Alphys sat at her desk, shuffling through movies. Finally, she found the beat up pink disc that she was looking for. "H-Hey, Undyne? A-are you ready in there?" The fish warrior poked her head around the corner and caught sight of the disc.

"ALL RIGHT! You found it! Fuehuehue! The popcorn is almost ready, just pop it in, okay?" Undyne pulled her head back around the corner as Alphys squealed excitedly. She put in the disc and pulled up the menu as Undyne walked in with a huge bowl of popcorn doused in cheese, chocolate chips, pretzels and gummy worms.

"O-oh wow. I-Is that even edible?!" Alphys laughed at the monstrosity of a snack before pressing play. "M-Mew Mew, here we come!"

…..

Once there was a beautiful girl who lived in a world of doubt. She was bright and optimistic, though she didn't have to be, and honestly? She shone brighter and more powerfully than the stars, yet believed her light should be locked away forever to protect herself and everyone around her.

Ah, but that's to come. To understand a hero, we must understand their past, so shall we?

Zzz…

Zzz…

Zzz…

…?

"Psst! Koneko! Hey, wake up..!"

Koneko's head shot up blearily as they blinked the world into focus. There was Kimiko, Ren, Takao, and Ms. Kim- oh no.

"Well? Can you tell me the answer, sleeping beauty?" Ms. Kim chuckled. It wasn't uncommon for Koneko to fall asleep at strange times, but class… that was a new one. She sunk down in her seat and shook her head as a few people chuckled. Ren fiddled with her glasses, wanting to help the tired girl, but not wanting to get her into more trouble. Koneko rubbed her eyes wearily and stared at the board until the class ended.

…..

Ren glanced down as her friend walked straight into her. Her mouth twitched upward in amusement. "What, are you blind now too, Neko?" Koneko glared up at Ren and stuck out her tongue.

"I didn't sleep last night! I'm just tired is all. You calling me "Neko" doesn't help, you know." Ren grinned playfully as she started to walk down the school hallway once more.

"What? You're like a cat! Always napping! Meow!" Ren struck what Koneko could only assume was a cat-like pose. "Either way, you're lucky that Ms. Kim was feeling nice today! You didn't even get sent to the office!" Koneko sucked in her cheeks thoughtfully.

"I am very lucky, in fact. I was supposed to meet with my great-grandmother this afternoon!" She stopped and glanced down at her outfit. "But not in this outfit! She hates the school uniform! I have to go change!" Koneko waved at Ren before sprinting out of the school. Ren lifted her hand in a wave, but Koneko had gone before she could notice.

…...

"Hey, mom, are you home?" Koneko dashed into her living room as a sweaty mess. Her mother wasn't home yet, however, so she ran upstairs to wash her face and change. She'd have to make due without a ride to her great-grandmother's. After changing into a pink blouse and white skirt, and smoothing down her pink hair, she trotted back downstairs. Her mother was fumbling with two armfuls of groceries in the doorway. "Oh! Here, mom, let me help you." Koneko grabbed an armful of the groceries and set it on the counter. She rifled through the bag and pulled out some snail ice cream victoriously. She plopped it onto the counter beside the bag and hesitated. "Mom, I'm going to be running late to see gram-gram if I walk… Can you drive me? Please?" Her mother sighed, placing a box of rice onto the counter.

"I can't, honey. I have to get these groceries up and make supper before your father gets home. You know how he is when he's had a bad day and there's no food waiting."Koneko sighed. It had been worth a shot.

"Ah, well then I ought to get running." She grabbed a bottle of water and kissed her mother's cheek. "I'll see you later, I suppose." She wistfully wished for her mother to change her mind as she jogged toward the front door.

"Wait!" Koneko turned around and tilted her head in confusion at her mother. The rigid woman had insanity written across her face as she dashed forward and grabbed Koneko's arm. "I want to drive you, Koneko! Come on! We'll be late!" With that, her mother dragged her out of the house and into the car, the forgotten snail ice cream melting on the counter.

…..

Koneko waved to her hastily retreating mother, then turned to the mansion in front of her. No one knew where gram-gram got the money for such a place, but it just added more charm to the sprightly old woman.

She walked up to the front of the building and rang the doorbell, feeling the reverberation of the deep chimes from where she stood. A short woman in a bright pink dress answered the door within a few moments. "Hello? Hello- Oh! Hello dear! Come in, come in! You must be sweltering in that heat, you poor thing! Let me get you some lemonade, sweetheart." And just like that, the pink ball of energy flitted to the kitchen.

Koneko grinned. Her great-grandmother may have been her favorite person in the world, with how bright and airy she was. She had bright white hair that went all the way down to her knees, adding to the ethereal effect of the flitting woman.

Her great-grandmother bustled back into the room, carrying two glasses of lemonade with spiral straws in them. She handed Koneko the glass with the green straw and sipped at her own pink straw. "Oh! I almost forgot! Would you like a funny cat name? I gave one to your grandmother and your mother. Would you like yours now? After all, you finally turned eighteen two days ago!"

Koneko glanced over at her great-grandmother before nodding in confusion. What could it hurt? "I-I mean, sure! What were gram's and mom's names?"

Manami, her great-grandmother, shook her head quickly. "It is something that they would have to tell you themselves. I'm not going to tell you." She stood abruptly and sat down her empty glass. "Come, child. Let us get your cat name."

Manami turned and walked over to a painting on the wall. It was a picture of her in her youth, with her bright pink hair flowing in the wind. She pushed the painting to the side and pressed a button, opening a passageway into a brightly lit tunnel. "Come, dear! This shall be fun!" She beckoned to the dumbfounded girl before walking into the tunnel briskly.

Koneko hopped up and followed her, not wanting to be left alone. Besides, it wasn't every day anyone got to explore a secret passage! "U-um, gran-gran? Where are we going?" She trailed her fingertips along the smooth marble of the walls, nervously relishing in the smoothness.

Manami grinned before turning a corner into the largest, pinkest room Koneko had ever seen. It was filled with pictures of Manami wearing a mask and posing next to all sorts of different people. There was even a picture of her with a monster! This was all pushed out of her mind, however, as Manami approached a table covered in symbols unlike any that Koneko had never seen. Manami smiled and gestured to the board. "Tap on any six symbol tiles you like, Koneko." Manami bowed her head and backed away from the table.

Koneko's hand hovered over the symbols. Which should she push? She liked three in particular, but didn't know which order she should place them in. Eventually she arranged her tiles from the waviest design to the blockiest. She then repeated it in order to get the full six symbols. The tiles flashed green, and Manami walked over to view the results. Her mouth twitched upwards in a grin. "Your true cat name is "Mew Mew," Koneko! How cute!"

Koneko giggled. "Mew Mew?! That's such a silly name!" She scrunched up her nose as she laughed… before she felt a bonk on her forehead.

Manami stood in front of Koneko, arms crossed, but smiling. "Never make fun of your own name, my dear. Others do that enough for you AND them. Be proud of your name, Mew Mew! Embrace it!" She ruffled her great-granddaughter's hair, before her expression grew grim. "I… I must test you now, child. Follow me… please."

Manami walked over to a pedestal, where a jewel-encrusted dagger sat on a satin sheet. Koneko peered at the dagger curiously. "Koneko, this dagger was given to me by my great-grandmother, and it was given to her by HER great-grandmother. I need you to pick it up, dear."

Koneko tentatively picked up the dagger. It sat heavily in her hand as she admired the jewels embedded into it. She looked up to Manami. "What now, gran-gran?"

Manami grabbed Koneko's hands firmly and pressed a mind-controlling kiss onto her forehead. "My child, I need you to plunge this dagger into my heart."