Ok kiddies, sorry for the long long wait ^^; I had some major issues with this chapter and needed to consult my two betas. Thank you bunches! You know who you are ;) Anyway, I feel a lot more confident with this chapter now and so it's ready to be posted!

Side note, I know Amelia's costume "alteration" should have probably been at the end of chapter 1 but I kinda didn't think of it until I posted it *nervous laugh* But I fixed the beginning so that it sounds more like a beginning. Hope you enjoy!

Jack and Amelia were about to walk out of town hall when the sorceress stopped and released his hand. A little taken aback he turned to face her with a questioning glance.

"Before we go…" She snapped her fingers and her dress shortened to her knees, becoming much looser to make it easier to move. Her sleeves receded to her upper forearm and became tattered at their ends. Her striped, black and white stockings lengthened into tights and her silver boots shrunk to flat shoes.

"You're not the only one who can do a costume change." She grinned, putting her hands on her hips. Jack just stood there, a little baffled, but smiled amusedly.

"You always like to show me up, don't you?" He chuckled and then offered his arm to her like before.

"Maybe…" she said as she gladly laced her arm around his.

Amelia and Jack were the last to step out onto the square, the King escorting the Princess. As soon as they approached the waiting crowd, a vaguely familiar song began to be played by the band. The two royals glanced at the citizens before looking back at each other. Jack smiled and moved to stand in front of her. He bowed and offered his hand to her. A soft smile graced her lips as well as she curtsied and then accepted his hand. He pulled her close to him and they began to dance.

It was like stepping back in time to their waltz together only three years before. Everything around them seemed to melt away, leaving only each other and the music to guide their steps. They found themselves unable to look away from one another, captured in each other's gaze. Underneath the spell of the music they moved as one, their eerie grace making the dance all the more strangely beautiful. To them it felt as though they were walking on air with an overwhelming sense of serenity and joy surrounding the two. They almost didn't realize the song had come to a close had it not been for the thunderous applause that erupted from the spectators.

Jack and Amelia snapped out of their daze and turned toward the crowd. They cheered and praised, and then the band struck up another song. This time the citizens joined in with the dancing. The Pumpkin King laughed softly and turned toward the sorceress.

"Care for one more dance?"

"Certainly," she smiled happily and took his hand. He pulled her close to him once again and began to lead her in time to the music.

The song was faster with a more "playful" atmosphere, the right kind of song for the foxtrot. Jack was greatly surprised when Amelia began to improvise more complex steps rather than just simple dancing. However, he was more than willing to follow suit. He spun her around then wrapped his arm firmly around her waist and dipped her.

"Your dancing has improved since we last met." He smirked and brought her back up.

"Did you think magic was the only thing I practiced?" she said teasingly. He spun her out then twirled her back into his arms.

"Hm, touché."

They didn't say another word, but their eyes spoke enough for them, daring each other to try a more difficult dance move than the last. Unfortunately for Amelia, Jack won with his ghostly grace and years of experience surpassing her own. But either way, by the end of the number they were both out of breath. Suddenly another round of applause swarmed around them. Apparently some of the others had stopped their own dancing to watch while others had been inspired to do the foxtrot as well. Now many cheered, a few even whistled, for the royals' dance was very much a glorious performance. Another song began to play and the two leaders of Halloween, understandably, decided to sit this one out.

"Well Amelia, you certainly gave me a run for it." Jack stated as they walked to the edge of the square.

"Good, that means those dance lessons are paying off." She grinned triumphantly.

"Dance lessons?" he blinked in surprise but then smiled proudly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're beginning to get a little competitive with me."

"Hmm, possibly." She shrugged, smirking a little, and leaned against a nearby stone wall.

"So when did you decide to take lessons?" he asked curiously.

"Oh it was senior year in high school. I needed to take one more class to fill up my schedule and dance was something new they were offering so I signed up." She explained. "And I'm keeping up with it in college."

"Wow, you must have been a natural." He said assuredly.

"Well, ballroom was easy because I knew how to waltz." She continued, "It was when we got into the more advanced dances that I was just about like everyone else, tripping over my own two feet." She laughed, "I know you probably would have found it quite amusing."

"Ah, still a bit of a klutz then I see." He chuckled as he crossed his arms. She just rolled her eyes. "Well you did just fine out there, wonderful really." He complimented.

"Sure," she averted her gaze and hoped he didn't see the blush starting to creep across her face. "Compared to you, I still have a ways to go."

"Well when you've been dead for nearly two centuries, you got to find a way to kill time." He joked, earning a small giggle from the sorceress. An awkward silence fell on them for a few moments before Jack decided he would speak again, however his plan was foiled when someone came up to him.

"Your dancing was simply horrific Jack." A black cat demon spoke, her voice purring. "It would be a dishonor if I could have the next one."

He was about to reply when a werewolf girl stormed angrily up to the cat.

"Hey no fair! I told you I wanted to ask him!" she growled angrily.

"But he promised me the next one." The swamp monster declared when she approached the two.

"I want the next one!" the witch sisters said in unison when they ran up to the group, and then looked at each other with shocked expressions. "You!"

Jack stood up to try and prevent any uproar, but he was too late. Soon several more women came up and began arguing with each other over who was going to dance with him next. The disgruntled Pumpkin King put his face in the palm of his hand. He glanced over at Amelia who was struggling not to burst out laughing at his despair. Sighing in frustration, he plucked one of the girls from the group, which just so happened to be the cat demon, and headed out to the square. The others glared in anger at the lucky black cat, jealously radiating off of them. The sorceress had clamped her hand over her mouth to subdue her hysterical laughter.

A few insufferable dances later, Jack was finally able to convince the women that he needed a break, and then headed over to where Amelia was sitting on the ledge of the stone fountain. He noticed her innocent smile and immediately knew something was amiss.

"You planned this didn't you?" he glowered, crossing his arms.

"Me? Why I would never do such a thing." The sorceress replied simply, but broke her façade when she laughed at his irritated look. "What can I say?" she shrugged, "It was just my little revenge."

"Revenge!" he exclaimed in total confusion. "Revenge for what!"

"Oh, I seem to recall a time when we had exchanged meaningless name-calling," she stood up and walked to stand beside him, "until you said something unforgivably vile, and ran out before I could make a comeback."

He blinked and his eyes widened in remembrance. It was the morning of the day she had left three years ago. He had called her 'vampire lover' during a teasing spat. Jack had almost forgotten the whole incident, and was even more surprised that she did not. He was so shocked at how well she had planned her "revenge" that there's no way he could ever have seen it coming.

"So, the great Pumpkin King is speechless?" Amelia taunted after he had remained silent for a long moment.

"Wha? H-How? I…I don't believe this!" he managed to say and turned toward her. "You certainly know how to hold a grudge." He was even further confused when she started giggling.

"Ok I lied." She winked at him, "It was actually just a really good coincidence. I couldn't pass up the opportunity."

"Eh! Wait…D-Did you just trick me!" he gaped in shock, again.

"Well what do you expect from the Princess of Halloween?" She smirked victoriously and began to walk off. "Also, you could have avoided your fans if you hadn't taken the bait to get you to show off."

Needless to say, Jack was really speechless now. Flabbergasted, he turned and watched her head off across the square.

"I honestly never expected…" he said after a moment. As much as he hated to admit it, he had to give her props for her little plan was cleverly laid out, even if part of it was just pure luck.

It was around midnight before Amelia and Jack made their way back to his house, considered the sorceress's home-away-from-home. They walked in a comfortable silence, but the Pumpkin King felt he had to break the ice.

"That was a clever trick you pulled off at the banquet, by the way."

"I figured you'd notice." The sorceress laughed sheepishly. "It's a fairly new spell I learned, and trust me when I say it's been put to good use."

"I don't doubt that." He chuckled, then hesitated a moment. "I can tell you've really come far in your sorcery skills."

"Thanks," she beamed, "it was a great way to kill time. But…I think I actually might be close to becoming a master. What do you think?" she asked curiously.

"That could very well be true." He agreed, "Though, there's no certain way to tell, other than surpassing your teacher." He joked.

"Oh? Do I sense a challenge?" she taunted, a smirk playing on her lips.

"I don't know…maybe." He teased then laughed, "However, I would like to see for myself just how far you've come."

"I'd like that too." She smiled warmly, but then her eyes became downcast as her expression turned a little sad. "But I don't think we'll get the chance."

"Hm? Why not?" he asked, confused by her sudden statement.

"Well, you see…I can't stay very long." She explained, "A week at the most. I wasn't kidding when I said most of my time has been devoted to studying. My homework load and test prep is insane, and there's the time I have to spend everyday practicing piano."

"My, you really do have your work cut out for you." Jack commented.

"Like you wouldn't believe," the sorceress sighed in exhaustion. "I wish I could stay here forever honestly…" she trailed off, her words surprising him somewhat.

"Really?" He arched a would-be eyebrow.

"Yeah, I love this place. It's practically paradise for me." Amelia admitted. "The stresses of my world are starting to wear down on me. But, I just remind myself to stick to it and keep going. It'll be worth it in the end."

"A good word of wisdom there." He smiled proudly.

They entered into the house and went their separate ways. Amelia opened the door to her room and smiled as pleasant memories surrounded her.

"I never know I'd miss this place so much." She sighed in content.

The curtains were closed so she decided to change into her night clothes. She snapped her fingers and her costume was instantly replaced by a flowing black nightgown that hit above her knees. Her sorceress garb, back to its original form, reappeared on a hanger in the closet with her boots beneath it, and her neckpiece and collar materialized on her dresser. However, her pendant reappeared around her neck on a silver chain.

The young woman sat on her black silk bed and let out a deep breath as she gazed out the window. The crescent moon's light poured into her old bedroom, but the calm peaceful glow went ignored by her troubled mind.

"Oh Jack…" she sighed, "Even being gone for so long has done nothing to suppress my true feelings for you. They're as strong as ever, if not even more so."

Her mind wandered to the night exactly three years prior. Sixteen year-old Amelia Brave was trapped inside the house of Alucard Doram Lio, who she found out to actually be Count Dracula. He captured her so she wouldn't escape, and as he was about to bite into her neck, draining her soul, she finally realized the truth within her heart. She was in love with Jack Skellington. Just as that happened, the very same skeleton man barged in and rescued her. Together, they defeated the infamous vampire. She had never forgotten that night, for it still haunted her dreams. The memory of the legend surrounding the Gem of the Armonias coming true when it glowed as it sensed Jack's presence, the one she felt true love for. Now Amelia gently held the necklace in the palm of her hand, gazing at the brilliant stone.

"Is there nothing I can do?" the Armonia asked aloud, "I don't want to lose our precious friendship which I hold so dearly…" Having found no answer to her three-years-long problem, she finally decided to call it a night and go to sleep.

High up in the tower, Jack stood gazing at the moon through his windows.

"Has it really been three years?" he asked no one in particular. "My how time flies." He chuckled to himself, "And in that short amount of time Amelia is almost a master sorceress, in college!" He breathed in astonishment.

"She has grown up so much more…a respectable young woman now." His mind thought back to their waltz together and smiled fondly, "And with her blossomed maturity came a stunning grace and beauty."

His eyes widened and his body stiffened as soon as the words left his mouth, completely in shock at what he said. He felt an awkward tension crawl over him.

"Well I certainly can't deny the fact that she's become quite attractive." Had he any skin on his face, it would have been flushed bright red. He put his forehead in the palm of his hand, embarrassed at the strange occurrence. The skeleton man lifted his head and sighed in exasperation.

"Well I think it's time I got some sleep, and a lot of it at that."

Hahaha! Awkward moment for Jack *evil giggle* So what did you all think of Amelia's mischievous side? I know I had fun writing it! :D Anyway, reviews make the world go round!