The Red Roses (Sequel to the Red Apple)

Author note: Hello everybodyyyyyy! Its Jayuchiha16 back again with a new story for one of my most favorite animes. I didn't know how to really continue on the story but I got some kind of inspiration after reading the manga and now I know exactly how I want to make the sequel. I hope you all enjoy this as you enjoyed my first story .

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Chapter one: The Queen of the doves

Apple's POV

Darkness, all I could see in front of my face was sweet warm darkness. It was wrapped around my naked body like a sweet blanket and held me tightly as I unconsciously nuzzled into it. But suddenly there was a disturbance, for the sweet blankets of darkness soon became arms, with the feel of cold leathery scales. It startled me, yet, I could not find myself to be afraid of it, in its own odd way it was actually comforting. I closed my eyes as I laid my nude body against this leathery body, one arm stretched around my torso, holding my around my waist, while the other stroked my hair lovingly, as though I was a beautiful china doll. I knew not of what was happening to me, but I knew I loved it. The warmth, the comfort, I just wanted to laid in these arms for eternity. But then my eyes suddenly opened back up again suddenly realized, I couldn't do this for eternity, I have a kingdom to rule, as Queen of Midland it was my duty. But then I heard a warm, yet familiar, voice say to me "Be patient my dearest Apple, You will have your dream and more, just wait for me my love". I suddenly turned around and the darkness soon melted into light and behind me was not a man in leather scales, but instead Griffith. Griffith, the man who I loved, who I was engaged, who broke my heart by sleeping with my sister and became cripple. But instead of cripple, he was the way he used to be, but more…..magical and unreal. His hair was longer and wavier, his armor was white, and he held a warm and loving smile. He opened his arms to me and as though it was a magnetic pull, I felt myself walking into that embrace. I held him and suddenly he was not even wearing his armor anymore, but was nude as well, as nude as I, as nude as a newborn baby. We held each other gently as he said to me stroking my hair tenderly "I promised, I promised I would find my way back to you and we would be happy again, I will keep my word, just be patient, wait for the next full moon, and I will come to you and take you away" I looked at him and he had the same loving smile he always had. I nodded and asked "But what will happen when you take me away?" He suddenly released me but held me at arm's length by the shoulder and said in a dead serious voice "I will make all your dreams come to my love, I will find a way for you to forgive me, and if you'll have me, I wish to be your husband". Thinking to myself this was just a dream, I reached out my hand and touched his cheek and said "then you have my word, as the Queen of Midland and as a woman, if you can make me forgive you and love you again, then we can marry". He touched my cheek and smiled gently as he was suddenly being pulled away from me fading into the light. I couldn't speak, I couldn't even form sound as the light, as the darkness had, wrapped itself around my naked body, lulling me into a relaxed state as I felt my body fall into nothingness.

I heard sweet chirping coming out from the window, the bright light of dawn shaded itself over my eyes as I winced from the sudden exposure. I moaned a small bit before opening my soft blue eyes and sitting up gently in my bed in my long white silk nightdress. I looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings in confusion before realization struck me with great force; I was a captive. I looked around the beautifully decorated room and sighed with slight contempt before saying out loud "what another lovely day huh father?" I rolled back the covers and slipped into my night slippers before wrapping the white silk pashmina around myself and walking to the window looking out. There was few trees and greenery and I could see Kushian soldiers lined up in the court yard, that's right, Kushian soldiers. For those who haven't been here for the last 2 years, let me get you up to date on what has happened since my queening coordination.

A year into my reign, there was a terrible plague that was going through Midland and I did my best trying to prevent it from furthering and trying to eliminate it. I sent out many doctors to different parts of Midland to help those infected, Cleaning wards and sanitation to make sure the plague does not infect the healthy, more crop hands and builders to help out those who need extra help and everything was going smooth and steady. The plague, however, made into the castle as my father ended up catching it and sadly had his life taken from him by it. I was devastated at losing my father, but unfortunately that was not the end of my problems. When word of my father's death spread, my Kingdom was invaded by Kushan soldiers and their Emperor Ganishka. I sent Charlotte off to a safe house in a small unknown corner of Midland along with Lord Richard and awaited the Kushan army to come. My soldiers fought with courage and bravery, but were overpowered by the Kushan army and so my Kingdom fell. When the palace was invade I sat in the throne room and awaited the Emperor to come to me. When he did, I did as any queen would do, I met my fate with dignity and composure. I guess my calmness and beauty must have gotten to him, for not only did he decided to spare my life, he struck up a bargain with me, if I go with him and become his captive/royal guest in his palace, he would retreat from Midland. I knew that in reality he meant if I go with him, only he would retreat from Midland, not his army, but I made him also promise that his soldiers would leave the innocent alone and that he would leave my family, including my sister be, to that he did agree. So I gave myself up and left with him to his homeland and put into this luxurious room. It was then I learned of Emperor Ganishka's true intentions with me coming to his homeland. Since I am in his palace, none of the Midland soldiers can do anything in fear of me being killed and because the emperor learned that the only way he can truly take Midland as his own is if he became my husband. So every day since my capture he has been trying to persuade me into marriage, but I stood firm on my rejection of becoming his wife, because I knew that if I accepted, Midland would be in even worse shape than it already is if he became king.

A lot has happened since then, I would think of my sister and wonder for her safety and such, I would think of my people and their plights and mostly, more than often, I would think of Griffith, the man who won my heart, lost it and is, even now, trying to regain it. Since the night of my coordination I could do nothing but think of him, and whether or not he was really there that night or not. Oh well, it is best not to dwell on the past and rather plan on the future, such as how will I get out of this mess with the emperor. Suddenly there was a knock on the door,

I turned slightly from the window and answered gently "come in"

Entering my room was a Kushan maid, who bowed to me and said "the emperor requests your presence for breakfast your majesty, I have come to prepare you",

I sighed and gently to her "very well"

I let her led me to the washroom where I was washed in many different oils and my body was powered in a sweet smelling powder. I was dressed in a white, blue and gold dress with 5 petticoats and with gold snake patterns etched into the bottom of the dress with red slippers and my hair done in a long French braid and a diamond crown adorning my head. I stared at myself, I was a full on woman now, my hair was down to my knees right now, my blue eyes were as round and as beautiful as my mother's now, I filled out a lot especially in my chest area, I had finally became the type of beautiful woman mother wanted me to become. I let the maid led me to the main dining room with my head lead high in a silent dignity. When I entered I saw at the head of the table was the man responsible for all the suffering of my people and kingdom, Emperor Ganishka's, it took my entire will not to scoff in disgust, but I will not give him the satisfaction of knowing he bothers me.

I sat next to him quietly as he regarded me saying "Good Morning Queen Apple, this day has treated you fair I see?"

I silently placed the napkin in my lap and said "As it does every morning Your Majesty" I learned in a captive situation it is best to play politely and integrity as to not irritate the already shaking agreement we have.

I, per usual, ate my breakfast quietly only answering when he talks to me, not even bothering to make eye contact to this savage man of high girth. We sat in silence eating when I felt a pair of eyes on me, I looked out the corner of my eyes and saw the Emperor Ganishka was staring at me.

I paused eating for a moment my soup and said to the curious emperor "Is there something bothering you Your Majesty?"

He sighed and said "Yes, you are bothering me Queen Apple, you sit there drinking your soup as though everything is fine, yet your country has crumbled and you have been taken hostage in my palace. What is it that you happen to be thinking?"

I looked down at my reflection in my soup, then sighed as I put down my soup spoon, looked him straight in the eye and said "If you really wish to know what I am thinking, then I will tell you Your Majesty. I think every day of my homeland, my people who are suffering because of your decision to invade my homeland and to take away their queen. I think of my sister who is god knows where because I wanted to protect her from getting harmed by your army. I think about how useless I happen to be to my people right now but how this deal we made is keeping my people safe from any more harm that you will try and inflict on them and my family. I also think that there will be a time when you will go back on our deal and when you do I will already be prepared for the worst case scenario. So yes I may be your captive sitting here sipping my soup quietly, but understand this, the second you betray your word all gloves will be off and I will not hesitate make you suffer so terribly the judgment of your soul in death will not matter because it will cease to exist."

With that my face expression shifted from emotionless to a fake happy as I giggled and gave him a happy smile while saying "of course you do understand this already your Majesty, as a ruler yourself if you were in the same situation I am in at this very moment then you also would be thinking the same things I am thinking right now. But don't worry, I don't plan to kill you, not yet anyway since you happen to be keeping your end of the bargain, and besides I don't engage in such nonsense and trivialities."

I looked at his slightly shocked expression and said to him gently "is there something the matter your majesty? You look pale, you should eat something and get some color back in your face"

I lifted up my spoon and then continued to eat my breakfast soup as he looked at me again, and I kept slipping him a smile or two.

After breakfast is was the usual with me, I was forced into his office, sitting in a love chair, quilting a tapestry for my room as I listened to the Emperor throw out ideas as to why we should marry.

"Would it not be easier to submit to me and become my bride? If we were to marry your people need not suffer so and this land and many more lands would become yours. You would have everything" He said to me, trying to tempt me into accepting his proposal.

I kept quilting the needle in and out of the fabric while saying to him "I apologize Your Majesty, but I stand firm in my decision, I cannot marry you simply because I know as my land suffers now it will more than likely suffer more under your rule. These people need someone who they can love not fear and I also don't approve of your ruling methods, it's too harsh and I won't subject my people to a tyrant, so once again I respectfully refuse your proposal"

I knew what was coming up next, His face showed his temperament, the veins on the side of his head was showing and he was trembling fiercely, He was about to have a temper tantrum.

He flipped over a chair, threw another at the wall beside me and then stomped up in front of me with both his hands trapping me in my spot on the love chair and said in an voice expressing a deep irritation and anger "How dare you defy me woman!? Do you know your position here!? I can have you killed in a second, I could destroy your kingdom with just a snap of my fingers and yet you still dare to defy me!?"

I stopped my quilting for a second and met his angered gaze with my own emotionless one. Another thing I picked up being a captive; no matter the situation, never show fear, never show panic and always keep calm no matter what.

I stared into his dark brown eyes with my round light blue ones and said "and what good will that do? If you kill me then my army will not hold back and the soldiers you have occupying my kingdom will be taken down forth with. The only reason your castle hasn't been targeted is because of me and you know this, if I die then you really will have a problem on your hands because with my death my sister will ascend to the throne and you have no idea where I have hidden her, so the throne of Midland will once again be out of your reach. Face the matters, you need me alive, you need me to be your wife. I know you live your life thinking that fear is the only way to survive, but it's not. To survive in this world, you need know how to work every single thing to your advantage. Yes, I understand I am your captive, but I also understand you need me, more than you would like to admit."

And with that I went back to my quilting, humming lightly as I stitched etches of the quilt. I didn't even have to look at him to feel his frustration, until it became lighter, then I heard laughing. This wasn't something he'd usually do, he would usually send me back to my room and threaten to starve me (even though he never would), but instead he is laughing? I looked up from my quilting to see him laughing heartily, almost making me want to laugh but I decided it would be best to keep my face emotionless.

Once he stopped laughing he sat down in the love couch next to my chair and said "well, if that is not a first that I have been bested by a woman. You will make an excellent wife for me, so calculative, yet sharp in the tongue while holding your own sense of dignity. Nothing like my old wife, yes you will be far superior."

He clapped his hands and twice and two guards came in and bowed their heads, he said to them "Take her Majesty to her room and guard her there"

I stood up, rather than having them touch my person to get up and followed them out of the office. But before I left I stopped and looked at the Emperor before saying "Before I forget your grace, did you have a dream a couple of nights ago, of a white hawk becoming humanity's savior?"

He looked at me before saying "My dear, such dreams are nothing but dreams and nothing more"

I looked at him gently before saying "or it could be a premonition, for I have heard word that many in this kingdom, my kingdom and in many others that they have had this dream in one simultaneous night, a worldly premonition, your reign over my people will come to an end, it has been predicted by God and will be laid out sooner than you think"

With that I left the Emperor along and followed the men to my room. The rest of the day was spent of me locked in my room while I finished my quilt. I did not have dinner with the Emperor, but instead ate in my room as usual. The day quickly turned into nighttime as I was made ready for bed. My hair was out and brushed, I was in my silk white, floor-length nightgown and white night slippers finishing my quilt in front of the open fire. As I was finishing my quilt, I thought back to the days of my innocent youth, when father was alive, when Charlotte and I were on better terms, and when Griffith was my beloved lover. Oh Griffith, I have had many thoughts about him, my dearest lover, and the man who was to take my place as King of Midland and as my darling husband. He was perfect, but then again he was human. He cheated on me with Charlotte, he became cripple, and in reality, I was still in love with him. For two years I tried to fight what I felt for the sake of my Kingdom, I even postponed my engagement to Lord Philip to sort out my feeling and the truth of the matter is I love Griffith, he is already in my heart, and my mind. Oh what I wouldn't give to be with Griffith right this very moment. As I finished my quilt, I looked at it and saw I had made the insignia of the Band of the Hawks on it. I sighed and put it in the corner with the other 12 I have made of both he band of the hawks and Griffith. Oh if only Griffith was here, this would have turned out different. But the reality of it all was that he wasn't and it was up to me to save my kingdom, me and the mysterious white hawk, who in turns reminded me of Griffith.

With that I decided to retire for the night, I slipped under the covers and looked at the paintings and quilts I made of Griffith and said softly "Good night, my love Griffith" and suddenly I found myself asleep.

That night I was awoken by a breeze in my face, it tickled my nose and lightly whispered in my face. Something was strange though, I felt as though I was being watched by something, or someone. The feeling overwhelmed me, so much I opened my eyes lightly and sat up, turning to my side rubbing my eyes from the intrusion of light….light? How can that be, I have just gone to bed but a few hours ago, the sun should not be up as of yet.

That is when I heard in the loving baritone voice "please excuse me for my intrusion, Queen Apple"

I couldn't help but turn to the window, and there, in all his glory was the man I had been pining for a year and a half, the man I dreamt of constantly, the man who I bid my heart to. I couldn't help myself, I had to say his name, and it came out in a soft and caring whisper

"Griffith"