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Fruit-Lore & Legends

Every valley needs its myths. Fruitopia has three big ones — and a hundred small ones argued about over pie.

The First Seed

The oldest story: before the valley, before the Wall, there was a single seed — a watermelon seed, the tellers say — that sprouted into a vine so vast it became the land itself. The hills are its ridges, the rivers its veins, and every melon patch is a reminder. On the first night of Sproutime, children plant one seed each "for the Vine," and nobody is allowed to laugh at a crooked row.

The Strawberry Star

A star shaped — believers insist — exactly like a strawberry, which appears over Berry Hollow on the clearest Sunseason nights. Wish on it for glamour, the song says, and wish carefully: the Star is famous for granting wishes with a twist. Skeptics note it's probably just a star. Believers note the skeptics have never looked their best.

The First Sundae

The founding feast: during a legendary Frostnap famine, the story goes, every fruit folk brought one ingredient to Soda Fountain Square, and the Old Fountain's keeper layered them into a single enormous sundae that fed the whole valley. Whether or not it happened, the Sharing of the Sundae is still reenacted every Harvestime — and it's the reason no Fruitopian will ever let a neighbor go dessertless.

Small lore, loudly argued

• The Keeper's Lantern never goes out — unless it does, which means a storm's coming, unless it doesn't.
• Lemonade Creek runs sweet because a lemon elder cried into it laughing. (The Citrus Docks dispute this.)
• If you spit a seed over the Great Orchard Wall, you'll marry a traveler. The Pips take this very seriously.
• The Starlight Cinema's back row is haunted by a critic who only reviews the previews.