WARNING/DISCLAIMER: All (or at least most) characters are created by Tim Burton and are copyright Disney/Touchstone Pictures/Tim Burton/Skellington Productions, so on and so forth. Thank you.
Chapter One: A Perfect Halloween
Jack Skellington looked over the town. Everything was going splendidly. In less than 24 hours it would be Halloween. There were a few minor details left, but otherwise Halloweentown was ready for the big night. Amazing, he thought to himself, since they'd pulled it together in only ten months. The other two had been spent making Christmas. Not one of Jack's better ideas. But after all the hectic preparations for their own holiday, the residents of Halloween seemed to have forgotten the incident—well, not all of them, but most. Jack stepped out into the town square and was greeted enthusiastically by his subjects.
"Jack!" one of the witches yelled, motioning him over frantically. The other stood over a bubbling cauldron, stirring slowly. "We've concocted some of the most frightening nightmares yet! Every mortal in the world is going to wake up screaming!"
He smiled. "Wonderful!" He walked over to the werewolf, who was standing nearby. "Wolfgang, how's the howling going?"
"Great, Jack." He threw back his head to practice some more.
Jack walked through the busy crowd, looking around and smiling some more. Everything was going just as planned, just like last year, and the year before that…and he couldn't be happier about it. His train of thought was interrupted by three small creatures smiling up at him eagerly. This couldn't be good.
"So Jack," said Lock mischievously, "We were wondering if we could go trick-or-treating out in the real world tomorrow night."
Shock smiled innocently. "We won't cause any trouble, will we, Barrel?"
Barrel looked confused. He smiled and nodded, then Shock elbowed him in the ribs and he shook his head sadly. "We won't Jack, we promise."
Jack frowned. "I don't trust you three one inch, and you know that."
They giggled and nodded.
"I think it would be best—for everyone—if you just stayed around here tomorrow. That way Mayor can keep an eye on you."
"But what if we went out with you Jack?" Lock smiled up at the frightening figure. "Then you could keep an eye on us, and we could help you scare everyone."
"I do not need any help, thank you." Jack couldn't believe the little devil would even suggest such a thing. "And there is no way you're leaving this town. Oh, there's Mayor now."
The bumbling mayor of Halloweentown approached happily, humming. He quickly frowned when he saw who Jack was talking to. "Everything alright, Jack?"
Jack patted the nervous Mayor on the back. "Not quite, my friend, I was wondering if you could help me with something…"
"If it involves those three, NO!"
Jack laughed. "But Mayor, it's just for one night! I need you to keep an eye on them for me tomorrow night, just while I'm out scaring. Please?"
Mayor shook his head. "You know how I feel about those three. Can't you get someone else to do it?"
"Mayor, you're going to be the only figure of authority in town tomorrow night, so I'm handing the duty down to you." He noticed the mayor turning an odd shade of blue so he quickly changed the subject. "So, how's our pumpkin patch output this year?"
The Mayor was still frowning. "Great, Jack. Nearly doubled from last year."
"Splendid! Now, you look like someone who could use some sleep, go back home and I'll see you bright and early in the morning." He nudged the mayor along.
"Right…" He grumbled to himself as he walked off. How did Jack always manage to do this to him?
Jack turned around and noticed the trio of trick-or-treaters was still grinning up at him. "Same goes for you three. Shoo!" He waved a hand at them and they scattered. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Great. What was it now?
"Here's your costume, Jack." Sally smiled and handed his scarecrow costume to him. "Better than new."
Jack smiled, relieved. Just the person he wanted to see. "Thank you, Sally." He kissed her on top of the head as he took the costume.
The two of them had been practically inseparable since Christmas Eve. Less than a month after that Sally had moved into Jack's house. She put up a bit of a protest at first, fearing she would be taking advantage of his kindness, but he'd insisted and now they couldn't be happier. They were very much in love, and Jack had every intention of proposing to her and making her his queen but the timing never seemed quite right. Tomorrow, he thought, after I come home, then I'll ask her.
In the meantime Sally just enjoyed his company. He was so sweet, such a gentleman. She loved talking to him, he would always listen so intently to whatever she had to say. And besides that, she thought, smiling to herself, he was a really good kisser.
"So…I think I'm going to head home now." Sally smiled up at Jack. "Coming?"
He sighed defeatedly. "In a minute, love. I've got a couple more things to do. But I'll be there as soon as I can." He kissed her, and she wrapped her arms around him as they parted.
"Oh Jack, I'm so happy. I love you so much."
He smiled as he kissed her on the nose. "I love you too, doll."
She waved back at him as she headed up to the mansion and he blew her a kiss. She really was perfect.
Jack was completely happy. He was the luckiest man in Halloweentown, he thought as he walked towards the graveyard. The holiday had never looked so good, and he had the most spectacular woman to ever set foot in the town at his side. He felt as though he was walking on a cloud, and he didn't even notice the enormous rabbit approaching him from behind…
