Halloween morning dawned bright, clear, and cool – the perfect fall day. Anipal Land was decorated in a mixture of gold and green and filled to the brim with the fruits of the recent harvest. Zack, Chloe, Jinx, Jeff Musk, and Sammy the Beta stood in the library with the head alien for the signing of the peace agreement.
“You must understand that we can’t share our warp technology with you,” the head alien said. “Just as you think we don’t understand anipals enough to have them, we don’t think your humans understand the technology behind our automotive technology enough to have it. They’d destroy themselves and the whole planet with it.”
“We agree,” Sammy the Beta bubbled. “The humans don’t understand dark matter at all. There’s no way they could handle it.”
“Will your human government honor this agreement?” the aliens asked. “Will they pursue us?”
“We govern ourselves in Anipal Land,” Chloe said. “But if you sign this with us and leave, there’s no way the humans can follow you. Like you said, we don’t have the capability.”
“You violate no agreements with any humans by signing with us and leaving,” Jeff Musk said. “The agreement will hold and they will obey it. They won’t like losing the warp technology, but that’s their problem. They gave you nothing, so you owe them nothing in return.”
“Maybe one day both races will be ready for a trade,” Zack said, “but not now. Both of us have a lot to learn before we’re ready to venture into space.” He cackled. “For example, a red flag is a peace flag on your world. Here, it means charge.”
“Sorry about that,” Jinx said. “Classic battlefield misunderstanding.”
“That’s alright,” the head alien said, emitting a clicking noise that sounded like a laugh. “On our world, a white flag means dangerous wind currents approaching. Wave one at us, and we’ll run for cover.”
“That’s good to know,” Chloe mumbled thoughtfully.
The aliens signed the agreement, followed by Jeff Musk and Sir Jinx. Zack walked out on the balcony over Anipal Land, where all the anipals waited anxiously held up the executed agreement. “Peace!”
A cheer went up, rocking the land with joy.
“Won’t you stay for the fall festival?” Chloe asked the aliens. “It’s our most fun festival of the year, with lots of great food!”
“No, we’ll be on our way,” the alien said. “Our repair crew fixed the wiring the Queen of Bavarias chewed, so we’re ready to leave.”
“We’re sorry about that,” Chloe said. “Please understand, we didn’t want you able to leave if you actually did capture us. It was to give us a chance to escape.”
“We understand. You have excellent battle strategy, and best of all, nobody was hurt. You are honorable anipals.” The alien paused, staring at the sky. “We passed some lovely planets on our way here. One in particular caught our interest. I believe you call it Uranus. It’s a gas giant and looks perfect for our methane preferences!”
Zack and Chloe looked at each other and cackled.
Everybody walked downstairs to begin the fall festival. Clarence welcomed the lady birds with a kiss to the head. “Thank you for allowing me to help you lovely birdy buddies. I know I won’t be able to come back again after today, but it’s been an honor to know and help my great -grand-birds.”
“It’s kind of sad that the convergence is today and our universes will separate after today,” Chloe said. “But I’m glad we got to meet and work together. Please, though, you have today so enjoy Anipal Land!”
He laughed and danced away with a group of budgies bouncing toward the festival. Sassy, Misha, and the hens rushed forward, swarming Zack in a snuggle. Chloe looked at Jinx and cackled. “Wait for it.”
“Zack! You saved us again!”
“Yep, here it comes,” Jinx said.
“You’re so smart!”
“If it weren’t for you, those aliens would have us!”
“Any second now,” Chloe said.
“You’re so brave!”
The hens swarmed Zack, engulfing him in a massive snuggle. “Thank you, Zack!”
“Aww, shucks,” Zack’s muffled voice raised through the giant hen-snuggle.
Tuscon walked up, staring at the huddle. “I didn’t know we were playing football today. Did I miss something?”
Jinx laughed. “Absolutely not. Say, you guys were brave to go in the time rift and work out that strategy with Clarence. Were you scared being so far from here?”
“A little,” Tuscon said, “but he gave us popcorn from a kettle. It was awesome!”
“And they were so polite,” Sweet Pea piped in, “but I have to admit, it was so different that it was unnerving. There were no lights, no phones, no televisions. Just voices over radios, and it was a little scary to have those disembodies voices coming out of a wood box. I don’t know how they did it!”
“This victory belongs to everybody,” Chloe said. “We all worked together so well, like we always do. And we had a lot of help from friends from different places!”
Sassy gasped as she gazed at the sky. “Look up there!”
They looked to see the rainbow bridge stretched over them. Ollie’s head peeked over, followed by Samson, Delilah, Petesy, Dot, Kira, and all their anipals that had already crossed waving down at them. Everybody waved back. “Thanks for your help guys!” Zack shouted. “We love you!”
“Anything to help. We love you always!” they shouted, as the bridge faded into the rising midday sunlight.
“What a perfect day for the fall festival!” Chloe said. “We had the most fun battle ever, we have peace, we got to see all of our friends past and present, we’re all together, and it’s a beautiful day! I can’t imagine how it can get any better.”
Just then, a horn honked. They turned to see Jeff Musk driving his trademark express in, with the camel riding shotgun. “What day it is?” the camel said over the intercom.
“French Fry Friday!” everybody shouted in unison.
“Here’s to great friends and fun times!” Coco and Penne said, toasting the crowd from the fancy fountain gushing with cool, refreshing water.
“To friends and fun!” they shouted as they rushed to the feast to enjoy a perfect day in the sun filled with friends, food, fun, peace, joy and happiness.
THE END. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!