Summary: Sakura takes her secret scrapbook to visit Madison, who's still grounded. Then they start to recall the Fly Card.
Key:
"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts
"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover
Episode 3- Recalling the Fly Card
It was time again. Time for Sakura to go offer her grounded friend, Madison, some companionship. And on this Friday, she could use it. Only this time, Sakura had something tucked under her arm. It was her secret scrapbook, filled with memories from the days Sakura hunted the Clow Cards.
When Sakura arrived at Madison's front door, she was immediately met by Li. He was well aware that Sakura was going to tell this story. After all, Li didn't know too much about what happened before he arrived. So Sakura agreed to share with him and Madison.
The two sweethearts held hands and walked inside. They made their way through the vast flight of stairs and the long hallway until they reached Madison's room. Sakura knocked, but there was no answer. Then Li knocked and there was no response there, either.
"Is she here?" Sakura asked.
"Where's she gonna go?" Li responded. "She's grounded."
Sakura slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The room was pretty dark, as there was only a lamp illuminating a small part of the room. There was Madison sitting near the light, looking out the window.
"Madison?"
Madison turned around to face Sakura and Li, and Sakura almost wanted to burst into laughter. She snickered as she saw a very serious Madison…wearing a fake beard.
"Friends from the outside world," Madison mumbled. "Tell me, my friends. How is the outside world this time of year?"
Li sweatdropped. "Madison, it hasn't been THAT long."
"Hasn't been that long?" Madison repeated indignantly. "Li, it's been three weeks! Three weeks of being locked away in my room! I'm starting to get cabin fever!"
"You DO know that you go out for school, right?" Li asked.
Madison glowered. "I mean, besides that! I'm just a 17-year-old hermit, stuck away in solitude with no sign of the outside world, other than this window."
Sakura almost sweatdropped herself. Madison was getting delirious. Of course, she was also being melodramatic.
"Well…that's why we're here," Sakura smiled. "We came to be your companions…from the outside world. And…I brought my scrapbook."
Madison suddenly became very cheerful. "You mean THE scrapbook? The one containing all our mementos of the Clow Cards?"
"That's the one," Sakura grinned. "I didn't remember it until yesterday. I…really didn't stop to look back at the past until Li told us about what happened after we sealed the Fiery Card. That's when I decided to look through it. And…I was hoping we could look through it together."
Madison giggled. "Ok. Let's do it!"
Sakura placed the scrapbook on Madison's bed, while Li turned on a light. Being melodramatic again, Madison covered her face.
"AAH! Natural light! It's been so long! It burns!" Then she sweatdropped and ripped the fake beard off. "Ok, I'm done."
The three gathered around the scrapbook as Sakura turned to the first page. Madison immediately pointed it out.
"Oh, I remember this. This was the first picture I took of you and Kero."
That got Kero's attention. He stuck his head out of Sakura's pocket and took a peek at the picture. Sakura couldn't help but notice the picture either. Sakura and Kero were standing on opposite ends of the picture, both turning their heads away from each other. It almost blew Sakura's mind.
"You guys didn't like each other much at the beginning, did you?" Li pointed out.
"Well, you got to see this from my perspective," Kero piped up. "I was just waking up from a 30-year nap. And instead of being in my big red lion body, I found myself flying around as a stuffed animal. To make things worse, I had let the Clow Cards out of my sight and the only one who could get them back was this girl. So of course I wasn't too thrilled."
Sakura laid back and smiled. "I have a feeling we have our next story."
"I told her everything she had to know," Kero continued. "I told her it was her job to seal the Clow Cards. And what did she do? She turned the tables on me. So we got into that big argument until…"
Flashback: Sakura's Room
P.O.V.: Kero
"I'm telling you, Sakura! YOU released the Clow Cards, so YOU have to get them back!"
The girl, Sakura, wasn't giving up. "And I'm telling you, Kero! YOU let the cards out of your sight and YOU were supposed to guard them! So it should be YOU who should get them back!"
Kero shook his head. "Uh-uh. YOU!"
"No, YOU!"
"YOU!"
"No, YOU!"
It was starting again. The argument had resumed. Kero was getting tired of this little girl trying to pawn off her responsibility on him. She's the one with the powers, so she should seal the Clow Cards. Why couldn't she just accept it?
**SCREECH**
Kero and Sakura both turned their heads towards the window. A loud squawk sounded from outside and fierce winds began blowing into Sakura's room.
~* No! I hope that's not what I think it is! She'd never be able to handle it! *~
Sakura walked over and tried to close the window and was met with a gust of wind. Kero slowly made his way towards his window and saw his worst fear confirmed. It was a huge bird, much bigger than an average bird. It could only be…
~* The Fly Card! No! Why? *~
Sakura looked in awe at the huge bird flying above her house. "What is that?"
Kero sighed. "It's the Fly Card. Well, Cardcaptor, it's time for you to get to work."
Sakura sweatdropped. "B-B-But I don't know how to stop that! I don't know what to do!"
"I'll lead you through it," Kero tried saying. "So take the key and let's go already!"
Without waiting, Kero flew out and waited for Sakura to come down. This was going to be a VERY long night.
~* I hope she knows what she's getting into. *~
~----------~
[Li: I don't remember this part. How did you end up sealing Fly, Sakura?]
[Sakura: That was a night I'll never forget. I had no idea what I was doing.]
[Kero: But I tried to lead her through it the best I could. Since she didn't even know about the Clow Key, I had to give her a few pointers...]
Flashback: The Streets
P.O.V.: Kero
Kero waited patiently for Sakura to get ready. Then she finally came out. She had her skates on, but she was wearing the same thing she had in her house: her pajamas.
"You're wearing that?" Kero asked curiously. "Isn't exactly what I'd picture a Cardcaptor wearing."
"Back off," Sakura mumbled. "I'm new at this. So where's this Fly Card?"
"It's right over there."
Kero pointed at the Fly Card perched down in the middle of the empty street. This would be their best chance. So it was time for Kero to teach this new girl the basics.
"Ok, the first thing you have to do is bring out your sealing wand."
Sakura blinked. "Sealing wand?"
"That's right. The sealing wand is what you'll use to seal the Clow Cards with and you get the sealing wand by using your Clow Key. Now repeat after me: Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite…"
"Wait…say it again. I got lost."
Kero growled. "Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!"
Sakura took a deep breath and held the Clow Key in front of her. She sighed and began to recite the incantation. "Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!"
At the sound of those words, the Clow Key began its transformation into the sealing wand. When Sakura took the wand in her hand, she stood staring at it for a moment. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. Kero couldn't understand it.
"Hey!" he cried out. "You have a card to seal, you know! Sheesh. It's like you've never seen a wand before."
Sakura reluctantly rolled forward. "B-B-But what do I do? How do I do this?"
"You go up to the card and tell the Fly Card to return to its power confined!" Kero coaxed. "That's it!"
Sakura started to feel a little more at ease. "Well…I guess that's not so hard." Sakura cautiously approached the Fly Card and held the wand out. "Fly Card! Return…"
**SCREECH**
The Fly Card started screeching and blowing gusts of winds towards Sakura and Kero. It obviously wasn't going quietly.
"I thought you said I just had to walk up to it!" Sakura whined.
"I didn't say it wouldn't put up a fight!" Kero said defensively. "But there's more than one way to seal a card. Take out Windy!"
Sakura tried to maintain her place on the ground as she reached for Windy. "What do I do with it?"
"Have the card release and dispel!" Kero answered.
Sakura nodded. "Windy! Release…"
**SCREECH**
The Fly Card was quick. It started to rush Sakura and Kero. Kero felt his life flashing before his eyes. This girl was a total amateur. She had no idea what she was up against. At this rate, they'd all be doomed.
Then, Sakura's face brightened. "I have an idea!" Then Sakura started to skate away.
Kero gasped at this sight. "Hey! You can't just run away! Come back! Sakura…!"
The guardian beast couldn't get another word out. The Fly Card slammed a wing on the ground, knocking Kero in the air. He could see the Fly Card taking off after Sakura. Then Kero saw Sakura take her plan into action. She skated up an inclined hill and jumped on the soaring Fly Card. The Fly Card then began to take to the skies.
~* Uh-oh! She's in a lot of trouble now! *~
Kero realized how dangerous this was. So he tried to catch up to the Fly Card. By the time he made it up there, he saw Sakura holding on for dear life with one hand, while holding Windy with the other hand.
"Windy! Release and dispel!"
The Windy Card released and began to tie up the Fly Card. The Fly Card was completely wrapped up and couldn't fly any higher. In fact, the Fly Card began to descend. Finally, the Fly Card landed and found itself stuck. Sakura leaped to the ground and held out the wand.
"Fly Card! Return to your power confined! Fly!"
Kero couldn't believe the sight in front of him. She had done it. Sakura had beaten the Fly Card. Maybe this girl wasn't as much an amateur as he thought.
Sakura frowned as she held up the Fly Card. "That was really scary, Kero. I'm not sure if I should go through with this."
Kero knew that wasn't possible. She was chosen, but obviously frightened. That was to be expected. She was only a little girl who found her life had suddenly changed.
Kero tried to comfort her. "Well…think of it as a new experience. People need new experiences to make life interesting. Look, you're a lot better than you think you are. I mean, you were able to capture Fly on your own. And now…it's time for another new experience."
"What do you mean?"
"Fly is now under your control. Try using it and see what happens."
Sakura looked at Fly nervously…then tossed it into the air. "Fly! Release!"
Sakura struck Fly with the wand and it took effect. A pair of wings grew at the end of the wand. "W-What's this?"
"Fly's power," Kero answered. "Hop on the wand and we can fly."
"Are you serious?" Sakura asked, with a hint of a smile.
"That's right. So let's go flying already."
Sakura smiled as she mounted the wand. Then…she took off. Sakura squealed in delight as she took to the skies and flew around the town. Somehow, Kero knew she'd be just fine.
Each time you win
Thus you blush from head to toe
When you catch sight of her
She's just an ordinary girl
In a magical world
Now she's on the trail of trouble
(And the adventure's just begun)
One day, you find your whole life has changed
As quick, be brave
Your heart will show you the way
She's just an ordinary girl
In a magical world
Now she's on the trail of trouble
This was something Kero would have to get used to. Like or not, he was stuck with this girl. She was the chosen Cardcaptor. Maybe in time, he'd even learn to like her.
So he tried to make peace. "Um…look I want to apologize for being such a grouch earlier. It's just that I panicked, but I shouldn't have blamed you. I'm sorry. Maybe we can be friends. And since you're the new Cardcaptor, we're going to be around each other for a very long time, so..."
Sakura suddenly became indignant. "Hey! I told you! I don't know if I'm going to keep doing this!"
"Huh?!" Kero demanded. "You have to do it! You've been chosen!"
"I haven't decided," Sakura pouted. "I'll let you know."
Kero growled and slapped his forehead. Someday, he and this girl could be friends. But that day wouldn't come until she got it through her head that she was a CARDCAPTOR, whether she liked it or not.
~----------~
[Sakura: This was all happening so fast for me. Even when I was flying through the sky, I still couldn't believe it. I thought it was all a wonderful dream. But that night, it all started to sink in...]
Flashback: Sakura's house (the aftermath)
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
As much as she tried, as many times as she tried to close her eyes, Sakura Avalon could not sleep that night. Not after everything that happened. It was all so much for her. Sakura sat up and looked at the other side of her room.
There it was. The Clow Book. The book that was slowly changing her entire life. Sakura knew that this was more than she could handle. She was tampering with forces she could not understand. She was never meant to be a Cardcaptor. What was that little stuffed animal thinking? This wasn't something a ten-year old could handle. But then she thought back to what little Kero said.
~* Can it really be true? Do I really have magical powers? Me? I'm just a little girl. But...what if it's really true? What if I really AM destined to find all these Clow Cards? But...do I really know what I'm getting into? What if the people close to me get hurt? What if I get hurt? What if I eventually have to make...an ultimate sacrifice? Why me? Of all people, why did this happen to me? *~
All those thoughts and many more crossed Sakura's mind. This was so much for her to absorb. She didn't know what to think anymore. She only knew one thing for sure.
~* My life...will never be the same again. *~
Sakura looked at the picture again. Those moments seemed like ancient history.
"Yep, things weren't always smooth between you two," Madison added. "But you eventually saw past your differences and became very good friends."
"I can hardly remember that anymore," Kero said. "I can't imagine me being like that towards Sakura anymore. No, I'm more like that to the Chinese Brat now."
"Just keep talking, you stuffed animal," Li muttered.
"I heard that, kid!" Kero snapped.
"So what?" Li shot back. "Stuffed animal! Stuffed animal! Stuffed animal! Stuffed…YEOW!!"
Kero couldn't take it anymore, so he bit Li's finger. Sakura could hardly believe that this used to be their relationship. But that wasn't the case anymore.
Sakura loved Kero. Not like a stuffed animal, but as one of her very best friends. She can't imagine her life without him.
Author's Note: How 'bout that? I actually found that song, Ordinary Girl (GOD BLESS NAPSTER)! So what was I trying to say again? Oh, yeah! I've done three of these so far and I'm wondering if I should keep going! But to do that, I need to know what you think! Your feedback's important to me, so tell me what you think!
So are there any comments? Please review below or mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and tell me what you think!
