Disclaimer: I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura, its English counterpart, or anything like that. All I own is the storyline and added characters.

I used the Japanese version for my story, even though I watch the English Cardcaptors. This is merely because this version is better defined and the characters are more agreeable to me. Also, this fic takes place in an alternate universe, or AU. The main characters are all in their late teens or early twenties.

This story is purely fiction. Any resemblance to real advents or another story is purely coincidental. (I read that in a book. ^_^)



The castle stood on an otherwise solitary island, devoid of almost any human life. It had been abandoned for hundreds of years, ever since the great mage who had build it had been assassinated. Clow Reed had been a great man, a caring father, a kind ruler, and a powerful mage, who had not deserved his death. But his overrun grave was clearly marked, Torture.

Politics. It all came down to politics.

His family had been captured, his kingdom demolished, its people turned into the Sun Clan's slaves. His name became a curse, a mockery. And his legendary cards, the Clow Cards, were tools for torture. Loyal servants of Emperor Qualsivix, leader of the Sun Clan.

The Sun Clan, after this final conquest, virtually had control over the entire earth. Small rebel bands did exist, and occasionally battled against the Sun Clan. But they always lost.

No Blade, as they were called, dared come on that island. It was rumored to be haunted by the vengeful ghost of Clow Reed. That made it a haven for any rebel.

This was the predicament of rebel Wolf Clan's leader Eriol. A former slave, he had no last name. It was a talking point on why he refused to give himself a name, to bring himself out of that pit of shame. (A.N.: That rhymed!)

Eriol was a direct descendent of Clow Reed, his grandson a hundred times removed. Like his ancestor, his family had been slaughtered. His father for treason, his mother for witchcraft, and his brother.. He wasn't sure if his brother was alive.

He knew official Blade soldiers had taken his mother, Kasumi, away. She had been taken to the court, unusual for a slave. Wondering where she was, the two boys had wandered around after hours, searching every available space. Eriol remembered that his brother had burst from the prison, his hands bleeding, chased by guards. He had screamed for Eriol to run, leave, that Mama was dead.

Eriol had stood rooted to the ground, horrified, dazed. The guards had begun to transform, abandoning their human form, an ability that any human had. The Blade form was humanoid, golden in color, smoothly muscular, covered in blades. And then all he could remember was running, running, running..

It made him sick to his stomach.

Eriol's hand clenched involuntarily on the hilt of his sword as the memory surfaced. It was his brother's face that had really hit him. White and terrified. He was always a calm boy, unruffled by the most major thing, but.

"Sir!"

Eriol jerked at the unexpected interruption, turning around to see who had spoken. A soldier stood there, a runner by the looks of him, more wiry and light then the average Wolf. A scroll was clenched in his hand, trembling with exhaustion. He'd obviously just come back from gathering information from their spies. Sheanse`, that was his name.

The rebel leader straightened, his eyes chips of ice, looking for everything like a battle-hardened soldier. A real leader. "Report, Sheanse`."

Sheanse` unsuccessfully tried to hide his exhaustion, as he read from the scroll. "Failure: Troop Gurtiod was captured and slaughtered by the enemy. Success: One of our spies has discovered that a major official of the Sun Clan is due to arrive at Stae City."

"That's in the Sakura Valley," Eriol said, shocked, losing his firm dignity. "When did that peaceful kingdom fall under Sun sway?"

"Apparently it hasn't yet, sir. The official has come to persuade them to sign a treaty. If that happens, we can kiss our chances of survival goodbye."

Eriol ignored the boy's inappropriate address to a commanding officer and instead said, "Well, that definitely can't happen. Send General Terada up immediately."

Sheanse` bowed respectfully. "Yes, sir."

Eriol turned back, his heart thumping painfully with excitement as the sound of the runner's feet faded. This was the chance he had been waiting for. This wasn't a petty battle; if they stopped that official from earning the treaty they would earn themselves a reputation. Respect.

Heck, if he kept thinking that why, he'd have the ages-old battle won by next week.