The Stones of Claire

By like a falling star



Prologue:

A long, long time ago, there lived a great and powerful magician called Clow Reed. He created the 52 Clow cards, now known as the Sakura cards.

Known not to many, Clow Reed had a younger sister called Claire. She was a true belle. She was beautiful and elegant and refined. She had a kind heart and was a sweet, gentle lady. She was loved by all.

One day she fell in love with a strong and mighty warrior. His name was Hanes. He was a brave and honest young man. The couple loved each other very much.

However, Claire had a jealous suitor whom she was bethrothed to. His name was Friedrich. He was a rich and arrogant man. He claimed to love Claire more than Hanes did, but Claire never returned his affections.

One day, Claire's country went to war with another. Claire's country was on one side of the war, Hane's country was on the other side.

On a certain night, news came that Hanes was killed. He was killed by Friedrich. Friedrich became a national hero. But all Claire cared about was that Hanes was dead.

One day at dinner, her father announced that she would wed Friedrich a month from then. Claire did not want to marry anyone but Hanes. She did not want to marry the person who had killed her lover.

Still clutching onto the goblet that she had been drinking from, Claire stood up and fled from the room. Only when she reached the special spot that she and Hanes used to meet, did she break down and start crying. Her tears fell in thick crystal droplets, and some fell into the goblet. One by one, stones were created. Not rough, black stones such as one sees on the road, but smooth, unblemished stones of brilliant reds and delicate pinks.

Although Clow Reed was her brother, Claire did not know that she herself had powers. While Clow Reed's powers were physical (and mental to a certain extent), Claire's powers were of the emotional and spiritual sort. While Clow Reed's powers came from the sun, her powers came from her spirit within. Her powers came from her tremendous and everlasting love.

In all, 5 stones were created. Claire named the stones, and gave them magic.

The Stone of Deception-- made to deceive and born to mask.

The Stone of Sadness-- brings tears and grief to its holder.

The Stone of Hatred-- anger, resentment and loathe for one being

The Stone of Cruelty-- punishment with no mercy

The Stone of Betrayal-- causing someone to betray a friend, causing a lover to stray

These stones caused much destruction on Earth. Not physical destruction, but broken hearts and a ruthless streak.

But the stones had counterparts. When a stone was captured, it would turn into another stone, one of goodwill and happiness.

But it had a catch.

Claire, the creator of the Stones, had made it so that only a person true of heart and pure of mind, a person so filled with love and genuine friendship would be able to break the code and capture the stones. From Deception to Truth, from Sadness to Hope, from Hatred to Love, from Cruelty to Mercy, and from Betrayal to Trust.

And that person was Tomoyo Daidouji.