They bowed back to the wild kwami and then departed down the steep hill using Chat Noir's extended baton. When they reached a dirt road they walked along and heard, before they saw a vehicle approaching. It blared some upbeat songs, with a constant beat. Then they saw a rusted pickup truck. The driver was an elderly Filipino woman who stopped, and smiled at them brightly. She asked them if they were headed to some kind of festival or performance and needed a ride, but they didn't understand. Finally through some hand gestures and smiles they understood what she was indicating; For them to jump in the back.
"We need to get to Dimiao ," Chat tried to translate.
The woman smiled some more, repeating "Dimiao, yes, we are off for Dimiao."
Once they were perched on the edges of the truck bed (which was filled with fresh fruit she must have been bringing to local markets), she accelerated with a jolt. They held on a bit tighter as the truck jostled them on the bumpy roads ahead.
Once they got near the shore, the truck followed the coast. The fresh breeze off the water gave some relief to the intense heat in the bed of the pickup truck.
The lady handed a red bag of Peanut Kisses chocolates, which were shaped like the Chocolate Hills they had just fought on. They were sweet, although they did not quite capture the grander of the site. Still, they savored each bite before they melted on their fingers.
They past by a mix of more recent structures, alongside century old architecture. Some Spanish colonial buildings, like Baclyon church, with its iconic 21 meter high bell tower showed signs of restoration, while others seemed to be caving to the influence of time or left in ruins after the earthquakes.
Their driver was quiet, but smiled back at them now and then. She decided they reminded her of her grandchildren, so kept passing them sweets. She had a whole bag full of broa cookies that dissolved in their mouths. Ladybug was reminded of some of the special cookies her Dad only made for the bakery during Christmas time. She stashed some away for Tiki the next time she could transform. Chat Noir, who had never had such treats at home, chatted happily to the lady…who then fed him more.
They rumbled over the bridge of Ioya where the river fed into the sea. Small fishing and tour boats were moored in its harbor.
At Dimiao the woman stopped the truck just off the highway and they hopped out. They thanked her repeatedly for taking them so far, and paid her for the life. She solidly patted them on the shoulders, and laughed good naturedly. She told them they seemed like good kids, but they should dress better for the weather, instead of wearing their fancy tracksuits.
Chat Noir understood what she was getting at, so promised they would try to think ahead next time.
She nodded and gave them a wave, as she headed for the market.
They started hiking along the highway up into a more forested area with many tropical trees. It began to look more and more like a rainforest. A trike taxi happened to be driving by, and the young man driving knew right away about the popular twin falls up ahead. He insisted they ride the rest of the way with him. In the dense heat neither argued. He excitedly talked about many different sights to see on the island when he heard it was their first visit. He didn't recognize them, but was curious about their stories from Paris. He told with great sadness about his cousins who had recently lost everything in the recent volcanic eruption and how people were trying to find a way to survive. They remembered videos on the news of the lightning that flashed apocalyptically through the volcanic plumes of smoke. It all seemed so overwhelming.
It took about 14km before they arrived at Pahangog falls. When they paid their fare and shook hands, he offered to stick with them and help them find a place to stay, but they assured him that they would be fine.
"The people here sure are friendly," Chat said as they waved to their new friend as he drove away, "Even when they have gone through so much!"
"A will to push through anything, and still have abundant kindness to others," Ladybug agreed as they walked to the falls, hearing the sound of water grow.
They came across a sign which indicated that the falls for closed for some reason that day.
"Well that is strange," Ladybug commented.
"Our friend didn't mention they weren't open, and he seemed to know everything about the area." She touched the gate and it swung open.
"Well I guess it is open for us," Chat Noir responded, closing the gate behind them.
As they walked a little further their mouths dropped open. What would have been a breathtaking place with just one waterfall, was mirrored in a second, just as beautiful. Trees and rock framed them perfectly. It was like they had stumbled into the garden of Eden.
Ladybug got Ember out of hiding within his quill so that he could enjoy the view as well.
Ladybug and Chat Noir sat next to each other on a large rock, cheerfully dipping their toes in the pool. Ember though was intent on keeping their appointment with the Tarsier.
"What is a tarsier anyway?" asked Ladybug, reaching her slender arm through the water falling down around them. "I've never heard of one."
"Maybe it is a kind of fish or maybe a water snake," Chat Noir suggested.
A the mention of snake Ladybug yanked her foot out of the water, just to be safe.
"Maybe it is a leech," Chat Noir teased, noticing her reaction, "or a giant spider…or that tiny bug-eyes squirrel over there."
"Bug-eye squirrel indeed!" the creature chirped back angrily.
Ladybug and Chat Noir snapped to attention. They of course realized the presence of the offended tarsier…which was undoubtedly the next wild kwami they had to face.
"I think he is the cutest thing I've ever seen," Ladybug whispered behind her hand.
"I thought that was me?!" Chat Noir shot back, but jealously he thought to himself that the monkey thing was kindda cute, but it sure did have some creepy eyes.
The tarsier reacted to Chat Noir's inner thoughts with a huff. "Not as creepy as yours! Weilders these days!"
"How did you…I didn't say…" Chat Noir backpedaled.
"Be aware," Ember warned, "That the tarsier kwami has telepathic powers. He can read your thoughts."
"One of the reasons I know most humans are not to be trusted," the tarsier scoffed.
"I'm sorry!" Chat rushed.
"I know you are," the tarsier replied cockily. He than climbed slowly down the tree he had been watching from. He jumped, transforming into the kwami version of himself midway through the air.
"So you two desire to have your will power test?!" He stated eyeing them down critically. Then he smirked, "don't be nervous…no monsters will jump out of the ground here. The only monsters are those you bring with you."
"Monsters with us?" Ladybug asked uncertainly.
"The demons in your own mind…what plagues you…corrupts you…what drives you crazy." At his last point he rotated his head and looked back squarely at them.
"I try to avoid those," Chat Noir said crossing his arms.
"So what is your challenge tarsier?" Ladybug asked directly.
"This part of the exercise is to train your mind. You must resist my attemps to discover your identities."
"How can we do that if you can see our thoughts?" Ladybug asked.
"I can only see what comes to the surface. Focusing on other topics or parts of your life will make it more difficult for me to pull aside your mask…shall we begin?!"
Chat Noir stepped forward.
The tarsier smiled, and formed a globe of energy around them both, vanishing from everyone outside the beam. Ladybug was worried when they suddenly vanished, but Ember assured her they would reappear in time.
Chat faced the tarsier. "Who are you beneath the mask? The kwami asked inquisitively.
Chat focused on cats. Cat puns. Black cats. Black panthers. He thought about the transforming acoma at the zoo. He thought about each detail of that fight…how he had put his tracker on Kim, How Ladybug scratched him under the chin, (tarsier snickered a bit at this, but Chat stayed focused), he thought about hiding out at Marinette's family bakery. He thought about Marinette.
"Be careful," the tarsier cautioned, "You were doing well, but you are getting lost in your own diversion."
So Chat Noir refocused and thought of food. Kung food battle. Ladybug fighting beside him. Celestial soup. Marinette.
Animistro, Macaroons, Marinette.
Videogames, Max as the Gamer, Marinette
"You seem to be looping back to this girl Marinette…your girl friend perhaps," the tarsier pried.
"She's a friend…a good friend…she's…well she's Marinette."
"Sure," the tarsier allowed rolling his eyes.
"She is, " Chat Noir insisted getting dissuaded by the tarsier's mocking tone. "She knows me better than anyone…everyone else just sees..."
"The famous super hero Chat Noir?" the Tarsier interrupted.
"Well yess…but no…the other me…but well I guess she sees all of me." Chat stumbled.
"Heir to the disaster Agreste line, rich pretty-boy, super model, prodigies, trophy…" the tarsier crowed, listing off attributes.
Chat Noir's eyes went wide. "I failed," he mumbed, his eyes downcast.
The tarsier crouched toward his face and poked it so he looked back at him. "Is that you? Is that really who you are beneath the mask?"
Chat blinked at the tarsier, "…well…not completely."
"Getting close to your heart I nearly got through," the tarsier smiled, "but even then you were able to throw up a façade to block me from your true self. This Marinette must have greater powers than telepathy to be able to break your shell."
"So, so, I passed," Chat Noir asked eyeing him warily.
"Well done cat weilder," the kwami said, and the dome divide broke.
"You are up next pokadot lady," the tarsier said, grabbing Ladybug by the arm. He formed the barrier dome rise up around them before she could say a word to Chat Noir.
"And who are you behind the mask?" the tarsier challenged slyly.
"Nobody," Ladybug responded offhandedly.
"Everyone is somebody," the tarsier pushed.
Ladybug focused on flying gracefully in the air. She imagined the twists and turns around Paris and the aerials she would make on the roof tops. Her mind drifted to memories of running with Chat Noir or sitting together overlooking the city. She thought of their first time meting and getting tangled up in her yo yo string.
"You were not always as graceful as you are now," the kwami taunted.
Ladybug refocused. She thought of fighting acomas. Fighting Riposte, and carrying Adrien to Safety. This led her to remember fighting Gorilla. Dropping Adrien. Being unable to save him…Gorilla suddenly releasing her and jumping after Adrien…lowering him down…
"Should I leave you two alone," the tarsier raised his eyebrows and then gave her a wink. "Seems the super heroine has some ulterior motives for saving this one…even if it is just a celebrity crush."
"It is not a celebrity crush," she defended. "He is a really amazing person."
"Are you sure you really know him all that well?! Maybe it is just what you read from magazine interviews," the kwami dug.
Ladybug drilled her mind to think of fighting villains. Miraculous. Ladybug. Chat Noir. Ladybug ignored the irritating Tarsier, and focused on thinking about everything purely Ladybug.
"So is he your boyfriend or…" the tarsier kept pushing.
"No," Ladybug muttered.
"What's that?!" the tarsier asked.
"I said no, okay," Ladybug shot back.
"Wow…touchy, touchy," the tarsier grinned.
"We're friends," she said letting her voice drop to a defensive growl. Then she refocused again. Chat Noir telling goofy cat puns. Chat Noir kissing her hand. Chat Noir…
"Cant' get your mind off the man of your dreams?" the tarsier folded his hands together under his chin and blinked insolently.
"You can't fool me," Ladybug glared at the wild kwami. "You are trying to make me think of Adrien so I cave and reveal too much of myself. Well it is not going to work. I am only going to think about Chat Noir and I!"
The tarsier bust into peels of laughter. "You have fooled yourself for so long I don't think you know yourself," he said wiping his eyes. "But you certainly are willful!"
He dropped the barrier and Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at each other awkwardly as the tarsier jumped next to Ember.
The tarsier hooted, "They don't even know…oh how can you stand it! It is just so simply deliciously ironic! Oh you clueless blind mortals. I almost want to tell you just to see the look on your faces," he cackled, turning his head all the way around, and then back again.
Ember gave the tarsier a stern look. "Peace. Hold your tongue. You know there is a season for all things."
"Oh calm down you blazing ball of fury. You never were any fun," the tarsier drawled lazily. "I won't spoil it for them. Sometimes I just wonder how people miss what is so obvious."
"It might be obvious if we could read minds," Ladybug grumbled, tired of the tarsier's teasing, and feeling touchy about the tarsier probably being right.
"If there is something we should know that affects both of us, shouldn't he tell us?" Chat Noir asked curiously.
"No, no, the kwami of wisdom…joy-kill though he may be is right. You'll find out at the right time," the tarsier smiled mischievously, making Ladybug cross her arms.
The tarsier kwami deposited his quarter of the Agate stone orb into Chat Noir's hand.
"How will we know it is the right time?" Chat Noir asked.
"That's the thing…you'll just know," he chuckled, hopping off into the trees, calling back to them, "have fun kids! Enjoy your crazy square!"
"Now what does he mean by square?! The pieces become a sphere! What kind of riddle is that?!" Ladybug threw up her arms.
"Beats me," Chat Noir shrugged.
Ember just pretended to be very busy preening his fiery feathers.