Dusk had just set over the up-and-coming village, stealing the last of the light from the wooden roofs of the town. Now, only the moon illuminated the cobblestone roads between the wood-and-brick houses. The occasional lit lantern hung on each storefront cast a yellow glow into the blue night, allowing stragglers to find their way back home. Not that anyone would be out this late. Not since the rumors of monsters started circulating around town.

For decades, rumors of monsters plagued not only this town, but the surrounding ones. Monsters that caused destruction unlike any other and only came at night. Most people called it hogwash, claiming that it was nothing more than some lawbreakers causing trouble at night, yet even with that belief, hardly anyone went out at night. Among the children, however, it was the favorite of scary stories.

One child who fully believed in the monsters lived above the most popular bakery in the village. Teased and tormented by her older classmates who said monsters love eating tiny girls with pigtails, five-year-old Marinette grew terrified. According to Chloe, the meanest girl of all, the monsters hid in closets and under beds, waiting until she was asleep waiting to eat her.

Marinette pretended she wasn't afraid because Chloe was just mean and she didn't want to cry in front of Chloe. But when night came and her parents tucked her in to bed, Marinette started to sob. Her mother cooed and coddled her while her papa reached over his wife's tiny frame to rub the little girl's back. "What's wrong, Marinette?"

Between body-wracking sobs, Marinette sputtered out, "Chloe said monsters like hiding in closets…and that they're going to eat me."

Another minute of crying passed before Marinette calmed down enough to look at her Mama's face. "Oh, Marinette. You don't have to be afraid. There's no monster in the closet."

"Tonight," Marinette said, rubbing her red eyes. "What about tomorrow?"

Her mother looked up at her father, who suddenly swooped Marinette up in his arms. He kissed her forehead, his mustache tickling her and successfully getting the little girl to smile. "Well, I'll show you the weakness to any monster. Come on."

Her papa carried her down the stairs to the first level of the bakery. "You see, Marinette. Monsters are hungry creatures. They just want food. But their favorite are cookies."

"Cookies?" Marinette repeated.

Her papa nodded. "Cookies. If you put a couple of cookies outside your closet, they won't eat you because they will want the cookies instead. And if the cookies are really really good—"

"Like the cookies you make?"

He grinned. "Like the cookies I make, then they will leave a note for you saying that they liked the cookies so much they will never eat you because you are too nice, and that they'll protect you forever."

Despite crying her little, blue eyes out not five minutes ago, she was grinning now. "Forever?"

"Forever."

"Papa," Marinette said. "I need some cookies."

He chuckled, taking her to the rack of left-over cookies. "Why don't you choose something for the monster?"

After picking two cookies and having her papa putting them on a plate for her, they went back up and put the cookies on the floor in front of the closet. Then Marinette got put to bed, and she was out ten minutes later.

Her papa stayed up just long enough to nibble on one of the cookies and put it back.

In the morning, Marinette asked why one of the cookies was only partially eaten, and why there was no note. To which Papa replied, "They won't leave a note the first night, you have to keep trying until they do. But there's a secret about monsters: they never visit the same place twice in a row, so tonight, you are perfectly safe."

Marinette squealed in delight.

For a month, she kept putting cookies out, until she learned that the monster only came on Mondays. So every Monday, she would pick two cookies before bed and place them in front of the closet.

And squealed when she woke up three months later holding the note.

She proudly showed Mama and Papa, who patted her on the head and told her what a brave girl she was.

From that day on, Marinette was no longer scared of monsters.

If she ever suspected a new monster had taken residence in her room, she would calmly walk downstairs, get two cookies and put them on a plate for a week, and if there were no cookies eaten, she would take pride in the fact there was no monster.

So, when she was awoken by a rumble on her roof, Marinette wasn't afraid. She was a whole eight years old and knew how to handle , she ambled downstairs in the dark, found two cookies, and put them by the ladder that led from her room to the roof. Without second thought or a fear in the world, she went back to sleep.

When the cookies were still there in the morning, she thought there must have been no monster.

But then it returned two nights later. So Marinette set out the cookies. Yet they weren't eaten.

Strange.

At least the monster didn't return the next night, so Marinette slept easily.

Until she heard footsteps on the roof again.

By now, Marinette was confused. She could hear the monster above her on the roof, but it never came down the latter to eat her.

Maybe it didn't like cookies.

So she tried a croissant, but it was still there in the morning.

Marinette frowned, staring at the croissant on the plate by the ladder. She wondered if she should ask her Papa why this monster was different, but she knew she could figure this out on her own.

The monster came sporadically, leaving her wondering when he would return next. However, one thing was for certain: she was going to have to put the cookies in a different spot. Mama and Papa told her they didn't want her climbing the ladder until she was older, but Marinette deemed this an emergency. She had to protect herself from the monster.

Very carefully, Marinette put two cookies in a handkerchief and tied it up. She put the cookies in her knapsack, which she put over her back so she could use both hands to climb the ladder. When she reached the top, she pushed open the hatch and climbed up to the roof. She didn't stray far from the ladder, putting the cookies on the kerchief right beside the opening. Now, the monster would see them for sure.

The next morning, she opened the hatch, delighted to find both cookies gone. The monster had found them, meaning she wouldn't be eaten. She just had to keep going until she got the note. So, she put them up every other day without fail. And every other day, they would be eaten.

Three months later, she was climbing the ladder, ready to find a note any day now…

But found a gift instead.

Curious, she took the empty kerchief and the parcel wrapped in brown cloth and twine and shoved them in her knapsack before descending the ladder.

Back on the floor of her room, she opened the gift, gasping as she saw a pretty wooden box. It was dark brown, carved with scrolls and bubbles all over.

She didn't know monsters left gifts!

She opened the box to find a little piece of paper with handwriting that looked very much like her own. The last monster wrote pretty, loopy words, so maybe this monster was practicing its handwriting.

-Thank you for the cookies. I like them very much. I hope you like the box. My father said that when I get something, I should give them something in return to be kind.

Marinette frowned, confused. Wasn't it supposed to promise to protect her?

She didn't understand, but Mama told her she should always respond to her letters. And since this letter was a very nice letter, she should do as Mama told her.

The next time she left cookies up for the monster, she wrote a note. -You are welcome for the cookies. I like the box very much. It is pretty.

There. That was kind. Maybe the monster would promise to protect her now.

When she checked out on the cookies she put out a few nights later, she saw a letter. But it wasn't what she expected.

-I'm glad you like the box. I thought it was nice. What is your name?

Since Marinette knew it would be rude not to respond, especially since the monster seemed so nice, she put out a note two days later. My name is Marinette. What is your name?

-My name is Adrien, but I was told that I have to be called Chat Noir. Please do not tell anyone. Please keep it a secret.

Marinette couldn't help but giggle. The monster trusted her with a secret. This was getting very fun. Mama and Papa hadn't told her that monsters could be so kind, nor did they tell her that they liked to write letters.

-I promise to keep it a secret. How old are you?

-I am nine years old. How old are you?

-I am eight years old. Do you go to school like I do?

Marinette didn't know if monsters went to school, but she was curious.

-No. My mama teaches me everything. I want to go to school. Do you like school?

-I like school. The teacher is nice and I like to play outside with my friend. I don't like the girl who sits by me in class. She is very mean to me. She told me monsters would eat me because I have pigtails. She is the reason I do not want to go to school all the time.

-I am sorry that someone is mean to you. You are very nice. I do not know why she is mean to you. I never heard that monsters like girls with pigtails. She must be lying. If she lies, then she must be very mean.

-Do you look like a big black cat, Chat Noir Adrien?

-You have to call me Chat Noir. It's the rules. I have yellow hair and green eyes and a black mask and black cat ears and wear a black suit with black gloves and black shoes and a black belt that looks like a tail. What do you look like, Marinette?

-Okay, Chat Noir. I won't call you Adrien again. I have black hair and blue eyes and like wearing pink dresses. Pink is my favorite color. What is your favorite color?

-I really like blue…

Six months. Six long months of writing and receiving letters with her cat monster. At the end of every month, she would find a gift for her. Flowers. Some coins. Even a doll. And Marinette loved every minute of it.

Except the monster still never told her he would protect her. She was still waiting for that.

-Chat Noir, are you supposed to tell me that you will protect me forever? Papa told me that if I gave a monster cookies then the monster will protect me forever.

Marinette was very nervous putting that letter up, but she was very glad when she found an answer.

-I am not a monster. I am a cat but I promise to protect you for ever and ever because you are my best friend.

Marinette squealed in delight, clutching the note to her chest as if it was her most prized possession. Her best friend promised to protect her forever. Now, she had two monster friends. Surely there would never be any more that came to haunt her.

And the fact that Chloe probably didn't have any monster friends made it all the more delightful.

The next day, Marinette was ready to go to school, all but running out the door when her father stopped her. "No school today," he said. He wasn't smiling like he usually did.

Marinette's smile disappeared in a heartbeat. "Why?"

"No reason, sweetheart. Just stay inside today, all right?"

Marinette relented. She didn't like the look on his face. "Ok, Papa."

That was when Mrs. Chamack came running in. She was a regular at the bakery, one Marinette really liked.

"Hello, Nadia," her father greeted.

"Did you hear about the monster?"

Marinette froze on her way up the stairs. Monster?

"I did," her papa said. "I don't know why everyone thinks it was a monster that burned Mr. Ramier's building down. It's unreasonable."

"People supposedly spotted a black creature running along the rooftops after the fire started."

Black creature? Marinette's little brow furrowed in confusion.

Chat Noir?

That night, she put out a note for her monster. -Chat Noir, are you a mean monster? I heard that you burned down the general store. I don't believe it.

So anxious to receive a note from him that she barely slept that night. The next morning, when she went up to collect the plate of cookies, she saw that he left a note for her. Odd considering that he only left notes the visit after she gave him one. Still, she grabbed the note and eagerly scurried down the latter to read it.

-Marinette. There is something bad going on. I don't know what, but I will find out. Please be careful. I don't want you to get hurt.

Marinette frowned at the letter. Something bad? What was going on? Was there another monster trying to destroy the town.

Two days after that, Marinette had to help her papa clean up the shop because her mama wasn't feeling well. By the end of the day, Marinette was so tired that she headed straight to bed. She had fallen into a light sleep, only to dream about black cats and cookies…

She jolted up in bed. "Oh, no."

It was late, but she found her way downstairs and where the cookies were. The full moon gave a bit of light, but not enough to see clearly. Thankfully, she had made this trip so many times that doing it in the near dark was hardly a problem.

She grabbed two cookies, then scurried back upstairs as fast as she could. She scrambled to find the handkerchief, then tied up the cookies before tossing them in her knapsack and clamoring up the ladder. She pushed open the hatch—

Only to come face to face with piercing green eyes.

She squeaked, shrinking back down the ladder in fright.

"Marinette?"

She froze, staring at the figure with black cat ears and a black mask and blonde hair…

"Chat Noir?"

He grinned wildly and nodded, sending his fluffy hair flying. "Are you bringing me cookies?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry I forgot."

"It's ok." He reached a paw down for her.

She didn't take it and instead continued to climb up the ladder up to the roof of the building. She sat down beside him, looking at him for the first time. He wasn't at all like she expected. He wasn't a cat at all but rather a boy wearing a costume.

"You're very pretty," Chat suddenly said, breaking the silence.

She smiled shyly. "Thank you. You aren't at all how I pictured you."

He frowned.

"It's ok!" she quickly assured. "I thought you looked like a cat."

He pouted. "But I have ears and a tail and everything."

"No, silly. I thought you looked like a real cat."

"Oh," he said. "No. It's just a disguise I have to wear in order to defeat the monster."

Marinette frowned at that. "Defeat the monster?"

He nodded, suddenly very serious. "I have a very important job. There is a monster running around, causing damage to the village. I have to defeat it."

Marinette's eyes grew wide. "Have you seen it before?"

Chat shook his head. "No. I have to find him and defeat him so the village will be safe again. And I will; I promise."

Marinette smiled, then threw her arms around him. "Thank you for protecting me from the monster."

He was stunned for a moment before he returned her hug very tightly. She liked his hugs. "You're welcome," he said. "I promise I'll always protect you."

When she released him, she dug in her backpack to pull out the cookies. "Here."

His eyes grew wide and a happy smile split his face in two. "How about you take one and I take one?"

Marinette grinned. "Ok. You pick first."

So they sat on the roof, each eating a cookie and talking. Marinette loved every minute of it, until she was tired and he had to leave. With one last hug, he left, running across the rooftops and leaping from building to building.

It made her very nervous watching him.

She continued her routine of putting up cookies, occasionally waiting later into the night hoping that maybe he would come.

But he never did.

Nor were the cookies ever eaten when she checked in the mornings.

Marinette was on the verge of crying in frustration when finally, finally a note appeared, along with flowers wrapped up in red ribbons

-Marinette. I am sorry, but I am not allowed to see you anymore. Those are the new rules. I will miss you very much. You are still my best friend, and I promise I will protect you, but I am not allowed to eat any more of your cookies or visit you or write letters to you. I will miss you very much.

After reading that letter twice over, nine-year-old Marinette did burst into tears.

Some birthday gift.

Eventually, she calmed down, rubbing her red eyes before putting the final note away in the box he gave her. The one that kept all her notes. Then, she looked at the collection of wildflowers. She found a vase of water to put them in. Later on, once the flowers were beginning to wilt, she would press them in books like her mama had taught her.

As for the ribbons. They went in her hair. Where they would always be until they met again.