Card Reviver Ayame

Episode One: “Ayame and the Forgotten Magic”

By Minako134

 

 

Scene: A deserted road on the outskirts of town. Rain is drenching all of the trees, and the sidewalk is continually pitter-pattered with raindrops. We see an adult woman walking toward the camera. She’s wearing a stylish beige raincoat, with a furry collar. Her dark black hair is pulled back in a handkerchief, and she also wears sunglasses. All we can hear are her footsteps as she walks near an old house on our left. She slows her walk, looking at the house. Close shot of her face, as she continues to stare. She removes her sunglasses, revealing a bright but tired face; it’s Tomoyo Daidouji. She appears to be about thirty years old.

 

Tomoyo: (sighing) Someday, you’ll come out of your shell, Li-kun.

 

Scene: It’s still raining outside a faded yellow building in Tomoeda. Tomoyo approaches the gate in the front, and pushes it open. Numerous faces are peeking out of the windows in the three-story orphanage. Tomoyo enters the building, removing her coat and handkerchief. While taking off her gloves, she looks around the small home-y entrance hallway. A couple of little girls are looking at her from behind slightly opened doors. A middle-aged women with the aura of a pixie trots over to Tomoyo.

 

Ms. Hirano: (bowing) Ms. Daidouji! Thank you for coming! Did you walk here? It’s pouring outside!

 

Tomoyo: (returning the bow) It’s nothing. I felt like getting some exercise anyway. (looks at the girls, who start whispering “She’s pretty!”)

 

Ms. Hirano: (clapping hands together) So! Would you like a look around? The girls just finished up breakfast.

 

Tomoyo: Yes, I’d love to.

 

(they enter the room on the right, where girls from age four to twelve are playing, talking, or staring at their new visitor.)

 

Ms. Hirano: I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this, Ms. Daidouji. What with the economy in this state and all, no one seems to want to adopt anymore…

 

(Tomoyo tunes out the chattering Ms. Hirano and spots a little toddler, who looks to be about three years old. She has curly brown hair, and is standing in front of a small easel, painting with her fingers. Tomoyo walks over to her, and looks at her painting.)

 

Tomoyo: What are you drawing? It’s very colorful.

 

Little girl: (confidently) My dress.

 

Tomoyo: Dress? You have a (inspects the drawing) blue, yellow, and white dress?

 

Little girl: Of course not, silly. (turns to Tomoyo) I’m gonna make one and wear it to the ball!!

 

Tomoyo: (smiling) That’s wonderful! Let me introduce myself. (bowing) My name is Tomoyo. Daidouji Tomoyo. And…?

 

Little girl: I’m Ayame!! Suzuki Ayame!! (she runs over to the sink and washes her hands quickly and takes off her apron, squealing) Yay, yay, yay!!!!

 

Tomoyo: (laughing a little) Why are you so excited all of the sudden?

 

Ayame: ‘Cause everybody KNOWS,  that when a grown-up comes, they tell the orphan they want to adopt their name!! You’re gonna adopt me!! (yells to the other girls) Hey, everyone! The pretty lady picked me!

 

(The girls begin to chatter and talk loudly, and Tomoyo laughs while Ayame begins describing where she’s going to sleep, and what she’s going to name her pet parrot.)

 

SEVEN YEARS LATER…

 

Scene: Wide-shot of Tomoeda city. The sky is bright blue, and we hear the Tomoeda Elementary School bell chiming. Girls and boys in their uniforms are assembling and entering the school. We see one boy standing outside the main entrance, looking like he’s waiting for someone. He has light brown hair that splits at a part in the middle of his forehead, and is wearing large glasses. He waits a second longer, sighs, then enters the school. (The scene cuts) Fifth graders are finding their seats in a classroom. Rika Sasaki, age thirty-ish, is standing at the front greeting students and writing on the black board. The boy enters and finds his seat. Rika Sasaki claps her hands together.

 

Ms. Sasaki: Please find your seats, class! (after they assemble themselves,) Good morning!

 

Class: Good morning!!

 

Ms. Sasaki: I have an important announcement to make. It’s just about time-

 

(she’s interrupted by a noise outside. The door to the class opens, and we see Ayame standing at the door. Her hat is on sideways, and her shirt is untucked.)

 

Ayame: (bowing) Sorry. I slept through the alarm clock.

 

(some children giggle, and Ayame hurries to her desk)

 

Ms. Sasaki: (sighing) As I was saying, you will all have a job shadow project this month. You are to select one adult whom you aren’t related to and follow them throughout their daily routine, and…

 

(Ayame tunes out, and the boy in front of her turns around; it’s the same boy who was at the front of the school. Without his hat on, we can see he has a cowlick)

 

Itaru: (whispering) I thought you were going to be on time today!

 

Ayame: (shrugs, and whispers back) Maybe tomorrow. Sorry.

 

Itaru: (frowns) You’re lying. You just don’t have the guts to say you really can’t.

 

Ayame: (frowns back, and yanks his nose) Like I said, it varies a bit, sometimes I can see things before they happen, sometimes I can’t. Be patient!

 

Itaru: (pulls his head back from her grip and sighs)

 

Scene: Itaru and Ayame are walking home from school. Ayame is holding a skateboard.

 

Ayame: I could teach you to skateboard anytime, Itaru-kun.

 

Itaru: (nervous) No…no, thanks. Um, I’d rather not.

 

Ayame: Humphf. Chicken. (Itaru frowns at her) You only fell off once.

 

Itaru: I’m just not built for skateboarding!

 

Ayame: Fine, fine…(she notices an old house on their left, and grins) Hey, Itaru.. (they stop walking) …I dare ya to ask to job shadow Ole’ Man Li.

 

Itaru: (panicking) Old Man Li?! B-but…he doesn’t talk to anybody!! I heard he eats kids!

 

Ayame: Don’t be ridiculous, he’s just really obsessed with his garden.

 

(they stare at Li’s house. Despite the look of the loose boards around the entrance and stuck-out nails everywhere, the lawn in front looks very well tended. Little forget-me-nots line the path to the door, and a cherry blossom tree is planted on the right next to one of the front windows)

 

Ayame: Besides, he’s not that old. He’s Tomoyo-san’s age.

 

Itaru: Well, if you think he’s so great, why don’t YOU ask him?

 

Ayame: Er…well, sure! (she takes off her hat, and throws it at Itaru, who looks rather startled. Ayame breathes in fast, and then exhales, putting her hand on the front gate. As she pushes it open, it gives out a metallic squeak, and both her and Itaru go “eek!…”. Ayame enters the yard and walks toward the front porch. She climbs the stairs and stands in front of the door, which has the name “Li” carved on a name plate over the doorbell. She reaches her finger out slowly, and rings it. Silence…then, footsteps are heard from within. Ayame is biting her lip, and Itaru is holding Ayame’s hat like a stuffed animal. The footsteps stop behind the door; the doorknob turns, and the door squeaks open slowly. The man opens it only enough to get a look at Ayame.)

 

Li: (in a very low voice) What do you want?

 

(Ayame loses it and bolts from the porch. Itaru and herself begin screaming, and they run away, leaving the man with his head poking out of the door gazing after them with a frown)

 

Scene: Outside of Tomoyo’s property. Her house is moderately big, and there’s a large gate at the front, where we see Ayame wave goodbye to Itaru. Ayame pushes a button next to the gate, and enters a code, which activates the gate to open. (The scene cuts) A maid is cooking in the kitchen, and looks out the window to see Ayame jogging up the driveway. She smiles, and whips her hands with a towel. Ayame enters, and takes off her shoes.

 

Ayame: I’m home!

 

Kiana: Welcome back! (In Japan, it’s customary to say “Okairinasai.”, or, “I’ve seen you returned.” when someone enters, FYI) How was school?

 

Ayame: Same old same old. (takes off her hat and places it on the hat rack) What are you making?

 

Kiana: Just some soup. It looked cold outside, so I made some for you.

 

Ayame: Thanks! (the phone rings) I’ll get it. (picks up the receiver) Hello?

 

Tomoyo: Hi, it’s me.

 

Ayame: Hi, Tomoyo-san! I just got back from school.

 

Tomoyo: Great! (organizing papers and designs on her desk at work) I’m just calling to let you know I’ll be home around seven. We finally got hold of that model, whats-her-name, and she wants us to do the photo-shoot today.

 

Ayame: Cool!! Is she gonna wear that one dress you showed me? With the white bow thing in the back?

 

Tomoyo: She’ll be doing half the catalogue, practically. I’ll be home later, ok? Study hard!

 

Ayame: OK, see ya, bye. (hangs up)

 

Scene: Inside of Li’s living room. There’s a red armchair in front of a large fireplace. To the right, we see Li polishing something with a rag. He puts it on top of a tall armoire, and stands back, staring at the photograph. He closes his eyes, thinking.

 

(We see a floaty and white image of an older Sakura smiling, and then we hear someone screaming in the distance)

 

Li opens his eyes, and the scream fades away. He promptly takes the photograph, puts it face down, and turns away.

 

Scene: Ayame is sitting on a beige leather couch with a laptop. She’s chatting with Itaru online, when the door opens, and she quickly switches to an essay she was supposed to be working on.

 

Tomoyo: I’m home!

 

Ayame and Kiana: Welcome back!

 

Ayame: How’d it go?

 

Tomoyo: (enters the living room, with rolls of fabric and papers in both her arms. She drops them next to the couch and sighs) Very well, actually. Rei let me leave early, thank goodness. (walks to the kitchen and looks in the refrigerator) Did you enjoy school today?

 

Ayame: It was okay. We have to do a job shadow project.

 

Tomoyo: (pours some milk for them both) That sounds enlightening. Who do you want to job shadow?

 

Ayame: Well, I did want to job shadow you, but I already know how your day goes. I dunno…I still have a week to decide. (snickers) I dared Itaru-kun to ask Old Man Li, but he chickened out and dared me back. (mumbling) Of course, we both got scared after he answered the door…

 

Tomoyo: (has entered with the two glasses, and stops) Li? You went to his house?

 

Ayame: Well, it’s on the way home. What?

 

Tomoyo: (hands the milk to Ayame) Well…he’s a friend of mine.

 

Ayame: Really?!

 

Tomoyo: How about this. Could you take some cookies over there and say sorry for disturbing him?

 

Ayame: W-w-what?! No way!! He creeps me out big time!!!

 

Tomoyo: (looks at Ayame like a mom) Ayame, you will apologize to him. It’s not nice to just knock on people’s doors and run away like their some kind of freak.

 

Ayame: I guess…your right…

 

Tomoyo: (kisses her on the forehead) Don’t worry. He doesn’t bite. You might even learn something from him.

 

Scene: Ayame is walking on the sidewalk. The sun is low in the sky, so it’s probably late in the afternoon. Ayame has a long cloak on with the initial ‘A’ embroidered on the right. She walking kind of fast, gripping a basket of cookies. She arrives at Li’s house, and stops at the gate.

 

Ayame: (gulping) Why did I even open my big mouth…

 

(she opens the gate and approaches the porch. Upon reaching the door, she knocks on the door, and waits. We here a bird chirping in the cherry blossom tree in Li’s yard, and a car passes by slowly. As the engine sound dies away, Ayame blinks and tries the doorknob. It turns, to her surprise, and she opens it up a crack.)

 

Ayame: Um…is anyone…here…?

 

(No response. She enters and closes the door behind her, observing the room. There’s a fireplace on her left, and an armchair. There’s a fire lit, and the shades on the windows are all drawn, so even though it’s still light outside, it feels like night. Ayame walks to the middle of the room, onto a elaborate rug with colors of brown, red, and purple all over it. She turns around to face the door and, to the left of it, sees the armoire. The facedown picture is still there, and Ayame tries to reach it, but it’s too high up.)

 

Li: What are you doing here?

 

Ayame: Wha?! (she whips around, gripping her basket) Um…I…

 

Li: (studies her with a furrowed brow) You were here earlier. Do you enjoy bothering me? I don’t believe I ever invited you over.

 

Ayame: I’m really sorry. (bows) Please forgive me, I came over to apologize for…intruding earlier. (looks up) Um…I brought some cookies for you.

 

Li: (smiles) Hhm. Your mother sent you, didn’t she?

 

Ayame: No, my guardian. Tomoyo-san. She said she’s a friend of yours.

 

Li: (opens his mouth to say something, then stops. He thinks for a second) Make yourself at home. Don’t worry about intruding, I never have visitors. (he smiles for the first time) We’ll chat a little, ok?

 

Ayame: Uh…sure!

 

Scene: Another chair is next to the fireplace, and Li and Ayame are sitting next to the fire. Ayame has a mug of hot cocoa and is sitting very comfortably in her chair. Li tries one of the cookies.

 

Li: (munching) Very good. She made these?

 

Ayame: Mm-hm!

 

Li: (picks up his coffee mug) How long have you been living with Daidouji?

 

Ayame: Since I was three years old. She adopted me seven years ago.

 

(Li falls silent, his mug stopped before his mouth. He seems to be looking at something very far away)

 

Li: Yes…(snaps back to reality) So, it’s just the two of you?

 

Ayame: And Kiana-oneesan. Tomoyo-san is really busy at the designer studio, so Kiana-oneesan helps out around the house.

 

Li: That’s good. (they sit silently for a while. Li sips his coffee and clears his throat) I suppose…you have some questions for me…

 

Ayame: (blurting out everything very fast) How old are you? Have you ever had kids? How do you know Tomoyo-san? How long have you been here-

 

(Ayame stops, blushing. Li raises an eyebrow)

 

Ayame: Um…sorry…

 

Li: I am thirty years old. I have never had children. Daidouji and I went to school together. I’ve lived in Tomoeda ever since I moved from Hong Kong twenty years ago.

 

Ayame: Oh.

 

Li: (checks his watch, and stands up) You best be heading back. Thank you very much for stopping by. I’ll drive you home. (walks to the kitchen) I’ll give Daidouji a call and let her know. (he exits)

 

Ayame: (setting down her mug) Real smooth, Ayame-chan…

 

(she gets up and wonders around the living room. Everything there seems ordinary, excepting the armoire to the left of the front door. She walks up to it and looks at its shelves. The bottom shelf holds only a large sword in it sheath, which is gold and black. The second shelf, at Ayame’s waist was various sculptures, and a banzai tree. The third shelf, which is at Ayame’s eye-level, has nothing except for a large elaborate-looking book. Ayame picks it up, and holds it to examine the cover. It reads “The Clow”, and is embroidered all over with gold. The center is an empty black.

 

Ayame: The Clow…? Some kind of weird bible, maybe? (she puts her finger on the lock to open it)

 

Li: (sharply) What are you doing?

 

Ayame: (whips around, clutching the book, unopened) Uh…I’m sorry…I was just exploring…

 

Li: (he walks to her) You’re a nosy one, aren’t you?

 

Ayame: (smiling hopefully) That’s me!

 

Li: (sighing) Anyway, I just called Daidouji, so I’ll drive you home now.

 

Ayame: Okay. (still holding the book) Um…could I…borrow this?

 

Li: What…?

 

Ayame: It looks kind of cool, I wanted to read some of it.

 

Li: (pausing) Well, it won’t do you much good. It’s locked, and the key…(thinks up an obvious lie)…is lost somewhere.

 

Ayame: (unnerved) What is it?

 

Li: It’s The Clow.

 

Ayame: (sweatdrops) I can read…

 

Li: Let me put it this way; I could tell you what that book really is, but you’d either not believe a word I said, or you’d tell everyone you know and then end up not having any friends.

 

Ayame: I don’t have many friends anyway.

 

Li: (stopping) Oh…then…

 

Ayame: (runs over to the armchairs) Ramble away, Li-san!

 

Li: (sweatdrop)

 

(the scene cuts; The Clow is on a small table between them, and Li and Ayame are sitting in the armchairs again)

 

Li: Hundreds of years ago, a magician named Clow Reed created his own kind of magic, storing abilities and power in 52 cards named the Clow Cards. For a long time after he died, the Clow Cards remained sealed in this book and guarded by the dorment guardian beast of the seal, Kerberos, and the judge, Yue. Twenty years ago,  The Card Captor found The Clow and unlocked the book. Unfortunately, the Windy card was activated, and the cards were scattered all around Tomoeda. Kerberos awakened and informed The Card Captor that she was to collect the Clow cards back together using the Clow Key, which could in turn be transformed into the Sealing Wand. Unknown to them, Yue was watching them, in the body of one of The Card Captor’s friends. Once she succeeded in collecting all of the Cards, Yue appeared and judged her, recognizing her as the new Master of the Cards. Shortly after, Eriol, one of the reincarnations of Clow Reed, tested The Card Captor, and she was forced to switch the Cards to take power from her own life force instead of Clow’s. She was also successful in sealing and transforming the Hope card, which was created to balance all the rest of the Cards. Around seven years ago, the Card Captor…(he breaks off)

 

Ayame: Yes…?

 

Li: She…died. An unknown magician appeared to her and her new husband. He killed the Card Captor, Kerberos, and Yue. Fortunately, she was able to put all of the Cards back in The Clow. They’ve been inside it ever since.

 

Ayame: What happened to her husband?

 

Li: He…survived. (suddenly he jerks up, listening)

 

Ayame: (suddenly a high-pitched tone whizzes past her) Wha…?!

 

Li: (thinking) I just sensed something. I need to get her home fast. (aloud, to Ayame) Let’s head out. Daidouji is expecting you.

 

Ayame: Um…ok…

 

Scene: Li is driving Ayame along a dark street. The sun has set, and nobody is out. Inside the car, Ayame is holding The Clow.

 

Ayame: Why’d you bring that sword?

 

Li: I think someone is following us.

 

Ayame: Really?! Cool…!!

 

Li: (raises an eyebrow) You’re rather odd.

 

Ayame: (smiling) Better than being completely normal, don’t you think? So, why bring a sword? And you could have called the police or something. And, as you can see, there are no cars on the street following us, and I doubt anyone could run after us, since you just started speeding.

 

Li: I want to get you home fast. (under his breath) and have some peace and quiet…

 

(the scene cuts. We see a shadow crouched up in a tree, watching the road. It appears to be the silhouette of a female with a weird get-up; she has a fox tail. All we can see are her eyes, which are staring at Li’s car’s headlights coming towards her)

 

 Girl: Come here, little puppy…my babies need their dinner…

 

(the scene cuts back to Ayame and Li)

 

Ayame:…so I think it’s totally bogus that I have to pick someone to job shadow, especially since I can’t really pick Tomoyo-san or Kiana-oneesan, ‘cause I already know how their jobs go. Itaru-kun dared me to ask you, that’s why I rang your doorbell earlier, ya see…

 

Li: (gripping the steering wheel) Oy vay…

 

(suddenly, two large animals leap in front of the car. Li yells out and slams on the break, while Ayame stares at the animals)

 

Ayame: What…what are those?

 

Li: (he unbuckles his seatbelt and grabs the sword) Stay here!! Don’t leave your seat!!

 

Ayame: What the heck are you doing?

 

(Li gets out of the car and stands before the two headlights, pulling out the long sword. The animals growl, saliva spilling onto the concrete. They slowly paw forward, and we see that they look like two enormous dogs with hunched shoulders and bright green eyes)

 

Li: (whips out a strip of paper with writing on it) God of Thunder! Descend! (he braces the sword against the talisman, and great bolts of lightning crackle and jump out at the dogs)

 

Ayame: (staring in disbelief) Un…unbelievable…it couldn’t be…was that…magic?

 

(the dogs take the full force of the attack, and collapse on top of each other)

 

Li: (pauses, his sword ready. His eyes dart around; he yells) I order you to come out!! Who are you?

 

Girl: (unseen) You nearly killed them, you brat.

 

Li: (whips his head to a tree on his left) I said, come out!!

 

Girl: (jumps up high, and lands before him) Your wish is granted. Now…(she holds up her hand, and throws down something. It hits the ground, then bursts into smoke, which covers her up. It goes away, and she’s gone) …I’ll go back to hiding, thank you. Where was I? Oh, yes. I’m going to kill you.

 

Ayame: (wide-eyed) What the…?!

 

Girl: (in a lower voice) Beast of the earth…I conjure thee! (A yellow circle appears in the road in front of Li. Both Ayame and Li stare as it glows brighter and brighter, crackling and flashing. The light seems to burst, and a large Pterodactyl-like bird bursts out of it)

 

Ayame: What is that?

 

(the two dogs slowly awaken, and the bird cries out. The dogs bark in affirmative, and the three stare down Li)

 

Li: (holding his sword at ready) Why are you here?

 

Girl: Well…hmm, I don’t feel like telling you. (giggles) My master will reward me quite nicely for this little job. Come on, babies! Supper time!!

 

Ayame: STOP!!!!!!!

 

Li: What…?!

 

(Ayame has come out of the car, and is standing in front of Li. One hand is holding The Clow, the other shielding Li. The animals snort, licking their jaws)

 

Girl: Who’s this? Syaoran Li has a daughter?

 

Ayame: Li-san is a good friend of mine!! I won’t let you hurt him!

 

Girl: (leaps into view, on top of the bird-monster) Oh, I wasn’t going to hurt him, I was just going to kill him. (sees The Clow) What’s that book you have there? It looks like one of Clow’s belongings. Are you a thief?

 

Ayame: Um…no…

 

Li: So, you knew Clow Reed?

 

Girl: No. My master is a good teacher.

 

Li: Who is this master of yours?

 

Girl: I’m not going to tell you! (sticks her tongue out. Li and Ayame both sweatdrop)

 

Ayame: Hey, did your master give you those animals?

 

Li: Ayame, get back in the car!

 

Ayame: (whispering back to him) Quiet! I have a plan!

 

Girl: No, these are mine. I’ve trained them myself.

 

Ayame: Oh, I see. (smirks) That’s why they’re so weak.

 

Girl: Wha?!

 

Ayame: Those two dogs of yours just collapsed after one attack from Li-san! How pathetic is that? I sure hope you have more animals, ‘cause these guys are pretty lame.

 

Girl: (on fire; her tail is sticking out straight and shaking) The nerve!! You little brat, I have more beasts than you have hairs on your head!!

 

Ayame: Well, even if you do have a lot, I bet they couldn’t last a second against Clow’s Cards.

 

Girl: The Cards…? You…can use them…?

 

Ayame: Mm-hm!! And I have a little bet I want to throw at you. (points her finger at the girl) I bet I could defeat every last one of your beasts with The Cards! If I do, you can’t even lay a finger on Li-san!!

 

Girl: Wha…what?!

 

Ayame: (shrugs) Unless you’re chicken…

 

Girl: You little brat! It’s A DEAL!!! I’ll see you tomorrow night!! (she and her beast disappear in smoke) If you don’t show, Syaoran’s life is mine!!

 

Scene: Li’s house. Ayame is sitting in an armchair, and Li is pacing back and forth. He turns to Ayame, glaring at her.

 

Li: ARE?! YOU?! INSANE?!

 

Ayame: (sweatdrop) Like I said before…

 

Li: You could have been killed!! You could still GET killed!! All because I told you about that stupid book!!

 

(Ayame looks over at the table in front of the fireplace, where The Clow is.)

 

Ayame: (picks up the book) Well, I did save your life.

 

Li: (sighs) I’m grateful, really, I am, but that’s beside the point now. The bottom line is, you cannot operate the cards, let alone get them out of the book…

 

Ayame: Um, Li-san…

 

Li: (looks up at her) Huh?

 

(Ayame has opened the book. She’s holding the Sakura Cards in her hands)

 

Ayame: Why are all of them pink? That’s so girl-y…

 

Li: You…you opened it…!

 

Ayame: Yeah…? It was unlocked…

 

Li: (rubbing his head like it aches) I am…so utterly confused…

 

Ayame: (shuffling through the Cards) They’re pretty lame looking…I was expecting something along the lines of Tarot cards or something. “The Watery”…”The Bubble”…how lame…there aren’t any pictures on them or anything…

 

Li: What?! (he grabs one of the cards. It has the name “The Light” on the bottom, and looks completely normal except the picture of Light is completely blank.) The Cards…they’re all…dead…

 

Ayame: Dead…? But they’re just pieces of paper.

 

Li: (drops his head forward) They must have faded out when she died, too…

 

Ayame: Aw, quit it with the depressing antics!!! All I gotta do is bring them back to life or something!! Compared to make lightning strike two huge dogs, it should be easy!! Have some faith, will ya?! (Li blows a mushroom) Besides, this card isn’t dead.

 

Li: What?! Which card?

 

Ayame: (holds it up) “Hope”.

 

(instantly, the card responds, and a wind picks up through the room. Ayame is holding the card, watching it in astonishment. The Hope Card shines, and the figure of a little girl with long curly hair and wings comes out and rests on the table between them)

 

Hope: (to Ayame, in a distant voice) You are the one who wishes to revive the Sakura Cards?

 

Ayame: Um…yes, I am.

 

Li: The…Hope…

 

Hope: I was originally created to turn anything into nothing. After Sakura sealed me, my power reversed, and I am able to make anything from nothing. I can help you in this matter.

 

Ayame: Oooo!! I want a million bucks!!

 

Hope: (blinking)

 

Ayame: (sweatdrop) Wow, that sounded really greedy…anyway, can’t you just bring all the Cards back to life?

 

Hope: I can only provide for you what you do not all ready have.

 

Ayame: What I already don’t have…well, I have the Cards…I have The Clow…what did the Card Captor use to control the Cards, Li-san?

 

Li: She…used the key that was found in The Clow.

 

Ayame: So that’s probably still in there. How do I get it out?

 

Li: Kerberos retrieved it for her and officially appointed her her task. But, he’s gone…

 

Ayame: (snaps) So, I need a guardian beast of the seal!! Hope! Create a new guardian beast of the seal!!

 

(Hope shines, and a small ball of purple and gold appears over The Clow book, which is in Ayame’s lap. The orb morphs, while the Hope card disappears)

 

Hope: (returning to her card form) Don’t loose faith, Card Reviver Ayame. Sakura never did.

 

Ayame: Card…Reviver…?

 

(the orb morphs into a small Kero-like animal with pointy ears. It has small bat-like wings and a bushy tail. It’s brown and yellow)

 

Ayame: Um…hello?

 

Galhados: (looks up, but doesn’t open it’s eyes, similar to Chichiri in Fushigi Yuugi) Well, what a fine mess YOU’VE gotten into.

 

Ayame: (sweatdrops) Er…

 

Galhados: My name is Galhados. I was created by the Hope Card to assist you in reviving the Sakura Cards. Shall I begin, then?

 

Ayame: Um, sure…

 

Li: (sweatdrop) It looks just like the stuffed animal…

 

Galhados: (glows, telepathically moving The Clow to the table) Stand up, Ayame.

 

Ayame: Ok…(stands before Galhados and The Clow) What do I do?

 

Galhados: Just go along with it. I’ll take the key out now, ok?

 

Ayame: Great…

 

Galhados: Star Key, here is someone who wishes to make a contract with you. (the book’s lock shines, and the Sakura key floats out of it)A girl, named Ayame. Key, give this girl power! Release!! (the key morphs into a staff) Grab hold of the staff, now!

 

Ayame: Oh, man…(grabs the staff, causing it to shine even brighter)

 

Galhados: I, Glahados, the Neo Gaurdian Beast of the Seal, proclaim Ayame a Card Reviver!!

 

(Ayame stands amazed, staring at the Sakura wand. Li stares at her with disbelief and confusion)

 

Li: How is this possible? She’s actually going to do it…