Author's Note: Wow, writing this story has gone by like a flash. See, I made up for the tempting trailer I posted in the first place. Before I get to Jake Skelly's transformation, here's yet another disclaimer. I am not Tim Burton, big surprise. Nor am I Danny Elfman or Henry Selick. I do not work for Disney, Touchstone Pictures, or Capcom. Hence, I had absolutely zip to do with The Nightmare Before Christmas. This plot, however, is all mine, and Henry's I suppose. But he's mine too. Yay! (Re-edit Comment: Heh heh, Jack's been curious from day one.)
It may soothe you to know that Jake Skelly died as a hero. I know what you're thinking- how could a back flipping aspiringBroadway stardie as a hero? You'll see, believe me. It was really all a bad stroke of luck, to be honest. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, much like someone else he would eventually watch over. Ah, but that's another story. Allow me to continue before I go off track.
— Henry Cadaver
October 31st, 1966
Jake stretched and yawned as the sunlight hit his face. What time was it? He didn't know, nor did he care as he turned over on his mattress. What was today again? Oh yes, Halloween. Wait... Halloween? Jake sat right up when he remembered just how important this Halloween was, and nearly tumbled out of bed and into the hallway looking for someone who knew what time it was.
"About time you woke up," a seated Amir said to a confused Jake as a cobra raised its head out of a wicker basket.
"Amir, what time is it?" Jake asked.
"Noon."
"Why didn't you wake me up? My audition's in three hours! I haven't rehearsed my monologue and song for five straight hours beforehand," Jake started to rant as Amir got up. "I'm doomed. I'm going to fail miserably and my voice is going to crack! There's not point in going to the Broadhurst, I might as well die!" Jake exclaimed before Amir slapped him across the face.
"You're more of a drama queen than Lola."
"Thank you, Amir. I needed that."
"You can at least practice it for one hour and then make your way over to the place. Mary might want to go, she has a gallery meeting a few blocks off of the Square."
"Sure. I'll ask her. Thanks for the advice."
"One last thing, Jake. Put some pants on, or you can charge the ladies for looking at your underwear."
"Huh?" Jake asked before hearing snickers from behind.
He turned around slowly to see Laura and Lola giggling at him and wishing him good morning. Jake must have been quite a sight with messy bed head hair, tighty whities, and a t-shirt. He scowled at them slightly before running back to his room to practice his lines and music. He crammed and crammed those words and melodies until he could use them in regularspeech. Even then he felt he wasn't ready. Then again, Jake never felt ready to begin with. He sighed as he took his tux to the bathroom, showered, and then changed into the formal suit. As he left the bathroom, he came across Adrian, who was waiting his turn to use it.
"Putting on the Ritz, eh, Jake?" Adrian asked.
"That song's not in Cabaret. Wait, maybe it is," Jake said to Adrian and himself.
"Man, you need to calm down. You're going to do fine. Break a leg out there."
"Thanks, Adrian. I'll sit front row center at your Apollo debut."
"I appreciate it. Hurry up, now, before you get understudy."
"See you later, Adrian," Jake said as the poet closed the bathroom door.
Jake walked backwards for a few moments before turning to face the door to the streets. In front of it was Mary, who seemed to sewing up a loose hem to dress, which she tie-dyed herself. She didn't even notice Jake walk up to her. When he tapped her on the shoulder, she jumped, only to give him a smack on the chest for scaring her.
"What are you still doing here? You usually get up at seven when you have auditions and leave really early," Mary said.
"I overslept," Jake said in a sheepish tone. "Come on, we can go together."
"How'd you know I was heading to the Theater District?"
"A snake told me."
"That Amir," Mary complained, blushing slightly before digging through her purse.
"What are you looking for?" Jake asked before Mary pinned what appeared to be a miniature pumpkin to his lapel.
"You said Halloween was your favorite day of the year, and I had some spare time. It's a custom pin, one of a kind."
"That's really nice, Mary. I wish I could give you something for luck."
"You're accompanying me on the dangerous Manhattan streets. I think we're even."
"If you say so," Jake said as he opened the door for Mary.
The pair left the warehouse and clung close together to stay warm in the nippy weather. They made a funny pair, a gangly young man in a tuxedo and an artistic girl in a knit jacket and tie-dyed dress. Then again, that was considered normal in New York, almost everything was. They walked their way to Times Square and its famous Theater District alight in spite of the fact it was the middle of the day. The crowd was mix of tourists, natives, and street performers. It changed, and yet, never changed. Jake and Mary made their way to West 44th Street, the home of the Broadhurst Theatre and, hopefully, Jake's destiny.
"Where's your gallery?" Jake asked Mary.
"48th Street. I've still got a bit of a walk to go," Mary replied. "Break a leg in there."
"I have time. Are you sure you don't want me to walk you?" Jake asked.
"Go inside," Mary told him before she began to walk away.
"Have fun at the gallery," Jake called out after her.
Jake began to walk into the theater when he felt a sudden chill run right up his spine. Something was wrong. Jake wasn't exactly sure what it was, but he had to go back outside and check on Mary. When he stepped back onto the sidewalk, he saw Mary's purse on the ground. Jake acted very quickly, and forgot all about the audition in doing so.
It wasn't long until he found her. Jake stumbled into a secluded alleyway mere paces away from Mary's destination. He snuck behind some garbage cans and got a peek at what was going on. Mary was pinned to a brick wall by a dark-clothed assailant. He held a knife to her throat with one hand and felt her left thigh with the other.
"Please, don't hurt me," Mary said, trembling with fear.
"Bitch, I'll do what I want with you," said the man.
"Let me go."
"Move again and I'll slit your throat."
"I had money in my purse. It's probably still on the ground, I'll pay you anything. Please don't hurt me."
"You'll love it once I get started. They all do," the rapist said before he was tackled.
"What?" Mary asked before getting a look at who just saved her.
"Mary, there's a policeman on the corner of 47th and Fifth. Get him over here," Jake said. "I'll take care of him," he finished as he looked towards the rapist, who was getting up from the garbage cans Jake had forced him into.
"You messed with the wrong man," the rapist said to Jake as Mary ran for help.
"No. It's you who's messed up," Jake said as he jumped up to the fire escape ladder of the brick building and kicked the rapist in the chest.
"What are you, some kind of monkey freak?" the rapist asked after he had stumbled back into the garbage cans.
"You're the animal here. You tried to violate Mary. You'll pay."
The words ended right there. The rapist was angry at losing his prey and started attacking Jake with the knife. Jake was too fast for him. He would dodge his attempted stabs with ease and get behind him long enough to push him to the ground or kick him. He even flipped up to the fire escape again and kicked the rapist to the curb of the alley, which grabbed a lot of attention. A crowd formed around the pair, watching them spar excitedly. It was as if the whole fight was choreographed the way Jake would twist himself in the air, even in a tux. The rapist didn't seem to have a chance.
By the time Mary came back with the police officer, and some officers from his precinct, Jake was practically dancing around the rapist. Then, he made one mistake; he stopped to get a look at Mary, smile at her return. That was when the rapist pulled out his secret weapon, a revolver. The crowd screamed and ducked as he shot two bullets into Jake's abdomen and one into his chest. He was about to shoot more, if the police had not restrained him. Jake fell to the ground, twitching. He was already going into shock. There wasn't much time left for him now.
"JAKE!" Mary yelled as she ran to his side, picking him up and ignoring his blood on her clothing.
"Ma-mary," Jake stuttered, coughing up a bit of blood. "I'm sorry."
"You saved me. Don't be sorry," she said, tears falling from her face to Jake's.
"I-I'm going to die, are-aren't I?"
"You are not going to die on me, Jake Skelly! I won't let that happen."
"Mary, I-I feel cold."
"Jake, don't leave me, please. I love you."
"Mary..."
Jake Skelly never got to finish that sentence. His body went limp in Mary's arms as his last breath mingled with her tears. The scream of grief she let out was enough to make even the most stoic of policemen tear up. She refused to let him go, even when the paramedics arrived for his body. Things only got worse when she got home that night.
The entire troupe was appalled by Jake's death. They canceled all of their upcoming works and gigs to honor their fallen member. Still, none of their collective grief could compare to Mary's. Mary, in an act of furious passion, destroyed the painting Jake had loved so much before collapsing in sobs on her bed. She would never see Jake again. She would never see him spin around on his rings or hear him sing in the shower or even catch a glimpse of that dreamy stare. He was gone.
Well, his body was. Henry Cadaver currently took possession of Jake's soul, which seemed to take the form of scattered bones. The Pumpkin King had collected the bones in a large sack and lugged it back to Halloween Town. The first place he headed was Doctor Finkelstein's laboratory. He was sure the elderly scientist could help him assemble the skeleton. As usual, Henry was right.
"I've never seen a soul that had to be assembled," Doctor Finkelstein said as Henry emptied the bag on a metal table.
"He's been through a lot, this one," Henry said.
"Best to get to work," the scientist said before looking over to his female servant, "Sally, you help too," he ordered, receiving a blank stare from the rag doll. "Useless."
"Maybe she needs a soul," Henry said as he connected to a lower leg bone and a thigh bone together.
"Don't you start with that soul business again, Henry," Doctor Finkelstein said as he attacked a hand to a forearm. "Sally will learn on her own. If worst comes to worst, I'll give her half of my brain."
"As you wish, doctor," Henry replied half-heartedly.
In a matter of thirty minutes, the pair had the skeleton put together. They allowed him to wake up out of his own accord, which he did. The skeleton slowly got up, rubbing his closed eyelids before opening them to his surroundings and then blinking in disbelief. There was a old man in a wheelchair and a partially dead man smiling at him. In the corner of the room was a woman in the shadows who didn't seem to do anything but stare into space with her pure white eyes. This was certainly odd. So odd that the skeleton pinched his left arm bone to make sure he was in reality.
"Ouch," he said.
"What's the matter?" Henry asked.
"I'm not dreaming," the skeleton said as he fell back on the table and sighed. "Where am I?"
"Halloween Town," said Doctor Finkelstein. "Your home."
"Home? Well, that's one question answered," the skeleton said as he sat back up. "Would either of you know who I am?" he asked the corpse man and scientist.
"You should figure that out for yourself," Henry said.
"Hmmmmm. What are your names?" asked the skeleton.
"Our names? I'm King Henry Cadaver and this is Doctor Finkelstein."
"Those sound pretty sophisticated. I must have a sophisticated name too."
"If you suppose," said the scientist.
"I know! My name is Jack Skellington. That's sophisticated, isn't it King Henry, if I can call you that?"
"Henry's just fine. That is a fine name, if I do say so myself."
"Splendid!" Jack exclaimed before shivering. "It's cold in here."
"That's because you're naked."
"What?" Jack asked Henry before looking over at the rag doll once more and then jumping to the floor and hiding behind the table. "I'm terribly sorry, Miss! I'm suffering from amnesia! That doesn't explain why I'm naked, but please know I apologize." Jack yelled from his hiding spot.
"Don't bother. She can't comprehend a thing and you have nothing to hide," Doctor Finkelstein said as he wheeled himself over to Sally.
"I don't?" Jack asked as he looked down. "I guess not."
"Jack, I have something that came with your body in the bag," Henry said as he pulled a suit out of the bag. "Here, try it on."
"May I have a little privacy?"
"Of course. Let's go, Doctor Finkelstein. Sally too."
Henry, the doctor, and the rag doll left the lab and waited outside for Jack. They were approached by the Mayor, Oogie Boogie and his three little goons, and the whole town itself. It seemed that everyone knew what was going on, except for Jack and possibly Sally. As soon as Jack Skellington walked out into the open, strutting in that now famous suit and bat tie, the entire town, save for Oogie Boogie, Lock, Shock, and Barrel, cheered for him. Even Sally, who wasn't all there, clapped, although it was out of any real rhythm.
"Well, you sure are all very welcoming," Jack said, bashfully.
"Halloween Town, I present to you Jack Skellington, my heir," Henry said, causing the majority of the town to cheer again.
"Excuse me?" Jack asked, eyes widening at what Henry had just said.
"It'll be great to work with you, Jack!" the Mayor exclaimed.
"Thank you," Jack said, not really knowing what else to say.
"When it is time for me to pass my position, it will be to this man right here. I expect the same respect for him when that day comes. Even now, he is the Pumpkin Prince."
"Yeah, right. Scrawny excuse for royalty," Oogie Boogie muttered, receiving chuckles from Lock, Shock, and Barrel.
"Your future is safe, Halloween Town, we'll make sure of that," Henry said, motioning to Jack.
Jack didn't know what to make of all of this. He had just been thrown into a place that was supposed to be his home and yet was so odd he could never have imagined it in his wildest dreams. It was amazing and terrifying all at the same time. When the crowds finally dispersed, Henry guided Jack to his home, a grand manor that would one day belong to him.
"Welcome to Cadaver Manor," Henry said as he and Jack walked inside.
"Wow," Jack said as he looked at the surroundings. "You live here?"
"All the Pumpkin Kings and Princes do. You'll have the room all the way at the top. I've cleaned it out just for you. Hope you like dogs."
"Why?" Jack asked before hearing a bark.
Jack stood with his jaw open as what had barked. It was a small ghost dog with a glowing orange nose. Upon close examination, it was in the shape of a carved pumpkin. The dog hovered over to Henry and licked his right hand affectionately Henry pet the dog on its head before introducing it to Jack.
"This is Zero. Don't ask me where he came from, because his history precedes most of the Pumpkin Kings. He has always been the king's royal pet. One day, he'll be your dog."
"This is so amazing!" Jack exclaimed. "One thing though," he started.
"Is it about your body?" Henry asked in a sigh, expecting the topic to pop up sooner or later.
"Yes. Can I get hungry?"
"I suppose."
"Then, how do I, um, dispose of waste? Do I even need to, since I'm kind of dead and all?"
"Logically, I'm going to say seated. Is that it?"
"It was the only thing troubling me."
"Nothing else?"
"Nope. Why?"
"No reason," Henry said, relieved the notorious subject of sex hadn't come up.
"So, when will I become king?" Jack asked.
"Not anytime too soon. You need to train, develop your fear skills. You'll know when the day comes, Jack."
"What will I do until then?" Jack asked.
"Like I said, train. I'll set you up with your first soul too, a little boy named Billy."
"What do I do with souls?"
"It's too much to explain right now. Just take a walk, talk to people, feel welcome."
"If it's alright, I'd rather go up to my room."
"Go ahead then."
Jack climbed up the spiral staircase and was awed by the place he would be living in. It had shelves of books and a wonderful view of the entire town. He stood at the window for a long time before deciding to go to sleep. He felt very tired for some reason he couldn't place. Jack sighed happily as he drifted into slumber. He was going to be someone great, someone people loved. This was a dream in itself, only better: it was real.
Present
Jack took to Halloween Town rather well. People liked him, save for Oogie and his henchchildren. Even if his undead head was still in the clouds, he meant well and usually did what was right for Halloween Town. I like to think I trained him well, it gives much peace. After all, he would be the one collecting souls just as I did. In fact, the last soul I ever collected was during our training. It was that of Sarah Anderson, who would inhabit the body of Doctor Finkelstein's doll and make her, well, human.
— Henry Cadaver
