Preface
"What's wrong? Come on, you can tell your husband."
Her eyes hardened, and determination set her face.
"Jack," Her voice, despite her stone face, was tender and soft. "I'm pregnant."
~~~
With an unpleasant and sudden lurch, Jack felt his mind wash clean; he could think with a clear mind for once; the Symbiote's power had slipped at those shocking words for just one moment, but long enough for Jack to think about what he was doing. What had Sally just said? She...she was...
pregnant? Jack could feel the Symbiote's power creeping back over his self control. But...Sally's words...then, this would all mean...that Jack would be a
father. His head aching, he groaned, "Sally, is this true?" That was all the strength that Jack could muster to speak. The Symbiote had regained its control.
"Jack?" Sally's voice was hopeful. "That was
you speaking! Whatever it is that's controlling you...it stopped! Just for a moment! That's it, Jack, that's what it explains in the book! I can tell you how to get rid of that thing; it's all right here! And you have that power! Jack, if you have the will to rid yourself of that thing, you have the power. And I know you do, Jack!" Her voice turned low and pleading. "Please, Jack...try. I know you can."
Jack's head spun as he deciphered Sally's words. The small part of him that had common sense longed for Sally and her explanation to get rid of the devil that was the Symbiote. However, the controlled, and much more overwhelming, part of him growled in rejection and lusted for Sally's head rolling at his feet. Screaming like a banshee, he grasped his skull, purely confused, and fell to his knees, completely oblivious to anything but his own personal headache.
Through this pain, however, Jack, through eyes blurred by tears, saw Sally rushing to the still bowing citizens and speaking harshly to them. Jack caught a few words: fire, sound, loud, pain...
These words meant nothing. Jack still fought his inner battle, not sure what to do. His evil self thirsted for blood and death, but his normal being knew that he was insane and needed to stop. This pain and confusion continued for a long time, until Jack heard rustling just above him, and he looked up.
Nearly every citizen in Halloweentown was cowering above him; the aura frightened him; it leaked with a sort of revenge. Everyone had grim looks put into place, and Sally was front and center. She was staring down at him sadly, then, subtly, she nodded her head.
That was when the real pain erupted.
Pots and pans were banged, screaming rang through Jack's ears, clapping slapped hundreds of times. Torches were lit and waved through the air, creating a ring of burning fire and thick oxygen; however, Jack hardly noticed what they were doing at all.
As soon as the commotion had started, the Symbiote had begun to burn like an eternal fire was lit, and it writhed and shrieked with agony; Jack realized through his burning prison that this was the only way to rid himself - and the town - of this alien monster, so he willed himself to continue on through his pain. This was hard on Jack's part, for he had to stay kneeling on the ground and endure the screams of his people, the Symbiote, and of himself. Guilt filled his soul, because he knew Sally would be hurting from his yells of pain. But at the moment, Jack simply did not care; he was just focused on the burning cure that was his curse.
The Symbiote attempted to rip itself and Jack away from the commotion, which caused constant, unendurable pain for both the alien and Jack.
Surely I'm going to die? Jack sobbed internally.
No being can live through this pain and live! It's not possible!
Jaaaack! The Symbiote screamed over and over again. It pleaded with Jack to flee. It tried to compromise. It tried ordering; yet, despite his burning pain, Jack ignored the alien's cries and willed himself to stay put. When it got the clue Jack would not give in, the alien gave up and tried a new tactic; it tried to free itself from Jack's being. Physical lurches brought Jack sprawling to the ground from his feeble kneeling position. The Symbiote's determination was fierce and strong; Jack could not bear it.
"STOP!" He screamed out loud, clutching at his burning skull in confusion and agony. "Please, I beg of you, STOP!" Despite his pleas, his citizens continued on, and so did the Symbiote. Jack felt his tears of desperation and pain inch down his burning face.
Then it stopped.
All of it. Everything. The pain, the yelling, the pots and pans banging...the noise all together seizing. Even the torches, which the citizens had lit, were blown out. Jack kept his head facing the ground, letting his tears drip quietly onto the stone, loving the quiet. All he could hear was his own hard breathing, the steady rhythm of his tears, and...faint crying. This surprised him slightly. He straightened up, now on his knees, and flexed, making sure that he was not physically injured. With a small shock, Jack saw that nothing was wrong with him. He was not hurt at all. Disbelief filled his heart as he examined himself. Then a shock came to him as he saw his hand. His white hand. Relief washed through him as he realized that he was normal again; the Symbiote had gone, disintegrated in its own burning doom. Through this happiness, Jack thought through what had happened; despite the nearly unendurable pain he had just witnessed (and wished he would never again have to experience), he felt...in a way,
good. Everything the Symbiote had affected him with, everything that it had made him do, say, or think...was now the past. This was a new him. A him that he had not felt in a long time. It felt exhilarating in its own way. Jack sighed as he closed his eyes and stood slowly.
He heard retreat. Jack opened his eyes to find the citizens on the toes of their feet, wary, ready for any emergency attack. He nearly burst out laughing at how alert they were, but realized, as he reflected on it, that it had been a completely necessary practice...when he had been affected by the Symbiote, however.
"My people," Jack gravely said, yet his soul rejoicing at his normal, innocent tone. "I...am beyond words to give my apology. I have hurt so many of you ill-mindedly, and I will not protest if you wish to have me resign my post as Pumpkin King immediately - "
"Woah, Jack! Stop right there!" Jack jumped at the commanding, angry voice. He looked around through the dense crowd of his citizens when he found the Mayor, striding quickly to the front, a stained bandage wrapped around his throat. Jack felt his face go slack as he remembered everything that he had done to his colleague, and his best friend.
"Mayor," His voice was thick as he rushed forward, "Please...
please forgive - "
"Jack," The Mayor's voice was louder than Jack's. "Stop. I do not need an apology from you. I understand everything that you've done, and how wrong those actions were, but I know that you did not do them at your own will. Sally has explained everything to us. That dang thing, the symbiote, or whatever it's called, we understand what it did to you. And honestly, Jack, we feel more sorry for you, and the pain you've been through. As our king, we grieve your hardships."
Even though those words meant the world to Jack, he felt a ripple of anger. "Mayor, I completely understand what you're saying, and I fully appreciate it, but...please, try to sympathize to my position. I've hurt you, and so many others! And you can forgive me, just like that?" He snapped his fingers impatiently. "I won't allow it! I must have some kind of punishment!"
The Mayor gave a small, dark chuckle. "Judging by your recent performance, I think you've endured enough punishment." Unable to help himself, Jack shuddered as he remembered the too-recent pain.
But Jack set his face. "Please, Mayor, I'd like to know for myself that's how everyone feels, especially the ones that I've hurt...which is probably too many to count." He added, rubbing his forehead in grief and shame.
"Jack, I've spoken to every single citizen in this town, and we don't hold any grudge against you. None at all. So please, be sensible and take it easy; you've been through quite an ordeal."
Jack was gaping. "No one spoke against me? No one?"
The Mayor smiled gently. "Not a single person."
This filled Jack's heart. He looked at his feet, silent, until a question sprung to his lips: "How did you all know what to do? With the Symbiote, I mean. How did you know how to...get rid of it?" He hesitated at the end, remembering again his pungent pain that he had felt.
The Mayor answered easily, as if he knew matter-of-factly. "Well, Sally came to us with that old book of hers. She had looked up the alien...thing, and found what it could do." Here, the Mayor shuddered. "But we also found its weakness, which is sound, and light, more preferably heat. We used those things against it, which we knew would rid you of it for good...but the book also explained how much pain you would be in, and we apologize greatly." Everyone nodded gravely.
Jack stood very still, forefinger to his lip, thinking it all over in his head...yes, it all made sense, if the book had done it all...Sally had been very wise as to...wait...
Sally. Jack thought it with a reverence that sent his tone to a whisper.
"Sally," He said in a low voice, searching for her. He found her, in the back of the crowd, head to the ground. The whole of the citizens moved, making a pathway just big enough for him to reach his most beloved friend, mentor, and wife. He headed down the way slowly, his head tilted to one side, gazing into her face. He never thought he'd see her beautiful face ever again; he thought he would perish in the blackness of his burning.
He reached her, and pulled her into a tight hug immediately, being as gentle as possible with her one leg wobbling. His face was buried in her hair, and he whispered her name over and over again, caressing her and rocking her from side to side. She finally wrapped her arms around him, and he felt her shaking violently. Not sobbing, but with relief, and shock. He held her tighter. Their embrace lasted a lifetime to him; he could never get enough of his wife;s hold. But he knew he had some words to say, so he released her, looked straight into her eyes, and stroked her face softly before kissing her forehead quickly and turned, facing his town, with his queen close at his side.
"Citizens of Halloweentown," Jack cried, "Please forgive me for the wrong I've done. I know that my sins were wrong, but I will do all in my power to make them right again. Long live Halloweentown!" He added, bellowing, raising a fist in the air, signaling respect and support for his position as king and for his citizens. Everyone yelled back, triumphant that they had regained their king, ruler, and true friend.
After cheering supportively, they all dispersed, heading back to their Halloween chores. Jack knew that Halloween was almost upon them and they needed to prepare. As soon as they were alone, Sally sat quietly on the ground, pulled out thread from her dress pocket, and took her leg from the ground, which the Doctor had left there in an action to give some privacy to his daughter and son-in-law. She silently sewed, and Jack stood in front of her, waiting patiently. As she sewed, he thought over everything that he would need to repair and fix from the damage of his past actions. But he was all right with it; the important thing was that he was back to his normal self, ready for Halloween and braced for any hardships ahead.
Sally startled Jack slightly by grabbing his hand unexpectedly; he jerked, but looked down to her, smiling, and pulled her up gently. Not speaking, Sally tightened the pressure on his hand as they headed home, side by side.
When they entered their home, Jack turned around and closed the door quietly, trying to be sensitive to her quiet atmosphere. When he turned back, however, he found Sally just inches from his face, her lips taunting. He smirked as her arms wound themselves around his waist and pulled him closer to her. Jack gave in a moment, enjoying what he had missed for such a long time, but pulled back after a small while, releasing her hands from him. She seemed slightly surprised as he knelt. But she gave a small, tinkling laugh as Jack laid the side of his head against her still flat stomach. He sighed.
"We're going to be parents," He murmured.
"Yes," She agreed. "We need to prepare for the baby, though."
"Of course...and as soon as possible." Jack said, standing up again and placing her hand against his cheek. She smiled and she slipped to his side, her free hand around him again, as they walked upstairs to their bedroom. Inside, Jack dropped her hand and slid from her grasp, walking in front of the mirror, taking in his normal appearance once again. His bones were now white, just like they were before the devilish thing had taken him over. But, the most important thing, the suit was now normal again; the pinstripes shone out over the black material, and the bat bow tie had returned to its original, white-eyed appearance.
"Sally?" Jack asked. She was just behind him in seconds.
"What is it, Jack?" She seemed tensely concerned.
"I'm just wondering...how come you trusted me immediately after you'd helped me get rid of that wretched Symbiote?"
"Because, Jack, I knew that you weren't yourself because of the Symbiote, not because you chose to be like that. I read all about the thing, and it just caused you to see everything from a different perspective. I also found its weaknesses, as you already know...I'm still sorry about your immense pain, but it, unfortunately, had to be done." She made a grim face.
Sally's answer had been so immediate, so sure, that Jack was convinced right away that that was how she felt and thought. Jack's love for his wife peaked; he turned around, kissing her full on. She sighed as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. His world with Sally was so blissful and filled with pleasure that it was hard to comprehend anything else. However, a thought sprung to his mind, urgent enough that he pulled away to speak.
"Sally, should I wash these clothes? Just in case?"
Sally grinned, a sudden idea showing all over her face. "Of course," She repeated his earlier words, eyeing him with a sly look in her eye, "
Definitely as soon as possible," And she pulled him closer again, her lips seeking his lovingly.
The End
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Woo hoo! Yes, it is DONE! XD I really hope you enjoyed the story okay. ^^ And, to clear something up, if you Wikipedia search the Symbiote, you'll find that its weaknesses are fire and loud sound. So yeah. That's why it was used in this story. ^^ Thank you so much for your support and ethusiastic-ness during this story, it really helps and motivates. I hope you liked the story, and that it exceeded your expectations. XDD Thank you.
