Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Legends of Phoenix and Dragon: A Phoenix' Feather Of Power ❯ Chapter 1

Emptiness. . . That was all she could feel now… The bastards had taken her family. No, not taken. They would never be so merciful as to simply take them… They'd slaughtered them in cold-blood. Cold-blood!

The little girl fell to her knees, her emerald eyes glazed over with tears as she took in the ugly massacre before her…Dead. Her whole family, save for a mere handful that was out when THEY came, was dead. Lost to her forever… And for what? A bitter feud that had gone on for centuries?! What a waste… what an awful waste!

She started to chuckle low in her throat.

Yes… that's all it was… a waste that these men, women and children couldn't fight as well as the others and so had lost their lives for naught…

Laughter… Laughter bubbled out of her dainty little throat, choking away all the sobs that would have risen to the surface…

They would pay… Of that she had no doubt. Of course the ones who had done this would pay. They would pay heavily for what they had done to her family…

`At least…' she thought grimly, standing up and brushing away her tears, a smile on her face as she glanced at the people who were left. `They have not taken all from me…' A flash of red caught her eye and she turned to her right where a woman with bright red wings tended to a man who was wounded.

`My clan will live and take revenge… As long as my grandmother lives there will be no retribution unless under her order… But as soon as she gives the throne to me… As she will have to for I am the only one of direct lineage left… I will take my revenge…'

An evil grin took over her face at her murderous thoughts… the grin was completely out of place on such a young girls' face and scared the shit out of anyone who looked at her. The girl's grandmother turned around in time to see the grin and frowned.

"SAKURA!" she called, snapping the girl out of her trance. A sweet smile graced the girl's face as she jumped off the chinese style roof, her arms spread wide.

The people down below gasped, sure that they were going to witness her untimely death.

Just then, a pair of deep red wings pushed themselves out of the girl's back and she flapped them confidently, instinct giving her the knowledge she needed so as not to end up a nasty mess on the ground.

"You called, Grandmama?" she asked, touching the ground lightly with her toe before hovering again and closing her wings behind her back. She landed on her feet with hardly a sound at all, a smile directed at the ageing yet still very beautiful lady before her.

Her grandmother sighed and shook her head, smiling at her little imp of a granddaughter. Only SHE could make light of so dark a day…

"When did you get your wings, hatchling?" she asked, folding her own neatly behind her. Sakura shrugged, and flapped them twice, making debris fly around them.

"Just now…" she replied. Her grandmother was about to scold her for taking such a risk but was pre-empted by a shout.

"Lady Yukari! We found Toki still alive underneath a pile of corpses!" a man shouted, drawing all attention to himself. Sakura and Lady Yukari rushed over to him and the girl barely alive in his arms.

"I'm sorry, My Lady, that I could not defend our home more…" the girl rasped. Lady Yukari shook her head, taking hold of the young girl's mangled hand.

"I should be the one to apologise… It was I who left our home so defenceless."

"Oh no My Lady! You did not fail us! We-" a racking cough interrupted her and clawed it's way through her body, leaving her weak. Blood spattered onto Lady Yukari's dress yet she paid no heed.

"Forgive me. My Lady… I've ruined your beautiful dress as- as well…"

"Silly child… This is worthless. Tell me, did the Dragons take it up upon themselves to attack?"

"Y-yes My Lady… I s-saw only 2… it was the One with one of his underlings…"

"And you could tell that this Dragon was the One how?"

"H-his eyes, My Lady… T-They glowed gold! G-GOLD! A-and he turned into IT!"

"A Dragon?! He turned into a Dragon HERE?!"

"Y-yes, M-My Lady…"

"Thank you Toki… You have served us well but I do not have the means to save your life as it is…"

"That is a-alright, My Lady… I-"

"You did not let me finish child! I can save you, but not as you are… You would have to be changed into a Phoera, a fire-raider. Could you stand the pain it will bring you? Never dying? Watching as your loved ones died in your arms?"

Toki nodded, the black starting to creep into her vision. She would do anything, as long as she would still live…

Lady Yukari sighed and waved a hand over the dying girl's body. A red light covered it and then disappeared. The girl was gone. In her place was a beautiful woman with bright red hair, crimson eyes and deep red lips.

"You will guard the nest at all times… You need not sleep or food or drink. You are immortal and will only die if killed by a Phoenix or a Dragon. You may have children, but they will be turned over to us for training. Your mate is, of course, your choice."

Toki, the newest Phoera, bowed to her savior and jumped onto the roof, turning the highest tower into her nest.

Sakura looked at her grandmother with worried eyes. It took a lot out of a Phoenix such as herself to turn someone into a Phoera. And her Grandmama was not as young as she used to be…

"Come, hatchling. Tis time to return to our nests…" Yukari told her gently. "The rest of you as well! Males will guard us tonight…" she said, turning to everyone else and, spotting a certain amethyst-eyed girl clutching a stuffed animal to her chest, motioned her to follow.

"Come, Tomoyo. You will nest in Sakura's chambers tonight…"

The girl bowed, and rushed to catch up.

`Good bye Mother…' she thought, looking back at the destruction. `I have a new family now… Which I will protect with my life!'

"Tomoyo-chan! Are you coming or not?" Sakura called, a huge smile on her face. Tomoyo grinned at her closest friend, and ran to her side.

"Hai hai, Mistress!" she said happily. Sakura scowled, and Tomoyo had to duck so as not to be hit with her fist.

"I told you not to call me that!" Sakura growled, dragging her friend behind her to her chambers.

"Hai Mistress!"

Sakura sighed. It was no use… the girl would always call her that. As would the rest of them out there. It was her destiny to lead their clan to greatness… For she was the last female of direct decent from the very first Phoenix. Which meant, her once great lines… death…

~*~

Sakura sighed. She was back at her temporary home.

No, not home… merely a house born from magic.

Home is where the heart is…

At least… that's what people said.

No one even so much as suspected that they were not of the Li clan. So many of their members had lost their magic due to unapproved marriages. Sakura and Tomoyo were not in the least suspicious to them, aside from the fact that Sakura could fight as well as their leader.

Syaoran…

He'd followed them the whole day or so it seemed to her. He was in almost every single class she and Tomoyo had. Except gym…thank Kami for small favors!

She sighed again, sinking into a large comfy chair and closing her eyes.

It wasn't fair for her to be sent here like she had, forced to leave behind everything familiar to her to go on a stupid mission…Not fair at all…

XXXFLASHBACKXXX

"I don't understand why I must be the one to go!" Sakura exclaimed. Her grandmother, an elegantly dressed old woman, gazed at her fondly.

"These are dangerous times, my dear. You've heard the stories… we must be sure that they don't have the Sceptre. If they do, they might find a way to use it against us."

"But we don't even know if the sceptre is REAL, and you're sending the three of us deep into the enemy camp!" Sakura retorted hotly. Her grandmother's eyes held hers. They had the same eyes, deep sea green with hidden depths of passion barely visible. Only her grandmother's, the Lady Yukari, had bright amber flecks rimmed around her iris'. Pain flickered deep within.

"Sakura…child…listen to me…YOU are the last of our direct line. The last Phoenix…There is no one else now. As much as it hurts to tell you this…I don't want anymore bloodshed. They kn-"

"They will kill us! You send us to the slaughter!" she injected, clenching her hands in fury and releasing them only to fist them once more. But Lady Yukari had had enough…

"No! I do not!" Lady Yukari roared, silencing Sakura's protests. "Listen, hatchling…The Phoenix and Dragon were one tribe…one clan…once. The desire for power destroyed that clan, tearing it in two."

Sakura gasped.

"No! It can't be… you aren't saying?!"

"We all came from one person, one ancestor…Clow Reed."

"I concede, my Lady," she mumbled, sitting down. "I will steal the sceptre. Even though I understand not why."

Lady Yukari's gaze softened.

"You will understand one day, little one. But not today… Hurry back to your training."

Sakura bowed and had turned to leave when her grandmother's voice stopped her.

"Hatchling, not all Dragons are evil…Only a handful really are…the rest have merely become cold and harsh with training. But listen well… There is one that you must watch. The Little Wolf himself. HE will provide your challenge." She paused, unsure for a moment. But she continued.

"One of them will help you, help your cause…We do not wish them ill…merely to save them from the snake in their midst."

Sakura bowed low. "I understand Grandmother." And she left to go back to her training. Lady Yukari sighed as soon as her hard-headed granddaughter was gone.

"Be safe, Hatchling. You are the last…"

"Yukari…" a voice said. She turned around, smiling ruefully. A man, glowing a deep navy blue, stood behind her holding a staff.

"Clow," she greeted softly. He was wearing his usual attire when he came to visit her, blue robes with a blue magician's hat perched on his head.

"I take it you told her?" he asked.

"Yes. And she did not take it well." She shook her head. "Such a hatchling filled with anger and rage, Clow."

"She has reason enough…"

"She does," Lady Yukari agreed, moving to sit down in a soft chair. "But I'm afraid the rage will consume her soul soon…She has to meet the Little Wolf soon doesn't she?"

Clow Reed nodded, not moving from his place. Lady Yukari sighed.

"I can't bear it Clow! I long to tell her that she will bear the Dragon so she will not be so bitter!"

"She might just sacrifice herself so as not to bring anymore Dragons into the world."

"She would…I know my granddaughter, Clow…"

Suddenly, she smiled.

"And I know that the Little Wolf will make her happy. He is as stubborn as she is!"

"We must go now, Yukari. Time grows short…Leave them what you must."

"I leave them only my feather."

Clow nodded knowingly.

"Wise to leave your power with the hatchling. She will need it and it will help the Wolf find her."

Lady Yukari placed the glowing orange feather she had plucked out from the great expanse of wings on her back on the low table, a tear slipping down to land on it. It alone contained all her power…

"Come, my daughter. The hatchling will mature tonight…" he held out his hand. "As one Phoenix fades, so another rises and takes her place… only…"

"The line ends with the next Phoenix. I know Father…I know…"

She looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "We have done well haven't we? Tell me we have made a difference! That our line does not fade for nothing!" she cried. He hugged her tightly.

"You have… Come. It is time…"

They walked away, fading from sight until they were no more and nothing remained…all save for a single glowing feather…