose from the ground, blocking all the exits. Heartless Soldiers appeared on top of the pillars, and thirty surrounded Wendy, Carla, Donald, and Goofy.

Donald jumped up to his feet in alarm, "It's a trap!" Wendy and Goofy also got to their feet, and all three drew their weapons.

The distant thunder of laughter laced with amusement sounded, adding more flavor to the atmosphere. Everyone paused as they looked around to where it came from. The laughter came again, and Wendy and Carla came to identify who it belonged to.

"That voice..." Carla whispered.

"It can't be!" Wendy gasped.

The ringmaster of Halloween's Circus Troupe, revealed to be the guild master of Lantern Viscera, descended from the stars until he lowered a few feet from the square, magically floating above ground. As usual, he let out his trademark laugh, with villainous intent masked within it.

"Halloween!" Wendy and Carla cried in unison.

"You know this guy?" Donald questioned.

"It's a long story," Wendy admitted.

"Good to see you again, Miss Wendy Marvell. How are you today?" Halloween greeted jovially. "I'm quite proud of you for coming all this way to Traverse Town, you know."

"You..." Wendy pointed an accusing finger. "You know about all this! The Heartless, what happened to Magnolia, everything! What is this all about?! Answer me!"

"My, the dragon has fangs!" Halloween chortled. "My little flower, I'm here to whisk you away with me, to a world beyond your wildest dreams. By the way, Wendy, I took the liberty of doing a little research on you. For someone your age, being raised in a hostile world where magic runs rampant, don't you think it would be a waste if you threw away your life fighting us?" He clicked his tongue in disappointment, "And how sad indeed would your dear, sweet Fairy Tail friends be..."

"What...?" Wendy's eyes widened. "You know about my friends?!"

"Hee-hee-hee! What if I did know something?" Halloween teased. "If you want to know more, if you want to see your friends again, give me that Keyblade, and come with me. I've got plenty to tell you..."

And all at once, it came flooding into Wendy's head: a false promise unveiled by men with intentions, which comes at a terrible price.

"Well?" Halloween eagerly waited for an answer. "Hmm?"

"No! Never!" Wendy said defiantly. "I'll find my Fairy Tail friends myself. I don't need help from anyone like you! You and your circus troupe used to be a cherished memory of mine. Now you're nothing but a bunch of power-hungry monsters!"

"You STINKING brat! How DARE you make fun of my guild!" Halloween snarled. "You'll regret this, I guarantee!"

"Wait..." Wendy stared incredulously at this revelation. "'Guild?'"

"Well, well, it looks like my secret is out! But you're too late to stop me now!" Halloween yelled, and his cane transformed into a large whip of golden energy. "Nemesis Hallow!" Wendy and the others carefully observed the whip's wild movements, and with great effort, they eluded every swing. "I'll just have to pry the Keyblade from your corpse!" Halloween retracted his magical whip, which transformed back into a cane. "The guild master of Lantern Viscera will show you how a ringmaster like myself keeps animals in line! Time for a little lesson from Uncle Halloween! Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!"

"Lantern Viscera..." Carla frowned. "That's the name of one of the dark guilds formerly under the Balam Alliance. Rumors speculate that the guild fashioned magic and weapons based on the Halloween season, and are masters of disguise. Who would've guessed? Right under our noses, Halloween and his circus troupe have been criminals the entire time!"

"I'm beginning to think I was wrong about them," Wendy glared. "They never were good guys to begin with!"

Halloween directed his cane to Wendy and company, "Class is in session! Take care of them, my darling Soldiers!" The Heartless responded to the order and charged, their deadly claws at the ready.

"Here they come!" Wendy shouted.

"YAHOOOEEEEY!" Goofy made the first move by swinging his shield, hitting one of the Soldiers across the head and sending it to the ground. "Have a nice trip..." He jumped into the air, "...see you next fall!" He hammered the shield's face against the Soldier's chest, disintegrating it. Another Soldier entered the fray and scratched continuously with its claws, but Goofy raised his shield up and blocked all the attacks, before countering with a shield uppercut, eliminating it.

It was Donald's turn, and he aimed his staff at the approaching Heartless. "Fire!" With a fierce yell, five fireballs spewed forth from the staff, and five Soldiers were reduced to ash.

"You can fight, too!" Wendy praised. "You use a shield as both offense and defense, and you use a staff to cast magic!"

"Yep, we're the best!" Donald smiled proudly. "The two of us make a perfect team!"

"Do you two have names?" Wendy asked.

"Let's get acquainted later!" Goofy panicked. "They've got us cornered!"

"If we're going to win, we have to work together," Carla suggested.

"I'm game," Donald nodded.

"Same here," Goofy agreed.

"Thank you," Wendy acknowledged with a smile. She then bravely turned to the Heartless, "Let's get 'em!"

"YEAH!" The trio charged at Halloween's army of Heartless with full force.

"You've made a grave mistake trying to face me and my demons of darkness! Too bad, so sad..." Halloween mocked. "TEAR THEM TO PIECES, my little Soldiers!"

"Thunder!" Donald raised his staff up in the air, and a lightning bolt swooped down and destroyed four Soldiers at once. "Fire!" He shot a fireball from his staff, hitting the fifth Soldier in the chest.

"Goofy Charge!" Using his shield as a battering ram, Goofy dashed and smacked five Soldiers in a single push. "Goofy Tornado!" He then spun himself around with his arms raised, lifting himself in the air and turning himself into a living propeller. With every Soldier he passed by, they were simply swatted away.

"Sky Dragon's Claw!" Wendy launched two Soldiers airborne with her wind-fueled legs, and she jumped to finish them off with a string of combos. "Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" She raised her wind-fueled arms and smashed away three Soldiers, before executing them with consecutive combos. "Sky Dragon's Roar!" She fired a breath of wind that cut the bodies of three Soldiers, and she dashed forward to slash them away with her Keyblade.

Within seconds, all thirty Heartless had been eradicated, and Halloween grew angry and distressed. "YOU ANNOYING LITTLE MAGGOTS!"

Wendy pointed the Keyblade at the hapless guild master of Lantern Viscera, "I'm brave and stronger as ever, Halloween. I have the power of the Keyblade, the one weapon that can destroy the Heartless, and I have friends by my side. Get ready, because we won't be going easy on you!"

"Hallow Shower!" Halloween raised his cane with a loud roar, and hundreds of miniature Jack O'Lantern pumpkin bombs rained from the sky, but Wendy, Donald, and Goofy dodged the explosives with ease. Wendy then jumped into the air and dealt a powerful 5-hit combo that sent him straight down to the ground. Donald seized his chance by casting a Fire spell that struck his chest, and Goofy added the finishing touch by bashing his face into the shield, slamming him against one of the pillars blocking the exits.

Berserk with rage, Halloween quickly shot up into the air and wildly cast an assortment of spells throughout the square. Smashing Pumpkins emerged from the ground repeatedly, a Hallow Shower descended, and the cane shifted into Nemesis Hallow once more. Despite the increased tempo of the fight, however, Wendy, Donald, and Goofy expertly dodged every attack, and once Halloween was left open with each spell cast, the trio unleashed some of their attacks to wear him down. Eventually, with the battle reaching its peak after a grueling three minutes, the Nemesis Hallow wrapped around Goofy's shield, and Goofy seized his chance by hoisting the rope over to him and Halloween with it. Afterwards, Wendy raised her Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang to slice the Nemesis Hallow in two, reverting the magical whip back into a cane which sprawled onto the ground in pieces, unable to channel anymore magic. With Halloween weaponless, she executed a 8-hit combo, followed by Sky Dragon's Wing Attack, moderately injuring the Lantern Viscera guild master.

"You think this'll stop me?! Nightmare on Death Street!" Halloween folded his hands together and charged with immense amounts of Magic Energy, until it converted into a giant living snake of golden flame heading straight for Wendy, Donald, and Goofy. However, they were nimble enough to dodge its lethal flames until the flaming snake disappeared, leaving behind tremendous burn marks throughout the square. "Hallow Skull!" Halloween flew up and clasped his hands together, building up more amounts of energy and converting them into a humongous Jack'O Lantern fireball fixated on the square. His eyes were bloodshot and severe, and he spoke like a half-crazed man. "I'LL BURN YOU TO ASHES!"

"By the grace of the heavens, grant me the power to strike fiercely and move swiftly! Arms x Vernier!" Upgrading herself with increase in strength and the ability to fly, Wendy flew straight towards the Hallow Skull at breakneck speed. By the time Halloween threw the fireball down, a single swing of her Keyblade reinforced with Arms allowed the Sky Dragon Slayer to swat it away and dissolve it into harmless flames, much to his horror. She then executed a 12-hit combo, the last blow plummeting the Lantern Viscera guild master to the ground. The Sky Dragon Slayer called down to Donald and Goofy, "Now!"

"On it! Thunder!" Donald chanted, and a thunderbolt from above zapped Halloween.

"Goofy Charge!" Goofy sprinted forth and delivered a strike to the chest.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy landed down on the ground, and breathed a massive gust of wind. An explosion occurred, and Halloween emerged from the smoke in a weakened state. He collapsed on his knees, groaning in pain.

"Is that all you got, Halloween?" Wendy taunted. "I thought you'd put up a good fight, unlike your clowns and Heartless buddies."

"Wendy Marvell..." Every ounce of his temper seemed to boil away as Halloween's face contorted in absolute rage. "WHY WON'T YOU JUST DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!" It was the loudest scream he ever let out, and before long an aura of darkness pulsated from his body, the ground vibrating as the anger quickened the pace. Wendy, Donald, and Goofy were startled by this sudden development, with the Sky Dragon Slayer being the most concerned of the group.

"What's that?" she whispered. "That darkness... I can feel it. I can even sense his heart. It's filled with anger and malice, like something is consuming him, eating away at him from the inside..." She grew alarmed, "Could it be...?"

"Wendy?" Carla took notice. "What's the matter?"

"Halloween..." Wendy responded nervously. "He's...!"

The Lantern Viscera guild master suddenly gasped for air, and made an attempt to stand up with his hands around his neck. The attempt proved fruitless as his legs failed. He made a strangled choke, and finally fell on his chest, the last flames of zealotry dying from his eyes. Halloween was dead, breathing no longer, as if his heart had left his body and rendered him an empty shell.

"Is it over?" Donald wondered. "Did we win?"

A clattering sound from above answered them.

"I don't think so," Goofy looked up and pointed a finger. "Look!"

The rest of the group followed his gaze, and they witnessed a ton of purple metal falling from the sky. The metal bounced off the ground and spun wildly until the arms formed around the torso, which was emblazoned with a red and black heart-shaped emblem. Once the legs attached, the cluster of armor landed on the ground loudly. It stood there for a moment before the helmet slammed down onto the torso with a bright flash, finishing the transformation.

"It's Linda the Living Armor!" Wendy recognized. "Halloween's bodyguard!"

"Do you notice the heart-shaped symbol in its chest?" Carla pointed a paw at Linda's torso. "The Heartless we fought at the other districts were emblazoned with the same emblem. That means Linda the Living Armor is a Heartless as well! And judging by the size, she must be the leader!"

"Aw, come on!" Donald whined. "It's not over yet?"

"Nope, doesn't look like it's over," Goofy shivered. "I think this is the last bad guy!"

Linda the Living Armor, otherwise known as the Guard Armor Heartless, advanced towards the trio with her head and arms spinning around, but not before kicking away Halloween's lifeless corpse, sending it against the wall, indicating that she no longer served the Lantern Viscera guild master, and was driven by a primal instinct to destroy the Keyblade master. Wendy, Carla, Donald, and Goofy cringed at this sudden act of rebellion.

"How could Linda turn on her master like that?" Wendy wondered. She then brushed off those concerns and stanced with the Keyblade, "I guess we have no choice. We're gonna have to defeat her. With the Keyblade and those talking animals, I can take down a bad guy at any size!"

"An enemy in all shapes and sizes cannot hold those with purpose, Wendy."

"Huh?" The familiar voice echoed in Wendy's head again. "It's that voice again..."

"You have gained the ability to unlock the Keyblade's true power. You'll be able to execute a Command Style. The Keyblade and your heart in harmony will grant you great powers."

"Command Style? The Keyblade's true power?" Wendy pondered. How could such a hidden power exist within the Keyblade? When she stared at the Blue Mistral, the voice's prediction proved correct when the light blue steel glowed radiantly. Her eyes widened with awe and curiosity, and the more she focused on the shining blade, the sudden feeling of letting out something inside of her began to build up. "The Keyblade... It's glowing? But what does it mean?"

"When the Keyblade starts to glow, say the name of your Keyblade, and add with 'command style.' Say the words as loud as you can!"

Wendy wasn't exactly sure why the voice that appeared in her head for quite a while kept on pressing her to do unexpected things. It sounded like it expected her to do the impossible, to do things that others couldn't. But since the Keyblade was in her possession, anything was possible. One opportunity could lead to a different outcome, a chance to turn the tide in her favor. Clenching the Keyblade tightly, Wendy brimmed with determination and a desire to test out her weapon's hidden abilities. She would go through any length to help her allies and defeat the monstrosity in front of her. She looked up to the stars, and screamed with a voice as loud and clear as the wind:

"BLUE MISTRAL COMMAND STYLE!"

Her body burst with brilliant blue light as she levitated slightly off the ground. With each passing moment, she felt her strength increasing twofold, and her willpower blazing with inner purpose. Donald, Goofy, and Carla jerked their heads to see Wendy's sudden surge of power, her form obscured by astral light. They could only watch in stunned silence, as if the Keyblade wielder had done something impossible. Carla, on the other hand, smiled proudly at what her beloved Dragon Slayer attempted to achieve. Within five seconds, the light exploded and the three were forced to shield their eyes. When the light cleared, Wendy returned to the ground with a few slight differences: her body was glowing light blue, and her back was paired with white dragon wings made of crystals. The most notable feature was the Blue Mistral's blade growing taller, and it had transformed into a double-edged sword of white magic.

Donald, Goofy, and Carla stared on in wide amazement at the transformation. Even Wendy, who had just completed it, paused to gesture at her new form and the shape of her Keyblade. She breathed, "This feeling... This power in my body... I feel stronger than ever! So this is the true power of the Keyblade... Command Style!"

"Command Styles are the Keyblade's secret arts. Blade and heart harmonized, the Keyblade grants the power to unseal incredible new powers, new forms with respective control of the elements. The Command Style you've just unlocked is the Blue Mistral's Skyward Wing. Use it to summon sharp blades forged from the air to cut your enemies."

"Really?" Wendy beamed in excitement. "I can do that?"

"The Keyblade will serve you well, Wendy. And remember, you are the one who will open the door."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I have to thank you," Wendy smiled at the voice, though she was speaking to no one except what's in her head. "You've given me new power."

"It's no big deal. Now go! Your friends need you!"

"Incredible! I never knew the Keyblade was capable of unlocking such power!" Carla exclaimed.

"Gawrsh, though the key bearer's a kid and all, she ain't messin' around!" Goofy remarked.

"She's got some real magic!" Donald quacked.

"Let's do it! Blue Mistral Command Style: Skyward Wing!" Wendy stanced in front of the Guard Armor Heartless with a determined glare. "I'm ready for you, Linda!" With the crystal wings supporting her movements, she flew at the speed of light and suddenly vanished from sight. She then reappeared in a wisp of wind, and executed a string of combos that damaged Linda's armor with the transformable Keyblade. Between combos, Wendy's crystal wings served as miniature swords, increasing the damage. At the same time, the Guard Armor performed her own string of attacks, such as a twister of spinning arms, a stomping of feet, and each body part floating on its own and acting individually. However, they ended up missing the Sky Maiden, who used the Command Style's ability to teleport randomly with the wind as her support. With each blow she dodged, Wendy continued striking down the appendages. With four valiant swings of her white blade, both hands and feet were shattered into a million pieces, leaving the torso defenseless.

But Linda the Living Armor was resilient as ever; even without arms and legs, she knew no fear of her enemies, especially in the face of the Keyblade master! At a last-ditch effort, she spun her torso around uncontrollably, and knocked Donald, Goofy, and Carla away.

"Time to finish this! Blue Mistral, lend me your strength!" Wendy lifted the Keyblade aloft, and the blade surged with immense magical power, with the crystal wings converted into additional energy. She aimed for Linda's torso, "Command Style Critical Art: Great Dragon Wind!" With a colossal bang, the Blue Mistral's blade morphed into a gigantic horizontal tornado shaped in the image of a dragon, and it caught Linda's torso in its jaws, mashing the metal with its sharp teeth. A loud CRUNCH, and the torso was torn in half, the dragon vanishing with the air. Linda's head wobbled and fell to the ground with a mighty clang.

A large glowing heart emerged from the torso's remains and floated into the air, and Linda the Living Armor faded away into light. The district grew silent, the fountain at the edge of the area giving off the only sound.

Everyone, apart from Carla who kept her smile, just stared at Wendy and the incredible feat she had performed. With the power of a Command Style, the Guard Armor was instantly defeated by the might of the Keyblade. The light blue aura and crystal wings disappeared from her body, and the Keyblade reverted to normal. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking at the result of the battle with a smile.

"That was a close one."


Of course, Wendy and the others didn't realize that the whole chain of events was recorded into a snowglobe held in Kaze Viriniam's hand. With a frustrated growl, the snowglobe was completely shattered with a single grasp, and the four Headless Horsemen cringed at this action. "Just as I thought! That useless Halloween and his Lantern Viscera guild were all laugh and no act! I was a fool to rely on him!"

Wrecker jeered, "You said it, Master Viriniam. I didn't." His face turned serious, "But the most intriguing part was the girl successfully executing a Command Style."

Diva remarked, "A Command Style, the Keyblade's most sacred practice. Surely, that laughing bag of bones could've finished her off with his Guard Armor pet before she could make a move. It's no surprise that Halloween wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. And his dark guild was the weakest in our ranks."

Silver grimaced, "Unfortunately, his bloodlust and hatred got the best of him. His heart was so consumed with darkness that the Guard Armor at his disposal controlled him, instead of himself controlling it. What a fool. Didn't Master Viriniam tell him to stay put? His death was well deserved!"

Zeppelin giggled dementedly, "How fitting that the circus would perform its final act in Traverse Town. Who's laughing last, Halloween? Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"

Kaze said sternly, "Save your jokes and puns until the next strategy. Traverse Town is the least of our worries. We have the rest of the worlds to take care of."

"Master Viriniam?"

The core group of the Sleepy Hollow glanced to identify a soldier standing at attention.

"Madam Maleficent requests your presence in the castle chapel."

"I'll be there," Kaze confirmed. "And I take it she's watched that little fiasco with Blueberry in Traverse Town? I'd love to know how the council reacts." She turned to her Horsemen, "You go on ahead and deal with the problems in your respective worlds. The boss has arranged an appointment." And with that, she left the room.