We're all ticking timebombs!

Grypas turned back to Luunar. "You…you don't mean that."

Luunar got to his feet and sneered at her, earning a glower from Sparrow. "I mean every word of it. Le Paon separated you so we could fall into the pits of darkness – because it is the darkness that will awaken our true power."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Only by giving into the control of your partner will you be able to defeat your enemies, Isra," he no longer cared to use her hero name, "but if need be, we shall push you in the right direction, so our abilities will be used to their full potential."

Grypas was shaking by now. Sparrow held her back and slowly shook his head. "Le Paon really has you wrapped around her little finger, Luunar."

"Oh?"

He turned to Grypas and said loud enough for everybody in the mansion to hear, "whether or not our partners have been taken over, only we can give them control. So long as we fight against their influence, we won't be taken over."

"B-But Neo-"

"Had no warning before Luunar took him over. All we have to do is stop HawkMoth and he'll be back to normal."

"Sparrow is right," a voice spoke up from the darkened staircase behind Luunar, "Le Paon and HawkMoth are wrong if they think we'll give in so easily."

Luunar spun around. "Who said-"

Bam!

A spotted yo-yo smacked into his face, knocking him into the wall beside Grypas. She let out a sigh as Ladybug, Yeti, Melodie, Kid Mime, Queen Bee and Carapace ran up the stairs towards them. "You guys are okay!"

Ladybug quickly wrapped the yo-yo around Luunar as Carapace saluted. "Some of us, at least. Ran into evil Trixx and Gemme on the way here, though."

Melodie held up her energy sword, lighting the entire hall. "The office doors. They're in there, aren't they?"

"We should try and save the others first," Queen Bee suggested, "before we face them, right? If we leave Ren Ruse and the rest, HawkMoth and Le Paon could use them to fight us!"

I want to know, Kid Mime signed, why Bridgette and Victor went full akuma mode, but Luunar and the others don't have changed forms?

Sparrow rubbed his chin. "Either HawkMoth fully akumatized them to throw us off, or there were feathers around that incited a full transformation. Either way, Queen Bee is right. We leave the others and we'll be the ones getting ambushed."

"How do we split up to take them down?"

"No!" Everyone turned to Grypas as she stomped her foot. "No more splitting up! Every time we try to fight them they tear us apart! We have to stick together, or so help me I'll…I'll…I'll just have to keep up all together with my psychic powers!"

The group was silent as they took in her threat. "…I mean," Yeti said, "I get you conviction, and I appreciate it…but why are you getting mad at us? We don't want to split up."

"I need to get mad at something!"

"Save it for Le Paon and HawkMoth!"

"They scare me!"

Melodie chuckled. "Good to know you all are still in such high spirits. We'll need that. Okay," she and Ladybug nodded, "from now on, nothing, not even Ombrette or Lightspeed, are going to split us up."

Queen Bee rubbed her arms. "How do we make sure they don't separate us?"

"You can't."

All eyes turned to Luunar, who was glaring at them. "Sooner or later, each of you will give into the power of your Kwami and Quantic. The akuma have been placed inside them. Your partners know your greatest fears. They know your every weakness. Just as I tore apart Neo," he grinned, "so too shall your partners tear you apart." He let out a terrible howl that brought all their hands to their ears. "You hear me?! Tear them APART!"

Thump-thump.

Sparrow felt his heartbeat pound against his skull.

Thump-thump.

Kid Mime began to shake.

Thump-thump.

"Ow, ow, ow," Grypas held her head in her hands, "what is this?!"

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

Luunar sneered. "It goes away as soon as you give in."

Thump-thump-

"Wayzz," Carapace snapped, "stop it, dude!"

Thump-thump-

Sparrow fell to his knees in pain. "Don't…let…them…"

Thump-thump-

"Stop-"

Thump-thump-

"Stop-"

Thump-thump-

"STOP!"


Give in.

Felix opened his eyes. He was no longer in his suit and was now standing in endless darkness. He turned in a full circle but saw nothing beyond himself.

Give in.

"Cheep?" Felix gazed upwards. "Where are you?"

I am everywhere.

"Come out where I can see you. Is there really an akuma here with you?"

There is nothing BUT akuma.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Then he heard it. A light fluttering sound in the distance. Felix stepped to the right and found the sound increasing in volume. "Is the butterfly around here?"

Everywhere.

"Not a good enough answer."

Nothing is ever good enough for you, is it, Felix?

Felix came to a halt. "What do you mean by that?"

You're the best and you know it – at least, you WANT to know it. Looks, intellect, money, power, romance: you have everything, and no one has the right to take it away from you.

"…"

Think about it. Sooner or later, somebody is going to come along, and you'll have to give up the Quantic. You'll have to give me up because you'll be too old.

"…"

But if you give in now, let the akuma empower you, you'll never have to worry about giving up your power. You will always be my partner. We will always be Sparrow.

"You're saying the akuma will keep me from aging?"

The akuma can do whatever you want. Think about Neo. Now, with the akuma, he can protect his sister with power he never had. HawkMoth won't hurt her because he is there to guard her. Now she will be safe forever…

As soon as she gives into her akuma, as well.