Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Ember arrived in Mexico City about 5am in the morning, so it was still quite dark out. The exception was that a few lights that flickered on in some business' prepping early for the day ahead. A woman down the street was getting her cart ready to sell steaming tamales. They could smell the tempting aroma already. There was a dim rumble in the background of cars and busses. Although the majority of the immense population hadn't emerged to start their morning routine yet, there was a buzz of energy around them.
"I need to show you something before the next Miraculous Trial begins," Ember said in a low voice.
He directed them through the colorful city streets. The area they reached had beautiful trees and plants scattered in between impressive buildings; a park of green within the urban expanse. There were many museums and even a city zoo, but Ember skirted all of them and strategically slunk toward a side door of the Museo Nacional de Antropologia.
"Ember the museum won't open for at least four more hours!" Ladybug hissed, looking around.
"Why do you think I made sure we'd arrive at this exact time," Ember responded phasing through the locked door, disarming it, and unlocking it from the inside.
"Look at that! Museum is open," Chat Noir smirked, holding the door open for Ladybug. "After you Mi'Lady."
Ladybug looked around behind them and ducked in.
"Get Kalaki out here Bugabo, and she can keep security busy for a while," Chat Noir suggested.
Ladybug slipped on the horse miraculous glasses and Kalaki reappeared.
"Distraction! Got it!" Kalaki smiled proudly. "I happen to be the champion of hide and seek!" She zipped away and they could hear an alarm from the front of the museum, and the clatter of feet, as the guards went to investigate what they couldn't see on camera. Any time they rounded a corner getting close to the kwami of teleportation, she'd make a portal and pop out at another side of the museum.
While she had the guards busy, Ember led the weilders through exhibits and displays of ancient Mesopotamia artifacts. They were impressed by the stone carvings and statues, delicate chards of pottery, and other crafted pieces of art. Chat Noir noticed that there was a frequent common thread of animalistic forms throughout. Ember did not pause at any of the pieces on display, but led them down hallways to a series of back rooms that had shelves, tables, and storage containers. These were all filled carefully with even more catalogued artifacts from the Aztecs, Mayans, and others.
Through this room they reached one that was even more packed with 'projects' that were in the midst of study, or stored away to be dealt with 'eventually.' There were layers of boxes and crates that Ember zipped through till he was satisfied with one in the back corner, underneath a shelf.
Chat Noir and Ladybug pulled open the side panel of the large crate Ember had indicated to, and a slab of carved stone was revealed within the old straw packing.
It had clearly once been out in the elements, as much of the carving or perhaps naturally sourced pigment had been worn away. But neither Chat Noir or Ladybug had any doubt now why this particular item within the museum's collection was significant. Among the intricate deep etchings of designs a man in the form of a black jaguar's who seemed to me midfall with his hand reaching down. Hanging onto his hand was a beautiful woman in red. Not only did these images depict previous miraculous holders…they had been the Black Cat and the Ladybug!
"They were very much in love," Ember commented nostalgically.
"A ruler from the city of Cuicuilco became envious of their power. He captured Ladybug, (back then she called herself Mariquita), and took the Miraculous earrings. But this king had to decide what to do with her. Fearing the wrath of the gods if he took her life, but fearing the retaliation of the Black Jaguar if he set her free, he chose another option. North of his kingdom rural maze farmers had told stories of a pit to the center of the earth; a hole to the underworld that went down into darkness forever."
"The king forced the farmers to lead him to the void in the earth. Sure enough it was a sheer drop into darkness. The king was a coward, and heartlessly cast the girl who had been Ladybug into the hole. He watched as she disappeared, and turned to return to his city, proud of his ingenious scheme."
"When the Black Jaguar could not find his partner, he searched tirelessly. When he came to the halls of the evil King to ask if he had seen her, the king took this opportunity to rid himself of the Jaguar as well. He lied to him, and told him travelers had heard news of her far south in the tiny town of Bolochen de Rejon in Quintana Roo. The Black Jaguar left on the far journey of over 1,470km on foot. Through jungle, desert, canyons, fierce storms, and many challenges. He never gave up hope of finding his love. But of course through his journey he did not find her… …But something…or rather someone found him."
Ember pointed to the carving before them. There was a small bird near the shoulder of the Jaguar-man.
A swallow.
"She flew boldly up to the young warrior and he was surprised that she had no fear of him. But what shocked him even more was when she spoke."
"She was a wild kwami wasn't she," guessed Chat Noir.
Ember nodded.
"She led the Black Jaguar to the chasm the girl had been cast into. When the young warrior saw it he wept thinking that she was surely lost forever. The swallow though told him that if he was willing to demonstrate sheer tenacity, they would be reunited again."
"The Black Jaguar asked how it was possible."
"The Black Jaguar became one of the first weilders to be tested."
"And did they find each other? Did she survive the fall? Was he able to rescue her?" implored Ladybug.
"Your next trial will reveal the ending to their story, but now we better get out of here, lest our own story take a turn," Ember urged.
They could hear the voices of the night security guards becoming frustrated with Kaalki's diversions.
Kaalki poked her head out of a portal before them. "Are you finally ready to move on?" she asked.
"Kaalki, Full Gallop," Ladybug answered, merging with the horse's power. Then she quickly made a portal and vanished, leaving the poor security guards to assume the artifacts in the museum were cursed.
They stepped through the portal into the darkness of the jungle mountains. In moments the sun would rise, but until then they fumbled around in the shadows created by Ember's flame. The thick brush and trees surrounded them, making it hard to get their bearings.
"Watch your step," advised Ember.
And Chat Noir and Ladybug's eyes grew wide, and their breath hitched in their throat. Only a few feet away was the void. If they thought their surroundings couldn't get darker they were wrong. They stood, holding onto a tree to steady themselves, and as the sun started to soften the shadows of the trees, they were in horrified awe of how immense the mouth of this hole was. Chat Noir calculated that it was at least 49 by 62 meters wide. The rocky drop-off went straight down, but even as it became brighter in the sky by the minute, they could not see the bottom of the pit. It seemed to go on indefinitely.
"Its name is Sotano de las Golondrinas," Ember said.
"Cave of Swallows," Chat Noir translated, "Because of the wild Kwami from the story?" he asked.
"Just watch," the phoenix said, turning his fiery head toward the mammoth pit.
As the morning was transformed by the dawn a surreal thing happened. Voices from deep within the cave stared calling out. Birds chirping or squawking, signaling to each other that it was time. Time to embrace the day. In a flurry of wings like applause they spiraled up though the darkness and emerged, rising like a tornado into the sky.
Ember didn't watch the birds. He preferred to watch the shocked faces of the young weilders beside him. To experience the awakening of Sotano de las Golondrinas never failed to impress.
There were more than just swallows. Bright green parakeets, white-collared swifts, and numerous other birds rose in concentric circles. Then as it seemed like the cave surely must have emptied a lone swallow rose and perched in front of them, cocking her head. "Does it seem they get younger every cycle," the swallow said casually to Ember.
Both Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at the small bird, and back at each other. She dropped her animal form, and became the more kwami-ish version of herself.
"Buenos Dias! Welcome weilders of the miraculous!" she greeted.
They bowed to her in return.
"Has the phoenix instructed you of your task?" she inquired.
Chat Noir spoke up first. "He told us a little about the previous weilders…one who was thrown into this cave and her partner. I imagine it was you who brought the Black Jaguar to this place to find out what happened to her?!"
"But he didn't finish the story," Ladybug added. "We don't know yet if he was able to somehow rescue her. Was there some kind of special miraculous power he had to use?"
The swallow kwami looked at Ladybug, and thoughtfully replied. "If you enter the cave the answer to your first question will be at the bottom. But as to your second…I guess there was something special in the magic. This is the largest cave shaft in the world. This trial is simply a matter of letting go of fear or regret. It takes guts…or something we kwami classify as 'tenacity.'"
"So we are supposed to jump in this pit!" Ladybug asked apprehensively, already knowing the answer.
"Well these days some humans seem to need extra thrills. I've heard them call is base jumping, but yes, that is the general idea," the swallow commented matter of factly.
Then she looked at their stricken faces, and burst out into a twittering of musical laughter. "Come now my friends. I am not sending you to your doom. I am coming with you. My talent is flight."
"Once you step off that ledge there is no turning back. As soon as you take the leap you have past the test. But also know this. It is entirely up to you. You can choose not to take the leap. It is your life, and you would not be the first to look for an easier way. But you may always wonder what you might have discovered about yourself if you had only taken a chance."
"Yes," Ladybug replied quietly, then bolder, "Yes. I will not let fear get in my way. I will take the leap."
"So will I," Chat Noir said taking Ladybug's hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "I would never let you face any fear in this world alone."
Ladybug looked at Chat Noir with shining eyes. "You really would do anything for me wouldn't you Kitty," she said.
"You know I would," he replied in a more serious tone.
"They remind me of them," the swallow whispered to Ember.
Ember ruffled his feathers, letting sparks pop in the air. "I will see the love birds at the bottom to light their path," he said loud enough for Ladybug and Chat Noir to hear.
"Watch him first," the swallow advised.
Ember flew off the edge, and then with one beat tucked his wings against his body diving into a vertical free fall. They watched. The moment he arched his back, and spread out his wings as wide as possible. Then he flapped them rapidly. Seeing his flame keep going further and further they started to get a sense of just how deep this cave went. They could fit the height of more than three Eiffel towers stacked on top of each other down this shaft.
"I will take you down one at a time," the swallow told them. "I will be your wings."
As she said this she landed on Chat Noir's shoulders and she burst into white light that buzzed energy through Chat Noir's bones like an electric wire. Where the swallow kwami had been there were now two massive white wings extended out from Chat Noir's suit.
Ladybug's mouth dropped open, and her mind flickered back to the dream she fell into back in London.
"This is amazing Chat Noir exclaimed turning around and examining his wings. He flapped them causing a swirl of dust to rise up around them. Chat Noir whooped in excitement, and pumped his wings up, lifting himself into the air. Then he landed again. "You've got to get a pair of these!" he laughed to Ladybug.
"I guess I will as soon as you're done," Ladybug laughed back.
Chat Noir edged his way over to the edge, and looked back at Ladybug. "This trial is all about not being afraid to jump in with both feet…you have to know by now.." he bit his lip, "…how much I love you."
He turned to jump, but was caught by his hand. "Kitty," Ladybug said breathlessly. "I…I love you too."
"Chat Noir's face broke into a huge smile. Joy overwhelming him. "Really?!" he asked.
"Really…really, really!" she smiled, finally admitting what she had know deep down all along. Without holding back. Without analyzing or worrying about the risk. The way she felt about him…this was love.
It was not the precipice he stood on that took his breath away in this moment. She loved him. He rested his hands on her hips, and leaned in to kiss her.
"After we finish this jump you know, I'm not letting you go," he smiled.
"Well you have to jump first don't you," she teased.
"If it means hearing you say those words again, I'm off!" he winked. Kissing her hand again, and with a loud whoop, he launched himself from solid ground. As he jumped Ladybug scrambled to the edge, holding onto the trunk of a tree to steady herself as she watched him descend.
Chat Noir let himself fall, bringing the wings along his body like Ember had done. It seemed like an eternity of falling. Memories of these kind of "falling" moments with Ladybug came to mind. Even the first time they had fought together and defeated Stoneheart. When they had leapt from the Eiffel tower. The moment he first knew that he loved that girl. He had 'Fallen' in love with her…haha 'fallen,' he relished the pun…he'd have to tell Ladybug that one. When had she fallen for him? Did she really love him the same way he loved her? No. He pushed those buzzing doubts from his mind. It didn't matter at this moment. All that he wanted was to let the memory of her telling him he was loved wash over him again and again.
The light of the dawn grew dim. The dense vegetation clinging to the rough limestone walls grew more sparse the father he fell. He heard Ember's voice call out "now!" and flash his flaming wings. At this signal Chat Noir threw back the powerful wings which caught the air and pulled him back slightly like a parachute. Once he had slowed his speed, he circled down towards the base of the cave, now visible thanks to Ember's radiating light.
Ladybug realized she must have been holding her breath, when she released a huge sigh of relief when she had seen Chat Noir spread his wings to slow his fall. She was even more relieved when she was joined by the swallow again, who circled back up after safely delivering Chat Noir to the bottom.
"You seem to have already taken a leap!" the swallow kwami chirped. At the look on Ladybug's face, she continued, "It takes incredible courage to jump into the Cave of Swallows…but…I think for you that confession of love was more difficult than any cave."
Ladybug blushed, but knew the kwami had seen right through her.
The swallow regarded her, and added softly, "Tiki and Plagg have once again well chosen their weilders. You both are even stronger than you realize." With these words of affirmation, she landed on Ladybug's shoulders. Once again the small bird dissolved in a flash, leaving two impressive wings. Even though Ladybug had just witnessed this happen with Chat Noir, it was a different thrill to feel the wings respond to her movements. She stretched out the wings, letting each feather unveil.
"Well I guess this is it!" she told herself. It was surprising how much of a relief it was to have told Chat Noir she loved him. She hadn't planned it. She had denied it outright for years. She needed him to know. She could already feel her analytical mind trying to hedge in with the logistics of what she had just set into motion. But the electric thrill of giving into love was addicting. She wanted to feel that again. She needed to feel that again. With a laugh of unrestrained joy she leapt off.
If there was a moment of fear, Ladybug forgot it when her wings stretched out denying gravity, and lifting her gradually through the air. Below she saw Ember lighting up her destination, and Chat Noir beaming up at her.
She beat her wings trying to slow down even more for the landing. But the ground was approaching too fast. Luckily a love struck kitty was more than willing to break her fall. He caught her as she glided down into him, but her elongated wings threw them off balance. Instead of the graceful reunion they perhaps expected, collided, one on top of the other and skid to a stop.
"How many times have we somehow ended up like this?!" Ladybug giggled resting her chin on Chat Noir's chest.
"Mi'lady, you fly like an angel, but you fall like an anvil," Chat Noir teased, brushing her hair out of her eyes, "Not that I'm complaining," he added with a grin.
They helped each other up, and Ladybug's wings dissolved and once again the swallow was fluttering by them.
"You did magnificently! Isn't it such a rush!" the swallow cheered.
"Incredible," Chat Noir said bumping his shoulder against Ladybug affectionately.
"You're incredible," she elbowed him back playfully.
"Yes, you are both incredible," Ember sighed rolling his eyes. "Now, I've got twitterpated teens to deal with…again!"
"Again?" asked Chat Noir. "Maybe if it has worked out before for heroes to fall in love it will work again!"
"Now as promised, the ending of the story. Follow me," the swallow announced, flying through the dark behemoth limestone halls, crested with lime green algae and moss.
The little bird landed on a barrel shaped rock with thousands of little scratch marks that looked like tallies. She scratched into the rock a certain pattern, and the rock rolled over, revealing a tunnel below. Crouching down on the damp cave floor, crawling with bugs to go into an enclosed dark space didn't sound like fun. They decided they had already come this far, so they might as well continue. They crawled awkwardly through a stretch of tunnels till they were able to stand up again.
The cave opened up to a room with polished white limestone. The ceiling must have been 7m high, which made them feel much less claustrophobic (or 'clawstophobic' as Chat Noir felt obligated to comment under his breath). At the center of the room there was a hollow stone pedestal filled with tiny carved jade birds. Alt the opposite side of the entrance there was a carving that was almost a replica of the one from the museum. The only difference was that instead of the black jaguar reaching down to the Mariquita, he now wore wings and was carrying the girl upward.
"They found each other!" Ladybug breathed.
Chat Noir slipped his hand into Ladybug's. She squeezed his hand back and smiled. It was a love story after all, not a tragedy.
"When the girl had been cast into this pit the luck of the ladybug must have rubbed off on her. The evil king could not have known a wild kwami resided in the depths of the cave. When I and my fellow birds saw the girl fall we rose up and slowed down her decent, carrying her safely to the bottom unscratched. She was surprised, but so thankful to us for coming to her aide. She shared her story and I was alarmed that the Ladybug miraculous had fallen into the hands of such a cruel mortal," the swallow told. "While I searched for the Black Jaguar the birds kept her alive by bringing her food and water."
"Please Swallow," asked Ladybug confused. "Why did you not give her wings like you gave us…so that she could just fly out of the cave herself?"
"If only she still had her miraculous earrings I could have. My powers are difficult to channel with mortals. I was able to fuse with you and give you wings because your own kwami (Plagg and Tiki) were already a part of you."
"Have you ever tried with a human…one not wearing a miraculous?" Chat Noir inquired curiously.
"Unfortunately yes, with disastrous results. You may have heard the Greek ledged of Daedalus and his son Icarus. The bond of wings (myself) with a human (without the tether of a miraculous) is not strong enough to hold for long. It never ends well," she said regretfully shaking her head.
"So what happened to them then?" Ladybug asked.
"It took a long time, but eventually I finally found her partner, the Black Jaguar," the feathered kwami continued. "At the mouth of the drop he faced the same trial you have. He took a leap of faith. When he neared the bottom of the cave he heard the voice of his love calling up to him. He picked her up and flew them both back up to freedom. In thanks for what the birds had done, they both returned to the cave every year and dropped food for the birds and carved birds made of pure jade. The ones you see at the center are those that remain…one for each year of the long life they had together thanks to their winged friend."
Sallow placed one of the jade birds in Chat Noir's palm. "Here is your token to bring to my brothers at the Lake."
"Swallow, did they get the Ladybug earrings back from the king?" Ladybug is wearing them now, so somehow it must have all worked out?"
The swallows face was solemn.
"The Black Jaguar had many fine qualities, but I am afraid he also had great weaknesses. The two did get the earrings back, but at a terrible price. The Black Jaguar's rage against the evil king caused him to seek revenge. You will not find the city of the king rising up to the sky like others. It is entombed under solidified lava flow."
There was a shocked silence between them.
"Young weilders, this is why it is so important that you complete each of the Miraculous trials. There are many aspects of a wilder's character that must be refined in order to balance the great power bestowed on you. Do not fear the past, and let it restrict you from moving forward. Learn from it, and choose a better path."
"Now come on my friends. It is time for you to follow the next steps in your own path. I have a feeling the completion of this test is not all you have to celebrate!" she clicked her beak cheekily at the two wilders. Who wants to be first?"
"Ladys first," bowed Chat Noir.
Swallow landed on Ladybug's shoulders and wings sprouted once more.
"Ladybug," Chat Noir said quietly. "I want what you said to be true more than anything, but even if you just said it…you know…in the heat of the moment…I just want you to know…that…that it meant so much…I…"
Ladybug stopped him in midsentence, putting her had on his shoulder. "Kitty, I absolutely meant it. It was not a spur of the moment, spontaneous thing. My love for you has built for years and finally I couldn't contain it. I don't know where this moment will lead us. It always seemed so complicated, but maybe it is actually very simple. I will always love you."
He jumped to close the gap between them and embraced her in his arms. He held her tights and sighed, "always!"
"Do you trust me?" she whispered back to him with an air of mischief.
"Of course!" he replied questionalily.
"Don't let go of me Kitty!"
"Never Bugaboo," he smiled, but then clutched onto her shoulders tighter, and gasped as she beat her wings and leapt up in the air with him. She circled up the cave walls leaving the dim cave behind them and emerging into the light.
"It was because of the 'Bugaboo Comment wasn't it" he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Nope, the nickname is kindda growing on me. I just have wasted too much time being apart. I'm not ready to let you go yet."
"Best day ever!" Chat Noir concluded as they sped over the green mountains toward Embarcadero La Morena.
Ember overtook them and took the lead. After about 1/2hr. Ladybug landed, and then swallow transferred her power of flight to Chat Noir for the second half of the journey. With his wings in place Chat Noir scooped up Ladybug in his arms, and shot up, making her tuck her head into his neck to avoid the vertigo as a passenger. "I want the wings back!" she squeaked.
"Nope!" Chat Noir chuckled. "You'll just have to hold on tighter!"
She swatted his shoulder, and he just laughed louder, diving down making her let out a short yelp, and sure enough tighten her grip.
"Chat!" she exclaimed.
"Ok, ok, couldn't resist," he smiled as if the weight of the world had been lifted. She felt his shoulders relax.
He had his lady in his arms and she loved him. This must be a dream. He thought. There was no way a black cat could be this lucky!
Ember lit on the branch of a tree near the blue-green waters. A rainbow of canoes lay pulled up on shore, with a couple blue kayaks leaning further up. Chat Noir landed in the cover of trees, and his wings disappeared. Swallow reappeared, and hopped over the branches, and perched on one of the two kayaks.
Even though the rental place wasn't open yet, Chat Noir slipped some money under their door to borrow the kayaks. Then he and Ladybug each pulled one of the kayaks into the water and pushed off.
Swallow perched at the bow of Ladybug's kayak. Ember on the front of Chat Noir's. Ladybug caught Chat Noir staring at her, and splashed him with water.
"Hey!" he jumped, nearly tipping into the water.
Ladybug just laughed lightheartedly, so he splashed her back, drenching her.
What ensued as a hilarious water fight where by the end both were dripping and out of breath from laughter. Ember just sat at the front sizzling and hunched, muttering to himself about the foolishness of lovesick youth. Swallow though joined in and did her fair share of the plashing, enjoying the rare occasions she had to interact with humans.
The pool transitioned casually to a short series of rapids, and the teens gave up the water fight in favor of racing though them. What they saw before them was Tamul Falls (which Ember informed them were the largest in San Luis Potosi) the white water smoothly fell like the tail of a stallion and plummeted 340 feet to the turquoise Tampaon River below. They couldn't get too close to the downpour. After the tension and fear…then the exhilaration and excitement of the cave of Swallows this was rejuvenating. If taking that leap meant that they could end up here…together…it was worth it!
Swallow guided them back and they paddled to another smaller series of waterfalls that wound their way down the rough rocks. They pulled up their kayaks here and climbed wooden stairs up the rocks till they reached a opening in the rock. They entered it and discovered it was a cenote. The cave pool was deep and the water clear. The ceiling looked like icicles of minerals which reached down toward the glasslike pool.
The council of the wild kwami waited for them. Coatimundi, Tamandua, Kingsnake, and then of course Swallow flew to assemble with them.
"So you have survived your leap," the tamandua observed. "Not all of the wilders were able to let go," she remembered thoughtfully.
"Some were not able to trust," the kingsnake agreed.
"They were brave with their hearts as well," the swallow said enthusiastically. "Taking a risk in love can be even more challenging than a physical feat."
"So you found the old stories inspiring after all," the kingsnake said coiling his tail around himself.
Ladybug and Chat Noir smiled at each other. "I would jump into a lifetime of caves for her," Chat Noir said solemnly.
"So would I," she locked eyes with Chat Noir.
"They do remind me of them," the coatimundi finally spoke up. She absentmindedly twirled her tail deep in thought. We may have made an error that time though," she said once again scrutinizing the weilder.
"It is never a mistake to help someone," swallow argued. "I would bring Jaguar and Mariquita together again if I had the choice.
"You are a sucker for a love story, but you know their actions with the power of the miraculous effected the lives of countless others as well," tamandua reminded.
"They are different. They know the story. They can make a better path," the swallow defended them.
"Perhaps," said the coatimundi. "But it is hard to always make a wise choice when such passionate emotions are involved."
The kingsnakke silenced them with a low hiss. When they were silent he commanded their attention with a firm voice. There is a risk each time, but I think these two are worth taking a chance on. Young weilders," the kingsnake then spoke directly to them. "As the chosen of a miraculous using your heart can be a powerful force, but…" he emphasized. "It must be balanced by also using your head."
Chat Noir took out the small jade bird and played with it in his hands, shifting uncomfortably.
"I don't know what I would have done in the Black Jaguar's position," Chat Noir admitted. "Maybe I would have reacted the same way. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," he turned to Ladybug.
"Chat Noir, I know that you could never take the lives of others in revenge, even though you love me," Ladybug assured him. "You'd know it was not what I would ever want. We fight for what is right. Countless times I thought I'd lost you because you scarified yourself for me in a akuma battle. How do you think I felt? I was so afraid that I was the reason you might be gone forever."
"I guess I didn't think of it that way, I just needed to protect you," Chat Noir responded.
"Exactly! Kitty, you are selfless and you protect others. I don't want to go through the heartbreak of ever losing you, but when you take the chance in loving someone, that is part of the risk."
"Well said," Swallow chirped.
Chat Noir's eyes shone, looking at Ladybug and overwhelmed that suddenly it all felt more real…deeper somehow.
"They are ready to take the plunge," the kingsnake nodded, and he touched the tip of the jade beak with his nose. The jade started shining, as if it was illuminated from within, making green reflections flicker off the walls of rock around them. "Jump in with both feet weilders of the miraculous," the snake said.
Chat Noir took Ladybug's hand and held the sparkling jade in the other. Without hesitation they leapt into the pool. As soon as their feet hit the surface, energy from the jade dissolved and surged through them both. It left a tingling sensation in their fingertips. They submerged for only a moment in the clear water, and kicked to the surface. When they looked around, the wild kwamis had vanished.
"I wish I had said goodbye to swallow," Ladybug said wistfully. "In a way she brought us closer."
"That was not her doing," Ember said. "It was you…you were the ones who just had to take the leap."
Ooo
Ladybug and Chat Noir walked through the portal underneath the Eiffel Tower hand in hand. As they arrived on familiar ground, Chat Noir took her other hand in his.
"It was here after we defeated Stoneheart that I first thought I was in love with you," he told her softly.
"You thought you were in love with me?" Ladybug smiled raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I guess back then I never realized how much more I would grow to love you…a love that is…"
"That is forever," Ladybug finished for him, stepping in closer with her heart beating wildly.
"Forever," Chat Noir repeated mesmerized.
Ladybug leaned in closer until their lips were inches apart. Chat Noir crashed is lips against hers like the turning of the tide running back to the shore. Ladybug eagerly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and stood on the tips of her toes. He drew Ladybug in and picked her up off the ground. He lost all sense of anything but her. There had only been her.
As he kissed her she smiled, breaking their lips apart for a moment. Her lips tingled with the sensation of his against them, and demanded more. Moving in slower this time she parted her mouth. Ladybug lightly traced his lower lip with her tongue making him sigh, before kissing him again. How had she been able to resist him all this time?! There was no doubting the intense attraction; like opposing magnets they pressed together. They were a magnetar left over from a supernova of two stars colliding. Swirling with intensity, their dizzy minds could comprehend only one reality; this was love!
I was so excited to finally reach Mexico! I have actually been sitting on this chapter for months, just waiting to build up to it. This was actually one of the first chapters I wrote for this fanfic, and realized I wanted to give them a longer journey to draw them together. Thank you so much for reading my story so far...there are many more destinations and revelations to come;)
Thank you so much to mirami03 who was one of the very first readers to suggest a destination for this flic (Mexico)! A shout out to GuenZhenXuan2020, bookworm, No One, miraculousrocks3, and KoalaWho for your reviews! To answer Aria2006's question about my personal favorite ship...Each one provides its own tension and romantic possibilities I can't get enough of...I actually do so much with Ladynoir because they travel together so much in this flic (Chat Noir's loyalty, admiration, and flirty nature is always a fun aspect of this ship), but actually I really love Marichat! They both love the opposite side of each other, but it is Marichat that I think they can really just be themselves around each other (without knowing its love). I think this ship may be the missing piece to unravel the love square.
All the very best, and hope you follow/favorite so you don't miss what is coming!