"Pardon me, Ms. Marinette? We'll be arriving soon! I wanted to make sure you were awake."

The voice came through the closed door, Marinette looking away from the window as she brushed her hair to call back.

"Yes I'm awake sir! Thank you!"

"Alright then," the muffled voice answered back, the sound of padded feet fading down the station car as he went about his business.

Inside her compartment Marinette pulled her hair into two uniformed pigtails, watching as the world flashed by in a blur of green and brown on the other side of the window.

"New day..." she whispered to herself, eyes drifting closed. "New life..."

She opened her eyes to check her outfit almost compulsively at this point, a simple ladybug print shirt paired with cute blue overalls that ended in shorts. Alya had messaged her that it was warm in Miracle Village even for spring, and she seemed to have left the storm behind in the night.

Marinette shifted on her cot to stare at her bags set neatly on the floor, all ready to be lifted and dragged out with her as soon as the train stopped. Which it would... very soon.

She took a deep breath, hands on her exposed knees as she waited anxiously for the long train whistle that would announce the approaching station.

It was another twenty minutes before that whistle finally rang, and when it did she stood immediately, gathering up her bags and opening the compartment door as she had practiced in her mind a dozen times. She stepped out and into the hall, slowly making her way to the front, careful to shift her weight as the train began to slow down.

Alya had promised to be waiting for her, and the excitement of seeing her friend again was enough to keep her walking until she was faced with the doors, the world still blurred past it but slowly coming into focus as the station neared.

"Miracles..." she whispered to herself, gripping her bags tightly as her heart hammered in her chest. "Time for miracles. Time for a new life Marinette, a new amazing life. And you are going to be okay." She laughed a little breathlessly to herself, undeniably nervous as the train reached a crawl, a cobbled stone station visible beyond. "Oh gosh I need a miracle... or good luck. Either or at this point."

Marinette's breathing hitched as the train finally stopped with a lurch, the release of steam as the great locomotive ground to a halt filling the air.

"Never did have good luck..." she muttered a little dramatically, pulling her bags close and trying to be optimistic as at last, the train doors opened.

And she arrived at Miracle Village.

Marinette took the first step bravely, her feet touching the ground of her new home and sending a phantom electric shock through her body. She breathed in and the air was... clear, almost sweet, and she started to feel something besides anxiety. She started to feel excited.

Marinette's steps quickened, a giddy laugh slipping out as she looked around at the humble mostly wooden station building beyond the cobbled platform. The door frames were painted green, the color and the building as a whole well kept. To her surprise there were some folks about, every last one of them animals going about their business. Actually she stood corrected, there were two humans, one a man in a red baseball cap waving with a friendly grin, and a wom-

Marinette was thrown backwards a step as that same woman sprinted forward, tackling her in a crushing hug and yelling her name excitedly. Marinette took a second to lean back and look at the woman's face before-

"Alya!" she shouted back, instantly equally as excited, "Oh my god it's so amazing to see you!"

The redheaded ecstatic woman took a step back to grab her long time long-distance friend by the shoulders, her smile absolutely infectious as her bright eyes shined in joy.

"Marinette!" she said again, laughing at nothing at all as she crushed her with another hug, "You're really here I can't believe it! You're really here!"

Marinette hugged her back with equal enthusiasm, laughing too as they rocked back and forth with Marinette's carried bag squashed awkwardly between them. Just like that so much of her anxiety vanished, because this was the most important part about leaving. Finally getting to spend time with her friend.

"I can't believe it either," she said back, the statement honestly true. "God this is so crazy! You look amazing!"

"And you!" Alya shot back, hopping in place in a way that made her gently curled hair bounce and shine in the station lights. "Rocking those adorable overalls, and the pigtails as usual."

Marinette reached up, playing with one of the tails with a giggle. "Hey they look good!"

"Wasn't knocking them, super cute right Nino?" Alya called out, suddenly turning backwards to address the man from before who was now approaching them with a chuckle.

He was dark skinned much like Alya, gold eyes shifting into a friendly wink as he said, "Totally. Nice to meet the legend behind all of Alya's obsessive praise."

Marinette blushed slightly as Alya turned indignantly, gesturing towards Marinette as she said, "it's not obsessive look at her she's adorable!"

Nino just laughed, headphones resting on his shoulders shifting a little from the movement when something finally occurred to the newcomer.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, dropping a bag and extending a hand. "You're Nino! Alya's mentioned you before, hi! I'm Marinette its so nice to meet you!"

Nino looked pleased as he accepted the handshake, his smile so friendly Marinette instantly took a liking to him.

"Alya's mentioned me?" he asked jokingly, "Don't believe a word."

Marinette shared a laugh with her new found friend as Alya scoffed, before Marinette noticed that Nino was looking past her.

"Waiting for someone?" she asked, looking over her shoulder too even though she knew that she had been alone in her compartment.

"Yeah actually," he replied, looking around the station. "I've got a friend moving in today too, I had kind of hoped he would show on the same train you did so you guys could meet him, but I haven't been in contact with him today so I'm not actually sure when he's arriving."

"I don't think there are many more inland trains coming in today," Alya spoke up, looking down at her phone as if to verify. "You sure he's coming today?"

Nino pursed his lips, taking another long look around. "He said he was, but he hasn't been able to talk to me much. He's sort of moving on the down low so he hasn't risked a lot of contact."

"Well my train ran through the night," Marinette hypothesized, "If he was that set on secrecy this would have been the one to take."

"He a criminal or something?" Alya asked, and Nino instantly burst into laughter, talking as he reached down to pick up one of Marinette's bags for her.

"No it aien't like that, but I'm not gonna share way too much either. I'll let him do that, but you guys will like him I swear. He's really cool, he's rooming with me till he finds his own place."

Marinette floundered helplessly for a second as all her bags were taken but gave in not long after with a laugh, too happy to protest much. She looked up at Nino as they started to walk, finding conversation effortless. "You don't seem like the kind of guy to be friends with anyone shifty, so I'd love to meet him when he arrives. We can wait if you want," she offered, stopping in place to prove her point.

"Would that be alright?" he asked again anyways, looking over to Alya who shrugged.

"Yeah you waited with me, and Marinette doesn't have loads of stuff. We can wait till the train empties."

Nino thanked them both, carrying the bags over to a long green bench and setting them down as the girls chatted excitedly. He watched their banter with a smile, glad for Alya that her friend was with her at last. He understood the feeling, he just hoped he'd get to have the same sort of animated conversation himself.

"It's all set up," Alya was saying as she sat down, "I cleaned out the whole spare bedroom and bought a new comforter and put a dresser in there. There isn't a mirror or anything yet, but I put an old armchair I had in there too. You can paint and decorate or do whatever you want as soon as you're settled, and I totally stocked up on all your favorite food. If you aren't too wiped out I can show you around town once we drop your stuff off too!"

Marinette looked around the train station, allowing herself to feel excitement for her situation. "I'm awake!" she said with a giggle, "I'd love to explore! I need to pick up some basic stuff if there is a store anywhere."

"Nook's nephews will have what you need probably," Nino cut in, leaning over to join the conversation, "They have a store on Main Street. The shop you are going to be working at is in that same area."

Marinette's hands flashed up to her face, making a small noise of surprise. "Ah that's right I should probably tell them I'm here! Once we drop off my stuff we should go there first, so I know where it is. Ah I'm kind of nervous to meet them, maybe I should wear something better..."

"No way, you made that yourself it's the perfect thing to wear," Alya disagreed, adjusting her glasses as if to inspect her more closely and finding her just as cute as the last time she had looked.

Marinette hummed to herself in thought, plucking at her ladybug shirt and nodding a little as she rethought her words. "Yeah... maybe."

"Oh actually," Nino piped up again, getting Marinette's attention to point across the expanse of the boarding area, "there is a little office window thing over that way. If you ask I bet they'll give you a map of the town."

Marinette hesitated only a moment before she was on her feet, thanking Nino as she ran off to get it. A map is exactly what she needed! That way she would know where the shops were and she could pick some things up and talk to her new bosses and- Marinette giggled as she jogged across the station, apologizing the a grumpy looking penguin as she passed him and almost tripped him. She was excited, now that she was actually there it wasn't quite so terrifying. She had so many things she needed to do! There was no time to be paralyzed with nerves!

Marinette asked politely for the map and waited patiently as the kind animal working darted off to retrieve it. She kept giggling to herself now and again, actually twirling on the spot in her sudden jubilation. This was going to be okay! She was going to be okay! Miracle Village would be her mirac-

Marinette's foot caught on an edge of a cobbled stone in the flooring as she came down from her twirl, tilting the temporarily optimistic girl off balance and threatening to throw her over in a sprawling mess. She pin wheeled her arms, a quite squeak slipping out as she actually started to fall, bracing for the impact when suddenly, there wasn't one.

Marinette instinctively gripped onto the support that was offered her, something firm and warm grabbing hold of her just before she could plummet to the ground. Strong arms were holding her, stabilizing her and drawing her close on instinct, so that when she looked up, it was into the bright gorgeous green eyes of a young man.

She was so close to him that her face flushed, but his looks would have been enough to manage that even without the proximity. He was... stunning actually, handsome and kind looking even at a glance. He was blonde, his hair slightly disheveled from travel and expression soft and concerned. And, she noticed a moment later as he quickly pulled her to her feet, he looked flustered too.

"Haha, hey," he said suddenly, standing her up and taking a respectful step away. He grinned, his arms dropping to his sides as he allowed her a moment to collect herself. "Uh, watch your step."

Marinette didn't speak right away, so absolutely embarrassed to have just been basically French dipped by a total stranger in the middle of a train station that words were beyond her. However even mortification would not allow her to be rude.

"I-I'm sorry!" she blurted out, bowing her head and feeling her cheeks burning. "Thank you for catching me, I'm so so sorry!"

She heard his laugh again and looked up at the sound, gasping quietly as she watched him laugh. It was something... pure, and warm. She found that her words escaped her again.

"It's okay!" he responded at last, grinning at her. "I'm glad you didn't fall. I'm actually kind of surprised to see another human here, I now they aren't really common in villages like this. I figured my friend Nino was going to be the only one."

Marinette blinked, staring up at this tall handsome boy for a second as what he said sunk in. "Wait, d-did you say Nino?"

The stranger looked like he was about to reply before from across the station the man they spoke of called out, the two of them turning in time to see Nino sprinting across the station with his arms wide.

"Adrien!" he called out, tackling the stranger in much the same way Alya had tackled her. "Dude you're here!"

"Nino!" the stranger replied, apparently named Adrien as he excitedly hugged his friend. "It's great to see you!"

Marinette stared on as the boys reconnected, going through the same things Alya and her had just a few minutes before. It actually took the nice working animal tapping a map against her arm to snap her out of it, accepting it with a hurried thank you.

"I'm so excited to be here!" Adrien was saying, Marinette noticing the single large black rolling suitcase with him for the first time. "Sorry I hadn't texted you in a while, I had to switch phones and forgot to send you the new number."

"Hey it's fine you're here bro!" Nino said happily, clapping his friend on the back, looking over and blinking once at Marinette before saying, "Oh crap I'm being rude! Dude, this is Marinette I just met her myself. And you met her judging by that wicked dip you two just pulled."

Both addressed parties went slightly red in the face, Adrien trying to stutter something out when they were joined by a fourth, Alya smiling almost mischievously as she took in how flustered Marinette looked.

Luckily Nino distracted her with an introduction, putting a hand on her back and gesturing to his friend.

"Alya, this is Adrien! He's who we were waiting for. Adrien this is my buddy Alya, she works as a reporter and lives more towards the ocean than I do. Her friend Marinette came in on the same train you did to start working here as a fashion designer."

Adrien and Alya shook hands, but his attention was quickly pulled back to the awkward young lady clutching a map, his interest peaked. "Oh, you're a fashion designer? That's awesome, I'm actually a fashion model myself. Or, well I was before moving here anyways. Don't really have a job yet but I'll figure something out."

Marinette stared at him, blue eyes wide as he just smiled charmingly, her pulse quickening slightly. Before she could say anything though Nino was talking again, hopping in place.

"We'll set you up with something dude, get you away from all that high-blood crap like you wanted. Teach you to fish, sell some bugs, man stuff. I've got your back man this is going to be awesome!"

Nino started to pull him away, Adrien saying something with a laugh like, "You can just sell bugs?" but they were walking ahead, Alya shaking her head with a chuckle as she doubled back to the bench they had been sitting at to collect Marinette's luggage.

Marinette's head darted between the two groups before she ran off to join Alya, grabbing the biggest of the bags as they turned to follow the boys towards the entrance of the station.

"Oh my god he is cute isn't he?" Alya said suddenly, walking alongside her friend.

"I know right?" Marinette instantly agreed, one hand touching her cheek. "I can't believe he caught me like that I'm so humiliated. He probably thinks I'm a ditz. Right when I met him too, ugh, what a first impression."

"No way!" Alya comforted her, looking ahead at the boys who stood waiting just beyond the doors. "He totally thinks you're cute, and he seemed interested in your job too."

"Cute!?" Marinette sputtered indignantly, almost falling all over again. "Where are you getting that from? I just met him!"

"But you already think he's cute," she pointed out, laughing at Marinette's expression. "Oh come on you just moved in let yourself have the good things! Plus, I told you the legend of this town right? It's where miracles happen, it's famous for bringing together soulmates. What if your one and only is mister model over there?"

This time Marinette really did almost fall, making her friend laugh at her so loud the boys actually turned to look. Marinette hissed in a low voice, "Oh my god don't be ridiculous I just met him! You're just trying to embarrass me!"

Alya was snickering, whispering too as they drew closer to the boys. "You guys just happened to move in on the same day? Don't tell me that's a coincidence. He's perfect!"

Marinette huffed, face red as she whispered back, "Oh yeah well didn't you say you and Nino moved in on the same day too forever ago? What do you say to that huh?"

Alya faltered, blinking once before rolling her eyes and scoffing. "I call that coincidence."

The rebuttal had been enough to quiet her as they finally met back up in a single group, Nino still filled with unchecked energy as he gestured happily out from the train station.

"Welcome dudes!" he said now that the newcomers were gathered, drawing their eyes to the gorgeous natural view banking away from the station. "This is your new home, Miracle Village!"

Marinette took a step forward, unable to contain a gasp at the sight of such naturally beautiful trees forming slow rolling forests, cobbled roads winding through rich flowing grass, blooming flowers at the very start of spring waving lazily in the breeze. The sight of the crystal blue ocean just visible beyond the stretch of the town, a few colored rooftops only just visible through the canopy. It was so wonderful, tiny yellow birds flying through the air and chirping to announce their arrival, flying out over the station and out of sight as Marinette felt like her heart would burst.

She was there. She had made it... a place where miracles were real.

And to her right she heard Adrien speak, so she turned to look up into his shining green eyes once again as he smiled a smile that was meant just for her.

"Welcome home."