A Mew Hope for Brockton Bay: Chapter 12 (Patreon)

Chapter 12

Things had never been better for Taylor. She had Mew. She had her Father with her. She met her heroes and they were amazing. Heck, she was going to be a hero just like them! Things were going great, yet a small part of her was still worried. Why wouldn't she be worried when she was finally going to meet the rest of the team?

"So this is it, Mew" She whispered as she stared at the door before her, "The Wards." Even behind closed doors, she could still hear their excited chatter. "They're a bit lively, huh?" She noted, feeling a small reach on her lips as she heard laughter along with their muffled voices.

They sounded so happy that a part of her just wanted to go away. It's not like she was in a rush, and school had just ended. Maybe they were just winding down before their patrols? She was sure they wouldn't mind if she puts this off just a bit, right?

If she keeps pushing this back, would she ever meet them? She… she needed to break out of her shell. She needed to meet them head on like what a hero would do. If she was going to just run away because she was scared, could she even call herself one?

Still, a part of her was worried. "Hey Mew," She whispered as she turned to her partner, "Do you think they'd like me?" For once, however, her partner was awfully quiet. He merely floated there, his eyes trained on the door, while his tail wished around rapidly.

Lowering the key card, she called out to her partner, "Mew?" Why was he so quiet right now? It was almost unsettling even. "Is something wrong?"

Eyes on her partner, she watched him take a deep breath before letting out a heavy sigh. Arms crossing across her chest, he replied, "I'll be honest with you Taylor." Turning to her, he told her, "You wouldn't want to see what's beyond that door."

Taken aback, she let out a nervous laugh. "Come on Mew," She replied as she glanced at the door, "They can't be that bad, right?" Sure they were High Schoolers like her, but they were heroes! They weren't like her classmates over at Winslow, right?

Turning away, Mew replied, "You know how you can't judge people just because of what people tell you what they are?" As she nodded, he added, "They're like that. They're… kids. Good kids, but some of them have their flaws." Grimacing, he glared towards the door, "With some having more than others."

"Mew…" She whispered as worry wormed its way inside her chest. It only occurred to her right then that she had never once seen Mew serious. He was always this goofball that cheered her up and to see that reassuring smile go away shook what little confidence she had.

Thankfully, that feeling would quickly come to pass as Mew blinked and turned to her with that same old wide eyed innocence that she loved him for. "Sorry about that," Mew chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head, "I might have read a few of their minds."

Her relief quickly gave way to panic as she hissed out, "Mew! Didn't I tell you to cut that out!" Why her partner seemed to insist on reading everyone's mind was beyond her. Oh sure it was useful, but he was still invading their privacy!

As she glared at him, he held up his hands. "Ok, ok! I was just worried about you ok?" With her glare lightening just a bit, he looked away, "But before you go in there, can you promise me one thing?" A bit taken back, she nodded.
"Can you promise me that you'd stay with the PRT after this?" He asked, his tone tinted with worry as he looked at the door.

Letting out a sigh, she smiled, "You know I'll always be a hero right?" No matter what happens, she'd never betray herself. She was going to be a hero even if she didn't like some of them and she would never let someone else say otherwise. She was a hero.

Smiling, her partner nodded. "I know you will, kid." Settling on her shoulder, he assured her, "I'll be with you always be with you every step of the way." Still, that worry that he saw behind never went away. Her partner was still terrified. "But just promise me. Please."

Before Taylor could assure her partner, they were interrupted as the door opened. Turning, the two found Miss Militia standing before the door just as surprised as they were. "Oh Taylor!" The All American Heroine greeted with a higher than usual pitch, "You're just in time?" Nervously glancing between her and behind her, she added, "The Ward hasn't arrived yet so if you could just give me a few minutes so I could get things ready?"

Hearing the woman lie was almost painful, even for Taylor. What's worse was the Wards weren't even being particularly subtle about things. "Wait, is that the new girl!" He heard a young girl's voice whispering, "Oh crap!" With a rush of footsteps, a boyish hiss soon followed, "Places everyone! Hurry!"

Were they even trying? A familiar aggravated voice would agree with her, "I swear this is stupid. We should just greet her!" If it wasn't for Miss Militia blocking the view, she would definitely have seen the Wards.

Glancing up at the woman, she mouthed, "Surprise Party?"

With that, the woman's shoulder sagged. Taylor honestly felt bad about it, but it wasn't her fault that they were awful at this. As she flashed her a pained smile, the woman begged her in a hush tone, "Can you act like you haven't heard them? Please"

"It's just that it's not every that they get to meet a new Ward and they wanted to make it special?" The woman added with a sigh as she glanced behind her, "Or trying to." Even now, she could hear some of them bickering.

While Miss Militia was embarrassed about it, it only lightened the weight on Taylor's shoulder. These were the wards she was worried about? They sounded like… like dorks, not heroes. Maybe she was going to fit in.

Struggling to hold back her laughter, she nodded. They did go with all the effort to surprise her so she'd give them this just once.

Holding Mew close to her chest, she replied, "Actually, I was going to talk to you about my lab so I don't mind?" While she could get better things here, the things she had over there were already built. Why waste resources when a few patches and buffing could make her old tech work?

She also had some sentimental attachment to her lab. It might be silly, but this was her lab. She built it from scratch. The least she could do was pack it up so that her room would actually become her room again.

"Do you think Director Piggot would let me pick something there?" She asked, "I'm kinda excited to make pokemons." Smiling, she raised her voice that was just a tad bit louder so that they could hear her loud and clear, "I'm actually thinking of giving each of them a Pokemon partner?"

Taking a guess on what pokemon the youngest Ward would like, she added, "Would you believe that there's several Pony Pokemon's and one of them is a sparkly Unicorn?"

Her declaration was quickly followed by a squeal, one that was quickly hushed as a voice scolded her, "Damn it Vista! You're going to blow our cover." Yup, she was definitely going to have fun working with them.

As Miss Militia ruefully shook her head, Mew chuckled, "Easy there kid, you wouldn't want to make them pass out, would you?"

"Maybe?" She replied as a mischievous smile stretched across her lips. Hey, no one told her that she can't tease her fellow heroes, right?

"I'm sure they'd love that," Miss Militia replied as she took one more glance behind her before she smiled widely, "But why don't you come inside so we can discuss it?" WInking at her, Miss Militia ushered her in.

Bracing herself, Taylor stepped in before a shower of confetti rained around her. "Surprise!" They greeted her with smiles and Taylor could never be happier. With their costume on, but unmasked, she saw them one by one.

There was Triumph being the oldest, the ever so mischievous Clockblocker, Vista being the youngest and as cute as a button. Then there was Gallant, Aegis and Kid Win. Everyone was here, even Shadow Stalker…

Eyes settling on the girl, she felt her world give out under her. "Sophia…" Why was Sophia here? Was she with the Wards and most importantly, why was she wearing Shadow Stalker's costume? This must be some mistake right? Some sick joke? She can't be Sophia right?

As she glanced at Mew, asking him silently if he knew, he turned away, a pained expression gracing his face. This… this was real. This wasn't a dream, but a waking nightmare as the girl spoke up, "Taylor? What the hell is she doing there?"

Taylor wanted to run, to scream, or shout, though nothing came out as she took a step away from Mew and from everyone. Even as her eyes grew wet, and the shouting started, she felt numb. She didn't know what to do. For the first time since she woke up, she felt so alone.

"Sophia, what the hell did you do?!" She heard through the din as she hugged herself.

As Sophia opened her mouth, to lie and make her life miserable all over again, Mew darted towards her and made her disappear with a pop. That was when all things went to hell as the world around her dissolve into a rush of angry shouting and screams.

A/N:

So I saw the time and decided to just push next month winner for next month and jam this in. Sorry for those looking forwards for Profiteering. Oh right, Profiteering was the second winner. Anyways, might squeeze in another chapter before polls tommorow!