Author's Note: Oh my, seems Jack is quite the plan master. Of course, we all know how 99.9 percent of his ideas seem to turn out. Who knows? This could be that 0.1 percent. Or not. Guess you have to read on to find out. Remember, folks, The Nightmare Before Christmas is so cool, I have no right taking credit for any of it. None. That belongs to Mr. Burton, Mr. Elfman, Disney and Touchstone Pictures. They all lent some of that to Capcom for the game, but that's about it. Now, on with the show.
The doors of the Courthouse shut loudly as Elders John and Robert kept Patience and Daniel close to them. When the pair of Elders were sure their charges weren't going anywhere, they faced the Grand Elder, himself looking at Pallaton. Pallaton seemed to have tied the skeleton demon to some kind of woman made from assembled parts and some human, probably a demon in disguise. The spirit man had done well for himself. At least, that's how it looked.
"I bring to you the demons who stole the child," Pallaton said with a dramatic bow to the Elders. "As a symbol of the closeness I feel with you, the leaders of your people, I will slay them before your very eyes."
"How thoughtful," the Grand Elder said.
"Watch and be-" Pallaton started before he heard something drop to the ground.
The spirit man turned to face his "captives". He saw that the rope tying them together seemed to have gotten loose and fallen to the ground. Pallaton looked back to the now startled Elders before quickly turning to the demon trio once more. Everything was going well so far, perhaps this could be pulled off after all.
"Now, really... ropes?" Jack asked with a slight sneer. "We're demons. Ropes can't hold us."
"What were you thinking?" Sally asked.
"They were blessed ropes," Pallaton said in mock fear.
"Blessed ropes? That's the dumbest thing I ever heard," Billy said.
"Get them!" yelled Elder Robert to Pallaton.
"Billy, time for you to run," Jack whispered, "Remember the signal for when the travelers reach the first post?"
"Yeah," Billy whispered back before facing the Elders again, "I'll show some mercy on the poor Native. Though, if he's not dead by the time I come back, I'm going to have to change my mind."
With that, Billy ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Not that he was going that far, but he had to look convincing to the Elders. Pallaton made a false attempt to catch him before focusing back on Jack and Sally. As for the Elders, they were very entertained by this prelude to the exorcism, just as planned. However, it was quite a different story for Patience and Daniel.
"We can't let him do this," Patience whispered to her cousin.
"I don't understand. Why is he still trying to exorcize them?" Daniel asked in return.
"I have no idea. Daniel, on the count of three, you and I are going to help them."
"Are you sure we should be making that much of a move, Patience?"
"One."
"I mean, I think the demons can handle this on their own."
"They're not demons. Two."
"Don't you even think about-"
But it was too late. Patience counted to three, grabbed Daniel by the hand, and led him in between Pallaton and the "demons". Needless to say, this caused quite a detour for Jack's plan. Outside influence never occurred to him in his mind. Now, it was standing right in the middle of his ingenious plot.
"Stop it!" Patience cried out to Pallaton.
"You never said anything about them," Sally said to Jack.
"Don't worry, I've got this settled," Jack replied before clearing his throat and nudging Patience and Daniel to the side. "Move aside, this doesn't concern you."
"For a demon, he's right. Please, stay out of the way before either I or they injure you," Pallaton said.
"Don't mind us," Daniel said with a very nervous chuckle, "Let's move out of the nice demon slayer's way, Patience."
"No! Pallaton, didn't you listen to me? They aren't the-" Patience started before Sally pushed her to the ground.
"Well, she wouldn't move," Sally said to an astounded Jack, who only blinked in response.
"How dare you! I try to defend you and you push me into dirt. You horrible wench!" Patience exclaimed.
"Hey, you can't call her that!" Jack yelled back.
"Patience, please, for the love of God! Don't anger them," Daniel said.
"You can drop off of the world for all I care, you sniveling coward," Patience said as she got up, "Is that how you repay people trying to help you?" she asked Sally, shoving her into Jack.
"I'm sorry," Sally said.
"No she isn't," Jack said immediately after Sally apologized.
"Jack?" Sally asked.
"Sally, try not to break character," Jack whispered.
"I think this is a little more serious than breaking character, Jack."
"I want a straight answer from the both of you," Patience said.
"Enough, witch," the Grand Elder said, raising his arms, "Thou and thy cohort art interrupting important business."
"I would have thought she would help her kin," said Elder Robert.
"They are no kin of mine and you know it."
"That's enough," Elder John said as he grabbed Patience and dragged her back to the Courthouse, Daniel following them, "You're lucky the damned demons didn't eat you."
"Finally," Pallaton said, speaking for himself, as well as Jack and Sally.
"How sad, hiding behind others. Are you that new at fighting demons?" Jack asked, getting right back into villain mode.
"Want to find out, or should I take ladies first to heart?" Pallaton asked, nodding his head towards Sally.
"We're demons, we don't fight one-on-one, do we?" Sally asked Jack in a sly tone.
"Of course not. He takes us down together or he doesn't take us down at all."
"So be it," Pallaton said as he raised his staff above his head and spun it.
Here was the real entertainment for the Elders. Pallaton began to chant in his native tongue, causing the air to gather around him. In a few moments, he was able to use the currents to swiftly jump around, even hover at some points. This was supposed to both "attack" the demons and find the signal to switch to phase two of the plan.
Speaking of the second phase, Billy was currently hiding out behind Jacob's house. He was waiting for either Saint Patrick or Santa Claus to show up. When one of them did, Billy would have to climb up on the roof of the house and wave the sheet of his ghost costume over his head. It seemed like ages had past when he ran off from the impending "battle". Heck, he was almost worried. At least, until a tall man in green robes approached him.
"You'd best be climbing on the roof now," Saint Patrick said.
"Good. For a minute, I thought they got caught up," Billy said as he tried to jump on the roof, "Um, a little help."
"Don't look at me, Lad. I'm too old to be throwing people on roofs. Ask Cupid."
"He's watching the kid."
"I'm sure we can switch for one minute."
Actually, it took less than a minute. Cupid didn't mind taking a break from babysitting. Hey, if it was going to get Takoda home sooner, it was perfectly fine. So, the God of Love lifted Billy Colby to the roof of Jacob's house and was back inside just as soon. Billy immediately began waving his sheet around, hoping for Pallaton's attention.
Pallaton was feeling tired from jumping around like a grasshopper. He hated to think how tired he would feel if this was a real battle. As he was making that mental note, he saw a figure on the rooftop of a house waving a large white sheet. It was the signal. Pallaton planted himself firmly on the ground as soon as the figure disappeared from the roof. He faced Jack and Sally, who looked about as tired from "defending" his airborne attacks.
"Enough of this game. It's time for you two to see the Great Beyond."
"Pallaton!" Patience exclaimed, earning a slap from Elder Robert.
"Be quiet, you're ruining the show," said the slap-happy Elder.
"How dare you strike her?" Daniel asked.
"Say anything else and you're next," Elder Robert warned Daniel, who squeaked in response.
"I need silence for the rite," Pallaton said, watching as the Elders and their prisoners grew quiet.
"Careful. You might blow yourself up with that overgrown twig," Jack said.
"That would be interesting," Sally added.
"And funny," Jack replied.
Pallaton ignored their comments and began the "exorcism". He pointed the staff towards the sky and chanted gibberish in his own tongue. Every once in a while, he would throw in a sincere incantation of light to illuminate his staff and make it look as if he was collecting demonic souls.
Jack began to "weaken", falling to the ground and looking to be in horrible pain. Sally knelt beside him and tried to get him back up before she fell under the "spell" herself, collapsing next to Jack.
"I can see it, the Great Beyond," Jack said in a voice no higher than a whisper.
"It's so empty," Sally said, "Everything's going dark."
"This looks like the end for us. All for a child."
"What was that? I can't hear you."
"Sally... goodbye." Jack said before he closed his eyes, "dead".
"Jack," said Sally before her eyes closed for what seemed to be the last time.
"It's done," Pallaton said, tapping his staff against the ground and receiving applause from the Elders.
"A fine show," said Grand Elder Joseph, "How wonderful, to be rid of these horrendous demons."
"That's what you think," said a familiar voice.
The three Elders looked towards the path leading to the Courthouse. It seemed that the demon in human form had returned. Alas, he was too late to save the others. He wasn't too happy about that, not at all.
"Native, I didn't spare you for this," Billy said.
"You're next." Pallaton replied, pointing the staff at Billy.
"I'm stronger than my two deceased friends there."
"I seriously doubt that."
"I can tell you one thing, you won't be able to strike me if you can't see me."
The Elders wondered what Billy meant before they noticed something rather odd. It seemed that a fog had formed around them. In minutes, Elders Joseph, John, and Robert were lost in the mist. They could not see nor hear anything other than the sounds of their own voices. Something was wrong.
"What is the meaning of this?" Grand Elder Joseph asked.
"I don't know, do I look like a psychic or some kind of philosopher?" asked Elder Robert.
"You might as well be, I can't see a damned thing in this fog." Elder John interrupted.
"Or holy thing, for that matter," said a fourth, older sounding voice.
One thing was made clear to the Elders: they weren't alone. At the same time, they faced a thin old man in robes and sandals. He had long white hair and a white beard that reached well to his waist. This figure towered over them like he had done many times in their lives. They were looking at God.
"Oh my God," said Grand Elder Joseph.
"Well, at least you have one thing right."
"Have we died?" Elder John asked.
"In a way."
"How can we die in a way?" Elder Robert asked.
"I'm not sure, but you did."
"Thou canst be God! Thou art senile old coot!"
"That makes two of us, Joseph, was it?"
"Aye," said the Grand Elder, now showing a hint of fear.
"I'll be honest with you, I'm afraid you three have been very, very, bad."
"How?" Elder John asked.
"You know how. You kidnapped that innocent child from the Native Village and left him to die in the woods."
"But that was in your name," Elder Robert said.
"I hate it when people do such horrible things in my name."
"We're sorry," Elder John said.
"Are you? Because I know the real reason why you kidnapped that boy."
"Dost thou?" asked the Grand Elder.
"For such men who consider themselves holy, you underestimate me. You wanted the Native land for yourselves, so by starting a war which would put your own people in danger, you would allow the deaths of Natives in order to conquer their land."
"God, you make it sound so bad," Elder Robert said.
"That's because it is bad. That isn't even the worst part. The child was saved from death by a skeleton, a rather fine skeleton if I do say so myself, charming, debonair... but I continue. You were willing to have him and his people sent to the Great Beyond for land. Is land worth that much suffering?"
"Lord, thy accusations are unfounded. The Natives and demons are pagans, heathens who do not believe in Thy word. Surely, thou wouldst not want for them to continue existing."
"Grand Elder, I am compassionate and do not wish harm on anyone. I care not what they believe in, as long as they believe. You and your fellow Elders stopped believing in goodwill towards all men. You kidnapped a child, an innocent human being for your sick purposes. I am a forgiving entity, but that, that, is hideous."
"What are you going to do?" Elder Robert asked.
"One of two things. I could send you all straight to Hell without a second thought and be as horrible to you as you have all been to the Natives and those 'demons' from Halloween Town. Or, I can allow you cleanse your souls. Repent your sins, repent loud enough for the Universe to hear. Reach the stars, Heaven itself."
"We did it!" yelled Elder John, "We kidnapped the Native boy."
"We never meant to sin, we wanted land!" added Elder Robert.
"Good Lord, forgive us of our sins, even though we were trying to serve Thee. If Thou findst it in Thy heart to look past this entire mess with the savages, I mean, Natives, we will be eternally grateful," finished Grand Elder Joseph.
The three Elders looked towards God, who had a very large grin on his face. He looked almost like he had pulled a great trick on them. That's when the fog began to lift. "God" lifted it with his own hands, hands that were skeletal. Wait... skeletal?
"No... it can't be!" exclaimed Elder John.
"I'm afraid you fell under fear's spell," Jack said as he took his true form and became surrounded by Holiday figures, Natives, and friends, "Everyone does. I guess you three really are God-fearing."
"You fiend! You terrible skeletal devil!" screamed Elder Robert.
"If you had done nothing wrong in the first place, none of this would have happened. Now, I think these fine people want to have a word with you," Jack said as he nodded towards the group of Natives that had come from the Village.
Ha ha! In your face, Elders! What will happen to these mean old Puritans? Will sweet revenge be exacted on them? Is Takoda really going home? Find out next time. (Re-edit Comment: See, I told you that bad costume would come in handy.)