Heads up warning! In about a week I'll be leaving for about a 2-3 week vacation. This will be the last update for OtW for a while.

I'll try to write while on the trip so I'll have some chapters ready when I return; hopefully.

Thanks for reading and for your patience! Especially since this fic doesn't get updated as often as others... so I'll see you guys when the hiatus ends in 2-3 weeks!


Heart pounding in his chest as fear hammered through him, Chat tore at his binds relentlessly. His sharp canines worked on them, easing through the thin binds wrapped tightly around his wrists. Each bite he could feel them twitch, growing weaker in strength. But not weak enough that he could snap his hands free. Not weak enough that he could escape and rush into those woods, where the snarls rose in volumes, with faint booms echoing them.

Where Marinette was somewhere.

It was going too slow.

He had to get out.

He didn't know what was going on, but he knew there could be a chance that she was in the middle of those snarls.

He had to get out now.

His worries made him sloppy in his rush to get free, making him wince every time he accidentally bit his wrist.

Growling in frustration and glancing frantically towards the woods, he bit hard once more, catching the binds and gnawing away. He was almost there... he could feel it...

Chat's ears twitched when he heard a door squeaking out in complaint for being moved. He froze for a second, listening tensely. Heavy boots nervously wandered out, his likely guard for the rest of the night. Chat swore silently before biting down viciously on his binds, trying to get his canines to saw through them. He was so close! He just needed to get his claws free and he could make it!

The nervous guard's steps were coming nearer.

Pressured by urgency and desperation, he clamped on the last bit of his binds and pulled, trying to make them snap under pressure, trying to push his hands apart to help strain it.

Trembling around his wrists, each strand shook and as they tried to hold on; only to relent with loud, painful snaps that slapped against his cheek.

The relief he felt covered the pain in his face.

He was free!

Not caring how close the guard was, Chat swiped at the wall, grinning gleefully as it was eaten away, opening up for him. He leapt out and dashed away into town, ignoring the shout of surprise from the guard that just saw him flee.

Buildings lit up as Chat tore through town, alerted by the guard's shouts. He ignored the shy outlines of the townsfolk peeking out their windows, nervously holding candles close as they peered out. Instead, he simply kept running, eyes locked ahead. His nose flared as he tried to snare her scent in the air. His ears fell flat on his head, nerves spiking when there was a sudden quiet in the air.

That couldn't be good.

With a great leap, Chat stopped before the square fountain, where he and Marinette both walked in the open street at night for the first time.

Lifting his nose up, he breathed in deeply, trying to catch her scent in the air.

It was faint.

Fainter than it should be.

Like the wind was slowly wiping traces of her away.

Chat frowned deeply as he considered where she was. Well tried too. A faint scent meant that she was was far away and out of reach. He didn't think she could get far away this quickly... Or did the monster get to her and was spiriting her away? Was that what those roars were about?

Cold dread filled him at the idea.

...Did she fight it? Was she some how able to fight it off?

Or, or did she infuriate it enough that it went savage an-

Ear twitching when he heard shouts and the pound of pursuing feet, Chat didn't think twice about tearing off, trying to follow her scent as best he could. It didn't get her, he tried to reason. Before, it, it didn't seem like it wanted to kill her.

His mind snapped back to how the monster didn't seem disturbed about hurting her.

Chat tried to shove that away.

She was fine.

She had to be.

She... she was able to escape. The monster didn't get her. It, those roars were about something else. They had to be.

If the monster didn't get her, she couldn't have gotten too far. He knows how fast she can move. She could barely cover half his distance in a day. She shouldn't have been able to get too far away from this town. He should be able to find her.

...Unless she slipped back into the glamour, refinding it somehow.

Chat hoped those hair ties were still there for him to sniff out.

If he could, and she did go back into the glamour, all he had to do was slip, and he could find her then easy.

But... there was still the wonder why she left the glamour in the first place.

Was the monster there?

Did it stumble in and find her?

Was that why she fled up a tree? So far from where he suspected the glamour to be?

Just what was going on?

Crouching low, Chat sped, already near the edge of town. He'd find her, he'd get them both somewhere safe, and he'd get answers. The prince's tidbit still licked at the back of his mind, persistent and clinging.

Something he could focus on later when they were both safe.

He was almost to the woods when a body collided with his, sending both to the ground. Scrambling up into a crouch, Chat narrowed his eyes as he faced the wide eyed blond that stared back at him with bright blue eyes.

"Chat Noir," he whispered in awe, his hand slowly moving to his belt, a sick smile spreading over his lips.

Chat hissed at him, startling him still.

He didn't have time for this fool!

Chat moved to leap away, only to jerk back when a horse was stopped in front of him, snorting angrily as the rider shouted at him, army gleaming an Agreste shining silver of a knight. Chat turned tail to dart away, only to skid to a halt as another horse cut in front of him, the rider pointing a spear down at him. A sharp pointed pushed at his shoulder, as the spear in front echoed it, resting above his heart.

More and more pounding feet came and surrounded him with glinting steel as they glared at the agitated cat.

Chat grimaced at them all, faintly noting that the fool he ran into before had disappeared.

Prince Felix walked into his view, grimacing. He stated darkly, "For this you're going to be dressed in chains instead."

Chat growled, tail twitching.

Damn that fool for getting in his way.


Marinette still shook as that battle raged behind her, loud and furious enough to rattle her bones, even as she wandered away from it. The ladybugs didn't give her a chance to look back, rushing ahead and never stopping, keeping the noirette moving, eyes locked on them as she tried to keep up. It was hard to ignore those growls, the faint snap of teeth, and the shudder of large bodies tumbled about.

She fretted a few times that the fight would just end up following her.

It pushed her to hurry after the little red bugs, trying not to flinch every time it got louder.

The only time she did dare stop when a sudden hush fell over the woods.

It made her stumble as the silence settled over the world, leaving her heart to pound loudly as she cast a nervous glance back.

Was the fight over?

Was one of them dead?

Did her hunter escape?

Were they coming after her?

Jittery, she faced forward, nearly panicking when she didn't see the ladybugs anymore. She stood frozen still, a loss on what to do, if she should still go straight, or did they turn? Or was she going to walk right into one of those beasts or- one of the little red beetles rushed back, waving to her. Relief filling her, she ran to it, find the other two waiting.

Waving, they took off and lead her on.

Around trees she went, ducking under low limbs, clamoring over tangled roots, and shuffling her way through bushes as she followed them. It was after nearly ten minutes of hiking that she began to notice a change in the scenery.

Dark thorn covered vines started to coil around trees and roots, giving her a touch of unease as she started to see them everywhere, with a few roses blooming on them. Still the ladybugs fluttered on, undisturbed by the intimidating vines.

Warily she moved around them, mindful of her steps and how close she slid up to the thorns. The deeper she went in, the more and more roses flared to life, flushed in healthy, lovely reds.

A soft giggle of moving water tapped at her ears, growing loud as she moved in deeper. Wiggling past two towering thorny walls that were barely big enough for her, she stopped at what she saw.

She's seen a handful of beautifully crafted ponds and creeks.

The Bourgeois estate hosted some of the finest in their area, and when she was younger joining her Papa there in deliveries; she adored wandering into the garden to see them. She actually had gotten yelled at once for jumping in and swimming with the goldfish.

And of course, in the woods that she and Alya would race and prowl around; they found creeks and ponds shaped by nature.

They always found them to be magical.

Their little secret discoveries, untouched by the world, calm and tranquil.

For two adventurous and imaginative little girls, these were always excitable wonders to enjoy.

But this, this had to be truly magical.

There was real magic here.

It buzzed in the air, making her skin tingle, feeling an alien warmth seeping into her. It felt like a blanket just wrapping around her, welcoming, friendly, excitable. It felt enlightening.

Slowly she stepped closer to the pond, gaping down at the crystal clear water, glimmering beautifully in the sunlight above, with easy floating lily pads settled on the surface. The ladybugs settled on them, waving their arms at her.

Smiling down at them, she crouched down to the lip of the pond. Shyly, she settled her hand on the water, feeling the cool surface lap at her fingers, a warm tingle spreading over her palm.

Withdrawing it, she gasped slightly to see that a scrape on her palm, all the way back from Limbes, was gone.

Glancing down to the cut on her calf, she set her leg close to the water, cupping some of it and slathering it over the sore wound. Messy red dripped down her leg, taking the wound with it, like it was just some ugly stain of paint that just needed to be washed away.

"Woah," she whispered.

"It certainly works a lot wonders, I promise if you took a dip, you'd feel even better!"

Marinette gave a start, looking around wildly for the voice.

Something red flew down to her, something far too big to be a normal ladybug, despite the coloration. Marinette jerked back when the figure drew near, and the little being drew away, looking down at her with big bright blue eyes. Marinette gaped back, eyeing it. It was strange. A head that was far too big for such a small body, a body that looked like something that would shape a child's plush.

It was strange.

Marinette didn't like it. Especially with how those big eyes followed her.

Slowly, she started to work away from the water's edge, closer to the thorny wall.

The little being's eyes widened in fear and it drew near with a sharp cry. "Wait! Please! I, I won't hurt you! Please don't leave!" Seeing Marinette flinched, it quickly drew away, seating itself on a lily pad next to one of the ladybug. "See?" it implored, waving it's little arms as it gave her a big smile that Marinette was sure was supposed to be charming. "I'm ok, you're ok. Nothing's wrong. No harm being done." Then it paused, frowning as it turned to a ladybug. "By the stars it's been a long time since I've talked to one of the Children. Am I doing ok?" she asked the little red bug softly.

It waved it's arms at the little being, and said creature drooped with a moan.

"This isn't going well..."

The ladybug gave the small creature a light pat.

Eyeing the pair oddly, Marinette asked, "Ch-children?"

The little being perked, flashing her a smile. With a sheepish giggle, the little creature explained, "That's what we call humans. Children." Stiffening, the little creature quickly added, "It's meant as a term of endearment! I swear by the stars above it is! Though..." the little being trailed, floating up and closer, looking over her. "You appear to be a true child, at least, human wise. You're a lot younger than I thought you'd be." The being turned to the lily pads, frowning as it lightly scolds, "You didn't mention how young she was."

All the ladybugs waved their arms.

The being sighed, resting a paw on it's cheek and ignoring Marinette's gape at them. "Excuse me?" Marinette voiced. What did her age matter?

"Oh! Um," the being stuttered, shuffling about in the air nervously as it faced her, "W-well you see, ah, I, I need your help, and I was told that you were my best chance and... I expected a grown human..." The being trailed, tilting to the side as it observed the girl, something flickering in those big blue eyes. Blinking, it's head tilted to the side as it peered at her with a new light. "Perhaps it is fate," it murmured, tilting to the other side. "Perhaps it's all chance."

Marinette stared at it.

It peered back, contemplative.

"Pardon?" the noirette uttered finally.

Jerking again, the little being gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry," it uttered, drooping back down to sit on a lily pad. It pulled a lily over to it, fidgeting with the petals like a child fiddles with a toy when uncomfortable. Despite the strange appearance, it was kinda cute to see.

"It really, really has been a long time since I've talked to a human. Oh stars, I think it's been... a hundred and eighty years... and that dear Child was very familiar with fairies already thanks to Wayzz." It hummed absently. "And I should remember that you came from Earth too. It's all still pretty new to you." It gasped, dropping the lily. "That means I'm your first fairy! First one you ever met! Oh stars above I hope I'm making a good impression. Am I?" It turned back to a ladybug. The shell flickered in response. The little being gave it a pout as Marinette stared at it, hard.

"F-fairy?!" Marinette stuttered, drawing those big blue eyes back to her.

The fairy grinned brightly. "Yes! I'm a fairy!" It flew up, flashing her a huge, exaggerated bow. "I'm Tikki! But in this world, I'm widely known as the Miraculous Ladybug!"

"M-Marinette," the noirette returned.

"I know!" Tikki chirped. She quickly reassured when Marinette paled, "It's ok! I was told your name!" She pointed skywards. "The stars told it to me!"

"The stars," Marinette repeated stiffly.

Tikki hummed eagerly.

"...Why?"

"Because I need help," the fairy said, drooping once more. She shuffled about, rubbing her paws together nervously. "I, I've been praying and asking for help for a long time now, and searching, so much searching. The stars, they said one of the better chances I had were with you. With Marinette." The fairy drew nearer, her smile small and shy. "I've been looking for you, for a good few years now."

Marinette crawled further away, eyeing the little being. "A-and why is that? What, what help did you need?" What could she do for a fairy?

"I lost someone very important to me. He'd be my husband in your culture. Your my best chance at finding him!"

Marinette stared at the fairy.

Tikki peered back, hopeful.

"I..."

Tikki came forward, eyes shining. "Yes?"

"I can't."

Tikki visibly drooped.

"I-I don't know anything about finding fairies!" Marinette proclaimed, "And stars! You honestly expect me to believe that little lights-"

"They're more alive than you realize," Tikki cuts in with a gentle lecture, "and they're old. They know much sweet Child. They can't predict the actual future, but they have good guesses."

"And they think I'm your best shot?"

Tikki eyed her curiously. "You don't think so?"

"No! I, I don't know anything about fairies! Much less how to find them!" She ran a hand over her face, groaning slightly as she settled her fingers in her hair, giving the dark strands a hard tug. "Look," Marinette started, "I, I'm here by mistake. A stupid, stupid mistake. I'm just hear to pick up something pretty, and go back home." Well, now the objective was to refind that pretty bracelet and then go back home.

If she could find it again.

And Chat.

He needed to be saved.

That summed up all that she wanted to do.

Save Chat and get that bracelet back so she could go back home.

"I can't help you," Marinette stated. She really couldn't see how. Where would she even begin? She didn't even know who she'd be looking for.

The fairy's gaze was patient and knowing as she peered back. Shaking her head, she tsked, "You shouldn't decide that before you even tried."

Marinette frowned at her.

Tikki leaned forward, stating, "You really think you made it through Limbes just because you needed to get a trinket?"

Marinette didn't answer, eyeing the little being.

The fairy shook her head. "There's more to it than that! Honestly, you've always been meant to cross the wall!"

Marinette raised a brow at her.

Tikki sighed, seating herself back on the lily pad. "It's hard to change the course of fate," the fairy declared, "and usually, it's not always worth it. I can swear on my spots that if you never crossed the wall, you wouldn't know true happiness."

At her baffled stare, the fairy continued, "Luckily for you, fate hates no's and forced the path onto you."

"Yeah... lucky..."

"Well, you certainly weren't coming through my ladybugs."

Marinette gave a start. "They really were trying to lead me over the wall?" she asked. All the times that they came to her, that few times that she followed them and found herself before the wall, that was all because they wanted her to cross it? To see this fairy?

As if reading her thoughts, Tikki nodded and confirmed. "Partly because I do need your help, but also because your fated match is here, in Irth, in Franae! I don't know exactly where he is, he's pretty elusive, but he's here."

Marinette stared at her.

Tikki peered back.

"You're the one who..."

Tikki finished, "Help people find their fated matches? Yes. I send out ladybugs to bring Children good fortune and help them find love, help them grow and flourish."

"A-and my match is-"

"Here. He's been over the wall, wandering around Franae." With a hum, the fairy adds, "He's surprisingly hard to find for my ladybugs. They can't seem to locate him, but we certainly could find you." Tikki smiled at her. "They have been trying to bring you to him, tempt you to come over the wall and go through Limbes on your own. I'm glad to see that you're finally here! I'm sure you'll be able to meet him soon!"

Marinette squeaked in alarm, covering her warm cheeks with her hand. Tikki giggled, rocking back and forth. Then straightened, turning serious as she peered up at her. "But I still need help, your my best chance! Will you please help me!"

Stiffening, Marinette bit her lip and shook her head. "I can't! I, I don't know where he is! Do, you don't?! You really don't know where he is?"

Tikki shook her head. "I haven't felt his presence in almost nine years now. My ladybugs hasn't seen a shadow of him in that time either, no matter how far they've flown, and who they found and guided." She drooped, peering down at the clear water. "For a fairy, a near decade is like a week. It passes by without notice, especially with so much to do and manage; time always escapes are notice." She glanced up, blue eyes big, her small body trembling as she curled up, paws resting on her chest. "But, this is the first time in a long time that I've felt it. I, I'm scared. I don't know where he is, or what happened. Please, please help me find Plagg."

Marinette gulped as she stared down at the little creature, she looked away, fiddling with her pant leg. "Wh-what if he's..."

"Impossible," Tikki stated, shaking her head strictly. "We, we fairies; we don't simply die, we cannot cease to be. Death can't touch us. He's not dead. The day Plagg dies, it's the day all bad luck ceases to be, it's the day all things good ceases to be. And that's never."

"Bad luck?!" Marinette repeated.

Tikki nodded, "Where I'm a fairy of fortune, Plagg is misfortune. The day he 'dies', I wouldn't be around either." Seeing Marinette's alarmed expression, she quickly reassures, "He's not evil! It's just, it's just his magical nature, mischief and reality. Believe me Marinette, there are much worse out there than a bad luck fairy like Plagg. He may like to do mischief and cause a little chaos here and there; but he's not evil by any means."

"Ok," Marinette started, shuffling from where she sat. "Ok, um, I, I still don't know how I can help you find him?" Where to even start?

"It's ok!" Tikki insisted again, floating closer and reaching for Marinette. Marinette's hand came up instinctively and the fairy gently took her finger. "I've been searching for a near decade, I don't know how to find him either. But I'm still trying! And I still believe that you can help me, stars are very, rarely wrong. At least, if not Plagg, can you help me find someone that might be easier to find?" She peered at Marinette, hopeful.

Warily, Marinette eyed her back. Asking for more details would show interests, that maybe should could help the little being. She still didn't know for sure if she could. But... what else could the little fairy? A whole near decade of searching on her own. And... what if she could help? Marinette couldn't think of how, but, what if the answer was easier than she thought? What if she could actually help?

She thought of her Maman and Papa. How miserable they would be apart, how torn up with worry they would be if one of them lost. How frantic they would be. Marinette's sure that if the Bourgeois didn't lock her parents up in employment, they'd be chasing after her over the wall, looking for her. Marinette cracked a small, fond smile.

Knowing those two, they would've made the best of this situation. Probably would've started a business here in this world. Help her build a life here when she couldn't go back. Her family wouldn't have stopped searching for her, her parents wouldn't have stopped searching for each other.

She wouldn't have stopped searching for them...

And Tikki's been searching for a whole decade...

Finally she asked, "Who? Who could I help you find?"

Tikki gave her a grateful smile before her expression shifted to something serious. She floated back, starting to pace back and forth in the air. "I'm looking for someone that took his name, the name the world knows him by; and I know that isn't him! I, I think he took Plagg, I think he took his power. For sure, I know he was probably the last one to have ever seen Plagg. He's who I want to find! And I think you have a better chance of finding him than me or my ladybugs, we've certainly never been able to get close. But my ladybugs tell me that they've seen you with him."

"Who?" Marinette repeated.

Turning to Marinette, Tikki answered, "Chat Noir."


This has been a tough chapter. I've rewritten this about five times before finally being happy enough with it. I'm happy to see it came out longer than intentionally planned!

So I'll see you guys in 2-3 weeks! I should have an update ready when I get back!