Long ago, when magic was abundant in the world, there was the little village Merriano. They were, at one point in their history, a lively people who lived in prefect harmony with themselves and in the world. This harmony came when the winter passed away with the arrival of Grandfather Springtime. He was a mysterious figure to be sure, as little human record has ever been recorded of him. Some say he was a fairy, an elf, or just a jolly man with a strange light that radiated through his soul. Though called Grandfather, he acted quite young with a childlike spirit and an innocent heart. It was often said that he came with the passage of winter, but it was quite the opposite: the passage of spring came with him.

The people adored him and his jovial spirit that he brought to their village. The whole season was filled with parties and festivals, with music and songs, with games and food. He often told stories as well. The most favorite of the village was how he wrestle with a bear who tried to devour him, but by the end of the whole ordeal, he turn their wrestle into a game, he later spoke how the bear and he became good friends and they spent the day fishing with each other. “I still visit that bear to this day every year. For one must always keep in good contact with one’s friends.” Many weren’t sure whether to believe it, but it made for such a good story, they didn’t care. Everyone was sad every year, when he had to leave and for the coming of the winter that was inevitably coming towards the end of the year, but they hold on to the hope that he would return next year.

But all of that would change. One year, a wicked magistrate took power over their little village. Even less is written about him or where he came from, but not much matters about his origin. He mostly bought his election by bribing the local businessman and vendors, promising lower taxes for the small businesses, but he never intending on enforcing this change, for indeed, he knew the law, and knew his way around it. He thought people wasted too much time in the spring, singing and laughing, not enough working in the cold mines of the village, which filled his pockets. Alas, public opinion was against him.

He would have to get to the minds and hearts of the people. So he published a pamphlet among the village elders and the well-educated, spreading all sort of falsehoods against Grandfather Springtime, saying he was a dark sorcerer who possessed the people of the town, making them all foolish and lazy. The elders liked Springtime, but they were sheepish and desired the praise of the magistrate. They after all were men of position and it helped to get along with other men of position. They began to parrot the talk of the pamphlet. Soon, many believed because it was from the elders, it must be true, because of course, they are the elders and the elders are always right. There was no need for debate or critical thinking. The matter was settled. Some who dissented were immediately silenced, they were deemed enemies of the people, even by their own neighbors.

When Grandfather Springtime returned that year, he was met with rotten tomatoes and jeers of scorn. One was so cruel as to lash a whip as he made his way down the village square. The entire village seemed to denounce him as a vile and wicked man, who made them lazy and foolish. Grandfather Springtime grew sad, and with hurt tears in his eyes, he said, "you have treated me poorly. I shall never return to this village again." Grandfather Springtime left the village early that year. There were no songs, no games, no festivals, no good food, and no joy to be had. Only mines, money, and misery.

Now on his way down, he pasted the last house in the village that sat all by itself. It was a cottage, which belonged to Annie Applewood, a lonely woman who nobody came to visit. She was to be married to a man who ran away far off into the distant. Rumors spread about her that she put a spell on him or that she drove him away with her ‘awful’ personality, though none of that is true. But it was in papers and pamphlets, so it must have been true, people thought.

She saw Grandfather Springtime with his sad expression. She went up and asked, "Why the sad face, Grandfather?" Grandfather Springtime told her the whole affair and said that he would never come this way again. She became greatly troubled. "Oh, Grandfather Springtime, please come back. I live alone and no one sees me. You coming is the only time I see joy." Grandfather Springtime made up his mind to leave, but he cared for Annie. He took something out of his pocket. It was a seed.

"Take it, my dear." She reached out to grab it. "When I leave, it shall get really cold. 40 days from now, it will be really cold. On the 40th night, plant the seed between the floors of your house. Do what I say, and you will feel joy again." Annie did not understand, but agreed to do what Grandfather Springtime said. Then he left the village.

What followed was a cruel and harsh winter that enslaved the entire land. Mountains of snow engulfed the countryside. Frost covered the fields and pastures. The people only worked and grumbled in misery, much to the magistrate's pleasure. His black heart reveled as he counted his coins in his office. The elders were also handsomely comfortable at the expense of the people's misery, thought a bit of them felt guilty for what they said. When the fortieth night had arrived, Annie sat in her house, freezing on the floor, for the fire had turned to ice. She then took out the seed and planted it on the floor. She soon fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, she noticed she was lying on gentle green grass. She raised her head, and there she was surrounded by a beautiful field. The sun was shining bright in a blue sky. Birds were singing and bright blue stream was running. Trees grew all kinds of the fruit. Deer pranced across the way. She was in prefect awe. She then heard a familiar song from a familiar voice. It was Grandfather Springtime.

"You made it to my country!" Springtime shouted with glee. They spent the day eating good food and singing songs. After they settled from their merriment, Grandfather Springtime turned to Annie and said, "Dear Annie, I'm so happy to have you here with me. Now, I ask a big favor of you."

"Anything, Grandfather Springtime!" He pointed to a door that hovered in the middle of the field. It was the door inside Annie's house that lead back to Merriano.

"I want you to go back to Merriano and bring as many people as you can here, where they may be with me for all time." Annie was confused.

"But they hate you, Grandfather! They were awful and deserve to be there to freeze!"

"Some of them do hate me and many will not come. But many really want to be here, if only they were given a sign of the truth. Give them a chance to see the errors of their ways and come here. They are all my friends as you are. Do this for the sake of our friendship." Annie still seemed reluctant.

"None of them will believe me. For how can they? This place is so beautiful and wonderful, but still so beyond my understanding. How can I make them understand? For I am not well-educated or well-liked." Springtime plucked a flower from the ground and handed it to her. It was red and bright.

"Show them this flower, for it has not been bitten by frost. It will be a sign to follow you. One last thing," he added, "when you go to and from the village, go the long way, not the short way." She eventually agreed, though she did not understand. She soon left.

The journey took her through winding roads and narrow places, but she eventually made it pass. When she arrived to the village, she showed the flower and began to tell about her house and how it led to Grandfather's Springtime's country. Many did not listen to her, for while they were miserable they had grown accustomed to their misery. But soon many people began to believe Annie and began to follow her.

Now, many who left worked in the mines belonging to the magistrate. When profits turn low, he demanded to know why. The elders informed that many left with Annie back to her house, where she had Grandfather Springtime (it is important to note only one of the elders left with Annie). The wicked magistrate became furious. He banded a militia together to seize Annie and have her burned at the stake, for she had been working with a man of ‘dark magic’, as he decreed.

Knowing she was taking her company across the long road, the magistrate and his mob took the short route. He felt he had won. But little that the he know is when Grandfather Springtime came every year, he didn't just bring spring him, he kept away the yetis. Yetis were giant, fierce monsters who wander where the frost is most cold. The path Annie and her company took avoid them. The path the magistrate and his mob took led right to them. The fierce beasts devour them all, leaving none of them alive.

Thus, Annie led the people of Merriano back to Grandfather Springtime's country and they remain there forever after. Not much happened to the village of Merriano after that, for those who remained were buried in the snow, and their history is mostly long forgotten to the world.