The Nightmare Before Gravity ch. 3

I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING!

…...

After they were let go, they calmed down and had a chat. He told them all of Halloween town, his citizens love of scaring people...But also that it's just a job and their not mean, in their town of Halloween.

This plus now being calm enough to remember all the many good times they had with Jack before 'the reveal'. Helped the group accept Jack...especially Dipper. Who was, as always excited about anything supernatural.

"This is amazing...a real living skeleton...And the personification of Halloween no less! This is awesome!" Exclaims Dipper. Then a thought occurs to him. "Wait, why are you here? Halloween is like months away." Asks Dipper confused. Jack sighs. To best explain that, I'll have to go back many years...After a a glorious...if lackluster and repetitive Halloween...I had a bit of a 'after-life crisis'. Jack snaps his fingers.

(music starts and lights dim)

"Whoa, what's happening here?" Asks Dipper confused. "Shh! I think were about to have a musical number!" Whispers Mabel excitedly. Wendy rolls her eyes. "Oh, brother." But all feel silent when jack is illuminated(somehow).

There were few who deny, at what I do I am the best
For my talents are renowned far and wide
When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night
I excel without ever even trying
With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike charms
I have seen grown men give out a shriek
With a wave of my hand and a well-placed moan
I could sweep the very bravest off their feet

Yet year after year, it was the same routine
And I had grown so weary of the sound of screams
And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King
Had grown so tired of the same old thing

Oh, somewhere deep inside of these bones
An emptiness had begun to grow
There was something out there, far from my home
A longing that I've never known

I was a master of fright and a demon of light
And I'd scare you right out of your pants
To a guy in Kentucky, I'm Mister Unlucky
And I'm known throughout England and France

And since I am dead, I can take off my head
To recite Shakespearean quotations
No animal nor man can scream like I can
With the fury of my recitations

But who there would ever understand
That the Pumpkin King with the skeleton grin
Would tire of his crown, if they only understood
He'd give it all up if he only could

Oh, there was an empty place in my bones
That calls out for something unknown
The fame and praise came year after year
Did nothing for these empty tears...

"(sniff)I know I said I wasn't going to cry...but that was so beautiful!" Exclaimed a tearful Soos as he and the others also brushed off tears while clapping like mad. Jack bowed. "Thank you, thank you. And thus began both my greatest adventure...and my greatest folly." Said Jack dramatically.

Jack then further recounted his walk through the Netherlands, his finding the holiday doors, and of course his arrival to-

CHRISTMAS TOWN!? WHERE?! WHEN!? HOW!? WHY!? DETAILS! DETAILS! Demanded Mabel excitedly.

Jack smiled. "I had the exact same reaction, my dear." He snaps his fingers and the music starts again.

"Seriously, where's that coming from?" Asked Dipper before getting shushed by Mabel again-

What's this? What's this?
There was color everywhere
What's this?
There was white things in the air
What's this?
I couldn't believe my eyes
I must have been dreaming
Wake up, Jack, this isn't fair
What's this?

What's this? What's this?
There was something very wrong
What's this?
There were people singing songs

What's this?
The streets were lined with
Little creatures laughing
Everybody seemed so happy
Had I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?

There were children throwing snowballs here
Instead of throwing heads
They were busy building toys
And absolutely no one was dead

There was frost on every window
Oh, I couldn't believe my eyes
And in my bones I could feel the warmth
That's coming from inside

Oh, look
What's this?
They were hanging mistletoe, they kiss?
Why that looks so unique, inspired!
They were gathering around to hear a story
Roasting chestnuts on a fire
What's this?
What's this?

Oh, look. In here they had a little tree, how queer
And who would ever think
And why?

They covered it with tiny little things
They had electric lights on strings
And there was a smile on everyone
So, now, correct me if I'm wrong
This looks like fun
This looks like fun
Oh, could it be that I had got my wish?
What's this?

Oh my, what now?
The children were asleep
But look, there was nothing underneath
No ghouls, no witches here to scream and scare them
Or ensnare them, only little cozy things
Secure inside their dreamland
What's this?

The monsters were all missing
And the nightmares couldn't be found
And in their place there seemed to be
Good feeling all around

Instead of screams, I swear
I could hear music in the air
The smell of cakes and pies
Were absolutely everywhere

The sights, the sounds
They were everywhere and all, around!
I'd never felt so good, before!
That empty place inside of me was filling up
I simply could not get enough

I wanted it, oh, I wanted it
Oh, I wanted it for my own
I had to know
I had know
What was this place that I had found?
What is this?!

Once more Jack ended with thunderous applause. And once more he bowed. Then he continued his tale recounting the entire misadventure of his ill-conceived attempt to take-over Christmas-

"Wait, the imposter Santa was you!?" Exclaimed Mabel horrified. Jack put his hands on his face ashamed. "Yes...But I swear my intentions were pure! For the first time I was trying to make people feel wonder, not fright! Rest assured, I will never do something like that again!"

"Are you kidding! That was the best Christmas ever!" Exclaimed Dipper excited. Mabel looked at him confused. "Dipper what are you talking about? We spent the whole night cowering in fear in the hall closet!" "Not me!" Exclaimed Dipper proudly. "While you guys were doing that, I was having an amazing time with that wreath monster! He was so cool!...(sigh)Why'd mom and Dad have to force Santa to take him away?" "BECAUSE IT ATE HALF THE HOUSE!" Exclaimed Mabel in disbelief.

"Although like most people, I prefer my Christmas's to not involve blood. Having that murderous jack-in-the-box tear apart my house was a nice (hopefully one-time) break in routine. That I like to think brought me closer to my Abuelita...and to her machete collection!"

Wendy frowned. "Well...I didn't care for all the demon bats...But I did like that perpetually bleeding Ax...So I guess that Christmas was 'okay' all and all."

Jack clutched his heart in disbelief. "I...brought joy to people?" Asked Jack in wonder. "Well...just a small minority, but yeah." Admitted Dipper.

If he could, Jack would've cried. "This is wonderful news! Gaining the inspiration for all those wonderful new Halloween ideas and realizing my feelings for Sally were wonderful things to come out of that disaster on their own; but this-

"Wait, you have a girlfriend!?" Exclaimed Mabel suddenly very interested. Jack smiled. "Yes I do. She's a doll." Oh, so she's very pretty?" Asked Mabel. Jack gave a hearty laugh. "Oh, yes. Of course, that too...But I meant she's literally a doll made of numerous reanimated corpse parts stitched together!"

"Oh...well...that's...interesting." Murmured Mabel as she and the rest of the group desperately tried not to think too hard about the disturbing implications of such a relationship...or at least not vomit...

…...

TO BE CONTINUED?

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