Midnight at Veronica's cat cafe.
Serious discussions were taking place, on one end Veronica, Lucy and Carla discussed over a table filled with all sorts of ammunition.
"Ok listen up, we'll sneak in from the back and-" Veronica said while drawing a line on the map of the Esposito estate.
"My lady I object, they are expecting you so the back could be a trap, I suggest we charge in head first they wouldn't expect you to be reckless." Carla said drawing her own path on the map.
"Nope that won't work either they've got enough security stationed at the back and front we need an unpredictable plan, one they can't anticipate, one that isn't made by either you or me because my little sis has probably put counters in place she knows us both very well and that ties to her ability." Veronica said rubbing her forehead.
"Well then the only person here she won't be able to predict is you Ms lucy, especially since you two have never met." Carla said turning to Lucy.
"What if we came in from above, wait that won't be possible we can't really book a place and fly overhead and I doubt you own an aircraft, so out only option is coming in from below." Lucy said thoughtfully.
"Well your first plan wasn't too bad, they think we can't come in from above but in reality there's one way." Carla said looking at Veronica who stared back in confusion.
"What's that look for, if you've got a plan let's hear it." She asked getting frustrated.
"Three words, Mama Bear mode." Carla said pausing dramatically.
"What no, hell no I promised never to use that power ever again." Veronica said immediately.
"Come on Mistress it's our only option, unless you're ok with poor Mike dying?" She said.
"Ok you two enough, fill me in what's all this mumbo-jumbo you're spouting, Veronica if you have something that can help I suggest you use it no matter the cost ." Lucy said.
With a sigh Veronica agreed.
"Fine but I'll need a high platform, can you think of any near the estate?" She asked.
"Yes mistress there a building there's a five star hotel nearby, getting in is the problem." Carla said drawing a circle around the building on the map.
"I've got that covered." Lucy replied.
"Although you will have to wait for a bit I'll need to eat their best cuisine." Lucy proposed.
"Hey Mike is in danger and you want to stuff your face, can't you do that after we save him?" Veronica said raising her voice.
"No you idiot, I'm a food critic, we can enter the hotel under the guise of me being there to taste their food, then we can sneak past and head to the roof." Lucy explained before fumbling through her purse and showing them an ID.
"Ohh, why didn't you just say so?" Veronica asked relieved.
"Well I was getting to that before you interupted, but how will we get to the mansion after that?" Lucy asked confused.
"Let's leave that part out for now, explaining will be a hassle so it's better you just see it first hand." Veronica explained nervously.
"Ok now let's discuss the layout of the mansion, if we jump from her we'll land right here then we can..."
While Carla gave a detailed explanation of the layout Chelsea and Nike held their own meeting.
"We need to get midnight back at all costs, right now all we know is that she was supposedly attacked by an owl but why?" Nike asked while pacing.
"It mentioned something about the demon lord, if that helps." Silver said suddenly.
"Demon lord?!"
"Something like that I'm not too sure."
"Hey Chelsea do you think she's like us?" Nike asked turning to Chelsea who was eavesdropping on Veronica's meeting.
"What- huh sorry what?"
"I said do you think the owl is like us?" Nike said . "Are even paying attention?"
"She's a mutt why would she care about a cat." Sphinx said while glaring at Chelsea.
"Wait why would you say that of course I care about you guys."
"Oh come on it's a tale as old as time, dogs and cats don't get along no use denying it, you're just like the rest of them." Jill the Manx cat added.
"No that's not it I'm worried about Mike." Chelsea replied.
"But those humans seem to have that covered and I don't hear them adding you to their plan so remind me again what's your purpose of even being here, go to those humans you care so much about."
"You say that like you don't care about Veronica."
"Well I do but she seems pretty safe to me and plus it's not like Mike will get eaten."
"Well that goes both ways who knows if owls even eat cats."
"Well that clearly wasn't a normal owl!"
" And clearly the people who captured Mike aren't normal either!"
"Enough you two!" Nike said finally. "Jill stop pushing it, Chelsea -"
"No Nike, I've had enough! Enough of this prejudice and enough of these selfish friends of yours!"
"Selfish?!"
"Yes just look how you swarm him when he's around but just because midnight has been taken you suddenly don't care about Mike, who knows if you ever did." Chelsea said.
"That's not true of course we care about him but clearly Veronica is working on a plan to save us, compared to them there isn't much we can do which is why we are focusing on the one thing we can do which is saving midnight." Silver explained.
"Well I'm done, you guys save midnight, I'll go see what I can to help Mike." Chelsea said while leaving and going to sit next to Veronica.
"Wow never thought I'd live to see the day she snapped, you guys have certainly gone and done it now." Nike said.
"It's not like we need her."
"Come on sphinx that's not true, as much as I hate to admit it that hero is pretty useful and I get the feeling we will need her, so I'll need you to go apologize-"
"No."
"What?"
"Sorry boss but you wouldn't catch me dead apologizing to a mutt."
With those words sphinx walked away leaving Nike shocked, silver walked up to her and placed a paw on her shoulder.
"Hey boss, sphinx hasn't exactly had the best experience with dogs, in fact when Veronica found her she was cornered by dogs in an alleyway." He explained.
"Oh I never knew."
"Give her time, she'll come through right now we need to focus on rescuing midnight."
"Yeah that's probably for the best." Nike said finally.
"So now will we lure the owl out?" Jill asked.
"Well if that owl came looking for a demon lord I get the feeling it will be back tonight because midnight isn't one." Nike said.
"So we just sit here and wait?"
"No station some cats on the roof and the rest of them will come with me, we'll set a trap, I call this operation bird cage."
"Wow boss how do you come up with these names?" Silver marvelled.
"It's a testament to my genius!" Nike replied smugly.
Meanwhile Veronica and the others has finished discussions and headed out, hailing a cab they got to the five star hotel across the end of the street and got in, Lucy took the lead wearing an a fancy outfit, upon seeing her a waiter nervously approached her.
"Miss Lucy Bennett, it's an honor to have, to what do we owe the pleasure?" He said with a bow.
"I wish to dine here, hopefully this restaurant will live up to it's 5 star rating." She replied after a pause.
"I assure you we offer only the best cuisine."
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Please follow me."
He said as he led her to the restaurant, before reaching the table he made a strange gesture and when the cooks saw it they began to panic ans cook frantically, Lucy chuckled at the sight, soon the waiter led her to a beautiful table.
"I must apologize, had we known you were coming we'd have made a reservation, I hope this table will suffice."
"Sure I don't mind."
"What about your... uh... companions?"
"Oh them? They are my servants and they too will partake."
"I see, ladies please take your seats." He said to Veronica and Carla before leaving.
"Since when were we your servants?" Veronica asked banging her fists on the table.
Lucy simply picked up a cup of tea and took a dramatic sip clearly enjoying having annoyed Veronica.
"Compose yourself, besides any situation that puts me above you proves I'm doing something right." She responded smugly.
"Why you-"
"Ladies here's the menu." The waiter said appearing out of no where.
"What would you suggest?" Lucy asked.
"I'd recommend our Sunday special, it's a Golden tortilla paired with-"
"We'll l be having that."
"Right, give us twenty minutes."
"Twenty minutes, aye?" Lucy asked looking at her watch.
"Sorry I meant fifteen minutes." The waiter suddenly said.
"Good." Lucy said while going back to her tea.
"So how long have you been so important?" Veronica asked .
"You didn't think I'd remain a chef for the rest of my life did you? This was always my dream, if anything my visit here was temporary, I came to visit my parents?"
"So you'll be leaving soon?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful."
"Ugh the fact you're happy about me leaving is making me have second thoughts, maybe I'll stay longer."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Ok no I've got an even better idea, I will leave but I'll be taking Mike with me." I bet he'd be happy to travel the world with me and taste the various cuisine the world has to offer."
"Hell no Mike stays here with me!" Veronica shouted startling nearby staff.
"Ahem." She said clearing her throat. "I meant to say Mike is staying here."
"Well that's not your choice to make." Lucy said.
"Well it's not yours either."
"True but I don't see why he work refuse my offer, you know what now I'm curious what have you been doing all these past years because there's barely any development between you and Mike."
"You know how he is, he's either stressing over work or busy with my cats, it's frustrating sometimes it's like he thinks I'm still a kid, I've given him obvious signals but he doesn't take the bait."
"Mike will never change, will he?" Lucy said laughing.
"Tell me about it." Veronica agreed then both ladies stopped laughing and stared at each other.
"Yuck I can't believe we just agreed on something." Lucy said acting disgusted.
"Must be something in this tea."
"Yeah it's definitely the tea." Lucy said taking her own cup and sipping.
Both ladies hid their flushed faces behind their cups.
"You know the funny thing is you two actually get along if Mike is involved." Carla said with a chuckle.
"Sh- shut up and drink your tea."
"Yes mistress."
Meanwhile back in the Esposito house.
"Mike."
"Mike wakey wakey dear boy."
"Hey now nap time is over."
Mike felt someone gently tap his cheek as he came to.
"Mom?" He asked in a daze.
"Yes dear." Said the voice.
Mike found himself on a strangely warm but soft surface and slowly turned upwards to locate the owner of the voice. When he did a lady stared back with a wide smile.
Mike then realised he was laying on her lap and the moment he realised he got off immediately at an astonishing speed. Afterwards he got a proper look at the lady, she was very beautiful, and he immediately took note of her long red hair and gentle eyes, eyes that reminded him of Veronica's.
"Excuse me are you by chance Veronica's sister?" He asked.
"Oh my, young men these days, you'll be glad to know flattery will get you very far in this house." The lady responded looking a flustered suddenly a familiar voice interupted them.
"No you idiot, I'm the only sister Veronica has."
Mike looked and was glad to see a familiar face, it was Veronica's little sister.
"Really then is she her cousin?"
"No that's her mother, our mother."
"Mother?! She's looks so young!"
Suddenly the woman spring behind him and held him in her embrace.
"I like him, let's keep him." She said.
"Come on mom not this again."
"Nonsense, I'll be damned if he doesn't become part of our family. Honey!!" She shouted for her husband who immediately came down a flight of stairs.
"Yes dear."
"Say hello to the newest member of our family, he'll be marrying Priscilla."
"Mom! I'm too young to be married!" The little girl exclaimed.
"Fine you'll marry Veronica, if she refuses I'll marry you myself, you don't have a problem with that do you Honey?"
"What of course I have a problem, I'd die before I share you with another man."
"So greedy." The lady said with a pout." You're lucky it's one of the things I love about you."
Mike who was still being held by the lady looked around in surprise.
The room was filled with a lot of expensive looking objects, I'm one corner a vase of china that looked so fragile he was sure staring too hard would crack it.
In another corner a shiny sword lay on a display, he turned to look at another object only for a maid to appear as if out of thin air, he couldn't even hear arrive.
"Supper is ready." She said to the family.
"Thanks dear." The mother replied dragging mike along. As they passed the man who was her husband Mike recieved a murderous stair, and despite the fact one eye was covered by an eye patch it did little to reduce the intensity of his glare.
"Hey dear I never got your name, mind sharing." The lady asked.
"Oh I'm Mike, Mike Fernando."
Suddenly the whole room went still Mike fel the lady's grip around his hand tense.
"Ah sorry sweetie mind repeating that?" The lady said suddenly.
"Is there a problem?"
"No no I just think I misheard, did you say Mike Fernando?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh I see, that explains a lot."
"Sorry?"
"Oh nothing, by the way feel free to call me mommy, got that?"
The lady said going back to her cheerful personality from earlier. She led him to a chair and let him sit, Priscilla sat next to him, on the opposite side of the table Edward and his father sat split by an empty chair, and another empty chair sat on one end Mike looked at it in confusion.
"That is where Veronica used to sit." Priscilla suddenly explained.
"Oh I see, what about the other one." He asked.
"We... Don't talk about that one, he was a victim of the culling."
"What?"
"Veronica once lost control and-"
"Priscilla!" Mrs Esposito suddenly shouted in a hushed voice. "Listen Mike, that chair belonges to our first born, we lost him in an accident."
"I see." He replied shocked at her serious tone.
"Anyway enough doom and gloom, dig in our chefs are among the best you'll ever find." She said changing the topic.
Mike looked at the lasagne in front of him, he took a mouthful and was shocked at how delicious it was, he immediately took another bite.
Meanwhile back at Veronica's cat cafe.
Nike and the other cats were having a stake out,all corners of the yard were under the cat's watch.
A few minutes after Veronica left a black shadow curled over the yard befteo silently landing on the tree, sphinx was the only one who noticed and was glad the owl didn't notice her and was facing away, she took slow careful steps backwards hoping to sneak back inside and warn the other but to her absolute horror the owl turned it's head back 360 degrees before stopping on her and smiling deviously.
A yelp escaped her lips as she fell backwards in terror, the owl dropped from the branch and disappeared below the balcony.
Sphinx quickly ran to the edge thinking she'd scared the owl away but the moment she peered over a shadow came sweeping towards her at tremendous speed.
Due to her feline instincts and tiny frame sphinx barely dodged and once again tumbled backwards. By the time she recovered the silhouette of the owl appeared right above her with wings spread out wide it descended, it's claws came first and were inches away from grabbing the petrified sphinx, she closed her eyes in fear but just then beard a snarl and felt the shadow over her disappear, when she looked she was surprised to see silver wrestling the owl, both animals rolled on the ground but eventually the owl escaped and flew back to it's branch glaring angrily at silver with ruffled feathers.
At this point all the cats were in the backyard, ready to deal with the owl. Nike walked forward.
"Where is midnight?" She asked
"Oh my, if it isn't the demon lord, done hiding behind your guard dog hero of yours?" The owl responded.
"Did it just call me a dog?!" Silver lashed out.
"Calm yourself silver, she's talking about Chelsea." Nike clarified.
"Oh I see."
"Hey owl, who said I was ever hiding from you, plus I would never hide behind Chelsea my pride wouldn't let me."
"Prideful as ever I see, I guess reincarnation is far from enough to change you, demon lord."
"How do you know about my previous identity?"
"I have the feeling you already know the answer to that question, just like you I'm not if this world." The owl said spreading our it's wings, revealing magic seals. "These are seals the world spirit placed on me to force me to take the form of an owl."
"World spirit?"
"I don't have time to start explaining all that, I never came here to chat."
"Then why exactly did you come?"
"I'm a bounty hunter, a certain someone who I believe comes from your world wants you brought to her dead or alive, preferably dead. Heck the client promised a hefty reward simply for information on your location."
"So why not go, you've got the info?" Nike asked in surprise.
"Well I'm not the type to settle for less, call it greed or whatever but your corpse will give me more than enough of what I need."
"What is it you need ?"
"That's personal, come quietly and I might feel inclined to share."
Suddenly silver burst out.
"Fat chance, boss stays with us and I advise you return midnight or things will get ugly." He said.
"You heard the man, I'm staying." Nike agreed.
"I see, unfortunately I didn't come here just to be told no so you leave me no choice." The owl said spreading it's wings once again, this time one of the seals on its body cracked then disappeared, suddenly a dark energy covered the owl and it stepped back disappearing in a nearby shadow.
"Did it run?" Silver suddenly asked.
"I don't think so, we would have seen it leave." Jill responded walking closer to the tree.
"Hold on where have I seen that?" Nike thought to herself.
"Nya!!!"
Nike looked up in time to see jill jumping to dodge a shadow that moved towards her. Suddenly the shadow moved in Nike's direction, just like Jill she jumped but suddenly a shape emerged from the shadow and realization dawned on Nike.
"That's right I remember now, this is shadow magic, it may be different but I remember."
She thought to herself as the figure closed in. In the next second she was lifted off the ground and carried to the sky by the owl, the other cats finally realized and tried to chase the owl but it was too late, sphinx climbed up the tree and leaped at that moment it felt like time froze, stretching out a paw she reached for Nike who reached out as well and they made contact but suddenly gravity returned and sphinx began to plummet, unsurprisingly she landed on her feet but when she looked upwards the owl was gone with Nike.
Suddenly the world around her disappeared, replaced by a ringing noise and her own thoughts.
"I wasn't good enough, if only I was as fast as silver or could jump as high as Jill I could have reached her, she needed me but I failed her, I should have just-"
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by silver who was calling her name.
"Hey snap out of it we need you! Sphinx!"
"Huh, you mean that?" She asked in a daze.
"What ?"
"Oh sorry forget it."
"Listen I need yoy to go get Chelsea the other cats and I will track down the owl in the mean time."
"What? why?"
"Please do it sphinx, the owl said something about Chelsea being able to guard Nike, she's probably our only chance at beating that owl."
"Fine I'll do it."
"Thanks."
"Hey silver!"
"Yeah."
"Be careful." She said while rubbing her nose on his.
"Sure."
The two cats went their seperate ways each with their own mission.
Meanwhile at the five star hotel.
Veronica, Lucy and Carla gratefully ate a golden tortilla.
"Wow this is so good, I'll admit it I guess you're good for something, Lucy." Veronica said with a hand on her cheek.
"Oh please I'm good for a lot, it's a shame surrounded by ungrateful people like you." Lucy retorted between mouthfuls.
"I'm grateful." Carla added suddenly.
"Carla dear, you're the exception, so is Mike."
Veronica rolled her eyes before going back to the to the tortilla. After some time they finished their meal, the waiter walked up to them.
"I hope that meal was to your liking?" He asked.
"Well yes actually, so you'll be happy to know you're keeping your five star rating."
Lucy said the waiter placed a tablet next to her, showing her the bill, Lucy took out her phone and began to type, seconds later a notification beeped on the tablet. The waiter's eyes widened immediately.
"Sorry Ms Bennet I think you made a mistake, you've paid nearly double your bill." He said sincerely.
"Is that so? Take the rest as your tip." Lucy said.
"What ? Really?"
"Yes oh and why not lend us a key to the roof while you're at it?" She said pulling him closer.
"I don't know, we aren't supposed to give it to customers, a lot of accidents have happened and -"
The waiter was interrupted by another beep on the tablet and his eyes widened again, a greedy look flashed across his eyes.
"How about that a little something extra to make you feel a bit more ... Generous" Lucy said.
"Sorry ma'am it's against our policy." He said while placing a napkin on the table.
"Oh what a shame."
"Sorry ma'am." He said while walking away.
"Well that plan has failed, what do we do now?" Veronica asked.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tks. I expected more from you Veronica." Lucy suddenly said.
"What?"
Lucy unfolded the napkin and there the key was, Veronica stared it surprise.
"It was all an act."
"Exactly now let's get there quickly."
"Right."
The ladies walked out of the restaurant and to the rooms, they walked to one particular and opened the door.
Once inside nside Bruce and Chelsea came rushing to welcome them, both recieved ample petting from Lucy and Carla.
"I don't think it's a good idea to come with them." Veronica said after a moment of thought.
"Well their minds seem pretty made up if you ask me." Lucy said still petting Bruce.
"The mistress is right, they could end up being liabilities mid we aren't careful." Carla said.
"Sure but you guys will be the ones to convince them into staying." Lucy said
"But-" Veronica began only to be interrupted by Carla.
"Do you hear that?" She asked.
The room went quiet and sure enough a sound could be heard, it was the sound of scraping on the window. When they opened it they were shocked to find sphinx. Veronica lifted her off the window pane and into the room.
"Looks like someone else wants to join the mission." Lucy said jokingly.
"I don't think she's here for us." Veronica said.
She let sphinx go and she immediately ran up to Chelsea.
"Chelsea listen we need your help." Sphinx said breathlessly.
"What happened to not needing a mutt's help, I'm one of them remember." Chelsea said annoyed.
"I'm sorry about all that but we need your help, the owl took Nike."
"What?!"
"We couldn't stop it, it also kept calling her demon lord and it uses a strange power, it also said something about being a bounty hunter not of this world or something like that."
"It must be just like us." Chelsea thought to herself.
"Please help us Chelsea, I've failed Nike enough already, don't let me be the reason she isn't saved, don't do it for me, do it for her, please."
"Give me a sec." Chelsea said.
She then went to find Veronica who was in the restroom.
"Control it, don't let it take over, you've got this Veronica, don't let it win-" she mumbled to herself. Chelsea cleared her thought.
"Veronica, listen to me."
Veronica got startled and looked around the room but saw no one.
"Down here."
Veronica looked and to her surprise she saw Chelsea.
"Nike needs my help, I need to save her as such I can't accompany you to save Mike so I'll be praying for your success please save Mike I'm placing my trust in you." She said.
"Wait you can talk? Since when for how long?"
Chelsea tried to respond but barks are all that came out, she had used her sentences for the day. She simply gave Veronica a pat with her paw and left the room.
Veronica also got out, Chelsea and sphinx were about to leave when Bruce placed a paw on Lucy's shoulder and looked at her with pleading eyes.
"You want to go with your new friends Brucey? Go ahead I'll be fine ok." She said.
He licked her them left with Chelsea and sphinx. The ladies also left the room and snuck into the roof while Chelsea and the others tracked down Nike by scent and we're led to a nearby alleyway and eventually found themselves in a park and found all the other cats who were stalking the owl, once again it rotated it's head until it was facing all its visitors but the moment it's gaze landed on Chelsea it never left.
"Welcome, Hero."
"Who are you?"
"A bounty hunter and you just so happen to be one of my client's targets."
Meanwhile Carla and Lucy looked over the edge of the roof and were shocked at how high it was.
"Ok I've done my part I've brought us to the top of the roof now how will we get us to the mansion?" Lucy asked.
Suddenly Veronica wrapped her arms around both Carla and Lucy's waists.
"Don't bite your tongue." She said .
"What-" Lucy began.
Suddenly Lucy jumped, the jump took them meters into the air, the world around turned into a blur, everything zoomed past and wind blasted their faces, before Lucy had time to think a mansion came into view below them and they were heading right for it.
Suddenly everything went dark and she felt something warm and familiar cover her.
"Fur?" She thought to herself.
Suddenly she heard a crash anduct felt whatever she was riding in come to an abrupt stop. Suddenly she felt the grip around her loosen as light made its way inside and she got out.
To her surprise she found herself on dusty room, moonlight poured in through a hole in the roof and just below it a giant figure rose to it's feet, judging by the shape of the silhouette Lucy had no doubt in her mind, the creature in front of her was a bear.