Song Recommendation: The Middle - Zedd ft Grey
{No POV}
Sabine smiled after a moment and pulled out a jewelry box from within the box she had brought up.
"We moved everything that belonged to Marianne to the cellar too, except for this box that I brought back up without your father knowing... Your father was devastated by Marianne's death years ago and he's even more hurt now that it's the real thing. But she'd want you to have the stuff in this box and the things that belonged to her once because it's the only piece of her you have left that you can use to get to know her now that she's gone." Sabine explained dusting off the jewelry box.
"When she left back then the only thing we found was this locket we had made for her that she never took off. She treasured it because we got this locket specially made on your first birthday along with a baby one. One for you and one for her so that you two would always be able to have somewhere to lock up your feelings or secrets that you could only ever trust to one another and so that you could also keep pictures of your fondest memories with you at all times." Sabine said pulling out a gorgeous locket that looked extremely familiar to Marinette from the jewelry box as Adrien undid the one she currently had on.
"We haven't opened it. She wouldn't have wanted us to know what she put inside of it, and I don't think you will be able to open it either, it's locked tight and the key went missing years ago. But I thought perhaps having this would help you be able to feel closer to her." Sabine explained before leaving the room with only a hug and a kiss to their foreheads before she left.
Marinette looked at the locket examining it closely
It was a large heart with a hole towards the bottom for the key to go in to unlock it, and around it all over the hear were sparkling little zirconis diamond stones except for a few stones that were amethyst and made out Marianne's initials.
Marinette smiled before turning back to the box with a deep breath.
"I need to see the file."
Marinette pulled it out gently and opened it.
The first thing that pulled her attention was a picture of a baby in an incubator hooked up to machines and another picture beside it of a sickly looking Marianne with a young boy with brown eyes and a mop of raven hair standing next to her bed.
Marianne looked to be no older than 5 and so did the boy.
Marianne was once more hooked up to quite a few machines and even had something attached to her arm. Her eyes looked bored and just tired. She seemed to hate being there. But there was hope in her eyes that was visible even in the picture as Jason held her hand with a big hopeful smile.
"This must be Marianne's medical file." Mentioned Plagg quietly.
The drew Marinette to read the file.
Name: Marianne Emma Dupain-Cheng
Hospitalization: Yes
Stay: 10 months
Age: Newborn - Ten Months
Then Marinette turned the page.
The only thing changed was the age and an added condition of asthma.
It stated one year old.
She flipped through the paper and noticed something.
The intake dates.
Every time she was rushed to the hospital always coincidentally landed on her own birthday or Jason's.
Then she noticed something else.
In almost every attached picture Jason was by her side holding her hand, at times he was crying wildly at others he was smiling happily trying to make her smile. Which worked a bit because even if it was very slight there seemed to be a growing smile on Marianne's young face across the span of time between pictures.
When finished with the file, she noticed an unfolded letter in the bottom of the box where the file had been.
So she picked it up.
'I don't like diaries, so i figure a letter is the next best thing. Last night I had a strange dream while I was in surgery. It was so strange! I saw an older version of me that was super pretty and an older version of Jay. He's really weird but I like him. He's funny and silly and always makes me laugh. He always tries to make me feel better about being stuck here almost all the time and often sticks around me whenever he isn't at school. Back to the dream! I was cuddling with Jason watching two teens in the distance fighting some weird bdsm freak looking man with a cane. The two of us were watching with sad smiles but we seemed proud and happy. The teen girl was super beautiful, she had hair just like maman and bluebell eyes just like Jay says I have. The boy was very good looking too, but his puns that I managed to catch were terrible. The boy had green eyes and blonde hair. They seemed to love each other a lot. When I was feeling a lot better this morning my father came in he told me Maman had just delivered me a baby sister and that they named her Marinette. I was happy for them, because I suddenly pictured in my mind a bluebell eyed baby girl growing up into the girl from my dream. The doctor said I couldn't go see the baby which made me sad. Sometimes I think I just honestly don't have any good luck in me, but later maman and papa came to visit with the very baby girl I pictured in my mind and introduced her to me as my sister. I just know she will be amazing and wonderful when she grows up.
When I saw her, I actually managed to stand up and talk and even laugh. After some time she was tired and yawned so I freaked out a bit and panicked but Maman just told me to take a deep breath and just rock her back and forth until suddenly I pictured myself slightly older laying in my bed singing her to sleep. So i tried to hum out the lullaby Maman always sings to me when I can't fall asleep. It worked too! I really enjoyed humming her the lullaby. It's so fun to see people smile when I sing or hum. I love it. After she left with Maman and Papa when visiting hours were over, I felt a bit lonely so I thought i'd write this letter to clear my mind and go to sleep. I feel a lot better after all.
-Marianne Emma Dupain-Cheng'
Marinette smiled as she placed the letter back on top and closed the box when she noticed nothing else in there except an old sketch book.
Which she took out.
It was all designs and drawings.
There was one particular one that caught her eye.
It was an exact replica of her as Ladybug with Adrien as Chat Noir standing side by side.
"The Lucky Ladybug and The Black Cat." Read both Adrien and Marinette.
"Tikki, is it possible for Marianne to have seen the future in her imagination after almost dying?" Marinette asked Tikki.
Tikki looked pensive for a bit and then confused.
"Not a clue, the only person who would possibly know the answer to your questions on that would possibly be Master Fu." Said Tikki.
Plagg nodded confirmation at Adrien.
"Well, for now, let's get you packed and we can go to the mansion and drop your things off before going to go see Master Fu for some answers, sound good Bugaboo?" Piped up Adrien supportively.
"Yes, Kitty... Thank you for being so wonderful to me."
"Are you okay with Nathalie not being in jail?" Asked Marinette as they packed her things.
"Well, I can't say it's not at least a bit awkward for her to now live with me and for her to now be in charge of the brand while you and I continue to be in school, but i'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it a bit more. Nathalie is a lot less strict on me. She'd be a good parent herself. But we have sat down and talked things out. She explained everything about why my dad became Hawk Moth and why she supported him and even kept it secret from me and everyone. Their means weren't good but they had good intentions when I really think about it. Still, I made it clear that I am not okay with what they were doing. It was dangerous and with the wish the world would seek balance by giving the opposite effect to someone else." Said Adrien with a small smile.
Marinette smiled brightly and nodded.
"Have you visited your father?"
Adrien's smile faded in happiness a little bit at the mention of his father before he answered the question softly.
"I did. He finally spoke to me about Mom and everything. He also was happy that thanks to Maria Garrison's will I was able to stay in the care of Nathalie and that the company which he had lost the morning of that final fight was safely left in the care of us and Nathalie... He also spoke to me about what happened with mom... Mom was in a sort of comatose stage after the battle. She was dead but at the same time wasn't. He kept her in a special chamber that sustains her in our basement." Adrien.
Tikki, Plagg and Marinette were shocked.
"But how..." questioned the three.
"No idea. Not even my father knows. It's a mystery even to him, all he knows was that after the old Louvre burned down and my mother's body was found unharmed but with a super faint pulse she was passed into the care of my father with words that she would die in perhaps an hour or two. But when the time passed and she wouldnt improve nor worsen my father decided to hide her away and declare her dead until he figured out what to do." Adrien explained.
Marinette hugged him supportively.
"I had Nathalie turn off the chamber. My mother truly died an hour ago. We had her grave digged up and her body placed in the coffin like it should have been years ago." Said Adrien with an awkward smile.
Marinette and the kwamis hugged him before smiling and then they got through the rest of the work peacefully.
-A Month Later-
{? POV}
With a month since the funeral having passed everyone was finally starting to move forward.
Nora Cesaire had won another championship and Kyle Le Chien even managed to be promoted thanks to an interview with one Ladybug and Chat Noir about everything that happened on the day Paris labeled as Freedom Day.
Luka Couffeine had actually part way through the month convinced Kagami to go on a date with him and they had a great time. Eventually going on more dates and getting into a relationship.
Chloe also started to soften up to Nathaniel more. Appearantly he took a liking to her, going as far as making sure to wait for her every afternoon in the art room so they would paint. Their developing feelings were certainly a surprise to many, but it was highly welcomed.
On top of that, Sabrina found love with Max during Freedom Day quite suddenly.
Appearantly, one of the akumas that Max fought as Pegasus ended up being Dark Cupid and he got nicked by an arrow, so Sabrina being the friendly and kind girl she was went to him as Howl and planted one on him when he was distracted before taking down Dark Cupid.
How they ended up knowing they were Sabrina and Max under the mask?
Well they had already used their abilities at that point so they detransformed coincidentally mid kiss and had to flee together to recharge their kwamis.
On another note, love's been blooming all over their class room.
Kim and Alix started a bet a few days after Heroes Day that led to Kim accidentally revealing that things hadn't worked out with Ondine and that he had a crush on her. Things were awkward between them for two days after that mess but eventually Max got fed up and with strength no one except a blushing Sabrina knew he had shoved their faces together and made them kiss like that.
Which of course led them to start making out a bit before the class got them to pull away and go talk things out, said talk leading them to start dating.
Alya and Nino's love remained stronger than ever after Freedom Day.
They actually grew quite a bit closer than they were and it radiated off of them how much their love was growing steadily.
Lila was still in Jail with Arturo for the accident and how she kept putting people in danger and causing akumatizations. The trial happened last week and ended with a sentence of 4 years in jail for Lila and 5 years in jail for Arturo since he shoved someone into traffic on purpose on top of being Lila's accomplice. It was also discovered that the two had planned to kill the someone who was shoved into traffic since the accident hadn't killed her.
They would have gotten more time, but they were still under the legal age and they had a very skilled Lawyer on their side thanks to Arturo's connections.
Anyway, another note on Nora and Kyle, they went to the apartment and loved it so much they worked things out and now live there together.
They are actually in a very loving relationship now too, ever since they read the letters that were left for them.
As for Master Fu, he hasn't been doing too well health wise but he's hanging in there. After Freedom Day, he gathered the Butterfly Miraculous and the Peacock Miraculous since the Peacock Miraculous was fixed with Miraculous Ladybug.
He also collected once more into his care almost every single miraculous that was in circulation.
Leaving only four in rotation, much the chagrin of Chloe.
He allowed Ladybug, Rena Rouge, Chat Noir and Carapace to keep theirs.
It took a while but today Chloe was allowed to once again hold the Bee Miraculous and remain as Queen Bee.
On the downside, after the fall of Hawk Moth, other kinds of evil started rising up around Paris all at once.
The city thankfully still has five heroes, six soon if Master Fu finally chooses to release the Peacock Miraculous to Nathaniel.
However he asked that it be kept between us until he made a decision and I respect that.
Us heroes have taken to going on patrols once a week just to keep an eye on things and so far it has helped us be able to stop some evil schemes before they are managed to be taken very far.
As for me... Well, I am coping well enough. It took a while for me to be able to get back to being my normal self but with a lot of love and support from everyone around me, I managed.
I almost forgot to talk about Adrien didn't I?
Well, he's actually doing a lot better too. After a week or two we finally figured out a schedule to work with so that we could balance working the company with Natalie, our personal lives, school, and our heroic duties.
Adrien started visiting his father once a week and they have actually started to properly get to know each other. It was odd for everyone when it happened but it was a welcome surprise.
Gabriel Agreste started to be more kind and open with his son, and even apologized formally to Nino for having been so harsh on him so long ago and explained that he actually could tell from the start that Nino was a nice young man and a good influence but that he just couldn't risk throwing a party because of an appearant threat he had received concerning a new project the company had been working on.
All in all, a lot has happened up until now.
Oh! I almost forgot to fill you in on how the last month has been for me!
Well, I spent the first week after the funeral at the Agreste Mansion with Adrien. We didn't do anything R rated before you get any ideas. We mainly spent the time coping and figuring out what to do with everything that was left for us.
We decided in the end to wait until we graduate after this term to decide what exactly to do, but we decided that whatever happened we would try moving in together into the apartment since it has two bedroom and then see from there.
A week ago,Maman and Papa went to the house that Adrien is moving into today to help the movers clear everything to the Agreste Mansion and then move Adrien and Natalie's furniture in when they called me.
Appearantly there was an incident at the house and the wall of her bedroom had gotten a hole made into it on the wall across from the window. From inside a rusty metal key poked out of a half revealed bag and it turns out that there was something else left inside the house.
Maman and Papa refused to open it so today me and Adrien are going to open it and see what is in it.
Well, Adrien is here I better get going now Marianne, Jason.. I love and miss you both.
Sincerely, Marinette Dupain-Cheng
"My lady, are you ready to go?" Asked Adrien calling my attention as I sealed my letter.
"Always Kitty... Just let me put this away." I said with a smile.
He smiled and Tikki and Plagg smiled too as I placed my letter back in my box that I labeled 'Letters to My Heroes' and then stood up and went with him to his car where his bodyguard the Gorilla was waiting for us.
"I'm glad you decided to keep modeling Adrien." I piped in as I remembered the reason he still kept Gorilla around.
"How so?" Adrien piped up with a chuckle.
"Because that way I can get more and more professionally shot photos of you." I said with a bright smile.
He full on laughed this time.
"That and your bodyguard is actually pretty cool! He helped me be able to get home yesterday after I got accidentally caught in the middle of a store robbery and missed the bus from the mall that would take me closer to the bakery." Said Marinette with a smile.
The bodyguard in question got a bit embarrassed but relaxed when Adrien smiled.
"That's him alright! He's a cool guy, I'm glad I get to keep him on as a bodyguard too." Said Adrien kindly and genuinely making the bodyguard flush a bit and even smile a tiny bit.
Then we made it to our destination and we got out of the car going inside and letting the gorrilla come with as we went to what became Adrien's bedroom and picked up the bag that was left for us on Adriens bed after it was clean.
So with a smile we opened the bag together, revealing the key Maman and Papa had mentioned as well as another key covered in familiar stones and there was also two notebooks and one vaguely familiar book and a guitar.
The bag had been incredibly big and they now understood why, but they couldn't understand how it had been hidden so well within the wall or why.
So we stored the items in the closet one by one before we finally discovered something else that was hidden beneath the other items and wrapped in fabric.
"What is this?" I questioned unsure of what I was exactly looking at.
"This looks like a file. But why would they hide a file and those things within a wall of their house?" Adrien managed to say softly.
"If I may..." piped in the bodyguard quietly.
We nodded and he opened up the fabric gently more revealing not only two guns but also another file and Marianne and Jason's legal identifications and documents from when they were Maria Darrincourt and Jacob Garrison including their wedding certificate.
"It looks like Maria and Jacob had some things left to hide. Shall we investigate my lady?" Asked Adrien with a smile prompting the bodyguard to leave the room and keep guard for us.
"We shall Chaton." Marinette answered with a smile.
So, we looked throught everything, first we looked through the documents and found the reason why they had been hidden in the wall.
Appearantly, after taking on their new identities it was best to hide all records of their existance in the wall so that no one could connect the dots that they were forged identities. It was also for the best because they had to hide evidence of their old identities anyway even if they were considered deceased because it would arouse suspicion if in their home or assets they managed to find it as to their identities which would be dangerous.
Then we examined the other objects to discover the guitar was actually holding a message for Adrien to give it to Luka for him and the book was left for me with a message to read it for when I need a pick me up.
The key with the stones on it that was in perfect condition we found was the key to the locket I now wore that belonged to Marianne once.
The other was actually for the shed and was left with a note that we don't open it unless it's an absolute do or die situation.
So we hid the key back in the wall which we had left open just incase of anything along with the documents belonging to the two deceased relatives and the notebooks were actually Marianne's two lyric notebooks one that was filled cover to cover and another filled just the same but with the last seven pages marked as not recorded with a sticky tab.
I looked through them and I liked them I wish could perform them in their stead.
A few were duets and a few were solos where Marianne was the only one who sang but one of the songs was the one they had performed with Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale at the concert.
A four person song they called Believer.
It sounded like a very good song.
Lyrically.
"These are some amazing songs, maybe we should see if we can make them be heard at least online somehow..." Said Adrien.
I smiled and nodded.
"We could talk with Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale about a way to make it happen. For now, let's get you settled in huh?"
"As you wish bugaboo." Said Adrien with a light kiss to my lips in response.
We got to work and soon finished ahead of time leaving us time for me to open the locket at his desk to find a picture on each face of the locket and a folded piece of paper.
So I opened it.
'Marinette, if you are reading this, I am really dead and you managed to find the key to this locket. I love you baby sister, even if I never got to say it enough. You were one of the best things I had and I will always be there with you, breathe and live your life however you want. You are capable of amazing things and I know you will manage them, even admists all this...
Miraculous Craziness.
With Love, Your older sister.'
I smiled as Adrien hugged me from behind while the kwamis took seat upon my shoulders.
All of us looked at the pictures in pure bliss.
One was the same as the one I had on my dresser, the other was one of Jason and Marianne as adults holding a medium sized heart shaped pink sign in this very room we are standing in.
A sign reading:
'We love you Marinette and Adrien.'
{No POV}
The teens smiled before closing the note and placing it back inside the locket closing it and locking it once more.
With that they got to living.
Even if it was filled with...
Miraculous Craziness
~The End~