Near the borders of France, overshadowed by mountains lay Germany's mysterious Schwarzwald; The Black Forest. Edged with the Rhine valley both to the south and to the west, the rolling green hills and valleys met winding rivers and was peppered with densely clustered prickly pine trees. Only thin slivers of sunlight pierced the darkness of the huddled forest.
The carpet of pine needles was soft underfoot, and the air was thick with the scent of pine bark and damp earth. Fairy tale red speckled mushrooms sprung out of the dark soil, taking advantage of the long shadows.
They worked tirelessly. Even though the forest was out of the glare of the sun, the warmth of the day and their task tired both of them (even with their miraculous magic giving them an energy boost). Chat Noir wandered further and further into the depths of the wood.
It was peaceful, apart from the occasional trill of a bird or a red squirrel scampering over gnarled roots. Chat Noir took a break from collecting the dead branches, and wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead.
He heard the soft, musical trickle of water. Thinking it might be refreshing to splash some water on his face, he moved closer to the source.
Coming to a pool, with babbling water trickling happily over smoothed stones, he knelt down. Cupping the water in his paws, he sighed contently, as it cooled his face and neck.
Then amidst the sound of water, he thought he heard a girl singing a lighthearted melody. It rose and fell, moving across notes like waves in the ocean.
He curiously searched the tall reeds bordering the pool with his eyes. He could not find the source, but the longer he listened, the more certain he was that it was the most beautiful song he had ever heard.
He closed his eyes, letting the softness of each note wrap around him. It was like sinking down into a down blanket, drawing him further in with its comfort, making him wish it would never end.
The song became muffled, until it blurred with the quiet sounds of the forest and pool. Suddenly, Adrien's eyes opened at a different sound. Childish laughter rippled through the trees, causing Adrien to spin around.
He caught a glimpse of a small girl in a light green dress with bare feet scamper from tree to tree. She leapt playfully, looked over at him, and then giggled merrily.
"Are you lost?" Adrien called out to the little girl.
"No silly, you are!" she giggled light heartedly again, before bounding off again through the trees.
"Wait!" Adrien called out, running through the trees after her. He was sprinting, but branches waylaid him and caught him up.
When he finally freed himself he stumbled into a clearing where the little girl was perched up on a large rock, kicking her little feet, totally carefree. She flipped her raven pony tails, and glanced over at him with big emerald eyes. She giggled again at his perplexed expression, and tossed a beaded charm up in the air, catching it in both of her little hands. Then tossed it again.
Adrien walked forward quietly, and when the turquoise, gold, and blue beaded charm caught the thin shaft of light breaking through the dark pines, he recognized it. It was the good luck charm he had given Marinette on her 14th Birthday.
"Where did you get that?" Adrien asked with widened eyes.
"Mommy gave it to me!" she declared proudly.
"Your Mom..." Adrien looked confused, then looked closer at the little girl. The smirk on her little face was familiar, but usually the one he saw in the mirror.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Emma!" she stood up, putting her hands on her hips.
"Do you know the way home Emma?" Adrien asked.
"I know you'll get there," the girl beamed. "Don't worry Daddy, mommy will find you." Then she hopped off her rock and skipped back into the woods.
"Wh...what did you call me?!" Adrien stammered trying to catch up to her "...wait! who is your mommy?!"
"It's time to go! Mommy's calling," she called back over her shoulder.
"Wha..."
"Kitty! Kitty!" A worried voice called.
"Wait!" Adrien called "I've got to know!"
"Kitty! Chat Noir! Are you okay! Oh Kitty please be okay!" the scared voice of Ladybug called.
Chat Noir suddenly felt like he was suffocating and grew lightheaded. He felt himself heaving and sputtering out water.
Blinking his eyes, he opened them to see Ladybug leaning over him, and pumping his chest. Then his eyes widened as she moved her mouth to his. At this point their eyes locked, and she realized he was breathing, and stopped the cpr.
With relief and tears in her eyes she grabbed him in a fierce embrace.
"Chat! You're okay! You're okay!" she gripped onto him like he was going to be torn from her grasp.
"I'm fine!" he patted her shoulder, "...but what happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell us!" Ladybug said surprised. "Ember found you in the water, and I had to pull you out."
"I remember looking into the water, thinking I heard something, but I thought I stayed in the woods the whole time," Chat Noir said confused.
"You don't remember how you ended up in the water?" Ladybug asked worriedly.
"Wait, young man, what did you think you heard coming from the water?" the Badger inquired.
"Well...I thought I heard a girl singing...but, that's crazy. Maybe I hit my head somehow and fell in. That dream felt so real though!" He whispered horsily.
"Oh those aren't dreams!" the badger insisted. "The girl singing...around here we call them Nixie or water nymphs...others call them sirens."
"What?!" Chat Noirs eyes widened.
The things that were revealed to you are called 'ripples'" the badger explained. "A vision into a fractured piece of your future."
"My future..." Chat Noir repeated, and his eyes drifted to Ladybug.
"Sometime water nymphs try to teach mortals and reveal something important about what is to come. Other times they torment people with foreboding horrors...or worse...hold them too long in promises of possibilities so lovely people don't want to resurface. Linger too long in a ripple wishing on a future whose time has not yet come, and you could end up drowning and missing out on the real thing."
"What did you see down there?" Ladybug's eyes were full of concern for him.
Chat Noir laid his head back in the damp grass, and closed his eyes picturing the face of the beautiful little girl in the ripple...his daughter!
"What did you see?" Ladybug asked again with her concern growing the longer he stayed silent.
Adrien smiled softly, opening his eyes to gaze at Ladybug, "someone I would very much like to meet someday."
Fun Facts and Inspiration: The Bühl, Baden mermaids are rumored to live in the dark depths of Mummel Lake of Germany. While some 'water nymph' legends, like that of Lorelei, are tragic, the mermaids of this Lake visit humans to promote "confidence, compassion, and love." I read that the "Mermaid Mantra of Mummelsee is: "Though I may have sorrows, I love and accept myself as I am." I couldn't help but be inspired to give Chat Noir/Adrien a chance to encounter one.