GodlyJewel: Whew! That took forever! A special thanks to Werejaguar for helping me with a few battle tactics. I swear, I had soooo many blocks for this story, like you wouldn't be..believe… *looks out at angry mob* Oh… Hi! Y-You're all probably wondering why I waited so long to update? Hehe, f-funny story… -.-' *torches and pitchforks raised with angered cries of protest*
Gomenasai, mina-san! I'm so, so, so sorry for taking so long to update. If you didn't see my profile update, I basically had stuff happen with my computer, followed by school, work and writing-blocks that threw me WAY off, BUT I'm happy to report, the wait is over and here is the final battle. A few alterations to make it fit with the scheme, but I think it turned out pretty fabulous. So, Enjoy!
Chapter 27: Final Battle - Dethrone the False King
(Narrator's POV)
In no time at all, Jack and Santa arrived at the outskirts of Halloween Town. They landed a safe distance from Trash Hill and began to wait.
"It's getting very late," Santa Claus noted, looking up at the sky.
"Don't worry Sandy," Jack assured him, "I'm sure the girls are on their way. Why, I bet they will be here at any moment."
Jack wasn't far off, for not a few moments passed before they heard someone call out to them. "Hey guys!"
Both Jack and Santa Claus looked up into the sky just in time to see Will's winged silhouette against the moon. Beside her was Zero's phantom form barking happily when he spotted his master. Though Jack and Santa were both thrilled to see them, the sight of Will without the sleigh or the reindeer unsettled the holiday leaders. As she came in for a landing, they noticed Will also carried a large sack in her talons.
"Watch out!" she called, releasing her burden. It settled to the ground with a loud thud before Will landed, only for her to trip and fall on her face. She stood up and shifted back to her human form just as Jack ran up to her. "I gotta get better at my landings."
"Will, I am glad to see you are all right, but where is the sleigh?" Jack asked, worry written on his face.
Will's smile quickly faded at the question. "Yeah, umm… About that," she began. Then her eyes glanced in Santa's direction. She sighed. "I'm sorry, I really am. Zero and I managed to catch up to the reindeer, but they wouldn't turn around. I pulled on the reins, and Zero flew round like a sheep dog trying to guide them back here, but nothing we did worked! So I went with Plan B."
Will turned to the bundle she had dropped. Jack and Santa looked at it, their eyes widening to see a large, red velvet bag. "The presents!" Santa exclaimed.
Will shrugged her shoulders. "Bringing you the sack was the only thing I could think of," she explained. "After all, all you needed was the presents, right? And luckily we had a sleigh and flying reindeer of our own for you to borrow. Yet another reason why I'm not berating Jack for keeping his coffin sleigh from last year." She glanced at the Pumpkin King, smirking enough to show off the tip of a fang.
Jack laughed nervously, noting the tone in the young girl's voice. "G-Good thinking, Will," he praised, patting her on her shoulder.
Meanwhile, Santa had gotten out of the coffin sleigh to transfer the presents into the backseat. He then turned and shook Will's hand. "Thank you, my dear. I'm sorry the reindeer gave you trouble, but they are trained to return to Christmas Town when no one is at the reigns," he explained. "I'll have to speak to Bernard about that."
Jack and Will laughed, prompting a chuckle from the saint as well. As they settled down, Will suddenly went very still.
Jack looked at her cautiously when she began to tilt her head, as if she was listening for something. He tried to ask, "What is i–"
"Shh!" Will held up her hand, silencing him as she continued looking around. Then he noticed she paused in one direction and her eyes grew very large. Jack turned around to see what she was staring at. A small dust cloud was heading towards them at a frighteningly quick pace. Looking closer, Jack's sockets widened to see the racing figure was in fact Al, riding on Frank, urging the kelpie forward at the fastest speed possible. When Frank finally arrived in front of their group, both the human girl and her beast were out of breath. One from the adrenaline rush, the other from fear.
"Ally, what's wrong?" Will asked. She ran up to Al, offering her friend help as she dismounted.
Al barely managed to keep her feet on the group before her legs gave out, causing the poor girl to collapse to her knees. She huffed, her body trembling as her eyes seemed to focus on some faraway vision. Jack came up and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking into her face to discern what had caused her to become so frightened. Finally, she managed to look at her friends.
"Bi-Bi…Bu…" Her skin was white as Zero's sheet, and her eyes were practically bulging from her head. She was taking in sort breaths, struggling to control herself. "Bu… V-Very! big!"
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, not understanding what she meant. There was an incredible amount of fear in her eyes. Even if this had been a reaction on Halloween night, he would not have taken delight in this brand of terror. Whatever had frightened her was from a deep set in phobia and not an all-in-good-fun scare.
Will knelt by Al's side and began patting her back, trying to calm her best friend. "Take it easy, Al." Her words were soothing and she could visibly see Al start to relax. "Just tell us what you saw."
"Bu…Bi bu…" She stuttered before finally finding her voice. Taking an iron-grip hold into Will's shoulders, ASL began screaming, "Big ass $& !ing spiders! Mother trucking spiders all over me!"
"Whoa!" Will pulled back and quickly took ahold of Al's hands, prying them off her shoulders. Then, before her friend could bolt, Will quickly wrapped her arms around Al and held her tight.
"Al, calm down," she assured her. "No spiders are here. You are perfectly safe…" But as Will said the words, a large tremor ripped through the earth.
Jack struggled to stay on his feet, while the girls huddled together on the ground. Already skittish from their run-in with the insects, Frank flicked his ears in several directions and pranced nervously. He tried to run at one point but Al firmly grabbed a clump of his mane in her fist, keeping a tight hold on the monster. Jack and Will tried to help her, but it was difficult to do due to the tremors. When Al managed to make him stop, she quietly whispered to her frightened kelpie that he needed to be a big brave beast.
Back in the sleigh, Santa did his best to stay upright, but he stumbled and fell back into the driver seat. Once the tremors subsided, he tried to steady himself, wondering where on earth this unnatural force had come from. He listened and followed a sound like thunder, coming directly from the path Al and Frank had used to reach them. He suddenly became pale. "Jack! Look!"
Far off in the distance, something began to rise from the earth, its massive size increasing at an alarming rate. "Holy shit!" Al screamed. "What is that?!"
"BIG trouble!" Will replied.
Beside her, Jack remained silent, his eyes locked on the mysterious figure as he continued to watch. From what he could tell, it was some sort of figure rising out of the trash, standing at least one hundred feet tall. The creature was made up of several tarnished, crudely sewn together pieces of cloth and covered in every kind of debris one could image. When it finally stopped growing, Jack could see what looked like the outline of a crown perched on top of the creature's head along with two black hollow eyes. Jack felt an icy chill run down his spine as he recognized the all-too familiar features of his arch foe, now standing before them like some ominous skyscraper. "It couldn't be…" he thought aloud.
As if to answer his question, Oogie Boogie stood to his full height and roared, his thunderous voice shaking the sky with his rage.
"Jaaaaaack!"
When all settled, everyone could hardly move. None of them could take their eyes of the sight of Oogie's monstrous new body. Jack was literally frozen to his spot. How could they ever hope to defeat Oogie now?
"How the hell we supposed to beat that?!" Al questioned, as if reading Jack's thoughts. "That thing is a mile high and wider than an English teacher!" She looked at the monstrosity, her usual bravery faltering a bit before her resolve steeled.
"I… I-I don't know…" Jack replied. "I knew Oogie had hidden powers, but I never knew he was capable of this!"
"Jack, we have to stop him," Will interjected. "A regular Oogie is one thing, but if this…Mega Oogie gets loose, everything will go to hell in a hand-basket."
"I know that!" Jack's sudden outburst drew everyone's attention. The skeleton was literally shaking in anger, his fists balled tightly at his sides, and his brow furrowed in frustration. He looked at his friends, his features instantly softening at seeing their concerned faces.
It was Santa who spoke first. "Willa is right. We cannot allow this creature to roam free," he said. "Jack, you know better than anyone what this malicious creature is capable of. He must be stopped."
Jack nodded. He then turned around and went to the back of the coffin sleigh. He reached inside and pulled out Will's katanas. He thought about grabbing her key as well, but decided against it, thinking it better to leave with Sandy so he might be able to fix it. After all, Jack doubted the girls would enjoy entering a crypt in order to get back home. Okay, Will might not but he was sure Al would suffer from claustrophobia or nyctophobia. Keeping ahold of the twin swords, Jack turned his focus back on Santa Claus and held his free hand over his chest.
"Sandy! I'll take care of Oogie! You hurry up and deliver those presents!"
Though he didn't like the idea of leaving them to face that monster alone, Santa knew there was no other option. He had to deliver the present before Christmas was ruined (again), and time was growing short as it was. Besides, only Jack was capable of stopping that fiendish boogieman, and he wasn't alone. The elder man nodded to Jack.
"Gladly!" he replied, picking up the reins. "Merry Christmas, Jack! Ho Ho Ho!" With a flick of his wrists, Santa was off. As he flew into the night driving the unusual version of his Christmas sleigh, Santa said a silent prayer for the young group, hoping they would overcome this villain quickly, and that all three of them came out of this whole mess alive.
Back on the ground, Jack was trying to formulate the best plan of attack. He knew Oogie could not go after Santa, but that only meant he would either try reaching the Holiday Doors again, or head toward Halloween Town. His thoughts were interrupting by a light pressure to his side. Jack looked down to see Zero whining softly and nudging his master's ribs. The little dog looked up with big, pitiful eyes. Jack patted his pup on the head. "I guess you've been feeling left out, huh Zero?" he asked.
"Arf!"
Jack smiled. "Well, I do have something I'd like you to do," he said, causing Zero to bark excitedly. "Zero, I need you to head back to Halloween Town and stay with Sally. She was very worried when I left, and I'd like you to keep her company until I return. Think you could do that?"
"Arf! Arf!" Zero was excited, always happy to do whatever Jack said, especially when it involved Sally. He did a flip in the air before flying off back to town.
Once the little dog was out of sight, Jack turned his attention back to Will and Al. Part of him had wanted to place the girls in the sleigh with Sandy before he had taken off. Knowing they would have berated him for yet again trying to send them away for their own protection, Jack only worried for what would happen when they went to face Oogie Boogie. He could not ask his friends to fight for him, not at the cost of their lives. After all, they were young girls and humans at that. They still had lives to live. But, after all that had happened this night, he had seen that these two would not let him go it alone. He was happy to have them by his side.
He walked over to them, handing Will her swords. "You realize this will be dangerous?" he stated.
"Well…" Al said, her Joker-ish smirk reappearing. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."
Will chuckled. "You ain't getting rid of us that easy, Jack. We stuck by you this long, and we're gonna see this through to the end."
Jack nodded, smiling at the courage he saw in his friends. "All right then, let's go."
Without another word, Jack took off in the direction of Oogie Boogie. The girls were not far behind. Al had quickly mounted Frank and was charging, her halberd at the ready. Meanwhile, Will had reequipped her swords and changed into her hybrid form, flying overhead. At one point, she dropped down and hovered close to Jack.
"I'm gonna go on ahead to keep an eye out for any traps," she stated, then took off before Jack had a chance to protest.
Worried by her mention of hidden traps, Jack quickened his strides, hoping to catch up with Will before she met with trouble. Suddenly, he was lifted off the ground and soon found himself sitting on Frank's back behind Al.
"Just hang on Bone Daddy. Frank is the fastest in the west, don't cha know?" she laughed. Jack only nodded and looked ahead as they drew closer to the base of Trash Hill.
When they arrived, Al slowed Frank to a walk at Jack's caution. Knowing is enemy never played fair, the way may have tripwires or hidden oubliettes. As they continued, Jack heard a low rustling coming from the left. He quickly reached over and pulled back on Frank's mane, stopping them from going any further. He slipped off Frank's back and stepped a few feet forward. When he heard the rustling again, he held up his hand for Al and Franks to stay back. Readying the Soul Robber, Jack cautiously stepped closer in the direction the sound was coming from. He rounded the corner, expecting some kind of guard, when Will flew out at him.
"Will!" Jack exclaimed, drawing back the Soul Robber. "What are you doing? This isn't the time for games."
"Who's playing?" she asked, slightly annoyed. "Anyway, I thought you'd like to know I found a straggler." Will pointed her clawed thumb behind her as Mr. Hyde appeared from the shadows.
He smiled when he saw Jack. "You finally caught up with Oogie!"
Jack could not believe his eyes. "Mr. Hyde, what are you doing here?" he asked. "I told everyone to stay in town until I returned."
"My apologies but the others were worried when we saw what became of Oogie in the witches' looking glass," Mr. Hyde explained. Then, he pulled out a large canteen and held it out toward Jack. "You'd better go into this battle prepared! Do you want me to pour Halloween Spring Water into your Crystal Vial?"
"Well, yes, thank you," Jack asked, still stunned the sudden appearance. "But I…"
"Yo Hyde!"Al said, waving to him as she and Frank came around the corner. "What are you going here? It's gonna get dicy."
"He came all this way to bring us some water," Will answered. She walked over and slid off her backpack, taking out the Crystal Bottles inside. "Here ya go."
Mr. Hyde bent forward to allow his smaller counterparts to take the bottles. Both kept a tight hold as Mr. Hyde poured the green water into each bottle. Once done, the bottles were capped and handed back to Will to place in her pack.
"Thank you again, Mr. Hyde," Jack said. "Now please, return to Halloween Town where it's safe. And tell everyone I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I will. Good luck Jack." He then turned around and left them to their task.
"Glad he's gone," Al said. "I like him but he almost gave away our position."
"Luckily, we have the element of surprise along with a professional sneaker," Will added, throwing a wink at Jack.
But Jack shook his head. "I don't think so." And unfortunately, he was right.
The moment the words left his lips, a large ball of trash came hurling toward them. Al quickly maneuvered Frank to avoid getting hit, while Will had leapt into the air and grabbed Jack with her talons. A huge dust cloud formed, causing the air-breathers to cough. When all settled, a booming voice filled the air.
"HAHAHA! Come out and fight, bone man! Or are you afraid now that you've seen my power?" The oversized boogieman laughed maliciously, scanning the area for a sign his foe was near. He kept taunting, "Did you see how terrified that little runt and her sea donkey were! Now that's what it means to be a true King of Halloween! Once I'm rid of you, I'll make Halloween Town the way it was always meant to be. And then, all the Seven Holidays will be mine!"
Jack's anger flared. He roughly freed himself from Will's claws, tearing bits of cloth from his jacket. He dropped to the ground and ran towards the top of the hill. He stood alone on an outcrop. He spotted his nemesis at the center of Trash Hill. He didn't have long before Oogie's large, hollow eyes spotted him. The fiend grinned.
"Ah! There you are!"
"You've gone too far this time, Oogie! I won't allow you to cause anymore harm."
"Oh but Jack, haven't you realized yet?" Oogie's sneer darkened and he roared with laughter. "You can't stop me! It's hopeless. You're finished!"
"No he's not!" Will shouted, landing next to Jack. Al came up on his right. Both girls had their weapons ready.
"Listen hear you piece of trash!" Al called, her voice fierce and slightly insane sounding. "You can mess with me, but you go around calling my Franky a 'sea donkey' and you're gonna go down hard, son. And I shall laugh and dance on your bugs whilst draped in your bloody sack!"
"Ha! Don't make me laugh!" Oogie sneered.
"I'd listen to her," Will continued. "You're finished Oogie! Unlike you, Jack has friends to back him up. And you know what they say about women scorned."
The monstrous boogieman laughed, the high winds created from his breaths nearly knocking the three over. He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "So… The little girls think they can buddy up with our so-called hero and win, eh? Jack, you're more pathetic than I thought!"
"Hey, three to one Big Ugly," Al pointed out. "I believe the odds are ever in our favor."
"Is that so…"
Oogie raised his right hand and threw out his arm. A black cloud formed, heading straight for the outcrop. Jack and the girls braced themselves as thousands of bugs rained down upon them. Their ears filled with buzzing as the bugs swarmed over their bodies. Will and Al tried to fight them off, but the masses blinded them as they were repeatedly bit and stung. Even Jack was unable to use the Soul Robber, his focus on keeping the minuscule creatures from crawling into his skull. Thinking fast, Will began flapping her wings. The winds created by her wings made a break in the mass and Will used the opportunity to take to the air. She began flapping her wings harder, creating enough wind to push the insects back. However, during the swarm, Al had stepped too close to the edge and as the bugs began to clear, she fell over the side. Frank screamed, unable to help his new mistress while Jack tried to grab her with the Soul Robber, but both were too slow. At the rate she was falling, Al would either hit the ground or fall on some of the scrap below; the girl would not survive the impact.
Luckily, Will swooped down just before Al made contact with a pile of rusted scrap metal.
"Thanks Wings." Al sighed heavily before shivering. "Bugs man.. I'm gonna have nightmares for a century after that."
"Don't relax just yet." Looking over her shoulder, Will spotted another swarm headed their way. Suddenly, she got an idea, though a certain red-head was not going to be too happy about it. "Al, get ready to flip and shoot."
"What's that suppose to– $& !" Al screamed as Will tossed her high into the air. She free fell for a second before Will caught her again, this time having her face the opposite way. "NEVER AGAIN!"
"Just shoot!" Will yelled. "Avoiding bug clouds and carrying you ain't easy, ya know." Will flapped harder, flying in and out, attempting to shake the insects. Al positioned her halberd and began firing.
Watching from below, Jack turned back to Oogie. Now that the girls were out of the way, he could put all his focus on stopping him. However, now Oogie stood several stories tall. There was no way for Jack to make a decent attack with his Soul Robber. Not to mention Oogie was controlling an entire legion of insects. Will and Al could most likely handle the bugs on their own, but that still left the ginormous boogieman. Even his strongest Pumpkin Fire attacks would barely scratch the surface. It would take a miracle to cut this monster down to size.
Jack quickly looked around, hoping to find anything he could use. It was then he spotted something coming out of the far off wall. What is that? he thought. He strained his eyes to get a better view. Jutting out from he wall was a long pipe, and some kind of green cloud was leaking out of the end. Is that… gas? Maybe I can use it to my advantage. Slowly a plan formed in his mind. He knew what he had to do. Not wasting another second, Jack leapt down into the pit.
Meanwhile, Will spotted him from high in the air. "I sure hope he knows what he's doing," she muttered mostly to herself.
"I don't know. I've been making this up as we go, so maybe he's taking a page from my book," Al replied, blasting another large section of the swarm. "Damn things keep regenerating! DIE!"
"I hope your right," Will replied, "because if this is anything like the game, this battle will be a two-parter."
Al frowned, sparring once glance up at Will. "There's gonna be another song, isn't there?" When she didn't reply, Al repeated the question but with more anger and urgency, "Isn't there?!"
Flapping harder, Will maneuvered to provide Al a better angle to blast more bugs. So far it seemed to be working until another legion of flying insects crept up on both sides. Without thinking, Will flipped back and started free falling. Al was streaming the entire way, blasting at any insects she could reach with an electrical blast. She even took out her chainsaw and used the flamethrower to scorch a few extra were vastly approaching the ground and Will was running out of time. Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure galloping toward the edge of the hill. Clutching her talons tighter into her friend's shoulder, Will angled her body to quickly pull up, kicking her legs back before thrusting them forward as hard as she could. The moment her feet passed in front of her body, Will released her hold and sent Al spiraling toward the ground. Al screamed bloody murder, but just as she thought Will had completely lost her mind, and she was going to die; her body slammed into a solid form, her equestrian skills instinctually causing her to tighten her legs. Daring a look over her shoulder, Al smiled as her face was whipped by familiar reed-like hair and she spotted a glowing green eye looking right at her.
"What a brave boy!" she cheered, turning around to face forward. She took one look at the sky before focussing back on her mount. "Come on Franky, lets go show them how we do!" Frank tossed his head and whinnied loudly in agreement.
Seeing Al and Frank were making their way down to help Jack, Will used her vantage point to survey the area. It looked like Oogie was at the center of the trash heap, and his army of insects had the entire place surrounded. Al was making her way down to the pit, blasting and roasting various giant bugs that sprung from the piles, and were stupid enough to stand in her way. Will was about to swoop down and help, but another wave of flying bugs came her way, forcing her to higher into the sky.
Back down among the scraps, Jack was silently working his way toward one of the gas pipes. Picking his way through the trash, careful not to utter a sound, he crept up a few more feet and managed to keep out of sight from a few insects roaming about. He found an opening, but before he could grapple the Soul Robber up to the ledge, the booming laughter of Oogie drew his focus, followed by the horror stricken screams of his friends. Turning around, Jack was shocked to see Al and Frank at the bottom of the heap. Somehow the girl had managed to guide the kelpie into the pit, but now she was struggling to control the beast as thousands of large beetle and spider-like creatures surrounded them. A shadow flew over them, prompting Jack to look at the sky. Above, the sky was nearly blanketed by dark clouds made up of millions of various winged insects. And at the center of the buzzing mail storm was Will. The bugs swarmed all over her body, and in her bat form it was impossible for Will to use her katanas. Instead she defended herself using her talons to slice through the multiplying pests, clawing through wings and severing several minuscule bodies. But she was greatly outnumbered.
Finally, Jack could no longer stand by and watch his friends fight for him. He stepped out of the shadows and approached Oogie. Too focused on Will and Al, Jack began slashing the Soul Robber at Oogie's feet. It wasn't much but the persisted snapping finally drew the monster's attention. He smiled sinisterly as his eyes found Jack.
"Ah! So there you are," he sneered. "I thought your run away once you saw your friends outnumbered by my bug armies."
"This ends here Oogie!" Jack shouted. Slowly, the Soul Robber began to pulse blue and then run a violent shade of red. This was it; only one of them was leaving this pit.
Oogie snarled and with a loud bellow, he opened his mouth, spitting out piles of trash straight at Jack. But the old Pumpkin King was much too fast for the lumbering giant. With ethereal grace, Jack easily avoided the trash balls, dodging them with catlike agility, and even blocking a few with the Soul Robber. Oogie muttered curses under his breath. In a rage he began stomping forward, hoping to squash Jack under his foot like a cockroach. But once again Jack's amazing speed allowed him to avoid being crushed. Oogie roared in frustration! He tried again, but his footing was off, and he fell forward. The blow of his head meeting the ground knocked the boogieman into a daze.
Jack used the distraction to run to Al. When Oogie had fallen, the tremor sent his bugs scattering back into the trash. However, it had also caused Frank to loose his balance and topple over. Luckily Al had jumped before she was crushed under the kelpie's massive weight. She was just getting to her feet as Jack ran up to her. He took ahold of her arm and helped her to stand.
"Al, get out of here. It's too dangerous." Jack saw her still and turn slowly. Her eyes were narrowed to mere slits, and her face flushed slightly as her lips were drawn into a thin line.
She inhaled slowly before very calmly saying, "Tell me to leave, one more time, and so help me Bone Man, I will burry you SO DEEP THAT NO ONE WILL EVER FIND YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT! DEAL WITH IT!"
But Jack was not about to let her argue. "Not this time. When I say you're leaving, I meant it!"
Al's blood boiled, and she all but screamed, "I am NOT going ANYWHERE until all this shit is cleared up!"
"You will go, now!" Jack ordered, looking down at her. He could see himself reflected in Al's eyes. He was frightening, but it was out of a fierce protection for his friends. Without warning, Jack picked Al up and set her on Frank's back. Being lifted was the last straw for the enraged redhead.
"Until I have chocolate milk topped with whipped cream being served to me by my man in a loincloth, I ain't going-"
"Allison! Listen to me!" Jack's tone was harsh, with the command of a King. "It is too dangerous here, and I am telling, not asking, you to leave immediately. Get to higher ground and help Will. This is my fight, understand? Now GO!"
Al regarded him a moment. "Well…why didn't you just say so Bone Brain?" she said curtly, gathering some of Frank's reed mane before urging the Kelpie away. With a whinny the creature took off, taking Al out of the pit as Jack turned to face his foe. Oogie had gotten to his feet and now he was ready for another round. Jack looked up at the towering figure before him, but he was not afraid.
"Hahaha! You think you've won? Oh, Jack… I'm just getting started." Oogie roared and beat the earth with his fists.
Jack ducked to steady himself as the ground rumbled from the force of the blow. When the dust settled he walked forward, ready for the final battle. "Let's dance!"
Oogie just laughed. "It's payback time."
Thinking back on all Oogie had done: taking over Halloween Town, enslaving his friends, unleashing heinous creatures on those he cared about; trapping the other Holiday Leaders, harming his friends and his beloved Sally. And now this fiend dare think his could intimidate him now that he stood a few stories tall?
Jack glared up at his foe, challenging him. "Is that all you've got to say?"
OOGIE
Well, well, well!
What a pest, you are!
Still around, huh?
Oh, can't say I like that!
So why don't you just give up?
You know, surrender!
JACK
It's over! It's over!
Your scheme was bound to fail!
It's over, you're finished here!
Your next stop will be jail!
OOGIE
He mocks me! He fights me!
I don't know which is worse!
I might just split a seam now
If I don't die laughin' first!
Ha, ha, ha!
As the two did battle, neither held back. Oogie continued hammering the ground in a futile attempt to crush Jack. In turn, Jack would eloquently dodge each attack, sending his own advances with powerful blows from the pulsating Soul Robber. The damage was only done to his feet, but Jack figured if he kept hitting hard enough Oogie would loose his balance again. Once down, Jack could aim for his head.
However, the task was not as simple because Oogie continued pumping out trash. The contents were mostly scrap, and the sound of the screeching metal pierced his skull. He needed another method for taking Oogie down. Then he remembered his plan.
Breaking away, Jack made a run for the wall. He spotted a piece of metal jutting out from farther up the wall, and used the Soul Robber to grapple himself to the second floor. He started weaving his way along the uneven ledge towards the gas pipe. However, Oogie had spotted him and stared to heave himself over to Jack. He smiled and paused to draw another breath to spit garbage. The moment he was close enough, Jack summoned a fireball and lit the gas. The reaction caused the gas to become a flamethrower, showering the oversized boogieman in an inferno of heated crimson flames. He roared and cried out, backing away front the fire. When it died down Jack grinned at he sight. Oogie had taken a lot of damage with that blow, burned patches covering his body along several open wounds.
But it was too easy.
In an instant, Oogie summoned his bugs to him. Several crawled out from the hidden cracks in the trash, while many parted from their skyward attacks to answer the call of their master. They swarmed over his body, carrying tiny scraps to replace what had been lost in the fire. In mere seconds Oogie had been regenerated.
JACK
What's this? A trick? I'm not impressed!
You're bad, and now you're tall!
It makes it all the more worthwhile
To see a giant fall!
OOGIE
Talk, talk, talk! But I tell you
This giant's goin' nowhere!
If I were you, I'd take a hike!
There's danger in the air!
While the battle raged on below, Al was hastily making her way out of the pit. She balanced herself on the kelpie's back as she used her halberd and chainsaw in unison. The halberd she used as a lance, turning the bugs into kebabs on the weapon. With the chainsaw, she painted the ground with their remains. Combining the two weapons, she left a trail of destruction in her wake, all the while urging Frank forward. Even he helped in the battle. Leaping and stomping onto semi-dead carcasses of the bugs that Al missed, soon his hooves were covered in bug juice. He snatched some from the air with his frog tongue for a quick snack as the pair charged on.
Al and Frank finally managed to reach the top when a ginormous spider came straight at them. Al sheathed her halberd to grasp her chainsaw with both hands. Before she could urge Frank to charge, the creature was sliced in half. It screeched loudly before falling in a heap. Startled, Al looked up to see Will, back in her human form, her katanas in hand as she took in deep, labored breaths.
"Nice shot! You all right?" Al asked.
"I'll be fine," she replied, but her attention was drawn toward the sky. "Looks like we're in over our heads."
Al was nearly screeching when she spoke."Are you #&$!ing kidding? Are you really #&$!ing kidding me right now!?"
"Yes, your excessive F-bombs have made it clear we're screwed. I swear, the game never had this." Will pointed out at the masses of bugs swarming all around them. "I have no idea what we're gonna do. I've tried to clear the skies, but I can't use my swords when I'm a bat, and my stomach is nearly full, so we need a pla-"
"Hold it!" Al interrupted, holding out a free hand. "I must have gotten some bug guts in my ear on the way up. Cause it sounded like you just said…" Her eyes widened in disgust as Al spotted a cricket leg stuck to the left corner of Will's mouth. "You didn't!"
Quickly licking away the leg, Will regrettably nodded. "I swear, I wasn't trying to," she protested, "but a moth flew into my mouth while I was dodging up there, and it didn't taste too bad." Will saw Al trying not to wretch, and she shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, it helped get rid of a few."
"That is nasty! You had better brush your teeth when we get home."
"I' m the only Pumpkin King!" Jack cried out below, distracting the girls. Will and Al quickly peered over the edge to see Jack doge another attack, his movements fluid and graceful, as if the whole battle was a choreographed dance. He slid to a stance, knees bent and the Soul Robber glowing ghostly blue as he glared up at Oogie Boogie.
"Halloween Town is mine!"
"Well, aren't we confident?" Oogie sneered as he continued hurling junk at his foe.
"Gah! They're singing again?" Al groaned, thumping her head to the butt of her chainsaw. "Honestly, it's about as fun as one of Cable's lectures."
"Yeah, I know, but as long as Oogie can keep regenerating we're stuck," Will added.
"Too bad he's not all hopped on Crystal Skull," Al commented. "Between his Berserker Rage, and you and Franky bug-munching up top, this battle would be wrapped up nice and quick."
"Wait, that's not a bad idea." A slow, devious smile appeared as Will's unearthly blue eyes began to shimmer with mischief. "Oh my gosh, Al! You're a genius!"
"Yeah I am!" Al boasted. She smiled proudly and struck a pose, looking rather fabulous. Then slowly she un-puffed her chest and looked confused. "Wait… How am I a genius this time?"
Will grinned wide, the moonlight glinting off her fangs. She quickly slid off her backpack and began rummaging through the contents. She cried out a, "Yes!" and pulled out the final Crystal Skull. Al was handed the skull while Will replaced the other contents into her bag, her friend never noticing her slip a small item into her pocket. When she had everything put away, Will looked up to see Al still puzzling over the skull.
"You actually expect me to know this?" she asked, still not getting it.
"You are going to give this–" Will taped the skull on its crown "–to Jack, and make sure he places it in his chest. While crystal-charged Jack keeps Oogie occupied, you'll use Bertha and Macho Baby to start a little bonfire."
"Bonfire?"
"Yes, bonfire, as in burn-everything-including-creepy-crawlies," Will hinted.
The lightbulb clicked on. "Ohhohoho I like where this is going!" A wicked grin curled on Al's lips. She took the skull and bowed low in a regal fashion low. "It shall be done forthwith milady."
"Okay, nice thespian twist, but try not to go Deadpool-crazy on me yet, okay?" Will added. Then, she slipped her backpack onto Al's shoulders. At the very Spock-like quick of her eyebrow, Will quickly explained, "I'll need Frank up here helping with unaliving the bugs you'll be sending up here. I figured you'd need a set of your own wings to get out of a jam."
"On it!" Al said, adjusting the straps and throwing her serious face on. She readied to drop back into the pit when she turned back to face Will. "Wait! If I'm down in the deep dark then what are you doing?"
"Calling in a few friends to help out." Before Al could blink, Will shifted to her hybrid form, readying her wings for take off. "Halloween Town is full of bats, and I'm betting on there being a few insectivores among the blood suckers."
Al smirked. "Oh, I see. You're going to be helping your furry friend with the sexy eyes, aren't ya?" she asked, winking with a rather giddy giggle.
Will frowned, casting her friend a very annoyed look. "You wanna make that trip down the fast way," her voice cold as she asked, claws extended. "Cause I don't mind reenacting your little flying lesson from a few moments ago!"
Al just chuckled before turning back toward the pit. "Like to see ya catch me. Cause girl, while dreams and delusions are good to have, it's better to have skillz, and baby, I gots loads of them!" she said, saluting and falling backwards into the pit, only seconds after thinking, This may have been a shit idea!
Once she was out of sight, Will took a deep breath before releasing a high pitched sound, barely audible to those without sensitive hearing. When she opened her eyes, the only other sound heard was that of the battle ragging below her and the buzzing of insect wings. Will almost gave up, thinking her plan might backfire. Then, just over the horizon, a black cloud rose up over the Hinterlands, heading straight for Trash Hill. The air was now filled with the sounds of a thousand flapping, leathery wings and eager high-pitched screeches. Will's smile grew.
At the sound, both Oogie and Jack had paused from their battle and looked up. An entire colony or two of bats appeared in the sky. The flying mammals descended on the insects, swooping and diving through the massive swarms with intense pleasure. Their large fangs caught the pests with ease, each bat easily devouring their prey with eager appetites.
Oogie looked aghast. "No! My precious bugs!"
"Looks like you're finished Oogie," Jack taunted. During the battle, Jack had changed into Sandy Claws persona. He figured he could use what remained of the Doctor's inventions to stun the bugs along the ground. While the jack-in-the-boxes did practically nothing, the miasma mist and freeze blast were able to stun the bug. Still, it was something.
"You think those winged-rats will stop the Seven Holidays King?!" Oogie sneered, turning his gaze back to his tiny foe. "Ha! Just because you dressed up in that old man's reject pile, you believe you've got an advantage? You're more pathetic than that rag cloth you're wearing."
Now that insult struck a chord. How dare he! Jack thought, Sally worked hard on this for me. She even convinced Sandy to make me a pair of costume boots just like his.
"You're not exactly looking your best yourself, Oogie," he countered. "Perhaps you need your eyes checked."
Jack threw his last present at Oogie's head. The present exploded and released a cold wind that spread a sheet of blue ice over the boogieman's eyes. But it a was futile attempt. Though blinded, Oogie stretched his stub-like hands out and began beating the ground blindly.
JACK
Well, I'm feeling angry
And there's plenty left to do!
I've fought your most unwelcome help
And now I'm after you!
OOGIE
Even if you catch me
You could never do me in!
I'm ten stories high, and just as strong!
Which means I'm gonna win!
Oogie finally managed to break the ice away from his eyes as Jack continued to dodge his fists, barely able to avoid being hit.
"This ends here," Jack shouted.
"I'm laughing to death!"
And unfortunately, Oogie was right. Jack's attacks weren't working. He had already tried using the gas pipe again, but Oogie continued summoning his bugs to regenerate his body, and the pipes seemed to run out of gas all too quickly. They needed time to start up again, but time was something the Pumpkin King didn't have.
There's got to be another way to stop him, Jack thought.
"Yo! Bone Man!"
"Al?" Looking up, Jack couldn't believe what he was seeing. After having to practically force her from the pit, Al was coming — or hovering? — back down into the pit. He took a step in an attempt to rush over and catch her, but Al managed miraculously land safely on the upper level three feet away from a gas pipe. She brushed herself off and started running towards him. As she sprinted downward, Jack watched as she began lighting up the path with the fire torch on the chainsaw Dr. Finklestein created. He could see Will's backpack was strapped to her shoulders, explaining her safe landing, and she was carrying something in her other arm.
But Jack was not the only one to notice her. Oogie began to lumber towards her, taking in a deep breath as he planned to pelt her with another trash missile. But Al was faster. In an instant, Al turned her weapon on him and doused the Mega Oogie in a shower of raging flames.
"Heard that crack about Boneman's suit. Not cool!" Al said, pouring on more heat. "Sad to say but Sandy was too pressed for time to reintroduce you to his boot, so Jack and I'll just be stepping in for him."
Oogie howled in agony, stumbling backwards as he tried desperately to escape and put out the fire.
Al pulled back, giving herself a pat on the back. "Hope your conscious enough to at least tell if the experience was the same before you're reduced to a stain." Satisfied with her work, Al lit a few more patches of trash on fire before running to stand just over Jack.
"What do you think you're doing?" Jack called up to her. "I told you…"
"Just hear me out," Al stated before the skeleton could berate her. "Will's got this plan, and I had a killer idea that'll do some real damage."
"I don't care whose idea it was, it's too dangerous for you to be here! And I told you to help Will. She can't defeat those insects on her own."
"Will's got Frank assisting her, so she's got that mess under control," Al assured. "Just trust me on this alright?" Taking ahold of her chainsaw, Al fired another blast at the walls. At first, Jack wasn't sure what to make of it, thinking back to the night's previous, and rather spastic moments. But as the flames burned a golden crimson, Jack could see shadows of the insects darting away from the heat.
"And that ain't the best part," Al continued without noticing Jack's distraction. "Seems my girly turning Batgirl has another advantage." Jack turned to see Al pointing up with an impish grin. He followed the path of her finger and gasped. Among them he spotted a lighter bat. Realization dawned on him as he caught a glimpse of the bat's cerulean eyes.
I get it, Jack thought, Al is using the heat of the fire to draw the bugs out and once in the air, the bats will consume them. Not only will that prevent Oogie from summoning them, but with Al burning the trash, Oogie won't have any materials to recover from any damage. The idea that the girls had come up with the idea, let alone their own army made him laugh. Doctor Finklestein may competition at the next mad scientist fair.
"It's a madly brilliant plan Al, but we'll still need a way to defeat him," Jack countered, still wondering as to how they were going to defeat this giant.
"No shit Sherlock!" Al replied sarcastically. "Oh wait, maybe that's why I'm supposed to give you this!" She drew back her other arm and threw an object down at him.
Jack whipped the Soul Robber, catching it before it hit the ground. When it retracted Jack gazed at the familiar crystalline skull. As he held the smooth crystal, his mind was filled with images of thick black smoke, the smell of sulfuric brimstone, and a hellish heat of a raging inferno. He nearly dropped the skull.
"You cannot be serious?"
"Makes sense to me! … But it was Will's idea so if it goes to hell, it ain't my fault," Al defended herself. "Plus, you were the one who was all rip-snorting and rearing to get the sack when your lady was in danger. Hold on to that feeling and let's get this guy!"
Before he could protest, Al bolted toward Oogie with a fierce battle cry, wildly waving both her weapons. But by this time Oogie had put out the flames and was ready for her attack. Panic rose within him as Jack witnessed Oogie stretch out his hands once more. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Without thinking Jack slipped the Crystal Skull beneath his suit and bolted for Al. He quickly wrapped her in his arms as the ground beneath them burst open. In less than a second, large steel beams used for the construction of skyscrapers jutted from the earth. Jack carefully leaped from each one, focusing on maintaining his balance while keeping both him and a now hysterical Al from falling to their deaths. Oogie leered over them and started to swipe at the beams. They tumbled, forcing Jack to jump from one to another at a quicker pace.
Once they were low enough, Jack jumped to the ground, landing with a thud as he and Al rolled. When they tried to get to their feet, another wave of insects began surrounding them. Al hissed violently at the swarming bugs, bracing for an attack but Jack was back on his feet. As he glared up at Oogie, a cold wind whipped at his bones. He felt the rush of power from the skull pulsating beneath his ribs.
"Al, try hitting him with another blast!"
"I'm. A. Little. Busy. Right. Now!" she yelled, hacking and swiping in a wide arch with her flaming chainsaw as the bugs came closer.
Deciding to let her deal with the bugs, Jack watched the clouds darken above him. He noticed they began to sway with his every movement. Copying Oogie's previous hand gesture, Jack swiped his hands through the air. To his surprise, two large snowballs the size of enormous boulders came shooting down from the sky. Both were aimed directly at Oogie; one hit him in the neck while the other snow boulder hit the boogieman in the stomach.
Realizing this new ability, Jack began focussing on his attack. His movements were almost dance-like, creating a choreograph of graceful movements while summoning icy spheres from the air, pelting them against Oogie. Some with enough force to rip right through his body. It seemed Jack had gotten the upper hand.
JACK
It's over! You're finished!
You'll never get away!
You, the Seven Holidays King?
That will be the day!
With one final spin, a barrage of snowballs pelted Oogie, leaving him in a frozen daze. However, the damage was quickly overcome, as more bugs headed Oogie's call. All the injuries Jack had managed to create was instantly healed, bringing Oogie back to full strength. This time, he laughed and sent another wave of trash. Jack managed to dodge, but Al was too distracted by the bugs. She only had a moment to look up before she was swallowed up by the scrap and filth.
Enraged , Jack ran to her aide but was thwarted by Oogie. The giant backhanded the Pumpkin King, throwing him back with a force that not only knocked the Chrystal Skull from his ribcage, but also tore his pin from his jacket. His Santa suit instantly disappeared, Jack groaned in agony.
Above, Will had watched as her friends were attacked. An ear piercing shriek tore from her lips as she dove down into the pit. Her cries were heard by two others: a kelpie who was now racing down to aide his mistress, and a large bat that had broken from the colony. It gave a cry that signaled the other bats to start swarming all over Oogie. The giant groaned and batted at them, but the bats continued their assult. Making sure the colony kept the boogieman occupied, the bat began flying frantically after Will. She transformed back into a human, stumbling after having dropped three feet to the ground, when Frank barreled down into the pit.
"Frank, help me get Al out of the trash," she commanded. The kelpie snorted and began digging through the scrap. Will helping when something landed on her shoulder. She turned to see a bat.
Willa, my friends can't keep this up, he said, slightly out of breath from trying to catch up to her.
"I know Puck," Will replied, trying to pry a wooden beam from the heap. "But we can't stop now."
"Get me outta here!" Her heart skipping a beat, Will wrenched off the last piece before Al's fiery red hair and smokey-green eyes burst forth. "About bloody time girl! Geez, what did you do? Get distracted by Batboy?"
"Good to see you can still joke after being crushed under about fifty pounds of garage," Will replied, reaching to take hold of Al's upper arm. She pulled her friend free of the pile, Frank rushing to help steady his mistress as she got to her feet.
"It's in my nature… Say, where's Jack?" Al asked, leaning her still shaken body against Frank's flank.
"I don't know. I lost sight when Oogie backhanded Jack after he covered you in junk," Will replied. "It's not looking good, Al. The insects just keep coming, and the bats are beginning to get full. I don't know how much more they can take."
"We need to end this shit now," Al said, stamping the ground with the handle of her halberd. "Thoughts my fair war council?"
"Uh…"
Another tremor shook the ground, causing the girls to stumble. Sensing danger, a tired Puck grabbed the material of Will's sleeve and flew towards the wall. Seeing what the bat was trying to do, Will slammed her hands onto her friends, pushing Al and Frank against the wall as another round of steel beams rose from the earth. As they pressed their bodies firmly against the walls, Will and Al turned to look up. To their horrified eyes they watched as Jack was tossed about the air like a rag doll. His body had not recovered fast enough, and without the Crystal Skull, his body was taking the full force of the damage. Oogie laughed like a little boy playing with a new set of building blocks. Once built up, it was time to knock them down. The beams crashed to the ground, and Jack disappeared among a cloud of dust and clanging steal.
Oogie cackled his triumph.
OOGIE
How feeble! How childish!
Is that the best you've got?
You think that you're a hero, Jack!
But I think you are not!
"I am so done with this shit!" Al screened, her rage rising. "If I get any more pissed off, I'm going to start rapping like Gunther. And you do NOT want to hear me rap!"
"Al come on, we have to help Jack!"
Will grabbed her by the arm and together the two girls ran to where they had last seen Jack fall. Frank was close behind them while Puck flew overhead. With his keen eyesight, he spotted Jack's arm sticking out from the pile of beams. He flew down and guided Will to where Jack was buried. As they ran more bugs crawled up through the cracks in an attempt to stop them. Al blasted a few with her halberd, while Will hacked off a few heads with her katanas.
Once they made it to the spot where Jack was buried, the girls sheathed their weapons to begin prying away the beams. Al eventually whistled for Frank because the weight of the steel proved too much for the girls to handle. Frank whipped his tongue out and it wrapped around the beams. With one great pull, a vast majority of the work was done thanks to the former frog. Once freed, the girls huddled over Jack. Al slipped the bag from her back and handed it to Will. Taking it, Will took out one of the Crystal Vials and helped Jack. Al looked around and managed to spot something shiny. She ran over to it and discovered it was the very Crystal Skull that had been tossed from Jack's chest.
"My shiny…" Al said, looking back over to her friends. "Jack's gonna need this." She ran back over to the group and placed the skull back into Jack's ribcage. He was pretty banged up, but the combined effects of the Spring Water and Crystal Skull were healing him quickly.
"Oogie, he's stronger than I thought." Jack coughed. Will helped him sit forward. Once it passed, he leaned back down. "I don't know if there's anyway to stop him."
"Come on, there's gotta be something," Will encouraged.
"Jack, you're the Pumpkin King for goodness sake," Al said, echoing Will's encouragement.
"Yeah but what choice do we have? The only thing that has done any damage is when I used my Pumpkin Fire on the gas." Jack pointed to where the two pipes jutted out from the wall, green gas seeping out of them. "I could try again but it takes too long for the pipes to blow more gas."
"This is insane!" Al screamed. "The devil is this guy made of? Adamantium woven into a sack? He's a sack of bugs! I mean, a vat of acid and Santa's bootie kicked this guy last time. The hell makes him different now?!"
Will had been silent the entire time. Puck was sitting on her shoulder, wishing he could be of more help. Will continued to puzzle over the dilemma. Okay, come on girl, think! What else can we do? She had thought about how to beat Oogie, pouring over everything she could remember about the game. But this was not a game. Oogie was regenerating too fast. They needed to stop him once and for all, but how could they do that when he had an endless supply of materials and insects at his disposal? Suddenly, her head shot up.
"Al, give me your halberd."
"Why?"Al asked, holding the halberd tightly to her chest. "The last time I let on of my weapons leave my hands, Chopper was no more."
Will groaned and rolled her eyes. "Oh, Code: Just-Do-It."
Al quietly surrendered her weapon, muttering under her breath. "Code: Fine-you-big-meanie. And Code: If-you-break-it-you-better-buy-me-a-new-one."
Will took ahold of it, then turned back to address the group. "Okay, here's the plan: Puck and I will have the bats continue to distract Oogie so he can't see what we're doing. Meanwhile, Al will take Frank and get up to the second level. I need both of you on each of the gas pipes. Aim them straight at Oogie. Signal me, and I'll have Puck take the other bats to safety and keep Oogie focused on me. Jack, I need you to listen up. Once I get Oogie's attention, I'll need you to go full Pumpkin King and then you and Al can light the gas on fire."
"…Oh!" Al cried as realization hit her. "I gets it! We make one mondo bug-bomb of avenging fire and burn this sack to a crisp! I like it… I liketh it very much."
"All right then, it's settled." Will rose to stand but was stopped by a boney hand on her wrists. She turned around to see Jack release his hold.
"What about you?" he asked, sitting up and looking her in the eyes, a deep concern showing in his expressive sockets. "How are you going to keep his attention, and get out of the way?"
Will smiled so her fangs showed. "Hey, don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Though her tone was assuring, Jack's stern gaze held. Will sighed and returned the look. "Honestly Jack, what other choice do we have. We can do this."
"I may even break my vow to never sing in public when this is over. 'Ding dong the bug sack's dead' and all that. Oh I may even Futterwacken before we go home Will!" Al said, laughing slightly. "Then, Jack can cuddle up with his lady, I can cuddle with my Zacky, and Will can cuddles with Momito. Tis a grand plan!"
She swung a leg over Frank's back, nestling her fingers in his reed mane. "Let's get to it boys and girls! We're burning daylight so put some butter on a biscuit and let's bounce!" She broke apart from the group and, with a kick, the two were on their way to the top.
Jack stood, his health restored. He took another look at his foe before turning back to Will. "Are you sure you'll be all right?"
Will didn't answer. She turned her back, shifting to her humanoid bat form. Jack saw her knuckles were white as she gripped tightly to the halberd.
"No matter what, use your strongest Pumpkin Flame blast on him." Her tone was grave, so deadly serious it sent a shudder through his spine. He moved to say something, but Will cast him a look over her shoulder. He gasped, seeing her smile at him with teary eyes.
"And another thing," she said, the smile never leaving her face. "You better give Sally one hell of a kiss when this is over. Or so help me, I'll cover Halloween Town in mistletoe all the way through to July."
And with that, she slipped her katanas and backpack to the ground, placing the halberd in the swords sheath. After making sure it was attached tightly, Will took off.
Puck flew alongside her as they flew to join the other bats swarming all over Oogie's head. His eyes never focused as rivers of bats twisted and turned, blocking his sight. Puck separated from Will long enough for the two to warn the bats of the plan. When they regrouped, Puck cast a worried look to Will.
I hope this plan of yours works, he told her, concern showing in his voice.
"It will," she assured him, "Just get all your friends to safety."
Isn't there anything else I can do to help you? You don't have to do this on your own.
Will chuckled, a sound that made Puck even more worried. "Hey, it'll be alright, you'll see."
With a reluctant nod, Puck broke away from her to alert his friends. The bats wasted no time and as quickly as they descended, they dispersed till only Will was left. She grit her teeth and flew up until she hovered about one hundred feet in front of him.
His vision now clear, Oogie growled and began looking for Jack. He was going to make him pay, but his search was blocked by the bat girl before him. "Cheap parlor trick, freak! But I've bigger fish to fry." He swatted at her with a large hand.
Will easily dodged him, and continued blocking his line of vision. "It's over Oogie! You've lost!" Oogie laughed. The hurricane-like winds caused Will to frantically beat her wings to avoid being blown away, but she didn't pull back.
"Oooooh, I'm sooooo scared!" he mocked, quaking in false fear. "The little girl thinks she's strong enough to stop me. HA! You're in over your head! I'm the Seven Holidays King!"
"You're king of nothing!" Jack shouted below. He had been keeping an eye on the girls, watching Will keep Oogie occupied while Al readied the pipes. When they were in position, she waved with both hands and gave an old 'calvary charge' hand motion. He nodded. Now they just had to wait for Will to get out of the way.
"Hey Pervert! Eyes on me!" Will shouted, drawing Oogie's focus from Jack. "You think you got what it takes to be a king? HA! You're just a pathetic excuse for a rejected holiday. Why don't you do us all a favor and go back where you came from."
"SILENCE!" Oogie shouted. "I think it's time I turned off that smart mouth of yours."
"You want me, come and get me!"
Will took the halberd from her back. Using one hand while her other arm kept her steady, she found a small red button hidden underneath the upper blade. A memory flashed in her mind:
Will and Sally were just getting ready to help Al and Jack in Christmas Town, when Dr. Finklestein had stopped her.
"Just a moment, I need to warn you abut the halberd I gave Alice. I had forgotten to tell her it is direly impotent she not press the red button under the upper blade."
"Why? What's wrong with it?" Will asked.
Irritatedly, he explained himself. "My child, I never created such a device before. The high current electrical fault is completely unstable. I had to create a way for the energy to be released in some spurts. If that button were pressed, the energy would build until the the force caused the halberd to implode on itself."
"Way top pull a Doofenshmirtz there Doc."
"Listen! That button is the only thing prevented such an event. Make sure Alice does not use that button, not unless you've run out of every last option."
She pressed on the button. In one motion, she moved the active halberd to her grip in her feet, and charged at Oogie's face. This is gonna hurt…
"Foolish little…" As Will flew at him, Oogie opened his mouth and chomp!
Both Will and the halberd were swallowed whole.
XXX
Deadpool: Dangatang! That was some serious bad-assery there but damn, call that a cliffhanger much?
GodlyJewel: Dude, you're breaking fourth in the wrong fandom. Bad enough you've got Cosmic distracted from her Loki fic, I don't need you further distracting me from mine. I've had complaints! *turns back to computer* Now leave so I can get back to writing. School and work already have been keeping me occupied. I don't need the "Merc with the Mouth" added to said list.
Deadpool: Hey, I almost take offense to that. I am awesome, plus I brought tacos!
CosmicHorse: Oh! You brought me tacos and your righteous arms? Honey, you can stay as long as you want.
Deadpool: Hell yea baby! *slings arms over shoulders* These guns like the way you feel *flexes arm*
GodlyJewel: Don't encourage him. This is not his fanfiction so he needs to go. Can you not hear the reviewers out there? *rock is hurled through window* *attempted ducking fails, resulting in beam to the head* Ow! See! Now they're throwing things!
CosmicHorse: *hides behind Deadpool* But he's my sexy shield. And he has tacos!
Deadpool: I have tacos!
GodlyJewel: I don't care if he made a million pancakes and brought you Johnny Deep wrapped up with a bright red bow. Get him out! *muttering* Plus I already had to change the rating to T.
CosmicHorse: *pout* Sorry sexy, you had better go…
Deadpool: Babe, come on! *posing saucily* You know ya want me to stay. So umm…how about no.
CosmicHorse: *whistles* Xena!
Deadpool: Shiiiiittttttt! *tries to run away* Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!
Xena: *a fully grown xenomorph* HIIIIISSSSSSS *runs in, grabs Deadpool, and drags hims to the basement*
Deadpool: *offscreen* I'll call you, baby!
CosmicHorse: You better!
GodlyJewel: Sorry about that. He's the most recent distraction to why this took so long to update. So, while Cosmic shoves him back into his video game, let's get back to this story. I'm thinking about ten (10) new reviews will convince me to post the next chapter. Until then… ]:)
Deadpool: We'll be back and we'll bring more tacos!
GodlyJewel: Would you get outta here!?