Chapter 17: Fireworks
(Sally's POV)
The sky darkened as I looked out from my window. All I could think about was Jack and the girls. I couldn't help but worry. I kept thinking about last year, when I had tried to free Mr. Claws from Oogie Boogie. Will had been a big help, but in the end, we were still no match for the Boogieman. Thanks to me, Will and Mr. Claws had almost lost their lives. If Jack hadn't shown up when he did, Mr. Claws and I would have been burned alive, and who knows what the fiend would have done to Will. Now the danger was higher than ever before. How could I not worry about my friends? How could I not worry whether Jack would be coming back…back to me?
I heard a small moan and turned around. Jewel was lying on the bed, the top half of her head wrapped in bandages. The operation had been a success, but Jewel needed plenty of rest. It had taken a long time, but Dr. Finkelstein managed to successfully remove all traces of Oogie's mind control from Jewel's brain. He was worried how Jewel would react once she woke up, so he asked me to watch over her and alert him if there was any change.
I hurried to her side and offered her the glass of water I had waiting for her. I helped her sit up so she could drink it, and then eased her back into bed. "How are you feeling, Jewel?"
"Sally?" She looked up at me with glassy blue eyes. Suddenly, she sprang to a sitting position. "Sally! Those monsters are going to control the Doctor! You need to–"
"Jewel, it's alright," I assured her. "Please, you need to rest." I eased her back into the bed.
Jewel groaned, holding one hand to her temple. "H-How long have I been out?" she asked.
"It's hard to say. Oogie Boogie manipulated your brain in order to control Dr. Finklestein. He spent the last few hours removing all contaminants. He asked me to alert him when you woke."
Jewel sighed. "Oh dear, my poor darling. But wait! Sally, has Jack come back?"
I didn't even try to hide the smile on my face. "Yes, he has. He and our friends, Will and Al, are out right now, putting a stop to Oogie's plans."
"Well, that's good to hear, but, Sally?" Jewel looked at me, very perplexed. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out there with them?"
I bit my lip and turned from her. Yes, I wanted more than anything to be by Jack's side, but really, what could I do? As much as it pained me, it was better that I had stayed behind. I looked back and smiled at her. "Oh, I..I was needed here, and Jack asked me to stay here, where it's safe. Besides, I'd just be in the way."
"Oh, Sally, dear," Jewel said. She reached out and took my hand, giving my fingers a gentle squeeze. "I don't buy that. I can see Jack wanting you to be safe, but you could never be in anybody's way."
"Funny." I chuckled. "Jack said something like that before he left."
"See, that boy is crazy about you," Jewel added. "You are the most important person in his life. If something were to happen to you, my dear, he would never forgive himself."
I recalled how Jack had held me just before he left. He really didn't want to be apart from me. His tone was pleading when he asked me to stay behind, but there was an underlying of sadness. I knew he felt guilty for everything that happened, but what mattered was he came back to make things right. And once the danger passed, we could be together again. Jewel was right. There was no reason me to worry about not being useful to him. Right now he needed my support. I turned back and saw Jewel smiled at me, reflecting the happiness I felt myself. I was about to answer when a large explosion outside cut me off. I stumbled forward, almost falling on Jewel's bed.
"W-What was that?" she asked.
I took her hand in mine and gave it a reassuring pat. "I'm not sure. Perhaps Dr. Finkelstein is working on a new invention upstairs."
Jewel nodded and eased back into the bed. I sighed and went to the window. I looked out and noticed a large cloud of smoke coming from the Residential Area.
Oh Jack, please be alright.
XXX
(Narrator's POV)
Will grabbed Jack with her talons and flew up after Al. They reached the top, and Will set Jack down before standing beside Al. She glared at her friend.
"What?" Will asked.
"No free rides you say? That looked pretty free to me," Al accused, crossing her arms over her chest.
Will sighed. "Only because you flew on ahead. Someone had to get him up here. Besides, he's a skeleton. Not exactly heavy."
While the girls talked, Jack walked foreword and suddenly stopped, smacking his palm over his forehead. Will and Al looked over and groaned when they spotted what, or better yet, who Jack saw: Lock, Shock, and Barrel, all three piled into their mobile bathtub.
"Well, well, if it isn't the three little pranksters again." Jack placed his hands on his hips, and glared at them suspiciously. "You're not still working for Oogie, are you?"
Lock snickered and pulled off his mask. "We're not working. We're playing."
"And winning!" Shock added, pulling off her own mask.
Barrel followed his cohorts and pulled off his mask, snickering, "Another round, Jack?"
All three looked up and shouted, "As if you had a choice!"
"It's time you three learned all games must come to an end — especially this one!" Jack pointed at them, giving them one last warning. When they didn't back down, Jack tried to scare them.
But they just smiled and started taunting them. Lock turned and paddled his butt, while Shock taunted, "We'll beat you this time!"
"Oogie will take over!" Lock shouted.
"Oh no, he won't!" Jack said, his firsts balled tightly at his sides. He was having just about enough of all this nonsense, and thinking that Lock, Shock, and Barrel had been avoiding punishment for all their mischief for long enough.
"Finally!" Al said, seeing his reaction. "Lay into them for once!"
"Need any help? I've been a little out of practice with my swords," Will added, brandishing her blades.
"Not so fast." Shock held out her hand. "Not one more step, unless you want something bad to happen."
"Bad things happen all the time. I'm kinda used to shit going to hell in a hand basket," Al said emotionlessly.
"Oh, I think you'll back off once you see what we got," Shock said.
"We stopped by the Graveyard on our way here." Lock sneered.
"And picked up a little something," Barrel added.
At his words, Shock held up what looked like an antique bottle filled with smoke. She smiled menacingly and looked straight at Jack. At first Jack cocked his brow, unsure why Shock was holding a bottle. But as he looked closer, his sockets widened as he realized what was inside the bottle. Floating inside the bottle was his faithful ghostly dog, Zero. The poor pup looked out from his glass prison and whimpered. Will and Al heard the whimpering and gasped when they came to the same conclusion.
"You bastards!" Al shouted, getting more enraged.
"That's it!" Will charged the trio, Al not far behind her. But they made a mistake.
As soon as the girls were close enough, Shock signaled her cohorts. Barrel and Lock nodded, and then tossed a large pair of red and black dice. The dice exploded and the girls were caught in a net traps. They were thrown back against the wall, each one grunting from the impact.
"Okay, now you've made me mad" Al hissed.
"Damn, that hurt!" Will grit her teeth, wincing from the pain.
Lock, Shock, and Barrel just laughed themselves silly. As they girls struggled to free themselves. The trio laughed harder because the more they struggled, the tighter the ropes became. However, what they failed to notice was the rage building on Jack's face and the flames encompassing his fist. Will heard the crackling of the flames and looked up. Immediately she froze and her eyes widened. Al looked up when she noticed her friend paused, and her eyes widened in a mixture of impression and terror.
"Definitely do NOT want that mad at me," Al muttered.
"Nope. They're dead!" Will whispered back.
"Hey! What are you two whispering about?" Barrel demanded. It was then he noticed the enraged look on the Pumpkin King's face. He elbowed his comrades and pointed frantically at Jack. They stopped laughing and flinched when they looked where he was pointing.
But Shock shook her head and slipped her mask back on her face. "You idiots! We gotta job to do." She smacked both boys over their heads before looking back at Jack. "Besides, no way he can hit a moving target."
Shock flipped the switch and instantly the tub began to move. Seeing how fast they were going, Lock and Barrel slipped their masks on and began to taunt and blow raspberries. Barrel even used his slingshot to shoot stones at Jack's skull.
The Soul Robber suddenly began to glow bright red, and Jack had a hard look in his eye. His teeth were set on edge, and his fist was shaking from anger. "How dare you treat my friends so SHAMEFULLY!"
He charged the trio. As Jack slashed at their bathtub, there was a faint sound of music in the air.
"Oh dear powers no!" Al groaned. "Anything but another song!"
"Al, knock it off," Will scolded. "You're as bad as the Nostalgia Critic."
Al hissed, but despite her protests, it was unavoidable.
ALL THREE
Laa, la, la, la, la, laa!
La, la, la, la, laa!
Laa, la, la, la, la, laa!
La, la, la, la, laa!
Hail to Mister Oogie!
Jack will never win!
When you find our booby traps
They will do you in!
SHOCK
First we brought the Master back
To take the town away from Jack!
We knew he'd fight to set things right
So we got bad guys who attack!
JACK
Stop! I've had enough of you!
Your punishment is overdue!
You've instigated chaos here
And turned this town onto its ear!
ALL THREE
Hail to Mister Oogie!
Put Jack to the test!
Keep him guessing all the time
Never let him rest!
BARREL
Then Mister Oogie Boogie Man
SHOCK
Can take the whole town over then!
LOCK
He'll be so pleased, I do declare!
ALL THREE
The whole world should beware!
Wheee!
During the fighting, Jack would bash at the tub, while Barrel and Lock threw pumpkins and bear traps at him. Jack slashed at the tub many times, but he finally managed to knock all three kids out. One problem suddenly turned into three, as now Jack had to stop Lock, Shock, and Barrel all at once. At one point, Jack knocked Shock to the ground, the bottle slipping from her grasp. Seeing this, Will tried her best to shuffle over to it.
"What are you doing?" Al asked.
"Well," Will grunted. "If I can get the bottle and break it, Zero will be free and can chew through our ropes."
"Ooo, good plan," Al agreed.
Will managed her way over to the bottle, nearly getting caught in one of the fallen bear traps. She grabbed the bottle in her teeth and tried to smash it. However, the angle she was at didn't provide her with the force need to break the bottle.
She panted as she tried to think of another plan. Suddenly, she got an idea. "Ah man." she rolled to her side and snatched the bottle in her teeth again. This time she bit down hard and cracked the bottle with her teeth. She spit out the broken glass pieces as Zero flew out from his prison.
"Woohoo! Let's go Zero!" Al said happily.
Zero barked his thanks, and started licking Will's face. "Okay boy, okay. You're welcome. Now help me and Al out of these ropes."
"Arf! Arf!" While Zero went to work on the girls' ropes, Jack was finishing off Oogie's boys.
LOCK
Now, that Oogie is the king
We get away with everything!
You cannot scold us for our pranks!
The new King Oogie, let's give thanks!
JACK
Don't be foolish! Think now
All this danger isn't fun and games!
When this tone is back to normal
Do you really want the blame?
ALL THREE
Hail to Mister Oogie!
This is so much fun!
We make mischief day and night
Our work is never done!
JACK
I've told you once, I've told you twice
To straighten out your act!
You'll never get away with this
And that, you brats, is fact!
I've had enough of this disgrace!
So take me to this hidden place!
Where my friends sit locked in a cage!
Or you will face my rage!
ALL THREE
Wheee! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha…
The fight was getting ridiculous. Lock and Shock would swing at Jack with a broom and a plunger, while Barrel shot rocks at him with a slingshot. And they just kept bouncing around. He barely managed any hits. At this point Jack had had enough. He stopped attacking. "Will, Al. Get back. NOW!"
Once freed of her binds, Al scooted back. "Listen to the scary Pumpkin King."
Zero finished removing Will's restraints. "Good boy, Zero. Now… Duck and cover!" She and Zero ran behind the trio's mobile tub, Al not far behind them.
Once they were safely out of the way, Jack focused on the trio. They kept laughing and taunting, unknowing the danger they were in. In an instant, Jack burst to flames, taking on the form of his Pumpkin King persona. His eyes, mouth, and fist blazed with fiery, red-hot flames. Jack focused all his power at his core, letting the energy build until there was nowhere else for it to go but out. Finally the light surrounding Jack caught their attention. All three of them stopped, but as they turned to see what was happening, it was too late. Jack released the pent up energy, resulting in a massive fire blast. Lock, Shock, and Barrel were knocked back from the blast, the flames singeing their clothes.
Al and Will ducked behind the tub before the blast could burn off their hair. Though they did have to jump back as the fire managed to heat the porcelain tub.
"Hot tub anyone?" Al asked, smacking herself in the face. "I'm done."
Will shook her head before peeking out. Jack had returned to normal, but Lock, Shock, and Barrel were knocked on their backs, each one groaning.
"Holy crap," she muttered. "Now I see why that's for show only."
"Hey, look what I found!" Al called. She reached into the tub, and pulled out a large door shaped like a giant red firecracker with five white stars on it. "Independence Day Door?"
"Good find." Will gave her a thumbs up.
Al smiled. Before she could comment, her phone went off, playing the hailing tune from Star Trek. She pulled it from the backpack and squealed. "Oh boy, Zack just texted me!"
"Al, not the time to be texting your boyfriend," Will berated.
"Then when will there be time? Besides, I haven't talked with him since this whole adventure started," Al replied, ignoring her and typed a reply. Will sighed, walked over to Al, and swiped the phone. "Give it back!"
"You can have it back after we stop the Bug Sack," Will said slipping Al's phone into her pocket. "I'm sure Zack will understand."
"Can I at least let him know I'm busy?"
While Al tried to retrieve her phone, Jack walked over to the fallen trio, a deep frown on his face. They had finally regained consciousness, only to panic when they saw Jack. All three of them coward as he got closer. "Now it's time to really teach you three a lesson." He began creeping closer to them.
Lock, Shock, and Barrel slowly crept away, fear clear on their faces. Will and Al watched from the side, Al cheering Jack on. It was then Will noticed Shock peer over her shoulder with a small smirk, quickly looking back fearfully at Jack before he noticed.
"Who's first?" Jack asked, menacingly pointing to each one.
Will saw them all smile and her eyes went wide. "Jack, look out!" Zero barked out a warning as Will bolted to Jack's side.
"Jack!" The trio laughed, and together, said, "Trick or treat!" they sprang to their feet. Barrel tripped but Lock and Shock jumped, landing a spider shaped trigger. Will pushed Jack out of the way, but a large black hole opened up and she was swallowed inside.
"WILL!" Al and Jack cried.
XXX
(Will's POV)
"Aaaaaahhhhh!"
I didn't know how far down this tunnel went, and I really wasn't looking forward to finding out. Then I looked up and remembered I still had my wings. I smacked my palm against my face. I held out my arms and used my wings like a parachute to create drag. I managed to slow my speed and, with a few quick arm thrusts, I was flying back up toward the top. As I got closer to the top, I noticed a familiar outcropping. I flew over and landed on the edge. As I caught my breath, I noticed a small passageway. I decided to explore. I walked down a ways before coming to a split road. Great! Now which way?
My left side suddenly started to warm up, and my nose began to twitch. I took a couple sniffs and the smell of brimstone, smoke, and… I took another sniff. Whew! Rotten eggs. Bleck! A bittersweet upside to having a bat's sense of smell; warn you of danger, but suffocates you with the bad odors. Well, I was definitely not going down the left tunnel that was for sure. So I decided to explore the right one.
I barely made it five feet in before something knocked me in the back of the head. I fell on my hands and knees, groaning in pain.
"You stupid idiot!" I heard someone yell. "You were supposed to knock her out!"
"Hey, don't blame me," another voice said. "It's Lock's fault."
Oh great, the Three Stooges again. Well, they weren't about to get me with that knock out trick like last time. I sprang to my feet and looked around. I couldn't see them, but I knew they were hiding somewhere. Well, if I couldn't see in the dark, maybe I could try something else. If I still had bat DNA in me, there might be a chance I could use echolocation. I opened my mouth and was surprised when I emitted a high-pitched sound. I listened and followed to where those three little brats were hiding. I sprang to the roof and crawled over so I was perched right above them. I looked down the tunnel and spotted a dimly lit room. There was a cage in the center of the room, but aside from that, I couldn't see much else. I watched them from the top, chuckling at their confusion.
"Hey! Where'd the bat freak go?" Barrel asked.
"How should I know?" Shock asked.
I got a devilish idea. I gripped the stone ceiling with my feet and swung so I hung upside down right above their heads.
"BOO!"
All three screamed and ran down the way. I couldn't stop laughing as I dropped down to the ground. "Oh man, that was classic."
I heard a small hissing noise. I looked down and saw a small ball that was leaking some kind of gas. My eyes widen and I covered my mouth and nose, but I had already gotten a whiff of the stink: miasma made of Deadly Nightshade. I struggled to stay on my feet, but I dropped to the floor and blacked out.
XXX
(Narrator's POV)
A few minutes earlier…
"Will? … WILL?!" Al screamed. She frantically rushed to where Will had been swallowed up, and dropped to her knees, pounding her fists into the stones.
Meanwhile, Lock, Shock, and Barrel were laughing at there little trick. "Ha ha ha ha! Looks like he really fell for that one!" they said in unison. But then they spotted Jack standing next to Al, Zero by his side.
"Oops, oh well," Shock said.
"At least we got one," Lock reasoned.
"But um…doesn't that mean Jack's still here?" Barrel asked. All three turned to see both Jack and Al staring at where Will had been swallowed up.
"You will all pay," Al said, quietly and slowly. She turned to face them, not even looking like she had moved. Her eyes were ablaze with rage and hurt. Her chainsaw started quietly but glowed an unearthly red. The three troublemakers froze in fear as she stood. "I warned you not to make me angry. Now, I'm ROYALLY PISSED OFF!"
They back away as Al reached for her chainsaw. She revved the engine and made sure the blade spun at the highest and hottest setting the flames could get. "You thought Jack was bad? HA! You haven't even dealt with me yet!"
"Gotta go!" All three ran to their bathtub and quickly made their getaway, but not before Al managed to take out a chuck of their tub.
"Get back here and face me mere mortals!" Al bellowed, her voice dropping an octave.
"Its no use, Al," Jack said. "They're gone."
"They always get away! I'm so tired of all their shit!" Al raged, making sure her threats were heard. "If I ever see them again, I swear on all that is holy that I will rip their hearts out with chopsticks, make them eat them through a straw, and then cut their heads out with a spoon!"
"Alice, listen to me." The use of her name got her attention. "I don't want to let those three get away either, but Will might be in danger. We've got to go after her."
"I suppose," Al said, flicking her chainsaw off. "That doesn't mean that they'll get away if I see them again."
Jack nodded, then he told Al to run to where Lock and Shock had activated the trapdoor. When Jack gave her the signal, she jumped on the switch and ran as fast as she could. Jack dropped down into the hole, followed by Zero, and then Al jumped in before the hole closed. It wasn't until the last second that Al realized she had just jumped into a black hole with no way of knowing how far the fall actually was. She couldn't help thinking, Just jumped down a dark hole with no idea what's at the bottom? Great idea Al. Both Jack and Al screamed as they continued to fall through a seemingly endless darkness.
Looking around, Jack managed to spot an outcropping with a large passageway. Before he dropped too far, Jack reached out and grabbed Al, then grappled onto a ledge with the Soul Robber. They dangled for a bit, but at least they were safe. Zero floated up beside them, making sure his master and his master's friend were okay.
"Whew, what a day this has been… Hmm…" Jack looked around, trying to get an idea of where they were. However, this was a part of Halloween Town he had never been in before. "What's this place?"
XXX
GodlyJewel: Ah, so happy my muse returned. Thanks Werejaguar, for the ideas to help get the ball rolling again.
CosmicHorse: I apologize for the graphic rage.
GodlyJewel: And that's why the rating changed for this fic for those who've already read the first couple of chapters.