Apparently, the one in Central had been in a vault for gods know how long too. Then it acted up and they had to fight through a horde of ghosts to get to it.

[ Hmmm... ]

The Southern incident was just an incredibly unfortunate accident, I'm pretty sure, but we know someone must've helped Collodi get the stones for his creations. I just can't figure out what this unknown party or parties are tryin' to accomplish messin' around chunks of a world-ending calamity.