Marinette

I stand in front of a red wooden door, the thick, leather bound book I'm holding, clutched tightly against my chest. I lift my hand to knock, biting my bottom lip. I freeze before my hand makes contact with the wood. 

"Go ahead, Marinette," Tikki encourages, as she floats beside my head. "Don't be scared. You're doing the right thing."

I close my eyes, suck in a deep breath, and let it out, opening the door. A small, elderly man sits on the floor. "Uh, hello?" I ask, not sure if he knows I'm here. 

"Good evening Ladybug," the man says, looking at me. My eyes grow large from surprise. The door closes behind me, so I step further into the room. "Come sit", he tells me. I glance down at a cushion in front of him, plopping down, criss-crossing my legs in front of me. "Welcome. what brings you to my humble shop?" he asks. 

"I have some questions," I announce. he nods for me to continue. "My kwami told me that you know about all the other kwami holders."

"This is true," he says, calmly. "I am the one who gives people their power." 

My mind quickly flashes to the first day of school. "It was you. That morning you were crossing the street and I pulled you out of the way of the car. You were testing me," I say, enveloped in the memory.

He nods. "I am Master Fu." He bows, his hands together. 

"Oh," I say, bowing back. "Marinette."

"Yes. I know." I scan the room awkwardly. "What questions do you have for me?"

"Right. Um...."

"Show him the book, Marinette," Tikki urges. 

I pull the large book out from behind me, holding it with both hands. I look up to Master Fu. "Do you know this book?" I ask. 

His eyes enlarge. "Yes. It has the information on all the miraculouses."

"Well, I found it. Kind of... You see, my friend Adrien, Gabriel Agreste's son, and-"

"Gabriel?" Master Fu says, startled, staring off into space. 

"Master Fu? What's wrong?" I ask worried. 

He begins muttering things to himself, and I share a look with Tikki. She only shrugs. Suddenly, a little green kwami that resembles a turtle, flies out of his shirt pocket. They are speaking so quickly that I can't make out more than a few words. He quiets his kwami down and looks back to me. 

"Please continue."

"Oh, um...." I say, taken aback, trying to remember where I left off. "My friend Adrien had the book at school, andI followed him to the park, and Tikki stole the book from him. Why would Adrien have the book?" I ask.

"We should tell her, Master. She's ready," the green kwami pipes up.

Master Fu sighs before nodding. "Marinette, I need you to listen very carefully."

"Yes, sir," I say, giving him my full attention. 

"This is a very important book. It contains the stories of all the miraculouses. Even Hawk Moth is in here. This book is very dangerous in the wrong hands, if uncoded."

"Is that what Adrien was trying to do? Uncode it? But, but he's a good person.He wouldn't do that for evil," I defend, worry gripping hold of me. There's no way Adrien would give into evil. Sweet, caring, perfect, Adrien. No. No way.

"Your friend is much more powerful than you think, but he is not yet the one to fear."

"Mr. Agreste? But, why would he have the book?" I interrupt again, confused as to where the lines meet up. 

Master Fu sucks in a deep breath. "Because he is Hawk Moth."

I feel like I've been knocked out of the sky and landed on the concrete with nothing to slow me down; full impact. "What?" I breathe, my giant, unblinking eyes locked on him. 

"You heard me right."

"We- we've gotta stop him, whatever he's planning. We've gotta tell Adrien. I have to warn him. Oh, no. I have the book! He's gonna get in trouble when his father is looking for the book! What have I done?!"

"Marinette, you need to calm down. Everything will be okay," Tikki tells me. I suck in a deep breath, relaxing my nerves.

"Marinette, I need you to figure out what he's planning."

I nod, understanding the importance of my job. This is Hawk Moth we are talking about. Pure evil. And, the only one that can fix this mess, is me. I can't fail. And, I suddenly feel the weight of the city balance itself once again on my shoulders.