Fayde to Fear: Chapter 8

"That is the most ridiculous plan I have ever heard," Shayde smirked, "but it just might work!"

Jake nodded, "You ready?"

Nodding, Shayde circled around the still screaming Fear until he stood behind her. As he watched Jake run towards her, he sent a silent prayer to his sister.

"Fayde, if you can hear me, I will save you. Heck, that's what big brothers are for, right? To save their younger siblings? But...if I don't make it...I just want you to know, that I was always proud to be your brother."

"Hey Fear," Jake sneered, grabbing the goddess' attention, "what's the matter? All those years in the shadows make you lazy? You didn't throw me very far."

"Insolent little worm," Fear threw a shadow ball in his direction, "I will enjoy crushing you!"

Dodging, Jake merely chuckled, "Oh sure. Like that's going to happen."

Snarling in annoyance, Fear continued her attack. Jake easily dodged everything she threw at him, despite the burning pain in his chest. As she began to use her shadows to try and grab him, his flames caused them to shrink away.

"How can this be?"

"Don't you know," he asked, "shadows always fear the light. What's your fear?"

"I fear nothing! I am fear! Nothing can scare me! Especially not a runt like you!"

"I am tallest in my class, THANK YOU!"

"Jake," Sadie screamed, catching her brother's attention, "behind you!"

The boy didn't have time to look, however, as his own shadow lifted him up into the air. Crying out in surprise, he glared as Fear brought him closer to her.

"Little fool! Did you seriously think you could defeat me? You, Jake Skellington, have been a thorn in my side for far too long! I shall get rid of you once and for all!"

The shadow tightened slowly, causing Jake's already sore ribs to crunch together. Screaming in pain, Jake couldn't even light himself on fire as he felt his shadow become tighter and tighter. Fear laughed as she watched the boy cringe in pain, his breathing becoming ragged.

"Jake," she glanced up in surprise to see Shayde at the top of the spiral hill, "hold on! I'm coming!"

"What?!"

As the hill extended to full length, Shayde ran down it. Leaping off the tip, he pulled his bangs out of his Cursed Eye. Grabbing Fear by the shoulders, he struggled to get her to look at him. Grunting, the goddess pulled at him, clawed at him, and screeched as she tried to pry him away from her. Finally, the boy lost his grip and was sent tumbling to the earth.

Laughing, Fear hovered near him, "Did you really think that would work? I've studied your Cursed Eye, Shayde. If it wouldn't work on someone as weak as Jack Skellington, then what makes you think-"

"Jake," Shayde rubbed his rear as he got up, "you okay?"

"Yeah," Fear glanced over in shock to see the eldest Skellington being released from his shadow, "did it work?"

"I think so," Shayde shrugged, "Fayde, you feeling okay?"

"What? You have accomplished nothing! I am-"

"Fine," Fayde sighed as she stepped away from Fear, who watched her in utter horror, "but where's Fear?"

"You cannot ignore the mighty goddess of-"

"Dunno," Jake shrugged, yelping in pain, "she disappeared after Shayde tackled her."

"No," she screeched, reaching for Jake's throat, "you will not ignore me!"

The goddess of Fear gave a scream of terror as her hand went right through the boy, who didn't even flinch. Going around the group, she found that she wasn't able to touch any of them. And they certainly didn't hear her no matter how much she wailed at them.

"Lady Fear," she turned to see Lock, Shock, and Barrel hiding within the trees, "are you there?"

"Yes, my little helpers," she said hopefully, hovering before them, "I am right here! Thank goodness you're-"

"They actually did it," Lock said, "they beat her."

"Oh well," Shock giggled, "better head back to the treehouse before we're caught.Who's up for some lunch?"

"No," Fear covered her mouth with her hands, "NO!"



Shayde kept his gaze fixed upon his sister's face, not daring to blink. Fear had indeed been caught in his Cursed Eye, and she now knelt before Jake and Shayde with a look of utter horror on her face.

"I wonder what she's seeing," Jake mused, wincing as he once again snapped his ribs into place, "must be hilarious."

"Jake," Shayde gritted his teeth in pain, "I can't hold on for much longer! Hurry!"

Nodding, the skeleton knelt down beside his best friend and took her hand in his.

"Fayde," he said softly, "we've distracted Fear. You've got to push back now! It's the only chance you have. Fayde! Fight back NOW!"



"Fight back NOW!"

Snapping her eyes open, Fayde nearly cried as she recognized Jake's voice. It was at that moment she could feel Fear's hold beginning to wane. Taking a deep breath she concentrated for all she was worth. Up ahead, she could see a small beam of light. The more she concentrated, the larger it became. Soon, hazy forms took shape followed by muffled voices.

"NO," she could hear Fear's scream surrounding her, "NO YOU CAN'T! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A TERRIFIED BOOGIEMAN! YOU HAVE NO POWER!"

As the forms became clearer, Fayde found herself looking at Shayde and Jake as they pulled on her arms. Confused, she glanced back and nearly screamed in fright. The boy's were pulling her out of her own shadow, which had now taken on Fear's form. The creature attempted to pull her back, succeeding in regaining a few inches.

"She's too strong," Shayde groaned, his feet skidding across the dirt, "we're going to lose her!"

"Keep pulling," Jake cried out, ignoring his screaming ribs, "don't let go!"

Suddenly, another set of hands grabbed onto Fayde's arms, followed by another, and then another. Fear gave a cry of rage as Oogie, Jack, and Sadie joined in the tug-of-war match. They all groaned as they tried to help pull the boogieman out of her shadow. Tears fell down Fayde's face as she felt herself being slowly dragged back in.

"You can't escape me, Fayde," she cackled maniacally, "in the end, Fear always wins!"

Scowling, Jake released his friend with one hand, which instantly ignited. Everyone watched in horror as he aimed it straight for the goddess' face.

"Let my friend GO!"

The stream which erupted from his hand was the largest he had ever summoned. Flying past Fayde, it engulfed a now screaming Fear. The boogieman felt all the weight on her end lift, sending her tumbling into the arms of her family and friends. Her shadow, meanwhile, continued to scream and burn.

"NO! CURSE YOU, JAKE SKELLINGTON! I'LL BE BACK ONE DAY! AND WHEN I AM, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU FIRST!"

Standing up, Jake watched as the last of his friend's shadow burned away, "I'll be waiting."

"We both will," Jake turned in surprise as Fayde joined him, "to send you back into the darkness."

Smirking, Jake gasped when he noticed his friend's eyes. Though they were still red, the pupils had remained in the star shape. The group watched until Fear's screams faded into nothing.

"F-Fayde," she turned in surprise to see her father attempting to sit up, "Shayde."

"Dad!"

The twins ran to his side, followed closely by Oogie. The Skellingtons hung back for a moment, keeping their distance as they watched the twins each take their father's hands.

"Dad," Fayde cried, burying her face in his shoulder, "I'm so sorry! I wasn't strong enough! I'm so sorry, daddy!"

"It wasn't your fault, Fayde," Gore smiled weakly, struggling to breathe, "Fear did this, not you."

"But if I had been stronger-"

"Don't second guess me," Gore snapped, wincing in pain, "Fayde, you were always strong. Like your mother."

Fayde glanced up at him in surprise, her tears falling from her chin and mixing with her father's blood.

"Shayde," the boy leaned forward, brushing his bangs back into his eye, "take care of your sister. Promise me?"

"No, I don't promise," he said, squeezing his father's hand, "I don't want to do it, so you have to! You have to stay with us and take care of her!"

By now, the people of Halloweentown had gathered at the gate, trying to see what had caused the sun to become dark. Jake looked up, smiling as Fear's shadow began to disappear. Light flickered, shining down upon the world once more. Gore smiled at the sun, not at all bothered by the intensity of its rays.

"I think you and I both know I can't stay," he said turning back to his son, "I'm asking you to be a man and take care of your sister. Promise me, Shayde...please."

"Okay," the boy cried out in anguish, "okay! I promise!"

"Good."

"Gore," Oogie sniffled as he leaned down to lay his hand on his little brother's shoulder, "the kids will be safe with me."

"I know they will, big brother," Gore gave one final sigh, "I love you all."

As the boogieman's eyes close, his body began to give off a black glow. Fayde and Shayde watched in sadness as their father left the world in the way boogiemen always did; he became a shadow. Fayde lifted her head back and gave an earshattering wail, letting her hands fall to her sides. Shayde blinked in shock, rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming, then blinked again. Gore Darkmatter was gone.

"Jake," he glanced up to see Lily running towards him, "what happened?"

Before Jake could answer, however, the green mist from the forest appeared beside him. Jumping in surprise, he watched as it formed a handsome young teen with spiky green hair and pale gray skin. He was older than Jake by a single year who wore a simple white shirt with a stretched out collar, baggy gray-blue jeans, and black and white sneakers. Around his neck was a small padlock on a rawhide string.

"You," his jaw dropped, "you helped me in the forest!"

He glared, "Good thing I did, or else we'd all be in permanent darkness right now. Let's just say you owe me one."

"Hey" they turned to see Shayde jogging up to meet them, "Kelso? What are you doing here?"

"Kelso," Lily's ears perked, "as in Kelso Geist from Miss Dusa's class? The boy who won the talent show?"

"Yeah," Kelso nodded, tucking his hands into his pockets, "that's me. And I came to help Shayde save his sister."

"I didn't know you two knew each other," Lily said, smirking, "how do you put up with him?"

Kelso didn't answer, rather he glanced over at Fayde. She had remained where she was, her sobs quieting to small sniffles. Taking a deep gulp, he walked over to stand beside her. Oogie, who had been patting her back, glanced up to see the boy. Giving a small smile, the boogieman left his niece to join Jack. Fayde didn't look up at Kelso, rather she laid her hand on the place where her father had vanished.

"Fayde," Kelso's cheeks became a dark red when her eyes met with his, leaving him breathless, "I know that "I'm sorry" isn't going to bring your dad back. But...if you'd like...you can always talk to me. You know, when you feel sad or...whatever."

"Thanks," she said softly, making him blush even more, "that's really sweet of you, Kelso."

"Sure. I mean, no offense, but you're not quite as pretty when you're crying."

The moment the words left his mouth, the poltergeist's face became a dark red. Much to his surprise, so did Fayde's.

"Y-you think I'm pretty?"