Of Rainbows and Apples...

Flure took a deep breath as she stepped out of her cottage and into the lush garden surrounding it. What a beautiful day!  She thought to herself.  She gently picked up her wicker basket that was sitting right by the back door.  The sun was shining down from a clear blue sky and the mild breeze brought with it the sweet smell of flowers.  Flure walked through the garden, stopping every so often to look at certain flowers that caught her eye. 

Flure gently brushed her hand along the tops of the plants as she walked down the overgrown path through her garden.  Taking in the wonderful scents and the cool autumn breeze.  As she came to the end of the past she could see the orchard in the distance, the limbs of the trees hanging down from the weight of the apples.  Soon it would be time to harvest, but for today, she just needed a few to make her famous apple pie.

She opened the gate at the end of the path, stepping into the soft grass that covered the field ahead.  While there was no paved path to the orchard, the grass had stomped down from many people walking out to the orchard and back, cutting a line through the field. The grass was still damp with dew, making her cloven feet a little chilly as she trod towards the orchard.  As she got closer and closer, she noticed something strange… The apples were not red like the ones from last year, but all sorts of colors… Funny… I don’t remember planting golden, green and…blue? Apples this year.  Flure thought to herself.  

As she entered the orchard, she stopped, staring in wonder at the multi-colored apples.  She wondered what a blue apple pie might taste like…Maybe it would be sweet like Candy… or perhaps bitter like soap.  She combed through the trees looking for red apples for her apple pie.  She picked apple after apple, mostly red, but out of curiosity picked one of every color… she couldn’t wait to show everyone her rainbow apples at the market.  

As she walked through the apple trees, she didn’t notice a little bird-like creature following her through the orchard.  It watched curiously as she gathered the apples, staying hidden behind the trees, as not to be seen.  It too, had never seen apples like this before.  As Flure walked on, the little creature followed, a branch cracking under its foot as it did. The creature quickly scurried behind the closest tree.

Flure quickly spun around, looking for what could have made the sound.  She saw a flash of movement, and watched closely for a minute. She returned to picking the apples, her basket was almost full and the sun was getting higher in the sky.  She collected a few more apples and let out a sigh.  What a beautiful day. She thought to herself.  And what a curious thing to happen…rainbow apples. She sat down, leaning her back against an apple tree.  I wonder if anyone else has had their apples turn rainbow this year.   Flure pulled the apple basket close, grabbing a blue apple and giving it a closer look.  It felt like a regular apple, it smells like a regular apple, but she dared not to taste it.  

Out of the corner of her eye, Flure saw another flash of movement from behind a tree,  she looked intently, noticing a little stone foot and a tuft of brown.  I bet that’s what I almost saw earlier… it must’ve been following me this whole time.

“Hello?” She called out quietly.

The little creature poked its head out from behind the tree to look.  It was a small bird-like creature, but instead of feathers and a beak, it was stone and crystal.  A Geodo… The Geodo looked back at Flure curiously.  Flure paused for a second and reached into her basket of apples, causing the skittish creature to retreat a little.  Flure picked out a green apple, it was almost a natural shade, but the apple was a little too bright, a little too perfect.  I surely hope this apple isn’t poisonous.  She held it out, showing the little Geodo the apple.  The small creature stepped closer, to get a better look.

“Well, come on.” Flure said softly “It’s for you.”

The Geodo came closer, stepping cautiously, curiously smelling the air.  The Geodo stopped, it was almost an arm’s length away.  He stared at Flure and then at the apple…The Geodo looked curiously at the apple, giving it a sniff.  

“That’s right little guy…” Flure encouraged the Geodo.

The Geodo pecked at the apple, then took a bite.  The creature hungrily ate the whole apple, but Flure noticed…something was happening…Its brown and gray body was now taking on a green hue and something was growing…plants! Flowers and leaves were shooting out from the cracks and crevices of its body. It was quickly adorned with leaves and flowers, and its body was now a pretty, mossy green.  

Flure watched in awe…these weren’t just any apples, they were magic.  She wondered what the other apples might do if eaten, and more importantly… How did they get there?

The Geodo, surprised, spun around, like a dog chasing its own tail, trying to get a look at itself.  The vines and leaves now growing from its body, catching the corner of the creature’s eye.  It squawked and bolted back into the orchard.  

“Ohh” Flure said, surprised.  “I hope to see you again, little guy.” She called out.

Flure stood up, brushing the dirt and fallen leaves that cling to her off.  I hope that little guy will be okay… Flure thought, feeling a little bad.  She recalled being raised from the dead, and what a shock it was to her… being magically altered.  She grabbed her basket, full of magical apples, and started back towards her cottage, trying not to think too hard about what she'd done to the Geodo, but at the same time filled with curiosity.