Just to let you know if you were wondering, ´cauchemar´ means nightmare in French. Hope you like it and thank you for the support, to guests and members alike :)
"I AM CAUCHEMAR!" The akumatized villain proclaimed. "And I promise you little idiots that tonight will be a nightmare to you both…"
And it sure was a nightmare.
Cauchemar's powers were something they were not expecting.
They watched in horror as the woman's body twitched and contorted in agony while she was kneeling on the floor, a black substance slipping from her lips, dripping on her chin and falling down the marble floor.
The black liquid continued slithering on the floor, and began to rise as it waved violently, a figure forming through all the deformation.
They realized it had formed itself into a giant, hairy tarantula. With its eight shiny black eyes focusing their entire attention at Ladybug.
Ladybug shrieked in panic.
Rapidly, the horrific creature launched itself at Ladybug. She watched in shock as the tarantula came flying towards her, sharp fangs soaked in venom, threatening to pierce her pale skin.
And she forgot how her brain should send her body the instructions it needed to move.
"Look out!" Chat yelled as he launched himself and pushed Ladybug out of the way, just in time as the colossal insect landed on the spot they were standing seconds ago.
They rolled several times across the floor, until they finally stopped, limbs and fabric dress all over Chat.
He stood up, taking Ladybug's hand, leading the way. She tossed her heels at the akuma, in order to distract it. As they left the ballroom, legs moving quickly, Ladybug used her yo-yo as a shield against the spells Cauchemar was launching at them frantically, as it left a black substance everytime a spell was launched.
They sprinted through the corridor, until they hid themselves behind a concrete pillar on a different room, trying to buy some time to analyze their predicament.
Their outfits were surely making things worse too.
They had reasoned that the akuma's constant casting spells and the monster following them, where making it almost impossible to approach. Their stamina was quickly wearing out, making them feel even more desperate, if that was possible.
He looked at her, as a panicked expression stared back at him.
"I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to block myself like that." She said guiltily. "It's just…I h-have something against spiders." She said hugging herself, her eyes watering slightly, looking away.
Truth to be told, she was terrified. Her heart rate had increased in an unhealthy way, and cold sweat was glistening against her skin.
He hugged her tightly. He had never seen her like that, and he was starting to hate it. "We need to do this fast. Focus on the akuma while I'll distract Spidey, sounds good?" He suggested, rubbing her upper arms in a way to soothe her.
She returned the embrace with as much force as he had done, and said, "Thank you. I'd appreciate that." She said, less shaken. Or at least pretending to be.
Cauchemar's laugh resonated powerfully across the room repeatedly, as another nightmare was formed.
Suddenly, Chat felt something inside of him. Sweat began forming on his skin, running down his body, as he started feeling suffocated. The room seemed smaller now, darkness menacing him. His heart sped up painfully, as the world was closing around him.
Panic started to envelope his entire being.
He tried to focus on the task at hand, but the constricting and overwhelming feeling was hard to ignore. He clutched his chest, his breathing coming in short gasps. His legs relinquished, as his body came down after, gasping for breath, eyes shutting tightly.
Not again.
"Chat! Hey! It's okay, I'm here. Open your eyes for me please" he heard his Lady whisper desperately, cupping his face in her hands, caressing his cheeks with her thumbs soothingly. He opened his eyes slowly, meeting concerned eyes. "Follow my breathing." She instructed, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly. He focused on her eyes, and began mimicking her actions.
But it was extremely difficult. It felt as if a brick was pushing against his ribcage, trapping his oxygen provider. He desperately tried to follow her instructions, but the room kept moving around him and how closed and limited the place felt was agonizingly affecting him.
"I-I c-can't. I'm s-sorry" Chat stammered, breathing labored, his eyes glossy with tears as he stared back at worried blue ones.
"It's okay kitty, it's okay. Just breathe. Don't apologize. Just try to follow me." She replied, continuing to breathe exaggeratedly, her chest rising and falling constantly. He started focusing his attention on her breathing pattern.
"You're doing it great, don't worry, I'm here." Ladybug appeased, one of her hands caressing his cheek, while the other supported his chin.
His breathing steadily slowed down. But his panicked state increased considerably as black entities were entering the room they were currently hidden, trying to locate them.
Great.
A bone-chilling sensation ran through their limbs as they heard a soft, music box melody playing from afar.
"Come out and play with Cauchemar" The old woman sang out in a mocking tone, as her voice was getting nearer. Both teens squeezed each other's hand, in a way to calm their selves.
Chat Noir pulled his head out slightly and narrowed his cat-like eyes, and observed as Cauchemar entered the room floating, as he tried to find a clue of where the akuma could be located. Thanking his night vision, he spotted something wrapped on her right wrist, and realized what it was.
"S-she's using a bracelet with a locket attached to it", he mumbled, his breathing labored, "I think…that's where the akuma is."
"Alright. Y-you distract the monsters, that'll give me time to summon Lucky Charm." She stammered urgently. "Are you sure you'll be able to do it?"
"Don't worry, Chat's on the job", Chat said standing up shakily, feeling his limbs waver, while grabbing his baton from the spot on his back. He took a deep breath, gaining strength from his Lady as he prepared himself for battle once again.
He came out of their hiding place and exclaimed teasingly, "Hey, guys! Want a cat for your gang? What a grave mistake!" waving his arms in the air, hastily receiving the attention of their persecutors.
The monsters suddenly launched at him, predators hunting down their prey.
He scurried, as he was being followed by the creatures, out of the room. The tarantula released repulsive green venom from its pointed fangs, while Chat used his baton, shielding himself from the substance as he ran. But his suit, was starting to be an annoying burden at the moment.
Freaking suit.
Ladybug took this opportunity and summoned her special power. Her voice echoed in the room, as her yo-yo irradiated magic, sending her the item she needed for battle.
A small, fragile artefact laid in her hands, consisting of feathers and web-like designs, with its lower part made with red strips and black dots of cloth. She instantly recognized what it was.
"A dreamcatcher!" She whispered excitedly, feeling more confident, as her mind realized how she could use it to her advantage.
Her happiness was snatched suddenly when Cauchemar tossed a nightmare spell at her, barely missing her as it left a black stain on the spot she had been currently standing.
The battle continued in a repetitive pattern: Ladybug trying to approach Cauchemar, while Cauchemar kept casting spells at her in a frenzied way, leaving black smears on the process.
The akuma had taught her it wasn't an easy foe, and she was starting to get annoyed by this. It had a strong power that she knew it could affect them terribly, and her swiftness was really impressing.
And it's not like Ladybug had the best outfit and vision at the current moment, to make things worse.
Through all the chase she was receiving from Cauchemar, she managed with extreme difficulty to get out of her sight, for a while at least. She was currently hidden behind a luxurious piece of furniture.
She deduced the dreamcatcher wasn't working because it was needed to be used against the monsters that were chasing Chat. In all her under pressure thoughts, her yo-yo started vibrating.
She opened it and saw that it was an incoming call from Chat.
"Chat, where are you? Are you ok?" Ladybug whispered worriedly, clutching her yo-yo tightly.
"Don't worry my Lady…I'm okay. They lost track of me, so I hid inside a vase." Chat replied softly, his rapid breathing audible through the call.
"Oh, okay….wait what?" She asked taken aback. "Inside a vase? Chat, how did you get in there?"
"Your…cat is very flexible…Bugaboo." He whispered proudly, out of breath. She rolled her eyes, a small smile forming in her face.
"Look, I called you because...I think we need to reunite. I have an idea. Since Cauchemar's powers are based on nightmares…her powers function in the darkness, so I guess her weakness is light, right? I can use Cataclysm to bring back the light…and maybe this would buy us some time…while you decide what to do with the Lucky Charm." Chat whispered, inhaling short intakes of breath.
Ladybug nodded, liking his idea, but stopped when she remembered he couldn't see her. "Chat that's a great idea. I have a dreamcatcher, I can eliminate the nightmares. And I noticed something. Cauchemar seems to dodge her own attacks, so we need to find a way that the spell she casts falls on her."
"The Hall of Mirrors!" He whispered loudly, followed by a long exhale.
Ladybug couldn't contain the pride she felt for her partner. How much he had changed over the years, being more analytical and less impulsive, contributing with great ideas and supporting her when once in a while, her mind decided to switch on airplane mode.
The music box was heard again, interrupting their discussion. It's dismal melody echoing from afar, creating a gloomy atmosphere around her, making disturbing goosebumps appear on her flesh.
She heard a shuddering breath coming from the other end of the line. "Time…for action."
"Please, try to remain calm, we'll end this soon." She responded worryingly. She had never seen him so affected, and she didn't want to see him like that anymore.
"Your cat is…prrrsistent and strong Bugaboo." He managed to say. She was sure he was smiling already, with his silly goofy smile.
"Really? At a time like this?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, "I know you are. See you there kitty." She shut the call down and threw herself back into battle.
She met with Cauchemar and made the akuma follow her through the hallways. Leaping, dodging, and spinning as she made her way to the Hall of Mirrors.
"Catch me if you can!" She provoked the akuma as she opened the portals and ran to the middle of the hall. She noticed her partner already at his place, his hand inches apart from the electric security switch, waiting for her cue.
The specters and the arachnid joined them shortly, bursting through the doors violently, ready to attack at any moment, while cornering them.
"Chat, now!" Ladybug exclaimed, dodging the attack of the enemies, the arachnid's hairs located at its abdomen been released from him, in order to attack Ladybug.
"CATACLYSM!" Chat exclaimed, the energy of his special energy flowing out of him, black energy materializing on his right hand. The destructing power came into contact with the security switch, the magic running through the machine, making the lights go on and off uncontrollably.
The monsters were disturbed with the lights, as they tried to concentrate on attacking their targets, trashing around, demolishing the statues and chandeliers on their way. Cauchemar began releasing spells everywhere, desperate to strike the heroes, as the spells were ricocheting hastily against the crystal of the mirrors. The spells didn't seem to affect the monsters at all, Ladybug realized, while dodging every hazardous blow, and Chat distracting the troubled monsters, leaping around expertly, confusing them even more.
Ladybug hoisted her arm up, with the dreamcatcher in her hand, while a white blinding glow emanated from it, absorbing the tarantula and the black entities, piercing roars ringing in the entire building, until they were left alone with Cauchemar.
She released a displeased scream, cutting the silence.
"You're going to pay for this you filthy insect!" She roared, her hands creating a rather worst-looking spell, throwing it at Ladybug's direction, revengefully.
With the constant change of light, she realized the spell's existence too late. She awaited the attack to pierce her, the glow of the spell approaching her quickly.
But instead, she felt arms enveloping around her form as she was thrown aside, rolling a few times on the floor as her head landed on a firm chest.
She widened her eyes and glanced up.
Chat Noir's eyelids were closed, as he laid limply on the floor, his head hanging on the side, arms hanging at his sides. Black substance began crawling through his suit, flowing everywhere, enveloping him completely until it evaporated on his flesh, as if nothing had happened.
Anger rose from the heroine, as a quizzical laugh entered her ears. She laid Chat's arms gently on the floor, and stood up, with narrowed blue eyes and a tensed jaw, trembling with fury.
"I'm afraid he decided to take a cat nap." She said mockingly, one of her hands raised, with a remaining sphere-shaped spell still floating on her disgusting palm. She looked even more emaciated with the lights flickering on and off against her hunched form.
"Come for me then, you need both of us anyway, right?" Ladybug asked, her hands on her yo-yo, clutching it tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Chat had been once again attacked for her irresponsibility, and she hated herself a little bit more every time it happened.
"Gladly." The akuma said, her wicked smile glowing as the change of lightning continued, giving her an even more perverse look, if possible.
Cauchemar threw spells all around the room, as Ladybug leapt around the room difficultly, avoiding every single blow, with the persistent akuma following her close, but rather troubled as the lights attacked her eyesight.
Freaking dress.
The room looked nothing to the lovely place it once was, the chandeliers long separated from the ceiling they were supposed to be hanging, chunks of statues were scattered, along with tiny crystals of glass shattered into millions of pieces, dispersed on the now tarnished floor. And traces of the spells were plastered on every inch of the room, making the room look darker and filthier.
More work had to be done by Ladybug as she had to also avoid the blows she had dodged previously, since the spells ricocheted against the crystal of the glass that was left.
She took the opportunity, as a specific spell had bounced against the glass, and was approaching Cauchemar rather closely. She tossed her yo-yo at the akuma, before it could dodge the spell, her weapon trapping Cauchemar as it fastened around her lean frame.
Ladybug pulled the akuma forcefully, in perfect time and accuracy as she made that the spell landed on the villain's stomach.
The akuma's body was absorbed with black, slippery liquid, enveloping her as screams were made by her. The substance disappeared gradually, leaving her neglected body in the air. She fell to the ground, creating a loud thud, and desperately tried to crawl away from Ladybug. A futile attempt since the resistant cord of the weapon had her firmly trapped, as her own nightmares were appearing on her subconscious, upsetting her terribly.
Ladybug approached her, the glass and statues' portions making contact with her feet as she continued walking. She kneeled beside the akuma, and felt sympathy for her as she watched how she trashed around, trying to evaporate the torments from her head.
This was just another poor soul tormented by Hawk Moth. It was just part of humanity, to be able to feel sadness or anger, but it was terrible to think that people needed to control themselves every time, or Hawk Moth would take advantage of you and use your troubled emotions to make you his puppet. Every single day was a challenge, since it was difficult to keep those kind of thoughts away, when the only thing that you want is to release it.
She sighed crestfallen, and grabbed the bracelet and placed it on the floor. The head of a broken statue colliding with the accessory, a crashing sound created by the movement.
A small black butterfly, with purple tones flowing through its wings was released.
She encased the corrupted creature on her yo-yo, the magic of creation releasing the curse from it, revealing a white butterfly in the process.
She called on her special cure, rays of pink and red, undoing the calamity that the battle had brought. All of the black disgusting liquid disappeared, the chandeliers were once again hanging beautifully at the ceiling, and the glass, statues, and light were restored.
She awaited as the akuma had yet to change itself back into its civilian form, but instead of that, the all too well-known black magic of the akumatization surrounded Cauchemar, and suddenly a black glow appeared, and just like that, Cauchemar disappeared out of the scene.
Ladybug gasped startled, the nature of the event frightening her to a never ending degree. She faltered, approaching the place Cauchemar had left so suddenly. She extended a hesitating arm where the akuma was supposed to be and moved it repeatedly, trying to feel if the akuma was still there. She only felt the air created by the swift movements her arm made.
She realized then that her dress still looked a lamentable deformity, with a few ripped pieces of fabric hanging and dirty, and her arms and feet still had tiny cuts and bruises from the long fighting.
Her shocked state was soon interrupted by an almost inaudible whimper coming from a few meters away from her.
Her eyes went wide as she realized something, or rather someone, was missing.
She looked around the large room frantically, until she located her partner still laying on the floor at the other end of the hall, his eyes still closed from the outside world.
Her blue-bell eyes fixed themselves on Chat's contorted expression.
Chat.