Marinette hummed under her breath as she sketched out a design for Jagged Stone.

Jagged Stone commissioned her just last week, wanting a suit for the premiere of his upcoming movie; Crocodile Heart.

"All the other designers just came up with generic suits - totally not rock and roll - you're the only one who can get my style, Marinette," He told her.

It was around a month away, so she had time to make the design and send it to Jagged - where he'd get other designers to make it.

Maybe she should insist on making the blazer herself...

It was the most important piece.

It had to be perfect...

Marinette frowned at the third design she drew that day.

It still wasn't quite right...

"That looks wonderful my queen," Pollen cheered.

"Thanks Pollen, but I feel like it's missing something..." Marinette mumbled.

Kalkki examined the sketch, with a huff, "Some embroidery would do it some good."
"No no, there should be glitter instead," Daizzi argued.
"Oh! And a pocket to hold the guitar pick!" Fluff suggested.

"It should be purple," Trixx noted.

"Uh guys..." Marinette sighed, rubbing her head.

"That's enough you guys, give Marinette some space," Wayzz hummed.

"Sorry..." They all mumbled.

"No, it's okay - they're all good suggestions," Marinette replied, jotting them down in the corner for later, "I should take a break anyway..."

She'd already been drawing for an hour; a break would do her some good.

Or maybe she should sleep on it?
She had time to finish it after all.

Time...

Oh fuck!

What time was it?

Marinette quickly glanced at her clock, sighing in relief when she realized she still had two hours left until she had to meet with Fu...

Thank goodness...

"Marinette?" Tikki flew closer.

"Sorry..." She mumbled, running her hands down her face.

She took a second to gather her thoughts before flipping to a new page of her sketchbook.

"What are you doing?" Fluff asked curiously.

"I should really start working on the new miracle box design," Marinette noted, "I'm just going to brainstorm though."

"What happened to taking a break?" Wayzz asked, a note of concern in his tone.

"That's just from Jagged's suit," Marinette argued, "Besides; this is important."
"It isssss," Sass agreed, "But you sssshhhhouldn't pusshhhh yoursssself."

Marinette hummed, "I'm not - I'll stop in a bit."
"Alright," Wayzz sighed..

Marinette jotted down any ideas that came to mind.

Should she go back to the original design?

Maybe a chest would be better?

What about something similar to her diary puzzle box?

Or maybe she could make it look like a book?

It would certainly be easy to hide then.

"What about a security code, my queen?" Pollen suggested, looking at the list from her perch on her shoulder.

"That's actually really smart... maybe I can have a code for each slot? That way, if Hawkmoth ever got his hands on it, he would have to guess which code went where - that would buy us some time..."

"An excellent idea you two," Tikki praised.

"We can't know the combination either, in case he catches one of us with it," Barkk suggested.

"Will you be able to remember all nineteen codes, master?" Daizzi asked worriedly.

"I can write them down in a special code - kind of like the grimoire - until I memorize them."

Yeah... she can do this!

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The meeting with Fu went surprisingly well, much to Marinette's delight.

Wayzz, Xuppu, Pollen and Longg all wanted to come with her - although Xuppu only did so he could get out.

But Barkk had pointed out that, if anyone should go, it's Wayzz - since he was around Fu the longest.

Everyone agreed, some more reluctantly than others, and went back in the box after that.

It was reliving to see Fu so happy with Marianne.

It was almost like nothing happened.

Almost...

Marinette clutched Fu's painting in her hand as she opened her trapdoor, but before she could even open her purse to let Tikki and Wayzz out, a loud thud stopped her in her tracks.

She looked up to see a tall, bald old man in a red tunic and worn out shoes.

In his left hand was a staff - he presumably stamped it against the ground to gain her attention - and in his right was...

Was the miracle box.

Fuck...

She really needed to get that puzzle box done...

"Why are you in possession of the motherbox, young lady?" The stranger asked with narrowed eyes.

So he knew what it was then.

"Who are you?" Marinette asked wearily, crossing her arms over her chest.

Tikki flew out of her purse suddenly, causing Marinette to yelp in surprise - Wayzz following close behind.

"This is master Su-Han, Marinette, the powerful guardian of the miraculous box," Tikki explained.

"But... I'm the guardian," Marinette replied, beyond confused.

"He was responsible for the box before the incident," Wayzz elaborated, yellow eyes glancing at Su-Han wearily as he seemed to shrink down.

Marinette looked between Wayzz and Su-Han, narrowing her eyes a bit as she took a step forward, "Why are you here?"

"Because you're not a real guardian, this is all a misunderstanding - the improper form of the miracle box proves it," Su-Han explained curtly.

"Improper?" Marinette repeated, confused, "I thought the box changes based on its owner?"

"While yes - it will shift a bit - but this? This doesn't even have the proper writing on it."

"How is that my fault? I didn't choose the design..."

"In fact, my holder is going to change it soon - she's working very hard," Tikki piped up.

"Holder?" Su-Han repeated, eyes scanning her form quickly before landing on her earrings and then the bracelet, "So, this modern world... protected by a reckless fool."

Marinette stiffened at the insult.

Wayzz flew closer, landing on Marinette's shoulder, "Don't insult my master, she's the reason you're even here in the first place!"

Su-Han looked confused, glancing between Marinette and Wayzz.

"She resurrected the temple months ago," Tikki elaborated.

"You? You resurrected the temple?" Su-Han asked in shock, like he was appalled at the idea a teenager could do such a thing.

"Uh... yeah - I, I defeated Feast with the help of my partner."

"Partner?"

"Plagg's holder-"

"Plagg roaming free... the end of dinosaurs and dragons - doesn't that alarm anyone?" Su-Han muttered.

"He's not roaming free," Marinette furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "He's with Chat Noir."

"And who is Chat Noir?!"

"I... I don't know - we're supposed to keep our identities secret..." Marinette mumbled.

But the more she thought about it, the more it didn't make sense now that Fu was no longer the guardian.

She was.

She made the rules now.

And, it didn't make sense to keep it a secret anymore.

Right?

But at the same time...

Did she want Chat Noir to know her identity?

It was... a terrifying thought...

A secret she worked so hard to protect, would be known in an instant.

By Chat Noir.

Who wouldn't leave her alone already - as a superhero.

What would he do if he knew her identity?

But...

But what if there was an emergency?
What if-

Su-Han stamped his scepter on the ground again, snapping Marinette out of her thoughts.

Right, she had bigger things to focus on...

"Guardians must never wear a miraculous, under any circumstances," Su-Han sighed.

"And why not? Hawkmoth is still out there, I'm not just going to-"

"Hawkmoth?" Su-Han interrupted.

"The butterfly and the peacock were lost when the temple got destroyed, and now the butterfly is-"
"You lost some miraculous too?!"

"No, no I..." Marinette shifted on her feet.

She did lose the bee a while ago, but it was back in her possession now.

She still regretted that mistake...

She should've done better.

"Master Fu did, not Marinette," Tikki piped up - in an attempt to defend her no doubt.

"Fu? You mean Wang Fu?! Chicken legs? The student who couldn't even fast for a day, or do a thousand finger push-ups?"

... was this guy five?

"... what does doing push ups have to do with anything?"

"Fu is weak - he shouldn't have become a guardian, this weastrel never fulfilled the hope we had in him," Su-Han continued, like he didn't hear her.

"He was just a kid!" Wayzz defended his old master through slitted eyes, "Yes, he made mistakes, but he did his best to make up for them! That mistake was on you guys just as much as him; you, and your order, didn't keep an eye on the poor boy who didn't want to be there - it never would've happened otherwise!"

Su-Han slammed his staff down angrily, causing Marinette to jump.

"That's enough, come on kwamis, back in the box," Su-Han ordered.

Wayzz and Tikki looked at each other, sharing a look of complete disbelief.

Before either of them could move, Marinette took a step forward, "What do you think you're doing?"

Su-Han bristled, pulling out a book from his bag and opening it, "Let me remind you of a few important rules you've violated - rule thirty three: guardians must never, under any circumstances, wear a miraculous, rule fifty two: guardians must never lose a miraculous-"

"But I didn't!" Marinette finally snapped, "I didn't lose the miraculous, and if you think I'm going to stand by while innocent people are being threatened by a terrorist-"

"I don't appreciate your tone, young lady!" Su-Han snapped back, "First off, you are going to hand your miraculous to me."

Marinette narrowed her eyes, "I can't do that! How am I going to defeat Hawkmoth without my miraculous?"

"I will reassign them to carefully selected, appropriate adult holders," Su-Han dismissed, "Like any responsible guardian would do."
"But-"

"I'm giving you one last chance, give me your miraculous and renounce the miracle box to me."

Marinette's eyes widened in shock, "But, but - I'll lose my memories if I do that..."

"It's a necessary sacrifice," Su-Han argued.

A necessary sacrifice?!

"Unnecessary you mean," Wayzz muttered.

"Insolent little-"

Marinette's gaze immediately turned into a glare, stepping into Su-Han's personal space and grabbing the miracle box from him, "I think it would be best if you leave."

Su-Han glared at her, moving to grab the box back, but was stopped by a bright green shield appearing around Marinette.

It was connected to the wall with her window - a way to escape if the older guardian attacked.

Wayzz really did think of everything.

"Drop this barrier at once!" Su-Han growled.

Marinette's hands tightened into fists, sharing a look with Tikki and Wayzz.

The kwami nodded at her silent question, "You want my earrings? Fine; come and get them! Tikki; Spots on!"

As soon as the transformation wrapped around her, she fled through the window - Wayzz in tow with the miracle box safely in her hands.

She pulled out her yo-yo while she jumped from roof to roof, calling Chat Noir on her yo-yo.

It would only be a matter of time before Su-Han escaped Wayzz's shell-ter.

"Cat got your tongue? Leave a message after the beep," Chat Noir's automated voice rang out.

"Code red, I'll fill you in when you get here; but hurry," Ladybug told the yo-yo before sliding it closed.

"He escaped," Wayzz informed Ladybug gravely.

She gave a grim nod before throwing her yo-yo, hoping to get some more distance between her and the other guardian.

She'd need all the help she could get in order to defeat him.

Ladybug desperately jumped from rooftop to rooftop, trying to put any distance between her and Su-Han.

"What's up M'l-"

Ladybug cursed as she slammed into Chat Noir head-first, reacting quickly and catching the miracle box before it fell off the roof.

"Woah there, why are you in such a rush?" Chat Noir asked, steadying her.

He blinked upon noticing Wayzz floating by her side.

"I don't have time to go into too much detail, but basically this monk from the temple came to my room a few minutes ago - he called himself the celestial guardian, and-"

"Wait, but aren't you the guardian?" Chat Noir interrupted.

Ladybug nodded, "But he was the guardian before Fu."

"What does he even want?"

"He... wants me to give up my miraculous - and, and demanded that I renounce the miracle box to him so he could pick new holders."

Chat's eyes widened, "But - but that means..."

"My memories would be erased..."

"And... and you wouldn't remember me..." Chat Noir said, almost too quietly.

Seriously?

That's all he cared about...?

"There you are!" Su-Han growled from behind them, interrupting Ladybug's response.

Both heroes immediately got into a fighting stance, with Wayzz placing the miracle box under a small shield off to the side.

"Is this the wonderful guest you've been telling me about Bugaboo?" Chat Noir asked, narrowing his eyes.

Ladybug chose to ignore the pet name for the moment.

"Of course, another child," Su-Han sighed, getting into a fighting stance of his own, "Very well, taking care of you two should be easy."

Before Ladybug could even blink, Su-Han had knocked Chat Noir over, slamming a foot down on top of his chest.

"Master Fu was much nicer," Chat Noir grumbled from underneath Su-Han.

Before Su-Han could grab his ring, Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around him and tugged - throwing him several feet away.

Unluckily, Su-Han caught himself on a jutted part of the roof; jumping down to face them once again.

Ladybug tried kicking his staff out of his hands.
But he caught it before she was able to lasso it with her yo-yo.

Knocking her back a few feet, so he could focus on Chat Noir. Who charged forward with a kick.

It did land, but Su-Han grabbed Chat's arm as he threw a punch.
Blocking Ladybug's own kick with his free arm.

He threw Chat Noir over his shoulder and sent him flying.

Ladybug threw two punches, which Su-Han dodged.

A bright green shield blocked Su-Han's kick and he narrowed his eyes.

"Thanks Wayzz," Ladybug mumbled, sending a quick smile to the little god.

"Of course master," Wayzz returned.

"Should we use our powers?" Chat Noir asked, getting into a fighting stance and glaring at the celestial guardian - who seemed to be chanting something quietly, his staff glowing a faint white.

Presumably one of the higher level spells labelled in the grimoire... they required a staff to properly channel the magic.

"Hold off on cataclysm for now," Ladybug decided, "Lucky Charm!"

A spotted dvd case fell into her hands, of the popular movie knights at dawn.

"What's-"

Chat Noir was cut off by the green shield Wayzz put up shattering suddenly
And Su-Han charged once again.

"Chat! I need you to distract him; try getting his staff," Ladybug whispered to him, looking around frantically.

"On it!" Chat Noir promised, rushing forwards with a battle cry.

She couldn't find anything...

"Wayzz, what do you think?" Ladybug asked, watching as Chat landed a few hits and sent Su-Han skidding backwards.

The kwami looked thoughtful.

"Well, the order has existed for a long time," He admitted, "Most don't know about the more recent technology, especially since they fell several decades ago."

Ladybug gasped as the pieces suddenly fit together.

"Go help Chat," Ladybug ordered, pulling out her yo-yo and tapping away at it.

She needed the right clip...

Where was it...?

There!

She threw her yo-yo at Su-Han's feet, the screen sliding open and playing the clip.

"Engarde, my lord!" The knight shouted, startling Su-Han.

"What-"

Chat Noir kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into a nearby wall and knocking the staff from his hands.

"Chat - the box!" Ladybug shouted.

She wrapped her yo-yo around the wall, shattering it and burying Su-Han under the rubble.

Ladybug rushed forward, grabbing the staff and making her escape - Both Wayzz and Chat Noir soon following with the spotted miracle box in hand.

"Where to, m'lady?" Chat asked as they jumped from rooftop to rooftop.

"Stadium," Ladybug decided, "But I need to recharge first - cover me."

She hopped down into an alleyway several feet away, hiding behind a dumpster.

Just in time too, as the transformation wore off only seconds later.

"You're doing a good job Marinette," Tikki chirped as Marinette handed her a macaron.

"Thanks Tikki, but our job isn't done yet," Marinette smiled sadly as Tikki practically inhaled the cookie, "Tikki; Spots on!"

As soon as the transformation washed over her, Ladybug rejoined Chat and Wayzz on the roof.

"What are we going to do? Hide the box?" Chat Noir as they started moving again.

"And then what? He knows who I am and he knows where I live," Ladybug replied, glancing around to see if Su-Han was following.

Thankfully, he wasn't.

"Should we get some back up?"

"Too risky - we'd need to find new heroes, and we might not have enough time," Ladybug denied immediately.

They landed in the stadium, where Ladybug set down the staff.

She should destroy it, so Su-Han couldn't get his hands on it again,

But part of her was stopping herself from doing such a thing - it was a powerful relic.

Ladybug wanted to examine it further...

"You're going to need all the power you can get," Wayzz told her quietly, snapping Ladybug out of her thoughts.

He gestured to his bracelet.

"Wouldn't it be more useful if you stayed out," Chat Noir argued, "You can use infinite shell-ters that way."
It was Ladybug who answered, "It'll cause too much damage, who knows how much we already caused by having Wayzz use it three times."

Chat Noir just pouted, "Your miraculous ladybug will fix it anyway."
Ladybug narrowed her eyes, "But not the trauma from the destruction."

"Ladybug, Chat Noir, return the mother-box and the miraculous at once!" Su-Han snapped, landing in front of them and startling them both.

"Never!" Chat Noir shouted, stepping in front of Ladybug and drawing Su-Han's gaze to him.

Ladybug took this chance to merge Wayzz and Tikki's powers together, the little green god disappearing into the turtle miraculous.

Her hair tied itself up in a high bun, complete with a lime green hair tie. Her bodice became more armoured with turtle shell shoulder and elbow pads. On her feet were a pair of armoured boots. In her left hand was a green shield with five black hexagons, and her usual yo-yo was wrapped around her waist.

"Look, it's Master Fu's cane," Chat Noir pointed out suddenly.

"Wait..." Turtle-Bug muttered, scanning the stadium and sucking in a breath when she spotted a figure jump on top of the roof.

"I want my can back - and an apology," The akumatized Fu ordered, glaring down at Su-Han.

"You got him akumatized?!" Turtle-Bug snapped, "Great! Just great! Now we have to deal with this too?!"

"Thunder!" Fu shouted, holding up a piece of paper.

"It's gotta be in the brush, right?" Turtle-Bug muttered under her breath, dodging the lightning strikes.

Chat Noir blocked one of Su-Han's attacks with his staff, buying Turtle-Bug time to flee.

She ducked under Fu's fist, throwing a kick his way - which he dodged.

This was getting pretty annoying, she couldn't really fight while protecting the box.

Turtle-Bug blocked another kick with her shield.

"Teleportation!"

"Wha-"

A kick to her back, sending her flying.

She caught herself before she hit a wall, cursing once she saw the miracle box skidding away.

Su-Han immediately started running for the box, Fu following suit as well.

Panicked, Turtle-Bug shouted, "Shell-ter!"

A small green dome covered the box, blocking them both from getting it.
"Hah! Score one for the Lady- er, Turtle-Bug!" Chat Noir shouted, sending Su-Han flying into the goal with a well placed kick.

Turtle-Bug smiled as she rushed forward to fight the akumatized Fu once again, only to be sent flying backwards with what seemed to be a shock wave.

Luckily, she recovered pretty quickly - with Chat Noir fighting Fu now.

Wait, where was-

Turtle-Bug noticed Su-Han hiding by a chest nearby and resisted the urge to sigh.

She had a feeling this was going to be a long fight.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"Involving Marianne in the fight, a human with no powers, is against the rules," Su-Han told her sternly, pacing about her room as he glared at all the kwami floating around the room.

Here we go again....

"This proved two things... the first is that you have the audacity to make up your own rules, and - as crazy as it sounds - they somehow work, second is your natural instincts show you who you can trust, which is an essential quality for a guardian, cry baby - I mean, Wang Fu might not have made such a bad choice after all," Su-Han admitted.

"Are you trying to apologize?" Marinette asked before he could say anything more.

Su-Han's lips tightened into a thin line, "I'm trying to say I'll trust you, Marinette."

Marinette gave a curt nod, not that it mattered to her whether he trusted her or not.

She was the guardian now.

Not him.

"I'll keep observing you from afar, but I'll tell you this; fail once and I'll take the box back," Su-Han warned.

"You'll have to get through us first," Tikki warned, floating in front of Marinette.

"Everyone is allowed to make mistakes," Wayzz added, joining Tikki.

"Don't forget you made the fatal mistake of getting Master Fu akumatized today," Trixx pointed out.

"Which Marinette fixed, by the way," Xuppu piped up, a little cheekily.

"Yeah, she's allowed to make mistakes without you taking everything away from her," Fluff huffed, crossing her arms.

"My queen is an excellent guardian," Pollen defended.

"She should be allowed to continue," Longg added.

Marinette smiled at her kwami, touched they were all defending her this time.

"Insolent-" He cut himself off at Longg's glare, "Very well then, I'll be taking my leave."

Marinette watched, beyond exhausted, as Su-Han left through her trap door.

Hopefully, he won't come back any time soon.