A/N: Hello, I'm back again. Two chapters in one day is really a record for me! Think I could keep this up? Most likely no…anyway, here's the third chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS and I never will. However, the plot and all other characters belong to me.

Chapter Three: The Li Village

For the rest of the journey Tomoyo told her all about the Li Village and what to expect once they got there. "First thing is that the village is huge and unlike most others. It is very beautiful there. The queen of the village, Queen Yelan Li, is a very kind queen and treats everyone there with respect. The village is very prosperous because of this." Sakura merely nodded her head.

"Queen Yelan has five children: four daughters and one son. They help her run the village as efficiently as possible. However, her son has reached the age where he could become king and must find a wife before he does." She stopped and smiled. "And here we are now! The Li Village."

Sakura looked around in awe as she saw that everything Tomoyo said about the village was true. It was large and beautiful and the scenery was luscious. Children ran about happily playing, singing, and laughing. Adults were either working or watching their children as they played. The older children were helping their parents.

As Sakura looked around she thought, 'This is like a bigger version of home.' The moment she thought that, she felt her heart pang in pain. She pushed it to the back of her mind as she realized that there was a great chance her brother just might be living there. The village was huge after all.

She was so busy looking at everything around her she didn't notice the kids running nearby the caravan. They were grinning and waving. "Hello, Princess Djibouti!" many of them said.

Tomoyo smiled and waved in return. "Hello children. Hope you all are fine."

Sakura smiled. "You have a lot of fans."

Tomoyo laughed. "I just love children. Don't you?" Sakura nodded. They soon reached the castle and Sakura stared up at the castle in awe. Tomoyo noticed her look. "Grand, isn't it?"

Sakura nodded. "Yea…it really is."

Tomoyo smiled. "Well, here's our stop. This is the Li Kingdom." Sakura gave her a look as if to say she couldn't be serious and Tomoyo laughed. "Yes, I'm serious. Now come on down."

Sakura looked at her doubtfully. "I don't know about this. It'd be too weird. I mean, this is so…grand."

"It's okay. You won't have to worry since you'll be with me." Tomoyo stepped down and held out her hand for Sakura. "Come on."

Sakura gave in and accepted Tomoyo's offer. After all, she had nothing to lose.

Sakura followed Tomoyo along with the general down the hall leading to where Queen Yelan was. She said that they were supposed to meet her as soon as they arrived.

Sakura however was nervous. So nervous in fact that she couldn't even observe the castle's interior as she did with the exterior. Tomoyo told her that the queen was a very kind one but still, that didn't mean she welcomed anyone. Especially people who looked suspicious carrying weapons around like she did.

She was jolted out of her thoughts though when she heard General Cheng speak. "We're here." He spoke to the guards at the door and the opened it for them. When Sakura saw the queen she gasped. Never had she seen anyone look so elegant and regal before...not since her mother at least.

Queen Yelan smiled at the group before her. "Please, come in."

Sakura was hesitant but with a smile from Tomoyo, she reluctantly went in. They knelt down in front of her. "General Cheng at your service. I've brought Princess Djibouti here just as you asked."

"Very good. Arise." They all stood up and that's when Queen Yelan noticed Sakura. "Who is this with you, Princess?"

Tomoyo smiled. "She is a friend that I made along the way. She was on her way to this same village."

Queen Yelan nodded. "So I see." She faced Sakura. "And please, tell me, what is your name?"

Sakura held the straw hat nervously in her hands. "I'm known as the Storyteller, Your Highness."

Queen Yelan raised a curious eyebrow. "The Storyteller, huh? I believe I've heard of you before. You're known for telling excellent stories…especially for children."

Tomoyo nodded in agreement. "She's a skilled fighter as well, Your Highness."

"That would explain the weapons at her side. You seem to have a lot of skill."

Sakura's face turned crimson. "Thank you, Your Highness. However, I don't know if I'm as skilled as you think I am."

Queen Yelan smiled. "Don't be so modest. I'm sure you are extremely talented. Now tell me Storyteller, where were you planning on staying?"

She shook her head. "I do not know as yet, Your Highness. Usually, I get to know the people in the village until I find someone who doesn't mind me staying with them. I usually help around the house in return."

"Well, I insist that you stay here for your stay."

Sakura's eyes widened. "I wouldn't want to intrude…"

"Don't worry about it. A friend of Princess Djibouti is a friend of mine. You are free to stay here whenever you visit this village. I'll tell the other servants and arrange a place for you to stay."

Sakura bowed and thanked her. The three left and Tomoyo went to show her around the castle. "I told you she was nice, didn't I?" Sakura had to agree with that one.

They spent about an hour touring when Tomoyo took her towards the garden. "This is where I spend most of my time when I'm looking for a place to relax. I'm sure you'll love it here too." She pointed towards some seats that were placed in the garden and suggested they sat down.

After sitting down Tomoyo asked, "So, what do you think of the village and the castle so far?"

Sakura smiled. "I think it's amazing. Everything about it is truly wonderful. I just hope I will fit in this castle or village."

"I'm glad to hear that and I'm sure you will." She proceeded to talk about other things.

A few minutes later, a young girl with long brown came running into the garden in only her gown. She stopped when she spotted the two and ran towards them. "Tomoyo onee-chan, you're back!" She ran into Tomoyo's arms.

Tomoyo laughed. "Hello, again, Princess Rei. How have you been?"

"I'm fine, but they're trying to get me into one of those dresses again!" Princess Rei pouted.

Tomoyo sighed but kept on smiling. She then introduced her to Sakura. "Princess Rei, meet Storyteller. She's a friend of mine. Storyteller, meet Princess Rei. She's the daughter of one of Queen Yelan's daughters; Princess Feimiel."

Princess Rei gazed at Sakura. "You have pretty green eyes."

Sakura smiled. "Why, thank you. Why don't you like to put on dresses?"

"They're itchy and poofy and annoying and I don't like them!" The little girl crossed her arms and pouted again.

"So you won't wear them no matter what I say, right?"

"Exactly."

Sakura smiled. "I have a story to tell you."

Princess Rei took a seat near Tomoyo and faced Sakura. "What is it about?"

"It's about a young girl who loved to dance. She had golden hair and was about your age. She was very talented but was quite the tomboy as well and hated wearing dresses.

"A few years later, however, her family was invited to a ball held by the Queen of the village. They were told to wear their very best. The young girl's mother made her the most beautiful dance gown she had ever seen. It was blue in colour and sparkled. The girl refused to wear it however because she hated dresses. 'No! I will not wear it!' She said.

"The night of the ball came and the young girl agreed to meet with her parents later that evening. She went to the ball, not in the dress her mother made, but instead wore a shirt and pants and went. She gave the guards her name but they wouldn't let her in no matter how hard she tried. 'You're not dressed suitably for the ball. You cannot go in.'

"She started to walk home with tears in her eyes when she saw a friend of her who was also invited to the ball. Her friend asked why she wasn't at the ball and the young girl said why. Her friend smiled. 'I know you may not want to hear this, however, we were told to come in our best. It doesn't have to be expensive but it must suit the occasion…or else you'll most certainly be the odd one out. I'll go with you while you get your dress.'

"So the girl changed into the dress made by her mother, realizing that sometimes certain things just had to be done. She was accepted and allowed to enter the ball. Not only that but the queen noticed her skills in dance and asked her to perform for them. She became famous and was well known in her village and in many others because of it." Sakura looked at the girl who was truly into the story. She smiled.

"The young girl became famous because the queen saw her skills. However, if she didn't dress properly and wore the gown…none of that would've ever happened."

Princess Rei smiled. "So if I wear the gown, will something like that ever happen?"

Sakura shook her head. "I don't know. You'd never know unless you tried though would you?"

"I guess that is true…" She pondered it for a while then smiled. "Okay, I'll give the dress a chance. Maybe one day I'll meet my prince because of it."

Sakura grinned. "You do that."

At that moment, a servant came into the garden and spotted Princess Rei. "There you are! I looked all over for you! I know you don't want to wear the dress but…"

"It's okay, Kiya-san. I want to wear the dress."

Kiya looked at her surprised. "Really?"

The little girl nodded. "Maybe someday I'll meet my prince because of it."

The servant didn't understand the girl's reasoning but accepted it. That was when she noticed Tomoyo and Sakura and bowed. "Please forgive me for not saying anything sooner."

Tomoyo smiled. "That's okay."

Kiya smiled. "I don't know what you did to convince her but thank you."

"It wasn't me Kiya-san. It was my friend the Storyteller over here." Sakura blushed.

The servant bowed at her. "Thank you very much."

Sakura shook her head. "There's no need for that. I'm glad I could help."

"I appreciate it all the same." She held Princess Rei's hand and walked towards the exit. "It's been a pleasure meeting you Storyteller."

"Same here, Kiya-san." Sakura smiled and waved bye to Princess Rei who waved in return.

As they left the garden Tomoyo smiled at Sakura. "Storyteller, something tells me you'll fit just fine in this castle and this village."

Sakura's emerald eyes sparkled and she grinned in reply. 'Maybe I'll fit in after all.'

A/N: So there you have it readers. The third chapter of "The Storyteller" is complete. I'm really proud of myself for completing two chapters in one day. Yay me! You gotta review for that! Okay…you don't have to…but I'd appreciate it…a lot!

I may not update until December. As I said in "She Will Be Loved", I'm trying NaNoWriMo for the first time. Hope it works out. Also, Hurricane Noel is coming our way (I live in The Bahamas for those who don't know.) so our power will be cut off really soon. I wanted to complete this chapter before that happened. I hope you wait for my return. In the meanwhile, please review. Thanks again!