Hey everyone! It's question time, let's see if there are some answers to be found!
Thank you to everyone for the reviews, favs, and follows! You guys are the best! Melty Camembert Hearts! And a BIG thank you to my beta SunshineMLB! I couldn't imagine doing this without you!
Also I do not own the characters, just the plot! Enjoy!
Some Answers
She kept her head buried in her arms, sighing heavily as she replayed Chat Blanc's words over and over again in her mind.
Everyone was at lunch break, but she had snuck away and come back to their classroom to hide out until combat training. She couldn't even think about eating.
She knew Chat Blanc had to be wrong.
But, what reason did he have to lie to her? Why would he have gone out of his way to come and warn her the way he did? He didn't gain anything from it. All he managed to do was give her information she didn't know if she could fully trust.
She sighed heavily, saying it muffled into her arm, "Stop it. Don't let him get to you."
"You wouldn't be talking about me, would you?"
She shot up, feeling a blush starting as she looked over at him, "Ch-Chat."
He walked up to her desk, asking concerned, "You okay?"
She tried to smile as much as she could, "Y-yeah, yeah I'm fine."
"You're not eating." He pointed out, sitting on the edge of the desk in front of her.
"I'm not very hungry. I'll be all right, promise." She said trying to hide her anxiousness.
He didn't buy her act for a second. He put his hand over hers, giving it a slight squeeze, "You can talk to me purrincess."
"I know, I know it's just," she hesitated, not sure what to say. They hadn't had a chance to talk to Master Fu about Chat Blanc's appearance on Saturday night, and her nerves were frayed now that Monday was already here. She couldn't shake the feeling that Blanc had been telling the truth, and she hated herself for thinking it.
He ran his thumb over knuckles lightly, waiting for her to get it out. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her about everything Blanc had said after he ruined their date.
Her hand tightened in his as she blurted it out, "Chat, why do you care about me?"
Worried ocean blue eyes held shocked piercing green ones. He frowned slightly, confused on why she would ask him that. He thought it was rather obvious, "You've touched my heart since the moment we met. Why wouldn't I care about you?"
"The moment we met, I was almost kidnapped by an Akuma and unknowingly healed the wound you got for protecting me from that Akuma." She stated.
He frowned a little more, "What are you trying to get at?"
"Did Master Fu let me come to Dupont because he thinks I may be Ladybug?" She asked point blank.
His eyes widened and her heart sunk as he looked away from her, "You want the truth?"
She pulled her hand out of his and he turned back to her as she answered, "Yes."
Chat Noir's voice was solemn, "He didn't want you here."
Her breath caught but Chat didn't stop, "I was the one who had the thought first because of how you healed me, that you could be Ladybug. It's why I brought you here after you passed out." He frowned to himself, "He argued with me for two days about how it was impossible because of how your magic read."
"But you didn't believe it." She said knowingly.
He shook his head, "No, I didn't. I had seen your magic with my own eyes. I saw its power and knew that you were special. When the others showed up with your invitation letter, I was as genuinely shocked as you were. Master had told me the last time we spoke that I had to stop trying so hard to find Ladybug, because she would appear when the time was right."
Her heart thundered against her chest. Had Blanc been right after all? Had Master Fu simply asked her to be a student, just so that he could use her healing power to help unbind the Ladybug Miraculous? Could that be why he had been pushing her to strengthen her powers, so that it would actually work and Ladybug's powers could be released?
"When, the time is right?" She whispered.
He ran his hand through his hair, a move she knew he did to help calm his frustration, "I don't know what he means by it. He won't explain anything to me. He has always told me to follow my heart, and yet seems to always caution me whenever Ladybug is concerned."
She asked shakily, "Do you think he is keeping something from you, about Ladybug, or about the Miraculous?"
He held her eyes for a few seconds, "I don't know. He could be. I'm sure he knows things about them that I don't."
He started to shake his head, "But I trust Master Fu, if I needed to know something, if it was important, he would tell me."
"Are you sure about that? You are sure he wouldn't keep it from you so that you wouldn't have another burden to carry?" She asked, trying not to give too much away.
He stared down at his hands, "I would hope he would trust me enough to tell me everything I needed to know. Especially if it concerns Ladybug."
She kept her eyes cast down towards the desk, not able to get her last question out. Blanc's words ringed in her ears, The only reason he is treating you this way is because he thinks you are destined to be his Ladybug. She didn't want to know the truth of it. Not at all.
"Hey," a gentle clawed hand lifted her face up until she was staring into a sea of green. He must have seen the question in her eyes because he answered it without her having to ask, "Whether you turn out to be Ladybug or not, it isn't going to change how I feel about you. Do I think you could be her?" He smiled shyly, "More and more every day, but do I know that it is still a long shot? Yes."
She pointed it out to him, "The last Miraculous in the Zodiac box is Ladybug's, and I'm the only one in the Zodiac class without a Miraculous. If it is still such a long shot, why would Master Fu put me here? Why would he let you hope, let me hope, if it is impossible?"
"It's not impossible." He said quickly, "The Ladybug Miraculous was weakened the last time it was active but we don't know why. Its magic is unstable, and only a true Ladybug will be able to stabilize the Miraculous back to what it was before. Tikki has re-gained her strength over time, but it will take a very high level of magic power to connect with the energy in the Miraculous. Ceremony will heighten both the holder's, Tikki's, and the Miraculous's energy so that they forge a connection, but if the wrong holder's energy is used, or that energy isn't strong enough,"
"No connection will be made." She said understanding, "That's why Ceremony is so important, isn't it? Without that connection to the Miraculous and the kwami,"
He nodded, "More often times than not, the Miraculous won't even activate."
She looked down dejected, "My magic isn't that strong."
"Yet." He said instantly, "But it will be, I know it. I know you will get stronger."
He cupped her face, leaning towards her until his forehead rested gently against hers, "But whether the Ladybug is meant to be yours or not, you will always be my one and only lady."
A tear slipped from her eye and Chat kissed her forehead softly, smiling at her as he said it with a smirk, "And hey, I know the Greek box doesn't have all of their miraculous activated either. Maybe you are Aphrodite in disguise."
She finally managed a slightly annoyed smile, saying it easily, "I am definitely not Aphrodite material."
He shrugged, still smirking, "You never know. I would be the luckiest Chat alive to have earned the affections of the beautiful Aphrodite."
She gave a gentle smack to his leg with the back of her hand, "You're ridiculous."
His smirk widened into a grin, "Maybe just a little." They shared a laugh before Chat asked suddenly, "Why are you just standing there Viperion?"
She looked over and watched Viperion appear in the doorway with a small turn, leaning on the inside doorframe with his arms crossed, "Sorry, I was trying not to intrude."
Chat ran his thumb across her cheek once with a wink before standing, smiling to himself at the beautiful blush that appeared on her cheeks at the move, "You are anyways," Chat told his friend teasing, "but what's up?"
"Master came looking for you." Viperion said seriously, "He wants to talk to the two of you in his office."
Chat visibly tensed, "About?"
"He didn't say, just asked me to find you and send you to him."
Chat nodded with a frown, putting out his hand to help Lady stand. She smiled at the move, putting her hand in his as she stood. He probably didn't even realize he was doing it. They walked towards Viperion who told them with a smile, seeing them hand in hand, "I take it you had a nice night out then."
Lady blushed as Chat said it happily, "The best."
Chat squeezed her hand without looking at her, and she knew he didn't want her to mention Blanc's appearance. She nodded almost instantly to agree with him as she regained her composure, "It was wonderful."
Viperion smiled at them, "Good. If this Chat does anything stupid just let us know. The guys will get him back for you, ten-fold."
She giggled as Chat rolled his eyes, "I'm glad you think so highly of me Viper." Chat started to smirk, "It would take all of you to take me on though."
Chat pulled her with him past Viperion who called out, sounding like he was smirking, "Or just one very angry Rena Rouge!"
Chat stopped mid-stride, frozen stiff for a few seconds before he kept walking, ignoring Viperion's soft laugh behind them.
...
They stood in front of Master Fu's desk in complete shock, neither of them saying a word or moving.
Their eyes were locked on the dark purple letter in Master Fu's hand. The wax black butterfly seal on the back had remained in-tact. It was a clear signature on who had sent the letter, and was the cause of them turning into the statues they had become.
Master Fu had a solemn expression on his face as he stared between them. He could already feel the strengthened connection between the Black Cat and his Lady.
But he couldn't get ahead of himself, or let them head down a path neither of them was truly ready for. This letter was something he had been dreading ever finding him.
"Where did it come from?" Chat asked shakily in the silence.
Master Fu didn't hesitate, "It appeared magically in front of me a few hours ago. Before I begin, do either of you have anything to tell me about the events that transpired this weekend?"
Lady and Chat said it at the same time, "We didn't reveal ourselves to each other."
Master sighed heavily, "Anything else?"
Lady hesitated, seeing the strain on Chat's face. She could see how much he was struggling to get it out, so she started slowly, "We hung out together this weekend, just the two of us. While we were out,"
"Blanc appeared." Chat whispered.
Master Fu frowned, "And neither of you thought the appearance of an Akuma Captain was worth bringing to my immediate attention?"
Chat steeled himself, saying it stronger, "The situation was handled. The altercation was quick, no one was hurt, and we weren't seen. There was nothing to report."
"You understand why Blanc coming out in the open is important to know about Chat Noir. Destruction, turned against us,"
"He hasn't called it yet. He won't. His ability is an Akuma copy of mine and not even half as powerful,"
"But has the potential to be." Master interrupted quickly, "You had no back up ready, no one patrolling the area," Master stood, waving a hand in her direction, "You had Lady out, who has minimal combat training and no Miraculous of her own to protect herself. She would have been their first target and could have been easily used against you had she been captured." Chat flinched, remembering the pure dread he had felt in his heart seeing his Lady standing face to face with Blanc alone.
Master's voice was still stern, "What would have happened if Blanc had taken his normal group out with him? That would have been a Captain and at least three lieutenant class Akuma's to contend with on your own, while simultaneously trying to protect Lady who is not ready to face any Akuma head on alone. You could have, kwami's forbid, gotten yourself or Lady, killed, if the situation had escalated."
Chat's shoulders were slumped inward, his ears flat against his wild mane and his tail twitching sadly back and forth. His eyes were cast down at the ground with a pained expression on his face, not able to make eye contact with Master as the weight of how badly that situation could have gone really settled over him.
"A Captain does not behave this way, making decisions without using their head. This is one of the most reckless and irresponsible things you have ever done Chat Noir." Master said as he sat back down, his voice more disappointed than angry, which tore worse into Chat's heart.
Lady noticed Chat's hands were shaking fists at his sides, and grabbed his closest hand without thinking. His eyes closed as his hand loosened, but he didn't move to look at her.
She laced her fingers with his, telling Master Fu evenly, "That is a very big IF, and the fact is that none of that happened. Chat Noir did protect me from Blanc, who had come alone because he wanted to talk to me. No, there wasn't anyone around to help Chat if things had been that bad, but I'm not a pushover. I would have done anything I could to help him take on Blanc if I had to."
She held Master's eyes sternly, ignoring the way Chat's head snapped up to look at her in shock, "Holders are supposed to help each other, aren't they? That's what separate's Holders from Akuma. It should be our immediate instinct to adapt to any situation to keep each other safe, and find the best course of action to defeat the Akuma. Right? That's what Chat did. Blanc did get away, but it wasn't because of Chat's recklessness or irresponsibility. The second he realized what could have happened he started beating himself up over it. He is a great Captain!"
Master Fu's expression slowly softened from his shock, and he smiled at her knowingly, "You care greatly for the Black Cat, that is exceedingly clear."
She instantly flushed, her eyes moving to Chat's face just long enough to see him staring at her with a soft smile and a warm light shining in his beautiful green eyes.
Master smiled more at the quick exchange, before looking at Chat Noir, "My apologies. I never meant to imply that you were not a good Captain, but even you have to see that this situation could have gone very bad, very quickly."
Chat instantly nodded, his tone still somewhat guilty, "Yes. I should have been better prepared, had a contingency plan in place or at least someone out patrolling nearby."
Master Fu let out a soft sigh, "Well, all we can do now is learn and move forward."
Master Fu was fiddling with the letter, staring at it concerned before asking, "Lady, you mentioned that Blanc had come alone to talk to you, about what?"
She inhaled sharply, breathing out slowly as she looked between Chat Noir and Master Fu. She had replayed that conversation over in her head so many times, Blanc's words came out easily. She didn't leave anything out, and neither of them said a word while she gave them the information.
The second she went quiet, Chat's gaze went from shocked to angry as he turned on Master Fu, "Is that true?"
Master Fu had his eyes closed, his chin resting on his folded hands as he let out a heavy sigh.
Chat's patience was gone and he said it louder, "Is any of that true!?"
Master Fu opened his eyes and nodded, "Some, yes."
"SOME?! What do you mean some?!" He asked angrily.
"The Ladybug Miraculous is bound." Master Fu confirmed.
Chat's slammed his hands down loudly on the desk in front of him, "Why is this the first I'm hearing about this? How could you let me go this long without telling me that Ladybug's Miraculous was bound!?"
Master Fu said it calmly, "I didn't have a way to unbind it, therefore there was no reason to burden you with that information."
Chat's tail was snapping behind him angrily, "Is that why you really changed your mind so quickly about Lady coming in? So that you could sacrifice her to,"
"I did nothing of the sort!" Master Fu said, quickly defending himself, "I would never sacrifice a potential holder on the off chance of unbinding the Ladybug Miraculous. I brought her in because she needed to be protected, and to see if she had the potential to be the Ladybug we need."
She had to know, "But is what Blanc said true? Does someone with a high level of healing magic have to be sacrificed the way the Black Cat was in order to undo the binding?"
Master Fu let out a heavy sigh, "I am looking for a way around that, but so far yes, unfortunately that is the case. However," he held up his hand toward Chat Noir who looked ready to start arguing again, "that is not something I would ever allow to happen anyways."
He took a deep breath, "As for that tale of Ladybug killing her Cat, I can't tell you how true it is or isn't. Something happened between the Ladybug and Black Cat 200 years ago that caused the binding, but if it really was an act of her own will against him, we may never know."
Chat said it defensively the way she had to Blanc, "Ladybug would never do that. She would never take the life of her cat to use his miraculous for herself."
Master Fu looked at him seriously, "If someone you truly loved was lost and you felt there was no other way, can you honestly say that you would never consider it? Using the wish granted by the Miraculous to bring them back into this world?"
Chat hesitated, staying silent for so long that Master Fu nodded, "We do things we may not normally do in the name of those we love. We consider things we would never consider, and commit acts we would never commit. We would do them without hesitating, if it meant healing the pain in our heart."
Chat started shaking his head, saying it softly, "I don't believe that. I won't. She wouldn't have done something like that to him."
"We can't know for sure Chat Noir. We can only guess." Master Fu said heavily.
It clicked suddenly for her, her heart filling with dread, "That's what Hawkmoth wants, isn't it? He wants Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous to make the wish to alter reality."
Master Fu said it worried, "Given the information Blanc gave you, and the contents of this letter, I believe that is the case."
Chat said it hard, "But what would he want the wish for? There is a price to pay, one I'm sure he isn't willing to pay. There could be drawbacks, ripples,"
"Which is why under no circumstance can we allow Hawkmoth to get his hand on either Miraculous, but especially not both." Master Fu said seriously, watching as Lady and Chat Noir both nodded.
Chat asked concerned, "And, Ladybug's Miraculous. It's still safe?"
Master Fu nodded with a small smile, "It hasn't been moved. It is out of the Miracle Box so that Tikki can roam around Dupont freely, but hidden so that none but you and I know its location Chat Noir. That is not going to change."
Chat let out a soft relieved sigh, "Good." Then he asked, "And the letter, I take it that was Hawkmoth's direct approach at demanding the Miraculous?"
Master Fu nodded, "It was. He wants you to take both Miraculous to the top of the Eiffel Tower and leave them where only someone with power can reach them."
Chat huffed and Master Fu smirked slightly, "That was my response." He smiled at Lady, telling her reassuringly, "I promise you Lady, you have nothing to be afraid of. Blanc's truths inside the lies is what makes them believable, but I would never allow a holder to lose their life over something like this, or bring in someone only to use them in such a horrible way." He said it almost knowingly, "And I would never attempt to increase your power only to sacrifice it."
She blushed slightly, not knowing how he could have known that she had thought that.
The question slipped out of her, "With enough luck, do I really, is there really a chance I could be Ladybug?"
Chat squeezed her hand, "M'Lady."
Master held her eyes with a smile, asking her a question in response, "Do you remember your phrase to breach the barrier?"
She nodded instantly, "Of course, I have to say it every time I come or go."
He simply smiled, "Well then, there you have it."
It took her a second, but then she smiled brightly, feeling the weight that had been hanging over her lifting, "Thank you."
Master chuckled softly, "Time will tell Lady, and in the end, you'll know without a doubt what Miraculous is meant to be yours."
She nodded, "We can only hold onto hope," she looked at Chat Noir as she said it, seeing him smiling shyly, "and never let go."
Chat nodded once, still smiling as he turned back to Master Fu, "Was there anything else sir?"
Master Fu shook his head, "No, but please, both of you, keep this information to yourselves. As Zodiac's, you are all extremely close. If any of them find out just how strongly Hawkmoth's aim is to gain the Miraculous,"
"They'll all start to freak out and be exceedingly overprotective. It could cause problems during a fight if they are focused on trying to keep me safe instead of defending themselves." Chat said instantly, glancing at her.
"It would mean more people possibly getting hurt." She said understanding before looking back at Master Fu, "I won't say a word." She promised.
He nodded at them, "Good. Then you two are free to go. Have fun at combat practice."
They all exchanged small smiles before she and Chat walked out, Chat holding the door open for her before following after her. He gave her a sideways glance, asking her curious as they made their way to the combat room, "M'Lady, what is your phrase?"
She smiled up at him, "Isn't that supposed to be a secret?"
"Oh come on, where did the trust get lost between us m'lady?" He said, sounding nowhere near as hurt as he was trying to act.
"I do trust you," she said, scratching under his chin lightly and watching his eyes close slightly as he smiled, "and if you beat me to the combat room, I'll tell you."
She raced down the hall before he could fully open his eyes, laughing as she heard his shocked cry behind her, "HEY!"
She could hear him starting to run, but she had taken enough of a lead to be the first one there. She smirked as he ran up to her, shaking his head and trying to hold in his own smirk, "You just got lucky that's all."
She opened the door for him this time with a small laugh, telling him easily, "Luck is of our own making."
He rolled his eyes, saying it teasingly as he walked into the room, "I want a rematch. You cheated."
She laughed again, knowing he hadn't caught it, but that was okay. If she could get stronger, strong enough to unbind the Ladybug Miraculous without having to sacrifice herself to do it, she knew that he'd understand, one day.
...
Tikki flew out of her hiding place as the office door closed behind them, floating over to Master's desk, "You didn't tell them."
Master Fu sighed, "There is no reason to burden them further. I have been keeping the secret of the Ladybug Miraculous being bound for a long time. Of all the Black Cats who have come to pass, Adrien is the one I hoped to never have to bear that knowledge."
Tikki frowned, "But given the circumstances around Hawkmoth's powers, and Adrien's strength igniting so young," she hesitated slightly before reminding him, "He was the same age Anthony was when Rebecca found him and,"
"That will not be their fate." Master Fu said simply. "Two-hundred years have passed since Anthony and Rebecca. We cannot allow the past to repeat itself."
"They can't learn from past mistakes if they don't know what happened." Tikki said, knowing she was right. "I've been keeping an eye on her energy since she started spending more time with Plagg's kitten. That unique connection between a Ladybug and a Black Cat, I've seen how it grows stronger with every day that they are together. It is exactly the way Chat Noir and Lady's energy is reacting right now. I know you could feel how strong the connection between them has become, after just a single night alone together. I'm sure that Lady is meant to be,"
"With her power right now, she wouldn't survive Ceremony." Master Fu said interrupting her sadly, "She may very well be Ladybug, but until we can find out why her power is nowhere near where it should be, we can't give them false hope."
Tikki sent a sad smile towards the door, "Chat Noir already loves her. He probably won't admit it just yet, but even if she can never wear the Miraculous, she will always be his Lady."
Master Fu nodded, sharing her sad smile, "Of that I have no doubt." He sighed, "And you are sure Rebecca said,"
"Yes." Tikki said quickly, "Only a Ladybug who is willing to sacrifice herself for her Black Cat can break the binding. Rebecca was one of the strongest Ladybug's I've ever had. She had the power to bind the Miraculous, and I wish I could tell you why she really did it." She looked down sadly, "I don't want to believe that she had anything to do with Anthony's death. She loved him. She had always loved him, since the day they found each other. He was already gone when I was released, and even Plagg has no idea what happened. He said that Rebecca had been cradling Anthony's head in her lap when he was released."
Master Fu frowned slightly, "But the ring was in her hand already."
Tikki nodded reluctantly, "Plagg was the one who saw it there." She shook her head, "But she would have never hurt him to take it. Not for anything."
Master Fu hummed, sitting back in his chair, "Something must have happened before you and Plagg were released, and I still believe the missing Miraculous had something to do with their sudden deaths." He stared up at the ceiling, "And it is too much of a coincidence that Adrien came into his powers, and not even a year later, Akuma's begin to appear. Akuma's are a direct link to the Butterfly Miraculous. Hawkmoth, whoever he may be, is all but flaunting his abuse of power. It is almost as if he knew he was going to need the Akuma's."
Tikki went quiet, trying to understand and figure out the vital piece of information she needed to make all of this make sense. She wished she knew more about what really happened. She wished she had a way to protect this Black Cat, and the girl she was sure was meant to be her holder.
Protect.
That reminded her.
"And the Peacock?" Tikki said slowly into the silence, "Emilie had such a kind heart. She would have never taken the Miraculous and just disappeared like that. She would have never left Adrien alone that way."
"Her disappearance is still a mystery as well. I haven't been able to find anything relating to it." Master Fu said sounding more frustrated, "I believe it is all linked... Hawkmoth, Ladybug's Miraculous being bound, Emilie's disappearance, Chat Noir's lost memories, and Lady's small bursts of power."
"But how, how could they all be linked?" Tikki mused out loud, though mostly to herself.
"Something tells me that the time for those answers to be revealed will come soon enough." Master Fu responded. "And I can only hope that with a little luck, the Black Cat and his Lady will have the strength of heart to make it through in one piece, without losing themselves along the way."
Tikki glanced over to the bookshelf on the far wall, her eyes immediately going to the black book that had the red Miraculous Box symbol etched on its spine as she said it to herself, "Luck is of our own making."
Thanks for reading! More is coming soon so don't fret!
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Au Revoir for now!
