~Maria~

It's been a week since Maria has woken up. The only memories she got back were those related to cooking, gardening, or any other hobby she did. It hurt her head every time she remembered something, but she'll get over it soon. The others seem worried every time she remember something. Well, everyone but Licori, she seemed thrilled that Maria was retrieving her memories. Right now Maria was making a chocolate cake supreme. She and Licori got closer over the week. The two were now friends. Licori was helping Maria with the cake just as Joseph walked in. He was reading a book as he walked in. He heard giggles and looked up confused. He noticed both girls in the kitchen making the cake batter and homemade frosting and raised an eyebrow. That's when both girls noticed him. Maria happily grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the workspace. "Jojo! You gotta try the batter!" Licori exclaimed, getting a clean silver spoon and scooping up some batter. Joseph made a worried face. "I-I don't know girlies, what if I-" Joseph started, but was quickly interrupted by Licori, who stuffed a spoonful of batter in his mouth. He rolled his eyes as he swallowed. His eyes widened and both girls leaned in awaiting his opinion. "Wow uh...that was...delicious" he stated. Maria giggled. "That was the batter Licori made!" She exclaimed. Licori smiled and Joseph sheepishly looked away with a small blush. "Right...well uh...good luck with the cake" he stated before rushing out of the kitchen with his book. Both girls looked at each other and shrugged before getting back to the cake. They finished the batter and put it in the pan. They then put it in the oven to bake and then finished up making the frosting. Then they went to the greenhouse as the cake baked so that they can pick fresh strawberries. They smile and had small talk. Then Licori looked side to side before leaning in to Maria. "Hey Maria after we are done baking I gotta show you something tonight" she whispered, her face very serious. Maria just held her breathe and nodded as the two continued picking strawberries. Both girls hummed as they headed back to the kitchen and washed the strawberries. Seeing that the cake still had 15 minutes, they set down the strawberries in rows and columns and drizzled melted milk chocolate on top of them. Then they set them in the freezer for a while. Then they rested for a bit. That is, until the timer went off. Then Maria got the cake out and Licori got the strawberries out. Both girls frosted and decorated the cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate covered strawberries. Both girls high fived each other and put the cake in one of the cake freezers. Then they both cleaned up and waited for Tiarcy and Jewels got home from school. They both walked around the garden and talked. Then they both went to the secret rose garden and Licori helped Maria with her ice powers. With a smile, Maria finally perfected making the ice form into any shape she thought of. So she made a rose that would never melt. She held it in her hand with a smile. Licori went to go sew in her room as Maria went to go put her ice rose up in her room. She knew she had to keep it hidden, the others besides Licori did not allow roses for some reason. As she snuck to her room, she quickly closed the door. She made an ice vase and set it down in there. She stared at it happily when it glowed pink and green. Her eyes widened in shock but she shook it off. She looked out her window and saw the limo pull up with Tiarcy and Jewels getting out. Joseph went outside to meet them. Maria quickly made two small braids and put her hair in a ponytail and rushed downstairs. She met up with Licori and the two of them walked to the dining room. Just as they passed the doorway to the front entrance, they heard the other three talking as they walked towards the front door. "How was school you two?" Joseph asked. "Awful! Those kids questioned us about Maria" Jewels said, crossing her arms irritated. This caught Maria's attention. Licori listened in too. That's when Tiarcy snorted. "Yeah, they've questioned us everyday, can't let Maria know though" Maria wanted to hear more but Licori noticed they started to get near the door. "Quick they're coming!" Licori whispered. Both girls ran into the dining room. Just as they were about to talk, the other three walked in. Maria looked over at Licori who just mouthed the word 'tonight' causing Maria to nod. With that, both girls ate dinner with the other three. Then after having the chocolate cake the girls made, they all went to bed. That night Maria stayed up and waited for Licori. Licori popped open the vent entrance from Maria's room and hopped out. "Alright icicle," Licori started, "follow me but stay silent." Maria nodded and the both of them crawled into the vents, Maria fitting better than Licori since she was so small. The two girls crawled until they reached the vents that were in Joseph's study. There sat Joseph, Tiarcy, and Licori. Maria and Licori stayed silent and listened to the conversation.

"So what are we gonna do about those pesty kids? They're gonna find out sooner or later that we were lying"

"Yeah given the fact they figured out in the first place WE had something to do with it!"

"Okay okay just...stay calm okay? Keep denying any knowledge, they gotta give up eventually. In the mean time, we gotta knew target."

"Another one? Who?"

"Yeah sheesh how many are we gonna get?"

"Calm down you two! It's a girl, about in the fifth grade, Loli is her name. She doesn't have a home so that makes the first part easy. Parents died, grandparents don't want anything to do with her, say she's a freak of nature, a mistake."

"Well what's so important about her?"

"I'm getting there calm down already."

"Well then stop taking forever and speak goddamit!"

"Aye shut up!"

"......"

"......"

"Thank you. Now the reason she's so important is because she has the Tigress miraculous."

"Oh I get it"

"Wow sweet, when are we gonna recruit her?"

"Next week, you two are coming with me because Tiarcy has a doctors appointment where Loli is at, Jewels you need to get Loli, and I have some...'business' to attend to"

"Alright, well what about Maria and Licori?"

"Yeah what about them?"

"They'll be fine goddamit, so you two in or not?"

"...I am..."

"Count me in"

"Alright it's settled then! Goodnight girls"

"Goodnight"

"Night losers"

And with that, the three left the study. Licori and Maria hurried back to their seperate rooms, wishing each other a goodnight. Maria slipped into bed, trying to sleep. She couldn't, however, get her mind off of the conversation. She spent the rest of the night staring at the ice rose that mysteriously glowed green and pink.

And that wraps up this chapter! This chapters shoutout goes to KitaraTheFantroll ! Well that's it for now! Time to bug out!