Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or the characters, and any references that are made to either historical myths, legends, and beliefs or familiar concepts from video games, movies, books, etc. There will still be a few lines that I mentioned borrowing from the song of the previous chapter which I do not own. They are only meant to give a comparison to the kind of relationship they've had growing up. You will also see more historical references/names being dropped here and there, and I apologize for any misuse but most may be intentional.
Card Captor Sakura...
The Last Element
By : T.K. (Esoterica)
Posted: August 28th, 2006
Of Nova's nations, Adamanii of the West was known as one the nations of great Illusions, the other her sister to the far east. She hosted the setting of the sun and celebrated dusk, the darker side of twilight. Many aspects of the land were shrouded in secrets and mysteries, making it one of the most enchanting sights to behold.
Even her guardian, the Great Wind spirit was one of the more mysterious guardians, choosing the white tiger as her more common form, and yet being known to appear to others in the form of the proud winged or horned horses, pegasuses and unicorns, respectively.
The massive royal castle seemed to follow suit. Nested on the great mountains of adamantine, a material more durable than diamonds themselves, the castle was strategically built so that it blended into its surroundings expertly. However, it was easily accessible to the citizens who lived in the massive stretches of forests surrounding the mountainous regions through various channels of mazes through the mountains. One simply had to know the way to find the threshold.
Chapter 3 - Foreign Subtleties
-Nova IV, year 2911
Adamanii
SWISH.
CLANG.
Silence washed over the courtyard and only the sounds of quick breaths and metal clanging could be heard as the audience sat in anticipation. A young man's eyes studied his opponent carefully as they circled each other, fencing rapiers pointed at each other threateningly.
He closed his eyes in concentration, as he took a deep breath and as soon as he heard the breathing of his opponent hitch slightly, he suddenly snapped them open and once again fierce clashing resounded as the two opponents lunged at each other furiously.
The other was tiring out and he smirked as he finally sensed an opening. Deciding to finish in style, he startled his opponent and audience as he threw his weapon into the air. Taking advantage of the temporary confusion, he quickly dove to the ground in time to dodge a clumsy swing then sprung off his hands, somersaulting over his opponent and landing gracefully. Pivoting, he assumed his stance while catching his weapon fluidly, pinning his opponent in the chest right when they turned to face him.
He smirked behind his helmet, knowing the other could sense it and wanting to infuriate them further.
"I win."
The audience clapped around him at his showmanship and he stiffened quickly and stood tall, the grin fading to a polite smile as he acknowledged the battle was over as both partners bowed to each other in respect. Removing his helmet he held a hand out to his opponent who swatted it away, in annoyance. Long raven hair spilled out of the helmet as Meiling discarded her helmet as well, glaring.
"No fair, Syao." She growled. "You never said you'd be throwing your stupid weapon into the air! What if someone had gotten hurt!" She screeched.
Wincing, he waved it off and picked up his gear, heading inside to change. "Come on, dear cousin. I'm not careless like you."
"I beg to differ."
Syaoran stiffened and Meiling squealed and ran to Sakura and Tomoyo, hugging them tightly despite her dirty sparring armour. Syaoran nodded to Tomoyo, ignoring Sakura purposefully.
"Daidouji-chan."
"Li-kun." She smiled back, amused at her seething friend beside her. "That was an impressive fight."
He shrugged it off, returning the smile. "It was nothing." Patting Meiling's head, as he was a good deal taller than them now, she stuck out her tongue and he laughed. "Alright, ladies, if you'll excuse me."
Sakura cleared her throat.
Still not looking at her, he continued to talk to Tomoyo. "And make sure the little girl takes her nap, I know how she gets grouchy after long trips." And with that he walked away from the 'little girl's' stunned face.
"LI!" Stomping her foot angrily, as her friends giggled helplessly at their antics. Sakura marched after him and tapped him roughly on the shoulder. He turned around and glared.
"What do you want?"
She huffed. "You're not still mad about that tomato incident last year, are you? It was just a joke!"
He snorted, indignantly, dropping his cool demeanor completely because they were alone in the hallways. "Just a joke! You fired a rotten tomato at me with a slingshot, of all things, and hit me dead centre on the back of the head! My hair smelled like crap for two weeks!"
She feigned shock, gasping. "Did it now?" She curtseyed, "I heartily apologize, your highness..."
"Shut up!" She laughed and he smirked, evilly. "Honestly, Sakura, a slingshot? I know your thirteen-year-old mind sometimes feels inferior to the rest us but for a princess, that does not aid your credibility, wouldn't you agree?"
The reaction he wanted was exact as she flushed. "I... am ... NOT..."
"...a princess?" He laughed and leaned against the pillar beside him, continuing to tease her. "Well, that explains a few things..."
She simply glared at him laughing at her until a voice interrupted them.
"Now I am positive that you've been near him for far too long, Sakura-san." She turned and smiled sweetly at Eriol who bowed in greeting, then turned to grin at his friend who was now glaring in his direction. "Your looks are almost identical."
"Well that's only natural since the kid keeps stalki- KUSO! (Shit!)"
Sakura mocked a gasp as Syaoran held his foot in pain and annoyance at the innocence on the young girl's face. "Language, Li-chan. I hardly think your aunt would approve." Before Syaoran could remind her to not use any comfortable endearments with him, they were interrupted again.
"She most certainly would not." They froze and turned to see...
"Akizuki-san!" They sighed in relief as Nakuru laughed at their faces. She turned to Eriol expectantly as he stood in attention.
"Eriol, please escort the princesses to their chambers. Meiling-sama and Daidouji-chan are chatting in the courtyard. Then you all are to assemble in the courtyard at noon. Understood?"
"Hai, taishou (general)!"
She nodded and he bowed before offering an arm to Sakura as he lead her back to her friends.
"To the courtyard?" Li questioned, curiously.
Nakuru nodded. "There is still much of Adamanii that our guests have yet to experience." She bowed her head to the prince, smiling, as she took her leave. "Li-sama."
-) o o o (-
Syaoran tapped his foot impatiently. "Girls. Why must they always take so long?"
Eriol chuckled. Although he had developed a certain mischievous nature of his own, it was Syaoran who quite frequently complained about their female companions. The boys were waiting patiently in the centre of the courtyard as the girls went to change, upon Nakuru's orders.
"Honestly, Eriol, I'm growing tired of having to entertain them all the time."
Eriol looked at him. "Surely you only mean your blatant annoyance with Sakura-san? You seem to get along with Daidouji-chan quite well."
He frowned. "She tries to talk us into playing dress up, Eriol."
He grinned at Tomoyo's antics. "Yes, that may be true, but you must admit that you tolerate her more than even your own cousin sometimes."
"Of course I do! Meiling drives me crazy. That silly girl is always flirting with the castle guards..."
"Protective cousin?"
"Shut up."
They stood for a while as Eriol laughed at his friend, silently. He decided to rile him up again.
"And what of Sakura-san? I've begun to think you actually might like her..."
"Still broody as ever, Li?" Sakura grinned as she bounded up with Meiling and Tomoyo in tow. They had changed into loose training attire, as Nakuru had requested.
"Don't test me, kid. I might just forget you're still a rookie next time we spar."
She glared. "Well, some of us haven't been training since we could walk, Li-chan."
"I told you not to call me that-"
Meiling groaned. "Would you two quit bickering for just a minute? Nakuru-san is here."
Nakuru was grinning as she approached them, a mischievous smile on her face. "Konnichiwa (Good afternoon), young highnesses… and Eriol." She winked at him, indicating that he could be at ease. "We have a special surprise for you today. Meiling-sama and Eriol will be your guides as I bring up the rear." She motioned to Syaoran. "Li-sama is somewhat familiar with the route as well. Tsukishiro-sama, Daidouji-sama."
The girls looked at her when she called them, confusion still on their faces. "Ride?" Sakura questioned, curiously.
Nakuru smiled and nodded. "Hai. You shall ride with Li-sama and Eriol, respectively. Our winged friends are proud creatures who choose their riders and not vice-versa."
Tomoyo clapped her hands excitedly. "Winged friends? Would you be speaking of pegasuses like the Admiia Pegasus Knights?"
Eriol smiled at her enthusiasm. "Yes, and young draglets as well."
"You mean like dragons?" Sakura burst in awe.
"Well obviously, Sakura. What else could he mean?" She stuck her tongue out at Syaoran who only smirked.
Meiling intervened again, rolling her eyes. "Would you mind?" Nodding to Nakuru, she looked to the sky and let out a whistle. The others, save for Tomoyo and Sakura, followed suit.
They waited while Meiling explained. "Since we're adept with the wind element, we have a great knowledge of the winds and how to communicate with these creatures with them. They shall arrive shortly."
"I'm afraid without the proper training you will be unable to have mounts of your own..." Nakuru looked at Sakura, who looked slightly disappointed. "…but I'm sure the young prince will take you for rides whenever you wish."
"Yeah right…" they muttered simultaneously, and Tomoyo giggled to herself.
Finally, from the clouds, they heard a unique blend of sounds similar to the neighing of horses that seemed to echo with an underlying tinkling of… laughter?
Four winged creatures swooped down above them.
Meiling smiled and called out, running to where she knew her draglet would land. "Rae!"
A sleek gold-bronze draglet landed before the young princess and cooed softly as the girl hugged her long, elegant neck. 'Rae', as Meiling had called her, had a voice laced with a duality that was musical to the ear, serene and high in pitch. The duo acknowledged another rust-bronzed draglet, slightly larger than Rae, as he landed next to them, large tail wrapping around that of his companion.
Syaoran smiled and walked up to them as Nakuru and Eriol greeted their pegasus companions in a similar fashion. Bringing their companions to the amazed princesses, Meiling was the first to introduce them.
"Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan. Meet Rae." She smiled lovingly as Rae lowered her head, peering curiously at the two with brilliant gold orbs. "She's a goldenscale draglet – the only of her line. Members of my family are the only ones to be chosen by goldenscales." She explained, proudly. "The draglet next to her is her older brother who chose Syaoran."
Deep, bronze-amber orbs blinked back at them and Sakura found the gaze calming, reminding her very much of his rider. Syaoran looked at her for a moment, arm subtly stroking his friend's wing. "His name is Einherjar. He's a bronzescale." They nodded and the dragon seemed to acknowledge his introduction and curled down around his companion, seemingly napping. They laughed and Syaoran shook his head, fondly. "The only thing he likes better than flying is sleeping." He seemed to acknowledged this as he crooned lowly, a deep rumbling resounding from his brilliant chest.
Nakuru laughed and they turned to the two brilliant pegasuses next to Nakuru and Eriol. She smiled at the princesses. "Yes, draglets are proud creatures like their cousins the great dragons but pegasuses are known for their pride as well – though they are not to be confused with the more vain unicorns." Stroking her mount's main, she introduced her as she neighed softly. "Her name is Lune, or rather, General Lune since she and I lead the Pegasus Knights."
Lune lifted her head proudly, stretching her brilliant white wings. In contrast to the pegasus standing next to Eriol, she boasted a brilliant snowy-white colour, her mane a deep magenta colour much like her rider's hair. A crescent-shape of the same colour adorned her forehead, marking her high rank. The creature next to her, however, held a different kind of beauty. He was a large steed, black as the night, with strong, dark wings on his back. His mane, in contrast, was a golden-yellow colour that would normally look unnatural but seemed to suit him gloriously. There was no mark yet on his forehead, but he didn't seem any less powerful than the pegasus beside him.
Eriol grinned, patting his stomach fondly. "Bucephalus, meet two of the loveliest princesses you'll ever set your eyes on." Sakura laughed as the horse nuzzled them each fondly in greeting, and Tomoyo blushed at his comment.
"Clearly Bucephalus tries to be as smooth as his rider." Nakuru grinned and shook her head helplessly at the two. "Now, let's ride!"
Syaoran smacked the dragon's head in mock-annoyance. "Wake up you lazy reptile!" They all laughed as Einherjar flicked his tail at the back of Syaoran's knees, successfully knocking him over in revenge.
-) o o o (-
"That was amazing!" Sakura laughed happily as they had stopped in a clearing in the mountain forests. "So much so that even Li couldn't ruin it for me."
"Gee, thanks." He stated sarcastically, turning to Eriol and Meiling. "If you ask me, Einherjar is a traitor. He didn't listen to me at all whenever I told him to give her a scare or something, and he hit me with his tail when I suggested he do so to knock her off or something."
"What was that?" Sakura drawled dangerously, but before either could get riled up, Nakuru shushed them.
"Sh! Listen! Can you hear that?"
They heard nothing.
"What are you talking about, Akizuki-san?" Tomoyo queried petting Bucephalus' flank before giving a small yelp as he suddenly thrashed forward to the edge of the clearing, whinnying frantically. Eriol, after quickly ensuring that Tomoyo was okay first, rushed forward to console him.
"What is it, Bucephalus?"
"Lune!"
Both pegasuses began to act up and soon the draglets began to react to their behaviour. "What's going on?" Sakura questioned, her voice wavering slightly from fear.
A silvery-white form burst out from the woods near her almost immediately after she uttered the question, and Syaroan stepped in front of her protectively as she grabbed his arm, not thinking twice about their actions.
They looked in awe at the brilliant creature before them, a large silver-white unicorn with a striking gold horn.
'You…'
Everything seemed to stop as Sakura's grip on Syaoran's arm slackened and she stepped out from behind him, moving towards the great creature who stared only at her.
'You… are…'
She was about to reach out when Syaoran forcefully grabbed her wrist, pulling her around in a panic. He noticed her eyes seemed dull and lifeless, as if in a trance. "Sakura!" He called out in alarm, shaking her. She was unresponsive and he held her protectively to his chest as the unicorn took one step towards them. Staring into fiery amber orbs, it quickly darted behind him, back into the forest, the sound of its hooves fading off at a startling speed. He looked down at the young girl in his arms.
Slowly, her eyes cleared and she looked at him in confusion. "S-syaoran?" Her voice was weak and before anyone could respond she quickly fainted, startling them all.
"Sakura!"
'You have come at last.'
-) o o o (-
"Hey! Come over here!"
"I think she's finally waking up!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes she's coming to."
"Sakura?"
Slowly, she opened her eyes. As they focused, she slowly sat up and held her head, blinking a few times, before turning back to them.
"What happened to me?" She questioned, her voice croaking. She cleared her throat then realized that her friends were a few feet away from her, with odd looks on their faces. "Why are you all over there?"
Syaoran glared behind her, then looked at her awkwardly. "Now... Sakura... j-just don't panic, okay?"
"...what do you..." She slowly turned her head around and noticed what he was glaring at. Behind her was the same unicorn from before, it's golden horn glinting threateningly.
"Sakura just come away from it."
She looked back at Syaroan, now noticing his shoulder was bandaged. She gasped. "Li! What happened to you?"
He glared at the unicorn again and Tomoyo stepped forward. "It won't let us come near you, Sakura... and we're not sure why."
Nakuru nodded, grimly. "It is exhibiting extraordinary behaviour, Sakura-sama. It's almost as if its 'choosing' you... but unicorns have not been known to do so, especially with foreigners..."
Sakura looked at the creature behind her carefully, blocking out the others. "You... was that your voice in my head?" She whispered to it, approaching it carefully.
"Sakura don't go near it come back!"
The unicorn snorted at Syaoran then nuzzled Sakura's neck, to their surprise.
'Yes.'
"What do you want from me?"
'You are the one. You have to break the seal and find the others.'
Sakura looked bewildered. "What seal? Others? There are others like you?"
'Only then can we start over. These humans are far too misguided, we can no longer sustain them.' The unicorn snorted again, and flung its head in agitation. 'They kill their planet, they fight over petty differences, they are filled with hate and negativity. We must start over.'
"W-what are you saying?" She looked frightened, and the others could only watch as Sakura seemed to be having a one-sided conversation.
The unicorn cocked its head, questioningly. 'Have you lost your memories on the journey?'
"I... I don't understand what you mean. What journey?"
'Oh, sister... you are lost. Do not worry. We will find you again.'
And with that, the creature turned and galloped back through the woods. "Wait!" Sakura called out, but it was long gone.
A hand was on her shoulder and she looked up to see Syaoran's worried gaze. "Are you alright? What was that all about?"
She shook her head and massaged her temples. "I have no idea... I honestly have no idea..."
Author's note: Well, if you want to know the truth, yes this is still in the introductory stages. I guess I'm a little too eager to draw this world out for everyone. Anyway, I'll let you in on a secret: The action will start in year 2916... so patience is a virtue.
References
(Archive: Prologue - Reference: Gaea NOVA's history)
(Archive: Chapter 1 - Introduction: Elancia, Reference: Family History)
(Archive: Chapter 2 - Introduction: Volancia, Reference: The Nations)
Mystical Creatures
Pegasus - Of Greek mythology, we know the winged horse well. But the pegasuses (I pondered the term 'pegasi', but it was even more awkward) in this story are not immortal, and are native to the wind nation (Adamanii) but travel to all areas of Nova. Bucephalus, as some might recognize, was the name of (arguably) the most famous horse in history -- the fierce and mighty steed of Alexander the Great.
Draglets - probably mostly inspired by Anne McCaffrey, if you know anything about her Dragonrider stories. But I wanted a contrast to the winged horses, and contrary to the pegasuses, they can be found in any mountainous regions, but their cousins the dragons are more likely to be found elsewhere in Nova. They have long, slender bodies and necks, claws, tough-skinned wings and tails that sometimes fork at the end. The 'goldscale' and 'bronzescale' reference mark the colour of their scales, not to be redundant or anything. The name Einherjar was inspired by the Norse mythological spirits of the warriors.
Unicorns - The more vain cousins of pegasuses, they rarely appear to humans and, contrary to their cousins, it is very rare to see one that is any colour but pure white - including the horn.
Mermaids - To be introduced in Miirtitani, they are exclusive to the eastern nation. Known to be mischievous like their cousins, the Sirens, for they are often mistaken for humans. However, unlike their cousins, they cannot speak the human language.