Last chapter of this story! Tune in for the next (reworked) story, titled Who Is He? Like I said, this chapter contains the origins of the Dark Miraculous, and why heavy emphasis on not using the Miraculous for personal gain is there in the first place. Keep enjoying, and keep following the series for more awesome adventures.

Chapter 4

Dark Origins

Ladybug waited until she was sure Cat Noir was gone. She transformed back into Marinette, and immediately her legs gave out. She was sore all over from the fight with Dragonus. Apparently, his new fix-it-all power didn't fix up her many bruises and sores. Tikki wasn't in great shape, either.

"Macaroon, please," she asked slowly. With shaky fingers, Marinette opened her purse and gave Tikki a white-spotted pink macaroon, which her kwami ate slowly. The two sat in the alley for a few minutes, then Marinette got up, walked out of the alley and headed home.

Coming into the bakery, her parents gave her a huge hug, making Marinette gasp for breath.

"We were so worried," Tom said.

"We heard that you were near the battle zone and we naturally panicked," Sabine added. "But at least you're safe and sound."

Wish that were true, Marinette thought. "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I'm gonna head upstairs and lie down for a bit. Ok?" Her parents nodded.

After getting into her bedroom, Marinette immediately climbed onto her bed. Leaning on the pillows, she opened her purse and let Tikki out. Then she checked her phone. She had a few texts from her friends. All of them were basically the same. Are you okay? Where are you?

I'm fine. Just ran home. Sorry I didn't check back earlier! Marinette texted back before flopping back on her bed.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" she asked tiredly. "Was it about whoever it was we fought? Dragonus?" Tikki nodded. "I don't know much about the actual villain, but I know plenty about his Dark-" Bubbles popped out of Tikki's mouth. "I mean, I know plenty about the kwami who shouldn't be named."

Marinette sat up, confused. "Why did bubbles appear?"

"It's like how I can't reveal your name to other kwamis or wielders. An oath never to speak of the Dark Miraculous," Tikki explained. "Only a Guardian can release a kwami from the oath."

Marinette thought for a moment. A voice spoke in her head. A familiar voice. Master Fu. He was saying something. Marinette repeated it aloud.

"I, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, do release Tikki, the kwami of creation, from the oath binding the history of the Dark Miraculous," she said. Tikki sighed as the symbol of the Guardians appeared on her forehead spot, then broke into three pieces, then faded.

"Looks like you're patched into the Guardians' intelligence," she said.

"The what?" Marinette asked. "Is that why I heard Master Fu?"

Tikki nodded. "The intelligence is where all Guardians' memories go when they pass on their Boxes or pass away. A close pupil of a Guardian can hear the voices, which can be extremely helpful."

"So, Master Fu knew about the Dark Miraculouses?" Marinette asked. Tikki shook her head. "Since the rest were imprisoned, no Guardian in training has heard of them, and only the highest of the Order know where they are kept. Only they can access the Dark Dungeon," Tikki explained. "You must've heard another Guardian who knew about them speaking with Master Fu's voice."

Meanwhile, Cat Noir had gotten home relatively easily. He transformed back into Adrien and collapsed on his bed. Plagg fizzled onto his stomach.

"You see, kid, that was why I was worried. Where's my Camembert?" Plagg asked tiredly. Adrien reached over, wincing in pain. Guess Dragonus didn't care how they felt after the fight. He grabbed a small piece of the cheese and gave it to Plagg. The feline kwami was about to eat it all, but he noticed his holder and split the runny cheese in two. He gave it to Adrien. "It might not be much, but it'll certainly help."

Adrien took it and ate it in one bite. Plagg was right. It did help him. Sitting up, he moved to his desk, wincing. "Plagg," he said slowly.

Uh-oh, the kwami thought, what should I say?

"What do you know about the Dark Miraculouses?" Adrien asked. Plagg floated down to the desk. His face shifted into an expression not normally shown by cats. Guilt.

At last, he spoke. "I can't say." If Adrien wasn't in slight pain still, he would have jerked up. "Why?" he asked, trying to sound a little upset but his concern pushed its way through.

"There's this oath. I literally can't say anything about what you want to know. If I try, I'll burp up bubbles," Plagg said. "Only a Guardian can release me from the oath."

"A Guardian," Adrien mused. "Plagg, go find Ladybug. She's the Guardian, she'll free you." Plagg nodded, then phased out the window. Adrien swiveled in his seat, looking at the computers. He searched recent news broadcasts. If I was beaten that badly, I wanna know how.

"Ok, Tikki. Tell me the story," Marinette said. Tikki took a deep breath, and began.

"When the universe came into existence, the kwamis came into existence. I was one of the first, along with Plagg. Then, more appeared. There was this one kwami, you could say I helped create him. When I first used my power, I had to absorb energy. Thus the concept of absorption came into existence, and Vorath, the kwami of absorption, came into existence. You could say he saw me as a big sister. He looked up to me, he idolized me, and he really cared for me. We had times where we bickered, sure, but that's to be expected of siblings. When the mage created the Miraculous, he used the same design for Plagg and Vorath's Miraculous. That's why they're so similar. When the Order of the Guardians formed in 2070 BC, Vorath was put in a separate box with his main group of friends. They were like any other Miracle Box, except the fact that they were slightly more powerful than the rest. For example, they had a time limit of fifteen minutes for juvenile wielders compared to the five that the rest have. Their wielders could use their powers to turn into animals, and they could open portals to pocket dimensions. The others were the Wolf, Crocodile, Cobra, Salamander, Blobfish, Gorilla, Cheetah, Rat, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Hawk, Bison, Rhino, Tyrannosaurus, Velociraptor, Pterosaur, Hornet, Scorpion, and Spider Miraculouses. Vorath was the head of the Box, and he gained another power as such. I don't remember what it was." That was a bold-faced lie, and Tikki knew it. She knew what it was. She didn't want Marinette to know, though. She had her reasons.

"Why'd you stop, keep going," Marinette said. At that moment, Plagg bursted into her room. "Marinette," he panted. "I need you… to free me… from the oath." Marinette nodded, and released Plagg. "Thanks. I need to go talk to Cat Noir. He needs to know, too." He left the room and zipped his way home.

After that interruption, Tikki continued. "They were all a little wild. They really didn't care about good and evil, they just wanted to be free and out in the world. For early history, many wielders did good things. However, many more took advantage of the powers given to them, and caused chaos and mayhem, creating many myths and legends about monsters and vengeful gods, mostly in the west, like ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire. Many times, the Guardians had to warn the kwamis about their wielders' actions. But still, many kwamis allowed the power of the Box to be used for evil, and then, something terrible happened. Pompeii was destroyed after Vorath dared Plagg to use his power on a volcano. He had promised that nothing bad would happen, and Plagg trusted him. He never got over that day. I thought to myself, Vorath just played an immature prank. He didn't know what would happen. Similar events happened over and over, and I shrugged them off. Because I didn't want to believe that Vorath would do something like that. Finally, I couldn't deal with it anymore. The year was 1567. I marched up to Vorath and told him off. Loudly. Some of the things I said were true, and many I regret. I called him and his friends monsters. I still remember what he said back. 'I'd rather you call me a monster than I call you a sister after everything you said.' I tried to apologize, but the damage was done, and he said he was going to burn down the temple. I warned the Guardians and that time's current Ladybug. We met Vorath, now powering that time's Dragonus, fifty miles from the temple. Every one of the Miraculous in that Box, minus the damaged Blobfish, were being used. Many other wielders stood by Ladybug, blocking the mountain pass. Dragonus and Ladybug met for one final duel. Ladybug won, and the rest of the Miraculous in his Box were removed and put in the Box, and those wielders would face justice. However, Dragonus had escaped his bonds, and flew far west. Ladybug wanted to go after him, but the High Guardian said not to. He would be found later. That Box was retitled the Dark Box, those Miraculouses became the Dark Miraculouses, and their spellbook became the Dark Grimoire. They were locked away in the deepest dungeon, where they would never see the light of day again. All the kwamis in all the boxes swore the oath to never speak of the Dark Miraculouses." Tikki paused.

"If there was anything good that came out of the accident, the one where the sentimonster destroyed the temple, it was that the Dark Box was devoured. I thought I would never see it, or the Dark Dragon Miraculous ever again. We restored the temple, which means the Dark Box is back, but no one can access it. But if the Dark Dragon is here, with a new wielder, it can only mean one thing. Vorath wants revenge. His owner will try to free the Dark Box, and he may already have his ultimate power. Vorath needed to absorb the powers of Creation and Destruction to gain it."

Marinette had a few questions. "Does Vorath corrupt his wielders to get what he wants?"

"No," Tikki said. "He doesn't. He just makes very good friendships with his owners, and more often than not they feel sympathetic. Also, the majority of the wielders didn't like the Order."

"Second, why do you think there's a new wielder? This Dragonus could use his power more than once. Maybe he's the same."

"Past Dark Dragon wielders absorbed many powers. Immortality wasn't one of them."

"Third, is that why Miraculous wielders are told to not use their powers for personal gain? Because of the Darks?" Tikki nodded.

"Finally, since Dragonus knows our identities, do Cat Noir and I have to give up our Miraculouses?" Marinette asked, slight fear in her voice.

"No, certainly not," Tikki said firmly. "Now is the time to use your powers. If Dragonus isn't defeated, then who knows what he would do?"

Marinette nodded. "Guess we'll have to stop him like we do every villain. But, he beat us last time. Hard." Tikki looked solemn. "Then we have to rise to the challenge."

Back at the Agreste mansion, Plagg told Adrien a similar story. "Pompeii was the worst day of my life. I can still hear the screams to this day. Vorath wasn't even that shocked. Ever since then, I've found it very hard to trust people. He wasn't the kwami of betrayal, but he sure could have been," Plagg said.

"Did you fight in the final duel?" Adrien asked.

"No, I didn't. It was just Ladybug. She had specifically wanted that time's Cat Noir to stand down. I thought I would never have to see that dastardly kwami again. But he's back, and he will try to free the others and get his revenge," Plagg said. "And don't think about giving up your Miraculous. You'll need it."

Adrien was stunned. "How did you know I was thinking of that?" In truth, he was. "Don't the rules say-?"

"If Dragonus knows your identity, there's no stopping him from coming here and fighting you," Plagg interrupted. "If you keep the Miraculous, you have a chance."

"Who do you think it could be?" Adrien asked. Plagg shrugged. "It could be anyone. Dragonus has always chosen a look which will completely disguise him." Adrien thought he heard his kwami mutter, "unlike your dumb eyemask."

Adrien thought for a minute. "His voice seemed to have a strange accent on it. I think I've heard it before." At that moment, his phone chimed. He looked and saw he had a text from Andrew.

"Saw the new villain on the news. Seems like a real problem. But the heroes always win in the end. Don't worry, bro. I think your superhero crush will be just fine," Adrien read from his phone. Plagg looked appalled. "You told him you have a crush on Ladybug?"

Adrien looked slightly embarrassed. "More like he figured it out himself." His face lit up. "Maybe he could help figure out who Dragonus is!"

"Maybe he is Dragonus," Plagg muttered darkly, unbeknownst to his holder.

The next day, the heroes met up for patrol at the Eiffel Tower. School was closed for the day, since it was some election day or something.

"Feline better, m'lady?" Cat Noir punned. Ladybug giggled just a little. "Purr-haps more than yesterday," she replied. They were about to head out when Ladybug's yoyo buzzed. "Did you butt-dial me?" she asked her partner. He shook his head. "Let's see who it is."

A purple butterfly symbol was on the screen of the yoyo. "Hawk Moth!?" the two yelped.

"How'd he even get this number?!" Ladybug asked incredulously.

"Well, I guess it would be rude not to answer," Cat Noir said. Ladybug pushed the speaker button.

"Hello Ladybug, Cat Noir," the butterfly villain said. "I wish to meet under a flag of truce."

"What for, Hawk Moth?" Ladybug asked. "Trying to trick us? It won't work!" Cat noir added. Hawk Moth sighed.

"This past Friday, I was attacked in my own lair by a villain so powerful he redefined the word. He absorbed my powers, as well as Mayura's. You know who I am talking about, yes?"

"Dragonus," the two heroes answered grimly. "So he did fight you," Ladybug said. "Calling it a fight is a rather generous description," Hawk Moth replied. "Either way, I called because my kwami felt the oath around both of yours be released. So you know some background on the Dark Miraculous."

"Stop beating around the bush and tell us what you want," Ladybug said firmly.

"I wish for you to tell me their story, so I may be able to defend myself if he attacks again," Hawk Moth said. "Meet me at the Arc de Triomphe in five minutes. I promise you, this is not a trap." He hung up.

The two teenage heroes looked at the yoyo, then at each other, then back at the yoyo.

"Well, I guess we have a meeting now, m'lady," Cat Noir finally said.

"Let's go. We should keep our guard up," Ladybug replied. They jumped in the direction of the Arc de Triomphe.

Hawk Moth and Mayura were already waiting at the top when the heroes arrived, seated next to each other at a card table they brought, hands folded. A white flag was positioned behind them. The two heroes took the seats opposite their nemeses. There were no greetings, no offers of refreshments, no such pleasantries. The two groups sat for a moment before Hawk Moth spoke.

"So, the history of the Dark Miraculous," he began. "What of it?"

Ladybug took a deep breath and told the story. How the kwamis came into existence, how Vorath was given leadership of his box, how they were often used for evil, and how the rest were imprisoned and the Dark Dragon escaped.

Hawk Moth and Mayura were a good audience. They gasped at appropriate places and they nodded along. "One question," Hawk Moth said. Ladybug gestured for him to continue. "If his kwami wants revenge, and Dragonus is allowing for it, why come here? Why not go straight to Tibet?"

Cat Noir spoke up. "I think it's because the kwami wants his revenge on us first. The temple is another thing entirely."

Hawk Moth nodded. "Thank you," he said. "There will be no akumatizations today. Go home, live your lives. Well, until tomorrow." He smiled. Not an evil sneer, or a smirk. Just a smile like any man would smile. The two heroes nodded, and jumped off. The villains folded the table and chairs, and headed back towards their lair.

Neither group realized Dragonus was flying in place nearby, cloaked in an illusion. He watched the whole interaction. He had snapped a few pictures, taken some video, and generally recorded the event.

"This segways right into the endgame, Vorath," Dragonus said. His kwami hissed in reply. "When do we implement it?" he asked. Dragonus considered. "Not incredibly long after we get our backup, but it still won't be for a while. Perhaps a year and a half. But it will certainly be enough time to edit this to our favor," he said sinisterly. Dragonus flew back to his house, already concocting new plans within his regular plans…

Marinette laid in bed that night, a million thoughts racing, but all of them lead back to one question. Who is Dragonus? She sat up.

"Tikki, I just keep wondering. Who could Dragonus be?" she asked. Tikki put her paw to her chin. "He couldn't be anyone we've already met and given a Miraculous to. Maybe he's another one of your classmates?"

Marinette thought for a bit more. He was pretty tall. His hands were large. He could use his powers more than once. That description could fit any adult wielder. But his voice. It had a strange accent, but it somehow sounded familiar. Like she heard it on the radio. Or, more recently, like her class…

"Plagg, who do you think Dragonus could be?" Adrien asked that night. Plagg groaned. "Listen, kid, I'm glad for your devotion, but it's nearly midnight. Go to sleep."

Adrien put some information together. Dragonus was pretty tall. His hands were large. He could use his powers more than once. That description could fit any adult wielder. But his voice. It had a strange accent, but it somehow sounded familiar. Like a friend of his…

"Is Andrew Hendrol Dragonus?" they both asked at the same time.

The last line is exactly why you should keep following the series. Will the heroes figure out who Dragonus is, or will he give them the slip? Be sure to read Who Is He? (next rework to be posted next week!) to find out. As always, tell me what you think, and stay safe, healthy, and have a safe and happy Easter! (if you celebrate)