The forest glittered like water on rocks, shimmering in the evening sky. The boughs were laden with yellow flowers and the floor of the wood was golden, where the autumn leaves from the previous year lay undisturbed. The group walked quietly, going ever deeper into the forest. The trees shuddered in the chilled wind, but they protected the unexpected travelers. The roof of the wood was golden with tinges of red, and its great pillars were silver and smooth. The weary hikers stopped, resting on fallen logs, setting up tents to sleep.

Soon the evening sky was blanketed in flame, the setting sun turning the sky red; the travelers watched the marvelous sunset until they were plunged into darkness. But they were greeted by the blue moon, full and bright, smiling down upon them.

"This is insanity," Syaoran muttered. Sakura shot him a warning glance, glaring him into silence.

While the two argued, Tomoyo and Eriol remained silent, and Ruby and Spinnel had gone for more fire would.

Tomoyo glanced at the blue-haired man, the fire dancing upon his glasses, his dark eyes searching. Tomoyo scooted over.

"What bothers you, Eriol-kun?"

"Oh, nothing." He smiled, but Tomoyo did not. He heaved a great sigh. "It's the things Nakuru-chan and I saw in Sakura-chan's eyes."

"What was it?" Tomoyo asked, worry filling her voice.

"A shadow, is what I saw, creeping across her eyes like she was about to be…possessed. Nakuru-chan saw a flame circling Sakura's pupils. That's why we had to get out of town."

"I still don't understand why we had to leave."

Eriol sighed. "Because this creature can only possess a magical being in its home town, so we had to get out. There are five of us that possess magic, and Sakura believes you have some magic in you too. That's our whole group here."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine…" Tomoyo smiled. She looked off into the distance, rolling black clouds heading towards them.

"Nothing dampens your spirit, Tomoyo," Eriol said.

"I don't know about you, but that thunderstorm might."

Tomoyo wrapped herself tighter into her blanket, feeling Sakura snuggle closer as the thunder rumbled loudly and endlessly outside, the rain pelting down on the tents. Hail showered upon them, whitening the grounds like snow.

None of them slept. In the large tent, Ruby and Spinnel lay near the entrance, on the far left side. Eriol and Syaoran sit talking quietly in the far right corner, leaving Tomoyo and Sakura in the middle, huddled close and trying to keep warm.

The violent howling wind snapped and bit at the tent, bending the trees dangerously over them. Tomoyo heard someone move, and suddenly felt more bodies around them. She opened her eyes to see Eriol and Syaoran sitting right up against her, and Ruby and Spinnel on Sakura's side. Sakura turned over onto her back, looking up at Tomoyo.

"You know, this forest always struck me as odd. The leaves are never green, but always golden. It feels like autumn right now…"

Tomoyo nodded in agreement. "I agree. It's so…peaceful out here though."

"Yeah, when it isn't storming so bad there might be a tornado," Syaoran snorted. Ruby's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Let's tell ghost stories!" She clapped her hands excitedly. A small smile tugged at Eriol's lips.

There was a loud groan from Sakura's throat, indicating she wasn't too happy with the idea. Syaoran shook his head.

"Sakura-chan is freaked out enough, she doesn't need ghost stories."

Ruby's shoulders slumped and that bright light dimmed in her eye. She suddenly felt arms wrap around her, and noticed it was Sakura hugging her. She returned the hug somewhat surprised.

"It's the thought that counts, Ruby-chan!"

Ruby's eyes watered as she squealed and she hugged Sakura tighter.

"So adorable, so adorable!"

Everyone stopped when the ground rumbled.

"I don't think that was thunder…" Tomoyo said quietly. They waited; another tremor. Above the cracking thunder and howling wind and pounding rain came a tremendous sound, like something was being eaten alive.

And then the tent was flying above them, exposing them in the stormy weather. Sakura screamed; Ruby, Eriol Spinnel and Syaoran stood in front of the girls, protecting them.

A shadowy figure taller than any of the trees around them, screeched, releasing that terrible noise.

Sakura's mind whirled with the sudden event, her thoughts tumbling over on another. She finally gathered them up, and from behind the four others came a glow, and Sakura stood strong against the wind, wand at the ready.

She stood protectively over her friend, the other four moved to the side to let her through.

"You've done enough damage already! Why don't you go back to where you came from?" she shouted above the raging storm. The creature screeched again, and swung a black shadowy hand towards her.

Sakura attempted to dodge, but the giant hand sent Sakura Ruby and Syaoran hurtling towards the trees. Thankfully she had landed on bushes, but her friends had not. Ruby lay unconscious and Syaoran sat on his knees, breathing in deep for he had the wind knocked out of him.

Sakura glared at the creature.

'What Card can possibly be of any use against a shadow?' She pondered. The trees billowed to and fro, the clouds above moving at an unbelievable pace. A crack in the black sea of the sky revealed the moon, full and shining brightly for the moment upon her angelic face. The clouds passed over again, causing darkness.

A light seemed to go off in Sakura's mind.

"That's it!" She shouted. "The Light Card!" She dug around in her pocket, and her fingers were drawn to the Light. She flipped it out in the air and brought her staff down upon it.

"Light Card, shine your glory upon this forest! Light!" If it was possible, the wind kicked harder than before, and Sakura, unable to stay on her feet, was tossed back. The Light flashed from the card, twirling and then flying up to the sky, shining the brightest beam of light upon the Shadow Creature. It shrieked, unbearable to listen to, and it melted into the ground, a hiss indicating it was finished.

Sakura stood with much pain, but also the feeling of triumph. She smiled, despite herself, as Light returned to her card form and slipped into Sakura's outreached fingers. She suddenly looked around for her friends.

Eriol was standing in front of Tomoyo, who had her hands folded at her chest standing behind him. Syaoran stood, slightly bent over. His cheeks were cut up, his clothes tattered.

Sakura rushed to Tomoyo, allowing Eriol to go assist Syaoran and help Spinner get Ruby in the torn up, toppled over tent. Sakura checked her best friend over, scanning for any type of injury.

"Don't worry Sakura," Tomoyo smiled, "I'm fine. Now…we should all head back." Sakura nodded, smiling as well. She took out the Fly card, sprouting beautiful white wings on her back.

They flared, and she picked up Ruby, flying off towards Eriol's home. Landing there, Sakura gently put Ruby on the soft grass, and then flew back for Syaoran. When she got back to the others, Spinner has transformed as well. A panther with great butterfly-like wings stood majestically in place, with Tomoyo and Eriol on his back.

Sakura hefted Syaoran onto Spinnel's back, as well, and then flew beside him. As they drifted through the air, Sakura's senses started to tingle.

She closed her eyes, trying to shake the feeling, but instead, saw a face, looming, shadowy—it seemed familiar, as if she'd seen it before millions of years ago, yet she couldn't place the name with the face.

"Sakura," the face seemed to call. That voice…Eriol's voice?

No…it's Clow Reed!

"Sakura…you have defeated the creature, but not the battle. When you reach the city of Tomoeda, you will see everything has changed. The mistress that created that Shadow has enslaved your entire hometown. It has become her home, everyone there works for her. Keep your friends close, and you will find a way to defeat her."

The face vanished, and her eyes snapped open. She realized they had stopped.

"No…" she whispered, her eyes falling upon a scene she didn't want to see.

She noticed Eriol's gaze upon her.

"Sakura-chan…" his eyes were filled with a sadness Sakura had never seen in him before.

"This isn't happening…it can't be…"

"But Sakura-chan, look at the city!" Tomoyo cried. "If you don't accept it, you won't be able to stop it…you won't be able to save the lives of the people who live here."

Her words were true, and Sakura knew it. She found herself arguing with her mind, trying to accept what she saw, but her mind wanted to block it out.

Sakura shook her head vigorously and opened her eyes. The city was now up in flames.

"Alright…" she whispered. They flew down to Eriol's yard to gather and attempt to wake Ruby.

Sakura looked up to the star-filled sky, but seeing the flames in the corner of her eye, she looked away.

"Sakura," Syaoran's voice penetrated her thoughts and she looked up at the boy, now conscious and standing.

"Syaoran-kun! You're okay!"

"Li-san," Tomoyo said. "We've got Ruby-chan awake. You five are going to go find Yue and Kero-chan."

Sakura nodded determinedly, and with Eriol, Ruby and Spinnel, they set out to find Sakura's two guardians.

As they snuck along in the shadows through the falling and fallen ash from the fires, they caught sight of some townsfolk, trudging along bound by chains and handcuffs. Having found Yue and Kero, they were now a group of magical people bound by the fate to destroy this evil sorceress.

Sakura more than once resisted the temptation to rescue the people that lived in her hometown, but with her friends by her side, she easily avoided being snared in the trap so secretly set up.

Finally, they came to one large building. It had the face of a woman painted on it. Her eyes were as red as the morning sun, with slits for pupils like those of an animal. Her brown hair flared like wings, framing her face nicely. But the face made Sakura shudder.

They moved on through the shadows of the buildings until they were upon the front step of the building with the face on it.

The eight of them stood staring the door down, until Eriol reached forward with his staff and tapped the door.

They waited for a minute, and the doors began to slowly creek open, their hinges squealing with delight of being moved.

Sakura took a step ahead of her friends, and then turned to look at them.

"Sometimes we've got to face our fears, right?" She swallowed and turned to face the black hole.

Just as everyone took a step forward, a whip like object lashed out from the darkness of the building, attempting to wrap itself around Sakura's leg.

She managed to avoid being caught, and she stopped beside Eriol.

It came back, and the group scattered to avoid it. It recoiled into the house again, and after they thought it had finally left, Sakura and Eriol found themselves tied tightly with it. Sakura didn't even have time to scream as they were dragged into the house, and the doors slammed shut in the others' faces.