Author's Note: And thus we're into the final stretch. We'll begin our look back with the view on Li's Final Judgment. And then come back every day next week (HOPEFULLY) for some other perspectives on Sakura's Final Judgment. It should be great!


Summary: After looking back at the final Clow Card capture, it's time to look back at the first meeting with Yue.


Episode 54- Recalling Li's Final Judgment


There was an uneasy silence in the room. After recalling the capture of the Earth Card, nobody said anything. They all knew what they wanted to talk about, but nothing could be said.

So Kero finally broke the silence. "Isn't anybody gonna say anything?"

Silence.

"Then allow me," Kero grinned as he ducked into Sakura's pocket and pulled out another picture.

Sakura gasped. "Kero! You brought that picture?"

Kero nodded. It was a picture of Julian levitating in the air just before he had made that fateful transformation into Yue. It was the best way to break the ice.

"I remember this moment," Kero said. "It was completely unexpected. And it was really the first time I didn't take my own advice. I didn't expect the unexpected…"


Flashback: The Shrine

P.O.V.: Keroberos

Things were confusing for the first few minutes. Every few minutes, Madison would turn around and she wouldn't recognize the mighty Keroberos. But it was understandable, seeing as how the guardian beast hadn't been in his true form in many years.

They were all still at the shrine, with Madison having called the van over so she can dress Sakura up in another costume.

"Madison…WHY am I getting dressed up again?" Sakura asked.

"Because this is a special occasion," Madison answered cheerfully. "And with every special occasion, you need to wear something special."

Li adjusted his hair. "I still don't know how you got my robes." Madison had made sure to have the van stop and pick up Li's robes as well.

"Now stand together," Madison instructed. Then she turned her camera on. "Right now we're looking at Sakura and Li, two special Cardcaptors who have successfully sealed all the Clow Cards. Sakura, do you have anything you'd like to say?"

Sakura sweatdropped. "I'm just glad this is over and all the cards have been captured."

There was a brief silence before Li spoke up. "You did a good job, Sakura."

Sakura blushed. "Thank you, Li."

~* I don't want you to think this is over, Sakura. You still must face the Final Judgment. *~

"Uh…Li? Do you know anything about Yue?" Sakura asked.

"Yue's the other guardian," Li answered. "There were two guardians assigned to guard the Clow Cards. There was Keroberos under the sun, the guardian beast of the seal. And there was Yue under the moon, the judge."

"But what is he supposed to judge?" Sakura asked.

"I really don't know," Li replied. "None of Clow's magic books have anything on him. But you have the Clow Book, right? The beast on the front is Keroberos and the moon on the back is supposed to be Yue."

Sakura blinked. "But…I don't see anything on the back."

"Really? Then that means…Yue must have a false form as well."

Upon hearing those words, Keroberos shot a glance towards his prime suspect. He looked at the enigmatic teacher, Ms. Mackenzie. He knew she had to be Yue. He sensed a magical aura whenever he was around her.

"Sakura, have you even put your name on the card?" Li finally pointed out.

"Oh…actually, I haven't. I should do that right now."

Silence.

Keroberos spoke up. "Sakura…I believe you can accomplish anything."

Sakura reached for a pencil and began to slowly write her name on the final Clow Card. Keroberos knew very well what was about to happen once she finished putting her name on that card.

Madison walked up to Kero. "Kero…some of the cards went to Sakura and some of them went to Li. Who's the true owner of the Clow Cards?"

"We're about to find out," Keroberos answered ominously.

Sakura finished signing her name on the Earth Card…and as soon as she did, a huge gust of wind began to blow. Leaves were being scattered everywhere and Ms. Mackenzie stepped forward.

"Is it time. The Final Judgment is about to begin."

Keroberos knew what had to happen next. Yue was about to reveal himself. But much to the guardian beast's shock, the one that began to transform WASN'T Ms. Mackenzie. It was Julian Star, who was still out from the effects of the Sleep Card. He began to float in the air and Clow's symbol formed underneath him. Large white wings enveloped him and the transformation was soon complete.

All that remained in Julian's place was a mighty guardian dressed in white with large white wings. He had long silver hair that flowed off the top of his head in the wind. And he had a stone cold demeanor with emotionless silver eyes.

~* Ah yes, that can only be Mr. Sunshine himself. *~

"Who's that?" Sakura asked breathlessly.

"That…is Yue," Keroberos answered.

"That's Yue? What happened to Julian?!" Sakura cried.

"Julian WAS Yue," Ms. Mackenzie calmly clarified.

Yue flew down to the ground. "It has been a long time, Keroberos."

"I should have seen it before," Keroberos said to his old friend. "I was careless. I should have known that the guardian of the Clow Cards had to be someone close to the candidate. You managed to hide your power, but as Sakura and Li sealed more and more cards, I began to regain some of my magic…and I began to sense the aura of the moon.

"But then I was thrown off by the aura of this teacher. You have magical powers as well. And you were a lot shaper than me, because you sensed Yue before I did. You knew it was Julian, didn't you?"

"I sensed his aura at the archery competition," Ms. Mackenzie agreed. "I was drawn to him."

Sakura blinked. "I don't understand. What does all this mean?"

"It means I am like Keroberos," Yue answered. "I cannot regain my true form unless I have enough magic, so I must remain in my false form, which just happens to be Julian." Yue leaned over and grabbed Sakura's chin. "This is my first opportunity to see you in my true form, the candidate chosen by Keroberos the Appointor…as Mistress of the Clow Cards."

Sakura's lips quivered. "Julian…"

"But there is another who holds some of the Clow Cards. You weren't even able to seal them all on your own. That makes the Final Judgment seem so…meaningless."

"That's not true," Keroberos cut in. "I believe Sakura can accomplish anything."

Yue shook his head. "I see you're still an optimist…as usual."

Keroberos did likewise. "I see you're still a grouch…as usual."

Yue hesitated and finally spoke up again. "Very well then. The Final Judgment shall now begin."

Sakura looked nervous. "B-B-But wait! I thought we sealed all the Clow Cards! Doesn't that mean we've stopped the great disaster from happening?! What's this Final Judgment for?"

Keroberos wanted to give Sakura the simple answer, but before he could, Yue slowly began to take to the air. And Li Showron…was slowly being taken with him.

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

[Li: And if anyone remembers what happened from here better than anyone, it was me. It was the moment I'd waited for since I first started seeking the Clow Cards. So it was, without a doubt, my greatest failure…]


Flashback: The Top of a Building

P.O.V.: Li Showron

Li looked down and saw it was a long way to the ground. He was all by himself. He was on his own now…just as he had wanted it since the beginning. This was his chance to prove that he was the rightful owner of the Clow Cards. He would prove every one of his doubters wrong. There was only one more step to take. Li now had to face off with Yue.

"I, Yue the Judge, shall now conduct the Final Judgment. Now…you must use all the cards in your possession…to defeat me!"

Li hesitated for a split-second and that allowed Yue the opportunity to get in the first attack. He sent a flurry of icicle attacks that sent Li reeling. Li tried to shield himself, but he quickly lost his balance and almost fell off. He knew he couldn't just sit there and take so much punishment without dishing anything out. So Li quickly took out his sword and went on the offensive.

"Fire! Come to my aid!"

Li summoned his fire spell and flames engulfed Yue. But when the fire cleared, Yue wasn't harmed at all.

"Such weak spells cannot defeat me," Yue said coldly.

Despite the minor setback, Li wasn't about to give up. "Now, element: Wind!"

Li sent his wind spell at Yue, but that didn't effect the judge at all. The frustration was beginning to set in, as nothing Li had tried was working. Yue continued his barrage by sending more deadly icicles at Li, sending the boy tumbling to the bottom of the roof.

"I was expecting more from a direct descendant of Clow Reed," Yue sneered.

Ideas were running short. Li knew he had to think of something quickly.

~* There has to be something that can stop him! I have to think fast! I'm running out of time! Time! That's it!! ~*

Li unleashed one of his cards. "Time Card!"

Once Li struck Time, everything froze. Time had been stopped, but much to Li's confusion…Yue had disappeared. The guardian was nowhere to be found. But suddenly, Li heard a voice behind him.

"Time is one of the cards under the moon."

Li turned around and saw Yue casually standing there. Time had not affected the guardian at all.

Yue peered down with his stone cold expression. "The judgment is over."

Those words cut away at Li like a knife. It was a cold, harsh reality, but he had failed. He had trained his entire life for this moment…and he failed.

Li let out an anguished cry. "NOOOOOOOO!!!"


"It was the worst moment of my life," Li continued as he continued staring at the picture. "I really wanted to prove myself and I couldn't. I made one stupid mistake."

Sakura shrugged. "It was a lot like the stupid mistake I made. The mistake that almost cost us everything…"


Author's Note: Next time, we'll begin looking at Sakura's Final Judgment from many different points of view. Come back next week to see it.