Author's Notes: Thank you to all who reviewed my fic.

Tammy: Glad you like the story, the Nightmare Before Christmas is one my favorite movies too.

Shining Zephyr: Don't feel bad, I understand what's it like having no computer. Glad you like the fic and if I don't hear from you again, Happy Holidays.

Shiva the Sarcastic: You'll just have to wait and see to find out. Glad you like the fic.

Chapter IV: This is Halloween

Jazz

"Where did you see Danny last?" Sam asked as we looked for clues of to what happened to Danny.

"He said that he heard a noise and was going to check it out," I told her as a thought entered my mind, "You don't think he's hurt," I asked Sam worriedly as she was looking at something on the ground.

"Look at these burn marks," she said pointing to a blackened area on the road, "Something tells me our wonderful mayor might have something to do about this. Let's go pay a visit to 'uncle Vlad'," she said smiling as I followed her to city hall to go see our tax dollars at work.

Danny

"Ow, my head," I said as I opened my eyes and massaged my temples. "Next time, I have to keep my eyes open," I tell myself as I sit up to see where I was at.

Wherever I am it's weird, dark clouds seem to fill the air and buildings twist and contort in all directions, "Vlad must have really done a number on me," I say as I try to stand up.

Pain racks my frame as I manage to stand up; my knees wobble as I look around this strange place. Where ever I am it's not the Ghost Zone as there are no doors and I'm not floating. However it's cold like the Ghost Zone like it's perpetually autumn.

My head throbs as I walk around, "I need to sit down," I moan as sit underneath a barren tree.

Suddenly I fall back and hear a voice say, "Hey watch where you're sitting, those are my roots," I look up and see a face looking at me. It was then I notice that there are skeletons hanging on the branches.

"Uh…sorry, I'm new here," I manage to get out as I stagger away. Am I going nuts trees don't talk…or do they…, "get a grip Fenton, you're just exhausted that's all," I assure myself all it is Vlad's weapon taking its toll on me and I simply need to relax.

I continue walking until I see something, a large wolf like creature walking near me. My mind races with hope, thinking it's Wulf. I run up to him and say, "Wulf, estas mi Danny. Mi estas perdita bezon helpon"(Tucker had taught me Esperanto so I could talk to Wulf without need of a translator).

"What did you say?" the creature asks me as he walks away confused.

"Okay, that was not Wulf and I made a fool of myself to a complete stranger," I tell myself as I continue walking. This place is filled with strange creatures (or maybe it's just my imagining playing tricks on me) like vampires, witches and, "Ghosts," I gasp as my ghost sense goes off.

I was in no condition to fight (note to self: thank Vlad for using that Ecto-Disintegrator on me) so I hid in a nearby cemetery.

"Are you sure this where the tree demon saw him," a voice said. I peeked out and saw two ghosts floating nearby. They seemed to be searching for somrthing, but what I have no idea.

"Yes, he was just like the stories said white hair and green eyes," his companion replied, why are they talking about me and why are there stories about me.

After the ghosts leave, I come out of hiding, "Where the heck am I?" I ask myself as I stagger in no particular direction. Pain seers through my body I'm so weak and I feel like I am going throw up if I had food in my stomach. Finally, I collapse on the ground and begin to wretch but nothing but dry heaves comes out. My body trembles from being so weak, I feel my eyes droop as I finally succumb to the darkness.

Jack Skellington

I was examining the video again, hoping to find some more clues, when the Mayor comes barging into the room.

"JACK JACK JACK, I was right it's Pariah, he's back the King of Ghosts returned," he panting as he tries to catch his breath.

"I've already told you it's not Pariah Dark, he's in the realm of the dead safely locked up in his Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep," I tell him sternly.

"Oh yeah, if it's not Pariah then explain to me why I just heard some ghost say they've seen the Halfa," he tells me excitedly as he looks around fearfully as if the Ghost King himself was in the room.

I must admit that I was taken aback by those words that the Halfa had been spotted. He's a celebrity both here and in the realm of the dead. He's the only one who could stand up to Dark and his forces but the tales that say his arrival is a sign of Pariah's release is a legend and no one knows the truth or the Halfa's motives.

"Are you sure?" I ask him curious wishing to know if there was any links between the events that are transpiring. If it is the Halfa why would he come to Halloween Town, this mystery is getting stranger by the second.

"Yes Jack, they said he looked like he does in the stories with green eyes and white hair," he explained to me panic stricken. "Jack, let's face facts the Ghost King is on his way," he says as he heads for the door.

"May…" I try to say but he won't listen to me he keeps blathering on about Pariah coming back and the world ending. I had to snap some sense into him, so I let out a blood-curdling scream.

"You're lucky my heart stopped years ago, or else you'd give me a heart attack," he says jumping out of his skin from fear and finally calms down.

"I'm sorry I had to do that, but it was the only way to bring you back to reality," I tell him apologetically, "Look, we have no proof that it is even the Halfa the ghosts saw and if it is there is no proof that he signals the return of Pariah Dark. We have to approach this logically," I explain to him hoping he understands me.

"Of course, I'm sorry I got a little carried away," he said catching his breath, "but still we better keep our eyes open, the appearance of the Halfa is big news," he says as he sit down on a chair.

He was right, if the Halfa is here it is quite an honor and I am anxious to meet him. I want to find out if the stories of him defeating the Ghost King are true, but right now I have to solve this mystery of the stolen book as the fate of Halloween Town might be at stake.

Vlad

"I should have done this years ago," I told myself smiling at the fact that Danny Phantom was now out of the way at least for the time being.

I walk over to my mini bar, "This calls for a celebration my dear Maddie," I say taking out some Champaign and poured it to my favorite flute. "Here's to a future free of Jack Fenton and…," I began to say until I am startled by noise outside my office. "Oh fudge wafers, what now," I shout as the door busts open.

"All right Vlad, your little game is up, where's Danny," the voice of Danny's sister says from the dust cloud.

"Ah, Jasmine Fenton and Samantha Manson, what I can I do for you," I say smiling as the two walk into my office.

"Enough of the sweet-talk, fruit loop. Tell us where Danny is, or I swear I will reveal to the town that you're Vlad Plasmius," Samantha threatens as she pounds her fist on my desk.

"I don't think you want to do that," I threaten as transform into Plasmius and lunge at her but suddenly feel a shock throughout my body. I looked down and found she put the Specter Deflector on my waist, "Oh gingersnaps!" I curse as I try to remove it only to be shocked again.

"Now answer our question Vlad, where is Danny?" Jasmine sneered as he picked up by the collar of my shirt and stared me right in the eyes.

"All right," I say semi-defeated, "he's in the forest somewhere, that's all I know," I lied as she dropped me on the ground and left. Once they were gone I smiled and said, "Did I forget to mention the ring of trees with doors on them. Oh dear, how forgetful of me," and laughed as I went to the lab as to see if I can't remove this accursed device.