CHAPTER EIGHT

WITCH UNIVERSITY – SCHOOL YARD (HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION) – NIGHT

Night has fallen; the Halloween Celebration has begun and all creatures have gathered in the yard for the celebration.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – MARNIE'S OFFICE – NIGHT

Marnie is getting dressed up with the help of Marlene.

Marlene: Are you sure you want to do this?

Marnie: No, but I don't have a choice. If Dylan continues to stay like this, he'll become an ice sculpture forever.

Marlene: Isn't there any way we can stop this?

Marnie: Actually there might be. Marlene, I need you to do something for me.

Marlene: What?

Marnie: PJ told me that you guys have Gene to fulfill three wishes from each of you, that's why I need you to get Gene to use his cosmic power to contact my family, with one of your wishes.

Marlene: Okay.

Marnie: And be careful.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – CORRIDOR – NIGHT

Sarox, Max, Luke, Aneesa and PJ are waiting outside. Marlene comes out.

Sarox: How'd it go?

Marlene: Sarox, Marnie wants us to get Gene.

Max: What? Why?

Marlene: So we can use one of our wishes to transport her family to Witch University and let them witness her coronation.

From down the hallway, Scarlett appears in corporeal form. She opens the lid on her witches' glass and contacts her father.

Scarlett: She's just asked her lackeys to contact her family and let them witness her coronation. Could be a set-up.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – SILAS' OFFICE – NIGHT

Silas: We need to make sure that none of them will interfere with our plans. Keep an eye on them.

Chancellor Goodwin: We will send out our Heartless army to keep her family out of the way.

Scarlett: Let me handle them. I'll make sure to lock them up before they have the chance to get out.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – ANCIENT RUINS CHAMBER – NIGHT

Sarox, Marlene, Max and PJ come into the chamber. Scarlett, Sage and Sapphire follow them to the door.

The quartet point their hands to the ceiling. Then, a beam of light shoots down and takes them up to the Gummi Ship. Just then, the Sinister sisters snap their fingers and form a force field in the room, thinking that they have locked up the room.

GUMMI SHIP – PILOT ROOM

The quartet appear in the pilot room. Jiminy appears.

Jiminy: Hey, guys! What's going on?

PJ: A friend of mine asked us to get Gene.

Sarox: C'mon. We gotta hurry.

Marlene and Sarox go to search for Gene's lamp while Max and PJ keep an eye on everything that is happening in Witch University. Then, PJ spots their preset location, which is now locked up.

PJ: Hey, someone has locked up out preset landing destination.

Max: What? How is that possible?

PJ: Maybe someone has followed us to the room and tried to lock us up.

Max: Well, in that case, I'm glad we made it out in time.

Sarox and Marlene come back with Gene's lamp in their hands.

Marlene: We found it.

PJ: Okay, but the Dominion knows what we're up to. They just tried to lock us up in the room we were in.

Sarox: What?

PJ checks the clock and realizes it's only thirty minutes to twelve.

PJ: Well, whatever we plan to do, we better hurry. 'Cause time is running out. The coronation is beginning in a few minutes.

Sarox: We'll land on a place near Witch University, and wish for Marnie's family to come to us from there. That's what I think we should do.

Max: Good, that's what I had in mind too.

Sarox: Jiminy, beam us down again, please.

Jiminy: Be careful, guys.

With that, Jiminy sets the down-beaming system while the others prepare to leave the ship.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – AGGIE'S VICTORIAN OLD HOUSE – NIGHT

Sarox, Marlene, Max and PJ appear in the back yard of Grandma Aggie's house.

PJ: Hurry!

Sarox: Marlene! Max! You guys go and stay guard.

Max and Marlene go as he says. Sarox rubs the lamp.

Sarox: Gene! I want my wish!

Gene appears in a puff of smoke emitting from the lamp.

Gene: What? I was dreaming about Aneesa. Why'd you have to wake me up at this time?

Sarox: You can see Aneesa in person again if you will just help me fulfill my wish.

Gene: Really?

He nods.

Gene: 'kay! Your wish is my command! What is your wish then, Sarox?

Sarox: I wish for Marnie's family to come to Witch University.

Gene: No problem! Abracadabra! Alakazam!

He waves his fingers, and one moment later, Marnie's mother Gwen, grandmother Aggie, and little sister Sophie appear in front of them.

Gwen: What happened? (Sees Sophie and Grandma Aggie) Mother? Sophie?

Sophie: Mom.

Grandma Aggie: Gwen?

Gwen rushes to her youngest daughter and embraces her in a hug.

Grandma Aggie: How did we get here?

Sarox: With a wish from a genie.

The Cromwell family members turn to look at Sarox, PJ, and Gene. Just then, Max and Marlene return to the back yard.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – SCHOOL BUILDING (HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION) – NIGHT

The party has begun. Luke and Aneesa are waiting among the creatures. In the background, the Sinister sisters are also present. Aneesa looks anxiously around the crowd.

Aneesa: Where are they?

The ceremony finally begins. Chancellor Goodwin appears on the balcony with a fully dressed Marnie, Dr. Grogg and Silas. Marnie looks around the place, but sees no sign of the quartet or her family.

Chancellor Goodwin: Looking for your friends? Don't bother. They're locked up.

Marnie: What?

Chancellor Goodwin: You wouldn't think you could double-cross us, would you? We sent Scarlett to look after you and your little lackeys. Now, they're locked up in the ancient ruins chamber.

She snaps her fingers and teleports the still-frozen Ethan and Dylan under the balcony, startling everyone else.

Silas: Now, you will make your choice. Be our queen or lose your brother.

Marnie: Fine, but release Dylan and Ethan now. Or no deal.

Silas: Fine. – By the Power of Three!

With that, Silas, Dr. Grogg and Chancellor Goodwin point their hands at Dylan and Ethan. One second later, the cage disappears and they are de-frosted. They look around their surroundings in bewilderment.

Dylan: What happened?

Ethan: I don't know.

Luke and Aneesa approach to them.

Aneesa: Are you okay?

Dylan: What happened?

Luke: The chancellor and Silas Sinister turned you two to ice to make Marnie make a deal with them.

Dylan: What kind of deal?

Ethan: To make Marnie their queen and use her Gift to turn all the residents of Halloweentown into slaves. I was gonna tell you that when we were ambushed by Dr. Goodwin.

They look back to the balcony and notice the clock. It's two minutes till midnight.

Silas: Now, where were we?

Chancellor Goodwin holds the Gift in front of Marnie.

Chancellor Goodwin: Marnie Piper! Granddaughter of Splendora Agatha Cromwell! Take on your Gift and fulfill the prophecy!

Marnie is hesitant, so the chancellor whispers at her ear.

Chancellor Goodwin: After tonight, you'll be free to use your magic as you wish. You will be the most powerful witch in the world. Isn't that why you came here? Isn't that what you always wanted?

Marnie looks away.

Marnie: Yes.

Though not convinced by her words, they decide to proceed. The chancellor holds the Gift in front of everyone who is watching the coronation.

Chancellor Goodwin: Behold! I give you your Queen!

Aggie: (Off-screen) Not so fast!

Everyone looks up and sees Aggie, Sophie, and Gwen come flying on broomsticks, with Sarox, Marlene and Max as passengers, respectively. Behind them comes PJ also flying on his own broomstick.

Gwen: Marnie!

Dylan: Mom?

Marnie: Mom!

Aggie: I will not let you the same thing to my granddaughter!

Silas: No! This time, the Dominion will prevail!

Silas, Dr. Grogg and Chancellor Goodwin hold out their hands and provide a magical blast. PJ, Aggie and Gwen resist with magical defenses of their own. Knowing that she can't let the Dominion succeed, Marnie snatches the Gift out of Chancellor Goodwin's hands while she is distracted.

Marnie: Grandma! Mom! Dylan! Sophie! Help me destroy the Gift!

Hearing this, the Dominion and the Cromwell family members stop the fight. Silas, Dr. Grogg and Chancellor Goodwin try to stop Marnie, but she throws it up in the air and performs her magic.

Marnie: Exterium oblivius!

Dr. Grogg, Chancellor Goodwin, Silas: No!

Grandma Aggie, Sophie, Gwen and Dylan cast their magic spells.

Grandma Aggie, Gwen, Dylan and Sophie: Exterium oblivius!

The five magic spells collide with the Cromwell Gift, then then suddenly, the Gift shields itself with a powerful force field and Marnie's heart emits in a glow as well.

PJ: What's going on?

Max: I think I know what's going on. – Sarox!

Sarox: Yeah! I know!

Sarox points his Keyblade toward Marnie.

Sarox: (chants)

Sacred key,

Unleash your untapped power.

Shine away the darkness

And preserve the world with your light.

Master of the Keyblade.

AWAKE!

A beam emits from the Keyblade's tip and shoots at Marnie's chest. There, the Gift and Marnie's heart glow even brighter, so bright that the Dominion members defenselessly shield their eyes. When both glows disappear, the Gift has become the Noble Gift Keyblade: the keychain is a ruby gem with a brown thread connected to the handle which is made of gold, the blade is of red diamonds and the teeth of the Keyblade is covered by two stars and a moon on the top. It floats to Marnie: its true master.

Marnie: What happened? What is this?

Sarox: Looks like the Gift has found its master.

Max: I guess you were the possessor of the Gift after all.

The clock strikes twelve. The Dominion members run for their lives. Everyone under the balcony clap and cheer at the Cromwells' success. Ethan and Marnie share a tender look. Sarox, Marlene, Max, Grandma Aggie, Gwen and Sophie land on the balcony. Marnie greets her family with a big hug.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – FRONT DOORS – NIGHT

Silas Sinister, Dr. Grogg, Chancellor Goodwin come out through the front door, and Scarlett and her sisters come to them.

Scarlett: Daddy!

Silas: Let's go!

Before they could go anywhere, they are surrounded by a magical sphere formed by the gargoyles. Just then, Professor Periwinkle.

Prof. Periwinkle: Good job, boys!

Chancellor Goodwin: This is ridiculous. Persimmon Periwinkle...

Prof. Periwinkle: Agent Periwinkle... of the Anti-Dominion League!

Silas: What?

Prof. Periwinkle: Yes, I've been undercover for ten centuries to find evidence to arrest you! Now, you are all stripped of your family magic and are under arrest for treason!

She holds out a witches' glass and transports them all into it.

Dominion members: NO!!!

Silas: (Inside the mirror) You think this is over! Take a look at the very end of Witch University! I have put an enchantment of our plan! If it fails, it will awake a Heartless so powerful that no one will be able to stop it! You shall now meet the end of Halloweentown!

WITCH UNIVERSITY – SCHOOL BUILDING – NIGHT

A big puff of smoke steams up from the towers of the school and turns a gigantic Heartless known as "Domating Terminator". Its size corresponds half the building. Everyone frightens and runs for their lives, just as Marnie and the others leave the balcony with flying broomsticks.

The Cromwells and the quartet fly to the highest point of the building. The Heartless destroys a tower with a single flip of its hand. The tower falls toward our heroes, but Gwen and Aggie manage to destroy it with their combined magic blast.

Marnie: Oh, no!

Sophie: What'll we do, Grandma?

Grandma Aggie: I-I don't know! I've never met the likes of such big Heartless before.

Gwen: Well, we have to do something, mother, we can't just float here and watch.

Sarox: Don't worry, we'll deal with them!

Sarox looks to his friends. They all nod in confidence, as if they know they have the power to defeat that Heartless. Max takes out Gene's lamp and calls him out.

Max: Gene, I want my wish! Give us the power to defeat that thing!

Gene appears in midair.

Gene: No problem!

He snaps fingers. One moment later, a united glow appears on our heroes' (including Marnie's) weapons. PJ and Max flys toward it.

Sophie: What is they doing?!

Sarox: Trapping the Heartless.

It charges its claws at PJ, but then Max' shield comes flying and bounces it off, allowing PJ to cast his spell.

PJ: Blizzard!

With an enhanced power, PJ's staff blows out an air of ice that's equal to the size of the Heartless. It tries to shield its eyes from the blizzard.

PJ: Now, guys!

Marnie looks to her family.

Marnie: Mom, Grandma, Sophie, I need you in this. And I need Dylan too.

Grandma Aggie and Gwen smile proudly at Marnie. Then, the two of them join hands and cast their spell to summon Dylan.

Grandma Aggie and Gwen: Come to us, Dylan. We summon thee! On this darkest hour, I call to you!

One second later, Dylan appears on Grandma Aggie's broom, sitting right behind Marnie. He frightens at the height and holds onto Marnie's waist.

Dylan: Whoa! Ah! Wh-Where am I?

Gwen: Hey, Dylan! We need your help, can you do it?

Dylan: (Sarcastically) Well, I could probably do it better if I were still grounded.

Marnie shrugs.

The Heartless is beginning to break free as PJ's magic is running out.

Sarox: We have to hurry! PJ's magic is almost out.

Sarox, Marlene and Marnie point their Keyblades at the Heartless and release a united beam of light from the tip of their weapons. Then, Grandma Aggie, Gwen, Dylan and Sophie thrust out their arms to cast their spell.

Grandma Aggie, Gwen, Dylan and Sophie: Luminarium absentis atrum!

The three lights and the combined spell join together in unison and hit on the Heartless' chest. As the powerful attack vanquishes the monster, its heart extracts and vanish to Kingdom Hearts, where it belongs.

Sarox: Way to go!

Marnie: We did it!

Marlene: Yeah!

Everyone hurrays at their victory.