Merry Christmas 2014! New Trials Update and New Frozen Parody Fanart

Card Captor Sakura in Frozen by wishluv on DeviantArt

I really have no idea where this year went--it just flew by. Year end is always hectic, but this one especially so, I feel. Again, I apologize for disappearing off the radar (I know, I do it very often it's kind of expected of me, isn't it?) Usually, it is work or school that has kept me MIA, but this time around, it was a lot of social obligations. I was also a maid of honor last month so I was in the States for the wedding, which actually took a lot of time and preparation as well, since summer time, on top of several business trips, etc. All in all, it was a good year though, after tougher times in the previous two years. 

I've been writing like crazy on Chapter 71 over the past two weeks. Truthfully, through November, I was just swamped so I couldn't write at all in more than two months. This chapter was one of the easier chapters to write in Arc 4, however, and impressively, one of the rare ones where I had a clear outline of it starting out, with the beginning, middle and end structure. I wish I can state a publish date, but I never seem to be able to honor them, so I'm just going to try my best to finish the chapter as soon as I can (and the good news is I've been writing.)  

I realized for the past decade and a half, I've always been somewhat stressed during holidays (which is stressful as is), special occasions, because if I could, I wanted to have some sort of update for the New Trials community, whether it be a new chapter, special or fanart. But it's a good type of stress, playing the role of a reminder, energizer or artificial deadline incentive. And an opportunity to reach out to all of you wonderful people. 

I also noted that my website seems to have reverted back to an older version of Chapter 70. Sorry about that--I'm not sure what happened, I haven't even updated the site since last time. I'll fix it when I post Chapter 70 (as an incentive for me to finish it quicker). I think I would say the new chapter is 80 percent done, but you all know I take forever to edit. It's a lighter chapter in general, (relatively speaking), so maybe it won't be as difficult to edit though.

In the meantime, please enjoy Kirei Blossom's HILARIOUS parody of New Trials of CCS, "The Reality Chronicles."  I cracked up so much while reading it (and didn't get to tell Kirei-chan but it pumped me up for my current writing spurt.) It makes me want to write a parody of the parody. 

I posted up a Frozen Card Captor Sakura parody fanart that I drew after I first saw the movie because I wanted to draw Sakura in Anna's coronation dress. I know Frozen is a bit overdone now, and I probably should have posted the fanart when the movie was all the rage, but it's Christmas and thought it was appropriate. I also posted an Elsa only version. Kara is the only blonde heroine in New Trials, so she by default was cast as Snow Queen Elsa (to the relief of Syaoran.)


Wind and Sky - Snow Queen Elsa by wishluv on DeviantArt

Merry Christmas 2014 and Happy Holidays!

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as you guys may recall from Arc 1 is one of my favorite Christmas carols because of the nostalgic and touching lyrics amid a lot of more upbeat songs. But as with many carols, I have a heard time finding a rendition of the carol that I do like. I do like Sam Smith's version with just a plain piano accompaniment. 

Happy International New Trials Day! Tsubasa World Chronicle Review

Tomoyo's Choice, Leiyun's Determination by wishluv on deviantART

I can't believe it's already the 15th anniversary since I began writing New Trials of Card Captor Sakura. It makes me feel ancient, a bit nostalgic, bittersweet, but mostly grateful to the fans that kept this little fanfic alive all these years. But I think we all share the love for CLAMP and CCS, and sharing with this community has been a great journey. My present is a fanart of Tomoyo, with Leiyun and his Anti-Alliance crew. And young Syaoran of course. It took a lot of restraint not to add Sakura into the picture, but I wanted to do something a little unconventional for me.

I've been especially appreciating all the awesome new fanart that has been springing up both on Facebook and Devianart leading to the the September 1, 2014, anniversary which are all documented at the Fan Projects site. Great musical talent as well if you want a guitar cover of Maroon 5's Payphone over at the Yahoo Group.

I mean, how awesome is this fanart of Meilin and Kai by Dreamfollower?

So, have you guys read the new sequel/ continuation serialization of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle? First off, I loved the way Mokona-sensei colored Syaoran's eyes for the magazine cover--it's sort of a newish way of coloring. And he's carrying Li Syaoran's "Five Force" Sword as I like to call it. Good to see Mokona-chan again too.

Tsubasa World Chronicle: Nirai Kanai-hen or "Ideal Village" Chapter 1 seems to be a direct continuation off of xxxHolic Rei, and it's good to see Syaoran and Watanuki still interacting, and clearing up some loose ends from Rei. Mokona crying might be the cutest thing in this chapter. And nope, the story doesn't seem to have gotten any clearer or less complicated. But the general ambiance is lighter, sort of like the earlier TRC chapters, albeit, no Sakura (darn) and the main trio is more somber, as they have been since the Tokyo arc. It was nice to see Fai and Kurogane's usual banter, as well as familiar faces such as Masayoshi. It seems like we will see more of Gate 7 characters (I haven't really caught up to the manga yet), and perhaps some more loose ends will get tied up through TWC. I'm pretty sure we will at least get to see some sort of Sakura and Syaoran reunion by its ends. Or maybe it's my hopeful thinking. 

The song of the day is The Script's "Breakeven" which I rediscovered recently. Not very original, but I had the chorus stuck in my head for a week--you know those annoying moments where you remember one phrase and can't remember the title of the song? So, I apparently never heard of The Script before, though I know many of their songs--just never knew the artist. I love me my Irish musicians. And I for some reason thought the song was called "Falling to Pieces." And then, I don't know if you have moments where you remember you had a stuck in your head but can't even remember the tune. Luckily, or eerily, The Script popped up on my Youtube recommendation list. Youtube freaks me out some time. I really like the line,"Cuz I got time, while she got freedom." It reminded me of Tsubasa Syaoran and Sakura for some reason. " And of course the punch line that had been stuck in my head: " What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you?"