It had been a while since anyone, other then Rumple, and those serving him, had seen hide nor hair of the little imp called Jakul. Last anyone saw him, was during the year of no summer in 1819. So when people spoke of the imp, it was usually in reference to what he looked like as a child.
He had been small, wearing a green one piece jumpsuit, and a pumpkin over his head, to hide the fact that he really never had a head. Just a small flame where his head was supposed to be, floating over his shoulders.
Most nobody ever gave him a second look, and those who did, always commented on how cute he looked. But near two hundred years later, he was almost unrecognizable.
Now he was between nine and ten feet tall, long and lanky. He wore a sort of modern style clothing, very mobish 1940 style. He usually preferred clothes like Gothic styles or mob styles, depending upon his mood and the season. And he still had a pumpkin head. However it was now a part of him, becoming an actual head to protect the source flame. So as a result, the eyes and mouth moved, frighting some. And his body became like on fire as well, adding to his frightening appearance.
This was something that he found that he delighted in, scaring people. He slowly grew out of service with Rumble and finally dismissed, after a suggestion that was given, in which it partially challenged Rumple's rule as King of Halloween. Rumple, knowing that if he lost face over Jakul's challenge, would lost the Title, so he gave the Pumpkin Spirit a job, as Grand Chancellor.
So Jakul, or Spooky Jack, as he became known as, slowly and surely gained attention from the spirit world. He was starting to gain a reputation for being unpredictable, a very frightening creature, yet a fair and wise spirit. He made fun and amusement when it was needed, caused fear when he saw the opportunity, and made sure that he treated others with a thoughtfulness that the spirits all thought made a good ruler or king. Yet it wasn't enough to put him on the map. And he was still able to see what Rumple did.
So when Jakul accidentally spotted Rumple talking to a Po Spirit, he hid and listened.
"I don't want you to spoil the plans," Rumple told the Po spirit. "Jack is locked up under Lady Nature's orders, and Story is dead. So you don't do anything more then keep delivering my messages to Yuki-onna."
With that the man waved the spirit away, and he vanished. It was then Jackul leapt into action, moving quickly, and jumping upon the Po spirit, pinning it to the ground. It squealed in fright, and the Pumpkin head came close to the frightened spirit.
Jakul's eyes narrowed, the flame within his head lighting up his eyes, as he spoke, "What message?"
"Tell me my dear Po spirit," Jakul said threateningly, as he leaned in closer to the trapped spirit. "What message do you have to deliver?"
"Master! Please don't hurt me!" The little spirit pleaded, that voice like nails across a chalkboard. "I was supposed to tell Yuki-onna that Jack Frost is locked up in prison for safety reasons, and to have her stop from doing anything more. That is all I know my lord!"
Spooky Jack felt that the spirit told him the truth, added to that if no reason to lie. It was a weak spirit, and not really smart, so he knew, that it knew that to lie was to mean death. So he released the spirit, and waved it away.
"Go deliver the message to Yuki-onna," Jakul told the spirit. "But do not tell anyone of our meeting, lest I find out you do and end your small life."
"Thank you my lord," The Po said, gratefully before disappearing to do its job.
Jakul sat down and thought over the last couple hundred years, about Rumple. Not once did the Autumn Seasonal like Story, and he was always bitter, resentful and shady. In his time of service Jakul knew that the man was always seeking more power, and a name, to become a spirit that would be legendary. He knew that Rumple coveted the positions of both Torch and Jack, and felt that the ascendance of Jack as the Winter Spirit, had robbed him of becoming Winter himself.
Jakul sat there, as he thought and planned what he should do. He never moved, appearing to be a still thin form, the only signs of life was the flame behind his eyes-within his pumpkin head. Then slowly a grin formed, showing sharp jagged teeth in his mouth and he snapped into motion standing. The motion was so abrupt that any passerby would have been scared to death, as the movement took a second, appearing as if a doll had just been possessed.
The Pumpkin King had decided that it was time that he would be the Autumn Seasonal, and the rightful King of Halloween. But first he had to make sure all of the pieces fell onto the board, against Rumple. He had to free Jack.
When he arrived at where the Winter spirit was being held, he was stopped from even visiting the Frost boy. And when Jakul asked about why he couldn't visit the boy, no information was given out, just the answer of he wasn't allowed. Jakul knew instantly that the boy was free, as otherwise he'd be allowed -under watch though. So he knew that Jack Frost was free.
He quickly moved into action, searching the world for a pixie, and very quickly found one. But the little creature refused to give him any information, even under bribes. So the Pumpkin spirit used a new tactic.
"I've always wanted to be a pixie," Jakul said, sitting down and acting like he was sad. He even added sniffing and a little crying to his voice. "But being a pumpkin, I found that I can't."
The little Pixie, in an odd dress, made up of apple leaves and peels, gasped as she felt sorry for the big pumpkin spirit. She looked worried now and she hovered next to his face, which he buried in his hands and appeared to be crying.
"Mister Pumpkin," She said, patting the back of his head sympathetically. "If you wanted to be a Pixie, you should have said something. I can take you to Jack. Maybe he can see if you can be a pixie."
"You'll do that for me?" Jakul asked her, peering out from behind a hand.
"I honestly don't know if you can be a Pixie," She told him bluntly, as she looked at his long form. "But it doesn't mean that we can't try."
Jakul lowered his hands and smiled, a smile that was as goofy as a jack-o-lantern.
"I thank you little pixie," Jakul told her. "I shall have to return the favor one day."
She grinned as she motioned for him to follow, and he did his best to keep up, though he was slow by her standards. It was an hour later that they arrived at the harbor in which the Wishart was just sailing away from.
"Noooo!" The Pixie said, as she shot towards the departing ship. She left Jakul on the docks, to try to stop them and tell them about the Pumpkin spirit.
Spooky Jack wasn't just going to be deterred from his goal, and both pixie and Jack found themselves surprised when they saw the thin, narrow hand pull itself up onto the deck of the ship.
As it would turn out, the Pumpkin Spirit had ran, taking a leap to the side of the ship, and grab ahold of the anchor. And Jakul let them know.
"If my head had gotten wet with the sea water," He commented, as he squeezed his pants legs free of water. "I do believe that I would have perished."
"Now Jack," The Pumpkin King said, dropping his act and taking the Pixie gently in his hand. "I made a little deal with this Pixie, and she helped me to find you. I'm here to warn you that there are some that want to see you gone."
"What do you mean?" Lleu said, stepping into view.
"Oh Lleu!" Jakul said, a bit surprised to see the Former Summer Spirit with them. "You've heard the news as well?"
"What news?" Jack asked.
"Well, Rumple is one of those who want to see Jack in prison," Jakul told them. He looked at the Frost spirit. "And I'm going to see that you stay out of that."
"I meant what I said," Jakul said, turning his attention onto the little Pixie. "I wanted to be a pixie, when I was little. But now I want more. I want to help the Pixies, and that starts with Jack Frost. Will you stay with me and help me on that, little one?"
The little pixie, once hurt she had thought that she had been lied to, found herself happy again. She nodded and she beamed up at him.
"Good," Spooky Jack said, pleased. "Because there's going to be a war soon. A war over keeping things as they are, or bringing back Story."
"How do you know that we're doing that?" A boy asked, coming out of hiding.
"Because dear James," Jakul answered pulling a hat from a small pouch. "Story left me with a promise. That if I accomplished something that none other could do, then he would grant me a single wish. And I think I know what I need to do. Helping Jack is just the start, but not the goal. No, the goal is something else."
"So you know what we are doing," Lleu stated, as he folded his arms over his chest.
"Of course," Jakul answered, placing the hat on his head and grinning. "You're heading to the Neverlands, in the journey to bring Story back. He was always a tricky spirit, always had a plan for everything. But no one sees things like I do, and I've seen something that others have missed."
"So from here on out," Jakul told them, as he sat down and leaned against a wall. "I make it my job to help you all out. But before that, I'm here as James Bennett's bodyguard."
"Bodyguard?" Jack questioned.
"Yes, bodyguard," The Pumpkin spirit answered, sounding tired, his voice muffled by the hat. "Jamie is still human, and you two are probably going to be busy with other things, so I will protect the boy."
"Weren't you under Rumple once?" Lleu asked a bit sarcastically.
"One time,"Jakul said. "But no longer. His loyalty never lied with the thirteen Children, but on his own power. And that makes him dangerous. Now if you don't mind... Wake me when we get to the Neverlands."
With that, the Pumpkin closed his eyes, feeling the little pixie settling in a shirt pocket to rest as well. He didn't know her name, but he thought that she would be called Pip. And as he slipped into sleep, he would do as Story once did. He would teach her, so that she'd be wise as he was, and perfect for his liking. She's become the Halloween Pixie. Sweet, and yet dangerous. She'd be the apple of his eye.
Written to Spooky Jack, by Raziel and Varien.