*We're no longer in Marinette's head now, we are in the real, physical world*
"'Demon Lover', this is Hawkmoth. I have given you all the power you need to eliminate your rivals, and all you have to do is get me Ladybug and Chat Noir's miracu-"
"No thanks. I mean, Demon Lover? What even is that name tho! Seriously WHERE do you get these dumb names, have you got like a book or something?! Haha, I've gotten what I need from you, so you can get out of my head now."
"How dare you! I can take your power away from you as easily as I gave them!"
Can you though? There are times when akumas have gone rogue before, but you never stopped them, Gigantitan for example… Aw, sucks to be pathetic, doesn't it?" She giggled in a mocking tone. "But, I'll take the powers, thank you very much! Ooh, maybe once I'm finished here, I'll come for you!"
Her hysterical laughter echoed through the streets of Paris, and she loved every second of it, all that was left was to corrupt the earrings. She slid them back onto her ears and watched them turn black in her reflection in the silent river. Wow! What a time to get control of the body! The girl that actually got picked was lame, she could have done way better if she was the dominant.
Mari felt the power of tikki begin to flow through her as the little Kwami began to appear before her. Before letting it utter a word, Mari reached out her hand and whispered, "spots on."
—
*back in Mari's head*
Marinette's Pov
Run. Keep running.
Ladybug is faster than me. The grasping black wisps of akuma smoke are grabbing at our heels. While I cannot physically tire in this form, I cannot keep this up indefinitely.
"Hey, Ladybug! So, do we just keep doing this for eternity or…? Cuz this is gonna get old real soon."
"Don't worry, Marinette. I expect her to put the earrings on her body again soon, which will give me the power to fight the akuma from the inside."
"And if she doesn't?"
"Oh, she will. She can gain limitless power from miraculous stones, and that is right up her alley. It won't be long before she has Chat Noir's ring in her possession too…" Ladybug added regretfully.
"No she won't! Chat Noir wont fall even if he doesn't have me. He's a strong warrior too ya know!"
"I'm sorry Marinette. He won't be strong enough to beat you, not with the power of Ladybug as well as an akuma. He's gonna have to take a loss on this one… Oh! The earnings are on! Miraculous Ladybug!"
Her healing light spread from her outstretched hands and blasted back the darkness chasing them. But it didn't disappear. The two forces simply pushed against each other.
"Huh? Why doesn't it work, Ladybug? It's not doing anything!"
"I realise. It's because my full power is not accessible to me yet. The earnings must be cleansed fully of the akuma before I can cast it from Marinette's body."
"And how can we do that?"
"We're gonna need a little more than Chat Noir to get them back. Master Fu, you know what to do."
—
*real world*
"Come out come out wherever you areeeeeee! Adrieeennnnnnn, where aaaaaareeee you my love?! Are you sneaking around with Ladybug again?! Oh wait… YOU'VE NEVER EVEN SPOKEN TO HER, HAVE YOU?"
Marinette's soft navy hair had grown to reach her mid thigh, it was tied up in a high ponytail between two slim, menacing horns not dissimilar to that of a demon. Her ball gown was scarlet with black accents, and she had knee high black boots with heels. It was the sinister picture of elegance, but Chat Noir knew better.
"Hello Puuuurincess. That's a nice outfit you've got there, I'm impressed."
While impressed was the understatement of the year and he was only late because it took him five minutes to get over how gorgeous and elegant she had become, Chat was now ready to do business. He was worried that Marinette would become akumatised after what happened earlier, and it would appear that his suspicions were correct. If only his Lady would just arrive, he couldn't bring himself to hurt her…
"Oh, Chaton, I've been wanting to see you too! Hey, you think there's a slight chance you could give me that ring of yours?"
"Hah, I'd love to purincess, but I'm afraid that wouldn't be doing my job now would it? I can't let Hawkmoth have my miraculous until the day I die, and judging by his voice I'd say that he'll go first."
"Hawkmoth? Who said anything about Hawkmoth? I want your ring because I want your ring. Don't lump me in with those other puppets of his. I'm working on my own terms, actually."
Now that shocked him. No other akuma had ever said a word against Hawkmoth. This one was special.
"Wait, you didn't get brainwashed?"
"Heck no! What do you take me for, Chaton. I'm hurt!" Her tone was mocking. But she was also confused as to why his concern made her feel so happy. Stupid Chat Noir!
"So, I'm guessing you didn't stick with your dumb given villain name?" Asked Chat, stalling for time until Ladybug came to his side. The fact that Mari's akuma form was stronger than Hawkmoth led him to believe that he would need Ladybug on this one. He thought that Mariwas an awesome friend, without a drop of cruel blood in her system. I guess he was wrong about her, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. After all, she is his princess.
"Nah, it's so embarrassing to be linked to that name I'm not even gonna tell you what it is. So, where's your friend?"
She was right, where was his friend?
'Adrien.' Plagg's cynical voice bounced about his head. 'I don't want to believe it, but I sense Tikki coming from her. Is she wearing earrings?'
Adrien looked closer. She was indeed wearing earrings; black ones at that.
"You don't think… You don't think Marinette already got to Ladybug and took her miraculous?!"
A horrible sense of dread dawned on the poor boy. His Lady? Defeated? There was no way, no way that he could achieve something his Lady couldn't… He should have been there! He should have saved her!
"Damn you Marinette! What did you do to Ladybug?! Where is she? Who is she!?"
Marinette just stared at him in utter disbelief. How could he be so dense? All the signs were there! She was literally wearing Ladybug's earrings! Well, this was going to be more fun than she thought. What an idiot…
"Oh, you want to know what I did to Ladybug? I crushed her and stole her earrings. Why? You think they look good on me? I'm flattered!"
Adrien was too enraged to notice that they did indeed look good on her. Too good, too familiar…
"I swear, if you as much as touched her…"
"Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to touch her? I mean, I did worse than that but okay, I guess it's too late now… Well, if you want to know where she is, she passed out from the pain a while back, and I have her locked away. Want me to take you there?"
"You monster… How dare you! You hurt her, Marinette, you are despicable!"
Words could not describe the sheer horror pumping through his veins and arteries. Ladybug had gotten hurt, his love had been hurt!
"Take me. I beg you, let ,e have her back, there's no reason for you to hurt her while she's in civilian form. I know what you're going to ask me for… If you let her go, I'll give it you."
"Perfect. Follow me…"
She led him down, deep into the sewers, singing a sinister song as went. Little did she know she was being followed, by someone other than Chat Noir…
