Sakura Kinomoto was not having a good day. Nope. Not in the slightest. It all started with the fact that she was now only a few centimeters tall. She'd been modeling for Tomoyo again and was, frankly, just not having the best time. They'd sensed a clow card, then a squirrel had grabbed her and she had finally managed to make it out of the tree.
Unfortunately, Tomoyo had no idea where she was. "Sakura?" she called out, worried and getting a little frantic. Kero was flying about as well, starting to get worried.
Sakura was, unfortunately, clear across the park, running for her life from a MOUSE! She didn't even have her clow key, so she couldn't use the cards. Float or windy would be realllllly useful about now. Her tiny little voice screamed as she fled for her life, the mouth diving around her and blocking the way, making her squeak. "N-nice... nice m-mousy," she said weakly. She was in the bark dust area. Fortunately it was late, so no kids around.
The Time is slowly ticking away as her watch notifies her. Rena had set up a shop in the park after school. It was something that she was used to doing. It let her meet new people. It made her money so she could make more goodies to give away and just makes things all the better. Finally though it was nearing time for her to get packed up and get going.
A Squirrel goes barreling by and while it may be uncommon, Rena wouldn't notice. She just continues putting away her goodies. Also putting things away, A little fairy with a cute tophat works her fuzzy butt off.
"Rena-chan, Something feels off. Like magic, not dark but definitely magic." The fairy states as she flies over beside the girl.
Rena blinks a few times. "Well, At least its not Red Tree then. I've been enjoying the nice break from them." She snickers a little bit and moves to go but stops. There is something wrong. "What is that?" She looks around. "I don't feel magic usually so, really what is that!?"
Off a bit away, there was a little bouncy ball of light. Super tiny and it looked kind of like a little bouncy glow bug. Odd. It was slowly making its way towards her.
Sakura, meanwhile, looked up at the rat who started sniffing her. She whimpered, cringing... Then it suddenly paused and raced off. Oh, thank goodness. Just... whew." Oh gosh she was going to die. She then paused, glancing up. Who was that girl? Why was-- Then she saw small. She shrieked. "NO! Get out of here! Run!" she yelled up at the girl as the little ball moved towards her.
Rena Sakai blinks and then sees just what is coming. She can't hear the tiny girl warning her. The girl looks at the ball of light. Then at Dabble. "Well. Lets do it." She quickly winds the watch on her wrist, "Aether Spirit, SHINE!" Immediately the sound of ticking fills the air and the face of a clock appears under her. Dabble quickly puts a face on the watch and everything goes bright orange. Her clothing rapidly changes to what looks like a victorian style pirate outfit. "The Fires that melt the coldest heart, Steam Sentinel Joy!" Then the light show ends and that ball of light is much closer.
"Okay magical light ball, I don't know what you're up to but I'm going to find out!" She quickly gets ready to deal with it.
Too much exposition. The ball of light flies over and touches her. Suddenly the whole world shifts around her and dabble too. "WHAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Sakura Kinomoto blinked. Wait, the girl was MAGICAL? she gasped and ran over as Small just smiled down at the two, now much smaller, creatures. A little yellow girl smiled down at them, before bouncing off. "HEYYYY!" Sakura yelled. She was in a... well... little blue dress. and hey, she could probably be heard now.
She ran towards the two, waving her hands. "Are you two okay?" she said, before panting. whew. She'd ran a full two, three feet! That was exhausting. She held up a hand, needing a moment to catch her breath.
Poor rena and dabble would discover something else. Not only were their size smaller. Their powers were too! But, fortunately, they likely still had their powers. Unlike sakura.
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks and looks around. "Where am I? Whats going on here?! WHY DOES THIS LOOK LIKE GRASS!!!" She panicks as she tries to figure things out the hard way. She grabs hold of Dabble and clings as she panicks!
Dabble who was already small, is not really tiny. She is panicking all the more! The two are going a little crazy.
Thats about the point that Sakura calls out to them. The two stop and pull themselves together. Gotta look cool right? She looks at the girl curiously. "Umm Hello, Errr... Alice?" She comments as she looks at Sakura blushing.
Sakura Kinomoto cringed, shaking her head. "W-what? No, Sakura Kin--" Froze. Wait. Kukai said not to tell people! But... she was a magical girl. She looked thoughtful, then nodded. Really, she was magical, how could she NOT be a good girl? "Sakura Kinomoto! I-I'm so, so sorry! One of the clow cards is responsible for this. I-I'm not sure what it did or how it did it." She didn't notice the spider making its way up behind her. Or she'd have screamed like a banshee. "B-but we're tiny now! I'm not sure how we can get back to normal, either. I can't use the key like this. I'm so, so sorry!" She bowed profusely, apologetically.
Yeah, that was a biiiiiig bug.
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks a few times, "Whats a Clow Card?" She asks curiously. Her small frame begins to tense up as her eyes go wide. Her gaze is not on Sakura right now. Her gaze is on something else.
Quickly she takes hold of Sakura and pulls her behind her. With a fast motion, the girl makes the shape of a heart in the sky, "BLAZING HEART BEAM!!!" A fiery beam in the shape of hearts goes flying at the spider. Yeah her power is much smaller. The good news though, Fire doesn't need to be big to burn. The Spider gets singed and takes off the other way.
Joy turns and looks at Sakura and winces. "Okay, Sakura, Sorry. What is going on here. Save the sorries. They won't help right now."
Sakura Kinomoto eeped, squeaked, stared. Then hugged Joy. "I am so, so happy you're here," the smaller girl said. Then eeped. "O-oh, right! Ummm, okay. Clow cards are magical cards with spirits in them that I'm tasked with capturing and turning back into, well, clow cards. Whatever this card is, it turned us into this when it touched us. If I can get back to my normal size, I can capture it! For now, we need to find Kero-chan."
She paused. "Shoot. Ummmm, okay, there's a... well... a girl out here, with a camera. Tomoyo-chan, my best friend. Kero-chan should be near her. If we can get to her, we should be able to find Kero-chan and he should be able to tell us how to break the spell!" She nodded, then... sighed. "Tomoyo-chan is... over... there." Pointing to the woods. She then sighed. "I'm so lucky you found me... I can't use any of my magic without the wand..."
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks a few times and then just laughs, "So your card went crazy and turned us all tiny! Oh my gods I bet we sound like mice!!!" She giggles happily as she begins moving in the direction of Tomoyo. "Hiya by the way. I'm Steam Sentinel Joy. Or just Joy works. " SHe giggles a little.
She smiles, "I can move around well enough and I can probably jump up onto the tops of some of the grass blades. I'd usually be able to jump on top of buildings!"
Sakura Kinomoto nods. "Yeah. Thecards are evil like that. at least this one didn't try to drown me or throw me off a cliff, so I guess this is kind of a step up. Just indirectly trying to kill me." She paused. "That's not really fair, though. I think most of the cards are just surprised. I mean, it's my fault that I woke them up like that. If they had been woken up gentler I'm sure they'd be doing a lot better."
She then gasped. "y-you can jump THAT high? That's so amazing! That's--" Then she squeaked. "Please... uhhhh... please don't leave me behind," she asked softly, shaking a little.
Steam Sentinel Joy laughs, "Sounds like you've had an eventful time. Wish I could say the same. My power came with a cost. The Sentinels have to save another world! Not just this one. Imagine having to rescue two worlds." She sighs. "There is a group who wants to strip people's individuality away. Make them all cogs in the machine. Just duplicates of each other. They took over one planet. Dabble came here looking for new Sentinels and brought this group along with them. They are called Red Tree."
The Sentinel snickers and just continues walking along. "Don't worry. I wouldn't leave ya to be spider chow. That thing was big!" She laughs. "I don't like spiders under normal conditions! At least I got to do one of my fantasies! Blazing Heart Beam on a Spider!"
Sakura Kinomoto nodded, gasping. "Y-you're... saving the world?" she asked, staring at her with awe. "TWO worlds? Y-you're so amazing Joy-sempai!" she said with big eyes. "Strip away their individuality? So everyone would be the same?" She imagined her brother... "Well, that could be good for SOME people. But..." Then Tomoyo and Yukito. Her cheeks turned bad. "That would be horrible."
"I don't like spiders, either. A squirrel grabbed me, too! and then there was a rat, but you coming by scared it off... Thank you." She smiled and took Joy's hand as they walked, so they didn't get separated.
Steam Sentinel Joy smiles and nods, "I don't think I'm that Amazing. If I were the Sentinels would already be done with fighting off Red Tree. Keep an eye out for a green haired guy with a top hat and cane. His name is Craft and he is a real jerk. He works for Red Tree and is trying with all he is to capture Dabble and to get rid of the Steam Sentinels." She giggles.
Joy frowns a little. "Ummm, not so much good for anyone. Think about it. If everyone were exactly the same, there would be no arts. No music. No fancy cooks, No cute fashion. Nothing. Everyone would be exactly the same. We'd be stuck doing the same thing. In Red Tree's case. Working for them." Then when she mentions how horrible it would be, "Yes it would."
She laughs a little. "A Squirrel? And a rat. I think you might have a rodant problem today." She laughs a little. When she takes her hand, the older girl just smiles as she moves through the insanely high grass.
Sakura Kinomoto nodded, giving the hand a little squeeze. "I-I don't know. I just have the cards to capture and it's a mess I caused. Having to save two worlds when I didn't even do anything to begin with? That'd be so hard!" She shuddered. "I'm not even sure I can save THIS world from the cards."
She then giggled. "Oh, I know. But changing Touya's personality might not be so bad. He might be tolerable," she said with a ltitle giggle. "But.. losing those other things... I-I don't think that'd be nice. Tomoyo is so good at all those things! She draws so well, she sings so well, she makes amazing snacks and makes all my outfits! If she was normalized..." She shook her head. "I-I'd hate that!" Sure, she's a LITTLE weird sometimes. But... she's so worth it!
"All the rodents these days..."
"SAAAAAAAKURRRRRRRRAAAAAAAA!" a voice echoed and off in the distance, coming out of the woods they could see Tomoyo and Kero, popping out of the woods and walking... in the opposite direction. "That's them!" sakura yelled.
Steam Sentinel Joy quickly turns in the direction of the voices. She quickly shouts back. "STAY PUT! SAKURA AND I ARE ON OUR WAY!" She smiles to Sakura, "Shall we run?" The girl's hint of a British accent sneaks out on that phrase.
She gets an idea. Quickly she picks up Sakura and takes off running. Then with a strong leap she launches them both upward. A lot of ground gets covered in a short time before Joy sticks the landing and puts Sakura down!
Sakura Kinomoto lets out a shriek as she's grabbed, holding onto the other woman tightly. "I-I don't think she can hear us!" And then she was flying, this was... better than float at least. She closed her eyes and let herself be carried away.
Eventually the jumping stopped and they looked up. Tomoyo seemed completely unaware of them. "SAAAAAAKURRRRRRRRAAAAAAAA!"
AND THEN suddenly a giant yellow flying cat! Kuros! He landed in front of them. "I thought I... SAKURA!" OW, kero, don't yell.
"You see her?" Tomoyo asked.
"Yeah, right here!"
Tomoyo hunched down. Saw them. Aimed her camera. "Sakura-chan, you're so cute!"
Sakura chuckled. "Y-yeah. No one is quite like Tomoyo-chan. Kero, what happened!"
The cat hummed. "This must be the work of the little card! You need to touch it again to return to your normal size. Here, climb on." He offered his back.
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks a few times as suddenly there is a giant catty fairy, A girl with a camera and a nice big reunion... big being subjective. Joy smiles and leans up against a blade of grass. She's happy to have helped. Now though, part of her wants to get back to her normal size.
Meanwhile a few little kids have discovered the half put away stand where Naomi was cleaning up for today. They look around. Nope no sight of anyone. Must be free! They start getting into the cupcakes and cookies!
Sakura Kinomoto climbed up onto Kero's back and gave him a big hug. "I am so, so happy to see you, Kero-chan."
"Who's your friend?"
"This is Joy! She's amazing! she saved me from a spider!"
Wait, what was that little bouncing orb of light making its way towards Tomoyo... when her back was turned?
Kero froze. "Did... anyone feel that? As if a hundred cookies and cupcakes cried out for mercy... and then were suddenly silenced..."
Steam Sentinel Joy smiles, "Nice to meet you, I am Steam Sentinel Joy. I had a run in with your clow card." Obviously. "Nice to meet you. Will probably be nicer once we are all back to our normal size." She giggles nervously.
Something suddenly gets to Dabble. The little fairy in the tophat is still with them of course. "Ummm. I'm feeling that magic again."
Joy blinks a few times and then that sensation begins hitting her too. "I feel it too. Crap where is..." Then Kero talks about cookies and cupcakes. "Oh no... Not my baked goods!" She takes off leaping upward, sailing on top of a blade of grass where she can actually see. "Oh come on! I wouldn't care if they had asked but... Awww! Now I've gotta do more baking!"
Sakura Kinomoto blinked and looked around. "Ummmm... guys?"
"Wait, you bake? Eeeeee," Kero said happily. "d-do you have anything tasty?"
"Ummm, little?" Sakura said.
"Yeah yeah, in a moment. Do you have any of those--"
Tomoyo shrieked and was shrunk down. "KERO-CHAN!" Sakura yelled.
Kero yelped and took off once Joy landed, flying under Tomoyo as the small girl fell. Sakura caught her and letout a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yes. Thank you, Sakura-chan... you're so cute at this size..."
"Eh... heh heh. Kero-chan1 After it!"
"But the cookies!"
"I'll get you a whole bag of cookies AFTER we get back to normal!
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks, "Don't worry about the Cookies! I like baking and there is way too much stuff over there for those kids to eat without getting really sick!" She giggles over that prospect. Would serve em right but... that isn't very nice.
She quickly hangs onto Kero and looks at the group. "Okay what can I do? I'm not as crazy powerful as some others but Anything I can do I will!" She smiles a little.
She blinks, "So is it me or is this card almost like a little child. Playing pranks on people. ."
Sakura Kinomoto held on as they took off.
"Little is like that, she's a mischievious little card! Likes to turn people small because she finds it hilarious! LITTLE!"
Little giggled and started hopping off, while KEro raced after them. "A whole bag of cookies?"
"YES! Just get little!" Oh, the things Sakura had to deal with.
"I'll even bake you a little cake if we get a really good shot," Tomoyo added. And oh wow, NOW Kero zoomed off like a bolt. Seems he was powered by sugar.
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks a few times, "Wait. She is like a little kid! I have an idea. Its crazy and may make things go really crazy but, I think this could work. Especially if this card has a lot in common with small kids." She smirks. Oh if this works its going down in the record books as the most insane way of dealing with magic ever.
She smiles to Kero, "Tell you what, I've got a big back full of all different sweets. I made them all. You can have your pick from it."
Sakura Kinomoto eeped, holding on tighter. Wel, kero was weighed down with three people. But... at the promise of his pick of treats, well, there we go.
"What do you have in mind?" Sakura asked, glancing back. "Oh, Tomoyo-chan, this is Joy! Joy, this is Tomoyo-chan!"
"Nice to meet you, your outfit is really cute."
Steam Sentinel Joy holds on tightly. She smiles to Sakura and giggles a little. "Well, If you've got a little card who acts like a little girl, Maybe we can resolve this by being the one in charge. The adult!"
She giggles Looking over at Tomoyo she givesa warm smile. "Nice to meet you. Thank you very much. I would love the outfit more if it were actually warmer this time of year."
Sakura Kinomoto blinked. "You... you want me to SCOLD Little into submission? That's..." she paused. "Wait, could that actually work?"
Kero shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe?"
"Well... ummm... pull me in ahead of it then!" Kero flew out in front of it. Little just grinned and prepared to jump over it. Sakura... put her hands on her sips and... "LITTLE! You're GROUNDED!"
Little... froze. And looked confused.
"You've been very naughty! Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused? I could have been killed! We all could have been killed? Do you even think before you do things?"
Tomoyo gsped. "Oh Sakura, you're so cute when you're forceful..."
"Not now, Tomoyo-chan... Little, you're in big trouble! You--" And then... Little... began to cry. And Sakura sighed, guilt flooding her. She nodded. "Kero, bring me to her." He did, she grabbed her and... they all regrew. She eeped, quickly rolling out of the pile and landing on her face. "Ow..." However, little was held in her hands. She stared down at the little crying yellow girl. "Oh Little... It's okay... I know you were just having fun. But you really, really could have hurt someone. What if I'd been eaten?" Little sniffled.
Steam Sentinel Joy blinks a few times as she is suddenly her normal size. She looks at Dabble and blinks again. "I can't believe that actually work. That is so going down in history as the single most insane way to deal with trouble.
She smiles a little and quickly powers down. Then it is over to her stand. She clears her throat. "Excuse me, how were you going to pay today." Looks like someone else had to be a bit of a grown up too.
The two little kids look up to the girl like they just saw a ghost. "I uuhhhh... I don't have any money!" One says as the other echos the dilema.
Rena smiles a little, "Well I guess that means I am going to have to have you clean up my stand until you've paid for all the cookies and cupcakes you ate. Lets see, that will be... 2, 4, 6... 20! Thats going to be 2000 yen."
The little kids are panicked as can be as they look at each other and start tearing up.
Rena is not that much of a hard nosed business girl. Half the time she gives away her stuff anyway. "Okay, okay. No tears. I am going to let you two off. But you gotta promise me you won't just dig into someone's things when they aren't around. Okay?"
"We Promise!" With that the two take off running enjoying a very good sugar rush which their parents would likely tear into Rena for if they found out who gave them that much sugar.
Sakura Kinomoto came back over a moment later, now with her rod in hand. She held Little in her hand, gently cradling the little spirit. "I think Little has learned her lesson. Right?" The little spirit nodded. She smiled and gently lifted it into the air. "Return to your true form! Clow card!" With a flurry of magic, it turned back into a glowing, and then normal, card. The little creature emblazoned on it. She then turned to Joy and bowed. "Thank you so much for your help! I'd be eaten if not for you!"
Tomoyo, meanwhile... gently scooped Kero off the ground and brought him over. "Ummm... Sakura-chan?"
"Kero! Oh no! no no no no!" she shrieked. "I-I'll get you candy! I'll get you sugar, please be okay!"
The little mascot looked up. "Anything... I... want?"
She smiled and gently took him from Tomoyo. "Yes. Any candy you want. You earned it." "Yayyyyy..." he said weakly.