Lapa's whitewashed arches were the backdrop for the liveliest street party in Rio, Brazil.
Adrien's keen eyes surveyed the scene, and took Marinette by the arm to guide her over toward an opening in the dancers. She flashed him a coy smile as her spun her out and then back in towards him. They moved together to the lively music, and a sense of eforia washed over them. The bare sky above them set the scene in moonlight. The danced and danced to one song leading into another, until they were both out of breath.
Out of the corner of his eye Adrien saw the flash of red move swiftly behind the onlookers circling the dancers. Marinette noted Adrien's distracted glance, and her eyes followed his. A boy a couple years younger than them darted in and out between dancers asking for change. Although almost completely faded, the boy's red t-shirt had the unmistakable Ladybug movie logo stretched across it. The shirt itself was probably two sizes too big for the kid, and stretched to his knees. With a nod they silently agreed with their partner's intuition to investigate.
They danced around to the other side, purposely moving around through the crowd. The young boy in the faded red Ladybug shirt snuck out from behind the crowd. The watched him stand up to a street food stand, and eye the distracted vender. The boy edged closer, obviously hungerly watching the temping picanha roasting.
Adrien spun Marinette out again, and turned in between the cart and the boy. "Wow, all that dancing has made me hungry," Adrien commented casually to the startled boy. "Is this barbecue good?"
The boy looked down quickly, and just nodded.
"Do you want to try some with us?" Adrien asked warmly. "I've never had picanha before."
The boys eyes widened in surprise, looking up at Adrien and Marinette from under his baseball hat. Then he quickly nodded, and then eagerly waited at their side while Adrien purchased a meal for each of them, along with a icy cold can of soda. They each sighed as they dug into the delicious food, and drank the cool, sweet liquid. The can of soda had beads of condensation clinging onto the side in the heat of the night.
The boy tapped his soda with his index finger, and took another bite of his food. "Gracias!" he said quietly, and then paused. "Why? Why'd you buy this for me?"
"Well maybe it is because I'm a sucker for anything Ladybug," Adrien motioned to the boy's Ladybug T-shirt, and Marinette choked on a gulp of her soda. "…but really," Adrien continued, "I figured it was a good way to get to know a new friend."
The boy seemed thoughtfully amused, and then smiled at them. "My name is Alcuin," he laughed. "Mi Tia, always told me it meant "amigo!"
"You're serious?!" Marinette said in surprise. "Now Adrien is even doing accidental puns and getting away with it!"
"Puns! I love puns!" exclaimed Alcuin.
"Me too!" choired Adrien enthusiastically.
"Hey! Why was the pun such a bad comedian?" Alcuin asked excitedly, perking up and practically bouncing in anticipation for their guess to his joke.
"Uh…I'm not sure…" Marinette stammered.
"Because he could never get the "pun-chline right!" Alcuin jumped up.
Adrien burst out in uproarious laughter, while Marinette blinked a moment and then sighed deeply, "Oh gosh Adrien! He's worse than you!"
"Come on Señorita, you've got to admit, I'm soda pun-ny!" he raised his can of cola for effect.
Adrien threw his arm around the Alcuin's shoulders and ruffled his hair, "I knew I liked this kid!
Marinette stifled a yawn, and quickly caught herself and put her hand to her mouth.
"Come on, give us some credit! Our jokes aren't that much of a bore!"
"Sorry, sorry," Marinette tried to cover up another yawn that escaped her. "It has just been a crazy day…"
"No, I'm sorry. I guess we should've taken Chloe up on her offer of a room…it's just that Komar guy, he just seems…" Adrien said.
"No, no!" Marinette threw up her hands. "I think I'd rather check in with the piranhas than those two!"
"You guys need a place to stay tonight? You can totally come stay at my aunt's place with me! She lives pretty close," Alcuin gestured down the street.
"You sure she won't mind?"Marrinette replied hesitantly.
"Actually, she is already putting up a couple of us who are volunteering at the Jagged Stone concert tomorrow. I got an in with my cousin, he is head of security! It will be my first concert!" the boy said proudly.
Marinette looked thoughtful, "Did your cousin mention needing any more volunteers?" she asked.
Alcuin looked up thinking, "well, he has all the ushers and security he needs, but he did mention something about being short merch venders. You could get a free t-shirt out of it!"
Adrien and Marinette exchanged a victorious glance. This would be the perfect way to make it to the concert, and seal their cover story with Chloe and Komar. Tomorrow morning before the concert they could still have time to finish the final leg of the miraculous trial. It would be tight…but if they managed it, at least there would be fewer awkward questions from the the blonde couple about their true purpose in Rio.
"Count us in!" Marinette and Adrien said together.
"incrível! Mi Tia lives this way!" Alcuin lit up, and waved to them to follow.
Marinette made one stop on the way to pick up things to make breakfast for their hosts, and they hoped that showing up suddenly would not be a burden…it turned out they didn't need to worry at all. As soon as Alcuin introduced them to his aunt, she had wrapped her arms around them like family and insisted friends of Alcuin's were always welcome. She was apologetic about only having their worn green sofa in the living room left for the night, but Adrien and Marinette assured her that they appreciated her taking them in. His aunt hugged them both again when Marinette mentioned making breakfast for them the next morning. His aunt even insisted she would teach her how to bake pao frances.
There was plenty of laughter, jokes, and stories exchanged that night. By the time everyone from the household had finally retired for the night Adrien and Marinette could barely keep their eyes open.
Adrien leaned on one arm from the couch, pulling a ivory blanket from the armrest. He watched as Marinette untied her hair from each pony tail, and shake her raven hair loose around her shoulders. He sighed dreamily, and Marinette smiled shyly over her shoulder at him with a blush dusting her freckle with a rosy glow.
"What?" Marinette asked crossing her arms self consciously.
"I was just…you just look…I'm so happy…"Adrien tried to explain, but found himself at a loss for words getting caught in his daydream.
"Me too," Marinette smiled snuggling in close to him under the blanket, and sighing happily herself when he pulled her in closer to his chest. "So happy…"
The next morning after a meal with their gracious hosts, Marinette and Adrien were given volunteer passes and t-shirts from Alcuin's older cousin, Carlos. He was even taller than Adrien, and was built like a Sumaumeira. His defined muscled stretched against his black t-shirt, and his no-nonsense attitude instantly made Adrien and Marinette sit up a little straighter around him. He had already given them the run down of the evenings events and instructions for promoting the Jagged Stone merchandise table, when he headed off early to help set up the venue.
Marrinette and Adrien claimed to have "errands to run" before the concert, so promised to meet Alcuin, Carlos, and the others later on.
As soon as they were out of earshot Plagg was hissing at Adrien for more cheese. Thanks to Marrinette's stash from breakfast both kwami's were appeased with a generous helping of requeijão (for Plagg) and pave (for Tikki).
It wasn't until they reached Tijuca National Park that Ember reemerged. "The wild kwami council meets within the forest here," the Phoenix informed them, "but be on your guard. If Falfalla akumatized the dangerous octopus kwami's holder here in Rio yesterday, you can bet the mosquito kwami of deception will be lurking around trying to interfere in the trials."
Adrien and Marinette looked cautiously over their shoulders, but the only found were the calls of the colourful toucans flying through the trees. As they started their climb the vivid white Christ the Redeemer statue stood benevolently above them with his arms outstretched.
As they hiked in the early morning's humid heat within the world's largest forests within a city, Ember swooped before them resting on tree branches up ahead. The sacred springs that they were headed to had almost been destroyed by the coffee plantations, but in the late 1850s the forest had been planted to reserve the the area that supplied Rio de Janeiro's water. It certainly has thrived since then.
They finally arrived at the source of the springs itself deep in the tropical rainforest. Adrien's ears perked. The calls of the toucans had suddenly stopped, and the the forest seemed to hold it's breath.
Adrien pulled Marinette down beside him in the dense underbrush, and whispered, "it might be time to transform if the mosquito kwami really might be tracking us here."
Marinette nodded, and summoned Tikki, and Adrien called "Claws out," before re-emerging as Ladybug and Chat Noir.
Chat Noir strode cautiously through the trees, protectively guiding Ladybug through the intertwining branches. The moved steadily, and did not pause until they came to a clearing. What caused them to pause was not a being at first, but a row of ornate tiles that held all the signs of weathering ancient forms, and distinctly contained the miraculous box symbols. At the center of the green field was a lone ball.
Ladybug and Chat Noir scanned the area. The sun was now high in the sky, and heat waves shimmered across the stocky grass. A bright eyed capuchin monkey scampered across the field and jumped up onto the ball at the centre. It eyed them cheekily, and looked over it's shoulders to call out to his troop.
Rapidly more and more furry faced tiny monkeys arrived on the outskirts of the field until they were practically surrounded.
"So we have two challengers!" the monkey at the centre, drew his long fingers in front of him and cracked his knuckles.
"These weilders have completed their Brazilian trials and are ready for the wild kwami council to commence," Ember narrowed his eyes at the monkeys. He always had found them more annoying than most other creatures in existence.
"You know that is not how we do things!" the capuchin clicked his tongue. "They have to play by our rules to get an audience with the council. We have a little game for them too!"
"Enough with your games!" Ember scolded. "Do you not realize that things are more tense than ever with the defiance of the mosquito kwami countering our commitment to protect mankind! These weilders are on our side!"
The monkey smirked at the flustered Phoenix, and hopped off the ball. "We're not like you 'tame' kwamis tied to a charm and commanded by mortals. We're on our own side, and are free to do as we please. Now stop being no fun, and come prove to us you deserve the power of the miraculous'."
Ember snorted out smoke through his beak, turning back to Ladybug and Chat Noir. "Monkeys," he huffed. "Blasted monkeys!"
"They just want us to play a game with them to show we're worthy right! No problem hey Mi'Lady!" Chat Noir shrugged.
"It seems simple Kitty," Ladybug looked back at the smiling wild kwami, "but that is what bothers me. None of these trials have really been a walk in the park!"
"Against these little guys? They are so tiny! I think we can take em'. Actually they're kindda cute," Chat Noir gestured to the leader that must have heard him, and shot them a cutsie baby-doll look that was absolutely endearing.
Ember gave Chat Noir a deadpan glare, "you can't be serious."
"Okay, okay!" Ladybug allowed. "Let's just play their little game, complete the trial, and make it back in time for the concert. We don't have time to second guess this."
"So you're ready to play?!" the monkey clapped his hands.
"What's your game?" Ladybug asked.
"Queimada!" announced the capuchin.
"Queimada! Queimada! Queimada!" the monkey's circling the field chattered.
So, how do you play Queimada?" Chat Noir's stepped forward.
"Our team vs. your team Pussy Cat!" the monkey smirked.
"All of you against the two of us?!" Marinette burst. "What doesn't seem fair!"
"Who said life was fair!" the monkey retorted evenly. "One of you will be on the field of the living, the other will be in the "cemetery" zone of the dead. The one in the "cemetery" must toss the ball to the partner in the field of the living and then they must try to knock out their opponents. If they get hit they go to the 'cemetery!" Once one team is totally killed off the other team is declared the winner!" the monkey cackled.
"Seems like a pretty morbid game," Marinette said, and looked at the monkey's assembling on the field. They certainly did not look so cute and cuddly any more.
"Oh it is all in good fun!" the monkey laughed and wrapped his tail around the ball swinging it straight toward Ladybug's head!
Chat Noir reacted instinctively, and dove in front of her, taking the hit himself. Then he whirled around furiously, and yelled, "hey! We hadn't even started yet! What kind of cheap move was that!"
"I guess the black cat has volunteered for the cemetery position to start the game," the monkey said lazily to his teammates. "A pity tho, he won't be able to block his partner from any more of our shots!"
Chat Noir's mouth dropped open. By blocking that single ball he was sidelined, and the rest of the shots would fall on Ladybug!
"Don't worry Kitty! Just keep on getting the back into my hands. We just won't give them another chance to get the jump on us," Ladybug winked, and squeezed his shoulder encouragingly.
Chat Noir slowly stepped into the 'cemetery' zone and narrowed his eyes. He passed the ball into play to Ladybug, and she only held it a mere second before throwing it directly at a monkey that was caught off guard. The 'victim,' sullenly scampered toward's the sideline where her own team's "cemetery" zone was located.
Again and again Chat Noir would throw the ball directly to Ladybug, and she would pick off one, then another player from the opposition. Systematically their primate opponents were eliminated, but the wild kwami himself, who now stood alone, looked back at Ladybug undeterred.
The monkey kwami dodged Ladybug's next throw. His partners threw the ball into play and he swung it towards her with surprising strength. Ladybug fell backward just narrowly missing the attack. She picked herself up again, busy as the ball rocketed at her again, this time just barely skimming past her nose. Chat Noir's calls of warning were drowned out by the hooting horde of monkeys from the sidelines.
The monkey smiled, showing his yellowed teeth. "You have given it your best, but what is the use. I've been keeping track of your progress, and I know your limits. I have played this game for eons with miraculous holders that would destroy you in a single glance. Even if you manage to beat me, the competition out there is too fierce for you little Ladybug!"
"My only competition is who I was yesterday!" Ladybug growled between gritted teeth.
The monkey fired the ball her way, she shot out her yoyo, having it ricochet to Chat Noir, who knocked it back to her with his staff like a baseball. Jumping high in the air, Ladybug spiked the ball down upon the shocked capuchin. With a heavy "umph!" it knocked him backwards to the grass.
There was at first silence using the onlookers, before they burst into enthusiastic cheers and hoots. Like a stadium of football fans, the lawn erupted. Even those a ways away on the cable car at sugarloaf glanced up to the trees up at the park where the monkey's of the Amazon had suddenly become wildly unhinged.
Ladybug and Chat Noir crossed the center line and helped the defeated wild kwami to his feet.
"No hard feelings?" Ladybug asked, with a raised eyebrow.
The capuchin chuckled, much warmer this time. "If Tikki has finally got herself a weilder who can knock me off my feet, I'd say the world is in better hands than I expected," he shook her hand, and took his kwami form.
Ladybug regarded him cautiously, and Chat Noir joined her.
"Good game," the monkey struck his paw out toward them, but when they extended their hands he dropped one of the stones into their hands, and they felt the earth move underneath them.
The whole playing field descended underground, and Ember flew in above them just as they dropped down to face the wild kwami council of Brazil.
The tokens they had collected were gathered before the wild kwami before them. The capuchin, saki monkey, otter, and Jaguar nodded at them in approval.
"Well done weilders, you are survivors afterall," the Jaguar commented.
"They are adaptable…an important quality if they are to go up against the master human shapeshifter; the mosquito kwami," the otter contributed.
"They seem up to a challenge," the capuchin allowed, "but the deceiver, the kwami of chaos itself is set on getting his hands on a wish and remaking reality. If he bends it to his will we are all in danger. Two child mortals are not a great strategy against a being so conniving."
"It is a dangerous dance to be sure," the saki monkey chimed in, "but don't forget a weilder has done it before!"
"That was a different age Saki! Plus it was before the dolphin and the sea unicorn were lost," the otter shook it's head.
"Sea unicorn?" Ladybug interrupted.
"If the legends are true the final battle took place at sea," the otter shrugged. "Legends…but then again, aren't we all fanciful!"
"So that is why Falfalla has summoned the banished octopus kwami. They are preparing for a rematch!" Chat Noir concluded, thumping his closed fist into his palm. "They needed to control the water!"
"How do we win against a power like that once she gets stronger?" Ladybug asked to the air.
The Jaguar looked thoughtful, and strode toward the weilders his speckled fur picking of glints of sunlight. The jaguar's eyes met Ladybug's, and they froze there for a moment before the Jaguar spoke. "Don't drown in the chaos of this world. Creation and destruction themselves hold an element of chaos. Hold on to what you know is true and good and it will not swallow you."
Ladybug let her clear blue eyes drift up to the Jaguar's moon-like gaze.
"To truly weild miraculous power you must break the boundaries you have set for yourself. Even now you both are capable so much more," the Jaguar said in a resonating voice, that made Ladybug and Chat Noir's skin prick.
"For our part we grant you the power of the miraculous we can bestrow," the Jaguar drew a claw in front of them in the stone, and there was a flash of light that filled the sunken hall, and then vanished just as quickly.
The kwami council had of course vanished and the platform rose back the the playing field as if nothing at all had transpired.
"We did it!" Chat Noir smiled, holding out his hand to Ladybug for their typical fist bump, but she distractedly looked off to the distance to where the sky met the horizon over the ocean.
"Not yet," she sighed. "…But maybe we're at least a little closer," she turned back to him and met his outstretched hand with her own.
Neither noticed the hum of a mosquito passing through the branches at the other side of the field.
Oooooo
Hours later Marrinette and Adrien came jogging up to the side door of the event complex the Jagged Stone concert was to be held in. Alcuin was already there waiting for them.
"Pressa pressa!" Alcuin urged, and closed the door quickly behind them. "They are about to open the doors, and then it is going to be crazy busy in here!"
"Thanks again for getting us in!" Adrien smiled.
"We are glad you could help on such short notice. Most people don't want to miss Jagged Stone's concert, and be stuck back here selling merch. Personally, I don't mind! I might even get a chance to go backstage to meet the band with my cousin!" Alcuin said excitedly.
"I hope you get a chance!" Marinette grinned. "He is really awesome!"
"Wait! Have you met Jagged Stone?!" the boy's mouth dropped open in awe.
Marinette nodded with a blush, and Adrien beamed proudly at his talented girlfriend who had not only designed the rock star's sunglasses and one of his album covers, but also saved his life on multiple occasions…and still, she was too humble to brag about any of it. So Marrinette!
"The doors are about to open! Pressa!" yelled out Carlos from around the stage door.
The three teens ran through the corridors to make it to the merch stands just as the flood gates opened, and waves of people started flooding into the massive venue.
Amidst the hectic crowds of fans, no one noticed a stylish bleach blond man in sunglasses slip behind the rows of stands. It was Komar, who nonchalantly disappeared out of sight.
"So, is it them?" a young woman with thick dark copper bangs, and ponytails trailing in front of each ear asked. Her hazel eyes darted suspiciously over her shoulder. (It was of course Lila Rossi!)
"It could be," the handsome model shrugged.
"Could be?!" Lila screeched in a strangled whisper. "You said you'd track them and find out!"
"I don't answer to you," his casual tone turned suddenly menacing. Then just as swiftly the fire in his eyes cooled back to icy grey, and he flip his hair. "I nearly had her on the beach, but they are two strong together. Drive a wedge between them, and you'll be able to pick them off easily as anything."
"Those two are revoltingly close! How am I supposed to pry them off each other?! We thought before that maybe the Cat had a thing for Marrinette, but he left her for "Ladybug."
"My most convincing performance!" Komar gloated.
"But it didn't work!" Lila muttered irritably.
"Oh is my lil pupa impatient?" Komar taunted her in a patronizing tone. "Try waiting cycles of mortal lifetimes to channel your power after you have been denied all that should have been yours!"
"What's your plan?" Lila crossed her arms and turned up her nose.
"Adrien Agreste has always had so much potential to sway people, but he never seems to live up to his full potential! I think it is time I took a walk in his shoes and stirred things up a bit," Komar smiled cruelly.
"So you'll take his form and break her spirits?" Lila questioned gleefully.
"My darling, I plan to break her heart!" Komar smirked.