Lumpy Pumpkin Halloween 2

Link whistled a jaunty tune as he made his way over to the Lumpy Pumpkin on his Loftwing.  He hadn’t seen his precious Kina for a while now due to his schedule, but now that he was free he could go and see his pumpkin princess.

Once he landed he rushed to the door and opened it with a big smile…only to gain a blank look as soon as he saw what was inside.  What he found was that Kina was dressed up in her mummy costume once again…and that Jack the Czar of Halloween was back.

“…What the hell?”

“Link!  I was wondering when you’d get here!” cheered a smiling Kina as she rushed over to her knight and embraced him.  She stood up on her tiptoes so she could give him a quick kiss. “Guess what we get to do today~”

Not answering his girlfriend, Link turned towards the pumpkin with a glare. “Why are you here and what did you do?”

Jack’s smile widened in amusement. “It’s Halloween time and I am here at my favorite place to celebrate!”

“We celebrated last year,” replied Link in a deadpan tone.

“Link, Halloween is a yearly event according to Jack,” explained Kina, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

The green-clad hero let out a groan.  He remembered last year very well.  Dealing with Jack was tiresome and that werewolf costume he was forced to wear was kind of embarrassing.  The only good thing that came out of the whole thing was how happy Kina was in the end…that and the fact that he got see Kina half-naked because of her costume.  Of course he wouldn’t tell her that last part.

Link let out a sigh. “So what tasks would you like me to do?”

Kina gave Link a beaming smile, happy that he was going to celebrate Halloween with her again. “Thank you, Link!  Anyway, while Jack uses his magic to decorate, could you go and get some pumpkins so we can carve them, please?”

Another sigh came from the swordsman. “Seriously, we need to find a better way of transporting those pumpkins.”

Kina could only giggle as she watched her Link head out to the pumpkin patch.  Oh how she loved him so.

“He is very strange,” said a soft, young voice.

Kina turned to the voice with a smile.  She didn’t get a chance to tell Link, but Jack decided to bring a guest this time around.  It was a young girl around eight-years-old.  She had long black hair tied up into two pigtails, wore a long-sleeved red dress with a little orange strip at the end, an orange neckerchief clipped at the crest with a golden skull brooch, black tights, and red shoes.  On top of her head she wore an orange tiara.  In the little girl’s arms was a strange looking bunny plushy.

When Kina first met the little girl, she thought that she didn’t want to be there, if the little girl’s expression was anything to go by.  Jack reassured her though that the little girl did indeed want to be there and even wanted to make friends, which was the main reason Jack brought her here.  No one should be alone on Halloween was what the pumpkin said.

Kina let out a soft giggle. “I wouldn’t really call Link strange, Ashley.  Then again, it doesn’t really matter to me how he acts at times.  I will love him all the same.”

“…I still find him strange,” replied the little witch as she hugged her bunny closer.

“Most people here in Skyloft unfortunately do,” stated Kina with a sigh. “Anyway, we still need to prepare for the party tonight.  Would you like to help me make some candy apples?”

“I…suppose I could.”

Kina led the little girl into the kitchen so they could get started.  Luckily, Jack had brought all of the necessary ingredients and the instructions to make the treats.

“Let’s see here,” stated Kina as she read the instructions.

“…What do we need to?”

“First we’ll need to mix the ingredients in a large pot, heat it up, and once everything had melted and mixed together we can dip the apples in the candy mixture.  Ingredients we need to use; sugar, corn syrup, water, cinnamon, and…red food coloring?  How strange.”

As Kina was reading off the instructions and ingredients, Ashley had placed her plushy on the table and dragged a footstool over by the cauldron so she could actually see what she was doing.  With the amount of ingredients Jack brought with him, they wouldn’t have to worry about running out.  Once she put in enough to fill the large cauldron, she lit the fire needed and started to mix everything together.

‘Just like when making potions,’ thought the young witch.

“Ashley!  What are you doing?!” exclaimed Kina once she saw what Ashley was doing.

Luckily, Ashley didn’t jump from Kina’s worried shout. “I decided to get started.”

“But do you know how dangerous that could be?  You could have burned yourself!” stated Kina as she put her hands on her hips.

Giving the older girl a bored look, Ashley responded. “I know what I am doing.  I do something like this all the time back home.”

“…Huh?”

“…I am a witch.  I create spells and potions,” stated Ashley.  She was slightly worried that she would scare off Kina.  Everyone else did once they learned that she was a witch.

Kina was surprised at hearing this. “A witch?  So you can use magic like Jack can?”

“…Something like that.”

A smile came upon the waitress’ face. “If that’s the case, do you think you can show me later?  I’d really like to see what kind of magic you could do.”

It was Ashley’s turn to be surprised. “You…you mean you’re not afraid of me?”

“Why would I be afraid of you?” questioned Kina, tilting her head in confusion.

“…Everyone else usually is…once they learn what I am.”

“Well then those people are idiots,” replied the bandage-clad girl.  She then gave Ashley a soft smile. “You don’t need to worry, Ashley.  You’re my friend, I could never be afraid of you no matter what.”

The little witch’s eyes widened just a tad further at hearing that.  She had a friend other than Red?  Her shyness kicked in a little when a small smile and a slight blush appeared on her face. “Th-Thank you…Kina.”

Kina couldn’t take it anymore.  Ever since she met Ashley she thought the little girl was just adorable and wanted to give her a hug…and she did just that after seeing how cute the little witch looked at the moment.  Ashley on the other hand, not used to such contact, blushed brighter, but hesitantly returned the hug if only to confirm this was real…and it was.  She finally had a friend.

-:-

That night the party went into full swing and everyone in Skyloft had attended.  Not only were there many games and treats to enjoy, but also everyone got a kick out of Jack’s Halloween magic.

Link, once again dressed as a werewolf thanks to Jack, had to admit that maybe Halloween wasn’t too bad.  Of course, as he mentioned, as long as Kina was happy that was all that mattered.

Ashley stuck close to Kina, her shyness preventing her from really interacting with anyone else.  With some gentle prodding from the waitress though, Ashley decided to talk with some of the other children who had attended.

“I’m so glad Ashley is able to enjoy herself tonight,” said Kina as she watched the little girl join some of the other children in playing the Halloween games.

“Hm,” hummed Link in agreement. “You know, I heard your conversation with Ashley earlier.”

Kina looked up at Link’s face. “You did?”

Link nodded in confirmation.  He then glanced down at Kina. “…Anyone ever tell you that you’d make a great mom someday?”

Kina couldn’t help the blush that covered her cheeks.

The swordsman gave off a few chuckles, amused by Kina’s slight embarrassment.  She was just so cute sometimes.  He wrapped and arm around her waist and held her close, the two of them watching on as Ashley smiled in happiness at making new friends.

-:-

Meanwhile, on the other side of Skyloft…

“So we meet again,” stated Ghirahim as he stared down at the enemy he made a year ago. “This time I will have my revenge and you will let me through!”

The evil sword spirit glared down at the Jack-o-lantern with so much hate that one would think that the pumpkin would have burst into flames.  Ghirahim was actually about to slice his opponent in half due to his anger when…

“Coming through!”

Something clocked Ghirahim in the head, knocking him to the ground where he laid in a heap with a bright red mark on his face.  Floating above him was a little red devil holding a tiny pitchfork.

“Aw, I could have sworn the party was over here!  I need to find Ashley quickly before she leaves without me!”

With that, the little imp floated away, leaving Ghirahim to himself.  The evil sword spirit could feel the annoyance building up inside.

“…I hate this place so much.”

FIN