"Watch your step here, you two," The Pocket Elf told Marinette and Cat. The rocks they were walking on were slippery and wet, and if you looked closely, covered in a bit of moss. "Let me help you, Princess," Cat said, helping Marinette step carefully onto the rock. The elf looked back up at Cat Noir, his voice drawn and tired. "Are you okay, Kitty?" Marinette asked her best friend with concern. "Didn't sleep well, that's all."
There was no point pulling into a world where he saw his mother, but his mother was made of mist and every time Cat got close, she drifted further away from him. "Are we crossing the stream or not?" Cat asked, a bit of annoyance creeping into his voice.
The Pocket Elf waited and watched, waiting for the right moment. The clouds were an angry gray color, about to turn black, and the rushing water of the stream started bubbling. "Why is the water doing that?" Marinette asked. "Cat Noir is battling a storm of emotions, Marinette," the elf said. "And to cure it you two must go into the crystal ball." "Us?" Marinette and Cat asked together, looking at the little elf. "Yes, but be careful you two. Don't interfere, and stay hidden. Otherwise you may get stuck there."
"How will we get back?" Marinette asked. "You'll be back when the time is right my child, now, your bubble ball when be here soon, so be ready to jump." Cat held Marinette's hand tightly, and as soon as the Pocket Elf cried, "Now!" They jumped into the ball.
There was a another stream meandering when they touched down, but wider then the stream in their own forest. Two tall hills or mountains stood proudly in the distance, and the air was cool and sweet.
"So, do we just stay here?" Marinette whispered. Cat shook his head. "No, as long as we're not seen, we should be fine."
Cat marveled at the colors here, vivid like in his dream. He felt peaceful, a feeling he hadn't had in a long time.
"Marinette, stop," Cat whispered to her, as they approached a white house and Cat could hear humming coming from the yard.
Creeping closer, but hiding behind a tree, Marinette and Cat watched a woman hang sheets out to dry.
"Adrien, where are you?" the woman's voice floated to Cat's ear. "Your real name is Adrien?" Marinette asked, looking at him. Cat could only nod, watching the scene unfold as a little boy ran into the yard, holding a blue bucket.
"What have you got there, honey?" The woman asked, peering into the blue bucket. "A froggy. I think the froggy and ladybug would get along nicely, wouldn't you?" "I think the froggy would be happier being back with his froggy friends. Let's put him back."
The woman turned, and Cat gasped aloud. "Mother." She was beautiful, and just as he had remembered. Green eyes like his that sparkled kindly, with a dash of mischief and blonde hair woven down her back in a braid. Cat meowed quietly to himself, wishing he could run up to her and throw his arms around her. But he didn't. They followed from a distance, and he wondered if he and Marinette were invisible.
Adrien let the frog go, sighing as it splashed into the stream. Emile heard the sigh and put a comforting arm around her son. "I know its hard, honey, but a friend will come along." The little boy looked up at his mother. "Promise?" "Yes, I promise. Now, let's get back," she said, her skirts rustling as she stood.
Cat felt the itch to move forward, even if he wasn't supposed to interfere. But he needed to tell the little boy he wouldn't be alone forever. "Cat, wait!" Marinette hissed. He turned back to her, smiling. "Trust me, Princess."
"Hello there," Cat said, walking out onto the path ahead of them. Emile pulled her son close to her side. "Who are you?" she asked. "I'm from the future, and Adrien you will have a friend before you know it. A friend who loves you, takes care of you, listens when you feel alone. Be strong."
Emile looked into her son's eyes. "Do I know you? Your voice sounds familiar," she continued to stare at Cat. "You will, but not yet, Mother." Emile's eyes widened and then Cat felt himself floating.
Splash! They fell out of the crystal ball into the stream, but Cat didn't notice the cold water flowing over his face, or Marinette on top of him. He'd seen his mother, and given his younger self a pep talk.
He didn't want to believe she was gone forever, but even seeing her like this was enough for now. The heaviness he had been feeling dropped away, like untying a heavy stone and throwing it into the pond.
"Cat, your still in the stream," Marinette said, and Cat looked around him. "Oh," he slowly got up as if he were in a dream, shaking himself dry, the droplets flashing a gold color in the sunlight.
"So, you saw your mother, child?" The pocket elf asked. "Yes. She was as beautiful and kind as I remember, and I treasure the memory of the crystal ball forever."
The stream stopped bubbling angrily, instead it gurgled and chuckled and things were back to normal. Cat sighed happily as he stared up at the canopy above his head. He was supposed to live here with his Princess, his best friend. The one he had longed for since he was a child.
"Thank you," Cat turned to the Pocket Elf sitting on a leaf, watching Cat's range of emotions play across his face. "Oh, that was all you, Cat. Your memories made it possible. That's why they call this stream the Memory Stream."
Cat could see that. The water rushed forward like thoughts jumping from one to the other. A thought could be a memory too, after all.
He was glad he and Marinette were able to experience it together, and Cat hoped that someday he would be able to introduce his mother to her for real. But for now, he contented himself with seeing her in a crystal ball.