Chapter 28: Befana
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad I was able to get this out today the irony of this is yesterday was a family member's birthday so I actually had to create a surprise party of my own like in this chapter. Please Review and Enjoy.
At Marinette's house, Marinette was folding clothes while Tikki was flying around excited.
"Marinette! This is quite a special day for you." Tikki said.
"Yes Tikki, it sure it." Marinette said looking at her phone. "Hmm still no calls."
Walking up to the roof Marinette looks out to see if the problem was the signal.
"There's a ritual we kwamis preform on a day like this." Tikki said.
"Oh really? That's nice." Marinette said not really paying attention.
"But I don't know if you humans would like it. I wonder if you guys even give each other presents on your birthday." Tikki said getting her attention.
"Really Tikki? You got me a birthday present?" Marinette asks excited.
"A kwami specialty." Tikki said.
"Awesome. What is it?" Marinette asks.
Tikki floats in the air and spins before spitting a pink goo into Marinette's hands grossing her out.
"Happy Birthday!" Tikki said.
"Wow thanks Tikki." Marinette said half heartedly.
"You don't like it?" TIkki asks.
"No I love it, what is it?" Marinette asks as the goo took the shape of half a yin yang symbol.
"A kwagitama, a great symbol of friendship between us kwamis. We take a hair from our Miraculous holder and join it to the hairs of all former Miraculous holders which creates a magical resin and in a few months." Tikki stops when she sees Marinette staring at her phone. "I know you don't want to say anything so you don't hurt my feelings because it's obvious you don't like my gift."
"No Tikki, I really love your gift. It's just Alya should have called me by now. We're supposed to be taking her sisters to the "dentist" at 4." Marinette said.
"Do all you humans celebrate your birthdays by going to the dentist?" Tikki asks.
"No, of course not Tikki, it's a secret code. They're actually throwing me a surprise birthday party." Marinette said.
"But how can it be a surprise if you know about it?" Tikki asks.
"You know about the surprise but you pretend you don't, so you won't spoil it of the people organizing it for you." Marinette explains.
"But what about the dentist?" Tikki asks.
"It's a fake-out. Alya's gonna pretend to take me to the dentist, but really she'll be taking me to my surprise party." Marinette said excited.
"But what if you're wrong?" Tikki asks.
"Impossible. I saw all the signs. Juleka totally jumped when I saw her with a bike pump." Marinette said.
"Maybe Juleka has a bicycle." Tikki said.
"Obviously she was going to use that pump to blow up balloons. A surprise party always has balloons. Also, yesterday I caught Nino listening to my favorite song." Marinette said.
"Perhaps it's Nino's favorite song too." Tikki suggests.
"Are you kidding? He hates it. He has no reason to listen to it unless he's making a playlist to my surprise party. Elementary." Marinette said but Tikki looked at her in disbelief. "Alright if you don't believe me why was Alya having a secret convoy with Adrien where he gave her the number for his dentist? Unless he's coming to my party!"
"Or maybe Alya's taking her sisters to see Adrien's dentist." Tikki said.
"Fine I'll prove it to you." Marinette said as she walked downstairs to the bakery. "Mom, dad do you know anything about Alya planning a party for my birthday?"
Acting quickly the two of them hid a cake trying to act casual. "Uh party? What party? Which Alya?" Tom asks.
"You're overdoing it. We're talking about her best friend." Sabine said.
"Oh right. Yeah we haven't seen her in years." Tom said as Marinette looks to Tikki.
"Told ya." She said when the doorbell rang. "And who could that be? Probablyp—" Marinette opens the door to see a woman with white hair, sunglasses and a leather jacket. This was Gina Dupain, Marinette's Grandmother. "Grandma?"
"Mom?/ Gina?" Tom and Sabine said equally surprised.
"Marinetta, you've gotten so big for your age. Did you get my letter from Patagonia?" Gina asks.
"Yes and the ones from Australia, Bali and Estonia. Did you really get chased by a bear?" Marinette asks.
"Yes but we wound up good friends in the end." Gina laughs.
"Mom it's her birthday." Tom whispers.
"Why do you think I'm here?" Gina asks as she reaches into her back and pulls out a wrapped present. "Happy Birthday my little fairy. My Inuit friend knitted it especially for your 10th birthday."
"Uh she's 14." Tom whispers.
"My how time flies." Gina said surprised as Marinette opens it to reveal a shirt at least three times too small for her. "Don't worry I'll have my friends knit you another."
"No! No! I can make this work, it's perfect nonna." Marinette said.
"That's not all, your nonna also brought you your favorite candy." Gina said putting a metal container in her hands.
"Oh." Marinette said nervously.
"You still love them, right?" Gina asks.
"Yes, yes of course." Marinette nods as Gina places a motorcycle helmet on her head.
"And that's not all my little fairy just you and I. Just like last time. We'll go to the merry go round then the zoo."
"Uh mom can we have a word before you go, just you and I?" Tom asks.
"What is it? That I don't know Marinette anymore because I'm away?" Gina asks.
"No mom it's just…"
"You think she doesn't want to spend time with her nonna, is that it?" Gina asks.
"No, of course not. It's not 4 o'clock yet." Marinette said looking at her phone.
"You see. Come Marinetta, we'll have a great time." Gina said as the two of them left on her motorcycle.
Throughout the day, Marinette and Gina went to the Merry go round and the zoo but when her grandma wasn't looking Marinette spit out the candy she got from her.
At the bridge, Gina was getting them ice cream while Marinette looks at her phone to see it was 4 and no calls.
"Maybe you were right, maybe I did jump to conclusions too quickly." Marinette said as she spit out another candy.
"Why don't you tell your grandma you don't like this candy?" Tikki asks.
"I don't want to hurt her feelings, we don't get to see each other very often." Marinette said when her phone rang. "Alya?"
"Hey I'm sorry I'm running a little late. Meet me at the park and we'll go right to the…uh dentist." Alya said
"Yes! Yes I'll be there." Marinette said excited not noticing her grandma was nearby. "Grandma, I'm sorry I have to go with Alya to the dentist."
"Surely you're not going to the dentist on your birthday? I was going to take you to the trains at the station." Gina said.
"Well, it's because Alya has sisters who are twins and as there are two of them she needs my help and…what am I saying? It's all a fake out. What I think is really going on is my friends are throwing me a surprise party and I…"
"I get it, my fairy. Don't worry about me, run along and go meet your friend." Gina said.
"Are you sure?" Marinette asks.
"I can hold onto all this." She smiles as Marinette hugs her.
"You really are the best grandma in the world." Marinette said before running off.
Back at the bakery, Tom and Sabine were putting the final touches on the cake when they heard a motorcycle.
"Tom! That's the motorcycle! Marinette can't see the cake!" Sabine said worried but when she opened the door she only saw Gina. "Uh where's Marinette?"
"Tom was right. She's too old to spend time with her nonna." Gina sighs.
"What? No, no Tom never said that." Sabine said.
"That's sweet Sabine but that's life. I'll be up in the apartment." Gina said walking upstairs.
"You should really go talk to your mother and…oh no." Sabine said seeing Tom tossed the cake the in trash.
"I know and it's almost time for the party." He groans.
"We can fix this. We'll just take Gina with us to the party." Sabine said.
At the park, Alya reveals to Marinette all her friends and when she saw Adrien there she couldn't have been more happy, but Gina on the other hand felt awful.
As she sat down she saw her gift to Marinette laying on pile of laundry and when she opened the candy to have some she saw that they were never spit out and put in there which just destroyed her.
At his base, Hawk Moth saw the whole thing.
"What could be more powerful than a grandma who has been deserted by her own granddaughter? Perfect fodder for disappointment and misunderstanding." Hawk Moth said as he turned a butterfly into an Akuma. "Fly away my little Akuma and evilise her ailing heart."
Flying through the window of Marinette's room the Akuma touches the container of candy.
"Befana, I am Hawk Moth. I'm restoring your matriarchal power as grandmother. You will use these candies to reward the deserving and punish the ungrateful. As for my reward, you will bring me the Miraculous of those pesky little kids Ladybug, Cat Noir and Silver Claw." Hawk Moth said telepathically.
"You're right Hawk Moth. The time has come to teach them all a lesson." Gina said as she transformed.
Downstairs, Tom and Sabine had completed a new cake in record time.
"Great job partner, we better go the party awaits." Sabine said as they were about to walk out.
"Oh wait, I better tell mom." Tom said when Befana burst through the front door on a flying motorcycle. She had green hair, a black mask, and red hair.
"Naughty son, never tell your mama what to do." Befana said.
"Mom?" Tom said in shock as he tripped sending the cake flying into the garbage can again.
"Do you know what naughty boys get?" Taking out a gun loaded with candy she fires turning Tom to coal. "Coal!" Turning to Sabine she was horrified. "Don't worry my little fairy you've always been good to me." Firing another blast it hits Sabine turning her into a fairy with white wings and a mask over her face. "So tell me, Marinette isn't at the dentist, is she?"
"No Mistress." Sabine said.
"Then take me to her." Befana orders.
At the park, Adrien hands Marinette a gift.
"Happy Birthday Marinette." Adrien said causing her jaw to drop.
Chuckling Sam pushes it up. "Open it."
"La Befana comes at night on her shaky broom in flight. She gives out candy for those who are dandy." Befana sang as she dropped in.
"Grandma?" Marinette said shocked.
"You lied to your grandma, Marinetta." Befana said walking towards her.
Seeing trouble Sam and Adrien ran off to transform.
"No I-I didn't know Alya was throwing me a surprise party." Marinette said.
"She's for real ma'am." Alya said.
"Just like all those candies you pretended to be eating?" Befana asks loading her gun.
"I'm sorry Grandma, I just didn't want to upset you." Marinette said.
"I'm not your grandma anymore, from now on I am only Befana and I am going to punish you for all those lies!" Befana fires a blast but at the last second Marinette dodges and hits Mylene turning her to coal.
"No!" Marinette screams.
From behind some bushes, Adrien takes out Plagg.
"We didn't even get in on the buffet." Plagg whines.
"Party's over my friend. Plagg, claws out!" Adrien said as his ring glowed and he transformed into Cat Noir.
Marinette and Alya tried to make a run for it but Sabine flies in and separates them.
"It's rude to leave while Befana is still speaking to you." Befana aims her gun but Cat Noir appears nearby and gets her attention.
"Hey I never knew grandmas could be so nasty." Cat Noir said.
"You'll look wonderful in white my pretty kitty." Befana said firing a blast at him but Cat Noir dodges with ease.
"Not convinced. I'm much more into black. Makes my eyes stand out, don't ya think?" Cat Noir asks as Befana fires multiple blasts, but he dodges them all.
"Take care of that pesky pussycat." Befana orders as Sabine flew at him.
"Hey! I thought fairies were supposed to be nice!" Cat Noir said as Sabine tackles him.
"You're not getting away unpunished Marinetta." Befana said firing multiple blasts at Marinette who ran for her life trying to avoid being turned to coal. Tripping on the ground Marinette drops Adrien's gift but before she could grab it Befana turns it to coal. "You don't deserve all these presents you spoiled brat. Now for what you really deserve." Befana aims her gun but when she fires she realizes she's out of ammo. "Don't worry. You'll get what's coming to you."
Acting quickly Marinette crawled under a table and let Tikki out.
"This isn't how I envisioned my birthday." Marinette sighs.
"You need to transform." Tikki said when Befana blasts the table turning it to coal.
"Do you lie only to me?" Befana asks.
"Cat Noir!" Ladybug calls out hoping he could help.
"Stay put I'll be right there. Soon." He said fighting off Sabine.
"Or do you also lie to your parents and your friends too?" Befana asks as Marinette makes her way on stage.
"We gotta help Marinette." Alya said as Sam runs behind a tree and takes out Faang.
"A family member being akumatized on her birthday? Talk about messy." Faang said.
"No kidding. We gotta help her. Faang, Teeth out!" Sam said as his bracelet glowed transforming him into Silver Claw.
"Time to teach you a lesson." Befana said when a plate narrowly misses her.
"Marinette is not a liar!" Alya said throwing plates at Befana.
"Someone needs to teach you some table manners." Befana fires a blast at Alya but at the last second Silver Claw appears and tackles her out of the way before she turned to coal.
"Silver Claw?!" Alya said surprised.
"I got you!" Silver Claw said grabbing her and putting her down a good distance away.
But while they were distracted Kim leaped at Befana trying to grab her but she fires a blast turning him to coal.
"No! Kim!" Marinette gasps.
"That's what you get for stealing candy, you ill-mannered children." Befana said.
"Don't touch Marinette! She's the nicest person in the world!" Rose said.
"It's very rude to interrupt your elders. Then again, it's very noble to stand up for your friends. Okay I'll make you a fairy." Befana said blasting Rose turning her into a fairy.
Silver Claw looks at this with wide eyes before turning to Alya.
"Make sure no one comes near her. Cat Noir and I will get your friend to safety." Silver Claw said as Alya nods.
When Silver Claw runs away, she noticed Sam wasn't anywhere to be found. "What the? Where'd he go?"
Crawling behind stage, Marinette was about to take out Tikki when Silver Claw dropped down behind her while Cat Noir defeats Sabine and lands next to him.
"Hey we should probably get you outta here." Cat Noir said as he grabbed Marinette and they made their escape.
"Marinetta's getting away with the kitty and the wolf. Catch them!" Befana orders.
Sabine and Rose were about to fly off when Marinette's friends had used banners to tie up their legs.
"Marinette is cool, so don't touch her." Juleka said.
"We won't let you hurt Marinette!" Max said.
"How rude! Maybe this way you'll learn to keep quiet." Befana said turning them all to coal.
Up on the rooftops, Silver Claw and Cat Noir were running as far away from Befana as possible.
"It's pretty cool that all your friends are protecting you like that." Cat Noir said.
"But why is your grandma acting like this?" Silver Claw asks.
"I think she wanted me to spend more time with her." Marinette said as they took her to the Eiffel Tower.
"Well you stay here, we'll get your grandma back." Silver Claw said.
"Oh and Happy Birthday." Cat Noir said.
"Thank you." Marinette said as they left. "Time to save my nonna. Tikki, spots on!" Marinette said as her earrings glowed and she transformed into Ladybug.
Throughout Paris, Befana was blasting people turning them into coal or fairies depending on their actions.
"La Befana comes at night, on her shaky broom in flight. She gives out candy to those who are dandy. And only gives coal to brats with no soul." Befana sang when Cat Noir's stick extended knocking her off her flying motorcycle.
"Look at that it's Silver Claw with his good pal, Cat Noir." Silver Claw sang.
"We arrive unexpectedly…uh how do we make that rhyme?" Cat Noir asks when Ladybug drops down next to them.
"Fighting evil with his lady." She sang.
"Of course, great timing Bugaboo." Cat Noir smiles.
"Ladybug has joined the party at last! Bring me the Miraculous, Befana!" Hawk Moth orders.
"You didn't say the magic word." Befana said.
"Ahem. Please." Hawk Moth said annoyed by this.
"Much better Hawk Moth." Befana said before pointing to Cat Noir and Silver Claw. "You thieves, where have you hidden Marinetta?"
"We forgetta." Cat Noir jokes.
"Watch out or you'll get a time out." Ladybug said as they drew their weapons.
"Take care of these three villains." Befana orders as her fairies flew at them. "Now what does the cat do when he feels threatened?" Befana looks around and noticed the Eiffel Tower. "He climbs." She realized before hopping on her motorcycle.
When Silver Claw sees where she was going he gasps. "Cat Noir! We gotta stop her!"
"She can't reach the Eiffel Tower!" Cat Noir said.
"Why not?" Ladybug asks.
"That's where we hid her granddaughter." Silver Claw said as the two of them ran after Befana.
"No wait! She's…" Ladybug quickly covers her mouth not wanting to blow her cover and chases after them.
"Where are you Marinetta? Befana has a special treat for you." Befana said when Cat Noir lands on the back of her bike.
"Can I hitch a ride? Your granddaughter isn't here. Let me show you the way." Revving the engine the motorcycle flies away from the Eiffel Tower.
"Pets are not allowed on board!" Befana said knocking him off but luckily Ladybug caught him before he hit the ground. "What a sweet little ladybug you are. You'd make a perfect fairy."
"Thanks but not thanks." Ladybug said dodging her attacks.
"You can't turn down a gift, you rude little imp! You take care of the kitty and the wolf my fairies while I punish the polka-dot brat!"
Running around the Eiffel Tower the three heroes did everything they could to avoid getting hit by Befana or by the fairies.
As Ladybug scaled the tower Befana fired blast after blast but when gravity made them fall down Befana gasps as she swerved to avoid them. Unfortunately for her, Ladybug noticed this.
Aiming her gun, Befana tried to fire but was once again out of ammo.
"Cat Noir, Silver Claw. I saw Befana dodging her own candies. Even she can't touch them." Ladybug said as they looked to see Befana reloading.
"The candy bag." Cat Noir points.
"The Akuma must be in there." Silver Claw said.
"Of course. Lucky Charm! Throwing her yoyo into the air it created a tuba.
"You didn't tell me you played the tuba." Cat Noir said.
"I don't, but I'll have to learn." Ladybug said when the ground under them turned to coal.
"Uh oh." Silver Claw said as the fairies flew in and knocked them through the coal causing Ladybug to drop her tuba.
"You've been very naughty. I'm gonna have to take your toys away from you." Befana said.
Ladybug looks around and then noticed a plan.
"Alright you win Befana." Ladybug said surprising everyone when she sends Cat Noir a wink.
"I did lie. I'm sorry your granddaughter is here." Cat Noir said playing along.
"Never too late to tell the truth, right?" Silver Claw asks.
"I don't believe you." Befana said.
"I'll take you to her myself." Cat Noir said standing up.
"Keep an eye on the ladybug and the wolf." Befana said as they walked away.
Once they left the room Ladybug signaled for Silver Claw to make his move.
"Moon Call!" His bracelet glowing Silver Claw took a deep breath and releases a sonic howl sending all the fairies smashing into the tower.
"Sorry guys. We got to put you all in time out." Ladybug said grabbing a fire hose.
Nearby Cat Noir gulps as he opens a door only to reveal it was empty realizing Marinette was safe.
"She's not here!" Befana snaps.
"I guess I'm a compulsive liar." Cat Noir smirks when they heard the elevator going down.
"There you are! Nice try Marinetta, but she won't get away from me that easily!" Befana hops on her motorcycle and races down.
"Don't worry guys Marinette's safe." Ladybug said.
When Befana arrives at the elevator the door opens to reveal all her fairies tied up and unconscious.
"What?" Befana said confused.
"Cat Noir, the fire hydrant!" Ladybug said as Silver Claw tosses her the tuba.
"You got it. Cataclysm!" Dark energy surrounds Cat Noir's hand as he slams the hydrant causing water to shoot out.
Turning around Befana sees Ladybug slam her tuba down on it causing water to come out the mouth piece.
Acting quickly Befana draws her gun to turn the water to coal but she ended up blasting herself turning into coal.
"No more evil-doing for you little Akuma." Ladybug said breaking the candy bag releasing the Akuma. "Time to de-evilise!" Marinette throws the yoyo turning the Akuma into a butterfly. "Bye-bye little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" Throwing the tuba into the air everyone turned back to normal.
"Pound it!" The three heroes said fist bumping.
At his base, Hawk Moth was enraged at another failure.
"Ladybug, Silver Claw, Cat Noir, you've escaped punishment yet again! I won't sugar coat the truth. The next time I will destroy you and have your Miraculous!" Hawk Moth vows.
At the party everyone was having a great time when Marinette runs up and hugs Gina happy to see she was better.
"Marinette, what did you do with that t-shirt?" Gina asks seeing the design was now on her purse.
"I fixed it up. I've been sewing since the last time you came to visit." Marinette said.
"You're so grown up Marinette. You know what? There will be no more merry go rounds and zoos. For your next birthday I'll take you on one of my trips." Gina said.
"Thank you, grandma but it doesn't matter where you take me. It's always unforgettable." Marinette said when everyone started singing happy birthday as Tom and Sabine brought in the cake.
When she blew out the candles everyone cheered.
"Happy Birthday." Adrien said handing her his gift. "You never got a chance to open it with all that was going on."
Smiling Marinette opens it to reveal a weird looking bracelet.
"I always carry around the lucky charm you gave and it's been good to me. I figured it was time for me to make you one." Adrien smiles.
"You're so wonderful. Oh it's wonderful. What a charm. Uh…the charm! I mean, I'll wear the charm." Marinette stutters.
As cake was being handed out Sam grabs a slice and notices Alya taking some pictures of the party.
"Hungry?" Sam offers a plate to her.
"Thanks. Not gonna lie this was a crazy day." Alya said taking it.
"No kidding." Sam agrees.
"But it was pretty cool how when Befana was about to get me Silver Claw came in and saved my life." Alya said surprising him. "It's kinda like I got my own guardian angel looking out for me." She smiles.
Blushing Sam was flattered she thought that. "Well maybe it's because he knows you mean a lot to other people and he doesn't want to see you get hurt."
"Interesting I would think you would want that job." Alya teased before walking off.
"If you only knew." Sam sighs.
As the music played and everyone was dancing, Marinette was looking at her gift.
"He made it just for me, with his own hands…Adrien." Marinette sighs.
"Well if you ask me it's kind of a weird gift." Tikki said.
"No weirder than yours." Marinette giggles before taking out Tikki's gift to reveal Marinette made it into a necklace. "But that doesn't mean they're not both precious to me."
"So, you really did like it then?" Tikki asks.
"Of course, I did, the most important thing about a gift is the person who's giving it." Marinette smiles enjoying her birthday.