ML: Are They Worthy? Chapter 2: Against the World!/Gentleman
Vlad, who had now transformed into the mysterious grey figure, lept to the top of the building. He casually walked toward the hatch and opened it. He saw Marinette sleeping right below him “Yeah, this is creepier than I first thought,” he said to himself, as he remembered an earlier conversation with Beyyo.
“So, how are you going to knock her out?” Beyyo asked.
“I just figured I’ll wait until she’s asleep” said Vlad. “Then I’ll sneak into her place.”
Beyyo gave him a look. “You do realize how creepy that is?” he says.
“I know, but it’s the least conspicuous method” said Vlad. “Imagine a mysterious cloaked man assaulting a girl in brought daylight to put a mystic curse on her. I’d be France’s Most Wanted in a heartbeat.”
Beyyo hesitated. “Fair point. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“And you did warn me” said Vlad in the present. “Too late now.” He jumped down and was now standing over Marinette. “Man, if anyone saw that that didn’t know what was going on,” he said, drawing his sword, “I’d be painted in a VERY bad light. Now let’s see. What kind of situation would best suit her? Oh, I know.” He made a circle motion with his sword and a cloud appeared.
Just then, Tikki woke up and saw what was happening, and she panicked. “MARINETTE! WAKE UP!” she yelled.
“Huh?” Marinette said, still half asleep.
The figure called out his power “Wolf Mist” and he thrust his sword forward so that the mist could hit Marinette. Once it got to her, Marinette went back to sleep, although her head was surrounded by mist.
Tikki nodded to herself and started to leave, but the figure caught Tikki in his hand. “You’re needed for later” the figure said. He took Tikki, and hopped into the mysterious wolf mist.
Marinette woke up in class. She didn’t know when she had fallen asleep in class, but she was used to it at this point. Suddenly, Hawk Moth appeared on the screen. “Hello Paris” he said in his chilling voice. “Normally I wouldn’t do this, but I am too frustrated at this point. Ladybug and Cat Noir have stood in my way for too long. I will finally admit my goals to all of you. I am after world peace. You might find that odd, considering my methods, but I assure you it’s true. I have been informed that fusing the miraculous of Ladybug and Cat Noir will grant the user one wish. That is why I want their miraculous. I didn’t even want credit for giving peace to the world. Peace is enough of a reward as is. However, because I’ve been denied so many times, I have no choice but to go public.”
Marinette could believe what she was seeing. Neither could the rest of the class. However , while it was true that a wish could be granted by the miraculous, Marinette also knew that the wish came at a price. “Do you want world peace? Then go after Ladybug and Cat Noir! Their real identities are Marinette Duapin-Cheng, and” Marinette could only hear a guttural noise for Cat Noir’s real identity. “Hawk Moth out.” The screen turned black and everyone turned to Marinette.
“What? You don’t believe him, do you?” Marinette said.
“Well, it would explain a lot” said Alya.
“It would explain everything!” said Nino.
“Guys, come on, there’s no way I’m Ladybug. Me little ol’ clumsy Marinette” she said, trying to charm her way out of the situation. When she realized that wouldn’t work, she bolted out the door. She took out Tikki. “Tikki! We have an emergency!”
“I know” said Tikki. “I’m sorry Marinette, but I’m leaving.”
“What?! Why?!” Marinette called out.
“The magic only works if I’m there” said Tikki. “Bye Marinette.” TIkki left.
“Tikki” said Marinette.
Meanwhile, the real Tikki was being held in a box. She was trying to bust out of it with all of her might. “Why are you doing this?!” she called to the mysterious figure who imprisoned her. Tikki and the figure were in a white room, with only the box Tikki is being held in and a screen projecting Marinette’s dream in it.
The figure answered her. “You should know better than anyone what the purpose of the wolf miraculous is.” Tikki continued to pound against her confines. “That’s not going to do you any good.” Tikki gave him a look. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you out when the time is right. In the meantime, just sit back and watch.”
“Who are you, anyway?” Tikki asked.
The figure looked at the struggling kwami. “You can call me Judgement Wolf” he said.
Back in Marinette’s dream, Marinette was struggling with the fact that Tikki had left her, when suddenly the door opened behind her. “Grab her!” Alya called.
“Alya?” Marinette said. Marinette thought it was now or never. She rushed to the stairs and ran down as fast as she could. However, everyone was coming after her. The teachers. Her friends. Even Adrien. She sprinted through the courtyard, but everyone was gaining on her.
Suddenly, a car pulled up. The door opened, and in the driver’s seat was a figure bathed in white. “Get in, M’Lady” he said.
“Cat Noir?” said Marinette, confused. She didn’t have time to process it, however, as everyone was gaining on her. She jumped in, and closed the door. The figure then floored it. Marinette put her seatbelt on. “So, did your kwami leave you too?” Marinette asked.
“Yeah, but don’t worry,” said Cat Noir. “We can make it through anything.”
“I wish I could believe that” said Marinette. “But right now, I bet the whole world is against us.”
“Well, M’Lady, if it is us against the world, I'll take those odds” said Cat Noir. “Because when we’re together, there’s nothing we can’t do.”
Marinette couldn’t help but smile. Usually, she would deride Cat Noir’s flirting, but at a moment like this she found comfort in the fact that something didn’t change. The car suddenly stopped. “Why’d you stop, Cat Noir?” Marinette asked.
“I didn’t” said Cat Noir. The doors opened, the seatbelts came off, and the car shook them out.
Outside, the two of them saw Robustus. “Great job Robustus” said Gamer coming over to meet them. Soon they were joined by an endless parade of Akumatized villains. Among them was Gorizilla, who picked up Marinette and Cat Noir and took them to Hawk Moth’s lair.
Soon, Marinette and Cat Noir were face to face with Hawk Moth, who had become Scarlet Moth once again. “Cat Noir, Ladybug, I assume you know why you’re here?”
“Yes” said Marinette.
“Good, then I expect this’ll go over easy” said Scarlet Moth.
“Not on your life” said Cat Noir.
“Even though what you want is good, we can’t let you have it” said Marinette. “When someone makes a wish, a price must be paid.”
“There is no price to pay for world peace” said Scarlet Moth.
“Exactly. We don’t know what kind of consequences it’ll bring about if you wished for peace” said Cat Noir.
“Fools. Do you think you still have a choice?” said Scarlet Moth. “Just hand over your miraculouses. This is the last time I’ll ask.”
Marinette thought to herself about what to do. It felt like she didn’t have much of a choice. But then she got an idea. “Fine” she said.
“Wha?” said Cat Noir.
“You win” said Marinette, taking off her earrings.
Cat Noir “Look M’Lady, just because you’ve given up hope, doesn’t mean-”
Marinette turned to Cat Noir and said “Come on Cat Noir, we’re totally outnumbered.” She then winked at Cat Noir.
“Fine” he said, taking off his ring and giving it to Marinette.
“Here you go Scarlet Moth” said Marinette, holding out the jewels.
Scarlet Moth approached her and Marinette dropped them in his hand. Immediately after, Marinette grabbed Hawk Moth’s miraculous, and put it on herself. Hawk Moth depowered turned into another figure bathed in white. All of the other Akumatized people detransformed too. “Nooroo! Dark Wings Rise!” Marinette called out. Nooroo fused to the jewel and Marinette transformed into her own version of Hawk Moth. This version had a black elegant evening dress, a black mask similar to that of her Ladybug mask, black heels, and black arm-length gloves.
“It doesn’t matter” said Hawk Moth. “I still have your jewels!” He tried putting them together, but it did nothing. “What?!”
“I’m sorry, but our kwamis left. Which means that they are no longer magic jewels. Rather, they are just jewels” said Hawk Moth Marinette. “Get up kitty. You were right. You and me against the world.”
Cat Noir chuckled. “We never lose.”
“Although, it isn’t going to be just the two of us for long,” said Hawk Moth Marinette. She spotted Adrien. A butterfly flew over to Hawk Moth Marinette. She infused it with energy. “Go, my little Akuma, and Heroize him!” She sent him after Adrien. The Akuma fused with Adrien’s ring and Hawk Moth Marinette introduced herself. “Gentleman. I am Hawk Moth. I’m giving you the power to protect the ones you care about. All I want in return are the jewels that the former Hawk Moth currently has.
“At your service, Hawk Moth” said Adrien. A purple-black aura consumed Adrien. Once it was done, Adrien was in a black tuxedo, complete with a white ascot, and a boutonniere.
Hawk Moth was surprised by this. Gentleman then charged at him and just beat him up. Once Hawk Moth was down for the count, Gentleman grabbed the miraculous and took Hawk Moth Marinette’s hand. “Are you ready?” he said.
Hawk Moth Marinette was blushing. Cat Noir was jealous. “Um, could we bring Cat Noir as well?” she asked.
“Of course. Anything for you” said Gentleman, kissing Hawk Moth Marinette’s hand. Hawk Moth Marinette got on Gentleman’s back.
Cat Noir looked on in disgust. “Fine. I’ll come along too” he said, also getting on Gentleman’s back.
“Now hold on tight” said Gentleman. He lept out of the window and landed safely back on the streets of Paris. Cat Noir and Hawk Moth Marinette got off of Gentleman’s back. “Miss Hawk Moth,” said Gentleman, “may I have a kiss?”
Hawk Moth Marinette was stunned. But then she said “Yes.” Gentleman placed his lips against Hawk Moth Marinette’s. It was a passionate kiss. They were bathed in the Paris moonlight, and dressed to the nines. You could not ask for a more perfect kiss.
Once the kiss broke off, Marinette was no longer in Paris. She was in an white empty area. She also looks,and she was back in her regular clothes. Needless to say, she was thoroughly confused.
“Bravo” said Judgement Wolf, giving a round of applause.
Marinette turned to see this mysterious figure. “Who are you?”
“The name’s Judgment Wolf” he said. “And I believe she belongs to you.” He threw Tikki at Marinette.
Marinette caught Tikki and said “Tikki! I was so afraid I lost you.”
“Oh Marinette, you should know that I would never abandon you” Tikki said.
Marinette inquired “But what about-”
“Marinette, that was a dream,” said Tikki.
“A dream?” said Marinette.
“Yes. And it was caused by that man!” Tikki said. “Now turn into Ladybug so we can beat this guy!”
“Is he Akumatized?” Marinette asked, worrying about what that means if that were true.
“No” said Tikki. Marinette sighed. “He’s just in possession of the wolf miraculous. A dangerous miraculous, which should never be used.”
“I was told you had a grudge against the wolf miraculous” Judgment Wolf said. “However, I’m not the same one you met last time. But you knew that already. I would like to avoid conflict as much as possible. So if you want your revenge, you gotta take it up with Beyyo.”
“Beyyo?” said Marinette.
“The kwami of the wolf miraculous” said Tikki. “An evil little thing.”
“Easy now” said Judgement Wolf. “We don’t want to say things we can’t take back.”
Tikki growled at Judgement Wolf. “I don’t get it,” said Marinette. “What are you doing this for?”
“Simple” said Judgement Wolf. “The wolf miraculous is the miraculous of doubt. It has a lot of interesting quirks to it, but all you need to know right now is that Beyyo and sniff out other kwamis, which is how I found you, and Beyyo believes that the holder of the wolf miraculous should test the users of other miraculous to see if they are worthy. An idea that I agree with. To do this, those who posses the wolf miraculous use a mist to create situations in the heads of people when they are unconscious. Based on the results, we decide if the user is worthy or not.”
“So, that whole thing was a test?” said Marinette.
“Yes” said Judgement Wolf. “And you passed.” This surprised both Marinette and Tikki. “You proved that even in a situation where everyone was against you, you would still do the right thing. And even if Hawk Moth’s goals were noble, he was doing them in the wrong way.”
“Of course” said Marinette. “If he wants to create peace, why doesn’t he use the powers he has to do that, instead of banking on a wish?”
Judgement Wolf laughed. “Oh Marinette, you continue to surprise me. I trust you completely to do your job as Ladybug.” Judgement wolf was about to leave, but he had one more thing to say. “Before I go, this is just me we’re talking about. Beyyo might have other ideas. He’ll meet you tomorrow to tell you what he thinks.” Judgement Wolf jumped out of the mysterious white area.
Marinette and Tikki were both confused, but before they could process anything, they fell asleep.
Back in Marinette’s room, Judgement Wolf reappeared. “Sleep tight Ladybug” he said, before climbed out the top window, and left the building. He made it back to his place just before he was about to transform back. “Beyyo! Fangs Dull!” he called out softly, so as not to disturb anyone. He transformed back into Vlad. “So, what did you think?” Vladd asked.