MIRACULOUS

Chapter 37

Key To My Castle

"Tell me could this be another hopeless try to give it up to you…

"Tell me if I'm wrong to see a miracle come true…"

"Key To My Castle" by DJ Sammy

Bunnyx's burrow

Bunnyx was surfing through the burrow windows of time. While she had the satisfaction of setting her younger self on her path in becoming who she is now, she still couldn't find a way to seal her future. Contrary to what she had previously said, the future is not set in stone, even her own fate is not certain. Part of her prefers not to know, living her open for her ideals to become a reality. But at the same time, they're so many possible futures that that none seem certain at this point, thus she couldn't tell if she was on the right track.

Putting that aside for now she touched the "screen" of her burrow searching around what appeared to be Tokyo, Japan. She watched over a tall high-tech tower, situated in the center of the Tokyo red-light district; Kamarucho. Only a few blocks away there was a wider tower being built. Down below the street, the project seemed to be headed by a man with an eye patch on his left eye, a bowl-cut haircut, and a snake jacket with his chest bare. He wore black leather pants and steel-toed cowboy boots. He stood over a legion of goons, curling back and forth in pain. He and a handful of other men, presumably his employees, were lined up side by side behind him and began singing like a choir. In Japanese, of course…

"He's the man, as you saw, Goro Majima, MAJIMA CONSTRUCTION!"

The one-eyed man made some cartoonish outlandish arm gestures before raising his arms in victory as his men joined in his celebration.

"Grrrr…" Bunnyx gritted her teeth as she sneered. "AAAAHHHHH!" she screamed as she punched the screen, fracturing it.

Location Unknown

Emilie woke up from an exhausting night from her macabre dance. There was a shining ball within her grasp, almost as if the sun was subdued onto her room. She could hear the suffering voices of the poor souls who had fallen to the white plague.

"It's magnificent," Emilie said.

"It's truly our masterpiece," Shiroi agreed. "Plagg, soon you'll see that your belief is horrendously misplaced."

Emilie ignored his kwami's monologue. With glowing ball was floating in her hand, her eyes grew and not a single shred of guilt or pity came from her gaze…

"My army…" she said. "Soon, you're no longer going to be alone, Emma."

She grinned and began summoning the spirits with her other hand.

Paris train station…

"Marinette," Gabriel placed his hand on her shoulder. "We have arrived."

"Mmmmmmmhhhh," Marinette stirred as she opened her eyes. "Already?"

"It's only a two-hour trip," Gabriel said. "Come on, Nathalie and Gorilla are waiting."

"You're actually calling him Gorilla?" Marinette cocked an eyebrow at him, Gabriel flinched a bit on that.

"I supposed some of Adrien's antics have rubbed on me," he said and pointed at her clothes. "I suppose you yourself want to keep part of him alive."

Marinette smiled as she took another look at her new attire. Before she could take that moment in she had heard two familiar voices.

"Marinette!" A familiar elderly voice shouted, causing her to gasp.

"Well you certainly have grown, young lady," another familiar elderly voice said. She looked up and saw it was her grandparents Gina and Rolland.

"Grandma!" she exclaimed. "Grandpa!" she said as she dashed to them and embraced. "It feels like forever!"

"I know, sweetheart!" Gina said. Rolland patted her back while she hugged her grandmother.

"You're all right, kid," he said. Gina then broke their hug to face her.

"Do you really want to live Agreste?" she asked. "Maybe we can make the right arrangements to live with me or your grandfather…"

"I've made up my mind Grandma," Marinette cut her off. "I have to do this, I decided… To be his new model."

"Is that how it's going to be, eh?" Rolland asked in a somewhat disappointed tone. "I cannot say I'm surprised."

Gina gave a sad look but Marinette patted her shoulder.

"Don't be sad, Grandma," Marinette implored. "It's the path I chose."

Rolland placed a hand on Gina's shoulder. She looked up at him and nodded at her. She looked down for a second before closing her eyes and got up on her feet.

"Whenever you need us, you know where to find us," she said.

"I will," Marinette smiled.

Gina switched her gaze at Gabriel. He knew what was coming but stayed quiet.

"You keep her safe," she said. "You hear me?"

"It is my very priority, Mrs. Dupain," Gabriel said.

"Grandma, please," Marinette pleaded in a soothing voice. Ine looked at her and saw Marinette's eyes. For a moment saw Tom in them, even though she knew what Marinette really was, she could feel her son's influence through her. She smiled sadly, knowing that her granddaughter was beyond her reach at this point.

Upon saying her farewells, Marinette got on to her limousine and drove off what she thought to be Garbiel's manor.

"Oh, Nathalie," Marinette called. "I would like to make a stop at the cemetery before heading to the mansion."

"We are making another stop beforehand," she said.

"Huh?" Marinette asked.

"We decided that it would be best to get this out of the way before you have your new beginning in the mansion," Nathalie said as she directed Gorilla where to go. Only now Marinette noticed that the sky was gray and cloudy about to rain.

"City Ruins" by Keiichi Okabe plays

The more Gorilla drove the more Marinette recognized the surroundings. She finally had an idea where they were heading and began to silently dread what was coming.

Then they were there… It was where her bakery would have been, but now an empty lot. Once Marinette set eyes on the site, she could've sworn everything was black and white and that there were black blurs around the frame of her vision like it was an old movie. Nathalie noticed that all the color was drained from her face as she opened the door for her after realizing she wasn't going to do it herself. Trembling, Marinette stepped out of the vehicle, still perturbed of what became of what was once her home.

Now she remembered, when Hawk Moth akumatized her, she herself destroyed her home to catch Cat Noir's attention in hopes to get his miraculous. Because she never used the miraculous Ladybug cure that night, this building was never restored. Gabriel must've had the place cleared out so not even the rubble of the bakery was present. She slowly walked to the muddy dirt of the lot and stood there for a minute. She turned to Nathalie beside her.

"Marinette," she said. "We're here to tell you that you're now the owner of this lot."

"What?"

"Your grandparents agreed that you should decide what happens in this lot."

"Huh?" Marinette muttered after hearing this information. She looked out the lot again and stared at it for quite some time, her heart torn to shreds when it finally sunk in that this was once her home. She turned to Nathalie again. "What should I do?"

"Whatever you want," Nathalie said.

"What?"

"Rebuild it, create a new business, sell it, whatever you desire it's yours," Nathalie said. She then gave her a massive folder with a ton of paperwork, which must be for the now-empty lot.

Marinette gave one long look at Nathalie as she accepted the folder. Nathalie placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Come on," she said. "You don't have to decide now."

Song ends

Marinette wordlessly got back in the limo. She looked down, refusing to look back at the lot. Nathalie got back into the vehicle and Gorilla drove off.

"Where did you wanted to go, Marinette?" Nathalie asked. That caused Marinette to snap back into reality and remember.

"The cemetery," she said solemnly. "Would you join me, Mr. Agreste?" she turned to him.

His eyes widened, turning to her. Considering what he knew, he wanted to avoid any sort of situation that would compromise his secret. Her damaged demeanor was starting to get to Gabriel's chest as he wouldn't know what she'll say in her son's grave. He knew that there was little to no way he would avoid this and would have no choice but to play along.

"All right."

Montmarte Cemetery

Marinette made her way to her Parents' graves first. Gabriel saw from the distance in waiting before they would greet Adrien's grave together. She saw him kneeling and spoke to them almost as if they were actually holding a conversation with them. She was always pretty talkative, even when he first laid eyes on her. Her crush on her son was never much of a secret, but he had other plans for Adrien at the time.

Only then he realized how much he had changed since that fateful night. Even now he's not sure how he should feel towards his son. On the one hand, he was overjoyed when he found out he was alive after believing him dead for a while but at the same time, he was Cat Noir and gave him the most savage beating of his life. Yet after all that… he still loved him regardless of both having dirt on each other, thus creating this stalemate with each other.

He saw that Marinette was on her feet and gave the graves some parting words before making her way towards him.

"Mr. Agreste?" she asked her hands in her chest. Once his attention was caught, she just nodded and walked on, he followed. The walk was slow, Gabriel could hear her breathing getting a little loud from the short distance. He placed his hand on her shoulder which made her look up at him with a gasp. He just looked at her with a blank expression. She looked back on the road again and controlled her breathing.

Upon arriving at Adrien's grave, Gabriel stood and became stiff. Despite knowing the truth, it still tore him to shreds to see his son's name on a tombstone. Marinette hesitated once again and took a few steps towards it. Her hands still tighten into her chest, as if holding something.

"Hey, Adrien," Marinette sighed as she got closer to the tomb. "It's been a while, huh?" she went on but hesitated again. "God, so much has happened since then. I wish I could hear what you would say. I really want to believe you're watching me, that you're somewhere out there. Is Emma with you? How is she like? Would she have liked to be in our class? How is it like to have a sister? I've been begging my mom for a sister since I was a kid and… I'm rambling again aren't I?" she giggled a bit, scratching the back of her head. Her expression became saddened again. She kneeled to the grave and with a sigh, she continued. "I know you're watching me, so I talk to you like you're still here because you are, I know you are," she said. Tears threatened to fall and she lowered her head and shut her eyes tightly. "Which is why it's only going to make this harder. I... I want to thank you… Thank you for being part of my life… for being my friend… for being my first love…" his voice begins to break. "I really wanted you to be my only love…" Marinette took a few deep breaths. It would be a full minute and a half before she calmed down, even though her mood didn't bright up too much. "I really wanted to make the most of this final visit to you…"

Gabriel's eyes widened and stared at her, even he almost couldn't hold a gasp as to those last words.

"I'll never forget you and I'll always cherish the time we had together. But I have to move on. I… *sigh* I'm not a real person. I think you know what I am, now. I'm destined to be Ladybug forever. I'll never leave the mantle behind, I'll never have a normal life. Even if you were still here, and I so wish you were, I… It would've never worked, you would have no future with me, you deserved a long and happy life. Something I could never give you. You should've never got involved in this mess and I have no one but myself to blame for what happened to you. But you won't be just a memory, not by a long shot," she got up to her feet and showed off her new look. "These are the colors I chose to wear for you from here on out, It's the best way for the spirit of your memory to live on."

She looked down at her hand and saw that it was the lucky charm she had given him the one day they were playing video games on her home. She smiled sadly and walked closer to the grave again.

"But that is as far as I will go," she said. "I can't cling onto you forever. So the time has come to set you free… Leave me," she finally teared up. "This is not your burden to carry so please leave and be free, and let me go my way to face my cloudy future…"

She kneeled again and placed the charm on the grave. Tears finally cascaded down her face and she shut her eyes tightly again.

"Good night, my prince."

"Key to My Castle" By DJ Sammy plays

She got up on her feet and with a sniff, she ran off. Gabriel walked after her. He stopped and looked back at the grave for a second before heading back to the limo.

Unbeknownst to them, there was a small wireless microphone attached behind the tombstone.

In an unknown location, Adrien was listening in on what Marinette had just said. He gritted his teeth and with a yell he punched the concrete sewer wall, cracking it.

Back in the cemetery, Marinette stopped running right by the limousine. She sobbed quietly as she wiped the tears off her eyes.

"Marinette?" Nathalie asked. Marinette looked up at her, not really hiding her broken expression. "We called your friend Alya and she agreed to meet you in the mansion. I hope it's okay with you."

"Alya," she sighed, quietly. She gave a comforting smile and nodded.

"Very well," Nathalie affirmed.

She once again turned to the direction Adrien's grave is. She sighed and stood tall with her head up high as the sunset wind flew through her.

Gabriel had caught up to them and they all got into the limo.

Marinette looked out the window and finally noticed that the sun was setting. She took another look at Gabriel who seemed to be his usual demeanor but she felt guilty to leave the grave like that.

"Mr. Agreste?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry for running off like that," she said. "I didn't even give you the chance of talking to Adrien yourself…"

"It's quite all right," he said. "I have spoken to him quite a few times. I have little to add at this point."

"Still…"

"Do not dwell on it too much, Marinette," he said. "You said it yourself, you must push forward. And who knows maybe, just maybe, you'll truly find the happiness any person can achieve."

Marinette did not believe it will ever happen but stayed quiet and looked out the window, seeing that they're almost there. She then saw Alya, waving at her from the front gate.

Song ends.

"Alya!" she burst out of the limo and hugged her friend.

"Hey girl!" Alya greeted with glee, hugging her back. "I know you were already kinda back but it's good that you're actually back!"

"I know but…" Marinette trailed off as she broke up the hug and looked up at the mansion. "I didn't think about it but it's all too surreal."

"Yeah, kinda does," Alya agreed to look up at the mansion. "I suppose you saw what became of your old home…"

"Yeah," Marinette whispered. Alya quickly patted her on the back.

"Enough doom and gloom! Come on," she prompted.

"I believe it is you two to enter first," Gabriel said.

"Is it okay for Alya to stick around for a while?" Marinette asked.

"By all means," he said. Marinette was still weirded out by Gabriel's unusual kindness through all this time.

"Come on, girl," Alya soothed as they're the first to enter the manor.

"I'm so glad you're here Alya," Marinette said. "This whole thing is has been so surreal, I don't know if I'll get used to this or if you'll ever see me as the person you once knew…"

"SURPRISE!"

A large group of friends and classmates greet her with such a bang that Marinette screamed of fright before a smile crept up her face. She covered her fist with her other palm and tightened her arms as she observed the scene.

Nino, Max, Luka, Juleka, Rose, Sabrina, Kagami, Kim, Nathaniel, Mylene, and, of course, Mordecai and Rigby, were all here. Even people she had associated with were also there. Alya's sister Etta, Jagged Stone, Aurore. Aside from them a table of a buffet and drinks, the other side was a DJ set and speakers, and above them was a banner saying; 'Welcome Home, Marinette!'

"*gasp*" Marinette covered her mouth with a gasp and a sniff as she saw the display of affection from those who were her friends in the past. While it has only been a few months, the time that has passed has finally taken a toll on her as she collapsed to her knees with Alya catching her.

"Hey, hey, girl!" she said as she eased her way down. "You all right?"

"You did this… for me?" Marinette asked.

"Why not?" Nino asked. "We knew you were coming so we thought it was a no-brainer."

"But…"

"You kidding?" Mordecai asked. "Your friends wouldn't shut up about you in class."

"We were so stoked you were coming back," Juleka said.

"Welcome back to Paris, Marinette," Kagami greeted with a bow.

"Good to see you again," Luka said, giving her a salute.

"I didn't think I would ever see you again!" Rose jumped in.

"Your contributions to my music art worked wonders for me," Jagged Stone said. "Of course I'll be there for you!"

Everyone gave their compliments over how she had impacted their lives. But Marinette couldn't accept all that praise. She started to cry again.

"Stop…" she said gently. "Please, *sniff* just stop…" she began sobbing with hands on her face.

"Marinette?" Alya said, confused.

"I don't deserve this!"

"What are you talking about?" Nino asked. "You…"

"Nino, I was the reason your brother was akumatized into Christmaster, 'the most well behaved in the world?' what a load of BS!" she said facing Nino, emphasizing the last few words. "Juleka, I was so obsessed with Adrien that I forced myself into the photoshoot and left you in the dust, and you were akumatized into Reflekta, again. Nathaniel, because I thought it was a good idea to lead you in and making you think I was meeting you in that fountain, you were akumatized to Evilustrator! Kagami, your mom was akumatized when I took your cell phone because I was jealous! The list goes on!" she said as her voice elevated as she spoke. "I'm sorry, everyone! I'm so sorry!" she wailed.

Everyone was astonished by her brief rant and all silently looked at her as a blubbering mess. After a few moments of sobbing, there was a voice separate from the rest of the group.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who has to atone," someone said. Everyone, even Marinette, quickly turned to the source. It was Chloe, walking towards her. Alya hugged Marinette tightly as she leaned down beside them. She took a glance at Alya, who has a subtle glare at her. She nodded before turning her attention back and Marinette.

"Chloe…"

"Have you forgotten? I've got my share of akumatized victims under my own belt," she admitted.

"But my time away made me realize that obsession with Adrien wasn't exactly healthy," Marinette countered. "If I haven't let it cloud my judgment… So much could've been prevented."

"You did those things out of ignorance and it was beyond your control," Chloe countered, earning a deeper glare from Alya. "I had no such excuse."

"But you actually cared for Adrien, I know you did," Marinette shook her head. "But what did I do? I actually once took a sniff at his pillow."

"Girl!" Alya cocked an eyebrow at her.

"So, what!" Chloe said rather loudly. "I took him for granted for too long, look where that got him."

"Chloe…"

"Look, I'm not the best in this sentimental talk but what I do know is that we all have messes to clean up. I know I have them. I'm sure Adrien would want that."

"Did your future self give you a talking to?"

"Shut up," Chloe muttered, she crossed her arms and looked away with a pout. Everyone got a much-needed laugh, a contrast to the previously somber atmosphere.

"Where is she anyway?"

"Who knows," Chloe shrugged.

"She's right, Marinette," Luka stepped in. "We all have our demons. And you're right, we have to acknowledge yours too. I guess your desire to be held accountable makes you braver than we can ever be."

"We may not know each other too much but I know what we all want to take responsibility for what we've done," Mordecai added.

"Mr. Quintel," Marinette said.

"That's rich," Rigby said. "Coming from Mr. Hiding-my-disastrous-love-life-with-Margaret."

"Can it, Rigby!"

"We can acknowledge your misgivings if you really desire, Marinette," Luka added. He then helped her up. "But it's no excuse to be looked down upon. You can be a hero and be held accountable. It's only logical. Heck, the two are one and the same."

Chloe looked down for a moment before looking up with a sad smile. She got up on her feet and faced everyone.

"Everyone," she said and then bowed. "I'm sorry."

"HMM!?" everyone huffed collectively.

"Sorry for being a jerk!" she shouted, still bowing.

Alya was dumbfounded but Marinette walked to her and patted her back. Alya tried to intervene but Marinette stopped her.

Feeling Marinette's touch, Chloe looked up at her. She got up and Marinette pulled her into a hug.

"You and I are more alike than I thought," Marinette said. "Despite everything I have to look at myself into the mirror and see what I really am and how to be better. Your part of that journey, believe it or not. So could you let me be part of yours?"

A tear escaped Chloe's cheek, she returned the hug tightly and they both began sobbing. Gabriel looked down as everything he had done came back at him. He took a look at Nathalie, who looked back at him with a sad smile, she lowered her eyes for a brief second before looking back at him again. She wanted to take his hand but decided against it. After few minutes of sobbing, the two girls broke their hug and looked at each other in the eyes.

"Chloe, I'm sorry," Marinette said.

"For what?"

"For not believing in you."

"I don't really blame you," Chloe said, wiping a tear, trying to chuckle. "Last month I would scream at me and storm out the room if she saw like this," Chloe hugged her again. "I couldn't care less anymore!"

"Let's fight to be better," Marinette prompted. "Together."

Chloe just smiled. It was a lighter and shorter hug this time before breaking off again. Marinette still looked sad.

"I heard about your sister," she said. "I'm sorry I never got to meet her."

"Yeah," Chloe agreed. "Me too."

Everyone was game on this. Alya also agreed to point out what Marinette had done wrong and promised to bring these things up when necessary. They all silently witnessed the scene. Rose and Juleka were hugging, shedding a few tears themselves. After a moment of silence, Nino finally then stepped in.

"Now come on, let's not waste this night, what do you say?"

The previously sobbing girls giggled, wiping the last of their tears. Then the party started a little smoother but quickly escalated into a rowdy but clean event.

"Summer Nights" By Tiesto and John Legend Plays

Jagged Stone showed off his next album cover. Mordecai and Rigby were bombarded with collective gasps and questions as neither ever heard of him.

Juleka and Rose came out to their friends, they all approved their relationship and Luka gave his sister a pat on her shoulder.

Sabrina jumped around like a little girl, holding both Chloe and Marinette by the arm. Marinette looked at her weirdly but Chloe gave her a knowing smile.

Nino was having a ball with his DJing while Alya 'ambushed' him from behind. She hugged him, causing him to freak out.

Kagami sat near Marinette while still steering clear of Chloe, and chatted extensively.

"How have they been treating you Kagami?"

"She's actually pretty cool," Alya said, wrapping an arm around her. "I don't get why you got me to conspire against her."

"Ix-nay, Alya!"

"I already have forgiven you Marinette," Kagami bowed. "I have forgiven your misgivings even before you realized them." She took her drink with both her hands and took a sip.

"Are you going to forgive Chloe for hers?" Sabrina asked hopefully.

"Sabrina!" Chloe huffed, elbowing her.

Kagami choked on her drink and coughed. She looked up at her, she suddenly remembered their past history. She realized she couldn't give a negative answer without being a hypocrite.

"One day," she said. "In due time."

Marinette smiled and nodded.

Gabriel and Nathalie observed the party from the railing of the second floor. He looked up at Nathalie, who smiled sheepishly at him.

"I believe we both need to atone as well."

Song Ends

Later on the night, Mordecai and Rigby gave a record-setting rap on Alya's rapping app on her cell phone. The kids were impressed by how these two coordinated with each other.

"Well, that's one record I'm never gonna beat," Alya sighed.

The night went on and they all had a good laugh. Once a huge chunk of the guests left, Nino left the DJ booth and began chatting as well.

"It's not possible," Nino muttered.

"It is," Mordecai replied.

"Just can't be," Nino insisted.

"Believe it."

"You don't like 'Evangelion?'"

"Nope," Mordecai confirmed. "I don't like 'Evangelion,'"

"But everyone loves Evangelion!"

"I don't. I think it's overrated."

"Oooh, You're gonna piss off a lot of people."

Everyone had a huge laugh from that, only then Alya noticed the details of her change in attire.

"I dig you your new look, Girl," she said.

"Oh, you noticed then."

"I suppose this is about…" Chloe didn't want to finish this sentence.

"Yeah," Marinette said softly.

"I think he would appreciate that," Chloe said with a sad but sincere smile.

Such conversations went on through the night. As the energy died down they were all in an intimate conversation. Only Marinette, Chloe, Nino, Alya, Kagami, Mordecai, and Rigby remained.

One lat guest would arrive who had previously waited for everyone else to leave. Everyone knew who it would be. He entered via the roof window and landed on his feet.

"Welcome back, My Lady," he greeted. Marinette's world has bright up for the first time in a while. "Dig the new look!"

"Mister Bug!" Marinette got up and ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Good to see you again, my lady," he greeted but quickly broke his hug and gave her a serious look. "I wish I could join the after party but I'll need your help," he said

He took a look at everyone else, who had gotten up from their seats.

"All of you."

Author's Note: Gonna stop here.

One thing I completely forgot is that Luka as Viperion was in "Party Crasher" which kinda complicated things given that Luka is not Viperion in this story, yet. All we can do is that in this fanfic they somehow dealt with the villain without him. I don't remember if he actually contributed in that episode as he was dispatched rather quickly.

We all know that Luka was kind of a cop-out to prevent any MariChat development so, I'm fixing that and give him a better purpose. I'm also doing the same with Zoe, who was also a cop-out to keep Chloe the bully. It always bothers me when they introduce new characters rather than taking the time to develop the current ones. But don't worry, I'm giving Zoe a better purpose here…

Next chapter, it's going down again. Sorry but I think our heroes will hold onto each other's powers just a little longer as there's no logical way to switch back at this point.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. As usual, Constructive criticism is appreciated.