Goddess of Creation

Marinette trusted in the instincts that whispered to her bones, her limbs. She looped the metal ball around her and let it soar for Carmine in a rush of red. With practiced ease, Carmine smashed it to the side with her own weapon. It hit the barrier with a high-pitched clink.

"So, you can call upon creation's weapon?" Carmine said, picking herself up the ground. Her lips curved into a blade-edged smile. "It makes no difference. You're still just a human. I'll crush you like the insect you are."

Carmine lashed out like a snake—lunging, vicious, all bared teeth and whipping darts. Marinette didn't have time to think. She ducked, rolled, moving with the whispers that guided her body. A quick step to the left. Duck. Then fling the metal ball, letting it spin and spin like a dizzying star before—

Clang!

The balls collided and bounced off each other. Marinette locked her hand around her weapon, already moving forward. Avoid the rope that threatened to capture and strangle like vines. Avoid the fist that came for her jaw. Carmine's blue eyes widened, and then Marinette kneed her in the gut—a mistake. Such a move should have done nothing to a goddess. Only a god's weapon allowed Marinette to match a god in strength, yet a guttural sound escaped Carmine and she hunched over, all the breath and balance knocked out of her.

"H-how?" Carmine choked out, all honeyed silk gone from her voice. Her eyes were wide yet there was no fear. It was like looking at sapphires encased in flame.

Marinette got over her surprise and raised the metal ball to strike, but Carmine swept out in a low kick, knocking her off her feet.

"I don't think so," Carmine hissed.

They clashed again and again—more violently, more desperately. So many times Marinette just missed the whipping slash of metal that would have entangled her in rope or cracked her skull open. Her heart skittered and thumped like a bird caught in a storm. She knew if the whispers stopped that she would be dead in a second. But they didn't stop. They only got clearer, oiling that rusted part of herself that had stirred with shy kisses and impromptu fighting lessons in a ballroom.

Jump, the whisper told her.

She did, jumping over the rope that came for her ankles.

Trap it.

She slammed down with her heel on the rope, making Carmine lurch forward. A simple tug should have been enough to destabilise Marinette, but whatever inhuman strength had filled her body was still there. Carmine tugged and tugged and couldn't do a thing.

"Why?" Carmine screamed, her nostrils flaring and her eyes gleaming wildly. "I am a goddess! You are just a human! Why do you have more power than me?"

Bind her.

Marinette didn't question it. She spun the ball out, letting it wrap around Carmine and pin her arms to her sides. Carmine toppled like a toy block flicked over by a finger. It was almost comical, but the searing anger in her eyes promised a thousand days of pain if she got free.

"You wanted this fight," Marinette said grimly, and it was as if another guided her lips and tongue to form the words, even as a higher-pitched voice layered her own. "The decision has been made."

"No!" Carmine scrambled to her knees. "It's my destiny! Mine! I am the goddess of creation!"

"You broke the cycle when you broke the balance. You are nothing but a remnant."

"I brought the dead back to life! I did what no one has dared!" Spittle flew from her mouth and her eyes bulged, but she didn't seem to care that she had lost all of her silky poise. "You can't supplant me with a human! You can't do this to me!"

A figure stepped out from Marinette—pure light in the shape of a woman. She didn't have the glassy texture that Carmine had once had. She was soft and warm like the pinkish glow of dawn. Marinette could only stare in wide-eyed shock.

"You had your chance to prove yourself," the woman said, "but creation has rejected you. What's done is done."

"No!" Carmine twisted against her bonds. "I'll get free! I'll kill this human and—"

"You will not," the woman said, her voice soft and almost pitying. "You will fade and let the cycle become whole, as is your destiny."

Carmine's chest heaved and angry tears glistened in her eyes. "Why?" she whispered. "Why her? Why did you abandon me?"

"Because creation is not about power or conquering death. It is just another part of the balance. It is harmony."

Carmine closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. Even so, she struggled to the end. The woman shoved her fist into Carmine's heart, just as had been done to Marinette, and Carmine pushed back with all she had. It was like watching an ant try to hold back a storm. Carmine was swallowed up in the magic. She screamed and struggled, but soon she crumbled apart like shattered stardust and was absorbed. Not a trace of her was left.

Marinette's heart thumped and thumped. She swallowed against the choking, desert-like dryness in her throat.

"Do not be afraid," the woman said, offering a gentle smile. "You are creation's chosen. You need only take my hand and the ritual will be complete."

Marinette did not move. "Who are you? Why were you … inside me?"

"You may call me Tikki, and I have always been with you."

"But how? Why?"

Tikki's smile faded. "Because I am the first. All of creation stems from me: all of the magic, every god and goddess of creation."

It was like a bolt of lightning shot down Marinette's spine. She straightened, her eyes widening. "It was you," she breathed. "You're the one who guided me in fights and gave me all that speed and strength."

"Yes."

No wonder it had felt like reliving a past life sometimes.

"But why?" Marinette found herself saying, her voice oddly small. "Why me?"

"When Carmine broke the cycle, a void was created and the balance between creation and destruction destabilised. Destiny chose you to fill that void." Another smile. "It is no coincidence that you fell in love with the god of destruction. Your love was written in the stars long ago."

A sinking hollowness settled in Marinette's stomach and she frowned at her hands. "You mean to say that none of it was my choice? Not even loving him?" Her fingers curled into fists. "I was just following some … set path?"

"Do you really think you never had a choice?"

The gentle question had creases forming on Marinette's brow.

"Destiny does not take your choices from you," Tikki said. "You could have chosen to give up at any time. You could have simply chosen not to marry the god of destruction and never stepped foot in this world. But you are strong-willed and compassionate and brave. That is why destiny chose you, Marinette. That is why I'm choosing you."

Heat brushed Marinette's cheeks. "I'm just a human."

Tikki held out her glowing hand. "And soon you will be a goddess."

"W-what?"

"Come. There isn't much time."

"But—"

Tikki stepped closer, though she did not force Marinette to take her hand. "It is your choice. You can embrace the full power of creation and be remade or you can stay as a human."

Blood drummed in Marinette's ears. She had felt some of the power she could wield as a goddess, and she had to admit that it was exhilarating. But that wasn't why she wanted strength or speed or magic. All she cared about was saving Adrien.

"If I do this," she whispered, "will I still be me?"

"The magic won't touch your soul. You will still be you as far as you wish to be. But know this, I will no longer be able to guide you. The cycle will be whole and my spirit will rest once more."

Marinette swallowed. Having no one to whisper tips during battle was not a reassuring prospect, but then this wasn't how it was meant to be. Here was a chance to make the cycle whole. Here was a chance to let Tikki rest, as she no doubt wanted.

"That is why destiny chose you, Marinette. That is why I'm choosing you."

Marinette sucked in a breath and placed her hand in Tikki's.

oOo

She would never be able to say what it felt like to be remade as a goddess. One moment there was darkness and then she opened her eyes and a name echoed through her soul, bright and beautiful as a bell.

Ladybug

Her true name.

She stood on lithe limbs and magic shivered through her fingertips, already wanting to create. The rope weapon was attached to her hip. As she glanced around, she saw that the barrier was still in place. A single touch shattered it.

Marinette held her head high and walked out into the ruined courtyard. It was time to keep her promise.