Chapter 2 Jack Skellington

Jack marveled at the picture of the Halloween spirit.

"And what happened in Christmas of 93 asked Jack"?

"I'll tell ya what happened" yelled Bunny, "I got stuffed in a sack and taken to monster land".

"I know the feeling" muttered Jack under his breath.

"That joker got tired of Halloween and decided to try and take over Christmas" said Bunny raising his voice again.

"WHAT"! Shouted Jack in total disbelief?

"Bunny enough"! said North slightly raising his voice.

"I understand your frustration I was dropped in boiling pit".

Jack chuckled at this. "You have got to tell me that story" he said excitedly.

"Is not important" replied North.

"Aw come on" whined Jack.

North smirked, "maybe someday Jack".

"This guy's pranks make yours look like child's play frostbite" said Bunny bitterly.

"Really" asked Jack his eyes getting wide with excitement, "I can't wait to meet him"?

"Ahem" Tooth cleared her throat to get the others attention. "North I was right Pitch is back and he's killing children we need to hurry and talk to Jack Skellington".

"Tooth is right" replied North "we need to go to Halloween town quickly".

"Count me out" replied Bunny indignantly.

"Aw come on cotton tail" mocked Jack, "it can't be that bad".

"I'm not going anywhere near that freak show town" retorted Bunny angrily.

"Alright Sandy go with Bunny and see if you can find any trace of Pitch" said North. "The rest of us will go to Halloween town".

Sandy gave a symbol of a thumbs up.

"Both of you be careful" said Tooth.

"You got it" replied Bunny.

North, Tooth, and Jack had gotten into the sleigh and were going at break neck speed down the runway. Jack was cheering excitedly.

"next stop Halloween town" said North.

Once they were in the air North reached into a pocket of his large coat and pulled out a snow globe. He the brought it up to his face and whispered "Halloween Town" into it.

He then threw it out in front of the sleigh where it broke and created a portal.

As soon as they flew through the portal Jack as well as Tooth looked around suspiciously. The air was heavy like something bad was about to happen.

Jack noticed that the whole area had a dark and ominous feel to it he even noticed that the sun resembled a pumpkin. "Um North I don't like this" said Jack.

"Is alright Jack this is Jack Skellington's domain what you feel is his power within this domain". "You will be safe" replied North.

"He's right" commented Tooth, "although I don't like this feeling either I've been here a few times and it never gets easier, but I know Jack Skellington he will not hurt us".

Before Jack knew it North was landing the sleigh on a wooden runway in the middle of the town.

After they had landed a crowd of monsters began to surround them.

Jack noticed amongst the crowd a were wolf, a few pale vampires, and some witches on brooms. Jack looked off to the side and saw skeletons hanging from a tree.

"What's all the commotion" came a voice over a megaphone. Then a short man pushed through the crowd. Or at least Jack thought it was a man until his head spun completely around revealing another face.

"Sandy Claws it's you" said the man overjoyed.

"Da" replied North. "Hello mayor is Jack around"?

"He should be at his house" replied the mayor.

"May we go visit him" asked North politely?

"Why most certainly" replied the mayor, "move along nothing to see here" he shouted to the crowd through the megaphone.

The crowd then started to disperse as everyone went on their way.

"Follow me" said North as he began walking.

Jack still had a bad feeling about all of this he didn't like the way all the monsters looked at them.

North led the trio through the town past a large guillotine which jack later found out the area was called guillotine square.

The trio finally came to a very tall house with a gate at the entrance. Walking through the gate the trio walked up to the porch. North looked to his right and saw a small chain dangling from the house. North knew this was a door bell and pulled the chain.

A woman's scream greeted their ears causing Jack to jump in surprise and a shiver to run down his spine. He was standing behind both North and Tooth.

North pulled the chain again and the same thing happened.

After a minute or two more of waiting the door began to open.

"Sandy Claws what a pleasant surprise" came a light-hearted answer.

Jack could not see the figure who opened the door, but he could definitely feel his presence. A wave of fear came over Jack so much that he wanted nothing more than to turn around and run as far away as he could.

Jack had to steel his nerves. The feeling was completely different from pitch's presence. With pitch Jack got a nauseous feeling in the pit of his stomach that made him want to vomit but with this guy Jack wanted to get as far away as possible.

"Tooth" came another reply "how lovely you're here as well". Jack Skellington saw a head of white hair behind Tooth but he could not see who it was. "And who is this asked Jack Skellington curiously"?

"May we come in" asked North politely yet nervously.

Jack assumed both North and Tooth felt the presence as well.

"How rude of me" remarked Jack Skellington "of course come in come in". Jack Skellington then stepped back inside the letting the trio in.

North and Tooth walked through the door.

Jack froze when he finally got a glimpse of the Halloween spirit.

To say Jack was shocked was an understatement. Standing before him was a seven-foot-tall skeleton wearing a black and white dull pinstriped tuxedo with a bat as a bowtie. His bones were a dark grey and his skull was cracked.

North turned to look back when the Guardian of fun was not behind them. Both Jack Skellington and North could see the fear etched on the winter spirits face but neither said anything.

North walked back to Jack and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Is alright" he said low enough only the winter spirit, Jack Skellington, and himself could hear. "This way" he guided the frightened guardian.

Jack Skellington then made his way to the front of the group. Just before they reached a large staircase a voice sounded to their left.

"Hello there" greeted the voice.

"Ah Sally good to see you" replied North nicely.

"Good to see you to Santa clause" replied Sally.

"Please call me North" replied the guardian of wonder casually.

"I see you brought friends" said Sally "can I get you anything"?

North paled n-no thank you we are fine stuttered North slightly.

Jack watched the exchange curiously, this woman seemed normal enough, but she looked like she was stitched together with cloth like an old doll.

Jack shuttered at the thought.

"Sally if you need anything, we will be in my study" said Jack Skellington.

"Oh, ok" replied the ragdoll woman "good to see you all".

Both North and Tooth waved goodbye to her.

Jack then followed suit not wanting to be rude.

"Now I see why Bunny doesn't like this place" thought Jack.

Having said their goodbyes to Sally the trio followed Jack Skellington up the long set of stairs.

Once they made it to the top Jack was surprised the room was almost normal.

The frost spirit looked around the dome shaped room, there were dark red drapes covering large windows, a large book case that stood from floor to ceiling that wound around half of the circular room. A cozy looking fireplace was situated on the same wall as the bookcase, a table and office chair sat on the other side of the room. The only thing Jack thought seemed out of place was there was an electric chair like prisons used to use for executions next to the fireplace.

North snapped Jack out of his musings when he spoke. "Jack Skellington, I assume you remember Tooth" asked North?

"Of course", replied Jack "how nice to see you again my dear" he gestured to the fairy queen.

"Hello" replied Tooth good naturedly.

"And you know me of course" spoke up North again. "This here is Jack Frost" North gestured to the boy next to him.

"Wow"! Jack Skellington exclaimed bending down to invade the boy's personal space, "it is an honor to meet a legend such as yourself Mr. Frost" he said excitedly extending a hand shake to the young spirit.

Jack flinched slightly at this. "P-please call me Jack" the boy stuttered shyly, "wait a second", "you've heard of me" Jack asked more confidently shaking the skeletons hand?

"Of course", replied Jack Skellington "your pranks are renowned far and wide", "the blizzard of 68' was legendary, a spark of genius". "I don't think Mr. Bunny was to happy about that".

"No, I guess he wasn't" chuckled the younger spirit.

North smirked at the interaction between the two, Tooth simply smiled.

"Jack" called North. Both spirits turned to face North. "Let us get down to business", "may I call you Skellington so there's no confusion" asked North? "Of course, Sandy claws" replied Jack.

"Please call me North" replied the Christmas spirit.

"Alright replied Jack, so what brings you all here" he asked?

"Manny has chosen you to be new Guardian" North said excitedly.

"What" replied Jack Skellington in complete shock. "The man in the moon chose me"? "That's an honor but unfortunately, I must decline, I have to much work to do preparing for Halloween".

"But Jack" interjected Tooth "pitch is back and he's threatening the balance again".

"How so" asked Jack Skellington?

Tooth then explained the whole story about how a child is dead because of pitch.

To say that Jack Skellington was angry was an understatement, he loved children he didn't want them to be hurt . "Why that dirty no good shadow dweller" he raged. "He gives spirits like me a bad reputation". "I'm In" said Jack.

The four of them then made their way outside, Jack having said goodbye to sally.

Once they made it to where the sleigh was parked Jack Skellington's eye sockets widened in wonder.

"Wow" he said letting out a breath. "North do you think I coul-" "don't even think about it" interjected North sourly.

Tooth chuckled at the interaction and Jack frost was confused but before he could question it they were in the sleigh heading back to the pole.