"What happened?" I sit up, rubbing my head. One minute I was walking towards the dining hall, the next I'm sitting in a small enclosed space. Or maybe its a cube. This isn't part of the challenge is it? Because if it is, I demand a refund. "Spots Off." Tikki flies up, and I hold my head. "You okay, Marinette?" "My head. How did I get here anyway?" "Maybe this will help," Tikki points to a note on the ground. Huh, that's strange, why is there a black feather attached to the note?

"Get out if you can, and I'm watching you.

Even if you manage to escape, next time you won't be so lucky."

Crone

I cleave the paper in two. Of course, I should have known. The villain that turned Cat into Cat Blanc. But how did she get into the Temple? This is one of the safest places in the world for Miraculous holders, if not the safest.

I'll have to figure it out later though. I think I'm in one of the garden sheds, for there are seed bags everywhere. A large mirror rests against one of the walls. Yes, I could use my powers, but I feel like that would be cheating, and I want Gideon to know I can get out on my own. Hammering my fists against the door won't help, and neither will screaming.

I crawl over to the mirror and stare at the girl who looks back at me. She looks worried but determined. I check my bug phone, surprised to see its still the middle of the night. Okay, I'll figure this out in the morning, and I'm going back to sleep.

When I wake in the morning, I feel a bit groggy, but nothing coffee...oh, wait. No coffee until I find a way out of here. No good morning hug or joke from Kitty. I don't know why the thoughts makes me cry, but it does. "Spots On," I whisper.

When my tears subsides, I wipe my eyes and look back in the mirror. Strange, my reflection should be looking back at me, but instead Cat Noir sits across from me. Is this a dream?

Slowly, with trembling fingers, I touch the cool glass. A barrier sits between us, but in a strange way I feel comforted. "Bet you ever thought you'd see me cry, huh?" I ask the mirror. "I would never bet on that, M'lady, or do I like to see you cry." "Any ideas on how to get out of here?" "Have you looked around?" "Cat, there's no way out, I've tried." "Oh, there's a way out. Maybe I should let Adrien handle this." "Adrien? Wait, Cat!" "Claws In." I muffle a gasp Cat's transformation drops and Adrien stands looking back at me. "Cat?" "Just Adrien, but you can also call me Prince Meowing." I giggle. Strange, why aren't I more surprised. "That's Prince Charming." "Even people in fairy tales have to find their way out, Ladybug. You just have to find the right one." I feel my temper flare. "This isn't the time to talk in riddles!" Fairy tales? I think of fairy tales that had seeds in it….Beans! "Adrien Agreste, I love you!" "That was all you, but thank you!" I rip open one of the bags marked beans. Then I fill one of the pots with water and seeds. Setting in a patch of sunlight, I wait. Adrien laughs gently. "Well, that's one way to do it, I suppose." "Am I doing something wrong?" "Well, you are Lady Luck, so why don't you use….." I fill in the blank. "My Lucky Charm!"

A different kind of watering can, drops it my hands, splashing me. "Ladybug, wait!" Adrien's voice sounds so urgent, I set it down and go back over to the mirror. "What is it, my Prince?" Then I freeze. I know Adrien is Cat Noir, and he stayed with me. "Adrien, I need to tell you who I am. Spots…."

Everything grows blurry and find myself in bed. Did I dream of being captured and injured? Is Cat really Adrien? I slowly open my eyes, and the first thing I see is green eyes. Cat. "What happened?" I'm so thirsty. "Easy. Crone nearly captured you, and your banged up pretty bad." "The last thing I remember was heading to the dining hall…." "Luckily, Grandma Pyo and Master Fu were taking a stroll. Crone won't be back soon, for she'll be nursing a nasty head wound." "What happened?" "She bonked Crone on the head with Master Fu's hoe."

I shouldn't, but I snort and begin to giggle, picturing the scene. Then I wince. "I'll get some water and then you can go back to sleep."

I try to drink it on my own, but my hands are way to shaky, so Cat tips the glass up to my lips. As the cold water slides down my throat, I focus on Cat's features. Golden buttercup colored hair, emerald green eyes, peach colored lips. "Your so beautiful," the words slip out before I stop them. Cat rests his forehead against mine. "I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you." I want to tell him that he was with me, the whole time I was trapped. But it will have to wait for he's kissing me, and I don't want to talk.

Cat's gone when I wake up from my nap, there must have been some sort of sleeping powder in it, and it gives me time to think. I don't feel scared anymore about showing Cat who I am under the mask. I don't know when the right moment will come along, but I know I'll feel it.

Slowly, I return to my old self, and at last am allowed out of bed. Cat leaves a note with Sapphire that he'd like to meet me in the hedge in the garden so I make my down.

"M'lady, I keep wanting to be brave for the next challenge but I'm so scared." "Okay, let's cuddle." Cat lies down with his head in my lap, and I stroke his hair and his soft black ears. "One, you won't be alone. I'll be right there by your side. And remember, you have your night vision. But most importantly, remember that we love each other." Cat flips over to look at me. "You said you love me." A small breeze rustles the bushes. "I might in love with Kitty. I have a lot of new feelings rising to the surface." Cat sits up. "What brought this on?" I rest my head against his chest. "Because you didn't leave when I saw you in the mirror." "Huh?" "Long story." I give him a quick kiss and escape.

I find my way to Grandma Pyo's cottage where she is watering a giant sunflower. "Ladybug, dear! I was expecting you!" "Expecting me? How did you know I'm starting to have feelings for Cat Noir?"

Everything tumbles out as tell Grandma Pyo about my dream, what Cat and I have talked about. I hold back on the kissing part though. "I know these new feelings are existing, Ladybug. Now you need to show Cat your love when you head into the dark." "I don't get it." "I should keep this a secret, but you'll find out soon enough. The next challenge you'll spend a day and night in the dark. It will test you, and this will be the hardest test yet. But I have no doubt you and Cat are up for it."

I know what she means now. In the dark, I'll have to comfort Cat when he gets scared, and needs comfort in the darkness, when the dark memories of the past come to haunt him. But there must be something I can give him, when we are separated that he can hold onto.

Heading back to the arts and crafts room, I make a bracelet, just like I did many years ago for Adrien.

Green, yellow, black, the beads all slip onto the red string. I even add a pink and red bead. Pink for Marinette under the mask. I wonder if he'll think of me when he sees it.

The morning of the challenge I ask Sapphire to fix my hair in the double buns again. She's delighted to help me, and Cat gives me a loving look when I slide into my seat next to him. "I made this for you," I tell him, pulling it out of my pocket. I lower my voice. "If you get scared, slip this on and think of me."

Cat can only nod, but gives me a kiss. I blush. "Cat! Our friends are watching!" "So, they're dating too." Okay, I don't know if Cat and I are exactly dating yet, but we're inching closer.

I hold Cat's hand as the challenge is issued and someone shows to our cube. Food will be delivered and a divider wall will come down between us at lights-out. I know that will be the toughest time for Cat, and even I wonder how I'll hold up. "Don't worry, someone will be monitoring your progress throughout the day. If we think your in distress, we'll come over the speaker, or pull you out as needed."

Cat and I step into the room, and I can feel my heart beating in my ears as the door closes behind us. It takes my eyes a few minutes to adjust, unlike Cat's. I find the wall and sit down, in the crisscross applesauce position. "Come here, Kitty." I scratch his ears, loving when a rumbling purr escapes from his chest. This way, he's got contact with me, and I know he enjoys the scratches. The darkness presses in on us, and I'm so glad Cat's warmth keeps me calm. "Why'd you stop? More, please." I laugh, and bend down to press a kiss to his hair.

We're going to be okay, for we have each other.