"Return to your form within. Fly!" Paige waved the wand at the large bird. It flew forward, transforming back into a card and landing in her hand. Paige then turned to Windy. "Thanks for your help."

Windy nodded, then turned back into her card.

"Way ta go, Paige!" Kero cheered. "The Fly card's a good one to have. Especially now."

Paige looked around. During the fight, she'd somehow managed to get herself stuck on a rocky slope. She checked her watch. "I don't have time to pick my way down. I'll be late for school."

"Relax. Just release the Fly card." Kero explained.

Okay, I guess it couldn't hurt. Paige held out the new card. "Fly, please aid me in my quest. Release!"

Wings erupted from the star on the wand. Paige sat on the wand like a child on a play horse and was lifted into the air.

"Wow! This is amazing!" She steered the wand toward the local high school. "Uh, Kero, one question." She tightened her grip on the wand. "How do I land?"

Paige turned the wand back into key form and slipped the attaching cord around her neck before hopping out of the tree that had acted as her landing pad.

"Well, not the best landing." Kero commented. "But a good first flight."

"Great." Paige adjusted her bag on her shoulder, then froze. "Someone's coming. Hide!" She hissed.

Kero dove into her bag just before a boy turned the corner. "Paige!" he called.

"Hey Al." Paige breathed a sigh. "I didn't think you'd be out here. Won't class be starting soon?"

"Caf-class." He explained. "Mr. Lakke isn't here." He glanced around nervously. "Uh, Paige, did you… fly?"

"What?" Paige started panicking, but managed it keep a straight face. "How would I fly, Al? People can't fly without an airplane or helicopter."

"Yeah, you're right." He laughed. "I just thought I saw you climb out of a tree without climbing in. It's crazy, I know." He rubbed his neck in his nervous habit. "Hey, I finished that new costume. Wanna see it at lunch?"

"Sure." Paige smiled, wondering what it would be this time.

"He's just like Madison." Kero said from her bag.

"What?"

"Uh, nothing." Paige thought fast. "Just wondering what it'll look like."

Kero climbed out of her bag then and sat on her shoulder. "Wow, it's like I never left Japan."

Paige slapped her forehead. "Kero, you idiot!" She hissed. "I thought you said I had to keep this a secret?" She saw that Al was freaked out and sighed. "Kero, this is my best friend, Alfred. Al, this is Cerberos. I call him Kero. You were right, I did fly into the tree. I have magic powers."

Al gaped at Kero, not quite believing his eyes. "So, you have magic? Just like your mom?"

Kero's ears perked up. "Your mom had magic?"

Paige shrugged, knocking Kero into the air. "Mom's family was full of magicians. But my magic is a bit different. I use magic cards to summon creatures who grant me power. It's really complicated. I'll tell you later."

"She's a Cardcaptor in training." Kero stated proudly. "She's collecting the Clow Cards for my friend back in Japan."

Alfred's eyes brightened. "Wait, you have to find different magic cards?"

"And fight them." Kero interjected.

"So you need battle costumes!"

"No!" Paige groaned. "Al, you always make the costumes with so many frills. If I'm going to be battling magic, I have to be able to move."

"Alright." He clapped his hands. "I'll make a whole new line of battle-wear!"

After second period, Paige's friend Lynn caught her in the hall. "Hey, Paige, did you hear about what happened last night?"

She started panicking. Please tell me something trivial. She prayed. Don't say something about the giant bird. "No, what happened?"

Lynn leaned in and whispered in her ear like it was a big secret. "Someone broke into the school and messed up Mr. Lakke's room. No one knows who did it." She hopped up and down, making her sunset-red hair fly into her face. "Who do you think it was?"

Paige relaxed. Lynn just wanted to gossip. "I have no idea. I have to go see Al." She waved as she ran to the HomeEc room.

Alfred was already there, standing proudly in front of a table covered with material. When Paige walked in, he grabbed an outfit and shoved it into her arms, simultaneously taking her books. "Here. Try this one on first." He pointed at a curtain that was set up like a change room.

Glancing down at the costume, Paige saw that it consisted of a black top that cut off in the front but continued in the back and white shorts that looked like they would just reach her knees. There was a pair of black and white striped socks sitting on top. At least it isn't a frilly dress. She thought as she went to change.

The costume fit perfectly, as usual. Paige was just finishing pulling on the socks when she heard Alfred scream. She pushed the curtain away and saw what was happening.

Alfred was huddled on the floor as the chairs flew around the room. He crawled over to where Paige stood and handed her a pair of short black boots. "What's going on?" He whimpered.

Paige shook her head and pulled on the boots. Kero flew out of her bag, obviously just waking up. "Paige, it's a Clow Card!"

"I kind of figured that much!" Paige pulled the key from her neck. "Key of Clow! Lend me your strength and power! Rest unto me the wand of might!" The key lifted into the air. "Release!" The key grew into the wand.

"That is so cool!" Alfred stared at the black staff with tiny specs of yellow. "That's so you, Paige."

"Watch out!" Kero called.

Paige pulled Alfred away just before a chair collided with the floor beside him. "Why is it attacking us?" She asked Kero. "I didn't do anything to it!"

Another chair flew through the air. "All the cards think you're replacing Sakura. You'll have to prove that you're not." Kero flew over to Paige and Alfred, who had pulled out his cell phone and was recording the fight. "Concentrate. Which card is it?"

"I don't know! I don't know all the cards by name!" Paige focused on the floating chairs. What is making them move?

A chair flew toward her and she noticed what had been bugging her. "It's shadow!" She jumped out of the way of the chair and over to her bag. She pulled out the other cards. "Windy, I need your help! Blow the blinds closed!" She tapped the card with the wand. "Release!"

A strong wind whipped around the room, making Aflred's costumes fly off the table and the blinds over the windows snap shut. The room was plunged into darkness and the chairs clattered to the floor.

"You did it!" Alfred cheered.

"Not yet." Kero said. "Now you'll meet Shadow."

From all the corners of the room, the shadows that were left started moving to the centre of the room. They piled together, forming a hooded figure made of pure darkness.

"Shadow." Paige whispered, taking a step forward.

"It's the Grim Reaper!" Alfred screamed. He grabbed a spatula from a nearby cooking station and ran up to Shadow. He swung his arm, intending to hit Shadow with his weapon. Unfortunately, his arm hit a filing cabinet and he was pulled off his feet.

Shadow didn't seem happy about being attack and ran toward Paige, who didn't move.

"Shadow, please listen to me." She said calmly. Shadow slowed, then stopped. "I have no intention of replacing your master. She lives half way around the world. I am working to collect your friends and return them to her." Shadow bowed his head and she raised the wand. "Return to your form within. Shadow!"

Shadow turned back into his card and landed in Paige's hand. Kero clapped and flew up to her. "Good job, kid."

"Thanks, but it was a bit weird." She looked over at Alfred, who was sitting on the floor, rubbing his head. "Al, why were you filming me?"

"Are you kidding?" He got to his feet. "That was spectacular! I'd never miss a shot like that!"

Paige sighed and Kero laughed. "Just like Madison"