Hello readers. I hope you enjoy my version of Miraculous Shanghai. It is centered in my version of the Miraculous World. Please leave a review to help me become a better writer.
In her bunker home under the UN Building, Ning Sun aka Peace Keeper was rolling around in her sleep. She had spent the day checking in with her peace-keeping teams around the world and hoped for a good night's sleep.
The universe had other plans for her. Rolling over in her sleep once more, her left hand came out of the covers. Her palm was glowing.
Normally, the symbol on her hand that symbolized her friendship with the Kwamiis was invisible. Now it was glowing light blue. The usual burning sensation was absent.
The symbol began to pulsate, switching from blue to red. The pulses grew longer and brighter. All at once, the mark on her palm changed. It was no longer a hanzi for a friend of Kwamiis.
The new mark was a circle with eight dots on it inside a bigger circle. Instead of feeling a burning sensation, Ning shivered in her sleep, feeling a sudden chill go up her spine.
Ning herself was caught between a dream and a vision of the past as she slept on.
It was nighttime and she was standing outside an impressive martial arts school. She looked around to try and figure out where she was yet couldn't find any signs. The sound of footfalls alerted her that someone was coming.
Ning got in a fighting stance as she prepared to fight the approaching foe. Once defeated, she would get answers to where she was and how she got there.
Out of the darkness, a young Asian teenager appeared. She was holding a basket in her arms. A baby was waving her arms about trying to grab a strand of the teenager's long hair.
Ning started to move out of the way only for the teenager to pass straight through her. That was the clue she needed to figure out she wasn't in the real world.
"I'm dreaming? No, this feels different than a dream. Sort of like a vision, but not the same. What am I witnessing?" she asked herself as she watched the teenager leave the baby on the steps to the dojo before running off.
As she watched this happen it became clear she was somewhere in China, the country, not a town. She realized that what she was witnessing had to have happened before 2015 when the birth policy changed from one child to two children per couple.
Only recently, had China said that couples could have up to three kids. The clothing style and her youth also reinforced the idea that these events happened a long time ago.
Her attention turned back to the dojo when she heard the baby crying. A tall and slender middle-aged man with black hair and white temples came out of the school and picked up the baby with a smile.
The world around her swirled and suddenly she was inside the school. She had materialized in a bedroom. The girl was no longer a baby. She was now about six years old. She was playing with some toys with a smile on her face.
The sound of two men having a conversation outside got Ning's attention. Leaving the room she found herself in the middle of the dojo. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw who the two men were.
One of them was the same man she had seen before. His hair was starting to go white. He was talking to a short man in a Hawaiian print shirt. It was her own adoptive father, Master Fu Wang!
The two men were sitting on the floor having tea. Strangely, Wayzz was out in the open enjoying his cup of tea. The stranger didn't seem shocked by the kwami's presence.
Her father took a sip of his tea then put the cup down. "Your green tea is excellent as always. My tea makings skills are subpar to yours, my old friend."
The other man laughed and put his cup down. "I'm not that old Fu. I rather you use my name than tell me I'm old."
"I will remember that for the future, Shifu," Fu said. He glanced at the door to the child's room and his expression changed to one of joy except for his eyes that held sadness in them.
Shifu saw this and knew what troubled his old friend. "Fei is a remarkable child. I'm very lucky to have her as a daughter. I know she will make an excellent Renren in the future," he said as he looked at his bracelet. For some reason, Ning couldn't see it clearly.
Both Fu and Wayzz nodded. "I'm glad you have found both happiness and an heir to your legacy. The Prodigious must be kept safe at all times. It is simply too powerful to be used in these modern times."
Shifu assured him nothing would prevent him from his sacred obligation. "No matter how many people attempt to get rid of me or my school, I will not bend. The last magical eclipse passed without incidence. Fei will ensure that the same thing happens when it's her time."
He took a few more sips of tea before speaking again. "Speaking of heirs, have you found an apprentice yet? The Miraculouses need to be guarded as well."
"Master did find someone he thought was worthy several years ago. She was able to use the kwami charms without any instruction," Wayzz explained. The turtle kwami's eyes watered slightly as he recalled that day.
Shifu blinked in surprise and waited for his friend to explain what his kwami meant.
Fu sighed. "The girl was a natural and we bonded closely. She even bonded temporarily with Wayzz. To my dismay, the girl belonged to a foreign government agency, I don't know which one."
Staring at his tea the old man sighed. "The strangest thing was she didn't have a name." Seeing his friend's confused expression he clarified. "She didn't have a real name. Just a project designation. I called her Ning because her designation was Peace Keeper. I know one day we'll cross paths again."
Wayzz flew over and gave the man a little hug. Fu then added,"Until then, she has my kwami charm to protect her."
"Then I'm sure that you will find her once more. Fate has granted each of us a successor. I am slightly amused by the fact the universe is trying to show that women are equal to men, maybe even our betters."
They talked for a few more minutes before they both stood up. "I'm grateful for your visit Fu. However, I fear this might be the last time we see each other in person."
Fu stroked his goatee. "Indeed, I sense the same thing. The forces of darkness are stirring. From what you told me, the darkness has already begun its attack on you."
"I agree. If darkness is gathering here, then surely Paris will be facing evil soon. We cannot significantly communicate while the darkness threatens me."
Wayzz reminded them that they would still need to get in touch once in a while to ensure that their relics were still safe. "I suggest you two communicate every other year through a coded letter so no one will suspect the truth about your correspondence."
"A sensible suggestion, Wayzz. I will miss you Shifu, but I swear I will return on the next magical eclipse to help you should you need it." The men shook hands and the world dissolved again.
The world rushed back in focus. Ning shielded her eyes as the bright light from a raging fire surrounded her. The dojo was burning all around her. As the smoke rose she could barely make out the sound of someone screaming.
"Father! Father! Where are you? Father!" A hazy shadow emerged creating an outline in smoke. She could hear the girl coughing. "Father! Father! If you can hear me, meet me outside!"
The world changed again and Ning was inside a crystal cave. She could see a spiral staircase in the distance. Turning around, she saw a platform next to a stone wall.
"Why am I here? Who is trying to connect with me? What do you want?"
There was a bright flash of yellow and suddenly eight tiny red figures came out of the wall. She couldn't make out what they were exactly.
A chill went down her spine as the eight beings circled her. She was compelled to look at her left hand. She saw the mark had changed.
The figures all started speaking in unison. "We seek your help trusted friend of the Kwamiis. We are the Renlings. The eclipse approaches and we are without a Renren. We need one for our protection. Please, find our Renren."
There was a burst of gold light and Ning woke up in her bed. Quickly looking at her palm, she saw the Renlings mark slowly fading before it vanished away.
Looking at her clock, she saw it was two in the morning. That meant it was eight the morning in Paris. Her father should be up.
Crawling out of bed she went to the bathroom to freshen up before using her special laptop to contact him. Since he was in the dream/vision then he would know what was going on.
In Paris, Fu was serving breakfast to the two Kwamiis. A bowl of rice for Honorra and sliced baby carrots for Wayzz. He was about to sit down to enjoy his breakfast when his laptop started ringing a special tone.
Glancing at the clock and doing a quick conversion in his head, he wondered what his daughter was doing calling him so late in her time zone.
Sitting down at the desk, he accepted the call. "Hello, Ning. I am surprised you are calling me so early. Shouldn't you be still sleeping?"
"Wish I could Father. Regrettably, I've been summoned for a new mission magical wise." Ning took a deep breath and inquired, "What do you know about Renlings, and who is Shifu?"
Fu went pale and nearly fell out of his chair. Wayzz and Honorra quickly flew over to make sure he was okay. Once they were assured he was, they landed on his shoulders to join the conversation.
Fu regained control of his voice. "Where did you hear those names?" Ning told him about her dream/vision and every little detail she could recall.
The old man sighed as a yearning expression made its way across his face. "What you saw were memories from different people to make a narrative for you to understand the situation."
That explains the strangeness I felt last night Ning thought to herself as she tuned back into the conversation.
"Shifu Wu is an old friend and a fellow Guardian, or in his language, a Renren. However, he doesn't protect Miraculouses. Instead, he guards the Sacred Cave that contains a powerful relic from evil."
Ning lifted a single eyebrow. She knew there were other magical artifacts out there in the world. So it wasn't a surprise to know there were other magical Guardians around the world.
"What kind of relic are we talking about?"
Wayzz spoke up. "A relic that predates the Miraculouses. One that relies on the power of our true cousins the Renlings."
Honorra flew away from the screen and came back five minutes later. She held up a makeshift drawing of a small dragon that was red and gold with light beams surrounding it.
"Renlings represent attributes of humanity, similar to my Circle. Instead of giving the wielder a superpower, Renlings can change a human into an animal and back."
That is an incredible power. It's strange to think that some Renlings and Kwamiis share the same abstract concepts, Ning thought to herself. "Your true cousins sound amazing. I would love to learn more about them later. Right now, I need to know why they need me to find their Renren."
"A magical eclipse is approaching. Every fifteen years the power of the eclipse grants access to the Sacred Cave and the relic inside. A Renren is needed to keep evil from getting in."
"Something must have happened to Shifu. I know he wouldn't abandon his duty. If he is gone, then his adoptive daughter Fei is next in line. The Renlings know of her existence, but they can't leave the cave to find her."
Wayzz and Honorra surmised that the Renlings picked up on the magical mark on Ning and used it to call for help. Since she had been successful in finding all the Miraculous Circles, their cousins were confident in her ability to find their Renren.
"You must come to Paris so I can prepare you before flying to Shanghai. We have very little time to accomplish the mission. You need to convince your superiors of the threat to the magical world," Fu sternly told her.
Ning muttered something about disbelievers among her superiors. "I'll do my best. If I can't get there, then you'll have to find a way to get there yourself or send Marinette and Adrien to China."
They said goodbye to each other and signed off. Ning yawned loudly, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind right then. If she wanted permission to head off on a magical quest, then she needed to find a way to convince her superiors of the necessity.
As another workday began in the United Nations building, the representative from China was busy doing paperwork. Reports needed to be typed and memos needed to be written for the rest of his staff.
Currently, he was writing a report about his last meeting with the Security Council with the possibility of addressing concerns about possible external threats to his country.
Terrorism and transnational crimes had gotten worse in the last few years. With the revelation that magic was real, (though many still denied its existence), enemies of the state had been trying to find fabled magical objects to gain power.
There was a soft beep followed by a series of tones coming from his office phone. He tapped a button on the side of the phone and hung up the receiver twice.
Dialing a secret number he was instantly connected with Peace Keeper in her underground bunker. As an extra security measure, he spoke in a regional dialect that very few knew.
"Ms. Keeper, I was not expecting you to call me today. What is the emergency?"
"Representative, I require your assistance for a mission of the magical kind."
"A magical mission? You're being unnaturally bold using the terms magic and mission together. You know how the Security Council feels about these things."
"Hai, I do. I understand what the implications are for your career if it became public knowledge that you accept that magic is real. I also know that you owe me a favor for assisting you with your business in China during my last visit."
The man knew what she was talking about. A few months ago he had "borrowed" her for a personal matter back home. His colleagues had no idea that he had fabricated the paperwork for a fake mission.
Swallowing, the man asked for more details while understanding he wouldn't be getting the full details for security reasons.
"There is a magical artifact somewhere in China, a very powerful one. In a few days, the door to its hidden location will be opened for someone to steal it. The relic protector is missing and needs to be located to prevent this."
"I don't have to remind you of the dangers Paris is facing with two supervillains misusing magical jewelry. Imagine it was four times as dangerous with a different magical relic."
The representative shivered as he recalled all the stories his mother had told him as a child. Legends about creatures that nearly destroyed his country over the centuries.
If such an event was about to pass, he needed to do something to protect his homeland. "What do you need from me exactly?"
"Access to government birth and crime files and the ability to travel to areas that might be off-limits to non-government officials. Permission to carry and use my weapons for fighting."
"Lastly, should I need to remove the relic from its hiding place, I'll need clearance for taking it out of the country. Also, under no circumstances do I need to report where the item is and who is the protector."
"I'll arrange it as quickly as possible. Is that all you need?"
"For now. I will inform you if I need anything else. I'll be waiting for your call confirming everything."
Half an hour later, the French representative got a similar phone call. Like the Chinese representative, he also believed in magic but kept it secret from the other members of the Security Council.
"How can I help you Ms. Keeper?"
"I need your help, Sir. There is a magical crisis approaching and I need your help."
The representative pressed a button under his desk soundproofing the room and putting the cameras on a loop for ten minutes. "Do you have proof of this crisis?"
"Not anything I can tell you over the phone. I can say with certainty that I will need either Ladybug or Chat Noir's help to resolve it."
The representative started to panic. The terrorists' Hawkmoth and Mayura have been rather bold lately. More akumas had been popping up and thanks to Mayura twisting her Miraculouses power, more injuries to the police.
Paris couldn't be without one of their heroes. It would be preferable for Ladybug to stay while Chat Noir went on the magical mission. However, without specifics, sending Chat Noir with Peace Keeper could result in disaster.
"Who do you need specifically to assist you?"
"I don't know right now. One of my contacts is a historian of "magical" artifacts. This contact will be in Paris for only a few days. It is imperative that I meet with them privately."
Hearing her emphasis on the word privately, he knew Peace Keeper was asking permission to not be tracked or recorded at all while she was in Paris. Ever since she had captured the two heroes on her first visit, she had been adamant that her missions with them were nobody's business.
The same went for her when she was handling "personal" business. It was getting to the point that the French Representative was thinking about filing the paperwork that would make Paris, Peace Keeper's second residence when she wasn't in New York.
He turned his attention back to the phone call as Peace Keeper continued what she needed when she was in Paris and what identity she would be traveling under.
He was shocked by what her choice was. He implored her to go with a different identity but she wouldn't budge. Giving up, he promised her that everything would be ready for her departure tomorrow evening.
Satisfied by efforts, Ning hung up the phone. There was a lot to get done before she left tomorrow. She couldn't wait to see her father again.
Two days later in Paris, Master Fu was busily trying to locate the tomes and any other literature about the Renlings and the relic of which they guarded. He had very little information regarding the subject, so he mostly remembered his lessons with Master Zhu.
"Is this all you found?" Wayzz anxiously asked when he saw the small pile on the kitchen table.
"Wayzz, you know that there is little knowledge on the Prodigious because it was abandoned in favor of the Miraculous. Only the Renren would have complete knowledge of it."
"That's an assumption we can't afford to make considering the danger," the turtle reminded the little magpie.
"How can it be an assumption? The Renren has been the protector since the Prodigious was hidden away."
"Settle down both of you. I don't want to hear you arguing again. Ning will be arriving soon and we need to clean up this room." Picking up two rags, he gave the one to each kwami. "Get to work in here. I need to finish cleaning the main room."
An hour later the trio had just finished cleaning. There was a knock on the door and Fu opened the door expecting to see a new identity for Ning. He was not expecting Ning to be herself.
"Ning?" he asked incredulously. She was wearing a blue blouse and a pair of brown capris and was wearing a pair of tennis shoes. Her hair was loosely tied in a ponytail. Aside from some mascara and blush, her face was completely normal.
"Are you going to welcome me in?" she asked playfully. Fu stepped aside and let her in. Honorra and Wayzz came over and hugged her cheeks. She patted their heads then sat down.
"I can't stay long. My flight to Shanghai leaves tomorrow night. I arranged to have an extra ticket on hand so either Adrien or Marinette accompany me. Of course, I'll have to talk to their parents about letting a stranger chaperon their kid."
Fu assured her that it could wait. He directed her attention to the small pile of books on the table. He handed her a very battered journal. "It belonged to the Celestial Guardian and I recovered it after the attack."
"Celestial Guardian?"
"The leader of the Order of the Guardians. I will tell you more about him at a later time. I've marked the pages you need to look at to explain the history of the Prodigious."
Wondering what a Prodigious was, she began reading the journal.
Millenniums ago, the great wizard who would go on to make the Miraculouses created a prototype called a Prodigious. It was named that because it would take a prodigy to use it.
The pendent contained eight Renlings inside it, each who represented a different attribute of humanity. To earn the right to use the Prodigious, a person would be tested by a lion spirit protector known as Mei Shi.
The journal didn't mention what type of test was given. It mentioned what animals the Renlings looked like. There was a dragon, bear, and monkey. The others included an eagle, horse, and a praying mantis. The last two resembled a snake and a tiger.
Ning flipped to the next page and most of the ink had faded beyond legibility. She could make out a single paragraph talking about how only the wielder could see the Renlings despite attempts to make them visible to everyone.
She closed the journal and handed it back. It was exchanged for a tome that looked like it had been written about three centuries ago in classic Chinese. The book was also written in code. Thankfully, Fu had managed to decode it a long time ago.
The tome explained that the wizard realized that the Prodigious was too powerful to continue to be used. According to the tome, a person having access to eight powers without any limitations was dangerous.
Even the most pure-hearted individual could succumb to the power they possessed. Their beliefs could become twisted and the aspects they had could be used in the wrong way.
There was also the problem that transforming into animals could affect a person's psyche in a harmful manner. There was also a warning that the abilities of the Prodigious were still not fully understood.
Putting the tome down, Ning picked up the last item of the pile, which was a delicate scroll. It contained a beautiful image of the cave she had seen along with a unique bracelet.
"The power of the Prodigious is beyond the ability for humankind to wield safely. I will look for another way to help spirits interact with humankind for the betterment of all."
"As the Prodigious can't be destroyed without significant consequences, I have devised a hiding spot for the item. The hiding place will be defended by a guardian I have dubbed the Renren."
"Because the future is unknown I can't completely seal the Prodigious away. Only during a magical eclipse shall the hiding place be accessible. I have forged a special key to the hiding place which the Renren will protect."
"If the power of the Prodigious is needed once more, I pray to the ancestors that a noble soul can wield its power and use it honorably."
Setting the scroll down, Ning reflected on the words she had just read. Even though it wasn't much, she understood why it was so important to find Shifu's daughter. They had to ensure Fei was still alive and that the key to the Sacred Cave was safe.
Carefully placing the items in her travel bag she asked her father if he knew what the key was and if he had a recent picture of what Fei looked like.
"I have no pictures of Fei. Shifu and I agreed it was too dangerous for us to exchange photos. His last letter mentioned how his daughter was maturing into a beautiful woman," Fu said as he retrieved the letter from a drawer.
"As for the key, it is a bracelet. I did my best to draw it from memory."
According to the letter Fei was of average height with a slender build. She had dark indigo hair with a streak of amaranth colored on the left side of her head. The letter mentioned she usually kept it in a long ponytail.
Her eyes were a dark brown, her skin was unblemished, and when she spoke it was with a kind and disciplined tone. To further identify her, she looked at the picture of the Sacred Cave bracelet key.
The bracelet consisted of two strong filaments. Two polished jade beads bordered the main charm, a jade cube with a dragon face carved into it. It was a unique design so it wouldn't be hard to miss if she spotted it.
With this information, Ning knew it would help narrow down her search. Quickly memorizing the address the letter was sent from, there was only one thing left for her to do.
"Do you know if Adrien or Marinette are available to come with me to Shanghai?"
Honorra chirped up. "Adrien is already heading to Shanghai. His father is opening a new store there and he's going to cut the ribbon. That's something really special."
Wayzz then entered the conversation. "Marinette's great-uncle Wang Cheng lives in Shanghai. Marinette has often mentioned how she wishes to learn more about her Chinese roots. I'm sure she would love to go with you."
At the bakery, Marinette had just made her case for why she wanted to go to Shanghai to see her great-uncle and give him his birthday present herself.
Her father had rushed upstairs rapidly and returned holding a box with several rolls of cash. "We knew one day you would be curious about your heritage, so we've been saving money for a family trip since the day you were born."
Sabine had tears in her eyes. "Uncle Wang would be so happy for us to visit him on his birthday." Sabine wiped her eyes and a small frown made its way on her face. "I wish we could all go, but it's not possible. If you told us sooner, we could have made arraignments to close the bakery. You'll have to go alone."
Tom didn't look happy hearing that. He knew Marinette was a responsible child with a good head on her shoulders. Still, a teenager traveling alone to a huge city in a foreign country where she couldn't speak the language was not ideal.
"Maybe I should call my mom. You need a chaperon to make sure you're safe."
Marinette protested by pointing out that she would be under her great-uncle's care. She would be perfectly safe. Her father pointed out that her great-uncle would be busy running his restaurant.
"What if you want to go out and explore the city? Without a guide, you could get lost and never find your way back to his place."
Sabine moved over to her husband and squeezed his hand. "Your father makes an excellent point. I know Uncle Wang would watch over you, but you still need someone to keep an eye on you if he's busy."
"But Nonna Gina is already traveling in Central America. She won't be back for several months. There's only a week left in my short break from school. If I don't go then Uncle Wang won't get his present on time."
Her parents were about to respond when the door to the bakery opened. Turning around, the teenager nearly dropped the heavy box upon seeing who it was. "Pea…I mean Ms. Sun, what are you doing here?"
"Visiting my father of course," she replied. She started to dig through her purse but paused to look up at Marinette's parents. She shook both their hands.
"I'm Ning Sun. I'm Mr. Wang's daughter."
"That nice man Marinette keeps company with from the elderly visitor program?" Sabine asked.
Ning nodded, already knowing that Marinette was using that excuse to explain her frequent trips to see Master Fu. It helped explain where she was at odd hours without arousing suspicions.
"I think Marinette has mentioned you a few times, though I can't remember for sure," Tom admitted. When Marinette started rambling it was hard to understand what she was saying.
"I'm sure she has because she talks about her wonderful parents all the time," Ning replied before focusing her complete attention on her purse.
She finally found what she was looking for in the purse. "Please forgive me, but I overheard your conversation. You were a tad loud."
The couple blushed in awkwardness. The couple hadn't been aware they were talking loud enough to be heard outside.
"I believe I have the solution to your chaperon problem," she said before showing them the two tickets to Shanghai. "My father and I were going to visit an old friend of his in Shanghai this week."
"Due to his bad back, he can't make the trip. He spoke highly of your daughter and talk about how Marinette had wanted to go to get in touch with her roots. I came to offer her my father's ticket to visit."
"Of course, I would have asked permission first." She handed the ticket over to the adults. "It would be my honor to escort young Marinette to and around Shanghai. Not only will this help you save money for a family trip, but you'll know she's in good hands."
To prove her point, Ning spoke perfect Madeiran before borrowing a pen and using a napkin to show them, her ability to write in Chinese flawlessly.
Marinette was quick to elucidate she had met Ms. Sun several times and that she always made sure to check in on her father whenever she was in town. Ning was a self-defense expert and traveled a lot for business.
"I trust Ms. Sun with my life. You can trust her to take care of me. Please," Marinette beseeched. She even used her pouty face on them.
Sabine and Tom whispered amongst themselves before coming to a decision. "We want to discuss this first with Ms. Sun and her father together. If we're satisfied by his recommendation, then you and Ms. Sun will be leaving together tomorrow."
She hugged them both before running upstairs. She knew Master Fu would be able to persuade her parents to let Peace Keeper take her to Shanghai. She needed to be packed and prepared to face whatever magical threat was waiting for them.
The next evening, Ning and Marinette were on their way to Shanghai. Wang Cheng had been alerted to the fact that Marinette had a chaperon to watch over her during the visit.
He said it wasn't a problem. He was looking forward to meeting the kind young woman who agreed to watch over his grand-niece. He was also interested in learning more about Ning's travel to help him create new recipes.
During the first hour of the flight, Marinette inquired if Ning had ever been to Shanghai before.
"I've been to different cities in China, such as Beijing, but never Shanghai. It will be nice to explore a new city. You'll have to stay close to me. Shanghai has plenty of petty thieves."
"I believe I can find my way around the city," Marinette replied rolling her eyes. "You're worrying too much." She clutched her great-uncle's birthday present tightly between her hands.
She didn't know what it was, but she was certain that he would love whatever was inside. She was excited about seeing him again and looking forward to learning more about her heritage.
Lowering her voice, "Why are you really heading to Shanghai?"
"An old friend of my father does live in Shanghai. He was a guardian of a magical object. Father suspects he might be dead, but I need to confirm that. If he is, then I need to locate his daughter so she can take his place."
Ning clutched her armrest as she thought of the difficult task ahead. "I only have until tomorrow night to solve this. A magical eclipse is scheduled to happen. Without a guardian, the relic could be stolen and used for evil."
Marinette shuddered upon hearing this. Hawkmoth and Mayura were dangerous enough. She didn't want to think about another supervillain in another country causing problems.
"I needed you to come along if I don't find Shifu's daughter in time. The two of us will hopefully be able to hold off any trouble until morning."
"You can count on me. I won't let you down."
Several hours later, the plane landed in Shanghai. As soon as they got out of customs, they spotted Wang Cheng holding a sign for them to see. Their adventure in Shanghai was off to a good start.