Chapter 52: The New Transfer Student!: Unlocking The Keys! (Star Card Arc)

Although only a few months had passed since both Sakura and I had been declared masters of the clow cards. Things had returned to normal. Well, as normal as they could've gotten. In me and Sakura's bedroom, Kero was looking out the window, Sakura was at our desk doing something, and I was on my bed sitting down cross-legged, looking ahead in deep thought. And yet, I still was having trouble getting over that bad feeling that I had felt back several months ago. It was almost as if it was a warning, telling me to be ready for what was to come. "What a beautiful morning it is" Kero said. "So how does it feel to be the masters of the clow cards, champs, any different!?" Kero said as he turned towards Sakura and then to me while I still sat on my bed. "No, not really" I said as I turned to kero with my response. "I just wish there was a clow card that could've done my summer homework for me" Sakura said. "I don't think clow reed created one Sakura" I said knowing that she was joking. "I guess you're right on that one Zachary" Sakura said in response.

A considerable time later, Sakura and I had sensed a presence at Penguin Park. And so, the both of us, along with Madison, Kero, and Yue, went off to investigate. "Well, we've captured all of the clow cards, so what could be behind this?" Sakura asked to no one in particular. "I think you have to remember Sakura that the world of magic is always changing, and that even though all of the clow cards are now captured, that isn't going to be the only thing that winds up being what we face" I said in response to what she had asked. But as soon as I had finished my sentence. Huge vortexes of water shot up from the ground. "Where did those come from?!" I thought to myself. And it was then that I somehow knew that a whole new slew of problems was about to rear its ugly head. It was then that I decided to pull out my key, followed quickly thereafter by Sakura doing the same, "key of clow, power of magic, power of light, surrender the wand, the force ignite, RELEASE!" we chanted in unison, only this time nothing happened. "Release!" we said again, but again nothing. We then proceeded to try a couple more times only to be met with the same result. "This is really bad, how are either of us going to use the clow cards when neither of our keys are responding to our chants?" I thought to myself.

After a bit of a struggle with the water vortexes, and a stunning realization that neither myself or Sakura's respective keys were responding to our original chants. It became more and more obvious to the both of us that when and if those vortexes showed up again, neither of us would be able to defend ourselves, and on top of that we also would be unable to use the clow cards to protect everyone as well as ourselves. "This is extremely bad, if neither myself or Sakura can get our keys to respond before those vortexes reappear again, whenever that may be, then this could very well be the end for not just the both of us, but everyone that we hold dear" I thought to myself as we set off on our way home with everyone else. Not aware that I was ultimately right, this was now literally a case of sink, or swim.

It had been one harrowing week of events, this was largely due to the fact that at school, a new student had joined our class by the name of Eli Moon. At Tori and Julian's school, a new student had joined by the name of Ruby. To make things a bit more complicated, Eli had decided to befriend Sakura. Li had mixed feelings about it, while I was completely nervous about the whole thing, seeing as how Eli Moon was one of the characters that I knew nothing about when I had watched the show back in my world. The only thing I could do unfortunately, like Li, was stay cautious and keep my wits about me.

It had only been a day or two after our first encounter with the water vortexes, and ever since then a freak amount of rain had been falling over the town. And yet still, it showed no signs of letting up. A short time later, Sakura and I once again sensed the same presence at Penguin Park, and just like before we both went to investigate along with everyone else. Only this time, both of us knew, that if neither of us could get our keys to work, then we would be in serious trouble.

A short time after we had arrived at Penguin Park, the same water vortexes from before showed up again. And, just like before, Sakura and I pulled out our respective keys, "key of clow, power of magic, power of light, surrender the wand, the force ignite, RELEASE!" we chanted, but just like before, nothing happened. We then proceeded to say release several more times with the same result. It was then that the water vortexes began to move and chase after everyone. Keroberos told Yue to take both Sakura and I and get us someplace safe before he was swallowed up by one of the vortexes. Yue did try his best to keep the both of us safe, but it was only a matter of time before he too was swallowed up by one of the vortexes. A vortex then came and swallowed both Sakura and myself up as well. It was then that I noticed that everyone, including Madison, had been encased by a vortex. "We have to do something, otherwise they'll drown" I said. "We can't let that happen" Sakura said as she took her key, clutched it in her right hand, looked at me, who with some hesitation nodded, and followed suit. "We won't!" Sakura said as two gold circles showed up right behind the both of us, but rather than the original seal of clow, both had a star in the middle and a sun on one side of the circle and a moon on the other. "That's it, we've been calling out the wrong words!" Sakura said. "I figured there was something amiss when neither key was responding to our original chants" I said, realizing it as well.

It was then that Sakura put her arms out in front her with one hand on top of the other both in a open fist. Taking her example, and with a hint of hesitation, I followed shortly after, "Oh key of the star, with powers burning bright, reveal the staff, and shine your light, RELEASE!" we chanted in unison as both of our respective staffs appeared in a gold flash of light in between our hands. Which once they did, we were both set free from the vortex. Sakura then pulled out a card, turned to me, to which I nodded, still with a hint of nervousness and still with some hesitation, only to realize that when Sakura threw the card up in the air and before we even had a chance to even hit the card, it floated back down again. "Hold on, why wont it work?" I thought to myself. It was then that Sakura looked at her staff and said "If the staffs have changed, then maybe the cards need to change too" It was then that Sakura threw the card up into the air, and as the clow card spun, we both raised our respective staffs "We call upon the powers of our stars, ancient forces near and far, clow card discard your former might, and draw your power from our light, Star Card!" We chanted. The clow card then stopped spinning, to which it changed from its original color to being blue on the front and pink on the back. A split second later the Fire card spirit emerged form the newly transformed card and evaporated all of the water vortexes, freeing everyone. It was then that I somehow knew, that this was the start of something truly special. And yet, I still nervous, knowing full well that this was still unknown territory that I was venturing into. But, at least now both Sakura and myself could finally use our respective staffs to defend ourselves, and also use the clow cards to defend ourselves, as well as everyone else.