At long last, everything was ready. The decorations were in place, the congregation was ready, and Jack Skellington, Pumpkin King and groom-to-be, stood before the altar dressed in a brilliant tuxedo and a billowing cape,
The town hall had been transformed into a kind of twisted anti-church by a handful of extremely imaginative-to–say-the-least decorators, the famous Street Band was providing the music, and not to mention the entire town and it's mother had turned up to view the spectacle. Every chair was filled, those who couldn't sit hid under the floorboards, those who couldn't fit hung from the rafters, and those who wouldn't hang simply listened in through the wall.
Jack was ready, the flower 'girls' were ready, the Mayor who presided to marry the pair was ready, but there was still one thing missing, the bride herself, Sally Finklestein. Hardly anyone had seen her all day; those who had were sworn to secrecy. "That's Sally for you." Her father, Dr Finklestein, had muttered, "The blasted girl is never around when you need her. Always running off and slipping Deadly Nightshade in your' soup."
It had been no small task persuading the good doctor to marry his finest creation off, but eventually, after making a wife with a lifespan over three months or less, Finklestein had conceded. It was now or never, but where in the world was she?
The congregation was getting restless, but poor old Jack was worried out of his skull. The pre-wedding jitters were finally getting to him, and bizarre questions floated through his mind. Where is she? Has her stitching come undone? Has she run away with another man? Has she been killed? Will I be next? All of those never-ending questions going on and on and on.
Suddenly, at a hidden signal, the rusty organ in the corner sprang to life. Accompanied by the numerous moans of infernal instruments, a haunting butchering of the Bridal Chorus re-echoed throughout the building. All heads turned to the doorway, which swung wide as would the gates of Hades, and in drifted Sally Finklestein.
The animated ragdoll was adorned in the finest wedding gown anyone had seen in a lifetime, as orange as the sun in some parts yet as red as her hair in others, and draped with the skins of old dead bats. From her stitched on ears hung eyeball earrings 'borrowed' from the corpse of Billy McBronze himself, and from her neck hung a necklace bearing a gem that glowed a brilliant sapphire.
Many mortal men would have taken one look at her, then fled and never looked back, but Jack saw beyond the dress hued with blood, and the stitches that covered his bride's face, and saw the true beauty within her, the woman he would always love. Then, as she stepped alongside him, and their eyes met, he turned back to the altar, still trying to preserve his pride. He nodded to the Mayor. The Mayor cleared his throat. It was time to begin.
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"So, this is the lair of the Boogieman."
While the wedding was still taking place back at the town, Lock, Shock and Barrel had lead Professor Malicious into the hideout of the infamous Oogie Boogie himself. Right underneath the trio's treehouse there laid a massive underground casino, filled with the most startling assortment of insects, bats and skeletons. Unfortunately, the long unused lair had grown old and dilapidated over time, the backlights were gone, the iron maiden was coming off its' hinges and the massive casino wheel lay in ten different sized pieces. With only the ghosts providing light, the fellowship picked their way through the once-great ruined cavern.
"What a dump," Muttered Jasper. "This place looks woise than Prof with a hangover, and there 'aint NOTHIN' worse than Prof with a hangover!"
One swift kick and Jasper was clinging to the wall above everyone's heads. "I trust this place has seen better days?" asked Malicious.
Barrel nodded "It used to have loads of booby traps and cool stuff like that, but it kind of fell apart after Mr Oogie died again."
"In that case, to business at once!" Malicious strode to the centre of the room, and produced a strange pen-like device. "What the heck is THAT?" Exclaimed Lock.
"This, my boy, is a Psychic Summoner. I invented it myself. When I state a rhyme-based command, all the things I call will leap into action and obey me utterly." Lock and Barrel looked at each other and grinned. They could use one of those. "But how is it gonna help bring Oogie back?" asked Shock.
"Elementary, my dear Shock. If you can't catch the bugs, let the bugs come to you." At that, Malicious raised the Psychic Summoner high above his head and pressed the button. An eerie light came from the nib, and a thin mist swirled around the group. The ghosts backed away in fear, and even Jasper felt his skin crawl.
Crystal skull and fiery gourds,
Draw nigh bugs of hallowed hordes.
Scarlet Djinn and Lion's scar,
Gather yourselves, wherever you are.
Snow-pale skin and night-black hair,
Come to me at Oogie's lair!
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Back at Halloween Town, the citizens were abuzz with chatter. The wedding was over and the reception was just beginning. Everyone was sat at his or her places at a wooden building built especially for the occasion. Then, the Mayor tapped his spoon against his glass, and everyone fell silent. "And now," he said, "The groom would like to make a speech."
Jack rose to his feet, as did Sally. "Friends," he began, "When I stood at the altar this evening, I was filled with doubts, with worries, with fears… They are all gone now." He stared into Sally's eyes as he continued. "Sally, when I first met you, I felt this feeling that I hadn't felt since when I could still feel my heartbeat. I didn't exactly know what it was, or what to make of it. I tried to ignore it for a while, to think of you as just a friend. But that all changed at that fateful Christmas two years ago, remember that? That was when I truly realised that you loved me, and that I was in love with you, too." Sally smiled.
He went on. "Sally, tonight has been the greatest night of my life…or, so to speak." He chuckled sheepishly, and then composed himself. "…And I will cherish it always." Sally kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"I propose a toast!" The mayor exclaimed, raising his glass. "To the newlyweds, may they live long and rule wisely!"
"To the newlyweds!" was the enthusiastic reply as everyone tapped their glasses together.
KRACK-A-DOOM! At that moment came an almighty thunderclap that shook the very foundations of the building. The congregation jumped and started to murmur uneasily.
"Could you turn down the lightning machine just a bit?" The Mayor whispered to Doctor Finklestein on the other table. "I didn't install any lightning machine!" Protested the Doctor. "I mean, I wish I had, but I didn't!"
"Jack, what's happening?" Whispered Sally in a frightened tone as she cowered behind the table.
"Try to stay calm, Sally." Said Jack, but before long the room was bathed in a flickering blue light, and a mist rose at the citizen's feet. Wasps on the ceiling suddenly took off and began to swirl. Spiders abandoned their webs and swarmed over the windows. A few men would say that they saw a shadowy face drift across the moon.
CRASH! The door to the building suddenly split open, and a grotesque skeleton burst in. The creature stared at Jack through eyeless holes, gave a grating caw and lunged at him. It grabbed at his neck and the two wrestled around on the floor. Eventually Jack managed to push the beast off of him, and then grabbed a shard of wood as it resumed the attack.
Some of the wasps that flew overhead suddenly decided to team up on Jack as well, and swooped down on him as he struggled with his attacker. Jack desperately tried to drive the bugs away, but they managed to subdue him and send him to down. A few spiders joined in as well, dropping onto him and using their webs to tie him up as he fell to the ground. The skeleton towered over him and raised its fist for the final blow.
Abruptly, a huge and hairy hand blocked the thing's blow, and it was lifted high above its assailant's head. Jack looked up in alarm, just in time to see a loyal farmhand hurl the skeleton to the other side of the room. There was a loud crash, and the creature split into multiple pieces strewn across the floor. Startled, the bugs scattered, and then made a break for the door.
All was silent for a while, save for the buzzing of insects and the occasional thunderclap. Jack got to his feet unsteadily, staggered over to where the skull of the skeleton was resting, and his eye sockets grew wide with fear. He was shaking, not because he was almost killed, or even because of the chill that was filling the air, but because he now recognised the skeleton that had attacked him. It was a minion of none other than Oogie Boogie.