I wake excited, and happy to have a new friend. "Wow, are you always this cheerful in the mornings?" A small voice asks, and I squeak in fright, finding Tikki sitting on my knees. "I'm sorry, Tikki. You startled me. You see, I'm used to living alone." I crawl out of bed, smiling at her. "As to your question, I'm not normally an early riser, but we have a big day ahead of us." I hum happily as I turn on my stove, making a big bowl of eggs, delighted when I find freshly squeezed orange juice in the fridge.

I hope Cat comes for breakfast this morning, so I set an extra spot, and am not disappointed when I hear a knock at the door. "Good morning!" I chirp, taking his hand and pulling him inside before he can answer. "Will you have breakfast with me?" Cat grins. "Both my stomach and I say yes. Thank you."

We eat in silence for a few minutes, but its not a lonesome silence, as the silverware tapping against the plates is a cozy sound. "Usually at home, I would cook my own meals for my parents always rose early to work in the bakery. Most days I found it okay, but there were days I missed their company. I didn't have any friends in school." "I grew up with only my cousin visiting from time to time, so when I felt lonesome I would go out to my mother's garden and play. I could spend hours playing, or just watching the clouds scuttle by."

I smile wistfully. "That sounds lovely. If you had lived in Paris, I would have asked me to cloud watch with me. There was this one time," I take a bite of egg, "That there was this big fluffy cloud, and me being a designer wanted to make a cloud dress so bad. I was five." Cat grins, and gestures for me to continue. "So, when I got home I found all the cotton balls in the house and guide them to a cardboard cutout of a dress I made. All the cotton balls fell off when I should Mama and Papa, but it was fun." Suddenly, though a dark memory surfaces. "But when I told my classmates about it the next day, they all thought I was weird. I wanted to tell my parents when I got home from school, but they were so busy, I never told them. Your the first to hear that story."

Cat comes around the table and takes my hands in his. "I'm honored to be the first, and good for you for trying." I like the feeling of his warm hands in mine. "We should clean up and get going."

We don't have a map, but Cat tells me that most of the akuma attacks have to been up in the hills, so we begin to climb. The morning air is cool, but it promises to get hotter. "I'm surprised you don't want to take off that black suit," I grin at Cat. "You'll get hot in the sun." "But black is such a lovely color, brings out my eyes, don't you think?" I shake my head.

Towards mid-day, our stomachs start to growl. "Maybe we should stop for lunch," I suggest, wiping sweat from my brow. "Good idea. There's a stream close by with berry bushes. We can eat in the shade."

We munch cold sandwiches while keeping our toes cool in the fast moving stream. We get the giggles as we eat some of the purple berries and get juice all over our chins. "I've heard of a mustache, but ever a purple mustache." He grabs a berry, his eyes alight with mischief. "Would you like a mustache too?" "No, Cat!" I leap up, ducking behind a tree, giggling and change into my suit. "Or maybe we should paint spots on your face? After all, you are a ladybug!" I unhook my yo-yo and launch it perfectly, and it makes a swing that I boost into, to get away from Cat and have a swing. "Get me up here!" I sing, swinging back and forth. "Princess, did you forget…" Cat leaps onto the tree I'm in, and starts climbing. "That us cats are excellent climbers!" He drops down onto my swing and we tumble to the ground laughing.

After we've calmed down, I put a finger to my lips. "Sh. Do you hear that?" I can hear music close by, sweet lovely music from a harp or maybe a flute. One of Cat's ears swivels, picking up on the sound. "This way."

But when we reach the maker of music, Cat grabs my hand and shoves me behind a tree. "Hey, what's the idea?" I say, angrily, but Cat clamps a hand over my mouth. "Don't move, and be very still." And then I hear it. A rattling sound, then a hiss. There's a snake nearby and I go as still as a statue.

A boy with hair the color of water slowly rises from his stump he was sitting on. I want to cry out to him, but he picks up a flute, his eyes never leaving the snake's. He raises the flute to his lips and begins to play one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard. The snake ceases to rattle his warning, and instead sways to the rhythm of the music, locked in the spell of the music. When the music fades away, the snake lowers its head and slips under the leaves, going back to its hole. I find my hand is tightly grasped in Cat's, and as he slowly lets go, I rub the feeling back into my hand as we step out of hiding.

"Hello, I'm Hydra. That snake you saw is a regular visit to my woodpile." "It must take a special skill, for not everyone can play music for snakes." Hydra grins, ducking his head. "Everyone has their own talents. Me, I'm a woodcutter but what I love best is music." He sticks out a hand. "I'm given you my name, but I don't know yours." We introduce ourselves, and tell Hydra about our mission. Hydra lowers his voice. "Hawkmoth passed by not long ago. You should have seen the swarm of butterflies that traveled with him. My snake friend got a tasty snack, but then he spit them out, for these weren't any ordinary butterflies. Around here, we call them akuma." Cat and I look at each other, and I step forward, feeling brave. "Its our mission to stop this Hawkmoth, and return peace and safety to the woods." "You may have magic," Hydra says, "But your love for each other is even more powerful." "Oh, we aren't in love," I stammer. Cat smoothly changes the subject. "I was told this Hawkmoth has a castle in the mountains, but we have no map to guide us. Can you help?" "There is a ancient library up on the hill, everything you have wondered about, or will wonder about you can find there." "You've been so kind," I tell him. I eye the flute resting on the stump. "I have one more question before we go. May I try playing your flute?" "Be my guest," Hydra says, handing the wooden flute to me.

The design is beautiful, a wooden snake is carved into the flute. "Hydra the Water Snake Constellation. I'm named after him." "Its beautiful," I tell him, and then raise the flute to my lips. I take a breath and blow, but instead of wonderful music, a awful honking sound comes out! Hydra laughs, as I blush. "It takes practice. Would you like to keep the flute, Marinette?" "Could I?" Hydra gives a small bow. "We'll call it a parting gift to remember each other by."

"He seemed nice," I tell Cat as we travel in the direction Hydra pointed us. "Maybe a little to nice," Cat grumbles. "Cat, are you jealous?" "Of him? Naw, besides who needs music when you can meow and purr?"

"Look, up ahead!" Sure enough, like a golden crown upon the hilltop sits the ancient library. When we reach the entrance, magnificent lions guard the entrance.

I gasp in delight as we enter through the impressive double doors, and the shelves travel up to the ceiling, loaded with books.

"May I help you?" We spin around to find a kind looking lady, smiling from behind a wooden oak desk. "My name is Atlas, and I'd be happy to serve you." I grin at her, she has the perfect name. "We're looking for a book on castles. And superheroes!" "Ah, you've come to the right place. Follow me."

We follow her up a winding staircase and she walks us down one of the aisles. "Here we are, castles!" She hands Cat a thick volume that must be heavy, for I hear him give a little oof. "Come with me, child. The book of super heroes is this way." "Have you traveled much? Hearing that your name is Atlas, I had to ask." She smiles at me, before continuing to scan the shelves. "I'm been all over the world, and seen many things. And you, child, you wear the look of a girl in love." Before I protest, she walks away, and Tikki flies out of my knapsack. "Marinette, do you have a crush on Cat?" I panic, putting a finger to my lips. "Sh, he'll hear you! And no, I don't!" I stalk down the aisle, in search of my companion, my head whirling like a whirlpool. I do like Cat very much, but if anyone found that out, they would just laugh at me. After all, I'm just a clumsy girl who spends her time dreaming and staring at the clouds.

I locate Cat who has found a sunspot, and sits purring in the sunlight, book open but eyes shut. Time for a meow, I giggle to myself, shoving away all thoughts of crushes and love.