Chapter 39: Training Begins Now Part 2(Marinette's POV)

"Sooo. Coran. Did you have any exercises in mind for me, Lance and Allura?" Marinette asks, not surely sure if it is a good idea. But Coran knew the Paladins of old. And what better way to learn how to bond with Black then to know the methods of the ancient Paladins.

Still, Marinette wanted to hear more, but Coran would never elaborate on these mysterious Paladins of old. She only knows that Alfor was one of them, that Zarkon was one of them and that somehow Zarkon turned evil and destroyed Altea, the planet of the Alteans.

Which makes her curious.

Why did evil Zarkon attack Alfor and destroy Altea? And what made Zarkon evil in the first place? Cause it seems odd for….

"Well Marinette, there is one way to test the bonds of paladins with their lions. The rest of the exercises I know deal with building teamwork."

"Well it's a start at least. And we do need to build our teamwork skills. At least for this set of paladins anyways." Marinette replies. It is better than nothing. Bonding with the lions will be a hard task for her, Lance and Allura. Since the lions have bonded with others.

But they did bond with them a little bit to get out of that gas planet, which reminds her, "Is Pidge done examining that gas sample we got from that planet?"

Marinette had almost forgotten about the discovery Pidge made. That the Gas could be used to paralyze enemy ships. It would be helpful.

"I don't know."

"Then I'll check myself."

Coran nods and returns to whatever he was doing on the bridge. The Castle could pilot itself, but she guesses Coran doesn't want to take any risks after that lone enemy ship surprised them.

Marinette walks down the ship's halls going to the space Pidge calls her 'lab'. "Marinette you don't have to be nervous."

"But I am Tikki. I don't want any more surprises until I can pilot Black with excellency. Same with Lance and Allura. I will be prepared then. Which is why Pidge's examination of the Gas from that planet is important."

"I understand, but you've led others before. As class president and as Ladybug. You'll do fine."

"It's not the leading part I'm worried about Tikki. It's the being prepared part that worries me." Marinette tells Tikki.

So hopefully that Gas sample comes in handy while they're training so they can avoid fighting. Because once her, Lance and Allura become better at piloting their lions then they can work on teamwork. With hopefully no surprises.

Stepping into Pidge's 'lab' Marinette finds Pidge examining the glass container that holds the red gas.

She knocks, so she won't scare Pidge as Pidge looks like she is focused on the Gas.

Pidge looks at her, "It's interesting. The Gas can survive in space, and it can be aim able. All we have to do is get out of its reach, because once it's aimed it spreads in all directions while going in the direction we aim it at. It's like the Gas is alive somehow because it spreads and latches on to the nearest thing, paralyzing it."

"That is interesting. So you're saying we can aim the Gas but still have to move out of the way so it doesn't latch onto us."

Pidge nods, "Yes. But the chemical makeup of this thing, I've never seen anything like it at school. It seems like a bacteria, growing and reproducing, but it doesn't eat anything, just paralyzes and grows from there."

"Well it is from an alien planet. It's bacteria should be different from ours."

"Yes, but shouldn't it…."

"Marinette, there you are!" Allura exclaims. "I've been looking for you."

"Why?" Marinette asks, a little annoyed that her chat with Pidge was interrupted.

"Because we need to train! You said we need to take time to train so let's do that."

Marinette looks at Pidge, "Will you be able to handle examining the Gas and making it ready so no one can bother us while we train?"

Pidge nods enthusiastically, "Of course. It should not be a problem."

Marinette smiles and walks out of the room. "So is Lance ready?"

Allura nods, "Yes and Coran has found a planet nearby for us to commence the training."

"Good."

Still it irks her that Allura has been looking for her and Coran didn't tell her. But at least now they've found a planet to actually train their piloting skills, without anyone to bother them. Supposedly.

So let the training begin.