Surprise! I'm back!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you soooooo much for your reviews! Okay so I had promised a character list, here it is;
Marinette Dupain-Cheng: Meri-s-te-khu(One who loves joy) Berenice(bringing victory); Titles- Jumoke(loved by all)
Adrien Agreste: Akhenaten(devoted to Aten) Arsaphes(another name for Osiris); Title- Ata(prince)
Alya: Auset
Nino: Nour
Tom Dupain-Cheng: Tau Berenice
Sabine Dupain-Cheng: Sabah Berenice
Gabriel Agreste: Garai Arsaphes
Ladybug: Ladybug/My lady
Chat Noir: Qat 'Asud/ Kitty
Tikki
Plagg
Marinette has one more title, but I want that to be a surprise. Just know that it's what Chat uses instead of 'Princess'. Also, there will be many other people like Alix and Ivan. They also have different names. But they come later. I'll add them to the list when they come.
The next morning, Meri woke up and didn't remember a single thing about the last day. That was until she walked into the dining hall, slightly dishevelled. She froze realising that they had guests and very slowly tried to back out. But luck was, unfortunately, not on her side.
Akhen looked up and spotted her. His eyes widened for a split second before he smiled at her. Now she couldn't leave because that would be rude and her mother had turned and seen her. She sighed and quickly ran her fingers through her hair, walking up to the table. She took her seat beside Akhen which now seemed to be her permanent seat. She smiled shyly at everyone on the table wishing their guests a fair morning.
0o0o0o0o0
Akhen honestly didn't want to wake up. He had stayed awake all of last night sighing at the beauty of the girl that was soon to be his. She seemed sweet, except for the first time when he met her. But then again, she had explained that she was a bit angry at the sudden engagement.
He had been telling her the truth when he mentioned that he too wasn't very pleased with the announcement. His father had told him all his life what to do. And the wedding was the last straw. But he decided to take it in his stride.
And now, he couldn't even imagine turning the beautiful girl down. He remembered how her heavenly blue eyes had softened from a cautious to almost friendly the previous evening when they had talked.
That morning he rushed to the dining hall where their hosts had set up the morning meal. She had been the motivation that got him out of bed and now he was eager to see her again. He sat down only to realise that she was not there. Sighing, he waited for everyone to come. In the end, there! She walked in rubbing her eyes and froze when she saw them.
Her hair was a bit ruffled and her clothes had been carelessly chosen, yet she was the loveliest thing he had laid eyes on. He felt his eyes widen slightly and hoped that he wasn't blushing. He smiled at her and she smiled back shyly, running her fingers nervously through her hair as she sat down beside him. He was all too pleased to have her beside him but didn't say so.
Meri stayed quiet most of the meal as did Akhen for that was what they had been taught to do. They weren't allowed to speak in public until they earned a high title of their own, and even then, not unless the nafeer or his wife asked them to.
At the end of the meal Meri got up and was about to rush away to the solitude of her room, when her mother stopped her.
"Meri, why don't you show the Ata around the palace? I'm sure he would be interested and it's the perfect opportunity for you both to bond!"
Meri turned bright red and Akhen was about to decline so as to set her at ease when she nodded.
"Yes mother," she said and looked at him to follow her.
He did so and walked out to the halls. A few halls down he stopped her.
"You know, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. You can go to your chambers. I won't tell," he said.
She smiled. "It's alright. Let nobody get the chance to say that I was a bad host. And anyway, I will be going to my chambers at the end of this,"
"Well, if you're fine with it,"
"I am,"
"Then what are we waiting for?" he smiled.
"You to catch up to me,"
And to his utter shock she took off running. He ran after her without a second thought, marvelling her speed. She dodged around pedestals and palace slaves and turned corners so fast, he lost her countless times. But she would always slow a bit to let him catch up. Then as soon as he was close enough, she took off again. They chased each other straight out of the palace to the gardens. There he really truly lost her.
He looked around the varied variety of flowers in search for even a slight flash of green, the colour of her dress, but found none. Laughing, he realised that she wanted him to find her. So slowly and silently he crept around in search for Jumoke.
Meri covered her mouth to stifle a laugh as she watched Akhen turn his back to where she hid. He was so clueless that it was slightly cute. He crept off to the opposite end and it was all she could do to restrain herself from laughing at his confused face. He gave up on the other side and came closer to hers. She stiffened as he got close, but relaxed as he passed right by without a second glance.
She shifted to the other side to watch him fail at finding her. He was crouching low hoping to find some trace of her. But he didn't know the gardens as well as she did. So he couldn't see her. Just as she stepped out to scare him from behind, a loud explosion shook the ground at her bare feet. She spun towards the village and saw fires break out as the villagers scattered.
"Meri," Akhen ran up behind her. "What was that? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But it doesn't look like the village is," she said.
"Go back inside. I'll try to see what's wrong," he said.
"Uh...yeah, that would be a good idea," she said flashing him a nervous smile as she placed a protective hand on the little out-of-place purse on her hip and backed away.
They ran in the opposite directions hoping to get as far away from the other as possible.
Meri didn't enter the palace; instead she ran towards a concealed wall and pressed her back to it. Slowly, looking around to make sure that no one was there, she opened the purse. Out of it flew a little red with black spotted adorable creature; a kwami. The creature looked up at Meri with cute wide eyes.
"What happened?" it asked soft voice.
"I do not know, Tikki. But I guess we'll have to find out, huh," Meri said with a smile.
The red creature nodded. "Go ahead,"
"Tikki, spots on!"
The little creature flew into the only piece of jewellery Meri insisted on wearing; her earrings; her miraculous. They glowed and turned red and black spotted
Meri bought her hands down in front of her face and spread them across her eyes making a red with black spotted mask appear at the touch of her fingertips. She bought her hands lower in an X to her shoulders and ran her fingers across her collarbone. A pure gold, red and black jewelled collar adorned her neck and chest as she flung her arms out. Red energy spread from the collar as a beautiful red and black spotted dress appeared in its wake.
A gold belt wrapped itself around her waist. The dress slit at the belt and spread lower revealing the cream coloured harem pants she wore underneath that stopped right above the knees showing off her bare legs. The dress went on and ended below her knees as two, gold, red jewelled arm cuffs appeared on her wrists. A final touch was a black string that wrapped loosely around her waist attached to a circular device.
She ran out from behind the wall and straight into the village already devising a plan to put out the fire before it spread.
0o0o0o0
Akhen was just glad that Meri didn't argue with him. He hid behind a massive stone pillar and pulled open the pouch at his belt. A mischievous black creature; his kwami, flew out of it.
"Ready when you are," the kwami drawled annoyingly.
"Plagg, claws out!" Akhen said.
The kwami flew into Akhen's ring and it turned black. He ran two fingers across his eyes and a black mask appeared on their touch making his eyes go completely green with a black slit pupil. The same two fingers raced across his collarbone making the gold collar even more extravagant as its jewels turned black. He ran his hands through his blonde hair. Two black ears popped up and four strips of black leather fell to his shoulders from behind his ears.
He spread his arms as black energy ran down his bare chest to his kilt which turned black lined with gold and a black jewelled gold belt wrapped itself around his waist. Two gold cuffs appeared on his wrists and around his biceps. A small staff attached itself to his waist at his belt just as a leather tail shot out of it.
He pulled off his staff and twirled it, willing it to grow longer as he ran into the village.
0o0o0o0o0
The second the villagers saw her they pointed and shouted for help. She jumped onto the roof of a hut and assessed the damage.
"Ladybug!" someone yelled. "My son! Please, save him!"
Without a seconds hesitation she strung her circular weapon around a stone pillar and swung into the burning shop. She looked around trying to ignore the fire stinging her skin. At the far end a boy was crouched on the ground, crying. Ladybug saw him and jumped across a wall of fire just as the roof collapsed a bit. She picked up the little boy and with her circular compact, struck the wall hard enough for it to break, leaving enough gap for one person to pass through.
She made her way towards it, trying to avoid any blazing object that might hurt the boy. By the time she reached it she was coughing as was the boy. A figure clad in black jumped in front of the hole. He thrust his hand through it, grabbed the kid and backed away leaving enough space for her to pass through. She jumped through welcoming the cool air that filled her lungs and gazed thankfully up at her partner as he handed the boy back to his father.
"Thank you Qat 'Asud," she said huffing a bit.
"You're welcome my lady," he said flashing a mischievous smile.
She blushed a bit and quickly looked around.
"How do we stop this?" he asked. "Any ideas?"
She looked at him and smirked. "Lot's,"
"I'm listening,"
0o0o0o0o0o0
The Nile was not far away. And it didn't take much time to tell the locals how to make a water chain; passing one bucket to another and finally the last would pour it onto a house or shop. Within minutes the fire was coming down. But the villain was not.
He stood on top of a royal courtier's house laughing his head off at Ladybug and Qat 'Asud's attempt at putting out the fire. Every once in a while when he thought that the fire had dipped too low, his weapon; a pick, would ignite and a fireball would hurl towards the people. And every time the two heroes would be there to stop it.
"This is getting highly annoying," Ladybug said finally.
"What do you suppose we do, my lady?" Qat asked.
Ladybug looked over at her partner and tried not to stutter at the beautifully bright green eyes that seemed to capture her. She bit the inside of her cheek trying to snap herself out of it and cursing herself for getting diverted by him.
"Uh...well, we-we do what we always do. Fight him," she said tearing her gaze away from him.
Qat smirked. "Together?"
She pinched herself. "Yeah, together,"
With that they jumped to the rooftop and pounced on the man like he was particularly annoying mouse. Fighter though he was, no one could beat the duo. They worked together almost communicating telepathically for they didn't need to talk to know just what the other was about to do. The man jumped off the roof and the two heroes followed. He kept throwing fire from his pick, and not only at them but in all directions. They had to keep dragging villagers out of the line of fire.
Finally Ladybug let loose her compact and tied the man to a pillar. "Qat! The pick! Get his pick!" she yelled.
That cat ran to the man dodging the fireballs he threw at them and caught hold of his pick. He pulled at it but the man refused to let go. Instead, he reached forward and caught hold of Qat's right hand. Ladybug got to know what he was doing and pulled the rope tighter causing him to choke a bit. Qat, too busy trying to yank the pick away, didn't notice the akuma trying to take his miraculous.
"Oh no, you don't," Ladybug snarled.
Keeping a tight hold on the rope she ran to a nearby villager and grabbed the pot of water from him. Moving closer to the wrestling duo, she tossed the water straight at the man, dousing all chance of any more fire. But she also doused her partner who let out a yowl and hiss of surprise and actually sounded like a cat! Stifling a laugh, she punched the villain in his face causing him to pass out, then grabbed the pick and broke over her knees.
A devilish looking purple butterfly flew out of it. Ladybug ran her finger down the centre of her compact.
"No more evil doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!"
She let the string go and caught the akuma in her glowing compact.
"Caught you,"
Pressing the top again, she let it go, now in the form of a pure white butterfly. She watched it flutter away.
"Bye-bye pretty butterfly,"
That day they didn't have to use their powers. So Ladybug simply threw her compact into the air keeping a tight hold on the rope and yelled; "Miraculous Ladybug!"
A blast of red shot all over the village. The fire sputtered out, the shops and houses came back to normal and any and every injury was healed. All thanks to their heroes. But they weren't faring all that well. Ladybug had a big burn on her ankle and Qat had a scratch on the back of his arm. But none bothered. They waved farewell to each other and jumped away.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
Meri ran through the halls huffing a bit from breathlessness. How could she have been so stupid? She told Akhen to run to the fire, not away from it! How could she call herself Ladybug?! She turned a corner and crashed straight into someone.
"Meri!" the nafeer exclaimed.
"Father! The fire!" she said climbing to her feet.
His expression softened. "Ah, yes. Ladybug and Qat 'Asud took care of it,"
She already knew that. What she wanted to know was if Akhen was okay. But how could she ask without making it seem like she liked him? After all, she was still trying to call the marriage off. And she didn't like him!
Just then her problems were solved. Nafeer Garai walked up behind her father and in tow was none other than Akhen. He smiled at her and she tried her best to keep the relief out of her smile.
"You two should stay away from there," Nafeer Garai suggested.
"Yes, stick around the palace. Preferably with some other company," Nafeer Tau said.
Mari bowed. "As you wish, nafeer,"
She walked to Akhen and they both watched as the two nafeers walked out of sight. Once they were she sighed.
"The blast was really something, huh," Akhen said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah, lots of fire and smoke from what I saw," which is a lot more than I plan on telling you. She turned to him. "Let's go find my fr- uh- priestess. She can keep us company,"
"My priest can too. Though I don't know where he is now,"
"I think I know. Come on, race you," she smirked at him and ran.
"Hey! No fair! I don't the palace as well as you,"
But Meri simply laughed and raced on ahead.
Akhen sighed as he chased after her. "What I wouldn't do for that girl,"
Done!
Hey everyone! I'm back! This chapter is not exactly how I wished it to turn out, but I suppose it's okay. I hope you liked review or two won't hurt.
Thanks!
-Sandy