Chapter Text
Now, Marinette is by no means unathletic; she's a parkour enthusiast, was a competitive gymnast, and was captain of her old school's volleyball team. She can just be a bit accident prone.
But when Marinette walked into the gymnasium, she couldn't help but feel intimidated. There were so many people, and most of them had awesome physical gifts! In the corner, a girl was meditating in mid-air, with other objects floating around her. On the opposite side if the gym, another girl was playing with water.
Marinette was so immersed in the display of gifts that she didn't even notice how Alya was right behind her. "Mari! Hellooooooo, is anyone there?" She was even waving her hand in front of Marinette's face.
Marinette shook her head. "Yeah, yeah. I'm here."
Alya looked over at the girl Marinette was staring at. "Oh! That's Atlanta Vesi, she's one of the best students here at MAG. And the girl next to her is... huh. I don't know. I thought I knew everyone." The girl in question had light gray eyes, and platinum blond hair. Her shoulders were slouched, and she looked nervous, as though she were scared of being noticed.
Marinette looked around again, and saw nothing else interesting. She started to turn back to Alya when she heard her name being called.
"Marinette? You made it in? Oh, congratulations, mon tresure!"
Marinette turned around and was greeted with a bluenette with a pixie-bob and almond-shaped brown eyes. "Kagami! It's great to see you again - albeit under less stressful circumstances." Marinette and Kagami both giggled at the end of the sentence.
"Okay, I'm sorry, but WHAT?! Mari, you really did make friends with Kagami!" Alya exclaimed.
"Your point? I understand that I am difficult to befriend given my cold demeanor and lack of social abilities, but that shouldn't make me impossible to be friends with. It just makes it harder, but the ones who are worth it always stick around." Kagami turned on her death glare, and Alya suddenly looked like she wanted to run.
"All of that is true, but what I meant was that you two met in Mari's physical exam, and you were one of her obstacles. I'm willing to bet that she is the only one who thought of befriending you." Alya replied.
However, before Kagami could respond, the P.E. instructor, M. D'Argencourt, shouted, "Okay, everyone, shut it." He waited a few seconds, but no one quieted down. "I said, SHUT IT!" That shut everyone up. "Okay, now I'm well aware it's everyone's first day back, or in some cases," he gestured to the first years, "Your first day here, but I don't believe in starting slow and then picking up the pace. Which is why today you will be competing in teams of four in a capture the flag tournament.
"Every team will have one flag, wrapped around the head of the captain. The goal is to use your gifts and wit to capture all the other flags and be the last one standing. Once a team loses all flags, original or acquired, the team is eliminated and will be forced to go through the obstacle course." Everyone who knew the obstacle course groaned. Apparently, it was harder than some parts of the physical exam entrance was, but Marinette wasn't worried. She was going to win. "The game ends when one team has all the flags, or when we run out of time and I am legally forced to let you go. Now, choose your teams, decide on a captain, grab your flag, and get gone!
"Oh, and did I mention? This activity will be done in the labyrinth." Shit. The labyrinth, or as Alya called it, 'hell', was the worst place for an ungifted. But Marinette was excited. She already had her team picked out.
"Hey Als, Gami, wanna be on my team?" They nodded in affirmation. "Alright. Now, we should get a physical ability, but I don't want brawn. I want something that can be used flexibly. But I don't know who that could be..."
"Ha! Sounds like, you are in need of someone with telekinesis", a girl said behind them. Marinette turned around to see the girl who was meditating at the beginning of class. "Lucky for you, I'm your girl! The name's Laylee, Hanna Laylee." She held out her hand to shake, and Marinette took it. "I don't mean to be rude, but I've never seen your around before. What's your name?"
"I'm Marinette, and I'm a transfer into second year. My application for the first year got lost somewhere, so they allowed me to retake the exam. I got in!" Mari smiled sheepishly at the end. She didn't want to seem arrogant of her abilities, though she was full confident in them.
The application getting lost, however, was a complete lie. Marinette didn't want to apply to the academy at all, but her old school left her in a certain situation that required her to leave.
"Anyway, so, you guys needed someone with a multi-purpose gift?" Hanna asked
"Yes, in fact, telekinesis would work perfectly for what I have in mind." She replied.
"So, what are you gifts anyways? I know Kagami's, but what about you, Alya and Marinette?" Oh no. Marinette hated lying, but she didn't want to tell anyone else at this school about her lack of gifts. Two people is too many.
While Marinette was worrying, Alya was explaining her gift, and even decided to fib about Marinette's. "Yeah, so I can sense whether or not someone is lying, and I can create intangible illusions. I'm not very strong in the illusions part yet though. Marinette here has an intelligence and creativity mashup of a gift, so she can come up with crazy solutions that you would normally never consider. And they always work. Just don't tell Max Kanté, Mari made a bet with him that he couldn't inure out her gift." Hanna looked shocked about the last part. Was making a bet with Max that uncommon?
"Anyway, here's the game plan," Marinette spoke. "Kagami, you can shift into a full dragon for an extended period of time, right?" Kagami nodded in affirmation. "Okay, and Alya, how strong are your illusions?" Marinette asked.
"As long as no one touches them, I'm able to hold them for roughly an hour. If someone touches them repeatedly, then probably a half hour. Why?" Alya responded.
"Can you make multiple?"
"Yeah, I just can't get distracted."
Marinette smirked. "Okay. Kagami, you're gonna shift and hold Alya on your back. Alya, your going to make an illusion of me and Hanna being there with the flag on Hanna. But in reality, Hanna and I will be taking other flags, shrouded in an illusion of invisibility, and I'll have the flag. Hanna, you'll be with me as a distraction/protection. Can you use telekinesis to apply pressure?"
"Yup!" Hanna suddenly understood where Mari was going with this.
"You'll put the amount of pressure that the flag has on the person wearing it, as well as rendering the wearer incapable of movement if needed while I take the flag.
"If the illusions fail, Hanna, you will use your telekinesis to transport yourself along with half of the flags collected, and give them to Alya. Then Gami and Als will come back to the ground, and you will take other flags by force. Hanna and I will stay together, doing the same thing.
"Does everyone understand?" Marinette finished.
Hanna, Kagami, and Alya were all wearing devious grins as they confirmed the plan.
"Let's win this."
She nodded to Alya, who created the illusion Marinette and Hanna right on top of them, immediately making the real versions invisible after. Marinette grabbed Hanna's hand, and saw Alya's brow start to shine with sweat. Marinette looked over and realized that she could see the real Hanna. She let go of Hanna's hand, but she could still see her.
"Alya, of someone touches us, will the illusion dispel for them permanently?" Hanna asked, noticing the same things Marinette did.
"No, just you. Partial illusions are actually easier because I only have to fool some people. That's what I'm doing with you." Alya suddenly lit up. "What if I only had Marinette (illusion) up her while I left (illusion) Hanna down here, causing a distraction and keeping suspicion off of you? And if illusion Hanna disappears, then I create another illusion of her on Kags, and have her jump back down and cause more havoc?" Alya's addition to the plan was perfect! "Oh! And I just would dispel anyone from my illusions as soon as they started the obstacle course."
"That's perfect! Oh! And take these." Marinette said as she handed out one of her bracelets to each of her teammates. "One of my friends from my old school could insert gifts into objects. These all contain the telepathy gift. Just another defense." Everyone nodded.
"ALL RIGHT!" M. D'argencourt exclaimed. "Have one of your team come up to get their flag, and get into positions!"
Alright, Marinette thought. Can Gami, Hanna, and Als hear me?
Hell, yeah! This is so cool, girl! Marinette assumed that was Alya.
Affirmative. Kagami.
All good, 'Nette! Ooh, Nette! That's a great nickname, that's what I'll call you from now on. So, that must be Hanna.
All right. I'm gonna merge with my illusion, and I want Hanna in the outskirts of the crowd. Alya, when I touch the flag, I need you to add it to my illusion and have it walk back to you. I'll join Hanna with the actual flag, and we'll find our first target.
Everyone started telling illusion Marinette to go get the flag in acknowledgement.
Once everything was ready, M. D'argencourt blew the whistle.
Marinette and Hanna decided to go for the group with Chloé, Emery, a third year, and Kim. The flag was with Kim, who was found out to not be spacially aware, as it was quite easy to slip into the group and lift the flag off the boy.
"Chloé's team! Get on the obstacle course!" M. D'argencourt screamed as soon as he noticed, which was a while after Mari and Hanna had already picked off and eliminated their next target, a bunch of buff boys none of them knew the names to.
Steadily, Nette and Hanna had collected at least 20 flags, out of the 65 teams. 10 were currently with Alya and Kagami, and the two of them had collected 7 each. Illusion Hanna was raising hell and causing mass confusion, and 'held' the ten flags left with Mari and Hanna. Their team possessed 34 out of 65 flags, making them the team to beat.
By the fifteen minute mark, there were 9 teams - not including Mari's - left. There was Milo's team - 6 flags, a team of third years - 2 flags, Alix's team- 3 flags, Max's team - which had 9 flags, Nathaniels team, surprisingly -2 flags, Sabrina's team - 1 flag (it's probably with Sabrina herself, her gift is invisibility, Marinette said to the team telepathically), the last team of first years - 2 flags, Ivan and Mylène's team - 2 flags, and Rose and Juleka's team, whose Marinette just swiped.
Aaaaaaaaaaand... that makes 37!
Don't get arrogant, Hanna.
Alya's right. I think Max is onto us. Gami, Als, deploy air assault!
On it, Treasure.
Let's get 'em, girl.
Alya and Kagami lead a frontal assault on the team of first years, who have their flag on the captain in the center of the circle. Illusion Mari joins them on the ground, right on top of real Mari. Nette pins the leader to the ground and takes their two flags.
M. D'argencourt blows his whistle and the team trudges over to the obstacle course in defeat. Marinette could see why no one liked that course; no one was even at the halfway mark, and some people were stuck at the first event, Chloé being one of them.
Mari heard the whistle blow a second and third time, and noticed that while her team was taking out first years, Max had gotten through Nath's team defenses, most of which he drew then materialized. Mari also saw the third years walking to the course, but she didn't see who took them out.
Shit, I hadn't thought about Sabrina's team. Out of sight, out of mind, which they were probably counting on.
Damn. I actually liked Nath's team, Max, Hanna thought. Marinette smirked.
Seven teams left, and Mari saw Max with a calculating look on his face. She realizes that he's probably figured it out, and Nette saw him running to illusion Hanna, most likely to prove his theory.
Als, dispel Hanna's illusion, but keep mine on. Hanna, you're gonna be revealed, and Max will think that's it. Understand? Marinette thought.
Suddenly, illusion Hanna disappeared right before Max touched her. He stumbled in surprise and looked over to where he eventually saw Hanna. His eyes were alight with satisfaction that he was right in his theory.
Hanna, Mari thought.
Yes?
Kick some serious ass for us.
Hanna grinned in sadistic glee, and started floating. Max looked surprised, as if he hadn't counted on Hanna being so in tune with her gift.
Suddenly, Sabrina materialized right behind Milo' team, her hands outstretched towards their flags, her face expression one of shock. Hanna had frozen her, and reached out and swiped the flags off of Sabrina. Mari saw her talking to Milo, and they shook hands.
I told him that I wouldn't steal his flags until we were in the final two. He agreed, said no one on his team would betray us, either. I never said anything about the rest of my team members.
Marinette grinned. Oh, HELL yeah! Sabotage.
Alya smirked at Marinette's commentary. You want us to lead a frontal assault, distract him? Leaving the flags right open to you.
You read my fecking mind, Als.
Isn't that the point of these bracelets?
Marinette almost snorted with laughter, but refrained due to knowledge that noise would give her away.
She signaled to Hanna, who started to mess with Ivan and Mylene's team, who Marinette was surprised were still in. Ivan floated into the air, and then dropped upside down, like he was hanging from his ankle. Mylene screamed in fear, which caught the rest of their team, causing pandemonium amongst themselves. When Milo saw this, he waved at two of his members, and they ran at Ivan and Mylene's team faster than any human had to be - even with a speed gift, which Marinette was sure they didn't have
Oh, shit. I forgot that Milo manipulated kinetic energy. Marinette was shocked that she was so careless in her research of the other teams. Alya, switch your assault to Kagami going frontal and you coming from behind. I'll be directly behind you, masking my kinetic energy with yours. We good?
I'm good. Kags?
Affirmative.
Let's kick some ass. Hanna finished the conversation, and the team divided and conquered.
Milo was obviously shocked when he saw Kagami dive for him and the flags. Then, Mari saw the gears turning in his head, probably reviewing the conversation he had with Hanna; he paled when he realized the wording of her alliance. He shouted for his teammates, but they were still occupied with Ivan and Mylene, but they were also now dealing with Hanna's telekinesis. "I told him I wouldn't steal his flags". She had said nothing about helping others steal his flags. Mari paused for a second to look over at Hanna's face; she was enjoying the hell out of this.
Milo was dramatically flaring his hands at Kagami, slowing her down - the theatre kid obviously had a show for dramatics. He was so focused on Kagami, he barely noticed Alya until they were almost upon him. Marinette's plan worked; hiding in the kinetic shadow masked herself from discovery. Kagami was shifting back to her human form, but keeping her wings. "Marinette" jumped down off her back midair, rolled on the ground to absorb the force of her landing, and rushed Milo.
Milo was so surprised, Mari could tell he hadn't noticed that she had no kinetic energy to manipulate. As Alya tackled Milo from behind, the Marinette's merged temporarily, swiping the flags straight off of Milo.
"Ah! Bested by the newbie! Marinette, correct? My name is Milo DuBois, and it is of the greatest pleasure to meet you... again. " Milo took off his fedora - Marinette wondered how he got teachers to let him wear it in school - and bowed like an actor would to the audience. Drama Club, Mari thought to herself. Definitely Drama Club.
"Yeah, that's me! Say, you wouldn't happen to be the president of the Drama Club would you? You give off what I call 'major showbiz energy'."
Milo straightened, twirling his hat exaggeratingly as he placed it back upon his head. "Very well, you have heard of me! Although, if I might inquire, is there a possibility you would happen upon attending the academy's next production, written by William Shakespeare himself, "The Scottish Play"?"
"Sorry, DuBois. My girl here doesn't even know when the show is performing, nor does she know about which extracurricular she'll be taking. It might interfere. And, if you'll excuse us, we have to go kick some more ass, particularly Max's team's." Alya interrupted, and dragged Marinette away.
"We'll continue this conversation later, okay?" Marinette yelled.
"Directly after your victory, seek me out." Milo replied with a devilish grin.
The real Marinette moved out of her illusion's 'body'. Was that really necessary, Alya? He was cute, charismatic, and he's in the drama club. I heard through the grapevine that they need a seamstress for the costumes.
I don't trust him, girl. No one is that perfect, and my gift tells me that his bravado was an act. If anyone, I'm the only one who truly knows who to trust. Alya stared her illusion down.
And yet you trust Lie-la. Marinette kept that thought to herself, though. She didn't want to accuse anyone of something when she didn't have any proof. Plus, Alya knew Lila longer than she knew Marinette. She would probably side with the one she knew longer.
Alrighty, guys, break it up. We still have to kick Max, Ivan and Mylene, and Alix's asses. Hanna interrupted. Marinette shook herself. She couldn't get distracted.
Alright. I think we should ally with Alix until the next team gets out. She would be the best combatant to Mylene and Ivan because of Lapis Williams. She can make people see their worst fears, and though I hate to do it, Mylene has a lot of fears. Ivan will immediately jump in to console and protect her, causing the team a lot of confusion. During this time, Alix will slip in - with me behind her - and steal the flags, at which time I will directly take while in her hand. This will eliminate two of four teams, leaving - hopefully - Max's team as our last opponent. Alya, you can let go of your illusion when we enter the final two. Everyone understand?
Everyone mentally confirmed her plan. Once again, Marinette merged with her illusion, and she and Hanna walked over to Alix.
"We would like to propose an alliance. Your team and mine go after Mylene and Ivan's, and once we take their flags, we break the alliance." Marinette spoke.
"Why would we do that? We saw what you guys did to Milo's team, why should I take that risk?" Alix refutes. However, Mari and Hanna had planned for this.
"My agreement with Milo was that I wouldn't attempt to steal his flags. I never said anything about the rest of my team. Nor did I say anything about leaving them alone. I left messing with them completely available so long as I didn't collect their flags."
Alix blinks once. Twice. And promptly burst into laughter.
"Oh, god, you played Milo like a fiddle! He's not used to it, seeing as you'll normally find him on the playing side. HaHA!" Alix clamed down, and held out her hand. "Alright. I, nor any members of my current team, will meddle with any of your team members, sans the attack on Mylene and Ivan's team, so long as you promise to do the same, for the agreed upon length of this alliance."
Marinette shook. "I accept. Now, Mylene has a lot of fears, and Ivan is extremely protective of her. If Lapis Williams could use her powers to freak her out a bit, then Ivan would jump to her aid, leaving their remaining team members confused. Hanna will then resume wreaking her chaos on them, and you will sneak to the flags on Ivan's neck under one of Alya's illusions. When you have them, you will give half the flags to Hanna, and we will go our separate ways. This sound good?" Marinette explained her plan. Alix looked impressed that she came up with this plan in such a short time.
"Yeah, that sounds good." She then raised her voice just enough so her teammates could hear. "Lapis! Scare Mylene. Quinn, Lucy, go with Hanna and distract her tam members."
Marinette looked over at Alya, and nodded. Her face scrunched in concentration, when Alix disappeared in front of her eyes. However, Marinette could still see a slight glimmer of something where she was standing.
"We can't see you but we can hear you. Be quiet as possible, and get going." Alya said, sweating slightly.
As soon as Alix started to run off, the real and fake Marinettes separated, the invisible one following Alix. "Marinette" stayed with Alya, acting like she was holding her friend up.
Suddenly, Mylene screamed in fear. Ivan whipped his head over to her, and immediately ran to give her a hug, doing his best to comfort her. But Mylene didn't stop screaming. Ivan was looking confused, until he saw Lapis over by Alya, her eyebrows narrowed, and a sheen on sweat across her forehead. Then, twin yelps sounded behind him, from his teammates, getting strung up by their ankles with telekinesis.
While all this was happening, Alix and Marinette were sneaking over to Ivan. Alix loosed the flags from around his neck, and M. D'argencourt blew his whistle. Mylene stopped shrieking, probably wondering where her personal demons had gone. Ivan looked up, confused, wondering what just happened.
"Bruel! Your team is OUT!" The loud P.E. teacher yelled. Ivan looked down to where his flags were supposed to be, only to not find them there. He sullenly scuffled over to the obstacle course with the rest of the team.
Marinette followed Alix over to Hanna, where she saw Alix hand over one of two flags. Right after the flag left Alix's hands, Marinette pounced.
Alix shrieked in surprise, wondering where the hell Marinette had come from. Then, she felt a pressure around her neck disappear, and realized that they were taking the flags. Hanna telekinetically grabbed the one in Alix's hand, and the two girls high-fived before walking away from a flagless Alix.
Then, Marinette saw her eyes widen. She knew that Alix had realized the loophole in her terms. They did go their separate ways, after all. Just not before taking the flag. And now, with Alix' team out, they can't retaliate.
"IT'S DOWN TO THE FINAL TWO!" M. D'argencourt shouted. "MAX KANTE WITH 11 VERSUS MARINETTE DUPAIN CHENG WITH 54!"
Max looked over at Mari's team in shock, then schooled his expression into calculation, shouting orders at his teammates for this final battle.
Alright. All of our flags are divided evenly. If one of us loses our flags, call "Akuma". Alya, I want you in the background with Hanna as protection. You'll both be raising hell with distractions. Kagami, you'll be using all of the dragon abilities you've got in human form, and I'll be with you on the front lines. I want you to take on the girl with the throwing stars, Amber, and Atlanta, the girl controlling water. I'll take on Max and the girl next to him. I think her name is Astoria, and I'm pretty sure her gift has something to do with shapeshifting. She looks uncomfortable in her body, like its not even hers. Anyway, if you collect any of their flags, telepathically say "Kwami". We ready to win this?!
I am prepared, Treasure.
Oh, HELL YEAH!
Lets GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
And they charged.
Hanna flipped Amber upside down, Alya created illusionary duplicates of every person left on the floor, Kagami shifted partially so she had wings and breathed fire, and Marinette...
Well.
Marinette had already captured 2 of their 11 flags from Atlanta. It seemed Max had the same idea of splitting the flags evenly so their chances of survival was slightly larger.
Kwami! Marinette exclaimed.
"GO GO GO GO GO GO!" Max screamed at his team, and they sprang to action. Atlanta pulled the water out of every bottle in the gym, which was suffice to say, a lot, and created a shield around Max, who had 4 out of 9 flags. Amber used her gift to create several origami throwing stars, which looked to be sharp as knives. Astoria shifted into something to small for Marinette to see at her distance, taking her flags into the shift with her. Max was surveying his surroundings, looking for something that he could se against Marinette and her team.
Soon, all of the illusions charged into the warzone, disappearing left and right as soon as they're touched, but two always take its place. Marinette smirked. Max looked so thoroughly perplexed by the random patterns that his gift wasn't working as well. He was completely unsuspecting of the new girl stalking him, about to pounce. And she did, but just to cause a distraction. Because as soon as Marinette touched Max, Kagami swooped in on her wings and stole his flags and Marinette, taking flight once more.
Kwami! Kwami! They both said at the same time.
Akuma... Alya sheepishly admitted. I didn't even see her coming, I think it was Astoria.
Alright, so we're down to 47. We're still in the lead, and we'll get them back.
KWAMI! I GOT 'EM BACK, ALS!
Never mind, we're up to 60 out of 65. Look out for Astoria, she's the unpredictable one. Kagami, go after Amber with me, Alya and Hanna, use your gifts to find her. Alya, you'll me like a compass. If Hanna starts going the wrong way, you should be able to sense it and tell her. Hanna, do what you did with Sabrina.
Everyone nodded in understanding, and split off.
Marinette ran at Amber, who threw a star at her in return. She dodged it just enough to not hit her, but she could reach out and catch it. She did and threw it straight back. When the star was halfway back to its maker, Kagami set it on fire. Amber yelped, ducking for cover, and a stream of water came in from the left.
Atlanta. Marinette had almost forgotten about her. But no matter. She was almost at Amber, she cold taste the victory.
KWAAAAAAAMMMIIIIIIII!!!!! Alya screamed into their minds.
Marinette grinned wickedly. No more holding back. I'm sorry, that I have to do this, Amber. She thought to her team.
Within 15 seconds, Marinette had Amber pinned to the floor of the gym, ripping off the flags.
M. D'argencourt blew the whistle. "KAGAMI TSURUGI'S TEAM WINS!"
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Hey, guys.
I know, I know, you're all probably thinking "YOURE NOT DEAD?!?!?!?!?" but surprise surprise I am not.
Anyways, its 2021, and I was in a good mood.
So, in order to (kind of) make up for the super long hiatus, I wrote you guys over 4K words. Don’t expect it again, this was hard, and is still not beta-ed. Dear god, I have no clue what I’m doing with this.
I have no idea where this is going, and all OC characters will probably be side-lined. I wanna focus on the relationships and the world's discovery of what Marinette can do.
Hopefully I won't leave you on another looooooooong hiatus, but I make no promises. It'll probably happen.
Hanna is my OC, and thank you to all others who gave me some! You know who you are...
Anyways, yeah, I'm probably gonna give you guys a snippet of her home life and what she does in her free-time. I'll just give you that thought, and get out!
~M.4.R.1.N.0 out~