Summary: Sakura and Li have a picnic under the stars (I can already hear most of you yelling out "KAWAII" ^_^). But when Li gives Sakura a present, the memory bug bites again.
Key:
"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts
"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover
Episode 18- Recalling the Power Card
The full moon was out and the stars shimmered in the sky over Penguin Park. Sakura marveled at it all.
"This was a wonderful idea, Li," Sakura said softly. "I love it."
Li smiled. "I thought you'd like a picnic under the stars. I'm glad you're enjoying it."
Sakura loved having nights like this with Li. And he never ceased to amaze her with his acts of love. But that wasn't all for that night. While Sakura took another bite out of her piece of cake, Li pulled out a gift-wrapped box.
"It's…for you."
Sakura gasped as she took the box. She hesitated momentarily, but saw Li encourage her to open it. Sakura unwrapped the box and opened it to reveal a stuffed elephant. Sakura beamed.
So did Li. "You like it?"
"I love it!" Sakura squealed. "Thank you, Li!" She quickly threw her arms around Li, but then she looked back at the elephant. "You know…this brings back a lot of memories."
Li blinked, not knowing what he had just done. "It does?"
Sakura gazed at the elephant. "Yeah…it reminds of a day seven years ago…back…"
Flashback: The Zoo
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
Sakura loved this field trip. She didn't get very many opportunities to go out to the zoo. So she treasured this moment. And she liked the assignment Mr. Terada left them. Each group had to get pictures of their favorite animals. This sort of assignment was tailor-made for her partner and best friend, Madison.
Of course, that wasn't on everyone's mind at the moment. Madison, Chelsea, Rita, and Nikki had other things on their minds. The night before, the huge penguin slide in Penguin Park was overturned in an amazing feat of strength.
"So what do you think turned over the penguin slide?"
"It had to be something huge!"
"And something strong!"
"What if it was a ghost?"
Sakura stopped in her tracks.
~* Nikki…why did you have to say that word? I'd better find something to change the subject. Ah, there's something. *~
"Hey, look! Elephants!" Sakura stammered.
Sakura ran over to the elephants, leaving her friends to wonder exactly why she was so quick to change the subject. But it was no secret. Everyone knew Sakura was deathly afraid of ghosts. Everyone finally conceded and went over to see the elephants. Sakura was glad that the talk of ghosts had stopped. But then, an explosion sounded. And that explosion was frightening the other animals.
"What was that?"
"I don't know. It came from over there."
"What if it's that ghost?"
Madison knew better and she walked over to Sakura to whisper her thought. "Sakura, do you think it's a Clow Card?"
Madison was fast. At times, she was even faster in picking up Clow Cards than Sakura, which was really remarkable considering she had no magical powers.
"I don't know," Sakura replied.
"Maybe you should ask Kero," Madison suggested.
"He's not here," Sakura told her. "I left him at home."
But as if on cue, Sakura started to hear a tapping coming from her lunch box. Her friends started to get suspicious.
"Um…you guys wait for me," Sakura chuckled nervously. "I'll be right back."
Sakura ran over behind a bush, with Madison in tow. Sakura opened her lunchbox and, as she suspected, there was Kero eating her lunch.
"Kero!" Sakura groaned. "You ate my lunch!"
Kero gave Sakura an innocent look. "Who? Me? I just smelled something coming from the kitchen and when I went to look, somehow I got locked in your lunchbox. It's really a crazy coincidence."
"Yeah, coincidence," Sakura muttered dryly. "Anyway, I'm actually glad you're here, Kero. I think there may be a Clow Card here."
"Here, at the zoo?" Kero asked. "Ok…what makes you think it's a Clow Card?"
**BOOM**
Kero sweatdropped. "Ok, that might be our first clue."
Sakura and Madison jumped out of the bush to see the zoo was being evacuated. The cages had been busted open by whatever that thing was. The animals were escaping and running around the zoo frightened. And there were craters being left on the ground. Each crater formed with the noise of a gunshot. Then the craters were heading for the elephants.
"Oh, no!" Sakura shouted. "The elephants!"
The mother elephant was standing in front of her child, ready to protect it. But then, the invisible force hurled the elephant into the air. Sakura gasped and she knew she had to do something quickly.
"Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!" Sakura quickly took the wand and pulled out a card. "Windy!"
Just as the elephant was making her fall to Earth, Sakura released Windy. Windy caught the elephant and placed her gently on the ground with her child. Having seen this display, Kero figured out what it was.
"This has to be the Power Card!"
Sakura looked on as Power attempted to go after the elephant again. Sakura wouldn't take that.
"Hey, Power! Why don't you come and get me?"
The invisible Power stopped in its tracks and started stomping towards Sakura. She had to make a move.
"Jump!"
Sakura started to jump out of the way, while Kero exchanged information with Madison.
"Power's weakness is in its pride," he said. "If Sakura can beat it at its own game, then it'll surrender. …Um…Madison…I think we better RUN!"
Sakura was running now alongside Madison and Kero as Power continued stomping after them.
"Sakura!" Kero called out. "To reveal Power's visible form, you have to name a contest!"
Sakura kept running and thought about what to do.
~* A contest? What kind of contest? It's the Power Card, so obviously I can't pick a contest where it can overpower me. I have to think. A contest where I can use my mind. Something like… *~
"Tug-o-war!!"
~* D'OH!! Why did I have to say that?! *~
The stomping stopped. Sakura and Madison stopped running and Power revealed its visible form. It was…a little impish girl.
Sakura couldn't believe it. "THAT'S Power?!" (A/N: This sound byte is just PRICELESS!)
Sakura stared down the smiling, mischievous Power and prepared herself for what she had just gotten herself into.
~----------~
[Sakura: Of course, what am I doing telling this part of the story. You know a lot better than me what happened, don't you, Li?]
[Li: Uh…I don't know what you're talking about.]
[Sakura: Oh, don't lie to me. You know what happened.]
[Li: Oh…you mean that. Well, you had to go and challenge Power to a game of tug-o-war. So I figured you'd need help…]
Flashback: The Zoo
P.O.V.: Li Shoran
Li looked down from the tree to see Sakura and the Power Card's visible form. There was a rope between them.
~* No…even SHE wasn't stupid enough to… *~
Li shook his head. She did. Sakura had challenged Power to a game of tug-o-war. There was no way Sakura would be able to win that challenge. But to her credit, she tried.
When the tug-o-war began, Sakura tried to pull Power over with all her strength. But Power toyed with Sakura. She was just pulling at a small fraction of her strength. Then Sakura got reinforcements. A huge elephant was helping her to pull the rope, but Power still had the upper hand.
~* Hopeless. Guess I better save the day. *~
Li took out the Time Card. "Time Card! Freeze the moment!"
Li struck the Time Card with his sword and time froze. He saw Sakura and Power both struggling. Li jumped out of the tree and loosened the rope from Power. He didn't have much time, but then he got an idea. He saw Sakura's lunchbox. He walked over there and saw a container of pudding.
~* Probably for the stuffed animal. Well…not anymore. *~
Li grinned mischievously as he took out what had to be Kero's pudding. He pocketed it and jumped back over to the tree. He then recalled Time. When Time unfroze, both Sakura and Power stumbled back.
Sakura looked to see that she had won. She almost couldn't believe it. She started jumping for joy at the sight of her victory.
"I did it!" she shouted. "I did it!! Unbelievable!! I beat the Power Card!! I did it!!"
~* That's right, Sakura. It's unbelievable, because it's…NOT BELIEVABLE! *~
Sakura calmed herself down long enough to walk over to the Power Card. "Now return to your power confined! Power Card!"
Sakura took the Power Card in her hand and was all smiles. Madison and Kero were still congratulating Sakura over her victory. Li knew better, though.
~* You're going to need a lot more than that, Sakura. You're still hopeless! *~
As they continued to celebrate, Li exited the scene, thinking about what he had just done.
Sakura wore a smirk. It caught Li by surprise, but Sakura had a smirk on her face. She could see Li was getting nervous.
"W-W-Why are you smiling like that?" Li asked.
Sakura sighed contentedly. "You know, it's been four years since I learned the truth about that whole day. But even now, I'm learning something."
"What's that?"
Sakura's smile grew. "Why did you help me that day, Li? It would've been to your advantage if you let the Power Card wipe the floor with me. So why'd you do it?"
Li stuttered. "B-B-Because you needed it. I-I-I felt s-sorry for you."
Sakura chuckled. "Sure you did. I think you felt something for me even back then, Li Shoran. You're just denying it again."
Li shook his head. "Come on. You're delirious."
"Am I?" Sakura asked dreamily.
Li shook his head again as he reached into the picnic basket. But when he looked in, he screamed.
"What is it?" Sakura asked. She looked inside and saw the picnic basket empty. Someone had cleaned it out. "KERO!!"
Kero stuck his head out of the basket. "What? I got hungry."
"What are you doing in there, Kero?" Li growled.
Kero glared at Li. "Getting back at you for stealing my pudding that day! Little Chinese thief!"
Li was about to reach for a jar, but Sakura stopped him…with a passionate kiss. Li suddenly forgot his anger and continued kissing Sakura. Kero, sickened by this sight, stuck his head back in the picnic basket.
It was getting late, but it didn't matter. Sakura and Li just stayed at Penguin Park that night, kissing under the stars.
Any comments? Then go ahead and mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.
