Here it is, the second full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released early because I had the time to make the necessary edits to this chapter and finished them in time for an early release. I will still be doing a weekly release around 00:00 EST on Fridays but if I get the edits done in time I will release a chapter around 00:00 EST on Monday or Tuesday depending on when it is done. That is all the admirative stuff I have for now though so I will leave it here and get to the one guest review to respond to which I will do now.

To Guest (guest), thank you for your review, I will try to go for two chapters a week, but I can't promise more than one as I have other active or soon to be active stories to work on as well, but I'll do my best. As for your question, I unfortunately can't do that, at least not exactly. As you will see in this chapter, I have done things slightly differently with Adrien and Marinette so I can't have Aoyama recognize them. However, I can have him inadvertently help them but all in good time. I know that this is a bit vague, I'll explain more at the end. Please continue to read and enjoy my work.

Anyway, that is all for this pre chapter note, hopefully which means that it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 2nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.

Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.

Chapter 2: Plans and Backstories

It had been a week since Marinette and Adrien had arrived in the future and what a week it had been for them. They were still adjusting to it, but slowly they were getting used to their new reality. It had been hard to come to terms with everything, but they knew that their friends and family would want them to move on and not dwell on what they had lost.

They knew that much from the tablets that Mage had provided them. The new couple, and there was no denying that they were a couple now, had, through tears, watched the videos showing their friends and family all believing that they were still alive and happy and telling them to live life to the fullest. They didn't blame them for disappearing and all knew that they would all meet again one day be it this life or the next. They believed in them and hoped they continued being who they were wherever they were.

It had been tough to watch the videos but necessary at the same time. They had watched them together while cuddling in Adrien's bed, it was a double and nicer than Marinette's lofted one, while crying together. It was hard to accept the full truth of their situation, but they had all the evidence to know that it was true. Thankfully they had each other to get through it together so that they didn't break but became stronger.

It had taken two full days to fully process everything. They did it alone with their kwamis not wishing to bother their host with anything and that included the other kwamis who were all out now. They didn't leave the common area and only ate when necessary as they discussed, cried, and went through their grief over what had happened. They even spent the nights together in bed though they never progressed beyond chaste kissing as neither were ready for it, but they needed each other to get through the toughest period in their lives.

While the pain of what they had lost would never truly fade they knew that they could move on now that they'd gotten the closure they needed from their friends and learn more about their situation. First though they had to learn about what happened in Paris after they had disappeared before learning of the sudden change in society with the advent of Quirks.

They learned that Mage had produced replicas of their Miraculouses that worked similarly enough to make it look like Ladybug and Cat Noir were still around. When combined with the Fox and Turtle Miraculouses, that had been given to Alya and Nino permanently, they did the same thing which ensured that no one figured out that Adrien and Marinette were Cat Noir and Ladybug.

It was clear though that something had shifted in Paris after the incident that no one could explain. That change came with Hawkmoth himself as he seemed off and reluctant to act as if he'd lost his drive for some reason. That was confirmed when he suddenly renounced his Miraculous and left it, and the damaged Peacock Miraculous, to be found by Alya and Nino and just vanished. His identity was never known but his evil had ended so the city rejoiced.

It had been very anticlimactic, and they had asked Mage about it but all he'd said was that there was more to why Hawk Moth had given up and didn't say what as he was bound by secrecy spells tied to the Miraculouses and physically couldn't say more. He'd just given up and that was it, though thanks to Master Fu they were able to fix the Peacock Miraculous so it could be properly used again.

As for their families, well they were deeply affected by their loss. While neither Gabriel Agreste nor the Dupain-Chengs ever gave up on finding them, which touched them, they had failed. They'd all hoped that Adrien and Marinette were safe and knowing that they had never found their kids broke Adrien and Marinette's hearts but Mage had told them that they would see them in the next life so they would be together again one day. They also knew that their parents would want them to push on so they did.

After that they were ready to really get down to learning all about Quirks and how the new society they'd spawned operated. Mage had given them a full rundown on how Quirks worked, the three classes of Quirk, their history, the nature and provided them with examples of active heroes will all classes so they weren't too freaked out by the mutant class of Quirks when they began to encounter it.

This had also led to them practicing their powers and getting used to referring to them as Quirks from now on. Mage had jokingly referred to them as Miraculous Quirks as their Miraculouses had been the base of it but in reality they were now Quirks and as such Adrien and Marinette had to call them that to get accustomed to the term. The was also to avoid slipping up as they'd all agreed to keep their true identities secret from all but a select few that Mage vouched for and who would be sharing their own secrets with the duo in return.

It was odd to use the powers without the Miraculouses being active, but it wasn't too different from before, so the adjustment wasn't too hard. It was just took a little getting used to though that was easier than trying to get used to the other changes that they'd gone through.

Their Quirks as they now called them, officially registered as Lucky Charm for Marinette and Cataclysm for Adrien, were one thing but getting used to the enhancements that their Miraculouses usually provided full time was something else. They now had the endurance, durability, stamina, speed and strength that they had in costume, as well as the martial skills with their weapons that came with them, full time.

That had taken some adjustment to get used to and Mage expected them to take at least another month or two before they fully got control of them. They had to learn how to moderate their strength most of all so that they didn't destroy things accidentally with it but in time it would be second nature to them, Mage and the kwamis assured them.

Adrien also had to content with his enhanced senses that had been part of the Cat Miraculous as well. He could see in the dark like a cat and his hearing and smell were enhanced to well above an average human, though not at the level of a Quirk according to Mage. It was both a blessing at times but came with challenges as he had to get used to the wider spectrum full time. However, he'd already noticed some of those effects before Mage had given them his gift so that adjustment wasn't as bad as the other enhancements were for him.

Even with these powers Mage had made it clear that they weren't unbeatable or invulnerable, not that either expected that, so they had to train to keep getting better. There were still a few things to sort out, mainly weapons and costumes, but those were about to come according to Mage. That was because the week was up and it was time to meet with the Master Guardian along with All Might and the U.A. Principal, a being called Nezu.

In preparation for the meeting, they'd been shown images of All Might and Nezu so that they could understand them and avoid problems when they actually met Nezu. It allowed them to have minor freak out at the picture of him as Mage explained that Nezu was a rare case of an animal who'd manifested a Quirk that gave him hyper intelligence. In fact, it had been Nezu's intelligence that had come in handy in making some of the final preparations as he could plan better than anyone.

For reasons that the pair would soon learn, both Nezu and All Might were in the know about the Guardians so there was no worry there and with Adrien and Marinette's agreement to aid they'd be let into a major secret soon. They would be two of only 3 people that the pair were likely to encounter that knew their secret and Mage had made arrangements to ensure it was kept apparently.

There had been one more thing done to prepare them for the meeting though. Up until that point they'd all been speaking French and while Adrien was fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian while being proficient in Mandarin, he couldn't speak Japanese. Likewise, Marinette was proficient in English though her accent was noticeable, and according to Adrien adorable.

However, they would need to be able to speak and read Japanese on this course of action. As such Mage had used his powers, apparently with the permission of the relevant Guardian that he didn't explain, to grant them the ability to read, write and speak Japanese as if it was French for them though their prior language skills were factored into it. That meant that Adrien only had a trace of French accent while Marinette had a distinct one when she spoke Japanese.

With that done it was time to meet the key players and solidify their backstory to avoid suspicion, something that Mage had already been sorted out, but they needed a thorough explanation of to understand. All this was contingent on All Might's chosen successor getting into U.A. of course but Mage was certain that that would happen. So that was why Adrien and Marinette were walking hand in hand through the estate to the same room they'd first appeared in when Mage had brought them here.

It took a good 10 minutes to find it and in the end had to ask for directions, which were given to them by a helpful and chatty small table coming to life and leading them to the room, which would have been freaky if they weren't now a little use to sentient furniture leading them places in the vast estate. Finally they reached the room and knocked on the door.

"Come on it." Mage called out in Japanese and Adrien opened the door to let Marinette in and followed her. "We just served tea so you aren't too late."

"Sorry we got a little lost." Marinette admitted surprised the new language was coming so easily to her but then again that was the nature of magic or whatever power had granted them this ability, and her Japanese still had a distinctive French accent to it that she didn't think would ever leave it. "We are still getting used to this place."

"Yeah we followed a table in the end." Adrien said as they surveyed the room. "It was rather talkative and helpful."

"They tend to be here." Mage said as if it was normal. "Good to hear. Come, let's get things started."

Mage was standing by the fire with another man next to him while the two pro heroes sat on the couch that Mage had sat one when they'd first arrived her. There were two full tea sets, one Japanese and one French, on the table with all the works laid out. The pro heroes stood as they approached, and the French duo got their first proper look at them.

All Might was, as they had been told he would be due to no pictures of him in this form existing, basically a walking skeleton with shaggy blond hair and sunken eyes though with piercing blue pupils that shone with strength. He was wearing a blue suit that didn't fit well but given his frame it made sense. They'd been told the full extent of his injuries that had slowed him down and led to his quest to find a successor, but it was still odd to see such a sight especially when compared to the full hero form he had that they had seen.

Next to him was Nezu. The tiny bipedal rat or bear or dog like animal, they really couldn't tell, smiled at them as they entered. His fur was pure white and well-groomed though there was a nasty scar over his right eye that they knew came from the horrific experimentations humans had done on him in the past. Still he seemed happy and was dressed in a sharp three-piece suit while giving off an aura of calmness that put them at ease.

"Ah Ms. Dupain-Chang and Mr. Agreste I presume." Nezu said in fluent, unaccented, French with an educated voice bowing slightly to them as did All Might. "A pleasure to meet you two at last. While I speak your language fluently, All Might does not so if you don't mind sticking to Japanese or English that would be great."

"Principal Nezu, All Might, the pleasure is ours." Adrien and Marinette said together in Japanese, bowing deeper than the pro heroes as a sign of respect, part of the limited culture lessons they'd gotten over the last few days so as to avoid problems before Marinette continued. "Japanese is fine, we should get more used to using it in company so that it comes easier to use."

"You have been teaching them a little already Mage?" Nezu said switching back to Japanese as he looked at the Guardian. "I'm impressed."

"They are true heroes and want to help so no point in delaying anything." Mage said with a shrug and not getting into the time they took to get to this point or how the grief the pair still had would be with them for a long time to come. "There will be some cultural differences that will be tough to deal with, but we have time to work through them."

"We don't want to offend anyone, and a traditional French greeting is not appropriate in Japan, so we won't be doing that at all." Marinette said. "We also know that we should address people by their family names and not their given names but that isn't something we really do in France so if it is ok we would prefer Marinette and Adrien."

"We will do our best to accommodate that in private but in public it would be improper to do so as we are your teachers so an informal greeting like that is not appropriate." All Might said his deep voice more powerful than they were expecting. "Some teachers will stick to tradition regardless though. Amongst your peers it will be different but don't expect them to use your given names until you are closer with them, and I suggest sticking with their family names unless they say otherwise."

"Of course." Adrien said with a nod. "We understand that and will do our best to be respectful with our peers and teachers."

"If we are done with pleasantries can we get down to business." The last man present spoke for the first time bringing their attention to him. "There is a lot to discuss and do right now so no point in dawdling."

Adrien and Marinette were instantly hit with a wave of power from the man. They'd felt the power of Mage and could sense a lower level in the pros that came from their experience, but this man was on a different level altogether. Course he wasn't a man at all and they knew who had to be. This was the Master Guardian.

The teens bowed low to him which he acknowledged with a nod of his head before they rose to look at him properly for the first time. He stood over 6 feet tall and had a muscular but not over the top build not that it mattered as Mage had explained to them that Guardians could change their appearances at will, though not their genders, so this was just a more comfortable look for the man. The Master Guardian had shoulder length red hair that was held back by a blue baseball hat with the U.A. logo on it and blue/gray eyes the showed how old he actually was.

He wore a simple outfit similar to Mage's only his shirt was a simply white with a yellow trim for some reason and not lilac and he had gone with black cowboy boots. At his hip hung a short sword in a wooden sheath on a small chain. His arms were folded so they couldn't see the tattoo they'd been told all Guardians had on their right forearms but as they looked he smiled at them and uncrossed his arms to show it and confirm his identity. The word there, written in the Latin alphabet, was his current name and it said DOMINUS 1.

"Please sit, we have much to discuss, and the tea is getting cold though if it is just tell me and I can correct it." Dominus said as a pair of chairs appeared at each end of the table for himself and Mage who both sat, the latter literally teleporting to his seat. "If that's your thing that is, personally I never got a taste for the stuff."

Adrien and Marinette just sat as instructed, as did the pros, and patiently waited as the tea and snacks severed themselves in order of importance starting with Mage, then Nezu and All Might and lastly Marinette and finally Adrien. Dominus had a can of some energy drink in his hand clearly preferring that as he waited for them all to settle and be served.

"Good I hope you enjoy this; it should be your favorite blend Nezu if I recall correctly." Dominus said to the principal. "Though I know Mage will recommend the western option as well, he is partial to a good British tea."

"It is thank you." Nezu said with a smile as he sipped it, his plate only containing cheese in a display that would make Plagg both proud and jealous if he were here but the kwamis were busy catching so they weren't going to be present for his chat. "So where do we start?"

"I think it would be best if we let the teens ask any questions that they may have first before we go any further." Mage said. "I have done my best to answer what I can but there are somethings that you should tell them."

"Yes that is a good place to start and then when that is over we can address the other things like backstories." Nezu said with a nod. "So, Marinette, Adrien, what do you wish to know before we get down to business?"

"Um well I guess the main thing is how are you all connected." Marinette said broaching what she and Adrien had been wondering all week. "Mage has been a bit evasive on this front due to us actually meeting you and wanting to wait until now to explain further."

"Ah yes well the Guardians are like that." All Might said with a light chuckle that turned into a light cough before he continued. "We know them from our hero days. When I became the symbol of peace and began to clean up Japan while waging my war with All for One the Guardians revealed their true nature to me, Nezu and a few other select individuals."

"It was a surprise for sure." Nezu said as he took another sip of tea. "We only knew them as an international Hero Agency that is based in America but has offices in several countries including Japan though their priority seemed to be the Americas and Europe, not Asia. To learn the truth was a shock and we didn't believe them at first, but they convinced us eventually, especially after Dominus revealed that he knew things he shouldn't know."

"The advantage of my role is that I am as close to omnipotent as possible." Dominus said simply. "There are rather extreme restrictions on my abilities and powers and how I am allowed to actually use them but so long as people know about it I can discuss it with them. I showed them the proof of who I was and promised to work with them as best I could as we helped create the Hero Society we live in as it is in line with our mandate. With the world as it was back then it needed a symbol, and All Might was that symbol."

"We worked together for many years providing support from the shadow." Mage continued. "Working closely with All Might and his inner circle but we couldn't do more than provide support. You two will be able to do more because you aren't part of the Guardian's organization which is why we were glad that fate had decided to put you in Japan."

"Yeah I have a question on that note." Adrien said. "When did you know we'd be here? Like it seems that this has all been planned and while we appreciate it we'd like to know a little more about how that all came about."

"A fair point and one you deserve the answer to." Dominus said with a nod. "It all started when you were blasted out of the timeline. I was able to confirm your status but not location before I exceeded my abilities and had to rest. However, I have some time-based powers as it doesn't have a Guardian. When I was recharged, I granted a portion of them to a close assistant to the Guardians who isn't one. His job is to smoothly ensure certain aspects of the world as best he can so having him keep an eye out for you two was the best strategy."

"Keep an eye out?" Marinette asked confused.

"He was given your Miraculouses's signatures by me so that he knew what to look for." Mage said. "That way when the timeline came within a year of your return he would know and could at least be able to tell where in the world you would appear. He couldn't tell us when exactly, but he knew that it was within a year, and he was able to tell us where."

"Japan." Adrien said.

"Correct." Mage said with a nod. "Which is perfect given how important Japan is these days but then again Fate still works in mysterious ways. As soon as it was confirmed that it would be Japan, I moved here full time to coordinate it and instantly got into touch with Nezu and All Might so that we could begin planning."

"That was when we learned of the Miraculouses and of you two and your history." Nezu said. "It explained a lot of things that had occurred in the past and as the Guardians pointed out it did come at a fortuitous time."

"I was looking for my successor at the time." All Might said. "So, I wasn't as focused on it as the others, but Nezu here realized that you two could be an asset to us after we were told of your history and abilities. I trust that Mage has made the change he said he would make."

"I granted them a gift and made their Miraculous powers their Quirks with the enhancements already explained thanks to our well-prepared backstories for them." Mage confirmed. "They have begun training and by the time the semester starts they will be on the level of a student admitted by recommendations as they have to be given how they are to be admitted to U.A."

"But there is more to this now." Marinette said. "Because you have found your successor All Might, right?"

"There is." All Might said with a nod. "And he will be your age so you can join U.A. with him if he gets in, which I expect he will as he is a lot like I was back then, so you two can look out for him as well. However, before we continue, Mage you said you could make sure that the secret stays."

"I can, one sec." Mage said as he wave a hand at Marinette and Adrien causing them to glow for a second but nothing else happened. "Alright it's done."

"Um what just happened?" Adrien asked. "Other than magic I'm guessing."

"I used a similar spell to the one that I placed on the Miraculouses that prevents kwamis from naming their humans to others only this one prevents you from mentioning All Might's Quirk or anything related to it to anyone not in the know about it." Mage explained as they blinked. "And the spell is soul based so you can only talk about it to others in the know. It won't prevent those others from telling, I can only cast it on you two due to your history with the Miraculouses, but it at least means that you two will never divulge it to anyone else."

"Oh you mentioned you would have some security measure." Marinette said a little startled by the whole thing. "It seems like a lot."

"Sorry should have mentioned it in more detail but as you will learn there is good reason to keep it secret." Mage said. "But it is clear to speak now All Might."

"Thank you." All Might said. "I wish you were able to do this to all who know about it Mage but I'll take it with these two."

"Limitations on my powers." Mage explained. "Adrien and Marinette are Miraculous Holders so I can do this for them, and they are from the era before Quirks, but the rest would be classified as illegal Guardian interference."

"I see." All Might said a little confused but shaking his head and continuing. "Alright, young Dupain-Cheng, young Agreste, one of the biggest secrets in the world right now is what my Quirk actually is. I have never publicly mentioned because it is not a natural Quirk. I was not born with the power I have; in fact, I was born Quirkless. Instead, this power was handed down to me as a sacred torch from my master. I am the 8th holder so my successor will be the 9th of this great power. My Quirk is called One for All."

"So a play on this All for One stuff." Marinette said picking it up quickly. "That villain you fought who injured you 5 years ago or so."

"Yes and the first holder was All for One's brother which is actually how One for All came into being." All Might said. "But the history isn't relevant right now. All you need to know is that the Quirk can be passed on and as it does it gets stronger as it stores power with each as with each generation it goes through. I was the first holder strong enough to use it publicly and actually defeat All for One, but my successor will be the one to complete the circle, I am sure of it."

"And it can be passed on?" Adrien asked for confirmation. "Which from what we've gathered is something that everyone believes can't be done with Quirks."

"Yes it can be because the base of the Quirk, the Quirk the original holder had, was a Quirk that allowed him to pass on his Quirk which was useless until All for One gave him a stockpiling Quirk and they mixed together to create One for All." All Might said. "For safety reasons I will not get into how it is passed on because while I have to actively choose to pass it on I can be forced to do so which is the entire reason why my Quirk is a secret. I will willingly pass it on when my successor is ready."

"Ready?" Marinette asked confused. "You have to be ready to receive it?"

"Yes because of the power that it has been storing his body cannot hold it at the moment." All Might said. "It would kill him at his current level. He still needs 6 months of training to receive it and he's already been in training for four months on a rigid routine that will ensure he can handle it. It is a powerful Quirk after all, and he lacks the physical strength to use it right now."

"We'll take your word for it." Adrien said.

"I can fill them in on anything they need clarification on after you leave." Mage said. "We have 6 months to get ready so there is time. Do you two have any more questions before we move onto the backstory we've spent 230 years building for you?"

"I have one." Marinette said looking at Adrien who nodded to show that he was on the same wave length with the question. "Who is your successor? I think we should know it."

"Of course, and alas, you can't tell him about the Guardians or your past just yet." All Might said. "I hate to keep this from him and in time he will learn of the Guardians and your origins, but he will have so much to focus on now that he just needs friends to help him out, support him, and bring out his true power which I hope you two can be for him."

"We can try." Adrien said. "I like to get on with everyone."

"I have yet to meet him but based on what I've read he is a lot like you two." Nezu said. "I know that he is a fine young man who cares about others before himself and wants to be a hero for noble and pure reasons."

"Yes and that, along with his willingness to act on the right thing before his mind can catch up to his body is why I have chosen him." All Might said. "Plus he was born Quirkless like me so I see a lot of myself in him."

"Wait he was one of the 20% born without a Quirk?" Marinette asked. "That explains a lot. If he is as you say he is then I am sure we will get along well with him, he sounds like the kinda person we'd like."

"For reference I have reviewed him as and he's the kinda person I'd entrust a Miraculous to." Mage said. "Permanently like you two and if it hadn't been for All Might choosing him then I may have done just that so that he too could be a hero as he has what it takes to be a Miraculous Holder."

"Oh ok we can work with that." Marinette said. "If he's worthy like that then I know that we can get along with him."

"What's his name?" Adrien asked. "I presume we will get more in time of course but we should know who he is now."

"His name is Izuku Midoriya." All Might said.

"Once the new Hero Class is known and which one you will be in, you will receive the student directory that all students get so you can learn more about your classmates." Nezu said. "Should Midoriya get into U.A. you two will be placed in his class bringing that class number to 22 and allowing for 2 spots to worthy General Studies students to transfer into the course and into the other Hero Course class without having to take it from a current Hero Course student."

"We know that much, Mage explained it to us the day we, er, arrived." Marinette said. "And that does cover all we want to know about you two, so I guess it is time to address our backstories in more detail. I presume we will be exchange students of sorts."

"Yes and if we are being honest we have been preparing for this for a long time." Dominus said reminding them that the Guardians had been thinking of them since the incident happened. "Basically, as soon as Quirks became a thing and society shifted which caused our own plans to shift as well."

"You have?" Adrien asked amazed at the amount of forethought that had been used. "For us? You could do that?"

"I am an ancient and near omnipotent being with many competent and skilled friends." Dominus reminded them. "This was child's play for me, Mage, and the aforementioned assistant who I granted some time powers. Hades, Mage and I are barely here right now. I have at most 10% of my conscience present while Mage has about 20% or so."

"Closer to 30, I need to be more present at the moment and it will increase soon." Mage said. "We are immortal beings; we can split our conscience between multiple places. It isn't taxing so having a portion focused solely on preparing for your return was easy."

"Oh we never thought about it like that." Marinette said her brain hurting. "I think we're going to need a few more lessons on the Guardians."

"I'll add it to what I will be teaching you over the next 6 months." Mage said. "It won't be easy mind you, we have a lot training and educating to get done."

"That's fine, we are heroes, we can rise to that." Adrien said and Marinette nodded not realizing that Nezu and All Might smiled at his words. "So what did you plan?"

"A thorough backstory to explain your abilities and why you are in Japan, the actual history of what occurred will be taught to you but suffice it to say that no one will make the connection to your pasts." Dominus said. "The advent of Quirks led to a century and then some of chaos known as the Quirk Wars so many pre-Quirk records are lost including the names of the old heroes of Paris."

"Wait really?" Marinette asked her eyes wide.

"France is not known for it's ability to handle change in a, let's say rational manner." Mage said. "And Quirks were no different."

"Sounds about right." Adrien said with a sigh that Marinette couldn't help but agree with. "We tend to devolve right to violence and then bring out the guillotine."

"And that is pretty much what happened when Quirks began to pop up in France." Dominus said with a note of sadness in his voice. "Chaos began to reign supreme, and it took a while to correct it as the deities themselves had issues. In that period, France was ravaged by a series of conflicts that made the century from 1780 to 1880 look peaceful by comparison."

"That bad?" Marinette asked her eyes wide.

"Yup, when the French go revolution they don't really hold back." Mage said. "From about 2050 to 2175 the Quirk Wars raged on and off and in that time France saw 6 more Republics, 3 more Empires under Napoleons, and two restorations of the Bourbon Monarchy, along with a handful of Paris Communes that were all in competition to outdo each other for how much worse they could be compared to Robespierre."

"As much as I wish that was not the case, I am not surprised." Adrien said. "Our friends and families? Were they ok."

"They were." Dominus said. "We extended our duty to them as well as you and got them out. It actually helped with the backstory as well which we should get into now. Mage can go into more on that later, including how the records were destroyed but the legend of two Parisian heroes who fought a villain in the pre-Quirk era remained. We used that legend when we helped rebuild Paris following the stabilization that the Heroic Age created."

"That will be important to know just in case." Marinette said with a nod. "Thank you but I agree, this is too much of a distraction right now. What are our backstories going to be?"

"Those have been in the works since your disappearance and has been adapted to work with Quirks, and perfected for when we knew that you would be in Japan." Mage said. "Basically, we used followers with facsimiles of Quirks that I gave them to lay a false trail for you to use, once the chaos of the Quirk Wars died down of course and your families officially returned to Paris with your grandparents."

"Huh?" Marinette asked. "I'm a little confused."

"What Mage means is that at the end of the Quirk Wars, when all those who would have known you had long passed on, people who claim to be your grandparents returned to Paris and resumed your families' respective businesses in Paris having continued them elsewhere during the chaos." Dominus explained. "All well backdated and iron clad mind you, the Guardian of Technology is very good at that thing, and no one will be able to disprove it. We even went as far as to have your 'parents' have the same names, reputations, businesses and what not."

"We basically just did that every other generation as we waited and were ready to make the changes necessary though we got lucky that you arrived in a generation that we used stand-ins for you so all that is taken care of." Mage said. "We've even gone as far as to make sure that your family history of Quirks work to explain your Quirks and enhancements though those we will address in a moment."

"Wait how did all that work?" Adrien asked confused and Marinette just nodded to show she was as confused as her boyfriend was. "Especially with our family businesses? Surely they would have ended with our disappearances as we were only children?"

"They would have if we hadn't planned for it from the get-go and the Quirk Wars give us the chance to evacuate everyone and really streamline our plans." Mage said with a grin. "We used our abilities to take them over and preserve them for you outside of Paris for return one day."

"I can attest to that." Nezu said as he set down an empty cup of tea. "The Agreste fashion line is still world famous though now they tend to focus on hero costumes and related apparel having spent the Quirk Wars in the UK before returning to Paris in 2177 to restore their origins. Meanwhile the Dupain-Cheng bakery flourished when it moved to Italy during the Wars before returning to its roots in 2190. It is now the most exclusive and high end in Paris while running many equally good, cheaper options that would be in line with what your family did Marinette."

"Oh." Marinette said her eyes wide as Adrien just blinked in surprise at the extent of what had been done for them. "That, that is a lot."

"We don't do things half way, especially when we are sorting out our own mistakes." Dominus said seriously. "We have been preparing for this for centuries and we needed your families to be considered elites in Europe for what we had planned to explain away your Quirks. The fact that they are also proudly French, though we have kept it that Marinette's family is only a quarter French with a quarter Italian and half Chinese, and survived the problems there add to what they did."

"The, er, enhanced attributes and in my case senses." Adrien said remembering what Mage had said when he'd made the change. "You referred to them being the product of Quirk Marriages but not much more, at least that I remember."

"That's because they are the only way to produce a person with a clear Quirk and other advantages like yours as, with a few exceptions thanks to All for One, most people only have one Quirk." Mage said. "There are some hybrid Quirks that are effectively 2 separate Quirks, but they are very rare though when one does appear they are powerful. What we did was using a concept that was already popular in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Japan back then, to explain it. We used the institution of Quirk Marriages to our advantage."

"You said that they are basically old school arranged marriages." Marinette said remembering. "Right?"

"That's pretty much what they were." Nezu said though they could hear his disapproval of them in his voice. "That was the inspiration for them at least. You see as the generations pass, Quirks get stronger, more complex, and widespread as they mix and produce new ones from generation to generation. It might eventually get too much so some of us are keeping an eye on that potential problem, but we aren't there yet."

"Quirk Marriages are thankfully no longer legal, but they still happen under the table." All Might said also sounding like he didn't like the practice very much. "I never liked the concept, but it's well known, especially in the rich elites as strong and compatible people with Quirks could command high prices for the marriage, so they can be used to explain your additional factors that aren't actually Quirks. A little good from that practice."

"We did make sure that your parents and grandparents married for love." Mage reminded them. "Your 'parents' are still alive in Paris but are very busy with their work. There is a paper trail for them, and the names are the same to help while the people posing as them are followers of the Guardians, so they know what is up. I will provide full files on this though as we will be going over it all in greater detail over the next 6 months."

"Oh, ok yeah we're going to need to really work on that to get it right." Adrien said. "But I can see how as close to the truth works best."

"We can't use the real truth because no one would believe you so we are going with as close to it as possible." Nezu said. "All names and facts are going to be the same as you remember them, while the Guardians have already long established how your past school works that will add to it, and Mage will make sure to make any necessary adjustments if there is a search, but we don't expect that."

"I get that, make sure it is all covered." Marinette said. "And we will learn all of this in time so that we can keep it up."

"Precisely." Nezu said with a nod. "I heard that you tend to have an unconventional mind Marinette."

"I tend to over complicate things and not think in a linear fashion most of the time." Marinette admitted. "It's how I used my Lucky Charm against the akumas back in the day though I have a feeling it will be different now as I no longer have to destroy the akumatized object."

"It is good to be unpredictable." Nezu said with a nod as a new cup of tea appeared before him. "It will serve you well in defeating the villains of our age just as it did of yours."

"Thank you." Marinette said before bringing them back on topic. "So how will this Quirk Marriage history work?"

"It's pretty simple and thanks to our efforts people like you are relatively common across Europe." Mage said. "Your families have, over the years, had a predominate Quirk trait. The Agrestes were known for their ability to break down matter with a touch, your destruction is the culmination of that Adrien."

"Meanwhile the Dupains were known for their ability to create what they needed for various reasons." Dominus said. "We used your father's line Marinette so that we could go with as accurate a backstory for you with a Chinese mother which also helps with the end of the Quirk Marriages as in the past they wouldn't have done that."

"That makes a lot of sense." Marinette admitted.

"It has also helped as your mother's Quirk has been the final thing needed to make yours the way it is." Mage said. "It is one that gives her the ability to see how to accomplish a task at hand though she needs to find the item first, it's your father with the ability to create an item though only one and he has no idea what it will be. As such, Marinette can create a random item that is what she needs to accomplish a specific task and can see how it is done. Usual it is to win a fight but there are other ones like stopping Adrien from slow dancing with another girl."

"I shouldn't have done that." Marinette said with a blush. "But I get that and that is really well thought out."

"What about the enhanced sense and other things?" Adrien asked. "I have those but how are we explaining that one away."

"The senses come from your mother Adrien, that is the big difference between you and Marinette as she doesn't have them and again another sign that your parents weren't part of Quirk Marriages." Mage said. "As for your enhanced abilities, they don't rise to a Quirk because elite families in Europe have been, for lack of a better term, breeding them into their offspring."

"Ah I see why Quirk Marriages are frowned upon." Marinette said with a shiver at the terminology, but she understood that there wasn't a better word for it. "But it explains it and explains our status then."

"Yes because alas there are still a sense of elitism in this world and many of your classmates will either come from elite families or be seen as elite due to their powerful Quirks." Nezu said with a frown. "Plus, as exchange students you have to come from the best the world has to offer so we need to make sure that that is clear."

"I'm used to that." Adrien said with a sigh. "I won't act elite, but I know the life and can teach it to Marinette if need be."

"I know you don't which is one of the reasons why I fell for you." Marinette said softly giving Adrien's hand a squeeze. "And I agree, we will act the same as always."

"That is good to hear." Mage said. "Now that we are done with the overview of your family backstories, and we will review all of this in the coming months, it is time to move onto the next part, school and costumes."

"Well, we'd like to keep our costumes as is, or at least as close to as you can make it." Adrien said. "If that is possible."

"Oh it is but we can save that for last." Mage said with a smile. "I need to use a lot of power for that so best to wait until there is nothing else to talk about. First we need to discuss school and again we have made sure that it is as close to the truth because nowadays Francois Dupont High School, which was rebuilt in the same spot when France adopted a Hero Code, is the premier hero training school in France and a top 5 in Europe so it is considered on par with U.A."

"Oh that is good." Marinette said amazed at how much thought had been put into this and honored at the trust and faith being shown in them by the being who created their Miraculouses. "That does save some things, but I presume there are more because we are starting as first years at U.A. as exchange students."

"Yes there is more." Mage said. "And again, we've long planned for it."

"For the last 30 years U.A. has been part of a series of exchange programs with some of the top Hero Schools in the world." Nezu explained. "This was already in place before the Guardians revealed their true nature to me and when it was I realized everything that was going on. We've had exchange students from Francois Dupont, they were in fact the first school to have an exchange with us, but not for 8 years so no one will know you, but it turns out that there were already precautions in place which I presume was part of the plan."

"It was." Dominus said with a nod. "We had to make sure everything was in place."

"Hmmm, yes it all makes sense now." Nezu said his eyes closed for a moment. "It will work well for sure."

"Um what works well?" Marinette asked confused.

"When Francois Dupont became a hero school they decided to honor the legacy of the pre-Quirk heroes, who by the way are now seen as mythical given the changes in society and opted for a different style to most Hero Schools." Mage said. "That we may or may not have subtly suggested. All students in Francois Dupont's Hero Course wear masks to hide their identities, are placed in pairs from the start, and they start hero training two years before U.A. as is the custom in European high schools."

"This was done to pay homage to the mysterious pre-Quirk heroes who's names are unknown, but they were known to be animal themed." Dominus said. "And many French students chose animal themed costumes and names, don't worry your old names have been reserved for you we made sure of that as well."

"Wait so we will be Ladybug and Cat Noir again?" Marinette asked. "We can still use the names we went by?"

"Of course, the Guardians have kept them as unusable until you two came back and no one knows of the original ones as their names were lost thanks to the Quirk Wars." Dominus said. "Though you won't be using your names until the time comes to chose them at U.A. which won't be for a while I believe."

"Depends on how the Sports Festival goes." Nezu said. "But all in good time."

"There is one additional reason why we've done this at Francois Dupont." Mage said. "This way no one will know that you were or were not in the class as no real names are used there for the Hero Course. Course we have falsified records and used stand-ins to make sure that any checks would come back correct, so you are all in the clear."

"Plus, every year four to eight students from FDHS go on exchanges all over the world after doing two years there and they are always in their pairs." Dominus added. "This year, including you two, the number is six with you two being the first two to be accepted by U.A. in 8 years. If you still wish to assist that is, you can pull out now but after today you're committed."

Adrien and Marinette looked at each other and nodded. There was no way that they would pull out at this point. They were heroes, it was what they did, and this was how they resumed their roles in this new society and in a way they could have never imagine back in their day. Plus, so much effort had been put into this that they couldn't say no.

Clearly their aid was needed and who were they to refuse, that wasn't what heroes did after all. Plus, they had no one left so this was a fresh start and as Miraculous Holders they had a tie to Mage, so this was the best place for them to start their new lives in this new era for them.

"We're in." Marinette said and Adrien nodded. "You've prepared so much, and we have nothing to go back to but we're still heroes so we can do it."

"I knew you would, you have what it takes to be great heroes in this age just as you were in yours." Mage said as Nezu and All Might nodded seeing the potential in the pair. "That leaves the last thing, your costumes."

"Yes about those, how will they be done?" Adrien asked. "I would like to keep mine though the ears and bell may be a bit much."

"Same though how will they be done?" Marinette added.

"Well, you won't have to worry about the ears or bell, what I have in mind won't create them." Mage said. "But I can ensure that they are the same style for the most part as you're used to though I will add something to Marinette's."

"You will?" Marinette asked confused.

"I have to really given how I need to create yours." Mage said. "Don't worry it will allow for a utility belt that will be where you can store your yo-yo and other useful items, something I will explain in a moment, as well as specialty high protein cubes that have been developed for you two."

"High protein cubes?" Adrien asked sounding as confused as Marinette.

"Your Quirks are powerful but only work for 5 minutes at a time right now." Mage said. "Or until you have used for their intended purposes just as they are with your Miraculouses. Over time you will increase their power and duration as they are now Quirks but for now they are at the level you had them when you last used them. The cubes will recharge you so that you can use them again as both will require food to recharge with the formula designed to minimize the recharge time. It's a common enough recharge need that it won't be out of place."

"Oh I see that makes sense." Adrien said and Marinette nodded understanding it as well. "So how will you do our costumes?"

"Hand me your ring." Mage said simply. "I need to hold it to change its properties to what I want it to be."

"Won't Plagg vanish if I take it off?" Adrien asked as he reached for the ring.

"Only if you renounce him which you I take it that you won't." Mage said.

"Course not." Adrien said as he removed the ring, the silver turning black with a green paw print on it and handed it to Mage as Neu and All Might looked at it with intrigue having never seen a Miraculous up close before. "I'd never do that."

"Good now to change this to what I need." Mage said as he held the ring and smiled at it. "It's been millennia since I held this thing. Forged out of pure magic and one of the most powerful items I've ever made but times have changed and so too must this."

Mage closed his fist around the ring and concentrated. For the first time Adrien and Marinette saw the Guardian of Magic actually exert his power as he grit his teeth and went to work. His fist glowed black and green as he did. It only lasted a few minutes, but it clearly took a lot out of him by the time he was done.

"Sorry I had to up my conscience to about 75% to fully rework this." Mage said surprising everyone even Dominus as he opened his hand to reveal the ring there though it looked unchanged. "That's how powerful it is and how much of my element is required to change it, but it's done. Put it back on Adrien."

Adrien took the ring from its creator's hand and slipped it on. It turned back to silver as soon as it was on, but it didn't feel any different to how it usually felt.

"Ok now I want you to hold it between your left thumb and forefinger." Mage instructed showing the move on his own hand. "And think of being in your costume."

Adrien did just that. it took a moment but he felt a tug and then suddenly his costume began to form. It started on his hand though instead of a glove it was one piece similar to how Marinette's had been before it then spread over his body only a layer over his skin so that it was under his clothes. It took a few seconds but soon it was complete.

It was very similar to what he usually wore, and he could feel that the design under his clothes was the same as it had been for the most part. There were a few key differences, however. He didn't have the ears, mask, bell, boots, belt or gloves but the rest was there. Also his baton wasn't present.

"It looks similar but is a little tight." Adrien admitted.

"That's because it is directly over your skin." Mage pointed out. "I will discuss with Silk, the Guardian of Fashion, and get her to come here to meet you two so she can create the necessary underwear for you two to wear under the costume that can work with it and avoid issues as it is technically clothes, so we will need to work together with the creation of them."

"Different elements?" Marinette asked.

"Correct." Mage said with a nod. "I need her help to blend our elements as such. The costumes are magic and from before her time as a Guardian so I can work with that, but the underwear won't be which is why I need her help. Other items like boots, the belt, and mask Silk and I will also make to finish the look."

"I see and, er, how do I get this off?" Adrien asked.

"Same process but in reverse." Mage said and Adrien did that so that a second later he was back to normal only with ruffled clothes from having the costume on underneath it. "It felt just as it used to though which is nice."

"That looks like one of Technus's nanotech costumes." Nezu said rubbing his chin with a paw. "I see where you are going with this."

"Technus?" Adrien asked confused.

"He's the Guardian of Technology and the number one costume maker in the world, as well as the top support item creator alongside his American rival David Shield." Mage explained. "He'll visit as well to help but as a Guardian this is his main cover."

"So, we're using his style to hide the magic of our suits?" Marinette asked.

"Astute." Mage said with a nod. "He has a contract with FDHS, as well as the other top European schools, in preparation for this. His costumes are top quality and use nanotech that is hidden in items one wears. Once the item scans someone's fingerprints and DNA they activate for that person, so I am borrowing his style to hide it in plain sight. The costumes use cutting edge nanotech to create skintight suits that are self-healing and augment durability, speed, and strength of the wearer so there is more there for you to consider, and we will train so you can control your power correctly."

"There is more to it." Dominus added. "The technology Technus uses can actually mimic DNA so he's made costumes that work with heroes whose Quirks would cause wardrobe malfunctions otherwise. As such, it will not disintegrate when Adrien uses his Quirk. The Japanese designers prefer more organic costumes using hair or skin cells of the person in question, but Technus can replicate it with technology, a patent he has though he can only do it because of his powers."

"I see that makes sense." Adrien said amazed at the change. "Though I do see the need for the underwear, it will come in handy."

"Precisely." Mage said. "We've been perfecting this for years and this is the latest generation, well it can pass as such."

"But what about my baton?" Adrien asked. "And Marinette's costume?"

"I will create the baton and Marinette's yo-yo with my magic so that they are identical to what you're used to and FDHS students are known to train in the use of a weapon so it will help your cover to have them." Mage said. "Technus can't reproduce them, but he will sign off on them being his creations just in case. They will be the same as they are when created by the Miraculouses, I did create them originally, so it makes sense. I'll have the baton and yo-yo ready by the end of the week so you can use them and yes I will keep the same style."

"End of the week?" All Might asked. "I'm sorry to ask this Mage but couldn't you just create them now. I am still a little confused as to how your powers work but surely you can just materialize them like you did with the tea?"

"I can make a weak version of them, but the true magical versions require a little more effort on my part." Mage said with a sigh. "These aren't simple devices. They are powerful items that are forged of magic. It takes a lot out of me to make them but I owe these two more than I can repay so I have no problem doing this. I can't for anyone else, there are various restrictions, and their abilities are actually tied to the weapons and how they use them which allows me to do this. I'll give you a rundown sometime if you and Nezu want but I don't have the time now."

"Ah I see go on then." All Might said.

"Thank you." Mage said before turning back to Marinette and Adrien. "Marinette, can you hand over your earrings please? This one will take a little longer and I need about 90% of my conscience to sort this out."

"That much?" Marinette asked surprised as she reached up and removed her earrings and handed them to Mage, their color returning to their Miraculous state and feeling odd without them on. "That's more than you needed for Adrien's ring."

"Think of it this way." Mage said as he held the other original Miraculous in his hand and looked at it. "The costume is made to come out of the Miraculous and you'd rather that that not be on your ears unless you want some sort of upper mask style to it."

"No I like my costume as is though the utility belt is a nice addition." Marinette agreed as

Mage closed his fist on the earrings. "You're changing the Miraculous itself, aren't you?"

"Yup." Mage grunted as he began to pour his power into the Miraculous in his hand. "I need more of myself here to do this but not the full amount that I would need to create one. I haven't changed one in years and none as powerful as this one, but I have to do so. I will be out for a few days though as I recover. I am not joking when I say it takes a lot of power to create permanent magical items."

Mage said all of it through gritted teeth and he focused on what he had to do. His fist glowed red as he worked and sweat began to trickle down his face as kept changing the Miraculous in his hand to what he wanted it to be. It took longer than with Adrien's but Marinette understood it. They just watched in silence as the Guardian worked as it was rare to see someone like him use so much power in one go.

Finally, it was done, and Mage exhaled a deep sigh of relief. He opened his hand and a new item floated up from it. It was now a single item and Marinette blinked at it as it floated over to her. It was still clearly a piercing but now it was a curved metal bar with a small ball on one end and the single Ladybug Miraculous as it had been before at the other end though it looked a little smaller than it had been when it had been a set of earrings.

"That's…" Marinette began with a gulp as she recognized it.

"Yup I turned it into a navel piercing." Mage said sounding exhausted as Marinette took it out of the air. "It's the best place for your costume to originate from that I can make. I can't change the jewelry type without a lot more effort and a place of deep magical connection, but I can change it to a different form of the base item which in your case is a body piercing. This was one of two options I had and while the other one was easier as I didn't have to combine it into one piece, I, um, decided that this was more appropriate and frankly easier for you."

"Oh." Marinette said blushing scarlet at what Mage had said, yes her navel was better than the other spot and was glad that no one else realized where it was. "I see yes this works better and I can see how the belt will work from it. How will I, er, get the piercing done."

"I can do it now and with magic it will be healed instantly but I don't suggest removing it as your body will still have to get accustomed to it." Mage said. "Or you can wait and I can do it when there's no company."

"No." Marinette said forcefully, she was a hero she shouldn't be ashamed by this and if that was where her costume would be coming from then she had to get used to showing it at times, plus it was just her belly. "Do it now. My miraculous is part of me, I don't like it being off. This will just take a bit to adapt to."

"Very well." Mage said. "Stand and raise your shirt enough for my work."

Marinette nodded as everyone just stared in amazement as she stood and lifted her shirt enough to show off her toned stomach from the recent change and navel but nowhere near her bra, so everything was still within the bounds of decorum. Mage didn't get up he just looked at the Ladybug Miraculous in Marinette's hand and it rose into the air again. The ball on the top end removed and it bent as it approached Marinette's navel.

"This will hurt." Mage said bluntly before the piercing went through as if it was professionally done and Marinette gasped in pain at the sensation. "Sorry."

"It's ok." Marinette grunted as the ball reattracted to finish the piercing and a small trickle of blood ran down from the spot of the piercing.

Mage waved his hand and a second later the pain was gone Marinette gasped as she lowered her shirt and sat down, Adrien taking her hand again. She would look at it later in private but knowing that it was there was a reassurance. It may be in a new place that would take time to get used to, but she had her Miraculous on her again, she was whole. She'd just have to find a new pair of earrings as her ears now felt naked after wearing hers for so long.

"I need to rest." Mage said and they could all hear the exhaustion in his voice. "Dominus, can you take over and iron out the remaining details for tonight. We are basically done but just in case there are any lingering questions that anyone has."

"I can, rest my friend." Dominus said with a nod. "We have 6 months now to work with so we should all rest. The major stuff has been dealt with and I will be back to help out from time to time but it's on you now."

Mage just nodded before he closed his eyes and vanished into thin air. Marinette and Adrien would have been surprised by that but by now they were kinda used to something like that happening. Dominus just stood indicating that the others should as well.

"That concludes the main preparations and now Adrien and Marinette know what is going on and have met you two." Dominus said to the humans present. "Everything else will be addressed over the next 6 months as Mage trains and educates them. All Might, you need to get back to Midoriya and his training, Nezu, I assume you want to be back at U.A."

"Yes I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on." Nezu said before bowing deeply to the Master Guardian. "Thank you Dominus, always a pleasure."

"Agreed but as you pointed out, young Midoriya needs me." All Might said bowing as well. "Or else he might push himself too hard and mess up his training regime. I presume you can send us back."

"I can but only to U.A." Dominus said with a slight bow at the pros. "Anything else and I might get a backlash due to my restrictions, well that and it would look suspicious otherwise."

"That's fine." Nezu said before he offered a slightly shorter bow to Adrien and Marinette. "Adrien, Marinette, a pleasure to finally meet you. I know we will meet again before you enroll. I wish you the best of luck and thank you for all you are doing to help us despite all that you have gone through lately."

"See you at U.A." All Might said with a smile. "You will be great heroes, I know it."

"It was our pleasure." Marinette said bowing low and glad her new piercing wasn't hurting as she genuflected.

"Agreed." Adrien said bowing as well. "We won't let you down."

The pros just nodded before Dominus waved his hand and a bright white light appeared where Mage had been. Nezu and All Might turned and walked through it without another word and the light disappeared a second later.

"Get some rest kids." Dominus said to the teens. "You'll need it because once Mage is ready he will put you through your paces to make sure that you are ready. There's a lot to cover in the next 6 months but I know you can do it. The Guardians owe you for this as well as for everything that has happened to you, I will not forget."

Before Marinette and Adrien could respond Dominus vanished into thin air going to parts unknown. They looked at each other but Adrien just shrugged and offered his girlfriend his hand. Marinette smiled and took it as they left the room to return to their quarters for the evening. They had a lot to discuss and go over after that meeting but they felt ready.

They knew what they had to do and everything was in place. They could do this. They had 6 months to get ready and then it was on to U.A. and whatever was in store for them there. Their new lives started today. It was time to become heroes all over again.

Well, there it is, the last major prep chapter and the overview of what is to be done. More of the backstory will be revealed in time and other characters will inadvertently help it, mainly Aoyama thanks to his French ancestry. There really isn't much else to say after this chapter, there is only one more before the main story starts and that's a straightforward one so I will leave it here. If you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Until next week.

Stringdog