Today was Halloween in the Magical World. Many characters were looking forward to the festivities with Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween parade and such. The citizens of the supernatural appeared and wandered the park with a lively attitude.
Like Jack Skellington and Sally, the Halloween couple parading around, celebrating the holiday like any other day. And the villains roamed amuck to their leisure, receiving more recognition for the spookiest night ever.
However, some were not as thrilled as others.
"Oh, come on, Seth!" Kamala argued.
"Forget it," Seth responded, "I'm not really that much into Halloween. When I was younger, yes, but now, not as much." He gave a shrug. "I mean there's the free candy but that's it for me."
"And the chance to dress as your favorite hero!" The Captain Marvel fangirl added. She was decked out in her Captain Marvel costume from her show. Her, Seth, and their friend group were in the hangout area of Avengers Campus.
"... Still no." Seth rejected. "It's not that I don't like it but it's the Magical World. Last time I checked, the villains thrive this time of year. Not to mention, I am interested in horror or scary themes."
"I'm pretty sure the Magical World doesn't dwell completely on horror. It creates a happy and cheerful atmosphere. Except when it matches the festivities of the spooky season." Cassie answered. "Though you are heading to Strange Academy which is all about magic and the mystic arts."
"Why do you even want to go?" Shuri asked, working on some new inventions.
"America invited me." Seth said before clarifying, "America Chavez. Been some time since I've hung out with her. She's been putting more practice in her abilities to the point where she can control her dimensional powers."
"That's good for her." She-Hulk mused. "Think she'll graduate soon? She is one of Doctor Strange's prized pupils."
"Hard to say," Seth admitted, "You know how magic users are. They tend to graduate far faster than those of Avengers Campus."
"Are you sure nothing can convince you to come along for Halloween?" Miles asked, hanging from the ceiling and eating a hot pocket.
"Sorry, but there is always next year. I'm always available for other holidays but Halloween, it will be a pass… most of the time."
"I heard the Midnight Suns will be around." Shang Chi recalled, "Considering Elsa Bloodstone, Man-Thing, and Werewolf by Night are a part of the MCU. Even with Blade on the way."
"We can't force him. Let him enjoy his time at the magic academy." Moon Knight relented.
"Thank you…" Seth thanked but then tried to get the correct identity of the Egyptian vigilante.
"Marc."
"Marc, yes. I'm getting closer to distinguishing you, Steven, and Jake."
Seth arrived at an England-like castle mansion mixed with a university building on the outside. It resembled Witch U from the Halloweentown franchise. But on the inside, it was a large hallway consisting of tons of corridors and awkward stairways that went all over the place.
Seth noticed a few other well-known mystic users in the Magical World. At least ones he could identify.
Justin Russo from 'Wizards of Waverly Place' held a stack of books in his arms as he hurried through the hallway. Tia and Tamera Mowry from 'Twitches' talked amongst themselves. Sophie Piper from the 'Halloweentown' flew around on her broom, passing by Star Butterfly in her Mewberty form.
"Seth, over here!"
The shapeshifter traced the call and spotted America Chavez among a group of individuals.
"Glad you could make it!" The star punching dimensional hopper said and gave Seth a fist bump.
"Yeah, it's been a long time since we have chatted."
"Yep." Chavez said, "Check this out." The dimensional hopper threw a punch that created a star shaped portal to another dimension.
"Nice! I see you got control of how to punch to a dimension you want to go to." Seth complimented. He peered through and asked, "Which dimension is this one?" He spotted a dark red moon in the sky, giving the dimension an evil feeling.
"I think it is the Epic Universe, since you know how Marvel is connected there." Chavez said and the portal closed. "Come on." She beckoned over to the other mystical friend group she was in.
"Seth, good to see you again." William 'Billy' Kaplan AKA Wiccan from the Marvel comics acknowledged and gave the shapeshifter a hug.
"Wiccan, the feeling is mutual." Seth responded. "Where's Hulkling?"
"Caught up with his duties at the moment." The warlock responded with a sigh. "So I am by myself for the time being. America, though, told me you were coming by."
Seth nodded then saw Cloak and Dagger from their show on Freeform. "Cloak! Dagger! Didn't know you two were around here."
"Well, we are still learning to use our powers." Tandy Bowen AKA Dagger said. She now sported her signature tattoo around her left eye.
"And hoping for a future appearance in the MCU." Tyrone Johnson AKA Cloak admitted. His cloak concealed his entire body except his hands.
"You aren't the only ones." Nico Minoru lamented, "The 'Runaways' haven't had any luck recently."
"Well, I know the Marvel shows on Freeform don't get much attention but you are still technically a part of the MCU." Seth stated.
"Anyways, how has Avengers Campus been?" Chavez asked.
"Going good. MODOK threw a tantrum but the damage has been repaired. Except his ego." Seth joked.
"I also saw you perform in the Power of 3 Tournament." Nico mentioned as the group began to walk through the university. "I get Reptil since your both best friends but why another dinosaur?"
Seth sighed, having received the question for the second time. "I really hope this isn't a trope." He was about to explain when he bumped into a man in a purple hotel uniform. "Oh, sorry." Seth apologized.
"Oh, it's alright." The man said and walked off. Seth gave the man a look, as if he remembered him, but shrugged it off and went back to explaining.
The man continued on his way and went down a staircase. Descending about 100 or 200 feet below the academy until he reached the basement. "Ah here it is." He cackled with a twisted smile.
When he touched his hand against the knob, he recoiled back as a sigil appeared. The man scowled before chanting and delivering a spell that caused the sigil to fade away. Now he was able to enter the basement where he was greeted with tons of magical artifacts, much like the New York's Sanctum Scrotum.
The man glowed purple and reverted to his true form: an elder in a purple velvet suit and black top hat. On his back, two black-feathered angel wings appeared.
Gorog, the dark angel ruler from 'Wizards of Waverly Place', cackled and entered with malicious intentions. He strolled through, not paying a mind to other items such as the Staff of the Living Tribunal or the Cauldron of Cosmos as the dark angel was looking for a certain device, which he immediately spotted.
A large bronze capture machine with swarming smoke inside.
"Well, well, well." Gorog greedily said. "Time for a new army to take over this domain." He fired a purple bolt of electricity, causing the machine to short-circuit and shut down. The machine began to rumble and the smoke within bursted out, taking the forms of monsters of the night. A smoky red fog took the form of a woman with red hair and in a dress.
"Ahahahahahahaha!" Deimata, the antagonist from 'Girl Vs Monster,' cackled. "Freedom at last. It's been quite a while since I've had room to move. Now, who do I have to thank this time?"
"Well, I don't usually take thanks but I would appreciate it." Gorog smugly said to the ancient monster.
"You?" Deimata questioned before smirking. "Oh my. A dark angel."
"Guilty." Gorog replied.
"Since you freed me and my 'friends,' I suppose you want something. Hm?" Diemata guessed.
"Nothing much." Gorog started, "Just I want this place to become my proper domain and rule it with an iron fist. The Sorcerer Supreme here isn't much of a threat. I managed to slip past him and get in here. All you need to do is create some… chaos."
"Oh, I like you already." Deimata cackled and the monsters rushed out, leaving the two villains to their leisure.
Back with Seth and the other mystic students, they had arrived at the cafeteria on campus. They were chatting amongst themselves. "So, Wiccan," Seth said, "Rumors of you in 'Agatha: Coven of Chaos.' True or false?"
The son of Scarlet Witch looked embarrassed, "Well, I can't confirm or deny the acquisitions. You'll just have to wait." He said with a wink at the end. Seth groaned and face faulted on the table.
"I can't stand the suspense." He said through his muffled position. "I already have to wait for 'The Marvels.'"
"Speaking of them, how is Kamala?" Chavez questioned.
"Oh, she's well." Seth said, bringing his head up, "To say she was thrilled about working with Captain Marvel and Photon is an understatement. She was fangirling for about 3 months straight."
"Hopefully I can meet her in a future film." Chavez relented. Despite being both Phase 4 newbies, they were great friends seeing they were both new to the MCU and had a lot of potential.
"Anyways, who knows?" Cloak said, "Maybe me and Dagger might have a shot. Even Nico."
"If the MCU actually remembers your shows." Seth said, "Don't get me wrong. As much as I love your shows, people tend to forget about the ones that aired on ABC/Freeform."
"Are you still annoyed by how 'Inhumans' was portrayed?" Nico teased.
"I don't want to rant about it right now." The shapeshifter replied. He felt a nudge at his leg and looked down to see a puppy.
"Oh, hi there!" Seth said, gushing over the puppy. "I don't know who you belong to but you are too cute."
"Aw, he's a cutie." Wiccan said, reaching down to pet the dog.
Imagine their surprise when the dog let out a loud roar, its face growing in size. Nico summoned Staff of One and petrified the monster dog.
"Ok, what was that?" America Chavez questioned in shock.
"Well, I for one, just judged a book by its cover." Seth responded, still reeling from the roar. "Where have I seen this before…" He thought aloud.
Sounds of whirling and roaring caught their attention and the group ran into a hall to see various monsters in their smoky forms flying amuck through Strange Academy. Various magic users combatted them and captured a few but some were being paralyzed by fear. Some monsters were even taking natural forms and creating mayhem.
"Where did all these monsters come from?" Wiccan questioned and fired a spell to contain multiple monsters.
"And why are they all… smoky?" Nico added, using her own spell to capture monsters.
A lizard man and gargoyle caused chaos in the corridor, avoiding spells and incantations. Seth pounced at the lizard man in the form of a Bengal tiger and Chavez socked the gargoyle out of the fight. Cloak and Dagger used their powers together, defeating a Frankenstein-like monster.
Seth morphed out of his tiger form to answer. "If I remember correctly, it's how some monsters are portrayed in 'Girl Vs Monster'!" Seth recalled then groaned, "I didn't want a supernatural threat tonight of all nights."
"Hate to break it to you," Cloak said, using his Darkforce energy to trap the gargoyle and lizardman. "But I think we need to contain them properly."
"Well, they used devices to capture the monsters from the movie," Seth mentioned, "But I think your spells should hold well enough for now. Too bad, Elsa Bloodstone isn't here." He saw a clown monster coming his way. Seth morphed into a Triceratops, running the creepy jester down and throwing him away. With a snort, the shapeshifter took his human form. "Though these are much different monsters than the MCU."
"My question is how did they even get in here?" Wiccan asked, using an incantation with several other mystics to hold another group of monsters.
"Well this is a school of the supernatural." Seth pointed out, "And most monsters are considered in that category. So I hazard a guess: there was some contraption that held them until it either malfunctioned or someone tampered with it." The shapeshifter used Zoology to combat a tree stump monster. He summoned a centipede to constrict the creepy flora, holding it in place before Nico froze it.
"Well, aren't you a sharp one?" Gorog acknowledged, walking through the chaos without a care in the world.
"Gorog?!" Seth exclaimed in shock. "How?!" He remembered how he bumped into his alter ego, using his glamor spell as a mere hotel employee. He should have suspected something.
"I'm not one to tell." Gorog replied, "How about I just cut to the chase?"
"Yeah, you better." Seth responded. America, Cloak, Dagger, Nico, and Wiccan prepared to deal with the dark angel.
"Fine." Gorog dully said, "I want to be headmaster of this academy."
"Wait for it."
"So I can raise a new army of mystics!"
"There it is." Seth pointed out.
"That won't be happening anytime soon." Wong said, arriving from a portal. He warmed up his eldritch magic and contained several monsters with his seals.
"Oh, believe me," Gorog scornfully said, "It will." He sent a blast of purple magic only for it to be deflected by a shield.
"Chavez, you and your group should head up to the balcony. I sense a malicious aura, growing stronger and stronger." Wong advised. Once the bolts stopped, Wong dropped the shield and threw a whip that grabbed Gorog's arm.
With Wong handling Gorog for now, Cloak took point. "Let's go!" He grabbed everyone with his garb and they were transported to the balcony of Strange Academy.
"Woah…" Seth said, partially dazed. "Not used to teleporting like that."
"Sorry, but it was the quickest way." Dagger said, unaffected since she was familiar with the warping. They spotted Deimata with her hands out, absorbing the fear of those her minions scared.
"Oh so much fear!" Deimata gleefully said as she began to grow.
"Yeah, let's shut this down." Seth let out, not wanting to deal with a gargantuan monster on Halloween. Summoning Zoology, he pointed his Keyblade forward as the other magic users prepared themselves.
Calling All The Monsters
China Ann McClain
"You think you can best me," Deimata cackled as she completed her growing and turned around. "Then come at me!" The ancient monster released green bursts of energy towards them as they scattered.
Callin' all the monsters
Callin' all the monsters
Callin' all, I'm callin' all
I'm callin' all the monsters
Oh yeah ay, oh yeah ay, oh yeah ay, ay ay
Dagger fired her Lightforce energy in the form of projectiles barely scathing Deimata. "You remind me of that meddlesome brat Skylar who encased me all those years ago!" The ancient monster scolded.
Heart thumps and you jump
Comin' down with goosebumps
You dared to go there
I'ma, I'ma get you so scared
Wiccan fired a concentrated blast of his own magic only for Deimata to repel it with her own blast. The warlock and monster were in a struggle before Wiccan repelled it. Deimata vanished then reappeared before the blast harmed her.
We're wantin' to (yeah)
We're hauntin' you (yeah)
We're wantin' to (yeah)
Eh eh
Seth summoned a stag beetle spirit from Zoology and directed it to Diemata. Using its pincers, the beetle held the ancient monster in its grasp. Using the Staff of One, Nico fired a dark blast of magic at the suspended monster, scoring a hit.
You stayed in too late
To be getting afraid
This scene's extreme
I'ma get you so scared
Deimata pried the spiritual insect off and threw it away. Cloak teleported Chavez, allowing the dimensional hopper to land a punch at Deimata.
We're wantin' to (yeah)
We're hauntin' you (yeah)
We're wantin' to (yeah)
Eh eh
Deimata grabbed Chavez in her hands and threw her away. Cloak teleported and grabbed the dimensional hopper before warping back to the others. Seth, Wiccan, and Cloak combined their spells together, congregating into a blast that struck true.
Gonna get your body shakin'
Wishin' you could just awaken
Here we go
From the blast, Deimata re-emerged and grew two more heads, giving her the appearance of a hydra.
"As if one head was bad enough," Wiccan lamented.
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
Diemata exhaled green magic from her mouth, aiming at the interfering students. Seth set up a Reflectga, protecting them from the magic.
If you're only dreaming
Why I hear you screaming?
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
We're comin' to get ya
Once the flames died down, a series of monsters took form and attacked the group. "Attack them my monsters!" Deimata ordered. America plowed her fist into another lizard man while Dagger and Cloak fought off a werewolf.
Callin' all the monsters
Callin' all the monsters
Callin' all, I'm callin' all
I'm callin' all the monsters
As a ram, Seth used his horns and lifted the mummy overhead as Wiccan constricted it with a spell. The warlock threw it away just as Nico petrified a gorgon. With the monsters defeated, they turned their attention back to the redhead monster.
You hide or you try
Kiss tomorrow goodbye
We thrill to your chill
B-b-b-buckin' for a freak-out
"Really wish the Midnight Suns were here!" Seth shouted as he summoned a colony of bats. Nico added a flurry with the bats as they circled and irritated Deimata.
We're wantin' to (yeah)
We're hauntin' you (yeah)
We're wantin' to (yeah)
Eh eh
Deimata swatted the bats and ice away with a wave of green magic before firing more bolts. Dagger threw her Lightforce projectiles while cartwheeling away, just grazing Deimata.
We might just bite
Underneath the moonlight
More fun if you run
I'm I'm already chasin'
Diemata pointed a finger forward, using a blast of green magic that circled around the teenagers. Nico managed to extinguish them with an ice spell whereas Wiccan flew up and delivered a series of hex bolts at the ancient monster.
We're wantin' to (yeah)
We're hauntin' you (yeah)
We're wantin' to (yeah)
Eh eh
America unearthed a chunk of the balcony, muttering, "Sorry, Headmaster Wong," before throwing it. Deimata phased through it and cackled manically. "Nice try, kiddies." She responded.
Gonna get your body shakin'
Wishin' you could just awaken
Here we go
Deimata fired green blasts of magic, pelting the balcony and her opponents nonstop. She grew a smirk at seeing their demise.
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
However, Nico had summoned a barrier before the blasts hit. Once the blasts stopped, Dagger threw a Light-construct dagger, severing one head from the real one. The ancient monster was shocked at seeing her head disappear.
If you're only dreaming
Why I hear you screaming?
Cloak warped around and a bat came out of his darkness. The bat became Seth with Zoology and dove, severing the secondary head to keep Deimata distracted. The redhead monster began to grow angry at the change of events and roared in anger.
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
We're comin' to get ya
"This is getting tiresome!" Deimata shrieked and unleashed crimson tendrils, ensnaring each of the teenage heroes in her grasp. She missed Seth, who had shrunk to an ant before turning back to normal.
Callin' all the monsters
Callin' all the monsters
Callin' all, I'm callin' all
I'm callin' all the monsters
Another tendril came at him, only to be blocked with Reflectga. Wiccan and Cloak freed themselves with their magic and teleportation. Afterwards, the wizard and Darkforce user began bobbing and weaving away from the tendrils that tried to recapture them.
Gonna paint it red, get inside your head, head, head
Like a demon choir playing with fire, fire, fire
"Time for the big guns!" Seth shouted and concentrated. Glowing, he transformed into his Drive Form: Speed Form. He gained a green hoodie with blue arrows along the sleeves while his pants changed to blue. Summoning manifestations of hawk wings, Seth flew by and freed America, Dagger, and Nico. Once they all landed on the ground, Seth declared, "Let's end this!"
Gonna get your body shakin'
Wishin' you could just awaken
Cloak and Dagger delivered a joint blast of their Darkforce and Lightforce energy respectively, blinding Deimata to the core.
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
We're comin' to get ya
America Chavez jumped high, using the blindness to her advantage and delivered a star-shaped punch, fully disorienting Deimata now.
If you're only dreaming
Why I hear you screaming?
Tonight all the monsters gonna dance
Seth conjured Spirit Stampede, thrusting Zoology forward and the spiritual animals ran forward. Wiccan and Nico combined their spells together, enhancing the stampede with their mystical energy and colliding with Deimata, shrinking her from the attack.
We're comin' to get ya
We're comin' to get ya (yeah)
The final blow was enough for Deimata to fall to the balcony, leaving the teenagers to cheer in success.
Oh yeah ay, oh yeah ay, oh yeah ay
Comin' to get you
Diemata snarled as she looked at the shapeshifter and gathered mystic users. "I will not be beaten again!" She warmed up her magic but a golden device slid forward and began to suck the ancient monster in.
"No! No! No! NO!" She cried out and shrunk into the device.
"What just happened?" Nico questioned, placing her staff down.
"You just saved us the trouble of having to deal with her." A blonde girl in a pink leather jacket said, running over with a group of teenagers.
"Hey, you're Skylar from 'Girl Vs Monster.'" Seth noted.
Skylar gave a nod before noticing Dagger. "Huh, she looks-"
"Like me." Dagger finished.
"Multiverse stuff probably." Wiccan noted. "Didn't you say Chase found it odd to see a werewolf version of himself dating Professor Russo's sister?" Nico nodded, partially remembering the interaction. Chase was stunned to see it.
Skylar picked up the monster capture device.
"How did you know to come here?" Chavez asked.
"Since some monsters roam during Halloween, we are usually prepared." Skylar replied. "We've been meaning to transport the monsters from the old containment unit to our recently reinforced one."
After the team of monster hunters left with the ancient in tow, Wong arrived with Gorog in an eldritch magic barrier, the dark angel frozen in time.
"I trust the threat has been dealt with." Wong said, noticing the lack of malicious intent.
"Yes, we handled it, Wongers." Seth replied which made the sorcerer groan.
"Please don't remind me of that nickname." Wong said as he opened another portal and carried Gorog through it.
"Well, not how I thought my night was going to go, but fighting at Strange Academy is far different from Avengers Campus." Seth admitted. With no more supernatural threats for the evening, Seth continued to have a normal hangout with
"Wait, Ammit came back?!" Seth exclaimed as Moon Knight told the Phase 4 heroes about his Halloween night.
"Yes, but don't worry." The Egyptian vigilante replied, "She's being taken care of."
"How, exactly?" Seth questioned, too invested with the story.
"Well… Jasiri may have let her possess her like how Khonshu does with me." Steven answered.
Seth's jaw dropped before he managed to pick it up. "That sounds so cool! Man, I wish some deity would pick me."
"Maybe in the future." Jane Foster answered.
"Yeah, I heard Bast join Vitani," Shuri said, "And they are dating too."
"Do you have a certain god or goddess in mind?" She-Hulk questioned.
Seth scratched his chin, "Well, Anasai comes to mind but I don't think Disney has dabbled with that folklore yet. As much as I respect Greek/Roman deities, there are many to choose from. Egyptian, I'm not too knowledgeable about but I wouldn't want to be possessed by Set. Ironic given my name. And Norse -no offense to the Asgardians- are a bit difficult for me to follow. All I can say is it would be interesting."
"And give you a major upgrade." Cassie remarked.
Seth shrugged, "Who knows? Maybe I'll come across one in awe of my talents. Or not."
Next time: Seth spends some time with the magical Madrigal Family.
A/N: And the Halloween special is done. Gave a few Easter Eggs to "Dream Keeper Chronicles" with the Epic Universe and what happened with the Dream Keeper on his Halloween adventure.
Strange Academy is technically based off the show Disney Cruiseline does for Marvel Day at Sea. I got to see it back in January and was really impressed. Plus I figured, why not make a school for the magic users of the Magical World. Well, I believe there are multiple schools considering magic flows throughout this realm. Like before, Strange Academy would be similar to Witch U from "Halloweentown" but more... mystical and confusing with the upside stairways and such.
Deimata, as stated before, is from "Girl Vs Monster." A Disney Channel original movie that I enjoy watching during the spooky season. From 'Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizards Vs Angels," Gorog makes a brief cameo. And some more original Halloween-themed Disney shows/movies as well.
"Cloak and Dagger" and "The Runaways" are considered part of the MCU but fall into the category of ABC/Freeform shows with "Agents of SHIELD" and "Inhumans." Obscure characters so I decide to give them some love. As for Wiccan (one of my favorite Young Avengers), I believe I heard rumors he is going to be in "Agatha: Coven of Chaos".
Little pokes since Olivia Holt played both Skylar and Dagger. Same with Gregg Sulkin as he played Mason and Chase Stein.
"Callin' All the Monsters" for an action supernatural-themed fight. Plus a very iconic Disney Halloween song.
Until next time!
