"What a weird dream!" Todd commented sleepily. "Too bad, I've forgotten most of the details."
"You won't have time to tell them either." Kero said, pointing to Todd's alarm clock, the clock ringing profusely. "It's 8:06!"
"Aaaggh! I'm late!" Todd screamed as he leaps out of bed. "Why didn't you wake me up? Why didn't Julian wake me up? I'm going to be in so much trouble!" Todd began frantically searching for his school uniform, a men's white sailor suit with the school's logo on the hat and the backpack. Once he found it he dashed into the bathroom to compose his hair and teeth.
"You aren't going to eat breakfast before you go?" Kero asked while eating a nicely prepared french toast dinner, laced with maple syrup and whipped cream. "You'll get hungry during school!"
"I don't have time! But I'll get a pop tart on my way out."
"You may as well be eating pure sugar, it's better for you."
"Oh great, now I have three moms. Mom, Julian and you!"
Todd snagged a pop tart and whipped on his roller blades. He then bladed to the window and jumped out if it. "Here we go!"
"You do remember you live in a penthouse apartment."
"I'll use the drain pipe like a fireman's pole."
"Now this I gotta see!" Kero floated to the window that Todd jumped out of, and saw Todd slide down the drain pipe with his gloved hands.
The ride wasn't too long, as their apartment is only four stories up. He landed pretty well and began blading. He stopped and got his pocket spear out. "Spear of Todd...power of magic...power of light...surrender the spear...the force ignite...release!"
At that, the spear glowed and flashed, the spear grew to it's normal long size. Todd then takes the dash card out of his card holder and throws it up. "Dash card, release and dispel, make me three times as fast roller blading!" Todd then strikes the card by thrusting the spear into it. A swirl of ropy energy formed around Todd and he was alighted with yellow-green sparkles. "Here we go!"
He started blading, and at the speed he went was hard to get used to. He did get used to it though and bladed gracefully, dodging heaves in the sidewalk, people, trees, parked cars, and anything else that would cause a disaster it Todd hit them. Kero watched him as he streaked away. "He shouldn't have done all that...but you gotta love the way he did it!"
Todd bladed to school with a few minutes left over. He raced to his locker and lost his speed. Unready for the loss of speed, he fell flat on his face at Sakura's feet.
"Why were you skating so fast, my little card captor of a friend...?" Sakura asked suspiciously.
"I used the dash card, wow, that was so cool."
"You shouldn't use the cards that way."
"Who says?"
Sakura sighed and asked if anybody saw him, Todd shook his head. "They saw me skating, but they didn't see me use my magic."
They walked into Ms. Mackenzie's room, where Li and Madison were waiting for them. Li gave his usual disapproving look when he saw Todd with Sakura.
"All of last night was taped! I had the film developed!" Madison commented cheerily.
"That's great, make sure you don't show anyone who doesn't know about the clow magic deal, okay?" Todd asked.
"My lips and play button finger are both sealed!"
Just then, Ms. Mackenzie walked into the room with her usual cheery expression. She calmly sat in her desk and called attendance. She then announced. "We have a new student in our class, please welcome...Tatea Nightshade."
Tatea walked in and instantly stared at Todd. Todd then leaned toward Sakura and asked. "Do I have a weird piece of food in my face? 'Cause she's staring at me."
Tatea walked past Todd and sat in the desk in the back of the room. Tatea stared at Todd again for a moment and then brought her school stuff out of the bag. Ms. Mackenzie then started her lesson and finished it with some homework. Then she reminded everyone about the Essay. The bell rang and school was dismissed for lunch.
At the lockers, Sakura and Li were waiting for Todd to get out of the bathroom. Todd came out and joined them. They then went outside for lunch and out into the sunny courtyard to eat lunch at the usual spot, a nice stone table under a large weeping willow tree.
"I love eating here, it's so quiet and peaceful." Sakura said.
"So, where did you come from, Todd?" Li asked, eating a noodle.
"The sky."
They all laughed and turned to Todd. "Where did you really come from."
"I came here from the USA, California. My mom always wanted to live in Japan. My mom and I took a course on Japanese and moved here. This place is much more interesting to live anyway."
Their talking was interrupted by the appearance of Tatea. Tatea stared at Todd and coolly walked up to the table and said. "You are Todd, right?"
"Yeah, why were you staring at me?"
Tatea walked closer to Todd and leaned over, expression intense. "You... ... ...never mind..." She hissed and walked away.
"Who do you think you are?!" Todd snapped.
"You'd be surprised..." Tatea mumbled as she walked out of the courtyard.
"I wonder who she is...there's no record of her past known by the teachers, it's like she really did drop down from the sky." Madison said with thought. "Lunch's almost over...what do we have next?" Li asked.
"Gym...but it shouldn't be too hard. I trained." Sakura replied flexing her biceps.
"Oh, and it shows..." Todd complimented, making Li jealous and Li glared at him.
The bell rang and they ran back into school. Todd noticed his shadow was gone, so was the other people's shadows. "Okay...? What's happening? I know this is noon but where are everyone's shadows?" Todd asked to himself as he ran into the school.
Gym was next, and everyone did their warm-ups. The gym teacher then told everyone to get in line. They separated into two groups and played a soccer game. Li got the first ball and was dodging all the opponents and kicked the ball toward the net and didn't notice Todd coming up to flank him. Todd caught the ball and charged towards Li's net. Li tried to get the ball back but tripped over another player, who was tying their shoes. Todd got a clear shot into the net and won the game by one goal. At the end Todd offered his hand to Li to help him up but Li slapped it and got up himself. Todd didn't know what to make of it. Sakura saw that display and got angry at Li for not being a good sport. This forced Li to shake hands with Todd.
School was dismissed and Todd was sauntering home, thinking about Tatea. "Her name is Tatea...but why does she keep staring at me? Who is she ? What is she? Is she friend or foe? I wonder if Sakura likes me? I wonder if Madison likes me? I wonder if Li hates me? I don't think he likes me..."
"Hey! Todd! Wait up!" Jeremy yelled as he ran up to him, nearly tripping many times. "Hey! This is your best friend here! Why didn't you eat lunch with me?"
"I didn't see you."
"I heard what happened at the gym, it's about time someone put that Li kid in his place...he is such a snot ball!" Jeremy cursed.
"Oh stop...he's not that bad..."
"Are you kidding? The only one he's even been a decent guy to is Sakura. I'm not surprised though, seeing he loves her sooo much."
"Whatever..."
"You like her too, right?"
"Yeah, uh.. I mean"
"Don't be shy!" Jeremy replied, winking. "Sakura really likes you."
"How do you know."
"I am the Gossip King, Toddy. I know anything and everything floating around the school. I also know that Ms. Mackenzie dyes her hair, and that Tatea is really an alien." Jeremy replied, acting as an all-knowing guru.
"Whatever..."
Todd and Jeremy finally made it to the Kyodon Manor, and took the elevator. They approach the door of Todd's apartment. "I'd better go in, to see if the coast is clear."
"You're weird."
Todd entered the apartment to see Kero snoozing, levitating and snoring with the light making Kero's drool droplets shine like diamonds in the sun. Todd shook him awake and Kero yawned and scratched his tummy. "Hey kid..."
"Kero, you have to sleep somewhere quiet and out of the way, like in a closet...or under my bed... but not on the coffee table..."
"I fell asleep after I ate the rest of the puddings...burp..."
"Those puddings are for the dessert of my lunches for school you dirty little porker!" Todd snapped, then he heard a knock on the door.
"Uh...Todd, who are you talking to? Julian? I never heard him talking in voice like that before." Jeremy called from outside. "Are you gonna let me in or what?"
Todd made a sulky, embarrassed look, then began babbling as he scrambled to come up with a good excuse. "I...uh...was... ... talking on the phone while the T.V. was on! Yeah, (psst...kero...hide...) And I discovered that there were no puddings left for school tomorrow...!"
"What? Did the person you were talking to on the phone take the puddings?"
"Yes..." Todd said, in a pained squeak. "I'll let you in now..."
Jeremy looked at him weirdly when he entered the studio apartment. They then booted up the video game, Monster Battle 2000 X, and began playing Kero's save game. Kero looked from under the bed and realized they were playing his save game. An hour passed as they played Kero's game though all of Kero's favorite parts. They then defeated the boss of the game with Kero's champion team. Kero was nearly in tears.
"That was fun!" Jeremy said. "What do we do once we win the game?"
"We got all the secrets didn't we? So what comes now is to erase the game and start a new one."
"You wouldn't!" Kero whispered.
"Okay..." Todd said as he booted up the options screen and selected the erase option. "Here goes..."
"You would..." Kero sulked miserably.
"Are you sure?" Todd read from the screen. "Yes, so I press THIS button." Todd replied, smirking in Kero's direction. With a click of a button, Kero's save slot became nothing more then a "NO DATA" pad on the screen.
"Ohhhhhh... ... ..." Kero sulked, realizing that he was now sick to his stomach.
Jeremy looked at his watch and said "Whoa, I've gotta go, see you around, Todd."
"Bye."
The door to the apartment clicked as Jeremy left Todd's house and Kero flew above the divider curtains with a scowl on his face. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"I do everything on purpose, Kero my dear!" Todd said with an ultra cheerful look.
"Have fun rebuilding your game, Keropolus."
"My name is Keroberos! Keroberos...Keroberos...Keroberos!!"
"Now Kero, I have something to ask you."
"Forget it!"
"It's about the clow cards."
"All right..." Kero sighed. "What is it?"
"I noticed something weird today... the kids didn't have any shadows. I know there is very little shadow at noon but today I noticed that no one had any shadows at all." Todd commented, worried. "Now, is this a clow card?"
"...unfortunately, it is." Kero murmured quietly. "This is the Shadow Card. The Shadow Card is very strong, I'm not sure you are ready to tackle it..."
"I got the Dash Card didn't I? I also have Windy..."
"I also noticed that the dash card acted quite strangely the other day..." Kero wondered, introducing a flashback.
"Force...know my plight...release the light!" At that, Li released his sword and drew a line in the dirt. "Will both contestants please stand at the line. Each will race around the block. And who ever gets to the line again, wins." Li raised his sword to the sky and shouted. "Force...know my plight...release the light...lightning!" Li shot a bolt of lightning into the sky, starting the race.
Todd, bladed ahead of the Dash card but Dash speeded up to Todd. Dash started biting Todd on the ankles. Todd cried out and kicked it, and Dash speeded ahead. Todd skated like a madman up to Dash, but Dash stopped and lunged at Todd and Todd tried to smack it to a side.
"This is strange behavior for the dash card. I've never seen it act this violent." Li said with worry. "I hope Todd knows what he's doing!"
Dash was far behind, Todd bladed as fast as he can, and reached the third part of the block, almost out of breath. Todd gained a happy aura as he cheered "I'll win, I'll win, I'll..." Todd tripped over a broken piece of concrete, and fell flat on his face. Todd watched Dash saunter past him and Todd leaped up and bladed feverishly to catch up to Dash. Dash stopped and lunged at Todd again but missed him slightly, allowing Todd a fatal advantage in the race. Todd crossed the finish line, and smirked at Dash, whom just crossed after him.
"Woo Hoo! I win! Now honor your part of the bargain..."
"Return to your power confined ... dash card." Todd said as he positioned his spear to receive a clow card.
With a swirl of light and mist, a glowing clow card appeared on the point of Todd's spear, then Dash broke into a swirl of ropey energy and filtered into the card on the Spear. The picture formed and the card slipped into Todd's hand. The flashback ended. "Even though you caught the dash card, it was surprisingly aggressive, I shudder when I think of what the Shadow Card might do...!" Kero said.
"I have to go anyway, I don't want any clow cards to get away."
"...well, if you're going to do this, you'd best call Sakura and Lei. They know how to defeat the clow card." Kero said.
Todd picked up the phone and called Sakura. "Hey Sakura, this is Todd. Take a look at your shad...wait I got a call on the other line. *Click* Hello? Hey Madison, what do you want?"
"You have some cards to capture!" Madison replied cheerily, "I've also got a Battle Costume for you too...Sakura is on your other line right? Better tell both of us where to be..."
"Right. Meet me at the school courtyard, that's where I first noticed that the shadows have disappeared. *Click*"
Todd reverted to Sakura's line. "The shadow card is causing this to happen. It's probably at the school courtyard, where I first noticed our lack of shadow."
"The shadow card? Are you really ready for it? How do you know it's the shadow card?"
"Kero told me...and what other card can do this? Anyway...I'll meet you at the schoolyard and...tell Li about this, I don't have the nerve to speak to him."
"Li...likes you, he just has to get used to you..."
"Don't hold your breath...I think our friction is just beginning...*Click*"
Todd hung up, and got his pocket spear handy. "Kero...what time is it?"
"5:22 PM, why?"
"Let's go quickly...I'm pretty sure that this battle will get tougher as it gets darker outside." Todd allowed Kero out first and he composed a note that he put on the phone.
Todd slapped on his roller blades and followed Kero into the school courtyard. The sun was setting when Todd got to the school gates. The gates were open and Todd followed Kero inside the school courtyard.
The courtyard was quite immense, The school stood at the end. The trees that littered the grounds were old weeping willows. Often giving valuable shade for those who want shelter from the beating sun. The stone path always diverged to the picnic sites, giving even more character to the fountain in the middle. The bottom of the fountain was no longer seen as it was disguised with wishing coins.
Sakura and Madison were waiting at their usual sitting spot. Madison with her candid camera and Sakura sipping a slushy. "Hey Todd, here is your battle costume." Madison chirped as Sakura slurped her slushy while she was in deep thought.
"This is...pretty good." Todd mused unfolding the costume. The costume was all black, The hat looked gangster style and that matched the trench coat perfectly. "I'm always a fan of mystery movies, cool."
"I knew you'd love it!" Madison Giggled as she taped away with her video camera. "Give me a few model shots."
Todd did as he was told, and Madison laughed as Todd posed with an unforgiving elegance. Sakura looked and nodded. "Yes, that's definitely you!"
Li showed up with his usual attire of green and golden ceremonial robes, sword unsheathed. He walked up to Todd and looked at him from head to foot. He looked at Madison, taping the moments and at Sakura, who just finished her slushy. He blushed a bit when she smiled at him and Li finally spoke. "Okay, Todd...This is the first battle style capture that you'll do...I'll help you with my elemental ofudas."
Li and Sakura noticed that there are shadows on the ground but not attached to them. They then prepare themselves for battle. "I know you are out here Shadow, so you must now show me you're here!" Todd yelled.
The shadows began to move and form as humanoid creatures. The creatures then began to circle the four. Todd then takes his pocket spear and chants. "Spear of Todd...power of magic..." The spear created a flash of light which sent the shadow demons flying backward, repulsed by the light that the spear caused. "Power of light...surrender the spear...the force ignite...release!" A shower of white sparkles and a bright flash stunned the monsters of darkness. The light was gone and the spear was now at full size. Todd then took the spear, and twirled it like a baton. He took the dash card from his pocket and threw it up, then he impaled it with his spear. "Dash card, make me and Li able to run faster! Dash...Release and dispel!" With a flash, the card showered yellow-green sparkles of light all over Li and Todd. Suddenly the two began running circles around the demonic figures. Todd and Li were running and talking, Li going first.
"So what's your plan?"
"Umm...."
"You don't have one?!"
"...Got it...Li, plant those cards you carry around all over the place, then when I give the signal, you use lightning to ignite them in a chain reaction."
"...Okay, give me a diversion."
"What are they doing? Talking?" Madison asked. "They're running so fast, I can't capture them on camera."
Todd then stopped and cried out to get the shadows' attention. The shadows then began to surround Todd. Li ducked out of sight and seeing what's happening, laid cards on the ground in a flurry of movement, each one under a shadow and within two seconds, he finished and Todd saw that he did it. Todd then screamed "Now!!" and Li then chanted. "Force...know my plight...release the light...Lightning!!" Li summoned a bolt of lightning that blasted a card which caused it to explode into a fountain of lightning. The fountain was large enough to catch the other cards. Todd, still having lightning speed, jumped up and vaulted over a shadow, using it's shoulders for support. He escaped just in time to see the shadows disintegrate into nothing. The light also lit up the whole court yard, stopping the shadows from forming...for a few seconds. When the light extinguished, more shadow monsters formed and started advancing on the two. The dash spell had lost it's effect so Li and Todd became sitting ducks.
"You had better think of something super fast...!" Li warned Todd.
"Uhh, I hear a voice, what's that?"
"Huh?"
From a distance, you hear a chant. "Force...know my plight...I don't wanna fight...but evil doesn't care...emerald flare." Out of the distance a glowing emerald shuriken flew towards the monsters and landed in the middle, exploding into a emerald energy surge that engulfs the demons advancing on Todd and Li.
"What was that?!" Todd shouted. "Who's there."
"... ... ..." The figure did not answer but said. "The shadows will keep advancing if there's no light to send them back. Someone must turn on the stadium light in the playing field. The light will send the shadows away and this clow card's true form will emerge."
"Sakura!" Li shouted.
"Way ahead of you." Sakura replied loudly as she darted toward the stadium lights.
The shadows found out about the plan and advanced on Sakura, trying to block her path on the playing field. The spirits attempted to tackle her. Sakura ran like a deer through the playing field, dodging the shadows. More shadows appeared and Sakura was surrounded.
"Windy...protect Sakura from the shadows as she turns on the stadium lights...Windy...release and dispel!" He impaled the windy card which sent out a yellow mass of ropey energy, forming into a ball which then took windy's shape. Windy flew to the playing field and started spinning around faster and faster. With her movement, Windy creates a vacuum which sucks the shadow spirits into her tornado. She then holds them there until Sakura reaches the stadium lighting controls.
"Good thing I was on the track and field committee..." She comments as she begins fumbling with the controls. "Being a part of the committee, I learned how to use this..." She then turned on the stadium light, sending out a light that was bright as the dawn.
Windy slung the shadows into the sky where they could vanish. Instead of vanishing, the spirits flew to the center of the playing field. In a moment, all of the shadows flew there. Forming a huge lump of shadowy mass on the ground. Li, Madison, Todd and the Masked Stranger ran to the site. The shadows began pulsating, molding into a pillar and swirled in a greyish maelstrom. The maelstrom turned into a frail figure which looked nothing more then a pale blueish grey bed sheet.
"Ladies and gentlemen...we have the shadow card." Li said.
The shadow card fluttered in the wind and then spun around, splattering blackish goo all over the place. Li and Sakura were hit by the black goo and slumped on the ground, retching violently.
"The goo it splats causes seizures." The Stranger said as the figure used its cape to shield herself from it. "Don't let it get on you."
Todd then threw up the Dash Card and chanted "Dash, make me and the shrouded one faster at all!" He poised his spear. "Dash...release and dispel!"
A shower of greenish yellow sparkles engulfed Todd and the Masked Stranger and they felt the need for speed. Their reaction speed was increased as they dodged each splatter of goo heading their way. They then circled the Shadow Card with blinding speed.
"While I distract it, sneak up with Windy. Then use Windy to bind it and then you seal the card." The Masked One said.
"Got it."
Todd ducked away from the battle and told Windy to get behind it. The shadow stopped spinning and releasing the goo, noticing that it wasn't working. Shadow sank to ground level, and released 12 shadow demons from its body. The demons advanced on the Masked One and the Masked One then chanted. ""Force...know my plight...I don't wanna fight...but evil doesn't care...Emerald Flare!" She hurled a multitude of emerald shurikens at the shadows. The shurikens exploded into an emeraldy cloud of energy, defeating the demons.
"Here goes." Todd said to Windy. "Windy, creep up behind Shadow and bind it."
Windy streamed up behind Shadow and bound it so it couldn't move by taking its elastic spirit form and wrapping itself to Shadow like a twist tie wrapping up a plastic bag. Todd jumped up and raised his spear to Shadow. "Now return to your power confined...Shadow Card!!" He yelled as the glowing card appeared on his spear point. Shadow was struggling to break free as pieces of its body melted into the card that was set for it. Shadow's struggling was futile as by the time it was free, the last chunk of its body went into the clow card. Shadow's picture appeared on the clow card...but the card flew away from Todd and went into the Stranger's hand.
"Huh? What happened?" Todd asked, perplexed.
"Hey kid, you did great...but not all cards go to the person who sealed them." Kero replies, taking a meditated stance.
"Oh man!" Todd whined. "That's an awesome card too!"
The Masked Stranger walked up to Todd and stated. "You did quite well...for a novice."
"Novice?! Who do you think you are?" Todd snapped. "I caught a card already!"
"I've been studying magic for a long time. I know more about the clow cards then nearly anyone." The Stranger continued. "I went to sorcerer's school in Hong Kong." The Figure then ran off into the dark night.
Todd stared in the Figure's direction and said. "I have a rival now...?" He then tended to Sakura and Li who finished their seizure. He helped them both up. Sakura moaned and shook her head. Li dusted himself off.
"What happened?" Li asked.
"A mysterious figure helped us out, he or she got the clow card for it though..." Todd replied, a little worried and perplexed.
"Well...who was it?" Li asked with a bit of irritance.
"I don't know...he or she didn't even tell me..."
Sakura, Li and Todd started for the exit of the playing field when Madison joined up with them. "Alright! I got it all on tape!" She then looked at the three and asked. "What's wrong."
"The card didn't go to me, it went to some stranger who helped us out." Todd replied.
"Well, look on the bright side! At least the person isn't our enemy!" Madison replied cheefully. "...is he or she?"
"I don't know Madison, but I think that we'll probably find out soon enough..."
Coming up from the next episode...
Sakura and Todd sat in their usual spots, Li and Madison were already seated. Tatea sat in the back, as usual. As they sat down, Madison cheerily said. "We have history today. We're learning about the Salem witches!"
"Salem Witches?" Todd asked, then looked knowing. "Salem is in Massachusetts. It's in my old country."
* * *
n the hardware store was the broom section, an employee was stacking broomsticks. He put a special broomstick on the wall and said. "Must be one of them deluxe broomsticks..." as he stared at the broomstick.
The girl burst into the store and danced her way into the broomstick section. She then looked at the regular broomsticks and said. "These are way too modern and plain, I need a cool looking broom for my party costume..." She continued to look at the brooms and stared at the special broomstick and said. "Wow! Cool! This is perfect." She snagged the broomstick and murmured to herself. "This costume will be sooo much better then Julie's. She'll be jealous."
* * *
"How in the world is she able to do that?!" Madison asked as she manned her camera at the sky.
"This is...a clow card..." Todd replied seriously. "Right Kero?"
"Right, this is the fly card." Kero said as he looked at the crazy broomstick rider. "What we must do first is rescue the rider."
* * *
The bird made a shrieking noise and flew up high in the sky. Sakura and Li looked in awe as the bird then dropped out of the sun's bright circle. Everyone's awe turned into terror as the bird screamed and dive-bombed the whole group, slamming Sakura, Li and Todd back at least 10 feet.
"I've never...ever seen the Fly Card do this!" Sakura screamed.
"I thought the fly card was supposed to be gentle!" Todd shouted angrily.