Hi everyone!!  SylveonKwami here.

Before we start, I have some news regarding this book.

You might be aware that this story is going to finish soon.  Because it is one of my oldest on-going books right now, it is at the top priority of my update list- meaning, this book should finish by the end of June to early July.  I am beginning to run out of inspiration for it, and I want to write down as much as I can before it runs out.

But, this shouldn't be the last Miraculous content you have from me!!  In fact, there will be a Miraculous OC book coming out from me later this year- the Protectors of the Balance Series (though now I'm debating changing it from a series to just a really long stand-alone book XD).  

Sorry this before-chapter A/N was so long.  And I know I keep saying this, but this is 100% true this time- there will be some exciting stuff coming up next chapter, and this chapter too.

OKAY OKAY, I'm gonna stop talking now.  Let's start!!  Enjoy ^^

Marinette

Marinette herself still wasn't fully okay with what happened yesterday between herself, Adrien, and their classmates.  She knew full-well that she was not going to be attending school today, and quite possibly Friday as well.  In fact, she didn't want to see any of them again.  Especially Alya... the way that she'd just betrayed her and acted like some villainess was not the Alya she knew and loved.  

She'd woken up early and had made the four of them a good breakfast- at least, in her opinion it was.  All Plagg ate was the cheese platter she'd prepared for him, and Tikki ate most of the sweet breakfast pasteries she'd baked.  And since Adrien couldn't eat much, it was mainly her who ate everything.  She was fine with it- a full stomach was key to getting through the day properly.  

Right now, she was on the way to Master Fu's place.  Well, she, Adrien, Plagg, and Tikki were on their way there- they all were.  Adrien sat on her shoulder, and she just hoped her hair shielded him from any prying citizens.  Plagg and Tikki were in her bag of course.  Although she normally had a happy expression on her face when she walked down the Parisian streets, she wore a serious, formal one today; she knew deep down inside that there was going to be some kind of conflict today.  Call it her Ladybug instinct, but she knew.  She had already told everyone to be on their guard because of it.  

"Marinette."

Marinette nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard a voice from behind her speak her name.  Warily, she turned, and it was none other than Alya and Nino.  Both of them wore her serious expression, and for a couple moments, it was just the three of them, silently facing off on the street.

"Marinette, we need to talk," Nino said.  "We need to talk now."

"Marinette I know you're in no mood to listen to any of us," Alya told her when Marinette's eyes hardened.  "But... I think we know enough from what we saw.  I... we... we had no idea.  And we're beyond sorry for not sticking up for you to help you through it.  No person, let alone a teenager, should have to put up with being a super-hero, but you do.  That's why you're amazing, Marinette."

"Yesterday, me and Alya met after school," Nino added.  "We know that Shrinkinator hasn't been freed from his akuma yet, and HawkMoth is clearly using him to plan something.  You can't fight him alone, especially if A- hey, speaking of, where is he?"

Marinette parted her pigtails, revealing Adrien to her friends.  He did a little wave to Nino, and he waved back.

"Marinette, you can't fight HawkMoth alone.  I know you're trying not to use Chloe again, but you do need some allies.  You need Rena Rouge and Carapace," Alya said.  "Please... don't let whatever grudges you have against us influence this decision- this is HawkMoth we're talking about.  Please let us help you, and we'll solve any fights after it's over- even if that means we're not friends anymore," she added, tearing up a little.  "I know I've done some horrible th-things... but I only did it because I thought you were doing some horrible things too.  If I had known, I-I would've done things differently," she cried.  "Please Marinette... I know you know this.  I know you know this deep inside."

Marinette's face was stone-cold.

"Please..."

Marinette let out a breath, and aimed her gaze at Alya.  "It seems our beliefs were right- you guys did find us out.  I... I'm in no mood to trust any of you right now, but as Ladybug, I have to think of the bigger picture.  I need allies, and I know I can trust Rena Rouge and Carapace to do the job," she said, looking strongly at the pair.  "We'll settle the... incident... after HawkMoth is defeated, but for now, we're on the same team."  Marinette took a couple steps towards the two, her arms spread wide.  "Hug?"

"We should be the ones offering the hug, but I'll take you up on it," Alya said, squeezing her friend tight.  Adrien protested as he was forced into the hug, and Marinette laughed.  It feels so good to laugh...

"Okay, now that we're on the same page, where are we headed?" Nino asked once the hug was over.  

Marinette looked firmly at them.  "Can I trust you to keep a secret?"

Both Alya and Nino nodded, looking determined.  "Yes, yes we can," the answered in unison.

"I wouldn't do this if it weren't for dire circumstances.  Even Adrien hasn't been there himself," Marinette confessed.  "We're going to see-" Marinette dropped her voice down to a whisper- "the Guardian of the Miraculous."

Both Alya and Nino nodded, and even Adrien was getting excited at this point, which Marinette thought was beyond adorable.  He'd sadly changed out of his Chat Noir onesie to see Master Fu, because he, quote, "didn't want to give him a bad impression of himself".  Marinette just took it as "I don't want to look any cuter than I already do".

Silently, Marinette gestured to the pair to follow her.  Some pedestrians gave them weird looks as they passed, as by now school had started a long time ago, but the group didn't mind.  They were on a very important mission after all.

At last, the group finally reached Master Fu's place.  The three of them silently entered, closing the entrance door softly behind them.  Marinette let out a breath as she knew they were safe here, as HawkMoth didn't know about this place.  Smiling now, she walked down the hallway and knocked on Master Fu's door.  "Master?  It's me, Marinette.  I also have a few guests with me too," she confessed.

"Come in," was Master Fu's only reply.  

Marinette opened the door, introducing Alya and Nino to the Guardian of the Miraculous.  Master Fu smiled and prepared tea for all of them, and Marinette let Tikki and Plagg join Wayzz in flying around the room.

"Master, I need to get Alya and Nino their Miraculouses now," she explained with an urge to her tone.  "I... I don't know what it is, but I know something's coming today.  I just... I just know."

Master Fu nodded thoughtfully.  "I thought the same, Marinette."

He stood up and walked towards the Miracle Box, punching in the correct code.  Master Fu laid out the box full of Miraculouses in front of them, all the while Alya and Nino watched with awe.  Alya carefully took hers out of its place in the box, while Nino had his given to him by Master Fu.  

"Master, me and Adrien thought of an interesting conclusion last night," Marinette began, holding her cup up to Adrien to let him drink a little bit of the tea.

"It's about HawkMoth's identity," Adrien added when he finished drinking.  "We think... we think it's my dad."  Quickly, he explained the theory that the duo had come up with last night.

Master Fu had a thoughtful look in his eyes when they'd finished explaining.  "Yes, yes... that would explain many things... and I think you are certainly right.  You should go to the Agreste Manner today and figure out if this is really the truth.  But, Marinette... are you sure that this is all of the Miraculouses you want for this fight?  HawkMoth is no joke, and Adrien has already been shrunk by the Akuma he created..." 

Marinette shook her head, her eyes filled with determination and strength as a slight beeping sound filled her ears.  "I trust these three with all my heart," she said.  "Although they make mistakes, I know I can trust them with this mission- that's why I brought them all here for you today.  I am confident with my decisions, Master."

"Very well then.  Go, and I will be here waiting for the information find," Master Fu said contently, his ancient voice filled with confident for his young team.

"Should we transform here?" Alya asked.  "We can avoid others if we do."

"Um, guys?  Marinette, is that noise normal?" Nino asked as the beeping suddenly became louder and louder, filling all of their ears.  She heard Adrien let out a small whimper, probably because his small ears made the sounds extra painful.  She rubbed her finger down his back, hoping that would calm him down a little.

"No, no it's not!" Marinette shouted.  Her heart was racing, her anxiety peaking.  Did someone find us?

Did HawkMoth find us!?

She saw all of the kwamis hovering close towards their holders, most likely waiting for them to utter the transformation words.  However, Marinette found herself too scared to do so, all of the stress from the previous events catching up with her yet again.  She heard Shrinkinator's voice, and she saw smoke fill the room.  Marinette felt her eyes begin to water, and she put a hand next to Adrien to keep him safe.

Then, it was like her legs were made of water.  Then her feet, her arms, her chest, her fingers... then finally, her head.  She was water.

And like water, she collapsed into a puddle.

We... we led him to us...

I led him to us...

What...

What have I done...?

WHAT HAVE I DONE!?

Longer chapter, yay!!  I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.. since I did a really long A/N at the beginning, I won't waste time here.

All I'll say is stay tuned for a lot of updates in the near future :D