Halloween Comes for Ignitous

In the spirit world there were four major lands, each based on a season experienced on earth. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall all had lands with their own climate, forests and other terrain. In the land of summer on the eastern edge of the searing desert was the summer forest. The summer forest was a brisk ninety to a hundred degrees, then going outward toward the desert the temperature went up until finally reaching the volcano lands, where the air was hot enough to burn human hair.

            The spirits and warm weather animals played and enjoyed their warm days while Autumn arrived for the people on Earth. The warm weather was slowly cooling in the summer forest, causing the inhabitants to panic. A dark shadow swooped over the land like a hawk looking for prey. These disturbances alerted the attention of July, the ruler of Summer land. She was a large woman who loved parties, attention and summer heat. She was popular among her own people but had a tendency for sticking around on earth longer than many humans would like. Her overstaying her welcome would cut into the Fall season. This year she behaved herself and was in the summer lands with her people.

            The large shadow was joined by smaller shadows and the cold air began to pour in from above. The sky darkened as glowing white ghosts and wisps descended into the forest. Maniacal laughter echoed through the trees and pumpkin headed plant creatures sprang up from the ground. Spirits of Halloween had arrived in the summer lands and were searching for someone. Floating Jack-o-lanterns with glowing eyes scanned through the now darkened forest as bats and hawks flew above the treetops. The summer forest was in a panic.

            The spirits of Autumn and Halloween had come for Ignitious the flame spirit, who, with his brother Glacious, attacked the Autumn Forest and severely injured the leader Patches. Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams chased to two brothers out of the Autumn forest but the spirits of Halloween wanted revenge on the brothers for their disrespect for the natural order of the seasons.

            Ignitious was mostly recovered from his injuries thanks to the heat of the Summer Lands. The Halloween spirits had already spotted before he figured out that he was the target of this attack. The bright flames that made up Ignitious’ body was easy to spot in the now darkened sky and before he could escape he was set upon by bats and pumpkin monsters. The flame spirit sent out a wave of flames, sweeping up the bats in the flames and making the monsters run for cover. The trees of the Summer Forest were heat and flame proof, so any fire that hit the green leafy trees quickly went out. Ignitious wasn’t a spirit of the summer lands and didn’t really care about the forest, so even if the trees weren’t fire proof he still would have used his fire powers without restraint.

            Ignitious took off flying like a fireball, he was headed for the volcano where his powers would be strongest. He shot through the forest with ease and entered the searing desert. The large shadow from the sky descended down and landed in front of Ignitious before the spirit could go any further. Ignitious collided with the shadow causing a fiery explosion. When the flames died down the shadow still stood. Bats fluttered away and shadow creatures melted off the figure and escaped into the ground, revealing Patches, the spirit of Autumn and the leader of the Autumn Lands. “Did you really think you could surprise attack me like a coward, attack my lands, claim my forest for yourself and I wouldn’t do anything about it? Just because Joseph and Jaye kicked you out of my forest doesn’t mean there wont be consequences!” Patches’ voice boomed as flames erupted out of his pumpkin head and dark magic jumped from his body like electrical sparks from a power line.

            “I beat you once before, do you really think you can take me this time?” Ignitious said with a fiery smile. “You had your brother to help you and you attacked me when my back was turned. In a fair fight you wouldn’t last a minute. I am the king of Autumn and Halloween, you are rogue elemental spirit” Patches shouted as he walked towards Ignitious. Patches was tall and thin with a body made of hay, roots and flames with a large pumpkin head on his shoulders and a carved face that moved like a human face. While the two spirits prepared to fight the invading spirits of Halloween and Autumn made a circle around the two, so that Ignitious couldn’t run away from this. Cold air blew through the desert as the night sky and full moon loomed over head for the first time ever in this land.

            Ignitious spun around bringing flames up from the ground and carrying them with him as he charged towards Patches. The King of Fall didn’t flinch at the flames and easily side stepped the attack. Patches was quicker than he looked and was determined to show this menace why he shouldn’t mess with the Autumn Lands. Patches melted into the ground like a shadow and shot forward with lighting speed, then before Ignitious could realize that Patches was gone, the shadow of Patches sprang up from the ground in the form of a giant shadowy wolf head with blazing red eyes. The shadow wolf head chomped down on Ignitious and shook the spirit like a dog shaking a piece of meat. Ignitious sent flame bursts out from his body in an attempt to break the shadow wolf’s grip but the flames had no effect. When Patches decided he was done he slammed Ignitious into the ground, then the shadow wolf head formed back into the pumpkin headed spirit.

            Ignitious charged condensed flames into his hand, making a fireball hotter and stronger than his normal steel melting flames. The flame spirit launched his powerful ball of flames. Patches, who didn’t have bones or a spine, bent himself in half to avoid the fireball. Flames shot across his back as he narrowly dodged the attack. While Patches was still bent in half he charged forward, his pumpkin head growing larger and his mouth growing wider the closer he got to Ignitious. Shadows rose up from the ground and whooshed forward like wind, wrapping around Ignitious. Patches came within inches of the flame spirit then contracted his pumpkin head and ‘breathed’ out dark magic flames from his mouth. Dark flames engulfed the flame spirit, damaging the fire elemental while remaining harmless to any of the Halloween spirits caught in the blast.

            Ignitious dropped to the ground as purple mist streamed from his head like steam. The group of Halloween spirits parted on two sides, on the right side a group of Autumn spirits dragged a large wooden crate into the fighting circle and on the left the ruler of the Summer Lands, July emerged onto the scene.

            “What is going on here?!” July shouted. “Ignitious and his brother attacked me, beat me almost to death and tried to claim my forest as their own. This is my payback” Patches explained. The Halloween spirits all called out and shouted in agreement. July stared at Patched with a furious look but switched her heated gaze down to Ignitious. “You said you needed to rest in my lands because you were injured from a fight, you never told me you tried to upset the balance of the seasons and attacked a king! What happens when you recover? Were you going to attack him again? What about attack me and claim my Summer Forest? Or were you going to go pick on the Spring bunny?” July shouted in outrage.

            “I’m not your subject you old crone! I don’t owe any of you anything! When I recover I am going to gather my gang of flame spirits, some dragons and anyone else who will follow me and make you all pay!” Ignitious spat. “OH no you wont!” July shouted grabbing Ignitious by the neck with a powerful grip and slamming him to the ground. She then threw all her weight down onto the flame elemental, sitting on him so he couldn’t escape. The Halloween spirits sniggered at the sight of the feared flame elemental being sat on by the mighty Summer Spirit.

            “I figured the brothers would try to attack again, so I made these crates to transport the two of them. I will keep them somewhere safe until they agree to not attack anyone. Ignitious will be riding in a crate made of summer wood and Glacious…” Patches trailed off as he gestured to a second box being dragged up. The second crate was made of a pale wood and was covered in frost. The autumn spirit dragging the crate opened it revealing Glacious trapped inside. “I found him in the Winter forest and figured the trees of Winter could hold him as well as anything” Patches added.

            July used her firm grip to pull Ignitious out from under her and threw him into the large box made of summer wood. “I am glad to see you taking care of things, but next time you should tell me ahead of time before you invade my forest” July said sternly.

            Patches apologized to July and explained that he didn’t know ahead of time if she was in on the attack or not. The two crates were then hauled off by Halloween creatures, Patches apologized again, bowed like a gentleman then opened a portal made of autumn leaves and swirling wind. The group of autumn spirits, Halloween spirits and Patches all left the Summer lands. Then the moment the portal closed the night sky turned to a bright summer day, the air warmed up and environment quickly returned to normal.

            Ignitious and Glacious learned a lesson that most spirits already knew, don’t disrupt the natural balance of weather and seasons and sure as hell don’t mess with the King of Halloween.

Joseph Stephens and the Early Arrival

It was September and heat continued to oppress the city. Joseph Stephens was out for a stroll around town. The sun was setting and Joseph hoped that the night would bring a much needed break from the heat.

July the spirit of summer yawned as the lights grew dim. The night rolled on but she refused to go to bed. July wore out her welcome in many ways. She stayed up late some nights, keeping the heat going until the early hours of the next day and often would stick around well into September, leaving Patches the autumn spirit with a short season.

The sun finally set and Joseph looked up into the sky at the giant summer spirit. “Hey July, you going to bed?” Joseph called to her. “No, I think I will stay up! The night is still young and all of the people of the city want to enjoy the nice weather for a bit longer. Who am I to deprive them of my radiance?” July said to Joseph. Joseph sneered “yeah sure ‘nice’ weather” he muttered. While it was true many people in the city enjoyed warm weather and some even enjoyed the humid weather, it wasn’t true that the whole city enjoyed July. In face the city was pretty split up over all the seasons. Nice weather meant something completely different depending on who you asked. Joseph would suffer the summer and was rewarded with Fall and spring. Some people would wait all year for summer and hate when winter arrived. Joseph’s problem was when summer was supposed to start leaving and instead decided that everyone loved her so much that she should stay until winter arrived.

The street lights in the city turned on as the sun finally set. Building lights, street lights and car lights illuminated the city. Turning a city of concrete into something a little nicer, something a little more pleasant to look at. The air was slightly cooler without the sun hanging over the sky but until July went to bed the persistent heat would remain.

Music started to play, each note lingered in the air as it was played, like a slowly drifting leaf on the wind. The music was soft and slow but as it went on became more ominous. The slow melody was joined with quieter more rapid notes. Like someone striking the keys of a piano as someone on stage tried to play a relaxing melody on a violin. The sharp keys continued until it drowned out the soft melody all together. The street lights dimmed, the car lights went black and the city block lost power. Lights went out everywhere within that city block. A cold wind blew, it was freezing like the icy hand of death reaching out. It felt cold like the breath of old man winter. Joseph looked around in the dark. Joseph didn’t think Winter wouldn’t try to arrive this early, but he wasn’t sure.

“w-who is that?” July called out in fear. The music started to get louder and louder. A black cloaked figure soared through the air and with him he brought frigid cold air. “Halloween has come early to this town and Death has come early for YOU!” Said the cloaked figure. A skeletal hand reached out from the cloak and pointed at July. July quaked in fear “N-no! You can’t! My father is the sun! you can’t threaten me!!” July shouted back trying to calm her fear. “The sun cannot help you here. It is night and I bring the darkness on my heels” replied the cloaked figure. “You can’t! I am an immortal spirit” July protested. “Your soul will be especially delicious” Replied the figure. Red eyes glowed from under the hood as he looked up at July.

            “Why have you come? Why me? Why now?” July asked in a panic. “You have over stayed your welcome, you bully the seasons into ending early and starting late. You only obey those you fear and you only fear two things. Winter…”the cloaked figure said slowly then he pulled down his hood revealing a skeleton head with burning red eyes. “…And DEATH!”

July shrieked “No! I will leave, I will be good I swear!!!” July said and then jumped so hard that she soared straight into the air and didn’t come back down. Joseph watched Summer disappear into the sky as he smiled with a devilish grin. The cloaked figure loomed over the city, its red eyes burning so brightly it could be seen from the ground. “Happy Halloween everyone!!!!” Shouted the cloaked skeleton, then it began to cackle like a mad man. Trees twisted into black Halloween trees and Jack o lanterns sprouted from the ground, their faces already carved and their candles already lit.

Joseph began to laugh too. The madness was contagious and the heat of summer had been getting to him. The city block turned into a Halloween city, with spirits walking the streets and Jack-o-lanterns on every street corner. Thick tree roots grew over the street lamps and the light from the street lights emitted an eerie green glow. Car lights were now purple, like black light and all of the houses and buildings had a warm orange tint to their lights. Cold air rushed through the city but then calmed down. The air became breezy but not cold. It felt like late October on Halloween night.

The skeleton spotted Joseph Stephens and soared down to meet him. “You enjoyed my work mortal?” Asked the skeleton. “Haha, Yes I did sir. July had it coming and Halloween can’t come soon enough” Joseph replied. Realizing this was all harmless fun. People were scared but no one got hurt. The skeleton laughed, its laugh echoed through the air as if it had been carried on the wind. “We already have two Czars of Halloween mortal, if we didn’t I would offer you a title on the spot” Said the cloaked Skeleton. “So who are you anyway? At first I thought you were Patches in Disguise” Said Joseph. “I am a Grim Reaper, one of many, son of Death herself” The grim reaper said. “I am also friends of Pumpkin Patch, or Patches as you call him and a fan of Halloween” The Reaper added.

Joseph stood in amazement “Oh! So that wasn’t for show then? You were going to kill July? Also what about the city, will it stay like this?” Joseph asked. “No, I just wanted to scare her. Also don’t worry about the city, it will return to normal by the crack of dawn. The weather will be more of a pleasant early September as well. The heat should stay away as long as July doesn’t come back” The Grim reaper explained.

“well I have actual work to do, I can’t goof off too much, I am on the clock” The grim reaper said “Oh, do spirits have time and schedules like humans do?” asked Joseph. “No, don’t be a sucker. We live forever, why would we need time. Its just an expression that I say when I have to leave” The grim reaper laughed, then he vanished.

 Joseph felt weird about being mocked by the Grim Reaper. Maybe it was a honor? Joseph wondered if all the Grim Reapers were jerks who loved Halloween.

The night went on and Joseph Stephens stayed outside as long as he could. He went home to get a jacket, he bought a coffee from the local coffee house and strolled through the Halloween city block. He greeted the spirits, who were all very friendly, he marveled at the twisted trees and glowing Jack-o-lanterns and enjoyed the cool autumn breeze on his face. Anyone with a fireplace began to light fires and the smell of wood smoke drifted through the streets. Joseph had a feeling of bliss and wished every night could be this good.

Joseph Stephens enjoyed his autumn night and as he walked home he could faintly hear the sound of soft music playing.

Joseph Stephens and Springs farewell

            Joseph Stephens sneezed hard for the seven hundred and fiftieth time that day. Springtail the spring rabbit hopped up to Joseph’s front door and pattered his tiny paws on the door in attempt to knock. Joseph opened his door to go outside and noticed the small timid rabbit had been pawing at his door. “Oh Springtail, I’m sorry I didn’t hear you knock. Were you waiting long?” Asked Joseph as he crouched down to talk with the small bunny. “N-no, not long, maybe an hour at most. It’s fine though. I should have been louder. I just don’t really like loud noises” Said Springtail in a bashful voice. Just as Springtail finished speaking Joseph let out a loud sneeze combined with a cough. Springtail jumped in the air and then ran into Joseph’s house. “I’m sorry!” Joseph called after Springtail. Joseph went inside to find the bunny hiding under Joseph’s couch.

            “Its ok, I just have allergies” Joseph said. “oh…ok. I am sorry I didn’t know. I made all these flowers without even thinking about people with allergies. I j-just wanted people to be happy” Said the rabbit. “No, its fine” Joseph said as he tried to hold back another sneeze.

            A loud laughing interrupted Joseph and Springtail’s conversation. “Bohohohoh” Cackled the voice. Joseph looked outside and saw a large laughing balloon slowly descending. After a few moments of staring Joseph realized it was not a balloon but the daughter of the sun, July. July was a large twenty foot tall woman who could fly and brought summer wherever she went. “Happy summertime everyone!” She called out across the town. A heat wave instantly blew past Joseph’s house. As July floated by she saw storm clouds rolling in. “Shoo! Shoo! No more spring rain. It is summer fun time!” She said as she waved her arm through the air. The rain clouds dissipated and the sun shone brighter than ever. “Bahohoho” She bellowed as she slowly landed on the soft green grass that Springtail has grown.

            “Oh No! Its her!” Springtail said as loud as he could, which was still very quiet. Joseph turned “Ok, you should probably get out of here” Joseph told Springtail. “You are right Mr.Stephens. I should. I will tell the others and we will have to leave this land for now” Replied Springtail. “Others?” Asked Joseph. “oh yes, there are hundreds of Spring rabbits around. I couldn’t do all of the work myself. I am just a small rabbit. I will tell my sisters April and Bloom, my brothers Clover, Oak, Peanut and Jeff. Then they will tell other rabbits they know and by the end of the week we will be gone until next year” Explained Springtail.

            Joseph knew every season had a spirit who brought the season with them but he didn’t realize Spring came in on the backs of hundreds of tiny bunnies. This fact made him smile.  Joseph’s smile quickly faded as he realized Springtail had run off and July was now banging on his door. He already missed the quiet patter of Springtail’s fluffy paws. “Joseph dear! I am back! We can start the celebration honoring my return” July shouted into his house. Joseph answered the door. “Hello July” Joseph said trying to hide a sneer. Heat blew into Joseph’s house and wilted his houseplants.

            “Joseph you rascal I have been gone for a whole year and all you have to say to me is ‘hello’?” Asked July. “Yes” Joseph said then slammed the door in July’s face.

            Summer was here and spring was gone. Happy people flocked to the beaches and parks. They played in the sun. Kids rejoiced as they went on summer break and adults made plans for their vacations. Everyone saw Summer differently. The thing about the seasons is, they look different to different people. Joseph could recount the tales of his time with each season when they visited his house but someone else who experienced the same seasons might have a totally different kind of story to tell about them. Joseph didn’t know what July looked like to other people, he just knew that to him, summer was loud, obnoxious, chased away adorable rabbit friends and stayed around way too long.

            The heat of summer started to set in and while some might be soaking in the rays, Joseph was indoors reading and listening to the hum of his air conditioner.