Chapter Text
Creation and destruction.
Both are controlled by the two miraculous, the Ladybug Earrings and the Ring of the Cat. Souls intertwined by coincidence, or is it fate? Destiny? No living thing knows.
19 in total, 19 powerful superbeings with the ability to grant that power to the user. It is important these beings never fall into the hands of corruption, for there is a price.
Master Fu stared at the photographs with a strange fondness. He gave a small smile.
On the other hand, Wayzz was buzzed with an unfamiliar, worried demeanor. His movements were frantic and tense. Fu turned to his kwami with a perturbed expression.
Wayzz straightened his stance before speaking up, “...Master, I sense a great disturbance.
Lately, I've felt this feeling grow, and I can’t just leave this quiet on my conscience.” He fiddled a bit before looking back at his master with unwavering eyes.
Fu sighed, “What is this disturbance you speak of?” He was starting to get worried, was it what he thought it was? No, that would be impossible.
Wayzz's expression startled him until he heard the words “I think it’s Nooroo,” His heart dropped. “The corruption we have dreaded is approaching.”
His hands started to tremble before he steadied himself with common sense. Master Fu looked at his partner, his friend, regretfully. Oh, how could he have let it get this far. The once calm atmosphere of the one-story flat was gone, and he was starting to think it was his fault.
Master Fu composed himself before saying “Then we must make haste,” his expression shifted towards the box.
This was no ordinary box though, no, it was the key. A key that needed a door.
Marinette woke with a startling croak.
Her limbs were stiff from sleep, her eyes bleary. She brought her hand to her face to wipe away the moisture on her cheeks. The once-smooth fabric of her pajamas now scratchy and rough which was irritating but was a good motivation for her to climb out of her bed.
Marinette carried herself out of her duvet just before throwing on a nice gray blouse and comfortable leggings. She had adjusted the size of the shirt she designed the night before, so she didn’t think there would be an issue with that.
Her walls were covered with magazines from L’Officiel and Vogue, her floors engulfed with fabric and yarn scraps. There were a few loose ‘Jagged Stone’ posters hanging above the headboard she had obtained with Alya the previous summer.
After attempting to shove her actually completed schoolwork, gee thanks Alya for sending my 20 reminders, Marinette zipped up her backpack, opened the door to her bedroom, and smelled the delicious pastries no doubt her mama and papa had started pre-baking. Her father’s hearty laughs could be heard all the way to the upstairs hallway.
She let out a small smile before continuing her way downstairs.
Entering the bakery, she observed her parents swaying to an old 70’s song while adding in their first batch of Crème brûlée’s and custard tarts. Her cheeks warmed when she noticed the small box of macarons set off the side on the counter with a cute handwritten note.
Her mother noticed her first and greeted her with a soft ‘good morning’.
Tom acknowledged his daughter and pulled her into a warm hug. “I still swear to this day that it was only yesterday that we were sending you off to your first day in primary school. And look at you now, a Junior,” his eyes studied her with unbridled pride. He subtly wiped away his forming tears.
Marinette, now embarrassed, decided the floor was a much more interesting thing to look at.
She gave out a weak chuckle “P-papa you said the same things last year! What are you going to say once I’m off to university, I’m not going to be your little girl forever,” she halfheartedly taunted.
Her papa gave out a dramatic gasp before getting ushered away by Sabine. Her mother then gave her a joking wink before her eyes settled on the clock just above the pantry, her eyes widened.
“Marinette! I told you to wake up an hour early, not an hour late,” Sabine said. She grabbed the macarons on the counter and handed them to Marinette. “Take these too, I made them for your teachers and classmates,” She paused before adding “I’m sure this will make up for the past late slips.”
“Ma’mam, you know I can’t help it-” Marrientte tried to argue before she noticed the time herself and hopped out of her seat with the speed of someone running a marathon. Let it be said that while Marinette is usually behind schedule, she is quick on her feet.
“Goodbye! Love you!” She made out before running with every inch of her out of the bakery.
Her parents stifled out giggles, that really was their Marinette.
Almost tripping inside the classroom, Marinette’s perilous journey of running through busy sidewalks, spooking poor dog walkers, and disobeying traffic laws has finally come to a close. She breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into a pool of familiar faces.
Mylene and Alex were conversing with a few other classmates about their summer and Miss Bustier’s expression looked tired as ever. Marinette winced at her eyebags. They really don’t pay her enough, she thought as the volume got louder as more people entered the class.
Nino though was sitting with his feet resting atop the front seat with a serene expression on his face, his headphones resting on the tip of his hat. He gave her some friendly finger-guns as she entered the classroom, the memory made her giggle. She responded with a polite wave.
Miss Bustier gave a fatigued groan when she noticed Nino’s position. Nino must have caught on because he quickly removed his headphones.
“Nino please take the assigned seat on the seating chart hanging outside, and keep your feet off the desk. It’s school property.” She said as Nino rolled his eyes before he obeyed and picked up his backpack.
Doing the same, Marinette hurried over to the left seat by the window, her seat for the past two years. The feeling of normality was a content feeling.
Right as she was taking out her materials, the cheerful look was quickly wiped off as Marinette took notice of the shiny black pointed shoes stationed right by her bag.
She let out an Internal groan, of course.
Standing tall and proud with a bright yellow pleated jacket and skirt, perfectly manicured nails, and some botched mascara stood Chloe Bourgeois. She gave a cold sneer.
Marinette really didn’t want to deal with this, but really who did? Someone else wasn’t going to do it for her. Though, she would like some more time to mentally prepare herself for the upcoming conversation.
Chloe mockingly tilted her head “Dupain-Cheng I believe you are in dire need of some directions, it’s clear you're lost,” she sniggered. Sabrina came close behind her while juggling both their backpacks. Marinette almost felt bad for the poor girl, Chloe’s backpack looked like it weighed 2 tons.
“Chloe, what are you talking about?” she said as she was met with an unkind snort ahead of her.
Chloe pursed her lips before roughly swinging her bag out of her friend’s clutch and harshly slamming it right on Marinette’s desk. She then took her pointer finger and forcibly pointed to the wood top of the desk. “As of this year, this desk is Mine now, and since Adrikins is going to be sitting here, I’m going to be sitting next to him,” she said as she moved her hand in a telling, waving motion.
‘Adrikins’? This was it, Chloe had to have lost her mind, there was no other explanation.
“Adrien, who is that? Is he a new student?” Marinette questioned. Of course, Sabrina and Chloe were already howling with laughter at the ignorance of her question. Was she supposed to know who this was?
She had enough of this, this was her first day, and Chloe wasn’t going to ruin it. “I don’t know what sick joke you’re playing Chloe but this is my desk, always has been. I’m not going to give it up,” she said firmly.
At this moment Marinette finally realized how close Chloe was in proximity to her. Her hot breath fell, eyes in no mistakable range. Marinette’s words suddenly fell short on her mouth.
“You will take your tacky clothes and your disgusting face out of my seat, Dupein Chang. Why don’t you take a seat next to the new girl who looks like she just went to a rodeo. Much more your style,” Chloe all but seethed.
Marinette didn’t even notice the new girl seated just a few rows across from them. She didn’t really want to move her seat but the other girl looked nice enough. Plus did she have enough strength to stand up to Chloe? Probably not.
It was also shocking that Mrs. Bustier had never noticed the jeers and the taunting. Then again money can basically buy you anything, and that was something Chloe had a lot of.
Slowly but steadily, Marinette picked up her backpack only to feel an unmistakable force of impact as she hit the ground, and the box of macarons she had been previously carrying closely followed. Her knees stung from the crash but she pushed off the pain.
After hearing some giggles from no doubt Sabrina and Chloe, Marinette brushed herself off and set her course. As she headed over to her new seat, she also took note of how her once-perfect treat box was now crinkled and rumpled, smashed at one side. Great, hopefully some of these are salvageable.
“Hey who elected you the queen of seats?”
An accusing voice broke in. Marinette bit back her surprise as the new girl was standing right next to her. Her wavy brunette hair fell to her back as she pinched up her glasses in a displeased motion.
Chloe, already sitting in her old seat, guffawed at the new opinion. “Well Sabrina, look here we have a new do-gooder in town, what are you going to do? Shoot lasers out of your four-eyes?” she elbowed the poor girl who looked as if she was practically shaking in her boots. Sabrina averted her gaze.
The brunette gave Chloe a cold glare before replying “Wouldn’t you like to know?” and grabbing Marrinette’s arm and pulling her to her table.
Miss. Bustier seemed to finally catch on and announced “Alright, has everyone found their seats?” She was clearly trying to lighten the tension.
Marinette quickly sat in her chair, she really didn’t want to avert any more attention. Nope. “Ah sorry about all that, I know Chloe can be a handful,” she admitted guilty. She nervously twiddled her thumbs.
The girl gave her a grin, “It’s no biggie!” She continued to look at her thoughtfully before taking out her phone and seeming pulling up a photo “Anyways, It’s what Majestia would do. She always says ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing,’” The new girl looked excited as she animatedly pointed to the bright superhero on her screen.
She then locked Marinette in a friendly headlock before whispering close “Well that girl over there is evil, and we are the good people. We can’t let her get away with it!”
Marinette sheepishly rubbed her neck “I wish I could have that mindset,” Her gaze moved over to the half-crushed box of macarons. She grabbed the best-looking one and cracked it evenly in half “I’m Marinette,” she said as she extended her hand in greeting.
“Alya,” she said as she kindly took the treat.
When class finally started, Marinette couldn’t help but notice the impatient fidgeting coming from her old seat across the row. Chloe was biting her nails and was constantly reaching for her phone throughout the lesson to check the time. What is up with her?
How could Kim do that?!
Ivan thought as he clenched his fists outside Mr. Damocles’s office. His body was involuntarily shaking from rage, his eyes fixed to the ground. Mylene and him didn’t deserve this treatment. This wasn’t Kim’s business at all.
His focus caught the teasing note crushed in his right fist. He couldn’t recount the words he had just been warned with from Mr. Damocles, he was just too angry.
Then it was almost like all the distinct voices in his head were silenced, he could only hear one thing. It plagued his thoughts and actions, his body almost relaxed. Something was different, this voice? What was it?
He couldn’t even hear Mr. Damocles’s next words as he came crashing into the office.
Marinette and Alya were going through some of the source material in the library when the world shook.
Marinette was slammed to the ground, her breath caught a gasp of surprise as she heard the booming thumps from above. The starts of screams began. Other students were running around frantically, some heading over the stationed TV just above the librarian’s desk.
Before she could think Alya pulled her up and looked her straight in the eye. “Come on!” she said as she grabbed Marinette's arm and hoisted her up so they could start for the exits.
The screaming didn’t stop as they paused by the growing crowd next to the television. She stared wide-eyed at the news recording of the monster she would think she would only see in movies. Alya wasn’t much different, though she felt as if she could see something else in those eyes.
This is a dream. This is a dream. This is a dream. This is a dream.
Marinette didn’t spare a moment before she broke out of Alya’s tight grasp and ran through the small bits of falling debris and towards the doors.
The volume wasn’t much quieter outside.
People were running through the streets trying to make an escape. There were big cracks in the pavement and Marinette swore she saw a piece of her school roof just lying in the middle of the sidewalk.
The monster itself well, it wasn’t much different from the destruction it was causing. It looked to be made of boulders? It genuinely looked like it came out of one of the pages of those 99 cents comics from the grocery store. Marinette’s motivations though weren’t hyper analyzing the villain, it was getting out of there and fast.
Her gaze stared down the new threat that she would soon know to be the source of her troubles for years to come.