That night, as soon as Sofia and her family were all tucked in and fast asleep, Cedric took his spell book and wand. He poofed himself out of the castle and into the village pumpkin patch.

Cedric wickedly chuckled as he savored the delicious moment. "And now, to summon the king of Halloween himself." He levitated his open spell book. Cedric raised his wand and waved it clockwise.

The motion made the dark clouds in the sky swirl ominously over the field. The winds picked up speed, making Cedric's robe flow in the breeze for added effect. He recited the spell:

"Hills of pumpkin and trees of fall,

I beckon you to heed my call!

To strike terror and fear like no ones ever seen,

I summon you, Jack Skellington; King of Halloween!"

He struck his wand down and a bolt of green lightening struck from the clouds, striking smack dab in the middle of the pumpkin patch.

A few seconds later, nothing happened.

Cedric waited for something to happen, "Uh, hello?"

Nothing.

"WELL?!" Cedric shouted impatiently. "Jack Skellington?! Spirits?! Monsters?! Somebody?! HELLO?!"

But not a single spook was in sight.

"MERLIN'S MUSHROOMS!" Cedric roared. Angered and frustrated with his failure, the sorcerer stormed away.

Meanwhile, in a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams, was the holiday world of Halloween, usually called Halloween Town.

In this town, the creatures of the night were busy preparing to terrify the world come tomorrow night, their favorite night of all - Halloween!

And every ghoul and spook in the land of Halloween knew that Halloween would never be possible without the help of their leader, the king of Halloween, Jack Skellington.

In the center of the dark and gloomy town, a flock of ghosts did a well synchronized dance through the air, soaring and wailing their eerie moans in the sky.

They formed two single file lines at a monster-like fountain filled with green slimy water. The town's mayor, a short, stubby man with a very tall hat with a megaphone began to speak.

"And now, allow me to present the master of terror, the king of nightmares, Jack Skellington!"

On cue, the ghosts presented a tall, slender skeleton in a black suit with white pinstripes and a bat bow tie emerging from the green waters. He leaped out of the fountain and together with the ghosts, let out a great big,

"BOOOOOO!"

"Bravo, Jack! Bravo!" the mayor congratulated. "Those ghosts will be a big hit at this year's Halloween!"

Jack Skellington, however, was not so impressed. "Perhaps. It was spooky and chilling with just a touch of spine-tingling, but not scary." he said sadly. "Something's missing. There has to be something to make Halloween more...hideous, bone-chilling, more frightening! I need something new!"

"Jack." said a flute-like voice.

Jack turned his attention to a living ragdoll walking over to him. She had faded blue fabric for skin, with multiple sewing stitches all over her body and had long red hair. She wore a dress made of various multi-colored pieces of cloth. Her name was Sally Skellington, Jack's wife. She was holding a package wrapped in brown paper. "Here, I made a little something for you. I hope it will help."

"Wonderful!" The skeleton smiled warmly and kindly took the package. "I can always depend on you, Sally." His empty eye sockets gazed lovingly into Sally's wide eyes. The two lovers leaned closer to embrace a sweet kiss.

But just then, Jack disappeared in a cloud of green smoke.

Sally drew back in alarm. Jack was gone right before her eyes.

The mayor's face switched to a sad face. "What the-?! Jack?! Where did he go?! Jack! This is no time for joking!"

"Jack?!" Sally exclaimed. "What just happened?!"