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❄️ Chapter 20 — The Birth of Natalie
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The hum of machinery filled Adrian's underground workshop. The blue glow of monitors painted his tired face, and half-finished code scrolled endlessly down the screens.
Stacks of papers covered his desk—schematics of satellites, dimensional trackers, magical energy readings, and combat protocols he had written and rewritten until his pen broke. His proto-AI was nearly finished, its neural pathways mapped to mimic early J.A.R.V.I.S., but even as the program neared completion, something gnawed at him.
It isn't enough.
Adrian rubbed his temples. He had built this place to prepare for the war no one else could see coming. He knew what the Avengers would one day face—Loki, Chitauri, and far worse. He knew how fragile the world really was.
But… what good was an AI alone against gods and monsters?
He glanced at the object resting beside the keyboard. The Peacock Miraculous. Its surface shimmered faintly in the dim light, like it was breathing.
Adrian picked it up.
The moment the Miraculous touched his palm, a rush of energy coursed through him. He whispered the command:
"Duusu, spread my feathers."
Blue light burst across the room. Feathers of magic swirled around him, wrapping his body until the transformation sealed. Adrian felt his heartbeat echo inside his chest like a drum.
Bark hovered in front of him, fluttering nervously. "Adrian, what are you—"
Before he could finish, a ripple of light filled the room. One by one, the other kwamis appeared, as though summoned by instinct. Tikki, Plagg, Wayzz, Nooroo, and more—all stared at him with wide eyes.
"Adrian," Tikki said softly, worry in her voice, "what are you planning to do?"
Adrian inhaled shakily. His fingers tightened around the Peacock fan. "I… I'm going to create someone. Not a weapon. A partner. Someone who can help me manage the base, someone who can fight beside me when the time comes. I can't keep doing this alone."
Plagg's ears twitched. "You're talking about a Sentimonster."
The word hung in the air like a curse.
The kwamis exchanged looks. Even Nooroo, who had seen the Peacock's true potential misused by past holders, floated back with unease.
"Sentimonsters are dangerous," Wayzz warned gravely. "They're bound to your emotions. If your heart is impure or weak. They can become unstable, even destructive."
Adrian looked down, his hands trembling. "I know. But I won't make something disposable. I'll give her free will. I'll make sure she's not just a puppet but… someone kind. Someone who wants to help humanity."
Tikki flew closer, her tiny face serious. "If you really mean that, Adrian, then you must promise: no commands that strip her choice. No making her into a single-minded machine. She must be free."
Adrian met her gaze, his chest tight. "…I promise."
The kwamis didn't look convinced, but they didn't stop him. They floated back, watching anxiously as Adrian opened the Peacock fan.
Adrian plucked a glowing feather from the fan. It shimmered like starlight in his hand, alive with energy.
Slowly, he walked to the supercomputer and placed the feather inside the energy chamber. Lights surged, code rewriting itself as magic fused with circuitry.
Adrian closed his eyes. He channeled his emotions—frustration, anxiety, determination, but also compassion, the desire to protect, the will to build something good. The energy built inside him until his chest ached.
"Be someone who helps," Adrian whispered. "Be someone who protects."
The chamber filled with blinding light. A humanoid silhouette began to form within the projection field—tall, elegant, sharply defined. Adrian's breath caught as features came into focus:
Blackish-blue hair, cut sleek around the shoulders. A serious, striking face. A fitted business suit with faint glowing lines tracing across the seams, part magic, part tech.
The figure opened her eyes.
Blue. Calm. Aware.
She stepped forward, solid and real, her heels clicking lightly on the workshop floor.
Her gaze found Adrian immediately. She bowed her head slightly. "Thank you… master Adrian for creating me. "
His heart lurched. "Don't call me that. Just Adrian."
The woman straightened. "Very well." She tilted her head, almost curious. "Then… what am I?"
Adrian swallowed, a weight pressing against his chest. "…You're Natalie. Welcome to the world."
The kwamis hovered nervously, but Natalie's presence wasn't hostile. She walked with calm precision, surveying the workshop.
"I can feel… so much," she murmured. "Your memories. Your intentions. The echoes of the Miraculous."
Her eyes glowed faintly, and a wrench from across the room floated into her palm. Telekinesis. She closed her hand, and the metal compressed with impossible strength.
Adrian stared. "You can use…?"
Natalie looked at him. "Telepathy. Telekinesis. Teleportation. Technopathy ,Enhanced learning and intuition." She glanced around, absorbing the screens of code in seconds. "Your AI design is impressive. But flawed in its efficiency. I can restructure it."
Adrian blinked. "…Already?"
Natalie smiled faintly, the first trace of warmth on her serious face. "That's what you created me for, isn't it? To help. To protect."
Tikki floated closer, still cautious. "Do you… want to?"
Natalie turned her gaze to the tiny kwami, her voice steady. "Yes. I choose to."
Something softened in Adrian's chest. He exhaled, tension draining for the first time in weeks. "Thank you."
Natalie stepped closer, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "You don't have to carry the weight alone anymore, Adrian. Not while I exist."
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🌌 Harry's Midnight
Meanwhile, across the city, Harry Osborn tossed in restless sleep. Fever dreams flickered through his mind—Peter's disappointed eyes, Norman's dismissive voice, Venom's whispers.
Weak. Forgotten. Replaceable.
A knock jolted him awake. He rubbed his eyes, groggy, glancing at the clock. 2:17 AM.
"Who the hell…" He stumbled to the door, pulling it open.
A woman stood outside.
Beautiful. Ethereal. Golden hair spilling over emerald robes that shimmered in the moonlight. Her eyes glowed faintly green, and her lips curved into a smile.
Harry froze, face flushing. "…uh… hi do you want something?"
The woman's voice was smooth as silk. "Nothing much, sweet boy. Just… your blood."
Harry blinked. "My… what?"
Before fear could settle, her gaze deepened, enchanting. Harry felt dizzy, his will unraveling.
"Yes," she whispered, almost tender. "Bring me a glass. A small cut will do. Be a dear."
His body moved before his mind caught up. He stumbled into the kitchen, grabbed a glass, and a knife. The blade shook in his hand, but he pressed it against his palm and sliced. Crimson dripped steadily into the cup.
When he returned, the woman beamed. "Perfect." She leaned down, brushed her lips against his cheek. "You're such a cutie."
Harry's face burned red, confusion and pleasure tangling.
The woman—Enchantress—raised the glass, savoring the sight. Before leaving, she whispered close to his ear: "Forget. Forget everything that happened here tonight."
Harry blinked. His vision blurred. By the time the door clicked shut, he was already walking back to his room in a daze.
He collapsed into bed, sleep reclaiming him.
When he awoke hours later, there was no glass. No blood. No wound.
Only a faint ache in his palm.
And, for a brief second, as he stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes flickered black.
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Far away, in the shadows, Enchantress tipped the glass of Harry's blood into a runed basin. The liquid hissed, swirling with green fire.
From the darkness, a voice purred. "Excellent. Venom's traces will serve well."
The woman smiled. "You'll have your army, trickster. The boy never suspected a thing."
The voice chuckled—Loki's chuckle, smooth and mocking.
Back in his workshop, Adrian adjusted a scanner, Natalie at his side. She paused suddenly, her expression sharpening.
"…Strange," she murmured.
"What is it?" Adrian asked.
Natalie's eyes narrowed. "I felt… something. A flicker of magic. Not far from here. Old. Dangerous."
The kwamis exchanged uneasy looks.
Adrian clenched his jaw. He had no idea that Harry's fate had already been touched by Loki's game.
But for the first time, he wasn't alone in the fight.
Natalie stood beside him, calm and resolute.
And somewhere in the city, shadows gathered.
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