She watched with adoration at those beings called humans from her position in the heavens, eyes shining with clear endearment and happiness. Those mortals were so adorable in her gaze – they were, perhaps, the strongest of them all, despite not being immortal or having extraordinary powers.
No, it wasn't that, but rather their way of somehow nurturing a harsh environment into something quite amazing. For centuries she'd watched from the skies, silently cheering on these puny beings, until they changed. Oh it was gradual, very gradual, but to someone like her time was meaningless and it all just blurred together.
They evolved tremendously, going from such a primitive being to an intelligent and rather heart-catching species. At least in her eyes.
Maybe it was because she was the god of fortune, or maybe because she was just simply Marinette, but she couldn't help but love these creatures and want to nourish them. How could she not? They adapted on their own, they learned to talk, to build, and to think. That, in her mind, was the most powerful thing she had ever seen.
Marinette sighed somewhat dreamily, cheek in hand as she lied belly down and gazed upon the busy streets of Paris.
Ah – Paris. Definitely her favorite city of earth, although New York City came a close second. There was something rich and glamorous about the life there, and more times than not was she drawn into it, gazing down into her bowl of olive oil to see the shimmer of humans bustling and talking non stop.
"Marinette," someone said, their voice exasperated and squeaky.
Squealing, she lifted her gaze from the bowl of oil to lock eyes with someone else's. Marinette laughed somewhat sheepishly, hastily placing the bowl beside her and sitting up straight. "A-Ah, Tikki! Nice to see you!" Her voice was awkward and choppy, her wings fluttering with nerves.
Tikki giggled, the little kwami fairy flying closer to nuzzle Marinette's pink cheek. "Honestly, Marinette. It took me a good six minutes to get your attention!"
Marinette took a moment to cuddle back, scooping the red fairy into her hands and pouting lightly. "Yes, but human life is so interesting! I wonder if bread tastes good? Is it sweet like the apples in our orchard or something else? Tikki, what's the meaning of spicy, that the mortals use! Oh, I want to know so badly!" The goddess trilled, her wings now flapping excitedly as she twirled around in the air while keeping the kwami close.
Tikki laughed. "You're really attached to these humans, Marinette," she teased. "You know you could always just summon some bread if you really want some."
Marinette rolled her eyes playfully, rubbing the kwami's head gently with one finger. "Honestly, where's the fun in that? I'd much rather go down myself!"
The red fairy merely shook her head in both amusement and exasperation. "It doesn't work that way, Marinette."
Suddenly, it seemed as if the joy and enthusiasm was sucked out of the goddess. Frowning, Marinette slumped onto the cloud, snapping her fingers lazily and conjuring a plate of steaming cookies for the fairy. "I know," Marinette mumbled, cheek once again on her palm as she pulled the bowl of olive oil a little closer and peered into it.
Once again, Marinette was bitterly reminded of the law. Unless she was summoned directly or sent down with permission from all seven kwamis, there was no way she would be able to even touch the earth's surface.
The goddess groaned lightly, head falling dramatically and just barely missing the bowl of oil. How unfair it was! She had been around humans since the very beginning, and not once had she been able to even meet one. Just one, she had pleaded, but the kwamis of the council all declined, stating that she had no reason to go down.
It wasn't like she would interfere in human life, but maybe just experience it? She wanted to taste bread, she wanted to see what spicy was, and she wanted to know what it's like to talk to someone other than another deity or a fairy.
Marinette flipped onto her back, her wings stretching out comfortably and flapping lazily.
"It's not fair, Tikki," Marinette sighed. "At least you get to go down! To understand these creatures, to be able to actually hear them and touch them… I'm a goddess and I can't even do anything. The last person to worship a temple of mine was centuries ago! It was the closest I had come to a human, yet now, they lost the way of the gods and made their own path. Should I be happy or upset about this?"
Once again, Marinette began to ramble, her words floating through the otherwise still air endlessly with dozens of worries and questions at the tip of her tongue. Her hands flew around dramatically, her arm coming close to hitting Tikki and her plate of cookies more than once, causing the goddess to smile sheepishly before continuing to talk.
That was, until two loud beeps rang throughout the air.
Tikki shot a small smile to Marinette, rising from her plate to give her an apology. "I'm so sorry, Marinette, but I have to go. Someone's calling for a meeting and – "
"Don't," Marinette stopped her, a half-grin on her face. "I understand. Hurry and go, you and I both know how upset Plagg can get if you're not there."
Tikki giggled. "Fair point. Goodbye, Marinette, I'll come by soon!"
And with that, the little red fairy zipped away, soon leaving Marinette alone only with an empty plate and a bowl of olive oil.
Marinette sighed, her shoulders dropping and her feathers no longer ruffling with excitement. She grasped her bowl and looked into it, trying to ignore the way her chest tightened and how her wings grew stiffer as she gazed longingly at the humans that didn't even know she existed.
It really wasn't fair.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Marinette gave a small yelp as she clumsily flew into the courtroom, her cheeks burning slightly as some snickers were heard. Brushing it off, the goddess scrambled to her feet and flew quickly over to her throne, slumping into it slightly with a still red face as other gods and goddesses soon joined her.
Only minutes later did the chatter calm down, and were all deities in the room.
"Mighty Beings!"
They grew still as a small but powerful voice rang throughout the room, causing some gods and goddesses to shuffle nervously.
And suddenly, a small chest in the center of the circle of thrones they made burst open, revealing seven different beings to jump out and bow midair.
The gods immediately moved, all in sync as they slipped off their thrones and bowed to their knees.
"Rise, my children," a blue kwami said, peacock feathers ruffling proudly. The deities did so, some with even smiles on their faces as they settled back into their thrones.
"We, the Seven of the Council are here to abet some… Unfortunate news," a little black kwami said, his cat ears twitching. Some deities laughed quietly at the joke while others merely stared in serious intensity.
"As laws have always been," Tikki began, zooming around a little, her eyes carefully locking with each and every god. "We are not to interfere with mortal life. We have created it, guided it, but never directly interacted these beings for they are and always will be law."
For a moment, Tikki's eyes gazed upon Marinette's, the latter shrinking slightly at the kwami's gaze. Tikki broke the stare before continuing in her high-pitched but serious voice.
"It has come to our, the Seven's, attention that… For the first time since the creation of dawn, we will have to break this law."
There were no gasps or gaping. No – it was only cold and stoic. Each god and goddess had their head held high, their backs straightened and their eyes dull. These were the deities that had watched war after war, hell even created said wars. They were Mighty Beings that lived for millennia – they were cold and impassive in the face of threat.
"We… " For a moment, Tikki hesitated, her antennas drooping slightly as she glanced over her shoulder. Plagg merely nodded, and so, taking a small breath, Tikki shook her head and stared right at the gods. "For years, we have kept a shaky truce with Hawkmoth and his demons of hellfire and damnation."
At this, the gazes hardened by war shifted. Deities moved a little restlessly in their thrones, some of their eyes darting around and body uneasy.
Marinette could feel herself shrink into herself a little at Tikki's declaration. The subject of Hawkmoth was a touchy one – after a great war between the gods and the demons, they came to a very unstable truce. Marinette could still remember those times… She had to surrender her sense of morals and charged into battle with nothing but a heart of stone, and even to this day did her chest clench at what that absolutely terrible war had brought.
Marinette licked her lips nervously. Why on earth would Tikki bring up such a thing?
"I'm not one to beat around the bush," Tikki said, her voice slightly trembling as she zoomed around and briefly touched each god as she passed. "There's a demon on earth."
Again, no sound was heard. There was mere silence, but Marinette could see their true emotions. Eren the war god had narrowed eyes. Night had paler skin than usual, and Day had grasped onto Night's hand desperately.
Marinette couldn't help but close her eyes briefly to calm down the inner turmoil within. A demon on earth was absolutely unheard of. By laws that had been deemed by the universe itself, all immortal beings were forbidden to wander onto the face of earth. A demon to be so close to humans… Marinette couldn't suppress the shudder that ran up her spine and ruffled her feathers.
"They have broken the law," Tikki said, her voice no longer shaky but firm and hard. "We, the Seven, have decided to punish this demon for its wrongdoings. And so, we have chosen one god among us today to eradicate this demon."
Marinette's eyes widened, her wings stretching a little. A god? A goddess? This was... unbelievable. Never had any Mighty Being gone down to earth, but the Council… They were allowing it… They were the ones to think of it!
"…ette."
"Y-Yes?" Marinette choked, face burning slightly as Tikki flew up to her, their eyes locking.
Tikki's gaze was swarming with emotion. Fear. Anger. Sadness. Please don't go. And yet, her mouth formed words that fully contradicted those inflicting feelings. "You, Marinette, Lady of Fortune, Goddess of Luck and Person of Vitality, will battle this demon as your warrior self Ladybug. You will act and blend into human society, and will eradicate this foul being. Only until then may you come back to the heavens and sit upon your throne once more."
Marinette's throat went dry, and she had to swallow several times. Her? To earth?
"I… Accept," Marinette rasped, standing up slowly. "I agree to these terms and conditions. I agree to kill this demon." She licked her lips in nerves, wings fluttering uneasily. "I agree to act, talk, and think as a mortal in my time on earth. I agree not to reveal my true self to any human, and I agree to come back to the heavens once the demon has been thwarted."
Tikki sagged a little in the air, her antennas drooping. Her eyes glittered in fear and sadness.
"Good." Tikki muttered, even if her tone suggested anything but. "I, Tikki, kwami of fortune and bonded with one Lady Marinette, give you this seal. It will cloak you from mortals, and will glow once the deed has been completed."
Marinette bent down onto one knee, closing her eyes as she felt a gentle pressure on her head. At once a tingling sensation went through her, and she could feel something wet drip onto her forehead.
Tikki pulled back, eyes wet. "It is done. May fortune be in your path."
"And to the gods I so do promise," Marinette immediately muttered back.
"Mighty Beings! You may now bless Lady Marinette!" Tikki cried out, her voice wobbling as she zipped back quickly to Plagg's side, who shushed her gently and patted her on the head.
Night was quickly the first to move, his long robe made of stars glittering in the sky as he swept forward. Gently, the god pressed a kiss to Marinette's forehead, right where Tikki had done so not even a minute before. "I, the Ruler of the Stars, the Guider of the Moon, and the Night Who Cloaks In Darkness bestow upon you a gift. Night time will be in your favor, and the darkness your friend."
He pulled away, offering Marinette a half-smile.
Marinette couldn't help but smile back. "Thank you, Lord Yuuri."
Night bowed his head shortly and pulled away. Replacing him was Day, who looked a little sad but cheery as always.
"I, the God of the Day, the Creator of the Sun give you a gift. You will flourish in the sunlight, and the winds will blow gently for you."
"I give you the gift of the clouds."
"I give you the gift of wisdom."
"I give you the gift of music."
"I give you the gift of creativity."
On and on the gifts went, each time a different set of lips pressing against her forehead.
At last, Marinette stood, suddenly feeling heavier than she had before. Wings fluttering, she beamed at her fellow gods, albeit a little sadly. "I thank you all for your blessings. I, Lady Marinette, now gift all of you with fortune. May our paths one day cross again."
"To our luck you shall receive," the Mighty Beings replied back in one unison.
"Good luck, Marinette," Tikki smiled, zipping up close to the goddess. Her eyes were still wet and her body trembling, and Marinette tried her best to ignore the clenching of her heart from noticing.
"Of course," Marinette smiled wryly.
Tikki bent forward once more, pressing a kiss to her nose.
Marinette's eyes drooped after the movement, and slowly, darkness consumed her whole being.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Gasping for breath, she greedily took in oxygen, hands grasping the blanket tightly to the point her knuckles were white. Her skin was pale and covered in sweat, her whole body trembling with a terrible ache in her head.
Groaning, she lifted her tired eyes to flick around the room.
Where was she?...
Marinette pursed her lips, not understanding what the hell that pounding in her head was. Pain? Was that it? She had watched humans for so long, yet never truly experienced what they called being hurt. Is this what it was like?
Well, she thought to herself. Maybe… both yes and no. Physical pain she was well accustomed to. She was a war goddess after all, and war had left her both guarded and a good friend to what was called 'pain'. Yet what about the humans? They felt pain too, but maybe differently?
She remembers vaguely looking into her bowl one night, looking upon a girl who was sobbing uncontrollably as her… what was it, boyfriend? Yelled and shouted at her. Was that pain too?
"Argh," she gasped softly, clasping a hand to her head. Having all these thoughts were too much, only causing the thudding within her brain to quicken and grow heavier. Controlling her breathing to the best of her abilities, Marinette clasped the blanket once more and shoved it gently off of her, the pink fabric pooling onto the ground.
She climbed down a short ladder to the floor, her feet touching the cold wood gently. Blinking at the feeling, she silently walked over to a window beside – oh. Her hand brushed the surface of a desk, staring at it a little longer before swinging open the window.
A fresh breeze flew in almost immediately, stars twinkling down upon her.
"Hello, Lord Night," Marinette couldn't help but smile as she leaned out.
She giggled lightly as one particular star seemed to twinkle brighter. Lord Yuuri was probably busy at the moment, but it calmed her that he still watched her with careful eyes. It made her feel not so far from home anymore.
Marinette leaned out, fascinated by the dazzling city lights. She yelped as gravity pulled her a little too much, three-fourths of her body dangling out of the window. Right. She was… She was human right now. Well, she looked like human anyway. That meant no wings.
Pulling herself back into the window, Marinette leaned a cheek against her palm as she did so many times before, eyes full of curiosity and adoration. She was here. On earth. She was finally beside these creatures that fascinated her so much, and goodness it felt wonderful.
If only that demon weren't here…
A frown tugged at her lips suddenly. The demon. Dammit. It had completely slipped her mind, she had been too preoccupied by the lights and the noise… She grimaced. The kwamis had been unable to give her much information about the demon, and all she knew was that it was around the area she was currently in.
Still, she thought a little dreamily. It was pure luck that the demon was wandering around her favorite city. Even now, her powers seemed to bend reality a little.
Marinette sighed, dark locks flowing gently in the wind. She would have to search the city soon for the demon, who knows what chaos it could create if she didn't destroy it soon. Marinette couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable at the thought.
Ladybug was a warrior, yes, but not a killer. She had broken many bones and shed much blood, but never had she actually taken a life. She was the Goddess of Creation – she breathed life into things and brought them good fortune. She squeezed her hands together, her sight becoming slightly dazed.
She imagined her hands covered in scarlet blood, the pale skin splattered and forever stained as a demon withered in pain before her. She had to kill it… She had to…
Marinette closed her eyes, feeling her stomach become uneasy.
She had to kill the demon. After all, it was the whole reason why she was sent to earth on the first place.
But…
She didn't want to.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Sorry there isn't much info on the demons or something, but I plan on having the story majorly told from Marinette's point of view.
Errr in case you didn't catch it, I slipped a little Easter egg in there with Yuuri and Viktor as Night and Day, from Beanpots on Tumblr.
I was nervous doing this because I'm just so new and raw to this fandom, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I know the chapter is short but I promise the next few will be much longer, however, due to that, it will also take longer to upload.
School is my main priority and I can't afford measly grades at the moment.
Hope you enjoyed, leave a review, favorite and follow, all that good stuff.
Love you all! The next chapter will be out in a few days.
Until next time~
