Chapter 7: Final Battle

"Kitty," she sighs, "You scared me."

"May I have this dance?" Chat Noir bows dramatically and holds out his hand for her to take. He leads her to the middle of the floor and they begin swaying to the beat. His arms hold her waist, and hers fall around his neck.

"I told you, you'd find me." She playfully winks at him.

"You're never wrong," he grins.

"Chat, your hair is so much shorter. Did you cut it?" She brushes his bangs to the side gently.

"No, Plagg changes my hair when I transform."

"I see." She gazes into his eyes, "I didn't know your eyes would still be green in civilan form. The cat miraculous changed mine when I used it."

"I guess Fu gave me the right miraculous then."

"You're right. I couldn't have asked for a better partner." Marientte leans her head on his chest and they dance in silence for the next few minutes.

Chat Noir enjoys his time with Ladybug, but now his heart beats for Marinette.

The two are interrupted by gasps in the crowd. They turn and see a villain standing before them. "Hello Ladybug and Chat Noir." Viper grins and touches his phone to them. They're absorbed into it and the room panics.

"Good Viper, now bring them to me."

"Yes Hawkmoth."

Viper struts out of the dance and walks to Hawkmoth's layer. Once inside, he launches the heroes out his phone with a swipe of the finger. They fall to the ground. Hawkmoth stands before them. "Aww Did you two get all dressed up to see me?" Hawkmoth laughs at his own joke.

"Tikki spots on!"

"Plagg claws out!"

"You're trapped now, give me your miraculous."

"Never! Lucky charm!"

A bar of soap falls into Ladybugs hand. She looks around to see how to use it. There's nothing in the room but swarms of butterflies. She's quick to find a solution and manages to dodge Hawkmoth's staff.

"You shouldn't have done that, Ladybug! Now it's only a matter of time before you transform back and give me your miraculous!"

Viper charges at Chat Noir and Ladybug throws her lucky charm. It catches under Viper's foot and he slips, tossing his phone into the air. Chat Noir grabs it and smashes it to the ground. Ladybug is quick to capture the akuma in her yoyo and free it with the other butterflies.

Chat Noir starts combat with Hawkmoth. "I'm sorry to ask you this Luka. You need to help Chat Noir and I right now." Ladybug opens her yoyo and pulls out the snake miraculous. Luka looks at Chat Noir then at Ladybug. "It's for Paris."

Luka nods and puts on the bracelet. "Sass scales slither. Second chance."

Viperion activates his special power, now he has the chance to go back as many times as he wants in the next five minutes.

All three heroes charge at Hawkmoth in an effort to take his broach. Hawkmoth deflects Ladybug with his staff and grabs Chat Noir with his other arm. He reaches for his ring. "Second chance."

This time Viperion warns them, 'Wait! Attack at the same time."

Ladybug and Chat Noir charge at Hawkmoth again, this time Hawkmoth deflects Ladybug with his staff but can't do the same to Chat Noir. Chat extends his pole and slides under Hawkmoth's legs, tripping him. Viperion lunges at Hawkmoth for his broach but he's not fast enough. Hawkmoth grabs his arms and slides off his bracelet, detransforming Luka. He throws him aside and he's knocked unconscious.

"What are you going to do now?" he snarls.

"This!" Ladybug throws her yoyo and it wraps around Hawkmoth's wrist before he can put the snake miraculous on. Hawkmoth yanks his arm back and sends Ladybug flying to the back of the room. He presses a button on his staff and a cage drops over her head.

He laughs, "Don't forget Ladybug, you're playing on my home field!"

"Don't worry! I'll get you out of there Ladybug!" Chat Noir is about to activate his cataclysm when Ladybug interrupts him.

"No! Make sure he doesn't use the snake miraculous! With second chance he'll defeat us for sure!"

Chat Noir nods and goes for the snake bracelet. He extends his pole and swipes at Hawkmoth's legs, making him trip again. This time he drops the snake miraculous. Chat Noir swoops it up and puts it on himself. "Sass, Plagg, unify!" Chat Noir transforms into Snake Noir. The tips of his hair dye blue and his suit is mixed with the teal color of the snake miraculous. "Second chance!"

Snake Noir lunges at Hawkmoth but is deflected and a cage falls over his head. "Second chance!"

This time Snake Noir goes after Ladybug first. She's detransformed and feeding Tikki. "Cataclysm!" He drags his hand across the iron bars and they crumble.

"Tikki spots on!"

The unstoppable duo is back on their feet. Ladybug swings her yoyo in circles as she approaches Hawkmoth. Chat Noir does the same with his staff. "It's over Hawkmoth. Give us the butterfly and peacock miraculouses."

Ladybug swings her yoyo and it wraps itself around Hawkmoth. He can't move his arms at all. Chat Noir takes the butterfly brooch off of his shirt.

Gabrielle Agreste lays on the floor, hopeless. "Please you've got to understand! I'm doing this for my wife! I need to bring her back for me and my son! Our family!"

Ladybug is surprised but she's suspected him before. She speaks in triumph. "Sorry Mr. Agreste, I can't let you do that! Right Chat Noir?" Ladybug looks to Chat Noir but he's unresponsive. He's kneeling over Mr. Agreste in disbelief. He turns to Ladybug with tears in his eyes. "Chat Noir? What's wrong?"

Chat Noir turns back to Gabrielle Agreste. "Why? Why you, father?" In perfect timing Chat Noir's ring beeps. "Sass, Plagg divide." Sass and Plagg escape from Adrien's jewelry at the same time. Adrien tosses his masquerade mask aside, revealing his identity.

Ladybug watches in utter shock. Mr. Agreste brings his son into an embrace. "This whole time, my nemesis has been my son?" Adrien doesn't speak a word. "I- I thought I was doing the right thing but everyday I put you in direct danger just so I could change the past…"

Minutes pass and Adrien and his dad sit in silence, contemplating their past actions and what they want to do next. "Dad, I don't want you to bring Mom back. The consequences are too severe." Adrien wipes away a tear. "We can be a happy family just you and me."

Gabrielle thinks about this for a moment. "I won't keep any more secrets from you, son."

After a few more moments, Mr. Agreste stands and helps Adrien to his feet. He holds out his hand and Ladybug accepts the handshake. "My deepest apologies Ladybug."

Ladybug isn't ready to forgive him just yet. Adrien gives her the butterfly and snake miraculous which she drops into her yoyo. "I have the peacock miraculous upstairs, it belonged to Emilie."

Ladybug may not have experienced it but she understands what he's been through, "Keep it for now. Just don't use it of course."

"Of course Ladybug, thank you."

"Pound it?" Ladybug holds out her fist and Adrien meets it. "Pound it."

Ladybug picks up Luka to take him to a hospital. On that note, Ladybug launches herself out of the window. Sure enough, the conservatory window is behind the Agreste mansion. After leaving Luka to a doctor, she goes home. Her parents rush to her as soon as she enters the room, "We heard there was an akuma attack at the masquerade! Are you okay?" Sabine holds up Marinette's arm looking for bruises.

"I'm okay Mama but I'm tired, I'm going to bed."

Marinette gives her parents kisses on their cheeks before heading up to her bedroom. She changes into her pajamas as normal and sits on her bed before letting her emotions out. "TIKKI."

"I was wondering how long you could hold it in for," Tikki laughs.

"Okay let me get things straight. My greatest fashion role model is Hawkmoth. The boy I was in love with is the same boy I turned down. And now I moved on from Adrien to be WITH ADRIEN!?"

"It's okay, Marinette. Everything is over, you defeated Hawkmoth."

"He's probably having a difficult time right now. I wonder if he's still going to visit."

Tikki flies circles around Marinette's head, "Now that you know who Chat Noir is are you going to tell him you're Ladybug?"

Knock knock knock. Marinette opens her trapdoor and Chat Noir collapses onto her, sobbing. "Marinette, it's my dad. He's kept her hidden from me this whole time, I- I don't know-"

Marinette hushs him. Her hand brushes through his hair. "It's okay Chat Noir, I know already. You don't have to waste your breath."

Chat Noir lifts his head up to look at Marinette. "W- what do you mean?"

"I'm Ladybug, Adrien."

More tears run down Chat Noir's cheeks and he embraces Marinette. In between sobs he manages to say, "I'm so glad it's you Marinette. So glad."

"I'm glad too, Chat Noir."

Marinette holds her Kitty as he cries.