Because I couldn't resist . . . I'm sorry if I'm stealing this from somebody.
The iPod Shuffle Challenge [Part 1]
Pick a subject to write about (fandom, character, pairing, the first thing that pops to mind, etc.)
Set your mp3 player/iPod to shuffle ALL of your songs, then hit Play.
You have from the beginning to the end of ONE song to write, based on whatever the music inspires you to write cencerning your subject.
Lather, rinse, and repeat for the first ten songs, no matter how ludicrous they may be!
Fandom: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Pairing: Jack/Bella
1. I DON'T WANNA BE (IN LOVE) [DANCE FLOOR ANTHEM] - GOOD CHARLOTTE
Bella stared sullenly around the spacious room while she waited for Jack to finish making his announcement. Every now and then, he'd glance her way and smile, though he held the attention of the entire room of monsters and creatures of Halloween. As he stepped down from the pedestal, he fixed her with a bright beam of encouragement. The creatures around them strode past with words of hope for the little human. It was nice, she thought, that these people, who she didn't even know, cared enough (even if only at the encouragement of their Pumpkin King) to help her in her quest to find her mother. It made her feel less alone, more loved, more respected. She took Jack's hand as he led the way through the throng, to the door, and they strode out into the cool night air, a smile on each of their faces.
2. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW/WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD MEDLEY - ISRAEL KAMAKAWIWO'OLE
Jack sat down upon the Spiral Hill, watching the sun rise. He kicked his long legs that hung off the edge of the curved mound, high above the pumpkin patch, his pumpkin patch; there was nothing that he enjoyed more in his spare time than to watch the pumpkin sun rise over the Hinterlands. It was nice to get away from the Mayor of Halloween Town with his persistence in attending to plans. Jack felt so carefree, so free in general. The usually grey clouds that hung low over the valley were tinged with white, and Jack wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that there was a human in Halloween Town; or, at least, a human's influence, seeing as Bella was currently in Shade's Hollow, taking some time to gather what she needed to return to Halloween Town fully prepared to face her mother's captor. Jack smiled as he thought about it, content to just sit around and stare at the sky high above. He'd been once for daydreams, and dreams in general. He was content to sit.
3. MISERY BUSINESS - PARAMORE
Bella stared around her room, thinking of things to take back with her to Halloween Town. Surely Jack would fuss over anything he'd never seen before, so she was trying to find things that would perk his interest. She loved hearing his excited rants when it came to books and music, as well as anything from her world that he found intriguing. She dug through her clothes, trying to pluck vibrant colors instead of Halloween blacks and oranges. While it was her favorite holiday, she couldn't just wear the same thing every day, which was part of the reason that she was back in Shade's Hollow; she'd needed to take a shower and change out of her Halloween festival costume. It felt good to be in clean, colorful clothes. That was one of the few things that made her truly happy.
4. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LIFE - ACE OF BASE
Bella stared up at the stars as they twinkled above the pumpkin patch. Her chest filled with raw, vibrant emotion, and she dashed forward and twirled under the sparkling sky. Jack watched her as she danced, dodging around the pumpkins like the dancer that she was. Pride filled him, happiness rushing to the surface, and he went with her, grabbing her arms and dancing with her. She laughed, a beautiful sound, one of mirth and joy, a simple sound, but one that held his attention nonetheless. He watched her as she raised her hands to the sky and spun in circles, each step a sort of hop-skip that carried her gracefully around. When he thought he should turn back to Halloween Town, he found he couldn't, for sheer happiness and simple joy filled him and rooted him to the spot.
5. MAKES ME WONDER - MAROON 5
Bella had never had a fear of flying, which made her more eager to sit near the window of the plane, to gaze down at the world below. Everything seemed so small, so utterly insignificant. She felt like she was on top of the world, sky high, which, ironically, she was. Ths was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for her; instead of staying in Shade's Hollow for another summer, she had decided to visit her old friend out in California, Marian. Still, as excited as she was to see her lifelong friend, she couldn't help feeling a small tug at the strings of her heart when she thought about leaving Shade's Hollow, even if for just a few weeks. She wondered what Jack was doing at this very moment; of course, she'd told him she had planned to visit Marian, and he'd understood, but they'd shared a long hug and a promise to see each other very soon. Bella smiled in anticipation, eagerly expecting to fulfill that very promise, once she got back from California.
6. PARALYZER - FINGER ELEVEN
Jack tapped his fingers on the side of the desk as he waited for the clock's hands to move. Once they hit twelve, he bolted out the door of his home and raced all the way to the Hinterlands, anticipation nearly making his bones shake. He felt the strong urge to laugh in giddy glee, but he repressed that urge. He waited, less than patiently, by the Halloween door, pacing frantically back and forth, before throwing it open and stepping in. After he landed on the other side, he took long steps to reach the King's Gate in Shade's Hollow, but as he came upon the archway, he stopped dead (pardon the pun) in his tracks. There she was, standing in all her glory, her pack on her shoulder as she waited for his arrival. She beamed at him and it caused him to move, to take her by the arm and lead her back to Halloween Town.
7. PUT YOUR RECORDS ON - CORINNE CAILEY RAE
Bella ran her fingers through her hair as she stared at her reflection. She noted that the circles under her eyes had faded away and she felt much more healthier than she used to be. Before, she was a sickly, pale creature, but with her family's steady guidance, she'd healed and recovered the natural glow to her skin. She stroked the soft strands of black hair with a wooden brush, moving the thick mass from her neck. Her reflection gave her a big smile of pure bliss. Here she was, back home, to relax after a stressful few weeks in Jack's town, and though she missed him, she knew he wanted her to take this time to herself, to reconnect with her inner self.
8. BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY - FERGIE
Bella fingered the thick quilt around her legs, staring at it with wistful longing in her large golden-hazel eyes. She lifted her gaze to the King's Forest, her heart lurching as she thought of her Pumpkin King. What was he doing right now? She missed his company so much. Summer was swiftly turning to autumn, and Halloween would be here again, allowing her to return to his world, but she yearned to go now. It was so tiresome, so utterly boring here, with nothing to do but read and stare at the forest. She wanted adventure; she wanted excitement. She wanted to be back with her friends in Halloween Town. Most of all, she wanted to just sit and talk with Jack on the Spiral Hill above his pumpkin patch. She wanted the simple comfort of his voice to wrap around her and soothe her into a sense of security, ease, and comfort. She loved her family, she really did, but Jack was someone special to her, someone she could relate to. She looked forward to the next time that she would walk the King's Forest, through the Archway, and into the other world, his world, and sit by his side.
9. ALL THAT SHE WANTS - ACE OF BASE
Bella opened her eyes and stretched her arms above her head. She smiled at the pumpkin sun that rose above in the sky. She thought to herself, I should take a walk around town. Maybe Jack won't be too busy later on and we can go to the Witches' Shop. As she walked about the town, she nodded and smiled at the monsters who acknowledged her presence with kind words. She'd always liked it here. The town welcomed her since she was the Pumpkin King's Spirit Dancer. It was nice in town, pleasant, and Bella knew that nothing could bring her down today. It would be a good day. She smiled to herself as she searched through the crowd for Jack.
10. TANGLED - MAROON 5
Jack sighed in frustration as he slapped away another game of solitaire from his work desk. He glanced at the shelves of books, but he knew they wouldn't give him peace. She has just left without a word. He was angry and hurt, but perhaps he shouldn't have gotten strict with her the night before. She was an individual too, after all, she was not bound to him in any way. She was free to go where she wanted, but he had hoped that she would at least have told him where she'd gone. A noise by the stairs alerted him to another presence. Turning, he jumped in surprise to see Bella standing on the stairs, an apologetic expression on her face. "I'm sorry, Jack," she said, but he got up from his seat and wrapped his long arms around her. "No, Bella, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten upset with you." She smiled softly at him. "I forgive you," she replied, snuggling into his embrace and pressing her cheek to his hollow chest, "I always will."
Okay, yeah. Some of those artists' names are a bit foreign to me, so, hopefully, they're correct. Those are what my friend said they are (because I have an iPod Shuffle, the one with no screen) so I trust her judgement. I hope you liked this, because I'll be making more, many many more! This going to be my crack or something; this was so much fun to write!! And for you Shade's Hollow fans who read this, this doesn't really have much to do with the story; they're just little side snippets created for pure pleasure. Thank you and please review!