"Spots Off."

Marinette closed her eyes as the rush of magic took her powers away, suddenly feeling very, very tired.

The fall out of Miracle Queen was nothing short of hectic.

Ladybug had informed the police what had transpired while Chloé was being arrested.

Her court case was set to be in a couple weeks - although it was just a formality really.

With two heroes as witnesses, coupled with various surveillance tapes from Le Grand Paris hotel - the trial should be cut and dry.

And that's not even mentioning the public backlash the mayor will face after everything....

All of this...

Everything that just happened.

Hawkmoth finding Master Fu and taking the miraculous for himself.

Chloé betraying them for Hawkmoth and becoming Miracle Queen.

Master Fu giving up the miracle box and appointing her the new guardian - despite knowing it would mean he'd lose his memories.

Despite knowing that she'd have the same fate if she ever had to give up her title...

Everything was her fault.

It was all her fault, she knew that.

Marinette just wished her mistake wasn't so costly this time...

Marinette sighed, running her hands down her face as she glanced around her room - her gaze landing on her haphazard hiding place where she shoved the miraculous box.

Another responsibility.

Another secret to protect.

Fu was gone.

Because of her.

Because of her stupid mistake, why did she-

"Marinette?" Tikki asked worriedly as Marinette tore her gaze away from it.

She flopped back on her bed, laying her hands on her eyes, trying desperately to keep it together.

"What do I do now Tikki?" Marinette whispered, feeling tears pool in the corners of her eyes.

"Do what you always do Marinette, be there for your friends when they need you. I know they'd do the same for you," Tikki answered, hugging her cheek.

Marinette cupped her hand around Tikki, gently hugging her back.

With another, softer, sigh she turned on her side - examining her corkboard filled with all of her friends. She tried to smile but her gaze focused on the big photo of Adrien, and her thoughts flashed to earlier that day.

That's right... Adrien was with Kagami now.

Marinette had to wonder if there was someone out there laughing at her.

Mocking her for being a disappointment.

Making fun of her every time she tried even talking to Adrien.

Ridiculing her for every mistake she made around him.

Volpina, Backwarder, Desperada, the second Puppeteer, Reflekdoll, Miracle Queen...

She bit her lip, debating with herself.

"Tikki... I want to move on," Marinette said quietly, placing her hand on the photo.

Bright blue eyes looked to her in shock, "Are - are you sure Marinette? You never know what the future holds-"

"I'm sure, Tikki," Marinette stressed, "He's got Kagami now, and... it's not doing me any good to hold on to these feelings."

Tikki looked at her sadly, "I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

"No," Marinette cut in, "No it won't Tikki, these feelings... they're making me miserable. Every time I'm around him, something seems to go wrong... you saw what happens - what keeps happening - I keep messing up, and I.... I don't-" A deep breath, "As Ladybug, I - I can't afford to hold on to these negative feelings... I have to do better, I can't be akumatized..."

Tikki was silent for a long moment, "Marinette..."

"Tikki... I can't," Marinette blinked back her tears.

No!
She couldn't...

Don't...

Marinette wiped the few tears that fell, holding her breath as she glanced wearily around her room.

Waiting for an akuma to come...

But it didn't...

Marinette breathed a sigh of relief, turning back to her corkboard.

Carefully stroking the picture of Adrien in the center...

The silence was suffocating....

"Marinette..." Tikki repeated, nuzzled her cheek.

"I have to do this Tikki," Marinette mumbled.

"I know..."

Neither spoke while she unpinned the first picture from her corkboard.

Which was fitting - Marinette supposed.

It gave her time to think... about everything she was losing.

It was for the best right?

A relationship with Adrien just wasn't going to happen...

Maybe... with time, she could be friends with him again.

But for now...

"It's for the best," She repeated quietly to herself as she dropped the torn picture in the trash.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Marinette looked back and forth between her notes on the old miracle box - along with everything on being the guardian - and her own red and black spotted box.

"So, all the kwami live in here?" She asked curiously, holding her chin in her hands.

"Yes, we kwami live in a parallel universe - which is connected to the box," Tikki explained, flitting about around Marinette's head.

"Master Fu never let you guys out?"

Tikki shook her head, "Only kwami with wielders are allowed out."
Marinette raised an eyebrow at that, "That's... an interesting rule - how come?"

"Well, I'll admit it's a little extreme... but it's just in case we get stolen or found out."
"Then the miraculous would be powerless," Marinette mumbled.

Tikki nodded, "Exactly! And then the kwami can also get hurt by being too far away from their miraculous."

"They can? I didn't know that... but I suppose it makes sense why Nooroo and Dusuu haven't just left."

"It's very unfortunate - no kwami should have to go through what they are forced to."

"We'll put a stop to Hawkmoth, and Mayura," Marinette assured her, "It's only a matter of time."

"I know you will, you're the best holder I've ever had!" Tikki pressed against Marinette's cheek in a hug.

Marinette giggled, "I don't know about that, Tikki."

"Don't sell yourself short Marinette, you do amazing things."

Marinette just hummed, not really believing it.

But she'd let Tikki have this - for now.

Marinette frowned as she looked at the bright red ovoid box, "This box... it's a little... obvious looking, don't you think? How am I even going to hide it?"

Not only are it's bright colors practically holding up a bright neon sign pointing to it, but it just wasn't practical.

She'd need a bigger hiding place, and...

Marinette glanced around her room.

And she didn't have that space - not really.

Every spot would be too obvious...

"There's a ritual we can perform," Tikki supplied.

Marinette met her kwami's gaze in surprise, "Really?"

Tikki hummed, "I can give you a list of everything you need, and you also need a visual to focus on."

Marinette smiled.

Yeah, she could work with that.

"So, how do you figure we open this thing?"

Tikki inspected the box for a moment, "I have no idea."

She gave an experimental push of the button on top.

The different compartments instantly started glowing as the box spun, opening up as light flooded out of them.

Marinette yelped as she fell backwards from all the orbs of light flying around her.

"Greetings, oh great guardian," Pollen greeted excitedly, flying closer to Marinette as all of the kwami appeared in front of her

"I'm terribly sorry for frightening you Marinette," Wayzz added as he, too, floated closer to her with a sympathetic look on his face.

"What's that thing!?" Ziggy pointed to Marinette's phone excitedly, moving to grab it.
She was stopped by Roarr, who was giving her a stern gaze.

"Xuppu, Daizzi, Ziggy - just where do you think you're going?" Barkk scolded, grabbing Xuppu by the tail to stop him from flying away.

"Oh come on, it's been so long since I've had a holder," Xuppu complained.

"At least let us explore!" Daizzi pleaded.

"Not a chance!" Roarr gave all three a stern glare.

"We need to respect our new master's privacy," Stompp added, crossing his arms.

Daizzi's eyes widened in realization and she quickly flew up to Marinette, "I'm so sorry, master!"

"I- It's okay?" Marinette mumbled, eyes wide as she got up from the floor, "I... thought you couldn't come out of the box without a holder?"

Tikki giggled, "I never said that."

"Now you're the guardian, young master, the miracle box responds to you," Longg explained.

"Personally, I like this change," Trixx added, giving an excited flick of his tail.
"Of courssse you would, Trixx," Sass retorted, with a roll of his eyes.

"Wait! I thought you weren't allowed to be out," Marinette interrupted, panicking, "I wasn't even guardian for three days, and I'm already breaking a rule!"

She knew she would mess up!

She should've never been made guardian!!

Master Fu was wrong to trust her...

She-

"It's okay Marinette!" Tikki tried consoling her.

"Besides, you're the guardian now - you can make your own rules," Xuppu continued with a wink.

"I'm... pretty sure that's not how it works, Xuppu," Wayzz commented.

Xuppu huffed, turning away, "I'm pretty sure it does."

"The great guardian knows what's best," Pollen praised, moving to sit on Marinette's shoulder.

"She hasn't had the right training, how could she possibly know what's best, Pollen?" Kalkki asked with a sniff.

"I'm sure you'll do a great job, master!" Roarr exclaimed excitedly.

Marinette, feeling overwhelmed, looked to Sass as a signal for help.
"Alright, that'ssss enough everyone," Sass called everyone to attention.

Marinette breathed a sigh of relief as everyone quieted down.

"What do you wish to do, master?" Wayzz asked quietly.

Marinette thought for a moment.

What did she want to do?

The rule was there for a reason... right?

So she should follow it...

Right?

But at the same time... kwami existed for over a millennium...

The kwami would know how to stay out of trouble - and those that didn't had the help of the others.

They were beings with thoughts and emotion, just like her.

It wouldn't be right to force them to stay inside.

Not when there was so much of the world to see.

"I... suppose you all can stay-"

Marinette was cut off by some cheers, as a few kwami all rushed towards her excitedly.

"Are you sure that's wise, master?" Barkk asked wearily.

"I agree with Barkk, someone could easily discover us, young guardian," Longg added cautiously.

"Don't ruin this for us!" Daizzi huffed, pushing Longg to the side.

"I trust you all to stay out of trouble - you aren't some mindless children after all."

Trixx shot her a smile, while Orikko looked to be relieved.

Stompp gave her a thankful nod.

"We won't let you down master," Roarr promised with a small salute.

Sass nodded, "There will have to be rulessss."

"I can help you with that," Wayzz offered.

"Oh! Oh! Me too - me too!" Fluff exclaimed excitedly.

"I'd appreciate that, thanks Wayzz," Marinette offered him a small smile.

"Assss for the lack of training, we could help continue it," Sass proposed.

"Really?" Marinette turned to him, eyes wide with excitement.

"We would be honored to teach you, young guardian," Longg agreed.

"You have plenty to learn, after all," Kalkki added.

Marinette smiled as the kwami all closed in on her, enveloping her in a hug.

Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all...