Riverdale was a very conservative small town, but occasionally new buildings went up. The old ones looked down on these new buildings sullenly, knowing they were not worthy to be in the town. Walking up to the old firehouse with her arms full of boxes, Sabrina Spellman knew how the old buildings felt.

"Your late." Libby announced, making it sound like Sabrina had broken all of the ten commandments.

"Sorry." Sabrina said, walking past Libby and over to the side door of the building. "Overslept."

Riverdale's old firehouse had gone through many incarnations, first as a Church, then a school, then a fire house and finally as a community center. The old building was a 1920's art deco monster with high steeples and gargoyles. The side door to the firehouse creaked slightly as Sabrina pushed it open. Inside was a mountain of toys, some new, some used, some broken and some that were unrecognizable.

"How did I ever get stuck working with you for the Christmas toy drive?" Libby asked, putting her single box on a table with an exagerated grunt.

Sabrina put down her own pile of boxes and tried to ignore the remark, and Libby as well. It wasn't easy. Libby was slightly taller than Sabrina, with long black hair. She was wearing a pair of blue slacks, white blouse and a blue sweater. The outfit was a perfect fit for Libby, but then she wouldn't have it any other way. Libby was attractive, but it took good cloths, good makeup and one hell of an attitude to do it. She had dominated Riverdale Highschool before Sabrina had arrived. It annoyed Libby that some cute jaunty blonde, who should have been relegated to the: "girl next store" role of life was her rival.

"The same way I got stuck with you." Sabrina decided ignoring her would just invite more insults. She took an empty box and set it by the table.

"This ones for broken toys."

How dare she talk to me like that, Libby thought. But she quickly bit back the retort, telling herself that the toy drive was more important. Secretly Libby was terrified of Sabrina. She didn't know why, but she was.

"Well let's get this over with." Libby walked over to one of the boxes. "I have to be out of here by eleven."

"Eleven? I thought we were going till four."

"Well some of us are." Libby said pointedly. "But then some of us aren't meeting Harvey for brunch."

"Oh." The stunned look on her rivals face was quickly covered up, but it thrilled Libby just the same.

"Yes he's going to help me pick out a Christmas tree."

"Oh." Sabrina said again. Quickly she buried her face in one of the boxes. Libby smiled in triumph, though she hid the smile when Sabrina pulled a toy out of the box and turned back to her. Instead the haughty young woman alowed a inocently smug face to greet Sabrina's.

"This ones done I think." she said. In her hand a Xena doll hung lifelessly, one leg bent at an odd angle.

"Ugh." Libby grimaced. "Now why would anyone want a doll like that." Taking the well proportioned doll she held it up. "What a silly figure."

"Boys like that sort of figure." Sabrina said, taking the action figure and tossing it into the box. "Here's her shield." Carelessly she threw that into the box as well.

Well you'll never have to worry then, Libby was about to say but stopped herself. The truth was that neither she nor Sabrina had that sort of figure. Sabrina was shorter than Libby, with a slightly bigger chest and a wider waist but that was all. Libby had scouted Sabrina out in the shower after gym class, and it infuriated her that they could have easily traded cloths.

"If I'm ever suicidal." Libby muttered to herself, noting Sabrina's old jeans and green turtleneck.

"Poor guys." Sabrina said, holding up two more toys. One was a Buzz Lightyear with cracked faceplate and bent wings, the other was a Woody Cowboy with his leg hanging by a slim piece of plastic.

"Don't we have any good toys?" Libby asked, throwing Buzz and Woody into the broken box.

"Not yet." Sabrina replied, pulling out a boxer with no head.

"Barbarians." Libby said. She pointed to the box she had put on the table. "Over in that box is my donation. My Barbie doll."

"A Barbie doll?" Sabrina gave Libby a quizzical look. "And you complained about Xena's figure?"

"Did you bring anything?"

"I don't have anything, remember? I just moved here."

"How could I forget." Libby said sweetly. "Just remember to keep my toys in a separate box.

"Of course." Sabrina said, matching Libby's tone.

Sabrina clenched her fist too keep from casting a spell as Libby and Harvey walked down the street. She turned away as Libby put her arm around him.

"I should have left her as a pineapple." Sabrina muttered, taking Libby's box and putting it down on the floor. For extra measure she kicked it to one side. "What's the use of being a witch if I can't turn my enemies into pineapples?"

"Sabrina?"

Sabrina turned in surprise at the voice. Standing at the entrance to the firehouse was her Aunt Marigold. Marigold was an attractive woman with light brown hair and a perpetually superior look on her face. Sabrina didn't mind her really, she had learned to take her supernatural relatives as they came. But the angry little girl standing next to Marigold scared Sabrina. Amanda was her mother in miniature, with the same shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. A full witch from birth Amanda was better at magic than Sabrina was, and had no qualms about using it.

"Aunt Marigold, what's up?" Sabrina asked, turning from the box.

"Can you watch Amanda for me for this afternoon? I have things to do."

"She's meeting with her lawyers about the divorce." Amanda said.

"I don't think Sabrina needs to know that dear." Marigold said tightly.

Is she really your daughter or some horrible clone experiment gone wrong, Sabrina wondered. They were dressed in matching Christmas patterned dresses, white stockings and leather shoes.

"I guess so." Sabrina said, trying to keep the despair out of her voice. She really didn't want to, but was too polite to refuse.

"Good." Marigold bent down and adjusted her daughters cloths. "Be good darling, or else."

With that she vanished, leaving Sabrina and Amanda alone amongst the toys.

The first time Sabrina had met Amanda was Halloween. Aside from her aunts Hilda and Zelda, Sabrina had never met any of her other supernatural relatives. After meeting Amanda she never wanted to. Amanda was a spoiled brat, worse she was one with good hearing. Sabrina had been stuck in a jar for hours after muttering: "brat" under her breath.

"So." Sabrina said, putting a cheerful front. Amanda met her front with a resistance of sulk. "I don't suppose you want to help with me the toys?"

"No."

"Do you want to greet people as they drop off toys?"

"No."

"Do you want to sit there and sulk?"

Again cheerful met sulk and lost. Sighing Sabrina went back to sorting the toys.

"What are you doing anyway?" Amanda demanded.

"It's a Christmas toy drive." Sabrina said, putting a good GI-Joe back into his box. "People drop off their old toys, we fix them up and then have a big party for the kids at the orphanage."

"Why not just give them money?"

"Toy's are traditional." Sabrina said, though that same question had occurred to her more than once. "It's also a good way to clean out a closet."

"Good idea." Amanda said. There was a flash of light and smoke and Sabrina whirled to see another box on the floor. "I don't play with these anymore."

"Thanks." Sabrina said, surprised to find a generous impulse in the witch.

"Besides after Mother and Father get divorced they'll have to give me all new toys to get over their guilt."

"Yea, keep happy thoughts." Sabrina opened the box and pulled out a board game. On the box was a picture of a cartoon like dungeon. In one corner a Boris Karloff look-a- like held a branding iron. A cute cheerleader was strapped to a wrack.

"I won all the time." Amanda bosted.

"Mr. Karloff's house of Torture?" Sabrina read. "Complete with rack, thumb screws and victim. Do not sell to under two years of age." She opened the box and quickly closed it as a scream of terror filled the room.

"We can't give this to anyone."

"Why not?"

"Because I have to babysit some of these kids and I don't want to give them any ideas."

Sabrina reached in and pulled out a small action figure. It was a man dressed in black robes with what seemed to be a hundred nails pounded into his head. Sabrina grimaced, but put him into the box with Libby's Barbie.

"Here." Amanda said.

Sabrina recoiled as a Freddy Krueger doll and a Jason doll were shoved into her face. She took the Freddy doll in her hand and yelled in surprise, dropping him.

"Hey!" Sabrina looked at the small drop of blood on her finger. "Those claws are sharp."

"Of course they are." Amanda said, picking Freddy up and throwing him into the box with Pinhead and Barbie. "So's Jason's ax. Don't you want toys that are in good condition?"

"We can't give dangerous toys to children!" Sabrina protested.

"My toys aren't dangerous!"

"They are to mortals."

"Hey!" Amanda protested as Sabrina took the Freddy and Jason dolls and put them into the broken toy box.

"We aren't giving those toys to anybody." Sabrina said.

"Oh yea?" Amanda launched her spell, but her cousin was ready for it. One of the first things she had done after Halloween was look up a shield spell. Sabrina never wanted to be sealed in a jar again.

"Stop it Amanda, your not putting me in another jar."

"I don't have to put you in a jar!" Amanda shouted, pointing with both fingers. The world around Sabrina collapsed and she passed out.

Claustrophobic was the only word for how Sabrina felt when she woke up. Unlike the time Amanda had put her into a jar this time Sabrina really felt trapped. The world looked different as she opened her eyes. It was blurred for one thing, but beyond that colors were slightly duller shades. Amanda's distorted face hung before her, an evil smile on the witches face.

"Let's see who gets you for Christmas." she laughed. Sabrina felt her stomach drop as Amanda threw her into the box. She landed hard and lay stunned and unmoving. The only view she had of the firehouse was the old tin ceiling.

"Amanda?"

"Help!" Sabrina shouted, or tried to. Her voice sounded small even to her, and suddenly things got foggy. She tried to move only to find herself strapped to something.

"Where's your cousin?" Marigold asked.

"She had to leave for a few minutes."

"Well we can't stay."

"Ok, just let me take this box out to the trash, I promised Sabrina I would."

The world whirled about Sabrina as Amanda picked up the box and carried it to the alley.

"Hope you like the dump." she said cheerfully.

Sabrina saw the flash of light as Marigold and Amanda departed and her heart sank. Then she took a deep breath and tried to think through the situation. Amanda had shrunk her again, that much was obvious. But what else had the devil spawn done? Sabrina's head was strapped against something, as was the rest of her body. Aside from being tied down some sort of semi-transparent, form fitting mold held her in place. She was completely helpless, only able to move her hands. She struggled for a few minutes before realizing it was hopeless.

"Found her." said a strangely familiar voice.

"Right, give me a hand." said another voice.

Abruptly her world was lifted up, dropped and the helpless witch landed on her stomach. Sabrina tried to stay calm as she heard sounds of tearing behind her. She was lifted back in and arc and again landed on her back. The mold at least stayed where it was, so this time her sight was clearer.

But what she saw shocked her. Looking down at her was Xena, Buzz and Woody. All toys.

"Don't move." Xena said. "We'll have you free in a second."

"I'm tied up, how can I move?" Sabrina asked.

Xena didn't answer, but with Buzz and Woody's help unstraped Sabrina from the cardboard. Sabrina sat up, totally fixed on the three of them. Woody was the tallest. A foot (inch?) taller than Buzz. He wore brown boots, bluejeans, a yellow plain work shirt with a cowskin vest. Just as in the movie: "Toy story" his face was human, but oddly distorted. The eyes were a little too big, the face a little too thin. His cowboy hat and brown hair saved him from looking too odd. One leg broken nearly off he supported himself with a pen. Beside him stood Buzz, in his white spacesuit. The upper part of the suit was crested in light green. On the crest was the eagle like emblem of Star Command denoting his rank as space ranger. Like Woody he was humanoid, but not quite perfect. His face was presented to the world with an eternally out-thrust chin and wide eyes. He still managed to look the hero, even with his cracked faceplate and bent wings. Xena was the one who truly looked human. Sabrina had watched her show and it looked like the action figure had been molded from the actresses body. Standing a little taller than Buzz she wore a tight bustier with patterned metal attached. A short skirt was also patterned with armored metal. Like Woody she wore boots. Her face was framed by brown hair, and aside from the fact that she had no ears was normal. Also like Woody her leg was nearly gone. She supported herself by leaning on her shield. It was eerie to see them move, Xena especially since her hair didn't move or flow when she did. Being molded plastic the hair stayed where it was.

Slowly Sabrina stood up, struggling to take it all in. Only then did she realize that these were the same toys she had carelessly thrown away.

"How do you feel?" Xena asked.

"Stiff." Sabrina replied, flexing her arms. Looking down she saw that she was wearing a black dress, belted at the waist and ending in tatters at her knees. The Dress also revealed more cleavage than she would have liked, or for that matter had ever had. "What did Amanda do to me?"

"She changed you into a toy." Woody said, pointing.

Sabrina followed his arm to the cardboard they had just freed her from. A yellow moon with a witch on a broom blazed at her from the cover. The caption read: "Incredible Witch doll, can do anything. Torture set sold separately."

"I'm going to kill her!" Sabrina swore. "Wait a minute, Amanda changed me into a toy." she turned to them. "Why did she make you come alive?"

"We didn't come alive." Xena said. "We already were alive. Normally you just wouldn't know it."

"Wait a minute, you mean to tell me that every toy ever made comes alive when no one is looking? That movie got it right?"

"Of course, you don't think kids could keep their rooms that messy without help do you?" Woody asked.

"So when are you born? When you roll off the assembly line?"

"It happens differently for everyone, and no one knows how or when. We just are."

"Of course some of us take a while to get it." Woody said, looking at Buzz.

"And some of us have more interesting backgrounds than others." Buzz replied, returning Woody's look. "We explored the galaxy, while others hearded quadruped mammals to their doom."

"Oh and like you didn't eat in the Space Rangers?"

"Concentrated protein capsules." Buzz said proudly.

"Enough." Xena commanded.

"OK, so each of you is based on the characters in the movies or on tv, are you telling me there's a million little Darth Vaders out there planning to take over the world?"

"Not the world, just the toy box."

"Truly there are some toys who live under oppression." Buzz said. "But only until a hero toy arrives to free them."

"After all," Xena said, "have you ever known a child to have only a villain doll?"

"I bet Amanda did. So what happens when a kid throws you away?" Sabrina asked.

"We die." Xena said simply.

"Or you end up in a Toy Drive." Woody said sadly. "The next to the last roundup."

"And if your broke it's the last stop period." Xena declared.

Sabrina looked at each of them. Buzz with his broken wings and cracked faceplate, Woody with one of his arms hanging by a thread and Xena whose leg was horribly bent.

"Sorry." Sabrina said, remembering how she had thrown them carelessly into the box.

"You didn't know." Xena said.

Sabrina thought of all the toys she had played with over the years, and wondered what happened to them.

"Don't feel bad." Xena said, putting her arm around the young witches shoulder. "We know who we are and what we are, and what our place is in the universe. Besides we don't just die."

"Oh here she's goes again." Woody complained.

"What?"

"There is a legend among us." Buzz said, gazing toward the top of the box toward the sky "That a toy who has lived honorably and loved a child as much as the child has loved him, that toy is granted a life."

"It's known as the Velvatin Legend." Xena said. "If we live our toy lives as good as we can, if we help children understand the true beauty and fun of life, we get a life of our own, in our own worlds."

"So Woody gets to be a real cowboy, Buzz gets to be a Space Ranger and you..." Sabrina paused. "You don't exactly get to go to a great life you know."

"Everything has drawbacks." Xena replied matter-of- factly. "But I am Xena, like her I know you have to take the good with the bad if want you a real life. But we won't get one if you don't help us."

"What?"

"We never had a chance." Woody explained. "Buzz and I were gifts of a boy and girlfriend. They met at Burger King and we were the gifts. But they fought a lot."

"It was a difficult two months." Buzz said.

"I was stolen by the class bully." Xena said. "On my second day out of the box. If the three of us are going to have any sort of live we need your help."

"My help?"

"Your a witch, you can fix us and we can get you home."

"Then you can get us into some homes where we have a chance." Woody finished.

"Oh." It made sense. "I'll try, but I'm not sure how much power I have. I've only been a witch for a few months."

"Just try." Xena said, holding out her leg.

Sabrina pointed and concentrated, summoning a power that was still new to her. For a long time she searched her spirit. Sabrina's body was plastic now, or she was sure there would have been sweat on her forehead. She fought the panic that rose within her, wondering if the power was gone. Strange, she thought, that a power so new would be so much a part of her. Just as she thought it was gone she felt it. The power flowed from her finger and enveloped the Xena doll. After a moment the leg snapped into place. As the warrior doll flexed the leg Sabrina let out a long breath.

"Well, one down." the witch said, trying to sound better than she was. Buzz was next, then Woody. As the cowboys leg snapped into place Sabrina felt the world swim around her. The next thing she knew the young witch was on her back at the bottom of the box looking up at them.

"Not as powerful as I thought I was." Sabrina gasped out.

"You did fine." Xena said. "Rest. Then we'll try and get you home."

"What a touching scene."

The voice was vaguely familiar to Sabrina, she looked up at the edge of the box. Standing there was Libby's Barbie, beside her stood Pinhead and flanking both of them were Amanda's Freddy and Jason dolls.

"I did so hate to interrupt, but I was going to be sick."

Sabrina had never had a Barbie doll, her mother had called it sexist. At the time Sabrina had shrugged and gone back to her blocks. Never in her life had she felt threatened by one. But this Barbie was different. She towered over the other toys, dressed in a blue sequined dress with matching slippers. There was a gleam of malice in her perpetually perky eyes, a cruel grin on her perfect face.

"What do you want?" Xena said, her voice hard.

"We want her." Libby's Barbie said.

"Or to be more precise we want her soul." Pinhead announced. Unlike the Barbie's sickly sweet voice his was hoarse, like he had something in his throat. "Her blood shall be as sweet nectar, her screams a symphony of agony."

"And she'll be just the first bimbo." Freddy piped up, in the same voice that had so often scared children. He wore torn jeans and a red stripped shirt with an old fedora hat. The face under the hat burned with scars. Beside him Jason, dressed in a pair of white coveralls and hockey mask nodded.

"You'll have to go through us to get her." Buzz declared in his best hero voice.

"Yep," Woody said, "Buzz I think thats their plan."

"Stay behind us." Xena said, helping Sabrina against the side of the box. "Your not ready to take them yet."

With a wild scream the evil toys attacked. Jason and Freddy were first into the fray. Jason was met by Woody, Freddy ran into Buzz. Pinhead, a rusty nail in his hand faced Xena. Barbie stayed on the edge of the box and watched, a evil twist to her painted smile. Still groggy Sabrina tried to focus on the fight. The first thing she realized was that her new friends were at a distinct height disadvantage. Freddy and Jason were at least two inches taller than Woody, with Pinhead an inch taller than both of them. Woody made up for the height problem by being quicker than Jason, who swung his ax as if it weighed tons. Woody dodged the ax and responded with quick uppercuts and blows to the stomach. Freddy was also having more problems than his movies would have suggested. His claws while sharp could do little against Buzz Light years armor. Buzz hit the monster with hard chops. Xena parried her opponents rusty nail with her shield, then kicked him away. The battle was different from any fight Sabrina had ever seen. Though the toys mimicked human movements they did so with less grace. She had the impression of watching some bizare puppet show. Suddenly Libby's Barbie leapt down, landing on top of Xena. While they grappled Pinhead rushed toward her, nail ready.

Sabrina screamed, still too weak to defend herself. She managed to put up her arm. Pinhead batted it aside and grabbed her throat. Slamming her against the side of the box he held the point of the nail against her chest.

"By all the powers of darkness..." the demon started to intone. Out of the corner of her eye Sabrina saw Xena throw her shield against the box. It went partially through the cardboard and stayed there. The warrior doll cursed, but was still struggling with Barbie.

"Buzz!" Xena called.

The spaceman ducked suddenly, dodging Freddy's bladed glove and pivoted to oneside, snapping his wings open as he did so. The wings caught Freddy into the stomach and sent him sprawling.

Pinhead was still intoning a chant and a red glow began to surround Sabrina. The young witch felt her life being drawn away, as if some vampire had bit into her throat. She was falling into some deep dark pool of water, drowning. Pinhead began to look more human, his flesh turning from the dull white of plastic to a fuller, softer grey.

"Desist villain!" Buzz commanded, grabbing Pinhead around the waist he picked the demon up and threw him away. Sabrina fell to her knees, gasping for breath.

An air horn sounded in the alley, freezing all of them. It was repeated again and again at regular intervals. Suddenly the box began to move. Through a haze Sabrina realized the sound of a garbage tuck backing up. With a massive effort she cast a levitation spell. Xena, Buzz, Woody and Sabrina shot straight up and out of the box.

The flight made Sabrina feel even weaker than she was. With the desperate strength born of blind panic she kept them going up and up. They were feathers in a breeze and it softly pushed them into the side of the building. As soon as she hit the bricks Sabrina blacked out.

"No!" Libby's Barbie screeched, tearing her way toward the top of the box. "I will not be cheated of life by that freak!"

"You so sure about that honey?" Freddy asked.

"You bet your blades I'm sure." the evil doll snarled. Reaching down she grabbed the boxing gloves off of a broken toy. "Come on."

With Libby leading the way the evil quartet climbed out of the box and onto the edge of the garbage truck. They waited for a red light then jumped out and ran into an alley.

"It would seem that you are wrong." Pinhead said, gazing about them. "In such a gargantuan city even our evil is rendered impotent."

"No it isn't." Libby's Barbie walked over to the mouth of the alley and looked around. they were on the edge of a vast parking lot. To the farside was a grocery store. "Not if that store makes deliveries."

It was the second time that day Sabrina had woken up from passing out. It was also the second time in her young life she had passed out. She wasn't enjoying it. Far from the gradual return to conciseness that accompanied a good nights sleep, waking up from such trauma was like jumping into an ice cold river. She bolted upright, looking for the enemy.

"Easy little lady." Woody said.

"What happened?"

"Ya want a full recap or just a general update?" Woody asked.

"Update me." Sabrina said, climbing unsteadily to her feet. As soon as she looked around the young witch felt dizzy again. They were on the fire escape. Bars of metal that seemed to be spaced two feet apart were all that kept her from a fall. A fall that looked to be about Grand Canyon in scale. She gave out a little gasp and locked her arms around Woody's neck.

"Easy little lady, your safe."

"I am?" Sabrina asked, looking down again. The distance didn't seem as great now.

"Yep. Those varmints are on their way to the city dump, and we are on our way to your place."

"We are...Good." Sabrina got her breath back and began to calm down. "Where are Buzz and Xena?"

"Down here." Xena called.

She and Buzz were standing next to the oddest contraption Sabrina had ever seen. A garbage can lid had been turned upside-down. At three corners bungee cords attached it to a mass of toy balloons. The balloons were held together by tape and Christmas tree garnish. Buzz filled up another balloon from a tank of helium and Xena attached it to the others.

"Why do I have the feeling that's not just another decoration?"

"Well you want to try walking back to your place?"

Sabrina considered it for a moment, then realized that four toys on Christmas had no chance of getting through Riverdale.

Xena planted her self and the jumped onto the top balloons, using that as a springboard to reach the fire escape. She landed on her feet as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"We can't chance walking." Xena said. "And this way will be faster."

"How do you know that things going to fly?" Sabrina asked, looking down. Her strength was returning even if her mind was still a bit scattered.

"I beg your pardon miss." Buzz said, climbing up the wall and flipping himself over to the landing. "Elementary areophysics was taught to all Star Command cadets."

"Your a toy!" Sabrina shouted. "You've never been to Star Academy!" she turned to Woody. "Didn't he get this in the movie?"

"The movie didn't get all the facts right." Xena said. "Each of us is born knowing they are a toy, but they are also born with all the knowledge that their characters would have. That's how Pinhead knew that a toy can gain life if it steals the soul of a witch or fairy."

"Oh." Sabrina realized she hadn't thought of that part of it. She had just taken it for granted that Pinhead knew what he was doing. "Wait a minute, what about Libby's Barbie? She's not based on any movie."

"Airhead toys like her give the rest of us a bad name." Woody said.

"Because they have no character to begin, with Barbie and Ken dolls gain their personality from the children who play with them." Xena said.

"So Libby's Barbie is basically Libby." Sabrina asked. Xena nodded. "Oh great."

"Relax, right now she's landfill." Woody said.

Libby's Barbie settled herself onto the package of Twinkies and held onto the sides of the bag. Further down the bag Jason and Freddy slowly chipped away at some child safety caps. Pinhead jammed his nail into the side of an apple and leaned on it.

"And then..." she trailed off.

"And then shall evil consume this place." Pinhead finished.

The balloon rose slowly. Sabrina held a death grip on the side of the garbage can, cautiously peering over the edge.

"I'm not sure about this." she said, stuttering a little.

"Your a witch." Xena told her. "One of your basic powers is control of the weather."

"Yea." Sabrina agreed cautiously. The first time she had tried a weather spell a blizzard had erupted in the Spellman household. Still there was nothing left to do but try. Focusing her mind and soul the young witch concentrated and cast the spell. A light breeze blew, gently pushing the balloons. It stuttered a bit at first, then grew steady and held.

"We're off." Woody said.

They were silent for a time as Buzz made adjustments on the balloons. Sabrina envied him, the way he moved about unconcerned. For herself, the young witch was awed at the sight of Riverdale from the air. It seemed large, intimidating, like the old black and white photo's she had seen of New York. Instead of concrete and steal towers Sabrina saw two and three story houses. Only a few of them had no Christmas decorations. She turned back from the edge of the lid and settled down in the center. Xena, Buzz and Woody were gazing out over the edge.

"What's it like being a toy?" Sabrina asked.

"It's not so bad." Xena replied, turning toward her.

"If you get the right kid." Woody added. "If you get a kid that needs you."

"I had one like that." Xena said. "Her name was Jainy. Skinny, clumsy, unsure of herself. She didn't have any friends, but she had quite an imagination." The warrior toy smiled. "First hour out of the box she had me fighting Lord Zed for the honor of Raggedy Ann."

"Isn't that a little silly?" Sabrina asked.

"Not to a seven year old."

"The point is it doesn't matter what they do with you." Woody told her. "What matters is they do something."

"We teach them how to use their imaginations." Buzz finished.

Sabrina shuddered.

"Cold?" Xena asked.

"No, just thinking what Freddy, Jason and Pinhead taught Amanda."

"Or worse what they learned from her." Xena remarked.

They all shuddered.

"Where are they?" Libby's Barbie snarled.

"If that is indeed her house, they will come." Pinhead said.

"Oh it is." Libby's Barbie said. They were in Sabrina's back yard. Sabrina's house was a magical one of course. Built by her aunts Hilda and Zelda, and showing in it's design, their competing life styles. It had the dignity and style of a small Victorian mansion, and the lopsided grace of an old western saloon. The backyard was also a result of competition between the two sisters. As summer ended Hilda told Zelda to clean up the yard. Zelda said she would. In fact she said she would after memorial day, after the end of September, after Thanksgiving... She now maintains it will be done sometime in February. Scattered around the yard was a badmiton net, small trampoline, pieces of a hot tub (shattered during a Fourth of July party) and other bits of summer flotsam.

Libby's Barbie and Pinhead stood in the shelter of some garbage cans, with a clear view to the back and the side of the house. Freddy and Jason kept watch at the front of the house.

"If she has been delayed by some other toy or party our vigil will prove fruitless." Pinhead observed.

"She'll come." Libby's Barbie said. "My girl knew that freak, she's a pest, but she's a resourceful pest. If only she had known they little witch was a witch."

"You are right, she comes."

"Where?"

"There." Pinhead pointed. Libby's Barbie looked up and saw the makeshift balloon.

"Perfect." she declared. "Get Freddy and Jason, I've got a way that will take care of her friends and give us Sabrina to boot."

"There's my house." Sabrina said.

"Starting descent." Buzz reported, slowly letting the air out of one of the balloons. Sabrina let her breeze die off and the aircraft floated in a graceful arc to toward the ground. Sabrina stood up and was just about call out for her aunts or Salem when the evil toys struck. A stream of water hit her in the stomach, sending backwards over the edge of the lid. Xena made a grab for her but missed. Just then Freddy leapt off of the trampoline and sliced through the balloons with his glove. Woody, Buzz and Xena dropped like a stone into an open garbage can. Once they were in Jason sealed the lid.

Sabrina landed in the badmitton net and was quickly entangled. A laughing Pinhead threw a hood over her head, while someone else forced her hands into gloves. Twisting and squirming the young witch was forced onto her back and tied down. Her hands arms were pulled above her head and tied to something. Her ankles were bound together. Then the hood was snapped off. Standing above her was Libby's Barbie, Jason, Freddy and Pinhead.

"Some toys are just hard to throw away." Libby's Barbie laughed.

Sabrina started to cast a spell only to have Libby's Barbie twist a bit of the netting around her head and into her mouth.

"You think there's going to be anything left?" Freddy asked, squatting down and running one of his blades along Sabrina's leg. The helpless young witch squirmed and snarled at them through her gag.

"Do not condemn us my dear." Pinhead said. "After all we are mere toys. Can we be faulted if man gives his children evil to play with?"

"Piece of junk." Xena swore, shredding her plastic shield on the side of the garbage can. In disgust she threw it away. Above her Buzz and Woody hammered at the lid. The garbage can was old, weather vinyl. Small holes let light in, but also allowed the toys to see what was going on outside. With all of her strength Xena tore at the holes, but to no avail. Falling back she felt something hard against her back. Turning she tore the plastic bag apart. A can lid gleamed in the dim light.

Salem yawned and stretched as he woke from his nap. The tinsel from the tree tickled his ears and he ducked. Salem wasn't big on Christmas, at least not this Christmas. Christmas as a cat just wasn't the same as when he had a human form. He sighed, wishing for the billionth time that his plan for world domination had worked. The idea of everyone in the world giving him presents was appealing. Realizing he was in danger of becoming depressed Salem headed upstairs. Sabrina had a new sweater, and shredding one of her sweaters always cheered him up. Besides he hadn't read her diary in a while. He was passing by the window when he glanced outside.

"Powers of Darkness Eternal!" Pinhead chanted. Sabrina pulled and twisted with the strength born of pure panic. Twice so far the demon doll had brought the nail to her chest, only to draw back at the last moment. She wasn't sure if it was part of the ritual or Pinhead playing a sadistic game with her.

"Get on with it." Libby's Barbie snarled.

Pinhead gave her an annoyed glance but brought the nail up above his head. Just before he brought it down something silver flashed by them and Sabrina felt her wrist come free. She wrenched herself sideways as the nail came down, missing her. Pinhead screamed with rage as Xena tackled him. Freddy and Jason were roped by Woody and Buzz and pulled down into a struggling melee.

Unfortunately that left Libby's Barbie free. Kicking Sabrina in the chest the personification of malevolent perkyness held the young witch down with a foot on her throat.

"Die!" she screeched holding the nail above her head. Again Sabrina saw her life ending as the rusty nail descended, and again she was saved at the last moment. A wall of black fur hit Libby's Barbie and she sailed away like a bullet out of a gun.

"Sabrina?" her aunt Hilda's gigantic face loomed over her.

Early on Sabrina had learned that magical spells were highly personalized. Each had a effect and feeling all their own, depending on who cast them. Amanda's spell had felt like a phaser shot. Her aunt Hilda's counter spell felt like a warm shower. The world blurred for a moment, then returned to normal.

"Alright!" Sabrina said delightedly, looking at herself. She was back in her jeans and turtleneck, and back at her normal height.

"I don't know." Woody said, sitting on an overturned tea cup on the table. Beside him were Xena and Buzz. "I sort of liked you as a toy."

"I'll get her yet!" Libby's Barbie shouted.

"Dream on plastic girl." Salem said, eyeing the evil dolls. They were all sealed into a bird cage. Libby's Barbie was sitting on the perch, while Pinhead, Freddy and Jason were standing by the bars.

"She is right." Pinhead said. "Now that we know there are witches in this town we will come for you." he smiled. "Toys are so easy to miss, you can lay yourself down to sleep and not notice us."

"And there's no where you can put us we won't come back!" Libby's Barbie pronounced, smiling.

"How about we put you in the microwave?" Sabrina said, scornfully looking down at them.

"We can't murder them." Hilda protested.

"I could." Sabrina retorted.

"No you couldn't." Pinhead said. "You are a good person, and evil thrives on the mercy of the good."

"He's right." Zelda said, picking up the phone. She smiled, punching some numbers. "But then some of us aren't so good. Morticia" she said into the phone "hi, it's Zelda. How would you like some toys for Wensday and Pugsly?"

"Who?" Sabrina started to ask, but Hilda hushed her.

"You would, great." Zelda gestured and the cage vanished. "Tell Wensday the Barbie is a special gift."

"Your giving them away?" Sabrina couldn't believe it.

"Trust me." Hilda said. "By the time the Addams kids are done those toys will be in no condition to bother anyone.

"That just leaves us." Xena said. "And I have an idea."

"I thought you would." Sabrina said.

The living room was small, almost cramped. Sabrina flashed into the room silently, quickly looking around. The furniture was old, the walls dim with faded paint. She felt a thin rug beneath her feet. On a couch was a little girl asleep in her mothers arms. They both had red hair and virtually the same face. But even though sleep had softened the mothers face, Sabrina could still see the exhaustion there.

"That's them." Xena said, hanging out of Sabrina's pocket. "Jane and Jainy."

"She looks nice." Woody said.

"That's her mother?" Sabrina asked, putting the toys on the floor.

"Yea, the father cut out about a year ago." Xena said. "She's doing ok though."

"Well your the expert." Sabrina said doubtfully looking around. Through a doorway into the kitchen she could see dirty dishes in the sink. A small tv in the corner sported a bizarre tin foil antenna. "Sure you guys don't want to stay with me? We could have a lot of fun."

"It's a nice thought, but no." Woody said, climbing up the couch.

"We have worlds to explore." Buzz added climbing up behind him.

With a leap Xena made it to the top of the couch and helped them up.

"Besides, your a little old for us."

"Yea." Sabrina said sadly. "I guess so." Suddenly she wanted to be five years old again. Stop it, Sabrina thought, you've been there, done that. Reaching into another pocket she pulled out a small metal ring. Carefully she handed it to Xena.

"Thanks." Xena said, taking it. "I always wanted a chakram, that shield they gave me never worked."

"My aunt helped me with this one. If you ever get stolen again, or need anything, just say my name and throw it."

"Thanks." Xena said, attaching it to her belt.

"Yea." Sabrina stood up. From a pouch attached to her belt she took out a small bit of dust. It was the same dust, so her aunts told her, that Santa himself used. She sprinkled it onto Jane's face. It glowed green and the lines faded slightly. When she woke up Jane would never realize that she hadn't gotten Jainy her knew toys.

A small smile lighting her face Sabrina went to work. In a magical maelstrom that was as dramatic as it was silent things got done. The dishes were washed done and put away. The tv antenna straightened itself out, the metal reforming and every speck of dust in the house vanished. For a grande finally she re-wove the carpet.

"Impressive." Xena remarked when the young witch was done.

"Thanks." Sabrina said. She saw the sun start to lighten the sky. "Time to go."

"Farewell." Buzz called, settling himself against Jainy.

"See ya." Woody called.

"Goodby." Xena said.

Sabrina had an instant vision of the next morning. Suddenly she realized that the faded walls and thin rug wouldn't have meant a thing. For a moment she felt envious, then glad. The young witch let that joy power her magic and vanished.

end.

Epilogue:

Freddy and Jason didn't dare struggle as Pugsly clamped them down to his home made electric chair.

"Gentlemen," he said with a serious tone, "you have been found guilty of bad sequels. You deserve your fate."

Their eyes lit up as the current ran through them. Across the playroom Wensday carefully laid another brush stroke to her diarama. Libby's Barbie, her evening gown torn and tattered, was stretched out on a rack. A smiling Pin- Head had hold of the wheel.

"That looks great." Pugsly said, walking over to her. Behind him the current continued to flow.

"I'm not sure the mold is the right shade of green." Wensday said criticaly.

"Children, time for lunch." Morticia called.

After the children left Libby's Barbie spared a look at the plastic puddles that were Freddy and Jason. Then she turned her head back to Pinhead.

"Those brats!" she swore. "She's gone, you can stop pulling."

Pinhead smiled and let go of the wheel. Turning he walked over to a small bench. Wensday had been very exact on her torture chamber diarama. He admired the girls attention to detail.

"Where are you going? Get me out of this thing!"

"We, as toys, must teach our children." Pinhead said, turning back to the captive Barbie doll. He laughed as he uncoiled the whip.