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This will be the last chapter for a while (writer's block...among other things) check my xanga for details!

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Chapter Eleven: Return

Sakura's wings beat rapidly on her back as she flew through the air, dashing past the trees and branches, her emerald eyes darting around the scenery, searching for the slightest hint of a bat. Despite the situation she was in, Sakura smiled. She was going home. She could fly, and her wrists weren't weighted down by the medallions that bound her magic.

From not being able to fly for over two weeks, Sakura's wings were still a little stiff. But none the less, she could fly.

And it felt great.

The small tunes from the fairy city suddenly came into hearing. Sakura's pulse quickened, excitement making her fly faster.

Will I ever see Syaoran again? Sakura thought, her smile fading. She'd realized as they were parting…that she'd fallen for him, hard, over the past two weeks.

Even though, at the beginning, he hadn't been nice to her…he'd redeemed himself. Very well.

Sakura closed her eyes, spreading her arms and spinning in the air, giggling to herself. Two weeks ago she'd wondered if she'd ever find love like Tomoyo and Eriol. But now? Maybe she'd found it.

The fairy city came into view, tiny light hovering above the ground in the dark of the night. Sakura wanted to scream with joy at the sight, but thought she'd rather make everything a surprise, and show up without being noticed.

Tomoyo would, most definitely, be at the palace with Eriol.

She dove down towards the city, the wind rushing past her like a wave. She cut through it, landing gracefully on the hill that led to the palace.

Without even waiting for the guards to let her in, Sakura hovered past them, straight into the palace.

"Where is Prince Eriol?" Sakura asked, spying a young squire standing in a corner.

Startled, the boy stammered. "I-In the m-main hall."

Sakura grinned. "Thanks!" and flew off.

She knew the palace, mostly, like the back of her hand and made it to the main hall quickly.

The doors to it were closed.

She knocked.

"Who is it?" Eriol's voice said from behind the door.

Sakura giggled, lowering her voice. "A message for Prince Eriol."

"Can you send it later?" Another voice said. Touya.

"Sorry," Sakura said, finding it hard to keep her voice low. "But it's urgent."

There was a sigh.

"Fine, fine." Eriol said. "Send it in."

Sakura grinned opening the doors to the main hall. "I can't believe that you wanted to make me wait!"

Tomoyo shrieked when she saw Sakura, rushing over to her friend and wrapping her arms around Sakura's neck, bawling into her auburn hair. "Sakura!"

Sakura laughed and hugged Tomoyo. "I missed you guys! So much!"

"Sakura!" Eriol and Touya gasped at once, grinning and flying over to the two girls.

Tomoyo, finally, let go of Sakura and the golden-winged girl hugged Eriol and the her brother. "I missed you guys!"

"What did they do to you?" Touya asked, his strong arms refusing to let Sakura go. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, though I can't breath at the moment." Sakura giggled.

Touya smirked and let go of his little sister. But his smile quickly faded when he saw the bruises on his sister's body.

"What happened?" Tomoyo gasped, also spying the bruises.

"Oh, these?" Sakura laughed faintly. "I pissed a few people off. Actually…the whole city."

"Oh Sakura!" Tomoyo cried, hugging her friend again. "Did they do terrible things to you?"

"No!" Sakura laughed. "I was, actually, treated nicely…except for last night of course, but still."

"Did that filthy Prince touch you?" Touya snarled.

Apparently he heard that Syaoran was the one to catch me. Sakura thought with a smile.

"Um…no." Sakura said, feeling a blush creeping across her cheeks. What would her brother think of Syaoran? "He was the one who actually let me go."

Sakura's eyes met Eriol's.

He nodded and cleared his throat. "Well, I need to talk to Sakura alone, okay? You two wait outside….go get Zachary. I'll fill you in later."

"What?" Both Touya and Tomoyo gasped.

"No way!" Touya shouted. "She just got back! With her luck the fucking pixies will be back to get her!"

"We have worse problems Touya." Sakura laughed. "Now you two go, I'll talk later okay?"

Touya frowned but turned and left, mumbling profanities against pixies under his breath.

Once Tomoyo and Touya was gone, Sakura turned to Eriol.

"We have trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Eriol asked, motioning for Sakura to sit down.

Sakura sat down at the table, made from wood bark and berry leaves. "The Queen, Yelan, she's insane! She's joining forces with bats to attack the city!"

Eriol frowned. "That's not good."

"That's not the worse of it." Sakura said. "Not all the pixies are going to be willing to fight alongside the bats because, as you know, they hate them as much as we do. So if they don't fight for her…they'll die along with us."

Eriol's eyes widened. "She's willing to kill her own people?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes. And not just her own people but…Syaoran too. He's on our side, he doesn't agree with what his mother's doing."

"Syaoran? Prince Syaoran? She's going to kill her own son?"

"If needed, most likely."

"Wait." Eriol said suddenly, running a hand through his blue hair. "How do you know all this?"

Sakura laughed faintly. "Well, actually. Just before Syaoran set me free…I was scheduled to be sacrificed to the bats. Since she thought I was going to die, Yelan told me."

"Okay…" Eriol said. "She's not the smartest…then how do you know whose side Syaoran's on?"

Sakura felt her cheeks heat up again and she quickly looked down at her lap.

"Oh, I see." Eriol said, Sakura could hear the smile in his voice. "You've fallen in love with him then."

Sakura looked up at Eriol sheepishly. "Um…yes."

Eriol sighed, running his hands through his sapphire hair, his eyes shaking with something. "Sakura…you know that's forbidden."

Sakura frowned and nodded. "I…know. But Eriol, if you went what I just went through you'd feel the same way…I want to be with him!"

Eriol smiled and wrapped his arms around her in a tight, friendly hug. "I will believe in whatever you wish for, Sakura."

Sakura grinned, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Thank you Eriol, you're such a good friend!"

Eriol smiled. "I'm just glad your all right…and happy."

Just then Zachary came bursting in. "Sakura!"

Sakura turned and smiled. "Zachary! How are you?"

"You're all right!" Zachary sighed, wrapping his arms around Sakura in a tight hug. "I'm so glad!"

Sakura smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine. But we have a problem."

Zachary pulled away from her, his hands on her shoulders. "What do you mean?"

"Well for one." Eriol sighed. "Queen Yelan has gone insane. She's fighting along side the bats to attack us."

"W-What?" Zachary gasped. "How? When?"

"Soon." Sakura said. "I don't know when, but I just came to warn everyone."

"You mean…your going back?" Eriol gaped at her.

Sakura nodded. "I have to. I'm meeting Syaoran just outside the city. Zachary I'm-"

"Your meeting the prince?" Zachary growled. "Sakura he kidnapped you! Why go back to him?"

"B-Because." Sakura said softly. "I…love him."

Zachary stared blankly at Sakura, a faint smile creeping across his face. "Oh no." Eriol groaned. "So it's true then?"

"What's true?" Sakura looked up, confused.

"Zachary, don't tell me your in love with that pixie girl, Rika."

Zachary's cheeks flared, but he nodded. "Yes."

Sakura grinned. "Ha! Now I'm not the only one! But Zachary, I have to take Rika back with me."

"No you don't." Zachary said. "She's staying with me."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Syaoran will want to know if she's okay. If you want you can come with us, I won't be able to carry her myself."

Zachary nodded. "I'll come with you, then, me and Rika."

"Great!" Sakura grinned, turning back to Eriol. "I'll send a signal when the pixies are getting closer, okay? Just ready everyone, get the women and children hidden, and be ready to fight"

Eriol nodded. "Tomoyo! Touya, you can come back in"

The two fairies stepped through the door and walked up to the group. "What's going on?"

"War." Eriol said. "The pixies are attacking soon, alongside the bats. Sakura, Zachary and the pixie Rika are meeting with the pixie prince by the boundaries soon, we will stay here and get ready to fight."

"W-What? With the bats?" Tomoyo gasped. "But that's suicide! The bats will turn on them in the end!"

"I don't think Yelan knows that." Sakura sighed. "But I have to go. Zachary, come with me to get Rika."

"Oh no." Touya growled, grabbing Sakura's arm as she attempted to sweep from the room. "If your going back to that prince, I'm coming with you."

"No Touya, that wouldn't-"

"Too bad." Touya said, walking from the room, following after Zachary.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Great, now I have to protect Syaoran from Touya." and followed after her brother and friend.

Okay! A bit of a shorter chapter but whatever. REVIEW!
And so….the war begins!