Chapter 10.- The Final
"And now, the finalists of this Tournament." The announcer was saying. "Sorceress Cherry against Wizard Mier."
Everyone cheered to their favorite (most of them where cheering to Cherry of course).
"Let me remind you that the winner of this duel will compete with our last Tournament's champion: Lady Lan. If he or she defeats her, he/she will be declared the official champion of this Tournament and the most powerful sorcerer in the world." The announcer said through the microphone. "So let the best win."
This was it. The decisive duel.
"Competitors…" the announcer began.
Both duelists got in their spots. Ready to begin.
"…your duel begins…" the announcer continued.
Sakura remained in a defensive position, she needed to be really concentrated for everything to go fine.
Shaoran just looked at the woman he loved, risking herself for a chance of saving his mother's life, and everyone else's for the matter.
Yelan looked at the young sorceress with gratitude, thanking her for the risks she was taking for her, and by the way praying to all the gods, spirits and saints she knew for the sake of the young lady.
Tomoyo kept moving her foot nervously, really afraid of her cousin and best friend's security.
Daeron just looked at Tomoyo in silence, wishing he could help her in some way, but he knew there was none; just one person could help her in that state of despair, but he was too blind to notice it.
Eriol just kept an eye on Tomoyo, and then on Daeron, wondering why the mage wasn't helping his so-called friend; without even having the slightest idea of what the mage was thinking about him.
The rest just stayed in silence, without even being able imagine what was about to begin.
"Now!"
"Phantom Stab!" Wizard Mier attacked her.
"Shield!" Sakura yelled.
Her shield could hold the opponents attack, but just barely.
"He isn't playing." Sakura told herself. "This is serious."
Sakura stood up straight taking the magic of the Shield Card back. She sighed as she turned to her opponent.
"Okay, you wanted this." She said in a voice high enough so everyone could hear her.
She took out her star key.
The guests just looked at her, following every movement she made, not knowing what was about to happen
Eriol nodded, he knew Sakura would be using her staff.
'Just imagine the faces of everyone once they feel her true power release.' Eriol thought grinning.
'It sure is a difficult fight if she feels the need to call for her staff.' Daeron thought to himself.
'Please Sakura, take care. I don't want to lose you now that I just got you back.' Shaoran thought. 'I love you too much to lose you twice.'
Meiling and Tomoyo just looked at Shaoran, they imagined what he would be thinking. And they agreed with him in something: 'Sakura, take care.'
"I call upon the magic of my star, ancient forces near and far, with the power of magic, with the power of light, release the staff and shine your light. I command you…To Unseal!!" a golden magic seal with the sun, moon and a five-pointed star appeared at her feet and her key grew up to her Star-staff.
Then she raised her left hand to take off her mask, letting her aura shine freely.
"What's this…her aura…it changed…" some people murmured.
"What do you pretend Sorceress Cherry?" Wizard Mier asked her.
"To stop the games Lord Michel." Sakura said. "You wanted a real fight, you'll have it."
"You're going to die here stupid human." Lord Michel said, but just she and her friends heard.
"I don't think so." Sakura replied.
"You're just a human, there's nothing you can do against me." Lord Michel insisted.
"We'll see." Sakura said. And before he could react she took out a card, hit it with the staff and called out. "Thunder!"
If some of the guests had been surprised the first time she used thunder they were speechless after this. Wizard Juel had been right when he spoke about how impressing it was her magic with her bare hands, and so how much she should be able to do with a staff.
"You missed." Lord Michel said with a grin after he dodged the attack.
"I don't think so." Sakura replied moving her hand suddenly.
The thunder went back and hit Lord Michel in the back. But this didn't seem to really affect him, but to make him mad.
"You'll pay for that." Lord Michel said. "Dark knives!"
"Jump!" Sakura called as she got out of the way.
Still jumping to dodge all the attack she took another card.
"Have it your way." She said hitting the card. "Shot!" And immediately she added. "Twin!"
The attack of the Shot Card was duplicated by the Twin Card. Lord Michel couldn't dodge both attacks and he ended with a serious injury in his left side.
"I should congratulate you human." Lord Michel said. "You're the first to ever do this damage to my body."
Suddenly there was a slight vibration in the place where Sakura was standing. It was so swift just Shaoran, Eriol and Tomoyo noticed it.
"But say goodbye because that's all you'll be doing. ¡Shadows of Death!" Lord Michel attacked
Sakura waited in silence.
Everyone was in silence, why wasn't she doing something to protect herself?
Shaoran was about to yell at her to take cover but Eriol stopped him.
"Calm down." He said.
Shaoran was about to speak but Tomoyo interrupted him.
"Everything will be alright." She said.
And just then the attack hit its target. There was a cloud of dust and everyone stared in silence.
When the dust settled the public gasped, the place where Sorceress Cherry had been standing just a second before was bare.
It seemed like he had disintegrated her.
"WAJAJAJA!" Lord Michel laughed.
"You should first make sure the duel is really over and then celebrate." Tomoyo called to him.
Many of the guests turned to her, what was she talking about? The Sorceress had just been…
"Hello…" a voice called. "Did you miss me?"
Sorceress Cherry (Sakura) had just appeared behind Lord Michel and punched and kicked him hard, sending him to the ground.
And if you looked closely enough you would see two Sakura Cards in her hand: Mirror, and Teleport.
Tomoyo grinned.
"That was so bloody genius!" Daeron exclaimed amazed.
Most of the guests didn't even know what had happened but were amazed nonetheless.
(N.A.: If you, just as many of the guests, don't know what happened here it is: When Lord Michel attacked Sakura drew out the Mirror Card and made a copy of herself, at the same time she teleported to a hidden place where she could take a breath. In the moment the attack hit she called the Mirror Card back so she wouldn't be injured, and then she just called Teleport to get behind Lord Michel.)
"Interesting, what you just did, but still it won't be enough to save you." Lord Michel assured Sakura.
"Oh, but it's just that I'm not done yet." She said.
She took out five of the Sakura Cards.
"Oh no…" Tomoyo murmured just then.
"What?" Eriol, Shaoran and Daeron asked at the same time.
"Are you crazy Sakura?" Tomoyo asked, not answering the guys' question. "You know how dangerous it is what you're about to do, and all the same you'll do it."
*I need to.* Sakura's voice rang in Tomoyo's head.
*I still don't know if I like this telepathy at all.* Tomoyo thought back to her. *But still, please, listen to me, don't do that spell.*
*You know it may be the only spell to defeat Lord Michel, the only way to save all the Magic World.* Sakura's voice sounded calm.
*I know I won't be able to change your mind, so please just, be careful. Take care.* Tomoyo begged her.
*I will, don't worry.* Sakura replied.
Just then Tomoyo opened her eyes again.
"Answer us Tomoyo, what's going on?" Eriol asked her a little harsher than he had meant.
"She's gonna do the Star of Elements." Tomoyo said.
The boys tried to get more information from her about this spell, but she said nothing more.
'Please Sakura, please, take care.' Tomoyo mentally pleaded.
"Immobilize him, Shadow!" Sakura commanded.
Her own shadow appeared below Lord Michel and took hold of him.
"What are you planning girl?" Lord Michel asked, trying not to sound anxious.
But he got no answer.
Sakura took the five Cards and threw them around her, then she made her Magic Seal appear at her feet; each of the Cards levitating above on of the points of the star.
'Here we go.' Sakura thought to herself.
"Power of my Star I call to you, to accept the tribute of the Sun and Moon, let the true power surface, let my true magic show." Sakura chanted and she held tightly her staff. "Reveal!"
Yukito and Kero glowed briefly in the cabin.
"Our Mistress needs us." Yue said taking over Yukito.
Kero too turned to his real form. Then they both glowed even more, and their magic flew to where Sakura was standing.
Immediately the sun and the moon disappeared from her seal, leaving the star to occupy all the space. The staff grew to be even taller than her in a silvery-pink color, with a big double golden five-pointed star, a small sun and crescent moon below it (no more circle or wings around the star).
"Trustworthy of the Earth, Strength of the Fire, Serenity of the Sea, Protection of the Wind, Wisdom of the Woods. I summon you, I call for your aid, in this day and this hour, help me with your infinite power. I plea for your divine influence." Sakura chanted with her arms raised high, her staff levitating on its own before her. "By the magic of my Star, I, Sakura Kinomoto, the Card Mistress, summon you!"
The guests gasped. Was it true what they where hearing? Was the Card Mistress the one standing just before them?
In the moment she finished her enchantment a huge golden light enveloped her, in the air could be seen the kanjis of the five elements she had convoked, and then a silver ray of light uniting them, forming the symbol of the Star.
The light of the Star made impact to Lord Michel, sending him backwards and crashing through the wall.
The effect of this spell provoked even more gasps from the audience.
A second later Sakura collapsed to the floor, sweating and panting, holding to her staff so as not to fall completely (she was on her knees).
"¡Sakura!" Tomoyo cried out running to her.
Meiling went behind her.
They too could feel Sakura's tiredness by their rings.
"And the winner is Sorceress Cherry!" The announcer called.
All the guest immediately raised from their seats and clapped, amazed by the demonstration of magic they had just witnessed.
Shaoran, Eriol and Daeron too approached to them, they were just about to reach the girls standing in the middle of the field when…
"Beware!" Yelan yelled from behind.
"Shield!" Tomoyo and Eriol summoned at the same time.
"JaJaJa!" an evil laugh was heard. "You won't get rid of me that easily Card Mistress."
Sakura sighed tiredly, and completely collapsed on the ground.
"No! Sakura!" Tomoyo cried out. "Resist!"
"What's happening?" Meiling asked.
"She's energy-drained." Tomoyo answered. "That last spell, was just too much." Tomoyo explained worriedly.
"This will be your end!" Lord Michel yelled maniacally. "Dark Stab!"
"Thunder!" Tomoyo summoned.
"Fire!" Meiling attacked.
The double attack canceled the one Lord Michel had done.
"You think you'll defeat me with that?!" Lord Michel laughed at them. "You're nothing more than unworthy mortals with no magic."
"Really?" Tomoyo asked. "Then what is this? Freeze!!"
"That's just pure luck." Lord Michel replied mockingly as he dodged the attack.
"You won't get away that easily." Meiling said. "Shot!!"
She was way faster than Lord Michel and some of the shots did get him.
"B***h!" Lord Michel cursed.
"Don't you dare call her that way!" Daeron said. "Tigris! I summon thee!"
A golden tiger appeared out of nowhere and attacked Lord Michel.
"This is no Circus for your little cat." Lord Michel mocked.
Daeron growled, furious.
And just then, with a movement of Lord Michel's hand, Tigris disappeared.
"No!" Daeron cried out. "Tigris! What have you done to him?!"
Lord Michel just laughed at him.
Meiling just looked at the young Mage, it was obvious he really appreciated that Beast.
"Are you alright?" Eriol asked as he reached Tomoyo.
"Meiling and me yes, Sakura not really." Tomoyo said worriedly.
They both looked at the tired Sorceress laying on the floor.
Tomoyo let one tear fall down.
"Don't worry," Eriol said as he dried the tear. "We'll figure this out."
Tomoyo nodded, not so sure herself.
Meanwhile Shaoran reached Sakura and shook her gently.
"Sakura, Sakura, please you need to get up." Shaoran told her.
But Sakura was thinking of something else, a vivid dream that hunted her dreams since the night before she arrived to Almaren and that, until now, didn't seem to have any sense; now it explained it all.
"Saku…" Shaoran began, but stopped himself when he saw her open her eyes.
Sakura slowly stood up, her clothes magically restored, staff in hand(still the big one), as she stood tall and gallant; her eyes shinning in the most brightest green anyone had ever seen.
"It's time to end all this, Michel Darness." Sakura sentenced seriously.
Lord Michel just looked at her, a wicked smile forming in his lips, he seemed somehow pleased.
So, the last fight of the tournament is ended, and the true battle is about to commence. Believe me, this isn't over yet, not by a long shot.
I don't know if I said it before, but this story is dedicated to one of my best friends, who was there when I had no one else, who supported all my crazy ideas for fanfics, and helped me get even more! This is for you Michel! (Actually, he found it pretty funny that I named the villain of this fic in his honor...jejeje).
Now, onto something else, one person pointed out in a review that Sakura was too strong, defeating Eriol without her staff. I just want to point out something: she isn't, not yet at least (hinthint). The thing is that she knows Eriol's style, she had a very good idea of what he was going to do and was ready to counteract it; the darkness Eriol summoned, well if it didn¿t make her sleep when she was ten it wouldn't be very logical for it to work on her when she's much stronger; and the end of the duel, you may believe she caught him off-guard, she wasn't really interested in an all-out fight, she just wanted to win the duel and move on, and leave it clear that she wasn't weak. I hope that clears some things out. It wasn't that she was stronger, just that she had a good strategy.
So, we're missing a few chapters now, three or four, I'm not completely sure. Anyway, the next one shall be here in one week if you people give me enough reviews! Until then!