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Chapter Thirteen: Retaliation

"I see her." Syaoran breathed, gripping Sakura's hand tightly.

"She's not alone." Sakura whispered, her eyes wafting up from the beautiful pixie queen, up into the air above her.

"Oh my…God." Syaoran managed to croak.

The branches above them were filled to the brink with bats, some flying and some hanging from the branches and limbs, each screeching terribly.

"There must be hundreds!" Syaoran hissed. "What is mother thinking?"

"I don't think she is thinking properly." Sakura said softly, her emerald gaze falling on one distinct bat, much larger than the others.

Just the sight of it make her whole body shiver.

Flashback
 Fourteen-year-old Sakura darted through the trees, her wings beating rapidly on her back, pure fear driving her on, making her fly faster than she'd ever gone before.

I have to get away! I have to steer him away from the others! She thought, diving higher into the trees, dodging leaves and branches around her.

She, Tomoyo, and a few others friends had been on their nightly scout when they'd heard the terrifying screeching of bats. The others had, thankfully, made it away all right, but Sakura had led the leader of the bats away from her fairy friends.

Sakura screamed as the shrill shriek of the leader of the bats shuddered through the trees, drawing nearer and nearer to her with each beat of it's wings.

"Leave this place!" Sakura shouted, feeling the pulse of her power rush through her. But to attack a bat, especially while one is alone, was suicide. "There is nothing for you here!"

"There is you, the great trapper." the bat's voice hissed, shrill and yet still deep, terrifying and yet still calming in some ways. "You cannot out-fly me!"

Sakura gasped as she felt sharp claws rake across her arms, gripping them tightly.

"No!" she cried, looking above her, the bat's claws hooked around her arms tightly. "Let me go!"

"A fine prize indeed. You are lucky you are still alive, young one." the bat smirked.

Bats were ugly creatures, with ears twice the size of their own heads, tiny beady red eyes and sharp fangs and claws. Their wings were huge, and could knock a fairy from it's flight with just one swing, and their cries were even more dangerous.

But this was no ordinary bat, this bat was Sousui, the Prince of Bats, the leader.

"Please Sousui!" Sakura begged, helpless to try to escape his strong grasp. "Let me go! I am of no use to you!"

"You not only trap the pixies, but my people as well. How many of my warriors have died because of your traps?"

"Barely any have died, Sousui!" Sakura begged. "Maybe one or two a year! Please, let me go!"

"So you can return to your people and destroy more of my kind? I think not." Sousui smirked, flying higher into the air, his great black wings beating heavily above them.

Sakura felt hot tears stream from the corners of her eyes, cold fear jolting through her.

I won't let him take me…I can't let him!

She felt a strong power pulse inside her, and before she knew what was happening, her body began to glow a bright pink.

"What? What are you doing, fairy?" Sousui snarled, his grip on her arms tightening, his sharp talons digging into her skin.

Sakura winced slightly, and glared up at him. "Let me go."

"Not a chance."

"Fine." she growled, closing her eyes, letting her energy swallow her.

The next thing Sakura knew, she was tumbling to the ground, the feral shrieks of Sousui thundering above her.

What did I do? She thought, her wings beginning to beat rapidly on her back, lifting her back into the air.

As she flew away, warn blood dripping from the cuts on her arms, she managed to take a look back at Sousui, who was searching for the fairy girl.

He was glowing and seemed to be in a lot of pain, his wings beating with rage, carrying him through the air.

"I-I did that?" Sakura breathed, turning and flying away, back to the fairy city.
End Flashback

"Sakura? You okay?" Syaoran asked, resting his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes." Sakura said, turning to him. "But there's something I need to tell you."

"Sure, anything." Syaoran said.

"The leader of the bats…his name is Sousui." Sakura said softly. "Two years ago he captured me and…I did something to him, with my powers. I've learned to control them now, but he is still holding a grudge."

"You don't have to worry about him Sakura." Syaoran smiled. "I'll protect you from-"

"No, I don't need your protection." Sakura sighed. "But I do need you to stay away from him, for he'll try to take whatever I care about away from me before he kills me. It's how the bats work."

Syaoran smirked and stroked her cheek lightly. "Then we'll just have to protect each other."

Sakura smiled and leaned forward, catching her mouth with his.

They broke the kiss a few moments later, and Syaoran gave Sakura's hand a tight squeeze. "Come on."

Sakura nodded and followed him along the trunks of the trees, careful not to alert anyone that they were there.

"So what are we going to do?" Sakura asked.

"My mother will go to her chambers soon, she always does after a meeting." Syaoran said. "And then, if I'm right, the armies should move out towards the fairy city."

Sakura nodded, darting across the path that led to the castle, Syaoran leading her along.

"This way," Syaoran said, pointing to a set of stairs that crawled up the trunk of the tree, right to the front doors of the castle.

"Which one is her chambers?" Sakura asked, pointing to the large castle in the trees. The castle looked more like a bunch of leaves and branches and flowers strewn together, but Sakura knew that, behind the clever camouflage, were thick walls and long hallways.

"That one, the largest window." Syaoran said, pointing to a large window on the side of the large castle. "We can get there in a few minuets if we hurry."

"Or," Sakura smirked, her golden wings beating rapidly on her back. "We could get there now."

"Sakura-hey!" Syaoran gasped as Sakura rested her hands under his arms and lifted off the ground, darting up towards the trees.

"You're going to hurt yourself!" Syaoran growled. "I'm too heavy!"

"Not quite." Sakura giggled, with each beat of her wings they got closer and closer to their target. "Hold on!"

Syaoran let out a small cry as she picked up her speed, darting past branches and leaves, probably scaring Syaoran a great deal.

In no time at all, Sakura lowered herself and Syaoran onto the floor in Yelan's chambers, her wings folding neatly behind her.

"You're insane!" Syaoran breathed, turning on her. "Do you always fly like that?"

"Of course." Sakura smirked, walking past him with a wink. "Now, how much longer do we have until Yelan shows up."

"I don't know," Syaoran shrugged, shooting her a wicked smirk. "Why, have any ideas of ways to entertain ourselves?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Not yet Syaoran, this isn't really the time."

Syaoran smirked and walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist seductively. "I thought anytime was a good time."

"Ha ha, not quite." Sakura snickered, pulling from his grasp, her cheeks flaring.

I can't believe he just tried that! Sakura thought, trying to keep her blush under control, for she could still feel his eyes on her.

Suddenly, she felt Syaoran's hand pull her to the side, pushing her against a wall.

"Syaoran?" Sakura gasped. "I thought I said to-"

"Shh." he hissed, pressing a finger over her lips, his amber gaze flicking over to the door. "She's coming. Come on."

Sakura nodded and followed after him as he led her to the door.

"I'll hide behind here." the pixie prince said. "Can you make yourself invisible?"

"If I could, I would have escaped from you in the beginning." Sakura said tonelessly.

"Oh." Syaoran sighed. "Well then, just hide somewhere."

Sakura nodded, spying a perfect place behind a large vase. "I'll find a way."

Syaoran smirked as Sakura hovered over to her hiding spot and nestled inside it, making sure she wasn't able to be seen.

Then, the door opened, and they held their breaths.

"I'll be out soon." Yelan said. "I'll help take them to the city."

"Yes your majesty." the pixie servant said, bowing jus before he turned an darted away.

Yelan sighed and turned, closing the door behind her.

Somehow, she didn't notice her son standing there, not daring to breathe.

"Stupid fairies." Yelan muttered, walking to the window, gazing out it with a scowl on her pretty face. "And those insolent commoners…they won't follow me into battle…so they can die first."

"I think, you're going to regret that." Syaoran said, stepping into the center of the room.

Yelan gasped and spun around, startled to see her son standing there.

"Syaoran! W-What are you doing here? I thought Meilin was-"

"Watching over me?" Syaoran growled. "Keeping me captive in my own home?"

"Now Syaoran, she did it for a good reason." Yelan cooed.

"Yeah, because you told her to." Syaoran snapped. "But unfortunately for you, I escaped."

"What are you going to do Syaoran?" Yelan smirked. "Kill your own mother?"

"What you're doing is wrong," Syaoran said acidly. "Killing the fairies and the pixies? All because of your own greed? Why?"

"Why?" Yelan laughed. "Why? Syaoran, you know why. Fairies were born of pixies, many years ago. They are abominations. Birds fly, bats fly, not pixies, they weren't meant to fly. So we changed their name and sent them away, fairies. But they got strong, a lot stronger than we ever thought they would-"

"So you kill them off." Syaoran growled. "Mother, if what you said is true, then they are our people too! Can you really live with their deaths on your conscience?"

"Obviously." Yelan spat. "I will not have those-those creatures flying around! Besides, if I don't do this, the bats will attack, and we won't stand a chance!"

"You think they'll stay by your side once we're gone?" Sakura asked, stepping from her hiding place.

"You." Yelan growled. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"Obviously I'm not." Sakura hissed. "Don't you see Yelan? If you kill off my people, then the bats will have no use for your kind, and they'll get rid of you just as easily."

"They wont." Yelan protested. "Sousui gave me his word."

"Sousui is not to be trusted." Sakura said sternly. "If you want a war Yelan, join the fairies to get rid of the bats. Then we can live in peace together."

"Like I would ever want to live alongside you and your people." Yelan growled, her fists clenching tightly at her sides. "You all deserve to die!"

"Mother!" Syaoran shouted. "Stop this, listen to Sakura! She's telling the truth! Once you've won, the bats will turn on you, and you won't have a chance!"

Sakura nodded. "We already have the armies at ready. If you are willing, then they will be willing to fight alongside you."

"Sakura's brother and Yukito have already assembled some of our people," Syaoran said. "They're willing to fight against the bats mother. And, if you refuse to switch sides, they'll fight against you."

"There's no way you can win." Yelan snarled.

"We can," Sakura said darkly, her body beginning to glow a faint pink. "And we will."

"S-Syaoran?" Yelan gasped, taking a few steps back as Sakura advanced on her. "S-Stop her! What is s-she doing?"

"If you won't give in," Syaoran said, folding his arms across his chest. "Then you will join us on the front lines."

"Syaoran…" Yelan breathed.

"It's your choice." Sakura said, her voice coming out in a strange echo. "Join us? Or go with them."

"I'll never join you!" Yelan shouted. "Syaoran, how dare you betray your own mother!"

"Mother," Syaoran said tonelessly. "How dare you betray your own people?"

Yelan's eyes widened as Sakura kept coming at her, thick roots shooting from the ground, wrapping themselves around Yelan's ankles, waist, and wrists.

"Let me go!" Yelan shrieked. "Guards! Guards!"

"I'm sorry Yelan." Sakura said, using her powers to make the roots wrap around the woman's mouth. "But we can't let you kill so many. We will deal with the bats ourselves, and you will meet us at the fairy city."

With that Sakura closed her eyes, cupping her hands together against her chest.

Slowly, Yelan began to glow a bright pink, her body slowly fading. She struggled against her binds, but they wouldn't budge.

"See you soon, mother." Syaoran said with a short salute her way.

Yelan let out a shriek as her body completely disappeared.

Sakura sighed and lowered her hands, her emerald eyes fluttering open. "It's done. She's in the city."

"I can't believe we just did that." Syaoran breathed, standing at Sakura's side, staring blankly at the spot where Yelan once stood. "Did you really transport her to the city?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes."

"Well," Syaoran sighed. "There's only one thing let to do."

Sakura turned, her wings unfolding, beginning to beat rapidly on her back. "Find Sousui, and kill him."

Syaoran nodded. "Without their leader, the bats will be helpless."

"At least, for a little while." Sakura said, nervousness jolting through her.

"Hey, don't worry about it." Syaoran smiled, giving her hand a tight squeeze. "I'll be by your side."

Sakura smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you Syaoran."

He winked at her. "Now, let's go."

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