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