I Don't Like This Plan...

I winced as Oogie's buggy, canvas-y lips touched my hand. I covered it up with a weak smile as I dragged Akane back next to me. "If I have to go through this, so do you!" I said through clenched teeth. "What exactly do you have planned after this, anyway?"

"You'll see..." she said impatiently, as if she was waiting for Oogie to do something. I tapped my foot to the tune I had heard everyone around town humming. He looked kind of interested at my sense of beat, and I stopped immediately as soon as I felt Akane nudge me.

"So... what exactly do you want with me, Oogie?" I said kind of bitterly, crossing my arms in front of my chest. He laughed at my question, and assumed the same position I had.

"Well, honestly, Dollface, I think you may need a new mentor other than that washed-out Pumpkin King." he replied, and I had to grind my jaw to keep it from dropping.

"You're joking." I laughed, and Akane gave me a look of alarm. "I'm sorry, but I have to!" I said, lauder than I should have. I knew this was going to blow our plan, but I had to. "You know, Oogie, I can honestly say I'm done with the villainy.

I mean, it was nice while it lasted, but by the time I was on my fifth apprenticing job, I realised: I don't want to be a villain! Who'm I trying to kid?" I ranted and raved, and I heard Akane's head smack her palm. We were screwed, and I knew it.

"I've gone through Olympus... Neverland... Atlantica... Agrabah... and I'm through! I'm being mentored by Jack whether you want me to or not, DiZ!" I yelled to the sky, and Akane and Oogie looked at me as if I was insane.

(Please continue...)

I'm No Gambler.

After we shook hands, I wandered back off to Jack's tower, comtemplating what had just happened. I walked past Jack and Sally, who were discussing something vaguely important to me as I wandered by. They looked up as I walked in, but I paid no attention to them, remembering Akane and I's pact.

"Rosaxi, wait! We have lessons tonight..." Jack started, and I turned around with the best fake smile on my face that I've ever pulled off.

"Of course, Jack!" I grinned, and he looked suspicious. "I'll be down soon, just give me a few minutes." Jack nodded in understanding, and let me go on way.

As soon as I got up to my temporary room, I rolled the dice, watching it land on snake eyes. I winced, and nothing really happened. I let my guard down, and went downstairs, my dice in my pocket, along with the letter. "Alright, I'm ready, Jack!" I called down, sliding down the banister. I landed on his hand, and he jumped back in surprise.

"Please don't sneak up on me like that, Rosaxi." he said, head in hand.

"Alright, Jack. What's on the agenda tonight?" I asked him curiously.

"Well, I was thinking I could walk you around Halloweentown, get to know you better. You are my... ward, I would say." Jack offered, and it was an awkward moment, a nice awkward. I hugged him around his thin waist.

"Oh, I would love that!" I said, jumping up and down, yet my head never reached his shoulder.

"So... let's get started! I promise to get you home before midnight; I remember what happened last time you pulled an all-nighter." he said thoughtfully, much to my delight.

***

It was midnight; the moon was high in the sky, and I looked down at the ground from my tower. I took a breath and jumped. I winced as my feet hit the hard stone. "Ooh, Akane, you so owe me." I walked at a fast limp toward the treehouse, hoping she had a plan by now.

Not Just Fun and Games

I smiled at the three kids and outstretched my hand. "Rosaxi!" I said happily, and Akane was shaking her head frantically beside me.

"They're trouble, Rosaxi!" she warned, and I turned to her.

"I think I've worked with worse than a trio of trick-or-treaters." I replied, and they each shook my hand in turn. "Amusing introduction, by the way. And I take it you know Akane?"

The trio giggled and nodded. The little devil, Lock, stepped forward and said, "Yes, of course we know her! We all work for Mr. Oogie Boogie, of course." When I looked confused, the little witch, Shock, stepped up and explained, "Mr. Oogie Boogie is the gambling master of Halloweentown... Jack never told you that?" I racked through my memory and figured out Jack had mentioned him to me, but as I remembered, I was yawning and the sun was rising.

"Yes, I believed he mentioned him while he was tutoring me..." That phrase made the four of them jump.

"He's... your... mentor?" Akane asked slowly, and Lock, Shock, and Barrel started laughing.

"WE KNEW IT!" they chorused, and skipped off. Akane's face turned from shock to anger. "Ooh. Someday I'm going to..." she started, but I cut her off.

"What just happened?" I asked, sounding a little slow.

"Well, since Oogie sent them here, something bad... he probably already guessed you were being taught under Jack. He sent them to investigate, and you told them what they wanted to hear."

"Oh my God, I'm sorry! I feel so STUPID now..." I said angrily, pulling at my long, red streak in front of my eyes.

"Don't feel stupid, Rosaxi!" Akane comforted me, and I spun away.

"We should probably try to catch up with them." I proposed. "Got any tricks up your sleeves?"

Akane nodded, and right then I knew- this wasn't just fun and games anymore.

A Friend...?

"Thanks, I'm looking forward to it!" I called to Akane's retreating back, and I sighed. Maybe Halloweentown was perfect for me...

"Rosaxi, come on!" Jack yelled for me, and I heard a loud bang.

"Coming!" I spun around, wielding my Keyblade, and slammed a Nobody over the head. When we had finished fighting the remaining Heartless and Nobodies, Jack turned to me.

"Well, Rosaxi, if you're going to be my... apprentice, is a great way to put it, I may as well teach you what I know." My eyes lit up at the words, and I smiled. "So I take it you like the idea?"

"Of course, Jack!" I shouted happily, bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet. "Ooh, dear, dear deliverance!" I clapped my hands together, but then Jack laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Calm yourself." he said quietly. "Now, first lesson: using the ghosts to your best advantage." I knew I was in for a long night, but hey, it was worth it.

***

Later the next morning, I found myself laying on the top of a stone wall, a smashed pumpkin under my head.

"Good, glad to see you're up." I heard a voice say, and I spun around to see Jack's face. I scowled at him.

"You're not trying to tell me I was practicing all night?" I said warily, and Jack smiled.

"Well, at least you got the hang of it!" he laughed, shrugging. "Look, if you need a few moments to wake up, I'll go get some breakfast ready. Snake and spider stew good with you? Worm's wart?" When he saw the confused look I shot up at him, he shook his head. "Worm's wart it is. Don't rush, now. I'll call you when it's ready."

I could tell he wasn't used to a teenaged girl in his presence, let alone in his town.

"Hey, Rosaxi!" I heard a familiar voice call out.

"Akane!" I jumped off the wall and walked over to the ginger-haired girl. "I'm sorry our conversation was interrupted last night, I'm new to this town. Jack needed my help." She nodded her head in understanding, and I sighed with relief.

"Well, as long as he's treating you all right..." Akane replied, and I smiled.

"Of course he is!" I said happily, "He's making breakfast right now. Care to join us?" I was too polite for my own good, and it didn't quite surprise me when Akane accepted my invitation. "Cool, follow me!" I led her to the tower that Jack had showed me on my tour of Halloweentown, a smile plastered on my face.

Nothing But a Rejected Apprentice...

I stood up and glared at Hades.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt him." I said quietly, my blonde and red hair draped over my sky-blue eyes.

"I didn't hurt him." Hades said carefully, resting a blue hand on his chin. "I just... roughed him up a bit. And besides, why do I have to take commands from you? You're nothing but a rejected apprentice."

That brought back hurtful memories of drifting from world to world. I had been to Atlantis, to be mentored by Ursula. Arabia, as an apprentice to Jafar. Neverland, to assist Captain Hook. I was in Olympus now, under Xemnas's orders, to be mentored by Hades. I was bound to be kicked out soon, I knew it.

"I was going to leave soon, anyway, Hades." I growled at him, twitching the black and orange Keyblade in my hand. He looked at me thoughtfully, then nodded.

"I'm not questioning your decision, Rosaxi, but honestly, if you're going to be apprentice to a ton of villains, at least try not to be nice."

I scowled. "Honestly, who said I was off to be stupid intern to another idiot like you, who has nothing better to do but harrass one person, but lose every time it comes to a confrontation? I'm through with villainy, Hades, and you can tell all your friends. I quit." I turned around and headed through the exit.

"You're going to regret this, Rosaxi. You know you will..." I heard Hades call behind me, but I didn't care. There was one world left where I hadn't made a complete fool of myself: Halloweentown. Maybe Sora would be there, and I would have a chance to redeem myself. Just maybe...

I headed toward the largw, ornate gate, only to be almost knocked over by Heartless. "Watch where you're going!" I called, and headed toward the fountain. There, I saw, Sora, Goofy, Donald, and a tall, skeleton man battling a dozen Heartless and Nobodies. I pulled out my Keyblade and smiled. "Sweet, sweet redemption." I whispered. I came up behind one of the Heartless and bashed it over the head. The sudden attack made the other four look up in surprise, so I smiled and waved my Keyblade. Sora looked at me curiously, then waved back. He opened his mouth to say something, but I interrupted. "Alright, we'll catch up later. Let's just get rid of these Heartless first!" I yelled happily for the first time in a while. The joy in my voice shocked me.

When we had finished roughing up the Heartless and Nobodies, Sora walked up to me.

"Whatever happened to Hades?" he asked me, suspicion in his voice.

"I quit." I said simply, "He crossed the line; he promised me he wouldn't hurt Cloud but he did." I got a confused look out of that, but I shook my head. "It's a story for another time."

The tall skeleton man scratched his skull. "Um... pardon me for interrupting this reunion, but who are you?" he asked politely, and I held out my hand.

"I'm Rosaxi." I said happily, and he shook my hand.

"Jack Skellington, Pumpkin King." he replied, and I laughed.

"Well, that's cool." I smiled, and Donald and Goofy looked confused. "I'm entirely good now, being a villain isn't as fun as it used to be." I crossed where my heart would be with my right hand in the air.

The reason why I was so worried about Cloud? I was his Nobody. Anything happened to him and I was screwed. He didn't quite know that yet, though, so he will not stay out of trouble.

"Sora, can you help me? Obviously, I want redemption." I said simply, and Jack interjected.

"You can stay here!" he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. He looked at Sora for confirmation of his brilliant plan.

"I dunno, Jack, your plans don't always prevail..." Sora said weakly, looking from me to Jack.

"Oh, please Sora! I'll fit in perfectly!" I lifted up my orange and black Keyblade, and looked at my new outfit. I looked like a ragdoll, with my patchwork dress and grey, stitched skin. I met Jack's eyes and we both nodded, then looked at Sora with pleading eyes. "Please?" we asked.

"Alright." Sora sighed, and crossed his arms. "Just... stay away from Oogie. He and his henchmen are a little... out of it."

"I promise!" I said eagerly, and started jumping up and down. "I love redemption! Whoo!" I cheered, slapping Jack's bony hand. I was thrilled. I guess redemption was my favourite word now...

Jack was giving me a tour of Halloweentown when we met up with someone who looked like me. "Sally!" Jack said as soon as he saw her. He put a hand on her cheek and kissed her gently on the lips. Her worried expression stayed, however, during the display of affection.

"Jack." Sally said, putting a light, stitched hand on his arm. "Jack, Oogie's sending out more Heartless." she finished, and looked at me and my Keyblade. "Are you with Sora?" she asked me, and I nodded happily. "Rosaxi's going to stay here with us now, Sally!" Jack said, and placed a hand on my head.

"Jack, are you sure about this?" Sally wondered, and he looked a little shocked.

"I'm quite sure, Sally. All she wants is a little redemption." he replied in my behalf.

I interjected, "I've completely turned over a new leaf. I promise!" I crossed my fingers in the air. She looked at me, amused, and turned back to Jack.

"Should we tell Sora? Because, honestly, I don't think we can handle it on our own." she continued. I looked at my Keyblade.

"I can handle it!" I said, lifting up my Keyblade and alomst knocking Jack's jaw off. "Oh, oops!"

KEEP CHECKING UP FOR THE REST!