We're chasing dreams without end in a world without a guide.
These overlapping feelings pierce the beating of my heart
as the unwavering verse quietly goes on.
From far away in the sky, our shadows blur together
as our memories are recorded amid inevitability and whimsy.
Even if the whirlpools of time we pass through,
were to waste away, I'll still believe in your voice.
We're chasing dreams without end in a future without a guide.
And even if I lose my light, someday,
with the twinkling flame you lit in my heart,
these fragments of hope will change into wings
Princess, are you cold?
I'm fine.
This world is cold, isn't it? Well, but, it's warmer than the world I lived in...
I told you, I had nothing to do with it!
I'm positive you're the culprit, Kurogane!
What are you making a fuss about?
Kurogane ate Mokona's snack! The cream puff that Yuko sent me.
I was looking forward to eating it.
I said it wasn't me!
Oh, no, Kurogane's lost it! Scary!
"An Advocate of Illusions"
Long, long ago, there was said to be a princess with beautiful golden hair,
who lived in a castle on the outskirts of a northern town.
One day, a bird landed beside the princess.
Giving her a single shimmering feather, it said...
"I will give you mysterious powers."
The princess accepted the feather.
Suddenly, the king and queen died
and the princess became the ruler of the castle.
Then, as if drawn by that feather,
the children of the town went to the castle each night, and never came back.
Is it a fairytale? No, this really happened some three hundred years ago.
And, just as in that legend, once again in the northern town,
children are beginning to disappear.
A feather with mysterious powers?
This atmosphere's good.
Perfect for that story earlier.
Are you taking that bearded man's story seriously?
It's about a feather with mysterious powers, after all.
Doesn't it sound like a part of Sakura-chan's memory?
But I don't feel the feather's wavelength.
In any case, I think it's worth investigating.
Oh... look...
It feels very much like they aren't welcoming us, doesn't it?
They aren't, are they, in reality?
We can't verify the legend at this rate.
I wish they would at least tell us the location of the castle.
Syaoran-kun...
Who are you?
We...
...are writing a book.
A book?!
Yes. We are traveling to various countries investigating legends,
and old buildings, to write a book.
A child like you?
- No, him... - Wha?!
That's right. He's my assistant, and this is my sister.
And, he... he's just along for the ride... he doesn't matter.
J-Just along for the ride?!
Stop it!
Doctor...
They are travelers, and know nothing of the situation. You're being rude, everyone.
I'm sorry the townspeople were so rude to you back there.
I am the doctor here in Spirit, Kyle Rondato.
In apology, please use my house for lodging while you are here.
Thank you ver-
What's the meaning of this, Doctor?!
Calm down, Glosum-san.
To accept strangers into our town at a time like this, what are you thinking?!
Because it is a time like this...
These people are visiting various areas investigating legends and folklore.
They might know something that will be a key to this trouble we're having this time.
What could outsiders know?
Something that people who live here don't know.
Alright... However, make sure those visitors do not go outside at night!
Ah... Glosum-san...
I'm sorry I couldn't introduce you.
That was the Mayor and Glosum-san, a large landowner.
Glosum-san is an important person who owns most of the land in town.
We came at a bad time. I'm sorry.
Do you know the legend?
We do.
I used to think it was a common fairytale.
But, I never thought that children would really start disappearing.
Twenty children have disappeared already...
That many?
So that's why they were suspicious of us.
In this cold weather, where and what those children are doing right now...
It hurts thinking about it.
How dare you bite me back there!
- Oh, my, Kuro-rin is so irritable! That's ticklish! - Well, we've got a place to stay.
- Oh, my, Kuro-rin is so irritable! That's ticklish! - Yes.
And that was a nice spur-of-the-moment story back there.
Telling them we were writing a book. You thought it up so quickly.
When I traveled with my father, those things happened a lot.
Even so, things are quite serious here...
Is there a golden-haired princess involved, like in the legend?
Princess! Princess!
Are you all right?!
I... fell asleep...
That's right!
Kurogane pulled hard on my cheeks...
The golden-haired princess?
The snow sure piled up, huh?
The temperature dropped quite a bit last night.
Sakura-chan's a princess from a desert country,
so this might be her first snow.
Hey, Sakura-chan, good morning!
- Hey! - Good morning.
Good morning.
Is something wrong?
Actually...
My child is gone!
Calm down!
I locked the door, but...
Then... it's the work of that golden-haired princess after all!
Then...
...that wasn't a dream...
What did you say just now?
I saw her... a golden-haired woman, walking with the black birds...
The princess of the northern castle!
The curse of the princess!
- The princess stole the children! - Wait a minute.
That princess seemed very sad.
She didn't seem the type to steal children...
Don't say such irresponsible things! Outsiders like you wouldn't know anything!
Will you stop?!
Another child's disappeared?
Last night. Those outsiders didn't leave the house, did they?
I never know when a patient will come, so my room is right next to the entry.
If anyone left, I would have known. They have nothing to do with this.
All of you gathered here does nothing.
Come, let's split up and search for the missing child.
We'll help-
We don't need your help!
Wow, he was really glaring at us.
We're suspect, aren't we?!
It's because I said something strange...
That's not true.
I believe what you said, Princess.
Thank you.
What's the matter?
You saw the golden-haired princess?
I'm sorry. If I had gone outside at the time...
But, you thought it was a dream, didn't you?
Yes.
It's not unreasonable. However, to the people of the town, that legend is true.
Do you mean it's a historical fact?
It remains in the history book of the country.
Three hundred years ago, a princess named Emeraude actually existed.
After the king and queen suddenly died,
the children of the town just below the castle disappeared, one after another.
Does the history book reveal what happened to the children after that?
Not one of them returned unchanged from when they disappeared...
or so it is written.
That could mean they did not come back alive.
The castle outside the town is in ruins,
but the current situation is so similar to the history book...
...that the townspeople think it is a return of the legend.
Has anyone in the town said they've seen the princess?
No. Sakura-san, you are the first.
Sakura-chan may be the first eyewitness.
Can I read that history book?
Of course. If the one I have is all right.
Wow!
Whoo!
Puu!
Don't move around inside my clothes!
I made him mad.
There's no way that can be crossed.
Especially with children in tow.
How did the people of old enter the castle?
This bridge must have connected to it.
What's this?
Isn't that?
Glosum-san, isn't it?
What's he doing there?
Don't know...
Take care, now.
Thank you, Doctor.
Thank you very much. Come, let's go.
Welcome back.
Who was that?
A friend of the child that disappeared last night.
Her mother was worried because she couldn't eat,
due to her shock, and brought her to be examined.
Poor thing...
How dare you crawl all over inside my clothes back there!
Was there anything written?
A little about the reign of Princess Emeraude,
three hundred years ago.
They had a bad harvest just like now, and things were grave.
What about the feather with mysterious powers from the legend?
There's nothing written about that.
However, the circumstances of the King's and Queen's deaths...
...and the children of the land disappearing is there.
I guess it has nothing to do with Sakura-chan's feather.
We can't be sure. Except...
Books and histories don't always include only facts.
When the sun sets, it gets so much colder.
Syaoran-kun...
You seem down, Princess.
I haven't gotten back much of my memories,
so I'm not used to being distrusted by others.
It'll be all right.
I... believe you, Princess.
Thank you.
Well, Princess. Good night.
Syaoran-san, Sakura-san...
I'm sorry, but starting tonight, I will lock your doors.
What?
I was told to do so by the townspeople.
I tried to convince them not to worry, but...
I understand.
Fai-san said I may have never seen snow before,
but since I don't have all my memories,
I don't even know if this is the first time...
The lost children may be shivering in the cold.
I'm the only one who has seen the golden-haired princess,
and something else might happen.
I have to do my best to stay awake.
The golden-haired princess!
I have to hurry and tell everyone!
The children!
This road leads!
So she's taking the children to the castle after all? But how will they cross the river?
They're walking on the water!
What's happening to me? No... not now...
I have been waiting...
...for you to come...
...for a long, long time...
Sakura's... gone?!
Are the strangers here?!
Is something wrong?
Children have disappeared again. This time, five of them!
What's that?!
Hey, where's the girl?
Well... Sakura-chan's disappeared, too.
That girl must be the culprit!
Blaming it on the legend, she kidnapped the children!
Impossible... that couldn't be...
Capture them!
Hey... without any warning... that's not fair...
Out of the way!
What?!
If you're aiming a rifle, you must be prepared for whatever happens.
Whoo! Kuro-san, you're spectacular!
Yay! Fai and Syaoran were wonderful, too.
Well, thank you.
We have nothing to do with the incident.
However, we don't expect you to believe us.
Of course not! Until we find the children, you are still the most suspicious!
We'll look for them.
Why the children disappeared... and where they disappeared to...
...and...
...my...
...precious person, as well.
Syaoran-kun...
You know, when this town is bathed in twilight,
there will be a little seed that drops from your hand.
If you can call this trodden-down dirt a road,
does closing my eyes count as love?
If this world had been flat,
the two of us would never have met.
We were both running to keep our distance.
But now, without reducing speed,
no matter how far apart we are,
as the miracle repeats itself,
we will come face to face again.
We will come face to face again.
Puu! Sakura's missing! Was she kidnapped by the legendary princess?
If she's in trouble, what shall we do?!
Syaoran, quit reading books and let's hurry and find Sakura!
Huh? If you want to sneak into a house, leave it to Mokona!
If you want to know how I do it, just wait until you see!
Tsubasa Chronicles, episode 14, "True History"
Next time, your heart will pound over "Welcome Magic!"