Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura doesn`t belong to me, but is CLAMP`s
original work. This fanficseries is partly based on CCS and their
characters are used without permission and i is reserverd for entertainment
purpose only. Card Captor Sakura is the copyright of CLAMP, first published
by Kodansha Co. Ltd.1996
Posted: April
And the 2nd chapter is out! Little bit too much OOCness I think... Anyway.... I`ve never known what OOC-ness means, `cause nobody had the mercy to explain it to me, so it doesn`t matter...
So the story shall be continued!!!
Destiny`s child
Chapter 2: An old tale
Shaolan and Sakura stood fascinated there, while Mac and the boy smiled.
Only Vincara seemed to be bored of the sight of the seaport, surrounded by the beautiful colours of the early evening. Slowly they approached the huge city of trade and marveled at the foreign landscape.
"Wow, that's Ragna? How beauuuutiful!" Sakura said in her typical cheerful tone.
"Yes... it is. The centre of trade as I said. I would be pleased to show you all the sights of the city, but I have to earn some gold before... to buy some supplies." Mac answered, smiling.
" Earn some money?" Sakura asked.
„Yes. Our ressources aren`t that great, so now I have to tell stories again."
Shaolan raised an eyebrow „ You earn money by telling stories?".
„ I`m a bard, that`s exactly what I do. Didn`t you see my white feather? It signs me as a bard of the first rank.".
The boy leaned closer to the smiling orange-haired girl..
„ Don`t forget, that these people are from another dimension" he murmured.
„ O... sorry. I forgot that little fact. In our dimension bards, actors singers and so on are signed with feathers of so called Lyma-birds. There are three different ranks. The lowest rank is the red feather, mostly for jugglers, the next the blue feather for actors and the last, as you can see, white for bards and singers. So I`m signed as a bard. You know what a bard is?"
The two from the foreign dimension shook their heads. The little girl sighed, rolling with her eyes.
„You don`t have any bards in your world?... Well... A bard is a storyteller and some are singers, too. It is not always a well-paid job, as a warrior I would be paid much better... It must be great to be a real swordsman..." Her voice faded and she stopped walking, a dreamy expression appeared in her shimmering ocean-like eyes.
„Mac?... Mac!" the boy waved his hand in front of the mind absent girl's face.
„Mmh....?"
„WAKE UP!"
Mac fell, dragged out of her dreams, face first to the ground.
Sakura and Shaolan stared unbelievingly at the lying figure.The ghost giggled and rolled through the air, while the boy looked nervously at Mac. "... Oops."
Mac got slowly up, very unsteady, and shook her head. She turned around to stare madly at the boy.
" Don't...do...this....ever...again", she said, stressing every single word, „ That is the second time I was knocked out.... Only one time again and I`m going to lose my patience...". Suddenly the teen girl noticed the giggling behind her. The ghost still grinned from one ear to another.
„And you... stop that!", Mac whispered with threatening eyes.
„Relax....", Vincara tried to soothe the girl with the great sword, slowly retreating." We are already in front of the city!", the ghost continued with forced calmness, „That means.... I gotta go. So... good bye.." And the ghost disappeared.
Mac`s fierce glare turned to the boy, freezing him at his place „Me too!" the boy said, sweatdropping, and charmed a hole he vanished through.
Relieved sighing sounded from the rest of the group.
„mmh.. what was I going to do...", Mac spoke under her breath as if nothing had happened.
„Maybe... we wanted to go into the city...", the little boy remarked sarcastic.
„Yeah! To get some supplies!", Sakura added, not noticing Shaolans tone.
„O.. Now I know again..." Mac turned to them, looking at them with questioning eyes „ Perhaps you are more interested in visiting the city than listening to my stories...?"
Sakura shook her head „I would be pleased to listen to your stories! Right, Shaolan?"
He hesitated „Well... I think it would be more useful to...", he stopped speaking as he saw Sakura's puppy dog expression. With disappointed big eyes she looked up at him. He blushed by the sight of those green emerald orbs were shimmering watery, framed by her auburn strands.
„Umm... Okay... Why not?"
Sakura's eyes started to shine in joy. Shaolan felt his face redden more in crimson.
Damn... I can`t resist those emerald eyes, Shaolan thought angrily at himself.
„So... Now that this subject is cleared up.. Let's go into our beautiful city, the capital of Ragna!" Mac announced cheerfully.
The city was filled with busy people standing by the stands, talking and laughing. It seemed to be a kind of bazar that took place today. Curiously Sakura looked at the mysterious shops and saw a lot of things she knew, but mysterious unkown things, too.
She noticed odd looking herbs and old magic books on which gold runes were written. Ancient magic and secrets seemed to be everwhere, part of old legends, surrounding her as to invite her into this mystic world full of sorcery...
„Sakura! What are you waiting for?!", Mac`s voice interfered her thoughts.
The auburn haired girl from another dimension shook her head to get rid of the sudden dizziness.
... this world seems to attract me in some way... was Sakura`s last thought before she shouted back
„Coming!"
The feeling completely vanished into her subconsciousness, while she concentrated on catching to the others, who already had some lead. Panting she stopped by an amused looking Mac.
„Sorry... I... was... just a little bit distracted..."
„It`s okay...as long as you don`t lose your way... But now we really should get to a taverne. You can go whenever you want, but remember that then we will meet in front of the taverne again. I will be there all the time. Right?"
The two teens nodded and followed the orange haired girl, heading for the next taverne.
After having branched off some streets they reached their destination. A taverne called 'the drunken druid'. Inside the taverne it was not so full as in the streets, but a little bit of stuffy, nevertheless the room was filled with some noise and laughter. Some of the other guests started whispering behind them about their strange appearances and Sakura started feeling uncomfortable. Unconsciously she gripped Shaolan`s shirt as she looked around, Shaolan on the other side was very aware of this little fact and blushed lightly. Yet Mac didn't notice this little scene and kept finding a way around tables and stairs to a free seat. Finally they sat down on a place next to the window, Mac cooling herself of the thick air in the taverne by using her hand as a fan. The peoples' rumoring about the newcomers faded off, as they saw the little bard sitting on their side.
So...what now...?, Shaolan frowned. He couldn't imagine how the little slight orange haired girl could be able to gain the attention of all the people.
Soon he should find out, as Mac cleared her throat and took her white feather out of her hair, murmuring some not understandable words. Sakura's eyes grew huge as she saw like something came out of the feather that become bigger and changed its form, till it had the outline of... something similar to a guitar, but slighter and the body was oval formed, the wood oddly patterned. Five precision site-like taut threads were tightened from the head of the instrument over a hole in the middle. Appropriate to the bard`s size it had settled down at her lap.
Shaolan's jaw stood wide open, while the orange-haired girl fastened the feather in her hair again. Unbelievingly he looked quickly around, but the other guests of the taverne didn't pay attention to them, like they were used to the use of that kind of magic.
Mac took the... instrument and started playing it, looking at her friends again. She frowned at their expressions and asked curiously „Have you never ever seen seen a 'Lyma' in your world? ... Your world must be very different from mine... " Without stopping playing she closed Shaolan's still opened jaw.
„Yeah... you are right", he managed to say after having cleared his mind by shaking his head.
Sakura noted admiringly, staring at the lyma „Wow.... That's amazing! You can charm with a feather an...instrument".
The lyma played an accord, like it was confused. „I've already told you this is a feather of a lyma... didn't I? Their feathers can keep things inside. Normal feathers of lymas are as big as a full-grown human. These birds are very big, as you can imagine by that. But the bard's guild only takes the not full grown ones. With a little bit of work you can make it to a stuff keeper, as we call it. Not all bards have such feathers, but a few of the nevertheless do."
"Wooooow.." Sakura and Shaolan stared fascinated at the lyma, while Mac played a beautiful melody. The song blowed the auburn haired girl`s worries and anxieties away, distracting from the light self-consciousness of being in another world, which had developed inside her. Sakura closed her eyes, while the melody filled her heart with dreams of great adventures and other worlds
Although... We are already in an adventure in another world...
„You can play very well", Sakura remarked dreamily. Besides, Shaolan didn't seem that impressed by Mac's abilities. He looked at Sakura, as she listened to the music. The light of the dawn from the window had her hair shimmer. Like a beautiful fairy she sat there. Unreachable in her cuteness...
He blushed fiercely by that thought and embarrassed he turned away.
Thank God she didn't see it...
Slowly the other guests noticed the playing of the little bard and the taverne became more quiet. Then the melody faded in a soft tone. Applause sounded from the audience. Smiling Mac bowed to them like she did this every day, whispering to her friends „In this kind of cheering you can recognize a good bard."
Then, to the crowd, she continued „May I introduce myself? My name is Magleen, Magleen Debil from the white rank, the bard`s gild. As you can guess I want to honour my name, as all bards do... by leading you to a world full of mysterious magic... to a place full of adventures, where dreams come true. Only listen to me.... and you could become a part of these adventures". Although she whispered, her voice was clearly hearable, „So... the tale shall take its way..."
Long time ago existed a cursed forest, the forbidden forest, which was filled with death and disease. Only its occupants, evil dangerous monsters, could exist there, causing the death of many brave knights. But it hadn`t been always full of disease and the bones of those men... Once it had been a holy forest filled with life and joy, untouched by mankind. Surely you would like to know how it could then turn into a place of death. Just listen to me and you will find out...
Once an elf fell in love with a mortal man. Since the moment they first met in that holy forest under a cherry tree, they knew it was their fate to be forever together. It was one of those destined incidents, that directed them to each other, called love. But their happiness didn`t last long...
A mortal woman had also fallen in love with the same man. As soon as the man rejected her, she changed into an evil demon, created by pure hate. Filled with the only desire to get revenge, it wanted to destroy the love of the elf and her beloved. In a terrible battle, so powerful that it burnt up every tree in their surroundings, she managed to kill the couple. But with the strength of their love they also accomplished to seal the demon in the forest, that has been dried up and lifeless since that very day.
As the couple died something strange happened in the forest. Out of a cherry blossom, the symbol of their love, a girl was born with an innocent and pure soul. Oblivious of the reason of her parents` death she was raised by the forest itself, that was keen of her, protecting her against every danger, that could threaten her. The girl became friends with the forest and all its creatures. Grown up in this magical place, she knew every single part of her home except the burnt part, were the demon was sealed in. Her friends prevented her from discovering it, telling her it was dangerous, yet subconsciously she felt the evil magic and the death that radiated from it, avoiding it by her own. In spite of her sad past she grew up to a cheerful and caring person, untouched by humans and elves.
... Until the day a boy lost his way in the forest. Curiously the girl watched the boy - she had never seen one before - hidden by the many bushes nearby. The boy was afraid and went astray more and more, until he finally collapsed to the ground. The girl approached the boy curiously, leaving her hideout. The boy noticed her and got up quickly, while the girl stared at him, still like a little roe. But as the boy demanded to know who she was, she only giggled at his effort to sound menacingly. The boy started feeling unsure and the girl regretted being so heartless. Pitying him, she asked if he got lost in a partly curious, partly worried voice, but then suddenly the boy started to cry and collapsed, trembling in his anxiety and selfconsciousness. Worried the little girl stepped forward until she stood directly before the newcomer and comforted him, telling him that she was sorry to have made him cry and would guide him out of the forest, if he wished. Amazed the boy looked at her and then began to smile. They understood well at once and the elf-girl felt that she had been missing something until now. It seemed naturally that they became friends in the short time they needed to get out of the forest.
When they had to say goodbye the halfelf and her new friend felt sorrow, and the girl smiled sadly at him, telling him she would feel very lonely as soon as he was gone. The boy tried to comfort the elf, told her not to be sad, and promised her to come back one day. The girl smiled at those words and pledged to wait for him, either. Then they separated, he into the direction of the human country, she back to the forest.
But as time passed, she began to feel an arising longing in her heart to see him, until she finally couldn`t bear it any longer and left her forest, without telling her friends, the animals, which would surely have stopped her. She was determined to find him, but then humans found her, thinking she was a lost orphan. The men brought her to their village forcibly, and as she told them who she was, they didn`t believe her, locking her in the village, telling her again and again that her story had been pure fantasy. Finally the little half-elf got desperate, not daring to tell any longer of her past. But the dreams of a little boy always were persueing the girl in her sleep, forever memorized, until she had grown up to a beautiful lady.
She was so beautiful that many poets wanted to see her with their own eyes, despairing because they weren't able to describe her unique kind of prettiness. They admired her incredible green eyes, shining like emeralds, her natural grace and kindness, and her lithe figur, yet their description never got even near the truth.
Many brave men came from far lands to see her and fall in love, but she has never been able to respond their feelings, deep in heart knowing that there already was someone else.
The desire for her true love grew and pulled her away from the village she had grown up in. She was travelling through many countries to find the person of her strongest desire, not knowing where she had to search, but as years passed she got tired of the human world and gave up. Disappointed she didn`t want to have anything to do with the human world ever again, trying to forget her dream of a little boy. So she headed for isolation in a forest, her own forest, trying to forget. First when she reached her home she felt her memories arising in her soul painfully again. But the elf convinced herself that those memories, especially the promise of a little crying boy, were a part of dreams the humans convinced her of being illusions. Otherwise maybe, she wouldn`t have been able to go on in her life.
But no matter how hard she tried to forget her desire, her grief was always being reflected in her beautiful green eyes. Day by day her sadness increased, until she couldn`t endure the loneliness of her heart only one moment longer. The desire in her heart too painful, she tried to escape to the forbidden forest, ignoring her memories of the dangers and the warnings of her old friends, trying to stop her.
And so the mischief, which killed her parents, came. The evil might recognized the girl`s relation to the couple as soon as the elf was in the forbidden forest and felt.
The chance to get its revenge had come.
Realizing the origin of the girl`s desire a wicked plan formed in the demon`s mind. It tried to convince the girl to break the seal, by promising to erase the girl`s grief, speaking sweet words.
„I can feel your pain", it said soothingly, „Don`t worry, beautiful girl, I will free you from your lonliness, but first you have to release me... otherwise I`m afraid I can`t help you".
The girl hesitated, feeling the evil in the demon`s soul, but tempted by the promise of not living any longer with that haunting sorrow, she agreed at least.
As soon as the evil might had been freed it spoke with terrible irrevocability a curse against the forest.
„This place shall be the mirror of my hate and my never ending suffering from now on. And I command the miserable animals of this once holy forest to attack everyone who tries to invade this place. Everyone in sight who could be a danger shall be killed without mercy and die a cruel death. Noone shall escape this forest alive ever again! And to you, little elf.... You`re memories and your feelings for the one you love shall be sealed, as you wished! And never you will be leaving this forest ever again. Spell of my hate, obey my command!"
Before the girl could grasp the meaning of what she had just done, the evil power had captivated the girl in the forest. First now it had an idea of what she had done, what she was losing, but it was too late... the strongest feeling of the half-elf was sealed. So deep in her heart, that it was smothered with oblivion, all her memories hidden in her subconsciousness. And every forest`s occupant, who was once her friend, was changed into a monster by the demon to guard the forest and the girl.
A lot of brave warriors tried to rescue the girl since that very day, but none ever came back, not having only a little chance against the monsters of the forest.
And maybe, the bards tell, the girl is still captured in the cursed forest, since that very day known as the „forbidden forest", waiting in her dreams for her love...
And so the legend faded into oblivion.
Well... That`s not a real happy end, you will surely say, but it isn`t over yet... the forest HAD existed a long time ago...
A wolfwarrior once had heard the story from an old bard in a taverne, just like you did, but in this case the bard told this tale only to the wolfwarrior. You wonder why did a wolfwarrior, who normally avoid cities, entered a city? Or why did the bard only tell the tale to one man? Have patience and you will know...
„And so the legend faded into oblivion, known only by old bards like me." the old bard ended, just as I did. The warrior, who had been silent during the whole tale remarked with chiding voice „... doesn`t seem to be a happy ending..."
But the bard just leaned over to him to whisper mysteriously „Maybe you can change it..."
The old man stood up and left the taverne immediately after those words, the warrior not having a chance to call after him.
Strange that this bard didn`t want to get his reward for the story... you surely wonder, just like the man of the wolf clan. But the bard`s tale fulfilled its mysterious purpose, the warrior curiously wanted to find out if the story was true, because the forbidden forest the elder bard told of really existed still to that time.
He covered a long way through the country until he finally found the forbidden forest. The wood had become an eerie looking place as time passed... or because of the curse. As often as he turned around only dead trees. Definitely the doing of ancient evil magic.
But nevertheless he didn`t lose his courage and entered the forbidden forest. The forest was dark, so that he could barely see a thing in that sunless world, where every singing and chirping of birds was missing. Only silence. He shuddered by the thought of a lifeless forest. It was nothing someone, especially a wolfwarrior would like to see. And it was quiet... a way too quiet. Suddenly he cringed by a sound of someone... something crashing through the forest into his direction, breaking the silence before. Fast he drew his sword, awaiting the monster, when the noise suddenly stopped.
No good sign, as you can guess.
The warrior listened into the eerie silence, that was before every storm. But then, scrutinizing his surroundings, he discovered in the darkness a pair of glowing red eyes.
A huge monster appeared in front of him, barely seeable with its dark fur. Watery stuff slobbering of its fangs and its claws bared, it waited for the young wolfwarrior.
You will surely think that he fought the creature, but surprisingly he didn`t.
Why?
Well, do you really think you could stand a second fighting a creature as huge as ten men?
Exactly the same thing was the warrior`s thought.
Instead he waited for the right moment, or a weakness of the monster, his only chance to survive.
He stared at glowing red eyes, which were watching him warily, its impressive fangs, dangerous claws and its whole size.
An eternity passed, the monster and the warrior staring at each other, waiting for their opponent to make the first move.
Sweat began to drop from the warrior`s face, waiting for something to happen.
Some of you will ask...why hasn`t the creature attacked yet?
The warrior found out why...
The legend had told of the monsters attacking everyone who could be a danger, but if you were no danger...
Slowly the wolfwarrior lowered his sword.
Still no reaction of the monster. Warily it looked down at the warrior.
Finally the creature stepped back, a way appearing behind it.
The man winced in surprise, as you can guess, when the creature started hissing, speaking the words only with strain.
You can go further on your chosen path if you wish. You deserve to stay alive.
Surprised the wolfwarrior gasped at the creature. He stared unbelievingly at the huge monster, until it seemed to get impatient.
We were only told to attack whatever wants to invade the forest. But our evil master didn`t told us to protect the forest against not attacking wanderers... Go on... You are worthy to see her...."
Guess of whom the creature speaks...
„Obviously there is more behind the legend as the people thought..."
Still wondering why the creature could speak the wolfwarrior went on, not noticing a pair of beautiful green eyes watching over him.
As he continued his travel on the new path, the dead forest changed slowly into a beautiful landscape filled with life and flowers, the trees no longer only decorated with mere branches, but with blooms and leafs in the healthy colours of the spring. He could only marvel at this changing and wondered, if the legend was really true, how life could bloom in a part of the mysterious wood. Deep in his thoughts he barely noticed, when the path finally ended in a little beautiful lake, that seemed to shimmer by its own, surrounded by cherry blossoms.
First a move of the girl sitting on a rock, caught his attention. A strange feeling broadened in his heart by the first sight.
„Whom does she remind me of?", he wondered, having the odd expression to have seen her before. He stared at the dream-like scene with the elf-like lady in its midth.
The girl was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, so much was sure. But she seemed so fragile... like a blossom, whose innocence has to be protected. She looked up to him, as if she hadn`t noticed him before, and her green eyes were shimmering oddly in the pale light .
„Hello, brave warrior.", she whispered with soft voice, smiling sweetly at him.
„You're the first who ever came so far to reach my lake. Most of the men that came into my forest weren't as wise as you to not attack my friends...That is the forest's secret. The curse forces them to fight. But most don't notice it... And they had to pay for it terribly..."
Sadly the green eyed girl looked at her lap.
„So the legend of the forbidden forest is true?", the warrior more observed than asked. The girl nodded lightly.
„ But how..."
„... can this part of the forest exist? Don`t ask me where it comes from, I don`t know it either. But all that matters to me is that at least this little part of my forest is not filled with death and disease... I`m happy as long as I have this little place." She looked at her lap, still smiling.
„... Are you the cursed girl of the legend?", the wolf warrior asked hesitating, but she didn't answer his question.
Instead she smiled again „Do you want to stay here? It has been a long time I talked to a human..."
„Well..." the warrior still had the feeling that he should remind her, she seemed so familiar...
„ I feel so lonely...", she said, still that strange smile on her face. A memory strucked him suddenly.
„I will feel very lonely without you", the elf girl told him, her eyes shimmering in sadness...
„ Don`t be sad... I promise I will come back!", he answered confidently, and dashed away, waving at the girl.
Latest in this moment you must have noticed the hints.
The boy in that legend.... and the strong wolfwarrior were the same person. He was the one the elf waited for... and the man could remember again... He had been lost in the forest... met that girl... and had forgotten... no... that wasn`t right... his parents had told him elves and so on wouldn`t exist... but deep in his heart he had known, had always remembered...
But if the legend was true...
„ Finally I have found you... But you won`t remeber me", he whispered sadly, but the girl didn`t respond him, staring into the emptiness behind.
„ What are you talking about?", she asked him, apparently not remembering him. He stiffened by those words and looked into her eyes.
So it`s true...
The beautiful elf looked at him questioningly, no sign of recognizing in them.
...The strongest feeling of the half-elf sealed, so deep in her heart, that it was smothered with oblivion...
He closed his eyes and clinched his fists in helpless rage.
„The legend is true..." he whispered. Maybe her character was still the same, but her memories... the promise... forgotten. But a warrior of the wolfclan doesn`t give up that easily. Maybe... if he would stay with the girl some time, she would remember again... He decided to live in the forest with the beautiful elf. But no matter how hard he tried to bring the memories back, the girl just smiled that strange smile of hers, her eyes in some way as empty as the cursed forest. As time passed they became friends, yet not more on the elf`s side. Nevertheless the warrior kept caring about the girl. Even if he wouldn`t succeed, he would always love the elf and promised to protect her no matter what, but she wasn`t able understand him. Although not knowing why, it hurt her to see him this way. Not understanding what he felt for her, it concerned her thoughts a lot. Thoughtful she often walked through the forest, when she was alone, wondering about the warrior`s attitude.
„Why is the warrior so... nice to me? It`s not that I dislike him... I like his presence, but still... Why is his behaviour towards me so... so uncomfortable for me...?"
Oblivious of her surroundings she headed for the dead trees in the lifeless place, not noticing that one of those trees was going to fall on her... First when it was too late she looked up, paralyzed in shock, but just in time her warrior came and pushed her aside. The girl lied there surprised, while the warrior sat next to her, asking if she was right. She nodded in agreement and noticed that the warrior winced in pain... He had been hit by the tree`s branches as he had rescued her. Something deep inside her cringed at this thought and she asked him why he had done this, risking his own life for her.
„ Because you are the most important person in this world to me...", he just said. Feeling embarrassed she took care of his wounds, not able to see into his affectionate eyes. The warrior still didn`t have any success in releasing the girl of the seal in her heart, yet there was now hope. In the girl`s heart developed a desire, that had been long forgotten, very small, but existing, glowing whenever the warrior was near her. Not even the evil demon could see this little glowing deep inside the girl.
But those incidents didn`t stay unnoticed...
The sleeping demon, which had rested in a dead-like state, pleased with its work, awakened again. Although unsealed, the ancient magic of the girl`s parents had been strong enough to still hold it in the wood. So not able to cause more death the demon had fallen asleep. But now its thirst after vengeance released again, it began to forge wicked plans...
On a disastrous night a hooded figure entered hard breathing the forbidden forest, asking for help. The warrior, warily as he was, came to scrutinize the situation. As soon as he was in reach, the figure collapsed in his arms. The hood slided back, revealing a beautiful black haired woman. She seemed to be mortally wounded, as far as he could say.
Worried he brought her to the lake, informing the elf of the woman`s state. The stranger seemed to have wound fever. She stammered something about being stalked by evil men, that accused her of being a demon witch and had hunted her for the last few weeks.
„ Please... help me! ", she pleaded to the warrior, gripping his cloak.
Quickly the elf scrutinized the woman`s wounds. „I go searching for some healing herbs.", she said cluelessly, looking at the wolfwarrior, and then hurried away, leaving the warrior alone with the hurt woman. He got up and leaned against a tree, cautiously looking out for the ones, who had harmed the woman. Suddenly, as soon as the elf-girl was out of sight, he felt someone embracing him. Amazed he looked down at the woman, who murmured something incoherently.
„What the...", he just managed to say before the woman kissed him affectionately, directly on his lips. He gasped in shock and tried to push her away, but she was inhumanly strong and held him in place.
Then a shocked gasp could be heard. The elf-girl stood there, a hand holding before her mouth, the herbs having fallen to her feet, completely forgotten.
„ Well... I think we were caught?", the woman cooed, smiling at the girl, leaning against the frozen warrior.
„ I...", the girl looked at the warrior, tears flooding from her face, „... I think I`ve got to go...", she stammered, already turning around to dash away. Calling for the girl the warrior finally managed to push the black haired woman away. Following his beloved, he stopped to look at the woman angrily. „Why did you do this!?" , he said unbelievingly. As she kept silent, he continued frustrated his way.... or more correctly... he tried to.
The woman stretched out a hand and the warrior stopped. „ A kiss can do a lot of things, you know? Let`s have a little fun...", she whispered, an evil smile featuring her face...
Meanwhile the elf dashed through the forest, not caring about where she was going to, her sight blurry because of her many tears.
„Why am I crying?", the half elf thought. „ What is this for a painful feeling in my heart? Why am I so unhappy?" She tried to wipe her tears away, but stumbled on a root and collapsed, still crying. She didn`t care to get up again, was just lying there, the pain in her heart too much to endure.
Suddenly a shadow appeared behind her and surprised she looked up...
And stared into the warrior`s face.
„ You followed me...?", she whispered questioning, not noticing the strange emptiness in his eyes, as he drew his sword, the top of his weapon pointing on her...
She stared blankly at it, then to her warrior, not realizing the situation, until he suddenly made a strike. Too shocked she didn`t dodge his attack, red blood dropped from her arm to the ground, as she screamed in pain.
The warrior stopped out of sudden his second attack by the sound of her voice.
One moment he only stood there, staring at the elf before him. She breathed hard, her eyes never leaving his, pain in her eyes. His eyes cleared by this sight, being „his" again. Then suddenly a shadow appeared nearby.
„His will is stronger than I thought.", a voice noted sceptically, „ I will have to strengthen my charm." Suddenly the warrior cringed in pain, the elf realizing what the woman had done.
„Why.... why are you doing this to him?", the elf asked to the bodyless voice.
„ He loves you, doesn`t he?", it asked full of hatred, the shadows revealing the black haired woman.
The elf froze, hearing those words. She had known of the love the warrior felt, but still didn`t recognize the meaning of this little word.
„ But why is that a reason to do this?", she asked, not understanding.
Insanity distorting the woman`s features, she yelled in rage „You`re just like your elf-mother! She took him away from me! And I was the one left lonely, changing into ... this... demon! You ... You are charming men to fall in love with you! But I managed to get a little bit vengeance, but then... she sealed me in isolation!" Widely the demon waved at the cherry blossoms around them „ Not even the spell I cursed YOU and the whole forest with reached this damn place, your little hideout with those hateful cherry blossoms. Every day, every second it reminds me of HER! Her damn holy grave! But now I will get my revenge..."
Her grave?, the elf thought, my mother`s grave?
So that was why neither death nor disease could reach it... But... that meant this demon killed her... Unbelievingly she looked around, her eyes wandering to the warrior, standing there in perspiration to stop himself under the spell of the demon, not able to do anything else. A sudden rage grew inside her. „But why are you using him? He doesn`t have anything to do with this! Let him go!", the girl cried, but the demon just smiled.
Don`t be so foolish, you know the answer, her look seemed to say, but the girl didn`t understand, as the evil sorceress made a wide gesture, looking at the wolfwarrior.
„Kill her." She commanded coldly.
The warrior moved again towards her, like in pain. His forehead was wet in perspiration, concentrating to control his body. But as the woman commanded again, he lifted his weapon again and yelled desperately at her „Run!"
„ But.."
„No buts! Just go!",he said, trembling under the charm that forced him to attack his beloved.
And she ran away, while he tried to control the charm on him. He fought against himself, but the force had him followed the girl and reached her in a dead-end, the laughing demon leaving behind. Shaking she stood there under a cherry tree, the evil sorceress`s laughing echoing in her ears... not able to do anything.
„No way... I can`t stand this a lot longer.", the warrior whispered, fighting against this thing inside him, he managed to take a hidden dagger of his belt and struggling about the control, he threw it in front of her feet.
„Here...Use this dagger!", he told the girl, while sweat dropped from his face. Unbelievingly she just stared at the dagger, finally realizing the meaning this action.
„... I... I can't..", she whispered, cherry blossoms falling from above her, covering the ground before. A strange pain raised deep in her heart, yet so familiar.
„You`ve got to! Take the dagger and use it! I... I don't want the only one I love... I don`t want you to die... by my own hands. I will rather die myself..." He smiled at the last words.
The girl froze to ice, the pain in her heart almost bursting, more and more cherry blossoms falling down around her and the wolfwarrior.
Then the female voice of the demon echoed terribly in her soul „It's your only chance to survive. Do it" Then, yelling as in insanity, „Don't stay there! You know you have to kill him!"
„NO.!!!! I can't !", she yelled back at the voice.
Why...? She would die, if she didn`t... She saw the warrior swinging the sword in her direction. Then, suddenly, she knew the answer. The answer to her strange feelings... the answer why she couldn`t take the dagger to defend herself.... She would never be able to kill her wolfwarrior... the little crying boy...
Because.... „... because I love you...", she whispered at her wolf warrior, tears in her smiling face. And as soon as those words were spoken, the seal in her heart broke apart, memories invading her mind and the feeling, that had been always there, was now reborn again, almost exploding. So warm, nearly burning her. A glowing began to radiate from the girl, until this light surrounded her and the warrior completely, connecting with the cherry blossoms, which were flying everywhere, while the voice screamed in a high- pitched tone, until only a far echo was left behind.
And the world opened to them.
They had found, what had never been really lost. The warm light filled the whole forest, chasing the darkness away, giving the monsters their original forms again, and cheering, chirping of joy could be heard everywhere to the farest corner of the world.
Then, slowly the light faded away, returning to the lovers, but it kept shining in their hearts. Standing under the cherry tree they looked at each other, knowing that they had found their true happiness...
In the city where the whole story had begun an old man smiled mysteriously. He knew that the warrior and his beloved had fulfilled their fate. He took something out of his pocket, looking lovingly at it.
„ ‚ Release the power in your heart and every evilness can be broken...", he quoted „... that is the secret that can defeat everything. The key to never-ending happiness, called love', That`s what she had always said, my beloved elf...", he paused, a sad smile in his features.
„ ... I wish you good luck and a happy life... my dear daughter." Slowly he looked up into the far, smiling.
Releasing the cherry blossoms, which were carried away by the breeze, he whispered „...And so they lived happily after..."
The audience was silent for the next moments, the magic of Mac's tale slowly fading. Then suddenly everyone of the audience applauded and the sound of clinging gold pieces was hearable.
"Thank you very much, lords and ladies! Thank you very much!", Mac bowed to them with shimmering eyes.
"That was awesome!" Sakura said beaming at Shaolan, who was silent.
Why did he have that bad suspicion about the story... the girl in the story had green eyes like Sakura... the thing with the cherry blossom... then the warrior from the wolf-clan...
The little wolf blushed a little bit. That didn't mean what he thought it did, did it?
„Uh, Mac...", he began, turning to her, but she had had turned to the crowd, bowing to them
„Thank you, thank you very much... You are really a nice audi...Wait... did I hear something?", scrutinizing Mac looked through her audience.
„ Was that the sound of the clinking of... maybe money? I hope that it is something for my little efforts to entertain you..." The people started laughing, while they threw jingling coins into Mac`s outstretched huge hat.
Wait... where did that come from? One moment ago there wasn`t this thing in her hand! How did she...
„Well, well. You are really a generous audience. I hope you keep being in this mood. Could another romantic story let me hope for more?", the orange haired girl asked, a mischivieous smile decorating her now fox.like features.
„O man... I don't think I can stand those stories any longer", the sweat dropping wolf boy whispered and escaped out of the taverne hastily, while Mac already began with the second tale.
‚Luckily' Sakura noticed him going.
„Uhm... Mac? I'm sorry, I would be pleased to stay longer, but Shaolan went out of the taverne and....?"
„It's okay, Sakura. I understand.", Mac answered and gave her a bag. Surprised Sakura stared at it. „Some money for clothes... and maybe other shopping." The orange-haired girl smiled. „Thank you very much!" Sakura smiled back and left the taverne cheerfully. Her eyes quickly looked for Shaolan while she wondered why he went out so fast.
" Shaolan! Wait for me!" Sakura said as she found him. He froze by her voice.
Hard breathing Sakura reached him.
" Why... did you... go...?" She asked gasping.
" Well... I... I wanted to look around a little bit...", he stammered, but he knew that this wasn't a very believeable lie. They had already seen a lot while Mac guided them through Ragna. He had never been good at fabricating convincing lies as Yamazaki...
Sakura looked sceptically at him, but didn't ask any further.
Instead she asked, smiling at him, „Can I go with you? We could go shopping for clothes! I got some money from Mac."
" O... Of course you can!". He blushed by the thought that they were now really alone. No strange ghosts... no nasty boy... and no violent little girls...
Silently they walked through the city. Sakura looked around curiously at the mysterious shops. Cheerful as ever. His thoughts began to wander...
This had been really a strange day so far. Kidnapped by mysterious people to rescue not only one world, but thousands of different dimensions... Out of their known life to a world that reminds very much on a fantasy-land. Who knows what unknown dangers were lurking for them, just waiting for the right moment to kill them. He only hoped that nothing would happen to Sakura. The thought of her being hurt or worse... was unbearable...
„Shaolan? Shaolan, are you listening to me?"
„Huh?"
„What were you thinking about?", Sakura asked with a questioning smile.
He blushed furiously. Telling _her_ that he was worried about_her_?
"I was... was just thinking what has happened... The kidnapping and so on. Destiny's child... Don't you think it is not very .... believeable? I wonder if we can trust those guys..." (Especially that boy) Shaolan added in his thoughts.
"Why not?", Sakura inquired clueless.
(Naive as always.)He sighed silently.
" Well... Doesn't matter. Let`s go searching for a clothing shop", Shaolan changed the subject. Sakura looked confused at him, but kept walking.
Finally they stopped at a shop where an elderly woman offered clothes. Unsure entered the shop and heard a bell ringing as soon as they stepped through the door.
An elderly woman appeared, looking at them, and started speaking „Good evening to the little lord and the little lady. I see you sure want to buy some beautiful clothes, don't you?".
Shaolan asked, clearing his throat „... Yes, that's right. Could you give us some advice in finding some proper clothes? We're not from this area and..."
„Of course I can. Of course.", she interfered friendly and vanished through a door behind her.
Curiously Sakura began to look around, while the saleslady murmured something from behind the door. The shop was an only mess of clothes, so that you could hardly find your way through them. Everywhere cloth and other coloured cloth, unfinished dresses and so on. Shaolan had to admit, that he didn't feel very comfortable in this shop. Although.. He had never liked those shops in general...
The elderly woman appeared again, some clothes hanging from her arms. „This should fit the little lord", she announced and gave him some of the clothes, „...and this the little lady", she continued, turning around to Sakura and handing out the clothes in one move. Sakura wanted to ask something, as the elderly woman already pointed with her hand to a cabine hidden in the jungle of clothes.
„You can try them there"
Sakura closed her mouth again, confused at the woman`s answer before she could even ask, then she turned around to Shaolan „You first."
He nodded and went into the cabine. It wasn't, unlike he expected, already filled with thousands of other clothes.
After he had changed and left the cabine again, his school uniform in his arms, Sakura turned around to him and clapped her hands in thrill.
"Wow, you're really cute", Sakura remarked jovially, looking over him. His clothes insisted in a green shirt with long sleeves and brown trousers. Over this he wore another brown-like shirt with short sleeves. His opinion originally was that it looked kind of... weird, like the clothes in fantasy- adventures, but after Sakura`s note..., he blushed.
The elderly woman was just smiling satisfied, as Shaolan sat down on a pile of clothes. The brown haired boy glared at the smiling woman( I know that look...), he remembered only too well an always smiling girl with long black hair who seemed to know more than he wanted her to know.
„Now it's your turn, little lady", the saleslady proclaimed cheerfully, pushing Sakura into the cabine, Shaolan still glaring at the elderly woman.
After some short minutes the little auburn haired girl got out again.
"Uhm... is that okay so?"she asked uncertainly.
"Cuute!", the saleslady remarked, „That really suits you, little lady!"
Hearing those words Shaolan slowly turned around on his place and... blushed furiously by her sight. He stopped breathing, not able to say a thing.
She wore a black dress, which consisted of one part, and ended in the middle of her thighs. The blackness of her clothes was only seperated by a golden belt fastened around her slight waist. Long black gloves covered her arms and she wore long boots with the same colour. It remembered a bit on Mac's dress, but on her it looked, well... more breathtaking. And still she looked so unbelievingly innocently, blushing lightly.
He seemed to have stared some time now as Sakura asked him suddenly „Shaolan? Is something wrong?" She smiled an adorable smile at him. Shaolan remembered again to breathe and shook his head wildly to clear his mind. "N-No-no. It's nothing. ", he stammered, hoping she wouldn't ask further.
"Just as expected... the little lady's dress has a great effect..." The saleslady smiled at the reddened brown haired boy. „Right?"
He blushed even more. (I wonder when the line of blushing is overexceeded) Shaolan felt only too well that his face was redder than a tomatoe.
"I think you will buy those clothes then...", the elderly woman said, still with that smile on her face.
" O, wait a moment!" Sakura said, gasping.
She hurried into the cabine again, took out her normal clothes and went through them.
"Here it is!", she yelled triumphly and Shaolan barely noticed her paying for the clothes. Sakura's dress was much more interesting... maybe more conspicuously than anything Tomoyo had ever made. And much more dangerous...
"Thank you very much! Shaolan, Let's go!" Sakura called him. Half hypnotized he followed her. Smiling the saleslady waved them.
Slowly he recovered from Sakura's new outfit, mostly just by avoiding looking at her, when they walked through the city. The sun had almost completely vanished in the horizon and the sky shimmered in red and violett colours. A cold breeze went through the now not anymore so busied city.
"A beautiful sight, isn't it?"
He looked at Sakura as he heard her words. She quivered a little bit in the cold wind, as he noticed at once.
"Sakura, are you cold?" he asked worried.
"It's nothing. I'm fine."she answered with chattering teeth.
(What a believable lie...)he thought, sweat dropping from his face.
" I think we should get you a coat, or whatever the people call it. The climate here seems to be not as warm as in Japan." (or because of the few, or lack of clothes the saleslady gave Sakura.)he added in thoughts, looking at her dress, blushing again(And maybe it would be better for my own sake).
She looked at him, a brilliant smile on her face „ A brilliant idea...."
He looked away to not show his red face. Jugded by the heat on his face, it really was a little way too crimson to stay unnoticed by her.
The both now dressed like the other people in this world were returning to the shop before, walking past some shops which were already closed, but then the little emerald eyed girl stopped out of sudden.
"Is something wrong, Sakura?"
"No... not really", she whispered staring at a stand before her. She stepped closer to the shop and took something violett from the stand's table. He looked at the thing in her hands. It was a long coat, in some way similar to the ones worn in their world. Sakura smiled wistfully at it. „It looks almost exactly like one of the dresses Tomoyo made for me. I wore something like this when I was visiting her in her house... I and Kero-chan found a Clow Card there, that's why she dressed me again in one of her creations... like always as soon as there is an opportunity." She looked up at him, still that sad smile on her face. Shaolan couldn't help himself and touched her shoulder as comfort. Subconciously the innocent sorceress leaned closer to him.
„Sakura...", he started, but not knowing what to say, he broke off. Then he heard her stifled voice. „I'm already missing them so much. My brother and my father, Tomoyo, Kerochan, Yukito-san..."
The last name hit him painfully, but obviously Sakura didn`t notice it.
„ This world is beautiful... but I miss them so much...", she continued, her words touching him.
„ When we will have finished our mission in this world you will see them again... Don't be worried.", Shaolan soothed her, looking down at her. She smiled encouraged by his words, the coat pushed against her chest. "So... You seem to like the coat.. don't you want to buy it?", he changed the subject suddenly.
"Good idea.", she said, more cheerful again and searched for the salesman to buy the coat, while Shaolan watched her.( Poor Sakura... this trip must make you more sad than I thought.... Apparently she has carried those thoughts since we have arrived here. Don`t worry Sakura... I will make sure that we will come home again)
As Sakura returned she had already put the coat on, smiling at him. Well... it reminded him really on some of the strange clothes of Tomoyo`s collection, he thought, sweat dropping from his face. But as always it looked on her incredibly pretty... Especially in the dim light of the late evening. Her auburn hair shimmered in the sun, and big emerald orbs were shining, her beautiful shape surrounded by red and golden light. His face turned crimson and he looked quickly away.
" Well... it looks really nice!", he managed to say. She looked at him, smiling lightly.
„ You`re really nice Shaolan...", the beautiful innocent sorceress whispered giggling. The heat raising in the amber eyed boy`s face furiously, he answered „ WeshouldgotomeetMac.Itisgettinglate", and dashed away, a cloud of dust leaving behind him.
„ Wait for me!", Sakura shouted after him, wondering, why he was running. She could barely follow him to the taverne and both of them were breathing hard at their goal, as Mac left the taverne, a questioning expression in her eyes by the sight of them both.
„ Why are you two out of breath? I could hear you gasp for air even in the taverne", she asked, frowning at the sweating couple.
„Kind of play between you both?" she wondered, an innocent expression on her face, oblivious of the ambiguous meaning.
„N-no! Of course not!", Shaolan answered loud, blushing crimson, just like Sakura.
Not aware of their blushing, she continued „Well... doesn`t matter. It`s already evening. We should get some rest before our mission really begins. I have already reserved a room in the taverne for the three of us. Just follow me."
The taverne was a lot more crowded than before. But they only headed for the stairs next to the door, enlightened with some torches, which threw strange shadows on the ground. Upstairs it looked very different from the hotels the visitors from the other dimension were used to. The light of the torches were irritating, more causing an eerie moving of the shadows than enlightening the corridor. But Mac found their room without stopping.
Theatralic she bowed to them. „Welcome in our little refuge for the night, lord Shaolan and lady Sakura", she greeted to them jokingly. Unbelievingly the visitors from the other dimension looked into the room. It wasn`t that the room had been shabby or like the room of a king. More the contrary was the case. A torch was fastened on every wall and a little wardrobe stood there, while a little breeze came through the window, the curtains flattering in the wind. But their beds...
Finally Shaolan managed to ask, hesitating „Uhm... Mac? Why is there only one bed?" He pointed at the huge bed in the middle of the room.
Embarrassed Mac avoided their stares, scratching the back of her head. „Well... I couldn`t get another room... Today is the day of good trade and fast money. That means... really many people are sleeping here over the night and... so only this room was left..."
Shaolan and Sakura stared at the little orange haired girl, who beamed at them „ I`m sure you don`t mind! I mean... The bed is big enough for three people. Right?"
( Is she serious?) both Shaolan and Sakura wondered, sweat dropping from their faces.
„ Uhm... I think I just take a pillow and a bed-cover and sleep on the floor. You two can have the bed.", the little wolf said quickly, while Sakura nodded in agreement.
Questioningly Mac looked at the nervous brown haired boy. „ Isn`t that uncomfortable?"
Sakura tried to explain „That`s not it... It´s just a matter of ... decency, you know?"
Mac`s glare wandered to the boy with the amber eyes, scrutinizing his face „He doesn`t seem to be a person without manners. So what`s the problem?"
„ A-are you insane!?",Shaolan shouted out, blushing like crazy, „ You can`t be that naive! I`m a boy! ... and you two are girls..."
„ He`s right! Don`t you know that boys and girls don`t spend the night in the same bed?", Sakura asked, blushing fiercely by that thought.
Meanwhile, in a wardrobe inside the room, two suspicious figures listened to this embarrassing... talking. The boy frowned at what he was hearing. Hesitating he turned to the transparent black cat hovering above him. „ Don`t you think we should release them both of this situation, Vincara?" The cat looked down into his eyes and yawned. „ Let me think a moment." The black creature seemed to think hard about it. „ I will have to sleep on it", it said and closed its eyes. The boy sweat dropped, then he finally shrugged. „Well... you`re the boss", and vanished through a dimension portal.
„ I mean... you do know the rules between girls and boys, don`t you?", Sakura asked, a bad suspicion in her mind.
„ What do you mean?", Mac inquired innocently.
Angrily Shaolan started „ You told in that taverne romantic tales! It can`t be that you don`t know what we are speaking of!"
Perplexed the young bard inclined her head to the side. „ And...?"
Unbelievingly the puzzled emerald eyed girl and the amber eyed boy could only stare at the sea-blue eyed girl.
„ You... you tell something of romance without knowing those... things?", Sakura started hesitating.
Angrily Mac lokked from one to the other „What things!?"
Shaolan was amazed at this thought.
Can it be? Telling tales of love and not knowing the rules between boys and girls?... She must be even more naive than Sakura! O dear... A fifteen year- old girl with the appearance of an eleven-year old one and the naivete of a five- year... That`s what we still needed.
Mac`s face suddenly darkened „Did I understand something wrong? I mean... You ‚are' friends, aren`t you?"
The both called teens blushed even more than they already did.
„ Uhm... Let`sjustsayIpreferthefloorokay?", Shaolan said without pausing, gripped a pillow and a bed-cover and almost threw himself on the ground, not caring of getting undressed before, while Sakura stood there, still red in her face.
„Well, if that`s what you want...", Shaolan could hear the bard`s voice say and the torches in the room went out like magically... mabe bacause it was magic. Only the moon, shining from the window into the room, enlightened the room a little bit.
This is really the worst day I ever had Shaolan told himself in his mind, his eyes wandering to the girls. The moonlight shimmered down at the auburn haired girl lying there, almost magically the light shining upon her. So incredibly innocent and beautiful.... as if she was a little elf, too pretty to be real, just like the girl the tale told of...
Lightly blushing one thought shot into his mind.
Maybe it wasn`t that bad... was his last thought, before he glided into a world of dreams, in which maybe an elf danced in a forest, promising to wait for him...
Author`s comments:
Myrwin: Well well... I wonder if Shaolan dreams dirty things of Sa...
Shaolan appears suddenly, with furiously blushing holding Myrwin`s mouth closed
Shaolan: DON`T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
Sakura`s head pops up over his shoulder
Sakura: What are you doing?Shaolan blushes even more
boy: He just wanted to...
Shaolan: Rounen Shourai!
Boy is burnt up... then falls down in ashes.
Mac: And if they haven`t died they are still arguing today...
Posted: April
And the 2nd chapter is out! Little bit too much OOCness I think... Anyway.... I`ve never known what OOC-ness means, `cause nobody had the mercy to explain it to me, so it doesn`t matter...
So the story shall be continued!!!
Destiny`s child
Chapter 2: An old tale
Shaolan and Sakura stood fascinated there, while Mac and the boy smiled.
Only Vincara seemed to be bored of the sight of the seaport, surrounded by the beautiful colours of the early evening. Slowly they approached the huge city of trade and marveled at the foreign landscape.
"Wow, that's Ragna? How beauuuutiful!" Sakura said in her typical cheerful tone.
"Yes... it is. The centre of trade as I said. I would be pleased to show you all the sights of the city, but I have to earn some gold before... to buy some supplies." Mac answered, smiling.
" Earn some money?" Sakura asked.
„Yes. Our ressources aren`t that great, so now I have to tell stories again."
Shaolan raised an eyebrow „ You earn money by telling stories?".
„ I`m a bard, that`s exactly what I do. Didn`t you see my white feather? It signs me as a bard of the first rank.".
The boy leaned closer to the smiling orange-haired girl..
„ Don`t forget, that these people are from another dimension" he murmured.
„ O... sorry. I forgot that little fact. In our dimension bards, actors singers and so on are signed with feathers of so called Lyma-birds. There are three different ranks. The lowest rank is the red feather, mostly for jugglers, the next the blue feather for actors and the last, as you can see, white for bards and singers. So I`m signed as a bard. You know what a bard is?"
The two from the foreign dimension shook their heads. The little girl sighed, rolling with her eyes.
„You don`t have any bards in your world?... Well... A bard is a storyteller and some are singers, too. It is not always a well-paid job, as a warrior I would be paid much better... It must be great to be a real swordsman..." Her voice faded and she stopped walking, a dreamy expression appeared in her shimmering ocean-like eyes.
„Mac?... Mac!" the boy waved his hand in front of the mind absent girl's face.
„Mmh....?"
„WAKE UP!"
Mac fell, dragged out of her dreams, face first to the ground.
Sakura and Shaolan stared unbelievingly at the lying figure.The ghost giggled and rolled through the air, while the boy looked nervously at Mac. "... Oops."
Mac got slowly up, very unsteady, and shook her head. She turned around to stare madly at the boy.
" Don't...do...this....ever...again", she said, stressing every single word, „ That is the second time I was knocked out.... Only one time again and I`m going to lose my patience...". Suddenly the teen girl noticed the giggling behind her. The ghost still grinned from one ear to another.
„And you... stop that!", Mac whispered with threatening eyes.
„Relax....", Vincara tried to soothe the girl with the great sword, slowly retreating." We are already in front of the city!", the ghost continued with forced calmness, „That means.... I gotta go. So... good bye.." And the ghost disappeared.
Mac`s fierce glare turned to the boy, freezing him at his place „Me too!" the boy said, sweatdropping, and charmed a hole he vanished through.
Relieved sighing sounded from the rest of the group.
„mmh.. what was I going to do...", Mac spoke under her breath as if nothing had happened.
„Maybe... we wanted to go into the city...", the little boy remarked sarcastic.
„Yeah! To get some supplies!", Sakura added, not noticing Shaolans tone.
„O.. Now I know again..." Mac turned to them, looking at them with questioning eyes „ Perhaps you are more interested in visiting the city than listening to my stories...?"
Sakura shook her head „I would be pleased to listen to your stories! Right, Shaolan?"
He hesitated „Well... I think it would be more useful to...", he stopped speaking as he saw Sakura's puppy dog expression. With disappointed big eyes she looked up at him. He blushed by the sight of those green emerald orbs were shimmering watery, framed by her auburn strands.
„Umm... Okay... Why not?"
Sakura's eyes started to shine in joy. Shaolan felt his face redden more in crimson.
Damn... I can`t resist those emerald eyes, Shaolan thought angrily at himself.
„So... Now that this subject is cleared up.. Let's go into our beautiful city, the capital of Ragna!" Mac announced cheerfully.
The city was filled with busy people standing by the stands, talking and laughing. It seemed to be a kind of bazar that took place today. Curiously Sakura looked at the mysterious shops and saw a lot of things she knew, but mysterious unkown things, too.
She noticed odd looking herbs and old magic books on which gold runes were written. Ancient magic and secrets seemed to be everwhere, part of old legends, surrounding her as to invite her into this mystic world full of sorcery...
„Sakura! What are you waiting for?!", Mac`s voice interfered her thoughts.
The auburn haired girl from another dimension shook her head to get rid of the sudden dizziness.
... this world seems to attract me in some way... was Sakura`s last thought before she shouted back
„Coming!"
The feeling completely vanished into her subconsciousness, while she concentrated on catching to the others, who already had some lead. Panting she stopped by an amused looking Mac.
„Sorry... I... was... just a little bit distracted..."
„It`s okay...as long as you don`t lose your way... But now we really should get to a taverne. You can go whenever you want, but remember that then we will meet in front of the taverne again. I will be there all the time. Right?"
The two teens nodded and followed the orange haired girl, heading for the next taverne.
After having branched off some streets they reached their destination. A taverne called 'the drunken druid'. Inside the taverne it was not so full as in the streets, but a little bit of stuffy, nevertheless the room was filled with some noise and laughter. Some of the other guests started whispering behind them about their strange appearances and Sakura started feeling uncomfortable. Unconsciously she gripped Shaolan`s shirt as she looked around, Shaolan on the other side was very aware of this little fact and blushed lightly. Yet Mac didn't notice this little scene and kept finding a way around tables and stairs to a free seat. Finally they sat down on a place next to the window, Mac cooling herself of the thick air in the taverne by using her hand as a fan. The peoples' rumoring about the newcomers faded off, as they saw the little bard sitting on their side.
So...what now...?, Shaolan frowned. He couldn't imagine how the little slight orange haired girl could be able to gain the attention of all the people.
Soon he should find out, as Mac cleared her throat and took her white feather out of her hair, murmuring some not understandable words. Sakura's eyes grew huge as she saw like something came out of the feather that become bigger and changed its form, till it had the outline of... something similar to a guitar, but slighter and the body was oval formed, the wood oddly patterned. Five precision site-like taut threads were tightened from the head of the instrument over a hole in the middle. Appropriate to the bard`s size it had settled down at her lap.
Shaolan's jaw stood wide open, while the orange-haired girl fastened the feather in her hair again. Unbelievingly he looked quickly around, but the other guests of the taverne didn't pay attention to them, like they were used to the use of that kind of magic.
Mac took the... instrument and started playing it, looking at her friends again. She frowned at their expressions and asked curiously „Have you never ever seen seen a 'Lyma' in your world? ... Your world must be very different from mine... " Without stopping playing she closed Shaolan's still opened jaw.
„Yeah... you are right", he managed to say after having cleared his mind by shaking his head.
Sakura noted admiringly, staring at the lyma „Wow.... That's amazing! You can charm with a feather an...instrument".
The lyma played an accord, like it was confused. „I've already told you this is a feather of a lyma... didn't I? Their feathers can keep things inside. Normal feathers of lymas are as big as a full-grown human. These birds are very big, as you can imagine by that. But the bard's guild only takes the not full grown ones. With a little bit of work you can make it to a stuff keeper, as we call it. Not all bards have such feathers, but a few of the nevertheless do."
"Wooooow.." Sakura and Shaolan stared fascinated at the lyma, while Mac played a beautiful melody. The song blowed the auburn haired girl`s worries and anxieties away, distracting from the light self-consciousness of being in another world, which had developed inside her. Sakura closed her eyes, while the melody filled her heart with dreams of great adventures and other worlds
Although... We are already in an adventure in another world...
„You can play very well", Sakura remarked dreamily. Besides, Shaolan didn't seem that impressed by Mac's abilities. He looked at Sakura, as she listened to the music. The light of the dawn from the window had her hair shimmer. Like a beautiful fairy she sat there. Unreachable in her cuteness...
He blushed fiercely by that thought and embarrassed he turned away.
Thank God she didn't see it...
Slowly the other guests noticed the playing of the little bard and the taverne became more quiet. Then the melody faded in a soft tone. Applause sounded from the audience. Smiling Mac bowed to them like she did this every day, whispering to her friends „In this kind of cheering you can recognize a good bard."
Then, to the crowd, she continued „May I introduce myself? My name is Magleen, Magleen Debil from the white rank, the bard`s gild. As you can guess I want to honour my name, as all bards do... by leading you to a world full of mysterious magic... to a place full of adventures, where dreams come true. Only listen to me.... and you could become a part of these adventures". Although she whispered, her voice was clearly hearable, „So... the tale shall take its way..."
Long time ago existed a cursed forest, the forbidden forest, which was filled with death and disease. Only its occupants, evil dangerous monsters, could exist there, causing the death of many brave knights. But it hadn`t been always full of disease and the bones of those men... Once it had been a holy forest filled with life and joy, untouched by mankind. Surely you would like to know how it could then turn into a place of death. Just listen to me and you will find out...
Once an elf fell in love with a mortal man. Since the moment they first met in that holy forest under a cherry tree, they knew it was their fate to be forever together. It was one of those destined incidents, that directed them to each other, called love. But their happiness didn`t last long...
A mortal woman had also fallen in love with the same man. As soon as the man rejected her, she changed into an evil demon, created by pure hate. Filled with the only desire to get revenge, it wanted to destroy the love of the elf and her beloved. In a terrible battle, so powerful that it burnt up every tree in their surroundings, she managed to kill the couple. But with the strength of their love they also accomplished to seal the demon in the forest, that has been dried up and lifeless since that very day.
As the couple died something strange happened in the forest. Out of a cherry blossom, the symbol of their love, a girl was born with an innocent and pure soul. Oblivious of the reason of her parents` death she was raised by the forest itself, that was keen of her, protecting her against every danger, that could threaten her. The girl became friends with the forest and all its creatures. Grown up in this magical place, she knew every single part of her home except the burnt part, were the demon was sealed in. Her friends prevented her from discovering it, telling her it was dangerous, yet subconsciously she felt the evil magic and the death that radiated from it, avoiding it by her own. In spite of her sad past she grew up to a cheerful and caring person, untouched by humans and elves.
... Until the day a boy lost his way in the forest. Curiously the girl watched the boy - she had never seen one before - hidden by the many bushes nearby. The boy was afraid and went astray more and more, until he finally collapsed to the ground. The girl approached the boy curiously, leaving her hideout. The boy noticed her and got up quickly, while the girl stared at him, still like a little roe. But as the boy demanded to know who she was, she only giggled at his effort to sound menacingly. The boy started feeling unsure and the girl regretted being so heartless. Pitying him, she asked if he got lost in a partly curious, partly worried voice, but then suddenly the boy started to cry and collapsed, trembling in his anxiety and selfconsciousness. Worried the little girl stepped forward until she stood directly before the newcomer and comforted him, telling him that she was sorry to have made him cry and would guide him out of the forest, if he wished. Amazed the boy looked at her and then began to smile. They understood well at once and the elf-girl felt that she had been missing something until now. It seemed naturally that they became friends in the short time they needed to get out of the forest.
When they had to say goodbye the halfelf and her new friend felt sorrow, and the girl smiled sadly at him, telling him she would feel very lonely as soon as he was gone. The boy tried to comfort the elf, told her not to be sad, and promised her to come back one day. The girl smiled at those words and pledged to wait for him, either. Then they separated, he into the direction of the human country, she back to the forest.
But as time passed, she began to feel an arising longing in her heart to see him, until she finally couldn`t bear it any longer and left her forest, without telling her friends, the animals, which would surely have stopped her. She was determined to find him, but then humans found her, thinking she was a lost orphan. The men brought her to their village forcibly, and as she told them who she was, they didn`t believe her, locking her in the village, telling her again and again that her story had been pure fantasy. Finally the little half-elf got desperate, not daring to tell any longer of her past. But the dreams of a little boy always were persueing the girl in her sleep, forever memorized, until she had grown up to a beautiful lady.
She was so beautiful that many poets wanted to see her with their own eyes, despairing because they weren't able to describe her unique kind of prettiness. They admired her incredible green eyes, shining like emeralds, her natural grace and kindness, and her lithe figur, yet their description never got even near the truth.
Many brave men came from far lands to see her and fall in love, but she has never been able to respond their feelings, deep in heart knowing that there already was someone else.
The desire for her true love grew and pulled her away from the village she had grown up in. She was travelling through many countries to find the person of her strongest desire, not knowing where she had to search, but as years passed she got tired of the human world and gave up. Disappointed she didn`t want to have anything to do with the human world ever again, trying to forget her dream of a little boy. So she headed for isolation in a forest, her own forest, trying to forget. First when she reached her home she felt her memories arising in her soul painfully again. But the elf convinced herself that those memories, especially the promise of a little crying boy, were a part of dreams the humans convinced her of being illusions. Otherwise maybe, she wouldn`t have been able to go on in her life.
But no matter how hard she tried to forget her desire, her grief was always being reflected in her beautiful green eyes. Day by day her sadness increased, until she couldn`t endure the loneliness of her heart only one moment longer. The desire in her heart too painful, she tried to escape to the forbidden forest, ignoring her memories of the dangers and the warnings of her old friends, trying to stop her.
And so the mischief, which killed her parents, came. The evil might recognized the girl`s relation to the couple as soon as the elf was in the forbidden forest and felt.
The chance to get its revenge had come.
Realizing the origin of the girl`s desire a wicked plan formed in the demon`s mind. It tried to convince the girl to break the seal, by promising to erase the girl`s grief, speaking sweet words.
„I can feel your pain", it said soothingly, „Don`t worry, beautiful girl, I will free you from your lonliness, but first you have to release me... otherwise I`m afraid I can`t help you".
The girl hesitated, feeling the evil in the demon`s soul, but tempted by the promise of not living any longer with that haunting sorrow, she agreed at least.
As soon as the evil might had been freed it spoke with terrible irrevocability a curse against the forest.
„This place shall be the mirror of my hate and my never ending suffering from now on. And I command the miserable animals of this once holy forest to attack everyone who tries to invade this place. Everyone in sight who could be a danger shall be killed without mercy and die a cruel death. Noone shall escape this forest alive ever again! And to you, little elf.... You`re memories and your feelings for the one you love shall be sealed, as you wished! And never you will be leaving this forest ever again. Spell of my hate, obey my command!"
Before the girl could grasp the meaning of what she had just done, the evil power had captivated the girl in the forest. First now it had an idea of what she had done, what she was losing, but it was too late... the strongest feeling of the half-elf was sealed. So deep in her heart, that it was smothered with oblivion, all her memories hidden in her subconsciousness. And every forest`s occupant, who was once her friend, was changed into a monster by the demon to guard the forest and the girl.
A lot of brave warriors tried to rescue the girl since that very day, but none ever came back, not having only a little chance against the monsters of the forest.
And maybe, the bards tell, the girl is still captured in the cursed forest, since that very day known as the „forbidden forest", waiting in her dreams for her love...
And so the legend faded into oblivion.
Well... That`s not a real happy end, you will surely say, but it isn`t over yet... the forest HAD existed a long time ago...
A wolfwarrior once had heard the story from an old bard in a taverne, just like you did, but in this case the bard told this tale only to the wolfwarrior. You wonder why did a wolfwarrior, who normally avoid cities, entered a city? Or why did the bard only tell the tale to one man? Have patience and you will know...
„And so the legend faded into oblivion, known only by old bards like me." the old bard ended, just as I did. The warrior, who had been silent during the whole tale remarked with chiding voice „... doesn`t seem to be a happy ending..."
But the bard just leaned over to him to whisper mysteriously „Maybe you can change it..."
The old man stood up and left the taverne immediately after those words, the warrior not having a chance to call after him.
Strange that this bard didn`t want to get his reward for the story... you surely wonder, just like the man of the wolf clan. But the bard`s tale fulfilled its mysterious purpose, the warrior curiously wanted to find out if the story was true, because the forbidden forest the elder bard told of really existed still to that time.
He covered a long way through the country until he finally found the forbidden forest. The wood had become an eerie looking place as time passed... or because of the curse. As often as he turned around only dead trees. Definitely the doing of ancient evil magic.
But nevertheless he didn`t lose his courage and entered the forbidden forest. The forest was dark, so that he could barely see a thing in that sunless world, where every singing and chirping of birds was missing. Only silence. He shuddered by the thought of a lifeless forest. It was nothing someone, especially a wolfwarrior would like to see. And it was quiet... a way too quiet. Suddenly he cringed by a sound of someone... something crashing through the forest into his direction, breaking the silence before. Fast he drew his sword, awaiting the monster, when the noise suddenly stopped.
No good sign, as you can guess.
The warrior listened into the eerie silence, that was before every storm. But then, scrutinizing his surroundings, he discovered in the darkness a pair of glowing red eyes.
A huge monster appeared in front of him, barely seeable with its dark fur. Watery stuff slobbering of its fangs and its claws bared, it waited for the young wolfwarrior.
You will surely think that he fought the creature, but surprisingly he didn`t.
Why?
Well, do you really think you could stand a second fighting a creature as huge as ten men?
Exactly the same thing was the warrior`s thought.
Instead he waited for the right moment, or a weakness of the monster, his only chance to survive.
He stared at glowing red eyes, which were watching him warily, its impressive fangs, dangerous claws and its whole size.
An eternity passed, the monster and the warrior staring at each other, waiting for their opponent to make the first move.
Sweat began to drop from the warrior`s face, waiting for something to happen.
Some of you will ask...why hasn`t the creature attacked yet?
The warrior found out why...
The legend had told of the monsters attacking everyone who could be a danger, but if you were no danger...
Slowly the wolfwarrior lowered his sword.
Still no reaction of the monster. Warily it looked down at the warrior.
Finally the creature stepped back, a way appearing behind it.
The man winced in surprise, as you can guess, when the creature started hissing, speaking the words only with strain.
You can go further on your chosen path if you wish. You deserve to stay alive.
Surprised the wolfwarrior gasped at the creature. He stared unbelievingly at the huge monster, until it seemed to get impatient.
We were only told to attack whatever wants to invade the forest. But our evil master didn`t told us to protect the forest against not attacking wanderers... Go on... You are worthy to see her...."
Guess of whom the creature speaks...
„Obviously there is more behind the legend as the people thought..."
Still wondering why the creature could speak the wolfwarrior went on, not noticing a pair of beautiful green eyes watching over him.
As he continued his travel on the new path, the dead forest changed slowly into a beautiful landscape filled with life and flowers, the trees no longer only decorated with mere branches, but with blooms and leafs in the healthy colours of the spring. He could only marvel at this changing and wondered, if the legend was really true, how life could bloom in a part of the mysterious wood. Deep in his thoughts he barely noticed, when the path finally ended in a little beautiful lake, that seemed to shimmer by its own, surrounded by cherry blossoms.
First a move of the girl sitting on a rock, caught his attention. A strange feeling broadened in his heart by the first sight.
„Whom does she remind me of?", he wondered, having the odd expression to have seen her before. He stared at the dream-like scene with the elf-like lady in its midth.
The girl was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, so much was sure. But she seemed so fragile... like a blossom, whose innocence has to be protected. She looked up to him, as if she hadn`t noticed him before, and her green eyes were shimmering oddly in the pale light .
„Hello, brave warrior.", she whispered with soft voice, smiling sweetly at him.
„You're the first who ever came so far to reach my lake. Most of the men that came into my forest weren't as wise as you to not attack my friends...That is the forest's secret. The curse forces them to fight. But most don't notice it... And they had to pay for it terribly..."
Sadly the green eyed girl looked at her lap.
„So the legend of the forbidden forest is true?", the warrior more observed than asked. The girl nodded lightly.
„ But how..."
„... can this part of the forest exist? Don`t ask me where it comes from, I don`t know it either. But all that matters to me is that at least this little part of my forest is not filled with death and disease... I`m happy as long as I have this little place." She looked at her lap, still smiling.
„... Are you the cursed girl of the legend?", the wolf warrior asked hesitating, but she didn't answer his question.
Instead she smiled again „Do you want to stay here? It has been a long time I talked to a human..."
„Well..." the warrior still had the feeling that he should remind her, she seemed so familiar...
„ I feel so lonely...", she said, still that strange smile on her face. A memory strucked him suddenly.
„I will feel very lonely without you", the elf girl told him, her eyes shimmering in sadness...
„ Don`t be sad... I promise I will come back!", he answered confidently, and dashed away, waving at the girl.
Latest in this moment you must have noticed the hints.
The boy in that legend.... and the strong wolfwarrior were the same person. He was the one the elf waited for... and the man could remember again... He had been lost in the forest... met that girl... and had forgotten... no... that wasn`t right... his parents had told him elves and so on wouldn`t exist... but deep in his heart he had known, had always remembered...
But if the legend was true...
„ Finally I have found you... But you won`t remeber me", he whispered sadly, but the girl didn`t respond him, staring into the emptiness behind.
„ What are you talking about?", she asked him, apparently not remembering him. He stiffened by those words and looked into her eyes.
So it`s true...
The beautiful elf looked at him questioningly, no sign of recognizing in them.
...The strongest feeling of the half-elf sealed, so deep in her heart, that it was smothered with oblivion...
He closed his eyes and clinched his fists in helpless rage.
„The legend is true..." he whispered. Maybe her character was still the same, but her memories... the promise... forgotten. But a warrior of the wolfclan doesn`t give up that easily. Maybe... if he would stay with the girl some time, she would remember again... He decided to live in the forest with the beautiful elf. But no matter how hard he tried to bring the memories back, the girl just smiled that strange smile of hers, her eyes in some way as empty as the cursed forest. As time passed they became friends, yet not more on the elf`s side. Nevertheless the warrior kept caring about the girl. Even if he wouldn`t succeed, he would always love the elf and promised to protect her no matter what, but she wasn`t able understand him. Although not knowing why, it hurt her to see him this way. Not understanding what he felt for her, it concerned her thoughts a lot. Thoughtful she often walked through the forest, when she was alone, wondering about the warrior`s attitude.
„Why is the warrior so... nice to me? It`s not that I dislike him... I like his presence, but still... Why is his behaviour towards me so... so uncomfortable for me...?"
Oblivious of her surroundings she headed for the dead trees in the lifeless place, not noticing that one of those trees was going to fall on her... First when it was too late she looked up, paralyzed in shock, but just in time her warrior came and pushed her aside. The girl lied there surprised, while the warrior sat next to her, asking if she was right. She nodded in agreement and noticed that the warrior winced in pain... He had been hit by the tree`s branches as he had rescued her. Something deep inside her cringed at this thought and she asked him why he had done this, risking his own life for her.
„ Because you are the most important person in this world to me...", he just said. Feeling embarrassed she took care of his wounds, not able to see into his affectionate eyes. The warrior still didn`t have any success in releasing the girl of the seal in her heart, yet there was now hope. In the girl`s heart developed a desire, that had been long forgotten, very small, but existing, glowing whenever the warrior was near her. Not even the evil demon could see this little glowing deep inside the girl.
But those incidents didn`t stay unnoticed...
The sleeping demon, which had rested in a dead-like state, pleased with its work, awakened again. Although unsealed, the ancient magic of the girl`s parents had been strong enough to still hold it in the wood. So not able to cause more death the demon had fallen asleep. But now its thirst after vengeance released again, it began to forge wicked plans...
On a disastrous night a hooded figure entered hard breathing the forbidden forest, asking for help. The warrior, warily as he was, came to scrutinize the situation. As soon as he was in reach, the figure collapsed in his arms. The hood slided back, revealing a beautiful black haired woman. She seemed to be mortally wounded, as far as he could say.
Worried he brought her to the lake, informing the elf of the woman`s state. The stranger seemed to have wound fever. She stammered something about being stalked by evil men, that accused her of being a demon witch and had hunted her for the last few weeks.
„ Please... help me! ", she pleaded to the warrior, gripping his cloak.
Quickly the elf scrutinized the woman`s wounds. „I go searching for some healing herbs.", she said cluelessly, looking at the wolfwarrior, and then hurried away, leaving the warrior alone with the hurt woman. He got up and leaned against a tree, cautiously looking out for the ones, who had harmed the woman. Suddenly, as soon as the elf-girl was out of sight, he felt someone embracing him. Amazed he looked down at the woman, who murmured something incoherently.
„What the...", he just managed to say before the woman kissed him affectionately, directly on his lips. He gasped in shock and tried to push her away, but she was inhumanly strong and held him in place.
Then a shocked gasp could be heard. The elf-girl stood there, a hand holding before her mouth, the herbs having fallen to her feet, completely forgotten.
„ Well... I think we were caught?", the woman cooed, smiling at the girl, leaning against the frozen warrior.
„ I...", the girl looked at the warrior, tears flooding from her face, „... I think I`ve got to go...", she stammered, already turning around to dash away. Calling for the girl the warrior finally managed to push the black haired woman away. Following his beloved, he stopped to look at the woman angrily. „Why did you do this!?" , he said unbelievingly. As she kept silent, he continued frustrated his way.... or more correctly... he tried to.
The woman stretched out a hand and the warrior stopped. „ A kiss can do a lot of things, you know? Let`s have a little fun...", she whispered, an evil smile featuring her face...
Meanwhile the elf dashed through the forest, not caring about where she was going to, her sight blurry because of her many tears.
„Why am I crying?", the half elf thought. „ What is this for a painful feeling in my heart? Why am I so unhappy?" She tried to wipe her tears away, but stumbled on a root and collapsed, still crying. She didn`t care to get up again, was just lying there, the pain in her heart too much to endure.
Suddenly a shadow appeared behind her and surprised she looked up...
And stared into the warrior`s face.
„ You followed me...?", she whispered questioning, not noticing the strange emptiness in his eyes, as he drew his sword, the top of his weapon pointing on her...
She stared blankly at it, then to her warrior, not realizing the situation, until he suddenly made a strike. Too shocked she didn`t dodge his attack, red blood dropped from her arm to the ground, as she screamed in pain.
The warrior stopped out of sudden his second attack by the sound of her voice.
One moment he only stood there, staring at the elf before him. She breathed hard, her eyes never leaving his, pain in her eyes. His eyes cleared by this sight, being „his" again. Then suddenly a shadow appeared nearby.
„His will is stronger than I thought.", a voice noted sceptically, „ I will have to strengthen my charm." Suddenly the warrior cringed in pain, the elf realizing what the woman had done.
„Why.... why are you doing this to him?", the elf asked to the bodyless voice.
„ He loves you, doesn`t he?", it asked full of hatred, the shadows revealing the black haired woman.
The elf froze, hearing those words. She had known of the love the warrior felt, but still didn`t recognize the meaning of this little word.
„ But why is that a reason to do this?", she asked, not understanding.
Insanity distorting the woman`s features, she yelled in rage „You`re just like your elf-mother! She took him away from me! And I was the one left lonely, changing into ... this... demon! You ... You are charming men to fall in love with you! But I managed to get a little bit vengeance, but then... she sealed me in isolation!" Widely the demon waved at the cherry blossoms around them „ Not even the spell I cursed YOU and the whole forest with reached this damn place, your little hideout with those hateful cherry blossoms. Every day, every second it reminds me of HER! Her damn holy grave! But now I will get my revenge..."
Her grave?, the elf thought, my mother`s grave?
So that was why neither death nor disease could reach it... But... that meant this demon killed her... Unbelievingly she looked around, her eyes wandering to the warrior, standing there in perspiration to stop himself under the spell of the demon, not able to do anything else. A sudden rage grew inside her. „But why are you using him? He doesn`t have anything to do with this! Let him go!", the girl cried, but the demon just smiled.
Don`t be so foolish, you know the answer, her look seemed to say, but the girl didn`t understand, as the evil sorceress made a wide gesture, looking at the wolfwarrior.
„Kill her." She commanded coldly.
The warrior moved again towards her, like in pain. His forehead was wet in perspiration, concentrating to control his body. But as the woman commanded again, he lifted his weapon again and yelled desperately at her „Run!"
„ But.."
„No buts! Just go!",he said, trembling under the charm that forced him to attack his beloved.
And she ran away, while he tried to control the charm on him. He fought against himself, but the force had him followed the girl and reached her in a dead-end, the laughing demon leaving behind. Shaking she stood there under a cherry tree, the evil sorceress`s laughing echoing in her ears... not able to do anything.
„No way... I can`t stand this a lot longer.", the warrior whispered, fighting against this thing inside him, he managed to take a hidden dagger of his belt and struggling about the control, he threw it in front of her feet.
„Here...Use this dagger!", he told the girl, while sweat dropped from his face. Unbelievingly she just stared at the dagger, finally realizing the meaning this action.
„... I... I can't..", she whispered, cherry blossoms falling from above her, covering the ground before. A strange pain raised deep in her heart, yet so familiar.
„You`ve got to! Take the dagger and use it! I... I don't want the only one I love... I don`t want you to die... by my own hands. I will rather die myself..." He smiled at the last words.
The girl froze to ice, the pain in her heart almost bursting, more and more cherry blossoms falling down around her and the wolfwarrior.
Then the female voice of the demon echoed terribly in her soul „It's your only chance to survive. Do it" Then, yelling as in insanity, „Don't stay there! You know you have to kill him!"
„NO.!!!! I can't !", she yelled back at the voice.
Why...? She would die, if she didn`t... She saw the warrior swinging the sword in her direction. Then, suddenly, she knew the answer. The answer to her strange feelings... the answer why she couldn`t take the dagger to defend herself.... She would never be able to kill her wolfwarrior... the little crying boy...
Because.... „... because I love you...", she whispered at her wolf warrior, tears in her smiling face. And as soon as those words were spoken, the seal in her heart broke apart, memories invading her mind and the feeling, that had been always there, was now reborn again, almost exploding. So warm, nearly burning her. A glowing began to radiate from the girl, until this light surrounded her and the warrior completely, connecting with the cherry blossoms, which were flying everywhere, while the voice screamed in a high- pitched tone, until only a far echo was left behind.
And the world opened to them.
They had found, what had never been really lost. The warm light filled the whole forest, chasing the darkness away, giving the monsters their original forms again, and cheering, chirping of joy could be heard everywhere to the farest corner of the world.
Then, slowly the light faded away, returning to the lovers, but it kept shining in their hearts. Standing under the cherry tree they looked at each other, knowing that they had found their true happiness...
In the city where the whole story had begun an old man smiled mysteriously. He knew that the warrior and his beloved had fulfilled their fate. He took something out of his pocket, looking lovingly at it.
„ ‚ Release the power in your heart and every evilness can be broken...", he quoted „... that is the secret that can defeat everything. The key to never-ending happiness, called love', That`s what she had always said, my beloved elf...", he paused, a sad smile in his features.
„ ... I wish you good luck and a happy life... my dear daughter." Slowly he looked up into the far, smiling.
Releasing the cherry blossoms, which were carried away by the breeze, he whispered „...And so they lived happily after..."
The audience was silent for the next moments, the magic of Mac's tale slowly fading. Then suddenly everyone of the audience applauded and the sound of clinging gold pieces was hearable.
"Thank you very much, lords and ladies! Thank you very much!", Mac bowed to them with shimmering eyes.
"That was awesome!" Sakura said beaming at Shaolan, who was silent.
Why did he have that bad suspicion about the story... the girl in the story had green eyes like Sakura... the thing with the cherry blossom... then the warrior from the wolf-clan...
The little wolf blushed a little bit. That didn't mean what he thought it did, did it?
„Uh, Mac...", he began, turning to her, but she had had turned to the crowd, bowing to them
„Thank you, thank you very much... You are really a nice audi...Wait... did I hear something?", scrutinizing Mac looked through her audience.
„ Was that the sound of the clinking of... maybe money? I hope that it is something for my little efforts to entertain you..." The people started laughing, while they threw jingling coins into Mac`s outstretched huge hat.
Wait... where did that come from? One moment ago there wasn`t this thing in her hand! How did she...
„Well, well. You are really a generous audience. I hope you keep being in this mood. Could another romantic story let me hope for more?", the orange haired girl asked, a mischivieous smile decorating her now fox.like features.
„O man... I don't think I can stand those stories any longer", the sweat dropping wolf boy whispered and escaped out of the taverne hastily, while Mac already began with the second tale.
‚Luckily' Sakura noticed him going.
„Uhm... Mac? I'm sorry, I would be pleased to stay longer, but Shaolan went out of the taverne and....?"
„It's okay, Sakura. I understand.", Mac answered and gave her a bag. Surprised Sakura stared at it. „Some money for clothes... and maybe other shopping." The orange-haired girl smiled. „Thank you very much!" Sakura smiled back and left the taverne cheerfully. Her eyes quickly looked for Shaolan while she wondered why he went out so fast.
" Shaolan! Wait for me!" Sakura said as she found him. He froze by her voice.
Hard breathing Sakura reached him.
" Why... did you... go...?" She asked gasping.
" Well... I... I wanted to look around a little bit...", he stammered, but he knew that this wasn't a very believeable lie. They had already seen a lot while Mac guided them through Ragna. He had never been good at fabricating convincing lies as Yamazaki...
Sakura looked sceptically at him, but didn't ask any further.
Instead she asked, smiling at him, „Can I go with you? We could go shopping for clothes! I got some money from Mac."
" O... Of course you can!". He blushed by the thought that they were now really alone. No strange ghosts... no nasty boy... and no violent little girls...
Silently they walked through the city. Sakura looked around curiously at the mysterious shops. Cheerful as ever. His thoughts began to wander...
This had been really a strange day so far. Kidnapped by mysterious people to rescue not only one world, but thousands of different dimensions... Out of their known life to a world that reminds very much on a fantasy-land. Who knows what unknown dangers were lurking for them, just waiting for the right moment to kill them. He only hoped that nothing would happen to Sakura. The thought of her being hurt or worse... was unbearable...
„Shaolan? Shaolan, are you listening to me?"
„Huh?"
„What were you thinking about?", Sakura asked with a questioning smile.
He blushed furiously. Telling _her_ that he was worried about_her_?
"I was... was just thinking what has happened... The kidnapping and so on. Destiny's child... Don't you think it is not very .... believeable? I wonder if we can trust those guys..." (Especially that boy) Shaolan added in his thoughts.
"Why not?", Sakura inquired clueless.
(Naive as always.)He sighed silently.
" Well... Doesn't matter. Let`s go searching for a clothing shop", Shaolan changed the subject. Sakura looked confused at him, but kept walking.
Finally they stopped at a shop where an elderly woman offered clothes. Unsure entered the shop and heard a bell ringing as soon as they stepped through the door.
An elderly woman appeared, looking at them, and started speaking „Good evening to the little lord and the little lady. I see you sure want to buy some beautiful clothes, don't you?".
Shaolan asked, clearing his throat „... Yes, that's right. Could you give us some advice in finding some proper clothes? We're not from this area and..."
„Of course I can. Of course.", she interfered friendly and vanished through a door behind her.
Curiously Sakura began to look around, while the saleslady murmured something from behind the door. The shop was an only mess of clothes, so that you could hardly find your way through them. Everywhere cloth and other coloured cloth, unfinished dresses and so on. Shaolan had to admit, that he didn't feel very comfortable in this shop. Although.. He had never liked those shops in general...
The elderly woman appeared again, some clothes hanging from her arms. „This should fit the little lord", she announced and gave him some of the clothes, „...and this the little lady", she continued, turning around to Sakura and handing out the clothes in one move. Sakura wanted to ask something, as the elderly woman already pointed with her hand to a cabine hidden in the jungle of clothes.
„You can try them there"
Sakura closed her mouth again, confused at the woman`s answer before she could even ask, then she turned around to Shaolan „You first."
He nodded and went into the cabine. It wasn't, unlike he expected, already filled with thousands of other clothes.
After he had changed and left the cabine again, his school uniform in his arms, Sakura turned around to him and clapped her hands in thrill.
"Wow, you're really cute", Sakura remarked jovially, looking over him. His clothes insisted in a green shirt with long sleeves and brown trousers. Over this he wore another brown-like shirt with short sleeves. His opinion originally was that it looked kind of... weird, like the clothes in fantasy- adventures, but after Sakura`s note..., he blushed.
The elderly woman was just smiling satisfied, as Shaolan sat down on a pile of clothes. The brown haired boy glared at the smiling woman( I know that look...), he remembered only too well an always smiling girl with long black hair who seemed to know more than he wanted her to know.
„Now it's your turn, little lady", the saleslady proclaimed cheerfully, pushing Sakura into the cabine, Shaolan still glaring at the elderly woman.
After some short minutes the little auburn haired girl got out again.
"Uhm... is that okay so?"she asked uncertainly.
"Cuute!", the saleslady remarked, „That really suits you, little lady!"
Hearing those words Shaolan slowly turned around on his place and... blushed furiously by her sight. He stopped breathing, not able to say a thing.
She wore a black dress, which consisted of one part, and ended in the middle of her thighs. The blackness of her clothes was only seperated by a golden belt fastened around her slight waist. Long black gloves covered her arms and she wore long boots with the same colour. It remembered a bit on Mac's dress, but on her it looked, well... more breathtaking. And still she looked so unbelievingly innocently, blushing lightly.
He seemed to have stared some time now as Sakura asked him suddenly „Shaolan? Is something wrong?" She smiled an adorable smile at him. Shaolan remembered again to breathe and shook his head wildly to clear his mind. "N-No-no. It's nothing. ", he stammered, hoping she wouldn't ask further.
"Just as expected... the little lady's dress has a great effect..." The saleslady smiled at the reddened brown haired boy. „Right?"
He blushed even more. (I wonder when the line of blushing is overexceeded) Shaolan felt only too well that his face was redder than a tomatoe.
"I think you will buy those clothes then...", the elderly woman said, still with that smile on her face.
" O, wait a moment!" Sakura said, gasping.
She hurried into the cabine again, took out her normal clothes and went through them.
"Here it is!", she yelled triumphly and Shaolan barely noticed her paying for the clothes. Sakura's dress was much more interesting... maybe more conspicuously than anything Tomoyo had ever made. And much more dangerous...
"Thank you very much! Shaolan, Let's go!" Sakura called him. Half hypnotized he followed her. Smiling the saleslady waved them.
Slowly he recovered from Sakura's new outfit, mostly just by avoiding looking at her, when they walked through the city. The sun had almost completely vanished in the horizon and the sky shimmered in red and violett colours. A cold breeze went through the now not anymore so busied city.
"A beautiful sight, isn't it?"
He looked at Sakura as he heard her words. She quivered a little bit in the cold wind, as he noticed at once.
"Sakura, are you cold?" he asked worried.
"It's nothing. I'm fine."she answered with chattering teeth.
(What a believable lie...)he thought, sweat dropping from his face.
" I think we should get you a coat, or whatever the people call it. The climate here seems to be not as warm as in Japan." (or because of the few, or lack of clothes the saleslady gave Sakura.)he added in thoughts, looking at her dress, blushing again(And maybe it would be better for my own sake).
She looked at him, a brilliant smile on her face „ A brilliant idea...."
He looked away to not show his red face. Jugded by the heat on his face, it really was a little way too crimson to stay unnoticed by her.
The both now dressed like the other people in this world were returning to the shop before, walking past some shops which were already closed, but then the little emerald eyed girl stopped out of sudden.
"Is something wrong, Sakura?"
"No... not really", she whispered staring at a stand before her. She stepped closer to the shop and took something violett from the stand's table. He looked at the thing in her hands. It was a long coat, in some way similar to the ones worn in their world. Sakura smiled wistfully at it. „It looks almost exactly like one of the dresses Tomoyo made for me. I wore something like this when I was visiting her in her house... I and Kero-chan found a Clow Card there, that's why she dressed me again in one of her creations... like always as soon as there is an opportunity." She looked up at him, still that sad smile on her face. Shaolan couldn't help himself and touched her shoulder as comfort. Subconciously the innocent sorceress leaned closer to him.
„Sakura...", he started, but not knowing what to say, he broke off. Then he heard her stifled voice. „I'm already missing them so much. My brother and my father, Tomoyo, Kerochan, Yukito-san..."
The last name hit him painfully, but obviously Sakura didn`t notice it.
„ This world is beautiful... but I miss them so much...", she continued, her words touching him.
„ When we will have finished our mission in this world you will see them again... Don't be worried.", Shaolan soothed her, looking down at her. She smiled encouraged by his words, the coat pushed against her chest. "So... You seem to like the coat.. don't you want to buy it?", he changed the subject suddenly.
"Good idea.", she said, more cheerful again and searched for the salesman to buy the coat, while Shaolan watched her.( Poor Sakura... this trip must make you more sad than I thought.... Apparently she has carried those thoughts since we have arrived here. Don`t worry Sakura... I will make sure that we will come home again)
As Sakura returned she had already put the coat on, smiling at him. Well... it reminded him really on some of the strange clothes of Tomoyo`s collection, he thought, sweat dropping from his face. But as always it looked on her incredibly pretty... Especially in the dim light of the late evening. Her auburn hair shimmered in the sun, and big emerald orbs were shining, her beautiful shape surrounded by red and golden light. His face turned crimson and he looked quickly away.
" Well... it looks really nice!", he managed to say. She looked at him, smiling lightly.
„ You`re really nice Shaolan...", the beautiful innocent sorceress whispered giggling. The heat raising in the amber eyed boy`s face furiously, he answered „ WeshouldgotomeetMac.Itisgettinglate", and dashed away, a cloud of dust leaving behind him.
„ Wait for me!", Sakura shouted after him, wondering, why he was running. She could barely follow him to the taverne and both of them were breathing hard at their goal, as Mac left the taverne, a questioning expression in her eyes by the sight of them both.
„ Why are you two out of breath? I could hear you gasp for air even in the taverne", she asked, frowning at the sweating couple.
„Kind of play between you both?" she wondered, an innocent expression on her face, oblivious of the ambiguous meaning.
„N-no! Of course not!", Shaolan answered loud, blushing crimson, just like Sakura.
Not aware of their blushing, she continued „Well... doesn`t matter. It`s already evening. We should get some rest before our mission really begins. I have already reserved a room in the taverne for the three of us. Just follow me."
The taverne was a lot more crowded than before. But they only headed for the stairs next to the door, enlightened with some torches, which threw strange shadows on the ground. Upstairs it looked very different from the hotels the visitors from the other dimension were used to. The light of the torches were irritating, more causing an eerie moving of the shadows than enlightening the corridor. But Mac found their room without stopping.
Theatralic she bowed to them. „Welcome in our little refuge for the night, lord Shaolan and lady Sakura", she greeted to them jokingly. Unbelievingly the visitors from the other dimension looked into the room. It wasn`t that the room had been shabby or like the room of a king. More the contrary was the case. A torch was fastened on every wall and a little wardrobe stood there, while a little breeze came through the window, the curtains flattering in the wind. But their beds...
Finally Shaolan managed to ask, hesitating „Uhm... Mac? Why is there only one bed?" He pointed at the huge bed in the middle of the room.
Embarrassed Mac avoided their stares, scratching the back of her head. „Well... I couldn`t get another room... Today is the day of good trade and fast money. That means... really many people are sleeping here over the night and... so only this room was left..."
Shaolan and Sakura stared at the little orange haired girl, who beamed at them „ I`m sure you don`t mind! I mean... The bed is big enough for three people. Right?"
( Is she serious?) both Shaolan and Sakura wondered, sweat dropping from their faces.
„ Uhm... I think I just take a pillow and a bed-cover and sleep on the floor. You two can have the bed.", the little wolf said quickly, while Sakura nodded in agreement.
Questioningly Mac looked at the nervous brown haired boy. „ Isn`t that uncomfortable?"
Sakura tried to explain „That`s not it... It´s just a matter of ... decency, you know?"
Mac`s glare wandered to the boy with the amber eyes, scrutinizing his face „He doesn`t seem to be a person without manners. So what`s the problem?"
„ A-are you insane!?",Shaolan shouted out, blushing like crazy, „ You can`t be that naive! I`m a boy! ... and you two are girls..."
„ He`s right! Don`t you know that boys and girls don`t spend the night in the same bed?", Sakura asked, blushing fiercely by that thought.
Meanwhile, in a wardrobe inside the room, two suspicious figures listened to this embarrassing... talking. The boy frowned at what he was hearing. Hesitating he turned to the transparent black cat hovering above him. „ Don`t you think we should release them both of this situation, Vincara?" The cat looked down into his eyes and yawned. „ Let me think a moment." The black creature seemed to think hard about it. „ I will have to sleep on it", it said and closed its eyes. The boy sweat dropped, then he finally shrugged. „Well... you`re the boss", and vanished through a dimension portal.
„ I mean... you do know the rules between girls and boys, don`t you?", Sakura asked, a bad suspicion in her mind.
„ What do you mean?", Mac inquired innocently.
Angrily Shaolan started „ You told in that taverne romantic tales! It can`t be that you don`t know what we are speaking of!"
Perplexed the young bard inclined her head to the side. „ And...?"
Unbelievingly the puzzled emerald eyed girl and the amber eyed boy could only stare at the sea-blue eyed girl.
„ You... you tell something of romance without knowing those... things?", Sakura started hesitating.
Angrily Mac lokked from one to the other „What things!?"
Shaolan was amazed at this thought.
Can it be? Telling tales of love and not knowing the rules between boys and girls?... She must be even more naive than Sakura! O dear... A fifteen year- old girl with the appearance of an eleven-year old one and the naivete of a five- year... That`s what we still needed.
Mac`s face suddenly darkened „Did I understand something wrong? I mean... You ‚are' friends, aren`t you?"
The both called teens blushed even more than they already did.
„ Uhm... Let`sjustsayIpreferthefloorokay?", Shaolan said without pausing, gripped a pillow and a bed-cover and almost threw himself on the ground, not caring of getting undressed before, while Sakura stood there, still red in her face.
„Well, if that`s what you want...", Shaolan could hear the bard`s voice say and the torches in the room went out like magically... mabe bacause it was magic. Only the moon, shining from the window into the room, enlightened the room a little bit.
This is really the worst day I ever had Shaolan told himself in his mind, his eyes wandering to the girls. The moonlight shimmered down at the auburn haired girl lying there, almost magically the light shining upon her. So incredibly innocent and beautiful.... as if she was a little elf, too pretty to be real, just like the girl the tale told of...
Lightly blushing one thought shot into his mind.
Maybe it wasn`t that bad... was his last thought, before he glided into a world of dreams, in which maybe an elf danced in a forest, promising to wait for him...
Author`s comments:
Myrwin: Well well... I wonder if Shaolan dreams dirty things of Sa...
Shaolan appears suddenly, with furiously blushing holding Myrwin`s mouth closed
Shaolan: DON`T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
Sakura`s head pops up over his shoulder
Sakura: What are you doing?Shaolan blushes even more
boy: He just wanted to...
Shaolan: Rounen Shourai!
Boy is burnt up... then falls down in ashes.
Mac: And if they haven`t died they are still arguing today...