Ella was still soaring on her amazing experience from Thursday.
Not even school or Hawk Moth could bring her down! Though, last night's akuma did have the trio up till all hours, and then getting up to Nathalie knocking on her door an hour or so after Ella had collapsed on her bed didn't have the girl jumping for joy to attend a day of classes.
But the day went by fast enough and soon she was back home relaxing with Adrien, then the couple had dinner and spoken more about Miss Rousseau's proposal.
By eight thirty, Ella was laying on her bed reading the latest on the 'Ladyblog' before bed when Kiismet floated over and sat on her forehead.
"What's wrong, Kiis? You're in a somber mood today."
"Nooroo's transmission is... it's today..."
"Hawk Moth's kwami? His transmission? What does that mean?"
"He's celebrating his thirty-five hundredth cycle today... all by himself."
"Is that like a birthday? It's his thirty-fifth hundredth birthday?"
"In a way, Elly-bean."
"Well, don't worry. Ladybug, Cat Noir and I will free him from Hawk Moth soon. I promise."
"There may just be a faster solution. But I don't want to do it."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Kwamis are able to communicate with their kind on their cycle, or like you said, their birthday. But we won't get another opportunity for a long time. A kwami's cycle lasts several hundreds of years."
"So if all the kwamis that Master Fu has got together, you could find out where Nooroo is."
"Exactly. The kwamis must gather in the Miracle Box at a specific time. And that's tonight."
"And you don't wanna go, why?"
"Because Master Fu doesn't want us kwamis to leave our holders. He says we have to be able to take action immediately if someone gets akumatized. And I promised I'd never leave you again."
"Says the little bird who flew to talk with Cat Noir without telling me~" Ella teased, reaching up and cradling Kiismet down to her cheek.
"Yeah yeah, that moment aside. If someone gets akumatized, we have to be ready. Tikki and Plagg already came to talk when you were in the shower. They want to go and try to help the others find Nooroo, with Wayzz keeping watch outside the Miracle Box. And with me there, we'll have a much better chance- with Tikki, Plagg and I being the strongest kwamis."
Ella stayed silent a moment, thinking, while Kiismet stirred in his hands.
"Well... if there's a chance this will help you find Nooroo- then you should take it, Kiis. This is a way only you kwamis can do so, and it might help the team in the long run- if we can figure out who Nooroo is with."
"But-"
"I don't like being separated from you anymore than you do, little bird. But if there's a chance this could help us figure out who Hawk Moth is, then we have to take that chance. If something happens when you guys are in the Miracle Box, I'll get to Master Fu's and we'll figure it out from there, okay?"
Kiismet stared at her holder as the girl sat up and smiled.
"How did I get so lucky to have you?"
"I've been asking myself that question for twelve years now, Kiis. Now go so you're not late." Ella nuzzled her little friend before setting her down on the bedspread. The kwami's purple eyes remained on her holder for just a second more before floating over to the dresser and grabbing a caramel cluster.
"For the others. I'll tell them you say hi!"
"Have fun, Kiisy!"
Meanwhile, up in Adrien's room, Plagg was putting his own plan into effect. Adrien was still studying while Plagg read his magazine (hilariously titled "Gentleman's Camembert"). The kwami glanced at the clock before letting out a loud fake yawn.
"I am exhausted! I'm off to bed." The little black cat put his magazine away and stretched, delighted when Adrien didn't take his eyes off his homework.
"Uh… good night Plagg!"
Plagg hummed a vague response, pulled a sock-puppet of himself from behind the pillow and put it under the covers by his pillow. Grabbing a piece of camembert, the kwami gave his holder one last glance before he phased through the wall.
Down on the first floor in Gabriel's atelier, said man was standing behind his control panel. Nathalie was finishing up her things and moved to the door.
"Good night, sir." She poke softly, opening the door and exiting. The man could hear her heels click on the tile as they moved just feet away to the door by the stairs. He heard a single knock before the door creaked open and Nathalie spoke, telling her daughter to go to bed. Gabriel didn't hear Ella respond but whatever she said must have placated his assistant enough cause the door clicked shut and the heeled feet moved away.
Gabriel kept working, pulling a picture of a new bag to the middle of the screen, before a soft thud hit his ears.
"Where do you think you're going, Nooroo?" He spoke, clasping his hands behind his back.
"I just wanted to go out... just for a little while."
"No, you know the rules. You're not allowed to be more than a few feet away from me and no communicating with anyone besides me. There are no exceptions."
"But, Master, it's my birthday today. I thought-"
"You obviously haven't grasped the rules, Nooroo. We're going to have to make them even simpler. From now on you won't be able to communicate. At all." Gabriel turned sideways, removing his neckerchief to show his Miraculous.
"But, Master-" True to the command, magic shut Nooroo's mouth. The kwami panicked, trying to talk in vain.
"Huh, it was a joke, Nooroo. I'm not that cruel." Gabriel smirked and snapped his fingers, causing the magic to disappear. Nooroo gasped, inhaling the precious air around him.
"Thank you, Master."
Gabriel ignored his kwami's thankful words, turning back to his work, before his Miraculous began to glow.
"Change of plans, Nooroo."
~"I feel an emotion of great intensity. So pure... Fly away my little Akuma and evilize him!"~
Now with the sun fully gone and the citizens of Paris asleep, the trio of kwamis could move freely. Halfway between her own holder and the other two, Tikki was sitting on a chimney, holding a yellow marker. Plagg and Kiismet, who had met up outside the Agreste home, approached the kwami of creation. Plagg still had his cheese and Kiismet was holding her walnut cluster.
"Hey, sugarcube!" Plagg called out Kiismet's nickname for the creation kwami as the pair flew close; Kiismet just shook her little feathered head as Tikki growled.
"Ugh. I've already told not to call me that. Do you ever hear me calling you Stinky Sock?"
"No, but you should! That would be delightful!" Tikki groaned, turning her attention to the divination kwami.
"Hi Kiismet."
"Hey Tikki." Both kwamis gave small smiles- given the last time they saw each other, Kiismet was tearing into Marinette about how she had been treating Ella and Raven. With a sigh, Tikki led the way towards Master Fu's home.
"So, what lies did you tell your owner in order to sneak out tonight?" Plagg spoke again, he and Kiismet following after Tikki.
"Actually, I just told her the honest truth."
"Same here." Kiismet chimed in.
"Oh? Maybe I should try that someday; see what it's like." The cat kwami sassed, tossing the cheese slice upwards... and into his open mouth.
"Plagg! You should've saved some for the others." Tikki scolded, floating upwards to hover next to her friends.
"True, but-"
"But nothing, Plagg! You know everyone's excited to get things from the outside!" The raven kwami scolded lightly, her own snack for her friends in the box still tight in her paws.
"Awe, tweety-bird, don't be like that~" Plagg purred, nuzzling against Kiismet like a cat; the raven giggled and shifted her snack away from the drooling mouth. Tikki smiled at the pair before her mind returned to the reason the three of them were away from their holders.
"I hope we can get in contact with Nooroo..."
"So do I..." Plagg sniffled; he missed his winged friend.
"Are you crying?" Tikki asked, while Kiismet darted forward and turned backward, staring into Plagg's face. The black cat sniffled, blinking rapidly to hide his tears from his girlfriend and pink friend.
"Who me? O-of course not! Are you kidding? Come on, let's race! The last one there won't get any cheese!"
"Plagg! Get back here!"
In record time, the trio made it to Master Fu's massage shop. Tikki took point and knocked on the door. She opened it, letting her and the other two in.
"Hey Wayzz! How's it goin'?" Plagg cheered, zooming in.
"Sssshhh! You'll wake up Master!" Wayzz pointed towards the Miraculous Guardian, snoring on the floor with a book on his face, "psst, come on. If you manage to contact Nooroo, wish him a happy thirty-five hundred cycles for me."
"We sure will, Wayzz!" Tikki smiled, leading the way into the phonograph. Plagg zoomed in after the pink kwami, but Kiismet hesitated, floating outside the horn.
"What's wrong, Kiismet?" Wayzz asked, moving to her side.
"I... I don't want to be stuck in there if something happens. I don't like leaving Raven like this, but... I know I'm needed in order to find Nooroo." Kiismet chewed on her little lip, eyes darting between the phonograph and the door. Wayzz was silent a moment...
"Would you like to wait outside then, Kiismet?"
"But-!"
"You have never been this far from your holder in twelve years. You fear for her safety, so if there is an akuma attack, you should be able to leave for her. But not before you alert Tikki and Plagg, of course."
"A-are you sure, Wayzz?" The turtle nodded, giving the raven a little smile.
"I'll join our friends inside. Please keep watch and I shall tell Nooroo your hellos."
"...thank you, Wayzz. Please let everyone share this too!" Kiismet handed her friend the walnut cluster, who nodded and vanished down the horn.
"Hi, everybody. We're here!" Plagg cheered, diving into the middle of the kwamis pile of stuff. At his voice, the rest of the kwamis stuck their heads out, in awe at who was there.
"Plagg! Tikki! You came!" Ziggy yelled, leading all the rest of their friends out into the center.
"Oh, with you here, we'll manage to get in touch with Nooroo for sure!" Ziggy continued, the others cheering too.
"Good day to you, noble kwamis of creation and destruction. Is the noble kwami of divination joining you?"
"Kiismet should be coming down soon- she must have stopped to talk to Wayzz." Tikki answered Pollen, all eyes moving upwards as Wayzz came buzzing down.
"Wayzz? I thought you were gonna stand guard!"
"I offered to allow Kiismet to be able to return to her holder. She's nervous about being so far." Wayzz provided Tikki his reason for appearing before Daizzi spoke up and moved the attention back to gifts.
"Oh! What did you bring?! What did you bring?!"
"Brothers and sisters living within the walls of the Miracle Box, on this special day, I brought you some delicious cheese." Plagg boasted, spreading his little paws wide, "Unfortunately, I had to sacrifice it on the way here, to feed a poor, starving kitten." Tikki glared at Plagg while the rest of the kwamis cooed at his supposed offering.
"Oh, that's just so cute."
"What about you, Tikki?"
"From my owner's home, I bring you this." Tikki held out the marker; every kwami rushed over to fawn.
"Yeah! Oh, what a jewel, what a jewel!"
"It's beautiful!" Ziggy removed the cap of the marker while Roaar touched the yellow tip.
"Wait, wait! I think I've got it. It's a paintbrush!" Roarr exclaimed, drawing on the floor.
"Oh, so shiny!"
"What's that, Wayzz?" Barkk asked, her dark purple eyes staring at the brown circle in the turtle's paws.
"This is from Kiismet: her favorite snack her holder makes for her." Wayzz explained, handing the treat over to Barkk, who licked it before the other kwamis flocked her for a taste.
"Let the party begin!" Xuppu called excitedly from his own little makeshift DJ booth. All the kwamis besides Tikki, Plagg and Sass began to dance and enjoy the party; the trio looked on, while Plagg's eyes moved up to the roof of the Miracle Box.
"It is a good thing you are here. Your owners were wise to give you permission to come."
"Yes, Sass. Marin-" Tikki coughed as pink bubbles escaped her mouth.
"Your owner?" Sass smirked as Plagg laughed.
"You forgot about the magic spell! We can't say our owner's names to each other, remember?"
"Yes. My owner is the best Ladybug I've ever served."
"We are also very lucky that the guardian of the Miracle Box agreed to it too."
"Well... shall we dance? We have to properly celebrate our friend Nooroo after all." Plagg smirked, flying off to join the others. Sass and Tikki watched their friend for a moment before turning to each other.
"Plagg was able to see Kiismet, I take it?" Sass asked.
"Yeah. Their holders are friends so they see each other often enough."
"That's good. Plagg must be very happy to have Kiismet out in the world again."
"I'm sure he is."
"Hmm... thank you... a whole studio to myself..."
Marinette mumbled in her sleep, rolling over with a smile on her face. As she dreamed, sleeping sand fell over her, changing her pleasant dreams into her worst nightmare.
"Marinette..."
"What? What's going on?" She gasped awake, sitting upright.
"Tikki? Are you back already?" The blunette looked to the end of her bed where she thought she heard the voice, when a hand grabbed at the covers. Startled, Marinette screamed and scrambled backwards.
"Marinette... how could you...? We thought you were our friend... but you're Ladybug? How could you?"
From the edge of her bed, Marinette stared in horror as Adrien and Ella popped up- doing a creepy crawl up the loft frame.
"You're Ladybug... and yet you can't protect us... you're our friend and we get hurt because of you..."
Marinette screamed again, kicking her blanket up and trapping the couple underneath the heavy duvet. Panicked, she used them as a step-up to get up on her balcony, locking the hatch behind her.
"What kind of a nightmare is this?" The blunette freaked out.
Ella rolled over, just barely on the edge of sleep. Her brain couldn't quite shut off the panic that was parked in there from Kiismet not being close, but the last few days exhaustion had pulled her under about an hour after her kwami's departure. Grey eyes darted back and forth under her eyelids, unaware of the sleeping sand falling from the akumas attack. A few seconds after the red sand settled on her black sheets, a soft voice and a weight to her right pulled the girl from her sleep.
"Ella..."
Said girl groaned, rolling over towards the familiar voice and rubbing her eyes. Blinking away the sleep, her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room enough to see that beautiful blond head of hair sitting by her knees.
"Adrien..? What is it? Why are you still awake?" She asked, sitting up.
"Ella... I have to tell you something."
"And it couldn't wait till morning, étoile?"
"No..."
"What is it?" Ella's voice wavered, her anxiety kicking in. What could Adrien have to say that couldn't wait?
"...I don't love you anymore, Ella."
Ella swore her heart stopped.
"...w-w-what..?" The tears were instantaneous.
"You just have so many problems- that add to mine. I stopped loving you so long ago... you were just a good excuse to get out of the house. Now that I have that freedom, I don't need you anymore... so I don't love you anymore."
Ella's world turned to white noise as Adrien continued talking, tears pouring out while her heart struggled to beat.
" The Sandboy just checked in! Now nightmares can begin! "
Up in Adrien's room, the teen was still studying. Invisible sleeping sand fell around him and cast its nightmare. Iron bars slammed down in front of all doors and windows, startling the teen.
"What's going on?! Plagg! Wake up!" Adrien ran to his bed and pulled the sheets back to see a black sock-puppet where Plagg was usually asleep.
"Plagg! No! Who turned you into a sock?"
