Chapter Text
"Ladybug!"
Ladybug managed to refocus her attention just in time. She arched her back, and the manhole cover whipped just centimeters above. With an almost sickening crack, she looked back to see It was completely lodged into the concrete wall behind her. Shivering at the mere thought of that hitting her.
Chat Noir landed heavily beside her. He hasilty grabbed her by the waist before bounding off together with his staff. Ladybug watched as another object took their place seconds later.
Chat released her once they made it to the roof. He looked over the edge to make sure the Akuma wasn't attacking before turning his attention to his red and black polka-dotted companion.
He crumpled his brow as he looked her up and down. "Are you alright? What's wrong with you today?"
Ladybug felt small under his gaze and staggered slightly as she stepped back. She shook away an uneasy feeling that was creeping up. "Nothing is wrong...".
He continued to stare at her. "Chatton, seriously. I'm fine. Let's deal with this akuma already. I'm just tired. " She wasn't sure who exactly her words were trying to convince. Why else would she suddenly feel so tired?
"Yeah, we did have that Akuma at 2am yesterday.. Are you sure you are okay though, is that really all?" His eyes were soft and comforting.
"Yes, yes. Now, let's do this."
-Fifteen minutes later, and two more saves by Chat.
"Miraculous Ladybug"
The red ladybugs filled the streets and buildings repairing any and all damages caused by the Akuma, even the bridge that managed to get knocked down.
Chat walked up to his lady and raised his fist. "Pound it?"
Ladybug raised hers but missed horribly. With her hand on his chest from the missed bump, he grabbed it lightly. "Okay, I think it is time for this bed bug to get home now."
"Mhmm, yesss"
"Goodnight bug, If you are feeling better meet me at our regular." Chat watched her Zip away, fighting the urge to pick her up and carry her home, wherever that may be. Alas, he swallowed that thought and made his own way home.
Following her usual route, Ladybug zipped from building to building. Her chest heaved, and her arms ached as she struggled to catch her breath. Confused as to why she was so exhausted, eventually settling on running the rest of the way.
Not that that was much better. As she tredded on her footsteps, became heavier and heavier, and every step wobbled and sent her stomach in a twist. As she was reaching her home, her mind was static, and her vision was a blurred mess.
Pushing her body forward, she heaved herself into the air. Moments from landing safely on her balcony, her transformation suddenly dissolved away. In a panic, she braced for impact as she was suddenly in a free fall towards the ground.
With a dull thud and the sound of air forcibly leaving her lungs. Marinette lay winded on her balcony. She cluched at her chest until the fair eventually returned. She rolled over and stared at the sky for a moment.
All things considered, minus the bruises and scrapes from the sudden fall. She felt great. The sudden overwhelming fatigue she felt before was completely gone, and her mind was clear.
"Tikki! What happened? I still had two minutes left!" Marinette sat up to talk to her kwami. "Tikki?"
The small red kwami lay motionless on the wooden planks. Carefully, Marinette scooped the Kwami into her hands, lightly prodding her in an attempt to awaken her.
Without another second wasted, Marinette flew down the hatch and races to the fabric drawer. Upon entering the code multiple colorfully, Kwami's burst into the room. Only one of the Kwamis took a moment to recognize the panic filled on the guardians face.
"Master, what's wrong?" Wayzz followed the young guardians to the red lump in her palms. "Oh no, Tikki. What happened?" The green kwami placed his flipper on Tikki's head.
"I-I don't k-know, suddenly I-I felt as if I-I w-was going to p-passout. Then the t-transformation s-suddenly feel and T-" Marinette was sobbing and tears streamed down her face. "Will she be okay? D-did I do this?"
"Master, please calm down." Wayzz lifted Tikki up softly, passing her along to the other Kwamis who brought her into the Miracle Box. "Tikki is strong. She will be okay."
"Do you know what's wrong?" Marinette asked the Kwami sheepishly.
"We can't know for certain until I can fully look at her. But she just appears to be ... sick." The green kwami answered hesitantly. He wasn't giving the entire story.
"Is that really all? What aren't you telling me?" She was giving him a stern look through her puffy red eyes.
"Well, you see... it's just that... it really isn't..."
"Wayzz."
"Tikki is 'sick' because her energy is being overused. It isn't anything to worry about, though!" He quickly added the last part as he watched the guardians face shift once again.
Marinette was overwhelmed with emotion. "I did this to her? Tikki, I'm so so so sorry."
Wayzz began to panic and tried to fix this. "No, no, no, Guardian. You didn't cause this. Well, I mean.. you did cause this. But it isn't your fault."
Wayzz's attempts failed Miraculously, he looked to Longg to help explain.
"Guardian!" His voice snapped Marinette out of her mind. "What is done is done. Nobody blames you, let alone Tikki."
"But I-" Longg put up a Paw to stop her.
"Let me explain. The relationship between a holder and their kwami is symbiotic. Normally, each side gives, and each side takes, ultimately both sides benefit, and extra energy is created, making both stronger."
Marinette listened silently as the dragon kwami continued. "In the case for Tikki and you, your body is simply too weak, so Tikki takes very little and gives extra. This is why, after using your powers, you have limited time until you transform back."
Marinette nodded along. "I'm a parasite." Tears once again threatened to fall.
"No! You just are too young to have a miraculous. Which, let me remind you, Tikki knew and decided to stay with you regardless."
Wayzz joined back in. "He is right Master. Tikki has never once doubted your ability to become an amazing Ladybug one day. If she didn't believe in you, she wouldn't harm herself like this for you."
"Thank you too. I know you're trying to make me feel better. But at the end of the day.. I'm not strong enough to help Tikki.. to help my friend."
Nobody tried to deny it because ultimately, it was true. So Longg didn't deny.
"What about Chat Noir? Is his Kwami going through a similar issue?" Panic once again crept in. If both Kwami's were sick, how could they fight?
"Unfortunately, yes, he is. However, luckily, Plagg's holder is a little older than you, and physically, he is stronger. Eventually, they might run into a similar issue, but for now, they are okay."
"Is there anything we can do?"
"You just need to become strong, well strong enough, so Tikki doesn't need to give too much."
"As much as I don't really want to work out. I'll do anything to help Tikki, even by a little. How long until she is awake?"
The green kwami disappeared into the box for a moment, reappearing minutes later. "It will take her about two days to regain enough energy to wake up."
Marinette visiblely deflated at the news. She was happy that Tikki was going to be okay. But she didn't want to imagine going multiple days without her friend.
"What should we do if Hawkmoth attacks during that time? We need Tikki to purify."
"Well, that's the thing too. Even when Tikki wakes up, she won't have enough energy to keep you transformed for more than a handful of minutes, even without using your abilities."
"So, no Miraculous Cure until Tikki is okay, and I'm stronger. That is going to be rough of Chat and I."
"Well, luckily assuming her condition doesn't worsen and you don't get weaker somehow. Tikki should have enough energy to purify and restore. But she won't have enough energy to leave."
"So I need to find a way to purify the Akumas... here?"
"It is tricky, but yes. That is the only- wait, I think Master Fu left something with us that may be of use."
The green kwami once again zipped away, finally returning with a crumpled peice of old parchment.
Marinette raised an eyebrow upon seeing the old page. "What is this?"
"After the first time Tikki was sick, Master Fu began working on this prototype. We managed to grab this among other items before he was captured. It allows anyone to capture an Akuma for later purification. It even cuts off communications with hawkmoth."
Marinette stared at the crumpled paper. An image of a ceramic pot with butterflies surrounding it was painted delicately on the page. Her brow currled in frustration.
"Master? All you need to do is follow the instructions, and we can get started on it."
"I would, but I can't read hanzi, let alone decipher some code. Translation apps won't even work."
Wayzz looked at her carefully. "Then what can we do master? Do you think the other guardians could help?"
Marinette shivered at the thought of asking that man for help. She wouldn't... but could she afford to be stubborn...
On the verge of cracking and trying to contact them. Someone came to mind. Her sunshine boy himself. Not only could Adrien speak and write in Mandarin, but he was also interested in that book his father had. She could ask him for help before trying the other guardians.
Quickly, she reached for her phone, hovering over his contact. She broke out into sweat, and she realized two very important things.
A. She is completely unable to have a coherent conversation with that boy.
B. She totally can't go asking about this, or she would be risking her identity as Ladybug.
"Ugh," She said as she began to tug at her pigtails. As she stressed over this dilemma, she looked to the time. It was nearly 9 pm, time for patrol with Chat. She had considered skipping it, but she knew that he would worry if she did.
A small object fell into her hand. She looked down to see Mullo was bursting with Energy.
"Sorry, Mullo, I can't use your Miraculous. I revealed my identity as Multimouse to Chat Noir already."
"Aw, but please? Pretty please? We worked so well together!"
"I'm sorry-"
"Wait, Master. If I may, Mullo may actually be the best Kwami for you to work with right now. Your small build easily resonates with her, meaning you are very compatible."
"Yeah, but... well, is this really the best way?" She asked cautiously. She didn't want another Kwami getting sick because of her.
"I believe so. Any other Kwamis would run into a similar issue very quickly if used for more than a few days at a time."
"Well, alright. If you think this is the best way. I guess Chat knowing Marinette shouldn't cause too many issues, not ones that can be avoided at least." Her alarm alerted her that it was 9.
"Mullo, are you ready?"
"Yes, yes, yes! A million times, yes."
Marinette giggled softly at the Kwami excited antics. She was happy to be back with Mullo again. She'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy their time before.
"Mullo, transform me!"