Disclamer: I do not own CCS.

Chapter 2: A New Mage

Sakura found herself standing on top of a hill. She faced a single Sakura tree before her. It was not blooming yet. She looked around and saw the whole Tomoeda town behind her. The night-lights illuminated the entire town. However, she immediately turned to tree. Something was off about it and she could not guess what it was. Her gaze followed the tree trunk and she saw a cloaked man standing next to the trunk. The moon had illuminated the ground but the tree shadow hid his face. She went closer sparing her eyes to see the face. Something about that person felt familiar to her. She felt that she knew him but she could not remember from where. She could not see his face but she felt strange warmth in her heart as she approached him.

Suddenly she felt her eyes begun to water. No. They were not water. She was crying. She did not want to and she found no need to cry but the tears fell on their own. She looked at the man with amazement. He offered his hand to her from his place. Her heart skipped a beat and her feet moved as if they had their own will. She ran to grab his hand. As soon as she took his hand, her heart felt very light and the Sakura tree blossomed suddenly. She had a sudden urge to jump on him and hug him tight.

Why, she had no idea. She did not know who the man was and she had never met him before. Yet, she could not help but feel familiarity and warmth around him. This warmth was much different from what she had ever felt in her life. It was similar yet somehow different from her father. It was different from her brother. It was different from her friends. It was much different from even Syaoran's warmth. She recognised and missed this warmth, yet she could not place it from where. She simply stared at him with teary eyes. She could see his face in the tree shadow but she could see the outlines of his face. His hair blew in the gentle breeze. His lips adorned a loving smile for her. She could feel him gazing at her with immense love. She knew this gaze. She missed this gaze. Yet she could not place it from where.

The air vibrated with a very soft, soothing and loving woman voice, "Tough times await you Sakura. Do not be afraid or disheartened. Keep hope, my daughter."

Sakura was shocked. She looked around to try to find the source of that voice but she failed to see it. The man never opened his mouth but she could tell that he heard it as well. He just pulled her closer and hugged her with love.

Sakura woke up suddenly. She stared at the wall in front of her.

'Mother.' She whispered half-conscious.

She suddenly realised what she just said. Her sleep vanished and she was shocked at her own word. She felt her cheeks wet and touched them. Indeed, she cried for real. It had never happened before. She immediately got out of the bed and looked at the clock. She could not believe what she saw. She actually beat the alarm with an hour straight. She tried many times in the past but she never succeeded but she did it now. Though because of a dream. She left the bed and went to the window.

She looked outside at the sky. It was slightly dark and she began to think back on her dream. If that was really her mother's voice, she wanted to hear it again. She had no memory of her mother and this might be the first time she heard her. She tried to warn her about some danger but Sakura was not thinking about the possible dangers in the future. She was thinking about the evidence she would have if she actually encounters some danger. Everyone said that her mother watched over her and she felt that as well. For once, she would actually have proof for it.

Sakura completely forgot about the man she met in her dream; the man who hugged her with immense love. She concentrated on her mother. She wanted for the day to break and Syaoran to call her. She wanted to tell him about her dream where she heard her mother's voice for the first time. She wanted to tell her father that she loved her mother's voice. She wanted to tell her brother that he was not the only one to hear their mother's voice now. She wanted…she was out of ideas what she wanted to do now. She wanted to rush to her friends and tell them everything.

Wait. They do not know she has dreams like that. No one besides Tomoyo has any idea that she is a card mistress and she can use magic. Perhaps she should tell them about it. The huge happy grin on her face showed that she was simply too happy. In fact, for once she had stopped thinking rationally.

Her mobile rang at that moment. She came out of her happy world; expecting it to be Syaoran, she took the call.

"Hey Syaoran. I have…"

Another soft male voice took her by surprise, "Hello Sakura."

"Oh sorry Eriol. I thought it was Syaoran."

"Cannot live a moment without him, can we?"

His teasing voice brought a smile on her face, "That is not it Eriol."

"I wonder what else it means. You do not have to worry. Just a few more years and he will take you away from all of us forever. You know what I mean."

Eriol laughed while Sakura, knowing exactly what he talked about, turned scarlet.

"Eriol!"

"Sorry. Sorry I just could not contain myself." He continued to giggle.

"No problem. So why did you call? You never call at this time."

Suddenly the atmosphere changed and Sakura could feel it. Eriol's giggle vanished instantly.

"Sakura. Did something happen just now?"

Sakura was confused, "No. Everything is fine."

"Are you sure about it?"

"Yes. Why would I hide a problem if I face one?"

"No. it is just that, a while ago, I felt your magic all the way to England. That does not occur unless you use several very powerful cards simultaneously. Did you use a card Sakura?"

"No. I just woke up."

"It is unusual for you to wake so early as well Sakura."

Sakura remembered her dream.

"I…had a dream. I woke up with that."

"Tell me about your dream."

"I was outside Tomoeda in front of a not blossomed Sakura tree. It was night and everything ran smoothly. Then I saw a man come out of the shadow of the tree. I do not know him and I cannot see his face due to the tree's shadow but I still feel immensely warm in my heart. It feels like I knew that person but I have no idea where. My body gets out of my control and I begin to shed tears. He offers his hand and my legs automatically run to him. My hands take his hand though I do not want to. As soon as I took his hand, the Sakura blossomed and I heard my mother's voice. After that he hugs me and I woke up. I heard my mother's voice in my dream and I felt so real."

Eriol could tell that Sakura was very happy with the last sentence. He, however, did not seem pleased.

"Are you sure it was your mother?"

"Yes. She was very warm and she even called me her daughter."

Eriol was silent for a while. Sakura was confused at first but now she was worried. Eriol never gets worried for silly things. Each time, it is something important and mostly to help through some problem.

"What did your mother tell you?"

"Huh! She warned me against an upcoming threat. I should not be afraid or disheartened. I should keep hope."

Now she understood something that she skipped earlier. Her mother warned her to a threat. Eriol called because he was worried she used some extremely powerful magic. Something was coming and she knew it was bad. She almost panicked this time.

"Eriol. Now I am scared. What is going to happen?"

She heard Eriol sigh, "I do not know Sakura. I seriously do not know."

Sakura was disheartened but he continued, "Such a powerful dream and your mother personally came to warn you against a threat. This cannot be good. This is not a coincidence. Something very dreadful awaits you in the future Sakura. You have to be careful. The power of a dream is proportional what it shows. I felt its power all the way here. I am sure other sorcerers from around the world would have also sensed it. It was massive Sakura. You have to be extra careful from now on."

"What should I do Eriol?"

"The place, the time and the people in your dream, everything has some significance with this threat. Why would your mother show you a man when she came to warn you? Why would you feel happy with him when you do not know him? Why would the Sakura blossom instantly as soon as you took his hand? He is a part of this riddle. You have to find him. Maybe he knows something we do not. I believe he will help you through this problem. That is why he hugged you."

"Could he not be the cause of the threat?"

"I doubt that. Your sub consciousness knew him and loved him. You do not know him, yet you cry at his sight and feel loved. That is not a sign of threat from him. That is a sign of help and protection from him."

"Are you sure Eriol?"

"Sakura. I want you to keep your dream to yourself for a while. Do not mention it to Syaoran either."

"Ok." Sakura was very troubled and Eriol felt it.

"Last of all…" Sakura paid full attention, "Relax. Your mother asked you to keep hope so relax. Everything will be all right. You will pull through it like each time."

Sakura put on slight smile, "Sure. Thanks Eriol."

"Anytime. Now you are free to talk to him. Do tell him, I am looking forward to him stealing you away."

Sakura turned pink again and Eriol laughed aloud at the other end. Sakura gave a broader smile.

"Thank Eriol. Bye for now."

"Bye and take care Sakura."

They hung up. Sakura fell on her bed thinking about her dream. She was no longer in her earlier cheerful mood anymore. She was worried now. She did not heed to the warning earlier but now even Eriol is worried. Sakura knew that when Eriol worried, it has to be something big even for him to handle. She turned her head to look at the 'Book of Sakura Cards' and the key. She gave a smile.

"As long as I have my friends with me, I can overcome any problem in the world."

Sakura had cheered up now. She sat up and decided to call Syaoran. She looked outside the window and saw the sun rising behind the hills far away. She had been to those hills several times in the past and she loved the scene of the town from the top. She thought about how she had never been there with Syaoran even when she had the chance. Suddenly she had a strong urge to have Syaoran over so that she could show him the wonderful place. She turned her gaze to her mobile and dialled his number with a cherry red face.

Syaoran picked up as soon as the bell rang as if he was ready all along waiting for her to call.

"You beat me again Sakura. I was so close to calling you today. I had it in my hand and then you called."

Sakura smiled, "Well you cannot win every day."

Syaoran laughed on the other side, "Good morning my cherry blossom."

Sakura blushed slightly, "Good morning my little wolf."

"Did you sleep properly?"

"Yes." Sakura did not tell him about the dream. "How about you?"

"I had a great night. I dreamt of you close to dawn."

Sakura turned into a deep shade of red. Syaoran had a slightly embarrassed tone as well.

"And…and what did you see in your dream?"

Syaoran replied, "I saw that we had grown up and we were standing on a hill facing Tomoeda together under a Sakura tree. You said that you wanted to take me to that place all along but never remembered when you had the chances. It was such a cute dream."

Sakura simply gave a loving smile. That is exactly what she wanted to do and at the same place. If he were with her at that moment, she would use the 'fly' card and take him to her favourite spot.

"Did you dream anything Sakura?"

Sakura returned to the present, "I think so. However, I do not remember any of my dreams. Sorry."

Syaoran laughed at the other end and Sakura coloured with embarrassment. Just how much could a girl colour and how frequently. Sakura must be breaking all records of blushing by now.

"Well I will not hog you for long. I have to go now."

Sakura was confused and worried for no reason at all.

"Why? I just called you. I…"

"Calm down Sakura." He felt the panic in her voice. "I told you last night, did I not? I have some early training today. That is why I have to go sooner today. I promise I will make up for it in the evening."

"You promise." Sakura spoke childishly. Syaoran could not resist this tone. He melted as soon as he heard it.

"After that tone, there is no way I will not."

"Take care Syaoran. Bye."

"Bye Sakura. Have a great day."

He hung up and Sakura placed the mobile in her lap while she sat on the bed. She stared at his picture on it for a long time with a scarlet face.

The alarm went off and brought her to the present world. She looked outside and saw the sun had already risen. She heard somebody busy preparing breakfast downstairs. That was probably her father since it was his turn. Kero opened the drawer and floated up rubbing his eyes.

"Morning Sakura."

Sakura smiled cheerfully, "Morning Kero."

Kero stared at her with shock. He could not see any trace of sleep on her face. That was unusual since she would make a fuss over the alarm clock each morning. He had to always pull her blanket to get her out of bed. Sakura knew what shocked him.

"I woke up an hour ago. I finally managed to beat the clock."

"That's…amazing. You did the impossible Sakura."

Sakura frowned, "What do you mean impossible? I can wake up early too you know."

Kero smirked, "Of course you can. Leaving aside the times when the clow cards created a ruckus, I wonder how many times I have seen you up early."

Sakura turned red with anger, "Kero!"

"Get ready for school or you will be late even though you beat the alarm for the first time in your life."

Sakura glared daggers at him and he returned inside the drawer.

"That Kero! How dare he mock me like that?"

Tomoyo smiled at her anger. She was red on the face due to anger but one would be dumb to not notice how amazingly cute she looked even when angry. Others in the class were busy talking while Sakura just stared outside the window from her seat. The class was about to begin shortly. Tomoyo sat on her right smiling at her.

"You have to admit Sakura." Sakura turned to her. "It is a miracle that you beat the alarm by an hour."

Sakura fell flat on her face.

"Not you too Tomoyo!"

A female teacher came in at that moment and everyone returned to his or her place. Sakura soon returned to her normal cheerful self. Her frustration did not stay long and completely vanished at Syaoran's mention. She could not help blush and her friends loved to tease her. Tomoyo's camcorder came in handy to record those priceless moments when Sakura would blush at his name. Sakura would be lost in her own world whenever she thought of him. There were other couples in love but none acted as she did. There was an unexplained connection between the two. Tomoyo wondered often what it might be.

The day passed smoothly for everyone. Sakura soon forgot about her dream. After the school, Tomoyo offered to walk with Sakura to her home to which, she politely declined. She was heading to the market to meet her brother. As a result, Tomoyo had to leave alone with a sad face though fake. Sakura simply smiled helplessly at her cousin. Helpless not because she could not change her mood but because Tomoyo simply would not change her habits.

Sakura was walking on the side of the road, wondering what mirror had in her mind. She was surprised when mirror wanted to go shopping for something secret with Touya. She would have thought it would be a date if she did not know better. True; mirror adored Touya and Sakura could guess why. Touya knew that girl was not his sister though she looked just like Sakura. Yet he tried to help her in the way she asked and got hurt in the process. An act that touched the girl's heart. Touya knew Sakura switched places with her and he could have simply asked her to leave but he still kept his promises. He even gave her the green ribbons as a gift. Mirror too liked Touya a lot but only in a sisterly fashion. Ever since everything became clear inside the family, somehow their relationship deepened.

Suddenly, Sakura felt an overwhelming magical presence at a distance. She stopped in her track and turned to face the setting sun. It was setting behind a hill and she felt it come from that direction. Before she could even move a muscle, everything around her stopped. The cars, the people, the air, the trees and everything else she laid her eyes upon had stopped. It was as if time itself had stopped. It felt similar to the time when she used her 'time' card but the golden glow that would encase everything was absent. She opened her bag and found the book sealed inside.

Before she could even open it, she felt two other familiar presences approaching her. She looked up in the sky and saw two winged-figures approaching her from either side. She was not alarmed at that. She knew who they were. She just took out her book and waited for them.

Kero and Yue landed next to her with a worried face.

Kero asked, "Do you feel that presence Sakura?"

Sakura nodded, "Yes. It is very intimidating. I have never felt like this before today."

Yue, "This is not the magic of the time card. If I have to guess, this sorcerer cast the time magic."

Kero, "What should we do? Should we go or should we leave it?"

Sakura, "We are going. This could turn into some threat and we have to stop it."

Sakura looked at both her guardians for their approval. They seemed slightly reluctant for the first time ever but they still nodded in affirmative. Sakura smiled at it.

"Do not worry guys. I will be fine as long as I have you two to protect me."

The two guardians returned her a smile. Yue did not hold back much either. Sakura took out her key.

'Key that hides the power of the stars.

Show your true form before me.

I, Sakura, command you under our contract.

Release!'

The key elongated into a pink staff with a golden six-sided star inside a circle with tiny wings at one end and a red gem on the other end. Sakura took out the 'FLY' card.

"FLY!'

Two white angel-like wings sprouted on her back with a pinkish hue encasing them. Sakura flew away with her two guardians towards the setting sun. It was long flight before they stopped above a single tree on the top of a hill. They circled around the tree from air trying to see any traps waiting for them. They saw nothing but a single cloaked figure sitting under the tree very silently. He did not move as if stopped with time. Sakura looked around at the place.

"This place…" Sakura whispered to herself.

Kero and Yue did not hear her whisper but the cloaked person looked up at them. This took them by surprise and they stood ready for any oncoming attacks. However, none came their way. Sakura and company came to the ground at a little distance from the tree, carefully looking at the man.

Sakura, "Are you the one who set this time magic? Please tell me."

The person stayed silent. He did not answer and that increased Sakura's uneasiness.

Kero asked, "Who are you?"

The person did not respond. Kero was getting impatient at his ignorance. He wanted to rush forward and beat some sense into the man. However, his experience had taught him to do otherwise. Kero stood his ground next to Sakura and did not attack him. He looked at Yue from the corner of his eye and saw him holding back as well.

Sakura, "Please tell me who you are. Why did you cast the spell mister?"

They heard a snigger from under the hood. That was the first sound they heard and it was full of mockery. The trio were alert for any surprise attacks. They knew that he was very powerful. However, Sakura was the strongest mage in the world. Eriol said so and they knew he would not make such a mistake or even lie for that matter.

"You do not have much time card mistress. If that spell is not lifted within another hour, everyone under its effect will turn to stone permanently. No magic in the world could fix them."

His words had a tone of challenge directed towards Sakura. He knew her well though she did not know anything.

"I doubt you would like your family and friends dead because of your useless caring mind. And before I forget, your two guardians cannot escape it forever either."

Sakura and her two guardians were shocked. He sniggered again.

"I guess you did not know. I will tell you then. My time spell is perfect. It stops everything. That includes generation of magic of every sorcerer besides me. Under the spell, you will not generate magic and the moon guardian's existence constantly drains you of your magic even when you do not use it. When you run out of it, he will follow and both will turn to stone. As far as the sun guardian is concerned, with no time, he will not receive magic from the surrounding. Thus, he too will run out and turn to stone. Now do you get it; little card mistress."

The trio stared at him with shock. They heard him snigger under his cloak. Sakura tightened her grip on her star-wand with anxiety visible on her face. Kero snarled and Yue seemed just as much troubled.

"Oh and did I tell you what will happen to your cards?"

The trio listened carefully to whatever he had to say. Enemy yes; but he knew the effects of magic better than they did. He had more experience and knowledge compared to them since he was a powerful and proper sorcerer for much longer than Sakura was. His silence was killing Sakura. She wanted to know what would happen to her magical friends. She was very much worried now. She suddenly felt that she knew nothing about magic. Kero, Yue or Eriol would always tell her what to do and what something meant. She never tried to figure things out on her own before.

Sakura asked, "What will happen to my cards?"

The man raised his head slightly, "They will not turn to stone after you three die."

Sakura felt relieved at the info. Kero and Yue, however, stared at the man with disbelief.

"They will not turn into ordinary cards either. Nor will they end up free for some new captor to capture them."

This confused Sakura. She wanted to ask her guardians about it but could not look away from the man.

Kero spoke, "That is not true. The cards will be free until a new master gains control. That is how clow's cards work."

"Clow cards yes but sadly they are no longer clow cards. They are Sakura cards now if you remember."

Kero's words calmed Sakura further but his words struck a chord. Suddenly the trio felt that he had a strong point. They were no longer 'Clow cards'. They were now 'Sakura cards' and had a new source to their magic.

The man continued, "The cards will cease to exist altogether. Now the process of disappearance of a magical being is very painful. Equal to the pain of actual death. You do remember the time when Yue almost faded due to your inability to provide enough magic for his survival. That is what will happen to the cards. They will fade to nothingness."

Sakura was thunderstruck. Yue and Kero could not believe it. This man knew everything in their past though it was supposed to have occurred without any knowledge to the outside world. Eriol would not make such mistake as to let an enemy know all that.

Kero, "If we defeat you, your spell will break and we will survive, right?"

The man laughed this time. Sakura finally looked at the sun guardian. He looked very angry and furiously stared at their opponent. She turned to Yue and the normally calm guardian was now in a fit of rage. Sakura had never seen them like this. Even during the battle with the 'NOTHING' card, those two were not this angry. Currently, she simply wondered what stopped them from attacking that man. She wondered what stopped 'her' from attacking him.

The man controlled his laughter after a while and replied, "Technically yes but…"

A bow appeared in Yue's hand and he pulled an arrow, "Then we should not waste time chatting."

He released the blue magic arrow at the man. The mage did not even flinch as the arrow approached him. Sakura watched with desperation praying for it to work even the slightest.

Her prayers went unanswered as the arrow stopped inches from his cloak as if stopped in time. They were not too surprised. Kero was already ready with his fire. He breathed as much fury of fire as he could in one breath and covered the entire area in front of them in flames. The next instant, the flames also stopped in time. The mage sat under the tree with the arrow floating next to him and the fire burning around him. He was unharmed even the slightest.

Sakura pulled out a card, "Why am I not surprised?"

She threw the card ahead of her as it floated in air spinning in the process. The six-sided star spun as fast as it could without breaking the wand and the wings grew bigger.

"WINDY! Bind my opponent in the chains of your wind."

The nymph appeared at her call and moved towards the man with wind to her aid. Inches from him, she stopped in air just like the fire and the arrow. The trio were shocked at this. Time magic has never affected the elemental cards before. Suddenly the windy dissolved into a mist and returned to her card form. A yellow string bound the pink card and it floated right into the man's hand. The trio was shocked.

"You did not let me finish my words earlier."

The mage spoke as he finally stood up. Sakura gripped her wand tighter, thinking which card to use. She could use 'ERASE' card to remove the time spell. She could use 'MAZE' card to trap him for a long time. However, she had no idea how he would deal with that. Could he be able to overcome her cards and defeat her? Kero and Yue stood on guard to protect their little mistress.

"You can end this spell if you defeat me but only a sorcerer can do so. Cards, magical beings and any other stuff is useless. What are cards? What are guardians? They are nothing but creations of magic. If a strong magic is used to control them, a stronger magic can release them from such control. The power of your guardians is useless as I can nullify all that attack. Your cards are useless as I can use my magic to bind them and seal them away for good."

The fire vanished at that moment leaving the area as if the fire never existed. Nothing was burnt at any place. He touched Yue's arrow and it turned into a ball of light before vanishing inside his palm. His other hand held 'WINDY' card still bound by a single strand of yellow magical string.

Sakura aimed for another card hoping it would work before he could take control but she was too late. All the cards along with the book itself rapidly floated away from her and towards the mage. It was the same as the time with 'NOTHING' card. The book floated before the man along with all the cards around him. He stood in the centre looking around at all the cards trapping him inside a prison. At least, that was what Sakura thought. To the trio's horror, the cards collected and entered the book along with 'WINDY' card. He took the book and closed. The yellow string now sealed the book shut.

Yue pulled an arrow on his bow and Kero was ready to breathe fire. Suddenly the bow and the arrow vanished to the owner's disbelief and Kero could not breathe fire anymore. Sakura guessed that the mage did something to do that. A yellow string appeared around the two guardians and bound them. They struggled to get free but in vain. The strings did not loosen even a little.

Kero snarled, "What did you do? Why can I not even transform?"

The man sniggered, "Did I forget to mention it earlier? Or did you not hear me say that I can control you with my magic? Did you really think that Clow Reed was the only one who had the power to do so? Sorry to disappoint you but several mages from around the world today can do so. I am no different."

With that, the two guardians fell unconscious. They floated in air and flew to the man. He stepped to his side and the two guardians safely lay under the tree. Sakura was already teary-eyed by now.

"Please mister. Please let go of my friends. I am begging you."

The man laughed evilly, "What happened card mistress? I thought you are the strongest sorcerer in the world. Is this how you defeat your opponents? Such pitiable acts have now destroyed my mood. I guess I will kill you some other time. Unless, you can defeat me instead."

Sakura stood at her place holding her wand with fear this time. She was worried for her friends even more than her own self was. She watched the book and her two guardians helplessly. She did not know what to do. She closed her eyes and began to wish that it was all just a dream; a very bad dream. Tears rolled down her cheek. She felt intense blinding light all around her. She could not even open her eyes now.

His voice reached her ears, "The only way for you to defeat me is by using your magic directly without a medium."

Strangely, his voice lacked the earlier evil tone to it. It was plain heavy voice with no enmity to it. She felt sleep overtake her and she fell on the ground.

End of Chapter 2

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