In a Mirror Darklyby Cardcaptor of the Clow"What do you want to name her?" asked a young woman in a pretty blue dress. "Well what do you want to name her?" a young man in a Chinese traditional robe asked back. "How about…umm…Hanako?" The young woman asked questionably. "I think I have something better, how about Sakurako, naming her after you dear", chuckled the young man. "Aww that's so nice, I guess that will be her name…Sakurako", smiled the young woman with a cutely to her baby. The young woman rocked Sakurako gently in her arm wondering she will like when she grows up. 16 years later in an alternate world. Sakura lay motionless on the floor of the citadel. Her daughter dressed in a light blue battle costume crawled to her mother's body, her short red hair dangled around her in a mess. Sakurako in a painful cry wept over her mother's body. She had failed her mission, her promise; those that stood as her shield were all gone now. Alone…in the darkness, with the one that took everything from her. Tasadara the dark lord of the land Cotos, walked towards Sakurako, his battered suit of armored rang with an eerie echo in the old quiet hall of the citadel. "Your not the one to defeat me little girl." "Look around you, look at the cost of little rescue" "I did not take away the ones that you loved, it was you that killed them, you brought them here to their deaths, like you pathetic mother who fought me 16 years ago just to protect her world full of people that she never knew no even cared for" said Tasadara menacingly. Sakurako sat there on the cold floor tears falling on her mother's face; a bright light filled her eyes blindly. She blinked and saw that that she was in a bright cave. Sakura and Syaoran was sitting by a fire. "Mom…Dad?" cried Sakurako as she ran up to hug them. "Nice to see you again Sakurako but we have much to talk about" said Sakura with a smile. "I want vengeance for what he has done!" cried Sakurako. "I will teach you how to…" Sakura stopped as an explosion rocked the cave. "The dark one is trying to invade this sacred land!" "Follow me!" cried Showron The three ran to a clearing and there stood hundreds of orcs, and hundreds more poured in from the portals. "Sakurako, you must defend this sacred land, destroy the dark lord, and end his conquest" shouted Showron Arrows darkened the sky and fell upon the three. "SHIELD!" yells Sakurako lifting her gantlet into the sky casting a shield over them. "We'll leave this area to you, we're needed elsewhere!" "Good luck dear, and always remember, I'm with you no matter what" said Sakura lovingly. With a flash they vanished. "WAVE!" summoned Sakurako and swept her opponents away. She ran though a portal and ended up in a pitch black hallway. "Jeez…why don't these portals ever take me where I want to go?" moaned Sakurako. She heard growling noises as she groped her way to an exit. With a sigh, knowing something would jump out at her as usual in this horrid place, she cast shield and light and found herself surrounded by the orc's watch dogs. She calmly walked to an exit while the things pointlessly leapt at her shield. A voice filled her head and vision blurred. "Impressive, looks like you have some skill after all." a mysterious voice said. But it was not the voice of Tasadara, but a more womanly voice. "Welcome to my chamber." the mysterious voice said again. Sakurako looked up and saw, what looked like a woman covered in a dark armor, red eyes shining though the helmet, surrounded in an orb. "So you're the human that has been causing havoc around here." the person continued. "You look human yourself too, and WHO ARE YOU!" shouted Sakurako. "Ah, I am the Keeper, I rule this world, I bring calm and logic to chaos." the Keeper said coldly. "Where is Tasadara, I have something to settle with him." interrupted Sakurako. "He is here, I am he, he is me and I shall put an end to your race." The Keeper transported them to their battleground laughing insanely. The Keeper began to attack Sakurako right after the transport catching her off guard. Sakurako slammed into the wall in a heap with a sickening crack. The Keeper mercilessly continued to attack Sakurako. Sakurako defenseless could only take The Keeper's unyielding attacks. The Keeper laughed with amusement as it looked at Sakurako's motionless body and said, "Weak…" and walked away. Sakurako slowly go up to her feet, a gentle voice whispered to her, "If you want revenge I can give it to you, all you need to do is give yourself to me." She though back to the voice, "Thank you." Her spirit drifted asleep to give way to another. "Come back here you coward." whispered Sakurako to The Keeper. "Oh your still alive, well let me put you out of your misery." uttered The Keeper emotionlessly. "Put me out?" "You're out of you league you pathetic creature, this girl never knew what she had, those that loved her held her power back, afraid of the terrible power." "To fight an evil with another kind of evil…" smirked Sakurako. The Keeper lunged at her with all its might, its sword shining as bright a thousand suns, whining at the tremendous amount of power. In a flash Sakurako caught the sword with her bare hands and wrenched it out of its hand. "WHAT!" screamed The Keeper as it was thrown back. Sakurako's gauntlet shone brightly and blade of light flew out, as shield appeared on her other arm. Wings the color of black and white feathers flew out of her back. "Now this is what I call amusing!" screeched The Keeper and began to duel Sakurako. They both flew out of the window into the dark ominous clouds. Black feathers from Sakurako's wings shot out at her opponent, but was easily stopped but its shield. The Keeper responded in showering Sakurako with a rain of fire. Sakurako swiftly dodged, ducked and rolled away from the attack. With every dodge she came a closer to The Keeper. Sakurako prayed that her wings won't catch fire from The Keeper's barrage. "This will end it!" screamed The Keeper as its hand shined brightly as plasma gathered in its palm. The bright plasma etched Sakurako's eyes as she raced forward to strike her opponent. The angry red plasma exploded from The Keeper's and spiraled towards Sakurako as she flew to strike The Keeper in her heart. Sakurako had no anticipated that it would come so soon, but she had committed herself, no choice, no turning back, it was now or never. She raised her sword and chopped bolt of plasma with all her might slicing it in half, raining hot plasma all over her scorching her. She did a flip and continued to race towards The Keeper, pierced her blade though its heart. Sakurako felt a wash of relief that her revenge has been extracted. Sakurako felt a sharp pain in her back. She looked down and saw The Keeper had stabbed Sakurako with a knife. She didn't feel any pain, but she felt that something dark had entered her. Something was pushing Sakurako's other coconsciousness away putting them both into a deep forever sleep. The last words that Sakurako said by her own will, "I'm sorry" and she drifted off. Sakurako's spirits joined drifted off though a tunnel of light to the cave where she met her mother and father. The she saw them again. Sakurako spoke to them but they had no words for her but a deep embrace. In her mind Sakurako said "It'll be alright now, I'm safe, no more pain, no more fighting." For once in a long while she was happy, to find a haven. The Keeper was weakened by the battle, even to transfer spirits, its powers crippled. It would hid who it was and pretend to be Sakurako. When the time came it would crusade again to dominate all life. The battle outside was long over, it walked outside to the cheers of Sakurako's followers. The Keeper slept for millennia and ruled the land of Cotos well, pretending. The time has come for its awakening. "Hey Torika come on lets go, or we'll leave be behind." giggled Natsume. "Jeez! Guys wait up!" shouted Torika. "Well I have to run mom, I'll see you later then." said Torika as she took one last look at her mom. "Have a fun day sweetie!" smiled Sakura. Torika ran to join her friends to the carnival in the town. "Hehe, wow Torika I didn't know you were that brave to go on that ride!" laughed Maddy. "Thanks, but I don't feel so good, I think I'll go to the washrooms." said Torika as she ran for the ladies. "Yuck…I shouldn't have gone on that ride, serves me right for showing off…" spat Torika. A calm wind blew though her cubicle as she got up. "What…is anyone there?" asked Torika. She walked out, suddenly someone grabbed her by the mouth. With a small laugh the person spoke to her in a creepy voice, "Found you." And the person disappeared in a flash of light. Stunned, Torika got up but found herself not in the ladies washroom but a grand hall. "Hello!!!" she shouted and only her echo answered. She walked down the giant hallway to come across a painting. Two women on opposite sides stood staring at each other. Behind them men with spears pointed at their opponents. Tapping sounds came from the far side of the hall. A young woman in a light blue dress with blazing red hair with golden strips to her legs approached her. "Where am I?" demanded Torika. "Where am I?" repeated the young woman. "Who are you?" Torika demanded again. "Who are you?" the young woman copied. Annoyed Torika walked away from the picture past the young woman. In a flash of light she landed on her back on top of Tokyo Tower. "MAAAA!!" screamed Torika. "How did I get here?" "FLY!" shouted Torika. "Where were you?" asked Tai "We were worried you got kidnapped!" "…I was…I think someone took me to this palace…" spluttered Torika. "Very funny Torika." said Tai angrily. "Well if you're so smart, you figure it out!" shouted Torika. "I didn't imagine it, someone did really kidnap me!" "Ok what ever you say Torika, it's been a long day we should head back home." sighed Maddy. Sulking that no one believed her Torika reluctantly walked home with her friends. Torika lay in bed awake trying to figure out what had happened that afternoon. She drifted slowly into a sleep. She sudden woke up to find herself in the same hall that she was in that afternoon. Torika sighed and walked down the hallway. There again she met the same young women, her eyes reflect great pain and sadness. "Who are you?" Torika asked again. "Sakurako Showron" answered the young woman answered in a whisper. "Torika Showron, why do you share my last name" Torika replied curiously. "Where am I?" Torika pressed on. "You are in a mirror darkly…" whispered Sakurako. "What…" Torika's vision blurred and she slipped into darkness. She woke back in her bed sweating and breathing heavily. "MAAAAAA!!!!" screamed Torika. "TORIKA ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" called out Sakura. "Fine…just fine…" replied Torika shivering in tears curling into a ball. "You look tired Torika, you sure your alright?" "You seem skittish since that day at the carnival" asked Kero as he walked Torika to school. "Awww its nothing…bad dream" lied Torika. "Well you know yourself best Torika." sighed Kero. "OH HI MADDY, TAI!" "Good Morning!" shout Torika as she ran up to her friends. A beam of blue red light came streaking down from the sky and engulfed her friends. Torika stopped just short of the light, helplessly watching her friends. "TAI…MADDY!" she cried out in tears. The beam dimmed and cleared, what was left was nothing more than dirt and a hole. Torika feel to her knees weeping. "Why is this happening." she cried out. "Torika!" someone call out. She turned around and saw Natsume and Hana running towards her. "What happened Torika?" cried the both of them out of breath. "We felt some weird presence and we came." "They…they are…" Torika shivering burst into tears. "What…who?" they pressed on. "Maddy…Tai, they are gone…" Torika struggled to explain but only coughing noises came. "No…that can be!" screamed Hana crying uncontrollably. A laugh came from above them. They looked up and saw a person wrapped in a black cape glaring back at them. "Who are you and what did you do to our friends?" demanded Natsume trying to hold her tears back. "I have a message for you from my mistress." spoke the person in black. "You have your warning." "Till the next time we meet in a mirror darkly." and the person vanished. "Maddy and Tai were my friends. But you are also my friends. And I want my friends in my life. Because one day we are going to find that someone is missing from the circle. And on that day were going to mourn. But we do not have to mourn alone." Torika's speech ended quietly. The people that attended the funeral were mostly personal friends and family. Sakura holding Madison tightly in her arms comforting her as she wept. Torika, Natsume and Hana walked out into the bright sun. Silently they went their separate ways, not knowing that I would be the one of the last times they would see each other again. "The time has come my mistress." said Tasadara. "Indeed, you have brought the two cores as I have foreseen." "Cotos shall finally be mine." whispered The Keeper. "It is I that shall unite the three worlds." "Shall we prepare the army?" asked Tasadara. Tasadara bowed low to The Keeper and left. Outside masses people in shining armor assembled in the courtyard. The Keeper when out to the balcony and addressed her army. "Warriors of the Vego Reaches, the moment of prophecy is at hand." "Glory be to the Sajukar!" "The mass cheered in a great uproar and marched out of the city and headed for the next city." The Keeper's crusade has begun again. In her cloak held to orbs, the two of three cores of three alternate dimensions. "Torika…" a voiced pinged her. "Torika…" the voice pinged her again. She woke up startled, still traumatized from the recent death of her friends. She was no longer in her room, not in the big hall again. She found herself in a giant Atrium. She was not alone, her mother, father, Natsume and Hana were beside her apparently asleep. She shook them up. A young woman with long blue hair in a magician costume walked up to them. She said nothing and wave for them to come with her. They gingerly followed her. They passed to tunnels made of marble and they reached a giant door. Our time is running short. Cotos awaits you beyond the gate of Dankura. I shall open with way. There you must end what has begun. You must take the cores and unite the three. Farewell. Showron shouted to the woman. "What, why are you taking us somewhere else?" The woman answered, "Your world is now threatened, and the cores of the three worlds have been recovered." "Under the wrong hands it will be utter destruction, and you are the only beings that I can summon to stop this." "The cores?" asked Torika. "Your friends that were killed, they contained two of the three, by whatever providence they were all together in the same world." "The person that wishes to control the three world found them, you know the rest." answered the woman. "Where is the third?" Natsume pressed on. The woman looked at Torika. Everyone stared at Torika, she herself was dumb struck. "You know what must be done, welcome to a mirror darkly" and the woman disappeared. A giant double door opened up before them, and they walked through. "Maaaaa!" "Where are we!" shouted Torika as a sandstorm whipped around her. "They have come!" someone shouted. "Help has come!" A crowd of people came and swarmed them giving a hero's welcome. They were brought to the ruler's chamber by a guide. There they met an old man sitting in a gold chair. "I welcome you to the land of Cotos and to my kingdom." the old man said kindly. His voice echoed though the giant room. "As you know we require you assistance to fight off another kingdom that has been corrupted my dark powers." continued the old man. "Yes we know the story." said Hana. "Since our world is also in danger guess we have no choice do we." sighed Sakura. "I'll lead the defense of the outer wall…" Showron interrupted "What!" "No you…" started Sakura. "I've learned about ancient battles history I know what to do." "Trust me Sakura." injected Showron with a smile. He ran off to rally the troops. Torika asked the old man about the leader of the enemy. He said that the leader was a woman that was foretold in a prophecy that she would rid this land of evil. She was almost successful but was taken over by the evil. Her name was Sakurako but the evil took over her called The Keeper took her body to recover. Now that it has recovered it continues to try and take over the land. "They are there!" someone ran into the chamber. "The enemy is here!" "Man the defenses, get the citizens into the caves." boomed the old man's voice. "You will have to face their leader little girl I'm afraid." "Remember this warning, do what has to be done no matter the cost, the story goes the girl failed because of that, and that you must not hear The Keeper for she fears you more than you can imagine…remember." and the old man ran out to rally his men. Torika stood there thinking, afraid of what she must do. Cannons roared, cries of men fighting, dying were heard though out the city. A dragon swooped down at Torika, its rider a teenage girl. Torika stood frozen in fear. From the sky dropped hundreds of orcs in front of Torika. Their formation changed erratically, an opening would present itself then close unyielding to anything. "Key of my heart, with the power of love and light." "Unveil the scepter and unleash my might!" "RELEASE!" chanted Torika. "THUNDER!" cried Torika and blasted all of them away. "Looks like you didn't hear my warning." laughed the dragon rider. "At least you are strong, looks like I'll have some fun." The rider jumped down. The rider was a teenager a bit older than Torika, blazing red hair with golden stripes, emerald green eyes. "Who are you?" asked Torika "The Keeper" replied the girl. "You…" spluttered Torika. "Yes this body once belonged to a foolish girl like you." "Her name was Sakurako, brave little girl , but not much courage to do what was right." continued The Keeper. "BUT!" Torika tried to speak. "I shall meet you in a mirror darkly." The Keeper said no more and raised her gauntlet and summoned a sword bearing on Torika. "AHHH!" Torika screamed as the sword hit her. On its own will Shield had protected Torika from moral damage. "I guess I have no choice." Torika gritted her teeth as she summoned Sword. "Well before you start I'm going to let you on a little secret." The Keeper taunted. She pulled out two orbs of shining light. "See this?" "These were your little friends." "You are the third core, and I shall be victorious" The Keeper continued taunting. "SHUT UP!" screamed Torika tearing. "You killed my friends for you petty greed." "Three worlds, wouldn't you say that there is enough room for everyone to live?" screamed Torika weeping madly. "That's what you think, less chit chat, I have a world to take over." sighed The Keeper. And the battle between the two titans began. Torika with all her strength fought to revenge her friends, to protect whoever was left. The Keeper was almost amused at Torika's struggle. The courtyard was demolished by the fighting and they surged towards the sky. Points of light formed in the dark sky as they clashed, locking swords, smashing at each other in a stalemate. The fighting on the ground was not going well. Showron's defenses had held for a long time but against the overpowering number of enemy they were being overrun to the second battlement. Sakura took to the sky to keep dragon riders from overwhelming the soldiers on the ground. Natsume and Hana joined Showron in defending the wall. "Your strong." laughed The Keeper as they locked again in a stalemate. "Much stronger than Sakurako' "Nice to hear it, that means that I can defeat you." Torika laughed back. "Don't get cocky little girl you still out of you league." said The Keeper as she went for another strike. By whatever chance, Torika deflected and smashed The Keeper's sword out of her hand. A angry red gash appeared on The Keeper's chest. She fell out of the sky and landed with a thud on the marble floor of the courtyard. Torika tore after her. "Hehe, looks like you won this battle, but you have just lost the war." spat The Keeper. Torika, you have done well, but I am afraid you are too late. I have foreseen this, you and Cotos shall be mine. The Keeper grabbed Torika's temple and transferred it's soul to take over Torika's. In the back of Torika's mind she heard The Keeper whisper to her. But then another unfamiliar voice, one that belonged to a girl. It beckoned her to concentrate on what it was saying. "Remember to do what is right, remember." "Torika's memories began to fade, being consumed. The time when she met Tai and Maddy flashed before her eyes. "Then came to the point when he heard the old man talking." "It must be done." Torika struggle to say. She use ever last piece of strength she had, and turn her sword on herself. The Keeper's voice in the back of her head screamed in frustration as it tired to gain control of Torika's body, but was too late. The blade plunged in to Torika's body, she fell and nothing. Torika saw a tunnel of light in her half closed eyes. She woke up in a brightly lit cave. There she saw Showron, Sakura, and Sakruako. "Mom, dad she looked at them in disbelief, you…" stumbled Torika falling to her knees. "No, No were not you parents, we are not from your world dear child." explained Sakura. Sakurako is our child. "Where is this place?" asked Torika sniffling "This is where life end, for everyone no matter which world they come from." smiled Sakurako. "Thank you for doing what I couldn't do." Sakurako continued. "I destroyed The Keeper's soul from you, you should be able to return too." said Torika cheerfully. "I can't it has been too long, lets ay a millennia since it took over my body, I can not return, but you can" explained Sakurako. "What about my friends…Maddy and Tai." Torika grimly reminded herself. This time Showron spoke. "You can choose between two things." "You can bring their spirits here and release them here." "Or you will give up your magical powers to revive them, they are not truly dead, they are in a non corporeal form." "I will do anything to get my friends back…anything." "Well I think it time to say goodbye Torika." interrupted Sakurako "You have become a great person, we will one day see you on the other side again, Torika." smiled Sakura. A flash of light and Torika found herself back at the city. She stumbled to what remained of The Keeper. Pick up the two orbs and put them on to her scepter. The scepter of my heart with the power of love and light. I relinquish for thee. A bright flash came from both orbs. A shadowy figure of Tai emerged before her. She turned around to hide her tear from him, but when she turned around he was gone. Maddy's figure appeared next and disappeared. She lost all her power and fainted. She heard in her deep sleep, an old man talking, thanking her and her friends for their bravery. The next thing she saw was Tai and Maddy next to her bed at home in her room. Torika smiling with tears hugged tightly. Her parents, Natsume and Hana also walked in. It was over, all over. |