¡§Wh¡Kwhere am I

A Fairy Tale Princess

Chapter 4: A Switch of Roles ¡V ¡§She¡¦s the real princess!¡¨

Sakura wandered around aimlessly, unsure as to where to go. The interior of the castle of relatively quiet, with sporadic shouts from the outside. She had tried to return to the Princess¡¦s bedroom, but the guards would surely have stopped her, so Sakura kept wandering around, hoping not to run into Syaoran.

An uproar caught Sakura¡¦s attention: something had happened outside. She decided it was not the best time to walk around, especially when the castle was under attack. She decided to hide somewhere.

Syaoran cursed, the castle gates would soon be destroyed. The enemy was ruthless: frail soldiers marched by the thousands, using crude battering rams to beat down the gate, despite the army¡¦s best efforts to stop them. Though seemingly pathetic, the enemy continued to march even when they were set on fire or were wounded beyond help.

¡§General! The gate will be gone in a matter of minutes! We can¡¦t hold them back much longer!¡¨ the commander shouted over the wails of the dying hordes.

Syaoran looked up at the sun, ¡§Still two more hours before the sunset. It is important we lead the Princess to safety.¡¨

The commander looked nervous, but did not voice his own opinions. ¡§We¡¦ll try our best, General. Please, prepare the Princess¡¦s escape as soon as possible. You should go with her.¡¨ It was common knowledge throughout the army that their General cared for the Princess. Perhaps cared for her more than was necessary for a Guardian. The army respected Syaoran¡¦s leadership, and despite the current situation, every soldier still wanted to see their General to safety, along with the people he loved.

¡§I will not be going. I have sworn to protect this kingdom, and I shall do so today,¡¨ Syaoran said. The commander rubbed his eyes when he thought Syaoran actually smiled, albeit a sad one.

¡§Very well, General. We will do our best.¡¨

Sakura woke up quietly. She had been hiding in a small storage closet and fell asleep. She peeked outside and realized that it was already nighttime. The sound of marching caused her to return to her hiding place. The footsteps stopped outside the closet. Sakura panicked and prepared to attack whoever opened the door.

A few words were exchanged outside, in a language Sakura could not understand. ¡¥That means the enemy has taken over the castle!¡¦ she gasped. ¡¥Now I have to find my way out¡KBut¡KI have to find the Princess¡Kand Syaoran-kun.¡¦ Despite Syaoran¡¦s earlier treatment, Sakura still hoped for his safety. But the General can take care of himself; Sakura would have to go look for the Princess.

As the footsteps faded down the corridor, Sakura slipped out and began to make her way to the Princess¡¦s quarters. She avoided the black-clad knights that were new to her: all of Tomoeda¡¦s knights wore bright colors. Among the black knights, large robed figures swept silently through the halls. Sakura did not want to be discovered by those beings; even the knights stood out of their way.

After taking an hour to reach the Princess¡¦s room, which normally would take five minutes, Sakura found an impregnable wall of guards standing outside her room. Sakura would have to wait until they moved the Princess before she tried anything. In the mean time, she began to make her way out of the castle. ¡¥The surrounding city would make a much more suitable hiding place,¡¦ she thought.

By the time Sakura reached the city, her mind was in shock: dead bodies laid everywhere, stanching the air with their decay. But what had shocked her even more were notices of the Princess¡¦s public execution tomorrow. The enemy, it seems, has no heart and will rule its new holdings with an iron fist.

Sakura slept until the afternoon the next day, her ordeal during the pervious night was too much for her frail body. She found a discarded sheet and wrapped it around her, concealing any hints of her association to the Princess. She made her way towards the city square, which is where the execution would be held.

There were already thousands of people attempting to break the barricade of black knights surrounding the raised platform. The Princess stood there with a blank look on her face. She was a Princess; she would not cry in front of her people nor her enemies. A number of commanders have already been executed before her, and their blood ran freely onto the streets. Each departed soul had only one regret: the Princess was not safe. Their best efforts to escort her out of the castle were quickly stopped by an overwhelming number of soldiers, and the Princess ordered her guards to surrender before they lost their lives in a hopeless struggle. ¡¥At least I will have helped save some lives,¡¦ she thought optimistically. ¡¥And¡Kthey haven¡¦t captured him yet.¡¦

The Princess felt a tug: it was her turn. The executioner read off her ¡¥crimes¡¦ with a monotone voice. Her eyes searched frantically for a way to delay her death. She found her only hope: Sakura. The unmistakable emerald eyes peered out of a dirty cloth, her eyes wide with sorrow. The Princess smiled to herself when she saw another cloaked figure standing a few meters behind her.

The Princess began to laugh, much to the annoyance of the executioner. ¡§Do you find death so amusing, little girl?¡¨

¡§Of course, especially when my death has no meaning,¡¨ she laughed aloud. ¡§People of Tomoeda, do not fear, a savior will come one day. You must not lose hope in your homeland. Because¡X¡¨ Her words were cut off by a sharp slap on her cheek.

The people began to murmur, confused at their Princess¡¦s words.

¡§Do not lose fear!¡¨ the Princess shouted. ¡§For the real Princess is over there! Help her escape!¡¨ She pointed at Sakura, who was frozen in fear.

Everyone, including the black knights, turned towards the Princess¡¦s finger, stopping at a trembling figure in a brown rag. Sakura began to back off slowly, wishing there was some way to get away from the knights.

A citizen looked into her eyes, ¡§It really is the Princess!¡¨ The crowd cheered and renewed their hopes for the survival of their kingdom.

The real Princess smiled, relieved that her trick worked. She gasped as a knight pointed a crossbow at Sakura. Without thinking, the Princess threw herself in front of the archer. Time seemed to stand still as the bolt entered her body. Sakura screamed and let her concealment drop to the floor. The other cloaked figure reached out and grabbed Sakura.

¡§Save the Princess¡K save Sakura,¡¨ the Princess said as her vision blurred. Her final thoughts as she entered the relaxing embrace of death were: ¡¥Protect her, Syaoran-kun¡K Love her as you loved me¡K¡¦

Sakura watched in horror as the Princess¡¦s small body collapsed on the ground. She felt as if she was watching her own death. A hand grabbed her shoulders and began to pull her away from the square.

The citizens, now with renewed vigor, held off the knights¡¦ advance with fervor. Although they were only weaponless peasants, their bodies hampered the enemy¡¦s pursuit. Each inhabitant of Tomoeda willingly gave their life for the safety of the Princess; for the safety of the person they thought was the Princess, for the safety of Sakura.

Sakura let herself be dragged along. She was dimly aware that they have gotten past all the guards and had exited the city. Tears ran down her face as she kept replaying the final moments of the Princess¡¦s bravery in her mind.

Powerful arms gently wrapped around her neck. She looked up and saw Syaoran, General of Tomoeda, with tears in his eyes. ¡§You should go, Sakura,¡¨ he said.

¡§Syaoran-kun¡K I am not a spy, please believe me¡K I did not want¡X¡¨

Syaoran stopped her, ¡§I know now, I am sorry I accused you. A spy would not have cried for the Princess.¡¨

¡§Where are you headed now?¡¨ Sakura did not want to leave Syaoran. Perhaps she feared for her own safety, perhaps it was safer to travel in pairs, perhaps it was something else.

¡§I will avenge the King and the Princess tonight.¡¨

¡§But¡K¡¨

Syaoran stood up to adjust the straps of his dusty armor and check his white blade.

¡§Syaoran-kun,¡¨ Sakura called as he began walking back towards the city. He continued to walk, preparing to meet the enemy, ready to give his life to kill another enemy. ¡§Syaoran-kun, please don¡¦t leave¡K¡¨

Syaoran froze in his steps. He had heard the same words before, from the same voice. ¡¥But not the same person,¡¦ he remembered, as he continued to walk.

¡§I know I¡¦m not the Princess,¡¨ Sakura cried. ¡§But¡Kwould you please stay with me?¡¨

Syaoran let a tear slide down his face as he remembered all the times he was with the Princess. Despite his harsh training to become a knight, her gentle words of encouragements had always drove him on. Without her, Syaoran would not have survived even the first year of training. He owed the world to her. ¡¥But I let her die,¡¦ he thought sullenly. ¡¥I let the Princess die¡K I let my love die.¡¦

¡§Syaoran-kun¡K¡¨ Sakura called. She picked her words carefully, fearing that Syaoran will misunderstand her, ¡§I don¡¦t¡K think that the Princess would be¡K happy that you gave your life for no reason.¡¨

Syaoran turned around and looked at Sakura. She continued, ¡§I don¡¦t recall anything of my past, but maybe¡K maybe I was placed here for a second chance¡K Perhaps, you weren¡¦t meant to die a meaningless death. Perhaps your quest is to help me with mine¡K¡¨

Syaoran was silent for a moment. ¡§And what quest is yours?¡¨ he asked.

¡§The Princess said I will save Tomoeda¡K I think¡K I decided that I will try to collect the Clow Cards.¡¨

Syaoran snickered, ¡§You? A little girl like you? You wish to be the greatest magician in history?¡¨ Syaoran gave a mocking laugh.

¡§It¡¦s better than giving my life in some senseless act of valor,¡¨ Sakura replied coldly, hoping the words would bring some sense into Syaoran. ¡§Do you think the Princess would rather you help me or kill yourself for no reason?¡¨

Syaoran pondered a bit on her logic. He sighed in defeat: he could never win an argument against girls with such enthusiastic dreams. ¡§There is one thing I ask of you. I will treat you like the Princess, for you are the Princess now. No one must know that the Princess is dead. The people must have hope if we are to rebuild Tomoeda.¡¨

¡§Syaoran-kun¡K¡¨ Sakura did not know what to say. She has never been a Princess before and was afraid she could not maintain the charade.

Syaoran knelt in the direction of the castle and whispered a promise to his departed love, ¡¥I will be back to avenge you, my Princess. Goodbye, for now, my love.¡¦ He stood up and faced Sakura, with a beaming smile. ¡§Shall we go, Princess?¡¨

Sakura smiled. She did not like to see Syaoran sad, and his cheerful side was very comforting. ¡§You may call me Sakura, Syaoran-kun.¡¨

¡§As you wish, Sakura,¡¨ Syaoran bowed and allowed Sakura to take his arm. The two began walked away from the devastated landscape, in search of new hope, new friends, and, perhaps, new love.

¡§Syaoran-kun?¡¨

¡§Yes, Sakura?¡¨

¡§Where are we going?¡¨

¡§¡K¡¨

Author¡¦s Notes¡VThank you all for the positive feedback! I was dreading how impromptu this was, but I¡¦m glad there are people who enjoy this story ^ ^- A few comments I remember from the reviews, I will try to answer them ¡V

Why are there 2 Sakura? - Well, not anymore -_-; Sorry¡K But~ You will find out why there were two Sakura¡¦s¡K later in the series¡K perhaps much later.

Updates? - Okay, I will try to update it more than once every three days, but I can¡¦t promise anything. I will update at least once every three days though, depending how fast I can think of the next episode.

If you want to read more of my works, I have recently released ¡§Seven Days ¡V Discarded Sections.¡¨ It contains all the scenes I have discarded while writing ¡§Seven Days.¡¨ I think it is fun to read, even if some parts are sad. No promises of a lot of updates for that one; I will update whenever I discard another scene. Read the discarded scenes if you enjoy my writing style. It is very different from ¡§A Fairy Tale Princess,¡¨ since I have spent a lot of time on ¡§Seven Days.¡¨ In fact, as of right now, I have spent more than 78 hours in the planning, writing, and editing of the first three chapters (out of seven chapters). I think ¡§Seven Days¡¨ is really worth the wait (and the work)!