Chapter 1

A New Case

Marinette's POV

"Mlle Dupain-Cheng, M. Agreste, I've been waiting for you." Nino smiled professionally, but his tone was joyful.

"I know, traffic and stuff. No one moved the body?" I asked.

"No, I made sure they didn't move the bodies." Sabrina, his partner, came out of the building.

"Good." We followed them inside and we saw the bodies spread out the room. I grimaced. This was a lot more than usual.

"Nino, what happened?" Adrien asked.

"Well, it looks like the adults were choked by some kind of wire. The girl-" He frowned.

"Hawk Moth is targeting children now?!" I growled.

"I know. It's messed up. Do you need a minute?" Nino asked. This is why I liked him. He was considerate and kind.

"No, it's just not good news." I sighed.

"The girl is at the hospital. She hurt her hand and was exhausted. We have no idea how she hurt her hand. Her toy wand is over by the TV. I'm not liking the vibes it's giving." He twisted his lips.

"Thanks. Can you go stand guard while we look around?" Adrien asked his former partner.

"Sure. Sabrina, come on! They want to do their magic." I winced at Nino's choice of words. They were way too true.

"Alright." She followed him out. The door softly clicked.

"You ready, Marinette?" Tikki asked as she flew out of my purse.

"Do I have to, Adrien? Plagg whined.

"Plagg, he's the only one who can break the Akumized object." I reminded him.

"Hi, Mari." He smiled.

"She only brought me food." Tikki told him.

"Aw, but I like her parents' cheese pastries." He frowned.

"I'll get you more if you behave." I promised.

"Let's transform already!" Plagg looked at Adrien.

"You spoil him rotten. Plagg, claws out!" He yelled.

"Tikki, spots on!" I called and we transformed.

The room was dark with Hawk Moth's magic. It was hard to see like walking in dark smoke. I looked over the bodies. Nino was right: they were choked. And the strings were still attached.

"My Lady?" Cat asked as I followed the strings.

"The wire that choked them is still here and it's attached to… the wand." I picked it up and the Akuma mark was gone, but it still held powerful magic.

"The mark." Cat breathed.

"It must have gone in the girl." I frowned.

What do you want to do?" He asked, watching the wand.

"The bodies need to be purified. I can scry either way." I used Lucky Charm and it made scissors and I cut the strings, I couldn't have it connected when Cat used Cataclysm, then used Miraculous Ladybug after Cat broke the wand and purified the room.

I had just enough time to scry one person. The woman, she looked familiar, had hair and hair was easier to get than spit or blood. I took out my yo-yo and opened it to the mirror. I cleared my mind.

"Manon?" She asked, turning the corner.

She gasped as Manon pointed her wand at the man, lifting him up in the air, "Alec! Manon, stop!"

"It's not fair! Why won't you play with me?!" The brown haired girl turned into a pale skinned blue being with a black mask.

"Manon, let him go. He'll play with you when you do." She begged.

"You took away my dollie!" She yelled and swung her wand at her mother. She floated up and started gasping.

The girl's eyes glowed purple as she grinned with malice and spoke in a voice not her own, "Let's play a game."

Manon's mother couldn't stay awake any longer.

I held my hand to my mouth and tried to compose myself.

"My Lady?!" Cat gently touched my back.

"It was Manon. I babysit her. Hawk Moth… He- he-" I gritted my teeth.

"Mari, we can leave right now. Drop this cas-" He told me softly.

"She still has the mark." I spat.

"Ok." He said as I de-transformed.

"Marinette?" Tikki asked.

"I'm ok. I can do this." I petted her.

"You guys ok?" Nino called.

"Yeah." Adrien, now also de-transformed, opened the door for them. Tikki and Plagg hid.

"Can we go visit the girl?" I asked.

"Sure. Let me just get the address." Sabrina left.

"I don't know how you do it." Nino said.

"Magic." Adrien smiled.

Marinette's POV End