Author's Note: Who's ready for more? I know I am. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a super spiffalicious film with an equally spiffalicious following. You have all been so nice to me, so the Readers deserve as much thanks from me as Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Disney, Touchstone, and Capcom. They inspired me, but you all kept me going. Thanks guys. I hope you're having as much fun reading as I am writing.
At least the Thanksgiving Townsfolk had a sleep to wake from. Jack Skellington was currently reliving some of his less than proud moments of his afterlife to entertain a mortal and a hungry infant. Sally seemed to be taking forever with the formula. By the time she came back, Jack was already wrapping up the tale of his Christmas misadventure.
"So that's basically what happened. I had a few laughs, gave out some shrunken heads and Halloween-made toys, got blown up, and saved Santa Claus from a bug-filled gambler. Oh, and I realized what was meant to fill that empty space I had. Well, who to be exact," Jack said proudly.
"Damn," Billy said bluntly.
"Hey, watch your language in front of the baby."
"Sorry," Billy said before pausing in thought for a moment."How could I have missed all of that?"
"Well, you don't have kids. I only visited houses with kids that night. You probably slept right through it."
"The one night I could have shown the world Mr. Unlucky and I slept through it. Jack, that deserves another damn."
"I hope I didn't take too long," Sally said as she walked into the room with a tray carrying a bottle and a mug.
"Aw, you didn't have to make me anything, ma'am."
"Actually, this tea is for Jack. I'm sorry," Sally said as she allowed Jack to take the mug, "If you'd like anything-"
"It's alright. I'll just feed the kid," Billy said as he grabbed the bottle and began to feed Takoda, "I'll be gone as soon as I'm done with this."
"Thanks Billy, we appreciate it," Jack said before taking a sip of tea and looking as if it was the worst thing he had ever tasted in his afterlife.
"Is something wrong, Jack?" Sally asked.
"Just needs some sugar," Jack said as he barely contained coughs.
Billy noticed Sally wring her hands nervously as Jack got up. He took his mug into the kitchen in order to put sugar in his tea. His girlfriend sure seemed to look nervous about all of this. Billy figured it was normal for them and decided not to intrude. Instead he continued to give Takoda his formula. At least, until loud thud came from the kitchen.
"What the hell was that?" Billy exclaimed before handing the baby to a reluctant Sally and running to the kitchento findi Jack on the floor next to a broken mug and spilled tea, "Holy crap, he's dead!" Billy yelled as soon as the thought registered in his mind.
"Billy, wait," Sally said as she briskly followed him with Takoda in her arms.
"Wait? You killed him with that tea of evil! I didn't think it was possible to kill a skeleton, but you did it, ma'am."
"He's not dead. Well, he is dead, but not dead dead."
"Look at him!" Billy exclaimed before bending over to Jack and slapping him on the face a few times."Jack, speak to me!"
"Please calm down," Sally said as she approached Billy. "And could you stop slapping him?"
"Get away from me!" Billy exclaimed as he backed away from Jack and into the table, toppling over a suspicious jar,"Oh dear God! You poisoned the milk with that stuff too, didn't you! Listen lady, I don't know what your deal is, but I'm gonna get you before you get me."
"Jack was right about you. You never let anyone tell their side of the story."
"I do too!"
"Then you should know that Deadly Nightshade-"
"DEADLY? This just keeps getting better."
"Is a strong sedative."
"Only a sedative?"
"Yes," Sally said, as if that was a widely known fact.
"So he's not deader than dead?" Billy asked, still not sure of Sally deserved his trust at the moment.
"Of course not. I was just trying to get him to sleep."
"Ever hear of warm milk or counting sheep, lady?"
"I have a name. It's Sally. Besides, you of all people should know how persistent Jack can be when he gets an idea in his head. If he's ever going to function, he needs to sleep and he wasn't going to get any on his own anytime soon."
"Is the kid going to be taking any naps like that?"
"No. I have no idea what the Deadly Nightshade would do to him and I don't want to find out like this," Sally said as she cradled Takoda.
"Well now what do we do with Jack?"
"Get him to bed, I suppose. I doubt he'd like to wake up on the floor."
"Where's his bed?" Billy asked.
"Up the spiral staircase," Sally replied.
"Of course. Even if he's asleep he can never make things easy for me," Billy said as he picked up the knocked out Pumpkin King, "Nighty, night Jack."
Jack finally got the sleep he needed by surprise. Neither Sally or Billy knew if he would wake up remembering anything about the slightly tainted tea. For now, it was best to let him rest and ask questions later.
At the moment, Jack seemed to be the only one of the Council sleeping. All of the other leaders were busy planning and searching all over their worlds for the little child. Cupid was no different. This of course meant two main visits. One to Saint Valentine and another to, may the gods help him, his mother. Cupid decided to call upon Valentine first. Luckily, the saint was in one of those rare in-between moments of preserving love.
"May I come in?" Cupid asked before the saint let him into his humble abode.
"Of course," Saint Valentine said, "Make yourself at home. You did an excellent job delivering love this year, by the way. Especially with all of the distractions."
"Thank you. Saint Valentine, you know many things, right?"
"That depends on what you ask me."
"Well, a child has gone missing from another of the Holiday Worlds and the Council is in charge of returning him to his parents."
"If you want to me locate the child, I cannot, nor will I do so in the first place."
"Why not?"
"Why would I after what happened just two months ago? Meddling is a dangerous thing, Cupid."
"I know, but this is an emergency."
"Cupid, you are in a complicated emotional state right now. I do not want you getting involved in things that might make your temper flare."
"Saint Valentine, I can handle it."
"Be that as it may, I am not going to contribute to another disaster."
"Fine, be that way," Cupid said as he began to leave.
"Be careful, Cupid. For once, let your head make decisions instead of your heart," Saint Valentine said as the youth took off for his mother's Temple.
Alas, Saint Valentine's words fell on deaf ears. Cupid was far too worried about little Takoda's fate to listen. Surely his mother would at least match him in outrage. Little did he know how fateful this visit to her would be.
"Well, here goes nothing," Cupid said to himself as he entered the Temple to find his mother looking absolutely stunning and happy, "Mother?"
"My beloved son!" Venus exclaimed as she ran over to Cupid and gave him a hug.
"Are you sick?"
"Sick? Nonsense! I feel absolutely fabulous."
"I see you are not that upset over being a grandmother anymore."
"Upset over a little baby? Cupid, I have seen today how desperately some people desire children and I decided that your impending fatherhood is more of a gift than a curse."
"Mother, I am proud of you."
"Thank you. Now, what is it that you wished to see me about?"
"Have you heard anything about a missing child?"
"Missing? No, I cannot say I have."
"Oh. You see, a child was kidnapped from the Thanksgiving World by demons and the Council is in charge of finding him."
"Really?" Venus asked as a dark look came across her face.
"I know. It has upset everyone."
"I see. Cupid, son, has it upset some member of the Council more than others?"
"Well, me of course. I think the whole situation is atrocious."
"Anyone else?"
"Jacob obviously. It took place in his world. And do not get me started on Jack."
"Jack? Is he out of sorts about this too?"
"Well, the whole punishment made for the demons disturbed him greatly. Then again, the poor fellow is dead, so of course that would scare him more than anyone else."
"Oh my. Lords, gods, and major deities," Venus mumbled.
"Mother? What is it?"
"It all fits. They could not have a child of their own, so they took one."
"What are you talking about?"
"Sally visited me today. She said she wanted to know where she could find a baby for herself and Jack. I tried to tell her about the facts of life, but I could not. I told her to come back with Jack another time to explain things more clearly. Cupid, I am afraid to say that they are the ones with that child."
Cupid was taken aback by his mother's words. Suddenly, Cupid could see the entire situation playing in front of him. He himself had been asked by Sally where babies could be found. It was so obvious now. Jack had taken the child to appease his people's strange eating habits. They must have wanted more, and being dead, had no recollection of where babies came from. So they sent their leaders, the Pumpkin King and his future Queen, to seek where babies came from in order to kidnap more of them and... no. The thought was too horrible to bear.
"He did it. Jack's the kidnapper. That is why he was so frightened by the punishment and so sleep deprived. If he is sleep deprived that must mean Takoda is still alive since babies have a tendency to keep their parents up all night. They have not eaten him yet!"
"Cupid, you are rambling."
"Mother, it will take too long to explain, but I have to leave. Takoda needs me."
Venus could not get another word in edgewise. The mistaken God of Love had already flown off to gather the rest of the Council of Celebrations. No demons were going to eat Takoda on his watch. If this meant sending Halloween Town to the Great Beyond, so be it.
This can't be good. Will Cupid realize the truth before he makes a horrible mistake? Can Jack wake up in time to catch the real kidnappers? What if Billy gets caught up in this entire mess too? Only one way to find out, folks. (Re-edit Comment: Mmmmmm... extended scene goodness. Now with slap-happy Billy!)