Pumpkins
"This year's harvest is looking fantastic!" Perfuma boasted as she entered the cozy sitting area of Brightmoon where everyone else had gathered. A fire blazed in the fireplace and offered a soft glow in the room as the only source of light.
Bow smiled as he took Glimmers hand and gave it a small squeeze. "Maybe we can find a good sized one so you can make that pie?" He asked with hopeful eyes.
"Sure. But we have to get Wrong Hordak to help. He's the best kitchen assistant I've ever had." Glimmer smiled and squeezed his hand in return.
"What pie?" Adora asked from where she currently sat, playing with Catra's growing hair who was resting on her lap. The group had grown extremely comfortable in showing small gestures of affection, though it took Catra a while to allow Adora to do such tender things in front of others.
Glimmer sat up straight and eyed her friend in disbelief. "You're been out of the Fright Zone for how long now? Surely you've eaten pumpkin pie?" When Adora shook her head, Glimmer sat back with a sigh and shook her head. "I shouldn't be surprised. Did I really think they served pumpkin pie with rations dinner on Halloween in the Fright Zone?"
"Is that a rhetorical question or?" Perfuma asked as she took a seat by the fire.
"No! It wasn't a question at all... just, nevermind." The queen chuckled and leaned against her partner.
"Pumpkin picking!" Scorpia shouted excitedly as she entered the room. "Oh it's gonna be great. And then we'll carve little faces in them and put candles. At least that's what Perfuma told me." She sat down next to her girlfriend with joy.
"That sounds like fun." Adora smiled, looking down. "What do you think?"
Catra shrugged her shoulders, eyes closed as she relished in the soft touches of Adora's fingers combing through her hair. "Whatever."
Adora pouted before looking up at the group. "We're in."
Perfuma shot up from where she sat and clapped her hands. "Great! I'll meet you all at the meadows tomorrow afternoon. Come on, Scorpia, let's go water them one last time before bed."
Scorpia, who had just sat down moments ago, reluctantly got up but smiled nonetheless. "Sounds good, see you all tomorrow!"
The crew retired to their beds soon after.
_
The sun was at its high point by the time they arrived at the meadows. Adora used her hand to cover the sun from her eyes and peered over the vast land that carried a heavy tan, orange, and green color pattern. "Are the big orange things pumpkins?" She asked, looking to Bow for confirmation.
Nodding, Bow walked into the field and picked one up. "Yep! This bad boy right here will soon be delicious pie. Well, not this exact one...but one of these will." He placed the pumpkin back down.
Laughing, Glimmer took his hand and pulled him along. "Come on. We have to find one for pie and one to carve."
Scorpia waved to them as she approached. "Perfuma is already in the field. She said to go ahead and pick out whatever you want."
"Thanks, Scorpia!" Adora smiled before taking Catra's hand and pulling her into a row of harvest. "What do you think? Big or medium sized?"
Catra looked around on either side, looking over the pumpkins with interest. "Why is small not an option?" She wondered out loud.
Adora turned to look at her girlfriend. "Well, they said we would have to carve a face into it. So it'd have to be big enough for that. Oh! Look at this one." She pulled the other over to a large pumpkin and bent down to examine it.
"Hm, I don't know. It might be too big. Lot of area to cover, which means it may not come out right." Catra offered her opinion.
"Well look at you, Ms. Artist." Adora teased, satisfied that she got a blush from Catra but sad that she pulled her hand away to cross her arms. "Alright, let's keep looking."
The two spent the better half of two hours in the field looking through the pumpkins. Finally, they both found one they agreed on and Catra cut the vines so Adora could carry it back to the entrance area. Bow and Glimmer had picked out their carving and pie pumpkins, and the squad headed back to the castle.
With the pie baking, Glimmer grabbed some carving tools and gave a small lesson on how to clean out the pumpkin and then methods of carving. Catra was reluctant to stick her hand inside, deeming she'd never get the guts out from under her nails. So Adora cleaned the inside while Catra came up with a design.
"Here, Arrow Boy said this is the most traditional." Catra slid the paper over.
"Why are it's eyes triangles?" Adora asked, but when Catra shrugged, she did the same. "Alright, well you're carving it then!" She handed her the knife.
Taking the offered utensil, Catra stuck her tounge out but set to work on carving. It was a bit of a hassle, and eventually she set the knife aside and clawed at it. Once done, she added the scratches on the side and smiled. "For the aesthetic. Happy Halloween."
"It looks wonderful, babe." Adora wrapped her arms around Catra's waist and rested her chin on her shoulder. "Remember when we were kids and we would dress as ghost to scare Kyle?"
"Remember that time we did it and Rogelio drop kicked us both cause he jumped into action once he heard Kyle scream?" Catra replied with a laugh. "Never had these in the Fright Zone though." She motioned to the pumpkin.
Adora sighed in contentment. "Where would they even have grown them in the Fright Zone? No space! But it doesn't matter. It's our first pumpkin carving."
"Once carved, they're called jack-o'-lanterns." Bow added as he wiped his hands of pumpkin. "Here, put this candle in it and then light it."
Taking the offered small candle, Catra stuck it into the pumpkin and then grabbed the matches on the table. As soon as it was lit, the two gapped at it in awe. "Wow, that's super cool looking." Catra said, completely mesmerized.
"Yeah, pretty cool." Adora agreed. Something about it was soothing to look at, as the flame flicked and the area carried a chill temperature.
"Pies done!" Glimmer announced as she teleported into the room.
Everyone was so used to it now, they simple took a seat at the table and cut into the pie. Adora dived in while Catra examined and sniffed it.
"This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten." Adora demanded.
"You say that about every new food you try." Catra teased.
"Because all food is delicious against ration bars. But pumpkin might have a win." Adora defended as she cut herself another slice.
The best friend squad laughed and joked as they finished off the pie, the candles burning in their jack-o'-lanterns until they blew out.