Nick felt a warm sensation start up in his body. His youth image melted away to reveal the man's true appearance. He smiled as he looked at his hands.
"C'mon Jer..." she muttered, the fragmented soul piece disappearing into his chest. Ky waited, her hands tightened, her face worried and scared.
He didn't move.
Nick knelt by her and set his hand on her shoulder. "I waited too long-"
"No. You did what you could." They were silent for a minute, Nick's arm wrapped around Ky for comfort.
"I'm going to go free the Holidays... It's what he would've wanted..."
"I'm sure he would've wanted you to," the man comforted. She nodded her head surely and stood up.
"Stay with them and help dad if he needs it, please." Nick nodded and watched her sneak away. "I'm not gonna let you down again, Jer..." she muttered to herself. She glanced back at Jer, then continued walking towards the containment room.
Ky hugged herself, trying to keep herself from crying as she walked. Her hands ran up and down her arms, trying to forget that he was gone. She squeezed her eyes shut and two tears rolled down her cheeks. She suddenly broke into a run, as if trying to run away from the truth.
After a few minutes she slowed down as she reached the chamber room. She shuddered and pushed open the large door. Several gasps reached her ears and many heads turned.
"Ky!"
Ky suddenly found herself being hugged by all of her friends and mother. All the Holiday citizens cheered and gathered around the group. Ky found herself being embraced by everyone in the room.
"All right! Give the girl some room!" William shouted, all the citizens quickly obeyed. Sally rushed to her daughter and set her hands on her face. Tears rolled down both of their faces.
"We're so proud of you, Ky. You've saved everyon-"
"It wasn't just me, Mom..."
"I know, Sweetheart."
"We saw what happened," Will said, walking over to his cousin. He set his bony hand on her shoulder.
"We're sorry," VC added.
Everyone nodded in respect as Ky buried her face in her hands and fell to her knees in sobs. Maddie knelt next to her, her arms wrapped around her.
"We know how much he meant to you," Casey said. Tikara nodded and nervously pulled at her tail.
All the words of comfort they gave her just whizzed past her. All she wanted was to see him one last time. Tears stung at her eyes as each of her friends tried to comfort her.
--
Oogie was gone; a burning empty sack lying in the middle of the floor. Marcus had fled in fear of the same fate of his master. Jack looked at the burning wreck and turned to see Nick lift Jer's body over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Nick gave him a sad glance.
"I was under specific orders to watch and make sure you lived. And you did. So I'm going home."
"No, the boy," Jack pressed.
"Your daughter's a mess, you might want to go comfort her," Nick answered, trying not to tell.
"What happened?"
Nick motioned towards Jer and sighed. Jack felt a pang in his ribcage. "He-?"
"Yes. Now go see to your daughter."
--
Jack ran through the doors to be welcomed by cheers and applause. Sally rushed up and hugged her husband. Jack hugged her tightly and looked over at his father and mother. They smiled and nodded.
Mahogany licked Ky's face in an attempt to make her smile. She smiled slightly and patted his muzzle. "I'll be there for you," the dog muttered to her. She wrapped her arms around his furry neck and patted his back.
"I know you will, boy. I know."
--
Jack, Sally and Ky all personally saw that each citizen was seen to their proper holiday. Mahogany and Zero stood at Ky's side dutifully, afraid to be separated from her again. Ky's hands ran through Mahogany's hair, almost with out her thinking about her doing it.
"That's the last one," Jack said, stretching and turning to his wife and child. "Let's go home." Ky nodded and Mahogany allowed her to climb onto his back. Her shoulders were sagging and Zero kept glancing at her sadly.
"Ky?" Sally asked. Her daughter looked up at her and sighed.
"I'm okay..."
"No. No you're not. It's bothering you."
"I know it is! I KNOW!" Ky cried, warm tears splashing down her face.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie," Sally said, setting her hand on Ky's shoulder.
"We all are," Jack said. Zero nodded in agreement.
They walked the rest of the way in silence, Ky quietly crying to herself. She wiped her eyes as they came into the town.
After Oogie had been destroyed, his magic was useless and everything was back together again.
Everything, but a young girl's broken heart.
-Epilogue for Next Story!-
Jer twitched and moaned. He looked over and tried to get his eyes to focus. "Ky?" he called out to the darkness.
"Ah, now you're awake! I was starting to think you WERE a goner!"
"Nick?"
"The one and only."
"Where is Ky?"
"Home."
"Oogie?"
"He's been destroyed and Marcus ran away."
"What happened?" Jer asked, everything coming into focus. Nick shrugged from his chair.
"You died," he whispered.
"I- WHAT?!" Jer asked, panic over taking him.
"Calm down! Geeze. Yes, you died."
"How?! When?!"
"When Oogie slammed you against the wall. It hurt you good and left Ky devastated."
Jer was silent for a while, taking it all in. "Ky..." he mouthed. He sat up and looked at Nick. "Can I see her?"
"Ky?" Jer nodded. "Afraid not, kiddo."
"Why?"
"Well, for one, I can't get you there at the moment. Besides, you're in no condition to travel. A few months rest to get you feeling normal and another few months for your training."
"But..."
"Ky's safe, don't worry." Jer sat there for a minute, then thought of the last statement.
"Training?"
"Of course. I'm going to train to you be the Pumpkin Princess' guard. Heav'n knows she needs the extra protection."
"Why?!" Jer asked, feeling scared.
Nick suddenly became very serious. "The Shadows are coming. They're after the Key."
--
WOOOHHHOOO!! FINALLY DONE!! *dances* I'M GONNA WRITE A SEQUEL!!!
Jer and GIR: YES!!
