Miraculous Ladybug - Deep Blue

Chapter Five

Marinette continued to stare at the earrings, entranced by its shiny luster and fine significance. She carefully examined them, moving them around her palms. She felt a strange urge to put them on. After carefully putting on each earring she took down a hand mirror from her bed shelf. The dark red earrings complimented her dark blue hair. Marinette was still staring at her reflection in the mirror when she remembered what happened last night. She was still a little damp from falling into the ocean, and she didn't take a shower yet. Her clothes, skin, and hair smelled of salt.

She decided to take a shower first, have breakfast, and then search up where the earrings might have come from. It was a Saturday morning anyways, and Marinette had no plans that day. After peeling off her smelly wet clothing, she hopped into the shower. Without realizing it, she started humming the same music that drove her to the ocean. The warm shower water rained down on Marinette. As she reached for her shampoo bottle, she felt a sharp pain in her legs.

She clutched them, wondering what the heck was going on. It just kept getting worse. Her feet all the way to her torso started prickling uncomfortably as she tried to ease the pain by massaging her legs. She fell down on the bathroom floor. The weirdest thing was happening. Her legs started to wrap together tightly, like if someone was wrapping them in duck tape. The prickling and pain had stopped in replace of cold flushes. Marinette stared at her legs, mortified at what she saw. Different shades of crimson scales mutated from them. Her feet started to extend, stretching out until they were no longer feet, but two transparent fins. This went on for a minute longer. Marinette was closing her eyes for the remaining process, and when the pain and uncomfortableness went away completely, she managed to open one eye slowly. Her expression read shocked disbelief. Instead of her legs, there lay a long crimson tail with light pink fins.

OOO

Adrien had just told Plagg about his story on the beach but was seriously starting to regret it. At several points, Plagg literally looked like he wanted to strangle Adrien with his little fins, at other points Plagg looked like he was gonna pass out himself. Now, Adrien was in his room throwing stray pebbles against its cave walls. He gave up and sank to the ground sighing in defeat. As a punishment for life threatening himself, he was grounded for a whole month. This meant no explorations, no midnight swims, and no freedom...according to Adrien. Plagg had even told his parents what had happen and they were pretty upset with him too. They had sent him to his room to think about what he had done.

An hour had passed and Adrien was sick of staying in his room with nothing to do. He swam out silently and peered into the main room. Plagg's parents were out scavenging food for dinner that night and Plagg was snoring softly on a soft seaweed rug in the middle of the floor. A few stray pieces of walrus cheese lay by his side. Adrien rolled his eyes this time. He loved exploring as much as Plagg loved his sea cheese. Adrien looked out of the entrance of the cave. If he was really careful and quiet he could get out for a quick swim and come back without anyone noticing.

Adrien darted behind a squishy orange anemone that served as a couch, receiving only a light grunt from Plagg, who shifted a bit in is sleep. Sighing in relief that he didn't get caught, Adrien swam low but fast to the exit of the cave. He zoomed out with a cheery grin on his face. Finally, he had some freedom to do whatever he wanted.

Marinette rubbed her eyes continuously. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her. Alas, her legs were still a tail. She awkwardly lifted it up a few inches with gravity pulling it down again. Her fins caused the water in the shower to splash outside it. Marinette grumbled and slapped her palm to her forehead. Surely this was just another crazy dream. Wait...the DREAM! Marinette looked at herself again and turned her body to the full length mirror. Her tail also came with a matching scaled top which molded to fit Marinette's chest perfectly. She thought to herself as she moved in different angles in front of the mirror.

"I actually...I actually look like a mermaid? But how..."

Marinette heard footsteps coming upstairs and panicked. What if someone saw her like this?! There was a knock at the bathroom door and Marinette's mother's sweet voice rang out. "Honey, are you okay in there? I heard some noises..."

Marinette panicked as her mom was slowly turning the door handle. In haste, Marinette forgot to lock it. She quickly did what came to her mind just then.Her tail slapped at the doorway blocking it. "Uh yeah mom...I'm totally fine", Marinette called out nervously. "Um...but would you mind if I uh dry off first?"

Marinette's mom gave a quizzical look outside the door but responded. "Sure honey, I'll be downstairs if you need me." With that, she walked away. Marinette came back to focus on her tail. The bulkiness of it made it a little difficult to move around in, but luckily, her towel had fallen down from its hook.

"Actually...drying myself isn't such a bad idea..."

She took the towel and started drying her tail and the rest of her body. Her tail started melting away in a warm sensation, and about five minutes later, her legs returned. She smiled due to the fact her plan worked. The connection between what happened last night right up to this very moment must've meant something...and Marinette was determined to find out what.