The Fable: The Two Apple Kin who Redeemed the Holy Land (Abridged)
Once upon a time, long ages ago, a pair of kin traversed from the distant West, proclaiming unto all that they were begotten from a lush tree of vibrant, mouth-watering red apples. One fateful day, the duo planted a mystic apple seed behind the Golden Citadel. Before long, the seed burgeoned into a noble tree, bearing fruits of crimson skin and exquisite sweetness.
Yet, three among the apples manifested colors unlike the rest, defying all natural decay. Sensing a divine stroke of fortune, the kin brought the three everlasting apples forth to be sold.
Years slipped by, and upon reaching young manhood, the two kin trained themselves into formidable warriors, seeking an audience with the Sovereign of the Golden Citadel. In time, the younger brother found himself enamored with the royal princess of the realm, leaving the elder brother to walk his path in solitude.
Yet, little did they know that a dire calamity was creeping in the dark. A band of brigands stormed the land, seizing the three mystical apples to present them as tribute to the tyrant commander of the Cloud Citadel. Worse still, the realm was laid to ruin by the arcane power of the stolen apples, and the Princess was dragged away to serve as a concubine unto the Commander.
Faced with such ignominy, how could the younger brother acquiesce? He charged forth, carving his way through cloud-monsters to confront the Tyrant Commander in single combat. Yet, having rushed in alone, the younger brother suffered a bitter defeat, stripped of the mighty valor possessed by his elder sibling.
Meanwhile, the elder brother, sensing the peril that had befallen his kin, embarked upon a perilous quest alongside his companions to rescue his blood brother. He engaged the Commander in a fierce clash, armed with naught but a solitary wooden shield. Yet, even so, he knew in his heart that he could not withstand the commander's overwhelming might for long.
Seeing his elder brother upon the brink of self-sacrifice, the younger brother made a resolute vow. The pair merged their mortal flesh into one, returning to the ancient roots of the legendary warrior of old:
The Sovereign Warlord of the Golden Apple Tree.
Armed with weapons forged from golden roots, he shattered the power of the three apples and subdued the Cloud Commander beneath the cold tip of his blade. Using the magic of the three mystic apples, the Sovereign Warlord restored the Golden Kingdom to its former glory.
When the war drew to its close, he ascended the throne to rule alongside the Princess—now the new Queen of the realm. Together, they restored tranquility to the lives of the golden populace, from the dawning day of their reign unto the very last breath of their lives.