Chapter 10
The Big Fight and The Aftermath
Ladybug's POV
We made it to the research lab and slowly made our way to through the halls. We didn't know what the possessive workaholic was capable of. A red mist started spreading out of a hall we were about to go into.
"Lady, I don't think that's normal." Cat pointed.
"It's not. How do we get through that?" I wondered.
"You don't." A dry, whispering voice announced behind the mist.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I was Simon Patterison, but now I am the one who made this virus what it is. With Hawk Moth's help, I perfected it into the perfect weapon. It has spread much farther than you realize, Ladybug. By my calculations, America should be almost completely infected by now." Simon said wickedly.
"No! That's insane!" Cat retorted.
"Why would you do this?" I asked angrily.
"This is my work! And mine alone!" He commanded the mist to attack us. We ran outside. Fighting in the building was dangerous.
"Cat, we have to dissipate that mist! Make it spread too far apart to hurt us." I told him.
"That's going be hard." He replied.
"I know it is. Cat, use Cataclysm on him if you have to!" I told him.
"What?" He looked at me.
"He's trying to commit mass genocide! Everyone on the planet will die!" I explained.
"Ladybug, fight me!" Simon roared roughly.
We tried to find a fan, any kind, but it was hard. I kept the mist back by using my yo-yo, but it was getting risky. I found a decent fan in the store we ran in to search and aimed it at the mist. It was sent back and we saw the man. He was so sickly looking and skinny. His stomach was bloated. I think he had caught the virus because his skin was red and he had bruises. His clothes looked almost mystical in an evil sort of way. He had a red flowing coat and silk looking shirt and pants. The buttons on the shirt were black. His hair was falling out and his eyes lost their shine. He coughed silently and made more mist.
"Ew." I said.
"Ugh!" Cat grimaced.
"Give me your Miraculous!" He lunged at us and we had to run again.
"We need to find the object!" Cat told me.
"I know!" I agreed.
I aimed my yo-yo in the mist in an attempt to hit him, but it wrapped around something and Simon was yanked out of his mist. I had him by the neck. He was struggling to breathe, red mist trying to escape his body.
"Shit, Ladybug!" Cat swore.
"I KNOW, CAT!" I yelled, keeping the rope tight. Simon was gasping now.
"What should I do?" He asked.
"WAIT!" I made my decision and gave the killing blow, snapping his neck. Simon's body fell to the ground and there was a small puff of mist.
"L-Lady?" Cat asked, shocked.
"He was a living weapon, Cat. As long as he could attack us, he would. I'm sorry." I frowned.
"I-" He paused, having nothing.
"Lucky Charm!" I cried and a magnet fell from the sky. I looked and saw Simon's body and the magnet highlighted in my Lucky Vision.
I passed the magnet over his body and something was attracted to it. A needle. I decided stomping on it was a bad idea.
"Cataclysm!" Cat cried and used his bad luck on the needle.
The akuma flew out, "No more evildoing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! Gotcha!" I caught the akuma and purified it, "Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" The pink purple light spread across the sky and fixed everything.
"What happened? Where am I?" Simon asked.
"Pound it?" Cat asked, unsure.
"Um, sure." I held my fist out and he tapped his fist to mine.
"Ladybug?" He looked at me.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"I'm here for you." He told me earnestly.
"Thank you. We should go. Sir, we'll take you to the hospital." I told Simon and we quickly dropped him off and went home.
Ladybug's POV End
A month later
Marinette's POV
"Ladybug, please!" Adrien pleaded, grabbing at the rope around his neck. I yanked.
"Aaaaaaah!" I woke up again.
"Marinette!" Tikki yelled.
"Marinette!?" Mom shouted and ran up the stairs. She held me and told me everything was ok now. I leaned on her and let her talk to me.
"What happened?" Dad came up to see what happened.
"She had another nightmare." Mom told him.
"I'm calling her doctor in the morning. That's the third time this week." Dad frowned.
"Oh, Sweetie, I wish you could tell us what's wrong." Mom stroked my hair as I sobbed.
"I di-dn't want TO!" I yelled.
"I know you didn't." Mom soothed. They stayed with me until I fell asleep.
Marinette's POV End
Tikki's POV
"Plagg, Marinette needs someone to talk to. She's waking up screaming three to five nights a week." I told the black cat.
"I'm not sure if Adrien can help. He's a just kid." He frowned.
"So is she!" I snapped.
"I'll see if I can get him to go visit." He said reluctantly.
Tikki's POV End
Marinette's POV
"Princess?" There was a knock on my door. I jumped.
"H-hi." I recovered and let Cat in.
"I heard you were having nightmares." He told me.
"I can't…" I said.
"You have to tell someone! You're hurting." He urged.
"It's not that simple." I shook my head.
"Why?" He asked.
"Um…" I looked away.
"I'm here for you, Marinette." He said softly. I couldn't take it. That hit too close. I started crying again. He held me and rubbed my back.
Mom and Dad came up and saw Cat Noir holding me. Mom took me from him. We sat on my bed.
"I was hoping she would talk to me." Cat explained.
"Thank you for trying." Dad told him and led him out.
"Shh." Mom hushed.
"I'm sorry, Marinette. I let this go on too long." Tikki flew out of her hiding place. I tried to get her to hide again, but Mom wouldn't let me move.
"Hello?" Dad waved.
"I'm Tikki. And Marinette's Ladybug. Marinette had to do something very bad as Ladybug to save the world from the Ladybug Virus. She had to kill the maker of the virus so she could stop him and purify the world. He's alive now, but it still scares her." Tikki explained.
"Oh, my poor baby." Mom hugged me.
"I'm sorry, Mom." I whispered.
"It's ok, Sweetie, we'll get you help. You'll get through this." She rocked me back and forth.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled.
"It's ok. Go to sleep. We're here." Dad told me. I trusted him and I closed my eyes.
Marinette's POV End
Three months later
Ladybug's POV
"Pound it!" Cat and I said together, bumping fists.
"I'm glad you're back to your old self, LB." He told me.
"I am too." I smiled. I went home and made it to my room in time and untransformed.
"Mari, is that you?" Mom came up the stairs with a plate of cookies.
"Yes, Mom." I grabbed one and ate it.
"Thank you, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng." Tikki ate a cookie.
"You're welcome, Tikki." She smiled, "Marinette, your appointment is in an hour."
"Really?" I chewed.
"Yes. I'll call you when we need to go." She left us. I laid on my bed and took a cat nap.
Marinette's POV End