So this is way they kept bringing me food last night, Marinette thought as she sat lotus style on a pillar in the middle of a small pond. One of her first tests was emptying your mind, and being calm. Marinette wasn't exactly sure how long she was supposed to sit here, but she was beginning to grow bored.
Cat had wandered away during the night, but Marinette was sure she'd see him again. A dull ache sat in her chest as she missed her Kitty and Adrien, but she reminded herself they were tucked away in her heart.
If I wasn't surrounded by water and with my clumsy track record, I would be jamming to Taylor Swift right now.
The pond was peaceful, full of lily pads and flowers, it was easy to block out the outside world when beauty was all around….
"Arrgh!" Marinette shrieked as a frog leaped from the placid like water, hitting her square in the face and she fell into the water with a sloosph!
Though the water wasn't deep it was cold, and Marinette kicked up to the surface, dragging herself onto the small shore. Wet clumpy mud now covered her from head to toe, and she sighed. Great, not only did I probably fail the test, I am now miserable and wet.
A titter behind her had Marinette leaping up, whirling around to see three girls all dressed in colorful garb, one having butterfly barrettes in her hair, to green-swamp like hair. But the girls were beautiful in Marinette's eyes. She only hoped they weren't like Chloe wannabe's, who stuck their noses so high in the air at school, she was impressed their weren't more injuries.
"Your Marinette, right?" the girl in the middle asked. Marinette nodded, extracting a clump of mud from her hair. "Oh, my Kwamis! Your like a fashion genius!" "I am?" Marinette asked in surprise. "I only arrived here last night." "Oh, the Guardians know all about you, so, so do we. Can you give us any tips?"
"Uhhh…." Marinette seemed to have frozen, and she felt like the frog that had hit her. Nikki floated in front her. "Marinette, you do great hair and nails, and these girls want to be your friends. Don't be shy!"
"Oh, where are my manners?" the friendly girl hit her forehead. "I'm Hydras, and this is Rigel, and Celeste." "Its lovely to meet you," Marinette smiled. "Now, could you help me clean up?"
Marinette felt comforted but awkward as they re-entered the main building, her clothes squishing with every step. Celeste slipped an arm through hers. "This way, I have clothes that will fit you to a T! The other will save us seats for lunch."
"Your very kind," Marinette said in Celeste's room as she stripped off her wet things. "Back home, I just have Claw Noir and Adrien Agreste as friends." "Rumor has it that Claw Noir will be here soon for training. And thank you. Before I met Hydras and Rigel, I felt so lonely here. Not all of the Guardians in Training are as nice as you." "What Miraculous do you hold?" Marinette asked, selecting a green sleeveless top and jeans. "I don't have a Miraculous yet, but I'm hoping to be a Scribe, who writes down all of yours and Claw's adventures."
Marinette sighed. "Everyone tells me what a great Ladybug I'll be, but in reality, I'm scared." "What scares you the most?" Celeste asked. "If you don't mind me asking." Marinette felt her cheeks heating, and she laughed lightly. "Its not even for myself, honestly. Its Claw."
"Are you in love with him?" Marinette nodded. "That's why your Ladybug, because you put others before yourself. Now, let's get some food."
Rigel and Hydras were waiting at the entrance to the dining hall. One of the Guardians caught sight of Marinette, and came over. "Didn't you have training this morning?" he asked. "I did," Marinette's face went tomato red, "Until a frog hit me in the face." The Guardian peered at her closely, then continued on his way. Marinette took one look at the other girls, and they burst into giggles.
"Please tell me you have decent coffee here," Marinette told them as they sat down at a table, bowls filled with steaming noodles and veggies. "Oh, you'll have to try Castor's coffee. Its divine," Hydras said.
The girls started chatting and Marinette felt herself loosening up and having fun. But suddenly, all of the girls grew quiet as a stern female Guardian marched over to there table.
"Girls, I can't believe you haven't started on Marinette's beauty makeover. After all, she has a big, big day tomorrow." "We'll get on with it right after we eat, Pleiades." Celeste said.
"What's tomorrow?" Marinette asked, as Pleiades marched away. "You and Claw will go into the Training Area we're you will endure all sorts of challenges," Rigel spoke up. Marinette cocked her head. "Why is this suddenly reminding me of Katniss and the Hunger Games?" "Don't worry, you won't be volunteering as tribute. With the Supreme capable of almost anything, you and Claw will be tested to your limits."
Marinette caught Celeste's eye. "As long as Claw and I are together, we can handle everything. Now, what's this beauty routine?"
Three hours later, (or was it even more?) Marinette felt like a plucked chicken as she used lotions, a hot bath was drawn, and the hair on her legs had been pulled off with a sticky tape. Ouch.
She briefly wondered if Adrien had endured a similar treatment on one of his photo-shoots, then quickly dismissed that idea. Adrien was almost to beautiful for his own good and it was a miracle he wasn't vain about it, at least most of the time.
Marinette was quietly now resting in bed, her skin stinging and she distracted herself by plugging into Taylor Swift. But she grew restless, wanting Grandma's Hyssop's hot chocolate to help her sleep.
Sliding in her earrings, Marinette cracked open the door, and went in search of a warm, cozy beverage. This time of night was quiet and Marinette didn't mind a bit.
However, sudden instinct had her diving behind a pillar, whispering. "Tikki, Blots On!" Heart thumping, she peeked around the corner, and now her heart leaped for joy. Claw! Claw was here and he looked...filthy as if his own frog had nailed him into the water. But Marinette didn't care, and she leaped out of her hiding place, running towards him with open arms. "Claw!"
"Princess!" Ladybug laughed delightedly as Claw squeezed her tightly, spinning her round and she felt giddy with joy. He set her down, then burst into uncontrollable laughter. "What?" she finally snapped, when the laughter didn't seem to be easing up.
"You look like a Cockroach!" "Not you too!" Ladybug groaned. "Your not the first one to tell me that." "You still look beautiful, love. Come, look in the mirror."
Leading her by the hand, Claw led her over to the mirror, and Ladybug stopped. "That's me?"
It was the first time she'd seen herself in the suit. Two black buns perched atop of her head with red ribbons streaming out and the red and black dotted suit was striking on her.
For the first time in a long while, she felt beautiful. "You don't hiss, do you?" Claw teased, a gentle smile on his face. "Oh, come over here and kiss me," she snapped, wiping her eyes.
The world disappeared as Claw's soft lips met hers, and even if she was thousands miles away, Ladybug felt home.
"Awww!" The couple jumped apart, and Marinette saw her friends staring at her. "Marinette, how could you?" Regina wailed. "What?" "Your muddy again! Come on, time for another bath." "Could we make it a sleepover?"
Marinette was led away, looking back at Claw. Hopefully, he'd been clean by morning. Right now, she had clean up duty then a whole lot of girl chat to catch the girls up on!