FicWad

Nightmare Land



Nolan York, as Batman, and Darkrai II were now tied up in ectoplasmic chains, hanging from a chain as they were lowered into a giant glass container, looking angrily as Jack O’Lantern held an evil smirk. “Ah, what more perfect way to end the two blackest blacks of the night, than drowning them in gallons of white?”



“You have any idea how wrong that sounded?” Nolan asked.



“In only a moment, this entire container will be flooded in fresh, warm milk.” At this, the two captives looked at the large tanker of milk, hooked up to a machine that had a large pipe, leading into their prison. “The all-powerful Nightmare King will be submerged in the biggest poison to Nightmares, and Batman will drown along with him. Then, no one can intervene between the wedding of Count Dracula and Danika Anderson.”



“Your moment under the moon will not last, O’Lantern.” Darkrai assured him. “The Nightmares are loyal to only one King.”



“Also, there’s no way Danika would marry a freak like Dracula.” Nolan said.



“I beg to differ. It sounds fitting.” Jack smirked. “Count Dracula, Countess Danika… has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t ya say? Nevertheless, even if she does refuse at first, Dracula has quite the… eye when it comes to the ladies, wouldn’t ya say? Anyhoo, farewell, Darky! And you, too, Batty. Start the machine, Lawrence!” Jack instructed to a skeleton, who stood atop a platform. The skeleton gave a thumbs-up and pressed a few buttons on the control panel. In a moment, the container began filling with gallons of milk, which were slowly rising higher to flood and drown the two inside.



Jack happily twirled his scythe and walked out of there as he sang to himself, “Ohh, wetty ghosts, kings roasts, Batman jam, soggy suits, milk boots, Batman jam…”



“Well, ain’t this a fun way to go out?” Nolan asked sarcastically. “Caught in a cheesy Batman deathtrap with King Can’t-Even-Defeat-A-Simple-Vampire-And-Now-About-To-Die-In-Milk.”



“DON’T pin this whole thing on me!” Darkrai yelled furiously. “I’m not the most powerful being in the cosmos. Instead of arguing, why don’t we try to find a way out of this mess?”



“Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh…” they heard a high-pitch voice crying from down the halls, “-AAAAAHHHHHHH!” Jar Jar Blinks dashed in face-flat against the glass container.



“Jar Jar!” Darkrai exclaimed.



The Gungan pushed himself off the glass and said, “Da’ky! Me-sa no Nightmare, so I-sha no hafta listen to Dwacy-wacky! He-sa taken over deh whole bombad town! WAIIIII!” he frantically shook around.



“JAR JAR! Just save our arses, you stupid arse!”



“Oook-sie-DOKSY!” The crazy Gungan shook around as he scampered up the stairs to the controls.



The skeleton guard turned and noticed him and said, “Hey, you’re not allowed up here!”



“Supah Gungy Rappy KICK! AI-YE-YE-YE-YE-YE-YE-YE!” Jar Jar leapt in midair and laid a series of quick kicks upon the skeleton. When he finished, the skeleton continued to stand in place, seconds before he cracked into a million pieces and fell apart. With him gone, the Gungan approached his control station, looking confusedly around all the strange contraptions. “Uhh… lessee: ummmm…”



Darkrai and Nolan’s eyes widened as the milk was reaching their heads. “Hurry UP, you stupid donkey-fish thing!” Darkrai demanded.



“Mmmph! Bop!” He pushed a button, dunking the two into the milk, and pulling them back out. “Aaaahhm…” He pushed another button, making a metal device come down beside the two, and a punching glove began popping out and beating them repeatedly. Jar Jar then started pushing all of the buttons he could aimlessly, and Nolan and Darkrai were swinging back and forth, bashing against the glass, had their “hair” cut up by scissors, had their “teeth” brushed, water shoved down their mouths and forced to gargle and spit, and were powdered with makeup.



“Will you STOP messing around, JAR JAR!” Darkrai boomed.



“HMPH! I-sa gots BETTER plan. HMMMMMMM…” Jar Jar zipped down the stairs and zoomed far away down the hallway, his body shrinking in the distance. Suddenly, the Gungan was dashing straight back, going faster and faster. “WAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIII!” The two men/spirit shut their eyes tight, and with his full force, Jar Jar’s head collided powerfully with the container, his open mouth pressed against the glass. The collision was able to crack the glass a bit, leaving a hole where his mouth is now. The level of the milk was getting lower, as the white, liquid substance was flowing straight into Jar Jar’s mouth.



The Gungan’s body grew larger and fatter, and once all of the milk was drained, Jar Jar was a massive, round ball, half as big as the container. The Gungan shook around a bit, some slight milk drooling from his mouth. In an instant, Jar Jar was flying around the room, his body shrinking as milk spewed out everywhere. Soon, he was flat as paper, and slowly drifted down into the container beside the two. “I-sa OKAY!” he exclaimed, jumping to his feet in his 3-D form.



“Great…” Darkrai said, both he and Nolan disbelieved, “Cut us down.”



“Okay.” Jar Jar pulled out a glowing green ectoplasmic knife and cut them free.



“Oooogg…” When they fell to the ground, Darkrai struggled to hold himself up.



“Ooh, Da’ky…” Jar Jar put his boss’s arm around his head and helped him up. “You-sa all baddy-beddy…”



“Yes… I am sick. Even the slightest touch of milk on a Nightmare’s skin can make them weary. Jar Jar… take me to the storage so I may drink some Fear Energy. Nolan… you’ll have to go without me. You must save our sons. And I fear… your wife may be in danger, too.”



“You got it.” Nolan nodded.



“Ah-ah!” The Gungan hauled the fallen Nightmare over his head. “Time-sa for a glass of warm fear and beddy-bye. WEEEEEEEEEEE…” Nolan watched as the Gungan bolted down the hall with his master.



The Batman-clothed man chuckled and shook his head. The man turned to a nearby vent and walked over to pull the duct open. “Well… doesn’t get any creepier than this.” He said as he stared into the darkness. (Play the “Magma Maze” Theme from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge.)





Stage 6: Dungeon of Horrors



Mission: Save Dillon and his friends, and find a way out of the dungeon!



Act 1



Nolan dropped straight into the vent and landed inside of a dangerous dungeon of dozens of traps and flowing magma. The Batman sidled along a small ledge over the river as fireballs shot up. Several round buzz-saws moved up and down along the ledge, so Nolan carefully moved through to avoid them. He reached a narrow pathway and progressed over the magma, reaching a platform shaped like a skull. Nolan rode the platform up to a higher point, where he had to quickly jump across other platforms before they fell into the magma. He then jumped onto a large skeleton hand sticking from the wall, which moved and allowed him onto a pathway.



“Good evening, citizens of Nightmare Land!” Jack O’Lantern’s voice announced over the intercom. “This is Jack O’Lantern reporting for the 11:00 news, reminding you all not to miss the wedding of our new, glorious dictator with his new bride, tonight at Gallagher Elementary!” Nolan looked up to a large screen by the ceiling, which showed the image of Danika chained to some wheel. Nolan gasped. “That’s right! Tonight, Count Dracula crowns his queen! And afterwards, watch the grand execution of Nolan York and his meddling lackeys! Our bold hero appears to be scuttling about the dungeons right now. Let’s only help he doesn’t meet his end before we have the chance to trap him, he-he-he.”



Nolan gritted his teeth in anger, glaring at the screen. The man hurried across the pathway, jumping over buzz-saws that swung back and forth over the path, and were littered with blood and skeletons. On the other side of the path, he had to climb a ladder of bones, dodging either left or right to avoid descending balls of ooze. At the top, he jumped onto a small platform and saw several branches sticking out from the wall before him. He pulled out his grappling hook and used it to swing across the branches. He was about to swing off onto the ledge ahead, but a giant, blood-covered knife stabbed down in front of him, startling the man and causing him to plummet below.



He landed on a ledge that was just inches from the magma. He quickly recovered and ran onto a higher point as the magma rose a little. A gang of Heat Skeletons were gathered by a small magma fall, and the monsters spotted Nolan and hissed at him. The skeletons launched flaming boomerangs, but Nolan evaded and shot his grappling hook to slice one’s head off. The head bounced its way toward him, but he simply kicked it at another one, causing both to fall in the magma. Two other skeletons ran to grab his arms, but he shook them off and stomped one’s head. The other one grabbed his leg and tried to burn him with the boomerang, but Nolan kicked it in the face. The last skeleton ran to strike him, but he punched it into the magma as well.



A tall chunk of the wall was broken, making it barely climbable. Nolan used it to climb back to the ledge where he fell from. Once up top, there laid another pathway, seemingly clear. But when Nolan stepped forward, a spiked fence shot up inches from his face, giving him a good view of the bloody skull attached to it. After taking a moment to catch his breath, having nearly been scared to death, he cautiously trekked through a maze of spike traps. Beside him, dangling over the chasm, were skeletons hanging from rotten nooses. Spikes seemed to pop up every which way, but Nolan still made it to the other side.



Nolan’s next route seemed to be a giant scorched plate, which was lifted up by a skeleton arm. It was lifted to another arm, which dealt several jabs into it with a giant knife. When another plate came, Nolan was hesitant to get on it. When it lifted him up, he quickly jumped onto a platform to avoid the knife, and when it finished slashing, Nolan got back on the plate and continued upward. He was taken to a straight hallway that seemed clear of any pitfalls or traps. However, as he passed forward- “AAAAAAAAIIIIII!” a demon puppet popped out of a cell on the wall, startling Nolan with a high-pitched scream. When the puppet went back in, Nolan continued, and- “KILL MEEEEEEEE!” The living, rotting corpse of a man popped out and surprised Nolan again. The man cautiously stepped forward, and flinched when another cell flung open. However, nothing came out.



Nolan then looked as a simple ghost was hurrying in from the other end of the hall. “Sorry I’m late, I- D’aw, dammit, did I miss it again?”



Nolan sighed in disbelief and continued onward. When he reached the end of the hallway, he overlooked another dastardly chamber of the dungeon, where flames jumped from the boiling magma river, and scorched skeletons hung from nooses. Nolan proceeded along the ledge on his left and carefully balanced his way across a rusted pipe with nails sticking out. He stopped for a second and glanced to his right, seeing the hanging skeletons. Weren’t they just… a little farther back? He shook this off and continued across the pipe. Steam was blowing out of other pipes, so Nolan had to wait for them to die out before he could move across. As he was nearing the end of the metal pipe, the tiny path suddenly collapsed to his weight, but he immediately grabbed hold of the bottom of the pipe as he dangled just inches away from the lava.



He watched as a giant skull drifted along the magma river and dropped onto it. The skull slowly sank beneath the flames, but Nolan jumped to a small platform in the lava. He then continued across a series of bone bridges. He stopped and looked to his left, seeing those same hanged skeletons floating in midair. Were they… following him? He shook this off once more and continued. There was no path over the flaming river ahead except for a few giant skulls that were dropping from the ceiling. Nolan hopped across these skulls, avoiding leaping fireballs before reaching another rocky wall for him to climb. He climbed to a higher ledge and found a series of branches go across the magma river. He shot his grappling hook and swung across each branch until he reached a platform.



Before he could go on, the hanged skeletons decided to fly and attack him. The Hanged Men slapped and kicked him across the face several times, but he grabbed one by the legs and threw it against two more. They stayed airborne and grabbed Nolan by the neck, attempting to choke him, but the Batman was able to shake away and pull out his grappling hook, tossing it to chop the heads off the skeletons, watching their bodies drop to the ground while the heads remained airborne.



He decided to leave them be and keep going as he shot his grappling hook to reach another high ledge. From there, a series of skeleton hands were holding platforms, but only for a little while before retracting back into the wall. Nolan had to quickly jump his way across the platforms, and also use his grappling hook to swing to some of them. Finally, he reached a ledge at the end of the hall, where a bunch of Heat Skeletons, Blue Skeletons, and Orc Skeletons stepped out of prison cells. The Heat Skeletons launched flaming boomerangs, which Nolan evaded before running to punch them, only to be tackled by the Blue Skeletons. He grabbed and tossed each of them at the Orc Skeletons, who in turn turned angry and started spinning and swinging their clubs wildly.



Nolan was bashed against the wall, but jumped away before a Heat Skeleton burned him. When the Orc Skeletons became dizzy from the spinning, Nolan grabbed one by the legs and swung it around to knock all of the others over the edge. When they were gone, some Halloween and King Ghosts came out. Nolan tried to punch the Halloween Ghosts, but they only phased through him and grabbed his neck from behind. A King Ghost smacked him with its large hand, but Nolan pulled out some flash-bombs and tossed them at the ground, making the ghosts dizzy. As a result, he was able to punch and kick them and knock them into the magma down below. The last King Ghost attempted to punch him, but he grabbed its fist and pushed him downward, afterwards stomping its ghostly face.



The ghosts were then followed by a swarm of Baby Spiders. Nolan hurriedly stomped them as they crawled over, but some were able to crawl up his body. He shook them off and jumped away quickly, tossing a bomb to blow them all away in an instant. Finally, two Troll Skeletons came out, along with a King Skeleton. Nolan rolled away before a troll could smash him with its club, rolling behind the skeleton and stabbing his grappling hook in its back. It spun around and knocked the man into the wall, but he dodged before the King Skeleton sliced him with its ax.



Nolan tossed his grappling hook to swipe one of the troll’s clubs. He then swung it around and bashed the troll’s head several times before it was defeated. Nolan dropped the club and jumped on the other troll’s club when it tried to smash him, then stabbed it several times in the face. He swiped the club and knocked the troll out, then started swinging against the King Skeleton. After a few strikes, the monster was able to swat the club out of Nolan’s hands, roaring in anger. However, Nolan took this time to toss a bomb into the monster’s mouth and blow its head up, the body falling dead.



Nolan then watched as the middle cell opened, and a skeleton in a top-hat stepped out. “Man, Darkrai really needs to clean up around here.” Nolan raised his grappling hook and prepared to slice it, but-



“NO, NO NO, no, my good man, I’m on YOUR side!”



“What? …Oh, wait, you’re that skeleton that was in the hologram.”



“Exactly. Mr. Pettibone is the name. But call me Skully. And my, aren’t you a hunksicle?” he said, observing Nolan’s muscular body. “Crystal sure is wise in her choice in boyfriends.”



“What?! I’m Crystal’s friend! Not to mention I’m already married.”



“Mm-hm, keep telling yourself that now. Anyway, Crystal and the others are here, they’re saving your son.”



“Good. They can catch up. Let’s hurry and find Dracula!” (End song.)



Oogie’s Dungeon



Dillon York and Jack Skellington were currently tied to a chain and dangling over a giant pot of stew in the horror-filled dungeon of Oogie Boogie. “Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust... eh, Jack?” the Boogie Man chuckled, rolling two dice. They totaled up to “4”, so Oogie pulled the lever four times, lowering the duo closer to the pot. “’til now, I’ve only dreamed of adding YOU to my snake-and-spider stew. And ya know the one thing that’d make it oh-so nice? A superhero wannabe boy to add a little spice.”



Oogie pulled the lever once more, moving them an inch closer. On the other side of the chamber, Sally was tied and hanging from the ceiling by some spider-web rope. “Jack! I’m sorry I let this happen…”



“Don’t be, Sally. It’s not your fault. We’ll find a way out of here.”



Oogie Boogie grinned and snickered. “You won’t be dupin’ me now, Dollface. ’Cause this sandy man’s gonna get fat on-” Oogie silenced himself, hearing a painfully loud scratching sound. The bag of bugs turned and took notice of some kind of ragdoll leg sticking from a crack in the wall. “Eh… huh?” He glanced back at Sally, who was still tied up, but still in one piece. He turned back to the other leg and asked, “What, have, we, here?” The Boogie Man stepped over to the leg and began examining it.



During his distraction, a pair of doll hands slid down the chain holding Dillon and Jack. A Minish-size Michelle was shown to be riding the hands, and the little girl crept into the lock on the chains. Meanwhile, Crystal Wickens hid behind the entrance to the torture chamber. The witch mumbled a spell and twirled her wand, launching a ray of magic at the pot of stew.



By this time, Oogie had pulled the severed doll leg from the wall, and became angered. “YOU TRIED TO MAKE A DUPE OUT OF MEE?” He turned towards Jack and Dillon again as the doll hands immediately scampered up the chain. “Well, ENJOY your DIP!” Without rolling the dice, Oogie decided to kick the lever, sending the two dropping all the way into the boiling pot. Oogie only snickered evilly, while Sally gave a horrified gasp.



“HAHAA!” Suddenly, Dillon and Jack popped out of the pot, free of their loosened chains as they were floating in heated water.



“WHAT?!?” Oogie screamed.



The two jumped out of the pot and readied for battle. “You’ve lost again, Oogie.” Jack stated.



“Hnn, think again.” Oogie jumped, grabbed Sally, and pulled her from the ceiling, then proceeded to carry the webbed ragdoll into a minecart, which instantly sped down the track.



“Jack!”



“Sally!”



When Oogie was gone, Crystal entered the room and yelled, “Reducto!” blowing open the cage that imprisoned Mason, Haruka, Lee, and Leanne. Fybi Fulbright, the little bat girl, then flapped in and allowed the tiny Michelle onto her back.



“Ms. Wickens!” Dillon exclaimed.



“Dillon, we have to go after Oogie!” Jack told him.



“Dillon, where’s your father?” Crystal asked.



“They took him and Darkrai somewhere else. You guys can go save them! Me and Jack’ll go after Oogie.”



“Good luck, Dillon.” Leanne told him before the five ran off.



“Let’s get after him, quick!” Jack yelled once more. He and Dillon hopped into a long, flat skeleton train, then sped after Oogie along the parallel track. (Play “Demon Resident Mine Cart” from Donkey Kong 64.)



Dungeon of Horrors, Act 2



The torch-lit hallways whipped by the two as they chased at high speeds after the bag of bugs, who stood in his minecart with Sally in his arm. “Ooh, still giving me the chase, eh, Jack? Well, let’s see if you can get through this.” They watched as Oogie’s cart took a turn down another hall, while they kept going straight. Dillon and Jack gasped as flames spewed out from the walls ahead, forcing the two to duck or jump. When the flames were passed, they looked back and saw a group of fiery spirits fly their way. The ghosts coughed flames, but the two jumped as Dillon tossed mini bombs and Jack whipped them with the Soul Robber. They chased the ghosts off, but the coaster was suddenly going up and down several slopes. They held on tight as it did so, and also went up several loop-di-loops. At the end of that segment, the momentum sent them flying in the air, but they landed safely on the coaster.



They took this time to catch their breaths (assuming Jack had some), but gaped in fright when the head of a giant skeleton ghost, and its arms, glared at them with fiery eyes. The flames blared larger as the beast cackled, raising its hand to crush them. The two flipped backward to avoid it, and Dillon attempted to chuck flash-bombs at it. It seemed unphased as it tried to smash them again, but they rolled forward. Jack readied his Soul Robber and prepared to whip the beast, but it flew away as the coaster sped into another tunnel. They made several twists and turns around the halls, and Dillon became dizzied, but the hall thankfully became straight. They came to an open area of the hall, where Dillon became nearly white at the sight of a gigantic psychotic demon with a bloody knife. “I’M GONNA STAB YOU TO DEATH!” Jack grabbed Dillon and jumped to the front of the coaster just before the demon sliced a huge chunk of the coaster off, leaving only a small portion near the head.



The track went around a few turns before it was speeding over another chasm of total oblivion. Scary scenery continued to whip by as they were passing by another track that was a few feet above. A ghost train sped along the track, which came down and started moving ahead of the coaster on its track. Oogie Boogie stood on the edge of the back of the train. “Nice view from over here…” His voice echoed. The Boogie Man grabbed spiked mines off his train and tossed two at a time, parallel to each other as they connected via electric beams. The beams rested along the track, so Dillon and Jack had to jump them. This pattern repeated itself several times before Oogie stopped, and Dill and Jack’s coaster sped closer. Oogie whimpered in fright before turning his train down another pathway, and the two heroes kept straight.



They swerved left to enter a tunnel and did another series of turns. They sped straight down a hallway where gravestones stood in their path. They stared in fright for a bit, but Jack noticed the levers along the side. He swung his Soul Robber to flip the levers, causing the gravestones to open. Dillon also noticed levers on his side, so he extended his shadow, Mario to flip them. They sped outside again, where the colossal skeleton phantom appeared in their way again, cackling maniacally. The beast unleashed five Fire Phantoms from its mouth, which flew behind the coaster and charged to burn the two. Jack transformed into his Pumpkin King outfit, and as the demons came at them, he used his powers to absorb the flames into his form. When they were vanquished, he reverted to normal as they faced the demon. The monster growled in anger before going away, and the two sped into another hall.



Another series of twists and turns lay in their way, and the duo was back in the black expanse as other bone coaster pieces entered from other pathways, connecting to form the long coaster once again to allow them more room. The two looked above to see another track, which the Oogie Train was using to zoom above them. “That’s right, away you go!” Within his train, Oogie began stomping on switches, which extended electric beams down below onto the bone coaster. Jack Skellington swiftly dodged around the beams while Dillon became a shadow to let them slide over. They eventually got far enough for the beams to be ineffective, to which Oogie only ‘huffed’ in frustration. His train sped down another route, while the heroes went an alternate path. They remained in the dark expanse and gasped in horror as a tremendous spider-web stood in their way.



Jack grabbed Dillon’s wrist and yelled, “Soul Robber!” as he quickly tossed his flubber at branch dangling from a rock pillar. He used the Soul Robber to swing them across other branches before landing them on a platform. They watched the bone coaster go under the spider-web, then begin speeding around a series of loops, where the track would then come to pass by another platform. The two jumped across the towering pillars as bats swooped down. Jack used his flubber to swat the bats away as the two made it to that platform. They got ready to jump, and as the speeding coaster passed by, they jumped and got successfully back on track.



They turned into another hall and made more turns before going straight. A series of gravestones and fires emerged from the sides, but the two ducked and jumped each one before they were over the chasm again. The road ahead appeared pretty linear, however, their attention was directed to the massive wall on the side. Dillon screeched at the sight of a penguin having its head exploded. The next image was of a vampire squirrel eating the eye out of a zombie janitor. There was then a vision of a rat with a large brain, and a more dimwitted rat. “G’day, mate! Whut you wanna do today?” the dumb rat asked. There was then a vision of a blue blob dressed like a robot. “You will bring me presents, beep-bop-boop!” Finally, it revealed an image of the Legend of Korra logo.



At that moment, the skeleton phantom returned. The beast raised both of its fists and tried to crush them, but it missed. It tried to clap the two in its hands, but missed, tried again, but missed again. Finally, it decided to reach out and clutch the two tight in its palms. Jack and Dillon tried to shake away, but it was too strong. The demon held its mouth wide open, exposing its flaming insides and sharp teeth dripping with green ooze as it slowly prepared to snack on Dillon. However, Jack broke free and stood on its hand, calling, “Merry Christmas!” as he dressed in his Sandy Claws form. The Pumpkin King launched a colorful present into the mouth, and the beast’s eyes widened as its mouth snapped shut.



It munched on the gift as candy canes and snowflakes burst from his form, eventually coughing it all out as Dillon and Jack were dropped on the coaster. A Santa hat appeared on the monster’s head, and a candy cane in its left hand, as it sighed in relief before soaring away. The bone coaster sped into a hall and made a few more twists and turns before coming outside. The Oogie Train sped overhead as the bag of bugs stood atop the ledge.



“Let’s craze things up!” he yelled before tossing big, exploding dice onto the track. The two did their best to successfully avoid the dice. Oogie’s train was then on the same track as theirs, but still ahead, as the Boogie Man sent ghosts over to their train. Dillon jumped a ghost’s swipes, still trying to stay on the coaster, as he sent Mario up to lay some punches on the ghost. Jack simply whipped a ghost with his Soul Robber, causing it to blow away due to the momentum. Two more ghosts prepared to grab Dillon, but the Robin-dressed boy tossed some flash-bombs and blinded their vision, allowing him to jump and kick them in the face, blowing them back. Oogie Boogie only moaned in dismay as the bone coaster got closer enough to his train, and the two leapt onto his cart. (End song.)



“Give up, now, Oogie, and return Sally!” Jack demanded.



“Oh, Jack? But you supposed to be dead by now. I guess I’ll have ta make you… DOUBLE DEAD!” The bag of bugs stomped on a spider-shaped switch, causing a series of walls with spinning knives to emerged along the side of the train carts. Oogie hurried to the front, leaving the two to try and catch him.





Boss fight: Oogie Boogie



Dillon and Jack jumped the train carts in pursuit of Oogie, evading the spinning knives. Walls popped up everywhere in their way, but Dillon could easily slide past with shadowbending. Oogie kept jumping train carts, but the bag of bags looked back to see Dill and Jack catching up. “Oooh-hoo-hoo-hoo.” Oogie laughed cockily as he stomped a switch, and as Dillon and Jack were about to jump to his cart, they skidded to a halt when they suddenly split from the rest of the train. “BOOM VOYAGE!” At this, the duo turned and saw that the carts behind them were exploding. They looked to a lower track and found a bone coaster about to speed by, so they immediately jumped down to it before their train cart exploded.



The bone coaster went up a loop and across a twisted track, turning them right-side-up as the coaster chased Oogie’s train from a higher track. Oogie looked back and saw the smoke emitting from where the carts exploded, smirking in victory. “Oooh-ooh!” He flinched when he saw Dillon and Jack catching up to him from the coaster above. The two jumped down to him, but Oogie stomped a switch before jumping off to another coaster. “FIRE!” A bunch of turrets popped up on the cart and unleashed bullets upon the two, but they jumped across the turrets and caused them to shoot each other.



Oogie Boogie glared at the duo from his coaster, then faced ahead and jumped in fright. The coaster was driving into a flaming wall, so the bag of bugs ran as fast as he could the opposite way. Above, he saw a minecart passing by with a hook dangling down, so he jumped and grabbed hold of the hook, safely avoiding the flames. Jack watched as Oogie passed over them, but saw another minecart with a hook overhead, so he tossed his Soul Robber and gripped the hook. Oogie and Jack glared at each other as Jack’s cart chased Oogie’s, and the bag of bugs was quickly losing his grip. When they saw another coaster passing down below, they both released and landed on it. Jack tried to run after Oogie, but he jumped to another coaster. Jack jumped to a parallel coaster, then jumped to Oogie’s when they passed by, and Jack continued to chase him across various coasters.



At this time, Dillon hurried to the front of the Oogie Train and used his grappling hook to cut Sally free from her webs. With Jack and Oogie, the two were high above the Oogie Train and riding on parallel coasters. However, Oogie’s coaster went up a higher route, successfully evading Jack. “You’ve been Oogie to a side no one else has, Jack. Now I’ll see that your girlfriend will Boogie no more. Euh!” Jack watched as the Boogie Man leapt off his coaster, dropping the very long drop to his train. However, the Pumpkin King took notice of a long string dangling from his stubby arm, so when Oogie dropped, Jack immediately ran to grab the string.



Oogie Boogie smirked as he fell closer to Dillon and Sally, who were staring at something with interest. Oogie raised a brow, wondering what they were staring at. But to his surprise, his seams were quickly unraveling, for Jack was holding tight to his string as he fell. By the time Oogie landed on his train before Sally and Dillon, his bag was gone, revealing his million bugs.



“D’AW, look what you’ve done! Ooh, not again. My bugs… MY bugs…”



“My bugs…my bugs…my bugs…my bugs…my bugs!”



As the tiny creatures cried, they were blowing off of the speeding train. Soon, all that remained was a simple little cricket. The cricket tried to scurry away, but Dillon stomped the bug with great force. The shadowbender kept stomping and jumping on the bug until it was flat, gooey splat. “Phew!”



With the battle finished, Jack dropped down to join the others. “Jack!” Sally beamed, running to her prince.



“Sally! He didn’t hurt you too much, did he?”



“No. I’m just fine.”



Eventually, the train came to a complete stop by a small stairway. They went up and entered a door into a prison chamber. “Ooh! Prince Jack!” The three stopped and found Customer Service trapped in a cell. “Thank goodness you’re safe!”



“Customer Service?” Sally questioned.



“Did Dracula throw you in here? Why did he?” Dillon asked.



“Hm… it’s because I wouldn’t follow him. Lots of other Nightmares were brainwashed into following Drac… but me: I’m loyal to only Darkrai.”



“So are we!” In the next-door cell, Mack, Bowyer, and Yaridovich were trapped. “Follow Count Drac, we didn’t, nah-ya! Trapped us in here he did!” Bowyer said.



“Heh… guess Dracula ain’t so great, after all.” Dillon smirked.



“Sally, can you get them out of here?” Jack asked. “We need to stop Dracula.”



“Of course.” Sally nodded.



“All right! Let’s go!” Dillon cheered.



Fear Storage



Jar Jar had carried Darkrai up to the storage chamber and set the king onto a chair. The Gungan grabbed a glass of the red liquid and cupped a suction cap over it. “Dere, dere, Da’ky.” The Gungan said, patting Darkrai’s back as he shoved the bottle into his nonexistent mouth. “You-sa gwow up big and strong if you dwink the baby botty-wotty—EH!” Darkrai angrily punched the Gungan across the room. He took the bottle and ripped the suction cap off, proceeding to pour the drink down his head, afterwards sighing in relief.



At the same time, Dillon and Jack were passing through the same hall. “With Oogie out of the way, I hope we still have enough time to stop Dracula.” Jack said.



“I hope my dad is okay. This is the one Halloween he decided to spend time with me, and Dracula had to ruin it!” Dillon whined.



They flinched when a snarling sound caught their attention, turning to see a Troll Skeleton standing in their way, holding its club ready. “Reducto!” a high-pitched voice called, and the monster exploded in an instant. When the smoke cleared, Jack and Dillon found Scary Godmother, who blew out her wand, with Nolan, Crystal, and the broommates and operatives standing behind it.



“Dad!” Dillon exclaimed, running to his father.



“Mr. Pettibone found him in the cellar,” Godmother explained, “but no sign of Darkrai.”



“Wa-saaay!” Jar Jar suddenly jumped out of the door to the storage room, holding the Nightmare King above him. “Me-so right here! Uuf!” Darkrai punched his head, escaping Jar Jar’s grasp.



“So, I see everyone’s OK?” he asked.



“Yes, Father.” Jack nodded. “We’ve all escaped. And Sally’s downstairs helping the rest of your loyal Nightmares.”



“Now let’s go and kick some Dracula butt!” Orson exclaimed.



“Yes!” Count Max supported. “Kicking his heinie vould be a… groovy idea?”



Haruka and Mason snickered while Orson blushed. “‘Groovy’?” Haruka questioned.



“Ugh, they’re so embarrassing, I could just live!”



“Jack O’Lantern’s earlier broadcast came from the control center. We must get up there.” Darkrai stated.



“Then let’s go!” Nolan announced.



Jar Jar Blinks zipped through the doors to the control center and went headfirst into the wall. When the others followed in after him, they looked around to see it deserted. “There’s nobody in here.” Lee stated.



“Oookay.” Jar Jar stood up, wobbling with a bucket over his head. “If anybody mines tellin’ me why we in dis bucket, I be happy to listen… WAAH!” he tripped and fell over.



Darkrai then flew over beside the monitors. “They’ve taken the transporter down to Gallagher Elementary. It seems Dracula plans to marry Danika there.”



“Hmph. I had a feeling she wouldn’t stay interested in you, Nolan.” Crystal remarked. This earned her a punch in the arm from Nolan.



“If Dracula thinks she’ll fall for him, he’s gonna hafta keep dreaming. Let’s get down there and stop him. This curse is going on long enough.”



“I’m setting the transporter to take you to Cleveland.” Darkrai said as he typed a code in, causing the transporter to alight. “From there, it’s up to you. Beware Dracula’s powers. His diamond skin and enhanced senses are a true force.”



“Yeah, yeah, bad guys are tough.” Dillon said. “Let’s take him down!” Everyone jumped into the transporter and warped, with Jack being the last to follow.



Chariton Household



Meanwhile, things weren’t looking up for Sunni Chariton. She, in her Lucario form, and the real Lucario were still at it. The real aura fox grabbed the back of the fake’s head and proceeded to smash her face against the sidewalk. “Err…Darcy…help…” she grunted.



A few feet away, Darcy Chariton, in her Mew form, just stared curiously at the real Mew, who stared back. Both Pokémon just cheered, “Mew-Mew-Mew!” and flew around in the air, mimicking the other’s movements.



Frantic Household



Elijah Frantic was backed against the corner of the kitchen, totally freaked out and speechless as his wife, turned into Rayman, rapidly beat away all of the invading monsters. However, one sneaky Nightmare smacked her from behind, and she suddenly puffed up into a balloon. “Marine!” Elijah yeleld as his wife floated out the window. Elijah followed her outside, desperately jumping up to grab her as she floated higher, and puffed larger.



Junkyard



Rupert Dickson was caught in a corner of a pile of trash. The tiny kitten quivered as the monstrous dogs, Lilac and Berry, snarled viciously.



EiznekCm Household



Lehcar, the furious woman, was still desperate to kill the beetle that had intruded her home. Her eyes filled with lust and hatred, she ran around and swung her sword every which way, hoping to end the beetle’s life, unknown that it was her own son. The beetle took land on Yllaw’s nose, the goatee man rolling his eyes together to see it. “AAH!” He ducked before Lehcar stabbed her sword at him, and the Nerehc beetle flew for the lower part of a shelf. Lehcar immediately swung, but he dodged, causing the woman to cut part of the shelf. This, in turn, caused the shelf to topple over and crush her.



Nerehc hurriedly flew back to the kitchen and landed on Arorua’s shoulder. “Arorua, help!” Not hearing him, the sister smacked the beetle away, so he flew near Sirhc’s head. “Sirhc, it’s me!”



“AAH, BEETLE!” Sirhc yelped, hastily smacking the insect away.



Nerehc decided to land on the kitchen counter to catch his breath. When he felt a shadow loom over him, he gasped when he saw his mother wielding a kitchen knife, zipping away before she could bring it down on him. “DIE, YOU STUPID BUG! YOU DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE!” she yelled, chasing her beetle son around the house and swinging her knife aimlessly.



Cleveland Park



Cheren Uno, as Link, was struggling to stand his ground against Nebula in Emperor Palpatine’s form. He gasped for breath as his sword clashed with her lightsaber, and was finally pushed to the ground. He looked in horror as Nebula was prepared to stab him, but Lin Beifong used her Goron form to roll over the crazy Sith Fake. Lin hopped off of Nebula when she was down, and Panini proceeded to keep her down by bouncing on Nebula in her pink bunny form. Nebula smacked the rabbit away and hovered to her feet, and quickly defended as Cheren came and swung his blade. Soon, the two were at the sword fight again, with the two girls watching from behind.



Teddy Moses Island



“COME ON, LET’S GO!” At Sheila/Conker’s cry, the tank blew open the massive steel doors. The squirrel/raccoon drove the tank inside and proceeded to climb out, alongside her military partner, Rodent.



“Hey, Conker! I think we’re gettin’ close to da enemy’s base!”



The two ran into the center of a massive arena, where a football-headed infant sat in some kind of hole in the center, his head turned away. The baby twisted its head to face them, glaring at the two with a devious expression. “Well, well, Conker and Rodent. I applaud your work at infiltrating my facility, but I’m afraid your valiant efforts were futile.”



“Stewart Griffin.” Conker stated with a fierce look, aiming his gun. “20 years, and you’re still that whiny baby who always tried to kill his mother.”



“Indeed. And tonight, victory shall be mine. You see, I’ve taken my own advantage of this Halloween curse, too. And now, to unleash true Hell. Oh, Rupert?” A circular hatch open beneath the baby, and the two gaped in shock when a giant, robotic teddy bear monster emerged from the floor, with Stewie Griffin attached to his right arm like a puppet.



Conker and Rodent stood their ground and readied to battle the abomination. In just a second, bullets were flying everywhere.



Gallagher Elementary Auditorium



The auditorium was quiet at Gallagher Elementary. The audience of vampires and other monsters sat and watched patiently within the pitch-black darkness. Jack O’Lantern walked upon stage as a spotlight lit up his appearance. “Thank you all for coming. Today, we witness what will be history’s most memorable union. The marriage… of Count Dracula… and Countess Danika.”



The audience applauded as Jack stepped aside. The spotlights shone on the center as the floor opened up. Smoke was released as a roulette wheel rised from below, and Danika Anderson was cuffed to it. Her head was hung down as Count Dracula walked upon the stage. The Vampire Lord approached his would-be wife and touched a finger to her chin, making her look up. “My beloved…” he grinned evilly.



“Hmph.” She turned away with her grumpy look.



“Vhat is wrong, my sweet?”



“Like I’d ever marry you. Some soulless demon like yourself. I only have one husband, and Nolan will send you back to your grave when he gets down here.”



“Your faith is questionable. Nolan vas doomed before I had even anticipated this. Now chin up, dearie. You and I vill be very happy together. Allow me to sing… what has dwelled in my soul for oh-so very long.” Jack O’Lantern played a piano as he spoke, and continued playing as Dracula began to sing upon the stage.



“Vhen I vas born in this vorld… knew I only pain and tears! My heart lay in sorrow… for hundreds of years. A beast I had become. Feeding off blood. Of innocent souls who vere as tortured as MINE. I lived in darkness! The cold of the night I knew only the sound of fear and fright. But lo and behold, a miracle! Warmth had entered my heaarrt! An angel! Black as night itself! A will stronger than Azelf! And I had decided… she must be mine now. I had to marry her. But alas, fate betrays me! For one already holds her! And so I knew… Not so soon that I vould be dating herrr…”



Dracula fell to his knees with a look of hopelessness. The audience, as well as Jack O’Lantern, began to drip tears.



“Ugh! Are they actually buying this garbage?” Danika said, disgusted.



“Just shut up and look pretty.” Dracula ordered. Danika rolled her eyes.



Outside



The transporter dropped the heroes off just across the street from the school. Several monsters and vampires tried to attack them, but Scary Godmother launched spells to keep them away. “Crystal, Jack, we’re going in to put a stop to this wedding.” Nolan decided. The two nodded. “Dillon, you and your friends just stay with Scary Godmother and try and find someplace safe until this is over.”



“Why can’t I go in?” Dillon asked. “She’s MY mom…”



“There’s no guarantee we’ll survive this battle.”



“Even though we usually do.” Crystal mumbled.



Nolan rolled his eyes, “But if we don’t, I’m trusting you to keep everyone else safe. Just find someplace to hide, and… leave it all to me.”



Dillon thought for a second, then nodded. “Okay, Dad. I know you’ll come back to us!”



Both groups split up as Nolan, Jack, and Crystal headed for the school. Before they could get enter the front doors, a vampirized Teen Tornado jumped in their way. The vampire snarled and hissed, and the team of three readied for battle. But suddenly, a sword flew over and penetrated the vampire’s side. They looked to their left as Mario Ramsey rolled toward them in his wheelchair. “Ya gotta love it when convenient crap like this happens.”



The crippled man removed the sword from the vampire’s body. The group watched as the white and black colors on Tornado’s form slowly reverted back into their regular colors, his clothing still torn as he lay unconscious. “I thought you’d be needing help.” Mario said. “So I whipped up my own anti-vampire toxin, and hid the syringe inside of this sword. It’s made of all the stuff vampires hate, a few wooden splinters, and even holy water. Mixed with some special healing medicine, it’s able to cure the effects of vampires. And when used on someone like Dracula, it won’t come too pleasant.”



Nolan smirked as he took the sword in his hand, studying the blade. “It doesn’t have much left, so better use it on Dracula. Killing Dracula will cause all of the other vampires created by his curse to change back. Of course, while it may be able to damage him, there’s no guarantee of destroying him without a handy bit of sunlight.”



“I’ve got a plan for that.” Crystal said. “But let’s get in there before Danika ends up having two husbands.”



In the auditorium



“So long I have vaited, For a chance to be mated. Someone to SIT by! Upon my carriaaaaage!” Dracula sang upon the stage, earning eye-rolls from Danika. “As I take now your hand, Like sweet contraband!” He knelt down on one knee before Danika with a pleading look. “I ask for your hand… in marriaaaage.”



Danika cocked a brow. “What?”



Dracula stood up and got his face closer to hers. “You vill give me your hand…” He faced the audience and exclaimed, “IN MARRIAAAAAGE!”



The audience burst into cheers.



“Can I divorce you afterwards and get half of your fortune?” Danika asked. A joke-drumroll soundtrack was heard, and part of the audience laughed.



Dracula glared and grit his teeth in anger. “You vill not vant to. You will feel so much more satisfied, married to me…”



“I consider taking safety precautions having relations with a diamond-skin man.” Danika joked. Another drumroll was heard, and the audience laughed some more. Dracula became more angered, but continued to sing.



“I vill feast on your neck and confine you to Hell! Vonce YOU ARE a vampire, you’ll feel so swell! Marriage vill bond us ’til death do we part. ’Course, eternity for both, see, if ve have no heart! SO MARRY ME, DANI!” He zipped beside her and pressed her head to his as he waved his hand out. “YOUUU VILL SEEEE!”



The music stopped for a minute as Jack O’Lantern led Black John Licorice on stage, the pirate holding what looked like a Bible in his hands. “I told ye. I’m only a licensed priest on my ship.”



“Just marry them!” Jack yelled, sitting back at the organ.



“Fine.” Jack strummed the organ’s keys as Black John opened his Bible and sang, “By the power vested in me, By the state of Virginia!”



Danika shut her eyes as Dracula proceeded to bite into her neck. But just then, the orchestra sounded again when Nolan, Jack Skellington, and Crystal dropped on stage. Jack S. kicked Black John away while Nolan grabbed Dracula and pushed him away from Danika.



“AVAST! Ye SAVAGE beast!” Nolan sang, drawing his sword.



Dracula drew his Nightmare Sword and sang, “NAY! Vhy art thou here?! Thine should be DEEAAD!”



Everybody gasped in utter shock.



“Actually, it’s either ‘thee’ or ‘thou.’” Crystal corrected.



“Nay! I have returned now! To take Dani back, now! For you see:” Nolan faced the audience, the music stopping at the sudden strum of violins. “She is my WIIIIIIFE!”



The audience gasped, and several vampire ladies fainted from the surprise.



Jack Skellington skidded to the middle of the stage and rapidly flipped pages of a dictionary. “A revelation of a fact that was not ex-PECT-ed! THAT… IS… A PLOT TWIIIIIST!”



The audience erupted with applause.



“Ugh! I have captured her husband and left him for dead. ’Tis true. ’TIS TRUUE. I vanted to surprise her and bring her his head. On my blade, it vould rest, and symbolize our love. DON’T YOU SEE? I LOVE HER, like a… VAMPIRE DOOOVE.”



Dracula’s emotions made members of the audience weep.



“Ugh. This has got to be the worst excuse for an opera ever.” Danika said.



Nolan sang, “You have wasted your journey in winning her heart, HOW DROLL. HOW DROOOLL. She loves me so, and she loves you not. Your heart could never be something that came close to hot. A man with a nose that produces no snot. NOW DEMON! May I destroy you ON THE SPOOOT!”



Crystal waved her staff and called, “Lumos Solem!” Everybody shut their eyes when a powerful explosion of sunlight emerged from the staff, causing Dracula to back away. The vampire squinted his eyes and glared at the heroes. The sunlight seemed to have no effect as he fully uncovered his vision.



“NAY! For thou hath failed… Artificial light does not hurt MEEEEEE!”



Crystal cancelled the spell as the audience cheered. Nolan stepped forward with his sword drawn.



“Surrender, right NOW. Or face the tip o’ my blade!”



“Go ahead! Lest before you fall in my SHAAADE!”



They both raised swords and began to clash. Tension rose in the audience as Jack Skellington launched his Soul Robber to wrap around Dracula’s wrist, but the vampire grabbed the green flubber and swung Jack into Nolan. Nolan jumped up and launched his grappling hook upward, hauling himself up to the stagelight area. Dracula spun around and shot up to his same platform as both faced each other with swords raised on the narrow walkway.



“You shaaan’t succeeeed, mi amigooo.” Nolan sang.



“I viiiill proceeed, mi amigooo. I vill have her as my bride, I vill not stand aside.”



“Vampire or no, She will never love you, so, GIVE HER BAAACK!”



“Uck. Someone kill me…” Danika mumbled, annoyed at all of this singing.



“NAY! Vhy should I? Vhen I can’t have one of my OOOOOWN.”



Once more, the audience gasped. Dracula dropped down onto the stage. The spotlight shone on him as he walked forward and sang.



“I vonce vas betrothed to a beautiful maid. She vas the apple of my eye, and I thought I’d get laid.”



Crystal and Jack S. exchanged weirded glances.



“But alas, I have passed, stolen from my beauty. But great miracle! King Nightmare hath taken his duty! He gave me a brand new liiife! My skin cold. But my emotions remain freeesh! I had to go greet her! I had to come meet her, And reveal my newly revived soul! But alas! She vas betrothed… to another.”



Everyone gasped. Dracula glared at Nolan and sang, “And so, if I could not have mine… VHY SHOULD YOOOU?”



“I can’t believe Count Dracula, so unforgiving.” Crystal sang.



“I can’t BELIEVE everybody’s just ad-LIIIBBIIING.” Jack S. followed.



Nolan dropped down on stage and aimed his sword as he sang, “Thou shouldst not blame me, For troubles of the past. You could have found another, You still could have last.”



“BUT I HAVE, don’t you see? I’m in LOVE with Dani! By taking one who was your own, I’ll kill two BATS vith vone stone! Vhen she vears ring on her finger, and you no longer linger! Just listen, as the audience cheers! They vant ME, their ruler, to end their fears! And I vill, vonce you are dead, Watching as you die in your dread, Danika vill vatch me mount your head ON-”



Dracula raised his sword and was about to strike Nolan, but stopped when he noticed Danika was no longer cuffed on the wheel. “VHAT?! Jack O’Lantern!” He angrily faced his accomplice.



Jack O’Lantern glanced both ways and sang, “I didn’t see… A THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!”



They all looked toward the audience as the many monsters and vampires were starting to pile out. “Well, that was a rip.” a Nightmare said.



“Worst play ever.” a vampire man said.



“Come on, let’s go watch a movie about blood!” a vampire kid exclaimed.



Soon, all of the seats were cleared of viewers. “No! Vait! Arrrgh!” Dracula angrily faced Nolan. “Thanks to you, Batman, Count Dracula now looks like a fool. No matter… I vill destroy you yet. If you have the will, come up… and face me.” On that note, Dracula glided to a dark corner and vanished.



“Heehee! Buh-bye!” Jack O’Lantern grinned and used his scythe to vanish in a cloud of smoke.



Danika Anderson then emerged from a shadow behind the roulette wheel. “Dumbass clearly forgot I was a shadowbender. And why the heck was I strapped to a roulette wheel?”



“Doesn’t matter.” Nolan said. “You guys look for Jack. I’ll go after Dracula. I have a feeling where he might be.” Nolan ran through the exit and shot his grappling hook to the roof, flying upward.



Clocktower Balcony



The Batman dress-up climbed onto the school’s roof balcony, the area barely lit up by the large full moon and the light emitting from the clock upon the tower. Nolan York stood in place and kept his guard up, searching for the vampire. “I am impressed… Nolan.” Nolan jumped around and faced the side of the clock tower. A pair of orange-green eyes stared at him from the darkness as Dracula stepped forward. “In my entire existence, I have encountered only two mortals who could last many moments within my presence… and not become Children of the Night. I vould almost assume you are the very reincarnation of Batman.”



“Hehe… that’s kinda funny, since I’m sort of reincarnating some other hero at the moment.”



“Yes… I know of your miserable existence as Sandman. Vhat a shame your life must be… having to tire yourself out daily. Forced to ignore your precious offspring…”



“Well, it’s worth it… to protect him from bloodsucking scum like you.”



“Oh, but you vould do so much better.” Dracula smirked. “Join me, Nolan. Allow me to taste your blood. Vith powers like mine, you could be invincible. You vould never grow tired… you could have all of the free energy you desire. Enough for bringing justice to all who oppose you… and being vith your son. Or… vould you rather avoid him… for your entire life?”



“I gotta say, Genious was better at persuasion than you. I don’t need to sign my soul away to some monster just to spend time with him. Even though I’d rather spend more time with him… I’m still okay with working to keep his world safe. And I will make time. But only after I’ve finished you.” He raised his sword.



“Hmm… such bravado for a simple… human. You possess the heart… but you lack the common sense. To challenge a being like me. Then be prepared to face your end under the darkness. Take a long look at the moon, Nolan, for it vill be your final glimpse of light… as all of the blood is spilled from your throat.” (Play the Count Spankulot Boss Theme from Kids Next Door: Operation: VIDEOGAME.)



Boss fight: Count Dracula



Nolan lunged forward and swung his blade, but the vampire dodged aside and kicked him away. Dracula drew out his Nightmare Sword and ran to strike Nolan, but the Batman jumped to his feet and started clashing against the sword. Nolan was able to make Dracula swerve to the side, and was able to lay two strikes against the vampire before Dracula flipped back into the darkness. Nolan entered the shade of the clocktower, swinging in attempt to strike Dracula. However, the vampire jumped out of the darkness from behind and kicked Nolan against the wall. Nolan stood up and turned to face him, but Dracula had vanished, and Nolan was kicked from behind again.



“There is no vay you can vin, you know.” Nolan searched the balcony for him, but found no sign of Dracula. “There is novhere you can run.” Nolan quickly swiped behind him when he felt Dracula walk past, but missed. “But I have many places to hide.” He felt Dracula’s figure slide by his side and attempted to strike, but missed once again. Nolan faced ahead as the vampire appeared before him under the clocktower. “Vhen I discovered you vere not the real Batman… I vas disappointed. Vhen I had returned to this vorld, I vanted so desperately to end his life, and drink his blood. …You are a dissatisfying replacement. It might not be a satisfying kill, even… your son vould not even miss you. But ve will see how he feels vonce you are gone… then, you vill wish you had become vampire.”



“I won’t have to find out!” A voice suddenly spoke. Nolan and Dracula looked up in surprise to see Dillon York standing atop the clocktower. “What’s wrong, Drac? Afraid what people will think of that costume? Don’t be shy! Let’s shed a little light on it!” The Robin dress-up shot his grappling hook at one of the balcony spotlights and made it tilt and aim against the wall where Dracula stood, the vampire shielding his eyes from the brightness. Dillon launched at all of the other searchlights and made them point onto the balcony, so Dracula had nowhere to run.



When Dracula uncovered his vision, he was too late to avoid as Nolan ran and kicked him against the railing. With his defenses weakened, Nolan proceeded to lay a few punches and kicks against the vampire before he recovered, slipped behind Nolan, grabbed him by the shoulders, and threw him aside, but Nolan flipped back up and drew his sword as he and Drac began to clash.



“All right, Dad!” Dillon cheered, unaware as the shadowed being rose behind him. Dillon’s shadow, Mario, tapped Dillon’s shoulder and made him turn around, and Dillon dodged just in time before Jack O’Lantern brought his scythe down.



“YOU’RE done interfering, kid!” Jack began swinging his scythe aimlessly in attempt to slice the shadowbender, but Dillon leapt and kicked the pumpkin man, knocking him over the edge. Dillon looked down and watched as his dad grabbed Dracula by the neck from behind and hauled him overhead, slamming him to the ground. Dillon became excited as Nolan leapt in the air and attempted to stab Dracula, but the vampire was able to flip back to his feet and avoid him.



That’s when Jack O’Lantern climbed back up and tried to strike Dillon, who yelped and ran away just in time.



After avoiding the Batman’s deathblow, Dracula glided away to the other balcony. Nolan followed and kept his sword raised as he searched the darkness for the bloodthirsty monster. He saw Dracula pop out, but the vampire quickly retreated into a shadow. Dracula popped out beside him, and Nolan jumped away as Dracula opened his cape and released a swarm of bats. The black bats surrounded Nolan, forcing him to aimlessly swing around to knock them away. Dracula grabbed Nolan from behind and hurled him behind, but Nolan was still standing as he went to clash with Dracula some more.



After knocking Jack out of the way, Dillon shot his grappler to make the spotlights aim onto the balcony, alighting Dracula’s form. The vampire defended quickly when Nolan started swinging his blade. Nolan crouched and did a spin-kick to knock Dracula down, then leapt into the air in attempt to pierce him again. Dracula swiftly avoided and glided around the balcony, trying to strike Nolan from all directions, but the Batman was quick to avoid as he tried to strike back. When Dracula launched at Nolan again, Nolan threw gas bombs at the ground and exploded smoke everywhere. Dracula flinched slightly, and Nolan dashed behind to lay blows against Dracula. Dracula grabbed his arm and attempted to haul him overhead, but as he did, Nolan was able to catch Dracula’s head between his legs and tried to twist it. The vampire’s head was too strong, however, and the Batman was shaken off.



Up above, Dillon kept jumping and dodging Jack O’Lantern’s swings. Dillon pulled out a flash-bomb and threw it before Jack, stunning the pumpkin for a brief moment. When the flash died down, Jack searched the area for Dillon. The boy used Shadow Veil to sneak behind Jack, then jumped, gripped his head, and cupped hands over his eyes. Jack wobbled around, swinging aimlessly, until both of them fell over the edge of the tower. Dracula and Nolan watched as the two fell and broke through a ceiling window, dropping into a classroom below.



Jack jumped to his feet and bolted into a hallway as Dillon gave chase. Jack halted when a flubbery whip lashed in his path, wielded by Jack Skellington. Jack S. wrapped his Soul Robber around Jack L.’s scythe and attempted to pull it away, but Jack L. allowed him to pull it, along with himself, abling Jack L. to kick Jack S. directly in the face and knock him back. The pumpkin man grabbed his scythe and hurried away.



As Jack L. turned down another hall, he stopped when Chris, Maddy, and Zach, in their animal forms, stood in his way, Zach giving a vicious snarl. Crystal Wickens dropped from the ceiling behind Jack, who jumped around to face her just in time. “HUMOS!” She yelled a spell that released some dark pink gas from her staff around Jack’s head.



Jack O’Lantern stood in place, wondering about the purpose of this gas. He gave an evil smirk. “HA! I’m not effected by laughing gas! Take a look: no nostrils!” He pointed two fingers at where his nostrils would be.



“Well, that was rip- WHOOAA- UUH!” Zach suddenly tripped on a discarded banana peel and slid headfirst into a closet. “Ohhh… OOF!” A metal bucket then fell from a shelf and covered Zach’s head.



Jack smirked lightly, feeling the chuckles coming on. “Huhuhuhuhu…”



“Oww…” Zachary moaned, wobbling out of the closet with the bucket still on his head. “Who puts a banana peel in the middle of-“ The tiger stepped in the janitor’s mop-bucket and slid across the hall, hitting the wall again.



“Hehehehehehehe…” Jack chuckled.



“Hey, what’s goin’ on? Yo, Maddy, where the heck is-“ Scary Godmother smirked and launched an ice spell at the floor, causing Zach to slip and flip upside down, the water from the mop-bucket getting all over him.



“HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”



“Heeey! Stop laughing at-“ Scary Godmother cast a spell above Zach, dropping a safe onto his body.



“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WAAAH hahahahaha! AHH hahahaha hahahaha!” Jack continued to laugh and laugh.



While he was laughing, he was too distracted to notice as Crystal approached him and took his scythe. “They say there’s nothing sweeter than a child’s laughter. BUT, I suppose a laughing pumpkin man suffices, too.”



“HAA ha ha ha ha ha ha!...”



Back on the roof



Nolan and Dracula were still throwing punches and kicks at the other. Nolan grabbed the vampire’s arm and pushed him forward, making him wobble, then ran to deal sword blows against him some more. At this time, Dillon climbed back to the ledge below the clocktower and continued to watch the fight. Dracula vanished into a shadow and retreated to the next balcony, and Nolan followed. The Batman kept his sword raised and readied to strike him again. Dracula suddenly appeared from the shadows and kicked the sword away from Nolan’s hand and over the railing. Nolan spun around and tried to punch him in the face, but when his fist made contact with Dracula’s hard skin, no light to weaken him, Nolan felt pain surge through him.



Dracula smirked and immediately grabbed Nolan’s arm, wrapped it behind him, then kicked the man to the ground. Nolan tried to stand, but Dracula pounced and kept the man down.



“Dad!” Dillon yelled. He went beside the clock tower’s gears and yelled down, “My dad’s in trouble! We’ve gotta do something!”



Below the gears of the clocktower, Crystal and Scary Godmother heard his echoes, the moonlight shining down and giving the dark room a dim light. “What can we do?” Crystal asked. “Vampires are weak against sunlight, but Lumos Solem was no good.”



“Well, actually… the only other light that could work is a holy light, like the Patronus Charm.” Scary Godmother said.



“Aw, great! I still don’t know how to do that!”



“You can do it, Crystal.” Scary Godmother encouraged. “Just think of your happiest memory. Focus your energy, and release it in one big burst of light.”



Crystal took a breath. “Okay.” The green-skinned witch stepped directly below the tower’s geared shaft. She closed her eyes and did her best to focus her energy as she aimed her staff upwards. “Expecto… Patronum… Expecto… Patronum…”



“Errgh!” Nolan grunted as Dracula gripped his head, making him face up.



Dracula whispered closely in Nolan’s ear, “Vhen I am finished eating… he is next.” His mouth loomed closer, wide open as his fangs were ready to bite. (End song.)



Crystal shot her eyes open and cried, “EXPECTO… PATRONUM!”



Crystal’s staff exploded with a powerful light that shot up through the clocktower. Just before Count Dracula could finish Nolan, he turned and stared wide-eyed at the explosion of light. “EEEUUUUAAAAHHH!” His eyes burned from the brightness, and his skin began to sizzle. He gripped his head and shook around in intense pain as Nolan took this time to recover. Dracula’s head already began swelling, and the vampire fell and wobbled around on his back. He felt a shadow come over him, squinting his eyes at a faint look of Batman’s image. “You… vhat ARE you?...”



“I am… the Night.” Nolan spoke softly. “I am… Justice. I am… the Sandman. …And you’re just dust.” Nolan raised his blade, leapt high into the air, and penetrated the sharp metal through Dracula’s chest.



“EWUUUUHHH! EEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAACCKK…” Dracula shook and shuddered even faster. Quickly, his skin and clothes dissolved, and only a skeleton remained. The remains of the evil vampire continued to shake until it was totally dissolved into dust. A calm wind came and made Nolan’s cape blow along, and the dust that was left of Dracula blew off into the distance as the full moon shone in the heavens.



“…I have always WANTED to say that!” Nolan exclaimed.



From above the clocktower, Dillon chuckled.



Nolan then proceeded to pick up the Nightmare Sword from where Dracula stood. He looked down again and also took notice of the Lunar Locket, and took that as well.



In front of the school



Jack O’Lantern was on the ground, gripping his stomach as he cackled wildly. Tears nearly dripped from his eyes as the band of operatives surrounded him with angry glares. “Huhuhu, what’re you gonna do?! I have eternal life! AHH ha ha haa!…”



The kids stepped aside as Darkrai appeared from the shadows. Nolan and Dillon approached the newly restored Nightmare King as Nolan presented him the Nightmare Sword. Jack O’Lantern continued to laugh uncontrollably as Darkrai calmly approached him with his sword. “HAA hu hu hu hu, AACK HA HA ha ha ha… WAAH HA ha ha ha ha…”



In just a split second, Jack’s head was clean off his body. While his laughing stopped, his face kept that excited grin as Zach Murphy and Mason pounced over in their tiger forms, proceeding to eat away at the smashed pumpkin.



“It’s so sad how such sweet pumpkins can become so evil.” Mr. Pettibone sobbed.



“Okay, Crystal! Are ya ready?” Scary Godmother grinned.



Crystal Wickens raised the magic scythe skyward and exclaimed, “Transfiguro! Expecto PATRONUM!”



A beam of light whooshed into the air and lit up the night sky. Everybody watching stared with amazement as a blue aura lit up the land, and tiny, blue sparkles began to drop everywhere.



Outside Chariton Household



Lucario kept bashing the fake’s face against the ground, but as the blue sparkles came down, he stopped when its body suddenly changed back into Sunni’s, her expression dizzied and her hair messy. “Thank GOD.”



“Waaah- uuh!” Darcy, having turned back into her old self, fell to the ground with a thud.



“Mew?” Mew raised a brow, questioning what just happened.



Heartly Household



Kami and Jeremiah were on the ground, their hair rapidly tugged by the apeified members of The Gang. But when the sparkles came down, the apes changed back into humans, who stared in confusion. “Uuuh… why am I tugging mah mama’s hair?” Kimaya asked.



“Well, so much for getting my hair cleaned.” Jeremiah said. However, Kaleo suddenly jumped on his head, digging through his hair for lice to eat.



Somewhere along coast of Los Angeles



“Aaaahhh!” Eric screamed, running from the Cylon hunter.



“Howwwwllll!” Lulu howled, running from the werewolf hunter.



“OW!” The two bumped into each other and fell on their behinds, staring at each other. In just a few seconds, the blue sparkles touched their bodies, and they changed back to normal.



“Hehe… I’m back!” Eric exclaimed.



“Me too!” Lulu exclaimed.



Just then, both hunters popped out from behind opposite bushes. “Haha! Gotcha, Cylon!”



“DIE, WEREWOLF!”



“AAH!” Both kids yelped, ducked, and caused both hunters to shoot each other. The kids glanced up, making sure the two were dead. They sighed in relief.



Dickson Household



Chad Dickson quivered under his blanket in the dark of his room, terrified of where his ghostie wife would pop out. Emily Dickson was phased through the ceiling, the white ghost giggling mischievously. However, her body flashed, and she was back to normal. “Waaah!” she fell with a thud atop her husband. She grinned nervously at him, and Chad smirked, pushing her to the floor. However, she turned into her own ghost form, and went- “BOO!” scaring him from behind.



“WAAAH!” He fell out of bed, and Emily giggled.



Louisiana Bayou



A gang of crocodiles danced giddily to the music coming from Hoagie’s tiny banjo as the tiny frog strummed the strings. “Hoagie, shouldn’t we be getting outta here?” Abby whispered.



“Relax, Abs. Long as Hoagie’s got the goods, these crocs will party ‘til it’s-“ He silenced himself when they suddenly changed back to normal. They glanced both ways in fear as the crocodiles snarled. “WAAAHH!” They zipped away at high speed, the crocs chasing after.



Downtown Cleveland



The Three Stooges were still at their struggles of poking eyes and other parts of each others’ bodies. However, the curse wore off, and the Gilligan Triplets stopped and exchanged stares. After a few seconds, the kids resumed their poking fiasco.



Sweet Revenge



Stickybeard and his Candy Pirates whimpered with fear in a corner of their ship as the zombies drew closer and closer. However, the blue sparkles caught the pirates’ attention, and before their eyes, the zombies turned back into regular children. “WE’RE SAVED, me hearties!” Stickybeard cheered, hugging his crewmen.



“Uhh, what’s happening?” one of the boys asked.



“YARR, GIVE US yer CANDY!” Stickybeard ordered as the pirates raised their swords. The kids screamed and ran as the pirates chased.



Outside Frantic Household



“MARINE! COME DOWN!”



Elijah kept desperately jumping for his Rayman-wife, but she was far too high in the air, her balloon form puffing higher and about to pop any second. However, the blue sparkles poured down, and Elijah shielded his eyes when his wife popped. He gaped in horror, but was relieved when he saw that she had actually turned back to her regular form, falling with a thud to the ground. “Blimey… if I wanted ta be full of hot air, Oi woulda dressed loike you.”



Junkyard



Rupert Dickson continued to stare and quiver in fear at the vicious dogs. The monsters hissed, and the little kitty shut his eyes to avoid seeing his death. “AAAAHH-!” In just a split second, the three flashed. Rupert opened his eyes to find himself back in human form, and Lilac and Berry were adorable half-kittens again as they tackled and licked him playfully. “Haha, g-girls, cut it out, get offa me!”



EiznekCm Household



Lehcar had smacked the tiny beetle against the wall, and it fell to the floor. Nerehc felt too weak to flap his wings or stand up now. The beetle-boy’s eyes widened with horror as his mother’s foot loomed over him. The psychotic woman slowly brought her foot down, hearing the bug crack and squish beneath it. However, just in time, the blue sparkles poured in, effecting Nerehc’s body. Before he was completely flattened, he poofed back to his regular self, and Lehcar was blown back.



Nerehc stood up and studied himself, amazed and relieved. “I…I’m back!”



Lehcar stood up and gaped in shock. “Nerehc?! That was you?!”



“Yes!! I’ve been trying to get your attention! What other bug would be dumb enough to come by you?”



Lehcar began to feel horribly guilty. “I…I almost crushed my own son. I’m really sorry, Nerry.” She got on her knees and hugged her son.



“It’s okay, Mom.” Nerehc smiled, hugging back. “You wouldn’t be doing your job if you let a worthless bug live.”



“Aww… you’re too sweet, Son. We’re gonna need to improve that…”



“Ugh. I knew I should’ve killed him.” Arorua stated.



Cleveland Park



Cheren was nearly out of breath, but held his sword ready to battle with Palpatine some more. However, the blue sparkles began to pour down. Lin and Panini looked with curiosity as they changed back into their human forms. Cheren was also taken aback by the sparkles, and his body of Link flashed back into his own. He watched as Palpatine’s body also flashed, the short emperor groaning as he wobbled. “Nebula!” Cheren hurried over to catch his friend before she fell.



When Cheren pulled off the hood, he found that Nebula’s true face had returned as her mismatched eyes looked up into his. “Cheren? What was I just doing?…”



Cheren chuckled. “Nothing. It was all just a little Nightmare, that’s all…”



Nebula only giggled, and Lin and Panini smiled.



Teddy Moses Island



The side-war was finished. Lots of ruin lay about the teddy-infested island. As the blue, glowing dots calmly drifted down, the squadrons of naval soldiers’ bodies sparkled, and they all transformed back into KND soldiers. Commodore Norrington and his Charmander were also touched, and they were back as Francis Drilovsky and Aurora Uno.



Stewie and Conker lay unconscious, tired from the battle, and Stewie’s monstrous abomination was blown to pieces. “Ooohhhh…” Stewie, the hideously amalgamated baby, brimmed with blue as his body returned to normal.



The same thing was happening to Conker, his squirrel body becoming that of a raccoon again, and was once again Sheila Frantic. The wereraccoon groaned in exhaust, wearily helping herself to stand. “Oii… tha’ was a wooly… Rodent?” She searched the battlefield for her squirrel comrade. “Oh, no…” She found the armored squirrel lying on his back in a slight puddle of blood. With a saddened expression, she approached and stood over the squirrel, placing a hand over her heart. “’e was a noble warrior… brave… ‘eroic… strong… and yet… ‘e was mortal…”



That’s when Francis and Aurora rushed in. “Sheila! We gotta go! The bomb’ll blow up any second!” Francis yelled.



“Ooh! Roight!” Sheila rushed out of there, after her friends.



By the time they all left, however, Rodent the Squirrel awakened, groaning as he studied the puddle of red substance. “Aww… I knew bringing that Jell-O was a bad idea. Conker? Where’d you go?” he called out as alarms blared. “Oh, wait… isn’t a bomb supposed to go off any sec-“



The Kids Next Door operatives were finally off the island, sailing away on their ships. They all watched in amazement as the enemy island vanished in a massive explosion.



“Euuhh…euuhh…” Sheila could barely stand, having become sick on the beer she unknowingly drank.



“Hey, Sheila… check this out.” Francis said. The Head of Decommissioning helped Sheila to stand, as she, Francis, and Aurora stared beautifully at the explosion which lit up the dark night sky, its light reflecting along the sea. “War… it’s a cruel thing, Sheila.” Francis spoke softly. “It’s amazing what we go through just to protect the kids of this world.”



“Yeah…”



“And some people think we’re a joke. Some kids just don’t understand. While they’re safe at home, playing their videogames, eating candy or watching their favorite cartoon… while we’re out here, risking our lives just so they can do that. Who’re they to say we’re a waste… who’re they… to tell us…”



“Oi… the beauty…”



“The horror… the horror…”



Sheila reached in her pocket and stared at the can of beer in her hand. Shaking it out of her mind, she tossed the can into the ocean with the rest of the debris.



In the distance, Rodent’s screams could be heard as the little squirrel shot like a rocket, creating a straight line of smoke into the sky.



Unknown Location



A slim, shadowed man kicked open the doors to a darkened chamber. There was a toothpick in his mouth, and he was flipping a nickel. “We’ve gotta problem, Mama. Our secret teddy base was blown ta smithereens.”



“Whhhaaaaat?” A huge, husky, shadowed female hissed with anger. “I gave Stewie all of the supplies he needed. How could he have lost?”



“I’m not really sure on the details, Mama. But it appeared to be some British guys. But when we scanned the area, the people leaving the island were a bunch of little tykes.”



“Hnnnn… send Maggie and Rallo to look for Stewie; see if he survived. We may need to run some investigations…” She sighed to herself. "Heeeeh. This Halloween was a total waste. Meeeh. We'll just have to charge more from the candy stores......."



In front of Gallagher Elementary



Sector W, the aliens, and all of the other operatives were suddenly changed back to normal, staring in amazement at their restored bodies. Chris raised his fists in victory, and Zach and Maddy embraced in a hug. Aranea, who was flying around in the sky, fell to the ground with a thud.



Just the same, Nolan York, Crystal Wickens, and Dillon York changed back into their regular forms. Crystal studied her peach-colored skin and rubbed it, smiling in relief. “I’m sorry, but green doesn’t do it for me.”



Suddenly, the scythe was snatched away from Crystal’s hand by a shadow, which happened to be Facilier’s shadow as it presented the scythe to its master. Facilier twirled the fake scythe as the Grim Reaper appeared from a puff of smoke, and the witch-doctor passed the scythe into the Grim Reaper’s hands. “I’ll dispose of THIS in the Sanzu River. Ahem… well done, kids. Seems you’ve taken care of things as always. Now then… time to take ol’ Jackie back to the Underworld.” The reaper grabbed Jack’s headless body by the leg and began to drag him into a portal. “But, anyway… Happy Halloween!” And on those last words, Grim vanished into the portal.



“Irk! Oh, God!” Nolan grunted suddenly, hunched over. “Legs hurt again! No more Batman.”



“Here you go.” Danika sighed, pushing the wheelchair over for Nolan to sit in. “Though I have to say, I was hoping you’d keep the curse a little longer. At least until we went to bed.”



“Ewww!” Leanne, Lee, and Dillon groaned.



“WELL, at any rate… you actually came through for me, Dillon.” Nolan said, removing his Batman mask.



Dillon removed his Robin mask and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Eh, it was nothing…”



“Heh… sorry this Halloween didn’t turn out the way you expected.”



“Are you kidding? This was the best Halloween ever! We saved the world and took out four different bad guys! And hey… all I wanted was to spend time with you. Whether that’s trick-or-treating or fighting bad guys… I’m okay with that.”



“Well… I’m glad I could make it happen.” Nolan smiled.



Several feet away, some Skeleton Soldiers were leading Harry the Werewolf into a Nightmare cop van. “S-Scary Godmother! There’s no reason to be rash. I was only kidding! A good trick is perfect for the holiday season, don’t you know? Isn’t misleading trickery what Halloween is all about?” Scary Godmother rolled her eyes at Harry’s petty excuses as the werewolf was shoved into the van, the doors slamming him in. His head popped up behind the barred windows as he dragged on, “I’ll make it worth your while! I’ll give you whatever you want! I’ll pay rent! I’ll advertise the Scare Games! You’ll have a new broom! A Tromulunimbus 5000, was it not?” Scary Godmother waved her hand, gesturing for the van to drive off. “CDs! DVDs! Old videos of them rockin’ musicals, like School House Rock! And it’s just…” Harry’s voice slowly faded in the distance.



“Well… I guess that wraps up this story!” Godmother grinned and shrugged.



Crystal Household



In the dark of her room, Miyuki was seated on her bed. Not a sound was heard as she stared blankly at the dark, spiked mask which rested on her nightstand, which seemed to stare back with an eerie look. The room seemed to turn blacker, and in the distance, the colossal, snake-haired figure stood, watching over the white-haired child. “So… this is the one that understands my pain?” Miyuki lowly asked.



“Yes… this poor soul was shunned years ago by his own people. He was a powerful entity whose heart was torn by the pain and suffering he endured through his discrimination. Seeing no other way, he put his own soul into a mask, awaiting the day someone would wear it, whose heart had suffered the same sadness and turmoil as his own.”



“I should wear it then…”



“Yes, you should…”



“But… what kind of being was he? What kind of pain… cursed his heart so much?”



“There’s no question what kind of pain. All there is to know is… he can ultimately end your pain. End all’s pain…”



“Hmmm…”



“I’ll let you decide when to wear it… I need to be somewhere. Oh… but you can hear him calling for you… Mm, hm hm hm hm, hm hm hm hm…” The entity faded, and Miyuki’s room returned to normal.



Miyuki stood and approached the dark mask. She stood in place and stared into its eyes for several minutes. She could feel its cold stare touching her soul.



In front of Gallagher Elementary



“So, the Lunar Locket is what Dracula used to create an eternal night.” Darkrai observed, holding the magical item in his hand. “This device was a creation of Cresselia, which she granted to Arlon.”



“Oh yeah, he used that to control that giant sanctum.” Chris remembered.



“I will use it to put the moon back in regular position. Still, it seems this night still has more to go.”



“So, Dillon… how’d you like to come with me, Yuki, and Crystal and help us fight other baddies?” Nolan smirked.



“Heh heh… no thanks. I’m already swamped with Kids Next Door duties.”



“Well, then we’ll both be doing our jobs. Still, there’s… quite a bit of time left ’til this night is over. Whaddya say we go for some last-minute trick-or-treating?”



“Would I?!”



“Hm-hm, go on, you two.” Danika chuckled.



“You are a couple-a little boys.” Crystal smirked.



“Whatever. But we hear you singing to yourself every Halloween morning.” Nolan smirked.



“Uhh…” Crystal blushed.



“Let’s go, kids. There’s plenty of candy out there, and our buckets are empty.”



“YEAH!” The operatives cheered and followed Dillon and Nolan as they resumed their trick-or-treating.



“Hey, I only sing to relieve the autumn fever!” Crystal yelled, running after them. “It’s really awful! I’m even coughing right now! Cough!” she fake-coughed.



A few feet away, Darkrai and Jack Skellington stood and watched other kids resume their trick-or-treating. “It’s a shame these kids got a little more than they bargained for this Halloween.” Jack said.



“Perhaps… but thanks to Dracula’s curse, the fear that these people expressed was enough to fuel our city. It seems we barely even had to do a thing. Huhu.” Darkrai chuckled.



“I suppose I’ll return to Sally. See you later, Father.”



“Until a moonless night… Son.”



“Oh, Crystal!” Wiccan stopped and turned when Scary Godmother approached her. “When you performed that Patronus Charm… what did you think about?”



Crystal smiled and glanced in Nolan’s direction. “When I first met Nolan…” she said with a blush.



“Hey, whatever happened to Yuki?” Nolan asked.



Quahog Graveyard



“Errrrgh…” Yuki Crystal awakened with an aching head, finding himself in the middle of a graveyard. “That Jack guy must’ve… ditched me here. Hello? Danika? Nolan? Anyone?”



“AaaaaaaaaaAAHHHH!”



“D’OH!” Rodent shot down and bashed Yuki in the head, knocking him clean out.



Back with the others…



“Ah well. Let’s get going.” Nolan shrugged.



And sho, Da’ky and his son make fwiend. Dracy and Jacky meets terrible end. De kids walk out for twicks and tweats. Den Sheila comes home wit’ blood on her feets.



And Scary and Crystal did flare, their screams echoing through the night air.



Crystal and Scary Godmother flew around in circles on their staff and broom, and they flew in front of the screen as Crystal called to us, “Happy Halloween to all-”



“-and to all a good-” Scary Godmother was interrupted, having to answer her cell phone which suddenly rang. “Hello? What? What do you mean it’s December?”



“HO HO HO!” The two witches were blown away when the evil Robo-Santa zipped by them on his rocket-sleigh. The psychotic cyborg glared at the readers and declared, “This is Robot Santa wishing everyone a very horrible Christmas! And now, I expect a story NEXT YEAR. HOOO HO ho ho ho ho!” The evil Santa rode off under the full moon, and disappeared into the night.



So, yes. There’s a little preview of a future story, and it’ll be written when you LEAST expect it: NEXT CHRISTMAS! XP Jack O’Lantern is from Billy & Mandy. Dracula’s first song was actually based off of “Dark of the Night,” from Anastasia, which is funny since Davy Jones already had that song, only this was a different version. Jack Skellington and Oogie are from Nightmare Before Christmas, and Scary Godmother’s crew are from her titular series. And the whole thing with the Murphys’ dog was Numbuh 227’s idea. The Miyuki scenes basically set up the plot for Operation: MASKED. Happy Halloween to all, and very spooky holidays! ;D