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The apple was beautiful.
It had shiny golden leaves, deep brown stems, and red luscious skin... All he had to do was reach out and take a bite-
Next thing the poor raccoon knew was he was lying on the cold stone ground next to Varian's bed with the young man scampering around trying to get dressed.
Ruddiger let out a large yawn and climbed up on his desk, watching his young master mumble something about being "late" and how Eugene was going to "kill him."
In all honesty, the raccoon didn't really care so long as Varian remembered to help the rumbling in his tummy, preferably with an apple.
He could still remember the apple in his dreams, its sweet taste and melodic laughter. He dreamt of it nightly, the little apple. His little apple.
He watched as Varian mumbled to himself, brushing his hair back, and started to put on padding under his clothes.
Ah, yes, the dreaded "Guard training" that Varian reluctantly agreed to. Eugene had been pressuring him to participate for weeks, and it seems all of the nagging wore Varian down because he finally said "yes." Poor kid.
Ruddiger paced back and forth on Varian's desk, waiting impatiently for his breakfast. His little paws made "tapping" sounds against the wood with each restless turn.
Finally, Varian turned his way. His tail swayed back and forth with excitement.
This was it! He was finally going to be fed!
Varian's arms reached out to him and…he picked up the goggles next to him on the desk.
Okay.
That was fine.
He was sure he would be fed next!
He watched with bated breath as Varian put on his goggles and gloves. Still not moving to feed him.
Ruddiger gave a sharp, irritated chirp, and finally Varian looked up at him.
"Oh! Sorry, buddy!" Varian chuckled sheepishly, "You must be hungry."
Ruddiger jumped off the desk and onto his arm, clinging to his sleeve, as he climbed up onto his shoulders.
Varian chuckled, scratching behind his ear, "Let's go find you something to eat."
Together, they walked out of his room to the empty kitchen. Quirin was already up and working in the fields, but he left some eggs out for Varian to eat.
The young man smiled at the note his dad left, but was interrupted when Ruddiger started to claw at his shoulder—a reminder of why they were there.
"I know, I know," Varian sighed, "You are always such a handful in the morning."
Ruddiger leaped off his shoulders onto the counter, waiting for his breakfast.
He could already taste the sweetness: the crisp pale skin, the juicy red lips, the wide sparkling brown eyes. Oh yes, she was a beauty.
He licked his lips as he watched Varian reach into the bag only to come out empty-handed.
Ruddiger let out a chirp of despair.
They were out of apples! Oh, what a cruel world it was that he was denied his beloved apple!
He was about to start to weep when Varian scooped him up again and put him on his shoulder, "We'll grab some from the trees on the way to the palace."
He grabbed the plate of eggs. "You want some?" He asked the raccoon holding up a fork of golden scrambled eggs.
Ruddiger turned his nose up as if the eggs offended him. He wanted an apple, and that's what he will have. Nothing else would relieve the ache in his stomach or soothe the longing in his heart.
Varian sighed before shoveling the eggs into his mouth with a swig of milk. He wiped his upper lip with his sleeve and smoothed his hair back once more.
The raccoon rolled his eyes and chipped impatiently.
"I know, I know, we're going, don't worry," Varian sighed, grabbing his satchel and cloak.
As soon as they were outside, Ruddiger leaped off Varian's shoulders and took off running, leaping onto the wooden fence.
There it was.
The tree where the sweet, beautiful, red apples grew. And there, amongst the green leaves, a perfect red apple.
He stared at it in awe, his mouth watering at the sight of it, pushing himself off the fence and running to that tree, knowing he would surely perish if he didn't eat that apple in that single moment.
He climbed up the trunk of the tree and onto the branch. His arm reached out to grab it with his tiny paws when it was suddenly snatched away from him!
He let out a frustrated chirp, seeing the blasted white horse, Maximus, looking at him smugly.
Betrayal!
This was worse than when Varian took the Golden Flower!
Worse than when Cassandra took the Moonstone!
Worse than Zhan Tiri betraying Demanitus!
His beloved Little Apple was taken from him! No! Never again! Not when he just got her back!
With a hiss, he pounced on the horse's head, his claws out, his eyes nearly red. He looked feral, but he was determined to get the apple back.
Max lifted a hoof, trying to pry the raccoon from his mane, but Ruddiger held firm. The horse swung his head back and forth sharply until, finally, Ruddiger went flying into the tree.
He blinked, a bit dazed from the impact, and let out a sad, pathetic chirp as Max ate the beloved red apple.
His ears lowered sadly, his tail hanging between his legs as he turned to go when Max let out a neigh to stop him.
Ruddiger turned his head, and to his shock, Max dropped another red apple to the ground.
He let out a gasp and scurried over to the apple. It was a little bruised and scratched, but it was just as beautiful as the apple of his dreams.
He let out a chirp, looking at Max to make sure it really was for him.
Max nodded his head and looked pointedly at the apple.
With a happy chirp, Ruddiger took a big bite of the fruit. At last, he had his beloved little apple.
Once his belly was full, he threw the core behind him and leaped up onto Max's back, curling up on the saddle to have a little nap.
Yes, life was good.
—-
Rud Tiri rubbed his eyes as he came to. Suddenly, he remembered that he was in the middle of the biggest battle of his life.
He groaned, his head falling back onto the ground. He missed the days when he was just a simple raccoon.
"Get up!" Cassandra shouted, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.
Before he could say 'thanks,' she was already running, her long dark hair flying in the wind, as she fought off more of those affected by the Mind Mender.
Rud rubbed his aching head and got in a fighting stance. Suddenly, his sword gleamed in the darkness around them as a bright glow reflected in the metal. He gasped as he looked up, seeing the glow fill the whole kingdom, replacing darkness with light.
The Stardust has awoken.