The Popadoo Fruit

They met at the half way point between the city of Red and the city of Green.
At the top of a snowy hill. Where an ancient dead tree can be seen.

They choose this spot because it was the very reason the cities were at war.
The conflict grew from the tree. And the cities could take no more.

The city of Red sent their most decorated warrior who was a young girl just 14 years old.
The girl was already a legend at her age. And was no stranger to battles in the cold.

She killed her first dragon by the age of five. By reading him sad poems. Ending only when he could no longer bear to be alive.

She once wrestled 6 grizzly bears all at the same time.
Pinning them all within 26 minutes. Stopping only once to have a water with lime.

She also killed a Hill Giant in a record 46 seconds flat.
By tying his sandals together. And then scaring him with a mangy 3 legged cat.

The city of Green sent its most decorated warrior as well. A goblin named Jonathon. Highly
regarded in the city for his strength. And, of course, his horrible smell.

Jonathon too had seen his fair share of legendary fights.
Only claiming defeat once. At the hands of some terribly rude ear mites.

He once killed a snake who stretched as far as the eye could see.
Not that the snake was bothering anyone, but because Jonathon woke up that day threatened by the feeling of being groggy.

Jonathon the Goblin also once killed a giant octopus that was terrorizing the city of Green.
He used his brain on this one and hired 43 sushi chefs. All of which knew the importance of protein.

They met at the half way point between the city of Red and the city of Green.
At the top of a snowy hill. Where an ancient dead tree can be seen.

They met there to put an end to the conflict that began 300 days before.
The source being the fruit that grows on the dead tree, and nothing more.

The popadoo fruit was no ordinary fruit of course.
Just one bite could cure any disease. Making it a must have resource.

At first, the cities tried to share the dead tree that grew popadoo fruit.
This worked for about 6 days. Until a goblin had a bite to cure his disease of being too cute.

The humans, being human, took great offense to the goblins misuse.
They shouted, "being cute is not a disease! We will not stand for this abuse!".

The goblins, being goblin, were also offended by the humans misuse of the fruit.
They shouted, "the last human had a bite to cure his body odor?! Whats a smell if its not strong
enough to pollute?"

This continued for days, and war was soon declared.
The cities had different ideas of disease. And for this, no one could be spared.

After many months of fighting, the cities agreed on one final fight.
The winning warriors city would have claim to the tree, and the loosing city would end their plight.

The snow began to fall, and the warriors took their stance at the top of the white hill.
With weapons in hand, excited about the inevitable kill.

Stopping just before the first strike, the warriors were both struck with an ideal that would end the problem forevermore.
They would share a popadoo fruit, and cure this disease of violence and war.

And so they sat under the dead tree and ate a popadoo fruit.
They shared old stories of fearsome battles and glorious loot.

They talked for hours, and hours, and grew very found of each other.
They hugged and walked back to their cities. Vowing to never again fight one another.

When the warriors got back to their cities, they told their people of what happened at the dead tree.But the city people didn't believe the warriors and figured they were cowards who chose to flee.

And so each city decided to hang their warrior for fleeing from the fight.
The decision was final and the warriors where hung the next morning at the first sign of light.

Not wasting any time, the enraged cities amassed their army's and marched up to the snowy hill where the dead tree can be seen. But upon arrival, chills came over the soldiers from the city of Red and the city of Green.

The dead tree that grew popadoo fruit made a promise to the warriors of a grand cure.
The tree kept this promise, knowing the warriors disease was both honest and pure.

It realized that there was only one way to end this violence and war.
The dead tree could no longer be, and so it would be no more....

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Copyright 2004, Eric Provan. All Rights Reserved.