Hello! This is Merodi, and thank you for continuing to read my story! Sorry for the long wait; I only have time at school to type. Also, a big thank-you to those who reviewed. I want to take some time to respond to the reviewers.
Cherry Tiger: Thanks for reading! It get better, I hope...
The Violent Tomboy: AU means "alternate universe," right? I decided to make Sakura use the Clow cards because her feathers reminded me of some of the cards. For example, the first feather is Windy, because they didn't have to find it; they already had the feather to begin with. The second feather is Big, because it turned the Kudan huge. The third feather is Illusion, because ithid the ryanban's castle. I'm just writing from my perspective, so that's why the cards are in this fic.
Alright, now, time for something very important... TADAHH!
Disclaimer: I'm sorry for not putting this on the first chapter, CLAMP-sama. All of the series mentioned in here belong to them, not me...
"We'll go with her," she decided, and Syaoran followed her.
The little girl's name was Presea, they soon found out. Presea followed the princess around everywhere. She was much like Chu'nyan, of Koryo. There was no doubt that she would grow up to be famous.
The next day, someone knocked on the door. Presea's mother opened the door to reveal…
…Yukito, the royal priest. He looked around quickly, to make sure no one else knew that he was here. Then, he ducked inside the doorway that was opened to him. A small boy with white hair followed him in. Yukito bowed to Presea and her parents.
"I'm looking for Sakura-hime and Syaoran-kun. Are they here, by any chance?"
Syaoran overheard Yukito and emerged from the hallway. He poked his head out into the living room. Yukito saw him and hurried over. "I must speak to you and Sakura-hime in private. About Emeraude." Yukito had a nervous look on his face, the look of a hunted man. "Clef!" he called.
The boy walked to his master's side and bowed. "I am Clef," he said, "High Priest Yukito's apprentice."
Yukito then proceeded to tell of Emeraude's rise to power. "Emeraude, as you know, has always wanted power. When you left, she saw this as her big chance, because the next-in-line was gone. She slowly replaced the Royal Military with her own mercenaries that she paid with money stolen from the Treasury. Syaoran-kun, remember the day you left?"
Syaoran nodded, remembering the surprise attack from the black army that injured King Toya.
"Those," Yukito continued, "were Emeraude's. She finally tired of Toya's grip on life and poisoned him secretly. Recently, she has been talking about the other worlds and plotting to take over them. She is going to take Sakura-hime's wings to implement her plan. Please, you have to stop her. I've sat around and watched her for too long, and now it's too late. I couldn't save Toya, but maybe you can save Sakura-hime. Clef will help you; I've been training him for this."
Suddenly, Presea ran to them, saying, "They're here! They're here!" Syaoran glimpsed some figures in black at the windows and door. They wore the same uniform as the men who attacked King Toya! Behind them, a woman in a white dress stood, with an evil smile on her face. Emeraude!
Emeraude gave the order to enter. Her troops broke down the door and swarmed inside the small house, searching for the Princess and her beloved. Emeraude followed them in and saw that they had encircled three people in the middle of the room: the High Priest, his apprentice, and the archaeologist's brat. What are they doing here? she thought. At that moment, a mercenary dragged out Sakura from a room down the hall. Presea and her parents were trapped in the kitchen, and Yukito and Clef were trying to hold back the ones who attempted to enter the kitchen. Emeraude's grin spread when she realized that the legendary power would soon be hers.
When Syaoran saw Sakura being pulled over by the black soldier, he saw red. How dare they treat Sakura that way? Syaoran launched himself at the mercenary with little concern to himself. His foot struck the man in the head, causing him to let go of the Princess. The other troops immediately surrounded him for an attack, but Syaoran held his own until his leg was cut by a sword. The shock of pain caused him to stumble for just an instant, but it was enough for the enemy to gain an advantage over him. They piled on, trapping him under their bodies.
Emeraude laughed. "You can't win against me, the Princess of Clow. Hahahaha! But," she added, "you fight very well. Would you like to join my army? You would be given the position of general and-"
"Sakura is the Princess of Clow, b----, and I'll never join your band of traitors!" Syaoran shouted.
"Oh! You cretin! How dare you say that to my face? You will be punished for that!" Emeraude stalked over to him, angrily. She raised her arm and started to say an incantation.
"Windy!"
The soldiers flew off the battered body of the young man who had saved Sakura's feathers. Emeraude was pushed into the wall behind her. "My hair!" she exclaimed.
Sakura stood defiantly in front of Syaoran. She didn't speak, but her expression matched Syaoran's answer.
"Your magic cannot stand against mine, whelp. I'll show you true power!" Emeraude gathered a ball of fire in her hands. She poured magic into it, making it grow. When it had swelled to about the size of her head, she raised it above her an arm's length and fireballs shot out at Sakura. They bombarded her and Syaoran, creating a thick smoke layer. Emeraude quickly followed up with thunderbolts and water jets. All this while, Sakura held a Shield steady. Finally, Sakura attacked with Sword. She Jumped toward Emeraude, who collasped to avoid the deadly blade. Emeraude wore a black bracelet made of magic; she now called upon it to reveal a staff that she changed into a sword. The two princesses fought fora long while and it was found that they were almost evenly matched. Then, Emeraude secretly signaled her army commander, who threw a piece of the broken door at Sakura. The wood caught her leg, and she flinched, leaving herself open to Emeraude's sword.
Emeraude immediately raised her blade for a final strike. But, when it came down, Sakura raised a Shield combined with Freeze. Emeraude, being the cheater she is, had had her sword made with a rare metal that deflected magical attacks. Sakura's Ice Shield was redirected onto herself, causing the Freeze card to affect her instead of Emeraude. Flecks of her magic landed on her clothes, and then her skin. She barely heard Syaoran's cry.
"SAKURA!"
"Hhu..." Her breaths were getting shallower. She felt cold and colder as the deadly ice crept over her whole body, encasing her in its had shell. Dimly, she felt a force trying to take her magic. Emeraude... she thought hazily. In a desperate attempt to protect the cards form the evil one, Sakura expelled them from her body. The cards turned back into the feathes they once were and flew out into the worlds. But two remained. The shield and the flower stayed behind, drawn to their mistress by the nature of her spell. The shield would protect the Flower, her soul, until help arrived. Windy... Watery... Fiery...
Then, the ice found her heart.
Thank you for taking time to read this fanfic, and please review! I'm not very good at writing, so I need a lot of help. Thanks!
