Author's Note:

Shout out to qookyquiche qookyquiche. tumblrdotcom /post/143065035885/ok-yeaaahhhhh-may-have-exaggerated-the-violence-a
And nrd4lyfe nrd4lyfe. tumblrdotcom /post/143078630695/this-is-for-kryallaorchids-quiver-chapter-20

for the spectacular arts for last chapter.

Chapter 21

Screams all around him. Gasps of shock which drowned out his gasp of pain. Betrayal as deep as the blade. Although, the shock of metal forcing its way into his body through the gouges in his suit stole his breath Chat Noir was no stranger to pain. Calamity had driven home just how much he could take and this… didn't hurt. It was odd and awkward pressure, so he figured he was running on too much adrenaline for it to be painful. It would incapacitate him, fairly soon for that matter, but not before he'd done what he needed to do.

Such a precise blow. Straight through the gaps Hawk Moth had made with his dog tooth glove. Through the ribs. Right hand side. What organs were there? Not his heart. Liver maybe? That was… survivable. Right? Lungs? Oh god.

The rapier clattered to the ground, falling from limp fingers and lay discarded between them. Hawk Moth looked appalled. White face, mouth open, eyes too wide for the mask. His breath stunted and his hands shook. "Adrien—"

Chat Noir's knees buckled and Hawk Moth caught him. One hand on the small of his back, the other cradling his head. Wet against his chest, streaming down over his ribs and dripping to the ground. He didn't understand why his legs wouldn't hold him up. It didn't hurt. Not really. Why wouldn't his legs hold him?

Hawk Moth looked devastated. "I didn't— I couldn't— I couldn't stop her."

"Get away from him!"

Hawk Moth jerked his head up to Ladybug. His hands clenched tightly on Chat Noir's back. "Take him!"

Chat Noir raised his hand to grip his father's arm. "No." They needed to act. They needed to act quickly. Before he fainted. Before Tigga wrestled back control over his father. Tigga, Plagg and Tikki's daughter, how messed up was that. This great evil was their daughter. Corrupted by… he wasn't sure, but Plagg had implied it had been something like Calamity. They'd known this whole time and they never mentioned it.

He couldn't think about that. There was still a world to save and he didn't have time. But his father was there, right there, and in control and there was so much Chat Noir wanted to say. "Father—"

A wariness in Ladybug's voice as she realised. "Monsieur Agreste?"

"Marinette," Hawk Moth said and begged as he held Chat Noir out. "Please. Just take him."

Her hands slid against Chat Noir's back as she offered her strength to support him.

"I'm dangerous," Hawk Moth told him, passing Chat Noir completely into Ladybug's arms, then scurried backward. Without his father's support, he crumpled and Ladybug went down with him, cradling his head against his chest.

"Oh Chat, oh god. Hang on!"

The rapier lay discarded on the ground. Breathing hurt. The ground was rough. Ladybug's knees dug into his back. His mother was right there, inside the glass. Churning thoughts and shattered hearts and no time. "The gem."

Ladybug's hands fluttered around his chest before she pressed them against the wound to try and stem the flow of bleeding. Her touch sent a stabbing pain sweeping through him and he moaned, stifling it as much as he could. "Mom! Help!"

Hawk Moth clawed his face, his eyes wide. A strangled noise from his throat. Was Tigga wrestling for control? "Get the—" He thrust up his hand toward Phoenix. "STAY BACK!"

Fire burst beside them, Phoenix pausing as shadows rushed toward her.

"I don't have control over—" a shudder and he sneered, holding his hand out at Phoenix. "There's more than one way to skin a cat." Shadows gathered beneath her, grabbing hands and twisted faces and Phoenix ceased moving out of fear.

Releasing one hand from Chat Noir's chest, Ladybug twirled her yo-yo above her head to protect them.

"No one move!" Gui bellowed from a distance, his voice slowly approaching as he spoke. "Do not approach. Do not provoke! Stay where you are!"

"I need an akuma! I can fix this with an akuma!" Ladybug appealed to Hawk Moth. "Where's the closest one?"

His sneer faded back to dismay as his father wrestled control from Tigga. "No. There's… I can't— I can't hold on long enough for you to get it. You need to—" A warped sneer appeared for a brief moment. "-die- release Félicie and bind us both."

Still twirling her yo-yo in defence, Ladybug stared at him. "You know what that means."

With regret, Hawk Moth said, "I've always known."

Chat Noir closed his eyes. He was so tired. Exhaustion dug its claws into him and sank toward the depths, dragging him with it.

"Don't sleep. Don't sleep!" Ladybug cried, shaking him with her knees. "Chat! Don't leave me!"

He forced his eyes open. "The gem." Chat Noir reached back to grip Ladybug's arm. "Get her out." So hard to breathe. "We have to… we have to—" he raised his ring hand and open and closed his hand.

Ladybug shook her head. "If we do that, I won't be able to fix you! No, just hang on, we'll think of something."

"I'll be okay." Chat Noir fixed his eyes on his father, watching him shake and work at keeping Tigga suppressed. Keeping himself in control. "Gotta do it before Tigga takes control again."

Ladybug's face twisted and her eyes filled with tears. The yo-yo slowed and landed in her hand. "Oh god. Tikki and Plagg. This is their daughter. Their daughter is this evil and they didn't tell us."

Among everything else they didn't mention, it seemed inconsequential right now. "Please," Chat Noir whispered. "Let her out."

"Nath!" Ladybug cried, twisting so she could look up at Illustrator. "Can you do anything? Can you erase the wound?"

Illustrator wrung his hands. "I— no— i— it doesn't work like that."

Hovering above, Phoenix called, "How about a pressure dressing?"

Illustrator put pen to tablet immediately and Chat Noir felt them appear, winding around his chest to keep pressure and help stem the flow of bleeding. Holding onto his chest, he rolled away from Ladybug and forced himself to his feet. Bad idea, the pain he'd been staving off slammed into him and he collapsed back onto his knees with a cry. Various calls of his name, from all quarters and he ignored all of them. On three limbs, one hand to his chest, he dragged himself to the rapier. "We need to finish this before I can't anymore—"

Ladybug flicked her yo-yo and snatched the rapier to stop him from moving. Once she had it, she swivelled to face him. Meeting his eyes, Ladybug took a deep breath and clamped her hand over the gem.

A loud crack and a shockwave riding on a beam of light hit them. Chat Noir dug his claws into the ground to keep from sliding away, clenching his eyes shut so the light didn't blind him. Cries from all around as people reacted to the light and Ladybug cried out. He couldn't move, couldn't get to her side, all he could do was dig in and wait for it to be over. The shockwave died but the light didn't. Shining brightly, Chat Noir squinted, seeing a woman's form engulfed in light.

Someone grabbed him.

A voice, right beside his ear. "I'm sorry."

"Father?"

"You must be quick. I can't hold her."

"I don't want to—"

A hand stroked his hair, a loving gesture full of words unspoken. "I know. I've seen what she can do. It's taken all my strength to hold her at bay. For the greater good, you must."

"It's not fair."

"I'm so sorry, my son. Be strong."

Tears stung his eyes and his throat felt raw and Chat Noir leant into his father's embrace before it was gone. He bowed his head so low his forehead scraped against the ground. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair.

Someone grabbed him again and flipped him onto his back. "This is all your fault," Hawk Moth hissed.

Hands closed around Chat Noir's neck and cut off his air supply. The suit did little to help, there was too much exposed skin at his neck.

"Contained and condemned to a stupid lie. Fashion greatness, recognition by deed, it wasn't enough. Wasn't enough. His futile attempts to harness me, to keep me at bay, all of them because of you. I toyed because it amused me but now it simply annoys me." Hawk Moth lifted him up and smacked him back down on the ground. "If you die, I'll be released from his prison."

Stars dancing from the blow, Chat Noir slashed at Hawk Moth's face with his claws. They caught the edge of Hawk Moth's hood, which was as invulnerable to damage as Plagg normally was.

The light around them died, allowing Chat Noir to see. Tucking his feet up, he planted a knee against Hawk Moth's chest, trying to use the leverage to shove the man away.

Rage made Hawk Moth stronger. Spittle dripped from his mouth as he bared his teeth to apply all the pressure he could on Chat Noir's neck. Chat Noir raked his claws down his father's arms and slashed at his face, wriggling as much as he could to get free.

"Without you, there will be nothing else to save. Nothing to protect." He laughed. "If I'd known how close my father was, I would've done this at the beginning."

"Tigga, stop," Chat Noir choked out. "Please."

Hawk Moth smirked. "So. They told you. Oh, this makes it so much sweeter. How does it feel, Dad, to have another kitten die by my hands?"

Chat Noir bared his teeth and growled, expelling the last of his air from his lungs.

Hands on Hawk Moth's back, a massive shadow looming overhead as Dragon tore Hawk Moth away from Chat Noir. Coughing, he gulped in breath and stared up at the sky. His throat hurt, his chest screamed at him and all he wanted to do was sleep. Vaguely, he could hear Ladybug's voice calling for him. He needed to answer. Everything he was demanded he answer his lady.

Rolling onto all fours, he struggled to rise. Then she was there, pushing him up, her arms wrapped around him and her face in his neck. On his knees, he clutched at her. Squeezing as tight as she dared, she choked out a sob. "Are you okay?"

He breathed her in and let her scent engulf him. "Y—"

The shadows were gone. Wiped away by the light, their absence allowed the champion army to act. They surrounded Hawk Moth to keep him at bay and give Chat Noir time to struggle to his feet.

But Chat Noir couldn't see that. All he could see was Félicie crumpled on the ground ahead of him.

"Mom!" The cry ripped out of him as the floodgates opened and he tore himself from Ladybug's arms. All the suppressed emotion about where his mom had been and what he'd done to drive her away came crashing down. It felt all so surreal. He hadn't really allowed himself to believe he might get her back and there she was. Lying peacefully on the ground before him. He couldn't get to her side fast enough. Snatching up her hand, Chat Noir pressed it to his face. "Mom. Wake up!"

A nightgown. Satin and pale lavender and the smell of freesia, it was her favourite nightgown. She'd tucked him in and kissed him goodnight and that was the last he'd seen of her. She looked exactly like he remembered her. Chat Noir reached down with a claw and smoothed Félicie's hair, then curled a strand around his finger. Nooroo curled up in a ball on Félicie's chest, his broach resting in her hand.

Chat Noir watched as his mother took a breath. Then another. So peaceful and calm. He flopped, all strength leaving him. He wanted to sit beside her and remember every moment. Engrave every second onto his heart for all time. Pressing his face to his mother's hand again, he struggled to control himself.

Phoenix touched Chat Noir's back as she sank down beside him and he cast her a watery smile. Leaning sideways, he rested his head on her shoulder and let her support him.

"She's alright," Phoenix murmured, stroking his hair. "She's just sleeping."

"Your lady needs you." Gui's knees creaked as he lowered himself to the ground by Félicie's head. "Go," he said, holding out the box. "I'll take care of her."

Chat Noir turned his head.

The champions were trying to contain Hawk Moth. They were spread out, trying to get their hands on him as he taunted them via teleport. Popping in and out, smirking and jeering and lashing out at the back of heads. Ladybug's yo-yo would be scant seconds too late to contain him but that didn't stop her from trying.

"Why doesn't she just teleport away?"

"Energy has a limit," Gui said. "Now the army is gone, he would be nearing the end of his."

"She."

Gui inclined his head. "She."

"You should have told us."

"We are bound by rules," Gui said.

He didn't really care about the rules. So many of them ended in lies. Lifting his ring, Chat Noir glanced at the five prints. "Any chance she could…"

"She doesn't have an item," Gui told him. "That's why she possesses."

"Oh." His legs didn't want to work properly, so Phoenix helped him stand. Once he was, he gently pulled himself away from her support. "Stay with my mom, please."

Grey eyes so full of sorrow and knowledge. "Everything'll be okay."

Nodding, he kissed her cheek. His voice had shattered into a million pieces but he still found the words he needed. "Thank you." Taking the box from Gui, Chat Noir began his long walk to Ladybug.

Carrying the box with one hand, the other pressed against his chest as he made his way through the champions. Bubbler joined him. Not to help him walk but to offer silent support. Most of the champions he passed seemed to realise something heavy was about to go down but there as an air of confusion as to what. They watched him approach in silence. He didn't blame them since they hadn't had a chance to explain what would happen.

Each step felt heavier than the last, the fate of the world rested on his shoulders. It all came down to this. A moment he'd honestly hoped would never arrived.

He faltered, wincing in pain and Bubbler put his hand on his back and took the arm which held the box. Looping it over his shoulder, he said, "I could really go for a pizza 'bout now."

Chat Noir winced out a laugh. "With anchovies."

"Oh, you would like the ones with fish on them," Bubbler scoffed.

"And you're a pineapple lover," Chat Noir replied and pulled a face. "Ick."

"We should go. My treat."

Chat Noir nodded. "Sure. All you can eat?"

"Definitely. We'll undo our belts and live there for a year."

"That sounds like an amazing plan."

Dragon and Ladybug stood at the head of the champion army, keeping Hawk Moth at bay. They fought him in unison, taking turns to strike while the other darted away and looked for a better angle. Bouncing around each other, they worked much like they did when playing games, calling out their attack moves so their partner knew what they were doing and could respond accordingly. Not as in-sync as Chat Noir and Ladybug but close.

Chat Noir took a moment to watch. Ladybug was too focussed. Too intent on Hawk Moth. Vicious in her attack, she held nothing back as she went for him. So much suppressed pain in her movements and he wondered if she'd torn her sutures.

Hawk Moth took all of their attention and they took all of his. They didn't notice his approach.

Without a word, Bubbler lifted Chat Noir's arm from his shoulder and fell back, waiting on the outskirts of the circle of champions which had formed around the fight.

He couldn't think about what he was going to do. Didn't want to. Wanted to sleep for a million years. Be somewhere else, not here. Not when he was about to lose both Plagg and his father.

Hawk Moth made a swipe for Ladybug's face and she danced away. Dragon must have seen Chat Noir, because he moved in to command Hawk Moth's full attention, shield flashing in the sunlight as he smacked Hawk Moth with it.

It was here. This was it. No backing out. No second thoughts. No way out. He was so tired. He wiped all the blood away from his palm as he could as he didn't want to waste his powers on dissolving that instead. Raising his hand above his head, Chat Noir called, "Cataclysm!"

Ladybug's head snapped to his. Devastation etched into every part of her. "Adrien…"

Hawk Moth froze. "No!"

Chat Noir extended his right hand to her and ducked down to bow. "Goodbye my lady."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Goodbye my kitty." Reaching for his hand with her left one, yo-yo in palm, she cried, "Lucky charm."

Closing his eyes, he kissed her fingers and murmured, "Bye Plagg."

Ladybug whispered her own goodbye to her kwami. Soft and mournful, her fingers curling around his.

Their suits unravelled and became the piercing green-yellow and vibrant pink glow of transformation. Flowing up their legs and through their bodies, the colours merged at their joined hands to create the ball of light. Without Plagg to support him, Adrien felt all strength leave him and he dropped to his knees, barely managing to hold onto Marinette's hand.

Marinette sank down with him and placed the box between their knees. One arm extended so it looped around his waist, she held him up. Her other hand coax their joined hands up higher and Adrien looked up to watch.

The pink and yellow lights swirled around each other, dancing and merging and Adrien recognised the same symbol in the he'd seen when he and Ladybug had become a little too frisky in their suits and Tikki and Plagg required a rebalance. He briefly wondered if they'd done that so he and Marinette would recognise them like this.

Beams of light appeared, connecting them to the swirling light above them. Yellow for Adrien's heart light and pink for Marinette. Metaphorical chains, something which would be broken before long.

Above them, a being floated from the light. An entirely impossible being. Twice the size of Adrien. Black and red, a sharp bug-like head with pointed cat ears. Bright red antennae which flowed half the lengths of its body, ending in black tips. Insectoid wings buzzed on its back, a ladybug carapace lifted to reveal them. Spotted red carapace protected parts of it, while other parts were covered in soft flowing black fur. Six limbs, two arms and four legs, although their hands and feet were the same shape. Cat claws rested on the end of each limb and it had a long red and black tail. An alien blend of both kwami.

Was this their ultimate forms? Or was it just the one they appeared as when joined? Both Marinette and Adrien's heart lights joined with the creature's chest.

Marinette's arm around him tightened. He looped his free arm around her hips to bring her closer to him. Glancing over, the champions were all shielding their eyes and Adrien wondered if they could even see Plagg and Tikki's form. Or if it was just them.

Paws landed on the ground ahead of them and Adrien heard a blend of Tikki and Plagg's voice in his head, "Tigga." Extending a claw, it beckoned. "The world is not ready for you, little one, and you are not ready for it."

Hawk Moth shook his head, but the voice, when it echoed in his head, was feminine. "I'm not leaving."

"Let him go."

"No. He's mine. You always take them from me, just when I start having fun."

"You know how this will end."

"Then do it. Be the cause of another death."

Resting his head on Marinette's shoulder, Adrien looked at his father.

"Why must you always cause so much pain?"

"Why do you always insist I am not ready for this world and I must return to my prison?"

"You steal life!"

"Destruction is supposed to!"

"Only when tempered by empathy, something which you fail to remember. You weren't supposed to destroy. You were meant to create!"

The light had finished syphoning away from them. The only way they were connected with Tikki and Plagg anymore was through their hearts and their Miraculous.

Marinette whispered, "Does it… sound to you like they're… Tigga sounds young. She sounds like Manon."

"Disciplining a petulant child by sending it to its room."

"Only this child kills."

"And humanity is her playground." Tearing his eyes away, he turned his face toward her neck and leant on her heavily. So tired. "No wonder they didn't tell us."

"They are ancient beings. We'd be kidding ourselves if we thought all of them would be benevolent."

"They said Tigga was corrupted. If she had Tikki's power of creation and used Plagg's destruction…"

Marinette shook her head. "And the only course of action was to lock her in a box?"

"I'm too tired to think," he mumbled. "Does it matter anymore?"

"They're as human as we are," Marinette noted. "They can screw up parenting too."

Conversation between Plagg, Tikki and Tigga ascended beyond what he could understand. Whispers and chimes in his head, growls and chirps.

He'd thought it'd at least be mercifully quick. Maybe it was selfish and bad, but he just wanted this over. Not this… lingering. And waiting. He felt a little silly, clinging to Marinette like his world was going to end when all that was happening was a scolding conversation. His chest ached and his clothes felt wet. Dizziness nibbled at the edge and he wondered how much longer he had to last before he could sleep.

When the combined forms of Tikki and Plagg struck, Adrien wasn't ready. A sudden roar which made him jerk in shock. Marinette's hand found the back of his head to keep his face turned away.

A scream made Marinette flinch and he clutched her tight. She whispered under her breath, telling him it was okay. That it would be over soon. That she loved him. That she was so, so sorry. By the tilt of her head, she watched. He couldn't bring himself to.

Another scream pierced then something else filled the air. A cry to battle. "Come forth, my champion!"

Marinette sucked in a gasp.

Adrien jerked his head from Marinette's shoulder. Papillon stood there, in all her glory. Sparking blonde hair, her lavender, tight-fitting suit, Instead of a scarf like he'd had, his mother had a gossamer shawl draped around her neck and down to her arms. One hand extended toward Hawk Moth, her face determined. "Gabriel! Fight it!"

Twisting around, Adrien looked the other way. The Tikki-Plagg combination had its claws phased into Hawk Moth's body, rummaging through it like it was searching for something. Convulsing, his face was twisted in agony, his mouth hung open in a silent scream. But the suit… The suit was different. The hood was gone, his father's white upswept hair. The lapels were longer, spiking over his shoulders and giving way to a shortened gossamer scarf.

His parents matched too. Just like Dragon and Phoenix. Just like him and Marinette. His parents matched.

His father was his mother's champion. He didn't know why he hadn't made that connection before. Was the power of a champion enough so that he could survive?

"Be strong!" Papillon called, walking briskly forward with Gui at her side. Behind her, Phoenix joined Dragon, Lady Wifi and Bubbler. "Endure for a little longer."

Eyes lolling, Hawk Moth met Adrien's stricken gaze. A grim determination filled him as he raised his hands and gripped the forearms embedded in his chest.

Tikki-Plagg made a scratchy sort of twitter. Their grip on Hawk Moth changed, from harsh to gentle, their middle limbs lifting off the ground to add support to Hawk Moth. Leaning back, they strained as they pulled. His face twisted in pain, Hawk Moth's head dropped back, his body going limp beneath Tikki-Plagg's claws.

Adrien shook his head, refusing to look away. His eyes riveted on his father's still heaving chest. "No."

A ghostly form appeared above Hawk Moth's chest. Deep burgundy in colour, fangs snapped and paws clawed at Tikki-Plagg as Tigga tried to free herself from their grip. Tikki-Plagg bopped Tigga on the nose. "Hush."

"Why?" the form asked. "I'm a good girl, I'm just like you, Papa. Why lock me away?"

A paw stroked Tigga's face. "I know, little cub," Plagg's voice said. "But you weren't meant to be like me. I can't use my power to create any more than you could use yours to destroy."

"I hate you."

Sorrow etched lines on Tikki-Plagg's face. "I know."

Tigga began to struggle, trying to get away rather than fight back. "Why is he better than me?"

Tikki-Plagg shook their head, their voice back to the dual blend of Tikki and Plagg. "It doesn't work like that."

Listening to them, an odd thought occurred to Adrien and he spoke without really meaning to. "How can creation love destruction?"

"What?" Marinette asked.

Words poured from him, filling empty spaces, and taking what little strength he had left. "Tigga taunted me with that. How can creation love destruction? What if that's not her question? What if it's 'how can destruction love creation'?"

"I don't understand."

"Tigga's like me," Adrien said and his words slurred. "All I wanted was my father's love. Only Tigga went too far to try and get it." He sighed. "No wonder Plagg understood me so well." He nodded. "No wonder she hated me."

"Adrien?"

He sat back on his haunches, dropping his arms from Marinette. "Hard truth, I suppose."

"I don't—"

"Marinette?" A wave of dizziness swept over him he couldn't ignore. "I don't feel good."

Marinette's expression went panicked. "Adrien—"

He collapsed sideways.

She went with him, her face white and her hands trembling with fear. "No. Please. Chat, stay with me!" Her hands went to his side to discover what his black shirt had been hiding. Looking at the blood welling between her fingers, she jerked her head up. "Mom! Nath! The bandage vanished!"

Footsteps running but Adrien kept his eyes focussed on Marinette.

Phoenix fell to her knees behind Adrien while Papillon skidded in near his head. Papillon gasped in horror and covered her mouth with her hands while Phoenix went for the hem of Adrien's shirt. "Honey, I'm gonna lift this, okay?"

"What happened?" Papillon demanded, then cried out as Phoenix hiked up his shirt. "Oh god!"

Phoenix checked his front, then because he was on his side, checked the back of him. "It's through. Adrien, you should've said."

He hadn't known.

Marinette scooted around Phoenix so that she could be by Adrien's head too. Adrien lifted his arm so he could clutch Marinette's hand. He turned his eyes and smiled at Papillon. "Hi Mom."

Papillon's lips quivered and her eyes filled with tears. "Hi kitten." She took his other hand and lifted it to her mouth. "Oh, you look so grown up." Her other hand reached down to cup his face, tapping the frames of his glasses. "And glasses? When did that happen?"

Adrien allowed himself a tired sigh, only vaguely aware of Phoenix talking to Illustrator while gesturing his chest and back. "Few months ago. Mom," he said and twisted his head to Marinette, "This is Marinette. She's my girlfriend."

Papillon lifted her eyes to Marinette with a watery smile. "And Ladybug too. I leave you alone for a while and look what happens. Saving Paris and meeting a nice girl. Marinette. How lovely to meet you."

With a shuddering breath, Adrien could see Marinette was trying to keep her eyes away from his chest and give him something normal to cling to. "Nice to meet you too, Madame Agreste."

More shadows to blot out the sun. Lady Wifi and Bubbler hovered nearby, Bubbler's arm around Lady Wifi. Dragon waited, keeping an eye on Hawk Moth. Glacia and Chameleon off to the side, Chameleon trying to comfort a crying Glacia. Others beyond that, watching, waiting.

"And this is her mom, Sabine," Adrien continued, looking at Phoenix.

With a smile to Papillon, Phoenix leant over so she could get his attention. "Honey, this might hurt. Illustrator's going to put on another pressure bandage."

Adrien nodded. Marinette brushed his hair away from his forehead and squeezed his fingers.

"We need to get him to a hospital as soon as possible," Phoenix murmured and Adrien stiffened as he felt Illustrator's pressure bandage wrap around his torso. Papillon kissed each one of his fingers on the hand she held.

"We've already called 112, Ms C," Bubbler said. "But they can't get close until we give the all clear."

Phoenix nodded. "Where are they? I'll carry Adrien—"

"I want to stay."

Papillon shook her head. "Adrien, that's not a good idea. You're losing a lot of blood. We need to—"

"I'm still connected to Plagg," he mumbled and took his hand out of his mother's to show Phoenix the thread. It wove itself around Marinette's then looped its way to the Tikki-Plagg combination. "This isn't over and I need to see it through."

"Ahh," Illustrator interrupted, backing away. "Guys, that light shows coming over here."

"Lightshow?" Marinette asked, peering in the direction Illustrator looked. Bubbler and Lady Wifi cringed and backed away too, their faces averted. Dragon, with his face turned to the side and squinting, stayed where he was. "What?"

"They don't see what we see," Papillon explained. "Only Miraculous holders can see kwami in their true forms. All others are blind to it."

"I wondered if they could see," Marinette said. "There was… a lack of reaction at Tikki and Plagg's appearance."

"Sabine," Tikki-Plagg murmured and extended a claw to rest on Phoenix's shoulder. The woman startled at the touch. "If you please. I need some space. I won't be long."

Patting Adrien's cheek, Phoenix nodded and moved aside.

The great combination of Tikki and Plagg loomed over him and Plagg's voice said, "Hey kid. How're holding up?"

"Least I'm not blind this time," Adrien said and tried to smile. It died before it had a chance to form. The words caught in his throat but he had to ask, "My father?"

A snort and a snuffle as the Tikki-Plagg hunkered down and tilted their head at Papillon. "I did not think it possible to coax a champion to rise beneath her. Risky."

"Did it work?" Papillon asked.

"He lives. I cannot say the state of his mind, but he breathes. It was enough to protect his body."

"Oh thank god,"Papillon breathed.

Adrien muffled a sob and pressed his face to Marinette's hand. Strength rapidly drained from him, but his father… his father was alive. The relief from that was palpable. He'd thought… he'd thought… he'd been so prepared to lose, he hadn't allowed himself to believe they they might come out of this intact.

Mostly intact.

Fingers ran through his hair to comfort him as Marinette let out a stifled noise of her own.

Tikki-Plagg cautioned, "There will be scars."

"Of course there will," Papillion said, the relief in her voice evident. "Will you help Adrien?"

A regretful swing of their head. "I cannot. I must put Tigga back in the box." Extending their paw, they allowed Marinette, Adrien and Papillon to see the burgundy light nestled and asleep. Something small and fluffy with a long, striped tail.

"Oh, she so cute!" Marinette cooed. "A red panda?"

Tikki-Plagg nodded.

"How does a cat and a bug make a panda?" Marinette waved her hands and pointed a finger. "No, forget that. You should've told us."

Ignoring the question, Tikki-Plagg said, "We only wish to say goodbye. We should not linger, we only sap Adrien's strength. Where is the box?"

"I have it," Gui announced. "And I am not going to allow you to do this again."

Author's note:

I wasn't going to tell you what animal I thought Tigga was, but a few people asked, so there you go!

I know people wanted 'catbug' from Adventure time, but imagining a proper animalistic cat-bug god-fusion was better for me. There are a whole bunch of artists who have drawn true form kwami with actual animalistic representations, but if I want to pinpoint one for inspiration, I'd say have a look at chatmant on tumblr's true!form Tikki and Plagg. chatmant. tumblr dotcom / tagged/art/page/3