Last Time: Sakura defeated the Wind Eagle and got the Wind Crystal, but not without a price. Tori had to be taken to the hospital and Sakura moved further towards making that big decision. Seeing something was wrong, Kero tried to get info from Sailor Jupiter, who refused to tell. So Kero did the only thing he could do. He asked Sakura himself.


Hunt For the Crystals: Episode 11


There was an awkward silence. It was almost as if Sakura knew what was coming. Kero was determined to get some answers from her. After all they had shared, Kero couldn't understand what she could possibly want to keep from him.

"What…do you want to talk about?" Sakura finally asked, trying to sound completely natural…but not succeeding.

"There's something wrong, isn't there?" Kero began. "Sakura, is there something you're not telling me?"

Sakura shrugged. "What makes you say that?"

"It's been almost eight years, Sakura," Kero replied. "You can't keep anything from me. I know when something's wrong. What did you mean back there when you said your mind was made up?"

Sakura turned away. "I…don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?" Kero asked, now feeling more concerned. "Is it THAT bad?"

Sakura sighed deeply. "Kero…when I get all eight crystals…I can wish for whatever I want…right?"

"That's what the legend says."

"So…I can wish for…anything?"

"Um…yeah…anything."

Silence.

Sakura nodded. "That's good." Then she looked at Kero…and frowned. "No…I…I…I still don't know if I should." Her voice then lowered to a whisper. "I can't imagine life without you, Kero."

That made Kero even more curious. "What are you talking about? Sakura…what is it? Tell me!"

"I can't," Sakura said softly.

"I thought we never kept anything from each other," Kero said sadly.

Sakura closed her eyes. Kero could see there was a deep internal strife going on within the Sakura Card Mistress. But he just couldn't figure out what it was.

"…………Promise not to get mad?"

"Why would I get mad?" Kero smiled. "It couldn't possibly be that bad. It's got something to do with that one wish, doesn't it?"

Sakura nodded. "Yeah. I know what I want to wish for."

"What is it?"

"…………I want to wish……that I never found the Clow Book."

Silence.

In one sentence, Kero's whole world fell apart. That one sentence broke his heart…and would probably break the hearts of everyone around Sakura.

Silence.

"WHAT?!?! How could you even THINK about that?!?!"

Sakura buried her face in her pillow. "You see? This is exactly what I didn't want! Don't make this any harder!"

"But why would you even consider such a thing?! You're the world's most powerful sorceress!"

"That's just it! I can't take this anymore, Kero! I can't take being a magical girl anymore! I just want to have a normal life! And I can't take anyone else getting hurt!"

"Hurt?" Suddenly, it all hit Kero. "It's about Tori, isn't it?"

"It's about a lot of things. But seeing Tori get hurt again and after watching what almost happened to Madison with the Darkness Panther…I can't take it anymore. I can't put anyone else at risk. I just want to live a normal life."

"Sakura, you know that sort of thing can always happen. It comes with the territory. You knew that when you first agreed to this."

"AGREED?! I NEVER agreed to any of this!! I didn't ask for any of this to happen!" Sakura then hesitated. Then she calmed down…and continued. "Kero…do you remember what happened seven years ago? The last time Tori got hurt…with the Mirror Card?"

Kero knew that day all too well. It was the day the Clow Cards discovered Sakura was a Cardcaptor. "Yeah. I remember."

"Do you remember what we talked about when it was all over?"

Kero had to think a little harder, but then it hit him. "Yeah…I remember…"


~----------FLASHBACK----------~

"You know," Sakura began, "I just can't stop thinking about what happened to Tori. He shouldn't have been hurt like that."

"It's not your fault," Kero pointed out.

"Yeah, but…the Mirror Card went after Tori because of me. I'm the one who became a Cardcaptor…but he has to pay the price for it. Who else is gonna pay? It just doesn't seem fair. Do I have the right to put my friends and family in danger?"

"You didn't choose this, Sakura. It chose you."

~----------END FLASHBACK----------~


"And that's my whole point," Sakura said. "I didn't choose any of this. It chose me. Well, now I have the chance to make a choice. For once in my life, I can control my own destiny. And I've made my decision."

Kero was making a plea at this point. "But Sakura…have you thought about what might happen to me if you go through with that decision?"

Sakura buried her face in her pillow again. "You think I haven't thought of you, Kero? Of course I have! But I just can't stand this anymore. How much have I had to suffer because I became a Cardcaptor? How much have I had to sacrifice to master these cards? There's so much I could have if I just decided to live a normal life! It's all I want! I want to be normal! And the only way that can happen…is if I wish I never found the Clow Book! It'll be my only chance to start over!"

Kero was saddened by the words coming out of Sakura's mouth. "But…don't you care about me?"

Sakura raised her head. Her eyes were filled with tears. "I love you, Kero. But please understand…it's just been too weird. Between all the magic, the reincarnations, the battles, and watching everyone I've ever cared about suffer…I just can't take this anymore! Please don't make this any harder for me!"

Kero didn't want to give up, but frankly he was speechless. He never would have expected such a thing to come out of Sakura. And what made it so much sadder was the fact that she wasn't going to change her mind. Sakura really was going to make that wish…and that meant…there would be NO chosen Cardcaptor. The Clow Book would remain closed…forever.

Kero sadly flew over to his desk. He only wished there was some way to change her mind. But before he could say one last thing…the phone rang.

"Duty calls…again," Sakura said cynically. She picked up the phone. "Hello? … Hi, Madison. … Where? … What does it look like? … A Turtle? … I'll get Lita and Kero and I will meet you at the park. … Yue? No I don't think that's a good idea. We should leave Julian and Nakuru with Tori. … So we'll meet you there. Bye, Madison."

Kero flew despondently out of the desk. "Trouble?"

Sakura nodded. "I'll explain on the way."


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


Xander took out his device. It detected another crystal in the area and he was ready to go out and find it again. It was almost time to steal the crystals. There were only three remaining.

Then something happened. As Xander was about to leave the alley, he felt a powerful wind blowing towards a small part of the alley. Xander ducked behind a nearby dumpster…and couldn't believe what he was seeing.

A portal was opening…and someone was coming out of the portal.


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


The plan was successful. He had made it into…the future. He looked behind him as the portal closed. It was one of his mistress's last displays of power. She had nothing left. So Malachite had to make this opportunity count. He took out his communicator and contacted his mistress, Queen Beryl.

"It worked, Queen Beryl. I have arrived in the future."

On Malachite's screen was a gasping Queen Beryl. This was indeed her last resort. After Jedite, Nephite, and Malachite's beloved Zoicite had fallen, Malachite was the only one of Beryl's generals that remained. He was her number one man and with the Negaverse set to collapse any day now, he was sent on this mission that could forever turn the tide in the favor of the Negaverse.

"Are you all right?" Malachite asked.

"I exerted too much energy in opening the portal to the future. But…the rewards will be worth it. You are my most trusted soldier, Malachite. This is an extremely important mission that will affect the future of the Negaverse as we know it."

"Just what is it I am supposed to do?"

"I've sent you to the moment in time where the legendary eight crystals have risen from their burial plots beneath the Earth."

"Legendary eight crystals?"

"Legend has it that there were eight crystals buried beneath the Earth. They would rise again in the form of eight Crystal Beasts after ten thousand years. I have sent you to the point where ten thousand years have passed and the eight crystals have risen. The eight crystals have the power of Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Thunder, Speed, Strength, and Darkness respectively. Once restored to their crystal forms by the incantation, the crystals can then be pieced together. Whomever pieces the crystals together will be granted one wish before they return to their burial plots.

"Find these eight crystals. Once you piece them together, you must wish for the Negaverse to encompass that whole universe. This is important, Malachite! The Sailor Scouts have proven themselves to be too strong and I fear that, as it stands, the Negaverse will be unable to overcome them. That's why it is imperative that we get that one wish!"

"Do not worry, Queen Beryl. I shall find these crystals. And the Negaverse WILL take over. I will let nothing stand in my way."

"You're the last hope the Negaverse has, Malachite. DO NOT FAIL!"

With those shrill three words, the communication feed was cut off. Malachite was frustrated that all the forces of the Negaverse could not defeat the Sailor Scouts. It was so frustrating that it had to come to this. But Malachite was always loyal. He would obey Queen Beryl, no matter what happened…even after she ruthlessly killed his beloved Zoicite.

Eight crystals. That was the mission. Malachite was determined to succeed and, in this part of Japan, he was sure that there would be no one to stand in his way.

So all he had to do…was find the Crystal Beasts. A simple task, for sure.


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


It was time to go crystal hunting again and that meant Sakura had to go receive her next costume. And much to Sakura's surprise, Madison redid one of her old costumes…just to bring back memories. It was Sakura's old Fairy Princess costume, the one she used to chase the Dash Card seven years ago. The only difference was that the wings were a little bigger and the color was blue, but this was definitely the costume. Sakura smiled when she thought back to those days. Then she frowned. Those were the days she was hoping to erase.

Sakura wasn't used to flying at such a low altitude, but Sailor Jupiter still had that fear of flying. Jupiter walked alongside Eriol and Li. Suppi stayed perched on Eriol's shoulder and Madison was sitting behind Sakura, flying alongside her. Then Sakura noticed someone was missing.

She was always used to Kero either being in her pocket or flying along with her. Neither was happening at that moment. Kero was bringing up the rear, with a despondent look on his face. Sakura felt like breaking down right there. She hurt the guardian beast deeply when she announced her plans. Kero looked like he had been betrayed. Sakura didn't want to have to say goodbye to Kero…but it was for the best…wasn't it?

"What's wrong with Kero?" Madison asked concernedly.

Sakura hung her head down. "I'm sure it's nothing."

Then they reached their destination: the beach. While most portions of the beach were always crowded, Sakura and her friends found themselves in a part of the beach that was isolated. And that's where Sakura got the sense that something was out of balance.

Then Li pointed his sword towards the trouble. Sakura could see the next Crystal Beast. It was out in the ocean. And just as Madison told her earlier, it was a Turtle…the Water Turtle.

"How do we fight something in the water?" Jupiter asked.

Sakura knew the answer to that and reached for one of her cards. "Float Card! Give me the power to walk on water! Float Card! Release and dispel!"

Once the Float Card was released, Sakura slowly walked towards the ocean. She thought she would have at least one form of backup, but when she looked back…she found no one. Kero was still with the rest of Sakura's friends. He wasn't flying by her side. And that left Sakura sad. It looked like she would be on her own.

As much as Sakura wished for Kero to fight alongside her, she knew she had to go on, with or without him. So she kept on moving forward, the soles of her feet grazing the water, yet not getting wet thanks to the power of Float. Finally, Sakura stopped when she reached the Water Turtle.

The Turtle didn't waste any time in attacking. But it appeared that the Turtle's power was in controlling the water, because Sakura immediately saw a tidal wave coming towards her. Sakura gasped and reached for another card.

"Shield Card! Release!"

The protective bubble that was Shield came out just as the tidal wave came crashing down on top of Sakura. When the water cleared…Sakura was fine. All the impact of the tidal wave came down upon the Shield Card, leaving Sakura unharmed.

Sakura looked back at the shore one more time. Her friends were still back there and Sakura realized that she was too far out of reach. None of them could reach her.

She was on her own.


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


Madison was ready to panic. Sakura wasn't faring well against the Water Turtle. All she was doing was defending herself with the Shield Card. She couldn't get any offense in and Madison's best friend needed help. Of course, none of them could reach her; Sakura was too far away. But there was someone who could reach her. That was Kero…but he wasn't making any moves.

"Kero! Sakura needs help!" Madison pleaded.

Much to Madison's (and everyone else's) surprise…Kero just turned his back. "So what? What do I care?"

Madison gasped. "What did you just say?"

"I don't care!" Kero snapped.

Madison was in shock. "Kero…what are you saying? Listen to yourself!"

Kero ignored Madison and started to fly away, off to the distance away from everyone. But just then…Sailor Jupiter stood in front of Kero.

"She told you…didn't she?"

Kero nodded. "Yeah…she did. Just leave me alone."

There were so many questions going through Madison's head at that moment. When she looked at Eriol and Li, they were clearly in shock also. None of them could believe the little guardian beast's sudden outburst. One person who wasn't shocked, apparently, was Sailor Jupiter.

"Kero!" Li shouted. "Come back here!"

Nothing. The little guardian beast just sadly floated over to a rock…and sat down. He sighed deeply and looked the other way. Madison saw so many emotions on Li's face. It looked like he wanted to snap Kero in half. He was also afraid…that something was about to happen to Sakura.

Li suddenly turned to Jupiter. "What's going on? You know something, don't you?"

Jupiter sighed. "I guess there's no point in keeping secrets anymore. I'll tell you later. Right now, Sakura needs help."

"We can't help her, though!" Madison exclaimed. "She's too far away. The only one who could reach her is someone who can fly."

"I think we all know someone else who can fly," Eriol suddenly said. He looked at Suppi.

Suppi flew off Eriol's shoulder and nodded. "I can do it! Just leave it to me!"

Suppi started flying towards the ocean just as his wings began to glow a faint color. He began the transformation into his true form. And soon enough, it was Spinel Sun who was going to Sakura's rescue.

Madison clasped her hands together…hoping that Sakura would come out of this ok.


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


Sakura wasn't getting any chances to strike. The Water Turtle hadn't moved an inch, yet it was getting the best of Sakura by telepathically moving the ocean's water. She realized she couldn't just keep hiding under the Shield Card, so she took a big risk and recalled it. Then Sakura jumped on the Water Turtle's back. She was ready to try a tried and true strategy.

"Power Card!"

Sakura managed to release the Power Card and was ready to clobber the Water Turtle, but the Turtle growled and shrugged Sakura off. It thrust her off its back and Sakura landed on her back on top of the ocean, not sinking because Float was still out and keeping Sakura above water. Sakura gasped when she saw that the Water Turtle was trying to finish her off.

The Water Turtle unleashed a powerful whirlpool underneath Sakura. It was whirling quickly and looking to suck anything in. And then, to Sakura's shock…she found her foot was in the whirlpool. The whirlpool was overcoming Float's power. Sakura was being slowly sucked in.

Sakura knew there had to be another card she could use to escape, but she couldn't think fast enough. Sakura was sinking and that was all that was running through her head. She couldn't think of an escape plan. She couldn't believe it.

She couldn't believe…that it was about to end like this.


Next Time: Sakura's slowly being sucked into the Water Turtle's whirlpool. Will Spinel Sun save her in time? Will Kero put aside his feelings of apathy to help the best friend he's ever had? Come back next time to find out!


Any comments? Tell me what you think of this story by mailing me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.