Chapter 8: Power
The town became fond of Catherine, and she soon performed nightly. No one forgot the pressing matters elsewhere, but it was a nice release until they had a plan. One night, she stopped at the old piano once everyone was gone. She could hear a faint voice as she drew closer. "Come closer... I need your help." She reached out to the piano and the same tiny spark flew up to the piano. I must be crazy... Oh yeah. She looked at her feathers, sighing sarcastically.
"Well, who are you then? I can hear you."
"Please fix the piano... I can help you."
"Who are you?"
"Why, I am the spirit of this piano! I live in here... And it gets rather lonely. I know you can fix the piano if you try."
"How? I don't know how to..."
"Just use your magic."
"What magic? I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're a siren, use your music and focus it. It will know what to do."
She seemed unsure as she closed her eyes. She focused on the task at hand, and slowly started to sing a slow, melodic tune. As she opened her eyes she saw the piano becoming encircled by a blue light which seemed to emanate from her song. The song had no words, only notes. The piano seemed to fix itself, chipped wood falling back into place, the keys realigned themselves, and the original luster returned as well. It was a Stein way. (The Cadillac of pianos.)
A small figure appeared and sat on the restored instrument. "I am Arpeggio, a music sprite. I, uh, guess you're wondering how I got here..." He paused and fiddled with his nineteenth century clothes. "To tell you the truth... I have no idea." He smiled and chuckled a bit.
He was only a foot tall, and transparent. His dark brown hair was in no particular style. He looked like a child of ten or so. Catherine was very confused. "How did... What... I'll just leave it at that. What did you mean, you could help me?"
"I can train your powers. Unfortunately..."
Jack walked in, starting to worry. "What are you doing in here?... Is that our piano?! It looks like new!"
"Jack, I want you to meet someone."
"Where are they?" He was staring straight at it.
"That's what I was about to say... No one can see or hear me but you. It's a sprite thing. You fix it, you see it, or something like that."
"Oh joy. Never mind, Jack. I'll explain later." The two left and returned to Jack's home, where Zero chased Catherine around the library for a while until Jack called him off, in laughter.
Back in the human world, Oogie was having a ball. Monsters ran rampant while those who escaped hid in fear. And at the center of it all, Oogie couldn't be more pleased.
"Jack thought he got the best of me... Me! Ha ha ha... My new powers have worked out nicely. I'll bet ol' Jack is goin' outta his skull!" He built a new palace with the help of a new hoard of minions, or rather, people not willing to tell the Boogie man "no."
"Oogie! Oogie!" Lock, Shock and Barrel ran up and stood before their master with faces of joy behind their masks. "We are happy to report," Lock went first, "that you got the girl after all!" Oogie had wondered what happened to Jack's little girlfriend after he showed up at the party.
"And? Where is she?"
Barrel looked up, "In Halloweentown! With Jack."
"What?! How did she get there?"
The three huddled together, fearful of the Boogie man's wrath. Finally, Shock stepped forward. "But she has been distracting the town, and they don't even have a plan to come back here!" All three spoke, "Cowards!"
Oogie was appeased for the moment. He told the three to keep watching the town. And as they were leaving, he shouted, "Have a little fun with her." His laughter filled the air as the trick-or-treaters scurried off, giggling to themselves.
Catherine began to harness her power with the help of Arpeggio. The sprite taught her how to control it and make music a weapon. Occasionally Jack would pop in and wonder what was going on, but he didn't mind and she continued on.
Jack began to work with the Mayor, Finklestein, and a few other residents on a battle plan. They had to take back Halloween. A few uninvited guests were listening in.