Well...shit. This monster is taking its toll. Sorry for the late update, but stuff happen. You are free to sue me!
But on the bright side, this chapter finally allowed me to delve in the story and starting develop my own perception of the characters.
I hope it can fill some of your time and perhaps entertain you a bit. Ready to your hearts contents, my dear readers"
Somehow Adrien managed to crawl the sorry mass of agony and pain that was his body to bed, cursing whoever thought that vaulting from the city was a better way to get home instead of a damn taxi was seriously mistaken. After five weeks of intense training under Master Fu's patient gaze and Magus' intense watch, both mentors proved to be merciless in their teachings.
Moreover, the training was taking its toll even on the kwamis if Plagg's lack of strength even to demand his hideous cheese when they got home was any indication. Every time he dropped the transformation, Adrien would have to catch the little god before he plummeted head first. This time was no exception, for as soon Adrien's feet touched the floor of his bedroom, Plagg's power gave out and the teen had to catch him and place his sleeping form near a closed package of his favorite treat so he could indulge in it when he had the strength to bite again.
As for Adrien, he could barely keep himself moving. The ache in every muscle was driving him insane, he could even feel every muscle that was used to walk and even breath. That was the first time Adrien was conscious of how many muscles were necessary to breath.
How the other wielders and him found themselves in this crazy routine was beyond him, especially after that huge fight between Master Fu and Magus when they finally met face to face six weeks ago. In all these months since he met Master Fu, he had never seen him loose his calm before and that was the scariest thing Adrien have ever seen, even more than his father's icy eyes…
Six weeks ago
It had been two days since Magus first revealed himself and since then they hadn't heard anything from him. Needless to say, the heroes were a little on the edge. According to Volpina, Queen Bee and Ladybug, he knew all of them and who they were behind the masks.
Chat Noir let a growl run through my throat, it was all frustrating and infuriating. For the first time in their superhero career they have been cornered only to be saved by a guy who seemed to know far more than any of them.
Fortunately, the city has been quite ever since, no sign of Hawk Moth or his akumas, and even petty crimes were in the low, they only found a couple of thieves up to no good near Sacré-Coeur praying tourist and drunkards late in the night throughout the whole patrol.
We usually divided the city in quadrants centered on the Notre Dame, Chat Noir would roam the upper left part from Gare de l'Est to the Arc de Triomphe, from there to the Jardin du Luxembourg was Ladybug's area. Volpina took the southeast, going up to the Place de la Bastille and finally Queen Bee was in charge of the northeast. With that division they could take care of the entire city without sacrificing too many hours of sleep.
When they were done with patrol, they would always meet up on the beans of the Eiffel Tower, Chat favorite time of the night if someone asked him. Watching the lights of city they all cared, cherished and vowed to protect shining in the dead of night was always heart-warming and calming.
However, the mood that night was pretty much the opposite. The air was heavy with tension, all of them were edgy, tense, each lost in thoughts of the unspoken elephant in the room.
As usual, it was Ladybug who broke the silence, grunting from her place besides me on the beam where she sat, legs dangling in the open air of the cool spring night. Huffing, she got up so fast that it startled Chat and begun pacing among them. "We need answers" she said in a low voice which left Chat wondering if she was talking to us or with herself.
"But where? That guy, Magus or whatever his name is, clearly isn't a miraculous holder." Volpina' statement was a valid one, but also one they dreaded considering.
If he wasn't a miraculous holder like them, that what was he? What was his purpose? Was he a friend? An Alley? Or did he have a secret agenda of his own?
"We don't know that yet" Queen Bee interjection brought his mind back from the question that were flooding it. "He might be a holder of a powerful miraculous for all we know."
"Doubt it, Buzz" Volpina and Queen Bee were always bickering with each other, though Chat felt this time it was different, they were trying to find answers for too many question on their own, that alone left little room for useless arguments. "Remember Master Fu's words when we received our miraculous? The black cat and the ladybug miraculous are the strongest among all."
"That may be, but he might have gone senile with his age or…" Queen Bee never finish, being cut short by Volpina's deadpan look. She knew Queen Bee was good at heart and was only trying to make sense of everything, but she doubted Fu would lie to them. True, he never gave a straight answer like any wise master from those animes Adrien enjoyed so much and she usually had to hear thanks to Nino's close friendship with the model.
"He has far too many powers to be a miraculous holder" Placing a hand on her hips while raising the other in a closed fist she continued. "Flight" one finger up, "Shock waves", another one, "Fire", a third, "Ice", fourth, "That teleport misty thing", all five fingers were in the air and the brunette huffed noticing the list of his powers wasn't complete too. It was undeniable. He had way too many powers to be a miraculous holder.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Queen Bee asked in return. They needed answer. And fast.
"We go to Master Fu." Ladybug's voice was soft, but always held a sense of authority and command amidst the group. 'She was our leader after all' Chat thought to himself, proudly beaming at his partner even knowing each one of them could work as an individual hero, they were stronger as a group.
Though, truth be told, there was always something about their partnership that was different from Queen Bee and Volpina's. Ladybug and Chat Noir could read each other far more easily. That might have been due to their year of fighting as a duo, but Chat liked to think it was due to a much deeper bond they shared…hopefully…soulmates.
A boy can dream, can't he?
Oblivious to her partner's musing, Ladybug often wondered the same, with less emphasis on the soulmate bit, even if that thought was more frequent with each passing day, especially after Chat visited her civilian self and gave his undivided attention to her for a while. At least one blond in her life did that.
Even after over a year of "friendship", the plain Marinette Dupain-Cheng could barely form a coherent phrase near Adrien Agreste.
"But…" Queen Bee interjected, bringing them back to the problem at hand. Chat cut her short, standing up and pacing until he was standing in the middle of the three comrades.
"Miraculous or not, Master Fu is by far our best source of information about anything mystic." His words seemed to satisfy all of them, specially Ladybug who gave a tiny nod with a soft smile on her lips. Chat was always elated to return the gesture.
The reassurance that our partnership wouldn't be shaken no matter how many other heroes joined our team. After all, we were two halves of a whole and Chat Noir was nothing without Ladybug.
With a common goal in mind, they all made their way to the edge of the bean, turning to the direction of Master Fu's massage parlor and gazed the lights and the moon shining brightly in the night. "After you, my lady" Chat turned to Ladybug, giving an exaggerated bow.
She rolled her eyes at my antics, but nonetheless let a smile set on her lips. Deep down she knew she enjoyed his nonsense Catsanova's way, even if she herself would never acknowledge it. "Try not to be the last one this time, kitty cat!".
With that she lunched herself into the emptiness, free-falling before rocketing through the night sky with her yo-yo. Queen Bee followed close behind and Volpina was at her heels.
'Oh! That tease…. the game was on!' Chat thought gleefully, vaulting after his friends, specially one clad in polka dotted red.
They jumped through the night, friendly racing each other. Perhaps not so friendly on Volpina and Queen Bee' parts, but they have yet to hurt one another on purpose.
And Chat's grumpiness for…let's say…for having his victory stolen from him by Ladybug and her devious charms and swaying hips.
Despite the hour, Master Fu was still awake and somehow looked like he was already expecting their arrival as they entered through his shop. There were four cups of freshly served green tea waiting for them on the table while the old master himself sat on a cushion, calmly sipping his own cup. His kwami, Wayzz, sat on his shoulder, imitating his live long partner with a miniscule cup.
"Good evening, young heroes." Master Fu greet them with his usual smile and a small nod and, although they were all under his tutelage in some way, Chat Noir was the only one to give a deep bow in respect of the old master. In the meanwhile, Ladybug always returned the nod in the same way she received and Volpina and Queen Bee only smiled back, friendly greeting the old master.
"Sorry to disturb you at this hour, Master" Ladybug said once they were all seated and trying to look as apologetic as possible, something that greatly amused the old man in front of them.
"A master must always be ready to guide those who seek him" He said closed his eyes while stroking his beard. The perfect incarnation of a wise and old master from a kung fu movie. "And also, I always tend to sleep late and awake early, a habit I acquired through the years" He chuckled.
'The life of a super hero was never easy' Chat thought with sympathy 'you either gets used to it or it drives you mad'.
"But I take you came to me with questions rather than simply seeing how I was faring, no?" They all nodded in agreement.
"Is it about the mage who helped you a couple of days ago?" Once again, they all nodded in agreement.
"Do you know anything about Magus?" Ladybug asked, tightly gripping her cup and squirming on her seat. She seemed more unsettle about the newcomer than any of us. And that's was something Chat could understand.
After Volpina and Queen Bee first appearance, Chat Noir and Ladybug had a long talk which ended with Chat being introduced to Master Fu. She thought Chat took the news pretty well and even supported her decision saying he would trust anyone his lady put her faith on.
Moreover, it was at Chat's insistence that Volpina and Queen Bee could keep their miraculous permanently. Of course, that took over two months of Chat's constant pestering and puppy eyes to move Master Fu.
If she would be honest with herself, Ladybug knew she was falling for the tomcat. Ever since he took her civilian self to the surprise he had prepared for her heroic alter ego, her opinion on the blond had started to change. Chat Noir was already more than a friend and she was beginning to want for more.
A long sigh from Master Fu brought her back to the meeting.
"Magus…" Master Fu placed his cup on the table close his eyes, inhaling deeply as if clearing his mind. That or quelling his inner anger, whichever it was, that couldn't be a good sign. "So that is the name he chose to be known."
Chat couldn't hear any sort of danger on his voice, but there was something there akin to disappointment in it and that was something he knew pretty damn well since he always heard the same tone whenever his father spoke to him.
Ladybug tensed beside him, although she ever rarely was on the receiving end, she always knew when someone was bothered. "Do you know him?" She asked tentatively.
"I'm acquaintance with him, though I cannot claim to know him. At least, not anymore." Probably due to their questioning look he decided to elaborate. "I once knew a scared and scarred boy, but not the man he might have become."
"Great!" Volpina huffed, linking her fingers behind her head and laying her back on the tatami. "Back to square one".
"Not quite" Chat said calmly, drawing his teammates attention. "Master Fu, can you tell us what you know about him? Like who he is?".
My words certainly picked everyone hope and curiosity over our mysterious mage. Perhaps there was some information that we could use in our favour yet.
But it seemed someone must have felt his ears burnings…
"Those were questions you should address to me, Chat Noir". Chat's head snap so fast that Ladybug thought he might break his neck if he tried that again. "This explain why you haven't shown up".
No one moved under Magus stern stare, his dark eyes mining any courage they might had to stand up. They stood on the floor frozen while he slowly paced and sat down on the space between Ladybug and Volpina, directly in front of Master Fu.
Chat's hand moved before he could form any thought, holding Ladybug's gently under the table. To his surprise, she didn't pull away, but in fact held his even tighter and visibly easing the tension on her shoulders. On the corner of his eye, Chat could see Queen Bee placing a firm hand on Volpina' shoulder, silently supporting to her comrade. They were a good team.
"Evening, Fu" His voice was as hard as his eyes on the old guardian and although his behaviour was already getting on Chat's nerves, he sensed there was some bad blood between both. Either way, it was wiser to stay quiet and listen attentively for now.
"Hello, my boy" Master Fu didn't let himself be intimidate easily by Magus aggressive posture directed to him. It certainly ticked Magus off seeing Master Fu react in a way he didn't appreciated or expected.
"You can't call someone your boy when you only answer one's letters requesting for help to clear your mess." Magus spat back and Ladybug clenched Chat's hand even tighter, a worried expression on her face probably mirroring his own.
Now it was crystal clear, there were a few skeletons on the closet.
"That is because it was you who disregarded all my words and left seeking revenge" Master Fu stood up and Magus mimicked him, the tension raising exponentially in the room.
"There is no revenge when it's my duty to hunt traitors!" Magus shouted back, the air around him was starting to swirl and Chat could feel the hairs in the nape of his neck standing. "As was yours to protect and guide a new generation, not hide the miraculous away from everything."
"Having to many miraculous active at the same time could be disastrous" Master Fu was unrelenting.
Magus snapped his fingers and the hidden box that held the miraculous appeared on the table. A bright light soon covered it, only to fade moments latter to reveal twelve kwamis floating over it.
"And waiting for someone to steal them was your brilliant idea?" Magus moved his hand to each kwami, gently petting them. "You risk losing everything over your fear."
"They are children and there is hardly any reason for a new generation to take this heavy mantle" Wayzz left his place on Master Fu' shoulder and herded his fellow kwamis towards the kitchen. "The only threat to this world is above the combined strength of all miraculous under my guard."
"And I won't endanger children for the sake of your war". Master Fu finished, voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you have any idea what those monsters have been up to in the last decade?" He said clenching his fist so tightly that everyone could certain hear the leather of his glove giving in to the pressure. "How many lives I failed to protect? How many I managed to save? How many atrocities I have seen?"
"I have seen as many horrors as you! Don't you forget I am much older than you!" Master Fu's much calmer anger was beginning to frighten the heroes as it was the first time seeing the old master lose his temper.
And Chat couldn't help but think of the deadly mistake that was whenever someone piss the most easy-going characters in the animes he've seen.
"I have seen the worst and the best of mankind in the last century! I gained much and lost even more through life and you aren't the only one who was hurt by them!"
Master Fu let a heavy sigh out, easing the tension on his old form. "You have so much potential and is so young." He looked at Magus and something in his sad eyes made the mage's fury stop raising, at least for now. "It's not my wish to see you destroy yourself in this senseless quest of yours".
"You know very well why I can't simply turn my back to this specific problem." Magus retorted without hesitation, but definitely calmer.
"Why return then?" Master Fu clearly wasn't about let whatever was between them easily. "If this task at hand is so important, then why drop everything and come here?"
Magus gave a defeated sigh and sat back, opening and closing his hand, his gaze focused on it. "Because I know that I can't handle this whole problem before I'm gone." He looked up and at each one of us and then zeroed Master Fu, who was still standing. "And if I can't solve this mess, they at least deserve a chance to survive."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" That was way too much information and someone had to stop them before someone's brain overloaded, thankfully Queen Bee decided to voice everyone's concern. "What are you talking about and what do you mean survive? We are heroes and although Hawk Moth may be a problem we will get him eventually."
"Child…" Magus begun, his voice rasp and heavy. "Hawk Moth is nothing but a stepping stone for you, he isn't a threat to this world, only to himself, this city and you."
"I'm not a child!" Chastised Queen Bee.
"Yet you act like one, jumping happily and oblivious to everything" Chat had to give it to him, he had a sharp tongue "And although ignorance is a bliss, it can get you killed quite fast" and wasn't afraid to use it.
That, however, sparked a glimpse of fury in Ladybug by the way she tensed between Chat and Magus. "Don't you think that is a little arrogant of you? It's been almost a year since Hawk Moth started terrorizing Paris"
"But no one was left broken or dead because of his actions" He said non-committedly, shrugging at the unquestionable fact. "It is those who created him that concern me and it's for them you must prepared. Defeating Hawk Moth will be the first step for you."
"Are you saying Hawk Moth is stalling us? What about his crazy endeavour for mine's and Ladybug's miraculous?" If that was the case, Chat hoped that lunatic have the best punch line coming or else…
"He is both willingly AND unwillingly a pawn in a war that you are not ready to step into" He let his head hang low, his voice barely a whisper but one we all could hear. "One I hope you never have to wage."
A dreadful silence set in the room, the heavy weight that his words carried sinking in them as Ladybug could see in everyone's eyes, the truth…the truth that only Master Fu had seen war up close. She knew it could break even the toughest guy, as Alya once told when they happened to see a war covering on the TV. But we were superheroes, they could handle it…right?
"Then why did you return only now, my boy?" Master Fu pace around the place and came to a halt near Magus, who sat back. Given the little stature of the old man, he was barely taller than Magus in the sitting position he was.
"Because we only have the time of a lifetime to live and I've been running for long enough." He raised his head and Chat was somewhat taken aback by the fiery determination in his dark eyes. "It's time to face my enemies on my terms and while I'm at it, I should as well train the next generation."
"Wouldn't that be the honoured thing to do, Fu?"
Master Fu stood there holding a stare contest with Magus, measuring the younger man until his face hardened in an expression of utter discontentment. "You looked into the future."
Magus seemed completely unfazed, merely shrugging "So? What about it? Clairvoyance is a form of magic after all."
"You know the risks that comes with trying to twist the flow of time!" Was it possible to fume through the ear, because Chat was fairly pawsitive that he saw some smoke risen from Master Fu's ear. "You let your power cloud your judgment by putting the entire world in peril. Your obsession will be your demise".
"Tell me something new, Fu" Magus let sarcasm droll from every syllable leading Master Fu to deepen his scowl. "You know very well that a war involves risks, especially against them."
"However, abusing your powers makes you no different from them" that left Magus stunned, but only for a while. As the shock faded, it was replaced with pure anger burning in his eyes.
"I AM NOT LIKE THEM!" Magus voice thundered so loud and with such power that caused a small tremor and it could be heard the sound of car alarms on the streets nearby.
Magus was surrounded by small floating orbs that resembled Chat's hand when he called for his Cataclysm, but his were black whereas Magus were white.
But it was his eyes there have drawn Ladybug's attention. They now displayed a glowing circle with a pentagram in each.
One quick glance to Master Fu and she knew by his pale complexion that whatever that might be, it spelled trouble if Magus ever turned on them.
With a few deep breaths, Magus composed himself, the orbs and the circles in his eyes fading. "Don't ever compare me to them again".
"I won't let my fear stop me from putting an end to their madness nor I'll turn into a monster who would choose the death of thousand to satisfy my need."
"And finally, I'm not an old and scared liar who get young children to trust him only use them as tools." His icy voice cut deeper than any blade and Master Fu flinched from each one of them, regret momentarily setting in his old eyes before his façade turned emotionless.
Suddenly Chat started to feel a heavy weight on his shoulders and chest. A pressure. A felling. One he has come to know quite well. Rejection. The most dreadful fear of not fulfilling expectations and having to face someone who imposed them. However, it wasn't his emotion he was feeling.
He might not be as knowledgeable as Master Fu when it came to the miraculous and magic in general, and so far as he knew, the only kwami with power related to emotions was Nooroo, who was being held by Hawk Moth.
That left the only possible alternative: Magus.
He was influencing his emotions and possible Ladybug's and the others' by their looks.
"Leave. You are not welcome here." It was strange to hear Master Fu's voice devoid of emotion. "Leave and meet your end as it pleases you, but leave these children alone."
Magus looked at the older man with a mix of surprise and disbelief in his eyes, but chose to no longer try to convince him of his point of view, dejectedly balancing his head while dropping his gaze to the floor, stood up and went in the direction of the exit.
"That I will…" He started to turn the doorknob and slowly opened the light-coloured door. "It's going to happen at this winter and when I'm gone, they will be dragged into this and their blood will be on your hands, Fu".
'Did he just said they all will be dead by the end of the year? How can someone say something so gloom with such certainty?' Ladybug wondered.
With a last turn Magus faced them one last time that night and Chat could see the sad determination of a man who accepted his fate in his eyes. "Feel free to ask for help until then".
The door closed behind him with a soft click and a deathly silence settle in the room. A bright light emerged from the kitchen, followed by twelve kwamis being pulled back to their miraculous in the hidden box.
Again, it was Ladybug who had the guts to break the silence. "Master Fu…" Although barely louder than a whisper, her voice reached the old master who shook his head.
"I'm sorry for that" he quickly regained his composure. "Magus and I have some…issues and we don't know how to deal with them."
'Issues were a euphemism. You have an entire graveyard in the closet' Chat thought to myself.
Or maybe not if the reprimanding look Ladybug shot at him. Ops. Did he just say that out loud?
He mouthed an embarrassed 'sorry', wishing the ground would split and eat him. Ladybug rolled her exasperatedly, but only now with her gently rubbing her thumb over my hand that Chat noticed they were still holding hands hidden from sight.
'Perhaps that though, voiced thought now, wasn't only mine' Chat mused, content on feeling her small in his.
"That is one more direct way to put it, Chat Noir" Master Fu chuckled at his antics. He must have dealt with the stupidity that comes with adolescence a lot of times before. "And I confess that most of it was caused by me".
They stayed in silence, giving Master Fu all the time he desired. Fortunately, he quickly took our cue and with a deep breath, began to spin his tale.
"Twelve years ago, I visited an old friend who lived in a small village in Romania. He was a retired sorcerer and happened to be visited by a powerful family of mages, the clan of the arcanists. The oldest and most respected family in the magic society; you could think of them as their royalty."
He took a quick sip of his already cold tea, his eyes losing focus as he recollected the memory.
"They were in six at that time. The elder and head of the family along his three children, a daughter-in-law and a grandchild who was young Magus at the age of five." Master Fu scratched his thin moustache. "Even at that time he was already a promising prodigy in the mystic arts, but at the same time, he was already a broken boy with empty eyes."
"Let me guess" Volpina interrupted him, her lips in a thin line. "The burdens of expectations and abusive parents?"
"Precisely. He walked softly, rarely spoke and never showed any kind of emotion, thus approaching him at that time was beyond me." He took another sip and slowly blinked, his eyes watering, but trying to keep tears. "Fortunately, his older uncle quickly became a dear friend of mine in that trip."
Master Fu stood up and walked to one of his bookshelves, picking an old album and running through the pages until he found the picture he was looking for. It was a photo of Master Fu and another two adults.
Master Fu almost identical to what he looked nowadays, but with a little more of black hair. A tall and strong man with eyes that resembled stars in the midnight sky and long pitch-black hair tied in a low tail, his kind smile was complimented by the vast moustache and goatee adorned with rings of gold stood by his right. He wore a long grey overcoat that had a pentagram embroidered on the storm flap and a navy shirt could be seen under it.
On his left stood a woman much younger. She had the same eyes and hair, although she had styled it in an elegant oriental bun, the hairpins were green, possibly jade, and had a pentagram on the end. She wore a faded blue jeans and black tank top which complimented her athletic build. Her smile finished her far more playful and unconventional image of a mage.
"These are August and Juliet, the elder and youngest children of the Arcane Lord Francis." A mix of longing and sadness passed Master Fu face as he gave a disheartened smile. "August was an ambitious man with dreams of pacifying the world. He was unmatchable, but never once abused his power to oppress others. On the contrary, he trained his vast magic powers to help and support those in need and was incredibly overprotective of his only nephew."
"Juliet on the other hand was a spitfire." Master Fu gave a hearty chuckle. "Always getting into trouble, she was the best warrior of her generation. A fearless leader who tackled her problems with explosions and whatever she had at hand. She also happened to be the only one who could bring Magus to smile back then."
He paused for a moment, lost in the memories of lost friends, something Chat Noir hoped he'd never have to deal with, because losing his friends was the only thing that truly scared him, they were the only ties he had nowadays. He took the moment to voice a thought that occurred to him.
"Master Fu, what about the other child? The middle one?"
"His name was Faustian, a powerful arcanist specialized in blood magic, whose greed could only be matched by his wife, Yulla, the cruellest witch I have ever met. They were Magus' parents"
Chat gulped loudly even though for his throat was completely dry. Bad parenting was something he knew well enough, but he could be considered blessed for never have been hit by father so far. "Did they mistreat Magus?"
Master Fu's scowl was answer enough to that question, still he spoke it out loud. "They intended to raised Magus to be the most powerful weapon for them and for that they resorted to torture, both physical and emotional. Something that came to light much later."
The moment Master Fu uttered those words Ladybug's whole body tensed immediately. 'Why there were who thought of their children as nothing more than assets they could use and dispose?' She wondered bitterly.
However, her attention was brought to Chat, who was growling. She tightened her hold on his hand, breaking the feral behaviour. He soon found comfort and peace in her entrancing blue bell eyes full of sympathy. "Chat…".
One word, it was all that took for her to completely calm him, but at least now they could better understand why Magus acted the way he did. Having rotten parents could easily plunge you in a living hell. Solitude and harassment were like a strong acid, they corroded everything that was good in your life until nothing remained but bitterness and hatred.
That had been a path Chat came close to walking after his mom disappeared. It was only thanks to Ladybug, Nino, Alya and Marinete that he'd managed to survive and claw himself from that pit. He doubted Magus had that kind of support in a long time.
Master Fu gave an understanding nod, his slime sympathetic to Chat as he knew exactly what he had gone through. He then cleared his throat, drawing the attention back to himself. "As you can imagine, his childhood was harsh and unforgiving and his relatives couldn't take matters on their hands without concrete evidence of their wrong doings."
"But why didn't Magus tell the truth back then?" Volpina's inquire was a good one, though Chat had a suspicion he knew why.
"Because he was a child….and a genius" Master Fu answer was the simplest one and would suffice, but he saw the need to continue. "He was scared of what could happen to the only ones who loved him…"
He gave a dramatic pause, staring at each one of us, looking for something and for once Chat was considering asking for him to get to the point just like Queen Bee so often did when they visited the old master.
"And because he knew exactly how powerful his parents have become ever since embracing the Corruption.".
'Great, another charade…terrific' Ladybug and Chat thought together.
"The Corruption?" Ladybug asked in a voice full of apprehension and Chat could see the hair on the nape of her neck standing just by asking about it.
"I do not know exactly what it is, but according to Magus's brief explanation in the past, it is a force that alters you, granting immense strength at the cost of reducing you to your strongest desire and nothing more. It is a forbidden power that no mortal or immortal should ever hold."
"And let me guess, they went for the classic: more power" Chat said in a deadpanned tone, thinking the knowledge of fictional villains actually did help in real life from time to time.
"Exactly, Chat Noir. They started a mad run for even greater power no matter the cost to be paid" he entwined his fingers and brought his joined hands to his forehead.
"But what happened?" Queen Bee tried to hide the eagerness to hear the end of the story, but failed to do so.
"One day, Frollen confronted Faustian after finally having enough evidence, but ended murdered by his own son in front of August and Magus. This led to an internal strife in the clan of the arcanists, which escalated rather quickly after Magus told everything he been through."
He drank the last of his tea before continuing. "Faustian and Yulla proved to be too powerful and August perished stalling them until Juliet could send Magus to me, but not before he was gravely injured by his own father".
"Magus was close to death when I caught him, Juliet had already returned to battle her traitorous brother. I never discovered how she died in the end, but at least I could give the three of them the proper rites after I nursed Magus back to health."
Master Fu turned once again to the old album, turning its pages until a young boy with cold dark eyes came into view. "He was nine when it all happened, but only a year after the tragedy he decided that he would fight the battle his uncle and aunt couldn't. That was when he left."
"The last time we argued, I told him that he would need a greater motive than vengeance to win, but he wouldn't have any of that and disappeared to who knows where for ten years."
"But he said he wrote letters to you." Volpina stated, clearly intended on digging as much as possible on the matter.
Master Fu dropped his eyes to the ground as if trying to hide the shame. "He did, but I never replied until I had need of professional at dealing with curses a few years ago."
They all remained in silence for a while, the heroes with the exact same thought: Master Fu ignored Magus until he needed him.
"Why did you abandon him, master?" Chat tried being as polite as possible, but his accusing tone directed to Master Fu put all the others on alert. Chat was never one to confront their mentor so bluntly.
"And what happened to his parents?" Volpina really hoped those bastards had paid with their lives for the atrocities they committed, but her journalist instinct said otherwise.
"As far as I know, they are still alive and doing unspeakable things." That left a bad taste in Ladybug's mouth. Scratch that. For the first time, her whole being itched to urge Chat to cataclysm in each one of them.
Her friends' hard expression and murdering glint in their eyes confirmed that was a common desire. Heroes or not, some actions deserved severe punishments.
"Then…the ones he said he was hunting…" Ladybug started but didn't get a chance to finish.
"Yes, he is after his parents' head" Master Fu spoke the most dreadful words of the night yet. Ladybug couldn't even fathom what it would take for a son to impose on himself as his life mission to put an end to his own parents and their crimes.
"But why does it have to be him!?" Ladybug's eyes burned with a furious fire at the injustice of the whole situation. "Why can't it be another?"
Master Fu let a heavy sigh and it occurred to Chat that he probably foresaw their reaction once he began telling Magus's past. "I'm not well versed in the complexity of magic, but to the best of my knowledge, the first reason is because an arcanist is a mage with immense power that can muster any sort of magic and such trait is connected to a single bloodline."
"The second reason is because there isn't any other that could hope to stand a chance of defeating them. The power of Corruption is too strong."
"So that's why he left in search of more power." Volpina pondered quietly. "He wants to be strong enough to end this mess without more casualties."
"Precisely" He stroke his goatee with that wise glint in his eyes. "And I can see you haven't decided if his path was a right or wrong one."
"Is that a bad thing, Master Fu?" Queen Bee spoke at last, having remained in silence for the most part of the story.
"Of course not, Queen Bee" chuckled Master Fu, but soon his expression turned far less joyful. "When you fight a war, there is no good or bad choice, only better or worse consequences and if your enemy is so dangerous that you can't afford mistakes, you have to fully commit to whatsoever your choice may be."
Chat was beginning to think they have been lucky to be kept on the dark for so long. This was proving to be way too much information to handle, but there still was something bugging him (beside Ladybug and all her glorious qualities).
"Master Fu, how does Hawk Moth fit in all this mess?"
For the first time in the night, Master Fu graced them with a straight answer. "Wayzz sensed a large curse spreading a few years ago and it too much for me to handle alone. Now, how Hawk Moth is related to all this is something only Magus knows and…". But before he could elaborate, the small bell from the clock that was over the drawers rang its soft tune, signalling that it was way over midnight on school day. Needless to say, the teens would be dead tired on the morning.
"Master Fu, please!" Chat pleaded with his best kitten eyes he could muster before he could even consider sending them away before giving some closure. Adrien hated cliff-hangers.
Master Fu hesitated before sighing in defeat. "Magus never disclosed to me how the curse was released or what he did to stop it". At our expecting gaze, he continued. "Though, considering he was adamant in keeping silent about it, I imagine it was somewhat related to his parents."
"Is there a chance for Hawk Moth to be his father?" Volpina's reasoning was undeniable.
"Fortunately, no." Master Fu dropped his shoulders, gently rubbing the nook of his neck, "A mage can't wield a miraculous, something about conflicting magic natures. Moreover, if Faustian was Hawk Moth, I doubt we would be alive now."
"Now, I think Hawk Moth is a victim but beyond that I do not know. Magus hasn't disclosed any other information regarding Hawk Moth." He said already gently ushering us to our own home to rest. "And even though I am against some of his methods, I have to agree with him that Hawkmoth is far less dangerous than the ones who might have created him and we should exploit this situation as much as we can."
"Master Fu". Ladybug's voice interrupted our mentor. "Why should you, or any of us for the matter, consider what Magus might think? He saved us, true, but didn't anything to actually earn our trust."
Master Fu pondered for a moment before answering. "I understand that can be a common thought of you, but rest assured that Magus wishes for your survival as much as me if not even more so."
Before she could interject Master Fu stopped me by raising his hand. "Also, it is his family mission to protect the miraculous and all the knowledge related to them."
"What?!" They shouted in unison. All Master Fu did was chuckle at our reaction.
"That might come as a surprise to you, but he is the true Master of the Miraculous. I am merely a Guardian of a small amount of knowledge."
"But it was you who was trained to become a guardian in the past." I stepped into the argument. "How come he can know more than you without proper training?"
"It was his family who created the Miraculous and the branch of guardians that I came from in order to prevent the knowledge from ever being lost." His eyes got unfocused, gazing in the horizon, a sigh that was becoming frequent aged eyes. "That was another reason for me to try to approach him and his family."
"WHAT!?" All the heroes shouted at the same time.
"Ladybug, remember when I told you that a long time ago the Miraculous were created by a powerful mage in order to protect this world?" She nodded remembering the story she heard some time before she introduced the old master to her partner clad in black leather and to Queen Bee and Volpina afterwards.
"Very well, that mage was his ancestor." Master Fu let that tiny bit of crucial information sink as the teens faces were mixes of bulging eyes of surprise and scowls of concern.
This time it was Chat who broke the trance first, swallowing in a useless attempt to get rid of dry sensation in his throat. "That means his parents also know about the Miraculous". Ladybug was surprised that her partner found the strength to utter the words that she had been too scared to say out loud.
Master Fu calmly looked into each of heroes' eyes, accessing the fear and doubts in them. "That is a risk we must take into consideration even if Magus says otherwise".
The clock rang again startling everyone. That conversation left all of them tense, but the four heroes groaned a moment later. It was one a.m. on a school day and they would be closer to zombies than living human beings when morning comes.
"I held you long enough when you should be resting, but before you go." He scooted the turtle kwami in his hand and brought him to his head level. "Wayzz, could you pick the satchel on the third row of the fourth shelve?"
All the kwami did was nod and mumble a 'yes, master', before zooming to another room, coming back a moment later with a small beige linen satchel and placing it in Master Fu's hands.
"Here, drink this with your tea, it will help you sleep more easily tonight." He extended four neatly folded envelopes. "A recipe of my own to help bring peace to a troubled mind".
Something clicked in Ladybug's mind. "Is that for insomnia?"
"Yes, it is" Master Fu smiled at them. "Heroes need their sleep and I know that anxiety and inner turmoil don't help with that".
They took the envelopes and quickly dissolved the mixture in the tea, turning everything in a single gulp. There was no more time to stall if they wished to get as much needed sleep as possible.
Volpina and Queen Bee hurriedly waved at Master Fu before flying through a window and off to their homes. Their lack of respect for the old master was something that bothered Chat Noir, although Master Fu seemed to disregard any sort of malice from them.
Ladybug stood up, giving a final squeeze on Chat's hand. Being partners for over a year now brought them together in a close friendship based on respect and trust. They were bound by the boundaries of their identities, of their masks, but that didn't stop them from seeking comfort and reassurance whenever it was wanted or needed. That was what best friends were for.
"Thank you for your time, Master Fu" She bowed slightly, a gest returned by their mentor and zipped through the window the other two heroines had left moments before, but not before throwing Chat a last look over her shoulder. "Goodnight, Chat".
She was off before he could reply, leaving Chat to watch her form disappear in the dead of the night with a content grin plastered on his face. "Goodnight, milady". God, there weren't words enough to describe such amazing woman or what she did with him.
"I should be going to". He sighed, turning to Master Fu who was currently placing all the used cups in a small wooden board. Chat was quick to walk to Master Fu's side before he could finish placing the cups. "Let me help you, Master"
"You are too kind, Adrien" The old man smiled fondly at Chat, while the hero himself shifted nervously. It was such an odd feeling being called by his civilian name instead of his heroic alter ego when donning the black cat mask.
"It's the least I could do since we were the ones who barged at such unholy hours". And remembering something Plagg told him the day they met Magus for the first time that has been bothering him. "Master, excuse me for asking, but how strong is Magus?".
Master Fu pondered for a moment as they walked into the kitchen and place the cups in the sink. "I don't know how powerful he really is, though if he wishes to take this fight at his own accord I suspect he is at least as strong as his uncle and aunt were."
"And how strong were they?" As usual, questioning Master Fu never led to a straight answer.
"Physically speaking, their bodies are no different ffrom yours without the suit, however their magic arsenal were remarkable". He did the dishes while Chat rinsed the cups and put them to dry over a piece of cloth. "I never witnessed their spells in a real combat, but in her sparing sessions, Juliet was undeniable stronger then the seven miraculous of yours and Ladybug's set or even the twelve miraculous from the Chinese zodiac I hold."
Chat gulped feeling his throat as dry as a desert. He was beginning to understand the ordeal that Magus had ahead of him and thanking that his own family problems weren't that bad after all. Nothing like putting things into another perspective.
With all cups cleaned, Master Fu walked Chat Noir back to the window they used. "I know it is hard, but try not to think too much into this."
"And about Magus' idea?" Chat couldn't help but wonder how much stronger he could get. If it meant he could protect his city and his lady more easily, he wasn't all against it.
"I know he has yours best interest in mind as much as I do, especially since he feels responsible for the problem." He turned to Chat featuring his usual wise master smile. "We are both grown man, just give us some time and we will compromise on something."
"If you say so, Master" Chat bowed deeply towards Master Fu and pick his staff on his lower back. "Goodnight, Master Fu".
Master Fu on his part bowed and bid farewell to the hero with a kind smile. "Goodnight, Chat Noir".
Chat was soon vaulting through the streets and roofs of Paris, taking a scenic route to the Agreste mansion with both the intend of extending his time away from his house and tiring himself a little more.
It was probably around two in the morning when he decided to call a night after having taken a stroll around the city that ended at top of Eiffel Tower. However, two figures standing at the Trocadero caught his attention. One wore a bright red Hawaiian shirt that was unmistakable, the other a fancy carnival mask that reflected the dim moonlight; Master Fu and Magus.
They were too far to distinguish their features, much less hear anything that was being said, but there didn't seem to be any of prior hostility between then now by their demeanour.
Chat climbed down the tower as stealthily as he could, trying his best to not alert any of the two. Master Fu had an incredible sixth sense and he wouldn't be surprised if Magus could sense him or his miraculous after hearing what he heard.
When he reached the beans right below the first floor of the tower, Master Fu and Magus had climbed down the steps and where standing on the other end of the Pont d'Iéna. Thanks to his enhanced sight, he now could even perfectly see even Master Fu's wrinkles.
They walked slowly, Magus was probably talking as Master Fu only nodded. Never breaking their pace, Chat was beginning to get restless at their increasing closeness. It was a matter of time before either of them noticed him.
When they were almost crossing the bridge and Chat seriously considering making a dash through Champ de Mars, a high pitched scream pierced the silence of the night startling the three of them.
Chat turned his head so fast he wondered how it was still connected with his neck, but that thought was forgotten as soon as he saw what was the commotion.
There, at the top of the stairs of the Trocadero, someone was being chased by three much larger figures.
The first thing that Chat took notice of the victim was her small stature; the second were the neon green snakes coiling around her arms; the third was the pink hair…
Chat Noir's blood ran cold at the sight of his classmate Alix being chased by three thugs. "What the hell is she out at this hour?" He muttered under his breath. "Only super heroes, criminals and drunks are out this late!"
The thugs were already upon her. Alix might have been fast on her rollerblades, but she couldn't outrun three grown men on her feet. One soon was upon her, grabbing her wrist and twisting it to make her stop and drop the shiny object she had in her hand.
It was probably the burst of adrenaline, but Chat could see her face contort in a mix of utter fear and pain. Chat readied himself to lunge at them, taking aim at the aggressor so he could free his friend.
However, he didn't have the chance to be the hero this time.
Magus emerged from the thin air delivering a round kick right at the head of the criminal and sending him flying away from Alix. She spun after being freed from his clutch, losing her balance, but was held by Magus before she hit the ground.
He held her tightly in his left arm, quickly covering her with his oversized cape so only her head could be spotted much thanks to her pink hair. With his right hand he summoned his staff and slammed its blade on the ground creating a shockwave that sent the thugs flying away.
They were quick to recover and flee as fast as they could, since Magus had decided to go a little over the board and shot a few fire balls at them.
When he was sure that Alix was safe, Magus released her and waved to his right and words left his hand to float on the thin air. Soon after Alix's watch appeared in his hand and was quickly returned to her.
They seemed to talk for a moment, only to later walk away together, Magus' cape protecting Alix from the chill of the spring night. At least he had some sense to not leave her alone at this hour.
A whistle at the base of the tower brought Chat's attention to Master Fu who was gesturing for him to climb down. Once the blond was back to ground level, Master Fu inquired. "Impressive, isn't?"
"Oh shit…busted' Chat rubbed the back of his head, a habit he picked through the years and he always did when embarrassed. "Yes, it was" He mumble to which Master Fu answered chuckling.
"It seems I was mistaken about him" Master Fu begun once he stopped laughing at Chat's shyness at being caught red handed. "He still true to his heart".
"What does that mean, master?" Chat asked softly, still slightly embarrassed.
"It means your training begin tomorrow" Master Fu unceremoniously stated, leaving Chat to pick his jaw from the floor. "And what were his words…ah yes, he said he won't go easy on you, pretty boy."
"Ha! The only one I wish would go easy on me is Ladybug!" Chat let his bravado took the best of him, quickly remembering on whose presence he was and turning a brilliant shade of red.
For the first time, Master Fu left the hero holding stomach from laughing so much. Needless to say, Adrien didn't get a drop of decent sleep that night.
His brain was too preoccupied in constantly remembering his greatest embarrassment yet. That and the anxiety of discovering new heights.
Well, that's it folks! Another chapter down! And who knows how many still to go...this will either be the death of me or the salvation to my passion.
Once again I thank each one of you who read my work! You don't know how much the number of views boost my confidence in this little hobby (maybe not for long if I decide to go serious into this business). All of you make this amateur writer immensely happy! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
L.E-Rae, I give it to you, though I'm still waiting for a plot twist ;)
Now, few personal words for those who might read. Last month this fandom suffered a great loss. Maerynn, an amazing writer who inspired and touched many with her skilled words, passed away due to a tragic car accident, according to her colleagues in AO3. My deepest condolences to her family and friends. May your soul rest in peace!
Please, everyone! Read her stories! They are incredible and should be remembered !