Chapter 12

~~~~~

The day has come, heroes everywhere had gathered here at P.H.H. to join the famous P.H.H. Fighting Competition. All kinds of fighters showed up. The P.H.H. coliseum of Ometin is the place the competition is held. It was so full with swamps of people, beside than fighters; there were more than ten thousands audiences that attended the competition.

While people were trying to make their way to the ticket booth, and pushing their way in; Syaoran and the gangs are in the competitors’ dressing room, getting ready for the first round. Chocy and Jon were in charge of buying food and first aid potions (Jon thought that Chocy would help him get through the crowds). Sakura stayed in the dressing room with Syaoran, to help him with his armor. “Arms up.” She said, as she helped him adjust the buckle at his back. Syaoran obeyed. Click! The buckle made a small noise; Syaoran put his arms back down. Sakura turned him around, brushing off the dust and fixing his hair. She took a step back and studied him head to toe. “Perfect! Oh, Syaoran, you look so handsome! Just like a real warrior!” She clapped her hands together, admiring him.

“Quit joking around.” Syaoran turned his face away, but his eyes are still looking at Sakura. His face blushing slightly. Sakura shook her head. “No, you really do!” She took a step closer to him. “Can you wear this all the time?”

Syaoran faced her. “All the time? But it’s too heavy!” Sakura made a face, and complained. “That doesn’t sound like a very brave warrior’s talk.”

“We got the stuffs ready!” Jon came back with Chocy, who had a big bag of stuffs strapped around him. Jon took out the products in the bag one by one. “We’ve got some first aids, some food...hey, want some tolos?”

Sakura and Syaoran wandered towards the suspicious food. “What’s a tolo?” Sakura asked, poking the new and strange food. “Well,” Jon explained. “It’s meat wrapped in Ometin vegetable leaves and fried; it goes best with this little dish of sauce at the side.” He took one, dipped it in the sauce and ate it. “Di-he-fus!” He said, trying to pronounce “delicious” with his mouth full. Sakura and Syaoran each took one. They put it in their mouth, and chewed slowly, to see if it’s edible before dipping the sauce. “Not bad.” Syaoran said. “Yeah!” Sakura agreed. Taking two more before they went back to put on the rest of the armor. “So, you ready?” Jon asked.

“Sure,” Syaoran said, “Why not.” Sakura put one tolo in her mouth; turned around and held the other one in front of Syaoran’s face. Syaoran bit it, holding it with his mouth, while Sakura bent down, and took the armor parts. “You do know the rules, don’t you?” Jon said. Syaoran shook his head, mouth still holding the tolo.

”It’s a multi-weapons match. You can’t use your own weapon; instead, they’ll assign different weapons for you and your opponent in every round. You’ll start with a little warm up in the first round, and the same goes for other contestants.”

Syaoran swallowed the tolo while Sakura put on armor parts on his arms. “Don’t move.” She said.

“It’s call ‘Weight lifting’.” Jon said. “It’s a big elimination contest to kick out some weak contestants, only the strongest stays.”

Sakura and Syaoran both made a sudden move and looked at Jon. “What??” They said at the same time. Sakura’s hand slipped, and pinched Syaoran’s hand with the buckle. “Ow!” He yelled, rubbing his hand. Sakura put her hand on her head, “Sorry.” Then she turned to Jon. “But...what’d you say?”

”Weight lifting. You know, lifting weight.”

”We know what it is!” Sakura said. “But Syaoran has a big disadvantage. He’s not as strong as the others. I mean...look at his size and compare it to the other competitors.” Syaoran looked at Sakura. “You don’t trust me?” He asked, with a mad glare. Sakura freaked, and tried to back it up. “Well, just...don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all...”

Jon rubbed his chin, his face stayed the same. Then he looked up. “Mm, you know, I never thought of that.” All three of them (when I say all three, I mean Sakura, Syaoran, and Chocy) dropped dead on the floor followed by a big sweat drop on their heads. Sakura lifted up her head. “How could you not have thought about that??!!” She yelled. “Now what are we going to do!”

”Syaoran will lift the weight the best he could do, that’s all I can suggest...” Jon said, scratching his head. Syaoran started to get nervous. “Oh, man...”

~~~~~

“Next!” The arbitrator yelled. All the contestants longed up into three straight lines in the center of the coliseum. Everyone who lined up was stretching; warming up for the weight lift. Three arbitrators were checking people off the list as the contestants failed to lift the weight, one by one. As the line was got shorter, and Syaoran became more nervous. He watched people who are much stronger and bigger than him failed, one by one. It was starting to get to him. He looked at Sakura, who was watching him from the fifth roll of the west wing; she was sitting with Jon and Chocy. Since Chocy is a chocobo, technically he wasn’t allowed in the coliseum, but since he wants to watch so desperately, Sakura had decided to use the “Small” card and turn him into a tiny chocobo, fooling the ticket salesman by pretending he’s a doll. Sakura would hold him in her arms for the rest of the contest. Sakura looked back at Syaoran and clapped her hands together. She looked even more nervous then he was. All she can do now is to pray.

”Next!” The arbitrator yelled. The moment of truth has come. Yup, it was Syaoran’s turn. He swallowed, and walked towards the weight lift. He stood there and staring at it for a moment, then slowly bend down to try and lift it. The arbitrator sighed boringly. He knew a kid like him wouldn’t be able to lift something that’s ten times of his own weight. Syaoran spitted in his hands, and rubbed them together. Looking like a professional; and lifted the weight with his maximum strength.

Of course, the weight wouldn’t budge.

His hands relaxed, still holding onto the weight, he looked up at the arbitrator, who seems ten times taller him, at the time. He grinned. “Just practicing.” By then, a big sweat drop already rolled down Syaoran’s head. The arbitrator sighed again. “Just make it quick, kid” He said tiredly.

[Oh no...] Sakura thought. Then a light bulb lit up on her head, she put little Chocy on Jon’s lap, and ran off. “I’ll be right back! Watch Chocy!” Jon watched her as she dashed towards the exit. “Huh?” He said, holding a shrunk size chocobo in his hand.

Sakura walked a few steps into the exit; she can still see Syaoran from where she was. She looked around, made sure no one was watching, and then she took out her key. “Release!” The key turned into a star staff. She reached into her pocket and searched out her cards, removing a particular one out of the deck, she commanded the card quietly. “ ‘Float’! Go help Syaoran lift the heavy weight.” The magic flew out of the exit, and in to the center of the coliseum, where Syaoran was desperately trying to lift the gigantic weight. All of the sudden the weight moved above Syaoran’s head, and high into the air. Instead of Syaoran lifting the weight, it’s now the weight that had lifted Syaoran’s arms. The arbitrator gasped in amazement, and so did everyone else that was watching.

Yet still, it wasn’t the perfect plan. The “Float” card had lifted the weight too high, so now Syaoran is hanging in midair. A huge sweat drop ran down his head, and the same goes for everyone else. [Oops!!] Sakura thought, she commanded the card again. “ ‘Float’, too high!”

Just then, Syaoran was back on his feet. Now he looks like he’s lifting weight. He grinned again. “Did I pass?”

The arbitrator rubbed his eyes, so did everyone else that saw him floated in the air. They assumed that it was just their own imagination. “Um...” The arbitrator said. “You certainly did!” He checked Syaoran’s name on the list, indicated that he passed. Sakura called off the “Float”, and the weight dropped on the floor so suddenly, that Syaoran almost dropped down with it. That unexpected movement surprised even the arbitrator. “Ehehe…” Syaoran tried to fool him by smiling. He quickly ran off the demonstration area. “Um...next.” the arbitrator said, not so sure that he did the right thing. [Oh well,] Syaoran thought. [the important thing is, I passed.]

~~~~~

They all gathered up in the dressing room. ”That was a close one!” Sakura said. She couldn’t even stand because of her nervousness.

”Yeah...” Syaoran breathed heavily, “thanks for the help, but next time try to let it down gently.”

“I will...” Sakura laid low on the chair.

”Well, at least the worst part is over!” Jon said. “From now on is a piece of cake, right?”

“That’s right! Cheer up, Sakura, leave it to me!” Syaoran held his fist up. Sakura looked at him with a tired face, and waved weakly. “Good luck...”

~~~~~

The first match began. Syaoran walked into the coliseum with thousands of audience cheering for him. One of the workers through a rod towards him, Syaoran caught it with his right hand. “This will be your weapon this round.” The worker explained. “Watch it, kid, the one that’s against you is a real killer.” Syaoran nodded, a bit of afraid. He walked to the center of the fighting area.

Sakura was sitting at where she was before and looked nervously at him. Jon patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.” Behind them was a warrior who was all geared up, his armor was golden, and have patterns of some kind of beast, that looks like a fox. He covered his face with his helmet, and looked at Syaoran quietly, leaning beside the exit doorway.

Across from were Syaoran was, a big fat guy was arguing about the weapon. “How do you expect me to fight with this puny little stick?” He yelled at the worker. The worked backed away. The fat guy threw the rod on the ground, and took the supporting pole of the door instead. He yanked it out of its position, and held it like a big rock. He looked more like he was trying to show off his strength than trying to find a better weapon. The audience gasped. “That’s right!” The guy yelled. “Be afraid, be very afraid!”

He looked at Syaoran, holding that thin rod, standing there like an ant, ready to get squished. He laughed at his opponent’s size. “Ha ha ha... this will be quick.”

At the same time, Syaoran was studying him. He weights about two hundreds pound, two meters tall, bald, but not totally with a little black hair at each side of his head. His armor doesn’t protect him much, just his chest, and part of his legs and arms. The pole he was holding was so fat, that he had to hold it above his head. Syaoran smiled. “He’s right.” He said. “This will be quick.”

The judge wasn’t going to allow the fat guy to use a supporting pole of the coliseum’s door way, but after Syaoran said it was fine, the judge let him go. Sakura got worried. “What? What is Syaoran doing? He’s going to have a big disadvantage if that guy use a much bigger pole!” The helmeted warrior behind her smiled. “That’s smart.” Sakura heard what him say, and looked from her shoulder. She saw him standing there calmly. [...Who is he?] Sakura thought.

The judge raised the flag, and yelled. “Start!” The fat guy charged towards Syaoran. “You’re mine!” Syaoran smiled. He jumped sky high, the fat dude missed, almost lost his balance. Syaoran landed on his head, “Hi-ya, baldy.” The fat guy grew furious, and use the pole to try and hit him.

Syaoran gently hopped out of the way. The fat dude missed and hit his own head. The whole stadium was filled with laughter. The fat guy got even madder, and threw the whole pole at Syaoran. Syaoran used his rod, and smashed the pole into half. All the audience cheered, Sakura was surprised that a rod like that can destroy a pole like that. The masked contestant, however, wasn’t surprised at all. The fat guy stared at Syaoran. “How could it be? That was much bigger than your puny little rod!” Syaoran wield his rod around. “The material that this rod was made up of steel, which is much stronger than your stupid pole. Why do you think they chose this as one of the contestant’s weapon?” He stopped wielding. “Maybe you shouldn’t have thrown away your weapon after all. Now what are you going to battle with?”

”Dame you!” The fat guy charged towards him again, Syaoran held his rod in position, and when he came close enough, Syaoran smacked his head with the rod without even moving out of his position. The fat guy got dizzy, and fainted in front of Syaoran. Everyone in the stadium cheered. Sakura jumped up and down with Chocy in her arms. The warrior behind her smiled again. “Great job.” Sakura heard him say again. She turned to looked around, but he was gone.

Syaoran took off his helmet in the dressing room, he sighed. “Phew...” Sakura came up to greet him with a big hug. “You were awesome, Syaoran! You nailed that guy!” Syaoran blushed, and said. “It wasn’t that hard, it’s just that, well, people were staring from 360 degrees at once. So...” Sakura let go of him, still smiling. “But you still did a great job!” Then the image of the masked worrier hits her. “Oh, by the way...I saw someone back there when I was watching.”

“Who?” Syaoran asked.

Sakura shook her shoulders. “I don’t know, he was wearing a helmet; I couldn’t see his face.” Jon came forward. “A helmeted worrier? Is he like,” he raised his left hand to around five feet eight high. “This tall?”

Sakura nodded wildly. “That’s him!” She moved closer to Jon. “Did you see him, too?” She asked cheerfully. Jon shook his head. “No. Just have a fair idea of who he is, that’s all...”

Sakura tilted her head, and her head popped out a question mark. She turned to Syaoran. “Want to watch other contestants fight? Your turn isn’t for another hour.” Syaoran smiled, and nodded. “Yeah~!” Sakura jumped, and pulled his arm. “This way, come on!”

Other contestants put up great fights, too. They all cheered, and watch for who might be the victor, and discussed what would Syaoran do if he faces them. They watched for five rounds, and then the helmeted warrior appeared!

”That’s him!!” Sakura yelled. “That was the warrior that was watching you, Syaoran!” Syaoran nodded, and then paid attention back to the fight. At this round, they had to use a spear to fight. The helmeted warrior’s opponent took the first attack, and rushed towards him. The helmeted warrior blocked it with his spear, spinning it in a certain angle, making his opponent lost his spear. The helmeted warrior pointed the spear at the opponent’s neck. The fight was over in less then five seconds. Sakura and Syaoran watched in amazement. “Wow...” They exclaimed. Jon just stood there, as if it was what he had expected.

“He should’ve won, he has been the strongest warrior in the P.H.H. fighting competition ever since five years ago.” Jon said. Everyone was cheered all at once; it was hard to hear the judge announcing that the helmeted warrior won. Syaoran smiled. “I think it would be very interesting when we meet.”

~~~~~

The gang walked back in to the dressing room, on the way, they bumped into the helmeted warrior. “Hey.” He said under his helmet. Sakura and Syaoran looked at him. “Hey.” Syaoran replied. “We’ve been watching you, that was a great fight.” Sakura, however, felt a bit uncomfortable talking to such an armed stranger.

The warrior giggled. “That was nothing. I’ve been watching you, too. You also did a great job.”

”You’re too nice.” Syaoran smiled. “I’m looking forward to fight you. I think that would be one heck of a fight.”

”Me too.” The warrior said, even though the helmet covered his face, you could tell from his words that he was smiling. “Don’t lose before we meet, okay?” He said.

”Same to you.” Syaoran replied. He held out his hand. “I guess we haven’t introduce ourselves yet.”

”Oh, I know who you are, Li Syaoran.” The warrior said. Sakura gasped, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut anymore. “How’d you know his name?”

”Easy, I’ve been paying attention to the scoreboard. Maybe you would like to check it out, too, you know, to see when will we meet?” He started to walk away, “See you in the ring.” He walked down the hallway and disappeared.

Sakura and Syaoran followed the warrior’s advice and look into the scoreboard. “Syaoran...Syaoran, oh, there you are!!” Sakura said. Pointing to the scoreboard. “But...who was that helmeted warrior?”

Syaoran pointed his finger up. “He was the one who won on the fifth round after me, right? So...” He started counting. “One...two...three...four...there he is! On the twentieth round, winner: Gullian.” Sakura looked at the name. “Is that his name?”

Syaoran shook his head, I’m not sure, it should be, if we counted it correctly.”

“Wait!” Sakura shouted. “Let’s see, if you win in the next round, and if he wins...” She started to trace the lines with her finger. She gave her conclusion. “You guys will meet in the final round!!”

~~~~~

Winning one by one, the whole competition was beginning to become Syaoran and Gullian’s world, each and every fight they came up against was over and done with quickly. All the audiences were waiting for the moment when the two of the meet. Sakura was glad that Syaoran’s name was moving up one step at a time, but she got more worry when Gullian’s name was, too. Watching him battle, Sakura know that it won’t be easy for Syaoran to fight him. Like Syaoran said, it would be one heck of a fight.

The moment had finally came for them to fight at the final round. Everyone cheered wildly. Sakura’s heart was beating very fast. She put her hands together and prayed. [Please be all right, Syaoran, I don’t care whether you win or lose but please, please don’t hurt yourself!] Little Chocy looked at Sakura, and put its little wings together and prayed, too.

The worker of the coliseum handed them their weapons. “This is the last fight of the competition, therefore we’ll do something hard.” He handed a big sword to Syaoran. “We’ll use a sword.”

Syaoran jumped up. “Yes, my specialty!” Gullian (Still wearing his helmet) overheard him. “Really?” He asked. “Mine is, too. I guess this will be interesting.”

Syaoran smiled. “I hope so.”

The judge raised his hand, everything was silenced at that moment, “Ready…” then his hand came down. “Start!” They ran forward at the same time, Gullian raised his sword, and attacked Syaoran with all his strength. Syaoran blocked it with his, and returned an attack himself. They were rallying; all the audience cheered, except Sakura, every hit they rallied made her heart beat faster.

It was a long fight, they went back and forth, Syaoran swept the sword under Gullian’s legs, Gullian jumped, and while he was in the air, he raised his sword high, ready to hit him from the top, Syaoran rolled out of the way, and got into position. He sent the sword directly towards Gullian, but Gullian used his own sword to slightly change its direction, missing him by only an inch. They both took a step back, and then at they attacked at the same time. Their blades hit, and made a sharp metal sound. Neither of them went back, they were both pushing their sword forward, holing the same position with the swords scraping each other only a few centimeters in front of their faces, it was now a battle of strength.

“You’re not bad, kid.” Gullian said. “But you’re still a bit young for this.” Suddenly he twisted his sword, making Syaoran’s sword turn the other way. Syaoran’s hand wasn’t strong enough to hold it anymore, the sword flew out of his hand, sending him back, landing on the ground, his sword landed blade first around five meters away from him. Sakura jumped up on her seat, making Chocy, who was on her lap, fell on the ground. “SYAORAN!!” She yelled.

Gullian pointed the sword to his neck. The battle was over.

“And just like last year, our princess, Gullian is the champion!” The judge yelled. Syaoran jerked. Sakura couldn’t believe her ears. “Princess??” They both said.

Gullian took off her helmet. Smooth black hair flew in the wind; her beautiful eyes sparkled like a pair of blue diamonds. “You didn’t know that?” She asked. “I thought you were too young to be in the this competition...”

”Um...” Syaoran said, “I might be young, but I still came all the way to the last round.”

”No,” she said. “Too young to marry me.”

Syaoran’s face turned bright red. “Ma...marry!??” Gullian looked at him. “I guess you didn’t know that. This competition is for my marriage, who ever wins me, can marry me.”

”Marry? Oh...JOOOOOOOOOOONN~!!” Syaoran yelled.

~~~~~

”We get into the castle? Didn’t we?” Jon said as all four of them walked down the pathway of the castle. Princess Gullian was going to invite only Syaoran, because she wanted to know more about the talented young warrior; but since the rest of the gang stuck to him like super glue. The princess had no choice but to bring all of them all into the castle. “So, you are a traveler?” She asked as she led them into the castle.

“Yeah.” Syaoran answered. “I’m very interested in sword fighting techniques.” They kept talking about sword fighting techniques, that they’ve completely ignored the party at the back. Jon asked quietly. “Syaoran sure puts up a great act, striking her into a conversation can increase the chance of us staying at the castle.” Sakura shook her head. “He’s not acting, that’s just Syaoran. He’s very into sword fighting, magic spells. And not to mention ancient myths.” She looked at him in a very desirable way.

”Some guy he is. I’m more into stealing, and adventures...” Jon swan his arms around. Sakura sighed, “You’ll never get it, it’s no wonder that you’re still single.” She walked away from him.

The princess turned around to face them all. “So, why don’t you stay for a while, I can teach you all kinds of sword fighting techniques.” Jon and Sakura’s ears moved. [Right on!] They thought. They practically jumped on Syaoran’s head to answer so eagerly. “We’d love to!!” They shouted together. Syaoran was sinking lower and lower because of the weight. “You...guys...that’s very impolite...” He managed to say. The princess giggled. “Of course, all of you are welcome.”

~~~~~

The next morning, when penguin birds (a kind of Ometin animal that looks like a penguin but is able to fly) sang peacefully; Jon was sneaking around in the hallway beside the garden with a big bag behind him. He moved quietly, tip-toed around the castle.

Suddenly, someone tapped him from behind. He quickly turned around, and yelled ever so loudly. “I didn’t do it!” He said as he thrusted two hands in front of his face, preparing for a punch in the face.

It was Sakura who tapped him. He signed, “It’s you, Sakura.” He used his sleeve to wipe out his sweat on his forehead. Sakura looked into is bag while he did that. Jon quickly turned around. “Oh, hey...” Sakura took out a vest made of gold and a silver statue. She looked at him angrily. “You were stealing again!”

”Um...” Jon said. Big drop of sweat rolled down his head. All he could think of was, “I didn’t do it!” He yelled.

Sakura used the statue to smack his head. “When will you ever learn!?”

Jon rubbed his bump on his head. “Oww...why weren’t you with Syaoran?”

Sakura stood up. “He’s...busy.” A shade of red ran across her face. “?” Jon tilted his head.

~~~~~

A sharp metal sound sliced through the quite morning air. Swords were colliding together in the garden. Syaoran was practicing sword techniques with Gullian. Sakura and Jon watched them from above the balcony at the second floor. “So that’s where he is.” Jon said. Sakura sighed. “He’s been there all morning. When I woke up, he wasn’t at his room anymore.”

Jon turned to look at Sakura. “What’s wrong with that?” He asked. Sakura shook her head. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

”Then why do you seen so down?” Jon asked again. He looked back at Syaoran.

Gullian put away her sword, “Now, try it with that dummy.” She pointed towards the wooded log that had a sword tide to it. Syaoran practiced a few move on it. Gullian moved close to him. “When you slice his hand, in order for you opponent to drop his weapon, you’ll have to hold it like this.” She used her right hand to hold Syaoran’s right hand. “Then, to have better defense, your left arm should go like this.” She planted her left hand on his, and placed her hand on his shoulder. Her face was awfully closed to his. Syaoran swallowed, his face was red. “Um...okay.” He could felt every breath she took.

On the balcony, Sakura was staring them with a very annoyed look. Jon caught her expression. “Oh, I see.” He smiled. Sakura laid her head on the handle of the balcony, and puffed her cheeks. “She can just tell him, she doesn’t have to do it physically...” Jon smiled evilly. He knew what she was thinking. “I think someone is jealous.” Sakura looked at him with a red face. “I am not jealous!”

”Anyways, come on, we’ve got to go.” Jon started to walk away.

”What?” Sakura turned around. “Where?”

Jon waved his hand. “To investigate, of course. Aren’t we here to find out what the governor is up to?”

Sakura looked back. “But...what about Syaoran?”

”What about him? He’s busy, isn’t he? Oh come on, don’t be jealous. This is the reason we get to stay, is for him to get some practice with the princess.” Sakura understood, but it just doesn’t seem right, leaving Syaoran here.

“Now...to have a more effective impact on the enemy, you’ll have to draw you sword ever so quickly...” Gullian continues her lesson with Syaoran. Sakura made the face again, then ran off to meet up with Jon. [Fine, I can bust the missioner’s plan all by myself!]

~~~~~

Three days had gone by. Syaoran was always practicing with Gullian. The only time Sakura got to see him was during meals and before they go to sleep. Sakura always go to the balcony to watch him, but she always seems to catch Syaoran and Gullian making contacts. Sakura’s anger grew everyday. Jon and Sakura had search everywhere during the past few days, but they still have no sign of the governor. “What do you think he’s up to?” Sakura asked Jon, for the hundredth time. Jon’s sneaking skills was good. Because of him, they’ve been to quite a lot of forbidden area. Sometimes he even comes out with a souvenir or two in his pockets. But still, no clues on the governor.

On the fourth day, both of them were getting tire. “Where have we not been to, yet?” Sakura asked tiredly, they were backed at the balcony again. Jon held out the map. “Well, let’s see...” He checked a few place off. “We’ve done the east wing, north and south wing, and the west wing, so the only place left, would be...chicken wing.” He joked. Sakura threw her shoe at him. “Come on, be serious!”

”Okay, okay. To tell you the truth, we’ve been to every single corner in this castle. I don’t know what’s left.”

“Oh, no...” Sakura wined.

Down at the garden, Gullian talked quietly. “Your friends are always here to see you.” She said, pretending she didn’t see them. Syaoran kept practicing. “They’re okay.”

Something hit Sakura. “Hey...we’ve been all over the castle, be we have no sign of the king himself.” Jon thought hard. “Comes to think of it...”

”Could the king be hiding from us?”

Jon put his hand on his chin. “Why would he?”

”Maybe someone don’t want us to find him, someone like the governor?”

”Let’s go find him, then.” Jon ran out to the hallway, on the way, he bumped in to a servant. “Oh, I’m sorry!” He said. Then he realized there were a several servant behind her. She stood up. “That’s okay.” She replied. Then she turned around, and ordered. “Come on, let’s get the food down to the basement.” Jon over heard it. “There’s a basement in this castle?”

The servant looked at him. “Yes, there are two basements. On for food storage, and the other for old used weapons which no one use anymore.”

Jon kept on asking. “Where can we get to the basement?”

”Well, you can get to the food storage by the door in the kitchen. The other one you’ll have to access it from outside. It’s around the grass field in the west wing. It’s hard to see, because it’s covered in weeds. But no one use it anymore.”

[So that’s why we didn’t see it when we went to the west wing!] Sakura thought. “Come on, Jon!” She said. Jon nodded, then they headed to the west wing.

At the same time, in the garden, Syaoran and Gullian were practicing while the king arrived with the governor, followed by two knight hoods. “Father!” Gullian said, shocked by their appearance. “Um...” Syaoran jerked. “Your majesty!” He kneeled before him.

”You can raise now.” He said to Syaoran. Syaoran followed, then that’s when he realized it: there was something wrong with him, something...uncertain about his tone.

”What’s the rush, father, why do you want to see me so suddenly?”

”I’ve decided to let you marry Governor Hruggia here.” The governor bowled. The princess couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Father, what on earth are you talking about? We agreed that who ever wins the P.H.H. fighting competition could marry me. You know how I feel about weak men! And this gentleman here can barely hold a sword!” She pointed at the governor.

The governor felt insulted, but he backed it up. “But this is the king’s words, his wish is my command.” He smiled. Gullian pushed him out of the way, and went straight for her father. “Father! What’s wrong with you, you must be kidding me! How could you decide on such a thing so suddenly with out even informing me?” She shook him. “Father! Answer me!”

That’s when Syaoran saw it. [The bracelet! It’s controlling him!] The bracelet was swing back and forth on the right hand, covered by his long sleeve. Syaoran went forward. “Do you mind if I talk to him?” He asked Gullian. Gullian didn’t know what else to do, so she let him. But when Syaoran got close enough, he drew out his sword like lightning, and slashed the king’s right hand!

”Syaoran, what are you doing!?” Gullian yelled. All the knights rushed up, and pointed their swords towards Syaoran all at once. Syaoran dropped his weapon. Suddenly the king acted like he just woke up. “Huh? What? What am I doing here?”

”Father?” Gullian went up to him. “Are you okay?” the king looked at her. “My daughter, what happened to me?” Gullian stepped on the shattered bracelet. She picked up on piece. “You were wearing this.”

The king blinked, “That? Governor Hruggia gave me that. Oh, now I remember. Governor Hruggia asked me for your marriage, I denied it, and then he present this gift to me.” Syaoran tried to move forward, by the knights stopped him. He yelled. “That thing was controlling you! That’s why you don’t remember a thing.”

The king looked at Gullian. “Is that true?” Gullian nodded. “You even told me to marry Hruggia.”

”Oh, goodness!” He looked at Hruggia. “Arrest that man!” But he already started to run for it. Syaoran tried to follow him, but two knights who stayed behind and guard Syaoran stopped him. “Let me go! Can’t you see that I was just trying to...”

At the same time, Jon showed up along with Sakura showed up. “Syaoran, I found a whole bunch of missioner’s bracelet in the basement of west wing...what’s going on?” Just then, the bracelet pieces in Gullian’s hand exploded. A missioner’s soul came out, and went in to Sakura’s necklace. “Hoe...? Did something just happened?”

”Sakura! Go find the missioner; he’s heading to that way!” He pointed. Sakura nodded, then followed the direction he was pointing, Jon ran along with her.

Once she got to a distance where no one can see, she pulled out her card and her key. “Release!” she commanded. Then she used the jump card, leaving Jon way behind. “Hey~! Wait up!”

When she got to a close enough distance, she could see the governor turn around. “Okay, you asked for it! My creations! Let’s go!” He waved his hand. A whole bunch of penguin birds appeared, and started to attack Sakura, using their beaks. Jon finally caught up with her. “Okay, Sakura, oh, what the…?!” Penguin birds flew towards him, too. “Yaaahhh!!!” He yelled, knocking a few of them down. “Don’t hit them! All of them are under the bracelets’ control!” Sakura yelled. She used her cards again. “Sword!” She jumped around; cutting their bracelets that was place around their neck.

At the same time, Syaoran and Gullian was riding Chocy. “I though those guys would never let me go!” He said. They were rushing to the scene of the crime as fast as they could…or as fast as Chocy can run.

Sakura was almost done with all the penguin birds when they arrived. “Last one...” She carefully cut the bracelet with out harming the penguin bird at all. The bird flew free, and flew out of her sight. She turned to the governor. “And ask for you...! You are the one who created these terrible bracelets that control people, aren’t you!” She pointed the sword towards him. The governor was shaking, he tried to find more bracelets, but he couldn’t. Jon appeared, he held out at least ten bracelets in his hands. “looking for these?” He said, grinning.

“Wha...I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the governor said.

”That tattoo on your neck says it all,” She moved her sword back. “You’re one of them!!” She jumped, and sliced the tattoo with one hit. The governor vanished, and his soul was sucked into the crystal.

She sat on the ground, then sighed. “Phew…” Syaoran walked up to her, and patted her shoulder. Gullian made a comment. “You know, your sword technique was horrible.” Sakura got angry, her vein popped out on her head. Gullian turned her face to one side. “But...you did a great job.”

Sakura blushed on the comment. She looked at Syaoran. Syaoran smiled, and nodded. “She’s right. You did do a great job.” Sakura ginned, and giggled.

~~~~~

”Alright, we’ve got to go.” Jon said, they were all standing in front of the castle, ready to leave. Gullian looked at Jon’s big baggage. “Do you want a hand on that?” Jon yanked it up his shoulder. “No.” He answered it a microsecond after she asked him. “I’ll be...fine.” He said, starting to leave with the big bag. Sakura and Syaoran stayed a bit longer to say good-bye. “I’ll remember what you taught me.” Syaoran said gratefully. Gullian shook her head. “Don’t worry, it’s not that important.” She turned to Sakura, and lightly brushed her hair. “This girl taught me that it’s not the technique that counts, it’s what you’re fighting for that’s important.” Sakura blushed, and lowered her head.

”Hey!” Jon yelled. I’m going to leave with out you~!” Sakura and Syaoran turned around. “Coming!” They both shouted. Sakura ran a head. Syaoran bowled to the princess, then ran after them.

When they got to about fifty meters away, a servant came rushing to Gullian, “You majesty, a lot of decorations in the castle is gone, I think someone took them!” Gullian was surprised. “What!?”

~~~~~

When they got out of the city, the road divided into two paths. Jon pointed to the left one. “If you want to go to the missioner’s hide out, you should take this path.” Then he started to walk to the right path. “For me, I’ll take this path.”

Sakura looked like she missed him already. “You’re not coming with us?” She asked. Jon shook his head. “No, I’m taking a different path. I don’t intent to stay at a place for too long. I’m very nomadic.” He walked closer to Sakura and Syaoran. “But who knows. Our paths might be different, but you’ll never know when we will meet up again. After, I am the legendary heroes’ helper. It’s my fate, remember?” he winked, and then turned around. “So long!” He started to walk away.

Sakura and Syaoran looked at his back for a while. “I think we’ll see him again, don’t you?” Syaoran asked. Sakura nodded wildly. “Uh! That is if he won’t get caught on stealing and has to go to jail.” They both laughed.

“Wark!” Chocy said, indicating that they should go now. “Alright, we’re coming.” Sakura said. They jumped on Chocy, and headed to the left path, hoping that they’ll meet Jon again, some day...

Yup, yup, longest chapter ever!
That’s why it took sooooooo long!!! And plus all the bonus pictures, man is this long or what!
Anyway, when I say “Hoping they’ll meet Jon again.” Believe me, they will! Fate here (author), have already decided.
Till then, see you in the next chapter! ^^

Piggy Ho Ho
July 25, 2000