Last Time: Kero and Suppi encountered one of the crystals in its animal form and fought it in their true forms. But who knew that Sailor Jupiter would make an unexpected appearance? After the Tiger escaped, Suppi decided it was time to inform Sakura and get all the information from Eriol. Not only that, but Suppi also asked Jupiter for her assistance. One question remains. What are these crystals all about?


Hunt For the Crystals: Episode 2


It was an unusually cold night outside Madison's front gate. Sakura shuddered in the night, but was warmed by the arms of her love, Li Shoran. There was no one out there it seemed. Eriol wasn't out and he was apparently the one who had all the answers about what this new threat was.

"Where is he?" Sakura asked. "I want to find out what this is all about." Then Sakura looked around. Someone was missing. "Kero…where'd you go?"

The little guardian beast was out seemingly searching for something. "I know Suppi has her around here somewhere. There's no way he could sneak her in."

"Who are you looking for?" Li asked.

"Um…maybe I can answer that," another voice said. It was Suppi and he was just flying out from inside Madison's estate. He looked around for that other guest. "Hey, where'd you go?"

"I'm over here!"

Everyone looked up to see a tall girl standing atop the brick wall bordering Madison's estate. The girl, dressed in a white uniform and green skirt, jumped down and skillfully landed right beside Suppi. Sakura was amazed by the girl's grace. But who was this girl?

"Who are you?"

The girl just looked at Sakura and Li curiously. "Who are YOU?"

Kero groaned. "Suppi, haven't you explained to her who they are yet?"

"She might have a hard time believing it," Suppi tried explaining.

"Oh, of course," Kero said sarcastically. "Something like a Sailor Scout is MUCH more believable. What was *I* thinking?"

Sakura gasped. "Sailor Scout? Kero, what are you talking about?"

The girl spoke up. "He means…I'm a Sailor Scout. I'm Sailor Jupiter."

Sakura didn't say anything at first, because she saw two more shocked expressions by Madison's front gate. Madison and Eriol were just in time to hear the introduction and they were dumbfounded. And why wouldn't they be? Everyone was in shock. Sakura always believed the Sailor Scouts were just a myth. No one ever thought they were real.

"A Sailor Scout?" Eriol asked.

Madison…instinctively went for her camera. "I didn't think Sailor Scouts were real. Oh…this is unbelievable! Could you give me one pose?"

Sailor Jupiter saw the camera being pointed at her…and sweatdropped. She gave a nervous chuckle and smiled sheepishly into the camera.

Suddenly, Jupiter came to a realization. "Wait a minute…this is all so weird. Who are all of you?"

Sakura didn't want to say anything. Even if she WAS a Sailor Scout, Sakura couldn't say anything about…being the Card Mistress, could she? She looked at Li, who just shrugged. She then looked at Kero and he just shook his head…and glared at Suppi.

Suppi sighed. "We can trust her, Kero. Let's just tell her. What harm could it do?"

Kero gave in. He flew in between Sakura and Jupiter and had the Sakura Card book float out. The book opened up and the Sakura Cards began to float around him, a trick he usually liked to do.

"This is Sakura, a seemingly normal girl. Except for the fact that she's a very powerful sorceress who controls the power of these 52 cards, known as the Sakura Cards. These 52 cards were once created by an ancient and powerful sorcerer known as Clow Reed and the cards control elements such as Earth, Wind, and Light among other things. Sakura has successfully mastered the art of using these cards and is destined to be their mistress for as long as she lives.

"This is Li and he's a direct descendent of Clow Reed. At first he was Sakura's rival, but after being around her for a while, Li decided to help Sakura on her quest. And eventually…they fell in love with each other. Oh, yeah. And he's kind of a brat."

Li scowled. "Stupid stuffed animal."

Eriol decided to cut in. "I'm Eriol…and I'm a reincarnation of Clow Reed…as strange as that may sound to you."

Jupiter shook her head. "No…I've gotten to know some reincarnations. In fact…I'm a reincarnation myself."

That made Sakura's head spin. It took a long time for it to sink in to her that Eriol and her father were both reincarnations of Clow Reed. Now she was finding out Jupiter was a reincarnation herself. Jupiter, whom Sakura had no idea even existed five minutes ago.

Madison looked like she was feeling out of place. "Um…me…my name's Madison. But…I'm just a normal person. I have no magic of my own."

Eriol quickly gave Madison a peck on the cheek. "But she's still a special person."

"And the best friend a girl could ever have," Sakura added.

Madison blushed. Despite not having any magic of her own, her friends still managed to make her feel special. She was just as much a part of the team as everyone else.

Jupiter crossed her arms. "Um…ok, we all know each other now. So…anyone want to tell me what we're going up against?"

That served as a reminder for Sakura and it got her focused again. "Eriol…what's this all about? Is the world really in trouble?"

Eriol nodded. "Yes. It's been ten thousand years. And the eight crystals have emerged once again."

"So what ARE these eight crystals?" Sakura asked.

"It was a long time ago," Eriol began. "I remember hearing about the legend of the eight crystals…back when I lived as Clow Reed. The legend begins that there were eight crystals were buried together deep beneath the land currently known as Japan. Every ten thousand years, the crystals would rise out from their burial plot and assume the forms of eight fearsome beasts, each with their own power.

"One holds the power of Thunder, like the one Kero and Suppi found. The others hold the power of Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Darkness, Speed, and Strength respectively. Each of these eight creatures will wander Japan, occasionally wreaking havoc. The only way to stop them is to weaken them and then recite an incantation to restore them to their crystal forms.

"Once all eight have been restored to their crystal forms, they can be put together and the one who pieces them back together…will be granted a wish. The crystals will grant that wish before returning into the Earth from whence they came."

Sakura gulped. "That means we have to get them back, don't we?"

"It gets worse than that," Eriol responded. "It's not because of the eight beasts that the world is in danger. The thing is…the legend of the eight crystals isn't exactly the best kept secret in the world. There are others who might be familiar with it, and if they know that it's been ten thousand years, then they might be after the crystals as well. And if evil possesses the crystals…then I hate to think of what might happen."

Now the reality of the whole situation began to hit Sakura. These eight crystals had the power to grant one wish and if an evil person grabbed the crystal…then that wish could lead to disaster. Disaster the likes of which the world had never seen.

Sakura looked at the Sakura Card book in her hand. "It's up to me."

Kero sighed. "Well…I was the one who said you should use your magic more often, Sakura. But I've got to admit…this wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

Eriol glanced at the tall girl in front of him. "Well…if it helps…I think we might not be alone on this one."

Sailor Jupiter looked a little nervous. "You…must…mean…me. I guess I have no choice. I can't let these eight creatures just wander Japan. I just wish the other Scouts were here. But…it's just me."

Eriol walked over to Sakura. "This'll be your biggest test. You've successfully mastered the Sakura Cards…and now it's time for you to put them to use. Are you up to it, Sakura?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes…but…you'll all stand beside me, right?"

Li put his arm around Sakura. "Always."

"We'd never let you go it alone, Sakura," Madison added.

Sakura looked down at the Sakura Card book once more. Her biggest test. This was supposed to be her final summer…her final NORMAL summer…before going off to college. That seemed to be no more. Sakura had to find these eight crystals…and save the world.

Madison walked over to Sailor Jupiter and handed her a cell phone. "We'll keep in touch with this. If any of us find anything…we'll contact one another with this phone."

Sailor Jupiter took the phone and pocketed it. "I'll be around if you need me. Good luck."

Before anyone could say anything, Sailor Jupiter leaped behind a bush and out of sight, leaving Sakura and her friends alone. The stage was set for a new quest. But there was only one question remaining…

"Where do we go from here?" Sakura asked.

"I don't think we have much time," Kero answered. "We'd better start looking for one of those eight creatures. I mean…how hard could it be to find one of those things?"

Sakura couldn't help but feel a little tension. Her new quest was about to begin. It was time to go.

"WAIT!" Madison shouted suddenly.

"What is it, Madison?" Sakura asked.

Madison's face suddenly brightened. "I…have been waiting for a day like this for long time. Sakura…I have a special costume for you!"

Sakura couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat. A normal life? No way. It was just like old times.


~--------------------~


For anyone else, this might have been unusual. But Sakura was used to Madison's taste in costumes and…she had to admit that this looked kind of cute. The green costume looked like something out of Robin Hood or Peter Pan. Sakura really liked it and she thought the pointed hat was a nice touch, even though the tights were kinda…tight. There was something about the material that felt…unusual. It didn't feel like cloth. It felt like something else.

It was a quiet night in Penguin Park and hardly a creature was stirring. Except, of course, for Sakura, Li, Eriol, Kero, Suppi, and…Madison with her camera. Not even a bird was chirping. There was no sign of any creature.

"It's too quiet out here," Sakura noted. "Kero, how do we even know where to begin looking?"

"Focus, Sakura," Kero told her. "Doesn't this place feel…unusual? Concentrate."

Sakura closed her eyes and stood silent. Something about this place WAS out of balance. As if something had been disrupting the atmosphere. But what could it be?

"Something's here," Sakura mumbled. "But what could it be?"

As soon as Sakura asked that question, a rustling was heard coming from the bushes. Something jumped out of the bush and roared loudly. It was an enormous Tiger with electricity emitting from its stripes. It had to be the Thunder Tiger.

Suppi gulped. "Oh great. It's our old buddy."

Sakura and Li stepped forward. They knew what they had to do. They had to fight this new menace. Sakura immediately went for her old Clow key.

"Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!"

Sakura held up her wand. She was ready to make the first move and capture this first crystal, the Thunder Crystal. Unfortunately…the Thunder Tiger had other ideas. It started running passed Sakura and her friends and was quickly running out of sight.

"Hey!" Sakura shouted. "You're not supposed to run!"

"After it!" Kero added. "We can't let it escape!"

Sakura and her friends went running after the quick Tiger. They weren't getting any closer, but the Tiger wasn't getting away either.

"Um…should I make that phone call?" Madison suggested. She was referring to Sailor Jupiter.

"Not yet," Sakura replied. "I think we can take this thing ourselves!"

As experienced as Sakura was, she could also be as stubborn as she was when she was ten. She wasn't ready to call for backup just yet. Sakura wanted to try her hand at this. She was the Sakura Card Mistress. She was probably the most powerful magician on the face of the planet.

How hard could this be?


Next Time: Sakura finally gets that Thunder Tiger cornered, but things won't be getting any easier. Especially…when others join in the hunt for the crystals…on behalf of evil. Villains from throughout the animated universe (both anime and non-anime) will start to go after the eight crystals. And let's not forget that an alien is also looking for them. Things are set to get a lot more chaotic starting in the next part, so come back for that.


Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below!