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The man walked on the paved road to the city.

They sky was a healthy shade of blue. The birds were singing, and the city was in the throes of a happy, busy day. He could already here the people chattering, laughing, the wheels of carts and the brays and neighs of animals beyond the city walls. Looking forward down the hill, the old man saw the beautiful city, sparkling like a diamond in the sun.

The man stopped at a tree stump next to the road. Setting his backpack down, he snuffled through the pack of scrolls, pens, ink and such and found some cloths and a jar of oil. Gently with his wrinkling hands he took his glasses off and wiped them clean with the oil.

The sun beat down on this spring day, and he pulled his wide-brimmed red hat more over his face. The hat itself was old and tattered, the red faded into a dark maroon of sorts. Its edges were dog eared and the little brooch only held one single, stripped red feather. The hat truly must have a great hat once before.

A cart went by, with children following it. They were playing with ribbons in the air, and they waved and smiled at the old man on the stump. They saw his dark red robes and the scrolls and books in the pack, knowing that he must be a professor at the University.

In fact, it appeared the old man was going to the university. He took a look at his map of the new campus.

"Hmmm…science building…no, wait…I'm at the Anatomy building…" The man gave a wrinkled smile, not caring if he was talking out loud. He reviewed his papers once again, making sure that he was signed up to be a teacher of Surgery.

He was. Signed at the dot. He was accepted to teach this new generation how to operate successfully.

After all, he was a chemist and doctor.

Smiling he packed up his things, retied his long silver hair back and walked down to the open city gates.

He saw a beautiful city, indeed more beautiful than he saw it last. He stood in the middle of the colored cobblestones, surrounded by clean bright buildings, seeing the beautiful red church, fabled for it's history, and the art museum, and the new University of the Sciences.

It was the first University in 159 years.

A tear came to his eye. He looked at the beautiful buildings, the people milling about there as students and teachers. He knew, then and there, it was the place of learning that hadn't blossomed in centuries.

Shaking his head, he turned to the sights around him. People were lined up, selling flowers and foods and other goods. There were children, rich and poor, playing with each other. Old and young, men and woman, wearing beautiful clothing and talking friendly with each other. To his left, the Parliament building just let out for lunch and the red robed parliamentarians were chatting and talking.

And then the gates of the Parliament opened.

All cheered and whooped with joy, instead of bowing to the ground in reverence and silence. They saluted the Queen with joy and happiness.

The sun shone brightly on her long, flowing red dress. It was simple, elegant, glittering, her neck covered with rubies and gold, her arms with ribbon sleeves and a beautiful golden crown on her head, glinting in the sun. Her hair was like liquid silver and long, the breeze picking it up. It wasn't in a pony tail like the others. It was left free to the wind and to glimmer its everlasting beauty.

She was a strong woman. Even at a ripe old age, her wrinkles around her eyes and hands bony she was still beautiful. And her eyes still looked so young, so happy, so strong…so…

Alive.

She softly stepped down the steps, the guards in royal armor of brilliant red and honest eyes besides her as she walked into the square, people cheering her and loving her as the real woman she is.

And then she looked at the old man.

Her eyes flickered, frozen in time as he gasped, taking full on her stunning beauty. She looked so free and happy. And yet so wise with a hidden weariness painted under her blue eyes. There was no arrogance, nor pompous ignorance and stuffy clothing. She was a natural beauty, and she was as beautiful as a blossoming rose at the sunset.

The man took his weathered hat off as he bowed his head. Few people noticed the old man, his body hidden under the robes of a traveler and scholar. For all they knew he could be a cripple, or could be a strong wrinkled man, or just normal, or anything…

But he still was handsome. His eyes were a shade of blue-green, with a strange red tint to them. This The Queen saw through his glasses, as the old man stood straight and lifted his head to put his hat back on. The breeze once again made his hair fly in the wind…just like hers.

He reached in his pocket, stuffed with scrolls. She stood, watching him intently and relaxed. The man was bravely walking over to her, a look of longing on his face as his hand was still in the robe pocket.

The crowd was still cheering, in a state of bliss…but the ones near her quieted, watching as she stood and the man stood in front of her only a foot away.

They stared. Nobody knew what was going on or who he was…but they were sure she recognized him.

Slowly she brought her hand towards him as he bowed. He lowered to one knee, his left holding her hand as he slowly kissed a particular ring on her finger…a ring of red, the ring of legends…A ring given to her by the deceased King, known as The Red Death.

The legend all knew. Many were young men and women at that time, or children. The plague was in their memory. And from them, when the new day dawned, their fathers built the land back to beauty, better than the world they had once lived. A world of freedom and liberty and joy. And from those children was this new generation, and the third was the children in the streets happy and growing.

Other nations came, moved here, and helped the nation back to its feet. The countries were broken from the land's empire hold, and in return Labarverion was a nation of intellect and science.

And the old man placed in her hands the beautiful red rose from his pocket into her hands.

As the rose she sniffed the eternal fragrance, and smiled with her ruby lips, the laughing wrinkles widened. The man smiled back, and turned before handing her a small scroll tied with a red ribbon.

The crowd parted, buzzing with gossip as he walked, happily in the breeze to the university to teach the next generation to become great.

The Queen whispered into the wind as she watched the man walk away.

"I love you still…"

She opened the scroll, reading the beautiful red ink words:

I know. I am forever yours.

RD.

The man shed a tear as he began to live the dream he always wanted.

The woman looked at the horizon, to the refurbished glittering castle that was her home…where she spent the most trying and life-changing night of her life many, many years ago with a certain man…

A man that was finally a man.

A man that made her become the person that she was.

A man that became the person that he was…because of her.

The woman looked at her son, with long red hair, the Prince, going to her side.

Her son. A grown man. A man of bravery and honesty. A son who was interested in science and chemistry.

Just like his father was, when he was King.

The rose smiled truly at last.

Look at the garden…look how she loves the man in red…the angels around scattering roses over their heads…look how they love each other…look at them…forever gazing…in understanding…

The End

A/N: This is the last chapter.

And I feel so…so…sad, so sad it's over…

Thank you to my wonderful reviewers ForeverACharmedOne, Sakura2811, and Some Random. My only three so far. Also thank you to any other readers who have not reviewed at all but are mysteriously reading. I thank you all. I also thank you if you are a new reader and have started reviewing.

I also thank my readers on DeviantART, where this story is also posted. Thank you all.

I hope that someday, that this story would make a beautiful anime movie, or an independent animated movie, or a manga, or a graphic novel…which ever it is, I know that I want to be part of it and help make it beautiful. Of course though, if it is getting turned into media or something to sell, I'll have to take it off the internet.

This story I know is far from perfect. But the idea I believe in and find beautiful. I have always wanted to write something like this. It's what I enjoy doing. And I hope you have enjoyed it too.

If you want to read more stories from me, please check me out here and on DeviantART for other writing like this that isn't fanfics.

Yours in typing,

Shoys.