A Sweet and Sour Holiday
Sour Apple let out a deep sigh.
He looked out towards the grove from the vantage point where he sat. All the celebrations were over, and now it sat dark and quiet. Even the Winter Solstice lights that adorned the tree-houses in the grove shone only softly compared to the Winter Solstice Spirit above. As much as he would have loved to join the grove dwellers in their celebration, he just couldn't manage it. Not with all that had happened the day before.
Nemesis's words still rang in his ears. "If I recall, you're the one who said, 'This season's gotten to everyone's heads!' It was you that couldn't be bothered to stop at the grove and let loose a little, even for your brother's sake. All you could think about was your work."
Sour Apple cringed. That wendigo was right. He had been under so much stress since he and Sweet Apple had arrived at the grove. Between the two of them, Sour Apple knew they would have to work twice as hard if they wanted to get them all processed in time for the Solstice.
But then Sweet Apple had gone to join in the festivities. Looking back on it, it wasn't such a big deal. It was a holiday, after all, and the world wouldn't end if not all the apples were processed by the time the Solstice came around. But Sour Apple was really annoyed. He thought Sweet Apple was ditching work. He thought he was left to do all the juicing and peeling himself. So that's all he did for the past few days. He didn't even realize there was no more work to do when the four kid heroes came to rescue his sorry rear.
"Sour! There you are!"
Sour Apple snapped to attention. His brother was running up to him from behind. The one dryad he had blamed for all his troubles over the Solstice. And he still came back for Sour Apple.
What kind of brother are you, Sour?
"Are you still mad at me?" The smaller dryad's voice trembled. He cocked his head, his pale red eyes shining in the dim.
Sour Apple shook his head. He motioned for Sweet Apple to sit next to him.
Sweet Apple obeyed. "Buckthorn told me what happened to you. Was it really that bad?"
"What do you mean?" Sour Apple wasn't sure what he was talking about.
"I mean... I didn't mean to just leave you in the dust like that. If I knew how important this was to you, I would have stayed. I thought you wouldn't have any trouble..."
A flash of anger coursed through Sour Apple's body for a second. You seriously couldn't tell, Sweet Apple? You know me better than everyone! he thought. But his anger subsided as soon as it came. He really was in no position to start an argument. His brother had already worried himself sick over him for the past few days. He shut his eyes in shame and self-disgust.
The two sat in silence for the longest time. Both were waiting for the other to utter the next word. But all that could be heard was the winter wind whistling through the trees. Even the moon and the Winter Solstice Spirit in the sky dared not make a sound.
Sour Apple took that first move. "I... when Nemesis possessed me, I said something that I shouldn't have."
"Oh?"
"I had just finished up the juicing and I was complaining a bit. And then I said, 'This season's gotten to everyone's heads.' I think that was how Nemesis decided to use me as a host. After Jack and his friends expelled it from me, it berated me and said that I was the perfect host because all I cared about was work..." Sour Apple couldn't even look in Sweet Apple's direction.
He could only imagine the horrified look on his brother's face. "...I was the reason Nemesis got past the Heartwood. I put the whole grove in danger all because I couldn't break away from work for a single second..."
Suddenly, he felt Sweet Apple throw his arms around him. He looked up at the littler dryad.
"You shouldn't blame yourself for that."
It was Sour Apple's turn to be speechless.
"I know what the Elder Goat and all the other Yule goats say. That denying the Winter Solstice is the most cardinal sin of all. But you were only trying to get all the work done in time so that the apples were ready. I should have helped you out more." Sweet Apple sighed. "If anyone deserved to be possessed by that wendigo, it's me."
Sour Apple just returned his brother's embrace. What could he say? What could either of them say? The guilt they shared didn't belong to either of them.
After what seemed like an eternity, Sour Apple spotted a speck of light on the horizon. Slowly, it rose, bathing the Emerald Woodland in yellow light. Morning had arrived.
"Hey, Sweet. Look!"
Sweet Apple turned towards the village. Immediately he was entranced. Sunlight glinted off the snow and frost, turning the grove below into a petrified forest of gleaming crystals. Sweet Apple could imagine countless wood sprites, dryads, and others stirring from their sleep and emerging from their beds to find piles of presents stacked up in their homes. Despite everything, the wendigoes could not stop the Winter Solstice from coming.
"Hey, Sweet. How's about we go down there and celebrate? I think we both earned it."
Sweet Apple couldn't agree more. The two of them made their way down the hill towards the village, smiling all the way.
This story is set after the events of the fourth installment of "Jack Thunder and the Fragments of Anima." Sweet and Sour Apple have some fences to mend. They have a heart-to-heart talk as Solstice morning arrives. Happy holidays, everyone!
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