Mariya and Axel exit on the side of a road. Mariya looks down to find herself in a late 18-th century dress. She sighs. "Well better wathc ourselves." She says.

Mario soon emerges as well, looking his wardrobe over. "...Well, it's not too bad."

"You say that now." Mariya mutters. She then turns her head to see a Carrage coming their way. Axel waves and the carrage stops before them.

"May we have a ride?" Axel asks.

"We're going to Sleepy Hollow." The Driver says.

"That's where we're going as well." Mariya says, smiling.

The door opens and Axel helps Mariya in. Once Mario was in the carrage takes off. "I am Constable Iccabod Crane, and you?"

"Axel Striker and this is my wife Mariya." Axel says, taking Mariya's hand.

"Mario Soleman," Mario states. "We're visiting from a faraway place."

"Our carrage was robbed and we were stranded along the rode. You saved us a long walk, Constable." Mariya says, smiling.

Iccabod nods. "That's an interesting mark." He says, noticing the Royal Symbol on Mariya's bracelet.

"Our family's seal." Mariya says.

The carrage ride drags on, and soon they arrive at Sleepy Hollow. Axel gets out first, and catches Mariya when she trips on her gown. "Careful now." He says.

Mario hops out and takes a look around. "So, Constable, how's 'preserving the peace' been? Not too many criminals, I hope."

"Actually I'm here to investigate four murders. Seems someone is going around tkaing heads, quite litterally." Icabod says, taking his bag from the driver.

Mariya looks uncomfortable, but not at the mention of the murderer's signature, it's probly the dress. She looks around. "Well guess we should find our friends." Mariya says.

Mario straightens up immediately, hearing about the murders. Shortly after he regains his composure, he nods to Mariya. "Yeah."

Once Icabod leaves Mariya looks to Mario. "You don't like the sound of that either, do you?" She asks.

Mario nods."Yeah. It wouldn't hurt to look into it while we're here and see if we can stop it. As long as we keep our heads on straight."

"That really isn't funny...." Axel says.

Mariya nods. "Oh well seems our friends aren't here. We'll have to stay elsewhere." She says, smirking. She then heads twords where the Constable went. She notes there seems to be no one in town but a few people.

Mario notes the lack of people. "Hm...not many people here. Most of them probably left because of that murderer. Who remains will probably not provide much information out of fear."

Mariya nods. She goes to the mansion and goes to the man who seems to own it and explains their situation. He smiles and nods. "Of course, we have plenty of room."

"Thank you." Mariya says, smiling. She turns to see a young blonde woman kiss Constable Crane before she removes the blindfold she was wearing.

Mario glances back and notes the kiss. "Hm...weird customs here."

Mariya shrugs. "Not as odd as Alageasia." Mariya whispers. She then watches them, especialy when the owners wife invites him to stay in the mansion.

Mario is silent before walking into the mansion. He takes a seat and enjoys the rest.

When its late, The mans wife takes the four to their rooms. She gives one to Axel and Mariya, One to Constable Crane and lastly one to Mario. "Sleep well." She says before walking off.

Mario nods and goes into the room. He lies down on the bed, but before he does anything else, he looks around the room with his Shadow Sight.

Everything is clear; Noe heartless, but a heart can be seen, corrupted by darkness, but odl, it's hard to say who's it is. Perhaps it was becuase the world itself was corrupted by Darkness.

Mario is silent before he gets up, looking toward where the heart of darkness is before beginnng to approach that area, switching between normal vision and Shadow Sight to navigate his way there.

The mans wife turns, and looks at Mario. "Is something wrong?" She asks.

"Thought I heard something outside," he says as he looks at her to see if it was her heart that was filled with darkness.

Indeed it was, but it was odd, one moment its light, the next it was darkness. Maybe she was doing something she thought was right but was truly wrong.

Mario is silent as he looks her heart over. "...So why, may I ask, are you still up?"

"Oh I was just heading to bed. I wanted to make sure all the candles were out." She says, smiling,

"I see," Mario states. "Well, I'll take a look outside then." He then steps outside, then uses his Shadow Sight to monitor the woman from outside.

The woman does indeed go to bed. Huh. She lies with her husband and goes to sleep. Perhaps she was telling the truth.

Mario is silent before returning to where she was. He then searches the area, trying to pick up any dark energy on anything she might have been interacting with.

Everything seems normal, only the candles had been touched. Perhaps she was telling the truth.

Mario takes one last look, then heads to bed, a bit confused.

In the morning a few people are gathered in the library. Elders of the town and the Constable. Mariya and Axel are even there, curious about the murderer.

Mario soon joins them in the library, yawning. "Hey, what's going on?" he asks, apparently not having gotten the memo.

"Indeed, what is going on?" Mariya asks. "And please don't cencor it on my part. I've seen my share of horros."

They continue the meeting, telling the story of the Hessian soilder turned Headless Horseman. "So wait....are you saying a man who is dead is going around killing people?" Axel asks.

"Indeed." Mr. Van Tassel says.

"Well, as odd as it sounds, I've seen my share of undead," Mario states. "What other details are there to this ghost?"

"Nothing but which I've told you." Mr. Van Tassel says.

"Hmm." Mariya murmurs.

Just then a man bursts in. "Masbeth is dead!" He says.

All the occupants of the room are shocked. "Mariya stay here, Mario you too." Axel says before following the men.

Mariya sighs. "So, anything intersting Mario?" She asks.

"Hm..." Mario looks at Mariya and whispers. "Well, the wife of the owner of this mansion? Sensed some darkness in her heart. It comes and goes, though, as if she is doing something that she thinks is right but is really wrong. In addition, this whole world seems to reek of darkness...something is definitely wrong."

Mariya nods. "I thought there was something about her I didn't like." She says, before sighing. "What do you think about this horseman? Is it just what they believe or do you really think he's an undead killer?"

"It's hard to say," Mario states. "However, I will probably take a look around today while it's light out. Maybe check out the scene of these murders to see if I can pick up a trace of something."

"Better do it so Axel doesn't know. He probly told you to stay behind cause of the whole 'I can't fight in a dress' thing." Mariya says before whispering. "I'm beginging to get annoyed wiht these sort of worlds."

Mario nods. "Well, I don't think that'll stop you from using magic, if push comes to shove. Be safe." He then sneaks out the back door, heading toward the forest and keeping a distance from the villagers.

"Riku clone." Mariya mutters.

Mario soon reaches one of the sites where a murder had accordingly occurred. He glances around, then uses his Shadow Sight.

Everyone's heart is pure, but theres one missing from the victim. Perhaps it didn't show since he was dead. Constable Crane is inspecitng the body.

Mario raises an eyebrow as he looks at the body again, with both Shadow Sight and normal vision.

Still no heart. Odd. Constable Crane stans. "You may take the body now Gentleman." He says before getting his bag and going back to town.

Mario had seen enough as well. This victim was missing his heart altogether. No trace at all. Obviously, the Heartless had a hand in this, either in the murder of this man or after. Whatever the case, they were here, and possibly, they were the supposed ghost. This didn't explain the loss of the heads, though. Seems odd for the Heartless. Mario then looks around more, attempting to detect any residual traces of darkness in the forest.

Nothing but the worlds darkness. Then again, there was alot of Darkness on this world, so maybe it was nearly impossible to distinguish a single heeartless' trail. Yeesh, it would be hard to find anything on this world at this rate.

Axel follows the villagers back, eager to get back to Mariya.

Mario is silent before quietly heading back as well, slipping back in through the back door to rejoin Mariya.

Mariya sighs, and looks to Axel as he enters a moment later. "Well?"

"It was bad. Horrible." Axel says. "There were horseprints near the body that horse had to be huge."

"So that explains the horseman story." Mariya says.

Mario is silent as he considers the possibilities. Perhaps it was merely an Assault Rider or some version of one. Perhaps it was someone riding a horse who could control the Heartless. Or maybe there was no direct connection; with how much darkness there was on the world, it would be a beacon for Heartless.

"Mariya please...go home. It's dangerous here." Axel says, bringing her close to him.

"Axel really, I nearly was forced to marry two insane men and your making me leave over what could be a wierd Assault Rider?" Mariya says.

Mario nods. "She's right, Axel. Besides, do you really think anyone can take on Mariya?"

"Note the dress. Unless she improved that since our wedding, I don't think she can fight if needed." Axel says.

Mariya sighs. "Both you and Mario are more then capable of protecting me. Besides If something bad is gonna happen, shouldn't I see it before it even happens?"

Mario gives a nod and sits in a chair. "If this is nothing but a Heartless, though, I can't seem to trace it. With how much darkness there is on this world, I can't tell the path of one Heartless from another, or where the darkness ends and the Heartless begins. I'm almost literally blind here, aside from what light there is here."

Axel sighs and kisses Mariya. "What will I do with you?" He asks.

Mariya shrugs. "Mario, do you think that Mrs. Van Tassel is behind this?" She asks in a whisper.

Mario shakes his head. "It's possible, but I don't see how murder would only create temporary darkness in a heart. If it was thought to be justified murder, maybe, but why?"

"Who knows." Mariya says. "Guess it's something we'll find out." She says, sighing.

"Yeah..." Mario mutters as he sighs. "Well, not much else I can find out right now. Nothing to do but wait."

Mariya nods. "I heard them talking last night. It's said the Horseman lives in the woods near here. Maybe we should check it out." She says. "I can at least fight from a horse's saddle."

Mario nods. "Yeah, that sounds like the best place to check for more information."

Mariya nods. She leaves the house and goes and 'borrows' two horses and mounts one. Axel mounts the one Mariya's on and Mariya lashes the reins and the horse walks twords the woods.

Mario mounts his horse and rides alongside them. He looks around the forest as they ride, looking for some trace of a clue or Heartless.

Axel looks around the woods as well, keeping his eyes on where Mario wasn't looking at the time, so they'd miss nothing. They soon arrive at what looks to be a cottage, burned down long ago. Axel jumps off, thinking he saw a Neo Shadow. "Did you see that?"

"Yea." Mariya says, preparing to summon her keyblade.

Mario summons Two Becomes One, dismounting as he tries to look closer with his Shadow Sight.

Neoshadows pop out and attack Mario along with Axel. Mariya's horse rears and she works to calm it down.

Mario quickly blocks the attacks, quickly lashing out with Two Becomes One as he attempts to take out the nearest Neoshadow.

The Neo Shadow strikes back, and Mariya manages to calm her horse and attack a Neo Shadow thats trying to get her horse.

Mario stays on guard, attacking when there is an opening and occasionally making an attempt to absorb a weakened Neoshadow.

One Neoshadow is absorbed, while the others are destroyed. Mariya gets off the horse and looks around the cottage. She leans down to see the remants of what used to be a fireplace and see's the iron Archer. "Hmm." She says.

Mario is silent as he looks over the area, trying to assess what happened.

Mariya stands when she hears horses approaches. Constable Crane and a young boy are approaching, as well as Van Garret's daughter.

"What are you doing here?" Crane asks.

"I was riding around town whe my horse spooked. Axel and Mario got a horse and came after me. I needed a moment so I dismounted." Mariya says, looking winded.

Mario now crocuhes next to the freplace to analyze the fireplace and the Iron Archer, to see the damage.

"My family and I used to live here." Katrina says. "My father built the mansion with the money he earned."

"How'd it burn?" Mariya asks.

Katrina shrugs.

Mario finishes analyzing the fireplace and Iron Archer before beginning to analyze everything all again with his Shadow Sight.

Everyone's heart is pure, even Axel's. Theres nothing else interesting besides theres no evidence the heartless were there.

"Hm..." Mario concludes his investigation, but he is curious to the lack of anything at all here. Even though there were Neoshadows, there was no sign of anything else.

Axel sighs. "You ready to go back Mariya?" He asks.

Mario is silent before he leaves the cottage. There was nothing else to examine, and little to go on.

Mariya does the same and mounts the horse before Axel gets on as well. The horse nickers and stomps its foot.

Mario mounts his horse as well before riding alongside them again.

Mariya wonders if Icabod or Katrina saw anything but weren't mentioning it to them. Once back Mariya gets off the horse. Axel does to and watches as someone runs to Icabod. "Another dead, Constable." he says.

Axel clenches his fist. "This is getting out of hand." He mutters.

Mario is silent and nods. "Something's up...perhaps we should stake out and wait for the criminal to come to us..."

Axel nods.

Mariya sighs, "I'm out unless I can get away with wearing mens clothes here." Mariya says, going to the mansion.

"Well, if we do catch the killer, i don't think anyone will care too much. And if they do, well, that's their problem," Mario states. "So, how should we do this?"

"Me and you should sneek out tonight and see if anything weird happens." Axel says. "And if we see anyone going to the woods we follow them."

Mario nods. "Alright, so then, let's try to get a bit of rest before night falls." He then reclines, trying to get some rest.

Axel does the same. Mariya however is secretly going threw the Van Tassel's house, seeing if she can find anything interesting.

Close to nightfall, Mario rises from his rest, glancing outside. "...Now's as good a time as any, I think."

Axel nods. "Mario can I ask your opinion on something? And get some advice or something?" He asks

"Hm?" Mario looks to Axel. "Sure, I guess."

Axel sighs. "Mariya said before we left that she wanted a family. Part of me wants that to...but the other part is afraid I'm gonna be some horrible father and worried I'm not gonna be able to teach them how to handle their powers." Axel says, looking at the sky. "The only reason I'm being protective of her is becasue of the dress thing. She kinda has a point about that. Bad things usually happened when she wore one...but I think I pushed her away a little in the process."

Mario is silent as he listens. "Well, That's ultimately up to you, Axel. However, remember that your powers are only in your control as long as you believe that they are. Same thing went with my powers when I was a Heartless; if I didn't hold faith that I could keep it together, then I would have blown my secret much, much earlier."

Axel sighs. He then looks ahead of him and see's a cloaked figure. "Suspisious figure dead ahead."

Mario spots the figure and nods, using his Shadow Sight to assess the suspicious figure from afar.

Their heart seem familiar. A dark then light heart....Mrs. Van Tassel! What was she doing? She was wearing a dark cloak and heading twords the woods.

Mario blinks, finding this surprising. "It's Mrs. Van Tassel," he tells Axel. "I recognize her heart signature and its strange light/dark alternation."

"Let's follow her." Axel whispers before going into the woods, following Mrs.Van Tassel. He moves silently, so she doesn't hear him.

Mario nods and follows her as well, staying with Azel as he silently stalks her.

Mrs. Van Tassel disapears, but when they find her, she's kissing an older man, and they swing around a tree for more privacy. "Looks like not all is well within thr Van Tassel house."

Mario frowns. "Hm...isn't this interesting..." he mutters, looking to Axel. "I'm not yet seeing a connection between this and the strange darkness in this world, though."

"Neither do I." He whispers. He sighs. "So what do we do? Wait and confront her or go back?"

"Hm...so far, we've only uncovered that she is having an affair," Mario states. "We should wait and see if there's anything else going on here."

Axel nods. He goes and hides in the woods, watching the tree Mrs. Van Tassel disapeared behind.

Mario is silent as he sneaks around, keeping hidden and slowly moving to make sure that he could see what was going on behind the tree. He uses his Shadow Sight to help him keep an eye on both of them, even when there is some obstruction.

Mrs. Van Tassel finsihes with the older man, and fixes her hair before going to the mansion. She has a cut on her hand. Huh.

Axel watches the older man follow Mrs. Van Tassel. He silently follows the both of them from the woods.

Mario is silent before also following from the shadows. He was mostly curious about the cut, which had no apparent source.

Axel stops when the woods end, and Mrs. Van Tassel turns to look at the woods. He keeps still, watching her.

Soon Mrs. Van Tassel moves on, going to the mansion.

Mario is silent, watching from the woods. At this point, he dares not go any farther at risk of being caught, instead using his Shadow Sight to see further and everything.

Mrs. Van Tassel's heart hasnt changed, and Mariya steps out from the mansion, looking for Axel. She sighs and stops Mrs. Van Tassel to speak with her. Axel huffs beofre getting closer, being silent and running as fast as he can.

Mario mutters under his breath before he rushes toward them, wanting to stop anything from happening.

Axel joins Mariya. "There you are." He says, kissing her.

Mariya sighs. "You worry to much." She says. "I was just talking with Mrs. Van Tassel."

Mrs. Van Tassel nods. "I need to be getting back." She says before leaving them.

Mario nods, but keeps an eye on Mrs. Tassel as she walks away. Something was up, and somehow, she was behind it all.

Axel sighs. "Mariya...has it occured to you that she was vehind this?" Axel asks.

"Possibly." Mariya says, looking angry. "I was careful, plus she strikes as someone who only kills for a reason."

"Hm...I wonder what those reasons were," Mario states, referring to the victims. "Also, what is her connection to the Heartless? Or is there one?"

"Well one way to find out: Stalk her." Axel says. "We'll find you some clothes that'll fit so you can join us."

Mariya nods.

Mario returns to watching Mrs. Tassel. He uses his Shadow Sight to peer ahead, looking not only for Heartless but looking for any sudden bursts of dark intentions in Mrs. Tassel's heart.

Indeed, Mrs. vTassel's heart is darker then before, with little light. But odly, no heartless are around.

Axel and Mariya go into the mansion, and Axel proceeds to find Mariya some clothes. Mariya waits, pondering the Constable. She hadn't seen him all day.

Mario is silent as he keeps an eye on Mrs. Tassel, going on ahead to stalk her and make sure that she doesn't cause any trouble. As dark as her heart was, she was likely conspiring her next murder, but who?

Mrs. 'Tassel goes to her room and seems to get something from her closet. Nothing seems to be in the object.

At that moment, Mr. 'Tassel enters the bedroom and kisses his wife, the same moment the darkness disapering, and takes her hand. He looks concerned over the cut, but his wife dismises it like it's nothing.

Axel finds a set of clothes for Mariya and gives her them. She changes into them and ties her hair back. She then tries to find the Constable.

Mario is silent before temporarily retreating, but he remains vigilant for any suspicious behavior.

Mariya sighs, and see's the Constable before going to him. "If I didn't know better I'd say you were behind this."

"Of course not, I was investgigating the woods. I would say likewise for you Mrs. Striker." Crane says.

"But how could it be us? We weren't in Sleepy Hollow until just a day ago, and you said the murders happened before." Mariya asks.

Mario continues to monitor Mrs. Tassel from afar, using his Shadow Sight constantly.

"Your smart." The Constable says.

"I have to be." Mariya says.

"She's beten everyone back home at chess." Axel says.

Mario now crouches down in the woods, remaining hidden as he now focuses on Mr. Tassel as well, wondering if he was in on this in some way.

Mr. Tassel's heart was pure, so perhaps not. Mrs. Tassel's darkness fades. This made no sence.

The sun soon sets and everyone goes to bed, including the Constable.

But outside, the sound of hoof beats approach the town.

Mario blinks, glancing away from where Mrs. Tassel is and looking toward where the hoof beats are coming from.

The horses heart is no where to be seen, neither is there a heart on it's master. But it heads into town, heading to a house at the other end of the Hollow.

Mario is silent before quietly following, rushing toward the house and staying out of sight.

By the time Mario arrives, the horseman is carrying three heads, a womans, a mans and....the old man? He seems to be looking for someone else.

Mario immediately freezes in place. He hesitates, wondering if he should confront the horseman. Deciding that it was better to save a life now than wait for another victim, he steps out. "Hey!"

The headless horseman ignores him, still looking. He suddenly starts hacking the floor, trying to open it.

Mario blinks, a bit confused about being ignored but more about what the horseman was looking for. He decides to scan the area with his Shadow Sight to see if he could see anything.

Under the floorboards, is the heart of a boy, ten maybe eleven. Apparently his parents were going to try and hide him from the horseman, but it didn't work. Just then the horseman pulls the boy out from hiding and throws him to the ground, drawing his sword.

Mario grimaces and rushes in, summoning Two Becomes One. He then stands between the horseman and the boy. "If you want him, you'll have to take me first."

The horseman puts the heads in a bag, and drops the bag before attacking Mario.

Meanwhile Mariya wakes from a bad dream and wakes Axel. She tells him about it and he runs out of the house, grabbing his sword along the way, heading twords the house.

Mario quickly dodge rolls out of the way of the strike, casting Stopga as he attempts to stop the Horseman's blade where it is to wrench it from its grip.

The spell doesn't work, and the horseman attacks again, this time going for Mario's head. Axel blocks the blow with his sword, glaring at the headless horseman.

Mario jumps back a little when the horseman comes for him, but he smiles when it is blocked. "Glad to see ya, Axel," Mario states as he rushes toward the horseman, aiming for an upward thrust.

:What were you thinking?" Axel asks, before noticing the kid. "Right." He says, grabbing the kid and handing him to Mario. "Get moving."

Mario nods and takes the kid, rushing away from the house and toward where he thinks Constable Crane is.

The Constable is asleep in his room at the Tassel house, but Mariya is downstairs, wating for AxeL to get back.

Axel continues the fight with the horseman, on equal ground with him. He smirks. "If I didn't know better." He mutters, attacking the horseman full force.

Mario quickly rushes to Mariya when he sees her first. "Mariya, Axel's fighting the horeman!" he yells as he passes her, rushing upstairs and reaching the Constable's room. "Constable! The horseman's struck again!"

Mariya follows Mario. "I know, I sent him after you." Mariya says. She looks to the boy. "Stay here, alright?"

The boy nods, afraid.

The constable wakes. "What?" he asks sleepily. "Horseman..."

Mariya sighs. "As it seems he's killed another."

The constable gets up, and slowly makes his way down the stairs.

But by the time they get there, the horseman is gone, and Axel is no where to be seen. But theres blood on the floor, and its fresher then the other stains. Mariya looks around for Axel, but doesn't see him.

Mario is silent as he grimaces, his eyes glowing now as he looks around for any sign of a heart signature or some trail that they can follow.

Axel's heart signature has a trail leading into the woods. Mariya looks around the cottage, only stopping when she finds nothing of interest. She lets the Constable examine the bodies, and he concludes it was done the same person who comitted the act.

Axel is lying in the woods, looking exacsted. Theres a large cut on his arm that he's trying to ignore. He should have known that the horseman wouldn't tire, after all, he was dead.

Mario grimaces and runs into the woods. He soon stumbles across Axel. "Axel! What happened? Are you okay?" he asks as he kneels to examine the gash.

"Chased after the horseman when he retreated, and he cut my arm..." He mumbled.

Mariya glares, having followed Mario. "You idiot."

"You can yell at me later." He says, grimancing.

Mariya leans down and murmurs. "Heal." The cut heals, and Axel sits up.

"Where's that kid?" He asks.

"Back at the Van Tassel's." Mariya says. "Why was the horseman after him?"

"I think someone wants something and he's the hired hand in getting rid of people who know to much. Or are in the way." Axel says. "Isn't that always why people comit murder?"

"Hm...usually," Mario states. "That, or they hate the person for past events."

Axel stands and nods. "We should figure out who's doing this before someone else dies." He says.

"...I think I know who," Mario states. "Possibly, it's Mrs. Tassel. I've noticed some oddities concerning her heart signature in the last 24 hours. And I think we both know that she has't been very honest as of lately..."

Mariya nods. "But we have no proof." Mariya says.

"Welp, I guess we continue with the charade until we do." Axel says. "A conflicting heart isn't exatly solid proof."

"True," Mario states. "What gets me, though, is what particular reasons does she have to murder these people. Jealousy? Anger? Perhaps something else?"

"Who knows." Mariya says, heading back to the Van Tassel's house. Axeel follows her, looking around.

"You know...I still can't believe that he was real..."

Mario is silent as they walk back, but he glances at the house of the recently murdered victims, trying to see if he can see any trace of their heart. Something seemed off, because the horseman only had their heads, not their hearts, when he stumbled onto the scene.

No hearts, but Heartless can be seen running into the woods, seeming satisfied. Their trail disapears in the woods.

Mario is silent, but stays with Mariya and Axel, knowing that it was risky to rush off at the moment.

Once in the mansion, Mariya sighs. Axel see's Mrs. Van Tassel go into the other room and glares. "I'm going to check on the kid." He says. He returns a moment later. "He's gone!"

"What? I told him to stay here!" Mariya says.

"We should find him, the horseman could easily kill him." Axel says.

"You two go, I'm gonna get into those clothes." Mariya says, walking off.

Mario grimaces and nods, stepping outside and glancing around, using his Shadow Sight to try and look for the boy's heart signature.

Mariya soon joins them, and searches herself.

The boy's heart signature leads back to his house, he doesn't appear alone.

Mario traces the signature, and he quickly rushes toward the house, his Keyblade at the ready as he bursts in.

The boy is in a fetal positon on the floor, and heartless are surrounding him. Mariya slashes at some, and more appear and attack her, Axel, and Mario.

Mario rushes in and slashes at the nearest Heartless as well, and if he can, he tries to absorb one.

A wight Knight is absorbed just before the heartless retreat. Before they can wonder why, hoofbeats can be heard appraching the house. Axel grabs the kid and gives him to Mariya. "Get him out of here."

"Be careful." Mariya says before running out with the kid.

Axel goes out of the house, and see's the horseman. "Okay...maybe I should reconsider this..."

Mario rushes out and stands ready next to Axel. "It's two against one this time," he comments.

"Yea...but I doubt that'll make a difference. Remember this guy took on way more guys...who had guns and still took them all down." Axel said, but he still held his ground.

---

Mariya stops, surrounded by heartless. "Great." She mutters, she turns her head to look at the kid, who she was giving a piggy-back to. "Hang on, okay?"

The kid nods.

Mariya then attacks the heartless, doing her best with the kid on her back.

"True, but then again, we are wielding weapons that are designed to destroy evil," Mario adds.

"True." Axel says before the horseman reaches them. He attacks him, and nearly dodges the Horsemans attack.

---

Mariya yelps as she's struck, and drops the kid. She destroys the heartless who get near them, but is knocked aside by an Assault rider and hears the kids scream as he's destroyed by it. Tears fill her eyes as the heartless run off. "No...." She murmurs.

Axel hears the scream in the distance and jumps back in time to feel the wind from the horseman's attack rush by his head

"You know I think you may have had a point about fighting the horseman." Mario said, ducking as the sword swings twords him.

Suddenly the horseman stops his attacks, and the horse makes his way twords town.

---

Mariya continues to cry, sitting on the ground.

Not to far away, Mrs. Van Tassel approaches Mariya.

Axel looks at the horseman"uh......" he suddenly takes off running in the direction Mariya went

Mariya was still crying when they get to her.

Mario glares at Mrs. Van Tassel. "What happened?" He asked.

"She was crying when I go to her." Mrs. Van tassel says.

Mariya stands and hugs Axel, crying on his shoulder. "The kid...was taken by the heartles...." She whispers.

Mario hears this, and loosens up a bit. "We need a minute, Mrs. Van Tassel."

She nods, and walks twords her home.

Axel wraps his arms around her"it's ok it's not your fault" he says before kissing her on the forehead " you tried your best"

Mario looks around, giving them a moment.

Mariya whips her eyes and kisses Axel. "The horseman?" She asks.

"Ran off." Mario said. "Lets get back to the Mansion."

Mariya nods, and walks back to the mansion, and arm around Axel. She lets go when she see's Constable Crane getting in the carrage. "Your leaving?" She asked. "What about the murders?"

"I know the culprit." Crane says, looking striken.

"You seriously can't think it's Miss. Katrina." Young Masbeth says.

"All the facts lead to her." Crane says.

Mariya goes to say something, but the Constable stops her by raising his hand. "I've madeup my mind, Mrs. Striker." He says, and yells to the cabby to go.

The carrage takes off, and Mariya sighs. "He's such an idiot." She mutters.

---

Meanwhile, Inside the mansion, Mrs. Van Tassel smiles wickedly at a sleeping Katrina. "What a fool." She says. She then picks up Katrina and walks out the back door with her.

Axel nods " he's not all that bad, but what I really wanna know is why Mrs. Van Tassel always appears after the horseman attacks or after anything involving the horseman happens" he looks around

"I want to know why the heartless only go after the Horseman's victims." Mario says.

"I noticed that to...." Mariya murmurs.

Mario looks to the bridge. "Hey...is he coming back?"

Mariya looks. "Maybe he forgot something?"

Axel thinks for a minute before stepping in front of Mariya and draws his sword "maybe he wants our heads....which makes me think about who we might have made angry"

But it's not the horseman, when it gets closer, it's the carrage. Crane jumps out and runs into the mansion, and comes back a moment later. "Where are they? Where is Katrina and Mrs. Van Tassel?"

"They were inside...." Mariya says. "So Mrs. Van Tassel is the culprit."

"Indeed." Crane says.

"Then we have to hurry." Mariya says. She finds some horses and jumps on one. Mario starts running, leaving them behind. He uses his heartless vision to try and find where they went.

Axel nods and takes off after Mario on one of the horses h

Mariya follows Axel, as does Crane. "Anything?" Mariya shouts to Mario.

"Barely got a trail." Mario says.

"Keep on it." Mariya says.

Soon, they arrive at an old Mill house, and when they enter Mrs. Van Tassel smiles at them. "Ah your just in time." She says as the entance is blocked off behind them. "Your just in time for my little story."

Mrs. Van Tassel then explains how that long ago, she was the one who caused the horsemans demise, and then, years later to get revenge she sold her soul to bring him back so that he could kill those who stood in her way of the fortune that was rightfully hers. "And you all are the horsemans next victims. I can't have you going about telling the tale, now can I?"

"You underestimate us." Mario says.

Axel nods "and now we're going to stop you"

Mariya nods.

Mrs. Tassel laughs. The Horseman enters then, and walks twords Katrina. "Kill her!" Mrs. Van Tassel says.

Mariya guards Kartina, summoning her keyblade. "Your not getting her."

Axel walks towards Mrs. Van Tassel with his blade extended "where's his head so I can stop all of this?"

"In the bag!" Katrina shouts.

"What bag?" Mariya asks.

Mrs. Van Tassel holds up a bag. "Looking for this?" She asks, going for the door. "Come get it if you live." She says before getting on a horse and riding off.

"That cheat." Mariya mutters. "Common Crane, think of something. The horseman is blocking the only exit."

Crane looks up. "Start climbing." He says, going twords a ladder. He smashes all the lanterns he can find.

"Oh boy, lets move." Mario says, seeing what Crane was doing.

Axel attacks the horseman while every one climbs up

"Forget the horseman." Mariya says.

Once everyone was at the top, Crane looks down. "Well?" Mario asks.

"I must admit I didn't think this entirely threw." Crane says.

"Are you kidding?" Mariya asks. She mutters something and a spark flies down and the lamp oil ignites. "Grab ahold of the fan thingies." Mariya says before jumping and grabbing ahold of the mill's slowly turning fan wings(forget the name of em). Mario does the same after Katrina, and Crane follows him.

Just after all of them jump off to the ground and get a safe distance away. Mariya sighs as the Mill explodes. "Problem is, he was dead in the first place."

"Indeed." Crane says.

The Horseman kicks open the burning door, and walks twords them.

"Lets keep moving." Mariya says. "We should concentrate on getting that head."

"Exactly what I was thinking." Crane says.

Axel hops off the blades and runs with everyone "so anyone know where Mrs. Van Tassel went?"

"I think I may have an idea." Crane says.

"Lets move." Mariya says, following.

Soon they arrive at a large dead tree. Mariya shivers.

Mario shivers a little to before he spots Mrs. Van Tassel. She laughs. "What fools, coming to the Horsemans grave."

"Hand over the head." Mario says.

Axel thinks for a minute before saying "thanks Mrs. Van Tassel"

Silence.

"Thanks? Why are you thanking her?" Mariya asks, confused.

Axel smiles " she brought the head to the grave"

"Yes but the body is six feet underground." Crane says.

"Yes, but here comes the horseman." Mariya says, looking back into the woods.

"Anyone have any ideas?" Mario asks.

Axel nods "one we start digging or two hide behind the tree i kinda like two better myself"

"I have an idea." Crane says.

"Well?" Mariya asks.

Crane says nothing, only picks up a thick stick and charges at Mrs. Van Tassel.

Axel just stares "that's your big plan"

"Eh I had the same idea." Mario murmurs.

Mariya attacks Mrs. Van Tassel as well, trying to grab the sack at the same time.

"hey mario you get left, I'll take right"Axel says as he rushes forward

Mario nods, and takes the left, and grabs the bag and takes it off of Mrs. Van Tassel as Crane knocks her out.

"Hey horseman!" Mario shouts as he takes out the horseman's skull. He tosses it to him.

((If you have a weak stomach do not read below))

The horseman catches it, and puts it on. Mariya turns away when the head begins to get covered in muscle, and then slowly covers with skin to form the horseman's face. The horseman then picks up Mrs. Van Tassel, puts her on his horse and then gets on himself.

Suddenly the dead tree quivers, and opens and blood seeps out onto the ground. The horseman rides into the tree, and it shuts behind them.

Crane slowly approaches, and see's Mrs. Van Tassel's hand still poking out, and slowly, her one finger curls, as if becoing them to come. He faints.

"He does that alot....." Mariya murmurs.

((Continue))

Axel laughs and slings him over his shoulder in a firemans carry "ok lets take him back to the manor"

"One moment...." Mariya says. She looks at the tree. "Mario, is that the worlds heart?"

Mario looks at it, and nods. "Odly enough, I think it is."

Mariya points her keyblade at it, and a beam shoots out and hits the tree. A click sounds before the beam disapears. "There." She said, before heading to the manor.

Axel lays him down on the bed and leaves the room "I think we should leave now before he wakes"

"One more thing." Mariya says before finding a pen and paper. She writes a quick note and puts it on top of Constable Crane's things. "Alright, lets go."

Axel looks at her "what'd you write?" he says while holding up his hand to make a portal to hallow bastion

"Just an explination to give to his superiors. I don't think they'll be happy when they find out he couldn't bring in the culprit." She says.

Mario sighs. "I'm taking a huge nap when we get back."

Axel laughs "I can understand that" he says opening the portal {Axel to hallow bastion}

Mariya follows, smiling.

Mario follows, looking tired.

{Mario and Mariya to Radiant Garden}