Chat Noir and Ladybug washed up on Good Hope's white sandy shore. Their aqua transformations had allowed them smooth movement under the surface, but clamouring up, with the urgent push of the waves ushering them along was anything but graceful. Exhausted, they practically crawled out from amidst the sea foam.

Making it up far enough, not to be drawn back to sea, Chat Noir flipped himself over onto his back. His chest rose and fell rapidly as if his body was trying to make up for lost time taking in the extra air. Ladybug let herself collapse next to him, and stretch her aching muscles out on the warm sand.

Ember paced on the sand at first, and then distractedly flew to a rounded boulder a ways away to collect his own thoughts. Besides the Phoenix's occasional concerned muttering to himself, and ruffling feathers that sent snapping flickers of flame into the air, the trio were quiet. The ambient roll of the waves keeping time had a calming effect, dispute the distressing news they were all digesting.

Whoever the new Butterfly weilder was had not only targeted humans, but also wild kwami. Something unthinkable and terrifying! Ladybug knew in her heart that if they didn't find Nooro soon things were about to get worse than they had ever been.

Chat Noir was berating himself once more for letting the butterfly miraculous slip through their fingers when they had their chance. He swore that this time he'd have his eyes open. This time he wouldn't hesitate!

Gradually Ladybug rolled onto her side, and put her arm under her head. "Kitty," she broke the silence, watching his jaw tighten. "We're going to get him back aren't we...Nooro I mean!?"

Chat Noir gave a deep sigh, as if letting a huge weight fall from his shoulders, then gave her a good natured smile. "Of course we are Bugaboo! We are stronger then ever before."

Ladybug smiled back, absentmindedly tracing the seams along Chat Noir's suit. Then she glance up to where Ember was sitting hunched over. Her smile dropped, and was replaced by an expression of concern. "I think Ember is worried. I've never seen him act like this before," Ladybug observed lowly. "He hasn't said anything since the Blue Whale kwami."

Chat Noir rolled over, and sat up to follow her gaze. Their guide never let anything throw him off, and now he did look distressed. His orange and red fire flickered with bluish intensity. "I'll go talk to him," Chat Noir offered.

"Maybe I should," Ladybug moved to get up, but Chat Noir made her pause with a gentle paw on her arm.

"You take a chance to fuel up Tiki, and take a break. I'll just go make sure he's okay," Chat Noir assured her.

Ladybug nodded and as Chat Noir strode over to Ember, Ladybug called "Tiki, Spots Off!"

Tiki was not her chipper self, but listened gravely as Marinette talked about her concerns while she munched one of the Hertzoggies cookies Marintte had picked up at the Table Mountain cafe.

"You two must finish these trials to strengthen yourselves especially if wild kwamis are getting involved in akumatizations. It is rare for the emotions of a kwami to be susceptible to the power of the butterfly...but I have seen it before...a long time ago," Tiki mused.

"Is that why Ember is so upset?" Ladybug inquired.

"Partly," Tiki paused. Then she carefully continued, "Bennu...or Ember now...always suspected the deceit that took his last weilder's life might have involved the mosquito kwami and his thirst for power. He could never prove it, but the mystery of Alexandra's fire still haunts him."

"So he thinks the new Hawkmoth might have wild kwami help?!" Marinette gasped looking over to the silloette of the Phoenix and black cat sitting together.

Tiki looked sadly over to the kwami of wisdom. "Phoenix fire can heal much...but not the heart. More than anything he misses her...the last of the Phoenix weilders."

A short distance away Ember and ChatNoir watched the sunset over the rocks.

"You seem worried," Chat Noir said quietly.

"I know how much is at stake," his firey companion replied in a solemn tone.

They sat quietly again. The foreboding future fealt ill matched with the beauty of the vivid cheerful pinks and oranges in the sky.

Then Ember finally spoke again, without looking over at Chat Noir, "Lao Tzu once said 'Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.' You will need each other more than ever to make it through this," Ember looked straight into the heart of the sun as it slipped beneath the horizon. "The time is near now...the question is will you summon your courage to take the leap of faith."

Chat Noir met Ember's gaze, and held his breath.

"So you've already made up your mind," the Phoenix nodded. "Wayzz and Tiki always advised secrecy...but me...I believe revealing the truth is wiser...to those who can be trusted."

"I'd trust her with my life!" Chat Noir said with certainty.

"That's good..." Ember looked back out to where the sun vanished, shrouding the world in shadows, "...because your life is exactly what you've putting on the line."

Chat Noir was going to reply, but footsteps swishing through the sand behind him, made him reconsider.

"Chat, Ember!" Ladybug called running up to join them. "We're going to have to find some place to set up camp for the night."

"The Kagga Kamma caves!" Ember jumped in in a lighter voice, "I doubt You've stayed in a dwelling like them!"

Deciding to go along with their guide's unusual suggestion they called on Kalaaki and made their way to the caves.

When Ladybug had first heard that they'd be spending the night in a cave 250km from Cape Town, she had pictured a dark, dank hole...possibly inhabited by bats. She certainly had not pictured the pure luxurious design of the hotel-like sandstone caves of Kagga Kamma...not to mention the amazing views off the private terrace, en-suite, and even air conditioning! Chat Noir even discovered thick white robes stashed behind the door.

Chat Noir did not hesitate to get settled and jumped into the comfy bed, making the pillows scatter. He turned himselve around and sighed contently as his head sunk back into the thick comforter.

Ladybug stood in the doorway with her arms crossed giggling.

"What?!" He asked, raising his head.

"You're just such a cat sometimes," Ladybug grinned.

I don't know what you're talking about Chat winked mischievously, and slowly licked a paw, before drawing it through his wayward hair to smooth down the static bits from his tussle in the blankets.

Ladybug shook her head with a smile, and then rubbed her shoulder a bit self consciously. "Um...Chat...could I...I mean if it'd make you feel uncomfortable I don't have to...But I was just wondering...that is I was hoping..." Ladybug looked down at her feet.

"Mi'Lady, whatever it is, You know you can ask me anything," Chat Noir perched still the edge of the bed.

"Well, now that you know that ImMarinette, would it...would it be okay if I dropped my transformation while we slept? ...you know just so Tiki can have a break...and the suit is a bit uncomfortable...and I..." Ladybug gulped.

"Yes!" Chat Noir responded before she had even compiled the rest of her excuses. "Of course that would be okay with me!"

"Oh...um...thanks!" Ladybug's face reddened.

There was a pause as Chat Noir sat back expectantly, and Ladybug played with her earring twisting them back and forth. "You're sure?" Ladybug bit her lip, and glanced up at Chat Noir.

"Mari, I'm absolutely sure," Chat Noir reassured her.

"Okay...Tiki, Spors Off," Ladybug said, and in a flash her transformation dissolved leaving Marinette shyly shifting from foot to foot.

"Woah," Chat Noir breathed, and stared transfixed. "That was so incredible!"

"What?!" Marinette ducked her head, twirling her ponytail self consciously.

"It's you!" Chat Noir crossed the floor to take her hands in his.

"Kitty!" Marrinette rolled her eyes, "you knew that already!"

"Yeah, but to see you transform! It makes me wonder how I didn't see it all along!"

Marinette blushed deeper, but she smiled up at him.

"You are so beautiful!" Chat Noir sighed blissfully, moving his paw through her hair, and leaning in. His lips tasted hers, and a thrill-filled shiver ran through Marinette, before she pursued his mouth again.

That night as Chat Noir wrapped his arms around Marrinette, he drew her in closer to him. He longed to feel her soft skin without his rough gloves. He promised himself that this would be the last night his mask would come between them.

Ooo

Marinette woke up to a neatly written note from Chat Noir saying that he'd meet her for breakfast outside Clanwilliam's NetMar Tea house after he picked up some cheese for Plagg. A heart and X's and O's lined the bottom of the card with a cheeky looking little cat face doodled in the corner.

Marinette took her time getting ready. The Rooibos Tea House was not too far, and getting there took much less time than figuring out which of the hundred's of blends she would settle on. The man behind the counter proudly described how his family for generations had climbed the mountains in search of the fine, needle-like leaves, and bravely scaled the heights to bring them back to the valleys on the backs of donkeys. Finally, after many stories, Marinette picked a green rooibus tea for herself and a mango rooibos tea for Chat Noir.

After transforming, Ladybug stretched out luxuriously under a tree, and sipped her rooibos tea slowly.

Chat Noir snuck up behind her, surprising her with a general peak on her cheek. "I got you something ," he said almost shyly, and laid a hastily wrapped bundle on her lap.

"Aww Kitty!" Ladybug said, "all I got you was tea!"

"Tea sounds purrfect," he smiled, and took the warm cup in both paws with a deep sip, glancing eagerly over the cup to watch Ladybug unwrap the parcel.

Ladybug pulled out layers of vividly coloured cotton shweshwe. "Oh Kitty!" she spread her hands across the intricate geometric designs in indigo leaping across the beautiful fabric. "When we get home I'm going to make you something!"

"Haha," Chat Noir laughed, enjoying her excitement, "just can't wait to get this cat in calico hey?!"

She slipped the cloth around his neck like a scarf and pulled him in for a kiss.

"So you like it!" Chat Noir said breathlessly.

"Love it my Kitty," she booped his nose and carefully refolded the panels neatly back into the bag.

Sorry it took so long," he said sitting down next to her. "Plagg nearly had another meltdown in the store when the shop keeper suggested Cremalat Gorgonzola from Johannesburg might be better than the Camembert made in KwaZulu-Natal. I had to stop him from biting her when she claimed "it's nose was stronger than it's bite!"

"Oh no!" Ladybug giggled "Plagg is pretty particular about his cheese isn't he!"

"Oh you have no idea!" Chat Noir replied. "Playing interference anytime I shop at the fromage shop is a weekly hustle. I've had to change cheese shops three times!"

They were interrupted by shouts and cheers. Chat Noir and Ladybug could hear voices coming from around the corner. Moving cautiously closer to investigate they noticed that a large crowd had gathered around two young men circling each other at the center. The weilders stayed at a distance to avoid attention, but crammed their necks over the shoulders of the onlookers trying to see. One of the young men ran at the other with stick raised, and his opponent struck swiftly to prevent him from landing his strike.

Apparently there had been a disagreement between them, and they had decided to follow their tribe's ancient Zulu tradition of settling things publicly with a stick fight...battle till first blood. The dual was well matched, and the men tangled ferociously. Suddenly the youth closest to them had his stick knock from his hand and slid across the dust. They were certain this would mark the end of the match, but no final blow fell. His opponent refused to attack him unarmed, and waited for him to pluck his stick off the ground. His hand had nearly closed around his weapon, when the crack of their sticks collided again. The crowd gasped in unison and held their breath.

"They're going to kill each other!" Ladybug whispered to Chat Noir worriedly.

Just then one of their sticks struck the other in the face, and the scarlet blood spewed from his mouth as he reeled back on the ground. The drops of blood soaked into the dry earth, and just like that the dispute was settled.

Talking and laughter resumed again amongst the group, and the audience trickled this way and that. The victorious fighter though, did not ride off on the shoulders of fans or gloat over his victory. Instead he grabbed a cloth from a nearby bag, and sat down next to his defeated opponent. With a steady hand he helped the injured man up, and pressed the cloth gently to his broken lip.

Chat Noir and Ladybug watched this transfixed. Only seconds before these two had been at odds, seemingly out for literal blood...but the compassion the victor showed to the fallen was even more impactful than the fight itself.

It was true now that the fight was over there didn't seem to be residual animosity between them.

"Come now," Ember urged them, trying to stay out of sight. "We really must be going. There is still one more trial, and then the Dragon Mountain Council of Drakensberg await."

Chat Noir looked over his shoulder before trailing after their Phoenix guide and Ladybug. A familiar stab of regret tightened through his chest. A flashback of his baton clashing against Hawkmoth's sword pierced his memories like a returning nightmare. He saw himself standing over his father, as Hawkmoth's transformation peeled away. He hadn't been able to look him in the eye since. There had been a couple times over the past months he had seen him in prison since the trials...but no reconciliation...no wounds between them lay open like an infected sore poisoning him from the inside.

"Chat Noir?!" Ladybug called back concerned.

Chat Noir blinked, mentally shaking himself from the residual pain his father had inflicted. He smiled back at her with his lips, but the concern on Ladybug's face wasn't eased by such a mask. She noticed his eyes were not smiling, and instinctively linked her arm with his. She didn't ask, but just knew that when he got that far away look sometimes, that she could anchor him by drawing him close.

oooo

A special thanks to /Vanilla123catnezzer for suggesting South Africa as a destination for Ladybug and Chat Noir, as well as some of the cultural ties (bilatong, rooibus tea, and shweshwhe fabrics) that helped me dive into this amazing setting!

More experiences in South Africa to come for our favorite duo!

Thanks again to all my loyal readers who have stuck with this story through all the adventures!