The start

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My story isn't one you hear about a lot, my name is Autumn Fillide. Which literally means Autumn Faith.
Or as most people know me Autumn Charm, I do get a lot of Mother Nature too though by older folks.
As my name suggests, I'm the Spirit of Autumn and I became the Guardian of Joy 430 years ago. Just after I helped the original quadruple defeat Pitch Black.

Let's start at the very beginning of my story shall we?

•••••••

"Okay, be careful sweetheart" mum said as I walked out the door with my little brothers
"So little Faith in me" I laughed leading my twin brothers toward the forest
"Ash, where did you say the deers was?" My little brother Antonio asked
"Just by the river. Come on" I smiled leading him and Josh, a hand in each of mine

"We're here boys" I pat the ground beside me as I sat near the edge but held the wooden stick I had found in my hands
"Is we not fall in?" Josh asked worriedly sitting down
"Oh come on Joshy, when have I ever let you down?" I smiled kindly and they joined me
I put a protective arm over each of their shoulders
"Ash look the trees" Antonio pointed to the autumnal trees over the river side
"Yeah they're so pretty right?" I tickled his sides making him squeal
"Is the deers coming?" Josh asked with a big smile
"I think so. But we need to be quiet and have faith that they'll come" I put a finger to my lips and they smiled copying me, holding back giggles

We sat there for five minutes before we heard the crunching of leaves. And two large stags walked out the tree line with four does following them

I smiled at the gorgeous creatures. They're so majestic

"Why deers only come at autumn Ash?" Antonio asked standing up to look around the trees
"Good question kiddo, I'm not sure. Maybe it's because they know Winter is coming soon and they want to enjoy the pretty leaves" I smiled taking their hands as we stood up
"They pretty" Josh said a smile spreading across his face from one ear to the next
I just smiled at my four year old brothers. I love them with all my heart
"Want to try pet them?" I asked softly and the twins nodded excitedly and began to scream in joy

My eyes widened in fear when the deer all became alert at the noise and began to run toward us. There river was gushing so fast and dangerous I instantly grew worried we'd fall in

I stood in front of the boys and held the stick forward. The closer the deer came the more I could tell my brothers grew in fear
"ASH!" Josh screamed
"ASH NO HURT THEM! JUST SAVE!" Antonio shouted
"I know boys. I'll distract them, you both run to the trees and climb that one, then run home when they're gone. Okay?" I explained quickly and they nodded
"GO!" I shouted as I ran in the opposite direction and the deer chased me

"Come on then!" I shouted while running
I saw my brothers jump up the tree as I left
I jumped over rocks and dodged trees
I stood in the middle of a circle of bare trees now. Only my stick to protect me against the angry stags

"We didn't want any harm, just to see you" I said to the deer, they couldn't understand me but I tried
"Don't hurt them. I understand you are tired and worried for hibernation. But here, here's a nice spot to hide from the Winter. It's protected by trees, and the river is close by for water. And there's plenty of grass. Just stay here and I'll go to my brothers. There's no need to be intimidating" I spun on my heels with my stick.
One reared up on me and I fell backwards onto a pile of leaves.
My eyes caught the moon as I lay on my back.

I curled into a ball among the leaves as the deer trampled over me

•••••••

I gasped awake

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I gasped awake. I felt different. Not a bad different, but good.

I slowly sat up trying to remember what happened and how I got here. But my mind was blank.
I stood up and looked down at myself. I had red hair, and my clothes seemed abnormal. I had trousers, a white blouse and a red corset with a fire orange cloak along with tall dark boots. And in my hand I had what looked like a wand.
I threw the coat off feeling too hot.
"What in the world?" I asked confused
It was dark, a full moon all that shone on me.
I stared up at it, feeling an odd connection to it, as if it was trying to tell me something
"What is it Manny?" I asked the name I vaguely remember

Man in the moon

"Why am I here?" I asked gaining no reply
But I felt a cold breeze rush past me, and I felt eyes on me for a second before it disappeared into the dark of night again

Once again I looked down at myself and my "wand"
I pointed it at the second last green tree in the cove picturing it to be fully autumnal
I laughed in shock when the leaves turned orange and yellow, and red.
"Woah" I stared at the wand
I spun around and pointed it at another tree and again the same thing

I sat on my knees and touched the soft grass imagining flowers growing. To my surprise winter flowers began to grow and the summer ones began to disappear. I laughed in joy.
I saw a squirrel watching me from a branch so I cautiously walked to it
"Hello little guy. You okay? Are you ready for hibernation?" I asked
I smiled when it began to squeak back to me.

'I'm nowhere ready Autumn Charm, my husband keeps eating all the nuts I've gathered' it squeaked
My eyes widened when I understood it
"I-I'm sorry to hear that. Can I help?" I asked
'Not unless you can magic me up 15 more acorns' it squeaked again and I held back a laugh
"Sure" I said and waved my wand picturing the animals food
'Thank you Charm' it squeaked and rolled the food away

"I can talk to animals?" I asked the moon
"And control autumnal change?" I looked at my hands again
"What am I supposed to do?" I asked getting no reply still

I yawned as I sat down under a tree and magicked up a blanket of leaves. And fell asleep with joy in my heart and faith that this could be incredible

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