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Chapter 12: The Grave Nettle Garden
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"The hero grabbed hold of the beast, used its own claws to kill it, and skinned the pelt to complete the task. Finally, he returned to the king to ask for the next labor." Nooroo finished his tale about the hero that he had apparently granted extraordinary strength to.
Marinette was cleaning the old spinning wheel Master Fu used for his wool as she listened to the kwamis' stories. Nooroo had explained how his concept was granting peoples desires to a small degree. Most of it involved turning a warrior into a champion, one of them being the legendary Heracles. Apparently, the little kwami took part in several legends of magnificent deeds she remembered reading about with the prince. What was even more impressive was how Duusu played a part in popular myths as well. They explained how the peacock's power was magically creating whatever a person could imagine, be it people, animals, or even monsters. And some of the popular mythical creatures were part of the kwamis work, several of them are even out there to this day.
"It was horrible! That poor lion was killed and then his beautiful fur was stolen!" The peacock cried out hysterically.
Nooroo rolled his eyes at the same routine he was forced to go through every time his champions were brought up. "Come on, my friend, that lion had eaten too many people at that point. You know it was for the best."
"So what!? Plenty of my other beings were killed horribly, and they didn't deserve it!" he said angrily.
"Hey, I can't help it if we had people that wanted to make names for themselves. To become heroes." Nooroo shrugged.
"He's right, Duusu." Pollen spoke up. "Many great stories involved slaying monsters and rescuing damsels. What's better than a story about a princess locked in a tower guarded by a fire breathing drag-..." The bee tried to stop herself when she saw other kwamis shaking their heads, but the damage was already done.
"That's Another Thing!" Duusu pointed back at the butterfly with his tail feathers spread out. "You made all those champions kill my beautiful dragons! They were supposed to be the next best thing after horse riding! Instead, you made dragon slayers! Dragon! Slayers!"
"Ugh, Duusu, when are you going to let that go!?" the butterfly kwami sighed.
"Never! So much tragedy! So much loss!" Duusu was making himself cry now.
"Oh come on, Feathers, other places saw dragons as sacred, so not everyone killed them." Trixx tried to calm his friend. "Plus, there were still plenty of other creatures that people loved. Like... there's the faire folk and mermaids... Oh, and what about unicorns!?"
Duusu sniffled before giving a small smile. "The unicorns were nice."
"Right!? Not to mention all the different beings that happened in other countries, like all the ones I got to help with about ghosts and superstitions." the fox said proudly.
Duusu tried to cheer up, but he still looked disappointingly at the butterfly. "Still, the dragons should've been loved everywhere."
"Well, at least I wasn't the one responsible for the dinosaurs." Nooroo said trying to get then attention on something else.
Marinette just kept listening intently. Dinosaurs? She wished she could ask more about what they were talking about, but her vow forbade it. For the past few days, the seamstress had taken great care in trying to keep that vow. Much of it was easy while she kept herself busy with the chores around the barn and garden. She tried to set her mind to the idea of remaining silent by binding her mouth shut for the entire day save for meals. At night, she didn't trust herself to stay quiet and possibly talk in her sleep, so she kept the cloth in bed as well. Then, being the little gremlins that they were, Plagg and Trixx thought it was hilarious to try and make her talk by jumping out and surprising her. She hasn't fallen for it so far, and they eventually stopped once the others scolded them harshly for teasing the poor girl. Now, she was just enjoying them talking to each other.
"Hey, don't drag me into your little drama." Plagg exclaimed between bites of cheese.
"Why not? You've caused a lot more damage than we ever could." Trixx pointed out.
"I haven't done that much." The black cat tried to wave them off but was met with several looks of disbelief.
"Seriously?" Wayzz asked.
"What!? It was only a few little accidents!" the black cat tried to look innocent, but Marinette was pretty sure he had the most guilt.
"Oh, a few little accidents. You mean like Atlantis!?" Trixx said.
"They said the city would float!" Plagg countered.
"The black plague?" Wayzz tilted his head.
"I thought it would get rid of the rat problem! And it wouldn't have killed everybody to take a bath once in a while!"
"Pompeii!?" They all said at once.
"How was I supposed to know it wasn't just a mountain!?" Plagg yelled with his little tail ruffled up. "And besides, you can't blame that whole thing on me! Volcanoes were Tikki's idea to make new islands!"
His words made the other kwamis stop and think for a moment. "I suppose that's true..." Wayzz said contemplating.
Marinette had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at her little friends. It was amazing hearing about how much they have gone through together. It made her wonder if Gimmi had ever played a part in all of this other than being the doorman that let them into this world. That also made her thoughts go to how she had to get started on making the cloaks. Tikki told her she had to looks for some nettle plants to make the cloaks, but the question was where would she find them?
"Everything alright, Marinette?" Tikki asked when she noticed that Marinette had finished the spinning wheel and then was just standing there.
Since she couldn't give a direct answer, Marinette did the only thing she could think of and pick up the two knitting needles the kwami made for her. She gave Tikki a look of concern as she held the needle out to her.
"Oh, you want to get started on the cloaks?" Tikki asked, and the seamstress nodded yes. "That's good. There's a full moon out tonight, so it would be a perfect time to harvest the nettles."
"The only problem is, where are we going to find them?" Plagg asked.
"The plants grow best near graveyard soil. Is there perhaps a cemetery around Papillon?" Wayzz asked Marinette.
Marinette wanted to say yes, but there was a little detail she needed to share, but she wasn't sure how to convey it to the kwamis.
"What's wrong? If you know were some is, we can gather as much as we want." Trixx said, not seeing the problem.
Marinette started to head outside and urged the kwamis to follow her. She walked toward the garden and plucked out a few stray weeds from the soil. She waved a hand over the garden and then showed them the weeds she pulled, hoping they would understand her message.
"Oh, you're saying they keep the graveyard in Papillon very clean, meaning there wouldn't be a lot of weeds there, least of all grave nettles." Tikki figured it out and was feeling down when Marinette confirmed it with another nod.
"That can't be the only spot." Plagg said. "We're talking about a graveyard that people can pay for. What about the common folk? There has to be another spot where they bury their dead."
That sparked a realization in the seamstress. There was actually a spot. She picked up a stick and drew into the dirt a quick outline of Papillon. On the far northwest of the castle, there was a field about eight to ten acres wide. It was where the churches took their goats to graze, and horses for the palace were given some free range to prevent being cooped up in the stables all the time. It was also were the regular townspeople would bury their loved ones. It's what helped make the land so fertile and the goats were well fed. The only problem was there was a high stone fence that guarded the area to prevent grave robbers and horse thieves, and the only way to the field was through the city. The only one that tended to the graves were the living relatives, so there was a possibility that some of it was left unattended. So, if ever there was a chance for grave nettles to exist, it would be here. She tried to explain all of this with several quick drawings in the dirt, and the kwamis picked up on it pretty quickly.
"This is wonderful!" Duusu cheered looking through the diagram in the dirt. "We can go walk through the town when it gets close to dark. Marinette, you can make it seem like you're visiting a departed relative, and we can look for the nettles letting the guard think you were just cleaning up the grave."
"And then we can come back here, and you can make the cloaks!" Pollen joined in.
"And then it'll be goodbye curse, and goodbye Lila!" Trixx grabbed Wayzz's paws and spun around with him.
"Yay!" Duusu and Pollen joined the fox and turtle in a little dance.
"Hold on guys!" Nooroo called out above their excited voices. "You're forgetting one thing."
"What?" they all stopped and asked.
"Marinette is sure to be arrested the minute the sheriff spots her in the city again." Plagg answered for the butterfly.
Marinette had to agree with the black cat. She kept wishing over and over again that she hadn't made such a huge mistake. Not only would Master Fu still be alive, but she might've been able to see her parents as just a customer. Now, there was no way she could make it along the streets without the sheriff spotting her. She can't just hide under her travel cloak either because that man loves to call out anyone suspicious. Maybe if she tried a more elaborate disguise like making herself look like a man, or something. She tried to explain as much to the kwamis by drawing in the dirt again. The best she got was a quick drawing of herself and then adding a mustache.
"You think a disguise would work, Marinette?" Tikki asked.
She just shrugged her shoulders to say she didn't know if it would work or not.
"I could make a disguise for you." Nooroo suggested. "My ability is to make people into something greater, but I can focus on just making you different."
"That won't work for long, Nooroo." Wayzz took the idea down. "If you use your power, you'll only be able to do it for a short time, and then it will take too long for you to gain your strength back and do it again."
"But we will only need to do it once. All Marinette has to do is get enough nettles to fashion the cloaks with." Nooroo said still willing to do his part.
"We don't know how many were going to find in that field, if there's even any there at all. Marinette might have to go back there several times before we have enough." Plagg said agreeing with the turtle.
This was quite the predicament. Even if Marinette somehow made it passed the sheriff and into the field, there was still the chance of the guards not letting her in at all. If she tried to sneak in, she would risk getting arrested again and taken to the sheriff, then everything really would be over. Once again, she was just kicking herself for her foolishness. If only there was a way for her to go through without being seen.
"There might be another way." Tikki spoke up and everyone turned to her. "I used up my power in making the knitting needles, but there still one more magical thing I could do that doesn't require any additional power."
"Sugarcube, you're not thinking of..." Plagg looked at the ladybug with wide eyes.
"I am." she smiled like it was no big deal.
"Are you crazy!?" Several of the kwamis said at once.
"What other choice do we have if we want Marinette to get those plants?" Tikki asked ignoring their question.
"Tikki, this is exactly the sort of thing that trapped Gimmi in the first place. Why would you risk it by trapping yourself in the same way?!" the black cat took a hold of her to look her straight in the eye.
"This is different, Plagg." Tikki argued. "Marianne tricked all of us to bind Gimmi by force and then used our friend for her own selfish reasons. I'm offering it freely and with the intent of helping everyone. I'm also offering it with the knowledge and trust that Marinette will use the bond for the right reasons."
Marinette just listened to all the kwamis go back in forth in their debate. So far, the best she could pick up on was some kind of bond Tikki was willing to make, one that was similar to Gimmi and Lila. She wanted to deny it at first if it was something that would cause harm to the red kwami, but Tikki seemed pretty determined to go through with it. If she was sure, then Marinette was willing to help as well, she just needed them to explain. She tapped on the bug kwami's head to get her attention, then held her hands out with her shoulders up to say she didn't fully understand what they were talking about.
Tikki realized they hadn't said anything to her for some time. "I'm sorry, Marinette, we didn't mean to exclude you."
Marinette smiled and nodded that it was okay.
"Like I said, I have a way of using a type of spell that can disguise you from the people in the city." Tikki started. "First, I need something of yours that holds value, something that you can keep close without losing it easily."
The seamstress had to think about it for a moment. At first, she thought to use her engagement ring, but she didn't want to change the one thing that reminds her of the future she was fighting for. Then she remembered that she still had the black pearl earrings Adrien gave her and removed them to hold out to Tikki.
"These will be perfect, Marinette. Just hold them in your hand, and don't move." Tikki instructed.
Marinette did as she was told, and watched as the ladybug kwami took a deep breath and blew on the earrings. It didn't seem like anything was happening until the earrings started to glow, changing from the iridescent black until they were a bright rose red with black dots on them, like a ladybug. Tikki stopped blowing on the earrings and placed her paws on them as she spoke in a clear voice.
"I, Tikki, The Kwami of Creation, surrender my will to these trinkets to forge an everlasting bond. I invoke my power with these earrings and swear fealty to the holder until they may release me." When she finished, the glowing magic came alive and twisted itself to stretch from the earrings to form a smokey red chain and tied itself to Tikki.
She looks back and forth from the kwami to the jewelry, not sure if there was something she should do now. She waited patiently for Tikki to say something, so far it looked like she was trying to get use to the new bond she had to the earrings.
"The connection was successful." She spoke calmly. "Now all we have to do is pick out some clothes. Your travel clothes should work just fine."
She still didn't understand it, but Marinette did as she was told and went to fetch them. She didn't have much, just the remains of the garments she arrived in and the small gray cloak Master Fu gave her. She laid them on the bed and waited for further instructions with the earrings still in her hand.
"Put the cloak on." Tikki said and waited for the woman to finished before continuing. "Once you put on the earrings, with what your wearing, the spell will activate and change your looks so no one will recognize you."
Excited for the idea, Marinette quickly put the earrings back on her lobes and watched as the magic come to live. Her once bright pink skirt changed into a deeper gray while her bodice went completely black. The gray travel cloak bled into the same red as Tikki and even gained large black spots on the back to give the appearance of a ladybug shell. Marinette wondered if her face looked any different and hurried over to pick up a small mirror. Holding the mirror at arm's length so she could see her whole face, she found that nothing about her had changed. Her face was still the same as it's always been, and her hair was still short and the same color. She thought Tikki said no one would recognize her. Did Marinette do something to mess up the spell? She tried to look for the red kwami, and couldn't find her anywhere. She wasn't around the other kwamis, and Marinette didn't see her anywhere in the cottage. Where did she go?
"I'm still here, Marinette." she suddenly heard a small voice right beside her left ear. She jerked her head to look for the voice, but there was nothing there. She then turned to the other kwamis for help.
"Tikki's still here, pigtails." Plagg answered her unasked question. "She's bound to the earrings and merged with them to keep the spell going. If you want to see her, just rub the earring you hear her voice in, and she'll be able to come out."
Marinette gently rubbed the left earring, making the same chain of red smoke come out with Tikki at the end. It was almost like she was leashed to the stud.
"Isn't this great, Marinette!?" Tikki asked excited. "Now I can keep giving you my ladybug luck with the earrings and while you use the knitting needles. The earrings will also disguise you from other people as long as you wear them. I can even move the ladybug magic to other clothes if you change into them. Right now, it will make the cloak look like this even when you aren't wearing it."
She decided to test this out by taking off the cloak and placing it on the bed. The spots remained. While this was all fascinating, Marinette was still concerned that her face was the same as before. She pointed to the mirror in her hand, and then to her face and shrugged her shoulders in confusion.
"What's wrong?" Tikki asked not seeing the problem.
"You didn't explain the disguise part." Plagg pointed out.
"Oh, right, sorry." Tikki giggled. "Your face will still look the same, but the magic will make you blend in with the crowd."
Marinette tilted her head to show she wasn't quite getting it.
"Ummm, you know how sometimes you don't notice something until someone points it out." Plagg made an example. Marinette nodded for him to continue. "It's a little like that. It's a little trick we like to call the glamour. When you wear the earrings and the ladybug cloak, people will look at your face, but it won't clue into their minds on who that face belongs to. Since they don't remember you anyway right now, it doesn't matter. But what's important is that you won't look familiar to Lila and the sheriff unless you tell them who you are, which we all know you can't do right now." he smirked at that last bit.
Marinette picked the cloak back up and held it closely. With this, she will be able to go back into town and just be another shopper. Maybe she could even go into the bakery and see her parents again. She may not be let back into the palace to see Adrien, but there definitely won't be anyone to stop her from going into the field to get the nettle plants.
See her hopefulness, Tikki smiled and rubbed the young woman's cheek. "What do you say we get ready to go into town before it gets dark?"
Marinette nodded yes and quickly slipped the cloak back on. She headed outside to start saddling the horse to make the journey back to Papillon. She was so excited right now, she could barely hold it in.
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The seamstress felt like she really couldn't hold anything in right now. For the whole ride through the marsh, she felt calm and collected. But once she dropped her horse off at the gate stables to pick it back up later and stepped into the city, it felt like her stomach was twisted into knots. Her heart wouldn't stop hammering and her legs felt so heavy they she couldn't step forward into town. This wasn't going to work. This was a very foolish idea. She should just gather her horse and get out of here before the sheriff or someone else notices her and calls her out. She had to leave, right now.
"Marinette, calm down." She heard Tikki's voice in her ear. As comforting as it was, it wasn't enough to make Marinette's heart slow down.
"Psst, pigtails!" she heard another voice in the hood of her cloak. She looked at the black cat kwami hidden away. "Just take a deep breath and move forward."
She shook her head that she couldn't do this.
"It'll be okay. No one will recognize you, we promise." Tikki spoke again. "Just think about getting to the field and work your way from there."
Taking a few deep breaths, Marinette tried to stay calm. She felt the other kwamis moving around in her satchel trying to quietly cheer her on. Everyone had insisted on coming along and they promised to stay hidden. She did feel better knowing all of her friends were with her for this. She just had to relax and think about how she was doing this all for them. She just had to start walking down the street.
It took a few extra minutes before her feet were finally obeying her. She walked along the street and paid attention to the people around her. So far, they just saw her as another shopper. They noticed her ladybug cloak, but they didn't view it with suspicion or other negative thoughts. She spotted a couple of guards, one of them being the man that was with Sheriff Adolphe at her parents' bakery. He saw her face, but didn't pay her any mind. That must mean that the spell was working, and that she was going to make it.
She walked further along the street until she felt something tug on her cloak. Thinking she must have snagged something, she turned to find that it was actually a little girl pulling on her. She smiled at the little girl and gently pulled the cloak from her grasp.
The girl smiled back and said proudly, "I like your cape. You look like a pretty ladybug!"
Marinette just smiled at the girl and waited for her to run back to her mother after she said what she wanted to.
Feeling a little calmer and surer of herself now, she decided to play it as a real market goer and looked around the wide variety of shops. She was still seeing a great shortage of supplies. Some of the businesses had signs of foreclosure for failing to pay taxes. There were some that were still doing okay, but it wouldn't be long before Lila and her allies hurt them as well if this continued. She made it to the town square and saw a crowd gathering around some unrest going on near the fountain. She walked over to the other side next to a fish cart to get a better look. It was a little hard to make out what they men were arguing about over the sound of the crowd. From what she could gather, it sounded like the first man owed money to the second man who was yelling that he needed to be paid back immediately.
Marinette was ready to ignore them and walk away, when the second man started shoving at the first and that man stumbled backwards until he hit the fish cart. All of the fish was flipped over, and the sudden motion spooked the horse attached to the cart, making it take off before the fisherman could get a hold of him. Several people got out of the way, and Marinette could see that the horse was just planning to circle the fountain, so they would be able to catch it eventually. However, when the horse was coming back in her direction, she could see that the little girl that spoke to her earlier was right in the middle of the horse's path, and she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings.
Making a quick sprint for the girl, Marinette quickly picked her up and out of the way as the horse was passing them. The girl screamed in surprise, but then realized it was the pretty ladybug woman that grabbed her and gave her a big hug. Marinette was just relieved the girl wasn't harmed. She looked back down the street to find that some locals finally circled the horse and slowed it down enough to grab the reins.
"Manon! Sweety, are you alright?!" A woman came up to Marinette and took the child from her. The girl's mother, no doubt.
"I'm okay, Mommy! Miss Ladybug Saved Me!" Manon said in between her mother's kisses and tight hugs.
"Thank you, miss. You saved my daughter's life." the mother finally turned her attention to Marinette.
Marinette just nodded to accept the woman's gratitude. Even if she could say something, she doubted her words would be heard over the angry voices that rose up around them. The townsfolk started taking some of their outrage out on the two men that were still bickering, and she worried a fight was going to break out soon. The silent seamstress thought it would be best to lead the mother and daughter away from this area, especially when a new voice rang out above all the others.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!" an annoying but familiar voice shrilled out, and the crown divided to let the owner of the voice through. It was Sheriff Adolphe, but he wasn't alone this time. Behind him was Prince Adrien and Lady Lila, who had taken the time to come to the market together. The sheriff saw the display before them as the most insulting behavior to show a member of the royal family, and under his jurisdiction. "You Filthy Peasants! How Dare You Behave In Such a Grotesque Manner in Front of the Prince! I should throw you all in the..."
"Sheriff Adolphe, that is quite enough!" Prince Adrien's voice was calm but firm, and it not only shut the sheriff up but the rest of the people around them. He waited for everyone to quiet down before continuing. "Now, will someone please explain to me what has happened here?"
"Your Royal Highness!" The fisherman raised on hand while holding on to the reins of his regained horse. "Those two men were having a squabble that scared my horse and destroyed my stall. They cost me my whole trade for the day!"
"Oh, no. What a shame, I was hoping to find some nice fish for a meal at the palace." Lila decided to include herself in the conversation.
"I'm sorry to hear that, good sir." Adrien tried to be neutral and ignore Lila's input. He turned his attention to the two men that were apparently fighting. "May I ask what the disagreement was about?"
"As if you don't know, your highness." The first man said with venom, which caused everyone to gasp at his boldness for talking to a royal like that.
"Such insolence!" Sheriff Adolphe acted like he was the one that was insulted. "I think a few days in the stocks will teach you a lesson."
"I think that would be best." Lila agreed.
Adrien slipped away from the woman's grasp to interfere with the sheriff's arrest attempt. "Both of you, please. Let's settle this rationally."
"Of course, my prince." Lila obliged right away and gave the sheriff a look for him to step back.
Adrien then turned his attention back to the two men. "Gentlemen, please explain to me what has you so worked up."
The second man spoke first. "This man owes me a debt and it is far overdue. He says he doesn't have the money and refuses to pay, but I'm sure he's holding out on me."
"I don't have the money, and I don't owe you anything!" the first man protested. "I've paid my debt ages ago, you just wanted to gain some extra cash where you thought you could get it like a common crook!"
"How Dare You..." the man tried to turn things around with another fight, but the first man was staying calm in front of the prince.
"You're not the only one suffering here!" he put his last word in before Adrien stepped in again.
"Sir, if this man has indeed paid you back, then there is not further need to hound him." Adrien said.
Seeing how he was losing the argument, the second man tried to put one last word in. "Well... Well, none of this would've happened if the king wasn't enforcing such heavy taxes on the whole city!"
This caused several voices in the crowd to speak out in agreement. Some of them even started shouting at the prince that the king wasn't being fair and demanded justice for the people. Sheriff saw the unrest rise up and thought this would be a good opportunity to make some arrest. He was getting ready to step forward and protect the prince, but Adrien held his arm out in front of the man to order him to stay where he was.
"Please, everyone be silent for a moment!" Adrien commanded and waited for the voices to die down before continuing. "Now, I will admit that I have been made aware of the lack of stocks in the market as of late, but I was not informed of the expanded taxes being the cause of them. Under normal circumstances, I'm sure my father would be made known of them and would settle this matter instantly. However, I feel I should inform all of you that my father has not been in the best of health for the past few days..."
News of the king being sick forced everyone into a complete silence.
"Some of his work has fallen behind until he recovers, and I would like to extend my apologies at the unhappiness it has caused all of you. Therefore, I shall look into the financial matters myself and correct any errors made. In the meantime, I shall encourage the approval from your king to withhold taxation on the citizens of Papillon for two months, so that you may all put yourselves back on your feet. And let's all stop trying to get money out of people where there are none." he addressed the two men more than the crowd on that last sentence.
The people applauded the prince's decree, and he gives a gentle order for them to disperse and go about their businesses. Some of the people left, and some remained as he wished to have one final word with the two men.
"Sirs, I hope you will think better about causing such an unrest to the market. And I'm afraid I will have to hold you both responsible for this fisherman's stall." he scolded them. "You could've caused serious harm to someone here."
"You almost got my daughter killed!" A woman holding a little girl came up to the group ready to give the men a good thrashing.
"Is she alright, Madame...?" Adrien asked not knowing her name.
"Nadja Chamack, your royal highness, and yes she is alright. Thank the heavens for that young lady."
"What young lady?" the prince asked.
"The Ladybug Lady!" Manon answers enthusiastically.
"Ladybug lady?" Lila arched an eyebrow at the girl's strange statement.
"There was a young woman wearing a red cloak with black spots. She jumped in and saved my daughter before the horse trampled her." the mother explained.
"Oh, her cloak looked like a ladybug, I get it." Adrien smiled at the girl.
"And where is this Ladybug heroine?" Lila asked in suspension.
Everyone looked around for the young woman, but she was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, the poor dear must have gotten scared from all the commotion. Maybe she wasn't such a hero after all." Lila commented nonchalantly.
"No offense, ma'am, but I owe that young woman my daughter's life. She was definitely a hero." Nadja insisted.
"I would have to agree with Madame Chamack, Lila." Adrien said, then smiled at the little girl again. "It's too bad the Ladybug lady had to leave. I would've liked to thank her for saving such a sweet little girl."
Manon shied into her mother's shoulder at receiving the prince's attention, and Nadja took that as a sign it was time to go. "Your royal highness." She then walked off with her daughter in her arms.
Adrien kept a gentle smile on his face until he turned to his companion. "Lady Rossi, would you come with me for a moment?"
"Of course, my dear prince." Lila let's him lead her toward an empty ally way.
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"Marinette, what's wrong? Where are you going?" Tikki tried to communicate with her holder, who was moving frantically down the street.
One minute, Marinette was fine and feeling good about herself for helping some people. She was even excited because she saw her beloved prince step into the crowd to help handle the situation. But then when Madame Chamack and her daughter were talking about her, and Lila asked about the woman in a ladybug cloak, she could not run fast enough. Suddenly, all Marinette was seeing was that dagger at the ready to pierce her heart, and Lila's cruel smile looking down at her. She felt like she was in a small, closed off room rather than outside and she had to get away. The seamstress didn't know which way she was going, and she kept bumping into things fighting to keep her footing.
She finally settled for hiding in an empty corner and slumped down to the ground with her back to a wall. She tried to keep telling herself in her mind that she was okay, that she was safe. But Lila kept entering her mind, and all Marinette could think about was if that woman spotted her, she would kill her. It felt like her heart moved into her ears, and she couldn't breathe right. All around her it was too noisy and too quiet at the same time. Everything was closing in...
"Marinette... Marinette calm down..." Tikki tried to reach the young woman, but it didn't seem like she could hear the kwami. She needed help, so she tried to get the attention of the other kwamis. Since she was still in the earrings, she couldn't come out without Marinette summoning her. But the kwamis could still hear her. "Plagg, everybody! Do something!"
"But we made an agreement that we must stay hidden..." Wayzz tried to protest.
"Forget that, she needs help and she's not listening to me!" Tikki insisted.
Plagg was the first to come out from the hood of the cloak, then the others followed behind out of her satchel bag. "Pigtails, can you hear me? Just calm down and breathe."
Marinette was in a fetal position against the wall, holding her head and tapping her foot nervously. She was also crying now. It was actually a miracle that she hadn't spoken a word in the middle of her breakdown. She was sort of hearing the kwamis talking to her, telling her to breathe. She followed their instructions without thinking and slowly breathed in and out. In and out. After a few minutes it felt like things were quieting down and she could see straight again.
"That's it, nice and slowly." Nooroo rubbed the girl's cheek for comfort. "How about you let Tikki out and she can help you feel better, too."
Marinette did like that suggestion and rubbed her left earring. Tikki came out in a swirl of magic and looked around to see if her holder was hurt.
"It's going to be okay." Tikki joined the others in holding the young woman while she continued to cry.
Marinette felt so ashamed of herself. How could she let herself fall apart like that after only seeing a glimpse of Lila? Was she that much of a coward?
"What happened, Marinette? One minute you were okay, and then all of the sudden there was so much fear in your heart." Duusu said.
"Yeah, I could feel a great panic in you as well." Nooroo added.
That's right, the butterfly and peacock kwamis were able to sense the emotions coming off of a person. Marinette wished she could tell them, but there was no easy way of explaining it without words. She tried by showing them her engagement ring to give them a clue.
"Did it have something to do with the prince?" Wayzz guessed. She shook her head yes and no.
"No, I believe it was the woman the prince was with. That was Lila, was it not?" Nooroo asked. Marinette nodded a yes as she wiped her remaining tears away.
"So, that's what the worm looks like now, huh?" Plagg spat at the thought of the woman. "Just say the word, and I'll scratch her eyes out."
"Not now, Plagg." Tikki shot him down, then went back to the girl. "Marinette, did you get scared that Lila would see you?"
Marinette nodded yes.
"Remember, she can't recognize you as long as you wear the earrings." The kwami reminded her, but Marinette didn't look convinced. "I know it's not easy after everything she's done to you, but I promise that I'm going to keep you safe with my magic."
Marinette smiled at the little kwami and held her close to cuddle her against her cheek.
"Maybe it was too soon to come out here to the city. We could always get the nettles another night if you wish, Marinette." Wayzz suggested.
That thought finally made Marinette get her thoughts together. She couldn't stop now, and she could delay her promise. Adrien's life depended on it after all. Getting back on her feet and straightening herself up, she put a real smile on for the kwamis to let them know she was okay.
"Do you want to keep going?" Tikki asked to be sure, and Marinette gave a proud nod yes. "Okay then."
She was about to get everyone back in the satchel and exit the corner when she heard some familiar voices coming toward them, and it made her stay put.
"My my, dear prince. If you had any lecherous plans, you could've picked a more secluded spot. Of course, I'm all for being adventurous." Lila in a teasing tone as Adrien continued to lead her further down the path.
Marinette kept herself hidden as she watched Adrien come to a stop and turned around to face Lila squarely. She almost wanted to vomit when Lila spoke so seductively and started putting her hands all over him. Then she heard a growl next to her ear and saw Plagg looking right at the woman. Marinette barely had time to grab him when he tried to take off. She held onto his body with one hand, and held the other over his mouth so he wouldn't give them away. Then she looked back to Adrien and Lila.
"Couldn't wait to get me all to yourself, could you?" She leaned against him to wrap her arms around his shoulders, but he stopped her and pushed her keep her at arm's length.
"We need to talk." he spoke firmly.
"Whatever is the matter, my prince?" Lila feigned innocence.
"I would like you to explain something to me." Adrien crossed his arms and looked Lila right in the eye. "Viscount Robert Roth came to you about some financial miscalculations, which ruined the reputations of some very loyal people my father has known for years."
"Well, it's to be expected. When you have the same people working for you for so long, there bound to think that a few mistakes aren't going to affect them." Lila shrugged like she was only half listening.
"Did you really think we weren't going to notice you and the viscount's actions, or Sheriff Adolphe for that matter. I've heard it from some of my closest friends how the people are suffering." Adrien said raising his voice. If it wasn't for Nino and Alya giving him some reports about the city, he would've been completely in the dark and never had the urge to go into town today or hear the frustration from the people themselves.
"Don't you think their over exaggerating just a bit?" she sighed, wishing this conversation was over already.
"No, I Don't!" Adrien yelled this time, which made Lila and the hiding Marinette jumped. "My father has always prided himself in never taking more than necessary from Papillon. You three have been causing nothing but misery, and you all but destroyed the people's trust in the monarchy. If they hadn't been so willing to listen to me just now, I'm sure there would eventually be riots in the streets. So, unless you have a reasonable explanation for all of this, I will have no choice but to look at it as treason."
Lila gasped at the accusation. "How could you be so cruel, your highness!? Surely, you wouldn't let anything happen to your fiancé?"
"If anything, I'm only seeking justice for the cruelty you and the sheriff have performed." Adrien did not bend to Lila's show of surrender.
Lila looked like she was thinking something over very carefully, then gave a long sigh as if she had given up. "I will admit, I thought having the extra money would be a good idea for our future. That we could have a little nest egg and do what we wanted to do when we got married. I never imagined that Viscount Roth would be so much greedier about it. I never even saw how much was being pulled into the accounts, or how much was being taken away from the people, I swear." She took hold of the prince's arm to begin her plea for forgiveness.
"Lila, you're going to be queen one day. Whatever you desire can be provided without all these desperate schemes." Adrien pushed her off of him again. "My father may not be able to handle it right now, so I will be taking charge from now on. I will stand by my promise and withhold the taxes until further notice. Any amount that you've collected will be used for the palace staff, and whatever's leftover will be to tend to the subjects that are in most need of it. Are we understood?"
"Of course, your highness, anything you say. And I shall personally give the viscount a good talking to." Lila said determined. "Perhaps your dear friend Nino can help by making sure Roth does not do anything to hurt the people further."
"I can agree to that." he then held an arm out for her to take. "Now let's head back to the palace."
"Lead the way my prince." With that, they both left the area, leaving a silent seamstress and seven kwamis alone to absorb what just happened.
"I like him." Plagg spoke up first.
His statement surprised Marinette. Normally, it would take more than a first impression to get on the black cat's good side. The other kwamis seemed impressed with the prince as well. Right now, Marinette was just so proud of Adrien. She knew that there was no way he was playing a part in the extended taxes, and now as the rightful future king, he was setting everything right for his people. Her heart swelled at his leadership and determination. Then there was that side of her that felt a guilty pleasure in observing how he doesn't seem to like Lila's attentions very well. That told her maybe things weren't running as smoothly as the sorceress had hoped.
"So, that was your Adrien, huh?" Trixx asked. Marinette gave him a nod as she gazed dreamily down the road where Adrien left.
"He certainly was handsome, but it's nice to know that he has brains, too." Tikki commented.
Marinette smiles slightly in agreement but then felt sad at the thought of her prince having to deal with someone like Lila. Then earlier she remembered him saying that his father wasn't feeling well. She wondered what could be wrong with the king. Was it something serious? What if Adrien loses his father the same way he lost his mother? Or even worse than that, what if it wasn't something naturally wrong with him? What if his illness was the work of Lila's magic again? Her mind went back to Lila's words about making Adrien the king would be the simplest part of her scheme. This made her all the more determined to get to the field fast and find that grave nettle.
She opened her satchel to urge all the kwamis to hide again, and then made Tikki go back into the earrings. She walked back into the street and kept to the edge to stay away from the crowds. This time she made sure not to stop for anything. It was near sunset and the overnight guards were starting to light the lamps. Luckily, it was the full moon so she would have no need for a torch. When she finally reached the field, she could see several people exiting the fence after visiting their relatives' graves. There was one guard there watching the entrance, and he paid Marinette no mind as she walked through.
The field was very wide and open. The goats kept to one end while the graves rested on the other. There weren't any people there now, so it gave Marinette a good chance to look around. She made one last look around to make sure no one was coming around before she let the kwamis free again. Everyone did their part in looking for the right plants. There were a few areas left unattended, giving plenty of room for weeds to sneak their way in. Mostly it was up against the stone wall or close to the few trees that grew in the field. Marinette took her chances around the graves and followed the markers along to the wall. There she found a few hundred weeds that were almost as tall as her. Looking closer, she found the stocks had small, hair-like needles growing near the leaves. She rubbed her earring again to summon Tikki and pointed to the plant to find out if this was the right one.
Tikki didn't answer right away but flew up to the plant and sniffed the tiny flowers that bloomed at the very top. Then she went back to her holder.
"This is it, Marinette. These are the grave nettles." She nearly cheered but tried not to be too loud. She did, however, attract the attention of her kwami friends.
"You found them!" Trixx said.
"There's no many!" Pollen called out as she flew around each of the plants.
There was a great number of plants, but Marinette wasn't sure if there was going to be enough for her to make the cloaks. She may have to make several trips back and forth just to finish one. She would have to make sure to leave some of them so they would be able to grow more.
"Well, we better get started." Nooroo said as he took out the knife from Marinette's satchel and handed it to the girl. "Here, use this."
Marinette smiled at the butterfly kwami in thanks and began to cut down the nettles at the base. She left a little bit without taking out any roots so that it may grow again.
"Watch out for the stinging hairs." Wayzz warned her.
The nettle plants only had the stinging fibers on the small stems connecting the leaves to the stock, and the rest of it was just a sturdy plant. This made it easy enough to avoid, but sometimes her hand would accidently brush one of the leaves, and she could do nothing about the lingering burn that dug into her skin. Marinette fought through the pain and continued to cut down more plants. When she had about fifty of them, she decided that this would be enough for now and tied her harvest together with a strand of string. She then wrapped the middle of the bundle in a cloth so she could carry the whole thing over her shoulder without getting stung.
The kwamis went back to their hiding spots as Marinette passed through the front gate again. The guard paid her no mind, possibly thinking she was just a young girl keeping the graves clean. She walked through the town without anyone paying her any mind until she made it back to the Papillon city gates. She paid the man that looked after her horse and wrapped the nettles up further to keep it from rubbing against the animal. Then she mounted her horse and left the city once more to go back through the marsh. The kwamis flew around her, and with their guide as well as the light of the full moon, they made their journey back to the cottage with the final first step to breaking the curses.
.~*~*~*~*~*~