#commandant noir wing

[gundamfight]

[chic-a-gigot]

Le Petit écho de la mode, vol. 20, no. 24, 12 juin 1898, Paris. Sautoir Lakmé. Garniture de ceinture. 1. Toilette de promenade. Ville de Paris / Bibliothèque Forney

Sautoir Lakmé. Après le succès obtenu par notre sautoir Sapho et les nombreux compliments que nous recevons de toutes parts pour cette gracieuse parure, nous continuons à offrir à nos aimables lectrices les nouveautés que la Mode édite en ce genre. Voici un vrai bijou pour les jeunes filles: c’est un sautoir fait d’une seule ganse de soie noire et de motifs en perles turquoise entourés de perles d’acier qui sert à retenir une montre, un crayon, etc. Ce délicieux sautoir est offert au prix minime de 1 fr. 65 franco.

Dans un autre ordre d’idées, voici une parure de robes qui, jusqu’à présent, n’était pas abordable à toutes les bourses, vu sa qualité supérieure et sa suprême élégance. Nous avons, dans ce cas, traité avec une des premières maisons de Paris, et nous sommes heureux d’offrir, au prix de 3 fr.75 franco, une joli parure de ceinture en véritable acier fin composé de: une agrafe (dont notre gravure ne donne qu’un faible aperçu) et trois boucles que l’on coule derrière et sur les côtés sur une ceinture droite en ruban de velours ou défaille. Un délai de 8 jours nous est nécessaire pour la bonne exécution des commandes.

Robe en batiste, guipure de Gênes et satin. La jupe, coupée d une seule pièce, est garnie dans le bas de trois entre-deux poses à clair laissant voir le transparent du fond de jupe. Le corsage, gracieusement drapé à gauche sous un bijou de strass, est garni d entre-deux, le haut décolleté sur un empiècement de guipure posé sur un transparent; dos tendu, col droit et ruche, tour de taille en ruban fermé par une boucle en acier, manche garnie d’un volant de dentelle. Toquet en paille garni d'ailes et de tulle, bijou de strass.

—

Lakmé necklace. After the success obtained by our Sapho necklace and the numerous compliments that we received for this graceful adornment, we continue to offer our kind readers the new fashions in this style. Here is a real piece of jewelry for young girls: it is a necklace made of a single black silk braid and turquoise bead patterns surrounded by steel beads which is used to hold a watch, a pencil, etc. This delicious sautoir is offered at the low price of 1.65 francs.

On another note, here is a set of accessories which, until now, was not affordable for all budgets, given its superior quality and supreme elegance. In this case, we have dealt with one of the leading houses in Paris, and we are happy to offer, at the price of 3.75 francs, a pretty belt set in real fine steel composed of: a clasp (including our engraving gives only a faint glimpse) and three loops that run behind and on the sides on a straight belt of velvet ribbon or faille.

Dress in cambric, Genoa guipure and satin. The skirt, cut in one piece, is trimmed at the bottom with three light inserts revealing the transparency of the skirt bottom. The bodice, gracefully draped on the left under a rhinestone jewel, is garnished with insets, the high neckline on a guipure yoke placed on a transparent; stretched back, straight collar and ruffle, ribbon waistline closed with a steel buckle, sleeve trimmed with a lace ruffle. Straw toquet garnished with wings and tulle, rhinestone jewel.

Matériaux: 12 métrés de batiste, 15 mètres d’entre-deux, 0m35 de guipure et de satin blanc, 4 mètres de ruban.

[sassyduckqueen]

Miraculous: Rise of Anatis Chapter 77

So this is the second chapter inspired by miracle queen but more focuses on the guardian aspect of that episode. It gave me quite a bit of trouble when trying to write it but I'm happy with how it came out. It's quite heavy and deals with themes around death and grief, which we will be seeing a lot more of in the next few chapters. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it :)

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Chapter Seventy-Seven: Assassin Bee

"Excellent," He smirked, holding up his cane as it opened and an akuma flew out, landing in her miraculous. "Assassin Bee, I am giving you the power not to just control three minds but all minds. You will rule over Paris and use Parisians as your personal army. All I ask in return is for you to use them to capture Anatis, Lady Noir and the mage then bring them to me,"

"As you wish, Hawk Moth," She declared, causing the purple smog to cover her form. The purple smog cleared, revealing her akuma form. She was one of the more prettier akumas that Hawkmoth had made but also one of the more scarier. She was clearly wasp themed and seemed to be similar to Queen Wasp, Chloe's Akumatized Hero form. Her hair was similar to her ponytail, only bigger and more curled. It was black with yellow swirl in the ponytail and she had a black ribbon that resembled an antenna tied around it. She had two strands of hair that framed her face as well. Her skin was yellow and her lips were black. She wore a black suit with yellow markings, resembling a wasp's pattern. The outfit had shoulder pauldrons that resembled a double shoulder design. She had a golden belt with a red gem in the middle and it had an outer skirt that resembled wings as well. She wore thigh boots with a yellow heel and a yellow strap on the top. She had yellow fingerless gloves that were worn over the black suit. She wore a mask with a wasp pattern on her face and finally her eyes were insect-like with a hexagram pattern that was dark grey in color. Hawkmoth smirked as he held the Eastern Miracle Box in his hands. While they had the Western box, it turned out they couldn't open it. Dr Mila seemed to have put a spell on it so that only she could open and since they hadn't captured her, they couldn't open it right now. However, Su Han was using the magic he knew to try and undo her spell. It was quite the eye opener for Hawkmoth as he saw how weak Su Han truly was. Maybe he didn't understand magic that much but he was certain that if Su Han was the real celestial guardian, he would have been able to open without any trouble. Hawkmoth already knew he was a fake but this truly confirmed it. He turned to Assassin Bee and held out the box to her.

"Use it well, Dearest Assassin," He smirked, holding it out to her. She took it and smirked before turning into a swamp of wasps and jumping down to the entrance of the Trocadéro gardens. She reformed and straightened up, causing the civilians there to begin to panic and run off. Her smirk widened, enjoying their fear as an idea popped into her head. Right now, she didn't care for heroes or villains. She didn't care for her master or for his goals. All she could think about was how she finally had real power. Hawkmoth had given her the ability to take control of anyone she wanted. She was no longer just a worker wasp or a drone. She was now a queen. She stretched out her hands, summoning her swamp of wasps as people ran from her.

"Sting them! Sting them all!" She commanded, ordering them to sting anyone in their paths. The only people she ordered them not to sting was Hawkmoth, Mayura and Su Han  Since Hawkmoth had given her real power, he was safe and Mayura was his partner plus she was sick. Assassin Bee couldn't see her being useful. Her master wasn't so lucky. She wouldn't spare him from her wasps and as for Su Han, she needed him to undo the spell on the other box. As soon as he is done with that, she'll take over his mind too. "Make them mine!"

The swarm of wasps descended down onto her master straight, the smirk that was once on his face as he realized she wasn't going to spare him from her mind control. He went to disappear into the shadows as soon as he realized she wasn't going to spare him but it was already too late. The wasps moved fast and stung him before he could even activate his power. His eyes turned completely yellow and empty, causing him to stand still with his arms by his side before the swarm of wasps flew up and dispersed all over Paris, stinging all who they came across. Assassin Bee walked over to her former master.

"My, my. How the tables have turned," She smirked, satisfied with his mind control. She couldn't help but feel happy as he had always been hard on her and made sure she knew she belonged to him. Not just that but her mother did the same thing. She was only good because she was under their control but now all of Paris would be under her control. She smirked even more. "Drone!"

"Yes, Ma'am," He answered in a cold voice.

"I'm not your only apprentice," She states, coldly. Another reason why he treated her awful was because she was the youngest of his apprentices but also because she was of the Bourgeois family. The Bourgeois family was one of the founding families, along with his family. However, he considered her a bastard child as he put it. In other words, she wasn't a pure 'Bourgeois' and therefore not a pure member of the founding families and he made sure she knew that. She had to work harder than the others and nothing was ever good enough for him. Because she was weaker than him and knew she was liable for any punishment, she had to repress her emotions plus there were the 'special' classes. Deep in the back of her mind, she knew what they were. Brain-washing but she couldn't break free from it. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Order them to come here,"

He nodded and sent out a message to the other apprentices. A few moments later, he opened up a shadow portal for them to come through but the moment they crossed over into Paris, a number of her wasps descended on them, stinging them and turning their eyes the same yellow as her master. Su Han looked at her in shock as Hawkmoth jumped down and stood next to her. Assassin Bee grinned in glee as her master and the other assassins were now at her mercy.

"Excellent work, my dear," He smirked before looking at her. "Or should I say my queen?"

She smirked before turning back to the people of Paris. Almost all of them had been stung by now.

"People of Paris, listen to Assassin Bee's first order!" She called out. "If you see the bug or the cat, capture them and bring them to me!"

She laughed evilly as the order echoed through the mind of the Parisians before she turned to the mind controlled assassins.

"As for you lot," She declared, looking over at them. "My first order is for you to bow to me!"

She smirked as they all bowed to her without question, making her smirk.

"I could definitely get used to this," She smirked, clearly enjoying the power but Hawkmoth cleared his throat. "What is it?"

"As glad I am to see you enjoy yourself, my dear," He stated, not actually caring for her newfound freedom. "Anatis will come and ruin it. He always does and while your new subjects will try their best, you should plan for it in case he gets past them. May I offer some advice?"

"Yes," She nods, after Hawkmoth is experienced when fighting Anatis.

"Call for his allies. After all, you have the miraculous right now and we can use it to find out their identities,"

"Oh yes. Break down his team," She grinned, turning from the assassins bowing to her. She held out her hand out again. "People of Paris! Listen to my next order!"

She paused, waiting for everyone to be listening.

"From now on, no one will have to keep their identities a secret!" She declared. "All miraculous holders! Come to me!"

~At Fu's Apartment~

"L-Luka, look... look after the kwamis... for me...." She gasped, making him nod.

"I p-promise," He whispered as the light left her eyes and her body went still. He sniffed as tears rolled down his face, keeping hold of her hand as he leaned over and gently pushed her eyes down so they were closed. "I'm so sorry I failed you..."

He wiped away his tears as he whispered the transformation words, turning back into Anatis.

"But I will get the kwamis back and save Master Fu," He answered as her body began to disappear. He wasn't really surprised by that. She had lived for centuries after all. It made sense she was using magic to stay alive. He stood up as she completely faded away, wiping away his tears as anger began to settle. He turned and ran towards the hole in the building before jumping out and swinging into the city. He landed on a building as he saw citizens running from swamps of wasps before going still when they stung them. He narrowed his eyes and swung towards the Seine as the wasps began to chase him. He ate the green macaron as he did before diving into the water. As he suspected, the wasps had the same weakness as Queen Wasp' ones did. They couldn't go in the water. The swarm flew off as he took out his yoyo and texted a warning to Lady Noir before he swam off. He would deal with the wasps later. Right now, he needed to hunt down Hawkmoth and save Master Fu and the kwamis from him. "Hold on, Master Fu. I'm coming,"

He swam through the water at a fast speed, thinking as he did. Hawkmoth must of had a bigger plan all along and that was to go after the guardians. He must have planned to use himself as a distraction akuma to force Anatis to get his allies but instead of Luka himself getting infected by the akuma, Felix did. Regardless, he still had to get his allies thanks to Felix being an extremely difficult akuma, leading Hawkmoth to find the guardians. The whole ordeal had left him with more questions than answers. It seemed Felix was a mage but he didn't want to deal with that right now. Then there were the questions on how Hawkmoth followed him? And why kill Mulan? Shouldn't have he abducted her like he did with Master Fu? He may have been a bit distracted but he didn't notice Hawkmoth or Mayura following him nor did his empathy alert him. Even with his magic weakened, his empathy still should have worked since he had it even before his magic was awakened and he would have heard Hawkmoth's or Mayura's song plus he should have picked up on her illness. He didn't experience any of them, meaning neither of them had followed so how did they know? As he swam, he racked his memory of going to the apartment. Unable to recall anything, he came to a stop and took a deep breath before closing his eyes as he got a feeling of what to do. He needed to view the memory but not just remember it. He needed to relive it. He needed Feng's power but he couldn't just activate it as his own due to his magic being weakened. As the true celestial guardian and the 'mage', he could tap into his past lives and use their powers as his own but it requires a lot of magic to do so. However, Feng had taught him of a system he had come up with in case of any of their magic being too weak to use them as their own ability. Regardless of how weak his magic is right now, he still has a connection with his past lives. That was something that would never go away and since they all have that connection, they could share their own magic across the different lives including his. To use it, he just needs permission and once granted, whoever he called on would grant him access to their own magic, effectively sharing it with him.

"Feng... lend me your sight," He whispered, holding his hand to his heart. For a second, nothing happened but then he felt a rush of magic flowing through his veins and his eyes turned silver. Feng had granted his request. He closed his eyes and recalled the memory but this time he used Feng's vision ability to view it as if he was reliving it. As he ran through the buildings toward Fu's new apartment, he came to a stop and stepped into a third person view instead. He observed his past self going to the apartment but didn't follow. He looked to the rooftop and to the streets for Mayura or Hawkmoth but neither showed up. He frowned but his answer soon came. From the shadows, a miraculous holder manifested as he entered Master Fu's window. No wonder why he didn't see nor sense him. This man was themed around a cobra and Anatis felt a memory from Alpheus. The Cobra miraculous. Hera had successfully stolen it as revenge, along with the peacock when Alpheus rejected her but during one of their battles, she lost it and Alpheus was never able to recover it. Toutai took on the task to reclaim it and did but of course then he was murdered. Su Han must have passed onto one of his cultists and now it's resurfaced once again. Anatis made a mental note to investigate its resurgence, along with the Swan Miraculous and the Crocodile Miraculous. He didn't want to pressure Snapp but he would need answers. He frowned deeply as he watched the man pressed his finger to his ear.

"Hawkmoth, Mayura," He stated, making Anatis frown. "I have the guardian's address,"

So that's how they knew. They used someone who's miraculous was stealth based, had him followed at a distance and waited til he was inside before revealing themselves. He frowned and watched as Hawkmoth and Mayura arrived. As usual, Mayura was sick, coughing before the Cobra teleported them into the shadows. He closed his eyes and felt the scene shift before opening them. Now he was back in Fu's apartment, watching himself explain the whole situation with Simme before Red Moon bathed the room in red light. He frowned as he noticed Mulan's expression change to shock and realisation then acceptance. He frowned as he watched himself leave with the dragon and the octopus miraculous as Mulan stood by the window, looking at Red Moon. Her expression could only be described as acceptance and relief. Anatis frowned even more as he realised she had expected it. She knew she was going to die. He jumped as Hawkmoth and Mayura appeared thanks to the Cobra before they all began to engage with the guardians. Mulan gave it her best but she ended up being stabbed by the Cobra as Hawkmoth went after Fu with Mayura. Anatis frowned as the Cobra looked at her.

"You should have expected this, traitor," He stated, kneeling in front of her. "I have something very important to tell you. That girl you've been 'helping'... she is my apprentice and she will kill your apprentices. Slowly and painful. I'll make sure she drags it out and when they beg her for release, she will deny them,"

"Y-You're a monster," She gasped, making him smirk before he stood up and took both of the boxes. Mulan tried to stop him despite her injury. She drove at him and he kicked her before stabbing her again, causing her to slump against the wall. "A-Anatis... w-will stop you and s-save those ch-children... a-all of them,"

"Such misguided faith," He chuckled, grabbing her hair. "Anatis is weak and hasn't got what it takes to fight me and Cicada. In fact, he will be her first kill. We will get rid of him and Paris will fall,"

He shoved her head back and got up, disappearing into the shadows with the miracle boxes and leaving Mulan to bleed out. Anatis felt an anger in him that he had never felt before as the memory faded. He took a deep breath and swam off, determined to find him and this Cicada. He frowned as he thought about it. Cicada. Why did that seem familiar? He sensed someone coming close to him, causing him to take out his yoyo as a black figure swam towards him. Upon seeing her braid and the green on her outfit, he felt relief flood through him.

"Lady Noir," He gasped, swimming towards her. Her eyes lit up as she saw him and she swam over. He hugged her, causing her to hug back.

 

"Annie," She gasped, gently rubbing his back. "Whatever happened, it's ok alright? We'll go to Master Fu and Master Mila and get some mir-"

"We can't," He gasped, looking at her. She frowned and looked at him. He looked down to the side. "I'm... sorry. I'm so sorry, Kitten. This is all my fault. I failed,"

"Annie, it's ok," She gasped, taking her hands in his. He looked panicked and broken. The sorrow in his eyes was insane and he was in clear pain. She knew straight away something had happened. "What is it?"

"Master Fu and Master Mila..." He muttered. His eyes fill with tears. "I... I was too late. Hawkmoth has Master Fu and Master Mila... She's gone, Lady Noir and it's all my fault,"

"Gone?" She asked as he nodded. For a second, she didn't get it but then she realised. She covered her mouth in shock. "Oh no,"

"S-She was stabbed and I found her but I was too late and I couldn't heal her. I couldn't even summon a lucky charm," He gasped, moving his arms around his waist. "And Hawkmoth took Master Fu and their miracle boxes. I failed. I've failed,"

"Annie, listen to me," She gasped, stopping him from grabbing at his hair. "You haven't failed,"

"B-But,"

"No buts, Mister," She declared, looking at him with determination. "Failure only occurs when we give up and we can still win this! We'll rescue Master Fu and the kwamis and defeat Hawkmoth and Mayura and Su Han for good measure! We can do it!"

She held up her arm like one of those posters from the 1940s but seeing her unwavering faith in him made Anatis believe her.

"You're right," He nodded. "We can do it!"

 "That's the spirit!" She grinned before going serious. "And once this battle is over, we'll honour Master Mila too. She will not be forgotten,"

"Thank you, Kitten," He answered, nodding. She swam closer to him and pressed her forehead to his as she held his hand. He closed his eyes and the two floated there for a moment before the sound of banging interrupted them. He frowned, causing Lady Noir to take out her baton and extend out of the water, using it to look around. She saw lots of wasps and a number of civilians were looking around as if looking for something. She zoomed in and noticed their eyes were yellow and emotionless. She frowned as the banging noise continued. She moved her baton in the direction of the Trocadéro gardens which was where it was coming from before seeing a girl who resembled a wasp. With her yellow skin and look, she knew she had to be the akuma. Before her were a number of what appeared to be civilians and a miraculous holder bowing to her. She frowned deeply as it seemed odd that the akuma would only make those ones bow to her but one of the more concerning things was this akuma was holding the miracle box in her arms. Still needing to see the full picture, she looked up as the noise wasn't coming from them. She gasped as she saw the moth sentimonster trying to break Master Fu's shell-ter. Hawkmoth was on the roof with him. holding Mayura in his arms and it seemed Su Han was there too. He was kneeling before something and had his hands out in front of him. They were glowing with a dark light, making her frown deeply too. She quickly turned to Anatis.

"They have Master Fu and the akuma has the Eastern Miracle box," She gasped, causing him to look through her baton. "And that Su Han seems to doing something as well,"

"He's trying to unlock the other miracle box!" He gasped, pulling away. "Mulan must have placed a spell on it to lock it,"

"That's clever but there's also a sentimonster and Mayura's there as well as Hawkmoth," She gasped, making him frown deeply. "And that akuma seems to be controlling the civilians,"

"She must be Cicada," He muttered, making her raise an eyebrow.

"Cicada?"

"I'm guessing she must be a miraculous holder but she is the apprentice of Mulan's killer," He answered, closing his eyes. Lady Noir frowned deeply. "I don't know if I can hold back if I fight her. I know she didn't kill her but..."

"I understand," She answered, nodding. She knew she should discourage him but she also felt rage and she wasn't sure if she would be able to hold back herself. The girl was training under a killer. She herself could already be a killer and then there's the want for vengeance. Her master took theirs. It would only be fair if they took his apprentice from him. The two remained silent, knowing that they were both thinking the same thing. An eye for an eye. 

"... Let's focus on saving Master Fu..." Anatis stated, making her nod. "First we need to get pass those wasps-"

He cut off as his yoyo vibrated, causing him to take it out. He read over the message before closing the yoyo.

"Atratus just messaged me. He asked us to come to the sewer but told us to stay in the water," He explained, making her blink. Ah yeah. She hadn't really met him yet. "He was the one who helped us with Party Crasher and explained about Felix being an akuma,"

"Oh, that guy!" She answered, nodding. "Can we trust him?"

"I think so," He answered, nodding. Trusting him, she nodded and the two of them swam off to where Atratus had told them to meet him. They were deep into the sewers before poking their head up. Atratus was leaning against the wall and behind him there were the miraculous holders they had chosen including Chloe, Rose and Ondine. The only one who wasn't there was Felix but that was given, considering he was unconscious in hospital. Even Adrien and Kagami were standing there. All of them have the same yellow eyes. There were also a number of wasps trapped in midair. However, a wasp flew down from above but before it could sting anyone, Atratus sprayed it with bug spray, causing it to fall down dead, joining a small pile of wasps. He also noticed a number of lit candles. "What's with the candles?"

"Citronella," He answered. "Wasps hate it and the rare one that comes over gets sprayed. I don't usually kill wasps but these aren't natural,"

"And our friends?"

"I've trapped them in a time bubble using my Temporal Hiatus ability and my natural magic," He explains before one of them blinks. He took out his staff and tapped it on the floor. "Temporal Hiatus!"

A red light spread over them again, trapping them and the wasps back in paused time.

"But as you can see, I have to keep using it," He stated, making them frown deeply. "Which is why I sent you a message. We need a plan,"

~Back at the Trocadéro gardens~

"I don't get it!" Assassin Bee demanded, slamming her foot down. Despite giving the order, none of the miraculous holders had turned up. She was sure that they had been stung. They had to be so why weren't they here? She huffed before turning to her minions that were bowing to her. "Fine! Since I can't use your allies against you, I'll use mine! Drones!"

"Yes, your majesty!" The assassins said in union as she walked over to them.

"I'm upgrading you to soldiers for my army against Anatis!" She declared, holding out the miracle box. "Take a miraculous each!"

They grabbed a miraculous and put them on, causing the kwamis to look around in panic. Her allies had picked out the fox, the snake, the monkey and the horse miraculous. She smirked and narrowed her eyes.

"Kwamis, I order you to tell them your transformation words!"

The kwamis looked at each other and tried to resist but unfortunately, the curse they were under couldn't be stopped.

"T-Trixx, l-let's strike," Trixx gasped as Kaalki tried to resist.

"Xuppu, strife time," Xuppu gasped.

"Kaalki, full dart,"

"S-Sass, Serpent Slither," Sass confirmed his transformation words. The assassins in turn used them to transform, though there wasn't much difference in their outfits. They had become slightly more themed with each miraculous but other than that, they were still the basic assassin garb they had already been in. Assassin Bee smirked.

"You were once above me but now you're my royal guard!" She declared before looking to the sky. "Anatis and Lady Noir, your allies may be safe but I will still use your own weapons to defeat you,"

~Back to the Heroes~

Anatis frowned deeply as he looked at the temporary heroes. All of them looked terrifying with the yellow eyes but especially Juleka. She didn't look like herself at all. There was no shyness in her face but also no other emotion there either. Then there was her song. Like the other heroes, the music within them had been overtaken by Assassin Bee's heart song. It was so loud and it made Anatis want to cover his ears but it also helped him understand her a bit better. Her song was calling out to be acknowledged but also to not be tormented. She wanted to just be herself yet she couldn't. He frowned though. She was part of the bad guys so why did her heart song sing of freedom? Did she pick that life or was she forced into it?

"What happened?" He asked, choosing to ignore the song right now. He couldn't do anything about it yet.

"Your allies were on the way to join the new akuma as she has managed to take over the minds. Luckily, I was able to trap them with the help of the Rabbit Holder,"

"Bunnyx or Sir Rene?"

"Both," He answered. "Do you have a plan?"

"... I don't know," Anatis admitted, looking down. "... It's my fault. All of this is. I should have-"

"Anatis," Atratus stated in a firm voice. "This isn't your fault and even if it was, you can't change the past but we can save the future and we're going to need a focused Anatis to do that so head in the game ok?"

"Atratus is right, Annie," Lady Noir gasped, gently taking his hand in hers. "None of this is your fault,"

"Thank you, Kitten," He sighed before nodding and taking a deep breath. "Ok, we have to assume that the reason why our friends were on their way to the akuma was because she planned to use them to fight us,"

"Hawkmoth would have also found their identities," Lady Noire points out, making Anatis nod. "Luckily, we have our own connections,"

"You can thank me later," Atratus stated, making Anatis nod. He would have to find a way to thank him properly. One of the controlled blinked again, causing Atratus to use his ability again. "This is getting tiresome. Tell me, Anatis, what is that you have in your yoyo?"

Anatis blinks before he remembered. He didn't get a chance to return the Dragon or Octopus miraculous. He took out his yoyo and pulled out the two miraculous, making Atratus raise an eyebrow.

"Well, that helps, doesn't it?" He answers as Anatis thought about his opinions. He could use the Octopus miraculous to free everyone but that wouldn't solve the root problem. No, they would have to take down Assassin Bee, the senti-monster and Hawkmoth to save Master Fu and the miracle boxes so the Dragon miraculous would be the best move.

"I have a plan," He answered, putting it on and causing Longg to manifest. He took out a cookie and gave it to him before looking at the other two. "I will merge with the dragon miraculous and use water dragon to keep the wasps at bay. With those at bay, we take down the new holders and reclaim the miraculous. The snake miraculous is the one we'll want to take out first. Once you've got it, merge with it. We could do with a second chance. Once we've done that, we'll fight Cicada, save the hostages and then fight Hawkmoth and Mayura, rescue Master Fu and save the kwamis,"

"Sounds like a plan!" She declared, making him nod as Longg declared he was ready. "But what are we going to do with the wasps out there?"

"I have a plan for that as well," He answered before closing his eyes and holding out his hand. They felt the air change as he opened his eyes, causing them to turn silver. "Alpheus, please lend me your magic,"

For a second, nothing happened but then they heard the sound of something hitting the water nearby and the roads.

"It's raining!" Lady Noir gasped, making Anatis smile. "We can leave the water and put the plan into action,"

"Impressive," Atratus states, nodding before turning to Anatis and Lady Noir. "But you better hurry. The rain won't last forever,"

"Right, let's go," He replied, nodding before the two of them dived back under and swam out of the sewers. They broke the surface and dived out, calling off their aqua forms as the rain kept the wasps in that area away from them. They landed on the bridge before Anatis held out one hand, summoning a red orb then the other, summoning a yellow orb. He brought his hands together and closed his eyes. "Tikki, Long. Unify,"

A bright gold light surrounded him before spreading down his body, changing his outfit. His hair grew a little bit longer and wilder, his ears turned pointed and he gained four red and black horns with gold details. Two were curled and large and two were small. His mask still had its ladybug pattern but gained a golden outline and two black triangles. His eyes remained blue but turned into lizard-like with slits for pupils. The whites of his eyes had turned blue too. His outfit had gained golden details on the neck and zipper but had also split into two. The left side was black with red spots and the right side was red with black spots. His right glove and boot was black with a gold trim and his left glove and boot were red with a gold trim. The boots travelled up his legs and torso, resembling two dragon tails. One was red and the other was black. Both with a gold trim. On his side was his yoyo and on his back was the dragon's sword. The dragon miraculous had turned into the zipper of his suit as his earrings remained in his ears. He turned to Lady Noir.

"Looking good, Annie," Lady Noir grinned.

"Call me Zhuyin.... Atratus was right. This rain can't last forever so let's go," He declared as he looked up, causing her to nod and for the two of them to jump off and heading to where Cicada was. As they got closer, the rain began to slow down. Zhuyin took out his yoyo and spun it. "Water dragon!"

He used his yoyo to surround them with a water bubble before they landed on the ground and he extended it, slamming it into Cicada and throwing her against the wall as it trapped the hypnotised citizens with the miraculous in the bubble with them. She got up and narrowed her eyes at them.

"You must be Anatis," She declared, getting Hawkmoth's attention.

"And you must be Assassin Bee," Zhuyin answered, spinning his yoyo. "Though you can call me Zhuyin right now,"

"Well, Zhuyin, your name won't matter when I rip those miraculous from your ears!" She hisses as Hawkmoth looks down at them.

"Merging Miraculous again?" He smirked as the sentimonster slammed against Master Fu's shelter. "That won't save you this time, you know. Or your master. In a few minutes, when the guardian is too weak and his shield is broken, I'll force him to tell me your secret identities and not to mention, we've nearly unlocked the western miracle box. Soon, Mulan's death will be for nothing and even better... it will all be your fault, Anatis,"

Zhuyin glanced down, making Hawkmoth smirk.

"After all, you led them all to their own doom,"

"You're wrong!" Lady Noir shouted, stepping in front of Zhuyin. "He did not lead them to their doom! You did! The only one to blame here is you! You're the one who wants to harm people! You're the reason why Master Mulan is dead!"

"Such belief in your partner," Hawkmoth chuckled as Mayura smirked. "I guess you make up for his lack of self-belief,"

"You're damn right!" She hisses. "I don't care if Annie doesn't believe in himself because I believe in him! And I'll believe in him even more to make up for it!"

"Lady Noir," Zhuyin whispered as Master Fu managed to turn his head.

"Listen to her, Anatis!" He gasped. "He's trying to use your insecurities to divide and weaken you! Don't listen to him!"

"If you think you can divide us, you're wrong!" Lady Noir answered, turning to Anatis and holding up her hand. "I'm always on your side, Annie. Me and you against the world!"

"Thank you, Lady Noir," He smiled, clapping his hand against hers. "You always know what to say,"

He turned to Hawkmoth.

"A clever plan but I couldn't care less what you think of me," He answered, taking out his sword and pointing it to him. As he did, Su Han stopped working on the box and gasped in shock. "Me and Lady Noir are a team and together we will take you down!"

"Welcome to your doomsday, Hawkmoth!" Lady Noir grinned, making Hawkmoth growl.

"Assassin Bee! Show these fools who is the true ruler!" He shouted, noticing Su Han staring as Assassin Bee ordered her soldiers to attack. "Shouldn't you be working on that box?"

"She put a spell on the box that I can't undo," He explained. "She made it so only herself, the Celestial Guardian or his reincarnations can open it,"

"Is that not you?"

"I am only it in name. Not in anything else," Su Han answers, his eyes glued on Zhuyin as he fought against three of the other holders. Lady Noir was fighting the snake holder but the way Zhuyin was fighting. The stance, the way he held the sword. Su Han narrowed his eyes. He watched as he flipped his sword to his spare hand and spun with it, knocking back three of the holders. "That boy. He's Anatis yes?"

"Yes... why?" Hawkmoth asked as he dived forward and darted. Even Hawkmoth had to admit it was impressive. He had no idea that Anatis had such training in swordplay. He had always assumed that Lady Noir was the one who could use a sword. Speaking of her, she manages to take down the snake miraculous, allowing Zhuyin to grab the snake miraculous. He chucked it to Lady Noir before going back to fighting the other holders. Su Han narrowed his eyes as he watched. "Assassin Bee, be careful!"

"I got this," She answered as she watched. She already knew the plan was in action and she would win. Lady Noir put on the bracelet, causing Sass to manifest. He tried to apologise but she shook her head and gave him a smile before offering him food. As she did that, Assassin Bee frowned and her mind briefly drifted to Stingg. She shook her head before holding out her hand. "That won't help you defeat me, Lady Noir!"

"Call me Lady Cobra," She answered, holding her hands. "Plagg, Sass, unify!"

A green light caused Assassin Bee to cover her eyes. When she uncovered them, Lady Noir's form had changed. Her ears were the same but she had gained some teal details on her suit, making it resemble her Queen Cobra look. Her boots had yellow and green diamonds on boots and the green detail was now more yellow. She had two large diamonds on her hips that were both yellow as well and her mask had become a blended version of her usual mask and her Queen cobra one. She had a yellow and green diamond in the middle of her chest and her eyes were more snakelike now as well. Her hair was still in a long braid but it resembled her Queen Cobra hair more and it faded from black into teal green. She didn't even spare Assassin Bee a glance as she flicked back the bracelet and activated her second power.

"Second Chance!" She declared, causing Zhuyin to smirk and Assassin Bee to narrow her eyes.

"Drones! Stop her!" She declared, causing the monkey holder to charge at her as Anatis fought against the fox holder. She dodged and side stepped the horse user before seeing a second fox trying to sneak up on Zhuyin. 

"Zhuyin! It's an illusion!" She called out, causing him to nod and swipe the illusion away as she did the same thing. However, the monkey holder suddenly caught his yoyo and pulled Zhuyin to him. He punched him as Lady Cobra charged towards them. However, she was grabbed by the fox and held back as the monkey pressed his summoned item against Zhuyin's yoyo. The water shield disappeared and the wasps descended onto Zhuyin, stinging him. His eyes turned yellow and he dropped his sword, slowly standing up. She struggled against the fox as Assassin Bee laughed.

"Finally! The bug is mine to control!" She laughed, tilting her head back. "I'm finally fully free! Zhuyin! Bow down to your queen! Drones, bow down to your new master!"

"Master?" Lady Cobra questioned before really glancing at them. She noticed that they are all in the same style of clothing. She realised that their movements were practised and trained. These weren't ordinary civilians. They were trained fighters. The Yǐnshēnyǐnbì. She struggled against the fox as Zhuyin, the Cobra holder who she realised was Mulan's killer and the others began to bow towards Assassin Bee. Su Han jumped down and glared towards them.

"Ask him who the mage is," He demanded, making Hawkmoth look over and Assassin Bee to nod.

"Zhuyin, who is the mage?"

"I-" He started but before he could answer, Lady Cobra was able to free herself enough to flick back her bracelet, bringing her back to the save point,

"Zhuyin, they're illusions and Yǐnshēnyǐnbì!" She declared, ignoring the monkey and running straight towards him. "She didn't pick- ah!"

A portal opened beneath her feet, causing her to fall into the dark depths of space. If she didn't think they were trained assassins before, she did now. No one normally would drop someone into space, even if they were mind-controlled. She took a deep breath and flipped back her bracelet, going back to the save point. She ignored the monkey, jumped over the portal and held up her fingers as she activated her screech power. She tapped her throat and let out a screech that broke the illusion and knocked the monkey holder back. She took the chance to grab his arm before pointing.

"Zhuyin! Opening! There!" She gasped, making him nod and open a hole in the water. She kicked the Monkey's pole up and towards Assassin Bee, who caught it and glared at her.

"You're going to need to do better than that!" She glared. "Cobra! Kill them!"

Before the Cobra holder could make a move, Lady Cobra twisted the monkey's arm, using it to throw its item straight at Assassin Bee. It landed right in her face, turning her miraculous into a small bell and causing the wasps to burst into confetti. Zhuyin threw his yoyo and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her towards them as Lady Cobra rushed towards her, tapping the bell with her cataclysm. Assassin Bee fell to her knees as she turned briefly back into Cicada then finally into Zoe as her miraculous crumbled to the ground. Zhuyin and Lady Cobra turned back into their normal forms before Anatis caught the akuma and purified it. With Assassin Bee no longer active, the controlled regained their selves, blinking and looking around confused. Zoe slowly scoped up the broken pieces of her miraculous and looked down at it sadly but before she could do anything else, the Cobra holder stalked towards her and grabbed her by her hair.

"You little brat!" He growled, throwing her to the ground and taking out his weapon, ready to attack her. Maybe even kill her but before he could, his weapon was knocked out of his hand by Anatis' yoyo before it wrapped around Zoe's waist and pulled her into the air. He caught her and placed her carefully on the ground before narrowing his eyes as the Cobra turned and went to stalk over. Anatis stepped in front of Zoe in a protective stance. "Get out of my way before I kill you like I did with Mulan,"

"No," Anatis replied before his eyes turned silver. He quickly glanced around and saw some loose ropes near a building site. "Mih dinb sepor,"

The ropes glowed before coming to life and aiming at the Cobra. It binded around him and made him fall on the ground, causing Su Han and Hawkmoth to look at him with surprise. Anatis walked over as the man glared at him.

"Go ahead," He smirked, gesturing to his fallen weapon. "Avenge your master,"

"She wasn't my master," He stated, picking it up. As soon as he did, the other The Yǐnshēnyǐnbì assassins blocked his path, ready to defend the Cobra. Anatis frowned at the corruption Su Han had caused to the once good and loyal group. He looked at the weapon in his hand as he weighed up his options. "She was my friend... but I'm not going to kill you,"

He casted it aside, shocking almost everyone there. Apart from Lady Noir.

"And it wouldn't be justice if I took your life. It would be vengeance and would make me no better than you," He declared, making Su Han's eyes widen once more. Those words are almost identical to what Toutai had said the night he murdered him. Anatis moved his gaze from the Cobra to Hawkmoth. "It's over, Hawkmoth. Your villain has being defeated,"

"Yet I still have the miracle boxes," He smirked, holding up the eastern box as the assassins freed the cobra holder. "I made sure to grab it off Assassin Bee in case you defeated her and don't forget I have the guardian too. It's only a matter of minutes until that shield breaks down and then he'll be mine to question. Not to mention I have a celestial guardian and his guard helping me out as well. You may have your tricks and whatever you did to the Cobra but I have the upper hand. Yǐnshēnyǐnbì, take them down!"

The other holders surrounded Anatis and Lady Noir as Zoe hid behind them. Lady Noir's ring beeped, making her frown as Anatis glanced at her. Hawkmoth laughed as he heard it.

"Even better! Your stupid cat's time is almost up!" He laughed as Mayura and Su Han smirked. "You're on your own! Checkmate, Anatis!"

"I still have a move left!" Anatis declared, hiding the fact that Hawkmoth's comment got to him. He knew he was on his own. Lady Noir had used her power and the miraculous had being stole. Atrutus was busy keeping their friends safe and Mulan was gone while Fu was captured. He threw up his yoyo, changing his outfit. "Lucky charm!"

The magical swarm summoned a small key with a keyring attached to it. Anatis caught it and glanced around in his luck vision. Only nothing lit up. He began to panic as he continued to look. The banging of the sentimonster echoed as Hawkmoth laughed, making him feel worse as he couldn't see anything.

"Annie?" Lady Noir questioned as his panic became visible.

"I... I can't see how to use it," He gasped, looking at her with fear. "I can always see it but I can't! There's no solution!"

"That's because there's nothing you can do!" Hawkmoth declared, laughing. "My plan is perfect! You can't beat me!"

"Ignore him!" Lady Noir declared, glaring at him as Anatis looked around. Finally, his luck vision kicked in and lit up Master Fu's cage... and only that. Anatis frowned with confusion for a moment before it suddenly clicked what it meant.

"No..." He gasped as he looked towards Master Fu. "Master, you can't!"

"It is the only way forward, Anatis," Fu answered, holding back the cracking of his shield. "I return to you what is your birthright. You will be a glorious guardian and I believe you will become the best celestial guardian we've ever had. It was an honour to serve as your master, Kāimíng yī,"

He let go of the shield and bowed before holding up his arms as Sass and Longg called out to him. Su Han stared in shock at his words, especially his use of calling Anatis Kāimíng yī. It was what the Order's members called The mage. It meant enlightened one and was a sign of respect.

"I, Wang Fu, hereby relinquish the miracle box and on behalf of Hua Mulan..." He declared, beginning to glow. "I name Anatis the new guardian!"

The moth sentimonster literally broke the shield as he spoke but it was too late. The light faded away from Master Fu and he fell to the ground, causing Hawkmoth to call out as the miracle box lifted out of his hand and began to glow with a white light so bright that it encompassed it. Su Han, Hawkmoth and Mayura watched in awe as the box began to change. The simple octogonal design disintegrated and morphed into a different form. As this happened, the assassins who had been given a miraculous by Assassin Bee began to glow, causing them to panic and try to back away, confused by the sudden light. Beams of light suddenly shoot away from them and into the morphing box, returning the miraculous to it and turning them into their normal forms. The only ones not to return were the Cobra's, Hawkmoth's and Mayura's... though Anatis wasn't sure why. However, it might be because they inherited the miraculous technically speaking or are viewed as true holders by the spiritual powers. While evil, Hawkmoth and Mayura did know what they were doing with their powers after all. Meanwhile, Su Han watched in shock as it happened. He had begun to suspect the boy to be the mage but this confirmed it. He narrowed his eyes and pointed at him.

"Kill him!" He ordered, causing the assassins to look over as he pointed frantically at him. The only assassin that remained with a miraculous was the Cobra holder but the others surrounded them as well. However before they could make a move, the box finished morphing and dropped down, back into Hawkmoth's hand as he stared at it. Gone was the old look and in its place was a beautiful carved music box. It had taken on a rectangular design, with a flattened top and the Order’s symbol carved into it. Metal workmanship decorated the lid’s corners, matching the intricate clasp. Carved meticulously into the wood were the images of the Chinese zodiac animals, all racing each other around the box’s edges. As the box fell back into Hawkmoth's hands, the light above them didn’t disperse. It pulsed once, knocking him, Mayura and Su Hand back before it blasted into the air before separating into several directions, each with one destination as the assassins and the heroes looked on in awe. One beam hit Mulan’s former box, and in the same flash of light, it also changed form. When it faded, the Western box now held a more rounded shape, with a brass sun placed on the lid and the symbol of the Order engraved on its core. The sides held countless stars, and the shapes of the Western constellations encircled it. Just like the Eastern Box, it had transformed into a music box. Both boxes also had one other thing in common. Sat inside the keyholes of the boxes sat a single, simple key. Hawkmoth sat up, along with Mayura as The cobra helped up Su Han, who slapped away his hand. "Kill him now!"

The Cobra nodded and turned to Anatis as Hawkmoth picked up the miracle box and tried to turn the key but it refused to budge.

"What did he do?!" He growled, glaring over at Anatis.

"It's simple," He answers, holding out his yoyo. "He passed the title onto guardian onto me,"

"I was able to open it even when he was a guardian!" Hawkmoth growled. "I should be able to do the same here!"

"No... because I'm not a normal guardian," He answered, looking at them. "I am the true Celestial Guardian! The current reincarnation of the grand mage Hua Feng and those boxes belong to me!"

He threw his yoyo, hitting the box out of Hawkmoth's hand as Lady Noir jumped up and swiped the Western Miracle Box. She jumped back down as Anatis wrapped his yoyo around the Eastern box and pulled it to him.

"One chance, Hawkmoth," He stated, looking at him. "Return yours and Mayura's miraculous to me and hand yourself in,"

"You think I'm actually going to do that," Hawkmoth stated coldly. "How disappointing,"

He picked up Mayura and jumped onto the Sentimonster, ready to retreat. Su Han glared at Anatis, wanting to order his assassins to kill him but he also knew what Toutai had been like, even before he had been revealed to be the Celestial Guardian. He was a prodigy in everything that had been taught. Fighting, potion making, medical training. He knew this boy was already gifted, being able to use the ladybug and keep Hawkmoth on his toes but now he knew that he was the next celestial guardian. The boy would undo his wish and reclaim his title but Su Han knew he wouldn't be able to kill him here. He shouldn't have even ordered his assassins to try but he panicked. However, he wasn't going to let that show right now. He took a deep breath and called back his assassins before narrowing his eyes as he looked towards Anatis, who met his gaze with no fear.

"This isn't over, boy," He declared, also jumping down to the Sentimonster. The three of them flew away and Lady Noir gave Anatis the Western box before chasing after them as the assassins also left, apart from the Cobra holder. He stepped forward and narrowed his eyes.

"Traitor, I order you to come and accept your punishment," He demanded, making Zoe slowly get and go to walk over to him. However, Anatis stopped her by putting his arm out as he held both of the boxes in his other arm. "You do not have the authority to sto-"

"I don't care," He answered, making the Cobra holder snort.

"You know she is going to kill you once I have... fixed her," He answers, making Anatis feel sick. 

"Fix her?!" He snarled, making Zoe flinch. "and then make her kill me?! You really think I'm going to let you do that?!"

"You are powerless to-" The Cobra started but before he could finish, Anatis held out his free hand as his eyes glowed silver as Longg flew next to him, hissing softly.

"Alpheus! Lend me your power!" He called, making the Cobra blink before a sudden gale began to push against him, increasing in strength until he was taking off his feet and slammed into a building. He slowly got up and looked over at Anatis, who was still standing protectively in front of Zoe while glaring at him. With his glowing eyes and harsh glare, the Cobra found himself feeling fear for the first time in his life. This wasn't just some miraculous holder. This boy actually could seriously harm him or even kill him. "I will give you one chance to leave. Next time, I won't be as compassionate as I'm being right now,"

The Cobra didn't need to be told twice. He jumped away and into the city, making Anatis let out a sigh as Lady Noir returned. The gale turned into a breeze that helped her land before she turned to Anatis.

"You good?" She asked, making him nod before she frowned. "They got away,"

"I'm not surprised," He answered before he threw his yoyo and jumped away, landing on the building where Fu was lying unconscious. He had detransformed and Wayzz was watching over him with worry on his face. Lady Noir landed next to him with Zoe in her arms before she put her down. Both girls looked over at Anatis as he put down the boxes and gently lifted Fu into his arms. "Master Fu... Please wake up,"

His voice wasn't harsh like it had been when talking to the villains but it was soft, gentle and broken. Like he knew he wouldn't wake up or if he did, he wouldn't be the same but he had to try. He had to hope that he was the same. Slowly, Master Fu opened his eyes, making Lady Noir let out a sigh of relief as Anatis helped him sit up. Wayzz zoomed behind Anatis as Master Fu blinked and looked around in confusion.

"Master Fu," He stated, looking at him. His silver eyes shone with worry.

"Such pretty eyes," Master Fu stated, making him frown before he looked over at Lady Noir. "And such lovely costumes. Are you going to a party?"

"No, not a party," Anatis answered, making Fu look at him confused. He had a feeling he knew why but he didn't want to voice it. Unfortunately, Master Fu did.

"I don't mean to be rude but who are you?" He asked, making Lady Noir gasp and Anatis look down. "Oh, I'm sorry. I just can't seem to remem-"

"It's ok," Anatis smiled softly, though it was clear he was upset. "We're friends, sir,"

"Oh," Master Fu nodded as Lady Noir clicked her fingers.

"Annie, you haven't used the charm," She gasped, making him remember the lucky charm in his hand. He took it out and looked at it. He had a feeling that it won't fix this but he needed to fix what Assassin Bee. The assassins may have awakened after she lost her powers but he didn't know if the rest of Paris had. He threw it up into the air.

"Miraculous Ladybugs!" He declared, causing it to burst into the magical swarm and go around Paris, fixing stuff. It came back and wrapped around Zoe's hands before disappearing but it didn't touch Master Fu. Lady Noir looked at Anatis as he frowned. They both knew it didn't work but he decided to ask just in case. "Mister Fu... do you remember us now?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but this is the first time I've ever seen you two in my life," He answered before smiling. "But that magic trick was amazing. Shame, you had to throw away that keyring though. It would have gone lovely on my own key set,"

He took out a matching set to show them but didn't just pull out the keys but a piece of paper. He opened it up and read it.

"Oh," He gasped before looking at Anatis. "I think these keys belong to you. Strange, I thought they were mine,"

"What makes you say that?" Lady Noir asked.

"Because of this note," He answered, handing it to them. It read please return these and the turtle bracelet to the boy dressed as a ladybug. He looked at Anatis before handing him the keys and Wayzz's miraculous to him. "That must be you,"

"Thank you," He nodded, taking them. "Do you need us to take you anyway, Mister Fu?"

"Well, I do need to meet a lovely lady at the train station but I'm not running late," He chuckled, making Anatis feel relieved. It seems Master Fu had planned out a retirement plan so he would be ok. He couldn't help but wonder if his past lives had helped to make sure he wasn't homeless or lost. It seemed like something Feng would do but he wasn't sure. Still it gave him a sense of relief that he would be ok. "Well, I better be off. It was nice to meet you both,"

With that, Master Fu wandered off as their miraculous beeped. Anatis nodded to Lady Noir before she grabbed Zoe who gasped and he grabbed the boxes. The two dived off the buildings and headed to where Atrust had been keeping the holders, only to find the area completely empty apart from a single candle with a piece of paper under it. Anatis placed the boxes down and picked it up, reading it. It simply had two words on it. Best outcome. He sighed and nodded before putting the note back down and disappearing behind a wall as Lady Noir placed Zoe down and ordered her not to peek before she disappeared behind a wall. Zoe stayed on her knees and looked at the miraculous in her hand. It was repaired and she could take advantage of the two heroes hiding but she owed Anatis a debt of life. He had stopped her master from trying to kill her as she was certain he would have ended her life even if he claimed he was going to have her retrained.

"Anatis... what do you intend to do with me?" She asked. Her 'sweet' voice was no longer there. No point in pretending. 

"What do you mean?" His voice replied as a pink light flashed, followed by a green light.

"Are you going to kill me or punish me?" She asked.

"No," Luka replied from behind the way as he gently scratched Longg's chin as Tikki ate a cookie. "Your master mentioned fixing you. Care to explain?"

"... those trained by the Order are put through a certain amount of programming and training to make them the perfect soldiers for the cause," She explained, making him frown. "Our goal is simple. Protect the Celestial Guardian and take out any threat he wants... but Su Han isn't the true celestial guardian is he?"

"No, he isn't," He answers. "Why were you trained by them?"

"All the families give up one child to be trained," She answers, making him frown. "It was meant to be Chloe instead of me but her father interfered and she failed the first test anyway,"

"I'm sorry," Luka replied, frowning. "Can I ask what families?"

"The five founding families," She answers. "The Agreste family, the Graham de Vanily family, the Tsurugi Family, The Bourgeois Family and finally the Kubdel family,"

"And each family has to give up a child to the order?" He asked, frowning. He knew Alpheus didn't have that rule and the family thing seemed odd too. He would definitely have to investigate it.

"Yes but the Tsurugi family had already given one and the Agreste family refused with the order's approval and the Graham de Vanily family has no children to give," She explains, making Anatis frown.

"But isn't Felix a child of the Graham de Vanily family?" He asked, making her snort.

"That child was born out of wedlock," She explained, making him frown. "He is not worthy of such a role,"

"And the Kubdel family?"

"They do not work for the order anymore," She hissed, making him frown as Longg and Tikki looked at him with concern. "If I see them, I shall stain the street with their blood,"

"Ok then," He answered, closing his eyes and listening carefully to her music. There was a song there but it was being overpowered by the Order's music, making him frown before he gently reached into his pocket and took out the octopus miraculous. He now knew why he grabbed it. He slid the bracelet on, causing Kraak to manifest. "Hello,"

"Hello, young holder," She smiled, bowing. "I'm Kraak. To use my miraculous, all you have to say is Kraak, unleash,"

"Thank you, Kraak," He answered before holding up his arm. "Kraak, Unleash!"

Kraak got sucked into the miraculous, charging it up. He swiped his hand across his face, causing the mask to manifest in a light blue light and his eyes to resemble an octopus'. He tilted his head back, causing his hair to change into yellow and black while gaining a small ponytail in the back of his hair. The light blue light faded down his body, creating a light yellow shirt and black pants before his boots manifested, resembling classic pirate boots. His belt appeared in a light blue glow before a tail coat that resembled a pirate jacket appeared on him. It was dark grey with a bright blue ring pattern on it. Finally he gained fingerless gloves and the flexible claw appeared, attached to his belt. He turned to Tikki, causing her to zoom over and hide in his new hair style. He stepped out, making Zoe look over at him.

"Are you going to kill me now?" She asked, coldly. "The only reason why I'm not trying to kill you is because I owe you a debt of life but-"

"I'm not going to kill you," He answered as Lady Noir stepped out. Plagg had recharged. He walked over to Zoe and knelt down so they were eye level. "I don't think you're actually a bad person, Zoe,"

He gently placed his hand on his heart.

"I can feel what you truly want. I feel it now and I felt it when you were Assassin Bee," He continued. "You long for one thing,"

"And what is that?" She sneered.

"Freedom," He answered, making her eyes widen and look at him. "The ideology of Su Han is stuck in your head like a song on repeat but it's time for the record to stop playing. I'm willing to give the freedom you crave and a new beginning but you only get one chance. Don't waste it,"

She blinked as he held up his forefinger.

"Mind break," He whispered, causing his finger to glow a very light blue before he gently pressed his finger to Zoe's forehead. Her eyes glossed over in the same shade before shattering, causing her to blink. "Zoe?"

"Anatis... I mean... you are Anatis right?!" She gasped. Her voice sounded the same but the coldness was gone. He nodded before she quickly got to her knees and bowed to him, making Lady Noir look at him. He shrugged. "I'm so sorry! I've been trying to stop myself for years but I couldn't. I was too weak-"

"Zoe... it's ok," He stated, making her look up at him as tears rolled down her face. He stood up and held his hand out to her. She looked at it before slowly taking it, causing him to pull her to his feet. She wiped her tears away. "I am going have to take your miraculous,"

She looked at the miraculous in her hand before she slowly handed it over to him.

"Thank you," He answered, making her nod. "Zoe, your life is back to being yours,"

"What if I get brain-washed again?" She asked as he felt something around him. It felt warm and familiar like a warm fire that kept the cold from taking over the bones. Finni. He must have been listening in.

I am going to borrow your body for a second. Is that ok? He asked, making Luka nod. He felt Finni briefly taking over before his eyes glowed silver and opened on their own. His hand lifted and he gently placed his hand on her forehead as well. A soft golden light appeared from his hand, making him blink as he watched. "Zoe Lee, I share this gift with you so you may never lose your mind again,"

The glow disappeared and Luka felt Finni leave, causing him to stumble forward a bit.

"What... what was that?" Zoe asked. "It felt warm... like a hug,"

"It's a protection spell," He explained. "You're completely free... now let's get you home,"

~Later that Evening~

"So what was that earlier?" Lady Noir asked, sitting next to Anatis as he placed the octopus miraculous back in the box. "And I don't mean your octopus form,"

"Finni," He answered, making her look at him. "He asked to use my body so he could give Zoe that spell. First time I've ever literally done that,"

"Oh wow... so Finni can possess you?"

"With my permission," He explained, nodding. "It makes sense. Finni is part of me as I am part of him. I hope he'll be able to teach me that spell but right now, I don't have enough magic to use it. I think that's why he took the front seat. I can't use my magic,"

"You were able to use it in battle?"

"Feng lent me his earlier," He explained. "It's slowly recharging but... spiritually I'm weak at the moment,"

"Maybe there's something in Feng's diary that can help?" She suggested, making him frown.

"I can only read it with my spirit eyes and honestly most of it doesn't make sense," He answered, thinking back to how he was reading it. He could read most of it now and there were only a couple of pages left empty but most of what was written were riddles, the odd akuma, some rambles about the end of time itself, something about reality and the ghost festival but then for the last ten pages, there's only one repeated phase. The truth is coming. Even Feng had foreseen Truth. "I thought it would be something helpful but he always writes in riddles,"

"Sounds about right," She giggled before gently placing her hands on his. He looked at her and smiled weakly. "You'll be ok,"

"Thank you, Kitten," He nodded before standing up. "I better get the kwamis settled. See you soon?"

"Yeah. Are you sure you don't want me to look after a box?"

"For now, I think it's best if I keep them all together," He answered, nodding. Though he appreciated the suggestion. She nodded back and offered him a hug. He hugged back before he stepped back. He threw up his yoyo and summoned a backpack before placing them in there. "I'll see if there's a way to connect the boxes to our weapons so both of us can access them,"

"Sounds good to me," She nodded before he swung off and she headed home too. He swung across Paris before landing through his porthole. He took off the bag and took out the boxes before detransforming. He carefully placed them on his shelf, next to Tikki's and Snapp's beds, where Snapp was snoozing before he took out the Wasp Miraculous. He put it on, causing Stingg to manifest.

"Mi-Mistress, I... you're n-not my mistress..." Stingg gasped softly. "I-is she..."

"She is alive," He answered, making the little kwami gasp in surprise. "And free. With assistance, I freed her and made sure Su Han could never control her again,"

"M-my mistress is free," He sniffed. "T-thank you,"

"Your name is Stingg, yes?"

"Y-yes," 

"And what's your concept?"

"D-Domination,"

"Then I, Luka Couffaine, give Stingg, the kwami of Domination, permission to remain outside of their miraculous, even without a holder or a miracle box," He declared, causing the miraculous and Stingg to glow before it disappeared. He took off the miraculous, causing Stingg to gasp as they didn't disappear. "Welcome to your new home, Stingg. Tikki will give you an update on the rules and I'll sort out a bed for you as well in the morning,"

"A-are you ok, Master?"

"Just call me Luka," He sighed before sitting on the bed. "And not really. Master Mila is dead and Master Fu has no memory of any of this. I can't even cry about it or there's a risk I'd get akumatized,"

He looked down as the kwamis began to manifest.

"Anyway... I'm tired..." He whispered, kicking off his shoes and curling up on his bed. He really wanted to cry and let himself feel his grief but he couldn't. He felt so alone. He curled up and closed his eyes as he felt the kwamis flying next to him, gently hugging him and chasing away his loneliness. "... Thank you..."

"Sleep well, young guardian," Vernn stated. "We will be right here,"

~Luka's Mind Hut~

"Luka," Toutai's voice echoed as he gently leaned over the younger mage, who was curled up on the floor. Toutai gently placed his hand on his shoulder, causing him to jolt awake and look around wildly. He didn't think he would have seen him here today, given his lack of spiritual energy but here he was. It can't have been easy for him, considering Feng's energy had long since run out but he pushed through. Toutai frowned as he took a good look at him. He looked tired and drained. Like he was close to giving up. Seeing Toutai, the alert look slowly disappeared. "Luka... are you ok?"

"I..." He started but before Toutai could say anything, tears began to roll down Luka's face. Though he quickly wiped them away. He was clearly trying to hold back his tears but Toutai shook his head.

"Let it out, Luka. There's no akumas here," He reassured, causing Luka to look at him before he began to cry, covering his face with his hand. Toutai moved his arms around him and gently rubbed his back.

"It's ok,"

"I f-feel so alone, T-Toutai," He sobbed, looking up at him. "I... I couldn't save them. I tried but it was too late. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have being able to save them,"

"It's ok, Luka," He reassured. "You didn't fail,"

"B-But Master Fu and Master Mulan... I let your wife die," He sobbed, covering his face again. Toutai let him cry it out, waiting patiently until he had calmed down enough. "Y-you must hate me,"

"I don't hate you, Luka," Toutai reassured

"But I killed Mulan..."

"No, you didn't," He explained. "Firstly, it was that cowardly snake and secondly, she already knew it was her time. My last parting gift to her was a warning of what was to come and when she would finally meet her end. It was fate. You couldn't have stopped it,"

"B-but,"

"Think of it this way, Luka. Instead of death, it was release," He stated, making Luka frown. "She had lived an unnatural life for at least a hundred years. Maybe more. For us, that is normal but she wasn't a spirit. Neverending life for a mortal is a curse but she finally was able to make peace with her pain and is finally able to move to the afterlife,"

"S-so you're not mad?" Luka asked, wiping his eyes. 

"Of course not," Toutai smiled, gently patting his hair. "I'm very proud of you, Luka,"

"Y-you are?" He asked, confused. "Why?"

"Because you passed my test," He stated, making Luka blink. "My trait is compassion. It allows me to use healing magic via touch. The trial you faced today was my trial and you passed,"

"I did? But..." He asked, confused. "How?"

"You could have killed that cobra, let him harm Zoe or even leave her to her fate as a slave to Su Han," He explained, making Luka look at him. "You did not. You chose to protect her from his wrath, you chose to spare his life and when it came to breaking Su Han's influence on her, you chose to do it in a gentle and reassuring way, making sure she wasn't afraid even though she was your enemy. That is compassion in its purest form. Compassion for our friends and family is easy but compassion for our enemies... that's something that most people can't do. Not just that but you stayed with Mulan when she was dying. You could have just left to fight but you saved with her in her last moments and I know you plan to make sure Master Fu is cared for,"

He nodded. He planned to contact Marianne. He hadn't really thought about contacting her since he had met her but he had also come to terms with the fact that he was a witch now. Not just any witch either but the mage. However, he would worry about his own problems once he was sure Fu was ok.

"My point is your compassion is strong and you passed my test," He smiled, making Luka nod. "Only one more test to go now,"

"Khnurn's right?" Luka asked, causing Toutai to nod. "... Can I ask what to expect?"

Toutai's face fell a bit, making Luka frown.

"Is that not allowed?"

"It's not that," He answered, taking a deep breath. "Luka, Khnurn's trait is honesty and I'm afraid that means that his test is going to be hard. You'll have to face the Truth,"

"The Truth... as in..." He whispered. "C-can't I prevent that?"

"I'm sorry, Luka but I can't answer that," He answered before gently placing his hand on his shoulder. "Just remember no matter how alone or vulnerable you feel right now, you're not alone. You have friends, family and allies who care deeply about you,"

"T-thank you, Toutai,"

~A Couple of Days Later~

"Thank you for helping me, young man," Fu stated as Luka carried his suitcase to the train station. He had already gone to Fu's locker and used the key to grab what was in there. Fu had left him a letter and the translated version of the grimoire as well as ingredients and other things to help, like a list of the kwami's favourite foods but he would sort them out later. Right now, he wanted to make sure Fu reunited with Marianne. He wasn't sure if he remembered her but she had agreed to look after him. The train doors opened and she stepped out, causing Fu to gasp in surprise and awe. Though his memories were gone, the emotion of love clearly wasn't. She walked over and smiled softly at him.

"How incredible," He gasped, looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. "I've only just first laid eyes on you and yet my heart is beating like I've known you for a long time,"

"You should always listen to your heart," She smiled, gently taking his hands in hers. For a moment, they stared into each other's eyes before she smiled softly. "Why don't you go and settle down? I have something to say to this young man,"

"Of course," He nodded, turning to Luka. "Thank you for your help, young man,"

"You're welcome," Luka nodded before Fu disappeared on the train. "Thank you for coming so soon. I'm sorry I haven't contacted you until now, Ma'am,"

"It's ok," She smiled, gently taking his hands in her eyes. "I know it's hard to come to terms with having magic naturally but you don't need to face it alone. You can contact me but also I wanted to give you something,"

She took out an envelope.

"Since I can't always be in Paris, this is the address of the acting grand mage," She answered. "He can help you,"

"Thank you," He answered, taking it. "Please take care of him, Marianne. Fu... he taught me so much,"

"I will," She promised. "And don't be a stranger ok,"

"I won't," He answered before the final whistle blew and she went on the train. He looked as they took a seat by the window and waved at him as the train departed. He waved back before walking out of the train station and back to The Liberty. Juleka and Rose were practising some music and waved at him when he came back on board. He gave them a small wave but didn't bother going to see what they were doing as he headed back into his room. He frowned as he saw a note on the deck, causing him to pick it up and read it.

Dearest Luka,

I had to borrow the Rabbit Miraculous for a short amount of time

Due to a dangerous situation. Please do not worry.

I have plenty of carrots for Fluff and she will be returned to you

soon.

Stay strong

Sir Rene

Luka sighed and put the letter down before sitting on his bed as he thought about everything that had occurred. In less than 24 hours, he had lost two of the most important people in his life and had become the guardian of two miracle boxes, setting his path on becoming the Celestial Guardian in stone. He knew life was never going to be the same again. The Truth was coming and he wasn't sure if he could stop it. He put his hand on his head and took a deep breath.

"The future isn't set in stone," He whispered to himself. 

~Hawkmoth's Lair~

"I told you not to let her wear it again!" Su Han shouted as Gabriel paced. Nathalie's health was far worse than it had been. She was now bedbound for the foreseeable future and was constantly sick. He had the best doctors look at her but they didn't know what it was. "When I told you that, it wasn't just because I dislike the woman. She can never wear a miraculous ever again!"

"It was fixed!"

"Yes but her soul was still being damaged by it when it was broken!" Su Han shouted, pinching his nose. "She can never wear one again or she will die. Do you understand?!"

"I see," Hawkmoth frowned before he decided to change the subject. "Have you found out anything about Zoe?"

"She is defective," He answered. "I don't know how but that bastard of a mage not only freed her from her training but made it so it can never be done to her again,"

"Mage? So Anatis is the mage,"

"Yes," Su Han frowned. "Your plan to akumatize him is pointless and now he has two boxes. We'll have to have him killed. It isn't the first time I've killed him after all,"

"Killed?!" Hawkmoth growled. "No! I need him alive!"

"What?! You only need his and that mangy cat's miraculous!"

"I want him alive so I can make him watch as I make a wish!" He growled, making Su Han roll his eyes. "He has humiliated me enough. I deserve to make him suffer as I tear apart the world he loves so much!"

"You are a man-child but fine. Have it your way," Su Han declared, leaving. Of course, he wasn't going to keep his promise. The Mage would be dead before the next Ghost festival. Otherwise, all the hard work he put into stealing his wish would be undone. The Yǐnshēnyǐnbì were stood outside, waiting for him. "The boy you saw in battle. The child of the beetle. I want him dead,"

"Yes, Lord Guardian," They all declared before jumping off. Su Han smirked.

"You may be using the Ladybug in this life, Mage but that won't save you,"

[flightfoot]

Can you recommend angsty fics which don't revolve around the main duo?

Hope you like these! I avoided fics that revolved around either Marinette or Adrien.

---

Can’t Sleep Either, Huh? by EmeraldButterfly

Chloe gets up late at night. Turns out she’s not the only one who’s worried about Pollen. (AU where former Miraculous holders have an empathetic link with their kwamis)

This is a very interesting AU. Chloe and Zoe are both able to feel Pollen’s emotions and even things like her hunger, and end up taking solace in each other to try and cope. It’s just really sweet.

---

oh, no, not again by @bittersweetresilience

Félix doesn’t want to broach the subject, but he won’t be able to after they leave.

So this is a glimpse into a time-travel fix-it story, with various wielders being sent back into their younger selves. But Felix doesn’t think he’ll be helpful, because well… his backstory. He would be unable to step out of line. It’s pretty angsty and I love Chat’s reaction to learning about how bad Felix had it.

---

Changeling by @unecoccinellenoire

Gabriel makes the Wish believing that he regretted everything with Adrien. The results suggest that he in fact regrets Adrien

So this is interesting. It’s giving a glimpse into a universe where Gabriel and Emilie never found the Peacock Miraculous, and they (along with Amelie and Colt) just adopted. Which unfortunately meant that Adrien and Felix as we know them never existed, and Gabriel finds that he misses his original son, which is especially acute when interacting with his new adopted son and knowing how much he’s NOT Adrien.

---

Late Bloomer by @generalluxun

On what might very well be the last night of her life, Sabrina Raincomprix pulls out a very special scrapbook, pressed between the pages is the past, the past she has never shared with anyone. She relives how she got to this moment one page at a time, preparing herself for the end. A phone call interrupts her self-imposed exile and brings news that could change her life forever. Even if it does though the question looms… change it how?

Sabrina-centric Hanahaki AU here! I love how it goes into Sabrina’s relationship with Chloe over the years, the good and the bad - and even what happens post Revolution. 

I love the description of some of the plants involved, and what they mean, what they represent. If you want a fic that delves more in Sabrina’s character and her relationship with Chloe, this is a solid choice.

---

Spread Your Wings by @myladynoire

Set before the Finale. Félix uses his Kwagatama to summon his father’s memory and has a talk with him.

I love Colt’s characterization here, how we see his mindset, his beliefs, and even what made him the way he is. We have a limited amount of knowledge about him in canon, only having the play Felix and Kagami put on to go off of, but myladynoire made good use of it! I’m glad Felix got some closure here as well.

---

Eat, Pray, Duck by @trishacollins

Gabriel Agreste split his twin sons apart when his wife died, keeping one with him and sending one to London with his sister. Unfortunately, the Supreme was not willing to let this be. He wanted a matched set. Felix is a weapon, a servant of the Supreme. On a mission to retrieve the stolen Miraculous. In a world that has outlawed kindness, sometimes the most dangerous person is the one who chooses it anyway.

I love this glimpse at what might have been going on with Felix back in Shadybug and Claw Noir’s world, I did wonder what might have been going on with him. Poor kid, he managed to have it even worse than he did in canon. I really loved seeing his interactions with Luka, the Couffaines rebel through kindness it seems!

---

Trapped by @consistent-chaos-corporation

Felix asks to visit Adrien as soon as his father is gone. Gabriel catches him snooping, looking for Adrien’s Amok. Everything gets worse from there.

Damn, poor Felix. He came to try and help Adrien, but instead Gabriel stole his Amok, forcing him to obey his commands, holding him prisoner in his basement for months. If you want some quality Felix whump, this is the fic for you!

---

Justifying the Means by @ashes-555

When the worst happens, Alya finds that she may be willing to do the unthinkable. Is any sacrifice to big to make for her friends?

Once again, Ashes comes out swinging with an Alya focused fic! 

Basically, there’s a major, destructive akuma attack. During it, Ladybug orders Chat to cataclysm a building in order to stop from being trapped. Unfortunately the building collapses, injuring or killing a lot of people - unbeknownst to her, including Chat Noir. Gabriel releases the akuma, which means she has no way of fixing the damage, either.

A lot of of focus is placed on Alya and Nino worrying over Adrien, who was found in the wreckage barely clinging to life, in a coma, with the doctors unsure whether he’d make it. Shadow Moth takes advantage of their distress to make an offer: if he gets the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses, he can make a Wish to fix everything, including saving Adrien. With as dark a place as Alya and Nino are in, they seriously consider it. Especially with how unhappy both of them are with Chat Noir supposedly “abandoning” Ladybug and Paris as a whole, and Nino being angry with Ladybug for failing (since Alya knows that Marinette is Ladybug, she’s far more understanding on that front).

I love how much credence Alya’s thought and emotions are given here, and that she doesn’t go for the more drastic option right away, either - she talks with Ladybug about it first, tries to do it her way. She understands the costs, but... her friends are important to her, and she’s desperate. I think this was a really good way to present a more antagonistic sort of Alya. She’s still very much herself here, and still considers Marinette her friend, willing to do things her way to an extent, and understanding why Marinette doesn’t want to use the Wish, even though she disagrees with her. Alya’s mindset, her emotions, her problems, are given respect and credence by the narrative. She’s still willing to talk things out, she’s still sympathetic to Marinette and the enormous trauma and guilt she’s going through, she just disagrees with Marinette’s approach. She wants her friend back.

If you want a fic that has some solid focus on Alya as a person, on her emotional struggles and mindset and just... dealing with things, I highly recommend checking out “Justifying the Means”.

---

I Won’t Let You by @generalluxun

After Gabriel’s defeat, two individuals not party to the celebration run into each other, and find each other.

The summary doesn’t give much of an idea of what the fic’s about. Post-Hawkmoth Defeat, Chloe and Felix run into each other at the celebration of Gabriel’s downfall, and vent about their problems. Neither of them think the other one has it too bad - Chloe’s worried about disappearing, since her worth was entirely tied to her family’s prestige and wealth, and being seen as friends to a terrorist is gonna cripple both of those, while Felix is on edge about Ladybug having the Peacock Miraculous, since she has the ability to kill him at a moment’s notice (yes this is a Sentifelix fic). 

They both make each other understand the turmoil the other is going through in extremely visceral ways, showing the other what it’s like to be them, in the circumstances they’re in. I don’t want to spoil what, exactly, they do, but needless to say, it’s worth a read.

[liam-and-co-miraculous-writing]

What the outfits look like for the Superhero Team

Liam Bourgeois aka Miraclizer: Pre-ring monarch with the colors on when the miraculous is being used except the suit is always different depending on the miraculous he uses. He made a hand-made outfit that is completely white so that Liam can be with his allies while not exposing his identity.

Sky aka Aeroflutter: A purple business suit where he wears a hat that resembles a blimp, gondola is absent but the envelope part is.

Ane Kanoa aka Mariporcina: A pink wet suit where the pig tail is present with the wet suit.

Arthur Chambers aka Commander Bug: Red with black spots armor similar to Scarlet Fate (Jeanne d'Arc) but the whole armor is red with black spots. Also a mini-visor where his eye patch is to allow him to see completely to accommodate him with having one-eye.

Zellova aka Maid Noir: A black cat suit like Cat Noir with a fusion of her maid outfit. Her skin becomes a bit darker and her wings are black. The tail part works well with her succubus tail which she can use.

Nathaniel Hawkins aka Captain Monkey: A brownish air pirate suit where he has many pockets for holding things. He has a belt that is used for the tail part of the outfit which he can used for different purposes. He also wears goggles

Alcyon Tate aka LightRetriever: A orange suit which resembles a pilot with a furry tail which is for cosmetic purposes. She also has goggles.

Nicholas Hunter aka Sky Steed: His brown suit is a mixture between a pilot and a business suit (With his good relationship with Aeroflutter) His hair is a light green while transformed.

Anton Foreman aka Sheriff Stinger: Yellow-black cowboy outfit with his hat still in present. The hat can easily come off. He can still carry his usual equipment while transformed.

[scythidol]

🐚 rebellious angel inspired pronouns ✦

rebel/rebels . angel/angels . feather/feathers . wing/wings . br/broken/brokens . dark/darks . noir/noirs . void/voids . night/nightmare/nightmares . halo/halos . tear/tears . betray/betrays . cr/crack/cracks . snap/snaps

🐚 rebellious angel inspired titles ✦

the rebellious angel . the defiant one . (prn) who isn't afraid to break rules . (prn) who is seen as a traitor . (prn) who won't follow commands . the one with wings of white . (prn) who's wings are turning black . the one who's halo cracked . (prn) who snapped

requested by : @whoopsallspam

[aidanchaser]

Boulangérella: A Miraculous Fairy Tale AU - Chapter Thirty-Four

Table of Contents Read on Ao3 Prologue

Queen Wasp’s chest buzzed with fury. It danced in her bones and darted through her blood with a speed and frenzy like the creatures she had been named for.

She and Adrien had been engaged since she was a little girl. She had always been destined to become queen of this kingdom, and there was no way some half-noble upstart who barely even lived in the city half of the year was going to worm her way into the position she had been promised.

And if Hawk Moth wanted Chat Noir’s ring in exchange? Well, she knew exactly where to find it.

As Queen Wasp charged at Lila Rossi and the prince, Lila screamed and hid behind him, placing the prince between her and Queen Wasp.

It was not a place Félix wanted to be. Not only was there no telling what Queen Wasp might do to him thinking that he was Adrien—or worse if she found out that he was not Adrien—but he already suspected she knew about Adrien’s second career as a thief. He did not want Queen Wasp or Hawk Moth to get their hands on the ring he currently wore.

So Félix ran.

Lila’s scream, as well any command she might have made to force Félix to protect her, was lost as one of Queen Wasp’s darts struck her and froze her in place.

Félix didn’t have a lot of options for escape—a feeling he was running into more and more often these days. He had only two ways out of the ballroom: either the terrace that led to the gardens or the doors that led back into the palace itself. While the corridors of the castle might afford more places to hide, Chloé had grown up in those hallways as much as he and Adrien had. He needed to get into the gardens and get as far away as he could until Ladybug and Chat Noir arrived. He just hoped Chat Noir wasn’t too far from the palace.

The ball’s guests were in pandemonium as they, too, rushed for the exits. Félix hoped to use the chaos to escape Queen Wasp’s line of sight, but it was as futile as any of the plans he had concocted for escape in the last month.

Queen Wasp’s gown glittered in the candle light, and the harsh black lines that cut through her corset’s midsection and the thick black ruff around her neck gave her the same shape as the insect she had been named for. A pair of sheer, iridescent, wing-like sleeves that draped off of her shoulders lifted suddenly and transformed into a set of wings, carrying Queen Wasp above the panicked crowd.

“I don’t think so,” she snarled, and with a simple thrust from her hand, a small dart, much like the stinger attached to Queen Bee’s bandalore, hurled itself at the fleeing prince.

Félix ducked through the tightly clustered musicians, hoping they and their instruments might provide some sort of cover, and the dart nicked the young man with the viol’s arm instead. He froze in place, shocked expression turning into an unmoving mask. Félix kept running.

But Queen Wasp was not going to be denied. She flew forward, reaching the glass doors before the prince by flying over the guests and landing in front of the exit to the gardens. She slammed the glass doors closed.

Guests ran for the other exit, but Félix’s heart dropped into his stomach. Even though he knew he was trapped, his mind spun desperately for some other way of escape. His hand went to his chest, where the fan-shaped brooch rested beneath his jerkin.

Was it worth it to reveal what he had taken from Gabriel? Would whatever cost the Fay of Emotion demanded from him be worth escaping Chloé in this moment?

“You’re not going anywhere, my prince,” Queen Wasp smiled. Her black-stained lips curled back in a smile that felt more like teeth bared in anger than any sort of affection or even just joy in victory.

And before Félix could commit to running or asking Duusu for help, Queen Wasp raised her hand and a dart struck his chest. Cold crept through him, freezing him in place, until he was aware no more.

Queen Wasp reached for his hand, still pressed against his heart, and ripped the ring from his finger.

Marinette brushed her thumb against Chat Noir’s ring and bit on her lip to keep it from trembling. She didn’t understand why he was refusing her offer to run away. She looked up to the bruise on his cheek that he’d incurred saving her from falling off of the city’s walls. She’d seen that bruise on both princes, but when one prince had escorted her to the ball and the other had not made an appearance at all…

Marinette felt fairly confident in her suspicions about Chat Noir’s identity, and she didn’t see why he couldn’t run away with her. It wasn’t as if he was the Crown Prince, after all. He didn’t need to lead the kingdom. And, as cold as Prince Félix had been with her, at least he wasn’t his cousin, who had nearly kissed her then rejected her and then told her he wasn’t sorry about it.

“What’s really keeping you here?” she asked, struggling to keep the desperation out of her voice. She needed Chat Noir; why did the kingdom need its spare prince?

“I have a duty to fulfill,” he said softly, which was not the answer Marinette was looking for.

“Can’t you—”

But Marinette never got to finish her question. Guests of the ball began to run out into the gardens. Her heart sank. She was not sure there had ever been a worse time for Hawk Moth to strike.

The ears on Chat Noir’s head seemed to sag along with his shoulders.

“I believe this is goodbye, Mademoiselle,” he said, and lifted her hand to his lips. “I’ll see if I can manage this before it spreads, but you should get somewhere safe, just in case.”

She squeezed his hand, and the truth of who she was and why she wasn’t going to run anywhere poised on the tip of her tongue. They were both quitting tonight, so why not tell him everything? But before the words could leave her lips, he was gone.

As the fleeing crowd drew closer to her, Marinette ducked behind the nearest tree. She took only a moment to herself, a moment to stare up at the leafy branches and swallow down one hiccuped sob. This would be it, then. Even if she did catch Hawk Moth now, this would be the end of Ladybug and Chat Noir. He would marry and live as a prince, she would leave and become the Guardian, and their paths would never cross again.

“Marinette?” Tikki asked, voice tinted with equal parts concern and anxiety as a loud shriek echoed from the palace ballroom.

Marinette blinked back tears and took in a deep breath. “I’ll be okay,” she said, though she wasn’t sure she believed it. “Tikki, spots on.”

Chat Noir flexed his claws as he dashed up the terrace steps to the ballroom. The glass doors were closed, which explained why the number of fleeing guests had dropped dramatically and suddenly, but through the glass he could see a woman in black and gold with sheer, shimmering wings, hovering a few feet from the ground.

He decided a direct approach would be unwise, and just as he had the other day against the Sapotis, leapt up into one of the windows near the ceiling.

With his vantage point over the chaos, he could see that all the guests who could flee had; the ones who remained were frozen in mid-motion as if Queen Bee’s Venom had gotten to them before they could escape, but it was not Queen Bee who floated in front of the doors. Though her dress was gold, it was marked with stark black lines at her waist and neck. The mask that decorated her face and the comb that ornamented her hair were also stained black.

Chat Noir’s stomach sank when he saw the gold pin transformed in color. If Hawk Moth had used Chloé’s miraculous gift as the source of his power, then he was going to have to break that hair pin to free her. He did not know what would happen if he were to ruin a miraculous gift beyond repair. Their gifts allowed them to use a fay’s power without being consumed by it. If he released that power, what would happen to Chloé or to her fay companion?

He hoped that he was wrong, or at least that Ladybug would have an answer.

“Chloé!” Chat Noir shouted, as he dropped down into the ballroom. “Release these people from whatever power—”

But as her dark purple eyes met his brilliant green ones, she shrieked loudly. “Adrien?”

It wasn’t just the pitch that made Chat Noir wince. At least he could be mildly grateful that everyone present was currently insensate, and her outburst fell on deaf ears.

“Let these people go,” he said, with a bit of hope that maybe she would listen to him if she knew who he was, “and we can talk.”

“But you’re—” She clutched her hand to her forehead and mimicked his own grimace, as if a sudden headache had set in.

“What do you mean ‘Adrien’?” Hawk Moth snarled in Queen Wasp’s head.

“But he can’t be!” she snapped back. “If that’s Chat Noir, then this—this is—”

“How do you know that Adrien is Chat Noir?” Hawk Moth growled.

And even if Queen Wasp had had the will to resist, she would not have been able to stop Hawk Moth as he recalled the memory of her conversation with Adrien from that afternoon as neatly as if it were his own.

And if Adrien was Chat Noir, then the prince who had danced with Lila could not have been Adrien.

“But if that was Félix,” Queen Wasp protested, still not entirely convinced this Chat Noir in front of her was not some trick, “what ring did I take?”

She opened her eyes and opened her hand. The small silver ring had not transformed into black onyx with an emerald-set pawprint. Instead, a faint relief of vines intertwined the outside of the band, and as Queen Wasp squinted at the inside of the band she could see E. Graham de Vanily written on the inside.

“No!” Hawk Moth shouted, and Queen Wasp’s head nearly split in two. “You will not lose that ring—you will deliver it to me—”

And as easily as Hawk Moth had pulled up the memory of her discovering Chat Noir’s identity from her head, Queen Wasp saw the memory of Queen Emilie placing the band in Gabriel’s palm.

“Promise you won’t use it to control him,” Emilie whispered. “When I’m gone, you’ll need to keep it safe to keep him alive, but promise you won’t use it.”

“Of course I promise,” King Gabriel murmured.

The moment of understanding that passed between Queen Wasp and Hawk Moth seemed interminable as each one internalized the new epiphanies they were faced with: Hawk Moth knew who Chat Noir was with utter certainty; in turn, Queen Wasp knew Hawk Moth’s identity and the power of the ring in her hand.

“Bring him and the ring to me, now!” Hawk Moth demanded.

But she shook her head and pressed one hand to her head. “No, you can’t—”

“I have made you! I gave you Adrien’s hand, I gave you this power, and if you want to keep it, you will do as I have asked!”

“Chloé,” Chat Noir tried again, “if we could talk—”

But she let out a loud yell and thrust her hand in his direction. A black dart tipped with yellow, no bigger than his little finger, flew towards his chest. Chat Noir jumped to the side, only just missing the projectile. It thudded into the wall on the opposite side of the ballroom.

“I am Queen Wasp,” she shrieked at him, “and I will have what I am owed!”

As she hurled another dart in his direction, Chat Noir ducked and hastily scanned the room for cover. There were a few tables full of food that he could tip over, but little else. And even if he could get close enough to destroy the cursed object, he would have no way to purify it.

His best hope was to stall and hope that Ladybug arrived soon.

And Ladybug was on her way, just cresting the terrace steps, as Chat Noir turned a table on its side to make himself a barrier. Through the glass doors Ladybug saw Prince Adrien, perfectly still, with his hand clutched to his heart.

Ladybug, despite how hurt she had been by their near kiss and despite her decision to focus her attentions on Chat Noir, still felt her heart snap in two at the sight of him. It was the second time the prince had been hurt by one of Hawk Moth’s curses in the palace. At least after today, she wouldn’t be able to fail him again.

But before Ladybug could cross the terrace, a figure materialized before her and she stifled a scream.

A young woman in white, flowing silk, appeared as if out of thin air. Her hair was deep blue at the roots and faded to white at its tips, and two soft, white, triangular ears perched in her thick hair. Her face was covered in a white mask, shaped like a fox’s snout.

“R-Rena?” Ladybug stammered, heart racing. She didn’t know why Rena Rouge looked so different, nor why Rena might be using her miraculous gift to create an illusion of some sort of ghost.

“There’s a complication,” the apparition whispered, gestured to the roof of the palace with her thin white flute, then she vanished as suddenly as she had come.

Ladybug’s heart stammered in her chest. If this was some trap of Hawk Moth’s, she was about to fall right into it. But she could see Hawk Moth’s cursed victim through the glass, flying around the ballroom in pursuit of Chat Noir, who ducked between flipped tables in an effort to dodge her attacks.

Hawk Moth had never cursed more than one victim at the same time, a gracious limitation on his power. So surely she was just being paranoid, and Rena’s request was genuine.

Ladybug used her bandalore to pull herself up to the rooftop of the palace where she found Nino and Master Fu and—

It was hard to tell in the light of the full moon, which seemed to pierce Rena’s form as if she were made of the translucent silk that now draped her body, but she certainly appeared to be standing with them.

“What’s happened to you?” Ladybug asked, terrified that the complication was Rena’s magic.

Rena looked down at her form and shook her head. “I asked Trixx to make sure we would be hidden from Hawk Moth. I think this was his solution. I promise, I’m still here.” She reached for Ladybug’s hand and squeezed. She was as solid as anything else, despite her translucent appearance. “Though I suppose I’m not quite as red as I was before. I’ll have to reconsider my name.”

“There is little time for that,” Master Fu interrupted. “Marinette, I am sorry to put this on you now, but we have no choice. You need to give up your earrings and take on the mantle of Guardian now.”

Ladybug took a step back, nearly walking off the roof of the palace. “What? But why? You said I had time to decide, to make sure—I haven’t even gotten to say goodbye to Chat Noir and—”

“Hawk Moth knows who I am,” Master Fu said, “or if he does not know yet, he will know very soon.”

Nino rubbed his neck and tried his best to look sympathetic. “We’re sorry, Marinette,” he said, feeling odd using her name when she was dressed as she was. “Chloé got cursed, and Alya transformed immediately while I helped Master Fu get out of the palace, but it seems like Chloé knew who Chat Noir was and now Hawk Moth knows.”

“And Chat Noir knows who I am,” Master Fu sighed. “It will only be a matter of time before Hawk Moth tries to take advantage of his knowledge of Chat Noir’s true identity, and it will quickly lead him to me.”

“But even if I become the Guardian,” Ladybug protested, “that won’t keep you out of danger. If Hawk Moth wants the secrets of the fay—”

“I will be unable to give them to him once a new Guardian has been chosen. The price of such power is steep, and I am sorry to insist on it without warning, but we have no time. We must act before Hawk Moth defeats Chat Noir.”

Chat Noir certainly felt like he was fighting a losing battle. He could only dodge Queen Wasp’s poisonous darts for so long. If she managed to strike him even once, that would be the end of him. He would lose his ring, the whole kingdom would know the truth about his identity, and Hawk Moth would be halfway to victory. He may have already decided that this was last night as Chat Noir, but he certainly didn’t want it to end in abysmal failure.

His Cataclysm would only be useful if he could get close to her, but she had height from her wings, and even though he could climb to the ceiling by clawing his way up a tapestry, he would lose what little cover he had. He needed Ladybug, he thought, as he tossed a goblet at her, buying him just enough time to slip between tables in an effort to get just a bit closer to her. If he had his Lady’s bandalore, he could pull her down to the ground.

Chat Noir was about to make a last desperate lunge for her—he had nothing left to lose but his pride, after all—when the glass doors swung open and Chat Noir breathed a sigh of relief. Ladybug had arrived.

But it was only a brief thought, for it only took one good look for Chat Noir to realize that the dark-haired woman in a red gown was not Ladybug at all.

Her lips were bloodred, like Ladybug’s, and her similarly dark hair was tied up with red ribbons, but she bore none of Ladybug’s spots. Instead, she wore red dress decorated with black and gold scales that formed a spiked and twisting tail curling around her figure. The skirts of her gown reached the floor, and its long sleeves draped loosely around her wrists, but the top half of her dress fell off of her shoulders, revealing another gown underneath. this one decorated in clouds that seemed to move as she moved, like with each step she took, wind rustled the pattern painted into silk. From the black sash around her waist hung a pair of swords and at her neck was a thin black cord decorated with a plain red bead.

Queen Wasp turned to face her new opponent and Chat Noir took his chance.

He leaped into the nearest tapestry, and the threads snagged beneath his claws. He wasted no time, and immediately jumped towards Queen Wasp, but even with his determination and agility, he was too slow. She turned back to him the moment he was airborne, too late to change his trajectory. Her hand stretched out to meet his chest and her poisoned dart shot forward.

Chat Noir braced for the loss of sensation he had felt that afternoon after his first encounter with Queen Bee’s venom, but instead, a sharp, sudden burst of air threw him and Queen Wasp apart. She hurtled to the other side of the ballroom and he fell to the floor, skidding across the smooth dance floor until he came to rest at the newcomer’s feet.

She had one hand raised, and as she lowered it, the strong breeze died down. The swirling of the clouds in her dress stilled. Chat Noir looked up at her face, painted white with both gold and red rimming her eyes to cloak her true features. He was embarrassed to have thought she was Ladybug for even a moment. Her dark eyes gleamed with a cool determination, nothing like Ladybug’s bright vivacity.

“Who are you?” he asked.

A tiny smile twitched on her painted lips. “I am a friend,” she said. “If I keep her occupied, will you be able to undo the curse?”

Chat Noir pushed himself to his feet. “I can destroy the thing keeping her tethered to Hawk Moth, but I can’t fix it without Ladybug.”

“Then we shall keep her here until Ladybug arrives.”

Queen Wasp did not want to get up, exactly, but her head throbbed if she so much as thought about quitting, so she pushed herself to her feet. She had accepted Hawk Moth’s power because she was furious with Lila Rossi and determined to have the thing she had been promised since she was a little girl.

But knowing the identities of both Hawk Moth and Chat Noir changed things.

She wanted to be queen, and she knew Hawk Moth was never going to give her that chance, no matter whether she won Adrien’s heart or not. But that thought, too, made her head pound.

Hawk Moth had given her this power and demanded Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculous gifts in exchange. She wasn’t strong enough to reject the power outright—she had tried—and Hawk Moth was not about to relinquish his curse when he now knew that his own son was in the very thief he had hunted for the last year. He could not trust Queen Wasp to her own power for even a moment to send his guards to the ballroom. As she was his only hope at victory, Queen Wasp was trapped in this fight until she either delivered Chat Noir and his miraculous gift to Hawk Moth or Ladybug defeated her.

At least a new hero to fight might keep it interesting.

The woman’s power of wind was uniquely powerful against Queen Wasp’s poisoned darts and flight. As Queen Wasp tried to lift herself into the air again, she was hurled into glass window. It cracked beneath her but did not shatter. She snarled and charged forward on foot.

Chat Noir intercepted her, and his quick cat-like reflexes were enough to dodge her strikes as she attempted to at least get a hand on him. If she could just touch him, she could get him still and get him away from here, but his forearm collided with hers each time, sending her shots wide and keeping himself out of harm’s way.

She snarled and dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him with a sudden kick. He leaped up, but his moment of suspension was all she needed. She thrust her hand forward once more and, once more, she was hurled aside.

But it was not by a gust of wind. The powerful bursts of air, while strong, were not enough to knock Queen Wasp off of her feet. Instead, a tidal wave crashed into her and she tumbled across the ballroom floor.

Queen Wasp picked herself back up, dark lips curled back in a snarl. Her gown dripped and her wings twitched uselessly, too heavy to carry her now that they were sodden. The water that had knocked her over swept back towards the woman in red, who still stood in the doorway, uninterested in entering the fray herself. Her gown, however, had changed. The clouds that had swirled in a breeze now turned dark and dripped with rain.

She pulled her hands close against her chest, and the water lifted into the air and curled into a sphere as if encased in an invisible glass. Then it burst in a sudden spray and disappeared.

The dark clouds in the woman’s gown turned darker still, and though the night sky outside was clear, a low rumble of thunder filled the ballroom.

Queen Wasp was not eager to find out what other power this woman wielded.

A sudden cry of “Lucky Charm!” filled the ballroom and Chat Noir’s head whipped up to the windows that bordered the ceiling. He knew his lady’s voice, and despite all the hurt he’d felt from her rejection, despite all the affection he’d recently found for a young seamstress, despite his decision to quit after tonight—despite everything, his heart swelled with joy just to see her.

Ladybug caught a length of red rope that fell into her hands and hastily scanned the ballroom. She was determined to finish this quickly. She had promised Master Fu that this would be it, that she would just finish this fight and say goodbye to Chat Noir, then she would give up being Ladybug. Surely to take just this bit of time would not mean the end everything.

Ladybug set aside hers and Master Fu’s worries as she gauged the fight before her. She needed to immobilize Queen Wasp and the series of steps to do so appeared in her mind as certainly as if her gift were to see the future rather than simply fall into a lucky solution.

She had to drop down from the window to dodge one of Queen Wasp’s darts, but she whispered the plan under her breath as she ran. Though she could not see Rena, she trusted that Rena was nearby and would carry the plan to the others.

Ladybug slid behind one of table’s Chat Noir had overturned and three of Queen Wasp’s darts thudded into the wood. It splintered from the force, warning her that it would not hold for much more of an assault, but Ladybug did not need much more time.

“Now!” she shouted, hoping that Rena had effectively carried the message.

The woman in the red dress drew her swords and hurled them expertly at the two cords that suspended the tapestry as Ladybug threw the rope in her hands to Chat Noir. As the heavy tapestry fell, it was buoyed by an unnatural wind, and it twisted its way through the air until it enveloped Queen Wasp. Chat Noir looped the rope around her and the tapestry, tying them together and keeping her arms and wings pinned beneath the thick fabric.

“Cataclysm!” Chat Noir’s power of destruction crackled in his hand only briefly before he touched it to Queen Wasp’s comb. The bee perched on a black honeycomb cracked in two and a burst of bright yellow dust and light shot from the damaged jewelry.

Chat Noir choked as the dust filled his lungs. Queen Wasp coughed too, even as her magical gown seemed to drip away, revealing Chloé underneath.

But as Chat Noir and Chloé collapsed, Ladybug’s eyes were only for the escaping black butterfly. She had let it get away when it had left Luka, but she was not about to let it escape again.

She snatched the butterfly up in her bandalore and pulled it back into her hands. Her bandalore grew warm with magic as the blessing whisked away all remnant of Hawk Moth’s curse. She released it and wished it well, pausing to watch the white butterfly flit towards the open doors. This would be the last time she did that, and she could not help taking a moment to mark the occasion.

But even that brief moment was too long. As she turned to Chat Noir, she saw that he and Chloé were unmoving on the floor and the yellow dust that coated them was rolling across the floor like a tidal wave. She saw her Lucky Charm, still tied around Chloé at the heart of the pollen. She stepped back, thinking she could use her bandalore to draw the Charm closer to her without entering the growing yellow haze. Surely if she used her magic to undo all of Hawk Moth’s damage, it would fix this, too, right?

But her magic had never been able to repair an object that Hawk Moth had cursed.

Still, she had to try.

Ladybug used her bandalore to yank the cord from Chloé and back into her own hand. She threw it up into the air and called on her magic for what was, in all likelihood, the very last time. She prayed it would fix everything.

But as the magical ladybugs swept through the palace, the yellow pollen did not fade. It curled around her feet and before she could step away, the world was already spinning. The floor of the ballroom rose up to meet her and Ladybug fell to her knees. She saw, through blurred vision, the doors of the palace burst open, and a phalanx of soldiers brought up by King Gabriel charged into the ballroom.

[bedofthistles]

Museum

The De Noirs to Maria: stop being so mean to mean, or I swear to God I'm gonna fall in love with you!

The Eastern Chambers had been swept, mopped, de-cobwebbed, dusted, and aired out as best a room could with a single window that was little more than a slit someone forgot to mortar up than a window. 

And the whole time, Robin stood stationed by the door. His eyes locked on the Moon Princess. 

She was adorable. 

As soon as they had marched back into the room, two men were already there, taking down the boards. They were about to leave when Maria cried out: “Oh I think not!” And ordered them to clean the room. 

The two men had stared at her in disbelief. 

They looked to him, to confirm the order, and Robin simply nodded. 

“It is filthy and disgusting!” She declared as she followed them in. “Look at the state of this place! There is not a single clean thing in this room, and if I am to stay here I shall like it to be pristine.” Then, she changed her wording, when they didn’t seem to understand. “Clean! Spotless!” 

“Right away, ma’am!” They said, and Robin bit his lip before he laughed out loud. 

The two men returned with three maids and enough cleaning supplies to scour the whole castle, and began their work. 

Maria did not sit idly by, oh no, she shouted commands befitting a general. “The bedding please, it's thin as parchment, and moth-bitten.” Then, “Do you see that, up there? On the ceiling? It's an orphanage for arachnids, any long stick will get the job done!” And of course, “Every step I take brings up more dust! Please, if someone knows how to manage a broom? And perhaps a mop, that would be oh so appreciated!” 

Soon, there was an army of his father’s servants looking to Maria for instruction. 

“What’s going on in here?”

Robin turned his head, even as his eyes remained glued to her, as Richard, Henry, and David entered the once closed off chamber. “The Princess.” 

“Annie said there was a big commotion. Is she allowed to do this?” Richard asked, crossing his arms as a smile split across his face. 

“I mean, really, how am I supposed to wear these? Take them all out at once! Have them laundered and returned, if you please!” Maria said, and two maids began emptying her wardrobe. 

“I’m not sure,” Robin shrugged. “But I’m not stopping her.”

“She’s certainly whipped them into shape better than Dulac has. Or even your father.” Henry said, his voice a whisper, as admitting such things was mutinous. No matter how true.

“Speaking of my father-” Robin said, pushing himself off the wall, he beckoned the boys to follow him outside into the hall. 

His own chambers were across from hers, and his father’s was at the end of the hall, given that Loveday’s old room was, wouldn't you know it, in the family wing. Robin, however, wanted to keep his sights on her, and didn’t enter his room. They just needed to be away from the nosy servants. 

“New duties, mates.” Robin said, his eyes flashing to each of theirs in turn before returning to where Maria was berating one of his father’s men. “Father doesn’t want Maria to be out of our sights.”

“Our sights? Our sights?” Richard asked. “As in, we have to watch her?”

Robin nodded. “It shouldn’t be too hard. Just make sure she doesn’t leave that room.” 

“No.” David said. 

“No?”

“No! I’m not watchin’ her. It's your fault she’s here!” David said. 

“You can’t say no to the Coeur.” Robin said. 

“I can and I have and I will. Besides, I have too much on my plate already! I’m not adding ‘watch silly girl to my list’.” David crossed his arms, and settled Robin with a glare. 

“You have to.” Robin said. “No arguing. Look, it won’t be that bad, will divide it up evenly-”

“Evenly!” David shook his head. “No, here’s what we’ll do.” David gestured to himself and then Henry and Richard. “We’ll watch her during the day, and you can watch her all night. ‘Cuz I sure as hell ain’t waking up in the middle of the night.”

“Oh c’mon-”

“I second!” Richard said, flinging his hand up into the air. 

Then, David, Richard and Robin turned to Henry. 

Henry sighed, “Sorry Robin, if I disagree they’ll make me take the night shift.”

Robin rolled his eyes, but at least they were complying. “Fine, I’ll make it work. You can divide up the day between yourselves, I’m going to go report to my father. But- Maria knows about the tunnels.”

“What? Robin!” Richard groaned, as Henry scoffed and David rolled his eyes, “Of course she does!”

“It was the only way to hide her when Merryweather came by the other day! I had to hide her.” Robin said, but shook his head. “So, she knows, and if she’s smart enough, she’ll try to use that to escape.” 

“She’s smart enough.” David said. “No doubt about that.”

☾

At long last, Maria’s room was spotless, and underneath all the dust, she saw how beautiful it was. The walls had been painted with pale and faded paints, but mimicked that of a garden in full bloom. Roses, iris, geraniums, crawling ivy. The tapestry that had been hung on the wall had been taken out and beaten and now boasted bright and beautiful threadwork. Her bedding had been replaced with a summer appropriate quilt - red and black in color, but she digressed. Even the powders on her vanity had been replaced and updated. 

“Robin, I- oh.” She bit her tongue when she was confronted with the Highwayman from the other day rather than Robin himself. “Hello, may I ask where Robin has gone off to?”

“To report to his father. He’ll be back by nightfall.” 

Maria nodded and clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers playing with the trailing ribbons. “I see. My name is Maria Merryweather, though, I suspect you already knew that.”

The boy smiled, and nodded. “Yes, my name is Henry.” 

“It’s a pleasure to formally meet my other kidnapper.” She smiled, but Henry was able to identify the sarcasm her words were dripping with. “Tell me, why did you do it?”

Henry blinked in surprise, but before he answered, Maria was off once more. 

“Is it because you too believe me a Moon Princess, or the Moon Princess, I should say, since it sounds like there is only one at a time. Though, I still have no idea what makes any of you think I am the Moon Princess.” 

Henry opened his mouth, but he was not quick enough. 

“Countless young girls were just in here! Any of them could have been Moon-worthy, but no, it must be me! Somehow, I think it has little to do with me being Moon Princess and more with me being a Merryweather! Though, besides the silly story Robin told me, I can’t imagine why there would be so much discord-”

“It’s not a silly story.”

“Pardon?” Maria paused in her ranting.

“It’s not a silly story.” Henry repeated, voice stronger even in the face of such a ferocious little lioness. “It’s our history.”

Maria pursed her lips. But of course, they all believed it. They had all fallen victim to some shared delirium, like those people who danced themselves to death in France. The De Noirs were French after all, so maybe it was a French thing. But they were in England, and the English were sensible, if nothing else, so Maria was determined to get this knot untangled and everyone set right. 

“Please, tell me your version of the curse. I’d love to hear it.” Maria nodded to Henry. She sat primly on the edge of her bed and waited for him to speak. 

“It began long ago, nearly four hundred years have passed since the Moon Princess cast her curse.” Henry spoke, his voice soft despite how large and lumbering he was. “A maiden blessed by the Moon, and loved by Nature. She was given the gift of the Pearls, which reflected like a mirror, men’s hearts and the truth that resided within.”

Already a discrepancy. 

Maria supposed the Pearls could do more than just grant wishes, but that was the thing, wasn’t it? Myths and legends changed with time and tongues. The storyteller allowed to add whatever pretty flourishes they wanted. 

“The two men who ruled peacefully over the Valley, her father and Sir Wrolf Merryweather, each wanted the Pearls for their own use. To rule over the land. The Pearls revealed their hearts' intent to the Princess, and they fought viciously over the pearls. Though neither died on the other’s sword, the Princess knew peace would never be theirs. She called upon Nature, bidding it do her will, and cast the curse. Great darkness would fall upon the land until a pure hearted girl came to the Valley, and fixed what was broken.” 

“Finished?” 

Henry blushed, but nodded. “Yes.”

Maria shook her head as she stood and hovered to the tapestry. It depicted a moon, shining down brightly over a churning sea. In the waves, silver horses weaved in and out of the water. 

“Why does the Coeur De Noir want the Pearls? What power do they possess?” 

“My mother always said the pearls contained all magic.” 

“Oh do they?” Maria rolled her eyes. “Such a shame they are lost.”

Maria cast a glare over her shoulder, but Henry was staring straight ahead, and it seemed the conversation was over. 

Henry left shortly thereafter, only to be replaced with the blond one. 

Richard, he introduced himself to her, bowing lowly and kissing her knuckles. 

“You know, my governess warned me about boys like you.” She said, “That usually they come with syphilis.” 

Richard jumped back, “I-! I don’t have-! I’m in perfect-! You take that back.”

“No.” Maria smirked. “But if you would please tell me about the Curse over this Valley, I may apologise.”

“The Curse? With the Pearls?” Richard blew out air between his lips as he crossed his arms and ankles to settle against the wall. “Simple. The De Noirs and Merryweather’s got into a big ole fight about who got possession of the Pearls, and the Moon Princess cursed them.”

Maria blinked, oh good lord. She didn’t think she’d ever ask Richard anything ever again. 

What kind of answer was that? 

It was even worse than Robin’s stuttering tale about the tragedy, and Henry at least told her what the pearls did! 

“Well?” Richard asked. 

“Well, what?” 

“You insulted my integrity, I told you about the Pearls.” 

Maria blinked owlishly, before crossing her arms. “You think I’m going to apologise when that is what you offered me?”

Richard shrugged, “I’m no muse-”

“Clearly! It's possible you’ve even been cursed by the muses!” 

Then, Maria went to the bookshelf and pulled one down at random, and began to read it. 

“They say the Pearls were lost forever, and only a true Moon Princess would be able to find them.”

“And do what? Let the Coeur De Noir have it so he can take over the valley?” Maria sent him a dry look. “What do the stories say about breaking the curse? Or what happens when you don’t?”

Richard shrugged. “Ma always said the Valley would be plunged into eternal darkness.”

Maria snapped the book closed. “Really? And you want this to come true?”

Richard shrugged. “Well, we’re not really in the Valley, so-”

“So you think you just won’t be affected?” Maria shook her head. “And how is the curse broken?”

“I think you have to throw the pearls into the sea, return them to Nature.” 

“Throw them into the sea?” Maria lifted a single haughty brow and went back to her book. “I’m sure that’s the best I will get out of you, so I apologise for the implication that you are riddled with disease.” 

“Accepted!” He said, with a bright grin on his face. 

Richard did his best to engage her in conversation, and she did her best to ignore him, but then he asked about London, and she couldn’t resist such a topic. 

“Sounds stuffy.” He said. 

“Stuffy! London is perfect in every way!” 

“Sure, but what about freedom?”

“Freedom?” Maria had taken position at her vanity, she was a good portion of the way through her book, even with Richard’s inane attempts at conversation. 

“It sounds like London doesn’t even have blue skies.” 

Maria sighed, “What does London need blue skies for?”

“Beauty.” 

Maria glared, and Richard smirked, but after that, he left her alone. 

At six o’clock, a servant came and dropped off two meals, though it seemed Robin did not have the opportunity to make her something more tolerable, for on the tray were two bowls of the awful stew. 

Richard tucked into it, but Maria set it aside. 

Richard told her a few - horrible and lewd - jokes to pass the time, even sang a song, though he was a terrible singer, and his voice cracked when he tried to sing notes that were out of his register. 

Then, at nine, the door opened and Robin slipped in. 

“Oh thank goodness you’re here! Please remove him at once!” Maria yelled over Richard, who’s singing only grew louder and louder, more shrill with each line. 

Richard laughed as Robin kicked him in his side. 

“Oh, she’s all yours Robin! Quite the handful.” Richard jumped to his feet as he stepped outside. 

Maria sighed in relief as she massaged her temples, and did not hear Robin approach her, his footsteps too quiet. 

“You didn’t eat-”

“Ah!” Maria jumped out of her skin, as Robin had spoken right into her ear. “Heavens above, you are the quietest person I have ever-!”

“You didn’t eat, Maria.”

“No, I refuse to eat that slop!” 

“It’s cold now, but I can ring up a servant to bring you-”

“Robin, please, I can’t eat that!”

“Why not?”

Maria crossed her arms, and when she dared look up at him, she, unfortunately, met his eyes. 

Soft and lovely, she always thought villains had cruel eyes, sharp and unyielding, it made looking up at Robin unbearable.

But, what Maria had yet to realize was just why Robin was so hard to look at. 

Looking at Robin made her heart pound, it made her tongue feel thick in her mouth, made her palms sweaty, and made her lose all thought, she could hardly argue with him in such conditions! 

Her symptoms only worsened since the day he had stolen her from her carriage. 

At first, there had been a slight stutter in her heart, a malignant palpitation she had attributed to the fact that she had been stolen. But time spent with Robin proved this to be false; it was not the adrenaline making her heart beat so fast, but Robin himself. 

When she had come face to face with the Coeur that morning in the dungeons, her heart had spiked, but calmed relatively quickly. And when she faced the other boys, Henry and Richard to be exact, her heart remained steady. 

Now, in that moment, with her sitting at the vanity, and him leaning over her shoulder, her heart was getting away from her, and she wondered if he could hear it. 

Maria had always been quick-witted, she was intelligent, and Ms. Heliotrope made sure to tell her as often as she was able. She always impressed her father’s company with how well she was able to keep up with their adult conversations. But she was rapidly losing composure whenever Robin was near, and her sharp tongue had stopped being so sharp. 

Then, were the matter of her palms, which had never acted in such an inappropriate manner before! She kept wiping them against her skirt, playing it off as if she were smoothing wrinkles, when in reality it was to dry them. 

This sickness only ever appeared in Robin’s presence. 

The disease? A simple crush. You figured that out, of course, but Maria was quite stubborn, and refused to admit to herself that she had fallen in such a way. 

Feelings were unladylike, afterall, it was best to always mean cool and calm, but how could she remain cool and calm when he was looking at her with his eyes! Such a soft expression, such a beautiful-

Maria found herself leaning forward, and stopped herself just short of making a fool of herself. She tore herself away from the vanity stool and strode over to the slim window, allowing the cool breeze to touch her face. 

She was surely going to die, her heart was going to keel over at this rate! Maria thought that would be good, a nice and easy escape to this torture. 

“It’s not that bad, Princess.” 

His voice made her skin prickle with gooseflesh! Perhaps she needed to lie down. Or kiss him.

No! Nope, no. Lying down would certainly do her wonders! 

Or even a walk outside, to get some fresh air and stretch her legs… 

“I’m quite tired, I think I’ll retire.”

“Sure.”

Maria looked over her shoulder, and he had shifted to sit against the vanity. “Leave.”

“Can’t.”

Maria’s mouth fell open. “Whatever do you mean? You don’t intend to stay here-”

“I do. You heard my father, we need to keep an eye on you.”

“I- I did not think- I need privacy!” 

“I’ll close my eyes.” 

She was close to crying again. 

Its not as if she wanted to, truely, but this was still far from an ideal situation. 

And of course, Robin caught on quite quick to her change in mood. 

After all, he had come down with the same bug. 

It can be very contagious, at times, and he just so happened to be patient zero. 

“Ah gee.” He said. “Your soup is colder than my dearly departed mother, why don't I go down and get you another bowl? Can’t go to bed on an empty stomach.”

Then, Robin picked up the bowl and marched out of the room. 

In the hallway, with the door shut between them, he cursed himself. He knew he was being foolish, since the moment he got down on his knees and picked her strawberries. He wasn’t in the right state of mind. 

He would never admit why, however. 

The De Noirs were many things: they were rude, degenerates, lawbreakers, crude, spiteful and many, many other wondrous qualities. What De Noirs were not, however, were lovesick fools. 

They let the Merryweather’s have those sticky feelings. 

It had been said that the Coeur De Noir had not shed a single tear at his first wife’s funeral, and took another bride before the mourning period was through. Then, sighed in irritation when she died not shortly after. His current consort was the newest in a long line of consorts because he aptly refused to marry any more women who would simply go off and die on him. 

His father had even told him, countless times, that once he reached a marriageable age, a betrothal would not be too far behind. 

That’s what the De Noir’s did. Fathers argued, traded chickens and goats (sometimes cows, if she were beautiful enough) and the result was the furtherance of the Clan. No messy feelings involved. 

No hammering hearts, or pounding heads, no slack-jaws or bitten lips, no weak knees, no sweaty palms, no longing stares, no love. 

But hey, maybe that’s why they were so bitter. 

Actually, no. 

From what Robin had been told about love, it was a holy feeling, the song of muses and old gods, a power that made you feel powerful, only, Robin felt anything but powerful. 

He felt a rotten mess! In utter disarray! How was this supposed to feel good? He felt awful! Sick, mostly. Each second made him more and more irritated with himself. 

Maria was no better. She knew her time was limited, but she couldn’t help but stare listlessly at the door he had disappeared though. 

It was honestly kind of pathetic. 

It’s even morally correct, when you think about it. 

He will always be the one that kidnapped her. So, whatever Maria was feeling in her heart, needed to stop. 

And, Maria reminded herself, she was far too young for such feelings! Perhaps at sixteen, the youngest she could be out in society, but that would not be for two years and a month. 

Maria shook her head, to get a hold of herself. She had only so much time, and getting undressed was bound to be tricky. 

Then, Maria paused. 

There was no one watching her. 

And, if she wanted to, she could sneak out through the tunnels.

They had given her fresh candles, and matches, so it would not be dark. But, she wouldn’t know where she was going. The tunnels twisted and turned, she had not seen it, but she felt it with each step as Robin guided her. 

When Robin returned, Maria was dressed in a plain white nightgown, brushing her hair to braid.

“Here.” He said, placing the fresh bowl next to her. “Try it. It’s not as bad as you think.”

“What’s in it?” Maria asked, leaning away from it as it stank up her air. 

“Cream, mushrooms, some other vegetables, carrots, I think. Fish. We add to it continuously. So its always changing, but those are the basics. Go on, you owe me.”

Maria looked up at him in disbelief. Of all the arrogant things to say! 

He was right, of course, but Maria was stubborn. 

“I didn’t have to leave the room, could’ve just turned my back, and who knows, maybe tomorrow I won’t be able to give you the same-” 

But whatever he was about to say was cut off, as Maria shut him up by taking the spoon and taking a mouthful. 

His face turned… earnest, and it seemed he was eager for her reaction. 

Maria had plugged her nose in a rather childish maneuver, but once it was inside of her mouth, the jarring and repugnant smell disappeared. 

And to her great disappointment, it was good. 

“It’s alright.” She shrugged, before taking another spoonful.

“Just alright? Oh no, that won’t do.” Robin smirked. “You love it. I can read it on your face.” 

Maria did the polite thing and glared at him. “You must be illiterate then.” And she took a third spoonful. 

“You can’t hide from me, Princess.”

“I can and I will!” Maria took the bowl of soup and moved away from the vanity, despite it being her only table, she successfully turned her back on Robin, and scarfed the rest of it down. 

“My my, is that the sound of a dainty princess of a glutinous beast?” 

“You have some nerve!” She cried out, wiping her chin as it dripped with cream. “If I were in London, and I met a boy like you, I’d-!” 

“You’d what?” 

Maria turned back around, and there it was again. That earnest expression that seemed so real, he almost had her convinced that he was hanging off her every word. 

“I’d set Ms. Heliotrope on you, for one thing.”

“Ooh, not Ms. Heliotrope.” He held up his hands as if in a fright. 

Maria rolled her eyes before setting the empty bowl on the vanity. “I’ve gotten enough bruises from her ruler not to take her lightly. And she’d do much worse to you!” 

“I’m sure she would, Princess. Why don’t you get some sleep?”

“Why? I’m not tired, all I’ve done is walk in circles in this little room! It's hardly enough to make one sleepy.” 

Robin shrugged, “Or, you could talk to me more.”

Maria feigned a yawn, “Goodness, it's getting so late, I must retire.” 

☾

Maria nearly screamed when she woke up.

Well, she did, she just didn’t scream as loud as she could have. 

The main problem was the boy hanging over her. It was not the boy she was thinking endlessly about (who had even snuck into her dreams) but a different boy. The crabby, sullen looking boy who Maria wanted nothing to do with.

But, of course, he had his head craned over her bed, poking her face with a rather concerned (as concerned as this boy could get) expression slightly pushing at his features. 

David had come in two hours ago, at seven, and was promptly concerned about why the Moon Princess had not yet risen. 

It was entirely the other boy’s (the one she was thinking endlessly about) fault. Despite Maria tucking herself into bed at a proper hour, and Robin settling into a corner near the door (a position that allowed him to keep an eye on Maria and both doors) to try and get as much sleep as he felt comfortable with, neither did.

They simply talked. 

Chatted. 

Conversed. 

The way two people who do not know each other, yet feel as if they have known each other all their lives do. Wait, scratch that, not two people who feel as if they have known each other already, rather, it was very much like two people who had been waiting for each other their whole lives, finally meeting in the most unexpected way imaginable. 

Neither would admit it, but they wanted to know every last detail about each other. 

When Maria did fall asleep, it was in the wee hours of the morning. 

So now, the crabby and sullen David was concerned she might have died. 

After all, it was well past the waking time for most of the De Noirs. 

When Maria screamed, David screamed. 

Maria rolled away and fell out of bed, while David jumped back and pulled his dagger. 

Which led to Robin (who, after such little sleep, had retired to his room across the hall) bursting in, only half awake. 

“Don’t kill her, David!” Robin shouted, at the same time Maria shrieked, “What is wrong with all of you!”, at the same time that David cursed out, “Jesus, I thought you were dead!”

It took several moments to get everyone calmed down, but once they did, Maria made them both leave the room so she could change. 

David began to disagree, but Robin simply pulled him along. 

“I don’t think she should be left alone-” David stated, before being cut off as Maria entered the hallway. Somehow managing to dress herself, style her hair, and accessorize in the minute Robin and David were in the hall. 

“You believe in the curse as well, I assume?” She asked David with an unamused set expression. 

“‘Course.”

“Magic Pearls? Moon Princess? Decimation of the Valley?”

“All that and more.” 

Maria sighed, “I require fresh air and sunlight.”

David cocked his head like a bird. “Sorry, what did you just say?”

Maria jutted out her chin. “A walk. Out of doors. Before I deteriorate inside.” 

“I- You- Robin!” 

Robin shrugged, his hands lifted in defeat as he turned back to his room and shut the door. 

Maria turned to walk down the hall, the long white gown trailing behind her on the stone, her boots clicking with each measured step. “Come along! Before I figure out how to escape!” 

David cursed under his breath before chasing after her. 

☾

The Coeur De Noir could practically taste the Valley. 

Soon, it would be his! He had everything: the Moon Princess, loyal minions, a Dulac. 

Well, nearly everything. 

He no longer had his most beloved daughter, or the Moon Pearls, and he feared his son would be lost, just as his daughter had been, but he did not let those things bring him down! The Destruction of the MErryweathers was close at hand! And he would have a front row seat for the closing act!

He was flying Odile, sending her out and back again so she could spread her wings when he heard her voice again. 

Her voice. 

The Moon Princess.

Who was supposed to be locked up!

The Coeur turned around just in time to see Maria and the young DuBois boy strolling - strolling! - through the courtyard. 

Odile screeched just in time for the Coeur to raise his arm for her to land on. 

Then, he watched as his son ran to catch up to them both. It was clear he had just risen as he wasn’t even wearing his hat or any of his scarves. (Three, the boy wore three scarves, and while he had told him that was too many scarves, the boy was at that age where he just refused to listen to sense!) 

Well, he would put an end to this!

“Good morrow, Princess!” He shouted, when he was a few steps behind them, he was hoping to startle her, but to his surprise, it was the boys who jumped. 

The Moon Princess simply turned back around and curtsied to him. “Le Coeur.”

Oh! Her accent was perfect. 

That was besides the point. 

“It’s a lovely morning, sir, and I decided to take a walk.”

“You decided?” He asked, almost- amused. 

Maria nodded shallowly. “Your accommodations are much more suitable now, but as the room is little more than a stone box; I found I lacked for air.”

“Oh, and we can’t have you lacking for anything!” He said, his voice a false sincerity. 

“Sir, if I may?” And Maria stepped forward, despite the boy’s efforts to hold her back. 

“Please.” The Coeur, curious as to what she had to say.

“I do not think you and your lot are particularly good kidnappers, or guards for that matter.” 

The Couer stopped himself from chuckling, but a faint smile rose on his mouth. Hopefully, his beard was enough to hide it. “No?”

“No, sir, I doubt very much that you have ever done this before.”

Then, he did chuckle. “You would be correct in your assumption. Tell me, how did you come to such a conclusion?”

He began to walk forward, and Maria took her cue to walk with him. 

“For one, my hands were tied in front of me, rather than behind my back. Second-”

His son and the DuBois boy trailed behind him, and he could feel their nervous energy. The Coeur fed off it, enjoying their discomfort more than anything, but at the same time, he could not help but feel the young lady’s gravitational pull. 

Perhaps, because of her predicament, she felt she no longer had to grace them with kindness and consideration, as the Coeur knew most ladies restricted themselves to. She was haughty, defiant, rude, and had no issue complaining to him about how he ran his castle. 

“-they looked at me as if I were insane! But, I would expect a servant would know how to dust the high ceilings! My father’s servants certainly knew how to complete their duties without issue.” She held her chin high, and kept her eyes forward, her steps were not too quick, and he had slowed to match her. She was a small little thing, but she reminded him so much of his late wife, he could not help but feel sentimental. 

“Lads,” He said after a moment, “I am sure you have something more important to do other than dawdle.” 

The Coeur watched as both Robin and David’s eyes widened. 

“Sir, I’m watching over the Princess-”

“Yes, I have it handled, now go! Make yourselves useful.” He dismissed them, and turned back to Maria as if nothing had happened. “Do go on, my dear.”

Maria smiled and did just as he instructed. “I suppose I could tell you how you ought to improve, but that would only make me suffer more, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it would. Princess, why don’t you come with me?” He said, before turning sharply and returning to the castle. 

“Oh, I was not ready to return to my quarters-”

“No, no, my dear, I have something else to show you.”

Maria gave him a discerning look, before she nodded. Then, the Coeur De Noir offered her his arm, and she took it. 

Once inside, the Coeur led her to a small room that had been added decades before. 

While the Castle was falling apart, this had been the Coeur De Noir’s attempt to make it more livable for his wife. 

His second wife.

The one he loved. 

His first wife had been an arrangement. Just as all Coeur’s are tasked to find a wife before the age of twenty-five, his father had found him a suitable partner. 

But, she was not the woman he had loved. 

“Princess, if I may tell you a story?”

Maria sighed, “I have heard enough fairytales to last me a lifetime.”

“Oh no! This one is true, I promise.”

Maria’s head whipped around to his and an odd look grew on her face. “Very well.”

“You may think me very old to have a son as young as I do.”

Maria shook her head, “No, sir, I know many old men with young brides.” 

The Coeur laughed, as she had said it with such disdain. “My first wife, I took as a young man, and she produced for me a beautiful daughter.”

“Loveday?”

The Coeur froze, but cleared his throat. “Yes.”

“Did she pass?”

The Coeur’s eyes fell to the floor rather shamefully. No, she was not dead, but there was no hope that he would ever see her again, so she may as well have been. “As you may well know, I need a son to one day lead the De Noir Clan.”

The Coeur paused before a wooden door, the iron wrought with his own hands, the door carved with ivy he had carved himself. He watched as Maria’s eyes devoured the door, and he smiled, just as his lovely Jenny Wren had. 

He opened the door and ushered her inside the barely used greenhouse.

It was kept, yes, but rarely used. Just by himself and Robin. 

Maria gasped, and her hand fell away from his arm. She walked in and brushed her hands against the many blooming plants, smelling roses and admiring the fountain.

“When my first wife passed, I took a second.” The Coeur sat down on the bench before the fountain. “She was the daughter of the trapper, and had not taken a husband. She had grown old, past a marriageable age, and took on her father’s business when he himself became decrepit.”

Maria turned, her hands behind her back, as she gave him her attention. It was rather sweet, and the Coeur recognized the return of the London Lady. And the fact that Maria was, perhaps, showing him some respect. “She was my childhood sweetheart, I loved her, but she was not my chosen bride, as her status was too low.”

“So, you married her after the passing of your first wife?”

The Coeur smiled and nodded. 

“How? If she was still only a lowly trapper. And a spinster!” 

The Coeur laughed. “My father had passed, leaving me Coeur, and I was able to do whatever I wanted.” 

Maria grinned. 

“I built her this green house as a courting gift. She was pregnant within the first year of our marriage, but she did not survive the birth.”

Maria’s grin faded, and she came to sit beside him. 

The Coeur was old, and not used to pity, but he accepted it from her. 

“That must have been terribly hard on you.” Maria said.

“It was.” The Coeur patted her hand. “But, she gave me my son, and I never took another wife.”

Maria looked back out to the greenhouse, the revelation opened her eyes and she took it with a fresh perspective. 

The Coeur told her many more stories about his wife, and the relationship they had kept over the years, the secret letters, the acceptance that they would never marry. The guilt he felt when his first wife passed and he felt nothing but joy. 

It was perhaps not the afternoon he should have spent. Talking with a prisoner - she was right, they were terrible at this - and showing her the parts of his heart that were still bleeding and red, and not charred and blackened, but he did. 

☾

Maria’s days began to dissolve into each other. 

She woke to David, who was traded out for Henry, and then Richard. She was able to bully David into taking her wherever she wanted in the Castle. She had since discovered a library, the kitchens, the grand hall (where the Coeur De Noir invited her to sit with them at lunch), a grand ballroom, and a music room. No matter where she was, the boys were always on time for their rotations, and she found she didn’t quite mind them. David was sharp and clever, and could keep up with her intellectual remarks. Henry was kind, and easy to trick, all she had to do was pout, and she had him wrapped around her finger. Richard was all talk, and all Maria had to do was talk bigger, and it seemed he liked to get in a spot of trouble every now and then. 

Robin came at night, with stew, or strawberries, or fresh greens, or bread. He left her alone for fifteen minutes to change for the night, and when he returned she was settled between her sheets. He settled in for the night as well, but each day he inched closer and closer until he was right beside her bed, just a hair’s width away. 

From there, they talked and talked and talked until their throats were dry. 

The Coeur De Noir, when he was able, took a shine to Maria, and led her around the Castle, showing the tapestries, the broken stained-glass windows that once displayed their proud history, and the hall of portraits of all the Coeurs and their families. 

Maria had argued with the cook about the smell of the stew, she made sure at least two maids returned to her room by the end of the week to clean it once more, she had even gone toe to toe with Dulac about how he shouldn’t bring a loaded pistol inside. 

And soon, it was the end of July, and August came creeping in. 

[garlic-sauc3]

You made an oc list? 👀 (Unless I'm remembering incorrectly, in which case, disregard this)

ocs I made/used in a school assignment that i still love:

Francis Arson George A.K.A. Gasoline (teamed up with Gabriel Arson Young A.K.A. The Gaslighter) has fire powers(they're fire proof too), loves to gaslight people, cool fire themed outfit (not fireproof), fire mohawk

Vahm Pyre. is a vampire, also a murderer, set in the future, hes a silly guy; fun at parties

Michael Weethabee. noir detective, paranoid, has been afraid of insects his whole life, hates vampires, low key gay, also set in the future. kind of obsessed with vahm tbh

William W. Williams. dystopian steampunk past. has a prosthetic arm. kind of a loner. HATES government he is so happy living like right next to a little commune. hes kind of a snarky bitch.

AfN characters:

Hero Hart. villain, silly little guy, yet to come up with proper name or costume for him (head in hands), he does the dean winchester mugshot face in his mugshots, had strict parents, electric powers. also fun at parties. sees the good in the world once he and hunter get together, once hunter dies he goes a bit apeshit and goes after nightingale on lure vengeance

Hunter Stillwell A.K.A. Brimstone. Has brimstone canary wings. hero. fights hero. hes a bit strict but loosens up around hero. he thinks hero is really sexy with a bloody nose (he gave it to him), dies. canary in the coal mine esque

Thea S. (I forgor her last name) A.K.A. Nightingale. power is to sing and command people with her song. she likes to manipulate people. everybody hates her. god forbid women do anything. I should make her a girlfriend.

silly little ocs:

eddie :). racka sheep dude. any pronouns. loves wearing fancy clothes. does not understand gender or love but she does love clothes. he thinks ita the greatest thing humans have ever done. they're a big fucking asshole and are god.

nameless oc. head is an E-Z Sketch (etch a sketch). wears a big knit red sweater with a plaid heart sewed on. is mute, does sign language. everytime they want a different face they have to vigorously shake their head and redraw it. has glasses

[princess-of-the-corner]

The Butterfly Miraculous

The Butterfly Miraculous, a wondrous sight, A symbol of power, a beacon of light. With its abilities, it can transform, The impossible made possible, it can perform.

The power to create, the power to heal, The Butterfly Miraculous, a gift that's real. With a flick of the wrist, a wave of the hand, A new reality, it can command.

The power of transformation, a sight to see, With wings and grace, a butterfly is set free. The world opens up, new possibilities arise, With the Butterfly Miraculous, it's no surprise.

But with great power, comes great responsibility, The Butterfly Miraculous, a force of humility. To use its powers for good, to protect and defend, That's the duty of the Miraculous in the end.

So let the Butterfly Miraculous shine, A symbol of hope, a power divine. With Ladybug and Chat Noir by its side, Paris is safe, and peace will abide.

Inch resting!

[kathyprior4200]

Miraculous Reverse: Tales of Lady Misfortune and Dog Blanc

Characters:

Lady Misfortune a.k.a. reverse Marinette. In this universe, Marinette doesn’t care about fashion, or Adrien. She loves sports, rock music, and goth looks. But that’s not what made her evil. She was best friends with Chloe but jealous of her wealth and kind nature, she soon brushed her aside. Her neglectful parents wanted her to be a rich fashion designer, but she cared not for girly things. That also didn’t make her evil. She did start bullying her classmates though. It wasn’t until she discovered a mysterious pair of black earrings with red spots on them did her curiosity peak…and a note next to it. “I have witnessed your evil deeds and invite you to join me. Take these earrings and meet me at my lair at 3AM. Follow my commands and you’ll obtain powers and wealth beyond your wildest dreams. -The Supreme.” Oh, what a foolish move! She and Adrien are now supervillains under his control, hurting any person who doesn’t consider him a god. Bringing bad luck to her enemies, she calls herself Lady Misfortune! (“Ikkit, Circles On!” “Unlucky Charm!”) She and reverse Cat Noir are always arguing.

Dog Blanc a.k.a. reverse Adrien. In this universe, Adrien was born from the jealousy of his mother Emilie. Colt Fathom wasn’t abusive this time, in fact he was a nice father to Felix who respected his wishes. It was his wife Amelie Graham de Vanily who saw Felix as a mere tool, a servant, a monster. She had used the peacock miraculous to birth him just for the sake of having an heir. Emilie wasn’t much better…she followed the rules and wanted to marry rich. She was jealous of Amelie since she had a kid already. She moved to France hoping to return to London with a wealthy spouse. Enter the kind-hearted baker Gabriel who somehow won her heart. Gabriel helped Emilie give birth to Adrien using the peacock miraculous. But when the Supreme took over Paris, Gabriel vowed to stop him, creating a resistance of superheroes to fight off his cult of villains. To keep his son safe, he disappeared from the mansion. Emilie then treated Adrien like the original Gabriel did…as nothing more than a pawn and a monster…which is what he actually was. Adrien never got over losing his father and being bossed around by his fashionista mother. When Adrien saw a note and a mysterious ring in a box, he knew how to escape. Now as a supervillain of destruction thanks to his antikwami, he calls himself…Dog Blanc! (“Gglap, knives out/in!” Doggone Destruction!”) He and reverse Ladybug are always arguing.

Butterfly a.k.a. Gabriel Agreste. Think he’s still an abusive father to Adrien? Not this time. This Gabriel is a superhero who uses the moth brooch to train and create a crew of superheroes to help save Paris from the Supreme’s supervillain army. Unlike the original, losing Emilie hasn’t bothered him too much…but he misses his son dearly, wondering where he has gone. Fearing he’s already in the clutches of the Supreme, he enlists the help of Chloe/Queen Bee, Lila/Volpina, Felix/Argos and several other individuals to try and destroy the antikwamis and defeat the villains. (“Nooroo, light wings rise!” “Fly my little Kimiko and purify the goodness in their heart!”) The Supreme sends out his minions to recapture the butterfly, peacock, bee etc. miraculouses because Gabriel had stolen them from him.

Mayura a.k.a. Natalie – assistant to Emilie, former holder of the peacock miraculous. She is lazy and doesn’t seem to care much for Adrien, only fulfilling Emilie’s duties. She is torn between working for Gabriel, assisting Emilie in her plans…or delving deeper into Adrien’s work for the Supreme. (“Duusu, spread my feathers!”)

Argos a.k.a. Felix. Adrien’s twin cousin. He is the holder of the peacock miraculous. Like the original, he and Adrien want sentimonsters like themselves to be free from the abusive adults, to be treated the same as any normal human being. Unfortunately, Adrien, not the original more passive twin, turned to the dark side. But Felix never gives up. He teams up with his friendly father Colt Graham, Chloe, Lila, Gabriel, Tomoe, and many others to try and stop the Supreme. But what do his aunt and mother have planned for the world?

The Supreme a.k.a. reverse Master Fu. Like the original Fu, he was taken in at a young age many years ago to be the Guardian of the Miraculouses and perform tasks he didn’t like such as cleaning, meditation for long periods of time, devotion etc. He created a sentimonster Feast who gave him food, but also caused the destruction of the temple. But instead of taking responsibility for his mistake, he believed that the Guardian system was boring and restricting. And the miraculous kwamis…such powers they possessed! Soon enough, he possessed nearly all the powers (like original Hawkmoth) using them to make him rich and powerful in Paris and nearly the whole world. To keep the masses in obedient fear (think North Korea tyranny), he recruited teenagers to go out and do crimes, harming anyone who might turn against him, knowing their youthful nature would create more chaos to their minds and bodies. He also corrupted the kwamis with powerful dark magic, making them antikwamis and turning people into villains, imprisoning the rest with his Turtle miraculous! He sends his minions after Gabriel because he stole some of the miraculous from him. In “Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir,” the Supreme could’ve been Hitler or someone who was chasing Fu and his lady partner.

Queen Bee a.k.a. Chloe – don’t worry, she’s not a snobbish bully in this universe. She is one of the kindest people you’ll meet, despite being rich. She used to be friends with Marinette until she was bullied by her. Chloe becomes the Queen Bee superhero, no Zoe replacement here! In fact, she becomes the “Ladybug” of the group (Felix is the “Adrien”) Kagami is the “Alya.” Sabrina teams up as well. (“Pollen, Buzz On!” “Venom!” “Miraculous Queen Bee!”) Chloe, once the most hated character now has Ladybug’s power to repair and restore things back to normal.

Volpina a.k.a. Lila – Lila always tells the truth in this universe, but that doesn’t mean she can’t whip up some illusions! She is also known as Caseire…chosen by Gabriel/Butterfly to be the next holder of the Moth Brooch and save the world! For now, she uses the Fox miraculous. (“Trixx, Let’s Bounce!” “Mirage!”)

Hound a.k.a. Sabrina – Sabrina is still friends with Chloe and uses the Dog miraculous…although this time, she insists on being the leader over Chloe…which often leads to problems during heroic missions! (“Barrk, Go Fetch!”)

[hale-of-stiles-heart]

emaline, stature. for some reason i picture her as short but with a commanding presence, now im wondering if my impression lines up with reality

stature: What's your OC's body type? How tall are they? Do they wear clothing to accentuate their look or do they try to mask it?

I actually tend to imagine Emaline as taller than average! For the fae in IoC, I imagine them as taller on average than humans, especially the reigning queens of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts because they're High Fae; which also applies to Emaline because she's descended from the original queen of the Unseelie Court! I tend to picture her as around 5'8'', maaaaybe 5'10'' because I really like the idea of being on a lot of human men's level physically as well as ability-wise

Her height's emphasized by her being slim, but still clearly strong, broad shoulders, very striking wings, with a very commanding presence that tends to rub people the wrong way, with a lot of people interpreting it more as cockiness than just this air she inherently has, this magnetic quality she has without trying; at times even trying to not be so magnetic!

She wears lots of dark clothes, shades of black with accents of white, lots of suit-adjacent outfits. Her original inspiration is noir detectives but it's gaslamp fantasy England-inspired so societal conventions keep her dressing somewhat feminine. I imagine her in lots of dress shirts and suit jackets with simple long black skirts but functional boots, black trenchcoats and her hair always up in a tight bun, almost militantly dedicated to always looking professional because it'd be detrimental work-wise if she wasn't!

Overall, I kinda envision her wardrobe as very evenly set between feminine and masculine if that makes sense, very staid and serious!

Also! For IoC, in fae culture, ear piercing types and placement mean different things so for different life stages and accomplishments there's specific piercings/placements to signify that! Emaline is part of the first generation to not be born and raised in the fae's ancestral land but she's very diligent about honoring the custom, so she's got the specific piercings, all of hers in silver jewelry!

oc asks: character design edition

[akishyff]

Miraculous: Tales of Heroics (The Class) (BNHA AU)

Heroics Training Class Alpha (Collège Françoise Dupont)

Teacher: Caline Bustier

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 36

Registered Relatives: Giséle Rosier (Wife, Quirk: N/A), Harmonie Rosier (Daughter, Quirk: YTBD)

Hero Name: The Loving Hero, Heartner

Hero Ranking: No. 73

Quirk: Air Kiss

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can project heart-shaped projectiles using a ‘blown kiss’ gesture. Upon making contact with a living being, the projectile will induce a feeling of ‘lazy happiness’, rendering the target docile.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 15

Registered Relatives: Tom Dupain (Father, Quirk: Green Thumb), Sabine Cheng (Mother, Quirk: Gust), Rolland Dupain (Grandfather, Quirk: Hand Warmer), Gina Dupain (Grandmother, Quirk: Ripen), Wang Cheng (Quirk: N/A)

Hero Name: The Creative Hero, Ladybug

Quirk: Lucky Charm, Loveliness

Classification: E-Type Emitter (both)

Recorded Capabilities: Can conjure somewhat-random objects, large enough to hold in a single hand, but can direct the generation towards the object serving a specific purpose- ie, ‘a weapon’, ‘something to turn off the lights with’, etc. With the enhancement offered by Loveliness, can generate much larger objects, and can repair perceived damages to non-conjured objects. Conjured objects are normally red in colour, gaining patterns of black spots upon receiving Loveliness, and similar colouration and patterning are present on Loveliness-derived ‘repairs’.

NOTE: Due to lack of similarity between genetic Quirk heritage and subject’s birth Quirk, it has been designated a Class-A Anomaly.

Adrien Agreste

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Gabriel Agreste (Father, Quirk: N/A), Emilie Agreste (Mother, Quirk: Energy Well), Amelie Graham de Vanily (Aunt, Quirk: Battery), Félix Graham de Vanily (Quirk: Energy Manipulation)

Hero Name: The Destructive Hero, Chat Noir

Quirk: Cataclysm

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Constantly generates/maintains a buildup of energy in his right hand. Can release this energy into anything he touches with this hand, causing it to crumble to ashes at maximum strength. A five-minute recharge period is required to release maximum power.

Alya Cesaire

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Marlena Cesaire (Mother, Quirk: Static Electricity), Otis Cesaire (Father, Quirk: Animorph), Nora Cesaire (Sister, Quirk: Spider), Ella Cesaire (Sister, Quirk: YTBD), Etta Cesaire (Sister, Quirk: YTBD)

Hero Name: The Connected Hero, Lady Wi-Fi

Quirk: Transmission

Classification: A-Type Transformative

Recorded Capabilities: Can take on a form made of purple electricity, possessing enhanced speed and other associated abilities. When in this form, can shapeshift with relative freedom, and can enter and ‘possess’ electronic devices.

Nino Lahiffe

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Jasmine Lahiffe (Mother, Quirk: Soap Generation), Noelle Lahiffe (Mother, Quirk: Snowdrift), Chris Lahiffe (Brother, Quirk: Snowdrift)

Hero Name: The Foam Hero, Bubbler

Quirk: Bubbles

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can generate bubbles, with a variety of effects (explosive, capture, slippery, etc) and can manipulate the durability of those bubbles.

Chloé Bourgeois

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: André Bourgeois (Father, Quirk: Wasp), Audrey Bourgeois (Mother, Quirk: Golden Touch), Zoé Lee (Half-sister, Quirk: Radiance)

Hero Name: The Regal Hero, Queen Bee

Quirk: Yellowjacket

Classification: M-Type Mutation

Recorded Capabilities: Has features derived from a yellowjacket, such as wings and retractable stingers in her wrists. Stingers are capable of delivering a paralytic venom that immobilises any living being she stings for a maximum of half an hour with a full-strength dose. When under the effects of Akuma, the resultant enhancement to her mutation allows her to mentally command a swarm of wasps that carry the same paralytic venom.

Juleka Couffaine

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 15

Registered Relatives: Anarka Couffaine (Mother, Quirk: N/A), Luka Couffaine (Brother, Quirk: Rhythm)

Hero Name: The Sonorous Hero, Banshee

Quirk: Outcry

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can unleash a sonic scream of varying levels of strength and volume. When under the effects of Akuma, can produce powerful shockwaves from her hands as well.

Rose Lavillant

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 15

Registered Relatives: Mason Lavillaint (Father, Quirk: Caffeination), Antoine Lavilaint (Father, Quirk: Fog Machine)

Hero Name: The Aromatic Hero, Princess Fragrance

Quirk: Perfume

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can generate clouds of perfume in various colours that have a variety of effects, such as knocking people out, exploding when exposed to a spark, altering the way people smell, causing them to hallucinate, etcetera. 

Alix Kubdel

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 15

Registered Relatives: Alim Kubdel (Father, Quirk: Speed-Reader), Talia Kubdel (Mother, Quirk: Contortionist), Jalil Kubdel (Brother, Quirk: Speed-Reader)

Hero Name: The Swift Hero, Ace Blader

Quirk: Lightspeed

Classification: I-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can move at high speeds, with her speed increasing the longer she is in motion. Quirk is consciously activated, which is signified by sparks of blue and white lightning manifesting around the subject’s body.

Lê Chien Kim Ature

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Nazaire Ature (Father, Quirk: Dexterity), Lê Lý (Father, Quirk: Furnace)

Hero Name: The Jubilant Hero, King Monkey

Quirk: Monkey

Classification: L-Type Mutation

Recorded Capabilities: Has features and capabilities associated with various species of monkey, including a long prehensile tail, prehensile feet, enhanced strength, speed, and agility, and unusually sharp teeth. A potential psychological element is suggested in that the subject rather enjoys climbing walls, trees and the like, and has a positive disposition towards bananas, but it is entirely possible that these are simply aspects of the subject’s typical behavior and have nothing to do with his Quirk.

Max Kanté

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Claudie Kanté (Quirk: N/A)

Hero Name: The Rift Hero, Pegasus

Quirk: Portal

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can create portals. Has a range limit yet to be determined due to audible distress from the subject when attempting to test it. Portals function as an ‘open doorway’- they must be walked through, and objects travelling through maintain their velocity. Precise coordinates are necessary for a successful portal creation.

Ivan Bruel

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Jacob Bruel (Father, Quirk: Cooldown), Anita Bruel (Quirk: Speaker System), Melissa Bruel (Quirk: Wall-Crawl)

Hero Name: The Immovable Hero, Minotaur

Quirk: Ox

Classification: M-Type Mutation

Recorded Capabilities: Has features derived from an ox, including large horns, a tail, and fur along his limbs. Possesses superhuman strength, durability, and stamina. When under the effects of Akuma, subject’s strength is increased and his ability to feel pain is lessened, at the cost of enhanced aggression.

Mylene Haprele

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Fred Haprele (Father, Quirk: Mime)

Hero Name: The Small Steps Hero, Petite Souris

Quirk: Sizeshifter

Classification: U-Type Transformative

Recorded Capabilities: The subject can freely alter the size of her body, with her lower limit being approximately an inch tall, and her upper limit being approximately nine metres. Subject demonstrates enhanced strength and durability whenever her Quirk is activated, which proportionately increases with her increase or decrease in height.

Nathaniel Kurtzberg

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 15

Registered Relatives: Danielle Kurtzberg (Mother, Quirk: Projector), Aaron Kurtzberg (Father, Quirk: Colour Change)

Hero Name: The Passionate Hero, Illustrator

Quirk: Sketch

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can pull drawings and artwork that he has created off of the surface he has created them on, and can animate and control them once bringing them into reality. The subject has been able to create objects larger than he originally drew them. When under the effects of Akuma, the subject can directly draw objects into reality without need for a surface to draw them on.

Sabrina Raincomprix

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Roger Raincomprix (Father, Quirk: Armor), Karina Cartier (Mother, Quirk: Magnetism)

Hero Name: The Confiscation Hero, Deputy

Quirk: Pull

Classification: E-Type Emitter

Recorded Capabilities: Can telekinetically pull any object in her line of sight towards her. Cannot halt the force of the pull until the object has reached her, and cannot effectively pull any object anchored into the ground.

Lila Rossi

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 16

Registered Relatives: Amara Rossi (Mother, Quirk: Empath), Priscilla Rossi (Mother, Quirk: Material Absorption), Diana Rossi (Mother, Quirk: N/A)

Hero Name: The Exquisite Hero, Nonpareil

Quirk: Flight Mimicry

Classification: I-Type Emitter U-Type Transformative-Emitter hybrid

Recorded Capabilities: Is capable of controlled levitation at high speeds, possessing an aerodynamic barrier that shields her from heat, cold and impacts, which allows her to wield pseudo super-strength Can copy the Quirk of any person she makes contact with. She can wield this copied Quirk seemingly indefinitely, but can only copy one Quirk at a time. Copies the Quirk Factor at its base level, independent of any training the original user might have carried out. When under the effects of Akuma, she can copy multiple Quirks, but can still only use one at a time.

NOTE: Due to her willingness to harm fellow classmates and her committing of villainous actions of her own free will, Lila Rossi has been expelled.

[bluemooncove]

"Have you heard? They say they've found a calling card. The symbol of the red wolf."

"Red wolf?"

"What are you two prattling on about?"

"Commander?"

"Commander!?"

"At ease. Private, explain this wolf!"

She was outside Chateau du Noire. How nice it was to return to be back in her homeland for a job. The Sallyport had been unmanned, seemed castles this far from the border didn't feel the need to secure them. Had the aristocracy gotten sloppy or just cheap? Didn't matter, the door proved easy enough to jimmy open. Thankfully she hadn't needed to use the sluice gate. Would be soaking wet now.

"Oh, I'm sorry I forgot you weren't locals. There have been legends of the wolves for over a century. A master thief that passes his name down each generation."

Through the shadows of the courtyard she crept. Only two guards seemed to cover this entire area. In the gloom of the night it was easy enough to slip by both unnoticed. Before long she was pressed against the wall of the chateau. Taking a step away, Phantom swung a grapnel and tossed it to the roof.

"Surely you don't believe in fairy tales."

"This is real! They say that an emperor of Gale once hired the Gold Wolf to steal the crown of his rival! Straight out of his throne room! While he was wearing it!"

The grapnel had stuck onto one of the crenulations. The rope was pulled tight and fashioned to a piton. Her climb up was slow, methodical, and silent as the grave but it did not take long to reach the battlements. The intruder sliced the rope and returned the grapnel to the pouch it had come from.

"They say he wasn't just a master of stealth but a master of disguise and a master acrobatic. The Wolf could get in anywhere."

There was a duct near the ceiling in the room's corner. The kind of thing designed to let air flow between the chateau's rooms. Typically they weren't all that large. This one was a tad larger than average, probably a design flaw, maybe a sign of opulence. It was still too small for most but it was only a few feet to clear, no need to crawl through it. There was no question that the successor of the wolves could twist through it.

"Suppose this phantom were real, the calling card must be a prank from a junior officer. There's nothing in this castle worth taking. She'll find no treasure here."

"Ma'am that's not true! You're only thinking of treasure but that's too small. Information is just as valuable. All the data on the JOHANNA project is stored here ..."

"Yes but they've moved Johanna to Chateau du Rouge!"

She dropped into the next room like a pin. An office of some sort. A woman was checking over her uniform in the office's long mirror. Creeping up on her was the only option. Just had to pray she was too transfixed with her uniform to noticed the woman making her way to her. It was just as Phantom was about to grab her that the woman's eyes went wide. She tried to swirl around just as Phantom was about to pounce. The pair soon found themselves tussling on the ground.

"The research is valuable on it's own. It's why I moved all the documents to the safe after we received the card."

"You gathered up all the documents yourself?"

"Huh? Yes I did! Why?"

"What if you're the phantom, huh? Give me the password now! I'm checking the safe!"

The scrap was over soon. Phantom dusted herself off and exited the room in a snazzy new uniform. The lady was not seriously harmed, just tied up and shoved beneath her desk. Was it a risk to leave her like that? Maybe but Phantom care for unnecessary casualties. It hadn't been the way of her great grandfather.

"No way I'm not giving you the password! You could be the wolf!"

"You said that he's a man!"

"If he's a master of disguise passing as you shouldn't be a problem!"

"Enough! You'll open the safe for me."

The door flew open just as the safe did. Suddenly an officer from the east wing was shouting to the others!

"Sound the alarms now! Commander Margot's been attacked!"

To the guards in the room it would take a moment to process those words. Even the soldier at the door gasped at the sight of the commander. Phantom had been prepared. In the brief window of surprise her wheelock had been drawn and fired. A lead ball struck the shoulder of the interrupting guard, sending them tumbling back through the doorway.

These next few moments would prove the most critical of the entire mission. Seeing their companion go down an understanding seemed to come over the two guards. The one opening the safe moved to close it. Had to act fast! The other rushed her with saber drawn. Phantom sidestepped the attack, the blade instead found itself caught in the path of the safe's door. Phantom kicked it, sticking the safe slightly open and the blade trapped.

The first guard was charging her now. With the short distance between them he hadn't the time to drawn his own saber. He threw his entire weight into a tackle charge. Phantom brought her wheellock down. It met with his face with a crack! Probably the sound of the device's mechanisms breaking but it was at least enough to take him down.

It was then that the last guard successfully tackled her. With her blade trapped she simply threw herself and Phantom to the floor. The other managed to land a good punch, bruising the area around her eye, before Phantom managed to kick the guard off her. The woman was only away for a few seconds but it was time enough for Phantom to draw the saber of her uniform. The guard had been charging her but halted at the sight of the blade. Both were at a disadvantage now. Phantom was still on her back upon the floor while the other was unarmed. Gears seemed to spin in the woman's mind as she assessed the situation before turning and running out of the room. Likely to sound the alarm gongs. Time was precious now.

Phantom rose back to her feet, A few droplets of blood fell to the floor. Seems that punch was a bit harder than she thought. It had broken skin. A problem for later. Phantom swaggered across the room to the safe and used the locked in blade to pry it open. The weapon shattered in the process.

There it was, exactly what she was looking for. All the information on JOHANNA that the guild could possibly want. Beauty herself was probably going to have a field day with all this. She quickly stuffed all of the documents into a set of scroll cases she brought along for this exact purpose.

"Next stop Chateau Rouge"

「Phantom has joined the party」

[mobijeuxatelecharger]

La Salle d'Arcade Star Wars : expérience la saga culte sur Mobijeux

La Salle d’Arcade Star Wars sur Mobijeux offre une expérience immersive où tu prends les commandes du légendaire Luke Skywalker, alias “Red Five”, dans un chasseur X-Wing. Dans ce jeu d’arcade captivant, tu t’engages dans des batailles palpitantes dans une perspective à la première personne. Ton défi ultime ? Détruire l’Étoile Noire en passant par trois phases d’attaque explosives. Affronte Dark…

[biblioflyer]

Another smart, well thought out episode? Its a Federation day miracle! Picard s3e5 reaction.

Long time readers (like a week or two) will note that I've been laying out a thesis that Picard, the character, as portrayed in Picard, the series, is the sort of archetypal elder officer whose hobby is taking brash misfits under his wing and making proper soldiers explorers out of them. With this episode, I feel validated but I also have to eat some humble pie.

I even made the analogy to William Adama and his relationship with Kara Thrace. Which leads to Admiral Cain which leads back to Ro Laren. Who was staring me right in the face as among the earliest examples of Picard offering second chances and exercising his patience to try to help broken people take their time adjusting to Starfleet.

So I'll say it louder for the cranky old Trekkers in the back: angry, abrasive, and insubordinate officers do have a place in Starfleet, or at least they have a place in Picard's command. They may not have a place somewhere else, but the list just keeps getting longer the more I think about it and Raffi becomes a character archetype that has ever deepening roots in Star Trek the more that we tug at this thread.

Speaking of which, the Worf - Raffi buddy cop movie that's playing out once more delivers the one two punch of mirth and noir drama that delights me. One or both of them needs to deliver a personal log in black and white while it rains before this season is over. I really would like to hear Michael Dorn say "Its elementary my dear Rafaela."

The reveal that Ro Laren was Worf's handler was also an intriguing plot development. I wish she'd stuck around longer. It almost feels like another repeat of how Hugh was treated but at least Ro (and the audience) got something meatier for their trouble. The revelation that there's a new strain of Changelings out there who can simulate organs and pass blood tests also nicely explains why they were able to evade detection on Titan and why they're so.....gross...when they assume their goo form. Its not merely a dubious choice to update the FX, its plot relevant. I like that. I like that a lot.

I did find it more than a little expedient that even after seeing the Romulans get screwed over and the rise of the Fenris Rangers, Picard still would be seething with anger over the Maquis and Ro's defection. Picard spent all of season one having to operate outside of Starfleet's remit because it was demonstrably in the wrong and had to be forced to recognize that it had bungled the entire response to Mars and Synths.

Also, that we've got another season where the metaplot is that the Federation has infiltrated at the highest levels by bad actors is a bit on the nose. Its more than a little reminiscent of Discovery's addiction to escalating crises. Based on the way things are going, I feel more confident that Picard Season Three will pull its story off in a compelling way, but it is a little irksome that both metaplot driven Star Trek shows have become a little too reliant on this story outline.

We also haven't had many beats that show Jack and Bevery's relationship but the beats we've had, have been really solid and this episode was no exception. He's growing on me and I'm actually kind of surprised that as much complaining as I did that this creates more than a little friction in how I see Jean luc and Beverly, I almost wish that the surprise reveal about his origin being telegraphed again is a red herring.

I'm aware that subtitles on specific platforms may have revealed the name of the individual speaking to Jack in his visions, I have not looked into this at all and am staying away from that.

The game, my Dear Rafaela, is afoot.....