Chapter 4
Miraculouses
"Alright. Let's see where a Pegasus can hide…" Celine says to herself, pleased to note that the transformation changed her hairstyle from bun to high ponytail automatically.
Swivelling her ears this way and that, Yiang manages to pick up on the flying nuisance, cackling on his way to the top of the neighbouring office tower.
She also notices the slinking swish of a sneaky cat currently clawing his way up the side of said building.
'Well, well, well, the Chat decided to show up on time today.' Celine giggles to herself, ears drooping slightly when she doesn't pick up on the usual sound of Ladybug's yoyo whizzing through the air.
Shaking herself out of THAT funk pretty quick, Yiang glides her way up the opposite side of the building that Chat was currently climbing up.
The Akuma already awaiting the miraculous users at the top of the building, a scowling Chloé in his grasp.
Daring a peak, Celine quickly muffled her gasp in the fabric of her glove, ducking into the building through an open window to further avoid detection.
The Akuma looked to be a teen, maybe a few years older than she herself was.
At least, he was in the shape of a teen.
Yiang couldn't really be certain what he was, considering he was made up entirely of black. Almost like a silhouette, but with red eyes, pearly fangs, and black wings, not unlike those of a bat, but somehow… Inconsistent? Foggy? She wasn't sure.
'…and they've been fighting things like that for two years?!'
Yiang's thoughts were justified, but also interrupted by a hissing voice, that rasped in her ears.
The sound alone, enough to send shivers raining down her spine.
"I see you've come to save the brat once again, Chat Noir."
Goodness, but that voice would win Oscars in a haunted house movie!
"Let her go Dimitri, she has nothing to do with this."
THAT, was Chat's voice, not quite deep enough to be an adult, but as smooth and confident as his namesake. Odd how it seemed somehow, familiar, to her…
"My name, is Shadow Shifter! And if it weren't for her and her stupid spa expansion program, my father would still have a job, and we won't have to move away!
It's ALL. HER. FAULT!"
Yiang managed to supress the shudders this time, only shrinking in on herself a little as the anger and volume of the voice continued to rise.
One of her ears flicked.
There.
A warm smile sent any shivers scampering away, as Yiang picked up on the tell-tale sounds of Ladybug's approach.
"Though I wouldn't put it past her to try ruining someone's good mood, it appears I have to agree with Chat on this one, Shadow Shifter."
Yiang's brow crinkled at the insult to her cousin, though a rueful smile soon took its place. If they didn't know her, it was a rather typical assumption that Chloé's insults were ALWAYS intentional.
"Nice to see you My Lady, I dare say your day was sunnier a moment ago?"
The teasing tone and terrible pun made Yiang's jaw drop a little.
THIS was the Chat Noir that protected Ladybug, and destroyed anything he desired? He sounded a whole lot more like an inexperienced Casanova… In kitten form!
Shadow Shifter's tone takes on a slightly more irked tone at being ignored.
"Ah, and here I was wondering when you'd show up, Ladybug."
Yiang knew that she had to be careful, and she shouldn't reveal herself, but, she was rather certain that SEEING a fight take place, would benefit her training a lot more than merely eavesdropping on the conversation from below.
That thought in mind, Yiang moved back to the window, quickly pulled a mental scaffold of the building into her head, and flew up to the roof, landing behind the rectangular chimney, behind the Akuma, without so much as an unusual gust of wind.
"Chat. Please, just focus on the akuma."
Ladybug's tone was as professional as always, only carrying a hint of irritation and exasperation.
Though also, surprisingly, amusement.
'Well, I suppose Chat will have that effect on any person exposed to his personality for any length of time.'
Yiang allowed herself a mental chuckle at the thought.
Shadow Shifter growled, and Yiang immediately noted the practised moves the two heroes underwent when facing off against him.
The result of a lot of practice, she bet.
"Enough. I will have your miraculouses Ladybug and Chat Noir! And I will stay powerful enough to protect my family from anything and everything that threatens them!"
With that said, Yiang could only watch as the teen melted into the ground.
Her eyes weren't the only ones to widen at THAT particular occurrence.
Ok, so this wasn't NORMAL, even for Akumas.
Yiang took note of that fact the instant her gaze locked onto Ladybug's.
The two girls shared a fleeting glance and smile, before Chat pushed Ladybug under the shade of the rooftop door.
"Look out Ladybug!"
His call registered a moment later… along with his hiss of pain.
Only then, did Yiang notice the shadow akuma practically crushing Chat's shadow in his grip.
"Chat!"
Ladybug's call was filled with genuine worry, and she moved to help her partner on instinct.
"DON'T!"
Ladybug and Yiang both froze at his sudden outburst.
"No shadow… No, manipulation." Chat managed to rasp.
'No shadow… No shadows… Shadows. Shadows need light.' Celine realised with a start.
And while Ladybug called on her Lucky Charm, momentarily distracting everyone, Yiang made a split-second decision and rocketed her way into the sky, above the cloud cover still lingering from the earlier rain.
She reached her destination sooner than expected, having never pushed herself out of her comfort zone when flying with her new wings.
She broke the cloud cover with a start, knowing that her suit was protecting her from the worst of the cold and wet, but still feeling the effects of the altitude.
She didn't have time to waste though. So, with chattering teeth, Yiang lined up her sight of the sun and clouds, and started flying in a cyclone pattern.
Pushing the clouds together, into a circular shield that darkened the earth below, the denser she managed to push the clouds.
It was a gradual process, which was a good thing, otherwise Shadow Shifter, Hawkmoth, and even Chat Noir, would've become suspicious.
As it was though, the planned change in the weather pattern, could be passed off as just a coincidence.
A pretty, damn, lucky coincidence.
Chat's shadow now indistinguishable, the shady Akuma was forced back out of the shadows.
Chat immediately starting to splutter, as his lungs heaved in the air he'd slowly been deprived of before only moments before.
Coughing a few more times, Chat barely wasted a second, before attacking the akumatised teen called Dimitri.
Being intangible, Shadow Shifter merely merged with the abundance of shadows now present, easily evading the irritated cat's attacks.
Meanwhile, Yiang used Chat's continual attacks as the perfect distraction for getting to a lower altitude.
Using her monochrome attire to her full advantage, and hoping that her descent, if it were noticed at all, would be chalked up to the cloud movement of the recurring storm, Yiang allowed her body to freefall toward the ground.
Curling in on herself and using her wings to cocoon her body, offering another layer of insulation to the strengthening wind torrents.
'I'll leave the rest to Chat Noir and Ladybug.' Celine thought, simultaneously keeping careful track of the time she still had until she'd have to unfurl her wings to stop her descent.
-o-
Sparing Yiang a quick glance quickly affirmed the new hero's presence on the battlefield.
Why she suddenly decided to fly above the cloud cover, Ladybug hadn't a clue. Though she didn't have the time to dwell on it either.
Chat was currently getting the air crushed out of his lungs, and her Lucky Charm was as baffling as always.
"What am I supposed to do with THIS?" Marinette's alter ego exclaimed in worried exasperation.
The lucky item landing in Ladybug's outstretched hand.
A flashlight.
Pulled out of her musing for what she might be able to use the seemingly pointless device for, Ladybug felt herself gasp as the filtering light of the sun was slowly quenched by a build-up of much darker clouds in the sky.
Though the phenomenon spoke of a natural storm, Ladybug knew better and immediately realised what she was supposed to do with her lucky charm.
"Well, My Lady, I believe it may be time for this stalker of the shadows to step into the light." Chat wheezed, and then smirked, meeting her gaze for a second, before taking his cue, and distracting their foe, long enough for Ladybug to figure out her plan of attack.
Just as Chat began his assault, a number of things started to GLOW in Ladybug's eyes, the typical sign that she'd need them, in order to free this particular Akuma.
The rooftop doorway, Chat's baton and Cataclysm, the feathered pebble currently falling out of the sky, and, of course, the flashli…
Ladybug's thoughts scratched like a record player, rewinding a little as she riveted her gaze back to the sky.
A FEATHERED PEBBLE!?
Her eyes grew wide in unabashed shock, fear, and a little bit of pride.
'What is that crazy Pegasus doing!?'
Ladybug shook her head a little, when she realised that Yiang's wings were also "glowing".
She'd have to fly around the building to complete the purification, but, she knew she could count on her new partner and friend almost as much as she could count on Chat.
Her mind made up, and the plan clicking into place in her head, Ladybug sprang into action.
-o-
A subtle shift in air-pressure and temperature, the smallest sliver of light granting Yiang sight through the slit between her two wings, and a soft flick of her ear at Ladybug's whispered call of her name.
Yiang's eyes widened considerably as her brain computed what her animal ears had heard.
Feeling a changed rush of the wind against her feathers, Yiang opened her wings and immediately swerved around the side of the building, steadily climbing back up the building, and hiding behind the roof door.
She clamped a hand over her mouth as a silent shriek left her lips in a muffled breath.
The reason for her reaction was, quite simply, the surprise of having Ladybug backflip from the front to the back of the roof door, without a word of a warning.
Yiang let her hand slip down her face in a show of slightly exaggerated disbelief, but kept her mouth closed at the look Ladybug was giving her.
Ladybug's eyes somehow communicating that there wasn't time to explain, only to brief and to act.
Yiang willed her own eyes to express her understanding, and was quickly rewarded with a hushed whisper of Ladybug's plan.
She, honestly, wasn't one for punning unintentionally, but, at that very moment, Yiang honestly thought that this spotted bug was REALLY pushing her luck.
Nonetheless, Yiang nodded her consent and flew down to hover about two stories below the rooftop, awaiting the signal Ladybug had briefly described.
Curious though she was, Yiang wasn't about to peak at the crime fighting pair's fighting techniques, when one of them was staking her life on the fact that she'd be where she'd told her to be.
She couldn't help eavesdropping a little though.
"Now Chat!" Ladybug called, and Yiang found she was rather surprised when Chat Noir's call of his Cataclysm was quickly followed by the sound of something creaking and crumbling.
'Is his power really SO destructive?'
Yiang was curious, but her loyalty easily won out in this scenario.
Not to mention, that she had less than a second to collect her thoughts, when she realised that Ladybug had already jumped over the edge of the building.
-o-
The spotted heroine barely started to feel herself fall, when a pair of gloved arms locked under her arms, and Yiang's hands clasped together over her chest.
They lost a bit of altitude due to Yiang's inexperience with handling excess weight while flying, but she managed to regain control pretty quickly.
Ladybug couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped her.
She'd been right to trust her new partner. And despite having no proof of her Miraculous's authenticity, she was now 100% sure that Yiang was partnered with a Kwami.
And a real, good-natured and loyal one too.
-o-
Yiang navigated the air carefully, flying to the office opening she'd hidden in during the first part of the battle, and carefully manoeuvring Ladybug and herself into the open window.
Chat's worried calls weren't going unnoticed either. His voice repeating Ladybug's name in ever-changing tones and pitches.
When the two heroes were safely in the office, Ladybug rolled her eyes playfully.
"He can be such a drama-chat at times."
Yiang felt herself chuckling at that.
"So, it seems. I'll leave you to your purifying act, though I'll probably stick around, watching from the shadows, someplace nearby." Yiang emphasised, the two girls sharing a quick laugh, before taking off to their respective destinations.
Yiang was first on scene, hovering just below roof level, and carefully allowing her head to peak over the edge every now and then.
Her first glance of the rooftop took a second to compute.
The rooftop access was a pile of rock and metal rubble, half of it already tinted an oxidized bronze. The door a splintered mess at the feet of the leather-clad hero.
-o-
Chat Noir had finally stopped calling for Ladybug, having realised, the instant he'd dared to glance over the edge of the building, that she'd somehow managed to slip into an open office window.
His cat ears easily picking up on the clang of his staff, which he'd lent her without question, and her triumphant cheer when the de-evilized butterfly flew away and her miraculous cure repaired any and all destruction the akuma had caused.
Speaking of, Dimitri was bowing to Ladybug, repeating a humble apology for his weakness a few more times than necessary.
Once the young teen scuttled off, down the business building, Ladybug then moved to his side.
"So, Kitty. How'd you like my performance?" Ladybug asked slyly, causing Chat to chuckle disbelievingly.
"Well, you certainly know how to reduce a chat's nine lives in record time, M'Lady."
The two heroes shared a smile before speaking again.
"Pound it."
The pair said, fist bumping their victory.
Ladybug threw Chat his staff, already moving to make it back home before her time ran out. She had, after all, activated her Lucky Charm a little earlier than Chat had used his Cataclysm.
"See you on patrol?"
Her question gave him pause, causing Chat to wince as he remembered how he'd had to skip out on their last patrol.
"I'll make sure to be purr-fectly punctual, Chat's honour."
Ladybug gave him a discerning eye, before appearing satisfied at his sincerity, and making a hasty exit, swinging away in her typical yoyo fashion.
"Now then…" Chat said to himself, satisfied when he saw his partner's form disappear on the horizon, his eyes hardening a little as he spotted HER reflection in his staff.
Moving in the opposite direction Ladybug had taken, Chat's eyes narrow as he spots his next target.
He'd seen the strange, bird-like thing observing their fight before it had even begun, and he wasn't about to let any extra information reach Hawk Moth.
Who knew what this spy had seen, after all.
The black and white figure was slowly descending to the deserted street below, giving Chat the perfect opportunity to strike.
Scaling the building in record time, miraculously not leaving any scratch marks on the newly repaired glass, Chat staked out his prey from the top of a lamppost, perched on the metal pole as he was, one could've easily mistaken him for a wild cat.
Claws wrapped around the cylindrical curves of metal, belt-tail swishing in impatient agitation, and eyes almost glowing as the day's light continued to darken.
-o-
Yiang was only a few meters off of the ground when she was suddenly tackled out of the sky by a flash of black, blonde and green.
"Who are you?" Chat's voice was almost growling at her.
No trace of the pun-dropping, playful behaviour he exhibited around Ladybug.
'Ugh, I suppose this is an ideal example of getting off on the wrong foot.' Celine winced, making no move to free herself from the pinned position Chat had trapped her in.
He would take that as an attempt to escape, and would be even less likely to believe her, should he manage to recapture her.
Not to mention, their relationship would also reflect their ability to work together in the future.
"My name's Yiang. I'm the new miraculous holder for balance. My Kwami's name is Scaale." Yiang supplied, though in a hushed voice, so that Chat wouldn't think she was indirectly trying to alert someone of her presence.
Chat's eyes narrowed as he studied her.
Her eyes were a different blue to those of his Lady, but they held the same genuine trust and truth as hers often did.
'So, she's telling the truth. Now what?'
Chat decided to test her a bit, curious in spite of himself.
"Can you prove it?"
He saw her eyes widen at his proposition. She'd obviously been warned not to reveal her civilian identity.
"Pardon?"
Yiang was hoping she'd heard him wrong.
How in all the HELLS was she supposed to PROVE being a miraculous wielder, without somehow giving herself away?!
Chat didn't bother answering her, knowing full well she'd heard him loud and clear.
Yiang sighed then.
A million ideas running through her head.
She could call upon her special power, but that could possibly be mimicked, not to mention that there was no point in doing that if there wasn't a necessary reason for it.
She could try listing facts, like the duo's Kwami names, but she doubted that that would erase his doubts completely.
She could point out their similarities, maybe even showing him her ribbon would be enough to convince him, but again, the chances of that actually happening were pretty slim too.
She could always wait for her miraculous to time out, but that would reveal her civilian identity, something that Scaale had EXPRESSLY advised against, even with her new partners.
She could pointedly give away what her miraculous was, Alya's Ladyblog had said that not even the heroes, nor general public knew how, or from what, the heroes got their powers, but that wouldn't mean much to Chat unless…
Eyes seeming to sparkle as they dawned with her answer, Chat had to reign in his instincts when the being below him whipped her arm free and pointed to a black and white clip in her hair.
"This is my miraculous, if you just wait a moment it shouldn't be long befo…"
Yiang didn't even get to finish her sentence when the beeping sound rang out from the hair piece.
The yin yang symbol sporting a blinking black dot within the yin counterpart, now only showcasing one half of the inner spot, the other having turned white.
The hair clip was small sure, but Chat had incredibly good eyesight, even in the dim lighting.
Not to mention that there was NO mistaking THAT sound.
He gave the rookie an apologetic grin quickly jumping off of her, and offering her a hand up.
Yiang seemed stunned for a moment.
He believed her? Just like that? Goodness but this Chat was confusing!
Still, if he believed her, all the better.
"Thanks." She said, taking the outstretched hand without even a flinch when his claws clicked together over her hand.
'Brave newbie.' Chat thought, secretly impressed.
'Not bad.'
His facial expression turned sheepish before he spoke next.
"Sorry about… THAT. There've been more and more Akumas to fight, and lately it seems like they're getting stronger."
His mien shifted into something a little more thoughtful then.
"Doesn't seem like you're on Hawkmoth's side in all this though. Name's Chat Noir, by the way." He tacks on the end, rather tactfully.
It sure wrings a laugh out of Celine.
"I go by Yiang. Though you already knew that. If you feel like giving ME any nicknames though, you'll have to get to know me better. So far, the only ones that come to mind are… Stealth. Shot. Skyline…"
Chat has a Cheshire grin on his face when he interjects his own idea.
"Crash."
Yiang goes slack-jawed for a moment.
'Of all the…'
"That's SO mean."
Her pouting tone sealing the deal as Chat bursts out laughing.
"Oh, I am NEVER going to let you live that down." He manages to say once he's reigned in his laughter… somewhat.
Yiang tries to glare at him, she really does, but she only lasts a few seconds before she too dissolves into a fit of giggles.
"Well, so much for first impressions." She tries to stand by her opinion, her tone still infected with lilts of laughter.
"What a way to meet though." Chat says, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, and Celine finds she agrees with him.
It'd make for one hell of a story to tell Ladybug at some point, that was for sure.
The two laughing heroes are interrupted by Chat's ring beeping.
Both exhaling a bittersweet sigh.
"Guess I'd better get back home." Chat says ruefully, having honestly enjoyed spending a little time with Yiang.
"Yeah… Me too."
The two stay silent a few moments longer, before Chat makes to leave, unsure of how to say good bye.
"Hey Chat…"
The black cat stops at the sound of his name, turning back to Yiang with a curious expression.
Yiang takes her opportunity, and lightly slaps the back of Chat's hand with her own, like an inverse high five but to the side.
"See ya." She says, smiling at his somewhat slack expression.
"You'll have to make sure the Pegasus doesn't steal the Bug from her Chat on Wednesday." Yiang adds with a wink, and dashes out of sight.
-o-
THAT makes Chat break out of his reverie, and chuckle to himself. He was going to get on GREAT with this girl.
'A Pegasus, huh.' Adrien thinks, detransforming in his room, and leaving Plagg to his cheese, choosing to investigate his, and Ladybug's, new partner in a little bit more depth, instead of studying the rest of the evening.
He was ahead anyway.
Despite his still persistent crush on Ladybug, it was pictures of Yiang that floated about Adrien's head that night.
He wasn't sure why, but he felt a connection to her unlike any he knew. As though he'd met her before. Though that wasn't possible, was it?
Adrien sighed to himself.
Eyes as blue as the velvet sky after the sunset, but before the dark. Like two sparkling, mysterious bodies of water.
Her hair had been long, incredibly so for someone whom he guessed to be about his age, and though he was positive the transformation had turned it silver to better compliment her suit, he had the nagging suspicion that it would be a lighter shade in her civilian form.
Then there had been the ears.
Sure, they were explained by the Pegasus image, but REAL animal ears weren't really standard, were they?
So, he guessed that, Scaale, was it? Was probably older than Plagg.
Then there was the matter of her WINGS. Sure, he wasn't well versed in all things Kwami and Miraculous, but he would wager he knew more than Ladybug.
Certainly, considering his father's former possession of a Kwami Book, and his meeting with Master Fu when returning it.
Which raised the question… Why weren't Scaale and Yiang depicted in the Kwami book?
He'd read it back to front, not finding a single mention of either of them.
Either way or, Yiang was a mystery that intrigued him just as much as Ladybug did, though somehow in a different way.
Her wings were functional, a part of her attire, perhaps even her weapon, though he very much doubted that.
"Hey kid. You've got school tomorrow."
Adrien's eyes immediately light up at the reminder that the holidays are FINALLY over, and he'll get to see all of his friends tomorrow.
That being said… He'd need some sleep if he was going to have enough energy to get him through the entire school day. Not to mention that he had his after-school lessons in Chinese on Monday.
Plagg rolls his eyes as his charge's sleepy smile splits into a wide yawn.
"Night Plagg."
"Yeah, yeah, see ya in the morn'in kid." The catty Kwami says, settling himself down to catch some shuteye for himself.
-o-
Celine slips in through the back without a sound, surprised at how empty the streets had been on her way back.
From the Ladyblog, she'd figured there'd be at least a few Parisians on the street.
She ducked behind the lobby counter just as Timeo came back inside.
Taking her shopping bags and slowly rising from her crouched position, Timeo gives her the all clear sign and she breathes a sigh of relief.
Timeo may have interpreted it as a relief that the Akuma attack was over, which was fine by her. She didn't NEED him knowing that she was relieved that he hadn't noticed her disappearance.
Having left her phone in one of her shopping bags had also been smart.
Celine was aware of the tracking device, and knew that Uncle André had had it installed for her own safety, but it was hard to picture explaining how she'd been level with the second-to-top floor of a skyscraper not too long ago.
Getting in the elevator, and marvelling at the power of Ladybug's Lucky Charm again, Celine thanks Timeo and dismisses him for the evening.
Informing him of the delivery scheduled just before she was to return from her first day of French school, and that he was to pick her up at point 7:30am, to ensure the traffic didn't make her late.
She also reminded him to remain in the vicinity of the school throughout the day, as she would be commencing her full-time trial week from the next day till the coming Friday.
Celine barely heard the elevator ding her floor, and sort of subconsciously opened and closed her door, and put all her shopping on the floor in front of her bed.
She was SO tired.
A quick check of her wristwatch confirmed her suspicions.
The fight had dragged on a lot longer than she'd thought.
Though it was just pushing 9:00pm Celine felt completely drained… and she hadn't even used her miraculous power!
Shaking her head as she tried to stifle a yawn, Celine quickly changed into her pyjamas, brushed her hair and teeth, and double-checked her satchel bag.
It'd been pre-packed by one of André's assistants, and looked to be spacious and organised, without being too bulky.
The heather coloured leather, an ideal cross between her love of purple, and a somewhat serious school approach. All her textbooks were already in the bag, as were three blank notebooks and her violet pencil case.
There was space enough in the front and side pockets for her wallet and a drink, and even an inner water bottle compartment that Celine planned to make Scaale's hide out whenever they were at school.
There wasn't enough space for her sports clothes and shoes, but she'd seen plenty of students carrying an extra bag of sports stuff when the practical part of the subject took place, and the left-over space was perfect for her A5 sketchbook and her drawing kit of graphite and coloured pencils, a specialised rubber and sharpener, and a couple of black fineliner felt-tip pens.
Scaale had his ears twitching annoyance at every rustle Celine drew from her bag.
Finally, he'd had enough.
Celine had prepared a plate of Almonds, which were now in his stomach, but she'd be just as exhausted from her first involvement in a fight.
Her body would be fine, but it took the brain a while to get used to the hero antics of being a miraculous wielder.
She would be mentally drained AND she had school tomorrow.
So, she needed sleep.
"Hey kid."
Silence stepped in as Celine's hands stilled.
"You're going to need every minute of sleep you can get if you plan to stay awake for all of tomorrow, you're scheduled to meet that new friend of yours and I ain't planning to play an alarm for you all day, so stop faffing and get sleeping."
A hiccupped laugh answered him.
He didn't like playing the responsible one dammit!
As Celine turned off the lights and crawled into bed though, he couldn't keep the pleased smile from his face.
Damn! He hadn't known the teen a week, and he was already getting soft.
If he kept this up, Tikki wouldn't be the only one on Plagg's teasing list.
In fact, the duo might just team up against him.
The thought made Scaale smile as he, too, decided to get some sleep.
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Author's Note
There you have it...
Chapter 4 is UP (It's only 4, because 1 is the Prologue)!
What did you guys think? Chat's first encounter with Yiang STILL makes me laugh when I read it.
I wish you all a VERY merry christmas and I hope you continue to enjoy reading "Chloe's Cousin Celine"!
Yours,
Hana