3) Hate ~ The Nightmare Before Christmas

Everyone in Halloween Town knows the relationship Jack Skellington has with Oogie Boogie. They hate each other's guts, as Jack put it. Jack hates Oogie because the sack man likes to torture his victims in a casino-like dungeon. Oogie hates Jack because the skeleton is such a goodie-goodie-two-shoes and is the leader of Halloween. Oogie wants to be the Seven Holidays King, and Jack is one of the ones in his way.

It's a hate-hate relationship, and there's nothing that could possibly make it end. There's absolutely nothing I can do, and no one else can stop such hatred either. Jack has a good reason to hate Oogie, though Oogie doesn't really have a good reason for torturing people except for pleasure or revenge or both.

It's sad, but understandable. It's just the way they are.

I remember the time when Jack and Oogie fought for the holidays a second time after Lock, Shock and Barrel, the three mischievous trick-or-treaters, brought Oogie back. It was a big fight, and both were powerful.

Jack used his new shape-shifting Soul Robber. Oogie used his will power, strength, traps, and bug minions. But in the end, we all know who would win…the good guys always win in these kinds of scenarios.

Jack jumped in the air just in time to get away from the gigantic worm heading his way. Turning his Soul Robber into a sword, he sliced the worm in half. The worm screamed in pain before falling over wriggling in pain but not about to attack. It slowly perished.

Jack sighed, "As much as I hate killing, this has gone too far, Oogie! Just stop before I have to rip you to pieces!" The Boogie Man laughed maniacally and stood his ground. At this point, he was the size of a mansion, having consumed enough power to take down Halloween Town. But thanks to Jack's strength and boldness, he wasn't able to get close enough yet.

"You think you can?" The Boogie Man asked with a smirk. "I'd like to see you try, Bone Man!" Jack sighed irritably, but didn't speak. He held up with Soul Robber Sword and readied himself. The Boogie Man laughed loudly, "Still not ready to give up? Fine! Let's see what you can do!"

Oogie ran, or rather shuffled, over and tried to slam his giant arm on Jack, but missed. Jack was just too fast. Jack smiled and, combining his Soul Robber's power with his Pumpkin King fire, lit the Soul Robber on fire and jabbed it into Oogie's arm.

Oogie bellowed, "No!" The flames were quickly eating up the cloth and even as Oogie tried to stop it, bugs were falling out or burning. Jack morphed the Soul Robber back into whip form on his arm and transformed fully into his Pumpkin King form. He began throwing fireballs, which quickly ignited on Oogie's sack-like body.

The flames engulfed his entire body before he could stop them and soon enough, he was covered in the bright flames. "Noooooooooo!" Oogie bellowed again. "I am tired of being beaten by you!"

Jack, as the Pumpkin King, shrugged. "Sorry," He said from within the pumpkin's head. He chuckled, "I don't have any more patience to deal with you anymore, Oogie. It's been fun, but I still hate your guts." And with that, he transformed back. "Now, leave this town and the other holidays alone!" Oogie moaned his response before collapsing into a pile of embers and ash.

Jack smiled and turned to me and the other citizens as we ran forward. I leaped into his arms and held him close. "You did it, Jack!" He laughed, "The good guys always win, Rachel. I thought you knew that!"

I smiled and nodded, "I did. I'm just giving you the chance to remind yourself for next time. After all, you need to be reminded of that at the end of every battle or else you'll forget."

He chuckled, "Hopefully, for him, there won't be a next time for that annoying bug sack. I'm tired of the same old thing, as I'm sure you already know. Time for a new villain!"

I laughed, "Yes, but what I don't know is why you two can't get along even a little. Then you wouldn't get so annoyed and you could actually be friends. So, what's the story? How did this all start?"

Jack smiled knowingly, "That…is a tale for another time."