Summary: Sakura's waiting until the last minute to do a book report and if you've followed the episodes faithfully, you know that this will bring back memories. Only this time…Sakura also remembers moments from that day that might not have been seen (meaning I'm adding a few unique touches of my own).
Key:
"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts
"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover
Episode 24- Recalling the Move Card and the Scramble for a Library Book
The library was uncharacteristically full. Sakura knew why. It was because just about everyone waited until the last minute to do their book report. Sakura was no exception. In fact, the only exceptions were right next to her. Madison had her book report finished since last week. And Li and Meilin had finished their reports a few days ago. Sakura hadn't even started.
"It's a good thing I found this," Sakura sighed. "It should only take me a few hours to read 150 pages."
"And then write a report on it?" Madison grinned.
Sakura frowned. "I can do it. I've done it before."
"It amazes me that you haven't learned," Li shook his head. "Don't remember all those times you've waited until the last minute? Don't you remember what happened seven years ago when you tried to do your book report at the last minute?"
Sakura sweatdropped. "Li…do we really want to remember that story now? Especially in front of…you know…"
Meilin glanced at Li. "What does she mean?"
"You obviously don't remember," Madison said. "Why don't you tell us, Sakura?"
"I've got reading to do," Sakura responded with her nose in the book. "Maybe someone else can start this story."
"Fine, then I'll tell it," Madison sighed. "It was seven years ago, the day before we were all set to go back to school. Everyone had done their book reports, except…"
Flashback: The Library
P.O.V.: Madison Taylor
Madison wished that the summer could last longer, but school started again tomorrow. But she had no worries. Her book report had been finished for a while now. The only reason she was at the library was because…
"Ok…ok…I don't need to panic. I can do this. I just need to read something SHORT!"
Madison had to support her best friend, Sakura. Sakura had been bitten by the procrastination bug and didn't have a book report done…or even a book to read.
"So what are we looking for again?" Madison asked.
"Something short," Sakura told her. "Look for The Little Piggy story. That should be short enough."
With that, Sakura, Madison, and Kero split up. They searched up and down the library for any sign of The Little Piggy story, but there was no luck. After a few arduous minutes of searching, Sakura and Madison met up by a bookshelf, but Kero hadn't come back yet.
"Did you find it?" Sakura asked desperately.
Madison shook her head. "I couldn't find it anywhere. Where's Kero?"
Sakura's face brightened. "Maybe he found it."
Then Kero popped up from the bookshelf, scaring Sakura and Madison. His face was less than its usual cheerful state. "Um…I found your book."
Sakura's face lit up. "Where is it?"
Kero sighed. "You're not gonna like it."
Kero jumped into Sakura's pocket and started directing her to where he saw the book. Madison walked along behind them and they both got to one of the library's tables. Then Sakura let out a whimper. Madison wished she had her camera, because the look on her face was priceless. Someone else was reading The Little Piggy Story and it was…
~* Li Shoran? Well, what are the odds? Both he and Sakura decided to wait until the last minute. They seem to have so much in common. Hmm…better not say that out loud, though. Sakura looks like she's about to have a breakdown. *~
Sakura was looking on in horror. Her only saving grace was in the hands of her rival. It had to be such a stinging irony.
"Just relax, Sakura," Madison soothed. "He looks like he's almost finished. We'll just wait until he puts it down."
Li was a smart one, though. He saw the two girls and the little guardian beast eyeing him and he put the book down. He got up and walked over to them.
"Can I help you?" Li asked.
Sakura giggled sheepishly. "Are…you done with that book?"
"No," Li answered without hesitation. "I'm going to need it for a while. I…sort of haven't done my book report yet."
"Wow," Madison remarked. "You both waited until the very last minute. What are the odds?"
"Who asked you?" both Sakura and Li snapped.
Madison sweatdropped and stayed silent. Her opinion clearly wasn't needed on this one.
"Come on, Li," Sakura begged. "I'll be quick. I promise. Please just let me see the book."
"No," Li replied. "I'll give it to you when…hey!"
Everyone looked on the desk to see that The Little Piggy story had disappeared from its spot on the desk. Li suddenly eyed Sakura's pocket.
"You did this!" he shouted silently (after all, it IS a library). He pulled Kero out of Sakura's pocket. "What'd you do with the book? Tell me, you little stuffed animal!"
"What are you looking at me for?" Kero said innocently. "I didn't do it. Maybe someone else took it."
Li groaned. "Then I'll find it. Let me say that again so you'll understand, Sakura. I'LL find it."
Sakura grew determined. "We'll see who finds it first." She grabbed Madison by the wrist. "Let's go, Madison. I'll need a second set of eyes."
Sakura dragged Madison through the library looking for the elusive book. Madison started to wonder why she even came in the first place. She was just a spectator in all this.
~* Ok, I guess it's going to be an eventful last day, after all. All right, Madison. Your best friend needs you. And friends stick together. *~
Sakura then went another way. Kero went another way. Madison suddenly found herself alone. So she walked down on of the aisles and saw the book on one of the shelves. She calmly walked over to the book and reached over for it, but…it disappeared.
~* Huh? That's weird. I'm…probably just hallucinating. The book's probably somewhere else. Oh…there it is! *~
Madison saw the book again. Only this time it was on top of the bookshelf and out of her reach. She tried to use her ingenuity on this one. Then she found a small step ladder. Madison dragged the small ladder over and placed it right where the book was. She stepped onto it, but she still couldn't reach the book on top of the shelf. Madison stood on the very tips of her toes and was finally getting a piece of the book. But when she finally reached it…it disappeared again.
~* What?! Whoa…WHOA!! *~
Madison felt herself slipping off the step ladder. Then she fell and landed on her back. That alone would have been enough. But then she looked up and grimaced.
"Oh, no…"
An entire row of books was falling off the shelf where Madison slapped her hand. The books fell off the row…and right on top of her. Madison was in one piece, more or less, as the books only fell on her torso. That was…until an encyclopedia nailed her on her forehead.
~* OW! My head! Those encyclopedias are heavy. I'm going to have a headache tomorrow. Ok, that was strange. I definitely saw the book that time. I may not have a magical sense like Sakura, but I know a Clow Card when I see one. *~
Madison picked herself up and walked out of that scene, hoping no one would notice. Then she scrambled to find Sakura. She didn't see her anywhere, but she did find Li. He was still looking for the book. Then he saw it. It was on a cart. He desperately ran after it, but it disappeared again.
Madison looked to her left to see the book reappear. Then someone else came after it. It was Sakura. She ran towards the book, but it disappeared again.
~* Hmm…how long until the two Cardcaptors realize just what's happening? Even they should notice something by now. *~
Sakura and Kero tiredly made their ways towards Madison. They were both exhausted from chasing after the book. Then Sakura looked outside. The book had appeared again and it was on the back of someone's bicycle.
But it was Li who spied it first. "The book! Hey! Come back!"
Li went running out of the library. Sakura went right behind him.
"Sakura, wait!" Kero called out. He looked at Madison. "Stop her, partner!"
Madison ran after Sakura until she was out the door. The bicycle was riding off with Li desperately giving chase. Sakura tried to follow him, but Madison grabbed hold of her arm.
"Madison, what are you doing?" Sakura demanded. "I can't lose that book!"
"Will you pay attention, Sakura?" Kero snapped. "Think about this for a second. Every time one of us got close to that book, it's always disappeared and moved somewhere else. Doesn't anything about that strike you as unusual?"
Sakura stopped to think about that. "You mean…it's a Clow Card?"
"Nice to see you got it," Kero nodded. "And from the looks of it, it's probably the Move Card."
"What does the Move Card do, Kero?" Madison asked.
~* As if I need to ask. *~
"The Move Card takes an object and moves it around," Kero answered. "Of course…it's not one of the more useful Clow Cards. In fact, it's not very useful at all. It's just…really annoying."
Sakura sighed deeply. "Useful or not, I have to find it! I need that book! And I'm not about to let Li take it!"
Madison blinked and whispered at Kero. "If it wasn't a competition between these two before, it sure is now."
"She can handle it," Kero said frankly. Then he sweatdropped. "At least I think she can."
~----------~
[Sakura: Suddenly, it's all starting to come back to me.]
[Madison: Oh, welcome back, Sakura. How's the book so far?]
[Sakura: It's…ok…so far. But Madison, you weren't about to tell this part of the story, were you? Not THIS part.]
[Madison: Oh, Sakura. It wasn't that bad.]
[Li: You're only saying that because you were the only one left without a scratch when it was all over.]
[Madison. HELLO-O-O?! I AM the one who got clobbered in the forehead by an encyclopedia!]
[Li: Oh, yeah.]
[Meilin: It didn't turn out that bad, did it?]
[Sakura: Let me tell you…]
Flashback: Outside the Library
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
With Kero and Madison in tow, Sakura kept on chasing Li, who in turn was chasing the bicycle. The bicycle had finally stopped and the book was just sitting there. Li tried to chase it down, but it disappeared again. The book then appeared on a rock right behind Sakura.
"I got it!" Li shouted. He went running straight for it, but Sakura was ready. She stuck a leg out and tripped the incoming Li. He fell right on his face.
"No, I got it!" Sakura shouted. She ran right up to the rock and reached out for the book, but it disappeared again.
"Is it going in one ear and out the other?" Kero growled. "It's a CLOW CARD! You can't just run up to the book!"
"All right, I can take a hint," Sakura muttered. She took out her Clow Key. "Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite! Release!"
Sakura took her wand and suddenly looked behind her. The book was right there. Instantly forgetting what she was up against, Sakura reached for it, but it disappeared again.
Sakura groaned. "This is going be a long day."
"But what happened after that?" Meilin asked.
"Can I tell you a little later?" Sakura replied. "I'll tell you as soon as I'm finished."
They all arrived at Madison's house and the story was really just beginning. But Sakura was kind of busy. She was more than halfway done with her book. She had learned to be a very fast reader.
"Fine, but I want to hear what happens," Meilin sighed. "……Especially since this sounds so familiar."
Sakura moaned nervously. She knew exactly what was familiar about that day.
But…that was a story for later.
Author's Note: Ok, maybe I kept this a little short, too. But tomorrow, I'll make sure to have a lot of moments with the Move Card that you'll definitely want to see.
Any comments so far? Why don't you let me know how I'm doing by reviewing below! Because I want to know what you think!