"So, you are new to this world as well, aren't you?" Tellah asked as they followed Eilonwy through the secret corridor.
"How'd you know?" Sailor Terra wondered.
The sage smiled. "Hey, I know a Keyblade Master when I see one," he said and gestured at Akane's weapon.
"Why is it that everyone know about this except for me?" Akane grumbled.
"Well, there aren't many world that even know about the existence of other worlds," Tellah explained. "Actually, Rydia and I would have never come here in the first place, if our Gummi Ship wasn't shot down..."
"You have a Gummi Ship?" Kasumi asked in surprise.
"Yeah, it's hidden in the forest," Tellah nodded. "I think I managed to fix most of the damage, but just before I was finished, the Heartless attacked and overwhelmed us."
"Another world?" Taran said in awe. "And here I thought you just were from another kingdom..."
"Say, you must have come here via Gummi Ship as well," Tellah then said. "Isn't that right?"
"Well, sort of..." Akane said.
"Great! Then have you a few extra Gummi Blocks you could spare?"
"Oh, I think Nabiki will have a few spares," Kasumi smiled.
Eilonwy listened to the conversation of her companions for a while. She didn't understand half of what was being said, but to her, it seemed as if most of them were a bit kooky in the head. "Say, Flewwddur... don't you think they are a bit... strange? I mean, it's strange enough that an assistant pig keeper like Taran would willingly sneak into the Horned King's castle... or be interested in swords. But his companions and that old man... I mean... they somehow look like they don't belong here..."
"Indeed, their are wearing the most peculiar garments," the bard nodded. "Especially the red-haired lady... in my time, no girl would ever be caught dead in such a... revealing... outfit."
"I mean, they all seem to be good people, but... I don't know..."
Meanwhile, Tellah was clearing his throat. "Um... I really am grateful that all of you are willing to help me with this. I mean, after all, I am a complete stranger to you..."
"Aw, that's okay!" Ranma grinned.
"It's always a pleasure to help people in need," Kasumi smiled.
"Well, I'm new to this business, but I've heard that this is what heroes do," Akane shrugged.
"Is that so?" Tellah stroke his beard. "Truly, you must come from a community of exceptionally selfless individuals..."
Akane sweatdropped. "Oh, believe me, it's not like that," Akane muttered.
"Well, then I assume your parents must have been the role models for your commendable behavior..."
This time, it was Ranma, who sweatdropped. "Trust me, they ain't..." she grumbled. "Believe me, I don't think you'd ever want to come to where we live..."
"Well, at least it is good to hear that heroes like you exist in other worlds," Tellah sighed. "I've pretty much given up home after being chased off my own home world..."
"Oh my, what happened?" Kasumi asked.
"Our world was attacked by a dark individual... someone who was commanding the Heartless," Tellah explained. "We all know that the only one who could help us is a Keyblade Master... we already sent someone out, but he never came back... my friends and I managed to evade the Heartless long enough, but in the end, we couldn't wait any longer and prepared a Gummi Ship. In the end, only Rydia and I made it..."
The Nerimians looked at each other. All of this sounded way too familiar...
"That guy you've sent... it didn't happen to be a cat riding on a big, stuffed animal, or did it?" Ranma asked.
Tellah gasped for air. "Y-you met Cait Sith?"
"Why, yes!" Kasumi nodded. "He was the one who told us about the Keyblade and the Heartless."
"But... but his energy must have already run out by now," Tellah said.
"It did," Akane nodded. "He just barely made it to our world. He told me to find his home world... and I suppose that's the same place you come from?"
"That's true," Tellah nodded. "Although... you couldn't really call it a world. Actually, it's a very small place, drifting around through Interspace. I believe certain people compared it with a spacestation."
"But that's great!" Akane smiled. "Then we can come with you, after having saved Rydia and Taran's pet pig."
"Hey, I already told you, Hen Wen's not just any pig: She can see the future, that's why the Horned King has kidnapped her," Taran shouted.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that," Akane apologized. "It's just that I've never met too many pigs like that before... but I can understand why you are worried. If anything would happen to P-chan..."
"Oh, please!" Eilonwy sighed. "Don't tell me you're beginning to believe that as well..."
Ranma shrugged. "I've seen stranger stuff like that. Cursed springs, a master of disguise transvestite, a sentient battle suit... believe me, a future-seeing pig isn't the strangest thing in the world."
Tellah rubbed his beard again. "Truly, an exceptional world you must come from..."
"Here we are," Eilonwy then said and gestured at the wall. "Behind this wall lies the throne room."
Ranma pressed her ear against the wall. "Can't hear anything..." she said.
"Well, I plan to enter without knocking," Akane said. She looked at Eilonwy. "What do you say: Will this Horned King be a very difficult costumer?"
Eilonwy shuddered. "I'm not planning on finding out..."
"Well, I am," Akane said resolutely. She firmly grasped her Keyblade, opened the door and stormed into the huge room with a loud yell.
Kasumi sighed. "That's so like Akane..."
"Well, let's make sure she doesn't have all the fun by herself," Ranma grinned. "Let's get 'em!"
"Hen Wen, I'm coming!" Taran shouted and followed Ranma and Akane into the throne room.
But, it was empty.
The only person in the room was a young woman with green hair and a likewise green dress. Except for her, there was no one around.
"What a letdown..." Akane huffed.
Tellah came after them. "Rydia!" he shouted.
"Tellah!" Rydia smiled. "Am I glad to see you..."
"Wait, I'm getting you free," Akane said and with one swing of her Keyblade, the chains that bound the girl to the wall were destroyed.
"Thanks," Rydia said while massaging her wrists. "Now we should leave before..."
"You are not going anywhere," a ghostly voice proclaimed. Out of nowhere, the Horned King and his Heartless appeared.
"Dang, we're surrounded..." Ranma grumbled.
"Now, I suggest you do as I say... or you will die!"
"No..." Taran said. He shuddered under the glare of the Horned King. "I'm here for Hen Wen."
"Ah, so then you are the keeper of this clairvoyant... pig," the Horned King said and reached behind his back, pulling a squealing and struggling pig into the air.
"Hen Wen!" Taran shouted. "Yes, yes, I am," he nodded.
"Then tell him how to find the... Black Cauldron!" the king said with glowing eyes.
"I... I can't," Taran said. "I promised..."
"As you wish," the Horned King nodded. "Then this pig is of no use to me anymore..."
He held out his left hand, and his ugly henchman, Creeper, handed him a sharp knife, which he raised against Hen Wen's throat.
The little pig began to squeal in terror.
"No, don't!" Taran yelled.
"Why, hellooooo there..." the bow-wearing blonde grinned when she saw the handsome, white-haired boy in front of her. "What brings a cutie like you to Juuban park?" She giggled.
Riku sighed. "Why?" he murmured. "Why are all the girls living in this world crazy?"
The white cat standing next to the blonde girl sweatdropped. 'Minako's pickup lines are getting cornier by the day...' Artemis thought to himself.
"Well, I'm looking for someone..." Riku said. "A girl..."
"In that case, your search is over," Minako grinned. "You are in luck, because today, you have the chance for a date with the best-looking female single in town." She struck a pose. "So, what do you say, big boy?" She winked at him.
"You're such a flirt..." Artemis muttered from the corner of his mouth, just quiet enough so Riku wouldn't hear him.
Riku sweatdropped. "Um, actually, I had a special girl in mind..."
"Oh, I can show you how special I am," Minako purred, a sultry look on her face. "So, where do you wanna go? There's this nice cafe down the street..."
"HEY!" a loud voice yelled. "That's not fair, Aino! You've started without me!" The newcomer, an extremely angry red-head, came storming up at them.
Minako stuck out her tongue. "Well, your fault for not making it in time, Asuka! You know what they say: You booze, you lose!"
"THAT'S NOT HOW IT GOES!" Asuka Langley Soryu shouted. "I'm not like Misato... now stop hogging all the cute boys in town!"
"You're just jealous because I'm a better boy-hunter than you are," Minako giggled.
"Um, excuse me..." Riku spoke up.
He was ignored. "Better boy-hunter? Hah! You're just a bigger flirt, that's all. Every man who has at least a bit of taste knows that I am a much better choice than you will ever be..."
"Excuse me..." another voice interrupted.
Asuka and Minako turned their heads to the newcomer. "WHAT??"
The brown-haired girl in the pink and white top winced. "No need to yell, I just wanted to know if you've seen anything... unusual around here."
"Yeah, like, evil Digimon and stuff," her companion nodded.
Artemis' eyes instantly turned into hearts. "That's the most beautiful female I've ever seen in my life..." he murmured when he saw the bipedal cat standing next to the girl.
"Hey, aren't you one of those Digimon kids I've seen on TV?" Asuka wondered.
She nodded. "Yes, my name is Kari. I'm a Digidestined, and this is my partner, Gatomon."
"Hi there!" the feline Digimon smiled.
"And I know you as well," Kari said. "You're the Evangelion Pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu, aren't you?"
Asuka grinned. "Well, good to see I'm famous."
"And you know me as well, right?" Minako asked.
Kari looked at her for a while. "No, can't say I've ever seen you before," she finally said.
"Whaaaat?" Minako gasped. "But you HAVE to know me, I'm Sailor... OW!"
Noticing that his scatter-brained partner had nearly revealed her secret identity, Artemis had quickly scratched her leg.
Kari winced. "That had to hurt. Does he do that often?"
Minako rubbed her leg and glared down at her feline advisor. "No, only when he wants to really bother me..." she grumbled.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you something," Riku shouted, hoping that he would finally get an answer."
"Oops! So sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, good-looking," Minako grinned. "Now, what kind of food do you prefer? Chinese or Italian? I know this awesome Okonomiyaki restaurant in Nerima..."
"Hey! Didn't I tell you not to hog all the boys?" Asuka yelled. "He's mine!"
"Not in your life, you half-German hussy!" Minako shouted.
"Oh yeah? At least I'm not some dumb bimbo with a ridiculous bow in my hair!"
"Say something about my bow again and I'm gonna kick you!"
Riku had enough of the two squabbling girls. He would never get the information from them, so he just walked past them and addressed the new girl. "Listen, could you help me further?"
"Huh?" Kari was surprised. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yes, I am. See, I'm in a bit of a hurry, and I've been wondering if you know where I can find a girl named..."
"Wh-what??" Asuka gasped. "Now he's interested in that girl? What does she have that I don't have?"
"A cute, white kitten, maybe," Minako smirked and picked up a surprised Artemis. "Hey, have you seen MY kitty? He can do tricks!"
Asuka was at Kari's side in an instant. "Listen, I don't care if you like him, if you don't even live here, you can't have him! I don't need another boy-hunting rival, I already have Minako..."
"WHAT??" Kari gasped. "N-no, it's not like that... I'm only here because there are supposed to be some strange creatures around here..."
"Well, this is Juuban, the Sailor Senshi will take care of it."
"SHUT UP, DAMN IT!!" Riku yelled.
Everything was quiet for a short while.
"I'm not interested in going out, okay?" Riku groaned. "I'm just trying to find someone, and her name is..."
"Ooooooooh!" Minako said in sudden understanding. "Now I've got it: The only reason why a cute boy like him would ever resist my advances is if he's... GAY!"
Riku blinked. She couldn't be serious, could she?
"I don't have the time for this..." he grumbled and turned around to leave.
He didn't come very far.
Out of nowhere, dark shapes appeared, forming a circle around Riku, the three girls and the two cats. They were black and had shiny, emotionless eyes.
"Those creatures again!" Kari, Minako and Asuka gasped in unison. They looked at each other. "You've seen them before?" they all asked.
'Heartless...' Riku thought. 'I didn't call them, and Maleficent told me that she wouldn't want to send anyone else... so, those are either wild Heartless under nobody's control, or...'
"Well, well, what do we have here?" an amused voice chuckled. "This must be my lucky day... three girls, all of them the right age, and all of them suitable for my experiments..."
A few Shadows in front of Riku stepped aside to reveal a blonde woman that was dressed in what looked like a ninja outfit.
'A new villain?' Minako thought. 'And I can't transform in front of their eyes, damn...'
"Who are you?" Riku asked.
The woman looked at him with disinterest. "Countess Arlene from Radiant Garden," she said. "Now get out of my way, I have no time to play with little boys..."
Riku let his Soul Eater appear in his right hand. "You don't know me, don't you?" he grumbled.
"Oh, I know quite a few things about you, but you are as interesting to me as a dung beetle, so buzz off!"
"Hey!" Kari shouted. "You can't talk to him like that!"
"Right, leave her boyfriend in peace!" Minako added.
Kari blushed. "Stop saying that..." she hissed.
"I'll be with you ladies in a minute," Arlene grinned. She looked back at Riku. "Now, be a good boy and get out of the way."
Riku raised his weapon. "I don't think so."
Arlene sighed. "Why must Maleficent's minions always be so stubborn? Fine, then... kill him!" she commanded, and the Heartless swarmed around Riku.
The girls gasped. "We have to save him," Kari said. "Gatomon, help him!"
"LIGHTNING PAW!" Gatomon shouted and flung the Shadows aside like bowling pins.
Asuka picked up a long stick and ran up to one of the Heartless that were attacking Riku.
"Leave him alone, I don't even know his address yet," she shouted and smacked the stick down on the Soldier's head.
It broke in two.
Asuka stared at the stub of wood she was holding, and at the Heartless, who had turned around to face her. She giggled.
"Heh heh... just kidding..."
"CRESCENT BEAM!" A golden beam of light came shooting out of nowhere and evaporated the Soldier.
"Nobody is allowed to disturb girls who are boy-hunting," she fuku-clad girl shouted. "I am Sailor Venus and I punish all that hinder me from getting a boyfriend..."
Asuka shook her head. It couldn't be... could it? That wasn't Minako. Well, she kinda looked like her, true, and she also acted the same as the annoying blonde, but...
Meanwhile, Riku had used his blade and his powers of darkness to destroy every Heartless around him.
Arlene shook her head. "I have no reason to fight you, boy! Why don't you just let me have the girls and I'll be on my way?"
'The girls?' Riku wondered. 'If she wants to have the girls, there must be something special about them. Does that mean... they are princesses? But... according to Maleficent, there are only seven. And didn't she tell him that a certain 'Usagi Tsukino' was one of the princesses he had to find?
But he couldn't take any chances. If at least one of those girls was a Princess of the Heart, he couldn't let this woman have them.
"The girls will come with me!" he firmly said and pointed the Soul Eater at her.
"Wh-what?" Kari gasped.
"I knew it!!" Minako cheered. "I'm irresistible!"
"Venus, your secret identity!" Artemis hissed.
"Oops, sorry..."
Arlene waved her hand. All around them, hovering beings with mist-like bodies and female faces appeared.
'Those aren't Heartless...' Riku wondered. 'But what are they?'
"I didn't plan on using my elite squad," Arlene frowned. "But you leave me no choice. Now, I'm giving you one last chance, boy... surrender them to me or face my wrath!"
Riku shook his head. "No."
"He's standing up for us," Asuka sighed. "He's so brave... much more than baka-Shinji..." she grumbled.
Riku didn't know anything about the opponents he was facing. And while he might be able to defeat them all, he couldn't risk the safety of the girls... and on top of that, they might get away while he was busy with his enemies.
So he did the only thing that came to his mind. He knelt down next to the girls, touched the ground... and a big, round portal of darkness appeared underneath them.
"Sorry, but we really have to go now," he smirked.
"Hey, what is this?" Kari gasped.
Gatomon flattened her ears and hissed. "I don't know, Kari... but somehow, I have a bad feeling about this..."
And then, Riku, Asuka, Minako, Artemis, Kari and Gatomon fell down, through the portal.
"STOP!" Arlene yelled, but it was already too late: The dark gateway was closing and disappeared.
"Well, what a waste..." the countess sighed. "Such splendid specimens... they looked like they could make excellent Soul Mates... oh well, whatever, I'm sure there are LOTS more of suitable girls in this world..."
She giggled.
Minako gasped when she landed next to what looked like a gravestone. Before she could get up, Asuka landed on top of her.
"Hey! Get off me!" she shouted.
Next to them, Gatomon landed on her feet and quickly caught Kari, who came falling after her. "I've got you!"
"Th-thanks, Gatomon..."
While Riku was still in mid-fall, he reached for the branches of a withered tree standing close by, swung around and landed safely on the ground, in a crouching position. He then slowly stood up, raised his weapon arm and let the Soul Eater disappear.
"Wow!" Asuka's eyes sparkled. "He's so cool..."
"Oh yeah? You're still sitting on top of me!" Minako grumbled and pushed the red-head away.
Kari looked around. "What is this place? How did we get here?"
"He saved us!" Minako grinned. "Our hero..."
Riku looked down at himself, then at the three girls. "Looks like we have changed..."
The girls suddenly noticed that he wasn't clad in the clothes he had worn before, but in a wide, dark cape. His face was also much paler than before... and were those fangs jutting out of his mouth?
Minako noticed that her Senshi fuku was replaced by a black witch costume, complete with pointed hat... and she even had a cat with her.
When she looked at Asuka, she had to suppress a chuckle. "Y-you look too silly, S-Soryu," she snorted and pointed at the red-haired girl... or rather, red-furred.
Asuka's hands reached up to feel the short muzzle in her face, and the wolf ears that were poking out of her hair. She yelped in surprise when a bushy tail brushed against her legs. "Wh-what happened to me?" she whined.
Kari chuckled. "Looks like you turned into a werewolf... obviously, we've all become some sort of Halloween creature. He... sorry, I don't even know your name yet."
"I'm Riku," he said.
"Okay, Riku looks like he's a vampire, you have turned into a werewolf, your friend..."
"I'm not her friend, okay?" Minako snapped.
Kari ignored that remark. "...now looks like a witch, and I..." She looked down and realized that she had become even paler than Riku, was now clad in a white gown that almost looked like a bed sheet... and you can't forget the fact that she was see-through. And floating above the ground. And where were her legs?
"A ghost..." she muttered. "I'm a ghost..."
"This must be a world that changes any visitor who isn't from here," Riku realized and looked around. He saw more gravestones, a round moon above a strange-looking hill and many pumpkins.
"Another world?" Minako muttered. "I don't want to be in another world... especially not one that makes me look like this..."
Asuka grinned. "I think it suits you. I always knew you were a witch."
"Oh yeah?" Minako grimaced. "Well, better a witch than a BITCH!"
The red-furred werewolf snarled at her in annoyance.
"Cut that out!" Gatomon frowned. "We have to find out how we got here." She looked down at herself. "And why haven't I changed, like the rest of you... and where are we, anyways?"
"I can answer that question," Artemis spoke up.
Asuka's jaw looked like it was ready to drop to the ground. "It talks..." she muttered.
Artemis' paw pointed at a wooden sign standing in front of him.
It read: 'Halloween Town'.