To say I didn't let out a scream is putting it mildly, but at the last second I clap a hand over my mouth. "Inky!" I gasp, clutching my chest for my heart is pounding. "You gave me a fright!" Inky meows and puts a paw on my cheek, as if trying to say she missed me. "Aw, I missed you too. Want to cuddle?" But Inky has her own plans and borrows under the covers, with just her tail sticking out.

I giggle as I lean back against the pillows. I'm relived that she has seemed to have escaped the fire, and her fur is still as glossy as ever. As a vain floofball myself at times, I can understand.

A knock at the door has me reaching for my hoodie and I yank it on while calling, "Come in!" I'm surprised, but not disappointed to see Papa enter the room. "I hope I didn't wake you, Adrien." "No, no. Inky wanted to say good morning." Papa's mustache twitches as he sees a tail but no cat.

"Now that your father is in jail, Sabine and I wanted to know if you'd like to come live with us for awhile. I know the bakery is burned, but the apartment seems to livable." My throat grows tight at their kindness, and I have to clear my throat twice before answering. "Don't you have enough to think about without me getting underfoot?" Papa takes my hand, tears now shining in his own eyes. "The bakery is the least of my concerns. I'd rather you have a home and a family any day."

I lean forward to give Papa a hug as I answer. "Yes, I'll come stay. I really did pick the right girl, didn't I?" "Oh, that's news." Papa straightens up. "Marinette hasn't said anything about a engagement." "Well, I still a ring and to propose. But we have time." "How about you and I go to the mansion this morning and you can pack your things." "Sounds good."

Inky decides that this is the perfect moment to want breakfast, and zooms over to the door, meowing and scraping at the door. "I better get her fed, but let's leave soon. Oh, good morning, sweetie." "Morning, Papa," Marinette yawns and I smile as she comes in. "Let me see, its ten'oclock and Marinette is awake! Is this a new record?" "Har-Har. Here, eat this breakfast pillow," she throws back. Whump! I get a pillow straight to the face, but I guess I deserved that. "I need your help this afternoon," she says, sitting down on the bed. "With what?" "Napping." "Nice try. No, we've used the ice, space, and water power-ups, but there's several that we haven't used. That changes today." "I'd gladly help you, M'lady, but why the sudden urgency?" She takes my hand. "I just have a weird feeling. Kinda like your feline sense. We've been duped by Hawkmoth before, he can trick us again." "Then its a good thing its that time of year for making potions." Marinette smiles. "Making potions. I like that sound of that."

The day is a bit overcast as Papa and I leave the lobby, Starbucks in hand. Mama promised to make something tasty for lunch, and I'm looking forward to it.

I shiver as I grasp the cold iron gates as I look into the mansion that was once my home. "A lot of good memories were made here," I tell Papa as I punch in the code. "But some nightmares were born here too."

I set a quick pace as I see a flock of crows circling the sky, and they give me the creeps. My original plan was to head right upstairs and start packing, but of course my mind has other ideas. Instead, it leads me into Father's office with the portrait of Mother hanging on the back wall.

Papa follows my eyes and we both walk over to the portrait. "My mother, in her younger days," I explain, smiling up at her. "She was-" I don't get to finish for there is a sudden crash, and my instincts tell me to flee. I look around wildly for a way out. My fingers push into grooves into the painting and I give a yell of alarm as I suddenly began descending downstairs. Papa dives down after me, and we find ourselves in some sort of elevator tube.

There's a gentle thump! As we hit the bottom and the doors slowly open. "You okay, Papa?" I ask, wondering if he can hear my racing heart. "That was a wild ride!"

We slowly step onto some kind of metal walkway and we start heading down the path. A rush of air or a hissing sound catches my ears, and I know I need to transform. But where? Then, as we get to the end of platform its like my legs turn to stone. Because in some kind of chamber, lays my mother. "Mother?"

How could that be possible, and that's when it clicks. That's why Hawkmoth, my father, was so intent on getting the Miraculous to bring her back. "I don't think she's dead, Adrien," Papa's voice comes from far away, but he brings me back. "Maybe in some kind of coma."

I know without a shadow of a doubt, Ladybug would never let me bring back with the wish. But there must be some other way…. I pitch forward, hitting the hard dirt. Ouch, that will leave a bruise later.

"Adrien, you hurt?" Papa asks, reaching out a hand. "Only my pride. Wait, Papa, look!" Papa kneels down in the dirt with me. "See where the earth is a bit uneven here? I think something's buried in this spot!"

Its hard work, but Papa and I working together the buried object is soon uncovered. Its a box with a Miraculous symbol, and holding my breath I open it.

What looks like test tubes with strange looking liquid inside them sits in the box, along with a piece of paper which I pull out and read aloud.

"If you've found my box,

You've found me in my dark coma.

The only way to awaken me from my enchanted sleep

is to find the right combination of potions.

-Emile Agreste

"We need to get this to Ladybug right away," I say, closing the box and standing up. A rustle has my eyes darting around the room. Something or someone is here, but where? Ducking into the shadows, I transform, whirling my baton.

"Show yourself!" I yell. But no one appears and Papa and I walk full speed to the elevator. With Papa's help, it doesn't take long to pack.

Mama has made a wonderful lunch with a hot dish of noodles and cheese and salad, and I eat hungrily, but stay quiet. Marinette keeps glancing at me, but I keep my thoughts to myself for now.

After we thank Mama for the delicious meal, Marinette tugs me upstairs. Once alone, she crosses her arms. "Okay, Agreste. Spill."

"I saw my mother." "What?" "I just had this feeling that I needed to go into Father's office and next thing you know, we're in some kind of lair. She was in a chamber in a coma, but Papa and I found this box and, oh, love, I think we'd be able to save her."

Marinette smiles a soft smile. "Then lets get to mixing potions." I grab her arm. "Maybe we should transform in case something explodes and our hair accidentally gets turned green?" She giggles, but agrees.

Most of the day is divided into working out the rest of the power-up riddles Master Fu gave us, and the other to Mother's. Towards evening, we feel like we're about to crack a code, when a small poof! Has us coughing.

Once the smoke clears, Ladybug and I look at each other, and I can't believe my eyes for my beautiful Bugaboo's raven black hair is now a shade of watermelon pink and as I catch a glance myself in the mirror, mine is a shade of green.