Author's Notes: Thank you to all who reviewed my fic.

Shiva the Sarcastic: I'm glad you like the fic and you'll be surprised what I have planned.

Chapter III: The Tree

Sam

"Now Samantha, remember to thank the Fentons for inviting and try to behave," my mom said, she didn't like the Fentons but I was able to convince her to let me go.

"I will, mom," I say wearily as I walked out the door and walked to Danny's. I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited as something told me this would be the night Danny would spill his heart to me, but what would say to him in return.

After a few blocks, I arrived at his house. I walked up the steps and with trembling hand knocked on the door.

Jazz opened the door, "Hey Sam, please come in. We're just waiting for Danny to get back," she said as I walked into the living room where his parents were sitting.

Maddie was dressed up in a formal a dress, "You look nice, Sam," she said smiling.

"Thank you Mrs. Fenton," I said as I heard a crash upstairs and we raced up the steps.

Jack soon stumbled out of his room, he was trying to get his jumpsuit over his suit he was wearing, "Ah Sam you're just in time to go look for Danny, a ghost took him," he said as he fumbled around.

"Now Jack for all we know Danny just got sidetracked," Maddie told her husband as he helped him up.

While they were busy, I went back downstairs and walked over to Jazz, "Something's wrong, I can feel it," I tell her worriedly.

"I agree, I think we should go look for him," she said as I agreed and left a note for her parents before we went out to look for Danny hoping he would be okay.

Jack Skellington

"Jack, let's face facts, it's gone. It's the end of the world. It's Pariah Dark, the ghost king has returned," the Mayor said worriedly imagining that the specter had been freed and on his way here.

"I don't think so," I told him look at what the camera monster had recorded. It didn't show any ghostly activity. "Look at this whoever took is short," I said pointing to a shadow on the ground that looked like three people were standing on top of each other. "We have our first clue," I told him with a smile.

Danny

My heart was leaping out of my chest as I ran as fast I could away from Vlad and his gun. Every once in awhile I would slow down and what I see didn't please me at all.

My hands were starting to rot; it was kind of like what happened to Dracula in the movies. It burned like that too, a searing pain like I had stuck my hand in boiling oil. I knew had to do something or else I would be a goner.

"I think I lost him," I said as I slowed down and tried to catch my breath. I looked around at my surroundings; I am definitely not in Amity Park anymore.

I had no time figure out my location as I soon heard Vlad decree, "End game, Daniel," as he flew over to where I was standing. "Looks like you're out of options, my boy," he said smiling as he took out his gun and aimed it at me.

"I'm never out of options, Fruit Loop," I sneer as I manage to kick Plasmius' gun out of his hand. "Seems like you're out of options," I tell him smiling as I go pick up the gun but he blasts me before I can get it.

"Bad move, little badger," he said glaring at me as he took his gun and shot me in the shoulder.

I let out a cry of pain as I feel it burn me. The pain runs through my every nerve and it feels like I am being burned alive.

Vlad stares at me like a lion stares at its victim, "I can make this stop Daniel. I can take you back to my mansion and heal you. All you need to is renounce Jack and become my son," he said as he lowered his weapon and held out his hand.

I thought for a moment and smiled, "I will…," I said as I held out my hand, "…never join you," I sneer as I managed to gather enough strength to throw him over my shoulder.

"You'll pay for that boy," he snarled as he got to his feet and grabbed me by the back of my collar. "I'm sorry," he said as he pinned me to a nearby tree and placed his hand on my chest.

Soon I felt a surge of electricity rush through my body. It felt like I was having a heart attack and I could hardly breathe. I could smell my skin burning as the electricity exited my body and I blacked out.

Vlad

Once Daniel had passed out I removed my hand from his chest. The energy had burned through his suit revealing a welt in the shape of my hand on his torso.

"I'm sorry it had to be this way," I sighed as I placed my fingers on his neck and sensed a pulse. The boy was still alive, but I could not let him be discovered as he might tell people who did this to him.

I gently picked up his body and looked for a place to hide him. I searched for awhile until I came to a circle of trees that seem to have doors carved on them.

"Oh dear, what a choice," I said as I looked for the perfect spot until I saw tree with a pumpkin on it and walked towards it. "Farewell, little badger," I whispered as I opened the door and deposited Daniel's body in it and flew back to my mansion.

Lock

"Okay, empty the contents into the cauldron," Shock said as Barrel opened a sack and watched as thousands of bugs were poured into the pot.

"Now to add a cocktail of wasp and scorpion venom," she said taking a phial and poured a liquid in with bugs and stirred it with spoon.

"Now for the powdered brimstone," she said sprinkling the mixture with a red powder and watched as the bugs were soon liquefied.

"When are we going to eat," Barrel said as went to taste it only to have Shock put his hand inside a bear trap.

"You simpleton, this isn't to eat, it's part of the plan," she snaps as Barrel retreats in fear.

"There is still one problem, we still need the key ingredient," I tell her looking at the book. "You know it without it we the potion is no good," I said worriedly as I looked at the book, the mystery of this last item was gnawing at my brain.

"Don't worry we will find it and when we do, there will be no more Pumpkin King," Shock said laughing madly.