Chapter 8 Getting Real

"The ambush went well, Viperion," said Pegabug. "We got both Miraculous, the coffee cup, and the ring from Shadow Moth without anyone getting killed. How many times did it take?"

"It took 53 times," said Viperion. "He's a slippery character."

"I'm glad I didn't have to take that many notes back in time," said Pegabug.

"How are you doing, Chat Noir?" Viperion asked.

"Shadow Moth... my father. You monster!" Chat said to the bound villain.

Gabriel Agreste glared back at him in silence.

"Minou, I want you to hold onto this ring," said Pegabug. "Put it in your pocket. I'll explain later."

Chat looked puzzled, but he obeyed.

Pegabug divided from Kaalki and sent her home for an apple.

There was some damage to the area, but Ladybug didn't call for a Miraculous Ladybug yet. There were still things to do as Ladybug.

"We're not done," said Ladybug. "As soon as we can, we have to ambush the Graham de Vanilys at the Agreste mansion and get back the other ring. But first I need to talk to Alya and her family."


The family was happy to be rescued from the bubbles, and they let Ladybug have a moment with Alya, to supposedly get clues about what Shadow Moth was up to, that could be used to prosecute him.

In Alya's room, Ladybug said, "Alya, I made some bad mistakes, and I'm sorry. I was so happy to have a friend I could confide in that I went too far."

Alya said, "I didn't really get it that Shadow Moth knew my identity and how far he was prepared to go to threaten my family."

"We should have got it after the fight with Style Queen," said Ladybug. "Shadow Moth set up that event as a trap: every single Miraculous holder he knew about was there and everyone got turned to glitter. He knew all of you ever since Miracle Queen pulled you in unmasked, and he had a sentimonster spying on you. It got into the Turtle Miraculous and nearly followed me home."

"Can I still keep Trixx? You can pretend to take him back, and I'll still work with you in secret. I can be Rena Furtive from now on."

"Yes, that's a good idea," said Trixx, emerging from Alya's pouch.

"I don't think so," said Ladybug. "I have a note from my future self saying how much worse things could have gotten. In one timeline, Shadow Moth got the Fox Miraculous away from you."

"I wouldn't have liked that," said Trixx. "He's a bad master."

"But now that he's caught, everything is fine, right?" asked Alya.''

"Not completely. Mayura, who we think is his assistant Nathalie, is still out there. She doesn't have the Peacock now, but she could still do something. Gabriel Agreste is going to prison, we hope, but he could tell others about all the holders he knows, even the press if he wanted. I think I should do what Master Fu would have done and find completely new holders. For everyone that was compromised, including you."

"With Shadow Moth stopped, do you even need to keep active?"

"Yes, there will be new threats and we need to be prepared," said Ladybug. "I learned that from the Rabbit holder of the future."

"So, this is it," said Alya. "I enjoyed working with you, Ladybug."

"I hope we can still stay friends," said Ladybug. "I don't regret opening up to you and telling you my secret. I had to do that or I would have broken down completely. And you have been such a help with great illusions and that idea about how to make Magical Charms. But I can't make you the Guardian successor like I was planning."

"We can stay friends," said Alya. "Even though this hurts, I get why you need to do it."

She took off the Fox necklace and gave it to Ladybug.

"Goodbye, Trixx," said Alya. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," said Trixx, "But you can visit Marinette's room and I'll talk to you there, if she allows."

"I will," said Ladybug.


Back with the family, Ladybug pointed to Sentibubbler, who was standing motionless in the kitchen, waiting for new orders after the cup was taken from Shadowmoth.

"I'll take charge of Sentibubbler," she told the family.

"Come with me," she ordered.

Sentibubbler obeyed and they went back to the rooftop with the other heroes.

Ladybug handed the coffee cup to Sentibubbler. "You have your own free will now. I hope you will use it wisely."

"Thank you, Ladybug," said Sentibubbler. "I don't want to hurt people anymore. I think I'll be like my inner Nino, dude."

"We have a second mission," said Ladybug. "First, I need to clean up the broken things here. I'll shield you so you aren't counted as damage,"

Embracing Sentibubbler and hoping for the best, she retrieved the cooking pot and threw it into the air.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

The magic ladybugs repaired everything, but they left Sentibubbler alone.

"Do you know if I'll age?" asked Sentibubbler.

"I think you will," said Ladybug. "You're a human being, you're not like Feast."

Inwardly she wasn't sure. Chat Blanc had lived for a long time in the ruined world without sustenance, and might have lived forever. One of his amok rings had certainly been destroyed with Hawk Moth, but the other no doubt survived, perhaps hidden with his mother's body. The released amok feather was never purified, just sunk in the water somewhere, so he remained strong and healthy. Just insane. Marinette shuddered at the memory.

"Good. If I don't age, someday I may call on you to release me," said Sentibubbler.

"I hope it doesn't come to that," said Ladybug.

"May I come on your mission?" asked Sentibubbler. "I want to help."

"Yes, you may," said Ladybug. "I think your bubbles would be very helpful against the Graham de Vanilys."


Everyone who needed to got a chance to detransform, feed their kwamis, and regroup. Ladybug united with Kaalki for the teleport to the Agreste mansion.

"Second chance!" called Viperion.


The battle was easier than the last. Viperion reported that only three resets were needed.

Fèlix and Amelie were bubbled, with the plan that Sentibubbler would release them when the police arrived. It wasn't certain they could be held on any charges. Ladybug would try.

Nathalie was also bubbled, and she admitted the plan to get a wish.

"The wish wasn't simply to revive her," said Nathalie. "It was to change the past, to undo their mistake in creating..."

"Hold it right there," interrupted Ladybug.


Ladybug got Chat Noir into a different room for privacy. She handed him the second ring.

"First, I would like to share who I really am," said Ladybug. "I learned who you are through a message from the future, and it's only fair."

"Thank you. m'Lady! I've wanted to know for such a clawfully long time," said Chat Noir.

"Spots off," said Ladybug.

"Marinette!" said Chat Noir with a gasp. "I finally know who you are, and I love you!"

"I love you too, Adrien," said Marinette.

"Plagg, claws in."

They hugged for a moment.

"Hold on. I have another thing to tell you and maybe you had better sit down," Marinette said.

She told him all about him being a sentimonster and his parent's plot.

Adrien went pale and looked sick. "I'm not really human?"

"Of course you are," said Marinette. "You were just born with a curse that you could be controlled through objects. Now you have those objects and you're free."

"I.. I don't know what to do, what to think!" said Adrien. "My whole life, controlled and molded, just to pick up a magic item."

"This doesn't change how I feel about you, you know," said Marinette. "You're still the boy I love."

"You don't know the real me. Even I don't know the real me," said Adrien. "I have to find out who I am. Genetically I'm Félix. Everything else came from being a puppet. Being Chat Noir allowed me to let out that wild side of me."

"Take your time," said Marinette. "When you're ready I'll be here for you. I think you really are a wonderful person."

"You need to take my ring back, as Guardian," said Adrien. "Find another cat, at least for a while."

"Why?" asked Marinette.

"I think I need to take a road trip, with Sentibubbler if he wants," said Adrien. "He's like my best friend and he's the only person who has this in common."

"How would you get around?" asked Marinette.

"In bubbles, I guess. I'll take money," said Adrien. "I'll be all right. I just need space to process this."

"What about your mother?" asked Marinette.

"I'm not sure what to do about her. I don't like the idea of using a wish to revive her. She doesn't deserve it," said Adrien.

"Maybe let her be for now, and decide later," said Marinette.

"I think so..." said Adrien.

"Well... I have to let you go if that's what you want. I h-hope I'll see you. S-soon?" asked Marinette with tears in her eyes.

"We'll see," said Adrien.

THE END

NOTES: I put all my ideas for "Adrien is a Sentimonster" into this story. I still hope it doesn't come to this, but clues are getting stronger, particularly after "Wishmaster".