Chapter 1

"My Lady, I can't let you do this!"

"Chat..."

The knight in dark armor tightened his grip on his partner's shoulders. "They are sending you to your death do you not realize that?"

"I know it is a lost cause, but I can hold off the enemy so reinforcements can arrive."

"I can't be there for you." Chat backed away as Ladybug gently forced him to release his grip on her.

"I know. I wasn't talking about you." The blunette's blue eyes stared into her blonde partner's green. "I was referring to Rena, Bee, and Carspace."

"You don't trust me?"

"You are needed on a different battlefield." Ladybug explained. "Your cataclysm is more effective on the battlefield than my lucky charm."

Chat's arms fell to his side. He couldn't argue with her. He couldn't tell her the truth, why he didn't want her to fight on that battlefield.

"It's funny," Ladybug said with a smile. "I have a feeling that I'll see you there."

When she wasn't the great knight Ladybug, she was Marinette, the normal daughter of two bakers who used to be knights. After her conversation with Chat, she had escaped from the confines of the palace and gone to her parents. As former knights they were partial to secret knowledge that only higher ups would notice. It was also their past as knights that led to Ladybug existing in the first place. Whether or not that was a good thing was currently up in the air. It was certainly leaning more on the negative side with Ladybug's impending death on the battlefield.

"I have to side with Chat Noir on this," Her father said. "Why can't they send him with you?"

"Chat Noir's abilities can't be used in the area the battle will be." Marinette answered and tried to smile to comfort her father. "And if both knights fall, they get both miraculous. It's better they keep the miraculous for destruction so it can destroy the miraculous for creation." This felt wrong. She was scared. She knew she would die in this battle. She knew she'd leave behind all of the people that cared about her, and when Marinette disappeared the same day Ladybug died, it wouldn't be hard to piece everything together. The Ladybug miraculous would end up in the enemy's hands and Chat Noir would have to destroy them.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door flew open and Al-Ladybug's friend, Rena Rouge, came running in her eyes wide. He hair was slightly wild, uncommon for a super powered state. Usually their appearance couldn't be ruffed up.

"Lady Rena," Her parents politely bowed. "To what do we owe the honor?"

"I was told Ladybug was here." Rena said. Something was off about her. Rena looked around the empty bakery, studying everything. "Chat Noir is looking for her."

"It's probably nothing." Marinette laughed nervously. "Maybe just another attack-"

"He's challenging her to a duel."

Those words caused the mood of the room to shift from uncertainty to dread. No knights had dueled since the previous Ladybug and Chat Noir. The reason for that duel was still trying to be understood, but it had led to the King banning those conflicts. Chat Noir was either convincing enough that the king allowed it or he was going against the king.

"But...why?" He couldn't be that upset about me going to that battle.

"I don't know," Rena shook her head. "He's waiting at the courtyard for Ladybug. I thought she'd be here, but now..."

"I'll help you look for her." Marinette stepped forward. The dark red haired girl nodded and ran out of the store.

Why would he be this upset? We both knew something like this would happen when we agreed to be knights.

"Are you going to fight him?" Sabine asked.

"I have to," Marinette said. "If I don't Chat will come looking for her. It's best to just end this quickly."

"Be careful, Ladybug."

Ladybug's iconic red armor appeared on the blue haired girl. "I'll try to be." She walked out of the bakery swinging her weapon. "Now which way did Rena go?"

Chat's green eyes locked onto her the moment she entered the courtyard. They pierced through her and looked intent on trying to figure out her reason for being here.

As if you don't already know. Ladybug stared back at Chat. Are you hoping to make me back down and change my mind?

"My Lady," Chat slid off his perch and fell, landing gracefully on his feet. It was at this moment Ladybug began to fully understand the gift that Tikki and Plagg had given them. Other knights had the armor that was large and made moment difficult because of the ruckus and how hard it was to move. Ladybug and Chat Noir's fairy companions made an armor that was functional, not creating any noise and protected them far better. Rena, Carapace, and Queen Bee had their own unique armor, but the entire group was unanimous in their belief that Ladybug and Chat had the best armor.

"Isn't challenging me to a duel going against our code, Chat?"

"The royal family approved of this duel. They don't want to lose you either."

"How nice." The blue haired knight started to play with her yoyo. No, playing wasn't the right word, she was warming up. She was getting ready to fight. She still listened to Chat as she did.

The blonde slowly pulled his staff out. "Why are you so eager to go and fight? Don't you care about us? The people left behind?"

Trying to guilt trip me? Manipulative little cat. Ladybug smirked internally. At the same time she was a little annoyed. "Of course I care, Chat. But as Ladybug I promised to serve the royal family. I'm scared of dying," Chat's grip on his staff tightened. "Everyone is. But this battle could be the turning point."

"Then what was all that talk of being partners?" Chat shouted. "If we go together then chances your of winning and living go up!"

"They need you, Chat!"

"I need you!" The brokenness in Chat's voice caused Ladybug to freeze. "I don't have anyone else!"

"I'm sorry, Chat. But I am still going."

The blonde's grip on the staff tightened to the point that it looked like it would snap in half. "I don't want to lose you."

"Chat-" Ladybug's partner lunged towards her and began their duel. You foolish cat. I'm sorry.

A/N: I am so sorry for the terrible quality of this story! Also for posting a story when I have a lot that are unfinished, but there's a reason. I have a poll open that asks what the next fandom I write for should be. This poll is open all year so the results won't be decided by three people. It's also so I can thank you guys for reading my stories and find more ways to entertain you. I come up with different ideas for different fandoms and I don't want to constantly create a new one that nobody would want. Currently my plan for the poll is to release at least three stories for whichever choice wins at Christmas as a gift.

This is a present for having to wait for so long.

Anyway, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Leave a review on your way out!

~Mirai