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Syaoran's Angels

Chapter 21: Under ice, over fire

The ice-laced wind sliced through the chilly air, weaving a snowy ribbon around the jagged mountains tops that towered over the land below. The bright morning sun glanced off the sheer sheets of ice that armoured the rocky mountains glittering like diamonds in the frosty light.

It was a desolate place with no hint of life at all, there were no sounds aside from the mournful howl of the winds as they navigated the labyrinth of valleys and canyons that was sunk into earth's ancient surface.

It was a realm of ice and snow, where coldness ruled and where little else was to be found. A land of sheer cliffs and deep ravines: treacherous and forbidding.

But under it all...

Under the layers upon layers of freezing ice and solid rock lay a land of fire.

Under ice.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The earth seethed and raged spitting out red-hot magma that clung to the rocky walls, the heat eating away at the surface. Immense clouds of super-heated stream and poisonous gases rose from the fiery depths like toxic phoenixes fighting their way to the top of the cavern searching for cracks to escape from to the world above.

This was the earth in all its glory.

Monolithic waves of magma vented their wrath on the rocks as the core of the earth churned and raged. Seismic waves shook the very foundations of the mountain as burning red light danced across the cavern walls drawing forth images of Hell and demonic tormentors from the depths of the human mind.

This was a place where ice was a mere myth; this was where the earth was destroyed and reborn again in an eternal cycle. This was a place that no human could survive in.

But standing on a small insignificant ridge overlooking this fiery display of the earth's might was a single person, dwarfed by the melee of fire and molten rock that rose in waves and spectacular explosions around her, she stood accompanied by four spirits of nature.

Meiling Rae looked down at the sea of magma below and gulped.

Over fire.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

This was Ruby Moon's domain.

"Okay why am I again?" Meiling asked staring at the surging lava below.

The Earthy sighed.

"So you can retrieve the sword and begin fulfilling the prophecy," the card explained.

"Oh great," Meiling grumbled, "Can't we... I don't know... go somewhere that's not a bloody VOLCANO!?"

"Please calm down," the Watery card pleaded, "You need to remain calm.

"HOW CAN !?" the Asian Angel shrieked back in reply, "I'M IN A FREAKING VOLCANO! I'LL BE BURNT TO DEATH!"

The Fiery snorted.

"Not while I'm here," it snapped back.

Meiling stared at the card and noticed for the first time that the tiny fire sprite was emitting a red aura from its burning skin.

"What the..." the Angel trailed off.

The Windy sighed in frustration.

"The Fiery is using its power over flames and heat to protect you from the magma," she explained, "There's nothing to worry about. Just concentrate on getting the sword."

"And where is that?" Meiling snapped.

The four elemental cards looked at each other as the Angel fidgeted nervously.

"What?" she scowled narrowing her eyes at them.

She had a funny feeling she wouldn't like the answer. Finally, it was the Watery who piped up nervously.

"Well the sword... is kinda... well you know... it's..." the mermaid-like card took a deep breath, "There."

The Watery card was pointing at the magma below.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Eriol watched as Tomoyo fell to the ground, her usually alert lavender eyes going dull as the poison wreaked havoc inside her body.

He was trying to remain neutral, cold, impersonal.

This was Tomoyo Daidouji, one of the women he had been hired to kill. He had no feelings for her. He had no feeling for her.

God damn it, he was chanting that phrase like a mantra. Maybe if he said it enough times, maybe if he just tried hard enough all his feelings for her would disappear...

He had no feelings for her.

He had no...

Tomoyo let out a low whimper and his heart broke.

"What have I done?".

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The Fly let out a triumphant screech as its ruby red eyes fell upon its quarry. It stretched its immense wings and killed its speed gliding towards its unsuspecting prey with its talons outstretched.

Zachary Takashi turned around and before he could react, the talons closed around his shoulders and the Fly pumped its wings powerfully launching itself into the air.

"Let go of me!" Zachary yelled as the Fly continued to speed into the air, "What are you? Where are you taking me?"

The bird-like card ignored the human clutched in its claws instead focusing on the task that its mistress had given him. It was to take this human back to the real world.

The Fly gave a massive screech and shot up straight into the air flapping its wings as fast as it could.

Faster and faster it flew until the mist swirled around the speeding the creature. The landscape around it blurred as gold light radiated from its feathers washing over its body like gold fire.

With a final screech, the Fly gave one mighty flap and with a bright flash of light disappeared.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Marcus was dimly aware of the fact that he was a dark cell with his daughter curled up beside him whimpering softly as he struggled to speak trying to comfort her daughter.

When he finally managed to gather the strength to open his mouth, he was shocked to feel warm blood drip down his lips. The left side of his body raged as though it was on fire whilst his right was numb and unfeeling.

"Ahhh..." he moaned softly.

"Daddy?" Lily whispered terrified.

Marcus managed a weak smile.

"I'm fine honey."

"Actually you're not."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Meiling freaked.

"What?!" she shrieked her voice becoming oddly soprano.

The Fiery sniggered as the Windy glared at her warningly.

"How?" Meiling managed to ask faintly.

"Simple," the Earthy smirked before turning around and looking down at the sea of molten rock below.

Meiling watched in fascination as the Earthy gestured green energy appeared around her eyes. The emeralds embedded into the silver crown she wore glowed brightly before unleashing a huge beam of green energy.

The volcano shook as Meiling struggled to keep her balance suddenly terrified of the thought of being pitched into the lava below. The green energy plummeted down into the lava causing massive tsunamis of fire to crash into the sides of the chamber. The Earthy concentrated weaving complex designs into the air with her fingers as the energy formed a glowing dome that shoved the lava away revealing a small patch of smoking black earth.

"Look," the Windy commanded as Meiling gingerly made her way to the edge of the ridge.

Lying on her stomach, she stuck her head over the edge and peered down below as the Earthy gestured making the dome semi-transparent. Bathed in ghostly green light and buried up to the hilt was a sword. Crafted from some kind of gold alloy that could withstand the awesome might of the volcano it blazed with brilliant light as the ruby set into the cross-hilt of the sword throbbed with magical light.

"Oh my..." Meiling murmured admiring the weapon buried in the ground.

"Come," the Windy commanded, "It's time for you to wield the talisman."

Meiling swivelled her head around and frowned at the card.

"How am I going to..." before she could finish her sentence, the Fiery and Windy card spread their wings and flew straight at her.

Two pairs of hand, one almost unbearably hot, the other cool and gentle like a puff of wind grasped her arms as Meiling was lifted up into the air.

Meiling gulped and closely her eyes as the two cards soared down towards the sea of magma, waves of intense heat washing over her as they drew close to the dome of green energy.

There was a slight tingling as Meiling passed through the barrier and soon she was standing inside the dome as the Windy and Fiery let go of her hands.

Staring mesmerised at the sword buried into the ground, Meiling took one step forwards.

"It's beautiful," she said haltingly before closing the distance between them.

Kneeling down onto her knees, she grasped the red-leather bound handle in two hands savouring the feel of the cool leather against her palm. Slowly, inch-by-inch she drew the blade from the hard earth, the metal lifting out of the ground with ease.

Finally free, she held the sword aloft admiring the play of light across the golden blade. Briefly she puzzled over the mysterious symbols and runes etched into the lethal blade but ignored it as she slowly rose her eyes still captivated by the weapon.

Experimentally, she twirled the sword around in her hands instantly liking the balance of the sword and savouring the sound it made as the edge sliced through the air.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Alas the sword is still not yours," the Windy said gently.

Meiling ripped her eyes from the sword to stare at her.

"What?"
"Ruby Moon still awaits," the Earthy called from the ridge above, "You still have to meet her in combat."

"In combat?" Meiling repeated slowly as though the words were foreign to her.

Before the elementals could reply, the air before Meiling shimmered as though she was viewing it through a heat haze. The Angel took a small step backwards as the air glowed with bright red light.

A pair of wide butterfly-like wings decorated with vibrant rainbow colours emerged from the light as a calm voice echoed through the volcano.

"I am Ruby Moon..."

The light faded revealing a tall brunette woman wearing a long flowing crimson gown as the butterfly-like wings sprouting from her back flapped wildly.

"And this is my challenge," the woman continued.

A flaming sword suddenly appeared in her hands as she thrust the weapon at Meiling's face.

"Do you accept?"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Sakura smiled as the two magical creatures standing beside her freaked.

"Flower..." the Light managed to gasp at last.

Sakura smiled at her.

"What?" she asked.

"You have just doomed the world to die," the Light whispered ominously, "Without you, the Void cannot be destroyed."

Sakura shrugged.

"Meiling and Tomoyo will find a way to get me out of here," she said unconcerned.

"FLOWER!!" Kerberos roared, "HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING. THE VOID WILL WIN NOW THANKS TO YOU!!"

"Chill, Kerberos," Sakura smiled at him, "I'll get out of here. Don't you worry."

"OH MY GOD!" Kerberos screamed at her, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?!"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Chelsea clutched her husband's cold hand tightly as she prayed to god for around the a thousandth time just in the last hour.

"Please god, please make my husband wake up. Please, I'm begging you," she whispered tears flooding into her eyes.

Blinded by her desperate tears, Chelsea didn't see the faint gold light that danced across her husband's face before fading away as quickly as it had appeared.

Zachary's fingers twitched as Chelsea froze.

"Zachary?" she whispered timidly hoping against hope.

His fingers twitched again as Chelsea let out a small gasp.

"Zachary?" she whimpered, "Zachary? Please wake up."

Chelsea watched as with agonising slowness her husband's eyelids slowly flickered open. Light glanced upon the round surface of his irises as Zachary blinked trying to clear his vision.

"ZACHARY!" Chelsea yelled.

Zachary blinked at her.

"Chelsea?" he said hoarsely, "Where am I?"

To his astonishment, his wife burst into tears and clung to his hand as doctors and nurses rushed into the room.

With his attention solely focused on his weeping wife, Zachary didn't notice the pair of satisfied ruby eyes that peered at him through the window.

The Fly gave a small squawk and took flight winging its way back to its mistress.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Rika Sasaki crouched in the shadows watching the scene that unfolded before her.

One of the Angels was being bundled into the back of an ambulance as a blue-haired man looked on. If she wasn't mistaken, that man was Eriol Hiragizawa.

For a few seconds she was puzzled over what this meant. Eriol and one of the Angels? It made no sense.

Rika shoved the thoughts out of her head and concentrated on what she had to do.

This would be easy the Angel was already injured. This would be a simple killing.

Rika readied her claws and waited for the chance to strike.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Pale blue light flooded the room as a door hidden within the shadows swung open.

"Hello, Mr. Flaron," the voice continued.

Marcus growled at the owner of the voice.

"You bas..." he began.

"Please, not in front of the little ones," Mallus Harrason smirked, "I hope that your accommodations are fitting?"

"Go to hell," Marcus spat.

"Sorry, not my idea of a holiday destination," Mallus hissed back a small polite smile on his age-worn face.

Before Marcus could react, Mallus's foot snaked forwards and his expensive leather shoe rammed into Marcus's bullet wound. Lily whimpered as her father let out a huge yell of pain as Mallus looked on dispassionately.

"Do hurt my daddy!!" Lily shrieked running straight at Mallus.

Mallus grabbed the little girl's arm and threw her to the ground as he spoke to Marcus.

"Really Marcus, your daughter should learn some manners," he advised, a false fatherly tone entering his voice as a cruel smile crept onto his face enjoying the younger man's pain.

And with that Mallus turned around and left closing the door behind him as Marcus and Lily was once again plunged back into darkness.

"Lily?" Marcus asked weakly between gasping breaths as he struggled to sit up, "Are you okay baby?"

"I'm fine daddy," Lily's trembling voice replied from the darkness.

"Good," Marcus struggled to keep the pain from his voice, "Come here."

He could dimly hear the sound of Lily's bare feet slapping the hard concrete ground before feeling his daughter pressed up against his chest. Weakly he looped his arm around her and hugged her tightly.

"Everything's going to be okay," Marcus murmured soothly, "Everyth..."

A low moan of pain escaped his lips as Lily accidentally pressed against her father's bullet wound.

"Daddy? Are you hurt?" Lily asked worriedly, "Daddy?"

"I'm fine honey," Marcus said back strongly with more strength than he felt.

He sensed rather than saw the small quivering smile on his daughter's face.

"Aunty Meiling will save us, wouldn't she?"

Marcus replied without hesitation.

"Yeah, she probably will."
Lily snuggled up to her father as she continued to pelt him with questions.

"Aunty Meiling sure is beautiful is she?"

Marcus chuckled thinking to how she looked on their first date.

"Yeah, she sure is."

Lily frowned.

"Do you like Aunty Meiling?" she asked curiously.

"Like doesn't even begin to describe it," Marcus replied with a broad smile, "Why all the questions?"

"Do you think..." Lily trailed off but Marcus could tell she was excited.

"What?" Marcus asked curiously.

"Pardon, daddy," Lily retorted prissily, "Aunty Tomoyo said that saying 'what' is impolite."

Marcus rolled his eyes and mentally noted that Tomoyo would make a good mother or teacher.

"Sorry," Marcus said deciding to humour Lily it certainly was taking her mind of their dangerous situation, "Pardon?"

"Do you think she can be my mommy?" Lily asked innocently.

There was a massive silence as Marcus gaped at his daughter.

"Daddy?" Lily prompted.

Marcus struggled to recover from his shock.

"I... I... I..." he stammered.

Taking a deep breath, he winced as his wound gave a sudden throb with pain.

"It has crossed my mind," Marcus admitted.

Lily gave a sudden burst of delighted laughter.

"Than she's going to be my mommy! Mommy Meiling!" she crowed cheerfully.

"Umm... Lily maybe we should talk with Meiling..."

"Mommy," Lily corrected.

Marcus sighed.

Why did his daughter have to be so stubborn?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Tomoyo dreamed of mist and darkness. She dreamed of pale moonlight reflected in the shimmering surface of a placid lake. She dreamed of pale blue feathers falling from the heavens to land delicately upon the lake surface, gentle ripples disrupting the still surface of the water. Tall imposing mountains stood guard around the edges of the lake leaving behind a narrow stretch of beach between the lake and the rocky base of the mountains.

"Where am I?" she wondered as she stood at the edge of the dark lapis lazuli lake, gentle waves lapping at her feet.

"Welcome, Fox," a soft voice echoed through the valleys of the mountains and amplified by the ravines' walls.

Tomoyo's eyes widened with shock as her lavender eyes flicked from side to side scanning the area trying to find the source of the voice.

"You cannot hope to find me unless I reveal myself," the voice said amused as though it could read Tomoyo's mind, "In this realm, I am all powerful."

"Okay then," Tomoyo challenged, "Reveal yourself!"

"Very well," the voice said calmly.

A cool breeze swept past Tomoyo's body throwing her grey hair up into the air as ripples began appearing on the lake's surface reflecting the moon's light to create a mesmerising mosaic of light and water.

Suddenly the lake's surface seemed to shudder before falling still. The wind died down as Tomoyo tensed hating the sudden silence of the area.

"WHOOSH!"

The centre of the lake surged upwards forming a watery dome before exploding showering the shore and the base of the mountains with droplets of water. Tomoyo winced as the cold water slapped against her body but ignored her discomfort as pale figure flew up from the lake.

She gasped as a pair of long, powerful wings burst from the figure's shoulders their pale blue feathers capturing the moonlight and making them glow with pale silver light. Blue, white and silver threads burst from the man's torso weaving themselves around his legs and arms forming long flowing sleeves and a pale blue and white tunic that came down almost to his knees. As Tomoyo looked on, the bird-like wings gave a lazy flap shooting him across the lake's surface. He gave one more lazy flap before landing delicately in front of her.

Almost unconsciously, Tomoyo took a step backwards as the winged man fixed his piercing blue eyes upon her face. With his long flowing white hair and impeccable handsome face, he looked like an angel.

"Are you an angel?" Tomoyo whispered in awe.

The man gave her a crooked smile.

"No my dear, you are."

"Do you accept?"

Meiling slowly backed away from the flaming sword that threatened to melt her face off as she slowly raised the sword in her hands. She sent the woman, a wicked grin.

"You're on."

Before she could react, the winged woman darted forwards slicing the air with her fiery blade. Meiling jumped backwards to afford a wild swipe and blocked deftly with her own sword.

"Do you honestly think you can defeat me?" the woman asked.

"Well yeah, I kinda do," Meiling shot back.

The woman smiled coolly at her before taking a step back. Meiling watched her warily as she pointed the flaming sword at her.

"HUO!" the woman barked.

Meiling let out a surprised yelp as the burning flames dancing across the sword's surface leapt at her. Leaping nimbly to the side, she watched in horror as the flames lashed the ground she had just been standing on blackening the earth as the woman smiled.

"Now do you think you can defeat me?" the woman smirked.

"Okay, I'm just guessing but you're Ruby Moon, right?" Meiling quipped.

The woman smiled mysteriously.

"The one and only."

"Hmm... then I guess you can lonely hanging around in this place all by yourself," Meiling zipped back before bouncing on the balls of her heels and launching herself at the mystical being. Ruby Moon tried to point her flaming sword at the charging Angel but Meiling batted the burning blade away with her own sword before elbowing the guardian in the face.

Ruby Moon hit the ground as some kind of ancient language flew from her lips.

"Swearing?" Meiling asked raising an eyebrow, "Now that's not very nice."

The guardian spat at Meiling and charged her ruby eyes icy with rage. Meiling nimbly dodged her sword as it smashed into the ground creating a smoking trench as Ruby Moon ripped it out of the ground with a yell of fury.

"TANG!"

Sparks flew as Meiling's arm turned numb.

"TANG!"

Moving quickly, Meiling barely managed to block Ruby Moon's next attack as her flaming sword hammered into her own.

"Ow," Meiling hissed as she spun around whipping her sword at neck-height.

Ruby Moon deftly blocked the blow but was totally unprepared as Meiling's foot snaked forwards and crushed her knee with a devastating below. Ruby Moon let out a huge roar of pain as Meiling danced backwards avoiding her fiery swipes.

"HUO!"

Huge sheets of flames blanketed the ground as Meiling looked around desperately for any avenues for escape.

There were none.

"Damn," she said mildly as she turned around to stare at the massive wave of fire that threatened to burn her to ashes.

"Uh, uh," a familiar cocky voice muttered from behind Meiling, "Don't think so."

Meiling turned around and stare at the pale-pink face of the Fiery card as it beat its massive wings. The flames seemed to pause in its fiery assault as the Fiery smirked and flapped its wings again.

"WHOOSH!"

The fire reversed direction rolling in on itself like a wave before throwing itself into the air forming a fiery crest. Ruby Moon stared at it in horror as the flames crashed down on her with enough force to shatter the earth.

The volcano rumbled dangerously as the flames dissipated.

"Thanks," Meiling gasped to the Fiery.

The card smirked back.

"No probs," the fire sprite said cheerfully, "But I think Ruby Moon is pissed."

Meiling turned around and to her surprise she was surprised to see Ruby Moon pick herself up off the ground.

"Man," Meiling muttered, "How much does it take to defeat you?"
Ruby Moon smirked at her as she rubbed her sooty face revealing the pale creamy skin beneath.

"A lot," she said dangerously.

Before Meiling could hurl another verbal barb at her, Ruby Moon gave her wings a powerful pump as she launched herself into the air.

"CRACK!"

Ruby Moon's left wing clipped Meiling in the chin as she sped past. Spinning around with the force of the blow, Meiling blinked in confusion as she wondered what had hit her.

"CRACK!"

Another blur of red, brown and black shot past the disorientated Angel as the back of Meiling's head exploded into numbing needles of pain. Still trying to clear her vision and trying to figure out where the hell Ruby Moon was attacking from, Meiling lost her footing and hit the ground heavily.

"Owww..." she groaned into the ground before flopping onto her back.

"Ow," Fiery said cheerfully, "That looks painful."

Meiling managed to send Fiery a death glare, which the magical creature pointedly ignore as she struggled to sit up.

"Uh oh... somewhere left a mess on the ground. Guess its up to me to clean it up," Ruby Moon's wicked voice said from somewhere above her.

Meiling froze as she felt something heavy against her chest.

Pushing the stunned Angel to the ground with her foot, Ruby Moon pinned her there as she slowly waved her flaming sword in the air.

"Admit it..."

Calmly she brought its flaming tip to Meiling's throat. The Fiery let a low gasp and moved to defend the Angel but with a flick of Ruby Moon's free hand the fire sprite was sent flying by an invisible force.

"CRACK!"

Its flaming head slammed into the green barrier the Earthy had crafted as its red eyes widened in shock before becoming clouded with pain. Meiling gritted her teeth as she watched the card slump to the ground, out cold. Ruby Moon smiled coldly down at the Angel.

"You just can't win."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Marcus's breath was becoming laboured as his side throbbed with pain.

"Lily?" he rasped rousing his daughter from her sleep.

"Daddy?" Lily murmured groggily.

Marcus smiles sadly down at his daughter, he wasn't going to live through this. He knew it, his wound was too big and even if Meiling could rescue him, she couldn't do it in time for him to live.

Funny, he didn't feel sad just angry at Mallus for taking him away from Lily and the woman he loved.

"Remember Lily, be strong," Marcus said softly, "Be strong, mommy will come."

"Daddy?" Lily's voice was quivering, "Daddy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just come to sleep now but remember be strong," Marcus said softly.

But Lily was too afraid to sleep.

"Daddy, what's wrong?"

Before Marcus could answer he felt the ground beneath him rumble. He let out a low hiss of pain as it jolted the wound in his side.

"What the..." he murmured weakly as the rumbling intensified.

Dimly he could see tiny cracks emerging in the thick concrete as he and Lily watched on in shock he saw the cracks lengthen and widen becoming mini fissures in the hard surface. They zigzagged crazily over the surface like black lightning bolts, joining together, fusing together to form a complex lattice of cracks and holes.

As Marcus watched wondering if the wound was causing him to hallucinate the cracks began splitting the concrete up into jigsaw like pieces. Suddenly in the centre of the floor a few metres away from his feet, the broken slabs of concrete bulged forwards as though something was through to push through. A small bump formed quickly growing in size as Marcus drew his legs away from the growing phenomenon.

"CRACK!"

The bump literally exploded hurling small chips of concrete all across the room as Marcus bent over his cowering daughter protecting her body with his own as he felt some pieces of rock bite into his back when he looked up again he was shocked to see, a gentle green glow lightning up the gaping hole now sitting inside the concrete.

As he watched, the glowing faded as something shot up from the hole. First he thought it was a snake of some kind as the thin narrow silhouette twisted this and that way as though scanning the narrow. As he leaned forwards to study the thing more closely, he was shocked to see it was a thin leafy tendril.

"You must be some plant to shatter concrete," he murmured quietly as he admired the vine, which seemed to turn to him as though it could hear him talking.

"Thanks, it's not often I get compliments," a gentle voice said cheerfully from the hole as Marcus almost had a heart attack.

More vines shot out of the hole as something green and vaguely human emerged. A tall woman with serene green eyes smiled at him, as she waved her long pale green arms around the vines instantly reacting to her gesture. They wrapped themselves around her finger like an army of trained snakes as the woman continued to smile at Marcus.

"Wha... who... when... how..." Marcus gasped in shock as Lily watched the woman in silent fascination.

"Hello, child," the woman greeted Lily warmly.

Lily smiled make unsurely as the green woman turned to Marcus.

"Marcus Flaron, I presume?" she asked softly, "Hello, I am the Wood card and I've been sent by the Fighter to rescue you."

"Fighter?" Marcus echoed confused. "Who..."

The woman giggled.

"Whoops, sorry silly me. You don't know about the prophecy, I meant Ms. Rae."

"Meiling?" Marcus gaped at the woman wondering how on earth had Meiling hired someone so strange to rescue him and Lily, "Where is..."

The Wood smiled crookedly.

"I think currently she's in a live volcano fighting Ruby Moon for the talisman but that's not the important thing," the Wood took a deep breath, "Getting you out is."

Eriol waited anxiously as they loaded the unconscious Tomoyo into the back of the ambulance.

"Is she going to be fine?" he asked the medics nervously, "Is she..."

"Sir, please," the medic said calmly and slowly, "We're doing the best we can. Are you her husband?"

"No, just her boyfriend," Eriol replied.

The medic nodded as they closed the door to the ambulance.

"You can come the hospital if you like," the man told him, "We'll be there in a few minutes."

With that he climbed into the ambulance and it pulled away leaving behind a very confused assassin.

Why did he care what happened to her? He wanted to kill her... didn't he?
Eriol sighed. Everything was so confusing right now, he didn't know what to do except that he had to go the hospital.

Now.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"Does everyone know about Angels?" Tomoyo scowled, "I mean... jeez! First Kiyone, Nivaline, Fujitaka and now you! What the hell is going on?"

The man remained silent during Tomoyo's ranting when the Angel finally calmed down he spoke up again.

" I am Yue, the Guardian of the Third book. The book of Yue Gong Jian Shou," he explained as his long white hair flapped idly in the cool breeze that nipped at Tomoyo's exposed skin.

"You're the guardian?" Tomoyo asked amazed, "Okay... where am I?"

"You in my realm, which is located in the limbo," Yue looked around and gestured at the lake and the mountains, "This is the haven I've created for me to meditate and wait until the time comes for the awakening of the Book of Hei Lang."

"Hie Lang?" Tomoyo asked.

Yue smiled at her coolly and cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"The Flower knows what is going on, you'll be able to ask her now," Yue sighed, "Right now the important thing is for you to know about your role in what is to come. Your destiny is at hand and you have a treacherous road to walk."

"Does that mean I shouldn't be wearing these shoes?" Tomoyo asked looking down at the expensive high-heels she wore.

When she looked up, she was surprised to see the cold look on the guardian's face. For some strange reason, it reminded her of a schoolteacher eyeing a disobedient student threateningly. When Yue was sure Tomoyo was quiet, he continued in his calm and refined voice.

"The talisman and books that were entrusted in my care are in hiding to ensure that none except for the chosen Angel can find them," Yue continued, "The time for their finding is at hand but only the one who is worthy can wield such awesome power."

Yue eyed her coldly.

"Are you willing to except my challenge?"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Meiling gulped as Ruby Moon tickled her exposed throat with the tip of her deadly blade.

"You just can't win," she jeered as Meiling glared at her furiously.

"I can and I will," the Angel snarled back defiantly, "Watch me."

"And pray tell how are you going to achieve this?" Ruby Moon asked with an arched eyebrow, "Seeing as you are down and pinned? Which knight in shining armour is going to rescue you?"

"Well, technically, it isn't going to be the knight in shining armour," an impish voice said from somewhere above them.

"Try Clow cards in shining armour," another voice suggested.

Before Ruby Moon could react a huge blast of gale force wind swept her off her feet as something equivalent to a swimming pool full of water came crashing down onto her from above. Meiling staggered to her feet and smiled wearily at her rescuers.

"Thanks," she murmured as the Windy nodded with a small smile on her face.

"Damn, that felt good," the Watery card said from the ridge above, her tiny voice amplified by the echoing of the volcano walls, "Can I do that again?"

"No fair," Ruby Moon snarled as she slowly got up, her clothes and hair dripping water onto the volcano floor, which immediately sizzled and evaporated into fine steam.

"Oh boo-hoo," Meiling snarled, "You're all powerful and you can't defeat little old me?"

Ruby Moon snarled at her and lunged forwards. Meiling's sword came up in time to deflect Ruby Moon's blade away as she twisted her body to avoid the haymaker Ruby Moon threw at her.

"Stand still!" Ruby Moon roared as Meiling ducked nimbly, her arms a blur as she unleashed wave after wave of fancy blade work at the winged guardian.

Ruby Moon gritted her teeth biting back a yelp of pain as Meiling scored a vicious slash across the guardian's shoulder tearing fabric and skin alike.

"Oh, would you look at that," Meiling jeered sidestepping a thrust from Ruby Moon, "I really think that tear really makes your outfit look so much better. You know torn blood-soaked fabric really is the fashion of the year."

"Then try this on!" Ruby Moon snarled.

She clenched her fist and opened it spreading palms as a ball of pink energy gathered in it. From the depth of the pink, light something hard and shiny emerged as Ruby Moon smirked.

"Here catch!" she yelled hurling the pink crystal that had appeared at the Angel.

Meiling jumped backwards as crystal slammed into the earth and shattered hurling deadly chips of debris everywhere.

"Rapid fire!" Ruby Moon screamed losing all control and calmness as she held out her hands and a huge stream of pink crystal rained down onto the Angel.

Meiling shattered one crystal with a swipe of her sword but let out a low yell of pain as one ripped into her leg. Hitting the ground and rolling out of the line of fire, Meiling grimaced as pain shot out up her injured leg.

"Hey, magic. No fair," Meiling snapped.

"Boo-hoo," Ruby Moon growled back as she hurled another barrage of crystals at her.

"Now, now this isn't really fair," the Earthy observed from the ridge above them, "How about I even the odds?"

Green light burst from the emerald tiara the Clow card wore as Meiling blinked in surprise. The shattered crystal on the chips were bathed in green light as Ruby Moon stared at the debris in horror, slowly each piece of broken crystal rose into the air the green light throbbing ominously as Meiling grinned.

"Catch," she whispered as the Earthy flicked her fingers.

Ruby Moon was pelted with a giant solid wall of broken crystal pieces that shoved her violently back into the green barrier. Pinned to the energy wall, Ruby Moon tried to fight off the crystal attacks as Meiling smirked and allowed herself to taken a small break gulping in a few mouthfuls of heated air as she paced around the perimeters of the barrier waiting for the right chance to attack.

"You dare attack me?" Ruby Moon's voice roared from the flurry of pink crystal that savagely attacked her, "Take this!"

Before anybody could react, a huge blast of crimson energy burst from within the wave the crystal chips and punched through the roof of the green dome. Meiling stared in horror as the energy rocket up to the roof of the volcanic chamber slammed into the roof and reflected off the hard surface.

The Earthy was caught unaware as the crimson energy came crashing down onto her. The Watery let out a shrill shriek as the card collapsed. The two other cards in the dome with Meiling stared in horror as the green dome flickered allowing the lava to seep in throw some of the cracks in the barrier.

"Get her out of there!" the Watery roared.

Fiery and Windy took flight racing straight for Meiling as Ruby Moon unleashed another blast of crimson energy reducing the crystal chips that still attack her to liquid sludge. Growling viciously, Ruby Moon aimed her next attack at Meiling but was too late to catch the Angel as Fiery and Windy grabbed the Angel's arms. With one powerful pump of their wings, they soared above the ground as the green barrier flickered again disappearing altogether.

Ruby Moon roared in fury and took flight after the fleeing Angel as magma reclaimed the patch of rock that was rightfully theirs.

"She's coming!" Watery shrieked.

"YOU THINK?!" Fiery roared back at its counterpart.

"Stop her!" Windy commanded as Meiling watched the fast approaching guardian anxiously knowing that she was helpless like this.

A wave of water knocked Ruby Moon off flight as the Watery mounted its attack. The wave of water split up twisting into long tendrils as they veered away from the rocky walls to charge after Ruby Moon again. The guardian clacked her teeth together in frustration she sliced one tendril in half only to have three other tendrils grab her into their watery embrace.

Flapping her huge wings violently, she shredded the tendrils as Watery hurled more ropes of water at her.

Meiling let out a low sigh of relief as she touched down gently onto the ridge. Fiery and Windy let go of her as Watery continued to pelt Ruby Moon with tendrils of water.

"DAMN YOU! FIGHT ME!" Ruby Moon roared before a small wave of water slap her in the mouth silencing her.

Meiling scrambled around for a weapon, seeing a jagged rock lying on the ridge she knelt down and picked it up throwing it and catching it experimentally to test its weight.

It would do.

"PLAY BALL!" Meiling yelled suddenly her whole body moving into the pose similar to a baseball pitcher before he throws the ball.

Meiling hurled the rock with all her might as the Windy pursed her lips and blew gently adding the strength of the wind behind the rock causing it to rocket through the air.

Ruby Moon broke through another tendril of water as she whirled around to back at Meiling again. She had no time to react as the rock whistled through the air and slammed into her delicate butterfly-like left wing. The guardian let out a loud scream of pain as the rock punched through the wing creating jagged hole.

"No!" she screamed as she stared at the gaping wound.

She flapped her wings desperately as she began dropping. Another wave of water sent her spiralling downwards as the Watery giggled and began pounding the guardian with her full arsenal.

"NOOOOOOO!!" Ruby Moon let out one last shriek before falling into the seething sea of lava.

There was a loud hiss as she touched the motel rock. For a few seconds she seemed to float above the lava before sinking into the burning mass. Meiling let out a low sigh as she turned to the Elementals.

"What happens now?" Meiling asked with a small grin as the cards stared back at her.

"You have won," the Windy began, "The talisman is r..."

Below them the lava erupted.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Sheltered by impossibly thick vines and branches, Marcus hugged his daughter tightly as bullet whistled through the air and slamming into the vines never able to pierce through the wood itself.

There was a shout of surprise as the Sand appeared and gestured causing a huge wave of sand to manifest itself from thin air and burying the guards beneath a tonne of silt.

"Hurry!" the Wood gestured as she waved her hands.

More vines burst from the from the ground shattering pipes and concrete as it grew, it formed another tunnel of living wood as Marcus dashed down the hallway carrying his daughter Lily, which was staring at the vines in fascination

"Pretty," she commented as the Wood card smile at the girl and gestured causing violet flowers to sprout from the vines.

Lily giggled as Marcus smiled at the Wood.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

"Thank me when we get out of here," the card retorted as the Sand dispatched another group of guards by causing the ground beneath them to turn into quicksand.

Another platoon of guards appeared from around the corner startling the Wood and Marcus.

"FREEZE!" one of them yelled as they all levelled their guns at them.

The Wood waved her hands as the ground beneath the guards bulged. Several of them stumbled forwards as suddenly a huge oak tree burst forth punching through concrete and wood as it continued to grow shattering the ceiling above. Another wave of the mystical wood sprite's hand caused huge vines to grow onto the ceiling, the vines tightened their grip crushing concrete into huge broken slabs before disappearing. Debris and dust rained down onto the guards, their forms disappearing under the onslaught of concrete and twisted metal. Marcus stared at the wreckage as the Wood tugged his arm directing down another corridor.

It was absolutely mayhem, wave after wave of guards appeared only to be ruthless mowed down by the awesome might of living plants or by floors and walls that dissolved into quicksand with a wave of the Sand card's hands.

Marcus ran into a dead-end as he pounded helplessly against the hard metal door that blocked the exit.

"Damn!" he growled as the Wood was somewhat distracted by another group of heavily armed guards.

Suddenly the Sand appeared beside him seemingly emerging from the ground as a tower of sand before slowly transforming into the mysterious silent woman Marcus was now used to seeing. She pointed at the door as the concrete walls around it dissolved into the dust.

"CLANG!"

Without any support, the metal door fell backwards making a loud noise as metal slapped against concrete. Before the guards on the other side could react, the Sand gestured conjuring a sandy tempest that flung the guards aside.

Marcus ran down the hallway jumping over the prone bodies of the downed guards as the Wood sealed the gaping hole behind them with a living wall of vines and leafy branches.

"Quick!" she commanded, "The exit's that way."

Bullets slammed into the wall from some unknown source, as Marcus ducked hurriedly not allowing himself to slow down as he headed towards the door the Wood card had indicated.

Behind him, the guards who had fired screamed as thorny vines suddenly sprang into life acting like live whips thrashing the guard thoroughly.

A guard appeared from a shadowy hallway only to bulldoze down as Marcus charged past.

"What the hell?" the guard snarled as he was shoved down onto the cold concrete.

His hand flew to the trigger of his gun only to find the weapon was yanked from his grip by a long flourishing vine that sprouted violet flowers. Another vine burst from the ground and wrapped itself around the guard's waist crushing him to the floor as Marcus made it to the door.

Another burst of magic from the Sand card caused the walls to dissolve into sand as Marcus ran into the night and freedom.

Once again sealing the hole behind him with a living wall, the Wood appeared beside him.

"Good, you're safe," she whispered sounding slightly out of breath.

Marcus stared in fascination at the state of the immense building he had been held in. As far as he could see no windows were left intact as vines clung to the walls sending out green tendrils that quickly developed into mature crushing plants. Even the grass on the lawn he was standing on was almost up to his knee as the Wood smiled at him.

"Nice job, isn't it?" the card asked, "I quite like it. Not bad considering I haven't used my magic in centuries."

"Centuries?" Lily asked curiously, "What's that daddy?"

Marcus remained silent as he looked around.

"Where's Sand?" he asked, "Didn't she mak..."

The Wood laughed.

"Don't worry I think she's gone to have a talk with Mallus," the Wood smirked at Marcus, "I don't think you have to worry about him anymore."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Mallus jumped as gunshots rang in corridor just outside his room. They fell silent as Mallus dashed to his door and flung it open.

"What the hell is go..." he began.

A huge wave of golden sand swept him off his feet as silt flew into his eyes blinding him. His mouth was filled with the stuff as he choked on it. His back slammed into a wall as all fell silent.

Slowly staggering to his feet, Mallus spat out the sand in his mouth and blinked furiously clearing his vision as he looked at the huge pile of sand standing in his room in shock.

"What the hell?" he growled.

He fell silent as a shadow fell onto the pile of sand.

"Who are you?" he snarled as he looked up and stared into the pale face of the woman that stood before.

Studying her clothing, Mallus guessed she was of Arabian descendant.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snarled spitting at the silent woman.

Before more curses could be flung from his bitter mouth, the woman held out her hands cutting him off.

"You shouldn't live," the woman spoke for the first time.

Mallus cringed at her voice. It sounded like the shriek of a sandstorm as it vented its rage on the earth, it sounded like the silent hissing of sand running across hard rock, it sounded like the clacking of a scorpion's claws and the sound of a rattle snake's warning rattle. It was filled with power that he had never heard before.

"What?" he snarled finally plucking the courage to speak, "Who..."

A handful of sand slapped against his chest sending him sprawling as the woman took a calm step forwards.

"I have seen what you have wrought with your own hands. The blood that stains your skin, the horror and fear you have wreaked upon others," the woman's voice was barely above a whisper but Mallus could hear it perfectly as though she was yelling at him, "You have sold your soul to the devil and have turned your back to all that is good and pure. The families that have wept because of your evils; the graves that have been filled because of your dealings. You don't deserve to live."

"What..."

"I am your judge," the woman continued, "Your juror and your executioner. The world cries for your death and you shall be punished."

The woman flung her hand outwards as Mallus let out a hoarse cry of surprise. The ground beneath him shook dangerously as he clutched feebly at the slick walls of his bedroom. The hard tiles dissolved into sludgy sand as it sucked hungrily at his legs pulling him down, down into gaping maw of the quicksand.

"You. Don't. Deserve. To. Live," the woman said slowly as the sand reached up to Mallus's shoulders.

"Wait!" he cried, "What do you want? Money? I'll give it to you! No matter how much, I'll give it! One million, two million!"

"I just want your death," the woman said softly as the sand reached up to his neck.

"NO! PLEASE! NO!!"

On and on, the pleading and screams continued as the Sand turned a deaf ear to his struggles finally as his head sank beneath sucking sands all fell silent. The card snapped her fingers and the quicksand rumbled before changing back to the hard tiled floor it had been before.

The Sand turned her back to the carnage she had wrought and walked away.

It had been done.

Mallus was dead.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Eriol's jaws dropped in shock as he pulled up.

"No. No. No," he whispered staring at the sight before him in stunned horror.

The ambulance that was supposed to take Tomoyo to the hospital stood silent in the middle of the road. Its blaring siren and flashing lights were still on but the doors were flung upon and all were empty.

Eriol's eyes travelled down to the ground and saw the medics lying on the ground, their bodies scored with long cuts that still bleed sluggishly. He stared back at the ambulance and the gaping void inside.

Tomoyo.. she was gone.

Eriol closed his eyes and gritted his teeth trying to control the fury that burned inside of him.

"Rika..." he hissed, "Damn you!"

Rika was going to pay.

She was going down.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The whole chamber shook as huge waves of magma slapped the chamber walls.

"What the?" Meiling growled.

From the maelstrom of fire and magma, a single figure rose from the fiery depths of the volcano.

Ruby Moon.

"What the hell?!" Meiling wailed, "How many times do I have to kill you?"

"Well done, Fighter," Ruby Moon said calmly as she winged her way slowly to them, "You have passed my challenge. You have defeated me and you have rightfully earned the right to wield the talisman of the Earth: the sword of Ruby Moon and the power it possesses."

Meiling stared at the guardian in shock as she landed lightly on the ridge in front of her.

"Use the weapon well," Ruby Moon said calmly her eyes showing none of the feral rage it had possessed when she and Meiling had been duelling, "For this weapon like any can be used against you. Wield it with a purpose that is pure and a heart that is filled with love and compassion."

"Where is the third book?" Meiling demanded asking that question that had been plaguing the Angels, "Where is Sakura? What's happened to her?"

"Those questions are not for me to answer," Ruby Moon said calmly, "My role in the events that is to happen are almost over. But I tell you this Fighter, the challenge of Yue is about to being."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Tomoyo stared at the guardian.

"Okay... very dramatic..." Tomoyo said slowly, "Do I really have a choice here?"

Yue stared at her calmly as Tomoyo sighed.

"Because of that twisted prophecy thing, I have to say I can't refuse," Tomoyo said slowly eyeing Yue suspiciously.

"So do you accept?" Yue asked urging her quietly.

Tomoyo nodded.

"Yes."

"Then let my champion be find and my challenge begin. You have to compete with her to find the resting place of my talisman, the mirror and the book of Yue Gong Jian Shou," Yue said dramatically as he raised his hands, "From this point on, my challenge begins!"

Yue clenched his fist as bright white light seeped from the gaps in between his long graceful fingers. With out another word, Yue opened his hands revealing the ball of white energy that had gathered in his hands.

"Come forth my champion!" he cried flinging the ball into the sky.

Tomoyo stared up at the ball as it rocketed off into a different direction. She slowly turned back to Yue.

"What the hell just happened?" she demanded.

Yue smiled at her mysteriously.

"My challenge begins."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Sakura ignored the Kerberos's major panic attack as the Light wringed her fingers and ranted for possibly the umpteenth time today. But then again, it was really hard to tell how long she had spent in here: it could be a few seconds, a few centuries. Sakura sighed and realised that was one of the problems that were facing her.

Okay, Sakura prioritise her mind ordered.

Number 1: Shut Kerberos up.

Number 2: Get the hell out of here.

Easier said than done. Suddenly Kerberos and the Light card fell silent. Well, Number 1 of her list was done.

"Hey guys," Sakura spoke up not looking at them, "Do you know any other way for me to get out of here?

Silence.

"Hello?" Sakura turned to stare at the two magical creatures and were shocked to see the stunned looks on their faces, "Hello? Is something wrong? Wha..."

Suddenly with no warning at all, a huge ball of white light came crashing down from the sky. Sakura had no time to dodge it as the energy seared her body. The energy seemed to be soaking into her skin, racing down her veins as Sakura opened her mouth in a silent scream.

"BANG!"

The ball of light exploded hurling Sakura aside as she landed heavily onto the mist-filled floor of the limbo.

"Flower?" the Light asked worriedly, "Are you all right? Flower? Flower?"

"I'm fine," Sakura said slowly staggering to her feet, "What the hell..."

"I'm fine," another voice said from behind her.

Sakura whirled around and stared into a pair of familiar emerald eyes. Auburn hair, the small familiar smirk on the other girl's face, the way she stood, the clothes she wore, the way she held herself... Sakura's mind raced as she tried to process what she was seeing.

"Hello me," the other Sakura smirked at her.

Kerberos and the Light stared at the two Sakuras as they too tried to figure out what was going on.

"What the?"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

HAHAHAHAHA!! CLIFFHANGER... again! Sorry for the massive delays but back to school and it has been busy but here it is the latest chapter to Syaroan's Angels!

Next chapter:

As Eriol tracks down Rika who has Tomoyo, Meiling learns a little about the mirror and the mysterious third book. A happy reunion takes place as she returned him to find Marcus and Lily are back and perfectly fine. See what happens when Lily calls her mommy for the first time. Meanwhile Sakura faces off against the other Sakura as the mysterious origins of her twin is revealed. Who is other Sakura? And what is she? Find out in... Doppelganger

A/Notes: Sorry about the massive delays and thanks for all the wonderful reviews but I'm back and I'll try to update at least once a month or something.

Okay two things I have to deal with here:

No. 1: The end of Syaoran's Angels is fast approaching and I've got two ideas for a spin-off. One of them will be of course the sequel to this story but the other one will probably be a prequel titled: Syaoran's Angels: The Beginning, concentrating on how the Angels first met and how their personalities clashed.

Should I write these stories? Please tell me your thoughts in your review!

And secondly, I've noticed there's been a drop in the reviews that's coming in. Is nobody reading this fic? What happened to all my reviews (ms. evil, sakura lova etc.) where are you?! If nobody is interested in this fic, I won't continue. Simple as that, I've got homework and stuff and I don't want to waste my time on something no one reads.

So please, review! If there isn't a pick-up in reviews, I'll discontinue this fic.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!