Falling: A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic

Chapter 3: Facing the Answers

Marinette arrived at Master Fu's home, and went to the door with trepidation. Her midnight blue hair was down, dangling behind her ears. She slowly knocked on the door. "H-Hello?" Marinette stuttered.

An old and Chinese accent rang out. "Yes, Ladybug?" Marinette opened the door, finding a man with weathered skin and wise brown eyes. He smiled warmly, and Marinette waved awkwardly. It was Master Fu, the man who had all the answers she needs.

"I have so many questions. Can you heal Tiki? First-" Marinette was cut off.

"Patience. I will answer all of them." Master Fu interrupted calmly. "I can help your kwami, yet I cannot cure her."

Marinette held a bewildering look, with Tikki in her hands. "Cure? What's wrong with her?"

"Something is coming. It is draining the energy of all Miraculouses." Master Fu explained.

"So..?"

"Marinette. Your miraculous is dying."

O o O

"What?!" A panicked Marinette shrieked. "Oh my god. Is Tikki going to be alright? What's going to happen?"

Master Fu's brown eyes darkened. "Tikki will only lose her power, and will revert to her true form. A human."

"Woah. Really?"

The old man nodded. "Yes. The miraculous true mechanism is to survive. It will steal energy from its holder to give strength. And it will try to survive without using too much energy, and in this case, your lucky charm."

Marinette bit her lips, "It will steal energy from me? What's going to happen?"

"All in good time. First, what are you planning on doing with your injury?" Master Fu asked.

She hadn't thought about it. Her curiosity was more than her pain. Marinette shrugged, "I don't know. I can't tell anyone I'm Ladybug. And those lame excuses about my clumsiness, they'll think I'm a kid!"

"But you are a child." Master Fu pointed out. Marinette sighed, and laughed. She, a child? Ever since the girl was Ladybug, she wasn't a kid. She had the burden of saving Paris on her shoulders.

"What's going to happen to me?" Marinette inquired.

Master Fu took a deep breath. "You will feel fatigue and cold. You may feel weak, and dizzy. There are many things that could happen."

"And how do we stop it?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know. But meanwhile, I can help Tikki." He took the kwami in his hands, and laid her on a soft green pillow. The old man started to chant in a different language.

Okay. I'll figure it out. I'll figure it all out. Marinette thought. Her red kwami began to rise, and soon Master Fu stopped his strange chanting. "This energy-stealing thing, will it-will it kill me?"

The old man glanced at her, and then looked down. "No. It will not. Now, go fix your injury. I can't heal it. Goodbye Ladybug. I hope to see you again soon." Marinette nodded, and walked back home with Tiki floating beside her.

One harsh truth reached Ladybug, about her dying: Master Fu was lying. 

O  o  O 

After having a long conversation with Tiki, night was beginning to fall. The thousands of lights of Paris shone again, the Eiffel Tower glistening in the background. Marinette transformed into her secret identity, the pain still present. Despite her pain, Ladybug found a little surprise waiting at patrol: Chat Noir.

"Chat?" Ladybug called out, and soon found a familiar pair of bright green eyes staring at her.

"Yes, my lady?" Chat answered, his mouth turning into a grin. It soon faded. "Are you okay?" Concern filled his voice. Ladybug took a shaky breath. "What's wrong?" He asked. 

"I'm not okay."