"Olá!" a saki monkey swung down from the Amazonian treetops to greet Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Ember. "The Jaguar said you were on your way! How thrilling, and what timing to arrive right during Bumba Meu Boi festival!"
"Well, the river otter said it was a party, but it is also part of the survival trials?" Chat Noir asked.
"Oh yes! This part of the survival trials is all about competition! In the wild it is only natural for creatures to compete, for food, for territory, or for a mate! It is really one of the key driving forces in the natural word!" the monkey puffed up his chest proudly. "This annual festival is one of the largest in Brazil...well nearly the largest...only topped by the carnival in Rio of course."
"This is going to be so much fun!" Chat Noir's ears perked up.
"But where does the competition aspect enter into the partying, dancing, costumes, and parades?" Ladybug asked sceptically.
"Competition is a way of life here," the saki monkey nodded seriously. Before you know anything else, it is important that you understand that on this island, the people here have been divided for generations into two groups; Garantido vs. Caprichoso. Their rivalry used to be more like gangs, fighting each other with knives and pistols. There is still a clear divide between their red and blue colours within the community, but things are different these days. Now they leave the battle to the theatre of Festival do Boi Bumba!"
"You mean this whole festival is all about the fight between them?" Ladybug said in surprise.
"It centres around two versions of the same story; the Amazonian legend of a resurrected ox. The two teams, Garantido and Caprichoso compete every year to outdo each other in retelling the story of the ox through dances, songs, elaborate parades."
"So...a dance off! Sweet!" Chat Noir's pumped his fist in the air, earning an unimpressed look from Ladybug. "What?!" he grinned, "you've seen my dance moves Bugaboo! We've got this competition in the bag!"
"You haven't even been told what we are doing yet! We're probably not going to just pull out a bunch of flips and spins and dance our way out of this!" she crossed her arms.
"Actually...that's pretty much what you will be doing!" the monkey smirked. "Have you kids ever heard of the once forbidden dance fighting of Brazil, known today as Capoeira?"
"So I will be showing off my Capoeira-grooves again afterall!" Chat Noir cockily wiggled his eyebrows at Ladybug.
"I have to admit, there were pretty impressive against Frightengale!" Ladybug winked at Chat Noir.
"I knew you appreciated my dance moves!" Chat Noir beamed.
"You will each face three sets of experts in Capoeira at the centre areas of the festival tonight. Rehearsals take place almost every day of the year, all to prepare for these three days! You two will only have a few hours to prepare!"
"I've trained for years in many styles of martial arts, but I always really enjoyed Capoeira! I can show you a few moves Mi'Lady!" Chat Noir showed off for her doing a back flip, into a hand stand, before spinning himself across his shoulders, and ending with his head propped up on one arm, striking a full-on model pose for her. "Should I slow that down for you, so you can see it again?!" he winked.
"I think I've got the general idea," Ladybug smirked, before replicating his moves and throwing in a kiss blown over her shoulder.
"Okay, I want to see that one more time!" Chat Noir gushed, not even kidding a little.
"This is going to be so entertaining! The cat is more like one of those show-boating red-capped manakins from Costa Rica! Pulling out all the moves to impress the female!" the saki monkey whispered to Ember.
"It's not all fun and games! I don't want them getting distracted!" Ember whispered back sternly.
"Ha! You came to the wrong place to avoid distractions ya ol' stick in the mud!" The monkey slapped the Phoenix on the back, only to pull his paw back with a 'yip,' at his burnt paw from the phoenix's firey feathers. He sucked his paw, and said around his fingers, "Bumba Meu Boi festival is opulent, surreal, and filled with sights you can't even begin to imagine. It isn't for nothing that over 35,000 humans will gather just to get a glimpse of the spectacle!"
"We must not forget this is the link to our past," Ember ruffled his feathers sending sparks up.
"You're right, you're right!" the monkey conceded. "But your kids seem ready! Why not let them enjoy some of the festivities before they compete," the monkey suggested.
"I suppose..." Ember looked at the hopeful faces of Chat Noir and Ladybug. "As long as you are careful, and don't miss your cue at the main stage!"
Chat Noir and Ladybug nodded, and Chat Noir grabbed up her hand and was running towards the city before the Phoenix could change his mind.
"I suppose you, and I should go let the guardian here in Brazil know that the Ladybug and Black Cat will be joining the competition tonight," Ember nodded to the monkey.
"His students have been awaiting this day with great enthusiasm," the saki monkey led the way.
Ladybug and Chat Noir where excited to explore and we're already well out of sight.
"We've got a little bit of time before the festival performance kicks off, do you want to grab some food?" Chat Noir asked.
"Sure, but let's maybe change first," smiled Ladybug, gesturing to her spots.
"That's probably a good idea. Plagg, claws out!" Chat Noir said, dropping his transformation.
"Tiki, spots off!" Ladybug said, and Tiki was released to join Plagg.
"Canastra! Queijo prato! Queijo de coalho! Queijo Minas! I don't care which one, just get me some cheeeeeese!" Plagg moaned, draping himself dramatically over Adrien's shoulder.
Tikki's little stomach gave a growl that would rival Plagg's. Embarrassed, she giggled, "I guess we're both pretty hungry!"
"That is the great thing about a festival! There is always plenty of great food!" Marrinette gestured to the busy roadside stands.
Adrien and Marrinette held hands walking through the hectic streets. There were many roadside stands selling mouthwatering food. Adrien had to poke Plagg's head back into his shirt more than once. The streets were packed with people, but no one seemed to pay much attention to the two young tourists amidst the crowd.
Adrien quickly found some queijo coalho (squeaky cheese on a stick) for Plagg. He pretty much bought out the man's entire cart worth of cheese to appease the insisted cat kwami.
While Adrien was paying the vender, Marrinette caught sight of a stand across the crowd that was selling brigadeiros (chocolate truffles). She figured they would be perfect for Tikki and her sweet tooth. "I'll be right back. I'm just going to pick up some of those over there," Marrinette said to Adrien.
"Sure, sounds good," Adrien smiled, but his attention was diverted to the vender, who was now trying to talk him into some blue festival souvenirs.
Marrinette weaved her way through the masses of people jostling each other through the streets. She finally made it to the vender, and discovered that the woman had just sold the last of her chocolates, but the kind old lady directed her further down the market to another vender who sold beijinhos.
When Marinette asked what beijinhos were, the old lady blew her a kiss, and laughed, "their name means 'little kisses,' but they are actually just sweet coconut treats. No better gift for a sweetheart!" the lady winked.
Marrinette smiled back, and thanked her before heading off in search of these 'little kisses.' She finally found them, and thanked the vender as he dropped the coconut sprinkled treats into a bag for her.
When she turned around, Marrinette realized that she had gotten quite turned around. She couldn't see Adrien anywhere! Slipping Tikki a beijinho to munch on, she decided that she better try to make it back to where she had last left him. She headed in one direction, and then another, but nothing looked familiar. She caught sight of a boy with blonde hair and white shirt heading the opposite way through all the other people on the street. She dodged around everyone, and made her way towards him. "Adrien!" she called, but he didn't turn around. "Adrien!" she called again, but he must not have heard her over the other voices of everyone else down the street. Up one street, and down another she finally caught up with him, and reached out her hand to touch his shoulder. When the surprised young man turned his blonde head it was not Adrien at all, but a complete stranger.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry!" Marrinette apologized. "I thought you were my boyfriend!"
The blonde-haired young man gave Marrinette a wink with his bright blue eyes and a smooth smile, "I could be your boyfriend!"
"Hehe...no..." Marrinette retreated awkwardly, and headed back the way she's come leaving the young man to shrug continue on his way muttering, "worth a shot!"
Marrinette ducked into an ally and whispered to Tikki, "what should we do? How do I find him in such a huge crowd? I don't even know where we started from anymore!"
Tikki looked thoughtful, and scratched her little antenna, "well, you could always transform and take a look at the map on the miraculous yoyo. That would at least give you an idea of where we're supposed to meet up with him."
"Tikki, that's brilliant!" Marrinette cheered. "Okay, let's do this! Tikki, Spots on!"
Ladybug was just about to take out her yoyo, when three women all dressed head to toe in tight red outfits and masks walked by the alley, and noticed her. "o que você está fazendo?" one of them demanded running up to her.
"I uhh...I don't..." Ladybug was taken aback by the insistent women that had suddenly surrounded her, speaking portuguese.
"já estamos atrasados!" the one with bold eyeliner, and glossy, ebony hair said urgently, and grabbed her arm, pulling her along with them.
"I don't...that is...I was..." Ladybug tried to protest, but the rushed women just nodded at her, not listening and pulling her along with them to the building next door.
As soon as they had passed through the double doors of the building Ladybug's mouth gaped open. The space was like a aircraft hanger, and it was filled with people dressed in red. A burly man in a bright red polo shirt greeted the four of them, glancing somewhat annoyed at his watch. "se apresse, vista a fantasia!"Get ready quick!" he ushered them along to a row of standing hangers and makeup tables at the edge of the room. These were already occupied by more women in form-fitting red outfits getting elaborate costumes on.
"I was just looking for someone," Ladybug tried to explain. "I don't really belong here. I'm just going to go..." Ladybug tried to reverse her steps, but instead had a red and black costume pushed into her face, and she was sent to a change room.
Sitting down on the bench within the makeshift change room Ladybug flipped open her yoyo, and scanned the map displayed.
"Se apresse! Hurry! We've got to get down to the Festival do Boi Bumba stage five minutes ago!" a frenzied organizer rattled on Ladybug's dressing room door. "Bumbódromo awaits, along with over 35,000 impatient spectators!"
"Bumbódromo!" Ladybug repeated noting the location of the stage on her yoyo. This was perfect. That was exactly where she and Chat Noir were supposed to meet back with Ember. Chat Noir would absolutely find her there!
An impatient knock on the door had her put on the embossed outfit with intricate beading and feathers. "Okay, okay, I'm ready!" Ladybug declared emerging from the change room. She figured she could just let this group of performers lead her straight to her destination.
The organizer who had knocked on her door took one look at her, and sighed exasperatedly quite loudly. Then she shoved Ladybug back in the room, yelling, "you've got to take your red leggings and unitard off before sticking the costume on genius! Se apresse!"
"This is the whole costume!" Ladybug held up what was more of a embellished bikini with a shimmering long red skirt trailing behind it, a sparkly black butterfly mask, and a extravagant feathered headdress.
"é claro! Of course! Hurry! Se apresse!" the frazzled organizer yelled with urgency.
"Okay, okay!" Ladybug locked the door, and whispered, "Tikki, Spots off!"
Tikki emerged with a look of concern. Marrinette fed her another coconut sweet, before switching costumes. When everything was in place, she had to admit it was impressive the thousands of hours someone must have put into hand sewing each detail on the costume. The designer in her could have poured over the craftsmanship for hours. The Marinette in her...well...she was feeling more exposed than wearing a skintight red Ladybug outfit! She was able to cram the rest of her clothes into her small backpack, while Tikki was easily camouflaged in the plume of brilliant red feathers radiating out from her back.
Holding her backpack self-consciously in front of herself, she edged out of the change room. No sooner had she left her sanctuary, she was caught up in a flood of dancers streaming towards the assembly point. She just had to play the part and blend in, and they would get her back to Adrien, and back on track with their trials. She could survive this!
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Thank you so much to everyone who has been following this story, and a special thank you for the enthusiastic and motivating reviews! I will keep trying to improve. It is so amazing to have people care about what I'm writing after this whole time!
Hint for upcoming chapters: Marinette is about to run into someone familiar...Someone who Adrien might feel a little competitive with;)
More destinations to come!
Please follow, favourite, and review if you are enjoying the story:) I'm off to write some more.