Soon enough, the elevator reached the top floor of the lab. The doctor seemed to be waiting for the boys. He was waiting at the other side of the room, his back turned to them.
"Dr. Finkelstein!" Jack said, stepping out of the elevator. "Why are you doing this?"
Eddy ran out in front of Jack. "Where's Double D, ya quack?" he asked the Doctor.
Jack looked at Eddy, then back at the Doctor. "Okay, I admit, the Doctor does look a little like a duck, but . . . "
"Ah, Jack," the Doctor said suddenly. "I see you managed to make it here." He wheeled his chair around so he was facing the boys. "You've been busy, Jack. I think it's time for you to rest." He then flipped the top part of his head open so he could poke his brain. But what was actually inside wasn't what Ed, Eddy, or Jack anticipated . . .
"EWWWW!" Eddy yelled when he saw the big green . . . thing inside Dr. Finkelstein's head. "What is that?"
Jack gasped. "Oogie switched his brain!"
"It is so gross!" said Ed. "Can I touch it next?"
Dr. Finkelstein wheeled his chair to the center of the room. "Shall we begin?" he sneered. "I think you'll like this device. I made it especially for YOU!"
Suddenly, the machine the Doctor seemed to be controlling came alive. The lasers on it took aim. Four giant metal claws lowered.
Jack and Eddy were wide-eyed. Ed was too, but for a different reason.
"COOL!" the Stouthearted Ed with the one eyebrow shouted.
Eddy looked at his friend. "Tell me, Ed," he said. "What's it like to have buttered toast for a brain?"
"Ed? Eddy? Is that you?"
Ed and Eddy started looking around the room. They knew that voice for sure.
"DOUBLE D!" Ed yelled, pointing to one of the Doctor's desks.
Sure enough, there was Double D, hiding behind the desk.
"There you are, Sockhead!" said Eddy. "Get out here, will ya? You gotta help us with the doc!"
"I can't, Eddy!" said Double D.
"What do you mean you can't?" asked Eddy.
"Because I'm not decent, that's why!" said Double D.
"What?" asked Eddy.
"Why's the Doctor wearing Double D's hat?" Ed asked suddenly.
Eddy looked back at the Doctor. Ed was right. Sitting atop the Doctor's bald head was Double D's sock hat.
"You couldn't leave just because the doc stole your stupid hat?" Eddy asked Double D in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Jack was eyeing something else. Next to the desk Double D was hiding behind, there was a tray with the Doctor's real brain on it.
"We have to switch the Doctor's real brain back to save him," said Jack. "Let's see . . . if we open his head from behind . . . then get in front of him . . . and throw his real brain in . . . Yes! That should work!"
"Okay, we've got that part figured out," said Eddy. "But how do we get close enough to pull the switcheroo?"
"With free lunch from Miss Sally, Eddy MaGee!" said Ed.
"Ed, what the heck are you . . . " Eddy began, turning to his friend. "Huh?"
Ed was still holding Sally's soup.
"Wait a minute!" said Jack. "That's right! We have the Sleeping Soup that Sally made!"
"Okay," said Eddy. "Now we just have to . . . "
"Here's some soup for you, Doctor," said Ed. Jack and Eddy didn't know it, but Ed had simply walked straight up to the Doctor and gave him the soup. "May it serve you well! Here ya go."
Surprisingly, the Doctor ate the whole thing. And just like that, he slumped over in his wheelchair.
"Wow," said Eddy. "That's fast."
"Now's our chance!" said Jack. "Open his head up, Ed!"
"Can do," said Ed. He began to carefully open the Doctor's head up. . .
But unfortunately, the soup apparently wasn't strong enough, because the Doctor awoke with a start. Ed jumped and ran back to Eddy and Jack.
"Ed, you dolt," Eddy growled.
Dr. Finkelstein started the machine up again.
"Oh, I do fear that he means business, gentlemen!" Double D called from his hiding spot. "Please be careful. And for the love of humanity, get my hat back!"
Ed, Eddy, and Jack readied their weapons. Dr. Finkelstein began his relentless attack.
Dr. Finkelstein: This town has changed, my boy
Since you've been away!
Without a Pumpkin King
It's Oogie Boogie's way!
Jack: Doctor, please!
Oh, can't you see you're wrong?
Dr. Finkelstein: You were the king
But now you're nothing but prey!
Oogie Boogie is back
And he's planning to stay!
Jack: It's a crazy web you're weaving!
Oogie Boogie will soon be leaving!
Doctor, please!
It's not too late!
Dr. Finkelstein: All my machines will seal your fate!
My lasers will slice you! The days of your good-natured
My knives will cut deep!
And when it's all over
Sally, she will weep!
Mayhem are through!
I'll tear up this town!
And I'm starting with you!
"Geez . . . " Eddy mumbled. He was appalled by the Doctor's words.
"We'll rescue you, Doctor!" said Jack.
"Never, Jack!" said the Doctor.
Dr. Finkelstein: Well, now, my boy
It seems you've lost your crown!
In a few mere moments
You'll be six feet in the ground!
Jack: Stop at once!
Can't you see this is absurd?
Dr. Finkelstein: No more tricks!
Your friends are now your foes!
And now this dance is
Nearing its close
Jack: All these people that you're hurting Doctor, please!
Oh, good doctor, it's disconcerting
Your thinking is all wrong!
Dr. Finkelstein: In a moment finally you'll be gone!
Jack: Your intentions are evil!
Eddy: Your thoughts are all bad!
Ed: The "thing" that you work for
Is no more than a cad!
Jack, Ed, Eddy: When finally we get that
Foul brain out of you
You'll see no more foes
But friends that are true!
"Well, Jack," said the Doctor. "Like my inventions?"
"Heck, no!" said Eddy.
"He was talking to Jack, Eddy," said Ed.
"Doctor, you've got to control yourself!" said Jack.
Dr. Finkelstein: This town has changed, my boy
Since you've been away!
Without a Pumpkin King
It's Oogie Boogie's way!
Jack: Doctor, please!
Oh, can't you see you're wrong?
Dr. Finkelstein: You were the king
But now you're nothing but prey!
Oogie Boogie is back
And he's planning to stay!
Jack: It's a crazy web you're weaving!
Oogie Boogie will soon be leaving!
Doctor, please!
It's not too late!
Dr. Finkelstein: All my machines will seal your fate!
My lasers will slice you! The days of your good-natured
My knives will cut deep!
And when it's all over
Sally, she will weep!
Mayhem are through!
I'll tear up this town!
And I'm starting with you!
"Just about done, Doctor," said Jack.
"Curse you, boy!" said Dr. Finkelstein.
"You're welcome!" said Ed.
Dr. Finkelstein: Well, now, my boy
It seems you've lost your crown!
In a few mere moments
You'll be six feet in the ground!
Jack: Stop at once!
Can't you see this is absurd?
Dr. Finkelstein: No more tricks!
Your friends are now your foes!
And now this dance is
Nearing its close
Jack: All these people that you're hurting Doctor, please!
Oh, good doctor, it's disconcerting
Your thinking is all wrong!
Dr. Finkelstein: In a moment finally you'll be gone!
Jack: You shoot and attack us
Eddy: It rolls off our backs!
Ed: He's not your enemy
He's the Pumpkin King, Jack!
Jack, Ed, Eddy: When this is all over
Good friends we will be!
You'll praise Oogie no more!
You can take that from me!
"Oogie's had control over you long enough!" said Jack.
"I'm not defeated yet!" said Dr. Finkelstein.
"You'd think that, wouldn't you?" asked Eddy, a sly grin forming on his face.
"Huh?" Jack and the Doctor asked together.
"NOW, ED!" Eddy called to his friend.
Suddenly, Ed popped up behind the Doctor, holding the Doctor's real brain. "Contact!" he said, opening the Doctor's head up. He then grabbed the Oogie brain and quickly switched it. Then he slammed the Doctor's head shut and ran off with the Oogie brain.
Suddenly, the giant machine stopped. The Doctor grabbed his head and started moaning. Then he slumped over in his wheelchair again.
Eddy looked at Ed, who was busy poking the Oogie brain. "Get rid of that thing, Ed," said Eddy. "You don't know where it's been."
"Yes I do," said Ed. "It was in the Doctor's head. Want to touch it?" He held the Oogie brain in Eddy's face.
"It's twitching, Ed," said Eddy, backing away. "I said get rid of it."
Ed pouted. "Okay . . . " he said, throwing the Oogie brain into one of the nearby trash cans.
Just then, the Doctor sat up again and wheeled himself over to Jack and the two Stouthearted Eds. "I'm sorry, Jack and . . . " He looked at Ed and Eddy.
"Stouthearted Eds," Eddy finished.
"Stouthearted Eds," the Doctor repeated. "I never imagined my brain would be replaced an the town deceived . . . "
"My hat, thank you."
Nobody noticed that Double D had walked out of his hiding place and right up behind the Doctor. Double D carefully took his hat away from the Doctor.
Jack looked at Double D. "WHOA!" he said, his eyes widening.
Even Dr. Finkelstein looked a little shocked. "My goodness . . . "
"Well, I can certainly see why you didn't want to go out in public, Double D," said Jack.
Double D put his hat back on his head. "Well, although I hate to admit it, I actually have you to thank, Doctor," he said. "If you hadn't taken my hat away from me, I wouldn't have hidden and found . . . this."
Then Double D reached behind him and picked something up for the others to see. It was a giant door in the shape of a four-leaf clover.
"Doctor!" Jack exclaimed. "The St. Patrick's Day Door!"
"Indeed," said Dr. Finkelstein. "That is a Holiday Door. Hmm . . . " Suddenly, he gasped. "Jack!" he said, a sudden urgency in his voice. "What's today's date?"
"December 24," said Ed.
Double D counted on his fingers. "December 24," he concluded.
Eddy gasped.
"Oh no," said Jack, who was also suddenly worried. "It's almost Christmas!"
"I wonder what's happening with the Christmas Door?" said the Doctor.
"Considering everything else that's happened . . . probably something very, very bad!" said Double D. "Let's hope we can find it soon!"
"We need to go back to the Pumpkin Patch," said Jack. "But it won't be easy. According to Ed, Oogie's ghosts have possessed the pumpkins at the entrance, preventing anyone from entering."
"Hmm . . . " said Double D. "While we're probably able to strike the outer vessels with our weapons, they surely wouldn't be able to attack the creatures inside them, which are the real targets," he thought aloud. "However . . . " Suddenly, Double D's face lit up. "However, if we were to create a device that could somehow daunt the apparitions out of the protection from inside the gourds, their newly accessible state would allow all of us to beset the apparitions without any of us taking any real blight!"
Ed and Eddy just stared at Double D. What the heck did he just say?
Even Jack looked a little confused. "Uh . . . okay," he said finally, even though he had no idea what he was agreeing to.
The Doctor seemed to be the only one who understood. He gasped. "I get it!" he exclaimed. "We'll scare those monsters out of the pumpkins! G-give me just a moment . . . "
Then the Doctor wheeled over to one of his desks. Jack looked at him in disbelief. He had understood all that?
"Why didn't you just say that in the first place, Sockhead?" asked Eddy.
Double D sighed. "Pardon me for not speaking in your native tongue, Eddy," he said.
"Is the Doctor himself again?"
The Stouthearted Eds and Jack turned to see Sally entering the lab, holding a green present.
"Unfortunately," Eddy joked.
"He's making a device that will help us defeat Oogie's army," Jack explained.
"Jack . . . " said Sally, holding out the green present. "Do you think this will be helpful, too?"
"What's this?" Jack asked, taking the present.
Eddy smiled. "I think I know . . . " he said.
Then, with a twirl of snowflakes, Jack was dressed in a different costume.
Eddy took one look at the costume and started laughing. He had been right about what it was.
"It's Sandy's Costume!" Jack exclaimed, looking at his old red suit and long white beard.
"Ha ha!" the Doctor laughed as he wheeled himself back over to the group. "That outfit really suits you! I completed the Scare Device." And with that, he handed Jack another box which looked like another present. "If I told you what's in it though that would ruin the surprise!" the Doctor added.
"Aww . . . " said Ed.
"Hide this in your Sandy Bag and use it to stun Oogie's monsters!" said Dr. Finkelstein.
