I wake early, not being able to sleep well. The dorm and main buildings are still quiet, for the next challenge won't take place until later this morning. Grabbing a coffee, I start to head down to the gardens.

Immediately, I start to relax as the scent of flowers waifs over my nose. The rose garden is vibrant with red, pink, and yellow roses. I wish Bugaboo and I didn't have to compete against each other, but we'll figure something out. I'm guessing the reason their testing us in this area is because there's a chance when we find the villain, we could get akumatized. I know Ladybug feels terrible about losing the Butterfly Miraculous long ago, but the mysterious cloaked figure we fought tumbled down into the fog.

I spent a lot of nights on patrol comforting her as she sat there, but she wasn't there. Her eyes which at times resemble blue fire with determination, had lost their sparkle and her voice was mute. Even on some of the darkest days of our lives, at least we had each other.

I meander down the path, delighted when I see a small crystal clear pond with majestic white swans guiding on the surface. I find a small bench, waiting to watch the sunrise, sipping my coffee.

I start as a small flock of crows rises from the bushes and I hear a strange rustling sound, almost a rustling of fabric.

"So, you've at last found the gardens, Cat Noir!" Formerly known as Master Fu, he appears in front of me with a wide-brimmed hat and gardening gloves. He looks older, but he still wears that gentle smile I remember from my teenage years. I give our old Master a tired smile. "I couldn't sleep, I'm competing against Ladybug today." "Well, the gardens are a peaceful place to come and think. You must love her very much." My throat constricts and I nod. "Very much. She was one of my first friends."

Okay, Marinette was my first friend as Adrien, because Marinette was the girl who ran after me wanting an autograph, or begging to be in my next photo shoot. She was shy, but whenever I had a problem, she was there, coming up with a solution. "If I didn't have her in my life, I think it would be very different." "Though I only know of her, through others, I can see the two of you have a special bond. Well, I'm off to check on the fountains. Good luck, today."

The dining hall is quiet, and even Sapphire is more quiet then usual. "What if they pair us up, Orion?" Orion places a hand on top of her. "We all have to remember its just a competition, and love conquers hate."

"Good morning, Guardians!" Gideon calls out as we meet in the field. "As you heard yesterday, you'll be competing against your partner. Your opponent will have ten minutes to hide himself in the forest before the gong is rung. Your mission will to be to retrieve a fake Miraculous from your opponent. Whoever gets the Miraculous first, will be given a special training tool given at the next challenge. But take all the time you need. Now, let's pair up and let the games begin!"

The boys are separated from the boys and I look across at Ladybug. Her eyes lock with mine, and my heart begins to speed up and I step backwards. Whenever we had arguments back in Paris, it always ended in distaste. "I don't think I can do this," I say aloud.

Gideon looks up from his clipboard. "That's unlike you, Cat Noir. Your power is destruction, which will make it easy for you to beat Ladybug. Unless, you want to forfeit. Or maybe your just scared?"

Anger pulses through me, black and hot. I remove my baton from my belt. My eyes lock on Gideon. "What did you say?" "Ladybug isn't your sweetheart today, she's your enemy. Now, let's play!"

"She will never…." I don't get to finish my sentence for my ears swivel and I hear the flutter of wings, then the world goes dark.

When I open my eyes, my competitors are all huddled together, but there's only one face in the crowd I seek. "Ladybug, come fight me if you dare!" Ladybug steps forward. "Cat, your not yourself. You don't even look like yourself. You've been akumatized!" The gong sounds and I dash away. What does she mean, akumatized? Its been years since we captured a akuma, and its all lies. With my powers, I can run as fast as the wind, and I tear into the trees. The birds fall silent as I pass, as they should. I am violent, deadly. I'm a cat, after all. I'm about to leap over the stream when I skid to a stop. My suit and hair are pure white, as white as freshly fallen snow.

But the eyes, my eyes are a piercing shade of blue, and I let a growl. "Don't worry, Cat Blanc. You have the advantage now. You and Ladybug will win for sure."

A woman all dressed in black with curly black hair stares at me. Her hair is chaotic, even while standing still. Two crows perch on her shoulders, staring at me, while a third observes from a nearby tree. "You did this," I point a claw at her. "You akumatized me." "You may call me Crone, and I'm the reason your at the Temple. Once Ladybug comes to rescue you, I'll take both of your Miraculous."

"Cat Noir? Cat Noir?" I freeze. Ladybug is somewhere close by. Crone has disappeared, and then Ladybug comes into view. "There's no Cat Noir anymore, only Cat Blanc. And I don't want to fight you, so don't come any closer." "Cat, you've been akumatized, but I can help you. After all, your still my partner." "Not if you can't get across." Before she can take a step forward, I rest my hands upon the water, and it freezes instantly. I continue to stay crouched, feeling the rumble as a ice wall rises from the wall, blocking her path.

Then I turn tail and run, freezing anything I touch. I want her Miraculous, but a small voice screams, danger, run as far as you can! The world becomes just a blur, and I head into the mountains.

If I'm able to freeze a stream, what else are my powers capable of? I head higher along a small path, and stop at a clearing. Kneeling down, I use my powers and a violent crack and rumble shake the earth but I don't stop.

A castle made from ice rises up towards the heavens, and I unleash my full powers. Eventually, I stop and I head inside my kingdom. From here, I'll be able to see Ladybug coming. Its a bit chilly, but I relish in being alone.

Now I won't hurt anyone, and Ladybug will be sure to hand over her Miraculous when I ask. I stay curled up like a ball of snow, waiting for sunset and her arrival. Who could miss my giant castle of ice, and Ladybug will instantly know it was my doing.

But I begin to feel cramped, so I uncurl and look at my reflection in the mirror. At first, its my own reflection, but then the mirror image changes. Marinette Dupain-Cheng stares back at me, her hand slowly rising and placing it on the ice. Why would she be looking back at me when she's thousand of miles in Paris, not giving a thought to me? "Princess, is that you?" She doesn't answer, but stares into my eyes. Slowly, I press my own hand against hers, and warmth floods through my body. I step backwards for I don't want my kingdom to melt away. I resist taking one last look at Marinette, and it nearly breaks my heart. Her eyes are sad, but she steps back, then stops. She extends her hand towards me, but I keep backing up until she's out of sight.

I step out onto one of the balconies and see Ladybug making her towards my kingdom, her red suit like a red poppy against the white snow.

I hear her knocking and descend to the ground level. I open the door slowly, seeing her shivering in the cold despite her warm looking red and white cape. "Come in from the cold, Ladybug. You must be hungry after your long journey. Alas, I have no found to give you. However, that could change if you hand over your Miraculous."

"Cat, you don't need my Miraculous. But I can get us some food. Lucky Charm!" a myriad of objects appear: Firewood, a fresh fish, a cooking pot, and a box of rice. There's even a thermos of hot chocolate for us to share.

I move back into the corner, watching her work. I must ignore these hunger pains until her Miraculous is mine. My stomach snarls as she removes the fish from the fire. Ladybug sits down next to me. "you love fish, how about a small bite?"

In the light in the flickering fire, she has never looked so beautiful. She shyly spears a piece, and holds it to my lips. Gently, I take a bite, and bite by bite she feeds me. "You shouldn't be doing this. I'm no longer your Cat Noir."

Ladybug sets down her plate, and slowly raises her hand to my cheek. "You'll always be Cat Noir to me." Then, as gentle as a whisper of wind, she plants a kiss on my lips. A warm feeling rushes through me, like on the very day on spring.

I no longer want this, I no longer want her Miraculous. "Free me," I whisper, detaching my bell. "Gladly," she says, snapping the bell and the akuma flies out.

Exhausted, I crawl over to the fire where she spreads a blanket over me. "Sleep, my Kitten. I'll keep watch until the morning sun rises."