The Pumpkin Festival - October Fetter Prompt 2020

October; The long and well awaited month of every year that is either loved or disliked by everyone. Loved simply because of the beautiful and cool days that are associated with Fall or the ever-so adored holiday of Halloween, the night to dress up, spook or show off to people, and gather yourself some sweet, sweet candy. But, disliked by others because of the temperatures and the leaves being everywhere which make it hard to keep things clean.

But, usually, mid-October, a Pumpkin Festival is held for everyone to show off their Largest Pumpkins, their Pumpkin Carvings, or to show off what unique pumpkin recipes they have to show off.

Today, a Fetter Couple by the names of Darby and Pixel were attending the Pumpkin Carving Show as a team together to show off their carving skills, the duo decided to work on separate pumpkins that, when put together, made on large connected carving! The two were well known within the community for being quite the sweethearts to others around them, even to their own kind.

Darby and Pixel were sitting in the peaceful quietness of their home carving into their pumpkins together in the kitchen, with Darby quietly hummed to himself in the somewhat peacefulness of their kitchen whilst Pixel was giggling a bit to herself whilst she carved into her pumpkin before finally breaking the silence. ❝Oh I can't wait for tomorrow Darby..!❞ Cheered Pixel in excitement, her fur fluffing a bit outwards due to said excitement.

❝I'm sure we'll be able to wow both the crowd and the judges of the Carved Pumpkin Show with some ease with our pumpkins sweetheart.❞ Answered Darby as he continued to carefully cut into his pumpkin, his half of the design he was doing alongside his partner was half of a hill with half of a large oak tree. He'd then pause for a moment as a thought came to mind before looking towards Pixel and saying, ❝I wonder.. Did you ever find out if they'd let us showcase our pumpkins together Pixel?❞ After hearing this, Pixel smiled softly and waved a paw dismissively before briefly responding. ❝Of course!❞, he'd follow this up with another question to her response. ❝You.. Did ask, right darling?❞

. . .

There was a moment of silence as she thought carefully before Pixel whined and dropped her face into the kitchen's island as her ears splayed outwards before reply ❝I forgot to even ask..❞ Her voice was a bit muffled as she dropped her carving knife onto the island's countertop. Darby sighed in frustration as his partner had forgotten to even ask if their carvings could be showcased together. ❝Sweetie.. I told you to make sure you asked them, now we have to stop what we're doing and make sure to ask, there's still some daylight to use before they close up for the night and get everything ready for tomorrow night.❞ He explained to Pixel, slightly frustrated with his lover but not mad in the slightest as he couldn't blame her for being a bit forgetful. He forgets about things as well.

❝R-Right.❞ Pixel whined before she straightened up and carefully grabbed her pumpkin with her tail as Darby got his own as well before carefully storing them. ❝Well, no time like the present! Let's hurry.❞ She replied before they jogged towards the entrance of their opening and opened it, Darby carefully followed after as the door opened and the duo stepped out with Darby using his tail to close the front door.

As the two jogged over towards the center of the city where the public city park resided and where the Pumpkin Festival was going to be held, they would see that not much traffic was going through the roads today and it made it a lot easier for the duo to make it. Once they entered into the park the sounds of conversations and things being moved and placed around the park easily filled the couple's ears. Seeing other Fetters, Humans, and a plentiful amount of other species working together to help put together the Pumpkin Festival's festivities, Pixel looked at everything with a sort of child-like wonder whilst following close to Darby. After asking a few people around where the coordinator of the entire event was, they arrived behind the large stage where a good portion of the workers were just sitting around to relax before stepping into the room with their heads poking through.

❝Excuse us, is Mr. Kellinstine here?❞ Darby called out before a rather short-ish man with a large and well kept beard jumped a bit in surprise at the lower toned voice calling out to him. "er-erhmn.." He'd clear his throat before looking towards the two fetters with a smile. "Well, if it isn't Darby and Pixel..!~" He said with a bountiful amount of joy in his voice, "What brings me the honor of having two of my favorite people coming to visit me?" Mr. Kellinstine asked.

❝Hey Mr. Kell!❞ Pixel chirped excitedly before Darby smiled a bit and lightly nodded his head before speaking up, ❝We've come here to actually ask you a question since my partner here forgot to due to her own excitement, which was if myself and Pixel could participate in the Pumpkin Carving Show and show off our pumpkins as a pair?❞. Kell closed his eyes for a moment and quietly stroked his beard for a moment before speaking, "Whilst I don't usually allow participants to work together when making their pumpkin carvings, I guess I could twist my arm a bit and slightly bend the rules for you two.." He'd open his eyes and smile towards the two; Pixel was wide eyed and giggling excitedly as she lightly pranced a bit in place as she looked towards Darby who was smiling warmly. ❝Thank you Mr. Kellinstine.❞ They bowed their heads and were about to step away before Mr. Kellinstine spoke up. "Ah, but, since I am allowing this, I expect you two to do your absolute best!" He proudly smiled and pressed his hands to his hips. ❝Of course! We'll do our best!❞ Cheered Pixel before they finally stepped out.

Now home, and with an excited and reinvigorated Pixel, the duo got back to their pumpkins for a few more hours before night hit where they had thankfully finished before putting them away in an area to preserve them.

[ The Next Day ]

As the sun rose high into the air, the two Fetter lovers carefully busied themselves throughout their modern yet quaint home, moving around and either cleaning up any mess made from last night, spending time together when on break, or preparing dinner for when they get home.

Pixel hummed quietly to herself whilst in the kitchen as she giggled softly. ❝A nice, pumpkin pie... Darby's going to love this when I surprise it with him once we get home after the Festival..~❞ It was easy to tell that the two loved and cared for each other very much, especially Pixel. Darby sighed audibly in relief as he carefully steps into the kitchen just after finishing cleaning up the living room from any dust and pumpkin mess they left behind on accident. ❝Still making stuff for once we get home Pixel?❞ Asked Darby, the smaller female nodded with a beaming smile, one of the many things Darby adored about his mate.

. . .

Time passes and finally late afternoon arrives; thus the start of the Pumpkin Festival within the city.  As the sun started to slowly make its decent and light slowly faded from the city, it was getting more and more populated with all kinds of citizens of the city who were either appreciating the attractions, participating in something, or enjoying time with loved ones and family, it wouldn't be long before Darby and Pixel arrived at the town square with their pumpkins carefully wrapped up and in tow towards the sizable stage. The odd person or two from the crowd would step back behind the stage alongside the two Fetters as they arrived and got themselves ready for the Pumpkin Carving Showcase. Most of the competitors casually or eagerly chatting with each other moods and morale were incredibly high.

❝Look at everyone, they look so excited to participate, oh I can't want to see the carves~!❞ Pixel cheered like a schoolgirl as is she just got a perfect grade score in all their classes. Darby just chuckled at her partner's childish-like excitement before finally the announcer of the show finally stepped onto the stage and was explaining everything about the show to the audience. ❝Its almost time for us to get up on stage.❞ Spoke up Darby as he made sure their pumpkin's were ready.  Once the Announcer finished explaining the rules and whatnot, he started to call upon the contestants onto the stage and to take their own table to showcase their pumpkins! As people gathered their pumpkins and got up on stage one-by-one, the couple took the middle table and set their pumpkin's together to showcase the full carved image they made. The crowd cheered and "ooo'd" at the beautiful carvings shown before them. "Now, our amazing audience, please grab a note as you step onto stage and vote for WHO made your Favorite Looking Pumpkin for this Years Pumpkin Carving Show!" Called out the announcer and eventually, one by one the Audience members came onto stage, wrote a name down on the paper before slipping it into the ballot box.

15 minutes later and after all the votes were counted...

"And that's all the votes counted, the last vote going to Darby and Pixel! That means, the winner of this Pumpkin Carving Show is... Darby and Pixel!?!" Cheered the Announcer as the crowd cheered loudly and happily alongside the fellow contestants applauding and cheering for the pair. Pixel was giggling like a school girl now before Darby spoke up. ❝We actually won, this is amazing..!~❞ Chirped the male before the two carefully stepped forward next to the Announcer and waved happily to the cheering crowd...

- The End.