Jack lay on the ground as the enlarged Oogie Boogie approached.
Oogie paused and grinned as his foot rose above the Pumpkin King's skull.
"-and now, it's over."
The monster's foot raced to the ground to crush poor Jack, but before he could finish the deed Oogie Boogie was toppled by something in the dark. Far off in the room he rose to see the very likeness of the statue Jack had admired earlier.
"You thought you could be rid of me" the voice boomed. "You thought you could take MY throne? Never." The creature let out a sigh and stepped into the light. He was a tall and thin man, much like Jack, but he was no skelleton. He was a creature of flesh. In his human hands he held a carved jack 'o lantern and turned to face Jack.
As Jack regained consciousness he looked up to see the man strike terror into the famed Boogie Man. The insects upon Oogie Boogie instantly scattered at the sight of the man.
"You're as good as dead; you- you can't be here!" whinned the Boogie Man.
The monster did not answer, he approached Jack in silence. After helping him up they began to converse.
"You're him, aren't you? The one that the Mayor told me about. The former Pumpkin King." He nodded. "With your return I can renounce my title to you."
"No Jack, my time is long passed. You are the rightful king. I ask only that you keep this creature," he glared at Oogie Boogie who now lie unconscious on the floor, "from controlling any more good creatures' fate."
Jack nodded with a grin.
The ghastly dog barked gleefully as he chased away the pats of the manor and approached Jack. "This pup is free now Jack, and he needs a home. I think the two of you have much in common," his voice trailed off.
Jack tapped his side and the dog leapt to him. "If you live with me, you'll need a name. So what will I call you?"
"I believe he is has never known a true friend." "One with no friends... no friends... zero friends.... That's so sad! Well, he has one now. Come alone 'Zero,' I will show you your new home." Jack turned to leave and the former king faded away into the gloom.
"Good luck, Jack. Much turmoil awaits you, but with your friends by your side you can survive anything." The former king waited for Jack to leave before changing. His skin broke out into fur and fangs filled his maw. He was a werewolf; a power of prestiege in some family lines. "Now, Boogie Man, we're going to have some fun."
Days passed until Lock, Shock, and Barrel came loooking for their master. Oogie Boogie still layed sprawed out on the floor. Now his seams were tore and claw marks were all about him. "Sir? Are you okay?" the trio called. He stood shakily and anger filled his eyes. "How?!? How did he do it? How could that miserable skelleton have freed that blasted werewolf? I sealed him as a trophey! The only way to reverse that is if you know the exact spell I cast on him! NO ONE COULD KNOW!" He paced back and forth and thought aloud. "We don't know," the trio called in unison. All the while they crossed their fingers behind their backs.
"-and now, it's over."
The monster's foot raced to the ground to crush poor Jack, but before he could finish the deed Oogie Boogie was toppled by something in the dark. Far off in the room he rose to see the very likeness of the statue Jack had admired earlier.
"You thought you could be rid of me" the voice boomed. "You thought you could take MY throne? Never." The creature let out a sigh and stepped into the light. He was a tall and thin man, much like Jack, but he was no skelleton. He was a creature of flesh. In his human hands he held a carved jack 'o lantern and turned to face Jack.
As Jack regained consciousness he looked up to see the man strike terror into the famed Boogie Man. The insects upon Oogie Boogie instantly scattered at the sight of the man.
"You're as good as dead; you- you can't be here!" whinned the Boogie Man.
The monster did not answer, he approached Jack in silence. After helping him up they began to converse.
"You're him, aren't you? The one that the Mayor told me about. The former Pumpkin King." He nodded. "With your return I can renounce my title to you."
"No Jack, my time is long passed. You are the rightful king. I ask only that you keep this creature," he glared at Oogie Boogie who now lie unconscious on the floor, "from controlling any more good creatures' fate."
Jack nodded with a grin.
The ghastly dog barked gleefully as he chased away the pats of the manor and approached Jack. "This pup is free now Jack, and he needs a home. I think the two of you have much in common," his voice trailed off.
Jack tapped his side and the dog leapt to him. "If you live with me, you'll need a name. So what will I call you?"
"I believe he is has never known a true friend." "One with no friends... no friends... zero friends.... That's so sad! Well, he has one now. Come alone 'Zero,' I will show you your new home." Jack turned to leave and the former king faded away into the gloom.
"Good luck, Jack. Much turmoil awaits you, but with your friends by your side you can survive anything." The former king waited for Jack to leave before changing. His skin broke out into fur and fangs filled his maw. He was a werewolf; a power of prestiege in some family lines. "Now, Boogie Man, we're going to have some fun."
Days passed until Lock, Shock, and Barrel came loooking for their master. Oogie Boogie still layed sprawed out on the floor. Now his seams were tore and claw marks were all about him. "Sir? Are you okay?" the trio called. He stood shakily and anger filled his eyes. "How?!? How did he do it? How could that miserable skelleton have freed that blasted werewolf? I sealed him as a trophey! The only way to reverse that is if you know the exact spell I cast on him! NO ONE COULD KNOW!" He paced back and forth and thought aloud. "We don't know," the trio called in unison. All the while they crossed their fingers behind their backs.