Last Time: Sakura successfully subdued the Speed Crystal, despite an unexpected encounter with Pietro Maximoff, otherwise known as Quicksilver. In hopes of spreading out the crystals, Sakura placed the Speed Crystal in the hands of her best friend, Madison Taylor. Unfortunately, Doctor Octopus saw the exchange and broke into Madison's estate, slowly taking out each security guard. Once Doc Ock had Madison in his clutches, though, Li Shoran walked in and faced off with the bad doctor. Now the second battle for the Speed Crystal was about to begin.


Hunt For the Crystals: Episode 7


"Eriol, we've got to get home," Suppi said. "Why are we coming back?"

Eriol smirked one of his trademark evil smiles. "I didn't give Madison her good night kiss."

Suppi groaned. "That's it? We were halfway home! I was ready to get some sleep! I feel tired!"

That shocked Eriol. "YOU feel tired? YOU?"

Suppi sweatdropped. "Ok, so maybe Kero rubbed off on me a little bit. Can we just get this over with?"

Eriol approached Madison's front gate and immediately sensed something was wrong. The guards who usually patrolled the front gate were down on the ground, either napping…or unconscious. The lights inside Madison's mansion were out. Madison usually kept at least one light off whenever her mother was away on business and there was no way her mother could have been back from her trip already. That left Eriol worried.

With the guards unconscious, Eriol climbed the front gate and ran over to the other side of the mansion where Madison's room was located. And sure enough, Eriol heard screaming…from Madison.

"Li!"

Another voice sounded. "Make it easier on yourself. Step back and give me what I want!"

It was a sinister voice with a German accent. Eriol knew his girlfriend and his 'dear descendant' were in danger. He had to do something, but then he looked to his left at the floating Suppi.

"Go get Sakura!"

Suppi hesitated. "Eriol…don't you think I should…"

"Just do it!!"

Suppi didn't ask any more questions, he just flew off, leaving Eriol alone. From the sounds of what was going on inside the mansion, Li was in for a fight and Madison was in trouble. He had to do something.

So Eriol made his way to a nearby window…and climbed into the mansion.


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


Li should have gone for a crushing blow in the opening minute, but since this four-tentacle creep had Madison in his grasp, he couldn't risk hurting her. So there was a momentary standoff.

"I want the crystal," he said again. "One of you better give it to me…or else you shall suffer the consequences!"

Li then got an idea. His wind spell might work. It could at least stun this guy while keeping Madison safe and she might be able to shake herself loose from this fiend's grasp. He held out his sword and went for his wind spell, but the octopus man wrapped another of his metallic tentacles around Li. As Li was lifted off the ground, he ended up dropping his sword. He was stuck with no other offensive moves.

"You two are going to give me that crystal!" the guy snarled. "I'll tear down this entire mansion if I have to, but I'll find it!"

Li could only look three ways. He looked into Madison's eyes, filled with fear, not knowing what would happen next. Then he looked into the octopus man's face. His eyes were covered by the dark sunglasses, but there was no mistaking that he had malicious intents. Then Li looked down on the ground…at his sword. He wished he could reach it.

But Li was stuck…and there was seemingly no one who could reach him.


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


Suppi hoped his luck hadn't run out. By this time, he had memorized the path to Sakura's house. And he needed to go fast. It sounded like Madison and Li were in trouble and it would be up to the Sakura Card Mistress to help them.

Suppi finally found Sakura's house. He flew in through the open window, the one in Sakura's room, and immediately found…

…emptiness.

"They're not here," Suppi said to himself. "Where could they be?"

There was always the possibility that they were on their way home. There was always the possibility that they got sidetracked. Maybe Suppi was a lot faster than he thought. But one thing was for sure. Sakura, Lita, and Kero weren't home.

Suppi then stuck his head out of Sakura's bedroom door. He saw someone come out from across the hall. It was Sakura's big brother, Tori.

"I'll be right back, Julian."

A thought suddenly hit Suppi. Julian was here. That meant that this trip hadn't been for naught. Suppi COULD get help. But he realized that it must have been years since Julian had made the transformation. This was an emergency, though.

Suppi then wandered inside. It was really a futile gesture to keep secrets from Julian, since Suppi believed that Julian was aware of everything. Julian didn't see the little guardian beast at first. So Suppi just uttered one word.

"Trouble."

Julian looked around. "Who said that?"

Suppi spoke up again. "Big trouble. Li and Madison!"

Julian looked around. "Did you say…Li and Madison are in trouble?"

Suppi spoke up louder. "WE NEED YUE!!"

Julian couldn't get another word off. He got up and moaned softly. It was happening. The transformation was taking place. And sure enough, wings sprouted out of Julian's back and covered his entire body. When the wings spread, there was no Julian. There was only Yue.

Suppi flew up. "Am I glad to see you! We need your help!"

Yue looked out the window emotionlessly. "This better be good. I usually don't come out for anyone except for Kero and the Card Mistress. But you said there was trouble? The Mistress's best friend and boyfriend?"

"They're in big trouble and I can't find Sakura anywhere!" Suppi answered. "We need your help! Come on!"

Suppi flew outside. There was no time to waste. So he flew out the window and waited for the mighty guardian, Yue, to follow him.


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


Tori walked back with another plate of food for his hungry best friend, Julian. But he was shocked to see that Julian wasn't there. It was the guardian, Yue.

"You're back," Tori said softly.

Tori knew everything about Julian's secret. He knew of the existence of Yue. In fact, there were a lot of things that Tori knew about. He just chose not to reveal his knowledge. But Tori realized something. If Yue was here…then that meant…

"There's trouble," Yue said in his usual cold demeanor.

"My sister?" Tori asked, sounding concerned.

"Not…exactly," Yue answered. "As far as I know, no. It's her friends. Her best friend and the one you call 'the brat'."

Tori shrugged. He couldn't believe that Yue had come out after all these years…to save the brat. "Then you're leaving?"

Yue looked out the window somberly. "I'll be back. Hopefully this won't take long. I sense, however, that there is a greater danger out there. Something I am not yet aware of. But I'll be fine. Don't worry, Tori."

Tori sighed. "Be careful."

Yue actually let out a smile. There was a bond between Tori and Julian and that bond extended all the way to Julian's alter ego as well. If Yue ever cared for anybody, he cared for Tori and Sakura. And that made Tori a happy man.

As Yue flew out the window, Tori couldn't help but think of what he meant. A greater danger. He knew that couldn't have meant any good. He wished he could put his finger on it. Tori used to be able to sense other things. He used to have the power to sense spirits…and sense magic.

But alas, that power was gone. Tori sacrificed it to save Julian and Yue. So Tori could do nothing…but wait helplessly…and hope everything would be ok.


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


"Sakura, is there a reason we took this detour?" Kero asked again.

Sakura ignored the question. She needed some more time to think, so she didn't head straight home. The fact that she seemed out of it started to worry Kero and Lita. There were a lot of thoughts crossing her mind that night. A lot of thoughts…about her life.

But those thoughts were quickly cut off.

"Sakura!"

Sakura gasped when Kero pointed to the sky. A small figure could be made out flying through the air. It looked like Suppi. But what caught Sakura's eye…was who was flying behind him.

"It can't be," she breathed. "It's been too long."

"It's Yue!" Kero shouted cheerfully. Then he got a little more worried. "Um…wait a minute…why is Yue out?"

"A crystal?" Sakura guessed.

"Hey, Sakura, didn't we just come from that way?" Lita pointed out.

Sakura's eyes widened. Lita made a valid point. Yue and Suppi were flying towards where Sakura and Lita were just coming out of. They were heading…for Madison's house.

Sakura gasped again. "Madison! LI!!" In the blink of an eye, Sakura unleashed one of her cards. "Fly!"

Sakura got on her wand and Kero was right behind her…but Lita wasn't joining her. In fact, Lita practically turned white. She was almost shaking in fear.

"Y-You want m-me to f-f-fly?" Lita asked.

Sakura nearly forgot about what they had shared with each other. She forgot that Lita was DEATHLY afraid of flying. But this was an emergency. Sakura's best friend and the man she loved more than anything were probably in danger.

"Please, Lita!" Sakura begged. "You don't have to be scared. I won't let you fall. But please! We don't have any time to lose!"

Lita wasn't moving. In fact, she took a step back. She was still scared. Sakura had never seen anything like it. Kero had, though.

"It's just like you and ghosts," Kero told Sakura.

"PLEASE!" Sakura pleaded again. "I don't want to leave you, but I will if I have to! I have to help my friends! Just hang on to me, Lita! PLEASE!"

Lita closed her eyes and let out a long, soft moan. She climbed onto Sakura's wand and clutched Sakura's waist VERY tight. She kept her eyes closed and didn't open them at all. When Sakura began flying, Lita buried her face in Sakura's back and held her very closely. It was obvious that Lita was afraid of flying. Sakura couldn't blame her. She remembered hearing that her parents were killed in a plane crash.

But Sakura could finally see it. Madison's estate was in the distance. But Suppi and Yue were not. They must have already landed.


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


Li didn't know what else to do. But he could feel the octopus man's tentacles squeezing tighter. He was clearly losing his temper, but Li wouldn't give in. And neither would Madison. They wouldn't surrender the Speed Crystal.

"Do not think I won't crush you!" the octopus man shouted. "Give me the crystal!"

There was still no surrender. Li and Madison refused to cooperate and it seemed that the octopus man was ready to squeeze the life out of both of them. But someone unexpected rushed in through the open window and grabbed the octopus man from behind. Li and Madison fell from his grasp and the octopus man was tossed aside. Li then saw who had saved them…and he couldn't believe it.

"Yue!"

After many years, Yue had returned and he arrived just in time to save Li and Madison. And needless to say, the octopus man wasn't expecting the guardian to arrive.

"And what are YOU supposed to be?" the octopus man demanded.

"I am Yue, guardian under the moon. And you had better leave this place!"

"Yue, is it?" the octopus man grinned. "I am Doctor Octopus and it is YOU who had better get out of my way! This does not concern you!"

"These are friends of the Card Mistress," Yue said coldly. "So this DOES concern me!"

"I'm not leaving until I get that crystal!" Doctor Octopus shouted.

Yue was not shaken. He wasn't moving, so Doc Ock decided to attack. He lunged out with his tentacles. But Yue created his shield barrier, thwarting the attack. Yue then attacked with his ice crystal shards knocking Ock backwards until Li came with a flying kick that knocked him out the window.

Li and Yue went over to the window to see that Ock was not out of it yet. He had used his tentacles to soften his landing. He turned towards Li and Yue and shook his fist menacingly.

"You think I'm finished? This has just begun! I…AAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Something had struck Ock and he was clutching his head. Li didn't know what to make of it. At first, he thought Yue had done something, but the guardian was unsure of what happened. Then Li saw it. It was Sakura, with Lita, Kero, and Eriol right behind her, and she was holding out her wand. She was attacking with one of the Sakura Cards. And it didn't take long, either. Doctor Octopus was out cold.

Yue flew out with Li and Madison hanging on. Once those three were out, they ran up to Sakura, Lita, Kero, and Eriol. They looked down at the fallen octopus man.

"What'd you use?" Li asked.

Sakura held up her secret weapon. "The Erase Card. He won't remember any of this. Who is he?"

"You mean you don't know?" Li asked. "I thought he ran with the same crowd as that speed demon you saw."

Sakura gulped. "I hope not." She ran over and gave Li a hug. Eriol ran over to Madison and did the same. They were glad that nothing tragic happened.

Suddenly, sirens were heard. It was the police. Sakura gasped. She didn't recall anyone calling the police. Sakura just looked at her friends.

"One of the guards must have come to," Madison assumed.

Yue just turned away. "In that case, I guess I'll leave. I'm glad you and your friends are safe, Sakura."

"Wait, Yue!" Sakura called out. "It's been such a long time since we last saw you. You aren't leaving us now…are you?"

Yue didn't show any emotion, but he heard Sakura's plea. "I can never truly leave, Sakura. I will always be there in case you need me. And with this sense I have…I feel that you will need me again in the near future. But for now, I must go. Someone's…waiting for me."

Yue flew off just as the police began coming towards the front gate. Sakura stuffed Kero in her pocket and Suppi flew under Li's hat. The only ones present now were Sakura, Li, Madison, Eriol, and Lita. The police came in and kneeled beside the fallen Doc Ock.

"It's him," one of them said in disbelief. "The fugitive from the United States." He looked up at Madison. "He's a very dangerous criminal. How did you stop him?"

Madison scrambled for an explanation. "Um…he…shocked himself…with the fuse box. He didn't watch where he was throwing those metal arms."

The police picked up the bad doctor and started carrying him to the nearby police car. One of the cops scratched his head. "It's a miracle no one was hurt. Are you all ok?"

Li saw that Madison, Eriol, and Lita were keeping their charade going pretty well, putting on an illusion of false serenity. But he also noticed Sakura, who wasn't looking anywhere near content. He could sense she was distressed by another freak on the hunt for the crystals.

"We're all fine," Madison said. "Thank you, officer."

The officer shrugged and joined his colleagues. The police drove off, leaving everyone by Madison's front gate. Everyone was shaken, that much was for sure. But Li had to admit that things could have been a lot worse, had Sakura not shown up with the Erase Card. And of course, there was the sudden appearance of Yue.

"Evil is searching for the crystals," Eriol said ominously. "First there was the speed demon Sakura saw and now a criminal from the United States. I hope there isn't anyone else."

It was at that moment that Sakura walked a few steps away from the gate. "Madison…the fuse box only keeps the lights in your mansion on, right?"

Madison nodded. "Why do you ask, Sakura?"

Sakura pointed out into the distance. "Because your house isn't the only one that's blacked out."

Li looked out into the city and saw that Sakura was right. The lights were all out. Not only that, but Li could sense something was out of balance.

Eriol shook his head. "We have another crystal. The Darkness Crystal."

Sakura sighed. "It's late. I just wish this night would end."

Kero stuck his head out of Sakura's pocket. "Sorry, Sakura. But you're the Card Mistress. You do what you have to do. Remember, the world's in your hands."

Sakura didn't look comforted by those words, so Li brandished his sword.

The woman he loved was going to need his help, because they were going off to hunt another crystal.


Next Time: One villain down, but there's more coming. Yes, the Darkness Crystal is out there, but what form will it take? And will it be too powerful for our heroes?


Any comments? Let me know what you think by mailing me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.