A/N: And now, it's time for Sakura's turn at a Level in Badass…
In continuity with 2814, and happens after the events of the Linker Cores War, but before Nanoha hats up with the Justice League. I figure at least a month before and after either way. At least. Will try not to spoil it, but some spoiling will be inevitable. Still, this will mainly by CCS-centric. So, yes, the goddamned Tomoyo shows up…
I've also had the crazy idea of making Kageyama Reiji Tomoyo's father. It would explain so much of why she's badass and crazy. Plus, you know, Tomoyo with Gate Powers…
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Kinomoto Sakura of 2814
by Shadow Crystal Mage
Chapter 1: In Fearful Day, When Without Light…
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. If I did… well, this would all be canon. WARNING: MAY CAUSE HEAD EXPLOSION!
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"Are you sure about this, Sakura-san?" Green Lantern said, frowning in concern, her web-cam window slightly green.
Sakura nodded at the small image on Tomoyo's laptop. It was always so convenient how Tomoyo was always carrying useful things. "Hai, Green Lanter-chan. The 53rd Card… it is something I must deal with. And… and I don't want anyone else getting erased because of it on my account."
"Are you sure?" Illya said from another web-cam window. "Miyu-chan and I have our own experience with dealing with violent spirit-like beings who turn into cards when we defeat them with our star-tipped magic wands. We can help!"
Sakura smiled in appreciation, but shook her head. "No. Not now. One way or the other, it ends tonight, and it ends between the Card and myself. I… I think I know how to deal with it. I know what it wants…"
"Then… good luck, Sakura-chan," Sailor Mercury said from her own window, before getting pushed forward by the rest of the Senshi also trying to wish Sakura luck. "Ack, girls, personal space!"
"Yeah, good luck girl!" Haruna said, giving her a thumbs up. In the background, Sakura could see Calculator-san muttering to herself, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, before the rest of Ala Alba also crowded into the shot to wish her well.
"If anything happens, Sakura-san," Hayate said, her knights behind her. "Then we'll take up where you left off." Her five knights nodded behind her.
Sakura smiled appreciatively, touched by all this. She wasn't able to help much with the Association, since she wasn't really the kind to fight, but she'd made good friends there nonetheless. "Thank you, everyone."
She raised up a hand and hesitantly signed off from the chat. Yue closed up the laptop and handed it back to Tomoyo, who wordlessly put it back in her bag. Sakura looked at her friends around her. Yue, darling Tomoyo, Kero-kun, Meilin… and Syaoran. Oh, Syaoran…
The boy looked at her, eyes much softer then when they'd first met, and Sakura felt the urge to tell him, tell him here and now her answer to what he'd told her so long ago, before all this…
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the 53rd Card's magic filled the air and Cards began to fly from her bag…
...
The wind roars as Sakura Seals the last card, her heart a maelstrom of confused emotions as she wonders and fears what precious feeling will be taken from her. Her heart nearly breaks when the darkness wraps around Syaoran, his smile resigned to making this sacrifice. She doesn't notice the blank, nameless card in her pocket, her own 53rd card suddenly being called up to what was once The Nothing as the void of it was filled.
And in all this, her heart never stopped its ultimate spell.
It will be all right…
Everything is going to be all right…
The moment ended. The power stopped. The inside of the entropy-perforated tower flared as the last Card finally came home to join its siblings. Cool, blinding blue light filled everything, and Sakura and Syaoran had to shut their eyes.
Everything will be all right…
All will be well…
The light faded. Sakura opened her eyes slowly, looking up as her last card drifted down to her. The image of the Card she'd bound was peaceful, its eyes closed in repose. It looked tranquil, content. Happy. In its hands, it held a winged heart, with a small, round symbol in glowing blue at its center...
And beside the Card, floated a small deep blue stone, flat and round, about the size of the end of Sakura's thumb. She reached up and caught both, frowning slightly at the stone. It pulsed, and Sakura could feel it in her heart.
All will be well…
For a moment, she wasn't sure if the thought was hers or not. Hesitantly, she turned to Syaoran…
Confessions were made. Two children held each other, finally able to truly tell each other how they felt, finally united like a pair of wings. Cue the sun. 'Erased' people were returned to existence having no memory of what happened. At least, apparently. The town was repaired. All was well…
Daidouji Tomoyo stood up from where she'd found herself, primly dusted herself off, looked around, drew the appropriate conclusions, and took out her cell phone to make some calls…
...
"Daidouji-san," Eriol said into his phone calmly. "First, I would like to say that I am sorry that I screwed up by forgetting about the 53rd Card. That said, the situation has been resolved, with no lasting damage to anyone. Now, could you please ask these people to go away without trying to kill me? I'm dangerously close to missing Doctor Who."
He listened a moment, then handed the phone to the man pointing a gun to his head and a sword to his neck. "She wants to talk to you."
Deathstroke took the phone. "Hello? You sure? All right then." He put down the phone and began to pack away his weapons, nodding to all the other mercenaries in the room. They began to stand down as well. "She's letting you live, but she has a message."
"Which is?" Eriol asked calmly.
Deathstroke thwacked him upside the head. "Dumbass," he deadpanned.
...
"It suits you," Tomoyo said as she looked over Sakura's shoulder into the mirror they were using while her fingers tucked the silver necklace around Sakura's neck. The blue stone hung on the chain, artfully wrapped by golden wire forming the shape of a star. Sakura had wanted it to somehow by unmodified, and Tomoyo had gallantly done what she could to make it so. "A pity it doesn't match your eyes. But it is still as beautiful as you are."
Sakura blushed. "Hoeeeee, Tomoyo chan…"
"I can't help it!" Tomoyo giggled. "Sakura-chan is always so cute!"
Sakura smiled, embarrassed. "It is beautiful," she agreed. "I wonder why The Hope made it…"
"Perhaps she was trying to apologize for all the trouble she caused," Tomoyo suggested.
"Well, hopefully everything will be peaceful from now on," Sakura said, then looked over at the people partying. "Well, relatively, anyway."
Sakura shook her head and they went back to the others. The party in Evangeline's resort was in full swing. It was the Magical Girl Association's "Sakura-chan Did It! She Kicked Ass And Unerassed Everyone!" victory party. If Sakura hadn't known better, she'd have said Tomoyo had been involved. Ala Alba was partying hard, and so were some of the Sailor Senshi, though Sailor Saturn was following around Sailor Pluto to make sure she didn't get at Evangeline's alcohol stashes. Tuxedo Kamen, Syaoran, Kotarou and Chrono were chatting, a slightly conspirational air about them.
Tomoyo's elbowed jabbed gently at her, and she turned blushing to face the other girl's knowing smile. "Go on," she said encouragingly, putting her arms around Sakura's shoulder and squeezing tight for a moment. "Take advantage of your time together. He'll still have to go to Hong Kong, and I don't think Green Lantern will be able to fly you to see him every day."
Sakura blushed harder, but firmed herself, taking a deep breath. A determined look came to her eyes as she turned to Syaoran and began striding towards him. Tomoyo's arms fell, a momentary look of resigned loss coming to the girl as her hand 'accidentally' brushed Sakura's new pendant…
"Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura said, her smile beneficent, beautiful as all heaven and absolutely divine. Tomoyo would make seas of blood for that smile. "Tomoyo-chan… of course I love you too…"
"Sakura-chan– !" Tomoyo said, before Sakura lay a shushing finger on her lips and leaned forward. The heat of her mouth set Tomoyo's mind on fire, and her arms rose on their own accord to wrap around the Card Mistress. A moan rose from Tomoyo's throat as she felt a tongue enter her lips, and she began to respond in kind…
Tomoyo blinked, watching Sakura-chan walking away as Tuxedo Kamen tapped Syaoran on the shoulder, grinning as he redirected the boy's attention to the incoming girl. Kotarou rolled his eyes as Chrono smiled knowingly.
Tomoyo kept staring as the party happened all around her, slowly raising a hand to her lips. They still felt warm. She could almost still feel the tongue…
"Well," she said quietly. "It looks like it's not over yet…"
Around Sakura's neck, the stone glowed, ever so slightly.
And across the floor, Green Lantern, chatting with Yagami Hayate, didn't notice as her ring's charge began to rise…
...
In a darkened alley in Tokyo, evil and the fear of evil faced each other. There was a glow as a cellphone was opened.
"Gate…" a soft voice said quietly, "Open…!"
...
- To be continued...
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A/N: Gee, can anyone guess where this is going?
Please review, C&C welcome.
Until next time, this is Shadow, signing off.