MB: Yes, I know one of the chapters in the previous "Miraculaddin" is called "Secrets and Surprises". I thought it'd be interesting to switch the words up for this chapter, and it certainly fits.

Only this chapter left... before a familiar face appears. (Mwahaha!) Enjoy!

CHAPTER EIGHT:

SURPRISES AND SECRETS

"No way!" Nino exclaimed, his brown eyes tearing up from laughter. "And the posh dude fell for it?"

Alya smiled sweetly from her spot on her comfy lounge chair, fiddling with her magic pendant. "Like a dog drooling over a bone," she stated. "I was almost tempted to turn that sword of his into one, but I figured a fish would be much more amusing. Ol' Roger certainly thought so."

"A human after my own heart," Trixx mused from her spot on the dresser. Then she went back to eating the scrumptious macaroon she had plucked from the plate next to her. She hummed with her mouth full. "Mmm... buttercream. My favourite."

Alya couldn't help but eye the little kwami with gratification. After their little adventure this morning, Alya held a newfound sense of respect for Trixx. For one thing, the kwami's knowledge on magic had been most helpful when dealing with D'Argencourt. For another thing, Trixx never once asked Alya for any favours or extra conditions in their deal.

Maybe the old Trixx had been locked up in that Miraculous forever, and a new Trixx had come out.

"You should've seen it, Nino," Alya went on. "I felt like I was flying through the city. It was spectacular! And I actually performed magic!" She sighed and added, "But I never would have done it without Trixx. She was a real big help back there."

Her boyfriend glanced uneasily between the redhead and the kwami. "You're really sure about her?" he asked. It was more of a reassurance than a question.

"I can hear you, you know," Trixx muttered coolly.

Before Alya could answer Nino's question, there was a soft knock on the door.

Stiffening, Alya hissed, "Hide!" to Trixx before calling to the door, "Who is it?"

"It's Adrien! I've got news!"

The excitement in the prince's tone made Alya and Nino exchange a curious glance.

Firstly, Alya tucked her necklace into her tunic. Then, after double-checking to make sure Trixx was nowhere in sight, the former thief hustled over and pulled one of the gilded doors open.

Adrien grinned at her and Nino as he and Plagg slipped in. "Afternoon, everyone," the prince said.

Plagg hadn't gotten a few inches into the room when his keen nose picked up the cookies on Alya's dresser. "Ooh – macaroons!" he cheered before swooping over and burying himself in the plate of sweets.

Alya peered outside before closing the door. "Where's Marinette?" she asked.

"With her mother and Tikki," Adrien replied, "getting ready."

Nino blinked. "Ready for what?"

The prince's eyes gleamed with that mischievous look he always got when he knew something his best friend didn't. "Before I answer that," Adrien said, lifting a finger, "I thought you'd both be interested to know that Captain Roger's squad caught D'Argencourt in the city earlier today."

Alya fought the surge of wounded pride rising through her. I caught him, she thought bitterly, but she shoved it away and pretended to be shocked. "D'Argencourt was here? In Agreste?"

"Did they get him?" Nino asked, his surprise obviously feigned as well.

"Sadly, no," Adrien said with a sigh, "but they managed to chase him out of the city. Father's ordered the border patrol to watch out in case he comes crawling back."

Alya let out her own sigh, but there was a hint of relief in it. With any luck, that'll be the last we'll ever see of him.

"And speaking of Father," Adrien went on, his cheery demeanour returning, "he's invited the two of you to join us for dinner tonight. He's going to make a royal announcement."

This time, Alya's surprise wasn't faked.

In the past, King Gabriel only supped with Adrien and Lady Nathalie. Then, ever since Marinette became Adrien's fiancée, she spent most dinners with the royal family too. Alya and Nino usually had their food delivered to their rooms.

But now, an actual dinner with the king?

"A royal announcement?" Nino repeated with a big grin.

"And he wants us to be there?" Alya asked with a hand on her heart.

Adrien nodded. "Even Marinette's parents are coming. Master Fu too."

"Wow!" Nino turned to face Alya. "It must be something huge!"

Alya beamed, her nerves quivering. "Is it about the wedding preparations? Please tell me it is!"

Adrien chuckled, casting her that playful look once again. "Let's just say... This is a dinner you don't want to miss," he said with a wink.

Nino folded his arms at him. "Come on, Dude, what's going on? And why do you keep looking at my girl like that?"

Alya blushed. Overprotective dork.

The prince held his hands up. "I promised Father and Marinette I wouldn't spoil the surprise," he stated with a remorseful smile. "Besides, it's better you hear it directly from Father."

"Wait... Marinette knows what the surprise is?" Alya let out a playful groan. "You guys are killing me! What is it? I promise I'll pretend to be surprised!"

Sweat glistened on Adrien's brow, and then he glanced over to the large open window, where the afternoon sun was lazily sinking away.

"Oh, would you look at that!" the prince exclaimed. "It's getting late. I'd better go get ready! Come on, Plagg." He peered between Nino and Alya at the dresser. Then he frowned. "Plagg!"

Alya turned around and snickered when she saw the black-cat kwami spread out on the empty macaroon plate, colourful crumbs covering his puffed cheeks. Plagg let out a long belch, and then sat back down with a sigh.

Adrien's face scrunched up and he stomped over to the dresser. "You little pig," he grumbled as he picked up his little friend by the tail. "No more candy for you."

"Ow! Adrien, hey! What's gives?" Plagg hollered as he swung upside-down. "Come on, that was just the appetizer!"

Adrien ignored him as he strode past Alya and Nino. "Apologies," he said to the redhead. "I'll see you guys at dinner." He opened the door himself and exited the room.

Plagg's pleading sounded from the hallway. "Please don't make me miss out on Mrs. Sabine's honeycakes! Or the beef dipped in melted camembert!"

Alya and Nino waited until the door inched shut before filling the room with their unified laughter.

Then Trixx appeared right between them in a puff of smoke, shaking her head. "How that pussycat can keep eight cookies down is beyond me," she mused.

Alya looked up at the fox kwami... and then her face brightened with an idea. "Oh!"

Nino and Trixx immediately turned to her. "Oh, what?" they said in unison.

Alya smiled at them. "This is exactly the opportunity I was waiting for!" she said happily.

Her boyfriend gave her a half-smile. "What opportunity?" he asked.

The former thief cast a firm look at Trixx. "To tell the king about Trixx," she replied.

The fox kwami's pupils shrank to swirly dots. "WHAT?!" she shrieked with horror. "THE KING?! NO!" She flung herself at Alya's neck and pulled her into a desperate hug.

Alya let out a startled "GAK!" and tried to wrench the kwami off of her.

Thankfully, Nino was there to lend a hand or two. He pulled the little vixen off and stroked her bulbous head with a sly smile. "She's right, little dudette," she said. "Now that D'Argencourt's flown the coop, it's high time Alya told the truth."

Alya massaged her neck before nodding with affirmation. "Don't worry, Trixx, I'll talk to the king at dinner," she said. "I'll just... soften him up a little."

Unconvinced, Trixx gave her partner a glossy-eyed look. "Are you kidding? He hates me!" she proclaimed. "He's never gonna believe me, especially after that whole puppet show!"

Nino made a face. "She's got a point," he said to Alya.

But the redhead refused to be dissuaded. "King Gabriel trusted Marinette, didn't he? And I'm her best friend. He'll listen to me."

Trixx whimpered fearfully. Alya couldn't blame her, recalling how frightened Lila had been when the king discovered that his Chief Advisor had been conspiring to take his throne. Gabriel knew how to be intimidating and unforgiving to his enemies; how to reach down into the black pits of their souls and pull out all their secrets, revealing them for what they truly were.

Alya prayed that the "royal announcement" would be enough to leave the king in a good mood for the entire evening.

Once the sun was down and the stars had appeared, Alya heard a knock on her door.

"Be right there!" she called before returning to stare at herself in the mirror. One last dab of colour on her lips and...

"There – done!" she said before stepping away and turning to Trixx. "How do I look?"

The kwami whistled with a smile. "You clean up nice, sister," she said. "You should really wear fancy stuff more often. It makes you look more professional."

It was true. Alya couldn't help but be thankful for her new palace wardrobe – compliments of Lady Nathalie. Tonight, the former thief wore a shimmering, rose-gold top with matching pants. She even painted the same colour on her eyelids and lips. Complete with dangling, golden earrings and a star-studded choker, Alya felt like a princess. Now she could wander around the palace like she truly belonged here.

The only thing that bothered her was her pendant. Alya knew she couldn't leave it behind, especially if she wanted to use it to call Trixx to come into the dining room when the time was right. So she buried it in her pocket for safe keeping.

Taking a deep breath, Alya addressed Trixx firmly, "Now, remember what I told you: keep quiet, stay away from the windows, and whatever you do..."

Trixx rolled her eyes and mimicked Alya's voice: "Don't leave this room unless I tell you."

The redhead frowned. "Stop that. I'm serious."

Another knock came. "Come on, Alya – we're going to be late!" Marinette's cheerful voice called from behind the door.

"Coming!" Alya called, suddenly nervous.

Trixx noted that, and her mouth curled upward as she fluttered up to Alya's face. "And what about your best friend?" she asked. "Do you think she's going to take having me around much easier than Gabe will?"

Alya winced, suddenly realizing that she hadn't thought about Marinette at all. Or Adrien. Astruc help me, I'll doomed!

But she kept her confidant facade up. "No problem. I just have to make sure that Marinette doesn't see you, until I've gotten her prepared."

"Gotten me prepared for what?"

"AH!" Alya cried out and spun around just as Trixx vanished in the blink of an eye.

Lo and behold, Marinette was walking right up to her, curiosity gleaming in her bluebell eyes.

Even in her panicked state, Alya had to admit how absolutely dazzling her best friend was. Marinette wore a slim dress of bright, sparkling lavender, and her blue-black ponytails were tied back with purple ribbon. An elegant circlet of silver sat on her head, and once Marinette drew closer, Alya saw that it had purple ladybugs decorated along the band.

"Well?" Marinette enquired when her friend didn't respond. "What are you preparing me for?"

Alya's entire core rose a thousand degrees as she struggled to think of a good answer. "Uh... heh, I mean, uh... for... for the stain on the brand new outfit you gave me!" she finally claimed, pointing to a spot on her pant leg.

Nice going, idiot.

Marinette bent over as she peered at the fabric. Being a talented seamstress herself, she noticed every single detail when it came to clothes. She squinted, and then shook her head. "I don't see a stain."

Alya pretended to be confused. "Really?" she asked, peering down. Then she let out a raspberry. "It must have been a trick of the light. Well, no problem then. Come on, let's go." She then hooked her around through Marinette's and starting pulling her towards the door. "I'm starving, and I'm dying to hear what that special surprise is."

She hoped mentioning the surprise would cause Marinette to forget all about the stain-thing. But the blunette seemed to be noticing something else, for her eyebrows were raised suspiciously.

"Is something wrong?" she asked. "You're acting very... weird."

"Huh?" Alya finally caught on and shook her head. "Oh, come on, no, no, no! Everything's just fine!" Please believe it, please believe it, please believe it...

Marinette pulled away and folded her arms with a sly grin. "You aren't... hiding anything from me are you, Alya?" She leaned closer, making the redhead stumble back. "Any secrets I should know about?"

Tell her, the rational side of Alya blurted out. Just tell her and get it over with!

No, not yet. Not now. I need everyone to hear me explain.

So Alya snorted and wiped the back of her sweaty neck. "Come on, Mari," she said. "I know how serious you are about that kind of thing."

Marinette's eyes softened with something like sadness. "I have a good reason to be serious," she said, glancing down at her new shoes. "The last time I kept a secret, I almost lost Adrien." She looked back up at Alya, her resolve returning. "I'm never making that mistake again."

Alya felt guilt nibbling through her internal organs like a sandworm, and she loosed a heavy breath. "Mari... If I did have –"

"Salaam and good evening, ladies!"

Alya almost groaned, but she gave Nino a sleepy smile. Perfect timing.

This time, Nino wore all black with a hint of gold; a look that reminded Alya of a royal panther. His hair was sleeked back on the sides while the top was slightly ruffled. Scruffy and handsome at the same time, Alya thought with a fluttering feeling in her gut.

Beside him stood his princely best friend, wearing a turquoise-blue suit that made his shoulders sharper. Like Marinette, he too wore a diadem on his golden hair: his usual silver circlet with studded emeralds that matched his eyes.

Nino's eyes widened at the sight of his girlfriend. "Whoa, Alya... you look... um... you're..." he stammered, his face turning red.

Adrien came to his rescue. "Yeah, what he said." He offered his arm to his fiancée. "Shall we, Milady?"

Marinette took it with a smile. "I'm surprised you went with a different colour today, Kitty," she said.

The prince shrugged as he led her down the hall. "It was my Mother's favourite colour," he explained. "Besides, blue really brings out the green in my eyes, don't you think?"

She giggled and kissed him on the cheek. "It really does," she noted dreamily.

Alya rolled her eyes. "I am never going to understand those two," she groaned.

Nino huffed a laugh. "Tell me about it. Adrien changed his mind about what he was going to wear four times before he finally settled for that one." He sighed and then offered his own arm to her. "You ready for this?"

Alya knew what he meant, and when she took his arm, she leaned her head against his shoulder for more support. "No," she admitted, "but what choice to I have?"

"Well, at least you won't do it alone," Nino said with a confident wink.

Alya hummed as they walked on. "My hero," she said.

Nino snorted, but his smile remained.