Chapter 2: Croix's Estate
THE NEXT DAY: EARLY AFTERNOON
"Come on Alya keep up! Yah Mystic!" -Marinette called out as she loped her horse through the field.
"Hold on Marinette, I'm still not used to this yet!" -Alya squealed in response as her horse Spy loped behind Mystic.
It had been a few weeks since Marinette and Adrien had first come out to Mr. Croix's estate. Not only had they been introduced to riding horses for real, but they also were able to defeat Ferrier, one of Hawk Moth's akumatized victims. It was during that battle Mr. Croix learned their secret identities as Ladybug and Cat Noir, but has still kept them secret.
Afterwards Mr. Croix made a deal with Marinette and Adrien that they would be allowed to come out anytime they wanted to ride and even bring their friends. All they had to do was ask. Adrien, Nino, Alya, and Marinette had all been out at various times throughout the last few weeks, all while trying to juggle school, hobbies, and battling Hawk Moth.
Even then Mr. Croix had found other ways to help the friends grow. Marinette was able to borrow from his collection of old books, some of which being old design and fashion books from decades past. Adrien had challenged Mr. Croix a few times to a match with his staff versus Croix's rapier. Nino found a fresh area to create his music without having to worry about the neighbors complaining. Alya was able to use some of Croix's computers and technology to upgrade her Ladyblog.
Marinette and Alya slowed down and walked their horses through the field.
"Girl, I don't know how you can do this!" -Alya panting from riding at a lope.
"Well it takes a while to get used to it, but Alya it is so much fun!" -Marinette smiled as she leaned forward to pat Mystic on her neck.
"Don't get me wrong I think this is amazing and I can't wait to do more, but I…..uh...did not stretch my legs properly." -Alya tried to explain the reason why she felt sore while having fun. "But you are a rock star on your horse. Maybe you could ride a horse for a fashion show with your designs! Or better yet, Adrien could ride wearing your designs." -Alya continued with a wink.
At the mention of Adrien, Marinette panicked and almost fell forward out of the saddle while she was patting Mystic.
"Or if you keep falling over yourself like that, maybe Adrien should come with us so he could catch you as you fall into his arms." -Alya continued on as Marinette blushed more.
Before Alya could continue to fluster her, Marinette dug her heels into Mystic's side and lopped off, her mind racing. She was thinking back to the first time she and Adrien went riding together.
Suddenly Marinette snapped back to reality and noticed that she was riding right up to a piece of broken fence. She tried to yank back on the reins to stop, but her horse kept going. Marinette let out a cry and shut her eyes, as Mystic came up to the fence and without hesitation, jumped clear over it. When she landed on the other side, Mystic slowed and stopped as Marinette still held her eyes shut.
Alya came riding up when she heard Marinette scream.
"Marinette are you okay?!...Wow how did you get over there?"
Alya was stunned to see that Marinette and her horse were on the other side of the fence. Marinette still had her eyes closed.
"Wait, did you jump that Marinette? Marinette? Marinette!" -Alya had to keep getting louder to get through to Marinette.
Marinette slowly opened her eyes to see Alya on her horse, but on the wrong side of the fence. Mystic was just standing there grazing on the grass.
"I….I..." Marinette had to take a second to collect herself "That was AMAZING! IT FELT LIKE WHEN I FLY THROUGH PARIS AS…." She had to stop herself "...as when I am in an airplane, hehe."
Marinette leaned down to hug Mystic's neck, giggling with joy.
Alya smiled but then got a bold look across her face. "Well then, let's see you do it again. I want to see the world-famous Marinette fly."
Alya turned her horse away from the fence to give some room, then spun around and sat back in the saddle watching. Marinette took Mystic and set herself up.
"Let's do it again girl! I know you have this." -Marinette told Mystic as she readied herself.
Marinette dug her heels into Mystic as she began to walk, then trot, then lope back to the broken fence. Her heart was racing and she felt scared, yet she also could feel the courage inside. With each stride she was closer and closer to the fence. When only a few yards away she squeezed herself tight on the saddle and leaned forward. As they reached the broken fence Mystic took her final stride, then leaped up and over the fence, as high as before. As they landed on the other side, Mystic slowed down and stopped close to Alya astride Spy. Mystic began to graze on the grass as Marinette was breathing hard, smiling at Alya.
"And…..sent." Alya said to Marinette.
"Sent? Sent what?" Marinette looked with confusion.
"Oh, just sent an awesome video of you to Adrien." Alya smirked as she took a selfie to send to Nino. "Want to see?"
Marinette started to blush with a flustered look on her face as she took the phone from Alya. Marinette saw herself jumping on Mystic, but under it said the words: Jumping for You.
"HOW COULD YOU SEND THIS TO HIM!" Marinette shouted at Alya. "God I look so bad. He will think that I am a horrible rider. He will know THAT I LOVE HIM AND he will not love me BACK AND I WILL always be alone and I will be a laughing stock."
After Marinette finished panicking, she leaned forward on Mystic groaning as Alya chuckled. Marinette was still looking at Alya's phone when she saw below the video: Adrien is typing.
Marinette suddenly sat up and panicked, tossing Alya's phone around before finally securing it in her hands. Then she read Adrien's response:
"Marinette you look awesome! I can't wait for you to teach me how to do that! :)"
Marinette's face started to blush again as Alya took the phone back and read the message.
"Well it looks like you and Adrien have a future date set up!" Alya grinned. "Maybe we can make it a double date. I know Nino still is not good at this yet. Let me text Adrien back and tell him!"
"Alya no!"
Alya swung Spy's reins around and started to lope off across the field. Marinette swung Mystic around and began to chase after her.
For the next half hour the two girls rode around the estate. They laughed and joked about school, their friends, and everything in between. Marinette talked about some of her new styles she was working on. Alya was jovial about how much the Ladyblog had grown and the various events Nino had been playing at.
When they were done, they rode back to the barn next to the estate and began to take everything off the horses.
"I am surprised Marinette, for someone who can always trip over a bug when carrying everything, you seem to be really good, *huff*, carrying these saddles." Alya chuckled as they both carried their saddles to the saddle rack.
"Well I guess it is one thing I can do right. Here you go" - Marinette responded, handing Alya a brush.
Both girls went back out to the pen to brush down Mystic and Spy as they were drinking water.
"So Marinette, are you going to get your designs done so you can enter them in the Caen Gala? Who knows maybe Adrien will be the lucky one to model them." -Alya asked with a wink.
"That would be so AMAZING! But Adrien already has a different event that night. He will be in Lyon from…." (Marinette began to go on talking about Adrien's schedule for an entire week and every last detail she could think of)
"Girl I bet you know his schedule better than Nathalie does. Maybe you will replace her one day."
Both girls chuckled as they finished brushing the horses.
As they started walking back to the house Alya grabbed Marinette by the shoulders and turned her around.
"Marinette, I am glad we still do this. Just hang out and visit. It seems you are getting busier with your designs. That and you seem to be more tired each day I see you. I'm worried about you. Is everything okay?"
Between trying to finish her designs and protecting Paris as Ladybug, Marinette had been running harder than usual. She did not realize her exhaustion had been showing as much as Alya had described.
"Haha you know, just busy. I have had such a creative flow lately I can't seem to stop working. I really want to impress the designers." -Marinette replied with a wince knowing she was lying to Alya. She had barely got to work on her designs from the influx of akumatized Parisians.
"Yeah I feel like I have been getting a little busier too" Alya agreed, thinking of the times she keeps getting called on as Rena Rouge.
"Girls, there is some food prepared if you are hungry." Violet, Mr. Croix's assistant, called out to the girls.
Both girls gave each other a hug and walked back to the house to eat. They were pretty worn out from riding and were ready for something to eat.
Mr. Croix's house was not small, but by no means a chateau. As the girls washed up, they noticed a lot more movement than normal. Several men and women were packing boxes and loading them up into a truck that had pulled up out front. Marinette recognized some of them as Mr. Croix staff as the Deputy Minister of Education.
As they sat down to eat, Marinette tapped on Violet's shoulder as she was directing some of the others.
"Violet what is going on here? This does not seem like the normal crazy we are used to here."
Violet looked at Marinette but did not respond at first.
"Ms. Violet? What's wrong?" Marinette asked again.
"I think it would be best if you talked to Mr. Croix. He is up in his study. But today may not be a good day."
The girls hung around for another hour before Violet took them back home. Mr. Croix never left the study, which was unusual since he was always so friendly. Both girls were worried, especially since he was a mentor to both of them as Ladybug and Rena Rouge, yet still kept everyone's secret from each other as per Master Fu's wishes.
