Air x Cardcaptor Sakura

Case 1: Dark Glass

The ball of the century was filled with many people sparkling and moving gracefully like swans on the dance floor.

Eriol sighed. He wasn't here for dancing. He had gotten a message about a job offer.

"You should have something to eat." Said his partner. Young lady Misuzu, is a lost soul searching for someone she once knew. The only thing was, she didn't quite remember who he was. All she knew was that she loved him.

Eriol knew how she was talking about after a little searching, and is choosing not to tell her. He might be thinking of himself, seeing a little of himself in her, but it's for her own good.

"Thank you. But I'm more into finding the person who sent us the letter invite." Eriol said.

Looking around, there was no one who seemed out of place.

Till he saw the man of the hour. "Thank you all for coming. I hope you all are having a pleasant time. Now, I'd like to introduce someone, very special to me. My future wife, and my most precious childhood friend, the one and only, Lady Mavis Ariana." He said.

It all started to click. "That's who called us here. She must want us to stop her." Eriol said.

"What?"

"You know the legend of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?" Eriol asked.

"Oh! Yes I do. The same man but with two personalities? Killed the woman he loved because she preferred the beast instead of the Doc." Mizuzu said.

Eriol nodded. "Correct. The real mystery to how that happened, is in the tale of Cinderella."

"Not that one I've heard many times already. But I don't understand. How are the connected?" She asked.

The story of Cinderella is, in the end her husband cheated. The prince wasn't an angel like everyone thought. But the real reason, he had his own personality split. Turns out, Cinderella and the prince were related. Both beast and Dr. had a different love in mind after some years in hiding, and had children. Being those two's parents. Cinderella was older and should have the crown. She kills her prince/husband and takes over the kingdom. And reveals herself in the glass mirror, to be the daughter of the beast. In other words, Mavis Adriana, is a split person." Eriol explained.

"Then, she's going to kill the prince." Misuzu said.

As the solo dance started, with the light on the two, they had to act fast before the prince was dead.

"What do we do?" Misuzu asks.

"Right now we wait. If you see something shiny, jump out and grabbed the prince." Eriol said.

She nods to his instructions. Meanwhile, he sees there being a guard looking like he was about to do something he shouldn't. Guards shouldn't even be in the ballroom. But then again, they might know something is wrong.

Or Eriol could be reading the whole situation wrong.

But it wasn't till the guard moved halfway through the dance, Eriol realized, it wasn't a guard at all.

"Stop him." He said. He and Misuzu moved, but not fast enough, as the guard grabbed the girl and held a knife to her neck.

"What on earth?!" The prince was shocked. The guard, was him?!

"THIS ISN'T RiGHT! Can't you all see? I am the prince! She's supposed to be my wife!" He yelled.

Eriol held Misuzu back. Knowing this wasn't going to end well.

"What are you talking about? Please!" The girl screamed. She sounded scared.

"I don't understand. How are there two of them?" Misuzu asked.

Eriol only thought back to one thing, the switch. It's been made up into a familiar story, prince and the pauper. But it's only a story. No way would they really pull off something like this without getting caught.

"Somethings, surprise you." Eriol only said.

"I am the prince! Arrest this imposter! My love, why do you trick me? Why do you not love me? My childhood friend." He said.

Was it possible he was telling the truth? Eriol may never find out, as she moved fast, pushing him away, and suddenly slicing his gut open. "No! I never loved you!" She yelled.

Which means, she was lying, and wasn't herself.

"It's close to midnight." Misuzu pointed out. Eriol saw the clock and then the shard of glass.

"Hold him, I want to question him later." The king then showed up.

"Father?!"

Not as planned. But Eriol could take his chance. "Misuzu, grabbed the prince." Eriol said. She did as asked.

"What is going on here?!" The king demanded. "Guards, keep him alive a little longer." Eriol shouted.

"Is she going to win?" Misuzu asked.

"What are you- I am-" "Mavis Adriana. I know. But from what I do know, that lady died many years ago. She wasn't born." Eriol said. He picked up the glass shared. Reflecting it in the light, he saw the dark side. "Of course. Your glass slippers I presume." Eriol said.

"What are you-"

"Kill the prince before midnight and you gain another year of immortality?" He guessed. "Too bad princess Ella Hyde. Gasps echoed in the room. "I believe, yout time has run out, as the real princess, called me down here to stop you, and herself. Your time," The clock then dinged midnight. "Is up." Eriol finished.

Mavis ran at his with angre, but as she grabbed his wrist, she felt her body weakening. Her face began to wither away. "NO!"

"Not so fast. If that is the real prince you have some explaining to do." Misuzu stopped the prince from running.

The guard was slowly breathing, he wasn't going to make it, was he?

"Goodbye Ella. Rest in peace." Eriol said and the glass shattered in hand.

"It's over?"

"Yes. We might not get paid but this case is closed." Eriol told Misuzu.

"Sir, he's dead." Eriol sighed. As the guards moved him, carrying him out, Eriol saw the scar where Ella/Mavis split him open. The birthmark. The one thing that can prove he was real.

Looking back, the "prince" talked to his father, shocked he was tricked by a witch.

There was no way to stop him. One part of the case, that will never be solved.

"Let's go Misuzu. This party is over for us." Eriol said.

"Alright. So, love isn't always what is seems. Guess, the prince cheating, meant she really killed him over it, not leaving him." She said.

Eriol nodded. Some truths are left untold.

Case Dark Glass Closed