Chapter 4: A Harmless Skeleton

"Calm down, Maria. I'm not going to hurt you," a voice spoke to her calmly as a hand gently rested on her head before stroking her hair soothingly.

Maria opened her eyes in shock at that and she flinched when the skeleton reached for her face, but she also noticed his expression wasn't fierce this time. It was gentler and one of his hands gently cupped the left side of her face. He then smiled gently and his hands moved to her hands, gently pulling her to her feet. "Don't be afraid, Maria, I was only having a bit of fun with you," he said and then chuckled. "I pulled the same trick on your grandmother and she nearly chewed me out when I did so. The joke was on me then."

Shock filled Maria. "You…you know my grandmother?" She asked. "How do you know my name?"

"I have known your family for many generations, my dear," he said as he surprised her by picking her up and carrying her back to the bedroom she had woken up in and she noticed her hair ribbons and the rose on a dresser in front of the bed and a brush was there too.

"You…you undid my hair?" Maria asked.

He looked a bit contrite. "I was thinking it would be more comfortable for you as you slept," he said softly.

She nodded and then looked up at him. "Who are you?" She asked.

"Jack Skellington, The Pumpkin King," he said as picked up the ribbons, rose, and brush and then sat down on the bed, setting her in his lap. She then felt the brush run through her hair and realized he was brushing her hair. "Am I pulling too hard?" He asked, sensing her surprise.

"No," she said honestly. "It's fine."

He continued to brush her hair and soon began braiding her hair like her grandmother had, placing the ribbons in the braids properly and placing the rose back in its proper spot. "How did you know…?" Maria asked.

"Your great-great-great-great-great grandmother taught me," he said. "I didn't braid your hair too tight, did I?"

She shook her head. "No," she said as she felt the braids to make sure. She then looked at him. "Jack, why did you kidnap me?"

"I didn't 'kidnap' you, exactly," he said. "Your grandparents gave you to me."

Maria felt horror fill her, but then felt Jack's arms gently surround her. "I was nearby when you had fallen asleep and your grandmother was worried that my enemy might return to kidnap you and spoke to your grandfather. They both agreed that I had to bring you here. So, they gave you to me and I brought you here, Maria, to my world," he said, gently rubbing her back as her shoulders drooped. "I didn't mean to upset you, Maria."

She gazed up at him, remembering what her grandmother had told her about judging others. Jack's actions were ones she didn't think a skeleton was capable of, but he was proving her wrong. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed a bit. "You've really known my family for a long time?" She asked.

"Ever since one of your grandmothers many times removed became the first Peace Dancer," he answered her.

"Peace Dancer?" Maria asked curiously. "What is that?"

"Something that is desperately needed now," Jack said to her. "Many years ago, I did something foolish and it nearly cost me dearly and put a lot of tension between my world and yours. Your ancestor became the first Peace Dancer and managed to stop your world from destroying my world."

He then stood up, lifting Maria into his arms as he carried her to the library where he had a picture of her ancestor wearing the same ceremonial dress and hair ribbons standing beside Jack. "One girl from every generation in your family has been the Peace Dancer, the person who would dance to help ease the tension between two worlds. And right now, the Peace Dancer, you, are needed now more than ever," he explained.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"My enemy has returned and done something that can change everything," said Jack, a note of fear in his voice. "And if things do change, you may end up being the last Peace Dancer, Maria."

Maria felt fear fill her and she hugged Jack, who returned her hug and rubbed her back, feeling her shiver a little.

From the sounds of it, it sounded like she was the only one who might be able to stop a war, but uncertainty filled her as she continued to cling to Jack, accepting his comfort and letting him soothe her fears away for a little while.

Sounds like Maria's got a lot on her shoulders. And a lot depends on her. Next up: the villain has a plan.

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