Chapter 16
Sorceress Myst: Hello everyone! Normally I would try to get Fagtron to say the disclaimer and start the story, but first I wanna know what the heck Jed is doing to Fagtron.
Apprentice Jed: (While pulling a costume on a struggling Fagtron) I've done a lot of research and found that if Fagtron participated in a group event, she might stop being a threat to society so I decided to enroll her in the flag corps. (gives Fagtron a flag)
Sorceress Myst: But she isn't old enough to be enrolled in anything. Plus, even though the flag looks pretty when waved around, it is still a weapon and it will only make Fagtron's condition worse.
Fagtron: Hehehehehehe! (Throws flag in the air and lets it hit her in the face and then does it again)
Apprentice Jed: (Smirks) Worse or better?
Sorceress Myst: (thinks for a moment) Eh, I dunno. We'll see if this is a good thing, but for now… (pulls out tape recorder)
Tape Recorder: (In Apprentice Jed's voice) Sorceress Myst does not own CCS or any of it's characters except for the characters you wouldn't normally see in CCS.
Fagtron: Oh-no! The voice stealer stole Jed's voice! (Starts hitting the tape recorder with the flag until it's a pile of junk) VICTORY IS MINE!!!!
Sorceress Myst: (whispers) My silver tape recorder… (glares at Apprentice Jed) Oh I definitely say her condition would be worse.
Apprentice Jed: (Laughs nervously) Now on with the story!
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The king was growing weaker day by day. His once tan skin was now as white as a ghost and his fever continued to rise. All Xavier could do was stay by his father's bedside until someone needed him to be the acting king. Now the palace had to hide two secrets, the heavily wounded king and the cause of the injury. The High Sorceress' Guardians have lived within the palace walls for centuries and have suddenly decided to leave. Both Xavier and his father tried to convince them to stay, since the relic of Zebas was still missing from its tomb and the relic had the power that could actually threaten them.
Xavier closed his eyes from the memory. He saw fear in their eyes and that caused them to attack mindlessly. Somehow, he was the only one to survive the attack without a scratch, but his father…His father received all the blows.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!" a man called from outside the king's chambers. Xavier sighed softly before he stood up and walked outside. He closed the doors behind him and faced the man standing before him.
"What is it?" Xavier asked in a low, quiet voice.
"I-I need to speak with the king," the man said while trying to catch his breath.
"The king needs his rest. Whatever you need to say to him, you can say to me. Now what is it?"
"We received a transmission from the Earth Guardian of the High Sorceress. The Mistress of the Cards and her friends have disappeared and the other guardians are being forced to protect the holder of the relic of Zebas," he whispered quickly.
"Kalie," Xavier muttered to himself, "What about Xylona?"
"She is also missing. Your Majesty, what are we going to do? The Card Mistress couldn't defeat the power of the relic and with it growing stronger, even the High Sorceress' magic would be useless."
"But if they worked together…there might still be a chance," Xavier sighed before glaring at the ground, "If only we knew where the magic circlet was."
"It wouldn't matter if we did. We still would need the successor or a blood relative of the High Sorceress for it to be useful and the Card Mistress is still missing."
Xavier's eyes hardened before he stepped away from the door. He slowly began walking down the grand hallway as he finally whispered, "There is only one thing for me to do then. …I hope it works."
Eriol groaned as he opened his eyes. His limbs were aching and his head hurt. He felt like he had just survived a cat fight between Ruby and Xylona. One his eyes focused, he realized that he was in unfamiliar territory. It looked kind of like a sewer with glowing green water and was covered with stalagmite and stalactite near the walls. The water was the only thing that was providing light in this unusual place.
Eriol glanced at his hands and found them scratched up and bloody. He then crawled over to the water and examined it for a moment. It didn't look harmful. Cautiously, he leaned over the edge of the small river and carefully dipped his hand in the liquid. He felt a cool tingling sensation on his skin before he pulled his hand out. His hand was now completely healed.
"This water has healing properties," he thought to himself as he dipped the other hand in and washed his face. The pain vanished immediately, allowing him to sit back and think about the others.
"Where is everyone? That spell Xylona cast couldn't possibly split us up in different places so they must be somewhere around here." A low moan suddenly pulled Eriol out of his thoughts. He quickly stood up and ran in the direction where he heard the sound. Up ahead, he found a body laying face down and rushed over to it. It was Tomoyo. He gently rolled her over and examined her face. There were a few scratches on her forehead and a bruise on her cheek, but nothing serious. He then noticed that she was shivering and sweating at the same time.
He caressed her cool cheek before pulling out a clean cloth from his pocket and soaked it in the water. He proceeded to clean her face and then ran his fingers through her hair to check for any bumps or cracks in the skull. When couldn't locate any flaws, he finished his check up on her by gently placing his head on her chest and listened for her heartbeat. It wasn't slowing or weakening so what ever was wrong with her wasn't fatal. Eriol didn't know what else to do after that so he carefully picked her up and pulled her into his lap. Her head was resting on his shoulder and his lips brushed against her forehead as he began rocking her in a steady rhythm.
When Tomoyo's eyes fluttered open minutes later, she was greeted by green light and a warm body holding her close. She glanced up to find Eriol's relieved face staring back at her. She let her eyes travel around the area, making her realize that they were alone in a strange place.
"Eriol, where are we? Where are the others?"
"I don't know," he answered while shaking his head, "You're the first person I've seen since I have awakened. As for where we are, I have no clue. All I know is that this is supposed to be a safe place."
"Oh," was her reply as she tried to stop shaking.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, but my body feels like its buzzing and I feel so tired." Eriol frowned at her answer. Something was wrong, but he couldn't tell what it was. He could sense that her aura was different now. It was still her own aura, but it felt like some of Sakura's magic was present within it. He decided that he would have to figure it out later. Right now, they should be searching for the others.
"We need to keep going. Can you stand up?"
"I-I think so," she said as she pulled away and tried to stand up. Eriol quickly stood up and helped her steady her wobbling legs.
"Here, lean against me," he ordered and then started helping her walk down the tunnel.
"Sakura!"
Sakura slowly opened her eyes from the voice and the faint sound of footsteps. She soon discovered that she was in a dark tunnel near two glowing green rivers that intersect in a 'T'. She ignored the surroundings as she remembered the voice. It sounded like Syaoran.
"Sakura!" It was Syaoran. She tried to stand up and follow the sound of his voice, but was forced back down by the sharp pain in her legs. She held her breath to keep from screaming out in agony. The faint echo of footsteps she heard earlier became louder, letting her know that he was approaching.
"Syaoran! I'm over here!"
"Sakura?!" She heard him break into a full run. She soon met his worried amber gaze as he turned the corner and nearly ran into her. He then quickly knelt down and hugged her.
"I'm glad you're safe," he whispered in her ear, "Are you hurt?"
"A little. I think I twisted both my ankles," she responded when he let go. Syaoran looked down and carefully touched her ankle, causing her to cringe in pain.
"Twisted? Try broken," he commented as turned away from her and pulled her on to his back.
"What are you doing?" she squealed he stood up.
"We need to go find the others," he explained as he started walking, "You can't walk so I'm carrying you."
He adjusted her so she was more comfortable, but as he did, she notice his sharp intake of breath.
"You're injured, aren't you?" she asked accusingly.
"It's just a scratch. Nothing to worry about." It took her awhile before she realized that the 'scratch' was from the blast of water he saved her from during the battle with Eiryn.
Syaoran slightly glanced behind him after she rested her head on his shoulder and whispered "Thank you" in his ear.
"What for?"
She smiled softly and closed her eyes, "For every time you risk your life to save me you big dummy. I never had the chance to repay you."
"The fact that you're alive and safe is enough for me."
"Aww…that so sweet…" She hugged him and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek, earning muffled whimper of pain from him, "Oh, sorry!"
"It's alright."
"No, it's not. At least carry me in your arms so I won't hurt you anymore."
"I'm fine," he answered stubbornly while blushing.
"But Syaoran!" she protested before they heard voices.
"Sakura? Syaoran? Is that you?"
"Tomoyo?" Sakura asked before Syaoran began jogging to the source. They soon found Eriol and a very weak Tomoyo slowly walking towards them. Tomoyo gave a small smile when she saw them. Eriol helped her sit on the ground before he greeted Sakura and Syaoran.
"Sakura…" her smile faded when she noticed Sakura was riding on Syaoran's back, "What happened to you?"
"Oh, I only-"
"She broke both her ankles," Syaoran interrupted before she could finish.
"I don't know about broken bones, but that green water has the ability to heal flesh wounds. Maybe you should let Sakura dip her feet in it. We need to rest anyway." Eriol suggested while pointing at the flowing green fluid.
"Alright." Syaoran then placed Sakura on the ground near the water and helped her take off her shoes and socks while she flinched in pain. When that was done, Sakura submerged her feet in the water and was amazed when she felt no pain when they touched bottom.
"The pain is gone!" she announced joyfully to Syaoran, "Now it's your turn."
"That's okay, I'll pass."
"Syaoran…" she narrowed her eyes as Eriol chuckled.
"Xylona would give up caffeine before Syaoran would stop being so stubborn." Eriol's remark made Sakura giggle and Syaoran glare at him.
"That reminds me. Have you guys seen Xylona?" Tomoyo suddenly asked, making them go silent.
"No, we haven't. I hope she's okay," Sakura said as she looked down.
"I'm worried. She was badly injured when we came here…"
"I wouldn't worry too much, Tomoyo. She probably already healed herself and is searching for us now. After all, she already knows this place or she wouldn't have sent us here."
"I hope you're right Eriol," she sighed. Suddenly they heard a loud splash and glanced over in time to see Syaoran sit up in the knee deep water, coughing and sputtering.
"S-Sakura!" he stuttered to the girl as she fell over from giggling.
"I had to get you to heal your wounds somehow," she explained innocently as he brought his hand over his face to wipe away the water. He then noticed a hand that was hanging limply off the edge of the shore across from him. The fingers attached to it were barley touching the water. He squint his eyes to get a better view of the body and then realized who it was.
"I found Xylona!" he shouted as he stood up and pulled Sakura to her feet so they could run to her. Tomoyo tried to get up by herself, but was too weak. Eriol noticed her attempts before he picked her up and carried her bridal style to the others. He then settled her down next to Xylona and sat beside her. Sakura hadn't wasted any time as she had already rolled Xylona's body over and tried to wake her up. All the wounds and blood she had on her face were gone, but despite all the shaking she was receiving from Sakura, she remained asleep.
"She won't wake up…C-could she be…?" Sakura glanced at Syaoran with a worried expression on her face as he shook his head.
"She's still breathing. Maybe she's in a coma, perhaps from too much exposure to that water? Her hand was dangling in it," he guessed as he turned to Eriol.
"It's possible," Eriol replied while thinking over other possibilities, "but I doubt she's in a coma. It could be a magical problem, like losing too much energy. Remember, Xylona did sleep for a week when she lost all of her energy once. …Whatever the problem is, we still need to get her to wake up or she might sleep for months."
"Quick! Say something that always gets her attention," Sakura ordered.
"Um…Hey Xylona! There's a big sale on a 24 pack of Dr. Pepper!" Syaoran's attempt didn't even make her twitch. Tomoyo cleared her throat before leaning over her.
"Xylona! Kalie is throwing another party in your apartment!" No response from the unconscious girl.
"Oh-no! Xavier is dancing in the nude…again!" Everyone stared at Sakura in surprise.
"It worked for Kalie once…" she explained as her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.
"Okay, stand back everyone. After listening to her stories of what goes on in her subconscious, I know exactly what to say," Eriol said before taking a deep breath and leaned over Xylona's ear.
"NEVER FLUSH YOUR SAXOPHONE DOWN THE TOILET!!!" Her eyes immediately shot open and she let out an ear piercing scream as she bolted up into a sitting position
She then squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears before she cried, "GO TO HELL! ……Oh, it's you."
"Xylona! Watch your mouth!" Sakura scolded as Xylona relaxed.
Xylona looked up to her angry face before panicking and pointing at Syaoran, "I didn't say it, he did!"
Everyone rolled their eyes and glared at Xylona before she stared at her hands in amazement. She quickly grew silent and looked depressed.
"I can't believe it. After all those years, they're finally gone. I can't even believe I'm still alive," she whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Eriol inquired.
"I sacrificed my powers to cast that spell. I'm no longer a sorceress, but why do I feel like I have a hole inside me? I always wanted to be a normal girl like Tomoyo…was," she muttered the last part under her breath and only Eriol caught it.
"What do you mean 'was'? What did you do to her!?"
"Calm down Eriol! Don't have a cow," Xylona blushed and rubbed the back of her neck, "Before the battle I asked Sakura to release the Gifted Card and it possessed Tomoyo so she could help out in battle. But my final spell has some weird side effects and so some of Gifted's powers bled into Tomoyo's aura sonowsheisasorceresspleasedon'tkillme."
Tomoyo blinked as she registered what Xylona said, "I…am a sorceress? Oh wow! Eriol, could you teach me how to cast magic?"
"Uh, sure," Eriol blinked, surprised at how quickly she recovered. He now knew why Tomoyo's aura was different and why she felt strange.
"Wow…I wish I was this happy when I discovered I was a sorceress," Sakura commented with a small grin.
"Me too…" Xylona added.
"Hey Xylona, where are we?" She glanced at Syaoran and shrugged.
"I dunno. My ancestors sent us here, but judging from the water and the tunnels, I'd have to say we are at the impossible to reach place where the living can meet the dead."
"I'm not sure if I like the sound of that," Sakura whimpered before Syaoran placed his arm around her shoulder.
"Don't worry, it's not as scary as she is making it sound. This is a place where you could visit your mother or your grandparents."
"But if that's so then where is everybody? We haven't seen a single soul around since we've awakened," Eriol wondered out loud.
"Good question. Normally there would be hundreds of wandering souls here, but now it empty…as if they'd have any place else to go to," Xylona muttered, "What's worse is the fact that the safest place on Earth is here, which means the whole world must be in danger."
"Then we must return quickly and stop Eiryn," Sakura started to stand up until Xylona grabbed her hand.
"Hold it Sakura. We just got our as-I mean bottoms served to us on a silver platter. We need more power. We need the High Sorceress and her magic circlet."
"But I thought she passed away a long time ago," Tomoyo pointed out.
"Yeah, but since we are in a place where the living can meet the dead, then maybe we can find her and ask for help," Eriol explained.
"You mean if we find her," Sakura complained before Syaoran's eyes grew wide.
"Don't look now, but I think we found her," he said as he stood up. Sakura also stood up and stared at the direction where she could feel tremendous energy.
"Such power…," she whispered as Xylona quickly threw herself on the ground and buried her head in her hands.
"Now that I don't have any magic anymore, I would be considered dirt to the High Sorceress," she explained as Syaoran and Eriol kneeled down on one knee. Eriol then grabbed Tomoyo and pulled her down to kneel next to him.
Sakura was about to kneel down as well until Xylona looked back and said, "Sakura, you don't have to kneel. The High Sorceress is your equal so all you have to do is bow to her."
It suddenly became cold and a shroud of mist appeared as the High Sorceress drew near. The High Sorceress was an elderly woman with silver hair and olive green eyes. She wore long violet robes and a gold circlet with a ruby surrounded by golden wings resting in the middle of her forehead. Her eyes and expression was gentle, but the power she possessed was intimidating. Everyone soon discovered that they were holding their breath and quickly tried to relax.
When Xylona dared to lift her head to see the High Sorceress, she gasped and whispered in a timid voice, "S-siti?!"
Eriol stared at Xylona in shock. His Arabic was a little rusty, but he was pretty sure Xylona had said 'grandmother'.
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Sorceress Myst: What was that? Grandmother?! What's going on here? Will the High Sorceress agree to help them? Will she acknowledge Xylona as her only living blood relative? What kind of powers will Tomoyo possess? And what is Xavier planning to do? Find out in the next chapter!
Fagtron: (Singing) I beat the voice stealer! I beat the voice stealer! I beat the voice stealer!
Apprentice Jed: (mimicking Fagtron's voice) No you haven't! I'm still here and I am going to steal all the voices in the world!!!
Fagtron: (looks around) Where is it!
Apprentice Jed: (In her normal voice) Over there in that pile of ice blocks. (Fagtron crushes the ice with her flag until it turns into powder) See? Fagtron can be more productive with a flag. She just made us free snow cones.
Sorceress Myst: …
Apprentice Jed: Oh yeah, you're still angry about the tape recorder aren't you? Don't worry I asked Sorcerer Noah to pick up another one before he comes to visit. He should be here any second.
Sorceress Myst: (blushes) YOU DID WHAT!!! (Sorcerer Noah enters the studio)
Sorcerer Noah: Hey everyone I brought the new silver you-know-what! This one should be able to handle Fagtron's flag abuse. (He gives the package to Sorceress Myst)
Sorceress Myst: (blushes deeper) T-thank you.
Apprentice Jed: (To Sorcerer Noah) Want a free snow cone?
Sorcerer Noah: Sure! (walks over to the ice pile)
Apprentice Jed: (turns back to the camera) Since Sorceress Myst can't speak without stuttering like a fool…
Sorceress Myst: Hey!
Apprentice Jed: …I will take the time to say 'thank you' to all the reviewers and C ya next chapter!