À la Vie, À la Mort

An LLS Production


Prologue: Des amis de l'hiver

"They say that in Johto, the plum is meant to endure the winters." Porcelain clinked as the speaker set her tiny cup decisively down on the bamboo-lattice tray. "I wonder if that was their intention to make the box shaped like a plum blossom. Maître Jade, It is a suitable arrangement, n'est-ce pas?"

The old man contemplated over his teapot. The heavy smell of tea-dust and Oran Berries hung around, mixed with the sweet scent of Leppa peel. "It is as you say, madame," he replied, looking at the box in question.

It was shaped like an octagon, and placed within was a gold outline of a five-petal plum, each petal coloured orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. In the centre on a raised dais the Tao symbol, where laid in the dots of the Tao spots of red and silver. How curious it was that such devices were linked to the latest topic of Mega Evolution, was his thought.

"A suitable arrangement for displaying the legendary Keystones," contemplated the old lady. "Yet one of them, with its companion, has been stolen. Neither you nor I can fight this... Le Papillon? This vaurien. We are too old."

"Speak for yourself, I'm only one hundred and eighty-six!" Fū sharply replied, grimacing as his back spasmed, and the Trevenant providing shade for the both of them had to pat his back. "But, you are right. It is time for the Miraculous to enter the world one more, to battle amongst Pokémon, once again. Will you be staying for the show, Mille Yeux?"

The lady crossed her legs. At her feet, a Swanna chirped, the exact same shade of blue as the blue fanned jewel that sparkled upon her forehead. "I must return to Dendemille. My estate needs caring for. And I would rather not see the next Ladybug and Black Cat fall again. One Jeanne was enough to disillusion me, and when Gilles followed her... it was the darkest moment of our lives, Maître Jade."

"Of course, my lady," the man stood up. "Then, may I escort you to the City of Lights?"

"Bien," whispered the lady. "À la vie, à la mort."


Sprinting through the forest as her Ledyba followed, Marinette Dupain-Cheng cursed her clumsiness again for failing her near an Oran Berry tree. All she had wanted was a few, but no. Also, it turned out that the sticky liquid at the foot of the tree was Honey made by Combee, and the local Vespiquen had not appreciated her intrusion. Hence the current chase she was enduring from the many Combee buzzing for her skin.

Marinette ran past the line of trees and groaned. "No, Tikki, why?!"

They had reached a dead end, a copse of trees so dense that no human could possibly climb through or up. Surrounded on all sides by hostile trees and angry Bug-type Pokémon, Marinette swallowed.

"Tikki, we're stuck!"

The Ledyba buzzed in alarm as the Combee broke through, already assembling into Attack Order. Marinette's eyes widened in panic as the Combee charged to pummel her and her Pokémon.

"Plagg, Thunder Wave!"

The wave hit, the electricity crackling against delicate wings as the Combee fell down.

"Are you alright?!" A blond young man ran up to her, a Purrloin plodding behind him as he held out his hand. "I'm Adrien, Adrien Agreste. How are you?"

"F- Fine!" Marinette stuttered as she pulled his hand to get up. "I'm Ma-"

Their heads clacked together, and Marinette winced in both pain and embarrassment as Adrien clutched at his forehead.

"...maladroit." Marinette finished weakly. "Really clumsy. I'm so sorry!"

The Purrloin was laughing at its partner as Adrien weakly waved it off, stepping back away from Marinette. "Don't worry, it's-"

"Watch out!" Marinette screamed as Adrien stepped on a familiar jagged-looking yellow tail.

"Pikachu!"

"...oh boy," Marinette murmured once the Thunder Shock cleared. "I'm so sorry!"

"Well," came Adrien's weak reply, "that's a shock."


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