Chappy 10

An extremely massive volcano towered before Syaoran and Sakura, its sides eroded from the work of many years' winds; its rocks charred and blackened from countless eruptions. It was obviously still active; smoke billowed out in huge gray puffs and filled the air. "W-w-w-we have to go in there?!" Sakura asked in bewilderment, shaking all over.

"I guess so," Syaoran said seriously. He shivered slightly. "Ngh, that dragon's creepy aura is even getting to me now."

"That's because you're so close," Eriol said. "The dragon is most definitely in that volcano."

Sakura's teeth chattered like she was standing in Antarctica with a bathing suit on.

"Well get on with it," Yue said impatiently. Eriol smirked a sideways smirk. Kero was still oblivious to… well, everything except the video game.

Syaoran took Sakura's hand and squeezed it tightly. "We can do this," he murmured in her ear. "I'm sure we can do this."

Sakura seemed to calm down a little. Slowly she held up her star wand. "Fly," she said weakly, her voice quivering. Her angel wings materialized on her back, and she gripped Syaoran's hand. "…Ready?" she asked softly.

Syaoran looked into her eyes and nodded. "Ready."

And thus, Sakura thrust herself upward, carrying Syaoran with her. She flew all the way to the top, hesitated long enough for one last violent shudder, then plunged into the smoky air, down to the depths of the volcano.

The duo raced inside, eyes watering from the smoke. "It's hard to see… and breathe!" Sakura gasped.

Coughing, Syaoran said, "Use… Windy… to make… an air bubble… around us!"

Sakura did as she was told. "Windy!" Windy came out of her card and surrounded Sakura and Syaoran with clean, breathable air. "Ah… that's better…" Sakura sighed.

"Only one problem," Syaoran said. "How do we see?"

Sakura looked up and saw black smoke all around them. "Oh. Uh…"

"Use the Glow card," Yue said. Eriol smiled at him.

"Eh? Oh! Right! Glow!" Many glowing orbs that looked like fireflies flew out of the card and cast a dim light throughout the volcano, enabling sight. Sakura smiled. "Arigatou, Yue-san!"

Yue stared at the TV screen, then turned his head away and said, "You're my master. I'm supposed to help you." Eriol's grin broadened.

Dim, green light danced on the walls of the inside of the volcano as the glow card took effect. Sakura looked from side to side. "Haaaa… it's so pretty, ne Syaoran-kun?"

But Syaoran wasn't paying attention. "Um… S-S-Sakura…" he stammered, "You might want…to look down…"

Sakura's eyes widened and her head whirled to look below her. And what she saw… was a pair of hostile, blood red, glowing eyes staring up at her.

And then… it lunged.

Lava burst out in all directions as a massive, jet black dragon hurtled upward, teeth bared, straight toward Sakura and Syaoran. As it lunged for its target, its jaws parted, and a column of blue flame spewed from its mouth… sure to kill them instantly.

"Shield!"

Hearts pounding, Sakura and Syaoran watched as a shield formed around them just milliseconds before they were burned alive. Both were wide-eyed and speechless as they stared out at flames – everywhere except in their bubble – licking the charred walls of the volcano. Finally, the flames stopped, and there was dead silence.

"Woah… talk about a close call." Kero said.

Syaoran snapped out of his trance and scowled. "That's ALL you have to say?! We were nearly fried!!"

"Um, Syaoran-kun…" Sakura pointed up, but there was no need to do so. The dragon was perfectly capable of letting its enemies know it was there. With an earsplitting roar, it swirled around and now lunged down at Syaoran and Sakura. "Syaoran-kun, I can't… hold you up much longer…" Sakura said. She flew toward a ledge jutting out of the rocky wall, put him down, and dropped to her hands and knees, the shield fading and the angel wings disintegrating off her back.

"Sakura! What's wrong?!" Syaoran yelled.

Sakura looked up at him, with some effort. "I'm just… tired…"

"That's not good." Eriol spoke in Clow's voice, his tone dead serious. "She's nearly out of magic."

"What?!" Kero screeched. "What does that mean?!"

"It means," Eriol said frowning, "she won't be able to use her cards. She… won't be able to protect herself."

Syaoran's eyes shot open. "No…" he whispered, almost inaudibly. "…NO!! That won't happen!" He gingerly set Sakura down, who was almost unconscious, and whipped out his sword. "Sakura may not be able to protect herself… but that does NOT mean that no one will protect her!!!" He grabbed Sakura and jumped to another, much larger ledge, just as the dragon crashed down on the old one, shattering it into bits. He put her down again and held his sword in front of him. "All right, Dragon!!" he yelled. "Come and face me!!"

The dragon made a knowing rumble in its throat, sensing the challenge. It beat its gigantic wings and almost blew Syaoran away as it landed, but he stood his ground.

Syaoran and the dragon now stood face to face.

"If you want Sakura…" Syaoran growled through his teeth, "…you'll have to go through ME!!" He ran forward and sprang at the dragon, sword raised. The dragon dodged and swiped at him with its claws, but he jumped out of the way. They continued to fight for several minutes, one-on-one, while Eriol, Yue and Kero watched in horror. Even one blow could be fatal. But finally, the dragon knocked Syaoran's sword away. It skidded across the rocky ground, screeching and clanking off the bumps, and finally came to a halt… ten meters away.

Syaoran was cornered.

The dragon swatted at him, forcing him to the ground and knocking the wind out of him. He struggled, but it held him there with its paw. It breathed in slowly, gathering up its flame breath… and released it straight at Syaoran.

"…Time!"

The flames stopped in their tracks, just centimeters from Syaoran's face.

Sakura was weakly on her feet, knees together, with one hand holding her wand and the other clutching the wall for support.

"Yay Sakura!!" Kero chanted. "I knew she could do it!!"

But Eriol's frown didn't disappear. "That card… uses a lot of magic."

Syaoran saw his chance. He threw the dragon's paw aside and jumped to his feet. He grabbed his sword, ran at the dragon, and thrust it through its heart.

Time unfroze. The dragon collapsed…

…and so did Sakura.