As the quakes ceased, Ladybug and Chat Noir opened their eyes and looked around. Smoke covered everything in a thick haze, making it difficult to see more than a few feet in any direction. Rather than run, both superheroes had instinctively protected Jacques and Gabriel, who were too weak to move to safety.

"Babe," Jacques smiled hopefully. "You saved me. You still care."

"Don't read into it too much." Ladybug said coldly.

"Yeah, don't." Chat repeated for emphasis.

"Natalie! Where's Natalie?" Gabriel asked. He tried to get out of his wheelchair but Chat held him back.

"Stay here, Father, we'll go check."

Cautiously, Ladybug and Chat Noir walked forward into the haze, keeping an eye out for any threat.

The air seemed alive around them, and something was glowing a warm, golden color though the haze ahead. As they got closer Chat and Ladybug could see what looked like a new superhero, clothed in a shimmery gold cloak and leotard, that seemed to spark and move like a living flame on her skin. Electricity seemed to curl and coil around her body, crackling hungrily. In her hand, was a familiar yo-yo and as she stepped forward, she bent over, coughing.

"Natalie!" Chat rushed forward instinctively.

"Keep back!" Natalie held out a hand to stop Chat. "You'll be electrocuted if you touch me."

"Does this new uh-Miraculous suit mean that is everything fixed?"

"Almost." Natalie smiled tiredly. She took another step forward, reaching out as if to touch Chat's cheek, then stopped herself. "Adrian." She looked sad. "I just wanted to say that...I never meant to hurt you...and all the times that I did...I am truly sorry." She put Ladybug's yo-yo on the ground, and gave it a little kick with her foot. It slid over and bumped against Ladybug's boot. After a moment, Ladybug gingerly picked it up. It looked a little battered and covered in soot, but still intact.

"You should take cover now." Natalie said. She opened a fan, twice the size of the one she'd used as Mayura, and with red-gold feathers that seemed to be little flames, flickering brightly. "If you thought the last soundwave was bad...this will be worse."

Ladybug grabbed Chat's arm.

"We should get the other two farther out of the way." Chat hesitated.

"This will work, right? You'll be okay when this is over?"

"Adrian, I'm not going to tell you again." Natalie snapped, avoiding the question. "Get to safety, I only have a few minutes to use this power."

"But-

"Now!"

"No! Something is happening ! And I'm sick of you and my father keeping me in the dark!"

"Adrian! I promise you will see me again. Happy?"

Adrian relaxed slightly.

"Fine, milady, let's get them to a safe distance."

"Hurry!" Natalie shouted as they ran off. She closed her eyes.

* * *

12 years ago

Natalie stood outside the door of Gabriel Agreste office. She gripped her briefcase tightly, straightened her suit jack and adjusted her glasses. Behind that door was a fashion designer legend and she had actually been called in for an interview.

She knocked and the door opened. Natalie felt her heart beat faster as the strikingly handsome man with pale hair and piercing grey eyes answered.

"Please come in, Natalie, I've already reviewed your impressive resume." Gabriel Agreste said, holding up a neat folder. "Your attention to organization and formatting alone is impeccable." He motioned for Natalie to take a seat and sat in his own chair behind his desk. "You should know, three assistants have quit in the last month because they couldn't handle the workload." He took off his glasses briefly and polished them. "You will be working long, stressful hours and be at my beck and call day and night. I hope your attention to detail and organization is reflected in your work, because you will need it."

Natalie felt as if she was becoming lost in those misty grey eyes as they scrutinized her, but she managed to clear her voice and say:

"Sir, I promise, if you hire me, I will help you with whatever you need."

Gabriel smiled, his face lighting up like a beacon and held out a hand.

"Then welcome aboard."

* * *

Natalie opened her eyes. The electricity from the damaged Miraculous burned through her but she held it in. She had done her research, she knew the words she had to say and she was almost done. One last task for Gabriel.

"Miraculous..." she called, raising her fan high. "Rebirth!"

* * *

Was this death? Natalie wondered dreamily, there was a bright light overhead and a ringing in her ears. She stretched her hand out toward it and felt...feathers?

"Salutations!" Chirped a musical voice, "my name is Bennu, and I am your new kwami!"

As Natalie's eyes adjusted, she could make out the form of a beautiful gold bird, with feathers that seemed to sparkle and flicker, like the flames of a fire. A lustrous tail swept down like a river of lava while his eyes were the deepest black of coal.

Natalie looked down at herself, her own costume had disappeared, and she was back in her regular clothes. But there was an interesting new bracelet around her wrist.

"Natalie!"

Chat and Ladybug rushed forward through the smoke, and stopped, staring at the tiny phoenix. The kwami turned and bowed in mid-air.

"How do you do, I am Bennu, Kwami of Regeneration."

"Uh..." Chat gaped.

"He-hello...." Ladybug stammered.

A sound came from the life support device, Emilie was banging on the glass.

"Mom!" Chat and Ladybug ran to her and yanked on the glass lid to open it. Chat de-transformed before throwing himself in his mother's arms and hugging her fiercely.

"Adrian," Emilie murmured, kissing her son's head. "You've grown into such a handsome young man." She caught sight of Ladybug behind Adrian. "And who's the lovely young lady behind you?"

"Mom," Adrian pulled Ladybug close before she could run away. "I want you to meet my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Ladybug sputtered, blushing furiously. "How-how do you do, Mrs. Agreste?" She offered a hand to Emilie, who took it and pulled Ladybug into a hug.

"Please, call me Emilie, I already feel like you're part of the family."

"Sooner than you think, Mom." Adrian agreed.

"What?" Mari squeaked.

"We'll talk later." Adrian said calmly.

"Emilie." Gabriel struggled to rise from his wheelchair.

"Mon coer," Emilie cried, rushing to her husband, but keeping a firm grip on her son's hand.

For the first time in ten years, the whole Agreste family embraced, laughing and crying as they clung to each other.

"You found a way to fix the Miraculous." Emilie smiled, and kissed her husband.

"Yes, well." Gabriel looked uncomfortable. "That's a long conversation for another time."

Emilie's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Gabriel, what did you do?"

"Isn't anyone going to ask if I'm okay?" Jacques whined, looking sulky.

"And who is he?" Emilie demanded.

"Uh...no one of importance, darling." Gabriel said, looking relieved that the subject had been changed.
"But you said I was your assistant!" Jacques pouted.

"Shut up!" Gabriel snapped, rubbing his chest.

"We should get you to a hospital, Dad." Adrian said, looking at him worriedly.

"Hospital? What is wrong, Gabriel?" Emilie asked anxiously.

"Just a mild heart problem, darling." Gabriel attempted a smile. "Natalie, can you call for..."

But Natalie and Bennu were nowhere to be seen. The Kwami and his new master had slipped away and left, as quickly and mysteriously as they had come.

Hello Dear Readers!

I apologize for the lateness of this episode, but when I was all set to upload the newest chapter, it seemed as if my book had completely disappeared! 

I was tearing out my hair, trying to decide whether to complain or start from scratch, when it reappeared this morning!

So here we go. As you can see, the chapters are starting to wind down, and we're almost done. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. I may put up a few extra epilogues here or there, but it won't be on a regular schedule, just when I feel like it :)

Sincerely, 

Cantrella