The Guardians
Chapter 1: Recovery
By SilentLight
Eriol sat in his big red armchair, solemn as ever. No smile played on his lips. Hardly any came since Tomoyo was gone. He wanted to follow, but he had to finish one last wish. And after that, he would follow his beloved Tomoyo to wherever she was, just like they had promised each other, on her deathbed. Winter suited them both, for they were both born in that season, and would both die in winter too. His heart hurt, just thinking of it.
Sakura sat quietly her favorite couple armchair that she used to share with Syaoran. There was no one to share it with her now. All her family, friends, were gone. Her children and grandchildren had a life of their own. She had no part in it. She smiled sadly. They had just one last spell, to fulfill Clow and their goal throughout their long life. She glanced at Eriol, who nodded. They had put their heads together, and finally came up with a perfect solution. To prolong the life of their guardians, to prevent them from disappearing, just like Yue had been in danger of.
Together, two great minds of the millennium cast the spell, pouring all their magic into the one being that stood before them. The four guardians stood silently, obeying their masters' last wish, to draw their power from this being that they would create.
A teenage girl of about sixteen, with chocolate brown hair, and hazelnut eyes, blinked owlishly, absorbing the scene about her. She could feel the power that filled her. She felt the spell, a gift, and a curse, settled upon her. She accepted the responsibility willingly. She had spent her childhood putting others before self, and she would do it, until the day she dies. Even as the two greatest magician and sorceress faded before her, she could feel the four links of magic connecting her to the four magical beings before her. Habit overtook her. Bowing low, she said, "Hello, Spinel Sun, Ruby Moon, Keroberos, Yue." She addressed them as they were aligned. "My name is Dawan. I will be your new power source."
**********
Two weeks passed. All four guardians locked themselves in their respective rooms, and ignored her when she went to visit them. They were all in the mountain, in the house that Eriol had designed with Tomoyo, which Eriol had left behind to Dawan's name. She sighed for the umpteen time that day, and went to sit in her armchair. Not Eriol's armchair, or Sakura's couple armchair. She settled herself into a simple chair, only to gasp in pain, as a sharp pain jabbed her heart. One of the guardians was very, very upset, so much that it affected her. Clutching her left side, she made her way up to the guardian's room.
She entered the room quietly. It was messy, chaotic. Evidently, this particular guardian had vented his anger upon the furniture. Moving around silently, Dawan picked up the bit and pieces, replacing what she could into the original positions, placing those broken in one corner to either be mended, or replaced. When she had done the best she could; she sat down beside the forlorn guardian. He did not glance at her, refusing to admit her existence. Dawan teleported her flute from her room with ease. It did not strain the magical balance, merely caused a bit of wind. Putting it to her lips, Dawan played. Not her favorite forlorn tune, but the cheerful one that Sakura had loved, from young to old. She was not too engrossed not to notice the tears that came again. Putting down the flute, she hugged the guardian. He did not move away, for he was too exhausted. Finally accepting that his mistress was indeed gone, he cried like there was no tomorrow.
Dawan carried the cute little guardian back to his bed, and tucked him into his blankets. Relenting to an urge, she kissed the top of his head softly. "Sakura." he mumbled in his sleep. Smiling gently, Dawan conjured up a plate of pancakes, and placed it in a warmer shield, one that could be broken by touch. Quietly, Dawan let herself out of the room, and took the broken items with her.
Dawan was mending the things carefully by magic. It took concentration and a steady finger, and just the right amount of energy to replace everything back where it was. She was hit by the same wave of pain, missing her half- repaired vase by an inch. Sighing in relief, she realized that it was a different guardian. Kero was still asleep. Again, she made her way up the stairs. This particular guardian was bawling, like a little kid, who had lost his favorite candy. The things in his room were thankfully untouched. Dawan did not make any efforts to conceal her approach. He would feel her, no matter what she did. Stiffening a little, the guardian did not greet her. Dawan put her flute to her lips again, this time playing Tomoyo and Eriol's favorite tune, their duet together.
Spinel Sun, the great guardian of the former greatest magician, was crying like a child. He no longer kept up his pretence of reading books. He could no longer concentrate. His master, who created him, was gone. He had no reason to live. He wanted to join his master to wherever he was, but the hateful power source that his master had created kept him alive, refusing him the peaceful respite of sleep, and death. He missed the gentle touch of his mistress, who was forever their peacemaker. His mistress who tucked him into bed every night, silently, quietly, kissing him goodnight. He missed them, wanted to join them. But this hated power source kept him alive. He hated it. He wanted to destroy it. But he was unable to do so. The power source had a shield that he was unable to break. And he could only vent his frustration, his sorrow, and his hate to the wind. He stiffened, when he felt the aura of the power source settle next to him. He did not want to be close to it, did not want it anywhere near him. He tensed, when the music of his master and mistress' favorite duet filled the air, as if they were back. Involuntarily, he glanced at the power source, and saw something he had never seen before. A golden spell surrounding her aura, kept her together, preventing her from dying, that gave her energy, and from her, to them.
Dawan opened her eyes to the confused, questioning look of Spinel. Smiling slowly, softly, sadly, she played on. Explaining without words, just with music, of what she was, what she had to do, why she was here. Spinel's eyes grew wider with each note, realizing her unwillingness, yet willingness at the same time, to help heal their wounds, to provide a salve. She knew she could not fill the emptiness in their hearts, but she could at least help them. She did not want them to suffer, but she could not help them much. Only one could heal one's heart.
Spinel felt like crying. Dawan was just like his Mistress, Tomoyo. She wanted to help, but was unable to do so. They just tried their best, by being there for them; whenever they wish for them, they would be wherever they needed them to be. Understanding filled both their eyes, and a truce was drawn. Smiling at friends, allies, and no more enemies. It was a start, for the both of them.
Chapter 1: Recovery
By SilentLight
Eriol sat in his big red armchair, solemn as ever. No smile played on his lips. Hardly any came since Tomoyo was gone. He wanted to follow, but he had to finish one last wish. And after that, he would follow his beloved Tomoyo to wherever she was, just like they had promised each other, on her deathbed. Winter suited them both, for they were both born in that season, and would both die in winter too. His heart hurt, just thinking of it.
Sakura sat quietly her favorite couple armchair that she used to share with Syaoran. There was no one to share it with her now. All her family, friends, were gone. Her children and grandchildren had a life of their own. She had no part in it. She smiled sadly. They had just one last spell, to fulfill Clow and their goal throughout their long life. She glanced at Eriol, who nodded. They had put their heads together, and finally came up with a perfect solution. To prolong the life of their guardians, to prevent them from disappearing, just like Yue had been in danger of.
Together, two great minds of the millennium cast the spell, pouring all their magic into the one being that stood before them. The four guardians stood silently, obeying their masters' last wish, to draw their power from this being that they would create.
A teenage girl of about sixteen, with chocolate brown hair, and hazelnut eyes, blinked owlishly, absorbing the scene about her. She could feel the power that filled her. She felt the spell, a gift, and a curse, settled upon her. She accepted the responsibility willingly. She had spent her childhood putting others before self, and she would do it, until the day she dies. Even as the two greatest magician and sorceress faded before her, she could feel the four links of magic connecting her to the four magical beings before her. Habit overtook her. Bowing low, she said, "Hello, Spinel Sun, Ruby Moon, Keroberos, Yue." She addressed them as they were aligned. "My name is Dawan. I will be your new power source."
**********
Two weeks passed. All four guardians locked themselves in their respective rooms, and ignored her when she went to visit them. They were all in the mountain, in the house that Eriol had designed with Tomoyo, which Eriol had left behind to Dawan's name. She sighed for the umpteen time that day, and went to sit in her armchair. Not Eriol's armchair, or Sakura's couple armchair. She settled herself into a simple chair, only to gasp in pain, as a sharp pain jabbed her heart. One of the guardians was very, very upset, so much that it affected her. Clutching her left side, she made her way up to the guardian's room.
She entered the room quietly. It was messy, chaotic. Evidently, this particular guardian had vented his anger upon the furniture. Moving around silently, Dawan picked up the bit and pieces, replacing what she could into the original positions, placing those broken in one corner to either be mended, or replaced. When she had done the best she could; she sat down beside the forlorn guardian. He did not glance at her, refusing to admit her existence. Dawan teleported her flute from her room with ease. It did not strain the magical balance, merely caused a bit of wind. Putting it to her lips, Dawan played. Not her favorite forlorn tune, but the cheerful one that Sakura had loved, from young to old. She was not too engrossed not to notice the tears that came again. Putting down the flute, she hugged the guardian. He did not move away, for he was too exhausted. Finally accepting that his mistress was indeed gone, he cried like there was no tomorrow.
Dawan carried the cute little guardian back to his bed, and tucked him into his blankets. Relenting to an urge, she kissed the top of his head softly. "Sakura." he mumbled in his sleep. Smiling gently, Dawan conjured up a plate of pancakes, and placed it in a warmer shield, one that could be broken by touch. Quietly, Dawan let herself out of the room, and took the broken items with her.
Dawan was mending the things carefully by magic. It took concentration and a steady finger, and just the right amount of energy to replace everything back where it was. She was hit by the same wave of pain, missing her half- repaired vase by an inch. Sighing in relief, she realized that it was a different guardian. Kero was still asleep. Again, she made her way up the stairs. This particular guardian was bawling, like a little kid, who had lost his favorite candy. The things in his room were thankfully untouched. Dawan did not make any efforts to conceal her approach. He would feel her, no matter what she did. Stiffening a little, the guardian did not greet her. Dawan put her flute to her lips again, this time playing Tomoyo and Eriol's favorite tune, their duet together.
Spinel Sun, the great guardian of the former greatest magician, was crying like a child. He no longer kept up his pretence of reading books. He could no longer concentrate. His master, who created him, was gone. He had no reason to live. He wanted to join his master to wherever he was, but the hateful power source that his master had created kept him alive, refusing him the peaceful respite of sleep, and death. He missed the gentle touch of his mistress, who was forever their peacemaker. His mistress who tucked him into bed every night, silently, quietly, kissing him goodnight. He missed them, wanted to join them. But this hated power source kept him alive. He hated it. He wanted to destroy it. But he was unable to do so. The power source had a shield that he was unable to break. And he could only vent his frustration, his sorrow, and his hate to the wind. He stiffened, when he felt the aura of the power source settle next to him. He did not want to be close to it, did not want it anywhere near him. He tensed, when the music of his master and mistress' favorite duet filled the air, as if they were back. Involuntarily, he glanced at the power source, and saw something he had never seen before. A golden spell surrounding her aura, kept her together, preventing her from dying, that gave her energy, and from her, to them.
Dawan opened her eyes to the confused, questioning look of Spinel. Smiling slowly, softly, sadly, she played on. Explaining without words, just with music, of what she was, what she had to do, why she was here. Spinel's eyes grew wider with each note, realizing her unwillingness, yet willingness at the same time, to help heal their wounds, to provide a salve. She knew she could not fill the emptiness in their hearts, but she could at least help them. She did not want them to suffer, but she could not help them much. Only one could heal one's heart.
Spinel felt like crying. Dawan was just like his Mistress, Tomoyo. She wanted to help, but was unable to do so. They just tried their best, by being there for them; whenever they wish for them, they would be wherever they needed them to be. Understanding filled both their eyes, and a truce was drawn. Smiling at friends, allies, and no more enemies. It was a start, for the both of them.