Disclaimer: The following is a made up reprisal I thought up.
Chapter 12: Making Christmas Reprise/Poor Jack
Water . . .
. . . That was all he held hear . . . all he could see . . . It was almost as if . . . as if . . .
. . . Almost as if . . . it were a river . . .
Sam . . .
Who was that?
Sam . . . Sam . . . Sam!
The shape-shifter gasped as his eyes snapped open.
At first, everything seemed to be in a haze; he was still alive, that was for certain. He rubbed his temples and shook his head, which did the trick as his sight cleared up. Looking around, the shape-shifter saw that he was in a setting that he normally felt at easy; a cemetery. Sitting up in the snow, he saw that he was sitting under a grave with an angel statue who appeared to be reading a book.
Looking around, he saw that though it was near the front gate, some of these graves were very old-looking. Scattered around were the charred remains of the presents everyone in Halloween Town worked hard to make, the sleigh not too far away; still in flames. Sam placed both hand on his head, but realized something; the hat he'd grown accustomed to was gone! Frantic, he searched around for the flat cap in the snow, bur could not find a trace of it. He did find a hat, his eyes widened when e saw it wasn't the one he was wearing. It was the one that belonged to Sandy Claws. The very same that Jack had worn.
Picking it up, Sam saw that it was without a scratch despite being shot out of the sky. It wasn't damaged, but Sam was; emotionally.
"How did this happen? It's . . . It's a disaster." Sam whimpered.
He looked around the cemetery.
Sam: Making Christmas . . . Making Christmas . . .
La, la, la . . .
He sat against the angel statue with his head slumped.
Sam: Halloween and Christmastime,
Are so very different . . .
He inspected the cap as he recollected everything that lead to this moment.
Sam: We thought we could make something fun,
As we went along . . .
Though he wished was all but a dream to wake up from, the fact of the matter that it was real.
Sam: But . . . We . . .
Were . . . So . . . Wrong . . .
Perhaps being Jack's ward for so long was starting to rub up on him . . . it was then that memories from recent event caught up with him. Jack shielded him from harm right when the they were blasted out of the sky.
Then another question came to mind: where as Jack?! The shape-shifter struggle to his feet, then looked around the graveyard to find a trace of his mentor.
"Jack? Jack! Where are you?" Sam called out.
It was then that a sound of a moan was hear, it was low and filled pain; almost as if it were beaten. The shape-shifter also heard the sound of a dog whimpering. He knew that whimper. Sam looked up to see the flying form of Patches flying up to the angel statue with something in his mouth. He then saw that there was a figured that laid on the stone book of the statue; it was Jack! The Pumpkin King laid motionless, his Claws outfit was torn, tattered, covered with soot, and he was missing his lower jaw.
To Sam's relief, Jack moved as soon as Patched placed the lower jaw on the robotic skeleton's mouth; allow him to reattach it. The Pumpkin King moaned in more pain. Patches floated down next to Sam as they watched Jack writhe.
Jack: What have I done? What have I done?
How could I be so blind?
Patches whimpered more by the sound of this, leading Sam to pat the ghost puppy.
Jack: All is lost, where was I?
Spoiled all, spoiled all . . .
The Pumpkin King gestured around the graveyard, which was littered with all the present Jack intended to deliver; some still ablaze.
Jack: Everything's gone all wrong . . .
Jack sounded so sad, yes, this night wasn't what he wanted it to be . . . but Sam wished there would be no more negativity; haven't they been through enough?
Jack: What have I done? What have I done?
Find a deep cave to hind in;
In a million years they'll find me, Only dust,
And a plaque, that reads:
"Here Lies
Poor, Old
Jack"
The Pumpkin King laid back into the stone book. Patches cuddled to Sam for comfort, the shape-shifter himself feeling as though tears were about to sprout.
Jack: But I never intended all this madness, never,
And no one really understood, well, how could they?
This tone of voice surprised Sam and Patches as Jack sat up in the angel's stone book, his legs dangling over the edge.
Jack: That all I ever wanted was to bring them some thing great!
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?
Sam staggered back, surprised by how furious Jack was beginning to sound just now. No! The shape-shifter understood that this was another opportunity, and decided that self-pity would not be allowed! He took a deep breath, looked up to his mentor, then approached with renewed determination.
Sam: Well, what the heck, you went and did your best!
And, by God! We really tasted something swell; that's right!
Jack looked down to see Sam climbing up the statue until he stood on the stone book with him. The Pumpkin King smiled to see that his star apprentice was unharmed, though he did notice that his flat cap was gone. The shape-shifter offered the robotic skeleton a hand, which he was more than happy to accept.
Sam: And for a moment, why, we even touched the sky!
They both jumped off the statue, thankfully the snow cushioned their landing.
Sam: And at least we've left them stories they could tell . . .
Jack: We did!
Sam was right, about everything, why in the darkest recesses of the Underworld did it take Jack to realize all this? Patches smiled when he saw his owner happy once again.
Jack: And for the first time since I don't remember when,
I felt just like my old, bony self again . . .
Man, it felt so good to get all this off his chest.
Jack: And I, Optimus-Jack, the Pumpkin King,
That's right . . .
Sam: What?
Had the shape-shifter heard his mentor right?
He watched in shock as Jack tore off his Christmas clothing to reveal his normal pinstripe suit was underneath the whole time.
Jack: I AM THE PUMPKIN KING! Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Sam nearly staggered soon as Jack shouted, but kept his footing. He smiled by his mentor's decision, and found his laughter to be infectious and joined in himself. Patches smiled as well by the laughing duo and happily flipped in the air
Jack: And I just can't wait till next Halloween!
Sam followed Jack as they stood on a bench, which fell backwards under them.
Jack: 'Cause I've got some new ideas that will really make them scream!
Jack did a somersault as Sam did a cartwheel to a back-flip; both continuing on dancing.
Jack: And, by God, I'm really going to give it all my might!
Sam stood by his mentor.
Sam: And I'll be right by your side!
As will Vlad and Hazel!
It was then that a thought came to Jack soon as he saw a familiar hat in Sam's hand.
Jack: Uh-oh, I hope there's still time to set thing right,
Sandy Claws, hmm . . .
Jack held out his hand, indicating he wanted to see the hat; Sam complied and handed it over to his mentor.
"Come on, boys! Christmas isn't over yet!" Jack said, placing the hat into his pocket.
"Right behind you, Jack." Sam replied. Patches barked in agreement.
They ran over the the angel statue and opened the front as if they were doors, then delve right in.
As they left, however; they failed to see one headstone in particular:
In
Loving Memory
-Of-
Samuel Alistair Hennessy
Son of Town Founder
Seamus Hennessy
1830-1847