WARNING: HUGE SPOILERS IN THIS STORY. (it IS post-series)

Do I need a disclaimer?

Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles or any of its characters, no matter how much I adore them. Especially Fai. Unfortunately. -sob-


They crashed onto the floor of a cave.

"Next time you do that, cream puff, I'll throw you down the next cliff I see," mumbled Kurogane as he stood up, his head hitting the ceiling before he could stand up straight. Mokona protested in her high pitched voice.

"You alright, Syaoran?" Fai asked, brushing the dust off his coat.

"Yeah, but I can't see anything outside." Syaoran squinted at the opening of the cave. Fai walked to the opening, and looked downward.

"Oh, lookey here. We're on a mountain." The three gathered at the opening of the cave, gazing down at the steep slope below them: thick blankets of snow with protruding sharp rocks, covered by a thin layer of mist. Fai looked over at Syaoran, who was wearing only a thin shirt. "You might want to slip on your cloak, Syaoran, I think this place will be a bit chilly."

"Yeah…" Syaoran replied while looking around for a path they could take.

Kurogane suddenly shifted, his eyes darting back and forth. "Someone's coming. Be on guard."

Echoes of footsteps were heard from across the mountains, and the source of them seemed to be approaching along the path that led up to the cave. A few moments later, a couple of young men dressed in thick blue cloaks came around the bend of the mountain and up the slope to the cave, with a small procession behind them. One of them panicked.

"Princess! Princess! There's a group of strange people near the sacred cave!"

A strained conversation passed, and a woman a little older than Syaoran, in a decorated red and gold dress, walked up to the group of travelers.

"So you came. You must be Sakura's friends!" She chirped.

The travelers blinked at the woman. An awkward silence passed between the two companies.

"So we are. Who might have told you about us?" Fai asked pleasantly.

"Sakura, of course," The woman replied with a smile, "I do believe I have some information you may be interested in. However, right now I am obligated to perform a special rite. If you wouldn't mind, I'll have one of my guards escort you to my palace, where you can wait in comfort until I finish. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours."

"Thank you," Syaoran replied, nodding. The originally panicked guard led them down the mountain.

The path downward was dangerously steep, as well as hidden by fog, and in some places the travelers had to press their backs against the rock face to continue on the path (with Mokona hanging onto Kurogane's hair for dear life). There were some places that had to be jumped over, but there were also a couple of rickety old, hanging bridges. As the path straightened out, a town came into sight. It was a busy town with streets crisscrossing along the valley, and a palace situated on the slope of the mountain they were descending. As they walked into the streets, villagers jostled around, shouting welcomes at the strangers and chattering. A child ran up to them and chirped, in a manner similar to the princess,

"Hi! You're not from around here are you? Did you come to visit Princess Jiang? Are you here to fr—" The boy was cut off by the guard, gently pushing him to the side.

"Enough questions for now. You should know when to be quiet. These are the Princess' guests, not yours." The boy simply smiled and ran off into one of the buildings on the street.

"The people here are really nice!" Mokona commented to the guard. The guard simply gave a bleak smile and returned to focus on his duty. At this, Mokona landed on Fai's shoulder and stayed abnormally quiet until they reached the castle gates. The gates swung open and they continued into the courtyard.

"Please wait here while we prepare a room for your meeting with the Princess." The guard gestured to the benches situated inside the gardens. He quickly left.

The four companions took their spots under a sakura tree that was blossoming in full force, surrounded by falling petals, as well as flora of all kinds. A brook streamed through, and the garden was complete with small bridges and stepping stones, as well as paths and decorative rocks and other plants. The garden seemed more like a paradise than simply a royal orchard.

"Is it just me or do these people seem strange to you?" Kurogane asked, once he was sure no one else was around.

"It IS weird," Mokona whimpered, "Mokona can't sense any emotions from anyone, not even the little boy that wanted to say hi."

"It's not just that," Syaoran added, closing his eyes, "the plants here don't seem to contain a life force either."

"Perhaps we're in another 'virtual reality,'" Fai speculated, leaning back on the tree, "And here I was beginning to think that perhaps we landed in a nice, peaceful world."

Syaoran smiled. "I thought we were in feudal China for a moment. The colours of the princess' clothes and the style of clothing that the people wear seem to indicate that. The princess' name is also Chinese."

"That's right," Fai smiled at Syaoran, "You came from Hong Kong right?"

"Yeah… but that was certainly a real world. This place hardly gives off any aura at all. Almost like a dream world, but I know it isn't the dream world. It's definitely not empty enough. Everything here is still solid for some reason."

"And what's up with that princess, anyway? How did she know our princess?" Kurogane mused, "She said she met Princess Sakura, and knew what we are looking for. She might even have a part of the answer."

"Perhaps she's just another dreamseer?" Syaoran asked, weighing his head on his hands, thinking.

"Well, perhaps we can get a few answers from them," Fai said, standing up and gesturing to the guard that was returning with a maidservant.

"Welcome, guests," the maid bowed to them, "I'm sure you must be tired from your travels. Thank you for waiting patiently. Your tea room is waiting."


I hope that was done to your satisfaction! It's my first fanfiction, but don't be afraid to criticize, as long as you don't use a chainsaw.

Stay tuned for the next installment!