Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Pudding was searching for Ichigo and Mint. Both of them had gone missing for at least a day or two now. Ryou had a meeting earlier that morning with the other Mews to go over their findings and, incidentally, to make sure they hadn't been followed. None of the Mews knew what was going on, nor who was behind it.
"Ok, everyone! The reason I have called you all here is to discuss what's going on. We currently have two missing Mews. We don't have a clue as to what's going on. Has anyone heard from either Mint or Ichigo within the last day or so?"
Lettuce and zakuro looked at each other. They both shook their heads, "No. Sorry; neither myself nor Zakuro have seen them around," Lettuce said with some dismay.
Mew Pudding, Ringo, and Berry thought about it. "I don't know where either of them could have gone to. I was watching my brothers and sisters at home. I wasn't outside much as I wanted to make sure they were okay."
Ringo shook her head, "I'm sorry; I haven't seen either of them at all. I hope...I mean , I hope they're alright."
Berry looked at the others, wondering if she looked as glum as they did. "I wish I knew what happened to them. I haven't heard from the Saint Rose Crusaders at all. I don't think they are coming back."
Ryou stood up, addressing the group. "Ok, everyone. We need to be careful when we're out and about. We may have a serious problem. I'll check on related criminal activity. I haven't heard from anyone who might be familiar with our group in quite some time." He paused, while the others took it in. "Something seems to be happening. What, I don't know. But we have some Mews who are apparently missing . So...something is clearly going on. I hope we can stop whatever is happening before it's too late for the others."
The Mews broke up, each Mew heading homeward. Mew Pudding found herself walking along a path to her home. Like the others, she wondered what could have happened to her missing comrades.
She was walking in the park on her way to her house to check on her brothers and sisters. She didn't notice the shadow of someone following her up in the air. Kisshu had, earlier that morning, talked to the Mews on his ship and decided to continue with his plan. He left and was following Pudding through the park.
Kisshu floated down towards her. He marveled at her; they'd not had much contact. Well. He just had to fix that.
He flew just over her head, making himself clearly visible. He flew past her. Pudding heard a swish sound and looked up. She saw him and started to run after Kisshu.
Kisshu was floating just above her. "Hello, Pudding-chan. It's been a while."
"Kisshu!" She backed up. She knew Kisshu was bad news. "Did you have anything to do with the disappearance of my onii-chans?"
He sat, crosslegged in mid-air, and seemed to think. "Er, hm. I, uhm, just might have."
"Give them back! Immediately!"
He floated down a little closer. "What makes you think they want to come back?"
Pudding seethed. This maniac… "Pudding swears, if you've brainwashed them…"
He held up a hand. "I'm not in the brainwashing business, Pudding-chan. But have you considered the possibility that they just might choose to not come back?"
"You're a monster," she grated. She was very upset that Kisshu was teasing her. Kisshu just stuck his tongue out at her and blew a raspberry. Pudding for her part started to try to jump at him. Kisshu floated away out of her reach and then turned and soared towards the trees at the other side of the park. He knew what needed to be done and he had to accomplish it. He also knew he didn't have the time to explain it to them. Not if they were all to live. Pudding started to run after him.
She wanted to stop him and find out what he had done to her sisters. She eventually came to the edge of the park and started to go into the wooded area beyond...
Kisshu just kept flying but after a couple of seconds he stopped and turned around to face her. Pudding caught sight of Kisshu and she saw he had a weird look on his face. It looked to her like a sad smile. Kisshu just continued to float there for a while.
"Boo!" He'd appeared out of nowhere. Pudding jumped out of the way and grabbed her pendant to transform.
"Mew Mew Pudding… Metamorphose!" Pudding announced excitedly, her orange monkey ears already present as she kissed her Mew Pendant which illuminated her face with a bright golden light. Her Mew Mark shone with a pink light underneath her fringe, and she lifted the Mew Pendant high above her head before pressing it to her Mew Mark, the light intensifying as the world around her shone with a golden light.
Wind rushed past Pudding, tousling her blonde hair and braids as ribbons of golden light emerged from her glowing nails and twirled around her body, enshrouding her in a comforting warmth. Power tingled through every fibre of her being, filling her with excitement as the light coated her body, causing two yellow armbands with orange lace to appear on her upper arms, followed by a pair of fluffy, orange fingerless gloves, first on her right hand, and then on her left.
Soon, the ribbons of light had made their way to her torso and legs, loosely wrapping around her before fading with a lively chiming sound. In place of the light was a short, striped yellow jumpsuit with brown trimming, a yellow garter with orange lace on her left leg, a pair of yellow leg warmers, and a pair of comfortable orange shoes. Her tailbone tingling, Pudding leaned down, allowing a fluffy orange monkey tail to pop into existence on her lower back.
Her body feeling incredibly light as power swirled within her, Pudding took the opportunity to do several backflips in quick succession, each rotation feeling faster than the last. Finally, she pulled out of the spin as the world around her seemed to fracture like dry, cracked earth, and she struck her signature monkey-like pose, bending her legs as she held one arm above her head, and the other in front of her chest, a bright smile etched on her face as feelings of excitement for the battle ahead raced through her, her vision returning to normal as power ceased to surge through her wildly.
She was no longer just Pudding. She was now Mew Pudding. But Kisshu had planned carefully for this fight; he'd done his hoMework. A chimera amoeba was hiding behind a couple of trees. Kisshu floated there for a few seconds, just looking at her. Then he drew his sais and flew down, ready to do battle.
Pudding jumped out of the way. He flew at her again. Again she dodged him and jumped nimbley up into a tree. Kisshu turned around and flew around the tree to where she was. He aimed at her, to knock her out of the tree...
Pudding saw this and she jumped out off the tree limb she was on and she landed on the ground again. Again Kisshu flew at her and again she jumped up in the air. Pudding was getting tired of being on the defensive, and looked around for a tree where she could have the advantage. However, she didn't notice the chimera down below slowly creeping around the tree to her…
Again and again Kisshu dive-bombed her, keeping her attention focused on him. Pudding kept dodging from tree limb to tree limb, her prehensile tail enabling her to move faster than any human through the trees. Pudding found it exciting to be back fighting and using her Mew powers again.
She was dodging from tree to tree as her monkey DNA was helping her to swing and jump from branch to branch. But suddenly, in mid-jump, two tentacles from the unseen as yet chimera grabbed her ankles and pulled her out of the sky.
Pudding was dragged down towards the ground. Fortunately, she saw it coming, and grabbed a tree limb to break her fall. She was then able to loosen the tentacles on her ankles and jump away. Turning to face the chimera, she called for her weapon "Pudding Ring Inferno," using it on the chimera to split it up. But then, to her surprise, Pudding saw it put itself back together again. And this time there were two of them instead of one. The chimeras sent questing tentacles at her.
She dodged out of the way again and jumped into the air and was in midair again. One of the Chimeras went around behind her. Pudding heard it just in time. She was able to dodge and roll into a leap from the ground again. This time, when she used her weapon, it split into three. By now Pudding was getting frustrated. She didn't think it was possible for the chimeras to keep being cut up and still live. She tried again, and again it reassembled itself, but this time into four of them.
Pudding dodged again and again, leaping from tree to tree, as the tentacles kept on being shot at her.
She leapt up onto a branch and was just standing there catching her breath. Pudding heard a rustling noise from the tree and saw Kisshu coming towards her. She jumped out of the way to another limb near her. However, before she could get to it, two tentacles grabbed her ankles and dragged her back down. She tried to get them off her legs, but they held strong and dragged her down to the ground. She never saw the crack in the ground, where the other chimeras were waiting patiently to bubble up and trap her.
The tentacles kept pulling her to the ground. They were able to keep Pudding from getting hurt but yet also from jumping or running away. They pulled her to the ground and she didn't notice what was going on underneath her feet. The slime—the chimera, as she recognized it to be—was bubbling up from a crack in the ground. She was pulled to land in the slime puddle and the tentacles held her ankles there. Pudding heard a squishing sound after she had landed. She looked down at her feet. She had landed in a puddle of some liquid or something.
Then she heard a noise and looked up, to see Kisshu floating there in front of her. He was just staring at her. She went to take a step towards him but found her feet wouldn't respond. Pudding looked down again at her feet. She was still standing in the puddle. She tried to lift one foot off the ground. It raised up about an inch before it was pulled back down by the gelatinous liquid that was the body of the chimera. She tried her other foot with the same result. "Huh? What's going on here?" She couldn't understand why she couldn't get her feet out of the substance.
She started to use her hands on her legs to try to pull herself out. "UNGH UNGH UGHN! Come On!" Why can't Pudding get her feet unstuck? Pudding Doesn't like this at all NaNoDa! She continued to struggle. but then she heard a noise and looked up. The chimera had split itself and extruded some of itself at her arms and bound them to her sides and some more went to her chest area.
Pudding couldn't figure out what was going on. Kisshu just kept floating there watching her. He didn't appear to be inclined to leave. Pudding readied herself for another attack. Then she felt something crawling up her legs. She looked down and saw the slime had started to work its way up her legs. She tried to lift up her feet but the slime clung greedily to her shoes and brought them back down almost immediately. Pudding couldn't break free. The slime encased her legs up to the knee. Some slime flew to her hands covering her gloves and some flew to her arms, pinning them to her sides. Pudding kept trying to struggle to free herself, but it was in vain. The slime covering her gloves started to change them and more slime kept encasing her arms as well till her elbows were the only thing left exposed. The slime thinned out down to her hands. It did this as it was also down below doing the same thing to her legs.
Kisshu continued to float there, in his perch in the air in front of her, watching as the chimera did its work. In spite of her continued struggles, the slimy chimera continued to cover her body, and she could feel it beginning to change her clothing. She kept an eye on him, doing her best to prepare for another attack on his part, but none came. Odd, she thought: that smile on his face was not one of triumph. In fact, he looked a little...sad.
Her shoes became flat, soft-soled, no heeled knee high fur-lined on the inside and the outside, with lacing going from the bottom to the top. They were tied in pom-poms with a bow in the front at the top of the boots and became orange colored ninja boots. Meanwhile more slime started to encase her feet and legs again. Pudding continued to struggle but she couldn't get free as the slime was holding her in place.
Her gloves became the same as ichigos and mintos. They were orange-colored and fur lined as well. Her jumpsuit changed as more and more slime continued to attach itself to her. The slime on her legs and arms thinned out to form a layer a kind of armor, and more seeped down into her upper torso, with some spreading downward. The slime even seeped inside her undergarments, making changes to them as well. Kisshu knew well that this would protect her in the harsh times to come. And still Kisshu continued to float there...
As though waiting for something.
Yes, thought Kisshu.
The process is nearly complete.
Pudding for her part was very exhausted from the fight. The chimera sensed her fatigue and put her to sleep. Kisshu caught her as she fell, but also waited for the changes to finish up. He then called the chimera back and teleported to the ship carrying Pudding in his arms.
Once Kisshu was on board his ship he went to his bedroom and gently laid Pudding down on his bed to rest. She'd fought the good fight, and deserved her rest. The plan so far was going well. He had initially been worried that he wouldn't be able to finish things here on earth. But it looked like he'd be able to…
Meanwhile, the other Mews who were on the ship came in and sat on either side of the bed and just watched Pudding sleep for a while. They knew the changes that were made were taxing somewhat physically on them. The chimeras had only so much energy to work with, after all.
Mint looked at Kisshu sternly. "This had better be good, for all the trouble you've put everybody to."
He held up his hands, palms forward, in a gesture of honesty. "On the level. You saw the readouts from my sensors...what was left of them. You know enough about my technology to know I couldn't have faked that. And anyway, why would I?"
"Let's just say, in the past, our meetings have been somewhat less than pleasant. I think we can be forgiven for not instantaneously placing our full trust in you."
"I suppose that's true," he said, still looking at Pudding. And although her suspicions of him were high and justifiably so, it still seemed as though his expression, ever so slightly, was a sorrowful one.
Early the next morning, Pudding woke up. She noticed she wasn't where she had been previously. The others on the ship came into the bedroom: Kisshu, and the Mews Ichigo and Mint. Pudding couldn't understand why he was smiling; it didn't seem like the smile of a conqueror, but of a savior. "Okay, what happened, NaNoDa?" she asked. The two Mews sat on the edge of the bed. Pudding then sat up and she hugged them both. "Pudding is so glad to see her onichans. Where have you both been, NaNoDa? And why are you both on Kisshu's ship?" Kisshu coughed suddenly to get everyone else's attention. "I do apologize, my Little Monkey-chan, but this was necessary. There are good reasons behind why I did what I did. They involve some major repercussions for the Earth and my planet as well. In fact, it wouldn't be too much to say the fate of the universe is at stake. Or, at least, the universe as we know it…" Kisshu had a sad look on his face after saying that. He knew what had happened when he left his planet. He couldn't stop worrying about what was currently going on though. He had lost all contact for the time being as his ship was still damaged.
And he also knew that, no matter what precautions he took or whatever powers at his disposal, there was an excellent chance not all of them would survive.
If, indeed, any of them would.
…..
(Flashback)
3 months Ago… Kisshu and his brothers were occupied by the adulation bestowed upon them by their people even though they had brought back the mew aqua at least two years before and restored it from the barren rock it was.
Pai was now promoted to lead scientist on their planet he was also a healer of sorts and worked on various projects to improve the planets ecosystem.
Taruto was young but he was very special as he had control over the plants. He was in his apprenticeship to become assistant to Pai his older brother.
Kisshu after all this time was promoted to commander of the armed forces for the army of his people. Also he became an instructor for teaching others how to fight.
Currently all three were tired of all the fame they were getting from everyone. It was annoying to them as each one was busy with some task. Pai was researching other planets in the solar system to find different things, elements, to use on their planet; sometimes new minerals, new plant life, found a better, more useful niche there on their home world. He had over the course of time become more open to asking opinions about something and less closed off when needing input from others.
Taruto was less bratty and hyper. He needed to be so he could work on creating medicines for their people out of the various plant life and animal life. He also became a terraformer as part of his tasks.
Kisshu had changed the most though out of the three he was very annoyed with the fan girls and often avoided them altogether as he needed to be focused on training the army or some other duties related to the armed forces such as paperwork. He also at times looked up at the stars and wondered if his parents were looking down upon him somewhere with smiles on their face. There were days where he just thought about the Mews and wondered how their lives were. He sighed "I wish I knew what was going on with them. I miss them very much." Kisshu just shook his head and got back to it.
Out in space was a force waiting at the edge of the star system gathering up many recruits to fight a war the likes of which would never be seen or ever again.
One day their current leader asked Pai and Taruto "I was wondering if you two would like to go on a survey mission. it's off planet and will be a while to say the least?' Pai and Taruto looked at their leader "Hideki-sama we both are working on some things. Can you give us some time to prepare so we can go on this mission?' Hideki looked at them "I guess it wouldn't hurt to give you that much. It isn't too urgent a mission just we would like you to both go as we need some info on a planet outside our solar system.'
Pai and Taruto nodded their heads and Bade him farewell. Then they got back to their home and started to pack their bags for the trip off planet.
Kisshu got back later on and he noticed some bags at the front door. "Pai what's going on? Can you explain why there are some bags at the front door?"
Pai came into the room and saw Kisshu. "I am afraid Hideki-sama asked us to go on a scouting mission .He wanted me and Taruto to check out a planet. I hope we won't be too long." He said with a frown on his face.
Kisshu looked at him then he went and embraced him "Pai, you know I will miss you both very much. I hope you can come back soon so I on't have to deal with those fangirls anymore. They really are bothering me." He ruffled his little brother's hair, a crafty but loving expression on his face. "You can have your pick."
Pai knew this was just a show. He knew Kisshu was upset to some degree inside. Taruto came into the room at that moment and He ran and Hugged Kisshu as well. He had some tears in his eye. "I will miss you Kish. Don't do anything stupid."
Kisshu saw him "Dont worry, little midget, I'll be very careful." Kisshu also ruffled his hair some as he was fond of Taruto.
Pai and Taruto left the next morning before the sun was up and got to the spaceport and went into a ship. Pai prepared for takeoff and Taruto got strapped in for the rough ride into space. They blasted off and were in space in no time. Meanwhile on their planet Kisshu had just woken up and was getting ready for the day.
He headed off to the barracks to train some new recruits and to work on some papers for the council as he was responsible for some of the documents related to military actions.
Kisshu just sighed again. He really was starting to get depressed about the whole situation. Everyone else left to do their own things and he was just there by himself. He shook his head. "I wish I could go visit the mews back on earth. It would be much more exciting seeing them again then doing this by myself all the time. I really miss them. Even the scary ones. I wish I could become more than friends with at least Ichigo again. I really do care for her." He had a sad look on his face as he remembered how Ichigo looked at him before he left.
All of a sudden someone knocked on his office door. Kisshu got up and went to answer the door. He opened it and their low and behold was Hideki-sama himself. Kisshu was alert now. "Hideki-sama o what do I owe this visit?' Hideki looked at him and he noticed the troubled look on Kisshu's face. "What is wrong Kisshu? Are you upset about Pai and Taruto going on a scouting mission?" Kisshu looked at his leader a moment. "No I don't really think that is the problem. I am just kind of lonely now that everyone else is off doing their own thing."
Hideki understood at once. "I see I might have something for you as well to do very soon. I have gotten some disturbing news about a possible enemy invasion on the edges of our star system to the south. The mission I sent your brothers on was to the west so they will be avoiding the whole mess for a time at least."
Kisshu was shocked to hear this."I haven't heard about this at all. What happened to our network of allies in the star system? Did they get eliminated or something?"
Hideki saw how shocked Kisshu was. He knew this troubled him greatly but was better than the other troubles he was currently having.
"Kisshu I have sent some drone ships out to investigate the reports. I hope to have some answers soon enough." Hideki then turned and left to go to the council on the matter.
In two months time the enemy aliens were right on their doorstep so to speak. Kisshu had been training day and night since that last meeting with his leader to work on finding a way to defeat them.
Kisshu was asked by the council one day to fly out into space to see where the enemy fleet was amassing and what their numbers were and all.
He went to the spaceport and got into a shuttle to have some speed on his side. Kisshu knew that he might not come back. But he had to try stopping the enemy fleet.
