Chapter Text
(1 Month Later)
“This past year has been eventful for Paris.” Mayor Bourgeois stood at a podium before a crowd in a park. “We’ve been beset by villains and saved by heroes. Heroes who we owe our very lives to.”
The Mayor motioned to the side, where the seven heroes of Paris were standing, or sitting in Lady Nymph’s case.
The crowd cheered for the heroes and cameras flashed.
“Why do we all have to be here again?” Red Brush asked through a fixed smile.
“Come on, it’s the last time the public is going to see us all.” Oiselle Bleu said quietly.
“And why shouldn’t we go to an event made to honour us?” Belle Aube grinned naturally at the crowd.
“Don’t worry, we won’t have to be here long.” Lady Nymph told Red Brush.
Honestly, like Red Brush, she’d have rather not come. Lady Nymph was a hidden hero after all. But it was also good for the public to see them all together.
“So, to honour our heroes, I present to you our new monument to the protectors of Paris.” The Mayor announced.
With that, the cloth behind him was pulled down to reveal a new statue.
In the place of the statue to just Lady Nymph and Belle Aube was a new statue, one with all seven heroes present.
The statue was of their upgraded forms, rather than their default costumes. So, Lady Nymph, Belle Aube and Sichore rose above the others on their wings, with Lady Nymph at the very top. Oiselle Bleu and Red Brush’s tails were spread out, Oiselle Bleu held her fans like she was ready to throw them, Red Brush and Chat Noir were almost mirror images in pose with their weapons held in a defensive position, Carapace looked as if he was charging forward with his shield in front of him, Belle Aube and Sichore were holding hands with Belle Aube elevated slightly above Sichore, and Lady Nymph was bent down in her high position, arms open to those looking down at her, with a cloud of butterflies making up the base of the statue.
The heroes admired the statue of themselves along with the crowd.
Lady Nymph just found herself glad that the new statue got her age right.
“Yes, wonderful work, once again, by the sculptor, Mr Barbot.” The Mayor spoke again. “His previous statue will still be viewable-” The mayor motioned to the old statue, which was secured in the back of a truck. “-at the Louvre museum, in the wing dedicated to the history of heroes.”
The crowd and heroes clapped.
“Now, I give attention to Lady Nymph, who would like to talk to us.” The Mayor handed a microphone to the heroine.
Lady Nymph thanked the mayor and turned her attention to the crowd, her teammates all behind her.
“For months I have protected this city with the best of my ability, through empowering you to fight for yourselves, shown by how we all came together on Heroes Day. But I did not protect this city alone. One by one, the rest of my team became heroes and fought to protect you.”
Lady Nymph paused her speech to let the crowd cheer.
“I could never be happier to be a hero. But the evil has passed, and all is in its place. And thus, we must announce our retirement.” Lady Nymph announced.
As the heroes had predicted, there were many gasps and protests from the audience.
“With Nihilumbra, and the woman behind that power, gone, there is no longer any need for us. But don’t worry, because even if you don’t see us, we’ll still be here, watching over you. If evil should ever arise again, we will return to defeat it.”
It was a rather obvious outcome for all seven of them, even if Chloe wasn’t as on board with the idea as the others, since she quite liked the fame she had as Belle Aube. With Xue Ying gone, and no further evil around, for now, the teens no longer had reason to be heroes. And the public had to be made aware of that.
Lady Nymph’s clarification seemed to placate the crowd.
The other heroes were also given their own moments to speak, making various comments about still protecting Paris, before finally being able to leave.
Marinette and her friends found Fu staring intently at his tablet when they filed into Sanctuaire de la Dame after the statue unveiling.
“I am so glad that I don’t have to do that again.” Nathaniel groaned, emotionally exhausted.
Marc, who had been integrated into the group after finding out their identities, patted his boyfriend’s back gently.
“Yeah, I’m glad too.” Adrien agreed. “I’m glad that all of this is over.”
“No more fights, no more endangered lives from a power-mad magical woman.” Alya added on.
“Yeah, and no more people cheering for me as I swing past.” Chloe pouted slightly.
“You’ll always be a hero to me, buggie.” Zoe gave Chloe a kiss. “And we’ll get people cheering our actual names for a different reason. I mean, we’re already Lesbian icons as heroes anyway.”
The pictures taken of Belle Aube kissing Sichore after the final battle hadn’t taken long to circulate, and though Zoe was exaggerating slight about them becoming ‘LGBT+’ icons, there was much art of the two heroines popping up everywhere under the pink flag.
“I guess there’s that.” Chloe agreed. “Still, I’m finding it a bit hard to go back to normal.”
“I am too.” Marinette agreed. “I keep waiting for the next villain attack to come, even though I know it’s not.”
The group nodded.
Though Marinette and Chloe had it worse due to being heroes for so long, they all felt an amount of anxiety in their chests, waiting for a villain attack like usual.
“Well, hopefully we’ll get used to things going back to normal.” Nino shrugged.
“Well, except for me.” Adrien mumbled to himself.
“I’m sure you’ll get used to how things are, Adrien.” Marinette told her boyfriend.
“How’s things been going for you anyway?” Chloe asked, curious.
“Tact, buggie.” Zoe sighed.
“It’s fine.” Adrien waved off. “It’s still a bit weird living with the Gorilla.”
Marinette fixed her boyfriend with a pointed look.
“Okay, his name is Eric.” Adrien revealed his bodyguard’s real name. “Anyway, it’s weird, but a good weird. He’s always checking on me and asking me stuff, in his own way, anyway. It’s honestly overwhelming at times.”
“It’s not wrong to feel that way.” Marinette said.
“I know. Matilda told me that too. She’s been helping me through a lot at well, from both Catastrophe and father.” Adrien talked about his therapist.
“Speaking of the ass, what of him?” Chloe asked, once again receiving a scolding about her lack of filter.
“He’s…trying.” Adrien said hesitantly. “He’s coming to the appointed visitations on time and talks to me, but it’s all too awkward to really talk about much. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to living with him.”
“It’s okay, bro.” Nino placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
Adrien nodded his head.
“Soo…” Alya decided to switch topics. “Have you heard about Sabrina and Lila?”
“Please tell me that the liar is in prison now.” Chloe said.
Alya shrugged. “Apparently, she’s being sent back to Italy. It’s not clear if she’s just being sent to live with relatives, or if she’s going to juvie there.” She informed.
“With Belle Aube’s testimony, it has to be for juvie. There’s no way she could escape punishment for willingly being a villain.” Nino said.
“What about Sabrina?” Marinette asked.
“All that was released is that Sabrina was cleared of charges.” Alya reported. “And with some digging, I found that Sabrina won’t be returning to school, I think her dad pulled her out.”
“It’s probably for the best.” Marc spoke up. “I’d hate to be in a school where everyone knew me as a villain, even if they knew I’d been controlled.”
“There will always be those who look for any excuse to bully.” Nathaniel agreed. “And Sabrina would be a prime target.”
Adrien pulled a face at their words.
He wasn’t back in school yet, due to all that had happened, but he would be returning very soon. And Marc and Nathaniel didn’t paint a very pleasing picture.
Then again, he had a support system in his friends, while Sabrina didn’t.
“Mr Fu, are you going to interact with us at all?” Nathaniel asked the old man, who hadn’t turned his attention away from his tablet since they entered.
“Oh…I didn’t think you’d need to be bothered by me.” Fu said, finally looking up.
“You’re looking into your old temple again, aren’t you?” Marinette asked knowingly.
Fu sighed and nodded his head.
Everyone had been stunned when news broke of an ancient temple, as well as the monks inside, suddenly appearing. A temple and monks that, as Fu confirmed, belonged to the Order of the Guardians.
It seemed that the Miraculous Cure released by the combined heroes’ power did not restore only Paris.
“They’re probably still getting integrated with modern day, with being gone over one-and-a-half centuries.” Nathaniel said.
“I can’t imagine the culture shock they’ve received.” Adrien agreed.
“Yes.” Fu mumbled.
The old man the turned off his tablet and placed it down.
“Marinette, Nathaniel. We should finish our project.” He turned to his two apprentices.
Marinette and Nathaniel looked at each other before turning to Fu.
“Right.” They said, following the old man.
“Okay, I think that’s it.” Nathaniel said, leaning back in his chair.
Nathaniel flexed his hand to try and get rid of the cramping pain in it and rubbing his middle finger where his brush had been pressed into it.
Fu came over to inspect Nathaniel’s work, comparing it to a page in the Miraculous Grimoire.
“Yes, you have done well.” Fu patted the boy’s shoulder.
Fu picked up the work and gently handed it to Marinette, who was sat in front of a large wooden box, inspecting it carefully.
Marinette took the work and pressed it, face-down, onto the lid of the box, taking care not to move it once it was pressed, then gently working over the top with her fingers.
“I must admit, this is a more clever method of painting the symbol than was likely used in the original box’s construction.” Fu commented as Marinette worked.
“It’d be a pain if I tried painting the symbol directly onto the box.” Nathaniel said. “Too much room for error.”
Nathaniel looked at the pile of discarded transfer paper, each with a symbol painted on it that he had got wrong in some way.
Marinette removed the paper from the box, revealing the symbol now on the lid of the box.
“There, it’ll just need a final varnish, then it’s done.” She said. “I hope.”
Fu once again turned his attention to the grimoire for reference, concluding that he didn’t see anything out of place.
Marinette handed the box over to Nathaniel, who took it to a work bench where a can of varnish and a brush lay. She then took the grimoire and opened it to the back, catching the loose pages before they could fall out.
“Are you sure about reattaching these pages?” Marinette asked Fu. “Wouldn’t it be better for the Null to be completely forgotten?”
“They are how Xue Ying discovered the Null in the first place.” Nathaniel agreed as he began applying the varnish to the box.
“And they are also how we knew of it.” Fu said. “They were made to be part of the book, and some future Guardian may need them if the Null should arise again.”
Fu and the two teens looked over to a wooden box, carved and painted with symbols, and no apparent way to open it.
The box had been primary priority in construction, making sure it was complete before beginning construction of the box in front of Nathaniel.
“I suppose you’re right.” Marinette agreed.
With great care and patience, Marinette began reattaching the pages into the book.
Once again, everyone was gathered together, sitting on various chairs with a table in the middle of them. It was on this table that Fu placed the box.
“If you would please.” Fu addressed the Kwamis.
The seven Kwamis flew over to the box, touching it and chanting in their language together.
The symbol on the box then lit up briefly.
“The Miracle Box is now ready.” Tikki informed.
Fu nodded.
“Then it is time.” He said.
Fu picked up the box and opened the lid, revealing shallow compartments inside, each colour coordinated with a symbol for each Miraculous.
The seven heroes each pulled a face, hands going to their Miraculous protectively and frowning as they realised what Fu meant.
But they knew that they couldn’t reject him.
Like they had already told Paris, their time as heroes was over.
Chloe stroked her earrings while staring at Tikki, who looked back at her with patient eyes.
She then closed her eyes and sighed, slowly removing her earrings.
The others watched as Chloe stood and walked over to Fu.
“Goodbye, you annoying voice of conscience.” Chloe said good-naturedly to her Kwami.
“Goodbye, Chloe.” Tikki said.
Chloe then placed her earrings inside the box, and Tikki was gone.
Zoe rubbed Chloe’s arm comfortingly as she came to stand next to her girlfriend, removing the bee-comb from her hair with her other hand.
“Until our next performance.” Zoe said to Pollen.
“Until then, my-Zoe.” The Kwami bowed.
Then, like Chloe, Zoe placed the Bee Miraculous in its place in the box.
Nathaniel was next to remove his Miraculous, Chloe and Zoe stepping back to allow him access to the box.
“As short as our time was, it was fun.” Nathaniel admitted to Trixx.
“See you, kid. And look after each other.” Trixx addressed both Nathaniel and Marc with a grin.
“We will.” Marc said as he stood and walked over to Nathaniel, taking hold of Nathaniel’s free hand as his boyfriend placed the Fox Miraculous in the box.
Alya and Nino stood together and went over to the box as Nathaniel and Marc stepped back.
“See you, little dude.” Nino said to Wayzz.
“It was fun, being a hero with you.” Alya said to Dussu. “Being sick notwithstanding.”
“Farewell, Nino. It was a pleasure working with you.” Wayzz said to his wielder in return.
“I had so much fun too!” Dussu cheered happily. “And, uh, sorry again about making you sick.” He added with a nervous laugh.
The two Kwamis disappeared into their Miraculous as they were placed in the Miracle box.
Adrien twisted the ring on his finger nervously, unsteadily pushing himself to his feet and walking slowly over to the Miracle box as Alya and Nino made room for him.
“I…we’ve been through a lot together.” Adrien turned his head to Plagg.
“Both bad and good.” Plagg agreed. “And you’ve come a long way, kid. You don’t need me anymore.”
“I do need you.” Adrien protested.
“Adrien.” Plagg flew close to his wielder’s face. “Look around you and tell me that you’re still the lonely and hurt kid I first met. Tell me that you wouldn’t be okay without me.”
“I…” Adrien trailed off, knowing Plagg was right.
“I’ll be with the others if you ever do need me again.” Plagg assured.
“Thanks.” Adrien smiled. “Bye, Plagg.”
“Bye, kid.” Plagg returned.
Adrien then pulled the Cat Miraculous off his finger and placed it in its compartment in the Miracle box.
Finally, it was Marinette’s turn.
But as she put her hands to her wheels to push herself forward, Fu closed the lid of the Miracle Box.
“Not you, Marinette.” Fu said.
“Huh?” Everyone gave looks of confusion.
Nooroo just smiled knowingly.
“The duty of the Guardian is to watch over and protect the Miraculous, to prevent them from being misused, and hand them to worthy wielders in times of danger.” Fu addressed the teens. “I have served as Guardian for over a hundred and seventy years. But this past year has shown me that I am too old and not strong enough to serve that duty any longer. The time has come for me to pass on the title of Guardian to someone who has proven their worth to me time and time again.”
Eyes widened in understanding and turned to Marinette, while Marinette’s mouth hung open in disbelief.
The standing teens stepped into line, creating a channel from Fu to Marinette, which the old man then walked down with both the Miracle Box and Grimoire in hand.
“Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” Fu stopped in front of the teen. “I henceforth name you as Guardian of the Miraculous. May you watch over them, and they watch over you.”
Marinette took the Miracle Box and Grimoire as it was handed to her, setting them down on her lap as she tried to process what it all meant.
Chloe was the first to clap, quickly followed by the rest as they cheered for their friend.
“I…I don’t know what to say.” Marinette said.
“I know it’s a lot to take in, Marinette.” Fu assured. “But you have already been serving as Guardian since you became a hero. This is just me making it official.”
“Are you sure I’m ready?” Marinette questioned. “I mean-I won’t let you down and I’ll do my best. But what if I do something wrong?”
“You’ll do fine, Marinette.” Nooroo assured his wielder, landing on top of the Miracle Box. “You’ve already been doing a great job. And I know that you’ll continue to do a great job.”
Marinette smiled at the Kwami.
“You can all come and visit your Kwamis at any time.” Marinette told her friends.
“I’m not just passing on duties to Marinette, though.” Fu said, turning to address the remaining teenagers. “Nathaniel, Chloe, all of you. Though your time as heroes may be over for now, I ask that you help Marinette and be there for her. Marinette may hold the Miraculous, but you are all Guardians.”
“Well, at least I get some recognition.” Chloe said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay with Marinette.” Adrien told Fu.
The others all agreed.
They may go on to live their lives elsewhere, but they’d come if the new Guardian called on them.
Fu, Marinette, Nathaniel and Adrien were stood together at the airport.
Next to Fu was his luggage.
“I’m still unsure about you going back to China.” Nathaniel said.
“You and Marinette have learned all you can from me, and I have passed over Guardianship. So, it is time for me to leave.” Fu told Nathaniel. “I need to go back to the temple and face the elders for my actions.”
“Elders.” Adrien couldn’t help laughing.
At this point, Fu was likely to be older than all his ‘elders’.
“They’re still my elders to me.” Fu laughed along with Adrien.
“I hope that they don’t punish you. You were just a kid who was taken advantage of because they were stuck in their traditions.” Marinette frowned.
“Honestly, I still do not want to face them.” Fu admitted. “But a certain item should be taken to them, so that they can hide it once more.”
Fu patted his carry-on bag, with held a certain sealed wooden box.
The three teens nodded in agreement.
“I just hope they choose a better hiding place that the tomb of the last guy to be possessed by it.” Adrien commented.
“I’ll be sure to pass on the advice.” Fu laughed.
“If you’re taking that back to them, why aren’t you taking the box you gave me back with you as well?” Marinette asked, not mentioning the Miraculous in case anyone was listening. “They are the ones who are meant to have it, aren’t they?”
Fu shook his head. “Like you said, the Order of the Guardians were too stubborn and strict in their ways, always thinking they knew best and not bothering to explain while expecting us to just follow their rules. And add on the fact that they are over a century and a half out of date on current events.” He said. “I believe that it’s best for everyone if your box remains with you, a fresh mind who is wiser about the world than them.”
“I suppose so.” Marinette agreed.
Fu then looked at the time on his watch.
“I should go check in.” He said. “Make sure that I won’t be late.”
“Okay.” The three teens said.
“Goodbye.”
“See yah.”
“Safe travels.”
Nooroo popped his head out of Marinette’s purse.
“Goodbye, Wang Fu.” He said quietly.
The four watched as Fu left, waving goodbye.
It was late as Marinette pushed herself into her sewing room at Sanctuaire de la Dame, Nooroo flying beside her.
The property was so quiet now that Fu had left.
Marinette pushed herself over to the antique sewing table that sat in the corner, setting the Miracle Box and Grimoire next to the metal sewing machine fixed to the top of the table.
Until now, the table had just been for decoration, as Marinette couldn’t exactly use the foot peddle, and the inner mechanisms were old and fragile anyway.
But Marinette had repurposed the table in light of her new Guardianship.
With the press of some hidden buttons, the belly of the table opened up, revealing an empty compartment which the metal sewing machine on top would usually sink into.
Marinette picked up the Miracle Box and Grimoire again and gently placed them into the belly of the antique table, then closing the compartment and hiding them from view.
“They’ll be safe here.” Marinette told Nooroo.
The Kwami smiled and nodded.
“They’ll like it.” Nooroo agreed.
“Come on, let’s go home.” Marinette said.
Together, the Guardian and Kwami left the room, leaving the other Kwamis and their Miraculous to rest until they were needed again.