Well this is it folks, the Season One Finale! I want to thank everyone who liked or just took the time to read and enjoy this story. This may have been a long project but I don't regret it at all. After many years of putting my writing and drawing on the backburner I'm so glad I pushed myself back into it. I didn't realize how much I truly missed it.

As for Season Two it will start up again sometime after the holidays but I can't promise exactly when. Between my full time job, (looking for a new job because I've been stuck here too long) my online store, the holiday season almost upon us and a few things I need to get done before the end of the year I'm just going to have to get done what I can when I can.

Also, at the end of this chapter there will be a teaser trailer for Season Two with quotes and some short scenes described. Be warned that some of them may be out of context and the dialog may or may not match the scene. Also I won't be answering any questions about it. Have fun theorizing.

Content warning: Stress, manipulation, steeling, Injuries, and blood.

Chapter 28

Truth, Faith and Destiny

He didn't mean to do it. When Luka deflected the beam meant for Chat Noir he wasn't aiming for Tanuki. It just happened too quickly. Tanuki had been acting strange as if he could feel his Second Chance when he reset time. Ladybug said he was from another world, maybe that's why he was in a different place then he was the time before that. But the person standing before them wasn't Tanuki right now.

"V-Varian!" Chat Noir exclaimed behind him, his eyes wide with shock.

"Not any more." He said in a low voice before whipping around so that his cloak was flowing in the wind. "Tis I, Lord Demanitas! Fear not good people I shall save you all with the power of Science and Alchemy!" He was dressed in a brown shirt, dark pants and gloves with a deep red cape fastened by a broach with a red gem in the center. He also had a metal eyepatch for some reason.

But that wasn't all. He was also wearing a handmade sash that read, "World's Best Son" and it was signed, "Love Dad" That broke his heart a little.

Marinette stared at Varian as the gears in her head began to turn and everything seemed to click into place.

"I knew it." she said in a whisper as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "I was right all along." she gasped as a sudden realization came to mind. "Wait, but that means-" The heroes were so distracted they didn't notice Wishmaker was still firing his beams, one of them hitting Ladybug.

"Awesome! I always wanted to be the Knitting Fairy in real life!"

"Marinette?" Chat Noir exclaimed as Viperion silently cursed. "But…how?" Chat Noir cried as Luka pulled him out of the way from another blast. "How could Varian be…How could Marinette be…?" Luka felt so sorry for his friend who was on the verge of a panic attack but now was not the time. He took one last look at Varian looking like he was about to take on Wishmaker and reset the clock.

Viperion now knew what to do. He sent Marinette to find the man with the red hat while racing to prevent Chat Noir from being hit. On his way he grabbed a broken pipe from the ground and spotted Tanuki. Once again he was slightly off course but he couldn't afford for him to get hit again. He threw the pipe at the raccoon villain's legs, tripping him up. So when he deflected the beam from Chat Noir it missed him and hit the man in the red hat.

"Whoa! I'm a Dino Huggy!"

"Tanuki and Wishmaker both need a great big dino hug." Ladybug said as Tanuki righted himself and tried to escape. But he was no match for a giant plush triceratops who proceeded to hug the stuffing out of him and Wishmaker.

"This is still better than the baby." he thought miserably as the heroes purified the Akuma and set everything back to normal. He was gone the moment he was free and quickly transformed back to blend in with the crowd.

Once the battle was over he made his way back to Adrien and the others with that weird feeling finally passing.

"Varian!" Adrien waved him down. "I got a text from Luka and Marinette. They're safe but both needed to go home since the expo is closed for the rest of the day." While Varian was glad to hear that he would have liked to talk to Luka before he left. It was probably just as well, he wouldn't want to slip in front of the other boy.

"The expo is going to reopen tomorrow morning." Adrien said, going through the brochures he had gathered. "Maybe I can try again. Slower this time." Varian sighed in relief, thankful that his brother was finally listening to reason. They made their way home for the day with Adrien saying he was going to look through all the information he got and ask some more detailed questions at the booths tomorrow.

Varian knew he was going to have to meet up with Gabriel to discuss the Wishmaker battle but during the whole ride back there was something gnawing at the back of his brain. Like he was forgetting something very important.

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Luka Couffaine didn't know how he made it home that day without pulling his hair out and screaming. The latter was resolved as he screamed into a pillow the moment the door was closed. After that he collapsed onto his bed the weight of the world now sitting heavily on his shoulders. He was glad he had the house to himself tonight. Juleka was at a friend's house and his mom was running an errand and wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

"What do I do now?" he pondered aloud, with no clear answer coming to his mind. If he told Ladybug he knew who Tanuki was he'd be betraying Varian but if he kept quiet and something bad happened…he sighed deeply. There was no solution that didn't hurt someone he cared about.

He thought of Varian and how he got to know the brilliant but closed off young man. How he cried about missing his Dad and his lament about wanting to help people but always failing. So much of his redacted backstory now made so much more sense. He must be hunting the Miraculous to help his Dad who was left behind back in his home cou-no home world.

But it wasn't just Varian he had to consider. Adrien clearly had no clue his new brother was also his new enemy. There was also the implication that if Varian was Tanuki then Gabriel Agreste almost had to be Shadow Moth. How would Adrien even begin to feel if he learned his entire household turned out to be the villains he was fighting against?

And what were they fighting for? For Varian the answer was obvious but for Shadow Moth… Another realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Adrien's Mother! Luka got up and started pacing around the room trying not to work himself up. The last thing he needed was to be Akumatized and reveal everything. He took a breath and focused on the gentle rocking of the house boat. He let the familiar movement calm him somewhat but it was only just.

He glanced out the window and saw the sun begging to set. A decision would have to be made soon.

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After the meeting with Shadow Moth (mostly Gabriel ranting about another failure) Varian returned to his room. He had been feeling…off ever since the battle from earlier. Like his mind was trying to catch up with the present after Viperion no doubt used the power of Second Chance. Like there was something he should have realized. Something-His eyes shot open as he jumped up tangling himself in the sheets and nearly falling out of his bed.

"Did…did he use Second Chance because they were going to lose or…?" He remembered the way he expertly knocked Wishmaker's beam from Chat Noir and hit the man in the red hat, solving the Lucky Charm. He obviously had done this several times but if he had to knock the beams out of the way there had to be a reason. Was it because one or both their identities were exposed? That seemed very likely. And since Viperion keeps all his memories that means…he knows…Luka knows.

"Damn it!" Varian plopped back onto his bed and kicked the remaining sheets off. "Why did it have to be Luka?" Varian was in a bind. There was a good chance Luka knew who Ladybug and or Chat Noir were. He knew if he really wanted to he could force the truth out of him but…it was Luka. The boy who had been so kind, patient and supportive not just of him but of all his friends. Why couldn't it be someone he didn't like, like Chloe?

But it wasn't Chloe it was Luka and he remembered how he regretted betraying Max he didn't want to do that again. But as he contemplated what to do his mind seemed to have caught up to him and he remembered something that sent chills down his spine. It was when he tripped him while running after Chat Noir. The beam had sailed right over his head and at the time he thought he had just gotten really lucky but what if…

"Does he…does he know?" The sun was just starting to set outside his window and Varian was now faced with the very real possibility that he had been exposed. The question was, what was he going to do now?

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The person who had quietly stolen the Moonstone carving had returned later that day in a crowd of people before hiding away while the guards locked the doors. While getting in was simple he knew the place was heavily guarded. He also knew there was a glitch in a part of the security system that was waiting to be repaired so he knew where all the blind spots were. He would know, he was the curator's son after all.

Almost as if he was guided by fate, Jalil Kubdel managed to retrieve the real moonstone carving and made his way to the storage area in the attic. He did just as he was told. He laid the stone in a makeshift cradle under a skylight where it was exposed to the light of the full moon.

"There, everything's in place. Will you reveal the truth to me at last?" The stone shimmered and started to glow much to the excitement of the thief. He knew he was right! He would show his father who never believed any of his theories. He would be the hero of this story and his little sister Alix would look at him in awe instead of embarrassment.

"But of course." came a voice whispering inside his head. No one else could hear it but he knew he wasn't crazy he knew he was right and this was real. The glow was becoming much brighter now.

"I knew it! I knew I was the chosen one!" but his victory celebration was cut short as the stone cradle underneath the moonstone started to change and sharp pointed rocks began to spread out in a radial pattern. The rocks began to tear through the room as if trying to escape.

"Wait, what is it doing?"

"It's following its nature. Allow me to tell you a story. Long ago in another world a piece of the Sun and Moon fell to the Earth. The Sundrop took the form of a flower and held the power of Life and Healing. The Moonstone however, took the form of an opal and brought with it the power of Destruction and Decay. A kingdom was formed around the Moonstone to prevent anyone from misusing its power but the Moon is a harsh mistress. The last king lost his wife to the cursed stone and tried to destroy it, paying dearly for his act of defiance. One of the king's loyal knights and fellow protectors of the stone had tried to stop the Mad King and the Moon took notice.

As a "reward" the Moonstone left a small portion of its power within that Knight. Years later the Knight would wed and sire a child. A child born to the Moon and now held a piece of that power within them. Not a large portion mind you, but enough to grow and flourish should the original Moonstone be threatened once again." Jalil listened as the rocks continued to grow seemingly coming to an understanding.

"So the child was a backup?

"In a way, yes. Energy, especially magical energy such as this cannot fully be destroyed but it can change forms. The Moon Child grew up in a land far away from the Moonstone but something happened and the Moonstone lost sight of its missing piece. That's why it has been reaching out to find it once more." Jalil Kubdel was stunned. If this was true then that would mean his father was from another world and that he had been keeping this from him. No wonder he kept squashing his theories not because they were crazy but because they were true. He looked at the stone glowing brightly in the moonlight.

"You're longing to find your long lost missing piece and to become whole aren't you?" The man shook his head fearful that perhaps he had made a mistake but a moment later he gathered his courage and reached for the stone. "I'm here. I'm ready to claim my destiny!" That was a mistake. He screamed as the stone latched onto his arm.

"I don't understand, I thought I was suppose to reunite with-"

"Oh, did you think you were the missing piece?" His eyes widened at the truth. "Dear me, I do apologize for the confusion."

"B-but you said I was needed! That I-"

"Of course I needed you. Not everyone's mind is opened enough to hear me in this..state. I couldn't very well expose the stone to the light of the full moon on my own now could I." Jalil tried to pull away but the rocks had now trapped him in place.

"You said you-you would reveal the-the truth if I-I did this for you."

"Indeed I have. Do you wish to learn more?" said the voice in a sickeningly sweet tone. "The truth is you are just a pawn in a master plan years in the making. And for that I thank you." The man's eyes widened in fear but no matter how hard he struggled he couldn't get free.

"No, no you tricked me! Let me go!"

"I merely told you that if you helped me you would be responsible for great things. You inferred the rest. My, that was a mighty leap of logic if I do say so. And once I am finally free I shall achieve great things thanks to you. Some might see them as horrible but I guess that's a matter of perspective." The man continued to scream as the rocks broke through the walls making a protective dome around itself and the museum.

He wouldn't die, not right away at least. The stone's power needed to be connected with something from this word until it had completely crossed over. The Mad King is going to be in for a surprise when he learns the power from the stone has escaped.

Then the next stage of the plan can commence. And if all goes to plan the Moon Child and the Sundrop will come to her. Zhan Tiri couldn't wait.

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Luka didn't sleep that night. It was ironic that he was the one most people came to if they needed advice. Now he was the one who could really use some but he couldn't tell anyone. The responsible thing to do would be to tell Ladybug everything and end this war.

But then he remembered no matter how many times he used his Second Chance Tanuki went out of his way to avoid hurting him. He also remembered the shocked look on his face when he'd realized Adrien was Chat Noir and then he just…gave up.

Clearly Tanuki-no Varian wasn't evil but he also had a temper and could be vicious when provoked. This wasn't something he could leave alone or ignore but how could he stop Tanuki and still help Varian? He looked out his window and saw the first rays of sunlight for a new day.

There had to be a solution.

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Varian stood on a hill just overlooking the pier where Luka's house boat was docked. The sun was just coming up and he had a decision to make. One that would change everything no matter what he picked. He held in his hand a tiny vile with just a few drops of truth serum. He'd been up all night harvesting most of his plants much too early. As a result he only managed to make a tiny sample of the potion but it would be enough for what he had planned. The question was, should he do it?

"Are you really going to do it, Varian?" Ruddiger asked, growing more and more worried about his boy's mental state. He had been frantic making that potion all night and Ruddiger doubted he heard a word he said earlier. Varian looked at the bottle, a pained expression crossing his face.

"I-I don't want to but-" A tear slipped from his eye. "I-I don't know what else to do?" He sat down on the grass as Ruddiger rested on his shoulder. "If I use this and he doesn't know then we're in the clear. But if he does know…" It could mean the end of everything he'd been working for and Luka would also know it was Varian who forced it out of him. He dropped his face into his hands. "I really really don't want to do this."

"There has to be another way, Varian, we just have to take a breath and think." Varian glanced back at the bottle. If Luka did know he was Tanuki, what would he do then? He didn't want to get Gabriel involved; he didn't trust the man not to make a rash and irreversible decision.

He watched as Luka's house boat gently bobbed up and down with the waves. It was a ways away but he could still see it in the distance. He couldn't help but think how ironic it was, usually he'd go to Luka for some advice except now Luka was the one he couldn't talk to.

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Luka had thought long and hard about what to do about the whole Tanuki/Varian situation and at long last he came up with an idea. It was simple but unlike Marinette he didn't like to over complicate things. He would simply sit down and talk to Varian as a friend. He still wasn't sure what the long term solution was but in the end he trusted Varian.

He could hear it in the music he sang or played. He was a strong solo longing to harmonize rather than be in center stage or be shunted to the back. He was a good person who made some bad decisions. He needed someone to help him make the right ones. Hopefully he'll let him in enough to help however he could.

Luka wasn't naive though he knew there was a risk of Varian making another…bad decision or Shadow Moth putting the pieces together himself. So just in case he'd have a little insurance. He planned on giving a letter to Juleka explaining everything but with strict instructions not to open it unless something happened to him. He knew she'd keep her word. He had just finished sealing the finished letter going so far as to use an old wax seal.

Satisfied he glanced at his clock which told him it was time to start getting ready for the day. He had a feeling today was going to be a good one.

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Back on the hill Varian was grinding a piece of shattered glass under his boot along with the remains of the truth serum. He couldn't do it, he just couldn't do it, not again. He wasn't going to betray a friend's trust even if it cost him everything. He had made his decision but now what?

"Maybe…" he began. "Maybe I should just talk to him." Ruddiger hopped from his shoulder and hovered in front of his face.

"Really? I think that's a great idea!" the tiny raccoon exclaimed. "Oh but what are you going to say to him?"

"I'm not sure yet." He confessed. "Honestly if it was just me I…but I can't just throw Gabriel under the bus either. I still don't fully trust him but he's still done so much for me." Ruddiger thought for a moment.

"Why don't I go see him?" Varian blinked.

"You'd what now?"

"I can go and arrange a meeting for you. This way he won't be as intimidated if Takuki came to him and he can pick a neutral spot so he feels more comfortable." Varian thought for a moment, this could work.

"That's not a bad idea, and if you ask him to come alone he can't contact Ladybug. If he knows who she is then he won't risk contacting her if he thinks we might be watching."

"So it's agreed then?" Varian smiled sadly.

"I…yeah, let's do it. I trust Luka and if he agrees to a meeting I know he'll keep his word at least until we've had a chance to talk with him." But just as Ruddiger was getting ready to go, it happened.

The ground shook beneath them and Varian fell to the ground knocking the wind out of him. It took him a few minutes to get back to his feet with a worried Ruddiger hovering in front of him.

"Ug, what happened? Was that an earthquake?" Ruddiger looked at him with a mix of sadness and fear.

"I-I don't know how they got here but…" The Raccoon Kwami trailed off, unsure how to break the news to his boy.

"What's here? What's going-" and then he saw it. The landscape was being covered by black rocks. The same black rocks that destroyed his village, the same ones that trapped his Dad. Why-how could they be here? And then he saw something else, something that made his blood run cold. The rocks had already passed Luka's houseboat and several of them had impaled the boat. It was sinking rapidly.

"Oh God! We have to go! We have to go now!" He transformed without a second thought and raced to the pier. He prayed to the Sun, the Moon to whatever higher being would listen. "Not again, please don't take away someone I care about again!"

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Luka didn't know what happened. At first he thought it was an Earthquake but all of the sudden a long sharp glowing blue and black rock shot through the floor just missing him. He tried to move but two more shot up with one of them slicing into his arm. He cried out in pain as he tried to find something to stop the bleeding but then another one shot up just missing him but also pinning him to the wall and making it hard to breath.

He was trapped, but the worst was yet to come. He watched in horror as the water started gushing in and the boat started sinking.

End of Season One

To be continued…In Season Two

Coming Soon:

This is Nadja Chamack reporting live from Paris. The city is in chaos after being invaded by masses of sharp, black, unbreakable rocks. This is not an Akuma attack, Repeat: This is not an Akuma Attack!

Varian: Everyone I try to help just ends up getting hurt. (Jukeka is comforted by her parents as she cries)

Ladybug looks out over the city covered in black rocks "Is this my fault?"

We see a black rock breaking through Emilie's chamber damaging her life support system.

Gabriel: Emilie!

King Edmund: The Moonstone has been taken. (Adira and Hector draw their blades in separate scenes) We must find it!

? Wither and decay.

Cassandra: I had my orders! (Cassandra opens a letter)

Rapunzel: Varian! Finally I've found you!

Claudie Kanté: I don't care what they say I'm not leaving Varian in the hands of those Barbarians! (A sword come into view as Varian pushes Juleka and Rose behind him)

Eugene: You don't know what that "kid" is capable of. (Tanuki stares at a broken piece of black rock)

? Power of the Son…

Adrien: You lied to me! You all LIED TO ME! (Adrien dawning a disguise)

Gabriel: I will not be relinquishing custody! (Varian and Adrien lay on the floor unmoving)

Adira: You're more like him than you know. (Varian reads an old letter)

Letter: Dear Son, if you are reading this it means I have failed you.

Zhan Tiri: Do you know what really happens when you make a wish? (Max holds out a small box)

? Crescent high above…

Rapunzel: Dad I don't understand, why are you doing this?

King Fredric: It's time you learn what it truly means to sacrifice for your kingdom. (Nigel in his demon form smiles)

Varian: Oh God what have we done! (he runs off dropping something)

Zhan Tiri: It's all falling into place so nicely.

Bunnix: Varian must never return to his old world…

? Flower gleam and glow…

See you in 2024