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Chapter Text

A ghastly wind passed through the forest, the old pine trees whining as they swayed to and fro. A little pinecone fell to the ground with a light thump, barely nudging the mossy rock next to a huge fallen tree. A little mouse peeked up from underneath the tree from a hole in the ground, sniffing the air. Its whiskers twitched with every movement until it heard rustling in the bushes. Its head turned sharply and darted into the hole again. The wind howled as it intensified, swishing the treetops with a violent force, as if shaking them. An owl screeched as it flew through the forest, flapping its wings rapidly. A deer peeked up at the dark clouds that were now covering the usually bright sky before darting away.

In the midst of the storm, there came a creature trotting forward, each step steady and firm, as it trudged through the woods while trying not to make too much noise. To be discovered now was a bad omen, especially after what had happened a few days ago. He peeked over his shoulder to see if someone was following him. He didn't see a soul, but that didn't exclude the possibility of still being hunted down by the dragon he had narrowly escaped before he came here.

He had never meant to commit the crime of betrayal; the worst thing one could do in the law of the dragons, especially if joining an alliance with them. If one betrayed them, a high price had to be paid. It could cost more than one's pride. Maybe even one's life if one was unfortunate enough, and the thought stuck to his mind like glue. Haunting him. Reminding him of what he had done. Of the huge mistake he had made and the price he was going to pay if the creature caught up with him.

His gaze darted frantically from here to there, his body tensing up as his senses sharpened and became very aware of every sound, every scent, every sudden movement. Taking a few more steps, he neared a fallen tree. Judging by its size it seemed to be thousands of years old. He sat down briefly, but he couldn't stay for long. He had to find a place to hide away from now and hiding inside the tree wasn't an option. The dragon could easily burn it down, the fire engulfing the wood in mere seconds. No, he needed to be more clever than that. The mountains would do, or at least a cave with creaks small enough for him to enter without the possibility of being caught.

As he cast a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen him, he continued his path into the unknown. He knew he was a coward for fleeing away from the potential confrontation instead of facing it. How couldn't he be after what he did? Still, in the end he wanted to survive. It all came down to that, just as he had survived every time he ran away when his former master was still alive, just mere seconds from him almost catching him and tormenting him. He never wanted to experience that again. Ever. After those years of serving The Meanest Guy Around, the Boogie Man, he had learned how to survive. How to manipulate others to get what he wanted. To use the power of his ability as a trickster to fool others or twisting their words against them to his favor. It was true he had learned a lot from Oogie Boogie, whether it was good or bad, but it had also become his way of surviving in the world. Never trust anyone with your secrets or your feelings; it could always be used against you. If you showed weakness, it was highly frowned upon. Oogie never liked his henchmen to be weak and he would do terrible things to toughen you up. He winced every time he thought of these memories. They hurt something fierce and he never forgot how helpless he felt when he couldn't protect his friends from Oogie's wrath. How powerless he felt when the Boogie Man taunted them and tormented them. He blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. He angrily rubbed his eyes as more came in its place and he forced himself to smile. No one could see him like this.

The gusts of wind intensified and it felt as though it pushed here and there, and sometimes he had to stop and look down at the ground to avoid tripping because his hair blew into his face, blocking his view.

A white, bright light shone up on the sky followed by a loud rumble as thunder swept into the forest. Another flash of lightning appeared in the sky, reminding him that he needed to continue his journey.

The raindrops fell on him like hard rocks, slamming against him. The mossy ground made his feet slip and he struggled to keep his balance. There were roots sticking up from below the ground, stretching across the path he went as if waiting for him to take the wrong step. He heard a shriek far, far away that caught his attention, not looking where he stepped…

Before he could use his hands to dampen his fall, his vision was clouded by a white light, then it turned black followed by a piercing, sharp pain that went through the side of his body, just where his ribs were and a loud, heartwrenching scream escaped from his throat; raw and filled with the agony that was quickly spreading through him like a bolt of lightning. Sharp, intense, immediately clouding his mind. Everything around him spun and it felt as though he was losing the grip of his consciousness, barely able to stay awake. It hurt too much. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to move. With every movement he made, a new surge of pain shot through his body, sharper than before. He suppressed the groan of pain that threatened to escape from his throat. He couldn't stay here. He couldn't rest. He had to move on.

Wheezing, he forced himself to open his eyes. With one trembling hand he nudged the area where he had been hit when he fell, and a strong feeling of nausea filled his stomach when he saw that blood covered his hand. Thinking fast, he ripped a piece of fabric from the cloak he had picked up on the way through the forest and wrapped it tightly around the wound. He hissed in pain and he looked at the cloak again,  which was now soaking wet. It had once belonged to an old man who had perished in the woods but his belongings were left in the shelter he once used to live in. At first he thought that he could take shelter there, but he soon came to realize why the man had died and he soon had to be on his way again. He tried not to think about how the man died but his mind was already thinking of possible scenarios, all too familiar of what he himself was probably going to face if he wasn't careful enough.

He felt his legs buckle and before he could do anything, his body hit the ground once more, his head landing against a moss-covered stone, barley missing the sharp edges and he felt the sharp needles from the pine along with sharp rocks, hard, gnarly roots sticking up from the ground as if they wanted him to trip. Wanted him to face the very creature he was trying to escape.

Despite the pain that burned inside his body, he forced himself to stand up. With a grunt he drew in a deep breath as he tried to regain his strength. Wobbling, he took a step forward. The ache stirred up a throbbing feeling that pulsed through the wounded area like a heartbeat and he felt sweat beginning to run down his temples. A shiver ran down his spine and his teeth clattered even though he felt hot. 

Apparently he was too caught up by the pain to be aware what was going on around him because his legs bent and he fell into a patch of razor sharp throrns. He whimpered in pain but tried to ignore it as he continued forward, desperately trying to make his way through the thicket until he saw some nearby green bushes next to a huge oak. With a hand clutching the wounded side, he made his way to the oak to catch his breath but he couldn't stay there for long. Especially since he was hunted. Followed. Stalked, but in the end, it was his own fault. If he hadn't made that bargain, maybe this wouldn't have happened. It had been his choice and now he was paying the price for his treason.

A few tears began to well up in his eyes but he blinked them away angrily, refusing to let himself show any kind of vulgar even though he felt vulnerable at this very moment. Too vulnerable. Too exposed. And he was all alone. That was the worst part. Without his group, he was nothing. He needed them as much as they needed him, but what use did they have for him after he had proven himself to be untrustworthy by the crime he committed?

Those questions stirred around in his mind as he searched for a cave; a hole in the ground; anything that could give him shelter through the night while protecting him from the inevitable fate he would face if she found him. As panic took its grip on him, his senses were sharpened and he frantically looked around, being hyper aware of every sound, every movement, anything that could give him clues that someone was following him.

At first he couldn't believe his eyes, but he had finally found an abandoned cave that was ancient and looked untouched. He peeked inside and when he made sure the coast was clear, he darted inside and climbed up the rocks until he found a small creek that he fitted into perfectly and he creeped inside as far as he could. He had his small size to his advantage and he had even seen small tunnels that fit him perfectly in case he needed to escape.

Just as he was about to sleep, he heard a noise coming from inside the cave. It appeared to come from a badger but soon a shadow loomed over it and with a snap and a sickening scream from the creature the badger was no more to be heard from ever again. Then he heard the crushing of bones and jaws that crushed it, bone by bone and his heartbeat quickened, and he froze in his spot, not daring to make a sound. Not even breathe.

The larger creature sniffed in the air as it looked around, growling and grunting. But soon it laid down on the cave floor, just below the creek on the hill where he had perched. And he recognized who it was.

It was the creature he had betrayed and she had picked up his scent. Maybe the badger she ate was meant as a warning for the fate he was about to face, or maybe he would face something even worse than that.

As much as he tried to stay awake, the exhaustion finally took its grip on him and he fell deep into a restless slumber as the night went on…

Chapter Text

“He slowly opened his eyes, meeting the Boogie Man’s gaze. The hollow eye sockets of the sack creatures were fixed in a death glare, as if he would tear him apart at any second. Shock and Barrel were both curled up next to him, trembling. Shivering in fear while the sack creature stared at them angrily. Barrel whimpered as Oogie leaned into his face, looking at him intensely before taking a step back.

“You failed.” he growled, his snake hissing at them ferociously. “You rotten foolish henchmen.”

He took another step forward and Shock flinched again, a gasp escaping from her throat as he narrowly missed her when he tried to reach for her neck. He took another step and stopped next to Lock. The little devil tried to keep his composure, even though deep down he was about to crumble into a thousand pieces. They had really done it now. They had failed to please their master and now they were going to face his wrath.

Before Lock could say anything, Oogie grabbed him tightly by the neck, shaking him harshly. Lock tried his best to protect himself, though it failed miserably. The next thing that happened was that he was thrown to the cold, hard floor. The little devil wheezed in pain as his vision was blurred and everything around him was spinning. He felt that he needed to vomit. He wanted to hide. To escape from the torment. From everything. 

“How did this happen?” the tone held contempt and disappointment; barely concealing the fury his master felt right now.

“I-it was my fault, Sir,” Lock choked out, barely able to keep his balance as he wobbled on the floor.

The pain came sharp and intense when Oogie kicked him. And again. And again. 

Lock clenched his jaws tightly to avoid any scream, any sign of sound that Oogie might perceive as weak. He was the leader of Oogie's Boys and he had to act like one. If he didn't, Oogie would taunt him. Mock him. Torment him. And part of his torment included witnessing the torment of his friends.

His friends could only stand there in horror while Oogie continued to berate and “punish” him for his mistake. The kicks turned into punches. The punches turned into slaps that rained upon him. All the while he kept quiet to save the last piece of dignity he had left. The last thing he saw before everything went black was his friends’ worried glances and Oogie's glaring eyes peering down at him…”

Lock gasped as he woke up, breathing heavily. Putting a hand to his chest he looked around to see where he was. He was still in the middle of the creek in the cave's walls, safely protected from danger. For now. Judging by how dark it was, he guessed it was closer to midnight. His heart pounded hard against his chest and he was afraid to be heard, given how fast he was breathing. He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself under control. He had to, especially since he had to survive. He was alone, injured and freezing. 

That felt wrong. He usually never got the chills as his physique as a devil made him relatively resilient against the harsh climate but now he felt tired. He felt weak and he hated it. It went against everything he wanted everyone to think of him. He wanted to be seen as strong, resilient and confident, even though those things weren't always true. He wanted respect and while he got it, it wasn't without a price. He was Oogie's former henchman. A brat. A rascal.

The truth was that he was, along with his friends, Halloween's Finest Trick-or-treaters, but that didn't mean he wanted to hurt people. He only did his job and sometimes he wished the others would understand that while working for Oogie gave them some sort of freedom; he nor his friends were never truly free. They were trapped in a prison they didn't know how to escape and the fear of what Oogie would do to them if they showed disloyalty overweighed any other better judgment they had.

It wasn't about what they wanted to do when Oogie was alive. They needed to do what he ordered. They had to. Their lives depended on it. Jack had often told them they had a choice. A bitter laugh escaped from the little devil.

Choices. How funny he said they. Of course they had choices, but there were consequences to them, like any choice. He could choose to leave Oogie but the Boogie Man would see that as a betrayal, and that wouldn't end well for him nor his friends. Would he risk that? No. He chose to obey Oogie's wishes in hopes of keeping him and his friends alive. To save them from the sack monster's wrath. From his cruelty.

Did Jack just think he and his friends willingly chose to work for Oogie? If he did, then the Pumpkin King was stupider than he looked. Of course he nor his friends had no choice. They never chose to work for him. Oogie did. He chose them as his henchmen.

Lock had never for the life of him wished that he nor his friends would be there. To go through what they did. He never asked for any of that to happen. He never asked to have a prison disguised as freedom. Even though Oogie told them they were free to do whatever they wanted in exchange for their service it wasn't freedom. It was imprisonment replaced with flowery words.

He could have chosen to save his own life and risk their if he wanted to betray Oogie and surrender his place but he chose not to. Despite all the pain, all the horror he went through he chose to remain loyal to his friends. He'd do everything for them. They were the ones worth fighting for. They meant the world to him and no matter what it cost, what it took from him, he'd do it.

He let out a sigh of annoyance as he muttered to himself spitefully. He didn't hate Jack, but sometimes he wished he saw the whole picture and not just assuming he did something to be nasty. That he didn't assume he only acted out because that was what Oogie had taught him. It was more complicated than that. He hated feeling weak and helpless as he felt right now and he desperately hoped that no one saw him like this. 

Deep down he wished people could understand what he went through. What his friends went through and they pain they all carried because of it. It wasn't to excuse their actions or behavior but rather asking for understanding. To be truly understood. To be truly respected for who he was instead of what he was.

After a few moments of silence he was finally able to get some peace after waking up to the bad dream, or rather he wished it had only been a bad dream. Unfortunately it had happened when Oogie was alive. Now when he was dead Lock didn't have to fear the Boogie Man's clutches anymore, but the memories of him still haunted his mind.

The guilt and helplessness he felt whenever Oogie punished his friends was almost unbearable at times. He was their leader, he said. Some leader he was. Shock often insisted that she was a better leader than him, and while he knew she was the smartest in the trio, he was still the leader, he thought to himself. He wanted to be. It just felt natural to him.

The minutes turned to hours and the more he tried to stay awake, the more difficult it became. He knew he still was covered in thorns and while he had tried to pick off some of them, he knew he didn't have much time before he had to flee again. He could never know when Laura would catch up to him and he wasn't ready to confront her either. And he certainly didn't want to end up between her massive jaws.

He couldn't help but feel a gnawing fear for his friends right now. Laura wouldn't take out her anger on Shock or Barrel to get back at him, would she? 

“Oh my gosh,” he thought to himself as panic began to rise within him. “Please, not them.”

He hoped that they wouldn't face her wrath. They didn't deserve it. Oh, how could he be so thoughtless by running away without thinking of that. Now they must be in grave danger all because of him and his mistake. If he only hadn't made that bargain with the goblin just because he wanted to have that potion of hypnosis so badly this wouldn't have happened. Of course, he had been desperate after Jack had split them up for two weeks after their latest prank, but what the Pumpkin King didn't know was that it had all been a mistake. He never meant to fall down from the ladder when he was about to help put up the banner for the upcoming event Sally had planned. He was scared when he saw the lit torch and he lost his balance.

Lock hid his face in his hands. He just wanted to cry when he thought of that. The shame of the fear of the flames hit him hard, but his friends shouldn't have to suffer for his mistake. He knew that Jack often thought that they made pranks for fun, and while that was true, Lock had felt lately that something was… off. After Laura had defeated the two ghosts he felt some relief but the memories of the torture they had put him through still affected him more than he wanted to admit. He had been brasher, rougher and he kept more and more things to himself.

He knew that Shock and Barrel wanted him to tell them whenever something bothered him but as much as he wanted to be honest with them he didn't want be a burden either.

He just wanted to help them but making that bargain with the goblin maybe wasn't the best way to do it. Maybe he should've gone along with the consequence Jack dole out but the mere thought of being separated scared him something fierce. He couldn't help but worry what his friends thought of him right now. He hoped that they wouldn't end their friendship with him because of what happened but he could never know for certain.

Before Oogie was defeated they could never know which day would be their last or if they would lose one another.

The thoughts spun around in his mind, tormenting him from within until he was too tired to even think. He fell asleep, his breathing becoming more even. Sometimes his tail twitched a little in his sleep but mostly he slept deeply with the hope that tomorrow he would find a way to escape…

Chapter Text

Morning came faster than he could've expected. After a long night of alternating between staying awake and slumbering, the little devil was exhausted and the fatigue hung like a thick blanket over him, but that wasn't the only problem. He was sick too and probably poisoned after falling into the thorns. It was a stupid move to take that way, he reasoned to himself. Now he had to pay for that mistake. 

“It doesn't matter now,” he thought to himself as he rubbed his hands against his shoulders to try to alleviate the shivers that came every now and then after the poison kicked it. He sighed to himself. His body ached, he was freezing, he was hungry and worst of all, he was far away from home. If he had been home, Shock and Barrel would no doubt have helped him or stayed with him until he felt better. He drew in a shaky breath as the lump in his throat felt heavier. Were they alright? Were they safe? Or had anything bad happened to them after he had run away? Had the dragon decided to take out its anger on them when she couldn't find him?

He desperately hoped that it wasn't the case even though he knew deep down that he could never know for certain. Laura wouldn't do such a thing, would she?

Sure, she was a dragon and all, but it wouldn't mean she was truly evil, would it?

As much as he tried to reassure himself, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something might be wrong. That something terrible might happen if he didn't seek the dragon and embraced his fate. He knew that sooner or later she would find him, and that filled him with dread.

How could he explain to her that he never meant to betray her when she probably wasn't interested in listening to him? And quite possibly, she wouldn't believe him either. How could she trust anything he said after he had broken his trust and the agreements on his part, which included unquestionable loyalty to her and Shock and Barrel and not to go behind her back and use her to his advantage. And those were the exact things he had done. Oh, what a fool he had been.

But now wasn't the time to think about that. Dawn had already come and he had to move on. He looked around. The tunnels were a great option. He also could go out of the cave where he came in yesterday but the risk of being discovered were even higher and to face the dragon was the last thing he wanted to do.

With determination etched on his face, he began to crawl through the narrow tunnel in the cave, barely being able to get through the narrow passage before him. After a long while, and after a lot of walking on his knees until they ached, he finally came to a tunnel in the cave large enough for him to stretch to his full height. On wobbly legs he carefully stood up. Once his legs felt warmed up enough from his previous stiffer position, he took a shaky step forward. As he walked through the cave, he listened carefully to every sound and watched for any movement that would indicate that Laura was nearby. He knew how skilled she was at stealth and she could sneak up from behind before you had a chance to react. He had seen what a skilled hunter she was and he had learned early to never underestimate her.

She was as clever as she was dangerous, and that was reason enough for him to run for his life. Not only could she be manipulative and ferocious, but if she was angered enough she was one of the most vindictive dragons one could come across. That was what he had noticed when overhearing what the gnomes had said when he stopped near their house while catching his breath some hours ago. They didn't see him because he had hidden behind a huge fallen oak, but the rumors he had heard told him everything he had suspected. To mess with a dragon was never a wise idea and to provoke one was the biggest mistake one could make.

He had to find a way back home to warn Shock and Barrel. To tell them to seek cover and to flee, but would he be able to find them in time?

He crept through the tunnel until he reached the top of it, and his eyes were met with bright light of the sun. He hissed in pain as his eyes were unused to the sudden sunshine after being in the dark for so long. It took a few minutes but after his eyes had gotten used enough to the sunlight, he continued to run through the forest.

He saw strange birds with sharp teeth above him, flying into the sky. He didn't know what they were but he had an idea they weren't the funny kind of scary birds they had in Halloween Town. These were bigger, hairier and by the look of their appearance, far more dangerous than the owls he had seen.

One made a dive in his direction but he swiftly jumped away, narrowly escaping its sharp jaws. He ducked inside a log but the birds were persistent. With a leap he took another path that led into another cave and he trudged into the darkness. A sharp surge of pain went through his body and he nearly doubled over when he felt that the wound near his ribs had begun to bleed again. Feeling dizzy, he continued through the narrow passage until he came out through the opening that led outside into a clearing.

Unfortunately the birds were still searching for him, but at least he had the protection from the thick bushes to his advantage. The more he ran, the more the energy he lost, bleeding out like the blood that trickled down his belly, soaking his shirt. He had barely a few meters left to the next hideout when he collapsed to the ground. Lying down on the ground he was exposed to the heat of the scalding sun and the meat eating bird had already spotted him and were now diving in to deliver the final blow.

He closed his eyes as they came closer and closer and their shrieks echoed forbiddingly. But before he felt their claws touching him, another much bigger animal growled, the sound was deep and ferocious and he heard the bird-like creatures screaming in fear as they flew away in desperation. He could hear the true, primal fear in their shrieks and they all reminded him of the thing he and they shared; a fear of a sudden and painful death.

He could feel the tears stinging in his eyes and cried bitterly at the realization that his end was near. That this would be his fate he couldn't escape, especially now when he laid there on the ground, too weak to lift a finger.

With his remaining strength he gathered all the bravery he could muster and hissed at the larger creature above him, but all that came out was the weak sound, faint and low, and he felt the lump in his throat tightening.

“N-not them.” he hissed weakly, his voice strained and his breathing becoming fainter. “Please, not them.”

A low, rumbling sound was heard but it didn't sound threatening, on the contrary it sounded almost… friendly, but he knew better than to let the guard down just yet.

The pressure of a huge paw was laid on his side where it bled from the wound. He grunted and tried to push it away but to no avail.

He could hear the ripping sound of fabric being torn apart, possibly from the cloak he found earlier, and the next moment it was wrapped tightly around his wound. The pain was sharp and intense and he cried out in pain. A few tears trickled down his face and with aching eyes he tried to look up to see who it was. The creature was large and tall with green scales and tall horns and ears. Its snout was pointed and the legs were tall. It could only be one creature he knew looked like that.

“Please, Laura.” he choked out, panting heavily. “Let them be. They didn't do anything… It was me…”

He felt her huge paw on his small shoulder, the touch light and comforting.

“They'll be alright, trust me.” came the reply but he didn't hear it. The last bit of the remaining consciousness slipped from him and before he could say anything the world around him became surrounded by a thick layer of darkness…

The green dragon looked down at the unconscious devil on the ground. She knew that she could finish him off at any second but that wouldn't suit her best interests. At least not now, she reasoned to herself. He was still a source of information and it would've been more interesting to hear what he had to say about the bargain he made with the goblin. There were many questions but she didn't know if she'd find out the answers. He was a little tricky when it came to these things but she always enjoyed a challenge. In fact, getting answers out of him was merely a trifle but he could be stubborn but that wasn't anything she couldn't solve with a trick or two. She only needed him to stay alive so she could talk to him, and to see him dead now wouldn't do. And he kept talking about his friends, now that was interesting, wasn't it? Many ideas began to form in her head but she had to save those for another time.

Carefully she sniffed at him and as gently as she could she picked him up with her sharp teeth, trying not to hurt him as he held him between her massive jaws.

The flight to the cave was smooth and swift, and she tried not to let her razor sharp teeth cut into his flesh, at least not at the moment when he was already wounded as it was. When she landed within the walls of safety, she hurriedly put him down and searched through the potions after a purple bottle until she found it under a green flask. She took the bottle in one paw while she helped the little devil to drink, tilting his head so he wouldn't choke on it as he swallowed the purple liquid, sip after sip. Shortly after he had drank it down, his body twitched and turned and a grunt of pain escaped from his pale blue lips. The pain came like a burning flame that spread through his body and it only worsened the more the potion began to take effect. He was about to run when he suddenly lost consciousness again and everything went dark again…

The first thing that met his eyes was the dim light seeping into the cave from the magical treasures Laura kept. A surge of fear went through his body and instinctively he tried to get up, but his body failed him and he flopped down on the mattress, exhausted. He drew in a sharp breath as he saw another dragon looking down at him, her gaze gentle yet concerned. She was nearly half the size as Laura was and her scales were a bright shade of purple and her wings were dark purple with white dots and periwinkle and yellow stripes. On the top of her head were her tall gills, shining in pink and light blue colors. Her eyes were blue and the calmness showed through them. She gently placed her paw onto his shoulder as her eyes met his.

“Please try to rest, little devil.” she said softly, her tone filled with reassurance. “You are safe here. No one is going to hurt you.”

Before Lock could reply, a violent coughing fit hit him and his sore body ached even more. The purple dragon gently placed a paw on his back to bring him some comfort, but also to help him breathe better by helping him sit upright. After he had managed to get the coughing to cease, he groaned as he laid down again. He closed his eyes as the headache grew more intense and another groan escaped from his throat.

The purple dragon frowned in concern as she heard his breathing becoming quicker again. She gently placed a paw to his forehead and her frown deepened.

“Oh, my.” she shook her head and sighed. “Your fever has risen again.”

She picked up a small vial and poured some liquid into a cup. Lock eyed it suspiciously.

“What is it?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It's a potion that'll help the fever go down,” she explained, her voice soft. “You'll feel better if you drink it.”

The little devil looked at the vial once more before taking it into his hand. With a trembling hand, he held the flask to his mouth and he drank it down slowly. It didn't taste too bad but it was still too sour for his taste. He grimaced as he coughed and gagged, but he had had worse. 

He slowly lowered himself down on the makeshift bed. The only thing he could do now was to rest. As much as he wanted to go home and look for his friends, he felt too weak to even move.

“I'm sorry,” he mumbled softly as he drifted off, before falling asleep. The purple dragon continued to watch him as he slept, eyeing him carefully. Every now and then she could see him from the pain and he winced in his sleep. The young dragon sighed. It hurt a lot to see others in pain, even though they might be an enemy. She knew that devils didn't necessarily count as the most good-hearted creatures but despite that she didn't have the heart to see him suffer. She placed her paw onto his forehead again. He was still hot to the touch and it didn't help that his breathing quickened. With another sigh, she gently took her paw away and sat down. Since he was poisoned he couldn't be left alone and had to be watched at all times. Laura had watched him for a couple of hours before she needed to go hunting. The purple dragon sat there next to the makeshift bed as he slept more deeply but nonetheless pleasantly.

“He opened his eyes only to discover that he was inside a dark, cold room. The wood smelt of mold and dirt, and there were cobwebs all over the place. It would've looked quite nice if it weren't for the two people who floated right above him. He immediately recognized where he was and who they were; Thomas and Brandon and he was inside the old mansion. They sneered down at him. Lock tried to escape but to his horror and disgust he noticed that he was tied down to the floor, unable to move an inch. His upper body and tail felt cool and he noticed that his shirt laid on the floor a few meters away from him. His gaze immediately shifted to the two ghosts who were glaring down at him with eyes so cruel that they almost waited for the moment to tear him apart. And they probably would. A flicker of light flashed by his eyes and Brandon held a bottle of burning acid, moving it closer and closer and Lock cried out in pain…”

His eyes flew open and he could feel his heart pounding inside his ribcage. The memory of what they had done to him was as clear as the day it happened, intense and vivid. His vision was blurred and everything around him spun. He felt someone grab him before he could move any further and then he felt another paw holding something close to his mouth. He hissed ferociously to try to scare whoever was there but unfortunately they didn't go away. The bottle was pressed closer to his mouth and he allowed himself to drink whatever was inside it. The taste of water filled his mouth and cooled down his throat. He took sip after sip until he felt it was enough and he laid down again only to see two dragons looking down at him. The first one was Laura and the other one was the purple dragon he had met earlier. Too weak to keep his eyes open, he also himself to drift off into a deep slumber, feeling his consciousness slip as sleep finally claimed him…

Chapter Text

He didn't know how long he had slept. He hardly knew what time of the day it was, now that he was deep down in the cave. Laura's cave. Why had she saved him? Was this part of her plan to take out her revenge on him? Or did she have another scheme in mind that involved him as the pawn to make up for his indiscretion?

The more he thought about it the more tired he felt again. He sighed as he let out an exhale of frustration. He was better than this! He wasn't a worrywart, but at the same time he couldn't let go of the gnawing worry of what might happen to Shock and Barrel if she decided to take out her revenge on them. To see them hurt was the last thing he wanted to see and he desperately hoped they were safe and well.

Without thinking, he was about to get up, only to feel the pressure of a paw against him. Frowning, he looked up to meet the worried gaze of Fiona. Man, she was a real worrywart, wasn't she?

“Sheesh, I’m fine.” Lock grumbled, trying to push the paw off him without success. “I don't need your help.”

A sigh escaped from the purple dragon. She shook her head as she gently pushed him back down to a laying position.

“You're not well enough,” she said softly, trying to get him to see reason. “You've lost a lot of blood. You need to rest.”

Lock sighed in annoyance and tried to sit up but he quickly realized that it was a mistake as he immediately felt the dizziness return. With a groan he carefully lowered himself down until he felt the pillow under his head. His face was slick with cold sweat and he felt cold and nauseous all at the same time. He felt a blanket being draped over him and he saw Fiona picking up a bottle with some potion in it. His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms, but she gently tilted his head and held the bottle close to his mouth. His eyes widened and he hissed as he tried to push it away. Fiona gave him a sympathetic look and she gently put it down next to him on the cave floor.

“It'll help you feel better, I promise.” she said soothingly. 

She tried again but he turned his head away, keeping his mouth closed. He wasn't buying that. Well, she looked nice but that didn't mean she'd have any sway over him. He had been through worse and managed to do well on his own. He didn't need any help from anyone now and even if he did he'd never say that to anyone. Least of all anyone he didn't know too well. That wasn't worth the risk.

Fiona's frown deepened and she placed her paw on his shoulder.

“Please, Lock,” she said gently. “You need to drink this. What do you think your friends would say if they saw you like this if you said no to them if they tried to help you? Don't you think they'd be worried about you?”

The little devil's body tensed and he crossed his arms, pouting.

“Gee, would they?” Lock asked, his voice dripping with venom. The edge in his tone sharpened, though there was a slight tremble in his voice that disappeared as soon as it came. “They might be just as happy without me after we broke up. I don't have a team anymore, anyways, but I'll manage alright. I’ll just rest for a couple of days and I'll be fine.”

“I don't think that's true,” Fiona answered, her tone even and comforting. “Not from what I've heard from Laura. You three seem like such good friends. They really care about you.”

Lock didn't say anything for a long time. Instead he just pouted, though deep down he knew she was right. Of course they cared about him, it wasn't that. But why was it so easy to leave him after Jack told them to split up for two weeks? Was it that easy to go away from him? Was he really that bad? No, it wasn't that. That was a lie.

A lie Thomas and Brandon had told him. A lie they had poisoned him with. He wasn't going to let them win over him. Never! He was far stronger than they ever were and he knew Shock and Barrel “accepted” the penalty Jack gave them because they didn't want to get into deeper trouble than they already were in, but did Jack really have to do that? Didn't he understand that they NEEDED to be together? But then again, this wouldn't have happened if he never suggested they went to fetch herbs at Sally's garden; this would've never happened at all to begin with.

All he ever wanted was to get a few herbs but no, instead they accidentally awoke a ghost who in a fit of fury smashed the garden with a tombstone and everyone thought it was their doing. It was a stupid move by him. With a groan he laid down, sighing as he burrowed his face into the pillow. Fiona frowned in concern as she held the bottle, thinking about what she could do. If he didn't drink this, he would only get weaker and the poison from the purple thorns would worsen the symptoms. Just then, Laura came back into the cave.

Drawing a sigh of relief, Fiona went over to her friend, whispering in her ear what had happened while she was gone. Laura just rolled her eyes but she wasn't surprised. Nothing about Lock was ever simple, but she had to find a way to get through his stubbornness, especially since he was so frail after what had happened earlier when she found him in the forest. 

Walking calmly over to her friend, she stopped near his makeshift bed, eyeing him. He was still tired but she could tell that he needed to drink.

“Hey Lock,” she said calmly. “How are you doing now?”

Lock slowly turned around to face her.

“I'm f-fine,” he said weakly, his voice raspy from his dry throat. Laura just shook her head. 

“Oh no, don't try that trick with me,” she said a little firmly. “That doesn't work on me, y'know.”

Lock just sighed.

“What do you want, Laura?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “And don't try anything funny. You can't fool me either.”

Laura nodded slowly. “I know that.” she said softly. “I’m not trying to fool you either.”

Lock crossed his arms.

“Then what are you doing?” he asked with a sneer. “Trying to figure out a way to get back at me?”

“No, I'm trying to help you.” she said matter-of-factly. “And you need to drink this. It's just soup with a little herbs in it.”

Lock scoffed. “Really?”

Laura nodded calmly as she gave him the flask again. The little devil took it into his hands and he sniffed at it. It didn't seem too bad after all. He took a small sip of it. It didn't taste too bad either. 

Slowly he drank it down, gulp by gulp until he was done and he gave the empty flask to Laura who put it in a cabinet she had been “given” by one of the queens that paid her in exchange for sparing them and the kingdom.
After a while she saw that Lock had laid down again, sleeping deeply. Fiona walked over to Laura as she sat there next to Lock to keep an eye on him as he slept.

“How is he?” Fiona asked, her voice in a whisper. Laura eyed him for a moment or two before whispering back to her friend.

“Well, it could've been worse.” she said softly. “At least he got the healing potion, that was the most important part or he wouldn't have lived to tell the tale.”

Fiona gave the little devil a sympathetic look. “He really had a rough time, didn't he.”

A look of sorrow appeared on Laura's face. “Yes, he had a very rough time, but at least he's safe. I just hope the herb brew will help him feel better but we need to keep watch at all times. He can't be left unmonitored now that he's been poisoned by the purple thorns.”

“I know,” Fiona said, nodding in agreement.

The minutes turned to hours and all night they took turns watching over the little devil and helping him in case he needed to drink. By the time morning came, Laura was sleeping while Fiona kept watch. Suddenly she heard a sound of someone who came walking and when she turned around she saw a little witch and a little ghoul in a walking bathtub…

Chapter Text

Lock couldn't believe his eyes. Were Shock and Barrel really here? His eyes widened with surprise and disbelief, as he was about to say something but decided against it. He was too tired and whatever drink he had been given started to kick in. He groaned in pain as he felt the pain pounding against his skull as the headache returned, stronger than ever. He laid down on the mattress, and closed his eyes again. The world around him was spinning and he felt his stomach kicking him from inside, but he swallowed it down, feeling the vile in his throat. It hurt but his head hurt even more and the voices from his companions sounded distant but present at the same time. Maybe he was starting to lose consciousness again. Maybe it was something else.

In a flash he felt the presence of two people standing next to him. People he knew all too well. He forced a smile despite the pain in his body but the harsh breathing gave him away. He felt a chubby hand on his shoulder followed by another hand with gloves. Shock and Barrel exchanged worried glances as they looked down at him. As much as they teased him, it was hard to see him in pain.

Lock drew in a deep breath as he tried to relax despite the pain in his body, but it felt nice to have his friends by his side even though he'd take that secret to the grave and thinking about how ill he felt, he probably would have given his condition. If Laura hadn't saved him when she did, he wouldn't have been here. He wouldn't have seen his friends' relieved faces to see that he was alright. He wouldn't have been able to participate in their pranks or taking cookies from Sally.

The thought both hurt and he was immensely grateful that she had thought it more beneficial to help him instead of leaving him to his fate, but he decided to say that when he was feeling better, or maybe he could also get her something. As a thank you and that he really did appreciate her. It probably wouldn't mend things right away, but it was a start to reaffirm their alliance and, most importantly, their friendship.

Barrel patted his shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look. Shock just laid her hand on his shoulder as well, looking equally worried. It wasn't often she did that but Lock decided to save the teasing for another time. 

“How are you?” Barrel asked, his tone soft. “Do you feel better?”

Lock rolled his eyes. “How do I look?”

“You look awful,” the little ghoul answered, giggling a little. Lock shot him a glare.

“Why thank you,” the sarcasm dripped heavy from the little devil as his tail twitched a little. “That was awfully nice of you.”

“Well, well, you certainly made a smart move yourself,” Shock replied, her tone equally sarcastic. “You're such a moron. You could've gotten yourself killed.”

“Well excuse me for tryin’ to help ya,” Lock grumbled. “I didn't really wanna drag you guys into the mess this time… for once.”

He mumbled something under his breath that none of his friends could hear, but Shock and Barrel immediately understood why he disappeared yesterday. He was trying to protect them from Laura because of the said misunderstanding that happened earlier. He had assumed that Laura would take out her anger on him,which wasn't entirely misplaced as well, she was a dragon and she might very well eat him if she decided he had upset her in any way.

Laura just shook her head and let a smirk form on her face. Well, he certainly was well enough to use that sharp tongue of his. It was always something, wasn't it? At least she knew that was a good sign.

Fiona couldn't help but smile when she saw the three friends united again. Even though his outbursts of sarcasm he genuinely seemed happy to see them again. Maybe he'd be much happier than he was earlier when he first arrived here. Laura stood next to her, giving her a look of relief. She gently nuzzled her friend who now looked a bit tired. With a nudge of her snout, Laura told Fiona to rest for a bit while she took the time to watch over the little devil.

The smaller dragon laid down and closed her eyes, already drifting off. Grinning, Laura just gave her friend a sympathetic look. To help someone like Lock was no easy task, especially if he was in a bad mood, but hey, who wouldn't be? But Fiona was always patient as she usually was. Kind to a fault, yes, but that was also one of her strengths. Sometimes, Laura had learned, it was better to be more understanding when she wanted to lash out, it was better to take a step back. Especially now in this situation. Sure she knew that Lock was impulsive and he really made a bad move to accept the goblin’s deal but he was desperate and it was the goblin she was mad at, really. Not Lock. She knew him too well to really be angry with him. Sure he could be annoying at times, yes, but he was still her friend and he had been very loyal to her and the other two for as long as she had known him.

As the dragon watched Shock and Barrel laying down next to their sick friend, Laura was still awake. A few hours later, another creature crept into the cave. Perking her ears up, Laura listened to who it was and her eyes softened when she saw it was only Lyvia who had come here.

She immediately rushed over to her friends and sat next to Lock.

A small smile formed on his pale face when he saw she was there too when he was sure no one else saw him. He never said it out loud but he really liked Lyvia and she was a really good friend to the trio. She was excellent at using magic with her wand and she was one of the best duelists in her class. Shock was also pretty good at magic too and they were equally intelligent which was something Shock enjoyed and they often shared ideas of magic potions and tricks.

As he drifted off to sleep, his thoughts stilled thanks to whatever remedy Laura had given earlier, and knowing his friends were right beside him, he allowed himself to sleep…

Suddenly everything was pitch black. It was cold. It was dark. He saw nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing. It was as though he was unconscious, until finally someone or something slapped him harshly across his cheek.

Groaning he slowly came to, his vision blurry as his eyes were still unused to the din light. He felt the smell of rotten wood, of moldy animal hides, the stench stinging inside of his nose, making his stomach twist into knots and the nausea grew stronger. His head hurt, feeling the pulse pounding against his skull.

He saw two tall creatures staring down at him and he quickly realized where he was.

“Why, hello there, little devil,” Brandon hissed, his tone filled with malice. “How nice to see you again.”

Lock's eyes widened as a small gasp of fear escaped from him. Despite his efforts to stay calm, to look unmoved, his eyes betrayed him.

Thomas just laughed at him, the cackle echoing forbiddingly when he took a hard grip on the little devil's shoulder. “So good to see you awake,” he said, his tone cold as ice. “I was almost a little worried.”

Sweat began to dampen his forehead, and Lock inwardly hoped that whatever the ghosts were supposed to do with him that they'd get tired of him and let him go, but unfortunately, knowing them he knew he wouldn't be so lucky.

Brandon flew even closer to him, the wicked grin ever-present on his face. He held up an axe and a box of snatches.

“Do you know what I'm going to do with these?” he asked, his eyes fixated on him, like an enemy looking for the victim's weaknesses. Lock's eyes narrowed as a ferocious hiss escaped from his throat.

“I have a pretty good idea,” the little devil hissed, trying not to give away how afraid he sounded. The two ghosts chuckled menacingly as their eyes narrowed.

“You're very clever after all,” Brandon scoffed. “I'm impressed.”

And then they seized a grip on his arms and Lock hissed in pain as Thomas lit the torch held it close to his hand and Brandon raised the axe…

Suddenly he felt something nudging his shoulder and his whole body tensed in pure, primal fear. Maybe it was the ghosts who had come to take out their anger on him yet again. He opened his eyes but everything around him was blurred and he saw dark figures around him. His tail curled around his leg, but he immediately flicked it when he saw the silhouettes coming closer, trying to make them back away.

He hissed, trying to back away. His pupils were slit and his gaze fixed on the people around him. His tail swished in indignation but just as quickly it curled between his legs as he took another step backward, watching them attentively to anticipate their movements in order to avoid them. Suddenly a soft, gentle voice called out to the creatures around him to be still and forward stepped a devil girl he immediately recognized. It was Lyvia. She gave him a look of reassurance, her hand slightly outside as if trying to reach out to him.

“It's okay,” she said softly, her tone calm and empathetic. “I won't hurt you.”

Though his breathing was still quickened, he finally managed to make it more stable, more in control as he wanted it to be. Even though he knew he was in a very vulnerable position, especially since the venom now had begun to kick in, he had to do everything he could to keep his opponents at their distance. The least thing he could risk was to trust someone only to be taken advantage of because of his predicament.

The devil girl took another step toward him, but he didn't back away. Part of him wanted to hiss, wanted to flee but the other part told him to stay. To let her come to him because despite every instinct in his body kept telling him that he couldn't let his guard down, not to show her how frightened he really was, how ill he really felt and that allowing her and the others to see that, they might very well take advantage of his disadvantage and use it against him, he felt that he could trust her. Even though his mind screamed at him to run, he chose to stay where he was, watching her as she slowly came closer and closer, though not in an intimidating or hostile way. No, in fact it made him feel… at ease. 

He felt deep down that he could trust her and Shock and Barrel too. He'd never doubt them. Shock and Barrel had been staying with him through thick and thin; whenever Oogie was mad they had always been there for him and he had always stood up for them. To doubt them now when they had done so much for him felt like betrayal. It felt disgusting to feel that tiny pinch of fear of being left behind when he needed help the most. To be afraid to show how vulnerable he felt even though he knew they would try to save him when it counted. That tiny prickle of pain hurt immensely and he inwardly scolded himself for feeling so weak when he was supposed to be strong, to be tough. To be the leader who was in control and stable enough to keep the group together.

His eyes stung with pain when they hit the moonlight. His body was sore beyond any word could describe and his legs wobbled when he tried to take a step forward to see the other two creatures behind the devil girl. It was his friends; Shock and Barrel.

His gaze shifted to the ground where he saw how worried they were, their glances showing concern and empathy, and now he had hissed at them when they were only trying to help him, like they always did whenever he was in trouble. Was this the thanks they deserved?

He took a quick glance at the  hand Lyvia held out to him before he carefully placed his hand into her own, accepting the kind gesture. It was the least he could do for her. She smiled at him and the tiniest grin formed on his face, which was now covered with dirt and dust. Shock and Barrel immediately came over to his side and with a steady grasp, the witch and the ghoul gently but firmly draped his arms over their shoulders, supporting him as they walked through the forest. He gently let go off Lyvia's hand but muttered a small “thank you” quiet enough for only her to hear.

When the quartet came to the walking bathtub where Laura stood next to it, waiting for them, she followed them into the realm of Halloween as the bathtub walked through the Pumpkin door and came to the Treehouse. Their Treehouse, the place they called home. 

The dragon helped them inside and went in herself. Upon seeing the familiar building he had shared with his friends all this time, Lock drew a sigh of relief. It was finally good to be home again after his encounter in the Dragons’ Realm. If it was anything he had learned on this adventure it was to be extremely careful about who you're making a deal with, especially if said creatures were sneaky enough to take advantage of your weaknesses. He sighed in annoyance at his mistake. It was stupid of him to do that. He knew better than this for Halloween's sake!

His two cohorts, Shock and Barrel carefully helped him lay down on the sofa while Lyvia fetched some water. Laura stood by the sofa, watching over her friend. Fiona rested outside, already drifting off as the night went on in the new realm. Under different circumstances she would've been very happy to come here, and she did feel happy but she couldn't help but think about what had happened to Laura's companion. Whatever alliance they had struck under conditions only Laura and the little devil knew, it was clear that the devil had been worried about said terms that were probably broken. 

“I need to ask Laura about that tomorrow,” she thought to herself as she yawned, allowing sleep to finally claim her as the cry of ravens echoed through the night.