As the pair made their way to the Real World city, Oogie Boogie was on a mission of his own. Now that he had three naive Druid priests in his lair, he could "teach" them Poker. Eris didn't mind, as long as Oogie left her alone she was perfectly fine. She occupied herself by staying outside the lair and keeping an eye out for Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Even without her presence, however, there was some minor chaos going on in the Poker game.
"I don't understand!" exclaimed Bram, "I have a ten of hearts, the entire court of hearts, and the ace of hearts, yet I lose?"
"Yep. You, uh, made an illegal move there, buddy," Oogie Boogie said with a devilish grin.
"I recall you having a similar play in spades, yet winning my staff," Sloane said in a suspicious tone.
"It's not illegal when the dealer makes it," Oogie replied swiftly.
"Makes sense then," Cathair said beforeputting a card down, "A-ha! Look, I have a clown!"
"A joker, and jokers are useless, bub."
"Useless! But you used one of these 'jokers' to win my cloak!"
"It appears the talking insect bag has been deceiving us," Sloane said.
"How dare you! You burst into my lair and I take you in. I've been keeping all of you entertained for hours and this is the thanks I get? Let me tell you that NO ONE insults Oogie Boogie! If it's a fight you want-"
"Calm down. My hotheaded companions have finally let senility get to them. Where are your manners?" Bram asked his two companions.
"Heh heh, suckers," Oogie said under his breath as the other Druids relaxed their tempers and waited for another hand. Fortunately for them, it was delayed.
A noise caught Oogie Boogie's attention. It led his gaze to the pipe above the roulette table of torture. The pipe had opened once more, and this time, men dressed in simple black clothing fell out, along with guns. Eris followed them, only she glided to the table with her goddess powers.
"Your henchmen dropped off these to join our army of malevolence." Eris said with a wicked smile, "Puritans that aren't as pure as they are thought to be. To top everything off, they actually run their world."
"This is not the village," said a white bearded Puritan to a blonde Puritan,"Thou said thou wouldst lead us to the village of the savages! Lying to the Grand Elder is a sin!"
"No it isn't. I've never seen that in the Good Book," the blonde Puritan said sarcastically.
"Robert, thou art testing my patience."
"I'm not the one whodecided to chase after the wild turkey, Grand Elder Joseph. 'Twas John's doing," Robert said as he nodded his head towards a black-bearded Puritan.
"I didn't think we'd be taken to a place such as this," said John.
"Aye, I like not this place," the fourth Puritan, younger and brown-haired, said as he got a clear look at his surroundings. "Oh, Lord in Heaven, we've died and gone to Hell!"
"Imbecile of a youth, Hell is full of fire and brimstone, not burlap sacks and ill-dressed women," corrected the the Grand Elder.
"Boys, calm down. You're not in a bad place. On the contrary, I'm here to help you," Eris said.
"Here it comes," Oogie Boogie said to himself.
"You don't like having to deal with those Natives living around your colony, do you?"
"Alas, thy presumption is correct. Whilst our fellow pilgrims are slowly growing close to them, we are the last to see those savages as they really are," the Grand Elder said before getting a look at the fourth Puritan's face, "Daniel, thou knowest 'tis so."
"Aye, Grand Elder," said Daniel.
"Yes, I thought so. Now, for me to help you, I need a favor. You see, I've brought you here to a town of blasphemers," Eris said, noting the shudder in the group of Puritans, "Awful people who celebrate death and twisted things. I need all of you to help them see the light."
"Well, miss, my fellows and I will quickly dispose of these blasphemers of thine-" Robert started in a valiant tone.
"No, not yet. I'm waiting for others to help us, and for the right time to attack, I mean, save these blasphemers. Until then, you can just wait here with Oogie. I have something important to do," Eris said before leaving the lair.
"So, who wants another round of Poker!" Oogie Boogie exclaimed enthusiastically only to receive some groans of pain from the Druids, "Ah, shut up, ya sore losers."
With that, another Poker game started in Oogie Boogie's lair. Meanwhile, Jack was in the graveyard surrounding Midnight Hill. He focused on slight movements and noises before turning around and shooting a white feathered arrow, which went right through Zero. With glee Jack picked up the fallen arrow and pet his ghostly companion.
"Good thing you're a ghost, Zero, or you'd be in love with a lot of tombstones," Jack said.
Zero barked in response and nudged Jack's right leg with his glowing orange nose.
"Ok, I do owe you," Jack said as he reached inside his shirt and broke off a rib bone, "Go fetch it, Zero," he continued as he threw it, watching as Zero blissfully chased after.
"Isn't that nice, a man and his dog," a semi-sarcastic female voice said to Jack.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, if you want a proper demonstration of archery, you can go to Guillotine Square."
"Oh, I'm not interested in that," continued the hooded figure as she pulled out an apple, which appeared to be made out of gold, and threw it to Jack, "Here's a little present for you."
"'To The Fairest'?" Jack read the inscription on the apple, "Sorry, but I'm taken."
"It's not for you. It's for who you think is the fairest."
"Well, in that case, thank you. I know exactly who I'll give this to."
"It isn't that rag doll, is it? If it is, then you sir have no idea of what beauty is."
"Excuse me?" Jack said, practically dumbfounded and angered.
"Look at her, full of stitches and coming apart at her seams at all times. You want someone who has it all together, someone who knows what she's doing; someone like, well, me," she finished as she took off her hood.
"I have no idea how you got this apple in the first place, but you can keep it," Jack said as he threw it to the ground, "I don't want Sally exposed to something so awful, especially if it comes from you. Zero, we're leaving."
Eris smiled at Jack's sudden change of mood. Causing people inner torment was one of her favorite activities. Now as she watched the Pumpkin King leave with his pet, Eris thought of paying Sally a little visit. Perhaps that apple would have another use for her.
Eris is up to no good again. What is she going to do with that apple? How will Jack's demonstration go? And how are the city boys doing? Find out next time, Readers. (Re-edit Comment: Once again, names rock.)