Disclaimer: I don't own the Nightmare Before Christmas

I understand that I kinda stopped at a bad time but I was kicked off the computer. So I will continue now and I am thrilled with the fact that I have already received reviews. I hope the rest of my story will continue to be exciting.

The three brothers began beating on their instruments with up-beat rhythms. It seemed as though they were merely smacking around the equipment and beating up everything but it sounded really good. It was a unique new way of the classic Carol of the Bells; it was indeed the Scarol of Bells. Carol began tap-dancing on the plank of wood. Each step was a crisp snappy sound and it was very fast. She did all kinds of acrobatic tricks (and on tap shoes no less) such as back flips and splits. She would go faster and faster as the song progressed. The crowd was in awe at the agility and grace she had, that the boys were able to create such interesting sounds from out of percussive instruments, and that they were making a classic carol into this awesome piece of music and performance.

With the last note and tap of Carol's shoe, the song ended and the audience roared in applause. The siblings stepped forward and bowed then walked off stage to greet their pleased critics and guests.

"That was frightfully exciting, Miss Carol!" said a vampire.

"You sent my spine tingling!" cried the mummy.

"You have quite the daughter there, Jack!" the clown commented.

"They were all fascinating!" the Mayor exclaimed.

"We are very proud of them, all of them." Sally insisted.

"That made my fur stick on end!" howled the werewolf.

The Skellingtons were all very proud. But Carol seemed to feel a little different.

As the family came out to the empty streets after the event, Carol stopped.

"What's wrong Carol?" Jack stopped and asked his daughter.

"Nothing dad… just go ahead. I'll be home in a bit." Carol replied, turning away from him and moving towards the cemetery.

"Okay. Don't forget to pick up Zero." He called out to her as she entered the gates.

The cemetery wasn't dangerous. In fact, Halloweentown was a lot safer than any town in the real world now that Oogie Boogie was out of the picture, so Jack allowed his children to play around at night and wander off on their own as they pleased.

Carol passed by Zero's grave and gave a pat to her thigh as the her ghost dog leapt out of his grave and gave her a lick on the cheek. She wasn't exactly happy and Zero was able to tell. She came towards the Spiral Hill and began to sing:

There are few who'd deny, at what I do I am the best

For my talents are renowned far and wide

When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night

I excel without ever even trying

With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike charms

I have seen grown men give out a shriek

With the wave of my hand, and a well-placed moan

I have swept the very bravest off their feet

Yet, year after year, it's the same routine

And I grow so weary of the sound of screams

And I, Carol, I cry out and sing

Have grown so tired of the same old thing

Oh, somewhere deep inside of these bones

An emptiness began to grow

There's something out there, far from my home

A longing that I've never known

I'm a master of fright, and a demon of light

And I'll scare you right out of your pants

To a guy in Kentucky, I'm Mistress Unlucky

And I'm known throughout England and France

And since I am dead, I can take off my head

To recite Shakespearean quotations

No animal nor man can scream like I can

With the fury of my recitations

But who here would ever understand

That the Pumpkin Child with the skeleton grin

Would tire of her crown, if they only understood

She'd give it all up if she only could

Oh, there's an empty place in my bones

That calls out for something unknown

The fame and praise come year after year

Does nothing for these empty tears

With that, she sat by a crumbling tombstone and hugged herself. Zero whimpered for her and tried to lick the sadness out of her. She looked at her spectral pet and smiled patting him on the head.

"Oh Zero. I wish that I could visit that place that dad had seen. He keeps telling me about all this but he never lets me go into the Hinterlands. Why doesn't he want me to know the world he once made his own?" she asked her canine companion.

"Because I don't want you to make the same mistake I did." A voice said from behind her. Carol whipped around and looked up to see her father standing over her like a towering gargoyle.

"Dad I-" she stuttered.

"No it's okay, Carol. I understand how you feel. I felt the exact same way when I sang that same song."

"Really?"

Jack nodded.

"Then how come you won't let me go into the Hinterlands?"

"Don't question me about what I ask of you. Do you understand?"
"NO! I don't understand!"

"Because if you go in I'm afraid you won't come out. I don't want you to find those doors. All you need is here." He hugged her. "Please do as I ask."

Carol was quiet for a short while before saying "okay."

Jack pulled away from her and picked her up to her feet, then taking her hand he said, "C'mon let's go home."