Welcome to Court of Miracles/Miraculous!

If you haven't heard from the updates/author's notes I've left in Dancing with Fate and Royal Masks, this is an EVOLVED VERSION of Dancing with Fate! Meaning, if you've been reading that one, you will either seen altered scenes or complete paragraphs from that story that are still relevant to this one *wink*

I want to take a moment and personally thank everyone for your support as I take on this new idea and let it fly!

Now, I need to point out that, if you haven't already guessed, THIS IS AN AU! Meaning Alternate Universe!

THIS IS MY HEAD CANNON! *strikes a dramatic pose* Which means, Kwami/Gods of my own creation and such. I'm taking this idea and flying with it so I hope you enjoy this wild ride that I've got in store for you.

Now, there are theme songs/inspirations that I use to help me write the chapter. There isn't one for this one... well, not exactly. I will post the songs, artists and any video links I can (that Fanfiction will allow anyway) so that you can find them and join me on this inspiration.

Also! I will be posting on FACEBOOK when new chapters arrive! That's right, I'm updating WHEN I post IMMEDIATELY on my Facebook page. It's under Kestra EchoWolf (Just like you see here on Fanfiction) as well as the song videos that I use for inspiration. And if you're lucky... maybe a sneak peek at some chapters to come.

Search for KestraEchoingSongoftheWolf and you'll find me ;)

It's not JUST for my fanfiction either, I'll be posting works that I've written and are either submitting for publishing or to other sites (if I find one that really strikes my fancy like FF) for you to read and enjoy.


Prologue

The devestation was more startling to see than it was in a report. Papillon angled his wings, guiding his comrades from the sky as they drlew closer and closer towards Oak Hollow. The akumas, from what the report said, had appeared out of nowhere and ravaged the whole village. As he circled higher to get a better look, his breath caught in his throat. Smoke was still rising slowly from the buildings that once inhabited the prosperous farming town. Summoning his own white butterflies, he sent them out, "Seek out and find the survivors." The butterflies were quick to obey and scattered to the four winds. Below, his whole group immediately took it as a signal and scattered in desperate sprints. Papillon descended to fly close to Kame, one of his closest friends and most loyal confidant.

"It's bad, isn't it?" the turtle warrior's voice was thick with worry. Papillon gracefully landed beside him on the wagon and offered Kame his shoulder. His friend took it and let out a quiet sob. Tears fell from his dark brown eyes and soaked his short beard. Kame had always been strong, full of hope and sage wisdom... to see him so scared and broken disturbed Papillon deeply. "The shop?"

"There is so much smoke," Papillon offered softly. "I couldn't see much." He desperately wanted to offer Kame hope that everyone was safe, that all was well and that there was only fire damage... but he knew Hawk Moth and his ruthlessness. His own wife lay in a coma back at the stronghold. His hand went to his weapon and gripped the jeweled knob to help keep himself centered. The wagon jerked sharply from a deep hole gouged in the ground. Clearly the fight had been brutal and powerful war spells were used. The further they ventured, the more Papillon's fears were confirmed. He closed his eyes and instantly his vision was linked with his butterflies. He watched as they passed through walls and checked prone bodies. Some were breathing... but many were not. Kame's gasp tore him out of his vision. Kame flew off the wagon, leaving his shield weapon behind.

"Taila!" he cried out, diving into wreckage. Papillon took to the sky, hoping a view from above would provide hope. It was then he recognized the charred wooden bones of Kame's sister's shop. The building had been old, one of the oldest in Oak Hollow's history and it had been given to Kame's family by the royal family that ruled in that era. Taila had been one of the best herbalists Papillon ever had the honor of meeting. His throat tightened, remembering the woman's brilliant smile and kind gray hazel eyes. It wasn't long until Kame's keening wail tore the silence.

Simbre was the first to arrive, in a flash of golden clothing and dark brown skin. The man was massive with heaps of golden red hair that spilled down his shoulders like a lions mane. He pushed away the timbers that Kame couldn't lift and there she lay... Taila. Papillon instantly dropped down, releasing his own transformation and kneeled as King Gabriel beside his best friend. His familiar, Nooroo, floated beside him. The Butterfly God's eyes were watery with grief and he landed on Taila's badly burned forehead. Her hair was charred and pale skin scorched. Her eyes were closed.

"Taila! Taila, open your eyes!"

"Fu," Simbre's deep timber voice rumbled softly. Whatever words he was going to use died on his lips when the woman gave a weak cough.

"She's alive!" Kame gasped, quickly laying her in his arm. Warm brown light encircled his hand and he pressed it to her chest. "He-her heart, it's... it's-"

"Fu..?" Taila's voice was extremely weak and strained.

"I'm here, I'm here!" Kame dropped his transformation but not his spell. Fresh tears fell from his eyes as he held her tenderly. "Taila, stay with me. We-we have... Pryx! Where's Pryx?!"

Nooroo instantly flitted into the air. "I'll go get her," the Butterfly God announced, flying off in a flash of white light.

"Ma-r... wh?" Taila's brown eyes opened and her irises flicked around in delirium. She's going to die... she's so badly injured, I doubt even Fu's magick can hold her long enough for Pryx to get here. Gabriel clutched his fist tighter and he shut his eyes to hold back the wave of pain and anger.

"No, stay with me Taila! Re-remember the drum game? How we would always keep our breathing steady? Play it with me... drum-drum-drum... mother would make us practice without fail, right? Play!"

Taila coughed again and keened out in pain, a tear tracing a filthy trail from her eye. "Fu, listen to me," Taila's voice was barely a whisper and Gabriel strained to hear her words. If there was anything Taila had to say, he would ensure any dying wish she had would be fulfilled without fail. He owed it to her... he owed it to Felicity, his wife. Grief choked him; how would he tell his beloved that her best friend died because of their enemy?!

"Save your strength, we-we have Pryx with us! Where is she?! Pryx!" Fu called out.

"Concentrate on her," Wyazz, Fu's familiar, pushed his charge's attention back on his sister. The Turtle God's touch seemed to magnify Fu's spell, but the burns were not healing as rapidly as anyone would've liked. Simbre rumbled a frustrated growl, tail twitching behind him as he pulled out old, worn prayer beads and began to murmure to his patron god.

"Below, down," Taila continued as if she hadn't heard him. "Ma-mari... girl-" suddenly she wracked with painful coughs and Gabriel flinched as he heard some bone break; a rib probably.

"No, no save your strength," Fu tried to calm her. "Please Tai, I can't lose you too!"

Though, it seemed Taila had either stopped listening or could not hear him. Gabriel, though, was puzzled by her words. What was 'Mari'? Who? The healer kept saying the name over and over again. Was it some important word in another language? "Taila?" Gabriel visibly jumped as the voice brushed his consciousness. His awareness returned to the present and his gray eyes snapped up to look for the source. As Papillon, Gabriel's psychic sensitivities to those around him were enhanced to a perfect acuteness of his surroundings. He knew every presence around him and yet... yet this... feeling surprised him. "It's dark, I'm scared!"

"Who's there?"

The feeling trembled and instantly he was filled with terror. Whomever he was hearing was scared of him. Simbre snapped to attention, breaking off in mid prayer to listen. After a moment he asked, "Did you hear that?"

Gabriel didn't answer but he struggled to lower his guard so to not appear so threatening. "Who are you?"

Then he heard it, a whimper... soft and painful. Another survivor, he realized. Both he and Simbre leaped into action, searching the wreckage around them for any sign of another human or creature. Simbre growled in frustration as he lifted and dug through the burned timbers and broken furniture. His head snapped to the side and he pointed, "There! Help me move this rubble!" Gabriel did not hesitate and quickly began lifting what rocks he could off the pile. The feeling was getting stronger... whomever was here when Taila was attacked was under this. "I see a foot," Simbre gasped, giving the pile one last push... and revealed a tightly balled body. Gabriel held his breath, watching carefully. He barely breathed as the ball slowly uncurled to reveal the body of a girl, no older than ten, with tangled,knotted midnight hair and heavily bruised pale skin. He spotted some dark patches that were clear indicators of broken bones.

"Girl?" Simbre called, pressing a finger to her neck. She whimpered, opening one eye.

"By all the gods, she's alive!" Gabriel gasped. He reached for her, but the child flinched away from him, hissing and revealing sharp, pointed teeth. He recoiled and then took notice of the small bat-like wings on her back and serpentine tail. Magick lashed out wildly at both warriors and they scrambled back instantly.

"No! No it's okay Marinette," a new voice called from within her grasp.

Marinette? Mari! Gabriel sucked in a breath. "Are you Mari, Taila's... Taila's friend?"

"Tai-Tai?..?" Marinette's mental voice reached Gabriel's and he readily opened his mind to her.

"Yes, Taila," he showed her an image of the healer as she had been the last he saw her... before all of this. Recognition hummed in their link and Marinette's grip slacked. A small clawed paw poked up and out of her hold... and a long, red and black spotted serpentine body followed. Simbre swore in his native tongue and he fell to his knees in a deep bow. Gabriel had gone slack jaw stupid in disbelief. He had read descriptions in archives... but there was only one artistic depiction in the all the archives that showed herself as a dragoness like she did now. It was... Tikki, the Luck Goddess.


It was dark... and hot... like fire. Marinette didn't mind the dark, but the heat made her flinch. There was so much of it! Why was she so hot? She didn't feel sick, but she felt as if she were burning from the inside out! She fought to will it away, to make her body cool down again so that she may rest in the darkness yet the heat was persistent. It prickled at her skin and she felt as if she were sweating!

Why was there so much of it?

Then something... something new came and brought a cool breeze with it. No, not a breeze... it felt like water. She flinched as water touched her face and cooled her skin. Then the coolness began to pull away. She followed it, moving through the darkness as if she were pulled through thick mud. Then there was light... no, it wasn't light exactly. It was a butterfly! A pure white butterfly that was floating in front of her. She found herself smiling at it and reaching out to touch it. The butterfly fluttered just out of reach and then began to fly away.

"No, come back!" she begged, following it. She began to run after the beauty but it seemed to pull further away the faster she ran.

When Marinette opened her eyes, she was confused by what she saw. She was in a massive room that was covered in stone. Torches were lit nearby to give light, but they were far enough away for her not to feel the heat she did before. "Oh! You're awake!" Marinette's blue eyes flicked to the side and found a woman with soft gray eyes looking down on her. Marinette found herself liking this person's eyes... they were kind and held a sweetness in them. They weren't gray, she decided, but silver... like a cool mist. She liked the mist... didn't she?

"My name is Sabine, little one... can you tell me your name?" Marinette's lips trembled and she fought to focus her thoughts again. She tried but her throat was raw and too painful to use. She shut her mouth again, eyes burning again like she wanted to cry. Sabine dropped the cloth she had been using and fetched the cup from the table nearby. "Here, drink." The girl obeyed, the water cool and comforting against her tongue as it slid down her throat. She coughed and her eyes widened as a puff of smoke rose from her lips. Her cheeks pinked slightly in embarrassment as Sabine offered a tiny giggle. "Are you alright? Can you speak now?"

Marinette rolled her tongue in her mouth, tasting ash and fire. She frowned, not remembering the last time she had breathed fire. "M-Mari-nette," she finally croaked out. "My name... is Marinette."

"Marinette," Sabine echoed. "That's a lovely name." The girl offered a smile at the praise. "Can you tell me where you're from? Who are your parents?"

It was then Marinette's expression froze in place. She reached into her mind... and found Taila. But that was not her mother, she remembered. Taila was... something... something important to her. She frowned, furrowing her brow. Suddenly, she remembered flying through the window and seeing Taila in danger... and then she remembered the fire. Marinette choked, pushing the fire back for more memories... but came up with nothing. Had the fire burned them all the way? Could it do that?

Sabine jumped, taking the girl's hands in her own. "Marinette? What's wrong? What is it?"

"I... can't..." Marinette outright sobbed. She clutched her head in terror as she searched for her mother's face over and over in her mind. She fought to remember her father, but also came up empty. "I can't remember!"

Sabine gasped and carefully gathered the girl in her arms. "Oh... oh Marinette shhh... shhhh. It's okay, no don't cry it's okay."

"Sabine?" Tom's voice rumbled from behind the door. The heavy oak barrier swung open and he ducked inside, carrying a tray of fresh baked bread, milk and warm soup. Gabriel followed him, Tikki on his shoulder. The goddess gasped and flew off, perching on her charge's head. The king still had a terrible time grasping that not only had the Luck Goddess returned... but this was her chosen champion.

"She's a child!" he retorted in the earlier meeting. "She's much too young to be one of the Court!"

"It doesn't matter," Tikki shot back, crimson scales flashing like gemstones. "Fate has decreed it and so it shall be!"

Now he was conflicted by the distress the girl was in. Paternal instinct willed him forward and he knelt down beside the bed as Tom set the tray down and sat beside his wife. Grief stabbed at Gabriel as he watched as Tom wrapped his arms around both woman and girl as if to protect them from all the evils in the world. He too had that... before Hawk Moth stole Gabriel's son from him. And now it seemed another child was ripped from her family. He could feel her loss and confusion and terror in the air. He fought to bring calm to her, but her magick was strong. It warred against his, keeping him out. For a moment he could see why she would be chosen to be a Miraculous warrior... but still, she was so young!

And yet, Adrien was chosen to be the bearer of the Black Cat around the same age... right? a voice reminded him. He winced, hating to be a hypocrite. "Little one... it's alright," Sabine cooed softly. "It's okay, you don't have to remember right now."

"I... I don't?" Marinette asked, peeking up at her.

"No dear one," Sabine affirmed. "It's okay, really."

Marinette's lips trembled but she swallowed back a sob. Tikki bent down into her line of sight and the girl let out a squeak of surprise. "Tikki!"

The dragoness smiled, "You remember me."

"You're my best friend!" Marinette confirmed. I could never ever forget Tikki! She's special! Her eyes widened when she remebered Taila's face once more. "Where's Tai-Tai?"

The adults froze, surprised at her direct question. "Taila is resting," Gabriel told her. "She's very sick."

Marinette's eyes widened even more and she whimpered. "It's my fault! I..." Images flashed in her mind, showing the man with the strange purple mask. He was followed by strange black moths that trailed black smoke behind them. She covered her eyes, "I brought him there!"

"What? Marinette, it is not your fault!" Tikki interjected.

"Yes it is! He hurt Tai-Tai!"

"Who hurt Taila?" Gabriel asked, leaning closer. His rage spiked higher at the prospect of finding the akuma responsible for Taila's attack. He would seek retribution for Fu and his wife! Hawk Moth wouldn't know what hit him.

"The bad man with the moths!" Marinette sobbed. "He wanted to take Tikki away and I ran... I ran and he hurt Tai-Tai!"

Gabriel's fists clenched at his sides as new realization hit him. Of all things to do... of all battles to start it was with a child! His hands shot out out of reflex as Marinette struggled to get out of bed. I'll deal with Hawk Moth later. Marinette is more important now, he thought to himself. Summoning his best, most protective fatherly voice, he began, "Little one, you have to stay here and heal-"

"I have to go to Tai-Tai. I want to make it right and make her better!"

Tikki flew down and gently pushed on the child's chest, minding the bandages that hugged her there. "Mari, no. Not now, you can go visit Taila when you've rested more. Your powers won't work if your body is trying to heal itself."

"I have a friend," Sabine offered as well. "She's a phoenix, and phoenix tears-"

"-have healing powers," Marinette finished with her in chorus. That made the child stop struggling, but it was very clear that she was upset. "Tomorrow?"

"We will see," Gabriel compromised as Sabine gently tucked the girl back into bed.


Fu hardly slept the whole night. His fears that Taila would die without him being there plagued him over and over again... he kept waiting for the footsteps, to hear his name shouted for, or one of the Shadow God's priests to come tell him his sister was dead. She's so burned... it's like... like someone tried to cook her alive! His fists clenched. If Hawk Moth had made another akuma warrior, he would personally see to it that this one was exterminated! He sat up and glanced at Wyazz as he slept near the windowsill. The Turtle God had been generous with helping him with his magick... he doubted Taila would've survived the journey back to the Court stronghold without it. For what felt to be the millionth time, he got up and paced to the door... then waited.

No footsteps.

Of course there wouldn't be... it wasn't even dawn yet. But I have to see her... I have to make sure she's okay! He turned and quickly left a note in code for Wyazz before darting out the door. His old ninja training from his parents instantly kicked in as he stealthily wove his way through the halls and down the stairs. He paused, allowing the overnight maids to pass before he darted into the last hall on the ground level. He had to search for a moment, but he found the lever to the secret passageway. The door opened with a near inaudible hiss and he slipped through, shutting the door behind him and sighed with relief.

Instantly a torch lit to life a few feet away... followed by another and then another until they disappeared around the corner. Fu followed, bare feet softly padding the stone path. He had to duck down to get through one of the arch ways but he moved with relative ease. He sent his magick out to map his surroundings out of reflex... only for the old magick that still lived in the stones to flare to life and scramble his internal map. He gasped, stopping and shutting his eyes. Idiot! Focus on what you're doing. Focus on Taila.

He did so and took a deep breath. Normally the catacombs wouldn't react to his powers... but that was when Wyazz was with him. It took time, but the magick eventually settled again and painted the path on where he wanted to go. He followed without fail, touching a few corners to leave a trace so he wouldn't get lost again. The silence was beginning to get to him... the further he went, the quieter it got. He raced around the corner and stopped in front of the room Taila was in. Though he felt barely out of breath, Fu couldn't help but feel his chest constrict. His hand shot out and froze just inches above the handle. The last time he tried to get in, Gabriel's seal barred him.

"She needs rest," his best friend shoved Fu out of the room. "And so do you. You're no use to Taila if you're dead on your feet!"

Fu waved his hand over the handle, letting his magick wash over the door in his familiar earthly toned colors. Wards and runes lit instantly to his eyes... wards for security and protection and silence... runes for quick healing. He spotted Tikki's own luck mark above the door and his heart thrummed in his chest like a bird. He looked all over the door but frowned when he realized Gabriel's personal seal wasn't among the signs. Either the king had been there and removed it himself... or someone had broken in. His heart leaped into his throat at that thought. What if Hawk Moth had attacked again? He waved his hands all around, searching for any magickal signatures left behind; there were two.

One was his own... another he didn't recognize at all. It was blue, like the sky with hints of red and black interwoven into it. Is it a new akuma? How did it get down here?!

His hand came down instantly on the handle and he threw open the door.

Taila gasped, startled and her hands instantly went to something in her lap. Her dark hair was down and shaggy but her skin was clean... and more a reddish rosy pink than the gastly burns he saw the previous day. Her eyes focused on him and she hissed out a curse in their native tongue. "Fu! Why in the world didn't you knock?!"

"Y-you're alive!" Fu gasped, nearly falling to his knees.

"Of course I'm alive!" Taila hissed softly. "Come in and close the door." Her brother obeyed, though it was clear that he didn't understand what he was seeing. He expected Taila to be just as he had left her... if not dead. She was in much worse shape when he last saw her... but now it's like she had been through months of recovery! His eyes drifted to something that shifted on her lap. "Shh," Taila shushed softly. "It's okay, it's just my brother Fu. Go back to sleep."

Fu moved closer and took in small bat-like wings that were covered in shimmering blue scales and tipped with razor sharp talons. They were much too small now to carry anything into flight, but the long, matching serpents tail foretold that the bearer of these appendages would be fast and strong. His heart began to hammer faster in his chest when he followed the wings up to a head of midnight hair and a sleeping cherubic face. "This is Marinette," Taila whispered softly. "She's Tikki's chosen."

Chosen!? Fu couldn't hide the shock on his face even if he wanted to. This child is... yes, there are the earrings. It is true.

"H-how..."

"I found her about a week ago, wandering the streets. Oh Fu I couldn't... she was so confused and scared. But her powers are amazing! Look!" Taila unwrapped one bandage from her arm, showing the new skin that seemed to glow in the torchlight. She had nearly been burned to the bone there, Fu remembered. He was sure she would've lost that arm. If there was any doubt about this child being Tikki's new Miraculous wielder, it was gone now. He could feel it now... Marinette's natural presence alone thrummed with powerful magick. It practically seeped out of her skin.

"Where did she come from?" Fu whispered back, minding his tone.

Taila's eyes tightened and she looked down at the small bundle in her lap. "A long way," she answered. "The poor girl has been wandering for so long... Fu I couldn't just leave her out there to starve."

"I would never expect you to," Fu agreed. He reached out and gently stroked Marinette's hair. The sleeping girl snuggled deeper into her covers, murmuring Tikki's name. The tiny Dragon Goddess floated over and curled up in the crook of her neck. Fu was caught between formality and joy at her arrival. He settled for a beaming smile, which Tikki returned. "Welcome back your Ladyship."

"It's good to be back, Fu," the goddess returned.

Finding his bearings, Fu dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground in a bow. "I'm in your debt for saving my sister."

"Oh get up," Tikki squeaked, her scales turning more rosy on her cheeks. "You don't owe me a thing!"

"Shh!" Talia hissed the pair, pressing a finger to her lips. Fu didn't dare rise from his position. Finally, Tikki sighed softly.

"Her parents are dead," she informed the pair and Taila sucked in a gasp. "Marinette and I have been running for weeks, dodging Hawk Moth and his akumas. If you truly think you owe me something, Kame, then you can repay me by helping me train Marinette." Fu jolted at his transformation name. His head snapped up, meeting Tikki's amethyst eyes steadily. "Her magick is powerful and wild, which is natural for her heritage. She needs help getting it under control."

"I'll do it," Fu agreed instantly.

"We will teach her everything," Taila agreed. "All our family secrets, she will be one of us.


*flexes fingers*

Alright, here's your prologue to Court. What do you think of the set up here?

Voting for the title ends on July 9,2016! The poll can be found on my profile here on FanFiction.

I have to say it took a while for me to get the set up *just right*. And boy did I have a hard time choosing Mari's guardians! I was caught between all of them when I just went... *claps hands over mouth* Oopse, nope! NO SPOILERS! *zips lips*

So what do you think? Good set up? Or should I scrap it all together?

-Kestra