"This is a bit more extreme than a typical 'trust fall!'" Ladybug commented looking down the steep drop behind them among the steep cliffs of Wales.
"You have four miraculous wielding heroes to rely on," Phoenix brushed off the concern. "You've leapt off heights much higher than this!"
"So what is the catch?" Carapace asked directly.
Their guide nodded to Carapace. The trust you place in your allies is about more than just catching you when you fall. It is about putting your faith in others. Before you fall you must make a confession. Something that requires you to trust. The depth of the trust will increase the power you receive at the end of this trial."
Queen Bee went first.
"I don't trust people easily," Queen Bee crossed her arms. "So when I trust you, don't make me regret it!" she said in a threatening, but shaky voice.
"We're not gonna drop you Chloe!" Rena Rouge yelled up to her.
"Of course you won't!" Queen Bee shot back, "Where would any of you be without me?!"
"Is she trying to tempt me?!" Rena Rouge whispered to the others.
"Okay here I go!" Queen Bee hesitated only a moment before she closed her eyes. "My mom left me and I've never got over it!" she said out loud. "I always feel like at any moment the people I care about could just betray me at any moment...and what I hate the most is that I did that to all of you when I felt rejected." (And although this was not really news to the teammates below, for Chloe this had been a hard step). With a deep breath she fell backward, accompanied by a high pitched scream on the way down. In relief she quickly fell into the waiting arms of the team.
Next up was Rena Rouge. "I've been passing stories to Alya Cezaire for the Ladyblog about the sightings of you guys (Ladybug and Chat Noir)...but what you probably didn't know is that the news studio in London only supported it briefly. For the last month Alya has just been reporting on it herself without the help of the network."
"Oh Al...Rena! Why didn't you tell me?" called Ladybug up to her.
"I guess I wasn't sure what you'd think of me spreading stories about you or trying to figure out what you were doing around the world. I guess I was a bit hurt that you hadn't told us about it yet," Alya admitted. "And I guess I was ashamed that the network didn't think...Alya...was good enough to keep around longer."
"You are amazing...and so is Alya for getting the word out about fighting injustice! We know you always have our back fighting on the front lines or keeping reporting honest!" Chat Noir cheered her on.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you...all of you earlier. Sometimes I know I have held onto secrets too long," Ladybug called up, and then made eye contact with Chat Noir. Then she went on, "but I know I have to get better at trusting!"
Alya fell back into the arms of her friends with a relieved smiled on her face.
Chat Noir thought for a while about his confession. He bit his lip, but then decided to forge on. "I sometimes wonder if my mother...and my father would still be around if there were no miraculous," he said just barely audible. The four below froze, looking up at him. "...but then I realize that I wouldn't be here without the miraculous'...and when it comes down to it, the miraculous' helped me discover my true family. All of you." With that he fell back, and was surrounded by a huge group hug among the other weilders. They had been together through so much. They all agreed they had all discovered a place in this "miraculous family."
Chat Noir's eye's met Carapace's when it came time for his turn. Adrien wondered if he would confess that he knew more about the identity of Chat Noir. Chat Noir clenched his hands trying to figure out what he would do if Carapace started exposing him in front to Alya and Chloe. Should he just let it happen? Should he intervene, distract, or redirect things if his friend chose this moment to open up the flood gates of secrets between them all. Carapace looked down, and found Adrien's eyes, before looking upward again. "I guess my confession is that I've not always been the most observant, noticing how hard things were for my friends. I got caught up with my own battles, and could have been there for them more." Carapace looked as if he might go on, but instead he let the last words ring out over the cliff and fell backwards. With pats on his shelled back, they helped him onto his feet. He once more caught Chat Noir's eye, and Chat Noir gave a silent nod. Chat Noir realized he shouldn't have ever questioned Carapace. He was always his protector, with or without a mask!
Ladybug was the last and as she had confessed to Rena, cautious about sharing secrets. 'The best secrets are the ones you tell no one,' she had always recited to herself...but there was a secret that was burning within her...a secret she couldn't just keep to herself any more!
"I am absolutely, undoubtedly in love with Chat Noir!" she announced, and dropped right into that very Chat Noir's arms. Chat Noir himself was shocked, and his mouth had popped open as soon as she had confessed in front of everyone. As soon as he had her in his arms he leaned in and pulled her toward him, and leaned in.
"So much for our covert love affair Bugaboo!" Chat Noir grinned nose to nose with her.
She giggled joyfully, and replied, "I hope you don't mind that I..." Ladybug said her eyes glued to his.
"Let the cat out of the bag!" Carapace shouted enthusiastically.
"Hey! That's my line!" laughed Chat Noir.
Carapace shrugged, "you always get the cool cat puns!"
"That's because he's a cat!" Chloe pointed to Chat Noir's cat ears poking out of his haphazard blonde hair.
Ladybug reached back behind those cat ears, winding her hands up in his hair and pressed her lips softly against his.
Rena Rouge cheered, and gloated, "I knew it!"
Ladybug and Chat Noir broke their kiss with laughter that vibrated across each other's mouth.
The team stood together, appreciating this moment together. There was something about it that made them sure it would be one that none of them would ever forget!
A pine marten poked his tiny face out from behind a rock and clapped his tiny black fur gloves together enthusiastically. "I say! I say! What a show!"
"I take it you are the wild kwami we were sent to meet," Ladybug smiled at the little masked creature with perky soft ears.
"Oh yes! And you weilders, you are the ones I have been waiting to meet for so many cycles...but I swear it was worth the wait! A Ladybug and a Black Cat weilder confessing their love in my leg of the journey! I've just got to tell Hedgehog!" the cute marten gushed so much like someone binging on soap operas that the weilders couldn't help but grin. "Here you go!" the Marten acted as if he had suddenly remembered his assignment. He scrounged up a smooth rock from the ground, and wedged it upward toward Chat Noir and Ladybug.
"Thank you," the weilders bowed in thanks, and the marten returned the bow with his eyes still set on Chat Noir and Ladybug.
"We have one more stop, and if the light doesn't hold back much longer you might be going it in the dark if we don't get moving," instructed Ember.
"Good luck!" the marten waved and waved. "All the best! Ti'n Werth y Byd!"
"It is time to see the Lady of the Lake," Ember announced and dutifully led them to the beautiful Bwich Nant Yr Arian Nature Reserve. The rounded green hills sloped around them, and prickly trees stood their ground around the lake. Already the red kites had started to circle. These impressive birds of prey swooped low, and circled back around, just narrowly dodging each other.
An elder in a worn cloak walked the opposite side of the lake, throwing up food from a silver pail. The kites caught the food right out of the air.
The phoenix beat his wings right above the surface of the water, and the water churned and split. Revealed beneath were two clear discs, no more than a couple feet each.
"Take these discs to get across," Ember instructed.
Carapace lifted the discs up, brushing them off. Then he set them on the surface of the water and they started to miraculously float on the surface.
Chat Noir's tilted his head, able to see further than the rest. We are just supposed to get to that side? No problem! I've vaulted shorter distances my first week with a miraculous!"
"It is not the distance that is the issue," Ember warned.
"What is the issue then?" Rena Rouge asked.
The phoenix gave them a look, and suddenly propelled himself up with his wings. He flew with the speed of fire itself across the surface of the lake. As soon as he had crossed the shore though, the red kites screamed out, and threw themselves toward the trespassing bird. Ember dodged their attacks at first, and blazed out against them. The scorched feathers only sizzled like a match hitting a pail of water, and infuriated them more than deterred them. There were too many and Ember turned back in all haste. Although a demonstration for the weilders, the kite sentries did not hold back punishing him for not following the rules of the Lady of the Lake. Ember just barely made it back to shore with three snapping in rage behind him. It was surreal though the moment Ember was no longer in lake territory the bird's pulled up, circled threateningly, but then returned passively to their feeding routine on the opposite side.
"Was that really necessary?" Ladybug chided, as she blew out a breath of air and realized she had been holding her breath.
"Absolutely," Ember replied solemnly, only slightly out of breath and undeterred. "If any of you try to go around, leap, cast, swim or anything else..other than using the discs provided by the sorceress of the lake...if you put one toe in that cursed water...you need to know what you will be facing."
"...but there are only two small discs and there are five of us weilders. How are we going to cross?" Queen Bee demanded. "This is ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! It's just impossible!"
"It is a puzzle...a test of cooperation!" Ladybug said, examining the discs, and looking across towards their goal. We have to use a strategy to make it possible!"
The weilders huddled around each other, and conferred on the plan. Eventually it was decided that Ladybug and Chat Noir would go first.
"Up you go Mi'Lady!" Chat Noir's winked.
Ladybug couldn't help but smirk at Chat Noir as she climbed onto his back, into a piggyback. Rena Rouge elbowed Carapace giddily. It was official one of her favorite ships had sailed!
Chat Noir easily relayed the discs, sweeping them forward with his staff, one after another like stepping stones across the glass-like surface of the ominous lake with Ladybug holding on tight. The lake itself was not transparent, but a murky green where you could not see how deep it was below.
Once they made it to the other side, Ladybug gracefully slid down Chat Noir's back and then wound up and cast her yoyo back toward the others. Carapace caught the yoyo, and it wrapped itself securely around his armored were no trees close enough to latch the line to and Ember reminded them the trial required them to work as a team. Chat Noir gave Ladybug a quick peak on the lips, and put one of the discs under his arm, and stepped onto the other on the surface of the lake. Holding onto the yoyo with his arms, he pulled himself arm over arm, 'surfing' on the disc back to their allies. While Ladybug and Carapace held either end of the yoyo Chat Noir next escorted Queen Bee across. Once beside Ladybug Queen Bee also cast her own bee spinner across and Carapace held onto it with his other arm. Everything seemed to be going easily until Chat Noir and Rena Rouge were half way across the lake toward Ladybug and Queen Bee.
The strain of both twines started to dig against Carapace, and sweat formed on his brow as he twisted his heel deeper into the sand to anchor himself. "You've got to hurry! I'm not sure how much longer I can hold this!" he urged.
Although Chat Noir and Rena Rouge quickened their pace, the alternating discs was a monotonous task, and took balance. Carapace's arms started to shake a even his super-enhanced muscles became over taxed. The twine cut deeper, and it slipped slightly, but he grabbed it back and wound it firmly around his shoulder.
Unfortunately, even that slight jarring action, tipped the balance of Chat Noir and Rena Rouge on the disc. The both fell back and Ladybug and Queen Bee gasped in unison. Chat Noir's incredible reflexes caused him to counter the sway of the disc, and spin around to catch Rena Rouge by the arm as her back arched backward, and her arm fell backwards behind her. Her little finger just barely grazed the surface of the forbidden lake...but it was enough to alert the bloodthirsty red kites. All the weilders heads swung back, seeing the birds descend upon Chat Noir and Rena Rouge. Holding onto their only lifeline across, Ladybug and Chloe could only watch in horror, as the kites flew in to attack.
"Throw me a disc!" Carapace yelled from the shore behind them to Chat Noir.
Without hesitation, trusting his friend, Chat Noir flung the clear disc with all his strength back into Carapace's waiting hands like a Frisbee. Jumping onto it, Carapace wound each link of twine around his arms like a human propeller, and swiftly skidded over the water towards Chat Noir and Alya, who were now frantically fending themselves off from being pelted from above. Alya had summoned a mirage to distract the creatures, but the fox's tricks hadn't fooled them into abandoning their prey. A single cataclysm against so many was futile as well.
"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug called out, and she and Queen Bee were nearly flattened by a decorative wishing well. With a glance at the wires, Ladybug got Queen Bee's help to hastily wind their lines around the spool at the top of the wishing well and turn the handle as fast as they could to bring in their friends. On the opposite side Carapace was now only a couple feet from Chat Noir and Rena rouge. A dark cloud of frenzied kites torpedoed down upon all three, but just in the nick of time Carapace yelled out "shelter!" The kites bounced off the force field, but they did not give up. Frantically they struck themselves against the dome Carapace had created again and again. His bracelet and Rena Rouge's necklace started flashing as they were nearly in arms reach of Ladybug and Queen Bee.
"Jump! Jump Now!" Ladybug ordered, and all three leapt from the discs to the outstretched arms of the weilders. As soon as they had reached solid ground it was the strangest thing to see the stress among the red kites dissipate, and for them to gently take to the sky gracefully. Circling at first, and then disappearing into pale blue.
Ladybug clapped her hands abruptly over Queen Bee's eyes.
"Whaat the..." Queen Bee protested in the moment, and then registering the purpose behind the invasion to her personal space (and disruption to her line of sight), crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. "You all continue to have this asinine determination to keep your identities a secret from everyone...even me! From day one everyone knew exactly who Queen Bee was!"
"Yes, and hasn't that occasionally caused a problem or two?" Ladybug said unrelenting.
"Humph," Chloe huffed. She couldn't deny that she sometimes wished she could have the satisfaction of hearing strangers gush about Queen Bee without them knowing who had just saved them. On the other hand, what a waste of adoration if you don't even get the credit!
Meanwhile Carapace and Rena Rouge both lost their transformation, and rushed into each other's arms.
"Are you okay?" Nino asked urgently to Alya.
"Thanks to you!" Alya wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face against his shoulder. Then she looked up gratefully at Chat Noir, Ladybug, and Queen Bee. "Thanks to all of you!" she said.
"We always stick together" Chat Noir winked raising his staff.
"Let's finish this together than," Nino nodded to Waaz, as he recharged his kwami's energy.
"Together!" Rena Rouge smiled, holding out another snack for Trixx. Then she swept up before Nino, and kissed him till his head swam.
"Trixx, let's pounce!" Alya declared with a wink at Nino.
"Ye..yeah...Wayzz...shell on!" Nino shook his head, with a lovesick smile at Rena Rouge. His girlfriend really was such a fox!
Then suddenly the group fell quiet and guarded. The last red kite remaining flew silently up to them and regarded them stiffly. Just behind him was the cloaked figure they had seen feeding the birds from the other side. "Worthy weilders, you have been granted access to the realm of the Lady of the Lake, our dearest Nime, the chosen of Maat..."
"Lady Justice!" Ladybug and Chat Noir exclaimed in surprise, as the elder turned slightly to toward them, and dropped her hood to reveal her long glistening white hair and everlastingly rejuvenated form.
She smiled, unseeing, but aware. "Your friend told me you were on your way!" She greeted them. "And I hear that Myrddin has gone ahead of you."
"I am sorry Lady Justice. You entrusted us with Excalibur and this mission to get answers from Merlin, but we failed you," Ladybug lowered her head.
"There are still moves yet on this chessboard. Don't be so quick to lose hope yet!" she encouraged.
"But Merlin get away!" Chat Noir said.
"Merlin has left, but I don't think it is that he has abandoned us," Lady Justice said thoughtfully.
"But he just took off!" Queen bee pouted.
"Took off where exactly?" Lady Justice lowered her hood to her shoulders.
"Shanghai!" Ladybug and Chat Noir's eyes met. Why didn't they realize sooner! When it came to the magic of the miraculous there were rarely coincidences. There was no way that Merlin wasn't after the prodigious!
"We've got to warn Ladydragon!" Ladybug exclaimed in alarm.
Ooooo
Thank you and my apologies amazing, loyal, and patient readers! It has been far to long. RL events, but also my desire to wait for the Shanghai episode held up this chapter, but I am looking forward to incorporating some of the amazing pieces to the international miraculous' in my AU of Miraculous Around the World!
Thanks to Sapyrrha who let me know some areas needed adjusted in this chapter.
Spoiler alert for anyone who has not seen Season 4!
In my version (AU) Alya still does not know Marinette is Ladybug.
Please don't forget to follow or favorite! We're off to a new destination!