"Over there!" Dusk heard one of her pursuers yell. A shot rang through the night grazing across her chest tearing her black scales away and drawing blood. She roared in pain and did the only thing she could, run. Blood was already dripping from the tear in her wing. The blood from her chest only made a clearer trail for the hunters to follow. Dusk ran as fast as she could until the snow beneath her feet disappeared. The landscape around her changed very suddenly but she continued to run until she felt light headed. Dusk needed a safe place to rest for a while. She noticed cave high in the cliffs. Dusk managed to claw her way to the entrance with a great deal of difficulty. There was a town a little way away. She would have to be careful she thought. The cave was dark but as a shadow dragon she could easily see. Dusk moved deep into the cave and collapsed.

"Sally I'll be back soon." Jack called. "Lunch should be ready by the time you get back." Sally responded. Jack strolled through Halloween town. "Hi Jack." Corpse kid and Mummy boy greeted as they ran past. "Whoa where are you two headed off to in such a hurry?" he asked. "We're going to explore the shadow caves with Lock, Shock, and Barrel." Corpse kid informed him. "Don't get lost!" he called as they hurried off. Jack sighed at the thought of Oogie's three helpers. They had caused a lot of trouble after they had fixed Oogie the first time but they were only children and Jack was a very forgiving king. Things had certainly calmed down since then too. It was as peaceful as a place like this could be.

"Hurry up boys!" Shock called as she reached the top of the cliff. "Why are girls always so impatient?" Mummy boy asked as he reached her. "Because they're girls!" Lock stated. "Come on!" Shock insisted lighting a bunch of dry brush turning it onto a torch. "Wait for me!" Barrel called as they ran into the cave without him. Despite the light from the small fire the shadows seemed to suffocate the light before it got very far. Splashes echoed through the cave as they all stepped through a large "This is so cool!" Barrel smiled before he tripped over something and landed in the puddle. "You klutz!" Shock scolded but stopped suddenly when a low growl sounded from the darkness and a pair of glowing eyes shone brightly. They all froze as the creature roared and blue fire erupted from the darkness. They ran screaming back the way they came.

Dusk was awoken when she felt a heavy thud against her tail. She could hear voices but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Her first thought was that the hunters had found her. She roared and breathed blue fire in part to see them better but also to scare them away. She saw that it was in fact kids that she had startled. She needed leave now to do but as Dusk tried to get up she found she had no strength and collapsed into the puddle. It had been dry when Dusk had lain down. She realized as she lost consciousness again that she was lying in a pool of her own blood.

The screams of the young children echoed through the town but that was nothing new in Halloween Town. What was new was someone screaming about a monster attacking them. A crowd quickly gathered around. Jack and Sally hearing the commotion quickly intervened. "Now, now fellas we don't use the M word." Jack scolded. "But Jack it was a horrible vicious…" Mummy boy started. "I'm sure it's not as bad as all that." Jack insisted. "My dear boy is that your blood?" one of the vampires asked Barrel. Jack glanced at the boy. He did indeed have blood on his hands and chest. Panic consumed the crowd at the prospect of a vicious creature on the loose. Sally that noticed that they all had blood on their feet and quickly pointed it out to Jack. "Everybody calm down!" he ordered and the crowd quieted. "What did you boys do?" "We didn't do anything!" Corpse kid insisted. "Then why do you all have blood on you?" Jack questioned. "Huh well looky there." Lock said picking up one of his feet to get a better look. "I don't believe this to be Barrel's blood." Jack stated. "We need more information."

"Jack are you sure you don't want someone to go with you?" Sally asked. "No, I don't want anyone else getting hurt if this goes badly." Jack said before beginning his assent. Zero lit the way with his glowing nose. A clear blood trail could be seen on the cave floor. Someone was definitely hurt. Zero began barking franticly as he found the fallen dragon. Jack marveled at the massive creature before him. He had never seen a dragon before. He noticed the gash across her chest slowly dripping blood. By the amount Jack could see she wasn't long for this world. Much to his surprise she opened her eyes. Dusk blinked a few times trying to focus. She gave a weak growl when she saw the skeleton in front of her. "It's alright." Jack soothed placing a bony hand on her shoulder. "I'm not going to hurt you." Dusk stopped growling. "My name is Jack who did this to you?" he asked. "Hunters." She managed to whisper. "What on earth was a creature like her doing in the human world?" Jack wondered but he couldn't think about that now. "I'm going to get help but I need you to stay awake." He instructed. "Zero stay with her." Zero whined as he nudged her trying to keep her conscious.

Jack was not surprised to find several Halloween Town residents at the mouth of the cave. "It's alright everyone." he assured. "There is nothing to be concerned about." "But what is it Jack?" the Mayer asked. "It's a dragon." Jack informed them lowering his voice. "She's hurt badly. Helgamine, Zeldaborne can you heal her?" The two witches glanced at one another. "Possibly but we need her down at the shop." Zeldaborne informed him. "That might be difficult considering her large size." Jack stated. "Jack," Wolf spoke up. "Most dragons have a human form. Let me talk to her. She will trust me." Jack nodded and they hurried back through the cave. Nobody noticed that Lock, Shock, and Barrel sneak away. Dusk was a bit relieved to see a werewolf. "What's your name?" Wolf asked. "Dusk." She whispered. "Dusk I know you are hurting and tired but I need you to transform to your human form." Dusk closed her eyes to focus. "Dusk!" Wolf called thinking she had lost consciousness but sighed when a blue flame enveloped her. In the dragon's place was a teenage girl about sixteen with long dark hair and black wings as she had only managed a partial transformation. It had taken all her strength to perform this task. Wolf picked up the girl with ease before taking off with great speed.

"A dragon? Your joking me?" Oogie Boogie asked. "No, it's true!" Lock insisted. "She's huge and black like the night." Shock stated. "A shadow dragon! This just got much more interesting." Oogie laughed. "Yeah to bad she's probably not going to make it." Barrel commented. He had cleaned off the blood. "Oh she'll survive and I want you to bring her to me." Oogie ordered. Lock, Shock, and Barrel laughed maniacally at their new task.

"Is this the dragon?" Helgamine asked as Wolf entered. "Put her here." Zeldaborne ordered clearing a space. Helgamine applied a paste like substance that stopped the bleeding. "How is she?" Jack asked as he entered a short while later. "She's not healing as quickly as expected." Zeldaborne informed him. "Dragons need moonlight to heal." Wolf stated. "How do you know so much about dragons?" Helgamine asked. "Werewolves and dragons are old allies from when we lived among the humans." Wolf informed them. "Speaking of humans, she said that hunters did this to her." Jack stated. "That doesn't surprise me. Dragons were hunted for their gemlike scales but what was she doing in the human world?" Wolf asked. "I don't know but I know someone who might." Jack said walking out.

Jack received quite a few stairs as he strode through the street of Christmas town. "This can't be good." One of the elves muttered. "What's he doing here?" whispered another. Jack ignored them as he knocked on Santa's door. The man in red was a bit surprised to see the pumpkin king. "Jack what are you doing here?" Santa demanded. "Do you know anything about a girl named Dusk?" Jack asked. "There are thousands of girls with that name Jack." Santa informed him. "How many of them are dragons?" Jack asked. "Only one." Santa sighed. "Come in." Jack had to duck down due to the lower sealing and sat across from Santa. "Dusk has always been a kind-hearted good girl, most notably when protecting others, but she has been known to be mischievous." Santa informed him. "Mischievous how?" Jack asked. "She has a habit of scaring people with her shadow abilities." Santa stated. "Do you know why she was in the human world?" Jack asked. "She was born there along with her mother." Santa informed him. "How is that possible?" Jack questioned. "Creatures being born in the human world is rare but it does happen." Santa stated. "There are more?" Jack asked. "A few yes." Santa confirmed. "Those poor souls." Jack sighed. "They must be so scared." "I thought that was what your people specialized in." Santa challenged. "Nothing to the point of endangering anyone." Jack clarified. "Hmph I remember quite differently." Santa challenged. "I apologize for Oogie once again. He is a remanence of the old ways." Jack explained. "I fear what might happen if he gets his proverbial claws into her." Santa shuttered. "Oogie is no more." Jack assured. "That's what we thought last time." Santa challenged. "I need to go." Jack said realizing he was right. "Thank you for your assistance."

"And done." Sally said as she finished stitching Dusk's wounds closed. Dusk began to stir. "Stay still or you'll pull your stitches." Sally instructed. Despite her orders, Dusk pushed herself up and was rewarded with a sharp pain across her chest. She hissed in pain but the stitches held. She glanced around at the witches and Sally. "Where am I?" she asked. "You're in Halloween Town. You were hurt badly but you should be alright." Sally assured. "Wolf she's awake!" The huge black werewolf entered. "I need to go." Dusk said getting to her feet. She became light headed but Wolf steadied her. "You are safe here." Wolf assured. "No, I'm not. Those hunters will kill you to get to me." Dusk stated. "They would be foolish to try." Wolf laughed offering his clawed hand to her. "I'll show you." Dusk reluctantly took it and followed him out of the witches' shop.

A crowd had gathered outside and all grew silent as Wolf lead Dusk out. She was surprised to see so many different types of creatures. Sally followed them out. "Everyone this is Dusk." Sally introduced. "She is Jack's guest here." "Hi." Dusk half whispered. Everyone started talking at once asking mostly about how she was and the human world. Dusk took a step back into Wolf as the crowd closed in around her. "Back off!" Wolf growled but they didn't seem to hear him and continued their advance. Suddenly shadows rose up and encircled her like a shield. The residents backed away in fear except for Wolf. He touched her shoulder getting her attention. "It's alright." He soothed. The shadows dissipated. "I'm sorry." She apologized. "I'm not used to so much attention." "Alright everyone let's give her some space." Sally ordered. Slowly the crowd dispersed much to Dusk's relief. Wolf walked alongside her as he showed her the town. "There aren't any humans here." Dusk commented. "No living ones anyway." Wolf confirmed. "I never could have imagined a place like this existed." Dusk sighed. "What were you doing living among the humans?" Wolf asked. "I've always live among the humans just like my mom." Dusk informed him. "Is your mother…" "She's dead. Killed by the same hunters that hurt me while trying to protect me." She confirmed. "I'm sorry." Wolf stated. "It's not your fault, it's mine." Dusk said. Before Wolf could ask what she meant Lock, Shock, and Barrel ran up to them. "Whoa are you the dragon everyone's talking about?" Barrel asked with the most excited look on his face. "Of course she is dummy!" Shock said smacking him upside the head. "Just look at those wings!" "I'm not dumb!" Barrel protested. "Could have fooled me." Shock said rolling her eyes. "Anyway…" Lock interrupted pushing past them. "You really scared in the cave earlier." "I'm really sorry about that." Dusk apologized. "What are you apologizing for? It's a compliment." Lock insisted. "But if you don't believe us I'm sure Corpse kid and Mummy boy will back us up." Shock smiled. "Yeah we can take you to them." Lock offered. "Ok." Dusk agreed stepping forward but Wolf stopped her. "Dusk these three are trouble makers." He cautioned. "Wolf there just kids. They can't hurt me." Dusk assured following the three kids.

"This is where they hang out." Lock said. Dusk looked up at the large tree house. It seemed like the perfect place for kids to play but the only way to get in was a cage elevator. Luckily, they all fit. To her surprise there didn't seem to be anyone else here. "I'll go see if they're in the back." Barrel said disappearing. "Lock you go to so we can have a girl talk." Shock ordered "So, what brings you to Halloween town?" "Oh, just running from some hunters." Dusk informed her. She was really getting tired of telling people this. "Ugh, humans are the worst." Shock commented as she began filing her nails. "They can be." Dusk agreed. She didn't notice that Lock and Barrel had snuck back around until one of them struck her from behind knocking her out.

"Wolf!" Jack called. "Where is Dusk?" "She went with the troublesome three to find Mummy boy and Corpse kid." Wolf informed him. "No, I'm too late." Jack sighed. "Too late?" Wolf questioned. "They might have brought Oogie back again." Jack informed him. "I'll go get her." Wolf growled. "No I will deal with Oogie. I need you to prepare the town for another incident." Jack ordered before sprinting towards the tree house.

"Ow." Dusk groaned as she opened her eyes. "I'm going to kill those kids." She glanced down to see that she was tied up with rope and was in what looked like a scaled-up version of a casino. "I wouldn't worry about them if I were you." A deep harsh voice warned as the whole place lit up. Oogie Boogie stepped into view as music began to play.

Well, well, well, what have we here?

A little dragon, huh?

Oh, I'm really scared

So you're the one everybody's talkin' about, ha, ha

You're jokin', you're jokin'

I can't believe my eyes

You're jokin' me, you gotta be

This can't be the right girl

She's tiny, she's pretty

I don't know which is worse

I might just split a seam now

If I don't die laughing first

When Mr. Oogie Boogie says

There's trouble close at hand

You'd better pay attention now

'Cause I'm the Boogie Man

And if you aren't shakin'

Then there's something very wrong

'Cause this may be the last time

you hear the boogie song

Ohhh, Ohhh

Ohhh, Ohhh

Ohhh, Ohhh,

I'm the Oogie Boogie Man

Oogie stopped short as he turned to see she was no longer bound and leaning against the wheel she had been laying on. "Uh oh." He said. "Did you really think ropes would hold me?" Dusk growled tossing the remanence of the rope towards him revealing long sharp claws. She advanced on him baring her sharp teeth. "Wait please don't hurt me!" Oogie begged. "I just wanted to talk." "You've got a funny way of showing it." She growled. "It was the only way I could get near you. The other residents don't really like me." He insisted backing away. "Please I just need your help." Dusk stopped her advance. "You want my help?" she asked. "Yes. You are a shadow dragon. Do you know how rare that is?" Oogie declared. "Do you?" Dusk challenged. "I do and I understand your abilities better than anybody." Oogie stated. Dusk considered what he was saying. "You really think I'm pretty?" she asked. "You are lovely." He smiled knowing he was getting to her. "What do you want?" she finally asked. "You see I like most of the other residence need fear to survive and the best way to do that is through their depraved souls." Oggie informed her. "You want me to steal people's souls?" Dusk demanded. "No I want you to kill them and trap their shadows. Shadows hold the link to the souls and you are the key to the shadows. Think about it, you could be a queen here" Oogie offered. "I am not killing anybody." Dusk refused. "Oh you don't have much of a choice. You see you left a clear trail for those hunters to follow and we both know that they will kill everyone including you unless you kill them first." Oogie warned. "The residents…" Dusk started. "They are weak! They aren't like you and me." Oogie insisted. "Oogie get away from her!" Jack ordered leaping between the two of them. "Jack!" Oogie growled as he backed up. A great wind picked up as he roared pulling debris towards him. Jack wrapped a bony arm around her as a green slimy device, his soul robber, shot from his wrist anchoring them. Dusk used her shadow abilities to shield them from the flying debris. The soul robber came loose but Dusk had had enough. The shadows slammed into Oogie knocking the breath out of him. He simply laughed as he composed himself. "Think about my offer Dusk." Oogie smiled emphasizing her name as he disappeared into the shadows.

Jack took her back to the town. Everyone still gave her frightened looks as she and Jack walked past to his home. "Jack I'm sorry you had to come rescue me. I didn't think those kids were any kind of threat." Dusk admitted. "You couldn't have known." Jack told her. "Wolf tried to warn me but I didn't listen." She sighed. "Oogie's boys are very tricky." Jack stated. "Everyone has been fooled by them at one point or another." Jack admitted. "You should rest." Dusk did argue. She was incredibly tired. "Is she?" Wolf asked. "She's fine, just tired from shadow manipulation I'd imagine." Jack deduced. "What Could Oogie want with her?" Wolf asked. "Nothing good." Jack stated. "And we may have another problem." "The hunters?" Wolf asked. "No at least not right now." Jack said. "Dusk is not the only one of us born in the human world and I doubt any of them know about Halloween Town." "What are you thinking Jack?" Wolf asked. "I'm not sure yet."

Dusk was startled awake by Sally. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." Sally apologized. "It's Ok. I scared you and everyone else earlier and I'm sorry." Dusk apologized. Sally smiled sweetly at her. "Being scary is nothing to be ashamed about." Sally commented. "Scaring people is what got me into trouble in the first place." Dusk stated. "Tell me what happened." Sally requested. Dusk proceeded to tell her how she used to love scaring people especially around Halloween her favorite holiday but she had scared the wrong person and it had alerted the hunters to her and her mother's presence. The very same hunters who her mother died protected her from." Sally gave a saddened expressed as she pulled the girl into her warm embrace. "You poor girl." She said. "You don't have to worry about that here." "Ok." Dusk sighed. Suddenly a sound much like that of a yowling cat filled the air. "Is that a cat?" Dusk asked. "Wait here!" Sally ordered recognizing it as their emergency siren.

The sun was setting but even in the growing darkness Sally could see everyone looking out of their homes. They were all looking at the same thing. A group of three men in hunting gear entering the town. Jack and a few of the stronger residents stood in their path. "Well look what we got here boys. It's a regular freak show." One of them sneered. "You are not welcome here. Leave now and go back to where you came from!" Jack ordered. "Not without the dragon we came for!" another man refused. "Hand her over or else." The third man threatened. Wolf growled at the threat and the several of the vampires hissed. Behemoth lumbered forward as they prepared for a fight but Jack gestured for them to wait. "You can't kill what's already dead." Jack warned. "Let's test that theory shall we." The first man challenged raising his rifle. Sally gasped in horror knowing she could not do anything. She was so transfixed that she didn't notice Dusk was standing next to her until she growled. She couldn't stand by and let this happen. Blue fire surrounded her as she shifted into her dragon form. The stitches snapped as she roared but the moon had risen. Everyone turned to look at the dragon and for the first time everyone saw her. Even though the moon was only a sliver its light sparkled against her black jewel like scales and her eyes shown brilliantly in the darkness. Her wounds appeared to glow as they healed quickly. She shook her dark mane as she descended to the scene below. Every fire turned blue as she walked past giving everything an eerie feel. Everyone stepped aside to let the dragon pass except for Jack. She was so massive she had to look down at him. "Dusk what are you doing?" he asked. "No one else dies for me." She stated. Jack read the expression on her face and stepped aside. Dusk growled as she approached the hunters. "Decided to make this easier for us? The third hunter sneered. Dusk returned their grins with a monstrous one of her own. "Nope." She growled swiping the rifles out of their hands. They skidded across the ground. The hunters made a dive them but Dusk was faster as she leapt between them. She growled advancing on the hunters forcing them back but they found themselves trapped by a wall of shadows. "That's it Dusk! Kill them like they killed your mother!" Oogie yelled from on top of one of the houses." Everyone gasped at the sight of him. Dusk bared her teeth at him. "No." she growled. Oogie looked a bit shocked at her refusal. "Fine if you won't then I will." Oogie threatened. He roared and a great wind started to pick up but before it become to strong Oogie was struck by a shadow sending him tumbling to the ground where everyone was. "Hello Oogie!" Jack glared down at him as several of the townsfolk advanced on him. Oogie looked at Dusk as if he had been betrayed. "I could have given you everything you wanted!" he called. "You could have given me nothing but emptiness!" Dusk challenged. "This is my prey and death is too merciful a punishment for the suffering they have caused me." She turned back to the three hunters who had taken advantage of her distraction to try and escape. Shadows swirled around them trapping them again. Dusk stalked around the three scared men like the predator she was. "I'm not the only one you have made to suffer. You humans call us monsters but it is you who are the monsters." She growled as the shadows began to spin faster. "For your crimes, I invoke a curse upon you. Never again will you hunt us for if you do your own shadows will reflect the very monsters you are and tear your very souls apart." As if to confirm what she was saying their shadows changed to monstrous forms and rose up to strike at the person they were attacked to. The men tried to back away but the rapidly spinning shadows prevented their escape. Only when the hunters were screaming in terror did the spinning shadows break apart allowing them to flee.

Dusk wanted nothing more than to go after them and kill them but she held herself back. Much to her surprise everyone began clapping and cheering. "That was a marvelous performance Dusk." Jack complemented. "Thanks." Dusk said relieved that he had picked up on her expression. "Did you really curse them?" one of the vampires asked. "No I don't have that kind of magic." Dusk admitted. "But they don't know that a devil laughed. Everyone but Dusk laughed at this. Jack noticed. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Not killing them was the hardest thing I have ever done." She admitted. "I know." Jack sighed knowing that she was now alone. "You are welcome to stay here." "Thank you." She nodded. "I will get you for this!" Oogie threatened as Behemoth and Harlequin Demon dragged him away but Wolf turned her away. "That won't end well for him if he tries." He growled. "No it won't" Dusk confirmed.

Dusk made a home within the shadow caves as it was the only place big enough for her. Wolf was usually her only visitor and she enjoyed his company. Though the townsfolk were always happy to see her when she ventured into town. They began to feel like her family. Jack had ensured that no human could ever get back to Halloween Town the way she had come but something still bothered him. There were still others out there in the human world and he knew the three men were not the only hunters but the solution didn't come to him until the next Halloween when he noticed Dusk dancing with Wolf in a gown made of shadows special for the celebration. "You want her to go back out there?" Wolf demanded shocked at what Jack was asking of the girl. "Jack's right I know the human world better than anyone here." Dusk supported. "I know it's asking a lot." Jack sighed. "It's not." Dusk assured. "I will leave as soon as possible." She moved to leave but Wolf grabbed her hand. "You're not going alone. I'm coming with you." He stated. Dusk looked at him, her eyes full of sadness. "Wolf you don't exactly blend in like I do." She commented. Wolf closed his eyes and growled as he slowly and painfully changed into his human form. Dusk couldn't take her eyes off of the young attractive man in front of her. He was smaller now but he was still taller than Dusk. He too had dark hair that was rather shaggy. His deep blue eyes were offset by his pale skin. It had been some time since he had assumed this form. "How about now?" he asked. "Ok." Dusk agreed. "Let's go save some lives." "Be careful and don't forget to come back for Halloween" Jack requested. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." Dusk smiled.

Dusk and Wolf eyed the writer somewhat angrily. "So I heard the Moana group is getting a spin off." Dusk challenged. "You're just jealous because my fic and movies got more views than yours!" Maui called earning his a smack on the head from Moana's oar and Makana's tail. "What was that for?" Maui protested. "Because it was Moana's movie and Makana's fic!" the writer yelled before turning back to Dusk and Wolf. "I don't think he understands that the only reason for the fic getting more views is because its the first one that opens as for the movie he is right about that." "Is that why we don't get a spin off?" Wolf growled. "No the reason I can't do a spin off is because the story would just be you two and the Nightmare Before Christmas is not the same without Jack or Sally." Both Dusk and Wolf looked past the writer as if someone was standing behind her. The writer turns expecting it to be Maui again but was surprised to see Jack. "Is that the only reason?" he asked studying her. "I honestly don't have ideas. I'm not saying I won't do it just not right now." the writer admitted. Jack nodded accepting her answer. "Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King." The writer smiled.