Summary: Sakura has a track meet and Madison and Meilin are spectators. But from that distance, Meilin can't help but remember her own previous experiences with running.


Key:

"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts

"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover


Episode 28- Recalling the Loop Card and Longer Distance Than AT&T


Madison calmly sat on a distant patch of grass in Penguin Park getting ready for the track team's race. With the school's track getting renovated, the track team was racing at Penguin Park. A month had passed since Sakura was convinced to join the track team and Madison promised she'd be at every track meet. Of course, since the sun was beaming down today, Madison decided to watch from under a tree…where she could still get Sakura on film when she crossed the finish line.

"Is that today?"

Madison looked beside her to see Meilin coming up to sit next to her. "Yeah. The race has been on for a while. I'm just waiting for Sakura to come back."

"She's always been fast," Meilin said.

Madison sighed contentedly. "I know. She's always been a natural. It only took her a little while to figure it out."

"Actually, it only took her a while to find some time," Meilin corrected. "Back when we were ten, Sakura could barely balance her friendship with us, cheerleading, and capturing the Clow Cards. Now she has time for a lot more things."

"I'm surprised you never joined the track team," Madison commented. "You were always good, Meilin."

"Nah, I wasn't that good," Meilin shrugged. "I was only a short distance runner. Sakura and Li could do it all. I always came in third…a very close third, but third nonetheless. And it showed since we were ten…a few weeks after my first day of school."

"Oh, I can sense a story coming on," a voice called out. Kero was listening from Madison's pocket.

"Well, I don't mind," Madison said. "I haven't heard this story in such a long time."

Meilin sighed. "I tried so hard to be able to run long distances. When I saw Sakura, I admit I might have felt just a little threatened, JUST A LITTLE. So I knew what I needed was some training…"


Flashback: Outside Penguin Park (Insert 'Eye of the Tiger' Music Here)

P.O.V.: Meilin Rae

She had only been running a few minutes, but Meilin was already feeling winded. She couldn't believe it. This day had been a real eye-opener for her. In the past, she was only second to Li in running. But today, she lost to…Sakura Avalon. Meilin realized she needed to train. She could never lose to Sakura again. She had to show Li she was stronger than that wannabe Cardcaptor.

And she needed to train. The school's marathon was tomorrow and Meilin was looking to come in first…or at least a close second. She knew beating Li was just a fantasy. Still, though, she felt tired.

~* I don't get it. I can't feel tired already. I've only been running for a few minutes. I wonder if it's because I just ate? No, that can't be it. But I still can't understand it. Running is running, isn't it? I should be able to run fast…no matter how long the distance is. *~

Meilin kept thinking, because it was all she could do. She was slowing down fast. Meilin almost collapsed, but she saw a familiar figure in front of her. Meilin collapsed right in front of Wei.

"Remember to breathe, Meilin," Wei instructed. "Breathe in rhythm."

"Breathe…in…rhythm," Meilin repeated breathlessly. "That's…a…good…idea."

"It's something Li asked me to tell you," Wei pointed out. "He knows how hard you're training, but he also doesn't want you to overexert yourself, and frankly neither do I."

"Thanks for your concern," Meilin muttered dryly. "But I have to do this. I have to be ready for tomorrow."

"Very well," Wei sighed. "Just…don't overdo it."

"Thanks, Wei."

Meilin picked herself up and kept on running. She had a second wind…until two minutes later when she started to breathe heavily again. She finally gave up and sat down by a tree and hopelessly looked into the sky.

~* Oh…why can't I do this? I really want to be ready for tomorrow, but…I just can't do it. *~

Meilin hung her head down…until something blew in her face. Meilin grabbed the thing that flew into her face and found it was…a cherry blossom. Angrily, she crushed the cherry blossom in the palm of her hand.

~* No…I WILL do this! If anything…to show that I'm better than Sakura! I can do this! I just need to train harder! I'll prove to Li that I can run long distances…and that I'm better than Sakura! *~

Meilin picked herself up and kept on running. No matter how tired she felt, she didn't stop. She was determined to continue on…and prepare herself for tomorrow.

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

[Kero: Competitive, weren't you?]

[Meilin: I just wanted to impress Li. That's all it was.]

[Madison: Are you sure about that?]

[Meilin: ……Well, maybe I DID sort of want to show up Sakura, too. But how did I know a Clow Card was going to show up the next day? The day started off so normally…]


Flashback: The Marathon

P.O.V.: Meilin Rae

This marathon had been so excruciating for Meilin. It didn't take her long to get winded at all. She couldn't keep going, but then she saw her inspirations right in front of her. There was Li, whom Meilin desperately wanted to prove her worth to. And there was Sakura, whom Meilin desperately wanted to show up.

~* Can't let her beat me. She won't beat me. I'll…show…HER! *~

Meilin was starting to get a second wind again. She kept pace with Li and Sakura, just as she was passing a bush with a familiar girl holding her camera.

"Hi, Madison!" Sakura waved cheerfully.

Madison Taylor happily waved back as she was eagerly taping Sakura, Li, and Meilin passing by. She would have been in the marathon, too, but she had sprained her ankle a few days prior. Somehow, though, she was enjoying keeping the camera focused on Sakura.

~* There's something weird about that girl. She's just…always taping Sakura. It's like she's obsessed or something. *~

Meilin shrugged and kept on running, all the while watching as the obsessed Madison Taylor smiled with her camera. Li and Sakura started to speed up and Meilin didn't want to get left in the dust. So putting off her own feelings of exhaustion, Meilin sped up.

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

[Meilin: That should have been the last time I saw you that day. Then everything started to get weird…]


Flashback: The Marathon (A few minutes later)

P.O.V.: Meilin Rae

Meilin was huffing heavily. She felt like collapsing, but her determination (and ego) wouldn't allow her to do so. After running for so long, Meilin was still keeping pace with Li and Sakura.

~* Boy, this is tiring. Shouldn't we have hit the finish line by now? Maybe Madison can tell me. ………HUH?! *~

Meilin started slowing down when she saw Madison Taylor hiding behind another bush. "What, are you everywhere? How did you get here so fast?"

Madison blinked. "Huh? I haven't moved. You guys have already passed by here."

Sakura stopped. "What? That can't be right. We...haven't turned."

"Shouldn't we have reached the end by now?" Li pointed out, echoing Meilin's earlier thought.

Sakura then sweatdropped. "If we're here…then that means everyone's passed us. I've got to hurry!"

Sakura got a second wind and dashed off down the street. Meilin wouldn't be outdone.

"Hey, come back here, Avalon!"

Meilin chased after Sakura, while she noticed Li was reluctant. He finally started running, but the look on his face said it all. This was confusing.

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

[Meilin: Had Avalon just stopped to think, we could have saved ourselves a lot of energy. But no…she just HAD to keep running. She couldn't take a hint until we ran into you a third time…]


Flashback: The Marathon (Another few minutes later)

P.O.V.: Meilin Rae

She couldn't deny it anymore. Meilin was dead tired. She couldn't go on anymore. She just wanted to fall over, but she couldn't stop herself. She couldn't lose Li or Sakura, who was still running with energy.

~* Doesn't she EVER get tired? It's like she's a robot or something. How does she do it? Maybe Madison can tell me. ………HUH?! NOT AGAIN!! *~

Meilin tried to stop when she saw Madison again, but she tripped and fell over. A sudden pain hit in her ankle. Li and Sakura stopped as well and went to attend to Meilin.

"Are you all right?" the concerned Li asked.

Meilin nodded. "It's just my ankle. I'm fine." Then she saw another concerned person. It was Madison Taylor. "Are you following us or something? How did you get here?"

Madison looked innocently at them. "I…haven't gone anywhere. I've been here this whole time. I just called Kero and he said everyone crossed the finish line, except for you guys. And…you passed me three times. It's like you've been running in circles."

Meilin didn't want to believe this. Then she saw a familiar expression on Li's face.

"It's a Clow Card," both he and Sakura said.

"Madison, hand me the phone," Sakura requested. She dialed a number and held the phone near everyone.

"Madison, is that you?"

"It's me, Kero."

"Sakura? Where are you? Everyone's finished the race!"

Sakura hesitated. "Kero…we've passed through the same street three times, but…we never turned. Li and I sense a Clow Card."

"From what you're telling me, this sounds like the Loop Card. It's connected the street at an unknown point."

"How do I stop it, Kero?"

"To reveal Loop's visible form, you have to find the point where it's connecting the street in a circle and cut it. Trust me, you'll know it when you see it."

"Thanks, Kero."

Sakura hung up and she and Li began looking around. Meilin wanted to help, but she couldn't get her mind off her ankle. Then Li took out the Lasin Board.

"Force, know my plight! Release the light!"

Everyone looked on as the light shone down towards the street. Sakura tried to walk over to the light, but tripped over something. Meilin looked down to see an irregularity. The street and scenery…were separated by a very thin red line.

"That's it," Li said calmly. He pulled out his sword and Sakura had a similar idea.

"Sword Card! Release and dispel! Sword!"

Li and Sakura held up their respective swords and both struck the red line at the same time. The light began to brighten and Sakura held up her wand.

"Loop Card! Return to your power confined! Loop Card!"

Sakura slammed her wand down and sealed the Loop Card. The card flew over to her…much to Li and Meilin's surprise.

"Hey!" Meilin protested. "Li cut the loop first! He should have gotten the card!"

Sakura didn't have her mind on that. She only looked down the street. "I guess we lost. The race is already over."

"Yeah," Li sighed. "I guess there's always next year." He started walking out.

Meilin got up and began to limp out, too. But she gave Sakura a cold stare. "Yes…next year. And Li and I will come in first and second. Deal with THAT, Sakura."

Meilin limped off with a smirk, but she didn't really believe in her own words.

~* Hmm…I guess I'd better start training. It's going to be a LONG year! *~


"So you can't run long distances," Madison said comfortingly. "You're still good, Meilin. You always have been."

"Yeah…I guess I am," Meilin conceded. "Still, though, I'll let Sakura handle track. She's better at it than me, anyway."

"Really? You're admitting Sakura's better than you at something?"

Meilin glared at Madison. "But don't you tell her I said that!"

Madison nodded innocently. "I won't tell her."

"Good," Meilin said contentedly.

With that done, Meilin walked away to get a closer look at the track. Madison tried to hold in her snickers, and finally let loose when Meilin walked away.

Madison would never tell Sakura what Meilin told her. Of course not. She wouldn't TELL her. But…

"You didn't do what I think you did, did you, partner?" Kero asked.

Madison grinned and pointed at her camera. The light was on and that meant…the camera was still running.

Madison giggled. "Wait til Sakura sees this."


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