~|~ Dedication ~|~

This book is dedicated to all the stars who protect us from the darkness.

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The streets of Dupain Kingdom were empty and dark for the sun had just set upon the horizon and citizens over the town had come back home from work. They were all ready for a night of satisfying rest. All except one.

Master Fu hurried over the concrete pavements in worry. He was running out of time— he'd already seen the troops and thousands of men in the armies of Bourgeois Kingdom. The Dupain army was outnumbered. But not for long.

Master Fu pulled out a small box from his satchel. He had to work fast— it could take a while for a Miraculous Holder to feel comfortable in their new, heroic form. Master Fu needed time, but Princess Chloe had already insisted on calling forth her father's army to the Gollieb country in two weeks time.

He had given out Miraculouses before, knowing that only a few worthy people could receive it. He already knew who his chosen ones were— the question was: how was he to deliver the accessories to them without being searched? Should he risk his power?

The master made his way to Dupain Kingdom and froze in front of the gates. It was time.

~|~|~|~

Princess Marinette was exhausted so she decided to take a break and rest in her room. The second her head hit the pillow, she sighed in longing from the sweet comfort of her bed. The princess had just arrived from training. Another weak defence, clumsy footwork— she could not even hold the sword's handle right. By the book, she was too weak to lead an army into battle.

Marinette wanted to cry, but knew that her father would never allow it. King Thomas was a strict, disciplined man of glory. He had led thousands of troops alongside his wife, Sabine Dupain-Cheng— who unfortunately passed away before she had the chance  to see her daughter grow up.

The Queen died giving birth to a beautiful girl and her legend lived on through her. Marinette was a hard-working, kind and intelligent girl who received all her good traits from her mother. However, Sabine was thousands of stars stronger than Marinette would ever be...or at least it was what the Princess decided to believe.

"Your Majesty," a feminine voice came from the corridor, "Are you alright?"

Marinette immediately knew that it was Alya and walked to the door in order to open it for the one person who could possibly comfort her in moments of need.

Alya was Marinette's nursemaid and, frankly, her best friend as well. They knew everything there was to know about each other because Alya's mother had already taken care of Marinette and her mother many years ago. It was Alya's turn to take over the royal service of caring for the future queen. If only the job were easy.

"What's the matter this time?" Alya asked patiently, sitting on the edge of the princess's bed.

"What if I told you," Marinette sighed into her pillow, "that my day has not exactly been the most pleasant time of the week?"

"I'd say that I'm a bit insulted," she replied in a teasing manner, "Have I not made your day pleasant enough to endure yet?"

"I'm exhausted."

"I have to clean up after you. If anyone should be complaining about exhaustion..."

Marinette laughed amusingly because she knew that Alya could always manage to make her happy again even after a long day of suffering. Marinette hopped out of bed and asked Alya to fill her bath. As the nursemaid did as she was told, the Princess heard a quick, whooshing sound coming from her window.

She believed for a moment that it were the wind, until she noticed something peculiar on her desk. Marinette's desk was completely covered with piles of books about different languages, sword fighting and music— she had always wanted to play the harpsichord but never quite developed the courage to ask her father— but what stood out to her the most, was an unknown object she had never seen before.

Marinette noticed a small, black box sitting upon an astronomy book. Curiously, she made her way to the object and picked it up with two hands. As Princess, she had received many gifts from the people of her country as a means of gratitude, but never had any present appear for her from thin air.

"Princess," Alya called cheerfully from the bathing chambers, "your bath awaits!"

Marinette hurriedly opened a drawer in her desk and shoved the box inside with a beating heart. She rarely kept secrets, but this one felt important to hide in some way. The princess replied, "I come, I come!"

She rushed to the bathing chambers as if nothing were suspicious— as if a green-like figure did not just fly into her room in a split second to drop off an ancient accessory through her bedroom window.

~|~|~|~

Later that night, after she had made sure that her nursemaid had fallen asleep in her own chambers, Princess Marinette opened her drawer and picked up the black relic once more. There were red symbols carved into the box like hieroglyphics according to Egyptian Mythology books.

She had been deciding whether or not to open it and find out the mystery inside; or leave it close just in case it might be a trap that could take a soul the second it was given.

Worst of all, she had recently read a book about Pandora's Box where a greek, female figure opened a jar filled with horrific qualities like death, sadness, heartbreak and the like, setting them loose into the world. Surely, 'curiosity killed the cat' had it not? But satisfaction brought it back...

I am just going to open it, Marinette thought, why am I thinking of this in too much depth? It's just a box.

Her self-assurance did not stop her heart from beating out of her chest as she faced the opening of the box away from her face. Marinette slowly opened the black object and for a second, nothing happened. She was so relieved to only find a pair of rich, black earrings...

Suddenly, a bright red light appeared from the centre of the case and blinded her. A moment of terror crossed her vision as she dropped the relic on the floor. Marinette imagined the kingdom blowing up from her incompetent curiosity, the story of 'Pandora's Box' becoming a reality, until she realized that she was still in one piece, in the same place.

Blurred from a cloud of maroon smoke, Marinette looked up to see the most outstanding woman she had ever seen in her life: she wore a short, black dress with a red robe— no, more like another layer of the dress, decorated with black spots. It looked almost like ladybug wings. Her stark black hair stood out like a moon in the night, red streaks highlighting her hair.

A pair of red antennae sprung from her head along with a black fringe shaped like a rose, which seemed to compliment her dark irises. Marinette stared in awe, mouth a gape.

"Finally!" the figure coughed, fanning smoke away with her wings, "It's been far too long!"

The lady looked up to Marinette with a wide, over-friendly smile, "Ah, you must be the new Miraculous Holder!"

Her voice was high and unsettling. The princess stepped back with mixed emotions rushing through her mind. Mainly panic. She had never believed in magic— how could this possibly be happening?

What should she do in this kind of situation? Call the guards? Threaten the magician with her sword? Faint? Surely, she was dreaming, right? Maybe this was all apart from her imagination?

"Wake up," Marinette ordered herself under her breath, "wake up."

"What are you talking about, dear?" the woman giggled, "I've been asleep for centuries! I'm certainly wide awake now."

Marinette rubbed the temples of her head, refusing to believe that an actual living being had just appeared in her room from a small, black box. Was Dupain Kingdom's security so disadvantaged as to let someone enter her room?

"Ugh," she groaned, feeling a headache coming on, "someone pinch me— OUCH! Not literally!"

The woman reeled back apologetically, holding her hands together. Marinette would have screamed at her for being foolish, but then realized that she was still awake...meaning that she wasn't dreaming and the woman was real.

"Who and what in god's name are you?" she asked the red figure, stepping back cautiously.

"I go by many titles through the years," the woman replied proudly, "'Lady's Mask', 'The Spot', 'Red Insect'—"

"Are you just making these up—?"

"—but you, dear," she exclaimed, "can call me 'Tikki'."

Marinette held back a snort after a moment of hesitation. Who would possibly name themselves Tikki? It seemed almost too silly for a magician. She must've been a circus performer then? Or a stylistic jester of sorts?

"As for what I am," Tikki continued, reading her mind, "I think it's safe to tell you that I am your Kwami."

Marinette winced in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"Your, as you say... 'pet'," Tikki explained, "that no one knows about."

"Couldn't you have at least been the shape of an animal?" Marinette mumbled.

"Oh, how I wish to be the size of a kitten," Tikki sighed,  "Nevertheless, when you put on your earrings, everything will soon make sense."

The princess shook her head— she was going mad wasn't she? This woman couldn't possibly be serious? Marinette looked back at the door. She imagined this woman going to an asylum in order to fix her perspective of the world. What she was saying simply could not be real! Maybe she was dead after all?

"Trust me, Marinette," Tikki said, "there's no need to be afraid. I am here to transform you..."

The princess slowly stepped back, suspicious of the next sentence that was forming from the Kwami's mouth.

"I will shape you, make you stronger..."

At this rate, the Princess was slowly making her way to the corridor, ready to scream for guards.

"And train you into the warrior you deserve to become."

Marinette stopped in her tracks, seconds away from dashing to the door.

"Say that once more," she ordered.

"A warrior," Tikki said calmly, her silver eyes glistening with hope, "like your mother. You've always wanted to help people like she did."

That was true. It had always been a dream of hers to have the skills to fight for her people just as the queen had. Mentioning her mother certainly made a part of Marinette snap into focus.

"I can help you with that," Tikki convinced, "I can give you the power to save, not only the people of this kingdom, but the entire population of Paris."

Marinette stared intently at the woman, paying full attention now. After all those years training, practicing and reading up on fighting tactics, she's finally gotten the opportunity to be a better soldier. Just like her mom once was.

"I know this is a lot to take in," Tikki said, "but you were chosen for a reason and I am here because my master sends his possessions to the most capable and determined heroes."

"I'm not a hero," Marinette debated, almost in a whisper.

"Only one way to find out..."

Marinette bit her lip thoughtfully. There was absolutely no reason for her to believe this Kwami and there was definitely no reason to join in on the idea, but it seemed worth a try, right?

She had spent all her time being clumsy, exhausted and weak. What if this was an opportunity to gain advantage of being the opposite of what she was— better.

"What do you say?" Tikki asked, raising a brow.

It might probably be the worst decision she could have made, but it was worth the risk for her people and her country. The princess sighed, "Alright, fine... I accept."

~|~|~|~

A/N: Yes, the Kwami's are human-like figures in this fanfiction because it's a different dimension and things are going to change up a bit from now on. I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter so far.

1~~ Ready?