...so when Gabriel was in the bathroom on that train when he transformed and tried to akumatize someone...
...you think anyone could have just...I dunno, recorded it?
__________________________
Michael Donahue was the hero of Paris.
In truth, he was an American tourist. And about as American as one could get.
And AS a young American in a foreign country, he did what most Americans do: abuse his phone's camera function for anything and everything he thought was interesting and likely to get him likes on social media.
He recorded a man feeding pigeons before being run off by a police officer.
He recorded some curator at a museum telling a wild fanfic idea at the Louvre.
He recorded a bunch of people chasing after a blond haired kid and screaming at the sight of him. Which...okay, weird?
Well, he'd known Paris would be weird. But he didn't think it'd be THIS weird.
But then THAT day happened. And what he thought was perhaps the silliest…even the downright dumbest thing ended up being what made him go viral in the last way he ever expected.
Some would consider it uncouth. Most would have just politely ignored it.
But Micheal was a young American with a need to record everything.
And he was already in his seat in a train waiting for it to depart for his next travel destination...only to be delayed due to some reason that he, not being French-speaking, didn't understand.
Ultimately, that made this the perfect combination of bored and impulsive in JUST the right way to achieve a miracle.
So when he heard what sounded like shouting and insane laughter coming from the bathroom on the train, Michael—in true American fashion, decided to record it.
"Dude, some guy has taken over one of the restrooms and is yelling like crazy!"
…and for the sheer hell of it, he started livestreaming.
And his chat started to come alive.
What's going on?
"The train's held up. My French isn't that good. An 'akuma' or something?"
What's an akuma?
He looked over his shoulder.
"I dunno. But that guy in the restroom has been shouting about it a lot."
On the other side of the door, the faint sound of yelling could be heard. Most of it garbled that Michael couldn't quite make out except for a few words.
"—akuma—"
"—Ladeebuug!"
What's he shouting?
"Something about Ladybugs and noir? Is he shooting a movie or complaining of a lack of pest control? Lol."
Out of all his vids and livestreams, he hadn't expected the one about some random making a scene in a bathroom to be the one that got attention, but more people were joining the chat and he saw his numbers rise more than they ever had.
"Wow. Okay. Didn't expect to get this level of response."
He made sure to keep the camera on the bathroom door the noises were coming from rather than himself. It was what the people wanted to see apparently and it allowed better audio quality.
What was perhaps the most interesting was that he started getting comments in French.
In all caps.
With many exclamation points.
Is this real!?
HAWK MOTH!
IT'S HAWK MOTH!
WHERE IS HE?!
"Hawk Moth? What?"
Then a particularly insistent commenter named LadyWifi joined and started to spam the chat.
Où est-ce?
Où est-ce?!!
OÙ EST-CE!!!
"Wait hold on. What?"
Où
où!
WHERE?!
WHERE IS IT
OÙ
wherewherewerewhere?!!!!!!!!11!!1
He balked at the repeated demands. Given the chat seemed to be repeatedly questioning where in English, he could only presume that's what they were asking in French, too. But he had no idea why and no explanation was forthcoming! Any attempts anyone made to tell him what was going on quickly got lost in the flood of comments demanding a location.
Before he could comment further though, his thoughts were interrupted by a cry of outrage from the restroom, loud enough to ring his ears.
Silence.
Then…
"Nooroo, detransform moi."
There was a strange sound from inside. Muffled, but distinct enough. Like how sparkles should sound? Something from one of those magical girl shows his little sister watches.
A click signaled the door unlocking.
"I think he's about to come out!"
The chat was going wild. Everyone commenting. Making random names? Maybe trying to guess who the person on the other side of the door was?
Then some blond guy in glasses and a really unfashionable suit came out of the restroom.
Hope you like this idea. Ladybug and Chat Noir do a press conference in which they explain what happened in Miracle Queen. Including the fact that Chloe helped Hawk Moth voluntarily. In addition to everything that Chloe has done for years, people have reached the limit. Paris wants justice .The good way... or the bad way
Marinette wasn't sure this was the best idea. But she knew she couldn't keep this a secret. Chloe hadn't just been akumatized. She had actively helped and aided Hawkmoth. She had committed several felonies in a single day. She helped a terrorist, and that couldn't be ignored. But she knew that if she went to the mayor or the police, they wouldn't do anything since she as the mayor's daughter. At least not without some external pressure.
So that is how Marinette found herself as Ladybug, standing next to Chat, holding a press conference about the Miracle Queen event. She explained everything that happened that day. How the whole city was stung by some strange wasps. How Miracle Queen had revealed the identities of all the temp heroes and endangered their lives. How as a result of this attack, the guardian of the miraculous was lost, without going into details of what lost meant. And finally, she revealed that Chloe was a willing participant and had willingly helped Hawkmoth and tried to steal all the miraculous for herself. It was like Ladybug had lit a bomb in the city of Paris.
The citizens of Paris were furious. They had put up with a lot of nonsense from Chloe over the years. But they never pushed for any punishment, cause they knew it wouldn't go anywhere. But this? This couldn't be ignored. This wasn't just some mischievous prank or insensitive action. She had helped a terrorist, endangered so many lives, and caused a lot of damage. All for the sake of her ego as Queen Bee. This couldn't go unpunished and the citizens of Paris were determined to do something about this.
First they tried going about this normally. They appealed to the police and the mayor's office. They explained how they felt and how serious this was. They asked for some punishment for this girl. They understood she was still a minor, but this couldn't be let go with nothing. They were even willing to settle for a simple probation and community service instead of jail time, since she was a minor, the mayor's daughter, and a former hero herself. By all accounts, they were very reasonable.
But the mayor's office simply ignored them for weeks. Mayor Bourgeois simply laughed at this, thinking it would go away on its own in a few days. The citizens always got upset at his daughter for one thing or another, but they eventually dropped it. He was sure this would be no different. But he was wrong. When he continued to ignore their requests and words, they stepped it up.
They began full on protesting, where ever he and his daughter were. Outside the hotel, city hall, and even the school. They wouldn't let up. They had to close the school while this was going on, as no one could focus with the noise, not that anyone outside of Chloe and her father disagreed with the protesters. The hotel started losing business constantly. No one could sleep or relax with the racket. And hardly any work got done at city hall for weeks.
Finally Mayor Bourgeois was fed up. He held a press conference of his own. The city of Paris thought he had finally seen the light and was going to give in to their demands. But instead he spent an hour calling them selfish and immature. He went on to say that no matter what they did, he wouldn't punish his daughter. "I understand that you are upset at my daughter's antics, but this is ridiculous. The damage to the city was minimal and was already repaired. We all agreed we wouldn't punish akuma victims, and I am not changing that stance because of my citizens bullying me. Now let this madness end and let us return to the Paris I love!"
Mayor Bourgeois thought that would be the end of it. The mayor had spoken and his people would need to accept that. But what he didn't count on was his words infuriating his citizens further. What was once simple protests were now full on riots. The city was in chaos as crowds of citizens demanded not just punishment for Chloe, but now the mayor as well due to his obvious corruption. The Bourgeois family had locked themselves in their family suite at the hotel, with the crowds banging on the door, trying to get at them.
Now the city council saw the writing on the walls and knew they needed to step in. Truth be told, they had hated the mayor and his corruption too. So they listened to the people and used a power they had that the mayor had forgotten about. They had the power to hold a vote of no faith and remove the mayor if they were unfit for office. It was unanimous, Mayor Bourgeois was removed from office and was no longer the mayor. The city held a quiet election for the new mayor, and Mayor Bourgeois didn't even know. When people left his door to vote in the election, new people took their place so the former mayor never realized what was happening until it was too late.
With the new mayor elected, the first order of business for the new mayor was to listen to the will of the people. She approved arrest warrants for both Chloe and the former mayor. The time for probation and community service had passed. That was offered when the city initially asked. Now they would settle for nothing less then a harsh prison sentence for both of them, after everything they both had done.
When the police arrived at the hotel, the crowd of rioters parted like the red sea, gladly letting the police through to do as they wanted. When the banging stopped, the disgraced former mayor thought the nightmare might finally be over. He had heard the police identify themselves when they entered the hallway. He went out of the suite with his equally disgraced daughter in tow, expecting a police escort out of the building and somewhere safe while the police arrested these hooligans. But that isn't what happened at all.
He was shocked when the police put him and Chloe in handcuffs. He demanded to be released, screaming about how he was the mayor and they couldn't do this. That was how he found out he wasn't the mayor anymore. He screamed and yelled as he was dragged out of the building, and Chloe demanded they let her go as well, still expecting everyone to listen to her. They were quickly charged and convicted of several crimes, mostly felonies. They were sent to prison for a very long time, all the while they kept demanding to be let go. Paris had demanded justice. And Paris got what it wanted.
Hugo would say his father was a very nice person, he usually seemed calmer than mom, but had many moments where he was goofy and teasing and fun. He worked hard but he always had time for him, Emma and Louis.
Hugo always loved his puns, except the dad ones, his sister liked those more. He thought his father was the kindest person he knew, that nothing could ever get him angry.
Hugo learned that day, that even his dad could lose his temper.
Very, very badly.
He was in the park playing with mom and Emma while Louis and dad went to get them ice-cream from uncle Andre. He was chasing after his little sister when it happened.
Something big with wings suddenly crashed into him and before he knew it, he was flying over Paris, hanging from some creature's mouth.
It looked like a lion but it had wings. "H-Hey! Lemme go! I want to go back to mom! Hey! Ow!" The lion tightened his grip around him, releasing a snarl before it swooped down into the city, flying through the traffic until it crashed into a building.
Hugo only ever saw those kinds of buildings in movies, where the bad guys had their hideouts.
When he was finally set down and Hugo saw a woman standing before him dressed in purple, he knew.
Those were the bad guys.
-----------------------
Paris was used to the akuma attacks by now, they'd even taken safety measures against them. But nobody could predict what akuma Hawkmoth would send next and they weren't equipped to protect against all of them.
However, when an enraged Ladybug had landed on stage, disrupting Clara Nightingale's concert for a moment, the citizens of Paris knew something must've went horribly wrong as the whole room quietened down.
"My fellow citizens of Paris! There's been an akuma attack and a child was kidnapped! If any of you have seen Hugo Agreste, please report to me or Chat Noir as soon as possible! A child has been kidnapped, it's an emergency!" Ladybug has been their hero for years but the anger and distress in her voice was unmistakable, something that every mother in the crowd could resonate with. It was as if Ladybug herself had lost her child.
Chat Noir was nowhere to be seen, only Ladybug was patrolling the streets, swinging through the city with Rena Rouge and Pegase in search of the kidnapped boy.
It was only a handful of citizens that had caught it.
The black blur zipping passed rooftops, jumping over buildings like lightning.
Nobody dared question the distressed Ladybug where her partner was, they had a feeling if Ladybug was this distressed, Chat Noir would be worse. The feline hero was known to have a soft spot for children.
Paris had no idea just how much.
--------------------
"Thanks Luka." Chat Noir kissed Emma and Louis' foreheads, rubbing their heads affectionately, tail flicking anxiously behind him.
Viperion watched the way the tail swished back and forth, like a snake ready to strike. He could feel the distress rolling off him in waves and he squeezed his friend's shoulder in sympathy. He was a dad too, he would be livid if Hawkmoth attempted something like this with his kids.
The serpentine hero nodded, cradling both children in his arms. "It's fine, go and save your kid. Kagami and I will make sure nothing happens to them." he smiled down fatherly at his friend's children, squeezing their shoulders when they stared sadly at their father.
"Papa, where's Hugo?" Emma's bottom lip wobbled and Chat bowed down and nuzzled her cheek with his, a low purr rumbling in his throat that almost instantly calmed her down.
"Don't worry princess, papa will bring Hugo back. Just wait until mommy comes. Stay with uncle Lu and auntie Kagami until then." he rubbed his daughter's cheek, squeezing the miniature hand of his other infant son as Louis rested constantly in Viperion's arm.
"Don't worry kitty cat, call on us if you need help." Chat Noir smiled slightly at the dragon heroine, whose belly was slowly beginning to show as her daughter clutched at her arm worriedly. A soft hiss made him turn his head to look back at the older snake hero.
Call on me. Viperion's unspoken plea was immediately understood by Chat, of course he wouldn't endanger the pregnant woman. No matter how fierce and capable Ryuuko was on the battlefield, a pregnant Ryuuko was the perfect target for Hawkmoth. Chat Noir hadn't let Ladybug transform during her pregnancy either, Mister Bug had saved the day with Viperion, Carapace and Rena Rouge with Queen Bee as backup at those times.
With that, Chat Noir quickly left the Couffaine-Tsurugi houseboat, entrusting the duo with his remaining kittens, while going on the hunt for his kidnapped one.
Chat Noir growled, claws extending from within the sheath of his gloves, eyes narrowed into slits as his legs worked harder and harder, jumps higher, runs faster.
Nobody hurt his loved ones, not his wife, not his friends but especially not his children.
I'm coming for you Hawkmoth.
----
The chimera akuma had been standing vigilant on the roof, eyes scanning the area for the heroes, mind echoing with the soothing voice of his mistress as it commanded him to grab the siblings of the boy.
He'd prepared to take flight again, spreading its wings, before its tail was suddenly grabbed from behind and a violent force pulled it back.
A surprised growl was all it released before its back collided against the solid brick of the rooftop, shattering it in thousand pieces. It released a screeching yowl, before jumping onto its feet, teeth fletched at its enemy.
A silver staff struck the creature's face and it snarled until another powerful blow landed on it's stomach, claws digging into the concrete from pain that caused it to curl in on itself and whimper pathetically.
The air was still, a shiver racing down the akuma's spine when claw-tipped footsteps echoed closer to its cowering form. Black boots nearly crushing its trembling paws beneath their might.
The whimper it released brought a dark grin to curl the man's lips, staff twirling threateningly in his hand before it slammed in front of the akuma's nose, nearly striking it again. "Tell me where your mistress is, little cub."
The little whimper the creature gave with a submissive bow of its head told Chat Noir he wouldn't need to wait long to find out.
--------------
"Now little boy, why don't you tell me where mama and papa are? I'm their good friend!" the weird woman had a sweet smile on her face but Hugo shied away from her touch, fear screaming at him to move away from her. She played with her thick chestnut brown hair, smiling kindly at him, holding a cane in her hand.
She couldn't be dad and mom's friend, why would she take him away from them?
"If you're their friend, why did you take me away?" his green eyes were full of distrust and the woman laughed.
The woman laughed, olive green eyes twinkling in mirth. "Oh little kitty, don't worry. Marinette and Adrien know that, I just wanted to surprise them." Hugo moved away from her arms, pushing himself hard against the wall.
"I-I don't trust you! I-I wanna go to mom and dad!" She knew his parents' names, but this wouldn't be a nice surprise at all, it certainly wasn't to him. Bottom lip trembling, Hugo's eyes filled with tears, his whole body shaking from fear as he wailed loudly.
The wooden door was flung off its hinges suddenly, splinters and wooden pieces flying everywhere as a pained cry from her akuma made the woman stand up on high alert, shielding her face from the flying wood.
Her akumatized chimera groaned pathetically, standing on wobbly feet as it cowered behind her form. "You stupid akuma! What are you doing?!" The butterfly mask glowed over its feline face, but the lion didn't budge, muscles locked in place in fear as a shadowy figure entered through the torn down doors.
When Hawkmoth attempted to grab Hugo, something silver flashed a hair's breath away from her face, embedding itself into the cement wall behind her. It was a staff with a green paw print.
A warning.
Shadowy tendrils of darkness enveloped the man as he stalked forward like a predator, steps slow but firm, every muscle tightened in preparation for a fight, clawed hand pulsing with highly destructive power at his side.
Glowing feline eyes were dead set on her face, black cat ears pulled back and perfectly white teeth bared into a vicious snarl. His tall form towered over her but Hawkmoth had her staff at the ready, a poor attempt to shield herself.
Menacing feline eyes briefly looked down at the wailing boy whose eyes were tightly shut in fear, the sleek purple staff aiming at high speed towards the blond man's face.
Chat Noir effortlessly grabbed the end of Hawkmoth's cane, fist tightly wrapped around the metal with his normal clawed hand.
The other one, pulsing with destructive power, neared Hawkmoth's face, a breath away from disintegrating her throat. When Chat Noir spoke, it was a threatening hiss that resonated within her very soul. "Tell me why I shouldn't turn you to dust right now, Hawkmoth."
As if realizing her dire situation just now, ice settled in her veins and turned her body to stone. The unsteady step back nearly made her fall if the killing intent reflected in the toxic green eyes glaring at her didn't. "Y-You can't! You're a superhero, don't forget who you are Chat Noir!"
Her staff was ripped from her grip to the side, his other hand coming to wrap around her throat, his activated Chataclysm still surging violently in his other one. "I think you're forgetting who you are and who you're dealing with. You're lucky my lady isn't here, she isn't quite as merciful as I am." Sharp claws pricked her neck and Chat Noir could feel her pulse racing in blatant fear. "You think kidnapping my kitten will get you in my good books? I may be a superhero, but I'm also a parent and you never anger a parent."
The woman struggled in his hold, her feet now cleanly off the floor as her fingers fought to pry the strong arm off holding her captive. "P-P-Please Ch-Cha-Chat Noir-"
A dark grin curled the hero's lips. "You're begging now? You should've thought twice before daring to come near my family." his grip tightened and he felt her thrashing even more until a quiet whimper made his ears stand and his head whip around.
Hugo was sniffling on the ground, voice small and low as he mumbled. "Dad....d-dad....dad...."
As if a spell was broken, Chat Noir's grip loosened and the butterfly Miraculous holder fell unceremoniously to the floor, coughing violently from the harsh grip around her neck.
A warm, familiar hand suddenly rested gently on Hugo's head and a soothing, calm voice entered his ears. "Shhh, it's alright now Hugo, I'm here. Papa's here."
When misty green eyes opened to look up at the familiar equally kind green eyes of his father, Hugo immediately threw himself into his arms, sobbing into his chest uncontrollably. "Dad, you- you- you're f-finally he- he-here." Hugo's small arms were clutching at Chat Noir's shoulders tightly as his father gently rocked him in his arms, soft purrs helping to calm down his distressed son.
He hiccupped a few times, his small body trembling violently in his father's protective grip. Hugo's head was gently pressed against his chest, shielding his gaze away.
Chat Noir turned his head to look down at the woman, reaching pathetically for her cane.
A booted leg firmly slammed down on the metal, toxic green eyes boring into her soul. "Touch my kittens again and the staff won't be the only thing that's broken." the hiss was the final warning she would get before he chose to summon Chataclysm again.
With that, the father walked off, akuma disintegrating back into the lion from the zoo with its collar destroyed by Chataclysm, as the dark butterfly began flying towards the roof slowly.
Chat Noir rubbed soothing circles on his son's back, kissing his forehead affectionately as his wife waited at the entrance, lips pulled into a tense frown.
"Show some mercy, bugaboo."
"Take Hugo home. I'm right behind you." her tone suggested 'mercy' didn't exist in her vocabulary right now, if the furiously spinning yoyo in her hand and her icy glare were any indication.
Chat smirked, bouncing his son gently in his arms, whispering soothingly in his ear to drown out the noises behind him as he vaulted from roof to roof back home.
-----------------
For the next week, there had been no akumas and that was fine by Paris.
The media had praised their heroes for saving the Agreste son, an exclusive, privately filmed meeting showed Chat Noir handing the worried Marinette and Adrien Agreste their child, with Adrien profusely thanking the hero while Marinette kissed his cheek in gratitude.
Marinette smiled at the TV, watching the documented exchange with a chuckle and glancing at Alya. "You know, your illusions really do come in handy from time to time." the doubles she created of her and her husband as civilians were flawless and strikingly true to their personalities.
Alya smiled proudly. "Of course, Rena Rouge is a master illusionist after all." she winked and both women giggled. Alya's expression turned sheepish when she looked at Marinette, who sipped at her coffee. "Girl, just what did you do to her? Hawkmoth didn't attack for like a week and a half."
The glint in her friend's eye told her Hawkmoth wouldn't be attacking for at least another few weeks. "Nothing much. Just politely showed her her boundaries. Kidnapping children isn't a light matter you know."
Alya snorted, taking a big gulp of the dark concoction in her mug. "You're telling me, I would've bashed her head in with Nino's shield had that been my little girl."
Marinette giggled at her friend's tempting suggestion, gazing fondly at her sleeping children after a full day of playing with their father, buried under all of his three kids, his arms curled protectively around them in his sleep. Adrien's sleeping face was peaceful now, squashed by a sleeping Emma and Hugo, with Louis sleeping on his father's chest.
"He's such a dork." Alya followed her friend's line of sight and snorted.
"Yeah, didn't look like a dork when he went on the hunt for Hugo. Even I got scared. Luka said he was tempted to go with him so he didn't destroy the whole city."
Marinette shook her head, smiling. "You're one to talk, fox hero who wants to bash someone's head in with a shield."
Alya wiggled her finger in the air. "Ah, ah, ah. That's taken out of context. I said I would bash in Lila's head, not just anyone's."
Both women chuckled amongst themselves, Plagg and Tikki lost in their own conversation.
"You should've seen him Tikki. I was so proud! He's still too much of a softy though..." Plagg crossed his little arms, while Tikki sighed.
"Plagg, he's still a superhero. Adrien's responsible enough to control himself, even if it is her."
A shiver raced down the cat god's spine, shaking his head. "Ohh no, sugarcube, that last cataclysm would've went to her face if little kitten hadn't been there crying."
The kwami of creation sighed, settling in next to her lounging partner, "Well, Marinette wasn't much of a softie when she was done with Lila." an identical shiver raced down her own spine and Plagg smiled.
"See? I still think Marinette is made for the Black Cat Miraculous."
"Oh shut up, stinky sock."
Thanks for reading! :3 I'm weak for parental Love Square / Dad!Noir fics.
Marinette will have the worst day ever in the upcoming episode airing this Saturday in France and Monday in Brazil which is saying a lot as in previous episodes we had
Lila Threating Marinette to take away all of her friends including the boy she loves
Lila gets Marinette expelled from School which in turn lets Scarlet Moth being seconds from akumatized her into Princess Justice and handing him her Miraculous
Becoming the Guardian and Fu losing his memorys
Losing Cat Noir in New York
Breaking up with Luka/Cutting her friendships with her friends becasue of being Ladybug and The Guardian
CAT BLANC
But no Making Adrien face wet is the worst day of her life.
Somebody please write this prompt I AM BEGGING YOU:
After Chameleon, Marinette decides she’s done with her class and transfers schools, blocking all her old friends on her phone and social media, and stops speaking to them all together, searching for new friends. A few months later, she hears through word of mouth that Lila was exposed. Well, now here comes the part where they all come crawling back to her and grovel for forgiveness, right?
Wrong!
Her friends do not show up at her house to apologize, and a few weeks after Lila was outed, she saw them having another picnic at the park. She comes over to them and inquires about Lila being exposed, then asked them why they haven’t come to apologize to her. They say a simple sorry, and Marinette gets upset and asks why they’re not begging her to take them back.
Alya speaks up and says it’s because her cutting off ties showed them who she really was.
The class tells her that yes, they believed Lila over her, but it was less because they preferred Lila over her and more because they were doing what any logical person would do after meeting a seemingly nice person. Lila seemed nice, she technically never did anything wrong, she only claimed a disability that required an accommodation, which was a reasonable request. And for that, Marinette blew up and shouted that Lila was faking a disability.
Marinette argues she was, as she didn’t have proof. Alya says it wasn’t the class’s job to look up any disability claims, it was the teacher’s. If Miss Bustier said they had to accommodate Lila, they figured it was legit. When Marinette argues that she got pushed to the back, Alya counters with she was the last one to class, and Marinette is usually so accommodating to others, she figured it would be no big deal. She even asks Marinette if she would have made such a fuss over a seat if it was someone who she actually believed was disabled.
Instead of answering, Marinette argues that Alya is a hypocrite for demanding proof of Lila’s true nature while not doing the same for Lila and her stories. Alya frowns and says of course she was asking Marinette for proof when she was the one making accusations. Lila was telling stories about herself. Marinette was telling people that a seemingly nice person who they barely knew was a lying witch who was using them all as toys, and thus deserving to be a pariah. From a normal perspective, Marinette’s attitude is like a witch hunt—the word of the accuser alone trumps the benefit of the doubt towards the accused, even if the accused seems kind and the accuser has no evidence. The phrase “innocent until proven guilty” exists for a reason.
Marinette insists that she was “their everyday Ladybug” so that meant her word held more water than Lila’s. Alya responds that, so just because she does them favors, that means they should instantly do everything she says on a whim, even if the person she’s accusing seems kind? Sounds a lot like she just wanted them to not have their own opinions and just be her loyal sheep, which ironically, is what she saw them as to Lila. It made them question whether she did those favors because she cared, or she did them to bribe them into following her blindly.
Alya finally tells Marinette that her transferring away was actually a good thing for them. Because it showed them how little they really meant to her. The first time ever they didn’t instantly take her side, she instantly decided they were not worth salt. She was only good to them as long as they did exactly what she wanted when they wanted it. The second they questioned her baseless claims over the guilt or innocence of a seemingly kind and sweet person, she dropped them like a stone. Alya then reveals that she actually did do her research on Lila the day before Marinette left, and was going to talk to her and apologize when her transfer was announced. So Alya DOES value Marinette’s opinion, or at least she did, and Marinette would have known that if she had cared about her friends long enough to stick with them, regardless of whether or not a single one of their opinions didn’t perfectly match her own.
In the end, Alya and the class state that if this is the kind of person Marinette truly is, the kind of person who demands they instantly agree with her blindly on everything 100% and expects them to distrust anyone she says on a whim, who bails on them the second they show signs of having their own opinions, than they are better off without her. Because contrary to what she thinks, or what she wants, they are nobody’s sheep.
Okay, there is a lot of new salt talk given what has been happening in the released episodes of season 4. Especially salt towards Adrien, Kagami, the Love Square, and the character designs as well.
And I admit that I am also far from okay with how the show is being written.
Now, anyone that reads my stories knows that I am a big fan of Adrien and will gladly defend him against those that salt and bash him. But at the same time, I am not oblivious to his flaws. I know ho they made Adrien in the newer episodes with him wanting to people to be akumatized so that he can see Ladybug, with him still having a crush on her even with him being with Kagami, but also him only sacrificing himself just to make Ladybug pay attention to him.
Yes, these are bad things. But there is obviously the lack of salt toward someone that hardly ever has salt on them. Marinette.
But I am going to start with Adrien. Adrien has definitely made mistakes and is no where near perfect, but he could be a lot worse. Adrien has gone through a lot in his life. He may be a rich, handsome, and privileged white boy, but that does not mean he acts like a spoiled brat like Chloe. His mother disappeared, his dad emotionally and mentally abuses him, he gets constantly sexually harassed by Lila, his childhood best friend betrayed all of Paris to Hawkmoth, and he is constantly being isolated from the real world and not taught how reality works. As someone that grew up as isolated as him, he does not know about real healthy relationships. All he knows is what he sees on TV. And given everything that he had gone through, he could certainly be a lot worse than how he is.
Yes, he could take his hero duties more seriously, but that does not mean that he is a bad hero. When Ladybug was about to be tagged by Timebreaker, Cat Noir took the hit for her because he knew that only her powers could bring everyone back. He also has not taken the opportunities that would have let him find out Ladybug's identity even when he could easily have. Like during Dark Owl, when Ladybug was hypnotized by Miracle Queen, and when Ladybug detransformed in that closet that she did not close all the way. How can people say that he is desperate to learn her identity when he does things like that.
I know that there are also things like in the episodes Syren, Frozer, and Glaciator where he throws "tantrums" and makes the fights harder. But let me hit you all with a hard truth. He trusts Ladybug enough to put his life on the line for her since she is the only one that has the power to undo all the damage caused. So, when he feels that she does not have the same trust in him, it actually hurts him. And while her keeping secrets from him is more Master Fu's fault, Ladybug could also have just told Cat Noir what was going on instead of letting Master Fu tell her how to treat her "partner."
There are also a lot of salt against him for his advice to Marinette on how to handle Lila. They say that he bullies her into keeping silent, that he does nothing to help her, that he chose Lila over Marinette.
Not, time for more hard truths. Adrien thinks of Lila as a tabloid since he has no experience at all dealing with real people like Lila. He believes that she will either lie her way into a corner or just get caught in her own web of lies by trying to keep her web intact. And that probably would be true if not for the fact that Lila is probably a straight-up sociopath. Plus, Adrien does not know that Lila threatened Marinette. If he knew that, he would probably change his approach to how to handle her. But Marinette did not tell him, so he does not think Lila is much of a threat because Marinette did not tell him that she threatened her. And as for him not helping Marinette, Adrien has actually tried to help her and actually helped her as well. In Ladybug, Adrien tried to stand up for Marinette but was silenced by Damocles. But in the same episode, he also made a deal with Lila to get Marinette back in school. There is also how in Chameleon, he tried to sit in the back with Marinette after the class moved her there. None of that says that Adrien ever chose Lila over Marinette.
And what Adrien probably thinks is love for Ladybug is probably him reflecting his love for freedom onto her. Whenever he sees her, he knows that he is able to be free of his "perfect model" image and be the sarcastic and silly Cat Noir. Yes, he could flirt less and take his job more seriously, but he is still an excellent hero.
But this leads me to Marinette and how she is basically treated as a pure angel that can do no wrong. I can not tell if it is because she is the main character or because she is a girl.
Let me list all the things that Marinette has done. She made a wall of pictures of Adrien, written down his entire schedule, went to the park multiple times just to see him even when she was babysitting, tried to give Luka's guitar to Adrien so that he could try and be Jagged's new guitarist, followed Adrien around with the girls to try and ask him out, teamed up with Chloe to try and sabotage Kagami, broken into Adrien's house as both herself and as Ladybug, stolen Adrien's phone just to delete an embarrassing voice mail, and also stalked Adrien just out of jealousy.
People hate on Adrien for almost everything he does in almost every episode but never say anything to Marinette's actions. Yes, Adrien does bad things sometimes, but he has not done nearly as much as Marinette has.
Double standard's, people. Just because Adrien is a guy does not mean that he is the one always in the wrong and always the bad guy in these situations. He is far from blameless, but that does not mean he gets all the blame just because he is a guy.
Now, I am not hating against women or girls or anything of that sort. But my form of gender equality means that men and women, boys and girls, everyone of all ages, gets treated the same.
That means that both men and women can be victims, it means both men and women can be the villains, it means both men and women can be in the right and in the wrong.
So, Marinette is not some perfect angel nor is Adrien some demon to be hated on.
I know that not everyone is going to agree with me or share my opinions. But if they can share their opinions, then so can I. Deal with it, haters.
We all know how Lila fakes having different diseases and medical problems, but what would happen if she actually got sick and her mother went to the school to drop off a doctor’s note and pick up Lila’s assignments? Want the answer? Warm-Fuzzies and please enjoy!
Greta Rossi could admit that she was a bit of a workaholic. Being the secretary to the assistant ambassador of Italy, in a city that was constantly under attack by a magical terrorist, was not the easiest job in the world either. It took a lot of early mornings, late nights, and even some weekends to make sure everything was prepared for her boss. But that didn’t mean that she wouldn’t drop everything for her one and only daughter when she needed her.
Right now, for example, Lila was trapped in bed with a nasty case of strep throat. The poor girl had a fever, white pustules at the back of her throat, and could hardly stop coughing. It was only due to some very strong medicine that she was able to stop coughing long enough to pass out from exhaustion.
She had contacted her work to let them know she would be taking the week off, and the ambassador had been very understanding. Stressing that he knew how dedicated she was to her work and that it was good for her to take time off for her family. It was only after Lila was sound asleep that she made the phone call to her school, she wanted to make sure they knew why Lila was staying home and that she would be in later that afternoon to pick up her daughter’s assignments for the next week.
Miraculous Ladybug Season 4 UK Premiere Date. Season 4 of Miraculous Ladybug will recieve its UK Premiere on Disney Plus UK on Wednesday October 6th with Episode 1 and 2 then it will have weekly episodes every Wednesday.
What if Optigami is just the start of all the temporary heroes finding out Marinette's identity and as a result getting the miraculous permanently?
Like the next episode is Nino getting it.
Then its Max, then Kim, Kagami, Luka (They don't get back together after finding out. Marinette basically decided that was a no-no since she didn't want relationship drama and she realized she wasn't over Adrien so it would not work out for a plethora of reasons which Luka agreed with. He moved on) , Alix and so on.
Eventually the whole class except for Chloé, Lila and Adrien all know Marinette is Ladybug and they are all supporting her and helping out in their own way as permanent miraculous holders. Which of course Chat noir doesn't know. he still thinks the heroes are still temporary heroes that Ladybug is relying on more.
Marinette's life actually becomes a lot easier. Because she developed like a SUPPORT network.
Meanwhile, Adrien is finding his classmates are starting to drift away. He doesn't want to associate with Lila so he isn't talking to her, and Chloé is still angry over him calling her out over the movie thing.
His best friend Nino is even seemingly avoiding him.
And now when there is an akuma, ALL of the heroes show up.
The akuma and sentimonsters that appear are handled so easily now. Most of the time before Chat noir can even get there. Ladybug is there and she fist bumps with Rena Rouge and which ever heroes made it to the fight.
Ladybug doesn't even patrol anymore. She has her whole guardian thing to figure out, so she helped set up a patrol schedule. Chat noir patrols alone.
He can't even remember the last time he physically saw Ladybug.
Plagg tells Adrien he should call her and tell her. Which he does cave and call, but it went to voice mail. He asks if they can patrol sometime, he misses talking with her.
He gets a message from Rena Rouge a couple days later saying Ladybug doesn't have time for Patrols right now, she is having a break through with some guardian stuff and that Carapace can patrol with him is he wants.
Chat noir decides to accept it. Maybe being friendlier with the new heroes could help him accept this. They aren't hindering them, and it makes akuma fights easier. He should stop being gloomy about progress.
So he patrols with Carapace. And Chat noir actually does have a fun time with he turtle. It felt like he was hanging out with one of his closest friends.
As they relaxed Carapace accidentally leaks how having Wayzz full time has made a dent on his snack budget.
"What do you mean full time?"
Carapace explains that he is a full time hero like everyone else.
"What do you mean everyone... Are you saying every hero is a permanent miraculous wielder now."
"Well we all know who Ladybug is so it would be dangerous if we were civilians..."
Carapace stops and then asks.
"Do you.... do you not know who ladybug is?"
"Carapace. Im going to need you to send a message to the 'Guardian' for me." Chat noir said with a fake smile that was hiding a rather powerful negative emotion.
So Chat noir had called Ladybug to meet him at their meeting place.
And sure enough Chat noir saw Ladybug arrive on the roof.
"Sorry I've been so busy kitty. I got your message. I can't talk too long though" Ladybug explained.
"Thats fine I will make it quick. But before that, Its just us here right? No other heroes?"
Carapace and Rena Rouge were nearby. Rena had her power active
"Thats right. Its just you and me on this roof." Ladybug assured.
"Okay. Ive decided to quit being chat noir."
"What?" Ladybug exclaimed.
"You should pick someone you trust. You didn't even tell me you made the other heroes permanent holders. Not to mention THEY know your identity but I can't."
"Chat noir... no. You are important. I know the new heroes have been a lot. And I should have told you sooner. I did mean to tell you. I swear I did. I just... this guardian stuff has been overwhelming me. So many things to learn... You know it isn't intentional... I will schedule more time for us together. We..."
This was starting to make Adrien feel such an eerie deja vu. Like talks with his father.
"Dont... I know when Im not needed. Ive been holding you back for far too long. You said that you couldn't be ladybug without me. I think thats been proven false several times over."
He goes to take off his ring but stops.
"I should probably take it off out of view. Good bye Bugga..."
Chat noir went for her hand only for his hand to go right through.
It was an illusion.
"Wait that wasn't..."
Now it felt EXACTLY like his talks with his father.
He looked and notice on a nearby building two figures trying to hide.
The amount of rage the cat felt was noticed by a certain villain.
Shadowmoth had never felt such intense negative emotions in his life. He HAD to make an akuma out of this!
"Such raw anger, such feelings of betrayal and hurt. Its a buffet of negative emotions both complex and simple. And its coming from a hero of all things."
Chat noir was glaring at the two heroes. He had moved to their rooftop.
"I guess I wasn't important enough for Ladybug to come here herself."
"No Dude! We just didn't... tell her yet." Carapace confessed.
"Figures."
"Don't act all angry, WE should be the ones angry. You were going to quit!" Rena Rouge shouted.
"AND WHAT OF IT!?" Chat noir roared back. His anger eclipsing the fox's by a vast margin.
Rena Rouge's words died in her mouth. She never felt so taken aback in her life.
"We were trying to calm you down, we didn't want you to get into an argument with LB over something like this."
"Oh? Something like this? Something like finding out that all of the heroes are permanent miraculous wielders and that they ALL know her identity?! I would say that is a pretty big deal! Especially since I had to hear it from YOU of all people!"
Rena Rouge regained her voice.
"Look, we were both shocked to find out she didn't tell you that. So our plan was to calm you down and then go talk to her about it. Then have you two talk and maybe have things be civil."
"Well I will tell you this. I don't plan on quitting anymore." Chat noir answered.
"Thats great."
"And if Ladybug ever needs anything. She can ask one of you to do it instead."
Chat noir started walking away.
"Wait what are you saying?"
"Im saying Im done with this partnership! Or WHATEVER you would call what Ladybug and I currently have! I know when Im not needed!"
"You can give her that message within 3 to 5 business days or whatever! Or don't! I doubt she would even notice!"
Chat noir was done with this.
"Chat noir, you should talk to Ladybug about this..." Rena Rouge urged.
That was the last straw.
"WHAT DO YO THINK TONIGHT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE!?"
The akuma flew into his bell.
"Oh no!" Rena Rouge and Carapace exclaimed.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Chat noir screamed.
"Why fight? I am trying to help you. Unlike the rest of them. All of them know her better then you ever will. She trusts them, respects them. But you? You're a joke to her. A punchline. A relic of the previous guardian that she keeps around for nostalgia. But you can prove her wrong. You can prove them ALL wrong."
Shadowmoth was reading all the negative thoughts and saying it to him. Chat noir felt his resistance start to waiver.
Carapace activated Shelter around Chat noir.
"What are you doing?!"
"I DONT KNOW IT SEEMED LIKE THE BEST WAY TO CONTAIN HIM! GET LADYBUG!"
Rena Rouge realized Carapace had a point. They needed Ladybug right now. They bit off more than they could chew.
"Let me be there for you Chat noir, like Ladybug never has been. Like how your father never was."
Chat noir caved.
Shadowmoth smiled.
"Chat Blanc, I give you the power of infinite Destruction. You have the power to destroy anything and everything that hurts you. In exchange you bring me Ladybug's miraculous as well as any other miraculous you collect."
Carapace held the force field when he heard a cracking noise.
His eyes went wide with horror as a white claw burst through the barrier
Rena Rouge ran as fast as she could. Her necklace was beeping. She didn't have much time. She needed to get to Marinette soon, she had really messed things up.
She tried messaging her. But she wasn't answering.
"This is not a time for a communication break." Rena Rouge growled.
Thankfully she managed to get to the dupain bakery just as her transformation wore off.
"Sorry for pushing you Trixx."
"You do realize how horrific this all is right?" The fox Kwami spouted in exhaustion.
"I'm aware."
Alya hurried inside the bakery which was just about to close up.
"Alya, What are you doing here so late?" The petite baker inquired. The mother of Marinette showed concern for the young teen out so late.
"Is Marinette in?"
"Yes, she is upstairs. She has been baking all day and she needed a break." Sabine explained only to see Alya rush past her.
Alya would apologize for her rudeness later, right now was an emergency.
"Chat Blanc what did you do!? Chat blanc answer me!" Shadowmoth roared.
It took him a moment to realize it, Chat blanc had destroyed the link between them. He no longer had any sway over him or the akuma. He couldn't call it back.
"How is this possible?"
Shadowmoth felt a pit in his stomach. He had gifted Chat blanc the power of infinite destruction.
"Marinette!" Alya exclaimed as she burst through the door.
"Alya? Great timing." Marinette was sitting at her desk, organizing little boxes with the names of each hero on them. "I just finished making potions for all the heroes. You can help me put them in...."
"We got an akuma and its really bad."
"What?" Marinette shot up from her seat. "Did you alert the other heroes?"
"No, I was busy running" Alya explained as she gave trixx a snack to refuel. "I'll send it out now."
"Okay, well that is no big deal. We can handle the akuma attack. Whats the akuma's power? What are we dealing with with?"
"Ummm, Chat noir..."
"Got captured? Its okay we can plan around it."
"No. Chat noir."
"I know chat noir is out there. But we need to focus on what the akuma could ..."
Alya grabs Marinette's shoulders. Tears in her eyes.
"No Marinette. Its Chat noir!"
The young guardian took a moment to process what her best friend was saying. Alya had never seen such a look of fear in her life.
(Im putting read mores from now on because the length is getting a bit much)
Gabriel had rushed out of his lair and headed to Nathalie.
"We have a situation."
Nathalie sat up from the bed.
"What is going on?"
"I akumatized Chat noir and he somehow managed to break the link between me and the akuma. I can't call the akuma back or manipulate him. He is running on pure negative emotion."
"How is that possible?"
"Chat Blanc's destruction is far more potent than I anticipated. I imbued him with the power of infinite destruction. It seems he figured out he can destroy not just physical items but literally anything."
Nathalie's eyes went wide.
"Gabriel, did you get a look into his mind and figure out who he was? Perhaps we can predict his movements if we knew."
The fashion mogul frowned.
"Unfortunately I couldn't get a look. The effect of the miraculous hindered my ability to peer entirely in. But from what I gather he has a neglectful father. He will likely go and strike him at some point. But his grudge with the other heroes seemed far greater."
"Then it would be best if you go locate him and watch from a distance. Perhaps you can utilize his independence to your advantage."
Gabriel nodded.
"An excellent idea I sh...
"MEGA CATACLYSM!' a voice from outside called out.
"Did you hear that?"
Nathalie pulled up the security camera to show a white cat villain creating a sphere of white energy in his palms.
The highlighted new reel showed as the news reporter began to talk.
"Several eye witness testimonies reported that an akuma caused a massive burst of white energy to consume the mansion of the fashion Mogul Gabriel Agreste. The Massive energy burst dissipated shortly after, Showing a crater where the one glamorous mansion once stood." Nadja reported doing her best to stay calm and professional.
"The akuma has been described as wearing all white and having white hair with blue eyes. Anyone that comes across an individual with that description should run and hide until Ladybug and the other heroes have handled this mysterious foe."
Chat Blanc stood at the vacant plot of land that he had created. The gilded cage he had grown up in had been obliterated.
"Farewell." He said with an unreadable emotion.
His left ear twitched as it picked up the sound of something coming his way.
The cat akuma stealthfully dodged the incoming horse shoe. He recognized the weapon after seeing it.
"Pegasus." Chat blanc deadpanned.
"I may not know the circumstances that resulted in your akumatization but you had NO RIGHT destroying that place." Pegasus shouted.
Chat blanc glared at the horse hero.
"You know nothing Max."
His other ear twitched and he reacted to the attack of the bulky monkey hero heading his way.
Chat Blanc used his staff to block the staff of the monkey before flicking the monkey's staff away.
"And King monkey too, what a surprise."
"Chat noir, I dont know what happened, but you need to calm down. We don't want to hurt you." King monkey tried to ease.
"Hurt me? Your existence hurts me!" Chat Blanc prepared a cataclysm in his palm. But his wrist was hit with a moving Lyre. Chat Blanc looked up to see that more heroes had joined in.
"Seems someone called back up."
Chat Blanc noticed that save for Ladybug, Rena Rouge and Carapace. All of the other heroes were present and accounted for.
"You are going to pay for what you did." The dragon heroine growled. She didn't know if Adrien was destroyed along with the house.
"Agreed." The snake hero nodded.
"You attacking an innocent person is not right!"The pig heroine chimed in, saddened by the loss of her classmate.
"You messed up." The tiger heroine added on.
Chat Blanc took note of every hero glaring at him with sorrow or anger.
The Bee heroine jumped forward. Vesperia wanted to plea for reason.
"Chat noir, just surrender and we can help you. We don't want to fight you."
"I wouldn't want to fight me either." Chat blanc commented with a cocky retort akin to his chat noir persona but with much more malice. Chat blanc was clearly ready for a fight as he brandished his claws.
Ryuuko jumped down from the roof and drew her sword.
"You'll pay for what you did to Adrien." Ryuuko stated fiercely.
"Funny, I was going to say the same thing to all of you."
"Why do you sound like you know what that is?" Alya inquired.
"Done!" Trixx exclaimed as he finished his snack.
"Okay first. Trixx Lets Pounce."
Alya quickly transformed into Rena Rouge.
"Chat Blanc is the akumatized form of Chat noir. The most devastating akuma I have ever fought." Marinette answers.
Rena Rouge blinks.
"You fought him before? Great! You can help fix this!"
Marinette shook her head.
"I fought a version of him, in an alternate timeline, one where things took a turn because of a mistake I made. He had destroyed that world, and almost destroyed everything. I barely survived because he was unstable."
Rena Rouge could see from her friend's eyes. The events left a lasting scar.
"How... how did Chat Blanc happen in that time?"
"I don't know, I just know My identity gets leaked, Chat noir finds out, Hawkmoth finds out and He said our love destroyed the world." Marinette answered.
Rena Rouge felt her jaw drop.
"Your love?"
"He said we had were in love in that timeline. I didn't try to make sense of how or why for fear of figuring too much out. He was also crazy, but I don't think he was lying. Regardless Hawkmoth exploited it and then Chat Blanc destroyed that version of me, and Hawkmoth. If we are not careful we could lose everything."
Rena Rouge felt a pit of dread hit her stomach. She realized Carapace was out there, holding off Chat Blanc.
"What have I done..."
She tried contacting Carapace but it just went to voicemail.
"Nino..."
"Alya its not your fault. Whatever happened to cause Chat Blanc falls on me. I did everything to try and avoid this, but it seems I failed him again. Now I will take charge. I will fix it."
Marinette gets up more serious and determined than Alya had seen her.
"Tikki Spots on."
Marinette transformed into her Heroic persona Ladybug.
She looked at her com and noticed a message.
"Bunnyx?"
Ladybug clicked on the message.
"Hey LB, its me... so a bunch of us all found the akuma. It uhh... (loud crash) its Chat noir but in white. (A loud crumbling noise) Yea he is a LOT more dangerous. He also cataclysmed Adrien's house, like ALL of it. We don't know where Adrien is... Im sorry Ladybug. We will try and restrain him so you can fix everything. OH SH...."
The message ended.
Rena Rouge had heard the message as Ladybug closed her communicator.
"Lets go." Ladybug commanded. Her tone doing its best not to shake. Though Rena Rouge wasn't sure if it was shaking out of anger or fear.
Nino was laying on the floor of the roof. His hand hurting, his guts hurting, and worst of all, his heart.
He had messed up badly.
His favorite hero, had gotten akumatized because of him. If he had kept quiet, no, if he had just told Marinette the message... maybe this could all have been avoided.
He could hear the loud crashes and smashing of rubble, He saw the massive pillar of light from the corner of his eye... He didn't know what was going on, but whatever it was, Chat Blanc was causing chaos. He had doomed Paris.
But whats even worse. The last words Chat Blanc said to him. How did he know he was failing Adrien?
Nino can feel his mind flashing back to the recent events, how he had to cancel plans with Adrien, even more times than Adrien had to cancel on him. Adrien would smile and pretend it was fine, but it was getting to him. Nino saw the missed calls on his phone from his blond buddy. He was out spending more time with the other heroes than his best friend... it wasn't right. It wasn't fair to him.
He really was the worst.
But as Nino descended to his lower points.
He heard the sound of something approaching.
Nino made himself look to see someone he was not expecting.
One would think that a fight with one akuma against over a dozen heroes would be a one sided match. Considering the powers of Time Travel and Do overs... but you would be wrong.
Chat Blanc knew exactly who to go for first.
He made a dash for the snake hero before he could set up his power. A Quick sucker punch to the jaw and he snagged the snake bracelet from him. Leaving him down for the count.
The monkey and the Bull hero both charged him but he used their bodies against each other, Taking the monkey's staff and tripping the bull hero up. Giving them the slip. They weren't the biggest threat right now. The snake was down, but the Rabbit was around. He needed to make sure time travel was a no go.
The Tiger hero and the pig hero were more coordinated but they lacked battle experience and the cat was able to knock them both aside.
He Locked on to the Rabbit hero on the roof making a call, staying back.
The Rooster and Ram both ambushed him but he swatted them both aside with a swift staff swipe. Continuing his idea.
Chat blanc remembered that she was the last chance hero. He needed to shut her down. He made a mad dash for her.
"Im sorry Ladybug. We will try and restrain him so you can fix everything. OH SH...." Bunnyx tried to finish her message.
But closed her watch to jump back.
The younger bunny heroine was swift enough to avoid having her miraculous snatched up so quickly. Quickly sliding it into her pocket out of the cats reach.
"Hey! I was on a call!"
"Didn't Ladybug teach you its rude to be on the phone during a fight." He taunted.
Bunnyx got her umbrella ready to block his attacks.
But Chat blanc flicked a Cataclysm at her umbrella, destroying it.
"No!"
"Now I can focus on the rest."
Chat Blanc jumped back just in time to notice the sword that nearly took his head off.
It was Ryuuko. The best fighter of the group.
Chat blanc gave a cocky smirk.
"I guess there are some real fighters here after all.
Ladybug and Rena Rouge quickly moved to the roof that Nino was standing on.
Rena Rouge hugged her boyfriend.
"You're okay right? He didn't hurt you?" The Fox Heroine asked with concern.
Nino's expression shifted south.
"Only emotionally... but he also took Wayzz. He was way too strong. Not even Shadowmoth could control him."
Rena Rouge frowned at the news. But was still relieved he was okay. She turned to Ladybug who was looking at the black clad cat hero that was near them.
"You aren't Chat noir." Ladybug stated firmly.
"What makes you say that?" The black cat questioned.
"Because the real chat noir would have made a clever cat pun which I would have rolled my eyes at. You're a sentimonster."
The imposter Chat noir sighed, as a new voice took over.
"Astute as always Ladybug."
"Shadowmoth." Ladybug growled.
"Correct, This is Sentinoir. A sentimonster based on your cat partner. I figured this form would get your attention. Besides, this creation seemed appropriate considering."
"Chat Blanc. Im aware. Also, Congratulations, you've doomed us all."
"How optimistic of you." Shadowmoth sarcastically responded.
Rena Rouge and Nino watched the two interact. It was quite surreal.
"So why are you here? To rub it in?"
"Chat Blanc nearly destroyed me earlier. Seems he figured out his powers of destruction were able to destroy things without physical form and destroyed my link to the akuma. I can't influence him now. I can't even remove the akuma from him" Shadowmoth answered. "As much as I hate to admit it, I can't stop him without you."
"And how do WE know this isn't some sort of elaborate trap?" Rena Rouge exclaimed angrily.
Sentinoir went dormant. Not responding to Rena Rouge's quip. As they heard the sound of someone approaching.
"Because Im in no position to do so."
The teens looked at the damaged shadow moth. He was missing a leg (which appeared to be just gone.) and he was using his cane for support. He could barely stand.
"Wow..." Nino let out in surprise.
"Chat Blanc is far to dangerous to be left alone."
Ryuuko did her best to keep pressure on the akuma. She thought her fencing and Kendo would give her an edge in combat against this almost feral akuma but no, he was nearly as skilled as she was! If she had to guess this guy in civilian form could probably beat Adrien in a match.
"You're pretty good." Ryuuko commented. "Its a shame you're an akuma. Ive been starved for worthy opponents since you destroyed my last one!"
Chat blanc held his tongue. She didn't know the truth.
He noticed that the heroes were strategizing as he clashed with Ryuuko.
Ladybug still wasn't there yet, they were all too new to being heroes. They don't know how to fight without Ladybug guiding them. Though giving them too much time would not be smart. He was done playing games.
Ryuuko managed to get a slash attack to go for his chest, but the cat caught the sword with his other hand.
"Cataclysm."
Ryuuko let go of her sword just as the sword turned to dust.
Ryuuko wasn't going to let being without a sword stop her. She got into a fighting stance and prepared to use her power. But Chat Blanc was too quick and snagged her miraculous from her, resulting in her transforming back.
"You fought well, Rest up Kagami."
He gave her a quick chop to the back of her neck and watched her drop on the ground.
Chat blanc looks at the remaining heroes.
"So? Whose next?"
He was surprised when he noticed the pig heroine jump down.
"Pigella. Are you really what they are going with."
"Gift"
Pigella activates her power.
"I can show you what you want most. I know there is good inside you."
Pigella reveals the gift and her hope shifts to sorrow.
"Oh... Oh chat noir... is that your hearts desire?"
Chat blanc's expression softened, he looked closely at the gift.
It was him, as chat noir, and he was with Ladybug Patrolling the city. No other heroes, no akumas, it was just the two of them, having fun.
'I trust you kitty, more than anyone else.'
'Us against the world Buggaboo. Like always'
Chat blanc felt a tear stream down his cheek.
He wanted nothing more than to just go back to those happy times. To just be ladybug's partner again. To not be so alone.
But his ear twitched, catching the sound of approaching footsteps.
He reacted quickly by turning around catching the arm of the sneaky hero.
It was Vesperia, trying to use her venom to incapacitate him.
"Thanks for that. I needed a reminder of what I was doing." Chat blanc exclaimed as his sorrow turned back to rage.
He used her to sting Pigella, causing the heroine to freeze.
"Oh no." Vesperia cried out.
Chat Blanc snatched both of their miraculous. Turning them back into Zoé and Rose.
He quickly noticed what appeared to be a toy monkey heading his way.
"Nice try"
Chat Blanc flicked a mini cataclysm and as the attack interacted with the toy. The collision caused the cataclysm to turn into a fire work and shoot up into the sky resulting in a rather tasteful fireworks display.
Chat blanc smiled.
"Not bad, solid work. But I think your best solution is just to sit back and do what you do best. Wait for Ladybug."
As he taunted, the other heroes snagged their defeated friends and quickly moved away so only chat blanc was standing on his own
"Transport!"
The Cat noticed a portal behind him and it felt like it was starting to suck him in!
He jammed his staff into the street. To hold himself down.
Chat Blanc looked at the portal and realized it was gong to send him to space!
"You really think thats a smart idea?!"
"Nope!"
Chat noir looked and saw the bull hero Charge into him, forcing the staff off the ground and sending Chat Blanc into the portal
"Close it!" The Bull hero cried out as he dug his heels into the ground
Pegasus hears the bulls Pleas and shuts off the portal.
The heroes take a sigh of relief.
"Is... Is it over?" The mouse heroine questioned as she put down Zoé
"I think so" The tiger heroine explained as she put Rose down gently.
"It was him or us." Pegasus explained. He was doing his best to stay calm. "I had to make the choice..."
He had to grapple with the choice he made. It was impulsive, but with a being so destructive, if the fight dragged on, he could have destroyed them if he was angry enough...
King monkey put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Its okay dude, Ladybug will fix it up. I think you made an awesome choice."
"You chose wrong."
Pegasus and the other heroes looked up in horror to see chat blanc flying in the air?! His costume looked exactly like Chat noir using the space power up, but The colors were changed, Having blue wings instead of green, and his suit was white as snow.
"I barely escaped with my life." Shadowmoth growled. "If it hadn't been for..."
Shadowmoth stopped himself. His mind flashing to Nathalie's quick thinking. Creating a Chat noir sentimonster to destroy the wall to the elevator. They barely managed to go through the secret entrance. If Nathalie hadn't pushed him down the elevator shaft... he would have been gone as well.
"Right now that matters not." Shadowmoth continued. "So long as chat blanc is akumatized, I can't make another akuma."
"Well that sucks for you." Rena Rouge quipped.
"It means I am limited in my ability to help you stop Chat Blanc. Which sucks, as you put it, for all of us."
"So wait, you actually want to help us."
"No, but I have no choice. Chat blanc is too dangerous for me to ignore."
Ladybug looked at the villain.
"Fine... I believe you. But if you try ANYTHING, I will make you wish Chat blanc was more thorough."
Shadowmoth kept his face calm but internally, the threat registered.
"Okay first thing, Hand over the item you are using to control Sentinoir to Nino."
"What?!"
"Just do it. I know you can make another sentimonster."
"How do you know I didn't make it?"
"Because you were planning on making a secret sentimonster while we were fighting chat blanc so that way you could take the miraculous when we were both weakened."
Shadowmoth sighed. She was right. Mayura created the sentimonster. She used the miraculous to move out of bed when they tried to escape. Unfortunately, she pushed him down the elevator with the peacock and the item to control sentinoir.
"Clever girl."
Shadowmoth handed the item he was using to control Sentinoir to Nino.
"Nino, since you don't have the turtle, you will need to act like chat noir. Think you can handling it?"
"Your talking to the biggest fan of chat noir. Trust me, I got this dude... I mean."
Sentinoir activates and takes Ladybug's hand.
"I got this Buggaboo." Sentinoir says with a playful wink.
Nino looks to Rena Rouge.
"This is part of the act and I..."
Rena Rouge pats her boy friend's shoulder.
"Don't worry babe, I know the truth."
Shadowmoth rolls his eyes. He really was at his lowest point, working with teenagers.
Chat blanc was catching his breath. He had finished. He retransformed from his space form.
Every hero was taken down. each miraculous they had was snagged and tucked away.
It was touch and go there for a while. Fighting each hero with their own unique power made things difficult. But he did it.
He could have just destroyed them all, just cataclysmed everything. If he wanted the easy way out.
But he didn't want that. Was it out of mercy and not wanting to destroy his friends.? Was it out of Pride and proving he was better? Was it boredom? He didn't understand himself.
It hurt to see that he knew each hero personally. They were classmates, they were friends, they were people he loved. It almost felt like Ladybug chose each of them just to spite him. Taking away all his loved ones and then isolating him even more.
"I beat them all Ladybug!" Chat blanc announced. " Everyone of your chosen heroes has fallen to me. I snagged their miraculous! Now show yourself!"
Chat Blanc looked around and there was no response.
He looked at the group of unconscious teens.
"I guess she didn't care about any of you either."
He creates a cataclysm.
"Ill do you a mercy. Have you forget all about her."
He was prepared to destroy their memories of the red heroine.
"No more heroes." Chat blanc spoke softly.
"Well look what the crazy cat dragged in." a shout caught the cats attention.
He looked up and could not believe what he was seeing.
"You know, I was thinking of changing my suit color but clearly white wasn't the way to go." The Black cat commented.
Chat Blanc felt surprised for a moment, Until he remembered that there were a few heroes missing.
"Oh look, another illusion. How cute."
Chat noir jumped from the roof and landed.
"Trust me, Im 100% Real." Chat Noir boasted.
Chat Blanc felt himself grow irritated.
"Real or not. You won't be in a second."
Chat Blanc prepared a cataclysm in his hand.
"Touchy!"
Chat blanc flicked the cataclysm at him, the black cat just barely avoided the attack as it make contact with light post. Erasing it from existence.
"Wow. That is something. But how about we try this, Claw to Claw. Unless you're a scaredy cat." Chat Noir taunted with a Cheshire grin.
Chat blanc chuckled at that.
"You know what? This is going to do wonders for my self loathing!"
Chat Blanc charged at the black cat hero with his staff. The cocky chat noir was barely able to block with his own staff.
Mean while Ladybug, Rena Rouge and Shadow moth moved quietly on the roof.
"Seems Chat Blanc didn't destroy any of the heroes, just stripped them of their miraculous." Shadowmoth commented. "Seems that aspect of the akuma is still in his personality. What a waste that he is so uncontrollable."
"You shut up. You're lucky he isn't actively destroying people or we would be using you like a meat shield." Rena Rouge snapped.
Shadowmoth held his tongue. As much as he wanted to retort, he really didn't have a leg to stand on, figuratively and literally.
"Nino is doing a good job with Senti-noir. He really captured Chat noir's antics." Ladybug analyzed. "If he can keep it up, Chat blanc should be distracted long enough for us to make a plan to take the akumatized item.
"Thats nothing, You should see my Ladybug impression." Rena Rouge joked.
Ladybug turned to the crippled villain.
"So, where is the akuma?"
"Its in his bell. And just as I thought, I have no connection to it. Even at such a close distance." Shadowmoth conceded.
"There goes plan A." Ladybug grumbled.
"Lets see if my power will help."
Ladybug calls upon her power.
and her costume shifts as the lucky charm appears to reveal...
A heart shaped locket.
Shadowmoth looks at it.
"Is that it?"
"Lucky charm gives me the item I need in a situation, and I figure out how it will be used."
Shadowmoth peaks over the roof to see Senti-noir struggling against the onslaught of a furious chat blanc.
"Are you sure you can't summon another item... perhaps something with a little more... stopping power?"
"Permission to throw him out there? Rena Rouge asked.
"Hold off for now. But I will keep you posted."
Ladybug looks around trying to see if she can figure out how to use the locket, but she is coming up with nothing.
Miss fortune pulled the Yo-yo and swung him away from Rena Rouge.
Flinging him into a wall.
Chat Blanc braced himself for the impact and quickly recovered.
"So... what caused Ladybug to finally break down? Seeing her trusted allies get defeated by her discarded partner? The damage done to the city? This cat is curious."
Miss Fortune began walking towards the cat.
"Unlucky charm!'
She called forth her power to reveal of all things a Rocket launcher.
"How about we play a game kitty. I have plenty of toys to play with."
She sets her sights on the cat and fires the rocket launcher.
Chat Blanc flicks a cataclysm at the incoming rocket causing and explosion between them. Obscuring his view.
Her yo-yo swings around and wraps around the cats feet. Causing him to trip.
"Unlucky charm!"
He hears her call out again.
He tries to get up and as he does he notices several black and red spotted grenades heading his way.
"Oh kitty litter..."
Several more explosions go off.
Rena Rouge was stunned.
Ladybug... no, Miss Fortune was going to war against Chat Blanc! This was something else, Rena Rouge had so many questions.
Was Shadowmoth in control of Ladybug? Did she willingly let this happen? Was it a betrayal? Should she get involved?
Chat Blanc had jumped out of the explosive cloud high into the air, removing his feet from the tangling Yo-yo.
"You are going to need to do better than that Buggabad." Chat blanc exclaimed.
"Unlucky charm!"
Chat Blanc looked down to see Miss Fortune's next item had a bit more stopping power. She had summoned a tank.
"How about this kitty! IS THIS BETTER!?"
"Well, that is better..."
Chat blanc watched as she fired the explosive mortar at him.
"Cataclysm!"
Another explosion, Chat Blanc hardly reacted quick enough to the blast.
Chat Blanc flew backward but managed to land on his feet.
"So you have infinite creation, and I have infinite destruction. This will be interesting."
Rena Rouge heard her miraculous beep, she didn't have much time. She needed to get out of there. But could she leave Ladybug like this? Could she leave Chat blanc like this?
She felt something wrap around her waist.
"Huh?"
It pulled her away from the conflict into a nearby alley way.
"Okay so he's distracted." A familiar voice spoke.
Rena Rouge turned to see her best friend in her usual hero outfit.
"Lad..."
The red heroine covered the fox's mouth.
"Shhh, he thinks thats me." Ladybug answered.
"Wait thats..."
"A sentimonster. I had Shadowmoth use his 'Back up plan' and make a sentimonster using my emotions on this Lucky charm." Ladybug explained. as she held the closed heart shape locket.
"So what do I need to do."
"Make sure you get everyone out of here. Refuel and evacuate them. I will handle it."
Rena Rouge looked at Ladybug. She could tell that Ladybug wasn't certain of what she was saying she was filled with doubt.
Shadowmoth watched from a distance. He was effectively useless.
His back up plan was now being used to fight with Ladybug. He had to admit it was clever, making Chat Blanc think his partner was also akumatized.
Her lucky charm only lasts 5 minutes, could she use the sentimonster to beat him before then?
He didn't realize how grim this situation was for himself. He needed Ladybug to win.
He looked away to see the ruins that was his destroyed home.
Emilie... Nathalie... Adrien...
He once thought he had the power to handle two teenagers and get his wish, but now, he has seen what these two were truly like. He realizes how much greater they were in comparison. He was a sad old man too scared to take risks, to change, and yet here he was... risking it all on a plan that could end in everyone's destruction.
"How pathetic am I... pinning my hopes on a teenage girl. Ladybug... please win."
"Well Buggabad, you really know how to put the pressure on."
Miss Fortune laughs.
"You are going down kitty. You have gone too far."
Chat Blanc's expression shifted to one more serious.
"I didn't think you hated me so much that you would rather work with Shadowmoth than face me."
That caught Miss Fortune off guard.
"I dont hate you..."
"The bombs would beg to differ."
"You were attacking other heroes! Chaton this isn't you. You are being controlled!"
"And you aren't? Did Shadowmoth not put you on a leash because you trusted HIM with your secret identity!"
"I'd never..."
"Cataclysm!"
He fired a cataclysm at her yo-yo, destroying her method of creating an unlucky charm.
"Why did you hide this from me!? All of the other heroes! They now know who you are! They hold the miraculous permanently. Why did you not tell me!?"
Miss Fortune Froze.
"I didn't... I wasn't ... I..."
"No, don't try and make excuses." Chat Blanc dashed forward.
Miss Fortune jumped back but the cat used his staff to trip her.
"Everyone else gets to know you. You chose them, so of course you trust them with who you are."
"Im the black cat of the group. The one no one knows. The one you can't bring yourself to care about. At the end of the day, Im just a stranger to you in the end. The last thing that needs to be fixed..."
Miss fortune tried to get up but Chat Blanc moved over her.
"Why do you even keep me around? Tell me!"
Miss Fortune's expression showed sorrow.
"Chaton..."
"I want you to tell me! Did you ever plan on telling me anything? Were you planning on replacing me? Was I ever truly your partner."
Miss fortune could see the tears in the cat's eyes.
"I wasn't going to replace you, I was never going to replace you. I didn't tell you who I was because... I wanted you to stay being my chat noir. I was afraid of losing you. I didn't want what we had to change. I was scared... and now that fear turned you into this... Im..."
Chat blanc looked into the eyes of Miss Fortune, her expression seemed so much like the Ladybug he knew with tears streaming down her face. But something was off. It was in her eyes... they looked so hollow... so empty. Another fake.
"You aren't Ladybug..."
"What?"
"Cataclysm!"
He touched her earrings and watched as Miss fortune started freaking out.
Chat Blanc felt his rage rekindle. Shadowmoth was playing him for a fool.
Chat Blanc stood up. Watching the spasming Miss Fortune.
"Good bye."
Chat Blanc fired a massive cataclysm, engulfing the sentimonster and leaving nothing behind.
"Enough Chaton."
Chat Blanc turned around to see Ladybug standing behind him. A heart pendent in her hand.
The amok flew out of the locket and turned to dust.
Chat Blanc looked to see his lady, tears in her eyes like the ones on Miss fortune.
"You know... I thought I was the one with the power of destruction. But somehow you keep finding more ways to break me."
Ladybug looked at the cat akuma. Her hands holding the locket tightly. Sadness in her eyes.
Chat Blanc looked at her.
"Let me guess, another Rena Rouge Illusion? Or another sentimonster courtesy of Shadowmoth?"
"No more tricks chat noir. Its the real me." Ladybug answered.
"Its Chat Blanc." He corrected. "And how do I know for sure."
His eyes went to her hands, they were holding something. He saw the item had spots on it. It was clear what it was
"So thats the lucky charm. Which means you only have a few minutes before you transform back." Chat Blanc commented.
"That doesn't matter." Ladybug answered. Her eyes on him.
"You're right, it really doesn't." Chat Blanc pointed his finger at Ladybug, White energy going to his fingertip.
"Put the Lucky charm on the ground. I am not taking any chances."
Ladybug looked at the heart shaped locket. She held it by the chain to show him.
"Before you do whatever it is you are going to do. I need to know. Why did you destroy the Agreste Manor?"
Chat Blanc kept his eyes on her.
"Why does it matter that I destroyed a cage?"
That struck Ladybug as off.
"A cage? That was a home! Adrien lived there!" Ladybug spouted in anger. Her eyes welling up a bit.
"A home?! That place was a lot of things but hadn't been a home for a long time." Chat Blanc snapped.
"Did the people in there deserve to be destroyed?"
Chat blanc kept his eyes on her.
"Did Adrien deserve to be destroyed?!" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"He was destroyed long before the cataclysm hit the door." Chat Blanc stated coldly.
Ladybug tightened her grip.
"You didn't answer my question."
"Stop acting as if you knew him!"
"Answer the question!"
"Yes! He did deserve it! Its his fault that we are here! You're tears are because of him! All of this right here! Its because of Adrien!"
That was an answer she didn't expect. Tears dropped down her cheeks.
"Now, that I answered. Drop. the. Charm." Chat Blanc ordered.
"What do you mean its his fault?"
Chat blanc covered his eyes with his hand and starts laughing.
"You really don't get it do you?"
Ladybug looked at Chat blanc with a mix of emotions, but most of them were eclipsed by the feelings of uncertainty and sadness.
He removed his hand from his eyes and stopped laughing. A more stern expression taking hold.
"One moment." He spoke sternly.
Ladybug could swear the air around her went cold. Chat Blanc's ear twitched.
Chat blanc moved his hand that was loaded with the cataclysm away from Ladybug towards a building that Ladybug recognized.
"So thats where you were."
He fired a large cataclysm at the building.
Shadowmoth saw the blast coming his way.
He tried to hobble away fear in his eyes
He stumbled and both of his miraculous were flung off of him flying just off the building. Forcing him to transform back to Gabriel
"NO!" He Cried out as he reached out his hand. Only to be erased with the building.
The miraculous he possessed had just made it to the roof next to it.
Ladybug felt a chill go down her spine. She knew that was where shadow moth was. She was unsure of how to feel regarding the villains demise.
"Now that we have some privacy. Where was I? Oh yes. I was answering your question. Don't worry I will give you the short version of the story."
Ladybug looked around, she could see the bell. If she could get to it. She could free him, purify the akuma and end this nightmare. Miraculous heard her miraculous beep. She didn't have much time.
"Adrien Agreste was a lonely kid."
The statement said with absolute fact shook Ladybug's concentration.
"The people that saw his billboards or saw him in interviews couldn't tell you that. Only the people close to him could. And even they didn't get the full picture."
Chat Blanc took a step closer and pointed his finger at a Gabriel Billboard. One with Adrien's face on it.
"He was really good at that, hiding what he was feeling. He was so good at it that he could even fool himself at times." Chat Blanc continued.
"He couldn't let people see that depressed kid, he had a brand to protect, an image to cultivate, the only way his father even bother to spend any time with him. So of course he made this grand image of 'Perfection'. But he had to dream of better things. He wanted to go to public school." Chat blanc narrated much like a storyteller.
"Oh how he dreamed of leaving that mansion for a reason outside of a photo shoot or audition. And one day he did. He said to himself he was done waiting and took action for himself. And it was the best day of his life! Because even though he failed. He got a taste of something. Freedom! And boy did it taste like the sweetest candy."
Chat Blanc emoted with glee.
"And after that! Everything started to change. He was able to go to school, he even started to make friends, He fell in love. Truly it was like a modern day fairy tale. Like something out of Rapunzel!"
"But that was when reality started to seep in. Busy schedules kept him from friends, secrets started being kept from him and the love of his life spurned his advances. But hey, thats life, doesn't mean the end of the world right?" Chat Blanc's voice cracked as he continued his narration. Showing that telling the story was getting to him.
Ladybug felt the gears in her head turning. Was Chat blanc really talking about Adrien? Or was he talking about himself.
"But then add evil villains, drama, another heart break from trying to keep secrets and failing to move on from his first love. Add a dash of stress of the persona that he once kept up with ease start to crumble from the pressure of trying to be free, sprinkle in some sorrow from seeing the girl he was in love with in pain and being unable to help her and then finally mix it together with every support system in his life putting up walls and keeping him at bay, all because of that same love of his life had started to snatch them up for herself because reasons!"
"So when the boy finds out about that, he wanted to talk to her. Because he trusted her, he loved her, he felt that maybe he should just cut the ties he had to her and just accept that their dynamic that he once thought they shared was a fantasy. But what happens instead? He gets tricked by her friends and is left realizing that she never truly cared about him at all! Because why would she? Why would his friends? Not a single person cared about him since his mother died! NOT ONE!" Chat Blanc felt tears pour down his cheeks.
"So he broke down. Oh he tried to keep it together but then some revolutionary idea popped into his head. Why should he? Why should he try to pick up the pieces of the life that kept him locked away, that caused him pain? When he can let it be destroyed. So thats what he did. He let everything around him fall to pieces and he tasted a new kind of freedom. Something that made his previous perception of freedom seem flawed in comparison. And when that mansion got destroyed. No more cage."
Ladybug felt it all click. She realized it after all this time. Her mind flashing to the events of her times with Chat noir. She had her mind flash of all the times with Adrien. And it all came together.
"Chaton... are you..." Her words failed her.
Chat Blanc could see it in her eyes. He could tell she knew.
"So you finally got it."
He prepared a cataclysm at the tip of his finger and pointed it at the side of his head.
"Adrien!" Ladybug cried out her hand reaching out, dropping the locket.
"Im free from everything!" He exclaimed as he prepared to use his power.
Chat Blanc's eye caught a glimpse of the falling locket and watched it hit the ground and open to reveal what was inside.
"Cata...
He felt his whole being freeze as he saw the photo in the locket.
It was the girl he had let peek under his image. The first person he showed himself to. The first person he ever let himself be vulnerable with. What would she say about all of this?
Chat Blanc's cataclysm dissipated as he stared at the open locket.
"Marinette..."
Ladybug could see chat blanc clearly.
It wasn't her kitty and it wasn't Adrien. It was a lonely boy that she had made feel more alone without knowing.
Ladybug toward Chat Blanc.
"Chaton." Her voice was soft, doing her best not to let it shake.
Chat Blanc looked up.
"Im sorry." She told him. "I failed you. I failed as the guardian, I failed as your partner, I failed as your love interest... but worst of all. I failed you as your friend."
She dropped to her knees by the Locket.
"Everything in my life was changing so rapidly... I was so desperate for stability... I could have relied on you, I should have relied on you. But I was selfish."
Chat Blanc looked into her eyes.
"I needed... no, I wanted our relationship to stay as it was. I was so scared of changing it, so scared of losing the one person that inspired me to be Ladybug... I was afraid of putting you in a position where you would think less of me."
Chat Blanc could hear it in her voice, she was genuine. He could see it in her eyes... the pain she was in.
"And I was afraid of this... seeing you become a monster like this again."
"Again?" Chat blanc spoke, confused by her words.
"Bunnyx needed my help. I saw another future. One where you knew who I was... Shadowmoth had taken advantage of it. We had fallen in love..."
Chat Blanc looked down at his hands.
"I don't know what happened there... I didn't want to know, and that was foolish of me. Because here we are! You're Chat blanc... and... I failed to save you."
"I caused the boy I loved to feel more alone than he ever has..."
"The boy you loved?"
The miraculous beeped one last time and her lucky charm disappeared as her transformation wore off.
Chat Blanc's eyes went wide.
"Marinette?"
The teen felt her blood run cold as she realized her transformation had run out.
Was this how it happened? Was this how he found out in the other timeline? Would this be when the moon was destroyed? Was this just self-fulfilling prophecy?!
She looked down at the ground, resigning herself to fate. Maybe Bunnyx would fix it and get another version of her to fix this mess.
Chat Blanc felt it all click. He could see everything now. His anger, his loneliness, his sorrow, all of the anguish he had felt was right in front of him. Marinette was just a scared kid that had to deal with impossible standards. And despite all of that, she was trying to protect him. Maybe it was selfish, maybe it was unintentionally cruel. But really, can he blame her for wanting to be selfish? Could he blame her for needing to trust others and not him? Could he blame her for any of this?
Yes, but he was just as much at fault and he knows if the situation was switched, he would have done the same. Because better than anyone else, he knows the agony of suffering alone, a pain he would never wish on anyone.
He let himself be blinded by his own selfish emotions too. Was he any better?
Marinette Dupain Cheng, the one person on earth that could understand his pain better than anyone else. The one person he felt so at ease letting his true feelings around out, regardless of whether he was wearing the mask or not. And regardless of whether she was wearing the mask or not, he now knew without a doubt she was the woman he loved.
Right now she was a lonely scared girl that was being crushed by the weight of the world. He knew that feeling better than anyone. She didn't need guilt to make it worse.
Marinette felt someone wrap their arms around her.
She looked to see it was Chat Blanc.
"We really are just a bunch of selfish dumb kids trying to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders." Chat Blanc spoke, his voice course yet gentle.
Marinette took a moment to process it all. But managed to smile through the tears and emotional strife.
"We really are."
They took a moment to just let the embrace of the other calm them.
The city felt so quiet in that brief moment.
"Can I be selfish and ask to carry it with you?"
Marinette looked at the cat, whose expressions softened as his ears drooped.
"I don't think I could carry it any longer without you."
He put his hand on her cheek, wiping the tear from her eyes.
"With your permission." He said in the softest tone,
She smiled at him, letting him know it was very much welcome.
Chat Blanc waited patiently as Marinette transformed back into Ladybug. She summoned a new lucky charm, ready to cast miraculous healing as soon as she purified his akuma.
"Chat... you will probably forget everything that happened while you've been akumatized..."
The cat took a deep breath.
"If I don't remember, you can choose not to tell me."
Ladybug's eyes went wide at the statement.
"Chatton..."
"I will trust your decision. I want you to make the best decision for everyone."
Rena Rouge arrived next to Ladybug.
"So is everything.... cool here?"
Chat Blanc passed Rena Rouge all of the miraculous he had taken.
"Hand these back out to everyone. I have a feeling you know all of them."
Rena Rouge frowned a bit.
"Chat noir...Im sorry... about everything. I shouldn't have tried to trick you."
"I forgive you. Im sorry I... well everything." Chat Blanc commented.
Rena Rouge put her fist out. Chat Blanc smiled and put his hand out.
"Watch over Marinette, Alya."
The fox blinked.
"How did you..."
"Carapace was Nino, and Marinette trusts you deeply, it made sense."
Rena Rouge nodded.
"Alright. I will go return these. Wait a few minutes before you cast the healing okay?"
Ladybug gave the thumbs up.
Rena Rouge dashed away to distribute the miraculous.
"So... we have a few minutes." Ladybug said as she looked at her akumatized partner.
"Yea..." Chat Blanc chuckled nervously.
The two didn't realize how awkward it would be after the kiss.
"So... when did you fall for Ladybug... well me." The red heroine asked.
Chat Blanc paused, feeling his cheeks heat up.
"Oh! Umm well I think I always thought you were cute. But what sold me on you was when you stood up to Hawkmoth for the first time. You called him out and you showed him and everyone how amazing you are."
Ladybug blushed at that.
"As for Marinette, I couldn't tell you the exact moment..." He continued.
"It was familiar yet different. When we first became friends in the rain, I could feel our relationship was special, I just couldn't tell you how. I think the picnic at heroes day was the first time a thought crossed my mind, but I was in love with Ladybug, so I pushed it down. Then after things didn't work out with Kagami, I was still kind of bummed and seeing you at the pool, it cheered me up. Seeing you kept the umbrella... It made me happy."
Ladybug felt as red as her costume.
"My turn then. S-Since I asked you." She answered.
"When I fell for Adrien. It was in the rain. Before, I thought you were just like Chloé. But, you weren't. I got to see it, you. Not the model, not some stuck up rich boy. I saw a lonely boy that wanted to make friends, I saw someone that was reaching out to me, even though I had thought so awfully of him. And when you laughed... I felt it."
Chat Blanc's pale face was much redder now.
"Oh wow, that long."
"As for chat noir. I think it was gradual. I first just assumed you were a flirt. But after you confessed, I thought about it. But I was hung up on Adrien. And then of course the whole timeline stuff happened, and it freaked me out. I didn't want you to suffer like the other you did... and by trying to prevent it... I made it happen." She frowned.
The cat took her hand.
"This wasn't your fault... It was a complex series of miscommunications and assumptions that we will fix for the future"
Ladybug smiled at that.
"Well put kitty."
"I have my moments."
"You have my word. I will tell you everything."
Chat Blanc looked at her.
"Everything. Are you sure thats the right thing to do?"
"No. But I am going to listen to my heart. And my heart says to trust you."
Ladybug's miraculous healing fixed all the damage done by chat blanc.
The Agreste mansion was restored. Nathalie had woken up, laying on the floor of the office.
Gabriel had found himself laying on the roof of a building. He realized he was alive but also noticed his miraculous were missing.
The man realized he only had minutes to locate his missing miraculous. Ladybug and Chat noir would likely be looking for him after. He needed to...
"Looking for these?"
The Fashion mogul looked up to see a turtle hero holding the two pieces of jewelry. He felt his blood run cold.
"You know, I had a lot of theories on who you really were. I think you were on the list Gabriel Agreste." a fox heroine exclaimed
Gabriel took a step back.
"You caused a lot of damage." another voice called out. One belonging to the snake hero.
"To the city and to your son." the dragon heroine stated with anger.
Gabriel looked around and noticed he was surrounded, by well over a dozen heroes.
"You must be mistaken... I... I had just escaped when that akuma attacked and destroyed my home."
"Several eye witness testimonies would say otherwise."
Gabriel put his hand into his pocket, clicking something.
"I am telling you, I am not shadow moth." Gabriel repeated.
Ladybug and Chat noir jump to the roof to see the commotion.
Chat noir had to bite his tongue before he said something.
"We caught him ladybug. Gabriel Agreste is shadowmoth." Rena Rouge exclaimed.
Carapace cracked his knuckles.
"I owe him a good punch for Adrien."
Chat noir jumped in front of them.
"Stop."
He clenched the anti-akuma charm in his hand, to ensure his emotions wouldn't let him be akumatized again.
His attention on Gabriel.
"I have one question for you."
The Fashion mogul looked at chat noir.
"Why."
Gabriel took a second, before speaking.
"I wanted my family back."
Ladybug looked at her pained partner.
Chat noir took a deep breath.
"Claws in"
Gabriel's eyes went wide as he saw not chat noir, but his son standing right before him.
"Adrien."
"You lied you know."
"Excuse me?"
"You don't want your family back. You just wanted an excuse for not being there, for being too scared to try and stay a family. You wanted freedom from the pain. Well you will never get that."
Adrien turned his back on his father and began walking away.
Gabriel snapped, and charged at his son. His plan was to steal the miraculous from him. but a shield hit the mans leg causing him to trip, and Ladybug's yo-yo tied him up.
Adrien turned around to see his angry father.
"How can you betray your family?! Did you not love your mother!?"
"You may be my father, but you are not my family"
Adrien transformed back into chat noir. Staring coldly at his father.
Gabriel looked to the ground in defeat. He was a broken man.
It started to rain after that as he did so, and a smile crept on his face. His ace in the hole had arrived.
There was a flash of lightning. It caught everyone off guard. Blinding everyone for a split second.
Carapace had been knocked over.
The Butterfly and Peacock miraculous had been snatched.
Nino apologized about failing to stop the thief from snatching the miraculous from him. But honestly no one was really aware enough to have been able to stop the thief.
Alya believes it was some sort of emergency akuma. But it didn't save shadowmoth. She believes it was his partner, Mayura, that played traitor and took the miraculous for herself.
Adrien was doing his best to get everything in order. His aunt from England and his cousin arrived a few days after the incident to help him.
He wasn't alone though, his friends were there to support him.
And even though shadow moth had been put into custody, the butterfly and peacock miraculous were still out there, Ladybug and Chat noir would be needed.
discoholicmusic
germansingergirl
gummygunk
areudirty
theartofmadeline
vaporwave
dailybridgerton
romaincrisis
izzy806
