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A long time ago, a man and his wife lived in a town. He had enough money, and he was enjoying his life with his wife. He was not much worried, but his wife felt they should have a child as they had no children.

One night, the wife had a dream. She saw a tree in a dense forest. Its branch was bent as it was loaded with fruits. She saw a huge golden apple hanging from its branch.

Incidentally, she had this dream for three consecutive nights in a row. One day she asked her husband, "Will you please go to the forest and bring me that golden apple?"

That man did not believe this, but he decided to go just for the sake of his wife. He walked in the direction described by his wife and finally reached the middle of that dense forest.

Surprisingly, he saw a tree whose branch was bent, and there was a golden apple hanging on it. He could not stop himself, so he stretched out his hand and plucked the apple from the branch.

As soon as he plucked the apple, he heard an angry voice say, "How dare you pluck this apple?"

He looked around and saw a beautiful woman asking him this question. She was not an ordinary woman, as her hair was golden and she had a golden necklace around her neck.

The man said, "Don't be angry with me." He said politely, "I didn't know it was forbidden to pluck the fruits here. I wanted to give it to my sick wife."

The woman said, "As you have told me the truth, so I gift you this golden apple."

The woman further said, "Tell your wife to eat it. There will be twins, both boys, in your house, when they turn eighteen, send them here in this forest. I will decide the fate of both of them."

My Side of the Story

As he expressed his gratitude to the enigmatic lady, a sense of bewilderment washed over him. He hastened back to his home, where his wife was eagerly waiting for his return. Upon narrating the entire incident to his wife, her face was a canvas painted with a mix of astonishment and delight.

"Should I really consume this?" she asked tentatively. "Who knows? Eating this might bring calamity upon us," she still seemed to harbor some doubts. An argument ensued between the couple for a while.

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^{Image by upklyak on Freepik}

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Eventually, his wife ate the golden fruit, as the woman had instructed her. Their joy knew no bounds when they discovered a few days later that she was pregnant, a blessing they had yearned for quite some time.

They cherished the journey of parenthood, witnessing their twin sons, Ethan and Lucas, flourish together. The boys demonstrated remarkable traits from an early age. Ethan was benevolent and empathetic, whereas Lucas harbored a potent aspiration for dominance.

On their eighteenth birthday, their father escorted them to the forest to unveil their family's tale. They encountered the woman once more at the heart of the woods. She was as radiant as ever.

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^{Image by upklyak on Freepik}

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With a cordial smile, she welcomed them, her eyes seeming to recognize the twins standing before her. "The time has come, Ethan and Lucas," she declared solemnly. "You were born of the power of the golden apple, and your lives bear great significance."

Ethan bowed with reverence, appearing to grasp her words. "We are here because you summoned us. What is required of us?"

The woman responded to Ethan with a kind smile. "Ethan, you are endowed with a benevolent heart and inherent leadership qualities. You have the ability to inspire others with your charisma. Use your position to instill hope and guide your people towards a brighter future."

Ethan felt the weight of his responsibilities and pledged to adhere to his principles steadfastly.

The woman then addressed Lucas with a stern expression. "Lucas, you are ambitious and crave power. But beware, the pursuit of power can lead you into darkness and despair. Do not seek to dominate others, instead find balance within yourself."

Lucas nodded, yet a hint of skepticism flickered in his intense gaze.

The woman issued a final warning. "Remember, your choices will influence not just your lives, but also those around you. The ramifications will be monumental."

She then vanished into the woods, leaving Ethan and Lucas in a state of mixed emotions. Their destinies were intertwined, yet their paths would diverge significantly.

As the years rolled by, Ethan evolved into a revered leader, marked by his kindness and wisdom. People admired him for his fair and just nature. Under his leadership, their community thrived, and hope spread like a wild blaze.

Contrarily, Lucas was enticed by the allure of power and control. He grew increasingly resolute in obtaining his desires. He amassed wealth, controlled resources, and commanded armies. However, as he grew more powerful, he also grew more corrupt, his actions leading to anguish and suffering, and his once luminous spirit was engulfed by darkness.

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Decades passed and it became evident how different the twins’ paths were. Ethan’s land was peaceful and prosperous, where people cared for each other. But Lucas’s land was full of turmoil and misery because of fear and lies.

At last, the day came when the brothers met each other on the verge of war. They looked at each other with sadness and regret in their eyes. In that moment, they realized how much their choices had impacted everything, just like the woman had warned them. The results had been deep indeed.

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^{I would like to invite @paholags, @senehasa, and @patjewell to join this contest through this link, if they have not already taken part in it.}

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^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Date: 15-May-2023 | Achievement 1}