MIRACULOUS

CH. 25

SOME MIGHT SAY

Gorbes…

"Duusu, Fall my feathers," Nathalie sighed. Duusu emerged from the peacock brooch. Nathalie sighed at the sight of her kwami's reaction. Once hesitant to comply with her commands now seems to enjoy the act of evil.

"Whoo-hoo!" Duusu chipped and flew around. "What a ride!"

"Nathalie," Emilie called from behind, still in her white miraculous form, approaching her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Nathalie insisted turning away. Emilie shook her head and her transformation wore off.

"You were always a cunning liar, but I can tell you're faltering here. You have been like that since last time you have met up with Gene, tell me the real reason," she demanded. Nathalie rubbed her arm and lowered her eyes. "You're not backing out on me, are you?" she questioned. "I don't need this, Nathalie, not from. Especially since you were the one who brought the miraculous to us in the first place!"

Nathalie gasped at the reminder. She held her breath and remember being sent by Gene once Emilie sought them out for the power of the miraculous. Emilie had helped them track down the guardian in Paris while providing them the white plague to unleash it on the people. Speaking of which…

"Nathalie… It's time," Emilie revealed. "We need as many souls and once we gathered the miraculous our goal will be ready." She said Nathalie looked back at her with a gasp.

"But wait!" Nathalie halted. "Ladybug and Cat Noir still have their miraculous, wouldn't that risk them using the wish?"

"Even if they knew of the purpose of the white plague or the cost of the wish, they wouldn't have the guts to use the wish themselves as it would still drain them out of their life. My 'coma' cover-up was not based on nothing," Emilie boasted. "Furthermore, they can't just ask for any wish. It has to warrant all those souls gathered, otherwise it wouldn't work. I highly doubt they have the right wish to take it from us. They'll be lost. That's why we have you, Nathalie…"

Nathalie cringed at the reminder and held her fist to her chest.

"So, you know, huh?" Emilie said. "Kind of put that day into perspective, huh?"

"Please…stop…" Nathalie gritted her teeth, shut her eyes, and lowered her head. She kept seeing flashes of how she callously snapped her finger as it clenched its chest on its knees before disintegrating. She then saw herself in that very position…

"Shiroi, let's land," Emilie said with a sigh. As she transformed back to her civilian form and a white owl kwami emerged.

"It is any further service at this time, mistress?" the kwami asked in a calm and cold voice.

"Nothing, for now, Shiroi. Please, stand by," Emile said, walking away. "I sure need a shower she said trenching her arms.

Then, after all this time of the emotions that had accumulated since she left the Agreste mansion and her last meeting with her boss, Gene, she finally broke down in soft tears.

"Awww," Duusuu cooed and cuddled Nathalie.

"Do not get attached to it, Duusuu," Shiroi flew away. Duusuu gave her a pouty look. "Its mere existence is a disgrace!"

"Meanie!" she retorted.

Shiori then approached Emilie who was holding the vial in the air in reverence.

"Shiori?" Emilie called.

"Yes, mistress?"

"Have you gathered anything on Gabriel or my sister?"

"Sanceur reported that your husband has indeed tried to track you down! He knows…"

"I see…" Emilie conceded without much of a reaction then turned her back again. "All the more reason to act now at our plan."

"Mistress, are you sure Ladybug and Cat Noir do not have something they would wish for? Something that warranted all the sacrifices?"

"They're both just children, Shiroi," Emilie replied with confidence. "Neither of them have suffered what I have suffered. Ladybug has no business in existing, she thinks she has emotions but she has none and whoever Cat Noir is will never understand what he got himself into, he will be collateral damage and he will have no one to blame but himself. He will never be worthy of the power of both miraculous so he will never be given his wish."

"Sanceur seems to be acting out, Mistress," Shiroi warned.

"I'll make sure she serves her purpose," Emilie assured.

Meanwhile, Nathalie went to the restroom after her crying session and looked at herself in the mirror. She took off her glasses and looked at her eyes as if she was looking for something. Uncertain, she sadly closed her eyes and undid her hair bun.

Paris…

In his storage, Adrien typed furiously, searching as much as he could about the Agreste family online. He felt cold, despite being a warm night. His heart raced as he read through what he could find. Anything regarding his mother. Some of these headlines were etched in Adrien's mind. It was clear that he was affected by that Marinette discovered.

"Rising Star Confirms Pregnant with Twins"

"Gabriel Agreste and Emilie Graham de Vanily Tie The Knot. Twins expected Soon!"

"Gabriel and Emilie, Missing In Action!"

"Emilie Agreste Bows Out Of All Upcoming Projects"

"Agreste Couple Seen With A Single Child"

"Emilie Agreste Denies Ever Being Pregnant With Twins"

Tikki noticed Adrien going back and forth amongst those headlines. He was merely digging deeper and deeper online as if going through a loop.

"You're stalling," she stated. Adrien stayed silent. "You know you have to talk to your father about this," she concluded.

"I don't want to…" Adrien admitted.

"I know you two are not in the best of terms, especially since he didn't tell you why he became Hawk Moth…" Tikki lamented but was cut off.

"It's not just that," Adrien said. "It's that all this time I wanted to see my mom again and yet I hear this… that she was behind everything…" he hesitated.

"Adrien…"

"My whole life was turned upside down when I found out father was Hawk Moth. Can you imagine my mother being the puppeteer of everything that has happened until now? And even worse, she's only being used by someone even deeper in the shadows? We have to tell her that!" Adrien elevated his voice and stood up from his seat. "We have to tell her that she's just being used!" he began to shout, slamming his fists on his desk. "If only I knew where she was!"

"Adrien, please," Tikki pleaded as she hugged him from behind. "Someone may hear you," she soothed. "Shhhh, shhh, shhh, shhh."

Adrien felt the same warm tenderness he felt back in the Timemaster incident. A soothing sense of déjà vu.

"Feeling better?" Tikki asked as she looked back up to him with big eyes. Adrien smiled, despite not seeing her.

"Yeah, thanks Tikki," he conceded. He picked up his phone and looked around his contacts where he found his father's phone number. He stared at it for a moment, despite being the one who was angry at him he still loved his father dearly and dreaded his response.

"Adrien, it has to happen sooner or later," she said.

"I know," he admitted. After another moment of hesitation… "I'm calling Master Fu!"

"Wha…!" Tikki faltered from her flight and landed face first. "You kind of faked me out here…

"Yeah well, I still need to tell him about Bunnyx, anyway," he revealed.

"That's true," she conceded.

In the Himalayas…

Marinette sat at the back of Snow's pickup truck with Akane sitting with her, discussing what had transpired. On their way to the airport.

"I'm sorry for what happened to the temple," Marinette apologized. "You just lost another stronghold like what happened all those years ago."

"Do not be troubled, young Marinette," Akane comforted it would have happened eventually."

"That temple had centuries of history and to be taken out just like that? It was your home and now you have to find a new place to live, doesn't that bother you at all?" Marinette was clearly confused but Akane didn't seem fazed.

"Have you ever heard of the sand mandala?" Akane asked.

"Oh?" Marinette cocked her head. "Ummm, I read a little about it on my art research. They're basically sand paintings, aren't they?"

"A mandala made of sand is meant to be ceremoniously destroyed upon completion," Akane explained.

"But I've seen so many beautiful mandalas online. It's amazing one can do this with sand and the weeks it can take. Isn't that some sort of a waste?"

"It's destruction as part of its ultimate purpose. Upon completion, it is allowed to be taken all away by the wind. You see?" Akane asked. Marinette paused for a moment.

"I… think so," she said. Akane chuckled.

"Think of it as my last piece of advice, my child."

"Don't think about it too much, kid," Snow added, from the driver's seat. "I have seen quite some characters with Serah on the road."

"What about Sazed?" Marinette changed the subject. "Where is he anyway?"

"He went off to do something he knew he would have to do someday," Akane replied. "You'll meet him again."

Paris… In the morning…

Alya and Nino walked hand in hand slowly towards the school. Neither could tell whose sweat is was in their palms but neither said a word. Upstair on the entrance, they saw Chloe getting off her limousine. They quickly noticed each other and gave each other a long stare and Chloe turned away and walked into class.

In the classroom…

"Did something happen with you and Nino and Alya?" Sabrina asked. Chloe gapped at the question then quickly scoffed.

"W-What brought that on?" she asked in a somewhat annoyed manner. Sabrina backed away a bit.

"Well, I see you have been avoiding them…" Sabrina said rather quietly.

"Ridiculous!" Chloe defended. "Absolutely ridiculous!" she tried to display her usual dismissive demeanor but Alya raised an eyebrow. "Why would I want to have anything to do with them?"

"Because they are your responsibility, now?" Kagami asked, popping out of nowhere. She had a commanding look as she stared down at her.

"What do you want, Tsurugi?" Chloe asked.

"I know that you know and if you wish to remain as Queen Bee you must take the responsibility of your new knowledge seriously!" Kagami said.

"What's it to you?"

"More than you think!"

"Come on, Kagami. It's not worth it," Alya came and placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder. Kagami and Chloe stared silently at each other for a moment.

"Children!" Ms. Bustier finally broke the silence with Mordecai accompanying her. "Please, take a seat, Kagami,"

"Yes, ma'am," Kagami soothed with a nod before taking her seat where Adrien once sat, which still doesn't sit well with Chloe. Chloe gave Kagami a clearly hostile look which Kagami responded in kind.

"Man, I thought after Marinette, Chloe would behave. Can't wait for Marinette to…" he cut himself off after realizing he was about to slip up. "…contact us…? I mean, why wouldn't she?" he said as he tried to cover up what he knew. He then shook his head. "Anyway, I suggest you two refrain getting on each other's throats. We're a team now, right?"

Later…

It was lunchtime, with Nino and Alya silently eating their lunch while Chloe and Kagami sitting not too far from them. When they almost finished eating, Alya broke the ice.

"Okay, do we really have to be watching each other like that?" she asked.

"I am merely protecting my friends from possible snitches," Kagami stated bluntly.

"Well, what I want to know is why would Ladybug choose you losers," Chloe said backing away.

"Chloe," Sabrina tried to warn.

"That goes double for me," Alya said, crossing her arms and turning away.

"Really, after everything we've been through?" Nino added in. "I mean, come on. The other day, you were willing to befriend Marinette, and now you back away for this?" he chastised but Alya then elbowed him on the rib. "Hey…"

"This has nothing to do with Dupain-Cheng," Chloe insisted. "Not that she's coming back, anyway."

"You don't know that!" Alya nearly shouted. Everyone turned to Alya.

"Err… what?" Nino asked, leaning his head a bit.

"You believe what you showed that day is weakness, is it not Bourgeois?" Kagami asked, quickly changing the topic.

"Wha… ah," Chloe was baffled by Kagami's suggestion. "Don't be ridiculous! I just felt sorry for her, all right?"

"Then why are you trying to sweep it under the rug?" Alya shot back. "Is your reputation with the upper class really that fragile?"

"How dare you!?" Chloe growled, rising from her chair.

"I say back off, Bourgeois!" Kagami defended. She placed her palm on her chest.

"Don't touch me!" Chloe tried to smack her hand off but Kagami managed to stop it from making an impact. Chloe pulled her hand away and with a scoff, she grabbed what remained of her lunch and walked away.

"I don't know why I even bothered sitting with you," she dismissed. Alya placed her hands on her shoulders and grinned.

"Oh, I think you do," she said. Chloe silently walked away.

"Let her go," Kagami suggested.

"Heh, for now," she conceded wiping her nose with her finger, not losing her grin. "I see a heart of gold beneath that ice."

Max Kante was observing the scene from afar as he drank his juice.

"You okay, Max?" someone asked but Max didn't check who.

"I'll be well…" he whispered.

"Hey, Kagami," Alya called. "How come you're still wearing that uniform?" she asked. Kagami turned to Alya, surprised.

"I…" Kagami hesitated. "My entire life, my choices of attire has been limited," she replied while pulling her uniform collar. Alya put her hands on her hips.

"Have you ever had any personal tastes at all?"

"I was given some choices for a kimono on special occasions."

"Not good enough!" Alya motioned her hands. "How about you have a talk with your mom and let's hang out together and maybe some clothes shopping. How about it?" she asked, leaning close to her face, causing her to back away.

"I…" she stammered. "I am not certain my mother would allow it," she replies looking down.

"Just give it a shot, dudette," Nino encouraged. "Trust me it'll be worth it! Speaking of which, what about any tastes. What about the CD I gave you?"

"It was… interesting…" she said. Her eyes looking away.

"Come on," Nino said. "No need to be nervous of your response, we can dig more out in the music store, see what you like."

"That is a great idea," Alya almost jumped. Kagami failed to suppress a giggle. "Was that a giggle?"

"Uh…no…" Kagami muttered, blushing.

"Dude, it totally was!" Nino asked. The conversation went on with playful teasing.

Up on the railing upstairs, Mordecai and Rigby were observing the conflicting with their own lunches.

"They're good kids," Rigby added.

"Yep," Mordecai agreed. "Hope Kagami can keep Chloe in check. I can only do so much I almost slipped."

"Seriously though, who do you think he's giving the belt buckle?"

"According to the guardian, it's gonna be the first time he entrusts someone with a miraculous. This is big for him…"

"Yeah."

"Hey, do you think I have a shot?"

"You? A miraculous holder?" Mordecai raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, I can be strong," Rigby insisted, only for Mordecai to abruptly hit him on the shoulder. "OW!"

"Ehehehe, See? You're a frail as a dried-up branch. You have no chance, dude," Mordecai said with his trademark deep chuckle.

"Stop talking!" Rigby threatened.

Movie theater…

Adrien told everything he just found out to master Fu who was hiding behind the counter. What Marinette told him about Bunnyx and how she was in pursuit of a future Chloe, who went rogue. The sentimonsters Mayura sent both in Tibet and here in Paris. He began to wonder if it was really a mistake to give Chloe the Bee miraculous.

"It was indeed an unforeseen outcome." The master admitted, stroking his beard. "And then she went off to look for Chloe."

"But you know what I don't get? Why would Chloe go rouge, I mean, the reason I gave her the miraculous is that I truly believe that she really wanted to do what is right. That she was really someone who would take the chance to become better, you know? Someone I could guide to a better path… Was I wrong?"

"Adrien, your intentions are indeed pure. Your desire to save your friend is admirable. However, there are those who are beyond saving," he said grimly.

"So, what now? I don't know if I have it in me to take it away from her now," Adrien wondered.

"You do not have to," the master said. "Not yet, I suggest you keep an eye on her. Do not forget, her choices remain hers. Whatever happens and whatever she chooses, it will be hers and her's alone. None of it will be your fault."

"But what if she did something? Something that compromised us? I mean, what could she have done that warranted a time travel miraculous? What is she after?"

"Adrien, if there is anything I have learned in my long life is that our mission cannot be achieved without risk. It is something Marinette must learn as well," the master said. Adrien scoffed.

"Knowing Marinette, she would scold me and have her miraculous on the spot," Adrien stated.

"Once again, it is not her say at this moment…"

"Do you really want Chloe to keep her miraculous?"

"Whatever destiny has in store for her, we all must see through the end." He concluded. Adrien stayed silent for a moment before gasping.

"Oh."

"Yes," the master said, unfazed.

"What if revoking the miraculous from her would cause her revolt?" Adrien suggested. "Guess we're backed into a corner…"

"Yes, I believe so," the master confirmed.

"Then there's the belt buckle," Adrien pointed out, changing the subject.

"Little Tanuki, seems to be getting quite along with the other kwami's, especially Nooroo."

"Think I can guess," Adrien said with a smile. "Speaking of kwami's, how's Sass doing?"

"He would occasionally open his eyes and immediately attempt to tell us something. But he is still too weak, he needs rest."

"I would like nothing more than his recovery, still, I wonder what he knows," Adrien said. "Especially, since Cartman back out there, he most like left town by now. I mean, if mother was really there…" he cut himself off after remembering where this was heading.

"Has the Coon reveal something about your mother?" the master asked. Adrien let out a soft gasp and hesitated.

"He… he said I had a sister…"

"So 'the cat is out of the bag…'"

"YOU KNEW?" he asked, about to break into tears. "You mean to tell me that I had a little sister?" he continued unable to contain his tears.

"So… your father did not share what he knew?"

"I know that Nathalie was the one who brought them the butterfly and peacock miraculous in the first place," Adrien confirmed, making a fist. Damn it, if my mother really sought her out and if she's really behind this now she's unleashing some kind of disease, hell we don't even know where they are," his voice raised.

"Your father actually managed to dig deeper into how to spread the plague. There is still time," the master encouraged. "If she's really going to unleash that thing in Paris, she would need a dubious method without exposing herself. And that is when it is ready."

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently, there needs to be enough turmoil for the plague to take effect. Presumably, the intent to make as much chaos as possible before the white plague could be unleashed." The master reassured. "I believe you must speak to your father about this matter."

"Speaking of which…" Adrien muttered, he hugged his knees and rolled his eyes.

"You have not talked about him about what you discovered, have you? About your mother? Your sister?"

"I'm scared," he admitted.

"You are delaying the inevitable," the master said sternly.

"I know," he conceded.

"I must take my leave or my location will be compromised," he lowered his cap over his eyes and backed away. "Good luck, Adrien."

Later…

Adrien walked into his storage room again. With everything that has happened, he did not miss much of the stuff he had in his room at the manor. He sat down on his bed and whipped out his cell phone. Tikki was hovering right by him.

"Adrien?"

"Ummm, so, how was the day with the other kwamis," he asked nervously.

"Adrien," she said with more authority.

"I know, I know," Adrien looked up, rolling his eyes. After another few minutes of hesitation, he finally dialed his father's phone.

"Adrien," Gabriel greeted.

"Are you still in London?"

"Indeed I am," he confirmed. "I'm still tracking your mother's location."

"We need to talk."

Back at the movie theater…

Master Fu was going on his business like another employee. Cleaning up in the movie halls where a shadowy figure appeared behind him. The old master wasn't fazed.

"It has been a long time, old adversary," the shadowy figure said in a calming and soothing voice.

"Indeed it has," the master turned with a smile. "Sazed."

Paris Tsurugi residence…

Tomoe was practicing her Japanese fencing in the night. Despite her age and blindness, her movements oozed with precision and finesse. There was a knock on the door, she slowly cooled down and eventually seized her training. She did not appear to be fazed by the unexpected visitor. She opened the door.

"Hello, Ms. Tsurugi," It was the mysterious blonde woman who came through Bunnyx's portal. She bowed to her respectfully.

"What brings you to this time period, Chloe Bourgeois?"

Author's Note: I'm gonna stop here. So, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who saw the problems with the show, heck, it's another reason I started this fic. I have brought them up on previous chapters so I won't get into them here. I don't know how much Austric is aware of these issues, thus making the future of the quality of the show concerning…

Anyway, I know you have figured out that the one Bunnyx's after is none other than future Chloe so I figured I should confirm it right away.

So, Kagami seems to be hitting it off with the rest of the class and takes it upon herself to try to set present Chloe to the right path. Should I elaborate further on this connection? Again, I'm trying to give Kagami a larger role, given the final destination I have in store for her… Especially a connection I try to establish between her and Chloe.

Please, comment. Constructive criticism is appreciated.