With Ladybug gone, I know she'll want me to keep Hawkmoth talking, and this kitty's got talking in the bag. "She's hiding somewhere, isn't she?" Hawkmoth leans close into my face, and I try not to wrinkle my nose at his foul breath. "Don't you need my ring and her earrings to make the wish?" Hawkmoth straightens up, and rubs his chin. "My, aren't you the observant Kitty." "Neither she or I will ever give up our Miraculous! Especially since we know you'll only use them for an evil purpose!"

Hawkmoth places a hand on his chest, and takes on a wounded look. "Cat Noir! Your words hurt more then your claws or even what your cataclysm could do. And who said it was for a evil purpose? Maybe I'm helping someone I love dear."

My hands trembled and my teeth grind together. "Don't tempt me to use my cataclysm. You've been warned." "Such a temper, but you have the power of patience, Cat Noir. Holding back until you snap, as it were. Someone I love in my heart was very much like you."

This conversation reminds of the one earlier, but I must focus at the task at hand. At least until Ladybug comes to stand beside me, holding a paper lantern. "Kitty! Hawkmoth! Don't you love the light! It attracts all sorts of good things, like…." she pauses and my ears flutter as the sound of many beating wings fill my ears. "Moths!"

Sure enough, hundreds of moths surround us, and Ladybug grabs my hand before we can get caught up in the growing swarm. Hawkmoth shrieks with rage, and calls out, his shouts reaching our ears. "You haven't seen the last of me, Ladybug!"

But Ladybug and I keep running, and luckily the sun is just beginning to rise. "Let's move on a little more, then I'll make breakfast."

Finally, we stop to rest, finding sticks our fire and Ladybug makes tea. "Mm, its got a smoky flavor," I sip my hot tea slowly as she mixes a batter and ladles some kind of pancake onto the fire. "My mother showed me how."

"I was watching, and you didn't look scared at all. In fact, you were really brave." I nudge her, a grin slowly creeping across my mouth. "You were a knight in shining leather, Kitten." Marinette now seems like her old self, and after dousing the fire, we head back to the path.

Up and down the hills we go, and it takes time maneuvering all these hills. Passing the water bottle and jokes back and forth, we try to keep our spirits up as the day progresses. But Marinette grows quiet again, and sticks close by my side. "What are you thinking about, Princess? Your eyes look far away and I miss you." Marinette stops on the trail, looking up at me. "Who are you under your mask, Cat Noir?" "Princess, I'm not ready-" Marinette waves a hand, cutting me off or as if I'm some sort of pesky fly. "So you know I'm Ladybug, but I can't know who you are. Even if you say you love me. If you love me, you should be able to tell me."

An acid taste fills my mouth as I give her my answer. "Maybe some secrets are just to painful to share, if with the ones they love." "Cat, I-" "Let's just keep moving, or another day will be gone." I walk away before she can finish.

Its not that I don't want to tell her, I do. But if she sees the shy boy beneath the mask, who needs to be loved when both his parents died left him, would she stay with me? Two words, I think to myself. Two little words, and your problems would be solved. But those two little words are even harder then I love you.

The day passes by quietly now, and I hate that Marinette and I are fighting. Or maybe its just me, struggling. We eat a cold supper from the packs and turn in early. The night feels off as we didn't hug or kiss goodnight, other blemish on this rotten day.

Hawkmoth moved through the woods swiftly, for he knew these paths better then two heroes. He might able to catch Ladybug physically yet, but he could trap her and her mangy alley-cat. The nerve of that alley cat, reminding him of his son Adrien, when his wife got sick, and the relationship headed south. Hawkmoth may have the Butterfly Miraculous, but he also had another ace up his sleeve.

He crept to their camp, noticing the distance between the two friends. Ah, no matter. For it wouldn't matter soon. Taking the Crystal of Power, Hawkmoth rubbed it, closing his eyes and making a wish. Oh, how he wished he could bring Emile back, but alas, he needed the Miraculous for that.

The crystal started to shimmer until it grew brighter and brighter and Hawkmoth tossed it. The wish made, as soon as the crystal hit the ground, it formed a cave around the two camps of the heroes, trapping them in its crystal walls. Try to get out of that one, Ladybug.

"Marinette, look out!" I dash over, leaping to protect her as the walls rise above us. The air is filled with cracking and groaning sounds, and until it stops I hold Marinette tightly in my arms.

Finally, it grows quiet and I release her. "What happened?" Marinette's voice quavers, and we look around. "We're trapped in some kind of a cave, and look, there's crystals over there!"

Just then, one of the crystal walls begins to shimmer and we watch as a scene plays out in front of us. Like an instant replay, we see Hawkmoth tossing the crystal, thus trapping us in this crystal cave. "This is all my fault," Marinette scolds herself. "If I hadn't been prying, we would have never fought and we would have paid closer attention at looking out for our enemies. I pull her into my arms, putting a finger to her lips. "Or maybe this happened for a reason."

"Cat, how are we going to get out of here?" I look at the wall, hoping for a answer, but it stays dark. "Let's explore, maybe we'll find a way-" "No, I'm tired and want to cuddle. After all, I never got my hug last night."

With Marinette resting against my chest, the soothing sound of my heart soon lulls her into sleep. But I don't feel sleepy, and I just rest my chin on top of Marinette's head.

Maybe this is a magic cave, able to show the past and the present. A soft snore reaches my ear, and Marinette stirs in my arms. "Cat, I think we should go exploring in the morning," she climbs out of my lap, yawning a enormous yawn. "Night, love." We hug and kiss and grin at each for that is what a good night is supposed to look like.

I curl up where I'm at, falling straight to sleep.

"Adrien! Adrien!" I sit up, rubbing my sleepy eyes. It can't be morning already, can it? A movement out of the corner of eye, makes me looks at the crystal wall, and I gasp, not believing my eyes. Mother stands on the other side of the crystal wall. This isn't real, and I'm still dreaming, right?

"Mother?" I answer back, hand pressed to the cool wall. "Adrien, don't hold back and don't be afraid

to tell Marinette who you are." A invisible hand closes around my throat. "But I am scared, Mother. What if I lose my best friend?" "Trust me when I say this, Adrien. If she truly loved you, she will only embrace the boy without his black mask." "How do you…." my voice trails off and I slowly raise a hand to my face, still finding the black leather of my mask attached. "I wouldn't lie to you, son. But I have to go now." "Wait, please! I need more time! Where are you?"

Mother fades from view, and I sigh. This is truly a magic cave where anything can happen, and if Mother disappeared, it must be for a very good reason. Curling up against the wall, I snooze, waiting for sunrise.

If the crystal cave is showing me past and present, will it do it again when I'm with Marinette? And what about our future? I've always thought the future was shrouded in mystery, but here in this cave I wonder….