Ironchef 13 : Yes what happened in chapter 8 means that Master Fu is coming back… but… not now ! You will have to wait a little bit more to see who's this unexpected help.
LenaFlowerofPower : Uh.. wow..Thank you. It's a wonderful compliment. *Blush profusely*. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. I can't wait for your opinion !
Have a good reading,
-Kitty?
-Mmh, moaned Chat Noir half asleep and between purrs, his head resting on Ladybug's thighs, who was playing delicately in his blonde hair.
-No, nothing, rest, breathed the young heroine.
Too late. Curiosity killed the cat.
Chat Noir straightened up and looked questioningly at his girlfriend. She was leaning, half seated, half lying, against the door of Gustave Eiffel's office. They had settled there, thirty minutes earlier, at the highest point of the Eiffel Tower, away from any prying eyes, in the hope of resting a little from their previous sleepless night, quietly snuggled up against each other.
Quickly, Chat Noir had been the first to collapse from fatigue, letting his head slide onto his girlfriend's legs as she stroked his feline ears and messy hair. He was also on the verge of falling asleep when the soft voice of his Lady had called him.
Now he was watching her seriously, searching in vain for answers in the depths of her gaze that remained unmoved. All he finally saw was a shivering young woman whose cheeks were stained with the November cold.
-You're cold, Bugaboo, he observed, approaching her and pulling her close to him in a strong and warm embrace. - You should go home, sweetheart, I don't want you to catch a cold and get sick.
-I don't want to separate myself from you, Minou, she declared in a fragile voice. It sounded like a request, she was almost begging him.
-What's wrong ? I can see that your mind is elsewhere tonight.
-I'm fine, it's just… I've been thinking a lot since our trip to Lhassa last night… and I was thinking about what we could do to find the place where Hawkmoth and Mayura are hiding.
-Is that what worries you so much tonight?
- Between others, but what concerns me the most this evening is the absence of Akumatized victims and Sentimonsters for 5 days. I have a bad feeling that Hawkmoth is up to something bigger.
-What do you suggest m'Lady? I will always follow you blindly, whatever you decide, whatever you do.
He tightened his embrace a little more around his beloved as she placed a tender kiss on his lips to express her gratitude.
-Well, Hawkmoth and Mayura have stolen Master Fu's tablet, so we no longer have the Guardian Book in our possession. In addition, the tablet contained a translated version of the book, which means that they now have knowledge of the recipes that grant the power up to the kwamis, which takes away a certain advantage. But I reassure you, I know each of the recipes for our two kwamis.
-Do you know if there is any other information that could benefit them?
-They now know the power of each of the kwamis in the Miracle Box, so goodbye to the surprise effect. They also know that the word to use to merge two kwamis is: "Unify".
-Why hasn't Hawkmoth tried to merge his Miraculous with that of the Peacock yet? asked Chat Noir. Before adding: -Oh, Do you think that's what he's up to?
- Maybe, I don't know: whether Mayura sends an Amok or Hawkmoth sends an Amok, the result will be the same, I don't think he can benefit from sending it himself instead of Mayura.
-Unless Mayura is out of the game. Did you see her condition during the battle against Miracle Queen? She didn't seem to be in good shape. She even seemed rather in bad shape.
-You forget that she sacked Paris with a sentimonster while Hawkmoth was with us in New York.
-You are right. And the kwamis? Can't they help us? Is there nothing they can teach us, or powers that we could use to find where our two enemies are hiding?
-Unfortunately no. I have already covered the matter.
-So maybe we should ask the other holders to help us. Perhaps we could patrol more often, cover more perimeters in search of clues that could lead us to their landmark. The more brains there are to think of a solution, the more likely we are to find it, don't you think?
-It's a good idea, kitty, but their identities are no longer secret ...
-Is it really a problem? If Hawkmoth had wanted to go after them, he would have done it already. He had many opportunities and chances and yet he never did. He is only interested in us. Finally, to our Miraculous.
-You are right, we need help. We will call on our protectors.
-Our protectors? Chat Noir repeated incredulously.
-Yes, in the Miracle Box the Miraculous are positioned in a specific order. There are the two of ours, the most powerful, in the center and at the top of the box. Then, around them there are the 5 protectors of the Black Cat and the Ladybug: The Butterfly and the Peacock that we do not have in our possession, as well as the Fox, the Turtle and the Bee.
-In short, would you like us to turn to Rena Rouge and Carapace for an extra kick?
-And Queen Bee, she added very seriously.
-Queen Bee? He was repeatedly puzzled.
He didn't mind, on the contrary, he and Chloe had been friends from a young age and he had faith in the young woman. But since the "Miracle Queen" fiasco he thought Chloe had lost all credit with Ladybug.
-I know I ask you a lot, Minou, but trust me. Even though Chloe is far from a saint, we both know that she has been manipulated like a vulgar pawn by Hawkmoth and Mayura. He looked for a loophole in Chloe and he used it to try to achieve his ends. I… I try not to hold her responsible for what happened. Because I have a great deal of responsibility in this. If I had given her the Bee's Miraculous that day, to save her parents, none of this would have happened.
She paused for a moment, briefly thinking back to what really happened that day that she couldn't explain to her partner in order to protect her identity. That day, her jealousy had driven her to take the Dragon's Miraculous to give it to Kagami and interrupt her date with Adrien. Worse, her jealousy had blinded and distracted her so much that she had come to meet Master Fu as Ladybug and not Marinette, leading Hawkmoth directly in the Guardian's footsteps.
Chat Noir gently squeezed her hand in hers to comfort her, oblivious to the events of Miracle Queen on one hand, so he wanted to do the right thing and make her feel like she shouldn't feel guilty. Unfortunately she felt guilty and with good reason.
-You want to give her another chance and fix your mistake? Asked finally Chat Noir
-She knows how to use the Miraculous, she proved it to us during the Heroes day. She stood by our side brilliantly, and if I had been more tolerant, and kinder to her, maybe Hawkmoth could never have reached her. I know she blames herself and I blame myself too. So yes, I would like Queen Bee to agree to give me a second chance just as I really want to give Queen Bee another chance. I have a strong belief that this is the right thing to do.
-You're amazing ! You always give people a chance and you always try to bring out the best in themselves, when they think they are at their lowest. That's why I trust you completely, I have faith in your judgment and that's also why I love you.
He couldn't tell her how happy he was that she noticed how much Chloe blamed herself and how grateful he was that she gave to his childhood friend another chance.
- I'll go talk to her tomorrow, I waited too long to do so.
The feline kissed her then they decided by mutual agreement to go home to rest.
Tomorrow they would meet here at 9:30 p.m. and then meet the other three heroes in order to work out with them a way forward to increase patrols and broaden their research.
-2nd day of torture for you, kid. If you don't survive it, I promise you that I will have your grave written: "Here rest in peace, Adrien, the best dealer of Camembert in the world."
-Thank you Plagg, as usual, your sarcasm is a great comfort to me, Adrien replied ironically.
-At your service, it will only cost you a stinky and long-refined wheel of Camembert!
Adrien ignored Plagg's last remark and left the bathroom. He invited his kwami to lodge in his shirt pocket, then left his room.
When he got halfway up the stairs, he heard his father's office door slam and saw Nathalie come out with a distressed look.
-Nathalie? Is everything alright ? He asked worried.
The secretary jumped in surprise, she hadn't noticed that Adrien was on the stairs.
-Oh Adrien. Yes I'm fine, I just… had a bad night, Nathalie lied.
She hadn't had a bad night, her sleep was doing well.
She was overwhelmed by the conversation she had just had with her boss, Gabriel Agreste. Or rather with his second boss, Hawkmoth.
The latter had just taken Duusu from her in order to carry out one of his plans.
A plan he had exposed to her the day before, at an excessively late hour of the night and under the influence of two bottles of red wine.
An unacceptable plan that had sent her a nasty cold sweat all the way down her spine.
Again, Gabriel, blinded by his conquest of power, was ready to put his own son in danger.
Gabriel who drank more and more regularly since his failure with Miracle Queen, thereby becoming more and more thoughtless and reckless. But also more severe and uncompromising.
A vibration coming from her tablet brought Nathalie out of her thoughts.
She and Adrien were going to be late for the photoshoot Gabriel had ordered her to attend as well, as well as the other two sessions of the day, if she didn't hurry to the car quickly.
To be with Adrien all day. It was part of the plan. But above all, it gave her an opportunity to watch and protect him. And who knows maybe to derail the plan, even if it was unlikely given the unwavering determination of his boss and his accomplice.
Nathalie watched carefully the third photo shoot that took place before her eyes.
Adrien was uncomfortable, he grimaced, gritted his teeth, rubbed the back of his neck nervously, clenched his fists and seemed to gradually lose his legendary calm.
The two previous sessions had been difficult for the young man. Exactly as Gabriel Agreste had expected.
Flashback Start -Flashback Start -Flashback Start
-I will pass this information on to your father, Adrien.
-Thank you, Nathalie, good night, he replied to his father's secretary.
Flashback-Flashback-Flashback
-Gabriel, Miss Rossi is getting out of hand.
-So everything is going according to the plan, Nathalie, Gabriel replied without worrying about Lila's inappropriate behavior with Adrien
-Gabriel, are you drunk? Nathalie questioned with concern.
-Drunk with power and this victory that is approaching, Nathalie. My son will be my ultimate masterpiece. He can help us.
-You want to tell him what we're doing?
-I want to akumatize him. I want to use all the suffering that has befallen our family, and Adrien, to save them and reunite them again. Adrien will be perfect. I should have thought about it sooner.
- It is not healthy, Adrien suffers from it. I think….
-Silence! Gabriel interrupted, spilling his glass of red wine.
-Yes, sir, Nathalie paled in amazement at the anger of the holder of the Butterfly's Miraculous.
-Tomorrow you will accompany Adrien and Miss Lila Rossi during their photoshoots, and you will make sure that she harasses Adrien until reaching his breaking point as I asked her to do. And it's an order Nathalie!
End of Flashback - End of Flashback - End of Flashback
-Lila please take your hand off of my butt, Adrien exclaimed.
-Adrien! Your buttocks are strangely high, replied the young Italian, moving her hand discreetly to the young man's lower back.
-Your hand was on my butt less than 10 seconds ago Lila. Don't play this with me.
-Let's see Adrien, I wouldn't dare, I'm not like that.
-Marinette, are you really planning to talk to Chloe? Tikki asked.
-Of course Tikki, well, Ladybug is going to talk to Queen Bee tonight, Marinette replied as she opened the window that led to her balcony.
-It's very altruistic of you, I'm proud of you, exclaimed the little red Kwami.
Marinette smiled broadly at the little ladybug and folded up the deckchair that sat on her balcony to shelter it. They announced strong gusts of wind and thunderstorms for the night.
Her gaze was caught by movement and scenery in the park below her home.
- Wouldn't that be Adrien? Tikki asked
-Yes, and… Lila, Marinette replied contemptuously.
Marinette leaned gently against the railing and observed what appeared to be a promotional photoshoot for an item Lila was holding in her hands, from what she could see in the distance it looked like a perfume bottle.
What she saw a few seconds later made her wince in disgust.
Lila and Adrien were kissing.
Among all the possible girls, Adrien had to choose her? And what about Kagami, wouldn't Adrien date with the Japanese? Marinette was confused.
Pain crossed her chest, and she immediately felt guilty for feeling it.
She had decided to believe in her feelings which were growing at lightning speed for Chat Noir as well as to give their relationship a chance and to gradually forget Adrien. The latter was therefore free to do what he wanted, with whom he wanted.
Yet she could not help the brief relief that crossed her heart when she saw the young model push back sharply and firmly the young redhead who kissed him full on the lips.
Adrien looked angry, very angry, too angry. The blonde's voice rose in the air so loudly that it soon reached the ears of Marinette who was perched higher up.
-It is not for you to take initiatives for the pictures! You are unprofessional, you are unable to stay in your place and do what is asked of you! I never want to work with you again, Lila!
Lila was sobbing, falsely, Marinette had heard in the distance a semblance of: "I thought we were friends…"
And then she heard Adrien's deep and sharp voice rise again.
-The only reason I'm your friend is for you to leave Marinette in peace!
Marinette couldn't believe her ears.
Adrien is protecting me from Lila?
Her thoughts were very quickly interrupted: an Akuma as well as an Amok had suddenly attracted her attention, they were making their way towards Adrien. She immediately hastened to crouch close to the ground, in order to transform in all discretion.
-We must act urgently, Marinette!
-Tikki, Spots on!
A fraction of a second later. Ladybug was landing in the park, but it was already too late, Adrien's face was now adorned with a royal blue mask in the shape of a Monarch Butterfly.
-Revenge, I am Shadowmoth….
- Shut up, get out of my head!
-Evacuate the park, cried Ladybug, before turning again to Adrien: - Adrien you can resist, please tell me where the Akuma is lodged!
-Shut up! Adrien repeated again, holding his head and falling to his knees.
Ladybug knelt in front of him and put her hands on the young man's shoulders.
-Adrien, you must resist.
-I said shut up! He yelled, violently pushing the young heroine away.
Adrien felt trapped in his own body. Shadowmoth's voice and its magical grip trying to pull him to the dark side, as he clung to Ladybug's voice on the other side. He felt like the helpless spectator of his own defeat. Shadowmoth had way too much power carrying two Miraculous.
Suddenly another voice began to reason in his head, that of Awa, the guardian of the South African Miracle Box.
The word "Fortification" echoed in his mind, quickly followed by the other three Guardian Reinforcements: "Integrity", "Protectorate", "Moderation".
Shadowmoth's voice gradually faded until it completely disappeared from his mind, however he still felt the magical and powerful hold the Akuma and the Amok had over him.
The guardians had just activated the protective and reinforcing aura they had instilled into him and Ladybug a few days before. They came by this action, to give him a little strength and extra time to resist against this new threat.
In the distance, in her boss' car, Nathalie helplessly watched the scene unfolding a few meters away. All she could do now was wait for Ladybug and Chat Noir to save Adrien. The situation was surreal, the only thing she hoped for was that her enemies would win this battle, what a ruthless irony.
The unusual dark blue mask on Adrien's face faded for a moment as he let out the breath he had been holding prisoner so far.
Only one thing crossed his mind at that precise moment. He looked down at Ladybug whom he had just pushed to the ground a few seconds before and who was approaching him again delicately to inquire about his condition.
-I'm sorry, Ladybug. He exclaimed guiltily as the young heroine grabbed his hands to inquire about his condition, before he added in a whisper: -I have only a few seconds, I feel him get over it, he's too strong.
Whispering even more weakly he ended with words as powerful as a Cataclysm : -Don't wait for Chat Noir, he won't come. I'm sorry, m'Lady.
-Save me!
To be continued…
Hope you're enjoying this chapter my dear readers.
See you on Wednesday for more.
Please leave a comment, I appreciate to have your opinions and I'll answer you with pleasure.
Miraculous Kisses.