Author's Note: Merry belated Christmas, happy belated New Year, and happy any other holidays I may have not mentioned! Sorry for the short hiatus; I've been busy with the holidays, semester test week is coming up at my school, and I've had a slight case of writer's block. But now I'm back, with hopefully a satisfying chapter! Happy reading! ;)-AMX


To make a long story short, Jack and Kevin's plan, as explained to the others, was this:

Minus Eddy, the team had fourteen members. The others would form two pairs of six, and try to infiltrate Oogie's lair from two places. Apparently, Kevin and Jack were going to try something together, but when asked about it, they refused to give any details, saying it was a "surprise."

---

Before the others knew it, they had ventured into the woods, toward the supposed location of Oogie's lair. Ed was captain of one team, and Double D was captain of the other.

Ed was, of course, for the idea of infiltrating the "Evil Oogie Man's" lair and showing everyone just what "Lothar" could do. May immediately offered to be on Ed's team because she wanted to be with her "boyfriend." Rolf thought that this would be a good experience for the Urban Rangers, so he volunteered himself, along with Jonny and Jimmy, to go along with the "no-chinned Ed boy."

"Big Ed, tell me again how you defeated this Oogie guy," May said dreamily, walking next to Ed.

Ed smiled. Normally, he wouldn't even want to be this close to a Kanker. But if there was one thing he felt like doing at the moment, it was gloating.

"Well . . . " Ed began for about the 500th time that night, "he was a fighter, and tried to eliminate Santa he did. But Lothar the mighty Viking took out his trusty flipper, and . . . "

"You've changed that part every time you've told this story," an annoyed voice barked from behind Ed, May, and the Urban Rangers. "How about telling us the truth this time?"

Rolf looked behind them. Dr. Finkelstein had been elected to go with Ed's team, but he was still opposed to the whole thing. He had agreed not to interfere; that didn't mean he couldn't protest! But since the ground in the forest was bumpy, the doctor was having a hard time keeping up in his wheelchair.

Rolf turned back to Jonny and Jimmy. "Urban Rangers, Rolf feels that this is the perfect opportunity to earn his "Helping the Elderly" badge. You shall take notes, yes?"

"Got it!" said Jonny as he and Jimmy each got out a small notepad. "Pay attention, Plank."

"Observe," said Rolf. He then ran back to where the struggling doctor until he was directly behind the wheelchair. Then Rolf grabbed the bar, and started running forward at top speed!

The doctor first showed a look of surprise, then more irritation. "I don't need any help from anybody!" he snapped as he and Rolf zoomed by the other kids.

When Ed saw this, he suddenly took off after Rolf and the doctor, trying to catch them. At the last second, Ed was able to overtake them, and he stopped right in front of the sun of a shepherd.

Rolf skidded to a stop just before the wheelchair hit Ed. And the doctor had something else to complain about because of this, because in about a second he had gone from being pushed into his chair to almost being thrust out of it.

"Why do you stop us, no-brained Ed boy?" asked Rolf.

"Do not belay yourself, Rolf," said Ed. "For the mighty Lothar shall act as the lead." He then began marching again, at the front of the line.

"That boy is alone in his own little world," Dr. Finkelstein grumbled as he sat up again in the wheelchair while Rolf slowed to a walk.

"So why can't he ever be alone with me?" asked May.

---

Meanwhile, Double D was in another part of the forest, leading the rest of the group, which consisted of all girls. Namely: Sally, Sarah, Nazz, Marie, and Lee.

"Oh, I do hope Jack knows what he's doing," said Double D, as he navigated through the forest.

"Me too . . . " said Sally. "We certainly know how his previous plans have gone . . . "

"Don't remind me . . . " said Double D.

"Uh, Double D?" asked Nazz. "If we actually run into one of these Oogie dude's henchmen, what should we do?"

"Well, if I've learned anything from fighting Oogie, it's that he looks a lot more intimidating than he really is," Double D explained. "It's the same with his monsters. For me, one good swing of my Death Rattle was enough to turn them into dust. So I'm sure it would be the same with a few good punches." Double D paused and looked at the group behind him. "And judging by our group, that shouldn't be hard to accomplish."

Except for maybe Sally, Double D thought they had a good advantage against the monsters. He personally knew that Nazz had some painful karate moves from the incident during Eddy's "Edtropolis" scam; Marie would definitely be there to protect her "honey bun" (unfortunately); Lee was still ticked off that Oogie had taken Eddy away, so she was probably itching to fight; and Sarah . . . well, she was always angry, so it would be a cinch for her.

And, as fate would have it, the team was about to be put to the test.

All of the sudden, one of Oogie's skeletons popped up in front of Double D. The whole team jumped. Before they knew it, they were all surrounded.

"Perfect," said Lee. "I've been meaning to blow off some steam."

"Get ready to fight, team," said Double D.

"Sure thing, Double D," said Marie.

Nazz also joined the fray with a few punches and kicks. Sally, on the other hand, ducked behind a tree while Sarah just . . . stood there.

Double D looked at Sarah as he was swinging his Death Rattle around. "Anytime you can join us would be greatly appreciated, Sarah!" he said.

"Well, I can't just get angry," said Sarah. "Usually it's 'cause you guys are doing such stupid stuff that gets me really mad."

Double D's mind raced. Then an idea so crazy, it might work hit him. "Sarah!" he called to Ed's little sister. "Pretend that Ed left his underwear in your room!"

All of the sudden, Sarah's whole body shook. She began to growl, her eyes looked wild, and it almost seemed like foam was coming from her mouth. Then she took a deep breath, and put those lungs to good use.

---

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!"

On the other side of the forest, Ed's group stopped.

"That sounded like Sarah," said Ed.

"Oh, that was probably a coyote or something," the doctor grumbled.

Just then, Rolf stopped. Then he put a hand to his ear. Then Ed stopped and did the same.

"What's that, Plank?" asked Jonny. "Kids? Where?"

That's when the whole team heard it. Three kids. Giggling. Ed immediately knew who it was. Shushing the rest of the group, they all cautiously peeked through the bushes. Guess who they saw, and guess what they were singing?

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Kidnap the Stouthearted Eds?

Lock: I wanna do it

Barrel: Use your head

Shock: He said we should work together

Barrel: Three of a kind

Lock: Birds of a feather

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Now and forever
Weeee
La, la, la, la, la

Kidnap Stouthearted Eds
Lock them up real tight!
Throw away the key and then
Turn off all the lights!

Shock: First, we're going to set some bait
Inside a nasty trap and wait!
When they come a-sniffing we will
Snap the trap and close the gate!

Lock: Wait, I've got a better plan
To catch these mighty stuck-up men!
Let's pop them in a boiling pot
And when they're done we'll butter them up!

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Kidnap Stouthearted Eds
Throw them in a box!
Bury them for ninety years
Then see if they talk!

Shock: Then Mr. Oogie Boogie Man

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Can take this whole place over then!
He'll be so pleased, I do declare!
That he will cook him rare!
Wheee!

Lock: I say that we take a cannon
Aim it at their door and then
Knock three times, and when they answer
Those three Eds will be no more!

Shock: You're so stupid! Think now
If we blow them up to smithereens
We may lose some pieces and then

Lock, Shock: Oogie beats us black and green!

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Kidnap Stouthearted Eds
Tie them in a bag!
Throw them in the ocean then
See if they are sad!

Meanwhile, in his spot from the bushes, Ed seemed to be getting into the song.

Ed: 'Cause this Oogie Boogie guy
He is the meanest guy around!
If I were on his Boogie list
I'd get out of town!

Barrel: He'll be so pleased by our success
That he'll reward us too, I bet!

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Perhaps he'll make his special brew
Of snake and spider stew!

We're his little henchmen and
We take our job with pride!
We do our best to please him
And stay on his good side!

Shock: I wish my cohorts weren't so dumb!

Barrel: I'm not the dumb one!

Lock: You're no fun!

Shock: Shut up!

Lock: Make me!

Shock: I've got something, listen now
This one is real good, you'll see!
We'll send a present to their cell
Upon there'll be a note to read!

Now, in the box we'll wait and hide
Until their curiosity

Lock, Shock, Barrel: Entices them to look inside
And then we'll have them!
One, two, three!

Lock, Shock, Barrel, Ed: Kidnap Stouthearted Eds
Beat them with a stick!
Lock them up for ninety years
See what makes them tick!

Kidnap Stouthearted Eds
Chop them into bits!
Mister Oogie Boogie is
Sure to get his kicks!

Kidnap Stouthearted Eds
See what we will see!
Lock them in a cage and then
Throw away the key!

Ed: A shooba dop
bobba dooba
dah-boo dah-boo
dah-boo dah-boo
dah . . . ?

Ed suddenly stopped singing and dancing to the song, only to find that all eyes from both parties were staring at him. He then stood normally, and a content grin appeared on his face.

Ed: . . .Yeah.

"Never a dull moment with this clown, huh Plank?" asked Jonny.

"There he is!" Lock exclaimed.

"It's Lothar!" said Barrel.

"GET HIM!" Shock shouted.

"Uh oh," said Ed as an army of skeletons appeared around the team.

"ROLF WILL RELEASE HIS RAGE NOW!" Rolf shouted, barreling into the battlefield.

"Woo hoo!" said Jonny. "Let's go, Plank!"

"Oh . . . " Jimmy muttered. Then he forced himself to muster up every bit of courage he had. "I. . .I'm going to give you such a pinch!" he said as he ran after Rolf and Jonny.

Dr. Finkelstein sighed. "Never send a kid to do a doctor's job . . . " he muttered as he slowly wheeled in after the kids.

---

Meanwhile, while all this was going on, Eddy was still trapped in Oogie's lair, in a small tiny cell with only one-barred window, which was completely out of his reach. The only thing for Eddy to do was fool around with the Yo-Yo Mace. And after a while, even that got boring. Also, there was the problem of figuring out a way to get out of the cell. But . . . there was one major flaw in this: Eddy couldn't find one. For once in his life, Eddy couldn't think of a solution to his predicament. Sighing, he sat down in the middle of his cell. Then, remembering one of the songs from the play, Eddy began to sing.

Eddy: How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold

How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no

And especially people
Who care about strangers
Who care about evil
And social injustice
Do you only
Care about the bleeding crowd?
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend

How can people be so heartless
You know I'm hung up on you
Easy to give in
Easy to help out

And especially people
Who care about strangers
Who say they care about social injustice
Do you only
Care about the bleeding crowd
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend

How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no

Just then, Eddy heard a strange rattling sound behind him. He turned around and looked up. Someone had ripped the bars off the little window! Then, before Eddy could react, a very tall, slender figure jumped into his cell, followed by a shorter figure who seemed to be wearing a hat.

"Jack!" Eddy exclaimed, relieved to see his skeletal friend. Then, looking behind Jack, Eddy's relief turned to confusion. "Kevin?"

"Yeah, it's me," Kevin grumbled.

"We're busting you out of here, Eddy," said Jack. "Everyone's working together on this one. We're going to bring down Oogie!"

"No foolin'?" asked Eddy. He then turned back to Kevin. "So what possessed you to make you want to come help me?"

Kevin looked at his feet. "Ah . . . " For some reason, he couldn't find the right words. "Well . . . I got to thinking, and . . . oh, it'd be boring around here without you, dor . . . Eddy."

"Whoa!" Eddy exclaimed, surprised that Kevin actually knew what his real name was. "I didn't know you cared, Kev."

"I don't," said Kevin. "I'm just sayin' that it wouldn't be as much fun if I didn't have someone to pound on all the time."

"Well, now that we have that out of the way . . . " said Jack. "Aren't you going to tell Eddy your idea, Kevin?"

"Oh, yeah," said Kevin, taking out the copy of his script and showing it to Eddy. "Well, here's what I've been thinking. It's not gonna be pleasant for either of us, but hopefully we can make it work."