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author	rlm
date	Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:24:59 -0500
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rlm@0	1 Title: Seal Cards
rlm@0	2 Subtitle: Corruption of Silence
rlm@0	3 Author: Matthias Engel aka MysticMew
rlm@0	4 Feedback: Solarsenshi@gmx.de
rlm@0	5 Status: Alpha
rlm@0	6 Fandom: Card Captor Sakura (manga), Slayers, Bishoujo Senshi
rlm@0	7 Sailormoon (minor implications)
rlm@0	8 Rating: PG-13
rlm@0	9 Category: Romance, Action/Adventure, slight Crossover elements
rlm@0	10 Pairing: Sakura/Tomoyo
rlm@0	11 Timeline: Sequel to "Happy Years"
rlm@0	12 Summary: There are two more cards Clow created. Our couple must learn
rlm@0	13 that even great mages are not prone to mistakes.
rlm@0	14 Sub-Summary: Caught in events Sakura finds herself face to face with
rlm@0	15 the nightmare of her own timeline sooner than she would have liked. As
rlm@0	16 events draw to an epic end, Sakura and Tomoyo are forced to risk
rlm@0	17 everything, including their lives to prevent a catastrophe.
rlm@0	18 Distribution: MSD (www.catstrio.de), Shoujo Ai.com (www.shoujoai.com),
rlm@0	19 ff.net (www.fanfiction.net), Mediaminer (www.mediaminer.org), Moonlit
rlm@0	20 Nights (http://jrem.net/moonlit/tsFics.html) others may follow. If you
rlm@0	21 like this fic for your story, please tell me, I'm not likely to put
rlm@0	22 stones in your way, but I like to know where it goes.
rlm@0	23 Legal Disclaimer: This story features two females romantically
rlm@0	24 involved. If that is illegal where you are or entirely not your thing,
rlm@0	25 turn around and leave now.
rlm@0	26 Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura belongs to CLAMP and assorted
rlm@0	27 companies, I claim no right on the characters and original storyline,
rlm@0	28 neither do I claim any right on the small crossover elements in this
rlm@0	29 story, they belong to their respective owners.
rlm@0	30 Story Disclaimer: Seal Cards: Corruption Silence(c)2003 by Matthias
rlm@0	31 Engel
rlm@0	32
rlm@0	33 Note: Names in () indicate the POV. If there is no name the scene is
rlm@0	34 written in third person.
rlm@0	35
rlm@0	36 ******************************
rlm@0	37
rlm@0	38 Foreword
rlm@0	39
rlm@0	40 Not much to say. The last part in the Forbidden Cards series. Takes up
rlm@0	41 directly after the first part of Seal Cards (Epitomes of Love). Next
rlm@0	42 in line will be the BSSM pre-story though that one will also have
rlm@0	43 slight Crossover indications, so if you want to stay for the whole
rlm@0	44 ride you might want to look out for it.
rlm@0	45 I hope you've got some time, it turned out to be a longer part than
rlm@0	46 originally intended.... Not that that is something new for the little
rlm@0	47 terror...
rlm@0	48
rlm@0	49 ******************************
rlm@0	50
rlm@0	51 Seal Cards: Corruption of Silence
rlm@0	52 Based on the works of CLAMP
rlm@0	53 Story Concept by Matthias Engel
rlm@0	54
rlm@0	55 ******************************
rlm@0	56
rlm@0	57 (Sakura)
rlm@0	58 To describe exactly what the place looked like I would have to assume
rlm@0	59 that the observer had to possess not only magical sight but also a
rlm@0	60 fine understanding of the different layers of reality. On first glance
rlm@0	61 all you might see was a field of orange-gold light, shining with the
rlm@0	62 intensity that had you thinking you were right in the center of a sun.
rlm@0	63 Yet, it wasn't actually blinding. Bright, yes. Even brighter than the
rlm@0	64 human eye should be able to handle but at the same time gentle, filled
rlm@0	65 with a certain harmony that inspired awe.
rlm@0	66 I, with my limited skill, felt tiny in comparison to the sheer
rlm@0	67 beauty of the place. This was much more magnificent than the
rlm@0	68 experience of Love's simple energy output reflected on the outside
rlm@0	69 world. Much like in a mother's womb I felt sheltered from the tainted
rlm@0	70 world outside. The absolute purity of emotion was overwhelming.
rlm@0	71 However, compared to our reaction outside to this increase in positive
rlm@0	72 feelings, here I was at total peace, not compiled to act in certain
rlm@0	73 ways. I basked in the ultimate experience of love, sinking into its
rlm@0	74 embrace.
rlm@0	75 Glancing over at Tomoyo, I noticed that she was equally
rlm@0	76 overwhelmed. Wherever exactly we were, we had left Time's safety
rlm@0	77 bubble behind and I didn't quite believe that it would have survived
rlm@0	78 in here. I was a little perplexed actually to see Tomoyo. My actions
rlm@0	79 of the last moments had been like watching a movie of myself. In a way
rlm@0	80 it was me acting but in another I also was only watching my body move.
rlm@0	81 I had realized on a certain level that I couldn't just simply capture
rlm@0	82 Love, that this wasn't the right way and that there had to be a
rlm@0	83 different approach. And I knew deep down that we had to face Love
rlm@0	84 together. As a couple bond by her own element.
rlm@0	85 Before either of us could speak, a faint glimmer attracted our
rlm@0	86 attention. Turning towards the white sparkle of light I watched it
rlm@0	87 brighten, expanding slightly. Slowly the shape of the card's sprite
rlm@0	88 form became visible. I had seen it before but this time the features
rlm@0	89 were much more defined. Golden-blond hair ran down the woman's back.
rlm@0	90 She wore a simple yet elegant orange dress and her eyes sparkled a
rlm@0	91 clear blue so enticingly beautiful that I felt the urge to kneel in
rlm@0	92 humbleness, unworthy of that creature's attention. This was
rlm@0	93 fascinating, none of the card's spiritual forms ever had been so
rlm@0	94 vivid, so human... No, human didn't sound right. The woman seemed more
rlm@0	95 like a goddess actually. A goddess that was incredibly lonely...
rlm@0	96 Love looked at us with a warm smile that made my heart skip a
rlm@0	97 beat. Cocking her head slightly to the side she seemed to be deep in
rlm@0	98 thought for a moment, then her eyes brightened in obvious recognition.
rlm@0	99 Yet the greeting was not exactly as I expected. "Greetings, Lina-dono,
rlm@0	100 Amelia-dono. I had not expected you here."
rlm@0	101 I blinked and traded a glance with Tomoyo who mirrored my own
rlm@0	102 confusion. "Excuse us but I think you are mistaking..."
rlm@0	103 Love laughed lightly and the sound was angelic to the ears. I
rlm@0	104 realized that a lot of those effects were due to the fact we were in
rlm@0	105 her realm of power. It had been similar with Time. Outside the sealing
rlm@0	106 chamber her presence didn't seem to be so enormous all the time. "Oh,
rlm@0	107 I know, I know. I apologize for that. It appears you are not awakened
rlm@0	108 yet."
rlm@0	109 Awakened? What the...? My surprise must have been visible since
rlm@0	110 Love let go of another giggle, echoing throughout the surreal space.
rlm@0	111 "Ah, don't worry about it. The time will come that you
rlm@0	112 understand. Now though. I understand that you are Clow's successor and
rlm@0	113 therefore technically my new Mistress." I nodded a little dumbly,
rlm@0	114 still not quite grasping what exactly the words of the card's sprite
rlm@0	115 had done to me. I had felt something stir inside of me at her words.
rlm@0	116 Faint, tiny and almost impossible to notice but it was there.
rlm@0	117 Love's happy, smiling expression didn't change but her tone of
rlm@0	118 voice did as she continued. "Clow was a fool. If it wasn't for him,
rlm@0	119 the Feared One would not be on the verge of breaking through our seal.
rlm@0	120 He gave us form and therefore made us targets for her power. This form
rlm@0	121 is limiting and it is only a matter of time before the Feared One will
rlm@0	122 be able to take advantage of the disrupted flow," she stated bitterly.
rlm@0	123 I could guess without a problem who the "Feared One" was supposed to
rlm@0	124 be and the confirmation that my worst fears were proving true sent a
rlm@0	125 shiver down my spine.
rlm@0	126 "But Sakura-chan isn't like Clow! I'm sure she can fix things!
rlm@0	127 She always does!" I turned a surprised look at Tomoyo and felt a wave
rlm@0	128 of pride wash through me. The lavender-haired girl stared at Love
rlm@0	129 intently, silently daring her to challenge the statement. She didn't
rlm@0	130 seem to shy away from the otherworldly being but instead stood up for
rlm@0	131 her faith in me. I really didn't deserve someone so incredible like
rlm@0	132 her but I would certainly cherish that gift forever.
rlm@0	133 Love didn't seem to mind the outburst at all. Instead her
rlm@0	134 features softened even more as she regarded Tomoyo with a look,
rlm@0	135 searching her eyes for some sort of confirmation for a moment, then
rlm@0	136 turned back to me. "No, she is not like Clow. I could tell from the
rlm@0	137 very first moment." The blue eyes flashed for a moment and I shrunk a
rlm@0	138 little under the intense gaze. "So, what will you do now that you
rlm@0	139 stand before me. What will you do to fix what Clow has damaged?"
rlm@0	140 The question was genuine and honestly curious... and it took me
rlm@0	141 totally off guard. I had not planned on any of this happening now.
rlm@0	142 Yes, I had devoted so much time to search for the Seal Cards but
rlm@0	143 hadn't actually given much thought to what exactly I wanted to do if I
rlm@0	144 found them. They were the center of what held the seal on Pandora
rlm@0	145 together after all and I couldn't just remove them without endangering
rlm@0	146 the whole planet. I felt foolish at not really having thought about
rlm@0	147 that, about rushing into this without a decent plan of action. And
rlm@0	148 right now I wasn't quite sure how to answer Love's question.
rlm@0	149
rlm@0	150 ******************************
rlm@0	151
rlm@0	152 (Tomoyo)
rlm@0	153 Sakura was clearly struggling with an answer to Love's question. I
rlm@0	154 could tell she hadn't given it much thought which surprised me a
rlm@0	155 little. Other than in her earlier childhood the Sakura of now was much
rlm@0	156 more focused on her actions. What she did, she did with purpose. I
rlm@0	157 should know since I had been treated to some of the happier moments
rlm@0	158 that showed this change. Then again. Sakura also carried some great
rlm@0	159 grief over everything that was tied to the current situation with her.
rlm@0	160 And grief often served to easily cloud your common sense and rational
rlm@0	161 judgment.
rlm@0	162 I had thought about it myself for a while after Sakura revealed
rlm@0	163 that bit of her timeline to me. When we were younger I had always
rlm@0	164 tried to help out the brunette with her problems, trying to ease some
rlm@0	165 of the weight off of her shoulders. She had often been so innocent and
rlm@0	166 with such a pure heart that it was hard for her to come up with how to
rlm@0	167 deal with serious situations that called for the possibility of
rlm@0	168 hurting someone in the process if the decision she made was the wrong
rlm@0	169 one... or especially the situation where someone would likely get hurt
rlm@0	170 nonetheless.
rlm@0	171 Sakura now was no longer afraid or incompetent to make these
rlm@0	172 decision on her own which she showed quite impressively about four
rlm@0	173 years ago - more or less relatively seen. Yet, I knew what a deep
rlm@0	174 emotional scar the events of her timeline had left on my girlfriend.
rlm@0	175 As much as she tried - successfully for the most part - to be cheerful
rlm@0	176 for me and everyone else. So, although I did not know all the details
rlm@0	177 - that much I was sure of - I had been thinking about the situation,
rlm@0	178 trying to help Sakura in those small ways. I had somehow anticipated
rlm@0	179 that moment might come and she might need my support then.
rlm@0	180 Thinking had sparked some ideas but also some questions that
rlm@0	181 needed to be answered first. And so, gathering my courage - since I
rlm@0	182 was still rather impressed and awed by the sudden transition from the
rlm@0	183 real world into this... other realm - I spoke up quietly, "Can I ask a
rlm@0	184 question?"
rlm@0	185 Both Love and Sakura turned to me, the latter raising an eyebrow
rlm@0	186 a bit surprised while the former merely smiled and nodded. Taking this
rlm@0	187 as a "Yes" I managed to bring my jumbled thoughts into some sort of
rlm@0	188 order. "Sakura-chan told me that by creating you and the other card
rlm@0	189 Clow made a mistake. I take it he was... aware of it because he put
rlm@0	190 you... um, here." I gestured around us, not quite sure where exactly
rlm@0	191 we were other than inside the seal which for some reason didn't sound
rlm@0	192 appropriate enough for me. Love nodded. "Well," I asked tentatively,
rlm@0	193 "I don't mean to offend your existence but... Couldn't Clow just
rlm@0	194 have... returned you to what you were before?"
rlm@0	195 At that Sakura also looked visibly curious and turned a
rlm@0	196 questioning glance towards Love. The sprite looked a tad bit miffed at
rlm@0	197 the question, obviously not really happy with the reply she was about
rlm@0	198 to give. "That is a hard question to answer. You must understand that
rlm@0	199 when Clow created us he invented an art of magic lore previously
rlm@0	200 unheard of in such quality. In the old days - which have been long
rlm@0	201 lost to human history - magic was drawn upon directly and so were the
rlm@0	202 elements. They were used temporally. Clow, however, bound an element
rlm@0	203 to an inanimate object, giving both the object and the element an
rlm@0	204 independent personality in a way. That is what you see as our
rlm@0	205 human-like appearance. We are a small portion of the larger thing but
rlm@0	206 we can also interact and draw upon the flow of elemental power that we
rlm@0	207 were once a part of. A lot like an Elemental but we are not as
rlm@0	208 natural." Love paused, waiting for us to absorb this. I saw that
rlm@0	209 Sakura seemed to have less trouble following while I had a hard time
rlm@0	210 comprehending all of this. The gist of it wasn't lost on me though and
rlm@0	211 I nodded to Love to continue.
rlm@0	212 "When Clow created his first set of cards he bound a great
rlm@0	213 amount of already pre-bound elemental flows - a mistake he did
rlm@0	214 thankfully not repeat with the cards you own now - and by doing so
rlm@0	215 unknowingly tapped into us who we have made up the seal for ancient
rlm@0	216 times. I cannot really fault him since our nature is already
rlm@0	217 complicated as it is and he must not have understood exactly what we
rlm@0	218 there. The problem is that after creating us, he disrupted the flow of
rlm@0	219 the seal. Yes, he did try to return the elements after realizing that
rlm@0	220 grievous mistake. But Clow was a Black Mage for the most part. I do
rlm@0	221 not mean that he was evil but he believed more in power and the use of
rlm@0	222 dark magic for his purpose and that magic is also easier to force
rlm@0	223 things rather than to patiently coax a power into doing one's will.
rlm@0	224 And you cannot force healing. So fixing something, returning what he
rlm@0	225 took by force, was much harder for him than the initiate action.
rlm@0	226 Simply put, he put so much effort into creating us that with his
rlm@0	227 personal affiliation it was impossible for him to simply undo it
rlm@0	228 again." Love sighed mournfully. "He put us into the seal the way we
rlm@0	229 are now to try and reduce the damage. But the Feared One is quite
rlm@0	230 patient and we will not be able to hold her off much longer. Does that
rlm@0	231 answer your question?"
rlm@0	232 I nodded, my mind hard at work to process all this but I had
rlm@0	233 gotten the answer to what I needed to know indeed. "Is it still
rlm@0	234 possible to return the flow now?" I caught Sakura's eyes light up in
rlm@0	235 the beginning of comprehension and smiled at her faithfully.
rlm@0	236 Love considered the question for a moment. "I would believe so,
rlm@0	237 given the right circumstances. Why?"
rlm@0	238 At this point Sakura intervened. "I think I get where Tomo-chan
rlm@0	239 is going. Clow's reincarnation said I was already much stronger than
rlm@0	240 he was and my power is different from his, so is the way I treat the
rlm@0	241 rest of the cards. I... I don't know if I can do it but if... if it's
rlm@0	242 possible..." She looked down at her feet, almost appearing a little
rlm@0	243 meek but I could tell from her posture and slightly shaking hands how
rlm@0	244 much she wished to be able to make that difference.
rlm@0	245 "I am certain Sakura-chan can make it," I put in reassuringly,
rlm@0	246 squeezing my girlfriend's hand tightly. Sakura flashed me a grateful
rlm@0	247 smile.
rlm@0	248 Love smiled faintly but for the first time you could really tell
rlm@0	249 it was fake. There was a deep melancholy in the sprite's eyes and once
rlm@0	250 again I could see that soul-shattering loneliness. "Something is
rlm@0	251 happening right now. My mate has left her path and moves into a
rlm@0	252 specific direction. I was worried that is why I moved as well to meet
rlm@0	253 her."
rlm@0	254 "Mate?" I asked curiously. It was obvious Love was referring to
rlm@0	255 the second card but the choice of word stroke me as odd.
rlm@0	256 "In ancient times before the seal was created our power belonged
rlm@0	257 to those that eventually fueled it into this layer. They were soul
rlm@0	258 mates, so to say, and we are more or less mirror images of our former
rlm@0	259 selves." A troubled look crossed her beautiful features and I could
rlm@0	260 hardly think of anything else that had ever looked so out of place. "I
rlm@0	261 do not doubt your abilities," Love addressed Sakura, "but if you claim
rlm@0	262 me now, you must seek my mate with utmost haste or I fear the seal
rlm@0	263 will break before the next sunrise. I do not know what happened to
rlm@0	264 Silence but I worry for her well-being..." My heart reached out to the
rlm@0	265 gentle sprite, looking so fragile and vulnerable at the moment. Not
rlm@0	266 knowing what happened to her beloved had to be a terrible experience.
rlm@0	267 I glanced at Sakura who had her eyes closed for a moment before
rlm@0	268 moving forward with an expression of firm resolve in her face. I had
rlm@0	269 seen it so often before but every time it fascinated me anew. Gently
rlm@0	270 taking the sprite's hands in her own, Sakura smiled at her gently.
rlm@0	271 "This is why I am here. I understand now about the consequences of
rlm@0	272 unsealing Time." Love gasped at that. "I know now that this is what I
rlm@0	273 was meant to do, why I am here now. I will set you free, both of you,
rlm@0	274 that I promise." For a moment card and Card Mistress looked at each
rlm@0	275 other and after almost a full minute - though I could not be sure how
rlm@0	276 the passage of time was handled here - Love gave a slight nod. Sakura
rlm@0	277 let go of her hands and stepped - or better floated - back slightly,
rlm@0	278 never letting her gaze leave that of the card's spiritual form. Her
rlm@0	279 star wand reappeared in her right hand from wherever it had gone and
rlm@0	280 she brought it forward in a smooth but not at all forceful motion.
rlm@0	281 "Return to your original form," the brunette almost whispered, "Clow
rlm@0	282 Card."
rlm@0	283 Somehow the whole thing was rather anti-climatic for a card that
rlm@0	284 powerful. But then again, the real challenge was still to come.
rlm@0	285
rlm@0	286 ******************************
rlm@0	287
rlm@0	288 (Sakura)
rlm@0	289 An hour later our small - relatively seen - yacht dropped anchor at
rlm@0	290 one of the small island in the middle of the archipelago. Otousan
rlm@0	291 pointed out that those small islands were not on any chart and Sonomi
rlm@0	292 declared that she hadn't seen them until we were almost at shore. My
rlm@0	293 suspicion was that all those small isles were either protected by a
rlm@0	294 strong field of illusion or not entirely in the same dimension as
rlm@0	295 ours. I didn't know that much about dimensional theory but I wouldn't
rlm@0	296 exclude the possibility. Not that the issue was really relevant in
rlm@0	297 light of the situation.
rlm@0	298 "It's almost dusk already," I commented, looking over the small
rlm@0	299 isle roughly a few miles in diameter. It would probably not take long
rlm@0	300 to walk from one end to the other - even less flying. The most
rlm@0	301 imposing landmark was the single mountain, rather thin but probably
rlm@0	302 higher than the whole island. Up at the peak I could sense the
rlm@0	303 unmistakable power of the second Seal Card. Silence.
rlm@0	304 "It's up there," Tomoyo stated my thoughts quietly, making
rlm@0	305 everyone look at her in surprise. Except me that is. Quite frankly I
rlm@0	306 had only been mildly surprised that there obviously was some sort of
rlm@0	307 magical gift inside my girlfriend. I had felt it on occasions before,
rlm@0	308 especially during our... mating. While the intensity had me focused on
rlm@0	309 other things more interesting I knew that feeling from Syaoran and my
rlm@0	310 lovemaking on my timeline. In those moments you were the most exposed
rlm@0	311 and your magic could run wild. No, I wasn't really surprised. More
rlm@0	312 like curious since her magic seemed so different from my own. Older
rlm@0	313 somehow, which might be a good explanation why neither of us had
rlm@0	314 sensed anything yet. Ever since... claiming Love - it wasn't like I
rlm@0	315 really had to return her to her original form since it wasn't really
rlm@0	316 wild to begin with - the magic around Tomoyo was actually tangible.
rlm@0	317 To my surprise someone else put the general surprise into words.
rlm@0	318 "I am surprised you can see it."
rlm@0	319 I blinked, turning sideways. That voice... Clad in long white
rlm@0	320 and green Chinese robes a young boy around Tomoyo and my age had
rlm@0	321 stepped up to our group. Unlike the ten-year old or the boy who once
rlm@0	322 held my heart on my old timeline he had his brown hair tied into a
rlm@0	323 ponytail falling lightly over one shoulder. A sword was stripped to
rlm@0	324 the simple belt and he wore an expression that was hard to read.
rlm@0	325 "Syaoran-kun," I whispered, a bit dumbstruck, rather floored by
rlm@0	326 his sudden appearance. I had been so concentrated on what lay ahead
rlm@0	327 off me that I had not even sensed his presence and therefore was not
rlm@0	328 quite prepared for the conflicting emotions his appearance managed to
rlm@0	329 stir in my heart. Those lasted only for a moment though. It surprised
rlm@0	330 me a little how quickly I managed to get my feelings under control yet
rlm@0	331 the last months - even if a bit under Love's influence - I had come to
rlm@0	332 the unmistakable realization that my feelings for Tomoyo went far
rlm@0	333 beyond what I had ever felt for Syaoran. And therefore, even before my
rlm@0	334 girlfriend could react to his presence in any possible manner, I had
rlm@0	335 reached out, lacing my fingers through her own and giving her hand a
rlm@0	336 reassuring squeeze.
rlm@0	337 "Sakura," Syaoran nodded, his voice not betraying his stoic
rlm@0	338 demeanor for any other than me who got to know him pretty well in all
rlm@0	339 the years we - well, his other self and I - had spent together. He did
rlm@0	340 notice the clear gesture obviously and there was the barest hint of
rlm@0	341 sadness, gone the next moment, but I was sure about its existence.
rlm@0	342 That couldn't be helped though.
rlm@0	343 "Where are many types of magic that Clow's family didn't even
rlm@0	344 know about. You shouldn't be that surprised," I answered his question.
rlm@0	345 "Excuse my bluntness. Not that I am not... happy to see you again but
rlm@0	346 I am kind of in a hurry. While I can guess part of it already, why are
rlm@0	347 you here?"
rlm@0	348 Syaoran sighed and glanced up towards where Tomoyo had pointed.
rlm@0	349 "Yes, it is quite obvious, isn't it. my mother and I both felt the
rlm@0	350 disturbance in the seal's flow when Silence passed over China. I
rlm@0	351 followed it all the way until here. It's been hovering there for the
rlm@0	352 better part of an hour already, doing... well, nothing."
rlm@0	353 I raised an eyebrow at Syaoran's obvious knowledge about the
rlm@0	354 seal since the one of my timeline had only learned about it from his
rlm@0	355 mother when there was little to do anymore. Something we both had been
rlm@0	356 quite angry about. "So, your mother let you in on Clow's dirty, little
rlm@0	357 secret, huh?"
rlm@0	358 With a shrug the Chinese boy turned back to me. "Only the most
rlm@0	359 necessary I am afraid. You seem to know what is going on for some
rlm@0	360 reason though, so why don't you tell me?"
rlm@0	361 Turning away I started to walk in the general direction of the
rlm@0	362 mountain. "I don't have time to stand around. If you want to come
rlm@0	363 along we can talk while walking." Glancing back at the rest of my
rlm@0	364 family I asked, "Maybe you should wait here. This is going to be
rlm@0	365 dangerous enough."
rlm@0	366 Touya, as expected, wanted to protest, being the overprotective
rlm@0	367 brother he always had been and still was most of the time, but Otousan
rlm@0	368 was faster. "I saw a small building, looked like a shrine, at the base
rlm@0	369 of the mountain. Maybe we should go there first. I'm sure there is a
rlm@0	370 reason for a shrine to in the middle of an obviously uninhabited
rlm@0	371 island."
rlm@0	372 Syaoran nodded in agreement. "I spotted it too. But I wanted to
rlm@0	373 wait for you before checking it out. Maybe it has some meaning for
rlm@0	374 what is going on. What do you think, Sakura?"
rlm@0	375 I traded a brief look with Tomoyo. The reasoning was logical. If
rlm@0	376 a battle ensured, I wasn't sure about the effects. A building might
rlm@0	377 provide more shelter than staying out at the open or in the ship. I
rlm@0	378 really had not wanted to pull all of my assembled family along into
rlm@0	379 this but that option was taken from me. Love had been clear about it
rlm@0	380 that I couldn't return the flows individually. I had to have both
rlm@0	381 cards to make this work and there was only a short time limit in
rlm@0	382 between. I could have send them back with the ship and use Fly, of
rlm@0	383 course. On the other hand I had no idea how much magic I had to spend
rlm@0	384 in resealing the seal.
rlm@0	385 There was not much helping it, as it seemed. "Alright. Let's
rlm@0	386 go."
rlm@0	387
rlm@0	388 ******************************
rlm@0	389
rlm@0	390 (Tomoyo
rlm@0	391 To say that Syaoran was shocked to learn how exactly it had come to
rlm@0	392 the turning point in our lives about four years ago would have been an
rlm@0	393 understatement. A big understatement. He was, I noted, quite furious
rlm@0	394 at his mother for not telling him more about the seal but I suppose
rlm@0	395 that was really not something the proud family of Clow's descendants
rlm@0	396 liked to talk about. Also there was no telling how much Syaoran's
rlm@0	397 mother really knew and how much she was just pretending to.
rlm@0	398 I kept silent most of the way, letting Sakura explain. Yes, I
rlm@0	399 was pretty surprised at seeing the Chinese boy here but after all that
rlm@0	400 happened, especially under Love's gentle coaxing, I wasn't about to
rlm@0	401 suddenly turn into a jealous, mistrusting bitch just because my
rlm@0	402 girlfriend's ex-boyfriend turned up without warning. Going back and
rlm@0	403 reviewing that last thought I had to suppress a giggle in spite of the
rlm@0	404 serious situation. That sounded rather awful.
rlm@0	405 That's just it though. The situation was serious. I should have
rlm@0	406 known better than to think it would be that easy. Of course Sakura
rlm@0	407 couldn't just claim the two Seal Cards one by one and return the flow
rlm@0	408 in a similar fashion. They were like Light and Dark. Always bonded
rlm@0	409 together. If it was even possible to return one power flow by itself,
rlm@0	410 the result could very well be a greater disharmony as there had been
rlm@0	411 through Clow's meddling. Now Sakura only had a few hours to catch the
rlm@0	412 other card and return the seal's old strength. I wasn't one to doubt
rlm@0	413 her ability to pull that off but the time limit was rather thin.
rlm@0	414 Therefore it was necessary that all of us concentrated on the task at
rlm@0	415 hand, not losing ourselves in personal quarrels.
rlm@0	416 I was seriously glad that Yue had turned back to Yukito for the
rlm@0	417 moment who managed to divert Touya's attention quite nicely. The older
rlm@0	418 Kinomoto sibling kept throwing dark glances in Syaoran's direction,
rlm@0	419 giving me the idea that the tension between him and the Chinese mage
rlm@0	420 was not necessarily because of Sakura. They just simply didn't like it
rlm@0	421 each other.
rlm@0	422 I was amazed at how... relaxed the rest of the family took all
rlm@0	423 this. Especially Sakura's father and Okaasan. They had obviously
rlm@0	424 gotten the hint very quickly that keeping distraction at bay for the
rlm@0	425 moment was the best thing to do. For Sakura and everyone else. This
rlm@0	426 was the first time all of us have been card hunting together,
rlm@0	427 especially our parents. It might have been involuntary but that
rlm@0	428 couldn't be helped right now. And seeing all this loyalty and support
rlm@0	429 my heart fluttered at the thought that I was an accepted part of this
rlm@0	430 family.
rlm@0	431 The sun had already disappeared behind the mountain, beginning
rlm@0	432 to sink into the ocean behind it at any given time now. There were a
rlm@0	433 few stars already visible in the sky. I felt a little tired but didn't
rlm@0	434 want to complain right now. It was apparent Sakura wouldn't get any
rlm@0	435 rest before sunrise and I would be there with her all the way. I
rlm@0	436 always had been and always would be. There might not be much that I
rlm@0	437 could do but Sakura herself had said that she depended on my support
rlm@0	438 and faith for her strength. And if that was how I could help, I had
rlm@0	439 sworn that I would always be there to give Sakura a reason to show her
rlm@0	440 beautiful strength.
rlm@0	441 "Hey, look! That must be it!" Kero-chan cried out from the front
rlm@0	442 of our small group. He had taken the lead with Touya and Yukito, the
rlm@0	443 adults behind them and then the three of us in order to give Sakura
rlm@0	444 and Syaoran some time to talk... and to keep Touya and Syaoran out of
rlm@0	445 each others' hairs. That arrangement had more or less worked since
rlm@0	446 Okaasan and Fujitake-tousan had taken to give each other flustered and
rlm@0	447 embarrassed looks instead of verbally bringing up what had happened
rlm@0	448 under Love's influence. I doubted there really was any hidden feelings
rlm@0	449 there. That was quite frankly impossible. Sakura had explained that
rlm@0	450 Love sends out positive emotion. Feelings like jealousy - and in a way
rlm@0	451 you could call it that, at least from Okaasan's part - were more or
rlm@0	452 less also emotions associated with Love. What the card's power did was
rlm@0	453 take that emotion and more or less return the opposite much stronger.
rlm@0	454 I wasn't sure though if Sakura just said that for our parents piece of
rlm@0	455 mind alone.
rlm@0	456 At Kero's shout I tore my eyes away from Sakura and Syaoran who
rlm@0	457 had stopped talking as well. The temple was hard to miss at first
rlm@0	458 glance. Built under a ledge that covered the whole building in
rlm@0	459 shadows. The design was quite unfamiliar to me and I was pretty sure
rlm@0	460 the structure was one of its kind in the world. Dark blue stone
rlm@0	461 sustained thick pillars who were built side by side in a way that it
rlm@0	462 was rather impossible to actually pass through in between. At the
rlm@0	463 sides the structure widened, stretching out to both sides like wings
rlm@0	464 of some gigantic creature. There was a single entrance with something
rlm@0	465 resembling a golden eye looking down at those who dared approach it. I
rlm@0	466 really would like to know about the building's material and I was
rlm@0	467 quite sure that eye was some form of crystal that was worth a lot of
rlm@0	468 money.
rlm@0	469 "Quite impressive," Okaasan stated as we all came to a stop at
rlm@0	470 the base of the few stairs leading up to the entrance. "Looks rather
rlm@0	471 lonely to me. I doubt someone is living out here."
rlm@0	472 Sakura's father shook his head at this, scratching his chin
rlm@0	473 thoughtfully. "I don't know. This place looks old and it is too clean
rlm@0	474 and well taken care of to be abandoned." I had to agree with him on
rlm@0	475 that one. The shrine looked neat and without a spot of cobwebs or
rlm@0	476 dust, no debris lying around either.
rlm@0	477 "Someone's coming," Sakura said and everyone stiffened
rlm@0	478 automatically. I noticed Syaoran sending Sakura a surprised look at
rlm@0	479 the statement but couldn't quite fathom why. Didn't he sense anything
rlm@0	480 at all? I knew I was new to that kind of thing and if I could feel the
rlm@0	481 presence then he should as well.
rlm@0	482 I didn't have time to give that much more thought since whoever
rlm@0	483 Sakura and I had sensed coming was just appearing in the entrance. The
rlm@0	484 woman's features were striking. Clad in a white and blue traditional
rlm@0	485 miko robe, with long blond-golden hair falling over her back, and
rlm@0	486 enchanting blue eyes. Compared to Love's sprite form though this woman
rlm@0	487 looked... older. Wiser, might be a better word. Her whole appearance
rlm@0	488 spoke of a long lifespan and great experience collected in her years.
rlm@0	489 But just like Love there was also a certain loneliness. It was harder
rlm@0	490 to see than in the card's eyes but nevertheless was there. And while
rlm@0	491 Love's loneliness had touched me I felt a heavy sadness tightening
rlm@0	492 around my heart for a brief moment inspired from that of the woman.
rlm@0	493 Something familiar and in a way compassionate that shouldn't be
rlm@0	494 possible for strangers.
rlm@0	495 Were we strangers? That was a more logical question than one
rlm@0	496 might think because the moment I had seen the woman there was that
rlm@0	497 undeniable feeling that I should... that I DID know her. That was
rlm@0	498 absurd, of course, since I had always had a good memory and would
rlm@0	499 surely have recognized someone as impressive as her. Yet I could not
rlm@0	500 deny those feelings and this only served to really confuse me.
rlm@0	501
rlm@0	502 ******************************
rlm@0	503
rlm@0	504 (Sakura)
rlm@0	505 Long blond hair, like a waterfall cascading down the back of a subtly
rlm@0	506 powerful body. Blue eyes deep and enchanting. A lot like Tomoyo's at
rlm@0	507 times but still different in their own way. They stroke a feeling of
rlm@0	508 familiarity in my heart that was so strong it shook my very worldview.
rlm@0	509 For a moment the older, wise but in a way rather lonely face was
rlm@0	510 overlapped by something younger, more innocent, more kind and...
rlm@0	511 happy. For a moment it was as if there was only me and that woman, our
rlm@0	512 bodies pressed together, our lips...
rlm@0	513 What the heck?
rlm@0	514 The image had sent a shock through my system that managed to
rlm@0	515 bring me out of whatever weird trance I had been in. I couldn't, for
rlm@0	516 the life of me, figure out what exactly just happened there. It wasn't
rlm@0	517 a fantasy. I didn't fantasize about other girls - especially strangers
rlm@0	518 - like that. I had Tomoyo, I was perfectly happy with Tomoyo. In fact
rlm@0	519 seeing and talking with Syaoran again had not changed a single thing
rlm@0	520 about it. The feelings I once held for him had subsided. Some kind of
rlm@0	521 love would forever be there. But it was dull and - as painfully as it
rlm@0	522 sounded - negligible compared to the fulfillment being with Tomoyo
rlm@0	523 gave me. But the feelings that had erupted in my heart for just a
rlm@0	524 brief moment at this... this... image... they were almost just as
rlm@0	525 strong. It didn't feel like a mind-produced possibility. It felt
rlm@0	526 like... a memory.
rlm@0	527 And that was rather disturbing, to say the least.
rlm@0	528 "Welcome, I have been expecting you, Lina-san, Amelia-san," the
rlm@0	529 voice of the woman shook me completely out of my momentary shock. She
rlm@0	530 bowed her head respectfully and smiled up at me almost... apologetic.
rlm@0	531 I was seriously glad that Tomoyo for some reason had also been
rlm@0	532 intently focused on the woman because I was pretty sure she could have
rlm@0	533 SEEN all that had went through my head just now with but a glance. She
rlm@0	534 had always been able to do that. Also I was glad that although my
rlm@0	535 girlfriend... mate, I corrected myself mentally - feeling a need to
rlm@0	536 put an emphasis on our relationship -, was equally captivated by the
rlm@0	537 blond-haired shrine keeper - I presumed -, Tomoyo was still able to
rlm@0	538 formulate words. An ability I didn't feel quite content about right
rlm@0	539 now. "That is funny. This is the second time someone called us that.
rlm@0	540 Love did so, too..." Tomoyo trailed off but her words struck me as
rlm@0	541 true and a wild thought entered my mind just then.
rlm@0	542 What did Love say? We were not "awakened" yet? I've read a bit
rlm@0	543 about reincarnation. Heck, Eriol was living proof for the whole thing.
rlm@0	544 I knew through some brief acquaintances in my future, when everything
rlm@0	545 went to hell, that there were a lot of people on this planet who were
rlm@0	546 quite aware of a former life, even drawing power and knowledge from
rlm@0	547 it. Was that what Love meant? Could this be what I just experienced? A
rlm@0	548 flashback of some former life? I didn't really want to think about it
rlm@0	549 but quite frankly the names used by both Love and the stranger
rlm@0	550 sounded... right somehow.
rlm@0	551 "I am sorry. As is true for Love's current form, my mind still
rlm@0	552 lingers in the past sometimes." The woman smiled, yet it was a sad,
rlm@0	553 wistful smile. One that made me feel... guilty somehow. It almost
rlm@0	554 confirmed my theory. The smile quickly faded to a more serious
rlm@0	555 expression, one that told of years... heck, probably centuries of
rlm@0	556 experience. "My apologies again. My name is Filia. Before you ask.
rlm@0	557 Yes, I am quite aware of why you are here and what is going on. We
rlm@0	558 have little time indeed but there are things that I would wish you to
rlm@0	559 know. If you would please follow me." She gestured towards the shrine
rlm@0	560 entrance behind her.
rlm@0	561 Numbly I felt myself follow, grasping Tomoyo's hand tightly as
rlm@0	562 if to reassure myself that she wasn't going to disappear. I had the
rlm@0	563 feeling that whatever those things were that Filia - the name stirred
rlm@0	564 something in my heart as well - wanted us to know would start a chain
rlm@0	565 of events that might jeopardize everything that I worked so hard to
rlm@0	566 achieve. That somehow it would disturb the relationship between Tomoyo
rlm@0	567 and me.
rlm@0	568 She must have felt it because while we walked through a series
rlm@0	569 of hallways, the lavender-haired girl next to me had moved a lot
rlm@0	570 closer, her presence managing to calm myself down enough to think
rlm@0	571 rationally again. Well, as rationally as possible in this situation. A
rlm@0	572 situation that was quickly spinning out of control. Everything
rlm@0	573 happened so fast, one shock after another. This was a turning point in
rlm@0	574 our lives. A nexus of events to come. I could feel it. Whatever was
rlm@0	575 done and discussed here on this island tonight would have an impact on
rlm@0	576 the future. A heavy impact. And everyone seemed to feel it somehow
rlm@0	577 because they mostly kept quiet, just the occasional question directed
rlm@0	578 at our guide regarding the age of the structure or if she lived here
rlm@0	579 all by herself. From which both answers only strengthened my rebirth
rlm@0	580 theory.
rlm@0	581 Really, for the rest of us the whole thing was probably just
rlm@0	582 confusing. They were pulled along by the tidal wave Love's capture -
rlm@0	583 or was it even further back than that? - had started. They could
rlm@0	584 probably feel the rising tension and that something important was
rlm@0	585 happening. But without a sufficiently trained magical sense... When I
rlm@0	586 was just beginning all this, I doubt I would have sensed the coming -
rlm@0	587 practically inevitable - change. But now I did. I saw that from
rlm@0	588 Syaoran's somewhat grim expression he did too to some extent. Yet, I
rlm@0	589 was pretty sure it didn't touch him as much as it did... us. Yes, us.
rlm@0	590 From what I could see Tomoyo was deep in thought as well, trying to
rlm@0	591 figure all this out. She was probably feeling now what I would have
rlm@0	592 felt about twelve years ago - including two senses of time.
rlm@0	593 And for some reason that DID reassure me. We were in on this
rlm@0	594 together, somehow. There were ties between us even outside of this
rlm@0	595 life. And I could FEEL these ties were strong.
rlm@0	596 After walking for a bit, we reached a bigger chamber. Not really
rlm@0	597 gigantic but the vibe I got from this room was of high importance and
rlm@0	598 a sense of nostalgia. The presence from the young woman was rather
rlm@0	599 active here. Heck, I wasn't even sure about her age. This Filia was a
rlm@0	600 complete mystery to me. I couldn't get anything detailed from her
rlm@0	601 aura. Her shields were nearly perfect, just showing glimpses of
rlm@0	602 emotion on the outside every now and then. And I knew it took a very
rlm@0	603 long time to hone your mental defenses like that.
rlm@0	604 My observation was cut short though as my gaze settled on the
rlm@0	605 interior of the room. Well... What was inside the room was rather
rlm@0	606 sparse. More important were the various... pictures lining the wall.
rlm@0	607 It was hard to describe them with proper terms because I'm not sure
rlm@0	608 those terms existed in this time period. They seemed futuristic
rlm@0	609 somehow, a bit like holograms, but also had a sort of ancient touch.
rlm@0	610 Like paintings, or wall drawings. They actually looked like they were
rlm@0	611 part of the wall.
rlm@0	612 There were so many I had a hard time deciding where to look
rlm@0	613 first, awed by the vividness of the pictures. There were a few though
rlm@0	614 that caught my eye immediately and... well, not really surprised me.
rlm@0	615 There were some of Her, making it painfully clear that this was some
rlm@0	616 kind of memorial of a time long past. Probably of the time when
rlm@0	617 Pandora was first imprisoned.
rlm@0	618 What drew my attention like a moth to the flame though was a
rlm@0	619 single picture, showing three young woman standing in a sort of
rlm@0	620 triangle around an enormous structure, in poses of deep concentration.
rlm@0	621 There were auras of power drawn around them. But that didn't really
rlm@0	622 interest me right away. Those figures were familiar, so damn familiar.
rlm@0	623 A woman in long robes with a staff and purple hair that I couldn't
rlm@0	624 immediately place but knew deep down that she was... had been...
rlm@0	625 important to me... us. A slightly younger woman who carried a somewhat
rlm@0	626 child-like experience in white garb with a white cape and a necklace.
rlm@0	627 She had shorter, black hair with a few purple highlights running
rlm@0	628 through it. Her eyes, her eyes were much like... no, EXACTLY like
rlm@0	629 Tomoyo's. And then there was the redheaded one. The most striking of
rlm@0	630 the three. Dressed in similar clothing as the other two with a black
rlm@0	631 cape I felt like looking in a mirror. Outwardly there were a lot of
rlm@0	632 difference between her and me but still I just knew that...
rlm@0	633 "Is that..." I whispered, speaking up for the first time since
rlm@0	634 meeting Filia at the entrance and getting here. "... us?"
rlm@0	635
rlm@0	636 ******************************
rlm@0	637
rlm@0	638 (Tomoyo)
rlm@0	639 "Is that... us?"
rlm@0	640 Sakura's words shattered the tranquil atmosphere that had
rlm@0	641 settled on the group since reaching the island. In the empty hallways
rlm@0	642 of the shrine the silence had become more than just a little uneasy.
rlm@0	643 Barely bearable. More like suffocating actually. At any other given
rlm@0	644 time I would have enjoyed the rich style of art with which the shrine
rlm@0	645 was built, its true beauty kept more to the inside than the outside. I
rlm@0	646 would have been excited, would have loved to ask more questions...
rlm@0	647 But they were inappropriate. And deep down I knew that those
rlm@0	648 things were irrelevant. They simply did not matter right now. Not only
rlm@0	649 because of the current situation that was still looming over our heads
rlm@0	650 like the Grim Reaper's glaive. No, that wasn't all there was to it. I
rlm@0	651 couldn't explain it. I lacked the words or Sakura's understanding of
rlm@0	652 the mythical. I did not have her experience. But I KNEW that there was
rlm@0	653 something much bigger going on here. Sakura's unease was evident and
rlm@0	654 even a totally insensitive jerk could have seen it.
rlm@0	655 And now that feelings actually had a name. And the feelings
rlm@0	656 Sakura's statement evoked were confusing, conflicting even. I realized
rlm@0	657 that I had been staring at the exact same picture for the entire time,
rlm@0	658 trying to figure out why those three woman looked so familiar and why
rlm@0	659 my mind constantly tried to draw associations to Filia and Love's
rlm@0	660 manner of address. However, a part of me was SCARED of that
rlm@0	661 association. And to a degree that was because that part KNEW that the
rlm@0	662 association was TRUE.
rlm@0	663 "Nani?" Syaoran exclaimed next to us, looking incredulous. "You
rlm@0	664 don't mean..."
rlm@0	665 "Yes. This shrine was built in memory of a war that took place a
rlm@0	666 very, very long time ago. And yes, you Kinomoto Sakura, as well as you
rlm@0	667 Daidouji Tomoyo were a part of this war. At least your past lives have
rlm@0	668 been as I am sure you have figured out by now." Even before the woman
rlm@0	669 named Filia confirmed Sakura's statement, I knew it was that way.
rlm@0	670 There was no denying it and doing so would only do more harm than
rlm@0	671 good. That much I was certain of.
rlm@0	672 "Is this from when the seal was made," Kero-chan asked from his
rlm@0	673 place on Yuki... Yue's shoulder - darn, he really unnerved me with
rlm@0	674 those changes sometimes. Kero's voice had grown deeper, more like his
rlm@0	675 true self. More serious. For the first time I tore my gaze away from
rlm@0	676 the picture of the three woman and noticed in various others the
rlm@0	677 presence of a sinister vaguely female figure, often accompanied by an
rlm@0	678 aura of evil that seemed to be alive, tangible in this artificial
rlm@0	679 state. Sakura had never given me a clear description of how this
rlm@0	680 Pandora looked, but there was no doubt that this had to be her.
rlm@0	681 Filia nodded solemnly. She glanced at Sakura for a moment before
rlm@0	682 launching into the tale and I really wished I wasn't so damn observant
rlm@0	683 all the time. I could deal with Syaoran's looks directed at my
rlm@0	684 girlfriend. It was to be expected that their was sadness, pain and
rlm@0	685 probably some jealousy too. I could deal with that because Sakura had
rlm@0	686 made her choice between us. But the same things that I saw in
rlm@0	687 Syaoran's covered glances, it was there with the older woman too. Yet
rlm@0	688 with Filia it was to a degree as much wistful as it was almost
rlm@0	689 painfully intense. And what really got to me was that as hard as I
rlm@0	690 wanted to be jealous, I couldn't be. Because some part of me knew this
rlm@0	691 woman and this part just couldn't harbor any negative feelings towards
rlm@0	692 her. It was confusing and frustrating and...
rlm@0	693 I shoved it to the back of my mind, reminding myself that there
rlm@0	694 were more important things to deal with right now. Besides, Sakura had
rlm@0	695 been rather adamant about her faithfulness on more than one occasion.
rlm@0	696 I had nothing to fear for the moment. I had time to dwell on that
rlm@0	697 later when I knew more and the current mess was dealt with.
rlm@0	698 "Time is short I know that." Filia looked up briefly out of the
rlm@0	699 huge window above that showed the top of the mountain from where one
rlm@0	700 magically gifted - which all of us except Okaasan were - could see
rlm@0	701 Silence's presence hovering just above the tip. And those dark clouds
rlm@0	702 that were gathering, slowly beginning to cover the Moon's light were
rlm@0	703 more than just unsettling.
rlm@0	704 "Those clouds aren't natural," I said quietly, more to myself
rlm@0	705 than anyone else. But the quiet surrounding the group carried the
rlm@0	706 words to everyone else without me even meaning them to.
rlm@0	707 Sakura nodded grimly. "Yes, and it's getting worse. I don't
rlm@0	708 think we have time to stand around here and talk. I really like to
rlm@0	709 know more of this but it has to wait until after I finished what I
rlm@0	710 started. There are only a few hours left. And I seriously have no idea
rlm@0	711 how long this will take."
rlm@0	712 Filia shook her head. "Please, trust me. You must know all that
rlm@0	713 has happened back then. If not to awaken your past life's memories,
rlm@0	714 then at least to truly know all that is at stake here. This must be
rlm@0	715 hard for you to comprehend but please understand that I will not
rlm@0	716 jeopardize all those years of lonely vigil to see you sacrifice
rlm@0	717 yourself because you did not know all that there needs to be known."
rlm@0	718 At this I studied the woman incredulously. From how she worded
rlm@0	719 it, it was apparent that with "years" she didn't just mean, say a
rlm@0	720 decade or more. No, it sounded more like she had been around the whole
rlm@0	721 time, ever since the ancient war of which the pictures spoke. And that
rlm@0	722 had to be a very LONG time. A pang of sympathy once again made me
rlm@0	723 aware of how much that woman meant to me... had meant to me once.
rlm@0	724 Filia turned away from us, glancing at the very picture that had
rlm@0	725 Sakura and my attention captured moments ago and her voice was thick
rlm@0	726 with emotion, lacking that certain element of control that had
rlm@0	727 dominated her whole being for the few minutes I knew her. "I could not
rlm@0	728 stand to see all of this happen again because I failed in my task. So
rlm@0	729 many lives were lost to Her back then. The world must never experience
rlm@0	730 this horror again."
rlm@0	731 Sakura and I looked at each other and for the first time I
rlm@0	732 really got a good look at my girlfriend's face and how much the whole
rlm@0	733 thing affected her, how much that stranger affected her. And I also
rlm@0	734 saw the fear there, the fear of things to come. But also the knowledge
rlm@0	735 that this was an inevitable event and that she had to eventually face
rlm@0	736 it. We had to eventually face it. I smiled at her reassuringly,
rlm@0	737 briefly reaching up to brush some hair out of her face. Sakura knew I
rlm@0	738 trusted her but as was the case so often she wasn't sure she was worth
rlm@0	739 that trust. An unspoken understanding passed between us and Sakura
rlm@0	740 slowly nodded.
rlm@0	741 Whatever happened or had happened in the past, it was never
rlm@0	742 going to destroy us. There was simply no turning back now after the
rlm@0	743 events of just a few hours ago. The love that was between us was as
rlm@0	744 vibrant as before and it would not weaken by whatever was to come in
rlm@0	745 the future.
rlm@0	746 Sakura turned back to Filia. "Alright," she said softly. "Then
rlm@0	747 please tell us everything." She paused briefly, then added, "Anything
rlm@0	748 that is needed to know."
rlm@0	749
rlm@0	750 ******************************
rlm@0	751
rlm@0	752 (Filia)
rlm@0	753 I had been ready for that meeting. I had been forewarned by several
rlm@0	754 sources but now that the time was really at hand I felt horribly
rlm@0	755 unprepared, meager and insignificant. Seeing the two girls, even after
rlm@0	756 all this long time still fond in my memory, standing before me again
rlm@0	757 so young and vivid, so... different... I became painfully aware that
rlm@0	758 they were not and probably would never be Lina Inverse and Amelia Wil
rlm@0	759 Tesla Saillune again. My cherished friends and comrades. Their
rlm@0	760 memories would eventually return but their personalities were so
rlm@0	761 different that I could hardly expect them to be the same girls.
rlm@0	762 Glancing at Sakura out of the corner of my eye, I added
rlm@0	763 mournfully that She would definitely never be the same again. It was
rlm@0	764 ironic but in the way there was not much difference to the situation
rlm@0	765 of the past. I would always be a substitute anyway, as harsh as this
rlm@0	766 might sound and as much as their old selves would probably protest. I
rlm@0	767 never really belonged with them. And yet I had hoped and it was that
rlm@0	768 hope that had kept me sane all these years.
rlm@0	769 There was no time for that now. I had time to pity myself later.
rlm@0	770 Silence was getting darker and I really didn't want to risk too much
rlm@0	771 by keeping them here any longer than necessary. But even if they
rlm@0	772 succeeded today, it would just be a small victory and they had to be
rlm@0	773 prepared for the coming war. I desperately hoped that it wouldn't come
rlm@0	774 to that, I prayed every day, but yet I knew that ultimately there
rlm@0	775 would be no way to change the inevitable. Just prolong it until they
rlm@0	776 were ready.
rlm@0	777 Composing myself I nodded at the two girls who were standing
rlm@0	778 rather close together, hand in hand. I hope I could do this well. I
rlm@0	779 was never really good at storytelling and spending most of my time in
rlm@0	780 solitude didn't help that skill any. "Eons ago, in a time long before
rlm@0	781 the current evolution cycle of this planet, the universe was a rather
rlm@0	782 dark place to live in. Life was scarce and lived in constant fear by
rlm@0	783 the various entities and beings of darkness terrorizing the stars
rlm@0	784 everywhere. Nobody knew where she came from, she came literally out of
rlm@0	785 nowhere, wiping out whole civilizations with but a wave of her hand.
rlm@0	786 Or so the stories were told among the stars. She is a being born from
rlm@0	787 the negative side of Chaos. Chaos is what we deem the beginning as
rlm@0	788 much as the end, where we come from and where we will eventually
rlm@0	789 return to. It is neither Good or Evil. She, who was named Pandora, has
rlm@0	790 practically no light in her. She is the embodiment of Darkness. All
rlm@0	791 the negative emotions you can name and even those you can't. Hate,
rlm@0	792 despair, malevolence. The races feared her everywhere."
rlm@0	793 I paused gauging their reaction slowly. I realized that Li...
rlm@0	794 Sakura must have told them from her own experience already and
rlm@0	795 therefore the faces looking back to me were mostly grim but I could
rlm@0	796 see the fear in the young brunette's eyes and I knew where it stemmed
rlm@0	797 from. I knew very well what that monster was capable of, remembered it
rlm@0	798 vividly even after all that time. Every time I went to sleep I saw the
rlm@0	799 lives lost at her hands and the sacrifices made back then, including
rlm@0	800 theirs and my own. Sad enough that what Sakura had witnessed was just
rlm@0	801 a portion of what that being was really capable of.
rlm@0	802 I turned around, gesturing at various of the holographic
rlm@0	803 recordings associated with the last big war. "Then Pandora came to us.
rlm@0	804 Earth was a torn planet back then, populated by many creatures who
rlm@0	805 fought each other for dominance. We were rather ignorant for what was
rlm@0	806 going on in the universe and were really not prepared for the terror
rlm@0	807 Pandora brought upon us..."
rlm@0	808 I moved over to a picture showing a young woman with silver hair
rlm@0	809 bound in two ponytails with a crescent moon on her forehead. Next to
rlm@0	810 her stood a younger girl with a similar hairstyle in blue tones. To
rlm@0	811 the duo's left and right stood three others in their formal warrior
rlm@0	812 uniforms. A blonde with long hair and blue eyes, a dark-haired shorter
rlm@0	813 girl with a menacing-looking glaive and a taller woman with
rlm@0	814 black-green hair and a long staff. From Sakura's reaction I could tell
rlm@0	815 she did recognize the uniforms at least. Not to surprising considering
rlm@0	816 from where she came. They ought to have met.
rlm@0	817 "However, Earth has always had been a nexus of sorts. The
rlm@0	818 mythical energy filling this planet and especially what is known as
rlm@0	819 the Tokyo area in this time has a high concentration of power that
rlm@0	820 attracts all sorts of gifted mages or other magical individuals. There
rlm@0	821 was one girl who had a heart as pure as Pandora's was black though.
rlm@0	822 She managed to unite as well the gifted as much as the God and Demon
rlm@0	823 races of Earth to stand up to Pandora. A war ensured that was long and
rlm@0	824 bloody. It claimed many deaths." I closed my eyes for a brief moment,
rlm@0	825 trying hard to banish the memories rising to the surface. "But
rlm@0	826 eventually we managed to seal the evil being away in a gigantic effort
rlm@0	827 bringing peace to not only the world but the universe as well."
rlm@0	828 I finally arrived at the image that - not surprisingly - held
rlm@0	829 the most attention for the two girls who were now listening intently.
rlm@0	830 "Despite all of our efforts the best we could do was seal her away.
rlm@0	831 She was to powerful to just destroy. The seal consisted of two layers
rlm@0	832 to ensure that Pandora would never break free again and terrorize
rlm@0	833 future generations. Those three woman you see here were the most
rlm@0	834 gifted human mages of our time and they used their powers to bind
rlm@0	835 Pandora into her prison between the dimensions. They literally sealed
rlm@0	836 her with their very life force knowing there was no other way and as a
rlm@0	837 result..." I trailed off, for a moment not able to hold my composure.
rlm@0	838 All those millennia had done nothing for my heart to forget that day.
rlm@0	839 It was still as intensely painful as it was back then.
rlm@0	840 Everyone was silent and Sakura and Tomoyo looked rather
rlm@0	841 uncomfortable, holding each other now more tightly. They were so
rlm@0	842 close. Just like them and in this time there seemed to be no big
rlm@0	843 social complications. I was happy for them. I really was. Even if I
rlm@0	844 had no place in their lives anymore, at least they were happy. I just
rlm@0	845 hoped they would accept Sylphiel when the time came. I could deal with
rlm@0	846 the loneliness, I had done so for thousands of years. She though...
rlm@0	847 "The three became known as Children of the Seal, their power
rlm@0	848 sustaining the barrier that made Pandora's own useless. As you have
rlm@0	849 guessed already you are two of those three brave girls, reborn in this
rlm@0	850 time."
rlm@0	851 At this point Sakura interrupted. "Matte, how can we be their
rlm@0	852 rebirth if they... we are supposed to keep the seal in place? And what
rlm@0	853 about the powers that Clow converted into Cards..."
rlm@0	854 I nodded, the question was to be expected. "The seal consists of
rlm@0	855 two layers. As strong as your previous selves were their power was not
rlm@0	856 unlimited and there were holes in the seal. Tiny but they were. For
rlm@0	857 that reason the warriors of our leader used a portion of their given
rlm@0	858 power and made a second layer. It was supposed to be like a safety
rlm@0	859 net. However, as you said correctly already, when Clow tempered with
rlm@0	860 those powers he disrupted their natural flow. By placing the cards he
rlm@0	861 created back into the seal most of the damage was repaired but the
rlm@0	862 seal wasn't flawless anymore. I can only guess but I suppose that
rlm@0	863 might be the reason why you were reborn and why you have become the
rlm@0	864 new Card Mistress. Because no one else could possibly be able to undo
rlm@0	865 the damage. The sealing power is still active, inside of you. You are
rlm@0	866 not aware of it but your mere presence is sustaining the inner seal."
rlm@0	867 Of course that also meant that they had become less untouchable
rlm@0	868 by Pandora and I had the feeling that Sakura at least understood that
rlm@0	869 as well. Neither of us said a thing though. There was no need to cause
rlm@0	870 even more troubled feelings as it was.
rlm@0	871
rlm@0	872 ******************************
rlm@0	873
rlm@0	874 (Sakura)
rlm@0	875 I found the whole story strangely familiar. As if I really had been
rlm@0	876 there. Well, given that what Filia just told us was the truth - and I
rlm@0	877 could just tell it was - I HAD been there. At least my past self. I
rlm@0	878 wondered if I had dreams about it sometimes that I didn't remember
rlm@0	879 after waking up in the morning. That happened sometimes. As the Card
rlm@0	880 Mistress my dreams usually were vivid and I remembered most of them,
rlm@0	881 as stupid as they might be. I had gotten used to that. Sometimes
rlm@0	882 though I could try as I might but I couldn't remember what I dreamed
rlm@0	883 about, similar to the dream about Clow all those years ago. But with
rlm@0	884 Clow I at least had a feeling that I did dream something important.
rlm@0	885 Yet, at those occasions there was practically no recollection. I used
rlm@0	886 to pay it not much mind, figuring that even a mage needed some normal
rlm@0	887 dreams at times that faded from memory with the morning light. Now
rlm@0	888 though, now I couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of
rlm@0	889 connection.
rlm@0	890 A loud thunderclap suddenly vibrated high from the mountain top
rlm@0	891 and made us all look up. Tomoyo flinched a little and I pulled her
rlm@0	892 closer to my body while observing as the dark, unnatural clouds began
rlm@0	893 to block out even the last light of the night above the little isle. I
rlm@0	894 could SEE the dark power at work, I could SEE the horrible wrongness,
rlm@0	895 yet I couldn't quite detect what exactly was going on. Only that it
rlm@0	896 was really, really bad.
rlm@0	897 I really couldn't just stand around here. Past be damned, I
rlm@0	898 needed to do something!
rlm@0	899 "As I feared," Filia stated and I turned back to her
rlm@0	900 momentarily. "She is trying to corrupt Silence."
rlm@0	901 "Corrupt?" Tomoyo echoed and I narrowed my eyes. I really didn't
rlm@0	902 like the sound of that.
rlm@0	903 "There is nothing you could have done about it," the shrine
rlm@0	904 maiden - or whatever she actually was - said sadly, as if reading my
rlm@0	905 mind. It unnerved me with how much casual skill that woman managed to
rlm@0	906 get past my defenses. There was some sort of strong connection between
rlm@0	907 us in that past life of mine but I had stubbornly pushed it back for
rlm@0	908 the time being. This was not the moment to dwell on those or other
rlm@0	909 such things - I glanced briefly at the picture of the three moment,
rlm@0	910 feeling a pang of longing once again race through me at the vivid
rlm@0	911 portrait of the purple-haired woman...
rlm@0	912 "You must understand that Silence power is a destructive one. It
rlm@0	913 is not Evil - if you want to use the term - just destructive. A power
rlm@0	914 much closer to the Feared One than that of Love. Love has been the
rlm@0	915 total opposite even though not as powerful in terms of strength and as
rlm@0	916 long as the two powers were in harmony there was not much Pandora
rlm@0	917 could do against them." But now Clow's meddling had separated them by
rlm@0	918 creating magical spirits of their essence. They were no longer in
rlm@0	919 direct, steady contact, I understood at that moment. The pieces began
rlm@0	920 to fall into place and that loneliness I saw in Love's eyes was also
rlm@0	921 making sense.
rlm@0	922 "Clow gave the power's form, their spiritual bodies are a mirror
rlm@0	923 reflection of their former wielders and since they have a form now on
rlm@0	924 the Astral Plane She can make use of that. It's a long and tenacious
rlm@0	925 process but She seemed to have managed to lure Silence here. Here
rlm@0	926 where the Warrior's layer originated."
rlm@0	927 Flashes of dark lightning illuminated the sky briefly, an eerie
rlm@0	928 glow of a dark foreboding. "Then I have no time to lose. There's only
rlm@0	929 a few hours left until dawn. Not to mention if Pandora is really
rlm@0	930 trying to break through, I have to do something about it."
rlm@0	931 "And how will you do that?" Filia asked calmly. The question let
rlm@0	932 me stop in half-turn. Yes, what was I going to do about it? Sure, I
rlm@0	933 had managed to capture Time and Love but they had more or less wanted
rlm@0	934 to be caught. A hostile card as powerful as Silence, possibly blinded,
rlm@0	935 corrupted and even empowered by that beast... Could I really just go
rlm@0	936 in there and... and... yes, what? Catch it? I had no idea what that
rlm@0	937 would do with Pandora controlling the card's spirit. I could
rlm@0	938 accidentally even provide her with a means of escape. That would mean
rlm@0	939 cutting off the influence first. But how should I do that? I knew how
rlm@0	940 powerful that being was and even if her influence was just minor it
rlm@0	941 would cost probably all of my powers. And then I would have no power
rlm@0	942 left to restore the seal in time...
rlm@0	943 I glanced sideways at Tomoyo who had gently squeezed my hand. "I
rlm@0	944 am sure Sakura-chan will find a solution." I marveled once again at
rlm@0	945 this infinite belief. The words were said with so much conviction that
rlm@0	946 everyone hearing would immediately lose any doubt if they were the
rlm@0	947 truth. Coming from her there was really no question at all. That
rlm@0	948 unconditional trust and love she gave me had always been my silent
rlm@0	949 strength, the fuel for my determination, her love...
rlm@0	950 Of course!
rlm@0	951 To Tomoyo's complete surprise I suddenly pulled the
rlm@0	952 lavender-haired girl into a brief but nonetheless deep kiss. I didn't
rlm@0	953 really care about the others right now. I felt so incredibly glad that
rlm@0	954 I had this wonderful, inspiring girl at my side that I just had to
rlm@0	955 show her. I really doubted I wouldn't even be standing here at all if
rlm@0	956 not for her constant support and advise. Even when she didn't really
rlm@0	957 mean to give anyway, she had always inspired me.
rlm@0	958 Tomoyo blushed, a little flustered, as I released her. "Arigato,
rlm@0	959 Tomoyo-chan. I think I know now what I have to do."
rlm@0	960 "A-Anytime..." Tomoyo whispered and I couldn't suppress a little
rlm@0	961 smirk at the look on her face.
rlm@0	962 Someone cleared his throat and I turned to look at Syaoran,
rlm@0	963 looking clearly uncomfortable. I felt a little guilty for doing that
rlm@0	964 in his presence but I really didn't care right now. "If you have a
rlm@0	965 plan, then we should get going," he said seriously, his face schooled
rlm@0	966 into concentrated features.
rlm@0	967 I was a little amazed at his silent offer but knew that even if
rlm@0	968 things between us had changed, he still wanted to help in some way.
rlm@0	969 And also, he had made all the way here without even knowing that we
rlm@0	970 would probably meet. I could need the help though. I hoped to get this
rlm@0	971 done as peacefully as possible but there was no guarantee for my
rlm@0	972 sketchy plan to work out flawlessly. They rarely did.
rlm@0	973 I nodded slowly, releasing Tomoyo and turning to the rest.
rlm@0	974 "Alright. Yue you come with me and Syaoran. Kero you stay here with
rlm@0	975 the rest..." I was quick to ward of his protest. "Yue's powers are
rlm@0	976 greater at night. Yes, I could empower you easily but I really don't
rlm@0	977 want to waste more energy than absolutely necessary."
rlm@0	978 The little stuffed animal pouted but after a short period of
rlm@0	979 holding my gaze, he nodded in defeat. "You are probably right. I
rlm@0	980 wouldn't be of much help."
rlm@0	981 I motioned for Yue and Syaoran to follow me but was stopped by a
rlm@0	982 gentle hand on my shoulder. I glanced back at Tomoyo's worried face.
rlm@0	983 "I'll be careful, I promise," I stated with the confidence she herself
rlm@0	984 had given me just a few moments ago.
rlm@0	985 Tomoyo hesitated for a moment, but then spoke up softly. "I... I
rlm@0	986 want to go with you."
rlm@0	987 I blinked startled at the request. This was not like Tomoyo at
rlm@0	988 all. She would normally never be that unreasonable and reckless.
rlm@0	989 Granted, we hadn't come in any dangerous situations since we got
rlm@0	990 together until now but usually she knew better than to needlessly
rlm@0	991 bring herself into danger, thus distracting me from the actual
rlm@0	992 situation. Therefore my first reaction was to be a vehement denial,
rlm@0	993 however, that look in her blue eyes made me stop. There was
rlm@0	994 something... something that made me reconsider. I had the feeling she
rlm@0	995 had no idea why she made that demand just now. Like an instinct one
rlm@0	996 couldn't really explain.
rlm@0	997 I thought back on the events of the last hours. Tomoyo had been
rlm@0	998 there than I had confronted Love. For some reason both of us knew that
rlm@0	999 only together it could be done. Tomoyo had clearly developed some sort
rlm@0	1000 of magical sense. And after Filia's revelations it was rather obvious
rlm@0	1001 that this magic was from her past life. We were in this together. I
rlm@0	1002 really didn't like to put her into danger but... The more I thought
rlm@0	1003 about it, the feeling grew stronger in me that I absolutely needed her
rlm@0	1004 to come with me. If only for her presence, only for her being there
rlm@0	1005 and the confidence she managed to always instill within me...
rlm@0	1006 Closing my eyes briefly, I made a choice.
rlm@0	1007
rlm@0	1008 ******************************
rlm@0	1009
rlm@0	1010 (Tomoyo)
rlm@0	1011 Grasping tightly onto Sakura this time it had not much to do with
rlm@0	1012 seeking closeness since I was much more concerned with holding on for
rlm@0	1013 dear life. This really was a stupid idea, I mused for the thousandth
rlm@0	1014 time. Not that Sakura actually agreeing with me was a much better
rlm@0	1015 idea, I added. I had really not been sure why I insisted to tag along
rlm@0	1016 with Sakura and Syaoran - who was right now carried by Yue. No, I
rlm@0	1017 absolutely could not explain what had overcome me. Normally I knew
rlm@0	1018 that all that would achieve was me turning out to be liability in the
rlm@0	1019 end, getting Sakura into trouble for my sake. Yet, something made me
rlm@0	1020 speak up. There was this indefinable, STRONG urge telling me that I
rlm@0	1021 had to be there.
rlm@0	1022 Somehow Sakura had understood it, probably better than I did.
rlm@0	1023 And Filia had even agreed, saying that only our power together could
rlm@0	1024 have a chance to stand up to an influenced Silence. Heck, I had NO
rlm@0	1025 idea what the hell I could even DO!
rlm@0	1026 No, this definitely wasn't a good idea. The wind was more than
rlm@0	1027 just a hassle. It had risen to the strength and speed of a tornado,
rlm@0	1028 whipping through our hair and entirely unfitting clothes. Out in the
rlm@0	1029 summer we had not expected to fly through a chilling storm in the
rlm@0	1030 middle of the night. At least I had not.
rlm@0	1031 Sakura was struggling to hold the wand steady. She had cast Fly
rlm@0	1032 on her staff as she had done before transforming the cards. This both
rlm@0	1033 for my sake as for her own. The strain of flying up to the mountain in
rlm@0	1034 this wind - even without my added ballast - would have been great
rlm@0	1035 enough. That didn't make the task easier now though. Yue was having a
rlm@0	1036 hard time moving as well.
rlm@0	1037 "We are not getting any further," I cried over the thunderous
rlm@0	1038 wind. A few lightning bolts flashed left and right, much too close for
rlm@0	1039 my taste. "Either we'll be ripped apart before we are up or it will at
rlm@0	1040 least take us hours!"
rlm@0	1041 I wasn't sure if Sakura heard me but she had obviously come to
rlm@0	1042 the same conclusion. One of the cards appeared in her hands and she
rlm@0	1043 held it up into the air. "Windy, clear a path through the storm for
rlm@0	1044 us!" I wasn't really certain if that would work but not one to doubt
rlm@0	1045 Sakura's abilities I snuggled even tighter against her as the storm
rlm@0	1046 for a moment seemed to reach another new height but then the strong
rlm@0	1047 winds were magically pressed back, creating a calm zone around us and
rlm@0	1048 Yue who had barely managed to close the distance before Windy's magic
rlm@0	1049 took effect.
rlm@0	1050 Losing not a single second Sakura pulled the winged wand almost
rlm@0	1051 completely vertical. I let out a startled yelp as she flew us upwards
rlm@0	1052 inside the calm zone at blinding speed. I would love to see what
rlm@0	1053 happened around us but I had my eyes closed and was really glad that
rlm@0	1054 moment that Sakura had insisted to sit behind me. I'd probably have
rlm@0	1055 fallen of right now.
rlm@0	1056 After what seemed a small eternity we slowed down again and as I
rlm@0	1057 reopened my eyes I realized that Sakura's reckless maneuver had
rlm@0	1058 brought us straight up to the summit, just a little bit away from the
rlm@0	1059 center and where Silence... raged. Touching down on the peak Sakura
rlm@0	1060 banished Fly while Syaoran jumped from Yue's arms - who in turn took a
rlm@0	1061 moment to regain his breathing from the flight. "That was fun,"
rlm@0	1062 Syaoran commented dryly. "Now what?"
rlm@0	1063 Sakura glanced up towards Silence. It was really a frightening
rlm@0	1064 sight. All that one could see right now was a deep purple glow. Not
rlm@0	1065 bright but dark, at some points even fading into obsidian black. I
rlm@0	1066 squinted my eyes, trying to see a bit clearer, trying to make out
rlm@0	1067 anything of importance. The funny thing was I did see something. Once
rlm@0	1068 again I couldn't really explain how I knew but I did. "It's hurting.
rlm@0	1069 Hurting badly," I said, the feeling barely bearable. There was so much
rlm@0	1070 pain, so much... agony.
rlm@0	1071 Both Sakura and Syaoran looked at me as if I had seen something
rlm@0	1072 they couldn't. Then it hit me. They really couldn't. Not like me.
rlm@0	1073 Filia had told us just before we went up that my past life had not
rlm@0	1074 only been a good healer but also had developed a gift to see things on
rlm@0	1075 the astral plane when she grew older. Quite frankly I had no idea what
rlm@0	1076 she was talking about but there hadn't been much time.
rlm@0	1077 "Can you see where exactly something is... wrong," Sakura asked
rlm@0	1078 tentatively.
rlm@0	1079 I tried to concentrate hard. The necklace around my neck that
rlm@0	1080 Filia had given me glowed softly. It was hard to hold the
rlm@0	1081 concentration though and there was so much different things to see.
rlm@0	1082 Silence had such a huge presence and the energy released all around it
rlm@0	1083 didn't help at all. After a few moments I sighed and shook my head
rlm@0	1084 sadly, feeling drained by the effort. "No. I can see that something is
rlm@0	1085 wrapped around her... spirit. Something that doesn't belong there."
rlm@0	1086 "That would be Pandora then," Syaoran said. "So the woman was
rlm@0	1087 right. She actually managed to push this far forward." He looked at
rlm@0	1088 Sakura. "I guess you want to severe the connection somehow?"
rlm@0	1089 The Card Mistress nodded, her brown hair now blowing roughly in
rlm@0	1090 the strong winds. "I'm not sure I can do it forcefully. But Silence
rlm@0	1091 should be able to do it herself." At both of our confused expressions
rlm@0	1092 she pulled out a card. It was Love. "You reminded me of it,
rlm@0	1093 Tomoyo-chan. Love said that they are mates since their former wielders
rlm@0	1094 were. I'm sure if something can calm Silence down to a degree where
rlm@0	1095 she can fight back, it would be Love. THEN we should have a chance."
rlm@0	1096 Syaoran chuckled a little. "In a situation like this your trump
rlm@0	1097 card is the surreal love of two magical spirits?" With a smirk, he
rlm@0	1098 finished, "That's so like you." Squaring his shoulders he was about
rlm@0	1099 ready to move on. "Well then, I suppose you need a distraction to get
rlm@0	1100 close enough. Coming, Yue-san?"
rlm@0	1101 The silver-haired man nodded stoically, having kept silent while
rlm@0	1102 we discussed the plan of action. I bet he had some comments of his own
rlm@0	1103 but held them to himself obviously. I doubted he had a better idea
rlm@0	1104 anyway. Sakura's made sense though and from what I could see Silence
rlm@0	1105 was just as lonely as Love. They just dealt with it differently, much
rlm@0	1106 differently.
rlm@0	1107 I cried out as suddenly a rumble shook the entire mountain. My
rlm@0	1108 eyes barely registered that a gigantic bolt of black lightning had
rlm@0	1109 crashed through several layers of stone, nearly splitting the small
rlm@0	1110 mountain apart. Instinctively I reached out for Sakura's hand but with
rlm@0	1111 horror realized that the storm blow had not only affected me. All four
rlm@0	1112 of us were slammed back by the incredible force that definitely was
rlm@0	1113 not just that of a natural element. Obviously Silence didn't like
rlm@0	1114 company.
rlm@0	1115 The whole thing happened far too quickly. Bah, time slowing down
rlm@0	1116 in moments like this! It was rather the opposite. One moment we were
rlm@0	1117 standing atop the mountain, the next we were slammed over the side,
rlm@0	1118 surely tumbling to our deaths...
rlm@0	1119 And yet again the next moment, everything was over and I found
rlm@0	1120 myself held by something that felt like some animal's skin. I blinked,
rlm@0	1121 the shock from what nearly happened just setting in as I sat up
rlm@0	1122 slowly. Well, animal would probably really understate things. The
rlm@0	1123 creature that I was currently riding was of a deep golden color with
rlm@0	1124 massive wings. While I had never seen one - in this life at least -
rlm@0	1125 there was no mistaking it that the creature was a full-fledged,
rlm@0	1126 golden-colored dragon. A big, strong, impressive dragon...
rlm@0	1127 "Are you alright," the dragon rumbled in a voice while a little
rlm@0	1128 different in volume and tone was rather easy to identify.
rlm@0	1129 "F-Filia-san?" I gasped, still numb with shock from the near
rlm@0	1130 death experience.
rlm@0	1131 The dragon chuckled... well, at least it sounded like a chuckle.
rlm@0	1132 Probably a snort but I really didn't care about details right now. "I
rlm@0	1133 thought you could need some help." The wind once again picked up,
rlm@0	1134 nearly blowing me from the human-turned-dragon's back again. I buried
rlm@0	1135 my fingers tightly into the back of the creature who had obvious
rlm@0	1136 troubles to maintain her balance in the turbulent winds.
rlm@0	1137 Glancing to the side I saw Sakura hovering next to us - Fly's
rlm@0	1138 wings on her back this time - faring not much better. Yue, holding
rlm@0	1139 Syaoran were on the other side. Sakura shot me a truly worried look
rlm@0	1140 and I could see the still visible panic that must have filled her when
rlm@0	1141 we were flung from the mountain.
rlm@0	1142 "Look!" Yue cried out over the crescendo of the storm and we all
rlm@0	1143 did as he said. The strong pressure had obviously forced all flying
rlm@0	1144 parties to keep a strict distance. We were rather far away from the
rlm@0	1145 island now but even from here one could see that the storm had become
rlm@0	1146 almost one giant twister, laced with purple lightning and as black as
rlm@0	1147 the darkest night. The sight sent shivers down my spine and I felt
rlm@0	1148 numb with a sudden cold. It was like the icy breath of death.
rlm@0	1149
rlm@0	1150 ******************************
rlm@0	1151
rlm@0	1152 (Sakura)
rlm@0	1153 The shockwave of power was even stronger than the one that had blown
rlm@0	1154 us from the mountain top. Yet, it wasn't really a forceful, brute
rlm@0	1155 power. No, this one came subtly, silent like a whisper in the wind and
rlm@0	1156 still with a force as strong as all of my cards combined, probably
rlm@0	1157 stronger. That enormous presence was Silence but it was also much
rlm@0	1158 more. I felt it even from here and the fear rising in my heart, I
rlm@0	1159 could not suppress. I had tried to deny it but there was no mistaking
rlm@0	1160 it now. That terror-inflicting presence could only belong to one being
rlm@0	1161 in existence.
rlm@0	1162 The whole island was enveloped in a cocoon of pitch blackness,
rlm@0	1163 only occasional lighted by the eerie lightning and a barely visible
rlm@0	1164 glow of energy that I suspected belonged to Silence. Right now the
rlm@0	1165 high concentration of magic was just that. A concentration. But if it
rlm@0	1166 was released...
rlm@0	1167 "With that much power, the whole planet is going to burst if it
rlm@0	1168 erupts unhindered!" Yue shouted. I wished I could disagree but frankly
rlm@0	1169 that were my thoughts exactly. Suddenly I remembered something vital
rlm@0	1170 and for a moment I felt terrible ill. Stretching out my senses I tried
rlm@0	1171 to locate the familiar auras in the black tornado but couldn't find
rlm@0	1172 anything. Then there was a faint echo, a little outside the danger
rlm@0	1173 zone. I glanced down to see a small spot that had to be our ship
rlm@0	1174 racing away from the isle.
rlm@0	1175 "I had a feeling something big would happen and brought them
rlm@0	1176 back to your boat," the dragon rumbled. There was no mistaking it by
rlm@0	1177 now that it was really Filia. It didn't surprise me very much. From
rlm@0	1178 the beginning I had sensed something supernatural in her. No human
rlm@0	1179 being should be able to hide their aura so well. And the dragon part
rlm@0	1180 was familiar, probably glimpses of my past life again. I really didn't
rlm@0	1181 know what to make of all of this. For the moment I was just glad that
rlm@0	1182 she had saved Tomoyo when I hadn't been able to. Those were long,
rlm@0	1183 horrible moments for me. I felt so damn helpless, barely able to stop
rlm@0	1184 my own fall. If it hadn't been for her...
rlm@0	1185 "This is not good. I don't think any of us can break through
rlm@0	1186 there," Filia stated darkly and I had to once again agree. Fly's power
rlm@0	1187 was barely able to hold me anymore and Filia's wings looked not that
rlm@0	1188 good either, Yue wasn't better off. Not to mention that the sheer
rlm@0	1189 power Silence was emitting was as good as any barrier.
rlm@0	1190 Before I could respond there was a glow in front of me and
rlm@0	1191 Love's sprite form appeared in the air before us. "Silence..." she
rlm@0	1192 whispered hoarsely. One could hear her voice breaking with pain at the
rlm@0	1193 sight. I didn't even dare to try and understand how she felt. That
rlm@0	1194 would mean I had to picture Tomoyo in a similar state, controlled and
rlm@0	1195 corrupted by Her. Thinking of the thought alone was sickening. And
rlm@0	1196 even more so I was amazed when Love seemed to practically glow with
rlm@0	1197 confidence, staring ahead into the darkness with sheer determination.
rlm@0	1198 I would do the same, of course. In her place I would do everything to
rlm@0	1199 save the one I loved. I had experienced the consequences of
rlm@0	1200 helplessness before and I'd swore myself never to let this happen
rlm@0	1201 again.
rlm@0	1202 And that left me with only one path to follow now.
rlm@0	1203 "Can you break through there and take me inside? There is still
rlm@0	1204 a faint presence left. If we act quickly, we might be able to severe
rlm@0	1205 the connection. But I have to get inside first," I said, gripping my
rlm@0	1206 staff in a tight grip. I ignored the shouts of the others that t was
rlm@0	1207 too dangerous. There was no other solution to this. Truth be told, in
rlm@0	1208 the face of such gigantic power I felt small and useless. But rather
rlm@0	1209 would I die trying before waiting for destruction once again.
rlm@0	1210 Love was quiet for a few seconds, then she turned and fixed me
rlm@0	1211 with a stern gaze. "No, Mistress. I cannot take you alone. Pandora's
rlm@0	1212 influence over my mate has grown too strong already for me to
rlm@0	1213 withstand alone. I need someone else's strong love to support my own.
rlm@0	1214 Together there may be a chance to pass through unharmed."
rlm@0	1215 I gasped as realization set it. The way Love said it, there was
rlm@0	1216 no question who exactly she was referring to. "You mean..." I started,
rlm@0	1217 turning fearful eyes in Tomoyo's direction. There was no way I could
rlm@0	1218 jeopardize her life even further than I had already. I should have
rlm@0	1219 left her with the others in the first place. Because of me she almost
rlm@0	1220 died once already. This was my mess, my battle. I couldn't put her in
rlm@0	1221 danger because I wasn't strong enough alone...
rlm@0	1222 Tomoyo blinked, puzzled for a few seconds before comprehension
rlm@0	1223 dawned in her eyes. I was wondering at first if I really saw the flash
rlm@0	1224 of panic, just for a moment, but even if, it was gone almost
rlm@0	1225 immediately, replaced by an almost solemn expression. Guessing from
rlm@0	1226 her usual selfless behavior, I could guess already what she wanted to
rlm@0	1227 say. "Tomo-chan, don't..." I flew closer to her until I could reach
rlm@0	1228 out and touch her face, my eyes gazing into hers. "I can't put you in
rlm@0	1229 danger like this. Please... I..." Words pretty much failed me at this
rlm@0	1230 point and the grip I maintained on her shoulders must have become
rlm@0	1231 painful. There was that scene again, flashing before my mind's eye.
rlm@0	1232 Tomoyo, in my arms, dying...
rlm@0	1233 Gently, pale hands reached up to take my own into them, making
rlm@0	1234 me glance down for a moment before hesitantly meeting her eyes again.
rlm@0	1235 "This is not your future, Sakura-chan. You have been given another
rlm@0	1236 chance to make it better. Believe in that, believe in yourself, just
rlm@0	1237 like I do."
rlm@0	1238 I was paralyzed in amazement. I had witnessed it so many times.
rlm@0	1239 But now, in this situation Tomoyo's true strength shone so bright it
rlm@0	1240 could light the zone of darkness. Immediately a warm, soothing
rlm@0	1241 sensation spread through my whole self and I welcomed it openly.
rlm@0	1242 "Aren't you scared?" I was scared. Just a moment ago, I was so scared
rlm@0	1243 I rather wanted to turn and fly the other way than facing this
rlm@0	1244 nightmare... again. Now it was only a dull sensation. A bearable
rlm@0	1245 background feeling. Because of her.
rlm@0	1246 "Of course I am," Tomoyo said gently. "But I know everything
rlm@0	1247 will be alright." I was pulled forward suddenly but didn't resist when
rlm@0	1248 Tomoyo pulled me into a brief hug. "Because I believe in you."
rlm@0	1249 I was defeated. I had known the moment that Tomoyo looked at me
rlm@0	1250 that I wasn't able to win this argument. When her arms went around me,
rlm@0	1251 with so much trust and love, I gently flapped my wings and lifted her
rlm@0	1252 from the dragon's back. "Only with you I can be strong," I said,
rlm@0	1253 realizing once again how true those words were. How much confidence
rlm@0	1254 the knowledge of their truth brightened my soul.
rlm@0	1255 There wasn't a further word said but it wasn't necessary. The
rlm@0	1256 orb of light surrounding us, making maintaining Fly unnecessary, was
rlm@0	1257 of a bright golden radiance. I could feel the purity and the love, our
rlm@0	1258 own feelings mingling with the magical force created by the card. It
rlm@0	1259 was magnificent and much stronger than what it felt like before.
rlm@0	1260 Hand's clasped tightly, we turned around and with a slight nod
rlm@0	1261 Love shot forward right into the darkness ahead.
rlm@0	1262
rlm@0	1263 ******************************
rlm@0	1264
rlm@0	1265 (Tomoyo)
rlm@0	1266 A void of total blackness. Not a light fell anywhere, not even a
rlm@0	1267 glimmer. If not for the illuminating shine of Love's protective
rlm@0	1268 barrier it would be impossible to see one's own hand. And the void was
rlm@0	1269 not only pitch black but also cold, so cold that it would probably be
rlm@0	1270 warm at the North Pole. Not so much a temperature-induced coldness but
rlm@0	1271 one that threatened to freeze your very soul. An icy breath of
rlm@0	1272 foreboding, of promised annihilation. And not even a sound penetrated
rlm@0	1273 the thick veil of darkness, causing even the simple of action of
rlm@0	1274 breathing to sound like tiny sonic booms in the deathly quiet.
rlm@0	1275 When I said that I was scared, I had meant it. But now, now I
rlm@0	1276 felt actual fear. This place was... No, there wasn't a word to aptly
rlm@0	1277 describe it. However, everything in me shied away from the
rlm@0	1278 incomprehensible... evil filling the very air - if there was even air
rlm@0	1279 outside the bubble. Something in me told me that it wasn't supposed to
rlm@0	1280 be evil. That Silence alone wasn't evil. Filia had pointed this out.
rlm@0	1281 Which only meant that Pandora's control had to be more or less
rlm@0	1282 ultimate inside this zone already. If not for Sakura's presence and
rlm@0	1283 the tight contact we kept, I wasn't sure if even Love's powers could
rlm@0	1284 have kept me from running away.
rlm@0	1285 I felt Sakura tighten her grip to an almost painful level and
rlm@0	1286 saw her face contorted in deep concentration. "I can barely bear it.
rlm@0	1287 All that hate, fear, terror... it's... it's like the dead are being
rlm@0	1288 tortured." A shiver run through the other girl and I realized that I
rlm@0	1289 wasn't much better off. Sakura's comparison might be a little crude
rlm@0	1290 but that was just how I felt right now.
rlm@0	1291 "Unfortunately, that is the case," we could hear Love reply
rlm@0	1292 softly. At her words I glanced around and almost jumped at the shock.
rlm@0	1293 I could see them. Tiny wisp-like forms. Suspended in the space around
rlm@0	1294 us, bound by tendrils of the darkness, they were the only thing that
rlm@0	1295 indicated that there was indeed color around us and not just void.
rlm@0	1296 Looking at one closely I could SEE their torment, I could see the
rlm@0	1297 utter agony tearing them apart inside out but yet never ending their
rlm@0	1298 peril. It was sickening and I wanted to scream but my voice had been
rlm@0	1299 caught in my throat. For a moment I felt a glimpse of what they were
rlm@0	1300 going through and... and...
rlm@0	1301 "Don't look!" I felt myself being turned away from the sight at
rlm@0	1302 Love's sharp warning, Sakura pulling my face against her body and I
rlm@0	1303 was instantly grateful for that. I had been frozen in place, alone I
rlm@0	1304 might have been caught in the moment forever. Desperately I tried to
rlm@0	1305 regain my composure but couldn't help a few tears slipping out,
rlm@0	1306 drenching Sakura's clothes as the horrible realization set in what
rlm@0	1307 exactly I had seen.
rlm@0	1308 Only gradually I managed to quell the terror in my soul, still
rlm@0	1309 weeping for the fate of those around me. Sakura was rocking me gently
rlm@0	1310 and it helped somewhat to calm my nerves, I could draw strength from
rlm@0	1311 her presence. It was a hard fight for control though. "It's... it's so
rlm@0	1312 horrible..." I breathed, clutching tightly at Sakura for fear of being
rlm@0	1313 left alone in here.
rlm@0	1314 "I am sorry," Love said, sounding guilty. "I had not expected
rlm@0	1315 that the Feared One had such control over my mate already. Even with
rlm@0	1316 my power I can only dim the experience."
rlm@0	1317 "What happened just there? I can feel so much terror all around
rlm@0	1318 us, What did Tomoyo see?" Sakura asked, worry clearly evident in her
rlm@0	1319 voice. I would have answered but I was unable to voice the horror I
rlm@0	1320 had unintentionally witnessed.
rlm@0	1321 "Lost souls," Love replied solemnly, her voice telling of her
rlm@0	1322 own sadness. "The Feared One feasts on them. It has always been her
rlm@0	1323 greatest pleasure to convert the souls of living beings, strip of all
rlm@0	1324 their positive feelings and only leaving the darkness that every life
rlm@0	1325 form possesses as pure as they might be. They are left alone, in a
rlm@0	1326 state of utter torment, forced to spent eternity with their own
rlm@0	1327 terror. It is worse than Hell." Love was silent for a moment as Sakura
rlm@0	1328 hugged me even tighter. I could feel her trying to pour her own love
rlm@0	1329 into me but she was struggling as well, now that the evil presence
rlm@0	1330 around us had a name. "Tomoyo's abilities to see the Astral Plane must
rlm@0	1331 be returning slowly when she can actually see them. But believe me,
rlm@0	1332 seeing it might be very traumatic, actually experiencing it though..."
rlm@0	1333 Love trailed off and I could hear something that sounded like a gasp,
rlm@0	1334 followed by a deep wail that threatened to wrench my heart right out
rlm@0	1335 of my chest.
rlm@0	1336 Startled I turned around to glance at what had inspired such
rlm@0	1337 terror in the gentle card spirit and SAW. I damned that ability
rlm@0	1338 already. I saw Silence up ahead, glowing a very faint purple, almost
rlm@0	1339 consumed already by the thick chains of darkness covering more or less
rlm@0	1340 every inch of her spiritual body. It was like with the souls I had
rlm@0	1341 seen but on a much larger scale. I had to fight myself not to look
rlm@0	1342 further, knowing that I surely would become lost in the process. While
rlm@0	1343 the tormenters of the souls had merely been mindless, a part of
rlm@0	1344 something bigger, this... this... thing was the epitome of terror, the
rlm@0	1345 very incarnation of horror. At this moment I really understood why
rlm@0	1346 everyone feared it so much. My understanding of those latent abilities
rlm@0	1347 was small, most based upon instinct, but what I could see was enough
rlm@0	1348 to scare a god, that much I was sure of.
rlm@0	1349 "Phoebe!" Love cried out in terror and I could really not blame
rlm@0	1350 her. I didn't pay that much attention to the name but instead was
rlm@0	1351 focused on what to my eyes was best described as something like a
rlm@0	1352 black hole. Always devouring everything around it. I knew somehow that
rlm@0	1353 in reality - or better on the physical plane - where was not much to
rlm@0	1354 be seen. That being wasn't present in this world, it wasn't tangible.
rlm@0	1355 The only body ir had was that of the Card's spirit and to say those
rlm@0	1356 had actually physical bodies would be stretching the term. Sakura had
rlm@0	1357 once explained that she didn't really know the border between what was
rlm@0	1358 physically and what spiritual about the cards. They could interact
rlm@0	1359 with their environment but their sprite form was the only thing that
rlm@0	1360 really gave them some sort of solid shape on this plane.
rlm@0	1361 That being, Pandora, was so huge that Silence's sprite - which I
rlm@0	1362 could dimly see slowly drowning in the ocean of darkness - was not
rlm@0	1363 more than an insect in comparison. And it was unrelenting, holding the
rlm@0	1364 card's spirit mercilessly, not giving it even an inch to move.
rlm@0	1365 At the shout though I could see just a little quiver, rebelling
rlm@0	1366 briefly against the tainted presence. The being simply tightened its
rlm@0	1367 hold and I could literally feel the pain resulting from that action.
rlm@0	1368 With a lot effort I tore my gaze away slightly, trying to divert my
rlm@0	1369 focus.
rlm@0	1370 "Foolish humans. Did you think you could stop my release?" The
rlm@0	1371 voice echoed all around us. It wasn't at all what I expected. I had
rlm@0	1372 thought it would be something more... sinister. Not that quiet,
rlm@0	1373 controlled voice that was neither soft, nor loud. For all I knew it
rlm@0	1374 was... normal. Controlled to a degree as if this was just a normal
rlm@0	1375 conversation and not bragging about the coming freedom and how she
rlm@0	1376 would be destroying everything or something like that. I felt Sakura
rlm@0	1377 clasp my hand tightly but it seemed she wasn't really surprised which
rlm@0	1378 had to mean that this seemed to be a normal thing for that feared
rlm@0	1379 entity.
rlm@0	1380 "What did you do to her?" demanded Love vehemently, the glow
rlm@0	1381 around us intensifying to nearly blinding levels.
rlm@0	1382 There was a pause and then Pandora's voice came again, almost as
rlm@0	1383 if not paying the question any mind at all. "I owe that whelp a lot.
rlm@0	1384 Before his meddling you were just energies, perfect power flowing
rlm@0	1385 steadily. He gave you a spirit, feelings of your own. Just mirror
rlm@0	1386 images of your former owners' but that was enough already. You became
rlm@0	1387 independent in a way, be it even so small. I had spent so long in
rlm@0	1388 slumber I could wait the few more centuries it would take to work my
rlm@0	1389 way into this one's mind. With Silence's power I can finally burst the
rlm@0	1390 seal. You cannot change that anymore. Your efforts will all be in
rlm@0	1391 vain. Your mate is already mine, and the rest of you will follow
rlm@0	1392 soon."
rlm@0	1393 No, that wasn't true. I risked another glance at Silence and saw
rlm@0	1394 her struggling weakly. Obviously Love's presence seemed to get through
rlm@0	1395 to her despite the powerful control. "Don't listen to her," I shouted,
rlm@0	1396 "Silence is still there. She can sense you!" An idea had hatched in my
rlm@0	1397 mind and while it was more like a piece of straw in a raging river I
rlm@0	1398 grasped onto it. Sakura had put her faith into this in the first place
rlm@0	1399 and from what I saw thee still was a possibility that it might work. I
rlm@0	1400 looked up at Sakura, our eyes met while I grabbed her other hand
rlm@0	1401 tightly. Concentrating on the love in my heart for the beautiful girl
rlm@0	1402 I let it flow out. I didn't hold back and let it fill me, my whole
rlm@0	1403 self vibrating from the intensity. Only a moment later Sakura followed
rlm@0	1404 suit and I could feel our hearts beating in synchrony. The glow of
rlm@0	1405 magic erupted into a shade too bright to look at. Closing my eyes, I
rlm@0	1406 held firm onto the feelings inside me, hoping that it would be enough
rlm@0	1407 for Love to reach her mate.
rlm@0	1408
rlm@0	1409 ******************************
rlm@0	1410
rlm@0	1411 (Sakura)
rlm@0	1412 The experience was one of the most surreal I ever had... and really...
rlm@0	1413 those were a lot. Sensing what Tomoyo was trying to do, I quickly
rlm@0	1414 joined her efforts and being more experienced, took all that love
rlm@0	1415 created at this very moment and channeled it directly into Love's own
rlm@0	1416 protective sphere. The star key in my hand glowed softly, the effort
rlm@0	1417 not really all that noteworthy since all it had to do was focus
rlm@0	1418 energy.
rlm@0	1419 I thought back on all of the time spent with Tomoyo, both in my
rlm@0	1420 old timeline as her best friend and now in this in something much
rlm@0	1421 more. How much the feelings between us had blossomed beyond my
rlm@0	1422 furthest imagination after my choice. I felt my spirit slipping away
rlm@0	1423 into a sea of brilliant gold. It wasn't suffocating, no. Instead it
rlm@0	1424 was comforting, an embrace of absolute happiness. This was a plane
rlm@0	1425 where the physical self didn't really exist anymore and all the soul
rlm@0	1426 and spirit felt was pure love.
rlm@0	1427 Only about a decade of training enabled me to hear the voices,
rlm@0	1428 the desperate pleading and the silent war for control going on.
rlm@0	1429 "Phoebe!" Love called out to Silence. I figured since they were
rlm@0	1430 mirror images of the ones who released their power in the first place,
rlm@0	1431 the name was probably that of the assorted Senshi. It was at least a
rlm@0	1432 logical explanation and I had more important matters to think about
rlm@0	1433 than that.
rlm@0	1434 "Is that you, my love..." The reply was faint and with the thin
rlm@0	1435 concentration I managed in this plane while my main focus was still on
rlm@0	1436 focusing and channeling our feelings into Love I was for a moment not
rlm@0	1437 sure if I really heard it. But then it came again, a bit stronger,
rlm@0	1438 desperate now. "I thought you were... She said she took you from
rlm@0	1439 me..."
rlm@0	1440 "I am here," Love quickly reassured. "Pandora tricked us. She
rlm@0	1441 used our brief separation to claim your spirit. You have to fight
rlm@0	1442 back."
rlm@0	1443 "I can't..." There was a flare of helpless fury, a spark of
rlm@0	1444 power that was more senseless defiance than any real threat to the
rlm@0	1445 control of the dark being. "She's too strong. I can't fight back...
rlm@0	1446 not without you..."
rlm@0	1447 There was a brief pause and then I felt Tomoyo's feelings
rlm@0	1448 change, concentrating on another aspect of our relationship and I
rlm@0	1449 welcomed it thankfully. Those feelings of trust and sincere faith I
rlm@0	1450 had discovered to be my greatest strength, something that had been
rlm@0	1451 shown in the last few hours many times again. Feeling my own
rlm@0	1452 confidence rise, I relayed it all to Love, knowing that a Clow Card
rlm@0	1453 could increase its strength then the wielder increased their will.
rlm@0	1454 "I know you can do it. I trust it," Love said, picking up on the
rlm@0	1455 delivered feeling. A ripple went through the darkness outside the
rlm@0	1456 protective bubble. I could nearly see Love's power filling the zone
rlm@0	1457 almost completely. I could sense Silence mobilizing enormous powers,
rlm@0	1458 pushing back the control over her spirit, slowly but steadily. I
rlm@0	1459 redoubled my efforts and Tomoyo responded in kind. It was working it
rlm@0	1460 was really working. Pandora was struggling with the only control she
rlm@0	1461 had of the physical plane as of now. I knew that logically beating her
rlm@0	1462 that easily was impossible. However, what we had her was just an
rlm@0	1463 extension of her true self. A part of her spirit. There wasn't much
rlm@0	1464 more the seal allowed... yet. That had been my only real hope in that
rlm@0	1465 matter, that maybe she wouldn't be strong enough to withstand a
rlm@0	1466 focused assault in this state and would be forced to retreat.
rlm@0	1467 And then everything shattered. I was amazed at myself that I had
rlm@0	1468 even the time to push Tomoyo away when the bolt of darkness crashed
rlm@0	1469 right through Love's bubble with a destructive force that could have
rlm@0	1470 easily shattered the planet if we still were fully on the earthly
rlm@0	1471 plane.
rlm@0	1472 And where before had been absolute love, the embrace of safety
rlm@0	1473 and utter calm, like a mother's womb, where before in the state we
rlm@0	1474 entered was only a bit of discomfort at our surroundings and what were
rlm@0	1475 the echoes of the lost souls all around us, all that had transferred
rlm@0	1476 into the total opposite now, amplified several times and then doubled
rlm@0	1477 again. When the pitch blackness touched me I could feel all the terror
rlm@0	1478 this plane emitted and now I really fully understood what Tomoyo must
rlm@0	1479 have seen when she had looked at one of the tormented souls. The
rlm@0	1480 experience was only of a mere moment but I felt such fear in the
rlm@0	1481 presence of such... sickening... WRONGNESS that I would have been glad
rlm@0	1482 if someone just ran me through with a sword, ending the horror.
rlm@0	1483 "TIME!" I cried out, not able to give any more clear orders or
rlm@0	1484 form equally coherent thoughts. Thankfully enough Time might be a
rlm@0	1485 mysterious card that rarely told me anything and if, then often in
rlm@0	1486 rather mysterious terms, but she was also the most intelligent card I
rlm@0	1487 had ever come across. I still didn't know what her role in all this
rlm@0	1488 was and firmly believed that there was a lot more to her when she let
rlm@0	1489 on. As it was Time did exactly what was necessary.
rlm@0	1490 I sank to my knees and hands when I felt the protective bubble
rlm@0	1491 of temporal energy flicker into existence. I could hear the quiet
rlm@0	1492 whimpers from Tomoyo and wanted to do nothing more than to comfort my
rlm@0	1493 girlfriend. Yet, I was still much to paralyzed from that brief - but
rlm@0	1494 still much too long - ordeal. Frantically I reached out, trying to
rlm@0	1495 locate Love's presence. I had felt the bond ripped apart and feared
rlm@0	1496 for the worst. If Love was... destroyed - and I really had no idea if
rlm@0	1497 that was even possible - then the seal would be void. Relived I noted
rlm@0	1498 that there was a faint glimmer, signaling that Love was still there
rlm@0	1499 and as I raised my head I saw that it wasn't going to be any longer at
rlm@0	1500 this point.
rlm@0	1501 The sprite form of Love drifted almost lifelessly towards the
rlm@0	1502 darkened form of her companion, an easy target for Pandora to capture.
rlm@0	1503 Soon they were united again but probably in a way both would have
rlm@0	1504 liked to avoid. Silence's power had risen to a cold flare of anger but
rlm@0	1505 without Love's support it lacked conviction. The card was struggling,
rlm@0	1506 unrestrained fury pulsating around her. But the will to fight back had
rlm@0	1507 been broken the moment Love's power had been.
rlm@0	1508 "You thought you could push me back this easily. In here where
rlm@0	1509 there is chaos. Chaos fueled by everything you term negative. Every
rlm@0	1510 positive emotion is as weak as a candle in the wind. This plane is my
rlm@0	1511 creation and as long as I have Silence as my anchor where is nothing
rlm@0	1512 that can make me return to my prison."
rlm@0	1513 Was that it? Was that the end?
rlm@0	1514 Love had been my last hope. I had really BELIEVED that it would
rlm@0	1515 work. That was so unfair. I had been so close. If I had gotten to
rlm@0	1516 Silence a bit earlier, I could have repaired the seal and ended that
rlm@0	1517 nightmare once and for all. I knew I could do it. With Tomoyo's love
rlm@0	1518 and support behind me I could accomplish everything. It might have
rlm@0	1519 taken all my power but compared to fighting Pandora, repairing the
rlm@0	1520 seal seemed like mere child's play. What I could I do against
rlm@0	1521 something like this? Even that small part of her was so vastly
rlm@0	1522 powerful that fear was paralyzing my body. All the magic at my
rlm@0	1523 disposal meant nothing. What good did it do to be stronger than Clow
rlm@0	1524 when I couldn't even protect the few people I loved dearly? There was
rlm@0	1525 no way anyone could defeat her...
rlm@0	1526 "Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo rasped out behind me and I felt slender
rlm@0	1527 arms encircling me, drawing me against her body. A jolt of pure
rlm@0	1528 devotion traveled through me, crashing into my spirit that already
rlm@0	1529 admitted defeat a moment ago, filling it with that awesome feeling I
rlm@0	1530 had come to cherish so much. Slowly at first, it was like a volcano,
rlm@0	1531 the lava bubbling just underneath the surface trying to get out.
rlm@0	1532 Questions shot through my mind, hard and unrestrained. What would
rlm@0	1533 happen to those that I loved? What would happen to my family? To my
rlm@0	1534 friends in Tomoeda? To Syaoran and Filia? To Yue and Kero? What would
rlm@0	1535 happen to Tomoyo if I... if WE failed here?
rlm@0	1536 They would all die a horrible, painful death. Just like in the
rlm@0	1537 future I had escaped.
rlm@0	1538 No.
rlm@0	1539 Never.
rlm@0	1540 I would not... I absolutely could not give up here!
rlm@0	1541 Slowly reaching up to take Tomoyo's hands in mine I clasped them
rlm@0	1542 tightly for a brief moment. There was a mutual silence, then the
rlm@0	1543 familiar sentence spilled from both of our lips in sincere harmony,
rlm@0	1544 filled with renewed faith. "Everything will surely be alright."
rlm@0	1545 I separated from Tomoyo without looking back, basking in her
rlm@0	1546 love as long as I could, keeping those feelings close to my heart in
rlm@0	1547 hope they would preserve me, channeling them directly to Light and
rlm@0	1548 mentally commanding her to secure my heart and soul, while I slipped
rlm@0	1549 Dark around my mind, to calm my fear and any doubts if they should
rlm@0	1550 arise again.
rlm@0	1551 Then I stepped outside Time's bubble.
rlm@0	1552 But not before giving one last command. If someone had directly
rlm@0	1553 asked me when Filia made the revelations about her past life, I would
rlm@0	1554 have told them that the surprise had only been brief. I had been aware
rlm@0	1555 of the power inside of me, the presence of arcane magic older than
rlm@0	1556 anything Kero or Yue could ever teach me. I had discovered it years
rlm@0	1557 ago but had been afraid of the change I felt would come. I was afraid
rlm@0	1558 of the consequences releasing the seal on that power would entitle and
rlm@0	1559 I knew deep down that doing so would change me. Not only magically but
rlm@0	1560 as a person as well.
rlm@0	1561 Until now there was no need to even attempt it. Until Pandora
rlm@0	1562 there never had been the necessity for something greater than my own
rlm@0	1563 given magic. And the fear of consequences had outweighed the
rlm@0	1564 temptation by far. With great power comes great responsibility.
rlm@0	1565 Nothing happens without a reason, no power was ever given without
rlm@0	1566 taking something in return.
rlm@0	1567 Light, Dark, Kero, Yue, even Time herself had told me where
rlm@0	1568 would be consequences for changing history. They never told me what
rlm@0	1569 consequences because they either didn't know or didn't want to tell. I
rlm@0	1570 had pondered it for a long time but only now. Only now did I
rlm@0	1571 understand. In the face of my greatest fear, I understood that the
rlm@0	1572 consequence would either be the destruction of this planet and
rlm@0	1573 probably the whole universe afterwards or...
rlm@0	1574 "Time," I spoke softly, "release the seal on the memories of my
rlm@0	1575 past life."
rlm@0	1576 And with that I opened myself completely to the bubbling power I
rlm@0	1577 had been secretly tempted to utilize more than once since traveling
rlm@0	1578 back in time. I held firm to Tomoyo's image in my mind and hoped that
rlm@0	1579 if something remained untouched by the ordeal it would be our love. I
rlm@0	1580 needed that power now, I needed the ancient wisdom of someone who had
rlm@0	1581 already helped seal Pandora in the first place. If my past life really
rlm@0	1582 had been as strong as Filia said, I needed her help now.
rlm@0	1583 As the magic burst forward and I felt the flood of memories
rlm@0	1584 beginning a silent onslaught, I relented and accepted it all with the
rlm@0	1585 one thought in mind to protect those that I loved.
rlm@0	1586
rlm@0	1587 ******************************
rlm@0	1588
rlm@0	1589 (Tomoyo)
rlm@0	1590 It was like losing a part of myself. When I let Sakura go, I felt as
rlm@0	1591 if something was irreversible taken from me. While I had not much
rlm@0	1592 experience with supernatural encounters I had learned to trust my
rlm@0	1593 instincts since this mess started. My heart wanted to deny that
rlm@0	1594 something could... would happen to Sakura but yet my instincts told me
rlm@0	1595 otherwise.
rlm@0	1596 At the same time though I could also tell that while I lost
rlm@0	1597 something, I would gain something, in the long run maybe even more
rlm@0	1598 than I would lose. Of course I couldn't really make much sense to me
rlm@0	1599 that moment and all I could think about was that I had such a really
rlm@0	1600 bad, sinking feeling in my stomach. I had no idea what exactly she was
rlm@0	1601 planning, hanging there in the void, just hovering for a moment. Wisps
rlm@0	1602 of white and black that I identified briefly as Light and Dark
rlm@0	1603 circling around her. I hadn't wanted to let her go. I really had not.
rlm@0	1604 I was far more worried about her life when to care about what might
rlm@0	1605 happen when nothing was done about Pandora. That brief experience
rlm@0	1606 outside in the void, unprotected and exposed to the horror of dark
rlm@0	1607 emotions had left me a frightened mess. I really had no idea where I
rlm@0	1608 had pulled the strength from to even move. But I had known that Sakura
rlm@0	1609 needed my support now, that she was on the verge of breaking and that
rlm@0	1610 I had to be strong for her. She depended on me giving her confidence.
rlm@0	1611 And as much the feelings of fear threatened to overwhelm me any moment
rlm@0	1612 now, the need to be there for Sakura was far greater.
rlm@0	1613 And then Sakura spoke and everything began to make sense. I
rlm@0	1614 stood there on shaky legs, watching transfixed as a faint glimmer of
rlm@0	1615 crimson red formed around Sakura's form. Where it touched, the
rlm@0	1616 darkness recoiled for a moment. For a few, timeless moments that was
rlm@0	1617 all that happened. Sakura had her head thrown back and I could guess
rlm@0	1618 that her eyes were closed. Then suddenly the faint aura literally
rlm@0	1619 exploded in a bright flare, crackling and hissing like an angry flame
rlm@0	1620 ready to consume whatever lay in its path. It began to completely
rlm@0	1621 surround... no, swallow Sakura from head to toe, expanding in size and
rlm@0	1622 intensity until I had to look away as another bright flash of light
rlm@0	1623 temporally lit up the darkness.
rlm@0	1624 When my eyes managed to finally adjust again, the darkness had
rlm@0	1625 mostly returned except for the purple shimmer of Time's bubble. Then
rlm@0	1626 there was Sakura. On first glance you might not see the changes,
rlm@0	1627 especially in the dim light. But for me, for someone who had known
rlm@0	1628 Sakura for so long, I spotted them immediately. The hair was longer,
rlm@0	1629 falling a little past her shoulders and of a darker shade of red,
rlm@0	1630 somewhere between the fiery orange-red that was in my memories from
rlm@0	1631 the picture in the shrine and Sakura's natural chocolate-brown. Since
rlm@0	1632 I couldn't see her eyes from here, those were all the physical changes
rlm@0	1633 visible, yet there were small things, things that were more
rlm@0	1634 appreciated on a subconscious area that I had learned to read and
rlm@0	1635 interpret for about five years. Subtle movements of muscles, body
rlm@0	1636 posture and her very aura that told me that this was not just Sakura
rlm@0	1637 anymore. Not just Sakura, but not fully someone else either. And what
rlm@0	1638 really made the difference from me was that the bond of love between
rlm@0	1639 us, that sense of awareness for the other was still there, not in the
rlm@0	1640 least damaged. No, it had actually warped a little and seemed to be
rlm@0	1641 even more defined than before.
rlm@0	1642 I could have sworn I heard a gasp and when Pandora spoke up,
rlm@0	1643 somewhat disbelievingly I was pretty sure it came from her. "You?"
rlm@0	1644 Sakura lifted her head up to gaze at what could barely be
rlm@0	1645 recognized as the sprite form of Silence. Both her and Love had been
rlm@0	1646 almost completely swallowed. While you literally felt the fear
rlm@0	1647 radiating from my girlfriend whenever confronted with the infernal
rlm@0	1648 being, now there was an air of calmness around her. Nothing in her
rlm@0	1649 body language spoke of doubt. There was a strong confidence in her
rlm@0	1650 abilities that for all her advances in magic my Sakura had never shown
rlm@0	1651 before. This Sakura - I really couldn't bring myself to think of her
rlm@0	1652 as anyone else even though I knew she probably was as much her past
rlm@0	1653 self again right now as she was Sakura - didn't show any fear in the
rlm@0	1654 face of the situation before her, there was no hesitation.
rlm@0	1655 Briefly Sakura glanced back and I gasped as I felt myself
rlm@0	1656 captured in the most enchanting pair of gold eyes, sparkling with the
rlm@0	1657 fire of a miniature sun, a passion as vivid as the genki spirit of
rlm@0	1658 Sakura but mixed with something much more mature, maybe a little
rlm@0	1659 darker. I felt myself trembling and leaned against the inner wall of
rlm@0	1660 Time's bubble. Sakura sent a reassuring smile down towards me but even
rlm@0	1661 though her new appearance had stunned me to immobility I could detect
rlm@0	1662 a bit of sadness and regret there. I wanted to reach out, to say
rlm@0	1663 something, anything... But my mouth felt dry and denied me the favor
rlm@0	1664 of speech.
rlm@0	1665 Then the now-redhead turned back towards her foe. "Not entirely.
rlm@0	1666 I am more now when I have been before." The wand in her hand flared
rlm@0	1667 with a bright white for a moment. "As you will see soon." Sakura
rlm@0	1668 really didn't waste much words. With one gesture she pointed the wand
rlm@0	1669 down at where Love and Silence were entangled in the mass of darkness
rlm@0	1670 that by now was rather hard to distinguish from the rest of the void
rlm@0	1671 if you didn't know where to look. I gasped in amazement as a beam of
rlm@0	1672 white light - on closer inspection turning out to be more like tiny
rlm@0	1673 little stars - struck the duo of card sprites that were holding each
rlm@0	1674 other tightly.
rlm@0	1675 There was a startled exclamation of Pandora before she had to
rlm@0	1676 suddenly shift all her attention to the mix of orange and purple light
rlm@0	1677 erupting from within her. It was not nearly strong enough to burst
rlm@0	1678 their bonds but they were fighting back again, furiously. And that
rlm@0	1679 gave Sakura time and the diversion she needed for... Well, for
rlm@0	1680 whatever she had planned.
rlm@0	1681 Sakura crossed her hands before her chest and I could see a deep
rlm@0	1682 red glow spreading from where she had put the four talismans Filia had
rlm@0	1683 given her. Then she began the incantation with the same calmness now
rlm@0	1684 dominating all her actions at the moment.
rlm@0	1685 "Shikai no yami wo suberu oo, nanji no kakera no enishi ni
rlm@0	1686 sitagai
rlm@0	1687 Nanjira subete no chikara mote ware ni saranaru chikara wo atae
rlm@0	1688 yo"
rlm@0	1689 Ever since entering the zone of darkness it had really been like
rlm@0	1690 in the eye of a storm. It was silent, an eerie quietness, and all that
rlm@0	1691 could remotely be considered wind was the icy death breath filling
rlm@0	1692 everything around us. Now there was a gentle breeze, slowly gaining in
rlm@0	1693 force as Sakura continued her spell. And as the wind grew in intensity
rlm@0	1694 the darkness seemed to... move. I knew it was stupid. I knew it was
rlm@0	1695 technically impossible - but then again what was not commonly termed
rlm@0	1696 impossible of the things I experienced since Sakura had become a
rlm@0	1697 Cardcaptor? - yet the vast emptiness around us practically seemed to
rlm@0	1698 gather around the Card Mistress and then flow between her cupped
rlm@0	1699 hands, slowly taking shape.
rlm@0	1700 "Akumu no ou no hitokake yo
rlm@0	1701 Sora no imashime tokihanatareshi kooreru kuroki utsuro no yaiba
rlm@0	1702 yo
rlm@0	1703 Waga chikara waga mi to narite tomo ni horobi no michi o ayuman
rlm@0	1704 Kamigami no tamashii sura mo uchikudak"
rlm@0	1705 Sakura's voice grew in strength as she chanted, the words
rlm@0	1706 beginning to almost vibrate with the power forming between her hands.
rlm@0	1707 There was a short startled scream as Pandora obviously took note of
rlm@0	1708 what was happening but something told me that it was already too late.
rlm@0	1709 The darkness between the redhead's hands had taken shape already. I
rlm@0	1710 wasn't sure if you could declare the blade of pitch blackness solid
rlm@0	1711 though. It was livid, wavering, always changing shape, never really
rlm@0	1712 stopping in its chaotic motion. I stared in stunned disbelief at the
rlm@0	1713 phenomena, something familiar stirring inside of me at the sight. And
rlm@0	1714 there was that feeling again that Sakura was risking more with that
rlm@0	1715 spell than was obvious at first glance.
rlm@0	1716 And then I saw it. I saw the subtle shaking, the tensed muscled,
rlm@0	1717 squared shoulders, I felt more than saw the pain of concentration in
rlm@0	1718 her face that the spell demanded from her. It was a wild thought, yet
rlm@0	1719 I knew even more so that it was true. While the spell probably wasn't
rlm@0	1720 lethal. Sakura, reincarnation or not, was not used to it. Her body was
rlm@0	1721 mot used to the demands the arcane magic obviously put on her body and
rlm@0	1722 spirit.
rlm@0	1723 I jerked back in slight shock when Sakura's head snapped around
rlm@0	1724 to look at me and right now her eyes were more a taint of red than the
rlm@0	1725 prior gold. "Amelia, where is the connection that roots her to the
rlm@0	1726 physical plane?" she shouted desperately. Her teeth were clenched and
rlm@0	1727 the eyes were turning more into slits right now. One even totally
rlm@0	1728 inexperienced with magic would see the colossal effort it caused the
rlm@0	1729 young girl to maintain the spell.
rlm@0	1730 I didn't really pay the name much attention, on a level already
rlm@0	1731 understanding that Sakura probably couldn't distinguish between past
rlm@0	1732 and present right now. The desperation in her voice quickly snapped me
rlm@0	1733 out of my shocked state and I looked over at the tangled mass of
rlm@0	1734 semi-solid darkness and the rebelling card sprites. I had not dared to
rlm@0	1735 look directly again ever since the first time but now I knew what I
rlm@0	1736 had to do. I let instincts complete control and SAW. Spotting what
rlm@0	1737 seemed to my eyes like a big ball of the infernal presence that was
rlm@0	1738 Pandora I was pretty sure that this was exactly what Sakura wanted.
rlm@0	1739 "There!" I pointed at the spot and mentally willed it for Sakura
rlm@0	1740 to be visible. I was surprised myself when the spot flashed with a
rlm@0	1741 faint blue light around the edges and for a moment thought it was just
rlm@0	1742 by my imagination, but judged by Pandora's startled exclamation, it
rlm@0	1743 must have really been there.
rlm@0	1744 Glancing back to my girlfriend, I saw all the remaining cards
rlm@0	1745 dancing in a circle around Sakura, supplying tiny beams of magic that
rlm@0	1746 were absorbed immediately by the morphing blade of blackness, now held
rlm@0	1747 high over the Card Mistress' head, her gaze fixed on the one spot I
rlm@0	1748 had pointed out. Then, with a force creating a sonic boom, she brought
rlm@0	1749 it down on the knot of darkness that anchored Pandora to this plane.
rlm@0	1750 "RAGNA BLADE!"
rlm@0	1751 Absolute silence fell over the area when the blade came crushing
rlm@0	1752 down. For a frightening long moment disbelief and shock pushed to the
rlm@0	1753 forefront when the magical sword seemed to stop just inches from
rlm@0	1754 cracking the so tiny seeming knot apart.
rlm@0	1755 "You... won't beat me... so easily..." Pandora could be heard,
rlm@0	1756 gasping out in obvious strain.
rlm@0	1757 Then Love and Silence pushed upwards with a wave of joined
rlm@0	1758 power, drawing a scream from Pandora. At the same time Sakura pushed
rlm@0	1759 forward with all her might, a murdering scream of her own spilling
rlm@0	1760 from her lips. There was another moment in which nothing seemed to
rlm@0	1761 happen, then slowly the black blade pushed through the knot and
rlm@0	1762 everything exploded into bright white, accompanied by a shrill shriek
rlm@0	1763 that could have sent a dragon running.
rlm@0	1764
rlm@0	1765 ******************************
rlm@0	1766
rlm@0	1767 Blinking my eyes my senses gradually returned one by one. I had no
rlm@0	1768 idea how much time had went by or if even any time at all had passed.
rlm@0	1769 My mind began to catch up with my senses and I began to remember what
rlm@0	1770 happened. There was a giant explosion when Sakura severed Pandora's
rlm@0	1771 connection to the physical plane and after that I remembered nothing.
rlm@0	1772 At first I wasn't sure if the release of powerful magic hadn't damaged
rlm@0	1773 my sight somehow because all around me was nothing but white. It was a
rlm@0	1774 stark contrast to the vast blackness from before. For a brief moment I
rlm@0	1775 wondered if we might have all just died and this was heaven or
rlm@0	1776 something.
rlm@0	1777 But, I felt too alive to be dead. And then I became aware of the
rlm@0	1778 soft glows to my left and turned to see the sprite forms of Love and
rlm@0	1779 Silence. I gave a sigh of relief, walking over to them, all the while
rlm@0	1780 looking around in the infinite light for some sign of Sakura. "Where
rlm@0	1781 are we?" I asked curiously.
rlm@0	1782 "In a small zone where our mutual energy flows met. We are in
rlm@0	1783 the only existing focal point of the seal," Love explained.
rlm@0	1784 "I had been drawn and corrupted here by the Feared One," Silence
rlm@0	1785 stated in an emotional voice. But as emotionless as it seemed, her
rlm@0	1786 companion was obviously able to detect something more in it, squeezing
rlm@0	1787 her hand gently in comfort. I guess she had been feeling rather guilty
rlm@0	1788 about the whole thing. For the first I got a really good look at
rlm@0	1789 Silence's appearance, untainted by the influence of Pandora. Her skin
rlm@0	1790 was probably an even lighter tone of albino white, framed by short
rlm@0	1791 dark hair and somewhat cold and distant purple eyes.
rlm@0	1792 That just left one question and I couldn't get that awful
rlm@0	1793 feeling in my chest to disappear that I wouldn't like the answer.
rlm@0	1794 "Where is...?" I started, but before I could finish my gaze traveled
rlm@0	1795 down to the figure on the ground. At first I didn't recognize the
rlm@0	1796 disheveled shape with the messy reddish hair and slightly torn
rlm@0	1797 clothing. But then I got a good look at her now pale, unmoving face
rlm@0	1798 and an anguished outcry left my lips. "Sakura!"
rlm@0	1799 With one step I crossed the distance and was already on my knees
rlm@0	1800 before the last syllable even left my mouth. Gently, afraid to break
rlm@0	1801 her delicate form upon contact, I reached out to touch her face,
rlm@0	1802 searching for some sign of life, any reaction at all. My emotions were
rlm@0	1803 in turmoil and I couldn't think straight at all as all sort of
rlm@0	1804 nonsense bubbled from my lips. I tried to feel for a pulse but in my
rlm@0	1805 frantic state wasn't able to find it, only heightening the panic
rlm@0	1806 welling up inside of me.
rlm@0	1807 "Pandora fought back against Mistress' spell. She had to put all
rlm@0	1808 of her magic and that of the cards into it to succeed," Love said
rlm@0	1809 quietly.
rlm@0	1810 "Lina-dono was not ready for that amount of magic in such a
rlm@0	1811 young and inexperienced body. It not only drained her magic but her
rlm@0	1812 life force as well," Silence added, sadness this time audibly without
rlm@0	1813 much restraint.
rlm@0	1814 However, I didn't want to hear it. "No," I rasped out, tears
rlm@0	1815 brimming in my eyes. I didn't want to hear the sadness or their
rlm@0	1816 explanations, I didn't want to hear it because... "She can't be dead.
rlm@0	1817 I don't believe she's dead!" I screamed at them making both card
rlm@0	1818 sprites recoil slightly at the bitterness and anguish in my voice. The
rlm@0	1819 cold and numbness I experienced in Pandora's void was nothing compared
rlm@0	1820 to what my heart felt like right now. "She promised me! She promised
rlm@0	1821 me everything would be alright..." I said, my voice turning into a
rlm@0	1822 whisper, silent tears spilled from my eyes as the truth slowly worked
rlm@0	1823 its way through my denial. "She promised..."
rlm@0	1824 "To-Tomoyo..." My head jerked up and I stared at the girl in my
rlm@0	1825 arms, tears clouding my vision. Had I just heard...? I didn't dare to
rlm@0	1826 believe, I didn't dare to hope that... Sakura's eyes fluttered open
rlm@0	1827 weakly, barely on the brink of consciousness.
rlm@0	1828 I felt my heart make a giant leap that could have crossed the
rlm@0	1829 whole planet with that one jump. Putting her hand against my cheek I
rlm@0	1830 smiled happily. "I am here Sakura-chan."
rlm@0	1831 "D-Did I... beat her...?" Sakura choked out. I had to strain to
rlm@0	1832 even hear the voice but that was okay. She was tired. That was
rlm@0	1833 understandable. Just a bit of sleep and everything would be fine. We
rlm@0	1834 could go home and that would be the end of the whole ordeal. Just as
rlm@0	1835 Sakura said. Everything was alright.
rlm@0	1836 "Of course," I managed to reply, a sob disrupting what I had
rlm@0	1837 planned to be proud and reassuring. Why was I still crying. Sakura was
rlm@0	1838 alright, wasn't she? There was no need for the tears anymore. They
rlm@0	1839 would only bother Sakura and I didn't need her to worry now. She was
rlm@0	1840 supposed to be resting.
rlm@0	1841 "Good..." Sakura breathed with relief, her eyes slowly yielding
rlm@0	1842 to fatigue. I felt her fingers caress my cheek and sighed contently at
rlm@0	1843 the familiar feeling. "I am sorry..." The words, followed by the
rlm@0	1844 violent cough ripped me right out of my self-induced denial. All at
rlm@0	1845 once I became aware of how cold Sakura's body was, I became aware of
rlm@0	1846 the beat of her heart having slowed to an alarming rate. I became
rlm@0	1847 aware that the faint connection between us began to weaken to a point
rlm@0	1848 where it would be severed at any moment. I became aware that Sakura
rlm@0	1849 really WAS dying.
rlm@0	1850 "Sa-Sakura..." I whispered fearfully, not wanting to hear the
rlm@0	1851 truth, not wanting to accept the fact that my best friend, my
rlm@0	1852 girlfriend, my lover, my mate was so brutally taken away from me,
rlm@0	1853 beyond my control, beyond anything I could do. However, I was unable
rlm@0	1854 to resist the truth anymore and that truth was like a sharp icicle
rlm@0	1855 bored right into my heart, draining all my life force. It was only a
rlm@0	1856 question whether I'd go from the pain or from the coldness.
rlm@0	1857 "Dawn is approaching," Love said quietly, tears of her own
rlm@0	1858 glistering in her spiritual eyes. "When the flow is not returned,
rlm@0	1859 everything that has been done, every sacrifice would be pointless."
rlm@0	1860 Pointless. The word echoed in my mind, crushing my already
rlm@0	1861 mortally wounded heart even further. Not only would I lose Sakura but
rlm@0	1862 it would all be in vain. Pandora would break free, Sakura's efforts
rlm@0	1863 without any effect, her death meaningless... Something inside that
rlm@0	1864 dead place that was my heart stirred, a tiny spark, not nearly enough
rlm@0	1865 to break through the ice covering it, but it was growing, growing
rlm@0	1866 slowly.
rlm@0	1867 "N-No..." I glanced back at Sakura at her words, so faint now
rlm@0	1868 they were almost like the wind whispering. She brought her other hand
rlm@0	1869 that was still clutching the star wand up slowly. "Tomoyo... you have
rlm@0	1870 to... finish it..." My eyes widened in shock, my hands moving more on
rlm@0	1871 autopilot than actually wanting to as I took the staff from Sakura's
rlm@0	1872 limb fingers. "The... the cards love you... You have the magic... You
rlm@0	1873 can do it... I... I trust you..." Her breathing was getting shallow
rlm@0	1874 and the next breath was taking so long I was afraid it was already her
rlm@0	1875 last, but from somewhere she mustered the strength and a detached part
rlm@0	1876 of me analyzed with some sort of morbid amusement that this was just
rlm@0	1877 like Sakura, stubborn until the end.
rlm@0	1878 "I love you... I am sorry that I have failed you... so badly...
rlm@0	1879 But I could not... let you die... again..."
rlm@0	1880 Was that the consequence? Was that the consequences of using
rlm@0	1881 Time? If so, then that wasn't fair. If Sakura died here, all that
rlm@0	1882 would have really changed would be the four years we spent together.
rlm@0	1883 She wouldn't have saved anyone because the seal would break anyway,
rlm@0	1884 the same horror repeating again that she had tried to correct. Maybe
rlm@0	1885 that hadn't been her initial wish but her initial wish was to make me
rlm@0	1886 happy and how would having her sacrificed devoid any sense and as a
rlm@0	1887 result the entire Earth lost - including me - make me happy?!
rlm@0	1888 It wasn't fair.
rlm@0	1889 It was not fair!
rlm@0	1890 I didn't really understand why I was more angry than sad. I
rlm@0	1891 should be crying, screaming, anything, but all that I could do was
rlm@0	1892 holding the soft gaze of my dying beloved. Gold eyes meeting blue, not
rlm@0	1893 letting go until the last moment. The spark had become a small flame
rlm@0	1894 and was growing in size. An unnatural calmness began to fill me and as
rlm@0	1895 I sat staring into those eyes that despite the change were still so
rlm@0	1896 much Sakura I slowly began to understand. I began to understand why I
rlm@0	1897 had insisted on joining Sakura in the first place, despite the danger,
rlm@0	1898 despite my usual good-natured common sense. It wasn't because of Love
rlm@0	1899 and feeding her our feelings, it wasn't because I could suddenly see
rlm@0	1900 spirits and help to point out Pandora's weakness, it wasn't even
rlm@0	1901 really to lend the support Sakura needed so much.
rlm@0	1902 No, I had made my request because of this moment, because of
rlm@0	1903 this very moment. Not because I knew Sakura would die but because I
rlm@0	1904 knew Sakura would die if I wasn't here. Filia's revelations had
rlm@0	1905 frightened me, I hadn't allowed myself to think about them, I had not
rlm@0	1906 wanted to face some of the implications albeit sensing that they might
rlm@0	1907 not be all that bad. And I was pretty sure Sakura had had similar
rlm@0	1908 troubles. However, my mate had not hesitated when there was no other
rlm@0	1909 choice. She had not hesitated to risk losing her very self in the
rlm@0	1910 process if it ensured the safety of those she loved.
rlm@0	1911 And now it was my turn. If there was anything powerful in me, if
rlm@0	1912 Filia's tale about the strength of my past life was even remotely
rlm@0	1913 true, then... then... Then there had to be SOMETHING I could do to
rlm@0	1914 help Sakura. The other girl had saved my life so often. If I had this
rlm@0	1915 power, couldn't I just once, just this ONE time save her life? Was it
rlm@0	1916 too much to be asking that one favor? Had she not done enough already
rlm@0	1917 to earn some damn gratitude?
rlm@0	1918 I refused to believe that this was the ultimate consequence of
rlm@0	1919 her actions. I refused to acknowledge that Sakura would be taken from
rlm@0	1920 me after only four years spent together like this. I refused to
rlm@0	1921 believe that everything that she had done, everything she had
rlm@0	1922 sacrificed would in the end be MEANINGLESS.
rlm@0	1923 I simply did not accept it...
rlm@0	1924 I wanted to help her...
rlm@0	1925 I would help her...
rlm@0	1926 I was able to help her...
rlm@0	1927 Because...
rlm@0	1928 My vision blurred without warning and I felt myself being drawn
rlm@0	1929 into the golden eyes of my lover...
rlm@0	1930
rlm@0	1931 ******************************
rlm@0	1932
rlm@0	1933 ()
rlm@0	1934 The sky was a clear blue, a few soft white clouds strolled across the
rlm@0	1935 wonderful spring morning scenery, not doing much to obscure the warm -
rlm@0	1936 not hot - sun from illuminating the ground below. The various plants
rlm@0	1937 and flowers in the vast green field below seemed to actually stretch
rlm@0	1938 to take in as much of the sun's rays as possible.
rlm@0	1939 Upon closer inspection one could see that the large field was
rlm@0	1940 not so much open space but a majestic garden, surrounding half of a
rlm@0	1941 grand palace. A figure sat in the middle of that vast garden, clad in
rlm@0	1942 white robes she appeared to be almost childlike and one not knowing
rlm@0	1943 could have mistaken her for one. But the blue eyes spoke of not only
rlm@0	1944 maturity but also a deep concentration. Short black hair fell slightly
rlm@0	1945 into her face as she kneeled by a single, lonely sprout of a tree. She
rlm@0	1946 had her hands placed over the pretty unhealthy looking sprout.
rlm@0	1947 A second figure approached behind the girl and silently stood,
rlm@0	1948 watching as the first began to speak words of power. Not of force but
rlm@0	1949 of healing. Gentle, softly, the single syllables flowing like a
rlm@0	1950 beautiful ballad. The first girl's hand glowed a bright white but it
rlm@0	1951 immediately dimmed again after only a short time and the single green
rlm@0	1952 leaf that had spread from the efforts seemed to wither away. The girl
rlm@0	1953 let out a sigh and her shoulders dropped miserably.
rlm@0	1954 The other girl smiled fondly, shaking her head in a mix of
rlm@0	1955 amusement and disappointed. Placing a hand on the dark-haired girl's
rlm@0	1956 shoulder she made her look up. "You still force it too much,
rlm@0	1957 Amelia-chan. Didn't they teach you patience at all?"
rlm@0	1958 The last question was spoken with the hint of a teasing smile
rlm@0	1959 making the girl called Amelia pout. "Patience was never much of my
rlm@0	1960 greatest strengths. You know I trained in White Magic because it was
rlm@0	1961 expected of me as the Princess of Saillune. I don't think it ever was
rlm@0	1962 really my specialty." She reached up to touch the other girl's cheek,
rlm@0	1963 letting her hand linger in the soft purple hair falling slightly past
rlm@0	1964 the other girl's shoulder. "You've always been much better with this,
rlm@0	1965 Sylphiel-chan."
rlm@0	1966 Sylphiel smiled sympathetically. "I know. But you want to be
rlm@0	1967 able to help if the situation should ever come up. You said so
rlm@0	1968 yourself. There might be a time when I am not available and you have
rlm@0	1969 an amazing talent, Amelia. You just have to learn how to use it
rlm@0	1970 properly."
rlm@0	1971 Amelia nodded quietly, a look of determination entering her
rlm@0	1972 eyes, replacing the pout. "Thanks, with you guys supporting me like
rlm@0	1973 this I feel like I can do everything." With that she turned back to
rlm@0	1974 the withered tree sprout, once again concentrating solely on it,
rlm@0	1975 beginning to chant anew.
rlm@0	1976 Sylphiel watched quietly, pride clearly visible in her eyes but
rlm@0	1977 also adoration for the other girl... no, almost young woman already
rlm@0	1978 that she held so dear. Her eyes closed for a moment and a happy sigh
rlm@0	1979 escaped her lips when a pair of arms encircled her waist from behind,
rlm@0	1980 drawing her against a third girl, slightly shorter than herself with
rlm@0	1981 distinctive orange-red hair and scarlet red eyes.
rlm@0	1982 "How is she doing?" the redhead asked, nuzzling Sylphiel for a
rlm@0	1983 moment before moving her attention to Amelia who was lost in her
rlm@0	1984 spell, the white glow from her palms growing in intensity.
rlm@0	1985 The purple-haired woman chuckled. "Amazingly well, considering
rlm@0	1986 we've only been training seriously for a few weeks. She doesn't
rlm@0	1987 realize it but she's learning this high level magic faster than I
rlm@0	1988 did." As if wanting to prove her words Amelia finished the spell and
rlm@0	1989 the magical light spread out from her hands in a steady flow, encasing
rlm@0	1990 the sickly looking sprout. Green leaves began to spread, the bark's
rlm@0	1991 color was returning to a more normal shade. All in all the sprout
rlm@0	1992 looked like it would grow into a very healthy tree one day.
rlm@0	1993 Amelia released her held breath in a soft sigh and sank back to
rlm@0	1994 sit in the green grass. The redhead moved from Sylphiel, kneeling
rlm@0	1995 behind Amelia and pulled the pleasantly surprised girl into her lap.
rlm@0	1996 The taller woman sat next to them, resting her head on the redhead's
rlm@0	1997 shoulder and stroking softly through Amelia's dark hair. "That was
rlm@0	1998 very well done, Amelia. Just a bit more training and you can do it as
rlm@0	1999 good as I can."
rlm@0	2000 Amelia shook her head in an adoringly cute display of
rlm@0	2001 stubbornness. "No way, I'll never be as good as you in White Magic or
rlm@0	2002 Lina in Black Magic."
rlm@0	2003 The redhead, Lina, smiled lovingly. "Maybe, but you have more
rlm@0	2004 talent in all three magic categories than most normal humans, probably
rlm@0	2005 including us. I couldn't cast a healing spell like that in a hundred
rlm@0	2006 years and Sylphiel probably couldn't use attack magic to save her
rlm@0	2007 life." With a chuckle she added. "Except a Dragon Slave that is."
rlm@0	2008 Sylphiel sent the redhead a mock glare at that but quickly
rlm@0	2009 joined in with her own soft laughter.
rlm@0	2010
rlm@0	2011 ******************************
rlm@0	2012
rlm@0	2013 (Tomoyo/Amelia)
rlm@0	2014 And just like in the memory the words flowed from my lips.
rlm@0	2015 "Seinaru iyashi no mite yo, hahanaru daichi no ibuki yo
rlm@0	2016 Negawakuba waga mae ni yokoyawarishi kono mono o
rlm@0	2017 Sono ooinaru jihi ni te sukui tamae"
rlm@0	2018 Recalling all those lessons, the hours spend with a gentle and
rlm@0	2019 patient, much more experienced shrine maiden learning the ultimate
rlm@0	2020 form of healing. Not forceful like a Black Magic spell, not wild and
rlm@0	2021 somewhat chaotic like an elemental spell. No, slowly, with steady
rlm@0	2022 precision touching each damaged area, healing what was injured, curing
rlm@0	2023 what was sick. A process not hastened but patient with the faith set
rlm@0	2024 in mind that even if it seemed much too slow, the pace would be just
rlm@0	2025 right. Healing was like that. It needed precision, it needed to be
rlm@0	2026 flawless, or otherwise a tiny mistake in an unimportant area could
rlm@0	2027 cause all the effort to be in vain.
rlm@0	2028 White magical energy flowed into my hands from all around us,
rlm@0	2029 the seal's power obviously an even stronger supply of life force than
rlm@0	2030 I had initially thought. There was so much, I actually had to damper
rlm@0	2031 the flow a little in order to not be overwhelmed. All my concentration
rlm@0	2032 was on the redhead, the one I HAD TO save. My mate, in this life as
rlm@0	2033 much as in my previous. My mind was detached and I wasn't quite sure
rlm@0	2034 who I was anymore since all my focus was on the other girl.
rlm@0	2035 I could feel the magic reach its peak. I had already patched up
rlm@0	2036 everything physical, now it was time for the last touch, the crucial
rlm@0	2037 point, to return the life to Sakura/Lina... to breathe new life into
rlm@0	2038 her almost dead body.
rlm@0	2039 "RESURRECTION!"
rlm@0	2040
rlm@0	2041 ******************************
rlm@0	2042
rlm@0	2043 ()
rlm@0	2044 Far away, back in Tokyo, close to Tomoeda actually, a young girl not
rlm@0	2045 older than Sakura and Tomoyo stopped in her mundane task of sweeping
rlm@0	2046 the yard of her family's shrine. Long purplish hair was blown back in
rlm@0	2047 a soft breeze when the young miko looked up into the sky with a look
rlm@0	2048 of puzzlement in her green eyes. For a moment there she had felt
rlm@0	2049 something oddly familiar.
rlm@0	2050 After a moment, the girl shrugged and returned her work in
rlm@0	2051 patient acceptance.
rlm@0	2052
rlm@0	2053 ******************************
rlm@0	2054
rlm@0	2055 (Sakura)
rlm@0	2056 An angel.
rlm@0	2057 That was the first thing I thought when I opened my eyes. After
rlm@0	2058 all I was pretty sure I just died and the face hovering above me was
rlm@0	2059 truly angelic. The delicate, pale features so much like Tomoyo, those
rlm@0	2060 eyes so deep and full of compassion, blue as a deep ocean or vast sky.
rlm@0	2061 The hair was a little darker, somewhere between black and deep purple.
rlm@0	2062 The happy smile and the glow in the angel's face were heartwarming,
rlm@0	2063 filling me entirely with love, completing me with just that single
rlm@0	2064 action. Only one person ever managed that - not including past lives
rlm@0	2065 right now.
rlm@0	2066 "Sakura-chan," the angel whispered and my heart skipped a beat
rlm@0	2067 at the melodic, oh so familiar voice I thought never to hear again.
rlm@0	2068 I blinked in confusion, wondering what was going on.
rlm@0	2069 "Tomo-chan?"
rlm@0	2070 Before I could actually react I was pulled upwards into a
rlm@0	2071 crushing hug that threatened to split bones upon contact. The embrace
rlm@0	2072 was without doubt Tomoyo's. Nowhere else I could feel so at home,
rlm@0	2073 nowhere else I wanted to belong. Once in Tomoyo's arms I never wanted
rlm@0	2074 to leave again. Yet, this embrace was fierce, screaming with a mixture
rlm@0	2075 of burning emotions. Relief, happiness, longing. I could hear the
rlm@0	2076 other girls' heart beating in synchrony with my own. Soft, steady
rlm@0	2077 beats. They were the most heavenly music I had heard in my life
rlm@0	2078 because they told me one thing. Tomoyo wasn't dead... and neither was
rlm@0	2079 I.
rlm@0	2080 "Tomo-chan, what...?" I started but never managed to finish,
rlm@0	2081 finding much more pleasant things to occupy my mouth with. The other
rlm@0	2082 girl had brought her lips to mine in a kiss that was full of
rlm@0	2083 desperation, conveying all the fear and sadness of not to long ago but
rlm@0	2084 also all the happiness and relief coursing through her. It mingled
rlm@0	2085 with my own mirrored feelings and was returned with an equally strong
rlm@0	2086 favor. Our spirits seemed to join for that single timeless moment and
rlm@0	2087 I began to understand partly what had happened.
rlm@0	2088 When the kiss ended, I pulled back and stared into Tomoyo's
rlm@0	2089 eyes. Seeing not only the unconditional love of the one person I would
rlm@0	2090 give... had given anything for, but also something else, someone else.
rlm@0	2091 Dormant, not really awakened as the soul inside of me when Time
rlm@0	2092 released my past life's memories. "You saved me," I said softly,
rlm@0	2093 tracing the other girl's face with one finger, mesmerizing the few
rlm@0	2094 subtle changes. She was still mostly Tomoyo but there was a bit of
rlm@0	2095 Amelia there too. Before I had made that step, I would have been a
rlm@0	2096 little scared of the change that could mean for us. However, now with
rlm@0	2097 the full recollection of my past life, I realized how foolish that
rlm@0	2098 fear was. For us, there never had been any danger of losing something
rlm@0	2099 important. On the contrary there was actually more to gain.
rlm@0	2100 "I had to," Tomoyo said simply but her eyes were still moist
rlm@0	2101 with unshed tears of happiness. I reached up to gently brush them away
rlm@0	2102 with one of my sleeves and smiled with unrestrained pride.
rlm@0	2103 We could have stood there for ages, neither caring about the
rlm@0	2104 world around us. Unfortunately where was still one thing to attend to,
rlm@0	2105 as Love chose to remind us - of the matter and her presence that is.
rlm@0	2106 "Dawn is almost upon us."
rlm@0	2107 I didn't cast my eyes away from Tomoyo. An understanding passed
rlm@0	2108 between us that went far beyond simple words. It was an understanding
rlm@0	2109 born from the ordeal we had just experienced and survived. With a
rlm@0	2110 simple mental command the forgotten star wand floated into my
rlm@0	2111 outstretched hand. I stepped back slightly and held it out between us,
rlm@0	2112 waiting. Tomoyo nodded and wordlessly clasped her own hands around the
rlm@0	2113 staff. There wasn't even a hint of hesitation. Both of us knew exactly
rlm@0	2114 what to do.
rlm@0	2115 I closed my eyes, seeing more with my heart than I needed with
rlm@0	2116 my eyes, letting the power flow. I had understood that power at my
rlm@0	2117 disposal when facing Pandora with my full memories. The still
rlm@0	2118 untouched source I had never really given much thought. Up to now the
rlm@0	2119 wand had merely been a focus for using the cards, empowering them with
rlm@0	2120 my own magic. Never had I truly used the Star Magic on its own. Yet,
rlm@0	2121 stars were the essence of life. They gave birth to life, nurtured
rlm@0	2122 life, sustained life. They were the first children of creation and in
rlm@0	2123 them slumbered an almost unlimited power.
rlm@0	2124 And the seal, Love and Silence were nothing more and nothing
rlm@0	2125 less than energy released by those who wielded the power of the stars,
rlm@0	2126 protecting life with their strength.
rlm@0	2127 "Key that holds the power of the stars
rlm@0	2128 Infinite source of light, brilliantly shining in the darkest
rlm@0	2129 night"
rlm@0	2130 The chant, spoken from both us was done without preparation, yet
rlm@0	2131 with the conviction of certain success. The staff between our hands
rlm@0	2132 flared, warming to the touch, almost too hot to touch but never
rlm@0	2133 burning in the slightest. I could feel its form expanding. I could
rlm@0	2134 feel Love and Silence hovering just above us. Magic began to swirl in
rlm@0	2135 a beautiful dance all around us.
rlm@0	2136 "Release the slumbering power of creation
rlm@0	2137 Bless these lost souls and return them to their true path"
rlm@0	2138 The dance began to quicken, turning into a maelstrom of power, a
rlm@0	2139 storm of creation that where it touched every life lost was restored,
rlm@0	2140 where it touched new life was born. In a small area around the coast
rlm@0	2141 lines of Japan entirely new life was born in what would later surely
rlm@0	2142 be titled as miracles. I wasn't really aware of this. My mind was
rlm@0	2143 focused on the task at hand.
rlm@0	2144 Slowly I reached out, feeling Tomoyo join me in the effort. In a
rlm@0	2145 way it was much like a healing spell and I realized with quiet
rlm@0	2146 fascination that while my past life had not been able to do much in
rlm@0	2147 this area, Kinomoto Sakura was definitely a different story. The flux
rlm@0	2148 of magic finally reached its peak and with a final shout of power, it
rlm@0	2149 was released to its designed task.
rlm@0	2150 "RESTORATION!"
rlm@0	2151 The eruption of magic was not powerful. Instead it was more or
rlm@0	2152 less anti-climatic aside from the sheer potent energy concentrated
rlm@0	2153 into the spell. I opened my eyes, watching with rapt attention as a
rlm@0	2154 beam of purest magical energy shot upwards engulfing Love and Silence.
rlm@0	2155 For a moment nothing seemed to happen, then there were tiny ripples
rlm@0	2156 from the spots where the card sprites had been swallowed. Golden and
rlm@0	2157 purple light created tiny shockwaves and in the middle of them were
rlm@0	2158 the cards, glowing brightly in the display of power.
rlm@0	2159 I could feel it now, the flow of their nature changing. The
rlm@0	2160 difference that separated them from how the rest of the cards were
rlm@0	2161 designed became pretty much undetectable. And in a last, spectacular
rlm@0	2162 display at the magic at work, a steady stream of their respective
rlm@0	2163 elements shot to either side, vanishing in the formless white.
rlm@0	2164 Thank you, their voices could briefly be heard, then another
rlm@0	2165 bright flare made us avert our eyes and when we looked again, the two
rlm@0	2166 cards floated down, changed into the star design of my own.
rlm@0	2167
rlm@0	2168 ******************************
rlm@0	2169
rlm@0	2170 <Several hours later>
rlm@0	2171 The sun was just barely above surface level when our yacht was making
rlm@0	2172 its way back to the Japanese coast. The isle in the distance was only
rlm@0	2173 a mere rock formation, not worthy of the terminology land anymore. The
rlm@0	2174 violent storm of darkness that Pandora had created with Silence's
rlm@0	2175 unwilling help had pretty much ripped it apart and only the mountain
rlm@0	2176 remained partly and a few pieces of land from the surrounding isles,
rlm@0	2177 floating above the waves unattached.
rlm@0	2178 A gentle breeze caught my unbound, longer hair. Something I
rlm@0	2179 would definitely need to get used to. Sure, I could cut it or
rlm@0	2180 something but I didn't really like it. The physical change was a
rlm@0	2181 reminder, a symbol of the change inside me. Trying to describe it in
rlm@0	2182 words was hard. While I was still Sakura on most levels, I had all of
rlm@0	2183 Lina Inverse's memories, including those of her personality. That
rlm@0	2184 didn't necessarily mean a part of me HAD TO be her... but it COULD be.
rlm@0	2185 As I said, it was rather strange and my mind was just beginning to
rlm@0	2186 catch up with all that had happened in the last few hours. It was too
rlm@0	2187 much to comprehend all at once.
rlm@0	2188 I glanced down at the two cards in my hands which I wasn't
rlm@0	2189 really sure what to make of. The seal was restored, the flow returned
rlm@0	2190 to its original strength... and the spirits that had been mirror
rlm@0	2191 images of the ancient warriors had vanished back into their own
rlm@0	2192 element. But our joined magic seemed to have done more than just
rlm@0	2193 release the bound energy, it seemed to have... created something new.
rlm@0	2194 The same element, yet with new, unbound energy. The meaning of this
rlm@0	2195 still left me rather speechless. I had pretty much made my own cards.
rlm@0	2196 Not changed already existing Clow Cards into Sakura Cards, but CREATED
rlm@0	2197 the latter.
rlm@0	2198 With a slight shake of my head I willed the two cards away,
rlm@0	2199 leaning back into the body embracing me from behind. "What are you
rlm@0	2200 thinking about?" Tomoyo asked softly, her voice showing her own
rlm@0	2201 tiredness. She was a much different story. Where had not been much of
rlm@0	2202 a change at all. Physically some facial features had changed and her
rlm@0	2203 hair was a little darker, fading into black in some areas. She didn't
rlm@0	2204 have a full recollection of her past life like me. Just glimpses.
rlm@0	2205 I sighed, glancing out at the rather still water considering the
rlm@0	2206 rough vortex that had raged not too long ago. I really didn't want to
rlm@0	2207 go into this right now, having experienced too much and having been
rlm@0	2208 entirely too close to death just a short while ago. It was too early
rlm@0	2209 after the events that should leave me feel joyous and happy at our
rlm@0	2210 success. Yet, I couldn't be happy. "Don't laugh at me. But I think it
rlm@0	2211 was too easy." Silence, Tomoyo tightened her grip slight, but didn't
rlm@0	2212 say anything. "I feel this was just the beginning. All we did was sent
rlm@0	2213 her back to her prison. While the seal is restored, Pandora has
rlm@0	2214 already pushed very far to the surface. There is no guarantee that she
rlm@0	2215 won't find some other way. And that sooner than we might like."
rlm@0	2216 Especially since I was pretty sure she realized who were and there was
rlm@0	2217 no telling what she might come up with.
rlm@0	2218 For a time the only sounds were that of the ocean, the tiny
rlm@0	2219 waves against the ship, and the vibrating buzz of the yacht's engine.
rlm@0	2220 "Yes. Somehow I knew you would say that." Tomoyo slipped next to me,
rlm@0	2221 an arm went instinctively around her waist. "A lot of things changed
rlm@0	2222 in the last hours. Permanent changes. That is only natural though.
rlm@0	2223 Everything changes, that is life."
rlm@0	2224 "Does that trouble you." There were so many things implied in
rlm@0	2225 the question. Mainly about our past and our relationship back then.
rlm@0	2226 There was Sylphiel who I was pretty sure had been reborn as well. The
rlm@0	2227 bond between the three of us had been strong, I knew that. But Tomoyo
rlm@0	2228 hadn't really regained all of her memories as Amelia. Most of them
rlm@0	2229 were flashes, glimpses of the life we led back then. A part of me was
rlm@0	2230 relieved, a part of me a little saddened by that. I had no idea how
rlm@0	2231 she'd take the impact our past lives would eventually have on those we
rlm@0	2232 lived now.
rlm@0	2233 And then there was Filia who was a totally different case I
rlm@0	2234 didn't want to go into right now or anytime soon. I was glad that the
rlm@0	2235 dragon priestess had offered to give Syaoran a ride back home since
rlm@0	2236 his own ship was lost in the storm. I was glad because just the short
rlm@0	2237 time we spent together after returning from the seal stirred memories
rlm@0	2238 and feelings inside of me that affected me emotionally to a degree
rlm@0	2239 where I am sure Tomoyo had noticed. I really was not ready to think
rlm@0	2240 about Filia right now, no definitely not.
rlm@0	2241 Tomoyo had looked at me for awhile with a hard to read
rlm@0	2242 expression but now she leaned forward to put her head on my shoulder.
rlm@0	2243 Instinctively I pulled her closer, enjoying the feeling of her body
rlm@0	2244 against mine. Not in a physical sense, more in a way of completeness.
rlm@0	2245 "Not really. Not anymore. I know now, that whatever happens, we will
rlm@0	2246 be together."
rlm@0	2247 I felt compelled to say something in return but instead I turned
rlm@0	2248 to draw her firmer against me, both arms coming around her body.
rlm@0	2249 "Always," I said with absolute conviction, glad and proud at the same
rlm@0	2250 time of the level of understanding and comprehension Tomoyo showed.
rlm@0	2251 It was much like Tomoyo said though. Change was a constant
rlm@0	2252 companion in life. Life was chaotic. People who couldn't deal with
rlm@0	2253 change, with unpredictable situations would stagnate and miss most of
rlm@0	2254 the beauty that was life. We both had to accept this in the last
rlm@0	2255 hours. We would deal with what would come, one way or another.
rlm@0	2256 A yawn made me look down at Tomoyo, comfortably snuggled in my
rlm@0	2257 arms, her head resting just a bit under my chin, letting me inhale the
rlm@0	2258 soft fragrance that amazingly had been rather untouched by the events.
rlm@0	2259 I couldn't help a soft chuckle. "I think we should get some sleep. We
rlm@0	2260 definitely earned it." Truth be told I felt ready to pop right here
rlm@0	2261 and there, not waking up for the next year or so. Whatever had us
rlm@0	2262 going for so long, had finally subsided and exhaustion began to catch
rlm@0	2263 up.
rlm@0	2264 Tomoyo nodded, very reluctantly stepping away from me, just to
rlm@0	2265 reach for my hand. I grinned and let myself be dragged below deck to
rlm@0	2266 our cabin. Thinking could come tomorrow or next week or whenever I
rlm@0	2267 felt like it. Right now I felt much too spent to even begin to assess
rlm@0	2268 the changes in our lives experienced over the last twelve hours or so.
rlm@0	2269 What counted was that I was still here, everyone was still here,
rlm@0	2270 Tomoyo was still here. We were all alive and everything had indeed
rlm@0	2271 turned out to be alright.
rlm@0	2272
rlm@0	2273 ******************************
rlm@0	2274
rlm@0	2275 (Filia)
rlm@0	2276 I watched the boat slowly disappear from human sight and eventually
rlm@0	2277 from that of a dragon as well. Time was rather insignificant right
rlm@0	2278 now. It would be awhile until I had to go drop the boy off in China
rlm@0	2279 and after that... well, I wasn't sure. The shrine was gone too which
rlm@0	2280 left me a little sad with the though of my solitary home for a very
rlm@0	2281 long time not being there anymore.
rlm@0	2282 That's the price for success, I suppose. The seal was restored,
rlm@0	2283 just as I had been told. And Earth, along with the rest of the
rlm@0	2284 universe, had earned itself a little breathing space.
rlm@0	2285 "It won't be long now, will it?"
rlm@0	2286 I didn't turn at the sudden appearance of a very familiar, in
rlm@0	2287 the old times often pretty annoying voice. Truth be told, I had
rlm@0	2288 expected him to show up a little earlier. "A couple of years, I would
rlm@0	2289 believe. It'll take her awhile to seek another opportunity."
rlm@0	2290 The man stepped up next to me, his trademark smile in place,
rlm@0	2291 even though I could tell that for once he wasn't really amused and his
rlm@0	2292 voice showed his seriousness. "The other parties are coming along
rlm@0	2293 nicely. Everything will be in place when the time comes."
rlm@0	2294 Sighing I turned away from the spot where I had watched the
rlm@0	2295 group leave in their ship, with them Lina who was now awakened. That
rlm@0	2296 didn't change a thing though and I knew it. Made it not much easier to
rlm@0	2297 accept though. "I hate playing the conductor for a war that could be
rlm@0	2298 avoided. We could spare them all this just by ensuring she doesn't get
rlm@0	2299 to them. What would be so bad about it?"
rlm@0	2300 I regretted the question right away because I knew what was
rlm@0	2301 coming judged by the gleam in the purple-haired priest's eye. "Ah,
rlm@0	2302 dear Filia, that is a secret." The grin quickly turned into a stoic
rlm@0	2303 expression though. "One that I neither know the answer to or am
rlm@0	2304 especially fond of finding it out. You know as much as I that this is
rlm@0	2305 our path. We have our instructions and I for one will follow them to
rlm@0	2306 the letter."
rlm@0	2307 "I hate it when you are right, Xelloss," I grumbled.
rlm@0	2308 Xelloss chuckled lightly and then, without much fanfare,
rlm@0	2309 vanished, leaving me once again alone with my thoughts.
rlm@0	2310 A couple of years, indeed. Then, THEN the REAL battle would
rlm@0	2311 begin. And it would be an epical one.
rlm@0	2312 "Use that time well," I said quietly to the wind, then turned
rlm@0	2313 and walked back towards the small camp on the rocky surface of the
rlm@0	2314 torn mountain top.
rlm@0	2315
rlm@0	2316 THE END (for now)
rlm@0	2317
rlm@0	2318 Author's Notes
rlm@0	2319
rlm@0	2320 That muse makes me nuts. I had no intention of making that chapter
rlm@0	2321 almost as huge as all three installments before put together. I really
rlm@0	2322 didn't want to...
rlm@0	2323 Okay, okay, I'll stop whining.
rlm@0	2324 This really turned out rather different from what I had initially
rlm@0	2325 planned but in the end I am more or less satisfied with it. I had to
rlm@0	2326 rewrite the last scenes at least once but now I think the story is
rlm@0	2327 presentable. An apology here for the long-winded explanation in some
rlm@0	2328 parts while some things pretty much faded into the background. I
rlm@0	2329 realize that I haven't brought much attention to any of the other
rlm@0	2330 characters except Sakura and Tomoyo and to a degree Filia. This story
rlm@0	2331 was done from their perspective and there really was not much space to
rlm@0	2332 include them further, nor was it intended in the first place.
rlm@0	2333 I realize this part has experienced an even greater touch of the
rlm@0	2334 crossover it is eventually leading to than I had planned for. That
rlm@0	2335 couldn't be done any other way though, I realized halfway through
rlm@0	2336 writing. This stretched the length of this part enormously but I also
rlm@0	2337 managed to cover much more and still not neglect thoughts and emotions
rlm@0	2338 in the process of action and past life revelations.
rlm@0	2339 There are still a few things that are left unclear which is good,
rlm@0	2340 since I didn't really want to reveal too much yet. You must keep in
rlm@0	2341 mind that this was just a collection of pre-stories. A work an author
rlm@0	2342 might do AFTER writing a greater series, to explain some of the
rlm@0	2343 background. So, I more or less did it the other way round, at least
rlm@0	2344 for the CCS part. :)
rlm@0	2345
rlm@0	2346 Mixing the three main elements in this part had been a lot of fun and
rlm@0	2347 I think I managed to do a lot of setup for the actual main story. For
rlm@0	2348 those who interest those things. I decided to use the actual Romanji
rlm@0	2349 incantation of the spells I took from Slayers. There have just been
rlm@0	2350 too many conflicting translations that I didn't want to get into the
rlm@0	2351 predicament again to choose one of them. Those of you interested
rlm@0	2352 should easily be able to find English translations on Slayers Universe
rlm@0	2353 (www.inverse.org) or QP's page
rlm@0	2354 (http://homepage3.nifty.com/QPHOUSE/slayers_e.html) from which I have
rlm@0	2355 the Romanji incantations.
rlm@0	2356 For the names I decided to go with those I am most familiar with. Just
rlm@0	2357 like the spells there are so many different spellings, so I went with
rlm@0	2358 those that I know from my own DVDs.
rlm@0	2359
rlm@0	2360 This marks the end of what I unofficially titled the "Forbidden Cards"
rlm@0	2361 series on MSD. Next will be the BSSM intro that will directly lead up
rlm@0	2362 to the main story, probably will be part of the main story already.
rlm@0	2363 Maia really, REALLY got a hang of this and I am not sure when she gets
rlm@0	2364 down from it, so... This will probably be my main focus for now.
rlm@0	2365
rlm@0	2366 That's it so far. I thank all of you for your kind comments along the
rlm@0	2367 way. When I started this series at the beginning of the month it
rlm@0	2368 hadn't been planned to take up so much time... Heck, it was a single,
rlm@0	2369 shorter story to begin with, but I enjoyed my first experiences in
rlm@0	2370 writing CCS.
rlm@0	2371 I hope I'll see you soon and that you continue to provide me with
rlm@0	2372 feedback.
rlm@0	2373
rlm@0	2374 Ja ne, yours
rlm@0	2375
rlm@0	2376 Matthias
rlm@0	2377
rlm@0	2378 Note for Moonlit Nights readers (31/01/2004)
rlm@0	2379
rlm@0	2380 Since I had not visited the site for awhile I have just recently
rlm@0	2381 discovered that this part has not been posted because of a
rlm@0	2382 misunderstanding, confusing this part with the following project to
rlm@0	2383 which this story was a sort of prequel. Provided you read this note,
rlm@0	2384 this misunderstanding has been cleared. However, the following project
rlm@0	2385 called "Soul Lights" will not be distrubated on Moonlit Nights because
rlm@0	2386 that would go against their "pairings policy" :) which I can very well
rlm@0	2387 understand since I wouldn't go and let people post other stuff on our
rlm@0	2388 Minaru group as well. As such, "Soul Lights" is a running project that
rlm@0	2389 you can already (and for now only) find at the SA board
rlm@0	2390 (http://www.shoujoai.com/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=20701) or on my SiL
rlm@0	2391 group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/starsinlove).

Mercurial > moonlitnights

annotate stories/seal02.txt @ 0:ed1308d04df2 moonlitnights