Hey Guys! Another new chapter is up! This one's a biggy! I decided to make it extra long to make up for my erratic uploads. Hopefully you'll like it! If it's confusing, don't hesitate to PM me or put it into a review! Also, I will be discussing some important subjects on the bottom so be sure to read the Author's note!

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or Magi.

Enjoy!

No One's POV: Sakura

"Here is the local armory in Sindria. Although we have been mostly peaceful, soldiers in the army are required to renew their weapons every several years or so in case we do have to fight. But, like I said, we've been pretty peaceful as of late." Sinbad said as he guided Sakura through the crowded streets of Sindria. As an apology for the accident from before, the king himself was personally giving Sakura a tour around his kingdom. Coming along as escorts were Masrur, the silent red haired man, and Spartos, the knight with the blue armor. Kero, who was always with Sakura, stayed back at the palace.

"It's too hot to go outside! I think I'll just stay in the room. You go on ahead Sakura." Kero answered when the brunette asked the guardian whether he wished to come with them or not. After seeing some shops and houses, Sakura started to feel the sun burn her skin and pulled her hood up. When Sakura woke up that morning, after giving it to Sinbad, she realized that her clothes were gone and instead a new outfit was given to the girl. The girl's outfit consisted of a pink, tight fitting, layered dress that reached down to her legs. There was a diamond shaped on the dress, revealing her flat stomach, much to her horror. Accompanying the dress were a pair of white flats and a light pink hooded jacket with semi-long sleeves. The clothes were also were also light and kept her cool, much to Sakura's surprise. Sakura had also grabbed her headpiece, anklet, and her key. Following Sinbad around, Sakura saw something out of the corners of her eyes and stopped in front of a glass shop. In front of the store was an elderly man selling various glass sculptures, all made with refined skills and patience. But what truly drew the brunette was the sculpture of young angel standing on a flower. Sakura picked up the delicate creation and held it up in the light. Glittering brightly under the beaming sun, the angel seemed to be almost dancing, the layers of her dress following her in a circle. As she examined it more closely, Sakura realized that the flower was a cherry blossom.

"...How odd. How does this man know what a cherry blossom looks like? I haven't see a single cherry blossom tree around here! And that angel...it looks awfully familiar..." Sakura thought to herself. The old man, having seen Sakura look at the sculpture, smiled.

"Ah. You are interested in this one, yes? It is a depiction of our beloved queen." Sakura looked at the man.

"...Queen?" The man nodded.

"Yes. The kingdom's first and so far only queen, Lady Hope. I made this in honor of her because she truly was an angel. Though she never was married to King Sinbad, they were engaged and everyone saw her as one. Lady Hope, however, never did see herself as one." Sakura frowned slightly. Hope. She remembered when Sinbad called her that.

"Is Hope that woman from my visions? And if so, what does it mean...?" Suddenly, Sakura felt someone place a hand on her shoulder and heard the man gasped.

"Ah! Your...your Highness!" Turing around, Sakura saw that it was Sinbad, a look of worry that was quickly placed with relief.

"There you are! I thought I lost you! What are you doing here?" Seeing the sculpture in her hands, his golden eyes had a sad look to them. "This sculpture..." Gently taking it from Sakura, Sinbad stared at it. Then, he handed it to the man. "I want you to put this on the pedestal before the festival starts. If the guards ask, tell them I gave you permission." The elderly man eye's widened.

"My King!...I will do so!" With that, he quickly went away into the crowd of people. Sakura stared at Sinbad.

"Hey...Sinbad? Where is he going? And what is this festival you're talking about?" Sakura asked? The purple haired man, snapping from his rather sorrowful state, gave a playful smirk at the girl.

"That will be revealed later, as a surprise. You're going to have to wait then. Now, let's return on our tour." With that, Sinbad grabbed Sakura's hand and lead her back to the street, where Masrur and Spartos were dutifully waiting for them. But, after only a couple minutes later, trouble began to stir once again.

"AH! It's King Sinbad!"

"My King!"

"Sinbad!"

The people, as if just realizing that Sinbad was there, began to cheer and chant is name, crowding onto him. Some of the women began to grab his arms as well, squealing his name. However, as they did so, they pushed Sakura out of the way.

"Ugh!" Sakura whimpered out as she was pushed from the crowd and onto the ground. Rubbing her bottom, she saw that Sinbad was forced to content with his people, with Spartos attempting to help. As Sakura wondered what she should do, Masrur suddenly took her hand and let her away. "Huh?! Masrur?! Where are you taking me?!" The red haired did not answer, and when Sakura began to struggle, he princess carried her away. "AH! PUT ME DOWN!" The people, too busy trying to get to Sinbad, did not see Masrur take Sakura away.

...

"Masrur! Where are we? Why did you take me away?!" Sakura yelled at the silent man. After taking her into the forest, Masrur let her down near a sparkling lake. Near it was a weeping willow, its leaves gently swating in the water. Masrur, who had been silent till now, spoke.

"...You used come here all the time, to relax." Sakura stared at him confusion. Masrur went on.

"When times were hard, when Sinbad did something stupid and made you sad, you'd come here and cry your heart out. I'd see you, while I trained, and sometimes comforted you with the others." Sakura shook her head.

"...What are you talking about? This is the first time I came here!" Then, a thought struck her. "Wait...does he think I'm Hope? Is that why, when he first saw me, he didn't call me out? Is that why he looked so calm while everyone was so frantic that night?" Cautiously, Sakura asked Masrur, "Then, why didn't you call me out that day? You saw me, right?" Masrur nodded.

"Yes, I did. But, I wasn't sure. Until I smelled your scent. It was then that I realized it was you." Sakura stared blankly at him.

"But, I'm not Hope! I swear, I-" Suddenly, Sakura broke mid sentence, and looked at to the lake. Masrur stared at her.

"...Hope? Sakura?" Sakura, as if in a trance, slowly walked towards the lake. Then, with no hesitation, walked into the lake. The red haired man, shocked, quickly went to rescue her when he realized that she did not slip into the water. Rather, she was walking on the lake's surface. Masrur, still worried, attempted to follow her when Sakura spoke out.

"No, it is alright Masrur. There is no need." Sakura whispered strangely, as if there were three voices speaking at once. The man stopped dead in his tracks and obediently obeyed her. Smiling, Sakura continued walking, her green eyes dulled over as if something was possessing her. As she walked, where Sakura stepped there were waves. Insects on the surface quickly flew away, and the place began silent, now even the wind blew. Then, suddenly, glowing butterflies began to surround Sakura. Unlike the ones saw before, the butterflies were colored a delicate pink, and almost danced at they floated. When she reached the middle of the lake, Sakura bent down and picked something in the water. Then, the water stilled, and out she pulled was a necklace. A silver chain, a rainbow colored jewel laid in the center of it, emitting a soft glow. Suddenly, Sakura's key and scythe that was around her lake began to glow as well, as if reacting to the necklace. Sakura closed her eyes and looked up.

"I...have kept my promise. Now, you must do yours." With that, she began to walk. When she reached the end of the lake, she looked at Masrur and smiled sadly. "I'm...sorry. Know that I didn't abandoned you, or the others. And please, do not tell anyone but the other three about what happened here." With that, Sakura fell into his arms, and the world moved with life once again.

...

"Masrur...Where exactly did you and Ho...Sakura...go?" Sinbad whispered in a very angry tone. Masrur, though expressionless, felt slightly scared. It was one thing when Sinbad yelled, at least it was what any other person would do. But when he whispered like, the red haired man knew he was beyond livid. Spartos, who was with them, could only hope that the punishment would be light. After Masrur returned with an unconscious Sakura, the two were met with...this. As Masrur struggled to answer, Sakura woke up.

"Hmm...What's going on?" Yawning, Sakura felt the tension in the air and was suddenly on guard. "What's going on?" As if her words had some soothing effect, the anger radiating from Sinbad disappeared.

"...Nothing. I was just curious where Masrur and you went to when the people started to crowd us." Sakura smiled.

"Ah, that? He took me to see some shops while you were busy. It was quite lovely." Little did Sakura know, that did not happen at all. Masrur raised an eyebrow in surprise, but did not correct her. However, that gesture did not go past Spartos. Masrur gave the knight a look, telling him that's he'll elaborate later. Sinbad, too focused on Sakura, did not see the exchange of looks.

"If that's all..." Sinbad said. Then, he held out his hand to Sakura. "Now, I promised you a surprise. If you'll take my hand..." Sakura, who would usually have been reluctant, smiled and put her hand in his without hesitation. With that, the king led Sakura through a narrow street, following the crowd of people moving in the same direction. As they past by the people, Sakura noticed that the citizens were carrying assortments of things. While the items were different, they seemed to match one common theme-cherry blossoms. One woman was trying to watch her son while she was carrying a cake baked into the shape of the flower, pink frosting covering the cooled dessert. A elderly woman was adding the finishing to her crochet of a cherry blossom while her daughter made sure they didn't bump into anyone. A child was joyfully carrying a pink paper cherry blossom, twirling it around. Curious, Sakura went to ask Sinbad who shook his head.

"It's a surprise~!" Sinbad answered playfully. "You'll know once we reached our destination." As so, she patiently waited until they arrived, and what she saw shocked Sakura. They arrived as what seemed to be the middle of the kingdom. And in the middle was a enormous cherry blossom tree, it blossoms swaying with the wind. A grand pedestal stood right below the tree, at the base of the trunk. There, Sakura could see the small glass figurine from before standing there. The people began leaving their gifts around the tree and stood watching the flowers. Sakura wondered how the tree was able to survive in the tropical weather when she saw the white butterflies surrounding it, emitting a cool air around it. Sinbad then led her to the top of a grand building where she saw the other generals already there.

"Sin! You're late! You know it can't start without you!" Ja'far scolded the king who laughed sheepishly.

"Sorry Ja'far. I guess I lost track while showing Sakura around. Sharkkan, who heard them, started to speak.

"Wait, I thought she's-" Yamraiha, the blue haired woman, swung her staff and smacked his head, effectively shutting him up.

"God damn it Sharkkan! We've been through this already!" As the two began to start a heated argument, Sinbad stopped them.

"Please! Not today!" Surprisingly, the two fell quiet, contending themselves with glares to one another. Then, Sinbad went to the edge of the building so the people could see him. Immediately, the people began to cheer. As Sinbad settled them down, he began to speak. "As you all know, today is a special day. Today is the April is 1st...Hope's birthday!" As the people cheered in agreement, Sakura suddenly realized something.

"Wait...April 1st? That's my birthday too! Then that's makes me sixteen now...or was it seventeen?" Sakura murmured to herself. Hinahoho, the large man with long blue hair and a blue headband, overheard her.

"Hoho! Today's your birthday? Looks like Sinbad needs to know. I'll tell him for you!" Blushing, Sakura tried to stop him, but the giant yelled at Sinbad. "Hey! Sinbad! Guess who's birthday is today as well!" Sinabad smiled at him.

"...I know, Hinahoho." With that, he turned back to the crowd. "While she may not be here, Hope will always be with us in spirit. She always liked and favored the cherry blossoms-the sakuras. This is why I had it specially brought and grown here, in honor of her. This is why we celebrate Hope's birthday as the Day of the Cherry Blossoms! Now, let the festivities begin!" The people went wild, yelling and cheering out the name Hope. Then, the dispersed, and upbeat music began to fill the air as the sun went down. Sakura stared at the people in awe, when she saw Sinab walked to her. "So, it's your birthday too." Sakura blushed.

"Ah..Y..Yes..But, I don't want to ruin such an important day! I mean, you all seem to cherish this person, Hope." Once again, Sharrkan spoke up.

"I've been trying to tell y-" And once again, Yanraiha smacked him with her staff. As the two began a fight once more, the generals sweat-dropped and tried to break the fight. Sakura stared at them when Sinbad chuckled.

"...they've always been like this, don't worry. But, I'd like to ask you something." Looking at her straight in the eyes seriously, Sinbad continued. "Would you like to accompany me for dinner tonight?" Sakura stared at him in utter confusion.

"...Ehhh?! M...Me?!" A huge, red blush filled her face as she tried to comprehend the situation. "But...you have business to attend to, right? As king of this country?" The man laughed as he pointed to Ja'far.

"It's fine. I can always have Ja'far do it. I'm mean, he doesn't mind." Immediately, the white haired man began to protest but suddenly gave up. Instead, he sighed and smiled.

"Yeah...I can do it. You two go ahead and enjoy the night." Sakura, sensing that everyone was now watching her, quickly made her decision.

"...OK. I'll accept your invitation. But, I swear, if you do something...I'll have Kero hunt you down."

...

"Sakura, are you sure you should go? I mean, the guy did sneak into your bed. Not to mention he had no clothes!" Kero asked the brunette. Pisti giggled.

"Ah! Don't be such a worrywart! Sinbad promised he wouldn't do that!" The blonde set as she dusted the girls cheeks with some blush. Yamriaha nodded.

"But, if he does do something, I'll personally set him straight!" She announced as the magician gently tied Sakura hair together. After a nice, relaxing soak in some warm water, (courtesy of the maids that littered in the palace), Sakura was deciding what she should wear. Yamriaha and Pisti, being the only women in group of generals, decided to help the girl by giving some of their more formal dresses for her to wear and were currently helping with her hair and make-up. When the last clip was set, the two generals stepped back to admire their work.

"Wow Sakura! The pink lipstick really looks pretty on you!" Pisti squealed in delight. Yamraiha smiled.

"...Yes. The cherry blossom pin you had really brings out your emerald colored eyes." Sakura picked up the hand mirror near her and looked to her reflection, stunned. Her haired, brushed until it was soft as a feather, was braided and twirled into a bun, with some longer pieces of hair let down. Her pin was placed into the bun, sparkling with radiance under the candles' lights. Very light make-up was applied to her face, bringing out the sparkle in her eyes and the pale pink of her lips. Her dress was a simple formal piece, but the slight glitter against the pink silk made it looked like the stars. The dress was styled so it was short in the front, but the silk dragged behind her. With the dress were a pair of black flats with a golden bow on each shoe. While she decided to leave behind her key, scythe, and headpiece behind, Sakura wore her glowing anklet and the rainbow colored necklace, though she wasn't entirely sure when or how she got it. Smiling, she turned to the people that helped her.

"Thank you. Really, you didn't have to go through the trouble for me." Yamraiha waved her hand nonchalantly.

"Well, that's what friends are for, right?" Pisti nodded.

"Yep! Yamraiha's right, Hope, I mean, Sakura!" However, Sakura heard the name, and her expression darkened.

"...Hope huh? Is that why your so nice to me? Because I look like Hope?" Putting down the mirror, Sakura looked out window, and watched as the moon shone down against the ocean. "...Who was Hope? All I know was that she was like a Queen to them, and was briefly engaged to Sinbad...Tell me, who exactly was she, and what exactly happened to her?" Both generals grimaced and looked at each other before answering.

"Well...we really weren't with Hope for most of her life. From what she told us, Hope was with Sinbad through the whole time they were traveling. But, when we met, we absolutely fell in love with her." Yamraiha said. Pisti continued on.

"Yeah. Hope was really kind, gentle, and courageous. She always cheered people up and never backed down from a fight, even when things were bad...We never knew until recently, but, on the inside, Hope was insecure. She'd feel useless at times and when Sinbad said a something, Hope would break down and cry. We never did figure out what ate her...now, we'll never know. You see...Hope died." Sakura eyes widened in shock.

"...How'd she die? If that's alright right with you." Just then, Kero growled.

"Sakura, someone's coming!" Right after he said that, a knock came from the door.

"...Lady Sakura? It's me, Spartos. Are you done? If you are, I can escort you..." Sakura looked back at Yamraiha and Pisti, but the both of them looked downwards, avoiding her gaze. Sighing, Sakura got up and opened the door.

"Yes. I'm ready." Sakura looked back at Kero. "Make sure you behave Kero." The guardian nodded in response. With that, Sakura followed Spartos away.

...

As Spartos led her through the hallways, Sakura absorbed everything she saw. The marble tiles they stepped on shined a little from the moonlight, and decorative ornaments hanged from the ceiling. Every step they took echoed in the large hallway, making Sakura wonder if all the workers and soldiers that were usually at the palace were at the festival instead. Suddenly, something caught Sakura's eyes. Slowing down slightly to see what it was, the brunette saw a gorgeously painted flower on a large oak door. Sakura's eyes widened when she realized that the flower was a cherry blossom, and recalled what Sinbad said before to the crowd.

"She always liked and favored the cherry blossoms-the sakuras."

An sudden image filled her head, and Sakura found herself in a field of cherry blossom trees. Looking around, she spotted a crying woman hunched over beneath one of them. As Sakura walked nearer, she heard the woman whisper.

"Ugh...Why am I even here? Why do I bother going to the torture of falling in love if I'm just going to leave the person I care about anyways? Why...Why did I do this?" Sakura then noticed something oddly similar about her, and gasped in shock when she realized why.

"Oh my...she looks like me! Is that...Hope? And that necklace...it's the same as mine!" True to her words, the necklace dangled from the woman's sobbing form, sparkling from the sunlight. Then, she heard a man yell.

"Hope! Where are you?! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it...Please! Come back!" Sakura turned around a young man who realized was Sinbad. However, he looked much longer, almost sixteen or so. His hair was in its usual ponytail, but three braid ran along the left side of his head. His golden earrings shone in the light, against his dark attire. Hope sniffed.

"If I run away...Maybe it'll all end." Suddenly, a strong wind came, blowing all the cherry blossoms from their branches. They began to surround Hope, and Sakura heard a voice whisper out.

"When you feel like ending everything...when you want to give up...Remember all your friends, all those you love. Remember...you are me, the memories that I hold dear..." The wind carried the cherry blossoms away, leaving everything quiet. Then, Hope stood up.

"...Yes. I have to keep going, no matter what. Aini...you are right. We are one and the same." Then, the woman did something that shocked Sakura. Hope turned and looked at the brunette, looking at her with utmost confidence and determination.

"Remember..."

"Lady Sakura?" Sakura snapped out back to reality and looked at Spartos. The knight looked worriedly at her. Sakura gave a hasty smile.

"A...ah! Spartos. What is it?" The blue armored knight pointed to the large staircase before them.

"We're here." Sakura nodded, and headed upstairs. But as she began to ascend, Spartos called out to her.

"...Sakura?" The girl, slightly surprise that he didn't say "Lady" this time, turned to look at him. Spartos stared at her with an unreadable expression. "...If anything bothers you...if you need someone to talk to...I'm always there." With that, the knight turned and left, leaving Sakura alone. Sakura sighed and smiled at his retreating figure before ascending once more. As she did so, pink butterflies flew past her.

...

"Ah! There you are! I was wondering if you stood me up. I'm glad you could make it Sakura." Sinbad said when he saw Sakura. Sakura smiled slightly.

"Well...it would have been rude if I stood you up. After all, you so graciously let me stay here." Upon arriving, Sakura saw that it was what you call a candlelight dinner. A table covered in a pure white cloth stood near the balcony. Decorative arrangements of flowers laid on the table, with the girl noting that most were made up of cherry blossoms. A candelabra stood proudly, holding up three long sticks of lit candles. Melted wax dripped down the candles, and the soft wind made the flames waver slightly. Sinbad was already sitting down, but stood up when he saw her. The purple haired man smiled with affection.

"...You look absolutely stunning." he said as the king kissed her hand. Sakura blushed slightly, but smiled back.

"Thank you..." The evening started out well enough. The two engaged in small talk, mostly about the kingdom and its people. Through out the time they talked, servants would come and bring dished of heavenly smelling food while clearing away the dirty one. In order was first an appetizer course of fish soup, fresh from the sea and cooked with fresh herbs and hearty vegetables. The warm broth warmed Sakura up and made her feel at home. The entree was a dish similar to a Japanese dish the brunette was fond of which was called a Motoyaki. Made with fresh seafood in a creamy sauce, Sakura slightly wondered how a Arabic styled kingdom managed to make a traditional Japanese dish, but let the thought slip to the back of her mind. When dessert came, Sakura gasped in surprise and awe. On a large silver platter laid a large cake made to resembled a cherry blossom. Whoever made this took great care in carving it as no petals laid limp or broken. Pink frosting covered it, producing a sweet scent that made Sakura's mouth water. Written with cream, the words "Happy Birthday!" shone in the light. Eyes tearing up slightly, the brunette faced the king who had a large grin on his face.

"...This is too much Sinbad. Really." Sinbad laughed.

"Perhaps. But, then again, I only want the best for you." Sakura smiled, but immediately, the smile fell of her face.

"...Sinbad. I asked you once and I'll ask again. Why? Why did you do all this? You did promise me and explanation." Golden eye darkened once more as he struggled for an answer.

"...I did, didn't I?" Sighing, Sinbad looked to the moon which shone brightly in the dark sky, along with the stars. "Do you...remember why this day is celebrated and loved by the kingdom, including me? It is because this day...is Hope's birthday." Recognition flickered in Sakura's eyes as she recalled the image she saw and the words the old man said before.

"Hope...she was your fiance, right?" Sinbad smiled sadly.

"...Yes, she was. Hope was a childhood friend of mine...When I first went into the world's first dungeon and got Baal, she was with me all the way. Even when I left my home to see the world, she came with me. Hope's made a huge impact on me and the eight Sindrian generals. It wasn't long when I fell in love with her...though I knew it began when I first saw her. So I propose to her, and she agreed. We were so happy. But then...Hope died. And it was all because of the Kou Empire!" The king slammed his hands down on the table, startling Sakura. "They killed her! In front of everyone she knew and loved!" Sinbad growled with unending contempt towards the name "Kou Empire". Sakura grimaced as she tried to calm Sinbad down, even though she had no idea what the situation was.

"Please! Just calm down!" As Sakura grabbed his hand, her necklace began to shimmer, and a feeling of peace filled the air. Sinbad tensed body relaxed, and the man sighed.

"...I'm sorry about that. It's just that, they executed with no real reason. I'm not mad at the empire itself, but towards the monarchy that rules it...they were the ones that sentenced her to die." Sakura looked at him with pity.

"...He must have really loved her, Hope." The girl thought as she watched him. "Then, is the reason why he's so kind to me...is it because I look like her?" Unable to wait any longer, Sakura voiced her thoughts. "...Sinbad. Tell me. Did you take me in...did you show me kindness...all because of my similar appearance to Hope?" As shock ran through his eyes, Sakura knew that it was true. "...I see. It's true then. Sinbad, I am not Hope or can I replace her. I hope you understand..." With that, she turned around and ran away.

"Sakura!" Not even looking back, Sakura continued to run, tears running down her face.

"I knew it all along...I shouldn't even be upset...Yet, why do these tears continue to fall? What makes me so sad...?" Throwing open the doors to her room, Sakura slammed it shut and locked it. Kero, who had been asleep at that point, woke up groggily.

"Hmm...Sakura? You're back already?" However, when the sobs of the girl reached his ears, his eyes snapped open. "Sakura! What's wrong?!" Unable to answer, Sakura covered her face with her hands and cried, letting her emotions go free. Kero, knowing he would not get an answer out of her right now, flew over to her and comforted the brunette as best he could.

"Shhh...It's OK Sakura. Let it out." Sakura cried herself until she was exhausted, and fell asleep on the cold ground. As Kero went to transform into his true form to get Sakura onto the bed, the headpiece, anklet, and scythe that laid on her dresser glowed to life. Emerging from it were Andromalius, Windy, and a woman with swirls of hair tied up with green crystals. Using the air, Windy gently levitated her master up and onto the bed. Kero then covered her and faced the three spirits. He stared at them, eyes narrowing. "...Just who are you? Windy, Earthy. You were magical entities created by Clow, and yet, you seem to be hiding something. Tell me, how did you come to know Andromalius? And you, djinn, how came you knew Sakura? Isn't this the first time you met her?!" He whispered out angrily. The wind spirit did not answer right away. Instead, she looked at the pale moon that floated to the night sky. The spirit with the green crystals, known as Earthy, stayed silent as Andromalius avoided Kero's eyes. Finally, Windy spoke up.

"...Clow has only reborn us in this corporeal form...Earthy, Watery, Firey, and I have been created since before humans came into existence." Kero shook his head in disbelief.

"Wait. So, you're saying, you were made by someone else? Besides Clow?" Then, the djinn spoke.

"...The spirit speaks the truth. Though I was not born by the person who created them, I was made from the genes of a human, wolf, and Windy, much to my disgust." Windy glared at the djinn. Suddenly, Earthy spoke up.

"...We are divine beings, born to serve under the great goddess that created this universe. Our duty is to guard our mistress and safe-keep her precious worlds which she saw as her own children." Suddenly, a question popped into Kero's head.

"...So who's your mistress? Does it have to with Sakura?" The three deity looked at each other.

"That...is something we can't say." Andromalius answered. "...You will find out when she wants you to know." With that, the three spirits disappeared, leaving Kero alone with Sakura.

...

As the moon shone down on the calm serene lake, the willow cried as the wind blew through, the shadows hiding those that wish to be unseen. Suddenly, a rustle disturbed the peaceful atmosphere, and someone whispered out, "This is it. This is where she spoke to me." Coming from the opposite direction, another voice sounded.

"If she was able to walk on the water to retrieve the necklace...It has to be Hope." The wind became harsher as different voice spoke.

"...I saw her, when I was helping the servants. I saw her run to her room, tears falling down her face...What has Sinbad done now?" Another voice sounded, but angrily.

"Does it matter? He always does this! Sinbad seems to always find that one thing...that small detail that would break her. Is it any different than before?!" The second voice hushed the person.

"Shhh! Do you want us to get caught? Do you want them to know about this sacred place?" Silence fell once again before the voice resumed. "...Look. We all care about Hope, no, Sakura. Even though we are the Sindrian Generals...even though we pledged to Sinbad and Sindria...we will always be loyal to Sakura." The voices whispered in approval, and the first voice spoke again.

"...So, it's decided. We will do whatever it takes to protect Sakura. Even if it means our lives." The voices silenced once more, this time much longer, indicating that they had left. Then, the willow's leaves began to shake violently and glowed a brilliant pink. Once the glow disappeared, the willow was no more. In its place was a cherry blossom tree. And the in the lake's reflection, three people jumped across. One was a woman with light black hair and red blood wings, the second another female with snow-white hair and a black overcoat, the last person a man with long, dark purple hair and purple wings.

So much has happened...Sakura has learned who Hope was, and the legacy she has left. But, as a result, her heart is broken. Will she be able to heal it? The necklace from the lake, what powers does it hold? Who is the goddess that the Windy, Earthy, and Andromalius mentioned? The people at the lake, they are the Sindrian Generals. But which four? And who were those people in the lake's reflection? Until Next Time...

OK, I will be explaining some major topics that the chapter presents:

Cherry Blossoms: OK, this flower is mentioned a lot. Besides being part of my pen name, the cherry blossoms actually play a huge role here. Being the favorite flower of Hope, whom the Sindrian people adored and loved as their supposed queen, it was the most reasonable choice in dedication of her. Of course, there is a reason why Hope liked the cherry blossoms, and it does have to do with Sakura. Can you figure it out?

The Necklace: If it wasn't clear, the necklace Sakura got from the lake and was wearing at the dinner was the very same necklace Hope was wearing in the necklace. How and why it was put there will be revealed later. The necklace has a special power and it was slightly revealed in this chapter. Can you guess?

Romance: ...I think this will need some explaining. I will say here and now that Sakura is not in love with you'll be wondering, why was she so upset at the end then? One, Sakura was basically being treated nice because she looked like someone else, and that made her upset. Also, it may not be obvious, but every vision or image Sakura sees, she gains unfounded feelings. So, in other words, the feeling she has of Sinbad was caused by the image of Hope she saw. I can't reveal why though at this point. Does it makes sense? If not, just PM or put it into a review.

Sindrian Generals: Basically, the four voices were four of the eight Sindrian Generals. Their identities will be revealed as the story progresses, but I challenge you. Can you figure out who is who?

The Three People: The two females were in my other stories. They are connected. The third however is not in my stories simply because I haven't written one yet. But when I do, they will be connected to this story as well.

The Goddess: ...I have nothing to say about this. There is clues left behind in this chapter and the ones previous before hinting who she might be though.

Pink Butterflies: Although they're more like birds, these are not Solomon's rukh nor is it Ill Illah's. No, they are the goddess's...if you can figure out her identity.

brunella. comineli : Interesting that isn't entirely correct, the "dark Tomoyo" is caused by Arba's soul...rather, the good part of it is. Let's just say that Arba's soul isn't as pure as we think...(I had to add the space there because it kept on erasing when I saved the document...Sorry!)

Until Next Time! R&R!