Karin: Hello everyone! I'm so glad that people liked the first chapter!
Sora: Kaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnn, I'm hungry! Can we please go and get something to eat?
Karin: You ate an hour ago!
Sora: Yeah, and it was the longest hour of my life!
Karin: (sweat drop) erm… okay then… onto the second chapter while I solve Sora's hungry problem…
Disclaimer: Alright, I don't own Kingdom Hearts or The Nightmare Before Christmas—you know it, I know it, even meatloaf knows it.
NOTE: Sora looks exactly like he does in the Halloween Town level in Kingdom Hearts 2, kay? Just letting you know.
Also, the lyrics later on in the story are divided by different people singing. If you think the stanzas look kinda funky, that just means someone else is singing, kay? You'll get what I mean when you get there. In addition, the lyrics are a little altered in the end. Sorry about that but I had to do it for it to fit the story. Again, you'll see what I mean when you get there.
Title: The Nightmare of Halloween
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Sora/Namine
Genres: Fantasy/Romance/Humor/Drama
Summary: She hated Halloween; in fact, Namine Kizuki could very well say she downright loathed Halloween. However, fate seems to have other plans for Namine when she somehow winds up in Halloween Town—a place were it's all about Halloween all the time. Will she be able to get home back to the normal world or will she find herself falling in love with the Pumpkin Prince? Sora/Namine
Replies to Reviews from Chapter One:
Arashi- Congrats on being this story's first reviewer! Cookies to you and hope you continue to enjoy yourself.
NaminexSora lover- Happy to see you had some laughs. Yeah, the way how Namine's mother died is sad isn't it? Poor Nami (sniffle)
Angle09- thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm also honored that you say this story is well written. I hope the wait wasn't too long.
Pikachu407- I hope this chapter is also worthy of awesomeness. Glad you're enjoying yourself so far.
Abysilityy- Thank you very much. Hopefully the wait for the next chapter wasn't too long.
sAppHiRa-hiMe- Thank you so much for your patience. I'm very happy that you liked the first chapter. Also, I'm very pleased that you enjoyed my latest chapter for Love at First Write. The next chapter of that won't be the Somine one though; however, it's the chapter after the next one so don't worry.
LadyJamie178- Is this soon enough? (laughs) I hope you like the second chapter as well. Have fun reading.
Boys and Girls
Of every age.
Wouldn't you like
To see Something Strange?
Come with Us
And you will see.
This Our town of Halloween.
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The Nightmare on Halloween
Chapter Two:
The Town
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Black; that's all was in her mind at the moment. Bleak, colorless black. However, despite the blackout in her mind, she felt her senses slowly coming to focus. The dirt against her skin, the slight creaking of branches, and the cool autumn breeze blowing past her face in a chilly manner.
Namine Kizuki hesitantly opened her cerulean eyes. A painful groan escaped her lips as she brought a hand up to her head. While the young teen was rubbing her noggin, she gazed up to see a black sky with eerie leafless branches.
"Ugh… what hit me?" she whispered to no one. Sitting up from the dirt ground, the blonde took a look around to see where she was exactly. Upon observing further, Namine began to look panicked.
"W-Where am I?" Namine asked herself with wide eyes frantically taking in her surroundings. All the trees were barren and she could see the yellow full moon hang eerily in the black sky. She tried to figure out where she was but all her mind was doing was coming to blanks.
Getting to her feet, Namine searched the place. Not a trace of life was about. Heck, not even the trees seemed to be alive. Everything there seemed so eerie and dead; it gave the young girl chills down her spine.
The forest she was in only previously wasn't this desolate…
Azure eyes widened in recollection as the events from a while ago flashed in her mind like a movie. She was sitting alone and crying in the forest residing next to her town. Namine recalled herself mourning of her mother's death and then her mother's wedding ring was swiped from her grasps by some floating dog!
A floating dog, she swallowed nervously. But that's absurd, she thought with frustration, dogs most certainly don't float!
And yet this one did; and it stole her mother's ring too.
Namine ran her hands through her hair with a peeved, pensive expression. She remembered chasing the dog deeper into the forest—much deeper than she knew the forest was. She remembered that she had fallen into a ditch of some sorts where she met the dog again. The dog had run away into a door of some sorts.
It was in the shape of a pumpkin… a very frightening pumpkin.
…and she had fallen straight into it.
She rubbed her upper arms as a shudder went down her spine from the cold air. It was much colder here than her hometown. She shook her blonde head back and forth looking up at the night sky determinedly. Now's not the time to think about comparisons and useless things.
She needed to get her mother's ring back. The sooner she did that, the sooner she could leave and put this bizarre night behind her.
Deciding that staying here was getting her nowhere in her search of the floating dog, Namine Kizuki began her trek out of the desolate and disturbing forest. Not only her goal, but her instincts as well, did not want to be here.
It seemed like forever in the silent chilling woods, but Namine finally approached what appeared to be pitch black, tall gates between one story high cobbled stone walls. She gripped the iron bars tightly as her cerulean eyes gazed through.
Everything was black and dreary. Not a spice of cheer in sight. Orange flames on tiny lanterns flickered ominously. It looked as if they were performing tiny, exotic dances.
Seeing that the coast was clear, the teenager rattled the bars a little. They didn't budge an inch. A slight jingling sound made her look down to see the gates wrapped in chains and a padlock. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance meanwhile rattling the gates once more. Again, no such luck.
Sighing in displeasure, Namine backed up from the gates a couple of inches. Her eyes moving from the top of the pointy gate to the bottom rooted in the dirt. She knew she wasn't gong to enjoy this; she just knew it.
With a low grumble, she mounted her feet on the lower bar of the gate. Looking up at the higher bar, she took a deep breath and began to clumsily climb up the tall gate. She slid multiple times making her hands burn from the friction. Namine hissed in pain but still continued her climbing.
Once she grasped the higher bar going across the gates, she maneuvered herself over to where one of the stone walls was. Pushing her weight off of the slippery bars, she caught the ledge of the stone wall quickly before she fell. Tightly gripping the ledge, Namine pushed herself up with her arms and laid her upper body on top of the ledge. Bringing up the rest of her, she moved to the other side of the narrow ledge having her legs hanging as if she was sitting. A victorious smile alit on her features.
And Olette said I wouldn't be able to do this since I quit gymnastics when I was seven, she thought grinning as she proved her brainy friend wrong.
Taking a deep breath and counting to three to calm her nerves, she clenched her eyes tight and pushed off the ledge onto the other side of the gate. However, Namine toppled to the ground ungracefully letting out an agonized groan.
On second thought, maybe quitting gymnastics when she was seven was a bad idea after all.
Rising up from the cobbled ground, Namine began walking down the cobbled path into what appeared to be leading into a town of sorts if the creepy and dark buildings near were any indication. Everything was silent and deserted along the cobbled road surrounded by stone walls on both sides. Instead of the silence being comfortable as she was used to, Namine felt herself grow goose bumps from the constant silence. As if the dark and chilling atmosphere wasn't enough.
It seemed as if her prayers were answered for as her steps echoed along the path, she began to hear sounds. Something along with lines of… music?
Curious, the blonde walked a little faster towards the source. She swept through the pathway swiftly closer to the music. Finally coming to the end of the pathway in what appeared to be the town square, she hid behind the corner leading into the pathway as to not catch attention.
Peeking around the corner, Namine watched in a sense of wonder and apprehension at what this strange gathering was. Pursing her lips, the music traveled through her ears leaving her with a spine-chilling, yet fascinated, feeling.
And just as soon as she acknowledged that feeling, this gathering started its enticing dance of mystery. Her azure gaze watched while her heart beat in her chest with the frightening song
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween
She gripped the corner of the wall tightly. Her normally pale features a ghostly white. T-they're c-creatures in folk tales, she thought in fearful awe. But all this was impossible! None of these creatures were supposed to exist! They were just made up to scare little children!
And yet, she was looking at them celebrating their strange ritual with her own eyes.
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
I am the one hiding under your stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
She moved from the corner of the entrance of the pathway further to hide behind a lamppost. Yeah, it wasn't a good hiding place, but she needed to get closer. Besides, she was all the way back here away from their festivities. No one would notice her she was sure.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
Namine had to cover her mouth to hide her yelp. She hated vampires, she was angry to admit. They always scared her even when she was a child. And…did that guy have… two faces?!
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
Something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll scream
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green
"Eep!" she let out quietly when something made a sound in the direction of the pathway like a trash can crash. She moved away from the lamp post a little leaving one of her hands to still hang onto it.
Aren't you scared?
Yes, Namine gulped. She was indeed very scared of this bizarre place. All she wanted to do was go home!
But the loss of her mother's ring prevented her from doing so.
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take the chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
Everybody scream, everybody scream
In our town of Halloween
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
Must not scream, must not scream, the poor girl repeated in her mind like a mantra. She tried to look at something else to make her calm down.
Oh great, it was a guillotine next to a fountain emitting green slime. That didn't help her frazzled nerves.
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
Bats flew everywhere making Namine jolt and speed back to where she was at the beginning of this frightening and beautiful dance. Peeking again around the wall, she stared at the display once more.
Am I really this pathetic as to run back around the corner? She asked herself dryly. No one better have answer that thought.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
In this town
Don't we love it now?
Everyone's waiting for the next surprise
Trickster Sora and Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Won't ya please make way for very special guys
Interested, Namine peeked farther around the corner to see the commotion. The music haunting and powerful. She knew the climax of this festive ritual was here.
Our men Jack and Sora are king and prince of the pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin Prince and Pumpkin King now
Fire danced as a scarecrow with a pumpkin head came alive. Beside the tall of lanky scarecrow was what appeared to be a dark gargoyle of some sorts (A/n: think of the Heartless gargoyles in KH2). It's yellow golden eyes glowing eerily as it looked upon the audience.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Namine's eyes widened when the gargoyle and the scarecrow crashed into the fountain of slime gracefully. Everyone crowded around it not missing a beat.
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
And just as that line was sung, two beings began to rise out of the slime fresh and anew. The scarecrow and the gargoyle were gone to reveal a tall selection and a boy dressed in black and Halloween style clothes. As these two rose from the fountain, the chanting of the creatures grew and they danced in unison.
But she wasn't playing attention to the creatures or to the skeleton.
She was watching the boy.
He appeared to be fifteen, the age of herself, with chocolate brown spiky hair and a pumpkin cat thing covered part of his left eye. His clothes were black and white with mostly black and he had little bat wings on his shoulders with two white fangs poking out of his lips—Namine didn't want to even think about if they were real or not. His face was mostly dark do to some black shading on his neck and around his eyes. He moved elegantly with the dance as the creatures sung their haunting song. However, the thing that caught her most was his eyes. That striking shade of ocean blue mesmerized her.
In fact, she was so spellbound by this mysterious boy that she had unconsciously left her hiding place behind the corner. Namine took another step forward before rooting herself on the cobbled stones not being blocked by any object. She was out in the open.
The dance ended and everyone had clapped. The witches crackled joyously the sound ringing dull in her ears. Her attention was still on the impish grinning boy who still stood on the edge of the fountain elevating him from the creatures. The skeleton stood next to him on the ground. Creatures from all over were praising them. Saying how scary and magnificent they were. Namine watched the scene in wonderment—her fear in the back of her mind at the moment.
Suddenly, it was unexpected, but the boy's striking sapphire eyes caught hers. He stopped whatever he was doing and looked upon her with a dumbfounded expression. It was accidental on his part to actually catch her in the act of staring, but all her brain could register at the moment was that she was no longer hidden.
And yet, why wouldn't she move? Why wouldn't she run? Was it because his surprised gaze was capturing her? Was it because he was just staring at her?
Finally, Namine's common sense kicked her adrenaline into gear and she bolted the other way not looking back in fear he might've told everyone else about seeing her. Fear kept her from turning to see if mythical creatures were chasing after her.
That was something Namine wished to avoid thank you.
Without looking where she was going, Namine ran straight into something. The force of the impact made her fly back onto the ground roughly.
Was it just her or does she seem to be making an acquaintance with the ground a lot today?
"Oh! Are you alright?" a voice asked her in concern.
Namine shook her head a little to banish the ringing in her ears before turning to look up at the speaker. Her mouth dropped in shock as her ability to speak deserted her entirely. Although, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised to see anything strange after what she just witnessed.
There standing in front of her was a tall skinny woman with long red hair and a dress sewn together by little cloths of neutral, dull colors that Namine had become accustomed to seeing in this strange place (I mean really, do you expect to see anyone wearing light blue and pearly white like she was wearing in a creepy town?). However, that wasn't what astounded her. The woman herself was sewn together like a doll that had to be repaired many times. Her skin was blue as her lips were a rosy red. The woman's big eyes stared down at Namine with that same thoughtful concern.
"F-fine" Namine choked out. The woman helped her up from the cobbled ground easily. Namine dusted off her clothes and fixed herself a little before speaking again, "Um, who are you?" she asked the woman.
The doll gave her a smile. Namine had to admit she was really pretty even with the many seams on her body and blue skin.
"I'm Sally" the woman, Sally, introduced herself. Sally then made a hand gesture with her hand at Namine, "And you are?"
"Namine" the blonde replied shyly her awkward nature kicking in. She fiddled with the hem of her blouse—a bad habit she tended to do when she was nervous—as she looked up at Sally.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Sally asked kindly yet knowingly. This caused Namine to bow her head in shame with a pink blush across her features. Was it really that obvious?
The answer is yes, Namine, it is completely obvious.
"Not really" the teenager mumbled out.
"I noticed from the way you dress and the fact that you're very uncomfortable here" Sally admitted placing a hand on Namine's shoulder. Namine jumped a little before relaxing. "Are you from another holiday?" Sally asked her.
Namine raised an eyebrow in confusion. Another holiday? What was she talking about?
"Erm… sorry, but I don't get what you mean" Namine answered sheepishly.
"Hmm, this is odd," Sally said with a questioning expression. If this girl didn't know what Sally was talking about then she couldn't be from another holiday who stumbled into Halloween Town by accident. "If you're not from a holiday, where did you come from?" she asked the girl.
Namine was totally lost in this conversation. Where did she come from? She came from Kyoto of course! She lived there since she was born! Where else could they be?
"I really don't understand what you're asking me Sally. I'm in Kyoto still, right?" the girl asked. Sally's eyes widened when Namine said the word "Kyoto". That was somewhere in the human world….
Uh-oh. This wasn't good.
"Namine…" Sally started gaining the blonde's attention. "Do you remember how you got here?" she asked the younger girl.
Namine gave off a thoughtful expression before nodding.
"Yeah, I was in the forest nearby my house and there was this strange pumpkin shaped door… I fell inside…" she murmured the last part but Sally heard her clearly.
Oh yeah, this was definitely not good.
Sally contemplated what to do. She couldn't most certainly go to the townsfolk about this. Who knows what would happen if anyone found out a human had gotten into Halloween Town by accident. She didn't think Namine would be very at ease either with all the residents of Halloween Town scaring her.
Sally then gazed at Namine. The poor girl looked like she's been through enough already. Besides, Sally was sure she was harmless. It wasn't like Namine posed any threat.
Plus, the girl seemed so adorable.
"Um, Sally?" Namine asked bringing Sally out of her thoughts. Her curious cerulean eyes gazed into big wide ones. "Where am I exactly?" she squeaked out.
Sally gave the child a look of sympathy while she placed a blue hand on her shoulder. She moved to stand beside Namine and began leading her down the cobbled path away from the direction of the town square and the euphoric citizens of Halloween Town.
"Halloween Town" Sally said with a gentle smile.
"Halloween Town?" Namine repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, this is where Halloween is celebrated and commenced existing only for that purpose" Sally told her kindly. "In fact, this is where humans had gotten the idea of Halloween from in the first place many centuries ago" Sally explained.
"I find that hard to believe" Namine deadpanned.
"But it is true, Namine" Sally said as they walked. Approaching black tall gates like the ones Namine saw earlier, Sally opened them and they walked into the courtyard. Some trees with leafless branches resided with a tall tower.
"Then how come no one knows about Halloween Town now?" questioned Namine skeptically. Sally gave her a sad smile.
"Well, the existence of our town died out in the human knowledge plaguing our town's inhabitants as myths. Still, Halloween is alive as ever, which is very special to our citizens who love Halloween" Sally said.
The two females entered the tower. It was plain and cold, Namine concluded. Her and Sally didn't dwell there long for Sally led her up the stairs of the tower. Finally coming up to a door, Sally opened it and led Namine inside.
"Pssh, like there's anything good about Halloween" Namine grumbled taking in the interior of the room. There was only a bench and a large window allowing the moon's light to leak in. There was no glass, just iron bars crossing over not really blocking out the cold breeze. Namine really wished she had a jacket right now.
"This is where I sleep" Sally informed her. "I don't really have need for pillows or blankets, but for you I guess it's a different story" Sally said as she watched Namine shivering. She walked over and rubbed the girl's arms as to help create warmth. Namine thanked her through chattering teeth.
"A-are y-you r-r-really gonna le-et m-me stay her-re?" Namine asked shivering wildly. Sally came back into the room with an old ratty blanket. It wasn't much but it would have to do.
"Where else do you have to go?" Sally asked as she dusted off the bench a little. "Besides, it's best if you stay here until we can get you home" She unfolded the blanket and shook it to get rid of the moths and other things clutching onto the blanket.
"W-what d-d-do you m-mean?" she stammered to Sally in confusion. Man, she hated the cold!
"It wouldn't be wise if any of the other townsfolk found you. I don't think they would hurt you but I can't be too careful" Sally said. "It's best if you lie low here, alright?" she asked the younger female with a motherly expression on her features. Once Sally was sure the blanket was clean enough for Namine, she walked over to the girl and wrapped the blanket around her. Namine sniffled in reply since the cold was making her nose runny.
"W-wait, I can't e-exactly leave yet" Namine said, her voice becoming less broken thanks to the thin blanket. It was thin and ratty, but she would take it over no blanket any day. "I have t-to get something" Namine said in fortitude.
Sally raised an eyebrow at that. She had something to get?
"What do you mean?" she questioned the blonde as she led the girl to the bench attached to the stone wall by chains. She sat them both down with Namine away from the window in order to keep her warm.
"I lost—no, something took my mother's wedding ring from me" Namine said scathingly.
"Your mother's wedding ring?" Sally inquired. Namine nodded.
"Yeah, they went into that pumpkin shaped door I told you about and that's how I fell in" Namine explained. She looked at Sally with eyes of begging. "Please, at least wait until I get my mother's ring back before you send me home" she pleaded the older female.
Sally looked upon her sadly. She had to admit she admired this girl's conviction to get something as little as a ring back even if it meant staying in a strange and unfamiliar place. Nonetheless, Namine couldn't go outside unless she wanted to be discovered.
Sally was stuck in a stalemate.
"How about we talk about this tomorrow?" Sally suggested. "Right now, you need sleep. You had a long day" Sally said and laid the blanket over Namine who was lying on the bench. She made a move to go to the other side of the room, but Namine held her wrist back.
Sally turned to see Namine looking at her with a slightly vulnerable gaze. She bent her head so she wasn't making eye contact with Sally and spoke.
"Can you stay with me?" she asked slightly ashamed. She really was pathetic if she couldn't sleep on her own. "I just… feel better if someone was here" Namine admitted.
It was silent for a moment with Sally having a shocked expression on her face. However, it soon melted into a caring look and she nodded with a smile.
Namine moved over a bit and let Sally climb on the coarse, creaky bench with her. Sally stayed on top of the blankets while Namine was under them. It felt nice and yet so alien to be like this, Namine thought. The last time she was like this was when her mother was alive.
"Good night" Sally told Namine closing her eyes.
"Night" Namine mumbled before slumber took her.
And thus ended Namine's first night in this bizarre Halloween Town.
Karin: Kay, there you have it everyone! I hope you enjoyed the second chapter! So, Namine has met Sally! They kinda act like mother and daughter wouldn't you say?
Moving on, just to let you guys know—Sora isn't a vampire. He has vampire fangs in the game so I kept them in this story. In case any of you were confused, I decided to clear that up for you. Sorry if I did confuse you though.
Sora: Awww, I'm not a vampire? (munches on some chips)
Karin: Nope, sorry (takes a chip from the bag)
Sora: Anyway, Karin-chan hopes that you'll be kind enough to leave a review if you can.
Karin: it would be nice if you did, but I'm not making you. It's your choice.
Sora: Now, we present the preview!
Preview of Chapter Three:
"Hey! Come back here!" Namine exclaimed to the runaway dog. She bolted out the door—Sally's warnings far from her mind—in pursuit of the floating dog. Almost tripping down the stairs and skidding fast on the floor in order to get out of the tower to chase the floating thief.
End of preview: Uh-oh, Namine had forgotten Sally's words to stay out of sight in the tower. What's going to happen as she chases down the thief of her mother's wedding ring?
See ya Next time!