When the Phoenix Falls (Adrien Agreste)

Chapter 1: Origins

Colette was already sitting at the kitchen table when she heard her mother shout up the stairs.

"Marinette, your alarm's been going off for fifteen minutes. You're going to be late for your first day back at school."

"Got it Mum, coming." Came Marinette's sleepy reply and the girl quickly appeared at the bottom of the stairs. She kissed her mother on the cheek quickly before claiming her place next to Colette at the table.

"I bet you anything Chloé will be in our class again," Marinette muttered as she picked up the milk and began to pour it into the bowl.

"Four years in a row? Is that possible?" Sabine asked as she turned to face her daughters.

"Definitely, lucky me." Marinette said sarcastically, finishing her breakfast.

"Don't say that, it's the start of a new year, I'm sure everything will be just fine." Sabine assured her and Colette grinned.

"Mum's right, Mar. Besides, on the off chance Chloé decides to sit next to Sabrina again, you'll be guaranteed a desk partner."

Marinette gave an enthusiastic nod, confidently placing the tub of breakfast cereal next to the fruit bowl. This turned out to be a mistake as a satsuma rolled out of the bowl and began to make its way along the table. Colette learned over and managed to grab the satsuma just before it made it to the butter knife, saving Marinette from an even worse morning as she quickly peeled and ate the troublesome fruit. Marinette sighed with relief and cast her sister an appreciative look as the girl pulled her into a side hug.

Having done this, Colette stood from her place and made her way up to her own bedroom, quickly pulling her long raven blue-black locks into a braid which fell most of the way down her back. Grabbing her school satchel from its place on the back of her door, she made sure she had all of the notebooks she would need plus a couple in which to write or draw her thoughts during break times, before slinging it over her shoulder and making her way down the stairs. She arrived just in time to see her father giving Marinette a box full of macarons, stamped with the bakery's logo.

"Thank you, Dad, our class will love them. You're the best!" Marinette grinned widely at the tall man, who ruffled her hair affectionately.

"We're the best. Thanks to your amazing designs." Tom assured her, holding up a sketchbook with the logo design displayed. Marinette gave a laugh and pulled their father into a hug, accidently dropping the box of macarons as she did so. Tom quickly stuck a foot out, managing to catch them just before they hit the floor, kicking it back up and into Colette's hands. Colette offered the box to Marinette once more - though she was fairly sure the girl was bound to drop them again at some point - and followed her sister's actions in kissing their parents before disappearing out the door to the bakery.

"See you tonight!" Marinette called over her shoulder, Colette rolling her eyes as she saw the way the girl was running off - at this rate the macarons would be lucky if any of them made it to school in one piece.

"Either that, or she'll embarrass us so badly she never comes back, one of the two." Colette smiled at her parents before following her twin.

When she got out onto the pavement, she was none too surprised to see Marinette leaning back as she tried to stop herself walking out in front of a car. Colette let out a sigh of relief before she realised that Marinette looked absolutely terrified, she followed the girl's line of sight and realised that there was an elderly man in a bright red Hawaiian shirt struggling to cross the road. It was clear to both twins that the man was not going to make it across the road, as he was walking slowly with the help of his cane and there was already a car coming.