Maverick Tends to Arrive on Halloween

I don't own anything but my OC's.

Chapter 3

"Mama, did Mr. Montarg make the moon?" Maverick asked, balanced on his mother's hip as she held him.

Amanda giggled. "No, sweetie. Mr. Montarg didn't make the moon."

"But it's bright, just like Mr. Montarg's fire."

Amanda smiled. "I know, sweetie, but the moon isn't Montarg's doing. It's…a big rock in the sky."

"Nuh-uh. It's really bright and shiny!" Maverick objected.

"Truthfully, Mav," Marcus, who stood next to Amanda, said. "I think Monty would much rather make the sun then the moon."

"Of course."

The three jumped and looked up at Montarg, who sat in the tree nearest to them; his reddish-brown eyes shining in the darkness. They were practically the only things they could see on his black silhouette. "When the moon comes out, my powers…slip. The sun has always been better."

"Mr. Montarg!" Maverick exclaimed happily, flailing out of his mother's arms. He ran over to the tree and stretched his arm out, swatting at the air; as if this would make Montarg come down. "Mr. Montarg!"

"…Hello, small child." Montarg grumbled, loud enough for Maverick to hear.

Amanda leaned over to Marcus, her eyes on Montarg. "How long has he been up there?"

Marcus shrugged. "Ages, probably. Sittin' in trees is 'is new thing."

Amanda stared up at the fire sorcerer, her son giggling and reaching up for Montarg; who leaned away, his lip curled in disgust. She smiled.

…

Maverick remembered those days, when Montarg was practically a god to him. It'd been so long…so long since he'd seen the moon.

It was stuck up in the sky, with no chance of moving until morning. The black sky was like glue, holding it in place; right where it belonged. The yellow-coloured moon looked like a single cat eye in the darkness; beautiful, yet sending chills down your spine. Maverick's eyes widened. He'd been in the darkness for so long, he'd forgotten how beautiful the moon was. He lifted his arm and stretched his fingers. He wanted to touch it. He wanted to touch the moon.

It reminded him. Its yellow colour reminded him.

Ellie.

Her hair used to be that colour. It had been sticky and slightly red the last time he saw her. She was still so beautiful.

And his hair had shot up into a flame-like style when he saw that she was gone. The beast had to pay for ripping apart their family. And Maverick had made it pay. That was one of the rare days that no one minded him, being a sorcerer and all. He remembered his enraged, yet petrified scream that had started his transformation. Most of Halloween Town had perished that day, but he only cared for two of the deaths.

When he grew older, the theory that Montarg had created the moon had become something to disbelieve. His innocence made him believe that 'Mr. Montarg' could do anything. It made him believe that Montarg's fire was like oxygen, something taken for granted; something so beautiful yet so underrated. Maverick had loved it when Montarg showed him fire tricks and he would giggle and clap his hands with delight, but Montarg would only stare at him confused and unsure of why this child found fire so amusing.

Montarg was his God.

It took Maverick a moment to realize the three children had wandered off in a walking bathtub. He followed them, jogging until he caught up with them, then slowed into a casual walk. "You gotta reason for taking me limbs? Hm?"

The three children didn't respond. Maverick waved a hand in front of them, "Hello?" Maverick retracted his hand and paused. "You can't hear me, can you?" He jumped out in front of them, arms and legs stretched out like a starfish's. The bathtub full of children travelled straight through his translucent figure. Maverick hugged himself and bent over after they'd gone through, but he felt no pain. "Can't see me either, then."

He was invisible to them. They couldn't see nor hear him. Might as well be…well, dead.

Maverick followed the children back to wherever they came from.

…

Maverick had to watch.

He had to watch Oogie Boogie take his mask and place it on the little, skeleton child. The boy now wore the mask in the same manner Maverick had, like an eye patch. Maverick stared in confusion as Oogie talked to his minions, and they immediately cheered. "Pile of dust! Pile of dust! Skeleton Jack will be a pile of dust!"

Maverick tilted his head. "Skeleton…Jack…?"

…

Looking out for a child who didn't know you existed, Maverick discovered, was hard work. The child was learning new words, at least. Maverick had tried to introduce himself, but not even the little skeleton boy, 'Icky', could hear him. He'd decided to stay by this boy's side. Since the child already had Maverick's limbs, he might as well have his soul. But something confused Maverick considerably.

Where was the tattoo on his arm? Did it rub off when he died? Unlikely. Maverick had tried that before, among other things.

It didn't matter, he supposed. It was better this way. No one would bad-mouth him about being a sorcerer. He hadn't seen the child do any magic, so he was pretty sure Icky couldn't.

Oh, well. He would learn.

…

"Jackson?"

Maverick stood next to the children as they were scolded, his eyes wide with shock. Jackson had certainly changed during Maverick's rotting and resurrection. His suit was now black with white pinstripes, instead of the other way around. His bow tie highly resembled a bat, stretching out and reaching passed his shoulders. His had grown an inch or two, Maverick noticed, and he didn't look particularly happy. Who was ever happy when scolding children?

Jackson was scolding the three children about spray-painting on the walls. Icky was in a sack in the bathtub. Though something was confusing Maverick.

Why were they calling him Jack? Jackson had never allowed anyone to call him Jack back in their day (he, apparently, just didn't like the name), so why now?

When Oogie and his minions had said 'Skeleton Jack', were they referring to Jackson? Did that mean…they were going to kill Jackson? Maverick didn't know how to feel. He hated Jackson, Jackson hated him. It'd been that way since they were children. But still, Jackson was his family. Did that not mean he had to protect him?

Maverick frowned. "Jackson, why'd ya change ya suit?"

Jackson didn't respond.

"Yo, Jackson! It's me, your brother-in-law!"

Still, Jackson didn't respond. He couldn't hear Maverick either. That. Git.

Maverick had to watch as 'Jack Skellington' walked away with the spray paint, after almost catching Icky.

…

Everything was going so well until then.

He didn't quite know how it could affect the child like that, but it did. What could he do? Nothing, because he was plummeting into darkness.

All because the child ate a pumpkin.

…

Author's note:

Me: Quicker update this time! Yay! This chapter is mostly little snippets on where Maverick was during Cobwebs Tend to Begin on Halloween. Since this story is supposed to be about what he was doing during Cobwebs Tend to Grow on Halloween, I'm only going to write little moments about Cobwebs Tend to Begin on Halloween. Ok? Ok.

Mav: Man, I'm cool…By the way, before anyone asks about me thinking Jack is Jackson, let me say this: a.) I'm not entirely right in the head at this moment, b.) I'm not entirely aware that this is hundreds of years later, c.) In Cobwebs Tend to Make Friends on Halloween, I said, "As soon as I saw you, Jack, I knew we were family", but I never said I knew it was Jack. Jackson technically is my family. And d.) they're pretty much like twins, the way they look. I would've thought it was Arachnid if I hadn't been at Arachnid's funeral.

Me: So, what will become of our favourite ghost?

Mav: Where will my curiosity take me next?

Mav + Me: Find out next time!

Mav: I believe you're somewhere between happy and sad, MissBliss8527. Possibly…sadpy…or sappy…or had. Dunno. And, MysteriousMoonCo, I'm not sure what 'Monty Python' is, nor what FTW means. *Shrugs* I'm over a hundred years old. But for using a 'Holy Hand Grenade' on those things…Well, that deserves a hug. *Holds out his arms* C'mere, darlin'. *Kisses your cheek as he hugs you* Don't tell me wife…