Miraculous: The Rise of Ladybug and Cat Noir

Chapter 8

The next day on Wednesday the 2nd, Marinette woke up to her sister’s voice asking somebody something.
"...by the way, I’ve been wondering about the history of these Miraculi- Miraculouses, er, whatever. Do you think you could give a brief history on them, please Tikki?"

Tikki then said, "Sure, ahem, There are mysterious forces that affect everything around us. At the dawn of humanity, magical jewels bestowing extraordinary powers were created. These were... the Miraculi. Throughout history, heroes have used these jewels for the good of humanity. Two of these are more powerful than the others; mine, the earrings of the ladybug, which provide the power of creation; and the ring of the Black Cat, which is Plagg’s, which grants that of the power of destruction. According to 'legend,' whoever controls both of these jewels at the same time, will achieve a power called the 'Ultimate Miraculous Absolute Power' and be able to make one wish with said power. However, this power is forbidden to be used as it comes at a great price, so much so, that genies around the world were given restraints on what they could and could not make a wish come true. Now as for the one that can create akumas, it is the Butterfly Miraculous, which represents generosity, and is Nooroo’s, it allows the wielder to give someone their own superpowers and to make that person their devoted follower!"
"I understand now and thank you. Also, don’t take it too hard on her Tikki, Mari has been broken for ten years, ever since one of the people she saved died later on in a hospital. So, basically, she saw Ladybug as her second chance and right now, she thinks that she squandered it," Bridgette explained to Tikki who responded with "I understand, Bridgette. By the way, I can see your sister’s mind when transformed. Plus, I called her 'the Chosen One' because she is so much unlike so many other 'Chosen Ones' I have seen throughout my existence in this Quantic universe."
"But, Tikki," Bridgette said, sounding like she was making valiant efforts not to sound argumentative, "it all comes to the same thing, doesn't it? She's got to try and stop them, or--"
"Got to?" Tikki said. "Of course she has got to! But not because of some prophecy! Because she, herself, will never rest until she has tried! We both know it! Imagine, please, just for a moment, that she had never met me! How would she feel about the Butterfly Miraculous wielder now? Think!"
Marinette watched Tikki's shadow striding up and down from behind the storage room's door, and thought. She thought of her mother, her father, and Bridgette. She thought of Alya. She thought of all the terrible deeds she knew this Butterfly Miraculous wielder had done so far. A flame seemed to leap inside her chest, searing her throat. She quietly got of bed and went to the door, and when she opened it she quietly said, "I'd want them finished. And I'd want to do it."
"Of course you would!" Tikki cried. "You see, a prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But a prophecy or something else caused this Butterfly Miraculous wielder to mark you as their equal .... In other words, you are free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on this whole situation! But they continued to set store by something. They will continue to hunt you...which makes it certain, really, that--"
"That one of us is going to end up killing the other if it comes down to that," said Marinette. "Yes."
But she understood at last what Tikki had been trying to tell her. It was, she thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Tikki knew -- and so do I, Marinette thought to herself, with a rush of fierce pride, and so does my family -- that there was all the difference in the world.
"Exactly Marinette, you will have to eventually kill this evil Butterfly Miraculous wielder," Tikki told Marinette who retorted with "I said 'IF it comes down to that' Tikki." "Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share," Tikki told her. "Exactly, that's why it's so important, and separates us from them," Marinette calmly told the kwami who was now smiling. It then hit her as to why, she had been tested!
Bridgette then turned on their tv, tuning in to TVi studio where reporter Nadja Chamack was updating Paris on the mysterious stone creatures that are dispersed around the city while standing to the side of a picture of one of Stoneheart's minions with a tablet in her hand, "The stone beings are scattered all over Paris and are nicknamed the 'Stonehearts'… after what the supervillain called himself..."
"…men and women imprisoned in spite of themselves, and for the time being, they are currently showing no signs of movement." A variety of pictures was then shown onscreen as Nadja continued "Police have cordoned off the area."
The mayor was then shown on television alongside officer Roger. "We won't stop until we find a way to get these people back to their normal selves, but for now, we're not making much headway," he stated.
The camera flipped back to Nadja standing next to a photo of Ladybug and Cat Noir.
"Are they still a threat to the Parisians? If so, Paris is relying on our new guardian angels, the vigilantes known as Ladybug and Cat Noir, to save us all. We hope, our lives depend on them," Nadja continued. Bridgette turned to look at her sister but she wasn't there, she gave Tikki one last look before closing her up and putting the box back in the vanity.
Marinette was now standing next to her parents, watching the tv while she washed dishes, her mind being conflicted by what Tikki had said, on the one hand she was glad that she finally understood why she had been called "the chosen one," but on the other hand, the crushing weight of her failure to capture the akuma still bore down on her.
Sabine then turned around and put her hand on Marinette's shoulder and said, "Listen, I know how upsetting and scary this is, but don't worry, sweetie; we've got two superheroes looking out for Paris, and the best way of helping them is to show them that we're not scared, because we trust them." Sabine raised a fist and scrunched her face with confidence and faith.
"So, rest assured, Mari, we trust them!" Tom chimed in.
"But what if Ladybug doesn’t reappear or worse, fails?" Marinette said as she looked down in partial shame.
"Then I'd come and save you," Tom said as he held a piece of bread as a sword while saying, "Super Baker to the rescue!"
Marinette giggled and reached up to give her father a peck on the cheek and then said, "Thanks, Super Dad! I’ll go get my things for class!"
She ran up to her room and grabbed her purse and bag, pausing for a moment to look her twin's way, who pointed at her vanity drawer where she was keeping her Miraculous. She opened the drawer and contemplated taking the case the Miraculous was in. Then, she placed the case in her purse with certainty.
Meanwhile at Adrien's home, Nathalie was waiting for Adrien in the dining area.
"Hmm, what's he doing? she wondered as the clock chimed once; she then went to look for Adrien in his room but didn't find him. "Adrien? Where is he?" she said softly.
"Where's my son?!" Gabriel yelled while near the staircase and entrance of the home, Nathalie and Adrien's bodyguard stood side by side; Gabriel wasn't pleased. "You didn't see him come out for breakfast or even leave? Argh, what are you good for? If anything has happened to Adrien, I’ll hold you personally responsible! Understand?" he fumed.
While Gabriel was fuming, on the streets of Paris, Adrien was hobbling to school as fast as he could and away from his father.
"I’ll be late!" Adrien wheezed.
"You are such a strange boy. Why would you absolutely want to go to school when you could very well stay at home all day?" Plagg asked.
"You just don't get it, Plagg. I've had enough of being isolated at home by my father, that sack of crap, away from everyone. I want to meet people and make friends! Go to school like everyone else! To be normal, like the others," Adrien tried explaining to his kwami.
Plagg sighed. "Uhhh oh, I think I am feeling weak…give me some camembert cheese, and quickly!" he whined.
"You know what's strange?" Adrien said as he stopped running and paused in the park; he unhooked his bag and grabbed a wedge of Camembert while saying, "The fact that all you eat is this disgusting, rotten-smelling Camembert, and then I have to smell like I just got out of a cheese factory and then got into a dumpster, plus I have to smell like it 24/7. That's strange. You're lucky that I had to convince Nathalie that I'm obsessed with Camembert," he finished clearly disgusted with Plagg and his behavior.
"Well, what do you want, it gives me strength. If you want me to be able to transform you into a superhero later, then stinky cheese is the deal, my friend! Just accept the smell of the old sock!" Plagg chimed in.
“'Old sock?' That’s being way too generous there, it smells more like shit, Plagg!" Adrien said as he continued to school, speaking of which, both Alya and Marinette were discussing something that Alya had created overnight.
Marinette heard a newspaper seller shout "Paris Gazette! Special edition! Golem attack! Who are these two masked figures? Friends or foes?!"
"...you should've seen her in action, Marinette. She took down the giant rock creature! Oh, if only you'd been there to see it!" Alya was explaining to her. Marinette responded with"I think I get the picture." "Can you believe it? A French ass-kicking superheroine, and I took her first picture! Couple goals, don't you think?"
"You're nuts."
"Why? What's up?"
"That's not my-er-her boyfriend!"
"How do you know?"
"It's obvious! Look at the pictures, they don't even look like they like each other. I mean, how would you feel if you were thrown into such an embarrassing situation?"
"Good point! Say, I'll ask when I see her in action!"
"It could be dangerous, Alya!"
"If you wanna be a reporter, you have to get close to the action."
"You have to be careful. I'm serious!"
"Oh come on! You wouldn't take some risks to make your biggest dream come true?"
"Well thankfully fashion design isn't a matter of life or death. Anyways, you said that you created a news site?" Marinette asked her friend.
"Well, it’s a fan site first, a news site second. And voila, I call it the Ladyblog," Alya said as she handed Marinette her phone. "your 24-hour source of information on the coolest superheroes, Ladybug and Cat Noir! How awesome is that?!" she continued as she took her phone back. "Check out the number of views and subscribers since I posted the video, Ladybug has a lot of fans!"
Marinette's mind was still split on how to feel, she already had the support of both Tikki and Bridgette and her parents, but what of Alya and Cat Noir, whoever he may be? "But why do you trust them so much, especially Ladybug? All of these stone beings…"
"She's gonna handle them," Alya said confidently.
"But, if so, what if she's not really cut out to be a superhero even though everyone thinks she is and she doesn’t know what to do with the 'Stonehearts...' maybe she wasn't made to save the world?" Marinette continued.
"What are you talking about, girl, I got it all? Oh, wait," Alya said, coming to a realization. "I know what this is about."
"Is that so?" Marinette said completely flustered and scared of what Alya was about to say.
"You're scared, that’s all, but don't be! I've seen her with my own two eyes, girl! Ladybug is a true superheroine! She's gonna protect us all! Believe me, as I believe in her," Alya told her friend who looked down at her purse and was filled with confidence; as she walked with Alya, she noticed a group gathered around Ivan.
"And so you really don't remember anything?" Alix asked Ivan. "You were totally going ballistic. It was so cool!" Juleka said with a smile. "Yeah, so cool!" Luka added.
"Yeah, you really were seriously out to pulverize me!" Kim chimed in. "Oh, I'm sorry, it wasn’t really me… I-I wasn't myself…" Ivan said softly.
"Pff! Well, as they say, once a monster, always a monster." Chloé scoffed. Ivan then became furious and marched away as Chloé continued to make fun of him. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out! Plus, we feel more secure when you aren’t all there!" she called after him.
Outside the school, Adrien hobbled up the steps to the front door.
I will go to school! I will go to school! Adrien chanted in his head like a mantra, as he was running. With nobody chasing him because he activated the sweet security system which let nobody out unless they typed the passcode. Which he had changed that morning.
"I finally made it! Collège Françoise Dupont, here I come!" Adrien said as he stood in front of the school.
"Adrien! Come back! Don't do this! Your father will be furious!" Nathalie shouted from the car, which was speeding toward him.
"How did you figure out the passcode?!" Adrien asked, surprised.
"Next time, don't make the passcode something so predictable!" Nathalie said, as she got out of the car.
"Shit!" Adrien said, and facepalmed.
"Just tell him you got here too late! Please?" Adrien pleaded, hoping it would work.
Nathalie looked at Placide, then back at him.
"Fine," Nathalie finally said, knowing full well that she might get fired for this, but she didn't care since she had been through much worse.
"Thanks, Nathalie!" Adrien said, then walked into the school while Nathalie sighed and Placide silently growled.
Meanwhile inside the school, more specifically the entrance, Adrien had just walked in only to accidentally bump into a dark skinned kid with a skateboard. The kid turned to him and said "Woah buddy! I'm walking here! Wait, you're  the new kid, right? I thought  Chloè was just boasting for no reason again. Why aren't you in class with the rest of us, Dude? Think you're  better than us?" "What. no, i-it's just my father," Adrien stammered to him who assured him "Chill man, I'm just playing! Welcome to school! Bustier's class, right?" Adrien nodded. The kid then pointed  to where the classroom was while telling him "Second floor, in that room right there. Guess I'll see you there." The kid then ran off to Mrs. Bustier's classroom, speaking of which, inside the room, Alya was busy chewing out Chloé.
"How could you say that to Ivan? You're the real Stoneheart," Alya said angrily.
"Ugh, so I'm the one who broke Sabrina's dad's arm, am I? Just because your footage of those lame superheroes was shown on TV, doesn't mean you have to get so high and mighty. You’re just a third-class little bitch, just like Dupain-Cheng. I prefer to only walk among the first-class, thank you very much," she said before blowing a bubble gum bubble at her.
"Why you little…" Alya fumed.
"Oh no, look out, she's angry! She's going to split her panties and turn into a huge muscly monster!" Chloé mocked which made Alya huff and walk off to go find Marinette.
Just as she got out the door, in walked Adrien, and when he saw Chloé, he beemed and said, "Hey, Chloé!"
"Adrikins! You came!" Chloé squealed in delight.
Other students saw Adrien and rushed over toward him, shouting in recognition.
Meanwhile, Nathalie got out of the car and briefly paused to speak to Placide. "I'll handle it," she told him. He drove the car off to the garage.
While Placide was busy parking the limo, in the meantime, back in the school's locker room, Marinette saw Ivan sitting on the ground, looking down with his headphones on.
"You know, you should tell Mylène how you feel," she said softly and calmly.
"I… don't know what you're talking about," Ivan said blushing.
"Come on, I saw the way you look at her. No! No negative emotions, Ivan. What I mean is, be positive. I'm sure Mylène has feelings for you too. Go talk to her," Marinette told him.
"I - I'm no good with words anyway," Ivan admitted.
"But… who needs words? You could draw her a picture, send her flowers…" Marinette offered.
"I could… write her a song?" Ivan slowly asked, clearly in better spirits.
"Oh, that's a wonderfully great idea! What girl wouldn't want a love song written especially for her? Go for it, Ivan, and, uh–, stay positive," Marinette gleefully said.
Ivan nodded and ran off, excited.
Both Adrien and Chloé entered Mrs. Bustier's classroom after he was done signing autographs in the hallway.
"Could I have your autograph, please?" Adrien could hear a boy ask timidly while a girl babbled out, "Adrien, can I have an autograph, Adrien, I'm a huge fan!"
"Wow. This is your seat, Adrikins. I saved it just for you. Right in front of me!" Chloé said, pointing towards the front.
"Um, thanks, Chloé!" Adrien said, then sat down. He then saw his seat mate. "Uh… Hey, I'm Adrien!" he said as he offered his hand to his seat mate for a handshake, but he turned away, and said, "So, you're friends with Chloé, then, huh?"
Adrien had a feeling that Chloé wasn't liked by many people, and her doing things like putting gum on a seat with Sabrina probably didn't help things, and when he saw her do exactly that, he said in a stern voice, "Hey! What's that all about?"
"The bitches that sat here yesterday need a little attitude adjustment. I'm just commanding a bit of respect, that's all," Chloé defended herself.
"You really think that's necessary?" Adrien asked.
Meanwhile, outside Mrs. Bustier's classroom, both Alya and Marinette were walking back to class after catching up with each other, as for Marinette, she was being tempted to put the Miraculous into Alya's bag, feeling like Ladybug was too big of a role for herself.
"Alya, wouldn't you like to be a superhero and go out and fight monsters and villains?" she asked Alya.
"Totally! I'm not scared of anyone! Why?" Alya responded.
Marinette finally landed on a decision as she said, "Oh! No reason at all…" she snuck the Miraculous mini box into Alya's bag. They then entered the classroom where Marinette saw Adrien picking at the gum in her seat.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Marinette scolded Adrien.
"Uhhh… I…" Adrien stuttered.
Both Chloé and Sabrina laughed while Alix just facepalmed.
"Okay. I get it. Good job, you three. Very funny," Marinette said angrily.
"No, no, I was just trying to take this off!" Adrien tried explaining.
"Oh, really?" Marinette retorted, clearly not believing him.
"You're friends with Chloé, right?" Marinette angrily asked him.
"Why do people keep saying that?" Adrien softly questioned as Marinette huffed while he went to his seat.
"Now do you see what I mean about respect?" Chloé asked gleefully.
Adrien almost rolled his eyes, but Alix did it for him.
"I feel like I've seen him somewhere before, I just know it," Marinette said, and Alya held up her phone where it showed images of Gabriel and Adrien Agreste modeling on Alya's cellphone. "Of course! He's the son of my favorite fashion designer, Gabriel Agreste!" Marinette said.
"Please! Daddy's boy, teen supermodel, AND Chloé's buddy? Ha! Forget it!" Alya said.
"Why didn't you just tell them it was Chloé's idea?" Adrien's seat-mate asked Adrien.
"Well, I've known Chloé since I was a little kid. I know she's not perfect, but I just can't throw her under the bus. She's like my only friend, especially since she’s my godsister. I've been homeschooled for most of my life, and haven't had any opportunities to make any other friends."
Then, the teen turned toward him, and said, "Tough spot, so basically, she’s more than a friend, she’s also practically family. Say, I'm Nino, and it's time for you to make some new friends, dude," he offered his hand to Adrien for a handshake; Adrien smiled and accepted.
"If you don't mind me asking, what's with the headphones?" Adrien asked with Nino responding with " These headphones were given to me by my favorite DJ after a concert. That's why I always carry them with me!"
Meanwhile in the locker rooms, Myléne was leaving the restrooms when she suddenly realized something as well as coming across Ivan, "Oh no, I'm gonna be late. Ahh! Ivan, you scared me."

"I made this for you," Ivan told her as he started playing loud music and began singing in a loud, shrill voice, reading the lyrics of his song, "Mylène, be serene, don't be so mean!"
Mylène then ran away, scared. Ivan then got angry, waded up his lyric sheet, threw his music-playing phone on the floor and stepped on it, and sat down.
Meanwhile, "Why does she look so familiar?" Adrien wondered out loud after he finished shaking hands with Nino. "Who?" Nino asked.
"Uh, the one with pigtails. I know I’ve seen her somewhere before, but I just can’t put my finger on it," Adrien responded.
"Oh, that's Marinette, whom I've never seen her with her hair in pigtails before, must be in honor of Socqueline Wang, though I could be wrong," Nino told Adrien. "Is she dead, Nino?" "No, just graduated from here, kinda, I don't know the specifics of what had happened last year, what I DO know is that when she was around, she took none of Chloé's shit and would constantly stand up for Marinette." Adrien hummed.
While Adrien was trying to figure Marinette out, in the locker room Ivan was upset, which caused the main akuma to fly in and infect Ivan's wadded-up song lyrics.

Then Ivan heard Hawk Moth whisper to him again, "This is your second chance, Stoneheart, and this time you have extra help. No-one will stop you from capturing the love of your life. Just remember, I will need something in return."
Ivan was akumatized into Stoneheart again. He opened his eyes and suddenly all of the other stone beings across Paris started waking up and began to terrorize Paris.