Deeper in the forest, far away from Zero and Kitty, was a group moving in the darkness. Leading them was a large man in a red suit, who turned around every once in a while to make sure he was being followed. Soon enough, one head count had come up short.
"Where's Patrick?" Santa Claus asked.
"He was here a moment ago," Jacob said as he helped Tevel prop up Cupid.
"Have you seen him love?" Cupid asked his mirror, "No, I have not either."
"I doubt I can take much more of this nonsense," the rabbi said as he shook his head, the Easter Bunny apparently agreeing with him.
"Over here!" Patrick's voice exclaimed from another portion of the woods.
"I'll handle this," Santa Claus told the rest as he walked towards Patrick's voice.
The remaining members of the Council of Celebrations waited for both men to return. When they did, they brought another person with them. Well, not so much a person as a life-sized rag doll. From what they could tell, she was still in a slumber when they found her.
"Never seen a lass with so many injuries."
"She's not exactly human, Patrick," Santa Claus said.
"You picked up a demon! No, we're leaving it here. I've had enough of blasphemy," Jacob said firmly.
"Will you calm down? I apologized for all that," Tevel said to Jacob.
"She's not a demon, she's a human doll. Her name is Sally," Santa Claus explained.
"That is a nice name. Is it not, love?" Cupid asked his mirror, which gave no response, of course.
"Ah, so you know her. I'm guessing she is one of those Halloween Folk you told us about," Saint PAtrick asked Santa Claus, who nodded.
"The only reasonable one. She must have escaped and gotten lost."
"Why would she escape her own home?"
"Something must have happened in Halloween Town," Santa Claus said, causing the Easter Bunny to nod his head furiously.
"Oh no, not the whole 'evil in one place' idea, is it?" Jacob asked.
"The very same. Look, the heart-shaped door is over there. We'll take Sally with us. Maybe she can give us some insight." Tevel said.
The rest of the Council agreed. Patrick carried Sally as they made their way through the heart-shaped door. When they reached Venus' Temple, they found the goddess pacing around nervously. They were about to approach her when what appeared to be an infant with wings and a reddish cloth flew past them and right up to her.
"Well? Have you found him?" Venus asked.
"No, Lady Venus. None of us have. He has gone missing as-"
"I am aware of who. You and the others can keep searching. Do not return until you have him with you."
"Yes, my lady," said the flying child as it swooped past the Council once more.
"Is there a problem, Venus?" Santa Claus asked.
"A problem! I cannot contact Jack anywhere. I had this horrid feeling that something happened recently. I wanted to reach Jack and be certain all is well, but he has up and gone. Just like that wretched son of mine."
"Speaking of him," Tevel said as he and Jacob stepped forward, Cupid dangling in between them with his mirror.
"Where have you been!" Venus demanded, "Look at me when I speak to you, young man! Pay attention to your mother!"
"Tell her who has your attention," Jacob said to Cupid, although he already knew the answer.
"My love, of course."
"He's looking into a mirror."
"That would be the problem, Lass" Patrick said.
"And just what is that?"
"A friend. We found her in the woods. It appears she just fled Halloween Town," Santa Claus said in a worried tone.
"Well, wake her up. I must know where my reliable archer is," Venus said, failing to insult Cupid.
There was no need to. Sally has already begun to stir in Patrick's arms. He helped her stand up and watched as she stretched and opened her eyes. When she did, Sally's mouth dropped open. All these strange people surrounded her. A winged boy puckered his lips at a mirror while a woman dressed in some kind of sheet glared at him. A man with a dark beard stood next to a younger man wearing a hat with a large buckle. When she turned around, an elder man in green robes nodded to her with a smile, and Sally nearly fainted.
"Where am I?" Sally asked to only familiar face in the room.
"My dear, you've crossed worlds," Santa Claus said, with the Easter Bunny nodding his head behind him.
"Welcome to Valentine Town," Venus said, "What is your name?"
"S-sally," The doll stuttered, fearing the newness around her.
"Sally. I could have sworn I have heard that name before," Venus said before her eyes opened wide, "SALLY! Jack's Sally! Oh, you poor thing. You must be terrified for him."
"Why should I be?" Sally asked, a sad look coming across her face, "I'm sure his new love can help him out of the mess he's gotten himself into this time."
"New love?" Venus asked with a horrified expression, "Impossible! Why, whenever he came over here for advice, he would speak of you."
"Advice for what?" Sally asked.
"Oh, he wanted to surprise you. See, Valentine's Day is the day of love, and Jack, sweet gruesome fellow that he is, wanted to shoot arrows of love in your honor."
"He lied to you too."
"How so?"
"Jack has a new love now, Eris."
"WHAT!"
The entire Temple trembled with Venus' exclamation. Even the Council of Celebrations grew pale. Sally was amazed that she caused all this commotion by saying a woman's name. Though, as she found out, Eris was more than a woman.
"That Eris! Always ruining things for me. I knew she would try something awful, and she has!"
"You know her?" Sally asked.
"Know her! We have hated each other for thousands of years. Every time I try to spread love on the Earth, she has to go and cause chaos. It is all because I lost interest in her brother. Not my fault he cannot start wars anymore," the Goddess of Love ranted.
"Sally, Eris is the Goddess of Discord. She only lives for causing trouble. Everyone she associated with are only pawns of her plans," the rabbi said.
"A witch, she is. If we get her back to my realm, she would not survive," the pilgrim added.
"Do not even bother. We, as goddesses, are Immortal. We cannot die," Venus pointed out.
"Maybe we can imprison her," Santa Claus said.
All the while, Sally's thoughts consumed her. She had left Jack alone with Eris when she left. She deserted him, left him to be her next pawn in her game. The rag doll started to cry. Before long, Venus herself was embracing her.
"Now, now. It is not your fault. Eris takes pleasure in causing chaos and pain."
"I should have trusted him."
"Hmph, Psyche must be slacking off again."
"He really loved me, and I love him. Oh, Jack."
"He still loves you. Listen, you have been through enough. I will send for Psyche and she can watch over you for now. I promise to bring you two back together."
"You can do that?"
"I'm the Goddess of Love. 'Tis my job."
Awwwwww, Venus is actually being nice. Looks like the good guys have a lot of work on their hands. And they don't even know Jack is evil yet. This'll be interesting. So, how is Jack holding up with the baddies? And are Kitty and Zero doing ok? And Sally won't just sit around and let others help Jack, will she? Of course not. More to come. (Re-edit Comment: Whoa, the memories are just streaming back now.)