If it's Tuesday it must be time for "Promise of a Miracle!"

Content warning: Guilt, confessions, and apologies.

Chapter 21

It Starts with Sorry

Varian somehow fell asleep at some point in the evening but it was not a restful one. His thoughts mixed in with his dreams and he just couldn't fall asleep completely. He wasn't even sure he was still dreaming when he felt something wet on his face. It took a moment for him to realize it was Amber licking his face urging him to wake up.

"Gah! Amber!" He gently nudged the cat off him. "I know I know you want breakfast." She meowed as he went to get her something to eat. He hadn't planned on bringing her along when he was preparing to leave the Agreste Manor; he figured Adrien would watch over her seeing how attached he had gotten to her. Of course he didn't count on an alternate version of their parents kidnapping them and both of them running off with his Dad's estranged family. He sighed as he fed Amber who quickly gobbled up her meal. He petted her fondly thinking how bizarre it was that just a week ago she was still trapped in the amber and written off as dead.

It gave him hope that there still might be a chance to rescue his father and that the other Quirin might still be able to save his son. But now he had bigger things to worry about. The Brotherhood was planning to investigate the museum where the Moonstone or something containing the Moonstone's power was likely to be.

Varian had informed them that he and many of the Miraculous holders had been trying to get in for some time now with no luck. Varian also mentioned he tried to break in while wielding the two Miraculous but something within the Museum seemed to be attacking him and making him sick when he tried.

Adrien was up before him and was using his phone to show them maps of the building hoping there was an alternate way in that they had missed. King Edmund came over to Varian as they were packing up their things.

"Ready for your first mission?" The boy shrugged and the king noticed the young man looking down. "Something on your mind Varian?" Varian sighed and leaned against the wall looking so tired.

"Lots of things." He kicked a loose can still gathering his thoughts before turning to his Dad's old friend. "Why didn't Dad tell me any of this? Even the other Quirin was surprised."

"I wish I knew. Your father was always the one thinking up strategies and planning our long term goals. Maybe he knew something we didn't, something he couldn't tell us." That was something that was really bugging him now.

"Did he not want me to meet you? The other Quirin said he was against his Varian becoming a knight." he bit his lip in frustration. "If this was such a big part of his life, why didn't he tell me anything? Why do I have to hunt for answers or be bombarded with surprises at every turn? Why did he make me go through this alone?" he cried out feeling guilty that he was in fact angry at his Dad and wishing they could have had a real conversation about this.

Edmund put a hand on his shoulder. "I may not know what was going through your Dad's mind when he made that decision but I can try to answer some other questions you have." Varian looked up at the man a little hesitant. He was reluctant to trust a King, especially after learning he was Eugene's Dad. Once they reunited no doubt Eugene would tell his side of the story and the man would side with his son. Still this was a rare chance to learn something about his Dad.

"So…what was Dad really like?" Edmund smiled and proceeded to spin a tale of the man he had known all his life and yet barely knew.

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Adrien looked at the two siblings Hector and Adira discussing or rather arguing over the best way into the Museum.

"We need to explore the underground tunnels, there will be less defenses there." Hector gestured to the map while Adira rolled her eyes.

"They already tried that and they're blocked. Our best chance is to strike from above." She pointed to the map showing the roof access.

"The rocks have covered it like a shell; we'd be wasting our time. The place where Varian explored is blocked off sure, but he also said the rocks were acting like tree roots. There are a lot of unexplored underground areas where there might be a gap."

"They're 'like' tree roots not exactly like them. We could be searching down there for weeks and not find anything. That would be a waste of time."

Adrien was both annoyed and a bit concerned watching these two adults bicker like children. He knew a little of their back story since him and Varian were briefed before going to bed last night. They were adopted siblings united in a common goal to protect the Moonstone from those who wanted to use its power for their own gain.

When they were ordered to leave the kingdom Hector followed orders while Adira followed a different path hoping to put an end to the Moonstone once and for all. That was 25 years ago and they've been at odds ever since.

It made him think about what he was going through with Varian and his betrayal. He was justified in being angry at him, sure but did he really want this to be their future?

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Varian snorted, hearing how his Dad tried and failed miserably to glue a vase he broke back together again with sap because he couldn't find any glue. Then the jar fell into the chicken coop and he had to fight mean old Dan the rooster just to get it back.

"He ended up confessing, covered in sap and feathers. My father was known to be pretty strict but he had to fight to keep from bursting out laughing at the sight. Hector and I couldn't keep it in and your Aunt Adira, even though she kept a straight face, was laughing on the inside. You Dad got off with a light warning for that one."

Varian let out a laugh of his own. It was comforting to hear how his Dad messed up like him as a kid. It made him more relatable as he was getting a better picture of him as a person and not just his Dad.

"That explains why he always wants me to collect the eggs from the chickens. He has Pteronophobia!" He laughed again as Edmund gave him a confused look.

"Petal-what now?"

"Pteronophobia, the fear of feathers. Adrien has a minor case of it but mainly because he's allergic." He stopped laughing and suddenly became sad.

"Are you having problems with your brother?" he shook his head.

"No, I'm the problem." He went on to explain how he had stolen the ring knowing it was Adrien's but convincing himself it wasn't. He also explained why and his subsequent guilt that led him to give it back. It happened right before they were kidnapped so they haven't really had a chance to really sit down and talk things out.

"I'm just afraid I screwed things up too badly with him to fix this. What if he doesn't want to see me again like you and Aunt Adira?" Edmund stiffened at that.

"Things between us are…complicated. Adira made a choice that not only jeopardizes our future but the Kingdom and beyond." Varian shrugged.

"It's not that much different than what I did. Chat Noir is Ladybug's partner and they are the ones who protect the city. And part of their mission is to keep the Miraculous of the Ladybug and Black Cat apart because combining them can grant a wish but at a high cost."

"That's what the other Quirin was talking about."

"Yeah so that means in his world my other self helped…" he couldn't finish that thought. True he had stopped before it got that far but that had been what he was aiming for, that was the goal. And for them it just went so wrong.

"It's similar, yes," Edmund conceded. "The difference is you realized you made a mistake and are trying to correct it." He sighed thinking about his sister. "Adira has never conceded the fact that she even could be wrong." Mistakes he could forgive, even bad decisions if they were corrected. It was something his father taught him and something he believed in. But Adira was throwing away years of history with the brotherhood chasing a dream that could bring more harm than good.

Watching all this was Ruddiger. He knew the boys needed to start talking again but didn't know how to get them to start. He was so distracted he didn't notice Amber stalking him from behind until she lunged at him. He let out a squeak in surprise as he dodged the feline. She missed him but knocked over Varian's phone in the process and accidentally turned it on.

"Stop that! Bad kitty!" Amber Meowed with her tail swishing back and forth as if debating on trying again. Ruddiger kept himself high in the air until she gave up and walked off. No one noticed she had somehow managed to video call someone.

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Hector and Adira were still arguing when Adrien got a call. He raised an eyebrow seeing it was from Varian.

"He's on the other side of the building. Why is he calling me on the phone?" Fearing this might be an emergency he accepted the call only to see Varian and King Edmund at an odd angle. "What the?" He then saw Amber's tail swishing in the foreground. "She must have accidently knocked over his phone." He was about to turn it off when he heard what Varian was saying to the king.

"I may have given him the ring back but the fact remains I still hurt him. More than if it was just a stranger who had done it." Adrien was unsure if he should be listening to this but he couldn't bring himself to turn it off.

"I want to make things right with him but I don't know what to say to him. He may not even want to even speak to me." Adrien was starting to feel a little bad but wanted to see what else his brother had to say.

"I'm such a hypocrite. I've hated Rapunzel for so long because of what she did to me and what do I do? I hurt someone else I care about the same way she hurt me." Adrien watched as he wiped away a stray tear. "I don't deserve to have him as my brother." Fighting back a stray tear himself Adrien looked back at the arguing siblings and made a decision.

"Varian! It's me!" he shouted into the phone causing the other boy to jump slightly before spotting his phone on the floor leaning against an old crate.

"A-Adrien?" He quickly gathered it up. "H-hey, not sure how my phone turned on-"

"Varian, I think we should talk."

"I…yeah, I think we should."

The two went outside for some privacy

Both boys were resting against the side of a building waiting for the other to speak. Not being able to stand the silence any longer, Varian burst out, "I'm sorry!" leaving the words hanging in the air.

"I know and I do believe you." Varian chanced a glance back at Adrien. "I even understand why you did it. I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing in your shoes but…I'm still so angry." Varian remained silent as Adrien got out everything that was on his chest.

"I'm angry at you for taking Chat Noir away from me, I'm angry at my Dad for starting this whole stupid war without asking what I would have wanted. I'm mad that Nathalie and Gorilla just let my Dad run rampant but most of all…I'm mad at myself for not seeing any of it." Varian thought for a moment before responding.

"I know we all tried to keep it from you thinking it was for the best. Although…maybe there was a part of you who didn't want all this to be true. That's how I justified taking your ring. I made this big elaborate plan when I could have gotten it in a much simpler way. But in my mind Adrien wasn't Chat Noir, so it was OK. It wasn't though, no matter how much I tried to trick my brain it wasn't OK."

Adrien understood what Varian was trying to say, he really did but this wasn't the first time he'd missed something obvious. He had no clue Marinette liked him until she was dosed with truth serum which oddly enough means that Varian helped them get together but that's besides the point.

"Is there something wrong with me? I mean, I didn't know you before you came to live with us and by that time you were already Tanuki. My Father though…how could I have missed something like that going on in my own home?"

"There's nothing wrong about wanting to see the best in people, especially the ones we love. Even if we live with someone all our lives and we might not ever really know them, not completely." He gave a heavy sigh. "I had no idea my Dad was anything but a simple farmer and now I'm finding out he was a knight and we had family I never knew about and there are probably a few more bombshells coming but I'm just trying to keep it together until they're uncovered." Adrien realized Varian did indeed know what he was going through. In fact they seemed to be going through it together at the same time.

"Listen Varian, I just wanted you to know that yes, I'm still mad and it'll take some time to process all of these new feelings but you're still my brother even if you messed up." Varian looked back at the other boy with a hopeful expression on his face.

"You mean that?" Adrien smiled.

"I'll probably forgive you…eventually. Just…give me some time." Tears were now flowing from Varian's eyes as he tentatively held out his arm silently asking for a hug. Adrien complied and the two brothers embraced. Not fully healed but on the road to recovery wherever that may lead.

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The Brotherhood members were all watching from inside making sure their new charges were doing OK. They were glad the young ones seemed to be mending their tattered relationship. The youth had a way of bouncing back after all. Their fight was forgotten for the moment, older wounds sometimes never healed but they could be soothed.

Adira palmed the note still hidden in her pocket, the one Quirin left for Varian. She had been planning on giving it to him but after the emotional reunion with his father and trying to mend the fences with his brother, now just didn't seem like the right time. Or maybe she was afraid of how he'd react once he learned how long she had been keeping this from him. Perhaps a little of both.

Also watching were Ruddiger and Plagg relieved to see their holders moving forward. Ruddiger figured Amber was the one who knocked over the phone that started this whole thing. He floated down while she was cleaning herself.

"OK, I guess you're not a bad kitty after-AH!" he exclaimed as she grabbed him out of the air and held him like a kitten as she started cleaning him like one. As Plagg laughed in the background the tiny raccoon scowled.

"I take it back."

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The morning after the big reveal and Shadow Moth's escape Marinette felt like she hadn't slept at all. Maybe it was her sleep deprived state of mind that made her think of something. She had no way of tracking Gabriel now that he was on the run but…would Varian answer his cell phone? Probably not from Ladybug but maybe he'd answer a call from Marinette? She opened her contacts and did a double take.

"Wait, why are there three Varians in my contacts?" The Kwamis in the room with her didn't have an answer. "I know he had to change his number because of XY but I know I deleted the old one." Out of morbid curiosity and some confusion she picked the second one and to her surprise she got an answer.

"Yellow?" She was so surprised she nearly dropped her phone. "Is anyone there?"

"Oh ah, sorry Varian I know it's kind of early but uh…I…couldn't get a hold of Adrien. Is he out?" He paused for a moment.

"This is Varian but who is this?" She blinked now more confused.

"Ah it's Marinette. Do you have a bad connection or something?"

"No, I hear you fine but I don't know any Marinette or Adrien." After hearing that line a thousand thoughts ran through her head. Was this really Varian or did Shadow Moth erase his memory somehow?

"Varian quit joking around. I've known you since you moved in with Adrien and his family. So why are-"

"Ohhhh, now I know who you are. Sorry I had you listed in my phone as…someone else."

"Why, do you have some weird nickname for me or-" he cut her off again.

"No no it's just…I am Varian but probably not the Varian from your world. You can call me Vee. How'd you get this number by the way?" this time she did drop the phone. Thankfully he was still there when she picked it back up.

"Wha-what do you mean? I just had your number in my contacts."

"You know, I thought it was strange that my phone was even working outside of my dimension. Tsurugi tech really knows their stuff. Of course this might warrant a closer look at their tech but that's future me's problem." It was bizarre, the Varian on the other end, or Vee, had Varian's voice but the tone was very different. More confident and carefree. Seriously, no one should be this calm about jumping dimensions.

"So you're saying your…contacts followed you here to this dimension?"

"I've seen weirder things." She pulled the phone away and looked at it half convinced she was being pranked or having a weird dream.

"Weirder?!"

"Well, hanging around and working with the United Heroez, hoo boy! You see and experience all kinds of weird stuff. If Dad knew about have the things me and the girls get up to-"

"Wait, your Dad is…alive?" There was a long pause on the other end and for a moment she thought he'd hung up on her.

"I think we should talk, in person. You should also wear your…other outfit for this." Marinette was glad she had a strong phone case.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." He sighed heavily on the phone.

"OK all joking aside, I somehow jumped dimensions, met a Rapunzel who is from yet another dimension, there's a giant crack in the sky and the black rocks have somehow invaded here even though we already got rid of them in my world. Something needs to be done about this." This time she fell off the bed. "You OK? I heard a lot of bumping and banging from your end." She climbed back up and the pain from her bumped head was a reminder that this wasn't a dream but it could be a trap.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"Hey you called me! Come if you want but something has to be done about…everything."

"Alright, I'll meet you at the park, on the south side, come alone."

"Ah, can I bring Rapunzel too? She kind of has a big part in stopping these rocks and I may have just revealed some things that broke her a bit. Anyway, I don't think I should leave her alone and I'd rather not have to tell my back story too many times." Marinette groaned.

"Fine but I'm bringing backup as well."

"That's fair. See you in 30 minutes?" She looked at her clock and saw it was already 7:30. Her long day just turned into long days.

"Fine, I'll see if I can get a hold of Varian number 3 and meet you there."

"Wait, there's a third?"

"Thankfully that should be the last…I think."

"Oh boy is this a mess. I'll meet you there." And with that he hung up. Marinette begrudgingly opened the Miracle box and pulled out the Snake Bracelet. Sass looked up at her with some concern, Luka had only woken up two days ago after all.

"Guardian, are you sure?" She frowned.

"With so much at stake I need someone I can trust. And if this is a trap I'll need a way out." She really hated to ask him and he would no doubt say yes. He was also a good friend of Varian and she'd have to talk to him before they met up with the other one. Speaking of the other one. She pulled out her phone again and dialed the last Varian on the list praying this one wasn't evil.

"Hello?" he sounded just as confused as the first one. Better not beat around the bush.

"Hello, is this Varian?"

"Yesss, who's this?" Maybe this one didn't know her either.

"Varian, listen to me. My name is Ladybug-" there was an 'eep' on the other end and he quickly hung up.

"OK, she thought to herself. "New Strategy."

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Back in Corona Nigel and Mathews were salvaging what they could from what was left of the House of Yesterday's Tomorrow. They had managed to rebuild the altar with several crystal and incense burners around it. At last they started to light up even if they were blinking occasionally.

"Finally finished." Mathews said, wiping his brow on the verge of collapse.

"How long until this thing locates the King?" Nigel asked impatiently.

"No idea." Mathews answered honestly.

"No ide-what do you mean NO IDEA!?" He huffed to hide his yawn.

"The house has never been this low on power before and until I can properly rest I won't be able to bring him back even if we find him." Nigel was fuming.

"Well how long do you need?" Mathews rolled his eyes and opened a door that was just standing alone in the middle of the room not attached to anything.

"You'll know when I'm rested, not before. Now Goodnight!" and with that he walked through the door but didn't come out the other side. Nigel tried to open it but the moment he did the entire door turned to sand and crumbled to the ground. The words "do not disturb." writing itself into the sand.

Nigel huffed as he went back to the castle to do some damage control.

The Master was not going to be pleased.

To be continued…

Next time: Ladybug manages to wrangle all of the Varians and people from other dimensions together. Now it's just a matter of getting everyone on the same page without them killing each other. Easy right?