Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ The Enemy Revealed ❯ Trapped in a Paradox ( Chapter 16 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Enemy Revealed
Chapter 16: Trapped in a Paradox

As Sakura, Ruby Moon, and the others stared at the sight before them, their friends below watched them. "Why have they stopped?" Yue wondered.

"Why aren't they attacking?" Meiling asked.

*Sakura, what's happening?* Syaoran thought.

"Curious?" Kaizer Cyberon said. "Let me provide you with a better view." With a wave of his hand, he made a Window appear before the assembled humans and Guardians. The first image was of Sakura and the others still staring silently at Algol. Then the image changed to that of the missing magician, Hiiragizawa Eriol, a.k.a. the reincarnation of Clow Read.

Silence gripped the group. Tomoyo was the first to break it. "Hiiragizawa-kun," she whispered.

"Eriol," Maya said as she recognized her mentor.

Finished with her task of defrosting the two Sun Guardians, Lupe tried to take in the sight of the young man who took in her mistress and her friends for magic training. "Eriol..."

Grumbling, Kerberos slowly got to his feet. He shook off the water in his fur. "What...happened?" he asked.

Lupe turned to the golden Sun Guardian. "Kerberos!" she cried. "You're okay!"

Kerberos winced. "A little lower, will ya?" he requested.

"Er, sorry," Lupe apologized, blushing a little. Her mood quickly shifted from joy to seriousness. "We have a problem," she informed Kerberos, pointing towards the Window.

Kerberos' golden eyes widened at shock at the sight of the unconscious Eriol. "Nani?"

Spinel Sun shook out his wet fur and joined Kerberos and Lupe. "What's going...?" he started to ask before seeing Eriol.

Back in the sky, Ready looked over the unconscious figure in the tube. "Eriol?" she asked, getting no response.

O.G. flew closer to Pegasus Uni. "Is he...?" Brandon began.

"I can't tell," Ready answered. "He's just...lying there."

"I'll get him out!" Ruby Moon declared. "Everyone get back!" As the others obeyed her, the Moon Guardian charged up both fists and unleashed a barrage of crystals at Algol. The barrier activated and flashed as it took the blows.

"Nothing's happening!" Brandon shouted.

"Uni, help her out!" Ready ordered her Guardian.

Pegasus Uni's horn glowed and fired a beam at the spot Ruby Moon was hitting. The barrier flashed more, but showed no signs of damage.

"More power, Uni!" Ready commanded.

"I'm giving it all I've got, Ready!" the winged unicorn said, straining to give it her all.

"I'll help out!" Ready aimed her Staff at the barrier. "Starbolt!" she cried, joining her blast with the others' attacks.

Charging up his finger, Brandon pointed it at the spot the others were focused on. "Touch of Darkness!" he cried, firing a dark energy beam.

As the combined attack continued to strike the barrier, Sakura carefully flew in to examine the situation from the side. *Nothing's happening!* she thought, panicking. Her eyes shifted to Eriol. "Wait, Eriol-kun's moving!" she said, seeing some movement from the captive magician.

Everyone on the ground watched the rescue effort via the Window. "He's still alive," Spinel Sun observed with relief.

Kaizer Cyberon sneered. "Not for long."

His eyes still closed, Eriol slowly raised his head. "Don't worry, Eriol-kun! We'll get you out!" Sakura shouted over the noise of energy crashing into energy.

Ruby Moon studied the barrier carefully and saw it slowly fading. "Hey, it's weakening! Keep it up!" she shouted encouragingly. Ready, Brandon, and Pegasus Uni responded by increasing their efforts.

Sakura noticed the cracks forming in the barrier. "Keep it up, minna! Ganbatte!" she cheered.

"Hey, they're actually doing it," Kerberos said.

"Hmmmmmm..." Umbriel watched his mistress and the others continue to blast the barrier. "Something is wrong."

"I don't think so," Kerberos disagreed. "If they keep it up, Eriol will be free, and we can destroy that floating statue."

Sakura was filled with joy as the barrier continued to buckle under the combined energy attack. "Don't worry, Eriol-kun! You're almost free now!"

"Quickly, Sakura!" Ruby Moon shouted over the noise. "Use your sword on the place we weakened!"

"Un," Sakura said with a nod. Raising her sword, she prepared to strike a powerful blow. Then, she froze.

"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo said, puzzled as she saw her friend stop.

"Nani?" Kerberos said as the spectacle played out on the Window. "Now what's she doing?"

"Look at Eriol!" Yue shouted, pointing to him.

Sakura looked on as Eriol's mouth opened and released a loud scream that crept out through the cracks in the barrier. "Eriol-kun!" the Cardmistress shouted.

The scream reached the ears of the others. "What's going on?" Ruby Moon asked Sakura.

"Hey, hit that thing now, or we'll never get him out!" Brandon shouted to Sakura, trying his best to ignore Eriol's screaming.

Sakura watched as Eriol continued to scream in pain and shake violently in his bonds. "Minna, stop firing!" she shouted.

"But, Sakura..." Ruby Moon began.

"Do it!" Ready shouted, seeing Eriol in pain.

The attack ceased, and the barrier became intact again. Eriol's mouth ceased to scream, and everyone above and on the ground watched as he slumped into unconsciousness again. His head bowed, and his arms went slack at his sides.

"Okay, would someone please explain to me what's going on?" Brandon asked.

"If you insist," the voice of Kaizer Cyberon sounded around them. A Window bearing the Emperor of the Cyber World's face appeared besides Algol.

Seeing her master still trapped on Algol, Ruby Moon rushed the giant Cyber and started punching rapidly. "Eriol!" she screamed as her punches bounced off the barrier.

"Ruby-san, please stop!" Sakura cried. "You're hurting him!"

Ruby Moon saw her master's hand twitch involuntarily. Stopping, the Moon Guardian turned her fury towards the Kaizer. "What have you done to him?" she demanded.

On the ground, Kaizer Cyberon laughed cruelly. "You mean you haven't figured it out? Come now, you Guardians have some spark of intelligence, don't you?"

"What have you done to Eriol-kun?" Sakura asked, looking into the eyes of the Kaizer.

"I've simply linked his fate to the fate of Algol's barrier," Kaizer Cyberon explained to both his audiences.

"What are you talking about?" Kerberos yelled.

"It's quite simple, really," Kaizer Cyberon said. "Mr. Hiiragizawa is now linked to the energy barrier that protects Algol from attack." His mouth formed a malevolent grin as he continued his explanation. "If you attack the barrier, he feels the equivalent of the force being used on it."

"Wait a sec here," Brandon said. "You mean if we blast the barrier, Eriol gets hurt?"

"Not only that, but if the barrier were to be destroyed..." Kaizer Cyberon paused and waited for a response.

Sakura did not disappoint him. "Then Eriol-kun would..." She stopped herself from mentioning the word "die," but the image played in her mind.

"Then you would have added another dead body to the ones you've already accumulated," Kaizer Cyberon said.

Syaoran seethed at the Kaizer's words. "How dare you keep blaming Sakura for all this!" he yelled.

Yue stepped up from behind. "I recommend restraint," he advised the Chinese magician.

Sakura stared into the Kaizer's eyes. "Why did you do this to Eriol-kun?" she demanded.

The Kaizer grinned wickedly. "Well, I had to find something for him to do after he failed to give me the information I needed."

"What information?" Ruby Moon asked angrily.

"That is none of your business," Kaizer Cyberon replied. "However, I will admit I was amazed at Mr. Hiiragizawa's high stamina. Despite all the torture my interrogator administered to him, he held on." The Kaizer looked thoughtful for a moment. "Of course, he did scream occasionally."

Sakura looked at the unconscious magician trapped in the tube. "Eriol-kun," she whispered.

"I wouldn't worry about him, Cardmistress," Kaizer Cyberon said. "After all, you're the one with the paradox to puzzle over."

"Hoe?" Sakura said, confused.

"Paradox?" Kerberos said.

"It's really simple, Kerberos," Spinel Sun said. "We need to destroy Algol in order to save the city, but if we attack Algol, we'll trigger the defense barrier and hurt Eriol."

"So if Sakura-chan destroys the barrier, Eriol-kun will die," Tomoyo said.

"The simplest way to put it is 'doomed if you do, doomed if you don't,'" Maya elaborated. "We attack Algol, we'll kill Eriol. We don't attack Algol, it'll destroy Tokyo."

"What a choice," Meiling said, keeping her eyes on the Kaizer and his entourage. "This guy has a really twisted mind."

*What will I do?* Sakura asked herself as she looked at the helpless Eriol. *I can't break through the barrier without hurting Eriol-kun, but if I don't, we won't be able to stop Algol from destroying the city.*

"Pondering what to do, Miss Kinomoto?" Kaizer Cyberon asked. "Which is more important, your friend or the lives of everyone in Tokyo?" An evil grin crossed his face once again. "Of course, you can save both if you just cooperate with me."

Ruby Moon glared at the Kaizer's image. "Here's our answer!" She sent a powerful stream of crystals into the Window, shattering it.

"Tempermental, isn't she, Database?" Kaizer Cyberon said after seeing the scene on the ground-based Window.

"She does possess the inherent flaws of her creator's species," Database commented.

"How true," the Kaizer said in agreement with a sigh.

Ruby Moon took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but he was really getting on my nerves," she said to the others.

A roar came from the nearby building. "Guys, I think the triple threat's up," Brandon said, glancing at the spot.

Pegasus Uni looked at the magician trapped in the tube. "Oh dear..."

"We've got to get him out of there!" Ready cried out. In her mind, she heard Kaho's soft sobs. "Miss Mizuki's counting on us."

"Ready, we can't just attack," Pegasus Uni said firmly. "Otherwise, Miss Mizuki will be seeing Eriol again...in a coffin."

"If he's lucky to stay in one piece," Brandon said grimly, his eyes darting occasionally to the site of Cyberus' crash.

"We can't give up!" Sakura declared. "We need to save Eriol-kun."

"But how?" O.G. asked. "We break the barrier, we kill Eriol. We don't break the barrier, this big floating scrapheap blows up more of Tokyo until the nut case below gets your magical stuff, and I don't think you're going to do that."

*No, I can't surrender my Cards and Key, but if I don't...* Sakura looked at Eriol. *There must be a way to free Eriol-kun without hurting him. But how?*

Tomoyo noted Sakura as she pondered the dilemma she was caught in. "Sakura-chan..." she whispered.

Brandon saw Cyberus' three heads stick out of the broken window. "Guys..."

*If I try to destroy Algol, Eriol-kun will die. If I don't try, Algol will destroy Tokyo,* Sakura thought. *If I could get past the barrier without hurting Eriol-kun...* She gasped with realization and shuffled through her Cards.

"Sakura, what are you doing?" Ruby Moon asked as the Cardmistress searched her deck of magical cards.

Cyberus roared and took off towards the small group of magicians and the Guardians. "Better make it quick, Sakura!" Brandon yelled.

"Come on!" Ruby Moon yelled, taking off to intercept the dragon Cyber.

"O.G., let's go!" Brandon shouted, preparing for another aerial shootout. "Ready, stay here with Sakura."

"What?" Ready exclaimed.

"Just in case we need backup." After briefly looking into Ready's blue eyes, Brandon rode O.G. towards the advancing Cyberus.

"Thunder of Doom!" Cyberus cried out, starting the battle with a thunderbolt. Ruby Moon and O.G. retaliated with crystal shots and missiles.

As Cyberus and his opponents engaged in another firefight, Sakura pulled out the Card she was looking for. "Yatta! I got it!"

Pegasus Uni flew in closer to Sakura so she and Ready could see what the Sakura Card was. "I believe that will work," the winged unicorn remarked.

"Go for it, Sakura," Ready said encouragingly.

Sakura's friends saw a close-up of the Card. "The Through Card," Syaoran said.

"Do you think it'll work?" Meiling asked.

"It will," Tomoyo said.

"Why are you optimistic?" Umbriel asked.

"Because it's Sakura-chan," Tomoyo answered.

"Clever little girl," Kaizer Cyberon said, shifting his gaze from the Window to Algol. His red eye focused on the Cardmistress.

Syaoran noticed the Kaizer's movements. *What is he doing?* he thought.

Kaizer Cyberon's hand crackled with black electricity. He slowly raised it and pointed two fingers skyward. "Dark Lightning!" he shouted, smiling coldly as he fired towards his intended target.

Holding the Through Card before her, Sakura prepared to release its magic. After transforming her Wand back into its original form, she tossed the Card before her and raised her Wand. "Help me pass that deadly barrier! Thr...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The Dark Lightning shot out from below and struck Sakura before she could complete her spell. Tendrils of ebony-colored electricity engulfed and coursed through the Cardmistress' body.

Pegasus Uni barely moved away in time to avoid the attack. "Sakura!" Ready shouted, reaching out to her with her Staff.

"Ready, don't!" Pegasus Uni warned, keeping away from the Cardmistress.

Avoiding a River of Sorrow, Ruby Moon saw the surprise attack. "Sakura!"

Brandon also noticed. "Oh, man!" he shouted as he and O.G. barely dodged a Fire of Rage.

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cried.

"Kinomoto-san!" Meiling shouted.

Syaoran watched helplessly as Sakura succumbed to the Kaizer's attack. "Sakura!" he yelled.

Unable to hear anything, Sakura felt her limbs go numb. The wings on her back faded away. Her mouth closed off all screams. Her eyelids got heavy, and the last thing she saw was Eriol in the tube.

Watching Sakura on his red eye, Kaizer Cyberon chuckled evilly. "Magicians should be able to defy gravity, don't you think, Mr. Li?" he remarked to the Chinese magician.

"You..." Glaring at Kaizer Cyberon, Syaoran slowly broke away from the others.

"But then, they usually have to be conscious to do so." With that, Kaizer Cyberon deactivated his Dark Lightning attack.

Slipping out of the Cardmistress' hand, the Star Wand preceded Sakura as it fell along with the Through Card. Gravity also took over the unconscious Sakura and plunged her towards the ground. Her friends watched with horror as she descended quickly. Suddenly, the Window vanished.

"She is coming to you soon. No surprise there," Kaizer Cyberon said.

Without a word, Yue flew upward. "Hey, wait up!" Kerberos yelled, taking off after the Moon Guardian.

"Kerberos, be careful!" Lupe yelled after the departing winged lion.

Above, Ready watched the helpless Cardmistress. "Uni..."

"I'm on it! Hang on!" Pegasus Uni dove towards Sakura.

Seeing Ready and Pegasus Uni go after Sakura, Cyberus prepared to go after them. A missile to the chest from O.G. stopped him.

"You're not getting past us," Brandon threatened while Ruby Moon joined him. Cyberus growled at them, and the firefight resumed.

Yue and Kerberos sped towards Sakura. The Moon Guardian headed towards Sakura while the Sun Guardian went after the Star Wand and the Through Card.

"She's falling too fast for us!" Pegasus Uni shouted. "We won't be able to make it!"

"Go faster!" Ready yelled.

Yue stopped below Sakura and held out his hands. His mistress fell into his arms safely. Ready and Pegasus Uni stopped before him. "Whew," Ready remarked upon seeing Sakura in the Moon Guardian's arms.

Nearby, Kerberos caught up to the Star Wand and clamped his mouth around it. "Damn!" he cursed as the Through Card passed by him.

"We got it!" Ready shouted as she and Pegasus Uni went after the falling Sakura Card. Fortunately for them, the young Starlighter caught it on her first try.

With the small fight near Algol behind them, the rescue party rejoined the others. "Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo said, rushing over to her fallen friend. Soon everyone crowded around Yue.

Yue laid his mistress gently on the ground. "She is still alive," he reported.

"I agree," Maya said, placing her fingers on Sakura's neck. "She's still got a pulse."

Syaoran held Sakura's hand and looked at her face. "Sakura," he whispered.

"How touching."

Syaoran turned around and glared at Kaizer Cyberon. Letting go of Sakura and clutching his sword, he got to his feet.

"I must confess that I didn't expect the Cardmistress to have a lot of stamina," the Kaizer continued. "Of course, she's still alive only because I didn't fully utilize the power of my Dark Lightning."

"If that happened, there wouldn't be a body," Database elaborated.

"How true. Perhaps I should have vaporized her, after all. The Cards and Key would have survived," the Kaizer said thoughtfully. "Besides, one less human is a plus in my book."

"Indeed, Majesty," Database agreed with a nod.

"You..." Syaoran said menacingly under his breath.

"Before I claim the Cardmistress' magical objects, I'll just destroy another section of Tokyo." Kaizer Cyberon looked upward at his chosen instrument of destruction. "Algol, initiate..."

"Please take care of Sakura, stuffed animal," Syaoran whispered to Kerberos.

"Huh?" Kerberos said.

Before anyone could stop him, Syaoran charged at the Kaizer. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" he yelled, his sword in front of him ready to strike.

"Syaoran, wait!" Meiling shouted.

"My, what a temper," Database remarked as the Chinese magician continued his charge.

"Hmph," the Kaizer remarked as Syaoran headed his way. "Protectors, delete this human garbage," he ordered his guards coolly.

The two guards rushed out to meet Syaoran. Seeing them, the Chinese magician pulled out an ofuda. "Raitei shourai!" he shouted, striking it and sending a thunderbolt at the Protectors.

The two Cybers responded by activating energy shields which blocked the attack. Then they aimed their staffs at Syaoran and fired. Dodging the blasts, Syaoran leapt towards one Protector and made a swing at it. The Protector blocked the blade with its staff, and Syaoran landed before it. The other Protector joined its comrade in a staredown with the Chinese magician. After a minute, Syaoran lunged at the Protectors and attacked with his sword. Soon he found himself attacking, blocking, and dodging.

Tired of attacking and counterattacking, the Protectors transformed back into flying discs. Spikes shot out of their sides, and they spun towards Syaoran. He ducked, but not in time to avoid getting his shoulder cut by a sharp point.

Getting back on his feet, Syaoran watched as the Protectors hovered above him. Targeting the Chinese magician, the Cybers deployed missiles towards him. They watched as the projectiles made contact, causing a large explosion.

"Syaoran!" Meiling shouted.

"That will teach all humans never to defy you, Majesty," Database said to his leader.

Kaizer Cyberon said nothing as he scanned the place of impact with his red eye. He looked past the smoke as the Protectors hovered closer for a better view. "Hm?"

To everyone's surprise, Syaoran leapt out with his sword raised over his head. Unable to respond in time, the nearest Protector was cleaved in half. As it disintegrated, Syaoran faced the remaining Cyber.

Now alone, the Protector launched another missile at the Chinese magician. Syaoran leapt over the projectile and took out an ofuda. "Ka shin!" he cried, striking it. A burst of fire emerged and engulfed the flying disc.

The Protector returned to robot mode and landed. Despite the fire raging all over its body, it recalled its staff and activated a beam blade at its tip. Without hesitation, Syaoran charged the enflamed Cyber and swung his sword hard. The Protector tried to block the attack with its staff, but the blade sliced through it and the Cyber's torso.

After the Protector faded into nothingness, Syaoran faced the Kaizer. Glaring and scowling at the young emperor, he pointed his blade at him.

Tomoyo aimed her camcorder in that direction. "Li-kun looks mad," she remarked.

"Tell me about it," Meiling said.

"Can you blame him?" Ready said, looking at Sakura.

"Is this some sort of joke?" the Kaizer taunted, eyeing the Chinese magician.

"You've caused enough suffering today," Syaoran said angrily. "It ends now!"

Database hovered forward and blocked the Kaizer with his body. "Actually, your existence ends now, human."

"Hold it, Database," Kaizer Cyberon said, amused at Syaoran's boldness. "I'll handle this pest myself."

Database turned and faced his emperor. "Majesty, allow me to delete this human filth for you. A superior being such as yourself does not need to waste his powers on this inferior beast," he said.

"I can take care of this human," Kaizer Cyberon said, disdain marking the word "human." "Go and assist Cyberus in taking out the ones near Algol."

Database looked at the others with Sakura. "What about them?"

"I'll deal with them after I dispatch Mr. Li," the Kaizer answered.

Database bowed his head. "By your command, Majesty," he said obediently before vanishing.

Kaizer Cyberon faced the strongest magician from the Li clan. "Congratulations, Mr. Li. You've bravely volunteered to sacrifice your life in place of the ones Algol was about to extinguish," he stated.

Syaoran said nothing in response. Instead, he lowered his sword and glared at the Kaizer.

"Don't fight him!" Spinel Sun warned the Li magician. "You have no idea how powerful he is!"

"What are you talking about?" Meiling said, fixing her gaze on the Moon Guardian. "Syaoran can defeat him."

"Kaizer Cyberon defeated Eriol with little effort," Spinel Sun reminded her. "I doubt Syaoran stands a chance."

"You'd better listen to the talking panther, Mr. Li," the Kaizer said mockingly with a brief chuckle. "You have no idea about the power I possess."

Syaoran broke his silence. "I know your power. I know what magic you use."

"Oh, really?" Kaizer Cyberon said, crossing his arms across his chest. "Then you know you can't win."

Syaoran's free hand formed a fist at his side. "I don't know how you can utilize that power in this manner, but it won't stop me from defeating you." With the image of Sakura on the ground in his mind, he swung his sword and assumed a battle position. "Face me, Kaizer Cyberon!"

Kaizer Cyberon smiled coldly. "Your funeral."

Grimacing, Syaoran kept his sword in front of him. The Kaizer kept his ground and returned the intense glare from the Chinese magician.