Wounded Hearts and Ruined Realms
Princess Sakura collapsed as the deadly spell hit her fully on. Everyone was horrified as the teenager bent under the pain; her face was contorted with anguish. "Sakura Reed!" Li Avalon ran to her, his face was worried as the girl sobbed softly; her light coffee hair was damp with cold sweat… Princess Madison leant down and tried to help Princess Sakura as she winced. She spoke sensitively, chanting something that sounded like a prayer.
"Why are you helping her?" retorted Eriol, the Federal Princess explained why…
"Sakura Reed was my best friend. Long ago she did me a favour that I still remember and I am repaying her for her help. I am grateful that I could help Princess Sakura, it's her time of need…" answered the Federal Princess. Kurogane's heart swelled as he looked at Princess Madison. Surely he was wrong about all the things he originally thought of the Federal Princess Madison?
Sakura Avalon was instantly reminded how Madison Taylor often assisted her in her magical adventures by offering advice, designing her dresses and videotaping her. Never before did she imagine that the Federal Princess was so like her own friend, so gentle and kind… Likewise, Madison Taylor was thinking about how willing her imperial alter ego was to help the Clow Princess. Warrior Li Showron looked very serious, as though he was waiting for something to happen…
Then Princess Sakura Reed spoke, her breath was barely a whisper as she strained to get the words out. "Li Avalon," she struggled as her eyes welled up with fresh tears. Li Avalon leant closer to his Princess, holding her as the Federal Princess applied the procedure. His forest green cloak was damp with the soil. "Princess Sakura?" he said gently, forcing a fake smile on his face to make the Clow Princess not worry. But he could see all the agony, all the desperation in her glassy eyes and tears began to drop. "I-I love y-y-ou with all my hear-" It was then that she emitted a painful sob.
"Don't cry, Princess Sakura! We're here for you!" yelled everyone else.
It was then that Li Avalon saw the light gradually fade from Princess Sakura's eyes, so slowly. And she hung limp, like a rag-doll in his warm arms, her heat easing away from her like a winter's day. Princess Madison shook her head terribly; her eyes knew all the pain he was suffering right now. "I tried; I really did try to prevent it… But the method I used didn't work."
NO! He thought; this can't be happening to me! The adolescent buried his face in Princess Sakura's hair, refusing to believe.
Flashback: Li Avalon's memory…
"Princess… Are you sure you're alright?" Li asked Princess Sakura. Her slender fragile face was so inspirational on that day, how he ached for her to remember now… She nodded meekly, as though she was a shy small child. She was so refined and elegant, like a porcelain doll. But more than that, he realized, she was his childhood friend who he almost thought he lost for seven years. When Princess Sakura woke up with no recollection of him, it almost broke his heart, he cried in the rain, the water drenched his cloak, but he didn't care.
Li remembered the times when he woke up, remembering the despair and hopelessness that went with the fear of losing her… Of losing the only Cherry Blossom in his life. Nightmares plagued his sleep, memories of the times they had together, before he lost her to the thunder, on the cliff. Laughter, happiness… All was gone in an instant, the moment her feeble grip slipped through his fingers… And with it, all the warmth from his heart, he regretted the moment. Li Avalon became frozen, his heart beginning to crystallize with the ice... He became numb with the sting of Sakura's demise (or so he thought…) The teenager felt hollow, like nothing else was worth living for. Nothing was like this pain…
"Li Avalon?" Eriol attempted to ask the troubled teenager. "Are you ok?" Li seemed to shudder. The others felt despair as they tried to comfort him in the hour of darkness and desolation… The Fire Kudan howled a long, lingering cry as it went out like a dying flame, reflecting the emptiness Li Avalon felt inside…
"Princess," Li Avalon managed to breathe out. He touched the Princess's cheek as though he thought that he could revive her again by stroking her cold body.
"Princess Sakura sacrificed her precious life… To protect her Federal friend." said Mei in complete sadness. Mei's Starlight Kudan seemed to twinkle; its equine body was like white blistering brightness in the night. The Air Kudan perched on Fye's shoulder as the magician bowed his head in grief. Li Showron seemed to be moved by this sight, he was so moved that he began to cry, a rare thing that hardly happened to the serious boy.
The Federal Japan world was nearly gone… Almost nothing remained of its former glory while the remaining Worlds (the people of Shorin) fought for the one lasting symbol of unlimited power… The Japanese people were forced to flee from their assailants as they were beaten back with an intense ferocity that matched their own fearfulness. Every day was a fresh horror as the nightmare sustained its vicious cycle of violence and disputes. To escape, they had to build shelters from the darkness of those days…
"My home!" yelled Nekino as he saw the remains of his home, reduced to rubble.
Yashii, his brother, emerged from the battle, he looked far worse than he did over a week ago. He had multiple injuries on his body and his kimono was slashed to pieces. "The battle's very violent out there, what with the spells and weapons all adding to the chaos…" he told the two teams, he looked exhausted as his face had sweat over him. Nekino helped his brother into the shelter… Princess Madison was looking very distraught as she watched her country's kingdom turning into a wasteland.
"It's the Prophecy's fault!" yelled Kero-chan. "It's the curse of Japan!"
"You're wrong…" said a gloomy Kurogane. "This is because of the beep Black Rose group! If it wasn't for them, we would still have my kingdom!"
"What can we do? Everything is lost, everything!" shouted Meilin bitterly, clearly she was agonised by the despair and hopelessness of the situation. "All because of the Three Worlds Prophecy!"
"I don't believe it's because of the Prophecy…" said Li Showron; it was the first thing he said in a long while. Everyone looked at him in surprise, but he was interrupted by someone who was speaking unexpectedly…
At once, a familiar voice said behind them… "Everything is not as lost as they seem…" There was a flash of bright light, and the background suddenly disappeared, to be replaced by shining steps. Mokona squealed as Kurogane saw a person standing near the glittering steps… The strange person was wearing a hood over her eyes, to prevent anyone from seeing his or her true identify.
"Who the heck is that!" swore the foul mouthed Kurogane. Li Avalon still held onto his love… Maybe that person could help us?
"I have no idea…" whispered Fai. Amshader leapt out of Nekino's arms in fear. Nekino spoke to Amshader to calm him down. The castle cat immediately relaxed. Sakura Avalon stared at the approaching person… Who was he or she?
"I am the Realm Guardian, the keeper of Worlds…"