Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ The Enemy Revealed ❯ Four Masters of the Cyber World ( Chapter 7 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Enemy Revealed
Chapter 7: Four Masters of the Cyber World

"Here they come," Kerberos said, his teeth clenching as the four Masters hovered towards him and
the other Guardians.

Yue did not wait. He spread his wings and flew straight for Psycho. The clown was momentarily
stunned as the Moon Guardian rammed into him, sending them both back into the sky.

"Looks like he's chosen his target," Ruby Moon remarked as the other Masters landed.

"Damn. Looks like I have to pick from these three losers," Kerberos said with a grin as he looked
at Techno, Cracker, and Hacker.

Cracker eyed the remaining Guardians and Sakura. "Okay, who wants to get wasted first?" he
taunted.

Techno giggled as he pointed at each Guardian. "Eeiny, meeny, miney..." His finger stopped at
Sakura. "Moe! Rocket Hammer!" he shouted, firing rapidly at the Cardmistress.

Kerberos opened his wings and shielded Sakura from the missiles. Ruby Moon quickly flew towards Techno. "This is for last time!" she declared coldly before knocking the hunchback upside his head. Giggling, Techno launched more missiles at her. Ruby Moon was struck, and Techno leapt towards her with his hammer raised to strike. She recovered in time and fired a gust of wind at the hunchback, sending him towards the foot of the tower. "I'll make sure he stays down," she said as she took off after him.

Cracker faced Kerberos and Spinel Sun. "Guess that makes you two mine." He transformed his
right arm into a cannon arm, then pointed it at Sakura. "But then, why waste my shots on you two losers?
Cannonbomb!" he shouted as he fired.

Kerberos and Spinel Sun leapt into the projectile's path and combined their breath attacks to
destroy it. The team effort also struck Cracker in the chest and into a nearby burnt-out tree. "Let's get
him!" Kerberos cried as he led the charge.

"Kerberos, wait!" Spinel Sun shouted as he followed his fellow Sun Guardian.

Regaining his senses, Psycho grabbed Yue's hair and tossed him aside. Yue stopped himself from
flying off and faced his opponent.

"What did I tell you about a haircut, Silver Bell?" Psycho quipped.

Yue glared at the evil clown. "I will not lose to you again."

"Talk, talk, talk. Joy Buzzer!" Psycho charged his hands with electricity and charged Yue. Yue
held out his hands and caught the clown's, resulting in a test of strength between the two.

"Yue-san!" Sakura cried as she noticed her Moon Guardian struggling against the Master Cyber.

"You have your own problems to worry about, Cardmistress."

Sakura averted her gaze to the speaker. Hacker stood before her. The sight of this lone Master
puzzled her. "Why aren't you fighting anyone?"

"I am facing my opponent right now," Hacker replied. "To be honest, Cardmistress, I felt a one-
on-one duel would have been sufficient to fulfill the User's command. Instead, I find myself an unwilling
participant in an unnecessary slaughter." He studied his surroundings. "Such actions are dishonorable to a
true warrior."

"You're not taking my Cards and Key!" Sakura shouted defiantly.

"Ah, such spirit," Hacker complimented. "However, I prefer action to words." He reached for his
beam saber and activated it. "Miss Kinomoto, I propose that this matter be settled in a warrior's duel. If
you defeat me, you will keep your magical objects until the User tries to get them again. If I defeat you, you
forfeit them. Agreed?"

Sakura eyed the swordsman closely. *He seems different from the others.* With a nod, she pulled
out the appropriate Sakura Card for the situation. "Sakura Card, grant me your power and channel it into
my Key! Sword!" Striking the Card, Sakura transformed her Star Wand into a sword and took a battle
stance. "I accept your challenge!"

Hacker nodded, then held his weapon forward. "Prove yourself worthy of being Clow Read's heir,
Cardmistress!" With that, he rushed at Sakura and swung his weapon down.

Sakura knocked the attack aside in time. Her opponent fell back and considered his next move.
Sakura studied Hacker carefully. *The last time I battled a Cyber like him, he nearly killed me. Why am I
doing this?* Then the dead people reentered her mind. *I won't let them kill anyone else because of me! I
won't!*

With a yell, Sakura charged Hacker. Seeing his opponent fired up, Hacker ran up to her. With the
clashing of their blades, the duel resumed.

* * * * *

In Syaoran's living room, Maya watched the tape come to its end. "Interesting," she said with her
hand cupping her chin. "Sakura is indeed the most powerful magician in this known reality."

"Yeah, but that Kerberos wasn't so bad," Lupe commented from her mistress' lap.

"For once, I gotta agree with you, Wolfie," O.G. said from Brandon's shoulder, throwing
occasional punches in the air with one hand and holding a bitten biscuit in another. "He kicked Cyber butt."

"Too bad the clown kicked his," Brandon said dryly.

"Actually, I wasn't referring to Kerberos' actions in battle," Lupe said nervously.

Maya smiled at her Guardian as she noticed the crimson blush on the small wolf's face. "Lupe..."

Pegasus Uni flew near Lupe and looked at her face. "Oh my..."

Ready giggled. "Looks like someone's got a crush," she teased.

"Tell me about it," O.G. said, finishing the biscuit and looking at Brandon. "Let me tell you
something about the boss here."

Brandon's eyes widened. Everyone watched as he grabbed O.G. and covered his mouth with his
hand. The Guardian struggled to break free while resisting the urge to bite his master.

"Uh, are you okay?" Meiling asked.

"Of course! What makes you think otherwise?" Brandon said, laughing nervously as he stuffed
O.G.'s head between the cushions of the sofa.

From the opposite side of the room, Syaoran glared at the young Shadowwalker. "I'm amazed you
were able to become a Shadowwalker. You're perhaps the most incompetent assassin I've ever seen."

Brandon rose from his seat and glared back at Syaoran. "Hey, my instructor said I was the best in
his class!"

"Well, if you're such an adept Shadowwalker, then why did you let your only target live?" Syaoran
asked, his glance shifting to Ready.

Brandon felt his face heat up. "Um, well..."

"Because he realized he wasn't meant to be an assassin." Ready got up and stood next to Brandon.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and was unaware of how she was making him more uncomfortable.
"He tried to kill me on several occasions, but he didn't. He felt remorse for what he was about to do, plus he
got to know me. That meant he was still a good person."

"Uh, yeah," Brandon stammered. "I'm one of the good guys now."

"A Shadowwalker with a heart? There's a physical impossibility," Syaoran said angrily, his hand
clenched into a fist. "Tell me, assassin, did your fellow Shadowwalkers feel any remorse when they killed...?"

"That's enough, Syaoran!" Yelan ordered her son. "That was in the past. Let us leave it there."

"But, Mother..."

"The subject is closed," Yelan said, folding her arms and looking down at her son, who fell silent under his mother's burning gaze.

"We have more important matters at hand," Maya said factually. "Namely, heading to Tomoeda
and getting to Sakura before these Cybers do."

Syaoran shot Brandon one more glare, then returned to the business at hand. "You are right. For
Sakura's sake, we must leave at once."

"And once you have completed your task, you will return home," Yelan said firmly.

Syaoran looked into his mother's eyes. "I cannot, Mother," he said. In the background, his sisters
gasped.

O.G. pulled himself out of the sofa cushions. "What'd I miss?" he asked Pegasus Uni.

"Actually, I think we're about to watch some fireworks," she answered, watching the upcoming
verbal battle between mother and son.

"Remember your obligations to your clan," Yelan reminded her son. "Perhaps someday you can be
with your beloved, but for now, you must fulfill your obligations."

"Mother, you've seen the battle on the tape. She nearly died!" Syaoran said.

"But she did not. Her power makes her the most powerful magician in the world." Yelan looked
at Ready. "I mean no offense, Miss Brighton."

"None taken," Ready said with her characteristic smile. "She is Clow Read's heir, after all."

Yelan returned to her son. "She can take care of herself. You should not worry, Syaoran."

"But I still do, Mother," Syaoran said. "She survived this last battle, but what about the next? Our
guests told us of another Cyber like the one in the video. Add them to the two Meiling and I fought at the
school. What if they attacked Sakura together? Yue and the stuffed animal couldn't defeat Psycho, so how
could they protect Sakura from four of them?"

"Syaoran..."

"Mother, I've made up my mind," Syaoran said, sticking to his position. "I'm coming with Ready
and her friends to Japan, and I'm staying there for good."

"Syaoran..."

"Mother, this is my final word on the matter. I will not change my mind."

"He's got it bad," Brandon whispered to Ready.

"Look who's talking," O.G. remarked, getting a slap on the head from his master.

The two Li's, mother and son, stared at each other. The sisters watched this with silent uneasiness.
Ready and the others watched everything and fought the urge to interject themselves into the dispute. After
all, it was a family matter.

Finally, Yelan spoke. "You always were determined to have your way, Syaoran," she said with a
sigh. "Just like your father."

Syaoran nodded. "I won't let Sakura get hurt."

"And you won't." Yelan turned to Wei. "Prepare my son's belongings. He will be leaving for
Japan shortly."

"As you wish," Wei said with a bow before leaving the room.

Syaoran stared at Yelan with surprise, as did his sisters and Meiling. "Mother?" he asked, puzzled.

"I see that I cannot dissuade you from your course," Yelan said. "I always felt you and Sakura
were destined to be together, but I always thought you would claim her as your wife after you fulfilled your
clan obligations." She seemed sad despite the lack of emotion in her face. "But then, this is a grave time.
Someone is harnessing a magic that shouldn't exist."

"A magic that shouldn't exist?" Maya asked.

Yelan nodded. "Did you feel something strange when you fought these Cybers?" she asked.

"You know, they did feel kinda weird," Brandon recalled. "They had this strange aura that wasn't
like anything I've ever felt before."

"I had the same feeling," Ready added. "I can't put my finger on it."

"I have," Syaoran admitted. "Or at least something familiar."

"Something familiar?" Maya asked.

Syaoran nodded. "Yes, but this feeling was stronger."

"Looks like we will all be going, then," Umbriel said, stepping out of the corner where he had been
standing silently ever since Yelan invited everyone in.

"Are you ready?" Ready asked her Guardian.

"I am," the Darkling answered.

Syaoran stared at the pale, thin creature with elven ears. "You mean we'll be teleported by him?"

"That is correct," Umbriel answered.

Syaoran glared at Umbriel. "It's bad enough that I have to travel with a Shadowwalker, but a
Darkling?" As Brandon snarled, Syaoran shook his head with an amused smile. "It's true, Sakura. I'll do
anything for you."

"Then let's go help her!" Ready declared. Pegasus Uni flew next to her mistress. Lupe leapt onto
Maya's shoulder. Brandon picked up O.G.

"Wait a sec!" All eyes were on Meiling. "You're not going without me."

"What can you do?" Yelan asked her niece. "You lack magical powers."

"Meiling held her own against the Cyber she fought," Syaoran said.

"Besides, someone needs to teach Kinomoto how to fight," Meiling said, smiling.

Yelan shook her head. "I seem to be outnumbered today," she said as she looked at the group of
young magicians before her. "You will watch our for my son and niece, Miss Brighton?"

"I will, Mrs. Li," Ready said.

"We'd better get there fast," Maya recommended.

"Wait!" Meiling left the room, then came back with her battle costume. "Good thing I left this
here."

"If we're ready to go..." Brandon said, a little annoyed.

The young magicians and Meiling gathered around Umbriel. "Where shall we go?" the Darkling
asked Syaoran.

"We should go to Sakura's house," Syaoran answered.

"I hope nothing has happened," Ready said.

"Somehow, I doubt that," Brandon commented.

Umbriel focused on Syaoran's thoughts and began the teleport. Yelan watched as her son, niece,
and the other magicians and their Guardians vanished in a flash of blue. *Take care, my son.*

* * * * *

In the air, Yue continued to struggle against the evil Psycho. He stared into his enemy's face and
ignored the slight burning the electrified claws were causing.

"Give up, Winged Wonder!" Psycho taunted. "You can't beat me! I'm far superior to you!"

Yue glared silently, then broke his grip on Psycho, causing the clown to waver in the air. Yue took
advantage and fired a wind blast. Psycho flew out of the way and blasted him with a Joy Buzzer. The Moon Guardian countered with another wind blast, sending the clown to the ground. A small smile of satisfaction crossed Yue's lips as Psycho plummeted to the ground.

Ruby Moon closed in on the fallen Techno. Upon seeing her, the hunchback picked himself up. "I'm going to clip your wings, butterfly!" he snarled, readying his hammer for another attack. "Rocket..."

Thanks to a falling Psycho, Techno never got to fire. The clown landed on top of
him, sending both Masters to the ground hard.

"You were saying?" Ruby Moon said haughtily, her hands on her hips as she stared at her two
fallen enemies.

"This!" Psycho rose from the ground. "Psycho Trick!" A ribbon shot out from his hand and
wrapped itself around Ruby Moon's neck. As she struggled to break free, Psycho threw her at Yue.
"Catch!"

Yue caught Ruby Moon. "Thanks," she said gratefully.

Yue nodded, then saw Psycho fly up to them. He and Ruby Moon readied themselves for another
attack.

Psycho studied the two Moon Guardians. "A handicap match, huh?" He grinned. "Only
question is, are you a mixed tag team or not?"

Ruby Moon growled. "I may not be human, but I like being female."

Psycho gestured her to come at him. "Bring it on, Madame Butterfly!" He pointed an electrically-charged finger at her. "Joy Buzzer!"

Eriol's Moon Guardian was struck by the attack. Recovering, Ruby Moon came at him and fired a crystal blast, which was canceled by another Joy Buzzer. She weaved her way through a barrage of Joy Buzzers and closed in on her target.

"Psycho Trick!" Psycho shouted, laughing as he waved his hand, making a large number of
spiked tops appear before him. "Hey, remember this number?" he asked Yue.

"Watch out!" Yue warned his fellow Guardian.

The warning came too late for Ruby Moon, who ran into some of the deadly tops and was thrown back by the explosion. Laughing insanely, Psycho waved his hand and send the rest after her. Yue fired a powerful wind at the deadly tops, causing them to collide with each other and explode. "Thanks," she told Yue.

That gave Psycho the opportunity to appear before her and grab her throat. "Now say
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!'" he said as he increased the pressure. Ruby Moon gagged and struggled to
break free.

Yue flew around and tackled Psycho from behind, forcing the Master to release his captive. Ruby
Moon recovered and fired at Psycho, knocking him away. "Psycho Bomb!" he cried after regaining control, throwing an energy ball at her. She dodged the attack, which struck one side of the tower. The people screamed as the structure shook.

"The people!" Ruby Moon realized.

"We must lure him away from here," Yue suggested. Ruby Moon nodded and joined him in flying
away from Tokyo Tower.

"Ooooo, a chase." Grinning wickedly, Psycho pursued the two Guardians.

Seeing that his previous opponent was busy, Techno spotted Kerberos and Spinel Sun battling
Cracker. Giggling, Techno got up and ran off to join him.

"Hold still!" Cracker growled as he launched Cannonbomb after Cannonbomb at the airborne
Guardians.

Kerberos replied with a breath of fire, which Cracker dodged. "It's good to have wings," he remarked proudly.

"Time to clip your wings, then!" From out of nowhere, Techno appeared above the golden-eyed
Sun Guardian and fell at him with his hammer raised. "Power Pound!" he cried, and his weapon started to
glow.

Kerberos was too slow to react, and the hammer struck him hard. The resulting explosion threw
the winged lion to the ground.

"Kerberos!" Spinel Sun cried with concern, blasting Techno away.

"Graviton Blaster!" Cracker fired at Spinel Sun and engulfed him in dark energy.

"What the...?" The winged panther felt his body become heavier. The sudden weight caused him
to crash next to Kerberos.

Techno landed next to Cracker, and the two Masters marched up to their targets. "Not so tough
now, are you?" Techno taunted.

The two Sun Guardians winced and struggled to get up. "I'm...gonna...rip...you...a...new..."
Kerberos strained to say.

"Oh, I'd like to see you try." Giggling madly, Techno raised his glowing hammer and smashed the
ground, sending an energy wave at his enemies. It made contact, throwing Kerberos and Spinel Sun a few
meters back.

Sakura and Hacker continued to clash blades. Knocking aside a swing, the Cardmistress saw the
two Sun Guardians down. "Kerberos-san! Spinel-san!"

"Concentrate on your present dilemma, Cardmistress!" Hacker shouted, swinging his beam saber at
her head.

Sakura jumped back and took out the Shield Card. "Shield!" she cried, striking the Card and
enclosing herself in an energy barrier.

Hacker rushed up to the barrier and slashed at it with no effect. Sakura blinked at the sight of the
intact protective bubble. After backing off and studying this latest move, he made his own. "Data Slash!"

An energy wave struck the shield. When the resulting flash faded, both Hacker and Sakura were
surprised at it still standing. Hacker sent Data Slash after Data Slash, but the shield remained undamaged.

"Hmmmmm, your magic is strong, Miss Kinomoto." Hacker reached for his other beam saber and
activated it. "It is time for me to use one of my stronger moves." Both blades glowed.

"Hoe?" Sakura wondered.

"System Crash!" Hacker swung both beam sabers and sent a large energy wave at Sakura. Energy
struck energy, and the shield started to crack. Finally, it exploded, causing Sakura to fall back.

The Cardmistress landed on her bottom. Although the battle costume's extra padding dulled the
pain, she still felt it. "Itai!" she exclaimed.

Hacker watched as Sakura picked herself up. "Give up?" he asked.

Sakura pointed her sword at the Master Cyber. "I possess the invincible spell," she told her
opponent as she steadied herself.

"A worthy adversary," Hacker said, nodding.

The Cyber swordsman rushed at the Cardmistress. Sakura met his charge, and the two traded
blows. Sakura held on despite being attacked by two blades. Hacker could not help but admire the way his
opponent blocked his attacks and counterattacked.