Hey everybody!
Two updates in one week? That's a new record for me! As always this chapter is the continuation of the last chapter and the start of a new one. Please enjoy!
Chelia's Bright Idea! Sparks Fly for Wendy!
"This is why I said it was impossible! What can I do?" Wendy shouted.
She was currently flying inside the school building trying to avoid getting hit by The Shadow Card, Rouge. She was so focused on what was coming up that she didn't notice a hand grabbing her leg. Gasping, she saw Rouge holding on leg, trying to pull her down.
"Let go of me! Help! Help!" She screamed, struggling to break his hold.
"There's no one who can help you now. Accept your fate, Cardcaptor, and be sucked into the shadows." Rouge said, pulling her down.
She felt a rush of terror as she was pulled inexorably downward, and put every ounce of effort into flying upward. But Rouge was strong, and it was a losing battle.
Quite suddenly, all the lights surrounding the track snapped on. Everywhere, the classroom windows were lighting up, one after another. Wendy blinked at the sudden shift, her pupils contracting rapidly to adjust. Rouge hissed and let go of her leg, trying to shield himself from the light.
"Wendy!" Happy and Chelia were waving at her from one of the windows and she soared closer.
"The shadows all disappeared."
"Everything but Rouge disappears when you throw light on it."
"It's impossible to turn on the sun," Chelia added modestly, "but even I can turn on the lights."
"Thank you, Chelia." Wendy said, smiling.
"Wendy!" Happy extended a short arm to point back down to the surface of the track. Rouge was traveling quickly over the exposed ground, hastening out of the range of lights. "There he is!"
"All right!" Wendy nerved herself and zoomed forward, accelerating even as she had to take evasive action to avoid his thrusts of dark attacks.
"Now, Wendy!" Chelia cried.
"Show 'im the result of your special training!" Happy called out.
Wendy's shoes scraped over the earth and she skidded to a halt, facing Rouge.
"Look who's gotten stronger now! Sky Dragon's Roar!"
"No it can't be! Is this the power of a Cardcaptor?" Rouge cried out as the razor sharp winds sliced at him.
Wendy raised her staff. "Return to the form you were meant to be in. Fiore Card!"
Rouge writhed for a moment, then reluctantly dissolved and materialized in the Card under the beak of her staff.
"All right! She did it! Nothing less from Cardcaptor Wendy!" Happy's voice was thin and distant in her ears as she bent over to pick it up. Her second capture in as many days. She had done it. With a little help from her friend, she had done it. Maybe she could handle this after all.
Chelia continued to film Wendy from the window with a hint of satisfaction in her smile.
"This is splendid."
Wendy skipped down the hall, pausing just before opening the door to pull the pink-wrapped gift from her pocket. "Chelia? Thanks for everything last night. I brought this as a thank you -"
Her words died on her lips as she saw herself on the giant screen opposite, struggling to escape the clutches of Rouge with her wings.
"I'm glad this film came out so well," Was all Chelia had to say. Wendy's mouth opened and closed a few times before she could remember how to talk.
"Y-Y-You were even filming that?" she wailed.
"Of course. I cannot miss even one second of your bravery, Wendy." She pounced on Wendy and took her hands, eyes pleading. "From now on, please call me anytime you're going to go capture Cards!"
"Wait wha?"
"We must record the wonderful job of the Cardcaptor on film!"
"C-Chelia..."
"And furthermore, leave it to me for all the costumes. Next time, I'll have more frills, and add a ribbon!"
Chelia was not even looking at her anymore, she realized, nor listening to her. Her violet eyes had an enraptured look to them, and she was gazing off into the future. And Wendy realized right then that she had absolutely no chance of interfering with Chelia's plans. The pattern had been set, and this was how things were going to be.
On screen, Wendy finished examining her newest Card and turned her face up to flash a grin at the camera. And then, on a whim, she displayed the Card and opened her fingers into a V. It was the sign for victory, and it was one she intended to use in the future. Very, very often.
A blue figure swam in the waters and through the drainage pipe. It made its way towards a place marked Aquarium. It resided in a tank before taking from. It was a pale woman with blue hair in curls at the end. She wore a blue overcoat and hat. Her facial expression was sad and forlorn.
"My beloved Gray-sama I hope we will be reunited soon…"
In a watery world, the brightly colored clownfish swam leisurely past the glass, and Wendy pressed her palms against it in her eagerness.
"Hey, the fish here are really cute!" Giggling, she moved to follow the fish as it swam on.
"Wendy looks like she's having fun." Someone commented.
"I agree." Another person said.
"Wendy really loves athletic festivals and field trips." Chelia didn't bother to nod, zooming in on Wendy as she puffed out her cheeks in imitation of the blowfish. The students of Magnolia Middle School had been divided into groups for the social studies field trip, and theirs had been sent to the aquarium.
"Come on, Wendy, the penguin show is about to start! Let's -" She cut off as someone streaked past her, so fast that it was a blur, and causing her hair and skirt to fly up with a whoosh. Wendy came to a stop, then turned to look at the others impatiently.
"Come on, guys, hurry!"
"She's so quick," A person said, her eyes wide.
"Penguins, penguins, penguins!" Wendy chanted in reply, turning to go up the escalator.
"Someone almost drowned? You, Wendy?"
"No, Happy. You weren't really listening to me, were you? I thought I saw someone grab the penguin trainer from underwater." He shrugged guiltily and flitted around her head as she stirred a bowl at the kitchen counter.
"I'm sorry. It's been a while since the last time everyone was gone, and I could leave your room, so I'm a little restless. Come to think of it, you're right. There's no way you would drown, Wendy. You don't have much beyond your athletic abilities, but -"
"What do you mean, not much else?" Angrily she swiped at him with her mixing spoon. "You're not getting any hot cakes, now."
"Oh, Wendy come on..." he wheedled, knowing she would probably relent if he could turn the topic of conversation back away from him. He watched her pour the batter into the pan and prepare to flip it.
"Yeah. According to the adults, they were wondering if it was because the plug for the pool got accidentally pulled out." She finished flipping and placed the cakes in a short stack on her plate, pouring on syrup. "But I don't think that's quite it. Here." She held up a forkful and he gulped down the offering enthusiastically. "I don't think it was an accident like that. But more like - more like I know something about it."
"Like when you're facing a Fiore Card?"
"Mm."
"I'm home!" Her brother's voice carried clearly from the front hallway and Wendy jumped out of her chair. Oh no, he was home already? Happy was gobbling as much of her pancakes as he could, and she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck before dashing to the stairs and tossing him upward.
"Happy, up to my room now! Hide!" She turned just in time and leaned nonchalantly against the banister as her brother shuffled past. "Welcome home."
"Hey dragon girl."
"How was your day Natsu?" She asked as he walked over to the fridge.
Natsu didn't have the words to explain it to her, and instead he snatched a bite of her freshly made pancakes, pulling the fork out of his mouth slowly and lovingly. As expected, she forgot their conversation and leapt on him with flailing fists.
"You're so mean! You ate without asking! Those were the hot cakes that I bought with my allowance!"
As if her pathetic blows had any effect on him. She couldn't even reach up past his chest, and he gave a derisive snort before turning to call out to the front door.
"Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up and come in!"
Wendy froze, a familiar blush creeping to her cheeks. Could it be?
"Sorry,I was taking off my shoes, and it took longer than I thought. Good afternoon, Wendy." Jellal paused in the doorway from the hall and bestowed his beautiful smile upon her.
"J-jellal. Hi."
"Those look delicious. Wendy, you're a really good cook." Her cheeks warmed still further and she ducked her head.
"I don't really think so."
"Yeah," Natsu agreed cheerfully. "She really isn't that good." His face contorted in pain as she brought her foot down on his. Before he could retaliate, she'd turned back to Jellal.
"If you don't mind, would you like some hot cakes?"
"Is that all right? You bought those with your allowance, right?"
"It's all right," she replied softly. "I'll bring it up to my brother's room in a minute."
"Say thanks Wendy." He smiled at her before following Natsu up the stairs.
And with that one word, delivered with a pair of smiling brown eyes, Wendy no longer cared about Natsu or anyone else. She was in a heaven all of her own.
Wendy's crush on Jellal is blooming fast. Will she get him to notice her? Find out next time: Wendy's outing! The Water Card's wrath.
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