Summary: After school, Sakura stops by under a tree and looks at her calendar. She knows what's coming. Then she gets a phone call and begins to look back at a day seven years ago. (Also, I made sure to add a funny little exchange between Sakura, Li, and Mirror somewhere in the middle. Hope you all enjoy it.)
Author's Note: I'm ready to wind this series down, because frankly...I've got a couple of other ideas in my head right now. I won't end it necessarily, but it will go on a long hiatus. I'll let you know what my plans are in a few days.
Key: If you don't know by now, you haven't been paying attention.
Episode 32- Recalling the Maze Card and a New Teacher
Sakura sat by under a tree with her school calendar for the month of May. Sakura had circled a special day on that month…a day she was really looking forward to.
"What is that, Sakura?"
Sakura looked up to see Madison had come to sit next to her. Madison peeked over at the calendar and saw the date that was circled.
"I can't believe it's almost here."
Sakura was almost giddy. "I can't believe we're about to graduate!"
"High school feels like it's gone so fast," Madison sighed. "I can't believe it's almost over."
Sakura had to agree with that. She couldn't how fast time had gone by. But she didn't even get to remember that much, because her phone started ringing.
"Hello? … Hi, Tori. … A letter? … For me? Who's it from? … WHAT? No way! … Uh-huh. … Uh-huh. … I'll be home right away, Tori! Hold that letter for me!"
Sakura hung up and it looked like Madison was ready to burst from the sudden curiosity.
"A letter?" Madison asked. "Who's it from, Sakura?"
"You won't believe it," Sakura said in amazement. "I got a letter…from Ms. Mackenzie."
Madison gasped. "Ms. Mackenzie? You're right. I don't believe it. We haven't heard from her in such a long time. Not since…you know…the breakup?"
"Yeah," Sakura said softly. "The breakup. After that, I didn't think we'd hear from her again."
"But it's so good to hear from her," Madison added. "She's always been so good to us."
"I remember when I first met her," Sakura smiled. "It was back…seven years ago. Oh…but you know what happened later that day."
Madison frowned. "Yeah. It was one of the…stranger days we've had. It was back when we were walking around the shrine…"
Flashback: The Shrine
P.O.V.: Madison Taylor
Madison made sure to stick by Sakura every step of the way lately. After the events of the last few days where the Clow Cards found out she was a Cardcaptor, Sakura had been on edge. Madison wanted to be around so she could help relieve her best friend's tension. In fact, she even suggested coming out here to get some of the good luck amulets that Nikki told them about earlier in the day.
"I'm really glad that Nikki told us about this place," Madison said, breaking the brief silence.
Sakura was walking a few steps behind Madison, still feeling uneasy. "If these amulets really bring good luck, maybe it'll help me capture some Clow Cards."
Madison smiled. "Ok, come on."
~* I know Sakura's worried. She's really been out of it since that incident with the Mirror Card. But that's why I'm here. I have to help Sakura relax. *~
Madison kept on walking, but noticed that Sakura stopped. "What's the matter?"
Sakura hesitated. "Things just seem…out of whack."
"Out of whack? What do you mean?"
"…Different."
~* Oh, poor Sakura. She's been under so much pressure. Maybe she's starting to crack. *~
"Well, you know it's a garden, Sakura, so…it's supposed to be different…"
"Meilin, NO!"
Sakura and Madison turned around to see Meilin dragging Li towards the shrine. He looked like he was there against his will.
"I said I don't want magical amulets!" Li shouted.
"But our destinies are intertwined, Li," Meilin pleaded. "And it's very bad luck to fight it, Li."
~* Out of whack. And Sakura just started to think that…as soon as Li Shoran arrived. Now I get it. It's just like I thought from day one. She IS in love. She's…just…in denial. *~
Sakura had other thoughts on her mind, though. "Li, listen…did you pick up on anything when you walked in here?"
Li's eyes widened. "Are YOU sensing something?"
Meilin was trying to catch up. "Huh? Sensing what?"
Madison was starting to get curious. It was sounding like there was a Clow Card around. And even though Madison had no magic powers of her own, she always found herself trying to guess which Clow Card it could be. But there was nothing around, until…
**BONG**
Sakura blinked. "Did…you hear that?"
Hardly anyone got a chance to answer, because everything got…out of whack. Madison watched as the ground she was standing on was starting to blur and change before her very eyes. When the blurring and changing was over, everyone found themselves…in a narrow chamber full of twists and turns.
Meilin growled. "This is YOUR doing, Avalon!"
~----------~
[Madison: It didn't take us too long to find out where we were.]
[Sakura: And when we found out we were in a maze, we tried just about everything to get out…]
Flashback: The Maze (Plan C)
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
So far, Sakura and her friends hadn't been able to find their way across the sinister maze of the Maze Card. They kept walking with Madison holding her hand along one of the maze's walls. So needless to say, they were all distressed when they ended up back where they started. Having failed there, they tried to use the Lasin Board that also didn't work. Just then, Sakura had another idea.
"O Key of Clow! Power of magic! Power of light! Surrender the wand! The force, ignite! Release!" Sakura took her wand and took out what was sure to be her saving grace. "Fly!" She climbed on her wand and looked down at everyone. "I'll find the exit."
Madison, ever hopeful, waved. "You be careful!"
Sakura flew up with a gleam of hope in her eye. But as she made her way up the wall…the wall of the maze began to rise. Sakura tried to increase her speed, but the wall continued rising. Then she looked down to see…nothing. The ground was no longer visible.
~* It's this sort of thing that makes people afraid of heights. *~
Seeing that Fly was doing no good, Sakura flew down.
~----------~
[Sakura: Of course, that was just the beginning. When I got down, we tried a few more methods…]
Scene: Back at the Maze (Plan D)
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
Since Fly didn't work, everyone was back to square one. It was time to think of a new idea, but by now, Meilin was getting impatient.
She kicked the wall. "Stupid wall."
"You know, you're not helping, Meilin," Li said cynically.
~* He can say that again. What does she think that'll accomplish. Does she think she's going to break the wall down. Break the wall down? Hey! *~
"Hey! I think you're on to something!" Sakura said cheerfully.
"Back off!" Meilin snapped.
"No, you're right! We could make a path through the wall!" Sakura took out her Plan D. "Sword Card! Release and dispel!" Sakura took her sword and rushed the wall, striking it and leaving the wall shattered. Sakura turned to her friends and grinned. "Let's go!"
Her friends weren't so cheerful. Sakura soon saw why. The wall was coming back together. Sakura sweatdropped.
Li shook his head. "This card's a real puzzle."
~----------~
[Sakura: So maybe Sword didn't work. But the gears in my head were still going and it wasn't long before I had another idea…]
Flashback: The Maze (Plan E)
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
Everyone was thinking again. So far, Fly and Sword had failed to do the job. But suddenly, Sakura had another idea.
"I think that we can cover more ground by splitting up!"
Li dismissed that one. "No. We'll get lost."
"No, not us," Sakura clarified. "I'm talking about me."
Meilin looked at Sakura skeptically. "Ok, now you lost me."
"It's very simple," Sakura smiled. She took out another card. "Mirror Card! Come out and assume my form! Mirror! Release and dispel!"
Sakura let Mirror release and once again, she came face-to-face with her double. She looked a lot happier than she did when Sakura last saw her.
Sakura smiled at her double. "Ok, Mirror, would you like to make up for what you did to my brother the other day?"
Mirror nodded enthusiastically.
"Ok, then. We'll both split up and try to find the exit to the maze. When either of us find the exit, we'll come back and tell the others. What do you say?"
Mirror nodded. She was eager to make amends for her wrongdoings. So Sakura and Mirror went opposite ways, leaving everyone behind. Sakura knew that this plan just had to work. Between the two of them, they should have been able to scour the entire maze.
2 Hours Later
Sakura was dead tired. She didn't know the maze was so huge. She had given up an hour ago, but as much as she hated to admit it, Li was right. She had gotten lost. But after a long hour of walking…Sakura finally made it back…but found a very awkward scene.
"Sakura…I never knew you felt this way."
Sakura immediately spotted Li having a private moment…with her twin image.
Mirror nodded. "I've…sort of felt this way for a while. It's just been hard to say anything, you know what I mean?"
Li blinked. "S-Sort of. But…if you think I feel anything for you…"
That's all Sakura needed to hear. "HEY!"
Li gasped when he saw the real Sakura. "S-Sakura? If that's you…then who's…" He suddenly realized it. "MIRROR!"
Sakura stomped over towards her double and got in her face. "You are NOT redeeming yourself! What do you think you're doing?!"
Mirror hung her head down shamefully. "I-I'm sorry. I just thought…"
"You thought wrong!" Sakura snapped. "I mean, come on…HIM? What were you thinking?"
Mirror was ready to protest, but Sakura tried making the universal ix-nay motion. Mirror immediately understood. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Please forgive me."
Sakura smiled. "We all make mistakes."
With that, Sakura recalled Mirror, leaving only the genuine article. Sakura walked up to Li, who looked a little flustered.
~* Well THAT must have looked awkward. But I can't make it look like I...have a crush on him. I don't know what he'd say. He probably doesn't even like me. *~
"I-I knew that wasn't you," Li said a little nervously. "It's like I was about to say. If you think I feel anything for you, you're wrong! You know what I'm in this for."
Sakura looked sternly at him. "Well that's just fine with me!"
Sakura started storming off…with a thought running through her head.
~* Humph…that pompous egomaniac. Only thinks about himself. I…never had a crush on him. Of course not…it wasn't anything like a crush. So…why did Mirror start to open her big mouth? He obviously doesn't like me. And I don't feel anything for him, do I? *~
Sakura looked back to see Li grinning smugly.
~* HIM? UGH! NO WAY! *~
~----------~
[Madison: Ha! I knew you had a crush on him back then!]
[Sakura: So…maybe I did. I didn't want Li to know about it. I didn't know what he'd say. It didn't help that he was trying to hide it, too. Besides, I wasn't exactly thinking about living happily ever after inside a maze. So I decided to try a new plan. Unfortunately…this didn't work like I had in mind…]
Flashback: The Maze (Plan F)
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
Li was skeptical. "Are you sure about this?"
It was the only idea Sakura had. "Of course I'm sure. This will work. We just need to be a little patient." She took out her first card. "Wood Card! Create a barrier of branches. Wood Card! Release and dispel!"
Sakura watched as Wood created an impenetrable barrier of branches in front of her.
Meilin was curious. "And just what is this supposed to accomplish, Avalon?"
"Just bear with me," Sakura said confidently. "Let's just say this entire maze were to get flooded. If I recall Wood after flooding the maze, logically the water should drain out through the exit."
Madison blinked. "That…sounds like a good idea. But we've tried logic before, Sakura. Are you sure it'll work this time?"
"Logic will always prevail," Sakura grinned. "Now stand back!" She took out the Rain Card. "Rain Card! Flood this entire maze with water! Rain Card! Release and dispel!"
Rain came out…and immediately went to lightly rain on Sakura's head.
Sakura stepped aside and growled. "Don't rain on ME!" Then she saw a flash. She turned and growled. "MADISON!! DON'T take a picture of that!!"
"Sorry. It slipped."
Sakura turned her attention back to the Rain Card. "Just start flooding the maze."
Rain began raining lightly on the maze. Sakura and her friends couldn't help but notice that this process was rather…slow.
It was Meilin who said something first. "At this rate, we should be out of here in a few years."
"Can't you go any faster?" Sakura coaxed Rain.
Rain shrugged and began pouring down water by the gallons. It was about a 15-minute wait, but the maze began to flood. As soon as everyone was swimming in water, Sakura recalled Wood. The water began to drain towards what had to be the exit. Sakura knew she had it this time…until two of the maze walls in front of them came together, stopping the flow of water. Then the water began to drain below them.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked. "I was sure this would work."
Madison pointed down. "Um...Sakura? You…might want to take a look at that."
Sakura looked down and was absolutely shocked. There was a series of drains that spelled out a single word.
C—H—E—A—T—E—R
"CHEATER?!" Sakura shouted. "This isn't FAIR!! I want to go home!!"
Sakura took her wand and swung it at one of the walls. She had completely lost it at this point.
~----------~
[Sakura: And as if it couldn't get any worse, the maze started to go 3D.]
[Madison: It wasn't long before Meilin got lost. But luckily, there was someone else out there to help us.]
[Sakura: Yeah…we could never have escaped the maze without…her…]
Flashback: The Now-3D Maze
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
They had just about hit rock bottom. The ranks had reduced down to three. Meilin had gone missing and Sakura didn't know what to do anymore. She hadn't even come close to finding the exit to the maze before and it didn't any easier with the maze shifting to three dimensions.
Sakura tried to cheer her friends up. "Listen, we can find her! Let's…go back the way we came."
That was about the only thing left to do. So everyone turned to walk back to their starting point…back to the drawing board. But then…
**BONG**
~* It's the same bell. Now what? Is this maze going 4D?! *~
Everyone stopped at the sound of the bell. The watched a shadow in front of them about to turn the corner. No one knew what to expect. But then they saw…Meilin. She ran straight for Li and hugged him.
"Li! You found me!"
Sakura was still confused. "But how did you…" Then she stopped. Someone else turned the corner. She couldn't believe it. "Ms. Mackenzie?"
It was her substitute teacher…the one Li said he had a bad feeling about. But how did she end up in the maze? And how did she find Meilin?
Ms. Mackenzie calmly walked over to them. "It seems that life, like mathematics, is full of puzzles. And sometimes, you need a little help to solve them successfully."
"That's for sure," Sakura sighed.
"All problems have solutions," Ms. Mackenzie continued. "It's just that the solutions don't always appear as we expect them to and sometimes we miss them. But then again, I believe you're learning about that, aren't you? Does this sound familiar?" She struck a strange bell, creating the same gong Sakura heard earlier.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah…we heard it right before the maze appeared."
"I was trying to warn you," Ms. Mackenzie said. "But the dimensions were already shifting."
Sakura examined the bell. "It's a strange looking bell."
Ms. Mackenzie smiled. "It's actually a rather remarkable instrument."
Sakura marveled at the instrument…before her stomach growled loudly. She sweatdropped and hung her head down. "Sorry."
"You know, I'm kind of hungry myself," Ms. Mackenzie agreed. "I'd say it's time to leave."
~* She makes it sound like it's so easy. *~
"But that's just it, Ms. Mackenzie," Sakura told her. "We can't find a way out of here."
"We tried everything we could think of," Madison added. "Even some…weirder ideas. But nothing worked."
Ms. Mackenzie walked up to a wall. "How about this?" She struck the bell on the wall and the maze wall shattered. Sakura wasn't about to get her hopes up.
"Yeah, we tried to go through the wall, but then it just……grew back."
Ms. Mackenzie casually walked through the rubble…which didn't grow back. "Come on, let's go."
~* WHAT?! You mean THAT'S IT?! I tried everything! I tried going over the wall! I tried going THROUGH the wall! I tried…using a scout! I tried using a flood! And all I needed…was a BELL?! Why does this happen to me? Just when I think I have it down… *~
Li suddenly muttered something. "You see, Sakura? I was right about that woman all along."
Sakura didn't even listen. She just followed everybody as they finally reached the exit. Sakura felt like falling to her knees and letting out a shout of joy. But her celebration was cut off.
"Sakura!" Li shouted. "Another maze is starting!"
That got Sakura's undivided attention. She turned to the maze…and her attention got divided. There was a spectator here in the form of Ms. Mackenzie.
Sakura didn't know what to say. "Um…would you…?"
Ms. Mackenzie turned around. "Avert my gaze?"
The gears in Sakura's head started to turn.
~* Ok…this…could be bad. If I go and seal the card, then I'll have a LOT of explaining to do. But if I don't do something now, I'll be stuck in another maze. What should I do? *~
"Avalon!" Meilin shouted. "We've got a situation here!"
Sakura finally made her decision. "Maze Card! Return to your power confined!"
Sakura sealed Maze was ready to take it in her hand, but surprisingly…it flew over to Ms. Mackenzie.
Sakura walked up to her teacher. She didn't know how to explain this. "Um…about that card…?"
Ms. Mackenzie handed her the card. "I guess this belongs to you, Sakura. Take care of it."
~* Ok…my teacher saw me seal a Clow Card. Yet…she's not asking me any questions. But…why did the card fly to her? Does she know? Oh…I'm so confused. What else could happen? *~
"SAKURA!!"
~* Why did I have to ask such a stupid question?! *~
Sakura's brother, Tori, came riding up on his bike…and he wasn't happy.
"Do you know what time it is?"
~* Ok, Sakura. Calm down. Just calm down and explain yourself. Think of…something! *~
"Don't blow your stack, Tori. I just lost track of time, but everything's cool. You know me, I couldn't be on time if my life depended on it."
Sakura then noticed that Tori wasn't paying attention. He was looking right at Ms. Mackenzie.
"It's you," he said softly.
"You must be her brother," Ms. Mackenzie said. "Sorry we're late."
Suddenly, Meilin gasped and let out a small scream. Sakura didn't know what it was, but when she turned around she did the same thing. She ran right after Meilin and found out that…
"No amulets…"
"The store's closed…"
It seemed like a poetic way for Sakura's horrible day to end. Her one shot at getting some magical amulets had gone by the wayside. But then…
"Girls?"
Ms. Mackenzie walked over and handed them each…an amulet.
"It's an amulet! Thank you!"
Ms. Mackenzie smiled. "Everyone could use a little luck now and then."
"But…how did you know?" Sakura asked.
"I…had a hunch."
As Ms. Mackenzie stepped aside, Tori walked up to Sakura and whispered something to her. "You KNOW her?"
Sakura looked up. "Yeah…and why are you whispering?"
Tori hesitated. "……………No reason."
Sakura thought about that for a few minutes. It was almost as if Tori…was hiding something.
"And I thought about that all the way home," Sakura continued. "It was one of the weirdest days we've ever had."
"We tend to have those a lot," Madison giggled.
"Yeah…I almost forgot about Ms. Mackenzie. But we could never truly forget her. She was just so…so…so…I don't know. I can't describe her."
Madison reflected on that as they reached Sakura's doorstep. "Yeah…I feel the same way about her. So where do you think she is now?"
Sakura opened her door. "Let's find out. Let's read that letter together."
Any comments? I have quite a few different additions to this episode and I also included what might have happened if Nelvana wasn't so afraid of Ms. Mackenzie's past with Tori. And personally…I loved that scene I added with Mirror. That gem just popped into my head and I stuck with it. So what did you all think? Go ahead and let me know by reviewing below.
