X. Revelations.
Ladybug was captured by Hawk Moth and Cat Noir was gone, a mistake they made because they wanted to rush so they could have Marinette's reward dinner. Hawk Moth had taken Ladybug and attached her to the spire up high on top of the Notre Dame Cathedral. She was regaining consciousness.
"Uh… Where am I?" slowly asked Ladybug. "Hawk Moth!" the hero was astonished to see in the flesh the man responsible for causing so much trouble in Paris. Then she saw she was tied up, she requested her release. "Let me go!"
"Ah, Ladybug!" said Hawk Moth. "We finally meet! I won't let you go. You seriously thought I'd free you if you asked? Hahaha!" He turned around and made his exclamation, "Ladies and Gentlemen of Paris! I am Hawk Moth and I have captured your hero Ladybug!" All of the city was paying attention and Cat Noir had just realized where he landed to go back. He needed to hurry, he needed to save Ladybug! Then Hawk Moth proceeded, "Have you wondered who is this girl? Who does Paris trust to save it?! I will answer that question, because I will take her earrings and reveal her identity!"
These words where heard all over Paris. Everyone on the city was in shock. Ladybug was desperate in her attempt to free herself, with each passing second Cat Noir tried his best to make it on time.
After moments of everyone on expectation, it happened. Hawk Moth succeeded, Cat Noir didn't make it in time; Hawk Moth retrieved the miraculous and exposed Ladybug's identity!
"Ladybug is in real life a high school student!" shouted with satisfaction Hawk Moth, "It's none other than Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"
Marinette didn't know what to do. She had lost her miraculous; she was not Ladybug anymore; and, more importantly for her, she failed Tikki. Tension could be sliced with a knife from that point on. Every witness of the event didn't know how to react to the news. After months of speculations, mainly from Alya and Adrien, they finally had their answer.
Marinette was known for her clumsiness and tendencies to forget things with ease. Nobody in Paris would have ever guessed it was her all along on first thoughts. When Cat Noir heard the reveal he talked to himself.
"Marinette is Ladybug! All of this time I've been sitting in front of her during classes?! I can't believe I didn't notice it was her! Have I always been in love with the first girl I considered my friend other than Chloé?!"
After a second of meditation with himself, Cat Noir felt more decided to get the miraculous back so he could be with Ladybug again. Something in his face changed, he had a feeling to put a stop to Hawk Moth because he was one step closer to his goal.
Marinette wanted to cry when, from the distance, Cat Noir could be heard. He approached the girl with an extended hand. If there had to be a moment to be happy to see Cat Noir, it was that one.
"Cataclysm!" he rushed towards the spire and with a strike of his hand destroyed the ropes that tied up Marinette. With his other hand he grabbed Marinette and took her to a safer place. "Give her miraculous back! They don't belong to you!"
"Why would I? With the ladybug miraculous in my possession, I only need yours! And you already used your power, it's only a matter of time before you revert back to a civilian and I'll take your miraculous!"
Cat Noir knew Hawk Moth was right. He tried to take the miraculous back, but he was too strong. He returned for Marinette and took her to safety.
"It's only a matter of time now, Cat Noir!" screamed Hawk Moth as he saw the young man disappear between the buildings.
"Cat Noir we need to go back! You still could retrieve my miraculous!" said Marinette.
"I know, but I already used my cataclysm and I don't have much time! We'd be better off letting my kwami to eat something while we plan something better!"
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see…"
The only thing airing on T.V., radio and all other media was the shocking news.
"This is Nadja Chamack with breaking news! Ladybug was captured by Hawk Moth and he revealed her identity. Ladybug was confirmed to be Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a local high school student! Cat Noir rushed to attack the enigmatic man in an effort to retrieve the stolen earrings. However, he decided to grab the young woman after fighting Hawk Moth and flee! We are on the expectation on what might happen next…"
Everyone in Paris was watching the broadcast. Marinette's parents were especially attentive; they were on disbelief Ladybug had been living under their own roof all this time. Their concerns were interrupted when they saw Cat Noir land in front of the bakery and call the door. Tom and Sabine rushed to the door and let them in.
"Marinette!" both parents exclaimed when they saw, somewhat relieved, their daughter enter through the door. When she stood up on her own, she was received by the strongest hug she had ever gotten from her parents. Her parents alternated to rapid fire questions. Are you hurt? How did this happen? Are you ok? Why did he capture you? All of these and other questions where left on the air. Marinette didn't want to talk for the time being.
"Cat Noir, thank you for bringing our daughter!" said Tom. He and his wife were extremely happy to see her daughter with them and not Hawk Moth.
"You'll thank me later. Marinette, what are we going to do now?"
Marinette kept her silence.
"Marinette…" said Cat Noir.
"What do you need now, Cat Noir?" asked Sabine.
"For now I need her to talk to me. Marinette, please…"
The girl was still. She hadn't moved any muscle since she arrived with her parents. Then she heard the cat miraculous beeping; he was about to revert back to his civilian form.
A flash of green light passed through Cat Noir body to reveal his true identity. When she saw Adrien standing there she could only stay there. Her parents were astonished as well, they knew about Marinette being in love with Adrien, though they weren't sure what to say; they could only see astonished the black living thing popping out of the ring.
"Adrien," said Plagg once he left the ring, "I can't believe Hawk Moth has… Wah! I must not be seen!"
"It's not important anymore to hide yourself, Plagg. There are more important things than keeping your existence a secret! It's ok if they know. Marinette, what do you think we should do now?!"
But the girl kept the position she had kept ever since she stood up. A few seconds later, she moved her arms at last, which were in front of her belly. She placed her hands in front her mouth and started speaking.
"I… I… I'm sorry!" with nothing else to say, she turned around and ran to her bedroom. After she entered, she shut the door and locked it; then, she laid face-down on her bed and started to cry.