Identity's Past
by AlterEthereal
Syaoran returned to find his princess, but discovered she has been missing in action for years. Now, a mysterious, distant girl has arrived in the city... could his princess be right under his nose?
Hey there, fans and friends! Finally got the time to work on this here story... I was really afraid I wouldn't make the usual 5-day deadline, since the two days I would normally be working the most on it were spent instead at an intense skating competition. Which I won. Twice. YAY! Anyway, not important. What is important is that I'm back and with another chappie and more thanx to the reviewers: orlha, sapphire999, and Vi3t BaBiI! Enjoy, guys! ^_^
Alter-chan: so, how's the count? how many people are still left sane here? *counts on fingers* geez, less than one hand, eh?
Zuri, Bob, Leif, and Yugi *from silver-dagger-113's fic Marik's Boring Day*: YO HO! ^___^
So: oh no... now they've all gotten started with that?
Anaru: well i guess insanity is contagious.
Alter-chan: then shouldn't we all be insane by now?
Anaru: you seem to have misunderstood your rights, woman!
So and Alter-chan: -_-;
Anaru: in fact, i think both of you should have to do disclaimer.
So and Alter-chan: *look at each other* well um... ok...
So: DISCLAIMER: Alter-chan's face.
Alter-chan: doesn't own CCS.
So: or any of their faces.
Alter-chan: *nods in agreement*
~~~~
The two looked around themselves. Sure enough, the possessed villagers were beginning to break through the barrier. Syaoran shivered as he thought of how much they resembled zombies.
"Well then, we're gonna have to fight." he stated, drawing to full height, one hand holding his injured shoulder.
"Yep. He's got his army and we've got ours." The girl's emerald eyes burned with determination as she pulled every card but one from her waistband and summoned them all. "Star Cards, release and dispel! Defend against the villagers!"
~~~~
Chapter 19: Hidden
~~~~
The Star Cards fought well, each holding off the villagers in its own way, yet without hurting any of them. And, while the attackers were preoccupied, Syaoran and Sakura had the chance to make a plan.
"I'll go after Wu Tai. Again. You stay here with your cards, at least until things are under control."
"Are you bossing me around, Syaoran?"
"No," he replied innocently.
"Good. 'Cause I can handle this situation perfectly we-"
"Sakura..." a voice interrupted their short conversation. The auburn-haired girl turned around, only to see the boy she'd frozen only minutes ago. If the situation weren't so dangerous, Syaoran would've almost laughed at the irony.
"I'm out of here. Be careful, Sakura."
"Same to you," she returned sadly.
Syaoran nodded his response and headed off, disappearing deeper into the caves as a certain formerly-sapphire-eyed boy approached Sakura. He really hated leaving her in that position, but one of them had to go after the bad guy, and if Sakura went, the Star Cards would become unfocused and useless. That left Syaoran. He knew that Wu Tai was controlling the villagers, and it was his power that allowed their resistance to the cards. If he could just distract him, or cause him to pull back his power, the villagers would return to normal and Sakura would be safe. As for himself, it didn't really matter, since he was already half dead anyway. If he could make it out alive, it would be icing on the cake.
~*~
Syaoran's aura was weak. Sakura knew she couldn't just let him stroll to his death, but she had no choice for the moment. If she left now, the Star Cards would diffuse and the villagers would come after them again. Besides, she had other matters to attend to.
"Sakura, don't resist. You and I both know you can't hold off forever." The raven-haired boy spoke in a slightly seductive voice as he made his way toward her among the villagers and creatures. The Card Mistress, however, was growing almost... agitated.
"I can't believe you would manipulate people like this," she growled. "You could never make me believe you are who you claim to be."
"Of course I'm Felix. Don't I look like it?"
"How dare you!"
"Oh, but I really am Felix. I've just awakened to my true nature."
"True nature my foot! We'll see what your true nature is once I'm done with you!"
"So we will!"
That said, the boy lunged, immediately going for Sakura's throat. The girl was stunned for a moment, but once it hit her that her neck was being squeezed painfully, she resolved to fight back. She flailed her arms until she was sure they were snug around the boy's own neck, and squeezing just as hard, although she could barely feel them. She knew she'd achieved her goal as she noted the agonized look on her opponent's face.
~*~
"Wu Tai! I know you're here somewhere! Show yourself, you cowardly bastard!"
"Li Xiao Lang," rumbled a low and ominous voice, causing Syaoran to stop in his tracks, "your power is rusty and half-spent. You would continue to fight? Even when you must realize I would easily kill you?" Suddenly, the old man appeared a few meters away from him across the dark cave. He appeared calm, seeming to see Syaoran as a mere fly on the wall.
"Oh, like you'd know. I may have a few tricks up my own sleeve!"
"You have already used a great deal of your magical energies just keeping yourself alive! Do you honestly expect to fight me in your condition?"
"Yes. And you may just be surprised."
"Do not be a fool, boy. You will die."
"We'll just have to test that little theory, now won't we?" Strangely enough, Syaoran smirked through the pain, which was slowly dwindling.
I'll just let him think I'm easy prey for now. Then, he'll see...
He gripped his sword with one hand, the other still protectively covering his left shoulder with the other. Allowing himself to fall into his familiar battle stance, he pointed his sword straight ahead toward the robed figure and charged into the one-handed battle.
He swung idly a few times, a force-field surrounding the man and preventing him from breaking through. Indeed, he wasn't using all his power, but just enough to pester the man, to keep him from focusing too much on what happened in the village.
~*~
Sakura held on with as much strength as she could muster, praying that her grip would overpower her former friend's, even though that was unlikely. Unexpectedly, however, a flicker of blue grazed across the boy's eyes and he seemed to be lose a bit of strength--or will. Even so, she was beginning to feel light-headed. If he didn't stop soon, she was going to pass out.
~*~
"What is this, boy? You attack me weakly, but your powers, they grow stronger!"
"Well finally you notice. I was beginning to think Sakura weak for not being able to defeat such a stupid magician." The amber-eyed boy let his hand drop from his shoulder, revealing an already partially healed wound.
The old man frowned at the insult, but was more concerned with this hidden power of Syaoran's. "I do not see how you can rejuvinate your power; you draw your energies from the moon, do you not? And there is no moon here."
"Who said I only relied on the moon? A man who relies on one source of power is just asking for death at one point or another."
The ornament that hung around the boy's neck still shone brightly, despite the intense battles he'd endured. The old man seemed to realize this, a spark of frustration glinting in his dark eyes.
"Your pendant is a power well."
"Perhaps."
"You best not trifle with my temper, Li."
"And if I do?" If I can just keep him off balance and angry, that'll give Sakura the time she needs...
"Then you will suffer the consequences."
A beam of light, sharp as lightning, descended upon an unsuspecting Syaoran, who barely deflected the attack.
"I will stand my ground..." Syaoran muttered determinedly.
"On the contrary, young Xiao Lang. You will fall!"
~*~
Sakura's grip was beginning to weaken on the dark-haired boy's throat. The Star Cards stopped defending and returned to their confinement, Sakura being too weak to support them any longer. Fortunately, many villagers seemed to be weakening as well, some even collapsing to the cave floor.
I'm not going to make it...
Suddenly, Felix's hand loosened considerably and she felt a wave of air infect her lungs. In fact, in less than a second, he had completely let go. All the blood rushed to Sakura's head as she fell to her knees on the soft rock. Her vision swirled, but she was able to vaguely make out another person dropping next to her. She tried to raise her semi-limp arms to rub her eyes, but found that she could barely move.
"S-Sakura?"
Her body did its best to jump in surprise, but she only managed a hoarse moan as her vision slowly came to. It was still a bit blurry, but wide, sapphire eyes seemed to be peering into her own.
"Felix... is i-it you..." she mumbled through her burning throat.
She vaguely comprehended a village tongue telling her not to give up, that she needed to stand and get her blood running again. She did as she was told, or at least she tried. In the end, it took another pair of arms to help her to her feet, but once she was there, she found her vision returning to normal and the feeling returning to her body.
Wu Tai doesn't have control over the villagers any longer... that means he's either dead or he's focusing his energy on Syaoran now...
Suddenly aware of the situation, she took wary steps that turned into a jog that turned into a run, straight toward an increasingly menacing black aura and a comfortingly warm green aura.
~~~~
Alter-chan: ok, so now that that's over with, i've got a surprise for the reviewers. you get to interact!!
reviewers: *cheer*
Alter-chan: i'm going to take a poll. a certain outcome wasn't covered in the dream and leaving it unfinished would seem almost an insult to the story and characters, so i'm gonna need some help from the readers!
should the village:
A. be relocated back to the earth and their
ancient home?
or
B. stay in the caves they've known as home?
it's up to you guys this time! but this also means i'm gonna need lots of responses, so please, don't hold back your opinion! it would be greatly appreciated! ^_^
So: just shut up already. how can they vote if they're stuck reading all your blabbering?
Alter-chan: er...
So: yeah, that's what i thought.
~AlterEthereal