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Disney World, Alabama. The express bus, after its four hour early morning drive from Nonah, pulls into the park. Or maybe you caught a ride there some other way, but either way: welcome to the happiest place on Earth.
Despite the change in scenery, it’s much like Disney World in most universes. Resorts, restaurants, parks – the Animal Kingdom, the best zoo you’ve ever been to, Hollywood Studios, that piece of LA in Alabama. The fact Epcot is a fully-functioning city may be a bit different, of course. But the center of it all, the main event: the Magic Kingdom.
Main Street USA welcomes you in, a cutesy testament to nostalgic Americana. In the distance you can see Cinderella’s Castle in the center of the park, its blue and white shining spires piercing the grey October sky. And from there, if you keep wandering, you can find the swampy, action movie cliché that is Adventureland, a step into a fantastical history of the Old West that is Frontierland, and a different re-enactment of American history that is Liberty Square. Or you can go the other direction, into the sci-fi fantastic future of Tomorrowland, or the even more fantastical and princess-filled Fantasyland.
And, of course, no matter where you go there are themed restaurants, gift shops – specialized to the area of the park and the rides nearby, of course, entertainers, and all the actors dressed as your favourite characters (or friends and enemies of yours, if you’re from Kingdom Hearts).
Everything is decked out for Halloween. There are jack-o-lanterns everywhere, including some that resemble a certain Mouse, the animal characters are wearing costumes over their costumes, and it’s one of the few days in the year the park lets people come in costume.
All the guests are excited for imPorts too! If you agreed to photographs and autographs, a park employee will give you a quick run-down of the rules and standards of behaviour, and then you’re free to wander where you like, but you may get stopped by excited tourists who want a picture with a celebrity.
Have fun while you can, imPorts!
It doesn’t happen instantly. But as the sun sets in the evening starts, Calendar Man makes his move.
From the roof of the Haunted Mansion rises a hunched, dark figure. Wings unfurl and the demon reveals himself. He seems to cast a shadow. In fact, that shadow seems to spread far beyond his person. Everywhere catches, the park warps. It becomes darker, creepier, more demonic. Buildings seem to become twisted, fires seem to spring up everywhere along the roofs. The rides look like they’re made out of spiders and bones. the wind seems to become wisps of white that form until skeletal ghosts, while shadows seemed to dance around like celebrating devils.
It’s all harmless, but it looks real. And it smells real. The air seems to smell like smoke, and there’s the unmistakable stench of self or and brimstone. Within 10 minutes half the park is transformed, with the haunted mansion and its king of demons rising above all of it.
Tourists are panicking, the workers are scared – it’s obviously not something that was planned. A few civilians may duck into bathrooms and dark corners to reveal homemade costumes and superheroic identities – the resident metahumans are helping people out of the park.
And, costumed and close to his Chernabog, Calendar Man is having the time of his life.
