Nathalie reached into the box of plates, carefully picking one up as she and Adrien settled into their new home—the same house they had visited a couple of weeks ago. Moving in together had been a big step, but it felt right. She'd been to Marinette's a few times and shared everything about her dream, the one that had changed everything.
Marinette was still working on a way to fix her earrings. It turned out each miraculous had its own unique healing potion. Fortunately, the new Hawk Moth hadn't made any moves yet.
As Nathalie reached for another plate, a sudden dizziness washed over her, making her grip on the plate falter. She blinked, trying to steady herself, her heart racing for a brief moment as the room seemed to spin. She almost dropped the plate, but somehow managed to hold on.
"Hey, are you alright?" Adrien's voice cut through the haze, his concern evident as he approached her quickly.
Nathalie took a shaky breath and gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Yeah, just a little dizzy. Nothing to worry about."
Adrien didn't seem convinced. "You've been pushing yourself a lot lately," he said gently, his eyes searching hers for any sign of more serious trouble. "Maybe you should take it easy for a while."
She shook her head, forcing the dizziness away. "I'm fine. Just... need a minute. I've been trying to focus on getting things in order here."
Adrien hesitated but nodded. "Okay, but if you need anything—"
"I'll let you know," Nathalie interrupted, trying to reassure him as she placed the plate down carefully
She was determined to not let any more hardships fall on Adrien, even if it meant shouldering the weight of so much knowledge herself. The thought of him being hurt or forced into a situation beyond his control was something Nathalie couldn't bear. Every decision she made, every secret she kept, was for his protection. She had already seen the toll their past battles had taken on him—she couldn't allow him to face any more of it.
So, despite the growing pressure on her, Nathalie buried her exhaustion and doubts. She was already shouldering so much—Ladybug's search for a cure, the mystery of the miraculous, the looming threat of Hawk Moth—but she'd carry it all. It would be worth it if it kept Adrien safe and kept him from suffering any further.
Even if it meant bearing the burden of all the knowledge she had, even if it meant hiding the toll it was taking on her, she couldn't afford to let Adrien see the truth. He had enough on his plate already. He didn't need to know just how precarious everything truly was.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Adrien asked again, his voice soft, a hint of worry in his eyes.
Nathalie smiled, brushing aside the tightness in her chest. "I'm fine. Just need a little rest," she said, her tone firm as if convincing herself as much as him. She knew she couldn't afford to falter—not now. Not when Adrien needed her strength.
Adrian headed off to organize his room, leaving Nathalie to steady herself as black spots danced across her vision. She winced, trying to shake off the dizziness, when a knock sounded at the front door. As she moved toward it, Adrian rushed past her, calling out, "I got it, Nathalie. You can rest."
Nathalie paused for a moment, her eyes lingering on Adrian's retreating form, before she gently shook her head and walked out of the kitchen. Through the doorway, she saw Marinette standing at the door. Marinette met her gaze, offering a quiet, knowing look. Nathalie's lips twitched, fighting the smile that threatened to break through. She understood exactly what that look meant.
Marinette had fixed the miraculous.
Adrian, already at the door, stepped aside to let her in, giving her a soft peck on the cheek. "What brings you here, Marinette?" he asked, though there was no disappointment in his voice—only curiosity.
"I umm need to talk to Nathalie real quick if that's okay?"
Adrian's expression revealed a hint of disappointment, yet he nodded in agreement. "Of course. I'll be in my room," he replied before turning and heading upstairs to settle into his new space. Marinette watched him go, then spun around to Nathalie, her face lighting up with excitement. "I did it! I fixed my miraculous!"
Nathalie's breath hitched in her throat as she processed the shocking news. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively raised a hand to cover her mouth, stifling the gasp that escaped her lips. "Really? Please don't be joking," she implored, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and hope. The weight of the moment settled heavily on her shoulders, and her legs turned to jelly, trembling beneath her as she struggled to maintain her balance. Each heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out everything else as she fought to grasp the reality of what she had just heard.
"Whoa, Nathalie! Be careful!" Marnette exclaimed, concern lacing her voice. "I'm still not entirely convinced that you're fully healed yet." Nathalie met her gaze, her own eyes reflecting a mix of seriousness and sincerity. "I'm not trying to deceive you, but there's a chance I could have," she admitted, sensing the weight of the moment. "You're the very first person I wanted to share this with."
Nathalie wrapped her arms around the teenager, pulling her into a tight embrace that conveyed both warmth and reassurance. Just then, a loud noise echoed from outside, slicing through the cozy atmosphere of the kitchen. Startled, Nathalie released Marnette and rushed over to the window, her heart racing as she peered out into the twilight sky.
To her astonishment, a massive dragon soared overhead, its dark, glistening scales catching the fading light of the sun. The creature circled gracefully, its wings casting shadows over the quaint rooftops of Paris below. "Um, you might want to transform," Nathalie urged, glancing back at Marnette. "Let's find out if your miraculous is really fixed."
Marnette hurried to the window, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nathalie as they both watched the spectacle unfold. "Wow, that's a huge dragon!" she marveled, her eyes wide with awe and trepidation. "Did Jagged get akumatized again?"
Nathalie shook her head, her brow furrowing in thought. "I don't think so. Jagged's dragon was purple, and this one is black." The unusual color only added to the mystery, and Nathalie couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Her mind raced to Adrain, who was likely upstairs, already transformed and ready for action. The tension in the air was palpable as they both realized that danger was looming closer than they had anticipated.
"The new Hawk Moth must have successfully akumatized someone," Manette exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency. Without hesitating, she called out to her kwami, "Tikki, spots on!" In an instant, a burst of magical energy enveloped her, transforming her into her superhero alter ego.
As she adjusted her mask, her gaze shifted to the yoyo at her side. With swift precision, she retrieved the peacock miraculous, its iridescent colors shimmering in the light. "Nathalie," she said, determination etched on her face, "I think we could use your help. Would you mind transforming into Mayura?" She extended her hand, offering the miraculous with a look of hope and trust.
Nathalie hesitated, her brow furrowing with doubt. "Are you sure? How do you know I won't turn against you?" Her voice was laced with uncertainty as she weighed the risks of accepting the offer, the specter of betrayal lingering in the air. Ladybug maintained her steady gaze, silently reassuring her, knowing that in this pivotal moment, they needed to unite against the looming threat.
Nathalie stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders. Her eyes darted between the small, intricately designed miraculous in her hand and the expectant gaze of the girl before her. With a resolute sigh, she finally took action, bringing the miraculous close. It caught the light as she clipped it onto her shirt, the vibrant colors contrasting boldly with the fabric. "Alright, I'll do it," she announced, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of apprehension. "But if word gets out and people start talking, don't think for a second that I'll ever go through with this again. Are we clear?" She fixed the girl with an intense glare, her brow furrowed in determination. The girl nodded quickly, glancing away under the intensity of Nathalie's gaze. "Yes, Nathalie," she responded her voice barely above a whisper, filled with understanding and a hint of trepidation. With a resolute sigh, she finally took action, bringing the miraculous close. It caught the light as she clipped it onto her shirt, the vibrant colors contrasting boldly with the fabric.