Submission (#1930) Approved

Walking outside, Spruce and Abyssal gazed up into the black night. The clock as they stalked through the door read 11:29pm. They had decided to go for a little walk first before the fireworks started.
“Are you excited for 2024 to begin?” Spruce chirped to the other, bounding ahead with little, innocent jumps. Abyssal lagged behind, looking at its surroundings before responding. “Not quite. It’s just a new year, happens every three-hundred-sixty-something days.” Spruce frowned, turning a corner. “Well fireworks are going to start soon, come on!” Their little antennae bounced as they dashed forwards, leaving Abyssal behind once again.
The pair sat down in a less-crowded area of a local park, and listened as other Terras frolicked and danced about, awaiting the fireworks to begin. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Abyssal looked towards Spruce, who seemed to be nodding their head at the distant music. “Sure , I'm sure! What could possibly go wrong?” They replied, chipper. “If you say so..” Abyssal sighed, sliding its paws backward to lay flat against the grass.
“Five.. Four.. Three.. Two.. One.. Happy New Years!” The park burst into laughter and chaos. Pans banged, couples kissed, and terra children ran around screaming. Spruce giggled a little before abruptly stopping. Boom. They looked around. Boom. They looked up, boom. Fireworks. Fireworks of all shades of reds and blues lighting up the night sky. Boom. Spruce winced at the sound, cowering backwards. “Come on,” Abyssal sighed once more, noticing their behavior. “Let’s go home.”
“This happens every year y’know,” it stated midway through the walk home, the sound of the fireworks getting quieter as the duo walked. “I know..” Spruce replied with a small sniffle. They had never liked loud noises. “Then why go to fireworks every year?” Abyssal responded as they approached their houses. “Well.. its fun in the beginning,” Spruce mumbled, following the other into the house. “And it’s not New Years without fireworks!” Spruce stood in the entryway. “Well,” Abyssal sighed, bending down into a lower kitchen cabinet. “The New Year’s celebration doesn’t have to be over quite yet.” It pulled out a box of small, handheld sparklers and a bottle of sparkling apple cider out of the fridge. Spruce marveled at the box of sparklers, beginning to bounce up and down once more. “Easy, easy!” Abyssal chuckled. Let me get some matches, and we can go outside and have a real celebration!
As fireworks continued to light up the sky in the distance, Spruce and Abyssal laughed and partied in their own little world with the help of sparklers and cider.