Chapter 8

Easier to Run

Marinette opened her eyes, blinking her eyes out of the exhaustion she shook her head. She felt the welcome cool night breeze, a ray of some good she felt in a while. She noticed the Parisian lights surrounding her and realized she was in a standing position, overlooking the city horizon. Once she was awake enough, she freaked out in a hysterical sense of panic as she realized she was at the top of the Eiffel Tower. In the midst of her panic, she realized she couldn't move her arms, which were tied upward by her wrists. Now she's unsure whether or not she wanted to be untied… and then…

"Tikki?" she asked. She tilted her head for her ears to feel the silk of her usual dark brown coat. "They're gone…" she realized.

"So, you're awake," Volpina's voice echoed. Volpina hovered upside down, meeting Marinette's face.

"Lila? Why are you Volpina again? Where is my miraculous? Why am I tied up here?" Marinette asked relentlessly as she looked around, getting a grasp of her situation.

"Blah-blah-blah," Volpina mocked, drilling her pinkie into her ear. "Always the boring questions I won't waste my time with," she then pushed Marinette's shoulder hard into the tower tip. "How about something I do want to talk about?"

"Wha…?" Marinette muttered.

"Of course, I'm using the Fox miraculous this time!" Volpina revealed, showing off the Fox miraculous. "And you akumatized, in case you really don't remember…" Volpina added. She cracked a gasp after remembering her final moments before being akumatized and giving in to the temptation, a sting of guilt plunged deep into her hearts as she looked down in silence. "Aww… feeling bad already? And here I thought you may have enjoyed your time as a villain." She said as she floated around Marinette, lying on her back with her hands behind her head as she went on. "I saw your little tussle with Cat Noir and I gotta hand it to him, he wasn't as pathetic as I thought. Quite more of a fight than the one I created with my power of illusion back in the Hero's Day Parade."

"Wait! That illusion of me killing Cat Noir? That was you?" Marinette asked. Only from Volpina to respond with the psychotic laughter.

"Oh, my sweet Marinette…" Volpina responded in a very cutesy voice, Volpina became increasingly unhinged as the conversation went on, it shook Marinette to the core as all she could do now is muster as much courage as she could and take whatever Volpina held in store for her. "If this bothers you then there is no telling how you will take what I'm about to tell you! Oh, I'm so looking forward to seeing the look on these 'pwe-shius' little face!" Volpina taunted holding Marinette by the cheeks. Marinette became increasingly more unnerved as she went on. "You see, I knew I hated you the minute I saw you! I thought that I would be the one to take you down. But it turns out this was all premeditated!"

"Premeditated? What are you talking about?"

"The ones that stole the miraculous box from the guardian? The ones who gave me the Fox Miraculous? Hmm? Well, that's not all because the truth was way than I could've ever thought it to be!"

"Ok, spill it. Why? Who stole the miraculous and gave the fox miraculous to you? Why do hate me so much?" Marinette shouted trying to sound defiant but Volpina quickly caught her captive's uncertainty.

"Oh, now you want to know? Weren't you just a normal girl with a normal life? My, My, My," Volpina mocked. "Do you realize how boring that sounds? 'Cause what if I told you that you weren't even born in Paris and your parents lied to you?" she asked.

"Don't you dare insult, my mom and dad, ever!" Marinette yelled as she struggled with her bounds.

"But how is that an insult when it's the truth? You see we were never born, Dupain-Cheng, we were made!" Volpina revealed.

"Made? What are you talking about?" Marinette asked, now even more confused. Volpina rolled her eyes with a scoff. She then whipped out a scroll. The same one that she checked with Adrien in Belleville the other day.

"Does this ring any bells?"

"Wha…? What is this got to do with…?"

"You still haven't put two and two together, huh?" Volpina asked, rolling her eyes. "Fine, I'll enlighten you," she said. She rolled the scroll up and lifted Marinette's chin up. "Now tell me… Have you ever wondered why everything goes your way? How you actually managed to create an album cover and impress Audrey Bugois Winning video games against pros? Top of your class? Hmm? So much natural dexterity and creativity, whether or not you're in your Ladybug alter ego? Do you really expect me to believe that you can beat a pro in 'Ultimate Mecha Struck III?' simply because you play with your dad?" Volpina asked. "Do you really see yourself as just 'boring,' Marinette?"

"Wha… what… what are you getting at?" Marinette asked with doubt creeping up in her voice.

"Think, Dupain-Cheng. The intention of these forbidden alchemy practices was to create their perfect warrior. Their perfect soldier! Great reflexes, super smart, strategic and stuff, these things aren't just handed to you just because. You still don't get it? You are a homunculus!" Volpina concluded with her arms open and a sinister grin.

"A what…?"

"You know, a living thing, made out of ancient Chinese alchemy you read about in this scroll. You were not born Dupain-Cheng, you were made, WE were made!" Volpina shouted. Marinette was at a total loss for words…

"No… You're lying! That… that can't be true," She muttered as she began trembling, then slowly but surely started to shake her head angrily. "No! My Father was Tom Dupain, my mother was Sabine Cheng. I was in her womb! That's how I was born!"

"Are you sure about that?" Volpina asked leaning towards her again.

"Have someone ever told you that you didn't look like your parents? Asking you if you were adopted? Your grandfather not recognizing you the second time you met him?"

"What are you talking about? Of course, not…" Marinette suddenly cut herself off when flashes of what Volpina was referring was flashing in her mind.

"You know, you really don't look like my son or his wife…are you really my granddaughter?"

"I'm telling you Marinette, you have a natural gift for this!"

"Aspiring Designer Impresses Audrey Bugois, the harshest of the fashion industry!"

"You have such an exotic look. Are you sure you aren't adopted?"

"Are you kidding? A pro gamer would've killed to have your skill!"

As the flashes seized, Marinette could only cry. She couldn't even think of anything to say back.

"I… *sniff* I'm…"

"WE ARE created to be superior! Something above those inferior dullards we call humans!"

"No!" Marinette denied again with a tearful voice, looking away.

"Yes! You were never a normal girl and you will never have a normal life! And besides, it doesn't matter who told me this or gave me the fox miraculous. I already told you, these pathetic humans were stupid enough to make something greater than them. Now I will make sure they pay the price!"

"How can you say that? Especially if what you're saying is true. That they made us…" Marinette countered with tears still cascading down her cheeks.

"Bleh…" Volpina retorted, sticking her tongue out. "That was always your problem, Dupain-Cheng. You too much of a goody good, that's why I hate you so much it makes me sick!"

"Say what you will! I will never give into you!" Marinette growled in defiance despite her tears.

"And here I thought I was finally considering tolerating you…" Volpina mocked with a sigh. "Oh well, once I get Cat Noir's miraculous, none of this will matter," she concluded as she juggled Ladybug's earrings with her hand.

"My miraculous!"

"Yep, you were too busy taking a nap to pick these up from the floor!" Volpina said. Then something hit Marinette back.

"Cat Noir," she whispered in realization. "Wait! Where's Cat Noir? What happened to Hawk Moth?" she questioned.

"Oh you don't have to worry about Hawk Moth, he's no more. As for that dumb cat should be on his way. I'm surprised he isn't here already, as someone as impulsive he should be here by now," Vopina wondered.

"If you after his miraculous, he would think twice before going after you," Marinette said.

"You don't sound so confident," Volpina said with a grin.

"Oh, Cat Noir, please tell me you have something up your sleeve," Marinette pleaded softly.

"Face it, Dupain-Cheng, it's over. Cat Noir doesn't have a plan and he'll probably just charge in without thinking…"

"You shouldn't be underestimating the cat, little lady!" A very familiar male voice emerged out of nowhere, cutting Volpina off.

"Huh…?" Volpina muttered before Cat Noir's boot landed on the left side of her face. He then propelled himself from her and used his staff to break Marinette's bounds. Cat Noir then caught her from falling and quickly retreated. "Oh, no you don't!" she yelled as she summoned her flute, creating an image of Hawk Moth.

"Hang on. my lady!" Cat shouted as he swung his staff, spitting the illusion in half, he didn't even hesitate. Then dozens of Volpina clones popped up. He spun his staff like a helicopter, helping them to land softly on the ground. "Come on!" Cat noir prompted as he took Marinette's hand as they made their way into the alleys while avoiding and fighting the Volpina clones Until they finally disappeared into the sewers. But Volpina did not notice their escape route.

"Stupid Cat! I still got the miraculous! I know you have to come for them! Spread out!" she prompted her clones.

Meanwhile… Under the sewer…

The two were panting as they ran through the sewers with Cat Noir still grabbing Marinette by the hand.

"There," Cat Noir panted as he spotted a technical support door on his side. The two went in, Cat peeked out the door to make sure they weren't followed. He then shut the door and turned his attention back to Marinette.

"Cat Noir…" She was cut off as Cat abruptly hugged her. Cat Noir was panting as he held her tight. He motioned his hand rubbing her back then made their way to her hair. Cat wanted to make sure she was there. Marinette was taken aback at first but quickly responded in kind and felt her heart out. She was never gladder to see her kitty again. They held each other tight for a full five minutes as tears cascaded both their cheeks. Cat finally broke the hug and took a look at her face. He placed his hands on her cheeks and looked at her in awe.

"Marinette…YOU'RE Ladybug?" Cat asked, still astonished of his lady's identity. Marinette gave a light gasp before tears came down her cheeks and held Cat as tightly as she could as she sobbed… no, bawled in Cat chest. Cat could only hug her back and closed his eyes as he listened to Marinette's solemn weeping. In this moment, Cat pretended that they are the only two people who existed in this earth, nothing else mattered right now as he gladly carried some of the weight of what Marinette's going through right now.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she wailed, trying to gather herself.

"No, I'm sorry. Sorry for everything you had gone through… for everything…"

"No, I'm sorry. I said I hated you… I didn't mean it!"

"Shhh… It's ok, no more tears," he whispered as he wiped those tears with his thumbs. She patted and cuddled her head, making her giggle a bit. "Feeling better?"

"A little…" Marinette admitted. Cat then stood on his feet and offered his hand. She accepted it.

"All right, 'cause I'm gonna need your help," Cat stated with some authority but with enough gentleness to encourage Marinette.

"Oh? But what can I do? My miraculous is gone, I can't transform to Ladybug," Marinette said, rubbing her arm, looking away.

"No worries, 'cause I got something else in mind," Cat prompted, not losing his grin.

"Huh?" she questioned as Cat raised his fist. He motioned his eyelids for her to stare at it. "Wait… you don't mean…"

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, this is the miraculous of the butterfly, which grants the power of transmission," Cat Noir prompted as he handed the butterfly brooch to her. Marinette could only stare with her eyes wide as she saw the aforementioned brooch in his hand.

"You have it?" she asked. "But Hawk Moth…"

"We don't have to worry about him anymore. So, don't worry," Cat assured her. Marinette then approached her hand to it. Tempted.

"But… should I…?" she asked. Not losing his smile, Cat gently took her hand and placed the brooch on her palm and closed it.

"Marinette, you've proven to me time and time again what you're capable of. I don't care how you were born or how you were made…"

"You heard that?" Marinette asked.

"Yes, and all those times you saved the day was all because of it. Don't you see? You were created to be something but, in the end, you became something better. All these gifts may have come from what you came to be but what really matters is how you used these gifts and you still chose the path to serve others even after learning the truth," Cat Noir went as he placed the brooch on her chest. "That's why I fell for you, My Lady," Cat concluded before kissing her in the forehead, causing her cheeks to redden. Just then, the poor tormented gray kwami emerged from the brooch. The kwami shook his head and finally turned his attention to Marinette.

"Oh, um. Hello, my name is Nooroo and I'm so sorry for everything my master has put you through," Nooroo quickly pleaded.

"Shhh… it's okay," Marinette assured as she petted him. "Don't worry, I'm your user, at least for now. So this is your chance to make amends," she said as she turned to Cat Noir, they both gave each other a nod and went off.

Later… On the streets of downtown Paris…

Marinette and Cat Noir stood side by side nervously having lost some of the confidence from earlier. Marinette inhaled as she turned to Cat, who stared back. She offered her hand which he accepted. They held hands for a few seconds before letting go and turning their attention forward. Marinette gave a few steps forward, she stood, looked up closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The purple moon caused by Meloe earlier was wearing off, albeit, still in effect. Marinette spread her arms like wings. The image of Marinette spreading her arms as the winds blew under her coat as she was illuminated by the beautiful purple moon. Cat would remember that image for the rest of his life.

Meanwhile… In Master Fu's apartment…

The elder guardian was kneeling in contemplation with his eyes closed. He took a deep breath before opening them…

"It has begun…"

"NOOROO, DARK WINGS RISE!"

Author's Note: I know I fell short of my 3'000-word minimum but I figured this would be the best place to end this chapter. Anyway, please comment and/or review. I really need the feedback.