Ladybug and Chat Noir came back to the edge of the shore. Ember had instructed them to prepare their kwami's for the next trial with aqua power-ups. Although the storm had subsided, the waves of the Pacific Ocean still crashed against the rocks with deadly power.
They dove down. The further they went below the surface the calmer everything seemed. The serenity beneath the water was almost hypnotic and even distorted sounds.
"How will we find the next wild kwami?"Ladybug asked kicking her feet to propel herself closer to Ember.
"She already knows we have arrived in her territory," Ember answered without stopping. "She is leading the first of the pods to return to northern waters in time for the summer."
"Should we signal her?" Chat Noir asked.
Ember chuckled, "her sensory abilities are among the most advanced in the sea. Not only does she have exceptional eyesight in and out of the water, but she can hear long distances as well. If that wasn't enough she also has the capability use a system of clicks and echoes which can detect the location and characteristics of anything within the water...believe me when I tell you, she knows we're here."
Chat Noir and Ladybug exchanged a glance, and Ladybug paused a moment treading water. "Should we be concerned? Some of the wild Kwami haven't always been exactly friendly."
Ember paused for a moment considering this, then swam on, saying, "She has a quick wit, is talkative, and sometimes has a playful sense of humor...although to many she is known as a 'killer."
With another wary glance at each other Chat Noir grabbed his baton from his back and Ladybug wound her yo-yo around her hand.
Once they had swam a fair distance out to sea, where the water ran deep. They heard the repeating clicking sound, before they saw anything. Ember rose to the surface, just above the crest of the waves. The weilders followed and bobbled next to each other, cautiously watching the water. They did not have to wait long before they saw multiple shiny black dorsal fins break out of the water around them.
The sleek, streamlined, black and white faces eyed them curiously. There was no doubt what kind of creatures they were. They were some of the most powerful predictors in the world; the orca.
The orca at the head of the group leaped out of the water before them. As she propelled herself from the water near to the Phoenix.
"Miraculous weilders! It has been a long time since you've migrated back to my waters!" the orca kwami greeted, flashing a sharp, toothy grin.
"Sorry to interrupt your own migration," Ember bowed politely.
"Not to worry, my family knows the rest of the way from here. Once we take care of these two humans, I will head back south for the next pod. It is getting to the time of year where each tribe is reunited," the orca waved her tail.
"Are all wild kwami so connected to the creature they resemble?"' Ladybug inquired.
"I guess each has their own way," the orca reflected, "but I guess for me I feel more whole myself when I connect with the communities of orca. Maybe it's the dolphin in me!" Then she laughed with short, bubbly little clicks, "haha! Dolphins!" She giggled to herself, caught up in a inside orca joke that went over the weilder's heads.
"I've brought them to hear about the two sisters," prompted the phoenix.
"Ahh, the daughters of the chief," the orca kwami nodded in memory. "That was thousands of years ago, but it is still my favorite story."
"Here," Ember said, "motioning Chat Noir and Ladybug's attention to a large piece of driftwood. "You may want to perch on this. When an orca starts telling stories, it's wise to get comfortable."
"Haha, too true, too true," the orca laughed. "Just be thankful you were not cornered by a blue whale trying to serenade you! Now those guys can go on and on forever!"
"Hey, when you Killer Whales start to sing, do you call it an 'orca-stra?!" Chat Noir grinned, pulling himself up next to Ladybug on the driftwood.
"Bahaha! That's a good one little catfish!" The Orca burst out laughing, slapping Chat Noir on the back with a fin so hard he plunged face first into the water. (Causing Ladybug to stifle a giggle).
"The Chief's daughters...?!" Ember reminded, as Chat Noir clamored back onto their natural raft sputtering.
"Of course," the orca transformed into his kwami form, "I'm sure your kwami have told you that the journey you are on, is, among other things, a rite of passage, a way to prove yourselves, or a coming of age ceremony," the black and white kwami leaned to one side studying the weilders. When they acknowledged her comment with a nod she continued, "Well, the tribes of the Sunset nations also highly valued this kind of tradition. When a youth came of age there would be a lavish celebration in their honor. These potlatch feasts would last for days and distant tribes would travel from miles around to join the celebration."
The southern tribe had been engaged in a fierce war with those up the northern coast. The here was much bloodshed and hatred between the people. The constant tension brought apprehension and anger to the land. There was no end in sight as each proud chief had many strong warriors and refused to back down.
Chief Tyee of the northern tribe had two treasures that were more precious to him than anything else in life; his two young daughters. Both girls were beloved by all. Their exquisite beauty was only enhanced by their generosity, empathy, and intellect.
The two twin sisters had only known times of war in their young lives. The spring they each came of age the flowers bloomed, and the birds called to each other after the silence of winter. The girls skipped along the shore, leaping between rocks. It was the day when the orca returned to the arctic waters. The girls shouted to each other excitedly as they saw the ebony dorsal fins break the surface and congregate out to sea. Curious they took their carved canoe and paddled out to meet us."
"Weren't they scared?" Ladybug asked, then stammered, "I mean you seem very nice, but couldn't it be dangerous?"
"Oh very dangerous indeed. "Orca are powerful, and I was no ally to humans back then," the orca nodded.
"You said you weren't an ally back then," Chat Noir pointed out, "what changed you?"
"The two sisters," the orca smiled.
The girls paddled swiftly until their canoe was riding right alongside the pod. Surfacing the orcas released spray from their blow holes, that made the girls laugh out in glee. Soon the family of orca were purposefully splashing them just to see their reactions of joy. One of the orca calves thought it would be funny to jostle their canoe, but in doing so tipped one of the girls into the ocean.
Plunged into the deep water she was faced by the masters of the sea...and before me. The girl of land had trespassed beyond her depth, and for many creatures her fate might have been death...if it hadn't been for the love of her sister. The second girl dove into the sea, to distract us so that her sister could escape...except that neither girl would abandon the other. I remember to this day...the fear in their eyes, that was replaced by grave determination. Underwater the clasped hands to face our judgement as one.
At the origin of the miraculous' I had refused the Ladybug and Black Cat's suggestion that kwami unite with humans. I had always seen humans as bickering, petty, killers. It was in this gesture between the daughters of the chief that made my heart swell with love for the mortals of the earth.
"Peace," I spoke back to the other orca behind me, "There is the love of the pod in them. Allow them to live."
The girls eyes went wide, hearing human speech come from a wild creature, but they put their hands to their hearts and underwater managed to say a hasty "Huy chexw" in thanks. Then they swam quickly to their canoe and helped each other climb back in.
I surfaced beside them and they looked at me with wonder. "You let us go?" One girl asked shivering against her sister.
"Yes earth child," I had responded. "In these waters our family of orca will encounter many other pods who may speak a different dialect, but when gathered together we can sing in unison. Your love for each other speaks louder than words and reminds me how I feel toward my own family."
"How can we repay you for your mercy," the other girl asked.
"All lives are precious," I had responded. "Remember that all creatures of the world may have more in common with each other than you first realize. Your enemy, who you may only view as a killer, may also love, laugh, and have dreams of their own...repay me by opening your heart to peace."
The sisters reverently nodded, and paddled deep in thought back to the safety of their shore.
The next morning they both approached their father, Chief Tyee.
"Father," the girls addressed respectfully, "for our potlatch approaching this spring, may we ask for something?"
"My beloved girls, I love you more than life itself. Anything under the sun or beneath the moon is yours!"
The chief's daughters looked at each other, and clasped hands just as they had when confronting the great pod under water. With determination and love they made their request. "We want the tribe from the northern coast to be invited to our feast of celebration," they told their father.
"You wish our enemy to come to a feast on our doorstep?! A celebration for women?! After all that has transpired between us!" their father asked skeptically.
"Above all else, that is our desire," they stood firm in their resolve.
"How can I refuse my daughters who are my true joy and future of our tribe?! If that is your wish, it will be done," Chief Tyee conceded.
Chief Tyee instructed the bravest of his warriors to light fires of peace on each of their shores and bring word to the northern enemy tribes to attend the celebration of his daughters.
Although the chief was determined to keep his promise to his daughters, he doubted his enemy would answer his summons. To the surprise of all...the northern tribes and all other tribes in the land did come. Not only that...they came with their families (elders, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and children). They came with gifts, food, music, and dance.
In the long joy filled days that followed the war canoes were emptied of deadly weapons and replaced with loads of salmon from their fishing trips together. Every day the people came together as one in harmony living and sharing together. Late into the nights they shared stories, dances, and songs with each other. And within the celebration of the chiefs daughters they realized they were not all that different after all.
At the end of the week their war songs ended forever. The twin peaked mountain that bore witness to the agreement of peace was named "Two Sisters" in honour of the brave girls who united them.
The orca kwami's eyes drifted further south along the coast. "Even today near the city of Vancouver their monument stands for all to see. The twin peaks of the Mountain above Capilano Canyon, set their eyes forever westward to the orcas of the Pacific."
The orca kwami sighed happily, transported back to the past.
"That was a beautiful story," Ladybug murmured, with her chin leaning against her folded hands. "I'm glad each of their people opened their hearts to peace."
"It usually just takes a couple people to stand up for it," the orca replied looking deeply at Ladybug and Chat Noir.
"Now that you've heard the story there is a task you must complete," the kwami of wisdom said.
"Each if you must stand on either peak of the mountain from the story you've just heard. From this sacred place commit yourself to stand up for peace."
"And then our task will be complete?" Asked Chat Noir.
"You are the hero's of the miraculous'!" The orca smiled, transforming with a great splash back into her creature form. Then called back as she headed south to guide another pod home, "when is the task of preserving peace ever complete?!"
Thank you so much readers for continuing to follow this story! As always I do not own the characters or content of this fanfic. Ladybug and Chat Noir are from the creative mind of Thomas Astruc and the basis of this Two Sisters legend started with a Canadian myth. Hope you enjoy this bit of fantasy around the world, and have a chance to explore some destinations you might one day like to visit:) It is great to have a bit of an escape into Ladybug and Chat Noir's world.
I'm currently finishing the rest of the Canada chapters, and then we are off to new destinations. I am always so excited to read suggestions from you about locations you'd love to read about for our heroes! I am so encouraged to write more with the encouragement from all of you in reviews too! Don't forget to click favorite/follow so you don't miss the next updates.