Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura
Chapter 1
"She grows tired," mumbled a large mountain lion standing at the back of a circular stone room. There were no windows and the only light was coming from a girl standing in the middle of the room.
A man with long white hair and matching angel wings nodded at the comment. "She has nothing left to do except strengthen her powers. The cards are hers. She is our mistress now, but her powers are still under developed."
The girl in the middle, age fifteen, had a faint pink aura around her as she drew power from within herself. A bright golden barrier formed around her, providing the only light in the room. A long pink staff is held out in front of her, matching the flowing pink robes she wore. The light flickered slightly, then faded away causing the girl to fall to her knees.
"Sakura!" The two guardian rushed forward, but she held up a hand to them and weakly waved them off.
"I'm fine," she whispered. Her eyes are closed as she fought to regain her strength. She slowly raised herself to her feet, the staff disappearing into a small star key. Torches flared up around the room and she was revealed to have honey brown hair that barely reached past her ear lobes. Her eyes flitted open and closed a few times as she tried to regain her eyesight. "I'm fine," she said again with more force, throwing the hoarseness from her voice. She finally opened her eyes, the emerald green flaring slightly with the torch light. She smiled weakly at her guardians, who still seemed concerned. "Really, Yue and Kerberous, I'm fine."
Yue's white appearance was blinding in the dim room with the fire light dancing off his frame. His wings made him seem ethereal, but his ice blue eyes seemed to cut into the soul. His long white hair cascaded down his back blending into his white and blue clothes. His arms were folded and his face showed little to no expression. "I think that is enough for today, mistress," came his monotone voice.
Kerberous, on the other hand, was a large mountain lion, his golden fur glowing in the light. His large white wings made him look mythical and surreal. His large brown eyes were full of concern for his mistress the red jewel on his forehead glittering slightly. "Agreed," came Kerberous's gruff sounding voice, which hid his normally jovial nature. "You push yourself too much, Sakura-sama."
The girl nodded a slight grin on her face. "I just need to try a little harder." Both guardians sighed. That was not the idea. "I think I'll go visit with Tomoyo-chan for a bit." She swept slowly out of the room, getting used to using her legs again, the guardians following looking at one another.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
She sang the words louder this time to let her light voice carry through the room. She smiled to herself when she finished. She finally got the notes right. She hopped up from her chair, her lavender dress swishing like the sound of crumpled tissue paper. Her long black hair is tied up in a French braid that falls gracefully over one shoulder. Her lavender eyes flinted around the room, smiling at all the purple she found there. There was so much purple that one would think they had entered a grape or plum skin. A soft knock at the door, pulled her out of her reverie and in her sweet, soft voice said, "Come in."
A head of honey brown peeked in, comically, with the owner's green eyes flashing. "Good morning, Tomoyo-chan."
Princess Tomoyo of the Daidouji clan smiled. "Sakura-chan. Just the person I was going to send for."
"Hoe?!" remarked Sakura, her eyes wide with concern and surprise. Every time Tomoyo wanted to see her problems arose. For instance, the time when she was still collecting the Clow Cards, magical cards that had claimed her as their mistress, Tomoyo made costumes and insisted on drawing the action. More than once Tomoyo ended up in danger, but she never seemed to mind. Danger was all the more fun in the princess's dull life. Sakura sometimes felt sorry for the princess because she was never allowed to do anything dangerous. Queen Sonomi was very protective of her daughter, placing guards and knights around her at all times. Though, no matter how many restrictions were made, Tomoyo's spirit never diminished.
Tomoyo walked across the room towards Sakura with a slight bounce in her step. Her eyes were glittering with... how would one describe the look she wore? Only to Sakura it meant certain doom. "As you know, I'm turning sixteen tomorrow and my mother is holding a week of celebration with several different balls and activities. Tomorrow and the last night will be the two largest balls. I know how much you detest being at these functions, but it would really mean the world to me if you would be there for me, Sakura-chan."
Sakura had already been invited by the Queen, for her father and her had done the magical decorations for each night. She had practiced for at least a month in order to fully control the spells for the different activities so that she wouldn't have to think about the spells. So what was Tomoyo getting at? She was going to be at the ball tomorrow night anyway because she needed to be close to keep her spells strong. Sakura also knew that the princess really didn't need support either. Tomoyo was her best at court functions, so why did she need her? The answer came swiftly and Sakura felt her heart sink just as fast.
Tomoyo positively beamed. "So if you are to be near me I want you to wear the dresses I made." Stars twinkled in her lavender eyes.
Sakura face-faulted. "But Tomoyo-chan, I alre-"
Tomoyo cut her off. "No I insist you wear it! You will look so kawaii in them!" She had faded into her own dream world, now. "I can see it now. Clow Mistress Sakura gliding down the stairs, while the men in the room faint from her beauty and the women go green with jealousy. Your brother, Touya, will have to fend off all the new suitors with a stick. And then I'll be able to make Sakura-chan's courting dresses and her wedding dress and..."
Sakura was sweating profusely. She really didn't want to wear such clothes which out ranked her status, whatever status that was. However, she could never refuse the princess, who took great joy in making outfits for Sakura to wear, including the pink robes she wore now. Sakura could never tell her best friend that she hated dresses and hated dressing up entirely. It would break her heart and that was one thing Sakura could never do.
"Anyway," continued Tomoyo, escaping her daydream, "Tomorrow you will come around noon then and we will get ready together." She clasped her hands to Sakura's.
So much for hiding in the shadows. Tomoyo will want to show her off, which meant a lot of unwanted attention, especially from a certain baron who made her flesh crawl with the thought. She groaned inwardly as Tomoyo shuffled Sakura around telling her all about what she was going to do and how she was going to do it. "This will be a long day," thought Sakura.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
"Xiao Lang!" called four girls in the entrance foyer. Fie Mie, Fuutie, Xie Fa, and Fan Ran we shuffling around looking for their errant little brother. It never ceased to amaze them that Xiao Lang, heir to the Li clan and Maho Kingdom, could disappear at the most inconvenient times. They still had a half day journey to the Shounin Kingdom to celebrate the princess's birthday. The Li family had been formally invited to attend, along with several other countries, nobles, and clergy, and thus they had to attend in order to not give offense to one of their allies.
The main reason they were attending, however, was due to Queen Yelan and her hope of pinning down her son to choose a wife. It was widely famed that Princess Tomoyo was a rare beauty with a caring nature and strong regal grace. A perfect soon-to-be queen. Xiao Lang, however, had seemed to catch wind of what was being planned behind his back. Thus, he was continuously disappearing, delaying their arrival by, already, one day.
Queen Yelan descended down the stairs of the manor house, her blue silk skirts hugging her lithe figure. A sparkling gold clasp held her long black hair, which descends down the length of her back. Her black brown eyes surveyed the entrance with critical analysis, but her face remained emotion free. In reality, Yelan wanted to strangle her son. He was so much like his father, except that he thoroughly detested authority. Curious, for a would-be-king.
At the bottom of the stairs, the four brown haired princesses bowed slightly to their mother, before they huddled together to talk. Yelan had a hard time with determining how her daughters turned out to be so unlike her. They had their father's love of life and lived to tell everyone about it. Xiao Lang, on the other hand, was quiet, like herself, but had a sharp temper and even sharper tongue when provoked. What was she going to do with the lot of them? So many hopeless cases for one woman to handle.
She sighed inwardly. "Xiao Lang," she spoke, her voice no louder than a gentle whisper. A warm red aura shimmered slightly, carrying her words across the grounds searching for an errant son.
***
A boy of sixteen fell out of a tree in the court yard of the manor house, when the words of Yelan reached him. His chestnut brown hair was mussed and his reddish brown eyes reflected anger and annoyance. Another boy leaned against the trunk of the tree, his navy blue hair and matching eyes glinting mischievously. "Time to go, my cute descendent," remarked the blue hair boy, as he pushed himself from the tree trunk.
Syaoran grumbled as he picked himself off the ground. He hated when his mother called him like that. "Don't call me that, Eriol," he snapped. "I really don't care if you have half the reincarnated soul of one of my ancestors." He brushed the dirt off his brown pants and green shirt.
Eriol's mouth carved in a smile as he led the way back into the manor. He enjoyed teasing and annoying Syaoran, especially when he was in a sour mood. The only time he ever left the prince alone was when Syaoran was in a particularly bad mood. His temper was not one to mess with and Eriol was very wise to avoid him at such times. Nonetheless, Eriol was in light spirits as he and the young prince greeted the Queen and the princesses. He couldn't wait to see what Yelan had in mind for her son this time.
Syaoran, on the other hand, was in a foul mood. He felt like his life was going to be taken out of his hands, and a cloud of certain doom loomed on the horizon. He had no interest in this trip, let alone any of the simpering ladies that he would have to endure, but his mother was growing impatient. "I'm only sixteen," repeated over and over in his mind as he was lead towards the carriages.
He was determined to ignore the fact that he needed to get married soon, for most nobles married young, especially women. He somewhat pitied the girls because after seventeen they were considered life-long spinsters. Luckily for him, he could wait until he was twenty to marry, but his mother probably wouldn't let him. Sadly, his sisters were already being marked down as spinsters for none of them had even married. At ages twenty, twenty-one, twenty-four, and twenty six, respectively, his sisters still were eligible maidans. Syaoran knew that his mother wouldn't stand for the delay much longer, and he didn't want her to have to wait on him that long. He sighed, leaning up against the back of the carriage as it started to move. He just hoped he would get the chance to choose when the time came.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
"Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura stood before a full length mirror as four servants scuttled around her, helping to dress the young sorceress.
The princess looked on and directed here and there. "Yes, Sakura-chan?"
"How many layers will I be wearing?" She had already been standing on the stool for an hour for fitting and placement of the petticoats. The corset she wore, was already suffocating her, it's strings pulled so tight that Sakura felt like an elephant squeezed to a toothpick.
"Just two more. The surcoat and the over dress," Tomoyo stated. Stars were in her eyes and wore a matching petticoat and corset to those of Sakura's, but had gold trim here and there. "Ah, Sakura-chan! You will look so pretty! You will have to let me draw you when we are done, that is if we have time."
"Hoe?" Small sweat beads appeared on Sakura's forehead. Sometimes the princess was really scary.
The four maids exited the main chamber into the adjoining one to gather the surcoats and over dresses for the two women. Sakura stepped down off the pedestal and gratefully sat before a large vanity, with Tomoyo beside her. Two other maids stood there and began to brush their hair. Tomoyo's long black hair was pulled up into princess braids, held by a gold clasp shaped like a rose. A small golden and diamond studded tiara was placed on the crown of her head to finish off the hair. Slight blush and light colors were added to her creamy skin toned face and diamond earrings were fixed on her ears.
Sakura's short honey brown hair was left down. She picked up her gold star necklace, a symbol of first class wizarding powers and ability, and started to pull it over her head.
Tomoyo gasped. "Sakura-chan?! No!"
"Eh?" Sakura paused in the motion. "I'm suppose to wear this at all times, Tomoyo-chan."
"I know," she said. "But I have a better way for you to wear it."
The servant doing Sakura's hair picked up the necklace from Sakura and carefully removed the the star. Picking up a smaller rope of gold and emeralds, she slid the charm onto it before carefully centering the star in the center of Sakura's forehead. A few pins later and a little make-up here and there and she was done. Looking into the mirror, Sakura smiled brightly. She looked older than her Tom boyish self and the star upon her forehead would draw people in to focus on her most beautiful feature, her green eyes.
Tomoyo gracefully rose from her seat and was helped onto the stool. The other four maids returned with four garments and laid them on the bed. Coming forward they pulled a dark purple surcoat with gold trim on the awaiting princess. The servants, smoothed, placed, and tied the surcoat into place before they placed on the top coat. The heavy navy blue velvet material hugged swiftly to her form, the rich colors pulling out the color of her eyes. Intricate gold patterns lined the rims of her long sleeves, low cut collar, waist, and bottom hem of the dress.
Sakura smiled as she took in the sight of her best friend. It never ceased to amaze her how dazzling and beautiful Tomoyo was. She was definitely a true image of the rumors that famed her the beauty of the land. She could have anyone she wanted as a suitor, which made Sakura slightly sad. Sakura would lose her best friend, one day to love, and she would be left alone.
Tomoyo stepped down from the stool and Sakura made her way on. A pale pink surcoat with embroidered white cherry blossoms was pulled on and tied. "Wow, Tomoyo-chan. You never cease to amaze me," Sakura said, looking at the needlepoint. Tomoyo blushed as the next layer was placed on, a lovely darker shade of pink made of satin. Silk flower buds of pink and white wrapped around the empire waist. Her shoulders were slightly more revealed than Tomoyo's, but her sleeves were much longer. The skirt split slightly at the bottom to reveal shimmery glimpses of the surcoat beneath.
"So what do you think?" prompted Tomoyo.
"I think you should open your own clothing market."
Tomoyo's blushed deepened. Her best friend's opinion meant the world to her and she was very excited to have her wear the dresses she made. "I can't wait to show you off, Sakura-chan."
Sakura sighed, the effect of looking pretty gone. "Umm... Tomoyo-chan... I don't think I can pull this off. I don't know how to do a lot of the stuff nobles due at court."
Tomoyo smiled. "You will be wonderful and just fine, Sakura-chan. You can do anything even pulling off being a princess for an evening. Besides, you promised to go and what better way than in style."
Sakura stepped off the stool. Her friend certainly had a lot more confidence in her than she did. A soft knock at the door pulled the girls out of their conversation. One of the maids opened the door to reveal another servant girl. A few words were exchanged in hushed and hurried tones before the maid closed the door. "It is time, your highness."
Tomoyo smiled and waved the maids away. She grabbed ahold of Sakura's trembling arm and pulled her towards the door. "The hardest part is leaving the room."
Sakura whimpered slightly, but was pulled out of the room and into the hall. Together they made their way to the ballroom, their presence announced only by the soft sound of a cascading waterfall. "Here we go," they said together when they reached the entrance to the ball. They both took a cleansing breath before taking a step into the light of the ball room, their hands clasped tightly together.
Chapter 1
"She grows tired," mumbled a large mountain lion standing at the back of a circular stone room. There were no windows and the only light was coming from a girl standing in the middle of the room.
A man with long white hair and matching angel wings nodded at the comment. "She has nothing left to do except strengthen her powers. The cards are hers. She is our mistress now, but her powers are still under developed."
The girl in the middle, age fifteen, had a faint pink aura around her as she drew power from within herself. A bright golden barrier formed around her, providing the only light in the room. A long pink staff is held out in front of her, matching the flowing pink robes she wore. The light flickered slightly, then faded away causing the girl to fall to her knees.
"Sakura!" The two guardian rushed forward, but she held up a hand to them and weakly waved them off.
"I'm fine," she whispered. Her eyes are closed as she fought to regain her strength. She slowly raised herself to her feet, the staff disappearing into a small star key. Torches flared up around the room and she was revealed to have honey brown hair that barely reached past her ear lobes. Her eyes flitted open and closed a few times as she tried to regain her eyesight. "I'm fine," she said again with more force, throwing the hoarseness from her voice. She finally opened her eyes, the emerald green flaring slightly with the torch light. She smiled weakly at her guardians, who still seemed concerned. "Really, Yue and Kerberous, I'm fine."
Yue's white appearance was blinding in the dim room with the fire light dancing off his frame. His wings made him seem ethereal, but his ice blue eyes seemed to cut into the soul. His long white hair cascaded down his back blending into his white and blue clothes. His arms were folded and his face showed little to no expression. "I think that is enough for today, mistress," came his monotone voice.
Kerberous, on the other hand, was a large mountain lion, his golden fur glowing in the light. His large white wings made him look mythical and surreal. His large brown eyes were full of concern for his mistress the red jewel on his forehead glittering slightly. "Agreed," came Kerberous's gruff sounding voice, which hid his normally jovial nature. "You push yourself too much, Sakura-sama."
The girl nodded a slight grin on her face. "I just need to try a little harder." Both guardians sighed. That was not the idea. "I think I'll go visit with Tomoyo-chan for a bit." She swept slowly out of the room, getting used to using her legs again, the guardians following looking at one another.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
She sang the words louder this time to let her light voice carry through the room. She smiled to herself when she finished. She finally got the notes right. She hopped up from her chair, her lavender dress swishing like the sound of crumpled tissue paper. Her long black hair is tied up in a French braid that falls gracefully over one shoulder. Her lavender eyes flinted around the room, smiling at all the purple she found there. There was so much purple that one would think they had entered a grape or plum skin. A soft knock at the door, pulled her out of her reverie and in her sweet, soft voice said, "Come in."
A head of honey brown peeked in, comically, with the owner's green eyes flashing. "Good morning, Tomoyo-chan."
Princess Tomoyo of the Daidouji clan smiled. "Sakura-chan. Just the person I was going to send for."
"Hoe?!" remarked Sakura, her eyes wide with concern and surprise. Every time Tomoyo wanted to see her problems arose. For instance, the time when she was still collecting the Clow Cards, magical cards that had claimed her as their mistress, Tomoyo made costumes and insisted on drawing the action. More than once Tomoyo ended up in danger, but she never seemed to mind. Danger was all the more fun in the princess's dull life. Sakura sometimes felt sorry for the princess because she was never allowed to do anything dangerous. Queen Sonomi was very protective of her daughter, placing guards and knights around her at all times. Though, no matter how many restrictions were made, Tomoyo's spirit never diminished.
Tomoyo walked across the room towards Sakura with a slight bounce in her step. Her eyes were glittering with... how would one describe the look she wore? Only to Sakura it meant certain doom. "As you know, I'm turning sixteen tomorrow and my mother is holding a week of celebration with several different balls and activities. Tomorrow and the last night will be the two largest balls. I know how much you detest being at these functions, but it would really mean the world to me if you would be there for me, Sakura-chan."
Sakura had already been invited by the Queen, for her father and her had done the magical decorations for each night. She had practiced for at least a month in order to fully control the spells for the different activities so that she wouldn't have to think about the spells. So what was Tomoyo getting at? She was going to be at the ball tomorrow night anyway because she needed to be close to keep her spells strong. Sakura also knew that the princess really didn't need support either. Tomoyo was her best at court functions, so why did she need her? The answer came swiftly and Sakura felt her heart sink just as fast.
Tomoyo positively beamed. "So if you are to be near me I want you to wear the dresses I made." Stars twinkled in her lavender eyes.
Sakura face-faulted. "But Tomoyo-chan, I alre-"
Tomoyo cut her off. "No I insist you wear it! You will look so kawaii in them!" She had faded into her own dream world, now. "I can see it now. Clow Mistress Sakura gliding down the stairs, while the men in the room faint from her beauty and the women go green with jealousy. Your brother, Touya, will have to fend off all the new suitors with a stick. And then I'll be able to make Sakura-chan's courting dresses and her wedding dress and..."
Sakura was sweating profusely. She really didn't want to wear such clothes which out ranked her status, whatever status that was. However, she could never refuse the princess, who took great joy in making outfits for Sakura to wear, including the pink robes she wore now. Sakura could never tell her best friend that she hated dresses and hated dressing up entirely. It would break her heart and that was one thing Sakura could never do.
"Anyway," continued Tomoyo, escaping her daydream, "Tomorrow you will come around noon then and we will get ready together." She clasped her hands to Sakura's.
So much for hiding in the shadows. Tomoyo will want to show her off, which meant a lot of unwanted attention, especially from a certain baron who made her flesh crawl with the thought. She groaned inwardly as Tomoyo shuffled Sakura around telling her all about what she was going to do and how she was going to do it. "This will be a long day," thought Sakura.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
"Xiao Lang!" called four girls in the entrance foyer. Fie Mie, Fuutie, Xie Fa, and Fan Ran we shuffling around looking for their errant little brother. It never ceased to amaze them that Xiao Lang, heir to the Li clan and Maho Kingdom, could disappear at the most inconvenient times. They still had a half day journey to the Shounin Kingdom to celebrate the princess's birthday. The Li family had been formally invited to attend, along with several other countries, nobles, and clergy, and thus they had to attend in order to not give offense to one of their allies.
The main reason they were attending, however, was due to Queen Yelan and her hope of pinning down her son to choose a wife. It was widely famed that Princess Tomoyo was a rare beauty with a caring nature and strong regal grace. A perfect soon-to-be queen. Xiao Lang, however, had seemed to catch wind of what was being planned behind his back. Thus, he was continuously disappearing, delaying their arrival by, already, one day.
Queen Yelan descended down the stairs of the manor house, her blue silk skirts hugging her lithe figure. A sparkling gold clasp held her long black hair, which descends down the length of her back. Her black brown eyes surveyed the entrance with critical analysis, but her face remained emotion free. In reality, Yelan wanted to strangle her son. He was so much like his father, except that he thoroughly detested authority. Curious, for a would-be-king.
At the bottom of the stairs, the four brown haired princesses bowed slightly to their mother, before they huddled together to talk. Yelan had a hard time with determining how her daughters turned out to be so unlike her. They had their father's love of life and lived to tell everyone about it. Xiao Lang, on the other hand, was quiet, like herself, but had a sharp temper and even sharper tongue when provoked. What was she going to do with the lot of them? So many hopeless cases for one woman to handle.
She sighed inwardly. "Xiao Lang," she spoke, her voice no louder than a gentle whisper. A warm red aura shimmered slightly, carrying her words across the grounds searching for an errant son.
***
A boy of sixteen fell out of a tree in the court yard of the manor house, when the words of Yelan reached him. His chestnut brown hair was mussed and his reddish brown eyes reflected anger and annoyance. Another boy leaned against the trunk of the tree, his navy blue hair and matching eyes glinting mischievously. "Time to go, my cute descendent," remarked the blue hair boy, as he pushed himself from the tree trunk.
Syaoran grumbled as he picked himself off the ground. He hated when his mother called him like that. "Don't call me that, Eriol," he snapped. "I really don't care if you have half the reincarnated soul of one of my ancestors." He brushed the dirt off his brown pants and green shirt.
Eriol's mouth carved in a smile as he led the way back into the manor. He enjoyed teasing and annoying Syaoran, especially when he was in a sour mood. The only time he ever left the prince alone was when Syaoran was in a particularly bad mood. His temper was not one to mess with and Eriol was very wise to avoid him at such times. Nonetheless, Eriol was in light spirits as he and the young prince greeted the Queen and the princesses. He couldn't wait to see what Yelan had in mind for her son this time.
Syaoran, on the other hand, was in a foul mood. He felt like his life was going to be taken out of his hands, and a cloud of certain doom loomed on the horizon. He had no interest in this trip, let alone any of the simpering ladies that he would have to endure, but his mother was growing impatient. "I'm only sixteen," repeated over and over in his mind as he was lead towards the carriages.
He was determined to ignore the fact that he needed to get married soon, for most nobles married young, especially women. He somewhat pitied the girls because after seventeen they were considered life-long spinsters. Luckily for him, he could wait until he was twenty to marry, but his mother probably wouldn't let him. Sadly, his sisters were already being marked down as spinsters for none of them had even married. At ages twenty, twenty-one, twenty-four, and twenty six, respectively, his sisters still were eligible maidans. Syaoran knew that his mother wouldn't stand for the delay much longer, and he didn't want her to have to wait on him that long. He sighed, leaning up against the back of the carriage as it started to move. He just hoped he would get the chance to choose when the time came.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
"Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura stood before a full length mirror as four servants scuttled around her, helping to dress the young sorceress.
The princess looked on and directed here and there. "Yes, Sakura-chan?"
"How many layers will I be wearing?" She had already been standing on the stool for an hour for fitting and placement of the petticoats. The corset she wore, was already suffocating her, it's strings pulled so tight that Sakura felt like an elephant squeezed to a toothpick.
"Just two more. The surcoat and the over dress," Tomoyo stated. Stars were in her eyes and wore a matching petticoat and corset to those of Sakura's, but had gold trim here and there. "Ah, Sakura-chan! You will look so pretty! You will have to let me draw you when we are done, that is if we have time."
"Hoe?" Small sweat beads appeared on Sakura's forehead. Sometimes the princess was really scary.
The four maids exited the main chamber into the adjoining one to gather the surcoats and over dresses for the two women. Sakura stepped down off the pedestal and gratefully sat before a large vanity, with Tomoyo beside her. Two other maids stood there and began to brush their hair. Tomoyo's long black hair was pulled up into princess braids, held by a gold clasp shaped like a rose. A small golden and diamond studded tiara was placed on the crown of her head to finish off the hair. Slight blush and light colors were added to her creamy skin toned face and diamond earrings were fixed on her ears.
Sakura's short honey brown hair was left down. She picked up her gold star necklace, a symbol of first class wizarding powers and ability, and started to pull it over her head.
Tomoyo gasped. "Sakura-chan?! No!"
"Eh?" Sakura paused in the motion. "I'm suppose to wear this at all times, Tomoyo-chan."
"I know," she said. "But I have a better way for you to wear it."
The servant doing Sakura's hair picked up the necklace from Sakura and carefully removed the the star. Picking up a smaller rope of gold and emeralds, she slid the charm onto it before carefully centering the star in the center of Sakura's forehead. A few pins later and a little make-up here and there and she was done. Looking into the mirror, Sakura smiled brightly. She looked older than her Tom boyish self and the star upon her forehead would draw people in to focus on her most beautiful feature, her green eyes.
Tomoyo gracefully rose from her seat and was helped onto the stool. The other four maids returned with four garments and laid them on the bed. Coming forward they pulled a dark purple surcoat with gold trim on the awaiting princess. The servants, smoothed, placed, and tied the surcoat into place before they placed on the top coat. The heavy navy blue velvet material hugged swiftly to her form, the rich colors pulling out the color of her eyes. Intricate gold patterns lined the rims of her long sleeves, low cut collar, waist, and bottom hem of the dress.
Sakura smiled as she took in the sight of her best friend. It never ceased to amaze her how dazzling and beautiful Tomoyo was. She was definitely a true image of the rumors that famed her the beauty of the land. She could have anyone she wanted as a suitor, which made Sakura slightly sad. Sakura would lose her best friend, one day to love, and she would be left alone.
Tomoyo stepped down from the stool and Sakura made her way on. A pale pink surcoat with embroidered white cherry blossoms was pulled on and tied. "Wow, Tomoyo-chan. You never cease to amaze me," Sakura said, looking at the needlepoint. Tomoyo blushed as the next layer was placed on, a lovely darker shade of pink made of satin. Silk flower buds of pink and white wrapped around the empire waist. Her shoulders were slightly more revealed than Tomoyo's, but her sleeves were much longer. The skirt split slightly at the bottom to reveal shimmery glimpses of the surcoat beneath.
"So what do you think?" prompted Tomoyo.
"I think you should open your own clothing market."
Tomoyo's blushed deepened. Her best friend's opinion meant the world to her and she was very excited to have her wear the dresses she made. "I can't wait to show you off, Sakura-chan."
Sakura sighed, the effect of looking pretty gone. "Umm... Tomoyo-chan... I don't think I can pull this off. I don't know how to do a lot of the stuff nobles due at court."
Tomoyo smiled. "You will be wonderful and just fine, Sakura-chan. You can do anything even pulling off being a princess for an evening. Besides, you promised to go and what better way than in style."
Sakura stepped off the stool. Her friend certainly had a lot more confidence in her than she did. A soft knock at the door pulled the girls out of their conversation. One of the maids opened the door to reveal another servant girl. A few words were exchanged in hushed and hurried tones before the maid closed the door. "It is time, your highness."
Tomoyo smiled and waved the maids away. She grabbed ahold of Sakura's trembling arm and pulled her towards the door. "The hardest part is leaving the room."
Sakura whimpered slightly, but was pulled out of the room and into the hall. Together they made their way to the ballroom, their presence announced only by the soft sound of a cascading waterfall. "Here we go," they said together when they reached the entrance to the ball. They both took a cleansing breath before taking a step into the light of the ball room, their hands clasped tightly together.