Hey. I would just like to point out that my old friend, Melanie, died on Monday, the 11th. I have not known her for very long, and have not seen her in about a year, so I will be updating my stories. But I was wondering if you all could say a prayer for her, please. Thank you!
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Me: Okay, so, to my amazing readers, this is the most important chapter in the whole story: A fire. It symbolizes character, the power of love, and what Lock, Shock, and Barrel can do in their spare time!
Lock, Shock, and Barrel: Hey! Don't blame us! That lighter fuel was getting really lonely!
Me: Riiiiiiiiiiight. So, anyway, this is also the second to last chapter in part 1 of the Nightmare Chronicles series.
Andromeda: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
Me: Thanks for being supportive, Andy! And, by the way, I will not be updating my stories after this chapter unless I get 3 reviews! I mean it! 3!
Oogie: I am in this one?
Me: Why do you sound so nervous?
Oogie: 'Cause in case you haven't noticed, I am made of clothe. And clothe and fires don't really go together!!
Me: I know. Think of it as a type of Circus thing.
Oogie: I'd rather not.
Me: Fine. Anyway, on with A fire!
It has been about 3 months since Oogie Boogie was banished. Andromeda had only visited him once, to tell him that he needed to accompany her to town hall. When he got there, he discovered a kind of meeting was taking place. The Board of Elders (I know, weird name, but it's true. And no one can steal it! It's really just a fancy way of saying the leaders of the holidays plus Andromeda were there,) were holding Oogie on trial for kidnapping three elders throughout the course of his life (Santa, Sally, and Andromeda).
Andromeda had requested it, and the voting was unanimous: Oogie was going to be permanently stripped of his boogieman powers.
He was depressed. Cut off completely from the town, and not even having his powers to comfort him, Oogie felt an emotion that he had never experienced before: major boredom. He found food to have a bland taste, and had basically nothing to think about.
To his utter dismay, Oogie found his thoughts straying to Andromeda quite often. She was the strangest girl he had ever met. Her authority level over him and the town mingled with her fiery passion and straight out, no nonsense speech gave her a rather intimidating aura. The fact that she had no fear over him also made the ex boogieman think twice about rebelling, which is why he found it easier to stay in his cavern instead of facing that blazing, sun-like face that bore its way into your very soul. She was strong headed, and this made Oogie admire her very slightly. He would have to remind himself several times that she was Jack's daughter, and that he would never ever fall for her. But then why did his thoughts contain only her smile and sweet voice speaking words of meaning to him?
But things were even harder for the young lady herself. Halloween was just around the corner, 3 months away, and since she was the heir to the throne, she was entitled to help the mayor with the Halloween preparations. Her birthday was about 5 months away from now, and since it was her 16th, she would be having a "Sour-Sixteen Party." (Yeah, laugh it up, but it's true.) She was in charge of planning this. She was under a great deal of pressure, but she was great at handling stress. Better than the mayor, anyhow.
"Andromeda! Get down here for dinner!" Andromeda rolled over sleepily in bed. She had had a long day in town, and wanted nothing more than to take a nap. She was not eager to go down stairs, especially if her mother was serving worms wart stew again. When she walked by her mirror, she noticed how horrible her hair looked. A beg mess of wavy brown locks. She grabbed a brush from her bedside table and began to brush. Once it was smooth and silky and curly again, she walked groggily down stairs.
"Well, well, well, who is this sleepily little demon?" asked her father teasingly when he say his daughter at the foot of the stairs. She smiled dryly at her father, and sat down. He reached out and tousled her hair. She glared at him. Andromeda knew he was joking, but she hated this gesture greatly. "You've really go to stop staying up so late, and staying so late at the office," he said cheekily, putting his hand down. "Unless you insist on staying up so late you must sleep in during the day, Dora."
"I know, but the mayors just driving me crazy. I have to keep track of him." Jack laughed loudly, remembering his first days as king. "I can relate," he answered, smiling lovingly at his daughter's twisted smile, while she tried imagining a miniature version of her dad.
"How is the party planning coming, Dora?" asked Sally, setting down the turtle soufflé. Andromeda sighed dramatically, and set her head down on the table. "Bad, I can't decide on whether or not to invite the vampire nephews."
"Why don't you?"
"But their idiots, mom!"
"Now Andromeda Skellington," interjected Jack's stern tone, "We never call people idiots."
"You call the mayor one all the time," was the mumbled reply. Sally forced herself not to laugh as she sat down.
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That night, as Andromeda lay in bed, she was having a little trouble going to sleep. She gazed at the moon through her open and recently repaired window. Several thought were going through the young rulers head. She was wondering if she would ever find a date for the Halloween dance, ever finish Halloween preparations, or ever seem like a normal, teenage girl, instead of pretty princess freak. Bu things were about to get much, much worse for Andromeda Skellington.
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Oogie was sitting in his easy chair, thinking about how badly his life was going. But he was also imagining how badly Andromeda's life was going now. He had guessed by her height and figure that she as around 16 or 17. If she was going to be 16 soon anyhow, she would be planning a Sour Sixteen party. Even though Oogie had never had one, him not being a girl, he knew from his siblings how hectic it could get.
Suddenly, a bright flash of light was seen outside Oogie's open door way. He quickly got up to look, and saw the fire. It was swallowing the town up! Oogie felt himself pale. Three little voices were heard outside the site, bickering. Oogie thought for a minute, then slapped a hand on his floppy fourhead. How stupid he had been!
"Mr. Oogie! Mr. Oogie! the towns on fire!" yelled Lock, Shock, and Barrel when they saw the ex boogieman. "I know," Oogie growled, walking towards them. "What. Did. You. Do?"
"Well..." answered Shock, with a guilty glance at him.
"It was all Barrel's fault!!" yelled Lock accusingly, pointing to the small boy. Barrel opened his mouth to retaliate, but was walloped in the head by Shock. They started yelling and fighting again. Oogie sighed, rolling his sockets, and began running towards the town.
"Do I have to do everything myself?!" he yelled angrily over his shoulder.
When he reached town, he found that only the Skellington house was on fire. He yelled for the family to get out, but there was no answer. He started walking away, still having ill feelings towards Jack. But he suddenly thought of Andromeda. He didn't want the girl to re-die as much. So, grudgingly, and with a little fear, he went into the house.
Dodging the flames, he found Andromeda's room. She was still asleep. He delicately picked up her sleeping form and started running out. Coughing, Oogie set the princess down on the ground. She stirred, looking up into his face that was bended over hers. "Whatgoingon?" she asked, sounding sleepy and slurred. Then, she shook her head and saw him clearly. "Oogie?!" she said angrily. "Wha-"
"Andromeda!" he yelled, using her first name for the first time. she noted both this, and that he sounded serious, instead of crooning or mocking her, which made her feel disgusted. "The town is on fire!"
She looked around. "What?" she asked seriously, wondering what she could do. "I've gotta go," Answered Oogie. He turned away from her, and felt a soft hand on his arm. He looked down, and found her looking up at him with those luminous doe like eyes. "Where are my parents?" Oogie couldn't help but blush at her gentle touch. "I have to-"
"MOM!!" yelled the girl, running towards her mother. Sally caught her in her arms, while Jack looked livid, seeing a flash of clothe pass him. Behind him, Andromeda was having a sudden coughing fit, and fainted, but not before telling Jack who saved her. Jack went to find Oogie, ready to either thank or blame him for something.
"Need some help?" said a voice behind him. Jack turned around, and saw the rescuer of his sweetheart…..