Chapter Text
Over 70 years ago…
“Stop, Fu! We have to fight! These people won’t stop until the whole world falls to their genocidal reign, and they don’t need magic to do it! We have to fight back. You take the Black Cat, I’ll take the Ladybug!”
“But what if we fail? If they get ahold of the box, it really will be the end of the world! Come with me to England.”
“England will not be as safe as you think…you run if you want, but I will not. This is my home, and I shall fight for it, with or without superpowers!”
“...very well. But I won’t leave you with nothing. Take this. I’ll come back for you both!”
“I’ll be waiting for you every day.”
“Marianne…I-”
“Hush, Wang. Tell me when you come back to me.”
“Over there, there they are! Get them!”
“Go, now!”
“Faster, we must get that box!”
“You’ll have to go through me, you wretched men! Orikko, Sunrise!”
~=~
The Present day…
On an early Saturday morning, in the living room of Alya’s apartment (whilst her sister is at the Gym, and the parents are out with the twins), each and every girl in Caline Bustier’s class had gathered, and while no one else could feel it, the gentle smiles both Marinette and Lila put on showed that they both had a practiced facade ready for the day.
“It’s so kind of you to host us, Alya!” Lila smiles wide. “It’s the first time we all get to hang out together since school started back up!”
“Well, I figured it was high time we let Lila in on Operation: Flower Garden!” Alya says triumphantly.
“Oh…are you sure? Wouldn’t that be a, uh, conflict of interest?” Mylene asks nervously.
“I’m not going to be pursuing Adrien anymore,” Marinette says, and the news that this has something to do with Adrien makes Lila perk up in interest. “How rude of me…I haven’t even explained what it is yet! Operation: Flower Garden is an old scheme that us girls cooked up before the break. We gave each other these silly flower-based codenames and cooked up a whole bunch of schemes to try and get Adrien to go out with me…”
“And they…didn’t work…” Lila trails off, then she puts on a sorrowful face. “Oh, but Marinette, that doesn’t mean you should stop trying! I don’t want you to help me get with Adrien just because you’re giving up! I mean…what if deep down, you still love Adrien? Wouldn’t it hurt to see us together?”
“Maybe a little,” Marinette sighs wistfully. “Adrien will always have a part of my heart, I think…but there’s plenty of room in it.”
“Oh, remember Sweetheart’s ice cream?” Rose giggles. “Andre said Marinette had so much love to give! How romantic.”
“Honestly, I…I think he might never think of me like that,” Marinette admits truthfully. “Our first meeting was shaky. He might even be afraid of me.”
“Come on, ‘Nette, you know that’s not true!” Alix assures the girl. “Nobody could be afraid of you!”
Marinette’s eyes drifted to Lila, who seemed to be some mix of bothered and impressed. Lila had figured out what Marinette’s plan was by now: self-deprecation today is quickly shut down, so Lila can’t claim that Adrien’s afraid of her at a later date, for whatever reason. Furthermore, while Marinette loves her friends, planning is not their strong suit. If they focus her effort on planning romantic trysts for Lila and Adrien, they’ll end in just as much failure. Marinette’s protecting herself and Adrien with every move against Lila.
“And, besides…” Marinette smiles. “There’s plenty of fish in the sea.”
“Yeah, especially when that fish lives on a boat.” Alya teases, and Marinette blushes.
“A-anyway!” Marinette chuckles, aiming to avert the topic before Lila can try to track down who Marinette’s next romantic target is, and she smiles at Lila. “I know this is a lot for you to take in, Lila, but…would you accept our help?”
“Oh, Marinette…of course I would!” Lila throws herself onto Marinette to hug her. “I’m so glad you’re willing to let Adrien go for me! You shouldn’t have…” her eyes lock with Marinette’s as she pulls back. “Really, you shouldn’t have.” A smile curls across her face, clearly eager to take on Marinette’s challenge.
“You still need a code name!” Rose says excitedly.
“Oh, I’ve already thought of that,” Marinette says. “I was thinking Snapdragon! Those flowers symbolize graciousness…”
And Deception. The Superego grins.
“So!” Lila claps her hands together in excitement as she sits back down. “When do we start?”
“Today!” Alya says. “Marinette says there’s been a recent change in Adrien’s schedule. Take it away, girl!”
“The Agrestes have been invited to a Royal Wedding in England…and so have the Tsurugis,” Marinette explains, and the information makes Lila’s face scrunch up.
Lila’s never really touched Kagami…up till now, there’s been too much worry about Kagami’s influence, icy nature, and affection for Adrien causing Lila’s downfall. I wonder if Lila would take the risk…not that it would matter. Kagami is fiercely protective and loyal. I just need to make sure the girls don’t yet realize that Kagami is their biggest obstacle here…especially since Lila can’t threaten Kagami as she did me. Not only would Kagami have far less hesitation to actually hurt Lila, but Kagami has no web of friends she can be cut off from, like I do. Her lack of connection also makes Lila unable to touch her.
“When are they leaving?” Lila asks.
“They’re taking the Startrain to Paris at 11 AM, now that it’s finally been built,” Marinette explains.
“That’s in less than two hours!” Lila gasps. “Oh, Marinette, why couldn’t you tell us sooner?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure I needed to know it anymore. I was okay with letting Kagami and Adrien go…but then Alya told me about your crush, and figured you had a right to know.” Marinette says, carefully skirting the subject that she wasn’t working alone here, balancing on it delicately enough that Lila can’t claim Marinette called this meeting out of malice.
“Er, we could…” Mylene tries to suggest, clearly tired. “Organize a demonstration and make the trains go on strike?”
“They'd take a helicopter or private jet,” Alya answers.
“I know, I know!” Rose enthusiastically raises her hand. “We'll dress you up as British megastar Adeline so you can slip into Buckingham Palace. You'll lure Adrien away from Kagami at the reception and waltz with him in the grand ballroom and-” Rose begins, and Lila seems to like the plan so far, but Alix sighs.
“Then when Adrien finds out you're not who he thought you were, he'll be totally disappointed because he hates lying, fall head-over-heels in love with Kagami, given that she never lies, and you'll get locked away in the Tower of London,” Alix states.
Adrien hates lying? News to me. The Superego chitters.
They’re right that Kagami never lies, though! Honestly, they make such a handsome couple. They’re perfect for each other! The Id says.
“You could just kidnap Kagami.” Juleka says, and everyone disapproves while Lila stays silent. “Listen, this is pre-coffee Juleka. You want real suggestions, get me coffee,” she mumbles crankily.
“Maybe you should just tell him how you feel before he gets on the train?” Alya suggests.
“That…would be a bit difficult,” Lila says. Marinette knows why- a public rejection could throw Lila’s plans into disarray, though it seems like she’s plotting something. “We should keep brainstorming!”
All of a sudden, Marinette sees a green blur out of the corner of her eye, only visible every few seconds- just to get her attention.
“Actually, I think I need to get going!” Marinette says. “I need to prepare my own plan for confession, after all!”
Marinette is met with cries of encouragement (and a quiet “He’s gonna say yes” from Juleka), and she heads out of the apartment. Once outside, she pulls out her hair ribbons, flips her hair to fall over one side of her shoulder, and lifts her phone to the same side of her exposed ear. Understanding the signal, Wayzz dives from his hiding place to hide in Marinette’s hair.
“What’s going on?” Marinette asks once she feels the kwami near her covered ear.
“Master Fu needs you!” Wayzz informs her.
“Is this a real emergency or a “Master Fu needs to learn how to text” emergency? Like the time he had me pick the lock to the parlor when he lost the key?” Marinette asks with a pout.
“I assure you, Marinette, Master Fu wouldn’t be able to text you in his current state,” Wayzz informs her.
That got Marinette moving.
~=~
As Marinette makes her way to the parlor, going inside she can hear Master Fu wailing for her! Rushing in, she throws open the door, and…
“Are you oka- GAH!” Marinette’s eyes widen as she sees a doctor and Chat Noir over Master Fu! She dives behind the folding screen Fu usually sets up when she and Chat Noir have to be together in civilian guise, hiding herself before Chat Noir can see her!
“Ma’am! Are you okay?!” The Doctor asks.
“Oh, yes, fine! I was just…on my way to the parlor because I heard he was unwell! Oh, but everything back here is so disorganized! Please, um… explain everything while I work!” Marinette proclaims.
“Well, Chat Noir happened to be passing by this parlor when M. Chan here collapsed. He helped him inside and called us, and he’s been wailing for his granddaughter ever since…I presume that’s you?” The Doctor asks.
“Ma…Ma…” Fu groans, and Marinette’s eyes widen.
“YES!” Marinette interrupts. “He’s obviously going to say “My Granddaughter,” and that’s me! His Granddaughter!” Marinette rambles as she keeps herself as hidden as possible behind the folding screen, and even through the shadows, she can tell Chat Noir is turned away from her. “So, um, what’s wrong with him?” She asks worriedly.
“Oh, he’s fine.” the Doctor says. “He’s more resilient than he seems. You know how men are- one little hiccup and they think they're dying!”
“My time has come!” Master Fu says dramatically, and Marinette sighs in relief, and the Doctor hands Marinette a prescription from behind the screen.
“Here you go. Fetch this from the pharmacy and your Grandpa will be back on his feet in no time,” she explains, and Marinette places it in her purse. “And don't forget to eat more veggies, M. Chan!” the woman says as she leaves. “You need fiber, for god’s sake.” she chuckles as she leaves the building, and silence hangs in the air, and Marinette takes a deep breath.
“Tikki, Spots On!” Marinette marches out as Ladybug. “Master, what were you thinking?! Almost shouting my name while Chat Noir’s right there?!”
“My ears are covered!” Chat Noir says loudly, his arms practically wrapped around the circumference of his face to cover his human and cat ears. “All of them! I’ve got no hints of who you are! Barely listened to a word you said before you transformed, I’ve still got no clue who you are!”
Ladybug sighs in relief, and Chat Noir uncovers his face. “Okay, then why are you here?”
“I was coming to talk to Master Fu in my civilian form. I found him collapsed in the parlor.” Chat explains. “Apparently, he had already begun calling for you, but the kwamis were holding his mouth shut! No hints, no clues, I promise! You know, other than the, uh, first syllable…”
WHICH CAN BE A DEAD GIVEAWAY- The Superego shrieks.
“One thing at a time,” Ladybug takes a deep breath and turns to Master Fu. “What happened? Why were you being called “M. Chan?””
“You can never be too careful…” Fu claims. Ladybug goes to him to put the blanket on him, but he takes her wrist. “Ladybug, if anything happens to me, I want you to take care of the Miracle box. You’ll be the new guardian, and-”
“Master Fu!” Ladybug interrupts him, a bit more sternly than she anticipated, and she breathes to push that trepidation down. “You’re overreacting. You just have a stomachache, is all.”
“I am 186 years old. The Doctor doesn’t know that.” Fu reminds her.
“Then we’ll brew some more of that immortality elixir of yours,” Marinette tells him.
“It’s not infallible. My body still ages, though the soul remains. One day, not even that potion will save me from time…” Fu tells her, and she and Chat Noir look at each other in worry.
“You’re going to be fine!” Ladybug tells him. “I'll go and fetch your medication,” she says, and as she stands up, he holds out his arm to her.
“Wait!” He sits up weakly. “That’s not why I called you here.” he pulls out a letter. “Go to the address written here down on the river banks at your earliest convenience, but no later than noon. You'll see a woman there wearing a thumb ring and a pretty brooch shaped like a Chinese ideogram. Give her this letter.”
“...who is she, Master?” Marinette asks nervously as she takes the letter.
“Someone I’ve always loved, but have never seized the moment to tell…” he says, looking away.
“You have a sweetheart…why today?” she asks.
“Because my brush with mortality has made me realize that I’ve waited far too long. I don't know how much time I have left, but I don't want to waste another moment.” He says.
“You’re right.” she nods and smiles. “I’ll go do this right away.”
“We can divide and conquer.” Chat Noir smiles. “I have to leave Paris for the weekend, and I was considering leaving my ring here for a temporary replacement…but then Master Fu told me about something.”
“The Horse Miraculous,” Fu says. “Its power is teleportation. But I don’t understand, Chat Noir…how will that help?”
“Hawkmoth isn’t working alone anymore. There’s no telling who he has his eye on or what the full extent of his influence is! Your false identity is the only thing that matters about maintaining, so the less a paper trail we leave, the better.” Chat explains.
“Not a bad idea…” Ladybug nods. “You really think you can get prescription drugs, no questions asked, wherever you’re going?”
“I have my ways, M’lady.” Chat slides on the Horse’s Glasses smoothly, and Kaalki emerges. “I need to make sure to catch the train, I’ve already stayed too long!”
“Go! I’ll deliver the letter to his love.” Ladybug smiles.
“A bit more domestic than the work we’re used to, eh Bugaboo?” Chat grins.
“Oh, don’t call me…” Ladybug puffs out her cheeks, and Chat laughs.
“Plagg, Kaalki, unify!” Chat says, uniting the Miraculous (in a very dramatic way)! “Call me Pega-Noir.” He poses dramatically, and Ladybug holds in a smirk.
“Is that how you transform? Every time?” Ladybug asks, and he blushes.
“N-no! I was just…putting on a little show for you, that’s all.” Chat so very clearly lies. “Anyway, gotta go! Voyage!” Chat creates a portal and steps through.
Once the portal closes, Marinette takes a deep breath. “Spots off.”
“You know, you’re not one to judge Chat Noir’s transformation, Little Miss “Does a pirouette and a kick every time she transforms,”” Tikki pokes fun.
“I-I just need to stretch before a fight!” Marinette blushes, then sighs. “I-in any case, this situation is as good a time as any for a trial run for the face paint.”
~=~
“A digital presence would be preferred,” Gabriel scowls over the phone to Nathalie.
“Relax, Gabriel. You need to keep up appearances, and ensure that no one suspects a thing.” Nathalie advises from within the Agreste Manor. “Is Adrien there?”
“Yes, of course he is,” Gabriel says haughtily. “And the Tsurugis are soon to arrive.”
“Good. I’ll ensure everything goes smoothly here,” Nathalie says and hangs up. “In ways you wouldn’t approve of…”
Nathalie opens the safe and pins the Peacock Miraculous to her shirt. “Duusu, Spread my Feathers!” she proclaims as she activates the elevator.
As Mayura steps into the atrium, the window opens before her. “Now, to scan the city for emotion…”
~=~
“Plagg, Kaalki, divide. Plagg, Claws In.” Adrien whispers and steps out of hiding, seeing the Tsurugis arriving nearby!
“Kagami!” Adrien rushes over to join them.
“Adrien? Why aren’t you on the train yet?” Kagami asks.
“Ah, I, er…wanted to greet you!” Adrien says politely, bowing in greeting to the Tsurugis. Mme. Tomoe smiles approvingly, and Kagami lightly blushes.
“Very kind of you, Adrien,” Kagami notes aloud.
“Shall we?” Adrien holds out his arm, turning up the charm, and Kagami smiles a little bit.
“We shall.” Kagami takes his arm and stands close to him, and Adrien blushes a little bit in kind as the two begin to walk onto the train…
“Adrien!” a voice calls from behind them, and Adrien’s eyes widen a bit when he turns to see Lila approaching.
“Lila?” he asks, astonished. “What are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to give you this!” Lila says with her saccharine smile, holding out a letter envelope.
“Oh…thanks?” Adrien says, taking it.
“Have a nice trip!” Lila says and skips away innocently while Adrien and Kagami get on board the train. Kagami’s grip on Adrien’s arm has tightened.
“Who was that, Adrien?” Kagami asks.
“Oh, that was just Lila!” Adrien tucks the letter into a pocket. “I’m sure it was nothing important, or everyone would have texted me! I’ll read the letter later.”
Kagami hums in doubt, but says nothing more.
~=~
“I sense unease from you, Gabriel-san,” Tomoe tells Gabriel as he squeamishly fixes his tie next to her on the train.
“I suppose I just have unease being away from home,” he answers.
“You must get past that agoraphobic nature of yours,” Tomoe tells him.
“I am not a-” he begins, but Tomoe interrupts him.
“He who hopes, gives himself the opportunity to obtain what he desires. But he who fears, always ends up with the very thing he dreads.” Tomoe says. “The Samurai Ikari Gozen said that.”
“...I shall remember that, Tsurugi-San.” Gabriel answers with a frown.
~=~
“Hello again, M. Ramier.” an old woman says, a chinese idiogram on her lapel alongside multiple medals. She leans on her cane, a thumb ring gripping it, and Xavier Ramier helps her sit down.
“How are you today, Mme. Lenoir?” Ramier asks with a kind smile.
“Oh, today’s the day! I know he’s coming…I can feel it.” the woman, Marianne Lenoir, sighs.
“He really is a lucky man, you know.” Ramier smiles, and she helps Ramier feed the birds.
“Excuse me.” a voice says, and they turn to see a girl in a red hood, hair spilling out and a face covered in paint akin to a ladybug mask. “I believe this is for you,” she says, holding out the letter.
“Oh!” the woman smiles and takes it. “So he sent you…I understand.” She smiles kindly. “Would you stay here while I read, please? So I can tell you what to say to him, and give him what belongs to him.”
“What belongs to him…?” the girl questions.
“Ah, still not telling others everything, hm?” Marianne chuckles. “Just stick around, won’t you?”
“Of course, ma’am,” the Young Ladybug says. “Tell me, were you two…close?”
Ah, already trying to gauge exactly how much I know. He chose a smart one!
“There were no secrets between us in the end,” Marianne smiled as she looked up from the letter.
“It must have been nice…” She hears Ladybug mutter to herself.
Marianne purses her lips, looking the little heroine over. Yes, she’s young, but goodness, she’s young. She must still be in school. She’d heard rumors that Ladybug and Chat Noir appeared to be teenagers, but did destiny truly put Fu on the path to naming them?
Then again, how could she judge? The results speak for themselves, a pair of heroes that rival the greatest legends of myth. Oh, but these two, unable to confide in one another, lest their foes take advantage…it must be so hard for a pair so young.
“Tell him,” Marianne folds the letter, “that at his nearest convenience, if he can ever come to see me, I would very much enjoy his company. I’d like to return what belongs to him in person.”
“I will!” Ladybug says quickly. “I’ll go tell him now, if…if you’d be willing to wait?”
“I’ve waited more than seventy years, my dear girl! I can wait another hour.” Marianne says goodheartedly, and the little Ladybug sprints away!
Fu…I might finally see you again after all this time. Marianne sits down, and her heart is all aflutter, like she’s young again!
~=~
Mayura hones in on someone. The Butterfly Miraculous was created to hone in on negativity and shroud the target in shadow, created so the holder could help, turning the target into a vassal of their power. The Butterfly helped others by allowing them to help themselves.
The Peacock, however, is the Butterfly’s reflection. Amoks can be controlled by their creator much more easily than Akumas- feathers aren’t alive, after all. So while Mayura could direct her amok to Hawkmoth’s cane on Heroes’ Day, and in theory could have one follow an akuma’s wingbeats…amoks are naturally attracted to positive emotion. The Peacock’s purpose is to grant a hero or someone powerless temporary aid, always derived from a good heart, lest darkness turn the Sentimonster into a dark reflection of malevolent emotion.
But Nathalie is clever. Just like Gabriel contorted the Butterfly to serve his own ends, Nathalie is certain she can do something similar with the Peacock. She’s been sensing Adrien’s presence near the Startrain, and is waiting patiently. And… there. Once the Startrain has pulled out of the station, Mayura releases an amok. By the time it reaches its target, they will all be long gone.
And what a target it is! A woman in love, longing for both the future and the past. Obviously, Mayura can’t communicate with her telepathically if she wants everything to go well…she’ll have to build the sentimonster without the woman even knowing what’s happened.
The feather enters a chinese ideogram, and she begins to craft the Sentimonster. The powers are the easy part, but she’ll also turn this woman’s desire to relive the past into a desire to hunt down Ladybug and Chat Noir’s Miraculous!
~=~
“The time has come to see him again,” Marianne sighs, and winces a bit. “Oh…” she rubs her temples.
“Mme. Lenoir, are you alright?” Ramier asks, worried.
“Oh, I’m fine, Xavier!” Marianne smiles. “Just a headache, is all…”
Little does she know that something is forming from the shadow behind her, drawing on her love and her desire to reunite. Backwarder is formed: a puppet-like figure of yellow, black, and purple. It’s thin and moves quickly, and its face is the face of a clock.
“Feel attracted to your amok…” Mayura mutters, looking through the eyes of this old woman but not making contact. “Like Midas, all you need to do is touch her, and she’ll be unable to stop you.” She focuses, trying to feed Backwarder’s urge for reunion. “There’s no time to waste!”
Backwarder looms over the old woman and M. Ramier from behind, reaching its sword-like arm toward the woman, attracted by its own amok…
“Mme. Lenoir, look out!” Ramier shouts and jumps in the way of the sentimonster, being impacted in its place! Mayura scowls, and the old woman gasps and backs away as Ramier is affected!
”!tuo kool, rioneL .emM“ Ramier speaks in reverse as he slowly starts moving back, and the woman falls onto her back as the creature approaches.
“No, no, stay away from me!” the old woman shouts in fear. The creature steps over her…and then leaps away, with the might of any akuma, ready to cause havoc in an aimless quest.
“It obeyed her…” Mayura curses under her breath. Suddenly, she feels a rush of determination from the woman as she stands up and starts to tail the creature. “Now, where are you going…?” she narrows her eyes.
~=~
Adrien’s phone vibrates as he receives an akuma alert, and he narrows his eyes.
“An akuma alert?” Kagami ponders, looking over Adrien’s shoulder.
“What?” Gabriel’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “That’s…are you certain?”
“The ladyblog’s never been wrong before,” Adrien frowns. “I hope my friends will be okay…in fact, I’m feeling a little nauseous, worrying about them.” He stands up. “I’ll just be a moment!” he smiles and walks off toward the bathroom.
“And I need to make a call…” Gabriel stands off and heads in the opposite direction.
~=~
As the strange villain stumbles and stabs its hands at anything it can, backwarding all in sight, Ladybug swings onto the scene and saves them from a car moving in reverse! She starts calling for people to evacuate, then gasps as the villain lunges for her, and she dodges out of the way!
“Not a word? That’s unusual…you don’t look like one of Hawkmoth’s akumas, either,” Ladybug narrows her eyes. “Who or what are you…?”
“Able to narrow it down that quickly, Ladybug?” Mayura talks to herself within the lair. “I’m impressed. I thought it’d take you heroes longer to realize you weren’t dealing with an akuma, but that famous eye for detail is hard at work. Not to worry, though…so long as this woman wants to reunite with the man she loves, the twisted desire to gain the Miraculous will serve me well. But I don’t need the Miraculous, not yet…once Backwarder hits you, I’ll follow you back to wherever you call home, and deliver your identity to Hawkmoth on a silver platter.”
Mayura’s Peaphone begins to ring, and she frowns. “Speak of the devil…” she hits “ignore.”
All of a sudden, back in the fight, some kind of portal opens as Chat Noir emerges, blindsiding Backwarder and hitting it in the face with his staff to knock it away!
“Another Miraculous?!” Mayura exclaims.
“Sorry for the wait, Ladybug!” Pega-Noir grins. “Now, uh…what am I looking at here?”
“I’m not sure.” Ladybug frowns. “Stay on your guard! If it touches you, it’ll reverse time on you!”
“Figures we’d get something new…” Noir sighs, and Backwarder lunges for them! The two of them are able to dodge and parry the wildly attacking sentimonster with ease.
“Damn…” Mayura growls. “Backwarder, stop! Target the civilians, and attack the heroes when they try to stop you!”
“Oh, children, be careful…”
Thoughts enter Mayura’s mind, and she looks into that link with the old woman. She narrows her eyes and looks deeper into recent memories…
“I believe this is for you,” a memory flashes alongside the symbol of the Guardians. Mayura’s eyes widen.
“You.” she opens the connection. “You know the Guardian of the Miraculous!”
“What?!” Marianne exclaims. “Oh, no…”
Mayura grins. Well, things are about to get interesting…
~=~
Ladybug wraps her yoyo around Backwarder to yank it backwards, and when it swings a leg back to impact Ladybug, Pega-Noir blocks with his staff and parries the creature away, slamming the bound monster into a wall!
“How is this thing fighting more and less intelligently than an akuma?” Pega-Noir questions.
“You’re right…” Ladybug narrows her eyes. “It’s attacking civilians to draw us in, but its fighting style is blind and savage. It’s…like a puppet.”
“You think it might be the byproduct of an akuma?” Noir asks while the creature tries to free itself.
“It can’t be, a byproduct wouldn’t have powers like this!” Ladybug says.
“Ladybug!” a voice calls, and both heroes turn and their eyes widen when an old woman falls, running away from someone! The figure is towering and blue, a woman in a dress wielding a fan with a smile on her face.
“Ah, the heroes of Paris…we meet at last.” the woman tsks, “But did you have to throw around my sentimonster?”
“The Peacock Miraculous!” Ladybug exclaims.
“So, you’re Hawkmoth’s partner in crime?” Pega-Noir twirls his staff around. “Well, your little whatever is already beaten, so step away from the woman, featherface!”
“My name is Mayura, and I’m certain I’ll have much better control of my creature…” Mayura reaches for the ideogram, “Once I have the amok.”
“No…!” Marianne grits her teeth, too weak to resist, but she seems to have one option left. “Orikko, Sunrise!”
A small shape leaves Marianne’s pocket, entering her thumb ring, and a burst of orange light fills the streets!
“What?!” Mayura exclaims as Marianne grabs her arm and pulls her down before rushing away!
The heroine that remains has hidden the ideogram under her outfit. A birdlike masquerade mask is over her face, with an orange-and-brown cloak and cape with bright red accents. She carries the dagger-knife on her heel.
“The Phoenix?!” Pega-Noir exclaims.
“Who?” Ladybug questions, still reeling that this woman has a Miraculous.
“She’s a heroine from World War Two,” Pega-Noir explains. “It’s said that she could do anything.”
“Ladybug, Chat Noir!” Marianne calls. “You can release the sentimonster!” she pats her chest where the ideogram is hidden. “I’ve researched all facets of the Miraculous in my youth, even the ones we didn’t have. As long as I have this secure, Backwarder is under my control! Backwarder, reverse your harm!”
Backwarder looks up, and the clockface turns forward. Everyone around the city affected by the sentimonster suddenly returns to normal, going their normal paces! Ladybug releases Backwarder, and Marianne smirks.
“Now, attack Mayura!” Marianne orders! At her words, Backwarder’s head turns to stare down Mayura!
“No…” Mayura growls.
Backwarder lunges for Mayura! However, Mayura snaps her fingers, and Backwarder vanishes in a plume of smoke!
“Foolish heroes,” Mayura smirks, “I can dismiss any sentimonster in my path!”
“You foul woman…” Marianne growls. “We can’t let her get away, heroes!”
“She won’t,” Ladybug narrows her eyes. “Lucky Charm!” she declares, conjuring a…pipe. “What am I supposed to do with this...?”
“Whatever it is, you’ve got my backup! Cataclysm!” Pega-Noir declares, priming his own power.
“And I may as well add my own power to the mix!” Marianne smiles. “Sublimation!” she holds up her dagger and uses the end that resembles a pen to trace in the air. “I can mimic the ability of any non-Miraculous power! I take on the abilities of Backwarder!”
“Then that means-!” Mayura backs up, finding herself surrounded by the three heroes.
“Just one touch from me, and you’ll lead us directly to Hawkmoth’s lair!” Marianne rushes at Mayura!
“It will not be that easy.” Mayura snarls. She counters by grabbing Marianne’s arm and throwing her backward toward Pega-Noir! He holds his hand away so she isn’t impacted by cataclysm, but she still slams into him, and he’s affected by her power!
“No!” Marianne grunts and falls to one knee. “Agh…the Miraculous…it’s not helping as much as I thought it would…”
“Pega-Noir! Phoenix!” Ladybug exclaims.
“It’s just you and me now, Ladybug.” Mayura smiles, and Ladybug turns to face her down. “I’ll be honest, I was hoping we’d get the chance to meet.”
“You’re not like Hawkmoth,” Ladybug narrows her eyes and spins her yoyo defensively. She and Mayura walk around each other, like a pair of caged lions staring each other down. “He just used his superior size and strength against us, but you… you actually know how to fight. You’re willing to get your hands dirty.”
“We don’t need to be enemies, Ladybug,” Mayura smiles, “I see a lot of Hawkmoth in you. You have an eye for detail, you’re commanding, you plot and plan. You’ve taken to the Miraculous well. Even now, you’re looking all around us, aren’t you? Taking advantage of your hidden eyes and our movement to look all around, to try and find where your lucky charm fits.”
“I am nothing like Hawkmoth,” Ladybug scowls. “Hawkmoth manipulates others, but I help people! I care about this city, and he attacks it every day. He weaponizes hate, but I bring people hope. I’m a good person!”
“You are…” Mayura smirks. “But with potential like yours? Don’t worry, Ladybug. You’ll grow out of it.” She raises her fan. “Now, to turn this into a two against one…”
“Don’t be so sure.” Ladybug smirks. She throws the pipe at Mayura, and Mayura catches the pipe!
“Did you expect me to dodge it and let it hit whatever you’re really aiming at?” Mayura smirks. “Really, Ladybug, you need to stop being so predict-”
Ladybug tackles Mayura, and she exclaims as she drops both her fan and the pipe, and the backward-boasting Pega-Noir impacts the fan with his claws, crumbling it to dust!
“No more sentimonsters…” Ladybug reaches for the brooch. “And now, to see who you really are!”
Mayura’s eyes widen, and she wrestles with Ladybug, able to throw her back! Mayura begins to flee, leaping to the rooftops! Ladybug is about to give chase, but she hears coughing, seeing Marianne nearby!
“Marianne!” Ladybug rushes to her. “Are you okay?”
“I will be fine,” Marianne smiles and focuses her power, cancelling it off of Pega-Noir.
“Phew…that was weird…” Noir grumbles.
“We must worry, before you run out of time!” Marianne says. “Mayura may have gotten away today…” she smiles. “But I am so happy to see a pair like you protecting our city.”
~=~
Within the Parlor, a recharged Ladybug and Pega-Noir watch with a smile as Marianne and Fu reunite. They’re sitting next to each other, and the Rooster’s thumb ring is on the table as Orikko, Kwami of the Rooster, happily reunites with his old friends!
“Marianne, I am so very sorry it took me so long to contact you. I always felt as long as I was in charge of the Miracle Box, I'd be a danger to anyone I'm close to...but that's all in the past now,” he says, and she places her hand upon his.
“I know you always wanted to do what's best. I know what a responsibility it is to be the Guardian of the Miraculous. But, now that those villains know of my connection to you…” she sighs.
“Yes, he could hurt you to get to me.” Fu frowns. “You…you could keep the Rooster, defend yourself-” he begins, but she shushes him.
“Ladybug and Chat Noir will need it more than me. As soon as Hawkmoth is defeated, you and I shall reunite for good,” she says, and Marinette looks on sadly as Fu hugs her.
“I have full faith in the ones I have chosen. They will succeed.”
We must succeed. Superego and Id think together.
“Now it is my turn to go and hide, my dear Fu,” Marianne says.
“Marianne, I-” he tries to say, but she stops him again.
“Save it for when I get back, darling,” she says and kisses his forehead before walking out. “I see much of myself in you, Young Lady.” she looks at Ladybug, “You’re bright, and clever, with the soul of a hero. He’s chosen well.”
“That means a lot.” Ladybug nods to her. “Thank you…for your service, and for everything else.”
She leaves, and Noir chuckles. “Huh. This whole time, the “Ma” he was muttering was for Marianne.” he reasons.
…
Well, Marinette’s not gonna correct him.
~=~
Adrien walks with Kagami through England once they finally arrive. He smiles when he sees that there’s a bit of a welcoming committee!
“Aunt Amelie! Felix!” Adrien greets, and Kagami gawks (or well, Kagami’s version of gawking) at the similarity between Adrien and his cousin.
“Greetings, cousin.” Felix says with a neutral expression. “It’s been too long-”
“Come along, Adrien.” Gabriel orders.
“Oh, come now, Gabriel, it’s been years!” Amelie sighs. “Must you really be on your way already?”
“There is much to be done,” Tomoe remarks, “there will be time to reconnect at a later date.”
Amelie grits her teeth. “But Gabriel, if we don’t catch up soon, you might just leave England without us having the chance to talk!”
“We’re expected at our hotel,” Gabriel declares. “Come along, Adrien.”
Adrien walks forward, accidentally bumping into Felix in his blind obedience. “Um, sorry…” he says and continues forward.
Kagami sighs as they make their way into a car. “So, that’s your family, hm?”
“Yeah…” Adrien frowns. “I was hoping to reconnect, but…we’re busy, I guess…”
“Perhaps you can read that letter to pass the time?” Kagami suggests gently.
“Oh! That’s a good idea!” Adrien pats his pockets, but frowns. “Aw, man…did I drop it on the train…?”
~=~
“That wretched Gabriel! He thinks he’s so sly…” Felix’s Mother rants in the next room. “After everything he’s done, leaving poor Nathalie to do his dirtywork while he’s here?! Oh, I just…GRRRGH!”
Felix looks over the fakest love letter he’s ever had the displeasure of stealing (which is, admittedly, not many).
“So…” Felix mutters to himself as he looks over social media and the feed of Adrien’s trending presence with his “girlfriend” during the Gorizilla Incident. “Your name is Lila.” he theorizes, looking at the girl with dark hair and blue eyes.
The Gorizilla Incident…before the akuma, it was a time where Adrien was trending with his “girlfriend.” Just from a cursory glance, Adrien seems to follow her like a lost puppy while she gets them on a whirlwind run across Paris leading to a theater with Emilie’s movie.
So…
Felix thinks to himself,
a master manipulator, then? Taking him to desired movies and sending love letters of honeyed words. It just figures…all these wretched humans are the same.