//------------------------------// // Getting to Know You: Part One // Story: Kindred Spirits // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// Damon pulled on a rope to ring the bell to signal to his guests that dinner was ready. Adrien heard it and turned to Plagg, "Time to transform again." The Kwami groaned, "Can't we just have dinner sent up here? You've been Chat Noir for like the whole day! My poor body can't handle it!" "Sorry, Plagg but it would be rude if we didn't show up. Damon has gone through a lot of trouble to make us a meal; the least we can do is let Chat Noir make an appearance." While this had been going on, Discord, Tobey, and Nick were going out of their rooms when they heard the arguing coming from Chat's room. "Well what's going to happen when you run out of camembert? What then? You know you can't transform without me being energized!" "I'll have to think of something later, but right now I have to transform. So, Plagg, claws out!" From the crack under the door they could saw a green glow before it disappeared then Chat Noir opened the door to see the guys standing outside, he put on a cheesy grin and said, "Oh, hey guys, I was just about to head down to dinner, you coming?" The trio had their arms crossed with dubious looks on their faces. Discord started, "You do realize that once we go back to our own worlds, we'll never see each other again…" Tobey made air quotes, "So the whole 'secret identity' thing is really quite unnecessary in case…" Nick added, "So if you're having trouble staying transformed throughout this whole ordeal then really you shouldn't have to stay transformed." Chat was surprised by this and had to admit that they made some excellent points. If they were from different worlds to begin with, does protecting your identity really matter all that much? With a sigh, he decided that no it didn't and said. "Claws in." Chat Noir was back to being Adrien and Plagg was floating next to him. The three guys were bit taken aback by the teen boy's mundane appearance. Discord then noticed the little creature that looked like a black cat and commented, "A Kwami, of course, I should have recognized your presence to begin with." Plagg floated to them with Tobey and Nick giving him strange looks. "The name's Plagg, and my power is the power of destruction." Tobey chuckled, "Really? A tiny thing like you can destroy things?" Plagg went to his face, "Trust me, I can destroy cities if I wanted to." Adrien came up from behind and stated, "Which is why you need a miraculous holder to keep you from doing just that." he showed off his ring, "My partner Ladybug has earrings for her miraculous and her power is creation." Discord wearing Sherlock attire blew on a bubble pipe, "Ah, yes, the opposite of destruction, I see. When one is the opposite to the other they can create a bond strong enough to overcome anything." Nick mentioned, "I know for a fact that this is true. My own partner, Judy, is very different from me but together we're able to solve any case within days!" Tobey smirked, "So you have a special someone in your lives too?" Adrien rubbed his neck awkwardly while Nick turned his head away in embarrassment. Discord gushed, "Ooh! They do!" Nick countered, "She's not… that is to say… We're just really good friends." Adrien said, "My lady, uh, Ladybug doesn't really see us that way but only as friends, but I hope that someday that it could change." Just then the bell rang again reminding them they had to get to dinner. "We better get going, and by the way my real name is Adrien Agreste." as the teenager started to go with Plagg by his side. The others followed right behind him. Marinette groaned as she woke up, she noticed she was in a bed in a small room. She voiced out, "Where am I? How did I get here?" then called out in concern, "Tikki? Are you here?" when no answer came she began to worry until a small voice replied. "I'm here Marinette." She turned to see the floating red Kwami with a single black spot on her head approach her. "Oh thank goodness! I thought I lost you for a moment!" she outstretched her hands for the kwami to land in and held her to her face. She asked, "Do you know where we are?" "No, I don't, but I do know that's it's safe." "How do you know that?" "I can sense the light magic that surrounds this place." "Light magic?" Just then a white glow happened and out of nowhere a young woman dressed in white with crystal-like wings appeared before her. Marinette gawked at her and was speechless. The fairy smiled and spoke, "Do not be afraid, Marinette." "You… you know my name?" "I do, for I have brought you here for a very important reason." "I… I… I..." she cleared her throat, "I'm flattered you think I can do something to help you, but now's not a good time to do it because I'm currently searching for my partner who disappeared-" "Chat Noir. Yes, I know about your quest and that's the reason why you were brought here." "You know where he is?!" "Alas, I do." Marinette and Tikki exchanged a confused look. "He is with one most evil… A dark wizard that will use him for his own purposes…" The girl gasped, "No! If he gets hold of Chat Noir's miraculous, who knows what kind of destruction will be unleashed!" "Indeed, and he also holds three others as his prisoners, each valuable in their own right." "Who… Just who are you?" "I am Cecilia. I am friend to all that does good for others." she waved her hand and images of Marinette as Ladybug appeared as she defended Paris and helped people after they were akumaized. Then images of herself showed her being a kind and noble person especially to her friends. That made her realize… "My friends! My family! They'll be so worried that I-" "Please do not fret, I have sent a special message to Master Fu, he will take care of everything." The teen sighed in relief. "Now it's best you get your rest, for tomorrow you'll get to meet your companions that will help you undertake this journey to get back your partner." "Companions?" "You will see, but first…" she pointed to the bed. Marinette obeyed as she commented, "You remind me of my mother." Cecilia merely smiled, "I always hoped I could be one someday…" "I'm sure you will, with the right person." The fairy stated, "It cannot be, I'm afraid." "Oh? May I ask, why?" She made a sad smile, "The one I love is beyond my reach." "Oh… I'm sorry…" "It's alright, other people's happiness is much important than mine…" Marinette didn't know how to respond to that. "Now, I wish you a good night and happy dreams." and just like when she appeared, she disappeared the same way and Marinette and Tikki were left alone once more. As the guys were eating dinner, Adrien and Plagg explained more about Kwami magic making Damon very interested who had heard of the creatures but never seen one until now. He felt fortunate that the Kwami holding the power of destruction ended up here within his grasp. Making him think, That Kwami is the perfect thing I need to carry out my plans. Then he looked at the others, Discord's power is also useful, it's just a matter of getting it. Nick is a special kind of fox being able to talk and walk on his own; he would be an excellent example for when I experiment with my own animal creations. Then there's Tobey, such untapped potential within him, he's slowly lingering to the light but I'll convince him otherwise and have him show me how this science works. With it, I'll be the most powerful wizard there ever was! Just then, Discord said to Nick, "So Nicky, tell us more about this partner of yours." The fox turned his head away, "There's really not much to tell…" "Oh come on, there must be something." said Adrien, "You said you two were a great team, that sounds a lot like me and Ladybug." He turned his head back, "Well, okay… But first there's a few things you have to know, for starters… I… was a con-artist before I became a cop." This surprised the group as he continued, "Yup, it was the classic fox trope. I was an A-class trickster when it came to scamming mammals out of their money. I even had permits to keep me ahead of the law and that's exactly what happened when I first met Judy Hopps. And yes, judging by her last name only, she is in fact, a rabbit." The boys gawked to this, with Tobey trying to comprehend, "But-but… if she's a rabbit and you're a fox… doesn't that technically mean you're natural enemies to each other…?" "Correct, my furless friend." Discord was having trouble as well understanding, "How strange, in my world rabbits would never dare go near foxes," he mumbled under his breath, "Well except maybe Angel Bunny but even then I don't think he's a normal rabbit…" he said out loud, "But if what you say is true, Nicky…" Nick explained, "That's because in my world, we've evolved from being "savage", thus predators and prey can live in harmony together. That's the reason Zootopia was created and I've lived there all my life. But even as much as animals can live together in one city, there's still fear and ignorance hanging around. Now, I never told this to anyone but Judy, but since we won't see each other again and chances are if you had told someone of this, no one is really going to believe you." Discord, Tobey, and Adrien nodded in agreement. Tobey mentioned, "I still think this is all just a bad dream I can't wake up from." Nick agreed, "Exactly." then continued on, "So yes, when I was younger, I going to join a group called the Junior Ranger Scouts, I was so happy knowing I was going to be part of a pack that would accept me for who I was, what I was…" he scowled and clutched to his drink, "I was about to take the oath, but then…" his hand shook the cup and he shut his eyes like he was on the verge of tears, "They pushed me down and held me there… and then… they muzzled me…" The entire room was silent with shock. Discord and Tobey were appalled by such an act and Plagg looked like he lost his appetite after hearing that story. Adrien uttered out, "Other animals did that to you…?" "They were prey… and I'll never forget their words of not trusting a fox, when I have done nothing to provoke them in the first place… From that day on, I decided to let the world see me of what it saw me as and that I wouldn't let anyone see that they got to me." there was a pause before he started to smile, "But boy, did that ever change…" The other guys but Damon slowly grinned knowing where this was going. "So it was just another day of conning when she stepped in into the ice-cream shop…" Judy was in utter bewilderment by how she ended up in a different room from hers. "What…? How…? How did I get here?" she looked around the small room and braced herself for the worst. A glow happened and appeared a strange creature that Judy's never seen before making the bunny gasp in fright. "What are you?!" Cecilia told her, "Please, don't be alarmed by my appearance, Judy." "How did you know my name?!" the rabbit got into defense position, "I'm warning you, if you don't give me some answers right now, I'll-" The fairy held her hand up, "I understand you're confused and scared, as this all so very new for you. You never seen someone like me before in your world and that is understandable." "World? You mean I'm in a different world? That's… that's impossible!" "And yet, your partner was swallowed by a portal." "I knew it! I knew I wasn't seeing things!" "Indeed. For he was brought here by misfortune and is now held captive by one who will use him for evil." "No!" "Do not despair, for he is with three others who have been taken as well and already I have brought the ones that will help save them including you." "Who are they?" "All in good time, first you need your rest." Judy looked at the bed but hesitated to go near it. "I understand that you do not trust me and you have every right to. But I promise, by tomorrow morning, everything will be clear." Judy still wasn't sure, as she said, "I am lost on what is going on, but as long as I get answers soon then I think everything will work out. You're right, I don't trust you but if you know where Nick is then I will listen and do as you ask." "I thank you for your cooperation, and I promise that you will find your fox. Those with good in their hearts always prevail." she conjured up images of Judy doing what's right when she was young and when she first became a police officer particularly the moment she told Mrs. Otterton she would take the case of finding her husband. Judy was astounded by the magic she saw before her, while she didn't normally believe in magic as it didn't exist in her world but what she was seeing now was truly amazing. Cecilia ended the images and said, "I know it'll take time to get used to but I think you'll come to like what this world has to offer." "But if you have magic yourself, why can't you save Nick and those others from the evil?" "His power is very strong but it is also combined with another evil, but I will tell you all about that tomorrow." "You promise?" "I promise." she smiled. Judy seemed satisfied by that and went to the bed. "Happy dreams, Judy Hopps." and Cecilia once more disappeared. "…And then together we were able to trick that sheep to admitting she was using Night Howlers to turn the predators savage, then things slowly went back to before all that happened, I graduated from the police academy and Judy presented me with my badge and I officially became her partner on the force. We've been an inseparable team since then. And that my friends is the story of a fox who finally got to be more than what the world saw him as, all thanks to one bunny that means everything to him." He saw the gapping looks on his dinner companions' faces as if they had been spellbound by the fox's tale. Finally Discord spoke, "Sheesh, you came from a complex world… I'm sure Fluttershy wouldn't like being there even if it's a city full of animals." "Fluttershy? That's an odd name." commented Tobey. "Please, Equestria is full of sappy girly names and ridiculously food based names as well. And don't forget my name is Discord after all." Adrien pointed, "He's got a point." Plagg said, "It's no different then what us Kwamis call each other." Tobey admitted, "Well I suppose I get that, after all Word Girl has a monkey sidekick name Captain Huggy-Face and a few of my villain colleagues have bizarre names as well." He noticed the strange looks on their faces. He sighed, "Yes, her name is Word Girl but for a good reason! She has to constantly improve the city's vocabulary because the people are too inept to know any better! I dare say it's a miracle that my intellect was never as horrible as theirs. It's further proof that Word Girl is my equal in terms of intelligence." Nick slowly started, "So… you come from a world that's… not smart?" thinking that was the best way of saying it. "More or less. But a lot of villains like Dr. Two-Brains, Granny May, and Mr. Big are quite smart for their own devices. Now that I think about it, it might be the reason why I stayed a villain as long as I have, they were the only ones I could talk to, who understood me… My classmates were unable to keep up to me except well for Becky Botsford whose the smartest girl in school and the only friend I have, but I would never dare tell her that to her face. I have a reputation to uphold after all." "This girl, Becky," said Discord, "If she's the smartest girl there is, is possible then that she could be-" "Could be Word Girl?" he slightly chuckled, "Believe me I thought that too, twice even! But whenever I was with Becky, Word Girl would show up." Adrien questioned, "So there's two girls in the whole city that happen to be smart and there's no other girl that's like that?" "There's Victoria Best but she's a cheat when it comes to being "the best" as she always claims she is." "Sounds like Chloe and Lila put together…" Adrien muttered. Nick mentioned, "So this Becky Botsford is the only girl that's smart enough to be Word Girl and yet she's not… Something doesn't add up here." Discord said, "Think Tobey, when Word Girl and Becky were in the same place did you get a good look at Word Girl?" Tobey thought about it only for him to realize… "No… I never did get a good look, Word Girl was always off at a fair distance, why the first time I saw her with Becky she did seem strange and the second time there was a silhouette of her…" The three guys glanced at each other with Nick saying, "Sounds like your classic misdirection to me." Tobey gaped in bewilderment and uttered, "Can it be…? All this time…? Her sparkling eyes and ruby lips were always similar to hers and those times when we hung out… I hoped that somehow I was mistaken that she could have been the same person all along…" he saw the sly looks on their faces making him sputtered, "Did… did I say that out loud?" They nodded their heads. Then the hope diminished from his eyes as he countered, "No, I won't go down that path again, I've been disappointed once, twice, it didn't happen then and it won't happen otherwise." he crossed his arms and held his head down. Adrien told him, "Tobey, don't think that, I want to know Ladybug's identity and well I know a girl that's just as amazing as she is. Her name's Marinette and she's one of the sweetest girls ever and well… sometimes I wonder if she's Ladybug but then there have been moments that seem to reduce that idea. She's a great friend otherwise but the fact remains that Ladybug is the girl of my dreams so don't give up on thinking you'll never have Word Girl." Tobey faced Adrien with a small smile, "I don't plan on giving her up, Word Girl is the girl of my dreams it's thinking that I can have both Becky and her is what's impossible." Nick and Discord exchanged a look with the draconequus saying, "So you're both in love with a superhero and yet you don't know that much about them, meanwhile you got friends that are just as good as these heroines but you rather have the super." Nick added, "You like the girls that are your friends, right? Why don't you try to pursue them instead? Isn't a real girl better than a dream girl?" Both Tobey and Adrien blushed and felt awkward. Plagg chuckled, "I told Adrien the same thing when he first got me. There are other girls out there that worship the very ground he walks on." Discord went, "Ooh, don't tell me, you're actually a prince?" Plagg replied, "Close, he's a model." Adrien said through gritted teeth, "Plagg… don't tell them that…" "A model?" Tobey scoffed, "I should have known. You look like someone who would be a celebrity." "It's not like I have a choice. My father is a famous fashion designer and he needs me to model the designs he makes. My whole life is planned out because of that, I have to take Chinese lessons, fencing, do photo shoots, and school on top of that." Discord commented, "That sounds tortuous to me. Do you even have time for fun?" "Sometimes but that's okay, being Chat Noir gives me the freedom I need to be myself, where I don't have be the perfect figure that Father always wants me to be." Nick and Tobey were quiet with this as Discord kept talking, "So I take it you and your father don't have the best relationship there is." Plagg spoke up, "Heck yeah! His dad is like the strictest person ever! Before I came into Adrien's life he was force to stay in his own home, and couldn't have friends over or anything!" Damon looked away knowing all too well of the rules he had to follow for his master. He knew how Adrien felt as strange as that was. In fact, what was even stranger was that he was able to relate to all these newcomers when it came to unrequited love to someone close to him. He remembered the days of when his childhood friend and him would play together and he loved every moment of it. He had hoped to one day confess his love for her but couldn't when he turned over to the dark side and she renounced him completely. That was the breaking point for him and vowed to become so powerful that she would regret ever leaving him. If these girls were anything like his friend then he knew that they didn't stand a chance of having them for their own. So it's just as well that I'm keeping them here, I'll spare them from any heartache they'll have to endure later in their worlds. One day, they'll thank me.