Note: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir and the pictures used in the cover.

"DUCK!"

Too late. Even for a superhero with the reflexes of a cat, Chat Noir still reacted slowly...all because he was too busy flirting. A sedan sailed over the air and would have turned a certain black cat into roadkill had it not been because of a red bug quickly launching her yo-yo around his left foot and hauling him out of danger.

"Can you please take this seriously for once?" Ladybug demanded, not asked, her partner who was now dangling upside down from a lamp post.

Chat Noir looked at the red heroine who sitting on the top of the glass lamp. "I am!" He spread his arms and grinned flirtatiously at his partner. "I am serious about you. Not just once, but all the time."

This guy. Ladybug ceremoniously let him go, earning her a loud OW! from the black hero. "Remind me not save you again." She said sarcastically as she jumped down beside him.

"Why would I? I love being saved by you. But you know what's better? Me saving you." He winked. "I will carry you bridal style while there's a big cloud of explosion behind us. Wouldn't that be purr-fect, my lady?"

Ladybug giggled at his partner's silly charms. "As long as it is not Paris that was being blown up."

His cat ears perked up. "Ohhhhh! Do I hear a challenge?" He mused as he leaned closer to the shorter teen.

She placed a finger on his nose and gently pushed him away. "Ha. Ha. No. I promise you I will try not to get into trouble, you silly cat."

"Oh, come on! Let the cat shine for once." Chat Noir protested.

Ladybug scratched his chin. "You will get the spotlight soon enough, chaton. The three are not around so, the cat can play. After all, we still have an akumatized villain to save. Let's go!"

Time skip: Ten minutes after battle

"Oh my god! Oh my god! I'm going to be late!" Marinette panicked as she ran toward Aeroport De Paris-Le Bourget.

Tikki peered out of her purse with a cookie at hand. "Calm down, Marinette." Tikki chided. "It's not like they will get mad at you for being late, right?"

"Still! It will be our first meeting after five years. I can't just ruin it for running late, Tikki! If only the transformation lasted a little longer." She slowed past a throng of people before picking up her pace once again. The white and glass structure has finally appeared in view. Airplanes, both departure and arrival, flew in the airspace above the airport. A continuous flow of vehicles covered the entrance view where people waited.

Tikki took a bite of her cookie. "Your cousin must be an amazing person, Marinette, based on how you described her last night."

"Not just amazing, Tikki! Oh, just you wait until you meet her. She's the best!" She crossed the street and joined the waiting crowd by the entrance. There are a lot of people today. Many are tourists from different countries. Marinette shifted nervously. She pulled out her phone and looked at the time. She's fifteen minutes late! Are they already at her parents' bakery? Oh my god! Mom and Dad will be extremely disappointed with her! She almost dropped her phone when it started buzzing. She hurriedly checked her phone, praying that it wasn't her parents. A picture had popped out of the screen. It was Alya. Marinette let out a breath of relief and answered.

"Hello, Alya-"

Her best friend spoke before she could finish."Girl! Where are you? I thought we are going Ladybug hunting!"

Marinette had the time to think, Uh oh. "Oh my god! I forgot! I'm so sorry, Alya. Things happened and well, I have to fetch my cousin here in the airport."

A clucking noise. "Tsk. Tsk. Marinette, that's the twenty-fifth excuse this week!"

Is it? Marinette wondered. She glanced to Tikki who gave her a shrug. "I'm sorry. I promise I will make up to you next time."

Alya laughed. "Relax, girl. I am not mad. It's alright. I called your bakery earlier. Your parents told me about it so, don't worry."

Marinette let out a breath of relief. "Alya, I'm sorry I couldn't go with you. I mean it."

"It's okay, girl. There's still next time. Besides, there's no one else to fetch your cousin other than you. Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng has to finish the Mayor's orders for Ladybug and Chat Noir's first anniversary as Paris' heroes."

Our first anniversary as superheroes, Marinette mused. She chuckled lightly. "Yeah. I guess you're not going to miss it?"

"You know me. The two will be there after all. I got to cover everything up for my blog. You're coming with me, right?"

"Ummm...hm?" Marinette's eyes strayed toward the glass doors. A mixture of familiarity and difference washed over her as she watched a girl, a year older than her, walked past the revolving doors. A well-dressed woman followed the figure closely behind. She could make out the girl's jet black hair tied into a long braid and eyes as deep as the color of sapphires. Could it be?

"Marinette? Hey, are you still there?"

"I'm sorry. Gotta hung up."

"Wa-" The line cut off.

She shoved my phone to my pocket and wove her way toward the two. "Ummm...excuse me? Are you Mrs. Dupain?" She asked politely.

The woman smiled pleasingly. "Oh? Marinette? Is that you? You've grown into a beautiful lady."

Marinette blushed a bright red. "Thank you, Aunt Marissa. You looked gorgeous as always."

The woman chuckled. "You flatter me, dear."

"Mari!" Before Marinette could react, the girl jumped at her for a hug. "It is so good to see you again!"

Marinette returned the hug with the same warmth. "Me too! Welcome back to Paris, Marge! I missed you so much!"

They both stepped back and looked at each other as if considering how much they have changed over the years. Marinette could not believe her eyes that the short-haired, tomboy she grew up with for a decade has become into a refined yet simple-dressed girl. Although her appearance and demeanor changed, her eyes retained the same look of enthusiasm and strength that Marinette loved the most about her.

"Now, Marge." Mrs. Dupain started. "Since you're going to stay over to Marinette's place for a long time, be sure not cause them any trouble, okay?"

"Wait. You're not staying over, Aunt Marissa?" Marinette asked.

Mrs. Dupain smiled apologetically. "I apologize, Marinette. I know I said to Tom that I will be staying over together with Margaery, but I got an emergency call from my secretary on our flight here. I don't want to spoil this for Margaery either. That's why we decided she got to stay in Paris by herself and I will fly back to Japan to fix things in the company. Don't worry. I will call Tom as soon as possible and explain things to him."

Marinette turned to her cousin with a worried look. "Is it alright...?

Margaery waved her question away. "It's no biggie. We already talked about it."

"Don't worry, Marinette. I will personally fetch her back to Japan. Just keep an eye at her, okay?"

Marinette nodded with a smile. "I will. I promise, Aunt Marissa."

Mrs. Dupain smiled gratefully. "Thank you. You're reliable as always, Marinette." She turned to her daughter and placed her hands on her shoulders. "And as for you, young lady-"

"Be nice to everyone and do not cause trouble. Got it!"

Mrs. Dupain chuckled lightly. "I will hold onto that." She kissed her forehead. "I will go ahead. Call me as often as you can, okay?"

"I will." Margaery hugged her mother tightly before watching her go back into the airport.

"Well..." Marinette started. "Shall we head home? I hope you're hungry because Mom and Dad baked your favorites for you."

"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "Your bakery's the best, Mari! I can't wait! Let's go!"

At a certain house...

"Hmmmm..."

The photos slid left and right as wizened fingers moved on the smooth screen of a tablet. The reader stopped briefly for a moment on a certain photo as his eyes laid down on the information he has been looking for since scanning the gadget's gallery. A masked man in Chinese clothes of black tinted with blue graced the page. Words and symbols that are decipherable only by him were written on the opposite. He picked up the torn letter by his side and flipped it open. The words were jotted down like scribbles, almost written down in an episode of rushed terror. The name of the sender was never written at the end. Whoever have sent it to him must have only prayed that it will not be found by the wrong hands and reach its intended recipient. The old man set the letter down on the pages.

"I see...so, it wasn't just him. There are more of them."

He glanced as a black cat landed by the windowsill. It stared at him for a moment before leaping to the next window.

An omen...and a disastrous one at that.

Aaaand that's a wrap! Finally completed the first chapter. For the next chapters, I will be incorporating first person point-of-view. I might switch to the third person point-of-view depending on how things worked out. For now, tell me what you think. Constructive criticism will be of help too. Just a leave a review. Ciao!