Chapter 2: My Unknown Reflection
Erika sits at the food court with Evan and her friends Abi and Dani, trying not to make faces at the Mew Academy students. The same three were showing off again. One was part of the class with no powers, and thus was a red emblem. He was doing insanely high flips and posing for photographs. Another was something like a monotaur. He was lifting women sitting at tables like Gaston from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The last was a snow woman who floated gently through the air.
Erika rolls her eyes, then looks at her friends. Both Abi and Dani were enthralled with their performance. Both had applied, but the school had a 0.1% acceptance rate. And Abi and Dani were a part of the rejected 99.9%. Truth betold, no one really knew the criteria to get into the school. Apart from the obvious people, such as those selected by dignitaries to be their future body guards or advisors, the average every-day person who applied seemed to have as much chance of getting in as the nationally reknowned math genius. But, everyone knew that graduation, which seemed to be just as hard as getting into the school in the first place, meant instant success. A person wouldn't even have to go to college, they would be set for life. Those who emerged could do anything. Rumor has it one graduate was immediately selected to enter the Nasa program.
Erika rests her head in her hands. Regardless, those showoffs look like a bunch of loons. She really wasn't jealous. Truth betold, she hadn't even applied. Heck, she hadn't even read a brochure. She simply had no interest. She looks over at Evan, who had been looking at her, but quickly turns away to watch the performance.
Erika narrows her eyes. That guy is so weird... She lays down on her arms until the show ends and her friends' minds are free to continue their conversation.
Finally, they focus again. "So, what story should the Newspaper club do next?" Abi starts.
"Anything but cafeteria food. Since we started investigating, I can't eat a thing anymore!" Dani points out.
Evan pipes in, "Why don't we see if we can interview a Mew or a Knight?"
"Get real! Like they'd see us?" Dani quips.
Erika rests her head on her hand, "Actually, they might. It's not like we live far from Mew Mansion. There's no problem in asking. Besides, aren't they known for being unpredictable?"
"Okay, but let's think of another story. You know, when this plan bombs." Abi adds, smirking.
"EVERYBODY PUT YOUR HANDS UP!" Two men in black ski masks waive guns in each hand.
The crowd screams as they timidly raise their hands.
"That means you too!" a third walks out from behind a corner, pointing a gun at the three Mew Academy students. "No heroic stuff."
Erika sits with her hands up. She looks around and sets eyes on a panic button beneath the service counter of the Auntie Anne's. She searches for the owner, but notices an "out to lunch" sign instead. If I could only get to that button...
"I WANT ALL YOUR CASH! IN THE BAG! NOW!" one of the goons starts passing bags to the food vendors.
One reaches for their panic button, feels something smash against his head, instead. Dressed in the same uniform, another man hops opens the register instead. "Sorry, Boss." he laughs.
Erika's eyes narrow. They planned this well. No wonder they did this in a food court! You don't know who you can trust! Not to mention there are no bars that come down and lock you in like the department stores... She stays still until another vendor, one working alone, reaches toward their button. All guns turn to him, and he freezes. At the same moment, Erika reaches toward the button.
"YOU! GIRL!" she hears the man call out, but her hand is only a foot away.
She feels a hand on hers.
BANG!
CLINK!
She turns around and sees a man dressed in red. She tries to pull away, but stops. She rubs her eyes. "Evan!" I could have sworn I saw someone wearing red. She turns to the robbers, but they stand there, frozen. Everyone was looking at them.
Evan turns to face her, the sword of The Red Knight disappearing from his hands. She realizes the clinking sound was from the bullet hitting the sword.
She lets go of Evan and moves backward.
Seeing the robbers so distracted, the two of the Mew Academy students took the opportunity to take them down. The third, the snow woman approaches Erika. A couple meters away, she kneels on one knee. "Emiko-sama."
"Emi-ko. Sama?" Erika looks again at Evan, who has also bowed. Soon, everyone in the court was bowing toward her.
It seemed like they stayed like that forever. Eventually, official guards from Mew Mansion wearing the crest of the original transformation piece arrive, bowing.
"Emiko-sama, please come with us. Your parents are waiting," one says.
Panicking, she looks back at her table, but Abi and Dani are both on the fround, bowing toward her.
Abi? Dani?
She turns back to Evan, "I won't go without Evan!" the words seem to jump from her mouth.
"Very well. Evan-sama, please accompany us to Mew Mansion."
He rises and starts to follow them, but Erika grabs his arm. The group surround them both and lead them outside.
The doors close with a loud and deep sound that echoes through the foyer. She finds herself ushered to the most beautiful foyer decked in white and gold and bearing the photos of the 6 generations of Mews and their Knights. On the center table sit photos of girls and boys more or less her age, but one stands out. She picks up a photo of a baby with her same eyes and hair color. Carrying it, she walks over to the photograph of the sixth generation Ichigo. Brown eyes. Light golden skin. Just like mine. She'd always known she was adopted, but she'd been told her family was dead.
Evan walks up behind her. She grabs his arm. "I don't know what to believe anymore."
"Emiko?"
The famous voice of Alyssa resounds behind her. Erika turns around to see all the Mews, Knights, and their sons and daughters. Erika says nothing, taking a slightly stronger hold on Evan's arm.
"Emiko? Sweetheart." Stephen's voice breaks.
The Red Knight. He's... crying?
Erika looks closely at them. Why did I never notice? I have my mother's eyes, my father's nose. They were there. Right in front of me! "Mom! Dad!" she runs toward them.
"Emiko!" they race toward her, embracing her.
She feels two more arms around her, a girl who looked like a younger version of herself. "Emiko-neesama!"
She must be my little sister! I have a little sister! I have a cute little sister!
After several minutes, they let go so the group can have a good look at her. All were beaming.
Erika moves over to Evan, who was standing awkwardly alone. "Mom, Dad, I want to introduce you to Evan." she grabs his hand and pulls him toward them. He starts to kneel.
"Oh no!" Alyssa exclaims, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder. "Anyone important to Emiko is one of us. No need to bow," she smiles warmly.
The Red Knight claps his hands twice, "A feast! In honor of Emiko's safe return!" he calls. Then he looks at Erika. "I can't wait to hear all about your life!"
The Minto heir approaches her, followed by the Retasu heir. They extend their hands to her, and Erika shakes them. "Glad to have you back! We have great expectations of our future leader!" they say, brimming with smiles.
Erika freezes as she watches them merrily head toward the dining room. Leader? Her heart stops. Oh no. That's what a Mew Ichigo is. A leader. The head of all the... oh no. She starts to breathe heavily, but calms down when she feels Evan's hand in hers.
He looks at her with a face of understanding, "I'll be with you the whole way... if that's okay...," he whispers.
Erika smiles, nodding.