The Egyptian Ladybug and her Chat

Chapter 16

"How are you feeling?" Tikki asked.

"Umm...good...if good means bad....but better than before...so like a cow stepped on me...and a goat ate my liver...and then told me to eat my silly words. To eat them, chew them, swallow them, digest them," I answered.

"So, better than before but still pretty sore?"

"Yup."

"Well, the good news is the ladybugs repaired all the fatal damage! Now you just have a giant bruise!"

"You don't have to sound so happy," but I laughed as I said it, though instantly regretting it. Ow.

I was back at my house. I don't know how, but some way or another my parents believed I had tried going to the party but got lost and somehow woke up in a forest. Thankfully, Master Fu had found me and brought me home. And now I didn't remember a thing about that night.

Master Fu had a way with words, that was for sure.

"Come on Marinette! It's a beautiful day. Let's go outside. Tomorrow you start back work."

"Ugh, don't remind me."

"Enjoy your last day of freedom. Let's go!"

I went outside using a stick to lean heavily on. Master Fu had given it to me.

Tikki hiding in my hair, I walked over to mine and Alya's garden. It was a sorry wreck.

Since I had started working at the palace (Plus being Ladybug) and Alya had become more and more to do with her work there had been no one to tend to the garden.

I sighed. I hadn't had much time for a lot of things I used to do. Me and Alya were having to teach the little girls in the middle of the night because we couldn't find another time. My own studies were suffering. I wasn't allowed to write anything in public and I was afraid of forgetting all I'd learned.

I also wasn't able to help in the bakery. I missed the smell of bread as I pulled it out of the oven.

And there was the garden.

I gave another long sigh, "This isn't what I want for myself, Tikki."

I sat on the ground and started weeding. I started with the bean plants. Then the tomatoes. Then the pear trees. With every weed I pulled, every muscle in my body screamed, but I ignored them all and kept working.

I noticed something. Even though I thought it might be too late, the pears were perfect for eating.

I picked one and took a bite, juice dripping down my chin.

Since no one was around, I let Tikki come out and she had a bite as well.

"Mmm. Those are so good!"

I painfully walked inside and brought back a basket. I started picking pears, but many were too high for me to reach. I'd have to climb the tree.

Oh, this was gonna hurt. Especially when my muscles gave out and I'd fall.

"Marinette, don't! I meant a relaxing walk. Not 'near death experience' climb!" Tikki argued, trying to get me down from where I had one leg in the tree.

"Oh, you worry too much Tikki!" I said brushing her aside gently even though I knew she was right.

I started climbing the tree.

Note to self: NEVER CLIMB A TREE WHEN YOU'RE LITERALLY COVERED IN BLACK AND BLUE BRUISES!

Good news, I made it to thickest branch in the tree with only three more bruises and eight failed attempts.