Chapter Text
Ladybug's secret identity was supposed to be a secret.
That was what Master Fu taught her. That was what Marinette drilled inside her head.
Ladybug's civilian life was supposed to be a secret.
And not supposed to be discovered by her friends.
"L-Ladybug?" Alix's voice stopped all the sobbing tears.
The mentioned hero snapped her head down toward where the second voice came from, alarm clear in her crystal blue eyes.
Her classmate, Alix Kudbel, was there. Standing in her room, staring at her with equal disbelief in her eyes. Moreover, she wasn't alone.
"Oh my god," Alya Cesaire gasped.
Mylene Harpele dropped a handmade looking bracelet.
Rose was frantically shaking a frozen Juleka.
Marc and Nathaniel dropped a wrapped presents in their hands.
None of them moved.
Not even the surrounding kwamis.
After a moment of silence, it was Mylene who broke it. After noticing the still ringing phone in the heroine's hand, that hold an icon picture of Alya. In Alya's hand, her phone was still ringing and showed the contact picture of their class prep.
"...Marinette?"
Then it all clicked.
The heroine abruptly stood up, nervous smile plastered across her face like an instant make up "Hahaha–who's Marinette? I never knew a Marinette. Or meet one!"
But all her remaining excuses dried out at the disbelieving looks coming from her fellow classmates and cousin. With trembling and crestfallen face, the heroine dropped back on to her knees, and her hands rested on her laps in defeated manner.
The sound of her previous Master echoed loudly in her head.
"Remember, Ladybug. No one can know who you are. Not even your parents or your closest friends."
Heavy tears dripped down from her half masked countenance. Everything felt like it was destroyed. Broken. Unfixable.
Barkk and Ziggy hovered closed by "We're sorry, Guardian," the sheep kwami said.
"We tried to warn you, but it was too late," the dog kwami said.
Ladybug shooks her head. All her resolves was broken. Shattered. All the things her Master had taught her was gone. She disappointed him. She failed him. She failed Paris.
The one thing she had kept for so long–was revealed because of a silly mistake.
As Ladybug's shoulders hitched in tears, she didn't notice a presence looming over her until a pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders. The heroine tensed, abruptly looked up and readied to flip them when she realized it was her cousin who held her.
Marc didn't say a word. Simply hugged her. Her hold wasn't tight but firm. He didn't suffocated her, and she found herself easier to breath.
"...Marc?"
"It's okay to cry," the writer said after a pause "It'll be fine, Mari."
"But–the akuma–"
"We can handle it!" Rose's voice cheered down from below her bed.
The heroine peeked down, surprised to see all her friends readied themselves in a stance and hold respective items as weapons. Nathaniel hold a box close to his chest, probably a place to cage any dark coloured butterfly.
Rose took a step forward, and Ladybug surprises again to see a determined expression painted on the blonde's face.
"You can cry, Mari," she gently said, in a soft and reassuring tone.
Juleka followed her. Her usual shy eyes replaced with a rare courage "This time, we'll protect you."
Alya soon joined them. An encouraging grin embedded on her tanned face "And be there for you, girl."
There was a rule, one rule that was taught by Master Fu. Drilled heavily by Marinette Dupain-Cheng. A promise made by Ladybug; to never let anyone knows about her secret identity. One secret that she can never tell, never cry to anyone without raising a suspicions. One thing that she had been carried, along with the new big responsibility since the start of the year.
Yet. Why?
Why did she found herself crying in relief?
Why did she felt something lifted from her shoulders?
Why did...for once, she felt she was the one who saved?
Why?
Why?
As Marinette Dupain-Cheng questioned, Ladybug cried.
She cried and cried.
Cried even after there was no more tear left.
Cried even after her cousin's favourite red jacket heavily damped.
Marc never let her go, and she never wanted to let him go.
God, she had cried countless of times after received the title as the Guardian of the Mother Box. But never in those moments she felt as free as she had right now.
Because she never felt like she was rescued until now.
She was saved.
"...so, you're Ladybug?" Nathaniel's question echoed around the room.
Alix shots him a glare "You asked that for the fifth times already."
"Well, sorry. But can you believe it? All this time? Ladybug is in our class, our own class prep all this time?"
Alix's gaze hardened "Nath–"
"It's fine," Marinette's voice broke through any conflict. All eyes went to her.
She was sitting on her bed, Marc next to her with one of his arm draped over her snugly. She had already detransformed, her kwami sat on her palm with a tired face.
The secretly heroine smiled, despite the hint of exhaustion and dark spots underneath her eyes. The others minus Marc flinched at the realisation of how tired their class prep looked.
Marc frowned worriedly at his cousin "Mari–"
"It's fine. I got so many things to unwrapped anyway," the girl said with a sigh, but then her expression shifted to one of her many determined gaze "But you must promise, what I'll say in this room will never be known, or speak outside. You can't tell anyone, not even your parents, or your loved ones, or practically anyone."
They exchanged gazes. It wasn't long before all of them turned to her with the gaze of promise. Marinette sighed, and readied to explain everything.
"So, yes. I am Ladybug. I was chosen out of desperation by the former Guardian of the Miraculous Box — or Mother Box, in other name. The former Guardian's kwami, Wayzz," she gestured toward a green creature, who Alya quickly recognised as the turtle kwami and recalled Carapace "sensed a disturbing aura from one of the missing kwamis, Nooroo. Hawk Moth's kwami. He knew Paris soon will need someone to protect them, so that was why he gave me the Ladybug Miraculous," a dry chuckle escaped the heroine's dried chapped lips "To be honest, I never knew the existence of the Guardian or the other Miraculouses until I found the grimoire about Miraculous."
Mylene took a deep breath "Yeah, okay...so that's explain everything about your random excuses and why you often come late to nearly everything."
"You were busy fighting off Akuma. You were protecting Paris all this time," Juleka spoke.
The others looked at their class prep in awe–because literally, how can you not? She was an aspiring designer with many famous people backing her up, their class prep and a great friend. How can you not looked at her in awe?
But the heroine itself didn't share the same sentiment. In fact, she flinched at it. It reminded her too much of the responsibility she was forced to bear. The duty of a hero she was forced to do.
Marc noticed this, and gently rubbed circles on her back "Mari..."
She shooks her head. There was no turning back now. Sass and Orikko drifted closer and sat on her shoulder, as a sign on comfort and support for their Guardian. The girl took a deep breath and continued on.
"Then, Miracle Queen happened. Not only the temporary heroes were exposed," bluebell eyes shifted to Alya, who looked understandably upset "But the former Guardian as well. So, to protect the Mother Box, he handed it to me and officiate me as the new Guardian. In return...," she trailed off.
Marc squeezed her hand, Tikki tapped it with her tinier hand.
Marinette took another deep breath "...in return, he will magically forget everything about the Miraculous."
Sharp gasps and shocked 'What?!' filled the room. None of them had an easy time to understand what she just told them. Half of them still had a hard time in processing the fact that their class prep was the superheroine Ladybug all along.
"Mari...," Marc mumbled, he let her leaned on to his shoulders "Does this mean you've been handling this all by yourself?"
The question hit something hard inside the rest of them minus the heroine and her cousin. Realisation dawned into them, like a an egg dropped on top of a sharp rock.
All this time...no wonder Marinette always appeared stress lately. No wonder she had became so jittery and distant. Always on alert, as if there was something or someone, targeting behind her back.
She had to endured this all alone. By herself.
"But, Chat Noir helps you, right?" Alya asked.
To her and the other's surprise, the baker's daughter gritted her teeth and her hands clenched tightly on one another. Tikki had a disapproving glare, something she shared with the rest of the kwamis.
It was Trixx who broke the news.
"Huh! As if he did any help. All he ever did was flirting with Ladybug and barely did any works at all! Then he had the gall to call our Guardian cold hearted when she kept on rejecting hid advances."
It was Orikko's turn to looked disappointed "Most of the Black Cat's holders were known for their carefree attitude, but they were trustworthy and never slack off of their job."
"And he keeps harassing my holder!" Tikki screeched, floated in the air to showed how angry she was "He can't keep his hands to himself and always bothering her with his flimsy request!"
"Tikki!" Marinette gasped, as the others were shocked by the statement.
Alya, who was one of the biggest fan of 'LadyNoir', was the one who mostly distraught. Why did the ladybug kwami said that...? Chat Noir was kind and understanding. Sure, lately he had seen to be more of doing the flirts rather than joining the fight but...certainly there must be an explanation, right?
She turned to Trixx, who knew what the blogger had in mind. The fox kwami shooks his head.
Marc continued to rubbed circles on his cousin's back again after noticed more tears were formed. At the recollection of her supposed to be partner, distressed overfilled her again and the teens became alarmed when they caught her sobs.
"He...he...," she mumbled through tears.
Tikki hovered down again to her holder's face. She hugged the girl's cheek and hushed her gently.
"Marinette...," the kwami whispered after the tears slowly lessened "You need to tell them."
Marinette whispered back "Should I?"
The kwami nodded, more firm "I'm not letting you carry this burden alone anymore."
The Ladybug Miraculous user stared at the red spotted deity carefully. She sniffed, hesitated to speak the words that had been troubling her since the beginning of her duty as the Guardian. But one more encouraging words from her kwami and supportive smile from Marc gave her the bravery to move on. To say the words the often been brushed away by everyone around.
"....I'm not comfortable around Chat anymore," she said, and it felt like a glass had shattered somewhere "I...he, he has been acting off ever since I was selected as the new Guardian."
Alya spoke up "There must be a misunderstanding–," she was cuts off by Juleka, who nodded at Marinette to carry on.
The aspiring designer nodded back in gratitude. This was the time. This was her chance to tell them she had been facing. What she was forced to face.
Marinette sighed. And it felt like she would had stopped there if Marc didn't showed more gesture of support.
After a moment, the girl spoke what she always wanted to say.
"Before this, he–Chat Noir, never acted like this. Well, there were times he threw a tantrum when I didn't do what he wants," Barkk and Ziggy scoffed while Tikki scowled "But he mostly pipped it down. It was when I became a Guardian he has been more..."
"Expressive in his words," the kwami of Adoration said "But not in a good way."
Marinette nodded solemnly "He didn't listen and often charges head on. He barely listens to my plan and whenever I bring a male hero, he becomes distant and cold."
"Not to forget where his hands keep on touching you," Barkk added "And may I add the type of words he uses around you?"
"I don't know why humans so invested in this thing called ship or LadyNoir," Trixx joined in, arms crossed "But clearly they're blind if they can't see how uncomfortable you are whenever they interrogated you and forced you for a relationship with that bratty cat."
Longg, who had been silently observing, sighed "Even Plagg has gave up with his holder."
Mylene shifted uncomfortably at where she sat. She never cared much about Ladybug and Chat Noir's self proclaimed relationship and only thought it was cute, before focused more on her and Ivan. But now it was revealed that Ladybug was Marinette, and Marinette was her friend, and clearly there was something wrong with Chat Noir, the multicolour braided girl can't remained silent any longer. Someone disturbed her friend, and Mylene won't let that go that easily. She might be a coward, but her friend's happiness and comfort was as important as her saving the environment duty!
Unknown to the braided girl, something shifted inside her. It wasn't noticed by anyone, other than a certain grey coloured kwami somewhere nearby.
Meanwhile, Alix was fuming. Oh how she hated it. All her admiration toward the cat themed hero had dissipated when she saw how terrible Marinette looked when Alya mentioned the hero. All this time, her friend, the same friend who had done so much for their class and the entire of Paris, had been harassed by those who supposed to be her partner. Her friend. Her teammate. No wonder future Bunnyx was so tensed and cold around Chat Noir. At first Alix thought it was a grudge in the future, and know she understood what kind of grudge it was.
"I'll kill him," the pinkette declared. Blue eyes blazing in flame of vengeance.
"Alix," Nathaniel hissed "chill."
Something blaze in her electric blue eyes "You want me to chill–"
"For Marinette," the artist quick to add, and pointed at the heroine who was looking at her with concern.
The fire didn't die down, but the pinkette reluctantly sat back. Marinette already looked stressed with the way it was now, was what Nathaniel meant. She didn't need anymore stress.
"It...it can't be," Alya mumbled, mostly to herself before spoke up louder "You two were perfect together."
"Doesn't mean they are meant to be together," Trixx gently chided in "That brat becomes more delusional every day. Even Plagg began to shows concern, and that's coming from the kwami of Destruction."
The blogger took several steps back until her back touched the wall "I...I have a hard time believing that. It just...you guys are made for each other!"
Orikko decided that was the time to dropped a fact "Actually, the former Guardian gave Chat Noir his Miraculous out of desperation to find a new hero to protect Paris. He knew someone was about to use Nooroo's power for evil deed and he was running out of time."
Ziggy joined in "In fact, it have been multiple times when our former Guardian reprimanded Chat Noir for being too touchy and not focusing on the battle more."
"He usssssssseed to be a goooooooood kid," Sass commented.
Kaalki took a turn for herself "But I presume the feeling of infatuation has taken over both his head and heart, he can't even think right."
Daizzi innocently tilted her head "I often wonder how humans can be so unaware of Ladybug's obvious discomfort."
The others flinched at the statement. Obviously the pig kwami didn't directed it toward them, buy the fact they had been ignorance toward Ladybug's suffering was something they can't forget. Or never will.
Because Ladybug was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
And Marinette Dupain-Cheng was their friend.
And they were going to kill that stupid cat.
Alya let her back slipped from the wall and slumped to the floor. God, she felt so dumb. All this time...it was so obvious. How can she shipped such thing like Ladybug and Chat Noir?! She should had seen it when Ladybug blew a fuse at Nadja Chamack's show, or how incompetent Chat Noir was with often he left Ladybug in charge and mostly left everything for his so called lady to work.
What worse, the fact that Ladybug was Marinette....
Marinette had to suffered the whole thing with Chat Noir...his comments, flirts, advances....
Oh god she will skinned that cat alive.
"I'm a horrible friend," she declared out loud.
Multiple gasps were heard. Alya heard quick footings went over to her and someone kneeled beside her. The blogger didn't need to look up to know it was Marinette.
How can Alya missed this? Marinette was caring, kind and considerate. She even shared the same pigtails style like Ladybug's! The fact that she had dedicated an entire blog for Ladybug, only to found out Ladybug was right under their noses all the time...
At least now Alya can confirmed that Lila Rossi certainly wasn't Ladybug's best friend. Thank god she never posted that video. Her career to be a journalist will be in shambles if she let that happened!
"You're not a horrible friend, Alya," Marinette's voice was like the sweet gentle cold breeze in the middle of Spring "You don't know–"
"But I can see!" the latter retaliated "I should see the red flags! It's all over the place. But I was too obsessed with the thought of two Paris' heroes together that I ignored the fact one of them is a creep!" a long, defeated sigh surpassed her lips and she said next in more weary tone "I matchmade my best friend with a creep..."
Marinette opened her mouth, highly to retort something. But the blogger shooks her head.
"No Mari, please. I am an idiot. My ignorance has encouraged Chat to keep on advancing you," she pressed her lips together, the recollection of the fact that Ladybug – Marinette had chose her as the first temporary hero played repeatedly in her head.
She remembered how strong she felt that night defeating the Sapotis. How flighty she felt after using Mirage and tricked the whole akuma.
She should had seen it when Ladybug called her and Carapace more often. How she inched closer toward them from Chat Noir and always looked back toward the cat themed hero. Rena Rouge mischievously thought that was just Ladybug checking out Chat Noir. But it was clearly not.
Alya wanted to slap the her past self for not interfering Chat Noir whenever he crawled toward the spotted heroine.
Alya wrapped her arms around her friend and laid her head on her shoulder. It was when she felt Marinette less tensed that she tightened the embrace "I'm sorry for not doing more when I got the chance...I truly deserved to be the worst friend of the year, and please don't deny that, girl," she murmured.
"...," Marinette went quiet and only hugged her friend back.
Nathaniel stood up from where he sat and asked the nearest kwami, which was Ziggy "Hey, isn't there any way to revoke Chat Noir's Miraculous? Cuz now we all know he's an incompetent and pervert fellow?"
The sheep kwami shooks her head "Marinette might have the right to take back his Miraculous, but she doesn't know Chat Noir's identity. It won't be easy taking it from him."
"Can't his kwami takes his Miraculous back from him? Or tell us who Chat Noir is?"
The other kwami shooks her head again "Kwami can't tell the name of their holder. It's against the rule."
Alix, who perked up at the word 'rule', grinned at the kwami of Passion "Ignore the rule. Just break it!"
"We can't," Roarr chided in "this rule is guarded with magic. We can't say the other Miraculous holder name or do anything to reveal their identity unless the holder decides to do so themselves," she sighed "It's getting annoying now you know."
Alix clicked her tongue in displeasure and Nathaniel's shoulders sunk. Marc gets down from the bed and walked toward stack of papers that scattered messily on his cousin's desk and floor. He scanned the papers, frowned upon the drawing and unreadable codes. He can see this must be the grimoire his cousin told them about, and it must held information about the Miraculous judging by the characters inside. But what did the codes mean...
He turned to Orikko, who had trailed after him purely out of curiosity "What do these codes mean?"
The rooster kwami shooks his head "We don't know. Kwami can't read to prevent the knowledge spreading to someone like Hawk Moth. Only the Guardian knows how to translate it."
Marc turned back toward the printed papers. He can't tell what information held inside, but judging with the way it was written, he felt like he had a clue of what did the grimoire contained.
"Hey, Mar?"
Marinette looked up from her hug "Yeah?"
"Does this grimoire ever tell you about your yo-yo?"
She was confused by that question "Um...it is use to purify akuma?"
"And?"
"...it can be use as a telecommunication device?"
"Does that part is written in the grimoire?"
"...no? I think it has something to do with time evolving."
"Ahah!" the writer snapped his fingers, a grin stretched on his face "This isn't just a grimoire, it's a recording book about what they knew so far with the Miraculous! A journal record!"
Orikko who immediately understood, twirled around happily "I see! I see! You're telling me that Ladybug can do something more with her Miraculous, isn't it?"
"That must be true," Wayzz said "The only reason why Ladybug and Chat Noir have time limit because they're still children. But surely Ladybug can evolve her power."
Long supported with a comment "I agree. This young child has wield nearly all the Miraculous without losing her mind and power. She is more than capable to do such thing."
Mylene perked up "And since Ladybug's Miraculous is Creation..."
"She can creates something to help her in battle," Juleka trailed on.
Rose hopped in joy as she gets an idea "Or a charm!"
Everyone turned to her "A charm?" Mylene echoed.
The blonde nodded "Like a dream catcher to catch a nightmare, but this one a charm that cam catch an akuma!"
"Or prevent an akuma from akumatize someone again!" Nathaniel elaborated "Like a ward off charm."
"That's...actually a very good idea," Marinette mumbled, fingers rubbed underneath her chin "But how?" she asked, turned to her kwami.
The red spotted deity floated closer to her holder "That is something you must learn, Marinette. For all I know, they're right that you have the potential to evolve even further. The only problem is the fact that you're quite young and the set you put yourself into."
Sass joined her "You musssssssst trust yoursssssssself, dear Guardian."
Longg nodded in approval "We know you can do it, young one."
Marc stepped forward "We trust you, Mari."
Ladybug looked around the room. Everyone, including the kwamis was looking at her with hope in their eyes. Usually, she would feels pressured at the sight, but there was something supportive in their gaze. That gave her hope for herself too.
Her hands balled tightly "Okay," she said "Let's do this."
The girl let go of Alya and stood up. With a determined gaze, she flickered her earrings and chanted "Tikki, Spots On!"
People watched in awe as the girl transformed to their beloved heroine. Marc barely hold in at the remembrance that his cousin was the mysterious idol he had looked up to all along. And the fact Marinette was the first to read his fan made Ladybug's Journal, which means Ladybug had personally read his work.
Meanwhile Nathaniel, just discovered something about himself. I had a crush on the same people TWICE!
A shocking discovery indeed.
"Okay okay okay...," the now Ladybug murmured, gripped on her yo-yo tightly "Um...how can I do this?"
Alya snapped from her trance of awe and stood up as well. She gave a supportive pat on the heroine's shoulder with a small smile "Just think of it like designing one of your dresses."
"Maybe think of making a key chain," Mylene helpfully supplied.
"Like the ones who often scribble in your sketches," Juleka suggested.
Ladybug nodded. Okay, first of all she needed to calm down so she can focus. She took a deep breath, felt the air entering her lungs and breathed out again. With one last glance to Alya, she closed her eyes and transferred all her energy and the design in mind with careful thought.
Rose and Mylene shared a gasp as all the spots on Ladybug's suit beamed like a spotlight, and changes were made on her appearance. The antennas on her pigtails became longer till it brushed against her shoulder blades, and some line and spots appeared around her lower half torso. She also seemed to had finger gloves pattern on her hands. The very same hands that hold out her yo-yo and tapped open the shell. She picked something out from the weapon and a tiny, ladybug patterned charm was in her hand.
Ladybug smiled, and the rest cheered in joy.
"You did it!"
"I know you can do it!"
"The charm is sooooo cute!"
"You're amazing, Mari."
"Girl, I like your new look!"
Ladybug grinned at the compliment. She had seen it thanks to the body mirror in front of her, and she had to admit, it was quite nice and perfect on her. The kwamis were surrounding her, each 'aah' and 'ooh' for her new looks.
Ladybug looked at the charm in her palm. It was round, black in colour and had five red dots. It reminded someone, and she knew who that someone was.
She looked up to her cousin. Without word she handed it out to him, who was quite surprised that she decided to gave it to him.
"When the first time I became Ladybug," the heroine spoke, and the rest became silent "I was a coward. When Stoneheart first appeared I wanted to hide away and leave it all to Chat Noir. A coward of me, I know. Back then, he was a good partner before he turns to be like now. He gave me an encouraging word to fight for that day. But the one who actually inspired me to fight for the next akuma and the next have always been you, Marc."
Marc blinked in surprise "Me?"
The heroine nodded and went on "Yes. The thought of you in danger always put me on edge. But the moment I saw you so happy with the arrival of me, Ladybug, it just gave me the strength to move forward. At first, I did it for you. And then for my classmates. And finally, for the whole of Paris," her bluebell eyes stared at the writer with a deep sense of adoration "It was all thanks to you, Marc."
The writer flushed. But he didn't looked awkward or jittery about it. He smiled and hugged his superheroine cousin, who hugged him back with equal beaming smile.
Rose and Mylene cooed, leaned on each other at the lovely sight. Alya wanted to takes picture so badly but told herself no, for it might leaked some information to unwanted people. Alix snorted, but she didn't looked disgusted by it like she usually did whenever she saw a public display of affection. Nathaniel nudged her, and she nudged him back.
The cousins let go. Marc shyly accepted the given charm. It was quite nice, he felt it on his palm. The very first charm Ladybug created and gifted it to him.
Unfortunately, the happiness didn't last long. Because the next thing they knew an alarm was heard and people were screaming outside. Alix and Nathaniel dashed toward the window while Ladybug turned on the broadcasted news on her computer.
"People are turning to pigeons!" Alix exclaimed, just in the same time Nadja Chamack was seen transformed to a pigeon on the news.
"It's Mr Pigeon again," Ladybug drawled out "Oh boy..."
"Isn't this like, his fifty times?"
Ladybug answered the redhead artist's question with a deadpanned tone "His seventy six times, actually."
"Holy–"
"Guys, I must go," the heroine stated grimly "Stay here until this is over."
"Wait, Mar–Ladybug," Alya went toward her "Don't you think you need help? An actual help that won't flirt with you, won't threw a tantrum when things don't goes in his way?"
Alix and Juleka nodded in agreement. Clearly, they won't let their friend left with that mangy cat. Rose puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms over her chest, unaware that Daizzi copied her action.
"I'm not gonna let a jerk hurt my friend!" the blonde exclaimed.
"Mari," Marc spoke up as the heroine turned to him "They're right. You need actual help. Chat Noir is nothing but a hindrance and until then, I want you to have somebody who can watch your back."
Ladybug bit her lip. She was complementing the suggestion, but...."I, I don't know..."
"Ladybug, our previous Guardian entrusted us to you instead of Chat Noir," Barkk said.
Ziggy baaed "So whatever your next decision is, we trust you!"
"He entrusted us to you because he knew you will made good decisions, young one."
"Yeah!" Xuppu chirped.
After several more consolations with hidden promise to kick a cat, Ladybug relented. She went over to where she hid the Mother Box and the others practically had their eyes buldged out when they learnt that she had transformed her sewing box to some mechanic box. A fox tail necklace in her hand, before she gave it to Alya, she said
"But remember, you must stay here until I say so."
Alya recoiled, the urge to punch a certain cat themed hero was blatant in her eyes "What! Why?"
"Your power can be use for long distance. The last thing I want is for my friend to be turn to pigeon!"
Alya scowled but nodded in understanding. She accepted the necklace and muttered the transformation chant, but not after Trixx patted her head.
"Maybe next time, kit."
Marc and Nathaniel gasped "You're Rena Rouge?!"
Mylene shooks her head "I shouldn't be surprise. Mari is Ladybug."
Rena Rouge smirked, but it soon washed away and looked at her fellow heroine worriedly "Are you sure you'll be alright? With Chat Noir and all."
The determination in Ladybug's eyes softened "I'll be fine. I've done this plenty of time."
"But this time, you'll have us watch your back," Marc said.
The smile on Ladybug's face went brighter.
"Thank you," she said "Really."
Then she left.
Apparently, they didn't need to worry about Chat Noir for today. Because he had been feathered, in Plagg's words, leaving behind his kwami to assist Ladybug. Ladybug used that chance to summoned Rena Rouge's aid to created an illusion of her and Chat Noir running around until they stopped at a swimming pool resort. The same place where the real Ladybug and Plagg were close by.
With the illusion of Ladybug and Chat Noir detransformed and threw their Miraculouses into the pool, Mr Pigeon launched himself into the pool, only to get his bird whistle snatched by the hidden Plagg.
Plagg was quick to passed the item to Ladybug and broke the whistle. With her signature trademark, the dark butterfly was purified and everything was fixed.
Rena Rouge came and greeted her back at the swimming pool. For once, Ladybug had felt genuine joy at the sight of her friend approached her.
"Rena!"
"Ladybug!"
The two heroines hugged each other. If Ladybug hugged a bit tighter and whispered a word of thanks, Rena didn't say anything. They only broke away when they heard sniffling coming from the akumatized man.
"Oh...," he sobbed "I got akumatized again, didn't I?"
Ladybug and Rena Rouge exchanged knowing glance.
"Actually, M. Ramier, we might have a solution for you."
Meanwhile, somewhere nearby, a certain blonde male was watching the scene with wonder in his eyes. Plagg had returned back to his side, stayed silent – a routine that he started to be doing after Adrien's ignored his advice again.
"Did she just creates a charm to ward off akuma? Damn...she's amazing," the blonde sighed, lovestruck expression clear in his face.
Plagg eyed the boy sharply from behind. The kwami of Destruction sighed sadly. Adrien was a good kid with a good heart. But he had been strayed from his moral with the excuse of love and been blinded by his true actions.
The kwami sighed once more when his holder chanted the transformation phrase, and he was sucked into the ring. Chat Noir stood where Adrien previously stand, a grin stretched on his face.
The cat themed hero leapt down and went over to the two heroines. M. Ramier had already left with a gleeful relief, so happy that he won't be akumatized again. Chat Noir pouted at that. If people won't get akumatize again, it will be harder for him to meet Ladybug again! As much as a great news it was, his lady should know it would be better to consult it the use of the charm with him before released it.
Or maybe...maybe she wanted to spend more time with him without fighting more akuma! Oh the thought sent Chat Noir in spiral of love once more. And with her new charming look, Chat Noir barely had a time to maintained his uncontrollable heartbeats.
Moreover, there was Rena Rouge. Who secretly his classmate and his best friend's girlfriend. She was also one of the biggest shipper of LadyNoir, and she certainly must had seen that Chat Noir and Ladybug belong to each other.
"M'lady!" the hero cheered. He halted in surprise to see a scowl forming on Rena Rouge's countenance while his lady looked exhausted.
His poor lady...she must be tired and afraid that she had to do it all alone, even if she had Rena Rouge at her side. She must be so worried about him! And Rena Rouge looked mad because he worried her so much!
The hero pursuit after his steps. When he was getting closer to them, he was quick to grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on the back of her palm – which he knew she secretly liked it. Despite her refusal of ever admitting it.
But before he could let his lips touch her hand, black gloved hand swatted his and his lady's hand was pulled back. Chat Noir lifted his chin and stared at Rena Rouge with betrayed gasp, only to stuttered at the deadly expression painted her face.
"Don't. Touch. Her," the fox heroine hissed.
Chat Noir recoiled. Any words that were in his mouth dried out instantly. Why...why did she said that? How could she? How dare she?
The cat themed hero turned to his lady for support. Pleaded her with his eyes to scold that fox and tell her off. But the spotted heroine did nothing. In fact, she seemed grateful at the interference from the fox.
What the heck?!
"M'lady–"
"We need to go, Rena."
"Sure, Ladybug."
"M'lady, wait!"
At least they stopped in their tracks and turned around to face him. The cat themed hero tapped on the ground with one foot, maintained an annoyed look that he deserved to donned after what just happened.
Ladybug slowly turned around to face him. Any hint of smile earlier that she wore vanished like it was never there. Rena Rouge looked more annoyed, she folded her arms over her chest and leaned her balance on one foot.
"What is it, Chat?"
Chat Noir scoffed "What is it?" he mocked "What's with the attitude? And what's with that magical charm? M'lady, are you seriously plan to just give out magical charm without telling me first?"
Rena Rouge frowned deeper "Without telling you first? This is a big help–"
"I'm not talking to you," he coldly cuts in "I'm talking to my lady here."
Ladybug cleared her throat, snapped all attention toward her. The second heroine huffed in displeasure while Chat Noir shots her a smug look, highly sure that his lady will choose his side–
"Rena's right, Chat. I don't need to discuss much about the charm with you."
....what?
"Pardon, M'lady?"
A sigh surpassed her pretty pink lips that he always dreamt of touching. Ladybug closed her eyes before looked again to her partner with an exhausted gaze.
"Rena's right. I don't need to discuss much about the charm with you. Beside, it's something we just discovered earlier today."
Chat Noir was flabbergasted. His expression was akin to a gapping goldfish, one that barely forced Rena to contained her laughs. Damn, his face was just so bad when he didn't get what he wants.
"B-but, M'lady! We're partners! I have the right to know!"
"If as partners you mean 'you flirt, while Ladybug does all the works' then you sorely mistaken," Rena Rouge coolly replied. Her eyes sharp and hard.
Chat Noir had the gall to let out offended gasp. He started to babbled out that he was the wielder of the power of Destruction while Ladybug was Creation, so it made them automatically partners by fate.
The fox themed heroine rolled her ember eyes. Her grip on her flute was a bit too tight and Chat Noir can see how her faux ears twitched in alarm. Alarm of what? There was no more akuma!
She seemed to be wanting to say something, but one last head shake from Ladybug made her reluctantly recoiled. His lady turned to fully faced him, yet Chat Noir felt incredible dread when he saw the coldness in her usual bluebell eyes.
"I don't have time for this. Let's go, Rena."
Without goodbye, the two heroines left. But not after Ladybug patted her hand on Rena's shoulder and the latter offered her a tiny grin–in which his lady responded with a gentle smile that Rena Rouge never deserved of.
Chat Noir gripped his baton harder.
Since when did Rena Rouge got to received that special look from his lady?
"You know, now I feel so stupid to ever ship you with him."
"Rena?"
"I feel the urge to punch him and throw him into the Seine."
"Rena–"
"I know I know. Heroes don't do that, and we might pollute the river."
"..."
"Maybe we should let Alix chase him around with a car."
"NO—"
"So wait, not everyone can wield a Miraculous?" Mylene asked the dragon kwami.
While Ladybug was finishing the fight with the help of Rena Rouge, the latter heroine had left the bakery after the Miraculous Cure was casted. Marc and the rest decided to use this opportunity to figured out more so they can help their friend. Alya can handled as a hero, while the others will tried to help as much as they can as civilians. Even if it meant Nathaniel had to let multiple kwamis climbed up to him and tapping every parts of his face. Apparently, it had been a long time since they seen a person with a bright red colour for hair.
Longg nodded. The kwami of Perfection hovered in the middle of the room, where most were paying attention on him. The only exception was their Guardian's cousin, who was trying to learn more with the printed pages grimoire. Yet Longg knew he was all ears.
"Each human has their own respective energy – chakra, in our term back in the old days. Each chakra must be in sync with the Miraculous they wield, and it must come in naturally. That was one of the reasons why our previous Guardian gave the Ladybug and Black Cat's Miraculouses to the current wielders for they are the only ones possessed the purest chakra of yin and yang. As the strongest Miraculouses in the Mother Box, their wielders need to possess an incredible amount of energy."
Juleka looked thoughtful for a moment, eyes flashed to a shrieking Nathaniel when Ziggy pulled a strand of his hair "...what's the backlash?"
The dragon deity stared at her. He didn't blinked, but he did understood what she meant.
"When one isn't in sync with their Miraculous, they will be facing a terrible consequences. Although that are depends on the type of Miraculous they wield and how long they use it. For example; if someone uses the ladybug earrings for an exact one hour, they will receive terrible headaches, nauseous, sudden rapid fast beating heart, paralyse and worst of all; death."
Rose clasped her hands on her mouth. Oh god. Mylene nearly fainted. Oh dear god.
Unfazed by their reactions, the dragon deity continued on.
"Which is why the Guardian needs to be properly trained so they can identify which Miraculous suitable for the holder. Your blonde haired friend was quite fortunate that she wield Pollen, even for momentarily. The Bee Miraculous is known to be the easiest to find for its require chakra can be found in a large society."
Alix and Nathaniel exchanged looks. Yeah, lucky indeed. As much as they loathed Chloe, the last they want was to see the girl in terrible pain.
"...is there anyone among us that suitable to wield a Miraculous?" Juleka asked again.
The scarlet deity flickered his gaze down toward her. A calculating look. She knew he was judging her, but she can't help but ask.
(...if there was one way to help their troubling friend...
.... Juleka will takes it on the spot)
"That is classified, for now," the kwami said, one hand twirled at the tip of his mustache. His long tail curled slightly "Even if there is among you, you're still not ready yet. It is bad enough that our Guardian has to endure the duty and responsibility at such a young age, and she will not be pleased if one of you face what she had faced."
Alix felt the corner of her lips twitched downward. In the corner of her eyes, she spotted a very familiar white kwami with long ears and blue eyes floating somewhere at the other side of the room. Her fingers twitched at the memory of her heirloom watch in Ladybug's possession, or in Marinette's, to be specific.
The thought of Marinette endured harsh challenge (alone) this whole time made her changed view in this world of heroes. She pondered how her future self handled it.
"Then how about Al– Rena Rouge?" Rose asked shyly. She and Daizzi seemed to be already in a close friendship, judged by the way the pink kwami rested snugly in her cupped hands.
"She's a talented one for sure in this heroic business," Barkk replied "but there's reason why she isn't permanent."
"Maybe in the future, where all of you grow up to be adults," said Wayzz.
"I wonder how growing up feels like," Ziggy said to Stompp.
The ox kwami shrugged.
In that moment, they heard two pairs of footstep above them on the roof. The hatch opened from the outside and Rena Rouge poked her head in. A grin stretched wide on her masked countenance.
"Yo," the tan skinned girl said, before dropped in followed by Ladybug.
"How was the fight?"
"Are you two okay?"
"Did you kick butts?"
Rena Rouge smirked. She detransformed, and proceeded to reply "I nearly kicked Chat's," she exclaimed proudly, exchanged fist bump with a laughing Trixx.
"Should do it already," they heard Juleka mumbled. The goth girl walked over to their redhead friend and grabbed out several kwamis that tried to braid his hair.
"Hey guys. Are you alright–," Ladybug paused, eyes drifted to the dishevelled looking Nathaniel with multiple kwamis stuck on his hair "...okay..."
"Don't just 'okay' me, help me!"
Giggles and snorts erupted from the gang as the spotted heroine attempted to picked out the kwamis, only to halt many times when Nathaniel kept screeching at the hair pull. Roarr, Mullo and Xuppu snickered mischievously as their Guardian tried again to pull them out.
Longg shooks his head and Sass merely chuckled.