I can't believe how long this story has gotten!
Chapter 48: Princess Fragrance, Part 2
Marinette was so not ready for this one.
She and Chat Noir had both made pretty stupid mistakes during their time as superheroes, but losing Tikki had to be at the top of her list. And now she had to figure out how to get the kwami back from Chloe again, before she could join Chat Noir.
Marinette watched Chloe's limo pull away from the school, trying to come up with a strategy to getting into Chloe's room. With luck not on her side, she didn't think her strategy last time would work. What had the butler told her - Chloe liked sushi?
Well, fine, then sushi she'd get.
Half running, half walking, Marinette made her way to the closest sushi restaurant. She couldn't help but scowl when she saw the line. It looked like she'd be stuck for a while.
Her mind wandered to other solutions. Theoretically, as the miraculous wielder, she could recall Tikki to her by force - except that could rouse suspicion from Chloe, and Tikki was so sick Marinette didn't want to force her to use any more magic than necessary.
Now, if she had another Miraculous to use...
Marinette shook the thought out of her head. With all the bad luck, it was dangerous to bring another Miraculous into play. Besides, she had only begun to learn about the other Miraculous - could she use them?
Marinette only wished she had started with a better plan. She and Chat Noir had come up with one for his side of things - taking care of Prince Ali until Ladybug could show up. But she hadn't given much thought into her side, on how she was to retrieve Tikki.
The customer at the front of the line was having a heated argument with the cashier. Marinette watched the manager come out to handle the situation, her hopes on a fast solution beginning to fade.
Chat Noir launched himself through the window, landing next to where the mayor and prince were setting up.
"Chat Noir?" The mayor asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard the prince was in town," Chat Noir replied. "I was thinking that you could use a little extra help with his protection."
"The prince's protection has already been arranged," the prince's assistant said.
Chat Noir shook his head. "We received a tip that an akuma might be targeting Prince Ali. Ladybug's investigating further, but she sent me ahead."
"Very well," the mayor agreed. "Perhaps we should cancel the event entirely."
"Nonsense," the assistant reply. "The prince's schedule is set. There is no need to change it."
"Don't worry," Chat Noir said. "I'll be right here if anything happens."
Just as Marinette finally reached the front of the line, the registers broke.
Marinette sighed. "It's fine. It's not your fault. I'll just have to figure something else out."
The cashier sighed in relief.
As Marinette walked out, she brought her phone out to check on the status of Prince Ali. The press conference had already started, meaning that Tikki has already been given to Prince Ali.
Princess Fragrance was due any second, and Marinette still couldn't transform.
There had to be quicker way. Maybe she could go back to the pizza box from the trash, or -
Oh, duh. She could use sushi trash instead.
Marinette dug out a few empty containers from the trash, cleaned them up, and headed for the hotel.
Chat Noir kept half his attention on Prince Ali's jacket during the press conference.
He had recognized the kwami instantly, when Chloe had given it to Prince Ali, but he had no way of getting the kwami from the prince. Yet.
Something moved in the corner of his eye, and Chat Noir turned to see a shape slip into the back of the room. He didn't see a face, but he had a feeling it was Marinette.
The figure ducked behind the DJ platform, waiting for a chance. Chat Noir turned his attention back to the prince, an idea forming in his head.
In the distance, a sing-song voice could be heard. "Oh prince!"
"Akuma," Chat Noir called. "Everybody out!"
He reached the prince just as the press exited the room.
"I have a plan," Chat Noir said. "And I promise it's safe. Take your jacket off and leave it here, we don't want it getting caught somewhere."
Prince Ali nodded, taking off his jacket and leaving it on the ground. Chat Noir opened the window, and extended his baton so that it reached the ground.
"You three first," he told the two adults and Chloe. "I'll carry the prince down."
Chloe and the mayor reached the ground without problem, and the assistant was just getting on, when Princess Fragrance and her servants burst into the room.
"Oh prince!" She called, aiming her perfume gun.
"Go! I've got the prince!" Chat Noir called. The assistant nodded.
Princess Fragrance fired, but the burst of perfume was interrupted with a vacuum.
"What- who?" Princess Fragrance stuttered.
Chat Noir got a glimpse of the figure - a pink blanket thrown over her regular clothes, and a helmet concealing her face - before picking Prince Ali up and lifting him onto his back.
"Ready?" Chat Noir asked. Prince Ali nodded.
Chat Noir ducked out the window, collapsing his baton as he sped to the ground.
When he hit the ground, Chat Noir let Prince Ali off of his back and reached into his pockets. He brought out a series of clothespins.
"Good thing I came prepared," Chat Noir commented. He handed one to each civilian, and then plugged his own noise with one. "Now, let's get out of here."
Princess Fragrance blasted Marinette with perfume before turning her attention back to the prince.
"Where did he go?" She yelped. Completely ignoring the open window, she headed for the door on the other side of the room.
Marinette didn't move until Princess Fragrance and servants disappeared. She pushed herself up, taking off her helmet and shaking her pigtails loose. The clothespin on her nose had stayed secure, which was why she wasn't a mindless servant right now.
Once she was up and dehelmeted, Marinette rushed to where Prince Ali had left his jacket. Thankfully, Tikki was still tucked into the jacket pocket.
"Smart kitty," Marinette muttered as she pulled the kwami out. "Tikki, are you alright?"
Tikki nodded. "That was a really smart thing to do, with the vacuum."
"It worked last time," Marinette replied. "Alright, let's get you some help."
Just so you all know - school's starting back tomorrow, so my updates may become a little unpredictable.