Powerpuff Girls D and Grim Tales copyright Bleedman/Snafu-Comics
Ghost Rider copyright Marvel Comics
The Nightmare Before Christmas copyright Tim Burton/Disney
Grim Tales Of Mandy Reaver
Chapter 04: This Is Halloween Town
[Three Days Later]
"Honey, Grim Will Be Here Any Minute...Are You ready? said Mandy At Her Dressing Table
"Almost, Dear.
Jack Came Out Of The Walk In Closet Wearing His Best Leather Jacket.
He Was Wearing a Black Cowboy Hat With Matching Boots.
"Hmmm...I Suppose That's Alright.
"I Have My Own Style, You?
Mandy Was Dressed In her Regular Attire.
"I Prefer The Basics...
"Whatever...Your Beautiful Just The Way You Are.
Mandy Smiled.
"You Saying That Because You Mean It?
Or, Are You Saying So I'll Stop Being Mad At You.
"Look, i Said I Was Sorry...Will You Give Me a Break?
"Don't Worry, I Forgive You...Your Just Lucky Junior Wasn't Hurt.
"Come On, mandy!
Scarecrow's a Pushover!
"But, It COULD Of Been Someone Who Wasn't!
You could Of ran Into BLACKOUT, LILITH, BLACKHEART, Or Even DEATHWATCH & MEPHISTO!
Jack Walked Up Behind Mandy And Placed His Hands On Mandy's Arms.
"Honey, You Know The Safety Of Our Children Is My NUMBER ONE Concern...Besides Keeping YOU SAFE.
Mandy Sighed.
"I Know...Maybe I DO Worry Too Much.
It's Just that, No Matter How Much Jackie or Even Malina Grow Up...
I Still Think Of Them As Those Helpless Little Infants I held In The Hospital.
"I Know...Sometimes Even I Forget How Much They're Growing Up.
"Sometimes, I Just Wish They Could Stay Little Babies Forever...
So I can Never Stop Holding Them And Having Them NEED ME.
Jack Hugged His Wife And Kissed her.
"That's The Cruel Truth Of Parenthood, Dear...Which Is Also how WE Grow Up.
Mandy Sighed As She Polished Her Glasses.
"I'm Still Having Trouble Wrapping My Mind Around My Babies Being Ghost Riders...
I Hope They Won't Have To Go Through The Same Hardships YOU DID.
"They Won't, Mandy...If Anything They're The LUCKY Ones.
"How So?
"I Made a Foolish deal To Save My Sister...Which Only Got Her Killed.
I've Had To Live With That Guilt All My Life...I Still Am.
Mandy Looked At Her Husband With Sympathy.
"But, Our Children Made No deal...They've Never Experienced The Kind Of Pain That I have.
They're Luckier...I Had To Lose Something Special To get My Powers, They Got They're For Nothing.
"I Guess Your Right...It IS Easier For Them.
"Plus, I never Had a Father To Teach Me How To Use My Powers...
I had To Learn What I Knew teh Same Way I Did Everything Else: On The Streets.
I'm Just Glad My Children Never have To Go through What Me And My Sister Did...
"Yeah...Our Family Is BLESSED.
Mandy Leaned Back And Softly Kissed Jack.
She Then Put On her Glasses And Got Up.
"Come On, Grim is Waiting For Us.
"Sure Thing.
The Two Walked Out Of They're Room.
"KIDS!
WE LEAVE IN FIVE MINUTES!
"OKAY, MOM!
After Several Minutes, Jackie And Malina Came Out.
Jackie Was Dressed In a Dark Blue, Spandex Suit That Looked Like Something Elvis Would Wear.
While Malina Was Dressed a Cowgirl Outfit That She And Her Mother Made After Watching GUNSMOKE.
"Well, Don't You Guys Look Nice... Said Mandy
"Well, It IS Halloween Town...So, We Might At Well Wear Costumes. Said Jackie
Malina Walked Up To Jack.
"Don't I Look CUTE, Daddy?
"You Sure Do, Sweetheart.
Jack Picked her Up.
"Come On, Precious...Let Go.
Jack Carried Malina On His Neck.
Mandy Took Jackie's Hand And Walked Out.
"Come On, Son...Let's Go.
"Okay, Mom.
Mandy Smiled.
She Knew Jackie Was Getting Old For All that "Baby Stuff"...But, She Still Loved Him.
The Family Got Into The Car And Drove Out Of Town.
[Later, Somewhere In The Countryside]
The Reaver Family Came To a Dense Forest And Parked The Car.
They Got Out.
"Come On, We Go The Rest Of the Way On Foot.
The Family Walked Through The Woods.
Which Had Trees That Was Tall, Thin And No Leaves To Be Seen.
They Soon Found Grim Waiting By Some Odd Trees With Strange Doors On Them.
One Had a Door Shaped Like a Colored Egg, Another Was a Four-Leaf Clover Another Was a Red, White And Blue Firecracker, Another Big, Red Heart Another Was a Green Christmas Tree...And The One Where Grim Was At, Was An Orange Pumpkin With a Face.
The Reaver Family Approached Grim.
"Ahh, You Made It! Said Grim Happily
"Wouldn't Miss This For The World... Said Jack
Mandy frowned, Still Unsure About This Whole Thing.
Jackie Then Tugged On Grim's Robe.
"Uncle Grim...What Exactly IS Halloween Town?
Is It Some Town That Likes Halloween Or Something?
Grim Grinned.
"Better Than That...
Have You Ever Wonder, Jackie...Where Holidays Come From?
Jackie Shook His Head.
"No.
Grim Smiled a Boney Grin Once More.
"Well, Ma' Boy...I'd Say It's Time You Begun.
Grim Grabbed The Door Nob On the Halloween Door And Opened It.
Grim And The Reaver family Stepped Into The Dark Doorway.
They Soon Came Out Of a World That Was Dark, Foggy And In Constant Night Time...
As They Approached The Gates And Entered the Morbid Town, Strange Music Was Heard In The Distance...
[This Is Halloween]
Shadows: Boys And Girls Of Every Age...
Wouldn't Like To See Something Weird And Something STRANGE!
Come With Us And You Will See...This, Our Town Of HALLOWEEN!
Ghosts: This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween...
Pumpkins SCREAM In The Dead Of Night!
This Is Halloween, Everybody Make a Scene...TRICK OR TREAT 'TIL YOUR NEIGHBORS DIE OF FRIGHT!
It's Our Town, EVERYBODY SCREAM!, This Our Town Of Halloween...
Creature Under The Bed: I Am The One Hiding Under Your Bed...
Teeth RAZOR SHARP And Eyes GLOWINg RED!
Creature Under The Stairs: I Am The One Hiding Under Your Stairs...
Fingers Like Snakes And Spiders In My Hair!
Vampires: This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween...
Halloween!, Halloween!, Halloween!, HALLOWEEN!
In this Town, That We Call Home...Everyone Hail To the Haunting Song.
Mayor: In This Town...DON'T WE LOVE IT, NOW!
Everyone's Waiting For The Next SURPRISE!
Halloween Town Residents: 'Round That corner, man Hiding In The Trash Cans...
Something's Waiting The Pounce And How You'll-
Harliquinn Demon: SCREAM!
Wolfman: THIS IS HALLOWEEN!
Melting Man: Red And Black Slimy Green...
Wolf Man: AREN'T YOU SCARED!
Witches: Well, That's Just Fine!
Say It Once, Say It Twice...
Take a Chance And Roll The Dice.
RIDE WITH THE MOON IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT!
Hanging Tree: Everybody Scream, EVERYBODY SCREAM!
Hanging Men: In Our Town Of Halloween...
Clown: I Am the Clown With the "Tear-Away Face"!
HERE IN A FLASH AND GONE WITHOUT A TRACE!
Sally: I Am The WHO When You Call: "Who's There?"
I AM Teh WInd Blowing Through Your Hair...
Oogie's Shadow: I Am The Shadow On The Moon At Night...
Filling Your Dreams To the Brim With FRIGHT!
Halloween Town Residents: This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween...
Halloween!, Halloween!, Halloween!, HALLOWEEN!
Zombie Children: Tender Lumplings Everywhere...
Life's No fun WIthout a Good SCARE!
Zombie Father: It's Our Job...
Zombie Mother: But, We're Not Mean...
Zombie Family: In Our Town Of Halloween...
Mayor: In This Town, Don't We Love It Now?
Everyone's Waiting For The Next Surprise!
Halloween Town Residents: Skeleton Jack Might Catch You In The Back Scream Like a Banshee And Make You Jump Right Outta Your SKIN!
This Is Halloween, EVERYBODY SCREAM!
Mayor: Would You Please Make Way For a Very Special Guy...
Halloween Town Resident: Our Man JACK Is KING OF THE PUMPKIN PATCH!
Everyone Hail To the PUMPKIN KING, NOW!
This Is Halloween, This Is Halloween...
Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, Halloween!
Zombie Children: In This Town...We Call Home...Everyone Hail To the Pumpkin Song.
[Song Ends]
a Skeleton In a Black Suit Bursts Through The Ground And Grabs Jackie And Malina.
"boo... Said The Skeleton
"! Screamed Jackie
The Music Ends As The Many Nightmarish Creatures Begin Cheering Jack, Mandy And Grim Walk Up To JACK SKELINGTON...Who is Holding Malina And Jackie (Who is Freaking Out)
"MOM!, HELP!
"I See You've Met your Uncle Jack... Said Grim
Jackie Finally Stops SCreaming And Looks At The Skeliton.
"THIS GUY! Exclaimed Jackie
"My, My, My...You Certainly Are a Screamer.
That's The Best Scream I've Heard In Ages...
Jack Skellington Lets Go Of The Kids.
"I Wasn't Scared...
Malina Gives Her Brother a "Sure, You Were..." Look.
Jack Reaver Looks Around At the Morbid Town That Looked More Like a Twisted Gotham City.
All Teh Residents Were Either Classic Horror Film Monsters...or, Other Worldly creatures Who, Despite They're Appearance...Seemed Quite Friendly (In a Horrific Sort Of Way)
Jack Skelington Hugged Grim.
"BROTHER!, YOU MADE IT!
And I See You've Brought Your Family, Too...
Grim Fixes His Hood.
"Yes, Jack...I've Brought My "Family"
This Is Mandy, The Girl I "Took Care Of"...
Jack Skellington Shakes Mandy's hand.
"So, Your Mandy...It's So good To meet You.
"Thank You, Mr. Skellington.
Jack Skellington Eyed Her.
"Funny...You Don't SEEM Like The "Heartless, Despicable, Evil Little Monster" That Grim Described To Me...
Mandy Raised An Eyebrow.
"I'm a What, Now!
Grim Sweated a Little...
"Oh, Yes!
He Also Called You a "SHE-DEVIL FROM HELL ITSELF" In Many Of His Letters.
Mandy Eyed Grim.
"Grim...
"It Was a Long time Ago, Mandy...a Long, LONG...Time Ago.
Jack Skellington Continued To Talk.
"He Also Called You a-
"JACK!
I'd Also Like You to Meet JACK REAVER, Mandy's Husband.
Jack Skellington Ran Over To Jack Reaver.
"Jack Reaver...I Like That Name.
Jack Couldn;t Help But Smile.
"gee, i wonder why... Said Jack Sarcasticly
Jack Then Got An Idea.
"So, You Like Scaring People?
Jack Skellington Got Excited.
"OH, YES!
It's All We Do Here!
"You Know, I'm Good At Scaring, Too.
Some Creatures Laughed In they're Throats.
"a regular human!...Doubt It. Said a Creature
Jack Smiled.
It Chose This Time To Turn Into the Ghost Rider...Which SHut Them Up, Quick.
Even The Pumpkin King HIMSELF, Was a Little Frightened At First.
"WOW!
NOW THAT'S A SCARE!
Jack Changed Back To Human Form.
"Hey, Wait a Minute...Your a GHOST RIDER, Aren't You?
"Yep...Been That Way Since I Was Eight, Why?
Jack Skellington Began To Shake Jack Reaver's Hand Alot.
"I Am a HUGE FAN!
When Me And Grim Were Kids, Our Father Used To Tell Us Bedtime Stories About Ghost Riders!
ABout How They Struck FEAR AND TERROR In The Hearts Of Those Who Were EVIL...
It Was Stories Like That Which Made We Want To Be The Pumpkin King When I Grew Up...
"Really?
"Yes, And It ALSO Made Grim Want To be a Grim Reaper!
It's a Wonderful Story, It All happened When He Met Ang-
Grim Once Again, Interrupted His Brother.
"Jack!, I Want You To Meet My Godchildren: Jackie And Malina Reaver...
Jack Bent Over To The Kids.
"My...What Marvelous Costumes.
Aren't You two Just a Couple Of Little Terrors...
"Sometimes They Are... Said Grim
Jack Reaver Gave Grim a Stern Look, As Did Mandy.
"Well, Anyway...
Let's Go To The TOWN HALL!, The Party Is At Hand!
Jack Marched Towards His House With The Halloween Town residents Following Him.
Grim Picked Up jackie And Malina And Carried Them On his Shoulders.
"Come On, Kids...Time To have Fun!
"YEAH! Shouted Jackie.
Soon, Jack Reaver And Mandy Were Alone.
Mandy Was Still frowning...Her Eyes Darting Around The Place.
Jack Walked Up To her.
"Honey, Are You Alright?
"Not Really...I DOn't Like Being Here.
"Sweetheart , Everything Will Be Just FINE...
"I Hope Your Right...
Still, I Can't Help But Worry.
Jack Took His Wife's Hand.
"Don't...
I'll Protect Our Family, I Promise.
Mandy Nodded, Bearing an Uneasy Smile.
"Come On, Let's Join The Party...
Jack And Mandy Walked Towards The Halloween Town Hall.
As They Left, Three Children Hid Within teh Shadows...
One Was a Boy In Red, Who Wore a Devil Mask Another Was a Boy In Blue Wearing a Skeleton Mask The Last Was a Girl In Purple, Wearing a Witch's Mask And Hat.
The Kids Were LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL...Oogie Boogie's "Kids"
They Took Off They're Masks As They Watched The Large Group Disappear.
"Didja' See That Guy! Said Barrel
"Yeah, he's a Ghost Rider! Said Lock
"You Think Oogie Might Wanna Know ABout This?
Shock Slapped They're Faces.
"Of Course He Does, You PINHEADS!
Let's Go Back And Tell Oogie!
The Three Brats Giggled As They Left Into They're Living Tub That Carried Them Into The Countryside Of Halloween Town...Where Oogie's Lair Was At.
[Meanwhile, At The Party]
"Everyone, This Is My Wife And Pumpkin Queen: Sally. Began Jack Skellington
Everyone Looked At a Ragdoll Frankenstein Woman With Long, Brown Hair.
"Are These Our New Guests, Jack? Asked Sally With An Angelic Voice
"Yes, They Are...
Sally Greeted Them.
"Pleasent To Meet You, Reaver Family...
Mandy Nodded.
"Thank You, Mrs. Skellington.
"Sally, How Are Your Children? Asked Jack Skellington
"I Just Put Them To Bed...They're Far to Young For a Party Like This.
"Oh, Yes...Of Course.
Skellington Walked Up to Jack Reaver.
"Say, Reaver...After The Party, Why Don't We Spend Some Time Together...
"What On Earth For?
"Oh, Why Not!
We're Just A Couple Of "Skeleton Jacks" Who Are Good At Scaring...It'll Be FUN!
Reaver Eyed Skellington.
"I'll think About It.
Suddenly, Spotlights Landed On the Stage.
"And, Now For Tonights Act...Straight From The UNDERWORLD CITY!
Out Your Claws Together For BONE JANGLES AND HIS BALL & SOCKET BAND.
The Curtains Opened To reveal a Skeleton With One Eye, Wearing a Hat WIth Dozens Of Other Skeletons With Instruments.
"Hit It, Boys...
Jazzy Music Began To Play.
Everybody Got On The Dance Floor And Began To Dance.
Jack Was Of Course the Best One Of All...
Then, Everyone Watched At Jackie And Malina Did a Dance Together.
At First They Did Quite Well...They did a Walts, a Tango And Other Dance Styles.
Then, a Spinning Move Went Wrong And Jackie Was Thrown Into a Bucket Full Of Water And Apples.
Everyone (Except Jackie's Family) Laughed At Him.
He Sat There Pretty Ticked, Then Malina Came To Help Him.
"I Am So Sorry, Dear Brother...
I Must Have Lost My Grip On That Last Swing, An-
"It's Okay, 'Lina...It Wasn't Your Fault.
Malina Smiled As Jackie Got Up.
She Was Lucky To Have a Brother Who Was So UNDERSTANDING.
Mandy Dryed Jackie Off.
"You, Okay?
"Yeah, I'm Fine, Mom...
Jackie Then Walked Out For Some Air...Malina Went With Him.
Mandy Sighed As She Sat Down With Her Husband.
"Poor Jackie...
I'm Not Complaining, But There IS Something Wrong About His Only Friend Being His Own Sister.
Jack Reaver Eyed Mandy.
"I Don't Have a Problem With It...
Mandy Grinned.
"Of Course, YOu WOULDN'T.
Jack Smiled.
[Meanwhile, Outside Town Hall]
Jackie Sat By The Town Well As He Dried Himself Off More.
Malina Sat Beside Him WIth a Look Of Sympathy On Her Face.
"Brother...I have a Question.
"Sure, What Is It?
"Do You Think...I'll EVER Get My Rider Powers?
Jackie Looked At His Sister.
"Of Course You Will.
"I Hope So...
Because You have Your Powers ANd I Still Don't Feel Any Different.
"That's Because Your Younger Than Me...
I Guess Because I'm Older, I Got My Powers First.
"So, I have To Wait Two More Years?
"Maybe, Maybe Not...
Just Give It Time, Things Will Turn Out.
Malina Smiled Warmly.
She Then Hugged Her Brother.
"Thank You, Big Brother...
Jackie Hugged His Little Sister Back.
Then, Suddenly...Something Hit Then Across The Heads, Knocking Them Out.
Lock, Shock And Barrel Stood Over Them Carrying Large Clubs.
"WE GOT 'EM! Said Barrel
"Good, Now Put Them In The Bag...
We Can't Keep Mr. Oogie Boogie WAITING! Said Shock WIth a Snicker
Lock And Barrel Stuffed Jackie And Malina In a Large Sack Then, Tossed Them In They're Living Tub.
They Jumped In And Headed For Oogie's Lair.
Author Note: It should be CLEAR, that I am writing my own version of events that occured in Bleedman's Grim Tales
(only, THIS VERSION will be much lighter in tone, and have my own creative touch to it)
anyway, Jackie/Jack Jr.'s outfit is based on the Classic Version of Ghost Rider
while Malina Cowgirl outfit is to be based on the Western Aspect of Ghost Rider (the Caretaker from the first film)