The night air is cold, and even if I try to keep my teeth from chattering, goosebumps pop out on my arms as I rub them. "Cold, Princess?" Cat whispers, his breath coming out in a little white could. I nod, and he takes my hand.

Even this small amount of warmth his provides, makes me feel better, and I give his hand a quick squeeze.

At last, we reach the Temple, and the girl opens the heavy gates with a jangle of keys, warm golden light spilling out from within. A man in a long red robe with a gray beard and kind eyes greet us as Guardian Wan. "I hear you want to wake Emile Agreste from her deep sleep," he says in a deep voice.

"Marinette, what is he talking about? My mother's dead," Adrien says, bluntly. I take a deep breath, gathering the right words. "That's not true, Adrien, because I saw her." Color drains out of his handsome face. "That's not impossible." "Do you remember the night I met your father for the first time and I hung back in the office?" Adrien nods, silently. "I went to touch the portrait of your Mother and next thing I knew, I was heading down an elevator shaft. When I got to the bottom, I followed a long platform where your mother's glass coffin was, and Dussu." "Dussu?"

Dussu flies out of my purse, flying up to Adrien. "Its nice to meet you, Adrien." "But Father said she died, we had a funeral...I…." Adrien runs a hand through his blonde hair. "Maybe he did think she died, but couldn't bare to see her buried." "But why haven't you told me, love?"

"Because," my voice grows tight, "If I can't wake your mother, I didn't want to cause you more heartache. I couldn't do that to you, Adrien."

Wan clears his throat softly. "You have a remarkable kind Ladybug here, Cat Noir. Ladybugs like her are rare. And, there is a way we can wake Emile up." "How? Don't you have a potion here?" I ask, eagerly. Wan smiles gently. "The potion isn't here, my dear." "Oh," I say, softly, my hopes crashing down like an ocean wave.

"But if you are willing to take a journey into the mountains, Fu might be able to help." "Fu?" "Guardian Fu likes to live alone, separated from the Temple, though he visits from time to time. He has a garden of herbs and magic. Only Fu can give you what you need."

"Then we'll do it," I say determinedly. "Marinette, its the middle of the night here," Cat tells me gently. "Don't you think we could wait for morning?" "Cat's right," Wan says. "Come, you must be hungry from your journey and I'll get your rooms ready right away."

As I follow Wan, I hope Adrien isn't angry at me. Wan ushers us into an empty dining hall. "Food and drink shall be coming shortly."

"I should have told you sooner, Adrien," I sit down on one of the wooden benches. "No, no. You did the right thing. I can't believe I might see my mother again."

Dinner is to our surprise, pizza, and we're both so tired we hardly taste it, and then we're ushered to our rooms and I collapse into bed.

A rooster crow wakes me in the morning, and after showering and dressing, I find comfortable traveling clothes laid lovingly out on the bed.

When I get to the dining hall, Adrien is eating rice, and is sipping a steaming cup of tea. "That looks good," I say, and soon a meal is brought over.

"Apparently, after we eat, we're to go to the Great Hall for further instructions," Adrien informs me. "I wonder who is Fu guy is." "I don't think he sits around drinking green tea and reading tea leaves, but you never know, Kitten."

Adrien must get a visual, because he spurts out his own tea, laughing. "Thanks for making me laugh, Princess." I grin. "Twenty bucks, someone around here as a gong." We shake on that, just as someone collects us to bring us to Great Hall, which looks like a very fancy living room. "Wow," Adrien whispers in my ear. "Swanky." I clap a hand to my mouth to squelch my giggles. "Would you stop?"

"Oh. My. Kwami," Adrien breathes. "What?" "There's a gong!" "Twenty bucks!" I hold out my hand. "Fork it over, Agreste!" "Oh, shame, I think I forgot my wallet." "Adrien!" we start playfully wrestling a little until someone comes in. Immediately we straighten up.

Its Wan, giving us our supplies for the journey which is straight up the mountain from the Temple. "It will be good for Fu to have some company," Wang sighs. "He spends to much time alone."

"I used to know the feeling," Adrien says, glancing lovingly at me. "Don't we have a map?" I ask, looking up as I look through the supplies. "Oh, you'll have Snow-Jer as a guide." Snow-Jer? "Who's that?" Adrien asks. "Sounds like some tiger." Wan laughs. "I think that he thinks he's as tough as a tiger, but Snow-Jer is a owl." "A owl?!" we say together.

"He knows this mountain like no one else. He may only hoot, but he'll show you the way." "So, if he's a hoot, does that mean he knows any good jokes?" "Adrien!" I hiss. I love my boyfriend, but honestly, he can be so embarrassing!

"You'll have to ask him." "Oh, no," Adrien suddenly freezes. "Yes?" "I'm allergic to feathers!" I groan.

"Then we'll get you a nose-plug."

Just then, Snow-Jer enters the room with a hoot, and Adrien marvel at how majestic he looks. Gathering our packs, Wan follows out out into the cold.

"Take care of each other, and bring back the potion. Your mother's life depends on it, Adrien." Adrien nods, but I feel a blazing sense of determination.

I'm not breaking my vow, not for all the tea leaves in China.