((I've updated this chapter because now that I've gone back and read it a year after it was first posted I know I can do much better!))

Of course, the characters and songs being used in this story are not from my imagination, but from the brilliance of Time Burton and Danny Elfman.

In a familiar place,

In a familiar time.

Was a familiar face,

And a familiar rhyme.

Of childhood dreams

Of childhood fears

There were pumpkins and screams

And bloodstain smears.

There were stockings and toys

A sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer

And gifts for all the good little girls and boys

Despite all the qualms this one lowly year.

There were mistakes a plenty

And a sufficient amount of foolishness.

Arrogance a many,

And Naïveté in pure excess.

But after the clash of occasions,

What ever happened to our heroes thereafter?

After the intrusion, after the invasions,

Did they all live happily ever after?

Or was the end merely the beginning,

The beginning of a whole new tale,

A great yarn of many twists and turns

A story the whole family can share?

From one legend to another

We'll weave a brand new tale..

The Jack-O-Lantern sun rose over the jagged tree tops of Halloween town, the towers that loomed over the stone streets looked like claws emerging from the soft soil of a fresh grave.

It was back to their normal lives, well back to what the residents of Halloween considered a "normal" life..

A soft smile was worn on her face as the light of the sun touched the rag doll's pale patchwork skin, and her long-lashed eyes opened to the sound of music coming from the main square. Standing from her perch on the hill, over looking the cemetery and pumpkin patch, she took the basket that had been sitting next to her and walked to the gate. She stepped through a gap in the bars gracefully and made her way towards the pleasant commotion hoping to find Him there.

In the main square, there was much excitement, Halloween was drawing near and everybody was becoming restless with anticipation. This year promised to be exceedingly excellent due to the Pumpkin king's new found enthusiasm in his career.

The skeletal Jack stood tall next to the stout Mayor as they discussed plans, surrounded by many a creature preparing decorations and music, the Mayor was happily listing necessities: "…Witch's brew… Six black cats, and six bats… Guillotine…. Pumpkins…."

A smile was pulling lightly at the corners of the mouth on Jack's sun bleached skull as he listened to the Mayor nodding and watching his friends prepare. His eye sockets soon stopped on the rag doll, Sally, who was approaching the square with the black pedaled flowers he had requested from the cemetery. Jack walked to her as the Mayor unknowingly continued to speak.

"Here are the flowers you wanted Jack." Sally's soft voice was barely audible over the racket around them. Jack nodded with a smile, "Thank you Sally. They will be a perfect touch for the celebrations." She smiled, happy to have been of some help, and handed him the basket which he took in his bony hand.

"Jack!" The skeleton turned to see the Mayor calling to him for help with a sign being hung by the city hall, "I'll be right there." Jack responded and turned to Sally, "I'm sorry I-"

"You have to go." She finished for him with her kind smile. Jack blinked in surprise, but his expression soon softened once more, "Thank you again Sally. I'll see you later." He waved and turned to go to the Mayor's aid.

She just waved timidly in return and watched him walk away, "I'll see you later… Jack."

The forest was quiet as Sally neared it, she stopped at the edge and peered into its depths.

These were the woods Jack had walked that one night over a year ago, the woods that signified the time when everything went wrong. He had changed so much after just one night amongst those trees, and still yet did anyone know exactly what happened to him in this thicket of twisted branches.

Going to her knees, Sally plucked the black Ivy growing there. Her mind wandered as she did, remembering the night shortly thereafter when it had all ended and Halloween had its first snow. She and Jack had held each other in their arms that night for the first time and shared their first kiss. The thought brought a smile to the Doll's melancholy disposition and though she tried, she couldn't force down the feeling of warmth that rose in her leaf filled chest.

A hand on her shoulder startled her and she whipped around to look up on the source. Jack stood there his hands held up in surprise, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you." Sally almost laughed out loud at her shock, but it failed to get through her usually shy barrier and was reduced to a mere nervous giggle, "I-It's alright…" she stutters, "Why aren't you with the Mayor, planning?"

"Oh, he can get along fine without me for a bit." Jack says thoughtfully, then adds with a smile, "Besides, I wanted to see you."

"Wanted to see me?"

"Yes, with all the preparations lately, I'm afraid I haven't been able to see you much."

"Don't worry about me Jack.."

"I can't help it."

Jack reached out and took her hands in his, Sally smiled, "You're too sweet Jack…"

A familiar Trick-Or-Treater stood on a box holding a sign reading: 'Will work for Candy' while two others sat by looking completely pathetic.

"We've got to get work soon!" Lock whined. "I'm starving!"

"It's your fault we lost the job doing the dishes for the Witches." Shock growls.

"So what? I didn't want to clean eye of Newt off cauldrons anyway.."

"It's better then living off bugs we catch in the street!" Shock snapped at her cohort.

Barrel glanced between the two as he held the sign in his hands, "With Oogie Boogie gone, we're going to have to take anything we can get."

Barrel had interrupted his come back to Shock, and his thoughts were turned to their former lord and master, Lock let out a sigh nodding, "Yeah I almost miss the burlap sack guy…"

Shock nodded, appearing sad if only momentarily, "He DID feed us…"

"AND give us the clothes on our backs…" Barrel added.

"Not to mention, taught us everything we know…" Locke continued.

"………." There was a moment of silence for Oogie, soon enough interrupted by a fit of hysteric laughter.

Well then, everything seems pretty hunky-dory in Halloween town now, but what kind of story would it be if there was no conflict? No Drama?? Find out what I have in store for our heroes next chapter! Reviews would be most appreciated!