Volpina managed to grab onto Chat Noir as he tumbled off the building. She was fast, but this was pushing even her limits. If she'd been even a heartbeat later, he would have fallen to his death. She caught him and brought them both down to the ground softly.
She heard Blu Pavone teleport somewhere and knew he would be searching for her. She growled to herself as she brought Chat towards a statue for cover. She set him down on the ground and then did a double take as she realized he'd de-transformed.
"A-Adrien?" Volpina asked.
The blond boy was badly hurt. A long icicle protruded from his shoulder and Volpina couldn't tell how deep it went. She was impressed he was still conscious, especially without his powers. He was bleeding quite heavily and needed medical attention. He looked so small and helpless. It wasn't at all the same impression she had when he was Chat Noir.
"Heh, yeah." Adrien managed to open his eyes to look up at her. He groaned as his fingers dabbled on the ice shard. "Did Ladybug see?"
Volpina shook her head.
"Good." Adrien slumped down with a sigh. "He…he has my ring. My Miraculous. Plagg…"
"Rest here." Volpina jumped up and headed back off towards Ladybug.
If Blu Pavone had Chat's Miraculous, they were in serious trouble. As it was, Volpina didn't know how to stop him. Blu Pavone died, and this thing wasn't him. It couldn't be him. But because it looked like him, she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. That meant Ladybug would have to, somehow. But first Volpina needed to pin him down and find out who he was. If Hawkmoth was as powerful as they said, maybe it was possible that Pavone was still alive. Maybe he somehow brought him back.
Of course, the most likely scenario was that Pavone's Miraculous was given to someone new. Someone that Hawkmoth controlled. That meant that his powers were strong, and combined with Chat Noir's ring, he was unstoppable.
"Where's Chat?!" Ladybug clutched her chest. She could barely stand and all her energy seemed to be focused on screaming out for her partner.
"He's fine," Volpina replied. She placed a hand on Ladybug's shoulder. "Trust me. He's alright. I put him somewhere safe."
"Chat!" Ladybug yelled out.
"Not now! We need to-" Volpina dashed forward and grabbed Ladybug just as Pavone appeared behind them. She pulled Ladybug around a chimney as a blast of cold air blew past them.
"He has Chat's Miraculous," Volpina told Ladybug.
Ladybug felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. He had Chat's Miraculous. Chat wasn't able to transform. Chat wasn't able to help. Chat was hurt.
"I can probably get it back," Volpina told her. "But it's going to take God-like powers to stop him."
Ladybug looked over at Volpina and heard the soft beeping in her ear. She didn't have much time left. "Chat…"
"Is alright." Volpina hardened her eyes. "I need your help. If I can get the ring, can you finish this?"
Ladybug took in a deep breath and bit her lip. Chat needed her to be strong. She nodded.
Volpina grabbed Ladybug and pulled her forward as the chimney they were up against exploded with shards of ice. Once they were clear of the attack, Ladybug turned and slid down the side of the roof as Volpina darted back towards Blu Pavone. She flinched as the pain in her leg and body came to the forefront of her mind. She quickly pushed it away. She could be in pain later. Right now, Chat needed her to be strong. Ladybug heard another beep from her Miraculous as she jumped into place.
Streaks of orange and blue blazed above her head and all around the rooftops. Ladybug wasn't sure how this was going to work, but she had to trust Volpina.
As Ladybug's earring beeped again, she heard a soft flute sound and a bright orange light filled the sky. A moment later, she saw Pavone rise up in the air, encased in an orange bubble. It reminded her of that time Chat and her were trapped in a bubble.
Poor Chat…
"Now!" Volpina skidded down the roof towards Ladybug and tossed a silver ring towards her. "The force field won't hold long!"
Ladybug nodded and slipped the ring onto her finger.
And her world went black.
Volpina looked away as Ladybug started to glow. It was a soft red radiance at first, and then she started to glow brighter and brighter until Volpina couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. The red light grew so intense that even with her eyes closed, Volpina thought she might go blind.
And then it vanished. She blinked several times as her eyes tried to adjust to the darkness. She panicked for a moment that she had gone blind, until she saw the orange light from Pavone's enclosure.
Above her was Ladybug, only she was pure white. Her hair, outfit, everything was pure white. She was surrounded by a glowing red hue. Her blank white eyes were pointed towards Blu Pavone with a terrifying glare that even gave Volpina the shivers.
All Volpina could do was stare up at Ladybug as she floated there. Even Pavone was mesmerized by her. Her lips parted and she uttered a single word that seemed to shake the very world around them.
"RUN."
Volpina looked up at Pavone, who's pushed back against the bubble. He was shouting something, but Volpina couldn't tell. His eyes were wide and his fists pounded on the bubble wall behind his back. She hesitated for a moment, but then Ladybug started to glow once more.
She pounced down off the buildings and raced towards the statue where Adrien leaned up against. She pulled the wounded boy around the statue's base. He yelped out in pain, but she didn't let go until they were on the other side. Then she grabbed his head and shoved his face into her shoulder.
"Close your eyes!" she said as she buried her face down in his hair.
In the shadow of the statue, with their eyes covered and buried, the light was so intense that Volpina felt her head start to spin. The red glow permeated into her skull. She heard Adrien moan and pulled him into a tighter hold. They both stayed there like that, curled together as they struggled against the brilliance, until finally it started to recede.
"Stay here." Volpina loosened her grip on Adrien, then slowly opened her eyes. This time she was able to adjust to the light with no problem. Either she went fully blind and was hallucinating or it was all just…magic.
She looked around the statue and saw Ladybug floating downwards. Volpina got up and ran over to Ladybug and caught her just before she hit the ground. Ladybug's head curled into Volpina with a heavy sigh.
"What…what happened?" Ladybug groaned.
"It's alright," Volpina told her. She looked up at the sky, but Pavone was nowhere to be seen. What exactly had happened? Volpina swallowed hard. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. Volpina carried her back towards the statue, but made sure they remained opposite Adrien.
"Chat?" Ladybug asked. "Chat? Is he okay? Where's Chat?"
"I'm here, my lady," Adrien called out once they were close enough. He remained hidden, and Volpina took that as a hint that he wanted to remain as such.
"I have your ring," Ladybug said weakly as she pulled the ring off her finger.
Volpina took it from her. "Let's get you home, Ladybug."
"I'm okay." Ladybug rolled her head forward and pulled her legs free from Volpina. She faltered as her feet touched the ground, but a moment later she stood up unassisted. "I'm okay."
"I can take you," Volpina said. "You look weak still."
"I'm okay," Ladybug replied and stood up straight. "I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Adrien's voice came from behind the statue.
Ladybug took a step towards the voice, then paused. She placed a hand on the statue and closed her eyes. "Don't worry about me, Chat. Are you okay?"
"Just a cat scratch," he replied with a grin in his voice.
She smiled, but didn't say anything more. A moment later, she tossed her yo-yo off towards the buildings and flew into the city.
Volpina walked around the statue and picked Adrien up. "We need to get you some medical attention." She put his ring into his hand.
As they dashed into the city, Adrien spoke up nervously. "You're the first person to know my identity."
"Don't worry," Volpina told him. "I'll keep your secret."
"It's not that." Adrien's voice lowered. "I just wanted it to be her."