Chapter 10: The Final Card

"Meilin! You're awake!" Sakura shrieked.

"I can't guarantee how long," Meilin grinned. "But I'm willing to bet that I'll last longer than the final card."

Just like they had done on Sunday, the four Card Captors looked up to the ledge, where their friend-and enemy-was hidden by a miasma of flame.

"Shall we extinguish it?" Syaoran.

Meilin nodded. "It's the fastest way."

"Time!"

Syaoran and Meilin struck the card together, and the explosion froze over, forever locked in a vortex of time. Slowly, the remnants of the fire dissipated, and the four Card Captors tensed as their friend-turned-rival-stepped out from the flames.

Possess leapt to the ground and glared at the Card Captors through Eriol's eyes.

"You will suffer the consequences of your actions, Card Captor." Possess sneered. The card tried to attack, but was firmly held back by Eriol.

"Stop using Eriol to talk," Sakura ordered. "If you want to fight, then come out and fight us yourself."

For the first time since the beginning of the fight, Possess looked uncertain.

"Fighting isn't the only way out," Tomoyo added. "We could always be friends!"

"That's impossible, for a jerk like him," Syaoran muttered, but to his surprise, the card gave a nod.

"The Golden Clow will be pleased to serve the four of you as friends." said Possess. "For in friendship, there is no defeat."

Possess flew out of Eriol and reappeared next to him. The four Card Captors warily stepped towards the two, but relaxed when the card made no move to attack.

"All of us have a Golden Clow card, except for you, Sakura." Tomoyo encouraged her friend. "Go ahead. Seal it."

"No." Eriol stopped them with a wave of his staff. "Possess takes too much energy to seal. I'll do it myself."

"No! You don't have the strength to do it!" Tomoyo rushed to stop her friend, but it was too late.

"Clow Card! Back to your true form." Eriol commanded.

Possess melted into a card, and flew into Sakura's hand. She and Tomoyo turned just in time to see Eriol fall to the ground. A moment later, both Meilin and Syaoran slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.

"No! Guys!" Sakura cried. "Hold on for a sec! Don' ...go!"

Syaoran opened his eyes and smiled weakly at the Card Captor of Star.

"It's too late," he whispered. "My wounds... they hurt too much ..."

"What card can I use?" Sakura cried. "Which of the cards can I use to save you?"

Meilin sadly shook her head.

"No matter how powerful the Clow Cards are, they can never heal a fatal wound." She sighed. "They can never heal a dying heart."

Sakura broke into a sob as drops of rain fell from the sky.

A few feet away from her, Tomoyo knelt beside Eriol's still form and did the same, for she, too, knew that there was no way to save her dying friends.

No way at all...

To be continued. . .