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Language:
English
Stats:
Published:
2021-03-12
Completed:
2021-05-21
Words:
37,450
Chapters:
12/12
Comments:
54
Kudos:
143
Bookmarks:
27
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3,097

Dust and Gold

Summary:

“Ladybug’s fingers held nothing when Chat Noir’s ring crumbled in her grasp. She watched the fear in his eye when he realized he had been too late, his eyes desperate and apologetic. Ladybug felt a cry build in her throat as his chest turned to black and green ash in her hands before it dissolved into the wind...”

~*~

After six years of masquerading as Paris’s heroine, Marinette felt assured in her ability to face the world with her partner by her side. When an akuma threatens to undo the fabric holding her world in place, Marinette soon realizes how quickly life can unravel, and how much she depends on the ally and friend who is always there when it comes undone.

Notes:

Hello!

Thank you for taking the time to read my first ML fanfiction. It has been some years since I have dabbled in creative writing, so constructive feedback is always welcome. 

A few notes before diving in:

~This story has heavy themes of loss and grief. If the reader is sensitive and/or may trigger by reading descriptor events related to loss, I advise not to continue.

~This story is written under the basis that the kwami can see and hear what is occurring while transformed.

~This story is written after season three and may contain spoilers for the reader who is not caught-up with the show.

~Grammar is my bane. If any glaring grammatical errors are found that disrupt the story, kindly let me know.

~The story will be updated weekly on Friday’s (if not sooner).

~All artwork included in this story is original. Please ask if you would like to repost and/or give me credit as the artist. Thanks!

*This story is inspired by the plot and characters developed by Jeremy Zag, Thomas Astruc and Nathanaël Bronn.

I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter Text

Mask

Paris, France

October 15th

14:30

Thirty-days, fourteen-hours, and thirty-minutes.

With red-rimmed eyes, Marinette stared at the blurring words in front of her. Faces and names seemed to run into one another as tears threatened to fall. 

Marinette felt a slight weight on her cheek as Tikki touched a comforting paw to her face. She felt undeserving of her friend’s warmth.

Ladybug had embraced the peril with arrogant confidence. She had been presumptuous and assuming in her judgment. In hindsight, Marinette couldn’t imagine life any other way. Ladybug always triumphed. Her certainty always reaffirmed in victory. How could she have imagined..?

“We’ll get him back, Marinette,” Tikki reasoned. Marinette had lost confidence in those words after day ten. At day twenty, she had fought the endless ache and hopelessness often accompanying the realities of misery and failure. Now, she was numb. 

“I know,” Marinette said, her words empty.

With nothing else to say to her kind companion of six years, Marinette stroked the top of Tikki’s head before shifting her mind back to her make-shift evidence wall. 

Thirty-days, fourteen-hours, and thirty-five minutes