A/N: Important NOTICE

Please Reread the previous chapter (chaper8) , mostly the Ferris Wheel scene. I made major changes.

Ch 9

Chat Noir paced the length of the Arc De Triomphe feeling little guilt over putting his feet on the monument. He'd danced on top of the Eiffle tower and done parkour all over the Parisian rooftop, in comparison, walking on the Arc De Triomphe felt like stealing a lollipop from a robber.

His mind kept replaying the words Bunnyx had told him yesterday. He'd managed to stuff it to the back of his mind other than mentioning it to his father but now that he was transformed as Chat Noir again and going to meet Ladybug, he couldn't help but think about it.

His secret would get out? Who would find out? How many? What would they do with it? In the best case scenario it would be Ladybug, who could be convinced more easily than anyone else.

The summer wind greeted him and warmed him but couldn't stop him from imagining the chill he felt at the idea of his family's secret getting out. The sky was a dark moonless abyss that stretched on forever, studded with shining diamonds.

He raised his wrist and glanced at it, forgetting he didn't have a watch before pulling out his baton instead. Ladybug was late. Not having anything else to do, he sat down and opened up Alya's latest video. It was their battle from yesterday.

Alya's voice kept commenting every few minutes and Nino wasn't heard even once. The video quality was better than years ago when Hawkmoth was active.

"A new Miraculous holder seems to be fighting next to Chat Noir while Ladybug is down. Oh look at that skill. Has she perhaps been secretly trained by our two heroes before her debut?" Alya was obviously talking about Nyx, who the camera had zoomed into.

"And another spectacular win for our heroes. Oh wait- seems like the latest heroine is going off on her own. Chat Noir is running after her." Then Alya came running towards where he and Ladybug were in the video, the camera nearing the both of them, "Ladybug! Ladybug who-"

His lady raised her hand and waved it in a sign to ask Alya for patience. She used her Lucky Charm and then the both of them waved and left. The video ended seconds later.

His ears detected Ladybug's footsteps before she took a huge leap and made it to the Arch De Triomphe in one swing.

"Sorry for being late. I forgot all about today.", Ladybug said and stood next to him.

There was a tired smile on her face, was it because she had a tiring day or because she had rushed to meet up with him? He reckoned it was both. Her red suit, which glimmered pink when the moonlight hit it at certain angles, defined her hunched back. Her hands were at her hips, propping up her upper torso, as though without them she'd keel over. But even then, there was this brightness in her eyes. Those orbs that usually shone like a clear sky, now glittered like sapphires. Something good must have happened with her.

"Forget about me, Milady? How paw-ful.", Chat said and pouted.

"Sorry, partner. I had a tiring day."

"But it was good for you.", Chat said and further explained when Ladybug sent him a confused expression. "You look better. Happier."

"Yes.", her eyes grew tender, "I met up with an old friend I haven't talked to in a long time."

Chat smiled. Meeting up with an acquaintance always gave you a happy feeling, like the times he met his cousin Felix after almost months or even years of distance. Felix had been immersed in his studies for some years now studying to take over the family business like him, not that he was any less mischievous.

"That's nice.", he said.

Ladybug nodded. "Anyways, back to business. According to the Book of Miraculouses, we need to perform a ritual. We will have to go to a Temple of Miraculous. There's only one we can go to, the Guardian Temple of Tibet."

"Marianne co-owns it now doesn't she?", Chat said to himself rather than her.

The Guardian Temple in Tibet had emerged a few years back after he and Ladybug had defeated a Senti-Monster born of Fu's hunger almost a century ago. Any and all Miraculous had been excavated and stored away by Guardians of other branches. After that, Marianne had bought the Tibet Temple of Guardians and while she didn't have full authority on it she had as much power over it as the delegate sent from the Main Temple. As she had once been the wielder of the Bee Miraculous and Fu's lover, who was the temple's only surviving member, she had quite a strong hold on its claim, but Chat was still surprised she'd managed to acquire it.

The Tibet Temple was the second largest Guardian temple but now was used as a resort. Any signs of its previous attachment to the world of Miraculous had been removed. Any secret exits and passages sealed off and triple locked. The underground sacred chambers were kept intact but locked even more thoroughly than everything else.

The last he'd heard from Marianne she'd told them they were free to stay over any time. Unluckily, Fu was no closer to reviving his memories. She'd failed to find anything to help her lover.

"There is a secret chamber in every temple, only accessible by the worthy holders of Miraculous. That's what worries me. If any of us is not fully true to our cause, they might not get an upgrade. Our enemies are stronger this time. The new Hawkmoth and Vrishin Raja haven't even used their powers yet. Nyx helped us once, but she said it was temporary. We can't fail Chat. We can't.", Ladybug looked worried.

In that moment, Chat saw almost all the happiness she had gained that day dissolve into the wind. In the face of the threat Paris was facing, he thought she was as strong as ever, but something had changed years ago and still haunted her now. She managed to push it back and found happiness again somehow. A few years ago, she'd stopped chasing after that boy she said she loved, she'd stopped laughing for a while too. She wasn't the same Ladybug he'd fallen for. Her confidence had taken a beating somewhere and she was still trying to hold it together. Sometimes, her eyes looked haunted and worn out. It lasted for a year, then slowly, after Hawkmoth disappeared, she turned back to normal.

She laughed one day, and joked a few weeks later. Soon enough, she was as confident as she had been and slowly that confidence had helped her grow. She had been a wilting flower but then slowly gotten back to full strength. Chat couldn't have felt more relieved. He couldn't explain why he suddenly hugged her or why he smiled at her goofily when she questioned his weird behaviour.

Now, It was slowly creeping back. He'd tried to ignore it and apparently she was still ignoring it. But those icy fingers still lingered over her shoulders, ready to push her down into ice water again.

"We won't LB. We won't lose. We haven't till now and I know neither you nor I are making to start anytime soon.", He held her hand softly.

Ladybug smiled and placed her other hand over his, "Thanks Chaton." She took in a breath and then spoke, "You're worried about me aren't you?"

Chat sighed. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before letting go of his breath and opening his eyes once again. "For one second, you reminded of how you had been years ago."

Ladybug looked towards the near invisible horizon. The faraway look in her eyes told him that she was pondering something. "I should tell you about it, huh?"

Chat didn't know what she was talking about but was ready to hear anything she had to say. "If you want."

Ladybug sat down next to him. Chat watched her as she did. She looked towards the invisible horizon again, collecting her thoughts maybe.

"Years ago, when I was in college, I had a lot of friends and all was going well but one day a new girl came and she was vicious. She was an attention seeking, compulsive liar. She made up tall tales and took advantage of my friends by promising them connections to people of fame for…favours. Anyone could see through her lies, they were as ridiculous as stating Jagged Stone had a kitten."

This sounded familiar to Chat, like how Lila had been. He couldn't help but chuckle when he heard Ladybug's last few words, "Jagged Stone having a kitten? Doesn't he have fur allergies?"

"Exactly!", Ladybug said, "Any of them, at any time could see the holes in her lies clear as day but they didn't! And when I warned them, they called me jealous because she apparently had the attention of my crush and that was making me hostile towards her. Even my best friend didn't believe me. Then that lying...vixen threatened me in the girls' washroom. She stated she would take all my friends away from me. Then she started doing a lot of stuff that hurt me like framing me for theft, cheating on tests and even spreading lies about me."

Chat placed his hand on her arm, she placed her own palm over his. He could feel her heat transferring to him and it brought him comfort, he hoped she could feel his and be comforted by it too.

Ladybug sighed and clamed a little, "The next year my friends slowly lost trust in me. They didn't ostracize me or bully me but I couldn't help but feel alone. They believed this liar over me. I had been their classmate for years, I'd always helped them even putting my own health at risk. I know sometimes I decided to take more than I can chew when it comes to helping people, but I can't stop it! I was there for them, but were they there for me? I don't know if I'm overreacting-"

"You're not."

Ladybug smiled and continued, "I felt betrayed. I had always been a bit alone. I had very few close friends and the ones I made, I had just lost. So I slowly became sadder. I wasn't depressed but I wasn't happy either. I had my duties as Ladybug and later they became even more when I became the Guardian. Not only that, I was also trying to find out about first love and other such things. Added with pressures of keeping up grades, working for my dreams and everything; I felt burdened. Luckily, there were people who didn't give a shit what that liar had to say. There were also a few that didn't believe she was lying but knew I was better than her lies. There was you, and Al- uh, a friend, another friend and one more friend and a not really friend but a very intuitive person."

Chat smiled, "Seems like you had a lot of good people by your side."

"I did.", a small gentle smile graced her face before turning serious, " Then one day, the liar left. Suddenly, in the middle of the school year. Slowly everything went back to normal. My classmates started behaving as they always did, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was temporary. I slowly decided to leave behind those bad memories and walk forward but the recent stress has been getting to me."

Chat remained silent for a few seconds. "Why are you telling me this?"

Ladybug sighed, "I met up with an old 'friend' -uh- recently, and he told me I needed to tell someone my problems. I decided to tell you because you're my partner, you deserve to know."

"I'm honoured."

Ladybug smiled and hugged him. Chat Noir hugged her back, holding her smaller frame within his. When she pulled back she looked better. The wind rustled their hair and the longer strands of her hair started to float. "There are a few problems."

Chat frowned, "What's wrong?"

"The Upgrade ritual only works on the night of a new moon, and it should be occur directly above the quadrant where the Guardian Temple is. The earliest new moon over Tibet is in approximately six months, but we can't wait that long."

"Which means…?"

"It means we'll have to use both the Horse Miraculous and Rabbit Miraculous."

"Milady, what? Bunnyx just told us-"

"I know, but what other choice do we have Chat?", Her eyes were narrowed in worry and he could see the fear in her eyes.

"Maybe we could try the High Temple, it's better than going against the advice of a time traveller."

"You don't really mean that? Have you forgotten what happened in New York?"

Chat swallowed. Memory wiping, that is what the High Temple did when any Miraculous holders went to them with a problem or if they disapproved something. That is what had happened in New York. The High Temple had been very displeased that Jess, the wielder of the Eagle Miraculous, had managed to convince the Guardian of the American Miraculous Box to distribute more Miraculous. In one fell swoop, they erased memories of all Miraculous Wielders of New York except for the Guardian of the American Miraculous Box, who was now being kept under supervision.

The wielders then forgot everything about the Miraculous, including their fellow wielders. It had been a day of sadness for the two heroes when Uncanny Valley told them that Jess didn't remember them anymore no matter how hard she tried. They had grown close over the course of three years and were pained to lose a friend.

"No, of course I-I don't… want that!", Chat said.

If the High Temple resorted to that in Paris then he would forget Ladybug. Not to mention, he would lose all the progress he had made with his father. Gabriel would most likely forget Nathalie and still mourn the loss of his mother or he might even forget Emelie, who had been the previous wielder of the Peacock Miraculous. Adrien himself could forget his mother. Alya, Nino, Chloe and Kagami were in the same boat, he would forget them as well, he would alone again. "We cannot let that happen.", he told Ladybug, who nodded slowly.

The both of them stood in silence. The crickets started to sing again and then allowed silence to take over.

"What else have you deciphered?", He asked her.

"We will need one wielder to watch over us while we perform the ritual, their job is a bit important."

"What exactly does the Ritual entail?"

"I'll tell you before we leave, it's a bit long so I'd rather do it at the end. Is that fine?", at Chat Noir's nod Ladybug continued, "I've decided that Chloe will wield the Horse Miraculous and watch over us while we perform the ritual."

"Chloe?"

"She's improved."

Chat Noir knew that Chloe had redeemed herself. She had apologised in more ways than one to everyone she had ever wronged. He was glad that even his Lady had noticed this.

"Then…since time doesn't matter, when will we be performing the ritual?"

"Next week, Saturday.", Ladybug said. "Our excuse is a camping trip."

"A camping trip?"

"A camping trip."

"Will that be necessary?", Chat wondered why so many days would be needed if they were just going to use time travel and space travel at the same time.

"The ritual could take 3-4 days, we'll need to rest after it because of energy and magical changes. I want all of us to be together when that happens."

Chat was truly curious about the ritual and what it would entail. He was also really worried, Bunnyx had specifically told them not to use the Rabbit Miraculous, but here they were, ready to use it as soon as a day after she'd warned them. He looked towards the sky, soaking in the dark night. This might be the hardest character arc of his life.

MLBMLBMLB

Chloe enjoyed sitting on her terrace every Saturday night watching some movie all alone with only food she had cooked with her own hands. Yes, she cooked and though she wasn't the best cook there was something very satisfying about eating food she had made herself.

She felt the wind rustle and a something in her gut told her to open her eyes, just as she heard a voice as sweet as spring, "Chloe."

For a second she almost confused Ladybug as Marinette, their voices sounded similar, but seeing the Red and Black heroine right in front of her, moonlight highlighting every part of her tight suit made her dismiss the thought as soon as it came.

She swallowed, trying not to show how much the presence of her first crush still affected her.

"Ladybug!", lords, why did her voice sound so breathless, she liked Kagami now!

"I'd heard you'd grown. Long-time, no see.", the heroine said.

"Yeah. You were the one to knock it into my head. You and…Dupain-Cheng.", Chloe smiled softly.

"Well, I'm glad because I'll be needing your help for some time.", Ladybug's soft smile was enough to send Chloe's heart aflutter. She fought to hold back her blush.

"Is this about the new wielders of the Peacock and Butterfly villains?"

"In a sense, yes."

Chloe wasn't sure how she'd be able to help Ladybug, but if her idol needed it she would provide assistance whatever she could.

"Finally decided Queen Bee is needed again?", Chloe said haughtily before laughing to show she was just joking.

She knew she wasn't worthy to wield the Miraculous of the Bee or any Miraculous, but a small part of her hoped that she would once again get to feel the wind of open skies in her hair, that she could jump in such a way that it felt like flying.

"No.", Ladybug's voice didn't hold any judgement in it. It was just a feeling-less stating.

"Oh.", Chloe didn't know how to react, Ladybug's voice sounded so blunt. She took a peak and saw Ladybug's eyes. She was startled to see that they looked…fearful. Chloe was at a loss, but when Ladybug noticed she'd seen her she put on a smile.

"I need you to do something else for me."

"Okay.", Chloe couldn't help but feel intimidated standing in front of Ladybug.

"Can you keep a secret?", Ladybug asked in the most serious tone Chloe had ever heard her use.

Could she keep a secret? Guard it with her life? This was her chance to prove herself wasn't it? To prove that she had changed for the better. The blond woman nodded.

Ladybug's replying smile was so breath taking it almost knocked the wind out of her lungs. It was secretive and sweet. So trusting and familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on who had given her that smile before. Who had sent her heart fluttering like a thing with wings?

"In a week's time. We'll be going on a camping trip.", Ladybug said. "It'll be you, me, Chat Noir and the three other Miraculous wielders."

"I don't understand.", Chloe said, "Why do you need me there?"

"I need you to wield a Miraculous for me and keep the happenings of the next three days a secret, can you do that for me? I promise I'll only trouble you with this once.", Ladybug promised, she seemed a little upset at herself, like she thought she'd made a bad decision.

"Ladybug…it would be an honour.", The Mayor's daughter was near tears. Ladybug trusted her enough to give her a miraculous, even if it was only for an occasion.

Ladybug looked relieved and at the same time worried, "It could endanger you."

"I'm ready to face the consequences."

"Then I'll tell you the location by tomorrow. Please be ready to make a lone trip to some place where you will meet up with some acquaintances.", Ladybug said. "You are free to choose to hide or reveal your identity."

"I'll be there, Ladybug."

"Then…I'll get going. Good night Chloe.", Ladybug turned to leave.

Chloe watched the heroine, she felt like there was something she had to do. She rushed towards the red and black woman before she could swing away.

"Ladybug, wait!", she said.

Ladybug turned, crouching and gazed at her with frantic eyes before her they darted around as though she was on high alert, looking to see if there was anyone hidden in the shadows. "Chloe? What is it?"

Chloe reached up on her tip toes and almost tackled the heroine off her perch with a hug.

"Oh.", the heroine said and then hugged her back after a second of stillness.

"I never said sorry for all the things I did back then so, I'm sorry. And…thank you.", the last word came out almost too soft to hear, she was afraid that Ladybug hadn't heard it, but a soft chuckle told her that she had been heard.

"You've truly changed.", Ladybug mused and stroked her head.

Chloe moved away quickly and faked being her younger self, "Moi? I haven't changed at all. I'm still as pretty and smart as ever."

"You always were Chlo -uh- e. Chloe!", Ladybug almost called her 'Chlo', the blond woman had to stop herself from swooning.

"I'm grateful.", Chloe said with a smile.

"Good night Chloe.", Ladybug said with a smile of her own before swinging away.

Chloe watched her disappear into the night: a flash of red that dissolved into maroon then transformed into black. Left alone on the roof top, Chloe smiled up at the moon and then did her happy dance.

A/N:

Tan Legend

over and Out~