Sailor Moon Remastered Episode 3

The world was changing yet again.

The ruined city was surrounded by Winterian Frigates and Destroyers.Ground troops already controlled most of the city with only the main tower remaining.

The reign of darkness was over, but even as first dawn over the once corrupted city came over it's shattered landscape, it was not yet over.

"What would you do if every time you fell in love with someone you had to say good-bye?"

As the last shuttle prepared to depart, the architect of this darkness climbed into his escape craft, surveying what was once his. "Bitches." he grumbled, "Where did they all come from?"

As the shuttle lifted free from what was once his fortress, something quick moved towards the shuttle, leaping into the air to grab the open hatchway as it closed.

("What would you do if every time you wanted someone they would never be there?")

A hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back into the half open hatch, her face half bloodied, half gone revealing the shiny metallic endo skeleton beneath. She was a Cyberroid trooper, but more importantly she was his Cyberroid. Built to make his fun with his "girls" he held that much more pleasant, until she grew a damnable "conscience" and became his enemy. "NO YOU DON'T!!" she screamed, pulling at him, "NOT AGAIN!! NOT AGAIN!!"

As they struggled the building behind them fell away, two other shuttles departing from lower levels exploding as fighters strafed them, knocking them back into the shattered husk of the tower.

("What would you do if for every moment you were truly happy there would be 10 moments of sadness?")

She grabbed his clothes tight, and shoved backwards, pulling himself and her into the dark void, both falling away towards the dark Earth below. Seconds later three shots ripped through the hull of the shuttle blowing it apart into a million fiery pieces.

("What would you do if your best friend died tomorrow and you never got to tell them how you felt?")

"You bitch! We're going to die!!" he screamed, but if that was to shake her up or distress her it did no such thing. She simply stared at the ground far below and muttered to herself as it slowly rose towards them.

"I should be so lucky."

("What would you do if you loved someone more than anything else and you could never have them?")

He lashed out, catching her attention. With a mighty swing she backhanded him into the side of the tower, glass shattering as he hit the fractured surface of the once smooth abomination, his body bouncing off the glass over and over again cutting him open as it did. Yet, bloodied as he was, he managed to push back towards her fists swinging.

("Some people live and some people die.")

She caught his arms and they struggled, gripped in hate for the other, as they fell silently downwards with only the tinkle of broken glass and the whoosh of the wind accompanying them down.

("But I want to tell you I love you and you are a true friend...")

The ground sped up to them, and the last thing she thought before it hit was this--

("That I will always be here for you when and if you need me...")

"I'm sorry--"she thought, eyes downwards as the darkness rushed right at them.

("If I died tomorrow, you would be in my heart forever. Would I be in yours?")

Her last thought -- "Forgive me."

Silence and darkness. That was supposed to have been her end. Yet, five years later, she was still "alive".

As Makomi carefully brushed the few hairs from Grace's sleeping face, she wondered how she came to this. She had known Grace for four years, since the day she stopped the other girl from committing suicide. She had loved her for the longest time, yet only a few weeks ago have they become this intimate. Still, how this beautiful creature could love a girl with a machine's biodrive for a heart, a wetware organic computer system for a brain, and organic steel for bones didn't make sense to her.

But she couldn't live without Grace. She was her dawn, her sunlight, and her beautiful evening respite. She was everything to her, and she couldn't imagine life without her. Her "mama", her "papa", her beloved. They were her life, and she would do anything to protect them and her friends. Anything.

As she tried to fall back to sleep, she wondered if she would ever put her past behind her.

* * * * * *

That day everyone was to meet at the Tower, to discuss the day's events. Some were going because of what happened the day before.

Some were just going because Makoto was using the Tower's extensive kitchen and cooking help to whip up a masterpiece in dining and the thought of free food appealed to some, even though they were supposed to be there for work.

When Ami-chan called Makomi to remind her, she replied in the positive but -- "Something's come up, I might be a little late. What came up? Nothing much, just an appointment I have."

As she turned off her link, she followed a Drone unit, which in turn was following four young women.

* * * * * *

Pacifica Rim Hospital

The only thing Sakura could think of saying was that Fight should think about it.

While it was true that Sakura needed to seal Fight's power, she didn't want to do it for the wrong reasons. She wanted Fight's blessings, and if it meant waiting a little while longer she was prepared to do so. So it was in this state of mind that Sakura, Tomoyo and Eve went with Fight so she could speak to her significant other and come to a decision on this.

The hospital was beautiful. The huge sprawling complex that was the Pacifica Rim Hospital had three huge buildings, which were the medical complexes and patient recovery center. In the center of the three building complex was a giant park dubbed the Starlight Gardens, where patients and visitors alike took time to recover both physically and spiritually from what ailed them.

The patient recovery center was to one side of the huge park, and that's where Fight had to go. As the four crossed through the park, admiring the beautiful shade trees and lovely pond, Fight felt something was amiss. "Something's wrong." she said, eyes glancing about
nervously, "Something's not right."

Suddenly something sped past the edge of her eyesight, barely catching her attention. Before she could spin about she felt a sharp pain as something impacted into her back sending her crashing to her knees. A second blow knocks her side over side into the ground, stunned. As Sakura and Tomoyo rush to her aid, a man in dark black armor steps out into the light and regards the group. "So that's a Clow Card human." he said, glancing at her casually, "Not impressed."

Before Sakura could utter a single word the four of them found themselves surrounded by a half a dozen armored beings, each a perfect match for the first one that confronted them. "Assassin Guilder' Drones." Eve rasped, eyes glancing back and forth at the Drones as she knelt next to Sakura/Tomoyo to protect them. "You must be Scorpion Guild."

"I guess so--" the leader remarked idly, tapping the insignia of a scorpion on the left breastplate of his armor, "I am Decauter. With Ravage "dysfunctionally deactivated" that makes me the new head of the Guild doesn't it. But, to the point, assassination is not the goal here today--" (holds up hypo) "-- simply DNA extraction." (two of the Drone units hauls Fight up onto her feet, holding her tight) "I'd be very interested in seeing the kind of tightly wound DNA you have in your body. And then I'd like to see if any of that DNA rubbed off on your boy toy in the hospital--"

"Leave him be." Fight growled, struggling against her captors, but still dazed and stunned from the first attack, "Just take what you want and leave us alone."

"I wish it were that simple, but I'm supposed to bring you back and not let you go until we figured out what makes you tick--" (taps hypo) "--even if it leaves you in a rather-- unreturnable condition. But then--"

A soft, sand music fills the air. At this a thin smile forms across Decauter's face, though no one can see it as he's wearing his armor's helmet. "About time." quickly Decauter steps back surveying the landscape. "Everybody heads up, we have a "Sailor Trooper" in our midst."

"What--?" Fight groans, eyes narrowed as her rage built, the others glancing about. Eventually their gazes fall on a young woman in blue/green. Her hair short and blue, her clothes a mix of blue and green colors from the long coat, to the shirt and pants, with only
black boots and gloves to add accentuation to her wardrobe. In her hands she held a small shiny harmonica which she slowly played. Fight couldn't help but chuckle. If only her lover was here right now, because this so reminded her of her significant other's favorite old TV
Show (except for the instrument).

"So what does the Guild want with Clow Card DNA." she slowly challenged, eyes locked firmly on Decauter as she lowered her instrument from her lips. "Well, traitor, that just so happens to be for me to know and you never to find out. Maybe we'll just take her boy toy and leave her behind." he goaded, which stokedthe already raging fire in Fight's heart.

As Tomoyo and Sakura looked on, the two combatants braced themselves for battle. The drone troopers around them tensing for the blue haired woman to make the first move.

Movement was swift on both sides.

As Decauter drew his guns to fire at her, she leaped into the air over the gunfire slamming down into the nearest Drone unit knocking it over. She then spun about whipping her leg upwards to catch the second charging unit, snapping it about and into the ground hard.

Watching her move, Decauter tried to pace her step for step, guns at the ready. Every time he fired, she would get out of the way, rolling into a Drone while she was at it and taking it down. "Idiots!" Decauter screamed, "Damn drone units are never as good as the original once
they're cloned too far down the tech-line!"

Tomoyo looks over at Eve curiously, who smirks slightly, "Drone units are only good when their wetware is copied from the original. Clones made from Prime Drones aren't as "well-bred" as the Prime Drones culled from the original Assassin. I--" it turns, and is met with a sight that causes it to pause.

Fight pulls her arm back, eyes burning with rage, before she lashes out shattering the drone unit’s arm, snapping it loose from the Drone unit. She then spins about and proceeds to decapitate another Drone unit with one kick. Her fists shatter steel and armor, cloned flesh and metal bone. Her kicks rip and shatter. Her body moving swiftly yet in a terrible rage. Each move is light and fluidic, but filled with power which matches the anger boiling in the Clow girl. As the last of the drones fall to the wayside, Decauter examines it's options and decides retreat is better than cybernetic oblivion. It falls back, and escapes amidst the chaos.

Fight, on her knees, pummels her fists into another dead Drone unit, screaming until at last Sakura and Makomi drag the distraught Clow girl off, restraining her.

It takes her five minutes to recover, and suppress her anger.

* * * * * *

Leaving the girls in capable hands, Makomi barely makes it to the meet.Everyone is waiting for her at the Tower when she arrives, last to arrive in the huge dining room which dominates the 90th floor (beneath the command area above).

They were met by Captain Jack Lazarus, who was to represent the FreeWorld Alliance, whose officers manned and maintained the Tower's command and control centers. Next to him, on one side, the Raven Goddess stood with tool alteration kit at hand. On his opposite side stood a Judgment representing the Judgment Corps and the SpellThrashers.

"Before we begin the meal, which I have been informed is the only reason some of you showed up --" (all eyes turn towards Usagi and Haruka, who both glance off in no particular direction to avoid the glances) "We need to modify your transformation tools to power them up. So if each of you would present your tools?"

First was Rei, who handed her tool over to the Goddess. A minute later she was presented with -- "A ring?" she asked, holding the ring up. "The tool is in "rest" now. When you need it just focus on the ring and command it through your will to change back into it's transformation form. Go on, give it a whirl."

Rei looked down, and focused. Seconds later the ring changed shape into a small power stick with the Mars emblem at it's top. "That's it's true form. To transform simply yell "Mars Dreaming Power, Make Up". And it's just that simple."

Next was Usagi, who gave her old tool forward rather reluctantly. In a minute she had a brand new transformation amulet that clipped onto her schoolgirl uniform rather nicely. "Moon Dreaming Power, Make Up. And that's it."

After a minute of confusion, and a swap of tools (Ami & Mako each were carrying the other's transformation pen) they were presented with their rings. "Mercury Dreaming Power, Make Up. And Jupiter Dreaming Power, Make Up."

Minako, who was the most anxious to give up her tool, looked over the Goddess' shoulder the whole time making comments on the design, shape and ring stone. Finally the Goddess turned her new ring over, though it seems the Goddess couldn't turn the ring over fast enough. "Venus Dreaming Power, Make Up -- or do you want to change the words as well."
Minako, knowing she was just pushing her luck (at long last realizing this) simply shook her head and thanked the Goddess. That's when the meal started (and when Makomi entered, looking rather worn out.)

"Hard time?" Jack asked, to which she shook her head and sat down next to Ami. Jack nodded his head, and didn't push the subject anymore. Usagi, on the other hand, was curious. "Isn't she going to have her tool redone like us?"

"Her tool is already at its peak efficiency.” the Goddess admitted, There's no more I can do for it since it's already perfect."

Usagi grunted, going back to eating. Minako looked miffed while the rest ate on silently.

Eventually the conversation turned to the situation at hand.

From the center of a table a small holoprojector rose up, showing an image of Carnage. Jack Lazarus started the lecture, drawing everyone's attention to the image. "This is, of course, the Assassin Guilder you fought yesterday. Carnage, of the Raptor Guild. Or, to be more precise, one of Carnage's Prime Drone Units." (silence as he regarded the image)
"From the remains we've determined that this particular Prime Drone was reported destroyed sometime ago."

"How did you find that out?" Michiru asked, to which he replied "It was reported to us by the Guilds. One of the agreements between the Alliance and the Guilds is that they keep us "in the loop" when one of their own (human or Prime Drone) is terminated. That way we keep count of the bodies, so to speak, and try to insure they are in fact dead and haven't gone to ground for some insidious reason -- like this Drone had apparently done so it seems." (silence) "Who has been keeping an eye on the news as of late? Watching the slow increase in Assassin Guilder attacks on seemingly random non-target/innocents? What if I was to say
that there is a pattern to the madness?"

"What?" Rei said, intently listening while mildly chewing on her food.

"All the attacks have been directed towards girls of 16-17 years of age, who all resemble these girls--" (image flashes on screen) "Clow Card females. The latest attack on her at the hospital only confirms our suspicions. They went straight for Fight, tried to capture her.
Similar incidents were reported in a kidnapping attempt on a girl that resembled Umi (Water) and Dawn (Light)."

"But that's strange, isn't it?" Ami pointed it, attention focused, "All these attacks on girls resembling Clow Card girls? Why? What's the connection?"

The Judgment next to Jack hands him a batch of files as he speaks, "If you were a SpellThrasher you'd know the connection already." he then hands out the files speaking as he does. "For awhile now the SpellThrashers have been on high alert, monitoring Clow Card females for sometime watching for anyone trying to "recruit" them."

"Recruit them for what?" (Haruka)

"Unknown. Originally we thought it would be in regard to an “incident“ codenamed “CLAMP SCHOOL“ but that incident had passed." Jack said, turning his gaze backwards out the window towards the skyline. “So now we’re just left with an interest that doesn’t seem to explain itself.”

“CLAMP School?" (Makoto)

"CLAMP School. Or, to be more precise the “world“ called CLAMP School… gone now, don‘t know why… probably something that happened in the “past“ which rewrote history. Whatever it was we‘re here with a missing CLAMP School and I bet it‘s just as well that it‘s gone.”(Jack)

"So where do we go from here?" (Makomi)

"This means we have to find out who is trying to "recruit" these girls and why." Minako concluded, confident in her answer which drew a positive nod from Jack. "She's right. Whatever is done next it has to be to uncover the architect behind this plot -- but who? We never found out who it was the first time, so we have nothing to base a theory as to who it is this time out."

Usagi, eating away, nodded her head again, without stopping. Rei sighs as she watches, "What do I ever see in you anyway--"

The Judgment, Keiko, sighs as she focuses on her own food.

* * * * * *

The Tower (Level 97-Command Level)

The huge circular command center, almost empty except for one person, hums quietly as AI systems monitor activity within and without of Tokyo city limits for any sign of Clow Card or Assassin Guilder activity. But for the person working late into the night, another task is set before them.

As Jack works on one of the terminals a familiar voice catches his attention. "Working late I see."

He turns, and regards the visitor with a slight smile on his face. "Michiru would be quite annoyed to know you like to sneak around in the dead on night for mysterious rendezvous with men."

"What are you working on?" Haruka asked, not minding his banter with her since she knew he wasn't at all serious about it. He turned and motioned towards the board, "This used to be Infinity Bank in your Earth, but here it's the Trinity Bay Project. It's called that because
of the three "sectors" of Tech-Noir construction on each corner (Tech-Noir being the term coined in relation to the construction and laying of artificial tech ground "foundation" for buildings which was perfected by the Winterians)."

"The three corners, clockwise, envelope the three "Goddesses" of Winterian folklore. The Goddess of Creation to the north, the Goddess of War to the West and the Goddess of the Heart to the East. Each "sector" bears the emblem of each goddess, with the center being the Winterian sign of the Trinity, the joining of the three goddesses as one."

As Haruka watches, Jack brings a closer view of the "city". "It's a self sustaining micro-city within a city, complete with office buildings, residential and shopping districts, a park and a school infrastructure. The center of the complex is the Trinity Sector, the center point of the three goddesses, their "joining point" as it were. This is where the Trinity Towers is, a set of four office buildings, one to each corner in conjunction to a sector, and a center one which encompasses the traits of all three. Here, let me draw a closer look at that sector, it's where we're going tomorrow."

"Why?" Haruka asked, watching the images as they narrowed and closed in on the center. "That's where the Guild has its offices. Here--" (points out the four buildings) "The North Tower is real estate, construction, GalacticWeb site building, anything which concerns with
"creation" of one type or another. The West Tower belongs to the FreeWorld Alliance and is the Alliance's equivalent of the Pentagon (one of a dozen "Pentagon" type command structures on Terra) which conforms to the Goddess of War. The East Tower deals with matters of the Heart in line with the Goddess of the East. The center is a mix of these. Here --" (points at center building as it zooms in closer) "--is a major Assassin Guild base of operations. Their central check-in point for incomings from off planet. This is where they're given assignments, and where we'll find Guild reps who'll explain why these Assassin Prime
Droids are giving us so much grief."

Haruka stifles a yawn, and turns to leave. "Rei's right, you really do talk too much."

"Hmph." Jack mutters, waving her off (knowing full well that she's just joking with him), "Go to bed before Michiru blames us for keeping you up past your bedtime -- again."

"Wouldn't want that." Haruka retorts, allowing the lift doors to close behind her.

As Jack looks over the holoimage of the central tower he can't help but think that there's more to this than meets the eye -- something more to this, but what?

* * * * * *

"One down." Holocaust sighs, leaning back in his chair in the conference area, looking over the others who came to the meeting. "We shouldn't be so hasty that it leads to premature termination without yielding any results." he remarks, turning his attention to Decauter.

"That is completely my fault that the attempt was a failure. I'll do better next time."

"Wait." Holocaust whispers, deep in thought for a few seconds before raising his voice (and hand) "Maybe we need to rethink our plan. We know who we need to keep occupied while we do our job, the Sailor Soldiers, the Judgments, and now this Trooper Mercury -- I'm giving you all new assignments."

Everyone leans forward to listen as Holocaust lays out his plan. "I want you to keep all opposing parties at bay, while the extraction teams switch from retrieval, to simple DNA collection. We'll let the cloners handle the rest once we require sufficient DNA to start making suitable "copies" for our use. Meanwhile there's still the matter of the 101."

As he turns towards the huge windows looking out over the dark oceanscape about them, he pulls his tesseract sphere out of his pocket. "So far we have only 1 of the required 101 damned souls sent and recorded paid. We need 100 more impure souls of the damned to finish the payment in full, and gain what was promised us. To this end I want you all to be on the lookout for any beings that match this "status". Even if it means departing from a pre-set mission it is vital that we gather the remaining 100 "Credits" and complete the payment as set forth in the covenant." (silence reigns for a few seconds as everyone in the room and monitoring from another part of the mobile fortress considers the possibilities) "Keep the opposition occupied, but if the chance arises then terminate the damned. 100 more dead and we'll gain what we need to continue to survive in the world that is."

As the meeting breaks up, Holocaust turns to watch the sun rise, and Tokyo slowly begin to appear in the distance as the cloaked Fortress ship arrives at it's destination.

* * * * * *

And so, the Sailor Soldiers arrive at the Trinity Towers.

However, not all of them were there.

"Makomi isn't here." Rei noted, taking a look about. "I don't see anything out of the ordinary. The buildings have no strange auras or sense of power coming from them."

"But they don't have the density of normal space either." Ami notes in turn, "The one in the center is most out of place. It's distorted in a strange way somehow."

Makoto looks about, a curious expression on her face. "The wind is too smooth. Flows too easily. Something's up."

"That's because the entire complex is made to be aerodynamically sound from what I heard."

Everyone spins about and comes face to face with an armored male, no doubt an Assassin Guilder. "The Winterians built these pre-fab tech cities with the ability to launch into the air in case the city came under attack. So this entire "micro-city" has good aerodynamics for
atmospheric maneuvering if need be. Now--" (motions to the building) "We got the call this morning that you were coming, so if you would come with me? I'll--"

Suddenly he stops, and turns back towards his rather reluctant “guests” "This isn't a trap if that's what your concerned about. The 7th Judgment arranged this so I want to assure you it's all on the up and up. I even have this--" (holds up datapad) "--to confirm that she made the arrangements. We have nothing to hide, but if your uncertain of our motives I can call for our reps to come down here and explain the situation to you."

Left with little option, they agree to a face to face meeting outside.

* * * * * *

Hotaru seemed as reluctant to ride the coasters now as a young adult as she was when she was "Little Hotaru", but with two energetic and hard to say no personalities as ChibiUsa and Cloud (her new friend she met a few days ago at the mall) staring her in the face she had no option but to go. ChibiUsa was having the time of her life. Hotaru seemed to scream a lot, but only because she was getting into the fun of coasters after a few rides. Cloud seemed to cover her eyes half the time, only to peek through them.

As they took a break, Hotaru glanced over at ChibiUsa and asked the obvious question, "You love roller coasters, don’t you?"
ChibiUsa, drinking a bit of her drink, smiled a big wide goofy smile. "Isn’t it a blast?“

“I guess.“ Hotaru said, not very convincingly. She was not very good with tall vertical drops. Somehow I just think it's unnatural to drop a human at that rate of speed straight down at the ground. It makes her worry about all the things that could go wrong, quickly making her her own worst enemy. With a silent sigh she whispers "Sorry if I'm a major wet blanket on your fun. You shouldn't have to hang around an old woman at your age."

"Hmph. Who’s the old one here?" ChibiUsa spat out, blushing at the way Hotaru ridiculed herself, calling herself an "old woman". "I don't think your old at all, at least not compared to me! I‘m old!"

"You’re only 1000 years old.“ Hotaru giggled, “…well, I guess that is abit old… I should be glad you like your lovers “young” then…“ (barely dodges ChibiUsa’s fist swung in mock anger) “Don’t make fun of me!“ she roars, overswinging abit and nearly stumbling into Hotaru as she swings. Recovering quickly, she remarked point blank “I don‘t think “old“ counts between us considering our histories.” drawing another long pull of her drink as they walked the park.

"You’re the youngest looking little old lady I ever fell in love with.“ Hotaru chided, gaining a most askew expression from ChibiUsa for her remark. “You’re rather snipey today.”
Hotaru turns and smiles, "I'm just glad I could spend the day with you, ChibiUsa, that‘s all."

"Really? Me?" she said, looking a bit fidgety. "That’s sweet of you.“
ChibiUsa puts her fingers under Hotaru's chin, nudging the gaze of the taller woman down towards her level, "Hotaru, there's something I need to ask you if you don‘t mind--"

Suddenly she felt ChibiUsa grasp her hand, squeezing it tightly, a bright warming smile across her face as she gave ChibiUsa a quick wink of reassurance to get her to talking about what she wanted to talk about. Suddenly a strong gust of wind whipped past the two, and snatched ChibiUsa‘s hat off of her head. "--?--" Hotaru's mind blanked, her mind going a mile a minute along with the hat as it flew away. Suddenly ChibiUsa reached up, realized it was gone, and they were off to the races after it. What was going on? They were suddenly caught up in chasing a hat when ChibiUsa so wanted to talk to her about something.

Well, she sighed, they’ll be able to talk about it soon enough… once ChibiUsa caught up with her hat that is.

To Be Continued

CardCaptor Sakura Remastered II Episode 6 (10)

“Well aren’t we just on time.” Rebecca scoffs as Sakura comes barreling into the classroom.

“GOOD MORNING!!”

“---eck---” (Keiko was too close to the door waiting for Sakura when she burst in) “---lower the volume ten notches why dontcha’!”

“Morning, Sakura!”

“I made it---” Sakura gasps, collapsing on the floor.

“Well that’ll teach you to wake up---” (Sakura - “EEP!!” (surprised by Mr. Terada she jumps, slamming into Keiko and knocking her backwards onto her back)) “---OW!!”

Rebecca - “Speaking of being wide awake---”

“---can it, Summers.” Keiko growled as she stared at the ceiling. “Needs a new coat of paint.”

* * * * * *

“Another study period?” Rebecca scoffs.

Keiko - “Oh don’t blame me this time! I had nothing to do with first period so don’t go on me about it alright?!? Anyway this is so your speed. Study period.” (Keiko’s eyes suddenly turn towards Sakura who seems to be abit distracted). “Hey, Sakura! Why were you late this morning?”

Sakura - “Had to take a detour due to a movie shooting in New King Penguin Park. Passed by a shrine I never saw before.”

Tomoyo - “Your talking about the one on the hill? With the two statues of fairies at the bottom of the stairs?”

Sakura - “Yes.”

Keiko - “I live near that shrine. It’s actually kind of nice. Not as nice as the small shrine in Vision Park, in New King Penguin Park (which used to not be in that park if it wasn’t for the real estates shuffle we’ve been seeing with buildings and such that’s been happening the past few years with Nekos buying fairly priced land and using magic to swap said land with higher traffic land elsewhere).” (blinks) “Anyone else passed by that particular shrine? Know the one we‘re---” (Naoko raises her hand) “You?”

“Figures.” Sakura laments, blushing as she remembers her friend’s love of such things.

Rebecca, however, didn’t know about Naoko. “What figures?”

Naoko - “It figures because I really like that sort of thing. Shrines, temples, spirits and alien visitors from far away worlds.”

“You must be in quite a few fan clubs---” (Rebecca asks as Naoko fishes through her
bag and pulls out a fistful of cards) “Lifetime member of the X-Files Fan Club, member in good standing of the FarScape Fan Club, Whitestar Pilot 7--- oh, right, a Babylon 5 club--- a Screen Actor Guild (SAG) card… oh, yeah, I have to call them back.“ (blinks) “Oh. I appeared in the original X-Files movie in a cameo I won in a contest and that card…”

“I get it, I get it--- sheesh.” (Rebecca returns the cards to Naoko) “Your obsessed.”

“The charms form that shrine? They say it’s really potent.” (Naoko changed the subject).

“Charms again.” Sakura whispers.

Keiko - “What about charms (again)?”

“They’re supposed to grant wishes.” (Naoko picks up the topic from Keiko and runs with it).

At this Keiko scoffs, “Don’t believe everything you---”

“Do YOU mind? I’m listening here!” (Rebecca) “Ignore her, go on.”

Naoko - ”They’re supposed to grant wishes. Like for tests, or love,all diff---”

“LOVE?!?”
Keiko nearly falls out of her chair, but quickly recovers, looking at Sakura/Rebecca in dismay “What’s with you two? You’d think both of your love lives were in the toilet the way you jumped on that like a blood wolf on a plate of New York steaks (rare)!”

“Those must be really convenient charms! Charms began---” (Keiko muffles Yamazaki before hec an utter another word, passing his ‘book’ off to him) “Here. Re-read the entry you made on charms and then go stick your head in a toilet or something (anything to shut you up).”
(blinks, then grabs Yamazaki) “But before you commit seppuku (if I got it wrong, sue me, I haven‘t had the urge to commit suicide since the 50‘s), why don’t you tell everyone I WASN’T responsible for study hall during first period today.”

Yama nodded his head, “That’s right. First period is study hall today because Ms. Tsutsumi
is sick today.”

Sakura - “Phwee?”

“So your not to blame for it this time, big whoop.” Rebecca scoffs, “Not that we’re going to be impressed by your character witness as you got a born liar to vouch for you. Anyway we’ll just have another study period to look forward to when it’s your turn to teach so what’s the difference.”

Keiko - “At least I’m not boring the class to death with a dry, witless lecture---”

Rebecca - “I HEARD THAT!!”

Keiko - “I know you did, I know---”

Sakura looks rather confused by the whole thing.

* * * * * *

“I really miss Tomo-chan when she’s on these trips---” Sakura laments.
Suddenly inspiration hits her. “I’ll buy two charms! One for me, one for Tomo-chan, and I’ll present it to her when she gets home!”
As Sakura comes about down another street she slams into someone at the corner.
“Yow!” (the woman, dressed in a body tight white/red uniform leaps back, shocked by the collision) “Sorry! I---” she stops, and stares. The woman, a full head taller than Sakura (topped with shoulder length dark hair), looks on in confusion. She’s wearing a white with red (and some black) trim, with the emblem of a bird on the uniform’s front. She regards Sakura with confusion, then brief shock.

“---oh no---”

“Phwee?”

Quickly recovering, she gives Sakura a weak smile and whispers something beneath her breath.

“---too late now---” (now she speaks up) “Uhh--- you OK? I didn’t mean to ram into you---”

“Uh-huh---” Sakura remarks, looking at the young woman in front of her, abit taken back by her. “Your blushing abit, are you OK? You just came right out of nowhere and next thing I know bam and---”

“Gasp!” (bows) “I’m really sorry for bumping into you like that!”

“?” (shrugs) “No problem. No harm done.” (looks at Sakura) “I bet there’s something you want, isn’t there? I’m right, aren’t I?”

“?Huh?”

“Sorry, I don’t think you’ll have any luck today. Maybe tomorrow. Well---” she waves as she turns, “See you around.”
She walks off without another word. As she walks away, her thoughts are raging. ‘Dammit! I knew I was going to have to see her but too soon! I’m not ready for this yet--- not after---’

With a huff she shoves her worries into the back of her head, draws her schedule out from her pocket, and once again starts going over her plans for her first day of “work” tomorrow.

------

Even separated by great distance, one fact was still very clear to Tomoyo Daidouji.

She still had to do her studywork. So, with Tomoyo (holographic) by her side, the two studied, and talked about the day’s events especially---

“That sounds just like the way you first met Ms. Mitsuki, remember? And she said you couldn’t get what you were looking for? What was that?”

Sakura blushes abit at the question, “It’s a secret.” she whispers, before turning the topic back to the strange woman. “She said I wouldn’t get what I was looking for today, then she said “See you around” and left.”

Tomoyo - “You mean she might see you again?”

Sakura - “And with the math teacher gone it’s likely she’ll show up tomorrow as the new teacher.”

Tomoyo - “But Sakura, didn’t that already happen once with Ms. Mitsuki?”

Sakura - “I guess, but I have a feeling she’s going to repeat with Ms. Mitsuki did and show up tomorrow.”

Tomoyo sighs, “I wish I was there. I’d love to see Rebecca’s reaction when she shows up in class.” (smiles) “So what did she look like? Was she as pretty as Ms. Mitsuki?”

“She’s not as pretty as you, Tomo-chan.”

“Very diplomatic of you, Sakura-chan. Very---” (the door knocks on both sides) “Come in.”

On one side Light, the other side one of Tomoyo’s bodyguards, both bringing dessert. As the two thank them both leave the two to their studies once again. “I wish we could taste what the other’s dessert is like, just like when your home---”

Tomoyo smiles, touching Sakura’s cheek with her hand softly, “I’ll be home soon, don’t worry. We’ll be able to nip from each other’s desserts in no time.” (smiles) “Then you’d have to worry about me stealing your dessert.”

“I’d relish that as long as your with me---”

“Oh Sakura-chan.” Tomoyo draws Sakura close and holds her tight, smiling at how beautiful she was even in holographic form (from her POV). “How could I ever make it through these trips if I couldn’t spend these nights with you in this way my precious.”

After a minute of cuddling they go back to eating dessert, making it a game to describe to each other the flavors they were tasting as they ate.

* * * * * *

The next day.

‘Here it comes.’ Sakura thinks to herself as Mr. Terada makes his announcement.

Sure enough it is exactly as Sakura thought it would be. They had a substitute.

And sure enough, as she thought, the mysterious woman from yesterday walked in.

That’s when things went south.

Keiko, who usually lounged in her chair listening only half-heartily to everything that happened in class, suddenly sat up at the sight of the new teacher.

Rebecca, who also lounged (head lowered as if she was going to collapse into a deep sleep at any second) suddenly sprang to life as she saw the new teacher, her eyes wide with shock.

“My name is Catherine Piccadello.”

“---it can’t be---” Rebecca hissed under her breath.

As soon as a free period came up to go outside the three gathered with Nina & Eliza (who saw everything since they couldn’t monitor Mirra’s love life while she was out of school) to discuss things.

Sakura - “What’s wrong with Ms. Piccadello? Is she---”

“You don’t know, do you?” Rena grumbled, looking at Sakura as if she just fell off a passing bus a few scant moments before (and right in front of her at that). “Catherine Piccadello. The Raven of the 21st Century.”

“What’s a---”

“Ravens are the heavy duty guardians of both the Realm of Dreams and the waking world.” Nina answers, already knowing the answer to Sakura’s half asked question. “They’re at the top of the “food chain” so to speak, with only the Goddesses being more powerful. Their rank even outlevels Keiko & Rena here as Judgments. They’re the highest level of power that can be brought to bear.”

“And that’s my problem!” Rebecca started again, “Ravens weren’t supposed to be brought into this mission, and if one was coming I’d have thought it’d been Lazarus, NOT Piccadello! What the hell is a maverick Raven like her being assigned to this mission anyway?!?”

“Simply observing, nothing more.”

Everyone spins about to find Catherine standing behind them, staring at them with a smile on her face and all the answers already in her head. “You don’t really feel that threatened by me, do you? I wish I had a 1000 credits every time someone felt unnecessarily threatened by my presence.”

Silence reigns as everyone tries to regather their wits.

‘I wish Tomoyo was here. I don’t know what to do!”

* * * * * *

Catherine leans back, staring at the sky listlessly as she tries to work it out in her head, “Look, I’m NOT trying to muscle in on anyone’s assignment. The Goddesses simply thought an observer who occasionally pitched in---”

Rebecca - “Ah-hah!”

Catherine - “---when NEEDED, and not just because, was necessary.” (sighs) “Look, I’m not trying to get in either your face or Keiko’s, so why don’t you cut me some slack Summers? After all, if you’re on guard then this won’t work out very well for either of us.” (stops and looks around) “I thought there was another---”

Rebecca - “How did you get so close to us without Sakura sensing you?”

Catherine - “Oh, that. I’m wearing a suppressor bracelet now (blanks out my power signature making it hard to detect), but this morning it was all willpower.”

“Willpower?” Sakura asks. “Like in DragonBall Z.” Catherine replies, “I simply pushed my power levels down so that they weren’t detectable. I do that a few times a day just to be in practice just in case I need to do it for something important.” (snaps fingers) “There’s supposed to be another one here, Tomoyo, where is she?”

“She’s on a business trip.” (Sakura) “Oh.” (shrugs) “Guess I’ll meet her later then. Sakura---” (points at Sakura) “---Sakura Kinomoto, right?” (Sakura blushes and nods her head quickly) “Your creating quite the buzz in the hierarchy. Even the Goddesses are talking about you. It’s simply amazing the kind of focus your getting. Oh, did you find what you were looking for yesterday?”

Sakura - “N-no-- no I didn’t.”

Catherine - “Eh? She was right again. Dang that’s accurate stuff.”

Sakura looked confused, “Who was right again?” Sakura asks, suddenly feeling a hand on her shoulder, and a familiar presence near her, “That’d be me.” Sakura didn’t need to look to know that voice, she turns and comes face to face with Ms. Mitsuki. “It’s been awhile, Sakura, you look well. And today? You’ll have better luck.”

“Eck. It’s the walking magic eight ball of doom.” Keiko spits out, slumping her shoulders and looking rather pouty at the whole turn of events. “What brings you back anyway?”

Kaho - “I’m just back--- (magic eight ball?)” Kaho & Sakura gaze at each other, waiting for the other to say something--- Keiko takes this opportunity to stretch, and yawn. “We’re not unduly keeping you awake, are we?” Catherine asks, shaking her head as she watches Keiko shuffle her feet and stifle another yawn as she stands watching Kaho/Sakura stare at each other for what seemed like the longest time. “I could fall asleep watching them stare at each other---”

“Keiko?” It was Eve, her long hair wavering slightly as she ran up to Keiko and the others, “You promised you’d sit in on my music discussion in my class today, yet you forgot your flute back at home!”

“Eh?” (Keiko blushes) “Damn! I knew I forgot something---” (kisses Eve on the cheek) “Thanks.” Eve looks at the others, and notices--- “Hello Cathy.” Eve remarks glumly, closing her eyes. “You’ve gotten bigger, Evie. Let your hair grow out too.” Before Keiko could ask, Eve was already walking away with her in her grip. “Where are we going? (are we there yet?)” “?” Sakura blanks out, confused as to the whole situation.

* * * * * *

Today, Eve was teaching a lesson on music appreciation and basic skills with hands on demonstrations and lessons. Sakura & Keiko however were focused on other things.
“So, uh--- Eve knew Ms. Piccadello once.”

Keiko shrugged, “I had no clue about that, Sakura.” (sighs) “Frankly? I’ve never seen Eve so upset and bent out of shape over seeing someone before. That shocked me.”

Sakura - “She didn’t seem very shaken up. A little bit grumpy maybe.”

Keiko - “Trust me. She was really freaked over it. Usually Eve would be smiles and warm handshakes and hugs, but today she was totally icebox level cold. Somethings’ up between those two and I want to know---” (blinks) “Hey, Rebecca, you know anything about---”

“STOP BOTHERING ME!!” Rebecca silently hisses beneath her breath, “I can’t even walk in the same direction as you without being dragged into your conversations!! And no, I can’t make heads or tail of this stupid contraption! God I hated music class when I was younger and I still hate it!!”

Sakura - “It’s not that hard. Just take that end (the end I’m pointing to) and blow it. It’s not---” (both Sakura and Keiko go pale) “---oh god---”

“---it’s not working---” Rebecca whispers. “---maybe because your not blowing it right---” (Keiko’s eyes bulge as she quickly grabs the instrument away from her) “---forget it! I’ve been traumatized enough for one period! Just bow out graciously and we won’t have to watch you freak out the class.” (Keiko slumps onto her desk) “And I thought she wouldn’t even have the inkling to do THAT when I used the word blow.”
Nothing more was said on the topic.

* * * * * *

Dining Room (secret observation base beneath Sakura’s high school)
Eve sits at one of the tables staring listlessly at nothing as she waits for--- something. “Drink?” Eve looks up, beholding Keiko’s face as she reaches out carefully to take the soda from her hand. “Thanks. Anything to---” (Keiko puts a tray of food before her) “---thanks.”

Keiko - “So what’s with you and Cathy anyway?”
Eve sighs and glances around the room, “Is it really that obvious?”
“If it was anymore obvious I’d have thought you were having a hot side dish relationship wise with her.”

“It wasn’t that hot, and it wasn’t that special either.” Eve admits, munching on her food as she sulks, “The day I met you, that’s when things got hot and special.”

Keiko - “How diplomatic as always, but if you and Cathy had a special something you can let me know about it…”

Eve - “I promise you, it wasn’t that special--- or permanent. Not like us.”

“Ok. I’ll drop it.” Keiko sighs, going back to her food. Suddenly she felt Eve touch her leg with one of her hands. “I’ll make it up to you---” Keiko smiles, knowing what she had on her mind.

* * * * * *

“If I roll to my death trying to descend this staircase on the way down, it’s all your fault.” Nina gripes, her body slumped as she finally reaches the top of the stairs onto the main grounds of the temple. “For god’s sake I can’t barely feel my legs! I’m tired! I’m out of breath! This bag is too heavy! I can’t go on! Roll me over, I’m done for! (Have Eliza sell my eggs to the highest bidder. Everyone should be so blessed to have a child that looks like me--- for the right price mind you.)”

Sakura - “You didn’t have to come up here with me to get the charms.”

Nina - “And what makes you think that I didn’t want a charm for me and Eliza, Snoozer? I have just as much right to some of them charms as you do so---” (gasps for breath) “---oh, boy! Don’t do that---”

“Sigh---” Suddenly, a sense of something nearby. “---what---” “I feel kida strange. Like there’s a Clow card nearby.” “---ah man---” Nina quickly straightens out and starts power walking towards the buildings, “Time’s of the essence! Don’t dawdle! It’s charms or bust! Move it! Before things go crazy!”

“HEY WAIT UP!!”

“Huh?” (both turn around towards the sound of the voice behind them) “Rebecca?”
Rebecca, as out of breath as Nina was, staggers towards the two as she huffs and puffs, “Aw man!” (gasps for breath) “It’s days like this I wish I actually use the treadmill in my living room for something other than as a place to hang my clothes!”

“So you came up here to buy a charm to,eh?” (Nina scoffs) “What’s with you? Your relationship really in the toilet like Keiko said it was?”

“Don’t sass me!” Rebecca spat, “Look at you! I’d think YOUR relationship was the one in the gutter the way you ran up here like a madwoman to get a charm!”

Nina - “Up yours. It’s cute and it’s a sign of affection to---”

Rebecca - “--and that’s my point exactly! Why can’t I get one without my relationship being in the so called damn---”

The world warps and spins, as a huge miniature maze rises from the ground behind them.
Rebecca - “---in the gutter, and what the hell---”

“You know the Maze card, don’t you? A little smaller than usual but then again---” A shadowy figure steps out into the light near the staircase, Little sitting on her shoulder. To her side the Big card’s humanoid form stands next to her (Big, dressed in her usual bright clothes, makes for an imposing figure, a full head/shoulders taller than the smaller dark garbed female next to her). The female who spoke wore a dark uniform, with short jet black hair, was stared at Sakura with dark piercing eyes (her gaze held sharply as she regarded the Card Captor). “---I had help.”

Sakura - “Who the---”

“My name is Anarchist. Assassin Guild. I can’t kill you, Mistress of the Cards, just so you know…” she announced as she held a hand up like a gun, “shooting” it as she spoke, “Your protected quite nicely by Code 8 and all that. But still that doesn’t mean I can’t stop you.” (waves her hand over the field ahead of them) “One duel, if you win I’ll give over the two cards I managed to secure through hook and crook.”

“And if you win?” Nina asks. “I keep my three playmates. Nothing too stressful, eh? Well, let’s shelf that and start the duel.”

“Agreed.” (Sakura steps up and stands ready, drawing out her key) “Let’s duel.”

“Wait a sec!” Anarchist cries out, motioning towards the board, “I meant with this holoboard and NOT Clow Cards.”

Sakura - “Pheew?”

Anarchist - “Give your key to Nina for her gauntlets. Don’t worry, Maze will manipulate the environment so all we have to do is give our troops their marching orders.“ (Anarchist watches with a slight glint in her eye as Sakura exchanges her Clow cards and key to Nina for her gauntlets). “You sure about this?”

Sakura - “I have to. If I want to get those cards back I have to.”

“Alright then, you’re ready to get to it?”

“I’m ready, I’m ready. How am I supposed to do this anyway with--”

Suddenly the world shift and Sakura finds herself inside Maze staring up at a giant Nina and Rebecca. “Oh no.“

Anarchist - “I’m ready too.” the voice sounded, Sakura turning to notice Anarchist was nowhere to be found on the other side of the board, she had shrunk down too. “First off, as you notice I’ve taught maze a new trick.” her voice boomed in the maze, “Instead of a usual labyrinth it’s laid itself out like a solvable maze. Doors will appear as you come into visual range of them. Your friends up there can only peer into rooms you’ve entered but can see all the corridors clearly, so they‘ll be helpful to you in navigating you but can‘t give you a leg up on things I‘m doing in rooms. It’s a relatively simple maze so we won’t have to fuss with too much details. Other than that kill the most creatures, ready?”

“Must I kill?!?“ Sakura cried, to which her tormentor said “…what? Are you..“ (sighs) “It’s NOT real! It’s fake! Fake! It’s… oh for goddesses sake it’s FAKE! No kill, alright? Sheesh!“ (silence) “Is that alright with you or do I have to kiddify this any further?!?“

Sakura shakes her head quickly, “No! No! I’m Ready.”

“Then let’s duel. Oh, and if you lose I’ll take Big and Little, and you can have the maze to have fun in to insure you don‘t try to do anything while I escape. If you solve it it’s all yours--- if you solve it.”

Sakura - “WHAT?!?”

“Too late to back out now, you said your good to go so we’re going.”
Sakura begins to regret acting so rashly.

Sakura - 4000LP
Anarchist - 4000LP

Sakura - “What‘s this?!?” (pointing at the points)

Anarchist - “Oh. Nothing. Just for scoring, that’s all… cough… I think. Well let’s go!”

Sakura - “PWHEEE!!”

To Be Continued

Azkaban 9

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