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 carriage rumbled down the muddy unpaved pass, its superb quality being put to the test by these simple country roads. To the passengers inside, the carriage was rattling as to soon fall apart, but they bravely made little complaint as their journey progressed.

"Ow!" Huwbequ Brastillion howled. He was a short, portly man, with thinning brown hair, buggy little eyes, and the flowing blue robes, embroidered with rare jewels and metals and stretched too tightly over his bulging stomach, marked him as an official Sun Clan Advocate. He was squeezed against- or rather, was squeezing- a tall, gaunt man, with long white hair and chilling blue eyes. Unlike Brastillion, his robes were of a simple gray cloth. He donned a silver necklace, with various amulets hanging from it. These were all of magic property, and his psychic ability made him a valuable asset.

It was thanks to him that the third and final man was sitting in the carriage. He was not wearing robes, but rather gloves, pants whose legs were nearly covered by sheets of hide hanging down to his boots on either side, a shirt with very long, angled sleeves, and a stiff helmet, all of a rich ebony created from a dragon's hide. It was rumored that he himself had killed the beast, and as the General of the Clan's army it was only expected that he have at least three great myths circling about him.

The General favored Brastillion with an acid glance, while the psychic took no notice at all. The sight of his cold brown eyes was enough to shut up the advocate for an amazing period of a heartbeat before his overly loud voice was heard again.

"Why are we going to a backward little country like the Sakura Valley?" he demanded grumpily. He was usually as oily as his hair, manipulating his way around the government, but he was a soft man, unused to being ignored. Trapped in a rumbling vehicle with cold, immovable superiors he was not rendered at his best.

The General was seized by an impulse to chop the noisemaker into tiny little pieces, and his hand was gripping the hilt of his sword before he knew quite what he was doing. Brastillion's piggy little eyes narrowed in fear, and his large mouth quickly snapped shut.

Of course they would all have been much more frightened had they known of the giant worm lying under the ground beneath them. She was the queen of all worms and under her reign the spineless creatures had conquered the kingdom of the gophers.

But they were ignorant, and thus the journey was completed with relative ease. The advocate, after complaining bitterly that he would never be able to rest after this strenuous journey, fell sound asleep, and quiet reigned. What was passing on through the psychic's mind remains to be seen; however, the General's thoughts were on his present mission. His Master had ordered him to save the Sakura Valley from rebel clutches, and that was what he would do. If he found it strange that he was being forced to work with a whiny advocate and a potentially traitorous magician (all sorcerers were only truly loyal to the class upon which they belonged- the man himself was not too sure in the ways of witches) he never let on; he merely obeyed. He quietly reviewed what he had been told: the capitol was Stae City, it was ruled by a queen, Sakura, there were mostly farmers, and there was a potentially magic source that must be rooted out. He was a bit wary, however; apparently the Queen had a sharp advisor resistant to any treaties. He had been warned, over and over, and if anywhere, that was were he might be a bit apprehensive.

Soon, however, the horrendous road evened out, and they were traveling upon a relatively smooth brick road. The general's dark eyes peeked out of the window, and he saw ancient ornamental gates, leading toward a beautiful city, where an elegant castle sat perched upon a dainty hill. It was pretty, he allowed, but hardly dangerous at all, quite harmless really. Thus it was with no trepidation that he entered the castle grounds. A courtly guard that he guessed could not have stood against the most untrained soldier politely opened the door. A swift kick of the General's foot awoke Brastillion, and all three climbed out of the car without further ado.

"Sir," said the guard, and he bowed them through the delicate castle walls. All three were silent as they observed the gentle aura about the place before they were escorted to the throne room.

The Queen was late. The Suns had been sitting for a good hundred pulses (AN: Pulses are the throb of magic, the flow, that controls magic in this world, and equal about thirty seconds) before a chime was heard and they were heralded to her arrival. She fairly flowed out, followed by several ladies in waiting and, oddly enough, a yellow doll perched on her shoulder.

Lady Sakura was indeed beautiful. Brastillion seemed to notice this more than the others; however, the general himself was helpless in her green gaze to be in anything but a tolerable mood, which for him was ecstasy. She smiled and apologized for her tardiness.

"Indeed, I am quite grateful to have a chance to meet you," said the general, bowing. Brastillion quickly followed, and the psychic nodded his head briefly.

Lady Sakura seemed charmed by her polite guests, and quickly invited them into her sitting room, which, the General noticed, earned the disapproval of one of her ladies-in-waiting, one with very long black hair and soft blue eyes.

Brastillion instantly began to make his oily way into the Queen's favor when the toy atop her shoulder said, "You are not the one to speak."

This, though entirely normal, seemed to shock the Queen's guests so that she blushed prettily and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. This here is Keroberos, a magical beast created by-" here she was stopped by Keroberos beating his tiny wings viciously- "I mean, created by an unknown sorcerer, we believe, long ago. Now he's withered to a slight creature, compared to his old self. However, he's my most trusted advisor."

The General was dumbstruck. This was what he had been warned against? The magical power? He had been told it would have been a ferocious beast or powerful mage. And before he could stop himself, he had said, "You mean to say that your head advisor is (AN: C'mon, people, you can guess) a stuffed animal?"

"Who're you calling a stuffed animal, gaki?" the little creature spat.

Now, children, that was an example of what not to do during an international meeting of peace.

The two viciously glared at each other, and this might have turned into a stalemate had not the one lady-in-waiting whom had followed her mistress hastily said, "I myself am Tomoya, cousin of my mistress. We are very close, and I can safely vouch for her- for all of us-" here Keroberos received an angry glare- "that we are very glad to be meeting you."

Brastillion was an experienced negotiator, and quickly eliminated any pause. "As are we, dear lady, as are we. I am Hewbequ Brastillion, he-" gesturing to the psychic- "is a magician by the name of…"

For the first time, the psychic spoke, in a soft, husky voice. "Cerbran."

Brastillion accepted this. "Yes, Sairbren-" and you could feel the misspelling- "and here is our general."

This stirred up the latter. He shook his head, then bowed again, took off his helmet to reveal a head full of thick, wild brown hair, and said, "My name is Syaoran Li."





AN: Yeah, I know, that was a real surprise there. *sigh* Ah well, ah well, I'm getting better…