Ladybug gasped, a blinding light filling the room as she detransformed. Marinette pressed a hand to her forehead as Tikki flew out of her earrings. The exhausted kwami landed on the girl's chest.
"Marinette!" She winced at Adrien's shout as he ran from the kitchen to kneel at her side. He placed a hand at her back to help her slowly into a sitting position. "What happened? Are you alright?"
The girl waved off his concern. "I'm fine. What about Master Fu? Is he…"?
"I am here, Marinette." The shorter man emerged from the kitchen with a tea set. "While we were both released from the Void of the Council at the same time, it took you a bit longer to find your way out. I figured a nice cup of tea would calm the nerves… of everyone." Fu pressed mugs into Adrien's and Alya's hands before handing one to Marinette.
Marinette shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning against her boyfriend with Tikki lying on her knee. "Do you have anything for her?" She gestured to her kwami.
Fu revealed a plate full of a variety of treats. "Adrien, if you double tap the face of your ring, I know that there is someone who'd love to see Tikki." The boy scrunched his face in confusion but did as he was asked. It was as if he had summoned a tiny destructive tornado.
"TIKKI!" Plagg screeched. He plowed straight into the red kwami, lifting her into a tight airborne embrace. "I'm glad you're okay, sugar-cube." He whispered. A slight purr could be heard by all as he nuzzled her cheek.
"Plagg, why don't you and Tikki take these treats into the Miracle Box to share with the other kwamis while Tikki regales you all with her tale of the Council?" Fu jiggled the plate. "It's certainly been awhile since a kwami was called in front of a Council…"
The tiny cat was already gathering as many treats into his arms as he could, but Tikki glanced uncertainly at Marinette. The girl nodded for her to go ahead. She'd be okay.
"Girl, you were out for hours. Where did you go?" Alya sipped her tea as the kwamis disappeared into the phonograph. Adrien draped a blanket around his girlfriend's shoulders before returning to sit next to her.
Marinette stared at the cup in her hand, feeling its warmth seep into her fingers. "I kinda want to hear about what happened to you guys and… Hawkmoth first. I don't remember what happened after you two touched me. Just… voices. I think it was the past Ladybugs whispering to me?" She rubbed her forehead. "After that, I woke up in the Void with Tikki." Marinette looked to Adrien. "What happened to your father? The Miraculous?"
Adrien and Alya exchanged a look. "We didn't see much after you lit up like a nuclear reactor and collapsed. We rushed to get you here as fast as possible." Alya held up her phone. "But while you and Master Fu were… wherever you were… Nino called to give us the run down. Mr. Agreste and Natalie were both arrested. Nino overheard that they were being charged with terrorism." Marinette sucked in a breath. Adrien squeezed her hand as he sighed.
"It gets worse. While the police were able to find the Peacock Miraculous and give it to the team for safe keeping, they couldn't find the Butterfly broach… or Lila. Queen Bee told Officer Raincomprix that Lila had been a part of everything, but there's no sign of her. Her parents told the police a few of her clothes and things were missing. She's officially a person of interest and on almost every watchlist possible."
Marinette placed a hand on Adrien's cheek. "Never mind about Lila. I'm upset that the Butterfly Miraculous walked away, but I'm also concerned about you. What're you going to do now that you're father's been arrested?" Her eyes widened. "What about your mom? Isn't she being kept alive in a tube somewhere?"
The boy shook his head. "The team told the police about that too and they're currently tearing the mansion apart right now. They'll update me when they have something. And I'll worry about me later." It was Adrien's turn to cup Marinette's face in his hands. "Now I want to hear about you. Fu said you two went to talk to the past Ladybugs?"
Marinette took Adrien and Alya through the conversation she and Fu had had with the Council of the Bijou de Dame and what they wanted while the Master refilled everyone's tea.
"They want you to be the next Guardian?" Alya whistled. "Talk about a promotion."
"But what if it's a promotion I don't want or aren't ready for?" Marinette tore the blanket from her shoulders to pace around the room. It was a common thing for her to do when she became overly stressed or began to overthink things. "The Council just 'decided' that I'm going to be the next Guardian! I've only been Ladybug for… what? A year and half? I haven't even applied for my driver's license yet! There's NO WAY I'm ready to be Guardian…"
Adrien leapt to grab Marinette's shoulders before she could spiral any further. "Marinette, shhh." He tried to calm her. "You'll be a great Guardian. You'd rock it just like you've rocked being class rep…"
Marinette pushed herself out of his grasp. "But being Guardian involves so much more responsibility than being a class representative, Adrien. As class rep, the worst that could happen is that some students may not get their way in class. The worst thing that can happen as Guardian is that someone dies if I get it wrong." She sighed. "Besides, I had Alya as my VP to help me out." Marinette slid down the wall, hanging her head between her knees. Adrien scooted down to join her on the floor.
"I did have a thought," Fu stroked his beard pensively. "I did not want to share it in the presence of the Council… they do so love to get their way… It is their belief that Ladybug alone can shoulder the burden of Guardian. From someone who has carried it for the past 150 plus years, it is not easy to do so without someone to lead on. So… what if you carry the burden together?"
"What?" All three teens exclaimed.
"Co-Guardians." Fu continued. "And unfortunately, I have been remiss in only training Ladybug for the future." He bowed towards Adrien. "I apologize for this oversight, my boy. I have let my previous Guardian training blind me to the incredible partnership which has blossomed before my eyes. It is clear to all that you two are stronger together than you are apart. You are a team." The older man shrugged. "Besides, who knows how the magic regarding the Guardian's memories at the end of their term will react to Co-Guardians? You both could possibly retain more memories than I will when I pass the title."
The room was stunned into silence at this revelation. The moment was broken as Adrien leapt to his feet.
"Wait… Can we actually do this? I mean…" He gestured to the girl still seated. "Don't they just want her? I don't think the Council would want someone interfering with their 'grand plan'."
"Eh," Fu took a sip from his tea mug. "I'm still the Guardian and they're all dead. I can take their opinions into account, but it will ultimately be my decision. Chat Noir is just as important as Ladybug."
Adrien ran his fingers through his hair. He glanced down as he felt a tug on his other hand. Marinette beamed up at him. "What do you think, Bugaboo?"
"With the Butterfly Miraculous still in the wind, two heads may be better than one, Kitty."
The boy blew out a breath. "I… agree. We've always been better as a team. And the team is growing." He smiled at Alya. If Master Fu thinks it will work, then I say we go for it!"
"Then as the current Guardian, I hear-by take the holder of the Ladybug Earrings and the holder of the Black Cat Ring under my instruction to become the next Guardians." Fu raised his arms as he finished his proclamation. Marinette and Adrien shivered as they felt a wave of magic wash over them.
"The previous chapter of your lives has closed." Fu's gazed wandered over the three teens seated before him. "Your new tale is about to begin. We shall so see who you are all truly meant to become."
Epilogue
Three Days Later, Chamonix, France (5 ½ hours outside of Paris)
"How long will you be staying with us, mademoiselle?" The woman manning the front desk of the hotel clicked a few keys on the computer in front of her. The girl checking in shifted her backpack higher, making sure her hood was in place.
"At least a week." She muttered. The girl looked over her shoulder at the mountain looming over the cheap hotel she had managed to find on the boarder of Switzerland. She was given her key and shown to her room.
Lila Rossi breathed a sigh she'd been holding since she fled Paris as she flung her backpack onto the bed. Pulling her jacket away from her body, she checked the precious cargo pinned to the inside of her lapel. Satisfied that her treasure was secure, Lila grinned and slipped on her headphones.
"I want what I deserve,
I want to rule the world!
Sit back and watch them learn,
It's finally my turn…"
Fin
I can't believe it's over! The Miraculous Series has been going on for FOUR years now while this particular story has finally wrapped up after 3. This has certainly been an adventure in that this is the LONGEST story I've EVER written! 50,000+ words over 38 chapters... I never thought it possible...
I also never thought that so many people would want to read something that I had written, not to mention keeping up with it over a course of years (dry spells and all) :) I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who's been a part of the Miraculous journey, but especially to these people:
-AnnaMarieDarkholme (The first to follow my first Miraculous story, Revelation)
-Cyber.199 (The first to favorite my first Miraculous story, Revelation)
-Tiger Priestess (The first to review my first Miraculous story, Revelation)
-Atea1793 (The first to follow, favorite, AND review my second Miraculous story, Moments)
-IlvMLBCNTNSBFWFIYMHDisNickGirl (The first to follow & favorite this story, Tales)
-chxrlotteverdeen (The first to review this story, Tales)
Also to Rose Tiger (who was a regular in the reviews of all of the Miraculous series) and to Fanamanga1 for my first review in FRENCH! I literally CRIED when I read it (okay, TRIED to read it with my 3 years of High School French before turning to Google Translate to decipher).
Seriously though: with each favorite, follow, and review, it encouraged me to keep writing. I truly believe that God brings people together for reasons that we can't even comprehend... even if it's just for a smile or a laugh. Maybe just for the wonder of pure imagination.
I do believe that I will FINALLY be taking a break from Miraculous fics for the foreseeable future (who knows when the 'bug' will bite though, am I right?). I do have another story in the works. It's a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story called Once Upon a December Night. It takes place within the 2012 universe, but with 2018 ROTTMNT elements as well as Splinter raising April so that she doesn't end up destroying the world. You know... your basic adventure story... As of this posting, the first 9 chapters are up with MANY more to come. Hope you'll go check that out.
Stay safe, stay kind, and STAY CREATIVE
"One little spark, of inspiration/ Is at the heart, of all creation/ Right at the start, of everything that's new/ One little spark, lights up for you" - Journey into Imagination, EPCOT
"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."" -Mark 10:27