“Five cards down, fifty more to go,” Phoenix said as she put her 5 cards and the Odifous down on the bed. She had just gotten done with another training session with her grandfather and thought she had made improvement in sensing the cards. Magical forces still sometimes eluded her, but her grandfather told her that it was getting harder and harder for him to use his magic without her knowing. She was going through some of the notes that she had taken from her grandfather about the different cards and their abilities. She was studying them so that she would know all of the information by heart. When she finished looking through the notes, she noticed something strange.

            “Kiro, you told me that there were 55 cards, but I only have information on 52 of the cards. Why didn’t Li tell me about the other 3? Doesn’t he think I’m ready?”

            “The other 3 cards were created by Sakura,” Kiro told her, looking a little sad. “I think that Li was planning on telling you later, see just like Clow Reed put his heart and soul into making Yue, the Clow Cars and I, Sakura also put herself into the cards that she made. Sakura created them with the power of her own inner Star and they were very close to Sakura.”

            “I guess those cards bring up too many sad memories,” said Phoenix. “But what happens if I have to try and seal one of them and I have no clue as to their power? I still think that it would be helpful to know what they are and what they can do.”

            “I suppose it would help if you are prepared for them,” Kiro said. The three cards were unique and powerful in their own way. Sakura always preferred to talk instead of fighting, so she never made any attack cards. The cards she made just helped her with her magic.”

            “What were they?” Phoenix asked.

            “Let’s see…” Kiro thought. “There was The Hope, The Stealth, and The Teleport. Sakura would have made more, but evil forces began to try to enter our world, and she had to concentrate on They each had their own powers and personality, just like the Clow Cards made by Clow Reed. The Stealth Card gave the user the ability to become or make other people or things invisible and/or intangible. It was a really useful card for sneaking around and using magic without anyone knowing about it. The Teleport Card allowed the user to send people and/or things wherever they wanted to, but I don’t know that you could use it even if you had it. The distance and number of people or things that is sent all depends on the magical power of the person using it. You have really great power, but you are still learning how to control it.”

            "What about the third card?" Phoenix asked.

            "I never found out what The Hope Card does," Kiro told her. "Only Sakura knew that. I don't know why she never told us.

            "Well, that helps some, I suppose," Phoenix said. "But if I don't know what The Hope Cards does, how am I supposed to fight it or even recognize it?"

            "You'll have to rely on your magical instincts," Kiro old her. "You're getting stronger all of the time, and soon you'll have captured all of the Star Cards."

            "And then I will have to fight Yue, right?" Phoenix asked.

            "Yea, Yue is the second guardian. After that battle 30 years ago he disappeared and I haven't seen him since," Kiro said. "It is his job to name the 'Master of the Cards,' but he won't be easy to beat. He defeated Li quickly and Sakura even failed to beat him the first time. Luckily one of Clow Reeds magical items was there to give her a second chance. I don't think that you will get a second chance though. You should keep an eye out though. Last time his borrowed form was someone close to Sakura. He may already be here in his borrowed form; he may even be someone you already know."

            Phoenix sighed. "I don't know if I want to defeat Yue. If my grandparents couldn't defeat him on the first try, how am I supposed to? After all that you have told me about Yue, I think of him as Sakura's protector and friend, not someone to be defeated in battle."

            "You have to defeat him to become the Master of the Cards!" Kiro exclaimed, "And don't worry, by the time you have sealed all of the cards, you'll be ready. Now get some sleep, you have to get up early for school tomorrow."

            "OK," Phoenix said as she cleaned up her desk. Later in bed she laid awake listening to Kiro snoring and thinking about what she had done so far and the enormous task still ahead of her.

            * Phoenix saw a Star Card floating on the pitcher's mound on the school baseball field. She ran towards it, but every time she stepped onto the mound, she ended up right back up where she began. After trying several times to reach the card and still being unsuccessful, Phoenix was getting very frustrated.

            "Hello, Phoenix," a voice said from behind her.

            "Sakura? How did you get here?" Phoenix asked her grandmother.

            "You must learn to listen to your dreams," Sakura told her. "They can tell you things that your conscious mind might not be aware of."

            "But what does all of this mean?" Phoenix asked.

            "You must discover that for yourself," Sakura told her. "I know you can do it."

            "Well, what about Yue?" Phoenix asked. "He was one of your guardians and closest friends. How am I supposed to fight him and defeat him in battle?"

            "Yue has become very withdrawn since my death, even more so than when Clow Reed died. I believe that he was not prepared to lose me, and Clow Reed had told them in advance that his time was near. He still blames himself for my death, and he believes that he has failed his duty and me. He also believes that he has broken a promise made to my brother, a long time ago."

            "What promise?" Phoenix questioned.

            Sakura sighed. "I was still young, like you. My powers were getting stronger, but my magical power was not enough to support Yue and keep him in existence. Yue had to draw his powers not only from the moon, but from me and because I was still transforming the Clow Cards into Star Cards, my magical power was much depleted. My brother, Tori, also had strong magical powers that enabled him to see the truth and into the magical and spiritual world. My brother's best friend was Yue's borrowed form. His name was Julian. * Sakura blushes * In my youth I had a crush on him, but he was always with my brother and he saw him getting weaker and weaker. When my brother finally confronted Julian about what he really was, he agreed to transfer his own magical power to him so he wouldn't lose his best friend. He also had to agree to protect me from harm, after that my brother gave him all the power he had. I believe in time Yue also developed a strong friendship with Tori, like his borrowed form. He and Kiro were also good friends, even though they fight like cats and dogs, but they were not as close. I think that Yue, too, considered Tori his best friend and he feels that he failed him."

            "I think I understand, but how can I fight him if he means so much to my family?" Phoenix asked.

            "Yue was and will always be one of my friends, but he also must forgive himself and let go of me. I am no longer his master, nor does he want a new master. If you do not defeat him and become his master, he will never stop blaming himself and slowly fade away into nothingness. He will fight very hard against making someone else the 'Master of the Cards,' but when you defeat him he will someday realize that he must let go and just because he has a new master, that doesn't mean that he has forgotten about me."

            A cold wind blew past the two of them that gave Phoenix chills; she had a feeling that they weren't alone there.

            "I have faith that Kiro and Li will train you to be the strongest 'Master of the Cards' there ever will be," Sakura continued. "I will help you in any way that I can, but my powers in your world are limited. I do have more power in your world than Clow Reed does, though. He prepared his magic to leave your world and he exists in the celestial plane now. I left this world in battle, while my powers were still in use, so I carried some of them into the afterlife with me. Had I prepared myself and my magic the way that Clow Reed had, Kiro and the Cards would still be locked away in Li's safe, and the world would have been destroyed without a 'Master of the Cards' to defend it. It was fated for me to die in that battle, so that I could be succeeded by someone of both Clow Reed and my lines."

            "How can I contact you if I need you?" Phoenix asked.

            "The Sakura book is a link of mine to you, but it is difficult for me to use," Sakura told her. "It is easier for me to contact you when you dream."

            Phoenix and Sakura then walked over to the pitcher's mound and walked up to the Star Card.

            "Sakura," a voice said from behind her. "She has a big task ahead of her, but we cannot help her too much. They must do this on their own. Their world is not part of our existence anymore."

            "Clow Reed, she is my granddaughter and they are my friends. I have sworn that I will help in whatever way I can," Sakura told him. "But Clow Reed is right. This task has been set before you, and you alone can complete it."

Phoenix took the card out of the air while Sakura was talking. "Just remember that you are never alone." Sakura told her.

Phoenix then started to turn the Star Card over... *

            BBBUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... Phoenix's alarm clock sounded. She awoke with a start and turned off the alarm clock. She was still tired and while she was getting dressed she remembered the dream she had. She remembered all that Sakura had said, but she still didn't understand the significance of the baseball field. She got dressed and ate her breakfast slowly, still thinking about what her grandmother had told her. Her father left for a meeting at work and he mother left to go shopping and told her to get a move on. Phoenix finally left the house and she was running late. As she walked down the street to the bus stop, the bus zoomed past her.

            * Great * She thought *Now I'll have to walk to school * She walked slowly down the street towards the school. She passed the deserted playground, though she didn't notice because she was still lost in her own thoughts. Still lost in her own thoughts she walked past the playground again, not even looking up. After the third time she walked by the playground she came out of her reverie realized that something was not right. She walked to the end of the sidewalk and stepped off. As soon as her foot left the sidewalk she was at the sidewalk at the beginning of the street! She tried to walk to the next street again, but found herself at the beginning of the street once again.

"Great," she said to herself, "At this rate I'll never get to school and Mr. Okaida will be able to give me detention for life." * It has to be a Star Card * she thought. * If I can capture it I just might be able to get to school on time, but which one is it? My Dream! * She realized. * That is exactly what is happening, no matter how hard I try to get to school, I always end up back here. But which card is it? *

Phoenix thought back to all of the studying that she had done last night and what she had learned about the cards. * It has to be the Loop Card! * she thought. * But how do I defeat the Loop Card if I can never get close to it because it will always send me back here!*  She closed her eyes and concentrated on the cards she had and what she could use to battle the Loop Card. The answer came to her suddenly. She looked up and down the street to make sure that no one was around, and pulled out the Clow Key. * I guess I'll have to capture this one all on my own * She thought.

"Oh Key of Clow

Power of Magic

Power of Light

Surrender the Wand

The Force Ignite!

Release!

Shield Card!
Protect me from the powers of The Loop Card!
Shield Card!
Release and Dispel!"

            The Shield Card formed a protective bubble around Phoenix as she raced down the sidewalk. When she got to the end of the sidewalk she ran onto the street. As Phoenix was running she looked back at the playground. The Loop Card's physical form appeared and began to chase after her.

"Shadow Card!

Entrap the Loop Card!

Shadow Card!

Release and dispel!"

 The Shadow Card shot out of it's card form and ensnared the Loop Card before it could distort things again. Phoenix raised her wand and sealed the card.

"Loop Card!

I command you to return to your Powers Confined!

Loop Card!"

 The Loop Card was pulled into it's card form which glowed for a moment and floated down to her hand. Just as Phoenix was breathing a sigh of relief she looked at her watch and realized that she had 5 minutes to get to class and she was still over 2 miles away. * If Mr. Okaida gives me 40 minutes of detention, I can't imagine what he'll give me for being half an hour late * She thought. Just as she was starting to panic she looked at the Loop Card still in her hand. She smiled to herself as she got a brilliant idea and raised her wand into the air.

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