**usual disclaimers apply**
**thank you for reading this fic!!! =D especially those who gave their review!!!**
legend:
(...) thoughts
*....* specific action while speaking
=== another place, dimension, time, group of people...etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A MAGICIAN'S CURSE
by Yumemi
~Chapter 18~
As soon as they had fixed Saehri "Selune" Clow, the others talked
while they waited for their tired frend to wake up.
"Sakura, can you tell us what happened to you?" Ruriko asked.
Sakura stopped looking at Saehri's face and sighed. "well, all I
can remember is that I was walking along the Quad, just resting my
mind, when a hankie was placed atop my face and then.... nothing.
I don't remember anything after that."
"Well, as soon as Selu - I mean - Saehri here wakes up, I'm sure
she'll explain everything." says Zell.
"and explain I will." Saehri said.
All turned around to see that Saehri was already sitted erect on
her bed.
"are you sure you're ok?" Sakura asked.
Saehri smiled at her. "I'm quite alright, Card mistress."
"well then, you can start explaining." Squall suddenly spoke up,
startling everyone.
"Alright," Saehri said, "let me start. I'm Saehri Clow, as you all
know, and I am Reed Clow also known as Clow Reed's twin sister."
"so that's why!" Sakura suddenly interrupted, "you look exactly like
him!... but of course in a more feminine way."
"who's Clow Reed?" Squall asked.
"Clow Reed is the creator of the Clow Cards. I'm sure you know all
about the cards by now, right?" All nodded. "Good. You see, when Reed
and I were little, maybe about four or five, we started to serve the
Ryu Dynasty. At that time, not even your parents were born."
"wait a sec. how come..." shun started to say.
"I'm still alive? if all of you would stop interrupting, I'll get to
that." she said. Shun shut up and pouted. "well then, if I may continue,
my brother and I served the Ryu Dynasty. As you all know, twins are
supposed to be born on the same day - but we were not like that. My birth
was magically delayed to hide the fact that we were truly twins. So, he
was older than me by a year.
When we were old enough, we were both sent to the imperial palace. Our
father and our mother both died that day as well, so we didn't have much
choice. So we served the palace as royal guards. Why? you might ask? it
was because when we were still in out mother's womb, a very powerful
fortune-teller told the Emperor about the power that we yeilded and told
him that it would be very helpful to the dynasty and to the Empress, who
didn't bear any child at all. So, the fortune-teller pointed out where we
were and our parents were taken very good care.
Many years came and the Empress did not bear any child. As to comfort her,
Reed and I became her 'foster' children. We also served as a bodyguard -
protecting her from evil forces and herself. She tried to kill herself many
times because of her womb being barren, telling that she was no use to the
Emperor - even if the Emperor told her that he loved her time and time again.
It was a good thing that we were there.
One summer day, an enlightening news came: the Empress was pregnant. A
year later, she gave birth to a health young boy. They named him Huan-Lang
- meaning Phantom wolf.
Unfortunately, not all people wanted the prince. There was one, and her
name was Yoe. She was the Emperor's councilor and adviser and she also
served as the palace witch, though she peferred to be called sorceress.
The reason as to why she didn't want to have the prince is that the Emperor
will now have and heir to the throne. Before, thinking that he'll never
have an heir, he wrote in his will the Yoe will be next in line to rule.
The Emperor didn't know her dark side and so she was happy. But all that
changed when Prince Huan-Lang was born."
Saehri paused for a while. On her face, pain was clearly seen.
"it must have been a very awful memory..." Ruriko said.
Saehri cleared her throat and nodded. "indeed. But the worst is yet to
come. One night, I saw Yoe creep to the baby's room. I immediately informed
the Empress and she awoke. I gave her a small amount of my power, knowing
that a chase was sure to follow. The Empress and I parted ways as I still
had to wake Reed. When we went to follow the Empress, the chase was on.
The two of us followed their aura and we ended up on a spaceous field.
Knowing that the baby had no hope of surviving there, my brother advised
the Empress to make a portal of escape for the baby.
While my brother and the Empress did the rituals to open the portal, I
battled with Yoe. It was a hard battle, but I was on the winning side.
But then, Lady Luck wasn't smiling at us. When the baby was already going
to safety, yoe had been able to curse the child before I finished her life."
Saehri's voice faltered. The hatred and pain was evident in all her facial
features, especially her voice.
" ...the Empress grieved and she died after a week. At the loss of both his
loved ones, the Emperor died after a month of the Empress' death - and that
was the end of the Ryu Dynasty. My brother and I left the city and travelled
on to the world. We grew older in age, knowledge and power. Soon, my brother
created the Clow Cards of Light and I of the Dark. When I had completed my deck,
the card I called Vision, gave me a vision that I would be able to find the
prince and maybe save him ...someday. So, reminiscing the death of my beloved
second mother, I cursed myself that I shall not die until I had found the prince
and removed the curse on his body........that is why I am still alive today."
she finished with a big breath of air.
All who listened now looked at this woman with newfound respect. She had
suffered greater than any of them and had gained the knowledge one would not
be able to learn in one lifetime.
"tell me," Sakura was the first to speak, "tell me about the Clow Cards of
Dark."
Saehri smiled at her. "Card mistress, the story goes like this: It was one
sunny day when we learned how to use the Tarot Cards. We were awed by it and
decided to make our own - but with a different twist. It would not be used to
tell fortunes or the future, but it will be filled with the power of the
elements... or even more.
We were still young then, so we waited until we grew up. We then travelled
the world, capturing dieties of different sorts. You see, dieties and faeries
have two kinds: one who come out at light, and one who comes out at night. We
drew lots and I ended up capturing the ones that come at night. But they were
not evil. Just more wild and fierce. You can say that only ones with greater
power can yeild it. But do not be mistaken, that does not mean that my deck
was stronger and more powerful than my brothers cause it is not. The powers of
the cards rely on the strength of the hand that yeild it."
All were silent again.
"wait..." Zell suddenly said, "you're talking 'bout cards now, what about the
prince? don't you think he'd be dead by now?"
Saehri looked at him thoughtfully. "No. The portal my brother used was inter
-dimensional and time-travelling. It has sent the baby to the future(for my
brother never used time portals that travelled backwards) and to another
dimension. So, he is still alive."
Squall stepped out of the shadows from the corner where he was standing and
spoke, "what makes you think that?"
"I think that because I have already found him and is now within the walls of
this room." she said, not removing her eyes from Zell.
Shun followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the tatooed blonde.
"Zell?" he said.
All(except Saehri & Zell, as he was locked by Saehri's eyes.) first stared at
him, then to Saehri, then to Zell.
"me???" Zell said in surprise, "you must be kidding! my name ain't no Huan
-whatever and is sure ain't Phantom wolf!."
"would you like to know the name she screamed when the child disappeared?"
Saehri asked.
Zell nodded, though he was too afraid of the answer.
"Zell"
All eyes fell on Zell.
_________________________________________________________________
END
**thank you for reading this fic!!! =D especially those who gave their review!!!**
legend:
(...) thoughts
*....* specific action while speaking
=== another place, dimension, time, group of people...etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A MAGICIAN'S CURSE
by Yumemi
~Chapter 18~
As soon as they had fixed Saehri "Selune" Clow, the others talked
while they waited for their tired frend to wake up.
"Sakura, can you tell us what happened to you?" Ruriko asked.
Sakura stopped looking at Saehri's face and sighed. "well, all I
can remember is that I was walking along the Quad, just resting my
mind, when a hankie was placed atop my face and then.... nothing.
I don't remember anything after that."
"Well, as soon as Selu - I mean - Saehri here wakes up, I'm sure
she'll explain everything." says Zell.
"and explain I will." Saehri said.
All turned around to see that Saehri was already sitted erect on
her bed.
"are you sure you're ok?" Sakura asked.
Saehri smiled at her. "I'm quite alright, Card mistress."
"well then, you can start explaining." Squall suddenly spoke up,
startling everyone.
"Alright," Saehri said, "let me start. I'm Saehri Clow, as you all
know, and I am Reed Clow also known as Clow Reed's twin sister."
"so that's why!" Sakura suddenly interrupted, "you look exactly like
him!... but of course in a more feminine way."
"who's Clow Reed?" Squall asked.
"Clow Reed is the creator of the Clow Cards. I'm sure you know all
about the cards by now, right?" All nodded. "Good. You see, when Reed
and I were little, maybe about four or five, we started to serve the
Ryu Dynasty. At that time, not even your parents were born."
"wait a sec. how come..." shun started to say.
"I'm still alive? if all of you would stop interrupting, I'll get to
that." she said. Shun shut up and pouted. "well then, if I may continue,
my brother and I served the Ryu Dynasty. As you all know, twins are
supposed to be born on the same day - but we were not like that. My birth
was magically delayed to hide the fact that we were truly twins. So, he
was older than me by a year.
When we were old enough, we were both sent to the imperial palace. Our
father and our mother both died that day as well, so we didn't have much
choice. So we served the palace as royal guards. Why? you might ask? it
was because when we were still in out mother's womb, a very powerful
fortune-teller told the Emperor about the power that we yeilded and told
him that it would be very helpful to the dynasty and to the Empress, who
didn't bear any child at all. So, the fortune-teller pointed out where we
were and our parents were taken very good care.
Many years came and the Empress did not bear any child. As to comfort her,
Reed and I became her 'foster' children. We also served as a bodyguard -
protecting her from evil forces and herself. She tried to kill herself many
times because of her womb being barren, telling that she was no use to the
Emperor - even if the Emperor told her that he loved her time and time again.
It was a good thing that we were there.
One summer day, an enlightening news came: the Empress was pregnant. A
year later, she gave birth to a health young boy. They named him Huan-Lang
- meaning Phantom wolf.
Unfortunately, not all people wanted the prince. There was one, and her
name was Yoe. She was the Emperor's councilor and adviser and she also
served as the palace witch, though she peferred to be called sorceress.
The reason as to why she didn't want to have the prince is that the Emperor
will now have and heir to the throne. Before, thinking that he'll never
have an heir, he wrote in his will the Yoe will be next in line to rule.
The Emperor didn't know her dark side and so she was happy. But all that
changed when Prince Huan-Lang was born."
Saehri paused for a while. On her face, pain was clearly seen.
"it must have been a very awful memory..." Ruriko said.
Saehri cleared her throat and nodded. "indeed. But the worst is yet to
come. One night, I saw Yoe creep to the baby's room. I immediately informed
the Empress and she awoke. I gave her a small amount of my power, knowing
that a chase was sure to follow. The Empress and I parted ways as I still
had to wake Reed. When we went to follow the Empress, the chase was on.
The two of us followed their aura and we ended up on a spaceous field.
Knowing that the baby had no hope of surviving there, my brother advised
the Empress to make a portal of escape for the baby.
While my brother and the Empress did the rituals to open the portal, I
battled with Yoe. It was a hard battle, but I was on the winning side.
But then, Lady Luck wasn't smiling at us. When the baby was already going
to safety, yoe had been able to curse the child before I finished her life."
Saehri's voice faltered. The hatred and pain was evident in all her facial
features, especially her voice.
" ...the Empress grieved and she died after a week. At the loss of both his
loved ones, the Emperor died after a month of the Empress' death - and that
was the end of the Ryu Dynasty. My brother and I left the city and travelled
on to the world. We grew older in age, knowledge and power. Soon, my brother
created the Clow Cards of Light and I of the Dark. When I had completed my deck,
the card I called Vision, gave me a vision that I would be able to find the
prince and maybe save him ...someday. So, reminiscing the death of my beloved
second mother, I cursed myself that I shall not die until I had found the prince
and removed the curse on his body........that is why I am still alive today."
she finished with a big breath of air.
All who listened now looked at this woman with newfound respect. She had
suffered greater than any of them and had gained the knowledge one would not
be able to learn in one lifetime.
"tell me," Sakura was the first to speak, "tell me about the Clow Cards of
Dark."
Saehri smiled at her. "Card mistress, the story goes like this: It was one
sunny day when we learned how to use the Tarot Cards. We were awed by it and
decided to make our own - but with a different twist. It would not be used to
tell fortunes or the future, but it will be filled with the power of the
elements... or even more.
We were still young then, so we waited until we grew up. We then travelled
the world, capturing dieties of different sorts. You see, dieties and faeries
have two kinds: one who come out at light, and one who comes out at night. We
drew lots and I ended up capturing the ones that come at night. But they were
not evil. Just more wild and fierce. You can say that only ones with greater
power can yeild it. But do not be mistaken, that does not mean that my deck
was stronger and more powerful than my brothers cause it is not. The powers of
the cards rely on the strength of the hand that yeild it."
All were silent again.
"wait..." Zell suddenly said, "you're talking 'bout cards now, what about the
prince? don't you think he'd be dead by now?"
Saehri looked at him thoughtfully. "No. The portal my brother used was inter
-dimensional and time-travelling. It has sent the baby to the future(for my
brother never used time portals that travelled backwards) and to another
dimension. So, he is still alive."
Squall stepped out of the shadows from the corner where he was standing and
spoke, "what makes you think that?"
"I think that because I have already found him and is now within the walls of
this room." she said, not removing her eyes from Zell.
Shun followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the tatooed blonde.
"Zell?" he said.
All(except Saehri & Zell, as he was locked by Saehri's eyes.) first stared at
him, then to Saehri, then to Zell.
"me???" Zell said in surprise, "you must be kidding! my name ain't no Huan
-whatever and is sure ain't Phantom wolf!."
"would you like to know the name she screamed when the child disappeared?"
Saehri asked.
Zell nodded, though he was too afraid of the answer.
"Zell"
All eyes fell on Zell.
_________________________________________________________________
END
