At the end of an unintended tour of a town of spooks, Jack, Haunter and Zero lead the Trio of Destiny and their companions into the confines of a lab, fitting for a mad scientist. On the far end, was a elderly, bald, scientist in a wheel chair. He opened a lid to his brain and scratched on the gray matter while reading notes on elaborated drawings. Of a Haunter with an exaggerated mouth and a wicked expression, of a pumpkin with two sets of eyes, one at what looked to be hair and one at the belly. Another was of was a green serpent with yellow eyes, a cracked pot with stubby legs, a skull with a black cloak, a horned dog with a demons tail and a floating head with wild hair.

Finishing the names were three kids, one dressed as a skeleton, one dressed as an imp and one dressed as a witch, getting into a fight. They bickered over what name would fit the wild haired ghost and it escalated to where a marker was sent flying at Riku, who dodged like an expert. "Hey!" The three trouble makers turned to see the were wolf, recognized Sora among the crowd and saw the witch with the menacing rabbit. They looked to each other and called. "Book it!" They scampered away as Rowlet turned his head to watch them take off.

"Hoot!" The scientist broke from his studies and asked back. "Who?" He had his wheel chair turn and closed the lid on his head. He had a look at Rowlet, Slowking and Azu, with an idea of what they are. "Ah, so the specimens are finally coming to us eh?" Jack waved a hand in his answer. "I'm afraid so. Sora, would you do the honors of telling him?"

Sora did so. "Dr. Finklestein, what ever idea you've all came up with for the ghosts that moved in is going to have to wait. They're not exactly from here." The doctor adjusted his glasses and pointed to the twilight sky out the window. "They're from another world, beyond the funnels that sprain to life a day ago! I knew there wasn't a coincidence between the two!" Azu's ears raised up in astonishment and she looked to the pictures. (And these are all the Pokemon that the locals spotted?)

The Doctor didn't understand what was said, but knew it was about the pictures. "These are what the eye witnesses have been going on about." He turned around to address each one. "The lil Haunter that was cackling to the moon! The Spirit in the Pumpkin Patch. The Darting Snake at the grave and the Possessed Pottery, to name a few!"

Azu had an awkward look, like her question was answered indirectly, Riku pointed at the others that have names of their own. "The Snap Jaws and Hell hound that's taken residence in the town. The Floating Skull in the woods and since I'm not seeing a name, the Banshee."

He brought out a phone that transformed into a cracked, ruined mess and checked matching pictures. A black dog with rib bones on his back and collar, a small skull on his neck that gives of a dog collar and the backward curved, white horns showed just enough to warrant the name. The dark orange snout, belly, black nose and the bone white bands at the ankles were another detail. The squad leader checked a picture matching the Snap Jaws, finding a small, yellow, feminine fairy with what looked to be a strand of black hair, attached to a pony tail that resembles a giant mouth of teeth. He was surprised by the type and explained. "Here's what they are. We have a Houndoom and Mawile lost in the town." He pointed to the Banshee and the Floating Skull. "A Misdreavus and Duskull that are in the woods." Then to the Darting Snake and the Pumpkin Spirit. "A Dreepy and Pumpkaboo."

He stopped awkwardly and looked to Slowking as Kairi had her go with the final entry. "We got to know the actual names. We also have a Polteageist that's in the town somewhere." She read two separate entries and giggled. "Likely to check out the fine china." She showed Sora a picture of a busted, yellow handled, blue tea pot that was white at the bottom and towards the blue lid. Housing a purple, liquid like spirit with swirly yellow eyes and tiny feet at the bottom. There was a picture of a view under the pot, one with a seal of authenticity and a fitting name of authentic, the other without one and is called a phony. Even the Rowlet was having a laugh at that.

Azu sighed and called the teenagers out. (Come on guys, this is serious!) Riku agreed with that and focused on the pokemon of interest. "Ever sense those things opened yesterday, we've been trying to get these guys safe from the dangers out here. "Something has noticed them and wants to hurt them as a way to make chaos. We need to get these pokemon here before that thing does and I think I know how we can do that." Haunter was liking the sound of the plan and read the logs to scheme up ideas that would work. (Mawile and Polteageist are with me, we didn't spot the others. So let's see what can-) Riku and Haunter saw a log on Duskull that warranted a plot. "Ahem! The dex has some clues we can use to find these guys at their turf. For example, Duskulls are rumored to follow along misbehaving kids and spirit them away if given the chance." Sora had an idea and turned to the door those pranksters escaped. "And those three are nothing but trouble makers!"

Riku went with another, showcasing Mawile. "Or Mawile, who uses that innocent side to lure chumps in before getting the chomp with that jaw." Haunter smiled to something. (Just let me have a word with him, he'll listen.)

Sora realized what Haunter's old plan was. "It's how that one will get ya, you won't see the scare coming until you see that mouth." Jack had an idea for what Mawile might be doing. "And he's got to be looking for a treat to test those chompers on." Riku felt a point was proven and went for the gloomiest of the entries. "But that's nothing compared to a spirit, bound to a pumpkin and using it as a lantern to guide lost souls to the hereafter! Their special move is bringing someone out for trick or treating." Jack nearly squealed in delight as Kairi had a plan. "Sounds like we need to split up and go trick or treating for these guys as well. Who else is in on the idea you have?"

Jack had glee to potential ideas. "I told Sally about this first! She knew a good idea the moment she heard of it!" Sora gasped, had a smile at something and chose to keep quiet about it. "I think some of us should tell her about the change of plans. Me and Riku will go look outside of the town." The older boy approved and suggested. "And since Houndoom and Polteageist are evolved pokemon, if the worst happens, we should have an expert that can knock some sense into them." Kairi raised her hand and explained in defense of the boys. "Sora and Riku are better fighters, but they've just started working with Rowlet, Slowking and Comfey yesterday. This could be a good opportunity for them to make some friends without getting hand held."

Finklestein pressed his hands together in a devious plot. "And it just so happened that those three brats have taken off. I wouldn't want to know if the legends about Duskull are true or not." Riku had some mischief on his own and turned to leave. "Don't worry about them, I'm sure someone will get them straighten out before they find the skull." He called. "Come on Slowking." The Royal Pokemon knew he was going to face ghosts regardless and followed the boy out, Riku half turned with a smile at Sora, inviting him and his partners to follow along. Kairi passed a silent wish for luck while Jack and Haunter were the next to step out. "Come on, we know where Sally is."

It was a walk ways up a spiral stair way and into what looked to be the residential area. Houses and crypts designed with the locals in mind. Over by a balcony, overlooking the town square A red haired, stitched together, ragdoll woman with bluish skin, in a stitched together dress. She was sitting on a tomb stone, petting a short horned Houndoom that was sitting and enjoying the affection. The Houndoom flicked her tail softly and turned at the sound of foot steps, shining red eyes that looked watchful. She opened her mouth for a quick, silent snap and Sally perked to the noise, she saw who was coming and stood up eagerly. "Jack!" Houndoom stood up with her as Haunter was more than pleased by how this turned out. Jack had more news to give. "Sally, our day's just gotten better. Guess who stopped by for a visit!"

The stitched together woman had one look at Kairi and realized. "You must be one of Sora's friends?" The Princess nodded eagerly. "Yep, we came because of what happened yesterday. I got a hunch that we're either going to be having a lot to handle with pokemon that... might get scared of the town or we'd get this." She had her eyes set on the Houndoom and request. "May I pet her?"

Houndoom looked over to Sally, who gave a nod of approval, the so called Dark pokemon sat on her rear and let the Princess give her a petting that was enjoyable. Easing things up for what has to be said, Haunter had a smell of something and looked around as the Keybearer explained. "Jack said that Haunter gave an idea for Halloween and it sounds more and more genius. Is everyone in town on board with letting these guys help out?"

Sally put a hand under her chin at a lingering concern. "Well, this only started yesterday so some of us haven't gotten the chance to know the people that Haunter's been talking about." Kairi and Sally had a familiar thought, it is a wise decision to look around and see if the Haunter really was offering what was claimed.

The ghost became more frantic in his senses and heard noise from an ally way, a crunching sound that Jack delighted to. Haunter gasped and found, by a steel grate of spider webs, was a Mawile that was kicking in delight over a confetti of candied insects and a boiled scorpion. He had sugary goop in his mouth already and the second one was chewing on discarded pipes. He brought out a fork and was ready to dig in when he noticed Haunter and the Pumpkin King, he waved eagerly and blushed at something he wasn't suppose. (Hey Haunter! Hey boss man!) Haunter waved back as Jack didn't mind the candy eating and was impressed by the form. "Haunter's told me about you, Mawile. Come on out, we've got a meeting to get to!"

The Mawile had a meek smile and hurried along. (Yeah, this has nothing to do with the treats that I may or may not have stolen.) The ghost pokemon knew well that Mawile certainly stole those when no one was looking, yet felt something was still off. He spotted something lurking in the shadows, yellow eyed and with curved horns. He gasped and waved his hands to channel spectral energy. "Haunt!" (Look out!) Jack turned to see a familiar foe that opened it's mouth and had a red glow. WOOSH! Out came a torrent of fire, Jack leaped above as Haunter was sent back by the flame. Mawile took a step back into the alley in astonishment and waited for the flame to die down, putting a hand to his thumping chest.

Simultaneously

Right as Jack and Haunter were having a peak and inviting someone, Houndoom picked up a scent and growled to something in the darkness. Kairi listened to the growl and looked to an alley way that was darker than usual. Kairi and Houndoom slowed their approach with that same guard and the canine turned to Sally, asking her to keep back. Azu noticed yellow eyes in the shadows and something opening. She eeked and conjured a light screen. (We got trouble!) Glimmer! Out of the darkness came a half a dozen pack of lizards with curved horns, right at the time Jack dodged a flame blast that sent Haunter in a fly. The ghost flew to the ground Kairi drew her blade. "Heartless!" Azu finished her light screen and called. (Let it rip!)

Kairi nodded and sprinted after the pack while Jack spun to dodge a leap of three, Mawile was getting over his shock and leaped to a Salamander, crackling his fists for a sheer force thunder punch. Jack crackled his hands for a lightning spell and watch Haunter tackle the salamander from the darkness, using his eyes to follow with a hypnotic gaze. Occupying one of the foes and giving Jack the momentum to shoot the middle one back. Haunter laughed to his partner and flew by Jack's side to think of another spell, touching a hand together and aiming an hex orb of spectral fire. They fired it in sync and blasted the middle lizard into oblivion.

Kairi quickly struck a salamander into a roll, letting Azu jet after it for a finisher and fired fast light stars at three others. Two of the salamanders made a leap to the shadows and crawled right for a confused and startled Sally. The Princess cringed. "Sally, they're coming after you!" Houndoom leaped backwards to guard her friend and looked around to find the monsters emerging. She bore fiery teeth, inhaled and waited for the moment the foes readied a fire breath, with a fierce roar of a heat wave, she scorched the salamanders out of their spot and followed with a dark pulse that blasted the heartless into nothing. Azu pounced on the remaining one that was in a whirl and grabbed it by the tail before flinging at the salamander pack and use the foe like one a sling club.

Kairi took the chance to fire more intense stars and finish that pack off while a second wave of three leaped out of the darkness and pounced after her. The girl rolled back as Jack and Haunter blasted their pack with a double hex and Mawile gave a leap at the middle monsters rear, playing roughly with his jaws while the hex duo crackled in lightning and fired a double bolt. Leaving one salamander to twitch stiff, Haunter hacked a cough and fired a sludge bomb in sync to the Houndoom's dark pulse. The danger lessened and the air born fighters had a moment to land, or with Haunter, a moment to hover to the ground. Haunter phewed and tried to laugh it off, only for the relief to be cut short by Kairi's concern. "This isn't good."

Sally tried to calm down and looked over to the protective Houndoom. The rag doll woman pressed her hands together and closed her eyes in worry as Jack guessed. "I take it, these Heartless weren't with our guests?" Haunter shook his head. (Nope, they got way too many bad vibes that I could smell.)

Houndoom agreed with that and woofed. (These monsters were hunting someone.) She realized who and turned to Sally to keep by her side, barking concern. (It isn't safe out here, ma'am.) Mawile approached while trying to clean his teeth. (What where those things?) Azu gave a blunt as her concern worsen. (Dark monsters that go after people for their hearts. Hence, Heartless.)

Kairi worried about the implications. "It's nothing we couldn't handle, but this was too specific to be an ordinary attack. Jack, Haunter, Mawile, go find the boys. We need to find that Polteageist fast, before more of those monsters show up!" Jack was on it and worried for who he's leaving under the girl's charge. "Sally?" The lady of the town took a deep breath and opened her eyes determined. "Jack, something terrible is going to happen if we don't stop this. Kairi and I will handle this much while you three are out there."

That made Haunter worry while Azu promised. (They're really isn't a lot of time. We'll catch up with a plan as soon as we find your friend.) The three took off as Sally retraced a memory and lead to what looked to be a storage house. Azu and Houndoom kept close as the rag lady recalled. "Let's see, I think I saw someone go-" On getting close, a band of ghost flew out with joy and cackling to the nearby housing. Kairi had a peak of what is inside and found it filled to the brim with fine china. Definitely a fun house for a Polteageist.

Kairi had the chance to ask her companion. "Sora told me about what happened here earlier. How often does Jack come up with bad ideas?" Sally breathed out a sigh. "More than I want to admit to. But this one felt different from the others. That Haunter was loving the town too much to be hiding anything he wouldn't have wanted us to know about." Kairi knew that was truth. "At the least, he didn't feel like someone who would hide anything intentionally. Only a few worries about whether or not he and his friends can stay here. You'd be surprise how fast a friendship can spring if two people hit it off in an instant. You wanted to make sure that was the case." She smiled to the dark looking dog. "It's good that you've found a friend on your search."

The Houndoom blushed and tried looking away, finding it impossible to deny. (Feels good to hear that.) The Princess mellowed somberly and was ready to head in. "The problem is there is something out there that is looking at these guys and is seeing a chance at power and chaos. That something is going to hurt them through here-" she pointed to her chest and raised Sally's concern. "and that's why we need to find the source coming into this town!" She showed Sally the picture of Polteageist. "If you're right on the trial, then this is the pot we're looking for." She saw a button and pressed it, finding a tea pot with pink instead of the blue. "or this if we're luckier."

Azu and Houndoom had a look at the visual aid and entered a the storage house, splitting up into four and look around for a specific match. Houndoom picked up the scent of tea and followed her nose to pots that looked absolutely nothing like in the picture. She growled out. (Darn it, which tea are we talking about?) Azu saw a bunch of tea pots with similar shapes and gave a mellow smile. (I don't know enough about tea to help ya there.) Kairi wasn't having much luck either. "Apparently it's black tea, but I never had any of that either to tell you the smell."

Sally noticed a pink tea pot of a very similar shape to the picture, however on a closer inspection she found a silver handle that didn't match. Sally hmmed. "How much longer is this game going to take?" Scurry! Clack!

The four heard a rat scurry off and nearly tip over a collection of ornamental tea pots that have a close resemblance to the blue one in the picture. ones with flowery designs, one themed around a skull and finally one at the top right shelf. Looking that looked exactly like the picture, busted and full of holes. Kairi wasn't going to say anything and reached, finding a squiggly eye appear from the crack, the Princess smirked. "Found you, Polteageist."

The eye shifted and out of the spout was a purple drop that took the form of a face, he floated off with his pot and gave a spin before going into the pot and popping his head out of a lid, pouting at the cunning player. "Polt!" (Ah man! I was hoping you get closer!) Azu and the Houndoom felt the Polteageist was friendly enough, the haunted pot asked the ladies. (So, did Haunter and the Skeleton King sent ya to seal the deal?) Houndoom groaned as Azu sighed. (Afraid not, we came to call you to a meeting at the place the grouchy brain guy's at. It's a pretty big emergency!)

Houndoom growled out. (Did you hear the fighting that went on nearby?) Polteageist blinked and put a hand under his cheek. (I was busy playing this game with the ghosts, why's a fight breaking out?) Kairi shrugged, having an idea what was said. "I don't know either, but I think this... thing is trying to get you all kicked out of town or worse." Polteageist gasped and slowly had a bubble of frustration. He nearly flipped his lid and squealed. (Come on, we haven't done anything wrong here!)

Azu crossed her arms and signaled. (Hey, hey! I'm thinking the same thing too. Haunter was the one doing the grunt work while you and Mawile try to make yourselves at home. A little over the jump, but this is something that was going to take days to work out.) Polteageist tried to cool himself and floated by the ladies. (Show me where I gotta be, because I really like this town.)

The ladies gave him an escort back to the residential square and kind of expected, several, dark specters, with rotating orbs of sharp debris appeared. The group readied to fight and Kairi saw the specters had horns akin to the Corrupters. Polteageist glared at them, fuming steam. (Are these the guys who are trying to screw us over?)

His fellow pokemon nodded as Kairi had Sally stay behind her. "They're not going to get away with this." She took a deep breath and sprouted six, angelic glowing wings, her single eye gave a bright shine as she charged up. The Clutter Vortex's hurled the junk as Houndoom and Polteageist kept side to side, the canine blasted out a heat wave as the tea pot twirled a barrage of magical black leaves. Giving the Princess time to fire divine beams of the Light.

Over at the Graveyard.

Sora and Rowlet made a split from Riku and Slowking, who spotted something across the road. The spikey haired boy was in something of a pout and readied the heal ball containing the Comfey. The Posey Picker was up from her episode and saw she was still in a gloomy town, with the spooky looking boy. She gave as silent whine that Sora had to stand up to. "Hey," The Comfey cringed and was given a finger petting. "This place is pretty spooky, but the people here wouldn't try to hurt you. At least, not on purpose. We got to find these two pokemon out here, think you can help?"

Comfey sighed and asked with a chirp. Rowlet turned his head sideways and hooted. (Something called a Pumpkaboo and someone made a drawing of a Darting Snake. You know any?) Comfey did not. (I don't, but I think I can get a good smell.) She asked the boy. (You mind bringing the others, the more sniffers around, the better.) Sora brought out the poke ball and the net ball. "Come on guys, we got some searching to do!" Pop! Out came a Zigzagoon that wagged his tail and spun to get a look at the graveyard and the Butterfree that fluttered around curiously.

Sora gave the bug a warning. "Be careful around here, this place is made for scaring." The Butterfree huhed, turned to find the boy in a darker, spookier form and even odder, closed in to have a better look. Comfey and Zigazgoon flew around the graveyard and found Jack-o-lanterns around the graves. Rusher sniffed fast as Comfey selected out flavors. (Hmm. They're pretty fresh and have a bit of something that crawled on them.)

Zigzagoon barked as Butterfree hurried to get a smell of the pumpkins and tasted something less musty. "Free!" (Something came by here!) She followed a trial to a spiral hill in the distance, Sora remembered where that leads. "Figured Pumpkaboo would see that."

He and Rowlet followed the sniffing misfits over to a wider Pumpkin Patch, where a floating set of yellow eyes is seen looming over a mortified corpse at a road. Sora's battle instincts kicked in as he saw a dark figure behind the glow. "Hey, get away from him!" He drew his blade and rushed after the light that floated back, dodging the first swing. Comfey and Butterfree notice the brown hair like leaves and a second set of eyes with, Comfey hurried around Sora's neck and called him out while Butterfree pounced to the side of his face and caused him to topple. (Hey, hey, hey!) The Posey Picker gave a tug around the neck, like a leash holder to an unruly pup. (That's not what you think it is!)

Rowlet flapped over the glow to find a more distinct depiction of a rather large Pumpkaboo. With a mouth of fanged teeth, an pink body and a confused, if young expression. The Pumpkin dimmed the lights and reveled himself, stopping Sora in his assault and leaving him embarrassed. Pumpkaboo sighed and jingled. (Your heart means well.) He floated over the body that looked like it was decayed for a while. (Fear not, he was like this when I came.)

Urr.

The body rose up like a zombie, groaning from a near death experience. Comfey hid in Sora's jacket in hope the zombie goes away as the Butterfree looked around and whispered. (Excuse me, is this normal?) Rowlet landed and turned his head to the butterfly. (Apparently it is, around here.) The zombie was recalling what happened and perked. "Wow! That was a heart stopping terror under that cloak!" Sora tilt his head in a way that is similar to the owl. "What happened? Did something try to attack you?" The zombie waved a skeletal hand. "Nah! I was chatting with this costume critter and his friend, when I wanted to see what he was hiding." He jumped in excitement. "Jack's going to love to hear about this!"

The group let the zombie head back to town, Sora closed his right eye and scratched the back of his head. Owing something to Pumpkaboo. "Yeah... sorry about that. I fight guys that give me that look with those eyes all the time." Pumpkaboo ahed. (I see, did the Pumpkin King send you?) He blushed. (Has he decided to offer us a treat?) Rowlet shrugged. (We came out here to find you all. So maybe. Are we going to have fight over that?) Pumpkaboo nodded and hovered to a large pumpkin. (We could!) He landed and gave a turn, showing a sinister face not different from the kind that Leon makes. (If it will make you one step closer to joining us, Rowlet!)

He gave a battle cry akin to a chime, Sora jumped and looked down to the bird. "What did you say to him?" The Rowlet pleaded innocence, wishing he could tell it straight and realize it would be plain crazy. He flapped to a smaller pumpkin and readied a fight, Sora rolled his eyes and ordered. "Peck him and use that confuse ray to dizzy him!" Rowlet gave a peck at the Pumpkaboo that gave a glow, inviting a couple of specters to swipe the Rowlet away and bring about a basket, dragging the bird out for trick or treating. The owl kicked and cried out for help, Pumpkaboo followed with a shadow sneak sucker punch that sent the Rowlet spinning in the air. The owl countered with a confusing glow, Sora followed on that que. "Now shadow sneak! I'll handle the rest!"

The Rowlet extend a spectral shadow that knocked the Pumpkaboo into a spin that caused him to slam his body at a stone fence. Sora cringed and tossed a nest ball, securing a fast capture. Rowlet landed on his back, tired out as Butterfree fetched the ball and delivered it to the boy. (That's another one!)

Sora caught the ball and felt that was quite an experience, right as he went to pick Rowlet up, something zipped at him from behind a fence. A green, newt like dart with a jet like set of horns. They had red tips at the end and complimented a red set of gills behind the newts head. It's body was serpentine, having a small set of arms and a long tail with a green band like stripe towards the end. It had two spikes on the back and one at the front. Sora was pounced on the face by the newt and landed on his rear in a scream.

THUD!

Rowlet flipped himself up and hurried to his partner as Comfey and Zigzagoon tried to catch the newt that made his way for Sora's back pocket and gave a wiggle that made the boy blush. "Hey, hey! Don't go digging in-" The newt gave a hiss of frustration and went for the other one, Sora jumped back on his feet and reached to pull the newt out.

Zip!

The newt flew out of the pocket and dashed up the arm to check the back of the hoodie, only to be tackled by Comfey, Sora turned around to find the newt had yellow eyes and black pupils. The boy jumped back and brought out a quick ball. "Comfey, let him go!" The Posey Picker did so and Sora made a fast fling, tapping the confused newt on the face and watching the ball take him in. It landed on the ground and gave a firm shake.

Click!

Rusher took his turn to fetch the ball for the boy. Sora picked it up in gratitude. "Thanks, buddy!" Zigzagoon arfed as the boy let out the Pumkpaboo that was shaking off the sting of defeat and the newt that saw his chance to look at the hoodie. Comfey blocked the entry way and gave a firm order. (Stop doing that!)

Sora knew what was said and brought out the bags worth of poke balls he has, each with a distinct variety. "I don't know what you're looking for, but these are all I have and they're empty!" He picked up a dusk ball and opened it to show it is so. "See?" The Newt saw it as it is and cried out in frustration. Comfey went to the Newt's face and demanded to know what his problem is, only for Butterfree to break the potential fight apart. The newt floated back and answered with desperation, surprising the four and bringing Pumpkaboo's notice. Sora raised a brow, trying to figure out the reason he was nearly mugged. "You're looking for something?" Rowlet raised a wing and wiggled feathers, showing that the boy is close. Sora realized another clue, the attack happened after the Pumpkaboo's capture and the Newt mistook that as something else. "You're looking for someone and you thought I had them?"

The Newt lowered his head and slumped to the ground. Sora knew what the newt was feeling and crouched to pet him. "Hey don't worry." The newt looked up to a smile that promised. "Stick with us and we'll find them here somewhere." The Newt wasn't feeling that much better, but he slithered up the arm and curled behind the boy's neck. Sora took the moment to check the pokedex, it showed the matching specimen. A particular, dragon and ghost type. "Dreepy? After being reborn as a ghost Pokémon, Dreepy wanders the areas it used to inhabit back when it was alive in prehistoric seas. If this weak Pokémon is by itself, a mere child could defeat it. But if Dreepy has friends to help it train, it can-" He realized. "Ooooh!" He turned to make eye contact with the lingering spirit. "You've been looking for your friends after you got separated?" Dreepy rubbed his head to the neck as a way to tell the boy that he was right. Sora looked around, losing track of his mission. "Maybe if we look around we can find them, what do they look like?"

He checked the logs for the next two steps of evolution, a larger newt with horns resembling air craft and a Dreepy that's tagging along. "Drakloak." The other was of a newt with a transparent lower half and the side way horns resemble a launcher of Dreepys. It's quite obvious who Dreepy is looking for, Sora needed to talk with his squad about what to do.

All the while, Pumpkaboo was feeling a tension in the air and looked around, finding a shadow close by that was growing and taking shape. Pumpkaboo cringed and rushed after the band, using his spectral power to shove them out of the way of an ambushing lunge of a giant dark snake with the eyes and face typical of a heartless. Having curled horns as it rammed Pumkaboo across the ledge and turning to bring out a blue forked tongue. Rowlet yelped and flew to Sora as Butterfree kept guard with him. Comfey flew to the boys side as Rusher had a determine battle face. The boy felt that tension and saw the foe lock eyes with him. "Look out guys, we got trouble!"

The Pumpkaboo agreed and spun to bring about flames of a will-o-wisp. The Serpent reared it's head up and made a lunge after Sora and his companions, the Rowlet flew to the side and tossed razor leaves for a fast counter as the wisp's touched the Serpent's under belly and caused a burning burst. Butterfree kept back as Comfey realized something and clapped a helping hand for Sora. The boy landed, made a fast turn and kept his eye to the shadows as Zigzagoon was in a roll and had his paw in the sand. Sora had an idea what the raccoon was preparing and gave a smirk of approval, Butterfree spotted a growing shadow to the boys 8 o' clock and gave out a cry. "Free!" (Over there!)

The Zigzagoon positioned himself as Sora made a fast roll to his left, dodging a snapping lunge from the Serpent. Rusher kicked a cloud of sand into the Serpents eyes and caused it to thrash in blindness. Butterfree used the opening to flap an air slash on the neck, Sora ordered fast. "Rusher, use that tail whip and make an opening!" The Raccoon sprinted to Sora's direction, dodged the lunge and zipped right before whipping a tail and back flipping.

Rowlet gave another toss of razor leaves for a deep slice as Sora flipped his blade and made a spear thrust that sent the serpent on the side. "Extreme speed and confuse ray!"

The Zigzagoon disappeared for a reckless tackle at the wound as Comfey offered Rowlet a turn in priority, the owl tossed the light at the serpent and caused it to go in a daze. It went into the ground as an attempt at an escape and caused a shadow to grow under the Zigzagoon, the raccoon noticed and sprinted to Sora. Snap! The Serpent leaped out for a giant snap of the jaws and was left with a mouth of nothing, Pumpkaboo ascended and gave a fast toss of razor leaves as Butterfree spat a wide reaching string shot and flew to a fence to tie it up. The Serpent yanked and was pulled back for a head slam, it thrashed to try and break free as Sora gave a light hand on a pumpkin and flung his blade at the open wound, making it slice through and return like a boomerang. "Dree?"

At that sudden, Dreepy was out of his slump and flew out of the hoodie, watching Sora catch the blade and ignite it in fire before firing a blast. Zigzagoon followed with another extreme speed tackle as Pumkpaboo had a super natural glow and advised. (Zigzagoon, do you have a different type of move beyond that?) The Racoon looked up and parked a yes, the Pumpkin smiled and let loose a wail. (Then let the spirits lend us their aid!)

He unleashed specters that tackled the Serpent, right as it snapped out of it's lasso. It slithered into the shadows and caused a distant zone to darken up. The glow of the spirits made the attack quite obvious and the boy signaled the party to keep ready. Sora took a battle stance and Dreepy slithered to a hand as a way to gain attention, the boy saw Dreepy fly to the tip of the blade and held on on, the arrow shape gave him an idea that would pierce through the dark foe. The Serpent lunged out for a giant leap and Sora spun his blade. "Take-" Fling! "This!" He launched the Dreepy at the Serpent's chin and watched the dark zip at the speed of a bullet, ramming into the heartless and cause it to tilt backward. Pumkpaboo and Rowlet turned and tossed a fast shadow sneak that sliced into the neck and caused the Serpent to nearly fall over.

Zigzagoon gave a pattern of a bark as Comfey clapped to Sora in a helping hand. Dreepy returned back to the blade in the speed of a shadow, Sora prepared another dart toss and made another impact, then a third time that sent the Serpent falling to the ground. Rusher spat a seed bomb to make a blunt blow. The raccoon dog gave a fast tail whip and left an opening for a double shadow sneak strike, while Sora flowed from pumpkin to pumpkin to build momentum for a leap and a slash across the neck. Causing darkness to bleed out and the Serpent to try and make a getaway.

BURST!

Suddenly, a fiery scare crow with a pumpkin head charged for an infernal tackle, scorching the serpent and leaving it exposed to the flames turning into a burning purple. The band recognized the scarecrow that made a stylish twirl to a Haunter, the two aimed their hands together and unleashed a blast of the purple fire, blasting the Serpent and causing it to dissolve from the hex. The battle reached an end and the Scarecrow's fiery form flickered away, revealing Jack with quite the serious scowl. Sora knew that Jack was aware of what is going on point a thumb to where the Serpent is. "Something's going on over there!"

Zip!

Dreepy flew by the boy as Jack was keeping calm and serious, the boy finished his fast report as Pumpkaboo was drawn in to the Pumpkin King's presence. "And we found two more of these guys. Did you and Kairi find Sally?" Pew! Pew! Pew! The rapid fire barrage of light signaled a yes and then some, Jack was confident about his decision to let the visitor do what needed to be done. "She and Sally should be here soon. We found more company while we were over there." Hut! Hut! Leap! Mawile arrived with a bit of a sprint, tiring a bit out from his hair dragging along. Sora was even less worried and looked over to the woods. "Riku thought he found something and took off there. I hope it's what he thinks it is." Haunter looked on with concern for what kind of danger that is lurking.

Over at the road.

Riku slowed down for Slowking and looked around to make sure no one was listening, no one was around and he turned to walk backwards. "We have to face the facts, we need to capture another pokemon and we need to find a pokemon that would do something to these ghosts. Do you got any idea for how we're going to catch one? Just so we skip the battling?" Slowking thought about it and gasped. (I got it, nothing works better than some food. You got any they would like?)

Riku felt what was said and searched a bag. "This might work if they haven't gotten sick of all that candy." He felt a wrapper and pulled out a bean bun in it's bag. Something to unwrap and use, Riku thought into the plan. "As soon as we spot a ghost, we need to lay this out and get out of sight. I think I got a trick that can work if we can't find something."

Slowking imagined the plan to be rather thought out and felt a strange sweat, he turned to see if anything was following. Riku spotted a cross roads with an old wooden scare crow post and signaled that he and Slowking get off the road. He tossed the treat a ways and followed the Royal before channeling a spell that made him and the Slowking resemble pumpkins.

In a second, something arrived, a sprinting blue fur weasel with razor sharp claws, a red ear and a trio of red tails. Upon seeing the creature on the move, a name echo'd in Riku's mind. "A Sneasel." The Sneasel looked around confused, swearing that he saw something. He noticed a treat left behind and kept an eye open in suspicion, finding nothing that is off other wise. He was still cautious, picked up the bun and felt the texture of something relatively fresh, he took a bite and was realizing the bun was perfectly normal. Riku had his pumpkin disguise break apart and readied a quick ball, lining it with the Sneasel's back.

Tap!

The Sneasel had a moment of astonishment before being brought into the ball that landed in a tap and gave a firm shake.

Click!

Riku clenched his throwing fist, raised it up and jerked it down in victory.

"Yes!"

Slowking broke out of the disguise and followed behind, feeling something was closer by than realized. He turned behind and found something at his left vision. A dark blue, red eyed banshee with yellow sclera, red beads and a red hue at her cheeks. Slowking yelped in terror. "Slow!"

Riku turned fast with the Way to Dawn at hand and saw it was one of the mentioned pokemon. More of a reason to calm down. "You're that Misdreavus I heard about!" At that instant, Misdreavus backed away and tried not to look embarrassed. "Mis!" (Oh no!) She was looking more and more skittish. (Please don't notice the blush, please don't notice the blush!)

Riku lowered his blade and went to pick up the Sneasel's ball. "Did something chase you out of the woods? Is there something there we need to deal with, before someone gets hurt?"

Pop!

He let out the dazed Sneasel as Misdreavus found that a topic to discuss. (Well... there is something that is trying to get through that door.) Sneasel shook off the daze, turned to Misdreavus, hissed and jumped up and down in a tantrum. (Hey, you were suppose to be watching me!) The ghost cringed. (Sorry, got distracted!) She swayed her hair to try and make herself presentable and floated closer, knowing the duo were calming down from the shock. (I think they're what Mimikyu was talking about. A Keyholder, who's friends with a Pokemon.) Sneasel t'ch and crossed his arms. (Well, I didn't sign up to get caught like that.)

Slowking relayed what he's heard to Riku, in his own language. (Finding us was kind of the plan, but Sneasel didn't expect that we'd set up bait.) The boy put a few things together and asked the arrivals. "You kind of knew each other and you came here looking for help. Did... you see these three kids wander off into the woods? They're kind of meant to be bait for a Duskull!"

Misdreavus gasped (Them, in that place?!) and hurried to take off to the woods. (This is bad! This is bad!) Sneasel had a moment of terror and had a sweat. (Hoo boy!) He reached for the bean bun he was eating and pointed to the two. (I'm keeping this! You guys catch up!) He took off with the Misdreavus, Riku and Slowking didn't have much of a choice but follow into the Hinterlands, a place of many dead trees.

Riku used the dex to check the moves Sneasel has on him. Knock off, icy wind, taunt and shadow claw. The band entered deeper into the forest and heard the sound of children fighting. "I told you we should've gone the other way!" "Are you serious? All that's there is a wrecked house!" "G...g...guys!"

The group arrived to find the three brats in a mobile bath tub, shivering stiff at something approaching from the heart of the woods. A pale, gray haired girl in a tattered gray cloth, the right half of her face was covered with a strand of hair and her left side showed a red eye. The strange girl looked indifferent to the children's terror and set her eyes on the more interesting arrival. Approaching slowly and keeping a distance before breaking that stoic expression into a giggle, showing three misplaced teeth. "Tee hee! I was told about you!" Misdreavus blinked in confusion as Riku rolled his eyes. "Charming. These punks ran off before we told the locals about what's going on. What are you doing here?"

The girl put her hands behind her hip and approached curiously. "T'is the same as they. I wandered here." She spun her eye and had a bit of glee. "A world where the spirits celebrate the idea of terror! Pranks that are simply that." Sneasel swallowed, smiled mischievously and pointed to the wood way. (And something's trying to mess this world up, like it's doing to the other. You think this idiot's going to figure you out?) If Slowking had a fan, he'd smack Sneasel in the back of the head, his normally calm face looked quite offended. Misdreavus had a jerk reaction, went to Sneasel's ear and shrieked. (Hey, that's rude!)

Sneasel yelped as Riku waved a hand to the band. "I got this." He approached the strange girl. "Me and my friends, got a hunch that this world's about to be in danger and your also going to be in a lot of it if we don't do anything." He brought out a dusk ball and smirked at a solved mystery. "So let's save Halloween and get to the fun part!"

The girl pressed her lips together in astonishment and smiled wide. "I like that kind of spirit, I hope you got what it takes for us all." She winked and opened her mouth to give off a

"HRRRRK!"

Her form faded into gray mist, revealing a tiny skull with a body covered in a gray robe. Having a single red eye that slink in between the sockets. She raised her cloak like hands in an attempt to give a scare. Riku tossed the dusk ball without hesitation and closed his eyes proudly. "Easiest capture-" He didn't hear the sound of a ball catching something and instead, heard the sound of a ball colliding with a tree. He opened his sense of sight as Slowking watched the ball simply phase through the Duskull, the requiem gave a laugh and disappeared in a blink.

Fog seeped in and a taller figure approached, a large mass at first, before shrinking to that something smaller and exerting pressure upon the boy. A deeper, feminine voice echo'd. "You'd think we'd be swayed to your cause so easily? Bearer of the Key? Let's see if you and your partners are able to ward off the Beacon of the Doors!" She emerged as a taller, gray haired woman in a one piece, dark gray dress, having the same hair style and that stricking, red eye. She raised her hands close to her face and approached like a zombie, Riku knew it was part of some trick and shined morning light, revealing the illusion and showing the true spirit. A man sized, lantern like creature of the dark gray. Two straps of light gray cloth dangled from her back and a tip of light gray resembles something of hair.

Riku gave the order to the banshee. "Misdreavus, keep close to to those kids! Slowking, let's catch this Dusclops!" The Misdreavus was on it, much to the protest of the brats, as Slowking shivered and jumped to action. The Dusclops glowed her single eye and waved a hand, bringing about a trio of will-o-wisps. Riku signaled that the Sneasel stayed put and ordered. "Dodge that will-o-wisp and tap into that future sight!"

The Slowking side stepped from the fast spinning wisps and gave a distinct glow. Riku clapped. "Now let's make her chill out and get Sneasel in here." The Dusclops rolled her eye and blasted a hex that made Slowking regret that choice, the king cringed. (You're definitely a tough one for me to handle alone. But I don't got to do this anymore!)

He gestured at the attempt at the joke, found it not funny and caused snow to blow in, he returned to his ball in embarrassment as Sneasel sprinted for battle. Riku commanded. "Taunt that Dusclops and use knock off!" The Sneasel snickered and asked. (What's ya gonna do without that wisp?) The Dusclops growled and channeled a dark power as the Sneasel leaped for a knock off slap. The Dusclops pulsed a night shade to shove the Sneasel back and hit by a blast of psychic energy. Riku clawed. "Follow future sight with shadow claw!"

The Sneasel landed, glowed his claw in spectral energy and clawed into the Dusclops for a critical blow, the beacon was in a wobble and Riku took out another dusk ball. "Let's try this again!" Fling! "Go dusk ball!"

The ball was in flight and Dusclops pressed her hands to her mouth and unleashed a suction, sending the ball into a spin and disappearing in the swirl of hands. Riku and Sneasel had a twitch of the brow (Oh come on!) and Dusclops fired the ball back at the boys face.

Bonk!

Colliding with his face and sending it upward in a jerk. Dusclops relaxed and growled as Riku landed on his rear. (You're fast to learn our ways, Bearer of the Key. But you won't claim me that easily.) The boy shook off the shock and got up. "Okay, okay I get it. You don't want to be caught." He sent out Slowking, who looked a lot healthier than he was prior, the witch girl was completely confused. "This is getting weird." Riku felt it was mutual. "Yeah, but unless we have more surprises, that's all the visitors in these woods. Let's get back and-"

Slowking was feeling a splitting head ache from something and rubbed his temples, Misdreavus cringed sharply as Dusclops turned to something in the woods. (Evil is near.)

Sneasel huhed and looked to where Dusclops was observing, something really was emerging from the woods. A curled horned, slender, faceless, feminine humanoid figure of darkness, with white hair that was twitching in tentacles and claws. Sneasel felt his vision turn to static and he tried shaking it off as Riku had a look at what is clearly a heartless and felt his eyes were about to pop out of their socket. With his nerves failing to move. Misdreavus eeked and gave a glow, twitching from the rather intense pain and causing Riku to regain control of his body. The banshee was spitting out drying heaves as the three children turned around to see the Stalker and space out like how Riku was. The Stalker made a sprint after the brats and in a sudden, the space distorted, the heartless was moving quite slow. Riku and Slowking passed an eye to the Dusclops, who was the source of the distortion, then back to the Heartless that is slow as molasses. "Slowking, shoot that thing away from them, Sneasel get these idiots out of danger!"

Slowking fired a fast water gun and sent the Stalker into a backwards lean as Sneasel walked over rather swiftly and pushed the tub towards the King. The vision cracked into static and the Stalker was gone. Riku had the moment to turn fast and was going slower than he like, having a moment to find a shadow ball zip past him. Hitting a Stalker that attempted to get at Riku from behind, the heartless was shoved back to a tree. The boy tried to calm himself and turned slow at a Misdreavus that was in pain, Riku took a deep breath and focused as the Stalker vanished, the boy focused on his left and faced a white figure that was emerging from the woods. Deep in the zen, Riku hovered and unleashed a morning divide, giving Misdreavus an idea to give a bit of a dance and follow with a dazzling gleam.

Serving as a complimentary finisher to the shot lock, the Stalker burst into static and disappeared once more. Dusclops sighed and conjured fast moving will-o-wisps to collide with a Stalker that was right behind her. The Beacon was jabbed by multiple tentacles and turned with a heavy step as Riku flipped his blade, gave it a glow of purple fire and gave a battle cry, using a slow wind up to deliver a tricky, deep slash that made the heartless burst into flames. Dusclops channeled a hex and crushed it under pressure, making it burst into darkness and disappear.

With the danger abated, the distortion lighten up and the speed balance returned to normal. Dusclops looked to the heart of the woods and found a frosty power bursting from somewhere. She marched forward with her dark glow. (You need to find the source of this evil and banish it from this side of the world before we talk again!)

Riku had a peak and felt a chilling presence. "That thing's causing mayhem from across that door too?" Sneasel huhed and flinched at a growing frost. "Ahk!" He dropped his attitude and pointed out of the woods in a plea. (We don't got a lot of time! My brother's really in for it if we can't get over there!) He ordered the Misdreavus in pain. (Come on, we spotted the other kid a while ago!)

Sneasel sprinted ahead recklessly as Slowking followed to try and be the wise mentor. (Hey, hey. Don't go running off here!) Riku smacked himself on the head and focused on the dazed children, with Misdreavus trying to shake them awake, Riku raise a finger to conjure a green light and flicked them on the three, snapping them out of their stare and into a splitting head ache. The Skeleton child groaned. "Urg my head!" The demon child shook off the dizziness. "Was that one of those monsters again?" The witch child bleh a nauseous feeling. "Quite."

Misdreavus looked to Riku and guessed. (That monster was made from more dangerous stuff than you'd fight?) The keybearer nodded. "We're either running into a ton of the Heartless at once or they're the kind that don't get brought down that easily. There's isn't an in between these days." He took a lead back to the road and commanded the tub to follow. "Come on, once you three see the town, book it to there! We're putting an end to this nightmare before it starts!" The children were completely fine with making a full retreat while Misdreavus kept to the rear guard.

Over at the Town's Gate.

Kairi and her band finished getting out of town, the Princess in particular was looking out of breath after using her latent power to wipe the heartless problem off the face of the earth. Letting Sally talk with a local zombie that seen things. "You looked under that things costume and saw something so horrible that you what?" The zombie waved his hands and put his hands to his chest to mimic someone in a coffin. "Died all over again! Something else is messing around with the town and it's got Jack in a bad mood!" Polteageist fumed, understanding why. (I'll bet! Someone's trying to wreck his place and pin it on us!)

Kairi and Azu hurried to the gate, with the rabbit apologizing. (We'll worry about that part later. We have a pokemon going into no- mans land!) Houndoom kept to the rear guard as Kairi and Sally took the lead. "Azu, have you met the kind of pokemon this guy has mentioned?" Azu nodded. (I know I've seen Snowrunts across a snowy island while I've seen the other keep to a corner at an eating hole.) Sally advised the local. "Just stay in the town until we can take care of this! Okay?"

The undead heeded that and went off to a crypt to pass along some stories, letting the band hurry to the Pumpkin Patch. Kairi used her Dex to get a read on the two pokemon. Snorunt: The Snow Hat Pokemon. Who is a simple ice type that is constantly shivering. "A Snorunt that is traveling with a-" On a click, she found a pokemon matching the description. A costume of a particular red cheek mouse that has a wooden tail, droopy ears and face drawn on the plush head, bellow were a set of eyes, showing that it isn't what it seems. "A Mimikyu: A disguise pokemon."

Kairi wanted to read more as Sally spotted a gathering, with Jack looking quite serious. "Jack?" The Pumpkin King heard the voice, turned around and breathed out in relief before going to embrace the stitched together lady. Haunter and Mawile tilt their heads to see Polteageist and Houndoom following. The gas spirit phewed and flew to his two friends. (Did more of those things try attacking you?) Polteageist nodded. (Yeah and something's been wanting us to get the blame for them.)

Haunter flinched as Houndoom closed her eyes, snorted out smoke and snarled. (That has to be why they tried to burn Sally and Jack.) Haunter backed away in astonishment. (Wait, they were actually going after them?!) He thought about the implications and looked ready to puke as Pumpkaboo noticed a tub of children galloping back to the town and chimed. (This evil must not go unpunished!)

Mawile agreed with that and pressed a fist to the pawn of his hand. (Just say the word and we'll teach these psychos a lesson!) Haunter nodded and swallowed his stress before floating to Jack, pleading. (Your Highness, if I gotta call you that.) Jack let the ghost know he was willing to listen. "You're scared for your friends as well?"

The Haunter nodded. (Totally. What's going on isn't right at all, we need to find who ever is calling the shots-) and pointed his thumb to the unknown. (and send them outta here.) Jack was with the idea. "Who ever is behind these Heartless attacks have no remorse for this, but we'll make sure they'll stop once they learn what we are!" He had quite the menace of justified anger that the three pokemon were in support on.

Sora finished talking with Kairi about what happened. "Once we figured out what Dreepy was trying to do, that thing showed up." The Princess imagined it was an attempt to remove the heroes from the equation. "Who ever is causing all this, has done their homework about us." She called Dreepy for a chin scratch. "We need to find the other Dreepys soon, this one didn't want to wait for them. That never works." The two looked over to Jack, who was determined in a decision. Sora recalled what he knew. "There's one of those totems or something around here that's bringing in the Heartless. Where could it be hiding if it doesn't want us to find it?"

Jack gasped and snapped his fingers. "The one place no one's visited all year." He and Sora recalled a particular house built with in a tree, beyond the spiral hill. It was home to a particular bag of bugs that did battle with them. "Oogie's place!"

Rowlet looked to the Haunter and over to where the duo were facing, having a tense anger in his eyes. Kairi felt her other whisper in suggestion. "That's the one place we haven't looked. Snorunt and Mimikyu are heading straight to danger!" The ladies notice a Sneasel leaping over a fence, while Slowking simply moved to the entrance, Azu gasped at the surprise visitor. (A Sneasel!)

The sharp claw noticed Azu, blinked and tapped the side of his head, while Riku and a Misdreavus hurried with a similar leap. The older boy was out of breath and saw his closest friends well. "Thank goodness!" The Destiny duo saw Riku had a close encounter and went over to give a group hug, the older boy felt his nerves calmed and let go to report. "These heartless are getting much more dangerous and something's going on in one of the doors in the woods. Do you got an idea on how to stop it?"

Sora nodded and took the lead with a surprised Jack. "We're on our way to smash it! Are they causing things in Christmas Town too?" Jack believed and lead from the front lines with his cohorts. "We got to settle this before it's too late over there! Come on!"

At the ruins of a tree house.

Mimikyu scurried behind a root, in hope no one was following. Shaking stiff and cursing himself. "Dang it, every time someone looks at me!" He peaked at the trial he took and found Snorunt following frantically. "Eep! Eep! Wait up!" Mimikyu hissed. "I thought I told you to keep by the town!" Snorunt stopped in her tracks and shivered. "I can't leave you here alone with those monsters!" Mimikyu had a vein pulsing in his real head. "I killed a guy just now! What would the people think of me after that?!"

Snorunt kept by her buddy in an attempt to ease his concern, she noticed something sticking out in the ruin, pulsing in corruption. A Totem with a demonic looking head, she blinked at the terror and Mimikyu turned to see the fel pillar and was quick to give it a glare with his true eyes. He slithered slowly in preparation for battle. "Just my luck, I've ran straight to where I'm suppose to be." He warned Snorunt. "Back me up, but be ready to run."

The Totem glowed it's eyes in yellow and shot a cluster of tentacles at the disguised critter, Mimikyu leaped over the attack and gave them a swift shadow claw before scurrying in a sprint, Snorunt blew an icy wind to make the tendrils sluggish and unable to keep up. Stone pillars erupted to block the way, not that Mimikyu cared, he leaped across each one and was close enough to make a lunge. Snorunt gave a cheer of a helping hand. "Smash it, smash it, you got it!"

Mimikyu gave a swing with his wooden tail and smashed the Totem square in the head, causing it to crack open and collapse into a spill. The Disguise Pokemon back flipped in style and kept a stance at a Corrupter that crawled out of the goop, looking surprised at the single blow and giving a hateful glare. The Heartless burst into a dark river and tried to wash over the duo, Mimikyu grabbed Snorunt and leaped to the far left before dropping her off and readying another attack. Snorunt giggled and split into many. "Can't catch if you can!"

The Corrupter lunged out of the river and made a dive after the snow hat, hitting through an illusion that multiplied with the others. Mimikyu leaped from tree to tree as the Corrupter focused upon the Snorunt illusions and fired a bolt at the little ghost that kept moving. It extended it's arms and tried to grab the Snorunt's in one swipe. Mimikyu leaped off the tree and pounced on the Corrupter's head, using his cloak to swallow it from the shoulder up and bring it face to face with a set of red glowing eyes. What ever is happening under there, was quite violent and brought the Corrupter into thrashing and making a desperate attempt to yank the Mimikyu off. Snorunt gave a helpful cheer. "Go get 'em Mimikyu!"

As she was cheering, the Guardians of Halloween arrived to see the climax of a rather short battle. With the Corrupter completely exposed to Azu bull rushing it on the side and Kairi giving a shine of light before cleaving through the monster and causing it to dissolve. Mimikyu fell on his stomach in a thud as the Darkness begun to recede, Haunter was impressed and floated to the little hero. (You're the Mimikyu we heard about!) Mimikyu eeked and got on his feet before stepping back. (That wasn't my fault, I swear!) Haunter laughed while Polteageist blew a whimsical whistle. (Oh, we figured that. The dude was already dead before he looked under that cloak.)

Mimikyu huhed as Azu turned and pointed to where the zombie was last seen. (He was undead or something. If he died of freight, then he'll be back up like nothing important happened. He was last seen making it to the town.)

Mimikyu had a moment to stare and process what actually happened while Snorunt giggled to him. (Ha, you over reacted!) The Mimikyu blushed in protest. (It's not funny!)

Kairi and Azu breathed out in relief of a crisis being near over as Sora and his misfits approach dimwitted. "You saved us a lot of trouble just now. Where you get that strength from?" Mimikyu shifted his eyes as he answered. (Uh... I've been fighting for most of my life?)

Sally took a moment to marvel at the simple, if eerie disguise and noticed in the corner of her eye, the Darkness was still pooling in. "Uh oh!" The band looked to a dark goop that bubbling. "I don't think this is over yet."

The ghost pokemon felt a chill as Riku nearly gagged in his sense. "It's not giving up!" Ripple! Riku called out. "Something big is coming!" He called Slowking back as Sora hurried to get Butterfree and Rusher in their balls. Keeping their more nimble team mates to their personal. Jack signaled Sally to keep back to the rear guarding Houndoom and approach with his trio of guests. The Guardians went forward and watched the darkness spew out a mist, a giant skeletal hand reached out and dragged something massive.

A whole Skeleton the size of a mansion, having pulsating drippings of darkness pooling out of every gap in it's frame. It wore a massive, rusted crown and had tatters of robe across it's back. It looked down at the Guardians in scorn and pushed his other hand out, thrashing against it in desperation. He pulled the other hand out and pointed at the Guardians, spilling out blob like heartless that have curved horns. Sora had Dreepy at his blade and spun it fast before flinging the dart at the Skeleton Warlords head, causing it to tilt back and have a crack.

"Rowlet, give those heartless a razor leaf while Comfey helps out!" The owl was on it and flew high to give a supported leaf barrage, slicing the heartless into a near collapse as more kept coming. Misdreavus floated by the owl and delivered a swift dazzling gleam to keep the numbers low while Snorunt slowed them down with icy wind and supported with a helping hand. The Skeleton Warlord gave the assailants a glare and opened his jaw, Azu and Kairi lunged at it and threw a breath of black smog side ways, the two back flipped and Azu thought of something. (Hey, I think I know how to stop this!) She pointed at the size. (We need to hit that guy hard and consistent until he learns to back off!)

Kairi sighed. "That's kind of obvious, but I know who can get that job done!" She aimed a ball. "Come back for now! Let's bring out the teeth!" Azu saluted and was called back as Jack leaped in close range and unleashed fire works upon the heartless swarm while Sneasel and Riku leaped after the giant. The boy speared it in the face with light as Sneasel gave a swift shadow claw, the Skeletal Lord swatted the two away and raised a hand to slam it at Jack. The Pumpkin King twirled out of the way as Polteageist flew to the hand and gave a mischievous tap, causing a purple aura that sapped out of the monster and perked up the spirit. Pumpkaboo unleashed a cluster of specters at the Skeletal Lords face and cursed him with the trick over the treat.

Houndoom unleashed a heat wave blast that left a burn on the giant, giving Haunter the opening for stylish hex that blasted the giant into stepping back. It focused on the misfits and unleashed a blast of abyssal fog. Sora flew in the way and spun his blade to unleash a wide barrier, pushing back against the blast.

Slash!

Mimikyu finished a particular dance and let loose a black claw across the neck as Rowlet followed with a shadow sneak. Sora back flipped and had an idea, focusing on his blade and causing it to turn into a black hilt sword, with a white blade that actually resembles a sword and had an axe blade at the rear of the tip. "Yeah, every hit's gotta count!"

He gave Dreepy another toss and called. "Rowlet, over here!" The owl hopped as the boy asked. "Use shadow sneak with me!" He caught Dreepy as the owl tilt his head and extend his shadow, Sora gave a slash of his own and unleashed a fast slithering shadow that rose into a precise slash. Kairi had her chance to let out Sea Fang, who plopped to get a view of the land.

(Spooky!)

He noticed the Skeleton Warlord causing mayhem and glared before giving a roar. (Let's get at him!) Kairi activated a glow at the tip of her blade. "Yeah! Mega evolve and dive in with me!"

She raised the blade at the Brute and caused him to transform into his more vicious form, Kairi and Sea Fang back flipped into a rift of light. Appearing all across the arena and slicing apart the swarm that was cornering Mawile. The deceiver leaped to Jack's back and used him as a platform before flipping for a crunch on the Warlords chin, flipping over to cheek and giving a thunder punch before jumping over to the crown and play rough with the cranium. Jack called. "Haunter, let's give them a shocker!"

The spirit laughed and flew by Jack to deliver a thunder bolt light show, the ghost spat out a sludge bomb to the Warlord's forehead as Jack brought out a green blob of ectoplasm, it wrapped around his hand.

Fling!

Jack lashed the goop like it was a whip and followed with the sludge bomb. The Warlord covered his face with a hand and use it to reach out.

SLICE!

Sea Fang and Kairi intercepted to slice through the hand and followed with a twirl of razor sharp water.

Riku and Sneasel made a rebound and rushed to the Warlord neck for a fast combo of sharp lashes. Kairi gave off a burst of light to blind the Warlord and show off wings of six. The Warlord crawled back and put his left hand into the darkness as Jack and Haunter back flipped. "Take this!"

The Pumpkin King unleashed a fire ball barrage that were enhanced by a hex to become a spiritual purple, the Warlord took the blow and yanked out a massive hollowed, great sword that glimmered to the light. He raised it high and unleashed a pulse of light that sent the band flying back. Not that it demoralized them, the Warlord caused the sword to radiate in sunlight and Sally whispered to Houndoom. "Make sure that pulse gets strong enough and stop this!"

Houndoom snickered. (I have a better idea) She oddly, glowed in sunlight and opened her mouth to fire massive solar beam. Sally gasped in amazement as Polteageist was seeing the swords light charging up and let loose an aromatic mist for protection. Jack and Haunter returned for a dance of the spectral fire to compliment the solar beam as Sora split his blade into two, Oathkeeper and Oblivion. He and his partners glimmered as one and rushed at the sword hand, shaking the blade off and causing a harmless burst while Mimikyu looked to Kairi and thought of something, he took out a yellow crystal with extra edges and tossed. (Here, this can help!) Fling! Kairi caught the crystal and looked upon it, recognizing it as one of the ones Leon use for his Z Moves. The image looks to be a cloaked creature of star eyes, attacking with a dark tendril.

The Princess had a vision of a white room, showing Namine crossing her arms. She pressed her her fingers together to make a heart, crossed her hands and stood on her right foot. She finished the pose with her left leg raised up and her hands lightly stretched to resemble pixie wings. Kairi returned to reality, placed the crystal on an opening slot of her hilt and made that pose, glowing in a bright light that flowed into the Mimikyu. The disguise pokemon gave Kairi a wink before scurrying amiss the chaos and leaping across the fighters, using them as a platform to get to the personal of the Warlord, expanding his cloak and spooking Mawile into letting go. Black tendrils wrapped around the Warlord 's face and the cloak engulfed it, thrashing and causing the Warlord to drop his sword and thrash in an attempt to yank Mimikyu off.

Sea Fang slashed through the right hand as Kairi went for the other. Riku took it as a chance to let Slowking out. "Come on, we just need to keep him from getting Mimikyu off! Shoot that left hand with water gun! Misdreavus, go with a shadow ball. The Royal partner was a bit over the spooks and fired a aquatic pulse instead, with Misdreavus firing a shadow ball into the core while Comfey was cheering a helping hand, letting loose quite the splash of damage than expected.

The abyssal aura around the Warlord worsen and in a sudden, a black tendril gripped the Warlord by the shoulder, then another and then another. The area begun to shake, with the heartless themselves halting their swarm. The Mimikyu used that as a que to jump off, leaving a face that was shredded and clawed all over. Kairi made a flip over to Sora, who was flinging projectiles of light and shadow wildly.

Riku's eyes widen and he hurried to his friends while calling loud. "Everyone get clear! That Abyss is getting angry!" The band were on it as the Warlord crawled desperately, Sora looked to his friends and asked. "Are you all ready to end this?"

The two nodded and stood by the boy, giving a bright shine of a heart against the consuming darkness. The Trio lined up Destiny's Embrace, Way to Dawn and the two blades that matched, giving a unified glow of a shadow making way for a star like blast. Firing into the chest of the Warlord and making the rib cage burst from the inside out, vaporizing the dropped sword into a glimmer of light and causing the whole body to disintegrate into a fast flash. Leaving behind a dark radiating heart of a flickering flame.

In the shadow of the abyss, come a distinct shine of white eyes. It reached out fast tendrils upon the heart and send it dragging back into Darkness, the eyes floated out of the abyss to give notice to the Guardians of Halloween, showing a tiny body resembling a child with curved horns of a stag beetle upon the head. Riku and the ghost types felt a presence much more passive than the foes they've fought prior, one that was content. The child gave a silent bow of respect and curled into a droplet that went back into the darkness, the flash eased up and the dark pool faded along with it. Leaving behind a simple ruins that few have acknowledged. The Destiny Trio and Sea Fang powered down, with the brute back to his base form, staring silently at what he witnessed. (…We showed them who's the boss, did we?)

Sora panted, tired out from the use of power. "Yeah, hoof!" Rowlet looked ready to pass out by the boy's feet and gave a glow, growing a bit larger and changing shape. The spikey haired boy kept a silent aw. "Is he evolving?" "Looks like it!"

The evolution reached a peak and the glow ceased, the owl stretched his wings to reveal his new form. Two leaves were over his eyes, resembling a particular hair cut where a bang is right over the right eye. His brown feathers darken and covered his collar and head, while white feathers are more pronounced bellow and at the face. His bow tie looked more spiffy and under his white wings were bases of brown and green feathers that covered sharp orange quills. Hoot! The Owl folded his wings down to show brown spots and had his eyes closed, like a gentleman. He proceeded to fall over to his face and pass out.

Sora sighed. "Yeah, that would tire you out, Dartrix." He called his partner back as Sea Fang looked around at the after math. (Are we done yet?) Kairi shook her head and readied to call him back as Slowking gave ill news. (Fraid not, this is just one town we've saved. We got another across the forest.) The supportive Snorunt gave a dance and cheered. (We gonna save Christmas Town with all of us here!)

Jack was seeing the cluster of misfits and had to call out a plan. "Alright, listen everyone. If we've been busy over here, then the path across the door's going to have more dangers awaiting. Not every one of us should go across that yet." Sora put the Dartrix's ball away and agreed. "Yeah, the instant we jump over there, we're all going to get attacked by something else."

Kairi felt the idea and petted Sea Fang while looking to Snorunt, Mimikyu and Sneasel. "Then we should ask the pokemon that came from that door?" Sally gasped to the plan. "They'll know what's going on more than we do!" Kairi nodded that was correct and called Sea Fang back. "Come on, let's head back to the Doctors and find out what the pokemon know."