Episode 6

The Elegant Condor

Peppermint's Interesting Ballet Recital

"1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…" Ten girls recited together in perfect formation doing plies. At the head was Peppermint Aizawa, carefully balancing as she bended her knees moving up and down. Her dance instructor, Mademoiselle Genevieve, watched them carefully then clapped her hands.

"Very nice, girls" she exclaimed and beckoned them to listen. "Now" she began, "It is time for the girls that are interested in the role of the Swan Princess to show their routines." Peppermint nodded. The Aonori Ballet Academy was having its 10th annual recital. This year, it was Swan Lake. She was determined to get the lead role of the Swan Princess and had spent the last couple weeks carefully preparing for the auditions. Now that she had Condor genes inside her, she was sure that she could get the part. "Peppermint Aizawa, you are first" the teacher called. Peppermint walked out of the line of girls. "You may begin," Mademoiselle Genevieve said turning the stereo on. Peppermint waited for her part in the piece and instantly sprung into action. She began doing a triple pirouette as the music was fast and jumped into a complicated arobasc. The girls gasped at Peppermints performance as she did several turns and landed in a split. The room was filled with cheers from the line. Peppermint got up and bowed enjoying the attention. After several more performances, the decision was determined. "Peppermint, you will be our Swan Princess!" Mademoiselle Genevieve said proudly looking at her star dancer.

Later, Peppermint was riding home in her limo next to her mother, Mint. "How was your lesson, honey?" Mint asked her green haired daughter who was staring out the window. Peppermint turned toward her mother.

"It was good," she said, "I got the head role for next weeks, recital." Mint smiled at her.

"I'm very proud at you, darling" she said and patted her daughter on the head, "One day, you shall become as good of a ballerina as I was, touring countries and all that." Peppermint nodded at her mother who was once a famous ballerina. They arrived at the mansion. Peppermint ran up to her room and walked to the window. She hadn't talked that much since she found out she was a mew mew. It was odd knowing that you had great power inside you but couldn't use it until the time was right. I wonder when it will be my turn to transform, she thought. She suddenly thought she saw a strange shape in the sky, a space ship maybe? She shook her head, got in to her bed, and fell asleep waiting for the next day.

"Welcome to Café Mew Mew, please follow me." Mikan said to a couple at the door. She led them to their seats. Once they were seated she walked back to the door to seat more people who came. She sighed. I am still afraid that Tasuke knows I'm a mew mew, she thought staring in to space, It's been almost a week and I haven't seen him once.

"Mikan!" Peppermint yelled from a table breaking Mikan's thoughts, " Don't you realize there are still more people to be seated?" Mikan nodded sadly and trudged off to greet them. Peppermint looked at her strangely. Usually she's so happy and energetic, Peppermint thought, it must have something to do with Tasuke, she hasn't mentioned him in a while. Finally on their lunch break, Peppermint confronted Mikan. "Mikan, what's wrong with you?" she said abruptly. Mikan looked startled then sighed.

"Fine I'll tell you," she said to her and told Peppermint about how she thought Tasuke now knows she is a mew mew. Peppermint laughed.

"That doesn't mean anything." She said, "I think you are being stupid" Mikan shot her a glare. The bird-girl took Mikan's hand and put something in it. "Here, invite Tasuke to my recital tomorrow." She got up and walked out of the dressing room, "I'm sure he will enjoy it." Mikan looked at the two tickets. I'm not sure if Peppermint was trying to be nice to me or not, she thought, Hm… maybe this might work.

When Mikan got home, she immediately ran up to her room to call Tasuke. "Maybe he doesn't think I'm a mew mew" she thought climbing the stairs, "Peppermint's right I have been worrying to much" She picked up her phone once she reached her room and dialed Tasuke's number. After a couple of seconds she heard Tasuke answer the voice.

"Hello, Akayama residence" he said. Mikan froze then took a deep breath.

"H-hi, Tasuke" she said in to the phone.

"Mikan!" he said happily, "I have heard from you in ages!" She blushed.

"It has only been one week, Tasuke" she said, "Anyways I wanted to know if you would come with me to my friend Peppermint's recital tomorrow night?"

"Sure, Mikan! I'll pick you up at 5!" then he hung up. Mikan smiled.

"That's good, he didn't mention anything about me being a mew mew," she said to herself, "Maybe he doesn't know!"

In the deep space sky an alien floated outside his space ship. "My little Plum-kitty" he said, "You'd better pick someone soon, or I'll have to attack you." He grinned mischievously looking at a ballet recital ticket. "Starring Peppermint Aizawa, eh?" he said thinking, "Your friend will be my next target then, and I know just where to start." Then he vanished.

"Where did I put that comb?" Mikan said dashing around her room. It was the night of the recital and Mikan had already spent three hours preparing for it. Everyone was going to be there and she had to look nice. Finally after brushing her hair and putting on her white gown, she waited outside for Tasuke to show up. Within five minutes, a black limo pulled into her drive way. "Eh?" she said walking towards it. One of the doors opened and Tasuke jumped out wearing a white tux.

"Come on, Mikan" he said pulling her into the limo. Suddenly everyone jumped out at her.

"Surprise!" they all cried. All the mew mew's children were there, wearing beautiful gowns too.

"I don't understand?" she said confused. Sumomo smiled.

"It was all your boyfriend's idea to have everyone surprise you" Sumomo said. Mikan blushed. "Wait a minute" Mikan said blushing more, "He's not my boyfriend!" Everyone laughed. Tasuke closed the door and they drove off.

After 10 minutes, they reached the Tokyo Theater where the recital was being held. Everyone got out and walked in. "Wow!" Mikan said looking around, there were so many people in there and they were all wearing fancy dresses. Peppermint ran off behind the stage to get ready for the performance. Everyone else found seats close to the stage.

"This sure is a nice theater" Pineapple said in awe, "I feel so small compared to this place" Mikan turned to Tasuke to tell him something but the lights dimmed. It was starting.

"Thank you for coming to the Aonori Ballet Academy's 10th dance recital, we hope you enjoy the show" a French voice rang out on an intercom. A beautiful piece of music started to play as Peppermint dressed as a beautiful princess came out followed by a line of girls. They started to dance. On the catwalk above the stage, Chocolate appeared carrying two parasites. He looked to his left and saw two mechanics working on a piece of equipment. "Just what I need" he said and drained their souls leaving him with two dark crystals. "Not pure enough," he said but infused the crystals with the parasites anyways forming two rynocerouses. On the stage below Peppermint danced with all her heart. The people from the royal ballet academy sat in front carefully taken noted on the green haired dancer. Suddenly a loud smash was heard and all the lights burst leaving everyone in darkness. A spotlight appeared and with it Chocolate. He turned to the audience. "Sorry, but your show has just been cancelled!" and with that he summoned his two rynocerous Chirema Animas. Everyone in the audience screamed as the Chirema Animas started to crash against the walls. All was chaos. Now that there was a distraction, Chocolate saw his chance. He flew over to Peppermint and grabbed her by the hand. She struggled as she was lifted into the air. "You are coming with me!" he said and tightened his grip. Sumomo, Pineapple, and Mikan stood up. "Not so fast" he shouted and with a sweep of his hand, turned on the lights. Now the mew mews couldn't transform in front of this large crowd of people. It was all up to Peppermint who was being held at the top of the stage. "Go on mews, transform!" Chocolate yelled. Peppermint glared at him and bit his hand. Chocolate yelled with pain and threw her off the side. Peppermint felt words come in to her head as she fell and knew it was time.

"Mew Mew Peppermint, metamorphosis!" she screamed. A bright blue light covered her and stopped her fall. She felt her body change. The light cleared leaving Peppermint standing there as Mew Peppermint. She felt her back realizing she had wings and a tail. Her teal mew costume was her mother's except with longer boots. Her hair was now green and teal striped and her eyes were also teal. She flew up to the top of the stage. "Peppermint Staff!" She called as a beautiful staff appeared in her hand with a giant Peppermint on the top. The Chirema Animas stopped their attack to stare at her. "How dare you ruin such a nice performance!" she said angrily to them, "For your evil actions I shall make you pay! Ribbon Peppermint CRASH!" The ground shook beneath the Chirema Anima and a giant crevice appeared. They fell in leaving two crystals and two parasites behind. The crystals returned to their owners and Taysu gobbled the parasites up. Chocolate, realizing he had been defeated teleported away.

After all the commotion, the show had to be cancelled because the lighting wasn't operating right. "Was that girl Mew Mew? She looked cool!" Tasuke said to Mikan when they were riding back in the limo. Mikan grinned, "I don't know, Tasuke." Maybe if Tasuke knew she was a Mew Mew he wouldn't care. Mikan shook her head. Sorry Tasuke, I'm just not ready yet, she thought staring happily in to his eyes. Everything had turned out good. Even thought the show was cancelled, The Royal Ballet Company had enjoyed Peppermint's performance and insisted she join. Peppermint obviously accepted.

Up on the top of a building, Chocolate overlooked the city. "Defeated again, eh Chocolate?" came a voice from behind. Chocolate turned around to see two other aliens behind him.

"Champagne, Pepper" he said angrily. The younger alien, Pepper, laughed and then swooped down towards him.

"The savior told you that consequences would follow if you failed again." He said. Champagne nodded.

"Yes, and now you are under house arrest, I'd get back to the ship if I were you, Chocolate," he said solemnly. Chocolate glared at both of them then disappeared. Champagne looked out over Tokyo. "Soon, this planet will fall," he said into the dark sky.