So, after I found my "scare", everyone in town seemed to... respect me a little more, with the exception of Oogie and the tricksters. They would probably never treat me like the others in the town, and I sort of enjoyed that.

It was the fact that I wasn't the Sun to their Earth that made me admire them a bit more every day.

And, every day, as Oogie so kindly points out, I grow much more mature, even though he seems bitter when he says that. Sally keeps warning me I'm putting too much trust in that "bag of bugs", but the poor guy deserves a promotion from Halloweentown's outlaw. No, I decided I would make Oogie my right-hand man.

I walked to the far side of town, where Oogie made his residence in one of the run-down shacks. I entered the crumbling building and gasped.

The bright neon lights hit me as soon as I walked through the door. Bats and skeletons popped out from around corners, and roulette wheels spun like mad.

"Oogie?" I called, my voice threatening. He could've told me his plans! "Oogie, could you come out here, please?"

He swung down from a hook hanging from the ceiling.

"Jack!" he called, "Bone Man! Nice to see you in my... humble abode." He waved a short, stubby arm to show me what I had already seen.

"Well, Boogie, we, meaning the whole town, are a team." I said patiently, "And what does that mean?" He tapped his foot on the ground, as if to mock me, and I scowled. "We have to share ideas! Honestly, Oogie, I thought you would know! And I was just about to ask you to be my right-hand man."

He had perked up when I said "right-hand man". "Ooh, an official? Jack, you're too kind." He started tearing down the chains and bats. "Now, lemme get this all down for you and we can start getting this up around town."

I crossed my arms. "Boogie, haven't I told you before? We have to share ideas in this town." His face fell and he dropped the chains. Oogie opened his mouth to talk, but I stopped him. "Now see here, Oogie. That doesn't mean I love your... choice of decoration, but please, you could've told me."

"Jack, Jack, Jack..." he replied, "I would've! It's just..."

"You didn't have the motivation of being right-hand man." I finished for him, and he hesitated and nodded.

"I'll admit that." Oogie said. "But, Jack, you have to love these decorations!"

I shook my head. "All you want is to have a little glory. I'll ask Sally, or the Mayor. It doesn't matter."

I left Oogie standing there, mouth agape. I know, I was a bit harsh on the guy, but I guess it was nothing but a responsibility of being the Pumpkin King.

But I knew Oogie couldn't lay low for long.

The next day, Sally and I heard it around town, that the three pranksters had disappeared, along with Boogie. I had a feeling I knew what was going on, but I just couldn't see the negative about it. Maybe he had noticed they went missing and went after them! Or maybe, just maybe... I gave up thinking of what could've possibly brought out a little speck of good in Oogie and strode to the forest, Sally on my tail.

"Oogie!" I yelled. I knew he was in here somewhere, it was his favourite place in the whole town. "Oogie Boogie, come out here, please?" I called, a little more quietly this time.

I heard leaves crunching, and Oogie came out from behind one of the larger trees. "Well, well, well! Bone Man! Fancy seein' you here..." He had something up his canvas-y, bug-filled sleeve, and I was eager to get to the bottom of it.