With Nathanael out cold and an army of mindless people ready to attack our heroes, how will Ladybug and Chat Noir fair? Let's find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or the characters.
All OC's in this story are owned by me.
However, the character of Matthew Bell as well as his Akumatized persona were created and submitted by Liz The Sweet Writer, so a special thank you to her.
As Mad Tomato's minions climbed the building, tearing away at the foundation, they launched themselves up with force, landing on the roof and began to attack Ladybug and Chat Noir.
"This is unbeLEAFable." Chat made a terrible pun as usual.
Everyone, even the minions groaned at his humor.
Seeing this as an opportunity, Ladybug swung her yoyo around, knocking them back, causing them and fall down onto one another.
They quickly got back up, lunging back at them.
"We can't stay on the defensive forever, hope you wake up soon Rev, we need you." Ladybug thought.
The Dark Void.
The Evillustrator just stood there, towering over Nathanael before he gathered the strength to get back up.
"Still afraid." Evillustrator finally spoke up.
"Doesn't surprise me, without your powers, you're just the weakling artist that no one cares for." Evillustrator tells him.
"That isn't true." Nathanael says.
Evillustrator gives him an inquisitive look before he pulls out his pencil and begins to draw on his tablet.
All around them, the dark void is overtaken by an image, thanks to the Evillustrator's power.
Nathanael took in the new surroundings, astounded by what he saw.
It was his dream art studio, fully realized.
Nathanael shook his head, trying to regain focus, breaking from his awe at the vision.
"Why am I here?" Nathanael asked.
"To see the truth." Evillustrator said.
"What does that mean?" Nathanael questioned.
"They say our past defines who we are, let's take a look at yours." Evillustrator says.
He begins to draw again, creating an image on a blank canvas.
"Take a look." Evillustrator tells him.
Nathanael cautiously stepped over, looking at what appeared.
It was him, the day he was akumatized.
It was him and Marinette on a boat.
"Oh no." Nathanael thought.
There it was, clear as day.
Chat Noir appeared from out of nowhere and Nathanael couldn't even look as the memories came flowing back to him, the words he spoke ringing in his head.
"I'm so stupid, I actually thought you liked me, but you're really just like Chloe, teasing me, mocking me, leading me on!"
Then, he rewatched as himself commit the worst act he had ever done, regret washing over him.
"And I'm taking back my promise, Chloe's gonna get a little lesson that she'll never forget!"
He had trapped them and erased a piece of the ship in an attempt to drown them.
He had wanted to hurt the woman he cared so much for.
The image faded as Nathanael fell to his knees.
"Funny how things work out, look where you've gone from there, but you're just living in a dream." Evillustrator said.
"You were willing to do that to Marinette, you call yourself a hero, when in reality you're just a pathetic kid, just a pretender, a fraud." Evillustrator told him.
"No, I've been protecting people, I've fought alongside Ladybug and Chat Noir." Nathanael retorted.
"You think you've redeemed yourself?!" Evillustrator says with a chuckle.
"Face it, you're only a petty, selfish, wannabe…with…potential." Evillustrator says.
Nathanael looks at him in confusion.
"What do you mean, potential?" Nathanael asks.
"You present much promise to Hawkmoth, the akuma that once possessed you, now returns to you with an offer." Evillustrator informs him.
"What would that be?" Nathanael says, uncaringly.
"He wishes to return these powers to you, the power of the Evillustrator once again in your grasp." Evillustrator tells him.
"Your offer is pointless, I would never return to that life, you've seen what I've done." Nathanael rejects the offer.
"True, but tell me, how long can you protect Juleka?" Evillustrator said with a smirk.
"Juleka." Nathanael whispered.
"That girl is important to you, isn't she?" Evillustrator said.
"You can't protect her forever, however, that is why we give you this offer, you become the Evillustrator once more, bring your Miraculous as well as the others to Hawkmoth, join allegiance with him and you both shall be spared." Evillustrator reveals their intention.
Nathanael looks away for a moment, weighing the options.
"With my power there will be no more threats, you will be able to keep her safe." Evillustrator tells him.
"I can't trust him, I know that much, still, I'd do anything for her, can I really go through with this?" Nathanael thought.
"So, what's it gonna be?" Evillustrator asks once more.
Nathanael looks up and stares him dead in the eye as he utters one word.
"No."
