Miraculous Empire

Chapter 3: Kwamis

Olivia stepped through the street entrance and found herself in a grand ivory hall that stretched from as far as the eye could see. The atrium was filled with a steady stream of tiny commuters coming to and fro between the attached transit systems. And along the edge of the multi-floor building there was a wide variety of stores from luxury boutiques to a fully functioning food court. Through the chaos, Olivia eyed a section of the concourse and wasted no time in turning towards a nearby staircase and making her way towards her parent's bakery on the second floor; Dulce Le Bao.

The seating area felt roomy and took inspiration from a blend of her parent's two cultures to make it feel more homey and less sterile. As she walked in, she weaved between crowds of customers and waved at her daddy who had his hands full at the register. When she approached a long display of treats and sweets, she turned the corner and ducked underneath a hidden out-cove to get behind the counter and enter the kitchen which was just as busy. Olivia saw half a dozen pastry chefs running from oven to oven and rack to countless rack just to be able to keep up with the demand from the afternoon crowd. She quickly stepped to the side and looked for her mom who was somewhere in the kitchen. As she wandered around she found her mom who was meticulously attending to a sheet of freshly baked chocolate rolls. Her mom looked up from her wooden countertop and wiped her hands on apron before greeting her daughter with a wide smile.

"Hi honey. Mommy's just finishing up and will be just a few minutes. I'll call you over and we can go home together. Sounds good?"

Olivia nodded and turned the corner towards a narrow passageway that led to the shop's makeshift break room. The break room wasn't as decorated as the facade but it had plaques and frames that hung on the walls that showcased her parent's hard work. Olivia had become used to waiting for her parents to close up shop and resigned herself to get started on her school assignments. She leaned her backpack against a windowless wall and made herself comfortable on a nearby futon. As she slipped off her shoes and dug her hand into her backpack, she soon felt her stomach lightly roar in protest for some after school sustenance. She froze for a second before placing her school issued computer on a pile of cardboard boxes and getting up to use the restroom to cleanup and sneaking a treat for herself.

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Back outside, a black helicopter sped overhead as it made its way over the congested streets of Brooklyn towards lower Manhattan. As the sun set over the horizon, its rays of light beamed through the copter's clear windows and into the eyes of a teenager who was trying to acclimate to his new surroundings.

Alex sat alone in his ride from the airport and resigned himself to look out his porthole to see his new home from up high. It didn't look too different from where he lived before but it certainly looked busier and felt warmer. As his vehicle approached its destination, his gaze drew towards the waterfront that glittered from the rays of the afternoon sun. For a brief moment, Alex felt the most at ease since the disappearance of his father a year ago. And while he didn't believe his dad deserted him or his mom, he continued to hold a belief that he would see him one day even after they moved to New York.

Suddenly, Alex felt his vehicle bump against a hard surface and soon heard the propellers slowly spin down. He snapped out of his stupor and looked out the window to see a red haired lady standing beside a black tinted-glass limo. He squinted some more and soon recognized her as one of his mother's secretaries. He had hoped to be able to see his mother but alas her entourage was at least there to greet him.

The pilot hopped out of his seat and opened the main cabin doors to reveal the red-haired secretary standing right at the foot of the door.

"We've been waiting. Welcome to your new home," she greeted in a somewhat monotone voice.

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WTC Oculus, 4:30 PM.

Olivia made her way back into the break room with a little before-dinner snack in her hand. As she sat on her futon, she placed her strawberry roll treat down on a napkin and turned to her computer before noticing an odd new object that wasn't there before when she left the room.

There atop her computer sat a little red box with non-English symbols and black angled etchings adorned around its six sides. She slowly leaned forward and grasped the box with her hands before muttering, "What's this..."

She opened the lid and saw a pair of sparkling red earrings sitting atop a satin cushion; waiting to reveal itself for its new host. She suddenly noticed a soft red glow pulse from each bulb on the earrings until an orb of light sprang out of the box. A now surprised Olivia quickly dropped the case onto her computer and was in awe at the mass of light that levitated in front of her. After a few seconds of staring intently into the orb's captivating glow, it gradually dimmed and revealed a red plush-sized creature with black spotted dots all over its body.

The magical creature opened its eyes and smiled. "Hi!..." It said in a welcoming voice before getting interrupted by Olivia scream.

Olivia quickly jumped up atop her seat and held a cushion in front of her chest.

"What are you!?" She asked with a concern in her voice. Olivia peeked her head through the side of her cushion and watched as the thing slowly hovered towards her with its hands out.

"Don't be afraid Olivia," it said in a soothing voice. "I'm a Kwami and my name is Tikki."

Olivia slowly lowered her pillow. "How do you know my na-" Olivia began to ask but was quickly interrupted by an oncoming voice.

"Liv, are you okay in there? I thought I heard a scream..." Her mother asked as she made her way to the break room.

Tikki quickly ducked underneath the table just as the door to the break room swung open. Olivia, still standing on the futon, smiled at her mother and hopped back down.

"Hi mom, it was just uh, a bug. I thought I saw something but it's gone now," she said while crossing her hands behind her back.

"Okay sweetie. I'll let dad know and he'll look around when he closes up tonight," Her mother calmly said as she stepped closer to her daughter. "I'm ready to head home. I'll meet you outside."

Olivia nodded and began to put her things back into her backpack as her mother turned and walked back to the kitchen. Tikki soon emerged back from hiding and floated towards Olivia.

Olivia blinked a few times and asked, "...do you bite?"

Tikki shook her head and lowered it as Olivia carefully reached over and gently padded it. Tikki felt Olivia's warm hand gently descend down her plush noggin as she giggled to herself. As she felt Olivia's warmth and aura, she also got a brief whiff of a sweet smell that made her own tummy grumble.

"Awww, you feel soft," she said while lightly smiling. "Let's head home and we can chat more, okay?" Olivia said as she withdrew her hand and grabbed her backpack.

Tikki nodded and flew over to Olivia's half eaten sweet roll and asked, "Mind if I take a bite? I looove sweets!"

Olivia nodded approvingly and slipped her newly acquired jewelry box, the plush-sized Kwami and the half eaten pastry into her purse and headed out of the shop and back home with her mom.

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An unexpected (plush) companion!

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