"Very well," Night Shade responded, glaring at the former villain, "then come and get me!"
Hawk Moth wasted no time. He leapt onto the tower, cane at the ready, trying to tackle Night Shade before he could get away. The black-clad villain dodged expertly, launching a wave of shadowy energy at his attacker. Hawk Moth batted it away with his cane before launching himself into a series of blows, Night Shade deflecting them with his sickle.
The two clashed. Both were skilled, evenly matched, and unrelenting. As he blocked, parried, and retaliated, Hawk Moth was consciously aware of the cameras on them, watching his every move. How would the people react to his declaration, and why did is seem to bother him so much when he never cared before?
But this feels right, he told himself, nearly knocking Night Shade off-balance and disarming him, I'm fighting for something more than myself now. It's not just Paris anymore, he threatens the whole world, and I'm the only one who can stop him. This is what it means to be a hero.
"You're pretty good," Night Shade was breathing heavily, collecting himself before the next attack.
"Of course I am," Hawk Moth was also breathing heavily, but he took up his prim pose, holding his cane in both hands against the ground, exuding confidence.
"I'll break that smug smile from your face, hawky," Night Shade taunted, "You won't be able to stop me from making my wish."
"We'll see," Hawk Moth grinned back, but inwardly grimacing. He may be right, he admitted to himself, I don't know if I can beat him.
"Don't listen to him!" a voice shouted from the plaza nearby. Surprised, Hawk Moth risked a look, seeing a familiar red-capped boy standing nearby. "You can get him, dude!" he called.
"Yeah, get him Hawk Moth!" came another voice, a woman he didn't recognize.
"Stop messing around and get those miraculous back already!" this one was none other than Chloé Bourgeois, looking annoyed.
More and more people gathered around, even some of those who looked under the effect of Night Shade's fear, all coming to shout encouragement. Pride swelled in Hawk Moth's chest, renewed strength like nothing he had known before. Never had he held the confidence and faith of so many people, nor felt greater responsibility.
"Looks like I'm the hero after all," Hawk Moth turned back to Night Shade, "Now it's my turn to rise!"
He launched himself once more at his foe. He felt stronger now, his reflexes were faster, his aim was more precise. Where before Night Shade had seemed his equal, now he was far greater than his opponent. He attacked relentlessly, driving his opponent back, beating his strength and his will into submission. With one last blow, the sickle cracked in to as his opponent tumbled to the ground.
Hawk Moth lifted the fallen villain by the collar, holding his slumped form in the air, perilously close to the edge. This situation felt familiar, having someone's fate in his hands. Last time, he had been ready to end it, but Ladybug stepped in.
Looking around, the people were watching him, waiting to see what he would do now that he had claimed victory. With a sigh, he accepted finally Ladybug's admonishment. It was not up to him to dole out punishment, he would leave that to the authorities for now. He pulled the anklet off of Night Shade, releasing the power of his miraculous and reverting his transformation, before reclaiming as well the miraculous of creation and destruction.
The man left in his hands slumped his shoulders, defeated, as a chorus of cheers went out from the crowd below.