A/N: In this chapter, this is where Coraline and Jack first met each other. :)
Coraline 2: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Chapter 2: A Chance Encounter
The next morning, in Halloween Town, the mayor rolled in on his vehicle, passing by the sleepy musicians as they were snoozing.
"Morning, gents.", the Mayor greeted to the band before humming "This Is Halloween" while walking up to Jack's front door and ringing the bell, which had a screaming sound (literally), two times.
"Jack, you home?", the Mayor asked before he eventually got worried as he switched his face and knocked this time with desperation before then switching back to his happy face.
"Jack? I've got the plans for next Halloween. I need to go over them with you so we can get started.", the Mayor spoke before he switched his face to a worried one again.
"Jack, please, I'm only an elected an official here, I can't make decisions by myself. Jack, answer me!", the Mayor shouted before he fell and rolled down the steps near the gates with the band speaking to him.
"He's not home.", the accordion player stated.
"Where is he?", the Mayor asked as he barely got up.
"He hasn't been home all night.", the Sax Player replied.
"Oooooh...", the Mayor groaned as he got down again.
Meanwhile, Coraline was walking in a seemingly vacant forest full of trees.
"Okay. I definitely know that I'm not home anymore.", Coraline spoke before noticing 7 thicker trees gathered in a circle with each holiday door imprinted on them.
"Huh. That's weird.", Coraline puzzled before going down the hill to arrive at the center and took a look at the holiday trees.
"There are doors on those trees. But they're all holiday-themed. And one of them looked just like the door I went through to get here.", Coraline stated before she overheard yawning nearby and gasped before instinctively hiding behind one of the trees and then peeping out from it.
As it happened, Jack, Zero, and the Black Cat arrived at the forest.
"Where are we?", Jack yawned.
"Somewhere we need to be.", the black cat responded as he led Jack and Zero to the forest with big trees.
"It's someplace new.", Jack spoke.
"What you consider 'new', is actually far more ancient than even you realize, Jack.", the Black Cat responded as he, Jack, and Zero moved closer to the center of the forest with the 7 holiday trees in a circle.
"What is this?", Jack asked in wonder.
"This is a glenn of trees. The Valentine's tree, the shamrock tree, the Easter Egg Tree, the Turkey Tree, and yes, even the Christmas Tree. They are all marked with a special door leading us to one of the 7 holidays. After all, it is how we explore and understand other holidays beyond Halloween.", the Black Cat explained.
"You mean there are others?", Jack asked.
"Indeed. But there is one other reason for my escorting you two here. As it happens, I have a guest here who once had the same urges as you to explore farther than few ever dared.", the Black Cat responded as Zero couldn't help but sniff for a scent unfamiliar, yet non-threatening.
"And who is that guest?", Jack asked before Zero barked and flew over behind one of the trees, taking Coraline by surprise as she exclaimed while falling down before Zero barked and licked her in the face, tickling her.
"Hey! Okay, okay! Cut it out!", Coraline laughed.
"And that would be her.", the Black Cat spoke.
"Zero! Would you kindly get off her this instant?", Jack urged before Zero gave a slight whimper and moved away.
"No, no. It's okay. It just took me by surprise, that's all.", Coraline assured as she got back up.
"Coraline Jones, meet Jack. Jack Skellington, meet Coraline.", the Black cat introduced.
"Hi. Nice to meet you.", Coraline greeted.
"Oh, the feeling's mutual, Coraline. So, what brings you here?", Jack asked.
"Well, I found a pumpkin-shaped door like the one on the door. And when I walked through it, I wound up here. What brings you here?", Coraline asked.
"Well, I was looking for something new. I think as the years go by, throwing heads, the living dead, ghouls, witches, monsters, nightmares, and the like, the same old routine just seems like too much trouble. I wanted to go clear my head and try and think of something new. That's when the black cat arrived and showed us the way here.", Jack responded.
"Really? He did?", Coraline puzzled.
"Of course. You two are a lot more alike than you think. Although, only one of you has past experience about being careful what you wish for while the other...isn't very fortunate to have said experience, but either way, exploring one of the holidays other than Halloween might do the trick.", the black cat interjected.
"Okay, but which one do I pick?", Coraline asked.
"Whatever you think is best.", the black cat responded.
"Hmm...well, next to Halloween, Christmas is my favorite holiday.", Coraline guessed before she stepped forward and then turned the knob on the Christmas-tree shaped door before she opened it and saw only blackness so far.
"Hello? Anyone down there?", Coraline shouted with an echo.
Then, that was when twinkling was head and snowflakes swirled around Coraline before it sucked her in.
"Whoa!", Coraline exclaimed before she grabbed Jack, who was equally surprised before he tried to grab something to stop the suction only to grab the Black Cat as he gave a quick meow before the door closed in front of Zero, who barked in concern.
Meanwhile, Coraline, Jack, and the black cat were being spun around in a swirl.
"Whoa!", Jack exclaimed as they spun around very quickly before a white light flashed and dimmed before Coraline, Jack, and the Black Cat found themselves on top of a hill of snow and looked ahead to see a majestic sight.
"Santa's workshop... We're actually here?!", Coraline exclaimed excitedly before the Black Cat explained as Jack's hand fell through the snow slightly before he picked the snow back up and then ate a little bit of it and looked ahead to see a train rolling by as it tooted, not to mention elves skating around the tree.
"Not exactly. While it is indeed present, we are actually in a world based off what you considered your favorite holiday full of joy, laughter, care, et cetera.", the Black Cat responded.
"It looks so beautiful up there.", Coraline responded before Jack suddenly flipped forwards, landed in his back, and slid down the hill of snow before getting trapped inside a small snow hill, making Coraline snicker a bit as the black cat sighed.
"The point being, Christmas is all very new to him. And I think it wise to give him some knowledge about this holiday together.", the Black Cat suggested.
"Okay. As long as he understands.", Coraline responded as she picked the black cat up and then slid down the hill and caught up to Jack, who popped his head out from the hill before getting out completely as he started singing before catching a small snowflake, which quickly got broken by the carrot nose on a snowman, holding an umbrella with a candy cane at the bottom before overhearing singing elves from nearby.
Jack: What's this? What's this?
There's color everywhere
What's this?
There's white things in the air
What's this?
I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming. Wake up, Jack! This isn't fair! What's this?
"Jack, hide!", Coraline whispered urgently before a moment later, Jack was disguised as a snowman, sans carrot nose, while Coraline and the cat were behind him as the trio of singing elves passed them.
Then, a toy polar bear with a wind-up key walked by with three elves on top of it before Jack followed it, still in his snowman disguise as Coraline and the cat caught up until he jumped up, taking the two along with him just as the three elves turned around.
Jack: What's this? What's this?
There's something very wrong
What's this?
There's people singing songs
What's this?
The streets are lined with little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy. Have I possibly gone daffy? What is this?
What's this?
Then, it showed the elves having a snowball fight with a small snow fort in the area next to the tree before Coraline sang next while showing Jack the many joys of Christmas, starting with the snowball fight, as Jack got off the lamppost and then pulled the string of lights down enough with the umbrella to get a closer look at them and then let the lights go back up before Jack eventually noticed the mistletoe getting set up with one of the elves present kissing the other by the cheek as even the Black Cat sang as well before Jack went to the other window and saw a mother elf reading a story with two elves next to her.
Coraline: There's children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads
They're busy building toys. And absolutely, no one's dead
Jack: There's frost on every window. Oh, I can't believe my eyes
And in my bones, I feel the warmth that's coming from inside...
Oh, look!
What's this?
The Black Cat: They're hanging mistletoe
They kiss...
Jack: Why, that looks so unique.
Inspired, they're gathering around to hear a story, roasting chestnuts on a fire. What's this?
"Aw.", Coraline smiles softly from the sight while Jack looked at another angle and brushed the frost off the window to see a tree getting wrapped in Christmas lights as it was spun by another elf, who even plugged the lights in before they went on with Jack taking Coraline and the cat with him up the rooftops before going to another house, this time, seeing through its window to see bunk beds with elves sleeping, even in the drawers, as Jack went in and brought Coraline in as she held onto the black cat before she showed Jack nothing under one of the beds the bed and then going to a bedroom to show Jack four elves sleeping in next as the Black Cat got cozy next to one of the elves before Jack took the cat in a hurry, making it meow in surprise, waking one of the elves up as Coraline barely ducked underneath to avoid getting spotted.
Jack: What's this in here?
The Black Cat: They've got a little tree
Jack: How queer! And who would ever think?
And why?
Coraline: They're covering it with tiny little things
They've got electric lights on strings. And there's a smile on everyone.
Jack: So, now, correct me if I'm wrong!
This looks like fun this looks like fun.
Oh, could it be I got my wish?
What's this?
Oh my, what now?
Coraline: The children are asleep
But look, there's nothing underneath
No ghouls, no witches here to scream and scare them
Or ensnare them, only little cozy things secure inside their dreamland...
Jack: What's this?
Then, outside, Jack saw silhouettes of elves building toys and wreaths before sliding down the rope to see an assortment of cakes and pies with the window open before falling down to join Coraline and the Black Cat in a merry-go-round before he leapt up to the top of the train before he went down on the sled and slid down before running ahead just as Coraline and the cat noticed where Jack was running as they left the merry-go-round.
Jack: The monsters are all missing and the nightmares can't be found
And in their place, there seems to be good feeling all around
Instead of screams, I swear
I can hear music in the air
The smell of cakes and pies are absolutely everywhere...
Coraline: The sights, the sounds
They're eveywhere and all around
I've never felt so good before
This empty place inside of me is filling up
I simply cannot get enough
I want it. Oh, I want it
Oh, I want it for my own
I've got to know, I've got to know.
What is this place that we have found?
What is this?!
"Jack! Watch out for that...!", Coraline warned too late before Jack ran into a pole and landed backwards from the recoil.
"...pole.", Coraline finished before she helped Jack up.
"Are you okay?", Coraline asked just as Jack recovered and saw a sign saying,
"Christmas Town. Hmm...", Jack spoke before the trio heard a large train whistle and turned with a gasp before seeing the big man in charge himself as he laughed joyfully, holding a candy cane.
"Ho Ho Ho Ho! Ho Ho Ho Ho!", Santa laughed, making Coraline widen her eyes with extreme joy.
"Santa Claus...!", Coraline gasped as Jack looked at him curiously.