Title: Once Upon A Time

Chapter: 2 - A Coincidence

By: Sparkling Crystal

The sun's bright hot rays reflected off the tiny pink beads that were tied tightly onto Sakura's hair. Her hair flew as she laughed. Few cotton-white clouds floated lonesomely in the sky. Birds chirped and sang as they flew freely across the open sky.

"Be careful, princess!"

Wilma lectured from the side as she held the royal riding coat that Sakura refused to wear.

Sakura ignored her and kept on laughing as she galloped on her favourite horse, in which she had named "White Beauty" since that it was entirely white, a rare colour for horses to have. White Beauty ran liked the wind, causing Sakura to slightly bump up and down, but she was still enjoying every moment of the fast speed.

"Sakura - you might want to slow down!" Tomoyo yelled worriedly from the side, "You're going faster than you've ever gone before!"

Sakura knew she shouldn't be over-excited, but she really wanted to see Syaoran again. This was simply because she didn't have many friends: her servant-friends wouldn't be entirely true to her since they're still servants and treat her too respectfully to be any fun, and Tomoyo was the only one that was a little better, but still acts very respectfully in public. She rarely sees her father; she doesn't like interacting much with her stepmother; and her brother...don't even mention him.

The white horse raced faster and faster, Sakura didn't care about a single thing…as long as - she sees Syaoran again…that smile, that voice, those eyes…

"SAKURA!!"

Wilma and Tomoyo both yelled. Sakura suddenly snapped back to reality: she was heading straight for a tree. Quickly she yanked the reins for the horse to turn left.

The horse neighed loudly and went in a speed so fast that Sakura almost fell off.

It raced left and as it brushes through branches and leaves, it galloped into the forest in top speed, leaving Wilma and Tomoyo behind them. After all, it was Sakura's favourite horse, and fastest at that. Its manes were brushed every single day and Sakura visited it often, making sure it was in good condition.

Sakura started to grow scared; there was no way to stop this thing.

But…EVENTUALLY it had to slow down…EVENTUALLY it would grow tired…and then she could stop it…but…that is if she can stay on for that long…and so what if she really stopped it? She didn't know where they were at all, and the speed was gaining by the minute.

Sakura tried to grab the reins, but it was going in such speed she couldn't even keep her boots in the saddle. Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes; she didn't know what to do. The horse dashed quickly through the dark trees of the forest, and Sakura now could only hang on tightly to the horse's neck and panic.

* * *

"Syaoran…out of all the girls yesterday I found Princess Belle of Penelopia to be my favourite, what are your ideas?" Syaoran's mother asked.

Syaoran blushed and smiled in a trance, "Umm…"

The Queen rolled her eyes, "Earth to Syaoran!?"

Syaoran blinked, and turned back to his grouchy mood, "I didn't even like the Breakfast at all! I hated the idea, and I don't feel like marrying yet! All the princesses were stupid and ugly ogres!"

His mother shook her head and spoke with unsatisfaction, "You have to marry so that there will be an heir for Naroays after both you and I die. And the princesses are certainly not all ugly ogres! If you don't give me any feedback I'm just going to make you marry Princess Belle."

"Princess who?"

"Princess Belle!"

"What kind of royalty has a name called BELL?!"

"B-e-l-l-e! The young girl from Penelopia? Gold-haired, round eyes, sweet look?"

"Yuck! That snobby-looking ogre?"

"Would you quit it with the ogre?!'

"Hai, hai, Oka-sama. Well, if you really want my opinion...I'd say Princess Sakura would have been a much better choice."

The Queen winced, "You mean the girl who kept knocking into people and bumping into stuff?"

Syaoran didn't say anything.

"...I know that, deep inside...Syaoran-kun has a very kind heart..."

Sakura's last words to him from the Breakfast repeated in Syaoran's mind.

"Princess Belle was neat and polite, beautiful and simply delightful," the Queen continued on, "She had manners and would make a VERY fine queen…so I invited her for dinner today - "

Syaoran ignored her, he still didn't really know who Princess Belle was.

But Sakura...

He had seen many girls throughout his life and most were quickly attracted to him by his handsome looks. (AN: Isn't Syaoran so proud of himself now?) But they all soon were driven off by either his rude manners or he just simply got bored with them.

"I think I'll take a little walk outside now, Oka-sama," Syaoran said. He would actually rather be anywhere than to sit here silently and listen to someone insult Sakura non-stoppingly.

"Very well," the Queen nodded, "Be careful not to catch a cold, it's quite chilly outside!"

Syaoran bowed thoughtlessly and left.

As Syaoran left he went outside and walked onto the field behind the castle, and he breathed deeply as the fresh chill air and bright sun begins to embrace him.

Beauty of what is nature…

He lay down in the lush green grass and looked up at the puffy clouds floating by, thinking about Sakura again.

It seems that he couldn't get her out of his mind.

The sun was so ever bright and shining directly into his eyes. He crossed his arms to use it as a cushion for himself to lie on.

From the forest he suddenly hears sounds of thumping. He got up and turned curiously as the sound grows louder, and with that sound accompanied a deafening cry, "AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

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~*ARTHUR'S NOTE*~

This one's a bit short, but I had to end with a cliffhanger. ^^ Don't hate me, and what do you think??? Please REVIEW! Thank-you-thank-you!!!