Chapter One: A New Mission

Teleporting was an interesting experience for Ichigo, though she think she liked it more than she would ever like flying. She was part cat, after all, and cats don't do heights.

She and Kish appeared in the back yard of Café Mew Mew and Kish led her up the stairs, like he knew where he was going. When she thought about how much time he had spent stalking her, she realized he probably did know his way around.

The two entered the dining room and Ichigo was instantly jumped on by an excited Pudding.

"Ichigo Onee-Chan! Taru-Taru and the aliens are back, na no da!" Pudding cheered, her eyes big and sparkling, now more than ever now that her 'best friend' was back. "Pudding and Taru-Taru are going to go to the candy store, and to the park, and to the cinema, and to the circus, and to the zoo and to the-"

"Mew Pudding, I do hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we cannot stay for long," Pie said. Like his brothers, he looked the same as he had a few months before when they left with Mew Aqua in tow, just a bit taller, his hair a bit shaggier. If it was even possible, he looked more serious than he had before.

"Why not?" Lettuce asked, trying to hide her disappointment.

"We came to ask for help," Tart said, his face grim. "It's about the Mew Aqua."

"It didn't work?" Mint asked, her eyes wide with shock.

"On the contraire, the Mew Aqua has done all we thought it would do and more," Pie said. "However, new problems have erupted from this."

"What kind of problems?" Ryou asked, his hard eyes not leaving Pie.

"Civil war has broken out," Kish answered. "Between those who have accepted Deep Blue's betrayal and death, and those who haven't and believe us to be liars, blinded by their love for him. The latter group are trying to destroy what the Mew Aqua has created, preferring to be live in miserable conditions under Deep Blue's rule than under our own government with the planet restored."

"How can they even begin to think like that?" Ichigo asked, outraged. "Deep Blue was horrible to all of you!"

"Deep Blue's empty promises have poisoned their minds," Pie said. "And we fear that they will completely obliterate any chance we may have for new lives on Cynnth."

"Not to mention the Mew Aqua can't fix what damage has already been done," Tart said. "We're trying to limit the damage, but they are making it difficult by making Chimera Animals with the specific goal of destroying stuff."

"So, where do we come in?" Zakuro asked.

"We would like for you to come to Cynnth and help us fight," Pie said. "All you would do is destroy the enemy Chimera Animals. The rest of our army will take care of the warriors."

"Pudding will help, na no da!" Pudding said instantly.

"You don't have to," Ryou said quickly.

"No, we don't," Lettuce agreed. "But we want to. Or, at least, I know I do."

"I'm in," Zakuro said.

"If Zakuro Onee-Sama is in, then so am I," Mint said quickly.

The four Mews turned to Ichigo.

After a long moment of thought, Ichigo sighed,

"Well, I've got nothing better to do, so why not?" She said, giving a half-smile.

Her teammates grinned and the aliens looked relieved while Ryou scowled.

"Fine," He said. "Do whatever you want. Just don't come crying to me when things go wrong."

"Don't worry, we won't," Ichigo snapped back.

"We will give you two hours to pack any belongings you may wish to bring and to explain to your families the situation however you need to," Pie said. "Meet us back here and we will bring you to our ship."

The girls nodded and each raced home.

Two hours later, Ichigo had a bag packed with clothes, toiletries, books and a few other items. She had told her parents that Lettuce had won a summer-long cruise trip and had invited her and the other girls to go with her. The Momomiyas smiled as they sent their daughter off, telling her to have fun and to 'stay away from boys' (that last bit coming from her father).

Ichigo was met at the Café by her teammates and the aliens, except for Pudding and Tart, who teleported in a few minutes after Ichigo arrived.

"Sorry, na no da," Pudding said. "Pudding had to get her brothers and sister packed as well, so they could stay with Sensei while Pudding was gone, na no da."

"That is fine," Pie said. "Are you ladies ready to depart?"

Each responded with a nod and with a wave of his hand, Pie dematerialized the luggage away and then gestured for them to get into a circle so that each human was holding at least one hand of a Cyniclon.

They arrived at the large ship and Tart showed the girls where they would be staying during the journey while Kish and Pie went to do pre-flight checks on the ship.

Ichigo looked around her room on the ship. The room seemed to be personalized for her. There were a lot of strawberry and cat themed décor, and she recognized some of her favorite CDs and books on the shelf. She had an eerie and annoyed feeling that Kish had decorated the room.

With a sigh, Ichigo tucked her suitcase (which had been waiting for her when she opened the door) under the bed and left the room, feeling a cat-like need to explore. She wandered the halls, opening and closing doors as she went. She found the kitchen, a library, what she guessed was an infirmary, a laundry room, a communications room, closets and rooms she assumed belonged Kish and Tart. There were two doors that were locked with 'Do Not Enter' signs on them, and she assumed those belonged to Pie, and guessed that one was his personal quarters and the other was his lab.

Then she found a room that surprised her. The walls were painted bright pink with purple flowers, there was a small desk that was stocked with art supplies, and the bed was small with pink bedding and purple pillows. Curious, Ichigo stepped further into the room.

The bed's too small for an adult, or even a small teenager. She thought. It almost looks like it's for a child.

"What are you doing in here?"

Uh oh. Who's caught Ichigo snooping around? The answer is... Coming Friday! ;)