Chapter 10

Once Ladybug had reached her house, she dropped into the darkened spot on her street and detransformed.

"Are you ready for this, Marinette?" Tikki asked.

"Not at all," Marinette said. "Wish me luck."

She sighed and went in through the back door. She passed by her parents on her way up, who mentioned that Alya was waiting for her in her bedroom. Marinette thanked them and headed upstairs.

She opened the trap door into her attic bedroom and immediately saw Alya waiting pacing back and forth across her room.

"Hi," she said when Alya didn't notice her.

"I was expecting you back sooner, since you know you can swing through Paris like Tarzan," Alya said, a bit cynically.

"I'm sorry," Marinette told her truthfully. "It couldn't be helped."

"I know. You were busy being a superhero," she said in the same cynical tone. Alya's face was blank and her voice, besides the cynicism, was the same way.

Marinette sighed. "Look, Alya, if you're going to be mad at me, be mad at me! Yell or scream or something. I know what I did was wrong, and that I've been lying to you for almost a year now. I've betrayed you. I'm a horrible best friend. Just say it."

Alya kept her poker face up during Marinette's little monologue. She didn't let any of her true emotions shine through. Her stony face caused Marinette to fall into silence.

"Please say something," Marinette said when Alya's silence became deafening.

"What do you want me to say? You said it all. You were a horrible friend. You did lie and betray me. You are very good at summing up details." Alya's face was blank. It was hard for Marinette to get an idea of what Alya was thinking about. She was doing a good job of keeping her poker face up.

Marinette's eyes started to water. "Look, I'll understand if you don't want to talk to me again."

Alya raised her eyebrow. "Are you kidding? Why would I want to do that?"

"Well, I lied to you, betrayed you, and was basically a horrible friend," Marinette surmised.

Alya nodded. "Yes. You did, but you did it for good reasons. I know why you had to lie to me, Ladybug," she said, adding emphasis on Marinette's secret identity. "I'm madder at myself than I am at you. I should have seen it. All the clues were right there in front of me, and I just didn't see them."

"Well, now you know," Marinette said. "So, since you know who I am, you might as well know who gives me my powers. Tikki?"

At the call of her name, the little Kwami flew out of Marinette's purse and into the space between the two girls.

"Alya, meet Tikki. Tikki, Alya," Marinette introduced.

Alya's eyes went wide at the sight of the little creature. "Whoa," she muttered.

"It's great to officially meet you, Alya," Tikki said with her typical big smile.

Alya smiled, but it was more dazed than anything. "So, you're the one behind her powers?"

Tikki nodded. "Oui. I am a Kwami. I'm attached to an object called a Miraculous, which you already know about."

"I do. So, what do you mean by attached exactly?"

Marinette answered that question. "She's attached to the Ladybug Miraculous, my earrings. When I say the words, Tikki powers them up and I become Ladybug."

"And Cat Noir's the same way?" Alya asked. "He has a Kwami attached to his Miraculous as well?"

Marinette nodded. "Yes. It's the only way to access the Kwami's powers and abilities. Without a Kwami, the Miraculous is just another piece of jewelry."

"Do you know who Cat Noir is?" Alya asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Yes," she said right away. "I didn't always know, but a couple months ago certain circumstances happened."

"Who is he? Or am I not allowed to know?" Alya asked.

Marinette took in a deep breath before saying her next words. "Adrien," Marinette said before she could chicken out.

Alya froze for a minute, much like Adrien did when Marinette told him Alya knew.

"Wait, so… Adrien has been Cat Noir this entire time?" Alya asked, probably for confirmation. Marinette knew exactly how she felt.

"Yes. This entire time it has been Adrien under that mask," Marinette told her.

"I don't believe it," Alya said quietly to herself.

"It took me a little while to believe it, too, but if you knew Cat Noir like I did then it would make complete sense," Marinette mentioned, remembering all their late-night conversations before Hawkmoth was revealed. "You actually guessed it way before I ever found it."

"I know, but I was just kidding around," Alya said softly. "Are you sure it's the same guy? Because I can't picture Adrien being that… flirty."

Marinette smiled. "Trust me, he is that flirty. Just be glad you're missing out on all his puns. He makes even more now that we're together."

"Why was he so flirty with you anyway?" Alya asked. "Because I never saw Cat Noir flirt with anyone besides you, well Ladybug."

"Cat Noir doesn't flirt with me that much," she said, though she wasn't sure she believed it herself. Ever since finding out their identities, and since they started dating, Cat Noir's flirting had reached epic proportions. Also, she wasn't edging him away as often anymore.

"Oh, come on, Marinette! I took enough videos of you guys to know that there was something more going on than meets the eye."

Marinette sighed. "Before Adrien and I started dating, he was — I guess he still is technically — in love with Ladybug. Around the time we started dating, Adrien was… I guess reevaluating his life? I'm not entirely sure what he was going through, but I'm just glad that it all worked out in the end."

"I can only imagine," Alya muttered. "You two were both in love with each other, just not the same people, if that makes sense."

Marinette chuckled. "It does in a convoluted sort of way."

"So how long have you two known about each other?"

"A couple months, specifically, the night we defeated Hawkmoth." Even though she knew exactly who their arch enemy really was, it was hard for her to think of him as Gabriel Agreste. She knew that he wasn't the best father in the world, but Marinette still knew that he loved his son. It was just easier to think of him as Hawkmoth and not as Adrien's father.

Alya's eyes widened as the realization came to her. "How did Adrien deal with that? It was horrible enough when I thought it was just Adrien dealing with it, but since he's also Cat Noir? How do you get past that? He had to defeat his own father."

Marinette took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Hawkmoth was a very sensitive subject for Adrien, for the exact reasons that Alya had pointed out. It wasn't something they talked about often, if at all, really. Adrien was very good at hiding his feelings, so it was hard for her to get a read on him sometimes. She was just glad that he didn't have to go through it alone.

"He's doing okay with it," Marinette answered. "It's only been a couple months, so it'll take him awhile."

"I get it. I totally do." Alya said. "I can't even imagine how tough it is."

"I'm just glad that I don't have to keep anything from you anymore," Marinette said. "It's been hard keeping this from you, especially lately."

"Do you mean the tablets?"

Marinette nodded. "Yes. There is so much more going on with those than you know."

"Then tell me so I can protect myself. What is so dangerous about the tablets?"

Cat Noir stayed at the top of the Eiffel Tower for a little while after Ladybug left. He absolutely loved the city at night. All the lights glittered against the dark ground like stars twinkling in the sky above. He had a wonderful view of it from his bedroom, but it was nothing like being up at the top of the city. Ever since he got his Miraculous, he had loved the nighttime even more. It felt like home to him.

He finally went home about a half hour after Ladybug did. Adrien tried doing homework, but his mind couldn't focus. He was too preoccupied on the night's events. Alya knew. Granted, she didn't know about him, but she would find out soon. With everything that was going on, he was glad that Alya would know what she was up against.

He finally gave up on attempting to do homework, and just went to sleep. When he woke up, he had steeled his resolve in telling Nino. It was something he had been wanting to do for months, but something had always stopped him. He couldn't find any reason not to tell him anymore.

He got ready for the day quickly, taking less care than usual. His hair was still wet as he ran out the front door. He sent a text to Nino asking to meet him at a small coffee shop just down the road from the school. Adrien got there early, and ordered a small coffee for himself. It was a good five minutes before Nino arrived, and Adrien had drunk most of the coffee out of nerves. The caffeine was not helping at all. He was fidgety and nervous, and was itching to move around. He felt Plagg nudge him a few times from inside his shirt pocket.

"Sorry," Adrien muttered under his breath.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Plagg asked, flying out of the pocket but staying out of sight of the other customers.

"Oui," Adrien said right away. "Now hide."

Plagg rolled his eyes, but went back into the shirt pocket.

Nino walked in and set his bag on the floor and took the seat across from Adrien. They did their usual fist bump and immediately Adrien felt better.

"Why'd you want to meet here instead of at school?" Nino asked.

Adrien sighed. "Because I have something I need to tell you."

Nino leaned back casually. "Is it that your hair doesn't look perfect for once, Mr. Model? Because it's pretty obvious."

Adrien had to think about his words for a second, and then remembered his hasty exit that morning. He normally did a hair routine after a shower, but he had forgone it that morning. He snuck a glance at his reflection in the window, and was surprised to see his hair falling flatter than normal. He looked more like Chat Noir than he did Adrien.

"No, that's not it, Nino," Adrien said. He was speaking slowly, trying to find his words. "Um, so you know how I disappear and reappear at seemingly random times?"

Nino gave him a questioning look. "Yeah. Alya and I have several theories on why that could be. Are you finally going to tell me what you've been doing?"

Adrien nodded. "Yes." He glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention or too close to eavesdrop, and then took in a deep breath. "I'm… I am Cat Noir."

Nino stared at him blankly for a moment, and then started chuckling. "Bro, no offense, but there's no way you can be Cat Noir, but I appreciate the laugh. What did you really want to tell me?"

"I'm serious, Nino," Adrien said with the same seriousness. "I am Cat Noir. I am a savior of Paris."

Nino was silent for a few moments and then his face fell once Adrien's seriousness hit him. "You're… you're not kidding."

Adrien shook his head. "No. I'm not." He held up his right hand that held the Miraculous. "This ring, it gives me my powers thanks to Plagg here."

At the mention of his name, the little cat-like Kwami flew out of Adrien's pocket and into the space between the two friends.

"Bonjour," Plagg said flatly. "Now that you know, Adrien can stop mooning over keeping secrets. If you'll excuse me, I have some cheese to eat."

Instead of Adrien's pocket, Plagg flew into Adrien's bag and came back out with a piece of camembert.

"Is that why you always smell like cheese?" Nino asked, glancing pointedly at Plagg.

Adrien gave him a look. "I tell you I'm a superhero and you focus on the cheese?"

Nino nodded. "Yeah! That's been bothering me ever since I met you! I thought that a model would smell better to be honest."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "It wasn't by choice. It's literally the only thing he eats."

Nino chuckled. "So what exactly is he?"

"I'm a Kwami," Plagg said. "I give him his powers, as long as he wears the black cat miraculous that is."

"What's a Kwami?" Nino asked.

"In my case, a cheese eating ball of magic," Adrien said sarcastically. "With a taste for laziness."

"So, I can assume that Ladybug also has a Kwami herself?" Nino asked.

He nodded. "She does."

"Do you know who Ladybug is? You two are a team, I can only assume you know who she is."

Adrien nodded. "It's Marinette," he said before he could chicken out. "She's Ladybug."

Nino blinked once as he processed that new information. He could see Nino's mind reeling from it, trying to connect the dots and accept the truth. Adrien did the same thing when he found out.

"Are you okay, Nino?" Adrien asked when his best friend didn't say anything for a couple minutes.

Nino nodded. "I'm fine, bro. Honestly? That makes so much sense! Alya and I had been throwing around theories on who Ladybug and Cat Noir were. Marinette was right up there at the top. It kind of seems silly now, looking back. You, by the way, were a bit more surprising. You were still on the list, but near the bottom."

Adrien smiled. "Well, it's good to know that you're not mad at me."

"Why would I be mad at you? I know why you had to keep it a secret. I just want to know why now all of a sudden?"

"It's because of the tablets," Adrien said.

"The ones that Alya's been trying to translate? What about them?"

"They aren't just stories of a past Ladybug and Cat Noir," Adrien told him. "There's a whole lot more to it than that. And I wish I could explain in more detail, but school starts in a few minutes."

The boys grabbed their things and rushed to the school. They made it just under the bell. The girls gave them strange looks, but after a knowing nod from Adrien, Marinette understood. She leaned back and sighed. Marinette glanced over at Alya, who was looking at her. She told Alya everything the night before. She started from the beginning when she first received the Miraculous, to the night's events at the Louvre. Alya freaked out when she was told the people murdered were the same ones that were translating the tablets for her, but she seemed to be dealing with it okay enough.

All during class, she could feel Alya's and Nino's questions burning into her, and from the way Adrien was sitting she knew he felt the same way. She had no idea how much Adrien told Nino before class, but since Nino kept glancing back at her she knew Adrien had told him at least about her.

During lunch, the questions started flying. Alya knew more than Nino did but she still listened intently at their combined recounting of their latest ventures. Nino, even though he was rarely phased by anything, became visibly scared when they told them about Lillian's plan to end the world.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Nino asked when they were done.

"Just try to lay low," Marinette said. "Alya's blog has attracted too much attention to us already. She's been getting rid of people who know too much."

"Then why hasn't she gotten rid of me?" Alya asked.

The superheroes shrugged at her question.

"Maybe she thinks you'll be useful," Adrien suggested. "Think about it. It'd be stupid to assume she doesn't know our identities by now. Perhaps she thinks that she could convince you or Nino to turn against us, using the fact that we were lying to you guys."

"She also left Jalil alive, Alix's brother," Marinette pointed out. "She wouldn't have done that if she didn't think he would be useful. Everything she's done so far has been calculated. Lillian's been planning this for centuries."

"And she's been looking for the sextant and the disk," Alya said, remembering the information she received the night before. "Why? Why would she go to all that trouble?"

"There's this jewel," Marinette said, "a powerful jewel, like our Miraculouses, except magnitudes more powerful."

"It's called the Jewel of Rubati," Tikki said. "If Lillian were to use it, she would basically become a god. The tablets give instructions on how to use them to gain this power."

"And using that power she can create the apocalypse," Nino surmised. "I repeat, is there anything we can do to help?"

"Yeah," Alya said enthusiastically. "Anything. I know I haven't been much help with my blog bring attention on us, but I want to make things right. I promise I won't post any more information about the tablets."

"I know, Alya, but truly there's not much you two can do," Marinette said. "This is way out of your league."

"Um, no offense, Marinette," Alya began, "but this is a bit out of your league also. I can see it in both of your eyes. You two are scared to death."

Marinette and Adrien glanced at each other thoughtfully. It was something neither of them had wanted to admit. They were both willing to believe it was something they could handle, but as it became more of a reality the more the two of them became afraid.

"So what if we are?" Marinette asked. "It doesn't change anything. We're going to be fighting her in just a few short weeks' time. That fact isn't going to change no matter how scared we are."

"How do you defeat her?" Nino asked.

Before they could answer, they heard the bell ring from down the street. Class was about to begin. The four them gathered their things and rushed into the building, but none of them were focused on school. All four of their minds were focused on Lillian, and their teachers noticed. Adrien was the only one of them who managed to get every question asked of him correct. Marinette still wasn't sure how Adrien managed to do that. She could very clearly see him writing and erasing furiously on a piece of paper on his desk. Marinette managed to see what he was writing, and it was the symbols they saw written on the wall at the museum. Was he trying to translate them? Next to the paper was his tablet. It was open to Alya's blog posts with the photos of the tablet on one half of the screen and a scanned copy of the translation. He didn't look like he was making any progress.

Class couldn't end fast enough for the four friends. School seemed so irrelevant with everything that was going on. They all knew it was going to be hard to focus with the apocalypse looming over their heads. They went their separate ways after promising the meet up later that night. Master Fu wanted Ladybug and Cat Noir to train again, and since Alya and Nino knew the superheroes thought it would be best if they tagged along.

Once everyone's parents were asleep, the group of four snuck out of their respective houses and headed to their rendezvous point, the Ladybug and Cat Noir statue. The stadium was just a couple of blocks away.

"Do you think they'll arrive in costume?" Nino asked.

Alya shrugged. "I have no idea. Adrien might."

Nino smiled. "Yeah. I know that boy, and he likes to make an entrance."

"Who likes to make an entrance?" Marinette asked, coming up behind them.

"Adrien," Nino and Alya answered at the same time.

Marinette immediately groaned, to which Nino and Alya found amusing.

"If he could, he would arrive with a parade," Marinette said.

"Of course I would," a voice said from the dark.

The three of them looked up to see him perched on the edge of the roof. His cat eyes were glowing in the dark, giving him an eerie effect.

"We should've put money on this," Alya whispered to Nino.

He did a summersault off the roof and landed lithely on his feet. A moment later he detransformed revealing his civilian identity.

"You know," Nino announced, "seeing you next to the statue, I can definitely see the resemblance."

"I still mind that he made me shorter than you," Adrien said.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at him. "Your jealously was the reason you almost ended up in jail, remember? I think a few inches off your height is worth not being in prison."

"Ha ha. Very funny," he said, unamused. "Let's just get going."

The four of them started walking towards the stadium. Adrien and Marinette took up the lead with Alya and Nino hanging back.

"It's like we're in the Twilight Zone," Alya whispered to Nino.

"I know. It's weird," Nino agreed.

"I can hear you back there," Adrien called back.

"Is that a superhero thing?" Nino asked.

Adrien chuckled. "No. It's the fact neither of you whisper very well."

"You think you're so funny," Alya said.

Adrien turned around and started walking backwards so he could face Alya and Nino. "Oh, I know I'm funny. My jokes are what got Marinette to fall for me."

"Just keep telling yourself that, kitty," Marinette said, pulling him aside so he wouldn't run into a lamp pole. He smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.

Alya giggled. "Is this what you two are like when we're not around? And since when do you call him kitty?"

"Since I found out who he was, and yes. We're always like this."

"Okay, explain something to me, Marinette," Alya said, jogging to catch up with her, "how are you able to be both the clumsiest person I know while also being able to swing across Paris and fight bad guys?"

"I have no idea. When you figure it out, let me know," Marinette answered.

Alya chuckled.

By that time they had reached the stadium. They entered through the side entrance, and immediately noticed Master Fu waiting for them not far from the door.

"Ah, there you are," he said.

"I hope you don't mind," Marinette said, "but we brought a few friends along."

Master Fu walked towards them to see the newcomers. "Hello, Alya. Good to see you again."

"Long time no see," Alya said with a smile.

"Hey, dude. I'm Nino. Adrien's best bud!" Nino greeted, holding out his hand.

Master Fu shook Nino's hand thoughtfully. "Pleasure to meet you, Nino," he said, before turning to the young superheroes. "Might I ask why you brought them along?"

Adrien and Marinette smiled sheepishly and both did their awkward movements. Nino recognized Adrien's head rub, and Alya noticed Marinette playing with her hands.

"Well, they sort of found out about us," Adrien said.

"I figured it out," Alya told him. "Well, sort of. I kind of pieced it together, about Marinette that is, but not about Adrien."

Master Fu sighed. "And then they told both of you the truth."

"Yes, sir," Nino said.

Master Fu motioned for Adrien and Marinette to follow him. Once they were out of earshot he began to speak.

"I do not approve of this," Master Fu told them. "Not only is it dangerous for them to know, it is also against the rules of the Miraculous. I have told you this, as have your Kwamis."

"I'm sorry. It's my fault," Adrien said. "Alya had only figured out who Marinette was, but I gave Marinette permission to tell Alya about me as well."

"No, Adrien. It's my fault. I should've done a better job of hiding my identity."

"It is no matter of whom is to blame," Master Fu interrupted. "They know now, and it is best to make them prepared."

Marinette raised an eyebrow. "You're not giving them Miraculouses, are you?" she asked. She could only imagine how excited Alya would be.

Master Fu shook his head. "No. Having two new Miraculous wielders would do more harm than good at the moment. No. Lillian is too dangerous. Though, they could be helpful in your training."

"How so?" Adrien asked, wondering what they could do. No offense to Alya and Nino, but neither of them were particularly good at fighting.

"Just transform and wait for instructions."

"Alright," Adrien said curiously. "Plagg, claws out!"

"Tikki, spots on!"

With those words, Alya and Nino turned just in time to see the Kwamis being pulled into the Miraculouses. They both watched, open-mouthed, as their best friends transformed right before their eyes. Marinette was showered with shimmery pink and red bubbles, leaving in their wake Ladybug. On the other hand, Adrien circled by green lightning revealing his black cat suit. His tail appeared unfurled from the belt around his waist. His demeanor changed almost immediately, Nino noted. He had a bit of a cocky smile and stood more confidently. Nino had interacted with Cat Noir multiple times, but finding out it was his best friend under that mask changed everything.

During the training, Alya and Nino spent most of it talking with Master Fu instead of helping Adrien and Marinette train as they originally thought they were going to do. Instead, the two of them learned more about Lillian and her plans. Needless to say by the end they were not only exhausted physically, but mentally as well. What made it worse was that the alignment of the planets was only two weeks away. They only had two weeks to prepare and take down Lillian. There was still a bit of hope. She didn't have the jewel yet, but she had the map.

Doing the only thing she could think of to help, Alya reset her app to look for mentions of robberies or thefts from museums or dig sites or royal collections all over the world. It wasn't much, and it also wasn't likely that the jewel had been found after all these years, but it was something.

Near the end of the training, Cat Noir was starting to get a bit bored. He casually leaned against his staff and said, "Why am I even learning this? I already know how to fight against her henchmen, remember? They were just a bunch of pushovers. I didn't even break a sweat." This training session was to prepare the superheroes for the type of fighting her henchmen were capable of. Master Fu knew exactly the type of fighting styles Lillian was fond of, and he knew how to fight against them.

"Because, next time you come up against them, Adrien," Master Fu said, coming up to the black cladded superhero, "she would have trained them to not fall for your tricks." Master Fu swung up his cane and used it knock Cat Noir off his feet.

Nino chuckled. "I always thought cats landed on their feet."

"Ha ha," Cat Noir said flatly as he stood up. "You know she's told me the exact same thing at least a dozen times." He pointed this thumb over his shoulder to where his girlfriend was, giggling under her breath.

"If you'd just fall on your feet I wouldn't have to say it," Ladybug said.

He rolled his eyes. "We should get home. It's pretty late and we don't all want to be late for school."

"Then I shall see all four of you again Friday evening," Master Fu said.