MiracuCaptors

Chapter 03

Handling It

"Yeesh! This is quite the stormy situation we're in. Wouldn't you say my lady?"

Ladybug sighed and rolled her eyes a frown on her face. Her scarf was billowing furiously in the high speed windows and it was either through sheer force of will or magic she wasn't sure which that she hadn't been blown off the rooftops by their current target.

"Chat take this seriously!" She snapped at the cat-like magician who stood nearby his own cape billowing, astonishingly his hood wasn't falling back.

Today had been a regular day in Paris for Marinette with her babysitting Manon and the usual slight chaos that results in it. Then Alya had seen fit to show up with news that Adrien was doing a photo shoot and Marinette might have a chance to hang out with her new crush.

Things sort of went rocky and then the sky had gone dark.

Marinette has sensed magic in the air, everyone heard screaming, Adrien was shuffled off by his bodyguard, and the girls had hurried Manon to her mother and relative safety.

Alya had run off which saved Marinette the trouble of making an excuse.

One incantation later and Ladybug was bounding across the rooftops of Paris.

Chasing the source of the weather Ladybug had found a girl in a dark dress, slightly monochromatic makeup, pigtails, and waving a parasol about conjuring wind, clouds, ice, and lightning.

Then Chat confronted her before Ladybug could do anything and the situation went south.

Clouds whooshed through the air, winds went wild at high speeds, and the two magic users were flung about or were dodging lightning bolts.

Eventually though the chase had ended and they had to find the enchanted victim once more.

Eventually their senses led them to a broadcasting studio and let's just say by that point Ladybug was on her last nerve.

There was one bright spot though when the two ran through the building Ladybug saw a cut-out that looked very familiar.

Before they left for the park this morning Manon had stolen her cell phone to vote for some contest the local TV station was hosting to decide on a new weather girl and clearly someone was upset. But looking at the cutout and most noticeably the parasol Ladybug had a good idea where the focus for the enchantment was.

From the look Chat's face she knew he had the same idea.

They reached the roof to witness Stormy Weather as she called herself conjuring up what rather quickly was looking like a hurricane.

Which leads to now.

Ladybug grit her teeth as she felt her feet begin to slip.

Behind her Chat wasn't doing much better.

Then he said "trouble with the wind under your feet you my lady?"

Ladybug immediately barked at him "would you shut up?"

Chat was taken aback but then a voice called out "I think I can help with that!"

The two of them looked up just in time to see Stormy Weather pointed her parasol and a purple lightning bolt charged right for them.

The two dodged loosing even more ground in the process.

Chat merely looked up at Stormy Weather and said "is that all you've got?"

Ladybug looked at him aghast thinking, do you really want to taunt the enchanted weather wielding mad lady?

Stormy Weather looked at him and said "oh like you can do any better!"

Chat smirked up at her and said "oh yeah, take this!"

Chat ran a finger along the edge of his sword and swiped it sending a crescent of black energy through the air astonishing them all but Stormy Weather dodged and the attack flew through the air and hit a satellite dish which immediately started to collapse and it would not be good what happened next.

Ladybug pointed her wand at the situation before her willing something to happen!

And it as a wave of pink mist wafted out growing quickly before getting swept away in the wind.

Nothing else occurred though.

Stormy Weather smirked and looked up at the satellite dish then moved to point her parasol at it before a magazine flew out of nowhere and smacked her in the face!

She sputtered and with the wind blowing so fiercely actually had trouble getting it off her face and not thinking actually dropped her parasol!

Chat reacted quickly and through his sword pinning the parasol to the concrete and letting the butterfly flutter free but he wasn't in range to catch it.

But Ladybug was, pointing her wand at the magical insect she chanted "corrupted one, you bound by darkness by creations light I now bind, in this way I have mastered you, now take the guise which I command CLOUD!"

Pink magic swept through the area and in a flash everything was back to normal.

The enchanted girl laid on the ground and the satellite was stable.

Ladybug let out a breath as the shimmering card took form before her and she grabbed it.

Checking her Ladybug saw she was fine. Then from behind her Chat said "that was quick thinking my lady, as fast as lightning I'd say."

Ladybug rolled her eyes and with a frown stood up and spun to face him barking "are you still doing this?" She gestured at the satellite "you realize that could have gone really badly, really quickly. We are here to break a curse Chat!"

Chat merely frowned at her none of them aware of the person recording them…

Later that night Marinette laid in bed fingering the CLOUD card while watching a recap of the news.

Eventually she saw fit to ask Tikki a question.

"Tikki just what was it exactly that Chat Noir did today?"

The Kwami stopped munching on a cookie to look at her and swallowed.

"It's his power as wielder of the black cat to destroy for each wielder it might manifest differently but the general idea is the same."

Marinette stewed on that for a second before saying "so what can I do Tikki? Because that pink smoke stuff doesn't really seem to do anything."

Tikki frowned "I'm not sure Marinette the two of us are creation and good luck but that can take a variety of forms. As it stands now something could be happening and we may not know it, or… nothing could be happening which I doubt but still magic works in mystery ways. You need to be patient there are many possibilities after all."

The young girl paused stuck on a particular word.

Possibilities… She thought.

Tikki then broke her from her musings by asking "is there anything else you want to ask?"

Marinette paused and glanced down at the card in her hand.

Waving it Marinette asked Tikki "is there anything I can do with these or are they just some form of magical badge?"

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.

The three by her side all looked up yet something drew her gaze downward and she saw it.

For all it was a long way down she saw the figure standing there. She was all shadows and silhouettes as she raised an object up as if towards them and it bore a blinking light…

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Marinette opened her eyes her body tense her mind fresh on the dream. Then Tikki spoke from overhead.

"Marinette you're going to be late for school."

"EEK!"

The dream was forgotten in a moment as Marinette got ready in a hurry before fleeing the house.

Luckily for her she got there a few minutes just before class started and as she sat down she noticed the rest of the class were all talking about something in hushed tones.

Looking at Alya, Marinette saw her friend was engrossed in her phone. After a moment she asked "Alya… what's going on?"

Alya blinked and looked at her "oh hey Marinette!" Gesturing to her phone Alya explained "people are talking my new website the Ladyblog. I got some excellent footage of Ladybug and Chat Noir yesterday including something about a curse." Marinette stared dumbly at the new site on her phone and came back to herself just in time to hear Alya say "and I guess everyone is worried slightly."

Looking around Marinette noticed everyone did show concern but they were also glancing at…

"Where's Ivan?"

Alya looked at Marinette and frowned saying "he was called to the office this morning. Given recent... events some parents are worried."

Marinette's jaw dropped but before she could say anything "are people blaming him for the Stone Heart thing? That's not fair!"

Marinette and Alya looked toward the speaker and her mouth shut with a snap as she went red.

Adrien and Nino smiled at the two girls and said hi before they frowned as Adrien said "are people really blaming him? Because that's really ridiculous."

Then a new voice cut in unpleasantly.

"Not really Adrikins, it's clear that big oaf and those two freaks running around Paris are to blame. My daddy's city is not cursed!"

Adrien protested here saying "Chlo!"

"It's the truth Adrien!"

"No it isn't you brat!" Everyone looked at Alya who was standing up and glaring daggers at Chloe.

"It so is reporter girl!"

Chloe snarled back at Alya and within moments the two were in each other's faces.

Marinette blinked at this, Nino was wincing, and Adrien looked as if he was gearing up to stop them when suddenly there was a cry from the door.

"What is going on here?!"

It was Mademoiselle Bustier.

Alya and Chloe both pointed fingers at each other and started babbling over each other while the rest of the class watched.

Eventually their teacher cut them off and sent them to Principal Damocles office.

Class then proceeded to start like normal but then Chloe returned midway through, alone.

Their teacher asked where Alya was and with a certain degree of smugness Chloe said she had been suspended.

Marinette was glaring bullets at a completely unbothered Chloe, most of the class just looked surprised, and Adrien, Adrien just slumped in his seat a hand on his face.

The rest of the day when on normally and then the day ended.

As Adrien grabbed his bag and Marinette paused for a moment as she considered trying to ask him out. Then Chloe went and glomped right onto him making Marinette frown.

Dismissing the notion, she got her stuff together and at the school doors Marinette tried to call Alya but got no response.

Sighing Marinetete watched as Chloe flounced right past her. Then Adrien passed her with a smile and wave "bye Marinette!"

"U-um, g-goo-later Adrien!" She stuttered out. And just like that things went normally.

Or so everyone thought.

After dropping off a delivery for her parents Marinette was on her way home when holographic screens spawned all over the city.

On screen a girl wearing a black and white bodysuit and mask with dark red hair appeared.

"Hello bloggers" she said coyly "I'm LadyWifi here to bring you the scoop, I'm here with someone who's rather unfair" she stepped aside to reveal Chloe who somehow hung in midair pinned in place by a circle of purple light with a pause symbol in it.

Marinette's eyes widened as she took in the cell phone she held and put two and two together. Marinette headed for a nearby alley as Lady Wifi went on "and so using my powers I'm going to expose her truths and then some. And to the spellcasting duo watching" Marinette paused.

Across the city Adrien watched in his room as Lady Wifi said "I will happily expose your secrets too! Look forward to my upcoming streams dear bloggers…" Lady Wifi gave off a chuckle as the screens faded.

Adrien looked at Plagg who had been eating cambetert but now a sour look on his face. Marinette and Tikki exchanged nods.

Two incantations later the two were bounding across the roofs of Paris once more.

Reaching the Le Grand Paris, the hotel her family owns they found the source of trouble fast enough. it was easy seeing all the "paused" police officers and the pacing figure in the lobby.

"Well this is a lovely date bugaboo." Chat said suavely behind her. Ladybug rolled her eyes.

But beyond dignifying that with a response Ladybug jumped and glided down to the pavement and walked inside stopping dead.

"Hello Ladybug" Lady Wifi said before her finger swiped across her phone and a purple circle was flung her way. She ducked and rolled out of the way and Chat Noir dodged it too as it flew past him.

Ladybug took shelter behind an upturned table and Chat threw a bolt of green light at Lady Wifi who astonishingly paused in midair.

The three magic wielders all stared at the surprising sight before Lady Wifi came back to herself and flung a pause sign at Chat who took shelter behind another table.

Lady Wifi vanished and reappeared a moment later on the landing above which ran around the room. And from she stood she had a vantage point.

She quickly flung out more circles and the two had to dodge them quickly and during one break Chat had he flung anther bolt which Lady Wifi just stepped out of the way letting it hit the wall and leaving a scorch mark on it.

"CHAT!" Ladybug squawked. "Be careful! We do not want to damage this place!"

Lady Wifi merely laughed and said "those truths I'll be sure to get out of the both of you."

Ladybug was desperate at this point and swung her wand and watched as a stream of pink magic arced through the air and then along the floor before it vanished to both her and Lady Wifi.

But not to Chat.

Not that It mattered as Lady Wifi was flinging pause signs again but was now alternating with ones that had a lock and the thing would just hover in midair making a pretty decent barrier.

Eventually the duo had taken a chance behind the concierge's desk and Lady Wifi laughed "my oh my are you two lovebirds? Cause that's quite a cozy fit."

Chat laughed at her and said "yes it is," then he looked at Ladybug and said "but she's not wrong you know."

Ladybug looked disgusted that he would do this now before he asked "by the way my lady why'd your magic go into the rug like that?"

Ladybug blinked at him confused and asked "what do you mean?"

Chat said "I saw your magic sink into that ugly rug Mayor Bourgeois needs to replace. What were you trying to do, set a trap?"

Ladybug snorted "I doubt it that magic spell thing has not been working I mean what are the… chances." She trailed off as her eyes brightened with understanding.

Angling her body as best as she was able Ladybug spotted the rug Chat was talking about, and the designer in her noted the ugly pattern but the magic user took note of something else, and that made Ladybug give a wide grin.

Abandoning her cover she darted through Lady Wifi's barrage and barriers and waved at her, getting her attention and it worked.

She tried to line up a shot but paused realizing she had too many lock signs in the way.

Lady Wifi gritted her teeth and teleported to the lower level to get her but only had a slightly better angle which she tried to use but Ladybug had no trouble dodging them.

Sticking her tongue at Lady Wifi she winked and this enraged Lady Wifi to no end.

Giving a snarl she ran forward to get closer in range and then some miraculous happened.

She tripped over the rug and Lady Wifi fell flat on her face!

She dropped her phone and it went flying through the air landing right by Ladybug who with a simple whack cracked the screen!

Seconds later a butterfly fluttered free and Ladybug was quick to react.

"corrupted one, you bound by darkness by creations light I now bind, in this way I have mastered you, now take the guise which I command COMMUNICATION!"

There was a pink flash and Ladybug had grabbed the card before it finished forming, scooped up Alya's phone before hurrying over to her friend.

From where he now stood Chat complained "really my lady you have three cards to my one! Meow's with that?"

Ladybug merely hissed at him "just help me get her out of here before all hell breaks loose!"

Chat looked around at the already fading damages and the people's reactions to what had for them just taken place.

Nodding hurriedly Chat Noir went to Ladybug's side and the two of them got Alya out of there.

Leaving her in a park they waited till she woke up before they skedaddled.

As Marinette walked home she fended off built up calls from her parents and Nino when done Tikki who had been eating cookies in her purse said "are you okay Marinette?"

Marinette nodded with a happy smile "I'm great Tikki, I finally figured out what my magic's been doing!"

Tikki blinked at her. "Really?" She asked.

Marinette nodded "yes. Tikki my magic creates an opportunity for good luck."

"Huh?"

Marinette nodded "I'm not sure if it worked for that Pigeon guy but I did break his whistle so maybe I enchanted myself that time but for the others Stone Heart dropped his paper in a spot convenient for Chat, Stormy Weather got smacked in the face with a newspaper, Lady Wifi tripped over a rug. Tikki I can set up lucky moments!"

Tikki hummed "it does make sense but it seems to be really based in chance and probabilities doesn't it? I'm not sure that's very reliable."

Marinette nodded "but the same could be said true for luck of all kinds in general."

Tikki nodded "true." The Kwami paused at the look on her face.

"There's something else isn't there Marinette?"

Marinette sighed and nodded "we need to do something about Paris and its opinion of us and all the magical stuff happening now. What's going on with Ivan and now probably Alya isn't fair and I think something needs to help manage it."

Tikki nodded slowly "do you have something in mind?"

Marinette smiled down at the Kwami "I do."

Ladybug sat down on the roof eyeing the window on the opposite side. There was a lot of activity in there and Ladybug narrowed her eyes as she waited for said activity to die down.

When it looked stable Marinette pointed her wand at the window and focused.

Tikki had told her stuff like this was possible so dammit she would do this!

After a moment the window glowed pink before flying open.

Ladybug grinned as activity in there went silent.

After a moment Alya arrived at the window looking around before the magic user called out "up here!"

Alya looked up and gaped while Ladybug smiled widely and said "I hear you have some questions." Then she titled her head to one side and winked.


Author's Note: Alright that was chapter 3. First off I wanna say thanks to my new beta for this story Warmach1ne32 of F F . net . I was a little worried about the speed on this chapter, Alya's blog in that I might of possibly gone with a new name, and that I am not particularly good at puns but I'm told this works. Um not much else to say but my next update might be a bit in coming. Towards the end of the month I'll be launching my new PMD story which has been one of my personal projects for the longest time but stuff can happen. Check my Tumblr blog or DA page for details. I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or CardCaptor Sakura in any way, shape, or form. Reviews welcome.