mirror.html It's been long and hard, but I did it. I look down at the new Sakura Card in my hand that I had just created. Split. It had the yig-yag sympol for it's picture. I've told both kero and Yue what I'm doing. Kero says he's surprised and wonders where I even got the idea. Yue keeps his opinions (if he has any) to himself as ussual. I've just been thinking about what Kero said once. The Clow Cards had orginal been intented to be free spirits. But they became too hard to control and their power couldn't be allowed to run rampant in the world.
I remember that look of savage rage on Water's face, the panic on Dash's, the sad resignation on Mirror's. I've been thinking about this for a long time. I don't know if it's foolish or wise, but it is something I have to do.
I come out of my room just long enough to tell Cerobaros (I really wish he'd give me notice before changing shape, whose sopposed to be in charge here anyway?) and Yue that I'm starting. Niether say anything, they just acknowlage me telling them. I turn to go back into my room when Cerobaros speaks up.
"Sakura . . . if . . . if she tries anything, don't worry, I'll know it her and not you." The lion says reasurringly. I give a soul less thanks and return to my room.
Of all the things she'll do. I feel that trying to take my place won't be one of them.
One at a time I release a Sakura Card. Each time I ask them the same simple question. The elements laugh at it, thinking I'm making a joke, why would they, the four elements, wish to become what they call 'weak.' Windy conveies she is content with the role of servant. Wood says much the same. Light and Dark say that their place is by my side, and they are content with their lot in existence. The object cards, Lock, Sword, Sheild, and Maze, can not image anything beyound their given perpose and turn my offer down. The other cards that scietent give simmilar answer:they're all either in love or drunk with their power, and wouldn't give it up for anything.
Now there are only two cards left I haven't asked. I left them for last on perpose. Because I know their answers will be different.
I release Dash first. It, he, looks up at me. I explain to it what I'm offering, I meantion the name Jessie and I can almost see his heart jump. He nodes away as I explain things to him, some times having to stop himself when he realizes I was wasn't asking a question. He remembers her. At one question he slowly sakes his head, but to another he noddes it violently. I explain to him slowly was this will mean for him. I honesty believe he does hear what I'm saying. I ask him one final thing. I see the look of fear in his eyes for a moment, then, he thinks about Jessie, and his resloves becomes rock hard.
I tell him to sit and wait. He obeys, it will be one of the final orders I'll ever give him.
I hold her in my hand. Of all the Cards, she seems to be asleep when in her true form. I release her in her humaniod form.
She's disapointed I don't order her to assume my image. But it isn't me she wants, it isn't my identiy, it something far more important than that.
She wants humanity. She doesn't know what I've called her out for. As the Master, I speak first.
"Mirror."
"Yes Master?"
"How would you like to be human."
Mirror doesn't know how to respond. She looks at me, I can tell she trying to remember what expression your soppose to use when shocked, she doesn't realize she's doing it already. "M-master please don't, I ask you of you, don't play games with me."
I hold Split in my hand. My own doubt turning in my mind. Is this a wise thing to do? Even if it works, will she be able to handle it? Will she be able to handle the endless nuances, 'do's' and 'do not's' that come with human form and socity?
"I'm not playing games with you Mirror. As your friend I'm asking you, are you willing to give up your power and immortality to live a normal human life, to die less than a century from now? To be a true human, no simply a projection of another? An identiy all your own."
Mirror is silent. She is surprised by me using the term 'friend' it's a strange concept among the cards, Dash knows it, because he knows Jessie, but see looks at in the eyes at last.
"Weather it be less than a century or less than a day, I would gladly give both up for that chance."
"I'm not going to lie to you. You'll grow old, get sick, get hurt, maybe die before your time from any number of reasons."
"I except those. I except the pain of reajection, the pain of loniness, the confusion of making my own choices, of being unsure of my own fate. the eturnal creeping fear of Death's shadow. Master. I except them all."
"There will be no turn back. No turn back at all. Once your decision is made, there is nothing I can do to reverse it. Also, there is chance this may simply grant you final oblivion."
"I accept all those terms. Master if this is in your power. Than I accept."
"That is your final decision?"
"Yes."
"Take hold of Dash."
"What?" Mirror looks at her fellow Sakura Card. the look of convection still strong in his eyes. Dash leaped into Mirror's arms, she dropped her name sake. She wouldn't be needing it anymore.
The message isn't said. But it's conveyed clear enough. [i] If this fails. I don't want to be around to think about a false hope. [/i]
She says simply. "I am ready . . . Sakura."
I take the Sakura Card in hand as my focus my power. I flip it though the air as I give Split it's command.
I had to be careful when making Split. Making it so the power could be seperated from the spirit and phyical form without killing them. That had been my most promament fear when setting off at this venture.
"Split Card: devide card and power from spirit and form." Even after making Split, I didn't know if this would work. But I had to try. I owed it to them. The Cards, these spirits that Clow Reed had intrusted me with. The ying-yang sybol appers beneath them, and slowly, the two halfs begin to seperate. Mirror and Dash withers in agony. Oh no it hasn't work. I've killed them. But there nothing I can do. I can not stop what has begun. It is beyound my control.
There is a flash of light. I look to see what I'm sure will be a pair of burnt cards, lost forever. But that isn't what I see. On the left are two Sakura Cards. One has the picture of a round mirror, there is no one holding it. The card self awarness is no more, no longer can It assume a human form every again. The other cards has a picture of a pair of running shoes of all things. Object cards both of them. On the right is a girl about my age, she is hold a light violet animal. Neither of their foreheads bears a marking. The girl does look like me, but more like a sister than a twin. Her hair is a few shades darker than mind and is shoulder length. Someone would have to be near sighted to mistake us for anything but sisters. Her eyes slowly open, not the reflective blue I exspect but topaz. I realize she isn't wearing a peice of anything. I take the cap Madison had made for me and covered her with it.
She looks at me. Not sure what I say. Finnaly she says.
She says. "Sakura?" Dash sakes his head as he opens his eyes and looks at him. Though now without power. He still manages to convey one final message. Thank you.

end of part one.

Flames, comments, suggestions, reactions, occasional constructive criticism all welcome. Spelling corrections not welcome. Anyone know the orginal unlock and transform incantation Sakura uses with the staff she uses in season three?