Here's chapter 3. I thought I had put it up, but I guess I didn't. But now it's up. I don't have much to say since the boys are out and I'll be leaving for work soon. So, enjoy!
Chapter 3
Visit
In the woods, Yami is a good distance from the cemetery and Halloween Town, making his way to a certain destination to visit a friend. Then Skye started to bark with a small howl. Slightly turning toward the silver wolf, Yami said with his hand out to her, a sign saying no, "Not now, Skye. I'm not in the mood." Then she jumped in front of his path, stopping him in his tracks with her letting out a low howl. Seeing no point in arguing with her, Yami gave in since Skye always loves it when he plays with her.
"Alright Skye." Within a couple seconds, Yami used his magic to form an object shaped like a twig and held it above the wolf's head. "Here you go, girl." Yami tossed the twig like shadow object into the trees with Skye immediately chasing after it. At first she lost sight of the shadow object, but after activating her special ability, Moon Eyes that allows her to see things in the deepest darkness that's untouched by the moonlight, Skye located the shadow object, pick it up with her mouth and went to catch up to her master.
The next morning, Mayor Pegasus arrives at the front gates of Yami's home, a single room apartment with a spiral staircase, a fireplace, a bed in front of the fireplace that never catches on fire because of an element resistance seal, a tall black ebony wardrobe, a small kitchen, and windows all around the room that allows a great view of the town and surrounding areas. Sleeping beside the gate is Duke Devlin and his band who were awakened by Pegasus' arrival. Stepping out of his hearse with a few rolled up parchment papers under one arm, Pegasus bowed to Duke and his group and said with his usual cheerful yet creepy tone of voice, "Good morning, gentlemen."
Opening the gate and going up the porch steps, Pegasus stood in front of the door and rang the doorbell that was a small brown mouse dangling upside down from its tail and let out a somewhat soft scream as the mouse reil back up. When he didn't get a reply the first time, Pegasus rang again and said, "Yami-boy, you home?"
Still not getting a response, Pegasus' turned from his happy and cheerful face to his pale and worried face without a single strand of his silver hair moving an inch and knocked on the dark maple door three times before switching faces so he sounded cheerful. ""Yami, I've got the plans for next Halloween! We need to go over them so we can get started as soon as possible."
Nothing but silence still, Pegasus became worried again. "Yami-boy please. I'm only an elected official here. I can't make the big decisions like you do." Still nothing, Pegasus took out his mega phone and yelled up to the top of the apartment and leaning back, hoping to get his attention, "Yami, answer me..." but before he could finish, Pegasus had leaned back too far, causing him to lose his balance and roll down the stairs like a bowling ball until he hit the gate with his back.
As the mayor glance up at the apartment, the band member who plays the accordion says, "He's not home."
"Where is he then?" said Pegasus, his worry growing in the pit of his stomach.
"He hasn't been home all night." Duke says with a calm tone, knowing that his friend wanted to be alone as soon as Halloween ended last night.
Back in the woods with the pumpkin-shaped sun out, hanging overhead, Yami who has been walking all night with Skye right beside him, finally arrived at the building he was making his way to, Yami immediately went inside to find the one specific door that had the portal that would lead him to his destination. As soon as he saw a door shaped like a green tree that had different colored orbs, gold ribbons, silver crystals and a beautiful angel sitting at the very top, Yami smiled that he found what he was looking for.
With Skye staying close, Yami opened the door, allowing a few white snowflakes wrap around the two and a gentle breeze from inside pull them in, enter a swirling vortex and in a few seconds, arrived in a world covered with puffy white snow, colorful buildings having more space between them than most buildings in Halloween Town, a merry-go-round with different arctic and winter animals in the town square like the fountain back home next to a huge Christmas tree, a huge frozen pond where a few elves were ice skating in an area similar to the cemetery, a fort built out of snow with a few children playing a snowball fight with a few smiling parents watching and talking among themselves, and the biggest building was a mix of a manor and a toy factory.
Getting to his feet as Skye shook off the snow from when they landed, Yami slid down the hill with his companion close behind until they stopped right at the edge of the square, where a few elves saw them slide down from the hill. Once he made eye contact to those watching, the elves smile at the Nightmare King of Halloween Town, for those of Halloween and Christmas were great companions for their leaders were close friends. Gathering around their visiting guests, Yami gives each one of the elves a sincere smile and shook a few hands as a couple elves give Skye attention as well.
"Have you come to see Dartz?" one child elf asked with his big eyes sparkling.
When he gave them a single nod with a smile, the elves' faces beamed as they start to lead their Halloween guests to Dartz's home. Arriving just outside the front door, Yami pulled on the rope that caused two silver bells to ring. Within one minute, the red door opened and Yami came face to face with a young woman with long brown hair, lovely brown eyes, wearing a long red dress that appears as smooth as silk with a few white ribbons, matching slippers with a silver outline, and a face full of a motherly kindness.
Seeing their guest, the woman gives him a smile and says with a bow, "Welcome back, Nightmare King."
Returning the bow, Yami replies, "Thank you, Iona. Is Dartz in?"
"He's in the parlor, going over his list of nice or naughty children. I'm sure a break from his work to see you will be nice."
Being led inside, the next face Yami saw is a young girl, about eight years old, her brown hair in two braided ringlets, the same brown eyes as Iona, wearing a white dress like Iona's with sky blue ribbons, and matching slippers. As soon as she recognized their guests, the child ran into Yami's arms with a huge smile on her face. "Yami, you're here!"
Holding her in his arms, Yami smile at her. "Hey Chris." Chris, Dartz and Iona's daughter always looked up to Yami as an older brother and she always loves it whenever he comes to visit when both him and her father aren't too busy with the holidays they were in charge of.
Once she saw Skye right by Yami, Chris asked, "Is it okay if Skye and I play?"
Stroking her smooth hair like a brother, Yami replies, "You can play with her as long as I'm here to see your father."
"Okay." With that, Chris and Skye run off, with the wolf playfully chase the child. Now that they were gone, Iona led Yami to the parlor and soon enough, they see Dartz in his chair by the fireplace, scanning over a long list, putting checks next to a few names and lines over others.
"Dartz dear, you have a visitor." said Iona.
Glancing up from his list, Dartz smiled as soon as he saw his best friend and fellow holiday leader. "Welcome, Yami." Dartz said and gestured to a seat right across from him as he roll his list up with one hand and setting it aside in the case that has been designed to hold the long list when it's not being checked over.
As Yami took the seat that was offered, Iona said from the doorway, "Would you like something to drink, Yami?"
"Some hot chocolate sounds nice." With a single nod of her head, Iona left the room to enter the kitchen and make a few drinks and get some Christmas snacks.
"So, did you have another successful Halloween?"
"Yeah, it was our most horrible yet." Yami said with a small smile. However, the tone of voice he used said something else.
"Is something bothering you, Yami?" Dartz asked, but the only response he got was Yami glancing away, his attention on the flickering flames. Before Dartz could say anything else, Iona returned with a tray of two mugs of hot chocolate and a small plate of Christmas cookies and a few chocolate truffles and she left after she set the tray down on the glass coffee table. Taking a sip of his beverage, Dartz continued, "Yami, don't think you can hide anything from me after we've known each other for a long time, ever since our fathers were holiday leaders."
Before answering, Yami let out a deep sigh and finally faced his friend. "I just feel worn out of the same routine my subjects and I use to scare people."
Then he understood where he is going. "I see. I know that feeling of Christmas being tiresome as well. But I know it's all worth it when I see the bright faces of everyone around the world when they open the gifts I bring them each year."
"I know it's worth it sometimes, but doing the same thing over and over each year just makes me really fatigue." reply Yami as he took a drink from his beverage.
"Well, have you ever thought about trying something new and inspiring? Such as ask any ideas from the residents of Halloween Town?"
"I've thought about asking, but just everyone had suggested things that are all the same."
"Did you ask someone that could have different thoughts and opinions from the others?"
Thinking over whom he had asked suggestions from, one person did come to mind as someone he has yet to ask; Yugi the Ragdoll. But ever since they first met, Yami had noticed that Doctor Solomon has been keeping Yugi and his sister Miaka at the manor since the doctor thought they both weren't ready to join the residents of Halloween Town. But he had seen Yugi out a few times with only his cat with him, so that left Miaka being back at the manor with Solomon.
"There is one person I have yet to talk to about suggestions for Halloween."
Dartz then gave his friend a smile. "Then as soon as you return home, go straight to that person and talk to them about it."
Yami still felt unsure about asking Yugi for any suggestions, but he is willing to try. So for the next couple of hours, the two friends discussed about personal topics and how things have been with the residents of both Halloween and Christmas Town.
After a few hours of discussing a few things, Yami thanked Dartz for the advice and Iona for the refreshments. Once Skye joined him after he had whistled for her, signalling it is time to head home, Yami bid Dartz, his family, and the Christmas residents farewell and left the Christmas world by going through the door that will lead him home.
However, unknown to the two holiday leaders, there is a pair of black eyes watch everything from the shadows. This shadow figure has plans for these two leaders that he will set in action real soon.
Uh oh, the villain already has plans and I'll tell you they are not good. You all know the drill, review and let me know what you all think so far.
next: Yami seeks advise from Yugi
