Zero's Tail
By Chris
DISCLAIMER - I do not own the Nightmare Before Christmas, nor any of
its characters. For some reason, no matter how many e-mails I send Tim
Burton, he doesn't seem to want to sell. This being the case, I doubt I'll
have the luxury of being able to remove this disclaimer anytime soon.
Wait; maybe if I send him one thousand emails in a single evening he'll
change his mind! Either that or send AOL after me... Well, it's a
fifty/fifty, I've had worse odds. Anyway, on with the story!
ZERO'S TAIL
Not so long ago, in a land where your dreams may often take you, ghosts and demons walked the dark and gloomy streets of Halloweentown. The world of Halloween was a dark and grey land where terror meant delight, and it was not uncommon to find a vampire or two arguing over what blood type was best. Though the creatures that dwelt there often struck fear into others, they were truly gentle in nature. They were social beings who would lend a hand to a weary travellor, and commonly met for town meetings and other friendly gatherings.
Of these creatures, there was one in particular, one different from the rest. Jack, ruler of Halloween Town; Jack, the Pumpkin King. Though he was surrounded by fans, he felt truly alone amonghis fans. He had an emptiness in him, one that filled his heart with sadness and kept him apart from the rest.
Unbeknownst to Jack, there was another creature who wondered the empty lands alone. This creature was not only alone, but he had no home to call his own. As the sun rose and as the streets cleared, this creature roamed the land. A small ghastly dog, with a glowing nose and clothed in white, let out a long howl atop the 'Twisting Hill.' It was, undoubtedly, this howl which caught the attention of Lock, Shock, and Barrel as they approached the twisted gates of Boogie Manor.
"Mr. Oogie Boogie should hear this, he'd love the howl of pain," said Barrel.
"I bet he would," replied Lock, grinning evilly, "but then- who wouldn't?"
"Let's go tell him," gleamed Shock, in her high and screeching voice.
Though the three young ones lived with the Boogie Man, and had grown to look up to him, they too had a great fear of him. When they approached his doorway, they began to argue over who should tell him the news.
"You tell him Lock, he likes you best," exclaimed Barrel.
"You're so dumb, you know he likes me best," said Shock.
"Than go ahead and tell him!" grinned Barrel.
"Um," she let out a sigh and the took a deep breath. She was unsure of what would follow as she approached the dark gate. Quietly she knocked on the great door and it slowly opened. She swooned and her eyes went black, she could see nothing more. Lock and Barrel knew that he had accepted her into his room, a place that they had never been at the same time.
"Come in Shock. What is it you wish to tell me...?" moaned the dark and deep voice of Oogie.
The little witch stood up and found herself in a vast room of shadows. The floor was composed of wooden planks and stainglass windows could be seen covered in the corners. "There is something the others thought you should hear. Outside there is-" she was cut off by the Boogie Man.
"-open the window," he bellowed.
She did, just as she was told, and sunlight pored into the room. This forced Oogie Boogie back into the shadows. He screamed in pain, but then, suddenly, all was quiet. Far off in the distance a faint howling could be heard, and slowly it grew.
"Ah... now that is refreshing," he said.
"R-right... like I said, I thought you should know. It was all my idea," lied Shock, trying not to sound obvious.
"Bring the creature to me... I must see what causes such pain..."
As he said this, Shock fell to the floor and faded away. She would return to the others in a moment unharmed. The curtains slowly drew themselves shut before Oogie Boogie and once more filled the room with overwhelming darkness,
"...and I will make all feel his pain..." The Boogie grinned as a plan began to take shape.
Through the graveyard and into Guillotine Square that small creature's howl could be heard, but only one other felt his pain. Only the loneliness that Jack felt made him rise from his bed and approach the window in curiosity. He peered out into the bright sunlight and stared at the pumpkin patch. He finally decided to investigate the sound and reached for his cloak.
Quickly, he ran down the spiral stairwell and to the entrance to his far too empty home. He cracked a small opening between his doorway and it's outter surroundings. While shading his eye sockets with his long fingers, he let his them adjust to the unaccustomed light. Once again he heard a howl, and could only say "What's this?"
Jack slipped out into the light and ran through the Square. After pausing to listen to the howl once more, he was sure it came from past the graveyard. Finally Jack approached. As he did, a final moan of pain, and a yelp could be heard. Worry filled his mind, and he ran to the Hill. He could only see three vague shapes running off toward the blotted tower in the distance. "Lock, Shock, and Barrel... I should have known..."
ZERO'S TAIL
Not so long ago, in a land where your dreams may often take you, ghosts and demons walked the dark and gloomy streets of Halloweentown. The world of Halloween was a dark and grey land where terror meant delight, and it was not uncommon to find a vampire or two arguing over what blood type was best. Though the creatures that dwelt there often struck fear into others, they were truly gentle in nature. They were social beings who would lend a hand to a weary travellor, and commonly met for town meetings and other friendly gatherings.
Of these creatures, there was one in particular, one different from the rest. Jack, ruler of Halloween Town; Jack, the Pumpkin King. Though he was surrounded by fans, he felt truly alone amonghis fans. He had an emptiness in him, one that filled his heart with sadness and kept him apart from the rest.
Unbeknownst to Jack, there was another creature who wondered the empty lands alone. This creature was not only alone, but he had no home to call his own. As the sun rose and as the streets cleared, this creature roamed the land. A small ghastly dog, with a glowing nose and clothed in white, let out a long howl atop the 'Twisting Hill.' It was, undoubtedly, this howl which caught the attention of Lock, Shock, and Barrel as they approached the twisted gates of Boogie Manor.
"Mr. Oogie Boogie should hear this, he'd love the howl of pain," said Barrel.
"I bet he would," replied Lock, grinning evilly, "but then- who wouldn't?"
"Let's go tell him," gleamed Shock, in her high and screeching voice.
Though the three young ones lived with the Boogie Man, and had grown to look up to him, they too had a great fear of him. When they approached his doorway, they began to argue over who should tell him the news.
"You tell him Lock, he likes you best," exclaimed Barrel.
"You're so dumb, you know he likes me best," said Shock.
"Than go ahead and tell him!" grinned Barrel.
"Um," she let out a sigh and the took a deep breath. She was unsure of what would follow as she approached the dark gate. Quietly she knocked on the great door and it slowly opened. She swooned and her eyes went black, she could see nothing more. Lock and Barrel knew that he had accepted her into his room, a place that they had never been at the same time.
"Come in Shock. What is it you wish to tell me...?" moaned the dark and deep voice of Oogie.
The little witch stood up and found herself in a vast room of shadows. The floor was composed of wooden planks and stainglass windows could be seen covered in the corners. "There is something the others thought you should hear. Outside there is-" she was cut off by the Boogie Man.
"-open the window," he bellowed.
She did, just as she was told, and sunlight pored into the room. This forced Oogie Boogie back into the shadows. He screamed in pain, but then, suddenly, all was quiet. Far off in the distance a faint howling could be heard, and slowly it grew.
"Ah... now that is refreshing," he said.
"R-right... like I said, I thought you should know. It was all my idea," lied Shock, trying not to sound obvious.
"Bring the creature to me... I must see what causes such pain..."
As he said this, Shock fell to the floor and faded away. She would return to the others in a moment unharmed. The curtains slowly drew themselves shut before Oogie Boogie and once more filled the room with overwhelming darkness,
"...and I will make all feel his pain..." The Boogie grinned as a plan began to take shape.
Through the graveyard and into Guillotine Square that small creature's howl could be heard, but only one other felt his pain. Only the loneliness that Jack felt made him rise from his bed and approach the window in curiosity. He peered out into the bright sunlight and stared at the pumpkin patch. He finally decided to investigate the sound and reached for his cloak.
Quickly, he ran down the spiral stairwell and to the entrance to his far too empty home. He cracked a small opening between his doorway and it's outter surroundings. While shading his eye sockets with his long fingers, he let his them adjust to the unaccustomed light. Once again he heard a howl, and could only say "What's this?"
Jack slipped out into the light and ran through the Square. After pausing to listen to the howl once more, he was sure it came from past the graveyard. Finally Jack approached. As he did, a final moan of pain, and a yelp could be heard. Worry filled his mind, and he ran to the Hill. He could only see three vague shapes running off toward the blotted tower in the distance. "Lock, Shock, and Barrel... I should have known..."