Chapter Text
“Secrets, no matter how necessary, weigh heavily on the soul, a lesson Marinette learnt well in the incident that led to me, and the other girls becoming the Gang of Secrets.”
“But in this next timeline, things turned out differently…”
“Will you please just leave my room?!” Marinette asked her friends.
“Chill out, Marinette,” Alya said, “It’s just a dollhouse. We’ll totally help.
“No, you won’t, please go!”
Marinette desperately tried to think of a way to get her friend out before the dollhouse fell apart and revealed the Miracle Box.
“Okay, Marinette, there’s clearly something wrong, and we’re not leaving you like this till you tell us what it is.”
“Each of us told our secrets to this bracelet.” Mylène told her, “It’s your turn now.”
“The only thing that’s wrong right now is you guys still hanging out in my room," Marinette retorted, “Which is not cool!”
“If we’re really your friends, you can confide in us,” Alya reassured.
“Real friends don’t ever let each other down,” Rose asserted.
Marinette was about to lash out and tell them she didn’t want them to be her friends, but stopped herself at the last second. She couldn't bear to lose her friends so soon after her breakup with Luka.
As she was distracted, her hand slipped, and the dollhouse fell apart.
The girls noticed the Miracle Box.
“Girl, what is that?”
Okay, don’t panic, Marinette’s mind told her. You can still talk your way out of this.
“What’s what?”
Marinette's mind groaned.
“Umm, the big oval ladybug thing,” Alya said.
“This? Oh, it’s nothing, just a personal project of mine.”
“You seemed pretty protective of that 'nothing' that you had hidden in there,” Alix noted sceptically.
“Look, guys,” Marinette said as she picked up the Miracle Box, “There is absolutely nothing special about this–waah!” She tripped, and her hand landed on the button on the top, causing it to light up and reveal the Miraculous.
The girls stared. Alya and Alix, in particular, upon seeing the necklace and pocket watch.
“Marinette,” Rose said, “Why do you have animal-themed jewellery in that box that looks like a ladybug…? Wait a minute… are you…?”
Marinette couldn't take it anymore.
“Fine! You want to know my secrets?! Yes! I’m Ladybug! I broke up with Luka because being a superhero ruined my dating life! And I now have to look after the Miraculous and the magical creatures that power them! There! Are you happy?!” She shouted before sobbing into her hands.
After a few seconds of processing, her friends came over and hugged her.
A few minutes later, they broke apart.
“Girl, we had no idea,” Alya said.
“We have your back, Marinette,” Alix told her.
“How? When? Why?” Mylène asked in quick succession.
“And what was that about magical creatures?” Rose added.
With the truth out, the Kwamis decided to show themselves.
“Wow, you’re so cute!” Rose and Daizzi said simultaneously to each other.
“Boo!” Mullo cried out, startling Mylène.
“Mullo!” The other Kwamis scolded.
Roaar floated over to Juleka.
“You have been quiet. Would you fight for your friends?”
“Yes,” She said quietly.
“What? I can’t hear you!”
“Yes,” She said a little louder.
“I still can’t hear you! Come on, is that all you got?”
“I said… YES!!!” She shouted, causing Roaar to fly backwards.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
“Ooohh!” You are good! You and I are gonna get along just fine!”
Fluff stared at Alix, “Is today the day you get my Miraculous, or is it too early?”
“What?!” Alya, Mylène, Rose and Juleka shouted.
Alix, Marinette and the other Kwamis glared at Fluff.
“Okay,” Alix said, “So I kind of met my future self, who is the holder of the Rabbit Miraculous, which has time travel powers.”
Everyone absorbed this: “Are any more of us heroes?” Mylène asked.
Rose noticed Alya looking shifty, “Alya?”
Marinette and Alya shared a look and sighed in unison.
“Okay, you got me, I’m Rena Rouge.”
Marinette rubbed her face. This was going to be a long day.