Author's Note: Alrighty so I can't believe I am doing this. This is a Miraculous Ladybug, CardCaptors/CardCaptor Sakura AU fanfic. So what went into making this a bit of a long story but I feel like elaborating so... For a bit now I've seen Miraculous/Sailor Moon things and I was sort of inspired and planned out a big fanfic project because of it. It looked okay but... implementation is a thing so it flopped. Then I sort of saw this lovely piece someone on DeviantArt by the name of nathengyn did of a CardCaptors AU and I felt hooked as I was more CardCaptors fan LONG before I was a Sailor Moon person and this fanfic project I made has potential too maybe even more then what I thought I had for Sailor Moon. After clearing things with the artist in question as I did not want to half-steal (I think?) from them since they did inspire this I got to work and in truth I was gonna wait a while longer but... I'm sort of scared how this'll go so I posting chapter 1 before I get my heart set on what might end up as something of a train wreck. I hope you like this. I'm sort of eager to see how I can manage the Li Syaoran/Cat Noir thing for chapter 2. I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or CardCaptor Sakura in any way, shape, or form. Reviews welcome.
MiracuCaptors
Chapter 01
A Fortunate Day
It was dark but not pitch black, a warm darkness that calls to mind the night sky but with no stars. Then a light appeared. Soft, warm, and pink it moved as a streak of light like a comet and with its movement the darkness shifted.
It was Paris seen from above at night. The glow in the city was warm, comforting.
The view shifted to the Eiffel Tower from the ground then it flickered. They were at the very top of the landmark. Four beings stood there, the first in the front was girl in a costume with a wand held tightly in her left hand. Behind her stood a boy, sword in his right hand and hooded cape flowing in the wind.
To his left and right floated two large figures, their forms both familiar and alien. Then came a sound, a flapping noise, and there they were swirling about in the wind.
Long, thin, and rectangular… They were cards. The quartet suddenly turned their attention the full moon in the sky.
Something was coming…
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Blue eyes shot wide open as a girl sat up in bed panting lightly from the strange dream. It took a moment before the girl registered she was awake and then from an opening leading downstairs a feminine voice called out.
"Marinette your alarms' been going off for ten minutes!"
The girl blinked before reaching for her cell phone and looking at time. A second later….
"AHHHH! I SLEPT THROUGH MY ALARM! MOM WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?!"
A girl-turned-cyclone suddenly swept through the room in a panic making a mess as a motherly voice called "it's not my job to wake you up Marinette you're fourteen now."
The girl groaned as she finished tugging a top on and after glaring at the opening leading down sighed.
Wearing pink jeans, and a white shirt Marinette Dupain-Cheng walked down the stairs into an open kitchen with a sigh. "Morning Mom." She said a little grumpily.
"Good morning sweetheart." Her mother Sabine said with a smile.
Marinette sighed as she sat at the kitchen table and began to make a bowl of cereal and some toast for herself. As she busied herself her mom asked "busy day today?"
Marinette stared at the bowl of cereal as she grabbed milk not altogether there as she absently said "yeah my and Alya are going shopping today…"
Sabine nodded with a slight laugh as she said "ah finally gonna splurge and spend the allowance money you saved up huh?" The woman looked at Marinette and gasped "Marinette honey the milk!"
Marinette blinked, looked down, and hurriedly pulled back on the carton as the bowl overflowed slightly. Putting the milk carton down though proved to be a mistake as she placed in a knife precariously placed which flew through the air spilling an orange, the butter dish, and the cereal box onto the floor all in one smooth chain of motion.
Marinette just stared at the blatant destruction with a kicked puppy look on her face as she tried not to cry but moms can be magical as within seconds she picked up the orange, cleaned the spilt food items, and finished by giving her daughter a hug bringing a slightly sad smile to her face.
The morning proceed as usual Marinette donned a black blazer slung the black and pink embroidered purse she made herself over her shoulder put on her white and pink sneakers and was down the stairs leading out the upstairs apartment and into the bakery below the shop.
Her father, Tom was already down there pulling out a new batch of pastries from the oven while a few customers were looking at the racks for purchases.
Marinette stopped to give the big man a hug and a kiss on the cheek and she was out the door and into the streets of Paris.
Quickly hurrying down the sidewalk Marinette thought back to why she had been so absentminded this morning.
What was that? She thought to herself. It was a dream… but the details I can't remember them.
Marinette shook her head. She didn't know why it bothered her so much she'd had dreams like that and her best friend Alya said she never remembered her dreams so it shouldn't matter right?
But if that's the case Marinette thought to herself still pondering then why does it feel like it does matter?
Suddenly a voice broke for her musings "Hey Marinette over here!"
Looking up the French-chinese girl smiled at her friend with brown skin, red hair, hazel eyes, and a mole above her right eye. This was Alya Cesaire, Marinette's best friend since childhood.
"Hey Alya!" Marinette cried waving a hand as she ran up to her friend.
Alya slightly mock angry said "you are late!"
Marinette quick to appease her said "sorry, overslept, slightly bad morning I'm here now."
Teasingly Alya said "well I can guess forgive you." Alya smiled at Marinette who smiled back and they shared a laugh. Falling into step together the two headed for the mall as Alya dropping the act said "so you had an off morning?"
Marinette sighed slumping her shoulders and said "another breakfast blow up."
Alya winced saying "ouch!"
Marinette nodded but held off on what she wanted to say next as she glanced to the side but Alya knew Marinette all too well as she asked "another dream?"
Marinette nodded. Alya sighed and said "yup I figured. You know those really shouldn't bother you so much particularly after that brief phase you went through."
Marinette blushed as she recalled how a few years back she bought a book on dreams, both in controlling and understanding them. It hadn't worked very well and her classmates hadn't been exactly understanding, two of them in particular…
And because fate has a sense of humor it would choose that moment for Marinette to run into someone sending them both to the dirt and knocking some papers to the ground.
Marinette quickly looked at the person she bumped into and said "are you alright?"
Marinette stared at the person who replied "I'm alright." Wearing a sweater vest, skirt, and stockings with red hair and glasses, Sabrina Raincomprix looked at Marinette and gave a small smile as she adjusted her lenses "hello Marinette, I'm fine."
Alya who had just watched the situation finally snapped out of it and said "that looked nasty are you both alright?"
Sabrina said "I'm fine getting up her dusted off her stockings and Marinette got up into a slight crouch as she picked up the papers Sabrina had dropped but paused seeing what was on them.
"School application papers?" Marinette read with some confusion as stood up. Sabrina took them from her as Alya said with some confusion "planning on going to a new school?"
"Hardly." A voice filled with contempt spoke up from behind them.
Marinette winced closing her eyes with an inaudible groan at the voice while Alya scowled at the speaker.
Walking behind them dressed in primarily yellow designer clothes and sunglasses with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail was Chloe Bourgeois, the daughter of the mayor, class brat, and Marinette's personal tormentor.
Chloe and Sabrina were friends to a point since Sabrina usually did everything for her and when the dream thing came out the two of them were quite vocal in expressing their opinion on the matter.
Today though Chloe didn't apparently want to try and bully Marinette as she flipped her ponytail and said "Sabrina c'mon we still need to make preparations for Adrien's transfer."
Chloe turned and walked away from the duo and after a moment Sabrina followed her.
Marinette just looked after them and blankly asked the air "Adrien?"
With a grunt Alya crossed her arms and said "forget her. Let's get back to our shopping."
Marinette nodded and as she went to walk and nearly rammed into someone had she seen them and backpedaled her arms wildly and Alya quick to respond grabbed her to steady her.
The two of them stared at the old Chinese man before them, he had a goatee and was wearing a Hawaiian floral print shirt and just stared at them with no small amusement.
"It is alright young ones no harm was done." Bowing slightly, he walked past the duo and Marinette couldn't stop herself from looking after him for a moment and as if he could feel her gaze he glanced behind him before walking onwards.
Alya though had moved on by then and said "Earth to Marinette, it's time to stand up now." Marinette started and quickly righted herself and Alya remarked "good, I was gonna drop you if you waited any longer. Now let's get our shopping done before lighting strikes us down" slightly mock serious.
Meanwhile the old man for his part headed on his way and another voice from his shirt spoke up "is something wrong Master?"
The old man merely stroked his goatee and said "it may be nothing Wayzz, now let us continue with our task."
Some time passed and Marinette and Alya had gone off and had a pretty good time as they each got two new outfits. Marinette then bought some new fabrics to work with as ever since a young age she had been making clothing of all sorts.
Then before it was nearly time for them to go their separate ways for the day Alya dragged into one particular thrift store. It was known for serving shoppers of all trades but primarily got by, by selling comic books and that was Alya's reason for coming.
If Marinette was all about fashion then Alya had two passions, journalism and superheroes. She hosted a blog where she would review comic books and other such topics and it was approaching its second year anniversary. Her blog had even covered some cosplay Marinette had done of superheroes and Alya had been considering doing something new with the blog lately but was unsure what she had confided.
Seeing no one at the counter and since the comics were stored behind it and in the back Marinette decided to look around. A few scraps of fabric, some pieces of clothing were eyeballed but nothing really caught her eye.
Then she felt it, a warm sensation wafting over her face, a tingle on her spine and Marinette's head snapped to look at a bin marked "Trinkets, only 1 Euro!"
Stepping up to it Marinette cast her gaze across the full bin full of odd things and kick-knacks and then she saw it. A black surface with red designs. Reaching into the bin and digging past the objects Marinette pulled out what had attracted her attention.
It a simply wooden octagonal box covered with red Chinese designs and Marinette scanned the thing in the light. Curiously enough there seemed to be no way to open it.
'Huh." Marinette said and then paused as she felt a tingling sensation on her face, a cold chill down her back and looked down into the bin again. Peering Marinette thought is there another one down there?
The girl extended her hand to grab it and a voice stopped her.
"Marinette where are you!?" Marinette looked towards the front where Alya was yelling.
Marinette looked at the bin and winced as Alya called again.
"Marinette!"
The girl in question cast another look at the bin and rather reluctantly left it be and went to her friend.
Getting there she found Alya had already paid for her stuff and though there was a problem with the box bearing no price tag, Marinette had no real issue with the one Euro transaction. Although Alya did give her a weird look over what she bought but left it be.
As the two made their way out of the mall Alya said "so for my blog I think I may cover the weird things happening in Paris lately for a bit of a change."
Marinette paused and said "what do you mean?"
Alya looked at her and said "you don't know." She shook her head.
Alya elaborated "apparently there have been reports of strange things happening across Paris, lights floating on the Seine with no cause, strange shadows, power outages, and a lot of other things."
Marinette frowned "that sounds weird."
Alya said "right? Maybe there's a supervillain behind it!" Marinette gave her a smirking look as she teasingly said "oh? Is it an alien or a mutant?"
Alya threw her a look and said "you laugh now but when I'm proven right that superheroes really exist; I will happily say I told you so."
Marinette laughed and the two parted ways to head home early, they did have chores to deal with after all.
Meanwhile back at the thrift shop its employee on duty was lazing behind the counter, idly flipping through a magazine.
Seconds after turning a page the door opened and the girl barely looked at the boy who stepped inside…
Meanwhile across town a man in a gray suit with a matching hat sat down by the river as he idly observed the whistle he held as some pigeons gathered near him.
Moments ago the man had been chased away from the park for feeding the pigeons who had been deemed a threat to public health.
Then in full daylight a shadow suddenly ran along the ground and swooped upon the man who screamed in fright!
Meanwhile Marinette who had just finished helping in the bakery finally escaped to her room in the loft.
Digging through her shopping bags she pulled out the box she bought earlier.
What possessed me to buy this? Marinette thought to herself. She turned the box this day and that as she thought over the strange sensations she had felt and then Marinette paused her eyes widening.
She could have sworn she saw a line of light race along the side of the box and she could now see how to open it.
Marinette stared for a few minutes before taking a breath and opening it. She had all of a second to look at what was inside before a wind whooshed through the room, making Marinette shriek in fright dropping the box, as a pink light began to shine.
When the wind died down and Marinette could see straight again she gaped at what she saw.
There was a strange creature floating before her, small and red. It had a small body, wiry limbs, and big head with antennae dangling from it. Black spots were on its head, and from its back protruding features that called to mind wings. The creature opened its eyes revealing pools of deep blue and it looked around the room before landing on Marinette and after a moment the creature smiled and said "Hello!"
So of course Marinette freaked out. With a shriek she began throwing anything within range at the creature who flew through the air to dodge them as she cried "a bug! A mouse! A bug-mouse!"
After several missed shots Marinette crawled for the trap door ready to get help but the creature flew over to the door freezing her as she said "wait! I'm begging you don't let anyone know about me please!"
Marinette paused as she stared at the strange creature. Then from below came her mom's voice.
"Marinette sweetie, I thought I heard you yell, is everything OK?"
The creature placed her hands or at least what Marinette thought were hands together and begged "please, you were able to open the box and that means something, trust your instincts!"
Marinette opened her mouth and staring at the creature she called to Sabine "I'm fine mom." The creature gave a wide smile.
Rationally Marinette wondered what she was doing trusting this strange thing and yet her feelings, her instincts did tell her "it was ok, there's no problem, nothing to fear, have faith."
So she followed her instincts and said "OK, who are you?"
The creature bowed in midair "I'm Tikki, I'm a Kwami."
Marinette blinked "a Kwami?" She asked.
Tikki frowned and said "have you heard of the term familiar?"
Marinette frowned "I think so? Like a witch's cat, there some sort of animal or spirit that aids a magic user right?"
Tikki nodded "that's close enough, Kwami are similar to that in that we are bound to our Miraculous and its wielders and mine has found its way to you."
Marinette looked at the box she had opened starting this whole episode from where she dropped it on the floor. Open now she saw a pair of earrings resting on soft velvet. They were small and red with five black dots on each.
Marinette stared at them, they were beautiful but still she asked either Tikki or the air "Miraculous? Ugh maybe Alya had a point in that strange things are going on."
Tikki interrupted her "strange things?"
Marinette looked at her and nodded "yeah Alya said they've been happening lately."
Tikki stared solemnly at her and then closed her eyes her form began to glow sparkling pink and the aura flew out in a ring that faded away and Tikki gave a start and looked in slight fear "so one's already active?"
Tikki looked at Marinette and said "I need your help. The issue is big and a bit dangerous but I promise you there are rewards. Normally there'd be more time and there might be others but we're running late so please give me your help!"
Marinette opened her mouth to say no if it involved any sort of danger but stopped. Tikki was looking at her with such hopeful yet worried eyes. Marinette swallowed as logic and her instincts went to war again and once more her instincts won out.
But that still didn't stop from making her nervous as with a mouth that felt bone dry she said "what do I do?"
Tikki smiled at her relieved and said "take my Miraculous into you hand."
Marinette nodded and placed the earrings into her open palm. Tikki then flew over using her paws to close Marinette's hand, the Kwami closed her eyes, and Marinette looked on in somewhere between unease and fear as the world around them faded to a dark blue. Then from her hand and Tikki came a pink glow.
The Kwami softly chanted "oh Miraculous, twin jewels of the Ladybug, powers of creation, symbols of good fortune. A wielder is present and a contract can be forged approved by the Kwami bound to you. We agree to these terms and all that occurs now and after so says I Tikki."
Opening her eyes Tikki looked up at the girl and staring at the Kwami Marinette nodded and raised her hand bearing the Miraculous to her mouth and whispered into her fist "I agree to this as well by name Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
Her fist flashed with pink light and the world returned to normal. Marinette opened her hand and stared at the earrings which had now turned black.
Tikki said "well done Marinette, now put them on." Marinette did so and they felt paradoxically light and heavy on her ears.
"Now what?" She asked Tikki.
Tikki said "until something happens we wait and practice because without knowing what way your magic works we run the risk of_" A shadow ran across the window pausing Tikki and as one the duo went to the window and stared at the sight.
Pigeons.
Pigeons were everywhere, it was something out of that one movie Marinette heard of involving birds albeit it less horrifying but still unusual.
"…Tikki?" Marinette asked not sure what was going on or what to do.
The Kwami sighed "this is NOT how I wanted to do things it's still too soon…" But Tikki looked at Marinette with a bright smile and said "but it can't be helped I have faith in you Marinette so we have to do something."
Marinette nodded and Tikki said "once you release I'll only be capable of so much so I'll just say this between your own magic and the Miraculous you know what to do. Do what I've been saying and trust your instincts!"
Marinette just stared at the Kwami and swallowed, closing her eyes. After a moment Marinette placed her hands behind her ears almost cupping them by not quite as she chanted "Oh earrings that give the power of creation, ladybug I have made contract to, by our bond I ask for the garb and tools of our magic, release!"
Her earrings shone pink as from that same light a circle with five smaller circles spun itself into existence beneath her feet. A breeze swirled around Marinette's body as Tikki transformed into a streak of light and flew into one her earrings and pink light transformed her clothes around her and by pure instinct Marinette reached out and grabbed what she knew was there for her. Opening her eyes Marinette gasped at what she saw.
It was a wand. The head of which was a round disc patterned with black spots held in place by a silver piece with a sapphire embedded in it. The silver gave way to an off red, not quite pink but close shaft which led to another silver piece that gave way to a sapphire cone that capped the bottom.
Marinette stared as the staff in her gloved hands and breathed a "wow."
Marinette blinked as she gave a slight start thinking gloves? She paid attention to her hands and stared.
Moving to her mirror Marinette goggled at herself.
She wore gloves on her hands. A mask covered her eyes. Two ribbons tied her hair back in pigtails. She wore a long sleeved tunic with a sash that flared around her thighs making it look like a skirt. She wore tights under that that trailer down to high heeled boots. A scarf dangled down her back. All of it red, all of it patterned with black polka dots. Peering closer Marinette noticed a sort of hexagon print in its fabric design.
Suddenly a voice called from downstairs "Marinette honey are you still up there?"
Thumps announced her mom's footsteps and Marinette blanched looking down at herself and the costume she wore.
Hurrying up the stairs Marinette fled to the roof and just missed her mom's entrance.
Looking around her mom called down "she's not here Tom! Call her phone." Listening downstairs Marinette realized her phone was in the pocket of her jeans which were now gone, so where was her phone?
Shaking off her musings she said aloud "Tikki?"
Then from within her mind came a voice one that she knew yet wasn't hers. I'm here, don't worry. There was a pause before it came Marinette could have sworn if she was physically here she'd be breathing hard. I'm merely… adjusting. These birds there has to be a source for the enchantment, with your magic you can sense things. Find it!
Marinette nodded and closed her eyes. There was a prickly feeling all around and then like someone flipping a switch things went cool around. She felt a bright tingling warmth, Marinette knew that was her.
There in the distance! A slimy feeling that gave Marinette unease.
Opening her eyes Marinette turned to the direction the feeling came from.
She opened her mouth to speak and paused as Tikki's words echoed in her mind.
Trust your instincts…
Swallowing and ignoring common sense Marinnete ran and leapt off the roof and found herself flying through the air as the wind was carrying her. Hitting the side of a building she looked and leapt again.
People in the streets looking around because of the birds noticed her and cried out but Marinette didn't heed their cries.
As she went along the slimy sensation grew stronger and before long Marinette reached a park and as she stood on the roof of a nearby building she just stared.
It was here that the birds were the most think and they seemed to be concentrated on harassing the park caretakers and local cops.
And the pigeons themselves were being directed by a large man dressed in a costume as strange as hers if not more so.
It was a gray and black bodysuit giving way to a pink cowl and with a gold whistle he directed the pigeons to do his bidding.
Marinette narrowed her eyes and gave a start as she realized the whistle was give off a dark purple aura.
Swallowing Marinette took a few steps back then ran forward and leapt gliding down into the park where she landed sending the pigeons flying everywhere.
The costumed man turned to look at Marinette who stared at him uneasy but resolute as her scarf blew back in the wind.
The man said "who are you to mess with Mr. Pigeon's plans?"
Marinette didn't even answer as she dashed forward and swung her wand at him. Mr. Pigeon dodged and observed her curiously.
"oh ho it seems our young heroine wishes to stop us my friends." The enchanted man blew into his whistle and rallied two groups of pigeons behind him. "So what will you do now young lady?"
Marinette frowned at him and said "have a taste of my magic pigeon boy!"
She pointed the wand at him and waited for something to happen.
Except for the wind whistling nothing did…
Marinette blushed, Mr. Pigeon gave her an unimpressed look. A wave of the hand and the pigeons attacked.
Marinette dove forward into a duck and roll and what happened next was nothing less than sheer luck.
With the pigeons flying everywhere neither Mr. Pigeon nor Marinette could see what was happening in front of them and while Mr. Pigeon was willing to wait for his feathery friends to strike Marinette was taking the initiative albeit blind.
Dashing forward she charged and swung her wand blindly and some birds got out of the way, her wand hit the arm holding Mr. Pigeon's whistle and it flew down to the ground with a crack!
The birds flew off every which way and Marinette stared as Mr. Pigeon just fell to his knees staring at nothing. Then from the broken whistle dark purple energy gathered and out came a shape. As it fluttered through the air Marinette looked at the butterfly and then a second later acted.
Somehow knowing what to do Marinette pointed her wand at the butterfly and said "corrupted one, you bound by darkness by creations light, you I bind. A concept I name of the form you give, in this way I have mastered you, now take the guise which I command FLIGHT!"
Pink light burst from Marinette's body washing over Mr. Pigeon's forming and sweeping the purple energy left in him along and the pink energy trapped the purple energy with the butterfly in a crystal like prism creating another pink flash.
When it faded Marinette stared at what floated before her.
Long, thin, and rectangular it shimmered the same pink color as her magic and as it floated down to her the shimmer faded revealing the long card it was and Marinette took it in her left hand. The back of the card had a silver border inside it pink curves and arcs surrounded a bright purple butterfly against a deep blue background. Turning the card around Marinette stared some more. A silver border framed the edges of the card, near the top the border jutted out slightly and tucked inside was a red circle with five black dots in it. Inside the border was a cream colored background which framed a picture of Mr. Pigeon holding his whistle with his eyes closed looking at peace. Below the picture was a pink ribbon and emblazoned on it was a word in bold black letting.
FLIGHT.