Random Rainimator Stories

Pumpkin Carving Competition - Part 2

Hilda continued to welcome new people to her stall while Nostra and Stella sat at one of the tables, working on their pumpkins. It was harder to pierce the pumpkin than Nostra thought. Stella seemed to have no issue, her pumpkin was already empty. She chattered away with enthusiasm, blissfully unaware of Nostra's silent struggle.

"To think this is only one evening of our lives! Sometimes, All Hallow's Eve feels like a whole eternity of fun!"
"I just can't wait to get my beauty sleep."
"Sleep! Here we are on the scariest night of the year, carving pumpkins for a chance to win candy and you're thinking of sleep?"
"Scariest night of the year? Do you see the Nether attacking?"
"You know what I mean."
"Right."
"I wonder what the Horde does on All Hallow's Eve! Could they be celebrating just like us?"
"Celebrating All Hallow's Eve? Maybe. Celebrating as civil as we are? Definitely not."
"I can never tell if you're being sarcastic or being serious."
"Shove the pumpkin up your a-"
"And lose every chance I have at winning a jar of candy?"
"Are you seriously this determined to win a crock of sugary delicacies?"
"Of course! Then I'll get to share it with everyone! I'd share with Rain, shove some down Ciara and Kane's throat, throw a handful at Azura and Patrick, gift a few to Lyria and maybe Hilda for Christmas..."

Nostra stopped listening to Stella, her voice fading into the background. After finally managing to cut open the pumpkin, they noticed something strange coming from inside, capturing their full attention and drowning out all remaining sound around them.

A faint purple glow was pulsing on the surface of the pumpkin's pulp, a soft humming sound accompanying it. Nostra stared at the glow, a puzzled expression forming on their face.

"Nostra?" Nostra looked up, their eyes meeting Stella's. Nostra gestured to the purple glow coming from their pumpkin. Stella's eyes widened.
"That's unusual. Pumpkins don't glow like that. Do you think Lyria is planting enchanted pumpkin seeds?"
"If my recollection is accurate, Hilda provided the orange pumpkins."
"You were right. Hilda is a terrible gardener!"
"Oi!"

Nostra and Stella turned to see Hilda approaching, a strained look on her face. Stella smiled nervously. Nostra squirmed in their seat. Hilda pulled out a chair from their table, her facial expression never faltering as she sat down.

"I just handed out the last pumpkin so you better not be spreading false accusations about my gardening skills."
"Hilda, you can't even boil an egg."
"Nostra, you can't even cook pasta."
"That's not the point! The point is the pumpkin's pulp is glowing purple! I don't do gardening but even I know that this isn't normal."
"It's All Hallow's Eve. Since when has anything been normal on October 31st?"
"I like to have a scientific and logical explanation for things like these, Hilda."
"And I'd like to have you finish scooping out your pumpkin and carving a face on it before you complain about how it glows."
"Pumpkins don't even glow!"
"Should I carve a cat's face or fairy wings on mine?"
"You're not helping, Stella!"
"Princess, just finish digging out your pumpkin."
"Are you serious, Hilda?"
"Yes, Princess. We're actually on a tight schedule."
"We are?"
"We got the bonfire to start soon."
"Guess what will happen a few hours after that bonfire is lit!"
"Nostra, just because Sire has decided to celebrate tonight doesn't mean he isn't as alert for danger as usual. Just finish digging out the pumpkin and I'll help you carve a face."
"Fine, but if I smell like pumpkins after this, you owe me three bubble baths per day for the next 6 weeks."
"Just hurry up, Princess."

Nostra sighed as they picked up their spoon. They began scooping out the pulp, which Nostra found was easier than cutting the pumpkin open. The glow only seemed to get brighter the more pulp was dug out. Even people from the other tables were paying attention now, the brightness becoming unbearably noticeable. Nostra kept going, starting to see a small clear object poking through the remaining pulp. Nostra stopped digging, their eyes narrowing at the object. They turned to Hilda, an accusing look on their face.

"What?"
"Where do you get your pumpkin seeds?"
"Why?"
"Your pumpkin is contaminated!"
"You're not eating it, you're carving it."
"It's still contaminated!"
"I get them from the Frostbourne's greenhouse. They let me harvest their orange pumpkins for their seeds."
"That doesn't explain why there's a glassy object in my pumpkin!"
"Just dig the object out."

Sighing, Nostra resumed digging out the pulp. Stella had been silently watching, her pumpkin's face of a cat with wings. Stella's eyes slowly widened in shock as she observed the object. Nostra's pumpkin was now half empty, making the object more visible. A purple crystal was inside the glass, spinning around slowly. The glow was coming from the crystal, which now filled every corner of the pumpkin. Nostra wasn't paying much attention, their spoon nearly colliding with the crystal. Stella grabbed Nostra's arm, stopping them from digging further.

"Nostra, you should be careful when digging out the rest of the pulp."
"Pardon?"
"Don't be alarmed, but I think there's an End Crystal inside!"
"Are you serious?"
"Aren't you paying attention to the object inside your pumpkin? I know what an End Crystal looks like. You should know too, shouldn't you?"
"Hilda!"
"Nostra! Did you really think I knew that one of the pumpkins I planted was going to be chosen as a hiding spot for an End Crystal?"

Nostra left the question unanswered, trying to finish their digging. Stella let go of Nostra's arm and she and Hilda watched Nostra anxiously. Nostra's heart raced, hoping that Stella was bluffing. However, as Nostra's spoon hit the bottom of the pumpkin, their heart stopped. They laid the spoon down on the table in shock as the purple glow pulsed intensely. Stella held out her hands before the End Crystal floated out of the pumpkin, resting on her hands. Gasps of shock filled Nostra's ears as people observed the End Crystal from afar.

Nostra's eyes widened, the reality of their discovery sinking in. They stood up from their seat and took a step back as whispers of amazement spread around the courtyard.
Stella turned to look at Nostra, her face still in awe. "Looks like you already won something, Nostra!"
Hilda laughed nervously. "It definitely is a prize for the Frostbourne."
Nostra swallowed hard, their mind racing. "We should bring it back to the castle. Now."
Stella nodded before getting up from her seat. "I'll take this to Sire!" Then to the crowd, she shouted, "Nothing to see here!" The crowd immediately pretended to be focused on their pumpkins.

Stella turned to leave the fenced-in area, heading back to the apple bobbing stall. People all around the courtyard stared at her as she approached Patrick and Azura, surprise forming on their faces. Rain appeared beside Stella, seemingly interested. The four talked amongst each other, their words blown away from the wind. Then, Azura held out her hand, the End Crystal slowly floating towards her. Azura nodded at Stella and the two went to exit the courtyard, making their way back to the castle.

As Azura and Stella left, Patrick's voice boomed throughout the courtyard.

"Ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between! Make your way to the back of the courtyard for the lighting of the bonfire!"

Whispers of excitement circled the courtyard. Patrick offered his hand to Rain before heading down to the back. Others exploring the stalls followed suit and people emerged from tents, following the crowd. People in Hilda's competition got up from their seats, their pumpkins fully carved. One by one, they left their completed creations on Hilda's stall before making their way to the back of the courtyard. Nostra had been silently looking down at their pumpkin, their shoulders slumped. Hilda picked up Stella's pumpkin before placing a hand on Nostra's shoulder.

"Let's go, Princess."

With a solemn nod, Nostra picked up their pumpkin. Linking an arm with Hilda, the two approached her stall, placed the pumpkins down and followed the rest of the Frostbourne to the back of the courtyard.