CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE:
A MIRACULOUS DAY
Darkness gave way to moonlight.
Purple sparkles rained down into the Cavern of Lost Souls, slipping through the bones of the skeletal leviathan.
Inside, the garden of polyps stirred at the sudden onslaught of magic, looking up with gaping mouths and wide eyes. But instead of fear, there was surprise upon their shrivelled, crinkly faces.
A single starry speck landed on a polyp.
Suddenly, there was a great whoosh of rainbow light.
In the breath of a second, a beautiful young mermaid came twirling into the chamber: a dainty girl with a white tail, sleek dark hair, caramel eyes, and skin like sun-streaked sand. She gazed over herself with joy.
Another sparkle fell, and the polyp beside the mermaid grew into a handsome grey-tailed merman with sharp features and short brown hair. He looked at the girl with heart-stopping delight. "Mireille...!" he breathed.
She gasped and flew into his arms. "Théo!" she cheered tearfully.
Soon, there was more cheering to go around. One by one, the polyps returned to their true forms: mermen and mermaids in all shapes and colours. Teenagers and adults, friends and lovers, neighbours and family.
The Sea Wizard's cursed magic was undone. They were free!
Once every prisoner had arms and tails again, they all filed out of the bony sanctum and swam up into the open sea. Many of them whooped and did some front-flips to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the inner glow of the leviathan faded away, leaving nothing but a lifeless husk at the bottom of the ocean.
Streaks of bluish moonlight fell from above, awakening the darkness; bringing life and light to the cavern at long last.
Elsewhere, two tiny lights sank deeper and deeper into the sea.
The Ruby Miraculous – reverted back to twin red earrings – hovered next to the Emerald Miraculous, which was encased once more in a shiny, black band. Even when separated, the jewels remained together like a pair of dancers twirling around each other.
Down they went, never loosing their glow, until they finally came to rest on the rocky bottom...
... right beside a single, blue-eyed polyp.
FLASH!
Bubbles and rainbow sparkles went askew, and Princess Bridgette straightened with a joyous sigh.
She skimmed over her entire body, from her pale-blue tail to the long, midnight-blue ponytails. She even wiggled her fingers.
Bridgette let out a breathless giggle, hugging herself tightly. "I will never take arms for granted again," she said.
She paused when she heard a faint "Hmm...?" from behind her.
The princess turned, surprised to see another mermaid lying on the ground not far from her. A girl Bridgette didn't recognize.
She was a teenager, by the looks of her, and a petite one at that. She had short, sunset-coloured hair cropped at the shoulders, a thin tail that was a bright, majestic shade of amethyst, and a top of dark-teal seashells.
The girl slowly rose up, rubbing the back of her head with a wince. Then, she opened her eyes – her glossy teal eyes – and looked at Bridgette.
The princess gasped.
She suddenly imagined green, scaly skin in place of that smooth, peach-like tone. Slimy, seaweed hair instead of that bright mop of red. An eel's tail instead of a fish's.
"Sabrina?" Bridgette asked.
The girl blinked confusedly, still massaging her head. "Your... Your Highness? But I thought you were..." She pointed at Bridgette, only to gape with astonishment at her perfectly-pale hand and its lack of black claws.
Sabrina looked over herself with rapid gasps, her smile growing bigger and wider each time. "I... I... I'm me again!" she stated. "The spell... It's over! It's finally over!" She looked up at Bridgette with huge, dogfish eyes.
The princess didn't have time to escape from the former eel's constricting embrace. Bridgette cringed but then found herself laughing despite the shortness of breath.
"It's a miracle!" Sabrina said happily. She pulled away, bobbing up and down like a child eagerly awaiting coral cookies. "What happened? Did I miss the whole thing? All I remember is Chloe, and then I blacked out, and now you're here and I'm here and we're both – !"
Bridgette placed a finger on Sabrina's mouth, which shut tight almost instantly.
Then the princess said with a hint of pity, "Speaking of Chloe, there's something you should know..."
When Bridgette finished her story, all traces of joy left Sabrina's eyes, and she hung her head down in shame.
"I wish... I could've helped her," the meek mermaid said, her lip quivering. "She was the only friend I had, even before Hawkmoth cursed us. But after everything that happened; after seeing Hawkmoth go mad over trying to foil Marinette, I... I just couldn't do it anymore." Sabrina looked up at Bridgette. "I am so sorry I brought your sister into this. I tried to help her, but... I was still too late to stop Hawkmoth and Chloe." She placed her head in her hands.
Bridgette smiled and placed a gentle hand on Sabrina's shoulder. "What you did, standing up to both of them like that," she said. "That took a lot of guts. And you came through for my sister and Adrien when they most needed help. Even the smallest act of courage can make a big difference."
Sabrina lowered her hands and offered a tiny hopeful smile. "So... you forgive me?"
Bridgette nodded. "You have the chance to start over now; to be the mermaid you want to be..." She held out her hand. "... and to make friends who actually want to help you."
Sabrina's eyes bulged with delight, and she took the princess's hand in hers, shaking it.
"Spoken like a true queen," came a burly voice.
Bridgette's heart soared as she turned around.
Floating behind her – hands joined, smiling with loving pride at their daughter – were the King and Queen of Atlantica.
They were here. They were back!
Bridgette let out a tearful shudder as she swam over and embraced her parents tightly. "Mother... Father..."
Tom and Sabine squeezed her back, the former grinning so big that his moustache looked all crooked and funny.
"How... What happened?" Bridgette asked exasperatedly when she pulled away.
Her mother shrugged. "We have no idea. When Hawkmoth sent us away, all we saw was a cavern of darkness. We looked everywhere, but we couldn't find a way out."
"Then, just like that..." King Tom snapped his fingers. "... we're back here! And we look over and find you, back to normal..." He sighed and hugged his daughter again. "I can't begin to explain how relieved I am to see you again, Bridgette."
The princess smiled.
"What about Marinette?" Queen Sabine gasped, as if suddenly remembering. "Where is she? Is she all right?"
"And where's Hawkmoth?" The Sea King looked around. "Is he vanquished? What happened here?"
Bridgette stared down at the seafloor, wondering how best to begin... when something caught her eye.
Oh, cuttlefish! I almost forgot.
She reached down with both hands and picked up her newfound treasures, holding them both out to show her parents.
The two halves of the Miraculous, both back to their original forms: the Ruby Earrings and the Emerald Ring. The powers of sea and earth in the palms of Bridgette's hands.
The crown princess of Atlantica smiled at them. "Marinette happened," she replied. "She and the humans... they saved us. They saved us all."
The new sunrise cast the sky into a morning aurora of pastels: yellow, green, blue, and pink. A copper disc rose over the sea, spreading its warm light upon the rocky beach bordering the edge of Agreste.
Marinette sat with her back to the sun on one of the single rocks standing far from the shore. Despite the warmth and serenity of the dawn, she felt cold and melancholy.
Everything had returned to normal now, yet the little mermaid knew that she herself had changed. Even though she had fins again, her heart no longer felt the need for the salty taste of the sea, the tickle of water between her scales, or the gentle brush of the currents through her hair. Now, after everything that happened... Marinette felt like a human trapped in a fish's body.
What she wouldn't give to have sore, aching feet from walking so much; to feel dizzy and sweaty from dancing around, and to run along the soft grass until she was gasping for breath!
Marinette sighed. So many things she had taken for granted, and all of them out of her reach.
Just like the golden-haired prince who lay unconscious on the shore ahead of her.
Adrien hadn't woken since he collapsed last night, but occasionally he would stir and roll his head or his limbs as though he were dreaming.
Nino, on the other hand, was awake and sitting upright beside the prince, speaking gently to Alya; telling her everything that had transpired the night before.
The redheaded maid had found the pair just before dawn, along with Lady Nathalie. Marinette was the one who spotted them further along the beach and called them over.
Nino woke as soon as Alya lifted him into her arms, squeezing him so tightly that the first mate turned blue in the face.
Nathalie had whimpered with relief upon seeing Adrien. Now she kept a constant vigil on him while he slept, often swiping the breeze-blown hair from his eyes.
It was no surprise that Marinette wished she could be the one sitting beside her prince, stroking his hair and silently pleading with him to open his eyes. But she didn't have the courage to go up to him yet, knowing that their next conversation might be their last.
Such cruel irony. Hawkmoth was gone, all his evil spells were broken, and the kingdoms of human and merfolk were safe again. More importantly, Marinette had her family back.
So why was she still a mermaid? Why wasn't she back to bearing legs again so she could reunite with Adrien on that soft, sandy beach?
Perhaps... there were some things even Hawkmoth's magic couldn't change.
Marinette blinked back tears. She would never stop loving Adrien, and now she knew that he truly loved her, human or not. That's what made it hurt so much. To love him and be loved in return... but knowing she could never share a life with him.
They had won. Good had triumphed over evil. But the victory was bittersweet.
Marinette saw Nino and Alya looking over at her, and she gave them both a sad but friendly smile. She was really going to miss them, especially sweet, confident, adventurous, fast-talking Alya. Nor would Marinette forget what Nino did for her and Adrien; for braving certain death just to save his friends.
Marinette stared back at Adrien, who murmured something in his sleep that the mermaid couldn't hear over the soft rush of water on sand.
It made her smile to imagine the prince as that kindly, seven-year-old boy who had helped her ten years ago. Tikki had said once that luck and fate were the same thing. Whatever the case, Marinette knew that she was meant to meet Adrien; to be a part of his world... even if it was only for a little while.
The thought caused Marinette's misery to peel away into resolve.
She couldn't say goodbye to him. Not now, and not ever. This couldn't be the end of their story. There had to be another way!
There was a soft splash, like the breaking of waves, and then Marinette felt wet fingers upon her dry hand.
She wasn't startled. She knew who had come.
Marinette turned around to see the faces of Bridgette, King Tom, Queen Sabine, Tikki, and Plagg floating beside her stone perch and looking up at her.
The older princess held her sister's hand and smiled.
Marinette's lip curled. "Yeesh," she said. "You're a sight for sore eyes."
Bridgette snorted. "Ha-ha. You're one to talk."
Tikki and Plagg took to the air, the former briefly hugging Marinette before returning to the latter's side.
The little mermaid gazed nervously at her mother and father, who seemed just as despondent as she was.
Marinette raised an eyebrow at Bridgette in a mocking manner. "Let me guess," she said. "You told them?"
Her sister shrugged. "Only the important stuff. Though I did leave out some of the scary parts."
Queen Sabine smirked faintly, her silver eyes glossy.
King Tom looked less like a king and more like a father trying to make amends with his broken-hearted daughter.
So it was to him that Marinette spoke, "I caused you so much trouble, and I never stopped to think how my actions would affect anyone else." Her voice cracked a bit, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "Can you ever forgive me?"
The Sea King, to her astonishment, lifted his moustache up into a broad grin. "Are you kidding? I've never been prouder."
Marinette blinked, gaping a bit and trying to find the next words to say. She certainly hadn't expected her father to say that.
"You were right, Marinette," her father went on. "I was the one who didn't understand. I didn't understand how much you had grown up in so little time. I didn't understand how you found love and goodness in a place where I only saw fear." He scratched his nose before smiling again. "And above all, I didn't understand that you saved that human boy's life because you knew it was the right thing, and no one should ever fault you for that."
Sabine cast her husband a sideways grin before turning to her youngest daughter. "We're the ones who should be asking for forgiveness," she said, "and we hope that whatever you choose to do, you'll always keep us in your heart."
Marinette thought her heart would cave in on itself. Not from sorrow, but from a wave of newfound affection and relief at her parents' words.
She leaned over and embraced them both while trying really hard not to cry. "Of course I forgive you," she said chuckling. She let go and threw her arms around her sister. "All of you."
Bridgette squeezed her tightly, her body warm even though she was soaking wet.
A small gasp sounded behind Marinette.
The four merfolk and the two kwamis glanced over at the beach.
Sure enough, Nino and Alya were watching them with awed expressions. Nathalie looked like she might faint again at the sight of the royal family's tails sticking out of the water behind them.
Nino craned his head at the royal advisor, murmuring something that sounded like, "Nautical nonsense, huh?"
Marinette noticed that Adrien was still asleep, though he was stirring more frequently now, like he was starting to wake up.
To her youngest daughter, Queen Sabine asked warmly, "You really do love him, don't you?"
Marinette didn't look at her mother as she nodded, and tears slipped down her cheeks. "More than anything," she replied.
Plagg hummed. "Like I always say: live your own life and go for it with all you've got."
"You always say that, Stinkysock?" Tikki asked skeptically, though her tone implied amusement.
The little cat blushed and said nothing.
Tikki giggled warmly.
There was a moment of calm, drawling silence.
Then, King Tom mumbled, "Well... then that leaves just one problem left."
The little mermaid tried not to groan or frown as she turned back to her father.
Even Tikki and Plagg looked at the Sea King with restrained annoyance.
"And what's that, Father?" Bridgette asked skeptically.
Once again, the king was smiling at Marinette, and his sea-green eyes were gleaming with tears of their own. "How much I'm going to miss you," he replied.
Marinette blinked again. "Daddy?"
"Father?" Bridgette asked with piqued interest.
"Tom?" Sabine looked at her husband with surprise.
"Plagg!" Plagg blurted out.
Tikki frowned at him.
"What? I felt left out," the black-cat kwami said innocently.
King Tom chuckled before casting a sly wink at his eldest daughter.
Bridgette finally caught on a second later. "Oh!" she exclaimed, her face brightening. She then lifted her hands out of the water, opening up her palms.
A familiar pair of red and green jewels radiated with a soft, warm glow.
Marinette's heart went off kilter for a moment. But then a wave of nervousness washed over her. "But... should we really? I mean... after what Hawkmoth did..."
Bridgette smiled at her. "Poseidon left the halves of the Miraculous behind in the hope that they would bring our two kingdoms together," she explained. "It brought you and Adrien together, didn't it?"
Without waiting, the older princess pressed the earrings into her sister's hand. "Besides, the rightful Guardian of the Rubies has more than proven herself worthy."
At once, the buds illuminated with pinkish light, sending a giddy wave of warmth up Marinette's arm and all the way down the length of her body. She smiled at the earrings as though they were old friends.
She looked at her parents, who nodded proudly.
Bridgette slid the emerald ring into Marinette's other hand, closing it tight. It too pulsed like a tiny sun beneath the little mermaid's fingers.
Marinette held both jewels out in front of her, her breathing strained with excitement.
Could it actually work?
She looked over at Adrien, and Marinette knew there was only one way to find out.
"What are you waiting for?" Bridgette nudged her head towards the beach with a sly grin. "Go get him, sis."
Marinette let out a breathless sigh of joy, and she quickly blubbered the words, "Thank you."
She clutched the two Miraculouses to her chest and pivoted around on her rock.
Then, casting a final smile at her shimmering pink tail, the little mermaid plunged into the water.
The darkness behind Adrien's eyelids suddenly erupted into a flare of red and green.
The prince winced and held a hand up to shield his face from the sunlight. He rose up, and the muscles in his arms and back tightened in response. His black clothes were slightly torn, and his boots were missing... again.
That brilliant, radiant light kept going, pulsing like a newborn star.
Adrien blinked furiously... and that's when he realized that it wasn't sunlight.
He sat up straighter, his senses fully awakening as his eyes readjusted.
There were people beside him. He could hear their soft gasps amidst the rise of the water, and he knew them all by name: Nino, Alya, Nat.
Just then, a silhouette emerged from the dimming light. The water sloshed around her bare feet as she stepped out of the shallows.
Her feet...
Adrien stood up instantly, his smile widening while his heart leapt at what he was seeing:
His mermaid, his Ladybug – walking on two legs and donned in a sleek, summer dress that sparkled and glimmered like starlight on a flat ocean. Her midnight hair framed her beautiful, freckled face as she smiled at her prince, and she held her arms open.
Adrien thought of nothing else as he ran into the rushing water and lifted Marinette into the air, spinning her around.
She laughed – a real, vibrant, musical laugh – and threw her arms around his neck.
Adrien lowered her down and sighed against her, breathing in the scent of the sea in her hair. "You're back," he whispered, trying not to cry.
Marinette kissed him on the cheek before staring up into his eyes. "I promised I would be, didn't I?" she said with a flirtatious eyebrow.
The prince brushed his fingers under her chin and returned the expression. "That's a good point," he said. "And I did just wash up on a beach. How do I know I'm not dreaming?"
He caught a bright gleam in her aquamarine eyes... before she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Adrien's surprise melted into joy, and he closed his eyes and kissed her back; pulling her closer, savouring the moment. It felt like a rush of fresh air, filling him with life – a sensation that, Adrien suddenly realized, felt familiar.
His lady pulled away just a smidge, her breath mingling with his own as she smirked. "Does that answer your question?"
Adrien squinted at her. "How exactly did you save me during that storm?" he asked with a purr in the back of his throat.
Marinette blushed and bopped him on the nose. "Take a lucky guess," she challenged with tender softness.
A sharp but friendly voice groaned, "Oi, I'm standing right here, you guys."
"Nino!" Alya hissed.
Adrien grinned... and then his eyes caught something red glittering on his lady's ears. Her earrings – both of them. "Are those...?"
Marinette nodded before pulling a hand off his neck and opening out her palm between them. "And this belongs to you," she said.
The prince looked, and his green eyes went round at the sight of his family's emerald ring, returned to its pristine glory.
Adrien took it, and the jewel brightened at his touch. He remembered when it had glowed the night he dreamed about his mermaid rescuer.
And now here she was in flesh and blood.
The prince shivered with nostalgia. "My mother once said... magic will only come to you when you aren't looking for it." He looked back at Marinette. "I guess she was right."
Marinette smiled and embraced him again, unwittingly crushing his sore back as she did so.
Adrien didn't care. He just rested his cheek against her hair and rocked her back and forth with each pull and thrust of the waves upon the sand.
This was real. They were safe. And they were together.
Then, out in the distance, the prince spotted three heads – and three tails – floating by a large rock, watching the couple from the shore.
Adrien immediately knew who they were, and he waved.
The shorter one, a woman who had to be Marinette's mother, waved back regally, like a queen. The man beside her did the same, albeit awkwardly. The third was far younger than the other two, and far more enthusiastic.
Marinette noticed the movement of Adrien's arm. She pulled away, looked back, smiled, and then turned to her prince. "Would you like to meet them?"
Adrien's mouth twisted shyly. "Will they like me?" he asked, just realizing how pathetic and childish that question sounded.
"Well, you did risk your life to save me. That's an added bonus."
"Hey! 'Scuse me?" Nino snapped with wounded pride. "Who rescued who from the giant squid and saved the whole dang world?"
Adrien turned to face him incredulously. "Hey! I'm trying to make a good impression here, and you're blowing it."
The first mate snorted and folded his arms. "Just sayin'..."
Both Alya and Nathalie sighed and rubbed their foreheads.
Marinette giggled, and Adrien couldn't help but join in.
He pivoted back around and took his mermaid's hand. "I would love to meet them, Milady," he said with a hint of royal grandeur.
Marinette beamed and tugged on his free hand, pulling him towards the water.
Adrien followed her into the shallows, never letting go.
