"I guess I should start at the beginning" Elle looked around the room nervously. "Years and years ago Kwami and humans lived together in the same world. Kwami were magical creatures that possessed immense powers. Some lived peacefully among the humans, most did not. Humans lived in fear of the Kwami except for one."
"Asa became friends with Plagg and I," Tikki said turning in a circle to address everyone. "From us she learned our magic."
"Asa created a new world and used the powers of the Ladybug and the Black cat to send all the Kwami into this new world." Elle explained. "For their help and friendship Asa bonded Tikki and Plagg to her own jewelry so that they could stay in this world, but they could never go to the new world Asa had created."
Tikki looked over to Plagg sadly, "We haven't seen our friends in a very long time."
"Asa began a long tradition. She had one daughter and she taught her everything she knew about the kwami and magic. She gave Tikki's earrings and Plagg's ring to two close friends to watch over and to give their energy and strength to the Kwami. See Asa had created the magical jewelry but the Kwami needed someone to wear the jewelry to be able to have a physical form."
"As time went on we learned more about sharing our energy with humans who wore our miraculous, we found that we could lend them our power and magic." Fanna supplied looking over at Alya, "And that we could borrow their power to have a stronger physical form."
"Asa's daughter also had a child who she taught about the Kwami and her own powers, and then that child had a child, you get the idea. Similarly the ring and the earrings were passed down to family members and trusted friends. And then the tradition took shape. Asa's descendant, who possessed her magic, a guardian, who would learn the history of the kwami and pass it on, and those chosen to care for Tikki and Plagg would work together learning and discovering." Elle explained, "But of course this didn't last long. One of Asa's descendants, Rova wanted to see the Kwami world, so she used her power to break the walls between the two worlds and Kwami once again roamed among humans. The next descendant, Rova's daughter, teamed up with Duusu the peacock and trapped all the kwami back into their world. Duusu was bonded to her broach."
"However, Rova and her daughter weren't as powerful as Asa and the new seal was not as strong. There was a crack in the walls between the worlds, that's where Kwami would slip in." Tikki added, "It became the duty of those involved with the miraculous to catch the kwami who came through and send them back."
"Or in the case of Wayzz and I, get them to join the team." Fanna said with a smile.
"Rekko was the most recent Kwami to come through the crack." Elle said somberley, "But when he came through Asa's descendant was missing. So we watched him to make sure he was no danger to anyone… and at first he wasn't. He was charming, and none of us knew how dangerous he could be."
"Dangerous? How is Rekko dangerous?" Tikki interrupted angrily.
"Rekko is Hawkmoth." Elle said turning to look at her old kwami.
"He isn't Elle. He doesn't have those powers!" Tikki looked back at the heroes, "Rekko is the bat. He can't control people, he has the power of location."
Marinette frowned, "What do you mean Tikki?"
Tikki looked over to her chosen, "Rekko can conceal himself and summon darkness to hide in. He can find things too."
Marinette shared a look with Adrien. Tikki buzzed between the two of them, "What is it?"
"That day… In master Fu's shop-" Marinette began looking to Adrien for help.
"There was this, this darkness that covered the shop. I couldn't even see though it with my night vision."
"I saw that!" Alya added in looking to the other two, "Remember that day I ended up in the hospital?"
"How could I forget?" Marinette sighed.
"Well I ran past the massage shop and it was dark inside, like none of the light from outside was getting in. Then he ran above the roofs and I chased after him. I remember being hit by a dart in the back of the neck and then I remember waking up in the hospital." Alya explained.
"The dart would be Jala." Elle said turning to look at Plagg in surprise, "Does Hawkmoth have a team?"
Marinette shook her head, "No, he's stolen two miraculous. The Bee and the Butterfly."
Elle's eyes went wide. "Gabriel.." She whispered under her breath.
Adrien turned to her, "What's wrong?"
She grimaced and ignored him.
"Why did you say my father's name?" Adrien asked again.
Elle looked past him and pretended not to hear. "If Rekko does have Noroo and Jala, then that would explain the dart, and his ability to create the akuma."
Plagg looked over to Tikki, "I think we have to face the facts Tikki…"
"What facts? Alya was tired that could have been anything!" Tikki's eyes welled with tears, she turned to Elle, "Why are you so determined to destroy him? He made a mistake, god knows Phillipe did."
"Don't talk that way about Phillipe." Elle snapped.
"That's enough!" Fanna yelled going into her human form and grabbing Tikki, pulling her away from Elle. "Some of us haven't forgiven Phillipe, Elle." Fanna tried not to snarl at the name. He had killed Sage. It wasn't easy to forgive. She looked back at Tikki in her hands and sighed, "but Tikki the fact is that Rekko is Hawkmoth. I know he is, he's been talking to Alya long enough."
That seemed to calm Tikki, "He's been talking to you?" She looked over at Alya who nodded, "What did he say? Why is he doing this?"
Alya frowned, "Well he wanted to know Ladybug's identity that was a big part of it…. Before I met Elle, when I collapsed on the side of the road, he said something about.. Isn't there someone you love Volpina? And I just want to find the woman I love. I don't think he meant it though, he was just trying to trick me."
"Of course." Tikki said looking over to Elle and the anger had left her eyes. "It was always you." She said sadly.
"I know. I'm sorry."
Tikki looked like she believed her this time.
There was a loud noise as Adrien slammed his hands down on the table, "So great. We know he wants you. Why? And why shouldn't we just give you to him? And how is my father involved?" Adrien looked around as everyone stared wide eyed at him, "I'm glad the rest of you are getting answers out of this!"
Silence fell over everyone. Marinette reached out gently and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Elle met his angry gaze sadly, "He's after me because we were once in love, a very long time ago. I'm sorry Adrien. I promised I'd tell you everything. I'll tell you now.
"I got the Ladybug miraculous when I was 16. I wasn't chosen like the rest of you, I found the earrings in a pawn shop and stole them. We didn't have a lot of money, it was just me and my dad, and he…. He wasn't a good father. So I ran away. When Tikki appeared before me I knew it was my chance to escape. I went to Paris. We lived on the streets and I would steal cookies from convenience stores for Tikki, and, well, more things from other places so I could eat. Your mom found me Adrien. Celine was pregnant with you then though she didn't know yet, and she had heard rumors that Ladybug had appeared and went to go find me herself. We were attacked in an alley, and although your mother could have easily taken care of it herself, I didn't know. I saved her life and in return she took me home with her. She cleaned me up and gave me a job. I was her bodyguard, and once she had you, I was yours.
"I remember not being to thrilled about it when you were first born. I wasn't so much a bodyguard, more of a nanny. But the real reason I was there was because I was Ladybug. Celine gathered all of the miraculous users of that time, Sage and Fanna, Phillipe and Plagg, Tikki and I, She even located the comb that had been lost for the past 20 years. Your mother was dedicated to the miraculous and it was her dream to be the next Guardian.
"We met Rekko when I was still a teenager and I fell in love with him, I'm not proud of it. It wasn't that he used to be good, he used to just hide the evil. But I ended things. He tried to get me to be his chosen, but I refused. I was Tikki's chosen."
Tikki looked up at Elle, "You never told me that."
"There's a lot of things I didn't tell you Tikki… I wasn't sure how to after what happened." Elle turned back to Adrien, "I raised you and I tried to give up being Ladybug so I could stay home and take care of you."
Tikki looked away hurt again. It was clear Elle's plan to give up her miraculous hadn't gone over well with the kwami.
"Fu wouldn't have it. He asked me to start training to become the next Guardian. Life was going well. And then before I knew it you were 7 and I was engaged, and then you were 8 and your mother was gone, and Phillipe was gone, and I knew that Rekko would stop at nothing to find me." Elle's breath hitched, "He threatened to kill you. He said he would if I didn't become his chosen. And Asa's descendant was dead, there was no way to send him back then. So I ran. I ran as far away as possible and I let him know I was running and I let him chase me across the world for years, and every time he was going to go back and threaten you I would give him a clue and he would come running. And he must have thought I didn't love you anymore. Because he stopped saying your name. And then he went away five years ago, and the attacks started happening in Paris. I was going to go back and lure him away when you both appeared." She looked between him and Marinette, "And I knew Tikki could stop him. So I hid. It'd be more dangerous if I came back, if anyone knew I was alive, or where I was."
Elle reached out her hand, "I'm so sorry. I missed you everyday."
Adrien ignored the tears on his cheeks, "Why can't I remember everything?"
"When I left… I didn't want you to miss me. I had Fu erase everything. I replaced all your memories of me with your mother."
"What?" Adrien hissed angrily.
"I wanted you to have a normal family… I didn't want you to come looking for me. So all your memories of me, I had Fu change them."
"You erased my memories?"
"Not erased. I asked him to keep all of them… I just erased myself from them all." Elle tried to meet his gaze but Adrien wouldn't look at her.
"It's true kid." Plagg floated next to Adrien. "I was there for it."
"You knew?" Adrien turned to Plagg in shock and hurt, "You knew from the day you met me? You knew that my childhood was a lie?"
"Yes."
"Don't be mad at him. I told everyone to keep it from you. I'm sorry Adrien." Elle looked at him with tears in her eyes, "I don't expect forgiveness. I don't expect anything. But you deserved to know."
"I deserved to know back then!"
"It wasn't safe-"
Adrien stood up, "My whole life everyone's been telling me what I can and can't do, what I can and can't know. I'm Chat Noir! Why does no one trust me? I can handle it!" He looked at his group of friends, his teammates. How was he supposed to fight Hawkmoth if no one thought he could handle a secret. "Don't bother following me." Adrien stormed outside again and Marinette stood up to follow.
Plagg flew in front of her, "Give him a minute Ladybug. It's good for him to finally express himself."
There was a pause until Nino coughed awkwardly. "So if I'm following along, we need Asa's descendant to use Chat Noir and Ladybug's power to stick Rekko back in the other world right?"
"Yes." Elle whispered hoarsely.
"So we've got two out of the three, but we still need to find Asa's descendant. Can't someone else just learn the magic stuff from Plagg and Tikki?"
Elle shook her head, "Before the worlds were divided Kwami could use their magic freely, but Asa's magic eliminates most of the Kwami's magic. Tikki and Plagg can teach the spell to anyone, but only Asa's descendant has the magical power to use the spell. It has to be a descendant of Asa."
"Maybe we could get the police in Paris to search for someone? They'll listen to superheros right?"
"I'm Sorry Nino." Wayzz looked up at his chosen sadly.
"What? Why? Look it's not that hard. We just need the name of the last person, maybe they had a kid before they died." Nino looked at Elle, "What was the last descendants name?"
She gave him a sad look, "Amira Lahiffe."
Nino thought he must have heard wrong. He must have.
"Lahiffe?" Alya was ready to leap out of her chair.
Elle nodded, "The name means descendant of hero. It's been passed down by all of Asa's descendant."
All eyes were on Nino. He must have misheard. He must have food on his face, that's why they were staring. "Did you say Amira?"
"Yes."
"That's not…." He laughed awkwardly, "This is really funny and all but that's just not true."
"Nino I met your mother-"
"No."
"Please listen. That magic, it's in you now. You have the ability to stop Rekko."
"It has to be someone else." Nino shook his head and stood up pacing, "Anyone else. Literally anyone!"
"You're the only one that can do it."
"But- I can't! She never taught me anything! She left me after I was born! I barely know what she looks like! How am I supposed to fight Rekko when I didn't even know I was Asa's descendant?"
"Nino." Elle spoke calmly, "I will help you, as will Tikki and Plagg. We will teach you everything you need to know. You're our only chance. Please."
"I'll try." Nino said gravely. "But I think you'd better get a back up plan."
Nino wasn't really sure what he expected to find when he walked outside, but it was definitely not Adrien punching trees. Which, incidentally, is what he did see.
The blonde was punching one of the big oaks by the woods and muttering curse words.
"Whoa dude," Nino ran towards him and pulled him back from the tree, "What is going on with you?"
Adrien looked down at his fists. His knuckles were bloody and red. He looked up at Nino and his puffy red eyes broke Nino's heart.
"Ok, let's talk some of this out." Nino grabbed his shoulders and turned Adrien to face him, "What are you feeling?"
"Anger." Adrien muttered under his breath looking away from Nino.
"Ok. That's fine dude, but you can't just go punching trees."
"I'm sorry." Adrien's shoulders dropped and he stared at the ground. He looked like a sad puppy.
Nino sighed, "Don't apologize. You're allowed to be angry. It's not a bad thing. Why are you angry?"
"Because my whole life is a lie."
"Ok." Nino wasn't really sure how to respond. But honestly? He was kind of feeling the same way. "I get that man. Mine kind of is too."
"Yeah? Did it turn out your mother barely raised you and the woman who did has been missing for 12 years and had your memory wiped?" Adrien snapped bitterly.
"No, just that my mother had magic powers that were passed down to me and I need to master them or we can't stop Hawkmoth." Nino laughed awkwardly.
"What?" Adrien finally met his gaze and Nino dropped his arms to his side.
"Asa's descendants all have the last name Lahiffe. My mom was the last one… She's dead." It felt weird to say. Nino avoided Adrien's gaze. "I thought she was probably dead, but my grandmother had only said that she was missing, that she had run off." He stayed silent for a second before mumbling out, "I always hoped… I just always had a part of me that believed she would come back."
And now she wasn't.
"Are you ok?" It was Adrien's turn to put a hand on Nino's shoulder.
"I'm fi-" Nino couldn't bring himself to finish the lie. "I'm freaking out dude! Apparently I've got to learn this magic stuff, and then I have to go fight Hawkmoth, and I don't know any of it! I am inept at magic dude!"
"Nino I'm sure you can do it-"
"I can't though! Remember when I got really into magic when I was 16?" Adrien laughed and Nino rolled his eyes, "See. Not good at it! My inability for magic started way before then too!"
"Nino, just because you couldn't do card tricks, or pull a rabbit from a hat-"
"Or do the rings trick, or cut a lady in half!"
"You tried to cut a lady in half?" Adrien tried not to feel amused.
"It was supposed to be Alya, but she refused so my grandma did it." Nino looked away embarrassed.
"Look. Just because you sucked at magic tricks doesn't mean you suck at real magic."
"I do suck. Adrien, I can't even use my powers." Nino turned away and walked back to the tree. He leaned his back against it and slid to the ground "I can't use my shield properly, I'm no help to you guys. Now how am I supposed to master magic that no one alive knows how to use?"
"I don't know…"
"I just wish it wasn't me… " Nino put his head in his hands. "It feels stupid… I wish my mom was here. Isn't that crazy? I've never met her, my entire life she's be gone, she abandoned me, and now I wish she was here to… to teach me something!"
"I wish my mom was here too." Adrien whispered sitting down beside his friend. "There's so many things I need to ask her."
"Like how do I summon my magic powers?"
"Are any of my memories real?"
"Why did you leave?"
"Did you ever really love me?"
The two of them fell silent again. The wind blew through the trees and filled their silence with the sounds of waves and birds.
"Yeah.. " Nino said, "Did you ever really love me?"
Nino laughed bitterly. That was the real root of it wasn't it? If she had loved him more would she have stayed? Would she have hung around long enough for him to learn this magic crap? Apparently she didn't, and now he didn't know anything. Not a single thing about her, other then her name.
"I never asked.." Adrien said, "But what happened? I mean why did your grandma raise you?"
Nino sighed, "I only know the story from my Nonna, and I'm not even sure it's right anymore. My mom had me when she was 19. She named me after my dad and then dropped me at his apartment. She left and my nonna came to help and then my dad.. My dad died when I was 3. So it was just me and Nonna."
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I don't really remember much about my parents. My nonna tells me stories about my dad. At least I've got her. I really didn't need any other parent. She loved me enough for both of them. And I know my dad loved me."
Adrien nodded staring at the ground.
"I'm sure your dad does too man."
"Yeah." Adrien put his head in his arms.
"Look." Nino turned to face him, "Say what you will about the lying and the leaving, but Elle seems to care for you. She raised you and loves you, so maybe it's not the family you had in mind, but you've got a mom who loves you right now in your life. I'm not saying forgive her or start calling her mom or anything. I'm just saying."
Nino sighed when the silence continued, "Sorry… I didn't mean to be insensitive."
"No." Adrien looked up, "No you're right… I just… I don't know anymore. Everything's so crazy right now. And My girlfriend is Ladybug? That's crazy right? And then there's Elle, and Plagg knew… And my father knew." He looked up at the sky with an almost half smile, "Is that why he wanted me to model? Is that what all those photo shoots and interviews were for? Did he want her to know me? Maybe he figured if I was an international hit, she would get to see me grow up."
"I don't know man."
"I really hope so." Adrien turned back to Nino, "I've never had anything to talk to my father about before. Well… Anything I'd want to talk about."
Nino smiled and nodded. He was a little jealous. It was crazy really. No one should be envious of Adrien's relationship to his father but… Nino couldn't help but think at least they could work on their relationship. Nino would never have one.
The idea hadn't really bothered him in a long time. He was used to the little bit of a sting when other people mentioned their dad's, he had gotten past it. He had his nonna. He was happy and fine, and then Alya lost her dad. And she would talk about him and what they did together. All the family outings, and then the days after the divorce when her sisters and her would just spend time with their dad. Scavenger hunts, fishing, zoo trips, building forts out of couch cushions. When she talked about him she would laugh and cry and Nino felt like he had really missed out, and he would hold her and just bite back tears. Because Alya would try and help him if she knew he was upset. But Alya had a lot to deal with. She was going through a lot and she didn't need his baggage. He could handle it.
"Are you ok?" Adrien's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah…"
"What're you thinking about?"
"Alya." Wasn't he always? He used to be embarrassed, that his thoughts were constantly consumed by her smile, or her face, or the way her hair stuck out in funny directions in the morning. But he had given up whatever timid part of him had felt embarrassed, and had fully embraced it. He loved her, more then he had loved anyone before.
And she was mad at him.
He had almost forgotten. She was mad at him and they weren't speaking right now and all he wanted was to speak with her.
"I'm an idiot." Nino muttered mostly to himself, but Adrien heard it and he gave him a pat on the shoulder. "She's mad at me and I don't know what to do."
"What did you do?"
"I don't know. I asked her to move in with me."
"That's great!"
"She said no." Nino sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Well more like yelled it."
"Well what did you say?"
"I said that she should move in because we love each other and she needs a place to stay and she's over all the time anyway."
"Ok. Anything after that?"
"No she just got mad at me, she said I thought she was a charity case."
"You don't think that! You'd never think that!" Adrien defended.
"That's what I said." Nino sighed. "I just want to apologize… And I did it all wrong anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"I just… I kept giving reasons-"
"Good reasons." Adrien said reassuringly.
"Right.. But it was like.. It was like I was making excuses for why I was asking her. I should have just said.."
"Said what?"
"That I want to live with her because I love her. Because she makes me sleep better at night and I like waking up to her face. Not because of any other excuse… I just want to be with her…" Nino sighed looking away from his friend, "I'm just.. I'm afraid ok? I'm afraid that one day she's gonna wake up and realise she's better off without me again. I mean we broke up in highschool and what has she done since then? Gone to school, working towards a degree, got an internship, amazing, successful and then she dates me again… And I ruin everything. And what have I done in the same amount of time? Nothing. I DJ. That's it. I'm not good enough for her."
Adrien frowned, "Nino you can't blame yourself for what happened in Alya's life. You can't control any of that. Bad things didn't happen because she started dating you." He gave him a smile, "And you're a great DJ man, and you're Jade Turtle! You're literally a superhero!"
"One who can't use his powers. Meanwhile she was kicking ass on solo missions." Nino sighed, "I gave her all those other reasons because I wanted to convince her it was a good idea to live with me… I already know it's the best thing that could happen to me."
Alya had gone outside for a breath of air after the tense meeting. She knew she shouldn't stay when she heard Adrien and Nino. They were having what seemed to be a very tense and private conversation. She was about to walk away when she caught her name.
"Alya," Nino said with a sigh, "She's mad at me and I don't know what to do."
Well you could come talk to me instead of Adrien. She thought angrily.
"What did you do?"
"I don't know."
Alya felt her blood boil. She had told him exactly what he did, and here he was complaining to Adrien as the two of them sat there, and he was purposely-
Alya decided that these thoughts were better screamed at the boys instead of at herself in her head, but before she could march over there to give them both of piece of her mind Nino did… Exactly what Nino would do.
"That I want to live with her because I love her. Because she makes me sleep better at night and I like waking up to her face. Not because of any other excuse… I just want to be with her…"
And all the anger was gone. Why don't you just tell me that? Alya held her breath and leaned against the wall of the house.
"I'm just.. I'm afraid ok? I'm afraid that one day she's gonna wake up and realise she's better off without me again"
She didn't know. She never thought that he.. That he felt that way. It wasn't true. Not any of it. She wasn't better than him or too good for him. If anything he was beyond her. He was sweet and understanding and loving and supportive and had put up with way too much shit. He had been a saint and she had been a nervous wreck. How many fights had they had because he was trying to help her and she had been acting proud?
"I gave her all those other reasons because I wanted to convince her it was a good idea to live with me… I already know it's the best thing that could happen to me."
And then Alya knew what needed to be done, to be said, to be fixed, and before she could walk over to them and do just that Marinette, Tikki and Fanna poked their heads out of the door.
"Is it safe to come out?" Marinette asked stepping on to the patio next to Alya.
"Yeah, our boys are having a chat. I think they're ok now." Alya said wiping the tears from her cheeks before Marinette could catch them. She didn't fool Fanna though and her Kwami gave her a worried look. Before anyone could say anything however Elle poked her head out the door.
"Oh," She looked at everyone surprised, "That's where everyone went. I hate to pull everyone back but there's just one more thing we need to agree upon. Is everyone ok to talk for a little bit?"
Marinette nodded, "I'll get Chat and Jade."
Tiki and Mari left towards the woods. Fanna turned her attention back to her chosen.
"Are you alright Kit?" The kwami whispered floating next to Alya's ear.
Alya nodded, "I will be. I just need to talk to Nino."
The group assembled back into the living room and avoided eye contact.
"Well…" Elle began, clearing her throat, "I've been talking to Ladybug and the Kwami, and we have a pretty clear idea of what needs to happen."
"We know that Rekko wants to find Elle, so we return to Paris with her and lure Rekko out of hiding." Marinette explained.
"We already know he has the power of 2 other kwami. That's probably why the attacks went down in the first place. It takes a lot to keep a tight control over that much power, and trust me Jala is not the kind to sit quietly." Elle continued.
Elle nodded, "He has trouble creating akuma and keeping control of them. If you've noticed his most recent akuma have been incredibly powerful and incredibly destructive. He won't trust them to go find me and bring me back without killing me." Elle grinned, "I can guarantee he'll show up."
"So what's the plan?" Nino asked nervously. He had a feeling it involved him and magic.
"The plan is we train you up for as long as we can. I may not have been the chosen of all your Kwami, but I was fairly close with those who were." Elle turned to Nino with a kind smile, "Don't worry. We'll teach you everything you need to know. You're gonna do fine." She turned back to everyone, "I need to contact the current guardian and see if they have anything else they can tell us."
A somber hush fell over the room.
"Fu is dead." Alya said quietly.
"I know Volpina." Elle smiled sadly, "But I know who he would have put in charge."
Elle put Plagg and Tikki in charge of training for a moment while she went to the phone.
"Hello, Boulangerie Patisserie, how can I help you?"
Elle smiled, "I was wondering if Sabine was around? I hate to call so suddenly but something's come up."
She had met Tom once or twice and she was sure he didn't remember her, but he handed the phone to Sabine anyway.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
There was silence on the other end for a second before Sabine spoke again. "How did- Where are you?"
"An undisclosed location." Elle laughed lightly, "I'm really sorry to call out of nowhere."
"I understand." And Elle could hear Sabine smile, even through the phone. "Are you making a move soon?"
"Very soon." Elle said, "Soon enough that I think we need to send Rekko on a goose chase."
"Am I allowed to know where you're heading to next?" Sabine asked with a sad laugh.
"Yes." Elle smiled, "I'm coming back home Sabine. And I'm finally going to kick Rekko out for good."
Tikki and Plagg had lead their small team in a series of physical exercises. Which Alya, Marinette and Adrien were more then ready for. All three had been training hard for the past month. Nino was still new to the superhero stuff, and had a little more trouble. It didn't really help that they had paired him and Adrien up for sparring. Adrien had taken years of fencing and easily beat Nino, so they both ended up goofing off whenever Tikki or Plagg turned away.
Plagg looked over at the two boys as they sparred, "What are you doing?"
Adrien grinned guilty, "A new technique?"
He currently had his arm extended at full length and Nino's forehead balancing on it. Nino wasn't even trying to hit him either. He was just standing there balancing himself as he leaned forward.
"It's a core exercise."
Plagg glared daggers at them both. "Spots, Fox!" Plagg called to Alya and Marinette who were actually sparring across the yard from them. "I think we should switch partners."
Nino and Adrien looked at each other in fear.
They had barely been trying before. Now? Now they were working hard. For all of Alya's lack of formal training she had no problem getting a few hits on Adrien, and Nino…. Nino spent most of his training dodging and running away.
Finally Fanna called them over and the boys took a breather.
"Alright. Alya and I can demonstrate." Fanna said circling her chosen's legs in her fox form. "The Kwami and the humans they lend their powers to have a special connection." Fanna explained, "We can lend our energy to you in order for you to become stronger." She sent a nod to Alya
"Fangs Barred." Alya said and she was enveloped in her familiar orange light.
Nino tried not to stare, but he did. He loved that light. It was so fierce and brave, just like Alya herself. And so when he met Alya's gaze, he met it with his jaw dropped. Alya flushed and dropped the transformation again.
"Whatever form you want to call that, we have named it Volpina, it's where the kwami is giving you all their energy." Fanna floated in her tiny fox form." Sometimes we are conscious and can see and hear what you do, sometimes we don't remember what happened exactly, it all depends how much energy you use. For example. I remember Alya's Tod staring like a fish and Alya turning into a beet."
Alya shot the kwami a dirty look.
"This is what I like to call the safety form. Alya has all of her energy save for the miniscule amount that I take to have this semi physical form. That's why I can go through walls and stuff." Fanna demonstrated again going through the tree next to her. "Voila. I know, I'm astounding."
Adrien laughed a little and Fanna grinned, "I like him."
Alya rolled her eyes, "Next bit."
Fanna changed back into a fox again. "This is what I call the animal form." She explained walking in front of the group and nozzling Adrien's legs. He bent down and gave her head a pat. "This takes up little to no energy from Alya, but it's all together more comfortable for me." Fanna smiled as Adrien scratched behind her ears and then transformed into a human. "And this takes a lot of energy." Adrien pulled his hand back startled and she sent him a wink.
Marinette raised an eyebrow.
Fanna stood up gracefully. "Alya and I are able to do this quite successfully, but we've been practicing since she got her miraculous. Now. We are gonna try teaching this to you. You aren't gonna master it quickly, but it will help you keep your transformations longer, and if you're in a pinch while we're fighting Hawkmoth us kwami can take over for a bit." She looked at Adrien and Marinette, "It's also how Lahiffe is gonna use Tikki and Plagg's power to seal up Hawkmoth." Nino gulped.
"Oh one more thing. I've got a safety form, and so does Alya. While we are practicing and while you are fighting if you ever feel like you are going to faint or die or whatever while sharing energy, go into this safety form." Fanna nodded towards Alya who no longer was standing beside Adrien.
They all looked up to see a mini Alya floating above their heads. "It takes no energy, but fanna is right, it's not really comfortable."
Alya dropped down into her normal form and Fanna went back to being a fox.
"Alright," the fox said. "We're gonna try this out."
They each found there own spot on the lawn to focus, Marinette stood the furthest away from everyone else. No distractions, no anything until she could get this.
Marinette stared at Tikki nervously. "Go for it."
Tikki took a deep breath in and disappeared. Marinette panicked and looked around for her. "Marinette it's ok. I'm right here."
Marinette looked down at the little Ladybug that had landed on her finger. "You're so small Tikki!"
"I know. How are you Marinette?"
"I'm ok. It feels a little weird though, like I'm not running at 100% you know?"
Tikki hummed in response landing on Marinette's nose.
"Plagg!" Adrien yelled as a black cat ran around the yard excitedly.
"Just try and catch me Agreste!" Plagg cackled evilly and made a beeline for Fanna who was standing as a human next to Alya.
"Fanna don't you dare." Alya warned but Fanna dropped back to a fox and tackled Plagg to the ground.
The two of them ran around playing in the grass while Adrien tried to catch Plagg.
Nino laughed from where he was lying down.
"Whoa." Marinette said moving closer, "I think you win the prize for biggest kwami."
Nino's head was resting against a giant turtle and he grinned, "How you doing green dude?"
"I am fine Nino. How is your energy? Little weird honestly but that's fine."
"How're you feeling Alya?" Marinette called across the yard.
Alya shrugged, "Fine. I'm used to it now I think. It's been over a month and since day one she's been a fox. Having her as a human took a while though. Can't count the number of times I dropped back to the safety form when we first started practicing."
Fanna cackled happily after pinning down Plagg, "Alright everyone ready for the next step?" Fanna switched back to a human and picked up Plagg. Plagg was having none of it and gave her a hiss before scratching her arms. She let go of him and he ran to Adrien.
"Remember kits, if you feel like you're gonna pass out go into the safety form."
"It'll feel like you're lying down after doing push ups or something. It's like relaxing a muscle." Alya added in.
"All at once?" Nino asked.
"Maybe one at a time so we can help everyone." Alya said and Fanna gave her a nod.
"Guess I'll go first." Adrien said squatting next to his cat.
"Sure thing."
There was a flash of light green and instead of a black cat stood a tall man. Like before his hair was long and dark. His coat trailed on the ground and he smirked. His green eyes were even brighter than Adrien's and he glanced over all of them. "Feels good to stretch." He said with his arms above his head. "Who's next?"
Fanna walked over and tousled his hair, "Good to see you again. You're as scrawny as ever."
Plagged rolled his eyes and batted her hand away, "And you're as short as ever."
"I'm not short." Fanna mumbled. "How're you feeling Adrien?"
They all looked at him. He was bent over a little bit. "I'm ok. Definitely tired."
"Don't hurt yourself." Plagg said with a glance over at his chosen, but Adrien knew he was worried.
"I'm fine."
"Guess I'll go." Nino looked down at Wayzz. "Ready?"
The dark green flash revealed a wide and tall man with dark hair and skin. His eyes were brown and his hair was quite wavy. His clothes were loose and light looking. He wasn't anything like Nino had thought he would have looked like, and then Wayzz smiled at him and his soft face and kind smile fit perfectly.
"Whoa green dude! You're huge!" Nino laughed giving Wayzz a pat on the shoulder.
Wayzz laughed embarrassed, "Thank you Nino."
"How do you feel?"
"I am alright." Wayzz said shaking out his limbs, "I actually prefer to be in my other forms. How are you?"
"I'm ok. It doesn't seem to bother me." Nino said.
Wayzz's eyes widened, "Uh… Nino?"
"Yeah?"
"Look… down…" Adrien panted out.
"Ah crap." Nino muttered at the sight of his tiny floating body.
There was a bit of laughter and Plagg and Fanna went over to talk to Wayzz, commenting on how he looked smaller, before Wayzz gave a gentle laugh and said that wasn't possible.
Marinette turned to Tikki, "Our turn?"
Tikki hesitated for a second, before she flew off of Marinette's finger and landed in the grass. A red light flashed and then a woman stood up. She had dark, almost black, red hair. Her bright blue eyes were the same however. She wore a light red dress that fluttered behind her like wings. Her arms were bare and they were littered with freckles. Tikki smiled at Marinette. She was almost the same height as her.
"Surprised?" Tikki asked.
"Not really." Marinette said with a laugh. "You're eyes are the same."
Tikki laughed and it sounded like wind chimes.
Plagg was staring at Tikki in awe and Nino elbowed him gently before Tikki could notice.
"Tikki." Wayzz nodded his head and she laughed again and gave him a hug.
"It's been a long time Wayzz." Tikki felt someone hugging her from behind and she turned to see Fanna's grin.
"Spots!" She cried happily as Tikki turned around to give her a proper hug. "It's been very long."
Tikki nodded and rested her head on the taller woman's shoulder.
"Hello again Plagg." She said turning to look at him. "Missed my human form?" She asked with a laugh.
"I did." He said genuinely.
"Because I am not officially the guardian I don't have to keep anything secret. I should, but I won't. This is an extraneous circumstance, understand? Should you come to me in the future and ask these questions I can not promise you will get an answer."
The heroes sat exhausted in front of her nodding grimly. All except for Alya who looked a little too pleased with herself.
"I take it energy training went well." Elle almost laughed.
"It did." Alya practically chirped. "For some of us." She shared a look with Fanna who still sat in Fox form.
"I don't understand how you do that!" Marinette lamented, "By the end Tikki couldn't even stay as a ladybug. I felt like I was dying."
Nino looked like he was gonna hurl, "Tikki is the tiniest creature! You don't have a one hundred year old turtle to deal with!"
"Oh Nino," Wayzz said, "I'm well over one hundred."
Elle and Alya shared a look and a laugh. "We might have to make training a little harder for you two. Celine and Dessu had a knack for energy sharing as well. They used to be able to fight while they were both humans."
Alya and Fanna shared a much too excited look.
Tikki frowned, "I don't think we should be practicing this too much Elle… Dessu and Celine-"
"Were murdered Tikki. What happened was not an accident, not an experiment."
"What happened?" Adrien asked.
Elle looked at his hopeful face. "Rekko happened."
Tikki looked like she might cry.
Elle shook her head, "Let's focus on the next lesson."
Plagg watched as the four heroes hung on every word Elle spoke. If Master Fu was here he would have killed her for sharing so much of the guardians secrets.
No he thought He would do the same thing. Rules be damned.
He caught the look an Tikki's face before she could hide it. While the others were distracted he floated over to her. Tentatively he reached out a paw.
She looked up at him the moment he put his paw on her shoulder.
Thousands and thousands of years and he still didn't know what to say when she was hurt. She knew though. She always knew what to do. She pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around him.
He thought it must be part of his bad luck. To be in love with her. He was destined to spend his life so close to her and just too far apart. He had tried to tell her when they were younger, back before Asa, before they were stuck in the miraculous. She gave him a sad smile, kissed his cheek and gave him her tinkley laugh. She said give her time. He had always wondered how much time to give.
So instead he gave her all the time in the world. Thousands and thousands of years, he'd give her their whole lives. And then she fell in love with someone else. Just his luck. Really it was. And he couldn't help but feel like his luck had rubbed off on her when Rekko fell in love with her chosen instead of her.
And it still hurt. And Tikki still cried over it. And Plagg still held her and wondered how much time to give her. Because he'd give her anything.
Elle caught his eye as she talked, handing around some old book she had from her guardian training. She smiled and he tried to smile back.
Tikki pulled herself away from him and gave him a smile as she floated back to her chosen. He sighed. Just his luck.
"I'm sure you're exhausted, so don't freak out if you don't get this." Elle said gently.
Nino nodded.
"It's ok Nino just breath." Tikki floated up next to him, "The first thing we taught Asa was how to make light. Why don't we start with that?"
"Sounds good."
"Remember you've already got the magic stuff in you, you can thank your mom for that. You just need to… harness it." Plagg said floating next to Elle.
"Ok. Remember that light always comes from a source. So picture where you want the light to come from." Tikki said.
"Where should it come from?" Nino asked looking around him.
"Well, start with somewhere on your body. Anywhere you can focus your energy too."
"My hand?"
"Whatever is easiest for you Nino." Elle said reassuringly.
Nino closed his eyes and focused all of his concentration on his hand.
Just my hand. He thought. Except his nose itched a little bit. But he wasn't thinking about that, just his hand.
"Ok, now just picture the light coming out of it. Like sunlight coming in through a window." Tikki explained.
Sunlight. Sunlight coming in through the window. Bright light. Light, hand. Hand. Light. Sunlight on a hand. Sunlight on Alya. Sunlight coming through the window as him and Alya woke up. Alya. Light in Alya's hair. Alya.
Crap.
"Light." he muttered focusing back on to his hand. Just picture it. Light coming out of your hand. Like a laser beam. Except not a laser beam! Nino don't shoot a laser beam at Elle or the kwami!
Fuck. Just breathe. Back to your hand.
God why was his nose so itchy?
Frustrated Nino growled and opened his eyes.
Nothing. His hand looked normal.
He sighed, "Was I close?"
Plagg opened his mouth to say something but Tikki shot him a look. Elle smiled, "It's ok. No one expects you to get it right away."
But everyone needs me too. Nino thought. How much time do we really have before we fight Hawkmoth...
"Nino?" Elle looked at him worried.
"Yeah… Sorry just kind of in my own thoughts right now I guess."
She smiled, "Let's try it again."
Nino felt like it had been ten years. Finally they decided to call it a night. And after what had truly been a physically and emotionally draining day all Nino wanted was to kiss Alya and hold her close. He didn't know if she'd let him though.
He climbed up the stairs his eyes already half closed and pushed upon the door to the room he was staying in ready to collapse on the bed.
"Hi."
His eyes shot open and stared at Alya who was sitting on his bed in his sleep shirt.
"I-Uh- Hi?" He mumbled trying not to stare at her and how beautiful she looked, and how much he just wanted to curl up next to her and cry.
"I just wanted to talk." Alya smiled, "If that's ok?"
"Yeah… Yeah that's ok. That's great!" He said still a little in shock. He closed the door behind himself and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Ok…" She said and then sighed, "I'll just start ok? And just tell me when I need to shut up for a second ok? I didn't mean when I said-" Alya suddenly stopped and looked up at Nino. He looked so tired. And really? This isn't what they needed. She knew what he needed. She gave him a smile, "I didn't mean I didn't love you. I love you more than anything. So. Tell me about your day."
Nino blinked, "What?"
"We used to tell each other about our day, when I had a job and we started dating." She smiled sadly, "We stopped because… Well you knew how my day was. You never tell me about yours anymore."
"I-"
"Only if you want to."
"It… It was pretty crappy Al." Nino said with a sad laugh, and he seemed to relax.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. So I had this big fight with my girlfriend this morning which sucked. And it was because I was being dumb and scared and… and I was too afraid to tell her how much I love her." He stared at his hands, "Probably because she's too good for me anyway. I don't know why she hangs around with a guy like me."
Alya bit back the fiery words that wanted to spill out of her mouth. She wanted to grab him by the shoulders and tell him just how wrong he was, instead she placed a hand on top of his. "Well if you ask me your girlfriend is lucky to have you. I don't think anyone in the world could come close to deserving you. I think you are the best thing that ever happened to your friends and to her. I bet she thanks whatever god there is that she met you every night and every morning when she sees your face. And I bet she was scared… that if you kept saving her… that you would come to resent her… And I couldn't bare that Nino. If you felt it was your job to take care of me, that you were doing this because your just such a good person and wanted to help a friend."
"Alya I would never- I could never resent you! I love you so much and I'm so sorry-"
Alya kissed him gently on the lips. "I love you too."
Nino smiled. Everything was right again.
Alya laid down next to him and he followed suit. "You never finished telling me about your day." She smiled.
He chuckled under his breath and Alya found herself thanking god again for his beautiful smile.
"Well… I found out that my mom had magical powers."
"Fun."
"Yeah. So I'm the next magical powers lady."
"Our messiah has come."
Nino laughed again. "God… I just.. She's gone my whole life and I never thought that… that this! This is what my Grandma was trying to protect me from… When she didn't tell me about my mom, or her friends, or her life… I just didn't think it'd be that hard to… to find out. I just had my whole life under.. Control? I don't know. I had it all compartmentalized. I could deal with her being gone, I could deal with not having a dad, and now… Now I just wish she was here and I hate that because she sucked. She left me, she never came to find me and she…. She was the worst… I just don't want to need her here."
Alya reached out and held his hand, "I'm sorry."
"It's ok."
"It's not." She looked him in the eye. "Nino how many times have you seen me in hysterics about the ladyblog, or some asshole on the bus? This is your family. This is you. You're allowed to be upset and confused. You don't have to be strong for me."
Nino sighed, "I can't do it Al. I tried today. I can't use any of her magic. I'm hopeless at it. Asa's first spell is to create light, I can't even do that. All I have to do is think about it and it's supposed to happen and it won't. I can't even use my powers with Wayzz, I am completely useless." He felt his eyes start to well up, "Sorry… I didn't mean to-"
Alya kissed him again wiped away a tear that rolled down his cheek. "I am here for you. Whatever happens. Whatever you say or do or can't do. I am here for you. Always and forever. For once let me help you in return."
And Nino kissed her again. And he hadn't realised how long of a day it had been without kissing her. And he never wanted to go another day of his life without it. "Forever and always."
And Nino knew why they didn't work in highschool, and he knew why things had felt off, and he knew now it wasn't because she didn't love him. He hadn't realized he had been hiding so much of himself.
And he knew now he never wanted to again.
"Hey Nino?" Alya whispered as she held him close.
He hummed, kissing her forehead in response.
"Let's move in together."
Alya woke up to an empty bed. She was still in Nino's room, but her boyfriend was missing and his shoes were gone. With a sigh Alya heaved off the covers and went to go find him. It was warm underneath the covers, but it was cold outside their room. Alya looked down and remembered she was only wearing Nino's sleep shirt. She could try and sneak into the room Marinette was sleeping in… But Mari was asleep and it was-
Hold on what time was it?
She shivered a little as she made her way downstairs searching for a clock. Before she could find it she caught sight of the other thing she was trying to find. Through a window she spotted Nino, standing in the yard with his eyes closed and his hand extended.
Giving up on the time and pants she walked out in Nino's shirt and bare feet hugging herself with her arms.
Nino was concentrating very hard on something while he stood completely still with his hand out in front of him. Finally he dropped his arm and muttered something under his breath. His eyes opened and spotted her at the edge of the lawn.
"Alya?" He frowned, "You're not wearing pants."
"No one's here it's fine." She said moving a little closer, "All of Paris has seen me in a skin tight suit, I think our teammates can live with seeing me without pants."
"Adrien's already seen you without a shirt." Nino laughed a little.
Alya frowned, "When was…" Then her eyes went wide, "Oh my god you're right! When he walked in the morning after we had sex." Then she laughed, "And Mari and I have changed together before for gym and going to the beach or what have you."
"Our entire team has seen you in your underwear." Nino grinned. "You're a very flirty fox."
Alya shrugged with a smile, "What can I say, I give the people what they want."
Nino chuckled and took off his sweater. "You look cold."
"I am." Alya smiled and put the sweater on, "What are you up to?"
Nino scowled, "Nothing."
"You were just…" Alya prompted.
"I was just practicing the whole magic thing." Nino admitted with a sigh.
"Cool. How can I help?"
"You can't really Al, I don't really know if anyone can. You should go get some rest." Nino caught her look, "Right, what am I even saying."
She grinned back at him and gave him a peck on the lips, "What can I do to help?"
Nino smiled, "I'm really not sure."
"Well what are you supposed to be doing? Like a spell?"
"I'm supposed to be creating light. I couldn't fall asleep and I thought maybe it'd be easier to create light if I was in the dark."
"Sound logic." Alya said with a nod. "So what do you do? Whisper magic words? Do you get a wand?"
Nino rolled his eyes, "Babe, I'm not Harry Potter."
"Disappointing. So what do you do?"
"I'm supposed to just… Think about it? I don't know Tikki said to picture the light coming form part of my body. Picture rays of sunshine or something."
Alya nodded again deep in thought. "So what's the issue?"
"The issue is there's no light. No matter how hard I focus. Nothing." Nino looked down at his hand, "Just like trying to use Wayzz's power. I can't do that either."
"Hey," Alya put a hand on his shoulder, "We'll figure this out. Generations have been doing this for thousands of years. I think we can manage."
Nino took a deep breath in and out. "Ok."
"What are you supposed to do to use Wayzz's power?"
"It's a shield thing. I'm supposed to concentrate my energy and harness it to surround me and protect me."
Alya stuck out her tongue and gave him a thumbs down, "Boo. Who the hell wants to do it that way? He didn't say anything more helpful?"
Nino shook his head.
"Ok. Well when I want to use my powers I blow my flute."
"I don't have a flute."
"No, what I'm saying is there's something I'm doing. Physically. Ladybug yells Lucky charm and Chat yells Cataclysm. Maybe you just need to yell something."
"Like what? Shell shield?"
"Yeah."
"I don't understand how that helps us now."
"Well your having trouble with the same thing. This focusing your energy nonsense. Why don't you just try shouting something?"
"You really think it's going to work?" Nino asked incredulously.
Alya shrugged, "Worth a shot."
"What should I yell?"
"Lumos"
Nino gave her a look, "Is that from Harry Potter?"
"No…" Alya grinned at him, "Just try it. It's latin for light."
Nino closed his eyes and focused on his hand again, "Lumos!"
He peeked upon his eyes, "Anything?"
Alya shook her head. "Maybe try thinking of something else. Less sunshine more laserbeams."
"I'm not going to shoot laser beams."
But Nino thought it over. Light. What could he think of. Sunshine. Sunshine coming through a window hitting him in the face. Sunshine waking him and Alya up. Alya. Alya in the sun. Alya's smile. Alya turning into Volpina. How determined she was, the fire that was behind her eyes as Volpina. As Alya too. The warm orange light that surrounded her. The light.
Nino's eyes shot open, "Lumos!" He felt it, the energy that built and released as he yelled. The same warm orange light he had been thinking about surrounded him lighting up Alya and casting her in it's warm glow. The light shone for a second before it vanished.
Nino was beyond happy he jumped up, "I did it!" I did it Al!" He took off running around the yard and pumping his arms in celebration. "Holy crap I did it!"
Alya was staring at him eyes wide and jaw dropped, "Did you just?"
"Yeah!"
"And was it my-"
"Yeah!"
"Oh my god."
Nino beamed, "Yeah!" He ran up to her and kissed her, "We figured it out! Did it shoot out of my hands like laser beams?"
"No," Alya laughed still in shock, "It came from your chest."
"My chest?"
Alya placed a hand on his heart, "Here."
"Nino!" Elle ran out of the house tripping over herself.
"Elle did you see it?" Nino was practically jumping up and down, "Watch watch!"
He took a step back and a deep breath in. "Lumos!" The same orange light came from his heart, this time a little stronger. It lasted longer too before it died like a candle flame.
"I can't believe it."
"I know it's not coming from my hands or anything, but I can work on that, but look I did it!"
"There's no way…" Elle was staring at him in awe, "Nino take off the bracelet for a second."
Nino frowned, "Why?"
Alya turned to Elle skeptically, but Elle just nodded, "I have a theory… please just take it off for a second."
Nino took of the bracelete and gave it to Alya, "Now what?"
"Do it again." Elle smiled.
Nino did as she said taking a deep breath, "Lumos!"
The light was blinding. Alya's hands went to cover her eyes waiting for the light to die out, but it didn't. It just kept shining. It wasn't just coming from his heart either. His whole body was illuminating the night. It was like standing inside a flare.
"Nino! Turn it off!" Alya yelled eyes squeezed tightly closed.
The light died off immediately and Nino looked at Elle and Alya in confusion, "Was that me?"
"It was." Elle opened her eyes again and stared at Nino. "I have never seen anything like that."
"I think we fixed the whole it won't come out my hands problem." Alya muttered rubbing her eyes, "Jesus Nino, I felt like I was staring into the sun."
Nino couldn't find it in him to feel sorry. He was ecstatic.
"What was that?" Adrien ran out of the house followed by Marinette and the kwami.
"Nino." Elle said with a smile.
"Why was it so much easier without the bracelet?" Nino asked slipping on the miraculous again and smiling as Wayzz flew over to him.
"I was thinking about it yesterday. Sometimes the guardians have miraculous, and sometimes they don't, but Asa's descendant has never had a miraculous. Never. And then it hit me. Asa's magic bonded Tikki and Plagg to the miraculous. It took their magic and linked it to the jewelry." Elle was very excited talking with her hands and pacing a little, "The magic in you is also Tikki and Plagg's. What I didn't realize until now is that Asa didn't only seal the other kwami into the other world, she sealed the magic into that world. The miraculous hide the kwami's magic from the spell she cast. When you wear that bracelet you're disguising your magic."
"What?" Alya starred between the two of them and Nino gave her a shrug.
"So Nino's magic that he got from Asa, it was being absorbed by the miraculous?" Marinette clarified.
Elle nodded, "That's why he was having so much trouble using the magic before." Then Elle smiled at Nino, "I've never seen that much magic before. The fact that you were able to create the light when you had the bracelet on…"
Nino felt proud. It was like he had been holding his breath since he got Wayzz and finally he could breathe again. He could do this. He could help them all. It was a swell of confidence that made him finally feel like he was in the right place after all.
Everyone was hunched over the dinner table with excitement, various scraps of paper were strone about as Elle talked quickly with Tikki and Plagg.
"So thanks to Nino's supercharged power," Plagg said with a grin and Nino returned the gesture, "We know we can take Rekko down with no trouble."
"The important thing is that Nino isn't wearing his miraculous when we send the final blow to Rekko, the spell to send a kwami to the other world is difficult, and it takes a lot of energy, you won't be able to do it with Wayzz." Elle said and Wayzz gave his chosen a nodd.
"He'll need to wear it before though, otherwise he'll be vulnerable while we fight." Tikki said, "Before we can send Hawkm- Before we can send Rekko back we need to free the kwami he's captured."
They all nodded in agreement.
Marinette looked around the table at her knew what she needed to do, who she needed to be. Ladybug used to be the part of her that could do anything, that could fix anything. Somewhere along the way Ladybug had lost that power, Marinette's self doubt and fear had taken over. But that ended now. Now she had a team. And she was going to be exactly what they needed her to be.
"What's the plan?" She said with a smile and her teammates returned it.
Nino had managed to control light enough that he could shoot it out of his pinky should he want to. Plagg had taught him how to breathe fire, much to Tikki's disapproval. But they were back on to the correct order so now he was standing in the lake.
He shivered, holding his arms around his torso. "It's freezing in here." He yelled to the kwami who was standing on the shore.
"Good." Tikki called back, currently in her human form. "Use that. Your next lesson is to create warmth."
Elle walked out of the house and spotted them, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Training." Tikki said raising a hand to stop Elle.
"Tikki it's late october."
"I know."
"Well get him out of there, he's going to get hypothermia."Elle started walking down to the water herself.
"Just wait Elle." Tikki caught her arm and held her back. "Deep breath Nino. Think of warmth coming from the center of your body."
Nino took a deep breath. "Fuck." He muttered as a wave hit his back. Ok just like breathing fire. Fire. You've got this.
Suddenly his skin was on fire. Nino gave a startled yelp and dunked himself completely in the water. "Fuck! That's so fucking cold!"
"You can't do it the same way that Plagg taught you. He's magic is destruction, this magic is creation." Tikki yelled, "Take a wide stance and think of the warmth coming from deep in your belly."
Ok. Warmth. He could do that. Like a toasty fire? No not using fire again. Warmth. Something warm.. Blankets! Hot chocolate! Fireplace! No! A warm feeling in his belly. Joy. Happiness. Laughter.
Nino grinned and took a deep breath. He stepped into a wider stance and put his hands in front of his stomach. He exhaled and the water around him got warmer, the warmth spread through him and stopped his shivering.
"Told you he could do it." Tikki smiled proudly.
"And if there had been a desert handy, would you have thrown him in as well? Teach him how to make ice?"
"Yes."
Elle sighed there was no use arguing with Tikki. She knew that from experience. Instead she walked back up to the house to get a towel.
Nino was grinning as he walked out of the water just as Alya passed by.
"What- Did you go for a swim?" Alya ran down to him and checked him for… well she didn't know what. But he seemed warm and devoid of bruises.
"It was part of my lesson." Nino smiled as soon as he saw her, then laughed lightly as she searched him, holding her back so she would stop. Ironic, usually he was the one worrying about Alya. "I think I learned something very important from it."
Elle came back with a towel and handed it to him.
"Thanks." He said with a smile and wrapped himself up in it, "What have you been up to?"
Alya growled and nodded her head towards Adrien and Plagg who were currently running around the yard while Fanna was yelling. "That. They were being cheeky so Fanna made them run laps."
Nino laughed.
Alya looked at his smiling face and felt a wave of relief wash over her, and then the relief melted away into true happiness. It had been a long time since they had been so happy.
"So, who's place are we moving in to?" Alya asked still smiling.
Nino shrugged, "We could go to your place if you want, we'd have more room."
"Well do you like my place?"
"I like anywhere you live." Nino answered and held her close.
Alya rolled her eyes at the cheesy line, but gave him a smile. "Honestly. What do you want?"
Nino met her gaze and thought for a moment, "We could look for a new place. One that we like better."
Alya grinned, "I'd like that. I really would."
Alya knew she could just ask Fanna, but she also knew Fanna didn't know how the story ended. And call it her journalist curiosity but she wanted more than anything to know the whole thing. So when Fanna and Nino were sleeping she ducked out of their room, sneaking down the stairs and heading towards Elle's bedroom. Before she could knock on the door however she was greeted by the sight of Adrien Agreste in his bright red Ladybug Pajamas. She put a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"Does your girlfriend know you sleep in those?" Alya whispered amused.
"She does now." Marinette said equally amused as she came down the stairs.
"Mari!" Adrien whispered in a whine.
"I'm flattered! Really!" She flushed.
"What is everyone doing down here?" Nino asked staring at the collection of his friends at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh well…" Alya murmured, "Bathroom?"
"Yeah me too." Marinette lied.
"Ha ha, me three." Adrien said not moving from his spot next to Elle's door.
"Agreste you were not going to the bathroom." Alya rolled her eyes.
"Well I know you weren't you were going to knock on the door same as me." Adrien protested.
"Fine."
"I was too…" Marinette confessed.
"Same here." Nino said moving a little closer to the group. "Should we knock then?"
"You do it." Alya gave Adrien a shove to the door.
"What? No you're the reporter!"
"You're her son!"
"She's not my mom!"
"You do Nino, you're the magical one!" Marinette gave Nino a shove.
"You're Ladybug Mari!" Nino shot back.
All four of them stood in front of the door too embarrassed to knock.
Adrien looked between his friends. "Should we just go back upstairs?"
"You're already all down here."
All four of them turned slowly to see Elle standing behind them in her slippers.
"How long have you been there?" Nino asked nervously.
"I went to get some water and came back when there were four kids in front of my bedroom."
The four of them stepped back from the door embarrassed.
Elle laughed lightly, "What can I help you all with?"
They all looked between each other. Alya stepped forward slightly, "I was wondering if… If you could tell me about Sage."
"About Phillipe too." Adrien added in.
"I think about all the heroes." Marinette finished.
Elle smiled "It might involve some embarrassing baby stories Adrien. Do you mind?"
"He doesn't!" Alya said for him dragging said boy to the couch.
Elle waited for Adrien to nod and when he did sat herself down next to the fire.
"I guess it starts with Sage." Elle said, her hand on her chin as she thought.
"I met Sage because of your mother Adrien. She was the previous Volpina, before our wonderful Alya. I don't know what to tell you other than what Fanna most definitely has. Sage was a good person. Beyond a good person really. She was a true hero. When she wasn't being Volpina she was police officer. She was bad ass. And when I first got to Paris, she took me under her wing. I wanted to be exactly like her. She was tough and smart, successful. The very picture of a hero."
Elle looked over to Alya who nodded, "Fanna said she was amazing, I always thought she was a little biased."
Elle laughed, "I am too really. Sage was more of a mother to me then anyone. She taught me how to be a hero, and she helped me forgive myself for who I used to be."
"Did she have any family?"
Elle nodded, "She had a big family. She and her sister were very close, but her sister lived in germany. Chloe Dalton I never met her myself, except for at the funeral. Sage was close to starting a family once, to a woman named Amelia. They were living together and Amelia was pregnant from her previous marriage before the two of them ran off together… but Sage and her didn't stay together. I used to hate Amelia for that… I understand now though. Sage had a dangerous job, a dangerous life really. And there's always that fear of, what if they don't come home."Elle looked sad for a moment.
"Like Phillipe?" Adrien asked gently.
Elle nodded. "You loved him so much Adrien. He let you try on Plagg's ring once and you almost cataclysmed my bed. Needless to say I wasn't so pleased." Elle laughed a little, "I met Phillipe when I got to Paris. Of course we didn't know each other out of the suits till later. But as Chat Noir and Ladybug we met when I was 17. He was a thief. A cat burglar." Elle and Adrien hid their laughs as everyone else groaned. "Most famous for stealing La belle ferronnière from the Louvre. He was not really a good guy."
"So what happened?" Adrien asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
Elle smiled at him, he really hadn't changed. "Well we disliked one another before, and then Sage got involved. And then we hated each other. Sage always believed in him. She was trying to get him to join our side. But all hell really broke loose once Celine found out who he was and hired him as security." Elle laughed, "I was livid. At that point I was your bodyguard Adrien nd I didn't think it was best for a known thief and criminal to be given access to everything in the house. But he never tried anything. I think it was too easy for him. Phillipe came from a very rich family, the stealing wasn't a need for anything other then freedom and expression, so stealing when you already have all the keys had little interest to him."
"But what happened with Sage?" Alya asked.
Elle's smile faded. "He said it was an accident and I believe him. I didn't used to, but I know now he could have never killed someone."
A cold shiver ran through the room and the four friends shared a look. Fanna had been right. Phillipe killed Sage.
"Sage was chasing Chat Noir after his last theft. They were running along the rooftops of Paris and Sage slipped. She was holding onto the roof calling for Phillipe's help, but he thought she was trying to trick him. He kept running." Elle sighed, "I don't blame Fanna for not forgiving him. I didn't think I would. But I promise you, he was a good man."
There was a pause as everyone took in what Elle had just said. She turned to Marinette and placed a hand on the young woman's shoulder, "You have done so well. I know I have no write to say it… But I am so proud of you. I'm sorry I wasn't around to show you the ropes."
Marinette felt her heart leap into her throat. All she could manage was a nod and a smile. Elle smiled back at her and she think she understood. This is why Fanna told Alya all about Sage. For the first time she truly felt that she was not alone, that she would never be alone in this.
She felt Adrien's hand in hers and let the tears fall down her cheeks. Who was she kidding. She had never been alone in this. Not for a moment.