"Looks to me like he has some big plans." said a female voice behind the rag doll.
Sally jumped at the voice, a little embarrassed she was overheard. She turned around to face whoever had spoken to her only to find she was a figure covered in a black hooded cloak without even the smallest amount of light revealing her face. Instead of finding words to speak, Sally actually backed away from this person.
"Oh, I frightened you, didn't I? Yes, I do that sometimes," said the figure in an unapologetic tone.
"Who are you?"
"Me? No one special. I'm just a drifter. But I noticed your little thoughts on 'fly boy'. Chances are he is up to something. Something important. What do you think?"
"That's nonsense. Jack would tell me if he was planning anything special."
"Sweetie, have you looked around? You're being kept in the dark. I suggest you turn on the lights and see what's really going on here."
And with a swish of her cloak, the figure stormed off. In no time, she had made it to the treehouse, and it took even less time for her to enter the lair of Oogie Boogie. Lock, Shock, and Barrel were still repairing the mechanical cowboys, so they didn't notice her. Oogie certainly did.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Miss Trouble herself. Go on and get rid of that heavy cloak."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Pathetic burlap sack of vermin," the disguised woman grumbled as she unclasped the cloak.
As the cloak pooled to her sandal-clad feet, the woman was revealed to be wearing a black tunic and silver bracelets. She shook her head full of ebony colored hair and looked to Oogie Boogie with eyes the color of storm clouds, and just as turbulent. She meant business just by the way she looked at the boogie man.
"Could you order your minions away? I have matters to discuss with you," she said, revealing small fangs.
"You kids are free to go. Come back before sundown," Oogie said.
"Gladly, sir," Lock said bluntly with a hint of relief. He and his friends knew how creepy Oogie Boogie could get when he was sappy. And they didn't want to be around to see that anyway.
"You've raised those children well," said the woman as the terrible trio left, "So full of mischief. Makes me feel proud to be working with someone so lowly as yourself. Well, almost."
"What's going on, Eris baby? I'm ruining love in exchange for my soul back. Reconsidering, if ya know what I mean?" Oogie asked as he elbowed her suggestively, "I'd understand, of course. I'm the boogie man."
"The Goddess of Discord does not ever fall in love, much less with a peon like you," Eris said as she pushed him away. "No, I just decided to have a little fun."
"Good idea! We can play Blackjack!"
"Not that kind."
"You mean Poker?"
"I mean causing rampant chaos, you dolt."
"I guess that's as fun as Poker."
"It has come to my attention that there are plots to foil our scheme."
"What! I bet Sandy's behind it. No good Lobster Man," Oogie Boogie reasoned as Eris rolled her eyes and brought her right hand to her forehead.
"Yes, yes. So I began thinking, why just take over Halloween and Valentine's Day when we can take over all holidays? Every single one."
"I dunno. I just wanna play Poker and eat bugs in my lair."
"Oogie, remember how horrible the Underworld was for you? I felt pity for you there, so I dragged your pathetic soul out of the Underworld because you said you had a 'bone' to pick with Jack Skellington."
"I'll forgive you because you're beautiful," he said in a displeased tone, crossing his arms at the pun.
"In exchange for you to come back to this wretched little place, you promised to do whatever I told you to do. You are my servant. I'm telling you now to help me bring discord and chaos to the holidays."
"Well, since you're all powerful and cute, fine. But you're going to have to kiss me eventually."
"I'll kiss you the day you don't roll snake-eyes."
And Oogie Boogie sighed at that comment. With his luck, he would never show the goddess any affection.
Awwwwwwwww, I almost feel sorry for Oogie Boogie, don't you? Well, that sure explains how his ghostly soul got back in town. Now, what kind of beef does Eris have against Valentine Town and did she inspire Sally to start putting everything together? I don't know what's brewing, but it sure smells like trouble to me. (Re-edit Comment: I miss writing for Eris. She was just so mean.)