Marinette sat crossed legged on the floor of her bedroom staring at the miraculous box, guilt over the events that recently transpired and led her to be in possession of said box, continued to wash over her periodically, causing her to begin crying again. She didn't know how to be ladybug without Master Fu, let alone the guardian of the miraculous.
She hadn't spoken to Chat Noir since yesterday on the roof top. Marinette was afraid of what he thought of her, afraid to see the disappointment in his eyes because she had failed.
"Marinette?" a tiny voice came from behind her causing Marinette to smile sadly. Tikki was always there for me, she thought.
"Hi Tikki," Marinette said, pulling a cookie out of her bag and offering it to her kwami. Tiki took the treat but didn't take a bite.
"Marinette, there is something I need to tell you." Tikki looked nervous.
"What is it, Tikki?" the little kwami flew over to the miraculous box, sat upon it and looked at Marinette with tears in her eyes.
Chat Noir perched on their usual rooftop, much like a cat sits waiting to pounce. He was waiting for Ladybug to arrive so they could do their nightly patrol. It had been three days since he had last seen and each moment without his lady felt like it would age him more than his nine lives would allow. He needed Ladybug, in more ways than she could possibly imagine. It was more than attraction; this was dependability and stability that he was lacking in his civilian life. Ladybug made him complete.
He heard a swish in the air and a thud behind him as Ladybug cut through the air and landed. He didn't turn around but smiled to himself as he looked out onto Paris.
"I was afraid you were going to leave me here alone," he said, still looking into the distance. Ladybug didn't answer him but instead moved to sit next to him on the roof.
"I love this view," she said. "Seeing the city like this makes you realize how small your own problems really are." Ladybug sighed. Chat Noir gave her a sideways look, this didn't seem like the Ladybug he had grown to love.
"We need to talk, Kitty."
"Anything Ladybug," The tone in her voice caused a lump to form in Chat Noir's throat and he swallowed hard to clear it. This must be bad. He turned to face her and found her staring into his eyes.
"About the other night," she began but Chat interrupted.
"Don't worry about it, Bugaboo, we will figure this out. We can get through anything together."
"Chat, you don't understand." She hesitated again before speaking. "Tikki told me something today that changes everything."
"What did she tell you?"
Ladybug took a deep breath. "You and I both know that the cat miraculous and the ladybug miraculous are the strongest miraculous. Being the guardian of the miraculous means that I am now responsible for the protection of all the kwamis and as such it is vital that I put their protection before anything else. That includes fighting Hawkmoth."
"What exactly are you saying, my lady?" Chat Noir asked, the lump in his throat returning.
"I am saying that, although a guardian can carry a miraculous, it can not be the ladybug or the cat, meaning I have to relinquish the ladybug miraculous." She said this matter of fact, like she had already taken the time to come to terms with her new role but really, she was dying inside.
Chat Noir felt like his world was crashing around him. How can he be Chat Noir without Ladybug? Did he even want to?
"Don't be upset, kitty," she said sweetly. "There is one tiny bit of good news." He looked up hopefully and she shrugged. "Once I am no longer Ladybug you get to know my real identity that way you can find the guardian anytime you need me."
His heart filled with joy at the idea of finally meeting the love of his life in his civilian form but was it really worth losing his Ladybug?
"Wait, how are we supposed to defeat Hawkmoth without a Ladybug?"
"Silly Kitty," she laughed. "Next we need to find a new Ladybug."