Chapter 8
Halloween Town
we arrive in town to a pumpkin headed scarecrow that is holding a sign that says Halloween Town, it gives me the creeps. I look over to see that all of our appearances have changed, Donald is a mummy missing the middle of his stomach, Goofy was a zombie and Sora is a vampire with bat wings and blackened hair, my outfit was very similar but I had black raven wings.
"this is Halloween Town right?" Sora asked.
"Well it sure does look like Hallowee... Wha?" Donald stops and looks down the street. there were orange, Christmas lights down the street. A ghost of a dog comes up scaring all of us.
"Hey look it's Zero!" Sora said, "How have you been boy?" he asked. the sharp pain came back taking the place of two heartbeats. I shook off the pain before Sora could notice. The ghost goes down the street and we fallow him. we get to town square and there was an odd ramp in front of us that looked out of place.
"What's that for?" Sora asked, we hear bells above us and then a Christmas sled lands on the ramp. the sled was led by skeleton reindeer, with a skeleton man inside the sled.
"It's Jack!" Donald said
"Who?" I asked?
"He's Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king." Sora explained,
"Oh, because the pumpkin king driving a Christmas sleigh makes sense." I chuckled.
"Sora, Donald, Goofy!" Jack said "Welcome back, and Merry Christmas!" he said, wait what? I thought we were in Halloween Town?
"Merry Christmas?" Sora asked, "Don't you mean Happy Halloween?" I guess Sora was thinking the same thing I was.
"Of course, Happy Halloween greetings from Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King." He said making a scary face, "Forgive me, I'm in a Christmas mood." I've never heard of someone in a Christmas mood, especially someone who is an expert on Halloween. "You see I'm running the show again this year- but I need Sandy Claws' blessing, so I'm off to Christmas Town."
"Sandy Claws?" Sora asked confused.
"Whose that?" I ask
"And you are?" Jack asked me
"names Sara."
"Nice to meet you!" he said
"I think he means Santa Claus." Goofy said
"A Halloween Town Christmas?" Sora thought
"Let's go check it out!" I added and Sora nodded in agreement. we head into a laboratory to join Jack. we walk in to see Jack talking to a scientist.
"Hello Doctor, where's Sally?" Jack asked
"Can't you see... that I'm in the middle of an experiment!" the Doctor yelled. he wheels over to the test table, it reminds me a lot of the lab table the scientists in the World of Dreams had me on experimented on me every day. the horrors buzzed in my head making me dizzy, I lean on Sora's shoulder for support.
"You ok?" he asked
"I'll be fine," I assured him, "Just a little light headed that's all." the sharp pain came back pulsating in my chest, I just prayed Sora didn't notice. A woman who looks like a ragdoll walks into the room. three children toss a device onto the lab table causing an explosion, the quickly run out of the room laughing.
"Imbeciles! Now my experiment is ruined!" the Doctor yelled.
"Sally did you finish it?" Jack asked
"I'm sorry, Jack. I... I need a little more time." Sally responded, the look on her face seemed concerned.
"that's all right, Just as long as it's ready for Christmas Jack said trying to cheer Sally up.
"But... Jack..." Sally tried to get out, I know Jack is all bones but you would think he had enough brain to see that she was worried about something.
"I'd best be off." Jack said starting to head to the door. "I've gotta go get Sandy Claws, right away!" he said. "wonderful to see you again." Jack said, "Good bye for now."
"Go get Santa Claus?" Sora said out loud.
"Please Sora, I'm afraid something terrible will happen if Jack goes through with this," Sally pleaded
"you can say that again," Donald agreed with Sally,
"Sora?" Goofy said trying to get Sora's attention, he seemed to be thinking about something. Jack walks back into the room snapping Sora back to reality.
"Are those strange- looking fellows in the town square with you?" Jack asked us,
"What fellow?" I asked
"You know, the ones that wanted to spoil Halloween and Christmas?" Jack explained, "What are they called again? Heartless?"
"There definitely not with us." Sora proclaimed, "but Donald, Goofy, Sara and I can get rid of them for you." I could tell Sora was up to something, "And then we can go see Santa!" Sora cheered, I couldn't help but laugh at Sora's childish behavior, but Donald was not amused as he tapped his foot in annoyance, "But first, the heartless!" Sora assures Donald we leave and quickly defeat the heartless,
"alright bodyguards, Christmas town is this way," Jack said pointing the way, "the doorway is in the woods just past the graveyard." he explained.
"You going to be alright Sara?" Goofy asked me,
"What do you mean?" I asked
"your face has been pale ever since we left that laboratory." Donald said, Looks like Donald and Goofy don't miss a thing,
"it's nothing," I assured them, " let's get going." I quickly run up and walk alongside Jack to the forest. I didn't want to tell Sora that Dad had people experiment on me, I don't know how he would take it.
"Here it is, the door to Christmas town." Jack said showing us a door in the shape of a Christmas tree in front of us. Sora stared intently at the door. Jack opens the door and Sora jumps inside without hesitation. Donald, Goofy and I let out a loud sigh right before we jump in after him. we appear on a snow covered hill just outside a candy cane gate that says Christmas town.
"Coool!" Sora said, his eyes sparkling, all of us couldn't help but stare at the town.
"So where's Santa?" Donald asked
"In his workshop," Jack answered, "Shall we?" Jack said as we all get on our feet and run into town.
"this place is beautiful." I said as we entered the town, everyone nodded in agreement. we begin to look around only to be interrupted by more heartless.
"Here too?" Sora said as we quickly clear any trace of the heartless out of the town square.
"Christmas is in big trouble," Donald said
"We can't let anything happen to Christmas." Goofy said
"Agreed!" I said as Jack walks up to us,
"that's where Sandy Claws lives," he said pointing to the large building in front of us. We walk inside to see Santa Claus reading what looks like his naughty and nice list. Sora and I become very excited.
"Well, hello everyone." Santa said, "Did you come to see if you're on my nice list?"he asked and we all walk up to him. "your name?" He asked Sora
"Um, Sora sir," He said as Santa begins to look at his list.
"let's see... Sora... here you are," Santa said as Sora begins to jump up and down with anticipation. " Well, according to my list, Sora... seven years ago you told everyone you did not believe in Santa Claus... Oh, that is unfortunate," He said, Sora begins to freak out.
"How about Donald and Goofy?" Donald asked as Santa skims down the list and nods at them causing Donald to jump for joy,
"Um, am I on there as well?" I asked, "My names Sara." He looks at the list and lifts his head and nods again. I smile as Santa looks over and sees Jack.
"Jack Skellington?" He yells dropping his list, A loud noise is heard in the next room, "What sort of trouble did you bring this time?" Santa said walking into the next room with us right behind, the room looked like a assembly line for toys.
"this time?" Sora asked
"it's a long story," Jack said leaving it at that. "It's Lock, Shock and Barrel!" Jack said as they break a window and run away.
"Not those three." Santa said.
"I can assure you they are not with us," Jack said
"well whatever the case, they've been a little naughty," Santa said, "Catch them and bring them back here." He demanded
"Come on Jack lets catch those little pranksters." Sora said, we leave the ware house and fallow a set of footprints all the way back to Halloween town, I stop right at the edge of the forest.
"Sara?" Sora said as everyone stops and looks at me.
"Sorry, looks like I was a lot dizzier then I thought, you go on ahead, I'll catch up." I said sitting down.
"Be careful," Sora said as they begin to fallow the footprints again until they disappear out of my sight.
"Confound it, now I've lost my way," I heard Santa's voice from behind me.
"Santa?" I said turning around to see him walking up to me,
"Oh Sara, did the others find them yet?" he asked.
"There fallowing their footprints," I explained
"Are you alright?" He asked
"I Just got a little dizzy," I said
"Take it easy then," He said and I responded with a nod,
"Is that you Sandy Claws?" Sally asked as she walked up to us.
"Yes... but please just call me Santa Claus," He asked
"I was hoping to find you here," Sally said, "You see... it's very important that you go back to Christmas town. I'm afraid something terrible will happen if you don't." She begged, I wonder what she could mean?
"Well I am behind on my preparations," Santa said thinking out loud, "Very well, tell Jack that I'll be waiting for him at my workshop, he had something to say to me about Christmas." Santa said. I was trying to see if I was feeling better but even though I was sitting down the dizziness still hadn't gone away.
"But that's just it." Sally said shaking her head. "Please, go home and lock the door. And if Jack knocks, don't open it," She pleaded as we hear laughing in the distance. I quickly jump to my feet trying to ignore how dizzy I truly was.
"Whose there?" I yelled taking out my Keyblade, a large creature that looked like it was made of a bag stitched together and full of something runs towards us and stops in front of me. "Who are you?" I ask.
"The names Oogie Boogie," He introduced himself, "Now you two play nice and come with me." He demanded, I quickly get ready to fight. I could see the darkness seeping out of his body, it was revolting.
"Santa! Sally! get out of here!" I yelled as Santa runs towards the door to Christmas town and Sally runs towards Halloween town, "Now it's just you and me." I said,
"Oh! but how are you supposed to fight when you can even stand properly?" He asked, right then my vision became blurry,
"What?" I said as everything around be begins to spin, I try to shake it off, "What did you do?" I asked sticking my Keyblade in the ground to use it for support.
"Just a little magic, specialty of Maleficent." Oogie explained,
"Her again?"
"That's right, she has special plans for you." he said, I pass out.
"Sara!" Sora yelled while shaking me violently, I open my eyes to see that were in Santa's work shop. I quickly sit up and look around,
"What happened? Where's Oogie?" I asked Sora hugs me tightly, "Um Sora... Can't breathe." I said and he lets me go.
"We defeated Oogie, He was using you and Santa as hostages. why did he take you in the first place?" Sora asked.
"I think Maleficent told him to..." I guessed, I look down at my arms and legs, everything seems in order. "Guess you got to me first." I said and Sora lets out a loud sigh. I stand up and we leave the workshop,
"well looks like Christmas town is safe." Sora said
"You must be tired Sandy Claws, why don't you let me take over?" Jack suggested.
"yes, being Santa Claus can be tiring, but let me tell you something Jack. Seeing the happy faces of little children when they discover the presents I've brought them makes it all worthwhile, year after year," he said, "and you Jack- you love to make them gasp and see them shiver with fright. What if someone tried to take all of that away from you?" Jack becomes sad as he begins to ponder. "We both have very important jobs to do Jack mine is to take care of Christmas, and yours is to take care of Halloween. So we each have to do the very best we can." Santa explains, Jack begins to frown, "After all, you're the face of Halloween- Mr. Jack Skellington! the Pumpkin King! the Knight of Nightmares!" Santa was trying everything to cheer Jack up, but at the same time trying to get through to him. "and ever though you're fascinated with Christmas, Jack... Halloween is your true specialty- Don't you see? Children rely on both of us to do our jobs. Halloween needs your attention... and I know Christmas needs mine- urgently," Santa heads back inside, I honestly thought he was going to keep talking...
"You're right I am the master of terror! and if Halloween had become too routine, all I have to do is think of something new, that'll really make them scream! I gotta go make preparations!" Jack said running off as we all wave goodbye.
"well there he goes," Sora said as Jacks Santa outfit begins to glow opening a new pathway to another world. "Sara," Sora said As I look over at him.
"Yeah?" I was confused, we had gone several worlds to the point where it became a routine that I was surprised he was acting out of character.
"How about you unlock it?" He asked and I smiled. I secretly wanted to do unlock one of the pathways just to see what it was like, so when he offered I jumped at the chance. I quickly unlocked the keyhole so we can venture to new worlds.
"Hey Sora, why did you go around telling people you didn't believe in Santa?" I asked him as we began to leave.
"That's because he didn't give me what I asked for." Sora said.
"And what was it?"
"I told Santa that all I wanted was for you to come home for Christmas." He said, I couldn't help but hug him. He gave up his belief in Santa just because of me, I let go of him and kiss his cheek as a thank you. Sora always knew exactly what to say to make you feel special.
"Let's get going." I said as we all climb into the Gummy ship.
"Hey lets head back to Twilight Town." Sora said, Twilight Town was the place where the three of them woke up. but they don't remember anything about how they got there or why they were sleeping in the first place. we all agreed and headed to Twilight Town.