Card Captors: A New Beginning
By "Grand Master Shoma"
Episode 9: Blazing Nights
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the anime, or anything doing with the anime. But I do own this story, so don't steal it.
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The Lock, Loop, and Maze Cards have been captured.
But now there is only one day left in Ryuko's vacation.
What will happen now?
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The woman then got up, and led me to a place that showed the whole city in a shade of nighttime. But the Ancient Radio Tower was the only thing illuminating. As if on silver angel wings, she started to fly away through the glass, and towards the Radio Tower.
"WAIT UP!!"
I summoned the Fly Card, and with my white wings, I made haste to follow her.
I was flying so fast, just to keep up with that woman. The people, the buildings, and the stars attending the sky. They were all passing by so quickly. Or, was I passing by them quickly?
The woman led me to the tip of the Radio Tower. She gazed at me, while I looked right at her. Her face was almost blurred out, except for one of her eyes. It was green, and yet, she was almost like if I knew her.
"Who are you?" I begged her.
"You should know me... I am..."
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"C'mon Ryuko! We don't have all day to wait for you to wake up."
I once again am forced to exit the dream world. Stupid Daidouji-san. Stupid onei-chan. Why couldn't they've let me sleep? That was how I'm like my obaa-san, Nadeshiko. She always loved to sleep. Oh well. I check the clock as it says 2:19 P.M. Wow. That's counting for my new record of times I woke up!
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It was a beautiful night. The sun went down, and now a wonderful festival was going on. Sure, it was beautiful. But why couldn't it happen during the day?
Oh wait... because of the beautiful lanterns. And the moonlight surfing contest. And fireworks at the end. Oh.
Terry's American friend, Keith, said that his father was the one who always starts these festivals with a big bang. Mostly with a great fireworks display, or that time when he became drunk and set himself on fire, Terry told me.
It was a cool night, despite us being near a beach. So some pants and a sweater was what I put on. My onei-chan wore a long dress. And Terry... well, he wore his 'usual'.
Even though I know him ever since childhood, that is still weird for him...
"Hey Ryuko! Let's hit the beach!" Terry suggested.
"No offense, Daidouji-san, but nighttime is not the perfect time to be going in the water."
"Then why don't we enter that moonlight surfing contest?"
"Um, Terry, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SURF!!"
"Don't worry." He then grabbed my arm, and we headed for the water. He then screamed out to Nakuru. "Don't worry! We won't be long!"
"Joining that contest, huh?" Nakuru simply asked.
"Yeah!"
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"WHAT!? WE CAN'T ENTER!?"
"No." The attendant said. "Not unless you have two more entrants with you."
Me and Daidouji-san left the booth. "Who can we get to join us?"
"Why not me?"
We turned around to see that Kasumi chick was behind us. She wore a simple one piece bathing suit. It didn't affect me in any single way.
"Is he O.K.?"
Well, I sorta lied about that part; I was completely red.
"You're blushing, Kinomoto Li-chan!"
I blurt to Terry. "SHUT UP, DAIDOUJI-SAN!!"
"But now," Kasumi popped the question. "Who's our last member?"
"Oh. I got it!" I pull out my Sakura Key. "The Fight Card will help us out."
"But I thought Fight doesn't like doing menial things." Terry reminded me.
"Oh Key that hides the forces of the stars!
Reveal to me thy true form!
I, Ryuko, command thee under contract!
RELEASE!"
"Fight Card!"
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"Now, we are eligible." Kasumi smugly stated.
"But, where's Fight?" I turn around to those changing tents.
"I'M NOT COMING OUT!!!" She screamed from the tent.
"C'mon Fight! Be reasonable!" Terry tried to coax her out. "I'm sure that bathing suit on you looks perfect!"
"I'M STILL NOT COMING OUT!!!"
"Maybe, a girl should handle this." She went into Fight's tent. "I'm sure it's not that bad on you, Fight."
A few minutes passed. If they didn't come out, we would've been disqualified. But thankfully, Kasumi got Fight out. The Sakura Card came out with a two-piece white bathing suit. It matched well with her pale white body. But I guess she could keep her boots and gloves, which in turn were her fighting equipment.
"I'm so embarrassed wearing this..." Fight mumbled.
"It's either that, you wearing your normal conspicuous outfit, or you'd be naked!" Terry blurted out. Everyone was mostly looking at us, and Fight was getting her first flash of embarrassment.
"I'm not comfortable with this, Ryuko." Fight quietly told me.
"Let's just wait until the contest is over at least, Fight. Then I'll seal you back." I calmly pat her shoulder.
"You better mean that."
Now me, Terry, Kasumi, and Fight went out to the water.
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I can't believe we came first! Even though I almost fell off, but Fight caught me. And then Fight almost fell off twice, and it took me and Terry to keep her from falling. The judges thought that we were doing stunts to impress them, and boy, were they ever impressed.
"Wow." I was in awe as the lanterns turned on their own. "They look incredible."
"How could they come on?" Kasumi asked.
Suddenly, Fight was in a battle stance. "Ryuko! There's a Sakura Card here!"
"What?"
"Well, aren't you Ms. Obvious, Fight. You're the only Sakura Card that I've seen that can wear a two-piece and look mighty attractive."
The flames on the lantern started to get bigger. It now took the form of a spirit. It had fiery angel wings, front locks of hair like a woman, and spiky fiery hair.
"Well, why don't you get an award? You just got it right!" the Card clapped weakly and tauntingly.
"What is that?" I ask.
"Oh. You must be that brat Ryuko. I saw you capture Power. Well, I'll tell you now that I'm not going to give in as easily as the other cards." It spread its wings, almost bringing the lantern fires to almost escalating levels. "I am the Fiery Card, now the third-most powerful element card."
"Well now, it looks like I'm going to capture you now!" I pull out my Sakura Staff, and I ready my Earthy Card.
"Earthy Card!"
Then all of a sudden, Earthy emerged out of nowhere, and gave a dark look at Fiery.
"YOU?" Fiery bolted out. "Why are you here?"
"I was the first to be released by Master Ryuko."
"Stop calling me master!" I yell out to Earthy.
"Hmm... That's why my shift of power makes me the third-powerful of the element cards." He then sprang up to something. "Master? That runt? You'll never get me to say Master, because I'm never gonna get caught!" He then flashed sparks of fire all over the area. "I'm not going back!"
"Fight! Get around the flames, and strike him!" I ordered.
"GOT IT!"
Fight got around the flames as predicted, and grabbed Fiery by the back and suplexed him. But as he was completely a fire spirit, this burned Fight's hands. He then spread flares around the Fight Card, and exploded the area. Fight managed to get out of it, but she had a lot of burns.
"Earthy! Transform and attack Fiery!" I called out to Earthy.
Earthy went into the underground, and arouse as that giant rock serpent. She tackled Fiery, but seemed unfazed.
"You know that I am now stronger! You cannot hurt me!" He splashed flame onto Earthy and caused her to fall down. He was now charging a giant fireball in his hands. "I'll destroy you all now! The only master I listen to is Sakura-sama!!"
Then, something caught his eyes.
Fireworks were coming out. Keith's dad must've been launching the fireworks, and it caught Fiery's attention. He started to go slowly towards it.
"Not a lot of time passed since I was last sealed away with my brethren. The fireworks still look beautiful." And he flew off towards an island. That must be where the fireworks are originating from.
"EARTHY!!"
The rock snake got up, and looked at me. As if she was reading my mind, she told Terry, and Kasumi to get on. They obliged by that. I also ordered Fight to get on as well. As for me, I pulled out the Fly Card, gave myself wings, and made chase. Earthy dove underwater, which caused a shock to the others, I could tell.
By the time we arrived, Fiery was distracted by looking up at the fireworks. He was simply in awe as he gazed at the fireworks.
"I got him." Kasumi said to me. She jumped into the water, pulled out one of those magic papers, and chanted an incantation. "MAGIC, HEAR MY COMMAND! WAVES!!"
Sadly, Fiery heard the waves fall on him. All the fire surrounding him had disappeared, leaving him lying there on the ground.
"No... I can't go back..."
"Return to thy form which though should be!
FIERY CARD!!"
The little flames that gathered around Fiery disappeared, and his body started turning into Will O Wisps. He became a Sakura Card again.
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I can't believe that our vacation had to end. It was all fun, especially capturing the cards that were here. Sword, Power, Lock, Loop, Maze, and Fiery. I have to catch up to the others.
I also can't believe that Kasumi is coming back with us to Japan. Well, its not like I like her or anything, I'm just glad she's coming with us.
Aw, who am I kidding?
Then, I saw on the ground, a stuffed doll. It had large ears, a cute lion tail, and small wings, but it was a bear.
"Poor guy," I say to myself. "I'd hate to be abandoned."
Seeing that no one would come back for it, I had no choice but to take it. Didn't want it to go to the garbage, so I slipped it into my bag. And as for the flight home, well, other than the strange feeling that there was something moving in my bag, it was a breeze.
I surely hope nothing moved in my bag.
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I came home, and immediately went up to my room. I tossed my bag to the side, and plopped onto my bed, face down.
"There's no time to be sleeping."
I turn around to see that... Fiery was out of his seal?
"What're you doing!?" I bolted up. "Do you want my parents to catch me using magic?"
"Heh, betcha didn't know I could do that?"
"Well, what do you want?"
"I've yet to tell you this: you still have a lot of cards to capture."
"I know that."
Fiery snapped at me. "Don't interrupt me, boy!" He was continuing. "After you capture all the cards once more, you will go into the Final Judgment."
"Final... Judgment?"
"Yes. My mistress, or I should say ex-mistress, will test you to see if you are worthy of maintaining the Sakura Cards. Success or Failure will depend, on you, young Ryuko Li."
And with that, he reverted back into his card state.
"The Final Judgment..."
I really hate being called Ryuko Li.