The ominous Halloween sun was rising as Shock, Barrel, Ranga and Ginger made it back to the surface. They had just escaped the deranged clutches of the Magma Maze. Cupid was still alive (barely) and was still unconscious. This was a good because he’d probably have a heart attack from realising where he was and what had been done to him.

“Well, we gotta get this sugary chicken home” said Ginger

Barrel said “So that’s it? We’re friends again”

“We’re we actually friends before now?”

Ranga quickly slapped her brother on the back of his head. She then proceeded to say “Yeah Barrel, it’s cool now. Just don’t let it happen again”

“Alright”

“Wait a damn minute!” snapped Shock before Ranga and Ginger disappeared “Just what the hell are you guys supposed to be anyway!?”

Ginger crudely replied “Why the hell should I tell you anything?”

“Shock, I will be more than happy to explain everything, just not now. I’m exhausted from not sleeping for so long” said Ranga

“That and we need to have victory drinks”

Barrel scratched his head as he innocently asked “Victory drinks? What are those?”

“What you have as an adult. You get drunk when you have something to celebrate and St Patrick Town has some of the best liquor” laughed Ginger “Then again, you can’t expect less from leprechauns. Those little bastards only make good stuff”

“But first we need to go to Valentinetown to return Cupid” reminded Ranga

“And Christmastown! I need a new Guitar Hero game and a Playstation 3”

“But first, Valentinetown”

“Sis, we need to prioritise! Guitar Hero is WAY more important than Cupid”

“Shut up you bloody idiot!” Ranga turned to Shock and Barrel. The two trick or treaters looked somewhat amused by the outlander siblings. Ranga cheered with a wicked grin “We gotta go now, so I’ll catch up with you two later”

Shock shook a clenched fist at Ranga as she growled “You better answer ALL my questions!”

“Yeah, of course” laughed Ranga as she flew off.

“Hey! WAIT UP!” snarled Ginger as he ran after her on the land.

Barrel then realised “Where is Lock anyway?”

“I’ve no idea, but who cares?” shrugged Shock “He’ll show up eventually, he always does”

Wench kept a vigilant watch as Papa sat on the ground playing with his three cats. They were at the Holiday Doors and eagerly awaiting Ranga and Ginger’s return. This was mainly due to the thought of going to St Patrick Town again and partying with the leprechauns (they really do know how to throw a decent party and pub brawl). It was common to see various Holiday world creatures flock there for the booze.

“They’re here” smiled Wench as Ranga descended upon them. Ginger appeared moments later carrying Cupid.

Papa examined Cupid and asked “Is he dead?”

“Not quite” informed Ginger

“So… how are we gonna explain this?”

“We don’t, we just dump him in Valentinetown” Ginger threw open the heart shaped door and threw Cupid into the sweet smelling darkness of the tree trunk. “Now, onwards to Christmastown!”

“Why? That place is so creepy” shivered Wench “I thought we were going to St Patrick Town?”

“Yeah, but first I need a new Guitar Hero and Playstation 3”

“Fine then, you go alone and we’ll meet you in St Patrick Town!” shouted Wench as she pushed Ginger through the tree shaped door. The trio of relatives laughed as they entered the shamrock door. Today was going to be a good day.

Valentinetown was in a rampaging shock as they tended to Cupid’s wounds. Their beloved leader had returned to them only now he was traumatised and near death. But he would live once the antibodies start working. Out of all the cherubs and beautiful citizens of this romantic town, the only one who didn’t seem terrified or wary of Halloweentown was Aphrodite. The chief matchmaker just smiled to herself as she thought ‘Thankyou Jack, you kept your promise’

Jack felt it, this warmth in his bones. His inner passion for Halloween ignited once more. The skeleton finally snapped to reality as his mind became alert and aware of his surroundings. Something had happened to make him awaken from his loveless trance. ‘Cupid, he must be back in Valentinetown’ he thought happily as he looked around. He was in the Hinterlands as the early morning light flowed between the stark trees.

“Jack? Jack are you alright?” said Sally. The ragdoll was cradling his head and torso on her lap.

“Sally…” he smiled as he curled a lock of her long red hair around his skeletal finger “What happened? It feels like I’ve been as brain dead as a zombie lately”

“It’s alright Jack, everything is back to normal now. We should really head back to town, people will get worried if you’re missing and the Mayor will probably have a stroke”

“We’re not going anywhere yet” said Jack as he wrapped his arms around Sally’s delicate frame “Let’s just stay awhile. Relax in the morning light. It is a beautiful day”

Sally smiled at him. He was back to normal. They moved closer to each other as they gave in to their lust for one another.

“Hey wait a minute” said Sally… who is breaking the forth wall again!

Alright, what the hell is it this time!?

“Don’t snap at me, I just want to know what is going on with this plot. There are still a few things you haven’t cleared up for me yet”

You see, this why I write these things as a series. That way I can continue evolving the plot and characters. I don’t really like doing short one shots.

“But this is ridiculous? Will there ever be an end to this?”

Maybe… maybe not. I haven’t thought that far ahead to be honest. Anyway, just relax your brain and let me do the narrating and plot developing, okay?

“Alright then”

In the silence of the Hinterlands and the beauty of the morning glory; a ragdoll and a skeleton fell in love once again.