Narrator: This is Marinette.
Marinette: (waves) Hi!
Narrator: Just a normal girl with normal friends living normal lives.
(Team Miraculous transform.)
Narrator: Who have secrets noone knows about.
(Team Miraculous saving Marinette multiple times.)
Narrator: She herself... has a secret she doesn't know about.
(Marinette stares at the Butterfly Miraculous. It gives off a dark energy, before transforming her into...)
Mariposa: You can call me Mariposa.
(The Butterfly Miraculous Symbol appears.)
A long time ago, this all began with my solo-chapter story, "Chimera". People wanted to see it turned into a series, now they got it. This chapter is a remake of the original. Hope you enjoy it.
They sacrificed their lives to stop him... but many still had to pay the price.
Another tear fell. His heart cries out to the poor girl holding the magical jewel he was currently inhabiting, a reminder of the two people she loves, before they...
Why did he have to turn against his friends? Why couldn't he have just accepted? Why did he let his anger and jealousy take control of him?
Her voice was full of sorrow, of despair. He wants nothing more than to fly out and soothe her aching heart.
Something stopped him. A dark force. He realized too late as she spoke the cursed words.
"Nooroo... dark wings rise..."
"Rise and shine Nooroo!"
Nooroo woke up with a loud gasp and wide eyes. He sighs in relief when he realized he had woken up from his little flower bed, which was literally a bed of purple peony flowers in a small pot sitting on top of the window sill in Marinette's bedroom.
Today, Marinette was taking him to school since her uncle will be too busy with the bakery to even spare a single second to watch over the little kwami. Nooroo was excited. This is the very first time he was taken to his holder's school. He'll get to see how many more friends Marinette made and the many fun things they do in school.
When Marinette turned to face and smile at him, her face briefly changed to Mariposa's...
Nooroo felt guilty, but hid it with a smile. No matter how many times she wanted to tell Marinette, it wouldn't let him. He didn't want to keep dragging her into this dark path, but it just wouldn't let him.
The two went down for breakfast, where Amshel had already cooked French toasts, topped with whipped cream and maple syrup, for them. Just one bite for each was all it took to give them the energy to happily embrace the day ahead of them.
After breakfast, Amshel waved his niece, and secretly Nooroo, goodbye as she left for school. Once he was gone, he let out a sad sigh as he brought out his special keychain and stared longingly at the picture inside it.
His sister and brother-in-law never knew. They never knew he stumbled upon their secret by accident. They never knew he knew about their secret friendship with seven special individuals who posses magical jewels and small, fairy-like friends who grant them the power to save the world from beings of pure evil. They never knew he found out that there was something more to the elderly man who visits their bakery now and then to buy macaroons than just a friend who they met along the way.
They were just like all everyday normal people. To some people. That's what they want others to think.
He kept quiet, waiting for the day his family would tell him. Clearly they didn't want him to get involved and get hurt. So he had to help them many times through the shadows.
They never got to tell him.
It broke his niece's heart. She never even knew what her parents did to save other lives. She never knew her "parents' jewel" wasn't actually a "prized, family heirloom". One time, she accidentally found the Butterfly Miraculous and her parents had to think of a lie so that she won't get harmfully involved in their big secret.
Unfortunately... they couldn't think of another better lie...
By some chance, the Butterfly Miraculous landed on a tree right next to the bakery. If it survived, then the other Miraculouses survived as well.
And their holders.
When Marinette saw the jewel, she is reminded of her parents. Amshel could've just told her that he's keeping the jewel in hopes of finding her parents.
But instead... he gave it to her.
It has been a week already. Since the Phantom Night.
When he came up to her room to check up on her, his niece was no longer there. Instead, there was a girl with large, dark purple butterfly wings on her back hovering, and surrounded by white butterflies, in the center of the room.
"Marinette...?"
The girl who was his niece turned her head around to face him. Her beautiful, sweet, baby-blue eyes were now... darker. In color, and...
Her lips curled into a smile. Not sweet. It gave that feeling that made the hairs on your neck stand out.
"Uncle!" She excitedly flies around him, "I found a way to bring Mom and Dad back!"
At first, it gave him a slight bit of hope, but Amshel felt something wrong about this, "way".
A white butterfly landed on his niece's finger. She kisses it, causing it to turn black. The now-black butterfly flew inside one of the pockets on Amshel's pants.
Amshel panicked. He reaches a hand inside his pocket to catch the insect. But instead, his hand landed on his special keychain.
It felt... suddenly cold. He brought it out, only to find his precious trinket surrounded in a dark aura.
The aura grew, covering Amshel. It soon disappeared, and Amshel found himself in a completely new form.
He tried to take off the dark purple suit and the silver mask, but they were stuck to him like glue. Meanwhile, his niece grinned in delight and claps her hand like an excited toddler.
She stops him from trying to pull his suit off, "Come on Uncle. Every villain needs a cool, stylish suit."
Amshel stops and looks at his niece in disbelief, "'Villain'...?"
"Well how else are we going to get the other Miraculouses to get Mom, Dad, and the others back?" Marinette replied.
At that moment, Amshel realized it wasn't his niece talking. The Miraculous was corrupted and it was corrupting her too.
He wanted to yank the corrupted magical jewel off her, but something was holding him back.
"We're also going to need cool super villain names." Marinette grinned, "They can call me... 'Mariposa'."
Amshel looks down with guilt. He knew where this is going. This was punishment. His punishment for not saving his family. And now his niece was going to pay the price.
"Guess I'm 'Hawk Moth'..."
Amshel tightly clutches his tainted trinket in his hand. No matter how many times they tried, and no matter how many powerful villains they create, the heroes always win.
He didn't want to save his family like this. He didn't want to put others in danger.
Yet... no matter how many times they lost, Marine- Mariposa was more determined to bring the heroes down, and reclaim what they have lost.
He can't resist this fate. Not until the force corrupting his niece's pure heart is cleansed.
His only hope... are the heroes destined to stop them once, and for all.
Nooroo knew his unknowing holder was such a good person that she has so many friends. He was proved more than right when they arrived at school.
Many of the humans around Marinette's age greeted her with friendly waves, smiles, and/or "Hello/Good Morning". Marinette stopped to chat with a friend, which gave the butterfly kwami the time and chance to admire the school his friend goes to.
Marinette waved goodbye and continued her way to class, only to bump into one of her classmates.
As she fell on her back, Nooroo hid deeper inside her purse to avoid being seen. Through the small opening of the purse, he could still see one of his holder's classmates, the blond boy with green eyes, apologizing to her profusely. Through the teenager's eyes and actions, the butterfly kwami could tell that this young human has feelings for his holder, and yet, through their conversations, she only sees him as a friend.
Marinette stopped by her locker in order to get her books. When she got out, she suddenly tripped, causing Nooroo to fly out of her purse.
Luckily, someone caught him before he...!
Marinette panicked, her heart beating wildly as Nooroo remained still, pretending to be a toy in Zen's hands. The poor little kwami resisted the urge to laugh as his holder's friend tickled him with a finger.
"Aren't we a little bit too old to bring dolls to school?" Zen joked as he hands Nooroo back.
"Says the kid who keeps a walrus plushie in his locker." Marinette shot back as she took back Nooroo and placed him inside her purse.
"It's for emergencies." Zen defended, "Akuma Attacks emergency."
"Riiiight..." Marinette remarked sarcastically.
"Says the girl who used a jack-in-the box to knock out that human-sized robot so that we could get away." Zen smirked.
"Touché." Marinette deadpanned, pointing at him with a handgun gesture.
Checking the time, the two realized that they have to go or they'll be late for class. Marinette was unaware that Zen was giving her a worried look, nor did she notice him staring at her purse, where a small butterfly creature was giving him a small wave of thanks.
For Nooroo, it was nice to gain a little knowledge from so many people. Marinette's teacher was nice and patient to her students. Even when she scolded one of the boys to pay attention, she did it with a big, bright, beautiful smile.
When the bell rang, signifying the end of the morning classes, the students hurriedly went out for lunch. While Marinette talked with Alya, Nooroo noticed a small, piece of folded paper that fell out of the bag of Adrien, the boy from earlier who has a crush on his holder.
Upon closer look, the paper has Marinette's name written on it.
Thinking the paper is important to Adrien, Nooroo flew out of Marinette's purse and grabbed the paper. Just as he was heading back, Marinette was already gone...!
Nooroo panicked. It was a good thing kwamis could sense where their holders are. However, with the number of students pouring out in the holes, he had to fly behind corners in order to not be spotted, which was very problematic.
The hiding-flying routine was wearing him out. He managed to hide behind a potted plant so that he can regain his strength and resume his search for Marinette.
He was curious as to why Adrien wrote Marinette's name on the piece of paper. Perhaps... it was a message of some sort?
Now it seems rude to read someone's letter that's addressed to someone else. But...
"Nooroo...?"
Before Nooroo could even unfold one part of the paper, he heard a familiar voice. One he recognized even after a thousand years.
He places the paper down, revealing Team Miraculous' kwamis in front of him.
"You're okay!" Tikki happily embraced the butterfly kwami, the others followed.
It was Nooroo! She had sensed his presence ever since they entered the classroom.
Which means...!
The ladybug kwami looks at the butterfly kwami with serious eyes, "Is Hawk Moth here?"
Oh right. They thought Hawk Moth was his holder.
He was happy. Happy that he was reunited with his fellow kwamis after so many months. He missed their company. He missed chatting with them. He missed eating with them. He missed playing with them. He even missed Plagg getting them in a whole lot of trouble.
And yet... he can't tell them...
"Is he around?" Pollen asked.
"How much has he mistreated you?" Wayzz added.
"Just say the word and I'll Catacly-?!" Plagg stopped, noticing the paper Nooroo was holding.
Oh dang! Does that kid ever take care of his stuff?
"Cataclysm him into dust!" He finished, wildly clawing the air, before "accidentally" charging at the paper, causing it to disappear into dust.
Nooroo watches as the dust was carried by the wind. Then smiled in amusement, "Classic Plagg."
It wasn't really a surprise to the kwamis. Whenever Plagg gets, emotional, he'd destroy anything around him, so he managed to prevent any suspicions from his fellow kwamis.
Besides... his holder will thank him later.
Adrien twitched uncomfortably. It was, as if, the scales of balance was slightly tipping to one side and then another.
Nino managed to snap him back to reality. And back to the mission.
He really should thank Miss Bustier for this. Thanks to her, he found out Marinette lovesromantic poetry. And after she "overhears" him reciting a beautiful poem he personally wrote, he'll be one step higher to the More-Than-Friends zone.
He had already memorized every word by heart... But a quick rehearsal wouldn't hurt... Where's the poem...?...!
While Adrien frantically searched for his poem, Marinette secretly reached inside her purse to give Nooroo a piece of cake. She could feel her phone, her pen, etc.
But not Nooroo...
It's a real shame Nooroo couldn't tell them who Hawk Moth really is. The kwamis have been magically bounded to that rule every since they started sharing their powers with humans. They couldn't tell him their holders' identities either. Otherwise, the Butterflies will know and use it against them. But they also just couldn't leave their fellow kwami in the hands of a madman any longer.
Plagg suddenly sniffed the air, detecting a delicate aroma. In a blissful daze, he unconsciously follows the scent into the kitchen.
The rest of the kwamis sigh. Whenever Plagg smells cheese in places other than his holder's home, it's never good.
Still... for old time's sakes...
Nooroo wanted go back to Marinette. By now, she found out that he's missing and would get worried sick.
Still... the farther away he is from his actual holder, the less chance she'll be able to transform.
But that still won't stop her from akumatizing someone...
A scream from the kitchen snapped the butterfly kwami back to reality and he completely forgets Marinette to go help his fellow kwamis save the cafeteria lady from Plagg's hunger. Again.
What-a-day!
The many customers entering the bakery was keeping Amshel on his feet. By the time the wave slowed down and the last few customers were just eating and chatting among themselves did the hardworking baker found time for a break.
But alas... there was just no break for a supervillain.
Making sure noone was around, Amshel transforms into Hawk Moth and sends a black butterfly to his victim's location.
The butterfly flew inside the halls of Collège Françoise Dupont, where it landed on a waiting open hand.
The akuma has found its target. But when Hawk Moth was able to establish a psychic link with his victim, he gasps in surprise, refusing to akumatize him.
"Let me do this." The current soon-to-be akumatized pleaded.
No! He couldn't!
Unfortunately, he couldn't stop the akumatization. He could sense the dark energy spreading into the victim, transforming him.
He bows his head in regret. Another innocent soul has fallen into the darkness.
In the end, the victim's desire to end this madness was too much to resist.
If he succeeds... no longer will everyone suffer.
If he fails... this curse will go on... until they have achieved what they must achieve...
If Nino has to be honest... he wish his best friend would grow a spine... tell the girl he loves his true, innermost feelings... so that they can get married in the future... without the need to write it all down on a STUPID PIECE OF PAPER!
Sigh... Well... he did try.
And failed.
Now he's sulking in a secluded, dark corner, mourning his loss once again.
Nino had to admit; The plan was... going to be smooth. His best friend wasn't in the same intelligence level as Max, but he has a good memory. It only took him two tries until he can memorize his entire poem by heart.
Alas... his heart broke down when he needed it the most. Plus, the poem he wrote mysteriously disappeared.
Well... there's one way to cheer his depressed friend up:
An Akuma Attack!
...
AN AKUMA ATTACK?!
The villain was a tall beast, with body parts of various animals. He/She gave out a vicious roar that sends the students and faculty running and panicking. His/Her panther head sniffed the air as if searching for something, then got on all fours and headed to his/her chosen direction.
Adrien completely snapped out of his despair. It looks like the villain was heading towards the cafeteria. He/She is either after its target, or just hungry.
The two boys transform... only to realize they couldn't, because they don't have their kwamis...!
"Plagg, save some for the students." Wayzz scolded his fellow kwami, who already ate two big blocks of cheese and was starting on his third. Even if it wasn't Camembert, the black cat kwami of Destruction was a cheese glutton.
"Relax." Plagg spoke in between chews, "None of the kids are into this stuff."
Just as he was about to take another bite, the villain-of-the-day, Chimera, appeared. Despite the beast's appearance, that didn't stop Plagg from taking a bite of the cheese. He refuses to let go even if his fellow kwamis were pulling him away in order to retreat to safety.
Nooroo knew it was a matter of time that his friends will have to be reunited with their holders. And he can't risk even seeing a single strand of their holders' hairs!
He wants it all to end. He doesn't want to manipulate and hurt innocent people anymore. He wants to help the heroes end it all. But it just won't let him!
Tikki looked back to check on her friends, only to gasp when she saw Nooroo flying towards the akumatized villain!
"I can't risk seeing your holders and reveal their identities to my masters!" Nooroo cried as he flies around Chimera, distracting the villain, "Go to them!"
Tikki couldn't leave him, not with those evil Butterflies again. But they have no choice; If Nooroo does manage to see the civilian identities of their holders... and if the Butterflies get him back... then they'll risk putting their holders' families and friends in danger.
With guilt in their little hearts, the kwamis of Team Miraculous flew to their holders, leaving one of their own behind.
A part of the wall in school cracked after Chat Noir crashed against it, "I'm guessing his parents didn't have time to take him to the zoo."
Yes. They... found out that it was a "he".
Both Rena Rouge and Queen Bee attempted to attack Chimera from behind, but his panther head suddenly morphed into a snake's. He stretches his neck and snaps at the two heroines. Luckily, they managed to dodge on time, even though Chimera managed to bite off a piece of Rena's tail.
It turns out Chimera can change his body parts; His hooves can turn into talons in order to pin Carapace to the ground. The dragonfly wings on his back can turn into porcupine quills, which he launches at Azula Paonne, pinning her to the wall. One of his gorilla arms turned into a large lobster claw which clashes with Chat Noir's staff while the other arm turned into an octopus tentacle to grab Ladybug with.
Chimera managed to knock Chat's staff away, leaving the feline leader at the mercy in his lobster claw. He then uses his porcupine quills to pin the last two heroines to the wall, right next to Azula Paonne.
Chimera morphed his head into that of a chameleon. He opens his mouth and shoots his long tongue at Chat in order to grab his ring.
Only to stop when the end of Chat's staff hits one of his bulging chameleon eyes. Because of that, he lost his grip on Chat, freeing the feline hero in the process.
"What? Chat got your tongue?" Marinette taunted, her hands gripping Chat's staff.
As a show of gratitude, Chat kisses one of her hands, before taking back his staff and using it to free Azula Paonne, Rena Rouge, and Queen Bee.
Ladybug managed to free one of her hands, allowing her to use Lucky Charm.
In a form of a black-spotted red bottle.
Azula shot Chimera with the feathers from her fan, causing the villain to roar in pain. As a result, Carapace and Ladybug were freed. The spotted bottle fell out of Ladybug's hand and rolled until it stopped beside Marinette's feet. Marinette knew what was inside the bottle by smelling it and got an idea.
If there was one thing the Team were agreeing on... it's that they wish that Chimera won't go skunk on them.
He was quick to change animal body parts and knew how to utilize each change to his advantage. With his enhanced animal senses, he could easily predict the heroes' next moves and stop them from even happening.
However, when he turned around, he never expected to be squirted on the face with red sauce that gave him a burning sensation that made him fall on his back in pain.
From a distance, Chat Noir smelled the sauce and turned to Marinette with a grin, "Now that's some hot stuff."
Marinette blinked. Then her cheeks turned as red as the hot sauce.
Chat realized what he just said and stammers for an alternate remark, his face turning red as Marinette's. To save his friend from embarrassment, Carapace pulled him back to the fight.
Chimera was still reeling from the pain, allowing Azula to slice the akumatized object, a black collar with a butterfly tag, off his neck, then stepping on it to release the black butterfly.
Once the akuma has been released, Chimera reverted back to...
"Zen?!" Marinette exclaimed in surprise, rushing to her friend's side to help him up, "How did this happen?"
The heroes wondered that too. Zen was the nicest and most passive guy they ever met. The only thing they could think of that got him akumatized is human cruelty to animals.
"I..." Zen looks down with guilt, "I'm tired. Tired of the Butterflies hurting other people. I just... want to help put a stop to it..."
"Hey." Chat smiled, putting an assuring hand on the blond boy's shoulder, "We get you don't want any more people turned into villain. But sacrificing yourself for a friend or stranger and getting akumatized yourself isn't better."
"But don't worry." Rena stood by Marinette's side.
"We'll stop those awful Butterflies soon." Queen Bee affirms.
"And put an end to their reign of terror once and for all." Carapace finished. Beside him, Azula nodded with the same bravado as her teammates.
"Yeah we will!" Ladybug cheered, pumping her fist for emphasis.
Deep inside, she wishes the Butterfly would just let her defeat them so that she will be remembered as the legendary hero who single-handedly saved Paris from destruction.
Something felt wrong. Adrien sensed that after noticing Plagg slowly chewing his camembert instead of happily chomping on every bite like he usually does.
In fact... all the kwamis look like they didn't have the appetite to energize.
"Yo! You little dudes okay?" Nino asks in concern.
"It's fine. Everything's fine." Trixx replied in an unconvincing, yet gloomy voice.
"It's just..." Tikki paused, for a bit, "We found Nooroo..."
"Hawk Moth was here?" Sabrina's eyes widened in surprise. And so did her friends.
"Well we didn't see him" Duusu admitted, "But we found Nooroo."
"Then we lost him after he distracted Chimera so that we could find you." Pollen added.
"He sacrificed himself so that he wouldn't risk telling your identities to the Butterflies." Wayzz stated.
This really surprised the heroes. They knew the Butterflies were evil, but they never expected the kwami forced to serve them would be brave enough to go against them. And for the sake of his friends nonetheless.
"Well..." Alya tried to find the right words to say, "At least he won't be able to tell the Butterflies who we are under the masks."
"Yeah." Tikki agreed solemnly, "But now he's back in the hands of that awful Butterfly."
Marinette happily nuzzled Nooroo against her cheek, relieved that he was okay, and not hurt by the villain-of-the-day. Nooroo himself was relieved that he won't be able to reveal Team Miraculous' secret identities no matter how many times they ask him.
Marinette decided to cheer Zen up, after what he had been through, by treating him to his favorite cake at the bakery. She went to the kitchen, leaving Zen alone with Amshel in the living room.
"You didn't have to do that." He told the teen.
"I just want to help." Zen defended.
"And I don't want anyone else that I care about get hurt." Amshel looks at him solemnly, "You're already helping by protecting her. And not letting her know."
Zen sadly sighs, "You're not the only one who lost his family. I just want it all to end."
Amshel lets out a deep sigh, gazing at the direction his niece went to, "You and I both."
As Marinette sets the cake slice on the small saucer, Nooroo watches with great sadness as the jewel on Marinette's bracelet began to glow once again.