The Black Cat (a Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

Marinette: The Curious Case of the Cat

   "Y-You're... her?" Ms. M asked me.
   "You cannot tell a single soul." I answered, "If you do, I will probably be banished, I'm already on high watch, thanks to the Anti-Magic Counsel." That was three people, including Master Fu, who knew who I was. This was not that good.
   "No, I won't." Ms. M assured me, "Your secret is safe with me, just like Chat's is." she smiled, "Anyways, back to the board. You were summoned to Marinette because of that connection." she scribbled down, "It's a good thing you're here, Miss Dupain-Cheng. I might have a solution that doesn't require any sort of "separation"."
   "You do?" Chat asked her.
   "Yes. Marinette, it would require something of yours, though. I think you would need to channel the same type of magic Chat has, the ability to disguise yourself."
   "Really?"
   "Yes. The way to do this can be very tricky, but I'm sure with a little bit of help, you two can do it. Marinette, you're going to need to make a Potion of Reversal, by making four separete potions. A Potion of Restoration, or Healing, the exact one we used in your first independent lab, a temporary Transformation potion, an extension potion to make the temporary potion permanent, and a Sealing potion, to ensure that whatever effect you desire cannot be changed. You're also going to need to cast a Weaving spell on Chat... which requires you to uncover yourself."
   "I can't do a premature uncover, can I?" I asked her, "I've never heard of someone doing that before."
   "If you were to do it, I don't know what would happen. Besides, the professors aren't supposed to tell you what the spell is until you graduate." Ms. M sighed, "If I were to tell you the spell early... I would probably get fired. However, if you were to do it, you could protect yourself from Anti-Magic Counsel and save Chat in the process."
   "I can't let you do it." Chat looked at me, "I want you to do it when everyone else is doing it. I can't ask you to risk someone else's livelihood for me. I also don't want to hurt you in the process. If you graduate, you'll be around multiple people who can help you. If you were to do it right now, who knows what could happen?"
   "I don't want you to suffer anymore then you already have, Chat!" I faced him, "You've been like this for long enough!"
   "I won't let you." Chat turned to Ms. M, "I don't want her to risk doing the uncover spell early. I can hold off for what, 4 more months? I've been going at it for this long, seriously, it won't kill me."
   "Chat..." I looked down, "Are you sure?" I heard him walk up to me, and felt him hug me,
   "I'm positive. I don't want you to worry about me."
   "It's hard not to when you're my best friend and superhero partner." I muttered. He chuckled lightly,
   "I know. I'll be fine. Four more months won't hurt me. Besides, we want to guarantee that this will work. If we were to do it too soon, something bad could happen. You know that, right?"
   "Yeah." I answered, "I agree. We should wait. But, is there any way I could learn how to make all of these potions?" I asked Ms. M, "I have to use my essence for the healing one, don't I?"
   "Yes." she answered. "But, I'll have you know, making this is no easy task. It takes precision, and time, and lots of effort... It might take all night if we were to do it now. But, the benefit of doing it now, would be that the potion has more than a month to sit... that could possibly make it more potent."
   "I can handle it." I assured her.
   "Great... then consider this extra credit." Ms. M assured the both of us, "I won't make you do the lab tomorrow, Marinette... this will count for your grade. Besides, the lab tomorrow absolutely requires two wizards, and I'm sure it would be massive giveaway if I were to make you do it alone."
   "Really?" I asked her.
   "Yeah." she answered, "Chat, I need you to take a copy of the board. Marinette, I need you to push two tables together to create a larger workspace. I will grab some ingredients that I know aren't in this room."
   "Right." We both nodded. She left, and I turned back to Chat,
   "Marinette, are you sure you want to do this?" he asked me.
   "Of course I do," I answered, taking a table and moving it, "If I can help in any way, then I will. I can't leave you like this."
   "Thank you." he smiled. He took a look at the board, and copied it down. He took his notebook and put it in my backpack. "Let's keep the information at the apartment... for safe-keeping."
   "I agree. I have a lock box we can use." I offered.
   "Great." he headed to the table, "Need help setting up?"
   "Yeah, if you could grab some gloves and some bottles, that'd be great."
   "Sure thing." Ms. M came back with a basket of ingredients and soon, we were all ready to undertake the task of creating this intense and difficult potion combination. I would be exhausted by the end of the night... I might not even be able to go to school tomorrow. Making four potions in one night would require a lot of essence. 1/32, the amount I normally used in my labs could usually replenish itself within 2 hours. Using larger amounts meant a longer recovery time, which was probably why Ms. M advised to take tomorrow off. From there, Ms. M was explaining to me how to mix it, and Chat was verifying the steps. The thing was magic was that it was delicate. It could tell when it was in the presence of someone, and could tell when someone's aura changed. That's why it was up to me and me only to do the mixing. For the first time, I needed to produce my own essence, without assistance. Ms. M was able to walk me through the steps the best that she could, and I slowly but surely followed. It took a while, but I was able to summon my own essence, without a familiar's help. I ended up using 1/8 of her essence in the process, and I felt exhausted. We had stayed in the school for so long. Ms. M kept the potions in the lab in a safe, and Chat and I leave through the window. I guess I needed to rest at least 24 hours... I used a lot of my essence. Chat carried me home, and left me in my room for a while. I didn't quite know what to do, so I just decided to play some music and see if I'd fall asleep. I took out my ponytails as well, so that if I did fall asleep, I wouldn't be too uncomfortable. I guess Chat heard the music because he knocked on my door.
   "Mari?" he asked me, "You're awake?"
   "Chat, can you come in?" I stretched a little.
   "Of course." he came in, and noticed the small set-up I had.
   "I can't sleep." I sighed, "Can you?"
   "Not really. Don't worry about patrol, either. I took care of it all."
   "You did?" I felt really bad, "I'm sorry, I wish I could've helped."
   "You didn't need to." Chat shushed me, "It was no problem. "Do you want me to get you some hot tea or something to help you fall asleep?"
   "Yeah." I answered. After a few minutes, he came back and set the cup on my nightstand.
   "Anything else, Princess?" he asked me.
   "Can you stay with me for a little bit?" I asked him, nervously.
   "Sure." he answered. I scooted closer to the nightstand, and he walked to the other side of the bed, and hopped in, joining me.
   "It's just that I'm a little cold, and I just... want someone here. I don't know, I've been feeling lonely and homesick for a long time... since we're not keeping very many secrets anymore." I turned to him, "What do you think happened to them?"
   "To them... your parents?" he asked me. I nodded. "I don't want you to think about it in a bad way. I'm sure your parents are okay."
   "You think?"
   "You can't give up hope, ever." he looked me in the eyes, "Remember, as Ladybug, I told you about someone who was close me... who I had lost?" I nodded, "Well, that person is my own mother. I completely understand how you're feeling, really."
   "Your mother?" 
   "Yeah. One day I woke up, and something had happened. My father was devastated. I think that's when he started taking whatever frustration, sadness and anger he had out on me. Marinette, I still think about her. I still wonder what she's up to, and where she could be. But... it gets easier, I can promise you. You're going to have days where you feel sad, lonely and depressed, and that's okay. That's normal. Just know this time, you're not alone. We're going to find them, once all of this settles, and we graduate, together."
   "We will? You'd help me find them?"
   "I'll try my very hardest." I laid down, and he joined me. "Are you okay, in all seriousness? How are you feeling?"
   "Better, but I still feel upset, and freezing, even though I'm under all of my sheets."
   "Using that amount of your essence will do that." Chat chuckled, "Come here."
   "What?" I turned to him, smiling. He pointed at himself.
   "Come on, I hear cuddling a cat is pretty warm." I laughed, and rested my head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me, and left the other behind his head. "Didn't I tell you?"
   "Yeah." I answered. "You're really warm." I felt him starting to play with my hair.
   "Your hair's soft." he complimented me. I turned to the side, and practically clung onto him. I found myself falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat, and him playing with my hair. Little did I know, it wasn't long before he fell asleep as well.

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   This was such a cute moment... I love cuddles, but I never cuddle people... it's honestly the thing that keeps me awake at night... I. MUST. BE. LOVED!!! D: I'm writing this from my new phone and just the fact that I have Wattpad on my phone now is the coolest thing ever. But yeah! I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you soon! Cheers! ~Morgan