When Walls Crumble

Chapter 44: The Guardian

Marinette went down to Master Fu to tell him about their plan the next morning.  She was greeted by Wayyz and an otherwise empty house.

"Wayyz?  Where's Master Fu?"

Wayyz sighed deeply and wiped away a tear.  "He died last night.  Peacefully in his sleep."

Tikki zoomed out and hugged her friend.  "Oh, Wayyz, I'm so sorry!"

He hugged her back as Marinette gasped.  "Dead?"

Wayyz nodded and flew over to the phonograph.  Sitting on top of it was an envelope and an encrypted hint for the code to the box.  "He wanted you to take his place, Marinette.  This envelope has all the information you will need and the kwamis can help too."

Marinette took a few deep breaths and tried not to cry.  "Will there be a funeral?"

Wayyz shook his head.  "We already buried him out in the yard.  Did you come for a miraculous?  Advice?  I might be able to help, but..."

Marinette shook her head.  "I came to tell him about our plan.  I fully expect Adrian to have recovered the butterfly by tonight."

"That is amazing news!  But why all of a sudden is it so simple?"

Marinette shrugged.  "We were overthinking it.  Because of the first unidentified Hawkmoth, we were expecting a meticulously planned all-out battle crossed with Lila cleverly manipulating the situation so she couldn't be proved guilty.  Adrian pointed out that it can be much simpler.  He's going to lead her on and take it."

"But then she will just walk free!"

"She'll face consequences, for sure.  Just not on a national scale.  We're dealing with magic jewelry.  How much can the local court compensate for the unexplained realm of pre-historic magic?  She used it for a goal and she will lose that.  Definitively."

Wayyz looked at Tikki who nodded.  "Marinette's right.  There is too much that the police wouldn't know about for them to justly convict anyone."

"But Adrian is just going to seduce her?  Seems a little low."

"She went there first.  Also, he isn't seducing her.  He's allowing her to think that her seductive tactics are working.  And he isn't below manipulating her for the greater good.  He blackmailed her for me years ago."  She walked over to the phonograph and opened it.  "The butterfly should be back where it belongs soon.  And then we can turn in our own.  Our job will finally be done."

Wayyz looked uneasily at Tikki.  "Maybe you should keep them for a little while longer.  Besides, the guardian normally has a miraculous to protect the miracle box."

Marinette picked up the turtle bracelet which had been sitting on the bureau and put it back into its place.  With a quick farewell and green flash, Wayyz vanished.  Marinette tucked the miracle box and papers into her backpack and walked out.