Spring Princess, Winter Prince

Chapter II -Green Tear

by: Mel

E-mail: LightofFaeries@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: Don't own CCS, end of story.

Everything was harsh and sharply etched and…cold. Xiao Lang felt much better now that he was in his rooms with their familiar ceilings lined with needle-like icicles and hard, frozen floors. He ran a hand over his bedpost, letting the icy coldness seep through his fingers. He breathed a sigh that he didn't know he was holding. Why did he feel so strange all of a sudden? It was the spring faerie, it had to be. His mother always said that spring faeries were no good. They were so happy and cheerful. What was the point, when everything would eventually die? What was there to rejoice about? It was much better to freeze everything and preserve it forever in ice. Syaoran shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the faerie's glowing face and bright smile. It was no use. Her imagine popped up every time he relaxed. No female faerie he had ever met had looked like her. No one had her spirit, her smile, her atmosphere. Syaoran sighed again, he couldn't believe he was thinking those thoughts. What was wrong with him?

Sakura had been busy. There were so many flowers to awaken and so blades of grass to renew. But she loved it. With her friend Tomoyo, they danced from flower to flower, shouting greetings when meeting other faeries. It was a joyous occasion, the first day of spring.

Standing upon a new green leaf and helping a new flower bloom, Sakura laughed gaily as Tomoyo accidentally tumbled into a newly opened flower. Tomoyo emerged, covered with pollen, a funny expression on her face. Sakura just laughed harder. Tomoyo rose in the air and shook herself furiously, her purple wings almost invisible, until the pollen finally fell off her. They floated gently about as Tomoyo finally alighted on a wilted, brown blade of grass, causing it to turn green and stand up taller.

When Sakura finally stopped laughing, Tomoyo said, "Come on, don't you want to do our tree yet?"

"Oh, of course!" Trees were for the Grown faeries, but this spring, Sakura and Tomoyo had fully seen twelve springs and were therefore allowed to work on a tree. But only one tree, Sakura's father had said and had given them one of the smaller ones. He hadn't wanted them tiring too soon.

Sakura and Tomoyo had been ecstatic. Now they flew toward the tree, the grass beneath them turning green as they passed.

"I wonder what it'll be like?" Tomoyo said.

"Touya—" Sakura's older and only brother "—said that it's very much like awakening a flower." Touya had also said that he didn't know why Sakura was all excited about nothing, but Tomoyo didn't need to know that.

Finally they arrived. Sakura and Tomoyo's first real tree. It loomed tall and imposing above them. It's bare branches seeming to touch the sky. Sakura's wings were a blur as she flew upward, eager to start, before Tomoyo's voiced floated up to her. "Remember what your father said. We should start at the roots and work our way up, that way it gives the tree a chance to warm up before it's leaves start wanting attention."

Sakura flew back down, but more slowly. "Yes, you're right. But Touya says the leaves are so much more fun."

"Well, if we hurry, we can spend most of our time on the leaves."

Soon, two pink and purple blurs circle the tree, winding their way up to the branches. They stopped at the very first fork in the wood.

"Now for the fun part!" Sakura said with a grin, barely containing her excitement. "Here, you start on that side of the tree and I'll start on this side."

Tomoyo nodded before flying off to do her side.

Sakura stared at one of the bare branches, then flew up to it. She thrust both her hands forward, cupped them together, and drew them back towards her. Slowly, almost reluctantly, a green leaf grew out of the branch. Sakura smiled happily. Her very first leaf.

Sakura repeated the leaf-calling gesture and a new leaf sprang forward, this time with much more enthusiasm. Sakura's smile widened. Soon she was hurdling through the air, causing leaves to explode forth on branches.

After awhile, she stopped and hung in the air, her gossamer wings trembling slightly as she rested. Suddenly, something sparkled at the corner of her eye. Sakura spun around, catching another glimpse of the sparkle but unable to find it's source. Sakura flew closer.

Parting leaves gently, Sakura gasped as she saw, nestled in a leaf, a beautiful green diamond, the size of her palm. She picked it up gently, then turned around and called for Tomoyo.

Tomoyo was by her side instantly. "Is something the matter?"

"No," Sakura replied, then held out the green diamond toward Tomoyo. "Look at this, isn't is so pretty?"

"Wow! It's a Green Tear!" Tomoyo cried. "Mama told me about them. Sometimes, extremely rarely, a tree will give a Green Tear. No one knows why, but the Green Tear itself is said to be powerful in healing and transformation, whatever that's suppose to mean when everyone here is happy the way they are. Sakura, I think you should keep this a secret. If word gets around, some people may do whatever they can to get it. Mama didn't want to tell me the stories about what some people did to get one, but I begged her." Tomoyo shuddered. "I wish hadn't."

Sakura looked wide-eyed at Tomoyo. "But who would be mean enough to do such things?"

"Not mean, evil." Tomoyo shook her head. Even though Sakura was the same age as her, she was so innocent. Tomoyo knew that Sakura could never imagine anyone wanting to hurt or harm anyone else. She was so trusting.

Sakura looked down at the jewel in her hand. "Do you want to have it? I don't think I want to keep it."

Tomoyo shook her head again. "Because you were the one who found it, you are now the owner. Green Tears are found by certain people for a certain reason. Oh Sakura, I'm so sorry! The best I can do is help you."

Sakura nodded slowly, the sun sliding off her honey-brown locks. "That's okay Tomoyo. I understand. And I'm really glad you're here to help me."

Tomoyo smiled, though a little sadly, "Come on, we better finish this tree and hurry back. The ball will start at green-dark. We better get ready soon."

Sakura perked up at the mention of the Spring Welcome Ball. It was held on the first night of every Spring and everyone attended. Sakura loved the atmosphere of festivity in the air and the creative dresses faeries wore every spring. It was a great celebration.

Sakura slipped the Green Tear into the folds of her dress. Later, when she had time, she would make a pouch to hold it in.

Tomoyo and Sakura resumed their previous task with enthusiasm again. Nothing could hold them down for long, especially not Sakura.

After finishing and making sure every branch was full with bright, green leaves, Sakura and Tomoyo finally perched on a leaf themselves, resting.

"That was really fun!" Sakura exclaimed.

"I agree! To bad we have to wait 'til next spring to do another," Tomoyo sighed.

Sakura was silent for a moment, then whispered something to the tree that Tomoyo couldn't hear. The tree swayed as if in agreement. Sakura smiled and said, "Thank you and may you live long."

Sakura then turned to a confused Tomoyo, and smiled mischievously "Hold on!" was all she said before pulling out the leaf's stem. Tomoyo barely had time to gasp as they plummeted to the ground. Suddenly the wind caught them and they floated about like a shuttlecock.

When they finally landed, both Sakura and Tomoyo agreed that it was extremely fun.

"Why don't we do it again?" Sakura asked.

Tomoyo shook her head, "Remember? Your father said we had to be at the palace by sunset and the sun is already starting to set. We're already late."

Sakura sighed, "I guess you're right." And they flew off.

Author's Note: Well, this is the second chapter. Did you like it? Didja? PLEASE ReViEw!!!!!! It means a lot to me and I write faster when more people review. So please review!

Thanks to Kawaiicat, Sakura^Silver, Chihiro, Animefairy, and Magicalnight7716 for reviewing! Thanks sooo much you guys!

To Chihiro: What is "neopets"? I got the spelling for faerie a long time ago in a book I read and I've been spelling it that way every since (I heard that was the original spelling for fairy).

~ Mel ~