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chapter five- come alive

A slight breeze blew through the Place des Vosges, gently swaying the leaves of the surrounding trees. Two students, a boy and a girl, sat together on one of the park benches, each of them drawing in their respective sketchbooks. They didn't speak much to each other, save for the occasional comment or observation.

The boy sighed, closing his book and standing up, the wind gently ruffling his vermillion hair. "I think I'm ready to go," he said, politely offering his hand to help her up. She accepted, putting her pencil away in her little pink purse. "That's very sweet of you, Nathaniel," she replied, "but you certainly don't have to."

"Oh, I don't mind at all," Nathaniel said quickly, putting his bag over his shoulder, "it's on the way. Besides, I wouldn't mind getting a little something from the bakery before heading home." The blue-haired girl smiled. "Alright," she said, walking side by side with him towards her home. They maintained idle conversation, when something caught Nathaniel's eye. He walked over to a fence post, and gently tugged off a poster that was stapled to it. "Marinette, look at this!" he said, handing her the paper as he excitedly pushed his bangs out of his face. She skimmed over it, before meekly handing it back to him. "Thanks, Nate, but I don't think this is really my style," she admitted. "It sounds like a lot of fun," the redhead said, taking a picture of it with his phone before folding up the flyer and sticking it in her purse. "You should at least think about it." Marinette have a small shrug.

They made their way to the bakery, and Nathaniel got himself a few macarons before waving Marinette and her parents goodbye.

Marinette headed upstairs to her room, sitting in down at her computer to get started on homework. She set her purse down on the desk, noticing a little black box that she'd never seen before. She looked around to see if anything else was out of place, unable to detect anything out of the ordinary. She picked up the box, and gently opened it. Immediately a pinkish orb of light radiated from the box, and a little floating red creature materialized in front of her. Marinette stumbled backwards, yelping in surprise. "Ah! It's a giant bug! A..." she said, reevaluating the creature, "a mouse! A- a bug-mouse!" It flew slightly closer to her. "Everything's okay! Don't be scared!" it spoke, its voice cute and feminine. "Ah! Bug-mouse talks!" Marinette exclaimed, frantically throwing things at it. "Listen, Marinette, I know everything might seem a bit strange to you-" she said, as Marinette trapped her in a drinking glass. "Okay, if that makes you feel safer," she said with a shrug. "Mom! Dad!" Marinette called downstairs, glancing back at the creature. "No, no, no, sh!" the little thing said, phasing through the glass and looking the girl in her eyes. "I'm your friend, Marinette, you must trust me!" She looked dubiously at it. "Who are you," Marinette asked, "and how do you know my name?"

"I am a kwami, and my name is Tikki," she said. "Now, just let me explain."

***

A vast line of people snaked throughout Hawkmoth's museum, people of all sizes, shapes and colors coming to audition for the enigmatic man's upcoming show. "So," the masked man said, addressing the man standing before him, "you just... really like pigeons?" The fedora-clad man nodded vigorously. "O...kay," he said, holding out his palm for a little butterfly, engulfing it in purple magic. "Suit yourself." The butterfly flew into the red bird call around his neck, and dark purple magic swept over his body, outfitting him in a pigeon-themed suit. "I'll call you... Mr. Pigeon," he said with a chuckle. "Who's next?" Nathaniel stepped up to his desk, nervously taking out his sketchbook. "H-hi, Mr. Hawkmoth, sir, I have this costume concept that I really like, if it's not too much trouble," he said sheepishly, flipping through the book and sliding it over to the man. "I've always dreamed of being a superhero." The masked man stared at the detailed drawing, then back up at the redhead. "You've very talented, young man," he said, handing back the book as he summoned another butterfly into his hand. "What should I call you?" Nathaniel beamed. "Mightillustrator," he said, tucking the book back into his satchel, a white stylus falling out. Hawkmoth grinned, cupping his hand over the butterfly, transforming it and letting it fly off his hand. Nathaniel bent over and picked up the stylus, just as the now black butterfly flew into it, tainting the stylus a deep purple. Hawkmoth gave the boy a wink, watching his body be cloaked with magic, embellishing him in a dark mask of his own, a white striped suit, and a black beret. His hair darkened at the tips, and his skin turned a light purple. The newly transformed hero gazed over his new look, waving to Hawkmoth as he walked to join the other new heroes. A sharp whirring sound came from above, and everyone turned to see a flash of red drop down before them, accompanied by faint yelling. A girl in a black-spotted suit crashed less-than-gracefully to the ground, instantly picking herself up and facing the now-flabbergasted Hawkmoth. "I-I'd like to join you," she said, a butterfly landing on her finger. "But I won't be needing one of these little guys." Hawkmoth closed his gaping mouth. "Be my guest, Miss..." he trailed. "Ladybug," the blue-haired girl replied after a moment's thought. "Call me Ladybug." Hawkmoth chuckled.

"Be my guest, Ladybug."