Kingdom of Fairy Tales
Chapter One – When Darkness Falls
By Mirage Voorhees
Disclaimer – I don't own Card Captor Sakura or its characters.
Author's Notes – Well, here's chapter one of my fic. It took longer than expected to write it because I wasn't sure how to end this chapter. I'm still not really satisfied with it, but it will do. Someone mentioned in the reviews that this fic sounds a lot like Beauty and the Beast, and I realized the beginning does sound a lot like it. Trust me though, this fic will be a lot different and will stop sounding like it soon. Also, I'd like to thank everyone for the nice reviews. Enjoy chapter one, and I'll see you again next chapter!
Warnings/Pairings – AU, characters slightly OOC for now. Rated PG-13. Syaoran/Sakura, Touya/Yukito.
Summary – Legend has it that a rude, stuck up prince was in line for the throne. That was, until a fairy princess decided to punish him by turning him into a wolf that would never age nor die. Destined to stay as a wolf, alone for eternity, only the full moon will give him a human form for a limited amount of time. Lost in his own despair, will anyone be able to save him?
"And so the prince lived as a wolf, never aging, never changing appearance…only in the light of the full moon. During this time he is unable to leave the forest, an invisible force set up by the Faerie Princess keeping him within the boundaries of the forest. Alone, he wanders the land for eternity, cursed by the Princess."
"That's a really sad story," the young seventeen year old girl announced from her bed, a single candle on the night stand lighting up her room. A tall figure sat on the side of her bed, holding a book before him as he looked down at the younger girl.
With a smile, he reached out and ruffled the girl's auburn hair. "Sakura, you've got a good heart."
Confused, the girl looked up at her brother. "What do you mean?"
Touya laid the book down on the bed. "For one, that boy was a brat and deserved what he got."
"No he didn't!" Sakura insisted, "No one deserves that! That was a horrible punishment!"
He couldn't help but laugh. "Every time I read you this story we always argue about this."
"That's because I think the Faerie Princess was unfair. The prince could have changed…he just needed a little help, that's all!" She insisted.
Touya grinned at his little sister. "You always say that."
"That's because it's true."
"If you say so." He looked down at the book, "I don't know what you find so fascinating about this book anyway. It's only an old Yetrayl fairy tale – it isn't real. There in no Faerie Princess, and the villagers have never seen a wolf within the forest surrounding our country."
"I find it fascinating because it happened here in Yetrayl – in this very castle we live in!" Sakura replied happily. "And just because you haven't seen the Princess and the villagers haven't seen any wolves, doesn't mean they don't exist within the forest!"
Touya rolled his eyes. "Even if it did happen – which it didn't – it happened almost over two hundred years ago, Sakura. That boy is long gone."
"But he's immortal, and he would never leave the forest…the only way he can turn human once a month is if he's within the forest under the moonlight!"
"Whatever you say, Sakura," Touya got up from where he was sitting, leaning in and tucking his little sister in. "It's time for bed. All little princesses should be asleep by now. You've managed to stay up long past your bedtime"
"I'm not a princess!" Sakura pouted. "And I'm seventeen, I don't have a bedtime!"
"Father rules this land now, since he was elected the new king after his cousin passed away. That makes me a prince and you a princess," he informed his sister, ignoring the last thing Sakura had said. She may be seventeen, but she was still his little sister and he was going to take care of her the best he could.
It was true, their father had been elected king. It was a strange thing to do – elect a king to rule the country – but there hadn't been a royal heir in a few hundred years. The last of the royal family had died out long ago, and the title of king had been passed down to those who were worthy of the title. Touya's father was a smart man, quick with the sword, and he understood how things were run. That was why, after the last king had passed away, the villagers turned to him to become their king.
"I don't like the title." Sakura crossed her arms defiantly.
"Well you're stuck with it," he ruffled her hair again and she swatted his hand away with a grin. Picking up the book he laid it on the stand and went to blow out the candle.
"Touya, wait!" Sakura sat up suddenly, hugging the sheets close. "Please leave it burning for a little longer."
Touya frowned, but gave in. "Fine – but you really should get over this fear of the dark you know." Kissing her on the forehead he went to leave, "Sleep good, Sakura. And no funny business tonight, okay? Go straight to sleep."
Sakura nodded. "Okay!"
He opened the door, giving her one last look before he left and shut the door quietly behind him. Sakura waited for the sound of his footsteps to fade before she pulled out a raggedy old teddy bear from beneath her pillows. It was an odd looking bear with very small eyes and large ears. It had a stringy tail with a small puff on the end, and it looked like it had seen better days.
Closing her eyes, Sakura reached a hand out and touched the stuffed animal's forehead, calling upon the power deep within her. She'd learned to call upon it on her seventeenth birthday month ago, and she had been frightened by it at first. It had started out as a tingling sensation within her, and one day when she had been yelling at her brother for taking the last of the pie the cook had made for her, it had exploded from within her. Her brother had been there to witness objects flying through the air and pink tinges of magic like lightning and static striking from out of nowhere.
From then on Sakura had been practicing to control her new found powers in private. Her brother didn't approve of them, and told her to stop using her powers – but how could she stop using something that felt natural to her? So she used her magic behind closed doors, hoping that no one would ever find out her secrets. There was a possibility that, if anyone found out – even though she was the king's daughter – she would be put on trial for witchcraft and be burned at the stake.
A pink swirl of magic appeared from her fingertips, covering the bear in a sparkling pink light. Sakura opened her eyes and watched with a grin as the animal floated from her grasp, changing and growing in the air. When it was finished, a large golden lion was floating in mid air, its large white wings spread almost from one side of the room to another.
"Kero!" Sakura held open her arms, and the lion slowly floated down until he touched the bed and the magic let go of him. Sakura wrapped her arms around him, and he folded his wings behind him, a paw coming up to her back as he hugged her in return.
"Sakura, I thought he would never leave!" The lion grumbled, pulling away from the girl.
Sakura giggled, reaching up and scratching behind his ear. Like a cat he groaned and leaned towards her hand, and if she listened quietly enough she could swear he was purring. "Sorry Kero, but you know how I love my fairy tales before I go to bed."
"You know," the large lion type creature said, stretching out on Sakura's bed, "Your brother is going to find out sooner or later."
For a moment Sakura looked at him confused, then looked down at her blankets and nervously started to play with them. "You think so? He already knows about my powers, and he's promised not to say anything to father…but I swore to him I would stop it, and I haven't!"
"You call upon me every night before you go to bed," Kero turned his head slightly. "One night he might come in here having heard our voices and he will see me. He will know you have lied to him."
"But Kero," Sakura looked at him sadly, "You keep me company during the night. I'm afraid of the darkness…you protect me while I sleep!"
With a smile Kero nudged her head with his own in a soothing manner. "There is nothing to fear in the dark," he chuckled. "Especially within the castle where you are guarded well, Princess Sakura."
"I don't like this castle, Kero," Sakura admitted. "I miss my old home on the edge of the village. I miss my old room, my old garden, and my old friends that I never get to see anymore."
"Ah," Kero nodded, "So that's what you want. You crave companionship, since you no longer have your friends and you are in a new place."
"Maybe," the princess admitted. "I still don't like being alone in the dark. In my old home, I always knew Touya was somewhere nearby. Now he's far down the hall, and even if I call his name he cannot hear me through the castle walls." She suddenly grabbed Kero and hugged him hard. "I get lonely when darkness falls, Kero!"
He sighed, pulling away. "I will protect you, Sakura. Don't worry. I'm just afraid of what will happen to you if anyone finds out your secret."
"Nobody will ever find out," Sakura swore. "I'll make sure of it."
"Sleep now, Sakura." Kero nudged her back until she was lying down, her head on her pillows. "You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
Sakura nodded, finally letting the yawn overcome her. Holding a hand up to her mouth, she snuggled down into the covers as she felt sleep tugging at the back of her mind. She watched as Kero curled up on the corner of her bed, his head laid between his paws and his eyes closing slightly. It was his duty to watch over her while she slept, keeping the darkness and nightmares from her.
Satisfied, Sakura blew at the candle that stood on her night stand. It flickered, and seconds later it went out. She laid there with her eyes open, staring at the ceiling for a moment as she let her eyes get used to the dark. Then, as if to check to see if he was still there watching over her, she said, "Kero?"
"Hmm?"
She smiled faintly into the darkness. "Good night."
"Good night, Sakura," was his reply, and she closed her eyes and let sleep take over.
Within moments she was asleep, her guardian watching over her from the foot of her bed.
To Be Continued…