Author's note: Sorry for the wait. Here is the new chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any of its characters.

Chapter 18: A Dream

Sakura returned home tired after vigorous training alongside Syaoran against Michal. Ever since she went on that rampage, Michal had been harder than ever in the training. Both would return home very tired. Michal would come with her to her home and then leave for some place. Sakura opened the door and entered the house. Touya looked at her and then smirked.

"So the monster is tired again." Touya provoked her.

Sakura was angry but she was too tired to retaliate. Ever since her trainings have intensified, Touya had been very lucky in escaping his punishments for calling her that. He had ceased to do that in the morning and begun to provoke her when she is too tired. Under normal circumstances, Touya would have been worried to see her so tired and not tease her but this was a special case. He knew why Michal was so strict and he had faith in Michal.

Sakura spoke, "That is seven heel kicks for you now."

Touya laughed, "As if I will let you do that."

Sakura fumed, "Where is Miss Emi?"

Touya was curious, "She is resting. Why?"

Sakura lost her frown and took off her bag, "I bought something for her. Uncle Michal told me that it would help me become friends with her."

Touya shrugged his shoulders, "Well go and eat her head then."

Sakura ignored his words knowing exactly what he meant it was by no means related to talking. She went to a different room and saw Emi on the bed with her eyes shut. Sakura silently went inside and took out a bar chocolate from her bag. Emi's nose twitched as soon as she took it out. She had not even unwrapped it yet. Suddenly Emi sat up with twinkling eyes. Sakura was surprised and stood silently. Emi looked at her hand with very greedy eyes.

"Is that…for me?" Emi asked with drooling eyes.

Sakura had noticed that she was almost pleading her to say yes. She must really like chocolates.

"Yes. I bought it for you. Do you like them?" Sakura replied with a gentle smile.

Emi took the bar hungrily, "I love them. They are my favourite. Thank you."

Sakura watched, as Emi took a bite. Her cheeks turned red as she ate it slowly with a blissful expression on her face. Emi seemed lost in her own world eating the chocolate.

"What else do you like Miss Emi?" Sakura asked softly.

Emi was too happy to be cautious or refuse the little girl, "Ice-cream, sundae, cakes, pastries, and anything sweet."

Sakura smiled and then grinned, "I know a great place that serves even better sundaes. Would you like to come with me after you are healed?"

Emi's eyes shone brighter than the sun at the mention of it, "Sure. That is a promise. I will get ready now."

She tried to get off the bed to Sakura's surprise and panic. Touya appeared out of nowhere and caught Emi before she could get off. He pushed her back on the bed with a frown.

"She said after you are healed. You have barely begun to heal and you are not stepping out of this house until you are fully healed. Not under my watch. Got that girly." Touya scolded the girl to Sakura's amusement.

Emi sat with watery eyes listening to the scolding as any little child would. She wanted to go and eat her favourite food immediately but Touya was stopping her.

"That is not fair. You are being mean to me." Emi whined like a child and Touya rolled his eyes.

"Do not dare to step out until I give you the permission to if you know what is good for you." Touya left with that.

Emi turned to Sakura with watery pleading eyes, "He is so mean to me. I just want to eat something."

Sakura chuckled, "Do not worry. I will bring something for you tomorrow as well. Once you are healed, you can go anywhere you wish. He will not stop you."

Emi gave her puppy eyes, "Do you promise?"

Sakura felt like an older sister caring for her younger sister for a moment, "I promise."

Emi grinned happily and continued eating the remaining chocolate. Sakura was glad to see her happy. Touya hid behind the door outside and smiled to the girl cheered up. It seems that they would become very good friends. Michal was making sure of it.

The dinner was nice. Sakura still looked tired but she smiled nonetheless. Emi seemed cheerful as well since the chocolate. Fujitaka was glad to see his guest happy. Touya, however, held a frown and stayed silent. The trio talked about light things about Emi and then Sakura's school. It was a peaceful dinner for everyone, even Touya. After dinner, Sakura went to her room. Suddenly she remembered that Kero was missing during dinner. He never missed food if he could help it. She looked inside the drawer and found Kero missing. Sakura got worried. He never went anywhere without telling her first. These were dangerous times and she was worried for his safety now. Sakura rushed downstairs.

"Dad. Did you see Kero today?" Sakura asked in a worried tone.

Fujitaka looked at her, "Yes. He said he had to talk to Eriol about something. Yukito came to fetch him so I am guessing both had the talking agenda discussed earlier. He left while you were at school."

Sakura sighed in relief, "Thank god he is safe. I was worried." She cutely frowned, "No sweets for him for the next week now. How dare he leave without telling me?"

Sakura stormed back upstairs leaving behind Fujitaka amused at her anger. Touya peeked out of Emi's room with a smirk. Emi held a smile as well. Now that she thought about it, Sakura was not the sort of person her clan had been telling her. She was different and perhaps it would not matter how much strength she gained as she grew up. The Sakura she has seen in only two days was someone that would never become a threat to anyone.

Sakura closed the door a bit hard in her anger and fell on the bed. She stared at the roof in fury.

"That Kero! He could have left a note behind for me. Vanishing like that all of a sudden."

While Sakura rolled on her bed in anger for long before finally falling asleep, Kero and Yue stood opposite Eriol in their released forms with a serious face. Eriol, Kaho, Spinel, Ruby and Yelan were present as well. They were all very silent and seemed to wait for something. Michal materialised in the room suddenly munching popcorns.

Michal spoke, "This better be worth me leaving the movie half way."

Yue spoke, "The matter is serious. Your movie was not important."

Michal gave him a 'yea right' sort of look, "Let me hear it then."

Eriol spoke, "Yue is weakening. He can sense the cards weakening as well. They are in your possession on the pretext of keeping them safe from Sakura's excess magic. The separation has weakened the flow of magic and they are weakening."

Michal looked at the entire audience carefully. They all gave him a serious looks.

Yelan asked, "How long until the cards will disappear?"

Yue replied, "They have been separate from her for a long time. They will start vanishing in a week or two. I am barely holding on here myself."

Michal lazily munched his popcorns. He did not look worried at all.

Kero asked, "Should you not be worried about it?"

Michal smirked, "Why should I be? None of them will vanish."

The raised an eyebrow at him, "Why is that?"

Michal lazily sat in the sofa munching the popcorn, "Yue has Touya's dormant magic in him. That magic is acting as a life source to him. As long as he does not use his powers while he is away from Sakura by more than fifty feet, he will live a long life. Inside fifty feet, he picks ups Sakura's leaking magic since she cannot control it well, yet. For the cards, I already made an arrangement for them to take magic from Sakura tonight. They will be fine. Kero does not need Sakura's magic so he will be fine."

The audience was shocked at his words. He carelessly munched his popcorns with a smirk. They did not know that Michal was a step ahead of them on the matter. Yelan and Kaho exchanged amused glances to see Eriol baffled. Michal had again made him look like a child that knows nothing. Suddenly Michal jumped to his feet.

"Well if that was all, I need to return to my movie." Michal spoke walking away.

Yelan asked, "What movie is it that has got you so interested?"

Michal smirked evilly, "It is a memory movie of the time when I found something very embarrassing about 'The Queen' and I blackmailed her for it. I still do that."

Eriol, Kaho and Yelan lost all composure and became very alert. Yue, Kero and others wondered what happened.

Eriol spoke, "Did you say 'The Queen'?"

Michal nodded with amusement.

Yelan spoke, "You mean THE QUEEN! The most powerful mage in the world that rules over the magical society."

Michal replied, "Yes. That same woman. Why is it so shocking?"

Kaho asked with greatest shock, "You are still alive after blackmailing for something! How?"

Michal chuckled, "She is powerful but I know ways to beat her. I know how to get around her easily. She tries to kill me all the time but I manage to win each time. That reminds me. She said that she would be coming to Tomoeda someday. Does anyone of you want to meet her?"

Eriol panicked, "When is she coming and why?"

Michal shrugged, "I have no idea when but I am positive she is coming to threaten me to step out of this war. I will just have my way around with her as always."

Yelan, Kaho and Eriol were shocked even further. Michal spoke about the dangerous woman as if she was no threat at all. That woman was the most powerful sorceress in the world and control every clan that existed. She was the head of this war and none could defy her. They knew Michal was powerful but could he really stand up to her. None had heard that woman lose a match yet.

Eriol asked, "What if she uses this as a chance to hurt Sakura and Syaoran? While you two will talk, she might send assassins after them."

Michal smirked, "She would never try to deceive me. The last time she tried that, I made sure that she regretted it."

Yelan asked, "How can you be so sure and confident? She is very devious and evil."

Michal smiled this time, "That is because I have that belongs to her. As long as I have that, she will not betray me."

Kaho spoke, "If it is like that, why do you not ask her to end this war altogether?"

Michal chuckled, "That would be useless. Even if the war stops, it would be temporary. In future, someone else will take her place and that person might be even more ruthless. I cannot risk that. It is better that my goddaughter battles while I can keep things in check. She will grow strong along with Syaoran and stay safe in the future. If things go well, there are chances that they will even succeed her."

They all found valid points in his words. It really was better to let them battle while someone could keeps things in control for them. It eased their hearts enough. Eriol was lost in his thoughts.

"One more question. The queen knows you well, right? Do the other clans know you as well?"

Michal shook his head, "No one. Absolutely no one but 'The Queen' has heard of a mage named Michal Sullivan, besides Nako. The same as absolutely no one but Nako and I know of the woman's identity and name. We have known each other from before the time she ascended the throne. She not the sort of woman everyone thinks of her to be. No one knows her as well as I do. Not even Nako."

Yelan asked him immediately, "What about Eva Elliot?"

Michal replied with curious gazes, "I love Eva. She is my girlfriend and a powerful mage. What about her?"

Yelan asked, "Does she know the queen as well? Personally."

Michal smiled his wise smile this time and spoke, "Ask her when you meet her. I am late for my movie."

Yelan yelled, "Wait!" He did not listen to her and vanished with a pop.

Yelan sat back looking anxious this time. Eriol and Kaho held a straight.

Eriol spoke, "He is hiding too much from us. Something is up here. He avoided that question completely."

Yelan spoke, "Now I am worried for Eva. The letters said that Eva is watching over my Syaoran but if she were connected somehow to 'The Queen', it could be very dangerous for her."

Kaho spoke, "What can any of us do in this matter? We are not a match for him and he barely tells us anything. Sakura's family completely trusts him and her mother's presence alongside him only makes it more difficult to not trust him."

Eriol wondered, "What could he probably possess that scares that evil woman so much?"

Kero spoke, "I should return to Sakura. She must be falling asleep now."

Yue spoke, "Yes. I should return as well."

The two guardians flew out of the window leaving behind the worried people. Syaoran was on his bed in his room. He was very tired and worried for Sakura. She was delicate and such hard training was not meant for her. Yet, he could say nothing to stop it. They both needed to get stronger if they wanted to live. The enemy was very strong. Last time, they had lost and Sakura almost died. He could not let it happen again. Syaoran shut his eyes and slowly drifted into the dream world.

Sakura found herself in total darkness. She looked around trying to find any source of light but could find nothing. Her body glowed to become the only illumined object in the darkness. She walked around wondering what to do next. She did not know of this place.

"Mistress." A soft and familiar voice reached her ears.

Sakura immediately turned to her right and saw a large mirror. She saw her own image in the mirror. She walked towards it in wonder. It was an ordinary round mirror but Sakura felt faint magic in it as she got closer.

"Mistress." The voice came from the mirror.

Sakura's eyes widened, "Mirror! Is that you? Where are you?"

The card appeared on the other side of the mirror in place of Sakura's image. The young girl smiled at Sakura making her smile as well.

"How are you? How is everyone else?" Sakura asked softly.

Mirror replied, "Everyone is fine. We all miss you and are waiting for the day we could serve you once again."

Sakura smiled, "I miss you all as well."

"Please be patient mistress. We will be together again and at that time, we will help you in your battles."

Sakura nodded with her gentle smile.

Mirror spoke again, "Mistress. We all are low on magic right now. We need your magic."

Sakura panicked, "Sure. Why did you not tell me sooner?"

Mirror smiled at her panicky mistress, "Calm down mistress. Listen to everything I have to say. There is no need to panic mistress. We are not dangerously low or anything."

Sakura was still worried, "Okay. How do I give you my magic?"

"That is why I am here. Your uncle Michal tells us about your battles. He told us about the time you lost conscious as well. That was when we realised something very important."

"What is that?"

"You have better control over your magic when you are unconscious or asleep. You have more magic inside you than what you are able to use. No wonder your uncle asked us not to take magic directly from you or it could be dangerous. Dream card helped us open a portal to your dream. Here, you can give us your magic with more control. Please be calm for that mistress. If you panic, it will create fluctuations in your magic output."

Sakura nodded and tried to calm down. She was worried for her friends but panicking at this point seemed to be more dangerous. She had to be calm to help them take her magic.

"Also, this mirror was something your uncle placed here to act a barrier to minor fluctuations that would happen even when you are calm. You still cannot control your own magic that well."

Sakura was slightly red, "I am trying my best."

"We are sure that you will succeed. At that time, we will come to you."

Sakura smiled happily. This gave her more courage to train harder. That would help her get her friends back sooner. She continued to calm her nerves.

Sakura asked, "How do I give you my magic?"

"All the cards are connected to me. I will take the magic and they will receive it through me. Touch the mirror."

Sakura placed her palm on the mirror. The card placed its palm against Sakura's hand.

"Now concentrate and channel your magic to your palm. I will take your magic from there and supply to the others. Try and keep a steady flow."

Sakura nodded and closed her eyes. She began to concentrate. Slowly her hands began to shine in white light. Mirror smiled and gently the white light began to enter her hands through the mirror in the form of very fine strings of light. Her hand began to shine as well. After a while, her back shone and several strings illumined behind her. The strings seemed to vanish in the darkness behind her. Sakura continued to give her magic trying her best to keep it steady. She could feel the card absorbing the magic and her magic disappearing behind the card. The process took a while.

Kero entered the room through the window and was shocked to see the key in her neck shining. He felt the magic of several cards present around Sakura at that time. He remembered that Michal had arranged for the cards to take Sakura's magic. This must be it since he could feel Sakura's magic disappear slowly. The cards seemed to be getting stronger. He could feel it himself as he felt 'Earthy' and 'Fiery' regain their earlier strength.

Inside the dream, Sakura felt her heart very happy to feel her friends grow stronger.

Mirror whispered, "That is enough mistress. Thank you."

Sakura stopped channelling her magic and opened her eyes. Mirror absorbed the remaining magic from her palm and then retreated. She glowed brighter compared to earlier. Sakura was happy to see her strong again.

"Mistress. Tell your brother that I will keep my promise to him some other time."

Sakura remembered suddenly that the card and Touya had planned to go out for some reason before Michal had appeared for the first time. However, they could not do so because Michal had taken the cards away.

"What was that promise about?" Sakura asked in cute confusion.

Mirror smiled, "That is a secret. A secret between us cards."

Sakura pouted at her favourite doppelganger that just giggled elegantly, "That pout would only work on Syaoran mistress. Not us. We are used to seeing that pout."

Sakura blushed and then smiled.

"I need to go now mistress. Do your best out there and never give up. Everything will be alright if it is you."

Sakura nodded as the card vanished leaving behind Sakura's image on the other side of the mirror. The mirror slowly disappeared and Sakura was once again left alone in the darkness. She wondered why she had not woken up yet. She once again looked around trying to find a way out of it.

A sudden flash of very bright light at a little distance blinded her. Sakura shielded her eyes to look at it and then slowly walked towards it. The light grew brighter as she approached it steadily. It slowly engulfed her and she closed her eyes. When she opened it, she was before a mirror. However, the place was different. She wanted to turn her head but could not turn it. She looked at the mirror and then she was shocked.

Instead of her own face, she saw a foreign face. It was of a very beautiful woman with diamond blue eyes and raven black hairs that reached her hips. The woman was busy applying light makeup looking in the dressing mirror. She looked very happy, as she got ready. Sakura noticed the woman wearing a very beautiful dress in the mirror.

"Cyria! How long will you take getting ready? We need to leave fast." A male voice caught her attention from a distance. The head turned automatically towards the large dark brown door. Sakura saw that she was in a very grand room decorated elegantly. It looked like the room of some queen.

"Coming Cypher. Just a minute." It was the woman who replied and Sakura realised that she saw everything through the woman's eyes. No wonder she could not control anything and simply watch. She could not even speak. What was going on?

Cyria opened the massive door with the flick of her fingers. Sakura knew that it was magic. Outside the door stood a very handsome man with same eyes and hair as Cyria. His hairs were arranged properly. Cypher gave Cyria a very handsome and loving smile as he ogled her. Cyria rushed to hug him tightly and Sakura blushed a bit.

"You look different Cypher." Cyria spoke in her angelic voice.

Cypher smirked, "Well it is rare for us to attend such a ceremony. I had to look proper."

Cyria giggled elegantly, "I know. What I meant was that you just do not look…Cypher enough."

Cipher gave her a confused look, "Is that so? How come?"

Cyria chuckled again and then messed up his hair. He just smiled at her doing.

"Now you look Cypher enough. The one I am in love with."

Cypher looked at Cyria with immense love in his eyes, "I love you Cyria."

He came closer to kiss Cyria but she pushed him back making him confused. Sakura was beet red at the thought that she would have just seen the first live kiss of her life. Since she was inside that woman, would that mean it would be equally to her first kiss? Sakura could feel her ears smoking due to heat.

Cyria replied, "Not now. You will ruin my lip colour."

Cypher spoke, "A little touch would do nothing."

Cyria replied, "Nope. A hundred kisses after we return."

Cypher showed his goofy smile that made Sakura feel it was familiar, "I will hold you that promise."

Cyria wound her arm around Cypher's arm, "Shall we go then?"

Cypher nodded, "Through the door or through the window?"

Cyria replied, "Door is boring. Let us fly out of the window. That way I get to hold you tighter."

Cypher gave another goofy grin, "And I love to hold you tight. Window is my favourite as well."

A blast of light made Sakura close her eyes. The place had become windy all of a sudden. She knew it was not outside the woman's eyes. It occurred wherever Sakura was at that moment. After a while, the wind died and the light slowly dissipated. Sakura opened her eyes again.

The scene had changed. Sakura saw a very large barren field before her. The ground was bone dry and cracked. A funeral in the village ahead was being held. The people looked sick and cried a lot.

"Another famine." Sakura recognised the pained voice. It belonged to Cypher. "What is happening here?"

Cyria spoke next, "Someone is trying to interfere with us. We need to find out who is it." Her voice was stern.

"The magic society is not helping at all. They say that these famines are just natural disasters."

Cyria replied, "Then I will assume that they are a part of this plan against us. I am not going to let this go unanswered. My people are not expendable. Tell them that if I find out they are a part of this, I will punish them even if I have to do this alone."

Cypher chuckled, "No way."

Cyria was shocked, "Are you…"

Cypher cut in, "You are not going to do this alone my love. I will be by your side."

Cyria chuckled, "I love you too Cypher."

Cypher spoke, "Leave the searching and stuff to me. You just concentrate on finishing 'Stars and Blue Moon'. It is very crucial for the two of us."

Cyria nodded, "I am half way done. The spell will be complete soon. How is 'Many Worlds' coming along?"

Cypher smiled, "I just began with it. It will take a long time. It is even trickier than 'Stars and Blue Moon'. Once you finish with that, help me out with this."

Cyria nodded, "That had been my plan all along. What about the protection and spell?"

Cypher replied, "Almost finished. There are still some weak points. I am working on them so that it works the way it is supposed to."

Cyria sighed, "I am sorry Cypher. You already have so much burden and I just increased it with the new search."

Cypher smiled and took Cyria's hand. He pulled her closer and caressed her cheek.

"Do not be like that Cyria. I love you and I will do anything for you. We are together and I want to share things with you. I want you to take no stress and let me handle the burdens. Besides, I am better at tracking such things than you are. You are just too nice and gentle."

Cyria closed the gap between them and Sakura felt her face on fire. She knew they just kissed and even though she felt nothing, she still blushed furiously. She had a pang of pain and jealousy in her heart suddenly. Was she craving for something similar?

The burst of light and wind returned to make Sakura close her eyes. She knew that the scene would change again. Sakura wondered what she saw. This was supposed to be a dream but it sure did not look like it. The light vanished slowly and the wind died down. The scene was of a battlefield. Sakura saw countless sorcerers and sorceresses standing opposite her ready to battle. The head turned to the left. Cypher was present with a loving smile gazing at her. Sakura realised that Cypher and Cyria would face that army alone. She panicked but could do nothing.

"Cypher. I will watch your back. Make sure to stay alive."

Cypher nodded, "I will watch your back. Stay with me until the end."

The image before Sakura shattered after that. It had changed. Cyria was on the ground. Sakura could see it covered in blood. Before her, about twenty mages were standing ready for a fight but looked frightened. The head moved slightly to look at Cypher. He stood on his feet right next to Cyria's waist. Several swords, arrows and spear had penetrated his chest, abdomen, hands and legs. Yet, he was on his feet holding his sword for a fight. He had a content smile on his face.

"Cyria." He spoke in a broken but loving voice. "You dream came true. We lost this war. Yet look at the winners. They look scared of the one that lost."

Cyria painfully chuckled, "Well the two of us finished off the rest of the army. These are just novices. We finished off their masters. Just as I saw in my dream."

Cypher chuckled, "Cyria. Thank you for everything. You filled my idiotic life with so much of happiness and bliss. I am so happy to be here by your side to the end."

Cyria replied, "Cypher. Say that you love me."

Cypher grinned, "I do. I love you Cyria. I loved you when we were little. I loved you as we grew up. I loved you when we fought. I loved you all the time. I love you today and I will always love you forever. Just you Cyria."

Cyria chuckled lovingly, "You stole my lines. Meany."

Cypher nodded and turned to the surviving novices, "You have seen our power already. If you want it, you can have it." The novices looked shocked. "Search for the 'Stars and Blue Moon'. The power will belong to the one who finds it."

Cyria looked towards her wounded body. Her condition was the same as Cypher's. Several swords, arrows and spears penetrated her body. The blood Sakura saw on the ground was most probably Cyria's.

"Let us do this Cypher. It is time for that new spell. Let us do this together."

Cypher nodded, "Cyria. I did not get to marry you in this life. Will you marry me the next time?"

Cyria chuckled as a large magical circle appeared on the ground with the two lovers in the centre. The novices stepped back cautiously.

"I will reply to that whenever that next time comes. Though I am positive you already know my answer."

Cypher grinned goofily, "Obviously I do. We have the same last name after all."

Sakura woke up and sat on her bed with a start. She was shocked with what she had just seen. Her eyes pained and she felt her cheeks wet. A massive sickening sadness overtook her. It did not look like a dream. They did not deserve to die so young. They loved each other so much. Sakura saw it very clear. It was similar to Sakura and Syaoran's war. Only, the two did not have to fight everyone simultaneously. Sakura and Syaoran were battling with breaks and one on one. They would not survive if everyone came together. Sakura continued to silently shed tears. She sat on her bed with folded legs against her chest. Her sadness was overwhelming her. She did not know why. She did not know the two lovers. Yet, they sad end affected Sakura so much.

After a long time, Sakura got off the bed. She looked outside the window. It was still dark. The outside world was very silent. Everyone was asleep. Sakura noiselessly opened the window and flew out. Kero soundly slept in the drawer not having noticed that Sakura just left through the window. Far away, Michal sat before his window with a sad smile. Nadeshiko floated next to him with a worried as well as confused look. She did not seem to know why Michal was like that all of a sudden.

End of Chapter 18.

Read and Review.

The story still has a long way to go but I thought I should do some revelations… though it is very minute and barely informative.