Halloween had come and the Great Hall was decorated as such. Pumpkins were floating in the air with the candles, each with their own carved face. The ghosts of the castle had taken up to scaring the students for this special occasion.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy had agreed with the other professors to keep their encounter with the Heartless on school grounds quiet. There had been no other incidents, but the three were now on their toes for any other attacks.
Tonight, however, they felt they could relax a little and enjoy the Halloween feast that was held every year before the start of the Quidditch season. Sora was talking with area about the sport.
"So, you guys fly on brooms, throw balls through hoops to score, but you have to find a tiny golden ball to win?"
"Well, it ends the match if I catch the Snitch, which is 150 points, but it doesn't necessarily mean we win," Harry responded.
"Sounds pretty fun, can't wait to see you guys play tomorrow." Sora had delved into his plate, feeling as though he hadn't had a proper meal since they arrived at the castle. The entire Hall was abuzz with talk of how classes were progressing and the impending match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Sora, Donald, and Goofy had learned that these two houses were bitter rivals, and had seen evidence of it between classes, with students from each house trying to play pranks or jinx the other by surprise.
"It's never a clean match when we play Slytherin," Harry said as he washed down his chicken with some pumpkin juice.
"Yea…so what's wrong with Ron?" Sora had noticed Harry's red-haired friend, sitting across from them, was poking at his food, a sulking look about his countenance.
"He thinks he's going to be a failure tomorrow. We've had a rough couple of practices, but he just needs a confidence boost. I know he can play really well when he feels comfortable." Harry had dropped his voice to almost a whisper so as not to attract Ron's attention.
Sora then looked back at Ron, wondering if there was anything he could do. While he was thinking, however, his two friends walked up to him.
"No trouble?" Sora asked.
"So far, so good," replied Donald. "Not a Heartless in sight." Sora's eyes grew wide at this remark.
"Why would there be Heartless?" Harry asked.
"Well, uh, um…"Donald stuttered.
"Professor Dumbledore just wants us to be cautious. Ever since the accident on the train, ya know," Goofy said, hoping to divert Harry's curiosity.
"Right…" Harry did not at all seem convinced.
"I'm gonna be horrible tomorrow!" Ron's shout had earned some looks from surrounding Gryffindors, and jerked the four in front of him out of their thoughts.
"Oh shut it Ron. You'll be fine. Trust me." Anything Harry said, though, did not seem to lighten Ron's spirits.
"Still sulking, I see." A set of bushy brown hair had sat down next to Ron. "You'll be brilliant. I know it." At Hermione's words, Ron finally allowed a small smile to escape his face.
"Thanks."
With Ron finally feeling the slightest bit better about himself, they dove into some pudding for dessert.
With the end of the feast drawing near, Dumbledore finally stood from the staff table.
"Another wonderful Halloween feast! I want to thank Professor Flitwik for all the fine decorations once again this year." He gestured to the tiny Charms professor sitting next to Hagrid on one end of the table, and Professor Flitwik gave a little wave at the applause he received.
"And now," Dumbledore continued, "it is time for us to tuck in. Tomorrow, we can all expect an excellent start to the Quidditch season, with—"
A loud and thunderous crack resonated throughout the all, sending screams from the younger students in every direction. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were looking around, wondering if this was just part of the school. They felt it wasn't as they looked at the other concerned faces looking around. They finally looked at Dumbledore, whose kind face had fallen to one of resentment, his blue eyes piercing through his half-moon spectacles.
"Well, well," a voice all to familiar to the three heroines sounded from the entrance doors. "What have we here?" Another crack, a flash, and green smoked billowed from the door, only to dissipate and reveal a tall woman with a green face. She wore a dark cloak with horns protruding from the top of her head. On one shoulder sat a black raven.
"Maleficent!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy had risen from the Gryffindor table, drew their weapons, leapt into a battle stance in the center of the Hall. All eyes were wide with shock as they fell on the four in the center. The teachers were looking between them and Professor Dumbledore, wondering if he would do something. He stared on, however, a look of determination as if to rid a foul beast from his presence.
"Ah, the king's lackeys," Maleficent said coolly. "I should have expected you here. You seem to always be in my way when I seek a powerful gain."
Sora noticed that he could see the giant doors behind her. "Donald, Goofy," he whispered to his companions. "She's not really here. It's just like back at your castle. Look." He pointed out her transparency.
Maleficent seemed to have overheard his private conversation. "It is true, young key-bearer. I am not fully here. There is a deep magic that forbids me from entering this castle. I believe you thank the headmaster for that." Her eyes looked up to Dumbledore, who was making his way down from the raised platform to the center of the Hall.
"So this is Maleficent." He was calm in his disposition, but Dumbledore still looked angry with her appearance. "I have wondered when you turn up at my castle."
"You were expecting me?" Even though she asked, she did not seem surprised.
"Yes, ever since the Heartless made their way onto the grounds, I was assured that you would eventually come. Thanks to these three, however," Dumbledore looked down at Sora and finally smiled, "I feel more at peace than ever at your arrival."
"Yes, they seem to always find a way to ruin my special occasions." Her smirk had turned into a frown, as she recalled some of her past endeavors with Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
"So why are you here?" Sora finally asked the question that seemed to be begging an answer. The students and the rest of the staff still had their eyes glued on the only five people standing in the Hall.
"I am still on a property venture. You destroyed The Castle That Never Was, and I am unable to enter the king's castle at all. So I have come here. A school that trains witches and wizards." Her eyes now wandered about the students. "What a marvelous castle. Such young hearts waiting to be devoured by the darkness. I shall discover what magic this place holds and build my army."
"Wak! You'll never get away with it!" Donald had come unglued from his spot and charged towards the evil sorceress. But, just as in Disney Castle, he was unable to strike her, as he flew through her and smacked into the doors.
"Once again, you will have to find patience, fowl mage. In time, I will come to own this castle, and my Heartless will overrun whatever resistance you may put up."
"You just don't learn, do you?" Sora drew her attention with the sarcasm dripping from his remark. "As long as me, Donald, and Goofy are here, the Heartless don't stand a chance."
"Do not underestimate me, little boy. You may have won the previous battles, but you have yet to win the war. Yes, you defeated me before, but I returned. And I will have my vengeance on you yet." She was now speaking in a malicious tone.
After a few tense moments, Maleficent finally spoke. "We will meet again, and you fools will rue the day you crossed me." Another crack and a flash, and Maleficent had disappeared.
Sora then turned to Dumbledore. "Sir, I think it's time for the students to go to bed."
"I agree." As we was about to announce to the Hall, Maleficent's voice again rang out.
"Oh yes," her voice seemed to be coming from all directions, as every eye looked up and around. "A little parting gift from me." She laughed maliciously as her voice faded away. Goofy turned toward the door, noticing some of the students trying to leave. "Sora, look! She's blocked the door!"
Indeed, Maleficent had blocked the giant doors with some invisible force. "Then that means…" Sora's voice trailed off as screams erupted once again. This time, they were ready. Neoshadows surrounded them in the center. Dumbledore had hurried over to one of the tables to protect some of the students. As he did this, another invisible shield came down and kept anybody from trying to help Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
Immediately, Sora began slashing through the Neoshadows. Their immense numbers, however, provided an opportunity to fight back, and Sora paid the price for his overconfidence.
"Argh!" One of the Heartless and slashed at the back of his head. Sora turned and unleashed a powerful combo of swings. He then brought his keyblade down hard to the ground, which resulted in an explosion of the light. The Heartless surrounding him were no more, but Donald and Goofy still had their own problems.
Donald was now casting spell after spell, amazing the students and the staff with his gift of magic. He struck down several Bandits, which appeared after some of the Neoshadows and been disposed of, with different combinations of Blizzards and Firagas. Sora and Goofy had decided to team up and use Knocksmash to destroy more Bandits and, now appearing in mass, Wizard Heartless. Students watched as the two repeatedly threw Goofy's shield and Sora's keyblade at oncoming attackers, only to see it immediately appear back in their hands. After a few throws, Goofy then leapt on to Sora's shoulder, facing out towards the Heartless. They seemed to generate an immense amount of power as Goofy took off from Sora's shoulder, leaving a trail of smoke. He smashed into any Heartless in his path, easily disposing of them.
The battle was not over however. Just when it appeared the last Heartless had been slain, Invisibles came from portals of darkness at both ends of the Hall. There was no way of counting them, as they filled the center of the Hall, once again surrounding Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
"Sora! I think we're gonna need some help!" Donald yelled out.
"I think you're right!" Sora then reached inside one of his pockets and grabbed what looked like a small piece of jewelry. It was a small necklace with a small silver jewel engraved with what looked like a small hunter's lamp.
In an instant there was a flash of bright light and a booming voice.
"SORA!" A big blue blur then flew around the Hall. "Make some room!" He came to a halt next to Sora, and to the students, he looked like a giant blue man, but with a wisp of a tail, not unlike a ghost. He took Sora's keyblade and seemed to make a copy of it. Now they both were wielding weapons to face the oncoming hoard of Invisibles.
Then it all happened in an instant. Sora and the giant blue man, unleashed a powerful attack sending their keyblades flying in every direction, attacking the Invisibles and scattering them. It was utter chaos as the keyblades came back over Sora and the blue man, but they kept rising above them. The Invisibles started closing in again, but just as they were about to attack, the keyblades exploded over them, completely erasing the Invisibles from existence.
The students and staff covered their eyes from the blinding light. Once they looked on, they were shocked by what they saw.
The Great Hall had fallen silent. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were still in their battle stances, waiting to see if they would be attacked again. Then the invisible shields keeping everyone at bay lifted, but no one dared move, save for the Headmaster. He walked back to the center of the Hall.
"It seems once again, you have protected my students." Dumbledore was smiling down at them.
Realizing that the battle was over, Sora responded, "It's no big deal. And don't worry, as long as we're here, Maleficent won't take this castle."
"Oh, I feel most confident that she won't. Now, I think it is time for bed." Dumbledore instructed the students to follow their prefects.
There was a great bustle as the students filed out, each conversing with amazement at what they had just seen. For weeks, they had learned of the different types of Heartless from Sora, Donald, and Goofy. But to see how they defeated them seemed to be astonishing in its own right.
But with the Heartless coming on to the grounds now, the three heroes knew they would have to find the Keyhole fast. And they wondered whether they would have to face Maleficent in the end to find it.