The Testing of Li Peony
A CCS Fanfic
by SyaoranSword
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Card Captor Sakura. CLAMP and other companies I may not know of own it all. This is a fanfic and not part of the "official" storyline. The story is only meant for the enjoyment of the author and any would-be readers.
Notes: What is it with me and long down times? Oh, well. I blame it on school. I haven't been totally idle on my writing, though. That original story in anime/manga style I told you about has been outlined for three chapters, so far. The working title is 'My Other Self', and I hope to have the first chapter posted by summer. Any beta readers would be greatly appreciated and duly credited. That's enough shameless plugging from me. Now for all those who have patiently waited, here is the tenth chapter, in which Peony learns the truth behind her testing…
~~~ (place) ~~~ = scene change
" " = dialogue
[ ] = thoughts
( ) = commentary
Chapter 10: The Secret of Sakura and Syaoran
"Poor Otou-san." Peony looked back to the door to her parents' bedroom. "If I had to do that to him to win, then what will happen when I face Okaa-san next?" Her eyes began watering as she imagined hurting her mother. "I don't want to hurt anyone, but I have to. Why do I have to be the one that is going to be the next leader?" Overcome with emotion, she went into her room, fell down onto her bed, and cried.
Bruce and Jin had come upstairs in time to see Peony hurry into her room and close the door. The boys approached, then, at Bruce's prompting, Jin knocked. "Peony, it's us. Do you want to talk?"
The door opened to reveal a sniffling Peony with wet cheeks. She stepped aside to let them in before she closed the door again. "Bruce-kun, Jin-kun, I don't know if I can face my final challenge: my mother."
"We don't know that for sure, Peony-san," Bruce tried to reason with her, but she just shook her head.
"It has to be her. I know because she and my dad are the ones who have taught me almost everything I know. I have already beaten Otou-san, and now I have to beat Okaa-san." Jin handed a tissue to the crying girl, which she gratefully accepted to blow her nose. "I just want to know why I have to do this."
Bruce thought for a second and came up with a possible solution. "Have you asked your grandmother? She might know your answer."
Peony wiped her eyes as she tried to put on a happy face. "You're right. Grandma Yelan would know! Thank you, Bruce-kun." The girl gave him a hug before she trotted downstairs and found who she was looking for. "Grandma Yelan, I have a question."
The former Li matriarch answered, "You want to know why you must face your parents. Is that correct?" Peony nodded after being amazed by her grandmother knowing her question. "I'm afraid I can not tell you, Peony. That is something only your parents should reveal to you."
Visibly disappointed, Peony thanked Yelan before going back to her room. "Grandma Yelan wouldn't tell me. She said it was something only my mom and dad can answer. But that's strange. Why would they keep secrets from me?" The three pondered the question until Peony spoke again, "I have to go back."
"Back? Back where?" Jin asked.
"Back to the past. I have to go back to when my parents decided all of this. There has to be a reason why they want to test me."
Bruce asked, "How are you going to go back to the past?"
"With this." Peony held up the Return Card.
"Peony, you know that card takes too much energy to use," Jin reminded. "And what about everyone here? They will immediately sense strong magic and we'll get in trouble for letting you do it."
"I'm willing to try, anyway. Just seal this room and no one besides us will know what I'm doing." The girl summoned her staff and touched the card to it. "Return! Take me back to the time when I will find my answer!" After a few seconds, Peony realized nothing happened. "Return!" The card still would not activate. "I can't give up. Return!" No matter how hard she tried, the card remained dormant. "Please. I want to know why my parents are hiding something from me."
Suddenly, a card from the Sakura Book was released. The three were awed by the spirit that stood before them. "Peony-chan, your parents love you very much, and they wouldn't want to hide anything from you."
Peony softly said its name, "Hope."
"Yes, I am the Hope Card, the last card made by Clow and the last card sealed by Sakura. Return won't activate because you do not have the necessary skill or the energy to use it properly. However, I will help you."
The girl gave Hope a big hug. "Thank you so much."
The spirit smiled as she took the Return Card into her hand. "Please, I ask of you to fulfill our little mistress's wish." The card seemed to respond by glowing and then forming a dark blue portal. Hope looked at Peony. "Be careful, little mistress," the spirit said before returning to the book.
Peony stepped up to the gateway to the past and turned back to Bruce and Jin. "I won't take long. Just stand outside my door, and tell everyone who asks that I'm sleeping."
"Be careful, Peony," Jin said as he and Bruce went out to stand guard.
"I will and thank you." With a deep breath, Peony closed her eyes, stepped into the portal, and vanished.
~~~~~~
When Peony opened her eyes, she saw that she was in a bedroom similar to her own. The only difference she could see was that this room was unused. The closets were bare, and the bed sheets were still brand new. There were no decorations to speak of either. It was also nighttime. "Must be a guest room," she quietly said to herself. Peony creeped over to the door and opened a slight crack. The hall was deserted. "Good. Everyone's asleep." She stepped out and closed the door silently behind her. Peony suddenly heard another door close behind her. Knowing she had been caught, she quickly turned around to a sight that gave her a shock. Green eyes met green eyes. In front of Peony stood a younger version of her mother.
Sakura blinked a few times after seeing a girl who very much resembled herself at a tender age. The girl also seemed to have an aura that was half-green and half-pink. Sakura's eyes widened. That could only mean one thing. "Peony?" The girl was stunned. "It is you, isn't it? You're my daughter from the future."
Peony found her voice, "Don't be mad, Okaa-san."
Sakura's expression turned very warm. "Why would I be mad, Peony-chan? You came here for a very important reason, didn't you? Let's go outside to talk."
The two went into the moonlit courtyard, where Peony told Sakura everything that had happened to her. "I don't know what to do, Okaa-san. I don't want to hurt you, but I have to if I want to fulfill my duty. Do you know why I have to do this?"
The future mother of Peony looked sadly at her. "I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer. You probably went back too far. There is something I can do to help though, Peony-chan. As your mother, you probably have heard me say it before. You have to remember that 'Everything will surely be all right'. I have lived by that statement through all of the tough times I have had. As long as I did my best and believe in it, things have worked out."
Peony let Sakura's words sink in. It was true that she had heard that saying from her mother before. Now, after hearing it again, she would trust in it. "Thank you, Okaa-san. I will do my best." After that, Peony disappeared from Sakura's sight.
~~~~~~
Peony watched as her parents entered the dark room. After her conversation with her mother, Peony had found herself inside the Li Clan meeting hall, where it seemed like a meeting was about to take place. She did her best to hide her presence in the darkness, and since no one seemed to be looking at her, she was successful.
"Now that Xiao Lang and the Ying Fa have arrived, we may begin the discussion," the head Elder announced.
"With all due respect," Syaoran spoke, "I don't see why this subject can't remain private between me and my wife."
"As leader, you have a responsibility to produce a male heir with your wife. The fecundity of Ying Fa is of vital importance to the clan."
"The truth of the matter is that since the birth of Peony, Ying Fa has failed to conceive, and we believe we know why."
The head Elder unfurled a star chart. "From our readings of the celestial bodies, the Card Mistress is entitled to give birth to only one child in her lifetime. Based on this premise, no male heir will ever be born to you. Given this unusual circumstance and Peony's great potential as the daughter of both you and the Card Mistress, we have made the unprecedented choice of considering her as the heir to the leadership of the clan." Peony sucked in her breath. This was the answer she sought.
"You're serious."
"I'm afraid so, Xiao Lang."
"But how is that possible?" Sakura stood by her husband facing the Elders.
"It is written in the stars. Peony shall be tested before her twelfth birthday to see if she is worthy to be the future leader of the Li clan."
Peony ignored the rest of what they said as she was shaking from what she had found out. "So that's why. Okaa-san can't have anymore babies. I'm the only child my parents will have, and because of that, I have to prove that I can be the one to lead after Otou-san. My parents want me to succeed, even if it means they will be hurt in the process."
~~~~~~
Outside the door to Peony's room, Bruce and Jin tried to act casual when they were in reality standing guard. Their attention was shifted when Sakura quietly left her room and went toward Peony's room. She smiled at them as she said, "Bruce-kun, Jin-kun, I would like to see my daughter, please. Would you let me in?"
"We would," Bruce began, "But she's sleeping."
"Oh, it's okay. I just want to check on her." Unable to delay her, the boys tentatively let her open the door. They looked in to see Peony asleep in her bed. Bruce and Jin were surprised and relieved that she had made it back in time. Seeing that Peony would be fine, the boys left to let her rest. Sakura knelt next to the bed and let her hand rest on top of Peony's head. "You will need all the rest you can get. Just remember what I told you, Peony. Everything will surely be all right." She gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek before she stood up and went to the pink book resting on the desk.
Sakura picked the book up and carried it with her as left her daughter's room. She walked down to the training room, where she opened the clasp of the book, and let all of the cards float up and circle around her. "Today is the day Peony will be challenged by me. You have been my friends ever since I became your mistress, and I am asking you one last time if you are willing to do as I have asked."
Two of the cards glowed brightly before their visible forms appeared in front of Sakura. Light responded, "We speak for the rest of the cards when we say that we are willing. We love both you and your daughter, and we understand your purpose."
"My sister is correct," Dark added, "Our little mistress has shown us the same kindness as you given us. Her heart is strong enough to overcome the adversity she will encounter."
Sakura softly smiled as she said, "Thank you." Light and Dark reverted to card form, and all but five of the cards returned to the book. The remaining five flew to Sakura's waiting hand. "You are the ones who carry the heaviest burden. I am glad that you have so much trust in me. Thank you once again." The cards were tucked into her robes as she went upstairs to leave the Sakura Book on Peony's desk.
To be continued…
You know what's coming next, don't you? Peony's last test is against Sakura, and she may be in for a surprise. What does Sakura plan to do? What will happen afterwards? The last chapter: Birthday Wishes is next! All comments and criticisms are welcome and appreciated.