For one reason or another, Marinette just couldn't fall asleep quite like she had hoped she would. Was it that cat-boy, reminding her of the world she had left? Was it how the event at the royal garden transpired?

Waking up mildly disoriented, Marinette grabbed a quick breakfast. Slowly sipping through her cup of tea and playing with her food for a bit before taking a bite from her omelet.

"Something on your mind, dear?" Tsumugu asked, leaning over her shoulder.

"No… it's nothing, really."

"Ehh… big sister got something on her mind!" Ami called, grinning. "You can't fool Ami!"

"Oh, leave her be, you two." Midori smiled knowingly.

Thanks for the save… but I better get my act straight sooner than later!

Marinette quickly left home and walked to school, when a familiar call came from across the street.

"Hello, Amu-Chi!" Yaya waved from across the street.

Marinette stopped and waited patiently for Yaya to cross the street.

"So, what are you up to today, Marinette?" she asked, no longer as concerned about being overheard.

"Um, well… I don't know?"

"You don't know?" Yaya looked at her, surprised. "Don't you have anything you feel like doing?"

Now, there's a thought I haven't given much time to.

Seeing Marinette being as undecided, Yaya went for the initiative.

"How about some shopping?" she suggested.

"Well…" Marinette scratched her head, "The keratin and hair color set me back on the entire allowance…"

"Awww… no fair! But maybe you could do something to get some money? There's a fair coming up, maybe sell some things?"

"That's a nice idea actually… but, buy what with it? I mean, I can't buy a ticket back home… I still haven't figured that one out…"

"Oh, but you will, Marinette. Don't worry!"

Both suddenly found themselves at the school gates, noting their conversation has gone long enough for them to reach their destination.

"Catch you after school!"

Marinette smiled as she watched Yaya dash onwards.

It's nice to have so many supportive friends.

Marinette slumped tardily towards class, looking outside the window for most of the lesson. The thought of the upcoming fair mixed with the dreary lesson and A certain feeling of weariness began to engulf her. It was as if she was slowly being lulled to sleep, or perhaps she already even w-

"Himamori-San!"

Huh… what?

Marinette quickly straightened her posture in her chair as laughs were heard around the classroom.

Oh no… I did fall asleep!

"Please make sure to stay awake during class." Nikadiou chided as Marinette sighed.

"Yes, sensei."

She settled herself back, embarrassed.

-MLBSCMLBSCMLBSC-

Marinette thought taking a quick stroll through the school's gardens would help ease her mind and perhaps help wake her up a bit.

The flora around her slowly changed form, from well-kempt and groomed, to wilder and richer. There seemed to be more trees around her and the paths slowly turned from being paved to clear ground. She stopped to appreciate one particular pink lilac bush, inhaling some of its sweet smell.

That was real fun, actually. Time to go ba-

She looked to her left, then to her right and did not recognize any of her surroundings.

Okay, I might be lost… now what?

She leaned against a tree, as an idea popped into her mind. She opened up her carry bag and tapped Bridgette's egg.

"Hey, you, wake up!"

The egg cracked open and Bridgette sprang out. "Sunny day! Time to have some fun!"

"Wait a moment, you. I'm lost. Can you fly up and let me know the way?"

"No problem!" Bridgette zipped up merrily, then quickly returned. "That way!" she said, pointing towards one of the paths. Marinette picked up pace only to find herself at the entrance to a large round building with a purple dome. The building felt somewhat out of place to her. Strands of Ivy climbed up towards the dome, though none reached it, and moss was growing on some of the greyish bricks. Squinting her eyes, she could see golden sun and moon symbols at the dome's top.

"Huh? Bridgette, what's this place?"

"No idea, but it looked more interesting than class, so I led you here."

Marinette grumbled as she cautiously approached the building.

What's that doing here anyway?

She knocked on the door, a few timid knocks at first followed by more proper ones. There was nothing but an echo. She gently opened it, to reveal a large, seemingly empty planetarium inside. The dark ambiance wasn't a hostile one, dimly lit by the star-patterend dome. A large telescope was located in the middle of the room, as did some other random devices she could not yet identify. Chair rows were laid out in a circular pattern around the center.

"Is there anyone here?" She asked, just as the pleasant smell of a herbal concoction of sorts found its way towards her.

Something here smells quite pleasant… this place isn't deserted, after all.

"It's rare for me to have guests." A voice called to her. She looked at the voice's direction and saw A seemingly young adult, somewhat reminiscent of Tadase, holding a teapot.

"Hello there! Are you… this planetarium's caretaker?"

"Yes, even though it's no more than a side job, for me. It's a very special place, forgotten by almost everyone. And yet, anybody who is lost or has doubts seems capable of finding it. Perhaps I'm even lost a bit myself."

"Well…"

Should I tell him?

"My name is Tsukasa, by the way. Would you like some tea, Marinette?"

"Sure, I'd… wait, how did you... ?"

Tsukasa smiled in return.

"I may not know a lot, but I can tell a lost soul when I see one. You're concerned, aren't you?"

She nodded, wordlessly.

"Do you think school trips help students, Marinette?"

What's with that change of subject?

"I… guess? They're fun alright, but they're a test of responsibility, too."

"I see." Tsukasa laid down his cup of tea on its matching platter.

"What would you say to a school trip that takes one abroad, far away from home?"

Marinette quickly realized where this was going.

"That's not your average school trip," she remarked, a hint of cynicism to her voice.

"... but… it does seem a bit like one, in a sense."

She found herself marveling at the relief that thought gave her, unexpectedly.

"When is that trip going to end, though?"

"That I do not know, but I can suggest that you enjoy the sights, sounds and experiences along the way.."

Tsukasa looked at Bridgette and exchanged a knowing smile with her.

So… he can see guardian characters, too! But he doesn't have one?

"Thank you, Tsukasa." Marinette gently nodded.

"I shall go fetch some more tea, please wait here, Marinette."

Marinette sat there for a while, mulling over Tsukasa's words, as a creaking sound drew her attention to the door opening again.

"Well, if it isn't oblivious guy." Bridgette quipped at the sight of Kukai.

"Bridgette, won't you be nice to him, please?" Marinette implored her, then turned towards Kukai.

"Hey, Kukai! What brings you here?"

"Oh, I was looking for you, Marinette."

"So, you noticed her absence. Not a lost cause aft-"

Bridgette could only make muffled sounds as Marinette cupped her chara's mouth before she could spit out more of that.

"Uhh, yeah, I was kinda lost…"

"Come, we need to get back to the royal garden." Kukai offered his hand.

Three slow hand claps were heard from the far top row seats.

"If it isn't the knight and the damsel in distress." a by-now-familiar voice called.

"That bad guy is nothing but trouble," Kukai called out to Marinette, then turned towards Ikuto.

"Hey, Ikuto! leave the lady alone."

"Lady, huh? What kind of lady would she be, exactly?" Ikuto replied, a slight smirk to his face.

"It's Ladybug for you!" Kukai replied, slightly more irate now, an observation not lost on Marinette. She quickly held him back.

"Don't worry Kukai, no silly kitten is going to bother me, I am experienced with such antics."

Bridgette clenched her fists. "That's my girl!"

"Really? After last night, I would have never guessed." Ikuto's smirk grew wider.

"Well then," Kukai said as he unrolled his shirt's sleeves, smirking as well, "it's time to teach you some manners."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, little one."

Kukai slowly paced up the seat rows just as Ikuto paced downwards.

...

"Marinette… they are going to beat each other, over you!" Bridgette cried to her owner. "You have to do something!"

No. There will be no fighting today. I'm gonna put my foot down.

The thought of stopping them sent jolts of adrenaline through her body.

"Bridgette, we're going to stop them. My heart, unlock!"

Kukai and Ikuto both stopped to look at Marinette.

Bridgette happily jumped into her egg and melded with Marinette's chest.

So… a third transformation? I see...

This time, however, she did not seem to have much control over her look. Her eyes turned shining blue and her hair let down and loose.

A red and black pleated skirt, black knee-high stockings with red threading, a black-spotted red t-shirt, red shoes and a heart-shaped hairpin completed her new look.

"Character transformation: Lady du Coeur."

Marinette examined her new attire and appreciated her trusty deck of cards. Warming up on her powers, the cards swirled around her in circles, much to the awe of both boys. At her mental command, the cards stopped mid-air, ready for the upcoming order. For Marinette, this wasn't a moment too soon.

"You-" She said, pointing a finger towards Kukai.

Three cards quickly obliged with her mental command, flinging themselves towards Kukai's shirt and carrying him over towards the wall, embedding into his shirt and pinning him against the wall, holding him suspended.

"-Are not-" She now turned and pointed towards Ikuto.

Another trio of the cards found their way towards him. In a moment, Ikuto was pinned to the wall as well, held suspended by the cards embedded into his clothes.

"-Going to throw fists at each other over me. This is my story. Now you two are going to stop and listen."

The two guys looked at her confused and shocked.

"Great going, Marinette!" Bridgette communicated with her telepathically. "You got this!"

"In my story, there will be no fighting. In my story Ikuto's no longer going to be a bad guy."

With that, Marinette pulled the bag of cookies she had prepared earlier and tossed it towards Ikuto, accurately enough for him to grab it.

"Come to the bright side, we have cookies. That's not a request, it's an order!"

Marinette crossed her arms and nodded with content.

"Girl, I am so proud of you!" Bridgette added telepathically, mirroring her owner's posture.

"So, what do you two have to say for yourselves?"

The two guys continued to look at her entirely dumbfounded. Kukai was the first to come to his senses.

"Fight? Over you?"

Marinette's transformation immediately dropped, leaving both her and Bridgette wide-eyed and mouths slightly open.

"Wait… y-y-you weren't…" Marinette started to stutter.

"I thought of a one on one football match." Kukai remarked.

"I had arm wrestling in mind." Ikuto added.

They both pulled their respective cards from their clothes and took a good look at them.

"Hmm, looks like I got a queen of hearts."

"And I got myself a joker."

Marinette squinted her eyes at Bridgette.

"But you told me…"

"Oops, guess I was wrong?" Bridgette admitted sheepishly. "But you still did great..."

"Oh my god, I'm so going to-"

Before Marinette could settle the issue with her chara, her attention turned back to the two boys looking at her. Now it was her own turn to look at them dumbfounded and blush furiously. Ikuto slowly stepped forwards until he came face to face with Marinette.

"Bright side, huh?"

He moved his hand towards her face, then somehow drew a card out as if it was present behind her ear, not unlike a classic sleight of hand stage magic act.

"Let's see if your magic can withstand copious bad luck, the black cat kind." he said as he handed her the card.

Marinette examined it with intent. It had nothing but a single black cat drawn over it. Before Marinette could say anything, Ikuto popped all the cookies remaining in the bag into his mouth and leaped upwards and out of sight.

Kukai walked towards Marinette and laid a hand over her shoulder.

"Well, that was weird. That guy's weird."

"Is he really a bad guy?" Marinette asked.

"In truth, I don't know much about him, but Tadase seems to think so." Kukai shrugged.

Both took a few paces wordlessly, then Kukai spoke again.

"Well, now that he couldn't resist taking your cookies, he should be changing to the bright side in no time, right?" He laughed.

"Ha-ha, yeah, that was a good one… I think? Wait, oh no, the cookies! I had meant to…"

Those were actually meant for you!

"Meant to do what?" he asked.

Uhh… umm…

"N-n-nothing! I thought…"

She sighed.

"Nevermind, let's just go back." She let out a weary smile as they both left the planetarium.

-MLBSCMLBSCMLBSC-

Tsukasa came back with a still-simmering teapot.

"Well then, in that case…" He looked around, not seeing either Marinette, Ikuto or Kukai, "... Why won't you come out and have a cup yourself?"

The blond girl slowly rose from the row seats where she was hiding and brushed off her hair with her hand.

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary. My time here is done."

Tsukasa smiled at her. "While you clearly see your goal, Utau, you might still be just as lost as everyone else."

Her red-clad chara immediately flared up at that. The notion that Utau might be lost was certainly not welcome by her.

"Shut up, old man!" Il replied, "Utau knows what's best for her. She doesn't need anyone else."

Utau sat on the chair, her chin leaning on her palms, looking downwards.

"Ikuto…" she whispered softly.

"... The only solution would be for me to take her egg, for you. Before you get too close to her."