Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ The Enemy Revealed ❯ Cleaning Out the Pool ( Chapter 12 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Enemy Revealed
Chapter 12: Cleaning Out the Pool

Standing in the middle of the sea of Cybers, Sakura surveyed the scene. Above her, Arrows hovered with their weapons armed. Around her, the ground troops were ready to shower her and her friends with lasers, bombs, and missiles.

"Not looking good," Pegasus Uni remarked.

"Gee, you noticed?" Brandon said dryly. "So, anyone have a plan that'll get us out of this?"

"I say we fight!" Meiling answered, holding her fists before her.

"The chances of us defeating this large a force are slim," Maya calculated. "Besides, even if we destroy all these Cybers, we'd exhaust ourselves, and we still have them to deal with," she added, pointing to Psycho and his two cohorts in destruction.

"We'd be too weak from fighting these guys," Ready said, catching on. "Then the Masters would finish us off."

"That's what I perceive to be their plan," Maya said, nodding. "If the soldiers don't kill us, then their leaders will."

"We have to do something!" Kerberos shouted in frustration.

"Sakura-chan, what will we do?" Tomoyo asked, turning away from filming for a moment.

"Yeah, Sakura, what'll we do?" Kerberos asked. "I'm ready to pounce on these guys!"

"So am I, Kinomoto-san!" Meiling declared. "Let's take them out!"

Sakura gulped. "Why is everyone asking me what to do?"

"Because you're the most powerful magician among us," Syaoran said, placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I have faith you'll know what to do, Sakura."

"Syaoran-kun..." Sakura examined the situation again. An idea flashed in her head. "I know what to do!"

Everyone looked at her expectantly. "What's your idea, Sakura?" Ready asked.

Sakura motioned for everyone to huddle up. As the Masters and their Servers watched, Sakura laid out her plan to the others.

"Hey, what are those brats up to?" Cracker wondered.

"Maybe they're preparing their last wills and testaments," Techno said.

"Hmmmmmmm..." Psycho looked at the huddled group. "Cybers, attack now!"

"He would attack while the enemy is helpless," Hacker grumbled as the assembled Servers prepared to fire.

All the winged Guardians took off and went straight for the Arrows while Umbriel, O.G., and Lupe remained with the kids. The large wolf growled at the enemy forces, showing her large teeth.

"C'mon," O.G. said, daring the Cybers to attack.

"Patience," Umbriel said, staring ahead.

Syaoran turned to Sakura, who was picking two Sakura Cards from the deck. "Are you sure you're strong enough?" he asked with concern.

Sakura nodded. "I'll be fine, Syaoran-kun." She readied her first Card. Above her, the aerial Guardians hovered before the Arrows.

Kerberos growled. "Can we...?"

"Wait," Yue interrupted, looking past the Arrows at Psycho. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Wait."

"Levitate me and my friends! Float!" Sakura cried, striking the first Card. To the astonishment of the Cybers, the Cardmistress and the others floated to the sky.

"Hmm?" Hacker watched the spectacle along with his fellow Cybers.

"Earthy!" Sakura released the second Card's magic, causing the ground below to rumble. The shaking increased, and most of the enemy succumbed to it, resulting in a large number of fallen Cybers.

"Allow me to help you, Sakura." Maya pointed her Ring at the ground. "Earth!" The Ring shot out a beam to the ground, and the tremors increased, causing more Cybers to fall.

Techno giggled nervously as he saw the Cybers below struggling to stay on their feet. "Psycho, I don't like the looks of this..."

Psycho growled. "Clever little brats, aren't they?"

"Let's get them!" Ready said enthusiastically, seeing only a few Cybers still functional.

"Yes, ma'am!" Brandon waved his hand. "Nightwing!" Waves of dark bats and birds swarmed all over the enemy.

"Not again!" Cracker shouted as he and the other Masters swatted at the creatures. The Arrows also joined in, and some of them succumbed to nonexistence as the bats and birds drained their energy.

"Now!" Kerberos roared, unleashing a fireball on a distracted Arrow. He smiled with satisfaction as the Cyber disintegrated.

Yue and Ruby Moon unleashed their crystal shots on more of the Arrows. Spinel Sun entered the aerial battle with a mouth laser.

Meanwhile, Sakura and the others lowered themselves to the ground as the Nightwing attack faded under the blasts of the Cybers, especially the flamethrower blasts of the Enters. As soon as their feet touched the ground, Ready and Brandon rushed out to take on the few Cybers still standing.

O.G. followed his master and threw his fists into Ends and Enters and stomped Backspaces. "Outta my way!" he yelled as he kicked an Altron into a Controller.

"Wait for me!" Meiling shouted, running after them. A Shifter got in her way, but it got a swift kick in the face for its trouble. A charging Deleter received a throw for its troubles.

Umbriel shook his head. "Just like her parents in their youth," he mused. He ran after his mistress and encountered Deleters who were unfortunate to meet his swinging blade.

"Fire!" Maya toasted a few Altrons before they could attack. Lupe roared and unleashed a fire blast of her own on an Insert before it could launch its missiles. The resulting explosion took out some nearby Backspaces and Homes. Tomoyo captured the moment on tape.

Syaoran sliced a Tab in half before it could attack. "Sakura, please stay with Daidouji-san," he told the Cardmistress. "We'll handle these metal menaces."

"Sword!" Sakura transformed the Star Wand back into a sword.

"Sakura, please," Syaoran pleaded, "you've used a lot of magic. You need to rest."

"I feel fine, Syaoran-kun," Sakura said, smiling and looking into his brown eyes. "I can fight. Really."

Syaoran sensed the determination of his beloved. "I'll stay with you, then."

Sakura nodded, and she and Syaoran faced the enemy. A Controller was leading a charge against them.

"Ganbatte, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cheered, focusing her camcorder on her best friend.

Sakura turned momentarily to Tomoyo. "Get to safety, Tomoyo-chan!" she yelled just before an Altron fired its arm at her. The Cardmistress moved in time and sliced it off.

"Raitei shourai!" Syaoran destroyed the Altron with a thunderbolt and decapitated a Deleter with a swing of his blade. "Daidouji-san, stay back!" he shouted as he vaporized a Cap. Another Cap transformed into its stronger form and threw a punch at Syaoran. The Chinese magician ducked the attack and responded with a slash to the large Cyber's knee joints.

"Don't worry about Tomoyo!" Maya shouted as she unleashed a fire blast on more Cybers. "Lupe and I will keep an eye on her!"

"Yeah!" Lupe said before chilling out more of the advancing enemy with ice breath. With a roar, she spun rapidly and charged into them, instantly shattering and vaporizing them. "Although," she said as she took out a Controller before it could initiate its Vertigo Wave attack, "I wish I could fly so I could help out Kerberos."

Maya grinned and stuck to Tomoyo as the self-appointed filmmaker to the Cardmistress' exploits recorded Sakura and Syaoran dispatching the charging Cybers. "Wind!" the young Ecomancer said, blasting the enemy away with a powerful gust of wind. Lupe roared again and toasted the Cybers her mistress blew away.

Sakura blocked a Tab's blade swing and knocked it back before slicing it diagonally. Keeping close to her, Syaoran took out Altrons with sword and ofuda attacks. As Sakura destroyed an Altron, an Insert tried to take advantage and aimed its missile launching arms at her. However, Syaoran whipped out an ofuda and flung it on the Insert. Rushing forward, he grabbed Sakura and ran away. The ofuda burst into flames, and the resulting explosion took out not only the Insert, but a group of Backspaces, Homes, and Ends as well.

Stopping, Syaoran looked at Sakura. "Daijobu?" he asked, his face reddening from holding Sakura close to him.

"I'm fine," Sakura answered as Syaoran let her stand on her own. "Arigato, Syaoran-kun."

Syaoran blushed further, then refocused on the current situation. "Sakura," he said, motioning to the Cybers heading their way.

Sakura nodded and took out Freeze. "Freeze!" she cried as she released its magic. Seconds later, the charging Cybers became flash-frozen.

"Raitei shourai!" Syaoran reduced the frozen Cybers to nothing with a thunderbolt. He scanned the area for more enemies.

"Very impressive, Miss Kinomoto, Mr. Li."

Hacker appeared before the Cardmistress and the Chinese magician. Behind him, a few Altrons and Deleters gathered.

Syaoran moved in front of Sakura and glared at the Master Cyber. "I won't let you come near her."

"Hmm?" Hacker looked behind him. "What are you doing here?" he demanded of the Cybers behind him.

"We are here to help you kill the Cardmistress and the boy, Master," a Deleter answered.

"Go fight the other combatants and keep combat to them alone," Hacker ordered. "No noncombatants will be harmed."

"But, Master..."

Hacker took out his beam saber and pointed it at the Deleter's neck. "Follow my command or I will exercise my displeasure on you all starting with you!" The group of Cybers dispersed quickly, leaving Hacker to face Sakura and Syaoran. "My apologies, Cardmistress," he said, bowing slightly. "Mr. Li, my challenge still stands. Are you still interested?"

Syaoran nodded. "We have to finish what we started in Hong Kong," he said, readying his sword.

Hacker readied his beam saber. "The Cardmistress has already proven herself to me. Now it is your turn, Mr. Li."

Syaoran stepped forward. "Syaoran-kun..." Sakura whispered.

Syaoran touched Sakura's chin and looked into her green eyes. "I'll be okay. Don't worry." He faced his enemy. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Sakura."

Both fighters eyed each other. Finally, Syaoran ran at Hacker with his sword out. Hacker ran out to meet him, and with a clash of blades, the duel began.

In the sky, the Guardians were destroying the Arrows easily. Yue and Ruby Moon attacked with wind blasts and crystal shots. Kerberos roasted the speedy enemies with his fire breath, and Spinel Sun took out Arrow after Arrow with his beam. Pegasus Uni alternated between a beam from her horn and wind gusts and star shots from her wings. The swift Arrows proved to be easy targets because they were clumped together as they attacked.

"Boy, these guys are easy to blow up when they're all together!" Kerberos shouted happily after he destroyed five Arrows with one fire blast.

"Got that right, Kerberos!" Ruby Moon said happily as she took out Arrow after Arrow. "I think we've destroyed all of them!"

Spinel Sun blasted three Arrows. "I believe you're right," he said as Pegasus Uni destroyed a small group of the flying Cybers.

Yue glared at the three Masters. "Then that means we are left with only them to deal with."

"Then let's get 'em!" Kerberos shouted, flying at the Masters.

"Kerberos, wait!" Spinel Sun shouted, following him. "We must fight them together!" Yue silently joined the two, and Ruby Moon and Pegasus Uni joined him.

"Here they come," Cracker remarked as the Guardians got closer.

"Goody, it's our turn to have some fun," Techno giggled.

Spotting Psycho, Kerberos flew straight at him. "You're mine, Toothy!"

Psycho laughed and waved his arm. "Oooooooo, Round Two coming up! Psycho Trick!"

Kerberos found himself being strangled by strings. "Gggggghhhhhh!" he exclaimed.

"Hold on, Kerberos!" Ruby Moon shouted, aiming for Psycho as she and the other Guardians rushed to the winged lion's aid.

"Hello!" Cracker flew in front of the evil clown and his captive. "Cannonbomb!" he yelled, unleashing a salvo of missiles from his shoulders.

"Yikes!" Pegasus Uni cried as she dodged explosion after explosion. Besides her, the other Guardians danced around Cracker's attack.

"My turn! Rocket Hammer!" Giggling loudly, Techno fired a huge missile from his hammer.

"Scatter!" Spinel Sun shouted.

All the Guardians flew away from the projectile in time. The resulting explosion threw them back in various directions, however.

"Let's get 'em!" Cracker said as he flew after them. Techno followed his fellow Master, giggling all the way.

"Awwww, too bad you don't get to play with your friends," Psycho said tauntingly to Kerberos, tightening the strings around his neck. "Ya know, I always wondered if Guardians could still live without their heads." The strings began to cut into Kerberos' neck. "Let's find out!"

Before Psycho could answer his query, Yue appeared from behind and slugged the evil clown in the back of his head. The villain stumbled forward, and in the process, the strings around Kerberos' neck loosened. A crystal blast to Psycho's hand freed the Sun Guardian.

"A-A-Arigato," Kerberos said to Yue as he glared at Psycho.

Yue nodded and prepared to attack. Psycho managed a small laugh as he faced Kerberos, then Yue. "My, two-on-one. I'm getting a sense of deja vu."

From afar, Spinel Sun watched the confrontation as he dodged Cracker's gunfire. "We need to get over there quickly!" he yelled, pointing at Kerberos, Yue, and Psycho.

"We're a little busy right now!" Ruby Moon yelled back as she and Pegasus Uni unleashed their attacks on Techno.

"That tickles! Are you trying to make me laugh to death?" Techno declared mockingly. "Mad Bomber!" he said, tossing gigantic Time Bombs with only three seconds on their timers.

Ruby Moon and Pegasus Uni flew upward to avoid the large explosions below. "I think we'd better join Kerberos and Yue," Pegasus Uni suggested. "The three of us can't handle these guys, and Kerberos and Yue might need our help."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Ruby Moon bolted along with Pegasus Uni while dodging more Time Bombs. "Suppi-chan, come on!"

"Oh, now she decides to follow my suggestion," Spinel Sun grumbled as he took off after his fellow Guardians.

"Hey, come back here!" Cracker yelled as he and Techno pursued their opponents.

As the other Guardians sped toward their fellow magical creatures, Psycho was dancing around Kerberos and Yue's attacks. "Oh, come on!" he yelled as he dodged fire blasts, arrows, and crystals. "Do you guys need glasses?"

"Now!" Ruby Moon yelled, joining in with her own crystals. Spinel Sun and Pegasus Uni fired their beam attacks at the evil clown.

"Psycho Trick!" With a wave of his hand, Psycho made all the attacks vanish. Laughing, he faced the assembled Guardians. "My, my, five against one. Whatever should I do?"

"Praying's a good option," Kerberos growled.

"An excellent suggestion." Techno appeared next to Psycho, followed by Cracker. "You'll need something to fall back on after we're done with you."

"It's an awfully long drop from here," Cracker sneered, pointing downward.

"Mmmmmmmm, street pizza," Psycho said. "So, who wants to die first?"

Yue glared at the evil clown. Kerberos roared, and the Guardians charged the three Masters. Laughing, Psycho made flying spiked mines appear in the air around him and his fellow Masters, then sent them at the Guardians. Their section of the sky filled with explosions quickly.

On the ground, as Syaoran and Hacker fought, the other kids dispatched the enemy forces with some ease. Meiling utilized her martial arts expertise to take down her foes. After dodging a Tab's blade swings, she gave it two kicks and knocked it into a car. "Take this!" she yelled as she punched an Altron in the face after dodging its stretching arm. Before the Cyber could hit the ground, Meiling grabbed its arm and swung it into an Insert, knocking it into an End. Letting out a cry, she used the Altron as a pseudo-nunchuk to pound her enemies. Among her victims were a Controller that got its head orb smashed, a Tab that received a hit to the chest, and a Cap that was knocked out before it could transform. Meiling continued to swing the Altron around and took out more enemies. Sensing trouble, she leaped upward in time to avoid an Enter rising from below her. The mole-like Cyber prepared to shoot its flamethrower, but Meiling quickly brought the Altron down on its head, smashing it. Landing behind the Enter, she turned around in time to watch it fall and explode into oblivion. Looking around, she watched the Cybers she defeated disintegrate. "Hmph, hardly a challenge," she said.

An explosion from behind threw Meiling forward. She avoided a very hard impact with the ground by stretching her arms out to catch it. As she lifted herself from the ground, a Backspace and a Num targeted her. The Backspace prepped its guns, and the Num leveled its rocket launcher at her.

"Starbolt!"

An energy bolt tipped with a star vaporized the two Cybers before they could fire. Ready appeared before Meiling with her Starlighter Staff pointed outward. "I thought you needed a little help," she said with a grin.

Meiling grinned back as she picked herself up. "Well, even though I don't need it, I'll take it anyway."

Ready eyed the Cybers heading their way. "Shall we?"

"Let's," Meiling answered with a nod.

Both girls jumped back as Altrons and Deleters opened fire. "Shining Charm!" the young Starlighter shouted, aiming her Staff at the incoming Cybers and vaporizing the first row with an energy wave. With a yell, Meiling leaped over the attack and kicked an End in the face, forcing it to fall on top of a Shifter. Two Altrons fired their arms at the young martial artist, but she caught them and pulled them forward. Twirling the two Cybers in the air, Meiling used them to dispatch more of the attacking robots.

"Take this!" Meiling yelled as she smashed an Insert in the head with her new weapons. "And this!" she shouted as she took out a Deleter and a Tab.

As she blasted and hit her foes, Ready watched her new friend pummel her opposition with ease. "Not bad for someone who doesn't have magic," she called out before bringing her Staff down on a Shifter's head.

Meiling threw one Altron into a Controller and swung the other into a Shifter who picked the wrong place to teleport. "As long as I can fight and have a good reason to, it doesn't matter if I have magic or not!" she announced proudly as she rammed her fist into a Tab's chest. She leaped over another Tab's blade swing and landed on its head, smashing the Cyber into the ground.

"That's the spirit!" Ready blasted a Home, and prepared to fire on an Altron. A Shifter surprised her from behind and threw its shoulder disc at her hand. The resulting electric shock forced Ready to drop her Starlighter Staff. The Shifter followed up with a tentacle that wrapped itself around Ready's arm. As Ready struggled to break free, the Cyber chuckled as it prepared to deliver a more powerful electric shock.

It never got a chance, for Umbriel appeared and sliced the tentacle, freeing his mistress. "I believe having good focus is also key to being an excellent fighter, Mistress," he told Ready as he bent down to get her Starlighter Staff.

"Uh, right," Ready said with a grin as Umbriel handed her her weapon.

The Shifter fired its other tentacle at Umbriel. The Darkling grabbed the approaching weapon. The Cyber activated the electric charge, but Umbriel stood there and took the electricity without any ill effects. "I think not," he said, his red eyes glowing. With a powerful pull, he yanked the Shifter towards him and ran his sword through it. Umbriel watched as the Shifter disintegrated on his blade.

Nearby, Brandon and O.G. were fighting more Cybers. Brandon was employing his Shadow Dance attack to decimate the number of enemies he was fighting. "Oh, geez!" the young Shadowwalker yelled as he sliced a Deleter in half by himself and an Altron via his shadow double. "Is this the best that evil clown can throw at us?" he asked as two Tabs were reduced to nothingness. "O.G., what was I worried about?"

"I think it was the large number of these bozos we were facing before the big takedown," O.G. answered as he punched an End in the face. His fist broke through the Cyber's body, and it stayed on his arm until it disintegrated. "Whoa, robots don't do that."

Another End took advantage of the distracted O.G. and fired its arm and shoulder cannons from behind. The impact threw O.G. into the ground. Two Homes marched up besides the End and launched their top missiles. The projectiles landed on their target with a loud boom. As O.G. winced, the Homes opened fire with their double-barrel arm guns with the End joining in. A Backspace rolled in and blasted O.G. with all its guns. Soon all the Cybers in the area were participating.

Brandon saw his Guardian being fired on repeatedly. "Hang in there, O.G.!" he yelled as he made his way towards the giant bear.

"Like I have a choice?" O.G. said as the Cybers continued to pound on him.

An Altron shot its arm at Brandon and wrapped it around him. It pulled the Shadowwalker towards it as he struggled to break free.

"What do I look like, a fish?" Brandon snarled as he was dragged in. He concentrated on his shadow, which was slashing an Enter into pieces. It rushed to help O.G., but an Enter tunneled upward and got in its way. Before the shadow could attack, the Enter roasted it with its flamethrower. "Okay, now I'm screwed," he remarked as the Altron continued to reel him in.

With a battle cry, Meiling leaped into the fray. A flying kick took down the Enter. As the mole-like Cyber crashed to the ground, Meiling rushed at the Altron. She brought her hand down on its shoulder, causing it to release Brandon, who landed on his butt.

"Brandon!" Ready and Umbriel ran up to the young Shadowwalker. "Are you all right?" she asked as she took his hand.

"Um..." Brandon turned his head away to hide his blushing as Ready helped him up. Brandon could not escape Umbriel's watchful eye. The Darkling shook his head silently.

Meiling gave the Altron a series of chops to the head. "Ha!" she cried as the Cyber fell to the ground and disintegrated. "You okay, Darque?" she asked.

"I'm fine, but O.G...." Brandon said, pointing to his Guardian being fired upon.

"Leave it to us, then!" Meiling declared before running towards the attacking Cybers.

"Come on!" Ready grabbed Brandon and dragged him along. Umbriel followed them. The Enter that Meiling knocked down got up in time to be cleaved into two halves by the Darkling.

With a yell, Meiling jump-kicked a Home and grabbed a nearby Altron. "I love using these guys!" she said as she swung the Altron into the other Home and some of the attacking Cybers.

Ready aimed for the Backspace. "Starbolt!" she cried, firing a star-tipped energy blast at the tank Cyber. The target was immediately vaporized.

Umbriel leaped at the End. The large Cyber stopped firing at O.G. and targeted the Darkling. Before it could fire, the End received Umbriel's blade through its middle. Both halves fell in opposite directions and disintegrated upon contact. Eyeing the other Cybers, Umbriel raised his sword. With the blade emitting an ebony light, the Darkling brought it down on the ground, sending an energy wave towards the firing squad. The attack vaporized most of it with a loud boom.

Feeling little shots on his shell, O.G. slowly got up. "Took ya long enough," he growled.

"You know, O.G., you're supposed to be my Guardian," Brandon said with a smile.

"Well, boss, I'll just protect you from those bozos," O.G. said, glaring at the remaining Cybers.

"Be my guest, buddy," Brandon said.

Roaring, O.G. charged the Cybers. "Payback time!" he shouted, knocking a Controller's head off with one punch. One stomp crushed a Backspace. Seeing an End, O.G. made two cannons shoot out of his shell. "Say hello to my two little friends!" he declared, launching two angry face missiles at the Cyber. His face displayed a wide grin as the End exploded.

"Should we help him?" Meiling asked as O.G. attacked the remaining Cybers.

"Nah. O.G. needs to vent some steam," Brandon answered. He looked around. "Hmmm, looks like that group O.G. is demolishing is what's left of the flunkies."

Ready spotted two people battling in the distance. "There's one more," she said, pointing in that direction.

"Correction." Meiling pointed out a small group of Cybers approaching.

"Great," Brandon said, preparing for the incoming enemy. "Just great."

O.G. smashed the last Cyber. "Goody, more," he said as the new enemies approached. "Bring it on!"

As another fight began away from them, Syaoran and Hacker exchanged more sword blows. Sakura watched as her true love swung and blocked the Master Cyber's attacks. Tomoyo, Maya, and Lupe watched with her, with Tomoyo once again playing camerawoman.

"Ganbatte, Li-kun!" Tomoyo cheered, waving her fist in the air.

Lupe growled at Hacker. "Maya..."

"No," Maya said.

"But..."

"No, you can't go in there and help Syaoran out," Maya said firmly. "This is a fight between two warriors."

"It would be dishonorable to interrupt a battle between two samurai," Tomoyo added.

"Nuts," Lupe grumbled as she resigned herself to the role of spectator.

*Syaoran-kun,* Sakura thought.

Syaoran made a swing of Hacker's chest. The Master Cyber blocked it and made his own, striking Syaoran's left shoulder. Wincing, the Chinese magician thrust at Hacker, who sidestepped the attack. Syaoran's next swing knocked the beam saber out of its owner's hand and sent it flying. Hacker activated for his second beam saber, but Syaoran knocked that one out of his hand as well. The Chinese magician paused as Hacker went after them.

"Hey, go get him!" Lupe shouted at Syaoran, who stood in one place.

"He does not want to," Tomoyo said.

"But he's got a chance!" Lupe said.

"It would be dishonorable to attack an unarmed opponent, correct?" Maya asked Tomoyo.

"It would," Tomoyo answered.

"I'm surprised you're not using any magic," Hacker said as he picked up his first weapon.

Gripping his left shoulder, Syaoran smiled as he caught his breath. "I figured you out, Hacker."

"Oh, really?" Hacker said, recovering his second beam saber and returning it to its holder.

"You only use your special moves when your opponents uses their own," Syaoran pointed out as he fought the pain. "Since I'm using my sword only, you're fighting with one sword as well."

"Observant as well as brave," Hacker remarked. "You honor me with your presence, Mr. Li."

"For Sakura's sake, we should finish this," Syaoran said seriously, glancing sideways at the Cardmistress.

"I agree." Hacker readied himself. "Are you still capable of battling?" he asked, eyeing Syaoran's shoulder.

Syaoran ignored the pain and pointed his sword at the Master Cyber. "I am."

"For the User!" Hacker cried as he charged Syaoran with his beam saber out.

"For Sakura!" Syaoran cried as he rushed at Hacker.

Sakura and the others watched them exchange blows again. When Hacker made a wide swing, Syaoran leapt upward into the way of the sun. Hacker looked upward, but the sunlight obstructed his sight. Despite this, he prepared his beam saber as the dark figure he saw fell towards him. Timing his attack, he made a swing.

Hearing a clang, Hacker saw his beam saber bounce off Syaoran's sword. Without any hesitation, Syaoran swung and made the scar on Hacker's chest become an "X." The Chinese magician landed on his feet, and the Master Cyber staggered back, the "X" on his chest glowing brightly.

"Yatta!" Tomoyo cheered.

"All right, Syaoran!" Lupe shouted happily.

Syaoran looked at Sakura and smiled. "I told you..." He cut himself off when he fell to his knees.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura rushed to his side. "Daijobu?" she asked as she knelt next to him.

Syaoran breathed heavily. "I'm fine. I'm just a little...exhausted." He looked at Hacker with a bemused smile. "He's got good stamina."

Hacker clutched his wound. "Impressive, Mr. Li," he said. "Our data on you is correct, indeed."

With Sakura's help, Syaoran stood up. "Do you wish to yield?"

"I'm afraid I cannot," Hacker answered, forcing himself into a battle stance as his X-shaped scar glowed. "I must fulfill my duty to the User."

Syaoran raised his sword. "I cannot yield. I must protect the one I love."

Hacker nodded and raised his weapon. "Well, then, Mr. Li. Let us..."

"Touch of Darkness!"

A beam of dark energy struck Hacker from the side and sent him into a nearby building. As Sakura and the others watched, dark energy shots brought down some of the structure on the Master Cyber. A few seconds later, Hacker was buried under tons of rubble.

"Nani?" Tomoyo wondered.

"Yahoo!" Brandon appeared with the others behind him. "I got him!"

"Great shot, boss!" O.G. shouted.

Brandon ran up to Sakura and Syaoran. "Not bad, eh, Greenbean?" the Shadowwalker said to Syaoran with a grin. "You set him up, and I took him down. Very nice teamwork, wouldn't you say?"

Syaoran growled. "How dare you, you dishonorable assassin!" he yelled, curling a fist at Brandon.

"Huh?" Brandon said.

"That type of action is typical of your kind, assassin," Syaoran said. "You have no sense of honor."

"Excuse me? I just saved your life," Brandon said, glaring at Syaoran. "Now if you're gonna get all ungrateful on me..."

Syaoran started to bring his sword up, but it suddenly dropped to the ground. He grabbed his left shoulder and winced.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura cried. Meiling appeared at his side and helped Sakura hold him.

"I got this," Ready said, walking forward and placing her hand on Syaoran's shoulder. "Restoration," she said, causing her hand to glow over the wound. Sakura and the others watched as the wound healed under the increasing light.

"Syaoran-kun, how do you feel?" Sakura asked.

Syaoran checked himself. "I feel okay." He looked at Ready. "Arigato, Brighton-san."

Ready smiled. "No problem."

Brandon huffed. "Oh, sure, thank her for healing your shoulder while you diss me for saving your life. You're a real snob, you know that, Greenbean?"

Syaoran snarled. Only Sakura and Meiling kept him from charging the young Shadowwalker. "I'm going to rid the world of your filth, assassin!" he declared with steam coming out of his ears.

"Hey, Syaoran, calm down!" Meiling said, tightening her grip.

"He was just trying to help, Syaoran-kun," Sakura said. "He didn't know it was an honorable duel."

Syaoran forced himself to calm down. "If we weren't battling with these robots to save Sakura and Tokyo, I'd take my blade and thrust it through your poisonous carcass, assassin."

"Gee, and I love you too, Greenbean," Brandon mocked.

Ready slapped Brandon on the back of his head. "You're not helping."

Brandon winced. "What? He started it," he said, pointing to the Chinese magician.

Syaoran made another attempt to charge Brandon, and Sakura and Meiling stopped him again. "Let me at him! Let me at him!" he cried.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura said, gripping his right arm. "Calm down, please."

"Yeah," Meiling said, gripping his left arm.

Brandon gestured towards himself. "Bring it on, Greenbean!" he taunted, earning him another slap in the head by Ready.

Sweatdropping, Tomoyo filmed the entire scene. "Why does Li-kun hate Darque-kun so much?" she asked Maya.

Maya shrugged. "I need to look into it, but I think it involves Syaoran's family and a past Shadowwalker killing."

"Oh my," Tomoyo said as she continued to record. "At least Sakura-chan is so kawaii."

Umbriel watched the sky. "Hmmmmmm..."

Suddenly, five shapes descended to the ground and crashed a few centimeters before the Darkling. Everyone's focus shifted to the loud noise.

"What was that?" Sakura wondered, running towards the newly formed crater. The others followed her and joined Umbriel at the crash site.

Ready joined her Guardian. "Umbriel, what's...Uni!"

"Kerberos-san! Yue-san!" Sakura cried.

From the bottom of the crater, all five winged Guardians groaned. "Hey, Sakura," Kerberos said, trying to crawl out from under Yue.

"Sorry, Ready," Pegasus Uni as she picked herself up.

Ruby Moon rubbed her head. "Getting a feeling of deja vu, Suppi-chan?"

Spinel Sun got up. "Who's Suppi-chan?"

Syaoran blinked at the sight. "All you five were defeated?"

"Gee, no doy, Sherlock," Brandon remarked.

Yue stood up. "I'm sorry we couldn't defeat them, Mistress."

Sakura smiled. "I'm just happy you and the others are all right, Yue-san."

"Not for long anyway!"

Accompanied by evil laughter, the three remaining Masters appeared before Sakura and the others. "You really should look into getting better help, Sakura," Psycho said, laughing.

Techno giggled. "Yes. They were terrible up there."

"Sorry excuses for magical constructs. That's what they are," Cracker commented.

"I do admit their stamina was a lot better than last time since they kept their true forms," Psycho said. "However, the magic that spawned them is far inferior to the magic that created us."

"How can that be?" Sakura demanded. "Clow-san was a powerful magician."

"And since Sakura changed the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards, she's the most powerful magician in the world," Syaoran added. "Her Star Magic is more of a match for whatever magic created you miserable metal monsters."

Psycho laughed. "Little boy, the power we represent is far more superior to all magic in existence, including your little pink flower's Star Magic."

"The User is the most powerful magician in the world," Techno declared. "Give in to his will or be crushed!"

"Yeah! Just hand over your stinking Cards and Key, and we might let you live!" Cracker said.

"Never!" Sakura shouted. "I won't let you use them for evil!"

Syaoran stood before Sakura. "You'll take her magical objects over my dead body."

Ready and her friends joined Syaoran. "Ours, too," the Starlighter said.

All the Guardians completed the living shield before Sakura. "You will have to get past all of us," Yue said coldly.

"Yeah!" Kerberos added, joining in a collective glare at the Masters.

"No problem for us," Psycho said. "We can take you all on!"

"News flash, clownie," Brandon said. "We beat your army and one of you guys."

Psycho scanned the area. "Hmmmm, I was wondering what happened to Hacker." He shrugged. "Oh well, we'll get the sole credit for bringing the Cardmistress' magical objects to the User."

"Hey, Psycho, let's finish them off now!" Techno said, giggling loudly.

"Yeah. Enough talk!" Cracker agreed.

Psycho looked down. "Well, kids, let's end this with a bang. Psycho Trick!" With a wave of his hand, he made a large number of spiked tops. With another wave, he sent them flying at their targets.

"Rocker Hammer!" Techno cried, launching a giant missile from his hammer.

"Cannonbomb!" Cracker said, unleashing a barrage of missiles from each shoulder.

"Hooooeeeeeeeeeee!" Sakura screamed as the projectiles flew at her and the others.

Ready raised her Staff. "Illumination!" A light dome appeared over everyone, and the bombs and missiles impacted on it, treating the kids and Guardians to various explosions. Tomoyo recorded the whole thing.

"Whew," Brandon said as Ready made the dome vanish.

Syaoran looked around. "Where are they?" he asked, finding the Masters gone.

Sakura looked left and right. *Where could they be?*

"Peekaboo!"

Sakura felt herself being yanked off the ground. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" she cried as she dropped her sword, which transformed back into the Star Wand.

Syaoran turned around sharply. "Sakura!"

Tomoyo gasped. "Sakura-chan!"

Psycho held the Cardmistress by her collar, then wrapped his arm around her. "Oooooooo, a pin cushion!" A sword appeared in his hand. "Let's use it!" he said, pointing the blade at Sakura's side.

"No!" Syaoran rushed forward. "Sakura!"

Cracker appeared before the Chinese magician. "Not so fast! Graviton Blaster!" He fired his belt cannons and hit Syaoran, causing him to fall to the ground. His sword landed before him with a clang.

As Syaoran struggled with the intense gravity overwhelming his body, Kerberos and Yue flew at the evil clown. "Sakura, hang in there!" Kerberos cried.

"Power Pound!"

Both Guardians received an explosive blow from Techno's hammer. The hunchback giggled madly from above as Kerberos and Yue hit the ground hard.

Psycho laughed at the would-be rescuers. "Anyone else want to be a hero?" he asked, the tip of his sword barely touching Sakura's side.

Ready glared at Psycho. "Come on, guys! Let's save Sakura!" she shouted before running forward.

"Wait, Ready!" Spinel Sun shouted. "We need a plan!"

"I got her!" Techno flew at the Starlighter. "Mad...!"

"Ready!" Pegasus Uni rammed the hunchback, knocking him aside. As Techno struggled with the winged unicorn, Ready ran past them. To make matters worse for Techno, Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun joined Pegasus Uni in fighting him.

"I'll get her!" Cracker fired his arm cannons at the red-haired girl.

"No..." Brandon muttered as Ready dodged the blasts. "O.G.!"

"I'm on it, boss!" O.G. withdrew into his shell and aimed for the giant Master. Brandon and Umbriel leapt onto the Shadowwalker's Guardian as he was about to charge.

"Hey, wait up!" Meiling cried as she jumped at the flying O.G. Umbriel grabbed her hand and pulled her in.

"Anxious to battle?" Umbriel asked.

Meiling grinned. "Let's just say I have a score to settle with that guy."

Umbriel nodded and faced forward. "Get ready to jump off."

"Like in a few seconds!" Brandon warned as they neared their target.

O.G. flew by Ready and headed towards Cracker. "What the...?" Cracker exclaimed.

"Now!" Brandon shouted, jumping off. Umbriel and Meiling followed him, and the bear Guardian crashed into the Master Cyber with a loud WHAM. Caught off-guard, Cracker fell to the ground along with O.G.

Along with the others, Brandon landed near Ready. "You okay?" he asked.

Ready smiled at him, which made him blush. "Never been better."

Both Umbriel and Meiling shook their heads at the sight. Nearby, Cracker tossed O.G. off him and got to his feet. "Why I outta..." the heavily armed Master growled as O.G. picked himself up.

"Aw, shaddup!" With a roar, O.G. ran forward and punched Cracker in the face. As the Master Cyber staggered backwards, O.G. delivered another punch to his stomach, forcing him to double over. A kick to the face sent Cracker to the ground. "Get going! I'll handle this creep!" O.G. yelled to the others.

As Ready led Brandon and Umbriel towards Psycho, Cracker recovered and got back on his feet. "Yeah, right! Dynamite Punch!" he said, throwing a glowing fist into O.G.'s face. The resulting explosion made O.G. crash to the ground. Walking up to the Guardian, Cracker looked disdainfully at him. "Stinking Guardian. Nothing but a waste of magical energy," he said, aiming his shoulder cannons at the large bear. The weapons began to charge up. "Devastator...!"

"Kyaaaaaiiiiiiii!" Meiling delivered a flying jump kick into the Master Cyber's back, sending him forward. O.G. kicked him with both legs, and Cracker reunited with the ground. Meiling got out of the way before the impact.

"You!" Cracker snarled as he saw Meiling join O.G.

"Come on!" Meiling taunted, gesturing towards her.

O.G. got up. "Kid, you've got guts," he said with a grin.

Syaoran felt his limbs getting lighter. Grabbing his sword, he rose and faced Psycho. "Let her go!"

"Let me think...No!" Laughing, the evil clown got ready to plunge his sword into his captive.

A hand reached out and grabbed the clown's arm, stopping him from carrying out his murderous motion. Psycho's head turned to see who was holding him. "You!"

Sakura got a glimpse of her would-be savior. "Yue-san!"

"No more games, clown!" Yue said menacingly as he tightened his grip. The sword fell to the ground.

Kerberos dashed out and clamped his teeth down on Psycho's leg. "Hurry up, gaki!" he yelled to Syaoran through a mouthful of metal.

Sheathing his sword, Syaoran ran towards Psycho as he struggled with the Guardians. Despite their efforts, the clown's hold on Sakura was still strong. "Syaoran-kun, help me!" the Cardmistress cried, reaching out for him.

Syaoran grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled as hard as he could, but Psycho's arm would not budge. Yue reached for the arm and tried to pull it off his mistress. Ignoring the Sun Guardian biting into his leg, Psycho kept his hold on Sakura. "Sorry, boys, but she's staying with me!" he declared mockingly.

"No, she won't!" Still holding Sakura's hand, Syaoran reached for an ofuda and slapped it on the clown's arm. "Sakura, don't panic!"

The ofuda burst into flames before Sakura's eyes. "Aaaaagh!" Psycho cried, releasing his hold on the Cardmistress and waving his arm in the air. Syaoran pulled her into his arms and took her to safety, leaving Psycho to deal with the Guardians. "Sakura..." he began.

"Arigato, Syaoran-kun," Sakura said softly. Then she realized something. "My Wand!" she exclaimed, pointing to it next to Psycho's feet.

Ready, Brandon, and Umbriel ran up to them. "Hey guys," Ready greeted.

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cried with concern as she and Maya rode Lupe towards the Cardmistress and the Chinese magician. Leaping off the wolf as she stopped, Tomoyo ran up to her friend. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, but..." Sakura pointed to her Star Wand.

"Leave it to me," Umbriel said, dashing forward.

Psycho snarled. "Joy Buzzer!" An electric charge ran through his body, catching both Kerberos and Yue by surprise. Psycho elbowed the Moon Guardian aside and kicked the Sun Guardian off.

"Kerberos!" With a howl, Lupe charged at the evil clown.

"Awwww, what a cute doggie," Psycho said. "I just love hot dogs!" he added, firing a Joy Buzzer at Lupe.

The wolf Guardian jumped over the blast. "This is for Kerberos!" she snarled. She transformed into a spinning projectile and struck Psycho in the chest.

As Lupe knocked Psycho to the ground, Umbriel recovered the Star Wand. "Cardmistress, catch!" he said, throwing it to Sakura.

The Cardmistress caught it with both hands. "Arigato!"

Psycho knocked Lupe off him and rose. Around him, the Guardians gathered. "Oh, so you all want to die? Fine by me!"

Meanwhile, Techno was trying to fight three very angry Guardians. "Now it's payback time, you reject from a Frankenstein film!" Ruby Moon shouted angrily.

"I think not. Rocket Hammer!" Techno fired a missile at the Guardians.

Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun took to the air. "I don't see making him mad as an excellent strategy," the purple Sun Guardian told his Moon counterpart.

Techno shook his fist at them. "You can't escape me! Vile...!"

Pegasus Uni blasted the hunchback from behind with star blasts. "Now!" she yelled to the others as Techno stumbled.

"Go for the hammer!" Spinel Sun suggested, firing at the target.

Spinel Sun's shot knocked Techno's hammer out of his hand. The weapon landed a little to his right. The hunchback ran towards it, but a crystal shot from Ruby Moon reduced it to nothingness.

"I don't need my hammer to beat you three!" Techno shouted. "Mad Bomber!" He tossed a large number of gigantic Time Bombs at the three Guardians.

Pegasus Uni flapped her wings rapidly. "Return to sender!" she declared as she blew the bombs back with a powerful wind.

Before Techno could make another move, the bombs rained down on him. "Gaaaaahhhh!" he cried as he was buried in his own explosives. A few seconds later, all of them exploded.

"Ouch," Pegasus Uni remarked.

Through the smoke, Spinel Sun made out Techno. He was still on his feet, but barely. "These Masters are a tough group, wouldn't you say?"

"Excuse me." Ruby Moon flew at the hunchback. Before Techno knew it, he became the recipient of a powerful punch to the face.

"Aaaaaaaaaa!" Techno yelled as he took an unwilling flight.

Ruby Moon glared at the flying Master Cyber. "That was for making me think you were selling makeup."

Meiling watched as O.G. and Cracker locked arms in a shoving match. Both titans strained to push the other down, but so far, they were holding out.

"Give up, you worthless piece of magical trash?" Cracker asked.

"Give up?" O.G. pushed harder. "I don't think so, you walking tin can."

"You cannot defeat the Cyber World!" Cracker declared, pushing harder.

"Says who?" O.G. snarled, pushing even harder.

Both felt the increased pressure. Sparks flew out of their arms as they pushed. O.G. and Cracker willed their feet to dig deeper into the ground.

O.G. felt himself sliding back. His push weakened. "Come on, O.G.!" Meiling shouted encouragingly. "Hang in there!"

"Ha!" Cracker shoved, and O.G. fell to the ground. "Now, let's try this again!" he said, aiming his shoulder cannons at him again. Meiling got ready to rush the robot, but Cracker was prepared. "Not this time, girlie. Graviton Blaster!"

A blast from a belt cannon forced Meiling to experience the unpleasant feeling of increased gravity. As she fell to the ground, Cracker charged his weapons. "For the User and the Cyber World! Devastator...!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

"Huh?" Cracker turned towards the sound of the noise. Before he knew it, Techno rammed into him. The hunchback's spikes embedded themselves into the titan. "Hey!" Cracker cried as he tried to keep his balance.

Meiling felt gravity return to normal. Getting up and seeing the two Master Cybers in trouble, she broke into a run. Leaping into the air, she kicked Techno in the chest, driving him further into Cracker. She flipped away and landed besides O.G.

"Get off me!" Cracker yelled to his fellow Master Cyber as he tugged on him.

"I can't!" Techno answered, wiggling his limbs. "I'm stuck!"

On his feet again, O.G. faced the unwilling two-in-one. "My turn, boys." His cannons popped out. "Candygram!" he shouted, launching two missiles at them.

"Uh oh!" both Master Cybers exclaimed before the big boom happened.

Psycho was having better luck against his opponents. Around him, Yue and the other animal Guardians laid on the ground, still breathing. "Well, that was fun!" Psycho said wickedly. "Who's next?" Scanning the area, his eyes rested on Sakura. "Hey, Sakura, want to play?"

Clutching his sword, Syaoran stepped forward. "Face me, clown!"

Psycho wagged a finger. "Er, hold on there, kiddo." He turned around sharply and punched an attacking Yue in the stomach. As the Moon Guardian staggered to the ground, Kerberos flew at Psycho only to get a kick in the face. Incensed at the sight of the Sun Guardian going down, Lupe ran at the evil clown. "Psycho Trick!" Psycho said, gesturing at the charging wolf. A muzzle and leash appeared on Lupe's snout. "Bad dog!" he said, yanking on the leash. "To the pound with you!" he said, flinging the wolf onto Kerberos. Seeing all three Guardians down again, he faced Syaoran. "Okay, now I'm ready."

"Lupe!" Maya shouted, getting only a little groan from her Guardian.

"Kerberos-san! Yue-san!" Sakura yelled, getting the same response.

With his sword raised, Syaoran charged. Psycho made a sword appear in his hand and blocked the incoming swing.

"Tell me, kid, why do you want to throw your life away for this girl?" Psycho asked as he attempted another blow.

"Because I love her!" Syaoran answered, knocking the swing aside and making a thrust at Psycho's chest.

The evil clown leaped back. "Aw, how sweet. I'll be sure to put your corpses together." Laughing, he made more swords appear in his hand. "Kiss your boyfriend goodbye, Cardmistress!" he shouted as he threw the swords at Syaoran.

Ready aimed her Staff at the incoming weapons. "Shining Charm!" As the resulting energy wave vaporized the swords, Umbriel aimed an energy wave from his sword at the evil clown.

"Touch of Darkness!" Brandon shouted, firing a beam of dark energy from his finger.

"Raitei shourai!" Syaoran cried, shooting a thunderbolt from his sword at his enemy.

Psycho jumped over the attacks and hovered above everyone. "Ha! Psycho Bomb!" Three energy orbs shot out of his free hand and flew at Sakura.

Maya pointed her Ring upward. "Metal!" A metal panel appeared above Sakura and took the full brunt of Psycho's attack. Then it transformed into a buzzsaw and flew at Psycho.

With one slash of his sword, Psycho reduced the buzzsaw into worthless halves. "You people don't get it! You can't defeat me so easily!"

The clown got a combined crystal, star shot, and beam attack in the chest. "What does it take to shut this guy up?" Ruby Moon asked as she led Spinel Sun and Pegasus Uni towards him.

Psycho snarled as he clutched his chest with one hand. "More than you've got, you bug-winged crossdresser. Psycho Trick!" He stretched out one arm and fired confetti at the charging Guardians. The strips of paper flew around them, then wrapped themselves around their targets.

"Can't...break...free..." Pegasus Uni said as she struggled against her restraints.

"Don't give up, guys!" Ready shouted encouragingly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, meet gravity!" Psycho said, bringing his hands down. All three Guardians fell to the ground with a crash.

"Ruby-san! Spinel-san! Uni-san!" Sakura cried as she ran to the fallen Guardians with the others.

Psycho laughed at the sight. "How pathetic! Your little friends can't hurt me, Sakura!"

Psycho failed to see the two missiles heading his way. Sakura and the others watched as the clown was caught in a big explosion and the following dark cloud.

O.G. and Meiling showed up. "Hey, boss," O.G. greeted with a wave.

"I hope we're not too late," Meiling said.

"Just in time," Brandon said. He grinned at Meiling's load. "I see you got rid of the other Stooges."

Meiling grinned back as she pointed to what she was dragging behind her. Still stuck together, Cracker and Techno groaned.

"Sugoi!" Tomoyo captured the two defeated Master Cybers on camera. "Sakura-chan, could you stand next to them and pose?"

"Hoe," Sakura said, sweatdropping.

"You've been having better luck than us, I'm afraid," Maya said, gesturing towards all the fallen Guardians.

Syaoran glanced at O.G., then at Meiling. "You've been working with this monster?" he asked his cousin.

Brandon got into Syaoran's face. "What was that?" he said through clenched teeth, showing the Chinese magician his fist.

"He's not a bad guy to have on your side in a fight," Meiling commented, pointing at O.G.

"We kicked robot butt, baby!" O.G. declared, raising his fists in the air.

Umbriel turned to see Psycho still standing in the sky. "Do not celebrate just yet," he said, readying his sword.

"Boy, smoking is bad for your health!" the evil clown remarked, waving away the smoke. "Good thing I'm not human. Too bad you are!" Dark smoke emerged from his hand and descended to the ground.

Soon, everyone on the ground was having a coughing fit. "Great," Brandon said with a cough. "We get to die in LA smog."

Syaoran searched the thick darkness for the Cardmistress. "Sakura, where are you?" he called between coughs.

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cried.

"Over...(cough)...here!" Sakura cried.

Both made their way to where Sakura was shouting from and reached out for her. The others followed them. "Keep talking, Sakura! We're on our way!" Ready called back.

"Good! Keep talking! It makes it easier for me to kill you!" Psycho laughed as he threw sword after sword into the smoke.

Trusting his instincts, Syaoran pulled someone aside in time to avoid a falling sword. Relief filled him when he saw Sakura's face. "Thank goodness you're all right," he said.

"We won't be for long if we don't stop Psycho," Sakura said.

"Leave it to me!" O.G. declared from nearby. He started firing his cannons skyward in a wild manner.

Psycho laughed as O.G.'s shots hit other targets randomly. "Thanks for the help!" He flung a Time Bomb to where the missiles were coming from.

Sakura heard something land hard. "Hoe?"

Umbriel looked towards the spot. "Scatter!"

Sakura and Syaoran ran away with Tomoyo in tow. Seeing them moving in the smoke, Umbriel led the other kids after them. All of them heard an explosion followed by something crashing to the ground.

"O.G.!" Brandon yelled.

"I hear you!" Psycho teased as he flung another Time Bomb towards the sound of Brandon's voice.

The Time Bomb landed at Maya's feet. "Torres-san!" Meiling yelled, leaping at her. The tackle threw them both forward just as the bomb exploded. Everyone was thrown back by the explosion.

Syaoran landed with Sakura in his arms. "Sakura?" he asked.

"I'm fine, Syaoran-kun," Sakura answered.

"So am I," Tomoyo answered.

"As am I as well as the others," Umbriel said, his eyes sweeping the area. The sight of Ready and Brandon in each other's arms caused a small smile on the Darkling's face.

"We're fine, Sakura," Ready said as she got up with Brandon.

"Uh, yeah," Brandon added, stuck on whether to separate from his friend or not.

Meiling looked down at Maya. "Torres-san?" She shook the Ecomancer. "Torres-san?"

Maya let out a low moan. "My arm..."

Ready let go of Brandon and with Umbriel's help found her friend. She helped Meiling stand Maya up. The Ecomancer winced as she was raised, clutching her arm. "I think it's broken," she said. "I must've fallen on it hard or something."

"I can take care of that," Ready said, stretching out her arm.

A small explosion next to them prevent Ready from healing Maya's injury. "Now what?" Meiling said in a whisper.

"He's switched fully to explosives," Maya guessed as more explosions occurred nearby.

Psycho laughed as he lobbed bomb after bomb wildly into the dark smoke. "Wheeeeeeeee! This is a lot better than Battleship! Only one or two hits needed!"

Lying on his back, Brandon sprung up as another bomb detonated. "Um, somebody has to blow this smoke away before we get blown away."

"I can't," Maya said. "The pain's spread to my ring hand."

"I can do it," Sakura said, now standing with Syaoran and Tomoyo.

"So can I," Syaoran said, getting ready to pull out an ofuda.

"I can try Illumination," Ready offered, raising her Staff.

"Good, but how are we going to beat Laughing Boy once we lose the smoke?" Brandon asked as the bombs exploded around the group. "Our Guardians couldn't beat him, and we have as much chance as toothpicks taking on a tank."

"Are you doubting Sakura?" Syaoran said, flaring up. "Because if you are, assassin..."

An explosion threw Syaoran to the ground. Sakura rushed to his side first, followed by the others. More explosions filled the area.

"Is he playing with us?" Meiling wondered as Sakura helped Syaoran to his feet.

"He must be trying to herd us all into one spot," Maya hypothesized.

"The better to kill us all with one blow," Tomoyo said.

Umbriel looked upward. "I will handle this problem."

"How?" Tomoyo asked. "No one can see through this smoke to attack."

Umbriel raised his sword. "I can," he said, assuming a throwing position. After seeing his target through the darkness, the Darkling sent his sword flying.

Having determined where his targets were, Psycho readied another bomb. Just then, Umbriel's sword cut through the smoke and flew at the Master Cyber. Before Psycho could make his move, the sword embedded itself into his chest. "Aaaaaaaaaagh!" he yelled.

The smoke vanished. "Looks like we didn't have to blow it away after all," Ready commented.

Seeing Psycho struggling to pull out the sword, Syaoran took out his own blade. "Sakura," he said, motioning at his weapon, then at Psycho.

Sakura nodded, understanding what Syaoran was up to. She pulled out the appropriate Card. "Strike the one who threatens my friends! Thunder!" she cried as she released the Card's magic.

Syaoran pointed his sword at Psycho, making sure to aim for the sword in his chest. "Raitei shourai!" he shouted, firing a thunderbolt.

Sakura and Syaoran's attacks merged into a single thunderbolt and struck Umbriel's sword, sending a very large amount of electricity into the Master Cyber's. The evil clown screamed as the attack coursed throughout his body.

"Ah, a lightning rod," Tomoyo said, recording the moment.

Fully recovered from the bomb, O.G. slowly got to his feet. "Okay, time for a robot reunion!" Grabbing Cracker and Techno and lifting them over his head, the spiked shelled bear flung them at their fellow Master Cyber.

Everyone watched as Cracker and Techno crashed into Psycho. "Oooooooogh!" all three cried out.

*While they're still off-balance...* Sakura pulled out Windy. "Wind, become a binding chain! Windy!" she said, striking the Card with her Wand.

Windy emerged and flew at the Master Cybers. It wrapped itself around them, then spun rapidly to keep them from moving. Sakura-tachi watched the tornado as it spun its captives round and round and round.

"Let's finish them off!" Meiling said.

"Couldn't agree more." Brandon held his Shadowwalker Rod with both hands and aimed for the dark shapes in the tornado. "Shadow Demon!" he shouted. A black beam shot out of the Rod and formed into a humanoid shape with a bald head, red eyes, clawed hands, and bat wings.

Ready aimed her Starlighter Staff at the tornado. "Starlight Angel!" An energy beam shot out of the tip of the Staff and formed into a female angel.

Syaoran concentrated on the target, then made his move. "Raitei shourai!" he shouted, sending a powerful thunderbolt at the Master Cybers.

Sakura decided to join in. "Thunder!" she said, firing a thunderbolt of her own.

Through her camera lens, Tomoyo watched as all four magical attacks converged on their targets. All struck at the same time, treating Sakura's best friend and the others to a massive explosion. The loud KABOOM echoed through their ears, and their eyes took in the sight of bright light spreading and the tornado slowly disappearing.