The winds picked up once more whipping around the water and the black substance that had held Sakura. It was too strong and knocked me off my feet easily. I flew backward, unable to maintain my magic hold on the glass capsule containing our friends. I stopped suddenly, jerking back toward the source of the wind. I looked up to see Kurogane holding the back of my shirt with one hand and holding onto Fai with his other.
"The world is beginning to return to normal!" Fai exclaimed as the Sakuras suddenly appeared outside of the cracked capsule. A tornado formed around their prison catching us all by surprise.
"Sakura!" I said in surprise.
"Syaoran's not coming out!" Mokona cried.
"Syaoran!" The two girls screamed.
"They're… they're all together." I gasped, sensing their presences.
"What do you mean?" Kurogane asked me.
"They're together with Watanuki. They're not in a dream… but some kind of void. I don't know how to explain it. But they're together. Wait!" I exclaimed as Clone Sakura began to break apart. "No, please! Don't disappear again!"
We watched helplessly as our original travel companion vanished before our eyes. And in an instant, everything was calm.
We were standing in the flowing water of the ruins — myself, Fai, Kurogane, Sakura, and Syaoran.
"I… The other me… disappeared." Syaoran said with tears in his eyes while holding two feathers.
"I knew that it would turn out like this but since you would absolutely come home… Syaoran." Sakura spoke softly. "You and I… if we have our memories, it's not the end. So…" The two feathers floated between our friends before entering into them. Fai and Kurogane acted quickly as the two kids fell backward. Fai caught Sakura and Kurogane caught Syaoran as I held Mokona close to me. I watched as Kurogane lightly knocked his fist against Syaoran's head.
"Since he left without me hitting him, you take it." The swordsman said to the boy before he lost consciousness.
"They're sleeping now, both of them." Fair sighed.
"Thank… you…" I heard Syaoran mumble.
"Our poor kids." I said, kneeling in the water in the middle of everyone. "It didn't matter how hard we fought, we still couldn't bring them all home." I touched my palm to the clear water and used it to amplify my healing magic to cure everyone's injuries — including my own — in one go. While our wounds were healed, the remnants of blood and dirt remained embedded in our skin and clothes.
"Thank you, Little Witch." Kurogane said, lifting Syaoran out of the water as Fai picked up Sakura.
"Anything to help our family." I smiled through the tears still in my eyes.
xxxxx
I lead the way back to town, unsure of what would await us there. Fai and Kurogane carried the kids while I held a crying Mokona. I hugged her tightly to me. There was a sense of relief, a horrible chapter finally closed, but there was no real celebration of our victory.
"Sakura! Syaoran!" I heard someone calling as we approached the town. I looked up to see a group of three people waiting for us: a tall man with brown hair, a woman with long blonde hair, and another man a little younger than me with black hair. I don't know how I knew it, but I suddenly knew that these people were Sakura's family.
"Your Royal Highnesses." I said, bowing once we got to them.
"Sakura's parents?" Mokona asked.
"You all have quite the journey. So many trials and tribulations. I cannot thank you all enough for saving these children. My precious daughter." The queen said, bowing to us.
"There's nothing we wouldn't do for those two." I smiled at her.
"Please, come to the castle. We invite you to rest in our home as long as you would like. It's the least we can do to say thank you." The king said.
We followed them to the castle where we were able to put Sakura and Syaoran into large oversized beds for them to rest. The guys helped change Syaoran out of his dirty clothes and get him cleaned up while Mokona and I helped change Sakura.
"At least when they wake up they'll be nice and clean." Mokona said, hopping into bed beside Sakura. "I'll stay here so when Sakura is awake she won't be alone!"
"I think that's an excellent idea, Mokona." I smiled, placing a hand on each of their heads. "I pray for sweet dreams for both of you." I exited the princess's room to find Fai waiting for me in the hallway. He smiled at me softly before pulling me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around him and held him silently.
"My love." he said, pressing his lips to the top of my head.
"We did it. We made it through." I sighed, finally allowing myself to fully embrace the relief of beating Fei Wong Reed.
"Now let's get some rest." He smiled, pulling away from me.
"And a bath?" I asked, brushing some dried blood out of my hair.
"And a bath." He chuckled.