"Natsu, my dear, make yourself comfortable," said the silky voice of the beautiful man as he 
indicated a satin-covered chair in front of a dressing table. "You have such beautiful hair...let me 
brush it for you."
	/He can help you learn your power. Listen to him. I can give you more power when he 
has finished with you. Trust me. Hate everyone./ She needed to hear his voice praise her, but she 
couldn't trust him. He could help her get her revenge against Hotaru, but he only wanted to use 
her. Her only friend was the voice in her head.
	The High Priestess was pleased. Though not as pretty as his boys had been, his new toy 
was entertaining. And she would be a suitable canvass. Her connection to the Magician only 
made her more attractive. He reveled in the feel of her hair as he ran his razor-tipped fingers 
through it. So silken and soft, like the flesh beneath it. He trailed his fingernails along her scalp, 
raising goose bumps in the skin beneath. It was thrilling to know that, with infinitesimally more 
pressure, the caress could draw blood. He pulled back, gently running his fingers through her 
hair. He couldn't afford to let his sense of art interfere with the goals at hand. He would leave her 
unmarred. The Devil would not appreciate his damaging its host, anyway. The girl sat at the 
mirror, completely at his mercy. He stepped back. "You want revenge against the Magician, 
against Hotaru, for her betrayal."
	The girl turned to face him, eyes nearly blank save for the hate and empty rage within. 
"Yes. I have power. Teach me to use it. Help me punish her for her betrayals."
	The beautiful man smiled. "Of course, my dear. But first...some fun." He held out his 
hand, and she stood to take it. He stepped up to her, and kissed her. The lights grew dim as the 
High Priestess began to play with his new toy. He would master every aspect of her before 
sending her to take his--no, their--revenge against the Magician.


*****

Arcana Chapter 52
Started by Scott Schimmel
This chapter by Segev

Prisons of the Mind and Soul

*****


"Cute" was Will's first thought upon entering the child's dreams. It was just the sort of idyllic scene 
that was depicted for most childhood dollhouses: the waif was happily playing in the living room 
while Mommy made dinner and Daddy watched TV. Then he looked closer. This was too real, 
and not quite real enough...the girl that Francine had taken in was the same little girl who was 
playing on the floor...and a cute little thing, at that...but she wasn't the one making this dream 
world. It was crafted for her benefit; there was no doubt of that, but she was not the one 
maintaining it. Not with what happened as he watched: the girl went to bed, and to sleep. No one 
goes to sleep in a dream--they skip to the more exciting parts. But here she was, sleeping in a 
bed, actively dreaming. Why, she was even talking in her sleep, though he couldn't quite make 
out her words.
	"I wonder..." Will stepped up to the sleeping dream-form of the girl. "If she is sleeping in 
someone else's dream, will the dream she is having now be her own? Maybe that will tell me a bit 
more." The middle-aged American lay down in the bed next to the girl. This wasn't necessary, but 
a little more physical contact couldn't hurt...and was an added perk. He wasn't really sure if he 
could do this. He had never slept inside a dream before; but if it was possible for this child to do 
so, he should be able to follow her into her dreams.
	He was having a hard time convincing his thoughts that he should be sleeping to enter a 
dream, but almost managed it. Just as he was slipping into the deeper dreams, though, he heard 
her muttered sleeptalk become clear enough to make out her words. "...see I see but can never 
know a fool's dilemma I am blind but see I see but can never know a fool's dilemma I am blind but 
see I see but..." on and on, over and over. Oh, yeah, _something_ was up with this kid. He drifted 
off, trying to sleep within sleep...


*****


Keisuke sighed. He was supposed to be recruiting his friends to help his King protect the Tower 
Reversed. But he had been back in the real world for less than ten minutes, and already he had 
not only failed to convince Tetsuya to help, he had discovered that he was probably not going to 
get a much better reception from any of the others. Sumire and Arisa had gone to look for a way 
to get him healed...and not returned. They could be dead for all-- no, he wouldn't think that. 
Blaming himself would not solve anything. Regardless, they would be nearly impossible to find; 
and even if he found them, they would probably be as unwilling as Tetsuya to forgive him for just 
vanishing the way he had.
	Miyuki...Tower had said Fortune was no longer here. She must have finally passed on... 
Not that he could blame her; with Hanako the only person she could talk to, and Hanako having 
returned to Maki, she must have been miserably lonely. Keisuke fought back tears over her 
passing. He didn't have time for them just now. Perhaps he should go hunt down Hanako...but 
she was with her psychopathic Queen. The Knight of Cups shuddered at the thought of dealing 
with Maki again. No, he would approach them...later. Who else...?
	Hotaru...Tetsuya had said that she had come to visit him every day while he was 
comatose. She may be willing to help; she was always the most forgivingly sweet person in their 
little group. And maybe she could bring Joker along, if Tetsuya was right about them being an 
item now....and then there's her friend Natsu with her unexplained powers. Yeah, Hotaru the 
Magician had sort of become the glue that had held their little clique of Arcana together. She was 
probably the place to start his search. And if she wasn't willing to help, he could always try to 
charm her with his powers... He shook his head violently. That would be a dirty trick to pull on 
someone he considered his friend. How could he even think of doing such a thing? Keisuke set 
off on his mission from his King, disgusted with himself, but determined not to fail his Court.


*****


"Has he passed your test thus far, My Lord?"

THE KNIGHT IS PERFORMING HIS APPOINTED TASK. HIS FAILURE OR SUCCESS WILL 
DETERMINE WHETHER HE IS OF USE.

"But he is trying. He even has tried to recruit the one whom you found unworthy to hold the title of 
our Court. Is this pleasing? Did we make the right decision?"

YOU WERE CORRECT. THE BOY WHO IS OUR GUEST NOW WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS 
SUITED THAN OUR CURRENT KNIGHT.

"I see. And the other boy? You doubted his loyalty, too."

NO LONGER. HE HAS MADE THE CORRECT DECISION. AND, AS LONG AS HE STAYS 
TRUE, SO WILL THE OTHER OF THAT PAIR. THE TWO MUST NOT BECOME ONE, LEST 
OUR COURT BE WEAKENED. WE NEED BOTH. THEY WILL STAY; THEY CANNOT BREAK 
THEIR BOND WITH ME.

"Of course not, my Lord. None of us would dream of it. Still...was it wise to risk the Ace on the 
High Priestess?"

IT SERVED OUR PURPOSES. AND THE HIGH PRIESTESS IS A STRONG ALLY. AS LONG 
AS WHAT THE HIGH PRIESTESS WANTS COSTS OUR COURT NOTHING, WE WILL 
ACCOMODATE HIM IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS EFFORTS.

"Yet, the Ace has not yet given her report to you, and won't even talk about it with her Page. Is 
nothing really all that it costs?"

OUR COURT IS NOT DIMINISHED. THE ACE KNOWS THE DUTIES, AND WILL FULFILL 
THEM. SHE CAN DO NO LESS.

"As you say, my Lord."


*****


The Ace of Cups watched as her beloved walked away from her. He had another mission from 
their King: to follow the Knight in the shadows and help him in whatever ways were necessary. It 
hurt, to know that her Page put the Court above their love. It hurt, but she knew why he made that 
choice. For him, it may not have been a choice at all. Court bond could not be broken. And the 
King would not permit them to leave the court to become a trump. He needed them. Why else 
would he have gone to such lengths to assure that they all returned as they had been, so many 
years ago? He could not afford to let them go...but she would not let him force her and the Page 
apart, not again. Certainly not by giving her to the High Priestess.
	The High Priestess...she still had to report to her King that that particular odious mission 
was successful; and what the High Priestess had requested. And if her King betrayed her again--
she had to fight to keep that thought in her mind; as painful as it was, her King had betrayed her, 
there was no other word for selling her so cheaply to the High Priestess--she would be powerless 
to stop him. She was his vassal. She must obey. Even if it tore her away from the Page. She 
couldn't break bond to become Lovers...not when she didn't know how to become Lovers even 
without a pre-existing bond to prevent it. How could she?
	How could Page leave her? He had to. Why couldn't she, the personification of the 
Tarot's goddess of love, be with the one she loved? It took almost all her effort to remember what 
she wanted: to become Lovers with the Page. It was too easy to forget that and fall back into the 
bond...and that way lay only pain and separation. She couldn't escape. She had to! She would! 
...she couldn't. Certainly not without her love, and he was still firmly held by the bond. Even 
seemed to be holding to it like a lifeline. The Ace of Cups cried in the darkness of the shattered 
courtyard where she had met with the Page, never noticing the regal woman watching her from a 
mirror remarkable for its unbrokenness.


*****


Hotaru was alternately seething and despairing. The High Priestess...what gall that bastard had! 
He showed up, pretended to be Ishido--what if he had Ishido too? No, she wouldn't think that!--, 
and then taunted her. Threatening Natsu... Even though Natsu didn't like her anymore, Hotaru 
still worried for her old friend. And she couldn't do anything for her! Natsu was right, she was 
useless. Worse than useless--she endangered her friends. Now the High Priestess--a being she 
hated more than even his actions indicated she should, a hatred beyond all reason, boiling just 
out of sight--now, he had her friend, and was planning on torturing her. Not to get something from 
either of them, but just to cause pain. How DARE he! She would destroy him! She would turn her 
powers-- but she couldn't. He had proven just how useless her magic was against him. She 
couldn't touch him. She needed to learn how to use her power differently, apparently. Magician-
sensei! He could help her! If only she knew how to find him...
	Hotaru's thoughts chased each other around in an ever-descending spiral of rage and 
despair as she walked the streets of Tokyo aimlessly. She wasn't paying any attention to where 
she was going.
	"Hello." She jumped, having failed to notice the little boy until he greeted her. He was 
about 7 or 8 years old, with tousled brown hair. "Are you okay, miss?"
	Hotaru smiled at him, her sadness somewhat alleviated by this cute little kid's concern. 
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
	The boy looked up at her, as if he were studying her. "You sure? I'd be worried if the High 
Priestess had my friends. You should go find some help. I don't think you know enough yet to 
stop him on your own."
	Hotaru stiffened. "What did you just say?" He smiled a bright little smile, and she felt the 
telltale tingling of a nearby Arcana. "Do you work for the High Priestess?" She erected a barrier, 
and readied her magics.
	The boy looked surprised, then hurt. "No, I was just worried. I'm supposed to find out 
what's going on...I need to know who all of us are. You just looked so sad and lost. More than 
me, even. I just wanted to help...but I can't. Not yet. Sorry I bothered you." He pouted, looking 
confused and a bit guilty.
	The image he made was so kawaii that Hotaru just had to laugh. "Which one are you? 
What's your name?"
	He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't tell you, yet. I shouldn't have spoken to you, I 
think. Neither of us is ready. None of us are...at least, that's what Uncle and the nice old man 
said...Bye, Magician." He ran off, then looked back at her when her barrier stopped him. 
"Please?"
	What was she going to do, hold this little boy prisoner when he hadn't done anything 
against her, when he only tried to help her feel better? Hotaru lowered her field. "You will come 
back and tell me, when you're ready, right?"
	The boy nodded, smiling happily, and waved as he ran off.


*****


Keisuke had just left the school, having used the exit from the Tower Reversed within that 
structure, when he practically tripped over a little boy with a vaguely foreign look about him. 
Probably the fact that his tousled hair was brown. "Hi, oniisan!"
	"I'm not your brother. Sorry for running into you," began the older Knight, smiling, when 
he suddenly felt it: this child was an Arcana. His expression darkened. This was yet another 
surprise, and he'd had far too many of them lately. "Who are you?" he demanded, his face 
darkening.
	The boy stepped back, a little afraid of the angry face made by the older youth. "Why is 
everyone angry at me? I haven't done anything! I'm just trying to meet you all..." He looked 
almost ready to cry.
	Keisuke sighed, disgusted with himself. Here he is, trying to find allies for his Court, and 
the first thing he does is scare a new Arcana. A child, no less. It made him feel about three inches 
tall. "Hey, I'm not mad, see?" He smiled, and let a bit of his power flow into it, trying to charm the 
child out of his fear. When the boy nodded and smiled again, Keisuke continued. "You just 
surprised me, is all. Now, do you know what you, and what we, are?"
	The boy nodded. "Uncle explained it to me. He told me I have to make up my mind, so 
I'm meeting all of you that I can. I don't think I will introduce myself to the High Priestess, though. 
He's scary." He shook his head; that's not what he needed to say. He tried again, "You're the 
Knight of Cups, right? You should go talk to the Magician. She seemed sad. You're her friend, 
right? She's wandering around the city...but she should be a little to the south of here in about five 
minutes. Bye!" The boy turned and ran off before Keisuke could react beyond blinking a few 
times.


*****


"Hotaru?"
	The Magician looked up, startled. When she saw who had called out to her, she blinked, 
not believing her eyes. "Keisuke?! Is that you?"
	The boy looked embarrassed as he nodded.
	"We thought you had died or something! You just vanished out of the hospital! How-- 
What-- ?"
	He walked up to her, and erected a field for some privacy. "I...was healed. Then my Court 
called me. I had to go. I'm only out now on Court business."
	"The Court of Wands is active?" Hotaru's thoughts were spinning, this was such a shock. 
A pleasant one, since he was obviously okay, but a shock nonetheless.
	Keisuke shook his head, seemingly trying to find a way to say what he wanted to say. 
"No...not Wands. I am not the Knight of Wands anymore. The Page of Cups healed me...but 
there was a price for that. I had to become the Knight of Cups. So, I work for them, now."
	Hotaru was confused. "The Cups? But, isn't Tetsuya their Knight?"
	"No longer. My King decided that he wanted me. Tetsuya was stripped of his power. But, 
then, he got mine. He's really mad at me for it, though..."
	"... ... I'll bet ... But, it was to save your life, right? I'm sure he would have made the trade 
to do that!"
	Keisuke looked at her, hope in his eyes, then looked down again. "Perhaps. But he 
wasn't given the choice." He shook his head again. "But, that's not why I came to talk to you. The 
King of Cups has sent me out on a mission." He took a deep breath. "Our Court has occupied the 
Tower Reversed, with the Tower's permission. We're supposed to defend it against something, 
and I'm supposed to find allies. Will you help?" he asked all in one breath, getting everything in 
the open at once.
	Hotaru blinked, sorting out the rapid-fire group of statements and the request. It was all a 
bit much for her, especially after that strange meeting with the little boy and her problems with 
Natsu...and the encounter with the High Priestess... "Keisuke...I don't know how I could help you. 
I've got problems of my own...Ishido, Natsu...the High Priestess...And Tetsuya seemed so 
confused...I think we all need to talk. I can't promise anything. I have too many other things that 
are going on. But, maybe, if a bunch of us got together...we could figure out what's going on. I'll 
try to find Ishido...and I think Tetsuya should be in this conversation, too. Can you find him? I 
would say we should have Sumire and Arisa, but I don't know where they've gotten to. And 
Fortune should be in on this, too. So we need Hanako, and should meet in the Tower...wait, you 
said your Court was there..." Hotaru trailed off, only then realizing that she had been making 
plans for a meeting of all the Arcana she knew. She blushed. "Er, um, that is...if we want to. I 
think we all need to decide what we're going to do...exchange information so we know what's 
going on before making any decisions..."
	Keisuke smiled and nodded. He had been right to seek out Hotaru first. She had just 
outlined a great way to get everyone together, and try to convince them to help defend the Tower. 
"I know where Tetsuya is...and probably can find Hanako...but Tower said that Fortune left. I think 
she got tired of being a ghost, and passed on. Who else? And, I'm sure that my King wouldn't 
mind letting us meet in the Tower."
	"Okay, then, let's go...I think we'll all need to stick together shortly. Things seem to be 
getting weirder, and more serious." Hotaru nodded decisively, her problems temporarily forgotten 
as she began to plan for a solution.


*****


Will finally descended into a dream-within-sleep. Once there, he found an indistinct dreamscape, 
vast and deceptively empty. As he looked, however, he saw images out of the corners of his 
eyes. When he turned to see them, they vanished, but he could swear he heard sound below the 
absolute silence...whispers of the scenes of past and future. He turned when he felt an unfamiliar 
tingling behind him, and saw a flurry of Tarot cards swirl around and around. They merged with 
and defined the scenes he could almost see, yet seemed meaningless to him. Turning around 
again, he saw the cards continue to fly about in an invisible gale. The little girl stood with her back 
to him, and a few cards hovered before her. When he tried to walk over to stand behind her, he 
found himself suddenly facing her, instead, the cards between them, their backs to him.
	"Who are you?" asked the girl, without looking. Will didn't respond, instead waiting for her 
to look at him. When she did, he stepped back. Her eyes weren't just empty, they were glass. 
She was a doll, a puppet. "This is still not what you seek."
	Three of the cards floating between him and the marionette turned so he could see them: 
The Ten of Wands, the Wheel of Fortune, and the World. Will finally spoke. "How do you know 
what I seek? You don't even know what you are dreaming. Who are you, little girl?"
	"I am what is bound by this dream. Turn around, there is the truth behind this deception."
	Will turned, almost involuntarily, and saw the cards swarming together, the images on the 
corner of sight fading as the cards formed into the shape of an old loom. Strings coming off the 
loom led into a pattern which was indecipherable to him. Some of the strands led to the little-girl 
doll, the strings of the marionette. From nowhere and everywhere, the voice of the little girl rang 
out silently, old and knowledgeable despite its youth and innocence: "The blindfold grants sight, 
and the child's Sight is traded to relieve her blindness. Bound sightless within the dream lies the 
one who sees all. I am blind but see I see but can never know a fool's dilemma."
	One of the larger strings suddenly lashed out, wrapping around his neck as a white 
blindfold covered his eyes and face...choking...suffocating...Will sat up in his own bed in the 
waking world suddenly, breathing hard and sweating. There was a slight welt forming around his 
neck.


*****

Author's Notes: I am actually a bit disappointed in this chapter. I couldn't get it written until the 
day it was originally due, and then the parts were a bit forced as I wrote them. I apologize if it 
shows. On the other hand, it did turn out better than I had expected. Not much got advanced, and 
I may be guilty of passing the buck on a few of the scenes I set up, but there is some stuff in here 
I truly enjoyed writing. And, I think that this is the first part I've written that didn't introduce a new 
character of some sort! …no, wait, my last one didn't either. Never mind.
	The Will in Miyuki's dream scenes were perhaps the most difficult, but I did accomplish 
something with them, I think. As to Ace, I know she seems a bit broken and defeated, and the 
next author could continue her that way, but I would hope to see her eventually regain her 
determination. I hope that it shows that she actually is still determined, just constrained from 
acting on that determination by her Bond. As to the regal woman watching the Ace cry at the end 
of the scene, it could be whoever the next author (or the next author to pick up this thread, if they 
want to use it at all) wants. Could be the Queen of Cups, could be some other Queen, could be 
the Empress. I just thought I'd throw it in.
	Keisuke and Hotaru! I got both of them to have some plot! Finally! Didn't do anything with 
the Pentacles or the Blades, though. Hm… And what to do with the Wands? I don't know.
	Well, that's it for my notes, I think. Next time, I'll send in the zombie hordes! Necromancy 
will abound, and the Undead will reign supreme under the control of my necromantic might! 
Muhuhahahaha--hey, what are you doing with those nets. No, I don't want a white coat, stay 
away from me! *runs away, leaving the reader to the actual epilogue…*


*****


Oda's body slept in his office, his eyes truly closed in rest. The empty chair where Temperance 
and Hermit sat now held a tarot card: Justice. Hermit spoke, "Now we only await one more to 
make our meeting complete." He pulled a mirror out of somewhere, and placed it on the table 
facing the two human occupants. The others would observe in their own fashion. After a moment, 
an image of a ghostly youth appeared inverted in the mirror.
	Temperance smiled. "It has been too long since I have spoken with you. Does Hanged 
Man know you're stealing his act?" he asked, amused.
	The youth frowned. "You know full well why I am this way. Were I to right myself, and no 
longer be Reversed, the Shackles would break, and everything would change. I have bound 
myself, and the other, to save us all. Why have you called me, Magician?"
	The Hermit shook his head. "There is another Magician now. I am the Hermit."
	"I know the new Magician. She visited me with the others of the new generation. You, 
however, still exercise the powers of your old office. Why have you summoned me? I can feel the 
other struggling. The Cups help me protect the Shackles, but they believe him to be me, 
nevertheless. I am greatly weakened, and can ill afford this diversion." The youth's voice was 
remarkably distinct and clear for such a ghostly image.
	Temperance and Hermit exchanged looks, and Hermit responded, "We wish to speak 
with you about the Changes to come. Two other Trumps are here with us..."
	"I know. Death and Justice. What do you want of me?"
	/Be true to your nature. Change is inevitable. Bring it to pass./ Death's non-voice echoed 
in the oblivion between thoughts.
	Justice also shared its views. /The time is almost here for Judgment. The Prophecy is 
nearly fulfilled; the Law must be as well./
	"The Imperial's have entered the spread?" The youth sounded truly surprised.
	Temperance shook his head. "Only the Emperor. We still await the Empress."
	"She is closer than any of us can know. I can feel it. Nevertheless, I will not sacrifice all 
our lives and the safety of the world. I shall stay Reversed. Justice, do not presume to be 
Judgment, lest you suffer the same fate. We did not permit it to arise almost fifty years ago, and I 
will not release the Shackles now. Things must not end." The youth looked determined, and 
stubborn.
	Hermit looked sad. "It was our arrogance that caused the problems last time. I have 
learned that we must permit matters to take their course. The Prophecy--"
	"Damn the Prophecy! It wasn't right then, and it won't be now!" The image in the mirror 
looked truly angry.
	Temperance leaned forward. "The Prophecy is being fulfilled. Can you stop it? You 
yourself said that the Empress was near. The Emperor is already in the spread. The time when 
they will choose the remainder is approaching. Who shall they be? When that happens, will you 
still maintain the Shackles, denying the final Trump?"
	"The consequence of the Change is the End. I will stay my chosen course; the Cups will 
help. I will not permit the Bound One to sway them. Release me, Hermit, former Magician. Now."
	Hermit reached out. "And if I do not? We need your help and cooperation, please, don't 
make us fight you."
	The youth laughed bitterly. "Temperance and Hermit, fighting? Right. You will not. Justice 
and Death may, but they are no threat. I have allies of my own. Since you will not release me, I 
will leave myself." With that, the upside-down image waved its hand violently, as if striking the 
glass from the inside. The mirror cracked, and the ghostly image vanished.
	/How disappointing./
	/Indeed. The Law must be followed, even Order must flow from Chaos./
	"Well, old teacher? What now?"
	Temperance sighed. "For now? We wait."