Todd played some strikingly loud and high notes on his recorder. Todd was amazed, he didn't know such notes were possible to play on the recorder. "Wow! I'll get an A on this test for sure!" Suddenly Todd heard a knocking on his floor. "Sorry!" Todd yelled down to the ground.
Kero flew out of Todd's room and replied. "I think you should practice somewhere else. Have you tried the moon? There is no atmosphere there and therefore, no sound?"
"That's so mean!" Todd replied, angry. "Don't you like my music?" "No." Kero replied, flatly. "I don't think you have any musical talent!"
"Oh yeah?" Todd asked as he positioned his instrument. Todd blew into the instrument as hard as he could. Kero was hit with a sound wave and knocked into the back wall. "Only I can do something like that with a musical instrument! Isn't that great?"
"No it isn't great." Kero complained. "When is the music test?" "The music test is tomorrow!" Todd replied cheerily. "This is the first time I've ever practiced!"
"That's awful." Kero replied. "You didn't practice each day?"
"Nope. I was too busy capturing clow cards!" Todd replied cheaply. "Besides, we didn't have music in my old school. It's almost time for school anyway, do you want to come."
"No! Not today!" Kero snapped. "I can't stand recorders and I can't stand the way you play!"
"Critics..." Todd replied, rolling his eyes. Todd got his clothes together and left his apartment by the drain pipe way. Todd slid down the drainpipe and landed gracefully. Todd started blading to school and took out his recorder. Todd started playing and that caused birds to suddenly dive bomb him. Todd cried out and ducked them. "Critics..."
Todd finally made it to school. Sakura was waiting for him, and waved to him. Todd skated up to her and smiled. "I've started practicing for the test. I'm sure to get an A on it."
"That's nice. I've been practicing for over a year! I still mess up sometimes." Sakura replied. "Sometimes I forget to breathe and I run short of notes."
"Yeah, I mess up by playing the wrong notes. I also sometimes play notes that normally aren't possible to normally play on the recorder, Kero said that. Man, I reek at this." Todd replied, depressed.
"That's terrible...how about if you play for me?" Sakura asked. "I promise to say something nice."
Todd began playing, first he played a bunch of gibberish and then blew too hard, causing a display of screeching. Sakura covered her ears and Todd ran short of breath. Todd breathed in very loudly, and blew into the recorder with all his might. It didn't make much sound, but it really hurt the ears of everyone around. "Not bad, huh?"
"I'll put this in the nicest way I possibly can, you are THE worst player of the recorder in the history of time. I'm sorry..." Sakura criticized. "What do you say to that?"
"I think you are absolutely right." Todd replied, annoyed. "It's a pain, but I'll have to practice like crazy, for Friday."
The bell rang and everyone went into the main building. At the lockers, Todd noticed Jeremy taking his recorder out of his locker. Todd ran up to him and asked. "You play the recorder too?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty good too, I've been practicing like crazy for the last two weeks. I think I'll pull a decent mark." Jeremy replied. "I'll win Tatea's heart with music today..."
"Good Luck, Tatea plays the pan flute and the tambourine both at the same time!" She can make her own complete song!" Todd replied. "I don't think you'll be able to charm her today."
"Just watch me!" Jeremy snapped as he ran into the music room. "You know! We have home room first!" Todd shouted after him. "I'd better get going..."
Todd ran to Miss Mackenzie's room and sat in his seat. Madison turned back and said to him. "I thought I heard a dog being run over in front of the school this morning. I heard a screech."
"That was me, playing the recorder." Todd replied.
"Oh." Madison replied, thinking that she hurt Todd's feelings. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be feeling sorry for me, feel sorry for Kero...and my recorder!" Todd replied bitterly. "There's Jeremy, I thought he'd miss home room."
Jeremy ran over to Tatea's side and sat down in the desk there. Jeremy smiled at Tatea but she looked away, annoyed. Jeremy asked her. "Have you practiced?"
"Practiced for what? Me blowing you off is merely improv." Tatea replied.
"No, the music." Jeremy replied. "I've been practicing for ages!" "What music?" Tatea asked. "I play instruments, but I don't practice on a regular basis. It takes time away from my meditation and Tai Chi. Not to mention, martial arts and self defense."
Everyone looked on when Miss Mackenzie walked into class. She smiled and walked to her desk to put her lunch in her top desk drawer as always and returned to the front of the class. She finally announced. "Welcome back everyone. Before we go to music, I want to pass back the essays. Todd, yours was wonderfully done, you got an A!"
Everyone applauded and Miss. Mackenzie handed back Todd's essay along with everyone else's. Sakura got a B+ and Madison got an A- while Li got a B. Miss Mackenzie got to Jeremy and Tatea's part and gave back their essays. Jeremy's eyes lit up as he saw his B- and Tatea threw hers in the garbage. Tatea got an A- but she didn't care.
Everyone left the class and headed for music. Music was being set up when they filed into the band room. They went to their musical instruments and Todd was shocked. Zachary played the piano and Chelsea was a singer! They sang a song with Zachary playing backup piano. They all clapped at the song's end. Zachary suddenly asked. "Did you know that piano duets were a special way to compete in France? They'd pick the best one of one hundred contestants and they'd receive 10000 dollars!"
"Zachary!" Chelsea scolded. "That's enough out of you!"
"We're doing this in duets?" Todd asked. "I wonder who I'm going to be with?"
The music teacher walked in, snapping his fingers to some mental tune. He suddenly ran up to Todd and screamed. "Wow! What a build! You'll be the one of the best musicians and vocalists I've ever worked with! What potential!"
"What?" Todd asked, expression mystified. "I am going a good...what?"
"I'll partner you with someone with real power of voice and musical expertise! Tatea!!" The music teacher sang.
Tatea instantly stared at Todd for a second and put her face in her hands. "Oh dear...I can't believe this is happening...!"
"This is the worst!" Todd grumbled as he sauntered to his partner. Todd replied. "Well, I'm your partner! I'm Todd!"
"I know who you are, you stinkhead!" Tatea growled.
The rest of the class was partnered up, terribly of course. Sakura was partnered with Jeremy and Li was partnered with Zachary. Rita was partnered with Chelsea and Madison was latched on to Sakura's group. The teacher, Mr. Mogul looked up and asked. "Where's Jaki and Mashou?" They suddenly appeared in the doorway.
"Well, well, well..." Mashou said. "What have we here? A music class!" "Wow..." Jaki replied. "Well Teach', it's a pleasure." "You're late!" Mr. Mogul replied. "Since you two are late, you'll have to be partnered with each other!"
"Okay..." Jaki replied. "Hee, hee, hee..."
They all sat in a semi circle around Mr. Mogul and he announced. "This semester, we will be doing duets! We'll also be doing trios as well. This year we want you to be learning about music and teamwork. Duets can make beautiful music, when they work together...but also duets can cause catastrophe! The first music test will be duet as well so I want all of you to practice together as well."
The class began with Todd's wailing with his instrument. While everyone was holding their ears and getting more angry at Todd, Mr. Mogul was getting happier and more excited. Todd ended by blowing into his instrument as loud as he could, almost breaking everyone's eardrums. Todd was out of breath but finally stated. "I think I'm getting better!"
The Music teacher leaped up and skipped over to Todd. Todd was a little nervous of how he was acting. "See everyone? Todd and the noble recorder were made for another!"
Everyone looked at Mr. Mogul tiredly and said. "...yeah...sure..." Class ended for lunch and everyone went to the outside to eat their lunch. Todd looked at the ground, puzzled and ran after his group. He sat down and asked. "How come everything is so dry? I mean, it was pouring rain yesterday!"
"Don't you know? When you capture a clow card, their effects vanish." Li replied. "How come you play the recorder so horribly? Didn't you have music at your old school?"
"No." Todd replied. "The music and arts programs were cut from school."
"That's terrible!" Madison commented, eating her fantastic seven course lunch. "How come?"
"Budget cutbacks, of course...Reidenton however, is private school, and government is not involved." Todd replied. "Now, I wonder...how many clow cards can I use at once."
"As many as your magic endurance can allow." Li replied. "I've never seen Sakura use any more then four at once, and she had them all. Anyway, about the naughty ones..."
"Who are they?" Sakura asked. "I never had to deal with anything like this..." Li told the story as they went into flashback.
Li and Meilin were practicing martial arts when they appeared. They walked up to Li and asked. "Hey, Showron? Are you still helping that little runt? She doesn't even have magical powers."
"So? I'll still help her!" Little Li replied. "It's my responsibility!" "Why did our master allow her to be in the school anyway?" Little Sennae replied. "She doesn't have magic powers, she's worthless!"
At that, Little Meilin narrowed her eyes to the floor. She sniffed. "... ... ..."
"You should just give up on Meilin, she's worthless and will never change! She even stinks at martial arts!" Sennyo replied. Then they both began pointing at her and laughing in a cruel manner. "Hee, hee, hee!"
Little Meilin started crying and bolted towards the dormitory. "Leave me alone!"
Li got angry at them and shouted. "How could you do such a thing?" The flashback ended.
"So, they are jerks." Todd replied, frankly to Li's story. "Why did they look like mutants? I mean, one had lopped rabbit ears and the other looks like a giant fairy."
"Well, that's why they got expelled." Li remarked. "My master confirmed that they were conducting evil magic. My teacher expelled them for communicating with the Dark One..."
"Oh..." Todd wondered. "And if they're here, then...it must be because the Dark One has sent them to release him."
"Bingo." Li replied. "We must now not only capture the clow cards, but capture the cards quickly...so we can grab them before they do." The bell rang and everyone went back inside. The last class was terribly boring, it was math.
Todd hates math and fell sleep during it. In Todd's dream, a drop of water fell into a pool of black water. The water made a ping and it revealed a Silhouette of Todd's face. "Oh my...it's the dream..."
Todd realized that he was on top of a building. He was wearing a white suit with a white cape, topped with a white plumed turban. Todd stared at himself and realized. "Whoa, if I get any grape juice or chocolate on this outfit, it'll be ruined...wait! What's that?" Todd saw the radio tower and the Silhouetted figure approach him. Todd said in a dreamy tone. "Who are you, could you please tell me? I need to see you? Are you friend or foe?"
The Silhouette suddenly whipped out a blackboard and a piece of chalk. It started to say. "...Todd? You'll never ever learn these equations if you can't stay awake! Wake up, Todd!"
"But why won't you tell me? I almost have ten clow cards...!" Todd asked as he woke up, staring into Miss Mackenzie's face.
"Clow cards?" She asked patiently. "I thought we were talking about Math...!"
"What?" Todd asked loudly as he heard laughing. "Oh no! I fell asleep in class!"
"Don't worry, you only fell asleep for the last ten minutes, but it looked as though you were having a very deep conversation." Miss Mackenzie replied as the bell rang. "What was it about?"
"Sorry, Couldn't hear you! Got to go now!" Todd bursted out as he ran out the door with the rest of the class. Miss Mackenzie looked at Todd as he was leaving and smiled.
Todd walked home with Sakura, Li and Madison. Madison asked. "What are you going to do, Todd? The music test is tomorrow and you barely practiced!"
"I think Todd and Tatea are going to get a good mark. The Music teacher loves the way Todd plays." Li replied. "I don't know why though. I think that it is a combination of screaming cats, nails running down a chalkboard and a large parrot trapped inside a lawn mower."
Todd and his friends reached the turnoff. Todd turned his way and said. "See you later, I have to practice my fingering and tootling." Todd reached the Kyoden manor and eventually reached his apartment. Kero greeted him and said. "Welcome home, Todd."
"How did you know it was me?" Todd asked.
"I can always tell by the bad smell!" Kero joked. "You should take a bath once a week, once a day preferably."
"Oh be quiet Kero..." Todd complained. "I've got some serious practicing to do." Todd began to practice and Kero grumbled some more. Two hours passed as Todd practiced. He took a rest.
"You making progress?" Kero asked. "You sound a little better..." "Thank you Kero...that's all I'll do today. Now I'll study the clow book. Is there any clow cards that would make me better at playing my recorder?" Todd asked Kero as he began flipping the pages.
"There is one, it's the Song card!" Kero replied, pointing to page 111. "The card will make you a better musician..."
"Oh wow!" Todd replied. "Anything else?"
"Sure, there's the Voice card." Kero replied. "The voice card will either give you a cool voice or make you a master singer!" "What are the chances that cards like that will appear tonight..." Todd murmured. "The chances aren't very good."
Tori came home once again with pizza. Todd and Tori ate together and talked about their days. Todd did his other homework and went to bed. Todd thought about the song and voice card before going to sleep. That night, in Reidenton Elementary, in the music room, the piano began to move. The piano started playing by itself. The piano got louder and louder until the sounds could be heard out of school.
Todd was asleep and Kero was curled up by his head. Todd groaned and Kero woke up from Todd's hot breath. "Yuck! You should brush your teeth once and a while...huh? I hear...music!"
Kero woke Todd up. Todd slowly got up and asked. "Kero...it's 11:48 pm...what?"
"Don't you hear the music?" Kero asked. "It's coming from your school..."
Todd became alert and did notice the music. Todd got dressed and began to strap on his roller blades. Kero flew after him and landed in his coat pocket. Todd went for the door and said. "This might be...a clow card. I definitely sense something."
Todd and Kero crept outside of the apartment and eventually left the Kyoden Manor. The door was locked. Todd wondered and then ran back to his apartment. He went to his room and went out the window. Todd slid to the bottom of the apartment floors. He skated away from the Kyoden parking lot. "Wait a minute, Todd! How are you going to get back into your room?" Kero asked.
"I'll use the fly card." Todd replied. Todd and Kero came to the school to notice Madison, Sakura and Li. Todd walked up to them and asked. "You sense it too right? Then I'll summon the spear. Spear of Todd...power of magic...power of light...surrender the spear...the force ignite! Release!" Todd's pocket spear flashed and glowed and grew to normal size.
"There is definitely a clow card about. This music is created by the Song card. There is also a singing character inside the school, so it may also be the voice card..." Li replied.
"Why isn't the whole town awake?" Todd asked.
"The town is still asleep, the song is so relaxing that people who don't use magic are still asleep." Sakura replied.
"Hey Todd!" Madison called. "Guess what I have? A costume! A battle costume for you!"
Todd put on the battle costume and came out of the shadows and into the starlight. Todd had dark blue boots and a red cape. Todd was wearing a small doublet, breastplate armor and a plumed cap. They all gazed at Todd's costume. Todd looked at himself and said. "This is nice, I look like a character from Romeo and Juliet. Very cool!"
"I knew you'd like it!" Madison replied. "Let's go into the school." They all walked into the school, which was unlocked. They wondered why but they saw the Mysterious Stranger leaning against the wall. They looked at the Mysterious Stranger and it replied. "Come with me, they are in the music room."
They followed the Mysterious Stranger to the music room where the Voice card was sitting on the piano. They looked at the Voice Card and smiled. Todd ran closer and said. "Don't hide from us, Song... come on out."
Song came out of hiding and sat herself at the piano seat. Voice kept her seat on the piano. Todd then positioned his spear and said. "I challenge you to a duel of music. If we win, we get to capture you." Todd and The Mysterious Stranger sat on one side of the room. Voice and Song sat on the other side. The Mysterious stranger and Todd conversed with the Mysterious Stranger beginning. "You don't know much about music do you?"
"No, not as such." Todd replied.
"Okay, then you must sing!" The Shrouded one replied. "You can't play a musical instrument so you'll have to sing."
"What? Me? Sing? As in...pleasant voice?" Todd asked, mystified. "All right if you insist..."
The contest began, The Mysterious stranger played the pan flute while Todd sang scales. Voice and Song copied that.
"Do you think that Todd and the Shrouded one really can win this?" Madison asked while manning her video camera.
"I don't know..." Li replied. "This is a pretty close race actually..."
Todd and the Stranger began to play a song, the song was surprisingly well thought out and played. Because it was original, Song and Voice could not copy it and lost the competition.
"Yes! You did it!" Sakura shouted out. "We win these clow cards!" Todd ran over to them and positioned his spear. He was about to do the sealing chant when they both glared at him. Todd stepped back, surprised. They both look at each other and then laughed. They actually laughed in quite an wicked way that sent chills down everyone's spine. Todd then asked. "What's so funny?"
Their eyes began to glow an evil green. Todd stepped back and away from the two spirits. The Mysterious stranger walked up and shouted. "You lost the bet! You must now be captured! It's part of the agreement."
They both laughed an evil laugh again and shook their heads. The Stranger walked over to Todd, and said. "Prepare yourself. Prepare yourself for the evil part of music..."
Voice leaped up and screamed a horrible scream. The scream got louder and louder as everyone else covered their ears. The scream got so high, that it shattered the windows. Song then whipped out a harp that was decorated with demons. She played a few notes on the harp which sent out glowing green musical notes and scales that smashed against the whole group, sending them against the wall. Todd threw up the Windy Card and impaled it with his spear. "Windy, release and dispel!" The card broke into a mass of swirling ropey energy which eventually transformed into Windy. Windy awaited orders. Before Todd could give them, Song and Voice lept out of the windows of the music room. Todd, Sakura, Li, Madison and The Stranger leapt out after them. Todd commanded Windy to ease them down gently. They all were now in the courtyard.
"You shall battle Song, Todd." The Shrouded one replied. "I shall battle Voice."
"All right..." Todd replied. "Windy, bind Song now!" Windy attempted to bind song, but with each attempt, got a blast of green musical notes in her face. Song summoned more notes which flew at Windy and struck her to the ground. Todd glared at song, but cried out as she laughed and shot more notes at Todd. Todd slammed the jump card with his spear. "Jump card!" Todd leaped out of the way of the notes, and the notes kept going and crashed into a tree and knocked it over. "Wow! This Card gives new meaning to the term, ‘Flat note!' Okay, it's time for a little double team! Watery! Release and Dispel!" Todd impaled the Watery card and Watery appeared from the card. "Winds of Water…send forth a current…ice in the air…release to the sky! Atmosphere!!"
Windy and Watery surrounded the Song card and raised their hands to the sky. With a blast of blue-white energy. A huge paneled globe ensnared Song within. The panels glowed blue-white at random while currents of streaking energy coursed within the globe. Song cried out as she was struck many times with blasts of icy energy. The globe's internals became volatile and exploded, sending out intense cold and light. While the Shrouded One was battling Voice, Voice got caught in the blast and was sent to the ground. Song fell to her knees. "Song Card...return to your power confined! Song!" Todd commanded as he thrust his spear up, a glowing clow card appeared on the point. Song broke into a swirling mass which filtered into the card. Song's picture appeared and Todd grabbed the card.
The Shrouded One also had its share of troubles. Song screamed out, causing a tremor which knocked The Stranger down. The stranger countered. "Force...know my plight...I don't wanna fight...but evil doesn't care! Emerald flare!" It released several shurikens which all hit Voice exploding into emerald clouds of energy, Voice tumbled back and fell to the ground. She was getting up when The Stranger got out its dagger. The Stranger slammed the shadow card with its dagger. "Shadow, release and dispel." The card broke into a mass of swirling black energy which collected into the shadow spirit. The Stranger commanded. "Shadow, attack and restrain Voice." Shadow suddenly disappeared and appeared under Voice. Shadow suddenly rose up, trapping voice in a net of Shadow. The Stranger Turned to Todd who was running up to it. Todd positioned his spear and commanded. "Return to your power confined, Voice card!" Todd's spear gained a glowing clow card on the end. Voice and Shadow got sucked into the clow card, forming Voice's picture on the glowing clow card. Shadow flew to The Mysterious Stranger. Voice finished it's transformation and also flew to The Mysterious Stranger and the Mysterious Stranger accepted it. The Shrouded one walked up to Todd and said. "Good work, we captured the cards before the naughty ones even managed to show up."
"Awesome, you caught the Song and Voice cards!" Kero commended. "You're getting really good at this!"
"Thanks everyone." Todd replied. "So, you know about the naughty ones?"
"Yes I do, they must have followed me here to Reidenton. You must brush up your skills. I'll be seeing you." The Shrouded one dashed away. Todd stared as it ran.
The next morning, Todd was eating breakfast and Kero flew out of Todd's room. Kero asked. "Are you ready for the test?" "Sure, I have a friend that's going to help me..." Todd replied as he got his backpack packed and his school uniform on. "I'll have some luck today."
"See you later..." Kero called out as the door closed.
Todd skated to school, looking at his recorder. "It is going to take more then practice for me to ace this test...Hey Sakura!"
Sakura was waiting for him as usual, Sakura waved to him as he skated over to her. Todd was playing his recorder as Sakura commented. "You're sounding better!"
"I'll sound even better later..." Todd mumbled to himself. "What was that?" Sakura asked quickly. "What were you saying?"
"Nothing!" Todd replied, honestly. "Nothing at all."
They went into school and put their junk in their lockers. Li and Madison came up to them in the hallway. "This is great! I feel so happy!"
"I'm glad you feel happy, Madison." Todd replied as he got out his recorder. Music is last thing today, right?" I'll have time to practice.
The minutes in school went by like seconds. Lunch came around so fast, that it almost hit Todd in the face. The bell rang for lunch and lunch went by even faster. Music class was now upon Todd. Class began with Mr. Mogul prancing in. "I had a muse come to me this morning! I hope today is as creative for all of you."
"Excuse me, Sir." Todd asked. "Can I go to the washroom?"
"Of course!" Mr. Mogul sang.
Todd ran to the washroom, and checked if anyone was about. Todd was overjoyed to see no one else. Todd whipped out his clow spear and summoned it. "Hee, hee, hee! Here goes! Song Card, make me awesome at the recorder! Song Card, Release and dispel!" Todd slammed the card with his spear and a shower of rainbow sparkles engulfed Todd. He suddenly had the killer instinct in music. Todd put his pocket spear away and walked back to music class.
The test began and Todd played the recorder with finesse and panache everyone was astounded, Jaki and Mashou looked on and leered with mischief. The test was over and Todd and Tatea got the highest mark. "Good playing!" Tatea remarked, suspiciously.
Todd gulped and said. "Nothing like practice..."
Tatea replied in her mind. "You really shouldn't use the clow cards for personal gain though..."
Next time on Card Captor Todd:
Class was very interesting. After a vote, everyone decided on...nothing!
A fight erupted in the class
and Miss. Mackenzie had to break two groups up. Todd, Sakura, Li and
Madison agreed to a bake
sale. Everyone was too wrapped up in who is wrong and what idea is
the coolest. Miss. Mackenzie
looked over to Sakura's group and smiled. "It looks like you have come
up with a good idea..."
"We did, we came up with a bake sale!" Todd replied proudly. "After
all, lots of people can't turn
down food."
* * *
The cooking began. Li was struggling with the dough, Sakura turned and
shook her head, irritated.
Todd started making cookies, and started putting butter in the bowl,
Todd dumped a cup of sugar
and then another cup and another and another... "Todd!" Sakura snapped.
"That's way too much
sugar. Don't you see your ingredients? They say only one cup of sugar."
"Well, I did see the number 250." Todd replied, tasting some sugar.
"I thought the recipe called for
250 cups of sugar!"
* * *
here seemed to be flower petals raining down on the world outside. Todd
looked out the window
to reveal the ground was covered with flower petals. "Flower petals?
This is so strange..." Todd
turned to Li, Sakura and Madison and nodded. They all ran outside while
Madison stayed behind.
She put the baking tape in Jeremy's hand and inserted a different tape
into her camera.