In which Marinette learns some truths

"What's all this?" Marinette asked.

The table groaned under plates of pancakes, hash browns, bacon, and eggs. A bowl of fruit had been thrown in for good measure.

"Thought I'd make us breakfast," Nino said, plonking a plate of toast onto the table. He glanced at the floor, his shoulders sinking. "You know, because this might be our last—"

"I'm not going anywhere."

Nino's eyes widened. "Huh?"

"If that's what you're worried about. I don't plan on going anywhere. I like living at the castle."

He crashed into her before she could react, wrapping his arms tight around her middle. She laughed as her feet left the floor and he spun her around.

"I'm so glad," he breathed into her hair. "I was so worried you were gonna leave."

She smiled and held him tighter. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Does this mean you'll still help me?" Plagg asked, peering hopefully at her from his logs.

She nodded. "If I can. I can't make any promises."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. You've got a good heart, unlike Chat Noir."

Her lips pursed and she folded her arms. "That's not fair, you know. Chat Noir has been trying his best. He's even willing to help me with my curse, which is more than I can say for you, Mr I Have Requirements Before I Lift a Finger."

Plagg shrugged. "Doesn't change the fact he's heartless."

"He's not heartless! He's—"

"Do my ears deceive me?" Chat Noir said, coming down the stairs. "Is Marinette Dupain-Cheng actually defending me?"

Heat burned a scalding trail across her cheeks. "Don't let it get to your head."

"I would never."

His smile did funny things to her stomach, like a whole flock of winged things had been set loose inside her. Terrible. Awful! These feelings needed to be quenched right now. Just because she planned to stay at the castle didn't mean she needed to accept her love for Chat Noir. Surely, there was a way to reverse it, like unstitching a muddled seam.

She looked the other way, willing the heat in her cheeks to cool. "Shall we eat?" she said, changing the subject with all the grace of a honking sneeze.

Fortunately, no one had any fault with this plan. The subject was allowed to drop and Nino's lavish breakfast was enjoyed.

"Are you two heading off now then?" Nino asked.

Chat Noir nodded as he grabbed Marinette's coat. "Watch over the shop, will you?"

"Sure."

Nerves wriggled in Marinette's stomach. They were going to meet Chat Noir's old teacher, someone he believed might be able to help her with her curse. It was a bit daunting to meet a master wizard. The only other older wizard she'd met was the Wizard of the Waste.

"Ready?" Chat Noir asked.

She nodded and followed him through the door.

oOo

It was warm in Porthaven. The scent of the sea filled the streets like a salty perfume. People bustled to and fro as they went about their lives, seeking bargains at the market, and gathering at cafes to catch up on the latest gossip. No doubt Chat Noir featured in quite a lot of those conversations. Wherever he went, he caused a stir. Strange that she had never heard of his teacher before, though.

"What's your teacher like?" Marinette asked as they entered a smaller street, which was lined with houses that would have been identical had they not all been a different colour.

"Master Fu?" Chat Noir scrunched his nose in thought. "Old."

She snorted, pressing her hand to her forehead. "That's not what I meant."

His mouth twitched and he nodded towards a green house. "You'll see for yourself soon. We're here."

"Already?"

"Uh-huh."

Her stomach did the wriggly thing again and her heart stuttered into a faster beat.

Chat Noir knocked on the door. They didn't have to wait long before a man appeared to greet them, so old he looked like a shrivelled turtle. Was this Master Fu? He certainly seemed ancient enough. There were so many wrinkles on his forehead, you could probably play a game of noughts and crosses on them.

"Ah, Adrien," the man said. "It's been a long time since we've seen you here."

Marinette's eyes widened. This guy knew Chat Noir's name? She'd only learnt it because Chat Noir had taken her to his home in the other world. Had he not always used the silly alias then?

"Wayzz," Chat Noir said with a grin. "It's good to see you again."

Wayzz? Not Fu? Or did he like silly aliases as well? Was that where Chat Noir had got it from?

"Who's your friend?" Wayzz asked, smiling at her. Well, at least he was nicer than Stern Suit Lady.

"This is Marinette. I was hoping Master Fu could help her. Is he in?"

"Of course. Come in, come in."

Marinette leaned closer to Chat Noir as they were ushered inside. "Wait, so that old guy isn't your teacher?"

Chat Noir laughed. "No. That's Wayzz, his assistant."

Oh. Lucky she hadn't said anything to embarrass herself.

They were led to a small parlour that was decorated in neutral tones. An old man—but not the shrivelled turtle kind of old—sat on a cushion sipping a cup of tea. Everything about him seemed relaxed, including his smile. "Hello, Adrien," he said. "Or should I call you Chat Noir? I've been hearing quite the stories about you."

Pink dusted Chat Noir's cheeks. "You know half of those aren't true."

"Only half?"

The pink turned to a sunset of red. "Oh, where's my manners?" Chat Noir said, and steered Marinette by the shoulders so she was standing in front of him like a shield. "This is Marinette. She's—"

"Under a spell. Yes, I can see." Master Fu smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you."

Marinette fidgeted with her sleeve and met his gaze. "Um, can you help me break my curse?"

"I tried to help her," Chat Noir explained, "but I had no luck. We were hoping you would know what to do."

Master Fu hummed in thought. He placed his cup of tea down and stood up so he could circle Marinette, examining her as if the words to breaking the curse were written upon her. "Yes," he mumbled. "I see. A tricky spell indeed, but not impossible to unravel."

"Then you can break it?" Marinette asked, a thread of hope wrapping her heart.

"Me?" Master Fu shook his head.

Her shoulders slumped. "Oh."

"There now, no need to look so glum. The curse has already been removed. The only thing holding you back from being yourself is your own magic."

She blinked. Blinked again. "What?"

The revelation that she had magic wasn't so much of a surprise. A lot of things made sense now, like how she had created toxic macarons, or how she'd forced the creepy turnip head to speed off in the other direction. It would also explain why the Wizard of the Waste had decided to take notice of her. But somehow using her magic to keep herself an old woman? That didn't make sense at all.

Chat Noir's lips twitched. "So, you really do like being in disguise."

"Don't you even start," she snapped.

He placed his hand over his mouth to cover his smile, but it did nothing to hide the way his eyes crinkled with amusement. Butterflies stirred in her stomach and she quickly looked away. Stupid pretty eyes.

"Um, I don't really understand," she said, turning back to Fu. (Because now was not the time to get distracted by Chat Noir and irrational feelings.) "I've never put any spells on myself and all I want is to be me again."

"Is that really true?" Master Fu asked gently.

Her brow creased. Why would he ask her that? Of course she didn't want to be an old woman. What a silly question.

"How about we have some tea?" Master Fu said. "Adrien, perhaps you can help Wayzz to prepare us a fresh batch."

Chat Noir blinked. "Sure …"

He left, sparing a curious glance at them over his shoulder before he shut the door.

"Come, take a seat," Master Fu said, sitting on a cushion and gesturing for her to take the one next to his.

She sat, the creases on her brow deepening.

"You have impressive magic, Marinette. The ability to infuse things with life and transform them through words is no common gift." He nodded to her staff. "You must talk to that one a lot. It's packed with magic."

"It is?" She glanced at the red and black-spotted staff, which she had placed next to her. "I never knew."

"I understand this is all a bit new to you, but that's why you need to be careful. Your magic can be quite volatile if the right control and intention isn't used. For example, you must have said certain things to yourself—things that have held you back from regaining your true form."

She shook her head. "But I didn't …"

Her voice trailed off. No, that wasn't right, was it? She had got comfortable as an old woman. Living in the castle was nice. Nino, Plagg, and Chat Noir had become like family to her, except she had always told herself she would have to return to Market Chipping once she had broken the curse …

She hadn't wanted to leave them.

Her eyes widened. "Oh."

Now it made sense. All those little mutterings about how it was easier to be an old woman, or how she didn't mind being old if it meant being able to enjoy Nino's cooking, or how Chat Noir would be a lost cause without her there to keep him in line, or—just so many things. And every mutter must have been filled with the strong intent of wanting an excuse to stay with them.

"How do I break it?" she asked. "How do I undo the spell?"

"Just say the words. If you believe that you can change back, if you desire to do so, then the magic will take effect."

She opened her mouth to speak, but then Chat Noir and Wayzz entered the room with a pot of tea and three extra cups. Well, perhaps it was for the best that she'd been interrupted. She would rather try to change back on her own than with an audience anyway.

oOo

"Marinette," Master Fu said, stopping her before she and Chat Noir could take their leave. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course."

Chat Noir shot them a frown but did not protest, simply leaving the room so they could have some privacy. Master Fu's expression immediately turned grim.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I'm worried about Adrien. Magic has always come naturally to him. He was a gifted student and worked hard to become a powerful wizard, but I never expected that he would make a contract with a fire demon."

Her eyes widened. "Contract?"

"A very risky business. To make a contract with a fire demon, you have to give up a part of yourself. This allows a person to access even greater magic, but it will also eventually consume them."

Ice coated her insides and it was as if everything in her stomach plummeted. "What?" she whispered.

Was this the curse Plagg had talked about then? Was the contract they'd made together somehow hurting them both? Why couldn't they just break it?

"It is not my place to dictate how he should live his life," Master Fu said, "but perhaps you can persuade him to change. He seems to care for you."

Heat tickled her cheeks. "We're just friends."

"Even so, will you try to help him?"

She nodded. "I'll do what I can."

Aside from the fact she'd already promised Plagg that she would help, she was quite certain she knew what Chat Noir had sacrificed to create the contract. Plagg really had been spelling it out for her all this time.

Chat Noir was a heartless wizard.