"Ugh… Agh…!" A strained, wheeze escaped Ladybug as her back connected, with harsh force, to the wall behind her. She choked out a cough, limply rolling onto her stomach from a terrifyingly proficient move that knocked the air right out of her.
Two shadowy figures approached her in her moment of weakness; one a little taller than the other, taking up the lead with a twisted, pleasure-filled grin pulling at his lips.
The little enclosed space Ladybug found herself within was not what she expected to stumble upon when she touched Emilie Agreste's portrait. Her vision blurred, she struggled to pick herself up from the floor; she stared up at Hawkmoth with fear, the dim, orange light of what should be a gorgeous sunset casting an ominous glow onto him from the butterfly-shaped window behind. A crowd of erratic white butterflies flapped above their heads.
"I humbly thank you for making the location of the Miracle Box so… easy, Ladybug." Hawkmoth sneered, stopping a few steps in front of her crumpled, weakened body. He looked down at her with shiver-inducing, dark, downright evil eyes, opting to mock her when she was already down.
She bit her tongue to stop herself from firing back and potentially making things worse. All she had to do… was hold out a little more, until Chat Noir returned…
Mayura hid a giddy smirk behind her peacock fan. This had been the day she and Hawkmoth dreamed of. At last, it was here, just within their reach. She kind of felt bad, though – she didn't expect Ladybug to go down without a fight. Oh, well.
Ladybug gritted her teeth, grimacing as Hawkmoth poked his cane near her cheek. It couldn't end this way. But two against one, now that had been unfair! Of course they'd be able to get the drop on her, and dear lord, did Hawkmoth pack a mean punch. Well, rather a kick… One that winded her so badly, she could only breathe through her nose, to attempt to subdue the surge of pain in her ribs when she previously attempted breathing normally.
Just as Hawkmoth lifted a foot to presumably keep the Bug in place… An unfamiliar whirring noise echoed out.
Ladybug's eyes widened slightly. Had Chat Noir finally uncovered the secrets of the mansion, and was coming to rescue her…?
On high alert, Hawkmoth and Mayura immediately spun around. The hidden elevator platform revealed a fully-masked, scale-clad superhero.
As much as she appreciated the back-up, Ladybug really wished her kitty had shown up alongside the boy who needed protecting. Her eyelids drooped, head pounding.
"Ladybug-!"
Before Aspik could even take a single step, Mayura pounced on him from behind and locked her arm around his throat. He squeaked out a gasp, being dragged back and held prisoner by that stupid bird.
"Tch tch…" Hawkmoth simply tutted, shaking his head in disapproval. "You really are just kids, after all. You gasp, and yell, all wide-eyed and useless before even thinking to act."
"No… Don't hurt him…" Ladybug hissed, vision blurring over again, only this time from tears. Her kitty… He said he'd come back for her…
Hawkmoth had the Miracle Box firmly tucked under his arm, clutching his cane with the other free hand.
"Father… Why…?" Aspik managed to slip out a small number of words. This surprised the man, but it did notsurprise Ladybug. She already figured it out herself a mere few minutes ago. Fear and bubbling anger clouded his judgement; he hadn't even thought of calling up his power yet.
Mayura narrowed her eyes, keeping her grip on him tight, despite knowing Adrien was under that mask. She would only act on Gabriel'sorders, no one else's. Until he gave the nod, Adrien blocked the way to their goal, being an enemy.
"I'm doing this for you, my son. The Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir… When combined, they make a great wish come true," Hawkmoth began, eyes flickering over to the spotted superhero's earrings. His grin darkened. "I will use that wish wisely – to bring your mother back. So we can be happy again."
Adrien's stomach lurched upon hearing those words. "M...Mother…? But..." He refused to believe it, at first.
"D-Don't… don't listen to him, Adrien…" Ladybug softly begged. Despite regaining a bit of her strength and catching her breath, she knew she couldn't dare to move, otherwise Hawkmoth would knock her down all over again. "Everywish has a cost. It's too… t-too dangerous…!" She spluttered, pressing her forehead to the floor with a grunt.
Those cries of reason and harsh coughing didn't reach his ears. Hawkmoth… His own father… He'd terrorised Paris, put countless lives in danger, without a single care for anyone but himself… He even almost sacrificed his own son once… He'd hurt Nino, Alya, manipulated Chloé, risked everything, over and over…! Just to revive his wife, Adrien's own mother, who Adrien thought had been dead for so long! To be 'happy' again? How in the god damn hell was that trail of destruction, trauma and terror supposed to be happiness?!
Red filled his vision.
Ladybug could only watch once the coughing fit passed, though still shivering, as about a hundred different expressions flashed over Adrien's face all in the space of few moments. Confusion… Processing… Realisation, frustration… It built, anger stacking the more he processed, and it killed her to just watch, but what else could she do, when she was backed into a corner?
"Second Chance…!"
She sharply gasped.
Hawkmoth knew there'd be defiance. That was perfectly alright. Once Chat Noir showed up, he could fix everything. He could afford to take risks. With a single, barely noticeable nod sent Mayura's way…
She released the grip on Adrien, and while he indeed thought it strange, he wasn't one to complain. He stood face to face with his father, and he could've sworn he saw a hint of… insanity…? Tucked away behind the mask…
A loud thud echoed out, before Ladybug could even blink.
Ladybug cringed, her face twisting as Hawkmoth delivered a boot to Adrien's stomach, sending him flying back a good distance. That was it! She couldn't lie around helplessly any longer! Pressing her palms hard to the floor, where her cheek had grown all sweaty and practically stuck to it, she attempted to prop herself up.
Adrien groaned, back smashing hard off the cold floor. He didn't know where to focus his attention – on Hawkmoth who was swiftly approaching, hand outstretched, or Mayura who appeared to be closing the gap between herself and Ladybug. But of course, he had no time to react. Again, there was a tight grip around his throat, only this time, the squeezing, threatening hand belonged to Hawkmoth.
The horrible butterfly villain effortlessly swooped Adrien up, madness reflecting in his once sane eyes, eyes that maybe would've spared him a month or so ago, as he glared right at his own son, remorseless. He truly believed this would be the best course of action; his strength amplified by the rush of adrenaline, as he viewed himself as immortal and all-powerful in that moment. He held Adrien a short distance up off the floor… Feet dangling.
"A-Ah…" Adrien hissed, his throat closing up.
While that happened, Ladybug, who couldn't divide her attention nearly as well as she'd wanted, had been struck once more by Mayura. This time, she landed straight on her back, an agonising surge of pain shooting up her spine. She certainly hadn't noticed that injury until now. "G-Get… off…!" Ladybug screeched, a sharp heel digging right into her gut, crushing her. Mayura rounded her blue lips into a devilish smirk, almost as if she enjoyed the sight of the girl in pain. Helpless. Too weak to push her leg off, settling for pawing pathetically at her ankle.
Adrien held his father's cold stare – something he had been used to for all of his life, but now, the alarm bells grew louder in his mind, warning him this situation was far more dire than ever. His chest rattled as he struggled to breathe. Was his own father… really going to watch the life drain from his son's eyes…? He wanted to call up his power, but… His mind was still clouded, with one simple question. Why. Why, why, why…?
With a cruel grin, Hawkmoth launched Adrien across the room – probably just because he felt like he could. And Adrien could only resign himself to his fate, his head dizzy and spinning. Lifelessness taking over, the fight that once burned brilliantly inside, draining slowly...
Another harsh thud, only this time... The sickening thump carried much more weight than before.
"ADRIEN!" Ladybug screamed, followed by a yelp which got stuck in the back of her throat, at Mayura's sharp heel warning her to be silent. Head first. He flew head first into the wall, all the way across the room – even though the lair wasn't that large of a space… He still…!
At the very least, he had been knocked out cold before he could really register any pain. Despite the suits' near invulnerability, the last remaining rays of sunset that poured into the room… clearly drew attention to a crimson stain seeping through his mask at the top of his head.
Ladybug had to clamp a palm over her mouth, to stop herself from pushing Mayura's patience, to stop herself from screaming and crying in protest, and more importantly from throwing up. But she couldn't, even if she wanted to, because Mayura still had her foot dug into her stomach, and she was laying all useless on her back, and she really did not feel like choking on her own-!
"Hahahaha…! Ahahahahaha!" Hawkmoth let out a cackle, one that started off quiet, as if words could do no justice to the ecstasy and thrill that rippled through his body. And then, he threw his head back, the once quiet laughter now booming and unrestrained. That horrible sound filled the otherwise silent room, his eyes widening in sheer pleasure, as he spiralled down into insanity. He'd murdered his own son. And he was laughing?!
Ladybug refused to accept this display of madness. Her chest rose and fell quickly, tiny sharp breaths escaping her as she felt torn on what to do. Desperate was the desire to get revenge, to carry out the exact same thing Hawkmoth had done to Adrien, to dispose of him as payback… After all, who was to say he didn't deserve it…? After everything he'd done to terrorise Paris…? No. That would be wrong. Wouldn't it?
Mayura snickered along with her partner. Her reaction wasn't nearly as unsightly as Hawkmoth's, but a vast sense of accomplishment washed over her, with one hero being out of the picture – and Ladybug all by herself, no Chat Noir to be seen.
Would it really be so wrong… to kill them…?
Hawkmoth abruptly ceased his laughter, the jarring change in composure somehow ending up a lot more chilling than anything else he'd done so far. "Mayura. The Miraculous of the Snake." He spoke in a blank tone, void of any emotion, gesturing with a quick tilt of his head over to… Adrien.
"Don't… don't you dare go near him!" Ladybug threatened through gritted teeth, but she literally could not do anything other than bark orders that fell on deaf ears.
Gabriel Agreste. He stared down at Ladybug, still held in place by his partner. He had no doubt he could handle her on his own. Again, he repeated his request… and with some reluctance, wanting their plan to go one-hundred percent smoothly, she lowered her foot.
Ladybug let out a shaky breath, feeling as though she could breathe a little better with just that one movement. She flickered her glance down to the yo-yo around her waist. She had to get out of this alive. She just had to. But Hawkmoth approached just as he had earlier, only this time… She truly had no one left to save her.
Mayura kneeled at Aspik's unconscious frame, plucking the bracelet with ease from his limp wrist.
Unbeknownst to her, as soon as the transformation fell, a little black kwami moved unbelievably fast to nestle inside his owner's shirt. Thankfully, the rotten blue bird appeared to be preoccupied with euphoria from what she thought was a guaranteed victory.
Plagg covered his mouth with tiny little arms, for he feared he wouldn't be able to stop himself from hyperventilating on the spot. Despite his years of experience… For the first time in… forever… his world had been turned upside down, his heart shattered.But he had to ground himself. Perhaps aid Ladybug, somehow? Yet… The trickling of something crimson running down Adrien's forehead… His mind ran blank.
"Well, Ladybug… You don't have much of a choice here…" Hawkmoth straightened his back out, towering over the young lady. His eyes reflected the usual coldness they always did, no trace of lingering madness or anything.
In that moment, she wondered just what kind of monster she was really up against here. Her mouth had dried up, unable to gulp down her nerves. Her body still shook lightly. She waited to hear just what exactly he expected of her.
Mayura wrapped the Snake bracelet in a closed fist, fan hanging idly at her side as she strutted back up to the two. "And you might want to act fast," she said, continuing for her partner with a haughty laugh. "Once you hand over your Miraculous and tell Chat Noir to come out of hiding, there may still be a chance to save Adrien. But I'm afraid if you delay Hawkmoth's wish for too long…"
"Nngh…" Ladybug screwed her eyes shut, forehead wrinkling. She had had just about enough of their droning monologue. Her whole body heavy, she pushed herself to act. Within a split second, she flicked her eyelids open and made a grab for her yo-yo, which was only a small hand movement away. She shot it upwards in the general direction of Mayura, with a precise enough aim to smack the closed fist which held the Snake Miraculous.
"Ah!" They had sworn there was no fight left in that writhing bug. The yo-yo connected with her knuckles before she had a chance to react – in fact, all she could reallyacknowledge was something blurred whizzing toward her…
Clink.
"So, you still think you have a chance against us?" Hawkmoth bared his teeth.
Mayura could only watch over her shoulder as the Snake's bracelet lightly bounced a couple times off the floor and roll far away enough from her reach.
With the peacock villain temporarily distracted, as if she hadn't prepared for such a possibility and was now unsure how to appropriately divide her attention, Ladybug struck. Being low down on the floor had its advantages after all; she acted another swift second later, with Hawkmoth still radiating egotistical assurance in his abilities. She stopped him from getting any closer with a kick, channelling all her might – not directing it to anywhere that could debilitate him, but rather, at an area where a certain box was 'securely' tucked away under.
The Miracle Box and its contents went flying in a matter of seconds.
"No!" Hawkmoth exclaimed, desperation seeping through the cracks. He couldn't believe he let himself make such a critical mistake, to allow her to get the upper-hand for a single second… His arm outstretched, he was way past the point of being able to catch it.
Mayura clenched her fists, patience growing thin. "Don't you dare move," she snarled toward the girl.
However, there was no chance Ladybug would even dream of listening to that ridiculous demand. The Miracle Box and its jewels clattered off the floor, some landing close to Ladybug, others further away. If she were to get out alive, she would have to make some sacrifices. Sucking in a breath, she acted while the two were still stunned, gawking all pathetically at the mess they'd gotten into.
A horrible pain coursed through her body as she hopped up from where she once laid on the floor, but she didn't let that stop her from throwing another kick Hawkmoth's way, all in one fell swoop. This time, she aimed for his gut. She managed to catch him off guard.
Stunned, he found himself being thrown back a good few steps. He stumbled, clutching at his stomach and had to take a moment to regain his composure.
Mayura's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected the rogue bug to land another hit. Grunting, she didn't even need to wait for an order. She immediately knew she had to immobilise Ladybug and put and end to her futile struggling. She wouldn't be caught by surprise any longer.
"Don't worry, I'll stop her," she said, to Hawkmoth. Despite their incompetence thus far, confidence still overflowed from her. "You can retrieve the Miracle Box."
Of course they'd fall into her trap. Unlike those two, Ladybug wouldn't allow one small success inflate her ego. She tightly gripped onto her yo-yo, waiting for Mayura to make a move.
Hawkmoth let out a low growl. He had tried to suppress the flame of anger which still burnt away within him, because he knew he was close to victory. But with Ladybug now testing his patience, he felt himself being pushed closer to the edge once more.
He recovered swiftly from that foolish mistake of lowering his guard, pain in his stomach fading into nothing but a minor inconvenience. She'd give up sooner or later. Mayura could deal with her; he trusted her. And so, he took a slow walk over to retrieve the Miraculous that had landed the furthest away from him, allowing his partner to take care of the rest.
Ladybug glared at him as he passed by. She hoped her plan would work out in her favour; even if Hawkmoth was being careless now, things could always change. And as he began to head over to the far end of the lair, leaving a sizeable distance between her and Mayura…
She registered the exact moment Mayura made a subtle movement, indicating she'd strike. Narrowing her eyes, Ladybug whipped out her yo-yo again, hurtling it forward with all her remaining strength, before Mayura could get any closer.
"Agh!" The base of the yo-yo connected rather harshly with her forehead, and while she equated the overall look of it to a flimsy kid's toy, one that couldn't do much damage at all… She very quickly realised she had been wrong; she staggered back, an unbearable headache surfacing within moments.
"Hah…!" Ladybug couldn't help but be a touch proud of herself, finally believing luck was back on her side. Though, she remembered not to be too cocky in such situations. Whilst Mayura clutched at her head, seeming to be dizzy and all disoriented, Ladybug knew she hadn't much time.
The moment the woman cried out in pain, it hit Hawkmoth's ears, and the remains of what little patience he had within him snapped at last. He jolted up from where he knelt to collect the Miraculous, spinning on his heels. He noticed Ladybug rushing to pick up a few of the jewels at her feet.
"Mayura!" The prior anger he tried to conceal erupted at last, those flickering flames of irritation sparking into disaster levels of fury. He couldn't decide if he wanted to direct that rage toward his partner for messing up, or toward the child for not knowing when to give in, but his instincts ultimately lead him in the right direction.
Ladybug felt her mouth drying up, heart pounding hard in her chest. She had to collect as many Miraculous as possible; first, she plucked up the Snake's bracelet, sliding it onto her wrist. Then, the easiest of the bunch – three pendants, of the Dragon, Fox and Mouse. Although it'd be dangerous to wear so many in her weakened state, she knew she had to anyway.
"I-I'm okay…!" Mayura coughed from behind, through shallow breaths. However, the headache brought on by the hard-hitting yo-yo had opened the floodgates to a whole host of other problems. The barrier which protected her from the internal pain of the damaged Miraculous she wore degraded in a matter of seconds, going from barely manageable to feeling as though her lungs were on fire. She crashed to her knees, her throat burning and eyes stinging.
Ladybug certainly hadn't intendedto inflict too much harm, despite a hint of revenge still nagging at her. The sharp inhaling to try and regain control that came from Mayura momentarily distracted her, guilt twisting its way around her heart… Until she heard the heavy footsteps of Hawkmoth steadily approaching. She snapped out of it, shaking her head frantically. She knew she had to act quicker than her current pace. The only other nearby Miraculous was that of the Rabbit, one of the most powerful aside from her own and Chat's. Her hand firmly closed around it.
Gabriel Agreste had no patience or shred of remorse left to spare. He had caught sight of the child scrambling to collect her precious jewels. Just as she picked up a pocket watch, and scrambled to back away from him…
"Ah…!" She had been keeping an eye on him. She could've sworn he was further away, which is why she took just a split second to focus on the last possible Miraculous to salvage. But when she glanced back up, he was pretty much right in front of her, hand already in the middle of making a grab right for her throat.
She cursed herself for not noticing the shadow closing the distance sooner. All she could do in response was tilt her body to the side, in a feeble attempt to dodge. Luck was no longer on her side. Even though she narrowly avoided being choked, just like poor Adrien earlier, his grip latched onto one of her pigtails, stopping her from moving any further.
Hawkmoth flashed a maniacal grin. "That's enough out of you, you pesky bug," he said in a low, spine-chilling voice, staring down at her.
She refused to accept her fate – and so, she made the mistake of trying to wriggle free from him, not quite realising how strong a hold he had. "Nngh…!" Sure enough, she was yanked right back in place, a whine escaping her.
"Mayura, my dear, are you alright?" He turned his attention to his partner.
Though her entire body was aching, limbs weak and head throbbing, she finally composed herself and took in a deep breath, pulling herself to her feet. She'd spent more than enough time on her knees, wallowing in temporary pain. Victory would soon be theirs. She hid the grimace on her face behind her fan, giving a nod. She could spend plenty of time recovering later.
"Let me go!" Ladybug shrieked, interrupting the two in the midst of their 'deep' moment of concern. That, and she felt nauseated by the strange display of concern they showed one another. Besides that, they could at least have the decency to give her a fair fight! She held a mean glare, directing it right up at the man who held her captive. 'Think, think, think…! You can't go down like this!' Her inner voice screamed at her, the prospect of failure becoming more and more likely with each second that passed.
Hawkmoth simply tutted, slowly shaking his head. He turned his attention back to the child, eyes void of anything once again. Dull, empty. How had he shaken off the volcano-like anger in such a short span of time?
A cold chill ran down her spine, any leftover fighting spirit getting caught up in the back of her throat. She stared into those haunting eyes, dread washing over her. If he had no issues taking his own son's life, who was to say he wouldn't dispose of her next?
Plagg, still hidden inside his owner's shirt, was paralysed. He couldn't tell if Adrien was still breathing or not. He could only stare ahead at the blurred sight of Ladybug, on her knees, at Hawkmoth's mercy. He desperately wanted to help. But if he made his presence known, and then made one wrong move, he could endanger Marinette, the teenager under the mask. His small body trembled. He screwed his eyes shut, hoping this was all just some sick nightmare.
"I did try to warn you," Hawkmoth said, while pouting in a condescending manner. Then, his lips curled up into a twisted grin. He'd tamed his burning wrath; controlled it, knowing there'd be no need to get unnecessarily emotional any more.
'Chat Noir… Please… Please save me…' Ladybug felt tears sting the corners of her eyes, but she wouldn't allow herself to show weakness in front of them. She kept her glance glued to the floor, defeat weighing down on her shoulders. She could sense his free hand extending out toward her, and she screwed her eyes shut to cower in fear. However… All he did was pluck the earrings from her; a bright, pink light illuminated the darkening room in that moment.
"Marinette…!" Tikki gasped, being spat out of the Miraculous.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" Hawkmoth's eyes grew wide, brows raising in genuine surprise. He hadn't suspected her at all – he merely thought Ladybug trusted the girl to watch over the Miracle Box.
"I… I'm sorry, Tikki…" Once the protection of her suit was gone, the dull ache of her injuries became far more apparent, amplifying tenfold and knocking the fighting spirit right out of her. The worst source of agony came from her ribs; with each breath she took, a sharp pain coursed through her. She immediately had to try and control her breathing, but anxiety rattled her chest, making it near impossible. Head drooped, a tiny sob escaped her lips.
"Marinette!" The red kwami repeated, this time more distraught as she darted her glance around the lair.
When Plagg heard that all too familiar voice, it almost left him breathless. He flicked his eyes open, peeking timidly out of Adrien's shirt. They were a good distance away, but he knew that kwami anywhere. It'd been quite some time since the two were in contact, so seeing her indeed brought about some semblance of relief and hope… Yet… What could be done?
Mayura stood silently and patiently by Hawkmoth's side. Admittedly, she felt a little thrown off at the revelation of a simple baker girl being Paris' supposed 'amazing superhero'. Still, she stayed quiet. They were halfway through their plan. She thought it strange that Ladybug's sidekick hadn't showed up yet, but they'd overcome that bump somehow.
"Silence," Hawkmoth ordered, directed at the kwami. He finally released Marinette's hair, carelessly tossing her aside.
"Nngh…" She whimpered, colliding with the cold, hard floor without any attempt to resist. She wasn't even able to break her fall with her arms. As she hit the floor, the Miraculous of the Rabbit dropped a few paces away from her.
"You're making a big mistake!" Tikki attempted to talk some sense into the man. "With every wish, there is a terrible price to pay in exchange, and...-!"
"I said, silence!" The man interrupted, this time his voice far more commanding and rougher.
Tikki gasped, reeling back. It only just sunk in what kind of heartless villain she was up against. She quickly flew over to her owner's side, who currently had her forehead pressed against the floor and was fighting off the urge to cry.
Hawkmoth let out a huff, turning his back to the two, so he could converse with his partner. "Now we only need to wait for the stray cat to show his face," he said, a hint of impatience in his words. Even he begun to wonder what was taking the other child so long.
"Do you think… he's hiding?" Mayura proposed. "Tucked his tail between his legs and abandoned the girl?"
Marinette shuddered as she vaguely heard their conversation. He wouldn't have left her to face them on her own. Right? She gulped down her nerves the best she could. She felt somewhat comforted by Tikki's presence, yet guilt greatly outweighed that. "Where… is Chat Noir…?" she asked her kwami, voice weak, shaky, and tone filled with exhaustion.
Tikki subtly glanced in the direction of Adrien, taking in his current state. She lowered herself to Marinette's level, unsure of how to respond. Instead, she changed the topic, more concerned for her owner's well-being. "You should take those Miraculous off," she gently said, referring to the numerous jewels the girl wore. "They'll only wear your body down even more, and you need all the strength you can muster."
Marinette's eyelids grew heavy. "No, I… can't…" she stubbornly refused, wanting to protect the few she had left in her care. She then stretched an arm out, fingertips brushing against the pocket watch Miraculous. She could barely reach it… However, she gritted her teeth together and pushed herself to retrieve it.
"Marinette…" Tikki whimpered. It killed her to see her owner in such a bad way, especially knowing there wasn't much else she could do on her own against two supervillains. Her powers would be far too dangerous without a holder; she simply couldn't bring herself to take such a risk. And so, she nestled in close to the girl, to bring her some warmth.
"You can hold onto these for me, my dear Mayura." Hawkmoth wrapped up the conversation, transferring the earrings over to his partner's open palm.
She gladly accepted them, glancing around for the kwami that was supposed to be by her side. Her eyes landed on the girl, crumpled on the floor. "Huh…" she tutted, closing her fist around the earrings, before sauntering over to where the kwami was. "You belong to me now."
Her powerful voice startled Tikki. The kwami grew defensive, but she knew she wouldn't be able to refuse or fight for long. However, before she could even get a word out…
"D-Don't..." Marinette hissed, loosely clenching her fists. After everything that'd happened, she still had a shred of defiance left in her. It was mostly a plea though; a desperate appeal of a broken girl who couldn't bear to lose any more than she'd already lost.
"You still won't shut up?" Mayura growled, lowering herself onto one knee.
"Don't take her from me…" Marinette whispered lightly, breathing shallow. It took her so much effort to get more than one word out. She couldn't see over the vile bird's shoulder, but she was sure Hawkmoth would be watching the interaction closely.
"The only owner I have is Marinette," Tikki narrowed her eyes, staring in disobedience at the woman.
Mayura simply let out a laugh. "Then I suppose I'll have to get Marinette here to renounce her ownership of you, and hand you over to me."
"No…!" Tikki yelped, but unfortunately she knew she couldn't do anything to physically protect the girl, due to her size.
Of course, Mayura effortlessly swatted the kwami out of the way – then, she rose back to her feet, pressing her heel to Marinette's throat. She applied just enough pressure to create a sense of discomfort, but not enough to entirely cut off her air supply yet.
"Nnh…" Marinette grunted. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction of reacting any longer, so she tried her hardest to endure. "I will… never renounce Tikki…" Even with a heel digging into her neck, and her body so badly bruised and beaten up, with little chance of survival… She would not yield. Chat Noir would have to come eventually. He just had to. She had to hold onto that sliver of hope as long as possible.
"Ah…" Tikki quivered, wondering what on earth she should do. Perhaps if she gave in now, Marinette could have a chance at escape and come save her in the future. It deeply pained her to watch her owner struggle, to be completely at the villains' mercy. And the thought of having to leave the teenager behind… Her pure spirit trembled.
"You know… We've been quite fair to you," Mayura started. "We could've finished you off much earlier, and this whole thing would have been over by now. But if you want to keep this up…"
More panic began to well up in Marinette's chest, upon hearing that blatant threat. Even so, she still… couldn't handle the thought of sacrificing Tikki willingly…
"No, don't do that!" The kwami exclaimed, and flew in between the pair, desire to protect her owner greater than the desire to continue disobeying. She held her little arms out at her sides, unrestrained fear reflecting in her what should be her usual joyful eyes. "It's okay, Marinette, you'll come up with a plan once you're out of here…!"
A satisfied grin spread across Mayura's features. "Hear that? Even the little bug wants you to stop playing these stupid games."
"Tikki, no!" Marinette ignored Mayura's gloating, fixated on her closest friend. The only one she could truly rely on in the whole world. On instinct, she tried to move up to reach out to the kwami, completely forgetting about the heel digging into her neck. "Gah…!" She began to splutter, cursing herself for that slip up. It momentarily jabbed deeper into her, the pressure mildly choking her.
"I'm sure you value your life, Marinette…" Mayura continued. She had no intention of letting the child go on her merry way after all this, of course, but she felt like toying with her – giving her false hope that she'd be able to get back to her normal life in the end. "You have one more chance."
Hawkmoth stood behind his partner, proud of her smooth recovery after almost ruining their grand plans earlier. He had no doubt she was now more than capable of handling the situation on her own, for the time being.
"I will accept Mayura as my new owner for now… Okay?" Tikki looked at Marinette, for her approval. She despised having to give up just like that, but she felt as though she had no other choice.
"No…" The girl repeated, this time in a hushed whisper, unable to contain the tears building up in her eyes any longer.
"Perfect." All the woman needed was approval from one of them; she didn't really care either way. She lowered her heel from the child's neck, extending her palm where she held the earrings.
"You'll fix this, Marinette. I know you'll come back for me." Tikki smiled, though she hid immense anguish behind those eyes of hers. She turned to face Mayura a moment later, that smile dropping straight away. She looked down at the earrings in the woman's hand, releasing a heavy sigh.
"I renounce you." As soon as Mayura spoke those words, the kwami disappeared with zero hesitation, back into the Miraculous.
"Tikki… No, no… No…!" Marinette couldn't believe it. A million different thoughts and regrets all screamed at her, jumbling up her mind with anger and sorrow, until she could no longer handle it. She collapsed onto the floor, burying her head in her arms and broke down.
On the other end of the room, Plagg knew he could no longer stand idly by. He wouldn't be able to save Adrien, but the very least he could do was save Marinette. His heart ached for his sugarcube, and internally he was furious at himself for just watching and letting her sacrifice herself.
In a small voice, he summoned up the tiniest fraction of his power, at least to the best of his abilities. All he needed to do was create a simple distraction, enough to let Marinette get up off her feet and escape. He carefully moved out of the warmth of Adrien's shirt, lowering his arm to the floor. Hawkmoth and Mayura were bragging amongst themselves, waiting around for the appearance of Chat Noir, and poor Marinette… He could hear her loud sobbing from all the way across the room, watching as her shoulders shook, those echoes sending daggers into his heart.
Taking in a breath, he cleared his mind of any lingering worry, so that he'd be able to channel and control his powers. And then, he took the plunge, tapping against the floor. His power began to shake the room, a crack rapidly darting its way up and across the floor.
"Huh…?" Marinette inhaled a shaky breath, noticing that it wasn't just her body trembling – it was the entire room, somehow. She lifted her head, glancing around with wide, confused eyes. Darkness enveloped the lair, making it near impossible to figure out what had happened.
Naturally, Hawkmoth and Mayura felt it, too. They sprung into high alert, Hawkmoth yelling out at the girl. "What have you done?!" he exclaimed, wasting no time and jumping right to accusing her. As if somehow it had been her doing.
The area near Adrien's unconscious body was the least affected by Plagg's power, which relieved the kwami greatly. However, that crack started to slowly tear the floor apart, and he noticed Marinette still laid there, limp and terrified. 'Oh, no… Did I do the wrong thing?' Thoughts of regret flooded in.
It took longer than it should've for the reality of the situation to set in for Marinette. Her heart raced, mind torn on what to do. Was there an earthquake or something? She had no idea. All she could do was helplessly stare, lips parted, at the two on the opposite side of the room. And that was when she saw it – highlighted by the silver rays of the moon, that had finally broken through the clouds of the dull night. A faint outline of a crack across the floor.
As soon as she took notice of that, she felt herself losing her grip where she laid… "Ah!" The lair wouldn't be standing in one piece for much longer, would it? Gravity tilted her body, the force of the floor uprooting pushing at her. She had to get out. The crack, splitting apart more and more, caused Mayura and Hawkmoth to lose their footing, as well. They stumbled backwards. This would be her only chance.
"I'm sorry, Adrien… I'm sorry, Tikki…" she whispered, a stray tear dripping down her cheek. With all her might, she scrambled to her feet; she planted her palms firmly against the floor, and though she couldn't get much of a grip, she strained herself to make a move. Her knees slipped a couple times, and it almost seemed useless, but Hawkmoth struggled just as much as she did. The only difference being, Marinette got up first.
She grit her teeth together, wheezing a bit at the surge of pain as she stood, but she threw her arms out at her side to balance herself for a moment. Her feet wobbled slightly beneath her, but she stayed upright. She prepared herself for even more pain, though reminded herself it'd be for the greater good of getting out alive… And she ran. Rather, she sort of hopped along while focusing on not falling back onto her face.
"Stop her, Mayura!" Hawkmoth gave another order, but it fell upon deaf ears.
The trembling of the lair brought back the weakness she fought to fend off earlier; the vibrations drilled into her head, and she had been left at its mercy, clinging onto the wall.
Marinette ended up toppling over, losing her balance, just a mere few steps away from the elevator platform. Thankfully, she caught herself on her hands and knees rather than losing total control. And so, she settled for crawling, as degrading as she considered it.
Plagg's mind raced with nerves, hoping the tremors would come to a stop eventually. He'd only intended for the floor to crack apart just enough to create a barrier between Marinette and Hawkmoth, and even though the villain wasn't entirely steady on his feet, he took action and was approaching her, making more progress than she had in much less time.
However… She made it.
The little black kwami released a huge sigh of relief, one of the many weights lifted off his shoulders. It activated upon her touch, and Hawkmoth, hand outstretched, only just missed catching up to her.
In his defeat, his rage reached a dangerous level once more. But while preoccupied with a swarm of howling thoughts, he toppled back against the wall with a harsh thud. That only irritated him further. He had so many more things planned for Marinette; he needed all the knowledge she held as guardian, to control all the kwamis, to gain unlimited power for the ultimate wish! And now she had only just slipped out of his net, and Chat Noir didn't bother to show his cowardly face. She wouldn't be able to lure him out of hiding. Everything had been ruined, all thanks to a mysterious tremor.
The quaking did eventually subside, but Hawkmoth had finally been knocked down a peg or two from his previous narcissistic assurance. He clenched his fist, delivering a punch to the wall beside him, distraught with no idea what to do next.
…
Marinette burst the front doors to the Agreste mansion open, releasing a shaky sigh once the beautiful rays of moonlight flooded her vision. They washed over her, along with a sense of ease, grateful she'd made it out. However, her legs wouldn't be able to carry her much further. She squinted her eyes, wondering how she'd make it back home on foot.
Powering her way through the exhaustion, ignoring the hot sweat on her brow, she trudged forth. She was at a harsh war with her body now; her limbs and mind cried out for sleep, for the opportunity to shut down and recover. But she fiercely shook her head, knowing she had to get home first.
She made it as far as a few steps outside the mansion's gates, before dropping to her knees and completely blacking out the second her cheek connected with the ground.
Now that night time had come, the usual bustling streets of Paris were now mostly empty, civilians tucked away in their homes. There were an odd few passers-by, but none nowhere near the prestigious Agreste family home. The average person wouldn't dream of getting that up close.
Amongst the civilians whom were still out and about on that cool, peaceful night, was a blue-haired teenage boy finishing up some deliveries. Being the responsible rider he was, he had a light attached to the front of his bike, so that he could light up the path before him. He walked casually along, pushing the bike since he was nearing his final stop.
As he approached the large fountain not too far from the Agreste's mansion, he noticed something peculiar, made apparent by the bright light spilling a few paces ahead. His eyebrows raised, when he realised there laid an outline of what could only have been a person. Softly gasping, he removed his helmet, rested his bike against the base of the fountain, and hurried their way.
One of the few things he took note of as he approached was the black jacket hugging their frame, and the way they were rolled over onto their side, seemingly out cold. But when he knelt by their side, he had to ask anyway. "Hello? Are you… okay?" He reached a hand down to lightly nudge at their shoulder.
"Ah…!" That one small movement caused their limp body to shift, and reveal the face of someone all too familiar to him. "Marinette?!" Anxiety overwhelmed him, his once calm, clear mind fogging over with a range of different questions and concern.
He leaned in closer, trying to figure out how on earth she could've gotten into such a state. The more he examined her, the more he uncovered – scratches on her cheeks, red marks around her throat, bruises littered over her exposed forearms… He gulped dryly, nausea surfacing. The first thing he got around to finally doing was checking her pulse. Alive. But for how much longer?
Dipping a hand into his pocket, he called for an ambulance, going over the details with an operator before turning his full attention back to her. "It's okay… I'm here for you," he softly whispered, scooping up her delicate frame and holding her close. He made sure not to shift her position too much – he just wanted to make sure she had some support and warmth, while waiting for help.
Again, he trailed his eyes over her, sighing heavily. "Who could've done this to you…?" he wondered aloud, heart thudding in his chest. This time, when examining her condition closer, he noticed a bracelet on her wrist. Light pink in colour, but something about it struck him as… odd. As if he'd seen something like it somewhere before.
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place almost instantly. To confirm, he flicked his glance to her ears. However, there were no sign of the earrings she wore all the time. His heart sank; something must have happened. Without saying a word, he just held her a little tighter in his arms.
…