Kingdom Hearts: The Dalmatian Bodyguard

Chapter 32: The Showman of Scream

Sora and Dolly came back to see the Ebon Hawk restored to its former glory. Donald showed everyone his new staff. It was an exact duplicate of his old staff. The duo went aboard and M5-BZ set them back on course. According to his sensors, they weren't too far from the next world when Monstro swallowed them. M5-BZ plugged in the coordinates and in a matter of minutes, they were at the next world. The computer described it as a Jack O'Lantern with a town over it. This was Halloweentown.

Stone: (Strapping his MK II Paladin rifle to his shoulder) Looks spooky, sir.

Sora: We can handle it.

Everyone waited as Donald brought in for a landing. As they disembarked, they walked into town. The town itself was spooky, like something out of a horror movie. Sora reached out to open the gate when he and the others got a look at their bodies. Sora was turned into a vampire, Donald was a mummy, Goofy was turned into a Frankenstein monster, Dolly was turned into a werewolf, Stone was turned into a zombie, and Sparky was turned into a gargoyle.

Dolly: WHAT HAPPENED TO US?!

Donald: It's the magic of this World. Some Worlds have different structures, so they sometimes will change our clothes or our body structures.

Stone: (As Dolly calmed down) You saying this is temporary?

Donald: Uh-huh.

Sora: Well, it still looks pretty cool.

Goofy: (Looking ahead) Hey, looks like there's a festival happening.

Dolly: Sweet!

Everyone walked ahead into town. As they came to the town square, new Heartless appeared. They looked like ghost with their left eyes out of their heads, dangling by a chain. These were Search Ghosts. Everyone drew their weapons, ready for a fight, but the Heartless just stood there.

Dolly: (Snapping her fingers in front of one) They're just standing?

Just then a short man with two faces on opposite sides of his head in a suit and tall top hat walked up with a megaphone. This was the Mayor of Halloweentown. Sora and friends walked back as the Heartless moved.

Mayor: And now, allow me to introduce the Master of Terror, the King of Nightmare… (As the Heartless presented the individual) Jack Skellington.

From the fountain in the middle of the square, a tall skeleton in a black suit raised from the green water. He struck a pose as he stepped onto the ground.

Mayor: Bravo, Jack! Bravo! Those ghosts will be a big hit at this year's Halloween!

Jack: Thank you. Thank you! But their movement still needs works. It's not scary enough. (Going into a frightening pose that made the Mayor step back in fear) I want to strike bone-chilling terror. I'm going to consult the doctor.

Jack left, leaving the Mayor to handle the grunt work.

Mayor: Then I'll go attend to the decorations.

The Mayor walked away to do so.

Stone: Looks like the Heartless aren't a problem here.

Donald: We should leave.

Goofy: But it could be dangerous not to seal the Keyhole here.

Sparky: Ih.

Dolly: I kinda wanna stay and see them dance.

Sora: Come on.

Sora led Hawk Squadron to where Jack was going. Walking through a junkyard of failed experiments and what looked like toys, the group arrived at a looming and spooky manor.

Donald: (Shivering) I-I-I think I should stay behind. To check the area.

Donald was about to head to the square but Dolly grabbed him and dragged him up to the manor. Seeing the door was unlocked, everyone entered and followed the sound of a discussion into a lab where Jack was discussing with a scientist in a wheelchair about the Heartless as a Search Ghost laid on a lab table.

Jack: Maybe the guidance system was damaged in the explosion.

The scientist, Dr. Finklestein, wasn't sure what was the problem.

Dr. Finklestein: Possible. The only time my invention work incorrectly is when the parts are damaged.

Jack looked over the Doctor's notes and discovered the problem.

Jack: (Seeing the problem) Oh, I've got it! Why, of course! The Heartless need a Heart! Doctor, do you think we can add a heart to that device?

Dr. Finklestein saw where his friend was going with his theory.

Dr. Finklestein: Certainly. A heart's not that complicated.

Jack: (Reading the needed parts) To make a heart, first take a container with a lock…

Dr. Finklestein brought a container in the shape of a normal heart with a lock on it, but released the key was missing.

Dr. Finklestein: We need the key to this thing first!

Sora summoned the Wishing Star Keyblade.

Donald: You want to help them?

Stone: Sir, is that a wise idea?

Sora: Sure. If they succeed, we don't have to fight them. Plus, Dolly isn't the only one who wants to see them dance. (Getting the duo's attention) Excuse me, I think we can help.

Jack: Oh, visitors! I'm terribly sorry for my poor manners! I'm Jack Skellington. Who are you gentlemen and madam?

Sora: I'm Sora. (Pointing to his friends) He's Sparky. They're Donald and Goofy. She's Dolly. And he's Stone.

Sora proceeded on unlocking the heart.

Jack: Thank you, Sora. I'd like you and your friends to be a part of this year's Halloween.

Sora: Sure. But what's this Heartless doing here?

Jack: Oh, the Heartless came to town just recently. (Aggravated) What's frustrating is I can't get them to dance with me. (As Dolly started poking the Search Ghost with Yubashiri still in its sheath) So the doctor and I are trying to improve the guidance system. (Presenting his good friend) He's quite a genius.

Dolly: Sounds like he'd get along with my brother, Dawkins.

Jack: (As he set down the ingredients on the table) The ingredients for a heart: (Putting a frog on the table) A pulse... (Next a spider) Emotions. Fear… (A sheet of glass as he clawed it) Terror… (Two snakes, one red and the other blue, eating each other) Hope and Despair… Mix them all together and we have a heart.

Dr. Finklestein wheeled over to a switch and pulled it down. Electricity surged on the components and the Heartless. At first, the Search Ghost surged up but fell right back onto the table.

Dr. Finklestein: It failed! Wait a minute… (Looking back at his notes) OF COURSE! We're missing some ingredients! We need Memory! (Opening the top of his head and scratching his brain) SALLY! SALLY! (Realizing she wasn't here) Oh, right. She's in the cemetery collecting cooking ingredients.

Jack: Okay, let's go meet up with her. Sora, would you and your associates like to come?

Sora: Sure.

Everyone left Dr. Finklestein to look over his notes,