Sorry for annoying the people who hates author notes, but why would you be
reading this if you did? I've been meaning to start a cardcaptor story but
I haven't had any idea what the plot is going to be so I'm just going to
wing it a little. A/U fic because it'll be more interesting if it is. Don't
cha think? P.S. CAN SOMEONE SHOW ME HOW TO INDENT?!?!]
*** When people think of a princess, a picture of a beautiful girl with a petite golden crown inlayed with diamonds set on her pretty little head instantly comes to mind. She is a princess so, of course, she'll be wearing an overly laced pink goofy dress and her feet will be covered in custom made white boots made by the finest shoemaker in all the kingdom. Her castle, made of white brick and red shingles for the towers, would sat upon a lush green hill blooming with flowers every spring, summer, and even most of fall. Of course she'll have to face a difficult struggle in finding the most handsome, kindest, and most noble prince but she'll always live happily ever after. So it only made sense that every young girl dreams of becoming one, right?
Not this girl. Meet Sakura. Just plain dirty runt who lives in the shack by the shores with her father. She had an older brother also, but he'd been gone to fight a war raging in other countries and hadn't been heard of in years. Her father, a local fisherman, works dawn till dusk just to catch fish to sell in the market. But since this IS a kingdom so near the ocean, it is needless to say fish isn't a dependable thing to sell in the town.
To help her aging father, Sakura combs the beach for any shells she could polish and string to necklaces to sell. Since hardly anyone in town had nearly enough patience for this kind of labor, her necklaces bring in a few customers interested in the unique trinkets. The coins bring in enough to survive from day to day.
Why doesn't Sakura dream of being a princess, then? It'll be nice to dream of waking up to a curtained-four-post bed and a ten-course breakfast instead of a bed of straw and a rumbling stomach. Surprisingly, Sakura did hoped. Not surprisingly, her hopes diminished with each passing year. Now sixteen, she doesn't even glance at the storyteller sitting on the fountain surrounded by young eager children. No doubt filling their heads with magic pumpkins and enchanted kisses, she'll think as she walks to her poorly-made stall and displaying her shells.
Once in a while, though, Sakura would find herself listening to the old man. It was amazing how the man used every single feature of his face and hands to describe the events of the story. And the voice. Knowing the exact moment when to shout or whisper was essential to capture the attention of the audience. Sometimes the children would scream as the man describe a ferocious beast and suddenly pounce on them. Then a laugh from the surrounding adults would be a sure signs of at least one bronze coin.
Even knowing full well it will never happen, she'll catch herself dreaming of a dashing young man on a white gleaming horse gently scooping her in his arms and riding away towards a life of luxury in a magnificent palace. She'll be known as Queen Sakura, the most beautiful, wise, kind, graceful, and giving queen ever to be heard of. Yes, that would've been her dream and hope except for one little problem; she wasn't any of those things.
Her father and friend, Tomoyo, would often joke of her ability to trip and fall at all the wrong moments. Countless trays, dishes, and baskets are proof of this. Though it was true she was kind and giving, some people often exclaimed that she was too easy to take advantage of and to fool. And beautiful? Though she often walked along the beaches near her home, she made sure to stay away from the clear water in fear of seeing her reflection. Because of her way of life, she often neglected to take baths but no one ever notices. Her whole body was scrawny and she hated her big feet and small head. While her mother was still alive, she felt pretty every time her mom put ribbons in her mahogany hair and complimented her bright green eyes. But ever since her mother tragically drowned, everyone was suddenly too busy to string the ribbons in her hair and saying how beautiful she was.
One thing Sakura prided on herself was her ability to read and write. Her father had taught her. Few people (if any) knew the secrets of the scriptures. It was her only escape in life as she flipped through her father's old textbooks and absorb the knowledge contained within them. Through them, she explored faraway lands and went back in history. Sakura was impossible to reach as she settled on her little bed of straw and a thin layer of cloth pulled over her. The moonlight would be her own reading light and the crickets would be her company.
Some nights, she'll think of who will be her husband. Being sixteen, she was now of age to be engaged and married. But who in their right minds would want to marry her? It was true that feelings do count in relationships, but most parents judge others by their possessions. It'll be considered a miracle if the butcher's son would want her.
She scoffed. Even if the butcher's son did want her, her father would never agree with a marriage if it didn't make Sakura happy. Maybe she would end up alone. An old woman who sells polished shells and lives in a hut by the shore.
But, there is a possibility that she's destined to become something great. . . . .
******
[I know, short chapter. I'm not good at doing prologues at all. -_-* Review!
*** When people think of a princess, a picture of a beautiful girl with a petite golden crown inlayed with diamonds set on her pretty little head instantly comes to mind. She is a princess so, of course, she'll be wearing an overly laced pink goofy dress and her feet will be covered in custom made white boots made by the finest shoemaker in all the kingdom. Her castle, made of white brick and red shingles for the towers, would sat upon a lush green hill blooming with flowers every spring, summer, and even most of fall. Of course she'll have to face a difficult struggle in finding the most handsome, kindest, and most noble prince but she'll always live happily ever after. So it only made sense that every young girl dreams of becoming one, right?
Not this girl. Meet Sakura. Just plain dirty runt who lives in the shack by the shores with her father. She had an older brother also, but he'd been gone to fight a war raging in other countries and hadn't been heard of in years. Her father, a local fisherman, works dawn till dusk just to catch fish to sell in the market. But since this IS a kingdom so near the ocean, it is needless to say fish isn't a dependable thing to sell in the town.
To help her aging father, Sakura combs the beach for any shells she could polish and string to necklaces to sell. Since hardly anyone in town had nearly enough patience for this kind of labor, her necklaces bring in a few customers interested in the unique trinkets. The coins bring in enough to survive from day to day.
Why doesn't Sakura dream of being a princess, then? It'll be nice to dream of waking up to a curtained-four-post bed and a ten-course breakfast instead of a bed of straw and a rumbling stomach. Surprisingly, Sakura did hoped. Not surprisingly, her hopes diminished with each passing year. Now sixteen, she doesn't even glance at the storyteller sitting on the fountain surrounded by young eager children. No doubt filling their heads with magic pumpkins and enchanted kisses, she'll think as she walks to her poorly-made stall and displaying her shells.
Once in a while, though, Sakura would find herself listening to the old man. It was amazing how the man used every single feature of his face and hands to describe the events of the story. And the voice. Knowing the exact moment when to shout or whisper was essential to capture the attention of the audience. Sometimes the children would scream as the man describe a ferocious beast and suddenly pounce on them. Then a laugh from the surrounding adults would be a sure signs of at least one bronze coin.
Even knowing full well it will never happen, she'll catch herself dreaming of a dashing young man on a white gleaming horse gently scooping her in his arms and riding away towards a life of luxury in a magnificent palace. She'll be known as Queen Sakura, the most beautiful, wise, kind, graceful, and giving queen ever to be heard of. Yes, that would've been her dream and hope except for one little problem; she wasn't any of those things.
Her father and friend, Tomoyo, would often joke of her ability to trip and fall at all the wrong moments. Countless trays, dishes, and baskets are proof of this. Though it was true she was kind and giving, some people often exclaimed that she was too easy to take advantage of and to fool. And beautiful? Though she often walked along the beaches near her home, she made sure to stay away from the clear water in fear of seeing her reflection. Because of her way of life, she often neglected to take baths but no one ever notices. Her whole body was scrawny and she hated her big feet and small head. While her mother was still alive, she felt pretty every time her mom put ribbons in her mahogany hair and complimented her bright green eyes. But ever since her mother tragically drowned, everyone was suddenly too busy to string the ribbons in her hair and saying how beautiful she was.
One thing Sakura prided on herself was her ability to read and write. Her father had taught her. Few people (if any) knew the secrets of the scriptures. It was her only escape in life as she flipped through her father's old textbooks and absorb the knowledge contained within them. Through them, she explored faraway lands and went back in history. Sakura was impossible to reach as she settled on her little bed of straw and a thin layer of cloth pulled over her. The moonlight would be her own reading light and the crickets would be her company.
Some nights, she'll think of who will be her husband. Being sixteen, she was now of age to be engaged and married. But who in their right minds would want to marry her? It was true that feelings do count in relationships, but most parents judge others by their possessions. It'll be considered a miracle if the butcher's son would want her.
She scoffed. Even if the butcher's son did want her, her father would never agree with a marriage if it didn't make Sakura happy. Maybe she would end up alone. An old woman who sells polished shells and lives in a hut by the shore.
But, there is a possibility that she's destined to become something great. . . . .
******
[I know, short chapter. I'm not good at doing prologues at all. -_-* Review!
