Meanwhile, in the graveyard, Zero was being chased by Oogie Boogie's henchmen. They were relentlessly calling to him and chasing him. They all ran into the woods when suddenly, the dog tripped on a log and fell very hard into a very prickly briar patch. The kids were going to look for Zero when they heard Jack call out his name. "Let's get out of here!" Lock hissed. "I agree!" Shock whispered as the trio ran away.
Just then, Jack appeared as he called out, "Zero! Zero!" Before too long, he found Zero's body in the briar patch. "Zero! Can you hear me? Answer me!" he frantically said.
When he realized his dog was dead, tears streamed down his face as he mourned, "Oh, Zero. We would've made a great team, you and I." He continued crying as he carried Zero back to the graveyard, constructed a headstone for him, and buried him. He chokingly gave a eulogy as he gave his once-faithful pet a nice funeral. He couldn't bear to return home, so he treaded to the hill and cried himself to sleep for the night.
The next morning, Jack mournfully returned home, unaware that the ghost of Zero sympathetically followed him. All through the day, Jack just lied on the couch until the mayor said, "Jack! Pull yourself together or they'll be no show at all! Please, Jack! Please!" Jack only sighed, "I'll do my best, then."
At dusk, he tried really hard to practice, but couldn't focus with the death of Zero in his mind. He began to sob, "Oh, what's the use?! I can't train without Zero here!" He collapsed to the floor lamenting, "He was the best dog I've ever owned! Without him, Halloween won't be the same!" As Jack bawled, Zero dissolved through the wall and licked his master's face to wipe away the tears.
"No. Not now, Zero." Jack choked. Just then, he cast a second look at his ghost dog and cheered gleefully, "Zero, you're a ghost! Isn't it grand? Now you can my dog and a ghost for Halloween!" Zero yipped for joy as Jack declared, "Come on, Zero. We've got an act to perform!" Thanks to Jack's returning joy and pride, their performance went swimmingly and they lived happily together for years to come.
The End