I wasn't using dates before that's my bad. Please enjoy!
Chapter 6 – The Secrets of Tea
August 19th, 2016, Thursday 11:45 pm
Ladybug
The full moon lit up the rooftops of Paris. A pair of heroes stood on the roof, "Are you sure about this?" "No, I'm not sure." They were looking down at a flower shop, "But this shop is the only one in Paris that sells dragon's tears because it's a stupid Japanese flower that doesn't have any business on this continent. Alternatively, the full moon is supposed to be some obscure reference to milk or cheese, in which case, the Dragon's Tears aren't the literal flowers, it could be a mythology reference or refer to a piece of artwork. Then the possibility that dragon's tears refer to green tea, as in something to warm your body."
Cat Noir dropped to a sitting position, "Well then I'm stumped, maybe you're supposed to talk to the shop owner?"
"Hey, guys!"
Both heroes whirled around to look at a girl in her twenties, the initial panic evaporating as they recognize the grownup version of their friend Alix. "Alix," Ladybug exclaimed, hugging her time-traveling friend, "What are you doing here?" Alix warmly returned the embrace, "Hey mini-bug!"
Alix looked over the two as if forgetting what she was supposed to be doing, "Oh right, you guys met the wizard right? That's when Master Fu gave you a cryptic message and junk?"
Both the heroes nodded. Alix scratched the back of her head. "Ok first thing, the wizard guy is causing a lot of problems, I can't burrow willy-nilly in this time period for a while, because of all the negative magic, we get small windows based on meteorological and magic uh, let's call it a mana-sphere like a magic hydrosphere. The short version is, I can't jump in and help, so you sent me back to a point I could get to," Bunnyx stopped to breathe, "Sorry, there are three things, first, Lucky Charm can't break, you just didn't use it correctly."
Cat Noir sighed, "That figures."
Ladybug groaned, "Are you sure? It feels broken. Bunnyx gave a reassuring smile, "Seraphim, right? She busted your confidence. I remember you being in a slump since the fight. She can only inflict pain on the people that have inflicted it on others, it's a flawed outlook, it doesn't take forgiveness or your good actions into account."
Cat Noir said nothing, he had played up the tears as a joke, but the dread he felt was unrelenting, and something squeezing his heart, like a hand that reached in and tried to crush it, what it did to Ladybug terrified and frustrated him, what it did to Chloé mortified him. It made his skin crawl that Hawkmoth could do that to someone.
"Don't take it seriously, you had to experience it in a matter of seconds, it puts it into perspective, but you won't find anyone alive that isn't glad to know either version of you."
"That's because Ladybug has more charms than the entire Harry Potter series."
Both girls groaned. Right the second thing is you're meeting someone at midnight, on that roof. Future Cat Noir said he was the most skilled opponent that you two have ever fought. Lastly, you guys are going to be out of commission for two days after this. I need the Fox and Dragon Miraculous, if I hurry, I won't be stuck here. Ladybug handed Bunnyx the Miraculous. "Are they going to need these?" asked Ladybug concerned. Bunnyx nodded, "Trust me its better if you find out after. We're almost out of time, jump over there and I'll see you guys next time."
Bunnyx took off across the rooftops.
The duo jumped to the other roof and waited.
12:00
A blue shimmer appeared around them two figures stood facing them, color reversed versions of black and white robes.
"Ladybug and Cat Noir. What do the aspects of creation and destruction request?" they spoke in unison one deep, the other higher, mirroring each other as they circled the two. "Who's asking?" asked the feline hero.
"Haibai, guardian of balance, keeper of knowledge, the curator of mysteries." stated the deeper voice in a somber tone,
"And Yukio, guardian of balance, keeper of the panda miraculous, and sustainer of mysteries." Boasted the second voice, proud of his titles.
"Ladybug and Cat Noir exchanged a nervous glance before Cat Noir asked: "Are we supposed to fight?"
"Yes, and No" the two robed figures intersected, overlapping like a glitch, before solidifying into a single warrior face covered by a sort of balaclava and a short cone-shaped hat woven from straw. The robes were reminiscent of a Tibetan monk and a Shao Lin priest, a shishi medallion appeared dangling from a silver chain around his neck. Two swords hung from his back, both Japanese. A pair of sickles hung from a sash around his waist.
Ladybug wasn't sure how to progress, so she spoke carefully, "Master Fu sent us to find you."
"Haibai knows this name, a boy eighty years ago that traversed the dream realm to hide the miraculous you carry. He sent you to learn, the dream walker will teach."
The blue light swirled around them, then sunlight blinded them, and the blue light faded, revealing a training circle, on a mountain, springtime somewhere with pink leaves. The heroic duo rubbed their eyes and took in the view, valley farmland stretching out for miles.
Despite being in their costumes, they trio was joined by Plagg and Tiki. Both mortals expressed confusion, "What? How?" Plagg sighed at their confusion letting Tiki be the one to explain, "We are in the dream world the rules are different here." Haibai/Yukio nodded. "This will allow for a stronger connection to your Quami, your abilities can be better understood here."
As can your past. Their spirit guide gestured to a Cat Noir double meditating in front of them "Nekko Kuro, Tamashi Dorobo," exclaimed Yukio. "The soul stealer." completed Haibai's deep voice.
"Yo, Haibai this isn't a fair fight at all!" Plagg exclaimed loudly, "That's the guy that repelled the Mongols"
Nekko Kuro stood and turned to face them. He wore orochi armor, black paint covered any insignias that used to be on the armor, a black hood covered the broken ornamentation on his head, the mask black and scratched to hell and the eye sockets held green cat's eyes.
"Nekko Kuro is the monster that exterminated the Mongols" Haibai corrected. Plagg looked around desperately, "Oh No, he's just a kid, you're taking this too seriously."
Yukio spoke, any arrogance was missing from his voice he seemed almost apologetic, "Failure can be an excellent teacher, so long as he tries to learn."
Ladybug turned to the dream walker, "Wait what are we doing?"
Nekko Kuro drew his sword, "Battle!" "I can't watch!" cried Plagg.
The orochi dashed across the clearing at Cat Noir, sweeping his blade in an arc so fast it seemed to vanish before it clashed with Cat Noir's staff blocked the initial strike, but was caught unaware by the second and third, "Cat!" cried ladybug, before the scene before they reset, the soul stealer drawing his blade as he did before.
Yukio stopped her, "This is his trial." Cat Noir blocked the second strike and was impaled again. the scene reset a third and fourth and a fifth time. "DAMN IT! he exclaimed"
Haibai's voice boomed, "Cat Noir! So distraught, are you? You are capable of everything every Cat Noir has to show you!" a mirage of Cat Noirs appeared wielding different weapons, a khopesh, a spear, a sickle, a chakram, claws, a green flame. All appeared beside the one with the katana.
Haibai continued, "Destruction of life is death, destruction of death is immortality, destruction of immortality is to surpass gods. That is the power of the Cat Miraculous." Each of the specters of his former selves attacked him one by one, Cat Noir didn't hesitate to dodge and evade. He was disarmed by the first took the spear from the second twirling it like a staff. He dodged and parried as each of the specters attacked him. "You have already pushed your limits. You must push it so much further."
The final specter erupted into duplicates that each conjured a new weapon, a musket rifle, a pair of daggers, a chain spear, and a gladius.
Haibai separated from Yukio leading Ladybug away into swirling mist, "Cat Noir is safe. I must show you something far more difficult."
Haibai assumed the form of a partially glowing quami, "Creation and destruction forms a symbiotic circle, neither is more powerful or more beautiful than the other, both cause and are caused by the existence of the other."
Ladybug realized they were surrounded by utter darkness and total silence, "You can't have one without the other? That feels basic." Ladybug muttered. "It is" the quami agreed, before chuckling, "Tiki why don't you explain?" Tiki giggled, "OK, so in the beginning, there was nothing because time didn't exist yet. Then there was something. At the birth of time, creation, and existence burst into possibility."
The lightshow Haibai presented was almost without comprehension, way off in the distance, a spark of light exploded into a supernova of light and gas, whole galaxies bursting into being and blasting apart to from new galaxies. "The simplest form of creation is energy or matter, that's because Haibai was created a little late to the party, the rules of balance and equilibrium weren't in place yet."
"Earth is special, but not exclusive, life pops up across the universe, but humans were the ones that created ways to use magic, for however long the practices lasted. Anyway, the miraculous and other magical artifacts are the only things that remain of the first Cenozoic civilizations, like the Mayans, the Aztec, the Atlanteans, and the dinosaurs, some stuff doesn't last forever. The exceptions being abstract concepts like creation and destruction."
Marinette pressed her hands into her face, "You're starting to lose me Tiki, what does all of this have to do with my hidden powers?" Tiki groaned, "Weren't you paying attention? I just said that if you fully master your miraculous you are wielding the power to spark the existence of a NEW UNIVERSE into existence at ANY time!"
Marinette put a hand to one of her earrings, "Holy shit" Tiki nodded, "And if you do that the only thing that can stop it is Cat Noir!"
Marinette nodded, having been stunned into silence, "Wait! Does that mean that Cat Noir can destroy the entire universe?" "Not all at once, planets are so far apart. He'd die before he got close. But a spark is such a small thing…"
"Got it."
Hai bai added in his deep knowing voice, "The spark of creation is also the spark of life. It would be no small mistake to fail to reiterate that creation is also the key to life itself."
Hope you guys enjoyed my humans are tiny but still beautiful outlook on the universe. I really hope this chapter didn't feel too boggy, I had a blast writing it. More Underway.
