The Masked Knight
Disclaimer: Mostly the main characters all belong to Clamp, and the detailed ideas too.
(A/N: Finally a new chapter, I know. It's been so long. It is hard to find time to sit down to write when I have to juggle between work and social life. So writing this story will take a while. Please be patient. For those who read and like my story, thank you all ever so much for the support! It means a lot to me!)
Chapter Nine: Path to Inner Star
Sakura could feel her body ache from head-to-toe. She could feel her heart beating loudly like a hopping bunny. But one thing she could not tell was pointing at one area of her body that was not in pain. She could feel herself giving up and drift off into an eternity of sleep.
'No, I can't. Syaoran needs me, and the people of Mikaysium needs him,' Sakura thought she can't be selfish and forget about the entire population depend on Syaoran to fight for them. Sakura fought hard to open her eyes, all she needed to do was to just open her eyes.
'Come on, Sakura, open your eyes!' She yelled at herself, 'Open them! Come on!'
She slowly opened her eyes seeing blurry orbs falling generously all around her. She could finally hear the winding slowly breezing through her ears. She could feel the sun's heat in different areas of her body.
As her vision became clear she was aware that she is lying underneath the shade of a giant tree. She slowly pushed herself to lie on her back. She took several deep breaths looking up at the leaves that were dancing with the wind.
It honestly felt like she was unconscious for days, but it only been half a day. The position of the sun indicated the time was a few hours passed noon.
If she could hurry she might still make it to Mikaysium's military camp by nightfall.
She spotted bruises and scratches all over her arms and legs. She was definitely in no condition to run. She knew the only thing she could do was try at the least.
She slowly pushed herself up from the ground and began walking. Each step she took was difficult because of the agonizing throbbing pain after the tree broke her fall.
She looked ahead not able to see the end of the forest. She had no idea where she was going, but she kept on taking one step at a time.
She walked until she finally saw a path going down a hill. She took one step, and carefully brought her other leg forward. She reminded herself to do it slowly, until one of her legs gave out and she tripped and tumbled down the hill.
Sakura burst out in tears feeling the muscles of her wrist twisted in the wrong way. 'I can't do this. I'm going to die here aren't I?' Sakura yelled in frustration as tears streamed down her face.
She hated feeling helpless, and this was the first time she ever felt like this in her entire life.
She thought to herself that she was not a quitter and if she was going to die, she rather die until her entire body give up on her.
Sakura was determined, that much was true. She tried getting herself up again suppressing the thought of pain. Nonetheless, it was just as difficult as the first time she tried, 'Come on Sakura! Get up! Get up!'
Then she heard a loud bird calling above her as the wind around her picked up in strength. The wind became stronger and stronger until it was strong enough to push her down to the ground. A giant blue phoenix slowly landed in front of her.
Sakura admired the phoenix's beauty; the soft blue feather, and the majestic physical feature was breath taking. Suddenly, a glowing orb appeared in front of Sakura descending down into her hand. Sakura held the orb in her hand as a key appeared.
This key was nothing like the one her granny gave her. It was different, unique, and it was… hers. The blue phoenix bowed down to Sakura as if she was its master. Sakura knew there was hope, a new beginning, and it was only the end of the first chapter.
"Key of the star with powers burning bright. Reveal the staff and shine your light! Release!" Sakura recite the incantation with a burning desire to control this power, "I call upon the power of my star ancient forces near and far. Fly card transform with all your might, and draw your power from my light!"
She felt the magic ran through her veins, it almost felt like a new kind of heightened strength and emotion. It was no surprise why many people wanted to attain this kind of magic. This feeling was invigorating and… alive.
The blue phoenix transformed as Sakura pointed her staff at it. She knew she could now use the fly card to help her to find the way back to Mikaysium Military camp.
'I am going to make it,' Sakura thought optimistically.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Sakura flew across sky with a pair of wings on her back thinking about how many people get to experience the power of flight. This personal view of the sunset, the closeness of the sun's heat warming her entire body almost distracted her from the pain.
The closer she flew towards the Mikaysium Military camp the faster the clouds hovered and gathered into clumps above. She could tell a terrible thunderstorm is coming from the north. Soon she spotted the camp and decided to do a few meters of walking instead.
This way she would look less suspicious, and the people of the camps would feel less threatened. Before she could reach the camp, thunderstorm already began with lighting flashed constantly across the sky following by loud rumbling thunder.
She walked up to the gate, "It's me Sakura. I am here for Syaoran! Please let me in! Hello! It's Sakura!" She yelled.
Finally a guard came to the came, "Get out of here, this is private military camp."
"I am here for Syaoran Li, Prince of Northern Star," Sakura explained.
"Who the hell are you? First of all, do not refer the general by his name. Second, get out of here. You have no business here," the soldier yelled.
"I am here to save him," Sakura yelled trying to surpass the thunder.
"If you don't leave now, I will use force," the soldier warned.
"You don't understand. If I don't go see Syaoran now he will die!" Sakura cried.
The solider pointed his wooden spear at her. Sakura could feel her blood boiling, she doesn't have time for this and neither does Syaoran.
"Jake! Kero! Captain Fujitaka!" Sakura yelled repeatedly hoping someone will hear her. More soldiers came to the gate except the people who Sakura really needed to see.
"What is going on here?" One of the leaders came and asked.
"This crazy woman is looking for General Li and our other high ranking commanders," the soldier replied.
"Shoot her away. General needs his rest. If she continue to refuse, get rid of her for good," the lead instructed.
"Understood sir," the soldier saluted along with 5 others.
Sakura smiled as the gate opened, then six soldiers walked towards her with their spears pointed at her. Sakura took a few steps back, but they kept marching towards her. It was finally clear to her that they were planning to drive her away from the camp.
Sakura struggled to take a few steps back before she stepped into a puddle and fell on her back. The soldiers came closer to her as fear took over. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blew the soldiers backward for a few feet, and then lightning started striking down at the soldiers one by one.
The puddle that Sakura was sitting in then helped pushing Sakura to stand on her feet. Then, the water turned into a small water carpet carrying her towards the soldiers.
All the soldiers watched as Sakura made her way passed them and towards the gate. Anyone who stood in her way was pushed aside by Windy and Lightning. This supernatural event caught everyone's attention.
"If you value your life. Which tent is Syaoran in?" Sakura looked down at one soldier who was in fear. The soldier pointed at the tent with his arm trembling uncontrollably.
"Sakura?" Jake and Kero turned towards her.
"I brought the cure for Syaoran," Sakura handed Jake the medicine.
"What happened?" Kero looked outside of the tent at soldiers on the ground in fear.
Sakura then sealed Windy, Water, Lighting, and Storm back into their card form. The night sky slowly became clear and the clouds from storm card scattered leaving nothing but astonishing sight of shining stars.
"That is amazing," Everyone's jaw dropped. Sakura walked back into Syaoran's tent as Kero saw how badly injured she was. Kero made arrangement to have a tent just for Sakura, and a physician to perform a full body assessment.
"How is she?" Kero asked the physician after the physical examination.
"She has sprained quite a few muscles. She does not have any fracture luckily. But judging from various injuries on her body, I am surprised her body didn't give up on her. She must've wanting to save Syaoran that desperately," the physician replied sincerely. He was mostly impressed at the amount of strength he never saw in anyone in his years of practice.
"Thank you, Dr. Ying," Kero bowed.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Syaoran looked into the ceiling of the tent not knowing how many days he'd been sleeping. He could still feel a sharp pain at the area where he was shot with an arrow. Overall, he felt a lot better compare with a few days ago.
"Syaoran, you are awake," Jake walked up to Syaoran's bedside.
"Prince Li, how are you feeling?" Kero asked.
"Am I cured from the poison?" Syaoran thought for sure he was going to die. Kero nodded happily at the outcome.
"But how?" Syaoran looked between Jake and Kero.
"Sakura came back with the cure," Jake replied.
"Sakura is here? I want to see her," Syaoran climbed out of the bed.
"Sakura is not doing well right now. The physician is with her. She's been through a lot," Kero stopped Syaoran knowing he just woke up from a coma.
"What happened to her?" Syaoran wanted to see Sakura right away.
"We don't know how she escaped Valkyrie, but she was able to make it back to camp with the help from her cards. She has many bruises, scratches, and injuries throughout her entire body. Once Sakura wakes up, we can then ask her how she made it to Mikaysium alive," Kero recommended.
"In the meantime, Sakura also gave us something Madison wrote for us," Jake handed Syaoran a small package. Inside it was a small book containing different strategies to use to defeat the Valkyrie army.
"Where is Madison?" Syaoran asked with concern.
"Unfortunately, Madison didn't make it back with Sakura," Jake frowned at the bad news.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Sakura opened her eyes wide open from a nightmare of soldiers pierced their spears through her body. Sakura looked around wiping sweat off her forehead realizing it was only a dream. She was still alive.
She walked out of the tent and saw Syaoran kneeling down with another woman before the Crown Prince, Kausil Li.
'Who is that woman?' Sakura thought to herself. Sakura watched as the woman took the small whine glass first with Syaoran's arms around her.
'The crown prince is poisoning them!' Sakura was about to run towards them, but was stopped by her granny.
"You can't stop them. After Prince of Northern Star wins the battle of the No Man's Land, he will receive enormous praise from the emperor. He is meant to die at the jealousy of his own flesh and blood," Granny stood between Sakura and Syaoran.
"I can't stand here and do nothing," Sakura walked passed granny when suddenly everything turned pitched black.
"Then this is good-bye," Granny disappeared behind her.
"Granny? Syaoran?" Sakura looked around and she was alone.
(A/N: Please read and review. I'd love to hear you guy's feedback!)