Chapter 3 - Assay
"Buy one stack of strawberries get one free!"
"Goats for sale!"
The bustling street of the Madison Moore Town was what made the small town alive. Children running around, mothers yelling at their kids to stay calm and behave as they shop, people shouting as they sold their own fruits and vegetables. It was a normal looking town.
"These people.." Kuro trailed off.
"It's so unlikely when this is supposed to be the world of the dead." Yuui commented.
"Hey mister, want an orange?"
A small young girl tugged on Syaoran's cloak as she handed him the fruit.
"Thanks," Syaoran took the orange.
"Peeeeel it! Mokona wants orange!" Says the white Mokona.
"Mokona wants sake!" Says the black one on Kuro's shoulder. Kuro snatched the fluffy black bun, babbling at it.
"Why is this with us anyways?" Kuro grumbled as he stared, annoyed at the black bun.
"Watanuki says he doesn't need help with cooking. Says Mokona could help with Kuro-tan!"
"Kuro-tan!" The other Mokona exclaimed.
"Oh god, two of them is even worse." Kuro groaned.
The group checked out the busy town, walking the rough road as they observe the citizens. The town had an old western style that had a bit of oriental decorations. It was like a twist of the west and east part of the world with an amazing sparkle.
Kuro noticed Syaoran stopped midway as the boy stared at a store on their right. As Kuro stopped, so did the group.
"Hey kid—" Kuro stopped when he saw what Syaoran saw. It was no wonder why Syaoran stopped in his tracks.
"Sakura's feather..?" Yuui said in disbelief.
"It's not Sakura's feather, I can guarantee that!" White Mokona popped in Kuro's sight.
There float a feather so similar to Sakura's feather, even with its slight pink markings, encased in a glass display in an odd shop.
"It's closed." Yuui commented as he looked up at the sign by the door.
The group moved on after Syaoran silently contemplated at the display. Kuro finally gave in and bought wine for the Black Mokona, who kept on pesting Kuro for hours. The group intended to acquire more information about the world they were in since it didn't seem like Fye and the Queen were giving them anything, especially when they were always nowhere to be found.
Until Yuui found something rather interesting in the town's information board.
The group walked to Yuui to see what he was staring at. On the board, a flyer was poorly posted, with a beautiful blue eyed blonde woman wearing a crown, smiling. Below her image there written 'Light Queen' in big old fashioned letters, and the rest of the words were too foreign to understand. What took the group by surprise was that the woman in the picture resembled the Queen who let them stay. The woman in the picture obviously was the angelic version.
"So there's a Light Queen..?"
"Are you guys travelers?"
The group glanced to the side at a petite plump woman dressed in what seem like rugged clothes. The group faced the woman as Syaoran said, "Yes we are, may I ask who might this be?" He pointed at the flyer, barely sticking on the board.
"Oh her majesty? How can you not know her? Even travelers should know her. She's the reigning queen, Light Queen, her majesty," she smiled at the photo, "She governs the entire universe, and holds the highest position a royal could have in the entire dimensions that ever existed." She paused. "Except for one though. I don't know what it is though."
"But, isn't the Dark Queen the queen?" Kuro raised one brow.
"The Dark Queen?" She looked dubious. "I have never heard such a queen."
The group was silent in disbelief.
"Unless you speak of the father of the Light Queen, the Dark King. But he passed away two centuries ago along with the previous Light Queen." She looked saddened as she glanced down.
"This is confusing.." Syaoran glanced at Fye who was silently musing. "Seems like our queen is hiding a lot of things to us."
A number of footsteps and hooves tapping on the ground was heard in the distance. Everyone turned their heads to the source to see people wearing dark uniform, with red markings and linings which was definitely not similar to the clothing of the townspeople. One particular soldier stood out, his ebony spiked hair glistening despite the sun setting down. The man gave out orders in a different language, and the rest of the soldiers set out to leave. The man, who seemed to be of a high position stood there for what seemed like hours, until he looked behind him, at Syaoran's group.
A chill went through everyone's back as the soldier stared at them directly with his dark sharp eyes. Even Kurogane felt intimidated at this man's presence. Moments passed till the soldier simply grabbed his horse and rode away, following where the other soldiers went.
"Who was that?" Kuro narrowed his eyes where the man was.
"I think that was Prince Dark," the petite lady said. "The Light Queen's brother."
"His name is Dark? That's ironic."
"Not really. In fact, Prince Dark is the Dark Prince."
"Wha—?"
"Prince Dark is Dark Prince!" The Mokona's repeated in a chant.
"His name is Dark and he's a Dark Prince." Kuro made a face.
Syaoran and Yuui stared off the distance, then looked at each other.
They needed more answers.