The early next day Ember woke them up. They first were startled by the flaming bird in front of them blinding him with his bright fire. They threw the blanket over their heads in protest to his wake up call, and ended up even more surprised ending up nose to nose with each other.
"Morning M'lady," Chat said dreamily.
"Good…day, G'day!" Ladybug squeaked back. Then she shot her hands to her face, but her mask was still there. Then she flew out of the blanket.
"I said, don't you think we should get an early start?" Ember repeated.
"Yes, I should go, I mean we should, I mean I'm going to find breakfast!"
"Here let me help you," Chat said watching her flail around with the zipper of the tent.
"No, no, you stay, I'll be back, I just gotta…" She fumbled again with the zipper and finally flew head first out of the tent when it gave way. She got up walking off like nothing had happened.
"What was that about?" Ember asked (he was not used to being confused).
Chat shrugged.
Ladybug marched to the bathroom, locked the door, and looked in the mirror. Calling, "Tiki, spots off," she dropped her transformation.
"Ahhh Tiki!" Marinette whispered through clenched teeth. "I can't believe I did that! After all this time pushing Chat away, then I snuggle up with him on our first night away together!"
Tiki smiled to herself, "don't worry Marinette. It was a hard day, and it would have been a pretty cold night. Plus…" she said with a mischievous look on her little kwami face, "it didn't seem like Chat Noir minded."
"Aahha, that is the problem," Marinette groaned.
"Do you wish you hadn't?" Tiki inquired.
"Well, no, it was great to have him there. But what if it makes stuff weird between us?!"
"I think that is up to you," Tiki advised. "Just relax and start the day."
Marinette nodded. "First we have to get some food, especially for you kwamis. You and Plagg must be exhausted with such long stretches of transformations."
"It is a test of endurance," Tiki admitted, "But Plagg and I have done this many times before."
"I don't suppose you could tell me what comes next?" Marinette asked hopefully.
"Each miraculous trial is a little different each time, but the lessons are the same…ones you must discover for yourself."
"Alright, well let's find out what they have here for breakfast before any more discoveries," Marrinette sighed.
After the kwamis had been recharged (Plagg enjoyed his Vegemite with melted cheese on toast, and only briefly scolded Adrien for not bringing extra Camembert. While Tiki devoured almost the whole bag of Tim Tam cookies Marinette had purchased from the small shop at the caravan tourist park). They were able to transform and meet up just outside the entrance. Ladybug had quickly washed their 'disguises," and tried to get Chat's attention as he was just standing in the open. He turned around and beamed at her.
"You are going to be seen you crazy cat," she hissed.
"Hey Ladybug," he called, "I've got great news!"
"Get your disguise on quick, and get over here," she whisper-shouted back, motioning at him erratically.
"What? I can't hear you!" He called back seemingly oblivious.
Ladybug saw a tall man walking from the cabins towards them, and she ducked down. Chat however walked right up to the man, and shook his hand. Creeping out confused Ladybug joined them.
"Ladybug, this is Jack Williams. He is a local tour guide here in Tom Price. I met him this morning, and turns out he is a huge Ladybug and Chat Noir fan."
"Well, actually my daughter is the fan," Jack quickly corrected, shaking Ladybug's arm till it felt like jelly.
"That's my good news," Chat continued. "He said he had to go pick up a group from Dales Gorge campground in the Karijini National park, and he would let us catch a ride."
"Chat that's amazing!" Ladybug smiled, "Thank you Mr. Williams!"
"Please call me Jack, and the pleasure is mine. Never thought I'd see the day when the two super heroes of Paris would end up in the middle of WA! DO you mind if I get a picture with you both? You know, to show my daughter?" He added.
Ladybug and Chat grinned on either side of their driver as he took a couple selfies.
A small white shuttle van was waiting for them at the gate. The comfortable seats and large windows seemed like luxury. In just over an hour of driving they had to bid goodbye to Jack, and hop out to continue on their own trek. Chat handed their jeep keys to him on the way out, and told him he could keep the jeep on Nameless, if he was interested in getting it going.
"I love a project!" Jack cheered, thanking them for the jeep. "I will call it the 'Miraculous Mobile' and give tours in the 4x4 jeep of Chat Noir and Ladybug!" Even as he drove away they could hear him making plans to himself.
Ladybug and Chat hiked again. They were both glad Ember had suggested an early start. There were no other hikers yet, and even now the temperature was starting to increase. By the time they reached the crest of the gorge the dry heat was intense. The gorges had massive walls of layered red stone going straight down to what seemed to be a stream far below.
Ladybug securely latched her yo yo to the top, and she and Chat repelled down the sheer drop. They had never seen anything like this place. The walls around them drew a path down the center where little patches of trees and foliage speckled the dramatic gorge walls. A delicate web of an orb weaver spider was spun in the trees above. Some small birds flitted to and fro from the crevices' cared in the rock. Ember's keep eyes even picked up the movement of some more rock wallabies observing them from their watch towers.
The flow of water led to a bright turquoise pool that was fed by a series of delicate waterfalls that cascaded down, interrupting the glass-like surface of the pool. Chat Noir and Ladybug couldn't resist. They ran off the edge, and leapt into the cool pool. They laughed, and splashed each other, letting the memory of the heat, exhaustion, and fear they had experienced wash away with red dust. Ladybug perched under the waterfall, enjoying the tranquil sound of their oasis, while Chat paddled around happily.
"Do you think we could just stay here forever? It is gorgeous!" She sighed wistfully.
Chat looked up at her lounging under a waterfall, with the sun reflecting off each drop. "Absolutely gorgeous," he murmured.
Their eyes locked, and maybe one of them was about to say something when Ember interrupted.
"We are not far now," Ember urged.
"Yes, I suppose we should go," Ladybug sighed. "After all we don't know how long this test of the kwamis is going to take and a friend is expecting me later tonight. Already this had been longer than I expected."
They slowly swam to the edge of the pool, soaking up every last minute.
Then they were led by Ember down a narrow trail following the water. I some parts they had to press their arms and legs wide to scale the layers of rock. In other spots they slid their backs cautiously along the serrated walls.
They ducked under a ledge and reached a pool of echoes. The walls seemed to careen over the pool, enclosing it in a tight embrace. Even though it was still the afternoon, the sun was nearly blocked by the red rocks. Water fell from above, washing down into the greenish limpid pool. Every drop sent a ripple across the surface. Every sound repeated, until it faded into quiet whispers.
This pool had a different feel from the first. It felt more closed off from the world somehow. Like they had stumbled upon something sacred that should not be disturbed.
"You need to find the rock that has the miracle design…the one to match the oyster shell. This will be the entrance to the council room of the wild kwamis," Ember instructed.
Ladybug pulled out the oyster, and studied the design. She and Chat bent their heads over, scanning each rock around the pool. Chat even used his baton to scale the walls above. Painstakingly they each checked underneath the stones, and retraced their steps thinking they must have missed it. They searched and searched, but had not found a single mark that might have been part of the pattern.
Chat kicked a rock into the pool, which sent out circle radiating from its impact. Ladybug paused, watching the ripples, and then dove straight into the pool.
"Ladybug!" Chat hollered in surprise. He watched, but she didn't re-emerge. Tossing everything aside he dove in after her. He swam down frantically, but could not see her.
Then it seemed like out of nowhere a hand grabbed his, making him shout in surprise (but all that came out was a stream of bubbles). He turned to find himself face to face with Ladybug. She was peering out of a narrow crevice beneath the pool, and pulled him through. They paddled through this short channel and rose in a clearing to resurface again. They popped up gasping for breath in a different pool than before. This pool was pitch black, and at first they could not see a thing. It was only the sound of echoes that became more pronounced in this hidden pool.
They treaded water, and noticed underneath them the inky blackness was replaced by a red flare rising up steadily. It grew larger and brighter, making the water look red. Ember emerged from the light, as he himself was the source. His arrival lit up the surroundings of the pool. His light flickered along the inside of the cave they had stumbled upon. The impenetrable walls surrounded the pool in a dome, providing a pocket of air. Along the opposite side there was a narrow beach of sand. They dragged themselves onto this path of sand, and looked around in wonder.
It was Chat's night vision that first picked up some discrepancies on the rock. There were cave paintings along the beach creating a pattern that rose up to the ceiling. Geometric and organic shapes intertwined, interrupted by the scenes crated. There were some paintings that resembled humans, but most of the paintings showed animals. They followed the designs till they found a large hieroglyph depicted a red kangaroo. Ladybug raised the oyster, and Ember perched on her shoulder. The kangaroo's eye was the same as the shell…the same as the miracle box. Chat tentatively pressed the center, and they heard a thud as the wall grinded wearily open to reveal a doorway deeper in. As soon as the seal was broken they could hear the distinct echo of different voices bouncing around the tunnel.
Ember flew before them, and eventually they were amazing to spot a circular 'room' in the cave with a circular slab (table) covered by a spiral of opal in the middle. The room was dancing with flickering light bouncing off pale crystals embedded in the wall. Floating around the table in the dim light they could make out different kwamis; Emu, Dingo, Crocodile, Scorpion fish, Echidna, and Kangaroo.
"Where is the Koala? She should be here by now!" The emu was complaining.
"She is still helping with the recovering in Illawarra after the devastating fires," the dingo replied. "The water dragon is helping her too this time."
"Too much has been lost," the croc mourned. "It will take generations to heal, and some creatures may be lost forever."
"This land has a strength, and so does its people. I have witness the relentless spirit that will bring them together to rebuild," the scorpion fish proudly declared.
"Speaking of which, I think I hear our young wielders. They have finally arrived," the kangaroo said turning towards Ladybug and Chat Noir who approached the council of kwamis from the far end of the cavern lit only by Ember, flying over ladybug's shoulder.
"Kwamis of Australia, we have come to complete the challenge of perseverance. We are ready to begin," Chat greeted, once they reached the semi circle of spirits.
"Should we give you the pearl to prove we are ready for the test?" Ladybug asked uncertainly.
"No, that is where humans have it wrong. The magic is not in what was created, it is in WHO created it, " the kangaroo said solemnly. "The magic is not the pearl, but the oyster."
The kangaroo kwami took the oyster from Ladybugs hands gently, and the oyster opened up revealing the most beautiful pearl they had ever seen.
"Although the outcome is indeed beautiful, it all started with a challenge, a nuisance, a pain, a irritation. It started with a single grain of sand. The oyster coated this sand, and polished it. Taking this 'problem,' and creating something amazing."
You did well young oysters," the kangaroo smiled at Ladybug and Chat. "Rather than being torn apart or give up, you grew closer and encouraged each other. You overcame obstacles that were not easy, but you shaped a partnership that is beautiful."
"Wait, how did you know about the problems we had getting here" Chat questioned.
"It was I who stung your hand," the scorpion fish floated forward, "which I must say, I am truly sorry for," the scorpion fish apologized. He then took Ladybug by the hand and waved his fin over the sting. The residual pain was erased. Ladybug looked at him with shock.
"Unlike your miraculous bound kwamis, we wild kwamis are able to take the shape and size of the creature we resemble," the scorpion fish explained.
"I may have caused a hole in your tire," the emu added (a little more proudly than might have been necessary).
"I was the one that took your food," the dingo admitted.
"The broken engine wires were on me," the porcupine-like creature, called echidna chuckled, "but wasn't it funny when you tripped over me and ended up head over tail…"
"Ehhem," the kangaroo cleared his throat, and the echidna rolled his beady little eyes, and straightened his bristly hairs with a "humph."
There was a pause and the council looked over at the salt water crocodile kwami who was crossing his arms. They waited for him.
"What?" he burst annoyed, "I'm not about to apologize for doing my job. If you ask me it was too easy was it is. Mere inconveniences. Not a true test of grit."
"We are the guardians of the trial, not barriers to it," the kangaroo reprimanded him.
"Excuse me, but we have face difficulties and grief…not just here these past couple days, but in our lives, in our battles against Hawkmoth (Chat's voice broke a bit as he said 'Hawkmoth,' so he cleared his throat and continued). The most difficult things are not quickly taken care of. They are the things you have to do every single day to make the most out of a raw deal in life. To find a way to continue when it seems like your world has crashed in around you."
Ladybug was startled by Chat's outburst that had been so full of passion and pain. All she could do was lean against him, and slip her arm into his. Chat did not look down at her, but tilted his head against hers.
"Not a sprint, but marathon," the emu agreed.
"Fighting to move forward, even when the fight is unfair," the dingo added.
"Can't you feel it," the scorpion fish challenged the saltwater croc, "these two have endured much, and have not given up."
"They are still young," he growled, "there are hardships ahead they cannot even comprehend. What will drive them forward then?"
"Love," a tiny bilby kwami said breaking the silence between them.
Ladybug and Chat noir had not even noticed the bilby kwami, smaller than all the rest. But she stepped into the light boldly, and turned back to the council. "Love is their unwavering driving force. It will help them endure."
The wild kwamis were silent and exchanged nods with each other. They surveyed the two before them, and finally even the crocodile kwami nodded.
"Your journey here was the test," the kangaroo kwami said. "You have proven you have the perseverance to wield a miraculous. We give you our blessing. He handed the oyster back to them and as they both reached out, it dissolved with a flash, into energy. It traveled up their finger tips, and wove its way throughout their bodies.
Ladybug and Chat Noir looked up, and realized the cavern was empty. All the wild kwamis had vanished, but Ladybug noticed a bilby scampering away. It only paused a moment to looked back at her. She would have sworn the little creature gave her a wink, before vanishing into the darkness.