Outside the Skellington house, there was a typical scene that could happen in any neighborhood, ghoulish or not. A black cat was up on a wall, meowing for dear life as a dog barked at it. However, this dog was floating right next to the human-like cat girl, who was curled into a little ball and started shedding fur in fear. Lucky for the cat girl, help had managed to find her.
"Zero!" Sally called.
The spectral dog hovered to the rag doll, barking happily as Kitty gave a sigh of relief on the wall.
"Jack's home, why don't you go see him?" Sally suggested.
Zero, recognizing his master's name, gave Sally's hand an affectionate lick before gliding off to greet Jack.
"Sorry about Zero, I forgot he was in the yard."
"It's ok, I'm just glad you saved me," Kitty said as she jumped down from the wall, hiding what fear she had left. "These are for you," she continued as she gave Sally a small bouquet of dead plants and flowers.
"Nightshade, Witch Hazel, Pumpkin Vines... good variety."
"Thanks, I picked them in the graveyard and the pumpkin patch. Jack helped me."
"He did?"
"Well, he told me where the best stuff was, if that counts," Kitty said as she started wringing her tail.
"Has he mentioned anything strange to you too?" Sally asked in curiosity.
"Oh yeah! What's-?"
However, Kitty didn't have a chance to finish her question, for a flying rib bone that came from the house struck her in the head. As she started to rub her forehead, familiar barks neared her and Sally. Being far too much of a coward to deal with a Zero again, Kitty scampered off. Sally snapped her fingers in frustration as Zero rushed passed her, chasing after the bone while Jack walked outside to join them.
"You've been gone for a bit," Jack said as he neared Sally.
"Sorry, I hadn't noticed. I was just getting these from Kitty," Sally said as she held up the arrangement of dead plant life.
"She was here? That explains Zero's behavior! Zero, come here," Jack ordered his canine companion.
Zero happily obliged Jack' request, while carrying the missing rib bone in his mouth.
"Thank you," Jack said as he put the bone back in place. "Now, I know you're dog, but be nice to Kitty when you see her, she's new."
Zero whined like a child who wanted to resist its parent when Jack said that.
"I mean it."
The ghostly dog gave a defeated bark as it floated inside the house dejectedly, its orange nose glowing faintly.
"He'll forget that after a few scraps," Sally said, noticing Jack's saddened face at his treatment of Zero.
"I know, but I can't help feeling bad." Jack sighed.
"Come inside, it's cold out here anyway."
"What are you going to do with those things?"
"I'm figuring out a new type of brew for Kitty. She hasn't been feeling like herself lately."
"That's nice of you."
"She practically alone here, Jack. For some reason, she takes a liking to me."
"I know why. It's because you're kind, gentle, intelligent, beautiful," Jack started to say.
"Jack, that's why you take a liking to me. At least, I hope it is," Sally said as she took his hand and blushed.
"See, the intelligence I told you about," Jack said before he gave Sally a peck on the lips, "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
Sally giggled at the Pumpkin King and practically forgot why she had become so suspicious and irrational about him. She followed Jack inside for a nice meal together. Meanwhile, Kitty had made it to Midnight Hill, where she looked at the full moon in awe and wonderment, until some people started calling out to her.
"Hey, you! What are you doing on our turf?" asked a boy in a devil costume, tail wiggling furiously as he climbed up the hill with a girl dressed as witch and another boy dressed as a skeleton.
"Don't hurt me!" Kitty exclaimed as she held her paws in front of her face.
"Look at her, she's a Scaredy Cat. What's the matter, Scaredy Cat, want your mommy?" the girl of the group taunted as the boys chuckled.
"No, but I'd like to look at the moon for a little more time."
"Well, look at it from somewhere else. This is our place," said the boy dressed as a skeleton.
"Who are you anyway? You sure are mean."
"Got that right. I'm Lock," said the devil-boy.
"I'm Shock, but you can call me your worst nightmare, Scaredy Cat," said the witch-girl.
"I'm Barrel, and we all work for Oogie-" the skeleton boy began to said before Lock smacked him with his mask.
"Shut up, Stupid! He's dead, remember!"
"No he isn't, we just left him with Eris!"
"You idiots! Listen, Scaredy Cat, you didn't hear anything about any Oogie or Eris, got that?" threatened Shock.
"I got it. Can I go now, please?" Kitty pleaded.
"Yeah, scram," Barrel said, that being the first and only smart thing he said in that conversation.
In a mix of fear and relief, Kitty ran down the hill and into town. This left Lock and Barrel in the wrath of Shock. It wasn't the first time or the last, yet the boys did have to put up a fight. Shock was definitely not one to anger.
"You two almost blew it!" Shock yelled at Lock and Barrel once Kitty left.
"Blame Barrel here," Lock said.
"Me? Hey, you're the ones who wanted to pick on her. I just wanted to steal candy tonight," Barrel defended.
"Why must I be surrounded by you idiots?" Shock asked bluntly.
As usual, one of her insults was met with a three-kid brawl, which ended up with the trick-or-treaters rolling right off Midnight Hill. And as usual, they all brushed themselves off when it was over and went on to causing more mischief. Some things never changed in Halloween Town, and this was one of them.
Awww, ain't that cute, a LSB moment at the end. Ok, so it was a fight, but it's what they do. Anyways, that's it until the next update. Don't worry, I won't keep you waiting for that long. (Re-edit Comment: I love those three. I really do.)