North only sighed at the list in his large hands, brow furrowing as he read off the names again. This can't be right, he thought, this doesn't make sense! An agitated huff escaped his lips as he read through the list again, comparing it with the one next to it; which was substantially smaller. This concerned him greatly; an odd churning sensation starting to form in his gut. He didn't like the foreboding chill that crept up his spine, almost as if it was a warning.

So many naughty children, all over the world, and barely any good ones in sight. This was the worst it had been in years, decades, centuries even! How did it ever get this bad under his watch? Was he doing something wrong? He thought he had helped keep the tide of darkness at bay, but...maybe he had only exacerbated its revival. He felt guilty; after all, his father Kris had entrusted him with his legacy. The old man had passed on the mantle of guardian to his son, finally retiring after many centuries of giving the children hope and spreading light around the world.

He was kind of like a judge in a sense; watching how the children grew up, checking their potential to become enraptured by the darkness. He had thought, with his lists and gifts, that he had given the children cause to watch their behavior. Keep them from straying to the wrong path, succumbing to darkness. As if the world needed more evils in it than it already had lately!

But what was the point if there was hardly any good left to protect? He felt his spirits dampen, an uncharacteristic attitude for the supposed Father of Christmas, as he pondered why this had happened. Why had the children become so naughty? And what could he possibly do to help them get back on the right track? He was perplexed. What would his father do? No—he argued with himself—he wasn't going to rely on his old man; he could figure out the problem on his own!

Canceling Christmas was out of the question; his father had tried that before, when he had not been feeling particularly well one year, to disastrous results. All the forces of Mother Nature herself had conspired against him then, in order for Kris to change his mind and reinstate the holiday. Well, if he couldn't cancel Christmas, he had to do something. Maybe...maybe he could alter the reason for the season, he thought, one hand tugging at his large white beard. Do something different, something new—a change of pace from the rituals his father had set in place. Maybe that would be enough to get things going again.

Yes...If the children had more of an incentive, a reason to be good other than gifts or a worse punishment than just simply coal in their stockings, then maybe they would start to behave better. Then maybe humanity wouldn't have such a dark future facing them when the next generation grew up. Hope flared up in his chest, only to be extinguished a moment later. How would he do that?

North had been Santa for so long, the all good, jolly Father of Christmas, that he had nearly forgotten about his rougher past. How be forceful, and take charge, like he had used to before, when he was living with his father and in the process of becoming a Guardian. His training had softened him, he thought, made him weaker. Sure, he was a bit rough with the elves, and the frost giants when needed, but that was different entirely. They had to pull their weight, else things would be horribly behind schedule; and North couldn't have that at all! Though, he remembered there was that one other year when Christmas was nearly canceled. North couldn't forget that year if he tried, his mother panicking while Kris was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully the old man had shown up at the last minute, saving Christmas but not without a good tongue lashing from Mrs.Claus. No, that wouldn't do, he thought, shaking his head.

The large man stood up from his chair, setting the large list on his desk. He paced around his room, large boots thumping against the carpeted floor. How to be tough...He had to think of a way! It was for humanity's sake that he do this, he told himself. No, he couldn't come up with an idea like this. Not in this small cramped space; he needed fresh air, cold wind to invigorate his mind.

The Father of Goodwill calmly walked out of his room, past the elves hurriedly scrambling to and fro in the corridor , unfinished presents in their tiny hands or schematics for new ones. They didn't bother him, too busy with their preparations as they were, and North preferred it that way. He only continued the familiar path through his large workshop, breathing a hefty sigh of relief when he finally felt the cold air brush against his face.

"Yes, perfect. Can think clearly now."

He half muttered to himself, once again resuming his walk across the snow. Thankfully his large boots blocked out most of the cold, preventing it from seeping through to his skin. The cold air coming out of his breath as tiny wisps, the large man only kept walking, wanting to use the small time of reflection he had to come up with a plan.

It had only taken him a few minutes before he came upon the place, crossing the small town that the elves and other creatures resided in when they weren't at his workshop. It was a small glade of trees in the middle of a clearing, a few of them much larger than the rest. These were decorated with strange symbols on them, and he could feel the power emanating from them, almost beckoning to him as he swept over their odd designs. He knew what they were almost immediately, though he had not seen them in many millennium, too busy with his own work as he was.

The doors to the other Holidays.

Maybe he could find inspiration through one of these doors. But which one? He wondered as his eyes scanned over the large trees. No, he thought as he saw the large door with an Easter egg. The rabbit was even more of a stickler than he was for order; North doubted he would receive help from that one. His thoughts turned to the pumpkin shaped door ahead of him, before an idea clicked on in his head. If he couldn't bribe the children to act good, then maybe he could terrify them! Fear always was a good motivator; even during his stint as Santa, the mere threat of getting coal had once kept children from behaving badly. If only that was still the case…

His hope renewed, the large man opened the oddly shaped door, peering inside. A mischievous smile came over his bearded face as he took in the dark landscape before him; such a contrast to the white, wintery wonderland he was so familiar with. He determinedly strode through the door, leaving the sanctity of winter and the land of Christmas behind him as it slammed shut. Yes, this was it indeed!

He stared at the sight before him in wonder and awe, taking it all in. It was a much different sight than the winter wonderland he had grown up in; bleak and almost desolate, completely devoid of cheer. If this place was as terrifying as it looked, he'd certainly find his answer here. He strode along the path rather determinedly, a new spring in his step as he came upon what looked to be a graveyard. He followed the ph until he came upon what seemed to be the fear of a hill. Peering over it he could see the outline of a manor, nestled in a deep chasm.

It certainly was spooky, and being near the graveyard, he wondered if maybe it happened to be the home of the Halloween Leader. Maybe he could get some advice on his situation if he talked to them. It was better than wandering around, he figured. His mind made up, North easily jumped down with little effort, heading towards the odd house. It was certainly different from anywhere else he had been, with sprawling towers and pointed edges that seemed to stretch up to the giant yellow moon.

He knocked on the door, once, twice before trying the doorbell and waiting. The door seemed to answer, creaking open of its own accord, and the big man shuffled inside the darkened space. The room was pitch black, barely able to make out any details of the room or what was possibly in it. He felt as if he was being watched, as if the shadows themselves had eyes. Indeed, it seemed as if a shadow had peeled itself off of the wall, glowing eyes narrowing as they examined him. A voice rang out then, echoing throughout the whole room.

"Eh, just who the hell are you?"

"Looking for Halloween leader. Place seemed spooky enough, maybe they live here, hm? You know where I can find?"

North asks, the shadow on the wall wavering as a smirk formed. Maybe he could use this to his advantage…

"Ah, yes! You've come to the right place. The ruler of Halloween does indeed live here!"

Ah, the sack understood now. This idiot truly thought he was the ruler of Halloween. Well, he certainly didn't mind being called that, even if it was a tad premature. He still had to deal with that damnable skeleton after all. Taking in the red man's large size, almost as colossal as himself, ideas began to form in his mind of how to use his new tool.

"Is you, I am assuming? I have problem; maybe you can help?"

The shadow seemed to wobble in confirmation then, slowly becoming more solid until a large figure stood next to the man. It was a large sack, quite similar in shape to the shadow, with twisting limbs and skittering bugs crawling alongside its holes.

"Oh, I'd love to help you. But there's a bit of a problem…"

The figure drawled, wrapping one of its own hands around North's broad shoulder. The man eyed the creature somewhat warily, before speaking.

"Ah, doesn't everybody? Well, how about this? Favor for favor?"

"Ooooo, I like the way you think! There's this upstart, Jack Skellington who has seen fit to steal my title. If you could help me get rid of him, I could help you."

"So, this Skellington fellow is impostor?"

He asked, cocking his head to the side as he watched the bag of bugs tremble violently. Oogie nearly shouted the next phrase, holes for eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Yes, he stole what was rightfully mine! I wish to take it back and give that despot the punishment he deserves!"

Oogie circles around the well built spirit, taking in his strong appearance and magical power. Maybe, just maybe if he could convince this new Claus to work with him. He already had a good start—the fool seemed to believe his tall tale about Jack stealing his 'rightful throne'. Now all he had to do was give the old man something in return. Hopefully nothing too hard…

"Children no behaving anymore. Coal—gifts not working like should. Ideas, then? You are King of Halloween; maybe way to scare them into being good?"

Well, it was an idea. And he'd scare them, all right! Terrify them so badly they'd fear his name and increase his power exponentially. Everyone would know the name of Oogie—the real Boogieman! And then he could shape the Human World and others into his image—one of hopeless terror.

"Mmmm...maybe we can help each other. I help you find a way to scare the children into behaving better, and you can help me regain my rightful place as King of Halloween!"

Oogie explained, rubbing his odd appendages together with a grin. What a fool this new Claus was! Maybe Kris had forgotten to tell him about the Holiday Doors and the creatures that may lurk within. No matter. He'd use him to take over Halloween Town—and maybe get his revenge on that skeleton as well. The man could also have other uses; he would have to confer with his compatriots later. They would love to know of this new development.

The large man simply turned to him, a white brow raised slightly as he considered the bag of bugs. His deal wasn't too bad of an offer, but something told him to be wary of the moving burlap sack. Still, he didn't have any other ideas and Christmas was fast approaching—so he accepted, grabbing one of the tendrils and shaking it heartily.

"Seems good. I accept offer."

"Perfect, ahahahahaha!"