Malleus, Sebek, Grim, the prefect, Vil, Epel, Riddle, Trey, Azul, Jade, Jamil, and Leona, visit an off-campus book fair. Grim discovers a mysterious book that he opens, resulting in the group being transported to a place called “The Hinterlands” where they are greeted by Skully J. Graves, a 16-year-old student mage who was also suddenly transported after seeing a strange book.
After scouting the area Malleus reveals that, after a certain point, he lost the ability to use his magic. After getting too close to a tree with a picture of a pumpkin on it Skully falls through what seems to be a door. He grabs onto Grim, ultimately resulting in the entire group following after him.
They are met by Jack Skellington, whom Skully reveals he has always idolized, though they are meeting for the first time.
Jack escorts them to Halloweentown where they meet Sally, whom Skully says is also adored by the people of his village. Jack offers to show the group how to return home after they contribute ideas for Halloween and join in on the celebrations in three days’ time.
Skully describes his ideal Halloween as being silent, where no one over dresses and everyone eats modest food with no need for candy, but his every suggestion is disputed by the Night Raven College students.
Jack sides with the NRC group, shocking Skully, but he agrees to abide by Jack’s decision.
After a day of assisting with Halloween preparations, the students spend the first night in Town Hall. Skully confides his concern about their lack of respect for tradition to Sebek, who assures him that such doubts are things that can be resolved through Skully’s own thoughts and actions. (Skully: “I knew from the start that you were someone wonderful. But now I’m struck with awe anew.”)
They meet Lock, Shock, and Barrel, who begin to cause various forms of mischief, including enraging Malleus. In order to deescalate the situation Skully uses his unique magic of the three children: the ability to turn people in Jack o’ lanterns.
The group spends another day preparing for Halloween and Skully approaches Lock, Shock, and Barrel, asking for their help “in achieving a holiday true to what Halloween is supposed to represent.”
After confirming with Jack that he does prefer the modern version of Halloween introduced to him by the NRC students to Skully’s idea of a more traditional Halloween Skully drugs and kidnaps him, taking the prefect and Grim along.
Jamil learns what happened from Zero and the Mayor calls upon everyone in town to find where Skully has taken Jack. The students run into Lock, Shock and Barrel, whom Skully has tasked with keeping them occupied until Halloween is over.
Sebek follows Zero to Skully, saying he is disappointed in him, and Skully says he will accept the criticism: “After all, who could possibly understand the emptiness I feel? Mr. Skellington was nothing like l’d envisioned. All that I do, I do for my beloved Halloween. I shall put myself on the line and fight.”
Skully declares that no one shall have his Halloween (“There’s an emptiness in my heart where my longing once resided. That must be why l am in such anguish!”) and turns Sebek into a pumpkin, blaming everything he has done on Jack for betraying him.
Leona appears, turning all the attack spells that Skully aims at him into sand.
Lock, Shock and Barrel appear only to attack Skully and tie him up, with Jamil revealing that they are under his control via his Unique Magic.
Skully has an emotional breakdown (Jamil: “Now he’s throwing a temper tantrum like a literal toddler…”), exclaiming that it isn’t fair that Sebek had someone to idolize (Malleus), a friend (Zero) and companions (Leona and Jamil) while has never had anyone.
Skully breaks himself free with magic and goes berserk, throwing magic spells at random, while bemoaning how wrong he has been his whole life and how he can no longer believe in the person he once idolized.
Sebek uses his unique magic on Skully to immobilize him and lectures him on not pushing his idea of what someone should be onto them: “Differences of opinion are entirely separate from one’s capacity for enduring admiration. Your own personal shortcomings are what truly torment you!”
Skully confesses his crime to Jack, who is delighted by his motivation, passion and love. Jack reiterates that spending a traditional Halloween alone defeats the purpose and that Halloween needs to keep evolving, saying that he respects Skully for caring so much about the holiday.
Skully realizes his problem was failing to understand that Halloween is always evolving.
The group returns to town to finish preparations and Skully apologizes to Sebek.
Skully seems to recognize the names of the school’s dorms, saying, “It truly was the hand of fate that steered me toward you lovely personages!,” but he does not explain what it is that he has realized.
The students participate in the town’s Halloween celebrations without issue, after which Skully declares that he intends to spend the rest of his life spreading the word that Halloween is lively, loud and lavish.
Jack shows the group to the door that will take them home, telling Skully that he is certain that he could become the king of his world’s Halloween. Skully hesitates when it is time to say goodbye, saying that he can tell that they will never meet again, but will always be able to see each other on Halloween.
After returning to Sage’s Island the group (sans Skully) has no recollection of where they had been or what they had been doing, though Sebe says it feels as though they are missing someone, Jamil says he hears a smooching noise and Leona says the back of his hand has started itching.
They return to the school where Crowley is carrying a portrait of a student who graduated from NRC centuries ago, the person who raised Halloween in the world from a minor event and built the foundation of the Halloween that everyone enjoys present day, the King of Halloween: Skully J. Graves.
Sebek observes, “I’ve never seen him before, but I feel like I know him…”
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 