UPDATE FINALLY! Please enjoy!

Chapter 24

"Where's Shock?" Lock complained, sitting at the table with his fourth serving of free food.

"Probably still getting ready," Barrel answered, with a mouth full of food, also gobbling down on his fourth serving.

"She barely ever brushes her hair, so what's taking her so long?"

"Maybe Sally's taking a long time."

Lock rolled his eyes, "Sally doesn't need to take a long time to get ready, she's already pretty enough."

"What?" Jack asked with a smog grin, hearing their entire conversation.

Lock snapping his head around responded back with, "What?" Attempting to play dumb, hoping Jack had missed what he had just said...

Meanwhile Sally was just finishing up the final touches of makeup to get Shock ready for the dance.

Normally the rag doll would disapprove of her wearing makeup at her young age (Jack would have a fit when he saw) but Sally really wanted Shock to feel girly and pretty tonight, besides it wasn't much makeup. Just a little bit of lipstick, mascara, blush, and maybe some eye shadow.

"Don't poke my eye out," Shock warned while Sally applied the mascara.

"I won't," Sally hummed.

"Can I look now?" Shock complained, growing impatient. Honestly the whole process took way to long. She did enjoy the primping, but at this pace it felt like they were going to miss the ball completely.

"One second...there! Perfect!" Sally said with a smile, "You're all done! Go take a look!"

Like it was the night of Halloween Shock rushed over to the mirror to see her reflection.

Her dress was so beautiful. It went down to the floor, with sparkly black lace and sparkly purple silk, ruffly layers. Her hair seemed much thicker, and was down in multiple long ringlets, with a part of her hair braided into a hair headband/ Her nails were a sparkly purple, and a darker purple lipstick and blush that made her face pop, with long eyelashes that made her eyes glow. And for the first time ever, Shock had felt beautiful...

"You look beautiful! Sally said.

Zero barked happily in agreement to the rag dolls words.

"Thank you," Shock said dumbfounded, stilling gazing at her refection. "The dress it's just so, so-" She didn't have the words to express how much she loved it, so instead she just turned and gave Sally a hug, "Thank you," She said again, trying to hold back her tears of happiness.

"You are welcome sweetheart," Sally sniffed, tearing up herself. "Now lets get to that dance," The rag doll said wiping a tear of happiness from her own cheek, "We don't wanna be late!"

"This dance is stupid," Lock complained, crossing his arms, bored out of his mind.

Jack signed, sitting across from the young devil, he wondered if the boys attitude would ever change. Or God forbid get worse. "Why don't you go dance with Barrel?" He suggested politely, gesturing to the little ghoul who was actually tearing up the dance floor.

Lock just glared at the pumpkin king.

"Yeah okay," Jack said, "just don't look at me like that," knowing Lock too well to know he'd never do that.

"What's taking Sally and Shock so long?" Lock mumbled.

"Maybe Sally knocked her tooth out," Jack said with a grin.

The master of fright had to really look, but he did notice for a a quarter of a second, Lock half smirked at his joke.

Just then town halls doors opened, and Sally, Shock, and Zero had entered.

Sally had her hair curled to one side, wearing a Cinderella gown. It was aqua, sweetheart neckline with rhinestones, and puffy in the shirt, with black gloves to match.

And Shock of course, in her pretty purple and lace dress. Wearing a little more makeup then Jack thought a little girl should wear, but now wasn't the time to grill Sally on it. The makeup didn't matter anyways, what made the little girls face so pretty was her smile.

"Wow!" Jack said, getting up from his chair, taking Sally's hand, and kissing it, "The two of you look radiant!" He said, now taking Shocks hand, and making her do a twirl. "May I ask such a beautiful young lady for a dance?"

Shock was on cloud 9. The master of fright wanted to dance with her first! She was too flattered to say no. "Of course!" She said excitedly. Normally She would say no, but not tonight. Tonight she was a girl! And she didn't care what other people thought about it. If they said anything to her about it tomorrow, she'd beat their faces in, but tonight she was a princess!

"When did she become so weird?" Lock muttered to himself, eyeing Shock as she walked to the dance floor with Jack. Covered head to toe in girly stuff? That wasn't Shock! She wouldn't be caught living in all that dumb junk! She was a boogie boy! Not some sort of purple disco ball!

"Will you dance with me Lock?" Sally asked, interrupting his train of thought.

Lock looked up at the rag doll. Despite his sour mood, he couldn't say no to someone so pretty. "Sure," He said taking her hand, now deciding he didn't care if Jack saw him dancing with his girlfriend. I mean the nerve of the pumpkin king, inviting Shock to dance with him right in front of his girlfriend! Sally deserved more respect then that!

Sally knelled down as low, and as comfortably as she could so they could slow dance.

"You-you look ni-ce," Lock choked awkwardly when they began to sway back and forth.

"Thank you Lock!" Sally said, her face lite right up. Getting a complement from the young devil was rare, so it made it much more flattering. "And you look very handsome!"

Lock just smiled and nodded. He found it best not to mention to her what had actually happened and hour ago with the tooth, and the black eye.

"Do you think Shock look nice?" Sally asked.

"Yeah," Lock said plainly, he didn't think Shock looked bad, she just looked weird. But the young devil didn't want to risk his bet with Jack just in case weird was considered a rude unnecessary thing to say.

The Rag doll smiled. She was so impressed with how well Locks manners had become. She had never been more proud of him. "That's good," She said happily, "Promise to keep this between you and me?" She said, leaning closer to the young devil.

"Sure." Lock muffled, enjoying having Sally closer. She always smelled so nice.

"Well," Sally whispered, "You know how good you felt today all dressed up in your suit?" Lock nodded, "Well this is the first time Shock has ever felt that good about herself."

"Really?" Lock asked, looking over at Shock.

Sally nodded.

Lock couldn't believe that. She was always so high on herself because she thought she was so smart, Lock thought she had always felt good about herself? I mean, everyday the young devil walks up in the morning and does his hair he feels good about himself because lets face it, he's one handsome devil! Sally wouldn't lie to him though, that he did know for a fact. This information made him feel bad for even thinking she looked weird. He was glad he didn't say it out loud.

"I know she might be acting a little bit girly and kind of strange, but just try to treat her a little more special tonight okay?" Sally asked softly. Normally she wouldn't ask that from the little devil, but seeing how happy Shock looked, she wanted to make sure the little witch had a goodnight.

"I promise," Lock vowed sincerely.

Meanwhile, tired from dancing, Barrel waddled his way over to grab some punch.

He was about half way done his glass when two dark shadows fell over him.

"Where's your friends, baby?" Ethan asked, with Gustvo right beside him. Cornering Barrel.

Looking up at the two of them, compared to the little ghoul, Barrel thought that was a fanatic question. He knew he could barely take on one, let alone the pair of them

. "Just in the bathroom," Barrel lied stupidly. "You better hope Jack doesn't see you two!" The youngest trick or treater warned, changing the subject to scare them off, "He knows what you guys did earlier, you're both in big trouble!"

"Hasn't anyone told you?" Ethan said, "In a couple days Jack won't be pumpkin king no more."

"Yeah, like you're Dad is gonna win," Barrel snorted, finishing up his punch.

"Didn't you hear?" Batboy said, "They called and early election because Jack won't kick you and your dumb friends out of Halloween town."

"And everyone in town wants you three gone after you destroyed town hall!" Ethan added.

"Jack's going to lose his spot as pumpkin king because of us?" Barrel said blankly. Thinking out loud.

He didn't know that. Jack never told him that. How could Jack not have said anything about that!

Guilt filled in the pit of the little boy's stomach. That wasn't fair! After everything the pumpkin has done for him and Shock, and Lock, Jack was the one that was going to pay the ultimate price!

Without caring what Corpse kid and Bat boy planed to do to them next, Barrel just shoved pasted them and took off for outside so the two bullies wouldn't see him cry.

A couple of the witches noticed, but simply just shrugged it off.

Shock and Jack still dancing together, the master of fright twirled the little witch around a couple times.

"Are you having a good time?" He asked once he was done spinning her around.

"I'm having a great time!" She said excitedly, smiling from ear to ear, which was the happiest Jack had ever seen her. "Is everything going good with the ball?"

"Everything has gone marvellous!" The Master of fright boosted. It was the true. The night turned out better then expected. And all the kids were being very well behaved.

After the dance with Shock, Jack met up with Sally after she also freed Lock from dancing.

"May I have this dance?" The master of fright asked.

"Why of course!" The Rag doll said with a shy smile.

They positioned themselves for a slow dance (since Sally couldn't move very fast).

"The night has gone so well Sally!" Jack said. He was so proud of the trick or treaters, he was now thinking of the reward he was going to give them after the night was over.

Sally turned to look at Lock and Shock, who were standing by the cake eyeing it, "I'm so happy everything is working out,"

Jack also turned his head to look at them, "We better cut the cake soon," He chuckled.

"But where did Barrel go?" Sally asked a little concerned, still turning her head to try and find him.

Jack also scanned over the room, a little concerned himself, "I'm sure he's around, I know I just saw him a couple minutes ago. We'll find him after this song," The pumpkin king decided. He wasn't worried about Barrel causing trouble or anything like that, but he was very little and Jack wanted to make sure he did not hurt himself or something.

"Man that cake looks good," Lock said, with his mouth watering, looking up at the big beautiful cake, "Do you think it's chocolate?"

"I told Jack to get vanilla," Shock said, hoping the pumpkin king listened to her. Not that she'd be that disappointed if it was chocolate, but she preferred vanilla.

Lock crossed his arms, but out of pure courtesy of his friend and her special night, he held back on rolling his eyes. "I guess vanilla is okay too," He mumbled. He supposed he could ask Sally to bake him a chocolate cake tomorrow if this cake turned out to be vanilla.

Shock scrunched her face up at Lock was actually being agreeable, but decided to see how far she could push it. She turned to her gaze over at the punch table, "I'm thirsty, can you bring me some punch?"

Lock opened his mouth, ready to say, "I'll give you a punch," but then he remembered what he promised Sally. "Sure," The little devil muffled, repeating in his head that he only had to tolerate her requests just for tonight.

Shock watched as he trudged over to the punch table, feeling rather pleased with herself. About time he started listening, and respecting her.

"Smiling at your boyfriend?"

Shock whipped her head around, ready to knock out whoever just said that. "What did you just say!" She growled, with her fist clenched and ready.

Gustov gave her a wicked batty grin, and as much as Shock wanted to slug that grin off his dumb face, she remembered how much was really at stake with this whole dance. "Nice joke," She snorted, thinking how completely ridiculous that thought even was.

"I thought a better joke was how you look tonight." Gustvo snorted.

"Say's you," Shock spat, trying to hide that she was slightly jolted by his comment, "You're not even wearing any clothes stupid."

"And you think you look so beautiful with all that makeup, and your sparkly dress? Wear whatever you want, but you can't fix ugly!"

"Well it couldn't hurt if you gave it a try!" Shock blurted, now feel deeply insecure about herself. "I suggest then next time you go out into public putting a bag over your ugly face, and do everyone else a favour!"

Bat boy laughed, "Everyone knows your the ugliest girl in town."

Shock's heart sunk a little bit, while he kept going.

"We all agreed that the only boy brave enough to take on the dare of kissing your ugly face would be Lock. Since he has zero standards, and we alllll know he would do anything to win a bet."

Shock hands went back into fists, fighting with every bone in her body not to slug him. She was shaking she was so upset, but also so angry that she couldn't cry. "Deep breaths Shock, Do it for Jack!" She repeated in her head. She then turned to Gustvo, "Get lost!" She said forcefully, which came out threatening enough that the stupid little bat took off.

Shock was Livid. She paced back and forth, now looking forward to when this stupid ball would be over so she could take all this stupid makeup off, and go upstairs to her room and shove her pillow in her face, to scream, and maybe allow herself to cry only a tiny bit.

Where was that stupid Lock with her punch!

Lock waited in what felt like forever to get some punch, grumbling to himself, and taping his foot impatiently with how long it took the group of vampires in front of him. Seriously, it's just pour and go! What the heck takes so long!

Once they finally moved out the way, Lock took a step up to the table, finally first in line, until Ethan stepped right inf ront of him.

"If you cut me in line I will bring you back to life just so I can kill you again," Lock said, being completely serious. He waited to long in this stupid line up, for stupid punch to give to stupid Shock, just to have some stupid corpse kid cut him in line!

Ethan was a little surprised to see Lock without his big black eye, but he decided not to question it. That wasn't part of the plan...

"I just wanted to say i'm sorry for everything I did to you, and Barrel today," He said, sounding sincere to most people, but Lock wasn't falling for it.

"Yeah right," Lock snorted, shoving past the corpse to get to the punch.

"No really. Honestly I though about it, I really did deserve that punch in the face a couple weeks ago."

"Well I have to agree with you there," Lock murmured while pouring the punch.

It was quiet for a second before Ethan spoke up, "Shock looks really pretty tonight." Lock just stayed quiet while he kept talking, "I can tell this night means a lot to her, and I don't want to ruin it for her by going over and apologizing to her."

Lock just rolled his eyes, waiting for him to move out of his way.

"That's why I came over here, to ask for a personal favour from you," He paused, "To give to Shock."

Lock opened his mouth, but Ethan kept going, "My mom told me that when girls get all dressed up and wear makeup that means they want a boy to kiss them. You know, like from that movie Cinderella?"

"Better pucker up then," Lock sneered, not buying that for one second.

The little devil tried to shove past the corpse, but was stopped, "Well obviously she wouldn't want me to kiss her. After what I did to her, and I mean look at me," He paused for a moment, "I'm not as good looking as you."

Lock couldn't disagree with him there, he was one handsome devil. But Lock didn't believe him, so he tired once more to shove past him.

"Listen Lock," Ethan said, blocking him once again, "Look at her," He said pointing over to Shock, "She really does look like a disney princess. She's going to feel like the ugliest girl here at the end of the night if no one kisses her. Look at her pacing back and worth over there? She's clearly waiting."

Lock did look over at Shock. Much to his surprise, Ethan wasn't wrong. She even looked kinda upset. Shock never paced back and forth like that unless she was bugged about something. Lock knew that when she paced it helped her clear her head. Ethan couldn't be serious...could he?

"Go ask Barrel to do," Lock said, trying to be sarcastic just in case Ethan was actually being serious, and now also looking around for his littlest cohort? Where did he go anyways?

"Barrel?" Ethan snorted.

Lock shot Ethan the death glare for laughing at his friend. Which Ethan quickly noticed, and began to explain.

"It's just Barrels so little. No girl wants a little boy to kiss them. Besides everyone in Halloween town knows Shock has a big crush on you." Lock just sneered, so Ethan went on, "I mean your her right hand man, and she teases you all the time."

"She did try to kiss me once as a joke a couple weeks ago," Lock said stupidly, thinking out loud.

"See!" Ethan said. "And I mean look Lock, I know kissing girls is gross, but this is a big night for her, and she's your friend. I know it would mean a lot to her."

The little devil bit his bottom lip, while looking in Shocks direction. He really didn't want to believe Ethan, but Shock defiantly looked upset over something. Kinda like she was holding back saying something that she really wanted to say, but couldn't say. And I want someone to kiss me was probably what that thing was.

He then thought about the promise he made to Sally. He promised to make Shock feel special tonight, and if Lock didn't kiss her she wasn't going to feel special, she was going to feel ugly, which would upset Shock, while also breaking his promise to Sally. And he couldn't do that.

He groaned, not really seeing any other way out of this. "Women are ruining my life," He thought to himself while dragging his hands down his face.

"Is on the check okay?" He asked, trying to find a loop hole out of this.

"Yeah," Ethan grinned, "That should be fine. Is she wants more she'll kiss back."

Lock groaned even more.

Ethan stepped out of his way, and while Lock was to busy dragging his feet over to Shock The corpse boy slipped something into the young devils back pant pocket.

Lock felt butterflies all flying around in his stomach. He had no interest in kissing girls, especially Shock! He never even kissed a girl before! He never even hugged her before! Why was this kissing girls stuff now so important anyways? And why was it the boys job!

She was still pacing, so Lock decided to get right beside her and just kiss her quick on the check before she even noticed him standing there. That way it would be over with as fast as possible, and probably nobody else at the ball would notice him kissing her.

He set her drink down on a table close by, and puckered up, leaning in for her check.

Shock, feeling the presents of someone standing to close to her whipped her head around to see who it was. She couldn't even react to what she saw, it all happened so fast, and Lock planted her a big wet one, right on the lips...

The kiss only lasted half a second before Shock shoved him off of her. "What are you doing!" Shock shirked in horror, and without thinking lost her temperament and pushed Lock with the most force that she had ever shoved someone before in her life.

Lock horrified as well with what had happened and completely stunned, fell backward into the table where the cake was.

The massive cake wobbled from the impact.

Lock came out of his stun phase just in time to grab onto the table to try and steady it, and thankfully it worked.

"Phew," He said, putting his hand on his heart, at least avoiding one horrible disaster for today.

Just when he moved a bit, he felt something sizzling from his back pocket.

"Huh?" He said, reaching into his pocket, and pulling out what appeared to be some sort of rocket, "What the hec-"

"BANG!"

The rocket shot up from Locks hand and landed right in the cake. Causing the cake to explode on to everyone at the ball.

Locks hand was still in the same position that it was when he found the rocket, just as shocked as everyone else on what just happened.

Shock also was frozen, just as confused and stunned over what just happen in literally five seconds.

"They did it!" Gustvo shouted, pointing at the two ex boogie boys, "I saw them!"

Lock and Shocks mouths dropped, "No we didn't!" They both yelled at the same time.

"Yes you did!" One of the vampires added, "I saw the girl pacing back and forth keeping a look out around the cake.

"And devil boy with a rocket!" One of the ghouls yelled.

"I never had a rocket!" Lock yelled back, honestly.

Jack, Sally, and even the Doctor were the only ones that believed Lock. Even if they had there doubts, there was no possible way Lock would have gotten a hold of a rocket without anyone noticing.

Sally was the one that helped him get dressed earlier.

Jack was with them all day. And even if he did have a rocket in his pocket, it would have either exploded after he fell off the roof, or the pumpkin king would have noticed it at the doctors house when he was wiping down his clothes.

Even the doctor knew that when he was putting his tooth back in earlier that there was no way Lock had a rocket in his back pocket. He wouldn't have been able to see down right in his dentist chair if he was hiding something that big!

"Where on Earth would they have gotten a rocket?" Jack said out loud, defending the duo.

"From this one!" One of the witched growled, holding up Barrel upside down by one foot, "Me and all the other witches saw him taking off outside! He must have gave it to Devil boy, then ran out side to destroy the firework!"

"I didn't!" Barrel cried, "I swear!"

"Then why were you in such a hurry to take off!" Another witch yelled.

"Didn't wanna get your nice clothes ruined with cake?!" Someone else yelled.

"No.." Barrel tried to explain, but it was no use.

"Wait," Jack said, raising a hand for everyone to pay attention, "The fireworks are destroyed?"

The witch shook Barrel in her arm, "This little guy threw all them in the fountain, all of them but one! The only firework that was missing from the package was the same one devil boy used!"

"I didn't do it!" Barrel wailed heuristically. "I didn't even know there was gonna be fireworks!"

"We didn't know either" Lock and Shock both yelled at the same time.

It was true. They didn't know because Jack never told them about it. He wanted it to be a big surprise for the three of them at the end.

"I don't believe that's true," Jack said, defending the tick or treaters.

"Then we believe it's time the six of you leave." The Mayor said back.

Jack wanted to protest, but looking around the room and seeing everyone in Halloween town glaring at him, and Lock, Shock, and Barrel now looking miserable, he decided it was best to just go home. "Let's go," He said, walking over to the witch, and collecting Barrel in his arms.

Sally, Lock, Shock, and Zero all followed.

As they were leaving out the door with their heads hung low, Lock took a second to lick some of the cake off his fingers.

It was marble cake...

Oh my God! A year later I have updated! I'm so sorry guys, I've been so busy with college and work, and life, it took a pandemic for me to update! I am making a promise to all of you guys now, that in the next upcoming weeks this story will be complete. I have another one of the final chapters for this story already completed, I just need to finish some in between writing of this chapter, and the other chapter that I have done. But I can't say how sorry I am. I had really bad writers block, and I had no clue where I was going with this chapter, but I actually really love this chapter, and once I got over writers block the words just came out!

Also I'd like to thank EVERYONE who has given me a review. I always check and read every single review, and when I get reviews from months later after updating it really does inspire me to keep going so thank you guys!

Also, I am introducing some Original Characters into my upcoming update. I get why people don't like OC's in fanfics, but I feel like it works good with the story, and I hope if anyone is still reading this will enjoy and agree with me

Please keep reviewing, if I still have any readers left. Anyways thanks guys! Next update will be coming in the upcoming WEEK, I promise. For now stay safe everyone!