By: Spinel Sun
41. The Sands of Time
Inside Reedington Elementary
Miss Mackenzie: Today, we'll use our class time to discuss what we'll be doing for Reedington Elementary's Arts Festival.
All: Yeah!
Sakura: I wonder what our class will be doing this year.
Madison: I can't wait to find out!
Meilin: I didn't know you guys had an Art's Festival here as well.
Sakura: The whole school puts it on together! It's fun!
Madison: Last year we did a musical!
Meilin: Cool!
Miss Mackenzie: So, going by what everyone voted on yesterday, it looks like our class will be doing a play for the Arts Festival.
All: Yeah!
Sakura: All right! Wonder which one we'll do? Huh?
Miss Mackenzie: Both our class and the grade six class will be doing plays, but they're doing a Shakespearean play, and so, I was thinking we will do one of the classic fairy tales. What do you think?
Sakura (Thinking): The Dream Card showed me that dream. And I'm sure it's Miss Mackenzie! Kero said that the Dream Card often shows you things to come. So, does that mean it's going to come true? There's something about Miss Mackenzie. She makes me feel safe, but why is she in my dream?
Miss Mackenzie: Okay, then. The play we'll be doing is Sleeping Beauty. And for those who is going to play which part I want everyone to have a fair chance at all the roles, so we'll decide by a random draw. Please bring something to write with and come up to the black board in alphabetical order.
All: Okay!
Sakura: I wonder who's going to play the prince.
Meilin: There!
Miss Mackenzie: Don't be so cautious. It won't be long now.
Meilin: Finish choosing your space? What's up?
Sakura: Huh? What's going on?
Li: Miss Mackenzie said "it won't be long now".
Sakura: What won't?
Li: I don't know, but there's something about her that I just don't trust.
Miss Mackenzie: Let's see the results.
Meilin: Sleeping Beauty is the one where the Wicked Witch makes the princess fall asleep and then the handsome prince has to wake her up with a kiss, right?
Madison: Yeah! You got it!
Meilin: This will be good.
Miss Mackenzie: And our prince and princess will be…
Inside Sakura's Home
Kero: Okay, so you're the prince? Then who's going to play the princess?
Sakura: Li is! Miss Mackenzie said that she wanted us to have a fair chance at every role.
Kero: Miss Mackenzie…is she the one in the dream that the Dream Card showed you? There is something about that woman…I don't get it…even the kid senses something. I'm not sure if it's her, but I've been sensing someone very powerful in this town lately. Which is why…I'm gonna come with you. If this Miss Mackenzie got something to hide, I'm gonna find it!
Outside Reedington Elementary
Sakura: I am not afraid of the wicked witch! With my magic sword, and my bravery, I will save the princess! Oh, man! Oh…I can't believe I'm the prince!
Li: Oh, my! What could this be? A needle? Ah!
Sakura: Are you practising you lines?
Li: Whoa!
Sakura: Oh! Are you okay?
Li: I'm fine!
Sakura: It's pretty stressful, huh? I'm so nervous. I've been reading the play all morning. I don't know how we're going to remember all these lines. So, how are your lines coming?
Li: Okay, I guess.
Sakura: What Miss Mackenzie said must have really freaked you out, I guess, huh?
Li: Yeah, kind of.
Sakura: Why are you so worried about it?
Li: She seems to know something.
Sakura: Don't worry so much! I think we can trust her!
Li: But you don't know anything about her, Sakura!
Sakura: Oh, well, come on, let's get to class.
Sakura (Thinking): This would be a lot easier if Li and I rehearse together.
Sakura (Out Loud): Hey, Li, wanna learn our lines together? I thought, you know, we could rehearse for the play, after all, we are in almost all the same scenes. But then, maybe you're too busy…
Li: When?
Sakura: What?
Li: Rehearse?
Sakura: Really?
Li: Beats embarrassing myself on stage.
Sakura: That's awesome! How's before school starts, Li?
Li: Are you sure you'll be up that early?
Inside Sakura's Home
Kero: What time is it? And what's with all the alarm clocks?
Sakura: I borrowed Tori's and dad's so I wouldn't sleep in. Li and I are practising for the play together right before class today. I didn't want to be late…
Kero: Wow, you're taking this play thing seriously!
Sakura: Yeah, well, you never know who will be sitting in the audience.
Kero: Whatever!
Sakura: Since there's no time for me to pack a lunch today, I'd better eat a big breakfast. Morning, Tori! Your practice is cancelled? So how come you're up early?
Tori: I thought I would make us breakfast.
Sakura: What? Is this for me?
Tori: Yep. It's all yours, squirt.
Sakura: Thanks, Tori, I'll even let the squirt thing go this morning.
Sakura (Thinking): I wonder if Tori got up just for me...
Tori: Sakura, you know that day you had that fever?
Flashback
Sakura: Mirror! Now everything will be fine!
End Flashback
Sakura: Uh, yeah…
Flashback
Tori: Have you had enough?
Mirror: Mmm! Guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought.
Tori: I'll give you some more later, kay?
Mirror: But what about my medicine?
Tori: You know you shouldn't really take medicine if you're not sick…
Mirror: Huh?
Tori: I know you're not Sakura.
End Flashback
Tori: Just be careful, okay?
Sakura: Kay…
Outside Sakura's Home
Sakura (Thinking): I wonder what Tori really wanted to say to me back there. Maybe he knows about the Clow Cards.
Sakura (Out Loud): Yeah, right! If he knew, he'd be bugging me about it non-stop! I've got to get to school!
Inside Reedington Elementary
Sakura: Hey, Li!
Li: Morning.
Sakura: Looks like you beat me here again, as usual! Hey! It's so nice outside! Wanna rehearse outside?
Li: Sure.
Outside Reedington Elementary
Li: Oh, my! Whatever could this be?
Sakura: Now move up close to the golden spinning wheel. Okay, reach out and touch it.
Li: Ah!
Sakura: Great! You memorized the whole scene, Li!
Li: Can we at least skip the part where the fairies come out?
Sakura: Sure! Let me just find the page where my lines start…here! Oh, my! What a beautiful young princess! If I can wake her with my kiss…I vow on my sword, to marry her, and love her for the rest of my life, and so, with this kiss…will wake the princess. Li! Look!
Li: What the…? Element: Wind!
Sakura: Oh, key of Clow. Power of magic, power of light. Surrender the wand, the force ignite. Release! Fly! What's going on, Li?
Li: It's a Clow Card!
Sakura: But I didn't sense any cards here this morning!
Li: No! Me, neither!
Sakura: Which one do you think it is?
Li: Watch how it moves! It's the Sand Card!
Sakura: We've got to seal it before it destroys the school!
Li: Just try to stay above the whirlpool!
Sakura: Aah!
Li: Stay back!
Sakura: But…!
Li: Just do it!
Sakura: Oh! Okay!
Li: Use the Water Card and cover the sand with water!
Sakura: But The Sand will just soak up the water! It's not enough!
Li: Trust me!
Sakura: Aah! Water Card! Come to our aid! Cover all the sand with water! Release and dispel!
Li: Freeze!
Sakura: It's freezing!
Li: Seal it!
Sakura: I command you to return to your power confined! Sand Card! Li! Are you okay?
Li: Yeah, I think I'm fine.
Sakura: Here, you should have it.
Li: But why?
Sakura: Because, you're the one who thought about how to catch it. And besides, you did let me keep the Cloud Card.
Li: You still don't get it. The two of us are suppose to be competing for the Clow Cards.
Sakura: Yeah, but this card belongs to you. Here!
Li: All right! But now we're even, got it?
Sakura: Guess everyone will be getting here soon.
Li: Yeah…
Sakura: It's a good thing that card showed up before school started.
Li: Do you think it was a coincidence?
Sakura: What?
Li: What if that card was waiting just until when the two of us were together?
Sakura: Why would it?
Li: I don't know, maybe I'm just reading too much into it.
Inside Reedington Elementary
Miss Mackenzie: Patience. It won't be long now…