MB: Sorry! I forgot to include Master Fu in the last chapter. Let's just pretend he escaped with Gabriel and Nathalie (And besides, Wayzz is with Nino now).

Here we go - the aftermath and the big revelation. Enjoy!

CHAPTER SIX:

DUUSU

Like a panther guarding its territory, Adrien watched with narrowed eyes as the Forty Thieves slipped hastily out of the pavilion.

Or what was left of the pavilion. The ceiling was completely gone, the wedding banners were torn and lying in strips amongst the rubble, and the remaining columns struggled to stay upright. Thankfully, all of the guests had been safely evacuated, and the guards were gathering all the loot the thieves had left behind.

Knowing the worst was now past, Adrien closed his eyes and said, "Claws in."

With a great whoosh of electric-green light, he was back in his wedding apparel. Parts of it bore patches of white dust.

From the other side of the chamber, Alya and Nino emerged back into the pavilion. They had already transformed back into their original selves, with Trixx and Wayzz hovering beside them.

As they approached him, Adrien immediately knew from their solemn expressions what had happened. "They all got away?"

"We lost sight of them in the southern district," Nino said, wiping sweat off his brow. "Too many elephants were still on a rampage, and the thieves slipped away before we could get through."

Plagg appeared right beside Adrien, and then let out a big sigh of exhaustion.

At that exact moment, the rest of the columns finally gave away and toppled onto the ground, sending a great plume of dust into the air.

Everyone cringed. When the dust settled, they all eyed Plagg.

The black-cat kwami winced and held up his paws. "That was not my fault!" he insisted.

Trixx rolled her eyes and flew over to Adrien. "Good luck with the catering deposit," she mumbled before rejoining Alya.

A sharp but relieved voice cut across the open chamber. "Adrien!"

The prince turned to see King Gabriel sprinting towards him, along with Nathalie, Master Fu, and Marinette's parents.

The royal steward covered her mouth once she beheld the state of the building. "Oh, my..." she moaned.

Adrien placed a reassuring hand on the king's shoulder. "We're all right, Father," he said with a sad smile.

Gabriel's eyes softened, but they still had that angry glint in them, like a spark threatening to catch fire. "Those brigands," he said, clenching his fists. "They've ruined everything!"

Suddenly, something appeared before the group in a flash of pink light. It was Tikki!

Despite the gloomy atmosphere, she had a perky grin on her face. "Fear not, Father of the Groom – we can rebuild!" she declared optimistically.

In another flash, a yellow construction hat appeared on the kwami's broad head. Tikki also wore a tiny tool belt, and carried a clipboard and pencil in her hands.

"Oh, please do," Nathalie pleaded with a thankful smile. "We can't have a wedding without a pavilion."

Tikki licked the pencil and jotted down some notes. Then, she summoned a tiny blueprint. "Okay, no problem. I'll have this whole place fixed up in a jiffy." She then flew over to whisper in Gabriel's ear, "Just don't let Stinkysock near any power tools."

"Aw, come on, Sugarcube," Plagg whined, "and that was only one time!"

Gabriel cleared his throat and nodded at the red kwami with gratitude. "Do whatever you must, Tikki," he said.

Sabine glanced around nervously. "Where's Marinette?"

"In here," a familiar voice called from the antechamber.

Adrien's heart leapt. He sped past his father and made for the treasure room. Several pattering footsteps followed him.

Marinette stood in the centre of the antechamber, glancing at the load of treasure on the floor. She was wearing her white gown again, and her hair was back up in its braided crown, albeit with a few strands hanging loose.

Tom and Sabine ran to embrace their daughter.

"Oh, sweetheart, you us worried!" Tom said. "Where did you go?"

Marinette pulled away, her bluebell eyes becoming hard as aquamarines. "I went after the Queen of Thieves," she replied with a hint of shame, "but she got away."

"The Queen of Thieves?!" everyone but Adrien and Master Fu cried in unison.

The prince nodded as he went to stand beside his lady, his frown deepening. "We both saw her with our own eyes," he told the group.

"This attack was no coincidence," Master Fu said grimly, and everyone turned to face him. "The Forty Thieves would never dare show up at a heavily-guarded, royal wedding... unless there was something at the wedding they desperately wanted. Something extremely valuable."

Alya squinted at the fallen treasure around them. "So what were they after?" she asked. "The gifts?"

"Just one," Marinette replied, holding something out in her open palm. "The Queen of Thieves after this the whole time."

Adrien's emerald eyes widened at the sight of the pink-and-blue jewel. "My mother's brooch?"

Even Gabriel looked surprised. "All that trouble for one royal heirloom?" he asked. "This doesn't make any sense."

Trixx flew over and picked up the trinket in both paws, frowning at it with distaste. "I'm with Gabe on this one," she said. "With all the other great stuff lying around, why would Queenie go for this dinky little thing?"

FLASH!

Everyone cried out as a blinding, blue light erupted from Trixx's paws... or rather, from the brooch that suddenly flew out of her paws and hovered over to the centre of the antechamber.

Adrien immediately pulled Marinette into his arms, shielding her from the spreading light.

The light was like a million beams of blue: navy, sapphire, cobalt, turquoise, and sky. The brightness of it made Marinette bury her face into Adrien's chest.

A fierce wind tugged at her dress, cool and refreshing like watery mist.

Then, a female voice as soft as feathers and as deep as the ocean called, "Your question is mine to answer!"

Marinette lifted her eyelids open just a smidge, allowing her eyes to adjust to the brilliant glow.

Wait... There was something inside that light. It looked like a...

Marinette inhaled sharply, her jaw hanging agape at the tiny creature she beheld.

It had a bulbous head with three tiny, blue feathers on top. Its hauntingly-beautiful eyes were bright-pink with indigo sclera. Despite the disproportionately-small body, five tail feathers hung bellow the creature like a long skirt. They were peacock feathers – blue with pink eyes, much like the jewelled feathers on the brooch.

Several gasps around Marinette told her that everyone was seeing the exact same thing she was; that she wasn't just imagining it.

"I am Duusu," the little peafowl spoke to Trixx with a dip of her head, "the Spirit of Divination and Cosmic Influence. The Queen of Thieves sought to use my sight to find the ultimate treasure."

Trixx's violet eyes popped wide open, regardless of the bright light. "Did you say... treasure?" she asked with a greedy rumble in the back of her throat.

Adrien was staring in awe at Duusu. "It's another kwami!" he blurted.

A small smile grew on Marinette's face.

King Gabriel looked absolutely pale. Nathalie looked like she was about to feint. Tom and Sabine were just as flabbergasted as the king. Tikki and Plagg both wore black-rimmed sunglasses so they could see better through the light. Alya and Nino bore astounded expressions. Master Fu, as always, was grinning like he had already known this would happen.

Even Wayzz looked excited. "Not just any kwami," he said. "She's an oracle!"

Plagg grinned from ear to ear, his fangs showing. "And a cute one too. Rawr!"

Nino blinked and glanced between the two kwamis. "Uh... Does somebody want to tell me what an "oracle" is?" he asked.

Master Fu raised his hand. "An oracle is a spirit that can see events along the current of time," he replied.

The peafowl kwami smiled sweetly. "I am the last of the oracles; the ones who came before time began," she responded, swishing her tail feathers back and forth. "I see all that has been, all that is now, and all that will be."

Tikki beamed. "Just like Master Fu!" she exclaimed.

The Great Guardian chuckled. "Oh, no, my little friend," he said. "My powers of knowledge only allow me to see small glimpses of what is to come." He gestured to the new kwami before them. "Duusu here, as she just explained, has unlimited sight thanks to her Miraculous. She sees and knows everything that happens in the past, present, and future."

Adrien reeled at Master Fu's words. "Her... Miraculous?" he breathed, glancing at the floating brooch.

Nathalie covered her forehead, looking dizzy. "Another one?" she moaned.

The prince immediately turned to the king. "Father, did you know?" he asked.

Gabriel shook his head, never taking his eyes off of Duusu. "I... No, I... I never knew," he stammered absent-mindedly. "How is this possible?"

Duusu's body pulsed with a blue halo of light, making everyone squint again. "Queen Emilie found my Miraculous many years ago," she answered. "She vowed to keep my powers hidden from the outside world, fearing I may be misused by the forces of evil."

Marinette nodded with understanding, recalling what happened the last time a Miraculous had fallen into the wrong hands.

Adrien took a step towards the peafowl kwami. "Are you saying... you knew my mother?" he asked softly.

Duusu glowed again, and she nodded with a smile. "Yes. I considered Emilie as my friend during the years she was my master. I was deeply saddened when she passed. But I see much of her in you, young prince – perhaps more than you yourself realize."

Adrien let out something like a sigh, and Marinette squeezed his hand tenderly.

Trixx flew up in front of Duusu, her grin still plastered to her snout. "Okay, Duusu. You know all, so tell all. Where's the treasure? You know..." She rubbed her paws together. "... the "ultimate" kind."

Duusu shook her head. "I am bound by the Rule of One," she stated gently. "One question, one answer."

Trixx scowled. "I only want one answer!" she snapped. "Where. Is. The. Ultimate. Treasure!"

The peafowl kwami giggled, the sound reminding Marinette of harp strings. "You have already asked your question, little fox," she said with sly smile.

"What?! Did not!" Trixx insisted.

"Did too," Nino combated. "You asked why the Queen of Thieves wanted the brooch, remember?"

"Huh?!" Trixx's mouth fell open as she turned to the captain. "Oh, no – that wasn't a real question! That was, uh... thinking out loud!"

Suddenly, a hand reached up and yanked the vixen down by her bushy tail.

Alya brought Trixx down to eye-level and grumbled, "Very loud."

Nino chuckled and then paused. "Hold on. Does that mean...?" He stopped and covered his mouth before clearing his throat. "I mean... I guess that means Adrien and the king have already asked their questions too."

Duusu winked at him. "Nice recovery. And yes, that is true."

Alya gazed excitedly at her boyfriend. "Nino, we could learn anything," she said, touching his shoulder. "About our lives, our future..."

Duusu bowed her head again. "You have but to ask," she said, watching the group patiently.

Marinette could already feel her mind buzzing with ideas.

Adrien must have seen the vacant look in his lady's eyes, because then he took both her hands in his. "Go ahead, Marinette," he said with a warm smile. "Ask whatever you want to know."

She stared up at him, unsure what to make of her jumbled thoughts. Whatever I want... What do I want?

"Your question is your choice," Duusu broke in, her pink-and-blue eyes becoming firm, "but remember the Rule of One. Choose carefully."

Trixx snorted like a grumpy kid being denied a toy, and she folded her arms. "Oh, sure... She warns Ladybug about the one-question thing."

Plagg frowned and kicked Trixx away, sending the little fox flying with a tiny, "AH!"

Marinette stared down at the ground.

She didn't have one question – she had a million questions. Would she become a good queen? Would she and Adrien have any children? Would she be a good mother? Would Agreste be safe for the rest of their lives?

At that moment, Marinette realized how ridiculous she was being. She didn't need to ask any of those questions. No matter what kind of life she and Adrien would have; no matter what dangers or obstacles they would face, Marinette knew without a doubt that they would get through it together.

Volpina had tried to stop them – twice – and she failed. Marinette and Adrien had defied death and heartbreak at every turn. Nothing could ever tear them apart.

Marinette smiled and finally said, "I already know what my future is." She turned to Adrien and cupped both his cheeks in her hands. "My future is you, Kitty. I don't need anything more than what I have."

"Aww..." Tikki cooed from behind.

Adrien's proud and grateful smile was more than enough to assure Marinette that she made the right choice.

"Ah..." Duusu said, her voice becoming grave and her eyes dimming, "but what you have may not be what you will keep." She glanced up at the ceiling for a moment as she went on, "As of today, the tides of destiny turn against you, Ladybug of Agreste."

Marinette and Adrien snapped back to the peafowl, both of them bearing incredulous frowns.

"What?" the prince asked with a low tone.

Master Fu's face melted into a concerned frown. "Duusu, wait," he urged politely. "She is not ready."

Marinette looked over at the Guardian, puzzled by the tension in his voice. "Ready?" she repeated.

Tom immediately pounded forward, his green eyes darkening at Duusu. "What did you mean by what you said?" he demanded.

"Don't!" Nino, Alya, Wayzz, and Plagg cried in unison.

But it was too late.

This time, the glow emitting from Duusu was a paler kind of blue, like the colour of a bruise. She floated over to Tom, who stared unblinkingly at the kwami as she approached him.

Sabine fell in beside her husband, looking concerned.

Marinette could only watch from Adrien's side. She noticed Master Fu dipping his head down with saddened eyes.

Then, Duusu said the words Marinette never imagined she would hear in all her life:

"The future of your youngest daughter is threatened... by the return of your eldest daughter."

The room went as silent as death for a moment.

Then, Tom let out a choked, rasping noise of shock and disbelief. He stumbled backwards, almost knocking into Gabriel and Nathalie, who were both gaping with confusion.

Sabine gasped, her cheeks ashen and a hand on her heart.

Tikki, Plagg, Trixx, and Wayzz all went wide-eyed, their pupils shrinking.

Alya had a hand on her mouth, and Nino's glasses slid down his nose as his own mouth fell open.

Adrien inhaled deeply, and though his lips moved, no sound came out.

Marinette, however, felt like she had been hit in the chest by a frozen boulder.

Duusu's words echoed in her empty mind. Youngest daughter... Eldest daughter...

"What?!" Marinette blurted loudly, making Adrien flinch.

Tom and Sabine finally looked at their daughter, and for the first time in her life, Marinette saw fear in their eyes. Real, undiluted dread.

But there was also joy in their gazes. It was the kind of joy that cleaved hearts in two and then knitted the halves back together.

And before Marinette could speak again, Duusu waved her tiny hands.

A bubble of blue light appeared above her, growing ten times the kwami's size. Tendrils of bluish mist swirled within the bubble before taking the shape of a face; a human face.

Then, the face filled in with more colour like paint being poured into a molded design on a canvas.

Marinette gasped.

The face was her own, only sharper, more refined, and bearing no trace of freckles. It was as though Marinette was staring at an older reflection of herself.

The woman in the bubble had creamy, porcelain skin, a lovely mouth that thinned as she smiled, and long, flowing hair as dark and shimmering as a midnight sky under the light of a full moon. Her eyes – Marinette's eyes – gleamed with pride and confidence, and traces of silver danced along the irises.

Silver... like Sabine's eyes.

Marinette slid out of Adrien's embrace as she sank to her knees, the skirt of her dress puffing out around her. Her head was swimming, and she could hear her heartbeat pounding in her eardrums.

Then, her mother said a single name. It came out like a whispering, shuddering sigh: "Bridgette."

Marinette stared at the image of the woman. The name fit like a glove.

"Tom..." Sabine said, her voice shaking with a sob.

"I know," her husband said. From the sound of his words, he was crying too. "Our daughter is alive, Sabine. She's alive."

Marinette barely heard those words.

She barely felt Adrien kneeling beside her and holding her by the shoulders, asking if she was all right.

She barely heard the appalled voices of Alya or Tikki or the others.

All Marinette knew for certain was the glowing face of the woman before her. Her sister.

"I have a sister?"

And as she choked on those words, Marinette knew they were true.

It only made the gnawing pinprick in her heart grow into a gaping, dark hole.

I have a sister... and they didn't tell me.