Chapter 16: High Flyers

(Kat's POV)

Mazatlán, Mexico…

The Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán Resort! Best known for its five star hotels, white sandy beaches, and the occasional drug cartel sitting on the boardwalk. My family and I have been coming here for years. The first year we came here my seven-year-old sister fell in the kitty pool and almost drowned.

We used to rent a car, but that was a few years ago. You see, we were driving inland to this remote town, when we came across this guy at a tollbooth who told us to use a "residential road" (a.k.a. dirt, sticks, and more dirt) as a short cut. So, my dad takes this "residential road" with my mom, my sister, my two cousins, my aunt and uncle, and my self in the SUV, when we run into a couple — no scratch that — a HEARD of bulls! Afraid that if we honked the horn we were going to be tipped over by a miffed off bull, we sat in the car with the windows rolled up in case one of the bulls decided to stick their heads in the car… Did I mention that our car didn't have AC?

Any who, about thirty minuets went by with my entire family in the SUV, before the heard of bulls in front of us FINALLY decided they would move to the side of the road…except for one. We eventually had to go around the bull to make it to our destination. That was the last time we rented a car.

Now I was sitting poolside looking out at the ocean. The beach was packed with out-of-town tourist, and random street vendors hustling the Americans on the beach. It was about ten in the afternoon, so the pool wasn't too busy.

Suddenly I got a text from Al. I looked at my phone and saw a picture of a bat. In her message, Al stated: Check it out: Will is Batgirl! Lol

I put my drink down and taped the screen to type my reply. However, this proved to be difficult because the screen was moving around, and the keyboard kept swiveling to the side and back. As I squinted through my extremely blurred vision, I managed to type something similar to: I no iz drunk, but how many drinks have you toe had?

Apparently, I am not the only one that has been drinking too much. I sent the message and as I waited for Will and/or Al — can't remember which one texted me — to reply. I put my phone on what I thought was the bar counter, but no. It was the Tequila Sunrise that was half full in the glass next to me.

I took my phone out of my drink, spilling the rest of it on my lap. Just perfect! I grabbed a bottle of water and started to head toward a less crowned area of the beach. The sun was going down and I looked to the pool, watching the cabana boys washing the sand off of the walk ways, lounge chairs, and folding up the umbrellas. I walked a little closer to the water and sat down on the warm sand.

In my drunken thoughts, I thought for a moment that if I put my phone in the sand, the sand would absorb the liquor. I started to dig a hole to put my phone in and from behind me I here a guy yell, "Watch out!"

I stopped digging in the sand, popped my head up, and look in the direction where the voice was coming from. Too stupid to move out of the way — mostly because I have had one to many drinks — I see a spiraling football heading toward me face.

"Oh no…" I said aloud just as the football hit me on the side of my face. I could feel a quick, spark rush of pain and as my head hit the beach, and then I passed out.

XXX

(Narrator's POV)

Hemlock Homestead, Halloween Town…

Would you quit taking pics of me, Will squeaked as Al took another picture with her phone.

"Don't know what you said, but you are so dang cute!" Al laughed, snapping another picture. Will glared at her and she finally slipped her phone back in the backpack.

The three of them kept walking till they came to a fork in the road. Jack looked around: one way led back to the Town Square, the other would take them to the Mayor's house. He looked at his friends and sighed. He knew they weren't going to like what he was about to say.

"Al, I need the key pieces to the Mayor's house. I'm going on ahead, and I need you to go with Will to the Witch Shop."

"What?!" Both Al and Will looked at him in shock. "Umm, how about no?" Al said, putting her hands on her hips. Will flew close to Jack's face, and squeaked that it was out of the question.

Jack held up his hands in defense. "Look, I don't like it either, but we don't have much of a choice. The Mayor may be in danger, but Will also needs a cure. I don't want an argument; I've made up my mind. I'm sorry, but once the witches find a way to return Will to normal, I want both of you to go home."

"I repeat, NO!"

Jack, you can't be serious? You need our help! Will protested.

"Not sure what she's squeaking about, but it sounds like I'm going to agree with her." Al added. "We do NOT split up, no matter what."

Jack shook his head, his anger starting to show. "This isn't up for debate! I knew this would get dangerous, and look what's happened. Both of you have been hurt multiple times, and now Will's been turned into a bat. And I have a feeling things will only get worse. Believe me, I'm doing this to protect both of you. Now please, hand me the keys."

Al grumbled but she reluctantly gave him the four key pieces. He took the pieces and stowed them in his jacket pocket. Then he turned back to the girls. They were both glaring at him, but he couldn't risk their lives anymore. He was already dead, but they still had lives to live back in the Human World.

"Thank you for all your help." Jack waved to them, then took off down the road. Once he was gone, Al let out her rage.

"That deranged bag of bones! If he weren't already dead, I'd beat his brain in and kill him! … That… That… RAWR!"

Will chirped in agreement, but what else could they do. Al looked at her friend and decided the first thing to do was get Will back to her human self. She took off down the opposite path; Frank perched on her shoulder and Will flying just overhead. Before long, they reached the Town Square and made a direct line for the Witch Shop. Al opened the door and the little bell chimed, but as Will and Al stepped further into the shop, Helgamine and Zeldaborne were nowhere to be seen.

"Hello? Anyone here?" Al asked. While she looked around, Will perched herself on the counter. Al joined her. "So, flying. Super cool?" she asked Will, then her eyes strayed to the plate bedside Will. "Oh! Cookies!"

Al reached for one of the treats on the plate next to Will. The cookies were black and shaped like spiders, cats, and bats. Al picked one up and went to take a bite, when something smacked the cookie from her hand.

"Hey!" She looked to she Will frantically screeching at her, flapping in front of the cookie plate. "You already owe me a cookie. Shove off." She bopped her friend to the side, and took a bite of the cookie.

There was a puff of smoke and Frank croaked, quickly jumping onto the counter.

Ah, Ally. I tried to warn you, Will moaned. She settled on the counter next to Frank.

Warn me about what? Al asked, before something dawned on her. Holy flying rats, Batgirl! I can understand you!

Yeah, Al, about that… Do you notice anything…odd? Will asked.

Now that she mentioned it, Al noticed she had to look up at the counter to talk to Will. Wasn't she looking down before? She looked down and saw a pair of slick black cat paws, and her clothing pooled around her. She screamed but it came out as a loud cat shriek.

I'm a cat!' she screamed, getting onto her feet and circling herself, seeing her hindquarters and a long tail.

Al, try to calm down, Will called from the counter.

Holy catnip! I'm a cat! Al suddenly cheered, leaping onto the counter. She pranced around, twitching her tail. She looked at her friend, and got a gleam in her eye before batting at Will.

Al! Will flew just out of her friend's reach. Knock it off. Bad kitty!

"Did you hear something, Zelda?" asked a voice from the back. Al stopped trying to catch Will, and stared off towards the back room. Will settled down beside her, listening as they heard another voice.

"Must be a be a customer, Helgamine. I'll go see who it is." Will and Al watched as Zeldaborne stepped out from the back room. She was surprised when she spotted a frog, a cat, and a bat on the counter. "Now how in the world did you three get in here?"

Zelda, help! Will cried. It's us, Will and Al!

Umm Will, we're animals now. No one understands us except each other, Al said, giving her friend a sideways look.

Zeldaborne noticed the pile of clothes on the floor next to a couple of weapons and the backpack Helgamine had sold to Jack and Will earlier. "Oh, you poor dears," Zeldaborne said. "Will, dear, I thought you learned from the last time not to eat Helgamine's transformation cookies."

I didn't! Al's the one who ate the cookie, Will protested. My little mishap is the reason we're here.

Wait, they can understand us?! Al asked, meowing lightly.

"Well, just animals witches can use as familiars, dear," Zeldaborne explained. "But don't worry. The effects of the cookie will where off soon enough. Though, I'm happy this time it worked for a black cat transformation." She turned to Will, a puzzled frown appearing on her face. "Now, Will. If you didn't eat one of the cookies, how on earth did you turn into a bat?"

So I won't be a cat forever? Al asked, interrupting Zelda's question. Her eyes grew wide. Can… Can I still speak to other cats though? Pretty please? I'll trade you my Crystal Skull collection for that ability. And how do you know about transformation cookies, Will? She turned to look accusingly at her friend, who froze after being caught trying to sneak away.

"Oh dear, you mean she never told you?" Zeldaborne was genially surprised.

We don't need to tell her that! Will quickly panicked.

"Nonsense, it's perfectly fine."

Tell me please! Al said, rubbing against the witch.

Ah man. Will flapped her wings and flew up to the rafters, hiding herself in her wings.

Zeldaborne chuckled. "Now Will, dear, its nothing to be embarrassed over. It was during the time Jack planned to take over Christmas. Jack asked if Helga and I wanted to make a treat that would surprise the kids. Well, we thought children would get quite the surprise out of our transformation cookies. We made a batch and had Will test them for us."

"I remember that," Helgamine said, stepping out from the back room. "Didn't she eat five of those? As you can imagine, we decided to scratch the idea, but we couldn't resist trying out the recipe again."

"Anyway, the potion we used worked, and turned Will into a blonde cat," Zelda continued. "Although the potion was meant to turn her into a black cat, like you. The poor dear was stuck that way for over two hours."

Please, stop talking about it, Will moaned from above.

Will, you were a cat?! Al asked, looking up at her friend. That is so cool!

No it wasn't! Will flew down and sat on Al's back. Look, I'll give you details later, but right now, can we figure out how to get me back to normal, please?

And can I get a confirmation on being able to always speak with cats? Al asked.

Helgamine pondered for a moment. "Well, I don't know about the cats, but as for you, Will, I'll need to know what happened in order to counteract whatever spell or potion caused you to transform."

Will then went to explain what happened with the Vampire Brothers, while Al tried to entice Zeldaborne into finding a way for her to talk with cats. When Will finished, Helgamine and Zeldaborne looked at each other with a worried glance. They turned to Will, and the young bat began to worry.

"Well, dear," Helgamine began to say. "This is a problem."

What do you mean? Will asked.

"She means that, without knowing what ingredients were used, making a counteracting potion won't be easy," Zeldaborne explained.

Well, that sucks… Al said, her tail twitching lightly. And again, about chatting with other cats…

"I'll see what we can do. Zelda, would you give me a hand?" Helgamine grabbed a vial off the shelf behind her, and slipped into the back room.

"You want newt or rat?" Zeldaborne asked. She was heading to the back, when she paused and plucked a hair from the top of Will's head.

Oww!

When both witches were out of sight, Will and Al were left alone on the counter. Al smirked and turned a twin pair of mischievous green eyes on the blue-eyed bat. Wanna play tag? There was another puff of smoke and Al stood there, back to normal. "Whoo! That's a good draft!" Al shrieked, diving for her clothes.

Once Al was covered, the two waited for Helgamine and Zeldaborne to work on a potion. To keep from getting bored, Al alternated between playing with Frank, and playing a few rounds of "Smack the Bat." Of course, after the first time, Will moved back to the ceiling. Al pouted, so instead she explored the different herbs, potions, and other magical items in the shop. She had just found a bottle of equestrian formula, when the witches returned.

"Hey, what's this do?" Al asked, holding up the bottle up.

"Good to see you back on two legs, dear," Helgamine said. She noticed the bottle and smiled. "Oh, that? Just a little equestrian concentrate we collected from a Samhain festival in Scotland a few hundred years ago. Not really sure what to use it for, but never hurts to have it around."

"Huh…" Al said, turning it slightly in her hands. "Say ladies…" Al began, setting the bottle onto the counter. "How much would it take to purchase this potion?"

"Let's change Will back first, then we'll work out a bargain." Zeldaborne hoped up on her stool and set a small bubbling cauldron on the counter, while Helgamine set a variety of items next to a small bowl. Al watched as she then mixed together the last items into a small bowl: two raven feathers, three flicks of ground cinnamon, four leeches, and two scoops of lacewing flies. Helgamine mashed it into a fine paste, and then poured it into the cauldron for Zeldaborne to stir. Al and Will peered into the cauldron and quickly drew back. Inside bubbly a thick dark, muddy substance slowly began changing to grayish lavender.

"Lavender, so Will. Say…that looks like…" Al looked at the bubbly sludge again before her eyes went wide. "Polyjuice Potion!"

Professor Snape would be very proud, Will said, giggling a bit. Too bad Al couldn't hear her comment.

"Not sure what you mean, but this was the closet spell we could find," Helgamine said. "We used an old shape-shifter's spell, combined with a bat transformation. I just hope this will work."

"Come on, what could possibly go wrong?" Al asked.

Will flinched, suddenly unsure about drinking the strange concoction. Zeldaborne took out a ladle and scooped up some of the sludge, holding it out for Will. Will took a step forward, covering her nose with her wing. The scent coming from it was a sickly sweet mixture of pomegranate, and blackberry, with a hint of dead violets. Still, it was her only option. Taking a deep breath, Will placed her lips to the ladle and took two large gulps.

"You'll need to drink the whole ladle, dear," Helgamine coaxed.

Will nodded and proceeded to down the whole ladle. She cringed as she forced herself to swallow the rest. Al watched her friend, and felt the bile rise in her throat. Watching Will drink the lumpy goo was bad enough, but the sweetness permeating her nose made her stomach turn. It took all she had not to lose her lunch. When the ladle was cleaned, they all watched, waiting for any change. Will just kept her eyes closed, waiting for something while also trying to rid the taste from her mouth.

After about a minute, Will opened her eyes and looked around. She sighed. "Nothing happened."

"I understand you!" Al screamed.

"Hey, you're right." Will smiled, but that quickly turned to a frown. "But I'm still a bat."

"Yes, I'm afraid the potion will take some time before it is fully effective," Zeldaborne apologized. "Since I don't know what ingredients Oogie used to turn the Vampire Brothers into bats, neither of us can be certain how effective it will be. There is a possibility there will be some side effects that could be permanent."

"Well, that could be fun…" Al said, thinking lightly before smiling. "Is good to have you back, Will."

"Good to be understood." She turned to face the witches. "Thanks for all your help." Will flapped her wings and flew toward the door. "Come on, Al. We need to go help Jack."

"Wait, I still wanna make a purchase of this potion and cat speaking abilities," Al said.

"Really? You wanna miss out on beating up more zombies and taking that Bug Sack out before he can ruin Christmas?"

"Can I make a quick exchange for this potion and cat speaking abilities for this Crystal Skull?" She held up the Crystal Skull and made the exchange, however, Helgamine told her she would need to return late for the cat potion. With an angry sigh, Al made the deal, and then gathered the weapons and the backpack before bolting for the door. "Oops! Almost forgot Frank."

"Al, leave the frog. Unless you want him to get smashed, crushed or possibly eaten," Will said.

"But-but-but he's my-my Frank!" Al said, giving Will the best puppy dog pout she could muster.

Will rolled her eyes. "Fine, bring the frog."

"Wait, take this bottle." Helgamine handed Al the Crystal Bottle. "You can fill it with Spring Water to drink when you feel tired."

"Uh, as a previous consumer, I recommend Al and I just let Jack drink it, since it doesn't burn his tongue," Will remarked, remembering her previous encounter.

"How does that water burn you tongue?" Al asked. Then she pointed to the Crystal Bottle. "What is the point of those things anyway? Can't we just use a regular bottle?"

"I'm afraid not," Zeldaborne said. "The Spring Water will melt through other bottles."

"Alrighty then." Al slipped the bottle into the backpack and then raced out the door.

The girls backtracked to where they had separated from Jack. The followed the path and arrived at the gate leading to the Mayor's house. As they walked in, they noticed the keys had already been used, so the knew Jack was already inside. Al looked down and scowled. "Really? The keys make up his face?!"

"HEEELP!"

"What was that?" Al jumped, looking around.

"Look! Up there!" Will pointed with her wing towards the top of the Mayor's house. There, dangling about two-thirds from the top in a cage was the Mayor. "Looks like Jack hasn't gotten to him yet."

"I can see why. Look!" Al pointed to the level just below where the Mayor hung, Jack was fighting off a hoard of skeletal zombies with clubs. Some of them were even Fire Skeletons.

"Jack needs our help," Will said. "Al, you head up there and give Jack a hand. I'll fly up and see if I can free the Mayor."

"Seriously?" Al started. "Why do I have to do all the running around here?!"

"Uh, Al? Why don't you just fly up there, and help Jack?"

"Yeah totally, because I have wings," Al snapped, flailing her arms.

Will rolled her eyes and flew down so she was eye level with her friend. "Ally, try tugging on the backpack straps."

Al did as Will said and suddenly she found herself hovering three feet off the ground. "Oh this is cool!"

"Yeah, didn't I tell ya? Helgamine and Zeldaborne told me they used real wings," Will explained. "When Jack and I were coming back from the Witch Shop with Igor's biscuit, I tugged on the straps when I felt the pack slipping. Next thing I knew, I was hovering. Just hold on tight, and the wings will do the rest."

Will flew off, leaving Al to experiment with the backpack. She gripped tightly to the straps, and the wings beat faster until they lifted her high into the air. Her heart beat from the rush and she couldn't contain her excitement. "I believe I can fly!" Al sang, as she got closer toward Jack. "I believe I can touch the sky!"

When she reached her destination, Jack was struggling against two zombie skeletons, and three Fire Skeletons. One of the flaming ones was coming up behind him, ready to bash in Jack's skull. Seeing a chance to catch it off guard, Al swooped in and kicked the fire skeleton's head clean off its neck.

Jack turned just as she land, weapons readied for attack. "All! What are you doing here?!"

"Saving your boney butt, that's what!" Al snapped back, whipping Bertha out and hacking at the skeletons. Jack didn't have time to press her for answers, as more skeletons appeared. Jack and Al made quick work off them, defeating off two or three at a time as they continued up the ramp.

Meanwhile, Will flew to the top of the cage, startling the Mayor. "Aaaah!"

"It's okay, Mayor, I'm gonna get you out of here," Will said, and began searching for the lock. When she found it, she began using her talons to pick the lock. She was about halfway with it when Jack and Will had arrived.

"Is that Will?" Jack asked when he saw a bat on top off the Mayor's cage.

"Uh yeah," Al said. "The witches were able to start the changing back process, but it's going to take some time before she's more human. Maybe if we had stuck together, you would be on the same page." Al mercilessly hacked a Fire Skeleton to pieces, finishing off the last of their opponents.

Jack felt a little guilty for sending the girls away, but he was glad they hadn't listened to him. Once they beat Oogie's minions, Jack turned to address the Mayor. "Mayor, are you okay?"

The Mayor turned and his face switched to unpleasant. "Jack! Oh, you don't know how happy I am to see your skull. I thought I'd be stuck up here forever!"

"Hey!" Will continued to work at the lock until she heard a click. "Got it!" Unfortunately, once the door opened, the only means of escape was a long drop to the ground. Will cringed. "Bad news, people. Unless the Mayor can suddenly sprout wings, this is gonna take a one-shot aim to keep him from being street pizza."

"Here, use the backpack," Al offered, holding out the bag.

"Al, just how are you planning on getting that to the Mayor?" Jack asked. "If you try tossing it to him, he could miss and it will fall to the ground."

"Got any better ideas?" Will asked, hanging upside-down fro the bottom of the cage.

Al sighed. "I'll just go get him…" She slipped the pack back on, and tugged on the straps and flew up to the cage. "Hang on a moment."

"Are you sure this is safe?" he asked, hesitantly looking down.

Al rolled her eyes. "If it wasn't safe, Mayor, I wouldn't wear this."

"She's has a point," Will added, though she was hidden from view." Al does not like heights, so it's saying something when she voluntarily straps on something that can fly her high in the air."

The Mayor finally consented and allowed Al to help him down. She had him turn around, so she could pick him up under his arms. She struggled at first, but she managed to lift him up and carry him to safety. No wonder I hate this guy. Annoying as hell and fatter than a whale, she thought as she set him down.

"Oh, thank goodness," the Mayor sighed. His head changed to his happy face, though his tone suggested he was more annoyed than happy. "Jack, I'm so glad to have you back! Oogie has no idea how to run a proper Halloween."

"Mayor, we have bigger problems than Halloween right now." Jack held up his hand when he saw the Mayor's face switch to worried. "The other holidays are in trouble. Oogie has kidnapped the Holiday Leaders, and hidden the doors to their worlds all over Halloween Town."

"And the Bug Sack wants to be called the Seven Holidays King. Lame right?" Al said, crossing her arms.

"Well, that is a problem." The Mayor was quiet for a moment, before he jumped in excitement. "You know, before I was placed in that awful cage, I think I heard one of Oogie's boys say they hid one of those doors around here."

"Do you know where the Holiday Door is hidden in the Residential Area?" Jack asked.

"I saw some of Oogie's goons up on my roof. I wouldn't be surprised if they had it with them," he answered.

Jack looked up at the roof. He knew this might get dangerous, depending on what might be awaiting them at the top. He turned back to the Mayor and said, "You'd better climb down from here and evacuate to someplace safe."

"Thank you, Jack. Good luck!" The Mayor wasted no time in hustling out of danger. Once he was gone, Jack turned back to Al. She was looking up at the roof, dreading how much higher they needed to go.

"The roof?" Al asked. She tightened her grip on the backpack straps. "I'm gonna need to call my therapist when this madness is over."

"Maybe you and Will should go with the Mayor," Jack said. "Who knows what's up there."

"Like hell!" Al all but screamed. "We are NEVER splitting up again, sir! We stick together, Jack."

"I'm not letting you two up there," Jack argued.

"Will you two quit it!" Will yelled. She flew down from the cage and landed in front of her friends. "Look Jack, Al and I just proved you need our help, so if you think we're leaving, forget it! We're going, end of discussion. Al, why don't you can carry Jack to the top. With both of us having wings, we can save time. That okay with everyone?"

Jack and Al were quiet, but they kept their eyes on Will. "Uh, Will?" Al asked.

"What is it?"

"Will, you changed," Jack pointed out.

They all looked at Will, and she gasped when she looked at herself. She had grown back to her normal height, but still retained somewhat of her bat form. Her wing talons had turned back to hands, but she still had webbing between her fingers connecting to her wings. Though she couldn't see it, Will still had bat ears and a nose, but otherwise she looked human. Her hair had even grown back.

"Huh, good thing my shirt sleeves have slits in them," Will noted, seeing the leathery extension sticking out from the sleeves. "Less cramped that way."

"Why were there slits again?" Al asked.

"I don't know." Will shrugged. "Its black with flames on the chest and sleeves. The slits just make it look cool, I guess."

"Will, shouldn't you be more concerned that you're still a bat?" Jack asked.

"Oddly no," she answered. "For now, I think it's a good thing. Might give us an advantage, but"—she quickly looked at Al—"no free rides."

"Dang it!" Al said, faking anger.

"Sorry, Ally, but I just don't think I can carry anybody. However…" Will walked over and reached for Al's weapons. "I wouldn't mind taking back my katanas. Thanks for holding on to 'em for me."

"Oh yeah. Here." Al handed them back to her. "They were poking my back anyway."

Jack watched the girls laugh as Will reattached her swords to her belt. Oddly he hadn't noticed Al had picked them up. Despite all that had happened, he really was glad to have them both back. "So girls, are you ready to go?"

The girls looked at each other with knowing smiles, then back to Jack. He flinched when he spotted the wicked gleam in their eyes.

"On one condition, Mr. Skellington," Will said. Jack waited as Will remained silent to build up tension. "You need to promise not to try and force us to go home again. Deal?"

Jack sighed. He really didn't want to agree to it, but he decided it was best not to argue. "Very well. On my word as the Pumpkin King, I promise."

"Alrighty then." Al tugged on the backpack straps and took off towards the roof. "Let's get this height thing done!"

XXX

GodlyJewel: I thought it be fun to let our friend have her own chapter. Kind of a break from all the action. Also, the potion/spell the witches used was a combination of the Polyjuice Potion from Harry Potter, and a vampire transformation spell Cosmic found online.

Snape: I applaud your use of the Polyjuice Potion to reverse the curse set upon your characters.

GodlyJewel: Wait, why are you here? This is a Nightmare Before Christmas fic, not Harry Potter.

CosmicHorse: OMG it's Snape! *spazzy fangirl moment*

Snape: Indeed.

GodlyJewel: Nice Spock impression, Sevy. So, you liked our Polyjuice Potion then, huh?

Snape: Your use of the Polyjuice Potion to reverse the curse set upon your characters was substantial. However, your measurements and ingredient proportions are entirely off. Should anyone attempt this potion with this concoction would surely kill them.

GodlyJewel: *pout* Killjoy…

CosmicHorse: He can be sometimes. Let's get that next chapter rolling.