Chapter 7: Ever After
Disclaimer: We do not own Miraculous Ladybug
-มันยังไม่จบ มันเป็นเพียงแค่จุดเริ่มต้น-
A life for a life.
Chat swallowed down his rising terror. To be brutally honest, he was scared. He didn't want to die. But even more so, he did not want to live with the thought that Marinette had sacrificed herself for him when he could've prevented it.
"What do I do, Plagg?" He asked.
Put your hands on her wound. Plagg instructed. With slightly trembling fingers, he pressed his palms on her abdomen, grimacing at the slightly warm blood seeping out of the wound. He could mentally hear Plagg taking a deep breath. Now, suck out the bad luck.
"What?" Chat breathed out, confused. "What do you mean? I don't understand."
Tikki buzzed up angrily in front of his face. Only Plagg could understand what she was saying. PLAGG! Don't do it! Please!
I have to, Tikki. Plagg said remorsefully. Tikki buzzed around, repeatedly hitting Chat on the nose. Plagg said, Adrien, do it. This was all because of the bad luck as Chat Noir. If you absorb the bad luck, it'll reverse everything.
A life for a life.
And then he understood.
To save her, he had to take her place.
Plagg, I can't lose you too!
Sorry, Tikki. I'll be waiting for you.
Chat closed his eyes. Black miasma surrounded Marinette like a blanket. And then it began to travel up his arms. He clenched his teeth as cold seeped through his bones. Goosebumps broke throughout his skin and the ends of his claws started to turn white. He could feel his power ebbing away.
Thirteen seconds later, the wound had closed. Thirteen seconds later, all the bad luck was sucked out.
Thirteen seconds later, Chat Noir was dead.
Marinette blearily opened her eyes. With a gasp, she sat up as she touched her stomach. There was a hole on her shirt from where Papillion had stabbed through her, but there was no cut from a sword. Her skin was smooth with no hint of a scar. "Wha - what's going on? What happened?"
Her eyes landed on her partner, whose suit was starting to turn white. Blood drained from her face. Her breathing came in short and shallow gasps.
This couldn't be happening. After everything she did…Why did he…
"Chat?" Her voice cracked.
Tikki buzzed up in front of her. She cried, Marinette, hurry! We have to save them! We have to save them both before it's too late!
Marinette understood. With a shaking tone, she said, "Tikki! Transform me!"
Marinette turned into Ladybug. Wasting no time, she threw the luck charm in the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"
With a burst of red energy, the house of glass was mended, transformed people returned to normal, and the kingdom was restored to its original form.
Marinette released her transformation and sank down to cradle Chat in her lap. His suit was now as dark as night. But his eyes were still closed. She touched his face, tears falling down on his cheek. "Chat? Adrien? Wake up! Please!"
There was no reply.
The sky was lighting into hues of gold and blue as rays of sunshine broke through the foliage of trees and lighted upon them. Birds hopped out of their nests and trills of morning songs filled the air. The forest was still, as if it was holding its breath.
Marinette sobbed as she rested her forehead on his.
She had failed. She had lost him.
"Wake up, you stupid cat." Marinette murmured.
"Maybe a true love's kiss would help break the spell?" A familiar voice said with cheek.
She lifted her head with a gasp and looked at him. Chat still had his eyes closed, but there was a hint of a smirk on his lips. Words choked up in her throat as she stared, flabbergast, at him. He cracked open an eye. "I'm waiting, princess."
Marinette, laughing and crying at the same time, grabbed his bell and kissed him fully on the lips. Chat grinned as he released his transformation and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing their bodies closer.
Plagg and Tikki, who sat snugly at the tip of the cat's nose, watched the two with amusement.
Dawn had broken at last.
…
A fortnight had passed and the kingdom was restored to its former glory.
The first beginnings of change and prosper was Adrien's annulment of his and Princess Chloe's marriage.
She was not too happy with that, but knowing that Adrien had finally sorted out his feelings, she was relieved. She'd rather have a solid partnership than be embarrassed with a separation later on. Despite the small glitch, the trade between the kingdoms was as strong as ever.
In later years, people would say that it was a good thing that King Adrien and Queen Chloe never married.
King Gabriel was pronounced 'dead' during the night of chaos and the whole kingdom mourned at the loss. Many people speculated that it was the king who orchestrated the whole turmoil, but those speculations were quickly snuffed out. The prince was troubled with the death of his father enough. To think that his majesty was the one behind all this, his highness would be heartbroken.
Oh if they only knew.
But the biggest change was Adrien announcing that he would be taking the throne a year from now. And he would choose his bride on the day of his crowning ceremony. His advisers were confused and insisted he take a partner now, but Adrien stood firm in his judgment.
"I am not yet king." Adrien had declared. "Once I am crowned king, I shall choose my bride who will stand by my side and rule this kingdom together."
"Yes, but-"
Adrien fixed a hard stare at them, his green eyes glowing like a predator. With a steely voice hinting a powerful ruler behind it, he said, "I will choose my bride when the time is right. If my father had trusted your advice 30 years ago, this kingdom would already be in ruins."
"At least tell us if you have already found a bride."
"I have." His firm tone surprised the advisers. "And she is even more exceptional than all the princesses of the land combined."
"Who is it?"
Adrien smiled. "That is a secret for me to keep."
The best change however, was the appearance and protection of the kingdom's beloved heroes.
Ladybug and Chat Noir.
…
Tap.
Marinette looked up from the piece of fabric she was cutting through. Her candle was burning low and her parents were asleep. So what was the noise in this ungodly hour?
With a stretch, she opened her balcony door and stepped outside. There was no one there. She looked down at her feet and a small chuckle escaped her lips.
There, lying innocently on the ground was a paper plane.
Picking it up, Marinette unfolded it. On the paper was a crude drawing of her.
Suddenly, another paper plane landed on her feet. She picked it up and looked out in the night. A pair of glowing green eyes gazed at her, a rooftop away.
"I see you, Chat." Marinette called out.
Chat Noir stood up, his cat-like form throwing shadows from the full moon behind him. With a graceful leap, he silently landed on the railings of her balcony.
Both of them said nothing, just looking at each other with admiration and love.
"What are you doing here, kitty?" Marinette finally said.
A slow smile graced his features. "Can't a knight visit his princess?"
"But if the knight tempts his princess, he would be tried for treason." Marinette said softly with a light teasing tone.
Chat's eyes dilated at her tease. With a green flash, Adrien stood in front of her. Taking her hand, he kissed it and looked up coyly. "But they would never hang a prince now, would they?"
Marinette laughed; the happy sound music in his ears. She entwined their fingers and said shyly, "Would you like to come in?"
"Pleasure is mine, my lady."
As the balcony door clicked shut, a gentle breeze flowed through the kingdom, carrying away Prince Adrien's forgotten paper plane into the Wandering Woods where it settled down beside another paper plane made by Marinette.
"If you throw out a paper plane embedded with your dearest wish, it'll fly out and be received by your soul mate."
…
However, not everyone receives their happily ever after.
As Papillion wanders within the woods, he meets a figure shrouded in mystery. They hold out their hand.
Join me.
Papillion takes it.
Gladly.
The figure smiles wickedly.
A little ways away, the eyes of nature watches sadly. They shake their head and blend in the woods.
It is time to turn the wheels of Destiny.
-มันยังไม่จบ มันเป็นเพียงแค่จุดเริ่มต้น-
DONE! FINISHED! OVER! COMPLETE! HAPPILY FOREVER AFTER!
Although for Papillion's case, it's a Sadly Ever After, huh?
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! OH MY GOODNESS YOU ALL ARE THE BEST! THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS, FAVORITES, AND FOLLOWS!
Writing this fanfic, updating it, and reading your reviews were all such a roller coaster ride (along with the feels) If ya'll lasted this long in the story, congratulations! *throws flowers in the air* you survived through the angst! And if you got any of the references to other fandoms (namely magi and HP), bonus points for you! ;P
But in all seriousness, both of us are really happy that you took your time to read this little somewhat angsty fairy tale au of ours. And we hope you all enjoyed it!
Thank you all so much for reading! See you all next time!
Sincerely yours with a dash of madness and a bubbling pot of crazy,
Nightshade268 & lollipop1141
*crowd claps, leaves stage*
