Hi! It's me, Emerald Pearls! I know I should be working on my story Diamond Souls, Crystal Hearts, but I'm still trying to sort the plot out aaaannddd… I watched Ever After again! I love that show! So I was thinking "Hey! Why not make a CCS version?" So, here it is!
Okay… the CCS characters will be waaaayyyy OOC because I'm using the personalities of the characters in Ever After.
Instead of taking place in France, it'll take place in China. I wonder who's the prince? (Hint, hint!) Pretend that the rest of the gang live in China too.
Eriol's going to take on the role of Leonardo da Vinci! Muahahaha! I mean he's supposed to be old…
Tomoyo's one of the stepsisters, Jacqueline… Okay… It's way OOC but I hope you don't mind!
Terada is Maurice… O.0 Very weird…
Naoko is Paulette and Rika is Louise… Oooh… Keeps getting weirder…
Yamazaki is Gustave, Danielle's best friend.
Meiling is Marguerite, the meaner step sister… Well, Meiling isn't actually that bad but… I need someone to play the part.
A made-up character called Yanagi is the eeee-vil step-mother.
And of course, I know you can guess the main characters: Syaoran as Prince Henry and Sakura as Danielle! I love S+S!
Some notes, Syaoran's hyper-active sisters will probably not be in the story… and Syaoran's father is alive. Plus, I know nothing of the Chinese culture so it's gonna be really twisted. Please help me out If you're Chinese!
Oh, and neither CCS nor Ever After belongs to me!
That's all for now! I'll add more notes as I go on! Hope you like the fic!
Just Breathe
By Emerald Pearls
Prologue: The Fate of a Child
The magnificent Li castle was still standing despite revolutions and wars. Even though old, it still had its beauty and splendor. The castle was located on a mountain and the scenery around it was breath taking. It was considered part of the mountain it sat on. The interior of the castle was majestic. It was well furnished and very luxurious. The two brothers looked around, admiring the castle's splendor as they ascended the grand staircase.
They were soon led into a parlor. The Grand Dame (Ookay… maybe there's no Grand Dame in China, but… let's go with the flow.) was perched on a throne, looking utterly dignified. As the two men sat themselves down rather awkwardly in front of her, she glanced up, nodding.
"You might ask why an old woman wishes to speak to the authors of children's stories." Her voice was firm and smooth, proof that she was of noble blood. "I was disturbed by your telling of the 'Little Cinder-Girl.'"
One of the brothers answered, claiming that the he believed their version of the story was the closest to the truth. As he spoke, the Grand Dame gestured to a footman who brought her a silver box. Not noticing her action, the other brother found himself drawn to a lovely portrait on an easel. It was of a young woman with auburn hair and eyes downcast, brimming with courage and love.
"The young woman in the portrait . . .she is quite extraordinary." The Grand Dame told him.
The man blinked as he saw the pride on the Grand Dame's face. Her eyes were sparkling.
"Her name was Kinomoto Sakura." She opened the box and tenderly lifted out a satin slipper. It was of a beautiful silver and was adorned with tiny jewels which sparkled delightfully in the light. The small, slender heel was clear, fragile glass and decorated with tiny gems too. The men gasped in wonder as their eyes beheld the precious slipper. The Grand Dame added with an unseen smile, "And this was her glass slipper."
The two men stared at her, speechless, their eyes were as wide as saucers and their jaws almost hit the ground. The Grand Dame continued in her dignified manner, "Perhaps I should begin they way you do: Once upon a time, there lived a little girl who loved her father very much . . ."
~*~
-A small chateau in Hong Kong, close to the Li castle-
-Year 1502-
Sakura was leaping with joy. Her wide smile plastered her rosy face and she was wild with excitement. Her maids were trying in vain to dress her up.
"It's just like Christmas! I get a mother and sisters all in one day!" she whooped gleefully.
Her maids, Naoko and Rika, smiled compliantly at the girl. They smoothed her usually messy auburn hair and checked the newly cleaned gown for any stains. Both of them had cared for Sakura since she was a mere baby and her mother, Amamiya Nadeshiko, had died. The girl adored the both of them, almost as much as she loved Kinomoto Fujitaka, her dear father.
Thud!
A stone hit the windowpane and the three looked up. The maids groaned, knowing who it was.
"Oh no!" Rika moaned as she watched Sakura bounding to the window.
"Not today, Yamazaki!" The little boy stationed outside stared at Sakura in surprise.
"You… You look like a GIRL!"
What's that supposed to mean?
Sakura frowned."That's because I am one, halfwit!"
Yamazaki smirked, "Aye, but today you look it!"
Sakura scowled and much to her maids' dismay, she ran out after him.
"Boy or girl, I can still whip you!" she hollered indignantly.
Her maids sighed as they heard footsteps drawing nearer and nearer to the chateau.
Kinomoto Fujitaka rode grandly on his horse. At his heels were two carriages, one housing a massive pile of trunks at the back. He swung down from his horse with great agility as his butler, Terada, greeted him.
"I see you have brought us a Baroness, sir."
"I have brought you an entire household . . .but I seem to be missing a daughter." All attention was focused on the intricate carriage as a petite girl with silky raven hair in odangoes donning a red dress stepped out grandly, followed by an angelic girl with long black hair cascading down her back. Finally, the Baroness Atashi Yanagi glided out. She was towering and was very beautiful. Her high cheekbones accentuated her face and the elaborate headdress she adorned hid her raven hair. Her slender eyebrows were arched delicately as her eyes studied the house a little disdainfully. When she spotted her husband, her ruby lips curled into a smile that seemed to chill her dark eyes even more.
"Oh, Fujitaka, it's charming, really." Her voice was powerful and tinted slightly with sarcasm, which Fujitaka did not notice. His eyes were searching for his dear daughter.
He beamed widely as a figure covered head-to-toe in sticky brown mud flung herself on him gleefully. He lifted her up and swung her around, laughing at her more than untidy appearance.
"Look at you! The same as you looked when I left! Now, I'll wager your friend Takashi is around here somewhere," he teased her lovingly.
Sakura grinned smugly as she exclaimed merrily, "I slaughtered him!"
Yamazaki staggered by, covered in mud. Fujitaka chuckled upon seeing him before turning to his daughter again.
"I hoped to present a little angel, but I suppose you'll have to do. Sakura, the Baroness Atashi Yanagi and her two daughters, Meiling and Tomoyo."
Sakura grinned at them cheerfully; they did not return the smile. Her new stepmother frowned for a split second before she spoke smoothly to the untidy little girl.
"Sakura, at last we meet. Your father speaks of no-one else." She faced her daughters who flanked her, her face set in a small frown. "Ladies, say hello to your new . . .stepsister." Her voice was icy and hard. She grimaced a little as she said the last word.
Sakura looked up and smiled innocently at her stepmother.
~*~
Later that night…
Sakura was curled up comfortably in her soft bed. She watched the orange flames lash out in the fireplace as her father entered to kiss her goodnight. He smiled and handed her a book. Looking lovingly down at the book, she tenderly touched the gold letters.
"Utopia."
"It means paradise. It's a little thick for an eight year-old, but I thought we could add it to our library."
"Read some," She pleaded.
Her father shook his head gently.
"Not tonight. It's been a long day."
Sakura nodded excitedly and exclaimed, "And you're a husband now!"
He chuckled softly. "True, a husband, but a father first and forever. We've been two peas in a pod, you and I, and I know this will take some getting used to."
"Did you see the way they ate their supper? It was perfect, like a dance!"
Her voice was full of admiration.
"Do you like them?"
"Very much!"
I think…
"I'm glad, because I have to leave for Guangzhou in a fortnight."
"Hoe?"
Sakura sat up straight in bed and her smile disappeared.
"But you just got back!" Sakura cried.
"I know that."
"How long?"
"Three weeks."
Sakura pouted, folding her arms. "One."
"Two."
She scowled and held out her hand. Both their fists came down and then, Sakura spread her palm, while her father's hand remained closed. She crowed with delight.
"Paper covers rock!" she squealed.
He sighed, then smiled at her. "Very well, one week. Now, get some sleep." He tucked her in and kissed her goodnight.
Sakura watched him leave the room, smiling in content as she closed her eyes.
~*~
A fortnight later…
The morning Fujitaka was leaving was very dismal. The sky was grey and gloomy. Sakura stood with her new stepsisters, biting her lip to keep from crying as she kept her head bowed.
Fujitaka opened the door, pulling on his riding gloves. He gritted his teeth as pain shot through his arm. It was always happening, but he was not old. He plastered a smile on his face as he turned to his wife and daughters.
"Never have I seen so many gloomy faces. I shall be back in a week." He gave his wife a gentle kiss goodbye and she spoke to him tenderly.
"Then, go. The sooner you leave, the sooner we can celebrate your return." Fujitaka smiled at her, then at the three girls, speaking to all three of them.
"Perhaps, by then, the three of you might have gotten to know one another better." He knelt by Sakura and whispered to her.
"I'm counting on you to teach them the ropes around here. The Baroness isn't used to getting her hands dirty."
Sakura glanced at her stepmother's flawless hands. He was most certainly right.
Fujitaka mounted his horse and took the reigns from Terada.
"Safe journey, Master."
Fujitaka gave them all a final smile and rode off down the lane. As he rode, Yanagi clapped her hands.
"Come on, ladies, back to your lessons." Sakura stared at her in astonishment.
"Wait!" Yanagi turned to face her with distaste.
"It's tradition. He always waves at the gate," Sakura told her earnestly.
Yanagi dwelt on the thought, but then wheeled around to enter the house. Sakura's eyes followed her father, wondering when he would turn back.
Fujitaka knew his daughter was expecting him to wave. As he raised his hand slowly, a pain shot through his whole arm and he fell off his horse. Sakura watched him fall, frozen, but then she ran towards him, screaming with all her might.
Please let him be all right!
"Papa!"
Yanagi turned as she heard Sakura's agonised cry. She spotted the body and her hand instantly flew to her mouth. She ran towards him, as the rest of the household followed at her heels. Sakura had gotten to her father first, tears welling up in her emrald eyes as she sat beside him, caressing his hand. Yanagi approached him, tears streaming down her face. Fujitaka glanced at her before turning to Sakura. He smoothed her hair.
"I love you. I love you."
Slowly, hie eyes fluttered close and Sakura collapsed next to him, crying her heart out. Yanagi followed suit, Terada supporting her.
"Fujitaka! You cannot leave me here!"
Naoko and Rika tried to console Sakura, but in vain. She placed herself by her father, tears pouring down pallid cheeks.
Kinomoto Sakura was an orphan.
She had lost her father and mother, and now she only had her servants, her stepsisters and a stepmother who didn't seem to like her.
~*~
The Grand Dame sighed.
"It would be ten years before another man entered her life; a man who was still a boy in many, many ways."
~*~
Yay! There's the prologue. My friend printed out this sort of script thingy she got from the internet and I added some more things. Hope you liked the story and I'll try to continue as soon as possible.
Please review! Bye!
