"He's finally come back. Those two really searched well."

A cheerful yet cold female voice rang inside a dimly-lit room as a cloaked figure stood over a thin sheet of sparkling water floating in midair. Images were flashing on the veneer surface of the water like memories then slowly disappeared into darkness. The figure passed a slender hand over the surface.

"This is too boring," the voice, belonging to the figure, exclaimed yet cheerfully. "They're taking him to the palace already. That's too bad. I won't be able to see inside."

"Sakura, please…" Another voice, different from the first yet still belongs to a female, resonated in the room. It was soft, almost pleading. "Just stop this."

The figure turned around, her dark cloak whirling around her, to her captive, a dark-haired young lady dressed in tattered gowns, chained to the stone wall. "But the fun hasn't even started yet, Tomoyo." Only her small smirk was visible under the dark hood.

The girl Tomoyo rose to her feet, the chains and shackles on her ankles tinkling softly. She suddenly froze at the sound she was making then slowly turned to the large looming shadow behind her.

"Careful, Tomoyo. You wouldn't want to wake him up, do you?"

Tomoyo turned to the cloaked figure, her lavender eyes filled with concern and apprehension. "Please, why are you doing this?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible. "Why, Sakura?"

The figure didn't reply but Tomoyo could see emotions flickering in the other girl's emerald orbs. But even before she could read it, Sakura turned around once more just as two large cats appeared on her each side, spreading their tall wings.

"Revenge is sweet, ne, Spinel, Keroberos?" Sakura said in a delighted voice, patting the heads of the two cats with a slender hand. "Don't worry, Tomoyo. We won't hurt your sweet prince." She then added as an afterthought. "At least, not yet."

Cold, mirthless laughter filled the entire room, punctuated by several growls from the shadow behind Tomoyo. The girl could only close her eyes and clasp her hands together as if in prayer.

I am not the one who needs to be saved, Sakura…

Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura or any of its characters (and places from TRC) so don't you dare march right here inside my room, shoving papers in front of me! Queenie gets drowned in so many papers… I don't own them, just the plot (unless there's a book, story or fic that's exactly the same as this) and the weirdness of this disclaimer and author's notes.

Author's Blabbering: Remember when I told you guys that it'd probably take long to update this one? Okay, so maybe it did take me a long time to update it again. But here's the second chapter, after months and months of revising. Thanks to those who reviewed in the first chapter. I hope you enjoy this one too.

A Fairy Tale less Ordinary

Chapter 2: Your Majesty

.: Royal Palace, Kingdom of Chien; Present time :.

Syaoran shut his eyes for the nth time, clenching his fists in concentration. He pictured his own room back at his house inside his mind, even getting down to the small details such as that unfortunate scratch on his oak writing desk because of a flying pen.

I'm dreaming. I'm just dreaming. When I open my eyes, either I'm in my room or I'm inside my History class.

Unfortunately for him though, the view in front of him didn't warp into his room or his classroom. It still remained that way: an Oriental-inspired room with expensive furnishings, silk covers and curtains, even sliding doors and jade dragons on the marble top table. He pinched himself hard on the arm, almost close to drawing blood, then let out a yelp of pain. Okay, so he wasn't dreaming.

He slowly sat up from the silk-covered bed, pushing away its red sheer curtains, and stared at the room, forcing himself not to faint again. At least he was still wearing his school uniform. Although he didn't like the sight of those red, gold and silver clothes draped over a winged armchair.

Syaoran placed a hand on his temples, trying to recall what had happened to him when…

"Shut up! You might wake him up!"

"With your voice, I'm not surprised if he already is awake."

"Shut up! Didn't you hear what I said?"

"But I'm speaking, am I not?"

The hazel-eyed boy grimaced, clenching his fists even more. Right, it was those two who had brought him here, who had told him that he was a Crown Prince of some kingdom, and who had not given him a single explanation on anything, not even how or when or why he had suddenly become a Crown Prince.

The door slid open and Ruby Moon went in with a lacquered tray of tea then suddenly froze visibly at the sight of the fully-conscious prince. Yue followed her, a silver eyebrow raised mildly.

"This is your fault, Yue!" The girl started screeching. "You woke him up!"

The male guardian could only roll his eyes in exasperation. "Yes, it's my fault again, is it?"

The crimson-eyed girl placed the tray in the arms of her partner then bounced over to Syaoran who looked more annoyed than ever. She bent down to meet his eyes and placed a hand on his forehead. "So, Your Highness, how was your sleep? Are you now feeling well? Is there something that you need?"

The chocolate-haired boy winced inwardly at the volume of Ruby Moon's voice but kept a straight face. "My sleep was fine. No, I'm not feeling well. And yes, I need an explanation from the both of you."

"I knew this would come sooner or later," Yue muttered under his breath, setting the tray on the table and taking seat on one of the cushioned chairs. The two figures glanced at him expectantly, waiting for him to start explaining. Only he didn't, just poured tea into the small cups, and then looked up impassively at them.

"Why haven't you started explaining to His Majesty yet, Ruby Moon?"

It took the red-haired woman a full minute to completely realize what he just said. That's when she had jumped to her feet, her wings flapping indignantly, and stormed her way towards the calm, young man.

"What the heck was that?" she demanded hotly, placing her hands on her waist. "And here I thought you were going to explain to His Majesty!"

"Did I say I would?" Yue replied monotonously, handing one of the cups to Syaoran. "I don't remember saying I would."

"Yue!"

Syaoran rubbed his temples, his exasperation and temper close to exploding again. His head was hurting already. He couldn't understand anything. Nothing. He really had no time to listen to both Ruby Moon and Yue argue on nonsensical things. Going home should be his first and foremost priority. And just when he needed an explanation and a way to go home, all that was given to him was a cup of tea.

He might as well drink it then. He doubted that they would poison him, after just calling him Majesty and all, and it was quite rude to refuse tea in Chinese traditions.

Syaoran sipped his tea quietly and almost immediately, a calm sensation flooded his entire body and mind. It pacified his thoughts and emotions and cooled down his fried nerves. He felt like a heavy load was suddenly relieved from his chest.

"Are you feeling better now, Your Majesty?"

The young boy snapped up at the inquiry and smiled slightly at Yue, who seemed to be ignoring the ranting Ruby Moon. Smiling seemed easier too.

"I'm okay now and I'm sure this is the reason," he replied, frowning down at the pale green liquid inside the cup. Well, it had to be, seeing that he had only felt that sensation after drinking the tea. "What is this anyway?"

"That is tea made from the extract of lotus flowers," Yue explained in a quiet voice, shoving a cup into Ruby Moon's hands. "It calms down the body and mind of the person who drinks it, if taken in this form. If you take it in its purest form, you would lose your memories."

Syaoran blinked twice at Ruby Moon who, after drinking it in one gulp, didn't seem to have been affected by the tea's soothing qualities. She was still ranting at Yue about so many things. "It doesn't work on her."

"No, it doesn't," the silver-haired creature managed to reply before dodging a flying cup directed at his head, courtesy of one irate woman.

"Yue!"

"Isn't there anyone who would care to explain anything to me?" Syaoran snapped at the both of them, running a hand through his brown hair. He was already getting frustrated and all the two ever do was argue. "If I really am a person of authority in this place, then I demand that someone explain to me what's going on!"

The two creatures froze at the order and fell silent. Ruby Moon, who was tightly gripping the collar of Yue's white robes in an attempt to throw him over her shoulders, quickly let go of the man and stood stiffly, biting her lower lip. The said man, on the other hand, merely straightened his wrinkled robes wordlessly.

"Erm…" Ruby Moon glanced at her partner then forced a bright smile to the direction of the supposed crown prince. "Well, what do you wish to know, Your Majesty?"

Syaoran folded his arms across his chest and crossed his legs while seated on top of the bed. Perfect. Full attention on him. "First, where are we?"

"This is the Imperial Palace of the Kingdom of Chien," Yue answered evenly before Ruby Moon could open her mouth. He then continued, not bothering to hear what the boy was going to say after that. "Unfortunately, this is a different world from that of which you had come from. Your world and this world, which we call Empyrea, are only connected through the door we came through earlier."

"Right."

So the only way he could return was through that door. But there was one problem: they didn't go out through a door on this side, just a small portal. A circle of light on the fields. Well, he could always figure out how to get back later on. First, he needed to know a few more things.

"Next question," Syaoran started again in the same no-nonsense voice. "Why did you bring me here?"

Ruby Moon glanced for a moment at Yue. "Well, I thought we answered this earlier," she tried in a nonchalant tone. "You're the Crown Prince of Chien and—"

"How did I become the Crown Prince of Chien?" Syaoran shot back, cutting her off.

The young woman blinked at his question then looked up at the ceiling frowningly. Syaoran eyed her keenly, wondering if he'd get a decent answer this time. "Well…" Even Yue was listening intently as well, a small, almost invisible smirk on his lips. He knew what the answer would be. He was sure of it.

"Well…" Ruby Moon mused for another minute before a wide smile lit up her face, turning cheerily to the hazel-eyed boy.

"You were born one!"

Syaoran fought the urge to slap his forehead. He instead rolled his eyes in exasperation then turned to the most reliable person in the room in his opinion, who was currently sipping his tea, his face a mixture of amusement and awareness.

Ruby Moon glanced from Syaoran to Yue, a confused look on her face. "Eh? What did I do wrong now?" she complained shrilly. "It's true anyway! His Majesty was born as a Crown Prince!"

"You clearly did not understand His Majesty's question, Ruby Moon," Yue told the girl flatly, his eyes closed peacefully. After a moment's silence, he opened his eyes and gazed intently at the clueless royal. "You wish to know how you, a normal high school student, suddenly become a Crown Prince without even you knowing it, am I right?"

"More or less, yes."

The silver-haired man shot his partner a knowing smirk before he turned back to the young prince. "The simplest answer would be the fact that your life in the other world was just made up."

Syaoran frowned at the statement, his head spinning again, as a million questions flooded his mind. "Made… up?"

"The witch Sakura had altered all of your memories from Empyrea then sent you to the other world, creating an illusion and a new life for you."

The young man froze at his words. So then, everything was just an illusion. They weren't real. Everything was a fake, just a lie for him to believe. Everything was just made up for him.

"So then, my mother… and my sisters…"

"Oh, don't worry, Your Majesty!" Ruby Moon chirped brightly, bouncing on the edge of the bed with a wide smile. "The Queen and the princesses are still here! They're safe and sound."

Syaoran blinked at Ruby Moon, a little confused. "My sisters are here?"

"Well, your sisters have always been here, Your Majesty so—"

"That's not what I mean!"

"Oh? But I don't understand, Your Majesty—"

"As I've said—" Yue cleared his throat loudly, startling the two arguing figures. He guessed that this was most likely what the prince was feeling while he and Ruby Moon were arguing just moments ago. "Sakura merely altered your memories. It's quite possible that the family you've known in the other world is the same family you have here."

Syaoran shut his eyes, his hands clenching. All these information were hurting his head already. It was just too much for him, this talk about him as a Crown Prince. He was just a normal guy until these people came. And it was all because of one person, the person who had started all this mess for him.

"Who is this Sakura anyway?" he asked calmly, cracking one eye open to look at Yue. "She seems to be perpetrator of all this."

"Sakura possesses the greatest magic in this land," Ruby Moon replied nonchalantly before Yue could say something, bouncing once more. "She has the power the control nearly everything, even the elements. She's capable of doing anything. She was okay before but after she had taken Princess Tomoyo, I guess you could call her a witch—"

The word 'witch' had barely been said by Ruby Moon when the door slid open once more, slamming loudly at its jamb. Syaoran peered at the figure at the doorway just as both Ruby Moon and Yue jumped to their feet. A tall young man entered, his piercing dark gaze directed at the young prince seated on the bed. He wore a scowl, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword hanging on his side.

"Master Touya—"

The man smirked at him crookedly, folding his hands across his chest. "I see you're back, brat, after five years of hiding. Have you come back to kill my sister now?"