//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: Spiral Hill // Story: Equestria Ninja Girls: The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge // by RainbowRaptorDash1 //------------------------------// In Halloween Town, Jack and the ninjas emerged from the fountain as the residents cheered. "Just as I suspected." Aria noted. "I need to speak with the Mayor." Jack said. "The Mayor’s in the town hall." Dr. Finkelstein answered as Jack and the ninjas walked into the town hall. "Jack, Aria, it's terrible! I can't find Adagio or Sonata!" The Mayor panicked. "That’s the thing, Mayor. They weren’t with me when we were teleported here. But I’m sure they’re looking for me now." Aria explained. "Oh, that's a relief." The Mayor sighed with a smile. "Anyway, Mayor, we have a favor to ask. Five Holiday Leaders are trapped in Oogie’s hideout." Jack informed. "What?" The Mayor gasped. "We have to follow Oogie to Christmas Town. While we’re gone, we’d like you to kindly escort them to a safe place, and then return each of them to their own worlds." Jack explained. "You want me to save the Holiday Leaders?" The Mayor asked. "Exactly." Jack confirmed. "You can count on me." The Mayor responded with confidence. "Thanks, Mayor." Aria said in gratitude. As the heroes approached the gate, Hanging Tree stopped them. "Guys! I’m so glad you’re okay. Oogie took the Spiral Hill road toward the Hinterlands. But his minions are swarming everywhere. They’re guarding Spiral Hill gate. You’ll probably need Zero to help find the gate key. Go trounce those monsters and save us all." "We will, Hanging Tree. And thanks." Jack responded. "Like I said before, hordes of corpses roam the Graveyard at night. Be careful." The Hanging Tree warned. "We will." Mikey replied. "Everyone, stay in town and lock the gate." Aria said as the citizens of Halloween agreed before the group headed for the cemetery when Zero rushed towards his owner and new friends. "There you are, Zero! We need your help to find the Spiral Hill gate key." Jack said. "If you do it, I'll buy you your favorite doggie treats and take you to see my sisters." Aria offered, replied by a happy bark from Zero as he lead the heroes to the key, only to find it guarded by Oogie's skeletons. "We don't have time for this!" Rainbow Dash growled as she possessed a skeletons and destroyed them. "Move it!" Scootaloo hissed as she sliced through a bunch of skeletons. "I got the key!" Jack informed as he sliced a skeleton while he got the key as Zero barked, being glad to have helped his friends. "Let's get going!" Sweetie Belle urged as she and the other ninjas followed Jack to the gate and charged through the guards. "We can't keep fighting them." Pinkie pointed out as Rainbow Dash dove into an Ogre. "Get behind me!" Rainbow Dash said as she plowed through the skeletons straight to Spiral Hill. "There's the Hinterlands!" Jack called out. "Looks like we got to leave some of the doors here." Aria noticed. "Wait, what?" Mikey asked in confusion as Aria point to a lock shaped as 4 of the doors. "Not good." Pinkie noted. "We'll stay and guard the doors. You guys go on ahead." Apple Bloom said as Jack inserted the doors. "You sure about that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "We can't leave them undefended." Sweetie Belle answered. "Jack, looks like your girlfriend needs you." Scootaloo noticed. "Wait, Sally?!" Jack gasped. "Sal, what are doing here? It's dangerous." Aria said. "I had to warn you. Oogie’s headed for the Hinterlands. I have a bad feeling more trouble is waiting for you guys down this path." Sally warned as Aria poked Jack with her tail, who nodded as music started playing. Jack: You give me strength, you show you care. I can not fail with you so near. I know I'd be lost without you. Jack and Sally: We’ll stand together. Now and forever. And I’ll tell you this very troubled night that we will set things right. "It’s okay, Sally. Nothing’s going to stop me and my friends from returning Halloween Town to how it was before." Jack assured as Sally smiled. "And afterwards, I'm doing something I should've done with you a while back." "Stay with the Crusaders, Sally." Aria advised as Sally nodded. "Make sure she's safe, Crusaders." "Understood." The Crusaders responded as Jack and the other ninjas rushed towards the forest. "Hey, there's a sign." Mikey noticed. "Huh?" Pinkie asked in confusion. "Here lies the Hinterlands, you may enter but you can never leave." Mikey read. "That’s welcoming." Rainbow Dash quipped. "Stay strong, everyone." Jack warned as he and the four ninjas head their weapons ready before entering the Hinterlands.