Marinette was staring at Master Fu with her eyes wide open and couldn't formulate even one sentence that would have any sense. Even such a simple and natural one that Adrien said:

"Good afternoon, sir. We were just coming to see you."

"In that case it's good that I've come here." Master Fu smiled to both teenagers. "We saved some time."

"Uhm…" Marinette cut in, seeing a main complication around. "Mom?"

"Yes, darling?" Sabine glanced at her daughter with a knowing smile.

"How do you know Mas… Mr. Chen?" Marinette asked unsure how much she could say, so just in case she used a fake name of the Great Guardian.

"That's a long story…" Mom laughed. "Would you like to join us?"

"J-Join?" Marinette stuttered.

Adrien took her hand and led her towards the table. When Marinette took a seat, he sat down next to her and squeezed her palm to comfort her. He didn't know what was happening here but he was sure that it was way more shocking for her than for him.

"I'll make some tea…" Mrs. Cheng stood up, but Master Fu stopped her.

"Tea can wait, Sabine. We have more important things to discuss."

Marinette exchanged glances with Adrien. It was obvious that her mom knew Master Fu quite well. She hoped that someone would explain the secret soon.

"Yes, Ladybug. I know your mother." Master Fu began and Marinette gasped when she heard what he called her. So? Was it a well-known fact already? "Sabine used to be my best student."

A student?! Marinette looked like she was about to faint. Adrien glanced at her sideways and was so sorry for her. It was too much for one day: learning about him being Cat Noir, seeing all those crazy photographs made by her mom, listening to his confessions and his reproach that she didn't return them, hearing him saying 'I love you'… And now she just learnt that her mom knew Master Fu and – probably – her secret identity.

He let her hand go, but only to embrace her. She put her head instinctively on his shoulder and took his other hand. As if she was afraid that she'd fall under this hail of shocking news.

"We'd appreciate some details…" Adrien said, looking at Master Fu. "Maybe in a logical order. I have to admit that this situation is quite surprising, and Marinette needs some time. And information."

Mrs. Cheng smiled with understanding. She felt warmth in her heart when she saw how tender Adrien was for her daughter. Could any mother want anyone better for her child?

"Why did you call me Ladybug, Master?" Marinette asked quietly, when she regained her composure. "Isn't it a secret anymore?"

"It still is a secret, but not for everyone."

"Why now?"

"I've told you once that it's a right time for everything, remember?" Master Fu smiled meaningfully, reminding her a day, when she had asked him to let Cat Noir into a secret.

"Cooking noodles?" she smiled back.

"Exactly!" Wang Fu laughed with relief. "This is the right time for another part of noodles. Or if you'd prefer – for another cup of tea. No one can prepare better tea than your mother."

"How do you know each other, by the way?" Marinette asked suspiciously, glancing at her mom and the Great Guardian.

"Well… When I was your age… uhm…" Mrs. Cheng hesitated and looked uncertain at Master Fu, but when he nodded, she continued: "I was a miraculous holder."

"You were a superheroine?!" Marinette exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, I was." Sabine confirmed. "My kwami called Longg and he was related to the Miraculous of Dragon. That was a coincidence, because as you know perfectly, I was born in the year of the Dragon. That's exceptional to be born in such time… Well… I was called Dragon Lady. I could do miracles with fire. Oh, I miss Longg so much. We had a special bond."

"It wasn't a coincidence, Sabine." Master Fu explained. "When someone is born in the year of the Dragon, they always have a special bong with this particular miraculous."

"What happened that you aren't a holder anymore?" Marinette asked.

"I faced new challenges, darling." Mom replied. "I got married, then I became a mother. I was responsible for you and your dad. I couldn't risk my life… Besides… Tough times were over, I wasn't needed anymore. I could withdraw. It was different then – Internet wasn't so common. People didn't know me. After some time no one remembered Dragon Lady."

"That's terrible, mom! Why they forgot?! I'm sure they owe you so much! It's unfair!"

"Is it, darling? I don't think so. I didn't want to be popular. I had a mission to keep citizens safe. Should we inform them about all hidden dangers? Why should they panic or be frightened? Wouldn't it be better to let them live safe and calm?" Sabine asked rhetorically and added: "I think it was easier then. No one followed me with a smartphone or camera, there was no possibility to record a film to publish it in the Internet… Nowadays, it's much more difficult for you both."

"Both?!" Marinette spotted. "So you know about him as well?" she exclaimed pointing at Adrien.

"Of course, I do, darling!" Mom laughed. "How couldn't I?"

"How long have you known, mom?"

"It depends on what you mean. I've known about miraculouses and the Great Guardian for a long time. I was aware that Master Fu must know Ladybug and Cat Noir's identities since he had given them the miraculouses. What about you, dear? Well… I had my suspicions but I wasn't sure. Until you came here, both in these rags. I figured out immediately that they must have been your disguise, so you had to have your reasons to escape the Montparnasse Tower unnoticed. The more, it was obvious that you didn't remember anything, yet you tried to keep Tom and me as far from the danger as possible. That was something the real superheroes would do. And when you left to recharge your phones…" here Sabine stopped for a moment and smiled meaningfully, that caused instant blush on both Marinette's and Adrien's face. "Master Fu called me. He was concerned because he'd lost contact with Ladybug and Cat Noir, so he was looking for help. I calmed him down by saying that they came here and they'd contact him soon. That's the whole story, darling."

"So, that's why you chose me, Master?" Marinette asked the Guardian directly. "Because I'm my mother's daughter?"

"No, Marinette!" Wang Fu denied. "Relatives don't influence the choice. I admit I was going that day to Sabine to ask her for help in finding candidates for Ladybug and Cat Noir. I lost contact with teenagers so I didn't know who I could trust. Then I ran into you and I knew instantly that you'd be a great holder for the Miraculous of Ladybug. After that – not before – I discovered whose daughter you are."

"So… What now?" Marinette asked looking at him uncertain.

"First of all, we cannot let Sabine be akumatised." The Great Guardian said in a serious tone. "You know too much about me, Ladybug and Cat Noir, Sabine. I think… I think it's a right time to revive an old friendship…"

Saying that he put a hexagonal wooden box on the table.

x x x

The sun was setting, spreading an evening afterglow over Parisian rooftops. On the top of the dome of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica there were sitting two tiny people – a Chinese man in a green armour and a non la hat and a Chinese woman in a fire-like qipao. They stayed unnoticed by tourists focused on a picturesque view of the city, ignoring the beauty of the Basilica behind them.

"I'll miss Wayzz…" Jade Turtle admitted.

"You still have time to change your mind, Master." Dragon Lady whispered.

"No, Sabine. I'm too old. It's time to retire. To find my Marianne. The Miraculouses will be safe with you. You'll be a perfect Great Guardian. You were born in the year of the Dragon. Leaving the Miraculouses in your hands is the best I could ever hope for."

"But there's so much to learn!"

"We're going to continue your training, Sabine. As I mentioned before – you used to be my best student…"