MIRACULOUS
CH. 29
(NO TIME TO) BOW DOWN
Paris… 12 hours later…
Future Queen Bee punched Ryuko in the face, who didn't even fight back.
"What is your problem, Tsurugi? Why did you do that?"
"I will be abandoned in an interdimensional island forever," She replied, not bothering to get up. "My fate has been sealed."
"GRRR!" Future Queen Bee turned away in anger. "Why should you take it out on innocent people?"
"Can you explain to us what is going on?" Present Queen Bee asked.
At the same time, Mister Bug was tending to the old guardians.
"I'm fine, check Sazed," Master Fu said as he slowly got up. Sazed was still in a fetal position. Mister Bug went to check up on him.
"Excuse me… Mister Sazed," he said, slightly tapped him in the shoulder.
"Oh, you must be the one Fu had chosen," He got up on his feet and Mister Bug saw what he was holding.
"Yeah, the master told me a lot about you. You weren't hurt?"
"Oh no, I was merely shielding this," He showed him the snake bracelet. "I did not want it to end in the wrong hands."
"Much obliged," Master Fu approached with a smile, accepting the bracelet.
"By the way, has Sass remembered anything else?" Mister Bug asked. Master Fu's smiled faded.
"An important hint actually… Emilie… Lux was there…"
"What…?"
"You have actually fought in the theatre. You know kwami don't usually know what happens when their owner transforms. However, Sass had mastered the ability to feel the presence of any alternate timelines if left to his devices long enough, even though even then, he can't tell all the details.
"So Mo…" Mister Bug shook his head. "I mean, Lux was in the theatre when we fought in those timelines… Yeah, I think Cartman said something like that…" He stepped away and looked away for a minute, ignoring the arguing… After a minute he saw the commotion and it hit him. He shook his head, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and hit his cheeks with his palms, and turned back to the master.
"Cartman has escaped, hasn't he?" the Master asked.
"He's the one who had the bracelet; he should know what really happened there."
"I believe there is a more urgent matter at hand," Sazed said, pointing at the commotion right now.
"I know…" Mister Bug affirmed.
"All right, spill it, Future Chloe," Rena pointed at her chest.
"I refuse to believe that's supposed to be me!" Present Bee protested. Future Queen Bee facepalmed.
"Ugh…!" she groaned.
"Ok, everybody just calm down! Calm down! Hey, Hey!" Mister Bug shouted. Once everyone quieted down and drew their attention to him. "Look, I know you guys are hurting right about now…"
"YOU THINK!?" Rena growled.
"QUIET!" Mister Bug screamed, causing Rena to take a step back, wide-eyed... His hand trembled and held it with his other hand. "With future Chloe here, no doubt we have a ton of questions but they're gonna have to wait. Pegasus, can you take us to where the people are, making sure they're safe?"
"We have to go there now!" Present Bee said.
"We don't know how hot it this there! For all I know we're dead the minute we set foot there," Mister Bug countered. Pegasus took a deep breath.
"Me, huh? Understandable," Pegasus said looking up.
"Just pull back if it gets too hazy, when it's clear enough, we'll go in see what we can do."
"Affirmative,"
Somewhere in Paris…
Nathalie and Emilie met at an unknown location. Nathalie laid down on her knees with her hands on the ground, panting. Duusu stroked her cheek.
"Ready to hear my prediction?" Emilie asked and walked right by her. "If you're growing weak on me then there is no further use for your existence. Shiroi, what sort of tales do a homunculus best belongs to for everyone's sake?"
"Tragedy, I'd say," Shiroi replied.
"Indeed." Emilie kneeled and lifted her chin up. She looked like tears are about to fall. Shiroi scoffed.
"I will never be fooled by those fake tears."
"Are they fake just because you said so?" Duusu stepped in again.
"I am not in the mood for this…"
"Hey, you can't just pick on her and not expect me to…" Duusu was cut off when Nathalie patted her.
Shhhh, It's okay Duusu," Nathalie soothed. Duusu just snapped back.
"But Nathalie, it isn't fair!" she protested. "So what if you came from some science mumbo jumbo. I like you and you'll always be my friend!" She caressed Nathalie's cheek with her own. Nathalie saw that Emilie and Shiroi had left and scooped the blue kwami closer to her cheek. Duusu swore she heard a sniff but stayed quiet.
Meanwhile… On the Parisian rooftops…
The team was in silence for almost an hour after their efforts to help these people. They had regrouped as Mister Bug told them to.
"How is everyone?" He asked.
"As good as we can be I guess…" Carapace answered, trying to break the ice. Mister Bug sighed as they just got back from the hot zone. No one spoke up considering what happened.
"Future Queen Bee, I believe you owe us an explanation." He said, turning to her.
"Wait dude, now?" Carapace asked, comforting a frightened Rena.
"We can't exactly go back to our homes right now, so why not?" Mister Bug suggested. "Besides, I think that for those we couldn't save we might as well be ready for what's next."
"I have to agree," Pegasus said as he pushed his glasses in. After a moment of hesitation…
"Fine," Future Bee got back up on her feet and allowed herself to detransform after her final warning beep. Mister Bug raised an eyebrow at Chloe's skimpy attire. A previously forlorn Ryuko blushed at the sight.
"Okay, first things first," Rena stepped in, trying to distract everyone from future Chloe's attire. "Why did you trust Chloe to keep watch of the detonator?"
"Hey!" Present Chloe protested.
"You could've just taken the detonator with you," she said. "My mom and my little sister would still be here!"
"Rena!" Carapace elbowed her but she shrugged it off.
"That's what happened last time!" Future Queen Bee retorted.
"What?"
"On my timeline, I took the detonator with me but you saw where Mister Bug and Bunnyx popped up didn't you?"
"Wait," Mister Bug interjected. "You mean to tell me…"
"Yeah, it didn't work out either," she revealed. "I gave it to my present self because I was hoping it would be safe, that I could stop the plague without changing things too much…"
"So, you didn't want to stray from our path too much, huh?" Mister Bug asked. Future Chloe sadly closed her eyes.
"That's not the whole truth," she admitted.
"Huh?"
"Look, I spent decades on the island, and even after everything I have studied, time travel is still a big question mark."
"Wait, island?" Carapace asked. Ryuko roared and she curled herself on her knees and her hands on her head.
"What's with her?"
"Let me step back," Future Chloe said, waving her arms around. She calmed down a bit with a sigh. "I don't know where to start."
"Well, does Ryuko have anything to do with it?" Mister Bug asked. Ryuko raised her head just enough to give him a glare. Future Chloe lowered her eyes and tightened her grip on the handle she was leaning on.
"Well, I know you don't believe in fatalism, do you, Mister Bug?"
"You know who I am…"
"Yes, but that is all I can tell you about that," she said with a sad smile.
"Ok, what are you getting at?"
"For most people, there's no such thing as destiny that we carve our own path," she said. Ryuko scoffed. She ignored her and continued; "What if I tell you that some of us have our fates sealed?"
"I don't get it…"
"Time travel shenanigans, basically," she said. "People generally create their own future but there are those of us who have to be somewhere or do something for something to happen…" her voice started to lose some of its energy. Mister Bug took note of that.
"So, where do you really come from?" He asked. Future Chloe now really started to look sad.
"I…" She hesitated. "I've spent a chunk of my life… Back… and I mean way back… from before the Stone Age."
Everyone's eyes widened though Alya raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"Ok," she said what's with the gibberish?"
"UGH!" Future Chloe moaned. "This is a lot harder than I thought! Look, I don't know how I can and can't tell you and it's driving me nuts!"
"Ok, just give us the rundown," Mister Bug suggested.
"Simply put I have to go back in time for something to happen. Otherwise, the changes my changes so much I don't even want to think about it!"
"So that means you have yet to do something in the past?"
"Yes, and that's why I have to go back. That's all you need to know," she said.
"Wait a second!" Alya objected. "That's not good enough, what makes you think I'm just gonna roll with that?"
"Because you have no other choice," an old but commanding female voice said.
"Ms. Tsurugi?" Mister Bug said, catching Ryuko's attention.
"Mother…" Ryuko was hugging her knees but got up when she saw she was approaching her. The two were face to face for a moment in silence, until she was slapped by her mother. She cuddled her cheek from the impact.
"I am very disappointed in you."
"So what? My life was a lie…"
"No, it was not," Tomoe cut off her daughter, still in command. "My intentions with you were never a farce. You are my daughter and I gave the life I believed was best. Nothing more, nothing less."
"But my fate was sealed. The fact that I have had the misfortune to stay in the past to fulfill such a purpose and never return… How can I live with that?"
"I raised you so you could have the valor to face your fate when the time comes. I knew you would be devastated by such a burden."
"You knew…" Ryuko said with a tear streaking down her cheek. "That's why you…"
"Yes. I was aware of your desire to enjoy life at a public school. I knew you enjoyed the mundane details of your friends' daily lives. For the longest of time, I refused to allow you as such so you would not get attachments."
"So what made you change your mind?"
"I suppose age has got to me…" Tomoe admitted. "Once you were gone to your destiny, never to return, I would not want to resent me…"
"Mother…" Ryuko finally let tears cascade down her cheeks.
"I believe you needed those attachments with others. You need your empathy towards others and are willing to do. Willing to head to your sacrifice for others," her mother said looking down.
"Thank you…"
Both mother and daughter shared a hug. Ryuko was surprised at first, but slowly closed her eyes and returned the hug and new tears fell.
"Do not misunderstand me," Tomoe said. "I would have never wished this upon you…"
"I know…" Ryuko cried.
Everyone else stared at the scene. Mister Bug was about to step in but he was stopped by Sazed, who shook his head. Then he received a call transmission from his speaker from his yoyo. It was from Gabriel. He chose to give the mother and daughter a moment as went to a private section from the rest of the team.
"Father?"
"Adrien!" He greeted. "I know your failure to stop the plague may be troubling you but I need your head in the game."
"Got something?"
"In fact, I do," he said, pushing his glasses in. "You aunt Amelie may have pinpointed where Nathalie and your mother went."
Mister Bug looked back and forth, he backed further away.
"Yeah, my team is not exactly in the best mental state, right now," Mister Bug urged.
"They may be willing to take action for retribution, I think," a voice said behind him. Mister Bug yelped and turned to see that it was Sazed.
"Agreed, if you motivate them enough, they may be willing to dive in and ambush them while we can catch them off guard," Gabriel's eyes widened for a moment. "I know you. Were you not with Marinette in the Himalayas?"
"Indeed I was," Sazed confirmed.
"But Marinette is still on her way back. How did you get back to Paris first?"
"Goodness, I almost forgot," Sazed said. "I am not fiscally present in Paris, this is merely a temporal projection I have created to visit my old adversary. Given what has happened, I have stayed longer than expected."
"Wait, wait, wait," Mister Bug interjected. "You mean you're not actually here?"
"That is not important, right now," Gabriel said. "Adrien, listen to me, your aunt Amelie has narrowed down where she might be, if you hurry you may catch her!"
"Aunt Amelie did?"
"I'll put her on. Amelie?" Gabriel got up from his seat and his aunt Amelie took his place.
"Adrien?" she asked. Mister Bug felt a wave of warmth after seeing her friendlier aunt's face considering her resemblance to his mother.
"Hi, Auntie," he greeted. "Um, could you do me a favor and call me Mister Bug, at least in front of everyone else."
"Oh, right… It's just that… After what I've heard and what your father told me and…" she hesitated. "It's like you're back from the dead." She said and they heard Gabriel clearing his throat.
"Oh, you said you pinpointed Nathalie and my mother?"
"Yes, in fact, your mother and I had this hidden loft in Paris."
"A hidden loft?"
"Our family has had quite a few connections with organizations all over the world and we have had hideouts whenever something goes wrong. My sister would most likely be situated there. In one of the higher class apartment complexes, there would be a hidden passage way to access our family's hidden loft. Only my sister and I would know about it."
"If what you're saying is true, wouldn't my mother know you sold her out?"
"Let her," she said with a stern expression. "Like I'm just going to let her just walk away after what she had done," she was about to shed a tear. Mister Bug wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Okay," he whispered.
"It would be wise to take this opportunity, I think," Sazed said. Mister Bug looked at him and nodded.
"All right," Mister Bug conceded. "Send me the address."
"Good luck, Adrien," Amelie smiled and put Gabriel back on.
"Got everything you need?" he asked.
"I think so."
"I suggest you make haste," Gabriel said and hung up.
"Adrien," Master Fu called as he approached him.
"Yes, master?"
"I owe an apology," he said.
"What for?"
"I should be more trusting of you," he said. "I have placed all responsibilities to Marinette while I neglected you. I should have foreseen the day she was unable to assist you. After Timemaster got to her, you were left to your own devices and lead to the chain reaction that led to all this and cost so many lives, including Marinette's parents. Had I trusted you with what she knew beforehand, maybe things would be different."
"Maybe I wasn't ready for the responsibility," Mister Bug suggested. "Remember Party Crasher?"
"Still no excuse," the master said with a sigh. "One may never be too old to make mistakes."
"This applies to me tenfold, old friend," Sazed added.
Mister Bug looked at the two old men back and forth. He looked at his hands and then stepped out of his hiding spot. Everyone was waiting, with a determined look on their faces. Mister Bug got up on the higher ground and spoke.
"Sass is gonna have to wait," he thought.
"Ok, so I take it you're all willing to jump in and get them, right?"
"Damn straight!" Rena added in.
"We ain't letting them get away with what they did," Carapace said. "How about we forget what we lost if we can do something about it!"
"Agreed," Pegasus added. "There is no telling what are they planning but we cannot allow them to go any further."
Ryuko nodded. Both Queen Bee punched their palms with their fists, ignoring the fact that they had made the same gesture.
"Ok, first we should let Rocket know of the change in plans," Mister Bug said. "Now listen up."
Meanwhile …
Marinette made her way off the plane. She saw that it was a remote airport, which made her glad as she did not want distractions at that point. She looked at the news and saw all of those mourning their friends and loved ones.
"Come on, Alya," she was unable to get a hold of her friend. "Damn, what's going on there?"
"Young lady!" Gorilla called.
"Yes, sir!"
"Don't stray too far we'll be ready in an hour," he said.
"OK," she said as she walked away for a moment and saw someone, a silhouette. The person was not someone ordinary, that much was clear. She could tell that their arms had very distinct wing-like features and then she realized it was a suit. She ran towards it and she could tell more clearly resembled a bat.
"Hey!" she heard Gorilla shout behind her but ignored him. She held her buffed up jacket tighter as she felt more of the cold. The mysterious miraculous wearer didn't stray too far and greeted her. She detransformed, catching Marinette by surprise. She wore heavy winter ware but had a darker and more gothic aesthetic to her.
"Wha… Why did you?"
"I've wanted to meet you, Marinette, call me Stef," she greeted.
"How do you know my name and how did you find me?"
"A certain monk gave me the heads up you were landing here," Stef answered with a smile. "I'm like you."
"What?" Marinette asked, confused. Stef giggled.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I'm a homunculus too, created by the Blue Mustang."
"Wait, wait, wait," Marinette backtracked. "You know Sazed? And how is he here?"
"I guess I got a bit ahead of myself," Stef. "Long story short I'm also a homunculus like you and I was taken to Rome where I'm Pipistrello."
"Pipistrello?" Marinette repeated.
"I was given the bat miraculous," Stef said and the kwami appeared.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," The kwami said. Marinette then shook her head.
"Wait, Rome?" she asked. "Where are we?"
"Eastern Europe," Stef said. "Italy is just across the Mediterranian."
"You came all this way just to meet up with me?"
"Uh-huh," Stef said. "I've always wanted to meet someone like me… How could I not?" she asked with her voice cracking somewhat.
The two girls stared at each other, amazed by the circumstance, though Sazed was one himself he was from a previous generation.
"This is so surreal," Marinette muttered.
"Tell me about it," Stef said and hugged her. Marinette was shocked at first but after a moment she hugged back. "I'm sorry," she said, breaking the hug.
"It's okay," Marinette replied. With a sigh, she gathered her thoughts and took a seat. "So, when did you find out, where did you find your miraculous, and what you do now? I…" She then realized she was rambling again and giggled.
"I have so many questions, too," Stef said.
"Yeah."
Back in Paris…
"Everyone with me?" Mister Bug finished going through the plan.
"You bet," a motivated Rena said, punching her fists together.
"Time for a little payback," Carapace added.
"While I normally against retaliation, we cannot let them escape, " Pegasus said. "Especially if we now have the opportunity to go after them."
"It may not be that different from my timeline so far but that is no reason to slack off. We gotta be ready for anything!"
"Yeah, what she said," present Queen Bee said, looking at her cock-eyed.
Ryuko hesitated and took a look at her mother first who nodded, then future Queen Bee who smiled, then at present Chloe who still raised an eyebrow in confusion. Ryuko raised a pinkie to Future Chloe, who smiled and responded her pinkie swear.
"All right, let's do this," Mister bug said, jumping down to the team's level. "Pegasus? You know where."
Author's note: Happy New Year!
Sorry, this turned out to be more of a setup chapter but this really had to happen for this to happen naturally. Promise, it's going down next chapter, stay tuned.
Chapters have been a tad shorter recently due to a combination of work, other business commitments, writing my own project, and Cyberpunk 2077, but I've said it before and I'll say it again I will see this through as this story is far from over.
I must say, Marinette's exile from Paris indeed took longer than expected but I am building up to the moment and it has to be exact.
At this point you may piece together what's in store for Chloe and Kagami. If not, don't worry, it'll be clear soon enough.
This marks two years since I had started this fanfic and I have acknowledged those who followed this story in the previous chapter. Now these are the following who have favorite this story and I thank each and every single one of you:
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…And Special Thanks to….
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