A shuffling, a creaking, and a blast of light revealed a small brown and white creature with large, round, black eyes. The Kwami opened her mouth to greet the human who opened the box, but it was so dark, she couldn't see who it was. A figure moved in the shadows, and her animal instincts kicked in. She growled and spun in a circle, tracking the shadow with her eyes. A hand grabbed her from behind, squeezing her painfully. She let out a whine.
"Quiet, you." A voice growled from behind her. The Kwami wriggled around to face the human who captured her. She growled back, biting the top finger. The human yelped and let her go.
"Who dares to attack me?" She snarled, backing away from the person in the shadows. Her snarl turned into a growl as she hunched her back, tail going between her legs and her ears flopping back. Her canines gleamed in the moonlight. The human took a step forwards into the moonlight. It was a girl.
"I am your new master. I command you to be quiet." The girl stated, almond shaped olive eyes glaring down at the Kwami. She snorted.
"Your not my master. And a dog only listens to her master. Who are you, filthy peasant?"
"Peasant?" The girl exclaimed in outrage. "I'll have you know my father is an ambassador to the country of Italy, and you should be bowing at my feet! I am much more powerful than you! Hence why I am your master!" The girl reached out for the Kwami again, missing as she floated higher.
"Italy, hmm? Well, last time I was out it was called the Roman Empire. I suppose when one partakes in the murder of Julius Caesar and rise of Emperor Nero that they deserve a little time off, don't you think?"
The girl's face faltered, and she struggled to reply with something witty.
"Y-you didn't actually… that's impossible, that was… I refuse to believe those moments in history were your doing." She decided finally. Her bottom lip trembled in doubt of her own words.
"You better. As the dog Kwami, I am known to hold charges that are distrustful, yet honest. I lie, yet I create chaos with the truth. If you're unafraid, you're wrong. After Plagg and Trixx, I am the Kwami that causes the most chaos in the Minor Eleven. I am Canii, the dog Kwami. Now back off or I will make you, Lila Rossi."
The girl stumbled back, surprise evident on her face, now buried in shadows. "How do you know my name?"
"I know everything you want to hide, little mutt." Lila flinched at the insult.
"How is that possible?" She demanded. Canii watched as Lila glanced at the box, the dog Miraculous still sitting gently inside. Lila subtly inched towards them, as if Canii wouldn't notice.
Canii smiled darkly, and if that was even possibly on her cute face, she made it work. She was entirely aware of the dark shadow in the room, though it hadn't moved in a few minutes. "You shouldn't have touched me."
The doors to the gymnasium slammed shut, the BANG echoing off the walls and penetrating Lila's ears harshly. She flinched, crouching down defensively and glancing around. "Who's there?" She commanded, her voice mixing with the slamming sound and wavering in the air.
The shadow darted past Lila, pushing her hair up in the wind. Lila spun around, looking for the source. Her eyes spun wildly, looking around for any sort of movement. Of course, she wouldn't see the culprit. Her eyes were too weak, to fragile, too human. Canii drifted over to the Miraculous box. She could feel Lila's trust in herself vanishing, her trust that she could claim a Kwami for herself vanishing. She sat back down in the box, waiting for the twinkle she was familiar with. She saw a glint of an orange eye in the left corner of the room. She nodded once, and looked back up at Lila.
"Dearest mutt, I hope you know that if I ever see you again, it won't be a pretty reunion. So try not to cause too much trouble. The world depends on it, after all."
Canii closed the box, and her physically form disappeared. The last thing she experienced was a scream from Lila, the sound of a strong wind, a smell of incense and tea, before feeling the box lifted into the air in a sharp, fast movement. Even with something he wasn't used to, her savior was a quick thinker.
Quick like a bunny.
Adrien paced around the room, swatting away Marinette's worried hands.
"What if he can feel things now? What if his powers have extended?" Adrien told her, irritated, reluctantly hitting her hand away from his shoulder for the third time. Marinette huffed.
"You can't be serious. Do you feel anything that you shouldn't be? Obviously you're aware of my hands on you. Tikki said it had to be a mutual sharing of the senses, right? He can't feel what you're feeling right now, only sight. That's what the blindfold is for."
Adrien unconsciously checked the back of the blindfold, his fingers testing the knot. Marinette's slender fingers lightly closed down on his shoulder, before clamping down like a shark's mouth on a surfboard.
"Ow! What the hell, Mari?" He yelled, squirming away from her vice-like grip. She frowned.
"Just as I thought. You're sore. What did you do?"
Adrien opened his mouth to complain, but voices from behind their boarded up door silenced him.
Both partners froze when they heard Alya's frantic voice demanding, "No, Nino! He said 'Mari' I'm sure of it!"
BANG BANG BANG BANG!
"Tikki, Spots on." Marinette shivered, Chat Noir appearing next to Ladybug. Ladybug took a step back bracingly, hearing Alya call up her transformation as well, Nino following behind, albeit reluctantly. Chat Noir braced himself, still trying to ignore the swarm of butterflies his vision was filled with. He hoped Hawkmoth was getting more pissed by the second with the vision of pitch black he was receiving.
Alya's flute repeatedly slammed into the door, slowly inching it away from it's frame. Nino didn't know how to tell her what was happening. He had a large suspicion about Chat Noir being Adrien, but he basically revealed himself the night before. Nino had a feeling it was too hard to keep it from his best friend.
And now, hearing Adrien's voice angrily yell out Marinette's nickname made it come full circle.
He felt sick. How could two of his best friends have been running around Paris dressed in masks that didn't cover shit for four years and Nino still didn't realize until the Apocalypse had happened?
It's become somewhat of a nuisance on Nino's behalf. He felt like a bad friend.
At least he didn't feel like he had lost two of his friends.
Alya stuffed her flute away and started using her feet and hands. She pounded relentlessly on the door, trying to make her way into the room, to find some answers. Her best friend was missing, and she had no idea if she was okay, or even alive at this point.
But now she hears Chat Noir yell her nickname angrily?
While alone with Ladybug?
She needed her answers and she needed them now.
The door burst into bits as Rena Rouge leapt through the new opening, blinking the dust from her eyes.
"Where is she?" She demanded, scanning the room desperately. Ladybug and Chat Noir stood defensively in the back of the room. Chat Noir's expression looked irritated, just like his voice sounded. And Ladybug, she looked nervous, repeatedly glancing in between her partner and ally.
"Rena Rouge, what is the meaning of this?" She asked, clearing her throat. Chat straightened at the sound, unhooking his staff and twirling it defensively.
"Where is Marinette? I heard you say her name, Chat! Where is she? What have you done?" Ayla stamped her foot.
"What are you talking about? I never said her name. And last I heard she was captured along with her parents by the Patrol."
"I heard you say 'Mari'! Don't lie to me!"
"Ayla, he's not lying. If you heard him say Mari, its because it's one of his dumb nicknames for Hawkmoth." Both Carapace and Chat turned to her, raising a questioning eyebrow. Ladybug wasn't sure if this would work, but she needed an excuse, no matter how far fetched it was.
"Your… nickname… for Hawkmoth." Alya's voice sounded disbelieving.
"Y-yeah. Like, the Spanish word for 'Butterfly' is Mariposa. Honestly, it's easier to picture him as weak and easy to overcome when you give him a cutesy nickname, right Chat?"
"R-right. Why do you think I call Ladybug 'Bugaboo'? She's less intimidating that way." His cheeky grin said that he would be winking if he could see. Ladybug rolled her eyes, hiding a smile.
Alya deflated, and every one of her muscles seemed to collapse in on themselves.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I just… I hoped that… she'd be here. That she'd be safe. I've lost everyone and…" She straighten, slowly and painfully. Avoiding eye contact, she headed towards the door. Before she passed through it, Ladybug stopped her.
"Alya," She called. Rena Rouge turned, and met Ladybug's steely gaze. "There's a reason the door was boarded up."
Alya slumped and left, dropping the transformation. Nino watched her go, dropping his transformation as well. He waited until she was out of earshot and whirled on both heroes. They jumped.
"That was too close!" He snapped.
Ladybug's eyes widened while Chat's ears sank further down on his head.
"W-what are you talking about?" Ladybug asked, feigning ignorance.
"Don't fuck with me, Marinette. That was too close and you both know it. Adrien, try to keep your voice down if you're gonna yell at her. And since when were both of you careless enough to use each other's names out loud?" Nino shook his head in disappointment before turning on his heel and running after Alya.
They hadn't learned anything important from Chat Noir's newest eyesight exchange with Hawkmoth, other than he had a lot of butterflies and he occasionally would do his signature evil laugh. Chat almost thought he had a timer that went off at periodic intervals when he needed to laugh again.
What a weirdo.
Nino clearly had done everything he could to cheer Alya up, because the next morning they were joking around as if nothing had happened.
Chat Noir produced the bag from behind his back with a bow. He straightened and grinned, which Ladybug had to correct, as he was looking a little left of the students. They tittered as Ladybug rummaged around in the bag for the next box.
The box opened, and a brown being with a long nimble tail tumbled out. His ears were large, tan, and low set. His tummy and face were the same shade of tan. A smirk immediately enveloped his face as he glanced around the room. Chat's stomach twisted in regret. Why'd she have to pick this one?
"Baana, the Monkey Kwami, at your service. Hey, Tikki's holder, how you doing?" He winked at Ladybug, who shot him a look. Chat Noir raised an eyebrow, and flipped off the Kwami. Trixx giggled. "Yeah yeah, whatever. Who's cool enough to be my charge, huh? I grant the power to climb any surface at record times! C'mon, who's willing?"
"I can run at record speeds, but that didn't help when I was chased by a Butterfly Patrol," Kim muttered darkly. Baana swooped over and landed on Kim's shoulder.
"Hey man, sure you can run fast, but what about leaping over buildings? Those butterflies won't know what hit them, right?" Kim's face seemed to perk up at that thought.
"This one's mine, guys!" Baana yelled out, eagerly chatting with Kim about record speeds.
"And thus, the irritating part about this plan starts," Adrien muttered, causing Marinette to laugh. His lips twitched joyously as she coughed out the last bits of the laugh, turning back to the bag with a large smile across her lips.
"S-should we let them bond and transform first or pick the next one first?" Ladybug whispered.
"Pick first. Let the new heroes transform together, I'd say." Chat shrugged.
A seafoam green rope appeared. A large frilled hood covered its head, making the creature seem larger and more intimidating. A slit tongue danced between its fangs. It's yellow slit eyes studied the room. A large, empty black diamond covered its hood, the pattern repeating all the way to the end of its tail. The Kwami crossed its arms as it slithered through the air.
"You all were born in my year, weren't you?" The snake hissed. "Hmmm. I am Adder, the Snake Kwami. I need a charge that won't be afraid of the tricky line between good and evil," Her sweeping eyes caught Juleka's interested frame, along with Lila's slit eyes. She flew and tapped both of their foreheads.
"Come forwards. You will be tested." Lila quietly stood, Juleka following her lead.
Juleka and Lila stood in the center of the gymnasium.
"Trixx, are you there?" Adder hissed, glancing through the crowd. An orange blur zipped through the dusty air, coming up next to the snake.
Trixx grinned, her fangs gleaming in the dull light. Adder turned to the girls.
"I will have Trixx do a timing test. If you can catch the real me, you will be my holder." Trixx waved her arm, and seven more Adders appeared in a puff of orange smoke. The class's eyes widened, and Trixx flew to the lightswitch. She flicked it off.
Chat only saw the snippets of light peeking through the edges of the blindfold before everything went dark. He heard scuffling through the air, and felt around for something to brace himself. A hand found his and gripped it softly. It fit perfectly with his.
Chat heard Lila grunt, and a sound like a puff a smoke. A squeak of a sneaker, and a sigh as another Adder got away. The hand tensed against his as the sound of another girl missing Adder reached their ears. A breath of relief sounded when someone grabbed the smoke copy of Adder. Another puff. And another. The girls seemed to be getting the hang of catching the snake.
Trixx giggled, gliding through the air and coming up next to Adder.
"You haven't said anything yet."
"About them?" Adder's forked tongue pointed in the direction of Ladybug and Chat Noir. "What's there to say? It's a spitting image. But I won't meddle. That's tricky business," Adder shrugged.
"Scuur almost lost it."
"Did he now?"
"He did. 'Little Chaos Magic shut him up, though."
"Mmm. Who'd he pick?"
"The ginger girl. I love her orange coloring. She'd be a healthy fox."
"And the others?"
"So far, Taurrin picked the bulky man with the scowl,"
"Terrifying," Adder chuckled.
"And Truffles is with the petite blonde with the pixie cut,"
"A perfect fit, from the looks of it," Adder's tongue flickered. "She smells like flowers."
"Cappro paired with the other ginger. He'd be a tricky fox, that's for sure."
"An even trickier snake. Cappro chose well."
"Baana chose that cocky-looking boy with the awful hair," Trixx giggled.
"Oh dear… It almost looks like a crest. Daawn would approve."
"Oh, I can see him fawning over it now."
"And the other three?" Adder asked slickly.
"I chose the redhead with the glasses. Wayzz is with the boy in the red cap, and Pollen is paired with that pompous blonde."
"Bad choice in my opinion," Adder shook her head.
"I agree."
They lapsed into a silence and Trixx wondered if Adder would actually ask the question they were both thinking.
"And those two?"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She's a smart girl, who thinks creatively and has a sharp mind. She has no problem with speaking in front of crowds or leading. Her head is screwed on pretty straight. And then Adrien Agreste. He's spent his entire life sacrificing his happiness for the sake of others, and he now sacrifices his life as well, all to protect his partner. Perfect Black Cat in my opinion."
"Sounds interesting…" Adder's voice trailed off as she turned to the Fox. "Now what are you hiding?"
"Hiding…?" Trixx mused. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
"Something happened," Adder's tongue flickered in the air. "Recently."
"Mmm… Yes, I believe something did occur. Around one in the morning I was alerted to the release of Canii."
"Canii? Why would someone release her so early?"
"Well, there's the tricky part. There are plenty of candidates as to who the culprit could be, but the question is, which one?"
"Who are the suspects?"
Trixx pointed towards the students. "Alix Kubdel; She's been quiet throughout the choosings so far, but watching her expression just proves my theory: She's envious that everyone is being picked but her. This could've lead to her becoming impatient, and taking matters into her own hands.
"Le-Chien Kim; he was chosen today, but he seemed particularly depressed this morning; perhaps a failed attempt at claiming a Kwami for his own? Canii can be difficult, so it's definitely possibly she dissuaded him from stealing her Miraculous.
"Sabrina Raincomprix: Not very likely, but she's best friends with Pollen's chosen, and Chloe Bourgeois didn't react well to seeing her best friend get chosen by Scuur. Maybe a plot between them both to grab a cuter Kwami? Or a plot by Sabrina herself to prove she's not a rat hero? Or even an act by Chloe to grab a better Kwami and switch it out for her friend?
"And then, of course, Lila Rossi over there. She pretended to be a hero's descendent a while back, and then was plotting to steal me the other day. She's our prime suspect."
"But why activate the Dog if she's going for the Fox?"
"Maybe she planned on using Canii as a way to get to my Miraculous? We won't know until we investigate further," Trixx shrugged.
Adder's eyes slit closed. "Why do I get the feeling that this wasn't what you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Because it wasn't. Sure, that was an important aspect in last nights endeavors, but something else stirred up near the end of the night. I confirmed with Wayzz as well. I didn't imagine it."
"Imagine what?"
"Since the Minor Eleven are here, what did we leave the old man with?"
Adder gasped, twisting nervously in the air. "He didn't-"
"He did. Last night, Canii's aura mysteriously shut off, and she's back in the bag. I know for a fact the person who stole her did not return her. It has his energy on the box."
"Is he crazy? He could die from that amount of strain, especially with his life so prolonged from being with Wayzz all those years."
"He understands. In fact, I believe his faith in these students are so strong he'd sacrifice everything for them, including his life. That's why he used the Unstable One."
"That's for emergencies only, though."
"He must've seen the situation as an emergency, then. All I know is that he was here, and he was wearing it. I can't speak for his actions, only tell you what they were."
Adder was silent as they glided through the air. Her mind twisted and turned, trying to rule out the man's logic. Was he ready to move on to his next life? He certainly picked a hell of a time if so.
Trixx twirled in the air, narrowly avoiding the fingers that curled around Adder's tail. The snakes eyes widened in surprise; was that conversation all a ploy to let Adder's guard down? Trixx knew Adder's tricks, so it was possible she sped up the choosing process.
"I believe," Adder announced as the surprised gasps from the crowd sounded, "That we have a winner."
Adder was released, and she slithered through the air, curling around the dark haired girls neck.
"You will do nicely. What would you say about venomous fangs?"
"Sounds awesome," Juleka grinned, following Adder and reaching for the bracelet.
Trixx watched as Kim and Juleka transformed. Kim shouted, "Baana, Leap!", and a light tan light made its way up his being. His outfit was brown with a tan belly, two large tan ears resting upon his head. He now had a long thin tail used for climbing, which curled behind him, and his hands, he claimed, felt like they could stick to anything. He climbed up walls and across the ceiling. He swung from the rafters and hung upside down as he leapt from beam to beam.
After Juleka had called, "Adder, Rattle!", Rose had screamed. Juleka no longer had legs, instead a seafoam green tail that connected to the top part of her suit curled up below her. Yellow eyes with black slits for pupils greeted anyone who looked at her. A large hood that looked like Adder's frill covered her hair. Her teeth had two large fangs where her canines were previously. Black diamonds made their way down her new tail. Her venomous fangs were more like acidic fangs, as she bit into a chunk of concrete and it bubbled away into a pile of steaming goop.
Chat dodged a surprise attack from Kim, leaping backwards and blocking his fist with the metal staff. Chat's ears twitched as he moved, eyes attempting to see something they couldn't.
Ladybug ducked under Juleka's tail, landing a light strike between her shoulder blades.
Carapace blocked a punch from Ivan, who hadn't realized Carapace had his shield out until that moment.
Queen Bee leapt over Rose, who chased after her, nose twitching with excitement.
Sabrina transformed and joined the fight, dodging a charge attack from Nathaniel, who tried in vain to keep the smile off his face.
Alya went to transform, but noticed Trixx wasn't with her. She glanced around, bewildered, before spotting a glint of orange in the top corner of the room. She went to look, but it was gone before she could see it clearer. A light weight sat down on her head.
"Alya, do you want to train too?" Trixx asked, surveying the fight.
"Weren't you just across the room? How'd you move so fast?"
"Hmm?"
"I just saw some orange in that corner there. That was you, right?"
Trixx fell silent as she reached out with her magic. She didn't feel anything at all.
"Yes," She decided. "That was me."
Rena Rouge transformed and joined the fight.
No one noticed their spectator.
Explanations:
Rat - I got Scuur from the word Scurry, something rats do when scared or moving fast. Run is a synonym for Scurry and I couldn't use that again.
Monkey - Baana came from the word Banana, which is what monkeys eat. They tend to jump around between trees, so that's where I got Leap.
Snake - An Adder is a type of snake. Rattle because rattlesnakes.
Kim and Baana - The Monkey Zodiac is described as thriving on having fun, energetic, upbeat, lacking self-control, love being active and pleases self before others.
Juleka and Adder- Snakes are gregarious, introverted, generous, charming, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, and rely on gut feelings.
Sabrina and Scuur - Rat Zodiacs are are quick-witted, charming, sharp, funny, have excellent taste, are good friends, generous, loyal, can be greedy, curious, seeks knowledge, and welcomes challenges.
Let me know what you think of this chapter in a review! Thank you for reading and waiting patiently!
