Chapter 16: Aftermath

"We need to get something before the police get here," said Marinette.

Marinette used the recharged Longg to restart the elevator as Lightning Dragon. She returned to Mulan form.

"Stand with me in front of the picture, Adrien. There's something you need to see," said Mulan.

"I know about the secret room." said Adrien. "I went down there as Chat Blanc to get Hawk Moth, but I didn't have time to look at anything."

"I think there's something more in the garden. I didn't get a good look either, but if I'm right you need to be prepared for a shock," said Mulan.

"I've already had huge shocks about my family. What could be worse?" asked Adrien.

Mulan pressed the places she had seem Gabriel press on the picture to open the secret lift. They descended together. They walked to the circular garden. The coffin was closed, but they found the button to open it.

"Mother!" said Adrien. "She was here all along, dead! And my father didn't tell me anything!"

He went to his knees. Mulan dropped her transformation, knelt beside him, and put an arm around him.

"I don't think she's dead," said Marinette. "She's in a magic sleep. I found circuits leading to life support when I was in Lightning Dragon form."

"Is there any way to get her out of it?" asked Adrien.

"Hawk Moth had some sort of plan, a way to get a wish that would rewind time. But it was a terrible wish. He wanted not to use the Peacock Miraculous at all. To not have you."

Adrien gave a gasping sob. "It was because of creating me that she got like this?"

"I don't really understand that part. The Peacock Miraculous was damaged, and using it hurt her."

"You used the Peacock today. Did it hurt you?"

"Not much," said Marinette with a small cough. "I'm just a little tired."

"This is so messed up," said Adrien.

He stood up again, shakily. Marinette stood beside him.

"We'll get all the information to Master Fu. Maybe he knows a way to help."

"I doubt anything can help," said Adrien.

"Meanwhile, you need to get the wedding ring she's wearing. It's the other half of your amok. Then you'll control your own free will completely."

"I can't do that. It's like robbing a grave."

"I'll get it for you."

Marinette opened the glass cover of the coffin and pulled off the wedding ring.

"Here," she said.

"No," said Adrien firmly.

Marinette frowned. "I could order you to take it, but I won't do that to you. There may even be a problem: if the same person uses both rings they cancel each other out. Since their magic was used in creating you... I'll hold onto it for you until we learn more. I'll just be very careful not to say anything that sounds like a command."

Adrien was silent.

"Please take heart, Adrien. I know this is hard. Your family has abused you terribly. We need to plan what happens next."

"It's going to be hell. The press will be all over this. The Agreste fashion brand will collapse."

"Do you have people you can stay with for a while?"

"My father showed me some papers yesterday," said Adrien. "If anything happened to him, I was supposed to go to stay with a family in Japan he does business with, the Tsurugi family."

"I don't think that's a good idea. That was part of a scheme to marry you off to their daughter."

"Chloé would put me up at the Grand Paris hotel. Her father owns it."

"There was also a scheme to marry you off to her, or to her half-sister Zoé. And don't forget, Chloé's still mad at you for supposedly stealing from her."

"My closest relatives are in England. My mother's sister, my Aunt Amelie, and my cousin Félix. I like him. We used to pretend to be each other as a prank on the family – we look completely alike if we change clothes and hairstyle."

Marinette remembered something the mayor said about magic rings that came from Emilie's family.

"Did they ever say anything about the wedding rings?"

"Félix once told me the rings belong in the Graham de Vanily family. That's my mother's maiden name. My parents borrowed them for their wedding ceremony but they never gave them back. He tried to persuade me to help him steal them, but I wouldn't."

"You can't let them get their hands on the rings. They control your free will. I mean... I suggest that you not let them get their hands on them."

"Then where can I go? I don't want to stay here."

"My family will let you stay with us," said Marinette. "I'm sure they will if I ask them."

"It will be hard," said Adrien. "The press will be on top of us."

"We'll make it work. You can sleep in the living room," said Marinette, with a little blush.

"Legally, can I do it? If I'm supposed to go to Japan?"

"Your father's arrangements can be rejected, since they're part of the schemes of a terrorist and his partners in crime. If I need to, I can get the Mayor to pull some strings. I know things about him."

"You'll blackmail him."

"Let's just say I'll persuade him it's in his best interests, if I have to."

When they got back upstairs, they were met by a red-haired hero in a red costume with spots.

"Hi, I'm The Bug, or Super Bug, or Scarabella. I haven't decided yet."

"I like Scarabella – it's the most original." said Marinette.

"Okay, I'll go with that," said Scarabella.

"Do you have a Chat partner?" asked Marinette.

"Not yet, but I expect to soon," said Scarabella.

"Well, I wish you the best in protecting Paris," said Marinette. "It should be easier now."

"Yeah, best of luck," said Adrien with a trace of bitterness.

"I'm supposed to get the Dragon Miraculous back from you," said Scarabella.

"Oh, I was hoping to keep Longg longer," said Marinette.

"Has your identity been compromised?" asked Scarabella. "I was told by my kwami that's a big issue with the Master."

"Unfortunately, yes. Hawk Moth, Gabriel Agreste, knows. He also knows I was Ladybug."

Marinette took off the choker necklace and gave it to Scarabella.

"Here are the Butterfly and Peacock Miraculous, too," said Marinette. "There's also a book in the safe that Master Fu will want."

Marinette got the book out of the safe and handed it over.

"Wow, good work!" said Scarabella.

Scarabella opened a portal with her yo-yo and put the book in along with the three Miraculous. (The portal could be stretched to take large objects).

"I'll tell you how to open the secret passage to a hidden basement lair. There's evidence the police will want to see. I saw some white butterflies on the bushes in a secret garden down there. And Adrien's mother is there, in a coma."

Marinette showed the places to push on the painting to open the secret elevator.

"Won't you stay and show the police yourself?" asked Scarabella. "Your testimony will be needed at trial."

"Not now," said Marinette.

"We need a break before this hits the press," said Adrien.

Marinette gave Scarabella her address. "We'll be there when you need us."

"Let's go," said Adrien.

They got out just in time, before Roger arrived with four other police cars.

THE END