"Whatever you do, don't transform," Adrien whispers as he hides behind me. "Why?" "Because, what if it eats Cockroaches?" I sigh. "You do know I'm a ladybug, not a cockroach, right?" "Either way, gulp." "Well, do you have a better plan?" "I'm allergic to feathers." Great.
The giant purple bird as fuzzy purple wings, and it cocks its head as it watches us talk. "Reminds me off Kevin on that Disney movie," Adrien tells me. "Oh, is Munz around here too?" I ask, speaking of the villain. "Remember, Kevin liked chocolate."
The bird must be able to hear us, because at the mention of the word "chocolate" it gives a squawk. "Oh, a Jub-Jub loves chocolate," Frightengale says. "And it has a nest, not far from where I live." The bird turns and looks back at us. Is it expecting us to follow? Frightengale sighs. "I'm been trying to make friends with it for my nightingale, but it refuses to leave its nest whenever I try to coax it down. It must have been curious about you too."
We follow the giant bird, and I take Adrien's hand. Not far from the cabin, a giant nest sits halfway up a tree. The Jub-Jub flies up to its nest, settling down and preening its feathers. "Adrien, transform and see if there's anything in the nest," I whisper. "Why me? Your not the one with allergies." "Hello? Birds love bugs? Come on, love." "Fine, fine. Plagg, Daggers Out."
"What is your partner up to? I knew-" I touch Frightengale's shoulder as she uncoils her rope. "Its okay, Claw just wants to see if everything's okay." I walk under the tree, staring up into the leafy branches. "Princess, there are eggs and, meow!"
I watch in horror as the Jub-Jub plucks Claw up with her beak and sets him in the nest. Then, the most amazing thing happens. She starts preening Claw's hair! "She thinks he's one of her chicks, or maybe she just wants to take care of him. It must be lonely, all alone in the nest." Jub-Jub hears me, and lets out a mournful cry. I want to reassure her that everything will be okay. I turn to our captor.
"If Claw and I can convince the Jub-Jub to befriend you and the nightingale will you let us go free?" Surprise flits over her face. "You would do that for me?" "Claw and I stand for the greater good, and we want to help you. Will you accept my offer?" I hold out a hand, its her choice shake. I'm holding my breath, thinking she'll refuse, and I breath out when she grasps my hand. "I accept your offer." "I'll be back around sunset to the cabin." "Very well."
After she leaves, I transform and I hoist myself into the tree. I climb carefully and steadily, now is not the time to have a clumsy moment. I don't enter the nest by force, I wait to be invited, waiting on a branch. The Jub-Jub eyes me suspiciously, and I try to smile as she has literally taken Claw under her wing. I slowly reach it out a hand. "You can trust me," I whisper. "Would you like a delicious berry?" Fruit hangs plentiful in the branches above me and I gather a handful, feeding her berries. After having eaten her fill, she moves back to let me into the nest. Of all the crazy schemes and plans I've come up with, this is probably the craziest.
"Your going to be a mama," I tell Jub-Jub, catching sight of one of her eggs. "I want to be a Mama too, someday." Jub-Jub makes a cooing sound deep in her throat,and she places near Claw, but still under her wing. "Toxinelle, I think the eggs want to hatch, but their scared." "I have an idea, let's sing gently."
"Don't be afraid to face the world,
Come on out, be brave and bold.
The world is ready to meet you with open arms,
Break free of the egg, let down your guard."
I'm not much of a singer, but I want to help the eggs. Claw puts a finger to his lips and we hear tiny cracking sounds. We rest quietly in the tree, listening to the wind in the branches. The tree rocks gently back and forth, as if the tree is a cradle, and now we must sleep…..
When I wake, I'm cold and Claw's arm is around me. "Where's Jub-Jub?" I ask, sleepily. "I think she flew off for food. I hope she doesn't bring back worms," Claw shudders. "No, but maybe she'll bring fleas!" I giggle, and Claw smiles.
To our great relief, she brings us berries, then tucks us under her wings again. I struggle to rise, as I made a promise. "I need to go, Jub-Jub," I tell her, holding out my hand again. She gives a lonely cry again. "I think she likes the sound of your voice, Princess." I sigh, snuggling down. Hopefully, our captor will figure it out. I look up at the bird. "You could make friends with Frightengale. She even has a bird friend. Would you like that?"
But Jub-Jub has fallen asleep, head tucked her wing, breathing softly. Suddenly, I'm glad Claw and I are under separate wings, because tears spill over. She reminds me of my mother, strange as that seems.
She's taken us under her wing literally, fed us and gave us protection. Sleep soon covers me, and I dream of my mother holding out her arms to me. To Adrien. All is love and all is right in the world….
I wake to a chorus of tiny squawks, and find the nest quite crowded. Three baby Jub-Jubs huddled together for warmth. "Aww, aren't they cute! Look at the baby fluff!"
Jub-Jub lands in the nest with the morning meal, then we climb out of the nest. Frightengale is waiting for us, and I dash towards her. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep…." Frightengale holds up a hand. "Its alright, Marinette," she tells me, placing a hand on my heart. "You have a good heart. Which is why," she smiles at me as she hands me her whip. "I want you to break the object and capture the akuma."
After doing so, she transforms, no longer a Harley Quinn, but a kind woman. "My real name is Nightingale, because I sing with the birds." She trills out, and indeed she does sound like a bird. "You will find the Supreme Castle in the next day or so. Rid the land of evil, Toxinelle and Claw Noir."
"We make a solemn promise to free this land from evil," we say together. "Then go, be free." Claw takes my hand, and we head over to the past. Jub-Jub flies down next to Nightingale watching us. Looks like they are going to friends.
The sky darkens as the day goes on, and Claw uses our umbrella to shield us from the rain. We eat our lunch under an overhang of rocks, huddled together for warmth.
Mud slows us down, and the going is slow. "Do you think we should make camp?" Claw asks. "We wouldn't be able to make a fire in this rain, but maybe stopping for the night would be good." Claw smiles at me. "Unless we camp in that cave over here." Claw points to the small cave just a few feet away.
I make fire cakes again, and I make mint tea with leaves I found before the skies opened. The hot sweet tea warms us and gives us strength.
In the morning, we rise, stiff from the rocky floor. I'm stirring up the fire when Claw calls me over. "Toxinelle, come look at us." I walk over to him, gazing out. "Look, up there? Do you see it?"
Through the mist, I see a small castle looming in the distance. The Supreme's castle. "So, that's where we're headed, huh?" "Don't worry, as long we're together, we are stronger." He holds out his fist and we brush knuckles, then settle in for breakfast.
We set out, packs secured to our backs, holding hands. Its all uphill from here on out, and the journey now begins to get tough.
Claw nearly gets swept away in a fast-moving stream that we cross, causing me to grow a few gray hairs. Supporting each other, we trudge ahead.
Around sunset, we are near, but not there. I keep glancing up at the castle in the near distance as I gather firewood for the night, dropping the bundle at Claw's feet with a sigh.
"Hey, chin up," he tells me gently, raising my chin. "Now, where's that smile?" Oh, how did I get so lucky? "There it is." He leans in, kissing me, encircling me with his arms. He holds me close, and I breathe in his smell and the comforting scent of leather. I really don't know what I'd do without him now.
"Was it true, what you told Jub-Jub?" Claw asks, awhile later. "About having kids? What about your career?" "I want to finish school for sure, but maybe the career can wait until after kids. I've never enjoyed the spotlight anyway. I just want to be loved and to belong, and I found the person who loves me and accepts me, clumsy moments and all." "I hope your talking about me," he teases, and I roll my eyes.
A hush falls over both of us as we approach the castle, grim and foreboding. "At least there aren't crows circling the castle," Claw whispers. "I'm waiting for the crocodile."
A moat does encircle the fortress, and so far I haven't seen anything swimming. "We need our aqua suits, cause we're going swimming." "Are you crazy? I'm not going to be chomped!" "Hey, we've been through crazy happenings before? Why not add a castle moat to the list?"
We transform, and slip into the water. There must be some underwater entrance…...
