More to the Butterfly War and its a longer chapter! From here on out I will probably jump from battle to important moment as I cobble together some kind of idea/timeline. Still don't know how I am going to wrap it up either. In other news I have found a cave system near where I live and I can fit my kayak in it! Right now its totally underwater so I have to swim under water through the system to get through the area but still its an amazing place to sit think and even type. It kinda feels like the water temple from Legend of Zelda. My phone is Waterproof so I have some awesome videos of swimming from cave to cave and all of my coworkers think I'm nuts. *Grins* I certainly don't deny it! Enjoy the story!

wonderfulwizardofthozz... Thank you here is some more! I actually think I'm going to save the next story I have for October. We will have to see though.

ScarletSaphire... Hopefully this story will never go to the scrap pile. I have far to many ideas for that to happen. Life just periodically gets in my way and I have to find time to buffer and reread through my stuff. Its all good though. My motivation is ensured by awesome people like you who review!

Miraculous Ladybug AU where Hawkmoth has succeeded in taking over Paris and only after his success do the heroes Chat Noir and Ladybug emerge to help combat his tyranny.

A Butterflies War (Part 2)

"Um Hi?" the blond haired green eyed boy said somewhat hesitantly blushing a little as he did so.

Marinette blinked away her surprise and swallowing her nervousness answered "Hi."

The two kwami between them watched amused as the two children struggled to find words to say.

"You could introduce yourselves." Plagg said sarcastically and Tiki rolled her eyes.

"You could give them a minute Plagg they are adjusting remarkably well considering how this day has gone."

Plagg huffed in annoyance. "Too bad. I'm hungry, that power overload has worn me out and I hate it when Jade interferes."

"There wasn't any choice! You know that!" Tiki sniped back and above them Marinette cleared her throat. Both kwamis looked up at her.

"Um if you don't mind I would like some sort of explanation if you please." Marinette said her voice soft even though the confusion was clear in her eyes. Adrien leaned in as well.

"Yeah some information would be really nice. I mean all you told me was that I needed to transform and take out the rock guy. What the heck happened?"

Tiki swatted Plagg who hissed and fled to Adrien knee. "You gave this poor boy your miraculous without explaining anything?" Tiki buzzed sounding rather terrifying for a creature so small.

Plaggs ears went flat "I explained the basics! The stupid stone creature was right there and the kit was about to get flattened! It wasn't the best time for explanations!"

Tiki paused in surprise and Adrien lifted Plagg into his hands. "He's not lying miss. I was at fencing practice. I had just finished changing for the day and that thing busted in through the wall. The box fell out of my bag when I was pinned under some rubble. Plagg gave me a choice and I took it."

Adrien looked up at Marinette who was gaping at him the worry and concern for him obvious on her face. He blushed and continued. "I'm ok I was just a little bruised-"

"And a cracked rib or two." Plagg interrupted

Marinette gasped and Adrien waved his free hand "Not helping Plagg and besides I'm ok now! The light healed me whatever it was, but with Plaggs power I was able to free myself. He was telling me how to use it and trying to explain how to fight but it was a little hard to listen when fighting for your life."

Marinette nodded understanding "I know what you mean Cha... uh… I still don't know who you are and I don't think I should ever call you Chat out of costume. My name is Marinette." She held out a hand as Tiki flew up to perch on her shoulder. "And this is Tiki."

He took her hand meeting her blue eyes with a warm smile "I'm Adrien and the little guy is Plagg. I'm really happy to have met you and be able to fight at your side."

Marinette smiled and then gasped as she glanced down to see their hands glowing.

"Don't let go!" Tiki squeaked flying off her charges shoulder. Plagg flew out of Adrien's hand as well and the two kwamis lit upon there chosen's hands together. A flash of light enveloped all four of them and together they witnessed the events of the timeline they had become a part of. It was almost the same. The Stoneman rampaged through Paris making it clear that no one could stop him until the next day when Hawkmoth had shown up once more demanding to be made ruler. The people relented and in a flash of purple butterfly wings the mayor of Paris was suddenly returned.

"You work for me. MY rule is absolute. If anyone tries to rise against me I will destroy them." Hawkmoth said and then with a smile continued. "Go about your daily lives I will let you know when I desire something."

Butterflies swarmed his position and then he was gone leaving the mayor to clean up the mess his akuma made. People were out raged as the first thing Hawkmoth demanded was a special tax. Many refused to pay and in the week that followed those people were attacked by random akuma who all bore the same message. 'This is a warning. You will not get another. Do as you are told or there will be consequences.'

Most payed after that and the stout few who didn't found themselves attacked once more. For each of them the most precious thing in their life was taken or destroyed. Their business, their home, there spouse, pet, or child taken, it was different for each person in question. The lesson was learned and taken to heart. Everyone payed the tax and when Hawkmoths next decree came down that no one was allowed out past 11pm with exception of the night workers no one stood up to the idea. Some decrees weren't so bad Adrien's heart leapt at the one that said 'All children must go to school.' It was still summer for another two days but once that time had passed he would be able to go to a real school! The light flickered around them showing how Hawkmoth used random people for his Akuma whether they were willing or not to spread fear through the populace around them. No one could truly trust the other because once Hawkmoth sent a butterfly to you, you couldn't escape and often time the sent butterflies caused the person who was resisting to do the very thing they didn't want to do. The light released them having caught them up to this worlds real time and the teens looked at each other on horror.

"We have to fight." Adrien said and was happy to see steely agreement in Marinettes eyes. "Agreed" she answered "But we still need answers."

The two teens looked to the kwamis who were still on their clasped hands.

"Cheese first." Plagg said and Tiki swatted him even as her tummy rumbled loud enough for them all to hear.

Marinettes stomach echoed her kwamis and she blushed as Adrien grinned at her. "I'm hungry as well."

Marinette blushed a little harder than nodded releasing his hand to crawl to the ladder of her bed. "I'll go get some food. Anything in particular you guys want?"

"Cheese! Cookies! Pastries?" Came three replies and Marinette chuckled crossing her floor to the trap door that led to the rest of the house.

"Ok I'll be right back. My parents should both still be in the bakery but try not to make too much noise."

Without waiting for an answer she disappeared down below letting the door snick closed in her wake.

The moment she was gone Tiki flew up to eye Adrien then without warning darted forwards to poke him in the ribs. Two pokes later Adrien failed to contain his giggle pulling away and blocking his side with a hand.

"What are you doing?" Adrien asked as Tiki flew back up in front of his face.

"Making sure you really are in one piece." She answered and before she could say anything else Plagg flew up beside her to slap a paw over her mouth.

"No explanations. Wait till your little bug gets back." Plagg growled

Tiki pulled out of his grasp. "You just don't want to explain things twice!" she buzzed annoyed

Plagg rolled in the air as he stretched and his tiny twitching tail was the only sign of his annoyance. "We shouldn't explain too much to them anyways its better for them to figure it out on their own."

Tiki huffed "For a god of destruction you are far too careless. You just think its funny to watch them flounder."

Adrien looked between the two kwamis wondering if he should get involved when the door to Marinettes room opened once more.

"I'm back!" Marinette called softly hauling a tray loaded with food up into her room with her. "Come on down though because I really don't want crumbs in my bed."

Adrien practically leapt down the ladder helping Marinette move some items on the floor so they could sit. The kwamis attacked the food eagerly and Adrien waited till Marinette chose something before grabbing a pastry of his own. Three pastries later Adrien was pleasantly stuffed and from the look of things so were the kwamis. Marinette nibbled on a cookie her expression thoughtful. Finally after glancing at her phone Marinette sighed.

"Alright can we please have some sort of explanation?" she asked her voice slightly pleading.

Plagg stretched as he kneaded the floor. "We are kwami. Tiny god like creatures and we have been alive for a very long time. Usually we help out when there is something huge going on in the world. We were awakened when this war began and searched out for wielders to bring the world back to a balance. Unfortunately the one who stared the war had found the butterfly miraculous and in a quest for power messed up big time. The fool was killed but before we could reclaim the miraculous it vanished. By the time we caught up with it…" Plagg trailed off his eyes blazing and Tiki patted him gently then continued for him.

"The person who claimed the butterfly miraculous this time isn't a very good person either. They have better control over it than the previous one but they are still misusing the power. He went underground when we got too close, only sending out attackers to harry our people. Our previous wielders tried to fight against him but they lost in an ambush attack on the battlefield. They gave their lives to us to ensure our escape and we rejoined our master Jade until Hawkmoth resurfaced. He did so in Paris probably because he felt safer in a city. We awakened once more to bring him down. This time we will succeed." Tiki said looking up into their chosen's eyes.

Adrien sat back "Wow." He breathed

"Why us?" Marinette asked somewhat awed by the story

To her surprise Plagg answered. "For the same reason you told Hawkmoth off. You are young, resilient, can adapt and your two are uniquely suited to our powers just like this Hawkmoths is to Nooros."

Tiki nodded her agreement. "Yes if you weren't uniquely suited you would have died the moment you absorbed the butterflies power to neutralize the damage."

"What?!" both teen cried and Tiki winced as Plagg rolled his eyes.

"Now you've done it. Its your turn by the way." He said rolling over onto his back.

"We are gods, or fairies, or any other way you care to think of it." Tiki sighed knowing it wasn't worth it to argue. "Point is our forms have a lot of power and when a human uses us they become a conduit to that power. Some humans can't handle it and if they try to force it they at best go crazy. At worst they die. You two are unique in the fact that not only can you handle our power but you can absorb Hawkmoths as well. We both told you about purification because it's the only way to stop the akuma. However you should only ever do one butterfly at a time. You over loaded yourselves with that massive capture and it would have killed you had Jade not stepped in."

"Um was that the turtle guy?" Adrien asked breaking in.

Tiki nodded "Yes he usually watches over us when we are not needed and helps us find new wielders when we are needed. He controls time in a manner of speaking and he was able to send us forward using the excessive amount of energy you two had purified."

"Oh." Marinette said and yawned hugely. A moment later Adrien echoed her and the two kwami glanced at each other.

Plagg gave a heaving sigh and took off into the air to float before Adrien. "You kids are done in. Adrien if you want to go home tonight you need to leave now."

Adrien blinked feeling the first tendrils of exhaustion seeping through him. "Ok, but I think I'm going to have to sneak back in. I don't know where I am supposed to have been right now."

Plagg nodded "Don't worry I can get you in without being caught."

"No transforming!" Tiki buzzed flying over to them.

Plagg hissed with exasperation. "And drain the kid further? I'm not stupid Tiki. Come on kit up!"

Adrien stood with a chuckle, Marinette following close behind.

"I'll walk you guys down and when you get home um… text me!" Marinette said then looked up when Adrien hadn't moved. "You do have a cell phone right?" she asked bending to open her door.

Swiftly Adrien patted his pockets pulling out a cellphone a moment later. "Shall I save you under Princess?" He asked earning a blush from her as she answered "Sure I'll save you under hot stuff."

Adrien felt his cheeks redden and figuring he deserved it for starting a such a thing said. "Will I see you soon?"

Marinette nodded as she walked them to the front door managing to avoid the bakery and her parents notice. "Yes we will have to meet up so we can start our plan of attack on Hawkmoth. No texting about it though or calling. I don't know if he can tap our phones but it would be silly to get caught over something like that."

Adrien agreed and they traded numbers at the door with the two kwami hovering between them.

"I'll text you when I get home." Adrien said with a small smile not really wanting to leave Marinette side.

To his surprise Marinette smiled and pulled him into a hug. "Please do I'll worry otherwise." She whispered wondering how she became so attached to this boy so very fast.

Adrien hugged her just as tight never wanting to let go but meeting Plaggs eyes Adrien knew he had to go since the trickle of exhaustion was already growing far stronger.

"I don't live far and I will see you soon." Adrien promised pulling back from the hug and opening his jacket for Plagg to hide in.

Marinette grinned weakly at him watched him open the door and slip out.

"See you soon." She whispered to the door worry already spiking through her. After all goodbye felt so final like it was an ending.

Blinking and spinning away from the quiet hall Marinette darted back up to her room feeling more exhausted with every step. Finally she crashed to her bed still fully clothed although she managed to take off her shoes and jacket this time.

"What's wrong with me Tiki?" Marinette asked realizing what she felt was not normal.

"You purified a swarm of Hawkmoths butterflies, cleansed an entire city back the way it was and jumped through time about three weeks. You're lucky exhaustion is the only thing you feel."

Marinette grumbled her eyes heavy. "I have homework to finish…" She managed her words slow and slightly slurred.

Tiki patted her cheek. "Sleep child. We will see what tomorrow brings."

Marinette didn't answer and Tiki sighed floating down to curl up in her hair. Moments later she too was asleep.

Marinette slept the whole next day only wakening when her parents checked on her. When she did awake on her last day of summer she woke in a slight panic checking her phone. There was only one message on it

'Safe princess' – Hotstuff.

Marinette blinked at the message a little confused until the previous days suddenly crashed down on her.

"Tiki?!" Marinette squeaked

"Yes Marinette?" Tiki asked floating up from down below where she had been exploring.

Marinette blinked once, twice, then groaned flopping back onto the bed. "It wasn't a dream." She muttered and Tiki giggled

"No it wasn't and your parents were very concerned about you yesterday. Also you said something about homework?" Tiki said her voice holding a questioning tone.

That got Marinette up and out of bed. As she busied herself Marinette started asking questions which Tiki answered to the best of her ability.

"We won't be jumping through time again will we?" Marinette asked.

"No Jade only interfered because you two are badly needed and your deaths would have been…" She trailed off for a moment clearly looking for a word.

"Tragic?" Marinette supplied a shiver running through her at the thought of dying.

Tiki gazed at her "Yes very much so for you and all of Paris."

Marinette shivered again. "Ok so how do we defeat Hawkmoth?"

Tiki shrugged. "You have to find him and take his miraculous. You will have to fight his akuma and cleanse their powers. This will also make you stronger and give you a better edge when going after Hawkmoth. I don't think I have to tell you to never tell anyone even your parents about your true identity."

Marinette shook her head rapidly. "It probably wasn't a good idea for Adrien and I to reveal our identities to each other but…"

"The benefits outweigh the risks especially now." Tiki answered cutting her off.

Marinette sighed tracing her fingers over her phone screen. Adrien had answered her text a while ago saying his home life was the same as ever even in this new world. He at least was excited for school tomorrow.

"Tiki… I don't know how to fight like this. I mean mama taught me how to fight so I could protect myself but now…" Marinette murmured the path before her seeming insurmountable as she looked up information on Hawkmoth.

Tiki flew to her side and settled on her shoulder. "That's ok Marinette. You will learn! You and Adrien will learn and train together. I suppose you will have to find a place to do that but the point is everything is going to be alright."

Marinette glanced at her kwami the feeling of fear within her heart slowly dulling. She had a job to do and moping around wasn't going to help her at all. "Right. First day of school is tomorrow too. I'd better get to bed early."

Tiki smiled at her charge and watched as she continued working. She wasn't sure what school was going to be like but Tiki hoped that it would at least be interesting.

Marinette went to bed early and it was the most awful sound that awakened Tiki the next morning. Marinette awakened to it as well and she ran about frantically getting ready nearly forgetting Tiki in her rush. At the last moment Tiki dove into her small purse and then they were off. Thankfully they weren't late and right on the school steps she ran into another person named Alya. They were friends on the first word and the two girls made their way to the classroom they had been assigned to. As Marinette walked in two things caught Marinettes attention. One was Chloe who was in Marinettes usual seat and the other was a boy who appeared to be sticking gum on the only two remaining seats in the classroom.

"What are you doing?!" Marinette cried

The boy spun around and Marinette felt her heart stutter. It was Adrien and the moment he laid eyes on her Marinette knew he recognized her too. He froze a blush staining his cheeks as he tried to explain but Alya cut him off.

"How dare you put gum on our seats. If you're going to be one of those snobby bullies you should go do it somewhere else!" Alya snapped not giving him a chance.

Marinette wanted to say something profess his innocence because Marinette knew Adrien would never do something like this. However in a flash Marinette realized she shouldn't know him. Adrien looked to her his eyes pleading and Marinette ever so slightly shook her head. Understanding dawned and he pointed to the gum.

"I was just trying to get it off." He mumbled

"Sure you were. Now if you don't mind I think you have done enough damage." Marinette snapped

Adrien's body language was the epitome of defeat at her words but as their eyes met Marinette saw a mischievous trust. He moved away head down and sat before Chloe who was crowing about something or other. The boy next to him began talking to him and after placing a napkin over the gum Marinette sat down with Alya at her side. Her pocket buzzed and pulling out her phone Marinette glanced down at the screen while sharing a cookie with her new friend Alya.

'You're quite the actress. Sorry about the gum.'- Hotstuff

Marinette snuck a glance over at Adrien who seemed to be animatedly Chatting with a boy named Nino. Seeing her glance Adrien turned towards her giving her a sheepishly adorable smile. Marinette huffed turning away and typed.

'Not bad yourself. We will talk later ok?' – Princess

He sent an affirmation in the form of a green paw print making Marinette roll her eyes. Class started moments later and with a sigh Marinette forced herself to pay attention. The day went by surprisingly fast and soon the final bell rang releasing a wave of happy students. Marinette got held up at her locker and so it was her luck to find herself at the entrance of the school just as it started pouring. She stood there for a moment one hand out to the rain letting the sound and feeling of it soothe her.

"Hey there." A voice said and Marinette jumped turning to see Adrien

A couple of student were nearby clearly looking far too interested in what was going on.

"People." Marinette answered turning her head away as if she were still miffed.

Adrien turned his back to them raising a hand to hide his snicker. Then he held up an umbrella stepping out into the rain as an idea made him freeze. Swiftly he turned to her.

"I really was just trying to get the gum off. I… I've never gone to school before so this is all new to me." Adrien said and Marinette nearly giggled at his plaintive pleading tone.

"You are so hamming this up." She mouthed and Adrien gave her a million dollar smile.

"If you don't mind can we maybe start over?" Adrien asked and all at once held out his umbrella.

Marinette wanted to call him an idiot but instead with a gentle smile she reached out and took the umbrella leaving him to steadily get soaked in the rain. The moment she had it in her hands it closed on her and Adrien instantly started laughing. Marinette couldn't help but laugh as well and after shoving the umbrella into a proper position she held it up so it could cover both of them.

"Friends." Marinette said firmly holding out her hand and Adrien took it with a smile. He then kissed it when he realized the nosey students couldn't see what they were doing at this angle.

"Adrien…!" Marinette hissed a blush heating her cheeks.

"They couldn't see. I'll see you later princess." Adrien murmured back with a happy grin. Before she could scold him he turned and jumped down the steps darting to a fancy car that had pulled up at the schools entrance.

Marinette shook her head after him and with a smile firmly in place began her walk home.

To be continued...