AN: Not going to lie, I'm looking forward to this chapter! This one is, what I feel to be, the true beginning of this story…when the action finally starts to pick up! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 3: "Ladybug, I Found An Akuma"
With new resolve, Marinette called out the familiar transformation phrase. "Tikki, spots on!"
As soon as Marinette had transformed into Ladybug, she found a message from Cat Noir. She knew that she should be focusing, right now, on searching for Adrien, but Ladybug was also desperate to find her superhero partner who had also been missing in action lately. Everyone in Paris who had just watched the breaking news story knew that Adrien Agreste was missing. There would be plenty of people on the lookout for him. So far, there had not yet been a story about Cat Noir's disappearance. If this new message held a clue as to what was going on with Cat Noir, Ladybug would take the time to listen to it and try to find him too. Tapping on the message icon, Ladybug listened to the message. She was so relieved to hear Cat Noir's voice. Until now Ladybug hadn't realized how much she'd missed Cat Noir in their time apart.
"Ladybug," the message began. Why was Cat Noir's voice so serious? Even just this first word, her full superhero name and not some goofy nickname that he usually spoke, was weighed down. Was it because of what she had said to him that last time that they had fought together? Was he actually mad at her and that was why he had been avoiding her during patrols lately? "I found an akuma. Meet me at the location attached to this message."
The message ended abruptly and Ladybug scrolled down on the screen to see the location that Cat Noir had sent to her. Then, at the very bottom of the screen, Ladybug found the timestamp for the message. It had been sent several days ago! She frowned. This wasn't adding up and she was feeling a little suspicious. Ladybug had no reason to not fully trust Cat Noir, but he had claimed to have found an akuma several days ago and, yet, there had been no mention of this on the news. Usually the akumas that Hawk Moth created were elaborate and impossible to miss.
Instantly, worry spread through Ladybug's body. What if this was some sort of trap? What if her partner been captured by Hawk Moth? Would the supervillain go so far as to force Cat Noir to send this message to her? Then, another thought made its way into Ladybug's mind. This one was even worse than the thought of Cat Noir being captured and tortured by Hawk Moth. What if Cat Noir's message was true? What if he actually had found an akuma…and that akuma was tied to the disappearance of Adrien?
What could possibly have made Adrien snap and become akumatized, though? Ladybug wondered. Out of Marinette's entire class in school, she and Adrien were the only ones who had never been akumatized. That kind of made sense, though. Marinette was Ladybug so she was always the one saving her classmates (though she did have a few close calls where she had almost been akumatized)! As for Adrien, he always seemed to be so calm and collected, even when there were times that Marinette was certain that he should have broken under the pressure that was his life. Yes, if Adrien had been akumatized, then something major must have happened to cause it!
Ladybug slid closed her yo-yo and readied herself to throw it. Whatever the reason behind this message, it was serious and Ladybug knew that it was important to meet up with Cat Noir right away! It took Ladybug only seconds to reach the location that Cat Noir had given to her. Even before Ladybug landed on the rooftop, the red flags were already raised. This rooftop was the same one that she and Cat Noir had been standing on the last time that they'dspoken to each other.
As she dropped to the ground and placed her yo-yo back onto her hip, Ladybug looked around, trying to take in every little possible detail. Cat Noir stood a short distance in front of her, but his back was turned to her. "Cat Noir?" Ladybug greeted her partner. "I got your message. Where is the akuma? Who has it?" Even though the message had been from several days ago and the chances were high that Cat Noir had probably already taken care of it in that time, Ladybug still proceeded cautiously. There was no playing around when it came to Hawk Moth and Mayura. Ladybug knew that from the time that Mayura had created a sentimonster in her image and almost fooled Cat Noir into believing it had been the real Ladybug.
Cat Noir didn't speak, but he did turn to face Ladybug. Remaining silent, he took several steps to bring himself closer to Ladybug.
"C-Cat Noir?" Ladybug tried again. Usually she felt so comfortable around her superhero partner, but something just didn't seem right. Cat Noir was never usually this quiet. He was always talking or smirking or something! Every time that Ladybug saw Cat Noir, he was always so boisterous and outrageous (and, though Ladybug would never admit it out loud, she liked that about him; he was so good at lightening the mood).
Finally, Cat Noir's footsteps had brought him face-to-face with Ladybug, so close that she could reach out and brush his hair from his face if she so desired. He still had yet to say anything, to clarify what was going on. This worried Ladybug; she didn't see any akumatized persons here. However, if someone had been akumatized, then there was no time to be standing here having a staring contest with each other and Cat Noir knew that!
Then, without even saying a word, Cat Noir answered Ladybug's questions. He smirked, but it was so unlike his usual playful expression. This one was full of malice and sent an icy chill through Ladybug. It only got worse as Cat Noir, with lightning quick speed, reached forward to grab for Ladybug's earrings.
In that instant, everything made sense! Ladybug sideswiped the attempt and reached for her yo-yo. She knew what to do; she had lived through a similar scenario recently. That last time had been erased from history, but this time, that would not be the case. Once again, Ladybug would be forced to fight her best friend, the only other person in Paris who could truly understand the responsibilities of being a Miraculous superhero: Cat Noir!
There was no question now, not a single doubt in Ladybug's mind. Cat Noir had not found an akuma! He had become the akuma! Somehow, against all the odds, Cat Noir had been akumatized and there was only one person who could save him from this fate. Ladybug did not want to fight her superhero partner, but it seemed that she was going to have no other choice. She was not looking forward to this.
Ladybug vs Cat Noir! Fight! I know…short chapter, but heck yeah, finally the action! It all continues next chapter! You won't want to miss it!
Love discussing the awesomeness that is Miraculous? Would you like to chat with a group of amazing Miraculous writers and artists? Come join us on the Miraculous Fanworks Discord (the invite link is on my profile-toward the top)! Hope to see you there!