*Peeks out from behind doorway* *Clears throat* Uh, hi guys. I'm back. Finally. Sorry. Um. On with the story? *Vanishes again*
(takes place between chapters 4 and 5)
Most people probably couldn't say they'd successfully snuck past every palace guard there was (Alya certainly couldn't!), but Trixx wasn't 'most people' and therefore…
After making it inside, he realized just how little he'd thought out of this grand plan of his. Like, finding Alya. Somewhere in the maze that was the castle. Or how he was going to convince her to leave without actually telling her the reason they needed to. (Maybe she wouldn't need convincing, but he really should be prepared just in case.)
Hearing voices coming his direction, he ducked into the shadows, pulling an illusion around him to shield what he knew the dark couldn't. Listening closer, he realized he recognized whomever was wandering this way and breathed a sigh of relief.
The illusion dissolved from around him and Wayzz very nearly punched him while Pollen and Sass jumped slightly at his sudden appearance.
"Sorry," Trixx muttered. The three blinked at him for a moment before Pollen smiled, Sass shook his head amusingly, and Wayzz had her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Trixx!"
He chuckled, bringing his arms up to return the hug and resting his head on her shoulder. She always smelled faintly of the ocean, no matter how long it's been since she'd actually been to one.
His eye's flickered to their other companions, smiling sheepishly.
"Hey guys."
Pollen and Sass returned his greeting before slipping away with a wink. Trixx blinked for a moment, trying to puzzle out the unspoken statement in advance as that signature fox smirk found its way to his face.
Music from the ballroom could be heard from here, though only faintly. He pulled out of the embrace, ignoring the face Wayzz was making at him, and held his hand in invitation.
"A dance?"
A/N: So many dances, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
She glared at him for a moment, a clear sign to remember why he was here, before rolling her eyes and taking his offered hand.
"I suppose you must plan on telling me why your charge is here when she isn't supposed to be while we dance?"
"I must have lost her in the crowds, you know how they are, and she wandered up here. Hardly my fault, though I will try to prevent it in the future, mon chéri."
"Don't bother. Most of them are here anyway. Yours, mine, Sass', Pollen's, Tikki's, and Plagg's. That practically the whole gang. Not what we planned, but Fate always has a way of stepping in, doesn't she?"
"She sure does. But she tends to have a slightly better idea of the what's-to-come than us."
"I suppose she does. Now, how about we find this kit of yours?"
"Probably a smart idea, any clue where she might be?"
"If all's going well, she should be dancing with my hatchling."
The music slowed to a stop, what little of it they could hear anyway, and therefore so did their dance.
Wayzz pulled back, though her right hand remained intertwined with his left. He ached for a second over the feeling of it, knowing it would have to end. He missed the centuries they'd managed to spend with each other. Centuries that had ended the minute they'd heard Nooroo and Duusuu were taken–stolen–and in possible danger. He worried for them and prayed they could help them soon.
They just had to find them.
But first things first; find Alya.
"Shall we head towards the ballroom and get mine away from yours?"
"I suppose we must. As long as mine doesn't meet you."
So they headed off.
~ MLB ~
In hindsight, Wayzz should've been the only one to enter the ballroom. She should've found Alya alone and sent her out to the hall. Alas, neither the fox nor the turtle were quite ready to split ways and so they entered together.
Besides, what's a ball without a little chaos?
It was a slow song, that first melody they walked in on.
Oh, how Trixx wished to once again offer his hand to his only, but, alas, he knew better than to waste any more time.
"Which one's yours?"
"The dark haired one talking to Alya. The nervous looking one."
"So I can't really snag her back right now, can I?"
"Nope. But I can."
"You are cruel, love."
"Love is cruel, I am simply a puppet of it."
And with that, she vanished through the crowds towards the object of his presence, leaving him to his own thoughts.
Or, as Fate would have it, the company of Plagg.
"Is this a ruse or is the master of illusion actually standing there looking lonely?"
Trixx had never thought he'd ever be so glad to hear Plagg's voice again, but here he was with a stupid, cringe-worthy grin on his face as his (second) best friend appeared beside him.
"My tail, it is! Man, it's been ages. Literally. What brings you here, now of all times?"
"Runaway charge. Y'know how it is."
"True, they never do stay where they're supposed to. Mine was currently supposed to stay by the door. Instead he just scored a dance with the Queen. He's a little like me."
"The Queen? Isn't she Tikki's? And how is he like you?"
"Tikki's indeed. And I mean he never seems to be where he should be."
"Really? Interesting. Mine is usually pretty predictable, but tonight she threw me a real curveball."
"Yikes. Oh– that's Wayzz, I'd better scat."
"That one was awful!" Trixx yelled after him, just as Wayzz and Alya came to stand beside him.
"Who was that?" Alya asked, craning her neck to see over the crowd.
"An old friend. It was very possibly destructive to see him again, but enjoyable nonetheless," he replied with a very pointed look at Wayzz. Her eyes widened slightly as she mouthed 'he's here?'
Trixx nodded before turning to Alya, eyebrow raised in blatant question.
"Before you start," she spat, "You vanished on me, not the other way around."
This was answered with an eye roll and a chuckle.
"Fine. Let's get out of here though, shall we? We've still got a long way to travel."
Alya glanced back towards the dark haired guard that was Wayzz's charge before sighing.
"I suppose."
The two foxes disappeared, leaving a poor new love interest confused, maybe slightly hurt, and completely lost.
But what's life without a little drama?
Hey, sorry about the wait… writer's block hit me like a truck but instead of just running me over and leaving me to try to get up, I'm pretty sure it just parked over my dead body for a while. Hopefully the next chapter won't take nearly as long. The next one will also finally be moving forward in the story, instead of just giving you 4,711,013 different perspectives of the same couple of hours. :)
Quick Review (for those who are also trying to keep it all straight):
Marinette knew Luka and Nino. She met Chloé, Alya, and Adrien.
Adrien knew none of them. He met Marinette.
Alya knew Chloé. She met Nino and Marinette.
Nino knew Marinette and Luka. He met Alya and Chloé.
Luka knew Nino and Marinette. He met Chloé.
Alright, cool.