A/N: This is my first fanfic. Any constructive criticism is welcome.
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug.
Chapter 1: Ladybug and Cat Noir (Part 1)
"Many eons ago, a spiritual phenomenon existed across the galaxy and in time settled on Earth. However, their presence caused rifts, making the planet wild, untamed, and destructive, though that intention was never intended. Centuries later, humanity was born, and the spiritual presence made itself known, though they could not be seen. One day, one lone human with an unknown force sensed their presence and crafted special jewels for the spirits to inhabit. Thus, the kwamis gained physical form and the miraculous was created. To show their gratitude, the kwamis will lend their power and a hero would bear a miraculous and rise to defend mankind. Out of all the miraculous created, two of them remain the most powerful: the earrings of the Ladybug and ring of the Black Cat; one bears fortune and healing while the other bears misfortune and destruction. It is said that combining the two together would grant the user one wish. A wish that would defy all of reality."
The small creature finished his story as he looked up with weary eyes. Its body was small with a slightly large head, covered in light purple with butterfly wings on its back. The man towering before him wasn't looking at him but instead focused on what he held in his palm. A locket with a picture of a woman inside, hair as golden as the sun and a smile that could banish the greyest of clouds. He caressed the picture with gentle care, the grief in his heart growing harder with each passing day.
"Even so, I want that power Nooroo," the man said. "I must have those miraculous!"
"It has been so long since I've last seen them," the little creature, Nooroo, sighed. "Even I don't know what's become of them or where they are."
The white butterflies did little help to lift the atmosphere that was enveloping the empty room. Their gathered light seemed to have strengthened the dark shadow the figure was emitting. Nooroo couldn't stop shivering. How was it that these butterflies scared him so much?
"There is no need to fret about that, my little Nooroo. Your Miraculous… remind me of its powers again."
Nooroo grasped on to the hope he had bubbling within. "The Moth brooch allows the holder to give the common folk their own superpower and make that person their devoted follower."
The man didn't stop the smirk forming from his lips. "And what better way to lure superheroes out than with supervillains."
The cold tone did not sit well with Nooroo. "But master, the miraculous are not meant to be used for evil purposes! Those who have are met with-"
"Enough!" the man stomped his foot in retaliation, waking the butterflies that filled the room. "The moment I found you, your fate was sealed! Your miraculous is mine to control! Therefore, I am your master, and you must obey me! Is that understood?!"
There was no point in hiding the horror in his dark purple eyes as Nooroo shivered at the man's pointed finger. Even if he wanted to escape, he had no choice. Whoever held the miraculous was bounded to them for life. With a heavy heart, Nooroo bowed his head and sadly replied. "Yes, master."
The man took the brooch from the box and clipped it onto the collar of his shirt. He spread out his arms as he shouted, "Nooroo, dark wings rise!"
Nooroo was sucked into the brooch as the white butterflies swarmed around him. A bright violet light illuminated from his body as he felt the immense power flowing within his veins. His smirk morphed into a grin, the magic coursing within him, filling him with strength he could never dream of having. When the transformation was complete, his attire changed. He stared at his own reflection, and yet he wasn't seeing his own self; he was staring at a different man and yet, he liked it.
"From this point forward, I shall be known as… Hawk Moth!" The newborn Hawk Moth manically laughed as the white butterflies fluttered with excited glee, ready to wreak havoc among humankind.
Beyond the confines of the new darkness, hazel eyes snapped open. A green kwami with a turtle shell on its back woke up from his nap in a state of shock, his body vibrating. An unbalance has occurred and one of his own was in danger. He needed to warn his Master.
He flew out of his makeshift bed in a hurry and out of his hiding place that was the old phonograph. He escapes to a meditation room to see an old Asian man in a Hawaiian shirt working on his patient, his arms raised in preparation.
The kawmi called out, "Master! Master!"
The sound alerted the patient in question, but the old man quickly diverted his attention to him.
"Master, master… chanting," the old man said. "It's all part of the treatment. Master, master… thank you for coming! See you again next week!" The old man pushes his patient out the door and closes it.
The old man was about to chastise his companion, but the green kwami beat him to the punch. "I know what you're about to say, Master, however I assure you this is of dire importance! The aura of the Moth Miraculous has awakened."
"What?" the old man questioned. "Are you sure?"
The little creature nodded, his master placing a hand on his chin in deep thought, "I thought it had been lost along with the peacock. Did you happen to sense it too?"
"No, only the moth," the kwami replied. "But the aura is negative I fear it may have gotten into the hands of a dark power!"
The old man hummed, pacing around the room, "We must find Nooroo and his Miraculous. If it has gotten into the wrong hands, there's no telling what evil will come upon the world!"
"Do you have a plan, master?" the kwami asked.
The old man sighed, "For now, we track down the negative energy you felt, Wayzz. It could give us a hint of Nooroo's location."
"And what if we were to encounter Nooroo's capturer?"
"Then we do what we have always done," the old man simply stated.
The kwami flinched at that. He knew that tone was not to be taken likely. "You're not suggesting-"
"There's no time to lose!" He raises his arm up, a turtle bracelet wrapped around his wrists. "Wayzz, shell-argh!" A popped back forced the old man to the ground, luckily on the meditation bed.
Wayzz sighed, floating towards him. His master was no spring chicken, and he knew it. "Master, be reasonable. You are-"
"Still young. I'm only 186!" He was met with an arched eyebrow.
The old man sighed, slowly getting back up. As much as he hated to admit it, Wayzz was right. There was only so much his body could take and as of right now, it was telling him to rest. "You are right Wayzz, I can no longer do this alone." He approached the old phonograph, his eyes steeled in focus.
He pressed the eyes of two Chinese branch dragons on the side of the phonograph's base, which then began to glow bright red. A slide opened up and revealed a few buttons. The old man pressed the buttons in a unique pattern, causing the phonograph to open a hatch and unveil an octagonal shaped box. One of very high importance.
"It is time to call upon new heroes."
A vibrating phone blinked the time of six o'clock, bouncing on the pink bed it laid in. A tired groan emitted from the bundle of pink blankets until a hand emerged from under the covers, silencing the blaring music.
"Marinette! Come on down!" a voice called. "Your alarm's been going off for five minutes! You're going to be late for your first day of school!"
The young girl, Marinette, slowly emerged from under the covers, her tired gaze welcoming the bright morning. She pulled herself to sit, then proceeded to stretch in attempt to wake up, all the while yawning as she did. The girl pulled herself out of bed and slugged her way to the sink in her room. She gazed at the tired reflection in the mirror as she pressed herself to brush her teeth. After refreshing herself, she walked out her bedroom and down to the kitchen, her mother preparing breakfast.
"Morning, honey," her mother chimed. "Excited for your first day at school?"
Marinette groaned, the sweet siren of sleep trying to call her back to bed. All kids, including Marinette can agree on one thing, going back to school is the worst. And why did it have to start so early?
"Now, honey, don't be like that," her mother chided lightly. "School is important, and it can be just as fun if you give it a chance."
"Sure, unless you add Chloe into the mix," Marinette remarked, preparing her hot chocolate. "I bet you anything she will be in my class again."
"Four years in a row? Is that even possible?"
"Knowing my luck, definitely."
"Oh, don't say that! It's the start of a new year, maybe things will be different," her mother approached her, prompting Marinette to look at the sweet grey eyes of her mother. "I'm sure everything will be just fine!"
Marinette felt her mood brighten a bit. Maybe her mom was right. Maybe this year will be different. Marinette's spark of hope empowered the chocolate mix box she was holding as it landed on the table causing a small earthquake. A single orange rolled out of the fruit bowl, using a slice of bread as a slide as it made its was to a butter knife, which laid on top of some butter, causing it to hit a spoon with a sugar cube to fling across the table, knock over a carton of milk and spilling all over the floor, then making it way to a cup of yogurt and toppling it over. Marinette groaned at her rotten luck.
The clumsy girl flipped the chocolate mix back up and a secured the lid in place. She then felt a soft caress on her cheek, prompting her to see her mother, her eyes warm and understanding. Her smile alone was enough to bring Marinette's spirit up.
After breakfast and a little clean up, Marinette got dressed and made her way downstairs, which lead to the entrance of the family bakery. Her father, a big man, was already downstairs, singing as he surprised her with a small rectangular box filled with green colored macaroons.
"Wow, these look amazing!" Marinette said.
"Glad you like them," her father said.
"Thanks, Dad!" Marinette said, hugging her father. "You're the best!"
"Hey, now, I can't take all of the credit," her father gives her the box as he grabbed a notebook from a side counter, opening it. "Your artistic talent played a big part too."
A certain page showed a drawing of the letters T and S transformed into a beautiful logo, embrodded with a leaf circlet. From the moment she could walk, Marinette excelled in art and design. Whenever an idea came to her, the first thing she would do was get a notebook out and start designing. Anything she made or drew, they would come to life.
Marinette proceeded to hug her father, only to accidently drop the box in the process. Luckily, her father catches it with his foot and tosses it into the air, catching it with his hands.
"Careful now," he chuckled, handing the box back to her.
Marinette nodded, giggling as her face turned a slight pink. But it quickly left as her mother gave her backpack. Marinette kisses both her parents on the cheek and runs out the door, prepared for the day.
"See you later!" she shouted before exiting the door, feeling her parents' smiles on her back.
Marinette ran to the direction of her school, which was only across the street from her home. She managed to catch herself before getting in front of a passing car. She waited for the stoplight to flash the walking sign, her smile never leaving her face. As soon as the sign blinked, Marinette took off, careful of the surrounding people. The fresh breeze and sunshine welcomed Marinette as she felt a skip in her step. A beautiful morning in Paris and so far, no disasters to be seen for miles. A warm feeling enveloped in her chest and for the first time, she felt that nothing could go wrong.
However, her luck seemed to have other ideas as it sent something fast in her direction. Marinette barely noticed the object run past her as she quickly lost her balance, the concrete breaking her fall. In the process, some of the macaroons flew out of the box.
Marinette picked herself up and groaned, trying to ignore the numbing pain that settled on her stomach. She got up and picked up the box, luckily it didn't take any damage. However, the macaroons didn't share that sentiment as pedestrians mindlessly crushed them under their feet, eyes glued to their phones.
Marinette opened the box and sighed in relief. A few more macaroons remained safely snug. Looks like her luck didn't ruin her yet. A soft sound reached her ears, prompting her to lift her head up at the source.
In front of her was a black cat, curiosity swirling in its amber eyes. One of the macaroons laid still in front of the cat's paws. Marinette wanted to laugh but any strength she wanted to force out was completely drained. Of all the things the universe tried to throw at her, it was an animal that represented bad luck.
The girl couldn't help the sigh that escaped her lips. "Seriously?" She groaned, dropping her head in defeat. School didn't even start yet and she already was feeling miserable. She knew she should've stayed at home.
The cat's meow got Marinette to look back up. Marinette watched as the cat pushed the treat with its nose, offering it to her as its eyes grew soft. Her eyes widened at what she just witnessed. Marinette has seen some internet videos of animals being smart in the wild, but never did she see one for herself. The only smart ones she knew of were the ones that were highly trained by professionals. And yet, this cat in front of her, a stray no doubt, was giving her a fallen macaroon as an apology.
She couldn't help but smile, even if the baked good was no longer edible. "Aw, you're so sweet. Thank you."
Marinette reached for the treat only to squeak in surprise when a pigeon swooped down and took it in its beak. The cat yowled at the bird, swiping its claws to catch it but to no avail. It arched its back, hissing angrily as the bird flew away.
A warm feeling blossomed in Marinette, seeing the cat in its defensive stance. "Don't worry, I'm no stranger to disasters. Besides, there are still a few left."
The feline relaxed its stance as it watched Marinette take out a surviving macaroon. She laid the treat on her hand and slowly reached her arm forward. The feline looked at Marinette, then at the macaroon. Cautiously, it stalked forward. Stopping before the offered treat, it briefly sniffed before deciding to lick it for taste. It didn't take long for the cat to take a bite of the baked pastry and purr in delight. The cat took one more bite to demolish the entire thing, licking its lips in satisfaction.
Marinette giggled, "Looks like the macaroons have the cat's approval, huh?"
The shrill sound of the school bell made Marinette jump to her feet. "Oh, no! I'm gonna be late!"
She didn't waste a second to sprint towards the school entrance, not before shouting, "Bye kitty!"
If Marinette took her time and looked back, she would've seen the black cat tilt its head in response. The cat in question scampered off to its next destination. From afar, an old man watched the entire scene unfold, a smile forming across his face.
Marinette raced into the entrance just in time before the doors closed. She sprinted towards the stairs, taking two steps at a time.
Marinette burst into the classroom, her luck deciding to give her a break. Class didn't seem to start yet, as everyone was still either mingling, catching up, or getting themselves ready. The teacher at the desk encouraged a student to sit at the front row this year, the student in question not liking the idea but made himself move anyway.
Marinette managed to catch her breath as she made her way to her seat, sighing in relief. "Phew! Made it!"
The girl set her bag down as she the wooden seat welcomed her back for the school year. Marinette took the opportunity to relax as the adrenaline died down. She took a deep breath in and let it out, the loneliness not bothering her in the slightest. Looks like this day is heading off to a great start.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" a snobbish voice called.
There went that good day. "Oh no, why me?"
Marinette groaned as she followed the hand up and trailed it back to the person. In front of her was none other than Chloe Bourgeois, standing high and mighty as the queen bee she makes herself to be.
"Get up. You're in my seat," she said, scorning at her.
"But Chloe, this has always been my seat." Marinette argued, her voice small. Marinette could feel the eyes of the other students as Chloe now made her conversation matter more than theirs.
"Not anymore! New school year, new rules, new seats!" Chloe's lackey, Sabrina, butted in. Wherever Chloe goes, Sabrina is not to far behind, and it has always been like that since the very beginning.
Before Marinette could utter a word, Chloe continued, "Listen, Adrien's arriving today, and since that's going to be his seat, this is going to be my seat, got it?"
"So why don't you just go and sit beside that new girl over there," she points to another desk on the opposite side of the room where a girl with tanned skin and fiery red hair was sitting. The girl turned her head slightly and narrowed her eyes at Chloe. Marinette shared her sentiment.
However, that begged the question, "Who's Adrien?"
She was met with a fit of laughter from the two. "Can you believe she doesn't know who Adrien is? What rock have you been living under?" Now it was Marinette's turn to narrow her eyes at the blonde.
"He's only a famous model!" Sabrina answered.
"And I am his best friend. Henceforth, he adores me. So, go on, move!"
"Chloe," a voice picked up. "I hope you aren't trying to start something this early. It is the first day of school."
If there was one thing that no one wanted, it was to get caught by the teacher, however Chloe was quick on the uptake. "Not at all," she said in a sweet voice. "It's just that… I was just asking Marinette if she was willing to part with her seat this year."
Marinette knew exactly what Chloe was doing and if she knew her-which she did- she would have her way, no matter what.
The teacher stared at Chloe for a second before turning to Marinette, "Marinette, why don't you let Chloe have the seat for this year?"
Marinette wanted to protest, but it was a battle she could never win, especially to the teacher. She's been in her class for a while now and she was the sweetest person to walk the school halls; she could never say no to her. Sighing, she gathered up her things and got up from her safe spot. Unfortunately, her luck struck again causing her to trip and lose the rest of the macaroons. A single macaroon survived the fall, snuggly safe in the box.
"New school year, same Dupain-Cheng," Chloe cackled, her lackey laughing along with her.
Marinette felt her face heat as she couldn't stop the burning sensation forming from her eyes. Chloe always had to make a show when facing her and as always, she would be sitting on her throne, enjoying the despair she brings to her.
"Hey! Who elected you the Queen of Seats!" a voice shouted, pausing the two's merriment. Everyone turned their attention to the new girl, her glasses reflecting the flames in her amber eyes.
Chloe was not impressed in the slightest, scoffing, "Oh, look Sabrina! We've got a little do-gooder in our class this year. What are you gonna do, super newbie? Shoot beams at me with your glasses?"
"Step closer and you'll find out!" the girl snarled, coming face-to-face with the blonde.
"That's enough now," the teacher called out. "Let's get settled now, shall we?"
The girl heeded the adult as she headed back to her seat, her arm guiding Marinette to her seat, her fire contained for now. The smugness poured out of Chloe as she took to her seat, its presence choking the light out of the people in the room.
"And Chloe, one more show out of you, and it's straight to the principal's office," the teacher voiced.
Chloe looked affronted by that and was about to protest, however the teacher gave her a look and she immediately swallowed her words. Out of everyone in this school, Chloe can never say no to Miss Bustier, nor argue back. And that was something Marinette admired.
She looked to the girl next to her. "Thanks for back there."
"Chillax girl, no biggie," the girl replied.
Marinette sighed, "I so wish I can handle Chloe the way you do."
"You mean the way Majestia does it," the girl pulls out her phone, showing a picture of a superheroine posing in the sky. "She says that all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing. Well, that girl over there is evil, and we are the good people. We can't let her get away with it."
"Well, that's easier said than done," Marinette sighed, looking back at Chloe. "She likes to make my life miserable."
"That's because you let her!" the girl said. "You just need more confidence, er…?"
Marinette took out the last macaroon and split it half, offering it to her. "Marinette."
The girl introduced herself, "Alya."
The two ate their halves of the macaron, smiling at their newfound friendship. Marinette decided that this school year probably won't be so bad.
The teacher wrote her name on the chalkboard, introducing herself, "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Miss Bustier and I'll be your teacher for the school year."
All but one paid attention to the teacher as Chloe gazed out the window, muttering, "Where is he? He should've been here by now."
Outside the school, a young boy in high fashion attire stopped for a moment to catch his breath, only for a beeping car to have him pick up the pace again. He kept running until the school was within his sights. As he reached the first flight of stairs, a black car pulled over at the side and a woman wearing a secretary outfit exits the vehicle, along with a man with a huge built that was not human.
"Adrien, stop this right now," the woman demanded. "You know you're not allowed to be here!"
Adrien turned to the woman and stood his ground, "But I want to be here!"
He reached for the entrance until a cry reaches his ears. He turns to the direction it came from and gasps. He sees an old man struggling on the ground, reaching for his cane. What shocked him most was that no one bothered to stop and help him. It became too much as Adrien rushed to the old man's aid. Carefully, he helps the man up as he struggled to get his feet working. Not yet letting go, Adrien picked up the cane and hands it to the man, making sure he had his grip firm.
"Thank you, young man," the man said as Adrien replied with a warm smile.
Adrien turns away and proceeds to head back to the stairs, only to be met with the woman and big man blocking the entrance. He hung his head in defeat, his salvation within arm's reach.
"I just wanna go to school like everybody else. Is that so wrong?" the boy argues weakly, his energy diminishing as he walks towards them. "Please don't let my father know about this."
The old man watched as the car drove away. That boy, his kindness was something and yet, there was something else. The old man felt a small grin grace his lips, walking down the street. He would do nicely.
The bell fiercely rang as it signaled the end of the first class. As the students prepared to leave Miss Bustier announced, "Those of you who have P.E., Mr. D'Argencourt is expecting you at the courtyard. The rest of you can head over to the library for study hall."
"KIM!" a voice boomed. Kim was about to get clobbered by a bigger boy until Miss Bustier stopped the fight from even starting.
"Ivan, what is going on?"
"It's all Kim," Ivan argued. "He started it!"
"No, I didn't!" Kim defended. "Ivan's just mad as he always is!"
Ivan gritted his teeth as he reeled his fist back. "You little-!"
"That's enough!" Miss Bustier commanded. "Both of you, principal's office, now!"
The two conceded as they dragged themselves out of the classroom. Even though it was a short walk to the principal, time slowed with each step with Kim at his side.
"Wuss," Kim muttered, Ivan growling as he clenched his fists.
Far from the eyes and ears of Paris, the presence of a lingering darkness sparked the new villain's core, the white butterflies fluttering with excited glee. "Negative emotions, perfect. Just what I need." He opened his gloved hand, welcoming the first butterfly that landed. He brought his other hand over and covered the insect, tightly but carefully. He poured his energy into the insect, feeling it withering beneath his hold. He uncovered his hand to reveal a creature of tainted darkness, black with purple markings.
He smiled wickedly, "Burn a hole into his heart, my horrible akuma."
The dark butterfly took off from his hand and flew up towards a small window opening. It made its way to the outside world, ready to infect the light.
Finally, the boys stood at the front door, the impending doom awaiting them. Though for Ivan, it was a routine; the sooner he could get away from Kim, the better. As soon as he opened the door, the owlish principal was sitting at his desk.
"Excuse me, young man," the principal replied. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you to knock?"
Ivan's face couldn't be anymore red than what it was right now. Kim, on the other hand, looked like he was on the verge of combusting. The principal waved his hand in a shooing motion, "Out you go, try it again!"
The moment the door closed, Kim started cracking up. "Wow Ivan, are you that stone-hearted that you can't do some simple knocking?"
Ivan's knuckles turned white, as Kim's laughter raised his ire the more he heard it. It was always like this when he and the athlete butted heads. And it was always Ivan that got the end of the stick, while Kim got away just a slap on the wrist. It wasn't fair.
Kim's cackling didn't cease, "Good luck trying to talk to Mylene now!"
A feral growl emitted from the bigger boy's throat, made no move to approach the athlete with raised fists. He can't risk getting into trouble again, he had to start this year with good marks; everyone still looks at him as if he were a giant monster, but he couldn't help that.
Unnost to the boys, a small black butterfly fluttered about the school, heading right towards them. As silent as the wind, the butterfly landed on the crumbled paper on Ivan's hand, merging with it.
"Ivan?" Kim turned around to see Ivan staring blankly into space, all the while sporting a glowing butterfly-like mask hovering around his eyes.
A pleasant buzz floated in Ivan's head, a voice answered, "Stoneheart, I am Hawk Moth. I give you the power to seek revenge on those who have wronged you. But in return you must give me two very important jewels. Do we have a deal?"
His mind was numb, but Ivan grinned. "Okay, Hawk Moth."
All at once, Kim stared as Ivan was covered in a purple and black smog. His body began to grow in size, the athlete's eyes widening in horror. The smog disappeared, leaving behind a huge, stone golem in Ivan's place. The golem opened his eyes, an angry yellow peering down at the quivering boy.
Kim squeaked, "Ivan?"
Stoneheart took in a slow, deep breathe in. Finally, he roared. "KIMMM!"
The roar echoed throughout Paris, as the entire shook under its force, Kim screaming in fear. The monster pulled back his fist, ready to leave a heavy blow. Instinctively, Kim ducked down as Stoneheart struck, only to hit the ground, punching a hole right through it. The athlete's mind went into overdrive as he squeezed underneath Stoneheart and made a run for it.
The door to the principal's office slammed open as the principal shouted, "What is going on out here?!"
He gasped in terror as he saw the stone golem, his sheer size sending his heart into a frenzy. Stoneheart glared at the principal before he leaped down from the level and began to follow the runaway Kim. The principal quickly ran back into his office, his heart beating a million times a minute. Sweaty hands reached for the phone as he dialed 112.
"Hello, police? Get me the army!"
No one could help but panic as they tried to piece together the chaos that just occurred. In the library, everyone scrambled as they made a break for it. Marinette was knocked down amongst the chaos but it wasn't long before Alya came to help her up, shouting "Come on!"
The two friends rushed towards the full screen tv, where the rest of the students were watching the chaos unfold. Marinette couldn't believe what she was seeing; the security cameras were catching footage of a stone golem, an actual golem in Paris, causing destruction. The monster roared, causing everyone to cover their ears, but remains of it echoed. Something sparked in Marinette when she heard it. She couldn't help but feel how familiar it sounded.
"He sounds a lot like… Ivan," Marinette mumbled, her eyes widening at the prospect of it. That creature was Ivan! But how?
Stars sparkled in Alya's eyes as she watched the scene unfold, "A real-life supervillain in Paris? Awesome!" She took out phone and checked all the apps she had. "GPS, check. Battery, charged. Well, I'm outta here!"
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Marinette shouted.
"To where the action is!" Alya answered. "Whenever there's a villain, a hero is bound to show up! No way I'm missing this!" The girl tore off the library without looking back.
"Alya, it's too dangerous! Alya!" Marinette tried to race after her, but she had already exited the building. Marinette couldn't help the anxiety that was filling up in her chest.
What is going on?
Somewhere, on the other side of Paris, a grand mansion stood in all of its glory, only the glory lacked taste in color. Gates acted as the entrance while high walls surrounded the structure from the outside world. Inside the mansion, Adrien sulked in his seat, as the woman, Nathalie, continued the lesson he tried to get away from.
"Who was the president of the Fifth French Republic?"
"Everyone thinks it was de Gaulle, but it was actually Rene Coty before the first elections," Adrien answered, a gray cloud hanging over his head.
"Excellent, Adrien," Nathalie replied.
The sound of footsteps reached their ears as dread creeped upon Adrien. It wasn't long before his father entered the dining room. Gabriel Agreste stood tall as he entered, his intimidating presence sending chills down Adrien's spine. He spoke, "May I have a moment with my son, Nathalie?"
Out of all the people he encountered, Nathalie was the only one Gabriel was able to tolerate and keep around long enough to gain his trust. The blond could never understand how she became so strong.
Gabriel looked to his son, "I thought that I made myself clear about you not going to school Adrien."
Adrien gasped in surprise, turning to Nathalie for an explanation, only for her to cast her head aside in shame. "Everything you need is right here. I will not have you outside in that dangerous world."
"I can take care of myself!" Adrien argued, standing up from his seat. "Besides, I'm always stuck in here by myself. Why can't I go to school and make friends like everyone else?"
Gabriel was having none of it. "Because you are not like everyone else! You are my son!"
The man took his leave, fizzling out any hope Adrien had of succeeding. Nathalie suggested to end of the lesson today, but Adrien didn't give her the chance to finish as he sprinted out of the room. He ran up the steps to his bedroom, opening and closing the door shut. He slumped face first on his bed, letting a frustrated whine that he could barely contain.
The frustration quickly quenched as sadness began to take over. He shifted his head to his nightstand and gazed at a framed picture that stood at the center. A photo taken from a time long ago, a time when everything was right. A blonde woman with the biggest smile on her face, hugging a little Adrien from behind. Her green eyes shone with just as much happiness as the little boy's did, but it did little to brighten the somberness of the room.
Adrien looked to the photo and sighed. I wish you were here, Mom. You'd probably convince him to let me go.
Adrien closed his eyes as he drifted to his thoughts, the only escape that he was allowed to have. He knew his father loved him; he just doesn't understand why he was like this. Gabriel's icy stance is enough to quell any courage of the strongest warrior. How he wished he could stand up to him but the idea of leaving their family broken is something he did not want to happen. Floating into nothingness seemed like a good option, until the sound of a loud boom jolted him out of reality.
"What was that?!" Adrien leaped from his bed and rushed to his window to get a better view of the commotion. He could only stare wide eyed as he saw a stone golem roaring and throwing cars in its path, people scrambling to get to safety. The police barricaded its pursuit, their weapons aimed at the ready.
"Ready?" the chief lifted his arm and threw it down. "FIRE!"
The squad fired their weapons at the monster, but it nothing to graze it. Things escalated quickly as the monster grew larger with each attack. The cops watched on in horror, some dropping their weapons in dismay. Stoneheart took that as an opportunity to pick up a car and throw it at the police. A deafening crash was heard as the police, scrambled to move out of range, however some weren't lucky as screams of pain were heard.
Adrien tore himself away from the scene as he rushed to his couch and turned on the tv. The stone golem took the entirety of the screen as the news headlined the event as 'breaking news'. "As unbelievable as it seems, a real-life stone golem is wreaking havoc across Paris. The police force is doing their best to neutralize the situation, but our sources show that facing this monster only increases its size and strength."
"This… is real," Adrien muttered.
The news switched to another setting, a man in a business suit wearing a sash holding a press conference. "I'm asking all Parisians to remain indoors until this situation is dealt with." That elevated with the press bombarding him with questions and flashing cameras.
Marinette managed to get home safely without her luck turning on her as she watched from her bedroom. "No one knows where this creature came from but an advisory has been stated that no one is to approach it until further notice. The police have closed all roads at this time."
"This is not how I pictured the first day of school should be," Marinette muttered as she quivered in her seat.
She averted her eyes to focus on anything but chaos, only to spot something on her desk, a black box.
Adrien did the same as he too spotted something on top of the table, a black box.
Without knowing, the two simultaneously asked, "What is that?"
Cautiously, the two teens picked up their respective box, looking at them closely. The box was small with a unique, red design on the top.
The teens opened their boxes, each holding an accessory. Marinette's held earrings, deigned in the resemblance of a ladybug. Adrien's held a black ring with a green paw print at the center. The two didn't get to admire the piece as both objects began to glow brightly, almost blinding them. The show didn't last as the light emerged from the jewelry, quickly dancing in place. Slowly, the lights began to fade and, in their place, stood small beings. For Marinette, the creature was red, with two black spots on her cheeks and another on her forehead. Its head was smaller than the rest of its body, but it seemed to be floating just fine. No thoughts came to Marinette as the creature opened it big, blue eyes and stared directly at her.
The creature squeaked, "Hello."
"AHHH!" That seemed to break the spell that possessed Marinette as she jumped out her chair. "A giant bug! A mouse! Bug-mouse!"
"Everything's okay! Don't be scared!" the creature said, indicating that it was female.
"Bug-mouse talks!" Marinette exclaimed as she grabbed the nearest items closest and began throwing them at this thing. The creature flew out of the way to avoid impact as she tried to reassure the frightened girl to no avail.
As the light faded for Adrien, he was able to get a good look at what appeared before him. It was a small creature that strongly resembled a black cat, from the ears to the tail, even the whiskers. To say Adrien was amazed was an understatement. The cat creature roused itself from its sleep and stretched, yawning.
"Whoa! Are you some kind of magical cat?" Adrien grinned as he reached his finger to poke it.
"Magical, yes. A cat, far from it!" the creature huffed. "Those felines don't hold a candle to what I can do!"
That caught Adrien off guard, but in a good way.
"The name's Plagg. Nice to meet-ooh shiny!" The creature, Plagg, eagerly flew towards a foosball table and landed on one of the metal figures. "What's it do?" He began playing with it, spinning on a roll and quickly getting dizzy.
"Hey, get out of that!" Adrien exclaimed as he reached the table/ Before he could reach Plagg, the spinning figure spitted the little cat out, launching him from the other side of the room.
"Woah, let's go again!" Plagg shook the dizziness out and soon spotted an arcade machine at the side of the room. "Oh, is that food?" The little being flew towards the machine, landing on the joystick while licking his lips.
"That's not food! Come back here!" Adrien exclaimed, but that didn't stop the kwami from taking a bite from the handle. As soon as teeth met rubber, Plagg cringed.
"Eugh, gross! How do you humans digest this?!"
Plagg floated up and moved elsewhere, all the while unknowingly dodging Adrien's attempts of capture.
Meanwhile, zero progress was made between the human and the floating creature. The room was a complete mess, objects scattered all over the place and Marinette backed up to the sink in her room.
The red creature slowly floats forward, her little paws motioning in a calming manner. "Listen. I know everything may seem strange to you-" she's interrupted when Marinette traps her in a glass jar. The red creature sighs, a small smile on its face, "Okay, if that makes you feel safer."
"Okay, first off, who are you, and how did you get in my room?" Marinette asked.
"My name is Tikki," the creature replied. "And I am a kwami."
Marinette arched her eyebrow. "A kwami?"
"Yes, as for how I came here, it's through that," Tikki said, pointing to the discarded box with the earrings still inside.
Marinette arched an eyebrow, "From the box?"
"The earrings," Tikki clarified. "And from those earrings, I grant you power, the power of healing and fortune."
After chasing him all across his room, Adrien changed his approached as he climbed up his rock-climbing wall. He spotted Plagg trying to take a bite out of the tv remote. He jumped down and finally caught him, landing stomach first on the couch.
Adrien wasted no time asking, "Okay, mind telling me what you're doing here and what are you?"
Plagg didn't look offended in the slightest as he answered, "Okay, I'll make this simple, I'm a kwami and I grant powers. Yours is the power of destruction and misfortune. Got it?"
"Uh… no."
"Kids," Plagg groaned. "I need food for this."
Adrien couldn't process what this tiny cat was saying. Kwami? Destruction and misfortune? What kind of crazy prank was this? That's when it struck him.
"Oh, I get it, it's a prank from my father!" Adrien said, until he processed what he said. "Wait, what I am saying, he doesn't have a sense of humor. Besides, there's no way he'll allow a little cat like you in the house."
Plagg gasped, wriggling himself free and floating up to Adrien's face, "Your father must never know that I exist, or anyone for that matter!"
That got Adrien off guard. He wasn't planning on spilling anything, but the way Plagg was saying it, it was serious. He quickly nodded, "I won't tell."
"Good, now onto business," Plagg said, clearing his throat to look important. "You, kid, have been chosen to wield the black cat miraculous."
Adrien tilted his head and asked, "Miraculous?"
"The ring over there," Plagg replied, pointing to the box with the ring sill inside.
Marinette was going through the same explanation as Adrien as Tikki spoke, "My dear, you have been chosen to wield the Ladybug miraculous."
"Chosen?" Marinette questioned. "For what?"
Tikki continued, "Not long ago, a miraculous that was believed to be lost was activated and is now being used for evil. That stone being that is wreaking havoc is actually an innocent human being who is under the control of that person wielding the Moth miraculous."
Dread seeped into Marinette of what she was hearing. She knew there was something going on, but never did she think that some kind of magic would be involved.
Adrien continued to listen as Plagg explained, "For someone to turn into a monster or a superpowered being, an akuma must be made, which is something only the Moth miraculous could accomplish. Anyone who comes in contact with it will have no choice but to follow the orders of the wielder and the victim will never know. That's where you and Ladybug come in."
"Ladybug?" Adrien asked.
"You think you'd be doing this on your own?"
"Along the way, your partner, the Black Cat, will assist you in your mission," Tikki continued. "While he is your shield, you will be the one to cleanse the power of akuma. An akuma will hide itself in the object of the transformed person and you must find it. Only then will the chaos end and balance be restored."
"Kid," Plagg said.
"My dear," Tikki said.
The two beings looked at the kids in front of them, determination in their eyes. "Help us stop this villain and bring back the Moth miraculous."
After all that was said and done, the only thing Marinette could do was look dumbfounded. This creature, this kwami, was asking her to put her life on the line and go fight that monster! She did the one thing any rational person would do.
"Mom! Dad!"
Tikki gasped in fright as the girl proceeded to open the hatch to get her parents, "No, no, no, no!"
Tikki hurriedly phased out of the glass jar and stopped Marinette from going any further. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm your friend! Please trust me! You and the Black Cat are the only ones who could stop this!"
Marinette could only watch in dismay as the situation fully hit her. She mind scrambled as she looked for an excuse, "There must be a mistake. I'm no superhero! The only superpower that I have is being clumsy and awkward." "I know, you should go see Alya! She's brave and she loves superheroes. She'd definitely be up for the job!"
"Marinette, you are the chosen one!" Tikki exclaimed.
"But I'm stuck here." Adrien cried. "I'm not even allowed to go to school! What good is a superhero who's imprisoned in his own house?!"
"None. That's why it's all going to change soon. If you're willing to change, that is," Plagg replied as he rolled on top of a toilet paper roll, having the time of his life. Adrien glanced over to the ring in the box, the green paw print illuminating the dark color of the ring. The one chance he was being offered freedom and here was Adrien, questioning it. His eyes steeled up as he felt a determination, he never knew he had.
Elsewhere, Wayzz and the old man looked at the remaining miraculous in the box.
"Are you sure that they'll be up for this, Master?" Wayzz asked.
"I got it wrong once Wayzz. I will not make the same mistake again," the old man said. "I hope."
He closed the box as it hid itself away in the old phonograph.
"I don't know if I could do this," Marinette mumbled, looking at the earrings in her hand.
Tikki took this chance to encourage her, "Everything will be fine, just trust yourself."
Trust herself, huh? That's a first. Marinette sighed, seeing no other way to get out of this. She proceeded to put the earrings on and excepted her fate.
"Okay, so all I have to do is break the object where the whatchama-call-it is hiding?" Marinnete asked.
"An akuma, which you must capture," Tikki clarified.
"How exactly?"
"You have a special magic yo-yo that will help capture it. You also have a superpower called 'Lucky Charm'. Whenever things look bleak, use it and it will help turn the tables."
"Aww… this is all going so fast, Tikki! Are you sure I can do this?"
"Absolutely," Tikki reassured her. "Now, all you have to say is, Tikki, spots on."
"Tikki, spots on?"
The earrings shined as Tikki was pulled into them. Marinette panicked as the magic began to swirl around her. First, she saw pink until she felt a tingling around her eyes as she felt the beginnings of a mask form. Her clothes shifted as a ladybug themed suit stood in their place. Marinette felt herself settle down until she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a ladybug superhero with ribbons acting as antennas. The earring s was still in place but that wasn't the least of her worries.
Marinette could only look on as she uttered a single word, "Eep."
Meanwhile, slid the ring on his finger which then donned a bright silver. The tiny cat popped his head out of the empty toilet paper roll and said, "Plagg, claws out. That's the phrase you need to say to transform. Oh, and your special ability is 'Cataclysm'; it destroys whatever you."
"Got it!" Adrien got into position and shouted, "Plagg, claws out!"
"Wait, I haven't finished explaining!" Plagg cried as he was sucked into the ring. The energy he felt was wild and electrifying; Adrien loved it. He let the magic do its things as he embraced the power the ring held. When the transformation was done, Adrien took a moment to look at himself.
He now donned a black catsuit, with two faux cat ears sticking on top of his head, a belt that acted as the tail, and golden bell.
Adrien smiled ear to ear as he couldn't help but shout, "Awesome!"
Marinette did not share the same sentiment as she looked pulled and poked at the outfit.
"How does thing come off?" Marinette groaned. She was not going out like this!
"Tikki, if you can hear me, I want my normal clothes back."
She waited for Tikki to respond, but all she can hear was silence. Marinette groaned, facepalmed at what she got herself into. She was brought out of her thoughts when the anchorwoman spoke, giving the latest update on the stone golem.
"The being, now known as Stoneheart, still shows no signs of stopping as it continues this rampage."
As Marinette watches, something catches her eye. Behind Stoneheart, a lone figure was riding a bike trying to catch up to it. Marinette recognized that fiery hair anywhere as she cried, "Alya?!"
"Marinette, are you okay?" her mother called.
Marinette covered her mouth, not realizing how loud she was. She quickly looked around in panic before making her way to her bed and hiding herself under the covers. The hatch door opened as Marinette's mother came up.
"Marinette, I heard you shout, is everything okay?"
"Uh… yeah, Mom! Just super!"
Her mother looked up to see a bundle of blankets nestled. "Why are you in bed?"
Marinette replied, "Uh… the news got a l-little scary so, I-I wanted to not look at anything for a w-while."
When she heard nothing, Marinette couldn't help the panic beginning to surface. Her mother was a sharp one when it came to situations, as well as Marinette's. The moment she'd find her daughter in a ladybug themed suit, Marinette would die on the spot. The long silence was quickly broken when she heard her mother speak, "I know this wasn't how you wanted this day to start. No one could've suspected something like this. Just know that the authorities are doing everything they can to fix this situation."
Her mother started to head back down, pausing before got out, "And remember, if you're scared or need someone to talk to, your father and I are here, okay?"
Marinette couldn't help the pain that surged in her entire body. Her mother was the best, she didn't deserve being lied to. But she doesn't want her loved ones getting hurt.
She swallowed the bile in her throat as she replied, "Yeah, thanks mom."
The moment she heard the hatch door close, Marinette quickly discarded the blankets and opened the window lid above her bed and headed up to her balcony. She looks out to see her street damaged by Stoneheart. Luckily, some buildings remained standing. The destruction continued its trail further down the road.
Marinette breathed as she calmed herself down. She didn't want to do this, but if nobody else did, who will?
"Okay, I have superpowers now," Marinette muttered to herself. She looked down and noticed an object hanging around her waist. She picks it up, now knowing that this was the yo-yo Tikki was talking about. Marinette arched her eyebrow in confusion. "How is this supposed to me?"
She gave it a try as she brought the toy up and down a few times. It acted like any regular yo-yo, but Tikki said it magic. Marinette flings it into the air, gasping in surprise at how far it could reach. The object reached as far as Notre Dame, wrapping itself around the head of a gargoyle.
Seeing the string stop expanding, Marinette decided to give it a tug, but the string pulled her along forcing her told on for dear life as she flew through the air, screaming in terror.
Adrien was having a blast. He walked on a long silver staff with the expertise of the cat he embraced. Finally, for once in his life, he felt free. No rules, no one telling him where he needed to be or go.
"I could get used to this," Adrien said, his grin never leaving his face.
His ears perked up when the sound of screaming echoed throughout the city. He looked up to see a girl donning a ladybug costume flying through the air and heading straight towards him! Adrien couldn't react in time as this girl crashed into him, knocking him off his staff in the process. The yo-yo wraps itself around the staff, surprising the teens as the strings coils and tightens around them, proceeding them to bounce a bit until it settled and dangled them upside-down, a few inches above the ground.
Adrien shook himself a bit to regain his bearings. He looked to the girl that slammed into him and saw that she was an inch away from his face. Marinette couldn't stop the blush that creeped up her face as she looked at the boy was tangled with. She was prepared for the shouts and complaints of her clumsiness, however all she saw was a smile.
"Well, that's one way to make an entrance," the cat boy chuckled.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it on purpose," Marinette said, as she struggled to get themselves untangled.
"Here, let me," the boy offered his assistance. Both teens stretched the string enough to let them lose, resulting the two to fall headfirst onto the hard concrete. The two groaned in pain, rubbing their heads at the force of impact.
"You, okay?" the boy asked, reaching his hand out for her to grab.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Marinette replied, grabbing the hand he helped pull her up. She dusted herself a bit as the boy spoke.
"You must be the partner my kwami told me about. I'm…" The boy paused. In all of his excitement he forgot to pick a hero name. Black Cat was too on the nose. Maybe a name that sounded closer to home. "Cat Noir. Yeah, Cat Noir! And you?"
"I'm Ma… err… Ma…," Marinette struggled to bring her yo-yo back down, which finally came down and untangled, only to drop on the boy's head hard. He clutched his head in pain. "Madly clumsy. I'm so sorry!"
Cat Noir didn't seem mad as he picked up his staff. "Hey, no sweat, clumsy girl. I'm learning the ropes, too!"
The ground shook, almost knocking the two off their balance. Steadying themselves, the two rushed over to the commotion to find the street completely demolished with debris. Cars were turned over or crushed, and some of the buildings didn't escape unscathed.
Marinette's eyes widened as she looked at the scene before her, "Stoneheart's definitely not one for stealth."
Cat Noir didn't waste a second as he sprinted forward. Marinette shouted, "Hey! Where are you going?"
"To save Paris! Come on, partner!" Cat Noir extended his staff, as he vaulted up to the rooftops, following the trail of destruction.
Marinette stayed rooted where she stood, not ready to move just yet. But she knew she couldn't stay and do nothing. She took a deep breathe in, held it, and let out. "Trust yourself, trust yourself."
Steeling herself, she flung her yo-yo forward as she felt herself getting tugged along again. She didn't hold back her screams as she flew forward.
It was a game of hide and seek. A cruel one at that. Kim looked for every opportunity he could get to hide away from his pursuer. But every time, that stone being was right behind him. Kim looked around frantically until he set his sights on the entrance to the subway. He forced his legs into high gear as he raced headfirst into the entrance. Stoneheart jumped and reached his hand out to make a grab for the athlete.
He pulled his arm out, smirking. He got him. It quickly faded as he found that he grabbed nothing but air. Stoneheart shook with anger until he let it all out in a deafening roar. Kim held his ears, the noise pounding his head. He ran to the other side of the platform, watching as the arm came back to try and nab him again. Slowly, he made his way out of the subway, making sure not to make the slightest sound. Looking back, he saw the stone being occupied in reaching his prey not realizing that he escaped.
Kim breathed softly as he made his escape. He felt the itch of exhaustion seep in, but the adrenaline kept him awake. He quietly danced around the fallen debris, keeping his breathing as low as possible. Victory was just ahead until the sound of a crackling noise forced him to stop. He looked down to see his foot had stepped on a chunk of stone. A pool of dread filled him as he heard clashing stones make his way toward him.
Kim sprinted out of there but didn't get any further as gravity forced him down to the ground. He gazed back to see that he tripped on a lamppost that was uprooted from its stance. Fear took over as Kim commando crawled as fast as he could, the sound getting closer. It didn't take long for a shadow to loom over Kim, stopping his attempt. The quivering boy could only look up at the menacing stone being, his golden eyes glaring down in hate.
The stone being chuckled as he pulled back his fist, "So, who's the wuss now?"
Kim said nothing as he stood frozen in fear. Nothing could save him now.
The stone golem plunged his fist forward and hit the ground where Kim once stood, kicking up dust and debris. The stone monster chuckled in delight; his prey finally put in his place. As the dust cleared, the only thing that remained was an implanted fist, no crushed Kim. The monster grunted in confusion; he was sure he hit him.
"Hey," a voice shouted, prompting Stoneheart to look up at the source. On the other side of the street stood a blonde boy, clad with a black cat suit holding a shaking Kim in his arms. "It's not nice to pick on people smaller than you."
"You mean like you?!" Stoneheart growled as he pulled fist off the concrete and raced towards the two.
Kim screamed in fright, but Cat Noir stood his ground as he leapt up into the air, taking Kim with him. He landed in front of a nearby building and ushered Kim inside. "You'll be safe in here. Don't come out until it's over."
"Thank you," Kim said.
Cat nodded as he leapt away and headed back to Stoneheart. He spotted him on the other side of the street, just a few buildings away where Kim was hiding. If Cat wanted to keep Kim safe, he had to get Stoneheart as far away as possible. He looked around until his eyes captured a large structure a few miles away: the Parc de Princes Stadium.
The beginnings of a cheshire grin spread across his face as Cat leapt off to finalize his plan into motion. Meanwhile, Marinette managed to land safely on a few rooftops away from the action, all the while trying to maintain her composure. To say it was easy would be a lie, but she was getting the hang of it, even if the results were minimal.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this," Marinette muttered to herself.
The sound of crashing interrupted her musings as she ran toward the edge, looking down to see Stoneheart lifting and smashing everything in sight to find his prey. His growls and snarls increased in volume with each swing, making Marinette flinch at the sight. The way he looked paled in comparison to how the news portrayed him; sure, he was big, but seeing this monster, even from a distance is enough make anyone shake.
A bomb exploded within Stoneheart as he shook the earth with his roar, "KIMMM! COME OUT HERE!"
The roar echoed throughout the city, shattering nearby windows and blowing away bits of debris. Marinette shielded her ears as the noise reached to where she was ducking down as to not get swept away by the wind. When the wind finally stopped, Marinette cautiously peeked out from her hiding spot. Her eyes widened at the power Stoneheart displayed; the streets were crumbled under his weight, cars overturned as they blared their pain. It was a miracle no one got caught in the crossfire but that did nothing to ease Marinette's anxiety.
"Yoohoo, Mr. Flintstone!" a voice sang, catching Marinette by surprise. She and Stoneheart whipped their heads to see Cat Noir standing on top of a lamppost, waving his arms around. "Bet you can't me!"
Marinette blanched at what she was seeing. Was this really the time to taunt a creature that was literally tearing Paris apart?!
Stoneheart scowled at the cat boy, but that only encouraged him. "If you catch me, I'll tell you where Kim is hiding!"
Stoneheart paused for a moment while Marinette's mind was in a full-blown panic. What is that cat thinking?!
As for Stoneheart, he didn't waste a second to charge into Cat Noir, only for him to dodge to the next lamppost. His cheekiness couldn't be contained as he leapt from post to post with Stoneheart behind his tail.
"Where is Kim? Tell me!" Stoneheart roared, chasing the cat boy down.
Marinette looked on as Cat continued to taunt Stoneheart, leading him away. Marinette whipped her head to see the direction Cat Noir was going. A spark went off the moment she saw the stadium.
Marinette looked back down to the fleeing boy and hummed, "Not bad, kitty."
With that, she flung out her yo-yo and flew into the air, heading the same way to catch up with Cat. Her screams were nonexistent as she felt more comfortable with her power.
After what felt like hours, Cat Noir finally made into the Parc de Princes stadium with Stoneheart close behind as he stood on top of the roof. When Cat ran to the middle of the field, Stoneheart jumped down and lands right in front of him.
Cat Noir steeled himself as he wielded his staff and took his stance, watching Stoneheart reach his full height. The golden eyes hardened as he looked down at him. "Where's Kim?"
Cat Noir chuckled, "Didn't you hear me before? You have to catch me to find out."
"Gladly," Stoneheart smirked as he swung his fist back and threw in a punch. Cat Noir managed to dodge with ease, but that didn't stop Stoneheart from continuing his pursuit. Cat dodged punch after punch, his opponent showing no signs of tiring out. Stoneheart landed another punch, but Cat saw through it, taking his chance to strike him with his staff.
Cat Noir couldn't help the pride he felt arise within him, nor did he want it to stop, but it quickly decreased as he turned around to see the stone being double in size. The monster turned around looking stronger and angrier than he was before. Cat mentally groaned to himself, forgetting that he witnessed Stoneheart doing that before he met Plagg.
"Hey, if you're planning to make your big entrance, now would be a good time!" Cat Noir cried, dodging another punch curtesy of Stoneheart.
From afar, Marinette watched helplessly as Cat Noir continued this dangerous dance against Stoneheart. Seeing this creature now didn't help Marinette as she trembled in fear.
"I can't do this! I can't do this!" she whimpered to herself, the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes. She took a chance to peek through her fingers and saw Stoneheart lifting up a soccer net and throwing it at Cat Noir. He saw this and ducked down, but the net bounces across the field at a rapid pace, heading straight toward the field entrance with someone standing there filming the action. Someone very familiar.
Marinette gasped in fright to see that it was Alya. Time slowed for her as she watched in horror of the impending doom that was about to befall her new friend. Alya ducked down and shielded herself, waiting for the impact.
Cat Noir acted quickly, throwing his staff that magically extended between the entrance, causing the soccer net to bounce right off it. Alya peeked through her arms, glancing at the net of death a few meters away, sighing in relief.
Cat Noir smiled at his victory but was taken away when he felt hard stone grab him. Marinette gasped as she watched Cat Noir clutched in Stoneheart's hand, powerful and tight. Bullets of sweat came down as it suddenly became hard to breathe. How was she going to defeat that thing?! Cat Noir is in a tight grip all because she couldn't step up! What can she do? What should she do?
"Hey!" a voice cried, causing Marinette to break out of her panic to look down at Alya. "What are you waiting for? Your partner needs you!"
Partner…
That's right. She could here Tikki's words echoing inside her head, "Along the way, your partner, the Black Cat, will assist you in your mission." She's not alone in this endeavor. Cat Noir has the same mission as her and accepted it with grace, risking his life to stop Stoneheart. Now, Marinette has to do the same.
Clenching the yo-yo in her hand, Marinette closed her eyes swallowed the anxiety that threatened to take over, turning it into steel determination as she opened her eyes filled to the brim with courage.
Marinette jumps off the roof and swings her yo-yo at Stoneheart, wrapping it around his legs as she lands on the field with courageous ease.
"Don't you know that it's against the law to abuse animals?" Marinette taunted, pulling the string back and making Stoneheart fall back, letting go of Cat Noir in the process.
"Yes!" Alya cheered.
Cat Noir tumbled out of the monster's hand and stopped right next to Marinette, stars dancing above his head.
"I'm sorry I took so long, Cat Noir," Marinette said, offering her hand out to him.
"No worries, Wonderbug. It's your first time. I'm glad you made it," Cat Noir grinned, taking her hand and being pulled up.
Clashing stones whipped their heads up to see Stoneheart slowly get back up, his eyes glowing in anger. Or rather, a purple mask hovering around his eyes. The two jumped slightly at the haunting sight, sending shivers down their spines. It didn't take long to realize what was going on.
"The Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous have been activated," Hawk Moth grinned, watching in awe through Stoneheart's eyes from his lair. "Soon, the ultimate power will be mine!"
The butterfly mask left as quickly as it came, resuming the pending battle. Despite that, Marinette and Cat Noir stood their ground, not letting this development shatter their spirits.
Cat Noir was the first to break the silence, shouting, "Let's kick his rocky behind!" He charges straight towards his opponent but stops short when Marinette pulls him by the tail.
"Wait! Haven't you noticed? He gets bigger with every attack. We need a different approach." Marinette deduces, letting go of him as he caught himself from falling, caressing his belt as if it were real.
"What kind?" he asked.
Marinette hummed, picking at her brain for an idea, "I… don't know."
"Oh, let me! I've been dying to try this out!" Cat Noir smiled with glee, raising his left hand up and shouting, "Cataclysm!" The green paw print glowed as black energy swirled around his palm, creating an orb of darkness. He clenched his fist tight as the energy poured out onto his hand, completing the sequence.
"It basically lets me destroy whatever I touch."
"A destructive power in the hands of heroes. That's a new one," Marinette muttered, eyeing the bubbling hand warily.
"Cat Noir, wait!" Marinette exclaimed, but Cat already put his destructive hand on the pole of soccer net, causing it rust and crumble under its touch.
Cat grinned like a kid on Christmas morning, "Cool! Time to rumble, soon-to-be rubble!"
"Cat Noir, wait!" Marinette shouted, watching her partner charge straight towards Stoneheart. The cat boy builds the momentum and leaps towards him, landing in front of his stony foot and placing his hand on it. However, nothing happened. His grin came down as tried this two more times, before looking up in horror to meet the glaring eyes of Stoneheart.
Cat Noir's ears lowered, looking small as he waved, "Uh, hi?"
Stoneheart was not amused as he kicked Cat Noir back to where Marinette stood.
Once again, stars danced above him as he groaned, "Ow, why didn't it work?"
"Our powers aren't limitless," Marinette answered. "Once their activated, you can only use it once, which you then used on that net."
"Oops. My bad," Cat replied sheepishly. "I was just excited about my new life I didn't let my kwami finish."
A loud beeping whipped their heads up.
"What was that?" Cat Noir asked, looking for the source of the noise.
"Your ring," Marinette answered, prompting Cat to look at his ring, a single paw pad blinking out. "That's another thing: once the power is used, you only have five minutes until you revert back to normal."
The urge to slap himself couldn't be denied as he groaned, "Now you tell me!"
"Alright, looks like I'm next," Marinette said as she positioned herself, threw her yo-yo into the air and cried, "Lucky Charm!" Her yo-yo spun, releasing red and black hearts that soon spiraled into merging. From the magic, a ladybug printed outfit appeared, falling into Marinette's hands, causing her and Cat Noir to raise an eyebrow.
"A wetsuit? That's your power?" Cat Noir asked.
"Hey, it's not like I wanted a wetsuit!" Marinette retorted. "My power gives me the item I need to win the battle. It's not something I can conger on command."
"And how is a wetsuit going to help us?" Cait Noir asked.
Ladybug opened to reply but the shadow of Stoneheart interrupted her speech, prompting her to scream, "Look out!"
Cat Noir caught on as he and Marinette barely dodged Stoneheart punch. The monster looked up to see the two land on the other side of the stadium. Stoneheart wasted no time to advance, only to find his latched on to the ground. Growling, the being pulled to free himself from earth's grip.
The two looked at the free chance they were given. "Okay, we really need to beat this guy," Cat Noir panted. He did not want to end up as a kitty pancake.
"My kwami said that an akuma is causing all of this. If we find the object it's hiding in, then Stoneheart will turn back to normal," Marinette said.
"Well, I don't see anything sticking out," Cat Noir said, as he looked at the stuck villain. "He's entirely made out of stone."
Marinette squinted at Stoneheart until she noticed something, while he was attacking only one part of his body remained unmoved. Marinette tapped Cat's shoulder, "Look at his right hand," she said. "It's closed."
"Now that you mention it, he never opened it once, never even used it to punch anyone," Cat muttered as he held his chin in thought. Even when entrapped the being didn't consider using his other arm to help pull himself out.
Marinette looked at it a little longer until it hit her. Tikki mentioned that an akuma will merge itself to any object it comes across to possess a person. With this, Marinette smirked, "And I think I know why."
It didn't long for Cat Noir to catch on and ask, "So, what's your plan?"
Marinette scans her surroundings until she locked onto a hose attached to the waterspout and Alya. All the pieces were found as she grabbed the hose and tied it to the wet suit, sealing it tight. Marinette wrapped her yo-yo around Cat Noir's legs, the latter about to voice his concerns. She quickly answered, "Please don't hate me after this."
Joy turned into fear as the boy was spun around rapidly, crying, "This is animal abuse!"
It felt like forever until he was flung right into Stoneheart as the monster opened his hand and caught Cat Noir.
"Catch me if you can!" Marinette shouted, jumping forward as she watched Stoneheart open his right hand, capturing her. In the process, a purple piece of stone fell out of his hand. Got him.
Marinette smirked, turning to Alya, "You there, turn the tap!"
Alya sprinted from her position and raced toward the faucet, turning the tap as the sound of water came rushing through the hose. It didn't take long for Stoneheart to feel something wrong with one of hands. He lifts up the one where he held Marinette until an overwhelming pressure forces him to release her; the inflated wetsuit did its job.
Marinette rushed forward to the purple stone and smashes it with her foot. From the pieces, a purple butterfly flutters out. Marinette smiles as she watches the butterfly fly away, far from stadium and into the distance.
Black and purple ooze surrounds Stoneheart's body, shrinking him to reveal Ivan back to normal, falling to the ground along with Cat Noir. Ivan groans, rubbing his head in pain.
Cat Noir shook his head and back towards the ladybug printed hero, the setting sun making her glow. "She's… incredible."
Marinette looked toward Ivan, relieved that he was okay. The boy looked around, confused og his surroundings. Looks like he doesn't remember anything.
"You did it!" Cat Noir cheered. "You beat the bad guy! You were amazing out there!"
"We were amazing," Marinette clarified. "Thank you, Cat Noir. We make a good team."
She holds her hand out in a clenched fist, causing Cat to look at it, then at her with a tilted head.
"It's a fist bump," Marinette said. "Something to celebrate our victory."
Cat Noir looked at her fist and proceeded to copy the motion, his fist a few inches from hers. Marinette took the lead and lightly bumped his.
"Pound it!"
Her smile, her presence, he didn't notice it until now. It was as if the whole world became a brighter place.
A frantic beeping snapped him back into reality, whipping his down to see he was done to a single green paw pad.
"You should get going. No one can know who we are," Marinette said.
"Farewell, m'lady. Until we meet again!" Cat Noir bowed before running off and leaping over the roof of the stadium.
"Heh heh, 'til next time," Marinette giggled. She looked back down to see the purple stone now transformed into a piece of crumbled paper. Curious, she opens it and reads it aloud "You'll never have the guts to tell Mylene how you feel, wuss."
Marinette gasped and turned towards Ivan, walking with the paper in hand.
"Hey, do you know who wrote this?" Marinette asked, handing the paper to Ivan.
"Kim from my class," Ivan answered, taking the paper from her. "He's always making fun of me. Every time I get mad, I always get into trouble, and he gets away as if nothing happens. It's not fair."
Marinette frowned as she couldn't help but feel guilty about Ivan's pain. Ever since she can remember, she's known Ivan to be the big, bad, monster; always getting into fights and quick to lose his temper. However, she's come to know a softer side of him as time went on and the two became good friends; but everyone else kept their distance. The regret in her eyes shined, knowing she could've done more to help the troubled boy overcome his hurdle. She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiles, "What Kim did was wrong but, you shouldn't get bent out of shape about it. There's nothing wrong with liking someone, Ivan. It happens to all of us. I bet if this Mylene knew how you felt, she'd probably would like to get to know you better."
A small smile perked up but quickly dropped when he asked, "Wait, how do you know my name?" Marinette stuttered, realizing her mistake.
"That. Was. Amazing!" Alya exclaimed, prompting the two to whip their heads to face her. "Incredible. Unbelievable. Spectacular! Does this mean you're gonna be protecting Paris from now on? What's the source of your powers? Were you bitten by a radioactive ladybug? I have so many questions!"
A loud beeping from earrings signaled the end of her mission. "As much as I would love to stay and answer your questions, I'm afraid I must get going. So, see ya!" Marinette turns around and makes her leave, but Alya stops her.
"W-wait, at least tell me your name!"
Marinette turns back to Alya and smiled, "Ladybug. Call me Ladybug." She replied, sprinting as she spun her yo-yo and flung up to the roof of the stadium.
"Ladybug… wow," Alya said in awe, as she watched the new superhero Ladybug swung off into the distance.
"A local witness managed to capture this footage of the heroes who stopped the monster attack," an anchorwoman announced as she displayed the video of Ladybug leaving the stadium. "Evidence shows that the monster was a local high school student from Francoise Dupont High School. However, the student seems to have no recollection of the events that occurred."
As soon as Marinette got back home, she charged straight to her computer and turned the news on. To say she was surprised to see the video on the news was an understatement. She still couldn't believe that that was her out there. What surprised her the most was how nobody seemed to recognize her, not even Alya.
She'll have to ask Tikki about that later, but as of right now, the rush of courageous energy filled her with glee as she squealed, "I really did it!"
"See, I knew you could do it!" Tikki cheered, a proud smiled on her face.
"Authorities are still at a lose as to how this phenomenon occurred, but Parisians can now rest easy thanks to the heroes who protected us today," the anchorwoman continued as Marinette watched on with a smile on her face.
"Marinette, dinnertime!" her mother called, snapping the girl's attention away from the news.
Marinette replied to her mother as she made her way downstairs, not before asking Tikki, "Is there anything you want me to bring for you?"
"I could go and get it myself," the red kwami replied. "Sweet fruits are good, but if you have anything with sugar, that would be perfect."
Marinette smiles, "Well, it's a good thing I live in a bakery, we have tons of sweets!"
"Really? That's wonderful!" Tikki cheered as she did a backflip in midair. Marinette giggled as she and Tikki went downstairs, the kwami sticking to Marinette to avoid the eyes of her parents.
As for Adrien, the moment he transformed back, he was bombarded by Plagg, begging him to feed him. On the plus side, the good thing he can admit about being rich is that he can call for food to be delivered for him so there was no need for him to sneak into the kitchen for a snack.
Plagg observed the line of silver trays presented before picking one and opening the lid while Adrien watched the news.
"It is with great joy to announce that we will be holding a grand celebration in honor of Paris' new protectors, Ladybug and Cat Noir!" the mayor announced as the crowd cheered.
"Ladybug. Her name is Ladybug," Adrien swooned. That was another thing, her couldn't stop thinking about her when he got back. She was a little messy with her abilities at first, but he didn't care about that at all; he understood that no one was perfect the first time. It was when she defeated Stoneheart that her traits shown. The courage she displayed, how strong she was, and how she used her wits to come up with a plan and managing to free that boy from the Moth wielder's spell. The flutter in his chest elevated as he felt himself floating.
"Ugh! What is this monstrosity?!" a voice yelled, snapping Adrien back to reality. He turned to see Plagg looking dissatisfied, holding a piece of salmon in his paws.
"You said you were hungry, right?" Adrien asked in confusion. "My personal chef made all of this!"
"Just because I look like a cat doesn't mean I eat like one," Plagg retorted, throwing the fish away. "If you expect me to get my energy back after the transformation, I need to eat something more… delicate!"
Adrien relented, sighing. "Fine, what do you want?"
As the looming night began to cover the streets of Paris, the city donned its bright lights, bringing safety and security to the people. Construction workers were on site of the areas that Stoneheart destroyed and had started reparations immediately, under the mayor's orders. A few reporters were there a well, covering on the damage that occurred. Some people wanted to get a closer look but were reprimanded by the police in the area.
Unknownst to them, a little black butterfly flew above their heads, the darkness shadowing its form. The energy coursing within its body cried for it to be released as it frantically flew high above the buildings. That good for nothing red human ruined everything since she destroyed its host. Its comfortable cocoon, gone with no place to spill its darkness. Well, she'll regret what's coming to her.
The akuma flew until it reached to the Eiffel Tower, landing on the very tip. It began to flutter its wings, the purple marks glowing rapidly with each flap. The energy soon intensified as akumas started to sprout out of the original, forming into a huge swarm. It didn't long for them to descend down to the unsuspecting city.
Marinette and her family had just finished dinner, with Marinette cleaning the dishes as the news became background noise. Her parents cuddled close to one another as they watched a television program, lightening the mood from the chaotic day. The cheering from the tv transitioned to news music as the 'breaking news' headline covered the screen.
"I just received word that the Stone golem incident is yet to be resolved!" the anchorwoman exclaimed. "A new panic is sweeping across the capital as dozens of people are mysteriously transformed into exact copies of the monster Ladybug and Cat Noir defeated previously!"
Marinette watched in horror as she watched various people become consumed in black and purple ooze and transformed into perfect replicas of Stoneheart. However, what made her heart sink were the butterflies that landed on the victims. They looked like the akuma she freed.
Marinette's mother couldn't bear to watch as she buried her face in her husband's chest. Fear soon took over as Marinette rushed up to her room.
Meanwhile, Adrien looked unamused as he watched Plagg scarf down wheels upon wheels of camembert cheese. "Of all the things he eats, it's camembert. Great, I'm gonna smell like stinky old cheese."
"The stone golems appear to be inactive for now but what will become of them? Will they come back to life or be frozen in time forever?"
Adrien watched in shock as he heard this, standing up from the sofa as his heart thumped inside his chest.
"Plagg, what's going on? I thought we defeated him."
Plagg and Tikki turned to their wielders and asked, "Did you capture the akuma?"
"No, but what does capturing the akuma have to do with the stone golems?" Marinette asked.
"An akuma can multiply, that's why it must be captured," Tikki explained. "If Ivan's emotions become negative again, then the akuma will turn him back into Stoneheart, and he'll control all of those stone beings to serve as his army!"
"So that means… it's all my fault?" Marinette's lips quivered as her hands clutched her head, her eyes widening in terror.
"Keep calm. This was your first time. There's still a chance to fix everything," Tikki said, trying to calm the girl.
"Fix everything? All of those people are statues because of me!" Marinette exclaimed. "I'm no superhero!"
"Yes, you are, Marinette!" Tikki argued. "You managed to save Ivan!"
"All the while getting everyone else turned into stone!" Marinette replied. "Face it Tikki, I'm not cut out for this. I'll only make things worse, for you, for Cat Noir, for everyone."
"Don't say that!" Tikki shouted, flying in front of Marinette. "Just because you made one mistake doesn't automatically state who you are. You defeated Stoneheart once, and you can do it again. And next time, you will capture the akuma successfully."
"There won't be a next time, Tikki," Marinette sighed, her eyes glistening. "Cat Noir will be better off without me."
"He… he can't." Tikki stated, prompting the teen to face her in shock.
"What do you mean I can't do anything without Ladybug?" Adrien asked.
"Only Ladybug can capture akumas and purify them," Plagg answered.
Adrien scrunched his features until a thought popped up, "Wait, if my power is destruction, can't I just destroy the akuma?"
"Sure, you can do that," Plagg replied. "But you won't be able to repair the damage caused by supervillains."
Plagg continued. "Ladybug's powers are fortune and healing. Without her power, the energy within the akuma will only grow stronger. If you tried to destroy it, there's no telling what will happen, let alone to you."
"If Cat Noir can't capture the akumas, then… find another Ladybug! One whose more capable." Marinette said, walking away from the red kwami.
"But-" Tikki tried to argue, but the sadness was too thick to cut through.
"I'm no hero. Whoever chose me, chose wrong," Marinette said, taking off the earrings. "I'm sorry, Tikki."
Tikki watched in horror as she moved took off the first earring. "No, don't do tha-!"
As the last earring was removed, silence fell into the room. Marinette glanced around her room, the red kwami nowhere to be seen. "Tikki?"
The dam cracked as tears blurred her vision. She knew all along she couldn't do it, she knew she would mess this up. Become a superhero? Yeah, right. All that power at her disposal and she put everyone in danger. Clumsy, awkward, and plain: that's who Marinette is. Always has and always will be.
She placed the earrings into the box and placed it in an empty drawer under her sink. Though, it still didn't stop the girl from weakly dropping to the floor on her knees.
"I'm sorry, Tikki," Marinette whimpered as her tears streamed down her face, her sobs quiet to the world.
From his lair, Hawk Moth sensed the chaos his akuma brought and he relished it. Even though things didn't turn out well the first time, there's always a chance to make a comeback, and did this comeback come hard.
"I sense a sensitive heart in that young boy," Hawk Moth grinned as the akuma returned from its mission, phasing into the tip of his cane. "Sooner or later, his anger and sadness will strike back. And he and all of those stone beings will come alive. You won't be able to hide forever, Ladybug and Cat Noir. Once I have your Miraculous, I'll have absolute power!"
Hawk Moth laughed manically, his victory close at hand. This battle for the Miraculous was only the beginning.
