Chapter 7: A Joyful Reunion

"So the Beldam must have stolen Coraline's heart of balance to control her," Lance said thoughtfully as he sat with Balan in the living room while Coraline was helping Lucy set up the art room.

"It makes sense," Balan said. "Honestly, I'm glad she didn't get Coraline."

"How long do you think Coraline could have gone without her heart of balance?" The tendriled being asked.

"Not very long," the green-haired maestro said. "Though she has been without it for almost a month."

"And that's a long time to be away from your family," Lance said.

"I can't imagine how worried her family must be," Balan admitted.

Back in Halloween Town, Jack was pacing the living room, the search for Coraline still coming up empty. "We're so sorry, Jack," Hanging Tree said. "We'll keep looking."

"No, you've all worn yourselves out," he said. "Please go and rest. We'll continue searching later."

"I'm sorry, Jack, but we can't do that," Hilda said gently.

"Coraline is one of us," Clown said.

"We must keep going until she is found," the tallest vampire said.

"We will keep going," the fish creature from the fountain said.

Sally came out and she looked worried. One of the other vampires looked at her and bowed to her. "We will find her," he promised. "We shall not rest until the princess is home safe."

Just then, Black Cat approached Jack and jumped up on the wall near him. "Your Majesty, I have good news," he said.

Jack turned to him. "Yes, Black Cat?" He asked.

"Coraline is alive," the cat said.

Gasps of happiness rang through the crowd. "Where is she?" Someone asked.

"That monster doesn't have her, does she?" Asked another.

"No," Jack said. "I destroyed the Beldam and banished her to the Forgotten Realms. She will never step foot here again."

Sighs of relief rang through the crowd before Black Cat looked at the skeleton. "There was this pink crystal heart that flew from the Beldam and I followed it to a world that I haven't seen before. When I arrived, I met two beings who said the heart was Coraline's heart of balance and that she had been injured upon arriving at their theater," he said.

"She was injured?" Sally asked in horror.

"There was a gash on her side, from what they told me," the cat said. "Most likely caused by the Beldam. She also hit her head somewhere while traveling through the portal, which caused her to have amnesia, but these two beings tended to her injuries. I could sense they were telling the truth and they promised to return the heart to Coraline, saying it contained her good memories. If what they said is true, then hopefully Coraline has her memory back."

"Can you take us there, Black Cat?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

"I want to come too, Dad," Wybie said.

"I do as well, Jack," Sally said.

"Very well," Jack said before turning to the people. "We will be back soon."

"We shall be eagerly awaiting, Jack," the Mayor said. "In fact, may I suggest a celebration feast upon Coraline's return?"

"We can do that," Hilda said with a nod.

Jack smiled. "I think she would enjoy such a welcome," he said before he, Sally, and Wybie followed Black Cat as he led them to the world where Coraline was.

Back at the theater, Coraline joined Balan and Lance in the living room, but she seemed rather nervous. "Coraline, what's wrong, dear one?" Balan asked.

She took a deep breath. "I...I'm just nervous for some reason," she said. "I don't know why."

"Could it be you're excited to see your family, but at the same time, you don't want to leave here?" Lance asked.

"I...I guess it's something like that," she admitted before looking at them. "You two are my uncles and...I just don't want to...," she trailed off and hung her head.

"You're afraid you'll never see us again," Balan said gently.

Coraline nodded, tears starting to form in her eyes. "I...I know it seems selfish, but...I do love you guys as my uncles," she said.

"It's not selfish, little one," Lance cooed gently. "Just as we've grown attached to you, you've become attached to us."

The child nodded again before hugging Balan hard and he returned the hug, rubbing her back gently to soothe her. "I...I really hope my dad will allow you guys to be part of the family," she said.

"If your father is as wonderful as you've told us, then I'm sure he will, my dear," Balan soothed.

Lance joined in the hug, gently brushing a hand over Coraline's head. The girl felt better at that and a moment later, they heard the doors to the theater open and Balan smiled. "I believe your family is here, little one," he said.

"Coraline!" A male voice called out, his voice worried.

"Coraline?" A woman's voice called out, her voice hopeful.

"Sis? Are you here?" A boy's voice called out next.

The girl, hearing her parents' and brothers' voices, got tears in her eyes and ran to the entrance of the living room, looking down the hall and spotting her parents and brother coming up the hall towards her. "Mom! Dad! Wybie!" She exclaimed in happiness, running up to them.

"Coraline!" Jack said in relief, running up to her and catching her as she jumped into his arms. "Oh, pumpkin. Thank goodness you're safe," he said, tears running down from his eyes.

"Coraline!" Sally said, also relieved as she joined the hug, tears running down her face. "Oh, honey. We were so worried."

"Sis!" Wybie said, also joining the hug, a few tears leaving his eyes. "We missed you."

Black Cat watched with a smile before seeing the two maestros appear, but both stood back a little, not wanting to ruin the joyful moment, though both were smiling and a few tears escaped their own eyes at seeing the happy reunion.

After a bit, Jack looked up to see the two beings and he stood up, lifting Coraline up into his arms while Sally and Wybie both stood up as well. "From what I understand, you two saved Coraline," the Pumpkin King said.

"We were happy to help," the green-haired maestro said as both he and Lance bowed to them. "Welcome to our theater. I am Balan and this is my counterpart, Lance. He was actually the one to find your daughter when she first arrived."

Lance shrugged. "I just happened to be there when she arrived," he said humbly.

"Black Cat told us she was injured when she arrived," Sally said.

"Yes," Balan said. "She had hit her head on something upon her arrival, thus resulting in amnesia, but she also had a large gash on her right side. Thankfully it wasn't too deep, but we tended to it right away. She fully recovered and after her heart of balance was restored, she regained her memory."

Wybie looked around curiously. "What kind of theater is this?" He asked.

"A theater that helps those who are going through hard times," Lance replied. "When they have lost hope and the balance of their heart shifts, the theater appears and Balan and I do our best to help the person regain their hope, restore their heart's balance, and remind them that hard times will never last for long."

"This heart of balance you speak of, can it be stolen?" Jack asked.

"Usually no, but the Beldam that terrified our Coraline must have used a powerful spell to steal it. She no doubt planned for Coraline to fall into a deep depression and put her in a state that would have made it easy for that monster to control her," Balan explained. "We don't know how much longer Coraline could have gone without her heart of balance, but thankfully, she didn't fall into a depression under our watch."

Coraline shook her head. "They took care of me, Dad," she said. "They're like uncles to me. And they never dismissed my flashbacks as just silly things."

"We never would have done that, sweet one," Lance said soothingly.

"Your descriptions of those flashbacks were far too detailed to be lies, little one," Balan said. "We knew you were telling us the truth."

Jack smiled. "I can't thank you two enough for being there for my daughter and keeping her safe," he said, setting Coraline down and shaking their hands. "I only wish there was a way I could repay you for all you've done."

Sally smiled. "Well, Coraline sees them as her uncles, dear," she said. "And she seems attached to them. Perhaps our family can grow a bit more?"

Wybie looked a bit uncertain, which Lance saw and smiled. "It would be thrilling to have both a niece and a nephew," he said, which made the boy look at him in surprise.

"If it is alright with you, Your Majesties," Balan said.

"Please, call us Jack and Sally," Jack said. "And my wife is right. Coraline is attached to you two and it would be cruel to not have her see you both again, so I decree that you two are members of the Skellington Family from this day forward."

"Yay!" Coraline cheered, making the adults chuckle and Wybie looked hopeful. The girl took his arm and pulled him over to their uncles, who smiled at the two of them.

Lance looked at Jack and Sally. "Won't you join us for tea and sweets?" He asked.

"We'd love to," Jack said.

"Yes, thank you," Sally said.

Later on, the Skellingtons were about ready to head back home when Balan found Coraline in her room packing her things and she looked a bit sad. "Is everything alright, my dear?" He asked, kneeling down beside her and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Well, I was wondering, if I came here through a portal, how will I be able to come visit you guys if I don't know how to get here?" She said. "I mean, I know Black Cat knows the way, but I don't want to always bother him when I want to come see you and Uncle Lance."

Balan smiled. "Lance and I spoke about that and came up with a solution, one your parents agreed upon," he said as he reached into a pocket and pulled out a bracelet that was silver and had a large green gemstone in the very center. He gently took hold of her left arm and fastened the bracelet around her wrist. "Whenever you and your brother wish to come visit, touch the stone and think of me and Lance. When you do, you'll appear here at the theater."

Coraline grinned and hugged him. "Thank you, Uncle Balan," she said.

"You're welcome, my dear niece," he said, kissing her forehead in affection.

After some more hugs and well wishes, the Skellingtons returned to Halloween Town where the townspeople cheered happily.

"Princess Coraline has returned!" Someone called out.

"The princess is home!" Someone else cheered and the whole town began singing happily, making Coraline smile and wave at them all, surprised by such a welcome homecoming, but grateful as well.

"They all searched day and night for you, pumpkin," Jack said. "They swore they wouldn't stop searching until you had been found."

"I'm glad to be home, Dad, and I'm glad we live in a place where everyone cares about each other," she said.

The feast that followed lasted well into the night as the town cheered and Coraline, who was glad to be home, felt grateful to her two uncles that had helped her. She looked at her bracelet and smiled, vowing she would visit them soon.

For now, she was just happy to be back home.

I had fun with this story. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418