Through the portal they arrived on a gorgeous beach, with the sun high. Wave after wave would hit the shore with full force, and dissipate into frothy foam. The water did not have time to rest along the shore. It was swiftly dragged back out to the wide expanse of ocean.
"Now if only we can track down where Lootwits's kwami, Pele has ended up this time," Ember said determinedly.
"She became a wild kwami again, but she still kept her name?" Ladybug questioned.
"When Plagg and the original weilder came to these islands at the beginning of all things, she was one of the first kwamis to accept a miraculous. She wanted to channel her overwhelming power. When her miraculous was shattered, and she was ripped from Lootwit against her will, she resisted. Part of her was left in the mountain ranges of Washington with Lootwit. Part of Lootwit remained joined to her. She was enraged at the ape kwami for taking the control away from her. Ever since, she roams the earth to her mountain fortress' and tremors, and eruptions follow in her wake. It is here though, that she will often return to try to once again attempt to channel her creative energy. She still gets frustrated though at her inability to always get things just the way she wanted," Ember told them.
"If this Pele is so nomadic, what makes you think she's back here?" Chat inquired, digging a toe into the soft sand.
"There is one kwami that would know if she is back on the island. We'll have to paddle out to meet with him though," Ember said scanning the beach. "Last time I brought weilders there were carved canoes to borrow from fishermen."
They all looked down the stretch of beach, but after a couple hundred years a lot must have changed.
"I might have an idea!" Chat Noir perked up, catching sight of a few people at the far end. Without another word he raced off in their direction. He quickly returned with a couple surfboards under his arm.
"That's no canoe," Ember replied indignantly.
"No, it's better!" Chat Noir passed a board triumphantly to Ladybug. "I've always wanted to try surfing, but was never allowed. A couple surfers down there said they'd rent out their boards for a couple hours, as long as they got our autographs on the boards afterward," Chat winked at Ladybug.
"Sounds fun. I'm up for a challenge!" Ladybug said putting the board under her arm. "I'm just glad I have enhanced balance…my civilian self wouldn't stand a chance staying on a board."
"I suppose it might work. I'd rather take a canoe, but as long as you two keep a close eye on the water, it seems this is what we have," Ember allowed apprehensively.
Ladybug and Chat Noir trotted into the water excitedly. Once they waded about waist deep, they mounted their boards, and laid face down, stretched out on top. They used their arms to paddle their way further out. Paddling harder to crest each wave before it broke.
The massive swells were freckled with white water. The sheer power of the waves could not be denied. The water drove down in a tubed arch, and crashed in on itself.
They kept paddling further out into the azure water. Ladybug hit a wave a bit late and got a noseful of water, making her sputter. Chat Noir laughed, getting caught off guard by the next rouge wave that smacked him in the back of his throat. Then it was Ladybug's turn to giggle back at him, pulling ahead.
"Hold up!" Ember instructed once they reached the stiller water, beyond the crashing surf. They both sat up, straddling their boards, dangling their legs over each side.
"Get your legs up!" Ember screeched. "I've got to make sure it's him!"
"What kind of kwami creature are we looking for anyway?" Ladybug asked curiously.
Just as she spoke a triangular fin slipped itself stealthily out of the water. Both of the weilders pulled their legs in quickly. There was no doubt what was in the water with them.
"Contrary to popular belief, it is highly rare for a shark to actually attack a human," Ember said, reading their minds, "But sometimes they are curious if you might be a seal or some other snack. Unfortunately taking a bite to decide."
"Yeah, I don't think I want to take that chance," Ladybug said tucking her feet tighter underneath herself.
The fin rose again, this time closer.
Chat Noir tensed, and pulled his baton off the small of his back.
"Oh Ka-moho-ali'I stop teasing them," Ember called out exasperatedly.
The large shark surfaced, and rolled to one side revealing a wide set of teeth in an unnerving lopsided smile. "Aww come on Phoenix, just having a bit of fun!"
Chat Noir let out his breath, but kept a hold on his baton. "So you are the kwami we were looking for," he asked.
"I imagine I'm the one who knows were the one you seek might be," the shark grinned. "It's really Pele you want right?!"
"But how did you….?!" Ladybug asked surprised.
"My dear Pele…" the shark rolled his eyes, "I'm afraid she is always riling up people (and kwamis too for that matter). It is always extremes with her. Hot or cold. Love or hate. Silent or explosive. Both creator and destroyer. There are always those trying to pin her down. Seeing two young weilders out here…well I don't have to be the kwami of wisdom to put two and two together."
The shark flipped back into the water and leapt back out in his kwami form.
"So you do know where she is?" Ember pushed.
"She has been irritable and restless again lately, but she is back sulking in Halema'uma'u, at the summit caldera of Kilauea on the Big Island," the shark nodded.
"She is not on Maui?" Ladybug asked.
"After the savage battle with our sister, Namaka, she has kept her visits on Namaka's territory brief to say the least," the shark kwami replied.
"And Namaka is…?" Chat Noir lead.
"The Calypso of the Sea…Sedna to the Northern Inuit of Canada…Atabey to the Tainos in the Caribbean…Amphitrite to the Greeks…Salacia to the Italians…" the shark kwami listed off. When they continued to stare blankly at him he dropped his mouth. "What are they teaching at the temple these days?! She is just the high kwami of the sea okay," he said sarcastically. "I guess those are just some of the names she has been called by people. She just refers to herself as 'Sea.' Anyway, she and Pele are basically arch nemasis, so if you're allied with Pele it would be best to keep it on the down low when you're out here."
"I'm not sure if you'd say we are allies. We are looking to complete the next phase of our Miraculous Trials," Ladybug explained.
"Well that should be a party," the shark kwami grinned. "I'm sorry I'll miss this one. Then flew close to Ladybug's shoulder, and whispered, "Be cautious of Pele. If she gets shall we say 'high maintenance,' call for Hi'iaka."
Ladybug furrowed her brow and was about to ask who Hi'iaka was and how to summon her, when the shark kwami disappeared again under the waves, and once again took his shark form.
"Makani 'Olu a Holo Malie young weilders," the shark called out to them, swishing his tail in the water, causing a huge wave to form to carry them swiftly back to shore.
Both Ladybug and Chat Noir held on tightly to their boards, as they were driven forward by the water. Then they saw their opportunity. First Chat Noir, and then Ladybug attempted to get to their feet under them on their surfboard. After a few awkward, shaky starts, they both slide up into a low stance. Balancing their equilibrium, they had their footing. Chat Noir hooted out a thrilled shout as he rode the swell, weaving his way in and out.
Ladybug teetered a bit, but kept her legs bent, as she absorbed the buck of the sea. After getting used to the balance, and how to carve into the wave, she started to smile. A surge of adrenaline welled up within her, and she trailed through a massive pipe, pulling out, just as it collapsed inward. Both she and Chat Noir were beaming and high fiving by the time they glided into shore.
They were met by a couple of the surfers who had lent them the boards. They came running up enthusiastically, both claiming that it had been the largest rouge wave they'd ever seen at their beach, and compared it to others they had taken on at some of the other islands. Chat Noir and Ladybug thanked them for entrusting them with their boards, and true to their agreement, each sighed the top of them.
Once the boarders had taken to the surf themselves, Ember rejoined them among the palm trees.
"So we are off to the Big Island," Chat Noir confirmed.
"Yes," nodded Ember, "but before we open the portal, you and Ladybug better power up. Kilauea lava is about 1,170 degrees Celsius (2, 140 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places."
"So our inferno power up to beat the heat?!" Chat Noir asked pulling out his multicolored wheel of Camembert, and Ladybug her rainbow of mini macaroons.
"Oh, even with those to enhance your powers to the elements, you'll be lucky to stand the heat," Ember ruffled his feathers sending out sparks.