Tikki was fading.

At first, it was barely noticeable—slower flight, a skipped giggle, a transformation that stuttered for half a second. But within days, her glow had dimmed, her words softer and shorter. Marinette tried sugar, tea, rest, everything. Nothing worked.

One night, Tikki lay curled in her hands, light pulsing faintly.

—“There’s someone who can help,” she whispered. “Someone who understands what I am.”

Marinette leaned in, her voice shaking.

—“Who? Who could possibly—?”

—“You already know them,” Tikki said, a tired smile forming. “They were once Ladybug too. Before you. One of the most knowledgeable holders in centuries.”

Marinette’s breath caught.

—“You mean…?”

Tikki nodded.

—“They trained with Master Fu before you did. He practically raised them. They didn’t just fight—they studied the Miraculous. Its history. Its rules. They let it go for school, but… they never truly left.”

The name came to Marinette instantly.

You.

You were quiet, composed, respected. Former student council president, top of your class, and always somehow older than the rest of them—not by age, but by presence. Marinette had spoken to you before, but only in passing. You always seemed... elsewhere, like your thoughts lived somewhere deeper than the school halls.

That same night, she went to your home.

You opened the door, confused to see her.

—“Marinette?”

—“I need your help,” she said, holding out her hands. Tikki, barely glowing, floated weakly.

Your expression changed instantly. You stepped aside without a word.

Your room was quiet and warm, filled with notes, strange books, a small jade box on the shelf. A photo of you with Master Fu, smiling in front of a hidden garden, sat framed on your desk.

—“I knew this would happen eventually,” you said softly, already reaching for a satchel tucked beneath your bed.

Marinette watched as you pulled out ingredients she didn’t recognize—dried leaves, old silk, a glowing stone. You moved calmly, your hands steady, eyes focused.

—“She’s not sick. She’s disconnected,” you explained. “Too many rapid transformations, not enough balance. The Miraculous bonds need care too.”

You placed Tikki in a small circle drawn on a cloth, whispering words Marinette didn’t understand. The room filled with a gentle hum. Minutes passed, then a flicker of light.

Tikki floated up slowly, her glow bright and full again.

—“Thank you,” she said, beaming. “It worked.”

Marinette stared, stunned.

—“You… you really were Ladybug.”

Marinette hesitated, then met your eyes.

—“Will you help me?”

You raised an eyebrow.

—“With Tikki?”

—“No. With me. I need to be better. Smarter. You trained with Fu. You know things I don’t. And you fence.”