Chapter Text
She found the earrings dropped on her balcony, the evening before everything started. They looked like something one of her classmates could've lost. If not for the fact that none of the girls ever came over to the bakery, in fear of getting into Chloé's line of sight.
Them appearing was the first mystery. The second was the weird little... bug-mouse thingy materializing in front of her in a flash of pink light.
Good thing her parents lived in the more busy parts of Paris, so the roaring of the cars down below drowned out her cry of fear. And her own clumsiness did the rest by making her stumble over her lounge chair and effectively preventing her from fleeing.
The sweet little laugh that followed, combined with two big blue eyes sparkling in clear joy were enough for Marinette to love Tikki at second sight.
The first fight did go rather well. The things after... not so much.
“I told you Tikki, I'm not meant to be a superhero!” Marinette was pacing in her room, while the little fairy sat on her desk, watching her.
“Give yourself another chance. It's not like you learned to walk on your first try either, right? Everything besides catching the Akuma went better than I'd hoped, for someone using a Miraculous for the first time.”
That made her pause for a second. “...maybe. But that was probably just beginner's luck! You said yourself that's part of your powers.”
“And it won't cease to be so, even if it was!”
She looked at the magical being, who was watching her with such a hopeful expression, she just couldn't go through with her plan of saying sorry and removing the earrings, to give them to Alya the next day. And if she was honest to herself, she also didn't want to give Tikki up, already. Which may sound strange. She had only known her for a day yet, but something happened between them. Something she couldn't describe. A... bond that connected or... a gap, she only noticed now that it was filled.
“Can you give me a bit of time to think.” She finally said tentatively.
Those round, blue eyes became impossibly gentle. “Of course. You can have as much time as you want.”
That night felt like an eternity.
It worked out, just like Tikki said.
What she didn't say, was that there would be a giant butterfly-head floating above the Champ de Mars. ...well, not like it was much of a problem anyway.
Much more noteworthy was the Miraculous Cure she used to reverse the damage done by Stoneheart.
“You should've seen it, Tikki! It was amazing! Thousands of ladybugs flew through the sky and put everything back to the way it was before. Like nothing even happened! It was like a dream!”
“I'm glad you liked it.” The Kwami smiled as her Chosen danced through the room in excitement. “You did it on your first try as well!”
“Yes! I didn't even think about what I was doing! I just followed my instincts!”
“I told you, you're the right person.” She flew over to look her right in the eyes and show her, how serious she was at the following words. “You're going to be an amazing Ladybug. Even if you won't always get it right at the first time. You're still young! You have time to learn!”
“I'm going to make you proud, Tikki! Just you see!” The young designer let herself fall on her chair and began to work with unusually much motivation on her homework.
Tikki chuckled quietly. “I already am.”
Chat Noir whistled impressed, after the swarm of magical ladybugs returned all the mummies to normal and made the swirling portal of darkness disappear. “I have no idea if your Lucky Charm is random, or just subconscious, but it sur-purr-ises me time and time again how you come up with a plan for each one, M'lady.”
“Want to try it? Maybe the Curing Light you'd produce with your Lucky Charm would cure me of your awful puns.” Ladybug snickered.
“They are meouw-vulous. But sadly, Plagg says you won't be able to see the glory that is me in red with black spots. I tell you, I'd rock the look.”
She raised an eyebrow at the strange wording, but it was Chat Noir, so she didn't think much about it at the time. Only later, when she was talking to her Kwami about the Ladybugs from the past, did it occur to her to ask.
That conversation was... interesting, to say the least.
She was rather proud with herself not to freak out too much, when Tikki told her she and the other Kwamis where actual gods. She only stared open-mouthed for a whole fifteen minutes at the little ladybug, before a sound like a dying balloon escaped her and she raced up to the roof to get some fresh air.
She never believed in god or some other cosmic powers. Magical power-granting... animal-thingies? Okay! That can happen! She'd overcome that step of the ladder after having a few days to adjust. But to think, the being that created the entire universe was sleeping on the pillow right next to her? A few months sounded like a good time-period for getting that in her head. Maybe even years! She'd never ever be okay again, after that.
The other information wasn't as world-view shattering, but definitely not in her top ten of being-told-every-day news. Apparently, there was no one in Paris but her who could use the ladybug Miraculous, without getting serious mental health issues.
“They'll go insane just by wearing the earrings?”
“Something like that. Only wearing them for a short time wouldn't be a problem. Activating them to access their power is another thing entirely. They wouldn't even last a second. Our essence is just too strong.”
“But... why? Where am I different to everyone else?”
“You are compatible with not only the powers of Creation but Good Luck as well, Marinette. A combination that's very rare. The same goes for Destruction and Bad Luck with Chat Noir. Plagg was really happy when he found him. We need a person with these specific concepts as their base and they need to be around the same area, to balance each other out. That's why the Ladybug and the Black Cat Miraculous are almost never active. Most of the time, we can't find a fitting pair.”
“You make us sound like socks.” Her brain was definitely very occupied with all of the things it was trying to process. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to explain how that sentence came out.
Tikki laughed that bell like laugh of hers, clearly amused at her holders mental breakdown. Then she floated nearer, taking as much of her face into her tiny arms as was possible and rubbed their cheeks together. “I love you so much, Marinette.”
“I think you were a bit reckless today, with the Eiffel Tower.”
Tikki spun around to look at her chosen, speechless at those words. Said girl had a teasing smile on her lips. “It was not me who chose to let Mr. Mime cut it down! You were the one who projected that poster onto it.”
“Yes, but you were the one who gave me that Lucky Charm. I only connected the clues.” A single finger rubbed her head affectionately. “But I forgive you. You don't have as much of a connection to these monuments as humans do. And the Miracle Cure put it right back. Most probably didn't even notice.”
“How do you not notice something that big missing in the skyline of Paris?” she questioned.
“People are blind. Isn't that what you tell me all the time, when I ask you how no one recognizes me in the mask?”
“Yeah, but that's magic. This is something entirely different.”
“If you say so.” Marinette shrugged nonchalantly, returning to the jacket she was working on, now that she'd finished Mr. Haprèle's hat.
“There's something I wanted to to ask you for a while now.”
Tikki stopped munching on the cookie in her paws, to show she was listening.
“How does the timer work? Or rather, why does it only exist for us, but not Hawkmoth? You said yourself you are gods. There's no way you only have so much power for one Lucky Charm, or one Cataclysm in Chat's case.”
A delighted look appeared on her little face. “I was wondering when you'd come to that. It's actually pretty easy. You humans can't take the full power of a Kwami, no matter how much you grow into it. So we have to suppress it, while keeping you transformed. It's a lot harder when you're still young and wouldn't survive the spikes of using your special powers. We have to concentrate a lot at those times, which takes a lot of the limited power-supply we have in this form.”
“That's not how you usually look like?”
She giggled amused. “Of course not, silly! Did you really think, the beings that created and oversee all of existence would have the form of cute little animals? This is just how we choose to interact with you humans.”
Marinette blinked, stunned, then did a double take. “Wait! Did you say we would die, if you didn't concentrate hard enough while we use our powers?”
“Well, it's become more like the 'Just keep the lid on the bottle' kind of thought over the years, but yes, you'd die. Horribly. With a lot of screaming involved.”
“...you're making fun of me.”
“Maybe a little.
“...but the dying thing is actually real.”
“I'm going to have to do what?” Marinette shrieked in panic, almost dropping the foxtail necklace that had randomly appeared from her yoyo's storage dimension, at today's Akuma attack. Chat's dumbstruck expression had been gold, but she probably hadn't looked much better.
“Find a temporary holder for Trixx, so you can get help if one of the Akumas gets too much for you two alone.” Tikki explained patiently, not for the first time.
“But you said, those not compatible with their Kwamis concept go insane! How am I gonna find out who is and who isn't?”
“I have faith in you.”
That smile was way too bright for the situation. But it gave the bluenette enough confidence to start and really think about possible candidates. Illusion was a difficult thing. You had to understand the meaning behind it first, only to come to the conclusion, that all the meanings are a part of it. It was as much something not really there in the physical plane, as it was something you imagined in a psychological way. False emotions and impressions. Getting behind what is real and what's not. You had to know the truth first, before you could cast a good illusion.
In the end, there was only one choice she could think of.
“Time to make a visit to a certain reporter.”
Tikki grinned approvingly.
Alya – or rather Rena Rouge – loved it. You could see it in how her eyes lit up every time she leapt from roof to roof. How her ears twitched when they sat atop the Tour Eiffel with Chat Noir, looking at Paris from above. She was excited to be a part of the team, as temporary as her position may be.
“So, what do you do when you're not in the costume.” Chat Noir asked her sneakily.
“Wouldn't you want to know?” Rena snickered. “I know the identity rule, but thanks for making sure.”
“I'm an ever loyal cat-servant to my lady.” He gave a dramatic bow, causing Ladybug to hide the small smile breaking through. “Keeping our companions save is only a part of that. To be honest though, I'm feline better with having the option of backup now. Some of those Akumas got really hard to beat.”
“I'm already excited for my first battle! It's going to be a blast!”
“Just keep in mind that your allowed to make mistakes. Chat and I did a lot of mistakes in our first encounter with an Akuma.”
“If I remember correctly you fur-got to cat-ch the butterfly, M'lady.” Chat sent her a teasing wink as she groaned loudly.
“Yes I did. Thank you very much for reminding me all the time.”
“I aim to please.”
Rena, the traitor, only laughed at their antics.
A new article in the Ladyblog was the result of that interaction. Alya talked about the difference between knowing everything about someone and actually knowing that person, without all of that other baggage. She compared that to the relationship between Ladybug and Chat Noir, who didn't know who the other was in their civilian life, but still knew the other person.
It was kind of hard to understand. Probably because it looked like it was written in the middle of the night. That fact was aided by Alya's appearance that morning in school. Marinette didn't have the best sleep schedule since becoming a superhero, but even she didn't have bags like that under her eyes.
“Maybe do less writing and more sleeping.” She commented, when the reporter sunk into the seat next to her with a big yawn. Finally getting her back for all the teasing she'd received over the last few weeks.
“I couldn't relax until I had that one out of my head.”
“How did you even get the idea, so suddenly?” She knew she was stretching it a little, with how she shoved her elbow in her side, but she just couldn't help herself. Having a secret identity as a known superhero was sometimes just too much of an opportunity for sly remarks, to not use them.
“It just came to me!” The brunette answered a little too fast. “Y-you know! Like most of my inspiration.”
“Aha.” Totally not, cause you spent the evening with them trying out your new powers.
“Yeah! Sometimes an idea just strikes and I have to get it out.”
Marinette patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don't worry, Al. I can understand you. I am a designer after all. Midnight inspirations are the worst.”
“Tikki, is it possible for there to be two Miraculous of the same Kwami?” was the first thing Marinette asked, after making sure the classroom was empty. The little red creature flew out of the purse, to be face to face to her.
“No! There is only one Miraculous for every concept. Even I who impersonates Creation, cant create another one. Only something that looks like it.”
“So we can be sure that Lila's lying, since we know the true Fox Miraculous is in my yoyo. But how are we going to prove that, without telling anyone I'm Ladybug?”
“I don't know.” Tikki shook her head, unsure what to make of the situation. “And that's not our only problem. I peaked out to get a look at the necklace. Alya doesn't seem to take this well. She may think you've replaced her with Lila.”
“I'd never do that! She's my friend and a perfect holder for the concept of Illusion. Trixx is really happy with her.” Marinette protested.
“She doesn't know that.” the Kwami reminded her.
That made her pause. How was the best way of telling Alya she hadn't gone and found another holder? Well, she and Chat had scheduled a patrol for this evening. If there was no Akuma attack until then, in which she could go ask Rena Rouge for help, she'd just make a surprise visit to Alya and invite her along. Then she could slip in hearing about a girl claiming to be in possession of the foxtail necklace and explain things from there. Yeah, that could work.
“I think I got an idea. But there's something else I wanted to talk to you about.”
Tikki's expression darkened, which seemed almost impossible, with her ever cheerful companion. “The book.”
“So it's legit?”
“If you mean, is the book real, then yes. But if you're referring to the information in it... well, that's complicated.”
“How so?”
Her eyes lit up at the opportunity to teach her chosen something new. “The powers each holder is granted, depend on how they interpret the concept of their Kwami.
“You, for example, can create an object fitting to the situation with your Lucky Charm, just like you create clothes. And if something's broken you repair it, like with the Miracle Cure.”
“That's the concept isn't it? Creating something is what Creation is. Are there any other ways to see it?” Marinette was confused, drawing her brows together in thought.
The little Goddess chuckled. “That's exactly what I mean. And I'm sorry, but this is about your interpretation, not the way I'm telling you to see it. Think about it. Maybe you'll get your answers. Maybe not. Some of my holders spent their whole lifetime without being able to escape the way they see the world. If it should be the same with you, that's okay too. You're still one of the best Ladybugs I ever had.
“If you ask me, I don't think we need to concern ourselves with that book. You are smart enough to find out things on your own. And I'm always here to help you, however I can. ”
The girl smiled and cupped her in her hands, bringing her close to put a kiss on her head. “Thank you, Tikki. You're the best.”
Alya was very relieved to hear, that she wasn't replaced by Lila and never would be, no matter what that girl claimed. But that incident prompted her into starting her new campaign of exposing Lila's lies to the class. Marinette was her first victim, with Nino right behind. And after some lengthy discussion about how lies could hurt someone, even if it wasn't physical, Adrien joined them as well.
They were not going the way of openly exposing the lies the girl said, but went to the people listening to her, showing them prove of what was true and what wasn't and then let them decide if they wanted to continue believing her stories.
It worked quite well. Half of the class joined their side until the end of the week. The rest followed not long after. Lila's power was taken, before it could even take root and she was gone, claiming to be on a trip to Achu only a few weeks after joining the class.
Yep, that was a short problem.
Sadly, not everything was taken care of so quickly.
The Akumas were getting even more dangerous, despite Rena helping out with her illusions. It was going so far, that the police started to actively evacuate civilians in the surrounding area. The Miracle Cure may heal injuries and bring people back after being hit by attacks, but it never erased the memories. That wasn't a part of Creation. Or at least not a part of how Marinette did interpret it at the time. The victims would always remember how it felt to have your bones shattered, or be thrown over in a car. Or even to be crushed by rubble. They weren't happy memories. No one should collect them to this extend.
And there wasn't anything Marinette could do to change it. Not as Ladybug and definitely not as herself. She felt useless. Even while being out there, fighting the very thing doing those awful things. She couldn't help but blame herself for not having defeated Hawkmoth yet.
Of course, Tikki would protest, whenever she brought it up. Telling her, that she did her best. That Hawkmoth didn't even have the guts to fight them himself. That she didn't have the chance yet, to end all of this.
And Paris loved her! People cheered, whenever they spotted her on a rooftop. Calling her name, ecstatic when she stopped a little just to talk to them. They'd built a statue in her honour. They'd made a movie with her name on it. They proudly told the tourists of how she saved them time and time again. Wherever she went, there was a person that wanted to thank her, for what she did for them.
Paris loved her, but it could never love her as much as she loved Paris. She loved the city, with its beautiful lights, that glittered like stars in the night, from atop the Eiffel Tower. She loved the old monuments, giving her city a part of its beauty. She loved the people living here, filling it with life and spreading their own love to those around them. She loved every single rooftop, on which she could spent some time with her loyal kitty and every single building she could attach her yoyo to, to swing through the streets.
There weren't enough words in a book, to describe how much she loved her city, her home. And how much she wanted to protect it from people like Hawkmoth, who only thought of themselves. She'd give her life, if it was the price to protect the peace forever.
But again, it wasn't so easy.
...It never is.
“There aren't enough words in the universe to describe how much I love you, my little bug. I couldn't bare loosing you. Not after finally having found you.”
It was just a single, unfocussed moment – just one heartbeat of drifting thoughts – that sent things crashing down. Literally!
Riposte wasn't a hard foe to fight. Especially since Chat seemed to be an excellent fencer, even with a baton instead of a sabre. He kept her situated on a roof, where she couldn't suddenly go on a hunt for civilians, until Ladybug appeared with Rena, called for her Lucky Charm and thought of a plan to break the Akuma's sword.
It should have been easy. A simple diversion by an Illusion from Rena, hiding Ladybug from swinging in with her red and black spotted brick, she'd stuck on the end of the sword and an expertly executed disarming technique followed by a Cataclysm from Chat.
Jep. It should've been over with that. Except no one could predict the swarm of pigeons suddenly taking flight, after being startled by a stray in the alley below. It dissolved the illusion hiding Ladybug in mid-swing, giving Riposte just enough time to lean to the side and take a swing with her way too long sword.
Ladybug felt a searing pain in her left shoulder, causing her to loose her grip on the yoyo.
She couldn't remember what happened after that. But she blamed Chat's bad luck for everything.
…
“...Mari...”
...it hurt.
“...rinette...please...”
…
Why did it hurt?
“...can't die...can't loose...not you...”
Why was it dark?
“...ake up...”
What happened?
“...Marinette...”
Someone was calling her?
“Marinette...wake up...”
She knew that voice.
“Please, wake up!”
Tikki!
“Please!”
Heavy eyelids fluttered open, almost reversing their effort immediately at the stabbing light flooding in the next second. But she kept them open, slowly focusing on a hysterical Tikki, floating right in front of her. Big fat tears were rolling over her cheeks, falling onto the dirty alley street.
Looks like this place has just been blessed with godly tears. Sadly, no one will ever know that fact.
Yep, she hated her brain, because even though it was hurting like a bitch and she was still in a daze, it already decided to betray her.
“Wha' happen'?” And her tongue was betraying her as well. As if her feet weren't traitor enough in her daily life.
Tikki immediately stopped crying, when she saw that she was awake, but then broke into more tears as she went in to hug her.
“You're okay! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Marinette could feel the godly being shudder against her skin, still a little emotional after having cried so hard. “I thought I'd loose you! You just wouldn't wake up!”
“What happened?” She asked again, getting the words out right, this time. The haze was clearing a little, but she didn't feel ready to move from her position on the floor yet.
“The Akuma! She got you and you fell! I was forced out of the earrings, when you hit the ground! I think you hit your head, because you wouldn't wake up!”
That might be where the pain originated from. Ugh.
“What about Chat and Rena?”
“They didn't show up. Maybe they didn't see you fall with all of the pigeons? Rena was rather far away and Chat is allergic to feathers, so he could've been occupied with sneezing.”
“Probably good they didn't or they'd know my secret identity.”
“Your life is more important than a stupid secret identity!”
The enraged scream was unexpected, especially since Marinette had never seen her Kwami angry before. Now, with burning blue fire fixed on her, she saw the cosmic power hiding behind the facade of a cute representation of an animal for the first time. She winced, only for another stab of pain to run through her head, making her wish she could think straight, right now. Tikki must've seen it in her eyes, because her tail-tips relaxed from their curled up position and her antennas spread out again.
“I'm sorry. It's just... I don't want to loose you, Marinette. And for a second there, I really thought you wouldn't wake up again.” The Kwami looked like she was ready to burst into tears again.
“Oh Tikki.” the bluenette tried to finally sit up, but stopped, when nausea hit her. In the end, she only turned her hand around, for her little friend to sit on. “I don't want to loose you either. And I promise I'll be more careful in the future. Okay?”
A sniffle, then bluebell eyes twinkled again, with their usual cheer, only a little muted by the lingering wetness of holy water. “Okay.”
“Great. Now let's kick that Akuma's behind so I can cast the Miracle Cure and get rid of this stupid headache.” She pushed herself up, ready to fight through the spinning of the world around her and get back to Chat and Rena. She just hoped they were okay.
The problem? She didn't come very far. The moment she tried to move her right hand, blinding pain ran through her back and shoulder, ripping a pained cry out of her throat.
Right, she'd completely forgotten that she's been hit by that stupid sword.
Tikki was immediately up in the air again, frantically zipping around and asking her, if she was okay. Was it worse than at first glance. Should she go get Chat.
“Just... wasn't... expecting it.” Marinette pressed through grit teeth. “I think, sitting on the sideline for one fight suddenly sounds very appealing. I really hope those two can handle Riposte themselves, cause I'm not going to be of any help like this.”
“It's okay not to be in first line once in a while. They'll understand.”
She transformed into Ladybug, which helped enough with the pain to sit up a little and lean against one of the walls, but there was no way she was moving any time soon. Good thing she had her bug-phone.
Chat Noir picked up after the first ring. Quite a feat, considering he used the stick as a weapon and as a travelling device. “You okay, M'lady? You're gone for quite long, I was just about to...”
“I need your help, Chat.”
He fell silent. Then. “Be right there.”
They must've been not far away, because it took him not even a minute to jump down to her in the alley. His catlike eyes widened at the sight of her and probably the blood that had collected under her and he dropped to his knees beside her.
“What happened?”
“Had a little run in with a sword. It didn't like me.” She tried to lighten the situation, but the unamused twitch of his ear told her it didn't work.
“We need to get you to a hospital!”
“The wound is not that bad. It will disappear when I cast the Cure. There's just a little problem.”
“You mean besides the fact that your bleeding out in an alley?” He deadpanned.
“Yes. I may have hit my head on the way down.”
The deadpan turned into a serious frown. He bend down, putting one arm under her legs, the other reached for her back. Only to abandon the motion when she groaned in pain at the touch. His fingers had unknowingly brushed the edges of the cut. He apologized immediately.
“It's okay.” She assured, relaxing again, as soon as the burning ebbed away. “I only need the Akuma, then I can use the magical ladybugs and everything will be okay again.”
He didn't look convinced, but nodded. “How will we get the Akuma to you, without touching it. We can't lead Riposte over here. She'd attack you, as soon as she sees you.”
“It's easy, we just need...” She grabbed her yoyo, calling for her Lucky Charm, but without the usual bravado. It gave her a ladybug patterned jar. “Jep, Exactly that. Thank you Tikki, for being straight forward once in a while.”
He chuckled this time, accepting the object. There was no instruction needed.
“I'll be back so fast, you won't even have the time to say you love me.”
She knew it was meant as a joke, but even in the state her mind was in, she heard the longing in his voice. The hope, that one day she'd return the feelings he had for her.
“I do love you.” She murmured, when his shadow disappeared. “So, so much.” Blue-bell eyes slit shut slowly. Using her power had drained her and the painless darkness of sleep sounded heavenly, compared to this pounding hell. “...you're my beloved friend.”