Chapter 13: The Rescue
Things could be worse for Santa, his helpers, the Doll Siblings, and Jack's apprentices.
Cobra had them all tied up and placed on four panel's of his roulette wheel: Santa and Sally on the first, Belle and the elves on the second, Vlad and Hazel on the third, Andy and Annie on the last. In the center was an immense cauldron filled with boiling content that was being mixed by a giant spider-like eight ball. It was Cobra's special brew, of Snake and Spider Stew; and his captives were the spices! Apparently these ropes were enchanted, Vlad couldn't break free and every spell Hazel tried to conduct only made the sound of a whoopee-cushion.
"Gotta admit, I'm not satisfied by how this plan turned out." Vlad commented.
This led to the rest of the captives to glare at the dhampir.
"Funny, neither are we." Edward remarked bitterly.
"You wait until Jack hears about this!" Sally shouted to Cobra.
Hazel continued for the doll. "Sam too! By the time they're done with you, you'll be luck if you-"
It was then that an announcement by an all too familiar voice rang out:
The King of Halloween has been blown to smithereens. Optimus-Jack and apprentice Sam are now a pile of dust. O, Jack! Sam! You're gone! This Mayor and all of Halloween mourn you two!
Meanwhile, a pair of doors of a statue opened up in the middle of the cemetery; out came Jack, Sam, and Patches. For any mortals not in the know, this is how the apprentices of the Pumpkin King usually traveled to the Mortal World.
"Always loved traveling like that." Sam chuckled. "I think I know where they put Sandy."
"Well, what are we waiting? let's go!" Jack declared. the shape-shifter lead the way to the tree house.
Time seemed to stand still soon as the Mayor's voice rang out through the woods.
"What's that you said about luck, rag doll?" Oogie asked smugly.
". . . Sam was with Jack . . . ." Hazel said beneath her breath. As much as she loved bad dreams, night terrors, and nightmares . . . this was one she wished was one she could wake up from.
Belle felt as if her world was falling apart. "Sam . . ." She murmured.
"Okay, I think I speak for everyone when I say . . . HELP!" Truman screamed.
"Pretty sure there's no one around to hear us." Andy said.
Well, now, I wouldn't say that. Sam thought.
"Help! Help, help!" Sally's voice rang out.
Sandy's voice was also heard. "Please! Don't do this!"
Optimus narrowed his eyes by this;he should have known better. Not only was Sam right, but it was predictable that Sandy Claws was brought here.
"Shh!" Jack hushed, motioning Sam and Patches to follow him.
They nodded climbed down the rope into the ravine that led to Cobra's lair, Patches floating behind. The shape-shifter knew what his mentor was thinking . . . and He was all for it!
"Sandy . . ." A voice called from below.
"Looks like it's Oogie's turn to boogie now." Cobra cackled as he pulled a lever that mad the panels rise more with each crank. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5-6-7!" He laughed maniacally.
"You just ruined soup for me!" Vlad murmured with wide eyes.
"Same here!" Truman agreed.
"This can't be happening!" Santa cried.
"I wish that were true, too!" Edward was on the verge of tears.
"Help!" Sandy and Annie called out.
Andy sneered at his captor. "You cowardly sack of bugs!"
"Ashes to ashes and dust to dust." Cobra mused. What no one noticed was Jack and Sam sneaking around the gate. "Oh, I'm feeling weak . . . with hunger." He growled. "One more roll of the dice oughta do it."
"I was afraid of that." Vlad whimpered. He was starting to sweat from the heat.
Any more roles of the dice and they were really in the soup for sure; literally!
"Jack . . . if only you listened . . ." Sally said sadly.
Things weren't better for Belle. "I never had the time to tell Sam how I felt . . ."
Cobra laughed as he threw his dice into the eye sockets of a fake skeleton, which came out its mouth; both landing in one.
"What?! Snake eyes?" Cobra shouted incredulously. He slammed a fist onto the table, which turned the dice to five and six respectively. "11!" He exclaimed gleefully.
"Edward . . . Belle . . . since this is the end, I have a confession to make." Truman spoke up. He looked a way for a bit, then turned fully to them. "I was the one who drank all the eggnog last Christmas!" He cried out.
Edward looked upset for this. "What?! Do you know how long it takes to restock that?!"
"We had Pinkie make gallons more when we thought it was her!" Belle added.
"I kept saying "one more glance couldn't hurt! Then it was gone; I'm sorry!" Truman moaned.
"Hazel, I just wanted you to know . . . I was the one who lit your last broom on fire! It wasn't Nibblet!" Vlad admitted.
"That's okay, because I'm the one who turned your capes pink." Hazel replied. The dhampir gave her a weird look. "I put in one of Slipstream's red socks in the cauldron! I forgot which pile was what!"
"Looks like I won the jackpot!" Cobra gloated, nearing the lever for the final cranks. "Bye-bye, Dollface, Sandman, and losers!"
"Good night, sweet prince . . ." Truman whimpered.
Edward was in no better mood. "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest . . ." he continued in resignation of his fate.
Everyone screamed as the sentient sack pulled the lever, laughing in glee as the panels rose to drop in his new 'ingredients' . . .
Nothing fell, however.
"What the-" He flipped over the panel with Sally and Sandy to see what the hold up was.
What he got were two pairs of eyes that were angrily glaring at him. It wasn't Sandy, or Belle, or Sally, or Edward, or Truman, or Annie, or Andy, or Hazel, or Vlad.
In their place was an all-too-familiar robotic skeleton, and his robotic shape-shifter of an apprentice.
Cobra gasped in horror; the game had changed out of his favor!
"Hello, Oogie." Jack greeted as he and his apprentice stepped off the panel. He was as far from happy as he was in the ravine though.
"And guys?" Sam said. His fellow apprentices were at a safe distance away with the others. "Knock off the drama already."
Words couldn't describe how happy his friends were to see him. "Sam!" They cheered.
Belle was speechless, but tears of joy showed how she felt.
"J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead!" Cobra said in pure shock. "You must be . . ." He backed up, then stepped on a switch. "Double dead!"
It was then that the roulette wheel came to life; spinning at an alarming rate as it lifted out of the stew. The spider-eight quickened in speed as giant suicide kings sprung from the edges of the roulette wheel. Their swords popping out and spun widely.
Jack and Sam struggled to keep to their feet. "Hate these rides!" Sam growled.
"Well, come on, Bone-Man and Changling!" Cobra taunted.
Patches barked at the sheer cowardice the sentient sack was showing.
Jack and Sam looked to each other, The Pumpkin King smiled as Sam shape-shifter nodded, both then sprang into action. Optimus (thanks to his thing physique) was able to traverse his way around the spinning blade, as was Sam as he was able to change his size and width.
"Ooh!" Cobra mocked as he pulled on a chain.
The suicide kings retracted their swords and plunged back into the roulette wheel, allowing Jack and Sam to walk normally. Oogie couldn't be giving up; he never gave up without a fight. It was then that the shape-shifter saw three figures approaching from their left. It was the three slot-machine cowboys. No secret what this dirt bag was up to now.
It was confirmed soon as Cobra gave the command. "Fire!"
The three slot machines began to shoot at the two . . . with real bullets! Jack and Sam knew better, however, and jumped onto the arms of the shooters.
"Gotta admit, this is good for my cardio!" Sam mockingly encouraged.
Seeing that this wasn't working, a panicking Cobra Oogie Boogie began to run away soon as he saw he was approaching Jack and Sam. He jumped and reached another switch on the roulette wheel. As he did, Sam noticed that something was coming off of the sentient sack's arm.
"Jack, look out!" Sally called out.
It was then that Optimus noticed a saw blade pendulum swinging in their direction. Thinking quickly, he grabbed Sam by the arm, then jumped off as the saw cut off the gun arms from the slot-machines. Then landed in front of a gasping Oogie Boogie, who stomped on a panel. Said panel catapulted him above the spider-eight.
"So long, Jack!" Cobra gloated and laughed.
It was then that Sam saw what was coming off of Cobra; a thread! Smiling to himself, and wanting to put an end to all this, the shape-shifter grabbed the thread with both hand. Another pair of hands grabbed just above his.
"How dare you treat our friends so shamefully?!" Jack demanded. Soon as he gave a nod, he and Sam pulled on the thread.
Before anyone knew it, a sheet from Cobra's arm ripped open as the thread got caught into the spider-eight. Then the rest of his body ripped off! What stood in place was . . . a figure made entirely out of insects!
"Now look what you've done!" Cobra wailed. It was then that, with each insect that fell into the Snake and Spider Stew, he started to shrink. "My bugs, my bugs, my bugs . . ."
Jack and Sam glared down, the other in astonishment, the Christmas Town locals in utter disgust.
Soon, only a single, green earwig remained as it wailed, "My bugs, my bugs-"
CRUNCH!
The insect met it's end soon as it was stomped upon by Santa's boot.
"SAM!"
The shape-shifter turned around . . . only to be near tackled over as he was embraced in a tight hug from Belle; he didn't hesitate to return it.
"You all right, Belle? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Sam asked in concern. He looked at her and saw that her hair was now hanging loose . . . it was prettier this way, to be honest.
"I'm fine, and I'm glad you're alright." Belle replied happily.
As this happened, Jack approached Santa Claus with his hat in hand and a look of remorse.
"Forgive me, Mr. Claws, I'm afraid I've made a terrible mess of your holiday." Said sheepishly.
The (not so much at the moment) Jolly Old Elf snatched his hat. "Bumpy sleigh ride, Jack?" He questioned sourly. "The next time you get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd listen to them!" He motioned to the Doll Siblings and his [Jack's] apprentices. "They're the only one who makes any sense in this insane asylum!"
He then trumped over to the chute, the elve not too far behind.
"Skeletons . . . Bogeymen . . ." Edward grumbled.
"Not cool, Boney." Truman remarked.
"I hope there's still time . . ." Optimus said.
"To fix Christmas?" Santa questioned.
Truman shook his head. "Not even a question!"
"Of course there's is! I'm Santa Claus!" Santa declared. He then placed his right finger next to his nose, and up he flew into the chute.
"So . . . that's how you do it." Sam said with amazement.
"I know. Isn't it cool?" Truman asked happily, totally forgetting his frustration. He did the same thing as his mentor, and up the chute he flew.
Edward was next as he looked back. "Coming, Belle?" He asked.
"Yeah . . . coming!" Belle called hesitantly as her elf friend flew up the chute.
She was about to follow . . . when she felt a hand grab hers. She looked back to see that it was the shape-shifter she had come to think as a friend. The look in his eyes were understanding, yet at the same time, they were forlorn.
"Belle . . . will I ever see you again?" Sam asked.
She didn't answer at first . . . in fact . . . she did something no one was expecting, especially Sam. The violet girl flung her arms around the shape-shifter's neck, closed her eyes, then pulled him into a kiss! Needless to say, Sam was stunned by Belle's sudden action; as was everyone else, including Jack. Slowly yet surely, Sam's eyes closed, his arm found their way around Belle's waist, and returned the kiss. The kiss seemed to go on forever, but was only a few minuets that they broke it. They looked into each other's eyes, neither wanting this feeling to end . . . but they could not delay the inevitable . . .
"I hope so . . ." Belle finally replied. She made her way to the chute, gave one last smile to her Halloween friends, then flew up the chute.
Sam could only watch as she disappeared into the chute . . . the kiss replaying in his head. He was soon surrounded by his friends.
"Sorry, Sam." Vlad said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Will you be alright?" Annie asked with concern.
"Yeah . . . I'll be just fine, guys." Sam smiled happily. "I'll be just fine . . ."
It was then that Andy noticed something, "Hey, where's your hat?" He asked.
"Oh no, did you lose it?" Hazel added.
"It's okay . . . perhaps I'll find a replacement." Sam replied. But inwardly, he was starting to feel naked without the flat cap and had doubts in finding one just like it. I hope. he thought.
On Jack's end, Sally approached him. "Santa'll fix things, Jack. He knows what to do."
The youths averted their attention to the Pumpkin King and eldest rag doll.
"How did you all get down here, Sally?" Jack asked.
"Oh, I was trying to-" She stammered. Her cheeks turned several shades of red. "Well, I wanted to-to-"
"To help him and Sam?" Hazel put in.
The apprentices and younger Doll Siblings gave the two knowing smirks. It was obvious was the point of this was.
Sally blushed harder as she tried to speak once more. "I couldn't let you just-"
"Sally, I can't believe I never realized that you-" Jack was about to say, when . . .
"Jack! Sam!"
"Of course." Sam remarked.
Hazel clenched her fists. "Figures."
"Out of all the time in the world, he chooses to appear now?" Andy asked incredulously.
Standing in the window where Jack and Sam entered was Mayor Vess and Boogie's Boys; the latter seemingly informing the former that their leader and hie eldest apprentice were alive. The Mayor even shined a flashlight into their direction.
"There he is!" Gabe called.
"Alive!" Rai added.
Allie nodded. "Just like we said!"
"Grab ahold everyone!" He called as he threw down a rope.
Everyone did as he said and were instantly whisked out of the lair.
"This changes nothing between up, you three!" Vlad shouted to Boogie's Boys.
"What he said!" Andy added.