Post-Reveal: Volpina

Chapter Ten

"I'm useless, and you know it."

Marinette opened her mouth to argue. "I- wh- that's not true, Cha- I mean, Adri-"

"Don't lie to me, Marinette, I've barely done anything these past few battles. It's just been you and Volpina. You beat the Archer without me while I was knocked unconscious by a building, no sweat. I basically just crumbled a few licorice whips in our last battle."

"I- but that's not-"

"And you know what? This didn't even have to happen! If you had been nicer to Volpina and she liked you more, we probably would have stopped Papillon a while ago with her help. My nightmares would have stopped. Everything would be great!"

"So it's my fault, then? Because I called Lila out for being a liar?"

"You could have handled the situation a lot better, if you ask me!"

"Well, I didn't ask you. And anyway, you haven't even asked Lila to help you with your dad-"

Adrien winced.

"What?"

"Um, nothing." Adrien looked away, out of his floor-to-ceiling windows.

Marinette realized how harsh she had been and toned herself down a little. "Look, I'm sorry, and it's not your fault that you can't sleep well."

"No, that's not it. I just hate being reminded that my mom's disappearance is basically the cause of all of this."

"Wh- that makes no sense. How is your mom at the base of anything?"

"Well, if she were here, mon pere wouldn't try to get her back by stealing our Miraculouses, and you and Lila wouldn't be arguing, and-"

"We're not arguing."

"She hates you, Marinette."

"No, she hates Ladybug. She loves me, because I'm her only friend."

Adrien finally faced Marinette. "Why is that?"

"I felt bad that I had been so mean to her as Ladybug, so I tried to make sure she had someone to talk to, especially since she was the new kid and it's hard to make friends."

Adrien sure could relate to that.

"Back to your mom. You're not telling me everything."

Adrien's shoulders lost tension. "Okay, you know that book I had?"

"Yes."

"I found it in my father's safe. The peacock Miraculous was in there, too."

Tikki zipped out of her bag. "Wait, what? Marinette, that means we know where all the Miraculouses are right now! We have to tell Master Fu!"

"That's not all, though, and I, um... I think it belonged to my mom."

Stunned silence.

"What does that mean?" Marinette demanded. "How do you know?"

"Well, um- I don't know for sure, but- it just-"

"And she disappeared... that means-" Marinette felt as if she simply could not handle any more surprises. "What else is there? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't think it was important," Adrien said sheepishly.

"Of course it's important, you stupid cat! Oh, my gosh, maybe Volpina isn't the answer at all! It's probably all linked to your mom's disappearance!" Marinette realized.

"You heard Nuru, though. He said Volpina was the answer."

"He could have lied to us, you know," Plagg pointed out. "He does belong to your father. That guy doesn't have an ounce of goodwill in him."