The Price of Lying.

13| Farewell, Villains Part 1

Marinette woke up early and checked the time. It was currently 5:00 in the morning.

"Good morning, Marinette. Did you sleep well?" Tikki asked flying up to her.

"Yeah- it's been a while since I last slept so peacefully because of all of the akumas. Come to think of it, there hasn't been any lately. I wonder if Hawkmoth is planning something." she said slowly getting up.

Tikki flinched.

Not noticing Tikki's unusual behavior, she went on with her usual routine.

After brushing her teeth and putting on her clothes for the day, she went down for breakfast.

She would have been running out the door by now.

Walking over to the counter, Tikki finally decided to tell Marinette what she had been hiding.

"L-listen Marinette. It's probably not a good time to tell you, but I'm scared the longer I keep it from you, the greater the damage in the long run will be."

"What are you talking about, Tikki?"

Tikki drew in a big breath, before yelling, "Soarr is evil!" with her tiny voice.

A hand soon covered her mouth.

"Shhh...my parents are downstairs!" Marinette panicked.

Tikki quickly apologized before explaining what she had meant to a confused Marinette.

"Soarr is a last resort when one of you holders goes corrupt. In this case, Hawkmoth using Nooroo for selfish purposes. It's happened with the first and fifty-fourth ladybugs before."

Marinette listened carefully, still not fully comprehending.

"To put it simply, Soarr himself is like a bad guy who fights bad guys, but is still a hero. Got it?"

"I have some understanding of what you mean, but I don't know why it makes you so worried." Marinette said, stuffing a croissant into her mouth and taking a huge bite.

"Because Soarr is evil their chosen ones are cursed, madness slowly clouding their judgment to commit some...misdeed...to put it nicely"

"Then that's going to happen to Aletta too?!" Marinette jumped out of her seat so fast, the chair fell over.

"Why didn't you warn me earlier? No, why would you let me use Soarr in the first place?"

"It's suffocating! You don't know how much it hurts watching you suffering in the hands of Lila! The first and fifty-fourth ended their lives, being in the same situation. Even though Soarr was used, I was too late both times. I'm not making the same mistake the third time.

"That isn't an excuse to use Aletta!" Marinette lashed out.

"Sh- she's ...can't we save her? There has to be a way...?"

Tikki shook her head feeling guilty. She looked at the time and it was already time for school.

"We should go Marinette. Before we be late, and try and get your mind off this a little. I know it's probably weighing in on your mind." She said gently.

"How can you say that? Tikki, I'm a hero. I don't hurt people! I don't...want...too..." Her voice strained

However, she silently obeyed and packed her bags, knowing there was no way for Tikki to get out of this conversation later.

Arriving to her classroom, she heard Alya was screaming about something, but she paid no mind.

Up the stairs and to her seat, Marinette wondered what lies Lila would say today.