Chapter 64: A Christmas Miracle

Release date: December 25th, 2009

Word count: 44,938 words

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Thoughts: It isn't often that New Trials time and the release date coincide but that was the case in December 2009. It's also matching real time for me because today's Christmas 2018!

I forgot that we get to meet Moeko-chan again! And I love how thrown off Sakura gets when the orphanage director calls Eron her boyfriend.

Is it ever revealed who was behind the Shirose Subaru Foundation? It sounds like such a Syaoran thing to do.

Awww, Sakura's dream/flashback of what prompted Syaoran to get her a mirror was so sweet. 

Erika complains about everyone leaving her and Syaoran talks about how she doesn't value the people who chose to be by her side. This is such a huge life lesson. Never take the people close to you for granted and always show appreciation.

I never realized how much Sakura and Leiyun resembled the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Cinematic Universe. Sakura had been cultivating her bond with the alliance members for years while Leiyun is trying to catch up by making his own circle but with less success.

Who does Leiyun have in the Mizuki slot?? He told Kai that he wanted to add him as a thief to his group consisting of a betrayer, an assassin, the daughter of a criminal and a daemon possessed soul. Jinyu, Kara and Erika are self-explanatory. But who's the betrayer? Leiyun or Syaoran?

Chapter 63: The Joining of the Circle

Release date: November 12th, 2009

Word count: 41,199 words

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Thoughts: This is the last chapter where the summary is currently posted. I have nothing for Ch 64, but at least I have WIPs for Chapters 65 and 66. That's where the work will really begin. I'm going to have to change the title to "Amethyst Beloved's New Trials Summaries" to ease the confusion as much as I can since a lot of people have author's updates notifications. 

Originally this and Chapter 64 were supposed to be one chapter! I'm happy that the Christmas special got to stand alone and it got to be released during the holidays too.

Meilin's unfaltering trust in Kai came as a welcomed surprise. I completely forgot what followed after she found him with Jinyu's gun.

It's crazy that Shing was able to recognize that Kai was the Kaitou Magician. And yet the dark force is completely blinding him from the ultimate truth.

Eriol and Tomoyo were both holding the red ribbon when they were stowing her fashion show things away. I wonder if this could be foreshadowing.

Kai is the one wearing the Mizuki locket in this chapter. But didn't it go to Miho? There's got to be something that I forgot. Or maybe the exchange hasn't happened yet. Sometimes I just don't know what to make out of the conversations that he has with Kara. Each time they talk, even more questions arise.

Meilin suggests that Keisuke could still be alive because no body was uncovered. We're getting closer and closer to the reveal!

Fujishinto finally lets go of his pride and the dark force released him. Wish-chan explained that the reason why the Pride had to be sealed twice was because the Sakura without memories is not the same Sakura now that she remembers. Even Moonie-chan said, "I don’t think you will be able to seal the dark force unless you conquer that dark force yourself.” I almost didn't catch the fact that the Pride still wasn't sealed in this chapter.

The reveal that Nina was Fujishinto's daughter and thus Fujitaka's half-sister and Sakura's aunt is pretty hilarious.

Chapter 62: Designs in Crime

Release date: July 15th, 2009

Word count: 41,298 words

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Thoughts: I love this chapter so much an I consider it as one of my favourites. Let's see if it holds up in the re-read!

The whole idea of how the Japan Young Designer Contest was rigged from the start makes me sad. The Teen Choice awards are controversial for that reason. While the audience does have a voice in terms of picking the finalists, it's the network who chooses who gets the award.

Tomoyo is dead-set on confessing to Eriol after the competition and is fully expecting to be rejected so she could move on. Maybe that's why I feel that this scene has happened even though my fellow fans said that it didn't.

Touya is still a first year resident? Wasn't he a first year resident when New Trials started back when Sakura was in the eighth grade? She's in grade ten now! We should track that.

I completely forgot that Kaho could have pursued Touya because he was the son on one half of Clow Reed. And I never noticed how Nakuru's last name of Akizuki was so close to Mizuki. 

The rumour about Nina's parentage is that she's Fujitaka's brother's daughter. Unless I'm mistaken, she's Fujitaka's father's daughter. So instead of her being Sakura's cousin, she's her aunt!

The Touya and Syaoran conversations are so much more fascinating in Arc 4. He researched power transfers and hypothesized that Syaoran's power could come back if Sakura gets her power back, similar to how Touya got his power back once Sakura was string enough to sustain Yue. To think he was fishing for information to know if Sakura could get her original power of the stars back because Syaoran's magic that he senses in her is off putting for him, haha. But Touya comes to a realization about Syaoran. Does he realize that Syaoran is acting like a double agent?

Back in the early 2000s, Atlantis Forester drew a fanart of an older Syaoran in a suit. I love the way I can enter it in the Picture Book with a scene that came out nearly a decade later! Yet Fujishinto locking up Sakura in a room after their argument came to a complete surprise to me.

It was so refreshing to see S&S battle side by side for the first time since Sakura's memories came back. It looks like Syaoran would have broken Sakura out if Kai didn't sense her presence first after all.

Chapter 61: Fantasia in Memoriam

Release date: April 3rd, 2009

Word count: 31,913

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Thoughts: Spoiler alert: if this isn't my longest blog post, it's definitely the one that asks the most questions! 

The first person Syaoran meets is his father and I'm already so emotional.

Syaoran spent a seemingly long time with Ryuuren and his men. I'll be curious to see how much time has actually passed in the real world. How Narnia-esque!

The masquerade ball scene was lovely. It was great to see Sakura happy to see Syaoran again and it's inspired a fanart by Saloni.

Mika's line about how Subaru and the other children had no other place to go was so sad. So far I was able to place everyone but Elenor, though she must be from Clow's early life.

I love how Syaoran is being trained by Shulin like how Kai got to be trained by Mayura.

Hayami totally called Sakura out on being a coward and running away. From succumbing to the Memory and fleeing to the Fantasy, he isn't wrong… Who is he? I thought he was Mayura's little brother (it was actually Keigo) but maybe he's Hayashi's.

Syaoran rescuing Sakura was so gallant! I love these fairy tale moments that Wish-chan allows herself to write within the bounds of the Fantasy.

Aww, I didn't remember Syaoran pulling Sakura on top of him and holding her tight. That would have made a sweet fanart.

Ruichi calls his fellow G5 members, "a narcissist, a firecracker, a sadomasochist and an escapist". Would that be Landon, Shulin, Mayura and Hayashi? Ruichi calls himself a psychopath. 

Syaoran and Hayashi battling it out in a music showdown is hilarious as it is endearing. 

Chapter 60: Re-memory

Release date: January 30th, 2009

Word count: 33,500 words 

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Thoughts: Sakura and Eron's movie date was hilariously awkward. I'm so glad to be past the dating phase in my life.

This chapter marks the first time Erika and Jinyu meet. I am so surprised with the effect that she has on him down the road.

I love the way Kero-chan has taken over Touya's big brother role when he was grilling her about her feelings for Eron.

Yue and Clow's relationship back in the Clow era takes on different forms in CCS fanfiction. While Wish-chan states that Clow loved Cerberus and Yue as his children, she lightly skated on the other side with Kero-chan remembering that Yue wanted a different kind of love from Clow.

Kai and Kara's encounters are charged with a certain kind of energy. Reading Wish-chan's Kaitou Magician Origins puts things in perspective. I guess I should re-read and blog about that next, though I was hoping it would be completely by the time I took another dive.

Meilin tells Tomoyo that even though she's with Kai, she's still scared about him manipulating her to become a person she doesn't recognize. I wonder if that has anything to do with their current relationship status in the latest chapter.

Geeze, was I affected by the Memory too? I have no recollection of Syaoran and Sakura fighting the knights together. I don't even know which Dark Force this is (it turned out to be the Fantasy, which makes sense). I also don't remember them in the creepy house together.

I really love that it was Sakura who cured Syoaran's arm with the Heal. If she only knew she was functioning with Syaoran's power of the moon then it was the least she could do.

With the house disappearing after they escaped it, it looks like the Fantasy must have done a number on them. Maybe it shipped S&S too, haha.

Chapter 59.5: Halloween Special (Masquerade)

Release date: February 14th, 2009

Word count: 8,462 words 

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Thoughts: I read this chapter on October 31st so this Halloween special couldn't have be timed better. Wish-chan first mentioned wanting to write this chapter four months and a half before posting it in her author's note from Chapter 59.

Kai asked Meilin to dress up like a bunny for him on Halloween. It's hilarious that he gets his wish exactly five months later on March 31st at Sakura's birthday party.

Chronologically speaking this is the first time we discover that Leiyun is an otaku.

The fact that Kai dressed up like the Kaitou Magician was hilarious. Meilin's phoenix costume sounds gorgeous and lucky for us Selenity drew a fanart of it.

While I remember Syaoran dressing up as the Kaitou Magician, I forgot that Kai lent him his own costume.

I also forgot that Eriol visited Tomoyo while she was sick. No wonder she fell for him.

The scene where Syaoran and Sakura were waltzing with each other waa absolutely gorgeous. As someone who met her husband through dancing, I can totally relate with Wish-chan's descriptions.

Wish-chan's fanart of Syaoran and Sakura at the ball marks the trend of Wish-chan drawing Syaoran in somber suits while Sakura is wearing the most gorgeous dresses. I remember her making a comment about that!

Speaking about my husband, this is the chapter that came out one week after I met him. A year and a half later, we got married. This is around the time I drifted away from the New Trials fandom. As the FanFiction.Net uploader, I couldn't figure out how to place chapter further back to respect chronological order without replacing it with Chapter 60's placeholder and deleting precious reviews. I took a step back and when I was ready to embrace the fic again, I was so shy to re-submerge out of nowhere. But I wrote to Wish-chan and she was thrilled to hear from me. I've been an active member ever since and my break even rejuvenated me to be involved with even bigger projects such as my fansite and my blog while still having tons of fun.

Fanart spotlight: This is the first time I'm featuring MuzikChic. I found her through a FF review where she wrote that she would like to draw certain scenes. I reached out to her and she ended up drawing a number of NT fanarts. She did such a fantastic job at recreating Sakura's costume in 'Can I Take Off Your Mask?' and her tears are heart wrenching. She really captured Sakura's agony.

Chapter 59: Thundercloud

Release date: November 1st, 2008

Word count: 21,449 words

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Thoughts: Leiyun had one goal and that was to get the Cards back to the Li Clan. And to think that we thought it could never happen. Overall he's so creepy. It makes sense that he's the one and only person who Sakura truly loathes.

Syaoran has officially stolen Sakura's Clow book and Sakura Cards, much like how CCS:CC seemed to have stolen this plot point from Wish-chan and made it their own. It only took him six years. All jokes aside, I thought Syaoran only took the Cards after the April Fools Day Massacre so I don't remember what happens next with the exception of a scene where Leiyun forces the Memory on Syaoran.

I knew that Arc 4 was going to be fuzzy, but there are so many parts of this chapter that I've completely forgotten and it's as if I'm reading this for the first time.

Woah, I've never seen Yue dish out a harsh serving of tough love (if you can even call it that…).

It's kind of cool to see Touya admit to Yukito that his 17-year-old self wouldn't have been a match for 10-year-old Syaoran who was trained to fight since birth. 

I love the way Terada ended up teaching at Eitoukou.

"Eron scared off the Eitoukou player blocking him with the dark aura he began to radiate as he fumed over his archenemy Li Syaoran." Oh my gosh, that line is hilarious!!!

Syaoran finally introduces himself to Sakura. I guess she'll be remembering this version of him this time around.

Another appearance of the mysterious voice! Now that we know it's Moonie-chan, it makes sense that she can pop in and out of a place as she pleases.

Fanart spotlight: I might have forgotten about the scene where Syaoran secretly gives his green umbrella to Sakura if it wasn't for Wish-chan's Arc 4 music video that animates a couple of scenes from this chapter. This fanart is a snapshot of the original artwork that Wish-chan used in an Arc 4 fanart. Syaoran looks rather handsome in his Eitoukou uniform!

Chapter 58: Eternal Rivals

Release date: November 1st, 2008

Word count: 15,857 words

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Thoughts: At this point, even though the Veil is captured, Sakura is not able to restore Miara's vision. I'm completely in the dark about how she eventually accomplishes this! I like the way that Kero-chan uses the Age as comparison about how the affected person needs to resolve their issue internally before going back. It's also foreshadowing because it's used in this chapter!

In art class Erika was sculpting a cat. Is this a hint about Risa's patron animal?! Speaking of patron animals, Eron asked Sakura who was Moonie-chan.

I really love the Aki spotlight in this chapter. He's been around since Arc 1 and became more prominent from Arc 2 but this is the first time we learn about him. It's sad to know at 16 his future is already decided for him despite the fact he has other interests. 

Wish-chan drew a really nice fanart of Eron and Erika's parents and uncle. Bubulona shared her interpretation of them with us as well.

Eron and Sakura looking through the yearbook was a great peak into the Nadeshiko era characters that doesn't require a plot-relating flashback!

I always pictured Li Jingmei to be on the frumpy or dowdy side, but according to chit-chat at the Kinhoshi Hospital she's described as a beauty.

I really like the way that Touya is regretting the way he treated Syaoran after Sakura's life was saved. It allows his role in the future chapters and his new attitude towards Syaoran to make more sense. 

Oh my gosh. How could I have completely forgotten Sakura finding Syaoran at Eitoukou while he was playing Star-Crossed on violin? It's like I'm reading this chapter for the first time because all I remember is the Mikai vs Aki basketball game later on.

Sakura using the Ball Card gives me wonderfully nostalgic Arc 1 feels. And it was only a year and a couple of months since I've started my re-read. 

Sakura may have caught the Pride in this chapter, but it's not the last time this card is going to give her trouble despite the fact that it's captured. 

Wish-chan thought that a 37,000 words chapter was too long so she split it in two. In ten years, Ch 73 would be 115,000 words!

Fanart spotlight: This was Aki's chapter. That goes without saying. He started out as a cocky playboy but he's a dutiful son and extremely hard worker. It's only fitting that I use a fanart of Aki even if he's younger here. It's nice that young Mikai is also featured because he was Aki's inspiration to be a hard worker. 

Chapter 57: The Gathering

Release date: August 23rd, 2008

Word count: 30,319

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Thoughts: This chapter signifies the two year mark in NT time since Syaoran transferred back to Japan and the new threat of the Dark Ones was introduced. It took Wish-chan nine years to get here.

Arc 2's summer was jammed pack with the Tokyo adventure and the detailed Best Couple contest at the Kusakou mountains. At least Wish-chan highlighted Syaoran's 17th birthday in omake form (and inadvertently confirmed Syaoran's NT age). Does the fall semester start in August or September? I would think the latter but the weather is still hot.

For the first time since Arc 2, Meilin is once again a Seijou student. Wish-chan's fanart of the Chibi cast in their junior high uniforms is misleading because Meilin was never a student when Eriol, Miho and Kai joined the school. Now if only she could transfer to Japan in CCS:CC!

Kai's makeover to Mikai was absolutely hilarious. And now he's a grade above Sakura's class! Airing out his family history in a middle of a crowd was a bit much for my taste, but maybe Kai thought Miho would create less of a scene if he causes one first.

Though Kai did offer the Five Force Swore and kept the sapphire ring as collateral to make sure that the Li Clan actually did treat him, we learn that Kara was the one who convinced Leiyun to treat Kai and keep him alive in the first place. I wonder if she saw Kai being the Mizuki in Leiyun's circle as opposed to Sakura's.

Kai told Sakura that he saw a Shing painting of a little girl who looked like her. If it wasn't for Asumei's fanart, I wouldn't know what he was talking about. The quote from Ch 20 is in the comments section.

“It’s just another trip. And with my luck, I’ll probably get attacked by another dark force.” Yeah Sakura, you won't even SEE this one coming (what, too soon?).

Woohoo, we get an adorable Chiharu and Takashi kiss during Truth or Dare. Takashi's reaction was priceless. 

Chapter 56: The Tea Party

Release date: June 23rd, 2008

Word count: 28,637

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Thoughts: I never thought much about The Jabberwocky until I saw the wonderful rendition by The Muppets. Honestly, it was the one time the poem made sense.

With all of the action that happens in New Trials it's hard to take the time to properly celebrate everyone's birthdays. I feel that the only big birthday blowouts were Miho's 15th, Sakura's 17th and Syaoran's 18th. 

Tomoyo sings The Rose (Eriol accompanied) and the fandom's owb songbird Hazuki made a cover of the song too. Reading the lyrics makes it clear that it's so relatable to what Sakura is going through.

Mirror of truth reflection update: when Sakura looked in she saw Syaoran looking back sadly. 

I'm a huge fan of tea so I'm so glad that a Tea Café was chosen as the summer cultural festival event.

When Yutaka-kun asked Rika out for the second time since winter, I was sure that Wish-chan was going to shepherd her into an age-appropriate relationship. But she still refused him!

I love how Sakura only realized that she forgot her phone in the classroom at the end of the day. Today our phones are pretty much an extension of ourselves! 

Seeing Eron become nicer for Sakura's sake since he's in love with her is so eerie considering his past.

I love how the recurring theme of how the person you love isn't necessarily your number one person. Kai and Meilin are excellent examples of that (while they love each other, their persons are still Miho and Syaoran) and Eron and Erika too, but when it comes to S&S I'm sure that it's one and the same. 

I would have loved visiting the International Tea Café! But how Takashi managed to get a hold of a real monkey is beyond me. Maybe Wish-chan was inspired by the Friends arc when Ross owned a pet monkey. 

I messaged Melanie about her opinion of Kara's Tarot reading for Sakura and she forwarded me to her interpretation that she did back in April 2014. The way that the events lined up to come true was remarkable. It's the the Files section of the Facebook Group dating back to April 24th, 2014. 

Chapter 55: Platinum

Release date: April 1st, 2008

Word count: 24,635

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Thoughts: For the first time since his upheaval, Syaoran is determined to set things right instead of moping. It's a great feeling to know that it actually happens!

As I re-read NT, I'm also reading Harry Potter and I'm on Goblet of Fire. Jinyu and Victor Krum definitely have the "man of few words" trope down pat.

In the scene where Syaoran is looking in the Great Elder Renshu's blue eyes, Wish-chan mention that blue eyes occur once a generation. I wonder where Leiyun fits. New theory: what if the Great Elder and Ryuuren were unsuccessful in their missions like Leiyun and had to do something to get to the other side? It's incredibly farfetched, but there's got to be an explanation behind the rare blue eyes.

The Great Elder's mere suggestion of killing Sakura so Syaoran could get his powers back was beyond chilling.

It's always lovely to see Arima. When she glomped Sakura, it made me remember a Tumblr post about how kids these days don't know what "glomp" means.

I completely forgot about the scene where Mike showed Sakura the magazine with Nadeshiko and Ryuuren's first shoot.

Mike dating Erika is one of the more random plot points of Arc 4.

For the longest time I kept thinking that the Metal's name was the Platinum. At least there are plenty of examples to show why it was chosen as the title.

It was fun seeing Eron being part of the process and asking questions about Sakura's costumes and whatnot.

I'm really glad that Sakura's Vogue fashion magazine got to Syaoran. I think it's funny that the extensions hid the haircut so that even when Wish-chan posted the fanart, we still only found out about the change in the text.

Syaoran thinks that Sakura's okay from judging how she looks from the pictures and Sakura thinks Syaoran couldn't care about anything other than the Clan according to Kai's letter. The physical divide is turning into an emotional one too.

Kai lends Sakura the sapphire ring for safe keeping. He stresses that it's a loan but I can't remember who gets it next. Kai says it belongs to the owner but I don't think Shing gets it back.

The fact that Sakura tells Tomoyo that the only way she can cope with the Syaoran situation is by forgettinf nakes her a choice victim for The Memory.

Sakura says to herself that the next time she falls in love, she won't give all of herself to anyone. I wonder if that's why we still don't have a concrete status when it comes to defining S&S's relationship.

Fanart spotlight: This one was an easy choice! Wish-chan may have tweaked her own canon to make Sakura the cover of the magazine, but no one is complaining. My favourite part is the hair. Very Rapunzel-esque! What's great about this picture is that it inspired the very first NT cosplay! 

Chapter 54: Cherry Blossoms Branches Shake

Release date: April 1st, 2008

Word count: 33,267

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Thoughts: After taking a few weeks off, I've returned to the best arc of New Trials. The Veil, the Memory and the Fantasy are going to play such huge roles and it's going to be a roller coaster ride for our beloved S&S like never before. 

The way Wish-chan describes Sakura's new Arc 4 haircut is pretty spot on with CCS:CC Sakura's hairstyle. 

It's so strange for a Westerner like myself to picture Japanese students starting a new year after spring break in April and not summer break in August/September.

Kai and Meilin talking for hours when she visited him the day before his surgery makes me happy.

Oh my gosh, I completely forgot that Kaho is Sakura's homeroom teacher again! Yet I do remember Kaho donating blood. So I guess the operation happened before Sakura's first day of school despite the fact that Kai's operation and the first day of school were alternated scene by scene, suggesting that the two events happened simultaneously. But actually the Hong Kong scenes talk place a whole day before the Japan ones.

I love how it's only when these kids are in high school that Wish-chan has their interest in the opposite sex peak. I'm still at the beginning and there's already two mentions of that.

Sheesh, Sakura is no longer Card Mistress because she over extended herself and now she's participating in all the clubs to the point of overdoing it.

Kai being in the same grade as Miho because he failed middle school is kind of funny. I love the way he'll propel himself forward later on.

Why haven't I made the NT vs CCS:CC dream parallel before? NT!Sakura is constantly dreaming of blue eyes while CC!Sakura sees the mysterious cloaked figure. Well, CCS!Sakura had lots of prophetic dreams as well.

Eron is officially no longer wearing the eye necklace. I'm looking forward to following his journey into becoming the Light One. The fact he is wearing the broken Gemini charm from Christmas is really sweet continuity.

So my question about whether Miho knew that Kai was the Kaitou Magician is answered in this chapter! She doesn't, which surprised me. Fun signs of the times sighting: to compliment Miho's collection of newspaper snippets, she has news segments recorded and stored on tapes for the VCR! Anyway, it was pretty hilarious when she concluded that it was Syaoran.

Chapter 53: Yesterday's Letter + Arc 3 Epilogue

Release date: November 28th, 2007

Word count: 48,025

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Thoughts: I re-read Tomoyo's interlude and it fits way better after Ch 52 compared to when it was before it. Hopefully nobody was too confused about "Syaoran's upheaval" mention but it's such a small snippet and his abduction is so out of left field that I doubt anyone would have unlocked its true meaning.

This is the chapter that broke the fandom's heart into pieces. Not too long ago I checked in with Kirei-chan (who is also doing the re-read) she started this chapter but trailed away instead of reading through. By now she has completed Arc 3.

It's fine that Sakura decided to not be the Card Mistress anymore, but shouldn't she be in the market for a successor?

I love how Naoko was the first to find out about Syaoran's transfer to Hong Kong. In real time Wish-chan uploaded the full first part of Chapter 73.5 and there have been so many wonderful Naoko moments during the last couple of new chapters.

I keep forgetting that Kai has been AWOL since the Plague was sealed. I'm glad that Wish-chan has been able to casually mention it in the text every once and awhile.

I always wondered why Terada-sensei was relocated instead of being flat out fired from teaching, but Wish-chan's extra detail of him being the principal's nephew is what saves him from losing his career. As I was reading this scene I thought it felt out of place but it was Rika running after Terada that inspired Sakura to go after Syaoran.

Sakura thought that she didn't sense Syaoran being gone for a week because she wasn't looking for him. I wonder if it's ever been revealed if she was unable to sense him because he no longer had magic.

Kai gives Sakura back the broken necklace. I know that it gets repaired later on but I don't remember how!

Rika telling Terada that she wants to be his bride may rustle the feathers of certain feminists, but I admire women who want to be homemakers with a husband and children.

When Kai returns the ruby earrings to Erika he reminds her that she would be needed them after she asked why he brought them back. Have we ever seen the treasures being used all together again post-Plague? Also, there's a portrait of Mayura at the Chang residence. That has so much more meaning now.

Chapter 52: On the Night When the Lone Wolf Calls

Release date: August 27th, 2007

Word count: 25,557

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Thoughts: The opening scene with Nadeshiko and Ryuuren with the cherry blossom trees before she was discovered by Mike Kant's father was so romantic. I am seriously hoping for some majorly sweet S&S fluff before NT comes to an end.

I wonder if Syaoran's paralyzed arm is the same one that gives him trouble at the beginning of Arc 4 or if it's another injury. 

With Yukito being a doctor with a gruelling schedule, I could only imagine what kind of situations he has to be pulled away from whenever Yue needs to be summoned. 

Sakura gets bitten by the Plague? I did not remember that. I thought she was only done in when she forced herself to use the Heal on Subaru and her diamond necklace broke.

Never has there been a card that caused more destruction over the generations like the Plague. The whole arc from its destruction to the process of it being sealed was epic and we'd never be able to see something like that on CCS:CC.

This whole chapter was brilliantly constructed. Sakura used everything she had against the Plague and should be dead but isn't. The fact that the only thing keeping her alive is by Syaoran's magic transfer is ingenious. How Wish-chan was able to put the pieces together when she was just in her early twenties is unbelievable.

Syaoran assuring unconscious Sakura that he will always be by her side is heartbreaking considering what's to come. At least it's good to know that he follows through with this in the long, long run. 

I have never disliked Touya more than in this chapter. Syaoran is more than just his powers but Touya makes him feel like useless garbage. At least there's redemption to come in Arc 4.

Chapter 51: The Third Wish

Release date: August 27th, 2007

Word count: 28,931

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Thoughts: It's been one year since I've been running this blog and re-reading New Trials! Though it would have been nice to be finished with Arc 3 for the occasion, one cannot rush through these chapters. 

Between Ch 50 and Ch 51 there are two interludes that are only on FanFiction.net. They were originally empty spaces because uploading Wish-chan's chapters was giving me a hard time and she ended up making good use of the real estate. Ch 50.5 is Miho's interlude and if there's one thing to take away in this intro-to-Hayashi-Shulin-Landon interlude is Eriol's comment on how Sakura succeeds at the new trials because she has a circle and doesn't take all the burden on herself. Ch 50.75 is Tomoyo's Interlude before the Arc 3 finale. What's fun about this segment is Wish-chan teasing out Dark!Tomoyo through schemes, which we end up seeing in CCS:CC. But it's a bit confusing for first time readers because it should be Ch 52.5 since it talks about Syaoran's upheaval to Hong Kong. I took the liberty to place it before Ch 53 and confused some fans about the mysterious update.

Real talk~ because this is one of the few chapters where I originally thought there was no fanart, and because the really big events happen in the next two chapters, I remember so little of it! The title reminds me of Sakura's role as Subaru's fairy godmother but that's it.

There is a two year upload gap between Ch 50 and Ch 51 making it the longest break between two consecutive chapters and that explains the heavy recapitulation at the head of this chapter.

I loved how Wish-chan conveniently inserted an explanation of the plague in a nutshell via history class.

Eron telling Sakura to either choose him or he'll do something stupid has all the markings of a toxic relationship. No one should ever be put in that position. It was great to see Sakura stand up for herself.

To anyone wondering why S&S aren't together: "Truthfully, I see no future for us, as long as the Dark Ones continue looming in the shadows,” ~ Sakura to Tomoyo about Syaoran. Sigh. I've actually seen this happen in shows and movies. When heroes allow themselves to pursue a relationship, it's even harder for them to forgive themselves when they aren't able to save their world from peril. Ultimately, Tomoyo's thought about how there could be no future until they fix the present sums it up the best.

Chapter 50: A Winter's Conundrum

                                         

Release date: September 6th, 2005

Word count: 64,027 

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Thoughts: Kirei-chan told me that this was the longest chapter so far. Instead of regretting that I never included word counts in these summaries, I'll mark this summary as the first time I'm starting this trend and I've back-tracked to include the other word counts. Thank you for the stats, FF! 

This is the chapter where the long awaited Emotions are released. Things are definitely going to get harder for Sakura and friends.

I really like the way that ski trips, camping trips and shrine events are both part of the CCS-verse and NT-verse. It makes NT feel like like a real continuation because there are always references to the canon material. I wonder where exactly in Japan they traveled to for skiing. 

There's nothing like bringing up Truth or Dare to remind Sakura of split personality Syaoran. And they've been doing so well lately too.

I love how Wish-chan was able to weave in the myth of Yuki Onna into NT.

If I was a Seiju Middle School student, I would not have enjoyed participating in the Winter Competitions. We had Field Days in elementary school and those were the worst. At least the activities are not all sporty as they include storytelling and sculpture building.

I was always disappointed that Sakura wasn't on Syaoran's team but it actually makes things more interesting and it's the only way for the reader to support both teams instead of hoping for just one to win. The Red Team are the definite underdogs but I'm happy to say I have no recollection about who wins! It's also fun to visit pouting Syaoran when he sees Sakura with either Eron or Eriol.

When Wish-chan created Yutaka Ichiro, I thought this was her painless way of splitting apart Rika and Terada-sensei. I was surprised with the outcome!

I wish instead of Sakura being so open with Eron about how she knew she loved Syaoran she would just tell Syaoran that she loved him!!! Their whole conversation was a blur for me. Is this the first time he talked about breaking away from his ancestors?

Chapter 49.9: The Turning of the Wheels

Release date: January 1st, 2007

Word count: 21,955

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Thoughts: In CCS canon, Tomoyo does have feelings for Sakura but in NT, Wish-chan writes her with just as much devotion and leaves out the romantic aspect. I do like how Tomoyo is still envious of the relationship that S&S have, though.

Eriol recognizing Clow's sadistic humour in Fujitaka is actually pretty great.

Syaoran asking what Sakura was doing on New Year's Eve reminds me of a line from my favourite movie, The Holiday.

Even though Miho and Sakura's fantasies were in a fairy tale-esque realm, I love how NadeRyuu's was in modern-day New York. 

Wish-chan's line during Ryuuren's performance about how his carefully gelled back hair was falling into his eyes was a head scratcher. So basically the gel isn't doing its job?

Nadeshiko only ran into Ryuuren because she stepped out to buy potato chips. I guess a Japanese model's diet is more lax? 

I wonder how the string quarter feels about performing in front of Li Ryuuren, the famous violinist. At first I thought that anything but strings would be suitable to entertain them but then it made sense because they had to play Star Crossed together.

The commercial shoot was fun! Ryuuren's description of Nadeshiko rivals Syaoran's description of Sakura in Chapter 73.5. 

There's something so poignant in that moment Nadeshiko, Ryuuren, Miara, Keisuke and Reiji all met up at the museum. Just one Reed away from assembling the circle. 

NadeRyuu's New Year's Eve was so bittersweet. It was touching to see them milk every second of the experience but at the end of the day a fantasy is a fantasy. 

Ryuuren: "For someone like you who always has hope in her heart, you will never be able to seal the Fantasy". Well, something must have changed because Sakura definitely seals the Fantasy in Arc 4 and that girl's always hopeful.

It wasn't until Miho started to gush about winning something at every booth that I remembered that the Fortune was out an about. 

I wonder why Rika calls Terada, "Terada-sensei" despite the fact that they're dating. 

Eriol piggybacks on Takashi's story about New Years Eve kisses and tells a tale about how a couple's kiss on the cheek led them to successful lives but as friends. Now that S&S have pretty much earned their spots in the magical world as of Ch 73.5, can they be together? 

Fanart spotlight: Wish-chan used this Sakura in a Kimono and Syaoran fanart as a panel in her New Year's omake, I'm so glad it's also a stand alone drawing. Sakura's yutaka is so pretty and it's not often we see her dress in traditional clothes in NT. I'm glad that Wish-chan captured this sweet moment when Syaoran kissed her on the cheek... even if it was to capture the Fortune.

Chapter 49.75: New Trials Christmas Special

Release date: February 29th, 2004

Word count: 32.591

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Thoughts: I still can't believe this chapter came out before Ch 48! When I was looking at my Chapter Release Date timeline I thought it was a mistake until I cross referenced the dates. 

It's Winter Wonderland time again! Do S&S go together? I really don't remember. I just remember their gifts. His failed attempts at asking her are pretty funny, though.

Wolfie-chan is making so many appearances in these last couple of chapters. I remember why. Things are going to get so dark after Ch 50.

Ahhh, this is the chapter with Sakura's Love-Love Action plan for E&T!! For the whole list, check out my annex!

Subaru's in this chapter too! He meets Nina and it's amusing to see these two brats meeting their match (haha, that's exactly what Miho said).

Wow, is this the first direct mention of Rika and Terada-sensei's relationship?! I never know how CCS authors would approach this. Personally, in my Destined Love series I broke them apart and in my Before They Remembered series I paired them together.

I'm going to take a moment to appreciate Syaoran holding Sakura's hand and announcing that he needs alone time with her to leave E&T alone. And then they continued holding hands!! There's not enough of that in NT or CC for that matter.

Oh, I forgot that Syaoran asked Sakura by stopping her from saying yes to Eron! At least he did it.

For a fluffy chapter, we have the twins' first real fight. Despite the contant "we'll never leave each others' side" there's foreshadowing about the schism between the Changs.

Kai going all the way to Hong Kong to ask Meilin to the dance was amazing!

It's cute that Miho was Aki's date for the Winter Wonderland. Too bad that didn't develop into something more. She would have done a great job in keeping his ego in check. 

Such a great chapter for hand holding! S&S do it again when they run away from the dance floor instead of dancing on it. But they do get to dance outside, which is something that I love seeing my OTPs do. 

I can't believe I forgot the entire amusement park plot in this chapter! The adventures were a lot of fun but my favourite part was Syaoran refusing to put Sakura down after their roller coaster escape. 

Fanart spotlight: The couples' watches that S&S give each other are probably my favourite gifts in NT and designing them with Paint was a lot of fun. I used to have interchangeable watch bands to match with my outfits but I never owned anything that elaborate.