CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

LOVE AND LIES

Trixx pretended to be sleeping when Alya finally came back to her chambers late into the night, happy as a kitten.

When the kwami awoke the next morning, she pretended to sleep in while Alya got up, got ready, and headed back out – ready to take on the day.

Trixx wished she had some of the redhead's cheery confidence right about now.

Alya didn't return for a long while. Trixx took it as a blessing. It gave her more time to try and come up with something to say.

She paced back and forth in the hallway outside, hovering from wall to wall, her paws crossed behind her. Her ears and tail were sagging.

The idea was simple. All Trixx had to do was bring it up to the humans.

So why was it so hard for her?

Because you're a cowardly, lying trickster – that's why, the kwami thought bitterly. But she knew that if she was going to be a cowardly, lying trickster, it might as well be for a good cause.

Assuming you defined a "good cause" as sacrificing one girl to save another. It was better than the alternative: saving nobody at all.

Get your head out of the sand, Trixx, the kwami scolded. You're no hero. You're not saving anybody. You're just... lightening the load.

The little vixen took a deep breath and started at the beginning. "Alya..." She cleared her throat. "Al... I was just thinking... maybe it's time you –"

Something down the hall made her ears twitch, and Trixx paused to listen.

"Focus... focus... focus..."

Trixx raised an eyebrow. That sounded like Wayzz.

Curious, the fox kwami flew down the hall until she came up to a wall from which the voice was coming from. Trixx fazed right through it.

She was now inside a small room of pink marble orbited by white pillars. One of the walls was open to the world outside, letting in the warm sunshine and fresh air. You could even hear the birds singing. In the centre of the room was a pool table.

Wayzz was taking his sweet time with the giant cue-ball, moving from one angle to another while repeating "Focus" to himself. Tikki and Plagg were leaning on the other side of the table, the former tapping the end of her tiny stick with boredom, and the latter letting out a big, cat-like yawn.

Trixx blinked at the scene. Three of the most powerful beings in the cosmos... and they're playing pool?

Well... maybe they know where Alya's gone off to. The sooner I get this over with... Trixx just sighed and flew towards the other kwamis.

At that moment, however, Wayzz finally decided to take his shot. "I call this my "Turtle Slam"!" he announced as he lined himself up to the giant cue-ball... and fired.

It shouldn't have flown so far, but it did.

Tikki and Plagg shrieked and dove for cover.

Trixx, unfortunately, didn't see it coming in time.

The fox's cry barely started before she took the cue-ball right in the mouth and went flying back.

POOF! A baseball glove appeared out of nowhere and caught Trixx before she hit the floor.

"Oh, dear – so sorry!" Wayzz called out. "Earl grey tea really does do wonders for the muscles."

Trixx groaned as Tikki's glove carried her over to the table. She tried to offer the turtle kwami a snide comment, but the ball was wedged into her mouth so far she couldn't get a word out.

Tikki flew over and tried to pull the ball out, but all she succeeded in doing was hurting Trixx even more.

"Nope," Tikki stated. "Lodged in tight. We're going to need to operate."

She clapped her hands, and she was wearing a surgeon's dress and mask, along with a binocular headset. "Nurse Tikki ready to perform cue-ball-ectomy!" She turned to Plagg. "Doctor!"

There was another flash of light, and Plagg was wearing the exact same thing. His green-eyes widened for a moment before they narrowed and he ripped his mask off. "No way," he said with a scowl. "I'm not touching anything in Long-Tail's mouth. I don't know where it's been."

Wayzz frowned at him gently. "Plagg," he said, ""Long-Tail" is our friend now."

Plagg scoffed at that and turned away with folded arms.

Tikki leaned over to him, smirking. "I'll let you do the Heimlich," she sang.

Heimlich? Trixx thought.

Plagg's pupils fanned out, and Trixx swore she heard something like purring emitting from the black-cat kwami. This is gonna hurt.

Plagg spun around with a fanged grin. "Okay," he said as he leapt into the air.

He landed right on top of Trixx's chest – hard.

Trixx felt all the air in her lungs bulging upward, until at last the cue-ball exploded from her mouth and landed back on the green mat of the pool table.

Coughing, the fox kwami sagged forward as Wayzz helped her up. Then Trixx glared at her would-be rescuer. "Thanks, Pog," she croaked.

"It's Plagg," Tikki whispered.

"Whatever."

Tikki beamed and pulled all four kwamis into a group hug. "Aw, isn't this great?" she said. "Four free kwamis living in a palace with our friends – all one big happy family now!"

Something heavy appeared suddenly in Trixx's chest, and she let out a tiny laugh. "Yeah, sure... family." The word tasted funny on her tongue. She hoped it was just the taste of chalk from the cue-ball.

Plagg seemed to be squinting at her, as though he was trying to read her thoughts. It made Trixx more uncomfortable than ever.

So she gently pulled away from the group and said weakly, "Say, uh... have either of you guys seen Al? I need to talk to her."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah! She's in Adrien's room with Marinette and Nino," Tikki replied.

Marinette too? Gee, this is my lucky day.

Trixx forced a smile and said, "Cool. I'll... catch you guys later." With that, she hovered slowly to the door.

"All right, Tikki – your shot!" Wayzz called from behind.

Trixx couldn't help but look back when she reached the threshold. The ladybug kwami was now lining herself up.

Plagg looked pretty smug. "Don't feel bad if you miss, Sugarcube," he said to her. "Pool's a man's game so, being a girl, you'll be at a slight disad-"

WHACK!

The cue-ball hit the triangle of balls so hard, they all bounced all over the table before sinking to all the holes. Within a second, the only ball left on the table was the cue-ball.

Now Tikki was the one looking smug. Blowing on the end of her stick, she smiled at her friend and said, "You were saying, Stinkysock?"

Plagg's mouth fell open, and he steamed with reddening cheeks. "Beginner's luck!" he barked.

Tikki let out a laugh like jiggling bells.

Even Wayzz was chuckling. "Well, she is the Spirit of Good Fortune," he noted.

That only made Plagg stew even more, and he began pulling at his whiskers.

Trixx couldn't help but smile, but it didn't last.

A happy family that plays pool together, she thought with a sagging feeling. Go figure.

What did it matter? Come evening, it wouldn't last.

Trixx flew back down the hall, ashamed of herself. She felt like rat in a palace full of mice. Oh, sure, they welcomed her like she was one of their own, but deep down she was still a rat at heart: plotting and scheming her way to the top. A couple days ago, Trixx wouldn't have had any qualms doing something like that. But ever since she met Alya; after all they had been through together...

Trixx shook her head. She couldn't afford to think like that right now. She was doing this for Alya. Surely that was enough for her?

It wasn't long before Trixx reached the door to the prince's chambers. It was propped open.

"... and besides, I would only use my magic to trick the bad guys," Alya was saying. "I would never go so low as to force them to do whatever I wanted."

"That's good to know," Adrien said. "But just in case, I'll try not to get on your bad side from now on."

Someone was giggling: Marinette. "You're worried on getting on her bad side?" she asked slyly. "What if one day I feel like making you act like a real cat? I'll just ask Alya."

Nino burst out cackling, and Adrien was whining, "Hey!"

There was more laughing, and the sound of it almost alleviated the tension inside Trixx.

Poking her head past the threshold, she saw the four humans lounging about the prince's long couch. Alya was seated on one end, Marinette on the other. Adrien was kneeling beside his fiancée with his elbow on one of the armrests. Nino was standing just behind Alya, leaning on the edge.

All smiles and laughs... and they had no idea it would be their last time together. At least, as a foursome.

Trixx fought back the rising, sore bulge in her throat. But before she could fly in and announce her presence, Alya was speaking again.

"So... you two are really okay with Trixx being here?" she asked the royal couple earnestly.

Marinette and Adrien exchanged a glance that was apparently some kind of lovers' code.

Then the prince smiled at Alya with kind eyes. "If you think this is the way to go," he said, "then I'll stand by you."

Marinette reached over and took her best friend's hand. "So will I," she affirmed. "This isn't easy for me to say, but... I was wrong about Trixx. She can be a real softy once you get to know her."

Trixx looked away, her violet eyes turning sad and regretful. She actually said that. I can't believe she actually said that!

Then the kwami heard Alya say, "I know, right? I guess... all she really needed was a true friend to show her the right path. And I'm honoured to be that friend for her."

Now Trixx wanted to scream and claw her fur off, but all she could muster was a quiet, self-loathing groan.

I can't do this! I just can't!

So what does she do? She tries to slip past the door unnoticed.

Unfortunately, Nino's eyesight was really good. "Trixx?" he called.

The kwami stiffened. Damn.

But she hid all that pain behind her smile as she turned towards the group. "Oh, hey, guys!" she announced casually. She cleared her throat and flew over to sit on top of the backrest of the couch. "Say, Al... I was just thinking. Maybe it's time you patch things up with the king."

Alya looked away sheepishly, tracing her finger along the upholstery. "Oh, I don't know... He seemed a little tense when he left the dining hall last night."

"Hey, I've seen him angrier – believe me," Adrien pointed out. "Last night was nothing. All you have to do is... butter him up."

Trixx nodded eagerly. "Yeah!" she said, looking back at Alya. "You should do something with him that'll get him on his good side." She rubbed the back of her neck. "He might enjoy a... nice scenic trip outside the city?"

Adrien's green eyes widened with excitement. "That's a great idea, Trixx!" he exclaimed. "Father did lots of travelling when he was younger, and he kept saying the best places to visit are the jungles and waterfalls. That'll definitely help him cool off."

Alya blinked at the prince. "You want me to take the King of Agreste on a trip to a desert jungle... alone?" she asked nervously.

Marinette giggled. "Don't worry. I'll tag along for moral support. I'll even bring Tikki! She was a big hit with the king."

Trixx's mouth fell open in horror, and she waved her paws frantically. "No, no!"

Everyone looked at her confusedly.

Trixx blinked, and flashed another smile. "I mean, uh..." She padded closer to Alya. "No offence, but Tikki's too flashy. She talks too much, and too loudly. You'll never get a word in."

Marinette's mouth curled in thought. "Hmm... Good point," she admitted. "She does get a little over-excited."

Nino nodded and placed a hand on Alya's shoulder. "I agree," he said to her. "You need some quiet time with the old man. Let him get to know you better."

Alya blushed and smiled half-heartedly. "Well... I suppose it couldn't hurt to try. But I'd still appreciate it if Mari came too."

Trixx nodded, now realizing how easy this was. Too easy. "Yeah, Marinette should definitely go," she said weakly, "and I..." She sighed and dipped her head down. "I can take you to the perfect spot."

"Great!" Adrien said, rising to his feet. "I'll let my father know." He kissed Marinette's cheek and began heading for the door... but then he stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot." He looked back at Trixx and smiled at her. "Thank you, Trixx, for everything you've done. I'm glad you're one of us now."

Trixx tried to smile back, but it was a great effort.

One of us now.

They all watched the prince leave before Alya and Marinette got up and stretched.

"Well, looks like we'd better get ready," the blunette said. "Wouldn't want to be late for our outing with the king."

Alya rolled her eyes. "Yippee," she cheered sarcastically.

Nino wrapped his arm around her as he followed the girls out. "Trust me, hon – it'll be great," he said.

Trixx was the only one who didn't get up. She watched guiltily as the three humans approached the threshold. All the while, she could hear their words echoing inside the empty hole in her heart:

All one big happy family now!

I was wrong about Trixx.

All she needed was a true friend...

I'm glad you're one of us now.

Finally, Trixx couldn't take it anymore. "Wait a second!" she called out, reaching for the group desperately.

Alya was the first to turn around. "Yes, Trixx?" she asked curiously.

The kwami opened her mouth... and then stopped.

Her eyes shot up to the green curtains hanging above the doorway. Her heart stopped beating as two enormous, slender eyes stared down at the little vixen. They narrowed threateningly, the yellow irises burning like melted gold.

Trixx swallowed the words she was about to say... and she waved Alya off. "I'll... I'll be along in a minute," she blurted out calmly.

Alya, Marinette, and Nino – all of them utterly oblivious to the clandestine threat – looked at one another and shrugged. Then the blunette and the dark-skinned boy exited the room. Alya paused to look back at Trixx one last time, her amber eyes bearing a trace of concern, before following her human friends out.

Trixx snapped around, and that's when she gave herself to her shame. It made her eyes burn with hot tears.

Then, she felt a thin, cold hand stroking her head, making the kwami's fur stand on end.

"Excellent," Volpina whispered smoothly, the words coming out like liquid metal being poured into its mold.

For once in her life, Trixx ignored the compliment.