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Marinette's P.O.V
I gasped, hand covering my mouth while stepping back in shock. Tears prickled at the edges of my widened eyes but held them back like I've done for so many years. The only thing that has kept me sane in this house, cherished most and loved for years.
Mother destroyed it within seconds.
"How dare you-"I was cut off when a hand suddenly collided with my cheek and knocked me to the floor. Jolts of stinging pain tingled through my cheek and burned. My fingers slightly hovered over the spot where mother slapped me, afraid that I would put too much pressure on it and continue to throb.
She turned her back to me with no remorse and walked to the door, opening it. The question came out of my mouth without thinking, "Why don't you love me, mo-"
"You are not my daughter," mother spat, cutting me off again with words like venom.
"You are a disgrace."
She slammed the door shut, leaving me in the dark on the cold floor next to the fire, the only light that destroyed the one thing I loved most. There wasn't any other way to get it back or obtain another one.
The woodcarver would probably be fired for letting me have such an instrument for fighting. It's my fault that that wonderful man is losing his job.
My heart ached and all happiness was burned to ashes in mere seconds like my sword. Why was my life so screwed up? I did everything that the rich expect of me but do they care about trying? No, they only care about perfection, reputation and themselves.
In this world, no one cared about me.
I was all alone.
The first sob escaped from the pain that hit, crushing me entirely until there was nothing left inside. I was empty—torn apart over the years by the absence of love, accompanied by loneliness and left with a girl made of porcelain. I feel so used and wronged by such ungrateful people.
I shakily cried, tears streaming down my face as I used my makeup stand to get onto my feet. I looked in the mirror at a face full of defeat and loss. In a blink of an eye, sadness soon turned to anger as my teeth clenched and a growl escaped through them before hurdling a fist at the mirror.
The glass cracked quite a bit and cut the top of my fingers, blood sliding down my knuckles. It wasn't until feeling something brushing my fingers with the hand keeping me stable. Something felt out of place. There shouldn't be anything on the stand. My inner curiosity grew and gaze fell upon a small black box with red marking on the top.
I blinked a couple of times (with an occasional sniffle), wondering where it came from and who could have possibly left it here. I reached out and picked up the ancient-looking box carefully, not to damage it. I examined it for any names or initials of the owner's markings. There was none on the outside.
"Is it inside?" I thought, opening it up to reveal some cute ladybug styled earrings.
Any rich girl would find them to be a drag for jewelry and throw them away. I wasn't that kind of girl. To me, the earrings were pretty cute and best of all, don't look as expensive as my hairbrush.
I put them on for fun and looked in the mirror before wondering if anyone was looking for them.
A red sphere of light flashed right before my very eyes, making me stumble backwards and trip on my own foot. Gravity pulled me to the floor as the light died down.
Replacing the blinding light, a giant ladybug thing floated near my face. I stared at it for a moment, paralyzed in fear before it opened its eyes.
Jumping to my feet in horror and letting out a high-pitched squeak, I ran as far away as possible from the thing.
"I-it's a giant, f-flying ladybug—c-cockroach thing," I stuttered, trying to make sense with what I was staring at.
"It's okay, Marinette," the ladybug thing said, making me squeal again and started to throw the nearest objects at it.
"Cockroach—bug thing talks!" I screeched as the floating thing dodged everything and came closer. I grew farther away and keeping a close eye on the being, until my hand grazed a transparent vase. Without another thought, my reflexes kicked in. Soon, the ladybug was trapped inside the upside down vase on the floor.
"Okay, if this makes you feel safe," the talking ladybug spoke, softly with a smile.
"Who—what are you? How do you know my name? Where did you come from?" I interrogated the magical creature with questions.
"My name is Tikki, the Kwami of creation. You have been chosen to protect the poor people of Paris from Akumas," Tikki explained, calmly. Chosen to protect the poor people of Paris from Akumas? Aren't Akumas those evil, purple demons that kill people at night?
"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't call for help right now?" I warned the ladybug.
"Marinette, please. Innocent lives are being taken every day by the notorious Hawkmoth. The longer Ladybug does not show up-"
"Wait," I cut her off, "you mean like the superheroine, Ladybug? The one that recently passed away…"
The room went silent before a sad sigh came from inside the vase.
"Yeah…her…" Tikki dejectedly mumbled, making me feel guilty. Tikki has been through a lot losing her friend to then be replaced with me, forced to be given to a new person and who knows for how long too.
I knew how she felt, given away without your own choice whether you like it or not. It was so unfair.
She cleared her throat before continuing, "I hate to say this, but we need a new Ladybug. You have been chosen for this important and noble role. Will you accept it?"
"I…I don't know, Tikki," I spoke, unsure.
Yes, this is my chance to prove to everyone that I am more than just something to be given away. Yet, was I really prepared for a serious role like this?
Fighting dangerous monsters that killed one of Paris's most beloved and powerful superhero that has had years of battling experience. I have little to no battle knowledge in my blood besides some basic fencing techniques.
"I know you are afraid but don't be. You are just like my other Ladybug's before you when making a decision—scared, frightened, even terrified that they might mess up badly or get hurt. It's alright to feel these things but imagine the amazing things you could do for the people of Paris. The lives you can save and protect," Tikki explained, encouragingly.
"Out of everyone that could have been chosen, you were picked."
I gaped a bit hesitant with my answer with all the pressure laid on my shoulders.
Before I could speak again, an explosion went off and shook the floor like a small earthquake. I looked out the window as Tikki phased through the vase to do the same.
She gasped, worry in those big blue orbs. The Kwami looked over at me in desperation and silently pleaded.
Screams and sirens could be heard from outside as smoke began to rise from a fire a couple of blocks away. I ran over to pick up the magical earrings that slipped off after I freaked out. I growled in irritation before slipping and clipping them on securely.
"What do I have to do?" I asked, determined and making Tikki perk up in relief.
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Adrien's P.O.V
I was about to knock when Master Fu opened the door and walked back over to a steaming cup of tea. I walked in, shutting the door behind me and sitting across from the old man as he sipped his tea.
"I assume you heard the news then," he questioned, setting down the cup. A green blur whizzed out from the record player and floated next to Fu's head.
"Why wasn't I notified about the new chosen Ladybug?" I asked, grumpily, crossing my arms and glared down at the Chinese man. He closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head in agitation.
"Would you have cared if I informed you about it?" he asked, meeting my gaze and continuing," You don't seem to care about your duties as Chat Noir anymore and leaving it to the other holders to take care of Akumas that are just filling up cell after cell since there is no one to purify them."
"Why can't I just destroy them with my powers?" I asked, "It's not like I'm harming anything alive."
"No, wisps are positive emotional energy that Hawkmoth tampered with and controlled. If there are no pure wisps then there is no balance. People have their demons but if they can be emotionally positive then pure wisps can fight off the evil," Fu explained.
"Then, why can't these magical wisps fix their little friends?" I interrogated further.
Fu gave me a stern look, "A miraculous tampered with it, only a miraculous can cure it. Have you not remembered anything I taught you over the years?"
"He's got a point," Plagg intervened, coming from my shirt's pocket and lazily floating next to me. I turned to give my Kwami a stern glare until a loud explosion shook the ground.
"We can talk about it later. Right now, Ladybug and Paris are going to need Chat Noir's help," Master Fu said, urging me out the door.
"This isn't over and don't think that I am going to do willy-nilly with that fake, old man," I shouted with venom in my voice. I ran out of the door into a hallway and called my transformation.
As Chat Noir, I burst out of the entrance and ran towards the danger. Hopping from roof to roof through Paris, the so-called city of lights and love, has filled my heart with darkness and despair.
It has been a long time since I transformed into the suit but the first time doing it with someone that I had little knowledge of. Can I even trust this person?
I arrived at the scene, drawn by the smoke rising into the sky and seeing the destruction that it had left with it.
A purple creature shaped like a giant with glowing yellow eyes, stomped off deeper into the city. It roared, knocking down buildings and architecture in its path. I launched over with my baton and followed the menace of the city.
The city was already mostly destroyed because of all the other Akumas that were caught. There was no Ladybug to fix the damage of many objects and people physically.
Soon, I hit the giant with my staff and got its attention, making it angrier than it was before.
"Do you know how long it's going to take me to clean up this trash? Not sure where I'm going to put you since you're bigger than the dump itself," I snarled, still ticked off from today's earlier events. Plus, the new so-called "Ladybug" still has yet to arrive to help battle this thing.
The giant demon roared and tried to slash its claws, but I managed to dodge every attack it gave. As if the universe just loves me, a scream came from behind me, growing louder and closer. My fake cat ears perked up at the sound and drawled my attention away from the battle for a moment to get hit by the giant's arm.
I grunted after hitting a building straight on and fell to the road below but was stopped a mere inch away from landing on my face. Swaying back and forth upside down, I felt someone tied up with me and breathing heavily.
"Great," I thought, sarcastically, "the faulty artillery has arrived."
"I-I'm so sorry. I'm still trying to get used to all of…this," "Ladybug" awkwardly spoke, untangling the wire.
I cursed under my breath when seeing big and mean running towards us. Once untangled, the girl tried to retract her yoyo while also attempting to introduce herself again but never got the chance when I left her side to defeat the Akuma.
The giant roared angrily, trying to hit me but decided to go after the phony in the spotted suit instead. She stood there paralyzed, not moving from her spot. I tried my best to go protect her until she jumped out of the way from the Akuma's attack.
The giant fell onto the ground and grunted in pain.
I landed next to the phony and glared down at the new superheroine.
"Aren't you going to be useful and try to help me?" I asked, snapping and readying my baton once again.
"Excuse me?" she replied, offended with hands on hips.
I rolled my eyes, "You heard me loud and clear. Now, if you are just going to get in the way then stay out of my way, I'll get the Akuma before you make my job any harder than it needs to be. We clear?"
"I am not going to just sit still and look pretty on the sidelines while you battle this thing alone!" she snapped, glaring daggers. I groaned in annoyance as the giant got to its feet.
"This is no time to be messing around and act all high and mighty when we both know that you are scared out of your head with no battle experience at all. So stay here and stop arguing!" I yelled, then ran at the Akuma.
The next thing that happened, I was getting hit into a couple of buildings and groaning in pain. The battle wore me out to the point where I could barely move a muscle. Blood oozed from my broken nose and the edge of my mouth. A black eye formed making it hard to see out the left eye and knew there were some broken ribs.
I got stuck in one of the walls of a building as a giant hand was slowly descending for one final blow. The end was coming for me but there was a brighter side to all of this. I'll get to see Kagami in the afterlife.
Closing my eyes, I waited for my fate to be sealed.
The giant yelled in panic and scream in misery. I felt quakes shaking everything that touched the earth as it stumbled back. I blinked my eyes open in shock to meet with the Akuma fighting off a spray of water. That's its weakness! Water! How—who?
"Keep your grubby hands off of him!"
My attention was grabbed by the familiar voice of the fake with a determined posture as she sprayed the Akuma with a ladybug decorated hose, bursting water from a firehiderent. I wouldn't admit this but for her first battle, I was a bit impressed.
The giant fell once again, crushing more buildings but was finally knocked out. "Ladybug" ran over and quickly shooting a beam of light, purifying the Akuma. The giant turned into pure white color before it flew off freely as a ghostly orb.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" she yelled, throwing the wrapped up hose in the air and fixing all the damage.
I reappeared on the ground uninjured before walking over to the girl with anger.
"Didn't I tell you not to get involved?" I hissed, hands on hips and glaring at her.
"Oh, sorry for getting involved, saving the entire city and your sorry behind," she snapped back, sarcastically, "If I remember correctly, I am also a part of this team now. Whether you like it or not, I am not going to sit still on the sidelines when you obviously need my help."
My blood boiled and held back the temptation to punch her.
She is so annoying.
Does she have any idea that this stuff is dangerous and a serious matter?
"Listen…" I snarled, making the bluenette flinch a little under my gaze.
"If you ever disobey me again, I will personally rip those earrings out of your ears, tie you up and put you in the sewers. This is your first and final warning. No buts or what ifs about it. You have no idea what you are getting involved in and the risks that come with it."
"Ladybug" shrunk a bit but kept a dagger-filled glare piercing my own gaze. She has guts but that may lead to her demise. I wasn't going to risk that again…not like last time.
I turned around and grabbed my weapon to leave before pausing. Maybe there was a way I could scare her away so that I don't have to deal with her and…so, no one else gets killed because of me.
"This isn't a game where you can come back anytime you like," I began, getting her attention.
"This is a war, and wars have higher risk levels of a no return policy. Once you are put down, there's no getting back up."
I vaulted away and left the fake, hoping to never see her again. Yet, there was still a small feeling in the pit of my stomach that said otherwise.
I didn't like that feeling one bit.
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