Chapter XXXV- Halloween Town (Part 3)
Following Zero the group ran as fast as they could till they reached their destination. They reached a large pit with a big tree in the center. Built on top of the tree was a sinister looking manor with a rope bridge as the only way to it.
"I knew Oogie Boogie was behind this!" Jack exclaims. "Just what is he planning?"
Koga turned to the Skeleton worried. "Wait, this is the same Oogie Boogie you were talking about earlier?"
"The very same."
"Oh boy." He groaned as he followed them across the bridge. Halfway through they were ambushed by new flying Heartless. They look like... well their name sums up their appearance.
Gargoyle
Some of them charged at the group, Goofy blocking some of their attacks. While others were throwing back their heads charging a ball of fire from their maw. Koga shot at most of them before they fired at them.
"Take this!" Sora said, his Keyblade glowing with power before he threw it at the Heartless. Right after it hit them Sora summoned it back into his hands before throwing it again.
One tried to sneak up behind Sora but Jack intercepted it's attack and slashed at it with it's claws.
The last of them were taken out and the group continued on. As they climbed their way up the tree they came across some more of the Heartless but together they took them out. Soon the reached the top which led to a small room.
Entering the room they saw Lock, Shock, and Barrel huddled quietly in a corner.
"Alright you three, the jig is up." Jack said sternly walking up to them. "Give us back the Heart and we will- what?"
They discovered that it was three doll that were dressed as the three.
"Over here!"
Koga turned and was face to face with a Devil mask.
"BOO!"
The teen yelped and stumbled backwards right into the group. The trio used the momentary distraction to reach for a lever.
"Can't believe you actually fell for that!"
"Wait till Oogie see's what we brought him."
"He can't wait to show you his new toy."
They laughed as they switched it opening a trapdoor. Sora, Koga, Donald, Goofy, and Jack all cried out as they fell down into the darkened pit.
Regaining consciousness Sora groaned and rubbed his back. His brother was right next to him waking up as well. Looking around they saw they were in a darkened room that looks like a mix between a torture chamber and a casino. The twins were in a pit in the shape of a giant roulette wheel in the center of the room, with a sharp metal fence surrounding the edges. To the side was Donald, Goofy and Jack trapped in a cage.
"Sora, Koga!" Jack said trying to break the gate but it was held by some kind of magic.
"What's going on?" Koga asked.
"I think I have an idea..."
The lights slowly turned on, but they were black lights making everything glow in neon hues, even their clothes.
"Oogie I know you're here, hand back that Heart!" Jack said angrily.
Sora and Koga pulled out their Keyblades anticipating a battle. A spotlight lit up and on the other side of the chamber was Oogie himself with a smug expression on his burlap face, the Heart in his hand.
"Well well well, what have we here?
Sora and Koga huh?
Oh, I'm really scared.
So you're the ones Maleficent's talkin' about, ha, ha!
"Wait, you're working with Maleficent?" Koga asked nervously. Oogie rolled his eyes... if he had eyeballs.
"Who cares about some uppity old witch! I don't need her anymore, not with this baby!" Oogie laughed indicating to the Heart. "And with this new toy of mine." He stepped aside revealing a mechanical looking Heartless. It looked like it was made from various parts, such as the right hand being a long pincer or it's head being a large jar filled with a green liquid containing three heads. It shambled over to Oogie's side.
Chimera
"This bad boy is what's leading the Heartless of this world, so lets see what would happen if I did this!" He opened up the side of it's metal torso. and put the Heart inside it.
The Chimera groaned and twitched erratically before standing up straight.
Now let's see if it can take orders from me now. Ohh Heartless!" After a few moments of silence only a few Gargoyles appeared. "That's it?" He growled in anger. "No matter, this thing probably got a few kinks in it's system. I can still use it to destroy you, Jack, and that wretched town!"
"You won't get away with this!" Sora said angrily. "We'll stop you." Oogie laughed at his attempt to intimidate him.
You're jokin', you're jokin'
I can't believe my eyes!
You're jokin' me, you gotta be.
This can't be the right guys!
One's timid, one's bold.
I don't know which is worse!
I might just split a seam now.
If I don't die laughing first!
He pulled a lever and a circular saw started buzzing. The twins barely got out of the way before it flew past them. Oogie then threw a pair of dice into the pit and it rolled a 4. Suddenly the pit started turning as the Chimera then decided to jump in creating a shock wave that knocked the two back.
Koga dodged to the side as it swung at them. But then it swung again slamming Koga against the wall. It then jumped back to Oogie's side.
When Mr. Oogie Boogie says
There's trouble close at hand
You'd better pay attention now
'Cause I'm the Boogie Man
And if you aren't shakin'
Then there's something very wrong
'Cause this may be the last time now
That you hear the boogie song, ohhh
WOO
HOO
WOO
HOO
WOOO
I'm the Oogie Boogie man!
"Even if this Heart thing doesn't work, I still got my own at my disposal." He rolled again and this time it showed a one on each die. "What, Snake eyes?!" He said distressed. He quickly stomped his foot and the dice rolled over and made a 6. The gargoyles dived at them along with a pair of Wight Knights and Search Ghosts. The two slashed at them but were starting to feel tired. Suddenly Koga felt the hairs on the back of his head stand up as he senses something.
"Look out guys!" Jack warned.
"Get down!" He tackled his brother to the ground as bullets were shot at them by a trio of gangster themed slot machines. Then three scythes dropped from above and sliced around the area. Koga hissed as he got nicked in the leg. He wouldn't be able to fight with such an injury.
"Heal!" He said using the last of his magic to mend his wound. Downing a Ether he was starting to worry, this game Oogie's making them play doesn't seem to have an end.
"Don't worry Koga, we got this!" Sora said encouragingly.
You're jokin', you're jokin'
I can't believe my ears
Would someone shut this fella up
I'm drownin' in my tears
It's funny, I'm laughing
You really are too much
And now, with your permission
I'm going to do my stuff.
"What are you gonna do?" Koga asked.
"I'm gonna do the best I can." Oogie said as all his machines turned on at once. Saw blades, slot machines, scythes, and Heartless all attacked them. The pair was getting overwhelmed.
Oh, the sound of rollin' dice
To me is music in the air!
'Cause I'm a gamblin' Boogie Man
Although I don't play fair!
It's much more fun, I must confess
When lives are on the line.
Not mine, of course, but yours, Key-boys.
Now that'd be just fine.
The two were a panting mess when the traps died down. Sora glared at Oogie determined while Koga eye's were wide in fear.
"I can smell that fear boy." Oogie laughed. "I know what you're afraid of. You're afraid of being weak, not being good enough. Worried you will end up just like your old pal Riku."
"Huh?" Sora looked at his brother. He looked down sadly.
"Oh this is priceless! The very friend you looked up to for years is the very thing you fear of becoming. You're scared you're gonna be a 'villain' just like him? Let that fear consume you, make's it easier for me to finish you off."
"I get it now." Koga said solemnly. "What Sally said, I get it now. It's not scaring that's bad. It's the intent." He looked to Jack. "Jack just wants to scare people to give them excitement, make them stronger and learn it's okay to be afraid. You on the other hand are nothing but a jerk!" He summoned his Keyblade. "You use fear to bring out the darkness in people for your own gain. Well this fear is mine, I will not let you use it against me!"
"That's right!" Sora said brandishing his Key. "Let us go or else!"
Oh, brother, you're something!
You put me in a spin!
You aren't comprehending
The position that you're in!
It's hopeless, you're finished
You haven't got a prayer!
'Cause I'm Mr. Oogie Boogie
And you ain't going nowhere.
The Chimera jumped in again but this time before it can do anything Koga raised his Keyblade up and yelled "Stop!" Suddenly the mechanical Heartless froze in place completely exposed. Koga shot at it while it's defense was down. When time caught up to it the Heartless convulsed as electricity crackled from it. It then exploded, creating a large hole in the gate right to Oogie. Said bag of bugs was shaking nervously.
"Go Sora!"
Sora nodded and ran to his brother and jumped off his shoulders for extra height. He got through the hole and reached Oogie and sliced through him.
Oogie gasped in surprise there was a large tear in his stomach. Many bugs were spilling out of it like blood.
"Oh what have you done! My bugs!" Oogie wailed as he tried in vain to close the wound, his body deflating to nothing but a empty sack. Well, empty save for a scrap of paper, the Ansem reports. As he picked it up Koga crawled through the hole and freed the others.
"Thanks Koga!" Goofy said patting his back.
"So the Heart didn't work?" Jack asked looking at the charred remains of the Heartless. "What a shame..."
"So that's it? We beat him?" Donald asked.
Sora turned and nodded. "Yeah, that's the last we'll see of him."
"Uh Sora..." Goofy pointed at the bugs. They were giving off a dark aura and gathering together. They formed a ball of darkness and it's aura spread across the manor. The ground started shaking and the walls were cracking.
"The whole manor is coming down, we gotta go!" Donald shouted.
"But Lock Shock and Barrel are still at the top."
"There's no time, come on!" Donald pulled Sora along as they all ran outside. A shock wave knocked them all onto their feet, they heard the cracking of wood and stone. And they also heard the familiar groan of Oogie Boogie.
When the dust settled they found the entire manor was transformed. Large chunks of it had burlap covering it and the face of Oogie boogie at the top.
"How did he get so big?" Jack asked astonished.
"The darkness overtook him and the mansion, look!" Koga pointed at several dark tumors covering him. "Those must be where his bugs are gathered."
"So we just have to destroy those things right?"
"Yep, simple as that. Let's finish him!"
They started climbing up the manor taking out a couple of orbs. The Oogie Manor shot orbs of darkness and sent a bunch of Gargoyles at them but Donald and Goofy blocked and took them out. Jack used a blizzard spell on the large lantern where the fireballs were coming from and it was extinguished. They were halfway to the top when they heard a yell for help.
"Hey, over here loser!"
The group turned and saw Oogie's minions trapped in a hanging cage.
"Koga, Goofy! Get me over there." Sora said. They nodded and hoisted the spiky haired teen up. With their combined strength they tossed Sora and he landed on the cage. The others continued their climb to take out the orbs.
"What are you waiting for, get us out of here!" Barrel shrieked.
"You sorry for the trouble you caused to Halloween town?" Sora said. "And for tricking us?"
"Yes, yes! We'll never cause trouble again, we'll be good promise!" Shock said.
"Alright." He said as he broke the lock on the cage. Suddenly the trio slammed the gate open, knocking Sora off balance. He grabbed the edge of the cage before he fell off.
"Just kidding, we learned nothing!" They laughed as they pulled a smoke bomb and vanished.
"Help!" Sora called. Koga turned and saw his brother clinging on for dear life. Thinking quickly he reached into his bag.
Sora's fingers lost their grip and he fell.
"I gotcha kid!" He felt someone catch him. He saw himself in the arms of Genie smiling at him, he was currently dressed in a Hawaiian outfit.
"Genie?" Sora said confused. He looked at Koga who was holding the Lamp. He sighed seeing his brother was safe. He started taking out the last orb.
"Wow, what a spooky looking place you rascals decided to call me! Looks like a Hot Topic here." Genie commentated as he put Sora back on the ground. The manor was beginning to collapse without the last orb. The group fell through the floorboard and would've made a messy stain on the ground if Genie didn't stop them.
"Well that's all taken care of. Love to say and chat kiddo but I got a conga line to get back to. Aloha!" He said before he poofed and vanished.
Sora turned to his brother. "Nice quick thinking." Koga shrugged.
"Hey, what's that?"
The manor completely collapsed but all the debris vanished into darkness. But that wasn't the strange thing, it was what was left behind. It was a gravestone and on it's surface was the Keyhole.
"Wanna do the honor's bro?" Koga asked. Sora nodded and pointed his Keyblade. Light gather's at the tip and with a flash of light the Keyhole was gone.
They made their way back to town, the Heartless all gone now. They reconvened in Finkelstein's lab where the doctor was scratching his head.
"I just don't understand. Emotions, memory. We put all the necessary ingredients. What else do you need to make a Heart? What even is a Heart?"
Jack let the doctor continue his monologue as he looked at Sally with a downcast expression.
"Sally, why didn't I listen to you? If I did then all this trouble wouldn't have started."
"Don't feel bad Jack. We'll come up with another for next year's Halloween." She said taking Jack's hand. "And next time, we'll do it together."
Jack gave a small smile before looking at the other's who helped save the day. "Unfortunately this means we'll have to cancel the Heartless Halloween festival."
"Probably for the best." Sora agreed.
"But I want to thank you for your help in saving Halloween. I would never have stopped Oogie if it wasn't for you all. You are welcome here anytime."
"THANK YOU!"
Jack stumbled back at the sudden outburst. He turned to Koga who had a smug grin on his face.
"Koga did you try to scare me?"
"Yep, did it work?"
Jack laughed and put his hands on the boy's shoulders. "You sure did, looks like you'll be great at scaring people on you're journey."
Koga smiled brightly. "Thanks, speaking of which I think it's time we moved on."
"You're leaving already?"
"Yeah, we got other Heartless to take out, other holidays to save. You know the drill." He waved goodbye to the skeleton. "Good luck trying to scare people." The group left the lab. Jack frowned and scratched his chin.
"What did they mean by other holidays? Hmm..."
Ansem report 3
The shadows that crawl beneath the castle... Are they the people who lost their hearts, or incarnations of darkness? Or something entirely beyond my imagination? All my knowledge has provided no answer. One thing I am sure of is that they are entirely devoid of emotion. Perhaps further study will unlock the mysteries of the heart. Fortunately, there is no shortage of test samples. They are multiplying underground even as I write this report. They still need a name. Those who lack hearts... I will call them the Heartless.
Ansem report 7
I am studying material from the meteors that rained down that fateful night. What a find! The material is foreign to our world. It is elastic to the touch, and when two pieces are combined, they bond easily. None of the records even mention such a substance.Was it introduced to this world when I opened the door? I wonder how many other such materials drift through the atmosphere of this tiny world... I wish I could soar off and find out! Could there be uncharted worlds up there? My curiosity never ceases to grow.But I should stop speaking of such unrealistic dreams. For now, there is no way to venture outside this world. My people and I are all but prisoners of this tiny place.
Well this was quite something!
This fic isn't gonna turn into a musical, only when a song is thematically appropriate.
HAVE FUN!