We line up, and for a second I'm brought back to the days were I took fencing lessons. "Listen up! My name is Gideon and I'll be one of your instructors. Now, have any of you shot a bow and arrow before?"

Fencing yes, archery no. "We want to see how well your hand eye coordination is, and how accurately you can hit a target," Gideon says. "Now, line up!"

As we get closer to my turn my heartbeat picks up and my palms start to sweat inside my suit. "Don't sweat it, Cat Noir," one of the boys whispers to me. "If you need help, the instructors are here to help."

Though his little pep talk helps, hopefully it wasn't a physc out. "Cat Noir! Your up!" I take my bow and one of the trainers shows me how to load it properly. Then I peer down the shaft, zeroing in on the red bullseye down the field. "Choose the right target," an inside voice whispers and I let my arrow fly.

Zip, thunk! Not a bullseye by a long shot, but I hit the target. "Nice, I think you have potential. Orion, your up!" Of course, Mr. Bow-and Arrow would be named Orion. I watch with baited breath, and then with awe. It takes Orion about two seconds to notch, load and let his arrow fly. Bullseye!

We all burst into applause, but Orion steps quickly back into the crowd. He doesn't seem to like the attention, but he's such a good shot!

Ladybug is shaky, and even if she doesn't hit the target, she comes close. "Good work teams," Gideon says when we've all had a shot. "Now, if you head over that hill you'll come across a rice paddy where lunch will be served under a small tent."

I catch up with Ladybug and a young girl, I'm guessing her age to be about sixteen. "Sapphire," she introduces herself. "Archery is not my strong suit," Ladybug groans. "You did well, Kitty." "Beginner's luck?" I joke.

After being out in the hot sun all morning, its good to sit in the shade and have a cool drink. I notice Orion watching the rice paddy workers and I walk over to his table. "Interested in rice farming?" I start the conversation. Orion starts and puts a finger to his lips. "Shh. Not so loud, Cat." He moves some food around his plate. "If Father got wind that I wanted to be a farmer, I'd be the laughingstock of the temple." Empathy rushes through me. "What does he want you to be?" "A Guardian and a Guardian only. Everyone else can choose but me!" I hear the anger in his quiet voice, but under that a current of sadness. "I know how it can be to be controlled. But you know, I haven't even choose a career."

"But you Cat Noir, one of Paris's beloved heroes!" I take a drink of my pineapple juice. "Just because you think someone has it altogether doesn't always mean its true. Maybe you could talk to your father."

"It won't work, Cat. But thanks for the advice." Just then, a bell rings signaling the end of lunch. Tables and benches have been set up and a little ways out into the field, a obstice course is set up.

"This afternoon, you'll be working on camouflage and how you hide yourself on the course! You will work in teams of four, first painting your partner into a flower a bush, a pile of leaves. Then, your group will hide out in the course, while the other groups try to find you. The group who can hide the longest wins."

"What's the prize?" someone shouts out from the crowd. Gideon gives him a withering look. "A good grade, a good mark. Now, no more chit-chat!"

Sapphire immediately heads over to us. "My makeup are a little shaky," she says. "Could one of you do me?" Ladybug places a hand on her shoulders. "The best way to learn from your mistakes is to keep trying. How about…." Her bluebell eyes scan the crowd. "Orion, over here!" "Hey-hey, Sapphire," Orion stammers. "I'm I your guinea pig?" Sapphire giggles. "Yep."

"Looks like its you and me, Kitty. Now, what should I paint you as?" I close my eyes and sigh with contentment as Ladybug starts to paint my face. The paint has a cool feeling, and the brush is like a nice massage. But my eyes snap open as Gideon barks, "Five minutes, teams! Five minutes!" "And...voila!" Ladybug sings. "Your now a green water plant. Suit up with Aqua Powers and find the water source. Oh, and whatever you do, don't move!" "Easier said then done, M'lady. You know how restless cats can be."

Gideon blows a whistle and everyone heads over to the starting line. "On my mark. Set. Go!" I'm off, jogging across the sunlight field. As soon as I'm at the course, I keep my eyes peeled for water plants.

A glint of sliver catches my eye and as I slip into the water, I let out a sharp gasp. The water is cold at first, but the suit helps.

Ladybug is right, it is impossible not to wiggle, but I have a backup plan. Setting my baton screen to dark, I play Animal Crossing. Just then, an alert dings and I open the message.

"Spectacular shower over to the Temple tonight. Grab your friends, some popcorn and head up to ramparts for a grand show!"

The Temple Bulletin

I don't have much time to think about it though, because just then I see a foot come dangerously close to my hiding spot. If whoever moves a step to the left, I'll lose.

Then I'm quickly yanked backwards, over a small boulder and Orion places a finger to his lips. The feet move away from our position, and from up above I hear a whistle blow.

We break the surface, and head over to where everyone is gathering. We didn't win, but Gideon assures us that winning isn't always everything.

We invite Sapphire and Orion to the Meteor Party, and though Sapphire accepts readily, Orion says he'll have to think about it.

"I was going to explore the gardens, but I'm bushed. Plus, looks we'll be up past our bedtime," Ladybug smiles at me.

Well past dark, I wade through the crowd, looking for Ladybug who waves from a blanket. Sapphire sits beside her, trying to make a bracelet. I'm a bit disappointed not to find Orion among the crowd.

Its not that long before the first meteors appear, streaking across the night sky. The crowd gasps with delight, and suddenly I hear a voice: "Sapphire? Think you could make room on the blanket? Hi, Cat." I wave at him, happy now.

I lay back on blanket, wishing on of the meteors. Let Marinette forgive me, I close my eyes for a moment.

Popcorn is passed around, and everyone greatly admires the celestial star show. Finally, it ends and its time to head back to the dorms.

Detransforming, I quickly change into my pajamas, checking my phone before turning out the light. As soon as I hear Marinette's message, tears fill my eyes. She's forgiven me. I send a message back, wondering if the same meteor shower was over Paris.

No doubt she at her sewing desk working away. My eyes grow heavy and I'm carried into a dream….

"I just love your enthusiasm for buttons," I laugh as Marinette chatters away happily as she shows me her newest buttons. "Hey, a designer uses what she has, even when it isn't what you expect." "Someday, that will make the crowd go "ooh!" when you walk down the runway in one of your creations." "I prefer to sew only," Marinette says with a delicate shudder. "You know how shy I get Adrien."

"You could do it. I have faith in you." "Maybe you'll be wearing one of my suits, strutting your stuff!" she giggles. "What do you mean by "strutting?" I'm not a peacock!"

I wake with a smile on my face. The rift is gone, but now the miles separate us. When I catch Ladybug talking to a group of girls, I have blink, for sometimes she has the exact mannerisms of Marinette.

Ladybug catches me staring at her as I approach. "Do I have spinach in my teeth?" she giggles. "No, you just remind me of a good friend sometimes…."

"Attention, Guardians…." We look up at the loudspeaker. "After breakfast, meet at the steps for your next training session. Eat heartily!"

There's a scramble for no one wants to keep Gideon waiting. He's a good instructor, but you don't want to get on his bad side.

Heeding the message, I load my bowl with con-gee, making sure to load it with meat and veggies and take a large orange juice.

I sit down at Orion's table. "Morning. I never got to properly thank you for saving me yesterday." "Its what friends do." Orion is staring at something or someone over my shoulder, and I turn to see Sapphire enter the dining hall. "She's adorable," Orion sighs. "I hope they put us on the same team, whatever the next challenge is." "Your guess is a good as mine," I joke.

After breakfast, Gideon gives us our next assignment as the helpers hand out backpacks. "You'll be spending a day in the woods with your partner. You'll attempt to build a fire, climb a tree, and survive the day with only your backpack. We'll have invisible scouts watching your progress and reporting back to me. Pairs….."

I grin quietly but happily when I'm teamed up with Bugaboo. As much as I love group settings it will be nice just the two of us again. Just like old times.

The gong sounds and we dash down the steps, the forest spreading out below us. The woods will become our home for the day and new challenges are waiting.