Rewriting the Stars

Betas: Agrestebug, KhanOfAllOrcs, Malauu-Ladynoir, Etoile-Lead-Sama, and Rosehealer02

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

This was written for the first Miraculous Fanworks Discord server-zine Dreams and Revelations.

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Cause you never think the last time's going to be the last time—you think there will be more. You think you have forever, but you don't.

Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy.

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Marinette screamed and woke up with a start, her eyes slamming open as hot tears fell down her cheeks. She bolted up in bed, gasping for air and panting hard, trying to calm the mad beating of her heart.

"Are you alright, Guardian?" asked a small voice near her face, and Marinette focused her gaze. She found herself wrapped in the black canopy of the night; the only light wounding the blackness around her was the reflection of the full moon that filtered from the skylight over her blankets.

She nodded, wiping away the sweat that beaded her skin. "Yes, Barkk," she said, noticing that it was the small dog Kwami that had been talking to her. "Why are you out of the Miracle Box?"

"You had a Vision," said Barkk, floating in front of her nose. "It drew me to you. It's the time of the year for it."

Marinette blinked. "What time of the year?"

"Sirius is rising in conjunction with the Sun. It gives my Miraculous an extra special power, which only lasts for a week or so." The dog Kwami huffed. "That's why this time of the year is called Canicular Days!"

Marinette looked even more confused, so Tikki intervened. "It's not explained in the Grimoire, but this happens every year on the hottest days. The power of the Miraculous of the Dog is the power of Fetch. Fetching objects with its ball or...fetching Visions of the future through its holder's dreams. Since you're the Guardian, it affected you. Is there something that worries you?"

"There wasn't until now, but things have changed after the dream I had." She fanned her neck, understanding filling her, as the Kwamis exchanged knowing glances. "It wasn't a dream? It was awful, I'm still shaking!" She lifted her arms and hands to show them trembling.

"I hope this isn't about Chat Blanc." Tikki looked concerned as she met Marinette's frightened gaze.

Marinette closed her eyes. She frowned, as if trying to remember something of extreme importance. "I was old," she said. "I saw myself in the mirror; I must have been older than Nonna Gina," she started, and then hesitated. She glanced at Tikki and paled. "My husband was terminally ill. I—"

Her eyes filled with tears and she cupped her hands to her face, in a poor attempt to hide her sobs. "It was horrible, Tikki. I went into this hospital room full of machines and he was laying on the bed. He was old, I could only recognise his eyes, bright green and looking at me with so much love it made my heart ache. He was dying." The red Kwami started patting her hair, to soothe her. "I told him I was Ladybug. I asked him to forgive me because," she whispered in between sobs, "I had never loved him with my whole heart. Because the other half was in love with Chat Noir." Her sobs intensified.