There was an unwritten rule that creature and man left each other alone. It wasn’t that half-creatures didn’t exist, in fact many existed throughout the land, but these people were often outcastes, frowned at by people or used for their talents. It was with this rule in mind that Sabine had carefully raised her half-spirit daughter in the realm of humans. Without Marinette using the magic that laid deep in her veins, Sabine knew that her daughter would look normal. Despite appearances though, Sabine could sense her own magic rising in the young girl. Long nights were spent with Sabine holding her sleeping child, hoping within her heart that she could do her best for the little one. Tom would oft come and lay a comforting hand on her shoulder, knowing he could do little to comfort his wife from the present reality.
As the years passed and the young girl grew in the love of her father and mother, the fears within both quieted. Many days were spent on a walk within the forest watching Marinette play with the Fae, or laughing as she covered herself in flour trying to copy her father’s recipes.
This meant that when news of a powerful house capturing half-creatures reached the small bakery that Sabine felt all those fears rushing back with force.
Sabine walked into the family room, and watched her daughter sew up the neighbors dress. As she grew she had become a talented seamstress, and Sabine always watched with fascination as Marinette made the most delicate stitches. Marinette looked up at her mother’s presence, and gently put her work aside, a worrisome look covering her face.
“Is everything okay, Mama?”
Tom walked over from the kitchen, at Marinette’s words. Just like Marinette he easily noticed something off in his wife, ”Sabine?”
“House Agreste is going after half-creatures.” Sabine looked at her husband with trepidation.
At that Marinette stood up, “What?”
“The king is allowing this?” Tom chimed in.
Sabine couldn’t help the tiredness in her voice, “Yes, by permission of the king.”
“This isn’t right!” Marinette’s face was scrunched with anger.
“What are we to do?” Sabine looked to her husband.
Tom looked down at his hands, a look of deep thought on his face. None knew of his wife’s origins. Her and Marinette’s ability to look normal, had saved them from having to share of their supernatural past. That being said, any real research into travel from the east could disprove their story.
Tom eyed his wife, “Luck has been in our favor so far.” Husband and wife exchanged a look.
“So we get to sit still and safe, while others....” Marinette growled. Tom knew she wasn’t mad at them, rather instead at the injustice she had fought her whole life.
Marinette’s hands glowed, her emotions making a glimpse of her power show. He could see her raven hair turning ever so slightly blue. Her eyes took on a black lining with white dots on the outer corners.
Tom put a hand on her shoulder, and felt as they began to sag and the transformation disappear, “Why don’t you go talk to Tikki.” Tikki was an elder Fae, who had watched over Sabine as a young spirit. Sure enough the two had grown close, Tikki adopting Marinette as her own child and friend.
Marinette gave a sullen nod before heading out.
Sabine looked up at Tom, “You know my luck is running out.” The truth that they didn’t tell Marinette was that as her powers grew her mother’s grew weaker. Eventually Marinette would be the true Spirit of Luck, “She doesn’t have any control yet.”
Tom pulled Sabine into a hug, comforting her in his embrace, “She will be okay.”
Some call them ancient Gods. Some call them monsters. A few have figured out that despite their form and underneath their fury is a heart that beats. Within such a wild heart is such a flaw similar to humanity. The capacity to love.
That is how Marinette was born. The incarnation of luck with bright bluebell eyes. Her mother, a beauty in her own right gave up her place among her kind when she fell in love with a baker. Their daughter was the gift of that love and treasured as most precious gifts are.
Some however have found that the monsters could give such gifts when wooed the right way. They covet such children for the power that they hold. They wish to steal a Criptid's heart for the power that flows from within.
Emilie was warned by her twin how precious her heart was, when Gabriel appeared with sweet words of honey and gifts of gold. However, Emilie could see what her twin was blind to.
That the man's love was as true as his hunger for power. She was an animal after all, and an animal can tell man's true intentions. So she bound her heart to him and bore him a son of destruction. What she didn't foresee however was that his love for her wasn't shared with her son. Her heart broke as she watched her son, Adrien, shiver from his father's cold. So she tried her best to warm him, and gave him a love untethered by earthly limits. Her green eyed prince was without flaw in her eyes and she raised him until she no longer could.
Adrien's father knew not what to do when his soulmate passed. Lost in the agony of loosing his wife he turned to his original intentions, and started preparing his son to come into the gift of the mother's power.
Marinette watched with scathing eyes as the caravan made its way down the road. Several of the Grand Duke's knights guarded three caged wagons in the middle of the ensemble, holding several half-humans.
A deep breath shuddered through her, before she felt a familiar tiny hand on her shoulder, "No one is forcing you to do this little bug."
Marinette's eyes didn't need to turn away from the sight before her to see the little sprite that was her closest friend, "I know Tikki." Marinette gave her a little smile, which Tikki returned.
"Then as we discussed?" Marinette gave a nervous nod as Tikki floated forward giving a tender kiss to her charge's head.
Marinette immediately felt the familiar warm magic of her friend wash over her. Her own magic being to unstable to use reliably, Tikki had offered to give her a blessing of protection in return for never telling Marinette's mother.
Looking at her hands, Marinette smiled. The presence of magic on her body seemed to bring out her own cryptid features, as the two black dots that graced the back of her hands graced her skin.
Pulling her braid to the front, Marinette saw the deep blue color instead of the normal dark black, "I didn't expect your magic to activate my fae side."
Tikki smiled, "Our magics are very similar, its no wonder your body so easily recognizes it, now hurry before the spell runs its course."
Marinette gave a firm nod, remembering the situation at hand. Her eyes floated back to the caravan as she chose her target. The middle wagon. It was the least looked after, while men guarded the front and back.
She moved swiftly, holding her cloak close as she raced ahead of the wagons. The narrow road worked to her favor as she found what she needed: A tree over-hanging the road. It was an easy climb as she sat and focused calling for an item from the abyss. Slowly pink magic took the form of a fork and spoon.
She couldn't help but feel exasperated at her magic as the first wagon started passing under the tree. Eyeing the floorboards an idea struck her. The nails were loose. If she gave it to them, they could use the items to loosen the planks and simply slip out.
When the second wagon moved under her Marinette was ready. The two items were already wrapped in a cloth and then dropped below. The four girls in the cage immediately looked up in surprise, as Marinette used the opportunity to make a prying motion with her hands.
One of them had fiery red hair leading into white tips. It reminded Marinette of a fox, and the cunning look in the girl's eye only added to the aura. The girl reached for the wrapped instruments and pulled them out. A quick nod back at Marinette and she started at the floor boards.
A sigh left Marinette. This might actually work. She just had to stay in the area and make sure the women made it out.
"You know its usually cats who get stuck in trees." The sound came from behind Marinette causing a uncontrolled yelp to leave her as she yanked her own head around. The movement caused her to loose her already precarious balance and promptly fall out of the tree and onto her bum.
The man who had caused her so much panic jumped gracefully from the high branch landing in front of Marinette, as she tried to suck in some air. Marinette felt her anger rise as he gave a little laugh, "And I guess its only cats who land on their feet."
