Chapter Nine
"I'm serious, Agreste!" Juleka's voice screamed through the speaker. "You either let me in now, or else I'm climbing the gate!"
"Like I'd let you do so on my watch!"
"Shut it, Bourgeois!"
"Dudettes, can we just all calm down?"
Adrien stared at the security camera feed, gaze empty as Manon frantically apologized behind him. "I only called for Chloe, I swear, I had no idea anyone else would be coming–"
"Let them in."
Ezra glanced at Adrien, clearly surprised. He was just staring at the screen, green eyes looking blank. He turned away as he felt the attention turning towards him. Ezra let out a questioning grunt, which was just met with a shake of Adrien's head.
"I don't care," Adrien said. "Let them in."
Ezra hesitated, before moving to unlock the gate. He glanced at the security feed once more, watching as Juleka and Chloe stormed up towards the mansion, the latter trying to stop the former. Nino and Alya lingered back aways, before following after them, the two of them sharing uncertain glances. They hadn't arrived with each other, and were here for very different reasons.
Downstairs he could hear the front doors be thrown open. "Emma?" Juleka's voice called, echoing through the empty foyer. "Emma– where are you?"
Adrien exited the security room, not wanting to meet his uninvited guests, yet that was exactly where he was heading. Juleka was already storming up the steps as he came down, a scowl on her face and fear in her eyes. He watched the way her face twisted into rage as she saw him– and he didn't care what happened next. Yelling, screaming, kicks, punches– he wouldn't even blink.
He deserved it.
Instead Juleka stormed past him and opened up one of the doors to his old room. Upon seeing it was clearly a kid's room she rushed her, her voice carrying through the mansion. "Emma? Emma!"
Adrien blinked, before looking down the stairs at the others. Chloe was hurrying up the steps, throwing her arms around him the moment she saw him. He just blinked again, the blonde's hug fierce compared to the rare embraces he occasionally got from Emma.
Emma.
"I'm so sorry," Chloe muttered. "If I had gotten here sooner I probably could have kept them out."
She threw a sneer back towards Nino and Alya as she said 'them', and Nino threw his hands up defensively. "Hey– you're the one that brought me here!"
"I was talking about your wife and the pest," Chloe snarled, eyes sliding towards Emma's bedroom, where Juleka's footsteps could be heard going up to the loft. "What are you doing here, Cesaire?"
"It's Lahiffe now, Bourgeois."
"Kurtzberg, thank you very much!"
"Come on, Dudettes, stop, please," Nino pleaded. "Al, where are the twins?"
"Rose is watching them and Acel," Alya replied. "I didn't want to leave her alone, but I couldn't leave Juleka alone either. As soon as the sentimonster report came on she..." she hesitated. "She was so pale, I thought she was going to pass out, then she rushed out the door so quickly..."
She shook her head, and before she could say anything else Juleka burst out of Emma's room, storming up towards Adrien. Chloe stood between them, but he simply stepped to the side, allowing the woman to get right up in his face, glowering down at him. There were tears in her eyes, breathing slightly ragged.
"Where is Emma?" She growled, that look of desperation in her eyes. "Where is she, Agreste– where is Emma!"
"Gone," Adrien said simply.
"No!" Juleka shrieked, and once again Chloe stepped between them. "No she's not! She can't be, she can't be– where is my niece Adrien?! Where is she?"
"How did you know she was gone?" Nino asked uncertainly, but Juleka was already pacing.
"No, no, no, she had to be lying, she had to be lying," Juleka muttered. "She's okay, she's okay–"
"Jules," Alya said, reaching for her friend, but her hand was batted away. Adrien stared at Juleka, succumbing to the same panic he had been living in just minutes before. He blinked slowly as she wiped tears from her eyes, a simple realization setting over him.
"You know."
"What?" Juleka snarled at him.
"About Marinette," Adrien replied, unblinking, even as a heavy feeling settled in his heart. "You know."
"Know?" She growled. "Of course I know! Why wouldn't I–" She froze, eyes widening. "Wait... how do you know?"
He blinked under her stare, while everyone glanced between the two of them. Alya was the first to speak. "Um– what are you two talking about?"
Adrien saw the moment the realization hit Juleka, and she swayed in place, disbelief on her face, before it hardened into an expression he couldn't quite read. Her hands tightened into fists, no doubt in her voice.
"You're Chat Noir."
"I want Adrien."
"I know, Emma, I know."
Tod was no longer regarding the girl he had been tasked with guarding, he was just staring at his hands. The girl was untied, free to leave– and he wasn't doing a thing about it. Magical orders that had once bound him were doing nothing, and the realization that he was free was something he was just beginning to comprehend.
There was no force causing him to act, any choices he made would have to be his.
He didn't like this.
He was a sentibeing– his duty was to serve! He was supposed to listen to his master! To follow her orders no matter what! And... and he still could. There was nothing stopping him, meaning there was nothing stopping him from continuing his orders that he had been given. He could still tie up the girl, keep her here as he had been told.
But there was no desire to do so. No will to move from this spot he had found himself sitting. There was no force making him act, so why should he? Why should he carry out the orders of one he had never liked?
But what else was he to do? It would not be long until his amok would be destroyed, and he would cease to exist. He could not leave this world with no duty fulfilled. He had to have something to linger when he was gone. A purpose– that was what all sentibeings had, a purpose to complete.
But now he had no master, no duty, no purpose– he had nothing.
"...Monsieur? Are you okay?" A small voice broke through his thoughts, and he looked up to see the girl looking at him.
"Emma," Tikki said in warning, but the little girl's eyes stayed on him. She was afraid, she could see it, but still she wouldn't look away.
"Your hands are shaking," she said, pointing down to the limbs. "What's making you sad?"
"...What?"
"Adrien's hands always shake when someone says something that makes him sad," Emma told him, her eyes red and puffy from when she was crying– but now she was no longer tied up she seemed somewhat coherent. "There's a lot of things that make him sad. Sometimes I make him sad."
"Emma, don't talk to him," Tikki said, grabbing the girl's fingers to pull her away.
"Why are you both still here?" Tod asked, voice hollow. "You can leave. I... I can't stop you."
"Where are we to go?" Tikki snapped. "There's a out of control sentimonster out there! If we leave then I can't be seen, and I can't let Emma wander the streets alone." The kwami looked out the window. "I need to go tell Adrien or Plagg where we are."
"Then why don't you go?"
"Who's Plagg?" Emma asked quietly.
"I'm not leaving her here with you!" Tikki snarled. "You took her right from her bed! I... I will figure something out."
Emma looked up at Tikki with wide eyes. "You don't know what to do, Sugar?"
"No no, it's okay, Emma," Tikki said, swooping down to nuzzle the girl. "I just need to make sure my plan can work, then we'll leave, I promise."
Emma nodded, but looked to be on the verge of tears again. She was holding her kangaroo toy tightly, and she closed her eyes as Tikki tried to comfort her. "I w-want Adrien."
"I know, little bug, I know."
"Why do you call him that?" Tod asked, Tikki shooting him a glare as he dared talk to the girl.
Emma now had more tears streaming down her face. "Adrien? That's his name..." Emma was shaking slightly. "He's the bestest person ever..."
"Why don't you call him father?"
Emma gave him a very confused look, sniffling slightly as the tears continued to pour down her face. She wasn't sobbing, but small hiccups came from her as she tried to respond. Tod just stared at her, feeling nothing towards the girl. He no longer had orders– so she meant nothing to him.
But still something about the sight of someone so young crying just felt wrong.
"I don't have one of those," Emma said. "Adrien told me."
Tod snorted. "Everything born has a father, in some form." He looked down on his fingers. "If someone doesn't have one then that would be me."
The thought wasn't sad– it just was.
"Adrien's my guardian," Emma said softly, having pulled Tikki into a hug, abandoning her stuffed animal in the process. "That's what you have when you don't have parents, you have a guardian." Blue eyes drifted up towards him. "What's your guardian's name?"
Tod smiled dryly. "I already told you, I have nothing of the sort."
"No one adopted you?" Emma asked, blinking in confusion. "Adrien said he adopted me, and that's why he's my guardian. Maybe he'll be your guardian too, you could ask him. He'll lets me ask a lot of questions, even when Manon tells me not to."
"Adopted, huh?" Tod said. He had been instilled with basic human knowledge when he had been created, and he knew exactly what those words entailed. "That doesn't explain why you don't call him father– parents that adopt are still parents."
That was the knowledge he had been given– so it was confusing that this girl saw otherwise.
Emma paused. "What does that mean?"
Tod frowned. "It means they adopted. Became a parent for that child. If you were adopted then that makes you an adopted child– so that means the one that did so is your adoptive parent."
There was something in the girl's eyes, bright and burning with hope. "Adrien adopted me– he told me. Adrien never lies, he always keeps his promises."
"Okay."
There were more tears in Emma's eyes, but they seemed different than before. "Adrien told me he adopted me– and that makes him a parent, right? That's what you said, isn't it?"
Tod did not understand why she wanted him to repeat this, but he nodded.
"He's a parent, Sugar, Adrien's a parent!" Emma said, clutching the kwami closely. "That means I do have a dad! Acel's mom was right, Sugar, she was right– I do have a dad."
"Emma–" Tikki began, looking hesitant.
"I want my dad," Emma said. "I want him, please Sugar, I want my dad."
Tikki smiled softly, still looking unsure, but there was nothing but a softness in her eyes. She rose out of the girl's arms, gentle patting her hands as she spoke softly. "I promise you I'll get you out of here. I'll get you home, and I'll get you back to Adrien, I swear."
Adoption, huh? Tod bounced the word around in his mind. It had several ways it could be used, but at the end of the day, it all meant the same thing.
Perhaps he no longer had a purpose– but perhaps he could find one of his own before his time was up. Adopt a new meaning for his life.
"You're Chat Noir."
Silence.
Adrien stared at Juleka– and she glared back. There wasn't a twitch in his expression, face the same empty gaze it had been all day, but he could feel the dread still building up. That name was one he did not want to hear, not today, not when he needed to stay focused. So he just stared, neither confirming or denying her words, just forcing himself to keep all thoughts at bay.
Emma. She was the only thing he needed to focus on.
Alya let out an uncertain laugh, void of humor. "Heh, um– where did that even come from? I... I mean him? Chat Noir– really?"
"You're him," Juleka spat– voice somewhere between anger and disbelief. "How could you be him?"
Adrien blinked, before giving a small shrug. "I haven't been in many years."
This statement was met with silence, and he couldn't help but look up, feeling their stares on him. Juleka looked like she didn't know what to do with this information– though her eyes remained lit with that blazing anger.
"Wh-what?" Alya choked.
At her side Nino was just staring, his eyes flickering down to the ring on his finger. He couldn't bear to watch them for a moment longer, and he turned away, finding himself facing Manon and Ezra. She was staring at him in shock, while Ezra didn't even look surprised, just giving him the slightest of nods.
Apparently he was not the only one– Chloe snorting. "Don't act so shocked, all of you," she muttered. "I mean Emma missing right after Pavona claims to have Chat Noir's daughter– come on, that narrowed things down."
"Someone like him can't be Chat Noir!" Alya snarled. "That's ridiculous!"
"That's my line," Chloe snapped. "Now I'm pretty sure Dupain-Cheng was Ladybug, with Emma and all... but I'm not sure how anyone else fits in," she glanced towards Juleka. "But I'm sure Adrikins or the pest can have some answers for that, if they're willing to say anything."
"You knew Marinette was Ladybug," Adrien said, eyes locking on Juleka, and Alya took in a sharp breath. He was aware that Ladybug had told her family her identity– but he had assumed her husband and parents, not any in-laws.
"...And Luka was Viperion," Juleka finished. "They... they told me so I could watch Emma when they had to go fight. They kept their relationship professional in the mask though to help hide identities, and never discouraged any rumors that spread." She glowered at Adrien. "Including who the father was when Marinette was pregnant with Emma." She shook her head. "Is that why you took her? Some deluded illusion of what you couldn't have–"
Something in Adrien snapped.
"Shut. Up." Adrien snarled, breaking the even tone he had kept since they had first entered. He took a step towards Juleka, who took a step back, and he jabbed a finger towards her. "Stop. Stop putting words in my mouth. Stop painting false pictures with your acustastions– Marinette was my best friend. My partner, my sister." He hissed. "I loved her, I loved her as family, and I never wanted anything more–" Tears stung his eyes. "Why is that so hard to accept?"
Alya was covering her mouth, and for once her gaze wasn't cold as it settled on him. "Oh," she whispered softly. "Oh, You... you really did see Marinette die, didn't you?"
He choked on a sob at these words, the memory beginning to rise in his mind. He closed his eyes, repeating the mantra of Emma within his mind. He couldn't lose focus– not now! She needed him, she needed him whole, not some shattered mess–
All he could see was the shaking form of Marinette in his arms, the name 'Emma' falling from her lips.
You failed. You failed, you failed, youfailedyoufailedyoufailed–!
Protect Emma. The last thing she had wanted. The last thing he could do, the last reason he had kept going. He had to protect Emma, and he failed. She was gone, at the mercy of this Pavona, and he wasn't with her, he wasn't with her–
"What do you want him to say!" A familiar voice snarled, and though he heard the words the meaning didn't quite hit him at first. "Do you want him to tell you everything he saw? The way he watched her bleed out, holding her? Or how about the way she begged for him to go to Emma as she died?"
Adrien's head lifted up, and he found a small black shape hovering above him, fur puffed up, bright green eyes flashing.
"How about the nightmares he lives through every night, and he wakes up screaming? Or how he watched Hawk Moth crumble to nothing but ash?" The Black Cat lowered himself, landing on Adrien's head as he clutched him tightly. "I ain't saying my kid is perfect– but if you have an ounce of humanity you can all back off!"
Silence hummed in the air, all staring at Plagg. Even those who had seen a kwami before seemed startled at the sight of him, Plagg confirming what they had not seemed willing to believe. Adrien took in a gasp of air, grasping for the focus that was beginning to return.
"Emma," Plagg whispered. "I don't care what all of you think of each other– but we all love that girl. She needs us, she needs us right now– and you're all fighting like cats over the last slice of cheese!"
Nino was the first to approach, eyeing Plagg, before kneeling down in front of Adrien. "Dude? You okay? Can you hear us?"
"Y-yes," Adrien choked out in reply to the last question. He looked up into Nino's concerned amber eyes, and he could feel Plagg's rumbling purrs as he buried himself into his hair. "Emma... I gotta find Emma..."
Nino grabbed him by his shoulders, guiding him to his feet, and it was only then that Adrien realized he had fallen to his knees. Nino swallowed, before speaking softly. "You... you know who Hawk Moth was, right...? Do you have any idea who Pavona could be?"
"Both Mayura and Hawk Moth are dead," Adrien echoed, voice hollow. Dead. Dead, dead, dead.
"What about friends? Family?" Alya asked. "Anyone who would want revenge for their fall?"
Adrien retreated slightly, away from Alya and Juleka, back towards Ezra, Chloe and Manon. Part of his household, people his mind had decided as safe. Nino hesitated as he backed away, but let him go. As he stood there, taking in Alya's words he let out snort of a laugh. A dry, humorless laugh that echoed around him. Once he started he could not stop, more spilling from his mouth. He didn't care about the stares, letting the mirthless laughs pour from him– before they stopped as suddenly as they came.
He was silent, staring down at the ring on his hand. "Family, huh?" He muttered, before shaking his head. "Hawk Moth... he had that, once."
Juleka opened her mouth to speak, but he pushed past her as he moved forward. Plagg drifted off from his head, staring, before flying after him. He headed down the stairs, no one moving at first but soon the echo of footsteps came as they followed after. Plagg floated alongside him, looking more worried than ever, but he didn't slow as he headed towards his father's office. He pushed open the door, dust curling into the air as he entered.
Juleka was the one to flip on the lights as she came in after, and it took a moment of everyone looking around to realize what exactly this was. There were hushed whispers, but he paid them no heed as he went over to the painting of his mother, pulling it aside to reveal the safe within. A glance at Plagg prompted him to drift forward to open it, and silently Adrien poured over the items inside.
"Dude?" Nino asked softly.
"Let him be," Chloe snapped.
"Hmm," Adrien hummed, but he found nothing. He replaced several papers back within the safe, closing everything up with care. Then he turned, heading over to his father's old computer. Technically five years out of date, as his father had once always tried to have the most recent software, but even with the dust and years of not being used it still booted up with ease.
He knew all of his father's passwords, Nooroo had told him everything, but never had Adrien had the heart to look through anything deeply. He was aware of the eyes that were on him as he started sorting through files and documents, but if there was something on here clearly his father had not made it simple to find. He might be able to find useful, but it would take time they would not have. If he wanted more information, he'd need to talk to someone who had seen it for themselves, and had been there the day Hawk Moth had fallen. With a sigh he pulled up the data for the security, typing in a few more passwords as he went.
"What are you doing?" Juleka snapped. "We need–"
She was cut off as a section of wall started moving behind them, the creaking of abandoned machinery being forced to move for the first time in years. Everyone stared at the hidden door as it opened to reveal a set of narrowing spiraling stairs– going both up and down. It might have looked nice if it had been maintained, stairs white and railing carved with careful design– but it was dust covered and draped in cobwebs. He glanced back at the audience he was not used to having, giving a dry smile.
"The elevator only fits one person at a time," he said, as if that explained everything, rising from the desk to climb up the stairs. It took a moment, but soon the narrow staircase was full of echoes of many footsteps as they climbed. He wasn't quite sure why they were all following him, he didn't even know if he would be able to get the answers they needed. The only one who didn't follow was Ezra, who's towering form would not fit on the narrow stairs. He only gave a nod as Adrien looked back, everyone else close behind him as they slowly climbed higher into the Agreste Mansion.
Everyone was silent as they entered his father's lair.
Lights flickered on automatically, a thin layer of dust still in the air, just like everything else that had once belonged to his father. He walked over straight to the table that sat in the center of the room, where the Miracle Box silently waited. It was how it had always been, a diamond shaped box of black wood, bright green carvings running down it. He carefully pressed a finger against a paw-print shaped carving, and the Miracle Box began to open without making a sound.
Seventeen Miraculouses started back at him.
As he reached forward he heard Plagg take in a sharp breath as he reached forward, but he did nothing as his hand wrapped around the Butterfly Miraculous, pulling it out of the box. It glowed a soft purple in his hands, and Nooroo appeared from an orb of light. The Butterfly blinked uncertainly, pulling back when he saw what room they were in, before his eyes settled on Adrien.
"Hello, Guardian," Nooroo said softly. "You summoned me?"
"What are those things?" Manon whispered.
"Kwamis," Alya muttered back. "They inhabit Miraculouses."
Adrien ignored the whispers, eyes locked on Nooroo. "The Peacock Miraculous has been found by someone. They are currently attacking Paris demanding the Black Cat and Ladybug Miraculous."
Nooroo gave a small smile, eyes flickering uncertainly to the many people in the room. "Is it wise to discuss this in front of so many people, Guardian? Or let them know where you keep the box?"
Adrien shook his head. "Do not call me titles I do not deserve, Nooroo." He glanced at the box, looking at the small red earrings inside. "We do not have time to waste– the Peacock holder has Emma with them, I need answers now." He looked back up at Nooroo. "Was there anyone else who worked with Mayura and Hawk Moth? Anyone who could have gotten the Peacock Miraculous after Mayura fell?"
Nooroo darted back as all eyes turned towards him– even five years safely in the Miracle Box had not completely undone his time with Hawk Moth. His wings flicked about, paws tapping together.
"Um, yes," Nooroo said softly. "There was the akuma he made to become Scarlet Moth once more. She... she did not resist becoming akumatized, and had full control herself..."
"Do you have a name?" Juleka snapped.
Nooroo opened his mouth to speak, but he was barely to make a sound when magic bubbled up from his throat. His gaze fell as this happened, before looking up at Adrien apologetically.
"I cannot speak her name," he said softly. "That must mean that she does have a Miraculous, or else the magic regarding identities would not be affecting me."
"Can you write it down?"
"I am afraid not, Guardian," Nooroo said softly. "However, Ma– um, Hawk Moth did make extensive plans before he launched his final attack. If you have not thrown out any of his notes you should be able to find her name in there."
"I have not thrown away anything, but I already went through his safe and computer," Adrien replied. "I saw nothing related to his plans."
Alya paused at these words, her head whipping towards Adrien.
"He did not keep such on the upper levels or on anything that could be hacked," Nooroo replied. "It would be down in the repository. I believe I would be able to find it fairly quickly, if you wish me to go look."
Adrien averted his eyes. "If you would, Nooroo."
Nooroo dove down towards the floor, phasing through with ease. He was sure the kwami was glad to be out of Hawk Moth's lair, and Adrien turned away from the Miracle Box. Adrien began pacing, while Plagg drifted above the Miracle Box, looking down at the Miraculouses inside uncertainly.
"This is too much to take in," Nino muttered, rubbing his head. "That was Hawk Moth's kwami, yeah?"
"I have a few questions myself," Alya said, brown eyes locked on Adrien. "You looked through Hawk Moth's safe and computer, huh? Would that happen to be the same safe and computer you just looked through a few minutes ago?"
Adrien paused from his pacing, before looking over at the reporter. Her hands were curled into fists, though for once her anger didn't seem to be directed right at him. Adrien watched her for a moment, before glancing out at the dim lair they stood him.
"Oh, where are my manners," Adrien said emotionlessly. "I didn't even explain where we are." He put on his fake model smile– one that was simple to do even after so many years. "Welcome to my father's lair– his favorite place to send out akumas."
Chloe froze. "What?"
Adrien turned back towards the Miracle Box. "Now it's being used to guard the Miraculouses he so desperately wanted– ironic, isn't it? I figured I might as well put some good use to it..."
He looked over the various Miraculouses, causing Plagg to tense once more, and Adrien carefully selected a bracelet and a comb. He turned back towards their small group– who were all staring at him in a stunned silence. As he looked across them he felt his heartbeat picking up– so many emotions in their gazes that he didn't even know where to start. Manon had turned very pale, and the others were no better off.
"Here, you'll need these," Adrien said, carefully giving the bracelet to Nino, and the comb to Chloe. They gave no reaction as he did so, Nino gaping at him in an awed horror, while Chloe looked about ready to punch something.
The comb gleamed as Chloe finally looked down at it, fading from yellow to silver as a burst of golden light lit up around it. With a flare of energy a small yellow kwami appeared, Pollen's gaze landing on Chloe. She looked delightfully surprised at the sight of the blonde, giving a bow.
"Hello, my queen, it's an honor to see you once more."
"We need to talk when all of this is over," Chloe said, her gaze on Adrien as she carefully tucked the Bee Miraculous in her hair. "No excuses, Adrikins."
He said nothing, just fingering the Butterfly Miraculous in his hands.
It took Nino a moment longer to snap out of his stupor, but soon he slipped on the bracelet onto her arm, releasing Wayzz from within. Adrien just wanted Nooroo to return, hopefully with some answers of something they could use to their advantage. A name was a start– but if that name could lead to a location, a motive, anything...
He was snapped out of his thoughts as Alya cleared her throat, looking at him expectantly. He knew what she wanted– and some part of him wanted to say no. Not to let her have any form of power, not after how she had treated him over the last few years– but deep down he knew that he had truly been no better.
He did not like Alya, and she did not like him– but yet he still knew Alya was someone trustworthy. A strong fighter, and someone who his mind did consider an ally with the current circumstances. And those circumstances... he needed all the help that he could get. All of the help he could give to get Emma back.
He carefully pulled the Fox Miraculous from the Miracle Box, before passing the pendant over to Alya. She held it closely, closing her eyes as she summoned Trixx from the necklace, before slipping it over her neck. The room was becoming more crowded by the minute, small kwamis drifting about the room, questioning their holders as they tried to understand what was happening.
Juleka was next to approach the Miracle Box, and unlike Alya she did not even bother asking, just glaring at Adrien. "You are not stopping me from getting her back."
He didn't have a reply, just tilting his head towards the Miracle Box. She stepped forward, looking over the Miraculouses within. For a moment her eyes locked on the ladybug earrings, before he could comment her gaze moved on, locking on a teal bracelet, before reaching forward.
Adrien was swifter, grabbing her hand by the wrist. "Not that one."
"I want my brother's Miraculous."
"Juleka, don't," he muttered softly. "The Cobra is not easy to use, it can really mess you up. I... I still have nightmares, sometimes, about when I wore it."
Juleka watched him with narrowed eyes, as if searching for a lie within his eyes. After a moment her gaze softened a degree, though far from gentle. She once again looked over the Miracle Box, grabbing the panja bracelet that laid next to the snake, slipping it on her hand.
With a flourish of magenta light, Roaar appeared, tail swaying. "I was wondering if any more of us would be summoned." She eyed Juleka, tilting her head. "Ah, so you are my new holder? I have always wondered what a Miraculous could do in your hands, Juleka."
"Emma is in trouble," Juleka whispered. "We have to save her."
The Tiger nodded, gaze turning serious. "Then let us not waste any time, cub."
Adrien went to close the Miracle Box, but paused he felt someone tap his shoulder. He glanced back, and saw Manon standing there. She was still pale, watching him closely, her voice hesitant as she spoke.
"I... I need to help Emma," she whispered.
He blinked, and looked at the Miracle Box once more. He just stared, having no qualms about giving her a Miraculous, though he was not sure which one to hand over. There were twelve remaining, though the Cobra, Rabbit, and Ladybug would not be leaving this box. After a moment of consideration he removed two hair clips, carefully holding them out to Manon, who hesitated.
"This is the Miraculous of the Goat," Adrien said softly. "It's power is Harmony– which is something I think we'll need if we're going to be working together."
Manon gave a stiff nod, taking them from his hands. A white light surged up from the Miraculous as she touched them, causing Manon to flinch slightly as the kwami appeared– though not quite as frightened as when she first saw Plagg. The Goat opened her eyes, looking at Manon, blinking.
"Um, hello?" Manon offered weakly.
"Hello, Miss!" The kwami said warmly. "I'm Ziggy, and you must be my holder." Ziggy zipped about her, curious. "All you need to say is 'Jump to it' to transform, and 'Unison' to activate our power– my magic will do the rest."
Manon nodded, looking overwhelmed, but she carefully placed the hair clips into her hair, which were lavender in her grasp. Ziggy settled by her shoulder, looking out at all the other holds and kwamis. Adrien watched them for a moment, before looking out at everyone else. Their kwamis were all near their current holders, either flying near them or settled somewhere on their person, listening intently as their holders spoke. Alya had pulled out her phone, probably checking the news for what was happening with the sentimonster.
"Hydra is at the Eiffel Tower," Alya reported after a moment. "The police are trying to barricade the area. Pavona is there as well, but is keeping her distance."
"And we have no idea where Emma is," Juleka said bitterly.
Adrien traced the Butterfly Miraculous. "On the security footage from last night it was a man that took Emma from her room. I would say there could be an accomplice, but considering how no alarms were tripped I'm suspecting a sentimonster."
"If it is a sentimonster that means Emma's probably alone right now," Chloe said, tapping a foot. "Since Hydra is out and about destroying anything it sees."
Adrien didn't know what to make of that idea– Emma being alone meant there was no one near her that could hurt her, but that also meant that she was alone. Emma alone, away from everything she ever knew, gagged, probably locked up. The thought back his gut turn, and if it wasn't for the fact that he hadn't eaten all day he probably would have thrown up.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of whirling– and while everyone else jumped Adrien knew what it was. He approached the center of the room, watching as a panel slid back, revealing the platform of the elevator rise up, Nooroo resting in the center with several papers clutched in his arms.
"Did you find it?" Adrien asked.
"Guardian," Nooroo said softly. "Why is she still down there?"
Adrien's throat closed up. "A name, Nooroo, I need a name."
"She should be laid to rest, this isn't fair to her."
"Emma, Nooroo– Emma needs us now."
Nooroo looked away, but gave in. "Here you go, Guardian," Nooroo said, flying up towards him, offering the papers over. "Her name is on the third page, right below Miss Nathalie's."
Adrien shuffled through the papers, eyes briefly scanning over the battle plans. His gut twisted as he looked down at his father's handwriting– words he had carefully crafted, whose plans had led to the death of so many innocents. He didn't pause to read anything, eyes only searching for the name that Nooroo could not say. As his eyes landed on the page he felt a rage boiling up within him, a bitter taste on his tongue.
"Lila Rossi," Adrien spat.
"What?" Alya said, whipping her head up– but he ignored her.
Nooroo nodded in confirmation. "I'm afraid that she probably has no obvious hiding places here in Paris, but if you get a hold of Duusu's Miraculous she would probably be able to lead you straight to Emma."
The papers crumpled in Adrien's hand, and he let them fall to the floor. "So we have to defeat the sentimonster and claim the Miraculous first."
"It's probably a good thing Emma's alone then," Nino said softly. "She can't use threats to hurt her if there's no one to act on them."
Plagg looked away.
"We need to be quick," Adrien said. "Every moment we spent fighting is a moment we don't have Emma." He turned to Nooroo. "I am going to put you back into the Miracle Box."
Nooroo let out a shaky sigh of relief. "Thank you, Guardian, I would prefer that. This place... it brings back bad memories." He hesitated. "But please, let me know if you get Emma back. And... and Duusu. I miss her greatly."
"There will be no 'if'," Juleka snarled as Adrien moved to put the Butterfly Miraculous back in the Miracle Box. "We will get her back, and I'm going to make sure everyone involved pays."
As Nooroo vanished in a flash of purple light, the Butterfly back in its spot as he shut the Miracle Box, Adrien was glad that for at least this moment Juleka was not against him– as her voice sounded murderous. And he agreed with her every word– they would get Emma back, and he would make sure it could never happen again. There was no choice, he had made a promise– and he could not fail.
He had lost so much, but he could not lose Emma too– the last light in his life. The one who looked at him so purely, not as if something was wrong with him, not in pity, but as if he was actually worth something.
She was too important to him. He couldn't lose her.
"Pollen, buzz on," Chloe said, breaking the silence that had settled into the room– and her words started a chain reaction.
"Trixx, let's pounce!"
"Wayzz, shell on."
"Roaar, let's stalk!"
"Ziggy, jump to it?"
Flashes of bright light filled the room– yellow, orange, green, magenta, and white. Their kwamis turned into a burst of pure energy, being drawn within the Miraculouses as their heroes transformed. Adrien closed his eyes, momentarily blinded as colors lit up the hidden lair. As he opened them he felt something in his chest, looking out at the heroes that stood before him.
Rena Rouge and Carapace stood side by side, not looking like a single day had past. Their costumes reflected that of the ones they had once worn, the subtle differences only noticeable to the trained eye. Rena drew her flute, much longer than it had been the last time she had transformed, gripping it like a club.
It had been even longer since Chloe had worn the Bee– and she had seemed to change the most. It was not Queen Bee that stood there, and had it not been for the fact that he had handed Chloe the Miraculous himself he would have thought it a different hero.
Juleka and Manon did not stand as sure as the others did with their transformation, though the determination in their eyes still shone brightly. Juleka's outfit was completely black, highlighted with magenta stripes. A tiger's tail flicked out from the back of her costumes, rounded cat ears peering up from her hair. Across her back was a long black spear, which she showed no hesitation in drawing.
Manon had a pair of horns curling up from her hair, her suit made from black and white furs. Held in her hand was a pair of long spiraling horns that were linked in the center– their length together easily longer than her arm. Placed above the handle was a small metallic shield, small compared to the one Carapace held, though it sheltered her hand. Manon shifted the maduvu, it taking her a moment to find a proper grip, before looking up at Adrien expectantly.
The ring on his hand felt heavier than ever.
Plagg drifted forward, small paws grabbing Adrien's hand. "You got this, kid," he said softly. "You know the words."
"I... I can't," Adrien whispered, clutching his hand to his chest. It had been five long years since he had done so– and those moments were what haunted his akumas had flown across the city, twisting the minds of all they touched. Overnight the City of Lights had turned into a war zone. Buildings had fallen, lives had been claimed– everyone having waited and prayed for the healing light to light up the sky– but it had never come.
It had been as Chat Noir he had watched her die. It had been with Chat Noir's powers he had killed his own father, watching the man crumpling to dust. That form had cradled her in his arms, had picked up the guardianless Miracle Box to claim it as his own, and had carefully scooped up a young Emma from the ruins of her own home.
"I can't, Plagg, I can't, I killed him like that, I can't–"
"No kid, you were protecting your partner. You saved Paris," Plagg said softly– and for the moment it was only them in the room. Him, Plagg, and unwanted memories.
"I didn't save her," he whispered, tears in her eyes. "I was too late."
"She didn't want to be saved," Plagg replied. "She wanted Emma to be safe."
Emma.
Emma.
"Don't think about it, kitten," Plagg said softly as Adrien closed his eyes. "Just say the words."
"...Claws out."
